Linton on Ouse : The end of an era
It certainly was, Minnie Burner. I was there 1970-73, and for a while I was Dep PMC (President of the Mess Committee) for my sins. But one day when PMC was on leave, I got a call from the Padre, who was a local, ex RN, vicar. The Church of England Synod was happening in York, and could he invite the three service chief padres to sample Linton's best at dinner. So, for the only time in my life, I got to dine with a padre and three bishops.... Gnosh was tremendous, natch - and I had one of the most entertaining meals of my life.
airsound
airsound
I see your Padre and three Bishop's, and raise to 14 Bishops!
We still had a bird strike!
lsh
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And on the subject of airframes, a couple of years ago I sat 2 of my grandchildren in the cockpit of a JP3a fuselage at the RAF Museum in Hendon. Seeing the 1FTS logo, I noted the tail number and checked my logbook when I got home. Bingo!
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Same here. What really made me feel old was when a “new” gate guardian arrived at Odiham and it was one of the Whirlwinds I’d flown. Even worse was when they replaced that!
Museum exhibits (nothing to do with Linton...)
In the mid-60s, while on the Chivenor course, one weekend I visited the Science Museum in South Kensington. One exhibit was the cockpit of a Hunter F6.. and... it was possible to see through the closed canopy that it was in a later mod state than some of those at Chivenor. Ho hum.
In the mid-60s, while on the Chivenor course, one weekend I visited the Science Museum in South Kensington. One exhibit was the cockpit of a Hunter F6.. and... it was possible to see through the closed canopy that it was in a later mod state than some of those at Chivenor. Ho hum.
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Visited a museum at Duxford in the late 60's and saw a Hastings that I had flown. It was older than I was. For you youngsters under 60 the Hasty was a 4 engined tail dragger that taught you what asymmetric was all about.
Any idea what year the OM cannons were last fired? Presumably just before a certain double-dad ex-Hunter pilot moved to Church Fenton.....
...I was told that an OMQ roof was the only casualty.
...I was told that an OMQ roof was the only casualty.
M B
I remember (I think) that they were fired in late '68 (or at least one was), round about the time that I politely put the Yorkshire Ch. Constable (guest night) through one of the ante-room windows! As you might imagine it did cost me, but we were all good friends! Good days, I think!!
Bill
I remember (I think) that they were fired in late '68 (or at least one was), round about the time that I politely put the Yorkshire Ch. Constable (guest night) through one of the ante-room windows! As you might imagine it did cost me, but we were all good friends! Good days, I think!!
Bill
Thanks Bill, happy days indeed. Despite the constant threat of "the chopper".
So glad your behaviour improved before our days of Keos and kebabs....
..... otherwise who knows what might've happened.
So glad your behaviour improved before our days of Keos and kebabs....
..... otherwise who knows what might've happened.
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During the aftermath of a dinner night in the late 1970s a certain young officer decided for some reason that it would be a good idea to remove all the contents of a certain absent QFI’s bedroom and rebuild it on the grass lawn in front of the Mess.
Duly done. Then it was suggested that his bed looked quite empty. One of the cannons was lifted off its wooden plinth and placed in bed and covered up. Unfortunately it was so heavy that it collapsed the bed springs into the soft earth. It subsequently proved impossible to retrieve the cannon by hand. An “Iron Fairy” crane had to be brought in the following day to lift it out. Duly paid for by contributions from those in attendance, of course.
An added complication was that the wooden plinth had fallen apart. The rumour went around that the guilty were also to be held responsible for the considerable replacement costs of that. Thankfully it was later decreed that it’s demise was natural causes due to fungal rot and charges were waived.
Duly done. Then it was suggested that his bed looked quite empty. One of the cannons was lifted off its wooden plinth and placed in bed and covered up. Unfortunately it was so heavy that it collapsed the bed springs into the soft earth. It subsequently proved impossible to retrieve the cannon by hand. An “Iron Fairy” crane had to be brought in the following day to lift it out. Duly paid for by contributions from those in attendance, of course.
An added complication was that the wooden plinth had fallen apart. The rumour went around that the guilty were also to be held responsible for the considerable replacement costs of that. Thankfully it was later decreed that it’s demise was natural causes due to fungal rot and charges were waived.
