Apocryphal Tales
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Apocryphal? Truth is often stranger than fiction!!
So ... Name Plates ... RAF Locking, late 70s.
In the middle of the exec's OMQs on Flowerdown Road lay the residence of the Stn Cdr. A charming, witty and very astute gentleman whose only downside was a large and slightly inept German Shepherd. However.
He decided to, not unreasonably, call the residence "Hector's House". For the benefit of younger readers ...
Hector's House - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Needless to say his less humorous successor renamed it Flowerdown House.
So ... Name Plates ... RAF Locking, late 70s.
In the middle of the exec's OMQs on Flowerdown Road lay the residence of the Stn Cdr. A charming, witty and very astute gentleman whose only downside was a large and slightly inept German Shepherd. However.
He decided to, not unreasonably, call the residence "Hector's House". For the benefit of younger readers ...
Hector's House - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Needless to say his less humorous successor renamed it Flowerdown House.
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stevef
Indeed Sir, a true story. One Friday evening, 10th January 1964 Shackleton XV 710 from 120 Sqn took off from ISK, then headed west. Some 20 minutes later they suffered an uncontrollable overspeed on No 3 engine, which subsequently fell off the wing. The No 4 engine then caught fire and the captain, Flt Lt, later Sqn Ldr 'Pop' Gladstone, carried out an immaculate forced landing, wheels up, on Culloden Moor, with the landing lights and the flames from the burning Griffon to guide him, as well as his co-pilot calling height from the Radar Altimeter.
The crew of ten all survived without major injury, but, one young Sergeant ran off to get help without telling anyone. When Pop and his co-pilot, one Jimmy Lee, got out and held a head count, there was one missing. Without hesitation, Pop and Jimmy went back into the now blazing aircraft to make sure that there was nobody trapped in the fuselage. Courage indeed!
"Flt Lt Gladstone's calmness, leadership and gallant behaviour undoubtedly saved the lives of his crew and prevented loss of civilian lives and property." (From Pop's citation.)
Jimmy had transmitted his 'Mayday' on Kinloss Approach, which was he frequency in use. The Kinloss fire crew drove along the main Inverness road until they saw the flaming wreckage, then went cross-country directly to the burning Shack. Apparently they managed it in an astonishing time. BZ to them.
Pop Gladstone was awarded a well-deserved Bar to his AFC for saving his crew that night. On the other hand, Jimmy was castigated by the Board of Enquiry for not making his first call on Guard. Wrong!. The SOP was, and is, to make the first call on the frequency in use.
The locals remarked, with respect, that Pop and his crew were the first Englishmen to fall on Culloden Moor since 1745.
How do I know all this? The story was still a legend when I joined 120 Sqn in 1966, but in 1965, on the Varsity AFTS at Oakington, I had the privilege of flying with one of the finest QFIs I have ever known, James Aloysius Lee.
Yes, the 120 Sqn Crew did end up that night at a local Caelidh for a dram or twain. Also, the Station Duty Officer at Kinloss had the nous to order the bars in both Officers' and Sergeants' Messes to remain open until the Crew had returned and been suitably refreshed after their ordeal!
All's well that ends well!!!
The crew of ten all survived without major injury, but, one young Sergeant ran off to get help without telling anyone. When Pop and his co-pilot, one Jimmy Lee, got out and held a head count, there was one missing. Without hesitation, Pop and Jimmy went back into the now blazing aircraft to make sure that there was nobody trapped in the fuselage. Courage indeed!
"Flt Lt Gladstone's calmness, leadership and gallant behaviour undoubtedly saved the lives of his crew and prevented loss of civilian lives and property." (From Pop's citation.)
Jimmy had transmitted his 'Mayday' on Kinloss Approach, which was he frequency in use. The Kinloss fire crew drove along the main Inverness road until they saw the flaming wreckage, then went cross-country directly to the burning Shack. Apparently they managed it in an astonishing time. BZ to them.
Pop Gladstone was awarded a well-deserved Bar to his AFC for saving his crew that night. On the other hand, Jimmy was castigated by the Board of Enquiry for not making his first call on Guard. Wrong!. The SOP was, and is, to make the first call on the frequency in use.
The locals remarked, with respect, that Pop and his crew were the first Englishmen to fall on Culloden Moor since 1745.
How do I know all this? The story was still a legend when I joined 120 Sqn in 1966, but in 1965, on the Varsity AFTS at Oakington, I had the privilege of flying with one of the finest QFIs I have ever known, James Aloysius Lee.
Yes, the 120 Sqn Crew did end up that night at a local Caelidh for a dram or twain. Also, the Station Duty Officer at Kinloss had the nous to order the bars in both Officers' and Sergeants' Messes to remain open until the Crew had returned and been suitably refreshed after their ordeal!
All's well that ends well!!!
