JJABBERWOCKABBERWOCK The Newsletter of the Society of Friends of the Museum

IN THIS EDITION:

Friends’ Visits to RAF Brize Norton and the RN Historic Flight RN Lynx retires aft er outstanding service Falklands 30 Exhibition Th e Daleks are coming! Tales my grandfather told me Skua - Too big, too heavy and too late!

No.68 August 2012 Published by The Society of Friends of the

Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

The Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum

Patron: Rear Admiral A R Rawbone CB, AFC, RN President: D S Moxley JP

FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM Box D6, RNAS BA22 8HT Telephone: 01935 840565 SOFFAAM email: sof@fl eetairarm.com Museum website: fl eetairarm.com

Registered Charity No. 280725

1 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

The Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum

Vice Presidents Captain K A Leppard CBE, RN Rear Admiral R C Dimmock CB, RN Rear Admiral A R Rawbone CB, AFC, RN F C Ott DSC BSc (Econ) Lt Cdr Philip (Jan) Stuart RN Squadron Leader Maurice Biggs RAF Jim Standfi eld Chairman Richard Huft on Vice Chairman Peter Trickey [email protected] Secretary Malcolm Smith [email protected] Treasurer Gordon Johnson [email protected] Membership Secretary Robert Heath Halden House New Street Wells BA5 2LQ [email protected] Talks and Events Organiser Rosanne Crowther Editor Malcolm Smith T: 01935 478304, M: 07765 950806 [email protected]

Printed by: Remous Limited, Milborne Port

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS ...... 3 EDITORIAL ...... 4 FRANKLY SPEAKING ...... 6 FRIENDS VISIT TO RAF BRIZE NORTON ...... 8 FRIENDS VISIT TO RN SUBMARINE MUSEUM ...... 11 RN LYNX RETIRES AFTER OUTSTANDING SERVICE ...... 13 FALKLANDS 30 EXHIBITION ...... 14 SNIPPETS FROM COUNCIL MEETINGS ...... 16 MEMBERSHIP ...... 17 COMING EVENTS IN THE MUSEUM ...... 18 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ...... 20 MONTHLY TALKS PROGRAMME ...... 24 RECENT MONTHLY TALKS ...... 25 DOWN MEMORY LANE ...... 26 THE “INDEFAT”, OR HMS INDEFATIGABLE ...... 30 885 SQUADRON AND THE BPF FLEET TRAIN ...... 32 “SKUA - TOO BIG, TOO HEAVY AND TOO LATE” ...... 33 TALES MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ...... 38 MY INTRODUCTION TO FLYING ...... 40

Cover Pictures: Front cover - New addition to the Museum, high-scoring veteran of the Falklands and Gulf confl icts, Lynx XZ 720. (See the article on page 11).

Rear Cover - A crowded scene on the fl ight deck of HMS Indefatigable in late 1945, on her way to a visit to before returning to the UK after the end of War in the Pacifi c. (See the article on page 30.)

All the photographs in this publication, unless otherwise credited, are Crown Copyright and reproduced by kind permission of the FAAM.

3 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

EDITORIAL

RN Submarine Museum; give details irstly, an apology to authors of the recent arrival of a veteran FLen Dowsett and Bill Reeks, Lynx aircraft in the Museum; add a for not acknowledging that they postscript to Len Dowsett’s article on provided most of the photographs 885 squadron in Jabberwock 67 and that accompanied their articles in include some not entirely serious Jabberwock 67. On the subject of recollections of early helicopter photographs, the FAAM has a vast Search and Rescue activities. We archive, but we and they are always discuss changes to our mailing and interested in acquiring additional distribution system, invite members ones. If you have pictures that you to consider opting to receive an are willing to provide for publication, electronic version of the Journal and please let us know. look forward to your response. The Journal Annual General Meeting The eagle-eyed amongst our Please see the notice of the AGM readers may have noted the new in October. All are welcome to description of Jabberwock as the attend. This is your opportunity to Journal, as unanimously agreed at make your opinions heard. the May Council meeting. We all Visit to RNHF felt this refl ected its purpose more clearly. The advertisement on page 7 Correspondence provides early warning of the next visit to the RN historic Flight and The response to the colour Cobham Hall. These visits are version of Jabberwock and the always popular and provide a rare combined content has been very opportunity to see the Reserve positive. Please keep the comments Collection. If you wish to avoid coming in, it’s the only way that cutting up the Journal, photocopy the we can be sure that members page or simply send the appropriate are getting value for money! In details to Richard. this edition, we include “Letters to Crossword the Editor” and hope that this will The solution to last edition’s become a regular feature. crossword (by Richard Hufton) is on In this edition page 32. If any amateur compilers Also in this edition, we describe would like to contribute another - it highly successful visits by the would be welcome! Friends to RAF Brize Norton and the

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Notice of the Annual General Meeting to be held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum on Sunday 7 October 2012 Programme:

12:00 to 13:30 Please join us for lunch. Buy in the Swordfi sh Restaurant and carry through to the Swordfi sh Centre, which is reserved for us.

13:45 Grand Draw in the auditorium

14:00 Annual General Meeting in the Auditorium.

As stated in our Constitution, all positions fall vacant at the AGM. These are: President, Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and nine ordinary Council members. If you would like to apply for one of these positions please notify the Secretary in writing or by e-mail by 7 September. If you wish to place an item on the Agenda please send it in writing or by e-mail to reach the Secretary by the same date.

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FRANKLY SPEAKING

After many suggestions and a s noted in Jabberwock 67, lot of thought we had a cunning David Kinloch retired from A plan. First we bought a large the post of Editor of the Newsletter quantity of stamps just before at the beginning of this year. the price increase and some of An important but unsung part of these were used to send out the David’s responsibilities was the May Jabberwock. But how do we despatch of over 1,000 copies of cope with sending out over 4,000 the Newsletter every quarter and Jabberwocks a year in future? a similar number of Jabberwocks Surprisingly the answer is to print twice yearly. This task has fallen to our own stamps. No, we don’t have other members and the experience a skilled forger in our membership of putting this many magazines but, if all has gone to plan, you (and frequently new membership will see the result printed on the cards) into envelopes, sealing them envelope you have just received. and adding an address label, then By buying a Franking Machine we fi nally sticking on a stamp, led now do part of the Royal Mail’s job, us to realise the saving them the magnitude of the cost of franking task. and bagging. For The cost of doing this they postage is a charge us less. signifi cant factor in Taking all costs reviewing the whole into account, process.“Squeezed 1,100 copies ready to post instead of paying until the pips squeak” an extra £700 a is the expression which came to mind year, we have reduced the increase on 30 April 2012 when there was a to about £200 a year. We could huge rise in postal charges. It put up also reduce costs if members were our postage costs by about £700 a willing to receive the Journal by year. We are very conscious that your email, rather than in hard copy, and subscriptions, donations and purchase we plan to offer this option in the of raffl e tickets are intended to further new members’ joining form, which the work of our charity and we do is being updated. Existing members all we can to keep running costs as who would prefer this option are low as possible so that our funds are invited to contact the Editor. His available to give maximum assistance contact details are on page 2. to the Museum.

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VISITS TO RN HISTORIC FLIGHT & COBHAM HALL WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 3rd & 4th October 2012 Meet in the Fleet Air Arm Museum Car Park at 1030

AT 1045 MEMBERS WILL BE ESCORTED IN OUR OWN CARS TO THE RN HISTORIC FLIGHT WHERE WE WILL BE MET BY FLIGHT STAFF & MAINTAINERS AND WILL BE ABLE TO CLOSELY VIEW THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE RETURNING TO THE FAAM CAR PARK. ( Please note : Lunch is not provided on this visit ) AT 1345 WE WILL TRANSFER TO COBHAM HALL IN OUR OWN CARS FOR A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM‛S RESERVE COLLECTION OF RARELY SEEN AIRCRAFT & EXHIBITS. THE VISIT WILL END AT APPROXIMATELY 1600. MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO CAR SHARE FOR THE VISIT TO HISTORIC FLIGHT - BUT THERE ARE NO PARKING RESTRICTIONS AT COBHAM HALL. Directions to Cobham Hall : From the museum car park turn right, then take fi rst left and the entrance to Cobham Hall car park is a further 100 yards. to the left. Select preferred date, complete and return this application form together with a £12.00 cheque for each member and a stamped addressed envelope, to reach me no later than Monday 17thSeptember. Places are allocated on a fi rst come fi rst served basis. Please make all cheques (no cash) payable to SOFFAAM.

