Michael Thrift ,engine mech 249 squadron Akrotiri and El Adem !954-58. Passed away after hip replacement surgery .artysand -- Edited by artysand at 07:57, 2006-07-04
My name is Susan nee Muller, just to find people that worked with my Dad Chief Technician Ken Muller(people referred to him as Tex Muller. He was based at RAF Lyhnam early 60's then we went to Waddington. We were posted to Changi Air Force Base/ Singapore. We were there until 71. We were then sent to Bices...
What year was the beret introduced and did Chiefies have to go on a course to show how alien they looked when they wore theirs for the first time? What year did the 'chip bag' go out of service? When did the monthly pay checques start and pay parades became old hat? When did blokes start getting paid extra i...
Anyone fancy giving this a crack , full details are on the "HELP FOR HERO'S" web site I do'nt know how to make it clickable on here so any help please. I do'nt mind doing the sorting out if anyone fancys a go , the last day in London should be something.
See with the publication of new evidence & a book that it is almost certain he was murdered, (never did think it was suicide !) , to many conflicting arguments as to the knife, tablets, amount of blood etc, more things to ponder, B Rgds, Paul H.
Part I of this link doesn't appear to work but the Board of Inquiry report can be read on the pdf docu here http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070305105815/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/BoardsOfInquiry/BoardOfInquiryIntoTheAc...
I'm trying to get some information on a crash of a Neptune aircraft of 217 Squadron on the 14th October 1955 off the north west of Scotland. I have copies of the front page of the Scottish Daily Express reporting the event. I wanted to view any Air Accident Reports but have not been able to crack the Air Min...
Laurie Your post hasn't appeared, I'm attempting to merge two topics to see if they show up plus my own three test transmissions ps It is working now, I have deleted my own TT -- Edited by JohnC at 08:12, 2008-11-01
At the moment, the threads which cover the passing of RAF Forum members are spread over several different areas. After consulting John, we have decided to have one central thread where all such messages can be posted.I will transfer all the recent threads across here now. If anyone remembers othe...
This was the day President Kennedy was shot dead I had been at El Adem about a month when this event happened, I distinctly remember 'Dixie' Dean bursting into Learoyd Block at about 1830hrs local time to tell us the news. No TV there of course in those days but straight away we were tuned into BFBS Where w...
looks like this is the way forward, aircraft already take off from the States and fly to 'Stan and back without pilots usually very effectively, here is a new breed too http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2fd_1173442633&o=1
John Lomas was a close friend for many years and we were both air radar boy entrants together and after pass out spent several years posting to RAF Waterbeach and then met again in RAF Changi/Tenga Singapore and RAF Kai Tak Hong Kong. After demob we lost touch when I moved to Australia and Johnny mov...
Just in case you don't know this, you can search any site with Google using the 'site: command' For example, if you wanted to find all references to Hurricanes on this site you can try 'Hurricane site:rafforum.activeboard.com' It is useful for sites that don't have a built in search facility
Did any of you guys ever work with or near these cables, they are often used as a nautical term for the mooring of a ship, but I recall on 205/209 Squadron Sunderlands at Seletar that the AEC Matador truck would pull the Sunderland Flying Boat tail first out of the water. When the cable was taut no one was pe...
Hi, How many Erks & Officers were posted to RAF Changi betweeen 1946 and 1971?
I was there from March 1961 to November 1962. Oh yes, I was a common National Serviceman, but it was the best time of my life. So much so that I helped to found "RAF Changi Association (Incl....
Just looking through our members list briefly today we have members that were/worked for the: Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Sri Lankan Air Force Indian Air Force (Today a new member) Royal Malaysian Air Force United States Air Force Royal Saudi Air Force (A civi...
Regarding communication between the Ministry of Defence, The Royal Air Force and myself, John Cooper, over the loss of Hastings TG579 of 48 Squadron one and a half miles off the former Royal Air Force base at Gan in the Maldives I have had a considerable amount of correspondence with the MoD/RAF over...
Love em or hate em. You must admit that they are phenominal machines. They can take off and land vertically. They can fly forwards, backwards and sidewards. They can hover in one spot and drop people and cargo in this manner. They cancarry bombs, machine guns, cannons and rockets as well as passengers...
