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Tony Mabelis

8th Aug 2013 18:10

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

XONBOY

8th Aug 2013 22:16

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.

Tony Mabelis

9th Aug 2013 11:28

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

XONBOY

9th Aug 2013 12:08

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.

XONBOY

12th Aug 2013 14:52

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

XONBOY

12th Aug 2013 16:08

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

XONBOY

12th Aug 2013 16:10

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

bellboy

12th Aug 2013 16:54

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.

XONBOY

12th Aug 2013 17:24

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

XONBOY

13th Aug 2013 08:45

Riley Dove 5N-AGF in flight

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...ristowDove.jpg

Ainippe

13th Aug 2013 14:11

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!

XONBOY

13th Aug 2013 14:19

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 :))

DSquadron

14th Aug 2013 14:37

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.

Alan Biles

15th Aug 2013 12:52

Barry Mobberley

D Squadron Pete,

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

CharlieOneSix

15th Aug 2013 17:13

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!

DSquadron

19th Aug 2013 15:02

Thanks for that info chaps! good to know.

cheers.

Pete.

S61-S92

19th Aug 2013 20:31

Some Vintage Pics from a Vintage Pilot