Return form to : Richard Hufton, The Hollies, South Street, Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6JG. My Contact is : Tel 01935 873229 : e mail [email protected]

Member Name(s)...... Member No(s)......

Your Contact Tel...... Your preferred date (3/10 or 4/10) ......

Car registration ...... Make of car ...... Colour of car ......

Will you transport other Society members to/from the RN Historic Flight hangar : YES/NO...... *THE MAJORITY OF YOUR TICKET PRICE WILL BE SHARED BETWEEN THE FAAM AND THE RNHF*

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FRIENDS VISIT TO RAF BRIZE NORTON By Richard Hufton

Th e SOFFAAM visitors pose inside the cavernous interior of the C-17 Air Tanker is a PFI consortium espite atrocious weather of aerospace companies including conditions on the morning of D Airbus manufacturer EADS, 25 April, thirty fi ve hardy SOFFAAM Cobham, Rolls-Royce, Thales and members ignored high winds, torrential rain and fl ooded roads to Babcock. After a short coffee break arrive at the FAAM car park in time we were welcomed by Lindsay for an 07.15 coach departure to Harbottle, who gave a presentation RAF Brize Norton. Arriving just after on ownership of the Voyager fl eet, 10.00, we were met by our hosts a mix of eight military and six civil for the day, Flt Sgt Ken Murray and registered aircraft. We were briefed Flt Lt Jim Dickinson, who issued on the various support facilities, visitor passes and escorted us in which include a two bay engineering the coach to Air Tanker Services Ltd hangar, fl ight simulator and training (ATrS) where A330 Voyager fl eet rooms. This was followed by operations are managed from a new an overview of Voyager service four storey Hub building that opened introduction given by Wg Cdr Dan on 31 March 2011. James, OC 10 Squadron, the fi rst

8 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

Voyager ZZ 330 airborne from RAF Brize Norton (Photo Air Tanker Ltd) operators of this large twin-engined stretchers. Deliveries are aircraft. Dan explained that, to expected to be completed by build Voyager, EADS married an 2016, with most of the military A330-200 fuselage to A340 wings, modifi cations being carried out by the aircraft being further modifi ed Cobham at Bournemouth. Dan by adding a three point Air to confi rmed Voyager will provide Air refuelling (AAR) capability. signifi cant improvements in Initially air to air fuel transfers passenger and crew comfort, a 30 (plugs) will be from the fuselage tonne payload and greatly reduced point only with wing pod transfers fuel burn when compared with AT following later. ZZ 330, the fi rst aircraft currently in service. aircraft, was handed over on 8 Next stop - the C-17 April and crew training started Next stop was 99 Squadron immediately. Standard fl ight deck - operators of Boeing’s C-17 crew is two with a third mission Globemaster III cargo lifter. system operator (MSO) for AAR Dodging deep apron puddles, operations. Orders have been we boarded ZZ 175 by the port placed for 14 aircraft, 8 RAF, 1 forward crew door to meet pilots ATrS and 5 for civil/reserve use, Flt Lt Nick Drew and Flt Lt Chaz with maximum seating for 291 Haston. Also on board was passengers. Alternative roles Loadmaster Flt Sgt Steve Duncan. include a mix of eight NATO We split into groups and those cargo pallets or 40 Aeromedical heading for the crew stairway

9 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 climbed up to a spacious fl ight With much good humour, Chris deck. The aircraft is fl y-by-wire explained how air drop loads are controlled with manual reversion, built up on special pallets designed but conventional control columns for parachuting from C130J/K are fi tted, unlike the Airbus Hercules over land or sea. One side sticks. With glass cockpit of the test loads was restricted, instrumentation throughout and so we were requested to switch three supernumerary crew seats, off cameras and mobile phones. the aircraft is normally crewed by Our last port of call was to the two pilots and one loadmaster. Air Portability Section, where we Back down below we looked round climbed aboard a full sized mock at the cavernous but spartan cargo up of the interior of an A400M Atlas interior with exposed hydraulic Future Air Transporter. 22 of these piping and cable looms extending have been ordered, with a fi rst along the fuselage high above delivery expected in 2014. Here LM us. Troop seating is arranged Flt Sgt Craig Fitches demonstrated along each side of the aircraft offl oading an armour plated Terrier facing inwards, but LM Duncan tracked construction vehicle, which explained on long fl ights (fl oor was driven down the loading ramp. space permitting) passengers roll Extra Bonus - Voyager ZZ 330 out sleeping bags on the cargo Guided tour now complete, there fl oor. Maximum payload is 75 was an extra bonus as Voyager ZZ tonnes and typical loads carried 330 passed close to our vantage into Bagram (Afghanistan) could point opposite the CAT 3 holding include: one Battle Tank or one point for RW 26. At low power, Sea King or Merlin or two Apache Voyager’s Trent 700 engines were attack helicopters. unusually quiet. After lining up, take Joint Air Delivery Trials Unit off power generated a progressive After an excellent two course low frequency rumble compared hot lunch in the Offi cers’ Mess it with the more familiar RB211 buzz. was back on the coach to head Returning back to the main gate for JADTEU - Joint Air Delivery it was good to see Standard and Trials Evaluation Unit, where we Super VC10s of 101 Squadron still met CPO Craig Jones RN. He in service, almost fi fty years after demonstrated equipment used the prototype fi rst fl ew in June 1962. to check stability of underslung Many thanks to Station Commander loads carried by Chinook HC2 RAF Brize Norton and his staff for sanctioning our visit and also to helicopters operating from Odiham Rosanne Crowther for organising or Boscombe Down. Craig then what turned out to be very introduced us to L/Cpl Chris successful day. Gowan from Air Despatch Centre.

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FRIENDS VISIT TO RN SUBMARINE MUSEUM By Richard Hufton

nce again the British project, which includes refurbishment Osummer weather appeared of HMS Alliance, the UK’s only to conspire against a small but surviving ‘walk through’ WW2-era enthusiastic SOFFAAM contingent submarine. This unique survivor was who set off by coach on Monday 11 built by Vickers and launched as June 2012 to meet ‘Friends’ from P417 in July 1945. the other three RN museums on Chris Munn’s briefi ng was followed a joint visit hosted by the Royal by a fascinating talk on WW1

Th e SOFFAAM visitors at the entrance to the RNSM Museum (Photo: Ernest Lear) Navy Submarine Museum (RNSM) submarine operations given by Rear at Gosport, Hants. Once inside Admiral Paul Hoddinott, Chairman the main building overlooking of the Friends of the RNSM. Well Portsmouth Harbour, welcome illustrated with contemporary refreshments preceded a detailed photographs, Paul’s lively talk overview of the museum, presented covered early submarine testing and by the Director Commodore Chris development leading on to wartime Munns. The RNSM is currently mid operations, most notably the daring way through a £6.75m development

11 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 exploits of crews who, at great risk to Our guides provided an explanation themselves, entered the Baltic and of conditions on board; tactics Black Seas to engage and destroy employed to avoid detection and the enemy shipping. Our guides for the procedure for fi ring torpedoes. Then day then introduced themselves and it was back out into the daylight to we set off in groups to view different look at X24, the only surviving midget parts of the museum. On the submarine to have served during quayside, work continued in torrential WW2. In April 1944 the four-man rain as construction vehicles poured crew of X24 successfully located and shingle into the core of a newly destroyed a fl oating dock moored constructed coffer dam built round in harbour. After paying our two massive concrete pillars supporting HMS Alliance. There is much to see here, including a VC awarded in 1915 to Cdr (later Rear Admiral) E C Boyle, who had commanded Holland 1 in 1903. This was the fi rst submarine commissioned by the RN in 1901, but lost during a towing incident in 1913. In 1982 Holland 1, discovered Th e “business end” of the Polaris main rocket motors (Photo Ernest Lear) near Eddystone Lighthouse, was raised from the respects at the Remembrance Wall sea bed and is now on display in this was the end of our tour of the a climate-controlled hall adjacent main site, but there was time to look to the main building. After a most at the weapons gallery situated next enjoyable hot lunch our group to the car park. Here visitors can see headed for Alliance, boarding via examples of torpedo development one of two doors cut in the hull. The leading up to the modern Stingray, privations experienced by crews of two-man chariots, mines and the pre-nuclear class submarines were awesome submarine launched soon apparent as we passed through UGM-27 Polaris ballistic nuclear compartments and negotiated a missile. Easy to forget that this narrow corridor between cramped missile entered service in 1968! work stations and rest areas.

