STORNOWAY BRANCH
NEWS
2/2010
(Extracts from the Stornoway Branch Newsletter, published quarterly at the end of March, June, September and December and sent to all members and interested parties. Check back regularly for the latest news.)
CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN
(By Donnie MacIver)
It has been a very quiet time since I took over the Chair of Royal Air Forces Association Stornoway, at least as far as the Branch is concerned. That has changed now that Armed Forces Week has occurred. Armed Forces Day itself was officially Sunday 27th June, although we celebrated the event on Saturday 26th. By the time this is being read, we will have had a flag raising ceremony at the CNES headquarters on Monday 21st, and a Veteran's Lunch, with 'tatties and herring', in the British Legion on Wednesday 23rd. The main event of the week took place on Saturday 26th, with a parade, led by the Lewis Pipe Band, from the Porter's Lodge through the town to the Legion. The salute was taken, outside the Town Hall, by the Lord Lieutenant Alexander Matheson and, following the fall-out, everyone was invited to the Legion for refreshments. The parade was organised by Colour Sergeant Kevin O'Hara of 7th Scots, and consisted of various standards followed by contingents from RBLS, Merchant Navy Association, RAFA, Army Cadets and the ATC Cadets. It was hoped that a large contingent from RAFA would attend. The final act of the week was the Lowering of the Colour Ceremony on Monday 28th.
On Friday 11th June, Maggie Smith, on behalf of the Laxay Community Association, invited standard bearers, amongst others, to a service at the Laxay War Memorial to commemorate the anniversary of the fall of St. Valery and the capture of most of the Highland Division, who had acted as the rearguard during the evacuation of British and French forces from Dunkirk at the beginning of WWII. Unfortunately, due to the service being held at 5pm, those standard bearers who work for a living, could not attend, so once again RAFA to the rescue! Ron Jappy, Roddy Moffat and myself stepped up to the mark and paraded the Union Flag, the Legion and the RAFA colours. Congratulations must go to Maggie for organising, with a little help from Colour Sergeant O'Hara and myself once again, a very successful event. On a very windy afternoon, following a short service and speeches, wreaths were laid by the Lord Lieutenant Alexander Matheson, an honorary member of RAFA of course, a CNES representative and Laxay Community Association. Following the service, we were invited to the Community Hall for tea, sandwiches and home baking, which we thoroughly enjoyed. There was an interesting display of wartime memorabilia in the hall, including a Roll of Honour of thoses who fell during both World Wars. This included a WAAF from Laxay who was killed in 1945.
20th ANNIVERSARY OF AIR TRAGEDY
Avro Shackleton AEW.2, WR965 of 8 Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth
30th April this year saw the 20th anniversary of the worst peacetime RAF aircraft crash on these islands. It was on 30th April 1990 that RAF Shackleton AEW.2, serial WR965, of 8 Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth, crashed in Harris, colliding with Maodal hill, near Northton.
The aircraft had left RAF Lossiemouth early in the morning of 30th April, to take part in maritime exercise 'BRUSHFIRE', and to undertake crew training in the Benbecula area. With the first part of the exercise completed by 09.45hrs, the crew participated, with a Tornado F.3, in mutual training, which required the aircraft's radar to be switched off. After training with the Tornado, the crew commenced their own continuation training, including a visual approach to Benbecula airfield. Benbecula ATC were contacted at 10.25hrs and gave permission for an approach.
The Shackleton crew however radioed at 10.34hrs that weather conditions were unsuitable for a visual approach and that they were turning right and climbing away. This was the last message received from the crew. At 10.37hrs, the Shackleton struck the 832ft hill known as Maodal near the village of Northton on the Isle of Harris. Tragically, all 10 members of the aircraft's crew were killed in the crash.
The subsequent MoD enquiry into the accident concluded that, the aircraft and it's systems were serviceable at the time, and that the aircraft had impacted the hill, approximately 30ft below its summit, in controlled flight. The conclusion was that, due to navigational error, the crew thought they were approaching Bemnbecula well to the west of Lewis and Harris over open sea, whereas they were in fact flying over the landmass of Harris. The bad weather they encountered on their approach was over Harris, being reported as mist and cloud down to 200ft and up to 3000ft. With the radar presumably still switched off, and making a visual approach, this navigational error is the most likely cause of the accident.
