Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
ancientaviator62 wrote:
I was doing an air movements tour at the time and was on the loading team for that flight. The bobbies turned up at Movements with their riot gear, respirators, shields, golf clubs and scuba gear. They thought they were flying civvie airline until we took them out to the aircraft. The Met Police Inspector in charge of the first chalk asked where his men were going to sit. "On there!" we said, pointing to the para seats down the side. The look of horror on their faces as they realised there were no trolley dollies... only a hairy-@rr$$ed AQM, was a joy to behold.
Many years later, I had taken Mrs 4ma and the stackerettes to Somerset for a holiday when I bumped into that Inspector in Minehead, to where he retired after his Met service and ran the very nice hotel that we had booked into. We chatted over (quite) a few beers about events leading up to boarding that flight and afterwards. He reckoned he had been deaf for weeks afterwards... however, I think he forgave the RAF as I didn't have to pay for a single beer and he waived the bill for the girls.
......Antigua appealed to the UK for assistance and Op Sheepskin was the result. We did not send the army we sent UK 'bobbies'.
My logbook tells me I did the first such trip on 9 April 1969 in XV 293......
My logbook tells me I did the first such trip on 9 April 1969 in XV 293......
Many years later, I had taken Mrs 4ma and the stackerettes to Somerset for a holiday when I bumped into that Inspector in Minehead, to where he retired after his Met service and ran the very nice hotel that we had booked into. We chatted over (quite) a few beers about events leading up to boarding that flight and afterwards. He reckoned he had been deaf for weeks afterwards... however, I think he forgave the RAF as I didn't have to pay for a single beer and he waived the bill for the girls.
Ahh Stacker ;
"look of horror on their faces as they realised there were no trolley dollies... only a hairy-@rr$$ed AQM, was a joy to behold. ". - you may well be referring to our very own AA62 in that statement.
Smudge
"look of horror on their faces as they realised there were no trolley dollies... only a hairy-@rr$$ed AQM, was a joy to behold. ". - you may well be referring to our very own AA62 in that statement.
Smudge
Stacker, great to know, AA62 will of course ensure that the "hairy @rse" is blamed on his co loadie. Hope it wasn't C**is U**ie, the least likely to meet your description. Did she work for you AA62 ? Definitely the best lady loady I went down route with ! Ooooo errr, have I opened another bag of nails ?
Smudge
Smudge
4mastacker,
welcome . Another former member of the Fairford flat Earth Society ! My recollection of the Sheepskin trips is that they were single loadmaster trips as were most of our pax trips in those days. We were not brought into line with the shiny fleet until later. No WRAF loadmasters on the 'K' until very much later. I was on a committee that discussed their introduction to the 'K'. My attitude was simply if they could do the complete job then no problem but if it was just a PR stunt then NO.
welcome . Another former member of the Fairford flat Earth Society ! My recollection of the Sheepskin trips is that they were single loadmaster trips as were most of our pax trips in those days. We were not brought into line with the shiny fleet until later. No WRAF loadmasters on the 'K' until very much later. I was on a committee that discussed their introduction to the 'K'. My attitude was simply if they could do the complete job then no problem but if it was just a PR stunt then NO.
AA62,
Thank you for that. I thought there were two Q's on the early flights. Some of those Sheepskin loads were a right PITA because of the wicker hampers that were being used. Trying to strap them down was like herding cats - as you tensioned on one side, t'other sprang up, and repeated several times.
Thank you for that. I thought there were two Q's on the early flights. Some of those Sheepskin loads were a right PITA because of the wicker hampers that were being used. Trying to strap them down was like herding cats - as you tensioned on one side, t'other sprang up, and repeated several times.
4mastacker,
I had completely forgotten about those bl**dy wicker baskets !
Those were the days before the 10K nets too. We were still using some of the junk from the Hastings. How did we all manage.
I had completely forgotten about those bl**dy wicker baskets !
Those were the days before the 10K nets too. We were still using some of the junk from the Hastings. How did we all manage.
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Pics
For Chickenlover. The pic you couldn't find details for was at China Lake during a trial det. Photog was USN civilian photog. No copyright, just asked that USN be mentioned. Just complied with this message. Lots of good pics, singles and pairs. Will post some when I figure out how to do it on here. Otherwise pm me and I will send couple of cd/dvd with pics.
Anguilla
Mention of Anguilla brings back memories of landing there on 30 March 1969: one thousand feet of concrete and a muddy overrun with a palm tree as an obstacle on approach.
I have in my study one of the insurgents' flags: blue lower half and white above with three orange dolphins chasing in a circle. The joke was that the troops on the ground bought up all the 'rebel' flags and flew them from whatever: Land Rovers, control tower, etc. The Bobbies had nowhere to spend their allowances so put their money into the POSB: Post Office Saving Bank.
When we flew out we had on board a 'liberated' iron cannon. I had no idea of its weight so we secured it as near as possible over the C of G and lashed it down securely.
At the local 'Base Station' of Antigua I recall the fuel hose coming loose and AVTUR spreading out all over the tarmac. We towed the Herc away but the fuel completely ruined my shoes. The flight home to Fairford went via Bermuda where we spent two most enjoyable nights.
I have in my study one of the insurgents' flags: blue lower half and white above with three orange dolphins chasing in a circle. The joke was that the troops on the ground bought up all the 'rebel' flags and flew them from whatever: Land Rovers, control tower, etc. The Bobbies had nowhere to spend their allowances so put their money into the POSB: Post Office Saving Bank.