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Wonder00, your tale about the tent for the WAAFs reminded me of the following. Not sure if you were at Wyton when the Happy Eater was built for the OCU. Daddy Dragartist was showing a visiting Senior Officer around the new building. Senior man askes about the facilities for the new WAAF who he had noted earlier. "Don't worry" Dad says, "we are teaching her to use the standups."
Good to see that building is still being put to good use by the Air Ambulance.
Good to see that building is still being put to good use by the Air Ambulance.
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The story went at Guetersloh c. 1967 of a SNCOs Mess Fancy Dress Do, attended briefly by a sergeant on duty and therefore not in said dress.
When asked what he was attending as, he pulled his trouser pockets inside out and said "an elephant!".
"Elephants have trunks!"
"I can soon fix that!"
and did ......................
When asked what he was attending as, he pulled his trouser pockets inside out and said "an elephant!".
"Elephants have trunks!"
"I can soon fix that!"
and did ......................
Gibraltar, a mighty frontline Jag Sqn flying the flag as a deterrent. Troops arrive on the Britannia trooper and promptly head to the Naaf 1 for a drink, turfing up they espy a cleaner and for some reason a couple whip their willies out and say what about these then love.... Or similar
She was not amused and neither was her husband a Sgt Plod... Result they were arrested charged and thrown off Gib, indeed they departed on the same flight from whence they came back to Germany..
Now the strange bit, both flashed the woman, both were charged, both charges were read on the Sqn and in front of the same person, But both got different fines, we could only summarise that size does indeed matter when it comes to charges..
Car parking Slots.
On 42 Sqn it was commented that the Nav Leader's was the easiest to find, and the Pilot Leader's was the easiest to drive into. Seemed reasonable.
120Sqn / Culloden Moor
There was a story that when one of the crew got home, having lost his keys in the forced landing, he had to bang on the door to get his wife to let him in. Wife opened door and said " Where the hell are your keys". "I've been in a crash", says hero. Wife smells breath, says "You liar, your trip was cancelled and you've been in the bar all this time" and slams door.
On 42 Sqn it was commented that the Nav Leader's was the easiest to find, and the Pilot Leader's was the easiest to drive into. Seemed reasonable.
120Sqn / Culloden Moor
There was a story that when one of the crew got home, having lost his keys in the forced landing, he had to bang on the door to get his wife to let him in. Wife opened door and said " Where the hell are your keys". "I've been in a crash", says hero. Wife smells breath, says "You liar, your trip was cancelled and you've been in the bar all this time" and slams door.
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May I just but in to thank you, as a non military man, for these great tales that have me giggling like a loon. I can only imagine how even better they are for those there. Butting back out to receive only mode now
OTU 1966. Commandant, Col. 'Ringo' G....s, has a habit of taking a stroll through cadets lines, preceded by his labrador dog.
One afternoon, cadets sitting around outside rooms polishing boots, brass etc, when labrador appears at one end of lines. Sharp-eyed cadet spots it, calls "Stand fast!" in anticipation.
Ringo appears at other end of lines, to find cadets at attention or saluting his dog.
Extras all round.
One afternoon, cadets sitting around outside rooms polishing boots, brass etc, when labrador appears at one end of lines. Sharp-eyed cadet spots it, calls "Stand fast!" in anticipation.
Ringo appears at other end of lines, to find cadets at attention or saluting his dog.
Extras all round.
LB - Bob was a star, especially considering his tour started with the death of his new Son in Law in the Hyde Park bombing. No, his predecessor, DC, for whom the FLMs of 5 had a record played on Radio Lincoln "The Fool on the Hill". Did not go down well either, nor discovering (by head count) that 30% of the strength was missing from the Station Photograph, setting in train a massive witch hunt to identify those missing.
Gentleman Aviator
setting in train a massive witch hunt ...
A4 photograph, 7-800 faces - not very distinct, difficult to identify individuals - at least that was the general response of flt and sqn commanders tasked with identifying those missing
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Haraka,
You were lucky!
There was a similar barrier at Akrotiri circa 62-4, before the area to the Tower and Electronics Centre.
I was manning it one night when the OO came along in his Triumph Spitfire, insisting that I didn't lift the boom, so he could see if he could get under.
He did. At walking pace.
On his return journey, he didn't stop and went though at about 30 to 40 MPH, the car must have been bouncing a bit, as he didn't quite make it!
I bet his insurance claim made interesting reading.
Literally - a Triumph Spitfire just fitted under the Guard Room road barrier with an inch or so to spare.
There was a similar barrier at Akrotiri circa 62-4, before the area to the Tower and Electronics Centre.
I was manning it one night when the OO came along in his Triumph Spitfire, insisting that I didn't lift the boom, so he could see if he could get under.
He did. At walking pace.
