Newsletter

Dick Paxton (GDP) Rogues Gallery ZIMBABWE FLAG Norman Frodsham Writes:- I have had a request for a Zimbabwean flag (any size) which will be used in a Christian charity function on April 14th. I know it is short notice but could you ask our members if they have one which may be used for this purpose ? Replies direct to Norman on medsol1937@me.com SKYDIVING BOOGIE AT KARIBA PHOTOGRAPH RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED Peter Winhall Writes:- My brother, Nige (S.Scouts), lived in Kariba for some twenty years. He always laughed his head off when telling a story of a mate of his, Blaise Thomas, (sp?) free-falling at Kariba Airport. Apparently a bit of wind took him slightly off-course and he ended up in the very worst tree he could have chosen, (even considering one of those baobabs), and there were no others of that species even near it. ….. It was of course a knob- thorn acacia!!!! ? Can you imagine trying to climb out of that one PHOTOGRAPH- GREETINGS Christopher Hudson (RhAF) Writes:- The chap on the left is clearly RAF. My guess is that the group is standing under a V-bomber. The one on the right is Harold Hawkins. As he has scrambled egg on his cap he was probably a group captain at the time. Keith Kemsley (RhAF) Writes:- The one armed Guy is I believe AVM Walker RAF and the other two are Ted Jacklin and Harold Hawkins Willy Jervois (RhAF) Writes:- I am sure that you will get dozens of correct answers - at right side is Harry Hawkins, then Grp. Capt. Dave Moss (RhAF and PRAW) Writes:- Guy on Ted Jacklin\'s left is Harry Hawkins. Dave Panton (RhAF) Writes:- Guy on Ted Jacklin\'s left is Harry Hawkins. Dave Hann (RhAF) Writes:- Here is my two pennies worth. Well the aircraft would have been a Mk 1 Vulcan (no panniers between the jet pipes) and the gentleman on the right wearing the RAF uniform would have been Group Captain Slade Air Attach at the British Embassy Salisbury. The year will have been 1961/2 I have copied over the message you will find at the link I have posted to you - the interesting item is the British Pathe item. http://www.greatnorthroad.org/bboard/message.php?id=15562 \"I can\'t speak to it flying over Broken Hill, but there was a record breaking flight from RF Marham, Norfolk to Salisbury, S Rhodesia on the 20th April, 1959. The Vulcan made the trip in 10 hour 12 minutes. I have a picture of the aircraft at Salisbury which I will post when I get home tonight.\" There is a short video on www.britishpathe.com search for \"V-Bomber sets record\". Cheers from the \'train spotter\' Bill Sykes (RhAF) Writes:- I think we would have to go to the RAF for info on this ... The chap shaking hand (note singular) is Air Vice-Marshal who only has one arm. The other chap is aircrew, with wings and a DFC. No clue who he is. Date must be late ’50s early ’60s. The aircraft is a Vulcan. Andy Thomas might shed some light ... Dave Panton ()RhAF) Writes:- Further to my response to the picture ID yesterday I was prompted to take a look on Wikipedia on the illustrious Gus Walker (know affectionately as \"the One Armed Bandit\" ! Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC MA during his long RAF career in 1948 he was the Senior Air Staff Officer for the Rhodesian Air Training Group. He played Rugby for Yorkshire and England in 1939 the rest of his career history makes an interesting read, he had great affection for Rhodesia one of the Squadrons under his command at RAF Coningsby was No 44 (Rhodesia Squadron) in 1954 when Nos 15,57 44and 149 Squadrons were converting from B29\'s Washingtons to English Electric Canberras . Gus used to regularly fly the Washingtons and sometimes left his artificial right arm on the control column Yoke when he left the aircraft in a hurry ! Francis Fynn (RhAF and RhArmy) Writes:- that looks like the bottom end of a Vulcan? Guess they must have been scouts in their youth, left handers! Frank Mussell (RhAF) Writes:- On the right, Harold Hawkins. On the left must be a visiting Air Commodore from that other air force, RAF, all three probably standing under a visiting Vulcan bomber? Anne Shaw (RhAF) Writes:- The man on the right of Ted Jacklin is John Moss and I am sure the man on the left is Ted Brent? Bill Sykes (RhAF) Writes:- The Groupie is wearing army uniform and has a badge on his collar, so he could well be the Stn Cdr. I do not