Harrier engine change on the beach in Belize
I do vaguely remember that film BEagle but I think it was a different one. It was partially based on PT's ejection in Germany where the jet flew away after he'd left it. The funny thing about that was PT's story of trying to phone into Ops afterwards but being told to stop bothering them and get off the line as they had an unmanned Harrier flying around....
I'm fairly certain that it was an RAFG film but I'm sure someone with a better memory than mine will chip in.
HUM: Did Mike Shaw publish a revised edition of Twice Vertical (better known as the story of Mike Shaw's love life)? The copy I've got ends pre-Belize.
I'm fairly certain that it was an RAFG film but I'm sure someone with a better memory than mine will chip in.
HUM: Did Mike Shaw publish a revised edition of Twice Vertical (better known as the story of Mike Shaw's love life)? The copy I've got ends pre-Belize.
I think Beages is right (wow, it feels strange to type that!). I remember the film from donkeys back.
The main gist was about owning up to mistakes to inform the others (pre CHIRP days). It was set in Belize, the engine winds down (post surge?) and won't restart so bona mate goes for the handle and pulls several times to no effect. Then he sees the pin still in the seat pan handle. Meanwhile the jet is getting very close to the jungle canopy before the Pegasus decides it's prepared to play again and off he flies to safety. The next 10 mins of film is about him wrestling with his conscience (suspension of disbelief here - Harrier mate with a conscience) as to whether to tell the rest of the sqn about it. In the end he tells the Boss and everyone lives happily ever after.
Not quite in the Dr Fod league of FS productions!
The main gist was about owning up to mistakes to inform the others (pre CHIRP days). It was set in Belize, the engine winds down (post surge?) and won't restart so bona mate goes for the handle and pulls several times to no effect. Then he sees the pin still in the seat pan handle. Meanwhile the jet is getting very close to the jungle canopy before the Pegasus decides it's prepared to play again and off he flies to safety. The next 10 mins of film is about him wrestling with his conscience (suspension of disbelief here - Harrier mate with a conscience) as to whether to tell the rest of the sqn about it. In the end he tells the Boss and everyone lives happily ever after.
Not quite in the Dr Fod league of FS productions!
Hi BJ...
PT's story online here:
Ejection from a Harrier
Mike Shaw's book 'Twice Vertical' was first published 1971; a revised version called 'No 1 Squadron' was published in 1986 - included some Belize and Op Corporate stuff..
ISBN 0 7110 1581 3
Anyone on here going to the 1 Sqn 'do' in the RAF club tomorrow?
PT's story online here:
Ejection from a Harrier
Mike Shaw's book 'Twice Vertical' was first published 1971; a revised version called 'No 1 Squadron' was published in 1986 - included some Belize and Op Corporate stuff..
ISBN 0 7110 1581 3
Anyone on here going to the 1 Sqn 'do' in the RAF club tomorrow?
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This thread really brings back fond memories. I was at Butcher Radar 1977-1978 and was responsible for presenting the "Prick of the Week" to the Officers' Mess. It was intended to encourage the resident regiment to join in Happy Hour, which we had recently introduced to what was then very staid and traditional Army style establishment. The "Prick" was exactly as expected, carved from the local ebony-like hard wood. It lived on a shelf behind the bar, modestly shielded with an RAF Officer's SD Cap hanging on it!!
Despite rumours to the contrary I did not pose for the object (I wish!!!).
Regarding the use of Caye Chapel by the Harriers, who had only recently arrived, as I remember it they had identified the short light aircraft strip there as an emergency diversion in the event that Belize International (APC) and Belize City were unuseable. I seem to recollect that the odd flypast was made which pleased the diving hotel residents. It was a great place to spend a weekend by the way.
Great memories but so long ago......
Despite rumours to the contrary I did not pose for the object (I wish!!!).
Regarding the use of Caye Chapel by the Harriers, who had only recently arrived, as I remember it they had identified the short light aircraft strip there as an emergency diversion in the event that Belize International (APC) and Belize City were unuseable. I seem to recollect that the odd flypast was made which pleased the diving hotel residents. It was a great place to spend a weekend by the way.
