TOPCLIFFE musings.
Genstabler,
Was Beaver driver Tim Daly one of your numbers and can you recall an Air Corps fixer called Mel Appleyard ?
AQAfive - yes indeed - it did look so much smaller. Perhaps it was those horrible runs they subjected us to.
(quite a few emails to repeat the event - any takers ?)
Dave M
Was Beaver driver Tim Daly one of your numbers and can you recall an Air Corps fixer called Mel Appleyard ?
AQAfive - yes indeed - it did look so much smaller. Perhaps it was those horrible runs they subjected us to.
(quite a few emails to repeat the event - any takers ?)
Dave M
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Topcliffe memories
Only visited once in the late '80's to fix a Shack. B&B in the local one-pub village. The landlady was memorable for the best breakfast in living memory, and for "the front door will be locked at 2300 sharp!". Yes, mum.
The airfield was Army with JEFTS Bulldogs based in one hangar. We doubled the RAF temporary presence for one week while we dragged out an engine change. An interesting time with a story attached, but maybe another day.
Camlobe
The airfield was Army with JEFTS Bulldogs based in one hangar. We doubled the RAF temporary presence for one week while we dragged out an engine change. An interesting time with a story attached, but maybe another day.
Camlobe
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Memories of Topcliffe
I attended RAF Topcliffe as a, AEOp student on No 21 Air Electronics and Air Engineers Course during 1969/70. Our Flight Commander was a chap called Flt Lt Peter Fownes - a great instructor and sound human being. Everyone on the Course thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.
Being an Ex Air Radar Fitter and a qualified private pilot I found the ground school technical and airmanship subjects a doddle. However, mastering the art of Morse communications was, for me, a real challenge. However, perseverance paid off and I was considered competent at 16 words-per-minute and allowed to progress on to the flying phase.
The Varsity was, I suppose, and ideal training aircraft - not too fast and not too complicated. On each trip we would normally fly 2 AEOp students, one to work the STR-18 HF and the other to act (and I mean act) as the pilot's assistant. Positions would be swapped around from flight to flight. We flew a number of different routes. Some focussed on maritime operations and the other focussed on route flying.
Maritime routes took us out over the North Sea where the HF operator would worked hard sending fictitious messages thought up by the AEO instructor and receive base weather broadcasts. As I remember it the Pilot Assistant who sat in the co-pilot's seat had very little to do other that make a few V/UHF calls, answer some technical questions though up by the pilot and pass out the rations and tea.
The flight plan for the overland was: Topcliffe, Whitby, Aberdeen, Bonar Bridge, Leuchars and back to Topcliffe. at FL80 - about 4 hours total. This route required a bit more V/UHF work by the Pilot Assistant but the same manic level of work by the HF trainee.
The HF station at Topcliffe was, as I remember it, manned by a somewhat geriatric team of instructors including one that suffered from arthritis in his hands. You can imagine the shock when, having settled down for my first HF trip in the Varsity and opened watch with the ground station, I received what can only be described as the strangest Morse I had ever heard; a sort of slow-slow-quick-quick-slow rhythm that scrambled my brain. Somehow I managed to stumble through the HF flying phase and before long I graduated with my Course and was sent off to join 42 Sqn at St Mawgan. The training I received at Tocliffe stood me in good stead and I was happy using Morse regularly in the Nimrod MR1 and occasionally in the Vulcan B2.
Unlike others that have submitted to this forum, my memories of Topcliffe are great. The sun never seemed to set, the beer and roast beef sandwiches at the Shoulder of Mutton were fantastic and the friends I made on the Course followed through into my time on Maritime and the V Force. If there has to be a downside, it was the Wendy House sized married quarter that my wife and I were allocated at nearby RAF Dishforth. My daughter couldn't have a cat as there was no room to swing it!
If the instigator of this thread wants a potted history of RAF Topcliffe from the time it came into existence until 1969, I can forward one to him.
Being an Ex Air Radar Fitter and a qualified private pilot I found the ground school technical and airmanship subjects a doddle. However, mastering the art of Morse communications was, for me, a real challenge. However, perseverance paid off and I was considered competent at 16 words-per-minute and allowed to progress on to the flying phase.
The Varsity was, I suppose, and ideal training aircraft - not too fast and not too complicated. On each trip we would normally fly 2 AEOp students, one to work the STR-18 HF and the other to act (and I mean act) as the pilot's assistant. Positions would be swapped around from flight to flight. We flew a number of different routes. Some focussed on maritime operations and the other focussed on route flying.
