Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Smudge, AA62 ...
As the originator of this thread, I fully endorse the above proposal ... Looking forward to more of the same ... 
Yes this is supposed to be about RAF 'K' Hercs but I think a little diversion here and there can be allowed. To stop it getting out of hand may I suggest that we only post personal pics, that is those we have taken or those we were involved in when taken by others. We may then not be overloaded by commercial file and library pics which are readily available elsewhere as these personal ones are specific to this thread.
Coffman,
thank you for supporting my suggestion ref the direction of this thread.
I have plenty more to show but have now realised that I am missing a box of slides/pics, no doubt gone astray during one of my moves. So not quite so many as I thought but still enough to be going on with.
thank you for supporting my suggestion ref the direction of this thread.
I have plenty more to show but have now realised that I am missing a box of slides/pics, no doubt gone astray during one of my moves. So not quite so many as I thought but still enough to be going on with.
Coff,
A splendid suggestion by AA, and I also agree with your sentiment re posting such pictures. Perhaps I am the guilty party here, so I will give myself a stern talking to and do it properly from now on.
Smudge
A splendid suggestion by AA, and I also agree with your sentiment re posting such pictures. Perhaps I am the guilty party here, so I will give myself a stern talking to and do it properly from now on.
Smudge
Next in the sequence of Op Burlap. This DZ was in the grounds of a school manned by the Royal Marines. Perhaps the most useful thing we dropped were cases of Tiger beer to them. Tiger because it was thought that the cans would survive the impact better than bottles of Anchor !
Just to return to the previous pic. The safety harnesses the despatchers are wearing are the ones we used throughout my service. Are the same ones in use today on the 'J' ?
Referring back to the latest pic, my wife (ex schoolie) wondered if the school was still there. According to my log book (all spellings with my pics are as per my log books, right or wrong) the DZ was at Patuakhali. Anyone from that part of the world know ?
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AA62 ...
I've just tried a Google image search ... a number of buildings look "possibles" but this one caught my eye
TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, PATUAKHALI
I've just tried a Google image search ... a number of buildings look "possibles" but this one caught my eye
TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, PATUAKHALI
Coffman,
the 'memsahib' sends her thanks. It certainly does look like the school and seems in better condition than when we 'visited' ! At least we did not knock it down with one of the drops. (Cue for Brian le Nav ?) Wonder if anyone in the area remembers our 'visits' ?
the 'memsahib' sends her thanks. It certainly does look like the school and seems in better condition than when we 'visited' ! At least we did not knock it down with one of the drops. (Cue for Brian le Nav ?) Wonder if anyone in the area remembers our 'visits' ?
Loyal readers, (or should that be loyal reader )may remember my remark about the local labour force. They wanted money to assist with the offload of relief supplies. The pic above shows how we dealt with this. All the crew assisted in dumping the stuff outside the a/c we then started up and left.
I am beginning to feel quite lonely on this thread. Surely out of all those associated with the 'K' there must be someone with personal pics and tales.
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Don't feel lonely AA62. I am soaking it all up but adopting a bit of a passive stance at the moment. Ref comments on the Met thread about 35K ft. I tried to find my RAFCAM notes to pass to Coff. As you know I have a slight interest in this.
I am finding PRuNe more of an education rather than source of rumours at the moment. Well done everyone.
Drag
I am finding PRuNe more of an education rather than source of rumours at the moment. Well done everyone.
Drag
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Time for some "home photographs" and a request for help first. XV205 on ex Winter Express and I still struggle to remember if this is Fagernes, Trondheim or wherever. I do know that had Santa in a sled pulled by Reindeer crossed the pan that day, it would have been fitting. Anyone know where we were ?
Smudge
Smudge
dragartist,
thank you for the reassurance that there is more than one person enjoying this thread. I will keep going. In a previous post I mentioned the safety harnesses. Do you know if they still use the same antiquated kit on the 'J' ?
thank you for the reassurance that there is more than one person enjoying this thread. I will keep going. In a previous post I mentioned the safety harnesses. Do you know if they still use the same antiquated kit on the 'J' ?
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AA62,
Well I have been gone over 2 years now. I believe they still use the GQ Belt round the waist rather than the superior (IMHO) Mk60 as used by RW. They did change the floor fitting to a rather expensive double action screw gate karabiner as the double gate one could become unfastened as the J floor fittings did not rotate. Mind you we did had a faf with the K floor fittings coming out. (MSP TROC cable) I never felt particularly secure in the belt. But I was probably not considered a SQEP and did not have to sign off the ALARP chit!!!
Well I have been gone over 2 years now. I believe they still use the GQ Belt round the waist rather than the superior (IMHO) Mk60 as used by RW. They did change the floor fitting to a rather expensive double action screw gate karabiner as the double gate one could become unfastened as the J floor fittings did not rotate. Mind you we did had a faf with the K floor fittings coming out. (MSP TROC cable) I never felt particularly secure in the belt. But I was probably not considered a SQEP and did not have to sign off the ALARP chit!!!
The Wizard,
Thanks for that, I wonder how I never noticed the Fagernes sign before ? Obviously I had forgotten which Airfield it was, we saw a lot of them on that Det. Winter deployment and I think we did something in to, or out of, every Norwegian runway that would take a Herk. I took that photograph a long time ago, so again, thanks for pointing out the obvious.
Smudge
Thanks for that, I wonder how I never noticed the Fagernes sign before ? Obviously I had forgotten which Airfield it was, we saw a lot of them on that Det. Winter deployment and I think we did something in to, or out of, every Norwegian runway that would take a Herk. I took that photograph a long time ago, so again, thanks for pointing out the obvious.
