Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Absolutely my pleasure Smudge 
Brian 48nav ... Looks like we've managed to obtain a copy of the Air Clues article you mentioned at #2477 and #2480 ... I'm in 2 Way with Nimman and will post idc
Best ...
Coff.
Brian 48nav ... Looks like we've managed to obtain a copy of the Air Clues article you mentioned at #2477 and #2480 ... I'm in 2 Way with Nimman and will post idc
Best ...
Coff.
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With the the help of our good friend Nimman ... Here is the Air Clues article mentioned by Brian.
Entitled "With the Services North of Eighty Three" by F/O Bruce Reid.
Expedition dated April 1969 ... Supported by RAF Albert
Source & Image Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues Jan 1970 (Pages 126 to 131)
Fascinating story with RAF Albert supporting ... however seemingly not Wally Herbert's Trans-Arctic Expedition ... so did RAF Albert support that Expedition ... more head scratching needed I think
It would be great if any of the crews involved with North83 Supply Drops could add more to this story.
Best ...
Coff.
Entitled "With the Services North of Eighty Three" by F/O Bruce Reid.
Expedition dated April 1969 ... Supported by RAF Albert
Source & Image Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues Jan 1970 (Pages 126 to 131)
Fascinating story with RAF Albert supporting ... however seemingly not Wally Herbert's Trans-Arctic Expedition ... so did RAF Albert support that Expedition ... more head scratching needed I think
It would be great if any of the crews involved with North83 Supply Drops could add more to this story.
Best ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 16th Feb 2015 at 15:44.
Coff & Nimman
Well done, a very interesting article, but in my mind's eye I can see a photo' looking into the back of a Herc' and Mike Nash and a Sqn Ldr nav' can be clearly seen. The name Barrow leaped into my mind before I Googled Wally Herbert.
Mike was one of the first pilot trappers and having just completed an exchange tour on the C130 with the USAF prior to their entry into RAF service, it seems to me that it was the sort of task, fairly early on in RAF Herc' days, that would have had his name written all over it.
Mike was one of the first pilot trappers and having just completed an exchange tour on the C130 with the USAF prior to their entry into RAF service, it seems to me that it was the sort of task, fairly early on in RAF Herc' days, that would have had his name written all over it.
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Brian ...
Nimman mentioned that he had other Air Clues from that period ... I believe he is going to see if there are anymore Herc articles for us
Best ...
Coff.
Nimman mentioned that he had other Air Clues from that period ... I believe he is going to see if there are anymore Herc articles for us
Best ...
Coff.
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I was the Eng on the flight that picked up Wally Herbert from Mesters Vig (if memory serves) and an expedition from Oxbridge Uni.
I would have to plunder my logbooks to find the date, frame and skipper.
I would have to plunder my logbooks to find the date, frame and skipper.
And no mention of the 1952-53 expedition (I know - thread drift) supported by Sunderlands and a Hastings (which also ended up on the ice - yet another story).
Spanish speaking engineer
The quote that they were lucky to have a Spanish speaking engineer on board was slightly wide of the mark, as the engineer was the ground engineer, who could speak Spanish as I think his mother was Spanish and was allocated to the route for that precise reason. I can't remember his name, the little grey cell is a bit dodgy at times, but the report that came back to the G,Es varied a little from the stories already given, in that the bit about the mob and grenades is as I remember it given to us as was the line about being short of fuel. The extra info was that the mob were told that the aircraft needed to taxi to another location to refuel and to do that they needed to start engines but only needed two to taxi so they wouldn't be able to take off. The crew door was also left partly open on the alternate loop on the support cable to further convince people they would only be taxying but as has been said they jumped the chocks and as they drew away a bit from the crowd started the outboards on the hoof, closed the crew door and legged it rapidly.
Hi Gopher, hope you are well.
Your grey cell sits happily with those events, as I heard them. I had a certain P**e C***in down as the GE in question, but he may have come along later. There must be someone who follows the thread who knows for sure. Thanks for stirring some old memories, and keep that grey cell ticking.
Smudge
Your grey cell sits happily with those events, as I heard them. I had a certain P**e C***in down as the GE in question, but he may have come along later. There must be someone who follows the thread who knows for sure. Thanks for stirring some old memories, and keep that grey cell ticking.
Smudge
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Brian 48nav, Brian W May ...
Gents ...
Thanks to our good friend Nimman I believe we have our Eureka moment with Wally Herbert's Trans-Artic Expedition. Not to mention Brian 48nav's memory
Source Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues March 1968 (Front Cover) : Photographer SAC Peter Shirley.
So I reckon the above pic must match up with the images I posted at #2469 ... but I draw the line at trying to ID the pooch 
Best ...
Coff.
PS. Many thanks again Nimman ... your interest and help is greatly appreciated
Gents ...
Thanks to our good friend Nimman I believe we have our Eureka moment with Wally Herbert's Trans-Artic Expedition. Not to mention Brian 48nav's memory
Source Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues March 1968 (Front Cover) : Photographer SAC Peter Shirley.
Looking on somewhat apprehensively as part of the cargo is loaded at Thule are Sqn Ldr M Nash, Captain of a Hercules from RAF Lyneham, Engineer Flt Lt RT Maltby and Navigator Sqn Ldr AD McGregor. The huskies were part of a 40 strong contingent weighing 3,700 lbs which were being loaded with 30,000 lbs of other stores for the British Trans-Arctic Expedition fitting out at Point Barrow in Alaska. The Expedition was preparing for its 3,800 mile trek on foot and by sledge from Point Barrow across the North Pole to Spitzbergen. SAC Peter Shirley (HQASC) who took this picture reports that there was some interesting husky disputes en route at 30,000 feet !
