Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Didn't have any LE failures with P** D**** but always managed to find ourselves deep in the dwang whenever crewed together, did lose the bearings on the FDCU an hour and a half out of KL in the middle of a tropical storm, full Smoke & Fumes. Landed to find the RAFLO was at an embassy cocktail party, not often the mild mannered and jovial P** lost it but this def and justifiably lit the blue touch paper.
smudge,
your TRU fire sounds similar to the one we had when carrying the 500 Lox container to Belize. It does concentrate the mind.
Pic is of aa acting as the am (ancient mariner). Not as long as DM's trip but a week around Cowes etc on one of the RAF boats. Skippered by the same chap who had blown the whistle on the culprit as told in a previous post. He had only just got his full ticket but he was very good. Highlight was tacking up the river under sail (just the jib) to the pub at Buckler's Hard. He steered and I did the sail trimming. Of course all the powered craft had to give us right of way.
As we tied up we burst out laughing, job well done and went for our 'debrief' beer.
your TRU fire sounds similar to the one we had when carrying the 500 Lox container to Belize. It does concentrate the mind.
Pic is of aa acting as the am (ancient mariner). Not as long as DM's trip but a week around Cowes etc on one of the RAF boats. Skippered by the same chap who had blown the whistle on the culprit as told in a previous post. He had only just got his full ticket but he was very good. Highlight was tacking up the river under sail (just the jib) to the pub at Buckler's Hard. He steered and I did the sail trimming. Of course all the powered craft had to give us right of way.
As we tied up we burst out laughing, job well done and went for our 'debrief' beer.
Never had a TRUnfailure but remember way back as ground crew in Washington, my first trip we had a bleeder resister catch fire during refuelling.....never seen a bowser move so fast.....changing one of them was no fun whatsoever!!!!as the Leckies on the trip I had to do it!!!!
It occurs to me that some of the readership may be puzzled as to why we went to Andros. Modern weapons tend to travel so far that there are not adequate test ranges in the UK so we are forced to turn to the US and use their test ranges. However these ranges are very busy so it usually means booking years in advance. Most of this test range time is for the RN to test torpedoes. Sometimes we would fly torpedoes from Seattle to Florida which is a long way in a Herc.
The usual detachment, for two weeks, was to one of the Mil airfields in Florida from which the boffins would be flown out to Andros as and when they desired.
As the accommodation was in hotels on rates it was viewed by the 'K' crews as a VERY good trip.
During the hectic GW1 buildup one of these bookings of the test range was scheduled. If the RN cancelled it they would have to go to the back of a long queue so it was due to go ahead as normal.
On 30 I had two loadmasters I could not use on Granby tasks as they had chits excusing them from wearing aircrew NBC kit (no I am not going there ).
One time after landing from another very long Granby day I went to our squadron ops to check on things as I always did.
On the board the Andros det had appeared and the duty Flt Cdr had put one of the non Granby chaps on the trip. Made sense you may think but not to teddy throwing me. The morale of the troops would not be improved when they saw this. So I went and 'spoke' to the Flt Cdr. The result was that the non Granby chap came off the trip. I phoned round the loadmasters who I knew were back in the UK and the first one who answered the phone got the trip.
I made sure that there would be no repeat of this nonsense by getting my unuseables detached to Cyprus to reinforce the AT Ops Det. This was the closest to the'action' I was allowed to send them.
The usual detachment, for two weeks, was to one of the Mil airfields in Florida from which the boffins would be flown out to Andros as and when they desired.
As the accommodation was in hotels on rates it was viewed by the 'K' crews as a VERY good trip.
During the hectic GW1 buildup one of these bookings of the test range was scheduled. If the RN cancelled it they would have to go to the back of a long queue so it was due to go ahead as normal.
On 30 I had two loadmasters I could not use on Granby tasks as they had chits excusing them from wearing aircrew NBC kit (no I am not going there ).
One time after landing from another very long Granby day I went to our squadron ops to check on things as I always did.
On the board the Andros det had appeared and the duty Flt Cdr had put one of the non Granby chaps on the trip. Made sense you may think but not to teddy throwing me. The morale of the troops would not be improved when they saw this. So I went and 'spoke' to the Flt Cdr. The result was that the non Granby chap came off the trip. I phoned round the loadmasters who I knew were back in the UK and the first one who answered the phone got the trip.
I made sure that there would be no repeat of this nonsense by getting my unuseables detached to Cyprus to reinforce the AT Ops Det. This was the closest to the'action' I was allowed to send them.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Andros det...good memories.
