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CLUB AND AIRPORT NEWS BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT SOCIAL CLUB LTD In Ass. with BigginHillReunited.co.uk

ISSUE No. 93 1st November 2012 www.bigginhillclub.co.uk

AIRFIELD PERSONALITIES: he recalls were, John George, always on a tractor cutting the David Quirk, and David St Ledger grass on the inactive grass runway. on Aeronca 7FC Champion Tri Travelers one of which (G-ARAP) is still flying some 48 years on.

These were the halcyon days of Biggin Hill Airfield.

Peter also recalls that he had two other Instructors Dr Ian Dalziel and Peter remembers John Willis, one PETER JACKSON – pictured Tony Machin. of the earlier controllers in the above disguised as an articulate, tower, whom he describes as eloquent civilian has been flying It seems like he had more ‘super slick’ the ‘business’ at the since 1964 whence he first came to instructors than the club had time. Biggin Hill, stumbling upon aircraft. (He would end up owning Flairavia Flying Club in the more aircraft than the club ever process and the many pilots that had). frequented the tiny compact bar run by David Porter (standing room He finally did his GFT with the only) most nights listening to Trini renowned Trevor Prytherch. A Lopez music which blared out until school teacher, and author of some somewhere around 0300 hrs They aviation text books for the Private all drove home in those days after Pilot. these sessions of joviality – drink drive laws hadn’t been invented. It was around this period that Sir Robin Phillips appeared on the airfield in his Rolls Royce. “He was my hero in those far off Robin eventually worked in the old days”. JW also provided disco tower (adjacent to 29/11 runway) music for the home party, cool The original Flairavia Bar was along with Janet Hoare who would man, cool. situated in this small block next to scold you if you did anything the hangar. Interior measurements wrong. (tremble, tremble). Later on Peter joined up with were about 18ft x 6ft for George Adams, an old Biggin Hill’ customers, but who cared.? This In amongst all this activity, Peter ite South London Aero Club would be the beginning of his remembers Sue Saggers was member, a real character at this flying career, his early Instructors time in their evolution of flying Surrey & Kent in those days had with SLAC’s Cherokee G-ATRU. several aircraft. The Aircoupes being mainly used for Air Cadet flying training, Tiger Moths, Chipmunks, Cessna 150’s made up the remainder of their fleet. They also had a Link Trainer for During this interview with the Instrument Training, normal if the correct approach editor, Peter recalled how we flew speed was adhered to: parallel circuits on all runways (see Peter recalls attending a college at A bit cramped with the central October issue, page 1, column 1) Blackfen with four other Students control column. Care had to be an essential part of circuit flying, to further enhance their flying exercised locking the canopy which taught well, never forgotten. theory toward their PPL written hinged backwards. One also had to exams armed with their ex be careful climbing into this This technique will prove a Wartime Dalton Flight Computers, aircraft which had a very small salvation in Peters life later on in learning about ground speed, drift, single step, hardly wide enough for this article with a serious engine true airspeed, the 1:60 Rule. the average foot. A slip could failure (read on). bring tears to your eyes, if you They all completed their theory slipped and straddled the edge of Back to reality, Peter tells of followed by the standard cross the narrow fuselage, far worse than taking a 4 seat Piper Tri Pacer country of the day, Biggin – slipping off the saddle of your 160HP G-ARET (pictured below) Stapleford – Ipswich - Biggin bicycle onto the crossbar. to Gatwick occasionally when the completing their individual GFT’s landing fee was about 17s /6p for a gaining their PPL’s. Later on Peter was checked out in a light aircraft and then heading for Tiger Moth (a real tail dragger) the staff canteen (pilots welcome) Soon after Peter decided he would operated by the late Tim (Oily) for a cup of tea costing 5p or less progress toward an Instrument Doyle of West Essex Flying Club and then flying back to Biggin. Rating and started using S&K’s who had appeared mysteriously Link Trainer to gain experience overnight like a ‘Geni’ from a with instrument flying. bottle. He seemed to arrive complete with a small clubhouse He decided to join the Eric and aircraft. Thurston flight school at Stapleford Tawney aerodrome in Essex which Tim operated a fleet of Condor conducted training for the much aircraft built by Rollason Aircraft Doing this today would devour any valued Instrument Rating flying at Croydon under licence. astute business man of his spoils, their Piper Apache aircraft. let alone obtaining a clearance to even enter their Control Zone. Finally, taking his IR test with a CAFU examiner in a Piper Apache The GAT (General Aviation at a deserted airfield called Terminal) facility has long since Stansted passing all 4 stages in one Most Condors of the day were gone and all privileges associated day. Stansted in those days was a painted a simple yellow colour all with it have gone too. CAA airfield which ran for 24 / 7 it over, not the best looking but easy

was ideal for night training etc; as to fly. He remembers Surrey & Kent with there almost no other aircraft their Aircoupes which sounded like operating. Today it is holiday a tin can being dropped when they departure terminal with hundreds landed. of flights.