681835 Gary (John) Cooper, Aircraft Engine Fitter departed RAF El Adem on 19th August 1965 and posted to Aircraft Servicing Flight Varsities, DH125 Dominies and Meteor NF14's RAF Stradishall No 1 Air Navigation School -- Edited by Admin at 21:57, 2007-01-13
681835 Gary (John) Cooper, Aircraft Engine Mechanic departed RAF Weeton on 6th February 1963 and arrived at ASF & 201 Squadron RAF St Mawgan on 7th February 1963. Departed RAF St Mawgan on 16th October 1963 and posted to Transit Aircraft Servicing Section RAF El Adem -- Edited by Admin at 21:53, 2...
State what Entry number you were in and what station eg 24th Entry Cosford or 24th Entry St Athan Please inform your own Boy Entrant Secretaries that we have started this forum here http://RAFForum.activeboard.com/ and it is Administered by John Cooper Some of the Boy Entrants that frequent this fo...
I'm a family historian and am reasearching a relative of mine, Flt/Lt Alan Francis Pavey who was a WW2 fighter pilot flying Mustangs with 122 Sqdn. I have looked at some of his combat reports (from the National Archives) and in the last report he filed (he never signed it as he was posted missing the foll...
I am making this subject public [ie not on the private section of the forum] in order that a wider audience might pick up on this topic Over the last 13 years I have had much communication with the MoD, & separately the RAF sporadically, and where I have found some departments helpful, I have found ot...
I visited the Australian War Museum, Canberra today and took a few shots which I think may be of general interest to board members. These are just a few historical Aviation photo's which are but a few of the fantastic displays here at the Museum. THis is the Lancaster Bomber 'G' for George which compl...
Where are you guys? Anyone recall Cliff Furnival on Grapple 1958, came from Stoke on Trent, he was with me at Wattisham, nice bloke, one of the 'Air' trades
Over the years I have been in touch with a few of the guys that were based here, including one pax on a Hastings who flew on the Hastings that was carr...
Too Tired for Take off ... From:Globe and Mail 20th Nov 2009 (images Globe and Mail) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/too-tired-for-takeoff/article1370571/ Amid international push for new aviation standards, critics say Canada not doing enough to keep tired pilots out of t...
Lots of speculation regarding the Defence Spending Review due next week The red hot favourite for the chop is the Harrier Force and Wittering with Marham taking some of the Flak. As for the Scottish Bases read here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11558112 But I guess Leuchars will be sav...
Fire Extinguishers
Generator Sets, Houchens etc
Trolley Accumulators
Gas, Air, Nitrogen bottles and trollies
Chocks
Tractors
Ladders, including step and giraffe
A Frames
Ice Box
So there must be some stories regarding these!
Did you serve or live in Suffolk? Then have a look and comment on my new site here http://Suffolk.activeboard.com/ I still have some final adjustments to make so please bear with me. I have notified GOOGLE of the sites existence but this will take three months or so before they go live on their sear...
This is not a who 'was best thread' but perhaps we could discuss the finer merits of both Air Forces and equipment, obviouslt the Luftwaffe had an advantage on its fighting/bombing capabilities in Spain during the 1930's. No doubt that German and British engineering was pretty much on a par with each...
This will make you stand by yer beds! Thumbs down the seams of the trousers, RAF Ensign, RAF Band, The Queen and the 1953 review at Odiham. If you don't like this one but want to watch something else just type the topic in the British Pathe Box http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=31078
Obviously not a RAF aircraft but one that carried freight for the RAF, I thought I would keep this subject here out of a few prying eyes as the subject is still taboo to talk about too much as a fellow forumite will testify! This has just been posted on another of my websites and I thought I would transfer it...
My father was in the R.A.F as a regular [FitterIIE] and was stationed at RAF South Cerney 1939-41, he was then posted to an Empire Flying School in South Africa where he spent nearly three years there [he loved the place] He came back to RAF North Luffenham and then was detached to Tarrant Rushton, his ro...
