Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
This thread should live on for a few years yet. There must be many who (like me!) have sat back and enjoyed the tales being told here.
My own contributions have been very few - I intend to remedy that situation in due course, once the referendum (and my holiday in Spain) is out of the way
I know a few of the contributors here, and probably others whose forum names have acted as a camouflage over their true identities. Some of those acquaintances and friendships go back many years, to times when we were just lads. I even knew some contributors from the days of the K's predecessor, the Hastings. While we remain on our respective perches, wherever these may be, we owe it to posterity to keep the memory of the Globegobbler alive.
I still possess one of the first version, ultra-slimjim, Hercules ties (with the silver C130) that reminds me of those (mostly) enjoyable days, on Blue Team at Colerne when the Ks arrived for Acceptance Checks with less than 20 hours in the F700. After escaping a course intended to make me into a Vulcan crew-chief
, I was 'selected' to join 48 Squadron at Changi (that was tough, but somebody had to do it) and finally, a posting to A Line at Lyneham.
I also have one of those factually incorrect, copper engravings of a C. Mark 1 mounted with a presentation plaque given to me on my leaving the service in '77.If you have one, check out the aircraft fleet number on the aft fuselage compared to those on the nose and fin!!
Nostalgia is what it used to be, don't let it fade away!
My own contributions have been very few - I intend to remedy that situation in due course, once the referendum (and my holiday in Spain) is out of the way
I know a few of the contributors here, and probably others whose forum names have acted as a camouflage over their true identities. Some of those acquaintances and friendships go back many years, to times when we were just lads. I even knew some contributors from the days of the K's predecessor, the Hastings. While we remain on our respective perches, wherever these may be, we owe it to posterity to keep the memory of the Globegobbler alive.
I still possess one of the first version, ultra-slimjim, Hercules ties (with the silver C130) that reminds me of those (mostly) enjoyable days, on Blue Team at Colerne when the Ks arrived for Acceptance Checks with less than 20 hours in the F700. After escaping a course intended to make me into a Vulcan crew-chief
, I was 'selected' to join 48 Squadron at Changi (that was tough, but somebody had to do it) and finally, a posting to A Line at Lyneham.I also have one of those factually incorrect, copper engravings of a C. Mark 1 mounted with a presentation plaque given to me on my leaving the service in '77.If you have one, check out the aircraft fleet number on the aft fuselage compared to those on the nose and fin!!
Nostalgia is what it used to be, don't let it fade away!
Null,
your remark about the original slim jim ties prompted me to go and search. Amazing, I still have mine in a fetching shade of maroon with the silver 'K'.
your remark about the original slim jim ties prompted me to go and search. Amazing, I still have mine in a fetching shade of maroon with the silver 'K'.
aa62,
Well found, sir!
Maroon, eh? Mine's blue, for no better reasons than:
a) I like blue,
and
b) i was on Blue Team at Colerne at the time - I'm not sure whether or not we were offered it in any other colour!
Well found, sir!
Maroon, eh? Mine's blue, for no better reasons than:
a) I like blue,
and
b) i was on Blue Team at Colerne at the time - I'm not sure whether or not we were offered it in any other colour!
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Good afternoon all ...
I rather hope our thread doesn't die ... as there is so much history contained in these 218 Pages amounting to just over of 4,300 Posts ... it would be sad not to see the story of RAF Albert not being added to still further. I do accept that there may well be quiet periods but then someone will pitch-up with a story and off it will go again ... I'm sure
Moving on ... Noticed (and I know it's a J) this pic of the 47 Squadron Centenary airframe ... rather impressive I thought
Image Credit : MOD : 47 Squadron RAF
Best ...
Coff.
I rather hope our thread doesn't die ... as there is so much history contained in these 218 Pages amounting to just over of 4,300 Posts ... it would be sad not to see the story of RAF Albert not being added to still further. I do accept that there may well be quiet periods but then someone will pitch-up with a story and off it will go again ... I'm sure
Moving on ... Noticed (and I know it's a J) this pic of the 47 Squadron Centenary airframe ... rather impressive I thought
Image Credit : MOD : 47 Squadron RAF
Best ...
Coff.
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Keep our thread going.
There must be a lot of miles left on this thread.
Think about choosing a subject and generating more stories.
Strange loads.
Strange destinations.
Unusual diversions.
Unusual destinations.
Good/bad deployments.
Crossing the pond.
Crossing South Atlantic.
AAR tanking/receiving.
Spoofs, onboard or on ground.
Uckers.
Strange or unusual snags.
Unusual fixes.
Good places visited on ground.
Red Flag/Green Flag
Cope Thunder.
Extreme weather.
Favourite destinations.
Celebrities met.
Gaffs made or experienced.
Gander in the winter/summer, or anywhere else.
etc etc etc.
Add some more.