David Porter (Flairavia) imported a couple of Bolkow Juniors 208’s whilst Peters association with the with the club continued – these little honeys were considered to be Venturing on with this new found The old Surrey & Kent bar visible a little hot on the approach, but aviation career Peter said he was (centre) in the background a much handled correctly were quite sold a Piper Arrow by Ralph Scott larger watering hole. of Express Aviation saying, “I only went to look at it”. It was a good aeroplane and he had a lot of fun with it.

1971 Capt George Dobson arrived

Flashback of memory, Peter recalls

how Roy Saunders in the old The Navajo was followed by a Flairavia days was the life and soul Cessna 425 with PT6 turbine of a party, always the centre of engines in 1987. attraction.

Makes you wonder if he had any time left for flying with all these different aircraft.

1987 Peter moved to live in joining King Air flying club as Guernsey following the sale of his This image was sketched in 1972 their IR Simulator Instructor. He estate agent business to Halifax by Graham Webb and it took the was an ex British Eagle Captain Building Society. editor another 32 years to obtain flying Viscount and Britannia this treasured copy, such was aircraft. 1992 saw Peter back in the UK and Graham’s protective nature of his he would buy yet another aircraft, a artistic skill Peter describes how George was Stampe, which he operated out of unimpressed by pilots trying to get Redhill. He joined the Stampe their IMC or Instrument Rating Club and would fly to Antwerp and how disgusted he was with once a year for their annual rallye their attempts. Mumbling aloud. whereupon, all entrants were entertained until most were unable He says we all learned from these to stand. They would be woken in outbursts, George not only taught the morning for an early breakfast Roy Saunders (pig) was a character us respect, he improved our ability followed by a briefing of how they larger than life. Roy possessed a to fly by instruments, becoming would all form up and fly in repertoire of jokes and mimicry mellowed with time and a true Icon formation above Antwerp. Most that was never ending. at Biggin Hill, a lovely man. hadn’t flown in formation before and had no knowledge of the other Back to our current Personality Peter’s next aircraft would be a pilot’s abilities. flying a military jet an L29 Delfin, Beech Baron 55, in which he flew with Ted Girdler ex RAF Red around Europe with friends. Arrow who ran a flying school at Manston, East Kent.

