"Main Point" (Archive 30).Thanks for your continuing support in the production of this 74th Entry Newsletter. Keep sending in those stories and especially the autobiographies.
From Ken Pearn: The Changi Murals.
I Took These Photos in 1961.
The murals are painted on the wall of Block 151 at what was RAF Changi. Other 74th members who were stationed there will remember them.
For further information see the CHANGI MURALS online or (and) simply use Google.
[Editor: Thanks Ken. Did anyone else see these murals? Any comments?
Story from 588655 Clive Hall (Inst Nav)
Clive's Photographs.
Clive writes:
Here are two pictures. One taken prior to my flight from Altenrhein to the Gulf and the other of a much older but not a lot wiser, me. The three of us in the colour picture met in Canada in 1957 and have remained in contact ever since. I had been out of the service for 3 years when the ferries took place and was working in Oman. It was meant to be a bit of fun and a break from more serious work. Well it was for me but not for poor Harry.
Filing, Turning, Blacksmithing and Stuff.
Joe, you opened up a discussion about whether our basic skills were ever used in anger.
This is a true story which perhaps illustrates how skills learned can come in useful.
My chum Harry and I ferried two single engine piston aircraft from Switzerland to the Persian Gulf. They were flown solo for the trip and on different days. This is about Harry who was 52 at the time.
He set off across the Alps on a cloudy day and proceeded to his first stop which was Bari in the heel of Italy. Whilst in cloud the engine stopped. He put out a mayday call and glided towards the coast. He was prepared for the worst but when he broke cloud the engine coughed and restarted! You can probably guess what the problem was but Harry had been on Jets for a long time!
Harry was not terribly happy with this event as you might imagine but after a night's rest he bravely set out for Larnaca- his second stop. (there was a large extra fuel tank fixed in the rear seat.)
Larnaca occasionally has very severe crosswinds and it was Harry's lot to encounter such a day. It was gusting 40 knots right across the runway. Outside of the limits but Harry was made of stern stuff.
He managed a reasonable landing but a sudden gust caused him to go off the runway. During the excursion the prop hit a boulder alongside the runway and bent around 6 inches at the end of one blade. There was a lot of vibration as Harry parked the aircraft.
Harry got out and inspected the damage. He had had a miserable two days and all he could think about was beer and bed.
In the morning the sun was shining and he felt a bit better about things. He was an engineer like all of us (not of the 74th though). He measured out the length of prop that had been bent and marked out a similar length on the other blade then borrowed a hacksaw and cut off the damage and the same length from the undamaged blade. Finally, using a borrowed file he dressed both cut ends. (I wonder what the engines chaps are thinking)
Harry had an uneventful flight from Larnaca to the Gulf and experienced no vibration problems.
The prop was taken off and returned to the manufacturers who telexed back asking what was wrong with the thing!
Honest!
Best Wishes
Clive
[Editor:Thanks Clive Hall (who I see distinguished himself at Halton by coming second in the 74th Entry Graduation List) for this contribution to the 74th Website. Much appreciated. Lord Trenchard would have been proud. There was a similar story from the war in Burma featuring a spot of basic fitting and blacksmithing on a prop behind enemy lines. In one of the Haltonian Magazines (can't find it). Comments welcome!]
Pete Raby on Basic Skills: the other side.
Not a Good Start!
The Halton training came in very useful down at 32MU St Athan as the jet engine overhaul work dried up and I found myself hand grinding bearings during the overhaul of Tangye diesel engines. Later some of us were manufacturing Battery Containers for use by the Vulcan Force during a competition in the USA. Later still I was modifying large MT vehicles.
All this in my first 2 years out of Halton and I still didn't know what an aircraft looked like; that was to come on Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneers, Armstrong Whitworth Argosys and Lockheed C130K Hercules.
Pete Raby.
Further Snapshots from the 2010 Reunion.
Last Stand with the Golden Oldies.
High Tech: No Problem!
Slim Explains Quantum Mechanics!
News Items and Stories Needed.
[Editor] Please send me any news items or stories that may be of interest to members of the 74th Entry Association or any other visitors to the 74th Entry Website.
Joe Bosher (74th).