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Granby in 1991, when the crew RN LYNX RETIRES AFTER attacked and sank fi ve Iraqi gunboats OUTSTANDING SERVICE with Sea Skua missiles. For his actions Lt Cdr Dave Livingstone received the Distinguished Service otably the highest scoring Cross. The aircraft’s remarkable Lynx of the Gulf N record is emblazoned on her War, XZ 720, with a proud history paintwork in the fi ve black missiles of frontline combat maritime service on either side has been of her fuselage. handed over to the Fleet Air Florry Ford, Arm Museum. the observer, This aircraft told how they has been on earned their active service remarkable up until her tally of three retirement. sinkings in one XZ720 entered day. service in “On 30 1980 with the January we Royal Navy were on a at Yeovilton XZ 720 with fi ve black missile emblems patrol and got on 815 Naval a contact, which Air Squadron and has had a proved to be a patrol boat that the remarkable record. She saw active Iraqis had taken from the Kuwaiti service with HMS Alacrity in the Navy. We fi red one Sea Skua; then Falklands War, where she was on another contact appeared from the receiving end of machine gun nowhere, so as soon as we saw fi re from an Argentinean gun boat. the fi rst target sink, we fi red on the The Pilot, Lieutenant Rob Sleeman, second. It was a Russian-built mine- fortunately avoided a bullet, which layer”. Later that day they struck came through his windscreen, only a third target close by. Ten days by turning his head. later they were tasked to search for Deployments on many Royal a mine at night, under the light of Navy warships after 1982 followed parachute fl ares, when they spotted until, as 216 Flight, she joined the a Russian-built landing ship on its Type 42 HMS Gloucester. way to resupply Iraqi forces. They Flown by Lieutenant Commander fi red two missiles but also came David Livingstone and Sub under attack from two surface-to-air Lieutenant Florry Ford, XZ720 had missiles. To avoid disaster, Dave her fi nest hour during Operation Livingstone fl ew the superbly agile

13 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 helicopter within 20 feet of the sea. was one of the most memorable The enemy missiles passed just 180 events in recent British history feet away. and was the largest naval action XZ720’s restoration to her 1991 since the Second World War.The Gulf War state was completed by liberation of the Islands was a the Lynx Operational Support Team, huge achievement by our armed at RNAS Yeovilton. They had been forces, operating in the harshest asked to prepare a Lynx to be given conditions 8,000 miles away from to the Museum. home.” “XZ720 was involved in both the A comprehensive collection Falklands and the Gulf campaigns The exhibition displays a and so its history made it a prime comprehensive collection of candidate for this honour,” said Falklands aircraft including two CPO Steve Walling, from the Lynx Sea Harriers, the Westland Helicopter Force. Sea King piloted by HRH RNAS Yeovilton’s Commanding Prince Andrew and a Wessex offi cer, Commodore Paul Chivers 3 helicopter that bears several OBE, himself a Lynx Observer, shrapnel holes from the conflict. accepted the helicopter on behalf of the museum of which he is a trustee. Museum director Graham Mottram said: “We are delighted to have her; she is proof that history is a continuing process.”

FALKLANDS 30 EXHIBITION

o mark the 30th T anniversary of the end of the Falklands War, the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s exhibition opened on 30 June, dedicated to the servicemen and women who freed the Islands from hostile occupation. Stormy weather in the South Atlantic. Says Graham Mottram, Director HMS Hermes with Sea Harriers, of the Museum: armed GR3 and Sea King Mk 5 visible “The Falklands campaign on deck.

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HMS Hermes in calmer weather at a high operational state. 17 Harriers are visible on deck - a mix of Sea Harriers and GR3s. Note the stocks of weapons on the forward end of the fl ight deck. Sea King approaching with underslung load. It was involved in two daring No1(F) Squadron RAF should also rescue missions of Special Forces not be forgotten. Argentinian pilots personnel and was instrumental in became reluctant to engage Sea the destruction of the Argentinian Harriers in combat and nicknamed submarine Santa Fé. the dark grey Sea Harriers “The Sea Harriers will always be Black Death”. remembered for establishing air Also on display is a captured superiority against the Argentine Argentinian Agusta109 helicopter air force, making liberation of the which was later used by British Falkland islanders possible. Of the Special Forces. The Fleet Air Arm 32 aircraft available to the Royal Museum’s collection of aircraft and Navy, 28 were committed to the hardware connected to the Falklands confl ict in four Naval Air Squadrons: War is too vast to be displayed 800, 801, 899 and 809. Sea Harriers in any one exhibition and so the fl ew over 2,000 operational sorties Museum will open their reserve and achieved 24 confi rmed ‘kills’ collection for two half days during of enemy aircraft for no losses July and August when other aircraft, in air combat. The ground attack captured jeeps and armaments will role played by the GR3 Harriers of be on display.

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SNIPPETS FROM COUNCIL MEETINGS

From the May meeting: From the July meeting: • The Museum Director • Before the meeting opened, commented: “Visitor numbers for the attendees were shown the new April were fantastic. At 12,355, they model. The design of were up by 50% on last April and the model, and its use as a teaching a great start to the new fi nancial aid; were explained by the Director, year. Robot Wars proved a great who thanked SOFFAAM again for its attraction and we will very likely do valuable contribution. that again next year, only with more • Visitor numbers for June were capacity for the workshops, which the strongest for 10 years, exceeding were very popular.” the target by 30%. “Robot Wars” was • The Director added that the very popular and the Museum would carrier model, to which SOFFAAM certainly run it again next Easter. The are contributing, is making slow but Patron of the Museum, HRH the Duke positive progress with the model of York, paid a visit on 14 June, while makers in Sheffi eld. Completion is the Falklands 30 exhibition opened now expected by the end of May or on 30 June. This was an excellent early June. opening event, attended by more than • The Chairman reminded 30 Falklands veterans and a teacher the meeting that the SOFFAAM and two high school students from the Constitution allows observers Falklands Islands. to attend Council meetings. We • There had been comments that should remind members of this. In the earlier visit to the RN Historic Flight reviewing the new style Jabberwock, had been insuffi ciently advertised. (Ed: Richard said there had been a see page 7. ) proposal to change its subtitle from • The Chairman reminded the “Newsletter” to “Journal”, since meeting that the David Braine talk was this refl ected the nature of the earlier in the month than usual and, publication more accurately. This because of the expected numbers, change was unanimously agreed. would be held in the Swordfi sh • The Secretary said that there Restaurant. had been some encouraging email • David Kinloch proposed that the correspondence after the recent Society should buy the replacement issue of Jabberwock. He would like Memorial Book, taking the option of to see more, with a view to including buckram cloth. This was unanimously correspondence in future issues. approved.

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MEMBERSHIP

Bankers Standing Order Membership cards enclosed for August, September and October 2012-13. Welcome to the new Members who have recently joined us.

3223 - Cdr M. Maddox Coulsdon, Surrey 3224 - Mr G.J. Bowles High Wycombe, Bucks 3225 - Mr P.D. Brown Stalbridge, Dorset 3226 - Ms M.K. Reece Verwood, Dorset 3227 - Mr D.P. Hughes Hembury Fort, Devon 3228 - Mr D.H.J. Wooding Marston Magna, Somerset 3229 - Lady Rose Somerset 3230 - Gen Sir Michael Rose Somerset 3231 - Mrs F.C. Beeson Broadstone, Dorset Total Members: 1026 Life Members: 236 Pay by Standing Order: 547 Members who have made a Gift Aid Declaration: 645

Admission

MEMBERS ARE ADMITTED TO THE MUSEUM FREE OF CHARGE, ON PRODUCTION OF A VALID MEMBERSHIP CARD. MEMBERS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY UP TO THREE GUESTS (ONE GUEST ONLY FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS) ON ANY ONE VISIT, EACH AT A REDUCED ENTRANCE FEE, CURRENTLY £6.50 PER HEAD. MEMBERS ARE ALSO ALLOWED A 10% DISCOUNT ON GOODS PURCHASED FROM THE SHOP.

