Date Posted:22/11/05 9:23:36 Author:Offord Subject: Re: Handley Page Hermes G-ALDL In reply to:
John Cooper
's message, "Re: Handley Page Hastings Aircraft" on 25/06/05 22:16:08
Hi John, I note that you flew (to U.K.) in '58 on one of the Lancashire Aircraft and Skyways Hermes, delightful old girls, I flew back from Singapore (tour ex) from Changi to Stanstead on Hermes G-ALDL via Bangkok, Negombo, Karachi, Bahrain, then to Brindisi, however, it was the time when President Kassim had been deposed by that mongrel of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Our innocent Hermes was turned back three time if I recall, on reaching Iraqi's borders and we had to return to Bahrein which was about as friendly as El Adam was, I recall it was the third time, we made it, and the Iraqi bully boys ceased to buzz our unarmed airliner and we flew on toward Ankara, which was also undergoing some 'political changes'. Landing there at some ungodly hour for refuel, and aircraft re provisioning. We flew from there to Brindisi (or maybe it was the other way around but what did impress me was the skipper of G-DL didn't mess about, it was straight down the taxiway, clearence onto the 'active, open up the taps to the firewall and we were off, no mag checks and I was fair .....ng my self as we hurtled down the tarmac, we reached Stanstead some 8 hours or so later, and so it was in those somewhat primitive days of flying. G-DL ended her days in 1962 non operational at Stanstead where she was scrapped. Her sister ship was operated by BOAC and did the spectacular 'desert crash which cost the life of the navigator (who'd got them lost anyway) however, everyone else survived the that prang..
(At least this screen is open to me John!)
Cheers for now, Terry 'O'
At least Terry the Hermes was quiet in comparison to the Haystack! Actually I was flying out to the Far but via Airwork your route almost but in reverse, did you know that it was the Army that insisted on the Hastings having a tail wheel for easier loading than with a nosewheel, try telling that one to the Air Movement bods in those days. Shall have to get you back on Activeboard somehow Terry........
Hi
I have been reseaching flights by Skyways out of stansted, & inparticular their Hermes G-ALDV which crashed just outside the airport on 1/4/1958 whilst on a test flight killing the crew of three, Do you know of any pics, of this A/C. or maybe have one of Skyways other A/C Please?
