Elmdon Airshow ,Birmingham Circa 1954.

Hi last Lightning,
As a young lad of 12 or so, back in 1953-4 at an Airshow at Elmdon Airport, Birmingham, I clearly remember seeing a whole Squadron of Naval Seafires,doing a stream take -Off with JATO Rockets lit-up. Very Impressive, I always thought the rockets were mounted under wing, but time and memory plays tricks on you, as the pic. clearly shows.
Also (Slightly off thread) at that Air Show a Buckers Youngman Biplane was parked right in front of the chainmail fence were we stood and this small chap in white overalls and cloth hat strolled over ,looked around, climbed in and started up. He then gave it full throttle and headed directly away from us across the grass,about 50 yds. he lifted off, went inverted at about 12 feet and proceeded to do a lap of the airfield like that before his Aeros routine. He was a magician !!! His Name was Count ??? (Stowkoskl ??? )
never seen him since. Reckon we witnessed something very special that day and to this I don’t really know who he was.

Bill T.

Victor Mk.2 and Blue Steel Weapons.

Just to give an answer to :- NEVH and Pagan01’s mentions of difficulties loading a Blue Steel Missile into the bomb bay of a Victor 2. I was a young RAF Airframes man out in Adelaide ,Aussie at Edinburgh Field 1962-5 working on Victor XL-161 at 4 Joint Services Trials Unit. We loaded some 20+ ( I was involved with ) Blue Steel Missiles onto XL-161 for live firings on the Woomera range, these all left Aircraft OK, but only half a dozen actually did what they were supposed to.

The actual loadings comprised of Aircraft and Blue Steel teams sliding the Missile in from the left side of Bomb bay to underneath and then winch up into position and connect up,etc. The Blue Steel sat on a very low purpose built trolley, which acheived this easily. The Victor sat on concrete pan, (Not nose jacked or anything else) and the Blue Steel top fin was folded down to give bomb bay clearance at back end. XL-161 had a modified Bomb Bay in respect of the side panels could be removed to allow Missile to slide into position and then all replaced once winched up. The actual loading process itself was quite quick, the Missile would be in and up into position in about 20 mins. but connections, tests, wrap ups and loading fuels taking longer.
(Remember we are talking about High test Peroxide and Kerosene–a lethal mix )

Also XL-161 was always re-fuelled itself to amount reqd. for flight before she was moved down to Loading Bay. Loading bay was a hawser ring fenced std. concrete pan at bottom end of Edinburgh Field to keep this lot away from personnel in case of the worst scenario, that of explosion of B.S. Fuels. So 161 would be sitting at her lowest positions, every time Blue Steel was loaded and I do not remember us having any difficulties with that.

I never made it back onto the Victor Blue Steel RAF Squadrons,once left Aussie, as Blue Steel was already “Dead” politically, so I don’t know what procedures the RAF used for loading Blue Steels onto Victor 2’s. So anyone able to tell me? I do know that Our 4 J.S.T.U. procedures, if adopted by RAF would have served the purpose fine.

And few more notes:- XL-161 was all white. And she was the only Victor to spin and survive with a Blue Steel on board (July 1962–Just before I arrived in Aussie ) Although Blue Steel was jettisoned. (Well you would wouldn’t you). After that there were big wrinkles on top inboard wing skins of 161 (Over intakes) that were Red Line Entries to be cleared each day of flight, which I did many times. And yes, the Victor did twist a lot with different fuel states and loads, and getting those back hatch fasteners tightened was murder when Bomber was loaded with Aircrew kit and “Pressies” for away visits. (As Mad Jock mentions ) So yes, the Victor wouldn’t have lasted long in Low level role, but she was a nice aircraft to have known. XL-161 had working nose “flaps”, the Hydraulic Systems stop Cocks placed in Bomb Bay for isolating systems on fault finding were great thinking by design teams.

Shame that Victor XL-161 was scrapped at Lyneham in 1996, of all the Victors, she should have been retained. I last saw her in late 1980’s out in Oman, Thumrait and said my goodbyes then.

Thanks for raising this interesting thread.

Bill T

Thanks for posting Road racer !!

Very poignant Richie, thanks for posting.

His newspaper article is so typical of this passing generation, I was really privileged to meet up and have a cup of tea and long chat with Dennis Teare 2 weeks ago. ( Author of “Evader” Book ). Dennis is 89 yrs. old now and life doesn’t get easier with age. He did enjoy reminiscing though.

So few folks out there today put any value on these men and their acheivements so that we could be here today, Road Racers postings are a good tribute and reminder to us to talk to these Icons of WW2 as the clock is ticking.

Bill T.

“Evader” By Dennis Teare

“Evader” by Dennis Teare. Lancaster Crewman shot down France 1943, spent a year fighting with French Resistance. He did it, got the Tee-Shirt and is still with us. French folk still come over to see him. I salute him.

Bill T.

Here’s some pics,Circa 58/59

Hi baz,
Finally found some pics. and here they are.

Scan 005:- Myself (left )and best pal George “Chalky” White of 89th Entry.

This was taken in October 58 while we both were still in 2 Wing and was just off outer edge of Block 5. Block 5 room 6 was where I spent most of 1958, before the Entry move to 1 Wing.

