Squadron Leader John 'Pop' Gladstone
 

Pop Gladstone is my Dad and passed away some years ago.
My Mother is still with us at 92 and I would love to hear from anyone who knew my Dad or flew with him.
I have seen the posts about the crash at Culloden in a Shackleton in 1964. Would love to hear any further anecdotes about that 'miracle' escape for him and his crew.
Dad went on to Nimrods and lead the project to develop a simulator at St Mawgan in the late 60s up to his retirement from the RAF in 1973.

Many thanks

Ian

Remember your Dad and his crew very well on 120'. I was told about the Culloden "Arrival" whilst in the Dentists chair in Nairn early the "morning after"!

MOTU October 1965 to January 1966
 

I was a young navigator on the Maritime Conversion Course at RAF St Mawgan 1965/6.
Pop Gladstone was the MAI(maritime air instructor) on the course, and an inspiration to us all. Obviously we were in awe of such a Coastal celebrity, but learnt a lot from his positive approach to what was going to be our chosen career. I went on to a first tour on Shackletons in Singapore and then as Nav captain at Ballykelly. Pop was an inspiration to a young nav,one felt that when he was at the helm you would be ok, a great feeling for a young and nervous beginner. I learnt a lot about flying from him, and had an enjoyable 31 years flying in the RAF, on Nimrods, C130s, HS125s etc. Never knew his name was John, always known as 'Pop'.

Thanks so much for the reply. I always keep my 4 brothers and my mother up to date with the posts pr internet content about dad.

Thanks I heard they may be renewing the memorial stone at the park in Culloden.

Culloden
 

I never met Pop but heard plenty of stories about him. A true legend. I joined the Nimrod force as he was retiring.

The AEO on the Culloden aircraft was Jamie Hamilton who was a very proud Scot. I am told that for that sortie, his logbook entry said "fell at Culloden".

Sadly Jamie was killed in a Vulcan crash in the States around 1978.

Regards

Shadwell the old

Pop Gladstone
 

Thanks Shadwell the Old,

Yes I heard about Jamie and many thanks for your kind words.

Regards,

Ian

Flt Lt Edward Thomas Fisher
 

Hi Ian,

I note the thread to all this is rather old so don't hold much hope of a reply! Anyway, my Dad was Flt Lt Edward Thomas Fisher, a navigator. Sadly he passed away in 2011 aged 91. For posterity I'm compiling a record of his career in the RAF and in the main my reference material is his log books and a few photo's of his time in the RAF. I can only assume he knew your Dad very well for his last tour of duty prior to his retirement in 1968 was at the MOTU at RAF St Mawgan in 1967. In fact his last operational flight was in a Shackleton MkI T4 on 6 April 1967 which your Dad was the pilot. As a family we lived at 20 Spitfire Row, St Eval. I appreciate it's a long shot but I'd be really grateful for any photo's you, or any readers, may have of that time and of them together. I'd also be grateful for a picture of your Dad in his days in the RAF so I could put it into my "hall of fame". Clearly anything else you can assist with would be appreciated.

Fingers Crossed

Tony Fisher