AA62 ...

More than happy old chap ... and looking forward to the Albert "Stream" pics once we return to Lyneham after the World Tour :ok:

Well said Coff, this was a part of so many of the 'readership's' life and is very nostalgic.

Lovely to see the Crud and Custard colour scheme again that always seemed at odds with what we were doing :E

Coff,
thanks for that. The far east 'labours of Hercules' have some way to go yet
before we are back in the bosom of the UK RAF.
Anyone else anything to contribute ?

I reckon our man Brian has a "stash" of Albert pics to share ... Let's hope my pic posting help at #393 will pay dividends when he's back on frequency :ok:

Excuse me now ... Mrs Coff wants the lawn cut :)

I have to report that despite several sorties to the loft, Mrs Smudge has failed to locate my "memories"! I'm working myself up to going up the ladder myself, although it risks holes in the ceiling if I do. In the meantime I came across this:

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/...ps558eef2f.jpg

Now, I know for sure that somewhere I have one with "Life's a Beach" on it (Garfield). Anyone else have any GW1 nose art ? I seem to remember the OC Eng, at Lyneham, was not too keen on the aircraft arriving back with the applied finish, but the crews and the ground crews all had a laugh with it.

Someone must have some pics ? I have a little story re OC Eng Wings (Lyneham) and GE "stupidity", perhaps best saved for a later date. Come on chaps, GW1 nose art is a good subject, and who was the bloke who painted them, rumour at the time in Riyadh had it that it was a propulsion mech. There's stories there indeed.

Smudge:ok:

Just checked in my album and the only nose art from Riyadh that I have are

http://i59.tinypic.com/9bgidi.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/ofzksm.jpg

Another I found - taxying at Al Jubyal (I think). Who said it doesn't rain in the desert?

http://i60.tinypic.com/dc5zxk.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse687d17f.jpg

Nice pics of GW1 'K'. By the time I get there in my chronology I will hopefully have found my GW1 pics, or at least some of them. We hid from a Scud attack at Al Jubail. The alert was for real but the thing fell in the sea. I have to work chronologically otherwise my input will be like the BBC, full of repeats.
This pic is a puzzle. Yes I know it is a T56-15 neatly cowled in our most loved colour complete with feathered Hamilton Standard 'paddle'. The puzzle is why it was feathered. Normally I record such things in my log book, but no reference to a shut down No 3 can I find of this era (had two in succession but that may be a later story). Others yes. For that RAF traditionally lethal practice of shutting down engines for assymmetric practice it was always an outboard. So either I did not record this one or I have reversed the pic. Perhaps smudge's expert forensic G/E eye can tell whether the pic is reversed. I have several 'air tests' in the log book so perhaps it was shut down as part of that. As smudge and others will no doubt testify, most engine shutdowns were due to prop problems rather than with the 'Detroit Diesel'.

The picture is not reversed as the decal on the air intake panel is readable (mag plug access if memory serves).

It's not set for a buddy start either as didn't we line up the cuff with the spinner fairings?

Anyone's guess I reckon . . .

Dengue Dude,
I thought that I could just make out the lettering on the cowling so thanks for the confirmation. I am now more inclined to think it part of the air test schedule. Still it will give anyone viewing this thread that is not ex 'K' a good view of the engine/prop combo that took so many of us on our adventures to all parts of the globe.

Allow me to interject with a snap of XV197 at Leuchars BoB 91 with Garfield nose art :-)

Hope this works, only about my second post here ever, and never done an image before..

Al.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1400/...17dce35a_b.jpgXV197 by Al Henderson, on Flickr

Garfield pic looks fine Al, brings back a few memories of that det.

The good folks will just have to take my word for it but I think this was Snoopy lying on a Union Flag , I seem to recall we also had a 'Red Baron'.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Albert800.jpg

Here are a few other things we used to see whilst bimbling around at low-level en-route to the desert LZs...

Ahmed Al-Jaber Airfield (with oil fires in background).
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...ar/AAJ1800.jpg

Some form of bunker taken out with a reasonable degree of effectiveness.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...eBunker800.jpg

DH at Ali Al Salem.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o.../AASH72800.jpg

Another angle showing the thickness of the HAS and how useless it was - it was a bit of a wake-up call that we were in a new age of weapon capability.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...r/AASH7800.jpg

A dead Super Connie (used for Rescue training at AAJ - Story here).
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...onnie800PS.jpg

An eerily empty Kuwait City.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...aitCity800.jpg

Great pics Mal :ok:

Had a quick look around and found these ...

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...thebaron%2Ejpg

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...ettyboob%2Ejpg

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...4/dennis%2Ejpg

Image Credit : MOD RAF

More here ... but already posted on this thread by others :ok:

RAF Hercules GW1 Nose Art

Coff.

PS. Smudge old chap ... don't worry about making a few holes in your ceiling as I'm sure you'll still have a bit of Speed Tape to hand ;)

Al,
nice pic and welcome. The more the merrier- memories that is. Very well defined is the reinforcement of the crew entrance door !

I noticed that! Must have been the safest part of the plane :)

Whilst not nearly as exotic as some of the great pictures on this thread (don't think I've ever been in a herc, never mind flown one!), I do have this shot of C.1K XV203 at Leuchars taking part in an AD exercise:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1232/...5ea5fafa_b.jpgXV203 by Al Henderson, on Flickr

Sadly, I don't have too many Ks, presumably a case of taking them for granted until they were gone :sad:

Al.

Al,
the fact that you have not had the 'pleasure' of flying in a 'K' is of no consequence as your pics have added to the treasure trove that we all hope this thread will become. Your last is a fine pic of one of the tankers to which I will contribute in due course.

When asked about dead-heading in a Herk, I always likened it to sitting inside a galvanised dustbin with someone clouting it with a cricket bat.

Be grateful for not having travelled in a K . . . Not too many pics showing the MAROC either.

Dengue-Dude,

How dare you cast nasturtiums on my office of some 5000 flying hours.:rolleyes: Many a happy hour have I spent in a state of somnambulance, whilst awaiting the arrival back at a place of bar and allowances, courtesy of the two winged master race. Only disturbed by the gentle reminder by the "loadbutler" that my main meal (usually ACC) was ready. Rarely did the behemoth cause great problems, though attempts were made, in exotic locations to dwell. But I know what you mean :ok:

Meanwhile, an old ex GE mate and myself are a bit baffled, and would ask the help of those in the know. It concerns operations in Northern Ireland, and here is where we are. As GEs we both remember Operation Banners (Op Banner) A and B. I am of the opinion that Banner A went to Aldergrove and Banner B to Ballykelly, some sense there so far. So what was Op Ferdy ? It also went in to NI. My memory suggests Ferdy involved movements from bases in Germany to the province, my GE mate reckons Ferdy were the Ballykelly runs. We are both unsure, and as we have a couple of hours walking each week, it would be nice to hear the definitive answer. I'm sure someone here knows the answer. I'm still looking for my pics from GW1, SWMBO has found a good hiding place this time.

Smudge:ok:

Wasn't Op Ferdy something to do with bringing missiles or similar from Shorts via Aldergrove?