Helicopter missing in the Mourne Mountains, & tributes to AJ
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Just a few words
Where do i start... AJ was one in a million as i think everyone would agree. He always came into the office with a smile from ear to ear ready to tell some kind of amusing story. I never got to fly with AJ but i got to meet him many of times and i feel so happy to have known him, even if it was only for a short time. I will remember that smile, accent, bum bag 
and great sense of humour. You will never be forgotten, in my heart always and forever AJ -x-
and great sense of humour. You will never be forgotten, in my heart always and forever AJ -x-
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A good friend who will be sorely missed. Can't believe how much money I put in that fruit machine with him in NI. One less of us northerners to keep the rest of you in line! My thoughts are with you and the family Ang
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Sincere condolences from all the guys and girls on Heathrow Radar/SVFR 125.625 at Terminal Control Swanwick. AJ was a regular customer of ours, and he was always professional and cheerful on the RTF.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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We spoke in the past on AJ's forrays into Scotland...as all of you rotary guys are, he to was a pleasure to talk to....Condolences from all at Scottish Info 119.875. 
As a new pilot with a company operating a pleasure flying event AJ was asked by the boss to "check me out" before the days flying started.
"Ah ooop mucka" "get yerself in and wait fer me"
Got the 206 fired up and waited for AJ to wander out to the aircraft and climb in.
"Right, my aircraft!" says AJ who then preceeded to accerate backwards down the FATO (No PAX before you all jump on in) before climbing away still backwards and then Max rate climb up to 1000 feet. Torque turn at 1500 feet filled the windscreen with green fields and a 360 auto to a perfect touch down to the words "Dont ever let me see you do do that with passengers on and you will be alright lol"
When we landed on at the entrance to the event the line was already full of passengers waiting to go on a helicopter that does aerobatics but sadly had to put up with my round the circuit flights instead!
One of the most exciting flights ive ever had in a helicopter to this day!
"Ah ooop mucka" "get yerself in and wait fer me"
Got the 206 fired up and waited for AJ to wander out to the aircraft and climb in.
"Right, my aircraft!" says AJ who then preceeded to accerate backwards down the FATO (No PAX before you all jump on in) before climbing away still backwards and then Max rate climb up to 1000 feet. Torque turn at 1500 feet filled the windscreen with green fields and a 360 auto to a perfect touch down to the words "Dont ever let me see you do do that with passengers on and you will be alright lol"
When we landed on at the entrance to the event the line was already full of passengers waiting to go on a helicopter that does aerobatics but sadly had to put up with my round the circuit flights instead!
One of the most exciting flights ive ever had in a helicopter to this day!
Join Date: May 2008
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RIP mate, been following this thread from day 1, was just going to keep the memories to my self, but bloody hell, even left an impression on ATC, why am I not suprised.....the odd time we crossed paths in a previous career.....you certainly left an impression on me and I was a tad of a hooligan in them days. Very deepest condolances Ange and family, we never met, but your Man was a star...
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A J
Angie and family,
Sally and I are really sorry for your loss and our thoughts are with you all at this time. You were both good friends to us in Germany and I learnt a huge amount from AJ, during that time and throughout the years afterwards when we served together. He was someone you could always trust to give you a straight opinion and that kind of honesty is sadly not always present these days. He was perhaps the one pilot out there who only had to say he callsign before everyone that knew him would be telling everyone that didn't about him. 'Hear that voice - that's AJ'.
Rich and Sally Maddison
Sally and I are really sorry for your loss and our thoughts are with you all at this time. You were both good friends to us in Germany and I learnt a huge amount from AJ, during that time and throughout the years afterwards when we served together. He was someone you could always trust to give you a straight opinion and that kind of honesty is sadly not always present these days. He was perhaps the one pilot out there who only had to say he callsign before everyone that knew him would be telling everyone that didn't about him. 'Hear that voice - that's AJ'.
Rich and Sally Maddison
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A second attempt; AJ would be amused.