Note: Th ese concessions are provided at the discretion of the Museum Director and could be removed at any time. Th ey also do not apply to any other of the Museum’s features, such as the Restaurants and Simulator.

Cobham Hall

COBHAM HALL IS THE HOME OF THE MUSEUM’S RESERVE COLLECTION, WHICH INCLUDES MANY HISTORIC AIRCRAFT, ENGINES AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST, BOTH TO AMATEUR HISTORIANS AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. THE FAAM OPENS COBHAM HALL TO THE PUBLIC ON CERTAIN DAYS. THESE “OPEN DAYS” DO NOT COME UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT MEMBERS HAVE FOR ENTRY TO THE MUSEUM AND, THEREFORE, MUST BE PAID FOR ACCORDING TO THE TARIFF SET BY THE MUSEUM.

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COMING EVENTS IN THE MUSEUM

The Daleks are coming! you tell the difference between boy and girl Daleks?” In addition, Dr ecurity guards at RNAS Who traders and celebrities will add SYeovilton have been put on to the occasion. a high state of alert as they have it The March of the Daleks on good authority that the largest gathering of Daleks this side of The day will fi nish with the March Gallifrey will invade the Fleet Air of the Daleks, when the army of Arm Museum on August 18 and 19. Daleks and their evil friends will If previous invasions are anything parade through the museum ending to go by, terror will give way to under for a giant photo panic as the army of Daleks will be opportunity. accompanied by their evil accomplices including Davros, Miss Hartigan, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, Pig Slave, Screaming Angel and many more. To add to the fun and terror of the day, Security Guards on a high state of alert children are encouraged to wear Sci- Fi Fancy Doors will open to the public Dress. from 10.00am and normal Museum Throughout the day there will be entry prices will apply. a variety of family activities plus To avoid queuing on the day; a short stage play, entitled “The tickets will be available in advance Master Strikes Back” , an obstacle on the museum website www. race and an Audience with the fl eetairarm.com and from the Daleks when you can ask the more Museum Shop. friendly Daleks the questions on everybody’s mind such as, “How do

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Rosanne, events following the torpedoing William Mutlow and I really of HMS Nabob during “Operation enjoyed the trip to Brize Norton Goodwood”, though I must make yesterday. We felt that the base clear that I do not have first hand gave us a good welcome, a good knowledge of the events to which introductory talk, and excellent I refer. opportunity to explore the C17. In March 1944 I completed The servicemen who showed us training as an Observer in the the loading were real RNVR and in August, as a experts and one had the build of Midshipman (A), I was posted “The Terminator”. The meal in the to 848 Squadron at RNAS Ford. offi cers’ mess was fi rst rate. To The squadron was then preparing crown an excellent visit we had to join HMS Formidable prior to the unexpected pleasure of seeing sailing to join the British Pacific the new “Voyager” aircraft taxi by Fleet. A pilot, Sub Lt D G Jupp, at close quarters and take off. The known as “Don”, and his Observer, route back to Yeovilton felt like “The Sub Lt Cole, from 852 Squadron Magical Mystery Tour” but we were in HMS Nabob also joined 848 well driven. Thanks for organising Squadron at that time. Don Jupp such a special trip. and I were the two youngest Richard Snow and William members of 848 and we were Mutlow teamed together as the crew of By email aircraft “Q for Queenie”. Almost 26 April 2012 at once I was told how fortunate I was to have been assigned to Dear Editor, such an outstanding pilot. This May I fi rst say how much I assessment was based not only enjoy Jabberwock and appreciate on his great skill as a pilot but on the skill and hard work you must the following account of the events put into it. I was pleased to read on Nabob, which was confirmed Bill Reeks’ article in the current by several sources. number on the incomparable Bobby In August 1944, whilst part of a Bradshaw, whom I never met but covering force sent to attack the whose reputation was legendary Tirpitz, Nabob was torpedoed off in the FAA. It is about an aspect of Hammerfest by U354 causing the that article that I venture to write. ship to list heavily and to be down It concerns the account of the 45 degrees by the stern. Radar

19 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 showed that the U-boat was still who was still in the plane a severe shadowing the ship and it was fright! decided to launch two aircraft For his part in the operation Don to try to locate the U-boat and Jupp was awarded the DSC. I keep it submerged, to give Nabob believe the award was announced a chance to get back to Scapa in Issue 36858 of the London Flow, even at its reduced speed Gazette on 26 December 1944. of four and a half knots. The two He was, I believe, 20 at the time. Avengers, piloted by the CO I hasten to add that the above Bobby Bradshaw and Don Jupp, account was common knowledge were successfully catapulted off, although the ship was listing ... a struck heavily. The aircraft located the submarine and kept it submerged, HMS Formidable ... enabling the Nabob to escape. After about four hours the aircraft returned to Nabob. It in 848. It was confirmed by Don’s was dark and apparently foggy. observer who joined 848 at the The was angled and same time. Typically. I don’t pitching. First to attempt the recall Don himself speaking of landing was Don Jupp. He made it. It is sad to add that Don died as a result of serious injuries he received on 4 May 1945 when Th e fl ight deck was a Kamikaze struck the deck of angled and pitching... HMS Formidable just as he was taxiing an aircraft forward of the barriers. He was transferred to a good landing and taxied forward the Hospital Ship Oxfordshire but of the barrier. Bobby Bradshaw died on 16 May. was not so successful, missing I write this as I felt when the arrester wires and crashing reading the article in Jabberwock through the barrier. Don Jupp, who that the part Don played in was preparing to get out of his the action deserved a mention Avenger, saw what was happening alongside that of his legendary and realised that his CO was in CO. danger of going over the bow. He Yours truly, then stood on the brakes of his Sir Roy Beldam plane while Bobby Bradshaw’s East Molesey, Surrey plane ploughed up his fuselage. 12 Jun 2012 This succeeded in stopping his CO’s plane, but gave his Observer

20 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

Dear Editor, - good reason as it was strictly The July issue of “Aeroplane” against regulations, and anyway, magazine contains a comprehensive he could not get the fi lm developed history of the , until he went home to . concentrating on its use in the North The pilots used to say they could African campaign by 826 Squadron. see me waiting with my camera Although it does not mention Bobby while on their landing approach, Bradshaw, it describes many of but I was (in their opinion) only

Albacore at Ma’aten Bagush in the Western Desert, 1941 the operations he must have been interested in a bad landing or a involved in. prang. I had to admit a photo of a Photographs of the Albacore do prang was more worthy of attention. not appear often, probably because There was no shortage of these! not many were taken. The Royal So long as there were no injuries Navy, unlike the US Navy, was not it didn’t matter, as if the plane only silent but mostly invisible. My was a write-off we just asked for a fi lm, taken on board HMS Nabob replacement. (Lend-Lease didn’t in 1944, has rarity value. In the cost anything.) The wreck was just US Navy, fi lms like that were ten a pushed overboard. Nowadays, with penny. I was photographic offi cer on aircraft costing millions each, the Nabob, but only had a still camera. pilot must be awfully conscious of I didn’t know Doc Read had a cine being responsible for a considerable