Think about choosing a subject and generating more stories.
Strange loads.
Strange destinations.
Unusual diversions.
Unusual destinations.
Good/bad deployments.
Crossing the pond.
Crossing South Atlantic.
AAR tanking/receiving.
Spoofs, onboard or on ground.
Uckers.
Strange or unusual snags.
Unusual fixes.
Good places visited on ground.
Red Flag/Green Flag
Cope Thunder.
Extreme weather.
Favourite destinations.
Celebrities met.
Gaffs made or experienced.
Gander in the winter/summer, or anywhere else.
etc etc etc.
Add some more.
Coff,
as an ex member of 47 Sqn (Fairford) I do like the pic. However did they get that scheme past the fun detectors. Perhaps some 'lurkers' can ransack their memories for tales and their lofts for pics to keep this going. Whatever happened to Brian48 Nav's
pics ?
as an ex member of 47 Sqn (Fairford) I do like the pic. However did they get that scheme past the fun detectors. Perhaps some 'lurkers' can ransack their memories for tales and their lofts for pics to keep this going. Whatever happened to Brian48 Nav's
pics ?
AA62
I'm sorry to say I can't find any. Like many people I used to take slides and really regret it - it is such a faff to search through them, particularly as my filing was not as good as it should have been.
I remember flying into Saigon with Sir JC ( during his brief spell as a Flt Lt! ) and taxying in I was busy snapping away until John looked back, saw what I was doing and yelled, " Put that camera away ". Sadly, but luckily, I hadn't wound the film on after loading it, so there was nothing on it. I decided I wouldn't bother with a camera en-route after that!
On my next trip to Saigon, the skipper insisted we went into the terminal for a coffee, and he was gaily ( when the word meant happily! ) swinging his camera from his hand and snapping anything that caught his fancy! No names, no pack drill as he is a PPruner.
I expect to see both of them tomorrow at the funeral of Don Kilpatrick, who was also a skipper on 48 then. I haven't posted about Don's sad demise but if anyone needs details of his funeral please PM me.
I remember flying into Saigon with Sir JC ( during his brief spell as a Flt Lt! ) and taxying in I was busy snapping away until John looked back, saw what I was doing and yelled, " Put that camera away ". Sadly, but luckily, I hadn't wound the film on after loading it, so there was nothing on it. I decided I wouldn't bother with a camera en-route after that!
On my next trip to Saigon, the skipper insisted we went into the terminal for a coffee, and he was gaily ( when the word meant happily! ) swinging his camera from his hand and snapping anything that caught his fancy! No names, no pack drill as he is a PPruner.
I expect to see both of them tomorrow at the funeral of Don Kilpatrick, who was also a skipper on 48 then. I haven't posted about Don's sad demise but if anyone needs details of his funeral please PM me.
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Never mind Brian ... your tried
Now AA62 ... I reckon there is one area that we haven't really explored yet for stories, and that's the Squadron Ops Desk.
Clearly I appreciate things were a bit frantic in the run up to GW1 & 2 ... but in more 'calmer' times there must be a few funny stories around the pandemonium that must have occurred at times ?
I can only imagine ... The Ops Desk phone rings ... "You need to get 'Porcelain, Sanitary, Armatage Shanks for the use of, plus 3 bags of Blue Circle cement' out to Pacific Island X ... within 72 Hrs" ... CLICK as Command hangs up (A bit of poetic licence with a story you know well). The Ops Desk then takes stock ... 2 airframes in the hangar in various stages of 'disassembly' ... 4 crews already despatched to various compass points on the planet ... other crews on leave ... and the job still needs to get done !
The Ops Planning side possibly often taken for granted ... so let's see what our contributors have to offer
Now AA62 ... I reckon there is one area that we haven't really explored yet for stories, and that's the Squadron Ops Desk.
Clearly I appreciate things were a bit frantic in the run up to GW1 & 2 ... but in more 'calmer' times there must be a few funny stories around the pandemonium that must have occurred at times ?
I can only imagine ... The Ops Desk phone rings ... "You need to get 'Porcelain, Sanitary, Armatage Shanks for the use of, plus 3 bags of Blue Circle cement' out to Pacific Island X ... within 72 Hrs" ... CLICK as Command hangs up (A bit of poetic licence with a story you know well). The Ops Desk then takes stock ... 2 airframes in the hangar in various stages of 'disassembly' ... 4 crews already despatched to various compass points on the planet ... other crews on leave ... and the job still needs to get done !
The Ops Planning side possibly often taken for granted ... so let's see what our contributors have to offer
Well, I only flew in a Hercules once after I handed over my job at RAF Mt Pleasant and before I flew north, and very enjoyable it was too, as I have found this thread. Many thanks
Brian,
all my posted pics were on slides and were in no semblance of order. I bit the bullet and sorted them. Then they were sent to a specialist company for transfer to disk. So I was able to contribute them to this thread. It was worth doing.
all my posted pics were on slides and were in no semblance of order. I bit the bullet and sorted them. Then they were sent to a specialist company for transfer to disk. So I was able to contribute them to this thread. It was worth doing.