Whilst enjoying this aircraft he He sold this aircraft and the new would eventually swop it for a Piper Navajo, which had a couple owner crashed it within 3 months. more seats. His next aircraft would be a Peter then bought a share in Rockwell Commander. 114B This restaurant was previously the was Joe Baleika and hailed from ‘Chapla’ is now the ‘Tulsi’. Czechoslovakia as I recall. He was reputed to be the very first pilot on The Head Chef has been in the record to have gone through the kitchen covering these fabulous sound barrier in a piston-engined eating houses for 29 years, and we aircraft. I got the full story from the have been coming here 11 years London Transport Sports Club which says something for the high magazine. It went something like another military jet the L39 quality of the food and the friendly this… Albatross. Peter was checked out in expert service and pleasant décor. Joe was a Spitfire pilot during this aircraft by an ex RAF Harrier the Battle of Britain, and one day Pilot who taught him the ‘the LDH serial continues……. accompanied by others of his flight golden rule’ if you get a ‘flame out they were pounced on by a pack of - bang out’ as the sink rate without Me 109s. The sky was full of thrust was quite alarming. aircraft wheeling around firing at Whilst he was flying in the circuit one another, then suddenly, as he experienced a flame out whilst often happened in those days, he flying the crosswind leg of the found himself all alone in the sky. circuit and realised that he was low Being low on fuel and practically and committed to land, rather than out of ammunition he decided to ‘bang out’ and whilst he could see return back to base. Then out of the the airfield quite nicely, blue he was jumped on by two thought…! “I can’t afford to get ‘bandits’ firing like fury. Being involved in any turn or manoeuvre out-gunned and out-manoeuvred he that will descimate his currently did the only thing possible and safe airspeed” – land straight stuck the nose down in a vertical ahead, which is your next safest dive with the tap wide open to get option which he did, into a away from them. As the sea came ploughed field. rushing up to meet him from the It didn’t do the aircraft any good, long dive he pulled back hard on but Peter walked away with muddy the yoke and immediately blacked- One of the drivers who overheard our out due to the ‘G’ forces. When his shoes..!! conversation took me to one side Refer back to page 2 column 1 vision returned he was still afterwards and told me that in fact this climbing almost vertically with the conductor had been an RAF...... Airspeed Indicator hard on the TULSI INDIAN RESTAURANT ‘Gentlemans Smoking Evening’ Lancaster rear gunner and was stop. Another very successful annual get wounded on one raid, so the pilot By the time he’d levelled off together was held at this famous decided to land at Manston airfield there was no sign of the enemy but restaurant in Westerham on the 10th on the way back to drop him off. his Spitfire was vibrating furiously October 2012. Churchill happened to be visiting and felt as if it was just about to the airfield at the time and pinned fall apart. He gingerly set course Membership to this elite gathering the DFM on him whilst he lay on for Manston just a short distance is difficult to obtain – a sound the stretcher. When will I ever away and landed as soon as he background of aviation is a pre- learn to keep my big mouth shut? could. On arrival they inspected the requisite with your application. I was amazed also at the machine and found just about every number of ex-aircrew that I met on rivet had popped and both the the buses, many of them ex-pilots. wings and fuselage were severely I could only conclude that after the buckled. Some boffins came down mind-boggling experiences from Boscombe Down to inspect it endured during the war, they and after giving it a most thorough couldn’t settle down to anything inspection came to the conclusion else. At least they were in control that it had possibly been through of something even if it was only a the sound barrier… I was proud to large red double-decker London know Joe. I had numerous amusing 2012 Left to Right: Steve Porter, Grant Dempster, bus. John Bryan, Gary Duncan, Patrick Tricker, Lee There was one driver though I incidents on the buses and some Russell and Alan Taylor. shall always remember. His name not quite so funny. One of these almost ended in tragedy. During There was also an occasion crosswise traffic with his other the height of the rush hour they when I narrowly avoided having hand. would turn us short at the Crown what would have been a tragic Now a bus radiator is very hot public house near Cricklewood accident by the skin of my teeth. I to touch, especially during the Broadway with barely a few was driving the bus at a moderate summer and I had noticed this minutes waiting time before pace between two rows of parked policeman’s left hand was very joining the fray once again. It was vehicles when a large pram close to my radiator, so very hardly worth climbing out of the appeared from behind one of them. gingerly I inched the bus forward cab. With nothing else better to do With no room to swerve I stood on in gear against the handbrake until I would while-away the few the brakes and