I met AJ 40 years ago on the Pre Army Pilots Technical Refresher Course at Tidworth. I recall a tall, skinny, good looking guy who had a Burnley accent that could crack a walnut at 30 yards. As I didn’t know one end of an engine from the other AJ took pity on me and took me under his wing. “Look it’s easy” he would say “suck, squeeze, bang, blow” interspersed with some fab adjectives. We went on to Middle Wallop, I can’t remember if his course was ahead or behind mine. He soon had everyone taking note of his undoubted skills when, on a solo low level nav ex flying a Sioux, he had a turbo charger failure which he handled so well. At that stage of our training it would have creased most of us. At the end of it all we were both posted to 1 Regt AAC in Germany.
AJ was never happier than when he was either flying or head down in some engine compartment; a private car or LandRover or was all the same to AJ. On one occasion we were snowed in and the snow plough was broke. Well it was til AJ arrived. When he had fixed it he walked away covered in grease and oil muttering “VM’s nowadays don’t know ****e”. The other thing concentrating his mind was the blossoming romance with Angie. He would have us in fits about how on earth he was going to impress her father who was a senior officer in a smart Infantry Regiment. Still he must have found the right words.
My wife’s family lived in Essen about 2 hours away from base and they had offered me some good furniture and carpets. I was moaning to AJ about how was I going to collect it. A few days later he said “ we’ll go tonight to pick it up” “What in” I stupidly asked. “In that “ he replied pointing to a 3 ton truck. “ Don’t ask just get in”. It took several hours but his generosity was uncondiotional. I never did ask.
Our paths divereged and we next meet at Wallop when he was now a QHI and I was on a course. I used to bum coffee off them rather hoping that AJ would be out and I could monopolise Angie for a few hours – fat chance. One morning I remarked that my old VW Beetle was knackered. His eyes lit up “bring it t’garage we’ll have a look”. He took the engine out, stripped it down, we got spare bits, he put it back together again and it didn’t work. “Reet then we’ll try again” and he did it again. At the end of it he said “you’re wrong its not knackered, its f****d”.
I was lucky to get to look after 655 Sqn at Ballykelly and was blessed with some of the best that the AAC had on its books so when AJ, sorry WO AJ Smith arrived as our QHI the jigsaw was complete. All I had to do was turn up and answer the phone, AJ constantly reminded me I needed help to do that. We shared a love of fishing and he would find great places to go. We were fishing a newly found river when a strong gust of wind lifted my very expensive umberella into the air and it landed in the river and sank. AJ asked if I had a towel in the car. He stripped to his underpants and in he went. Having recovered it he stood there soaking wet and shivering asking for the towel. I said I didn’t have one. I lied, but it was the best 5 minute AJ rant I have ever heard. I still have the umberella and when I use it I always recall AJ up to his neck in that river.
Now we in 655 Sqn know that it ws AJ that first rolled the Gazelle. He told me that if the aircraft was in the vertical plane then it was easy to roll it. He said he was working on getting it flatter. I didn’t believe him. Then came the Ballykelly open day. We had many assembled dignitaries including our CO who was ex Boscombe Down. John D gave an excellent Lynx demo then in came AJ. As he finished the roll there were gasps all around mine being the loudest. The CO said that it couldn’t be done and with that AJ did a split arse turn came in and did it again. My wife still remembers the day that AJ rolled the Gazelle. The phone calls the next day were interesting.
The AAC then made, in my opinion a major error by not granting AJ a commission. I thought he would be outstanding in our standards team; so our loss was the RAF’s gain. We kept in touch and I next met him when I was in Maastricht and he was now a Pilot Officer at RAF Gutersloh. He invited me to a mess kit do in the mess. I wondered wether he would no longer be AJ, but Tony or even worse Anthony! I should not have wondered because he had not changed a bit. He and Angie fitted into his new life with ease. “It’s alright here” he said “but I don’t get on with those Harrier t*****s” He was also still taking 30 minutes to tell you why he shouldn’t do a 2 minute job.
Sadly our paths diverged as I left the military and I couldn’t track him down, but it wasn’t due to a lack of trying. I had heard he was flying Hercules, then Poilce helicopters then corporate work; the trail went cold. That is until one Sunday morning I was reading the papers and there was an article written by someone famous as to the joys of having enough wealth to hire a helicopter especially when the pilot was a no nonsense Lancashire lad called Captain Tony Smith. Well the rest was easy. We tried to meet up but his and my rosters did not jive. We spoke a lot and agreed to meet when we could. Sadly that is no longer going to happen.
