What rank is "Master Pilot"
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Fareastdriver ... the Javelins' rapid move was clearly in people's minds when, at the end of that decade, the ability rapidly to reinforce the Far East was planned and exercised. Exercise BERSATU PADU, which I sadly missed as I was tourex by then, must have been 'rather interesting'.
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MPN11,
No mystery - we were yesterday's men and our time was up. The baby ATCs and pilots (lads and lasses) coming along had to learn (I hope we looked after you ! *), and there's only one way to do that - in at the deep end !
Spare no sympathy for pilots. They are all born with a strong built-in sense of self preservation (otherwise they should not be pilots and will not survive for long as such). In any case, they are spoon-fed by ATC to an extent which we earlier generations can only marvel at.
Note *: the later meteoric careers of some who passed through my hands are a constant satisfaction to me - not that I claim any causal connection, you understand.
Danny.
... How they therefore allowed us baby Direct Entry POs to control aircraft remain a mystery...
Spare no sympathy for pilots. They are all born with a strong built-in sense of self preservation (otherwise they should not be pilots and will not survive for long as such). In any case, they are spoon-fed by ATC to an extent which we earlier generations can only marvel at.
Note *: the later meteoric careers of some who passed through my hands are a constant satisfaction to me - not that I claim any causal connection, you understand.
Danny.
Another such was M/Plt Norman Gunnel (Luqa ATC) whilst working Malta Zone and who managed to stop a BA Trident from starting engines for London until I was on board. (About a 30 minute delay as I had miscalculated my time in the bar ( and the No 1 Hostie at the time is now my wife of 42 years). She wanted to close the doors as she thought I was just meeting her for a coffee in the terminal and didn't know I had a ticket and I was tourex. After the second bottle of Krug she proposed to me - just as the wheels went down for 27R at LHR.
Thank you Norman - wherever you are............you were a star.
Thank you Norman - wherever you are............you were a star.
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sitigeltfel (your #20),
I always said that every ATC Tower should have at least one old "hairy" in Post. Then when the New Duty Instructors started shooting their lines (to impress our baby Controllers, particularly those of the smaller, shaplier and sweeter-smelling variety), we could chip in with: "Come off it, Sonny ! I was roaring round the skies when you were crapping in your nappy ! I've Been There, Done That - and I'm not having any of your old bull round here !"
Danny.
MPN11,
Of course ! I'd put my reply to FED on this - the wrong - Thread. Fixed It.
Thanks nevertheless !
Danny.
...few had WWII experience. Never a dull shift in a quiet tower listening to their tales and banter...
Danny.
MPN11,
Of course ! I'd put my reply to FED on this - the wrong - Thread. Fixed It.
Thanks nevertheless !
Danny.
M Plt Jackson at the Towers in the mid 60s, and two FS QFIs but I recall one going off for a couple of weeks and coming back a fg off, I think the other did too - both on 1 Sqn at Cranwell.
Last edited by Wander00; 12th Apr 2016 at 08:14. Reason: I cannot believe I inserted an aberrant apostrophe
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There was a Master Pilot Blackwell in ATC at RAF Manston. I think he was still there when I left in September 1982. I believe that he had flown Spitfires, Vampires and Hunters.
He once chewed me out for pronouncing Schedule the American way. I never did that again! I also recall he was an Arsenal fan.
He once chewed me out for pronouncing Schedule the American way. I never did that again! I also recall he was an Arsenal fan.
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Out of Trim, my late father knew a Master Pilot 'Blacky' Blackwell at Butterworth (Malaya) in 55/56. He often spoke of a flight with him in a Vampire T11. We often wondered what had become of 'Blacky'. Or maybe there was more than one.
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OMG ... Aussie MPlt "Black Jack" Meachin, my mentor on my first tour at Strubby (65-67)? Same one?? Or another??
Built like a small house, permanent 5 o'clock shadow? Can't remember whether he was DFC or DFM ... but he was an A/sqn ldr on Typhoons in WW2, and after the war was deemed unsuitable to be an officer. He reenlisted as a sgt plt, and made MPlt. He just loved us baby plt offs, straight out of Shawbury!
