Do you get strapped?

Tim,

A pleasure – I’ll post tomorrow A.M. Not sure if you can see the serial on the Shack though!

Ashley,

Please do keep us updated, would love to see the complete footage! Are individual scene shoot dates on the originals? That might narrow down who’s flying!

Regards,
Frank

Where do we view this online Ashley?

Tim, there will very shortly be a version of Operation Grapple online (in the next few days I am told). This is the longer version of the Operation Grapple documentary, filmed by the COI for the Air Ministry. There is a shorter version filmed for the Atomic Weapons Establishment whicch duplicates many scenes. This should also be available in due course.

I can assure those of you with an interest in atomic weapons that there will be some excellent footage being made available, in the hopefully not too distant future.

Sorry, thread drift!

Bet there’s a few more tales waiting to be told as well

Great – I’ll PM you.

= Tim

Hello Tim,

I’m sure it won’t be quite so good or comprehensive as the material Ashley has been working on but you’re more than welcome to borrow my tape (of course, you’d need a VHS video player!). There’s approx 45 mins Grapple footage inc participant interviews plus sections on V Force & Blue Streak also.

Made, of course, with the (non – technically minded) general public in mind but a damn good watch nonetheless.

Regards,
Frank

Ah, that’l be 240 (Ballykelly) then!
Nice to see the 601 CoL R Aux crest there aswel

James – see below.

Ashley – would love to see it.

= Tim

There’s a super scene inside the cockpit of a Shack whilst on patrol with the drivers enjoying a nice cuppa – I wonder if she was yours?!

Regards,
Frank

I would also be interested in knowing the answer to this question, particularly as I recently catalogued the originals of this material.

Keeping posting Tim, your posts always make interesting reading 🙂

Great stuff 🙂 love reading your stuff Tim.

Fantastic stuff, so it wasn’t just Mustangs that you could bang your head in!
Which Shack squadrons did you serve with, I’m guessing 269 sqn was one of them?

Well, I for one am very glad you survived the mishap (and others!) to share your wonderful memories with us all. Did the Shack go on to fly another day too?

I’ve recently been watching declassified footage from Grapple and would agree, VERY spectacular! Just need to transfer my old VHS stuff to a newer technology now – think it was a channel 4 prog – “Britain’s’ cold war super weapons”

There’s a super scene inside the cockpit of a Shack whilst on patrol with the drivers enjoying a nice cuppa – I wonder if she was yours?!

Regards,
Frank

All? The first 3 – over Malden Is. That was our photo. The colour cine was spectacular.

Court Martial? Night flying with new pilot. Time to finish – no fool – seen it all before – go off for 10 mins – brew a cup of tea – re-enter circuit – 400 feet on approach – into full moon – on three – 3 GREENS checked – hold off – 3 feet, 2 feet , KEYRUNCH!! Negiligence? NO way!!

Thank God I always did a power off landing.

= Tim

Amazing photos Tim

Were you around for all of the Grapple shots? I can’t imagine how it felt to be so close to such deadly power although I would guess a mixture of sheer exhilaration, pride and foreboding amongst others…

Court martial?? Oh, do tell us more please!

Regards,
Frank

MF – !955-7 – 700 hours – only one Court Martial!! A couple of photos.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/RAF2/xmasis.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/RAF2/xmas4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/RAF2/shack-1.jpg (Me!!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/RAF2/shack-2.jpg

T – didn’t think to ask!! And No3, of course, was out of view, so no one would have a fit.

= Tim

:)Hi Tim Did anyone on the ground notice the shutting down of the Shacks engines or was it able to be passed off as part of the display?
10,000 rivets minus engines flying in close formation YIKES.:)

It’s no good – I can’t resist…. Self tanning legs??

How long were you on Shacks, Tim? Some of my earliest memories are of Shacks buzzing around Woodford – lovely old girls!

Regards,
Frank

Shorts – in India!!

Interesting maybe, but potentially, rapid trouser colour changing.

PS Failures? Actually, incorrect. Showing off Shackleton at Air Display – feathered Nos 1&2 nearest the crowd for low pass – No 3 cut.
Couldn’t count the pairs of hands that went for the switches!!!

Now that sound slike an interesting story!