pulled-up inches the hot radiator touched the back of minutes respite practicing trying to short of smashing into both the his hand. He leapt up in the air with pre-select the gear lever into pram and its tiny occupant. The a great yelp and came striding reverse by using my left hand and idiot woman pushing the pram was around the side of my cab rubbing thumb only; quite a slick operation quite oblivious of what she’d just his left hand shouting “I suppose that normally requires two hands. done. you think that’s bloody funny”. Of One early morning it saved my life A friend of mine who’d course I protested my innocence and many others as well. It previously drove the diesel buses, and blamed the weak handbrake for happened during the early rush but later transferred on the electric the problem. He never stopped me hour one dark cold winter’s trolleybuses, was approaching again though! morning. Being a bit late on Cricklewood Broadway one About every three months we schedule due to the traffic, I came evening. It was a very busy four- were obliged to do a week’s duty hurtling down Dollis Hill Road way intersection with masses of on the night bus from Cricklewood with a full load of passengers, overhead electric cables strung to Liverpool Street railway station. trying to make up for lost time, right across the junction. On each of the second runs at about intending to brake hard at the T- Completely forgetting that he was 3am there were normally very few junction with the very busy now driving a trolleybus instead of people about and often we’d be Edgware Road at the end. a diesel one, he absent-mindedly empty for the whole trip. Once However, on applying the brakes as tried to overtake the stationary when it was bitterly cold I invited I rapidly approached the junction, trolley in front of him with my clippie to come up and sit up in nothing happened. Unbeknown to disastrous results. His overhead the large cab with me whilst I was me (and many others as it pole arms clashed with the other driving to share the warmth of the transpired later) the roads were trolley’s ones which in turn fetched heater; the only one on the bus. We covered with black ice – the first down the whole network of cables had been doing this every night and ice of the winter and I hadn’t at the busy junction and caused one on one occasion, just to relieve the noticed. I was faced with two of the biggest traffic jams North boredom, I offered to show her streams of traffic ahead of me and London had known for years. how to drive it. There was nobody on the opposite side of the road a On the lighter side, during one around so we changed seats and line of hoardings behind which lay hot summer, a particular traffic cop went gaily off weaving our merry a steep embankment to a large busy always seemed to pick on me when way down the Queen’s Highway railway sidings. With locked he wanted to halt the line of traffic with little Nancy at the helm, wheels skidding on the ice, disaster in Park Lane to let the other hardly able to reach the large stared me right in the face! I waiting traffic cross. Sitting higher pedals. She had some knowledge immediately snapped the gear up than the average driver the of driving and was coping quite control lever into reverse using my traffic cops normally stop the buses well so for a laugh I went round the left hand only, as I had practiced so first. This made me late on back and pretended to be the many times before, kicked the schedule, giving my clippie a hard conductor. At the next bus stop operating pedal and pressed hard time. I got fed-up with it and when who should pop out of the shadow on the throttle with my other foot it happened on the fourth day of a shop doorway was an to send the drive wheels spinning running of that particular week’s Inspector. He couldn’t believe his backwards. It didn’t do the gearbox schedule I decided to do something eyes! There were no female bus much good but at least it stopped about it. drivers in those days of course. the bus just short of the junction. If Having stopped our line of Anyway, after lots of grovelling it hadn’t been for all those practice traffic he would then turn his back apologies on my part he gave me sessions at Cricklewood Broadway on us, holding up his left arm the biggest wigging of my life but it may well have resulted in a straight out in the horizontal being a good sport decided not to national disaster with possibly over position whilst beckoning the report the matter, which of course seventy deaths. would have led to my instant way I could further my ambitions In the long run John dismissal. was to earn lots more money and chickened out as he began to Once whilst doing the night pay the full price for the flying at realise the enormity of the task. run I briefly met the famous singer some other club. A bus driver’s pay Ron and I never really forgave him Matt Monroe. He was also driving then would not allow for this so I as it completely shattered all our the night buses from another depot started looking elsewhere. A friend dreams. My hopes and aspirations in the south of London. Totally of mine suggested that I go out to of sailing beyond the blue horizon unknown then outside of London Canada where I heard that many to pastures new faded into oblivion Transport