p01: why couldn’t we buy the Hercules in 1959. Truly money, per JB. Until 1958 access to $ was severely constrained (UK citizens were not given freedom to buy any amount of $ until 1979!) Each BOAC order had to be demonstrated as self-financing (Bring Over American Currency). 1949-54 UK enjoyed MDAP/MSP (Sabres, Neptunes &tc, &tc), but after that we needed cash $. FAA did persuade Treasury that Sidewinder was cheaper/better than Firestreak in salty air…else, hard now to recall any US kit in UK Forces, bought 1955-64 (Sioux came via Agusta). RAF tried hard for C-130E, not AW.660, RR/Bristol scheming licenced Tyne/T.222. Treasury wanted £-purchases; MoA’s job was industry sponsorship; HSAL had initiated AW.650 in 1958 without Launch Aid and such enterprise was laudable. Early-1959 MoA/A.M faced a fate worse than death: the NBMR Transport that became Nord/VFW C.160 Transall. Even no load wheelbarrow was better than a EuroCamel, so we said we could not wait, as Beverley was ludicrous, Hastings decrepit.

In 1964 RN persuaded (Tory) Ministers that Strike carriers could only operate Spey/F-4 (J79 assessed as too slow in the bolter case), 52 ordered for cash on an East of Suez, Trade Protection ticket, 27/2/64. (Labour) Ministers presented in December,1964 that UK could not additionally fund renewal of MEAF/FEAF; US wanted UK there (Vietnam would have been even better), so LBJ offered a fixed price/credit package: enter 66 C-130K and >40 years of joy unconfined.