A great piece of history. You've inspired me to seek out a decent quality Nimrod video to add to my website. Thank you for that. Very much.

HEMSON, CARPENTER, RUMING AND MEDCALF
 

There was also this NZ produced movie (16mm Celluloid) from back in the day - Fincastle 1974. Unsure if it was ever digitised.


HEMSON, CARPENTER, RUMING AND MEDCALF - Moving Image F14224 - Online Catalogue | The New Zealand Film Archive

This will sound really stupid.....
 

.....but how the hell do I get it to play? I remember the slomo intro as all the aircraft approach the field through the heat haze and the explanation of the a/c names. And Big Tall Eric was a great guy to fly with.

The Ancient Mariner

Sorry, TAM

On looking further, seems that the film is only available to be viewed at the Archive library.

I reckon it would be worth re-publishing as a DVD; it might even turn a bit of coin for those wanting to reminisce

;)

Pigeons for mother...
 

.....(OK old maritime joke) thanks for that explanation I was beginning to think that dementia was beginning to set in.

The Ancient Mariner

Thanks for posting Ricardian ...

I remember watching that film at school nearly 40 years ago when it was shown to a select few by the Recruiters :eek:

A great shame that the opening "star" aircraft XV260 ended up being scrapped Nov 2010 :(

Here she is with CXX Squadron early 90's

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4e21f62e.jpg

Then with BAe 00's

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...ps11641f8e.jpg

Image credits as displayed.

Was it XV260, with the green tail, which became a 111Sqn A/C during a trip to Gibraltar in the 90's? After some surreptitious work by their groundcrew.

For those that might be interested, today marks the closing of another chapter in this sorry saga with the departure from Kinloss of the last man to leave the Kipper fleet.

Since those momentous events 3 years ago the Squadrons have disbanded, the Station has closed and there has been a steady outflow of postings, retirements, redundancies and PVRs which left just a small handful of “natural wastage” to wither on the vine waiting their exit date. Fortunately the system left us in peace to fade away quietly and now the last man has finally gone; me.

After 38+ years of service, no less than 30 have been on the Kipper fleet as both groundcrew and aircrew, from Mk1 through to MRA4; including a short encounter with the AEW3. From the Flight Line to Flight Deck to Sim and OCU I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the finest professionals you could hope to encounter in any walk of life. A truly awesome mix of characters from right across the personality spectrum that combined to create professional bonds the like of which only those who’ve experienced it could really understand.

Tonight I’ll raise a glass to all those I’ve served with over the years. I’ll raise a further glass to all the people who served at Kinloss over the past 73 years and finally I’ll raise a last glass to all the Maritme aviators past and present from the RAF and our colonial friends who, perhaps more than most, can truly appreciate just what we’ve lost.

Then I’ll finish the bottle.

A wee story;
I was clearing at Lossiemouth a few weeks ago when the young lassie looked up from her computer screen with a look of horror and concern on her face and declared – “Sir, you should have started your terminal leave a month ago!”

“Ach, don’t worry”, I said, “I actually started my terminal leave about 15 years ago; I’ve been on the wind down ever since” ;)

A grizzled old civvy (ex Nimrod Sqn Adj) overheard the conversation and quipped with a smile,
“Huh, typical f**kin’ Engineer” :ok:

Cheers Chaps – All the best.
Last man.

Oilcan (JA / USMS 1) :oh:

Thanks oilcan you must have arrived just after I left Kinloss. Hope you looked after it right to the end.

OilCan - I'm interested. Thank you and good luck for the future.

OilCan,

On behalf of what's left of the maritime clan, I will say a belated thank you, good luck and best wishes for the future.

Very nice touch although you failed to mention which malt was in the glass! As someone still working closely with our cousins, allies and colonial friends, to a man/woman, they are all still all 'gobsmacked' that the UK gave up the capability. It seems crazy that the RN, USN, RCAF, RNoAF, RNZAF, RAAF, Marineflieger, Aeronavale and even the Brazilians recognise how exceptionally good we were (and still are for the Seedcorners) but the majority of the RAF were entirely blind (or blinkered) to just how many roles Nimrod fulfilled.

OilCan,

To be factually correct there are still ex-Nimrod people (some of whom had MRA4 slots) working at Kinloss, at least one of them is an Air Eng, and they will be there until at least 2015.


I presume you were the last person to retire from Transition Wing/Squadron/Flight, whatever it called itself as it evolved.



Enjoy your retirement!

Nimrod MRA.4
 

Enjoy your retirement - I'm exceptionally curious to who you are as i probably know you. Ex NLS sooty

Congratulations, OilCan, and a very happy retirement. I too am interested. :ok:

Wonder if you were in the AEW3 the day that I, solo stude in my Cranwell JP5A, encountered the beast drifting through the Lincolnshire summer skies. How cool, I thought, following from half a mile away....as it started to cross Red One. Oh sh....! Rapid 180 and yet another lesson learned.

Biggus

You're quite correct; but those who went to the ARCC were posted there.

The Transition Wing/Squadron/Flight evolved into the Kinloss Support Unit (KSU), the Kinloss Support Office (KSO) and finally the Kinloss Nimrod Only Bod (KNOB); and I was i/c! :p

Probably the last place in the Air Force completely devoid of Niff-Naff and Bullsh*t; It was bliss :ok:

...Although I do recall Niff-Naff did go to the ARCC. Please say hello from me :O

Oilcan.

the end
 

I would also like to add my congratulations to OilCan. When I left KSU there was only a Warrant Officer and a Corporal there - they cut up my ID Card and we shook hands, and that was it 40 years of happy service at an end.

I still pass the base regularly - it looks good, peaceful, almost as if it was waiting ...

The much diminished and scattered Maritime community still in uniform will no doubt join you in a wee dram tonight - as will I.

One day common sense will prevail - until then we shall all have to stay lucky.

Your saving grace is that the Nimrod AEW crew would not have seen you on their radar..............

Enjoy retirement Oilcan. I've raised a glass for you tonight.

Very best wishes to you, Oilcan. I join you in a toast to the Kipper Fleet.

As Party Animal says
The non-maritime RAF doesnt understand ASW, neither in terms of developing the avionic systems nor training crews. There is a misconception that should the need arise, one can buy a replacement system off the shelf, stuff a few bods in the back end and hey presto you have a viable maritime force. Wrong! Oh, and who is looking after our SAR responsibilities out to 30West?