Goodbye 808

[annbihan]

So sad to see the wind beneath the wings of 808 for the last time. Such a sad day but also so many happy memories of a wonderful aircraft.

My log book shows that I first flew as a loadie on 808 on January 13th 1967 from Lyneham to Changi with an extension to Kai- Tak (Hong Kong). The Captain was Sqn Ldr Alf Musgrove.

Up until 1970 808 appears almost monthly in my log book so I feel really proud that I was part of some of the 43,865 on the clock.

The skies may be quieter now but they just don't make them like that any more.

[Magnum]

Based on those dates you must have served with my father, Paul Faint. He was a Navigator on 10 Squadron from August 1968 to April 1973, then 241 OCU until June 1976.

He was with me at Bruntingthorpe to see 808's final landing on Monday.

[Flour Power]

So sad to see the wind beneath the wings of 808 for the last time.

The skies may be quieter now but they just don't make them like that any more.

I couldn't agree more.

[annbihan]

Based on those dates you must have served with my father, Paul Faint. He was a Navigator on 10 Squadron from August 1968 to April 1973, then 241 OCU until June 1976.

He was with me at Bruntingthorpe to see 808's final landing on Monday.

Just a few names your Father may remember. We were crewed up in the early days on 10 Sqn. My Captain was Tommy Thompson, Co Pilot Pete Isherwood, Nav Pip Moules, Eng Tom Holmes, Gordon Maxwell was my fellow loadie. We had a great team. Happy days

I think Gordon & Pip Moules ended up on the OCU

[ICM]

Ann: As I'd say you know, despite there being an 806 and 807, XR 808 was the first aircraft delivered to Brize, a fact that I've scarcely seen mentioned in all the comment of the last weeks. That January 1967 trip must have been technically a Trainer, as the first Schedule didn't occur till 4 April 1967, but I've formed the impression that some of these at that time were used for normal Pax movement in a way that wouldn't happen later. That said, by the mid-70s there were no dedicated Globals or such at the end of the OCU, and I did my 'Route Trainer' on the normal Slip of the time, with Joe Sharp's Cat covering me at the table, when I first met 808 for the final Akrotiri-Brize leg on 7 October 1975. And the logbook says the last flight was again Akrotiri-Brize on 31 January 1978.

For how long were you flying in constituted crews? Not long, I'm sure, once the Squadron numbers built up.

Magnum: Tell your Dad that Ian Macmillan says Hi.

[JPW]

Many are names I recognise from my father's (Sqn Ldr Johnny Walker) own log books -and it was a delight to meet Paul last week too.

Dad last flew with Paul on 28 March 1971 - on 808! The last leg of a Changi trip.

104 BZN - Muharraq
109 Muharraq - Gan; Gan Changi
107 Changi Gan
102 Gan Akrotiri and finally 808 home
Crew was Flt Lt Whitham; Paul Faint; M.Eng Price; Sgt Patel; Sgt N Montgomiry; Cpl Heyes and Cpl King

808 was the aircraft Dad took his first Night Cat in - 4 December 1967 - the first time he flew 808.

808 was the first aircraft he flew after joining 10 Squadron on March 2nd 1968.

808 was last flown by him on 15 Dec 1971 on his 80th trip - this one the Akrotiri - Gan leg.

He finished with 87 route trips, the last a Montreal - Dulles - Montreal trip with 807, the same one he first flew in the left hand seat.

808 was the plane my son, Andrew,and I were fortunate enough to go on with 10 Squadron Association on Friday 6th May 2005. Nav that day was Andrew Hext, who I was at school with!

At least she will still be a runner at Brunty - but we do need to keep the others from the re-cycling bin!