Ops desk
On 48, Co-pilots and navs assisted by more junior AQMs and Air Engs would take turns manning the ops desk.
Early in '68 it was my turn and one evening just as I was locking everything up, Sqn Ldr Ops ( Wobbly Willie ) came dashing in and said' "Stay here, there's a flap on, FEAF want 3 crews to get airborne ASAP ".
"OK Sir, Do you want me to contact them?".
" No, I've done that already, they should be on their way here now - to get things rolling I want you to start preparing the logs and charts".
" Fine ", I replied, " Where are they going? ".
" I can't tell you that as it's top secret ", Says he going ever redder in the face - any one who recognises whom I am referring to, will recall that rosie complexion!
Early in '68 it was my turn and one evening just as I was locking everything up, Sqn Ldr Ops ( Wobbly Willie ) came dashing in and said' "Stay here, there's a flap on, FEAF want 3 crews to get airborne ASAP ".
"OK Sir, Do you want me to contact them?".
" No, I've done that already, they should be on their way here now - to get things rolling I want you to start preparing the logs and charts".
" Fine ", I replied, " Where are they going? ".
" I can't tell you that as it's top secret ", Says he going ever redder in the face - any one who recognises whom I am referring to, will recall that rosie complexion!
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Ops
In keeping with another recent thread regarding gulf innoculations. Our crew arrived at Ops in Riyadh for the "milk run" around the Gulf Bases. (Perm any of the units to a maximum of seven sectors). The Ops bloke said "Right you guys. There's a med team here to give you your anthrax jabs." With a resigned look we went into a room where a med nurse (male, sadly) produced a hypodermic from Star Wars. There were two barrels lashed together with a T bar plunger. Anthrax and Pertussis together. It looked worse than it was. "Ta for everything" we said and made towards the door. "No" said the medic "you have to sit for five minutes to see if you have a reaction". We sat in bored silence for a few minutes then when he came back in we all bleated at him. "Right, We're off flying" we said. The nurse fled and returned with the doc. "You can't fly for three days" he said. "Now I must be going"
We went to the Ops bod and explained "OK clever clogs, what are you going to do now?" Stunned silence. The Captain said "How are you guys feeling?" "OK" we said. So off we went to fly the first leg to Al Jubail. It was a picture to watch the medics and their kit get on board. The Loadie said "If you want to get there today, you come with us. It's OK, we have medical back up" They were very quiet
We went to the Ops bod and explained "OK clever clogs, what are you going to do now?" Stunned silence. The Captain said "How are you guys feeling?" "OK" we said. So off we went to fly the first leg to Al Jubail. It was a picture to watch the medics and their kit get on board. The Loadie said "If you want to get there today, you come with us. It's OK, we have medical back up" They were very quiet
Hercules Recruiting Trailer up for sale.
Repossession Plant HERCULES RECRUITING TRAILER - Repossession Vehicles at Repossessions UK
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stilton,
I never knew such a contraption existed. How pristine the seats look. Not an oily stain in sight. What was it used for ?
I never knew such a contraption existed. How pristine the seats look. Not an oily stain in sight. What was it used for ?
In respect of the jabs for GW1 after a illuminating discussion with a medic friend I refused to have any of them. I also refused to order my troops to get them. They could if they wished but it was their choice.
Herk ties
Null #4341
Like you I also have the "slimjim" tie in blue, with silver Albert. I received it from the Lockheed rep after completing my first full year on White team at Colerne, that would be sometime in 1971. I also have the copper based etching of Albert. I wonder how many of us retained such memorabilia, whilst failing to do so for other aircraft we worked/flew on. My only other piece is a brass Vulcan, and where I got that I have no idea. As for the tie, I still wear it, when appropriate.
Coff, that's a stunning photograph, though having seen the aircraft at low level the other day, it does little to help decrease its visibility.
Well done all for pumping some new life into the old dog, let's hope it continues as R4 suggests.
Smudge
Like you I also have the "slimjim" tie in blue, with silver Albert. I received it from the Lockheed rep after completing my first full year on White team at Colerne, that would be sometime in 1971. I also have the copper based etching of Albert. I wonder how many of us retained such memorabilia, whilst failing to do so for other aircraft we worked/flew on. My only other piece is a brass Vulcan, and where I got that I have no idea. As for the tie, I still wear it, when appropriate.
Coff, that's a stunning photograph, though having seen the aircraft at low level the other day, it does little to help decrease its visibility.
Well done all for pumping some new life into the old dog, let's hope it continues as R4 suggests.
Smudge