ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember your dad with great affection. The reason I posted was that the author of "Shadows" told me that my picture was the only one in existance.
Its a great pity I could not unscrew the main entry door kick plate, otherwise I could have sent it to you as a souvenir, engraved was "Riley dove a Mc Alpine conversion".
But they idiot that fitted it did not use any grease, the screws were rusted solid................ with the Nigerian Soldiers approaching fast, all I could do was take a photo, and beat a quick retreat.
Later that day my wife and I were arrested outside a Nigerian Army Barracks for taking a picture of a Biafran "Minicon" that was their gate guardian.
A little negotiation with the CO and we were allowed to keep the film, thats why your Dads Dove picture still exists!
Tony

Dove Photo
 

Hi Tony. Phew. Thought I was in trouble ;))
Sounds like you had a lucky escape. The Dove probably ended up as pots and pans ;)) Well The author of the book is right. I looked everywhere in the public arena and your photo is the one referenced and illustrated. Its amazing that there is no info on this aircraft. That's why I think its important I put it together and make it public as I have some good stuff. So Tony between you and me we have the only photos. Yours its final grave and mine when it was born. The photo I have the Dove looks new with Bristows written down the main fuselage. From memory the top section is white and under carriage blue but till I dig it out cant confirm. I hope dads log book will give us some more insight but also from memory they pranged it bending the props. But I need to confirm that was the Dove. Kinda exciting really. Who would have thought the old Dove would have been of interest. I bought the book and tried to find the author as I wanted to have a chat with him. Are you still able to contact him? So how long were you in Nigeria for?? Dad was always taking photos. Slides were his thing so I have to get a slide scanner to get them sorted. I went to Port Harcourt in 75 to see dad. He brought us to a restaurant that had bullet holes in the windows. Then we flew to Eket in a DC3 chickens and all. That was some flight. In Eket dad brought me to see an old house that had a dry fountain out front. In the fountain were a few rusty AK47's. Seemed to be the trappings of war all over. Very memorable trip.

I was in Nigeria from Autumn 1968, until summer 1973, mainly in Warri, but with stints in PH and Eket.
After three years in the good old South Africa, I returned to Ikeja:yuk: for a year, then off to Dubai where I met you as a nipper.

In the book "Shadows" there is a picture of the S55/3 Whirlwind that I was crew on, when it was ferried from UK to Nigeria in 1968.
It flew briefly for Shell on the Warri/PH/ Bonny route before "bent nose" Baker wrote it off being silly:ugh:
I'm the guy in the picture with shorts, no shirt and a beard.

If you are trying to contact Mike Draper the author, I would Google the publishers and the editor will have Mikes contact number.
Tony

Dubai.
 

I just had a chat with my brother who was born in port harcourt. He told me he's been in side the Dove. When he was little dad brought him to have a look around. He remembers it was under guard by Nigerian soldiers. I am amazed he actually remembers that.

I have fond memories of Dubai. Spent a lot of time in the Sheiks ammo chests that seem to be stored in the Dubai Airwing hangers. I remember there was loads of machine gun ammo with yellow tops...also with lead tops so you can make I'm into dum dums...all illegal I am sure...Nuf said. I liked the desert camo cessna and Bells. Looked kinda cool. Dad was the chief engineer at the Airwing for a while. An officer left his swag stick on dads desk..its now in my office :)) Think they were beside the Bristow hangers ?? but not sure. I remember a crashed / wrecked S61 lying behind the hangers..was full of cool stuff for kids to play with (might have been qatar-cant quite remember). Ok I will google the publishers and see what I can find. Will go look in my book for ya in your shorts. Will post the images soon as I can dig them out.

Dove Photo.
 

Managed to find the Dove in its original state prior to Bristows from the
The de Havilland Aircraft Association of South Africa

DH.104 Dove c/n 04246 / Registrations carried: /SAAF 105 (South African Air Force)

SAAF 105 Sold to Keegan Aviation as G-ASUV 30 Jul 1964.Converted to Riley Dove Wfu 10.8.64. Exported to Nigeria as 5N-AGF 17 Mar 1965 and used for mercy flights by Bristow Helicopters. Captured by Biafran Army 18 July 1967 and subsequently used by Biafran Air Force. Ground-looped, hit a truck damaging a propeller and the right wing at Uli airstrip and declared a write-off. Sent to a school play ground at Uli Village, Nigeria. http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...RileyDove2.jpg

Dove Photo.
 

Found this info of the Dove in Bristow Livery. I have contacted the photographer for further info.