Maritime routes took us out over the North Sea where the HF operator would worked hard sending fictitious messages thought up by the AEO instructor and receive base weather broadcasts. As I remember it the Pilot Assistant who sat in the co-pilot's seat had very little to do other that make a few V/UHF calls, answer some technical questions though up by the pilot and pass out the rations and tea.
The flight plan for the overland was: Topcliffe, Whitby, Aberdeen, Bonar Bridge, Leuchars and back to Topcliffe. at FL80 - about 4 hours total. This route required a bit more V/UHF work by the Pilot Assistant but the same manic level of work by the HF trainee.
The HF station at Topcliffe was, as I remember it, manned by a somewhat geriatric team of instructors including one that suffered from arthritis in his hands. You can imagine the shock when, having settled down for my first HF trip in the Varsity and opened watch with the ground station, I received what can only be described as the strangest Morse I had ever heard; a sort of slow-slow-quick-quick-slow rhythm that scrambled my brain. Somehow I managed to stumble through the HF flying phase and before long I graduated with my Course and was sent off to join 42 Sqn at St Mawgan. The training I received at Tocliffe stood me in good stead and I was happy using Morse regularly in the Nimrod MR1 and occasionally in the Vulcan B2.
Unlike others that have submitted to this forum, my memories of Topcliffe are great. The sun never seemed to set, the beer and roast beef sandwiches at the Shoulder of Mutton were fantastic and the friends I made on the Course followed through into my time on Maritime and the V Force. If there has to be a downside, it was the Wendy House sized married quarter that my wife and I were allocated at nearby RAF Dishforth. My daughter couldn't have a cat as there was no room to swing it!
If the instigator of this thread wants a potted history of RAF Topcliffe from the time it came into existence until 1969, I can forward one to him.
APO on the Topcliffe Student Aircrew Holding Unit for a month in '66. Pretty much a waste of time except that I first saw the agreeable face of discipline there.
Situation: GF in 3 Tuns with, of course, Bas also in residence. On last morning, carry luggage to car, drop GF at railway station and roll up for another exciting day at SAHU.
Just before lunch the Flt Lt O/C SAHU says "APO Basil, did you spend last night in the 3 Tuns?"
Bas: "Yes Sir."
O/C SAHU: "With a woman?"
Bas: Thinks to say "No, Sir, with a man!" but rejects humour in place of simple affirmative.
O/C SAHU: "Well, the Stn Cdr wants to see you at 1330!"
Bas: (F*ck!) "Yes, Sir."
Spend lunch pressing, ironing and polishing and present to Stn Cdr's Sec.
Sec: "APO Basil to see you, Sir."
Stn Cdr: "Send him in."
Bas: (Snapping up smart salute) "APO Basil reporting as ordered, Sir."
Stn Cdr: "At ease, Basil." (Bas now notes that instead of Gp Capt, an aged (54.9 yo) Wg Cdr is in the seat)
Stn Cdr: "The Stn Cdr is off to a meeting and I'm standing in for him. Now, did you spend last night in the 3 Tuns with your GF?"
Bas: Yes, Sir."
Stn Cdr: "Jolly good show!" "If I was your age that's exactly what I'd do!"
Bas: Thinks: 'Bally heck! A nice senior officer who isn't giving me a bollocking!"
Stn Cdr: The thing is; this bloody hotel proprietor 'phoned the guardroom and says that you double occupied a room which was booked as a single and wants an extra 10/6d. Could you go around there and give him his money and next time don't park your car where he can see the station pass."
Bas: (Much relieved) Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."
Celebrated that GF's birthday with a family dinner in London last night and I believe she's cooking duck ce soir
Situation: GF in 3 Tuns with, of course, Bas also in residence. On last morning, carry luggage to car, drop GF at railway station and roll up for another exciting day at SAHU.
Just before lunch the Flt Lt O/C SAHU says "APO Basil, did you spend last night in the 3 Tuns?"
Bas: "Yes Sir."
O/C SAHU: "With a woman?"
Bas: Thinks to say "No, Sir, with a man!" but rejects humour in place of simple affirmative.
O/C SAHU: "Well, the Stn Cdr wants to see you at 1330!"
Bas: (F*ck!) "Yes, Sir."
Spend lunch pressing, ironing and polishing and present to Stn Cdr's Sec.
