Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Brian,
Looks like Colernes drying room guitarists get around a bit then. I regularly practiced with a chap called Dave Jenkins, a sumpy from Brum. We used to frequent pubs around bath doing folkified Beatles tunes. Always good for a free beer or two. He now lives in Auckland NZ, having lived in South Africa previously. Good times for single lads.
Smudge
Looks like Colernes drying room guitarists get around a bit then. I regularly practiced with a chap called Dave Jenkins, a sumpy from Brum. We used to frequent pubs around bath doing folkified Beatles tunes. Always good for a free beer or two. He now lives in Auckland NZ, having lived in South Africa previously. Good times for single lads.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 17th Apr 2015 at 14:18.
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Andruskiewicz
It always amused me that nearly 50 years since WWII Andrus still couldn't speak English properly whereas newly arrived Poles have it virtually as a second language. Deciphering his directives in the sim were time consuming enough but one episode rendered us all dumbstruck followed by unappreciated hilarity.
Ascot 4321 was on departure from Akrotiri in the customary gloom of the simulator when Sqn Ldr AtoZ suddenly hurled a pile of flight documents onto the captains lap with the following ejaculation;
"Emmerjencee! emmerjencee! Flamingo comes through vindow! Kills pilot! Copilot-Vot you do!?"
............Eng: "Er, Clear reverse"
Ascot 4321 was on departure from Akrotiri in the customary gloom of the simulator when Sqn Ldr AtoZ suddenly hurled a pile of flight documents onto the captains lap with the following ejaculation;
"Emmerjencee! emmerjencee! Flamingo comes through vindow! Kills pilot! Copilot-Vot you do!?"
............Eng: "Er, Clear reverse"
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Ermegency! Ermegency.......
I, too, spent many happy hours instructing in the Sim with Andy A-Z.
There had been a report of an aircraft (I can't remember which type) where the Captain's seat had unlocked at 'Rotate' causing the seat to shoot back.
Andy would reach forward, unlock the Capts seat at the critical moment, and shout at the co-pilot to do 'zumzing'.
On another occasion (again at 'rotate') he grabbed the Capt round the neck and shouted 'Ermegency! Ermegency! Capt has heart attack - co-pilot, take control'.
Unfortunately, the co took a bit of time to get things together, by which time the Capt was going red in the face and desperately trying to loosen Andy's grip.
A really interesting story was how Andy escaped from Poland as the Germans advanced. A bunch of us were lucky enough to be in a pub one night when he told the story.
I believe he wrote a book of his life and it is all in there.
There had been a report of an aircraft (I can't remember which type) where the Captain's seat had unlocked at 'Rotate' causing the seat to shoot back.
Andy would reach forward, unlock the Capts seat at the critical moment, and shout at the co-pilot to do 'zumzing'.
On another occasion (again at 'rotate') he grabbed the Capt round the neck and shouted 'Ermegency! Ermegency! Capt has heart attack - co-pilot, take control'.
Unfortunately, the co took a bit of time to get things together, by which time the Capt was going red in the face and desperately trying to loosen Andy's grip.
A really interesting story was how Andy escaped from Poland as the Germans advanced. A bunch of us were lucky enough to be in a pub one night when he told the story.
I believe he wrote a book of his life and it is all in there.
The man sounds one hell of a character. And, of course, back in the day the fleet had many such characters. I wonder the reaction in these modern times to a Captain being "restrained by the neck" in a simulator drill ? I bet the lawyers would be rubbing their hands in glee. It's nice to see three, top, switch movers posting on the thread, and all in a short space of time. Only today a fellow ex GE was explaining to me that the Flt Eng was retained for so long only to mediate in arguments between the two pilots, and obviously to ensure that Captains did not use their authority to win all the time 
no wonder Doug and his fellow directional consultants preferred to sit a little further behind them. Just a little stir chaps:
Smudge
PS Kilwhang, any idea of the books title and availability ?
no wonder Doug and his fellow directional consultants preferred to sit a little further behind them. Just a little stir chaps:Smudge
PS Kilwhang, any idea of the books title and availability ?
Sqn Ldr Andrus'
Andy was the wing pilot at Changi for the Herc', a thorough gentlemen.