He was a good friend. He could be infuriating when using the AJ logic in a discussion or usually an argument, but I will always remember him as a gentle and generous man. I will miss him.
Angie, it was good to talk the other day.
Mark B
I met AJ 40 years ago on the Pre Army Pilots Technical Refresher Course at Tidworth. I recall a tall, skinny, good looking guy who had a Burnley accent that could crack a walnut at 30 yards. As I didn’t know one end of an engine from the other AJ took pity on me and took me under his wing. “Look it’s easy” he would say “suck, squeeze, bang, blow” interspersed with some fab adjectives. We went on to Middle Wallop, I can’t remember if his course was ahead or behind mine. He soon had everyone taking note of his undoubted skills when, on a solo low level nav ex flying a Sioux, he had a turbo charger failure which he handled so well. At that stage of our training it would have creased most of us. At the end of it all we were both posted to 1 Regt AAC in Germany.
AJ was never happier than when he was either flying or head down in some engine compartment; a private car or LandRover or was all the same to AJ. On one occasion we were snowed in and the snow plough was broke. Well it was til AJ arrived. When he had fixed it he walked away covered in grease and oil muttering “VM’s nowadays don’t know ****e”. The other thing concentrating his mind was the blossoming romance with Angie. He would have us in fits about how on earth he was going to impress her father who was a senior officer in a smart Infantry Regiment. Still he must have found the right words.
My wife’s family lived in Essen about 2 hours away from base and they had offered me some good furniture and carpets. I was moaning to AJ about how was I going to collect it. A few days later he said “ we’ll go tonight to pick it up” “What in” I stupidly asked. “In that “ he replied pointing to a 3 ton truck. “ Don’t ask just get in”. It took several hours but his generosity was uncondiotional. I never did ask.
Our paths divereged and we next meet at Wallop when he was now a QHI and I was on a course. I used to bum coffee off them rather hoping that AJ would be out and I could monopolise Angie for a few hours – fat chance. One morning I remarked that my old VW Beetle was knackered. His eyes lit up “bring it t’garage we’ll have a look”. He took the engine out, stripped it down, we got spare bits, he put it back together again and it didn’t work. “Reet then we’ll try again” and he did it again. At the end of it he said “you’re wrong its not knackered, its f****d”.
I was lucky to get to look after 655 Sqn at Ballykelly and was blessed with some of the best that the AAC had on its books so when AJ, sorry WO AJ Smith arrived as our QHI the jigsaw was complete. All I had to do was turn up and answer the phone, AJ constantly reminded me I needed help to do that. We shared a love of fishing and he would find great places to go. We were fishing a newly found river when a strong gust of wind lifted my very expensive umberella into the air and it landed in the river and sank. AJ asked if I had a towel in the car. He stripped to his underpants and in he went. Having recovered it he stood there soaking wet and shivering asking for the towel. I said I didn’t have one. I lied, but it was the best 5 minute AJ rant I have ever heard. I still have the umberella and when I use it I always recall AJ up to his neck in that river.
Now we in 655 Sqn know that it ws AJ that first rolled the Gazelle. He told me that if the aircraft was in the vertical plane then it was easy to roll it. He said he was working on getting it flatter. I didn’t believe him. Then came the Ballykelly open day. We had many assembled dignitaries including our CO who was ex Boscombe Down. John D gave an excellent Lynx demo then in came AJ. As he finished the roll there were gasps all around mine being the loudest. The CO said that it couldn’t be done and with that AJ did a split arse turn came in and did it again. My wife still remembers the day that AJ rolled the Gazelle. The phone calls the next day were interesting.
The AAC then made, in my opinion a major error by not granting AJ a commission. I thought he would be outstanding in our standards team; so our loss was the RAF’s gain. We kept in touch and I next met him when I was in Maastricht and he was now a Pilot Officer at RAF Gutersloh. He invited me to a mess kit do in the mess. I wondered wether he would no longer be AJ, but Tony or even worse Anthony! I should not have wondered because he had not changed a bit. He and Angie fitted into his new life with ease. “It’s alright here” he said “but I don’t get on with those Harrier t*****s” He was also still taking 30 minutes to tell you why he shouldn’t do a 2 minute job.
