Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Doug: In the early/mid-70s, a Herc was usually stationed at Gan over Christmas, very much in the hope that, if needed, it could move east or west without a big alert back at Lyneham. And very handy it proved when Darwin was virtually wiped out by a cyclone on Christmas Eve 1974.
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I don't think that one brave little Herc from Gan would have made much impact on such devastation. I went back to Darwin in the late 70s and it was nearly completely rebuilt. They still had Tooheys beer which was a set back.
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The locations may not be as exotic as some of the photos taken in flight from Hercs but...
Over Bath
Chippenham
and The Severn Bridge
While on XV209, the local flyer for the MAMS Families Day 22/8/99
Over Bath
Chippenham
and The Severn Bridge
While on XV209, the local flyer for the MAMS Families Day 22/8/99
Dougie,
I have this in my records ;
ASCOT4502 8-Oct-94 20-Oct-94 70 Sqd 82.4 hrs XV 210 Sidney/Darwin etc
You certainly Navigated on that trip. I seem to recall a stop at Darwin southbound, and a delay at Darwin northbound when our lady Flt Eng came down with a viral infection, or some such. I do remember a golf match at Darwin during our day off. Good trip that one. Perhaps etc might have raised a few highlights too.
November 4, ahh, many happy views from families day flying there sir, thanks.
Smudge
I have this in my records ;
ASCOT4502 8-Oct-94 20-Oct-94 70 Sqd 82.4 hrs XV 210 Sidney/Darwin etc
You certainly Navigated on that trip. I seem to recall a stop at Darwin southbound, and a delay at Darwin northbound when our lady Flt Eng came down with a viral infection, or some such. I do remember a golf match at Darwin during our day off. Good trip that one. Perhaps etc might have raised a few highlights too.
November 4, ahh, many happy views from families day flying there sir, thanks.
Smudge
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Hi ...
I just wanted to wish all those who have contributed to our RAF Albert Thread this year a Happy Christmas and New Year. I'm hopeful that a few of our newcomers who have requested help with pic posting will find a bit of spare time to hunt through their lofts, cellars, sheds or garages to unearth a few more joys to share with us all
Best wishes ...
Coff.
I just wanted to wish all those who have contributed to our RAF Albert Thread this year a Happy Christmas and New Year. I'm hopeful that a few of our newcomers who have requested help with pic posting will find a bit of spare time to hunt through their lofts, cellars, sheds or garages to unearth a few more joys to share with us all
Best wishes ...
Coff.
Coff and fellow posters
as I sit here in Perth WA in glorious sunshine I am still surprised at how well this Hercules thread has developed since Coffman's first post. IMHO it is second only to the incomparable 'Gaining a Pilot's Brevet in WW 2'.By the time you read this we will have eaten our our Xmas lunch and you will be looking forward to yours. So a merry Xmas to you all and a peaceful new year.
as I sit here in Perth WA in glorious sunshine I am still surprised at how well this Hercules thread has developed since Coffman's first post. IMHO it is second only to the incomparable 'Gaining a Pilot's Brevet in WW 2'.By the time you read this we will have eaten our our Xmas lunch and you will be looking forward to yours. So a merry Xmas to you all and a peaceful new year.
Merry Christmas to all old friends and colleagues! As I sit here away from home, in a job that is close as you could ever get to the 'good old days' at Lyneham, I reflect on the fabulous people that made it such a unique experience - I miss you all and wish you the very best for the coming year! DCT - XXIV and 30, 91-2001
AA62, hope you enjoyed that platter, it sounds pretty damn good. Sycamore's post reminded me of a trip I did when, accompanying myself in the "boot" of Albert, were not only some "erberts" but indeed the regimental Colonel. I asked the loadie if I could take my hot meal on the bottom bunk, so as not to offend, to which I was told that if I wanted to swap my ACC with a "member" of the boarded passengers, he would indeed be invited to the flight deck, to enjoy his curry in peace. (No doubt, I was expected to "golly" to said Colonel). I swapped with a purple bereted young fellow with no discernible rank, and no front teeth. I enjoyed his butty box, he loved the curry, our front end weren't so gushing in their appreciation. Hope all is going well down south and you get more of that lobster.
Smudge
Smudge
Smudge,
I did indeed enjoy the sea food platter and the very nice WA white wine that accompanied it. But I do not eat large portions to the despair of my wife who loves cooking. I cashed up a non performing savings account to travel out here Business Class with Singapore Airlines with a stopover in Singapore.
The excellent Cabin Crew were very disappointed that their attempts to force feed me failed !
When on the 'K' I would go round the world on an AH box.
I did indeed enjoy the sea food platter and the very nice WA white wine that accompanied it. But I do not eat large portions to the despair of my wife who loves cooking. I cashed up a non performing savings account to travel out here Business Class with Singapore Airlines with a stopover in Singapore.
The excellent Cabin Crew were very disappointed that their attempts to force feed me failed !
