GENERAL INFORMATION
 

Sailors hope proud Royal Navy name

 won’t go out with the Ark

It is a little after dawn in the Moray Firth, 30 miles north of Lossiemouth. In Flyco — air traffic control — high above the deck of HMS Ark Royal, six officers have their eyes fixed on the horizon, and there is an almost tangible sense of expectation.

Suddenly a voice rings out: “Here he comes.” A Harrier GR9 jets across the slate-grey sea from the port side. The aircraft powers low towards a target that is being dragged along behind the aircraft carrier, like some giant, deranged water skier.

Just as it reaches its goal, the Harrier drops its dummy bomb, which smashes into the water, just short.

A groan goes up in Flyco. “Rubbish,” says one.

 

“I knew they couldn’t hit two in a row,” says another.

The third: “They peaked too soon.”

It proves to be a rare miss and, to cheers, the next aircraft scores the second direct hit of the morning.

Here on the famous Ark, the flagship of the Royal Navy, a crew of 770 are readying for the multinational Auriga deployment off North America this summer. Read full article in the Times
 
 

The TWO RED SHOES BALLROOM

 
Interested in the groups who played at the Two Red Shoes in the 1960's whilst you were serving at RNAS Lossiemouth, click on the link below to take you to the Two red Shoes website (Preview above)
 

http://tworedshoes.wordpress.com/
 

For those of you interested in how the Two red shoes started, you will find items about the history of the Two Red Shoes at David mills Blog;

http://blogs.myspace.com/david.dills
 

Two Red Shoes Info

Albert Bonici Bio
Click on either of the pictures above to see part of David mills Blog or click on the link above the pictures to view the whole Blog and or leave comments.
 

'Two Red Shoes' link with the Beatles.

 The Beatles began their first tour of 1963 with a performance at the Two Red Shoes Ballroom, Elgin, Scotland, on 3 January.

 The Two Red Shoes opened as a jazz venue on 28 July 1960. The Beatles' Scottish tour had been booked in November 1962 by Jack Fallon at the Cana Variety Agency. The Beatles earned £42 a night.

http://www.beatlesbible.com/1963

http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news

 

 3 January 1963
 
 

Fleet Air Arm Legends
 

Commander R. M 'Mike' Crosley DSC & Bar RN

Mike Crosley passed away on June 20th 2010 aged 90. He joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1940 during WW2 and survived the sinking of HMS Eagle whilst on Malta Convoy duty.  He flew various aircraft types from the Sea Hurricane to the Seafire and was involved from the  Mediterranean to Normandy and from Norway to the Pacific when he was CO of 880 Squadron aboard HMS Implacable.

After the war Mike Crosley joined No 6 Empire Test Pilots' Course, and left the Navy to test Short's flying boats under development in Belfast. On the outbreak of the Korean War he rejoined the Navy, helping to train new pilots and flying 75 missions over Korea from the carrier Ocean.

He wrote pilots' notes for a range of aircraft, which he flew to their limits, and was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air. In 1954-55 he was commanding officer of 813 Squadron, flying the Wyvern from the new Eagle.

In 1958 Crosley was promoted commander and returned to test flying at Boscombe Down, making the first deck landings of the Buccaneer low-level bomber.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/7907413/Commander-Mike-Crosley.html
See details of his book "Up in Harms Way" on the books page
 

 

Lt-Cdr Sammy Mearns

 Lieutenant-Commander Sammy Mearns, who has died aged 88, was a busy and aggressive pilot in the last 18 months of the Second World War, but later became a Fleet Air Arm legend for pinching a three-ton statue of the Greek goddess Persephone. To read his full obituary in the Daily telegraph Click Here
 

CAPTAIN BRIAN YOUNG DSO RN
 

Brian Young who passed away on Christmas Eve was the Captain of HMS Antrim during the Falkland's Campaign, he was also President of the HMS Antrim Association. From 1968 - 1970 he was Commander Air at RNAS Lossiemouth and from 1970 to 1972 he was Commander Air aboard HMS Eagle. His funeral is on the 12th January 2010, 12 noon, Holy Trinity Church, Penn, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK.  Full details can be found on the HMS Antrim Association Website; http://www.hmsantrim.org.uk./