21 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 chunk of the Defence Expenditure would be worth a reprint. Most of the as they hurtle towards the deck! Oh, readers would not have seen them I forgot, we haven’t any fi xed wing and, even if they had, would I’m sure aircraft yet. When we do get them, appreciate re-reading them. they will be landing vertically and Keep up the good work, gently - almost like the Swordfi sh. Peter Hoskin By email 16 June 2012 Best wishes, Bill Reeks By the Editor: Weymouth There is another extract from 10 June 2012 Captain Traill’s articles on page 40. P.S. Must add - I spent 72 hours in Albacores as they were our training Dear Editor, aircraft at the RN Observers School I received this edition late this at Piarco in Trinidad in 1942. I al- morning and having now read it from ways remember the 90 gallon petrol cover to cover (never happened tank that separated the pilot from before), I send you my unreserved our navigating position in the back. congratulations on the result of your efforts. The best Jabberwock we have ever had and I do hope you will Dear Editor, be able to continue to this standard Have just returned from holiday to in the future. read the latest Jabberwock and was I am probably a bit prejudiced as really pleased to see a reprint of an one of the old and not so bold, who article by Henry Traill. served as pilot at the tail end of the I was the fi rst Editor of last war and fl ew in the RNVR/RNR Jabberwock in the early 80s and had subsequently. The three articles on the great pleasure of visiting Henry 885, the Hell Diver (a dreadful aircraft many times to talk though the articles - thank God Admiral King didn’t want he wrote. He was a fascinating us to have it! - even the Barracuda, character and my only regret is that which I fl ew, could have done better) I didn’t retain the page upon page of and on Bobby Bradshaw, were original script he wrote for us. The excellent and just the sort of thing us handwriting was wonderful despite ancient FAA aviators want. his age. His house was even more Well done to all involved. Keep up wonderful, rambling in the extreme the good work. and he had several bee hives in his Yours sincerely, garden. I still remember the jar of Richard Griffi ths, honey I got on one visit! (ex Lt Cdr RNR.) There are quite a few articles 11 May 2012 by Henry in the early editions of Jabberwock and I’m sure they

22 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

MONTHLY TALKS PROGRAMME

26 July 2012 Mr Peter Davison, RAeS, and Dr Giles Campion, RAeS “The R101 Disaster Revisited”

25 October 2012 Dr Julian Lewis MP “Racing Ace”, the biography of Sam Kincaid, RNAS fi ghter ace and Schneider Trophy pilot

20 September 2012 Mr David Braine Weather Forecasting - Past, Present and Future and a Summary of his life as RN Offi cer and Reservist

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TALK WILL BE HELD IN THE SWORDFISH CENTRE

29 November 2012 Cdr Sue Eagles, Campaign Director Fly Navy Heritage Trust Preserving our Heritage And sale of FNHT Christmas cards

Talks start at 19.30, cost £4 per head, pay at the door. The price includes light refreshments, including a glass of wine.

23 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

RECENT MONTHLY TALKS Summarised by Robert Heath

MAY TALK – “WINGS OVER the Army still expected offi cers to pay STONEHENGE” for their own pilot training. Eventually, the BE 2 became the accepted im Brown gave us a fascinating military machine, by which time the Tglimpse into the very early RFC had moved two miles away to days of military aviation in his talk on Netheravon and the Army covered the Larkhill airfi eld and early aviation from Larkhill site with wooden huts. Today it 1909 to 1914. “Get rid of is just a vast fi eld with a Do you ever wonder row of trees crossing it. about the state of mind Stonehenge ... a In the trees, the British of a great many ‘people & Colonial Sheds are in charge’? “Get rid of hazard to fl ying” still in use for storage! Stonehenge and fl atten Meanwhile, the Army the adjacent burial mounds, they uses Remotely Piloted are a hazard to fl ying”, demanded Aircraft as the modern successor to the Senior Offi cer at a nearby RFC these early reconnaissance machines. Training base in 1912. He was serious too. In 1897 the War Offi ce bought JUNE TALK - “ASSISTED ESCAPE 700 acres of land on Salisbury Plain FROM MILITARY AIRCRAFT” (now Bulford Camp). It expanded signifi cantly and rapidly after that. ohn Eatwell knows his subject well, having ejected from a Britain’s earliest military fl ying J Buccaneer Mk 1 on fi nals during his used balloons and kites for artillery FAA career, followed by many years spotting in the Boer War. The Wright at Boscombe Down specialising Brothers’ fl ight in 1903 offered even in ejection seats. The Germans in greater opportunities. In 1909, the WW2 were the fi rst to fi t ejection Aeronautical Syndicate Ltd was set up seats in service aircraft, followed at Larkhill to build aircraft. Additionally, closely by Sweden. As aircraft some Army offi cers learnt to fl y at their speeds increased, the chances of own expense and with their Bleriot surviving escape in an emergency aircraft encouraged the War Offi ce plunged. Jumping out of the cockpit to take an interest. Meanwhile, the at speeds below 150 knots gave a & Colonial Aeroplane Co. was 75% chance of survival, but above formed to provide pilot training and 290 knots, there would only be a 2% their sheds were built at Larkhill also. chance – not good for confi dence- Air Battalions were formed in 1911, but building! Enter Ulsterman James

24 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

Martin, who had formed his own at 320kts. aircraft company at Denham near Lynch survived unscathed ... London in 1929. His partner, Lynch survived the ejection Valentine Baker, was killed testing unscathed, but other ejectees one of their aircraft during the War. suffered spinal damage from the In 1944, the Air Ministry expressed violence of the single catridge impulse. This led Sir James’s designers to develop double and even triple cartridge installations, which fi red proressively to reduce the ‘g’ loading on the ejectee while still giving the desired trajectory away from the aircraft. A diffi cult relationship Although Martin’s relationship with the Air Ministry was a difficult one, the effectiveness of his invention could not be denied and Martin-Baker seats became a standard fit in all UK high speed military aircraft. The US Navy was also impressed and all their fast jets use Martin- Baker seats as well. Martin Baker have consistently improved the Mk 14 NACES seat, as fi tted to performance of their seats, so US Navy jets. Photo: Martin-Baker that the latest ones have a rocket pack as well as progressively-fired interest in escape mechanisms, cartridges. They have “zero-zero” to which James Martin responded operation, in other words, capable by building a ramp to enable him of ejecting the pilot safely even to carry out test launches of his when the aircraft is at ground level own design of ejection seat. These with zero forward speed. When early models were fi red by a single John Eatwell ejected, he lived to explosive cartridge. In 1946, tell the tale, along with 7,398 other Bernard Lynch (a volunteer fi tter souls. He enthralled the audience employed by Martin) successfully of more than 70 and gave us a achieved the fi rst test escape in one great evening – who needs TV of these seats from a Meteor. The football? aircraft was at 8,000 feet and fl ying

25 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

DOWN MEMORY LANE By David Marchant

Th e Dragonfl y, a licence-built version of the Sikorski S-51

he SAR helicopter of the ‘chaser’; an attendant destroyer. Any T1950s, the Dragonfl y, aircraft unfortunate to ditch whilst affectionately named the operating from the carrier was dealt ‘Dragonbox’, was the British built with by the ‘chaser’, which had to version of the American Sikorsky heave to and lower a sea boat to S-51. Our American cousins had effect a rescue. With the introduction developed this helicopter and were of the plane-guard helicopter, making full use of it operationally pre- an immediate rescue could take 1950. The Royal Navy, recognising place should any aircraft have the the potential of this machine, soon misfortune to go over the side. followed suit. Sikorsky helicopters Not a handsome aircraft, the obtained from the Americans were Dragonfl y was nearly all engine being operated from British carriers and tail, with the pilot practically during the Korean confl ict, on plane sitting on the aircrewman’s knees guard duties. Before the introduction in the confi ned cabin area. Lifting of the helicopter, carriers undertaking capacity was poor, depending on fl ying operations had their own the fuel load and fl ying conditions.

26 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

“Same way, same day” - an impressively tight formation of Dragonfl ys from RNAS Culdrose Centre of gravity was critical and a more aircraft came into service, a number of lead weights were added shortage of rating aircrew arose, or removed to trim the aircraft. and consequently the Aircrewman The absolute maximum number of Branch was formed. Ratings survivors the aircraft was capable of selected for fl ying duties undertook winching was two. a four-year tour with a two year The Royal Navy’s fi rst helicopter return to their source branch for squadron, 705, was formed at a “rest”. Before the branch was RNAS Gosport. It was here that formed, practically all back-seat trainee helicopter crewmen were aircrew duties were carried out by initiated in the arts of wire-dangling Telegraphist Air Gunners (TAGs) and water-walking. The squadron or Flying Telegraphists (the Flying used three types of aircraft – Tels) who were engaged mainly on Dragonfl ies, Whirlwinds and Hillers, anti-submarine duties, with a small the last named for pilot training. As number on helicopter duties.

