Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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6F5 ...
Welcome
Check your PM's ... Glad to help and looking forward to your pics ...
Best ...
Coff.
Welcome
Check your PM's ... Glad to help and looking forward to your pics ...
Best ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 15th Jan 2016 at 14:23.
Hey DeanOp,
Just seen your super photos at post 3991 - the flypast for Sembawang etc.
That's the first time I've seen those from the other viewpoint: that's me right behind you. I'm now looking for the reverse piccies looking up at you! Of note by then we were getting quite used to close formation with other types (from Whirlwinds through Bristol Freighters and Hercs to Mirages and Lightnings - not forgetting Sqn six ships for disbandment parade) as FEAF slowly drew to a close.
Just seen your super photos at post 3991 - the flypast for Sembawang etc.
That's the first time I've seen those from the other viewpoint: that's me right behind you. I'm now looking for the reverse piccies looking up at you! Of note by then we were getting quite used to close formation with other types (from Whirlwinds through Bristol Freighters and Hercs to Mirages and Lightnings - not forgetting Sqn six ships for disbandment parade) as FEAF slowly drew to a close.
Last edited by Shackman; 11th Jan 2016 at 15:19.
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6F5
If the clue is the cross channel ferry and "lots of us" there that day, then it could have been the Normandy remembrance para drop at Ranville but that used to happen every June.
If the clue is the cross channel ferry and "lots of us" there that day, then it could have been the Normandy remembrance para drop at Ranville but that used to happen every June.
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Doug, correct as usual Ex Normandy Salute '94. 50th Anniversary. I think it was an 18 ship that day. I remember in the brief a US crew getting annoyed at the planned 'slow down' call. They said 'It's a big aircraft, when it gets bigger we'll know you've slowed down, no need to tell us'. During the de-brief they were most upset at having been left behind during the timed (and uncalled) acceleration off Ranville. I recall a young (soon to be DFC) chap saying at the back, 'Well it's a big aircraft, when it gets smaller.......'
By the way, that's a hell of a cross channel ferry, it's the QE2.
By the way, that's a hell of a cross channel ferry, it's the QE2.
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6F5. The Ferry ref was in jest. The Normandy drop that I led had to follow the Dak onto the DZ at Ranville. The DC3 was already sausage side as we thundered across the channel. Up came the DZ saying "Sunray" the PoW was still chatting to the old crones at the café on Pegasus Bridge and could we delay. Bloody Nora we thought and set up a racetrack over the oggin. Once cleared we set up again but were told that the Dak was to run in first. Another wide turn then back in. At the TAP the Dak called up saying he still had troops on board and could he make another pass. The reply was "Yes in 10 minutes cos it's going to be a bit crowded till then"
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Op Granby
Not being part of the "fizz and whizz" fraternity doing their up tiddley up and down tiddley down does not mean that Albert crews didn't play a vital part of Granby. This sadly did not start so well on day1 of the conflict with the entire Hercdet being grounded due to lack of planning coordination with the spams to get us on the ACO! And us doing Red Flag for years before. On the 16th we had been running med supplies up to the field hospital at Quaisuma to receive the expected mass casualties from the forthcoming "mother of all battles". The head medic was the former wife of an Ascot captain and she boarded the aircraft after the second lift in a bad mood which was wonderful to behold. This drop dead gorgeous woman in desert trousers and a T shirt that could stop traffic shouted at us that we were bring her the wrong stuff. We promised to do better but it was nearly three days till the "White House" got us some air time.
As it happens, 25 years ago last night at midnight, I was standing on a balcony in one of the Ex Pat "Eskans" when somebody said "Do you think it will kick off soon?" I was about to say no when the ground all around started to shake like in Independence day and the "Aloominum Overcast" thundered across the desert sky, heading north. "well maybe it just might" I ventured to suggest.
As it happens, 25 years ago last night at midnight, I was standing on a balcony in one of the Ex Pat "Eskans" when somebody said "Do you think it will kick off soon?" I was about to say no when the ground all around started to shake like in Independence day and the "Aloominum Overcast" thundered across the desert sky, heading north. "well maybe it just might" I ventured to suggest.
Last edited by Dougie M; 17th Jan 2016 at 18:55.