For pilot cats' he had devised his own SID for Changi but never seemed to let on the details to ATC, when asked our intention he would take the RT and reply, " Zis is ze categorisation detail, unable to comply".
Basically he expected the 'victim' to select a radial from Tengah Tacan that could be intercepted at about 1000' after a straight ahead departure from the active runway and followed to the east of Changi until Andy threw some emergency at the pilot.
On a previous tour at Changi, Andy was the skipper of a Valetta of 110 Sqn flying from Kai Tak to Saigon and was first on the scene of search to locate survivors of a Cathay Pacific aircraft that had been shot down IIRC by a Chinese Mig15.
For pilot cats' he had devised his own SID for Changi but never seemed to let on the details to ATC, when asked our intention he would take the RT and reply, " Zis is ze categorisation detail, unable to comply".
Basically he expected the 'victim' to select a radial from Tengah Tacan that could be intercepted at about 1000' after a straight ahead departure from the active runway and followed to the east of Changi until Andy threw some emergency at the pilot.
On a previous tour at Changi, Andy was the skipper of a Valetta of 110 Sqn flying from Kai Tak to Saigon and was first on the scene of search to locate survivors of a Cathay Pacific aircraft that had been shot down IIRC by a Chinese Mig15.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 18th Apr 2015 at 14:00. Reason: misspelling
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Sqn Ldr Andrus.......
Smuj, I've spent a bit of time trying to trace his book but with no luck. It is possible that it was written by someone else - if it was written at all.
Here is a quick precis of what he told us. Remember, this is almost 40 years ago and my episodic memory is not what it was..........
In the summer of 1939 the Polish Armed Forces were equipped with kit that wasn't 'state of the art'. They were certainly no match for the might of Germany. As the invasion progressed, it was obvious that there was only going to be one winner.
The Polish government made an agreement with the aggressors that their forces would stop fighting and hand over their weapons.
Andy was a fighter pilot at the time (flying bi-planes, I think) and, along with some of his mates, wasn't too happy about surrendering. A group of them flew south to Hungary and 'after a few mishaps' made it to France, where they joined the French Air Force.
Soon afterwards the French surrendered so Andy flew to the UK and joined the RAF.
Andy didn't say what he did during the war years and skipped to the late 40's when he was flying transport aircraft.
I know he was on Beverleys and, amongst other things, was involved during the setting up of the ALM Branch. I believe he was one of the first ALM Checkers and did that until there were enough experienced ALMs to take over.
Perhaps AA62 or one of the other 'senior' Loadies could confirm or deny that.
He was, also, part of the 'Polish Government-in-Exile' (for those who don't know what that is, it's worth a Google search).
Andy could appear a bit intimidating at first but I always found him very approachable and, as Brian 48nav says, a thorough gentleman.
If anyone out there can add to this, I'm sure we'd all appreciate that.
And, of course, he has his own entry in the C130K lexicon:
Ermegency! Ermegency!
Here is a quick precis of what he told us. Remember, this is almost 40 years ago and my episodic memory is not what it was..........
In the summer of 1939 the Polish Armed Forces were equipped with kit that wasn't 'state of the art'. They were certainly no match for the might of Germany. As the invasion progressed, it was obvious that there was only going to be one winner.
The Polish government made an agreement with the aggressors that their forces would stop fighting and hand over their weapons.
Andy was a fighter pilot at the time (flying bi-planes, I think) and, along with some of his mates, wasn't too happy about surrendering. A group of them flew south to Hungary and 'after a few mishaps' made it to France, where they joined the French Air Force.
Soon afterwards the French surrendered so Andy flew to the UK and joined the RAF.
Andy didn't say what he did during the war years and skipped to the late 40's when he was flying transport aircraft.
I know he was on Beverleys and, amongst other things, was involved during the setting up of the ALM Branch. I believe he was one of the first ALM Checkers and did that until there were enough experienced ALMs to take over.
Perhaps AA62 or one of the other 'senior' Loadies could confirm or deny that.
He was, also, part of the 'Polish Government-in-Exile' (for those who don't know what that is, it's worth a Google search).
Andy could appear a bit intimidating at first but I always found him very approachable and, as Brian 48nav says, a thorough gentleman.
If anyone out there can add to this, I'm sure we'd all appreciate that.