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...12at165838.png

Bristow Heron.
 

Also the 4 engine sister to the Dove. I now suspect the image I remember might be the heron. But will keep digging till I find it.
I have contacted the Photographer for further info.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...12at170013.png

Brilliant stuff
 

Dear XONBOY, great stuff keep it coming. That period in Nigerian history fascinates me as my mother and I were evacuated during the Biafran war from PH on a BP tanker to Southampton. For some strange reason this didn't put me off and did a total of six and a half years with Bristow.

Port harcourt
 

Hi bellboy. Well my brother was born in Port Harcourt and my mother was also evacuated with him to Holland. She was pregnant with me at the time. My dad stayed behind. It sounds like your parents might have known my dad? Can you send me a private message. I have tons of Bristow slides that need scanning from his time in Africa and the Middle East.
Best
Sean

Riley Dove 5N-AGF in flight
 

I was also in PH as a child during this period and remember seeing the Dove at the airstrip, along with the Twin Pin. The Dove did not seem to fly much as I recall but the Twin Pin was always airborne.


Good to see you are still alive and kicking Tony!

I think it was used for posh occasions as it had a toilet I think??
dad used to look after the Twin P's as he had to do lots of repairs on it. Apparently the Dove was used to carry spare parts according to Tony :))

Hello there,
 

Hello everyone just to say that i've just finaly got to the end of this post.

Its been very interesting and i read it with a tinge of envy! Ive been at Boscombe Down at D Sqdn on all rotary wing types for the past 13 years and have never been away as much as you lot. when i was a mere scrote and thinking of going into aviation I had the Idea of joining Bristows at Wallop (?) but ended up going to Boscombe instead! oh well I had a few trips away and around the world but never to the amount of you.
great thread made for interesting reading.

BTW does the name Barry Mobely mean spark a memory anywhere?
My mum and his wife (Carol) were "new mum friends" when I was born and continued to be for a few years after. I know he used to be in the AAC on Lynx and then went to Bristows. Just a thought.

Pete.

Barry Mobberley
 

D Squadron Pete,

Barry retired from Middle Wallop in May 2012 having worked for Bristow/FBH for a little over 30 years.

Barry and Carol Mobberley are listed in the Electoral Roll as living in Andover until 2007. This was a couple of years after you could request that your details were withheld from public view so I would rather not publish their full address here. However I suggest you do a directory enquiries search for him on the BT website for Andover...........

Good luck!

Thanks for that info chaps! good to know.

cheers.

Pete.

Some Vintage Pics from a Vintage Pilot
 

Some Vintage Pictures supplied by a Scatsta Based Old Timer ... I can't reveal who it is (unless the price is right) ;)

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps19375b6f.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6ea4284c.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2fd5084e.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1dcd64e8.jpg
Working on onshore survey work with WS55 S3(Whirlwind) in Fujairah East Coast United Arab Emirates


http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps94b85348.jpg

Few More of the Same
 

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps196e5035.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9375415f.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9762e09e.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps45e0f190.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaa515a67.jpg

And Some More
 

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps33ad84e9.jpg
Watering the Beer Trees (for the benefit of the Germans)

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps70852d2c.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps96ae8d3f.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps40ae3d9c.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5b610037.jpg

(Will add details to each picture as I get them - come back soon !)

Who are the guys in the Fujeriah operation pictures............I recognise some of the faces, but it was a long time ago!
Tony

Fujeirah
 

Is that Stacey with the overalls with VR-BDL?

I'd say so! :suspect: Stace, confirm/disaffirm? - VFR
(Ah, but isn't he on hols at the mo?)

Mmmm ...

...... Is that Stacey with the overalls with VR-BDL?....

... and is that Bob Good standing next to him?? :hmm:

He with the dark glasses! ABSOLUTELY :ok: Couldn't mistake that crouch and hang-dog expression! :p - VFR

Hi Chaps

Back from Holidays!!, yep that,s me in overalls, nearly caught me working again!!, but that is not Bob Good, Bob never worked for Bristows, or never worked for that matter :)), the gentleman concerned was one of the geologists we used to drag around when not flying the 'Dart'.
That operation was one of the most enjoyable and funniest I ever worked one, mainly due to the the pilot with the 'Glove' I worked with, I remember the checkers board with drums for pieces and the complaints from the guys when a 'king' took a 'King' and it was insisted upon that the two were carried over together in that move, needless to say never hardly happened.
I visited the motel that we stayed at some years ago unfortunately now surrounded by a port and other developments, myself the 'Glove' and one another filmed the motel from the air on cine film for the Lebanese owner Rocky who rewarded us with three Martini Henry rifles!, I have a photo of us posing with the said weapons on the tarmac alongside the 55 in Dubai International Airport on our return, try doing that now!!