of course but was well-paid opportunities presented once more. Following this a stroke beginning to make a name for themselves. Flying was also much of good luck compensated for my himself singing in various talent cheaper there. disappointment which eventually contests. Many years later, a good Another friend of mine, led me into the world of friend of mine, David St Leger, Johnny Gosling, was quite an adept Commercial Aviation. who I taught to fly and was by this sailor and had his own sturdy little One day, another good friend time a co-pilot on a Danair Boeing 32-foot gaff-rigged 50/50 motor- of mine at the LTFC, a chap named 727, flew Matt Monroe up to sailer. It was built in 1930, the year Jeff Cartner, told me that a group Manchester on his aircraft. My I was born, and had a Gray Marine of fellows he knew at Croydon friend approached Matt and asked diesel engine. We spend a few very Airport were contemplating buying if he remembered me. He couldn’t enjoyable days on it with my other a second-hand cabin aircraft called but that evening they night-stopped friend Ron Springford whom I an Auster Autocrat for £350 and in the same hotel together and Matt mentioned earlier from my asked me if I would be interested in was singing at the night club where parachuting days. John’s wife Rose taking a one seventh share? I was David and the rest of the crew were was a bubbly character but had an very interested but at the time I enjoying themselves. He noticed insatiable appetite for sex which didn’t have two beans to rub them and sent a bottle of John had difficulty satisfying. She together so he lent me the £50 champagne over to the crew. Nice called it ‘her medicine’ and which I paid back at about a £5 a guy was Matt and I was very sorry couldn’t go to sleep without it! He week as I recall. to hear of his death from cancer hinted strongly for Ron and myself So it was that I became a much later. to help him out of his dilemma one-seventh shareholder of a One of the Inspectors at our being good friends, but I declined clapped-out old Auster Autocrat garage became a friend of mine myself (honest). I believe Ron that badly needed to be re- whom I took flying sometimes. He obliged occasionally though! fabricated and was well overdue was a fit, suntanned and lean We all wanted to better for a full C of A check, in other person who had been a ‘guest’ of ourselves in life and yearned for words unflyable in its present the Japanese during the war, having some adventure so John thought of condition. However we were full of been taken prisoner in Dutch East this brilliant idea of us all sailing enthusiasm and I devoted all my Indies and was slave-working his boat, called the ‘Belle’, across spare time setting about the task of down a salt mine barely fifty miles the Atlantic Ocean to the making it airworthy again. Our away from where the first Atom Caribbean, then through the group leader, Bob Cleary, was Bomb had been exploded at Panama Canal and follow the friendly with an ARB Inspector Hiroshima. He knew nothing about western seaboard of the USA to called Bill Brewer who very kindly it until he was on a hospital ship Vancouver. There we would dock agreed to supervise and sign-out homeward bound after the war! the boat for a period and look for the work. As I couldn’t afford to So the months rolled by but work. It didn’t sound such a crazy contribute anything I compensated my regular visits to the LT Flying idea at the time as John was quite for it by all the work I did. By this Club were getting a little an accomplished sailor and we time Bob suggested that we form frustrating because of the limited expected to learn fast under his our own flying club to help defray duration of the flights, generally able and experienced leadership. the cost of operating it – on only about twenty minutes or half- We began making all the reflection I think this was his an-hour at the most. My flying preparations necessary including intention all along. We all agreed hours were building up slowly, but getting work passes for Canada and of course and came up with the much too slowly for my liking. At I was getting very excited at the name ‘Air Touring Club’ of which that rate it would take me many thought of it all. Rose would have we were all made directors. We years to accrue the minimum done all the cooking and promised had no club house, utilising Sid required hours for my Commercial us she would ‘take care of our Filmer’s bar at Croydon Airport Licence. So I came to the every need’ so everything began to main building instead, and no other inevitable conclusion that the only look very inviting. assets apart from our boundless reluctantly forced to leave them all famous song, came to an end. It enthusiasm. in the early afternoon to return to had many ups and downs, but Eventually after a few months my duty at the depot. I wasn’t overall I look back on that era as a the task had been completed and I looking forward to doing battle rather pleasurable experience and sprayed the newly canvas-covered with the masses of weekend drivers have never regretted it. After all, it aircraft in a pale yellow outlined in returning home from the coast. It fulfilled my yearning ambition to black – it looked superb! I had the was much too late by the time I learn to