Sadly our paths diverged as I left the military and I couldn’t track him down, but it wasn’t due to a lack of trying. I had heard he was flying Hercules, then Poilce helicopters then corporate work; the trail went cold. That is until one Sunday morning I was reading the papers and there was an article written by someone famous as to the joys of having enough wealth to hire a helicopter especially when the pilot was a no nonsense Lancashire lad called Captain Tony Smith. Well the rest was easy. We tried to meet up but his and my rosters did not jive. We spoke a lot and agreed to meet when we could. Sadly that is no longer going to happen.
He was a good friend. He could be infuriating when using the AJ logic in a discussion or usually an argument, but I will always remember him as a gentle and generous man. I will miss him.
Angie, it was good to talk the other day.
Mark B
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As many of you have seen, we are putting together a book for Angies and the family, we really need some more pictures if any of you have some, any pictures will do, would be really appreciated.
I wonder if 669 still have AJ's gift on leaving the squadron - a Bill Tidy cartoon, ISTR, of an instructor bellowing 'Gently, GENTLY!' at the hapless student, who is struggling to control the helicopter whilst wearing boxing gloves.
AJ gave me my first cabby, as an Airtrooper with ambition - but nothing like the talent AJ had - and only managed to get me to relax at the controls by having me hold a pencil in my right-middle finger, imposing pressure on the backs of the index and ring fingers when I tensed-up. Simple and very effective.
A long time ago perhaps, but AJ's generosity, even to a 'dumb Yorkshireman' as he put it, has never been forgotten.
AJ gave me my first cabby, as an Airtrooper with ambition - but nothing like the talent AJ had - and only managed to get me to relax at the controls by having me hold a pencil in my right-middle finger, imposing pressure on the backs of the index and ring fingers when I tensed-up. Simple and very effective.
A long time ago perhaps, but AJ's generosity, even to a 'dumb Yorkshireman' as he put it, has never been forgotten.
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AJ
I knew AJ at 669 Sqn. I remember the night he presented the Bill Tidy cartoon very well. AJ was much admired by everyone in the Squadron and the shiny nine. It's very sad news and my heart goes out to everyone who knew him but especially to his loved ones.
Martyn
Martyn
Just received this from AAC HQ:
Ladies and Gentlemen
Further to the notice sent below I have just been informed that Anthony Smith’s funeral will take place on Thursday 25 November at 1530 at Amersham Crematorium and all are welcome to attend. This is all the information currently available.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Further to the notice sent below I have just been informed that Anthony Smith’s funeral will take place on Thursday 25 November at 1530 at Amersham Crematorium and all are welcome to attend. This is all the information currently available.
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errrolplane
Mark
I just p****d myself laughing about the umbrella. Classic classic AJ. That one should be told at the funeral. Take the umbrella chap!
I was thinking about contributing something for the book, then realised I could just write a book. That is the funny thing. With most guys who pass away we all have a few dits to tell, but with AJ most of us could write our own book!
Check pm's.
Mark
I just p****d myself laughing about the umbrella. Classic classic AJ. That one should be told at the funeral. Take the umbrella chap!
I was thinking about contributing something for the book, then realised I could just write a book. That is the funny thing. With most guys who pass away we all have a few dits to tell, but with AJ most of us could write our own book!
Check pm's.
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AJ's Funeral
Hi this is Angies brother Andrew.
AJ's Funeral is on Thursday November 25th at Chilterns Creamatorium, Hampden Chapel, Whielden Lane, Amersham, HP70ND. All friends are welcome. There will be a wake afterwards in Dinton, BUCKS. No flowers please donations to the Royal British Legion. I look forwards to meeting all of you.
AJ's Funeral is on Thursday November 25th at Chilterns Creamatorium, Hampden Chapel, Whielden Lane, Amersham, HP70ND. All friends are welcome. There will be a wake afterwards in Dinton, BUCKS. No flowers please donations to the Royal British Legion. I look forwards to meeting all of you.
I'll be seeing the Bolkow through its last days on Northern Lighthouse Board duties that day so sadly won't be able to attend. However, will quietly sip a Diet Coke that evening, as AJ and I were wont to do during our thrill-packed(!) Norway recce trip, and remember a unique character.