Obituary: Sir Peter Harding
Fair enough! As I said, the 2 hours notice was scorned by the customers and the forecasters ........ whatever else were we there for but to provide forecasts? I only ever worked with one work-to-rule man, and he did not thrive, no S Met O wanted him around.
The background to the Sunshine episode [I know, never complain, never explain .....] was simply this. Every night we prepared a "Standard Area Forecast" for transmission by BFBS at [I think] 0600. It was for the many 1BR Corps choppers and light aircraft scattered all over N Germany on little pads and strips, and often in a field with just a box-body, a tent and a bowser. This forecast was a top priority, and it took a fair amount of time to prepare, and a fair time to read by BFBS.
The only higher priority [apart from warnings] was the NW Europe Sig Weather forecast which was, essentially, the Group guidance for the forecasters in the Clutch, at Gutersloh and Detmold, and also looked Eastwards for Armageddon.
Both the above were prepared AS LATE AS POSSIBLE to take advantage of the latest data and the phone-ins from troops in the field. Thus the Sunshine episode
Regards
Sunshine.
The background to the Sunshine episode [I know, never complain, never explain .....] was simply this. Every night we prepared a "Standard Area Forecast" for transmission by BFBS at [I think] 0600. It was for the many 1BR Corps choppers and light aircraft scattered all over N Germany on little pads and strips, and often in a field with just a box-body, a tent and a bowser. This forecast was a top priority, and it took a fair amount of time to prepare, and a fair time to read by BFBS.
The only higher priority [apart from warnings] was the NW Europe Sig Weather forecast which was, essentially, the Group guidance for the forecasters in the Clutch, at Gutersloh and Detmold, and also looked Eastwards for Armageddon.
Both the above were prepared AS LATE AS POSSIBLE to take advantage of the latest data and the phone-ins from troops in the field. Thus the Sunshine episode
Regards
Sunshine.
Avoid imitations
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Langley, I remember listening to those forecasts on BFPS. I also remember how poor the winter weather could be on the North German Plain, for weeks at a time……
I once arrived at an exercise deployment field location on top of a low hill, in very poor visibility and cold low cloud only to be told almost immediately by a certain flight commander to get airborne again and do a local area weather check! I told him that without getting airborne again that the weather was barely flyable and was getting worse.
A squadron colleague of mine then volunteered to do an airborne check, making me look a bit stupid and in an obvious attempt to elevate the Boss’s opinion of him. He took off, lifted to the hover and almost immediately disappeared into very low cloud. He had to climb to Safety Altitude and divert to Gutersloh and was unable to get back to the field site for 36 hours! I didn’t look quite so stupid then, at least in the eyes of said Flt. Cdr.
I once arrived at an exercise deployment field location on top of a low hill, in very poor visibility and cold low cloud only to be told almost immediately by a certain flight commander to get airborne again and do a local area weather check! I told him that without getting airborne again that the weather was barely flyable and was getting worse.
A squadron colleague of mine then volunteered to do an airborne check, making me look a bit stupid and in an obvious attempt to elevate the Boss’s opinion of him. He took off, lifted to the hover and almost immediately disappeared into very low cloud. He had to climb to Safety Altitude and divert to Gutersloh and was unable to get back to the field site for 36 hours! I didn’t look quite so stupid then, at least in the eyes of said Flt. Cdr.
Very senior Officers' chopper pilots can be touchy. As in RAFG c. 1981.
This S/Ldr rang me on a very busy night shift for a route forecast eastwards from JHQ [Wegberg? ] ,not an emergency except that he had forgotten to book it.. We never worked to rule, but the "rule" was 2 hours notice, agreed by all and sundry.
He was unamused to be told that he was in a shortish queue, but would get what he wanted well before doors closed..
After some threats and abuse {"do you know who I am?"] crashed around my head I said "Ring back in half an hour Sunshine". Which he did.
The pilot eventually complained to AO C in C who complained to SASO who complained to CMetO who had me on the carpet...Apparently the problem was "sunshine".
At zero dark forty he was lucky I didn't call him w@nker. C Met O had a sense of humour so it wasn't a career-defining moment..
Except that for the rest of my time at JHQ I was known as Sunshine.
This S/Ldr rang me on a very busy night shift for a route forecast eastwards from JHQ [Wegberg? ] ,not an emergency except that he had forgotten to book it.. We never worked to rule, but the "rule" was 2 hours notice, agreed by all and sundry.
He was unamused to be told that he was in a shortish queue, but would get what he wanted well before doors closed..
After some threats and abuse {"do you know who I am?"] crashed around my head I said "Ring back in half an hour Sunshine". Which he did.
