Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Omega,
Pete Tyas sadly has passed away. I'm sure he would not object to those of us who remember him with affection (sometimes trepidation) having a laugh at his antics.
I used to keep my gloves in my lower leg pockets where I could ensure the fingertips stayed attached!.
Pete Tyas sadly has passed away. I'm sure he would not object to those of us who remember him with affection (sometimes trepidation) having a laugh at his antics.
I used to keep my gloves in my lower leg pockets where I could ensure the fingertips stayed attached!.
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RAF Rompers Green
It would seem that many visitors to this thread have enjoyed the good hearted banter, humorous stories and fond reminiscences shared with us by the growing number of RAF Albert's gallant Air and Ground Crews who continue to freely entertain us here ... and long may that continue. So I thought quite a few of our readership might enjoy Rompers Green ...
I have read a few excerpts in the past ... But now Vols 1 and 2 are available on-line for all to read ... Hilariously funny 
The Rompers Green Collection - The Story of a West Country Transport Station
I have a feeling publishing this link might well prompt a few more memories ... Let's hope so
All Credits and Acknowledgements as per the Rompers Green website.
Coff.
PS. It all started in early 1977 ...
... The everyday story of a Transport Station somewhere in the heart of the West Country, home of 3274 Squadron, flying the giant Lockout "Workules" to the far corners of the Earth ...
The Rompers Green Collection - The Story of a West Country Transport Station
I have a feeling publishing this link might well prompt a few more memories ... Let's hope so
All Credits and Acknowledgements as per the Rompers Green website.
Coff.
PS. It all started in early 1977 ...
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 1st Sep 2014 at 18:30.
Dengue Dude,
Pete Tyas, never was anyone more associated with Albert in my time. I must admit to knowing M*** L***y to! perhaps that explains my lack of hair. The one I always remember was Pete Tyas drilling a bunch of squaddie pax, whilst awaiting the arrival of the Royals to depart. It was pouring down, and rumour has it that Pete stood on the open ramp was ensuring they got a good drenching. The company Sgt Major appeared next to him and asked if he would mind if the Colonel was excused further marching in the rain. I'm sure, the man was a legend, his antics must be part of Alberts record of service.
Smudge
Pete Tyas, never was anyone more associated with Albert in my time. I must admit to knowing M*** L***y to! perhaps that explains my lack of hair. The one I always remember was Pete Tyas drilling a bunch of squaddie pax, whilst awaiting the arrival of the Royals to depart. It was pouring down, and rumour has it that Pete stood on the open ramp was ensuring they got a good drenching. The company Sgt Major appeared next to him and asked if he would mind if the Colonel was excused further marching in the rain. I'm sure, the man was a legend, his antics must be part of Alberts record of service.
Smudge
Smudge .. that story is applied to nearly every Loadie who had "character" .. but I believe the original predates even Pedro by some years ... First time I heard it, B*** D*****d was the Loadie and it was in The Gambia ... 
Pete will be remembered for, as already mentioned .. his penchant for attacking flying gloves with nail clippers and condiments; ping pong balls at the navs station (before AAR was invented); the things he did with your luggage ( especially after the ladies joined the fleet); and numerous other pranks .. but my favourite story of all ...
In the days when we had to change into "blues" before leaving the frame ....on a fairly long trip ...A rather loud and rotund captain, who would "fill up" from the galley during the descent to avoid having to spend on the ground ... Pete has to stay behind to supervise loading etc .... said captains flying suit is attacked on a daily basis with some very subtle needle and thread work on the side seams ....after 6 days the meal choice has become salads, snacks are declined, water is the beverage of choice ... after a few more days even beer on the ground is being limited .... rumour had it that said captain actually started to lose weight !!!! but with a lack of scales he thought it was still increasing ....
Pete will be remembered for, as already mentioned .. his penchant for attacking flying gloves with nail clippers and condiments; ping pong balls at the navs station (before AAR was invented); the things he did with your luggage ( especially after the ladies joined the fleet); and numerous other pranks .. but my favourite story of all ...
In the days when we had to change into "blues" before leaving the frame ....on a fairly long trip ...A rather loud and rotund captain, who would "fill up" from the galley during the descent to avoid having to spend on the ground ... Pete has to stay behind to supervise loading etc .... said captains flying suit is attacked on a daily basis with some very subtle needle and thread work on the side seams ....after 6 days the meal choice has become salads, snacks are declined, water is the beverage of choice ... after a few more days even beer on the ground is being limited .... rumour had it that said captain actually started to lose weight !!!! but with a lack of scales he thought it was still increasing ....
