CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- The Royal Air Force

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[> [> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- Brian Cook, 8/02/12 11:33:48

Hi Iwas with your father with 1325 Flt since its inception at RAF Dishforth in August 1956. We accompanied the flight crews on training trips to Luqas in Malta before taking the three aircraft via Iceland, Greenland, Goosebay, Edmonton, Comox Island Vancouver then down to SanFrancisco (Travis air Base) then to Hawai and finally to Christmas Island. I accompanied your Father on numerous test flights a lot of trips mainly to Malden Island. We then went to Edinburgh Field in South Australia, but after 6 weeks we were ordered back to Chrismas Island where we stayed until we returned to the U/K Does your father remember W/O Yeo and Sgt Morpeth?

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[> [> [> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- Sue Newman, 9/02/12 15:05:16

I am SO glad someone noticed this reply and told me about it. Dad passed away July 2010 (not 2011 as in previous reply) but I have all his logbooks and memorabilia and Oulton's signed Christmas Cracker. I wish I could see the text of your message in this reply - a Yeo, you, Brian Cook (not the scientist who was Bill Cook), and another. It's a great thing to read about him. I have his AFC for the work here and I have a film he made on the Island and in Australia - wonder if these people are on it? Please contact me on newmansue@yahoo.co.uk if you'd like a copy (DVD for a PC) of his film, and I'd love to know what memories you have of him. If he had been alive now, he'd have told me straight away what he remembered. We nearly got him on the last DC3 flight but bad weather cancelled it AT THE DEPARTURE GATE! I'll go back to your message and look up these names.

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[> [> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- Sue Newman, 9/02/12 14:58:43

Oh dear - I had forgotten all about this thread and someone told me there were replies. Dad passed away July 2011 so too late to ask but he was on the first Grapple only so that would not have been the Grapple Y you must have referred to. Double sorry.

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[> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- alan powell, 9/12/14 16:29:26

enquiring about anyone still alive that served on flight 1325 flight from jan 1957 to june 1957, my grandfather Michael John Sargent served on christmas island between these dates. he was a leading aircraftsman they took out 3 dakotas to the island just wondering if there is anyone still alive from this flight.

many thanks
alan

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[> [> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- John Burrows, 20/08/15 15:03:15

1 served on 1325 flight in1956/7,and I vaguely remember Michael Sargent, but not well enough to recall any specific anecdotes about him. When I read your note yesterday I looked up the official photograph taken at Dishforth a few weeks before our departure and unless I am very much mistaken, by sheer coincidence he was stood next to me! Do you have the same photo?

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[> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- Carol Di Bucci nee Boyes, 12/04/15 10:37:36

we have just been on this site.

My dad, William Alan Boyes( known as Al Boyes) was one of these 3 Dakota pilots that flew from RAF Dishforth to Christmas Island. He was the pilot of KN434, we have a photo of the Dakota KN434 and may dad has written (trouble with KN434 in Greenland) we have my dad's flying log books and we note that he flew with F/S Powell and F/O Slater and S/leader Hurst. Does anyone remember them or have any photo's or other information which we would be very interested in.

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[> [> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- Sue Newman, 9/08/15 9:32:28

I thought I had replied to this message? Am I getting senile (yes)? I recall looking up Boyes, Powell and Slater in Dad's logbooks - maybe dealt with by email?
Serendipity sometimes brings up references; yesterday I attended a talk on another subject and the speaker mentioned Grapple, merely as an example of how operations were named, saying his father served on it. Turned out he was a Royal Marine, but the speaker told me when the Marines got bored they used to have shark challenges, where they caught one by the tail and flung it into the sea. If it didn't swim away they had to go and get it and repeat the operation!
He also said the Marines brought pets with them - cats and dogs - and were furious when the Americans came and shot them all.

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[> Re: CO of 1325 Flight 1957 -- Alex Masson, 20/08/15 21:49:52

Hello John Burrows - I served on Christmas Island 1956/57 in the Air Movements Section as a Clerk Air Movements (not much Clerking) but physically loading/unloading the three Dakotas of 1325 Flight and the Hastings of 24c Squadron Now a days they call my trade Loadmaster. I flew frequently on the Dakotas with all four pilots and their crews, S/Ldr Joe Hurst, F/O Slater, Master Pilot Boyes and F/Sgt Powell. Having been trained (by the Army) as an Air Despatcher I dropped many supplies on the surrounding Islands, some by parachute but mainly free drop. I got to know many of the servicing lads by sight but never got to know their names other than Corporal Jock Lawson and Corporal Clive Rice, though I think they were the Hastings servicing team. I don't remember your name but must have rubbed shoulders with you at that time. Sadly, not many of us left now. The only other person I have communicated with is S/Ldr Hurst's daughter Mrs Sue Newman. She has a wealth of her father's memorabilia and photos - most interesting. Please drop me an e-mail if you'd like to know more. Alex, Ex-Cpl Air Movements.