Was sent to Cocoa Beach to offload the pre-positioning kit. Then had a 2 week wait for the sub to arrive to start firing the torpedoes and the daily shuttles to start. Except the sub crew went on 2 weeks R&R so had another 2 quiet(??) weeks. before an epic route home via Ottawa, Anchorage and Thule.
At the same time as this Andros det, another sub was test firing torpedoes under the ice around Alaska so another Hercules det had been set up in Anchorage.
Before setting off for Florida, we had been told not to speak to any of the local about what we were there for, the sub name or any other details as they were all classified. On the way to the hotel, we kept passing other hotels with signs up saying "Welcome to the crew of HMS sub name". That night in a bar, we were asked if we were the MAMS team and would we be loading 4 or 6 torpedoes or whatever they were ....so much for it being supposedly classified.
Oh yes, forgot to mention the middle two weeks was something called Spring Break....
Was sent to Cocoa Beach to offload the pre-positioning kit. Then had a 2 week wait for the sub to arrive to start firing the torpedoes and the daily shuttles to start. Except the sub crew went on 2 weeks R&R so had another 2 quiet(??) weeks. before an epic route home via Ottawa, Anchorage and Thule.
At the same time as this Andros det, another sub was test firing torpedoes under the ice around Alaska so another Hercules det had been set up in Anchorage.
Before setting off for Florida, we had been told not to speak to any of the local about what we were there for, the sub name or any other details as they were all classified. On the way to the hotel, we kept passing other hotels with signs up saying "Welcome to the crew of HMS sub name". That night in a bar, we were asked if we were the MAMS team and would we be loading 4 or 6 torpedoes or whatever they were ....so much for it being supposedly classified.
Oh yes, forgot to mention the middle two weeks was something called Spring Break....
Went to Thule several times. I remember the sales of SERES ? beer in the Class 6. As part of the agreement with Denmark the US had to stock certain Danish goods . The USAF were not keen on this beer but at 49 cents a case the RAF certainly were. I think anything not sold was dumped in the sea.
Recall yacht skipper from Lyneham, not sure if he was GE flying or ground based, but known as "Salty Sam" - once hauled him over the rail after he fell into the Solent through not being hooked on to his lifeline.
The mention of Op Granby in my last post has persuaded me to put up this pic of my copy of the Op Order. It mentions the accommodation as being in the compound. The compound was not ready so we were in hotels. We were in one full of Kuwait refugees whose idea of fun was to run up and down the coridors all day and night screaming at the top of their voices.
Ah yes, the Riyadh det...
I remember getting into theatre just after New Year to be placed in a compound with the STS 'SkyRats' who were to train up the non-TS qualified crews in the art of desert strips. The situation was utter chaos, we were sharing about three to a room (no problem there) but the arrangements for locally purchasing rations were all over the shop due to (we were told) the admin folk having to drag out SOPs which were years out of date. I remember having to draw pay in Saudi Riyals on my pay book and the utter confusion about what we could and could not 'legitimately' buy. The out-of-date and inaccurate topos showed our operating airfield about thirty miles from where it actually was and the rest of the charts would have been more accurately replaced by large sheets of sandpaper.
The initial ground rates were excellent, we could eat at local purveyors of 'flat chicken' while the catering was being put in place and we made furniture out of slabs of cold drinks. As things began to get sorted a small NAAFI was established where we could buy essential items such as bootlaces and date-expired toothpaste but an extra bit of effort got us into the US commissary where there was a slightly better selection of goods including the latest Bose sound systems, TVs and boom-boxes. I also recall that the US thought we were exceptionally fond of tonic water (we didn't let on that the Dubai supply routes ensured we had enough 'juniper-based cleaning fluid' to dilute it with).
At one stage during Operation Compound Hop we had just stocked our freezers with food (including turkey-bacon from the French supermarket) when we were given another 'bug-out' order and moved to yet another compound which meant leaving all our newly purchased food behind.
Eventually we shifted to the Marriot which was all sorts of comfy but not long after that it was off to Alola 6, the last compound before the whole shebang moved to Bahrain. Our leaving party was the stuff of legend and I heard tell that a senior officer wandered through the following day's wreckage (including but not limited to several members of the nursing community who were resting their eyes) whilst trying to think of suitable ways of getting his revenge.