have a list of COs from mid-‘50s into the ‘60s. One of the older generation will know who it is ... Andy Thomas (Writes:- Gus Walker ended as Air Chief Marshal GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC & played ruby for England in 1939. He was AOC 1 Gp 1956-59 and will have come out on one of the Vulcan visits then. He lost his arm at Syerston but later returned to flying! He died in 1986. Visit. http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1115453&comments=1 DAVE BOWMAN NEWS Dave wrote to say that he had been on holiday in South Africa from the UK. IN MEMORY Message from the RLI Association. It is with regret that we inform you of the death an ex RLI member, of Darryl Pfaff. Darryl died on Sunday evening, March 31, 2013. Our deepest sympathy to the Pfaff family and to the RLI Association. THATCHER REPLIES TO WALLS Mike Norton sent in this link:- Here is Margaret T\'s (\'\'Foreign Office\'\' ) response, or the lack thereof to be more precise.....allowing the complete Zimbabwe debacle to continue ! Perfidious Albions \'\'Washing of hands\'\' ! http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/85D7EA553B1A4DCBBDB9617F5593F8F9.pdf THE CRASH OF THE AVRO I enjoyed reading, \' The Crash of Avro\' story. Keep up the great work, sincerely, Keith Pearce. Sean Morgan (RhAF) Writes:- Its the navigator doing the Google Earth thing again. But here is an incredible co-incidence. I really enjoyed today\'s story of the south bound Anson crash in July 1946 and Wednesdays story of the north bound Harvard crash landing, also 1946 (14 June). I plotted the positions and they are in the Luangwa valley - 3 miles apart. With the whole of Africa to chose from - now that is an incredible co-incidence. Life can be stranger than fiction. Visit. http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-crash-of-avro-anson-golf-alpha-hotel.html ANNIVERSARY FOR 12 LAR Pete Jones (RhAF) Writes:- The photo brings back memories; there were a number of radio tradesmen included who, if my memory serves me, did their initial trade training at RAF Yatesbury in Wiltshire. I hate to rain on Ron’s parade but I think that he lays claim to one invention that preceded 12 Course by some years. At the time I was a RAF secondment and “Grimmy Party” was a term to which I was introduced very shortly after arrival in January 1961. BOOK REVIEW \" A ROAD WELL TRAVELLED\' BY BRIAN LEANEY Saillie Hammond Writes:- This review is from: A Road Well Travelled (Paperback) \"This well written book about growing up in Rhodesia during the 50\'s and 60\'s is a must read for anyone with a Fairbridge College, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe) background. Brian Leaney demonstrates the endurance of the human spirit - from a deprived and neglected childhood in England to embracing a new school and life in the colony of Southern Rhodesia after World War Two. Brian Leaney is a gifted writer. His book flows with humorous anecdotes and life experiences. His philosophy of never giving up on anything has served him well. He is a survivor and a hero\". I have enjoyed reading it. NICE TRIBUTE Bill Teague (SAAF and RCAF) Writes regarding the subject in last weeks newsletter:- Very nice & well done production; The end credit states it was exclusively for I.C.A.S 2011. ICAS is the International Council of Air Shows, founded by US air show producers and display pilots some 40 odd years ago, to promote air shows in all aspects. ICAS has produced an excellent manual covering safety & air show organisation. An annual convention is held and I was fortunate enough to attend seven conventions as the Canadian Governments representative. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to get to know many of the leading pilots, including Bob Hoover and Jimmy Doolittle, both of whom appear in the slide show. NEWSFLASH - FAF DUTIES PHOTOGRAPH The chap in the middle row, holding a bottle, has been identified as Barry Ord and another source says it is Barry Thompson (deceased.) SMILE A WHILE Lance Armstrong I think it is just terrible and disgusting how everyone has treated Lance Armstrong, especially after what he achieved winning seven Tour de France races while competing on drugs. When I was on drugs, I couldn\'t even find my bike. - Tricky (Newspaper cutting sent in by Don Munroe. Eddy Norris) \"Broken pencils are pointless .\'\'