I'll see if I can find the photo's

Stace

I can affirm Stacey is an excellent Worker.....when finally cornered and brought to bay.:E

The glove is a dead giveaway! Alan P perchance?

one is not allowed to 'out' a person on PPrune, but your incredibly close!!

Abu Dhabi
 

Been a while since I posted anything and I still have a few hundred pics I had accumulated from the original Skyweaver site. Most of them are not the best quality but still worth adding to the thread. Remember the "good" old days when most of the pics were taken with a Kodak Instamatic and you took your roll of film to Boots to get processed and wait a week to see the mostly out of focus results!

I will post them base by base with the info I gathered for the original website.

Still in Cyprus (10 years now) working on the RAF 412s and just got back from a local sports bar watching footy so forgive any alcohol induced nistakes! I see Photobucket has totally changed its layout so the chances of me getting this first post to work are slim!





Abu Dhabi

Thanks to Al Biles from whose e-mail I copied the info.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...p_abudhabi.jpg




It's all a long time ago but..........
The main clients were ADMA (AbuDhabi Marine Areas), ADOC (AD Oil or Offshore Co) and Amerada Hess. Amerada was the smallest contract and until I arrived in Sep '73 with a 'zero houred' Whirlwind (G-BAMH, later VR-BEQ), they only had 1 x 206 on the contract. ADOC had a 206 and a couple of 55's and ADMA had three 55's and a couple of 212's. By the time I left in June 74 there were probably 4 or 5 212's on site and the 55's were being farmed out to jobs in Dubai and Khasab.

The main base was AUH but there was always an aircraft, usually a 55, based on Das Island and maintained by the crew out there. Between Das and the mainland were the two main oilfields, Zakum and Umm Schaif. Almost everything was offshore support.

Bachelor accommodation was in two blocks of flats (probably long since demolished). The Al Mulla Building on Shk Hamdan Street was otherwise known as the 'wooden bar' and the Shk Latif Building (I think) which backed onto the souk and was known as the 'concrete bar'. A bunch of ex-American military pilots lived in another block, the name of which escapes me.
Some 'marrieds' lived in the Al Mulla Building and others were spread about town. The rotation was 17 weeks and 4 weeks for bachelors and (I think) 2 years straight for the marrieds.


Abu Dhabi flightline March 1974.Types visible are Bell 212 and 206 plus Westland Whirlwind.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a.../abudhabi1.jpg




Bermudan registered Bell 212, VR-BFB and Bell 206 VR-BDR.
From the logo on the Jetranger it was probably flying for Total. The stinger protruding from the nose is an HF Ae.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a.../abudhabi2.jpg



Shutdown offshore. Probably Zukum 1 or Umm Schaif collector platform.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a.../abudhabi3.jpg

I arrived in the fall of 1974 and I think there were 5 212's by then. The concrete bar was in the Al Kouri building in the flat shared by Alan Saunders and Alan Elgee. My flat was down the hall. The concrete bar had its balcony overlooking the open area by the clock tower and the cities taxi lot.

Rotation for singles was 4 months on - 1 month off and for marrieds, I believe, had changed from 3 months after two years to 1 month after one year and two months after the second year.

Antarctic
 

Antarctic.

Thanks to Andrew Rice for pics and info.

Two Bell 206 aircraft G-AVIG and G-AWMK were flown onboard the Royal Research Ship Bransfield in Southampton Water on 30 October 1984.
The three pilots and two engineers (Dave Mallock, John Shaw, Andrew Rice, Dave Simpson, Eddie Lawrenson), then flew down to Cape Town to join the ship there for its voyage to resupply the bases of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

The ship arrived at Mobster Creek near to the Halley Base in Mid December, 1994 and tied up to the ice shelf. Several flights were made but the bulk of the base resupply was done by sno-cat and the helicopter team worked alongside the ship's crew unloading on to the ice. This continued 24 hours a day as the sun circled the horizon without setting. The ship then continued south and spent the New Year beset in the pack-ice. A couple of ice survey flights were flown, but most of the time was spent in the bar!