Great memories but so long ago......
Last edited by gayford; 10th Sep 2010 at 10:44.
happyhooker
– not least the amazing story of the Pumas when they were evacuated to Mexico when ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Greta – but that is a story in its own right!
(I did 12 detachments to Belize during the period 1977-1981).
Aaron O'Dickydido.
You and BEagle are quite right about that film RLE and OX-27. It's just that I think the filming for KM's sojourn on the coral island was taken for a different production that was commissioned by RAFG.
Thanks for that Hum - I've got the earlier one, hence the surprise at seeing that engine change photo.
Isn't the year after next the 100th? Might be worth coming back to the UK for!
Anyone remember the day of Bernie's ejection when the post incident party in the mess was interrupted by TinyWiny airways crashing their Sioux on the edge of the airfield 'cos they'd run out of fuel and the doctor crashing on the drive to the crash site?
Thanks for that Hum - I've got the earlier one, hence the surprise at seeing that engine change photo.
Isn't the year after next the 100th? Might be worth coming back to the UK for!
Anyone remember the day of Bernie's ejection when the post incident party in the mess was interrupted by TinyWiny airways crashing their Sioux on the edge of the airfield 'cos they'd run out of fuel and the doctor crashing on the drive to the crash site?
Last edited by bonajet; 10th Sep 2010 at 14:54. Reason: date error
The liaison with other units out there always added to the fun.
My only hats-on telling-off for being a passenger came from the air commander after I sat up front of a Puma flying over miles of jungle to resupply Cadenas, I think, in the far south-west. Even as a passenger, I had to remark "Stan, I didn't know that there was a road down here", followed by "There are army trucks on that road" and "They're not our army's trucks!" So back we went into Belize, and when we eventually got back to APC, I was summoned from the bar to be told in no uncertain terms that I should have spoken out earlier. But jungle is jungle, as we often had to remind FACs who used trees as reference points.
One day, coasting out in a Puma, pilot checked in with Butcher. Controller: "Not yet identified, what is your altitude? Pilot: "On the QFE, minus 50ft." Unusually sharp controller: "Roger, switching to ASDIC."
Then again, there was the Butcher controller who managed to find a young lady who agreed to go with him on a trip down-country. He told me that he expected to be on a certain beach at a certain time, so if I was around, could I fly over there. Well I was, and I did, from the sea and not very high. When he returned a couple of days later, he said that the timing was such that as I flew over at the moment critique , the earth literally moved for them, and he was indebted to me to the tune of 1 orgasm. I never claimed repayment.
My only hats-on telling-off for being a passenger came from the air commander after I sat up front of a Puma flying over miles of jungle to resupply Cadenas, I think, in the far south-west. Even as a passenger, I had to remark "Stan, I didn't know that there was a road down here", followed by "There are army trucks on that road" and "They're not our army's trucks!" So back we went into Belize, and when we eventually got back to APC, I was summoned from the bar to be told in no uncertain terms that I should have spoken out earlier. But jungle is jungle, as we often had to remind FACs who used trees as reference points.
One day, coasting out in a Puma, pilot checked in with Butcher. Controller: "Not yet identified, what is your altitude? Pilot: "On the QFE, minus 50ft." Unusually sharp controller: "Roger, switching to ASDIC."
Then again, there was the Butcher controller who managed to find a young lady who agreed to go with him on a trip down-country. He told me that he expected to be on a certain beach at a certain time, so if I was around, could I fly over there. Well I was, and I did, from the sea and not very high. When he returned a couple of days later, he said that the timing was such that as I flew over at the moment critique , the earth literally moved for them, and he was indebted to me to the tune of 1 orgasm. I never claimed repayment.
I think that he did later re-train as a pilot, but this incident was at a time when every female in Belize who ever talked to a man from APC firmly believed that he was a Harrier pilot, because of course he told her so, and he wouldn't lie.
