Royal Navy Historic Flight - Information Request
 

Greetings,
Lee Howard and myself are trying collate the history of Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF) as it has never been particularly well documented. As part of this research, we are trying to create a list of pilots who served on RNHF since its formation in 1972. As an aside we would also like to try and establish a list of who displayed or flew our aircraft between 1960, when Swordfish LS326 was given to the RN and the formation of RNHF in 1972, including those who may have flown our aircraft since then for other reasons such as test flights for example.
If you were a member of the Flight (aircrew or maintainer) or know somebody who was, we would be very interested to hear from you. We would like to know the following information;
Name
Rank
Period served on RNHF
Types flown
Any good dits about your time on the Flight
Contact details if possible
There are 63 names so far and we are missing most of the above detail for a large number of them. We would like to fill in the gaps if possible and not leave anybody out. We are sure there are quite a few more than 63 and would like to complete the list by the time RNHF reaches 40 years of age in 2012.
We have already been to the FAA Museum and are in touch with both Pete Sheppard and John Beattie.
If you can help us with any of the information above we would love to hear from you. I can be contacted via PM or email me at RNHF_PILOT @ hotmail.co.uk
Many thanks,
Simon Wilson
RNHF Pilot
Royal Navy Historic Flight

So........
 

.......... what about the ground crew who made it happen? Don't they get a mention?

O-D

O-D,

We would love to hear from those maintained them and anybody else over the years who helped keep the aircraft flying.

As a kid I collected autographs of aircrew at airshows :8

Clearly remember some names of aircrew & the RNHF aircraft they were flying at that time, but you probably need more detail than that? Would love to have a copy of the book when published...

I remember at CU in 1981 being shown around TF956 after it had been pushed into 750 NAS hangar (C2?) for the night. Was even allowed to sit in the cockpit, as did my Dad & brother. Quite an experience for a 9 year old! The kind gent who allowed this was called (I think) Ron Gourlay?

Happy days!

Nick,

I would be grateful if you could furnish me with any names you have as I am still missing a few names from that era. If I have names as a starting point I can then fill in the blanks from other sources.

Chief Petty Officer Ron Gourlay was the first Chief Engineer of the Flight when it started.

Hello Simon,

I will dig out my autograph book this w/e & be back in contact.

One name that spring to mind is Lt/Cdr Keith Harris who flew WG655 in about 1984/85. As kids we joked that Orville the duck used to sit in the back seat!

There was a SHAR pilot who also flew WG655 at about that period, but he was sadly killed in a T4N crash on the approach to VL in 1985 - Lt Andy George if I recall correctly?

Just emailed an ex RNHF pilot from the 80's who should be able to fill in a few gaps for you.

Simon

PM en route - Good hunting!

Jack

Interesting two page article here

1985 | 1049 | Flight Archive

Thanks Gents. Keep it coming. PM sent Jack thank you. I have seen that article already Nick, it was very interesting. I'm up to 66 on the list now.

Didn't a guy called P... S..., helicopter pilot turned Canberra pilot, fly for them in the 90s

He's already on the list.

Dave Knight.. Currently the chief pilot of the Cayman Island Police Air Support Unit.

RNHF Pilot - if you are in touch with PS, give him my regards - his next door ex 360 neighbour at Wyton (92-93)

oscardog177 - Thanks for that, I had the surname and only a nickname, nobody could remember his first name! I can think of worse places to work!

Wander00 - Unfortunately we do not have any contact details for PS.

I have P-S contact details - PM me and I'll send your regards on.

Thanks for all the help so far from everyone who has given me information about previous RNHF pilots. I am now up to 77 names on the list. Keep 'em coming! :ok:

Simon

Do you have John Baker?

Yes thanks.

If anybody has contact details for any of these guys I would be very grateful, so that I can establish which aircraft they flew and which seasons they flew them.

Many thanks.

Might be having a senior moment, but wasnt the old pilot that sometimes dished out our TOT at Lossiemouth Tanky Hamshaw ?? an old and bold RNHF Swordfish pilot?????? and Ted Anson was a Skin Bucc Pilot, on my squadron:D

and Ted Anson was a Skin Bucc Pilot, on my squadron ....

.... and obviously a fast learner to become the boss of 801 when he led them as the first embarked Buccaneer squadron, in VICTORIOUS .... before going on to become Captain of ARK and then to three stars!:ok::ok:

Jack

dp,
Could that be Tanky EARNSHAW you're thinking of, so known because of the number of times he'd ditched ? IIRC, the last time was with Bomber Brown in a Sea Heron off Wallasey ?
Last seen some years ago, retired in Falmouth.

.....almost. Lt Cdr C Hearnshaw. XR444. :ok:

Yep Thats the name i was having a Senior Moment!! about;)

Have sent names of all the pilots and lookers who flew with me 1977 - 1979. The final list will be quite large!

Hi CORSAR,

Thanks for doing that. Haven't received anything yet but look forward to adding more names to the list.

I am now up to 78 names on the list.

http://usera.imagecave.com/scouse/FAAM-9-July-9(1).jpgUnion Jack;) God on his left looking at the photo:D:D

Perhaps I can help
 

Simon

I may have some information that might interest you. In the late 1980’s I co-produced a documentary for ITV called The Last Stringbag which featured LS326, then, the only airworthy Swordfish. I have the production file which contains names and contacts from the time, for example, a pamphlet called RNHS Engineering Team which includes the names of those serving at the time.

I could also let you have a DVD of the programme, which brought together many surviving wartime crew and construction workers including the last 3 crew from the channel dash.
Lt. Cmd. John Beattie flew the Swordfish, and Lt. John Baker carried out mock attacks in the Sea Fury for the film. There are a number of name contacts from that period of the Flight.

Please PM me if I can assist you at all.

Regards

John H.

PM Sent. :ok:

Simon

Thank you to everyone who has helped me so far with this project, I really appreciate it. I now have 88 names on the list and have managed to contact quite a few of our past aircrew and heard a few cracking dits from them in the process. There are a few I have not managed to get any details for, or been able to trace. Does anybody have contact details or know the whereabouts of the following aircrew?

From RNHF:
Paul Bootherstone
Mike Broadwater
Peter Burgess
TC Evans
John Lamb
Ken Lamprey
Ned Stone
Tony White

The following aircrew flew the Swordfish prior to formation of RNHF in 1972.
Bob Evans
Mike Rudorf
Geoff Shaw
EJ Trounson

Please PM me if you have any details requested.

Many thanks.

Simon.

David Parry

VMT for photo of Ted Anson at #27 - he wears his years lightly!:ok:

Jack

I was on the display circuit in the mid 70's to mid to late 80's and remember Chris Johnson as the Swordfish captain. He lives in Australia IIRC. Then there was Pete Shepherd on the Sea Fury at the same time. Peter Burgess flew the Sea Hawk and the last time I saw him he was the HS 125 sim instructor at GECAT.

EJ Trounson was my father. I have emailed you some info on him. Regards, RichT

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the info. We have replied and look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Simon