'Vampire and Venom Boys'
 

Provisionally planned for publication in 2020, I am now starting to research for another in the 'Boys' book series. The search is now on for anyone who flew or maintained any variants of the Vampire, Sea Vampire, Venom or Sea Venom.

So, if you did and would like to contribute your stories for 'Vampire and Venom Boys' please do get in touch! If you would prefer to contact me directly, please send me a private message here and I will give you my email address.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Steve

There can't be many of us left ?
What are you looking for Steve ?
Rob, trained on Vampires, flew Sea Venoms

At the rate these books come out I look forward to the release of Chipmunk Boys and Pembroke Boys soon.

Hi Rob,

I am looking for your memories basically. What were they like to fly, where/when were you flying them, memorable events, incidents, deployments, exercises, plus photographs if you have them.

Private message sent

Steve

Is this resricted to a/c in UK service?

I am aware of at least one SAAF Vampire pilot, still around.

No, not restricted to UK.

Here's one for starters (from my Post in 2013):

"I had an unnerving experience in a Vampire one day. It must have been in summer, for when I closed and sealed the canopy it got uncomfortably warm, and I fully opened the "eyeball" fresh air inlet up on the left. Half-way through take-off, I'd just got the nosewheel off when something small hit me hard on the cheek, and it was followed by more tiny missiles. I hastily pulled my goggles down (this was long before helmets and visors); we were far too far down to stop and I took it round for a quick circuit and down. Downwind the fusillade had stopped, but looking in my lap I found two or three small BA bolts.

I climbed out, the cockpit was checked: there were more of them all over the floor and of course others could have gone anywhere in the aircraft. The Vampire was put u/s at once. Maintenance records were checked and the whole sad story came to light.

It seemed that an instrument technician had recently done a job in the cockpit, changed an instrument or something of the sort. To do it, he had taken a little cardboard box of these BA bolts, opened it and found there was no flat surface to put the open box - except that the tiny thing could just fit in the open "eyeball". Of course the inevitable happened: he upended the box and the whole lot went down into the air duct.

He now considered the situation. If he reported the occurrence, half the front end of the aircraft would have to be unshipped to retrieve the bolts, and he would not be Chiefy's blue-eyed boy. On the other hand, the bolts were wholly contained in the ducting and could not possibly escape to do any harm. They could stay down there (wherever they had got to) for the life of the aircraft and no one be any the wiser. And of course, they were "C" stores (consumables); he did not have to account for them.

He took the logical way out and kept his mouth shut. It was just his hard luck that the gale that went through the duct when the aircraft got under way was enough to convert the bolts into the swarm of projectiles which had attacked me. He was for the High Jump: I do not know what happened to him....."

Danny.

Thanks Danny, always best to own up! Where did this happen?

Steve (#8),

RAF Thornaby ca 1953: on 608 (Auxiliary) Squadron R.Aux.A.F. I was a regular on a ground tour there; 608 let me fly their aircraft to keep my hand in as I'd flown Vampires III and V on 20 Squadron previously).

When the Vampire lands, the tail-pipe is very hot and evaporates all the last drops of AVTUR when shut down on the line. The erks used to put their (cold) HAFFI meat pies in the pipe to warm up.. Checking the pipe for pies and Cornish Pasties was part of the walk-round for the next pilot.

Happy Days! Danny.

Thanks Danny, love the pies story!

Knock it off, some of us who flew on Vampires (T11 at Swinderby) aren,t THAT old!

I'm beginning to feel old :sad:

Who came up with that silly "boys" title?

Ridiculous!

After the T-Bird in Canada in '53 the Vampire came as a bit of a shock. After learning my trade on 605sqn I rejoined in ' 57. Flew various marks. IIRC, 5,9,10,11 & 22. Many a tale there.

Dick

For once, I agree prOOne. Naff. Content's OK though.

I have a couple of mates in Zimbabwe who were still flying Vampires in Rhodesian Air Force service as late at 1980. Bill Sykes flew the Vampire that was camera ship for the aerial sequences of the film about Jack Malloch's Spit - the Spit (and Jack) was lost during filming, sadly. That was in 1982, I think. PM me if you want me to pass on a contact.

Dick Whittingham and rcsa - thanks very much, private messages sent.

T Bird shock
 

Dick W What was the 'shock' after the T33 !!! I though the T bird was a tandem dual version of the Shooting Star so quite a veteran.

This might help you

Jever Steam Laundry - Home Page

Thanks NutLoose