Wasp XT442, lost 12 December 1973
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Wasp XT442, lost 12 December 1973
There have been several reminiscences of initial training on the "Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW11" thread. What hasn't been mentioned is how quickly one made friends because of the teamwork that was required to survive.
In December 1973 the BRNC Dartmouth September entry had been together for 3 months. Every midshipman looked forward to the experience of being underslung by a rescue strop from the Wasp helicopter that was resident up the road at Norton and then to be given an actual flight - bliss! However the weather had not been kind and the programme was running behind schedule, so a second helicopter and pilot was "borrowed" from HMS Eskimo to double the capacity and enable every midshipman to get his turn.
Forty years ago today, 12 December 1973, Wasp XT442, HMS Eskimo Flight, crashed with three of my newly-made friends on board; the pilot and all 3 midshipmen were killed.
I wonder if you could take a moment to spare a thought for Lieutenant Keith Taylor, Midshipmen Jonathan Barlow, Michael Bond, Oliver Gudgeon and their families. We will remember them.
In December 1973 the BRNC Dartmouth September entry had been together for 3 months. Every midshipman looked forward to the experience of being underslung by a rescue strop from the Wasp helicopter that was resident up the road at Norton and then to be given an actual flight - bliss! However the weather had not been kind and the programme was running behind schedule, so a second helicopter and pilot was "borrowed" from HMS Eskimo to double the capacity and enable every midshipman to get his turn.
Forty years ago today, 12 December 1973, Wasp XT442, HMS Eskimo Flight, crashed with three of my newly-made friends on board; the pilot and all 3 midshipmen were killed.
I wonder if you could take a moment to spare a thought for Lieutenant Keith Taylor, Midshipmen Jonathan Barlow, Michael Bond, Oliver Gudgeon and their families. We will remember them.
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RIP guys 
from a fellow Carlisian.
from a fellow Carlisian.
Join Date: Mar 2010
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RIP from here too.
I met up with several of my old BRNC entry (63) at Farnborough in 66 and again in Singapore in 69. I was shocked to hear how many of the original 24 had been lost in the intervening years.
So many young men, always remembered.
I met up with several of my old BRNC entry (63) at Farnborough in 66 and again in Singapore in 69. I was shocked to hear how many of the original 24 had been lost in the intervening years.
So many young men, always remembered.