And, of course, he has his own entry in the C130K lexicon:
Ermegency! Ermegency!
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As a 1st tourist engineer I first came across A-Z with a crew consisting of a very experienced captain (let's call him Robbie with a perm) a ex-VC10 captain now co-pilot (acting S/L now Flt Lt) and a nav who I cannot remember (cue episodic memory, Kilwhang). On rotate Andy called the inevitable "Errrmegencee, Errrmegencee, Captain, you have hearrrt attack" He had been briefed of course, and became limp (but laughing like a drain). The co-pilot now had to take command, and it went rapidly downhill from there! Just as he muttered those immortal words "I have control" No 4 engine had a fire warning with all the attendant hooting and lights. "Fire No4" calls I, whereon the Co looks up and pulls the No4 Fire T handle (the drill had only just been changed) He had barely got the aircraft under control, and the indications had disappeared, when he said "I suppose we had better do the subsequent actions, Nav..read the drill". The Nav said "Fire Control handle" he looked up and before I could re-act said "Damn, I didn't pull the T Handle" and then pulled No 3 T Handle making us DOUBLE assymetric. The Captain at this time looked like he might actually HAVE a heart attack laughing. I set us up for an immediate re-light, but the co wouldn't have it. We struggled round for a landing (although it certainly wasn't pretty) and that was the end of the sortie! Front to back approximately 45 mins. I was curtly told I would not be required for the debrief, but my screen told me there was about to be blood letting. Not that long after I had the good fortune to work with him in the sim as an instructor, but still maintain he made it up as he went along. It made for some interesting times.
AC,
Please tell me that happened in the sim
Kilwhang,
Thanks for that, despite being in different times, and no doubt with more risk to life and limb, it's a story that has happened throughout the history of Albert in service with the RAF. My only personal experience was of one A**y M******y, a Flight Engineer, well known, who went through hard times (and a big bike ride) to join our service. I had the pleasure of being his GE on many routes, and, will never forget helping him to deliver whatever could be scrounged from our flight rations to a local orphanage on arrival in Belize. Perhaps like him, Sqn Ldr Andrus was attracted to the Royal Air Force by reputation. I wonder if there are more examples of "foreign input" to the Albert fleet over the years, obviously the Kiwis seem to have a head start, having snatched the Station Commander title from the Brits, and have now captured Fergineer,or was he always "one of them"?
Please tell me that happened in the sim
Kilwhang,
Thanks for that, despite being in different times, and no doubt with more risk to life and limb, it's a story that has happened throughout the history of Albert in service with the RAF. My only personal experience was of one A**y M******y, a Flight Engineer, well known, who went through hard times (and a big bike ride) to join our service. I had the pleasure of being his GE on many routes, and, will never forget helping him to deliver whatever could be scrounged from our flight rations to a local orphanage on arrival in Belize. Perhaps like him, Sqn Ldr Andrus was attracted to the Royal Air Force by reputation. I wonder if there are more examples of "foreign input" to the Albert fleet over the years, obviously the Kiwis seem to have a head start, having snatched the Station Commander title from the Brits, and have now captured Fergineer,or was he always "one of them"?
Last edited by smujsmith; 18th Apr 2015 at 19:36.
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I've got Andy Muniandy's book here. I thought he owned a rubber plantation in Malaysia.
The art with dealing with A to Z was to refuse to do his list - bless him, he actually examined the sim records of the incumbent crew and then prioritized them to list all the ticks for the BTRs.
Once you'd done as many ticks as was reasonable (rather than possible) - he relaxed.
I wrote a song about that too . . .
SIMULATED TALKING BLUES
(Brian May 1979 )
When you come to the sim, your heart’s in your boots
You’ve got to face it and forget those routes
You knew it could happen and it did this time
You got your B Cat, that’s your crime
Hand in your flying-suit, plan your weekends
For eighteen months you’re forced to stop
From flying enroute, your spirit flops
You’re on the move, this ain’t no line
Now even HTS seems fine
Like the difference between leukemia and dying – just a question of time
The crews come in and beg to be shot
They’ve looked at the board and seen who’ve they’ve got
A to Z’s just got to be seen
He’ll give every tick there’s ever been . . . and then some
Efficient little devil ain’t he?