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Anyone know how Bert is? I last saw him on 30, but understood he retired and was driving a crew coach at Brize.
His nickname on 30 was Gloria after the character in 'It Ain't 'Alf 'Ot Mum'. However, he scuttled around asking everybody not to call him that as we had the SIB sniffing around as one of the ALMs was being court-marshalled for being gay - in those days it was a quick way of leaving the mob.
I remember our Wing Commander was living proof that a man could survive a personality bypass . . .
As Mary Hopkin observed : 'Those Were the Days My Friend' . . .
His nickname on 30 was Gloria after the character in 'It Ain't 'Alf 'Ot Mum'. However, he scuttled around asking everybody not to call him that as we had the SIB sniffing around as one of the ALMs was being court-marshalled for being gay - in those days it was a quick way of leaving the mob.
I remember our Wing Commander was living proof that a man could survive a personality bypass . . .
As Mary Hopkin observed : 'Those Were the Days My Friend' . . .
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OV6,
For what it's worth, I heard that the original of that story concerned Harry East and it was in the Gulf when Harry was on the Argosy.
For those who don't know, Harry died in Thailand about 4 years ago. Apparently, he retired there.
To get back to Pete Tyas......in all the talk of his practical jokes, it is sometimes forgotten that he was an excellent Loadie (I'm sure AA62 will confirm that).
I flew with him many times and was with him on the Volant Rodeo crew of 1982. The other Loadie was 'Dutch' H......d. I was an instructor at STS at the time and the Nav was another STS instructor, B...t H........K.
During the work-up Pete asked if there was anything extra he could do. B..t gave him a quick course on the Doppler so that, during the low-level flying, Pete sat in the Nav's seat allowing B..t to spend more time standing behind the Capt map reading.
During the competition the American umpires were amazed and it soon went around that the Brit ALMs were qualified in the Nav seat. We did nothing to dispel the rumour.
We came second overall that year.
As I look back on my time on Albert, I can't help remembering really good guys who fell by the wayside because of alcohol. We had a culture which almost encouraged excessive consumption. I don't know what it's like now (I've been out since '88) but I hope that common sense has prevailed.
Maybe Pete, and others like him, would still be around if the help had been there.
For what it's worth, I heard that the original of that story concerned Harry East and it was in the Gulf when Harry was on the Argosy.
For those who don't know, Harry died in Thailand about 4 years ago. Apparently, he retired there.
To get back to Pete Tyas......in all the talk of his practical jokes, it is sometimes forgotten that he was an excellent Loadie (I'm sure AA62 will confirm that).
I flew with him many times and was with him on the Volant Rodeo crew of 1982. The other Loadie was 'Dutch' H......d. I was an instructor at STS at the time and the Nav was another STS instructor, B...t H........K.
During the work-up Pete asked if there was anything extra he could do. B..t gave him a quick course on the Doppler so that, during the low-level flying, Pete sat in the Nav's seat allowing B..t to spend more time standing behind the Capt map reading.
During the competition the American umpires were amazed and it soon went around that the Brit ALMs were qualified in the Nav seat. We did nothing to dispel the rumour.
We came second overall that year.
As I look back on my time on Albert, I can't help remembering really good guys who fell by the wayside because of alcohol. We had a culture which almost encouraged excessive consumption. I don't know what it's like now (I've been out since '88) but I hope that common sense has prevailed.
Maybe Pete, and others like him, would still be around if the help had been there.
melmothtw,
seeing the pic of the A400 reminds me that when Lockheeds designed the 'Mighty Hercules' they got it so right !
JATFOR 'scramble' just a few of the 37. Much respect to the 'menders' for providing so many serviceable frames. Can you imagine it now ? Not enough a/c for a start.
seeing the pic of the A400 reminds me that when Lockheeds designed the 'Mighty Hercules' they got it so right !
JATFOR 'scramble' just a few of the 37. Much respect to the 'menders' for providing so many serviceable frames. Can you imagine it now ? Not enough a/c for a start.
OmegaV6,
your comment ref changing into blues reminds me of the time we picked up the AOC and his PSO at Gander. We were to take him down to Belize in our 'K'.