Cracking good tutor, though, and a hard but fair bloke as one would expect! Once we kids had made the grade, he was a great colleague. Cock up, and ... well, he was an Aussie professional!!
Built like a small house, permanent 5 o'clock shadow? Can't remember whether he was DFC or DFM ... but he was an A/sqn ldr on Typhoons in WW2, and after the war was deemed unsuitable to be an officer. He reenlisted as a sgt plt, and made MPlt. He just loved us baby plt offs, straight out of Shawbury!
Cracking good tutor, though, and a hard but fair bloke as one would expect! Once we kids had made the grade, he was a great colleague. Cock up, and ... well, he was an Aussie professional!!
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Master Pilot is a Warrant Officer equivalent. The last one, a Wessex helicopter pilot retired in about 1980. Many Master pilots were fast-tracked commisioned when the goal posts changed. All RAF pilots are commisioned since then; theoretically politically driven by who can be responsible for Nuclear weapons. I dare say the thread will now degenerate into the usual and frequently exercised pros and cons of the need for all RAF pilots being commisioned, as the British Army still has NCO pilots.
There was a Master Pilot at West Drayton in 83/84, can't for the life of me remember his name but he worked in LATCC(Mil) somewhere iirc.
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My dad was a NCO pilot during WW2 flew as aircraft commander in Lancaster's for two years and was lucky to survive.
After he had completed his two toures he was transferred into the US Army Air force to assist and help with the coming invasion of France. This gave him a chance to as he said give some pay back.
As a young chap early 20,s who had had the **** shot at him over France and Germany he had at last the opportunity to give some payback.
The US Army Air force trained and gave him a Mustang plus two wing men and a open page, KILL GERMAN airman and ground troops and equipment. They were very successful and I had some of his gun camera film and it was very interesting.
His final input into WW2 was flying transports bringing our our chaps back home.
After the end of WW2 he did not fly again and did not volunteer any info to me. it was only after his death that I was able to put his amaising history together.
After he had completed his two toures he was transferred into the US Army Air force to assist and help with the coming invasion of France. This gave him a chance to as he said give some pay back.
As a young chap early 20,s who had had the **** shot at him over France and Germany he had at last the opportunity to give some payback.
The US Army Air force trained and gave him a Mustang plus two wing men and a open page, KILL GERMAN airman and ground troops and equipment. They were very successful and I had some of his gun camera film and it was very interesting.
His final input into WW2 was flying transports bringing our our chaps back home.
After the end of WW2 he did not fly again and did not volunteer any info to me. it was only after his death that I was able to put his amaising history together.
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outhouse ... transfer from RAF to USAAC/USAAF sounds quite incredible, let alone the transfer from RAF Heavy Bombers to USAAF Mustang flight leader. I suspect a slightly inflated family history, unless you have any documentation to prove that.
Ex-ATCO/ATCAs ... there were hundreds of them!! Bless them ... highly valued mentors to ATCOs and ATCAs alike.
Ex-ATCO/ATCAs ... there were hundreds of them!! Bless them ... highly valued mentors to ATCOs and ATCAs alike.
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One, I do not have to verify any comments I have made.
Two, I am rather pist that you would suspect that my father would not have not done what was a mater of military record. having both British and US decorations.
Three, During WW2 a lot of **** happens that was maybe in the present times, rather strange to you. Most of these chaps are now dead maybe its best they are.
Having spent two years myself in the US military and a secondment in Vietnam in sixty, six flying a Huey may be you would like to question my providence.
Over to you what have you done??
Two, I am rather pist that you would suspect that my father would not have not done what was a mater of military record. having both British and US decorations.
Three, During WW2 a lot of **** happens that was maybe in the present times, rather strange to you. Most of these chaps are now dead maybe its best they are.
Having spent two years myself in the US military and a secondment in Vietnam in sixty, six flying a Huey may be you would like to question my providence.
Over to you what have you done??
I think the second to last Master Pilot still active/flying was Alec Riddoch at Shawbury where he was the Unit Test Pilot on Gazelles and Whirlwinds - I think he retired in 79/80?