R.A.F. Harpur Hill Mountain Rescue Team Diary
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R.A.F. Harpur Hill Mountain Rescue Team Diary 8th August 1958 - 28th December 1958 1. This Diary was transcribed by Jim Morrison February 2014. 2. The Diary covers the years 1958 to 1959 starting at 8th August 1958 and the last entry is dated 5th - 8th October 1959 . 3. The diary has been split into two entries on the website one for each year. 4. He has attempted to follow, as closely as possible, the lay-out of the actual entries in the Diary. 5. There is considerable variation in spellings. He has attempted to follow the actual spelling in the Diary even where the Spell Checker has highlighted a word as incorrect. 6. The spelling of place names is a very variable feast as is the use of initial capital letters. He has attempted to follow the actual spellings in the Diary 7. Where there is uncertainty as to a word, its has been shown in italics 8. Where words or parts of words have been crossed out (corrected) they are shown with a strike through. 9. There were a number of 'Report As' which have been assigned as separate entries to the site U.M.O. : Flt/Lt Carter " Gilbertson Officer i/c Team: Fg./Off. W. G. Hart 7 Dec ‘58 FLT/LT. R. Henry 7 March ‘59 Fg/Off. J. J. Rogers 1 May ‘60 " " L. R. Littler 10 Nov ‘60 Sqn./Ldr. J. D. Bradley MM N.C.O. i/c Team Sgt. Steed J. M. (BEM) 6-6-61 Sgt. Burnett I. L. Jan 64 Sgt Hay, A. Jan 65 Sgt. Tunnah, Apr 66 Sgt. Baines, J. May 15 67 Sgt. Shaw. R. S. May 27 68 Sgt. Brewer J. T. ---oo0oo--- SADDLEWORTH MOOR 1958 8th Aug 18:30 Hrs Sgt Steed and 14 airmen left H.H. for Greenfield M. Ref. 102/020046 Established Base Camp at 20:30 Hrs. Prior permission was obtained from Saddleworth Water Board. Strength five contact with 18 Group. Vehicles used: Bedford, Austin R.V.T. and Ambulance 9th Aug 09:10 Hrs Team left Base for a stretcher lowering exercise on Raven Stones. After eight lowers, new members were instructed in abseiling. Ropes were coiled. The team moved off to a more Northerly crag for a timed stretcher lower (NCO i/c being the timekeeper). Took just over fifteen minutes from reaching the top of the crag until reaching the bottom. A ʻliveʼ patient was used throughout the exercise. Returned Base 18:00 Hrs 10th Aug 09:45 Hrs. Team transported to Crowden (near Woodhead Stn.) Walked to Laddlow Rocks after visiting the civilian m.R. Post. H.F. 15 contact between the team, Base camp and the returning Bedford vehicle. In thick hill fog and rain the team again stretcher lowered and abseiled. Returned to the top of the crag by climbing known routes. Left at 17:00 Hrs - returning to Base over Long Ridge Moss. In at 18:15 Hrs. Good radio contact ensured a meal was ready on our arrival. 19:20 Hrs. Team departed after striking camp in a thunderstorm 21:30 Hrs Arrived H.H. Remarks N.C.O. i/c Saturdayʼs weather was excellent. On Sunday we all had a soaking! The general standard of rope work has improved considerably this weekend. Little attention has been given to this type of work previously. Signed :- Jim S ---oo0oo--- KINDER DOWNFALL 17th Aug Flt./Lt. Carter , F/O. Hart, Sgt. Steed and 10 airmen left H.H. at 09:00Hrs for Hayfield Reservoir. At 09:45 established Base at M. Ref 102/056882. Strength four contact with 18 Group. H.F.15 Contact good throughout the day. 10:15 Hrs Team proceeded to Mermaids Buttress for stretcher lowering exercise. The first 110 foot lower went well and was Flt/Lt Carterʼs first experience as a ʻpatientʼ. The rock face consists of a vertical start, an awkward chimney, followed by an overhang, a sloping ledge and a further chimney -- Although not an easy job guiding a loaded stretcher down, Hutchinson twice brought a ʻpatientʼ down perfectly. After five lowers the novices were taught how to abseil --- More practice for those already initiated. 