A Wonderful Sunday
Victor B1a
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A Wonderful Sunday
For me the memory is far away and long ago.
We had briefed and done a dummy run over Wales on the Saturday before. It was all good.
On the appointed Sunday we kitted up and jumped in the most beautiful jet I have ever flown.
U/S at start-up,Seats safe, straps off and run for a reserve. The jetblast as we ran was not as bad as one had imagined.
We were last cab of the rank and caught no.2 before the straits.
Boss Homer called every man for himself. So Yellow Two leads to Three and Four over that big long lake south of Snowden. We were not above 2500 ft.
Long one short we 'called in' the formation at the IP. The banter was pretty rich on the R.T.
I believe and truly hope we looked good to all the folk on the ground.
Then the fun began. Can one imagine 16 Gnats overfly the BBMF(Lanc and a Mk5 & Mk 19}. We relaxed all the way back to Valley.
As we were yellow section we ran and broke first with the rest of the section
following at one second intervals. I estimate we at windsock height on the run in. The ground crew applauded when we climbed out.
We had a most enjoya
ble barby on the veranda that evening.
Davey Mussen
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We had briefed and done a dummy run over Wales on the Saturday before. It was all good.
On the appointed Sunday we kitted up and jumped in the most beautiful jet I have ever flown.
U/S at start-up,Seats safe, straps off and run for a reserve. The jetblast as we ran was not as bad as one had imagined.
We were last cab of the rank and caught no.2 before the straits.
Boss Homer called every man for himself. So Yellow Two leads to Three and Four over that big long lake south of Snowden. We were not above 2500 ft.
Long one short we 'called in' the formation at the IP. The banter was pretty rich on the R.T.
I believe and truly hope we looked good to all the folk on the ground.
Then the fun began. Can one imagine 16 Gnats overfly the BBMF(Lanc and a Mk5 & Mk 19}. We relaxed all the way back to Valley.
As we were yellow section we ran and broke first with the rest of the section
following at one second intervals. I estimate we at windsock height on the run in. The ground crew applauded when we climbed out.
We had a most enjoya
ble barby on the veranda that evening.Davey Mussen
Per Ardua Ad Loungebar
Victor B1a
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Yes,
We didn't get paid but it was great. When you decide you want to fly you fly.
QED. Oh, the barbeque was something else.
Davey.
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We didn't get paid but it was great. When you decide you want to fly you fly.
QED. Oh, the barbeque was something else.
Davey.
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In the Gnat era at Valley, you could hardly blow your nose loudly on a Sunday, due to the sensitivities of the Chapel fraternity on the island of Anglesey.
As a 'rough shooter', my shotgun had to stay in its' case on the Sabbath; OK, you might think, let us partake of a modest libation in a local hostelry. Well, the pubs were closed on Sundays - we Blue jobs had access though to the usual array of Mess bars & on-station Underwater Basket Weaving Club etc bars. Those who were most affected by this bizarre rule were the tourists of course, who had no access to such venues. Oh yes, and it was a holiday destination...........
I remember my girlfriend & I being rebuked by an elderly gentleman in an Anglesey village for actually travelling in my car on the Sabbath; this would be about 1973/74.
So, dmussen, perhaps you could clarify your post with a few more details, such as how you were able to launch 16 of my beloved Gnats on the Sabbath? The Station Commander would have been buried free of charge in one of the numerous local Chapel graveyards, methinks.
HB
As a 'rough shooter', my shotgun had to stay in its' case on the Sabbath; OK, you might think, let us partake of a modest libation in a local hostelry. Well, the pubs were closed on Sundays - we Blue jobs had access though to the usual array of Mess bars & on-station Underwater Basket Weaving Club etc bars. Those who were most affected by this bizarre rule were the tourists of course, who had no access to such venues. Oh yes, and it was a holiday destination...........
I remember my girlfriend & I being rebuked by an elderly gentleman in an Anglesey village for actually travelling in my car on the Sabbath; this would be about 1973/74.
So, dmussen, perhaps you could clarify your post with a few more details, such as how you were able to launch 16 of my beloved Gnats on the Sabbath? The Station Commander would have been buried free of charge in one of the numerous local Chapel graveyards, methinks.
HB
Not a Sunday, but as duty stude in the Valley tower during night flying, overheard duty instructor take complaint call from the local hospital about an aeroplane flying over and disturbing the patients -response was to the point - if he cannot get his undercarriage down soon the pilot might be joining them. End of complaint!
Victor B1a
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Chapel Folk on the Island.
True story.
We were banned from several pubs. We didn't speak the lingo.
How come they did not / could not play rugby like the greats from the valleys.
Flying low flat strap on a Sunday was good. I also apparently killed about 20 sheep in the Conway valley one morning. Their Airships at MOD paid up. I was only flying as briefed-ish. I could also jump on a ferry from Holyhead in minutes
to watch Ireland play the game in Dublin and get back the same night-ish.
For any doubting Tomas' check out the aeros. comp. board outside the mess bar.
75 course Plt. Off. D.T.Mussen
Henry you might well be able to confirm given all the fun you had on 74.
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Davey.
We were banned from several pubs. We didn't speak the lingo.
How come they did not / could not play rugby like the greats from the valleys.
Flying low flat strap on a Sunday was good. I also apparently killed about 20 sheep in the Conway valley one morning. Their Airships at MOD paid up. I was only flying as briefed-ish. I could also jump on a ferry from Holyhead in minutes
to watch Ireland play the game in Dublin and get back the same night-ish.
For any doubting Tomas' check out the aeros. comp. board outside the mess bar.
75 course Plt. Off. D.T.Mussen
Henry you might well be able to confirm given all the fun you had on 74.
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Davey.
Victor B1a
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Our Friends on the Ground.
You chaps in the tower were superb.
Saved my bacon on a few occasions.
A belated thanks to all in ATC and the Chief and his fine band of fo;k who looked after us so well. The groundcrew at Valley were superb.
Saved my bacon on a few occasions.
A belated thanks to all in ATC and the Chief and his fine band of fo;k who looked after us so well. The groundcrew at Valley were superb.
Victor B1a
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The Complaint.
Not me,
I only ever did an inverted run over Blackpool tower the night they turned the lights on. No see no Know. I was reasonably high but moving along apace.
I only ever did an inverted run over Blackpool tower the night they turned the lights on. No see no Know. I was reasonably high but moving along apace.
Timing.
Language.