On his return journey, he didn't stop and went though at about 30 to 40 MPH, the car must have been bouncing a bit, as he didn't quite make it!
I bet his insurance claim made interesting reading.
You were lucky!
After an evening in Skindles, we discovered that a Spitfire would just go under the barrier of the town's automatic multi-storey car park.
A great game then ensued for about twenty minutes, screaming up and down the ramps both ways from top to bottom and back of the building.
Now one doesn't normally expect to find a policeman standing in the middle of the third floor of a deserted car park with his arm up at around midnight ........
However, said car park was sited right next door to the Maidenhead Cop Shop.
It was an interesting conversation that ensued.
ian16th wrote:
Yes, a village and its idiot are easily parted....
Haraka, was your colleague in crime perhaps one R***r E******w?
Skindles, eh? You must have been wealthier than most!
On his return journey, he didn't stop and went though at about 30 to 40 MPH, the car must have been bouncing a bit, as he didn't quite make it!
I bet his insurance claim made interesting reading.
I bet his insurance claim made interesting reading.
Haraka, was your colleague in crime perhaps one R***r E******w?
Skindles, eh? You must have been wealthier than most!
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120 Sqn Shackleton crash lands on Culloden Moor
I reckon if you've already had one engine fall off the wing, and another on the same side is burning and cannot be extinguished, the aircraft gets put down NOW and not in just a mo'.
All the fire cover in the world is no good if your wing falls off 4.4 miles away.
I am only a humble engineer, though: what do mil aircrew say?
All the fire cover in the world is no good if your wing falls off 4.4 miles away.
I am only a humble engineer, though: what do mil aircrew say?
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I know its no SR-71 but how long does it take a Shackleton to cover 4.4 miles?
I'm only a humble engineer too, but I would have thought it's more risky to put down NOW than a runway that doesn't have any obstructions to hit.
I'm not criticising him, I'm just interested in the decision process.
I'm only a humble engineer too, but I would have thought it's more risky to put down NOW than a runway that doesn't have any obstructions to hit.
I'm not criticising him, I'm just interested in the decision process.
Pop's aircraft had lost one engine that had fallen off and taken half the rudder with it, the other engine and wing on that side was burning and they had insufficient power to stay airborne. Thanks to the damage to the tail/rudder the aircraft was also in a gentle turn towards high ground and at night. By the light from the burning wing he saw a potential landing area, chopped everything, put it down and they all walked (ran) away from it. Well deserved (and one of the very few) almost instant awards of the AFC.
Of note if the Nimrod that had the engine fire over the Moray Firth had tried to make it to Lossiemouth (also only a few miles away) instead of the instant decision to ditch it the outcome would have also been catastrophic.
There are times and emergencies which are designated as 'LAND IMMEDIATELY, even if that means landing in an unsuitable area and includes ditching, as continued flight is inadvisable' (or similar words). That is what captaincy is all about - the decision to do so is yours and frequently instantaneous - just ask Chesley Sullenberger.
PS - 1. We reckoned the magnesium alloy mainspars would only last about 2 mins max in a fire. 2. We had another Shack on 205 Sqn that had an uncontrolled engine fire en route Gan to Changi at about 8000ft -although they tried to ditch, the wing folded before they reached the water.
Of note if the Nimrod that had the engine fire over the Moray Firth had tried to make it to Lossiemouth (also only a few miles away) instead of the instant decision to ditch it the outcome would have also been catastrophic.
There are times and emergencies which are designated as 'LAND IMMEDIATELY, even if that means landing in an unsuitable area and includes ditching, as continued flight is inadvisable' (or similar words). That is what captaincy is all about - the decision to do so is yours and frequently instantaneous - just ask Chesley Sullenberger.
PS - 1. We reckoned the magnesium alloy mainspars would only last about 2 mins max in a fire. 2. We had another Shack on 205 Sqn that had an uncontrolled engine fire en route Gan to Changi at about 8000ft -although they tried to ditch, the wing folded before they reached the water.
Last edited by Shackman; 17th Mar 2014 at 13:50. Reason: Adding the PS
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Wyton in the very early nineties, lovely day, Canberra 8 miles to land. Phone rings in ATC. “I’m watching 2 cows running down your runway mate, a white one and a brown one.”
“Roger that.” Turns to Controller, “Sir, there are cows on the runway.”
“F%$£* me, Callsign on approach overshoot, runway is Black, I say again….”
Canberra cruises through. A ‘throng’ suddenly gathers in ATC Local.
Controller, “Ring 51, tell them those cows are running toward that parked Nimrod.”
“Yes sir.”
Both cows jog past ATC, towards the Nimrod, dragging a barbed wire fence.
A chief suddenly appears, jogs manfully out of the big flappy rubber double doors, crosses the dispersal. Protects Nimrod. Waves arms to fend off approaching bovines. Cows undettered, increase speed and chase him back through double doors. Throng laughing.