On 4 January the ship once again became stuck in the ice and it was decided to use the helicopters to set up a fuel depot for the BAS Twin Otters to use later in the season. A busy day followed carrying underslung loads of drummed jet fuel.
Unfortunately at 17.34 on 5 January G-AVIG crashed into the ice shelf while en-route back to the ship and was totally destroyed. MK was carrying a load to the depot at the time and landed to pick up the (largely uninjured) pilot and the shore party. Without a second aircraft, which was required to carry out mutual SAR, operations halted. The following day the sea-ice broke up and the ship was able to get alongside the main ice shelf and offload the rest of the fuel by sno-cat.

The ship continued its task, with only an occasional flight in the local area being possible. We were able to deliver some gifts to a Soviet supply ship Kapitan Mishevski at the Russian new Year, before setting off, on 18 January, towards Montevideo to crew-change the BAS personnel. On the way some underslung loads were delivered on the South Orkney Islands on 24 January. The crew also managed some mountain walking from Gritviken on South Georgia on 28 January, and some flights made to Stanley and Goose Green in the Falkland Islands on 2 and 3 February. While in Uruguay a new 206, G-BLPL, was loaded on board with new pilot Bob Innes, and the Bransfield once again headed south.

During early March several flights were made on the east side of the Antarctic Peninsula mainly to carry underslung loads for a depot on Spaatz Island.
G-BLPL was deployed to the UK base at Rothera on 18 March and flew some survey flights for the proposed base airstrip. Also on that day a geology recce was made to Pourquio Pas Island during which the aircraft was briefly landed on a 500 foot high iceberg. On 29 March 1985, while G-BLPL was airborne on an underslung mission to James Ross Island, the weather closed in with heavy snow and strong winds. Once the aircraft had been recovered the Bransfield turned north and headed for the Falkland Islands. The helicopter team left the ship in Stanley and flew back to the UK on the RAF C130 airbridge via Ascension Island. The helicopters were offloaded in Grimsby when the ship arrived in the UK.


On deck in the ice pack.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...antarctic6.jpg




Halley Bay UK base. 20th December, 1984.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...antarctic3.jpg



Landing back on in the ice pack.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...tarctic5-1.jpg




Slinging observation huts on the South Orkney Islands, 24th January, 1985.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ntarctic10.jpg




Soviet Mil 8 fly past, 5th January, 1985.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ntarctic11.jpg




John Shaw and Andrew Rice above UK Rothera Base, March, 1985.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...antarctic4.jpg

Argentina
 

Argentina.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...pfalklands.jpg


After pulling out from the Falklands in 1998 the S61Ns headed for Argentina for a joint venture with local operator Helicopteros Marinos in support of an offshore drilling programme for Mobil. It was short lived though lasting approximately four weeks after which the two aircraft went their separate ways to Brazil and the Congo.


Sikorsky S61N G-BFMY awaiting its next task. Note Argentinean flag top left.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...argentina1.jpg



Another ex Falklands S61N, G-BFRI on the apron at Rio Grande.
These were the first British registered aircraft in Argentina since the Falklands War.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...argentina2.jpg



http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ntinagroup.jpg

Re the above photo for those who don't know, Dave Mallock passed away in July 2012 after a long battle with cancer.

Sorry to hear that....another one taken too soon!:(

I'm not convinced that it is David Mallock in that photo (although the hair & beard are similar). He left the Falklands early in 2001, to run Middle Wallop, which is some 7 years before the Argentina contract.

Lt. Cdr. D S Mallock RN
 

David was already at MW when I arrived there in 1997 to take over from Tony Marshall; I think DSM got there 1995-ish as he was very much involved with the DHFS bid process.

Just to put the record straight, it was only G-BFMY that went to Rio Grande, the picture of G-BFRI was taken at Mount Pleasant Airfield in the Falkland Islands. The bearded fellow in the photograph was an Argentine engineer called Oscar, and not David Mallock. Despite all appropriate diplomatic clearances apparently being in place, the aircraft was impounded for five days on arrival, it being the first commercial flight from the Falklands to Argentina since the 'conflict' in 1982. All the Argentines in the photograph had served in the military in 1982, but despite that were a very pleasant bunch of people to work with.

At the end of the contract MY was flown back to the Falklands, and shipped back to the UK with RI. Ferry tanks consisted of 45 gallon drums, and a hand pump to transfer the fuel to the centre tank - wouldn't be allowed these days I'm sure!

Australia
 

Australia.

Obviously Bristow Australia has moved on since all this was written. The Aircraft Illustrated article being 25 years old now!! So I'll post this in the present tense rather than altering the original. Too much of a pain to change it!