He lists the snags, a foolscap side
It’s enough to make you run and hide
Off we go at great haste, what’s this a five minute space?
Must be Friday, No his watch stopped, Biro overheat!
Now the man in the office is really a pearl
Ayatollah Smith really makes you hurl
Who says humans can’t be simulated
Pity he’s not where he’s appreciated . . . Tehran . . . Iran . . . as a hostage
You may think I’m bitter, you may think I’m sick
I’ve got a nagging doubt that just won’t click
YES, it WILL, there’s a way I cried
It’s really quite simple, called suicide
AFTER euthanasia for retired officers, and assassination of religious leaders
Why die now? I’d be a hero!
The art with dealing with A to Z was to refuse to do his list - bless him, he actually examined the sim records of the incumbent crew and then prioritized them to list all the ticks for the BTRs.
Once you'd done as many ticks as was reasonable (rather than possible) - he relaxed.
I wrote a song about that too . . .
SIMULATED TALKING BLUES
(Brian May 1979 )
When you come to the sim, your heart’s in your boots
You’ve got to face it and forget those routes
You knew it could happen and it did this time
You got your B Cat, that’s your crime
Hand in your flying-suit, plan your weekends
For eighteen months you’re forced to stop
From flying enroute, your spirit flops
You’re on the move, this ain’t no line
Now even HTS seems fine
Like the difference between leukemia and dying – just a question of time
The crews come in and beg to be shot
They’ve looked at the board and seen who’ve they’ve got
A to Z’s just got to be seen
He’ll give every tick there’s ever been . . . and then some
Efficient little devil ain’t he?
He lists the snags, a foolscap side
It’s enough to make you run and hide
Off we go at great haste, what’s this a five minute space?
Must be Friday, No his watch stopped, Biro overheat!
Now the man in the office is really a pearl
Ayatollah Smith really makes you hurl
Who says humans can’t be simulated
Pity he’s not where he’s appreciated . . . Tehran . . . Iran . . . as a hostage
You may think I’m bitter, you may think I’m sick
I’ve got a nagging doubt that just won’t click
YES, it WILL, there’s a way I cried
It’s really quite simple, called suicide
AFTER euthanasia for retired officers, and assassination of religious leaders
Why die now? I’d be a hero!
Last edited by Brian W May; 18th Apr 2015 at 20:30. Reason: Song lyrics added
Brian,
A nice ditty by the sounds. Which Andy M book do you have I have two;
Hercules the RAF Workhorse and Erks on Herk's (possibly his finest work as I feature in one of the photographs). Both interesting tomes. I heard that having retired from Lyneham he became deputy defence minister for Belize and was instrumental for the re employment of many ex British serving Gurkha soldiers in that country. He certainly had a thing for Belize, and good news if he has done well there.
Fergineer,
I have a good mate (ex Colerne) who now lives in Auckland, I wish I had gone Kiwi several years ago. It sounds a great place.
Smudge
A nice ditty by the sounds. Which Andy M book do you have I have two;
Hercules the RAF Workhorse and Erks on Herk's (possibly his finest work as I feature in one of the photographs).
Both interesting tomes. I heard that having retired from Lyneham he became deputy defence minister for Belize and was instrumental for the re employment of many ex British serving Gurkha soldiers in that country. He certainly had a thing for Belize, and good news if he has done well there.Fergineer,
I have a good mate (ex Colerne) who now lives in Auckland, I wish I had gone Kiwi several years ago. It sounds a great place.
Smudge
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It's 'Workhorse' mate - which page do I need to tear out (perhaps I could get a rebate on the price)?
Glad AM's doing well, he was an eccentric but a nice guy for all that. Don't let the song fool you . . . I liked Andy A to Z, but didn't like having to be in the sim. Mr Smith (the Ayatollah) was referenced in the last verse, and it was the time of the Tehran hostages to give you the context.
Was trained by Chris Morley and Paul Bergeman (mainly) Kilwhang was there at the same time too.
Glad AM's doing well, he was an eccentric but a nice guy for all that. Don't let the song fool you . . . I liked Andy A to Z, but didn't like having to be in the sim. Mr Smith (the Ayatollah) was referenced in the last verse, and it was the time of the Tehran hostages to give you the context.
