LesBLooks bloody stupid. That first shot looks like a discarded collection of plastic kits dumped in some old shed.
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LesBWould anyone be able to identify the colours of the Mosquito in the attached photo.
This Mossie was all-over red. Pic was taken on the Cocos Islands when it staged through during (or before) the race I think. It went missing and had crashed off the coast of Burma.
Not sure about the ‘Eddie Coats’ bit on your pic. The pic below was taken by an RAF rigger who was out there on the island for the transiting Canberras. Pic is almost exactly the same as the one you show. Also, I’ve posted the page from Brian Cook’s photo album as support info. I doubt that Brian has sold his albums either as he’s dead proud of being part of the event.
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LesBI was definitely born about 20 years too late!
No you weren’t.
At that time life in the RAF wasn’t what it seems through the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia and history. The ethos that is now generally held to have prevailed – at times by myself as well – was not in evidence in those days. Flying or maintaining the various aircraft types we had back then was tough. Not a macho ‘tough’ but an energy sapping, unrecognised, un-remarked and back-breaking ‘tough’. Out on an airfield at 04:30 with the driving snow coming at you horizontally, ice everywhere and you’re trying to get some recalcitrant bit of kit or system to work properly and your fingers, hands and whole body is freezing and numb . . . I would guess that just about any ex-RAF bloke you ask about those time in the 60s will tell you much the same thing and relate stories of privations that would curl your toes. As with the blokes in WWII, the whole thing only becomes ‘great’ long after it is over and nostalgia sets in.
No, be thankful that you live in a time when the ‘overall’ effect is now considered ‘romantic’.
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LesBDavid
Isn’t it about time you stoped your badgering? Rob is a volunteer at MAM and as such has no responsibility for MAM policy or decisions. And your thinly veiled threat about the RAFM is risable (although I see you’ve retracted on that now).
Rob is one of those rare people who actively help at museums. It is fortunate that he is enthused by the work he carries out at MAM and is sharing that enthusiasm with us on the forum, don’t rain on his parade. There is no call to keep attacking him the way you do over what is, in my opinion, essentially trivia.
The ultimate judgements come from the paying visitor. I’ve been there when older blokes (with wide-eyed grandkids in attendance) have commented on the airframes at MAM (including the NF.14). Comments that they look just like they did when they were “in”, and that the exhibits brought back memories of their time in the RAF!. Visitors will see a 64 Sqn aircraft in 64 Sqn markings and that’s what will stand out in their minds, (especially those who were on 64 Sqn).
As you are so obviously exercised by this NF.14 situation, suggest you contact MAM directly, if you haven’t done so already, and air your discontent. Maybe they would allow you to sponsor a re-paint.
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LesBCould you resend, maybe to: [email]roy@flightlab.liv.ac.uk[/email]??
Mail with images dispatched at 17:30. Let me know if you get it or not.
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LesBIn respect of the Canberra
During the 90s RAF Wyton became the final resting place of many types of Canberras that had been Struck Off Charge. This small selection illustrates the way many of these were gradually broken up and scrapped. The images were taken (separately) by Alan Barley and Paul Crawley and later sent to me for use on my Canberra Tribute web site. (Serials available for those who want them.)
I once wandered amongst these airframes on the revetts at Wyton when they were there. Wandered in a reflective mood with memories of times past flooding my mind. Memories of when Canberras were everywhere – and I was younger, fitter, . . .
Sad? Yes, but not overly emotional. The Canberra has served its time with the RAF and served well – but all things come to an end. After 55 years in service the Canberra will be remembered fondly by those who flew it and those who kept it flying. But it will also be remembered as an unforgiving beast that could hurt or kill you in a blink of an eye.
However, as with the Hunter, Brittania, Lightning, Buccaneer, Phant, Vulcan, Victor and many other now defunct airframes, the Canberra had its day making the RAF a top force in the world. I’m glad I was part of that Air Force.
Don’t cry for the Canberra, just remember it as it was in its heyday with 62 sqns of them in the RAF alone.
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LesBI recall your helpful PM which told me what it said, but that PM doesn’t exist now 🙁 You sent a pic?? where to?!? I’ve not received anything.
PM said this . . .
[INDENT]Roy
Did you receive the e-mail I sent you yesterday?
The legend on the red cover is . . .
Hope this clears it up for you.
Les
[/INDENT]
Pic was sent to the e-mail address from your website. No bounce so I assumed you’d received it.
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LesB2. On the right console is an oblongish red warning covering three lights. What does it say??
I sent you a specially taken photo of this warning cover some weeks back, also sent you a PM. But you didn’t reply. :confused:
There are several in-cockpit shots of MAM’s Sea Hawk in a previous thread, use ‘Search’. :confused:
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LesBNow I’m just wondering if there is a way to try and trace which airframe the panel is from….