Best ...
Coff.
PS. Many thanks again Nimman ... your interest and help is greatly appreciated
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 16th Feb 2015 at 16:38.
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I'll just mention that Nimman has also forwarded a number of other interesting articles from Air Clues relating to the early days of RAF Albert's service life ... If it's OK with everyone ... I'll feed these in over the next week or so 
Best ...
Coff.
Best ...
Coff.
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OK ... Maybe a little taster for you Gents who served with RAF Albert out in the FEAF
Source Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues Jan 1968 (Rear Cover).
Best ...
Coff.
Source Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues Jan 1968 (Rear Cover).
Best ...
Coff.
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My Mesters Vig pickup was in the 70s (late I think), we also had (is it) Tom Norcross with us as he'd done Arctic Exped stuff before.
We had the aircraft Strip Prepped as the Mesters Vig runway was gravel and that was done at either Sondrestrom or Thule (without the logbook trawl, I don't remember). I think it was a 30 Sqn trip but may have been OCU, again don't remember without looking it up.
Coff . . . how old do you think I AM ???
September 8th 1978, XV299 Dave Noon as one of the Captains, Dixon being the other and it was Sondrestrom.
We had the aircraft Strip Prepped as the Mesters Vig runway was gravel and that was done at either Sondrestrom or Thule (without the logbook trawl, I don't remember). I think it was a 30 Sqn trip but may have been OCU, again don't remember without looking it up.
Coff . . . how old do you think I AM ???
September 8th 1978, XV299 Dave Noon as one of the Captains, Dixon being the other and it was Sondrestrom.
Last edited by Brian W May; 16th Feb 2015 at 19:03. Reason: Additional info.
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Nimman has unearthed some really interesting Air Clues material dating back to the early days of RAF Albert. Rather than just dump it all in one go ... I thought a bit of a quiz might go down well
OK ... Here are some clues associated with a few articles about RAF Albert ... who can guess the main topic covered ... I'll then post the full article
Clue 1 : Why might W/C Spry (irreverently) suggest a Herc Navigator might need to wear a Ball & Chain ?
Clue 2 : What is going on here ?
Clue 3 : Who were Hephaestus and Horatius (not in the literal sense) ?
Best ...
Coff.
OK ... Here are some clues associated with a few articles about RAF Albert ... who can guess the main topic covered ... I'll then post the full article
Clue 1 : Why might W/C Spry (irreverently) suggest a Herc Navigator might need to wear a Ball & Chain ?
Clue 2 : What is going on here ?
Clue 3 : Who were Hephaestus and Horatius (not in the literal sense) ?
Best ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 19th Feb 2015 at 16:41.
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Ah, memories of Air Marshal Sir Rochford Hughes, KBE, CBE, AFC, who ended up [as did most of the Top Table] with a pink tropical Mess Kit after on of the 20 Sqn mates popped a red smoke grenade under the top table at a Dining In night at Tengah.
I never got the impression that he liked Tengah very much, preferring the more tranquil halls of Changi. But I gained the impression that Tengah wasn't much impressed by him either.
A thin Wiki CV for a C-in-C
And this is not much more substantial
I never got the impression that he liked Tengah very much, preferring the more tranquil halls of Changi. But I gained the impression that Tengah wasn't much impressed by him either.
A thin Wiki CV for a C-in-C
And this is not much more substantial
Last edited by MPN11; 19th Feb 2015 at 19:26.
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Coff, May I please have the first stab at your competition?
I think it may be Smudge giving lessons on prop alignment.
The guy who was responsible for the middle one failed.
Can't wait to find out what happens when you pull the strings.
drag.
I think it may be Smudge giving lessons on prop alignment.
The guy who was responsible for the middle one failed.
Can't wait to find out what happens when you pull the strings.
drag.
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Many thanks Jenkins & Drag for having a go at the quiz ... here are the articles to which my clues related.
Clue 1 : Why might W/C Spry (irreverently) suggest a Herc Navigator might need to wear a Ball & Chain ?
Well ... It would appear that there was some early concern with the astrodome should rapid decompression occur at altitude ... "Herky bird Navigators for the UK space programme" indeed
Clue 2 : What is going on here ?
All part of the Hercules Servicing School set-up ... I'm sure our good friend Smudge will add more when he drops in for a chat
Clue 3 : Who were Hephaestus and Horatius (not in the literal sense) ?
An interesting piece about LXX Squadron ...
Source Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues (Dates May 67, Apr 71 and Jul 74)
Best ...
Coff.
PS. More from me and Nimman IDC
Clue 1 : Why might W/C Spry (irreverently) suggest a Herc Navigator might need to wear a Ball & Chain ?
Well ... It would appear that there was some early concern with the astrodome should rapid decompression occur at altitude ... "Herky bird Navigators for the UK space programme" indeed
Clue 2 : What is going on here ?
All part of the Hercules Servicing School set-up ... I'm sure our good friend Smudge will add more when he drops in for a chat
Clue 3 : Who were Hephaestus and Horatius (not in the literal sense) ?
An interesting piece about LXX Squadron ...
Source Credit : MOD RAF Air Clues (Dates May 67, Apr 71 and Jul 74)
Best ...
Coff.
PS. More from me and Nimman IDC
Playing the pedant the 'astrodome' was nothing of the sort. It was an observation dome allegedly so the Force Commander could view the 'fleet'.
Thet were removed in the from all the fleet only for certain airframes to have them refitted later for specialised roles..
For Astro a periscopic sextant was used and I am sure Brian or nimbev can explain further.
Thet were removed in the from all the fleet only for certain airframes to have them refitted later for specialised roles..
For Astro a periscopic sextant was used and I am sure Brian or nimbev can explain further.