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Some of us were airborne on night 1 Dougie 
We were skulking about in the North West corner on goggles positioning lots of blokes with long hair to go and cause trouble. Having dropped off one lot, we were heading south east to go and get another crowd when we too became aware of the aluminium overcast heading sausage-side. About the same time all the radio boxes were alive with code words for ‘ the balloons gorn up, all non- players clear orft ‘. Unfortunately, clearing off or landing wasn’t an option as we were in the middle of quite an important operation.
After trying to talk in code to AWACs about who we were and what we wanted to do for what seemed like ages, I asked him in my best anglo-american plain speak about our predicament. To my amazement he came straight back and cleared us to a level he said was the least busy, wished us luck and said keep a good look-out…..
We were skulking about in the North West corner on goggles positioning lots of blokes with long hair to go and cause trouble. Having dropped off one lot, we were heading south east to go and get another crowd when we too became aware of the aluminium overcast heading sausage-side. About the same time all the radio boxes were alive with code words for ‘ the balloons gorn up, all non- players clear orft ‘. Unfortunately, clearing off or landing wasn’t an option as we were in the middle of quite an important operation.After trying to talk in code to AWACs about who we were and what we wanted to do for what seemed like ages, I asked him in my best anglo-american plain speak about our predicament. To my amazement he came straight back and cleared us to a level he said was the least busy, wished us luck and said keep a good look-out…..
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Desert Rain
What most folks didn't know was that it was freezing cold and it poured with rain that January in the northern edge of Saudi Arabia. All the strips were awash and the hard runway at Qaisuma was in demand. The Spams had control of the area and their sodden foxholes were full of sullen troops. Our cheery salutations were met with "And a Happy F******* New Year to you too, Sir".
The Engineers had bulldozed a 1000 m strip but it sank so we didn't stay long. 25 years ago I had 10 years service to do. Should have jacked it in then and invested in CERN, but I was still having a good time.
The Engineers had bulldozed a 1000 m strip but it sank so we didn't stay long. 25 years ago I had 10 years service to do. Should have jacked it in then and invested in CERN, but I was still having a good time.
Last edited by Dougie M; 19th Jan 2016 at 14:01.
Doug,
woolie pullies were not worn in the old days at RAF Muharraq for nothing. The winter WX out there seems to have caught many by surprise. These things happem when the corporate memory of OOA ops fades.
When the balloon went up we were in the a/c at night at Akro ready to start when we were recalled to ops. Went next morning. What a faf the transponder change regime was until an outbreak of common sense binned it.
I was then based back at Lyn after we were the first 'K' into Riyadh to set up the UK Herc Det . Somewhere amongst the back posts is a pic of my copy of that Op Order. Went to 'Q' once but my log book is as blank as my memory as to why.
woolie pullies were not worn in the old days at RAF Muharraq for nothing. The winter WX out there seems to have caught many by surprise. These things happem when the corporate memory of OOA ops fades.
When the balloon went up we were in the a/c at night at Akro ready to start when we were recalled to ops. Went next morning. What a faf the transponder change regime was until an outbreak of common sense binned it.
I was then based back at Lyn after we were the first 'K' into Riyadh to set up the UK Herc Det . Somewhere amongst the back posts is a pic of my copy of that Op Order. Went to 'Q' once but my log book is as blank as my memory as to why.
Last edited by ancientaviator62; 19th Jan 2016 at 14:16. Reason: correction
Woollie Pullies
Doug, AA62,
You are so right about how cold it was at nights. I always believed that it was more a matter of the differential between daytime and nighttime temperatures being so large. Reading such tomes as Bravo 20 etc though showed that even the experts failed to plan for meteorological conditions.
Another one that "didn't get away" !
Smudge
You are so right about how cold it was at nights. I always believed that it was more a matter of the differential between daytime and nighttime temperatures being so large. Reading such tomes as Bravo 20 etc though showed that even the experts failed to plan for meteorological conditions.
Another one that "didn't get away" !
Smudge
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Granby weather
We weren't the only ones surprised by the rainfall in Saudi. Apart from being photobombed there is a local gentleman in the frame whose 4X4 is up to its hubs in mud and going nowhere. I guess the locals were equally nonplussed.
It did get a tad wet at times .... somewhat later in time .....
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85356592/Wind5.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85356592/Rain14.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85356592/Wind5.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/85356592/Rain14.JPG