Sec: "APO Basil to see you, Sir."
Stn Cdr: "Send him in."
Bas: (Snapping up smart salute) "APO Basil reporting as ordered, Sir."
Stn Cdr: "At ease, Basil." (Bas now notes that instead of Gp Capt, an aged (54.9 yo) Wg Cdr is in the seat)
Stn Cdr: "The Stn Cdr is off to a meeting and I'm standing in for him. Now, did you spend last night in the 3 Tuns with your GF?"
Bas: Yes, Sir."
Stn Cdr: "Jolly good show!" "If I was your age that's exactly what I'd do!"
Bas: Thinks: 'Bally heck! A nice senior officer who isn't giving me a bollocking!"
Stn Cdr: The thing is; this bloody hotel proprietor 'phoned the guardroom and says that you double occupied a room which was booked as a single and wants an extra 10/6d. Could you go around there and give him his money and next time don't park your car where he can see the station pass."
Bas: (Much relieved) Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."
Celebrated that GF's birthday with a family dinner in London last night and I believe she's cooking duck ce soir
I was there for c 16 months 62/63 and the weather for most of the time seemed fairly normal for N Yorks - apart from the early '63 snow.
It was the only time in my 20+ years in the RAF that virtually the whole complement of troops, NCOs and Officers had to dig the snow and ice off the runway with shovels. We spent all Saturday morning for about four or five hours doing this before we retired to the mess. The CO (? Gp Capt Ruston ?)directed that a free barrel should be put on for us in the Saddle Room Bar (?) of the OM
It was the only time in my 20+ years in the RAF that virtually the whole complement of troops, NCOs and Officers had to dig the snow and ice off the runway with shovels. We spent all Saturday morning for about four or five hours doing this before we retired to the mess. The CO (? Gp Capt Ruston ?)directed that a free barrel should be put on for us in the Saddle Room Bar (?) of the OM
Thread Starter
Ralleyepilot: thank you, PM on its way.
Boosting morale.....
......OC GST* when I was there was the legendary Sqn Ldr Dave Dattner.
He used to summon the AEO and AEOp students to the main briefing room on the occasional Saturday morning and deliver his standard generalised bollocking thus:
" I'm getting fed up of being phoned by various mothers around the county complaining about their daughters being "compromised" by you lot. DO stop littering the countryside with bastards. Now those to whom that applies know who they are; the rest of you are doing fine. Now bugger off."
Most of the studes who came in contact with him would have followed him over the edge of a cliff. He was that powerful a personality.
The Ancient Mariner
* General Service Training
I'll leave the tales of some of his other eccentricities to others.
He used to summon the AEO and AEOp students to the main briefing room on the occasional Saturday morning and deliver his standard generalised bollocking thus:
" I'm getting fed up of being phoned by various mothers around the county complaining about their daughters being "compromised" by you lot. DO stop littering the countryside with bastards. Now those to whom that applies know who they are; the rest of you are doing fine. Now bugger off."
Most of the studes who came in contact with him would have followed him over the edge of a cliff. He was that powerful a personality.
The Ancient Mariner
* General Service Training
I'll leave the tales of some of his other eccentricities to others.
Victor B1a
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Topcliffe
I soloed in a JP3 from Topcliffe. I think it was in 71 or 72. I can remember I was on no. 56 course at Leeming. Loved those pubs.
Can anyone recall the name of the pub at the top of the incline on the road to Whitby ? It was on the left before one got to Filingdales.
Can anyone recall the name of the pub at the top of the incline on the road to Whitby ? It was on the left before one got to Filingdales.
Can anyone recall the name of the pub at the top of the incline on the road to Whitby ? It was on the left before one got to Filingdales.
Not looking its best.
TOPCLIFFE musings
I never visited the place. Nearest I got to it was when I was at 242 OCU at Dishforth. However, going back a few years, in the early 1950's I was at Biggin Hill and took this photo of a Topcliffe-based Neptune MR1 at the 1954 Royal Observer Corps "Recognition Day" held at Biggin.
Neptune MR1 WX547 was from the Fighter Command Vanguard Flight (1453 Flight) based at Topcliffe.
Vanguard Flight Neptunes carried out some of the initial Airborne Early Warning Radar trials over the North Sea, but according to Google they were not a success (see quote below).