Henry's picture of the engine change reminds me that he almost caused the first such job out there. Doing his usual leap out of the cockpit up onto the intake as the engine wound down, intending to slide down the wing to the ground, he let his camera fall out of his knee pocket, straight through an auxiliary intake door. It then hit the bottom of the intake, broke into its constituent parts, and proceeded through the still-rotating Pegasus. Fortunately, the engineers found all the bits, and were duly paid for their labours, by Henry, in bottles of Belikin, plus some Appletons rum.
I think that the first crane we tried for an engine lift had to be backed up some hastily-constructed ramps to get the requisite elevation, so a bigger one had to be found.
Henry's picture of the engine change reminds me that he almost caused the first such job out there. Doing his usual leap out of the cockpit up onto the intake as the engine wound down, intending to slide down the wing to the ground, he let his camera fall out of his knee pocket, straight through an auxiliary intake door. It then hit the bottom of the intake, broke into its constituent parts, and proceeded through the still-rotating Pegasus. Fortunately, the engineers found all the bits, and were duly paid for their labours, by Henry, in bottles of Belikin, plus some Appletons rum.
I think that the first crane we tried for an engine lift had to be backed up some hastily-constructed ramps to get the requisite elevation, so a bigger one had to be found.
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Thank you happy hooker and banajet for comfirming this event, I was beginning to think that I dreamt it. I do remember the harrier dropping a bomb that it not go off, I believe the SAS chaps found it and blew it up.
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I say, steady on BJ. The "history of my love life" jibe was one of Wartpig's more pathetic attempts at humour. He repeated it many years later in his best man speech at my wedding, BTW!
In answer to your question, the second book (No 1 Squadron) was published by Ian Allen in about 1985 and contains details of the Falklands and the two expeditions to Belize. I went with them on the second push in 1977 as Ops 1 from 38Gp (my one and only ground job before being rescued by Porky Munro and whisked off to Thumrait as OC6).
Both books are long since out of print, but you can occasionally come across one of the rare unsigned copies on e-bay.
Sorry I couldn't make it to the 1 sqn bash at the weekend. Anyone got any news of how it went?
Cheers
MS
In answer to your question, the second book (No 1 Squadron) was published by Ian Allen in about 1985 and contains details of the Falklands and the two expeditions to Belize. I went with them on the second push in 1977 as Ops 1 from 38Gp (my one and only ground job before being rescued by Porky Munro and whisked off to Thumrait as OC6).
Both books are long since out of print, but you can occasionally come across one of the rare unsigned copies on e-bay.
Sorry I couldn't make it to the 1 sqn bash at the weekend. Anyone got any news of how it went?
Cheers
MS
Last edited by shavian; 14th Sep 2010 at 10:51. Reason: correct a typo
Ah Wartpig........My copy of the revised edition is jetting its way to me, thanks Mike. It'll be interesting to look at the additions - I can't for the life of me remember that engine change photo, but maybe it came from the cold nozzle camera! I'd forgotten about that too, noprobs. Saved by the groundcrew, yet again.
1 Sqn do
I (F) Reunion went well, about 40 turned up I'd say including Al Pollock... I keep meaning to get a photo with him by tower bridge at one of these 'do's' ...however, too much spitfire in the running horse 
...
Nice to see some groundcrew, including one bloke who was with the Sqn in the Battle of France.
Nice also to meet some of the current members, just back from 'Stan including the Sqn QWI who could easily be mistaken for one of the Sqn wives ;-)
Had to chuckle at discovering they are all moving back to Wittering soon..
Was talk of setting up a 1 Sqn 'Facebook' page for all ex members. Also new life membership of the association for one-off payment of £10.
1(Fighter) Squadron Association Frames Page
... Nice to see some groundcrew, including one bloke who was with the Sqn in the Battle of France.
Nice also to meet some of the current members, just back from 'Stan including the Sqn QWI who could easily be mistaken for one of the Sqn wives ;-)
Had to chuckle at discovering they are all moving back to Wittering soon..
Was talk of setting up a 1 Sqn 'Facebook' page for all ex members. Also new life membership of the association for one-off payment of £10.
1(Fighter) Squadron Association Frames Page