The crew of the aircraft included the Wing Commander in charge of 8 Squadron at the time, although it was not possible to tell who was at the controls at the time of the crash.
In memory of the tragedy, there is today a cairn at the site of the crash on Maodal hill as a monument to those who lost their lives on that fateful morning in 1990.
The Shackleton AEW.2 aircraft of the RAF were converted maritime patrol aircraft, fitted with airborne early warning (AEW) radar, and used to provide air defence radar early warning of approaching air threats. The Shackleton aircraft could trace its origins back to the Avro Lancaster bomber of WWII, and the radar installed was that removed from the Royal Navy's Gannet AEW aircraft after they had lost their aircraft carriers. The whole system was fairly dated but, as is usual in the British armed forces, the people manning the equipment made all the difference.
The Shackletons were retired from RAF service shortly after the tragic loss of WR965, with the introduction of the new Boeing AEW Sentinal system, based on the famous Boeing 707 passenger jet.
FAREWELL COMRADE
It is with deep regret that the Branch registers the death of member John Murdo MacDonald, late of Laxay. John Murdo was a well known member of the island community, being the founder of Hebrides Haulage transport company. He had been a long-term member of Stornoway Branch RAFA, being ex-RAF himself.
John passed away on Thursday 1st April 2010, and his funeral was held on Monday 5th April at Kinloch Free Church. The church was filled to overflowing with relatives, friends and acquaintances of the family, including the RAFA Branch Chairman and Secretary. The burial later took place at Laxay cemetery.
The Branch would wish to pass it's sympathy and condolences to John Murdo's three sons and daughter, his wife having predeceased him.
2010 BRANCH TRIP
Over the last couple of Branch meetings, it has been decided that the Branch will undertake a visit to the Scottish National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, near Edinburgh. This trip will be, as last year, basically self-financing by individuals, with perhaps some support from the Branch Social Fund (hint, hint Mr. Treasurer!). It has been proposed that, as most members are in possession of Scotish Bus Entitlement Cards, the travel from Ullapool to Edinburgh will be via bus, to decrease the cost. It is proposed to travel in late September/early October, depending on the wishes of those interested in attending.
Branch Social Secretary John MacDonald has undertaken to excplore travel and accommodation options for the trip, and already a good number of members have indicated a wish to take part. Depending upon the location of the accommodation decided, with Edinburgh being so near, there should be the option for a tour of the former Royal Yacht 'Brittania', berthed at Leith, and some shopping and sightseeing in the capital (ladies!).
The details of the trip will be discussed at subsequent Branch meetings, and progress on the planning notified. If you would like to take advantage of this event, why not come along to our meetings over the next few months.
BRANCH MID-SUMMER BBQ
It is intended to hold our now annual Branch Mid-Summer BBQ on Friday 30th July 2010. The venue will again be the Air Cadets HQ building beside the TA Drill Hall on Church Street, Stornoway. Although the basic menu of burgers, sausages, chicken, etc. will be catered for, members are asked to consider augmenting these with such items as salad, coleslaw, pasta and drinks by bringing them along.
There will be a cover charge, payable at the door, to finance the foodstuffs, and to save too much waste (and cost), members are asked to notify their intended attendance to Ian Denny on 01851 703849 by 24th July at the latest. The cover charge cost and time of event will be notified prior to the function.
STORNOWAY CONNECTION WITH YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM
Through the recent visit by Ian Thompson to Lewis, a long-standing connection between wartime RAF Stornoway and the Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM) has been re-established. Ian was visiting Lewis when he contacted RAFA Stornoway, via our website, enquiring if anyone knew the crash site of a Halifax aircraft which came down in Harris. He was invited along to the June Branch meeting, and gave the members a very interesting talk on his connection with the Halifax and the Yorkshire Air Museum.
Ian's father had been one of the founder members of YAM, and had been engaged, with Ian, in the early restoration work on the museum's now complete reconstruction of a Halifax aircraft. The reconstruction was based on a section of Halifax rear fuselage obtained from Lewis, after many years in use as a hen coop at Grimshader.
The remains of Halifax HR792 used as a hen coop at Grimshader, Lewis
The Lewis fuselage section was the remains of Halifax HR792 of 58 Squadron, which lost power and belly landed on take-off from RAF Stornoway on 13th January 1945. The section was salvaged and used as a chicken shed in Grimshader, Lochs, Isle of Lewis for many years, until donated for the reconstruction. A second fuselage section found on Lewis, from another Halifax aircraft, was used in the reconstruction of a Halifax in Canada.