16:30 Hrs The team returned to Base for a meal 17:30 Hrs Packed equipment, departed Base. 18:45 Hrs Team arrived H.H. ---oo0oo--- LANGDALE (Lake District) 22nd Aug 14:00 Hrs Advance party left H.H. for Langdale, contacting police in Ambelside. Established Base at M.Ref 82/284061 at 20:00 Hrs. Vehicle : Bedford 18:05 Hrs. Fl/Lt. Carter, Sgt Steed and remainder of team left H.H. 23:50 Hrs Arrived at Base. Vehicles : Austin R.V.T., Ambulance and 14 airmen (TOT.) 23rd Aug 09:15 Hrs. Walking Parties Shaw L Beales L Barkley U/T Nav ↑Scafell and Pikes Roche U/T Nav } } Powell Flt/Lt. Carter Limback L ↑ Pikes Steed L Traverse of Halfpenny U/T Nav } and Hill N }and↑Great Gable Williams Scafell Ashford At Base. Northam and Ellis All Parties returned to Base by 17:00 Hrs 24th Aug 08:45 Hrs Walking party: - Limback L Ashford N Cowan Attempt of traverse ↑ Great Gable Insufficient time Powell } to finish Halfpenny Climbing parties:- Steed L Shaw Carter } Bracket and Slab Williams } Foster (Gimmer) Beales Barklay Main Wall Hill + Bowfell Butress } (Gimmer) Hutchinson } At Base. Northam, Roche and Ellis All Parties returned to Base by 16:00 Hrs 17:45 Hrs Team left Base. Refuelled at Lancaster Barracks 23:45 Hrs Team arrived H.H. Remarks N.C.O. i/c Exceptionally fine weekend, enjoyed by all. Hutchinson did well to find his own way up to join the team on Saturday Signed :- Jim S ---oo0oo--- EXERCISE KINDER 26th Aug 18:30 Hrs F/O Hart, Sgt Steed and 10 airmen left H.H. for Edale for a preliminary briefing with the controllers. Vehicles used : Bedford 3 ton, Land Rover and Ambulance. At 20:00 Hrs Base camp was established at Snake Pass 102/089829. Three roving parties were sent on the hill to intercept Bomber Command aircrew evaders (42 in number) Seventeen were caught before 08:00 Hrs on the 27th. Team returned 09:10 27th Aug 18:45 Hrs Sgt Steed and eleven airman left H.H. for Ladybower Reservoir and established Base. Vehicles used Bedford, Land Rover and Ambulance. Five parties were sent on the hill to intercept evaders. At 02:00 Hrs two 2 star reds were seen approx. one mile from Base. Parties converged on the spot. Johnson and Limback returned to base to collect more pyros and a first aid rucksack returning to the other parties. They then carried out a sweep search of the area - without success. One Flying Officer who had lost contact with his crew was caught but refused to admit to firing the distress signals - He was in the search area. At 15:30 Hrs team continued normal search for evaders. At 07:30Hrs Base was set up at the Rendezvous and a count was made of arriving aircrew. At 10:00 Hrs although three aircrew were still adrift the team returned H.H. 10:45 Hrs 28th Aug (NOTE The missing aircrew arrived 11:00 Hrs 28th Aug) 28th Aug 18:30 Hrs Sgt. Steed and eleven airmen left H.H. for Edale establishing Base at M.R. 102/097855 Vehicles used Bedford 3ton, Land Rover + Ambulance. At 20:30 Hrs - three parties were sent on the hill, one to guard the railway line and tunnel, one to patrol the Edale road and a party (mobile) patrolling main roads. Twenty-nine aircrew were caught before 08:00 Hrs on 29th Aug. Team returned H.H. at 10:05 Hrs 29th Aug. Remarks N.C.O. i/c The exercise throughout was wet although a full moon and hill fog helped the evaders. Regarding the 2 Star reds - Controllers will in future make it quite clear to aircrew that they are only to use pyros should they be injured. About 50% were caught. This low figure is due to the small number of team members available for the exercise. Signed :- Jim S ---oo0oo--- Big and Hallam Moors 5th Sept 18:30 Hrs. F/O Hart, Sgt Steed and 14 airmen left H.H. to establish Base camp at Warren Lodge. 111/262747 Vehicles:- Bedford 3 ton, Austin R.V.T. Land Rover and Ambulance. 6th Sept 08:00 Hrs. Land Rover and Bedford used to collect 30 Leaders (G.T.C.) from Buxton. 10:30 Hrs. In hill fog 20 G.C.T. T.C. together with eight M.R. guides were dropped off at Moscar Lodge (N. of Stanage Edge) They then walked to Base stopping at Curbar Edge to have some instruction and practice in climbing and abseiling. 10:50 Hrs. 10 girls and 4 M.R. instructors proceeded to Baslow Edge (by hazardous route through the trees!) here they were taught how to climb and abseil. When good enough they were taken to Curbar and Froggat Edges where three of the best girls abseiled a vertical and overhanging 60 ft for their cameraman. (cheers from their friends below!) 17:30 Hrs. Both parties returned to Base -- walkie talkie sets being carried by our guests of course. 18:30 Hrs. After a meal Mrs Roma Mongredian and her stalwarts returned to Buxton. 7th Sep 10:30 one climbing and five climbing parties left Base L MacMillan U/T Nav Cowan } Nav exercise over Big and Hallam Moor Ashford On Birchens Edge :- Steed L Beales L Hart Williams Shaw L Campbell Hutchinson L Barklay L Roche Snell 17:15 Hrs.