Lt Cdr Martin 'Jack' London MBE QCBA
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Canada
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Had the pleasure of many a few beers with Jack. A few things I will always remember:
First, his dress sense...Jack was subject to regulations that no-one else has ever found. Flying suit, Rank slides optional. Boots, type optional, laces undone. Issue polo-neck optional, normally a Ralph Lauren shirt under the flying suit. Cravat optional extra. Smile and glint, always.
Coffee. Arrive at work. Make coffee, drink half. Leave coffee somewhere 'safe'. Do some work. Make another coffee, drnik half, leave somewhere 'safe'. More work, find first coffee, add another spoon or two, drink half...you get the picture. End of the day, several cups of syrup, all in 'safe' places.
Curry. Phaal. Eat half after night on the lash train, bring in other half for lunch.
I remember being told story about his early days at Yeovilton...someone else might be better placed to elaborate. Young Jack goes out for a night on the lash train several miles from base. Following morning, 10 miles from the base, 20 minutes to Met Brief, stn cdr passes chap wearing something like i've mentioned earlier walking down side of dual carriageway. Pulls up, winds the window down, and without even looking at who the stray is, calls, 'Get in Jack'!
I remember being at a chain 'Old Orleans' or something in York many years ago and Jack was challenged (for literally 10p) to yam the bowl full of condiments sitting on the table....which he does, 'cos after all a challenge is a challenge...Oils, vinegars, sauces etc. A few more beers and strolling back to digs and even the iron stomach of Jack acts up. He wonders into a front garden, leans over and proceeds to ralph condiments over the roses...just as an old lady opens the front door. Jack finishes, wipes his mouth, smiles politely and says 'Wonderful Evening isn't it?'
A true gent. Plied with with brandy sours once in Akrotiri when I went U/S....wearing the same outfit, with the glint and smile, and, no doubt, with a chicken Phaal/Well hot kebab on order....!
First, his dress sense...Jack was subject to regulations that no-one else has ever found. Flying suit, Rank slides optional. Boots, type optional, laces undone. Issue polo-neck optional, normally a Ralph Lauren shirt under the flying suit. Cravat optional extra. Smile and glint, always.
Coffee. Arrive at work. Make coffee, drink half. Leave coffee somewhere 'safe'. Do some work. Make another coffee, drnik half, leave somewhere 'safe'. More work, find first coffee, add another spoon or two, drink half...you get the picture. End of the day, several cups of syrup, all in 'safe' places.
Curry. Phaal. Eat half after night on the lash train, bring in other half for lunch.
I remember being told story about his early days at Yeovilton...someone else might be better placed to elaborate. Young Jack goes out for a night on the lash train several miles from base. Following morning, 10 miles from the base, 20 minutes to Met Brief, stn cdr passes chap wearing something like i've mentioned earlier walking down side of dual carriageway. Pulls up, winds the window down, and without even looking at who the stray is, calls, 'Get in Jack'!
I remember being at a chain 'Old Orleans' or something in York many years ago and Jack was challenged (for literally 10p) to yam the bowl full of condiments sitting on the table....which he does, 'cos after all a challenge is a challenge...Oils, vinegars, sauces etc. A few more beers and strolling back to digs and even the iron stomach of Jack acts up. He wonders into a front garden, leans over and proceeds to ralph condiments over the roses...just as an old lady opens the front door. Jack finishes, wipes his mouth, smiles politely and says 'Wonderful Evening isn't it?'
A true gent. Plied with with brandy sours once in Akrotiri when I went U/S....wearing the same outfit, with the glint and smile, and, no doubt, with a chicken Phaal/Well hot kebab on order....!
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Yeovil,Somerset
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Thank you all so very much for your tales of 'Jack'.......
I must confess that I have had quite a chuckle reading them and over the next couple of days I will incorporate them into my piece on him.
He certainly seems a 'unique' character....
Thank you all once again for taking the time to re-tell your 'dits'......
