Buccaneer Tales
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Originally Posted by Rigga
Back to Buccs;
4. Honington - Line practice was for all the Lox Pots to be placed behind the aircraft line at the end of each day, for collection by the Lox Pot Trolley/Tractor. All goes well until a Pot is run over by a Tractor, crushed, and actually scrapes along the ground for a few yards before the driver’s attention is gained. Practice changes to place the Pots UNDER the rear of the aircraft, in the hope that the driver will see the aircraft first!
4. Honington - Line practice was for all the Lox Pots to be placed behind the aircraft line at the end of each day, for collection by the Lox Pot Trolley/Tractor. All goes well until a Pot is run over by a Tractor, crushed, and actually scrapes along the ground for a few yards before the driver’s attention is gained. Practice changes to place the Pots UNDER the rear of the aircraft, in the hope that the driver will see the aircraft first!
The aforeunmentioned tractor driver who, in his defence was retrieving a/c at night, in the rain, also reached under the tractor and pulled out the now hissing and spitting LOX pot, carrying it safely away from the flight line and onto the grass between the pan and the hangar.
As a result, he got bo****ed for running it over, and commended for removing it, so the two cancelled each other out.
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When the Majors got to Abingdon in '87 we were somewhat a novelty, (and from the comments we got from the sleepy Jag/Hawk community, a bit unwelcome). The aircraft was big, (by comparison), brash, noisey and very much THERE!!!
All our flight tests/deliveries were by squadron crews, not station test pilots like the rest. So the first flight test went well and, on delivery, we asked the crew for a fly past, (if you see what I mean).
Although the head honcho said that this would not happen, we got one anyway, straight down the taxiway underneath the tails of the VC 10s, (all 6 of them), that were in line off to one side.
The complaints from the retired generals on Knobs Hill stopped that happening again but it was an execellent way of saying hello
All our flight tests/deliveries were by squadron crews, not station test pilots like the rest. So the first flight test went well and, on delivery, we asked the crew for a fly past, (if you see what I mean).
Although the head honcho said that this would not happen, we got one anyway, straight down the taxiway underneath the tails of the VC 10s, (all 6 of them), that were in line off to one side.
The complaints from the retired generals on Knobs Hill stopped that happening again but it was an execellent way of saying hello
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Found this little snippet whilst trawling through some websites - one in the eye for the USN me thinks!
"We get them in here in Perth pretty often. I've been on board The Johnny Reb, John C Stennis, Nimitz and Carl Vinson.
Funny story, when I was in the airforce I was part of a training exercise in the Channel that actually "sank" the Enterprise. Scenario of a dash by the carrier group down the Channel into the North Sea, we were the bad guys.
I was on Phantoms then, mixed it up with their fleet defence guys, I think they thought we were going to be a push over - wrong......
Meanwhile a Buccaneer flight did their hiding in the waves trick and got past the air defence pickets and onto the carrier. Hypothetical multi- torpedo strike and bye bye Enterprise....
At the de-brief the US rep wanted to say how torpedo-proof the carriers were, and besides the real enemy didn't have Buccaneers.
The ranking Brit officer, Navy, remarked that the Su-24 and /or TU-22 could probably do a similar job, and both had nuclear capability......Then proceeded to discuss RN tactics in a very unfavourable comparison to those the USN had used.
Given a similar attack a few months before had failed to get through to Ark Royal, which could field far less fleet defence fighters he had a point.
That most priceless of things, a discomfited and speechless American officer, mission accomplished.......:-) "
"We get them in here in Perth pretty often. I've been on board The Johnny Reb, John C Stennis, Nimitz and Carl Vinson.
Funny story, when I was in the airforce I was part of a training exercise in the Channel that actually "sank" the Enterprise. Scenario of a dash by the carrier group down the Channel into the North Sea, we were the bad guys.
I was on Phantoms then, mixed it up with their fleet defence guys, I think they thought we were going to be a push over - wrong......
Meanwhile a Buccaneer flight did their hiding in the waves trick and got past the air defence pickets and onto the carrier. Hypothetical multi- torpedo strike and bye bye Enterprise....
At the de-brief the US rep wanted to say how torpedo-proof the carriers were, and besides the real enemy didn't have Buccaneers.
The ranking Brit officer, Navy, remarked that the Su-24 and /or TU-22 could probably do a similar job, and both had nuclear capability......Then proceeded to discuss RN tactics in a very unfavourable comparison to those the USN had used.
Given a similar attack a few months before had failed to get through to Ark Royal, which could field far less fleet defence fighters he had a point.
That most priceless of things, a discomfited and speechless American officer, mission accomplished.......:-) "
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engineer and bab6
Sea Eagle was the latter anti-ship missile used by the mighty Buccaneer. Engineer is correct to mention Sea Eagle's predecessor, Martel. There were two versions: the TV and the AR(anti-radar). TV was launched at about 10-15nm at around 50ft, and went on to impact the target under control of the navigator using his TV monitor and 'joystick'. AR was also launched at about 50ft, against an emitting radar target, at a range of about 20nm - after launch, the telegraph pole climbed to some 15k feet, and then drove itself into the radar kit. Very accurate. Two of mine were DH's, but then I was only the front-seater, having little to do other than keep us out of the oggin. In its day, an effective piece of kit.
Sea Eagle was the latter anti-ship missile used by the mighty Buccaneer. Engineer is correct to mention Sea Eagle's predecessor, Martel. There were two versions: the TV and the AR(anti-radar). TV was launched at about 10-15nm at around 50ft, and went on to impact the target under control of the navigator using his TV monitor and 'joystick'. AR was also launched at about 50ft, against an emitting radar target, at a range of about 20nm - after launch, the telegraph pole climbed to some 15k feet, and then drove itself into the radar kit. Very accurate. Two of mine were DH's, but then I was only the front-seater, having little to do other than keep us out of the oggin. In its day, an effective piece of kit.