The pilot eventually complained to AO C in C who complained to SASO who complained to CMetO who had me on the carpet...Apparently the problem was "sunshine".
At zero dark forty he was lucky I didn't call him w@nker. C Met O had a sense of humour so it wasn't a career-defining moment..
Except that for the rest of my time at JHQ I was known as Sunshine.
It is worth noting that Flatiron, who used to post a bit here, has today had an addendum to Harding's orginal obit published in today's Times, which sets out to lay emphasis on his service skills rather than his eye for the ladies.
Please try to stay on topic. This is a thread about Met stories.
I understand, and indeed admire, Rick’s defence of a man he respected and liked. However, Peter Harding’s actions within the mores of the time significantly hurt the reputation of the British military in general and the RAF in particular.
What is worse is that he was the man ultimately responsible for the disciplinary action being taken at the time against subordinates who had behaved in a similar fashion. Such utter hypocrisy is not the mark of a leader who deserves respect.
What is worse is that he was the man ultimately responsible for the disciplinary action being taken at the time against subordinates who had behaved in a similar fashion. Such utter hypocrisy is not the mark of a leader who deserves respect.
I understand, and indeed admire, Rick’s defence of a man he respected and liked. However, Peter Harding’s actions within the mores of the time significantly hurt the reputation of the British military in general and the RAF in particular.
What is worse is that he was the man ultimately responsible for the disciplinary action being taken at the time against subordinates who had behaved in a similar fashion. Such utter hypocrisy is not the mark of a leader who deserves respect.
What is worse is that he was the man ultimately responsible for the disciplinary action being taken at the time against subordinates who had behaved in a similar fashion. Such utter hypocrisy is not the mark of a leader who deserves respect.
Instant PVR ?
.“Ethos, Core Values and Standards of the RAF”.
Did
In ye olden days when PVR stood for 'Instant stoppage of Flying and Flying Pay and a posting to two years night duty in the nearest Command Bunker' before actually being allowed to leave, I admired the chutzpah of those who discovered and exercised the instantly effective counter gambit.
Was Sir PH merely trying to expedite his PVR ?
LFH
...
Last edited by Lordflasheart; 26th Aug 2021 at 18:43. Reason: additional musings
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From Rick O’Molony - Wessex Pilot - Peter Harding 18 Sqn, ‘68 - 70
Finest Leader of Men, I have ever encountered in my varied careers. He was the Best of the best, as a military leader. Commanding presence, brilliant, innovative mind. His single emotional indiscretion, cost the British Services a major loss of one of it’s most brilliant minds and leaders of his era. History is littered with heroes and famous leaders that had illicit affairs of the heart in their lives, but few were discarded as callously as this towering leader of men - Sir Peter - my Captain my Captain. Most of my fellow RAF Officers and men that served under him, carry the same sentiments that I do.
Oh Rick, give it a rest! An ‘affair of the heart’ - really? So following his heart, Peter Harding gave up his career voluntarily to settle down with his finally-discovered soulmate, enabling them to spend the rest of their years in a loving relationship. What a sweet and uplifting story…
Sir Peter was thinking with an organ all right, but it wasn’t his heart!
Sir Peter was thinking with an organ all right, but it wasn’t his heart!
To quote a better writer than me:-
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.
Surely one ceiling looks very much like another!
Personally I would say it doesn't matter how good a leader he was-if he didn't follow the rules of behaviour (in this case shagging a married woman) he needed to go. I remember it well-a number of people whom I knew who had been 'dealt with" were ready with letters to send to the PM in the event that he had not been 1021'd. Only question I would have is who would write it?
Personally I would say it doesn't matter how good a leader he was-if he didn't follow the rules of behaviour (in this case shagging a married woman) he needed to go. I remember it well-a number of people whom I knew who had been 'dealt with" were ready with letters to send to the PM in the event that he had not been 1021'd. Only question I would have is who would write it?
Surely one ceiling looks very much like another!
mirrors?
mirrors?
In August 1991 Sir Peter Harding was flown down to an international sporting event which had a significant RAF involvement in it (and I was team manager at this stage). I met him off the helicopter (well, a Gp Capt did and I stood behind him) and he was accompanied by a women who was not his wife. He seemed quite animated around her. The Gp Capt, looking a bit flustered explained she was a researcher 'from the House of Commons' and not to mention it. Similarly, the woman in question was kept out of the publicity photos.
I can't remember if it was Lady Buck, when the scandal broke several years later, but I often wondered who this much younger woman was, and why she was being taken to official events.
I can't remember if it was Lady Buck, when the scandal broke several years later, but I often wondered who this much younger woman was, and why she was being taken to official events.
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 1st Sep 2021 at 10:24.