When on the 'K' I would go round the world on an AH box.
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AA 62 Bon Appetit.
After a spell in Belize with "Love and Kisses" Rudy was cajoled into producing his famed seafood meals for the crew. Lobster thermidors, prawn salads etc. Following a bit of a kerfuffle with offered freight we finally launched for Homestead AFB. Top of climb we all clamoured for the best seafood in the Caribbean, to be told by the young Sgt Loadie that the meals had gone time expired so he had scraped them all into the bin.
Incredulous silence reigned till well past Cozumel. Dark thoughts were suppressed due to the correct action being taken, albeit just outside the four hours IIRC.
On landing it was decided that the Loadie would accompany the food waste bag because of the incandescent food and agriculture officials attitude to imported sea food. The rest of us had a meal on the imprest due to inflight meals destroyed. The Loadie was reinstated after the fifth round of margaritas.
I would still have preferred Rudy's Lobster Thermidor.
Happy 2016 All
After a spell in Belize with "Love and Kisses" Rudy was cajoled into producing his famed seafood meals for the crew. Lobster thermidors, prawn salads etc. Following a bit of a kerfuffle with offered freight we finally launched for Homestead AFB. Top of climb we all clamoured for the best seafood in the Caribbean, to be told by the young Sgt Loadie that the meals had gone time expired so he had scraped them all into the bin.
Incredulous silence reigned till well past Cozumel. Dark thoughts were suppressed due to the correct action being taken, albeit just outside the four hours IIRC.
On landing it was decided that the Loadie would accompany the food waste bag because of the incandescent food and agriculture officials attitude to imported sea food. The rest of us had a meal on the imprest due to inflight meals destroyed. The Loadie was reinstated after the fifth round of margaritas.
I would still have preferred Rudy's Lobster Thermidor.
Happy 2016 All
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Dougie,
Talking of kerfuffles and Rudy's excellent food I remember checking a chap to Belize, and it transpired that Lyneham's bean-counters had told the Loadies that under no circumstances were the crew to order lobster thermidor as it was considered a VIP meal. It was pointed out to them that it was the same price as a steak which was OK to order. It doesn't matter said they - lobster thermidor was a VIP meal and that was that. Disgruntled, a conversation was struck up with Rudy who was as perplexed as us about the status of said meal. Rudy had a little think about it and said was it OK to order omelettes. We said yes, but who ever ordered omelettes out of Belize. He said we should all order omelettes whilst he worked on the menu. Long story short - seafood omelettes became the norm. They looked very much like a certain VIP meal which was verboten.
On a different trip there, we were a little rushed to get out before expected weather. The loadie reported rations on board apart from a tray of sandwiches (which were normally alternative breakfast anyway). The captain made the decision that we could not wait and the skies were getting dark. Rudy's man was very put out and said that Mr Rudy would be very upset. Off we went anyway, to be held short of the runway. we could see no traffic and Taco were not expected, so we asked how long we were to be held as the weather was now very close. The loadie reported a tapping at the crew entrance and was there a seat belt trapped outside. I said we were unpressurised and to check. When he opened the door there was Rudy's man with the sandwiches and the Tower said we were now cleared to take off! Rudy had a great deal of power.
Talking of kerfuffles and Rudy's excellent food I remember checking a chap to Belize, and it transpired that Lyneham's bean-counters had told the Loadies that under no circumstances were the crew to order lobster thermidor as it was considered a VIP meal. It was pointed out to them that it was the same price as a steak which was OK to order. It doesn't matter said they - lobster thermidor was a VIP meal and that was that. Disgruntled, a conversation was struck up with Rudy who was as perplexed as us about the status of said meal. Rudy had a little think about it and said was it OK to order omelettes. We said yes, but who ever ordered omelettes out of Belize. He said we should all order omelettes whilst he worked on the menu. Long story short - seafood omelettes became the norm. They looked very much like a certain VIP meal which was verboten.
On a different trip there, we were a little rushed to get out before expected weather. The loadie reported rations on board apart from a tray of sandwiches (which were normally alternative breakfast anyway). The captain made the decision that we could not wait and the skies were getting dark. Rudy's man was very put out and said that Mr Rudy would be very upset. Off we went anyway, to be held short of the runway. we could see no traffic and Taco were not expected, so we asked how long we were to be held as the weather was now very close. The loadie reported a tapping at the crew entrance and was there a seat belt trapped outside. I said we were unpressurised and to check. When he opened the door there was Rudy's man with the sandwiches and the Tower said we were now cleared to take off! Rudy had a great deal of power.
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A couple of XV ̶2̶0̶2̶ 292 at the Lockheed plant in Dec 91 for the 25th Anniversary of the Hercuels being in service.
Photos from the RAF MAMS Association website and magazine
Photos from the RAF MAMS Association website and magazine
Last edited by November4; 30th Dec 2015 at 20:11. Reason: Corrected as I couldn't read the number properly