I remember getting into theatre just after New Year to be placed in a compound with the STS 'SkyRats' who were to train up the non-TS qualified crews in the art of desert strips. The situation was utter chaos, we were sharing about three to a room (no problem there) but the arrangements for locally purchasing rations were all over the shop due to (we were told) the admin folk having to drag out SOPs which were years out of date. I remember having to draw pay in Saudi Riyals on my pay book and the utter confusion about what we could and could not 'legitimately' buy. The out-of-date and inaccurate topos showed our operating airfield about thirty miles from where it actually was and the rest of the charts would have been more accurately replaced by large sheets of sandpaper.
The initial ground rates were excellent, we could eat at local purveyors of 'flat chicken' while the catering was being put in place and we made furniture out of slabs of cold drinks. As things began to get sorted a small NAAFI was established where we could buy essential items such as bootlaces and date-expired toothpaste but an extra bit of effort got us into the US commissary where there was a slightly better selection of goods including the latest Bose sound systems, TVs and boom-boxes. I also recall that the US thought we were exceptionally fond of tonic water (we didn't let on that the Dubai supply routes ensured we had enough 'juniper-based cleaning fluid' to dilute it with).
At one stage during Operation Compound Hop we had just stocked our freezers with food (including turkey-bacon from the French supermarket) when we were given another 'bug-out' order and moved to yet another compound which meant leaving all our newly purchased food behind.
Eventually we shifted to the Marriot which was all sorts of comfy but not long after that it was off to Alola 6, the last compound before the whole shebang moved to Bahrain. Our leaving party was the stuff of legend and I heard tell that a senior officer wandered through the following day's wreckage (including but not limited to several members of the nursing community who were resting their eyes) whilst trying to think of suitable ways of getting his revenge.
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Ahh the end of war party....
The Movers were asked if they had any high priority freight which need to be sent to Akrotiri. We managed to find a landrover that was due to be returned to the UK at some stage so that would do as the reason to put a Spec flight to AKT.
The Movers there backloaded the aircraft with half a dozen large boxes which were offloaded and spirited back to the compound. The party went ahead with much merriment.
The next day we loaded a UK bound TriStar with several blue rubbish bags for disposal at Brize.
The Movers were asked if they had any high priority freight which need to be sent to Akrotiri. We managed to find a landrover that was due to be returned to the UK at some stage so that would do as the reason to put a Spec flight to AKT.
The Movers there backloaded the aircraft with half a dozen large boxes which were offloaded and spirited back to the compound. The party went ahead with much merriment.
The next day we loaded a UK bound TriStar with several blue rubbish bags for disposal at Brize.
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In a similar vein to the above.
Just before the ground war started, a Padre arrived on the nightly TriStar in Riyadh. He was on moving to Al Jubail where he was to give Communion to the troops before they went into action.
Obviously he couldn't give Communion with wine as that was not allowed. Instead he had a couple of boxes of "Heavenly Liquid"
A couple of days later the same Padre was flown back as he had injured himself falling into a slit trench in the dark cracking a couple of ribs or similar. A touch too much of the heavenly liquid suggested me.
Just before the ground war started, a Padre arrived on the nightly TriStar in Riyadh. He was on moving to Al Jubail where he was to give Communion to the troops before they went into action.
Obviously he couldn't give Communion with wine as that was not allowed. Instead he had a couple of boxes of "Heavenly Liquid"
A couple of days later the same Padre was flown back as he had injured himself falling into a slit trench in the dark cracking a couple of ribs or similar. A touch too much of the heavenly liquid suggested me.
November 4,
End of war party, ooo eck, I remember it well. For some of us the party trailed along to the Diplomat in Bahrain, and continued for several more weeks/months. Now, I'm rather hoping that AA62 can offer some advice here. My extended detachment to Bahrain actually crewed me up, for the only time, with a 30 Squadron crew, who were some of the best blokes I ever worked with. Captains first name was John (ISTR) had a West Country accent and was a true gentleman, the Eng was Nutty Bob (You either know or don't) and the Loady a great bloke who was happy for me to run the galley regularly. Our Nav, who I was sharing a room in the Diplomat with (we were the only smokers), was I believe Nigel ? Sported a proper moustache, and had a real sense of humour. Our Co, Andy ? Another great character. All in all, a team who worked together well, and I wish I could remember their names. I still have the battery powered drumming bear that was given to me on our last night before return to UK. Any ideas AA62 ? I wish I had some photographs from that few weeks.
GW1 wasn't all hard work you know!