Brian G Young joined the Royal Navy in 1944 as a Cadet at Eaton hall, Chester, & Dartmouth. He served as a Midshipman & Sub Lieutenant aboard HMS King George V, Theseus & Wren. Promoted to Lt. in 1952 & sent to the U.S.A. for fixed wing pilot training; he then served with 803 & 804 NAS, flying Seahawks From HM Ships Albion, Centaur, Bulwark, & Ark Royal. (1954-58) He took part in ground attack missions in Egypt, during Suez.(804 Sqn NAS HMS Bulwark). From 1958 to 1960 he took up an exchange posting with the RAF as a Hawker Hunter Instructor, (well someone had to show them (RAF) how to do it right). His next posting was to 804 NAS (Scimitars) as Senior Pilot aboard HMS Hermes. Promoted to Lt Commander in 1960 he attended the RN staff Collage. After Staff appointment, he commanded 892 NAS (Sea Vixens) on HMS Centaur, which was involved in the Indonesian Confrontation between 1964 and 1965. In 1965-66 he commanded 766 NAS (Sea Vixens) the Naval Air Fighter School ('TOP GUN') at RNAS Yeovilton & was also promoted Commander. Following that he was appointed to command HMS Wiston as the Senior Officer 9th Mine Counter Measures Squadron based in Bahrain, Arabian Gulf. In 1968 he attended the Joint Services Staff College & was appointed Commander (air) RNAS Lossiemouth from 1968 to 1970 and from 1970 to 1972 saw him as Commander (Air) HMS Eagle. From 1972 to 1974 was appointed Staff Aviation officer to Flag Officer Carriers & Amphibious Ships. He then Commanded HMS Danae from 1974 to 1975 & attended Senior officers' war course at RNC Greenwich in1976.  His next appointment was as Assistant Chief of Staff (Warfare) to CINCFLEET in 1976, & Chief of Staff to FONAC ( as Commodore)  in 1978.  His final appointment was to HMS ANTRIM, in 1981. As Captain of HMS Antrim he was also appointed the Task Group Commander for Operation Parquet allocated to the recapture of South Georgia. He was executed with such knowledge & experience, there is no doubt many people owe him much more than just knowing him. He left the Royal Navy 2 years later. Admitted to the Distinguished Service Order.

 
Lieutenant Commander 'Fred' Frederiksen

Ex Sea Vixen (766/893), Phantom (892) and Harrier (800) pilot, Lieutenant Commander 'Fred' Frederiksen, who has died aged 62, was a Fleet Air Arm pilot who shot down an Argentine Dagger during the Falklands War.

 

 

 

On May 1 Hermes entered the Total Exclusion Zone which Britain had declared around the Falklands, and Frederiksen led a bombing strike by three Harriers on the airfield at Goose Green. After taking his aircraft at wave-top height down the Falklands Sound, Frederiksen flew low over a range of hills and, completely surprising the air defences, destroyed one enemy aircraft as it was taxiing and damaged two others.

 

 
With Sea Harrier jump-jets landing on the carrier Hermes in Portsmouth, Frederiksen, who had been testing aircraft at Boscombe Down, inveigled his way aboard as an additional pilot in 800 Naval Air Squadron, under the command of Lt Cdr Andy Auld. A month later he was in the thick of war.

All told 15 Harriers sortied and returned that morning, giving rise to BBC reporter Brian Hanrahan's oft-quoted words: "I counted them all out, and I counted them all back."

To read his full obituary in the Daily telegraph Click Here

Extra information from the 'Professional Pilots Rumour Network'
 

Rear Admiral Basil Charles Godfrey Place  VC, CB, CVO, DSC

(19 July 1921 – 27 December 1994)

 
 

Former Commanding Officer of Midget Submarine X.7 during the attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz in Kaafiord during 1943 for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later transferred to the FAA and became a pilot with 801 Squadron flying Sea Fury's from HMS Glory during the Korean war in 1952.

As a Captain he commanded the new entrants training establishment HMS Ganges from 1963 to 1965

For more information click on the links below......