27 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

After several passes of the airfi eld and receiving several red fl ares from ATC, he would announce: “Perhaps it would be better if we were to lower the undercarriage.” The unfortunate student, sitting on the pilot’s right, then had to spend the next 15 minutes or so pumping down the undercarriage by hand. After landing, pupils could often be seen walking groggily back to the crewroom, each clutching a brown paper bag. Practically all helicopter training was carried out in the Dragonfl y. Exercises in all methods of winching were undertaken daily – single lifts (using a helicopter strop), double lifts (placing the crewman on a wire) and netting practice (scooping a 5-gallon drum from the sea). Single lifts were usually straightforward, but Training poster for downed aircrew the double lift was murder, especially when carried out wet. To facilitate Basic training for helicopter aircrew the winching of a survivor who was was undertaken at Gosport. It was injured or unconscious, the crewman divided in to three phases: winching procedures, navigation exercises would be lowered on the strop. In the and communications. To put it more case of the Dragonfl y, there was just simply: getting wet, getting lost and the aircrewman and pilot, who was becoming speechless and deaf! Initial reluctant to leave his post (except air experience was gained bogging when ditching). After heaving out around the sky in an ancient Avro the extended R/T lead, the crewman Anson aircraft, piloted by an equally attached himself, and gave control ancient aviator named Braddock. of the winch to the pilot, who had His favourite trick, when preparing to an additional switch on his control land, was suddenly to produce a copy column. of Pilots Notes and prop it up on the The antics that followed were instrument panel, muttering: usually quite disastrous. Problem “Now, how do I land this damn number one was to make sure one’s thing?” life was not ended by hanging.

28 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

until the last few yards of the run in, when it was trawled and the survivor literally scooped out of the sea. In choppy conditions , the sight of this object bouncing from wave-top to wave-top turned many an exercise survivor prematurely grey. Before being let loose on a real live survivor, trainees carried out practices on a fi ve gallon drum painted yellow. As it was thrown from the door the Chief’s parting instruction came to mind: “If you lose this one, don’t b.....y well bother to come back!” On completion of the basic course, rating aircrew became the property of the Drafting Offi cer. In future years the shout of: “Charlie Wines on the phone!” was enough to clear the crewroom. The unfortunate who answered the Th e Sproule net from the telephone was usually asked for his customer’s viewpoint name and, in the fullness of time a chit Problem number two was ensuring would arrive politely instructing him to that one’s boots were free, so that one gather his belongings and depart for remained upright; and fi nally, ensuring pastures new! The drafts were many, that the pilot understood the phrase, and varied, from fl ying plane-guard “Stop Winch”, especially as one’s off Scotland to wet winching at . boots entered the water. The fi nal So to were the duties involved – winching exercise came under the airborne steward for VIPs, dispatcher simple heading of ‘Netting Practice’. for Royal Marine parachutists and The net – or to give it its full title, the abseilers, diver’s dresser, chaperone “Sproule Net” – was designed and for high fl ying witches on broom-sticks introduced in to service by Lt Cdr at Open Days etc. Looking back, Sproule, a helicopter pilot serving at the time at RNAS Ford in Sussex. It how we managed to overcome the was a large scoop-shaped net rigged mental strain of Scrabble and cards is in a frame. Hooked on to the winch, unbelievable! it was lowered just clear of the water

29 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

THE “INDEFAT”, OR HMS INDEFATIGABLE By Roy Blake, Lieut RN (Retd) BSc (Eng)

have never been in the Fleet at Palembang in Sumatra on our I Air Arm, but as a sixteen year way. Now I know that these attacks old Boy Seaman First Class on my robbed the Japanese of half their fi rst ship, I became very involved fuel requirements for six months. with their world. The ship was HMS This was to prove vital in the last Indefatigable, one of the four fl eet year of the war when they had carriers in the British Pacifi c Fleet submarines and aircraft but no fuel (BPF) from 1943 until the war to drive them. ended. I joined her at Scapa Flow Goodies and ... chocolate spread! on her return from attacking the At Freemantle each member German pocket Tirpitz of the crew was presented with a in Alten Fjord, . As soon as big carton of goodies, chocolate, we were settled in, we all 26 boys fruit and two bottles of beer and! rushed up to the fl ight deck to see chocolate spread, luxuries we had the planes. I came face to face with all forgotten in . Then we my fi rst Barracuda, which was huge, were off north to operations ending and I touched the engine cowl of with supporting the American something that looked remarkably landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. like a Spitfi re. We peered down Until then we had all regarded the giant aircraft lift into the upper the aircraft maintenance crews as hangar, where we were not allowed. kind of odd bods. They dressed Three clip Y doors kept guard. like us, but knew nothing of ships, Two weeks later we sailed boats and seamanship. Neither for the Pacifi c, passing silently did they have to do the cleaning past Gibraltar at night to avoid and dirty jobs like us. At best, they any attention from the Germans. were just sheet metal workers or Then through the Suez Canal to motor mechanics. We were soon to Ceylon, our fi rst taste of a foreign change our attitude when we saw port. We then sailed around the them working through the night to island to the big fl eet anchorage, prepare the last airworthy Seafi re Trincomalee, where we were able for the dawn patrol (CAP). to visit Kandy, the spiritual centre. It The routine during operations was widely rumoured that the fl eet was reveille at 05.30 when the gun got lost in this short sea journey. crews would close up and the CAP Then on to Australia. No one could took off. I was a fuze setter on one understand why we took time off to of the sixteen 4.5 AA guns, setting attack and bomb the oil refi neries

30 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 the range at which the shell would Knocker White, of my mess. (Years explode. When things got too rough later someone turned up at the we were called up to the fl ight deck Indefat Association who claimed to as extra aircraft handling party to be the bugler so things began to push the planes around and fold get a little confused.) When one of and unfold wings. I used to strive the other carriers was hit we had to get to Seafi res fi rst, climb into to take on a Corsair, a heavy (ten the cockpit and operate the brakes. ton?) fi ghter. Our fi ghters were This was play time. For big strikes lightweight Seafi res, (fi ve tons?) so I had to man the wheel chocks of the hydraulic arrester wires were set Avengers. This was a terrible job. for fi ghter. The hook caught the wire With the six inch exhaust pipes and simply pulled it right out, the belching out fl ames a few feet away plane soared over the barriers and

HMS Indefatigable at high speed while the pilot did his pre-fl ight landed on the deck cargo, straddling four planes. One small error, fi ve full power test and the big metal planes destroyed. propeller not much further away, it was hell. We had no protection. The Indefat was anchored in Yokahama harbour when the On 1 April1945 the Indefat Surrender was signed. Years later, was hit by a Mitsubishi 01 suicide as a Lieutenant, I ordered the four fi ghter plane with a 500lb bomb tugs to take her to the Faslane strapped to the fuselage, killing Shipping Company wharf in the sixteen crew members, including Gareloch and watched her being Commander (Flying), the Marine broken up for scrap. Bugle Boy and Leading Seaman

