Alek Tarwid
PN, presumably you had a calendar at all crew stations...?
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As GrumpyGramps has pointed out, all 72 Sqn Wessex soon sported the red Day-Glo Snoopy on the nose; the IFF aerial fairing was the perfect place. Why Snoopy? Well, it indicated that the aircraft had been flown (and therefore very likely over-torqued) by the Red Baron...
With my engineering flight safety hat on, I put a modification proposal to Command that helicopter torque-meters should have an additional 'drag' needle, like g-meters do, to display the maximum torque applied during a sortie. It was the first (but not the last) 'bright' idea of mine to be turned down by higher authority. At the time I thought money was the show-stopper but, who knows, perhaps Alek had friends in high places!
With my engineering flight safety hat on, I put a modification proposal to Command that helicopter torque-meters should have an additional 'drag' needle, like g-meters do, to display the maximum torque applied during a sortie. It was the first (but not the last) 'bright' idea of mine to be turned down by higher authority. At the time I thought money was the show-stopper but, who knows, perhaps Alek had friends in high places!
Thread Starter
helicopter torque-meters should have an additional 'drag' needle
Alek's just used to be a bit longer than most.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Alek Tarwid
Can anyone confirm that the "Alek Tarwid " being spoken of was also on No.72 in 1955 flying Meteors?? He was my next-door neighbour in PMQ's at Church Fenton - his wife's favourite tune was "Unchained Melody" - I think that reflected Alek's attitude to authority!!! As I recall he was a prisoner in Russia at the beginning of WW2 and walked all the way to freedom in Turkey.
I remember him with a smile!!!
I remember him with a smile!!!
Babil,
Yes, it is.
His funeral was well attended, with a decent sized RAF helicopter 'gang' present. His son delivered an exceptionally good eulogy.
Old Duffer
Yes, it is.
His funeral was well attended, with a decent sized RAF helicopter 'gang' present. His son delivered an exceptionally good eulogy.
Old Duffer
Thread Starter
also on No.72 in 1955 flying Meteors??
There was a system in the sixties where you could apply to rejoin your old squadron. A friend of mine was on Valiants and had served on 18 Sqn at Finningly and then had been put on a Mareham Valiant bomber squadron when 18 Sqn folded.
When the Valiants were scrapped he applied to rejoin his old squadron which was now a helicopter squadron. He was posted on to helicopters which meant he escaped from Bomber Command.
Maybe Alek was facing a similar situation of being sent off to some boring Comms. squadron or ground tour so he may have plugged for 72 Sqn and helicopters.
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Alek Tarwid
I met Alek when in 1963 as a very new SAC I arrived on 225 Sqn at Odiham. About day 2 he came into the crew room said ' Airtest I need ballast ..... You!'
That was my first and most exciting ride LHS in a Whirlwind, and as I recall he spent a lot of the time swearing in Polish!
He was always known as 'Jock', and maintained that he was more English than any of us as he'd been in the country since 1940 and most of us weren't born then.
He was truly one of the greats and his stories are legion.
It really was an honour to have known him.
That was my first and most exciting ride LHS in a Whirlwind, and as I recall he spent a lot of the time swearing in Polish!
He was always known as 'Jock', and maintained that he was more English than any of us as he'd been in the country since 1940 and most of us weren't born then.
He was truly one of the greats and his stories are legion.
It really was an honour to have known him.
Last edited by Bill4a; 24th Aug 2017 at 10:09. Reason: Brain failure and I forgot something!
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Aleksander Tarwid was the last Polish WWII pilot to see combat. Sad to find a note of his passing. Please continue with stories about him. He is virtually unknown in his native Poland.
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I was a young clerk on 72 Squadron in 1972 and well remember Alek Tarwid. John Price, then a Wg Cdr, later AVM, was the Squadron CO. Alek was OC 'A' Flight and Tom Porteous 'B' Flight. Alek was known on the Squadron as the Red Baron for the way in which he flew the Wessex HC, particularly on the NI runs, and the border patrols and re-rationing of the outposts. Many happy memories of 72 Sqn at that time including detachments to NI. Alek was a gentleman to serve with.