Not really. These panels were general spares and not specific to one aircraft, although the actual act of fitting to an aircraft may make a panel unique. Only way I can think of is if the sqn or unit themselves identified the panel (as with ‘CU’ in the pic above – and that’s probably there to remind the pilot of which aircraft he’s currently flying! :rolleyes: ).
Other methods of id are related more to populated panels and that includes those that come out of scrapped aircraft. Occasionally a sqn or unit will mark an aircraft serial on one or more of the instruments (on the body of inst, usually in white paint or a label left attached somewhere). This is to ensure that that instrument, after separate servicing in a bay, is returned to the specific aircraft. And this could be because the specific aircraft’s panel has been ‘adjusted’ to mount that instrument. Not all instruments, guages and corresponding panels were as ‘interchangeable’ as everybody likes to believe, some measure of adjustment for fit could be expected – usually with a half-round file. :rolleyes:
All this is not to say you wouldn’t be able to id your panel, but with no ‘clocks’ it seems unlikely. Never mind, lot of fun can be had researching Canberra pilot’s panels and searching out suitable instruments. You might like to try talking with the International Cockpit Club, there’s a wealth of knowledge with those blokes on sourcing, fits and layouts for paneleers. Or checking with a museum that owns a TT.18 for pix of their panel, etc. Good luck.
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LesBDavej’s correct there, the populated panel would seem to be from WJ682.
However Cliffair, I wouldn’t agonise over yours being a FARADU or RAF TT.18 as the panel you have is the main pilot’s panel and these were essentially* the same in all B.2 and PR.3 derived Canberras (as were the TT.18s). The Target Tug instrumentation was usually on a separate binnacle on the stbd side of the cockpit.
* I say ‘essentially’ because of mod state and year. No two Canberras were ever really the same in their cockpits or nav stations, especially nav stations. Similar yes, but the same? Rare.
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LesBLesb can no doubt fill in the rest of the history.
You’ve pretty much covered the highlights, maybe David Burke can fill in non-service detail. In fact it would be good to know about this Can’s disposition.
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LesBDidn’t seem to me to be any ‘mood’, and my hearing aid was switched on all afternoon. Tad hot maybe, but good crowd as usual for Newark’s 7th.
For me the absence any towable Canberras was a disappointment although I can understand why after listening about transport costs these days (and insurance).
In my view, ‘pit of the show just had to be the Spitfire. That’s going to be a very tasty exhibit when a bit further down the restoration road. Interesting to speculate – ‘what if’ the owner got together with that bloke that has the runnable Merlin on a trolley?
Best presented was Tony Collins’ Sea Vixen, XN651. Even had a retractable nose wheel! Tony does outstanding work and he always turns up with well presented kit.
The forum’s MarkG had his Hunter there. That’s beginning to show the effort he’s put into it too. He showed his well turned out Hunter panel as well with a its very clean looking gunsight. Sorry about your trailer probs Mark but that guy standing around in a flying suit next to your exhibit didn’t seem to be helping much. Never saw him move all afternoon! :rolleyes:
And Simon Pulford says he’s going to have his Tornado Trainer there next year, his F-4 simulator was, as always, open and very accessible.
Boscombe’s Jag. Now there’s a nice cockpit. Mind you, the noise plays merry h*ll with your hearing aid when they open and close the refuelling probe
Lots more to mention but didn’t get all the names – Jet Provost, Harrier (or was it an AV-8?), and more. Several ‘panels’, best was the Anson panel I thought.
Most dangerous thing there was Delta. Really huge interdictor from the Raptor Foundation, gave you a look that said “You can run but you can’t hide!” Pic taken from a safe distance with the tele of course. 😉
Here’s a few to add to John’s few.
LesBHowever, I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
Thanks for the back-up and stories fatnav, good to hear your cranberrie tales, there are thousands of them out there still untold.
Your tale of the icing inside your little den brought back a memory. Could be that’s why a certain nav came through Gan from the far with a ‘Singpore Dollar Special’ brolly raised in his little cubby hole. He said he was re-stowing it when it auto-deployed and he couldn’t get it furled again. (As these dollar brollys were prone to do – I’m sure you remember them . . and the smell from them after they got wet! :rolleyes: )
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LesBNot a problem they’ve got seven others left.
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LesBWasn’t it hot under that canopy on Friday and that was just for 5 minutes, god knows what i must be like suited and booted and being in there for a few hours :p Gasp!
The Canberra in the tropics can be a killer in that regard. Sunshields (of various types) were used on the ground but the cockpits could get temps of up to 150F when sitting in the tropical sun. If we had them we used cold air blowers to keep the inside temps down around 70-80f but there really was no relief.
It was bad enough for the ground crew working, as we did, in shorts and sunhat and burning bits of leg or arm or chest on the metal surfaces when servicing the things, but for the crews it was even worse. Within seconds of strapping in a pilot and nav would be bathed in sweat under their flying suits. Recall one pilot who returned early with spots of blood showing on the armpits and groin of his suit. His perspiration had frozen at altitude and cut him like hundreds of little knives when he moved. Piloting a jet! Not an easy job.
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