fly; for that I will always greatest delight in taking it up for arrived at the depot to get anything be eternally grateful. It had served its test flight for the issue of a new to eat at the staff canteen and had its purpose for me but it was now C of A and I fell in love with her to take my bus straight out on time to move on. I had no idea immediately! The previous owner service, so I wasn’t in the calmest where to but I simply had to start had named her ‘Spooky Darling’ frame of mind. looking elsewhere. because every time he flew her it It was a long spell of duty and My biggest regret was that I gave him the ‘spooks’ but he loved as the evening wore on so the never managed to get back to see her all the same. It had two seats weather became dull and rainy. The dear old Ted Baker again, the man alongside each other and a third euphoria of the morning’s who made all my dreams come much smaller ‘dickie’ seat at the excitement quickly wore off. The true. I always intended to but rear. cars filled the roads and made it too somehow never got around to it. late to even grab a quick bite or cup Later on I heard from a friend that of tea between turn-arounds and I at the age of eighty eight he passed became very hungry, thirsty and away. I shall always remember him tired. As the long day’s duty for what he did for me where the dragged on into the night I grew others before him has so abysmally more despondent. Suddenly, at the failed. height of my deep depression I So that period of my life flipped! At the next turn-around came to an end – it was time to point I told Nancy to roll ‘Garage’ weigh anchor once again and seek ‘Spooky Darling’ after I’d sprayed her in up on the destination blinds and horizons new. A fresh beginning pale yellow and black drove the bus non-stop at full speed now awaited me elsewhere…

back to the bus depot, giving all The big question was ‘what To cover the operating costs we waiting passengers at the request to do now?’ At the time I was charged ourselves the barest stops the two-fingered Roman living in a large boarding house at minimum which even so stretched Salute as I sped by. Nancy was Hendon in North London run by a my meagre finances to the limit. terrified and on arrival back at the most charming and happy-go-lucky The other shareholders were more depot came running around the Jewish girl in her late twenties affluent than myself and could front to find out what the problem called Mary Betts. Mary and I were afford to fly her regularly and I was! I told her “Sorry Nancy love on very friendly terms with each would just string along with them but that’s it – I’ve had all this other and I occasionally took her for the ride. Although I appreciated rubbish up to my ears – I’m flying. Sharing the same house their kind offers I champed at the quitting”. She burst into tears and were about a dozen Irish girls that I bit in frustration at not being able begged me not to. We had grown was also on very close terms with. to clock the hours myself. I was very close to each other by now, A great bunch of girls and we had still driving London buses at this but with the grass growing under heaps of fun together. stage and only doing the occasional my feet I just had to keep moving I pondered my predicament trip in the LT Club’s Tiger Moths and find a quicker way of at large and decided to try my hand but nowhere near enough to satisfy ascending the aviation ladder. at a bit of freelance painting and my ambitions. Gradually I became The next day I walked into the decorating, the only thing I was more and more dissatisfied with Chief Depot Inspector’s office and really any good at, in a get-rich my lot. threw my uniform bundle on his quick scheme. It didn’t take me It all came to a head one desk. The bald-headed long to change my plans and very Sunday after I had been to Fairoaks bespectacled old Welsh chap Mr soon I was out driving again. This in the morning on a busman’s Jones looked over his glasses at me time for a company called ‘Dealers family day out. Ted Baker had and said in a dour voice “I take it Deliveries’ based in Kilburn, North detailed me to do a few ‘free’ joy- you want to quit”. At that London, whose speciality was rides with various member’s rhetorical question my days driving collecting brand new vehicles from families, being his trusted star on the ‘Transport of Delight’ as the various manufacturers around pilot. It had been a really glorious Flanders and Swan called it in their the country, or the dock areas, and sunny morning but I was delivering them to their driving resulted in more sales than broken nose and damaged ego I destinations. any rep could do. The work was was non-the-worse for wear except We would queue up at the hard and the hours long but what a fully bandaged face and a fair converted house-cum-office to got to me most was the blatant amount of pain. collect our warrants and then get favouritism the Manager displayed Having left my previous job ourselves by the fastest possible to his cronies. One day, unable to of my own accord I was not means to the point of collection, take any more, I confronted him entitled to any unemployment which could be anywhere in the about it. A ferocious argument benefit for six weeks. Being in no British Isles. It quickly dawned on ensued that