I never visited the place. Nearest I got to it was when I was at 242 OCU at Dishforth. However, going back a few years, in the early 1950's I was at Biggin Hill and took this photo of a Topcliffe-based Neptune MR1 at the 1954 Royal Observer Corps "Recognition Day" held at Biggin.
Neptune MR1 WX547 was from the Fighter Command Vanguard Flight (1453 Flight) based at Topcliffe.
Vanguard Flight Neptunes carried out some of the initial Airborne Early Warning Radar trials over the North Sea, but according to Google they were not a success (see quote below).
By the 1950's, the Royal Navy and RAF had started the development of AEW systems. The Royal Navy ordered the development of an AEW Fairey Gannet, whilst using the AN/APS 20 radar equipped Douglas Skyraider from the US as a stopgap, and the RAF set up the "Vanguard Flight", also known as 1453 Flight, equipped with Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune's. They were not a success, and the flight was disbanded after 3 years. Therefore, the only operational AEW systems in use by the British armed forces up until 1970 were operated by the Royal Navy.
TANS / ANC courses
When I figure it out I'll post some pics of the artwork on our mess walls from the TANS and ANC courses unless there are any objections with regards to names etc which are still visible.
The Airfield has recently been resurfaced with new lighting, but the camp / hangars are effectively circa 1950's, and plenty of hard standings remain around the peri track.
Also I took a picture at East Kirkby (Just Jane's home) of Chris Panton at the Halifax OCU posing on a Hardstanding at Topcliffe.
The Airfield has recently been resurfaced with new lighting, but the camp / hangars are effectively circa 1950's, and plenty of hard standings remain around the peri track.
Also I took a picture at East Kirkby (Just Jane's home) of Chris Panton at the Halifax OCU posing on a Hardstanding at Topcliffe.
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Topcliffe
My Father, MNav John Lennard was a staff navigator on Varsitys between 1968 and 1970. He returned in 1980 working on ops for the Royal Navy flying training flight. He departed in 1983 on retirement.
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Q - having spent mucho time on exercise at both Topcliffe and Dishforth.
Why did the RAF retain the airfield when the camp was turned over to become Alanbrooke barracks, given that Dishforth is literally down the road, and was at that time just about entirely abandoned itself?
I am talking about the period before the AAC took over Dishforth Airfield. I remember going there just after the AAC had moved in, and there was a lot of building work going on. The C-Type hangars were in absolute **** order, apart from one, which was near pristine. This would have been mid-80s when I first went there.
Why did the RAF retain the airfield when the camp was turned over to become Alanbrooke barracks, given that Dishforth is literally down the road, and was at that time just about entirely abandoned itself?
I am talking about the period before the AAC took over Dishforth Airfield. I remember going there just after the AAC had moved in, and there was a lot of building work going on. The C-Type hangars were in absolute **** order, apart from one, which was near pristine. This would have been mid-80s when I first went there.
That Pub.
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Roadster, I can only imagine that Dishforth was for JP ops and Topcliffe for Bulldog ops to avoid mixed types in the circuit.
You are correct re the one pristine hangar at Dishforth. All the hangars were scheduled for total refurb around 1983-ish. Only one was completed as the Company doing the refurbs went bust.
The thousands of gallons of metal primer paint stored in four shed went missing shortly afterwards. The number of farmers barns, sheds etc that underwent a miraculous metamorphosis to emerge a lurid lime green was amazing.
As for the photo of Toplcliffe VCR, that brought back many a memory of playing Uckers with Butch Weilding et al on black flag days.
You are correct re the one pristine hangar at Dishforth. All the hangars were scheduled for total refurb around 1983-ish. Only one was completed as the Company doing the refurbs went bust.
The thousands of gallons of metal primer paint stored in four shed went missing shortly afterwards. The number of farmers barns, sheds etc that underwent a miraculous metamorphosis to emerge a lurid lime green was amazing.
As for the photo of Toplcliffe VCR, that brought back many a memory of playing Uckers with Butch Weilding et al on black flag days.
I can only imagine that Dishforth was for JP ops and Topcliffe for Bulldog ops to avoid mixed types in the circuit.
I was there October 70 to December 71 undergoing FE training, most of my memories are good ones! No one has mentioned the Busby Stoop, a fine pint of Theakstons, and his cheese and onion sandwiches were awesome, he grew his onions in square plastic boxes, the roots grew out of a hole in the bottom of the box, he fed them on his beer drips and they came out cube shaped, ideal shape for sandwiches!!
