Hi Paul & Chris, Yes it's Al Hudson.

Paul, I've sent you a pic of the Det at APC the week before the crash, Tony & Nige hadn't arrived then but Colin Egan & Rog Whiteley are on the Pic. Feel free to put it on here, I remain a techno-retard.......

Al, you mentioned "Funkeltrumpets" name - cost you a crate I believe!!
He is coming to the 230 Sqn associations reunion next month - interesting!
lsh

But - surely there's no "F" in it; I'm sure I heard him say that in the crewroom at Odiham in 1979 or '80.

(One woof for yes, two for no).

Salamanca Puma Crash
 

Yes I remember now, but now I know I am getting old, I can see Carl and Kev Johnson from the Regt Flight, but I cant make out Colin, maybes its because he wouldnt have worn his Denison smock which I associate him with

regards

Chris.

Gents,

Attached is the photo sent from Al H showing the XW230 Heli which was involved in the crash. Hopefully this will bring back some good memories as well.
Thank you Al.

Regards

Paul.

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/t...m/belize76.jpg

re:puma crash 1976
 

hi paul hope you dont mind me replying to your ad my name is mick egan my brother colin was also on that helicopter with your dad, my family have been trying for years to contact people & talk about what happened i was only 10 when it happened, and i found this site and read about your dad being in accident and that you were also trying to find some information

salamanca 1976
 

hi punchrock my name is mick egan, i colin egan,s baby brother just wondering if anybody could tell me what he was really like as i didnt see alot of him as i was only 10 when he was killed

Colin Egan
 

I served with your brother, he taught me 'hookups' with the Pumas.
We were both on the regiment section of 230 at the time.
I'm happy to chat about those times.

regards

Chris.

Colin Egan
 

Mick, feel free to e-mail me [email protected] (looks wrong but is right)

regards

Chris.

colin egan
 

hi chris, thanks for getting back to me i appreciate it & my mum will be pleased that i can finally chat to somebody that served with colin who also has very good & nice things to say about him.i have took down your e-mail address & will contact you soon. thanks again chris.

puma crash 1976
 

hi ewe lander hope you dont mind me contacting you but i,ve just recently joined the forum, just trying to find out information on the crash and talk to anyboby who knew my brother colin egan.

helicopter crash
 

Hi Paul
I have a copy of this photo My Brother Colin is 2nd one standing up front row from the one sitting down
Regards
Keith

Keith, Mick..

Welcome. If you want to find out more about Colin, try here:

RockNet, the Headquarters of the RAF Regiment Network • Index page

If Colin served on 2 Sqn, you'll see there is a Sqn area just for anyone who served on that particular sqn. However, it might be best to start off here.

RockNet, the Headquarters of the RAF Regiment Network • View forum - Remembrances *

Good luck - you'll get a warm welcome I'm sure.

Al.

Hi Al
Thanks a lot of security check on this site but will get there in the end.
Regards
Keith

.. it might help if you post the backlink to here, to give your story a bit of colour. I never knew Colin, but I served on a Puma Sqn so I knew of him, and the accident. Your photograph has the look and feel of one from decades before, the captured looks, the goofing around and the stories behind the people - time passes, but nothing really changes eh?

Per Ardua, and I hope you find out lots.

Hi all
just to let you no the MOD have turned down our request for the next of kins to be awarded The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll on the grounds it was a training accident i have now been informed it was not and was inform night flight over the jungle were a no no at the time
i was told Sgt Matthew Glasgow Queens own highlanders fell ill and was medi-vacced by vehicle to salamanca he arrived late evening his condition deteriated and it was decided to fly him to airport camp that evening which made this flight an unusual occurrence.
do you or anyone you know
1 tell me the rules on night flights at the time
2 was Colin on operations and active services
may i ask you to post this for me

Regards
keith

I was in Belize in the spring of 1976 and 1977 and I was unaware of any restrictions on night flying with the Puma. Most of the night flying was training with a fair amount of Night Vision equipment which would have been somewhere in the sticks. Looking through my log book there were a few daily tasks that overan and so the return to Airport Camp was at night. As an example of there being no restrictions at night one trip I did was to bring the Combined Services Entertainment troupe back from Salamanca to Belize late at night after their show.
The night medivacs I did at night to and from Salamanca and San Pedro were tasked medivac flights so they did not come under training.
The AAC would not have been willing to fly over the jungle on one engine though we used to do it in Borneo with Whirlwinds. One Scout did do a night trip however; I brought it back underslung from San Antonio after a No 5 seal failure.

There was not a campaign medal awarded for the Belize operation. The Guatamalans were confronted to prevent tham taking over the country. There were no direct military operations so there was no war. Much the same way, except on a smaller scale, as the Cold War.

5th May; I have looked at the Elizabeth Medal website and it does not seem that they are qualified. It's a pity; I knew Rog Whiteley when he was an AEO on my Valiant Squadron.

Hi fareastdriver
I have seen you post thank you for taking the time. the mod have said the reason all 8 do not qualify for the Elizabeth Cross is it was a training accident but i believe this is not true i understand it was a night time medi-vac .also Belize in the mid 1970's was an operational.
best regards
keith

Hi Al
Thanks for directing me to the rocknet site i have revived a number of emails giving help and support and one from colin`s CO Roger Booth when he was with 1 sqd in laarburch 74-76 and he has been a great help with information i need .
Once again thanks
Keith :ok:

Nice one Keith, good luck and keep us informed would you?