Was trained by Chris Morley and Paul Bergeman (mainly) Kilwhang was there at the same time too.
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Mention of Mr M and his books made me do a quick search on the south American river site. A brand new copy of his workhorse book is advertised at £1007.01 plus delivery!
Brian,
You can keep all of your pages. You may well be grateful. I'm subject of a shot at Goose Bay (re Loxing) on the way back from a Belize trip. Page 135 if you do ever get a copy of Erks on Herks. Even better I'm the one with the full face mask so no need to destroy pages. Interesting to see a picture of Herbie Habberfield being supervised by his crew, when he was the S&D GE, not your usual subjects of publicity.
Smudge
You can keep all of your pages. You may well be grateful. I'm subject of a shot at Goose Bay (re Loxing) on the way back from a Belize trip. Page 135 if you do ever get a copy of Erks on Herks. Even better I'm the one with the full face mask so no need to destroy pages. Interesting to see a picture of Herbie Habberfield being supervised by his crew, when he was the S&D GE, not your usual subjects of publicity.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 18th Apr 2015 at 21:56. Reason: Resizing photograph
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Brian,
While mentioning Chris Morley and Paul Bergeman, let's not forget that great guy Roy Beavis.
Roy had a fantastic sense of humour and coped admirably with cancer until it finally prevailed. He was instructing in the sim on a Thu but died over the weekend.
While mentioning Chris Morley and Paul Bergeman, let's not forget that great guy Roy Beavis.
Roy had a fantastic sense of humour and coped admirably with cancer until it finally prevailed. He was instructing in the sim on a Thu but died over the weekend.
kilwhang,
when the RAF finally made up its mind to put the ad hoc AQM (later ALM) trade on a proper NCO Aircrew footing it needed a categorisation scheme. And of course you needed people to run it. Andy was one of those along with a few others. This lasted for a few years until the AQM branch took over the categorisation business and a few were commissioned.
I well remember on my Hastings course Andy doing an airdrop check on one of the instructors from the safety of the flight deck !
when the RAF finally made up its mind to put the ad hoc AQM (later ALM) trade on a proper NCO Aircrew footing it needed a categorisation scheme. And of course you needed people to run it. Andy was one of those along with a few others. This lasted for a few years until the AQM branch took over the categorisation business and a few were commissioned.
I well remember on my Hastings course Andy doing an airdrop check on one of the instructors from the safety of the flight deck !
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Kilwhang,
I'm glad that Roy Beavis has been mentioned - what a sense of humour in the face of the enemy! On the occasion of being taken down route to Cyprus for what was his last time out and about he went to Imprest to get some Cyprus pounds for buying.......fruit of course. The Imprest officer was a WRAF pilot officer who (according to Roy) had been in the Air Force ALL DAY. She mentioned to Roy that she thought a Master Engineer should have neater haircut than he had....he agreed, yanked off that duff wig that the medical people had given him, and said that he would take it to the barber's immediately for a trim......cue floods of tears and retreat into back office. But the classic has to be at his funeral, when Nick Nichols looked up as we were leaving the crematorium and saw smoke - "Quick, back on the bus, or Roy will beat us back to the bar". Ah, the days!
I'm glad that Roy Beavis has been mentioned - what a sense of humour in the face of the enemy! On the occasion of being taken down route to Cyprus for what was his last time out and about he went to Imprest to get some Cyprus pounds for buying.......fruit of course. The Imprest officer was a WRAF pilot officer who (according to Roy) had been in the Air Force ALL DAY. She mentioned to Roy that she thought a Master Engineer should have neater haircut than he had....he agreed, yanked off that duff wig that the medical people had given him, and said that he would take it to the barber's immediately for a trim......cue floods of tears and retreat into back office. But the classic has to be at his funeral, when Nick Nichols looked up as we were leaving the crematorium and saw smoke - "Quick, back on the bus, or Roy will beat us back to the bar". Ah, the days!
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Roy Beavis
Knew Roy before his Herc days. 204 sqn Ballykelly; a guy with a great sense of humour and a penchant for hot curries or Honkers stew with masses of chilli powder.
Ex maritime and test nav.
Ex maritime and test nav.