The RAF during UDI

Uncle KeithMac, it’s true of course that the Rhodesians didn’t explicitly interfere with the oil lift during UDI … but do you happen to know if there’s any truth to the various stories that old Rhodies will tell you, when sufficiently in their cups, about how they really “got” to the RAF aircraft based in Zambia at the time? Among other things, they say that:

– Many of the RAF aircraft based in the region mysteriously acquired assegai painted across their RAF roundels (which, of course, transformed the RAF roundel into something remarkably like the RhAF nationality marking of the time);

– Other RAF aircraft carried unauthorised artwork that might have been interpreted as declaring covert support for Ian Smith’s regime; and that

– The RAF aircraft were usually provided a friendly escort, during their approaches to the airfield at Livingstone, of RhAF Hunters. (The old Rhodies claim that the turning circles of the RAF aircraft involved was such that they could not actually line-up on the runway at Livingstone without entering Rhodesian air space.)

Have you heard any of these stories, and / or can you corroborate any of them?

By the way, nice pic!

Regards,

Your nephew Snoopy

RE: Lysander spats … and a little ramble

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-03-02 AT 02:01 PM (GMT)]Thanks again, Ashley.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the IWM’s Lysander was a Canadian-built one — the (static) Lysander on display in the Indian Air Force Museum is also Canadian-built. The Canadians actually gave it to the IAF Museum in exchange for a B-24 Liberator, which the IAF gifted (in flying condition!) to the Canadians in 1968! The Lib at the RAF Museum in Cosford was gifted by the IAF to the UK at the same time; though the RAF Museum didn’t actually take delivery till a few years later — but that, as they say, is another story!

Regards,

Snoopy

(Now I really mus’ get back to work … and mine doesn’t involve polishing Spits, or collating aviation archives, worse luck!!)

RE: warbirds in Canada

Richb, since nobody else’s replied …

I’m not sure if it fits your “within a couple of hours drive of Montreal” criterion (I haven’t actually been there myself); but there’s the highly-respected Canada Aviation Museum at Rockville, just outside Ottawa — http://www.aviation.nmstc.ca for a link.

I will admit to a particular interest in their collection, as a couple of their warbirds are ex-Indian Air Force.

Hope this helps. Regards,

Snoopy

Anyone interested in a Lizzie story from SEAC?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-03-02 AT 02:31 PM (GMT)]With the fullest respect to what the Lysander achieved in Europe, anyone interested in a little Lizzie story from the theatre of the Forgotten Air Force?

During the early part of WW2 in Burma, No 1 Squadron of the Indian Air Force flew Lysanders (this being one of the few types available to them) in just about every role imaginable — they used them for Army co-op, transport support, tactical recce, and even as light bombers. While returning from one sortie K K “Jumbo” Majumdar (not sure of his rank at the time, but he made Wing Commander, DFC and Bar, later) spotted what he was convinced was a Japanese airstrip, hacked out of the jungle. He reported it to the Intelligence Officer on his return. The IO refused to believe it, so Jumbo invited him for a ride in the rear seat of his Lizzie, to see for himself. Once over the suspected airstrip again, Jumbo pointed it out to his passenger.

“Not sure that’s an airstrip,” the IO, in the manner of IOs everywhere, was still negative. “Don’t think it’s straight enough for an aircraft to land on.”

“Oh no?” Whereupon Jumbo pulled his Lizzie over, went down to zero feet agl, rolled his wheels along the suspected airstrip for a few seconds, and then pulled up again.

“OK, OK, you win — it’s an airstrip!!” the IO is said to have yelled.

Landing on an enemy airstrip must be a tribute to the Lizzie’s short field performance, at least — among other things!

Regards,

Snoopy

PS: Any particular reason why the IWM’s static Lysander, in Moggy’s opening picture, has undercarriage spats a bit different from the other aircraft?

RE: Hawker Hunter colour picture challenge.

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-03-02 AT 07:48 AM (GMT)]Scott:

Can you get hold of the Hawker Hunter issue of the Warpaint Series, published by Hall Parks Books Limited? They look to me like a great modellers’ source, crammed with pictures, in both colour and b&w.

The Hunter issue is No 8 in the series; and is by Alan W Hall. It seemed to me to have at least side-views (in colour) of virtually every scheme worn by Hunters in the RAF; and a reasonably good selection of the schemes worn by Hunters in other air forces. There are plenty of 3-views, 4-views and even 5-views, of some of the more prominent RAF schemes.

The address of Hall Park Books, from the back cover of my copy, is Church End Farm, School Lane, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire MK43 0UY. Sorry, no phone, fax or e-mail given! But these publications don’t seem all that hard to find (assuming you live in the UK) — I’ve seen them on most of my visits to the RAF Museum shop and the FAA Museum shop, and I think at the Aviation Bookshop on Holloway Road.

The ISSN (no idea if this helps, but it’s also given on the back cover) is 1363-0369.

Hope this helps. Regards,

Snoopy

PS: I noticed after first posting this that the Hunter issue includes a side-view of another aircraft of No 66 Squadron (which your example, XG 236, was with at the time of its loss), XF 462, said to have been flown by the squadron CO from Acklington in September 1958. Interesting squadron badge, with a coiled snake — did you see a badge on XG 236?

No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-03-02 AT 09:06 AM (GMT)]Nice pics, Philo. I’m something of a Dakota fan myself!

I was once (early-1980s) at a fly-past in India which was set up so that it looked as though it was going to be opened by a Dakota — the Dak was approaching at an altitude which you experts would probably consider slightly high for a flypast; so it could be seen approaching from quite a long way out. And then, timed very nicely indeed, bursting briefly past just as the Dak came abreast with the crowd, what should go thundering by at very low level indeed but a mean-looking Jaguar! We didn’t even hear the thing, until it was almost on top of us. Made quite a contrast; the Dak seemed to still be droning over us for quite a while after the Jag had disappeared.

Say, can anyone else remember and complete this (my memory ain’t perfect, as must be obvious, but …):

Douglas built this ship to last, but nobody expected
The Gooney Bird to fly and fly, no matter how they wrecked it.

… …

The Board debated all the facts, behind their great oak portal,
And then pronounced these simple words, “The Gooney Bird’s immortal!”
While nations fall, and jets retire, and jumbos come of age,
The Gooney Bird flies on and on, at 90 mph.

Finally, can anyone find and post pics of the South African Turbo-Daks — Dakotas which they use, I think, for Maritime Recce; re-engined with modern turbo-props?

Regards,

Snoopy

RE: Any Harts still flying?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-02-02 AT 06:47 AM (GMT)]Thanks, Steve. Shuttleworth’s Hind will do for starters … Sorry if these are dumb questions, but:

1: Sorry, didn’t recognise the acronym HAC — can you educate an ignorant foreigner on the full form?
2: Where are they located?
3: Do they receive casual visitors, or are they “appointments only”?
4: Do they have a website? (OK, OK; I can do the google search myself!)

Thanks anyway, and regards,

Snoopy

RE: Duxford American Air Museum Moves

Thanks Darren. I’m interested in visiting, when the Lib is ready to be shown, so the dates are useful from that point of view, as well as interesting from the point of view of demonstrating how much work goes into such a project.

Roll on, June … and hope the weather holds out, the next time I visit Duxford!

Snoopy