Oh the horror of 'F' troop on 3 Squadron, Linton in that summer '75. I praise the lord that I never had to instruct with that lot, although a few of us still got our overseas student. It was soul destroying trying to teach people to fly who had, it must be said, no aptitude at all, in fact some of them could not even ride bikes.
I seem to remember one SDO being woken in the middle of the night by a 'lady' from Leeds, saying that 3 of them had 'had' her, and now they were refusing to pay and that what was he going to do about it.
That said the 2 years that I spent there instructing were some of the best of my career, but that may have had more to do with the weather and the proximity of York!
I seem to remember one SDO being woken in the middle of the night by a 'lady' from Leeds, saying that 3 of them had 'had' her, and now they were refusing to pay and that what was he going to do about it.
That said the 2 years that I spent there instructing were some of the best of my career, but that may have had more to do with the weather and the proximity of York!
So another dip into Logbook No 1.
It was Jimmy Howard who sent me solo at Elvington on 15th October 1975. But Ken Jones was my 'Primary' QFI. Other names...Sqn Ldr Miles (Sqn Boss) then: Holding, Craven, Lees, Wormald (CGI?), Webb, Moffat, Dowler, Tester, Oakley, Morris, Burridge (Sir Brian, so I know what became of him!) Webb, Handfield, Gilchrist, Rigby. And FHT JP5a on 21 Jul 76 with Wg Cdr Hayden, who was CFI. Owe them all a lot. Collective thank you. Anybody know what became of the rest?
It was Jimmy Howard who sent me solo at Elvington on 15th October 1975. But Ken Jones was my 'Primary' QFI. Other names...Sqn Ldr Miles (Sqn Boss) then: Holding, Craven, Lees, Wormald (CGI?), Webb, Moffat, Dowler, Tester, Oakley, Morris, Burridge (Sir Brian, so I know what became of him!) Webb, Handfield, Gilchrist, Rigby. And FHT JP5a on 21 Jul 76 with Wg Cdr Hayden, who was CFI. Owe them all a lot. Collective thank you. Anybody know what became of the rest?
Well there are some names there to remember and mine is among them, so I thankyou for your 'thankyou'.
It is with regret however, that I am fairly sure 5 of them are now in the Officer's Mess in another place. Still it was 45 years ago.
It is with regret however, that I am fairly sure 5 of them are now in the Officer's Mess in another place. Still it was 45 years ago.
Staircase: Hello! Glad to hear that you are still about. Commiserations for those who have moved on. So yes, thanks again! PM me if you wish; identities confidential, of course.
Arclite01: Just looked in my Grad programme. So it was Wg Cdr M J Hayden...could well have been Mike, but of course I only ever knew him as 'Sir'!
Arclite01: Just looked in my Grad programme. So it was Wg Cdr M J Hayden...could well have been Mike, but of course I only ever knew him as 'Sir'!
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Staircase: Hello! Glad to hear that you are still about. Commiserations for those who have moved on. So yes, thanks again! PM me if you wish; identities confidential, of course.
Arclite01: Just looked in my Grad programme. So it was Wg Cdr M J Hayden...could well have been Mike, but of course I only ever knew him as 'Sir'!
Arclite01: Just looked in my Grad programme. So it was Wg Cdr M J Hayden...could well have been Mike, but of course I only ever knew him as 'Sir'!
As an Air Cadet he taught me 'Propulsion' and 'Airframes' as part of our syllabus. I think it was a 'secondary' duty. He wasn't part of OASC staff.
Arc
Idle stop, other QFIs on 2 Sqn around at the time you mention included:-
Garth Bennett, Clive Roberts, Neil Buckland, Russ Morley, Mike Sykes, Mike Kempster, John Andres, Chris Burwell, Brian Casey, Gavin McKay, there will be others I can’t recall.
As you say, some no longer with us. The most remarkable of one who survived was Ron Dowler. Ron hit the ground during a LL Aeros practice, his survival was in no small part due to the bravery and skill of one of the crash crew.
Garth Bennett, Clive Roberts, Neil Buckland, Russ Morley, Mike Sykes, Mike Kempster, John Andres, Chris Burwell, Brian Casey, Gavin McKay, there will be others I can’t recall.
As you say, some no longer with us. The most remarkable of one who survived was Ron Dowler. Ron hit the ground during a LL Aeros practice, his survival was in no small part due to the bravery and skill of one of the crash crew.