Flying Doctors
Peter S*****y, well known in gliding circles, was an air cdre doc with wings. He is still flying gliders and towing with a Pawnee and he must be getting close to 80!
We had a flying doc (TL) as a student on NUAS in the earlier 1970s. He used to regale us with stories of what people came into A+E with - oranges featured once or twice!!
I believe he progressed to quite a high rank
HF
I believe he progressed to quite a high rank
HF
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In late 60's a "flying doc" at Cranwell flew me ( vertically challenged ) to Oakington to check that my stumpy pins could manage the rudder in a Varsity. En route in the JP4 he also checked his own aeros sequence. As I type I realise that we could have simply driven across the airfield to the Varsity squadron at Cranwell...........but where's the fun in that?!
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Mike Bagshaw
Mike was one of my instructors at Cranwell. Outstanding pilot and QFI. Can't vouch for his doctoring skills but also suspect outstanding.
I seem to recall an incident involving a bicycle, broom handle and valuable painting in College Hall which was damaged in a joust along the revered corridors. Now who was that?
I seem to recall an incident involving a bicycle, broom handle and valuable painting in College Hall which was damaged in a joust along the revered corridors. Now who was that?
Basil, think it was Brian Reader ? at SC..
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There was a female Dr at Brize circa 2001-2005 who qualified as a Dr before she joined up as a pilot. As I understand it, having completed the T-38 cse in the States, she fell foul of the enormous holds in the mid-90's. Rather than spend years holding waiting for an OCU she told them to stuff it and re-mustered as a Dr.
There was a female Dr at Brize circa 2001-2005
Flying Docs
Going back to the late 60's , I was detached to I.A.M. from the Towers in '69 for four months 
, pending leaping off to the fleshpots of London as a "student".
At that time there were, I think , 6 Flying Doctors in the Service ( two of whom were called Smith- one of whom was at Cranwell ).
As to their proficiency, the late John Lemon certainly was P1 on IAM's Canberra; I met others who had flown combat types ( David Urquart being one - now long deceased)
There were, of course, medics with wings who had gone the other route. One of the Group Captains at the time ( T.. D...) was on Wellingtons at Bircham Newton as a Pilot and then later remustered ( by weird coincidence whilst at Bircham N. he served along with the lady who later became my mother) . There was also at least one Cranwell cadet who followed the same path in later years.
It is often said that many Pilots are frustrated Doctors, whilst many Doctors are frustrated Pilots.
Anybody care to comment ?
, pending leaping off to the fleshpots of London as a "student".At that time there were, I think , 6 Flying Doctors in the Service ( two of whom were called Smith- one of whom was at Cranwell ).
As to their proficiency, the late John Lemon certainly was P1 on IAM's Canberra; I met others who had flown combat types ( David Urquart being one - now long deceased)
There were, of course, medics with wings who had gone the other route. One of the Group Captains at the time ( T.. D...) was on Wellingtons at Bircham Newton as a Pilot and then later remustered ( by weird coincidence whilst at Bircham N. he served along with the lady who later became my mother) . There was also at least one Cranwell cadet who followed the same path in later years.
It is often said that many Pilots are frustrated Doctors, whilst many Doctors are frustrated Pilots.
Anybody care to comment ?
Last edited by Haraka; 23rd Oct 2013 at 16:46.
Basil
It rings a bell with me too ( especially as we both graduated on 218 ) - I keep thinking the name Cheshire, but no sign of that name in a couple of RAF Lists I have.
Mike Bagshaw regularly flew into Boscombe ( '83-'86 ) in a Hunter T bird from Farnborough - c/s Nugget 38, IIRC.
When my No1 off-spring was instructing on ETPS (2004-06) there was another instructor TP, ex-Harriers, who was also a doctor - how he found time for all the swotting I don't know?
Mike Bagshaw regularly flew into Boscombe ( '83-'86 ) in a Hunter T bird from Farnborough - c/s Nugget 38, IIRC.
When my No1 off-spring was instructing on ETPS (2004-06) there was another instructor TP, ex-Harriers, who was also a doctor - how he found time for all the swotting I don't know?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Just to clear the facts between those with two careers, doctors who then became aircrew and the out of branch aircrew.
The RAF doctors and engineers of 1960s vintage had been commissioned in the Medical and Engineering branches. They may then have serve on operational sqns on out-of-branch tours.
I can't speak with direct knowledge of doctors but on 35 there was an AEO, good egg and all, who at the end of his one tour went back to being an engineer in branch. I think, given his rank and age, that he had probably done a JEngO tour before his training as an AEO. His next tour was OC EES.
Of the former, we had a GD/P co-pilot on Nimrods who was not a doctor but a physiologist (IIRC) who applied to transfer to the Medical branch. The RAF refused, so he joined the RAMC in the rank of major and was returned to medical school to get his medical degree.
The RAF doctors and engineers of 1960s vintage had been commissioned in the Medical and Engineering branches. They may then have serve on operational sqns on out-of-branch tours.
I can't speak with direct knowledge of doctors but on 35 there was an AEO, good egg and all, who at the end of his one tour went back to being an engineer in branch. I think, given his rank and age, that he had probably done a JEngO tour before his training as an AEO. His next tour was OC EES.
Of the former, we had a GD/P co-pilot on Nimrods who was not a doctor but a physiologist (IIRC) who applied to transfer to the Medical branch. The RAF refused, so he joined the RAMC in the rank of major and was returned to medical school to get his medical degree.
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Yes Rose, There was a smashing fella I worked with on a couple of jobs who flew Lynx. He was the senior medic at JHC in around 2009/10. Lt Colonel Mike H.....an. It was nice to see the Army the RAF CAM and Q2 IAM doctors working together. Mike did not have any axe to grind but there appeared a great deal of animosity between the two light blue formations. I could not find an excuse to have a Navy Aviator Dr on the job but that would have been fun. I did wonder if having to travel on the IoW ferry would have been sufficient justification!
DB who was our station SMO at Wyton early 90s became an aviation medicine specialist and quite senior, and did some flying, but not sure if he qualified for a flying brevet
Mike was one of my instructors at Cranwell. Outstanding pilot and QFI. Can't vouch for his doctoring skills but also suspect outstanding.
Nice guy but I always thought he was one of life's great under achievers
http://jarvisbagshaw.com/4_mike.html
Last edited by wiggy; 23rd Oct 2013 at 21:44.
The Spec Av Med at AAC Centre Middle Wallop, Ian Perry also trained as a helicopter pilot in the late 1960s.