Station Commander arrives in Local, throng dissolves. “Where are they now?”
Controller, “The white ones lying down somewhere on Married Quarters, sir. Not sure about the brown one.” Pause. Storno crackles to life……”Rover -Tower…(pause)..”Tower this is Rover pasture message?” (Laughing in background). “Rover - Tower, How now brown cow?”
Station Commander trying not to laugh. Station Tannoy, “All non essential personnel report to ATC etc” A posse of @ 100 people walk in a well ordered line across the length of the airfield, marshalling a cow. Warm grass, skylarks above. The vast open silence of an unused airfield. Cow spotted, cow lies down. Farmer appears with trailer. Brown cow won’t obey instructions to embark trailer. ATC SAC, “My dad has a farm, let me try…” Walks over to cow. Cow pricks ears up, stands, interested. “Ya…Ya…” Cow starts pawing lumps out of airfield, breathing heavily. Posse shuffles backwards. “Ya Ya Ya…” Cow suddenly covers 20 feet in @ 2 seconds, airman takes cows head squarely in between legs and is launched backwards over cow, a perfect somersault. Everyone is laughing, including the SAC. Cow moves back into position and, satisfied with outcome, lies down, chews cud. Police sniper team arrives. (Not making this up!). Farmer nods. Cow chews cud. A rifle is assembled in front of awestruck posse. Posse shuffles back, again. A rifle is aimed. Cow stands up, interested. Crack!
Cow leaps into air, all 4 hooves jerk 90 degrees to starboard. Thud. Cow works, cow stops working. Round of applause! Police leave. Posse back to normal duties with the bemused thanks of the Stn Cdr. Aircraft start to circle and land.
Happy memories.
“Roger that.” Turns to Controller, “Sir, there are cows on the runway.”
“F%$£* me, Callsign on approach overshoot, runway is Black, I say again….”
Canberra cruises through. A ‘throng’ suddenly gathers in ATC Local.
Controller, “Ring 51, tell them those cows are running toward that parked Nimrod.”
“Yes sir.”
Both cows jog past ATC, towards the Nimrod, dragging a barbed wire fence.
A chief suddenly appears, jogs manfully out of the big flappy rubber double doors, crosses the dispersal. Protects Nimrod. Waves arms to fend off approaching bovines. Cows undettered, increase speed and chase him back through double doors. Throng laughing.
Station Commander arrives in Local, throng dissolves. “Where are they now?”
Controller, “The white ones lying down somewhere on Married Quarters, sir. Not sure about the brown one.” Pause. Storno crackles to life……”Rover -Tower…(pause)..”Tower this is Rover pasture message?” (Laughing in background). “Rover - Tower, How now brown cow?”
Station Commander trying not to laugh. Station Tannoy, “All non essential personnel report to ATC etc” A posse of @ 100 people walk in a well ordered line across the length of the airfield, marshalling a cow. Warm grass, skylarks above. The vast open silence of an unused airfield. Cow spotted, cow lies down. Farmer appears with trailer. Brown cow won’t obey instructions to embark trailer. ATC SAC, “My dad has a farm, let me try…” Walks over to cow. Cow pricks ears up, stands, interested. “Ya…Ya…” Cow starts pawing lumps out of airfield, breathing heavily. Posse shuffles backwards. “Ya Ya Ya…” Cow suddenly covers 20 feet in @ 2 seconds, airman takes cows head squarely in between legs and is launched backwards over cow, a perfect somersault. Everyone is laughing, including the SAC. Cow moves back into position and, satisfied with outcome, lies down, chews cud. Police sniper team arrives. (Not making this up!). Farmer nods. Cow chews cud. A rifle is assembled in front of awestruck posse. Posse shuffles back, again. A rifle is aimed. Cow stands up, interested. Crack!
Cow leaps into air, all 4 hooves jerk 90 degrees to starboard. Thud. Cow works, cow stops working. Round of applause! Police leave. Posse back to normal duties with the bemused thanks of the Stn Cdr. Aircraft start to circle and land.
Happy memories.
During the mid 60s, a new No.1, known as the T63 was introduced for ORs.
The issuing of the new uniform was a shambles, you were called to clothing stores only to find your jacket had arrived etc. etc. There were other problems with cloth deliveries to the manufacturer, as a result of the shambles, the following appeared in Wittering SROs :-
" Due to further delays to T63 uniform issues, WRAF skirts will be held up until SNCOs without trousers have been satisfied"
The issuing of the new uniform was a shambles, you were called to clothing stores only to find your jacket had arrived etc. etc. There were other problems with cloth deliveries to the manufacturer, as a result of the shambles, the following appeared in Wittering SROs :-
" Due to further delays to T63 uniform issues, WRAF skirts will be held up until SNCOs without trousers have been satisfied"