Anyone recognise these guys?
Is 7th from left (behind Eddie Danks' left shoulder) 'Mac' McGregor who became CFI at Valley in early 1980?
All I can see of the Flt Lt behind your right elbow is part of a RAFC badge and his boots!
All I can see of the Flt Lt behind your right elbow is part of a RAFC badge and his boots!
Is that David Thomas on the left with a drink?
Third from the right looks like Garth Bennett, but I'm sure he was on Hercs at that time?
Thread Starter
I don't remember Dave Thomas during my time at Linton.
Third from the right is indeed Garth.
Background Noise
We must have flown together at some point then.
Third from the right is indeed Garth.
Background Noise
LM - now I see! I didn't realise you were so tall. 1985, you OCU staff - me stude.
Thread Starter
spekesoftly,
I sure do remember John Halstead, but I'm not sure it's him in the pic.
RSS,
Not sure about Andy Evans either.
Thank you both for your responses/interest. If the thread lasts long enough, we might just get everyone.
I sure do remember John Halstead, but I'm not sure it's him in the pic.
RSS,
Not sure about Andy Evans either.
Thank you both for your responses/interest. If the thread lasts long enough, we might just get everyone.
From the left
Dave Oakley
Mike Haydn
John Rigby
Russ Morley
Charlie Gilchrist
Eddie Danks
Brian Burridge
Duk Webb
Ken Jones
Garth Bennet
Ray Banard
Badger Brooks
Not absolutely certain about Dave Oakley but pretty sure it's not John Halstead
Dave Oakley
Mike Haydn
John Rigby
Russ Morley
Charlie Gilchrist
Eddie Danks
Brian Burridge
Duk Webb
Ken Jones
Garth Bennet
Ray Banard
Badger Brooks
Not absolutely certain about Dave Oakley but pretty sure it's not John Halstead
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: On the ORP
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reckon you're right Audax, that is Dave Oakley on the left. Mind you, I can understand your hesitation, it was a rare sighting of Soakley without a pint in one hand and a roll up in the other;that said, even Soakley wouldn't drink and smoke on the line---or would he?
Thread Starter
Dave Oakley - bachelor pad in Wiggington? Large Kawasaki motorbike? Went Harriers after Linton?
Or is my memory playing tricks!
Or is my memory playing tricks!
Your memory isn't playing tricks. If I remember it was a green Kawasaki Z900. I went to work on it one day with him - frightened the **** out of me I can tell you!
As for roll-ups, we both used to do that. Ever hear the (true) story about him and I hand-rolling in a JP - inverted. Now there's another story!
As for drinking on the line, yes - and it was yer proper champers an' all. Probably would'nt get away with that these days - bad PR and all that.....
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Back to the fold in the map
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
1 Post
Soaks
Introduced me to "Schoolies" and martini's (by the pint!) at Gutersloh circa 1980. Didn't he have a mid-air over Peterbrough in the mid - late 80's - T2 + GR3? Moggie, Spag, Soaks et al, all far too much for a young (ish) Fg Off to cope with!
Introduced me to "Schoolies" and martini's (by the pint!) at Gutersloh circa 1980. Didn't he have a mid-air over Peterbrough in the mid - late 80's - T2 + GR3? Moggie, Spag, Soaks et al, all far too much for a young (ish) Fg Off to cope with!
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: On the ORP
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2 Sqn at Linton was pretty good in the mid 70s, all (well, mostly all) of the QFIs were good and seemed to take time and trouble to get the message over. In addition, they were generally characters in their own right who were happy with what they were doing
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Obvious
Age: 77
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Brooks?
Badger Brooks = Mike Brooks (right?)
Jags and Nimrods? Thespian. died of cancer (Saudi) circa 1999?
Famed dining-in night explosives man (sinking of the Belgrano etc)
Jags and Nimrods? Thespian. died of cancer (Saudi) circa 1999?
Famed dining-in night explosives man (sinking of the Belgrano etc)
A few familiar faces there from my student days at Linton on 37Cse in '74/'75. Russ Morley was my QFI and I think I flew with Duk a couple of times too. I was given an excellent introduction to all aspects of life as an RAF pilot, mostly through instruction in the Bar! Mind you I've managed to keep flying right up to my retirement without killing myself so they must have been pretty good QFIs too!
Thread Starter
Many thanks for your contribution Specaircrew.
Linton was indeed a happy place in those days. Take a bucketful of QFIs from different backgrounds and aircraft types and throw them all together into a big melting pot!
The crewrooms/bar banter was something very special. Those of us who were ex-fighters loved being outnumbered.
Before I was married, the best occasions were the graduation balls.
Lots of "May I introduce my sister".
Somewhere out there is a student of mine who came to my room whilst I was "entertaining" - and guess who hadn't locked his door?
We had an Air Force then, in more ways than one.
At my wedding ceremony at Leuchars late '75, we were treated to a fourball JP flypast courtesy of the mates who had flown up from Linton for the occasion. Would that be authorised and happen these days?
Il Duce.
Linton was indeed a happy place in those days. Take a bucketful of QFIs from different backgrounds and aircraft types and throw them all together into a big melting pot!
The crewrooms/bar banter was something very special. Those of us who were ex-fighters loved being outnumbered.
Before I was married, the best occasions were the graduation balls.
Lots of "May I introduce my sister".
Somewhere out there is a student of mine who came to my room whilst I was "entertaining" - and guess who hadn't locked his door?
We had an Air Force then, in more ways than one.
At my wedding ceremony at Leuchars late '75, we were treated to a fourball JP flypast courtesy of the mates who had flown up from Linton for the occasion. Would that be authorised and happen these days?
Il Duce.
My sister really enjoyed my Grad Ball, she managed to avoid the 'sharking' QFIs and ended up getting engaged to one the guys on 38 Cse!! Fortunately she saw sense before the wedding and a few years later ended up marrying a USAF C130 pilot and now lives in the States. Crewroom banter isn't what it was but I was obviously taught well as the Staish once commented on my F1369 that I had a 'propensity for badinage'!
Blast from the Past
Thanks for that photo, Duk.
I was on 12 course at Linton, starting in Apr 76, but I must confess that I don't remember you until Brüggen, sitting around in the Q hut arguing about what sort of lines we were on: retaliatory or pre-emptive.
I last saw you on a Tech course at Bournemouth. Luckily I didn't complete the ATPL so save myself from the boredom of driving a taxi ... :-)
I flew with Russ, Chaz, Badger (sorry to hear about his death), Dave and Eddie. It was fun; flying training doesn't have the same fun content now ...
Chris
I was on 12 course at Linton, starting in Apr 76, but I must confess that I don't remember you until Brüggen, sitting around in the Q hut arguing about what sort of lines we were on: retaliatory or pre-emptive.
I last saw you on a Tech course at Bournemouth. Luckily I didn't complete the ATPL so save myself from the boredom of driving a taxi ... :-)
I flew with Russ, Chaz, Badger (sorry to hear about his death), Dave and Eddie. It was fun; flying training doesn't have the same fun content now ...
Chris