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Heartell that during WW2 an airman had his body draped over the tail of a Spitfire to prevent nose over during an engine power check. The pilot, being satisfied, then proceeded to take off with said airman still firmly in place.

On discovering he was accompanied a circuit was completed permitting the distraught airman to step back on to 'terror firma'.

Can someone confirm this one?

Said airman was a WAAF and she flew on the tail of the Spitfire Mk 5 currently flown by the BBMF. The pilot did not know she was there but he managed somehow to complete a circuit and land despite her control inputs to the elevator.

To second soddim's comments, the Spitfire was MkVb AB910, and the WAAF in question was LACW Margaret Horton. Not entirely sure whether she is still with us, but I believe I saw a story not very many years ago where Ms Horton was reunited with 'her' Spitfire at BBMF.

And AB910 did that circuit at RAF Hibaldstow in Lincs. IIRC Margaret appeared on Whats My Line, where her deed was not guessed by the panelists - Well who would have thought of that happening anyway.

I was at Lyneham when the Lightning incident occured. I believe it was around lunchtime when the troops were walking to lunch. (Tech area at Lyneham was a long way from the Messes).
The incident was notable because the Lightning was going the wrong way around the circuit and made people curious.

Wonderful story :D:D:D:D

More from the man himself here

Oops - accidental lightning pilot - PistonHeads

With reference to post # 20. True said Lightning taxiing down towards the hangars, because of various problems ( no brake pressure! ) did not quite make the bend in the peritrack. Embedded itself in the corner of the shed. First thing the occupant of the office knew was a 5 foot pitot tube coming through the window. Because it hit the hangar on the left side of the cockpit, the throttles were jammed in idle, unable to shut down. Pilot decided to jump out ,and the lightning began to eat the hangar !! Brick dust and other stuff everywhere. I believe a gallant RR rep disconnected the control to the FCU, thus saving the day. During my 14 years on the Lightning we were always stressing FOD on the taxiways ( little stones etc) as the reason for engine damage, but I guess eating a hangar wall proved us all wrong !!

I knew of this story but this is the first time I really understood the details. The interview here is amazing. "At one point I was below the runway - in a valley. I approached the runway from underneath it". :D:D:D What a truly amazing story and what a gentleman.:ok:

Thanks for sharing the youtube link Old Haltonian

Lightning5, re #29 and #20. All true.
The aircraft hit, entered, the office window near the central hanger-doorway, from which I and three others were just exiting. Rather annoying really as were ready for a staff benefit 2 v 2 in F1 hot rods.
Bang, Dust, Disorientation. First recollection was of a Firestreak nose into the flowerbed, the missile shear pin having ‘sheared’.
Over time, and the event did take some time to resolve, the office was emptied excepting the metal filing cabinet, table and chairs, but bricks and other solids tested the robustness of RR without apparent difficulty.
Said officer ‘Arthur’ exited the cockpit over the nose and onto the hanger offices roof.

The spectator behaviour was interesting; after a quick ‘rubberneck’ there was mass retreat, which reversed after fire crew arrival and inspection. Thence there was a sequence of well-doers with ideas of how to stop the engine. The thrust levers were jammed, electrics isolated, etc, etc; as stated the mechanical fuel controls at the back end were finally disconnected.

As by chance I ‘bumped’ into ‘Arthur’ at the end of my career; well not physically as the unfortunate gentleman had suffered another wall-encounter with a motorcycle, and I was appointed as his temporary replacement to be o/c interesting flying things – of which I took opportunity to fly one (self-authorised first solo).

What with the Lightning story and the pilot (sorry don't have his name to hand)
who flew under London bridge - it paints a picture of a different time and a very different airforce. I wonder could you imagine any of these two incidents happening today and would the consequences be any different to the individuals. I believe the pilot re London bridge was in process of leaving or subsequently left but you know what I mean. I served 18 years having left in 2006 but I don't remember anything as amazing as these stories during my time.

Lightning UNDER London Bridge! That would be pretty low. I think you're referring to the Hunter through Tower Bridge.

Hawker Hunter Tower Bridge incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That's the one "Tower Bridge" yep I guess it would have been a submarine had it been London Bridge:eek:

Thanks uffington.:ok:

On joining the RAF in 1970, everyone heard stories of an engineer accidentally taking off sat on a wicker chair/ Orange box, but it's well documented that Wing Commander Holden was sat in an ejector seat, with the pins in.

A bit like the stories of Camel spiders injecting anaesthetic into people when asleep & chewing their lips off.

I used to be the unofficial 'Spider & snake' catcher when in the Middle East, often retrieving them from peoples offices. Stories grow on people & I've seen grown men backed into a corner, looking bloody terrified.

Camel spiders have no glands to produce any anaesthetic, they just don't do it, but stories gets so ingrained into peoples thinking, they just react with horror.

Stephanie xx

Engineers getting airbourne ... then there is ...

The most remarkable thing about Wg/Cdr Holden's incident was that it was successfully kept out of the Press until years later when the story was cold.

Of course the rumours started circulating in the RAF at once, they reached RAF Shawbury over the weekend.

I was an Instructor at the ATC School at the time, we rang Lyneham ATC from our Common Room mid Monday morning, but they had been sworn to secrecy and we could get nothing out of them.

I have a full account of the rumour as it came to us, recorded on an old Floppy Disc, and will put it in here if I can find it. It is incredible how quickly the "send three and fourpence" effect sets in, even two or three days after the event the story is garbled out of all recognition.

Coffman - gold.

There was also a rumour around that time that he had done some simulator on the Lighting.

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The Lightning Engineer (Taffy Holden) and Tower Bridge (Al Pollock) stories are both included with their permission in "Out of the Blue", a collection of similar RAF tales sold by the Help for Heroes and the RAF Benevolent Fund. If you buy directly from either of those all the money goes to them - buy it on Amazon and only half gets to the folk who need it.
Follow on book, "Out of the Blue Too" will be available before Christmas

Thanks for the "gen" VictorSR, I have book one, and await publication of book two with interest.

Smudge:ok: