The Link 03-2008
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Issue 03/08 July 2008 Branch Chairman: P.O’Meara. Hon.Secretary : B.Downey. Hon Treasurer :E. Tierney PRO: J.Clarke Ph. 086 8500316 Ph. 01 8420958 Ph. 01 8475206 Ph. 01-4670688 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Secretary’s Notes From the Chairman... aviation following the basic training The Company Annual Convention Since the introduction of the blue they received in the Air Corps. The uniform for the Air Corps it has been members are also proud of their and AGM were held in Galway over an aspiration of the Roger Casement association with the present Air Corps the June Holiday weekend. Branch for some element of the Air and fully appreciate that the highest Delegates and observers from the Corps colour to be incorporated into international standards are being the ONE uniform as worn by Branch maintained in terms of personnel 44 Branches from around the members at ceremonial events. The training and equipment. country were present. Most of the Branch considered the introduction of The Branch fully supports the primary workings in the Convention were a Blue forage cap to be appropriate. aims of ONET in supporting needy ex servicemen and women and many of taken in Workshops where the A motion was submitted to the recent convention for the ONET rules to be our members join the Branch also to present and future operation of the amended to facilitate this request. keep in touch with former classmates organisation was keenly discussed. Unfortunately the motion did not and colleagues, The link with the Air A large contingent from the proceed as submitted for technical Corps is also important as it continues reasons. I am glad to say however, that to strengthen the bond between the Company participated in the the CEO arranged for the Roger former members and currently serving Military Annual Pilgrimage to Casement request to be considered at personnel. Lourdes. the workshop stage and later at the The Branch with over 100 members is plenary session. one of the largest in the ONE system. Members of the Branch are asked to The response from many of the The more members in the Branch, the support the bar facilities in the Bru delegates was encouraging. greater the annual contributions na bhFiann. Air Force personnel have always worn which can be made to central funds. a distinctive uniform and this situation The introduction of a distinctive head- This facility can be reserved for was very evident at the recent military dress as proposed will certainly help to private parties. pilgrimage to Lourdes where Air attract further members which will not A successful tour to the Passage Force veterans from many countries only be good for the Branch, but will also be good for Graves at Newgrange was arranged could be identified by their distinctive head-gear. ONET. by the Social Committee on April Almost 100% of the members of the It is clear at this stage that the 15th. A good day was had by Roger Casement Branch are former international military associations all.Treasurer. members of the Air Corps and most recognise the unique Air Force have continued their careers in identity. This identity is also recognised by the Irish Government and the Department of Defence. I believe that the time has come for ONET to also give due recognition. Paddy O’Meara Branch Chairman Edition sponsored by the Members of Roger Casement Branch and the RAF Association 1953 who attended a lunch in Casement Aerodrome hosted by Brig-Gen Ralph James. Direct Entrant Class Also included, Col. Paul Fry and Col.Tom Moloney Morane Incident During the filming of The Blue Max a my head and gesture to Pat that my request was made by Tim Philips of instruments showed AOK and he Ballyfree Farms for an aircraft from acknowledged with the standard the set to attend and do some displays thumbs up signal. at an air-show at his airfield in Co. During the half hour trip back to base Wicklow. I kept an eye on the instruments and The aircraft selected was the Morane all was in order. Some tiny spots of oil Parasol, that beautiful silver high were evident on the small Perspex winged monoplane in which screen in front of my cockpit but no (according to the script) Lt. Bruno problems were to be found. Oil Stachel was to die at the end of the pressure and revs remained in limits. story. The Parasol had two tandem Having landed and pushed the open cockpits and was powered by a Morane back into the hanger we nine cylinder air-cooled radial engine. spoke briefly about the cough decided should have had to pull down hard against Early on the Sunday morning the to leave it till the morning when I the suction of the piston, I found that the pilot, Pat Cranfield, (later Brig-Gen) would get a chance to check things whole assembly came away with only a and mechanic, Tony Roe, arrived at out. slight effort. Baldonnel and having made the During a break in filming on Monday The piston (4 to 5 inches across) was necessary preparations took off for morning I got an opportunity to do simply not there, and 5 to 6 inches of con- Ballyfree. The aircraft was flown from some checks. While doing rod had also gone missing! the rear with Tony sitting up front compression checks, starting at No. 1 The opening in the lower section of the holding his toolbox across his knees. cylinder, everything was fine until I annular crankcase allowed me to put my It was a nice summer morning and got to No. 6 (bottom cylinder at 6 hand in and collect bits of metal (like after a smooth flight the aircraft o’clock position) where I found zero gravel at the seashore) from the lower landed in Ballyfree. resistance as I pushed the prop reaches of the engine. Had the collapse of Tony explains, “having completed the through TDC on the compression the piston occurred in one of the upper day’s flying with no problems of any stroke. cylinders I’m not sure what the outcome sort we once again emplaned to return The valve gear on this engine was would have been. to Baldonnel and roared off down the totally exposed and easy to check Having reported to Pat Cranfield and runway. As we lifted off and climbed clearances etc. It was all in place, showed him the condition of the engine tight and high to the left to avoid trees ‘though clearances were tight. I that got us back safely to base, we were and farm buildings there was a decided to drop the cylinder, (quite an both only then beginning to realise the “cough” from the engine, just a cough easy job on this engine) and having possible consequences of our “near or two as one might clear ones throat, removed the nuts from the crankcase miss”, and like the legendary black cat and once again smooth running. studs, I put my arm around the (symbol of Fighter Squadron) we had lost From my front seat I could see from cylinder expecting to wrestle it a bit to one of those nine lives”. my set of instruments that oil pressure break the seal, but found that it came and revs were all ok. I managed to turn away quite easily, too easily! Where I Reunions and Anniversaries - Class Reunions The 1949 Apprentice Class joined with the 1950 Class and held a joint reunion in Casement Aerodrome on 13th June. Twelve members of the 1949 class and five members of the 1950 class attended. The reunion Mass was offered by a former member of the class, Rev Denis Lynch. After the Mass the group was taken on a tour of the camp. The 1958 Apprentice Class will celebrate their 50th anniversary this year and will hold a reunion in Casement Aerodrome on Sunday October 12th. Contact Jerry McCarthy,(01 8401045) The 1958 Direct Entrant Class is also planning its 50th reunion. More details later. The Apprentice Class of 1945 will be holding a reunion lunch in early October. Reunions are a good way of keeping in touch with former colleagues 1945 Apprentice Class Reunion: 1945 Apprentice Class Nine of the twelve surviving class members recently held a reunion to celebrate 62 years since their Included : Jim Killian, Gus Cummins, enlistment. The 1945 Class was the first to hold a reunion in 1955. The practice has now been followed Paddy Mc Donald, Eddie Cotter, by many other classes of Apprentices and D/E’s. Johnny Fitzpatrick, Ben Downey, Mick Forde, Stan Hogan, Geoff Rogan. The Air Corps Museum By: Michael Whelan MA, Curator The Irish Air Corps Museum & Heritage Project at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, County Dublin was set up in 2001 to collect as much documentation and artifacts relating to Irish Military Aviation in all its forms as possible and to conserve and display this heritage as an educational tool to both the military and the public alike. Since 2001 thousands of visitors have passed through the museum and sampled the rich heritage of the Air Corps and learned of its importance in Ireland’s historical narrative. The collection contains almost a dozen intact airframes including the Avro XIX, DH Chipmunks DH Vampire, Fouga Magister, Marchetti trainer, a full scale replica of the Wright Brothers Flyer and an Allouette III and parts of many others. As well as airframes it contains a collection of engines and hundreds of other artifacts including logbooks, uniforms and photos.