stopped short of state to seek other employment in me that the manager had his clique fisticuffs, seeing as how he was a the condition I was in, I very soon of favourite cronies, who no doubt lot bigger than me. I contemplated ran out of money. My landlady paid him an appropriate percentage planting him one then showing a Mary was sympathetic to a point to acquire the best paid trips. This clean pair of heels but wisely but she had a business to run. I needled me somewhat but as a new decided that maybe discretion was quickly realised that if I didn’t get boy I was in no position at the time the better part of valour after all. organised really soon I would to speak up. The work was hard Anyhow, I told him what to do shortly be in serious trouble. and entailed early morning starts with his job and walked out. Having run out of money I with equally late finishes. One day A lady friend of someone I could not even get a meal and I would be driving a Bentley or a knew wanted her new Austin car to being too proud to beg a crust from Jaguar and then on another day it be picked up at Coventry by Mary I went for three days without would be a large chassis or a someone she could trust, and a single bite to eat. If anyone has Continental bus. ‘Anything- hearing about my recent ever been through that experience Anywhere’ was their motto. They employment with Dealers themselves they would appreciate gave me more than my fair share of Deliveries, approached me to do it the desperation that overrides chassis’ to deliver which were most for her to save delivery costs. I common sense and drives one to a unpopular with the drivers, being duly collected it and after a long life of crime. In short, I stole a ten fully exposed to the elements and drive was within a mile of reaching shilling note from under the clock freezing cold in the winter without my destination when the loaded on the mantelpiece of Mary’s room any sort of protection except a lorry I was following, which had a and fled off to the nearest café to windscreen in front. The big sign ‘Beware of Air Brakes’ on gorge myself on the largest and crosswinds I experienced at times the back, suddenly slammed on his most tasty nosh-up of my life, almost blow me sideways off the anchors at one of the new-type albeit with an acute sense of guilt. temporary soapbox-type seat I was zebra crossings to let a woman Nothing was said at the time sitting on. One day as I pulled into cross the road. It was raining at the and I naturally assumed that Mary a roadside café to warm myself up time and being a cobble-stoned either didn’t miss the ten shilling a comedian called out “hey mate, road with a lightly loaded car I was note or more likely had no idea when yer going to pay the next unable to stop and skidded into the who’d taken it. When I finally did instalment”? back of the vehicle. The ensuing get some money later on I popped a Sometimes we would have to crash threw me forward and, ten bob note back from where I find our way to a collection depot having no seat belts in those days, stole it under the clock on her at Margate and pick up one of the smashed my face into the steering mantelpiece. new Volkswagen Beetles, then wheel with my nose, bending it at Months later, in order to drive it right across country to an angle. Just as well really clear my conscience, I blabbed the Cardiff docks for re-exporting because had I been equipped with a truth to Mary having by then of abroad. Needless to say, being paid seat belt and been held rigidly course amply repaid her in kind. on a trip-basis we didn’t hang upright I would most certainly have She said “Yes, I knew it was you around very much and it would be been decapitated by the back of the but didn’t say anything at the time ‘foot to the floor’ all the way. I lorry which had ripped the top off because I realised the desperate hasten to add that cars in those the Austin. There was blood, steam state you was in”...There are some days were normally run-in at only and broken glass all over the road. really nice people in this world and 30mph. Many complaints would Some Good Samaritans helped me I counted Mary Betts as one of come in about the way we drove out of the wreck and took me into a them. these new cars but the Volkswagen café close-by where I held my head Despite my poverty I was distributors welcomed them, over a bowl, almost filling it with still a director of the Air Touring explaining that the Beetles needed gore, until the ambulance arrived. Club which by this time was to be driven hard from the word go The Austin was a complete write- attracting more and more people to to run them in. Apparently our off of course but apart from a fly our ‘Spooky Darling’. I could hardly afford the petrol, cheap as it my quivering companion. We We spent less than an hour there was then, to drive down to taxied slowly towards the lighted because time was getting on and Croydon in my battered old jalopy hangar, stopped short and shut after clearing formalities took to and could only watch in envy as down the engine. Then we pushed the skies again for the return trip the others flew around the skies. it the rest of the way into the home. It was late in the day when However, I would frequently find hangar. In those days there was no we landed back at Croydon