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...lia/westoz.jpg


A large and complicated group of operations which can best be covered in one lump. Most of the information on Australian operations came from a 1988 "Aircraft Illustrated" which my wife had saved! So thanks to her, thanks to the original writer, Tony Holmes, thanks to the aussies who contributed to the original article, Captains Jim Gumley, Steve Pearson, ops manager Wayne Sibley, Captain Max Woolf, Bill Wigley ( Woodside Heliport Supervisor) and engineers Eric Dibdin and Rory Crossland and of course "Aircraft Illustrated".

The company, Mayne-Bristow, was formed back in 1967 when Mayne Nickless Ltd of Australia joined forces with UK-based Bristow Helicopters. Most of the subsequent operations were operated from bases in the North-West, with its initial contract supporting the Woodside/ Burmah Oil drillship Investigator, being fulfilled by a single Wessex, VH-BHL ( G-AVEW ) crated out from Britain.

These pictures show Wessex G-AXPJ and G-BGER en-route to Australia.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...lia/ozwess.jpg

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...lia/ozwes2.jpg



Other types operated were Bells 205, 206, 212, 47, Sikorsky S61 and S76, plus A.S.330 Puma and A.S.332 Super Puma.


The S-61 was severly effected by the heat and its load was reduced by 150lb for every degree above 27C, so it was replaced by the Puma which loses no power up to 45C.
The Puma was operated as the fleet mainstay from 1979 with the first one being an ex North Sea Aircraft G-BFSV ( VH-BHO ). The fleet increased to five and at one stage was ferrying 1200 passengers a week between Karratha and offshore installations.

The picture shows Puma VH-WOF and Bell 212 VH-BEL.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a.../ozpuma212.jpg



The 212s were used for general utility work and back-ups for the Pumas. The Augusta-Bell 206s were used for geo-survey work and harbour master duties to name but a few.

Mayne-Bristow became established at Karratha Airport in 1973 when the first of two permanent hangers were built. As demands for its services grew, especially from Woodside, a third hanger was added in 1981.

The company operated from many varied locations such as Jandakot, Exmouth, Barrow Island, Derby, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Canarvon, Broome, Port Hedland, Wyndham and Darwin, these being within Australia plus a few exotic overseas places such as Kupang (Indonesia), Manila (Philipines), Miri ( Sarawak) and Anduka (Borneo).

Today (1988!) the company has changed in many ways, with the most noticable being that "Mayne" no longer appears on the aircraft. After it gave up its share in the company, Cranley Management bought in and now owns 51% of the company and Bristows 49%. The company is now known as Bristow Helicopters Australia Pty.Ltd. with its administration in Perth. It has been very successful in setting up consortium arrangements where oil companies share helicopter resources and this has led to the company winning the lion's share of recent contracts. As can be seen from the pictures below, Bristow Tigers and S-76s now fly the majority of the offshore missions.


Thanks to Mark Ogden for this pic courtesy of Helicopter World.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/ozhanger.jpg



Another contract won was a Department of Defence award for the provision of dedicated search and rescue helicopters using Bell 212s.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...alia/ozsar.jpg



This photo from Pete Cawthorne shows the Varanus Island base, NW Australia (not far from Barrow Island).

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...anusisland.jpg


Pete adds - Bristow formed an alliance supporting several companies. The 206L3 was based on Varanus, 3 x S76A+ and 2 x AS330J Pumas were based on Barrow Island, and 1 AS332L at Karratha, although the machines were moved around to fit the workload. 2 on, 2 off based in Perth. Brilliant fishing, diving etc. Some bloody big sharks though!
At first there was a B206, VH-BEK, s/n 274, which had followed me from Duri via Redhill! It later turned up in the next hangar to me when I was working in Queensland for a GA company!



And finally, below are some nice shots of ozzie aircraft plus a quote " The most important fact as far as we are concerned is that we are not just an overseas arm of Bristows UK. We are Australians, the crews are all Australian, the managerial staff are all Australian and the engineers are all Australian". circa 1988. Fair Dinkum! Whatever that means.

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ia/oztiger.jpg


http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ia/ozpuma2.jpg

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/212opera.jpg


http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ia/212yots.jpg


......and a few people pics.....

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...sandieozp1.jpg

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...sandieozp2.jpg


http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ia/djgroup.jpg

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...js61people.jpg

Thanks for the Argentina corrections Laundryboy.
Can't believe there are so many errors in that one and nobody picked them up before.
Cannot remember who sent me the original pics and info.
I guess the problem is a lot of the info is influenced by old age, blurred memories and alcohol.

"I guess the problem is a lot of the info is influenced by old age, blurred memories and alcohol."

But not necessarily in that order ;).