To be honest I never worked under anyone who I really hated, but others might have. Tell us about them here. (To JohnC: if there are no replies to this soon you can delete this thread)
I have just dug out my discharge papers (RAF for 856B) mainly to get my NI number which is the only record I have. This is for OAP reasons. Not having looked at it carefully before, I notice that it contains the error that I passed RAF Education tests 1 & 2 on the 1st Oct 1972 while I actually passed thos...
For UK ex service personnel living in New Zealand and Australia .Is it possible for them to join orginisations and to be able to claim any benefits in these countries especially if they have taken out citizenship.
I have never seen a UFO, but keep an open mind on the subject. I have lived in the Ipswich area since1967 and one very hot summers night (mid 70's) there was a terrific roar from the outside of the house as if a jet aircraft had selected an afterburner or two, but being ex RAF and having worked with fas...
Cecil asked a question overnight about mercaptobenzothiazole {MABT??], I recall this name but for the life of me can't recall what it was used for, anyone know..... .............which leads on to what else were we exposed to, please explain the toxicity and what these things were used in and for......
Hi, I was an RAF Police NCO from 1990 to 1998, thoroughly enjoyed my time and made lots of good friends, met some smashing people (and some knob heads too) Say Hi if you know me!
I know members of the forum have been 'tanked' up' when in flight from aircraft to aircraft, I had often wondered whether it was possible to inflight refuel a helicopter as I seem to recall the USAF Jolly Green Giants having a probe. It wasn't until today that I have seen a picture of this which must take a...
What are we expecting to happen, more countries joining the Arab Spring or showing the Bulldog Spirit against the Iranians http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22333555
Can someone tell me if it is normal practice for mid air refuelling with helicopters. I have seen pitures of it taking place but it seems a very dangerous practice for obvious reasons and ive concluded that it would only take place in an emergency.
Can anyone tell me who was the first man to break the so-called sound barrier in an aeroplane, and please don't say Yeager because he did it in a rocket which did not take off under it's own power, which an aeroplane must be able to do.
I have had Veronica Pearce just on re a Beverley Crash from 1957, I will let Vee explain the circumstances of this accident whilst I go searching for some files. If anyone knows anything about this incident to XH117 please write it here Some details from my other forum here http://www.voy.com/13099...
May be of general interest http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/Primary-Materials/World-War-One-1914-to-1918/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Primary%20Materials/World%20War%20One%201914-1918/Training%20Materials/Training%20Manual%20Royal%20Flying%20Corps%2...
Interesting piece on Radio today http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8920000/8920031.stm He was CO here at MH with 242 SQD I have changed the title of the threadJohnC~Admin-- Edited by Admin on Sunday 23rd of September 2012 12:07:54 PM
Hi New member here, Allan. Joined the RAf in 1977 as a L Fitt ST (later L Tech St and then Eng Tech ST). ex-DST 10 and also ex-RAF now too Stations: Swinderby > Locking > Wittering > Wildenrath > St Mawgan > Conningsby Sims: Harrier GR3 + Nimrod FMS + Nimrod MCT + Tornado F3 + Tornado TAIT + A...
I could write screeds on this subject but there MUST be others that were there. Did you know that these bombs were flown in by Hastings? One of the Hastings had 4 passengers on board with a Group Captain checking the cargo with a geiger counter frequently, boy I'll bet that was reassuring!
I joined at fifteen and a half as a Boy Entrant, Air Radar, at RAF Cosford in June 1959. I had really wanted to be Air Wirless as I had always been fascinated by wireless, but I imaged that Radar was more difficult, so applied for that thinking I wouldn't get it and they would select me for wireless. As it ha...
Living very close to Melay, the scene of Flight Lt. John Bridgers Lysander landing with, inter alia, Jean Moulin on board 19-20 March 1943, I was intrigued by Hugh Verity's excellent book We Landed By Moonlight. In commemoration of the event, I added the Lysander (1:36) to models I have designed, o...
Albert George HILLR.A.F. A.C.1 Service Number: 924659 I wonder if someone can help with my father Bert’s wartime service with the RAF.  He was born in Southwark, London on 4th December 1919. I do not know when he enlisted with the RAF or where he was stationed, other than that between 1942...
My father, Squadron-Leader W J (Joe) Hurst, was CO of 1325 Flight at Christmas Island late 56-late 57. He is nearly 87 but still alive and would answer any questions I am sure. He took wonderful cine films of the island and all the trips therefrom, eg Honolulu, Samoa and Fiji.He flew the bigwigs around...