Last edited by jindabyne; 16th Sep 2006 at 17:09.
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From across the pond:
M*** N*****, a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel flew as an exchange navigator with the RAF in the Buccaneer. He came from the back seat of an F-4 Phantom II and after rigorous training found himself in the back seat of the Bucc.
Says he of that cockpit, “It was not logical at all. If you think about the weirdest place to put controls and instruments, that’s what it seemed like the designers did.
“The flight instruments – airspeed indicator, altimeter, etc were down by my left knee. The controls for the bombsight used by the pilot up front were in my cockpit. For those jets equipped with TV Martel (a TV-guided air to ground missile) the monitor was situated between my knees.
“On the plus side, the cockpit visibility compared to the F-4 was tremendous. In the F-4, my vis to the front and rear was very limited. In the Bucc, the seats were offset so the pilot’s ejection seat was actually 5 inches to the left of the centerline and mine was 5 inches to the right so I could see very well forward.
“The intakes blocked a lot of my side peripheral vision, but it was good to the rear and up as well.
“The overall cockpit was smaller than my previous jet. I had to learn to not store anything I would need during flight in the lower leg pockets of my flight suit because once I was strapped in, the sidewalls of the cockpit and the instrument panel in front of me kept me from reaching down.”
N***** says his exchange tour with the RAF and in the Buccaneer was the best of his 20-plus year career. “We thought we trained hard, but those guys were amazing! They practiced and practiced and were merciless in the debriefs. Excellence was considered the norm and not getting reamed out for something was a good debrief. Tough at times, but it made for outstanding airmen.
“The RAF squeezed the most out of their equipment and people, but that made for a very effective weapon.”
He also recalled a low-level Bucc moment that he still cherishes,
“We were practicing ship attack and after simulating the bomb run, I can remember looking up at the bow of a US Navy destroyer as we crossed in front of it.”
M*** N*****, a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel flew as an exchange navigator with the RAF in the Buccaneer. He came from the back seat of an F-4 Phantom II and after rigorous training found himself in the back seat of the Bucc.
Says he of that cockpit, “It was not logical at all. If you think about the weirdest place to put controls and instruments, that’s what it seemed like the designers did.
“The flight instruments – airspeed indicator, altimeter, etc were down by my left knee. The controls for the bombsight used by the pilot up front were in my cockpit. For those jets equipped with TV Martel (a TV-guided air to ground missile) the monitor was situated between my knees.
“On the plus side, the cockpit visibility compared to the F-4 was tremendous. In the F-4, my vis to the front and rear was very limited. In the Bucc, the seats were offset so the pilot’s ejection seat was actually 5 inches to the left of the centerline and mine was 5 inches to the right so I could see very well forward.
“The intakes blocked a lot of my side peripheral vision, but it was good to the rear and up as well.
“The overall cockpit was smaller than my previous jet. I had to learn to not store anything I would need during flight in the lower leg pockets of my flight suit because once I was strapped in, the sidewalls of the cockpit and the instrument panel in front of me kept me from reaching down.”
N***** says his exchange tour with the RAF and in the Buccaneer was the best of his 20-plus year career. “We thought we trained hard, but those guys were amazing! They practiced and practiced and were merciless in the debriefs. Excellence was considered the norm and not getting reamed out for something was a good debrief. Tough at times, but it made for outstanding airmen.
“The RAF squeezed the most out of their equipment and people, but that made for a very effective weapon.”
He also recalled a low-level Bucc moment that he still cherishes,
“We were practicing ship attack and after simulating the bomb run, I can remember looking up at the bow of a US Navy destroyer as we crossed in front of it.”
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Honington Families Day
Hi I was on Buccs at Honington, on the OCU. late 70's to early 8ß's
Good memories of low flying... between the hangars and under the phone line. Lots of screams from babies and mums,and a lot of car alarms.
I also rememner a pilot John Myers, amazing pilot, I used to have a photo of him flying the Bucc towards the camera head on, but sadly now I have no ground crew or other photos of my military service.
If you ever see the book by Bill Gunston its a good buy.
Where were you at Honington?
Best Regards
TimGoz
Good memories of low flying... between the hangars and under the phone line. Lots of screams from babies and mums,and a lot of car alarms.
I also rememner a pilot John Myers, amazing pilot, I used to have a photo of him flying the Bucc towards the camera head on, but sadly now I have no ground crew or other photos of my military service.
If you ever see the book by Bill Gunston its a good buy.
Where were you at Honington?
Best Regards
TimGoz
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Youtube is a good hunting ground
Ark Royal
YouTube - Sailor series. HMS Ark Royal. Buccaneer landings and bolters
YouTube - SAILOR 1976 TV SERIES ARK ROYAL Vieques, Puerto Rico Bombing Range
12 Sqn
YouTube - RAF Buccaneer - NATO Opengate - Low Level Anti-Ship
Red Flag
YouTube - RAF Buccaneer S2 Exercise RED FLAG
12 & 208 Sqns
YouTube - Pirates of the Mediterranean - a Buccaneer special
Ark Royal
YouTube - Sailor series. HMS Ark Royal. Buccaneer landings and bolters
YouTube - SAILOR 1976 TV SERIES ARK ROYAL Vieques, Puerto Rico Bombing Range
12 Sqn
YouTube - RAF Buccaneer - NATO Opengate - Low Level Anti-Ship
Red Flag
YouTube - RAF Buccaneer S2 Exercise RED FLAG
12 & 208 Sqns
YouTube - Pirates of the Mediterranean - a Buccaneer special