after a myself accompanying some of requirement to book in or out so most memorable first flight abroad. them on local flights. I strongly nobody was any wiser. We sank a Sadly our beloved ‘Spooky’ suspected though that they couple of large beers at the airport was lost in a tragic accident off the welcomed the company of a ‘more bar (for which my grateful French coast near Berk-sur-Mer. experienced’ pilot like myself, who companion paid of course) with me let’s face it had nearly one hundred at least feeling as if I had just made Berk surMer Accident Report. hours by this time, to save them my first public speech… My The official French report on the from getting into trouble. learning curve was very steep in accidents to Auster 5 G-AHHS and One fine summer’s evening I those days! Turbulent G-APBZ at Berk sur Mer on the was talked into flying from It was during this period at 15th April 1963, has now been published Croydon, out across the Thames Croydon that I was to undertake by the Ministry of Aviation. Operated by Air Touring Club, the aircraft were flying estuary, to Maldon in Essex and my first flight abroad. One of the in formation with a third machine from back so this fellow could take other directors invited me to Rouen to Berk-sur-Mer when they photos of his girlfriend’s house accompany him on a trip to encountered thick fog. When the aircraft from the air. I had reservations Rotterdam in Holland. We flew arrived off Berk, G-AHHS made a turn at about the lateness but as the down to Lympne Airport near low altitude and crashed into the sea; G- APBZ was severely damaged on weather was excellent, and Folkestone in Kent to clear attempting a landing on the sand dunes, according to his calculations, we Customs and then set forth across and the third aircraft, the only one of three would have been due back to the English Channel (no life jackets to carry radio equipment landed normally Croydon long before sunset. It of course). It was a fine clear day at Le Treport aerodrome. failed to work out like that though, and we could see Calais clearly The pilot of the Auster Mr C. A Brackpool, and his wife were drowned; possibly because we spent too before even crossing Dover. On Mr Bracpool’s other passenger, Mr A. W. much time stooging around looking reaching the French coast we Downs, and the pilot of the Turbulent for her house, or maybe due to descended to fly at low level along were Mr J. Murphy were injured. headwinds, I know not. Halfway the sandy beaches near Dunkirk, so The report states that the meteorological back it started to grow darker with quiet and peaceful now compared forecast for the route, given by given by telephone to Mr Brackpool and Mr Tyrell, lights going on around the built-up to the chaos of the historic battle the pilot of the third aircraft, “apparently areas. By the time we arrived back area of the previous war. was not understood correctly”. The in the vicinity of Croydon it was Before long we were landing British pilots did not speak French and the already fully dark and the airport, at the grass airfield of Knocke-le- meteorological officer did not speak which was readily identified by its Zoute, bordering the coastline, for English. The conditions in which G-AHHS was flashing green beacon was a black lunch and refuelling. It was a flying “the report concludes” – a turn at void surrounded by the lights of delightful setting and I was sorry to very altitude over the sea, in mist and housing. hear that years later the airfield was drizzle, with no horizon – explain how Croydon of course was a closed down to make way for a even a relatively experienced pilot would grass airfield with no landing luxurious millionaire’s residential have struck the water. Such conditions would also lead to an accident in the case lights. Our Auster was not area. of a pilot with less than 200 hours flight equipped for night flying, and Flying across the Zuider Zee time who was attempting an emergency neither were we, nor did we have was an exhilarating experience for landing on unsuitable ground after any radio to seek assistance. us, skimming low over the dykes passing low over the hospital buildings. By now I had taken over and inland waterways, rocking our “There seems no doubt that the imprudent decision to depart from Rouen (perhaps control from the hysterical pilot wings in response to the waves excusable in view of the language and was getting him to strike from the Dutch workers in the tulip difficulities), then the decidion to continue matches and read off the airspeed fields. As we neared the large dock to Berk in spite of the clear deterioration and altitude as I sank into the black area of Rotterdam we climbed up observed in the weather conditions (and void, holding the nose up slightly to a respectable height to search for infringement of the regulations) were the underlying causes of these accidents. with just a trickle of power on in a the airport. It was clearly visible seaplane-type approach. By some though and so without further ado (Reproduced from Flight International, miraculous and quite unintentional we joined the circuit and on issue dated 16th April 1964 means I did a perfect three-point receiving a green light from the landing to the intense admiration of control tower came in and landed.