31 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

885 SQUADRON AND THE BPF FLEET TRAIN A postscript by Len Dowsett

e left with a deck wardroom wine store and drunk a W full of replacement aircraft considerable amount of its contents! for the main Fleet carriers of TF57. As Captain Currey’s memoir says:- The Japs were still fi ghting in New “The entire engine room Guinea as we passed that island, complement was in a state of and our Captain insisted on having unconsciousness!” one 885 Hellcat with pilot on the Others recalled that they had also catapult, ready for fi ring off, should caused a fi re in one room and some any Japanese aircraft attack us from were put in a hold after fi ghting with there. None did, and the pilots who the watch, with ropes tied across the landed a three to four hour stint opening to stop them getting out, air sitting in the heat, during this dawn being pumped down to them and to dusk chore, were not pleased! hoses ready to knock them back if they tried! I cannot fi nd any chart which shows where Ruler was when the Later they were formally Captain anchored off a tropical arraigned before a Court Martial on island and announced a “Make and Ruler at Leyte Gulf, and all got 42 Mend” – which put simply, meant days cells in Lae, New Guinea. But that anyone not on watch could the Captain then had to ask ships do what they liked! Boats were at Leyte if they could spare some arranged to take offi cers and crew fi remen etc! to the island; impromptu games of football or cricket started up, and JABBERWOCK CROSSWORD the swimming was gorgeous. There No. 1 - Solution ACROSS DOWN seemed to be no inhabitants, and 1. Ben My Chree 1. Boa I remember the small vivid green 5. Hangar 2. Yorker tropical oranges. The taste of the 7. Rigid 3. Hermes green skin was appalling, but once 9. Adhere 4. Engadine rid of that the oranges were a 10. Din 5. Hibernia delight. 11. Eats 6. Gods 13. Anti 8. Dunning However proceedings came 14. Morane 9 Attend to to a quick end, and we were all 15. Dot 12. Armour ordered back on board. On board 16. Order 13. Any day we found that stokers and greasers, 18. Rolls Royce 14. Metal all T124X merchant seamen in RN 17. Roe uniform, had broken through into the

32 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

“SKUA - TOO BIG, TOO HEAVY AND TOO LATE” By Tony O’Toole

equipped with the less reliable The Skua Enters Service 860hp Bristol Perseus XII. This made it the fi rst British aircraft to fl y he was the with a sleeve-valve engine. Aircraft result of a challenging 1934 T designer G E Petty was forced to specifi cation, 027/34, for a two make alterations to his original seat dual purpose aircraft capable design in order to improve stability of carrying out the roles of fi ghter, reconnaissance and dive and other problems by lengthening within a single modern monoplane. the nose and adding upturned wing The aircraft tips. Even with these modifi cations, would replace the Hawker Nimrod and Osprey fi ghters then in service and also provide the Admiralty with a dive bombing capability. These diverse tasks were Blackburn Skua prototype K5178 all combined into a single airframe, because it was still dangerous to enter a spin the comparatively small British in a Skua. An anti spin parachute carriers were considered incapable was fi tted in the tail to aid recovery, of carrying three different types in which was not a very satisfactory suffi cient quantities to fulfi l each solution for an aircraft that would be separate role. However, this was used as a fi ghter! also the cheapest option! Straight from the drawing board The fi rst two Skua prototypes With these modifi cations, all were powered by 860hp Bristol production Skuas were known as Mercury engines, but because this Mk IIs and specifi cation 25/36 was engine was required for Blenheim issued straight from the drawing production, all other Skuas were board in 1936 for one hundred and

33 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

Squadron, a fi ghter training unit, and was not re-formed again until January 1940 at Donibristle, this time with a mix of Skuas and Rocs. The fi nal operational Skua unit to form was 806 at Eastleigh in February 1940, eventually moving north to Scotland. A fl ight of Rocs was added As with every other Skua unit apart from 803, a fl ight of Rocs was added to the unit. The Roc was the so called fi ghter version of the Skua, equipped with A fi ne picture of Skua Mk IIs in formation “somewhere a four gun power- over Southern England” operated turret and ninety airframes. These were to be no forward fi ring built at Brough by Blackburns but, guns, just like the RAF Defi ant. because of delays in the programme Amongst the ranks of 806 were new and inter service wrangling, the fi rst pilots straight out of training such as Mk IIs did not enter service until Stan Orr, Ivan Lowe, Jackie Sewell October 1938. and Graham Hogg, along with older The fi rst units to receive Skuas hands such as Bill Barnes and the were 800 and 803 Squadrons at CO Charles Evans, who would all Worthy Down in Hampshire, with go on to become aces. 800 receiving them fi rst, embarking The Skua was the Fleet Air Arm’s upon the brand new carrier HMS fi rst ever stressed skin monoplane Ark Royal in November the same and also the fi rst British naval year, followed by 803 in April 1939. aircraft to be fi tted with a four gun The next unit to receive them was armament in the wings, but the 801 in early 1939. However, this Skua had even more fi rsts to its unit soon disbanded to form 769 name than this! A Skua scored the

34 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

fi rst British air to air victory during on the hull and confi rm that it was World War Two, when a Dornier the right vessel, he was surprised Do18 fl ying boat of 2 Staffel Ku to see U-Boat U-30 lying alongside Gr 506 was forced down on 25 on the far side with a boarding party September 1939 by Skuas fl own by aboard. Charles Evans and Lt McEwen of He instinctively dropped his 803. bombs .... Attack on U-30 As he passed over the ship Another less well known Skua and submarine he instinctively fi rst is that two Skua pilots became dropped his bombs, comprising of the fi rst Fleet Air Arm Prisoners a single 100lb anti submarine bomb of War of World War Two. This under the fuselage and four 20lb occurred on 14 September 1939, Cooper bombs under the wings. during a chain of events that could Unfortunately the bombs had been fi ll a feature fi lm. It started when fused incorrectly and because he three Skuas from 803 were sent was so low his aircraft was caught out from HMS Ark Royal to search up in the bomb blast. Bomb splinters for the merchant ship Fanad Head pierced the fuel tanks of the Skua that had reported that it was under and set it alight. The crew were attack from a surfaced U-Boat near badly burned, but they ditched in the Rockall Lighthouse. These Skuas were L2873/A7M fl own by Lt. Guy Griffi ths of the (RM) and his Telegraphist Air Gunner (TAG) Petty Offi cer (PO) George McKay, L2957/ A7K fl own by Lt. R.P. `Thirsty’ Thurston and his TAG PO James `Jock’ Simpson and fi nally A7A Th e ill-fated Roc, an unsuccessful derivative (serial unknown) fl own by of the Skua the unit’s CO Lt Cdr Dennis Campbell and his observer Lt the sea a mile away from the ship, Michael Hanson. They all spread whilst the undamaged U-30 crash out to conduct individual search dived, leaving its boarding party patterns and Hurston was the fi rst behind. Both aircrew managed to fi nd the Fanad Head. As he fl ew to get out of their aircraft and around the stern of the ship at wave set off swimming towards the top height to read the name painted merchantman, but Simpson soon

35 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 succumbed to his wounds (and they fl ew over and they too dropped the freezing Atlantic water) and their bombs automatically from low drowned. level. Another Skua, A7A fl own by The blast was even more Lt Cdr Campbell and Lt Hanson, ferocious appeared on the scene after This time the blast was even spotting the bomb blasts on the more ferocious and the Skua horizon. They mistook these for a immediately disintegrated before U-Boat shelling a ship and as they plummeting into the sea, taking got closer they also mistook the McKay with it, although the pilot sinking wreck of the fi rst Skua for was just able to scramble clear. a diving submarine and bombed it. Griffi th managed to swim the short This infl icted a couple of shrapnel distance to the Fanad Head, which holes in their fuselage as their the badly burnt Thurston had also bombs had also been incorrectly reached earlier after swimming fused. No sooner had they dropped most of the distance from his own their bombs than U-30 re-surfaced. Campbell strafed it until his front As the submarine guns ran out of ammunition, whilst Hanson sent a situation report fi red its torpedo, the to Ark Royal asking for nearby Swordfi sh from Ark Swordfi sh to head in their direction. They innocently fl ew at low level Royal arrived... towards the stern ... downed Skua. He was rescued by The third Skua, A7K/ L2957 a brave German sailor, who dived in fl own by Lt Griffi th RM and PO to save him. Both pilots were then McKay, came across the Fanad taken aboard U-30, which dived Head soon after A7A had left the after giving up its original idea of scene. Because of the limitations replenishing its food and fuel from of their early radios, which only the merchantman and it sank the used Morse code and could not Fanad Head with a torpedo. As transmit between aircraft unless the submarine fi red its torpedo the they were close together, they Swordfi sh from Ark Royal arrived had no idea of anything that had overhead and bombed the U-Boat occurred previously. Following using the torpedo track as an standard procedure they innocently indicator of its position. This attack fl ew at low level towards the stern only damaged the bows of the of the ship in order to identify it. Just boat, and U-30 eventually reached like the fi rst Skua they spotted the Germany. Here Griffi th and Thurston U-Boat alongside on the far side as were treated as political prisoners by