We had been warned before we left the UK to be on our best behaviour with KD, black tie and black shoes before leaving the a/c-no bondu boots !
So we arrive in Belize and put nice clean KD on our sweaty bodies . The AOC and his man are nowhere to be seen. We climb off and get into the transport. The AOC and PSO already on board still in their flying overalls. He whispers something to the PSO who asks why we have got changed. The captain answers by handing him his copy of GASOs with the page about crew dress regulations open. Mucho embarrassment to VIP and we are of course bursting to laugh, but no one dares to. At least not until we have our debrief beer.
your comment ref changing into blues reminds me of the time we picked up the AOC and his PSO at Gander. We were to take him down to Belize in our 'K'.
We had been warned before we left the UK to be on our best behaviour with KD, black tie and black shoes before leaving the a/c-no bondu boots !
So we arrive in Belize and put nice clean KD on our sweaty bodies . The AOC and his man are nowhere to be seen. We climb off and get into the transport. The AOC and PSO already on board still in their flying overalls. He whispers something to the PSO who asks why we have got changed. The captain answers by handing him his copy of GASOs with the page about crew dress regulations open. Mucho embarrassment to VIP and we are of course bursting to laugh, but no one dares to. At least not until we have our debrief beer.
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I was "fortunate" to serve part of my apprenticeship under the wing of Pedro when I was on LXX. Pin holes in paper cups approx. 1 cm under the rim, boot polish on the sextant eyepiece, chains and tensioners in the crew bags, sewing kit overtime on hems of blue uniform, pen-knife on seams so that when the unlucky target put them on, a rip was heard complete with red face, tampons in tomato soup, Duty Free's decanted and replaced with similar looking fluids, walking down the back of a packed aircraft in a towel, shower cap with loofah and pretending to have a shower with emergency water behind the elsan screen, cling-filming the co-pilot to his seat for the duration of a flight, filling his boots with dry ice and dropping the galley floor so that when the crew looked around there was a pair of smoking boots. Best of all that I witnessed was hostie outfit complete with blonde wig, high heels & lipstick despatching a stick of para's. The looks on the para's faces as they turned and exited was priceless!
RIP Pedro
RIP Pedro
Wasaloadie .. you forgot the famous one with the para's ... a prepared sick bag of thick vegetable stew ... a little turbulence ... some overacting into said sick bag .... then a long look inside.. remove spoon from pocket.. start eating contents of sick bag ...
story was the whole stick made "correct use" of the provided bags in the next few minutes .........
A legend was Pedro...
story was the whole stick made "correct use" of the provided bags in the next few minutes .........
A legend was Pedro...
On the subject of characters, does anyone remember "Rocket Ron" the ALSS B shift Sgt "Ramp Tramp" (mid 80s). Ron was from Blackpool and retained his northern accent. He took great delight in leading a recently arrived crew in to debrief in ALSS by shouting loudly "stand up for the Royals". He was just one of those blokes that could say anything he wanted, and not offend anyone. I'm sure there are some "Royals" who remember him.
Meanwhile, thanks all for the correction on the marching Colonel. I still say that Loadies all had a "sense of humour". Kilwhang, talking to mates still in, I rather suspect things have definitely changed.
Smudge
Meanwhile, thanks all for the correction on the marching Colonel. I still say that Loadies all had a "sense of humour". Kilwhang, talking to mates still in, I rather suspect things have definitely changed.
Smudge
This should be a cue for the 'Red Flag' tales. For those who may not know Red Flag was the annual exercise held at Nellis AFB very close to 'Lost Wages' (Las Vegas). It involved fast jets and tac airlifters etc . The USAF had the space the ranges and the monitoring kit which we did not. Hence the UK participation.
Spent a month there once as the AT Det O but that is another story.
ahh .. Red Flag .. one of the few digital pics on this system ... tasked to fly from Nellis to McCarren to pick up some bits sent over by CivAir ... interesting views on the way in
Never did a whole Red Flag Det, but certainly did some support/resupply/repair trips that gave me many good nights in a great Hotel/Casino, whose name I'm struggling to remember. It was off the strip, and , I will never forget being given a suite, bigger than my married quarter at LYE. I watched CNN from the shower (through a porthole) hearing it through the waterproof speaker.. Anyone else stay there ? Can anyone stimulate my memory as to its name, something like Rio comes to mind, but then, I'm an old bloke now.
Smudge
Smudge