Scan 006 This has to be the Bands Competition Final and Awards Ceremony of Summer 1958. The place is the parade Ground between 2 and 1 Wings with 1 Wing Apprentices Mess in background. I recognize the Station Warrant Officer and what I think is AVM Coslett handing awards out.
Most of bands members appear to be senior entry. That SWO was a Star on the parade ground during Drill and parades,he would have you laughing to bust even when you were running around edge of Parade Ground with a rifle above your head. (Old school RAF could do with lots of them around now. )

Scan jpg:- One of my favourite pics. from my Halton Days. This is an Official Shot of 2 Wing Pipe Band for Summer of 1958. Taken in front of 2 Wing Mess, with Parade Ground , 1 Wing Mess in distance and the edge of old Gymnasium on right. The band members are from 2 Wing Entries, before change over, can remember who they all were, but only a few names nowadays. Named are 88th, except where mentioned . Vic Loriman (Pipe Band Major ) sitting, 4th. from left. “Chiefy” Leinz, our Band Drill Instructor,( WW2 Aircrew Signaller, ( permanent Staff )(look at his medals) another great old School RAF Gem, he was also looking after the Official RAF /Apprentice Display marching team. ) 5th from left, ————-“
Mouse” Swindbourne, Trumpeter( 7th ) my banjo playing “Guru”.( 85th )
Myself next to end. And “Ginge” Plummer ( Middle row 7th. from left ) Bass Drummer, who had the embarassement of his bass drum shackle breaking off whilst we were marching Apprentices down from H blocks across Main point. The drum actually rolled right through the band, through an Apprentice formation and surprised the main Point Policeman, who I think caught it.:D:D
And 8th from left middle row, pal Bob Watkinson (87th ) Trumpeter.

Notice the old style Pipe band Drums, rope tensioned, animal skin heads, all webbing was blancoed white, and when you were caught in the rain on a parade or Lord Mayors Procession in london, the blancoe ran off into uniforms and the drums went soggy, what a mess, it killed the band sound.

I prefered the look of the Apprentice Pipe bands of those days in RAF uniform, every one knew exactly who we were, —-wheras something visually is lost in the modern Interpretation of The Halton Pipe bands. Their playing is good, but they look just like any other Scottish Pipe band, that could be a Works or Traditional Scottish Band. No doubt many will disagree, but I’ll bet ex-Brats won’t. :diablo:

Scan:- 002:- I like this pic. too as it is of a typical evening in the H Blocks.

This would be taken in 1959 when we (88th ) were in 1 Wing, cannot now remember H block or even room number, but it was ground floor and next to the small permanent Staffs Sgts. mess building.
Pic. taken as a time exposure, so the lads had to keep dead still for a few secs. ( did a good job too ) taken from by my “Pit”, thats pal Dave Godber sitting on bed with fag on. “Uriah” Heap sitting on other bed and ??? Leading Apprentice ( Snag ) standing in pajama trousers ironing his own Uniform ones-lol. Notice the boots lined up under Daves bed, large tea mug on locker,kit and abscence of bed packs. These were stored away and brought out ea. morning for the usual inspection type visit by various Staff. So our room slept in sleeping bags or scrounged blankets / sheets,most of time to save making bed packs every day. Known as BBB, that s the reason for the Air Diagram of something Technical on wall. Nobody bothered with it, but it impressed any Officialdom that came round. :diablo::D

Scan 001 Is the Official 88th. Entry Halton Graduation Dinner Card. Event was at the Olde Bull Inn, Aylesbury on 19th. Dec 1960. card is well signed by various fellas–lol.

Got some more pics. around somewhere, will post when I find them.

ps:- Noticed my attachments allowance here on this forum is just about full, How do I delete the old ones, so can keep adding pics. in future ???

Cheers fellow ex-“Brats”.

Bill T.

WL-756

Hi Johnny,
Would be very surprised if Camlobe parted with that Shack nose, he’s an EX-RAF Shack Engineer, is very enthusiastic about it and just loves em still.

Bill T.

RAF Halton Apprentices 88th

Hello baz,
Just now logged on and really enjoyed looking at your pics. of Halton, The Engines, etc workshops row, still looks neat and tidy, more trees of course. Cannot hardly recognize main point, my memory must have slipped, but the shot of 1 Wing over the Parade ground is spot on. ( OK no Tornado’s there then ) The parade ground is still bumpy,lumpy and curved on an incline, your pic. was taken standing next to old Gymnasium, ( if its still there ). The Mess on right of pic. is same as are Barrack Blocks and Hills “Pimple”( More trees though ) and the the 3 ex-88th guys I didn’t know except for Pete on the right.
Baz, glad the reunion went off so well and many thanks for sharing.

Previous errata from me,:- I got 2 and 1Wings mixed up, we were moved over to 1 Wing ( Red Hat Bands ) at end of 58, from 2 Wing. ( Blue hat Bands )
Apologies to Terry P, at least I was fairly close—lol and to Trenchard Brat, you were dead right about the Blue Steel Missiles dropped on Woomera Range in early 1960’s , most were abject failures, I think about 3 only ever ran correctly. I was in 4 JSTU at Edinburgh Field at the time as a team member for Victor XL-161 and We always went in and watched the film “Rushes” of the drops after every firing. Were you a Victor Crew Chief circa 1971-2, ? I was at Goose then on the V’s.

—————————

Looking at the pic. of those neat Workshops, immediately brought back the delights of the medical check-ups and inoculations we were given in early 1958. Still on our square bashing time, we were marched down to these Workshops, about half-way along the ones in pic. and formed an orderly queue to get inside. once through door, told to strip tops off and fold arms ,wrists to the “Nancy” position on hips. ( This was 50 + yrs. ago. ) and stay on the queue that headed towards a load of medics with hyperdermics syringes in each hand and a look of delight on their faces. These sadists were thoroughly enjoying giving injections to each Apprentice, 2 in each arm, at the same time and delivered with the precision of a darts player or boil Lancer.

And of course it Bloody well hurt.!!!! 2 Apps. passed out before needle delivery and one afterwards, I kept going , but wasn’t happy about the experience. Then rest of medicals and march back up to 2 Wing , OW!!!!

Bill T.