Classic British Flight Sim

I have posted this on various forums, so as one never knows who is lurking, I thought I would post here as well!!

I am researching background stories for a series of articles (and/or book) on never before published RAF flying duties and aircraft, from 1950 to 1975.
Using the power of the internet, I would like to hear from any ex-aircrew who served on one or more of the following types (and who would be prepared to have any of these stories recorded in print) -

Boeing B-29 Washington B Mk 1
Bristol Brigand
Lockheed Neptune MR1
NA B-45 Tornado (I know, but worth a try!) :shock:
Avro York
Single and Twin Pioneers
Bristol Belvedere
DH Comet (including R1)
Hunting Pembroke
HS Andover
Short BelfastTo my knowlege, none of the above types have been covered in any form of current publication.

In addition to this list I am also interested to hear from ex-crewmwmbers who flew as AQMs in the RAF, before the award of a dedicated flying badge. Please PM me in the first instance if you can assist with this project.

Hi Trev

You Might want to add the Bristol 170 Sycamore as many did their SAR training in one with 275 sqn like Peter McL

Regards
Rick

Hi Rick, yes I did consider that on the list, however several books on SAR ops have been published in the past 20 years.

I want to record the lives of the 'unsung heroes' of the RAF who have never had a chance to record their stories......before 'time catches up with us' :shock:

Hello Trev,

I just saw this post and really wish I could help you - my Grandad served with 84 Sqn as groundcrew on Brigands when they were stationed in Iraq. he would probably have a few stories (not aircrew, but related I'm sure) but unfortunately he suffered a stroke and his speech isn't too good.

All I know is that there were a lot of problems with the a/c hydraulics on the Brigand, along with a chronic lack of spares for them in the early months of deployment at Habbaniya. I have some photos from this time which I'll upload soon which you are more than welcome to use if you ever wanted.

On the note of the Brigand, I may well have a stab at repainting Ted Cook's model some time.

Cheers,

Steve

Thanks Steve, response has been patchy, with the best leads coming from the highly secret RB-45 operations :shock: , of all things.
I am waiting (without much expectation) to hear from the father of (another forum) member , he thinks he flew the last RAF flight of a Brigand. Had no response from the more modern stuff however, still if you do not ask, you do not get!

Too bad about the response, I have recently thought about doing a similar project out here in the States, as these stories are disappearing rapidly as you said.

Out of interest, where and what exactly was the last flight of an RAF Brigand? I know they were deployed to Malaya for the insurgency after Iraq, but am not sure what other Sqns operated the type. I have a great photo of RH817 (I think) crashed near Mogadishu in Somalia, which incidentally was a machine my Grandad worked on himself (I have a photo clearly showing him by it and marked up saying something to that effect). I ragged him about it recently and he scowled (even though it wasn't his fault, he wasn't part of that operation

Interesting also about the RB-45 info, who would have thought? Let's hope some more responses come in.

nazca_steve wrote:
Out of interest, where and what exactly was the last flight of an RAF Brigand?

Steve,

Brigands were still being flow as trainers in the UK as late as 1957.

Trev,

I have a great article on the Brigand in the May 1975 issue of Aeroplane Monthly. PM me with an email addy if you want further details.

Best wishes
Steve P

Cheers for that Steve, I also looked up the Brigand on Wikipedia and found out the Sqn operators along with details on the technical problems it suffered.

It would be good to revisit the old Brigand in FS...I definitely see that on the horizon.

UPDATE:

Here are a few Brigand-related pics, plus one of my Grandad horsing (well, donkeying) around at Habbaniyah in Iraq. Trev, feel free to use if they could be of worth to your project.

RH817 (machine my Grandad worked on, ended up in the Somalian desert)





Harvard trainer out in Iraq:



Messing around: