Greetings,
Lee Howard and myself are trying collate the history of Royal Navy Historic Flight (RNHF) as it has never been particularly well documented. As part of this research, we are trying to create a list of pilots who served on RNHF since its formation in 1972. As an aside we would also like to try and establish a list of who displayed or flew our aircraft between 1960, when Swordfish LS326 was given to the RN and the formation of RNHF in 1972, including those who may have flown our aircraft since then for other reasons such as test flights for example.
If you were a member of the Flight (aircrew or maintainer) or know somebody who was, we would be very interested to hear from you.
We would like to know the following information;
Name
Rank
Period served on RNHF
Types flown
Any good dits about your time on the Flight
Contact details if possible
There are 63 names so far and we are missing most of the above detail for a large number of them. We would like to fill in the gaps if possible and not leave anybody out. We are sure there are quite a few more than 63 and would like to complete the list by the time RNHF reaches 40 years of age in 2012.
We have already been to the FAA Museum and are in touch with both Pete Sheppard and John Beattie.
If you can help us with any of the information above we would love to hear from you. I can be contacted via PM or email me at RNHF_PILOT ‘at’ hotmail . com
Many thanks,
Simon Wilson
RNHF Pilot
Royal Navy Historic Flight
By: nazca_steve - 5th September 2014 at 00:56
Thanks Propstrike. I had run a thread over there too, I’ll give it a bump.
By: Propstrike - 4th September 2014 at 20:59
PPRuNe can be good for this stuff.
You may well have already tried there, but I mention just in case.
By: nazca_steve - 4th September 2014 at 18:48
Hi Simon,
That’s a shame. Since it’s been over year, I thought I’d check in to see if anyone has managed to track him down. A few years ago I had heard he was living in Italy, but actually that was more like 2007-2008 ish. If anyone is in contact with him I’d love to know.
Steve
By: RNHF_PILOT - 7th June 2013 at 21:25
RNHF_PILOT, were you ever able to track down Mike Broadwater? If so, please would you let me know, here or PM is fine, as I would very much like to get in touch with him.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Mike Broadwater was one of the few pilots we never managed to track down. He has proved to be very elusive which is frustrating as I have heard he still lives in the area not far from Yeovil.
By: nazca_steve - 6th June 2013 at 19:51
RNHF_PILOT, were you ever able to track down Mike Broadwater? If so, please would you let me know, here or PM is fine, as I would very much like to get in touch with him.
Steve
By: oscar duck - 6th February 2011 at 03:25
Dave Baddams [Australian] flew the Sea Hawk and Swordfish…
Dave now lives back in Oz in Tamworth..
By: RNHF_PILOT - 5th February 2011 at 18:03
Thank you to everyone who has helped me so far with this project, I really appreciate it. I now have 88 names on the list and have managed to contact quite a few of our past aircrew and heard a few cracking dits from them in the process. There are a few I have not managed to get any details for, or been able to trace. Does anybody have contact details or know the whereabouts of the following aircrew?
From RNHF:
Paul Bootherstone
Mike Broadwater
Peter Burgess
TC Evans
John Lamb
Ken Lamprey
Ned Stone
Tony White
The following aircrew flew the Swordfish prior to formation of RNHF in 1972.
Bob Evans
Mike Rudorf
Geoff Shaw
EJ Trounson
Please PM me if you have any details requested.
Many thanks.
Simon.
By: RNHF_PILOT - 29th December 2010 at 17:36
I have been in touch with Richard Wren recently regarding my list. I am hoping to hear from him in the New Year with more detail about his time with RNHF.
By: trumper - 28th December 2010 at 18:52
When i was in the aircadets i would guess 1977-78 ish i got the autograph of the swordfish pilot,his name was Richard Wrenn.
In the same autograph book was Douglas Bader and Cocky Dundas.:)
By: RNHF_PILOT - 28th December 2010 at 16:28
Many thanks to all those who replied so far. I now have 78 names on the list, keep them coming.
Simon
By: bleeming - 19th December 2010 at 02:01
Swordfish flights.
I was a LAM A/E at Heron from 1961-1963 serving with 700Y, 892 ( twice ) and 899 Sqns ( excluding sea time with 892 ). Whilst with 700Y I flew in the Hunter T7 with Lt/Cdr. Mike Mc Cook-Weir. Also flew in the Swordfish during this time, flying from Yeovilton to Portland, to participate in Portland Navy Days. Once in the centre cockpit, and once in the rear cockpit. Great low level flying, simulating torpedo runs and machine gunning the crowds there. 😀 I can’t remember the Commander’s name who flew it, but, surly his name would appear in the A700 for this period ? If the A700 is original ? Happy days. 🙂 Glad to hear the A/C is still flying 🙂 I retired in 2000 as a LAME Supervisor on 747’s here on OZ.
By: RNHF_PILOT - 18th December 2010 at 12:15
JDK, The list is starting to come along nicely. I have 67 names that span the history of the Flight and even some that pre-date it in the 1960-72 period, when the aircraft were operated by Heron Flight.
If any of you have any other recollections about past displays I’d love to hear them.
Simon
By: JDK - 17th December 2010 at 11:17
A great initiative, and sadly an area often overlooked; that of the people and times keeping these great aircraft in front of the public. The RNHF was a stalwart of the 1980s UK show scene, and it would be great to document all those who made that – before and after too – possible.
Good luck!
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December 17, 2010 at 10:51 am