Very much appreciated
Kind regards
Lewis
I must confess that I have had quite a chuckle reading them and over the next couple of days I will incorporate them into my piece on him.
He certainly seems a 'unique' character....
Thank you all once again for taking the time to re-tell your 'dits'......
Very much appreciated
Kind regards
Lewis
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: UK
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I was fortunate in that it was Jack who was LSO the day (well - one of the days) that I elected to make a buffoon of myself alongside (well - in front of) the boat. I had been bantered about long deliberate decelerations and was determined to put matters right. Which I did with a fairly major over swing from sublime to ridiculous.
Jack offered the calm, sage words of 'Why don't you go around and have another go?" just as I lost sight of Mum over my right hand shoulder...which was a little embarrassing as you might imagine.
He came straight down to the briefing room at the behest of Wings (who I got on with infamously badly due to a previous 'small misunderstanding') and told me (laughing, eyes twinkling) that he had been ordered to give me a very serious talking to. With that lovely smile of his he simply asked "Shall we consider this a very serious talking to then?" And off he went, minging coffee in hand!
Jack offered the calm, sage words of 'Why don't you go around and have another go?" just as I lost sight of Mum over my right hand shoulder...which was a little embarrassing as you might imagine.
He came straight down to the briefing room at the behest of Wings (who I got on with infamously badly due to a previous 'small misunderstanding') and told me (laughing, eyes twinkling) that he had been ordered to give me a very serious talking to. With that lovely smile of his he simply asked "Shall we consider this a very serious talking to then?" And off he went, minging coffee in hand!
Join Date: May 2006
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I joined Dartmouth with Jack and went through flying training with him until he disappeared down the FJ pipeline. However, he reappeared in the RW domain a couple of years later when he had been "restreamed" for what he described as "Character and Leadership" problems at Wittering! So, he was on his first tour whilst I was on my second and we had some great flying in the Falklands and South Georgia before he went back to FW where his natural talents belonged.
The only person I know to have been killed by FOD: A piece of FOD struck a turbine blade at some time before the accident. It caused a stress raiser and the blade parted from the disc just as they were running up towards the ramp at Wittering. The departing blade struck a large valve unit which bent and pinned the aileron control rod against the side of the airframe. As the aircraft left the ramp, it started to roll, which could not be corrected as the control rod was immovable. The student ejected first, just in time, but Jack was so unfortunate to eject just after the airframe had passed 90 deg roll, so the inevitable happened; what a great shame.
His death prompted Yeovilton to change its attitude towards FOD and you will now be unable to find a cleaner airfield anywhere in this country! The RN flight Safety Centre kept the relevant parts of his aircraft to educate visitors on the importance of good FOD control and every visitor reeled at the story of how such a great man was lost due to a tiny object. Yeovilton's FOD policy was then adopted by DASC/DARS as the MOD FOD policy and therefore it is immesurable how many lives have been saved as a consequence of his tragic loss.
Gone but not forgotten matey.
The only person I know to have been killed by FOD: A piece of FOD struck a turbine blade at some time before the accident. It caused a stress raiser and the blade parted from the disc just as they were running up towards the ramp at Wittering. The departing blade struck a large valve unit which bent and pinned the aileron control rod against the side of the airframe. As the aircraft left the ramp, it started to roll, which could not be corrected as the control rod was immovable. The student ejected first, just in time, but Jack was so unfortunate to eject just after the airframe had passed 90 deg roll, so the inevitable happened; what a great shame.
His death prompted Yeovilton to change its attitude towards FOD and you will now be unable to find a cleaner airfield anywhere in this country! The RN flight Safety Centre kept the relevant parts of his aircraft to educate visitors on the importance of good FOD control and every visitor reeled at the story of how such a great man was lost due to a tiny object. Yeovilton's FOD policy was then adopted by DASC/DARS as the MOD FOD policy and therefore it is immesurable how many lives have been saved as a consequence of his tragic loss.
Gone but not forgotten matey.