Smudge
Definitely fagernes! You're parked in almost the exact spot I parked in, only to have my wing tip hit by another Herc going the opposite direction - apparentlY the tyre tracks in the snow made by the rest of the stream as they moved off the centrleline to pass 3 parked hercs weren't enough of a clue for the resident Belgique exchange officer.......
DCThumb,
I have a memory of a wingtip "incident" at Bardufoss when a stream of Herks deployed the main stream of troops for "winter deployment". As I remember the airfield had a large loop of taxyway, with something resembling lay byes for parking aircraft (unfortunately the lay byes were more suited to an F16 than a C130). As one Herk taxied out after offloading, a sharp eyed muppet (no explanation, those who know, know) stood at the wingtip of the parked Herk and stuck his thumb up to the crew, who promptly assumed he was giving clearance on the wingtip, and dinged it. The muppet later said he was just trying to say thanks to the outbound crew for delivering him to his allowances. As an aside, some of the nicest people I went down route with were members of UKMAMS (OK, I explained it), I certainly mean no offence at the use of their "pet name", how they referred to Herk GEs remains a mystery.
Smudge
I have a memory of a wingtip "incident" at Bardufoss when a stream of Herks deployed the main stream of troops for "winter deployment". As I remember the airfield had a large loop of taxyway, with something resembling lay byes for parking aircraft (unfortunately the lay byes were more suited to an F16 than a C130). As one Herk taxied out after offloading, a sharp eyed muppet (no explanation, those who know, know) stood at the wingtip of the parked Herk and stuck his thumb up to the crew, who promptly assumed he was giving clearance on the wingtip, and dinged it. The muppet later said he was just trying to say thanks to the outbound crew for delivering him to his allowances. As an aside, some of the nicest people I went down route with were members of UKMAMS (OK, I explained it), I certainly mean no offence at the use of their "pet name", how they referred to Herk GEs remains a mystery.
Smudge
DCThumb,
I'm sorry sir, I take exception to that charge
Despite the fact that I may well have been the only C130 GE with a Q to Carry out repairs to low reserve structures (Cat3 repairs), I never returned from Norway having been involved in a "Bump". A good friend of mine (Joe Ion) did though I believe, and may well be your GE of choice. The joys of driving Albert on the ground on snow always drew out my admiration for you drivers Airframe, I had a go once at Gander (under very close supervision) - 23 degrees, rime ice and everything more slippy than playing golf on ice. As a direct result of that I decided not to downgrade from TG1 to Aircrew
My funniest taxying incident was a trip to Tancos, a Portuguese Airbase. During an exercise, I stood behind the Captain during the taxi in, and the bloke who marshalled us in looked just like the movements SAC I had been drinking with in Corlu (Turkey) about two weeks before (in fact, exactly as he looked as he left the bar). His antics in front of the aircraft were definitely "interesting" but not too informative. On stopping I asked the skipper to keep the donks running, and let the Loadie and myself get out to look. The sight of the RH main wheels sinking slowly into the bondu the idiot had put them on, and I don't mean the Captain, was horrific. Luckily, some power and left hand down saved the day. On asking the relevant questions, the SAC had no authorisation to marshall aircraft, but thought it would be fun to have a go. Funnily enough, the same bloke nearly removed a couple of my fingers in Goose bay a year or so later. He grounded the ramp as I was putting the nose wheel lock pin in. He had no authorisation to operate the aircraft ramp either. He tried to insist that the Loadmaster had cleared him to do it. I left him in discussion with the rather large, Flt Lt, Loadmaster, some may know who I mean. Anyone who knows me, should also know that I put no criticism on anyone. I'm merely relating a previous experience (accidents happen). I hope I'm not to receive PMs asking me to modify a genuine recollection to avoid "embarrassment".
Smudge
I'm sorry sir, I take exception to that charge
Despite the fact that I may well have been the only C130 GE with a Q to Carry out repairs to low reserve structures (Cat3 repairs), I never returned from Norway having been involved in a "Bump". A good friend of mine (Joe Ion) did though I believe, and may well be your GE of choice. The joys of driving Albert on the ground on snow always drew out my admiration for you drivers Airframe, I had a go once at Gander (under very close supervision) - 23 degrees, rime ice and everything more slippy than playing golf on ice. As a direct result of that I decided not to downgrade from TG1 to Aircrew My funniest taxying incident was a trip to Tancos, a Portuguese Airbase. During an exercise, I stood behind the Captain during the taxi in, and the bloke who marshalled us in looked just like the movements SAC I had been drinking with in Corlu (Turkey) about two weeks before (in fact, exactly as he looked as he left the bar). His antics in front of the aircraft were definitely "interesting" but not too informative. On stopping I asked the skipper to keep the donks running, and let the Loadie and myself get out to look. The sight of the RH main wheels sinking slowly into the bondu the idiot had put them on, and I don't mean the Captain, was horrific. Luckily, some power and left hand down saved the day. On asking the relevant questions, the SAC had no authorisation to marshall aircraft, but thought it would be fun to have a go. Funnily enough, the same bloke nearly removed a couple of my fingers in Goose bay a year or so later. He grounded the ramp as I was putting the nose wheel lock pin in. He had no authorisation to operate the aircraft ramp either. He tried to insist that the Loadmaster had cleared him to do it. I left him in discussion with the rather large, Flt Lt, Loadmaster, some may know who I mean. Anyone who knows me, should also know that I put no criticism on anyone. I'm merely relating a previous experience (accidents happen). I hope I'm not to receive PMs asking me to modify a genuine recollection to avoid "embarrassment".
Smudge