'Vampire and Venom Boys'
Thread Starter
The "boys" title was suggested by a Lightning pilot closely involved in the first of the series, and successive titles having followed the same format have simply stuck with it.
Steve Bond, I don't know how to get hold of him directly, but author Frederick Forsyth flew Vampires in the RAF in the late 1950s, so he might be worth approaching for some tales?
Many here will know that, quite apart from Forsyth's many best-selling novels, he also wrote a great short story, The Shepherd, about an RAF pilot flying a Vampire from Germany to England on a dark and cold Christmas Eve, 1957.
Forsyth's page on the Penguin Books website page states "He lives in Buckinghamshire, England." Perhaps an approach to Penguin Random House UK could eventually put you in touch with Forsyth? He is almost 80 years old now, so don't wait too long to make contact!
Additionally, Steve, there is Nigel Lamb (8-time British Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, 4-time British Freestyle Champion, 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Champion!) who survived a crash landing in a Rhodesian Air Force Vampire FB9 (no ejection seat ...), in 1977, following an engine fire warning. That has got be a tale worth re-telling, if Nigel will agree. And perhaps he will also have other stories from his time flying the Vampire in Rhodesia.
You might try contacting Nigel through his website or Twitter.
Many here will know that, quite apart from Forsyth's many best-selling novels, he also wrote a great short story, The Shepherd, about an RAF pilot flying a Vampire from Germany to England on a dark and cold Christmas Eve, 1957.
Forsyth's page on the Penguin Books website page states "He lives in Buckinghamshire, England." Perhaps an approach to Penguin Random House UK could eventually put you in touch with Forsyth? He is almost 80 years old now, so don't wait too long to make contact!
Additionally, Steve, there is Nigel Lamb (8-time British Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, 4-time British Freestyle Champion, 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Champion!) who survived a crash landing in a Rhodesian Air Force Vampire FB9 (no ejection seat ...), in 1977, following an engine fire warning. That has got be a tale worth re-telling, if Nigel will agree. And perhaps he will also have other stories from his time flying the Vampire in Rhodesia.
You might try contacting Nigel through his website or Twitter.
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Haynes Wessex book...... COOL
Thread Starter
Thanks for the heads up on Frederick Forsyth. Someone else did mention that, so I am hopeful of making contact.
I know Nigel Lamb and have spoken to him in the past on this topic, and will be picking up those threads again.
I know Nigel Lamb and have spoken to him in the past on this topic, and will be picking up those threads again.
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Martin the Martian (#3),
One for your Pembroke book, then:
I was air-trafficing at Leeming around 1970. A Pembroke took off from Catterick (Still an acive airfield then), and immediately announced an emergency: they had lost an engine. As we were only a few miles South of them, and as they were heading in our direction anyway, they chose us, we cleared the circuit and they landed safely on one on our 16.
The Nav came up to the Tower to "make his number". "What's with the donk?", I asked, "Lose oil pressure?" ... "Lost a pot!" he replied. It was true, a whole cylinder had blown off the Leonides: the projectile had gone through both (?) cabin walls without hurting anyone.
The 'punch line"? It was carrying the CinC of Maintenance Command back to his HQ! ... How we laughed!
One for your Pembroke book, then:
I was air-trafficing at Leeming around 1970. A Pembroke took off from Catterick (Still an acive airfield then), and immediately announced an emergency: they had lost an engine. As we were only a few miles South of them, and as they were heading in our direction anyway, they chose us, we cleared the circuit and they landed safely on one on our 16.
The Nav came up to the Tower to "make his number". "What's with the donk?", I asked, "Lose oil pressure?" ... "Lost a pot!" he replied. It was true, a whole cylinder had blown off the Leonides: the projectile had gone through both (?) cabin walls without hurting anyone.
The 'punch line"? It was carrying the CinC of Maintenance Command back to his HQ! ... How we laughed!
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Joined 16 Sqn at Celle in June 53 then equipped with Vampire V. Venoms began arriving in 1954. Somebody, in their wisdom, chose to swap the functions of the R/T and R/P switches. Habits die hard and luckily concrete headed rockets landed in field.
Re the Leonides. In Borneo on Twin Pins always carried an apple. Numerous strip sorties could use up safety caps on engine starts. Apple stuffed up exhaust pipe sufficed to gain back pressure...
Re the Leonides. In Borneo on Twin Pins always carried an apple. Numerous strip sorties could use up safety caps on engine starts. Apple stuffed up exhaust pipe sufficed to gain back pressure...
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Brakedwell
Yes Fg Off at the time! Eventually became an A1QFI(FW) and A1QHI(RW), which I doubt many other pilots ever achieved. Retired as a Flt Lt then went on to fly civilian RW, mainly on Jet Rangers. Died in 2012 aged 84.
3P
Yes Fg Off at the time! Eventually became an A1QFI(FW) and A1QHI(RW), which I doubt many other pilots ever achieved. Retired as a Flt Lt then went on to fly civilian RW, mainly on Jet Rangers. Died in 2012 aged 84.
3P
Last edited by threeputt; 13th Mar 2018 at 13:28. Reason: Title?
3P
I remember Geoff being a very nice person. Always calm and approachable, he was one of the younger instructors on our flight.
I remember Geoff being a very nice person. Always calm and approachable, he was one of the younger instructors on our flight.
Last edited by brakedwell; 13th Mar 2018 at 14:20.
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Martin the Martian (#3),
One for your Pembroke book, then:
I was air-trafficing at Leeming around 1970. A Pembroke took off from Catterick (Still an acive airfield then), and immediately announced an emergency: they had lost an engine. As we were only a few miles South of them, and as they were heading in our direction anyway, they chose us, we cleared the circuit and they landed safely on one on our 16.
The Nav came up to the Tower to "make his number". "What's with the donk?", I asked, "Lose oil pressure?" ... "Lost a pot!" he replied. It was true, a whole cylinder had blown off the Leonides: the projectile had gone through both (?) cabin walls without hurting anyone.
The 'punch line"? It was carrying the CinC of Maintenance Command back to his HQ! ... How we laughed!
One for your Pembroke book, then:
I was air-trafficing at Leeming around 1970. A Pembroke took off from Catterick (Still an acive airfield then), and immediately announced an emergency: they had lost an engine. As we were only a few miles South of them, and as they were heading in our direction anyway, they chose us, we cleared the circuit and they landed safely on one on our 16.
The Nav came up to the Tower to "make his number". "What's with the donk?", I asked, "Lose oil pressure?" ... "Lost a pot!" he replied. It was true, a whole cylinder had blown off the Leonides: the projectile had gone through both (?) cabin walls without hurting anyone.
The 'punch line"? It was carrying the CinC of Maintenance Command back to his HQ! ... How we laughed!
I remember the incident because the guy working up on the wing asked his mate to throw up a screwdriver which he did, the guy didn't manage to catch it and it disappeared down into the depths of the open oil tank. They were there fishing for it for hours.
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Meteor has probably gone to the US, don't know about the Vampire.