36 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 the Gestapo for quite a while, as they damage infl icted the previous day by had found out from U-30’s crew that Norwegian coastal guns during the it had sunk a civilian liner. This act taking of the town. After completing had been denied by Germany, but their circuit above the harbour, the after much subterfuge via the Red Skuas toppled over into their 70 Cross the airmen eventually became to 80 degree attack dives with the PoWs for the rest of the war. rising sun behind them. As the ship’s Sinking the Koningsberg anti-aircraft defences opened up they each released a 500lb Semi Armour The Fanad Head incident was Piercing (SAP) bomb from between widely reported at the time, but 1500 and 3000 ft, in an attack that perhaps the most famous fi rst for the lasted only three minutes. In that Skua is that it was the fi rst aircraft in time, three direct hits were registered the world to sink a warship purely by along with a dozen near misses, bombing. 16 Skuas fl ew across the causing massive fi res on board and North Sea from Hatston on 10 April extensive underwater damage, which 1940 to sink the 6,000 ton German caused the to keel over and cruiser Konigsberg in Bergen sink just under three hours later. harbour, just one day after Germany invaded Norway. The strike force One of the Skuas was lost ... consisted of fi ve Skuas from 800 One of the Skuas was lost during squadron led by Capt Dick “Birdie” the attack when L2923, fl own by Lt Partridge RM and 11 from 803, led Bryan Smeeton and Midshipman by Lt Bill Lucy RN. Fred Watkinson of 803, spun into They had been briefed to dive the ground just as it began to pull bomb a number of German warships up from its dive, probably due to fl ak reported to be in Bergen harbour. damage. The rest returned safely to After fl ying in total darkness over the Hatston. For their leadership during sea for over two hours, the formation this historic attack, both squadron made its pre briefed landfall at the COs Partridge and Lucy were mouth of Bergen Fjord within thirty awarded the Distinguished Service seconds of their expected time of Order. However, when the BBC later arrival, thanks to the remarkable reported the raid they said that it had skill of lead observer Lt Michael been carried out by the RAF! As well Hanson. They climbed to 12,000 ft as this success Lucy later became ready to attack just as dawn was the fi rst Fleet Air Arm ace of the war, breaking, but on their arrival over scoring fi ve kills in Skuas during the Bergen they found that most of the Norwegian campaign - another fi rst German warships had already gone. for the Skua! The only warship left was the cruiser To be continued... Konigsberg, which was alongside the Skoltegrund Mole repairing

37 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

TALES MY GRANDFATHER TOLD By “Sandy” Saunders

y aspirations of becoming (“Wings on my Sleeve”). He Ma fi ghter pilot ended and I therefore decided to devote much of re-trained as an Air Traffi c Control our training to GCA. He went on to Offi cer. I was appointed in the winter say that “landing an aircraft by GCA of 1955 to HMS Goldcrest, the is a slow business, and our concern Royal at Brawdy, was to be able to get a lot of jets a fi ghter station operating Attackers down as quickly as possible, so and Seahawks. we practised getting our machines Brawdy was located in West down in formation pairs with an Pembrokeshire, on a cliff, 300ft+ interval of 30 seconds between above sea level. The nearest 24/7 pairs.” airfi elds were RNAS Yeovilton, and Airfi elds were closed ... the RAF stations at Chivenor and Valley, all some hundred or so miles This is the background to my away. Such distance brought its own return to Shawbury to join a GCA problem, particularly in the winter Course, which was disciplined but months when Brawdy could often relatively routine. The real thing become “clagged in”. It resulted, can be somewhat more dramatic. within weeks of my arrival, of my I especially recollect one day being selected for specialist training following my return to Brawdy, in Ground Controlled Approach when the airfi eld had been closed (“GCA”), by the then Commander for fl ying for the entire 24 hours (Air) of the Station, Eric (Winkle) and everyone had been stood Brown, and my ultimate boss. down. All other airfi elds in the GCA is a technique by which the south west were also closed. The Controller, using precision radar, wireless offi ce heard a May Day gives instructions to the pilot on call indicating that a squadron of the height, course and speed of Sea Hawks were unable to land approach needed to land his aircraft back on their carrier in the Channel until he has been brought it to within due to rough weather and were sight of the runway. Captain Brown now desperately short of fuel. wrote of “a big headache when in a Although still only a Midshipman, matter of minutes the airfi eld could I was Offi cer of the Day. There be covered in sea fog without any was no time to try to contact a warning, and jets with very little more senior offi cer, not even a fuel reserve left would have to be sub-lieutenant! Coincidentally I diverted over these long distances”. was also the only offi cer on board

38 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012 qualifi ed to talk down aircraft. There the two radar screens, willing the was nowhere else for the squadron strobe to sweep more quickly. to go, so in truth, I had no real Talking continuously to each pair alternative but to take the decision with what seemed like four contacts to open up the airfi eld; I called the a second, I guided each pair on to the glide path, and talked them in. Thankfully each “went visual” coming over the airfi eld boundary, some 60 yards from touchdown, and all landed without further Plumes of smoke from Sea Hawk starter cartridges incident. My old duty Petty Offi cer to power up the wardroom oppo, Dickie Wren, was GCA truck, and alert the Fire Crew. one of those eight pilots. Dickie, Their precarious fuel state ... who later asked me to be his best man, gave me my fi nest hour when As the semi permanent airfi eld in the Wardroom later he was heard patroller, I had my WD 4-square to say that on hearing my voice Norton outside my cabin, and biked he knew they would get down OK. out to my operational home at the This emphasises the truth of Winkle end of the runway. I called up the Brown’s statement: Squadron Commander over the “Perfect teamwork is essential R/T, and, hearing their precarious between pilot and ground controller. fuel state, recognised that the next In extreme conditions when nerves few minutes would see one of three are string-taut, success may outcomes, either a successful depend on such a thing as the note touchdown on the runway for of confi dence in the controller’s each of the pilots on what would voice. The latter must talk, and talk be their one and only attempt, or confi dently, all the time. I have seen failing that, eight crash landings on pilots open up and go round again the beach, or multiple ejections. when a controller’s fl ow has faltered The adrenalin kicked in, it was the for a second.” emergency I had been trained for, On this occasion, I knew that the and like a shepherd with his collie, I option of going round again wasn’t gathered the aircraft into four pairs, available! switching my eyes rapidly between

39 Jabberwock No 68. August 2012

MY INTRODUCTION TO FLYING By Captain H A Traill

ext we met Lt (E) Merryman, both the top and bottom main spars Nwho showed us his Fairey were more than half cut through. IIID, into which we climbed; leaving Reiss was killed a few weeks later our scarves on the ground! Over when he fl ew into the Downs on the the Solent, Merryman sighted a Isle of Wight in fog but Merryman submarine on the surface and miraculously survived. decided to rock it up. We dived Our next fl ight was in an Avro steeply towards the conning tower, Bison fl own by a Lt Lane. The Bison cleared it by what seemed to be a was a curious biplane, built round few feet, wind screaming in the rigging, and roared up in a steep climb. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, audible above the wind noise, and about Th e Avro Bison. Note the observer’s picture window. half the fabric disappeared from the starboard a box with a Napier engine in front, upper mainplane. Bits began to peel the pilot sitting on the top front off the bottom mainplane as well, all edge of the box just in front of the unseen by Merryman. However, we leading edge of the top mainplane. drew his attention to it by banging Lane attempted to loop the thing but him on the head and pointing. hung on the top. Graham and I fell Unsuspected by us, the submarine from what had been the fl oor and had been fl ying a kite to support a landed on our heads on what had long wireless aerial. We had caught been the roof. A toolbox, full of tools, this wire on the leading edge, followed and hit me in the eye and I bringing the kite down with a bang had a real black eye for many days on the top main plane as we rushed afterwards. Eventually, we came away with the wing in the bight of right way up and landed. the wire. We returned and landed (This is part of an article originally at Gosport, where they found that published in Jabberwock No 10, May 1983 )

40

A crowded scene - Seafi res on the fl ight deck of HMS Indefatigable, late 1945

No.68 August 2012