Torre Canyon 50th Anniversary
Is the "napalm thing" a matter of official record now? I used to work with a Buccaneer rear seater who was medically discharged with a head injury and transferred to HM Customs who told me his aircraft was dropping napalm on the oil slick but they were told to keep it OpSec as the RAF was very sensitive about the availability and/or use of napalm.
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There was some sensitivity, as it had to be called "liquefied petroleum jelly", especially during radio and TV interviews. The RAF did not officially use "napalm".
IIRC the USAF F100s at Lakenheath had drop tanks that had a tube containing a substance going through the middle which could be fractured from the cockpit and turn the fuel into napalm.
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The picture of the little girl, in Vietnam, running naked in terror, with her skin peeling off brought home the horrors of napalm to the general public.
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But there certainly was "sensitivity" because we were briefed not to say the "n" word. I have no real idea why and, as a lowly flying officer, I wasn't privy to the inner workings.
However, it certainly had to be "deniable" that the RAF had or used napalm although, as you know, anybody with fuel and a gelling agent had it by default.
Fortunately, the great unwashed wasn't aware of that. What I guess they did know was that it had been around since 1942 and was used through World War 2, the Korean War and in Vietnam from 1963. It was known to be a pretty horrific weapon when used against personnel, so denying the RAF "had it" was quite reasonable at that time.
However, it certainly had to be "deniable" that the RAF had or used napalm although, as you know, anybody with fuel and a gelling agent had it by default.
Fortunately, the great unwashed wasn't aware of that. What I guess they did know was that it had been around since 1942 and was used through World War 2, the Korean War and in Vietnam from 1963. It was known to be a pretty horrific weapon when used against personnel, so denying the RAF "had it" was quite reasonable at that time.
so denying the RAF "had it" was quite reasonable at that time.
I confess that the "rules" of modern warfare have always confused me, napalm, cluster bombs, anti personnel mines, and phosphorous grenades are perfectly fine - but shoot someone with a bullet that deliberately expands or flattens and Mr.Hague says you're in big trouble.
Then I never was a highly trained legal expert.
Then I never was a highly trained legal expert.
I used to work with the lead RN Nav for that exercise , then moved onto a civilian training job with MoD.
Nice chap, but we still never tired of reminding him that the Navy managed to miss a stationary quarter mile long ship. It would be fair to say that he did ... tire of being reminded of it, that is.
G
Nice chap, but we still never tired of reminding him that the Navy managed to miss a stationary quarter mile long ship. It would be fair to say that he did ... tire of being reminded of it, that is.
G
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Fonsini,IIRC we were supposed to read the Geneva Convention too. I think it was once a month but I have no recollection of ever seeing a copy, never had a lecture on it, and no one ever thought to produce a guide.
The best we had was to remove the red cross from the knee pocket where we kept out first aid kit, and number, rank, name, dob if captured. Our religion was not covered but was on the dog tag. We didn't think the Russians would be too bothered by the principles of the GC.
The best we had was to remove the red cross from the knee pocket where we kept out first aid kit, and number, rank, name, dob if captured. Our religion was not covered but was on the dog tag. We didn't think the Russians would be too bothered by the principles of the GC.
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The Chivenor Hunters each dropped two 100 gallon underwing fuel tanks filled with Avtur on the 28/29/30th; they refuelled after each 'drop' at St Mawgan, returning to Chivenor each day. The pilots did not carry out preparatory Sea Vixen training.
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There was at least one RAF navigator flying in the naval Buccaneers - might the Sea Vixen rumour have originated from someone seeing an RAF pilot on exchange with the FAA?
Fonsini,IIRC we were supposed to read the Geneva Convention too. I think it was once a month but I have no recollection of ever seeing a copy, never had a lecture on it, and no one ever thought to produce a guide.
The best we had was to remove the red cross from the knee pocket where we kept out first aid kit, and number, rank, name, dob if captured. Our religion was not covered but was on the dog tag. We didn't think the Russians would be too bothered by the principles of the GC.
The best we had was to remove the red cross from the knee pocket where we kept out first aid kit, and number, rank, name, dob if captured. Our religion was not covered but was on the dog tag. We didn't think the Russians would be too bothered by the principles of the GC.
Apologies if that sounds cold, just curious as ever.
There was at least one RAF navigator flying in the naval Buccaneers - might the Sea Vixen rumour have originated from someone seeing an RAF pilot on exchange with the FAA?