The YAM Halifax reconstruction, as well as using the Lewis section, also incorporates the wings of a Hastings transport aircraft, also designed and built by Handley Page as was the Halifax, and many sections constructed by the YAM workforce to drawings of the original aircraft, using various materials. The YAM aircraft represents LV907 of 158 Squadron, which was named 'Friday the 13th'.
The Yorkshire Air Museum reconstructed Halifax 'Friday the 13th'
Ian explained that he would dearly like to trace the crash site of another Halifax, JP165 of 58 Squadron, which crashed in Harris, so that he could visit it and fulfil a wish his late father had, as this crash site had also provided material, including four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, for the Halifax exhibit at YAM. The Branch agreed to try and locate the co-ordinates of the crash site and pass them to Ian.
The Yorkshire Air Museum is situated at Elvington, near York, and for those interested in details of its exhibits, opening times and how to get there, log onto their website at http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/
LEWIS HIGHLAND GAMES 2010
The Branch will again be hosting a stall at this years Lewis Highland Games at Tong on Saturday 17th July. The aim will be to increase public awareness of RAFA locally, and to raise funds in advance of this years RAFA Wings Appeal. Previous years have been successful, even with last years very wet weather, so we are hoping for the same again (not the wet weather, that is!).
For these events to succeed however, we need volunteers to man the stall throughout the day, and this is made easier if we have sufficient people to be able to organise a shift system, meaning no-one has to do too long in one spell. Therefore, please consider volunteering to help by contacting the Branch Secretary Robin Hudson using the 'CONTACT US' tab at the top of this page.
We intend having RAFA merchandise, a lucky dip/tombola and RAFA recruiting material available on the stall, plus anything else we can come up with to entice the public into parting with their money! Further details of this event, and the other attractions available at the Games, will be given at the July Branch meeting.
1731 NEWS
(By Peter Avis)
Plenty has been going on at 1731 (Isle of Lewis) Squadron ATC since the last Branch Newsletter article. We have not long since returned from the annual Wing Drill, Modelling and Aircraft Recognition competitions on the mainland, taking a record number of 17 Cadets to RAF Kinloss, where we did exceptionally well, coming first in the Compulsory Section of the aircraft modelling (for the third year running), well done Cadet Jack Nelson. Also, an equally well done to our Civilian Committee Treasurer Mr. Robin Hudson, who won the Adult Entry modelling section.
This year was the first time in over a decade that we fielded a full 12 Cadets to represent the Squadron in the Drill Competition, where we came a very respectable 4th. Many congratulations to Squadron Training Officer Sgt. Johan Campbell for all the hard work she put into the Drill Team at such short notice.
1731 Squadron Cadets being inspected by the Wing Warrant Officer at the Drill Competition
The following day we attended the Annual Wing Parade at Cameron Barracks, followed by the Wing Sports Event at Queens Park Sports Stadium in Inverness, where we had success in the 400m, with Cadet Sgt. Josh Trivett winning Gold, 200m won by Cadet Cpl. Liam Ferguson and Cadet David MacLeod winning Silver in the High Jump.
During our stay at Kinloss, we enjoyed excellent accommodation at the TA Centre in Elgin, and hope to return there in July for a shooting/flying weekend from the 9th to 12th. The Wing Weapons Officer has agreed to come to the Centre on the Friday evening to put all the Cadets through their Weapons Handling Test.
In mid-June we gave a very warm welcome back to the Squadron to Adult Sgt. Yvonne Cook who, amongst other things, will be taking on the duties of Drill, Discipline and Dress, a role she is very well acquainted with, and we wish her every success.
At the end of July, Sgt. Campbell and myself will be taking 8 Cadets to RAF Digby for our annual Summer Camp, which I have to say is something I'm very much looking forward to. Part of the reason is because I was stationed there during the early 1970s, and also my family home at the time was only a relatively short distance away at Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire. Ahh, nostalgia.
At the time of writing, Sgt. Campbell is away at RAF Cranwell attending a week-long Adult SNCOs course at the Adult Training Facility. We wish her all the best and hope she may win the Top Sgt. Award, for best NCO, so no pressure there then!