When we flew out we had on board a 'liberated' iron cannon. I had no idea of its weight so we secured it as near as possible over the C of G and lashed it down securely.
At the local 'Base Station' of Antigua I recall the fuel hose coming loose and AVTUR spreading out all over the tarmac. We towed the Herc away but the fuel completely ruined my shoes. The flight home to Fairford went via Bermuda where we spent two most enjoyable nights.
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downsizer
That was possibly me.
I first wrote this excellent piece of banter in the Akrotiri Station Mag in the early nineties in the "Scorpion's Sting" It followed an op where 2 or 3 Wessex helicopters went to the Bekka Valley to bring out some trapped Palestinians. I was irked that news reports failed to mention the groundcrew who had worked 24hrs through the night to get the aircraft ready. Having waved the master race off, we all went to a well earned free breakfast in the JRM where I got a phone call reminding me that I was on Orderly Corporal (for a further 24 hrs) Also, in the race to return home for tea & medals, the aircrew left 3 groundcrew behind in Beirut. They had to hitch a lift back on a Louis Line ferry, in uniform.
I have unleashed this banter a few times at Top Table speeches, and possibly a couple of times on this website and it was always received well.
My era on Hercs followed my Cyprus tour - so 1995 onwards - later than most of the posters on this thread.
I was considering dusting off this old gem, as I have seen Smudge state several times that he was a "mere GE", and it would lead me to remind Smudge that he was at the absolute top of his game....unlike the rest of the crew etc.
For those who got excited, I offer another gem:-
If you long for the taste of a standard NATO cup of tea on Albert, and your wife can't seem to get it quite right...
1. Paper cup
2. NAAFI Yorkshire Tea
3. A little bit of Loadmaster or GE urine
Lets be fair, as someone else once said, you have to fail a lot of flying training to end up as a pilot on hercs....
I first wrote this excellent piece of banter in the Akrotiri Station Mag in the early nineties in the "Scorpion's Sting" It followed an op where 2 or 3 Wessex helicopters went to the Bekka Valley to bring out some trapped Palestinians. I was irked that news reports failed to mention the groundcrew who had worked 24hrs through the night to get the aircraft ready. Having waved the master race off, we all went to a well earned free breakfast in the JRM where I got a phone call reminding me that I was on Orderly Corporal (for a further 24 hrs) Also, in the race to return home for tea & medals, the aircrew left 3 groundcrew behind in Beirut. They had to hitch a lift back on a Louis Line ferry, in uniform.
I have unleashed this banter a few times at Top Table speeches, and possibly a couple of times on this website and it was always received well.
My era on Hercs followed my Cyprus tour - so 1995 onwards - later than most of the posters on this thread.
I was considering dusting off this old gem, as I have seen Smudge state several times that he was a "mere GE", and it would lead me to remind Smudge that he was at the absolute top of his game....unlike the rest of the crew etc.
For those who got excited, I offer another gem:-
If you long for the taste of a standard NATO cup of tea on Albert, and your wife can't seem to get it quite right...
1. Paper cup
2. NAAFI Yorkshire Tea
3. A little bit of Loadmaster or GE urine
Last edited by SirPeterHardingsLovechild; 7th Jul 2015 at 11:17.
Nugget90,
I recall after Sheepskin that 47 Sqn at Fairford had a pair of cannons at the entrance to the squadron. I departed to 48 shortly after so I do not know if they survived the move to Lyneham.
I recall after Sheepskin that 47 Sqn at Fairford had a pair of cannons at the entrance to the squadron. I departed to 48 shortly after so I do not know if they survived the move to Lyneham.
C130 WRAF aircrew
Re AA62's WRAF ALMs meeting.
I remember standing by the STS, Goatacre, coffee bar, sometime between 87 and 90 and being asked by a visiting Gp Capt what I thought about WRAF being trained for the remaining 4 roles on the Hercules.
"What's the problem? We already have them doing the most physically demanding job on the aircraft".
I think he was expecting a lot more resistance. His expression said, "I am not programmed to receive this reply".
1066
I remember standing by the STS, Goatacre, coffee bar, sometime between 87 and 90 and being asked by a visiting Gp Capt what I thought about WRAF being trained for the remaining 4 roles on the Hercules.
"What's the problem? We already have them doing the most physically demanding job on the aircraft".
I think he was expecting a lot more resistance. His expression said, "I am not programmed to receive this reply".
1066
1066,
a lot of the initial discussion about WRAF loadmasters coming to the Hercules centred on the 'are they strong enough' factor. This referred to the operation of the crew entrance door, para doors and escape hatches. The only way to find out was to try it. As a five foot seven 140 lb male I thought if I could cope so could most of them. Remember the USAF and other air forces already had female loadmasters, but hey we always reinvent things don't we.
They were posted to route squadrons only because they did not do the para course portion of the ALM training. At this stage ALMs were still physically involved in paratroop despatching.
a lot of the initial discussion about WRAF loadmasters coming to the Hercules centred on the 'are they strong enough' factor. This referred to the operation of the crew entrance door, para doors and escape hatches. The only way to find out was to try it. As a five foot seven 140 lb male I thought if I could cope so could most of them. Remember the USAF and other air forces already had female loadmasters, but hey we always reinvent things don't we.
They were posted to route squadrons only because they did not do the para course portion of the ALM training. At this stage ALMs were still physically involved in paratroop despatching.