Smudge
PS, AA62, Nice to see Bert get a mention in your Op order.
End of war party, ooo eck, I remember it well. For some of us the party trailed along to the Diplomat in Bahrain, and continued for several more weeks/months. Now, I'm rather hoping that AA62 can offer some advice here. My extended detachment to Bahrain actually crewed me up, for the only time, with a 30 Squadron crew, who were some of the best blokes I ever worked with. Captains first name was John (ISTR) had a West Country accent and was a true gentleman, the Eng was Nutty Bob (You either know or don't) and the Loady a great bloke who was happy for me to run the galley regularly. Our Nav, who I was sharing a room in the Diplomat with (we were the only smokers), was I believe Nigel ? Sported a proper moustache, and had a real sense of humour. Our Co, Andy ? Another great character. All in all, a team who worked together well, and I wish I could remember their names. I still have the battery powered drumming bear that was given to me on our last night before return to UK. Any ideas AA62 ? I wish I had some photographs from that few weeks.
GW1 wasn't all hard work you know!
Smudge
PS, AA62, Nice to see Bert get a mention in your Op order.
smudge,
captain was probably J W... and I can pm you with his name if you wish. As you rightly say a real gentleman. I put myself on his last trip on the 'K' but that is another story.
I cannot remember the loadmaster but it may come to me.
I was not at the 'end of' party but as you have seen I was in at the AT Det start. Logbook says XV 304 on 30 Oct 1990. We were the first a/c in to start the det and ATC claimed to know nothing about us. So we waited for almost an hour whilst the captain spoke to the Air HQ downtown on the HF ! Eventually we were directed to an unfinished terminal part of which became our base. Whilst the UK had dithered the French had acted and thus had the best part of the place.
There was no secure storage for our mountain of Aircrew NBC kit nor for the nine mil and ammo. We did have two brand new Toyota landcruisers. And BATA supplied us with bondu boots.
Two days later we started our hub and spoke operations.
As you can guess I put the one and only Bert up for the det. No one better for this sort of task.
captain was probably J W... and I can pm you with his name if you wish. As you rightly say a real gentleman. I put myself on his last trip on the 'K' but that is another story.
I cannot remember the loadmaster but it may come to me.
I was not at the 'end of' party but as you have seen I was in at the AT Det start. Logbook says XV 304 on 30 Oct 1990. We were the first a/c in to start the det and ATC claimed to know nothing about us. So we waited for almost an hour whilst the captain spoke to the Air HQ downtown on the HF ! Eventually we were directed to an unfinished terminal part of which became our base. Whilst the UK had dithered the French had acted and thus had the best part of the place.
There was no secure storage for our mountain of Aircrew NBC kit nor for the nine mil and ammo. We did have two brand new Toyota landcruisers. And BATA supplied us with bondu boots.
Two days later we started our hub and spoke operations.
As you can guess I put the one and only Bert up for the det. No one better for this sort of task.
Last edited by ancientaviator62; 9th Dec 2014 at 07:33. Reason: correction
AA, thanks for that memory jog. My memory is now refreshed, and that is indeed the gentleman who I was our Captain. I still struggle to remember the names of that crew, though why I don't know, we spent around two months eating drinking and flying together. A great bunch of people to work with.
Smudge
Smudge
smudge,
glad to help.
The above pic is self explanatory. Did anyone else attend this lunch ?
Shame Lyneham never made it to the 75th anniversary.
glad to help.
The above pic is self explanatory. Did anyone else attend this lunch ?
Shame Lyneham never made it to the 75th anniversary.
Last edited by ancientaviator62; 9th Dec 2014 at 10:15. Reason: grammar
Ksimboy, TBT,
With Bobs history, imagine his state of nerves on an approach to Kuwait Intl, using a newly installed tactical ILS, through the smoke from the oil fires, with the Comms flooded with US Navy, Army and Air Force helicopters call signs, asking for position reports. I worked with him for a couple of months, and considering the foregoing, reckon he did a bloody good job. Of course, You two may well have known him better than I did.
Smudge
With Bobs history, imagine his state of nerves on an approach to Kuwait Intl, using a newly installed tactical ILS, through the smoke from the oil fires, with the Comms flooded with US Navy, Army and Air Force helicopters call signs, asking for position reports. I worked with him for a couple of months, and considering the foregoing, reckon he did a bloody good job. Of course, You two may well have known him better than I did.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 10th Dec 2014 at 07:34.