Finally, thank you to all those RAFA members and others who donated Tesco Schools and Clubs vouchers to the Squadron collection. We amassed 2555 vouchers this year which, with those vouchers collected and saved last year, gives us a total of 3755 to redeem for items from Tesco for use on the Squadron.
A LOOK BACK AT RAF STORNOWAY
'An Aerobatic Flying Fortress'
(By Rodney Long)
On 13th February 1945, a B-17G Flying Fortress aircraft, flying between Meeks Field (a US airbase in Iceland) and RAF Valley in Wales, was forced to make an emergency landing at RAF Stornoway after experiencing extreme turbulence. The following is the official report on the incident, conducted by the U. S. Army Air Force, and reports by crew members.
USAAF Report of Aircraft Accident
Place - Stornoway
Date - 13 February 1945
Time - 11-00 GMT
On February 13, 1945 at 11-00 GMT, B-17G 44-8835, piloted by Billy H. Lynch, 2nd Lt. Air Corps, while flying between Meeks Field and Valley flew into a Cumulus cloud formation. The aircraft was flying at 11,000 feet and the pilot had been on and off instruments for some time.
The air had only been moderately rough until this time. The pilot saw a hole between two clouds and attempted to fly through it. He entered one of the clouds and the turbulence encountered was so severe that control of the aircaft was temporarily lost. The aircraft entered a tight spiral or spin and both ailerons were lost. At 1100 feet the aircraft broke cloud and the pilot with assistance of the co-pilot righted the aircraft by use of the rudder and engines. The aircraft was then climbed to 11,000 feet and flown to Stornoway, a distance of 250 miles. The cause of this accident was weather encountered en-route.
Statement by 2nd Lt. Billy H. Lynch
We were flying at an altitude of 11,000ft, in what I would call stable air. In my opinion, the sky condition was broken with very few clouds extending above 12,000ft. In order to avoid flying into any weather, we flew around what I thought was the most dangerous cloud. In attempting to fly through a hole in one cloud, which appeared to be swelling cumulus, we came in contact with a large amount of turbulence. After getting inside the cloud, we seemed to have turned over. At this time the airplane was completely out of control, and we were indicating 6000 vertical speed.
Next we seemed to be in a spin, and after breaking out of cloud at 1100ft we were in a turn to the right. Somewhere in the cloud we lost both ailerons, therefore we had to use the rudder to recover from the turn. While in the sharp turn to the right, we were indicating 300 mph. After recovering from the turn we flew about two hours and thirty minutes before reaching the field.
Statement by 2nd Lt. A. J. Harmon Jr.
On February 13, 1945, I was flying as co-pilot on a B-17G en-route from Meeks Field, Iceland, flying at an altitude of 11,000ft above what appeared to be light weather clouds. We had been flying above it for some time when we encountered one that was higher than the others. It appeared to be swelling cumulus, we attempted to get through a holke in it, but hit the edge. After going into the cloud, the plane went completely out of control, at one time being on its back. All the instruments went out and from this point on I don't know what happened until we broke out of the cloud at 1100ft in a tight spin with an aileron gone, and indicating a speed well over 300 mph. By applying all the left rudder we could, the airplane recovered. After recovering, we flew 250 miles without ailerons.
Statement by Robert L. Davis
On February 13, 1945, I was flying as navigator on a B-17G 44-8835, from Meeks Field to Valley, Wales, via Stornoway Radio Range Station. Around 11-00 GMT, while at an indicated altitude of 11,000ft and 250 miles from Stornoway, confronted with the weather officer here at this field has led me to believe as a building cumulus, although the outside of it had no boiling appearance, in fact, it seemed more like haze. Because the top of this cloud must have been 4-5 thousand feet above, we turned a little to the left and started to go through a hole there.
To the best of my knowledge, the next thing I remember was being slammed into the astrodome with all my equipment, books, sextant etc. in my lap. Next I landed on the floor and through the nose I could see the water spinning around us very fast below us. From my position at the table the airspeed meter was indicating 300 mph and the altimeter was unwinding too fast to get any reading. The next thing I knew we were making very tight circles to the right (the water below could be seen almost directly out of the right window).
We finally levelled off at 1100ft and proceeded to Stornoway climbing to 11,000ft. We arrived over Stornoway Field at 12-45 GMT, and landed at 13-30 GMT.
(Given that a Flying Fortress weighed in the region of 17 tons, that must have been some storm cloud!)