This aircraft of 48 squadron Changi LANDED in the sea by pilot error on 1st March 1960 in extreme tropical weather conditions. It hit the sea 1.5 nautical miles short of the Gan runway threshold, the RAF chose to keep this accident SECRET under the then 40 year rule reduced to 30 years on January 1st 199...
..............and their details I'll start the ball rolling with a Canberra PR7 WH799 of 58 Sqn on 6th Nov 1956 when a Syrian MiG downed said aircraft during the Suez crisis, sadly the Observer lost his life
Would like to know if anyone can tell me where accident reports from WWII might be kept for the Mitchells used by the RAF during WWII and if they are availble for viewing. Also would like to know if photos of the accidents are kept in the files or elsewhere. Thanks.
Hi there everyone,. I served at Mildenhall, Changi,Cottesmore,Bawtry,Gan,Fylindales,Gan,Bawtry. Sometimes known as Chapatoni - it's a long story! Happy too hook up with anyone who knew me in the RAF.
Take a look around the www sites and post your aviation interest videos ....Lancaster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O704aSn7UhI&feature=fvsr How to Fly a Lancaster Bomber http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX6GIrbBoLA&feature=related
Hi Everyone I am new here , I am ex 16th entry Ground Elect. I was a Q.Syn ( H ) on flight simulators for 10 wonderful years at Chivenor , left the service in 1977 , often wondered what happened to the trade , seems a lot of good guys were made redundant .
Were you ex Brat or Boy Entrant?
I know that several registered with this site are, if so put your name/station/entry number/trade down and if there are enough takers I will put them in some sort of order
Served in Nato Comcen Northwood, the Borneo, back to the MOD and then out to Aden. Came back to Manston. Posted to Cottesmore on promotion, and then served in HQAFCENT the Netherlands. Got married to a Dutch lady, still married 44 years in total. Posted back to Mountbatten on ASR vessels, posted to TCW...
OK, OK I might be treading on toes here, I paid for about 10 years into this 'fund' a tanner a week where did that money go? Any beneficiaries that you know of. I mean when an airman 'bought it' what was paid out to Next of Kin, who kept the money, PDU Innsworth??
It was a 'voluntary' payment and I think some...
I am going through old photos and trying to build a picture of the experiences my father and my wife's father had when on the invasion force to Japan in 1945. Of course with the bomb dropping in August 1945 neither actually invaded. My father went to Hong Kong and my wife's father to Japan where he ended up...
Did any of you serve on these or even service/guard the missiles. I'm referring to the type such as Thor, Rapier, Bloodhound, Cruise etc........... Shortly after I left Wattisham, Bloodhounds were installed, I also recall these at Bawdsey and Woolfox Lodge on the A1, Mepal with its Thor missiles t...
I had two married quarters whilst serving and I recall the inspections carried out pre occupancy with the MQ Officer and the ones post occupancy. In one pre occupancy inspection I luckily found that the previous occupant had damaged the old fashioned white porcelian kitchen sink by knocking out a b...
Because the list of BE's is getting rather long it has been decided to split these, so this section is for BE's at Saints only pleaseBrian Fenlon will update the new list ASAP26th St Athan Russell Brockbank russellbrockbank Engines 16/09/200826th Barry Potter/26th Wizard Air Electrician 05/02/1...
I have had this enquiry come in can anyone help Extract from obituary "Major R. Lewis was killed when the Twin Pioneer aeroplane in which he was flying from Mirfa to Burami in the Trucial Oman, crashed at Buhafaffa on the 18th April, 1963. He was returning from inspecting a detachment of his Squa...
If any former 22nd entry telegraphist out there have memories or photo's of our time at raf cosford - June 1954 to December 1955 would they please share them with me by e-mail. Many thanks, Jim Hall
I am enquiring about the circumstances etc regarding the fatal crash of RAF Valetta VW832 that crashed near Aqaba (Jordan) on 17 April 1957. 27 personnell died when the port wing separated from the main body...it is believed the a/c was taking troops from Iraq back to the UK. The enquirer is a cousin o...