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Charles_Godfrey_Place
 
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4954
 

Jenny and her Side Party in Hong Kong

Please spare a thought for the passing of a legend in the Far East, Mrs Ng Muk Kah (otherwise known as Jenny), passed away on Wednesday February 18th at the grand old age of 92. Jenny and her side party served the Royal and Commonwealth Navies since the 1920's until the former colony was handed over in 1997. She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1980 and the occasional cake (Picture: Capt J Pope HMS Eagle saying thank you in 1968). For more information try these excellent links..... Obituary in Daily Telegraph .... or ..... Micheal Overton's website dedication.
 

HENRY ALLINGHAM
 

Henry Allingham who died on Saturday 18th July was born in 1896 in South London and joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915 as an Air Mechanic. He was aged 113 when he died and at was thought to be the worlds oldest man. He was the oldest former member of the Royal Naval Air Service and became a founding member of the Royal Air Force in 1918 when the RNAS personnel were transferred. To read his obituary use the link on the right.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/5865484/Air-Mechanic-Henry-Allingham.html
 

FAA Aircrew Trained Top Gun Pilots at Miramar Airbase

(From article in the Daily Telegraph)

Click here to read full article
 

RAF Worried about it's Future Role

The above is a cutting from the Sunday Times - Link to original online article
Other articles in print with other views on the carrier project:

 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/08/slug_balancers_strike_again/print.html

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/23/harrier_killoff_plan_not_denied/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/27/defence_committee_jumpjets/

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/5602,opinion,itrsquos-time-to-abolish-the-raf (Article by Iraq Hero & SAS Officer Colonel Tim Collins OBE)

New Harrier Engine £198m Support contract awarded to RR
 

IF YOU WANT 'COLD WAR RELICS' LOOK NO FURTHER THAN ARMY TANKS & RAF TYPHOONS

Article from Warships IFR Magazine - Odin’s Eye – Our monthly editorial takes another penetrating look at bids by the RAF and British Army to destroy the Royal Navy.
The RAF is a master of using smoke and mirrors to mask the limitations of its achievements in combat operations since WW2. Its entire reputation as a fighting force is almost entirely based upon myths. First, we have ‘The Few’ who allegedly prevented Britain from being invaded nearly 70 years ago. Their bravery was real, but the scale of their achievement was exaggerated as a necessary propaganda myth. The reality of the situation was that while the extraordinary courage of the Hurricane and Spitfire pilots of the Battle of Britain - among them Fleet Air Arm aviators - did indeed blunt the Nazis bid to march on London, the real saviour of Britain back in 1940, and in fact in every major war, was the Royal Navy........ Read the whole article by clicking this link
 

Future Aircraft Carriers

VIDEO: Computer Generated Imagery of the UK's Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) Click on the links to the right to view the videos (Broadband & Windows Media Player required)

512K_Stream.wmv

256K_Stream.wmv
 

Click on the image to the right to view the MOD UK information on the CVF Project: its progress, history, shipbuild strategy, Aircraft Carrier Alliance and international co-operation.

Article published on 11th Feb 2009 in 'Professional Engineering' on the method of building these large carriers.

Article at Naval-Technology.com

Mod Document "Carrier Strike Briefing"

First Steel Cutting

The construction of the Armed Forces’ new aircraft carriers pressed forward today as Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal performed the steel cutting for the first of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers at BVT Surface Fleet’s shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.

To read the full article click here.........

 link to RN Article

link to BBC Article

Today’s ceremony marked the start of the manufacture of the Royal Navy’s largest ever warships. Together with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft and the brand new Type 45 destroyers, they will form the cornerstone of Britain’s future ability to jointly project air power worldwide from land or sea at a time and place of UK’s choosing.
 

Malcolm Muir

Ian Martin found this obituary in the Telegraph it mentions in the article that he test flew a Canberra fitted with the Gyron Junior engine and later  the Buccaneer (equipped with the Rolls-Royce Spey engine) and thought others might be interested.

Test pilot for de Havilland and Rolls-Royce who notched up time in 84 different aircraft and had two narrow escapes.
   

Article in the Daily Telegraph
 

Rolls Royce

Rolls-Royce has been awarded £96m to  provide power and propulsion equipment including four gas turbines for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the UK’s new 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers.

Article in the Engineer Magazine

From the Engineer Magazine, supplied by Phil Glover
 
Click on the links to read the articles