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[11 Nov 24] Son Gordon has let us know the sad news that Chris Hickman died in March. He was a co-pilot on 105Sqn in Aden in the mid-'60s (he appears in the 'Rogues Gallery') and went on to the VC10 until 1981, then flying Dominies at Navigation School Finningley until retirement. He produced a fascinating video of 'Activities in Aden'. We pass our belated condolences to Gordon and the family.
[20 Oct 24] Jock Manson has sent us this pic of himself and Brian Stableford - his very first co-pilot - standing beside one of our old 105Sqn Argosys, XP411, at Cosford in September. Brian was making a pilgrimage back to UK from Johannesburg and they both went on a 4-day museum crawl. The T2 crew trainers were
cancelled in the 1975 defence cuts and this was the only one appropriately painted; it last flew in May '75.
A large pic of the two of them can be found in the PHOTO GALLERY below . .
[11 Oct 24] Martin Willing has passed us the sad news that Ian LeGresley died at the age of 96 on 29 September. A pilot, he was a Flt Cdr as a Sqn Ldr on 267Sqn around 1963-64. Prior to Benson, he had spent much of his RAF career flying Lancasters in Coastal Command and an exchange tour on Lancs with the RCAF; he also took part in the Suez crisis, when he was flying Shackletons - often used to transport troops to the likes of Cyprus. Ian lived most of his life in Jersey, and moved back there after a couple of ground tours. Martin Willing, who also lives in Jersey, has kept in touch and says that he was a charming, extremely polite and well-read gentleman with a fascinating story to tell about his life. We pass our condolences to Ian's family.
[21 Aug 24] Late in the day, Paul Faint has joined ARDET. Paul was a navigator on 114Sqn 1964-66, having previously served on 70Sqn on Hastings & VIP Valetta in Nicosia. After Benson he went on to SD Flt Thorney followed by VC10s in 68 at Brize Norton, where he became an instructor. His final tour was at RAE Farnborough, flying everything from the Comet to Hunter. He retired in 1978 and lives in Oxfordshire. We welcome him to ARDET, albeit late in the day . .
[11 Mar 24] We have heard the sad news that David Donnelly died on 23 February at the age of 79 in Harrogate District Hospital, where he had been treated for a rare blood condition and prostate cancer. He had been a navigator on 105Sqn 67-68 and 267Sqn 68-69, followed by the VC-10 at Brize and 707s with the RCAF. After various UK postings he undertook the Army Staff College and was posted to Rheindahlen as Head of the UK Delegation for Berlin, and commanded the RAF Winter Survival School in Bad Kohlgrub. After further UK postings, his last was to SHAPE/NATO in Mons. He retired from the RAF as a Wg Cdr in 2000 and took up restoring old furniture.
David's funeral will take place at Stonefall Crematorium, Harrogate, HG3 1DE, at 1140 on Monday 18 March. All are welcome - please inform Bowers Funeral Directors on 01423 770258 should you wish to attend.
David and his wife, Anna, had attended a couple of our reunions. We pass our condolences to Anna and the family.
[22 Feb 24] Do please remember that this website will remain open for as long as we can maintain it . . do please send any news and/or pictures to the the webmaster as indicated above. And if anyone could themself, or could nominate someone who could maintain this raw HTML website, please also let the webmaster know . . We would like to keep the site open for many more years . .
[23 Jan 24] Dave Pritchard has found a very interesting Argosy video presentation to the Joystick Club by Dickie Miller, known by them as 'Professor Richard Miller'. It covers 215 Sqn ops in the Far East and can be found on YouTube.
[25 Oct 23] Past Herc captain, Andy Stewart, has passed us the sad news that David Jones died on 13 October. David was a pilot on 114 Sqn 1969-71 and 115 Sqn 1972-74, and went on to the C-130, ultimately commanding 24 Sqn. He retired in 1994, joining Air Clues until 2003.
The funeral will be held at The Vale Crematorium, Evesham Road, Pershore, WR10 2QR on Friday 10 November at 1100; all friends are welcome. Please no flowers, but donations if wished to St Richard's Hospice, c/o Jacksons Funeral Directors, De Lys, Wells Road, Malvern Wells, WR14 4JL. The family invite us to join them afterwards at the Angel Inn, 9 High Street, Pershore, WR10 2QR.
We pass our sincere condolences to David's family.
[18 Oct 23] Barbara Walker has passed the sad news that Mike Darling has died. Mike was a pilot on 114 Sqn in 1965, 105 Sqn 1965-67 and 267 Sqn 1968-71; he retired from the RAF in 1996 after flying the BA146 on 32 (The Royal) Sqn. His funeral will take place at 1515 on 2 November at Bournemouth Crematorium, off Strouden Avenue, BH8 9HX. Anyone wishing to attend should email his son, Sam Darling. We pass our deep condolences to the family.
THE 50TH REUNION - a note from Norman Hodnett . .
In 2022 we decided to hold just one more Reunion, our 50th, and to go out with a flourish, rather than dwindle away as so many associations have done. Planning began early to get the Reunion into the RAF Benson calendar for the first Friday in October; originally chosen simply because although Autumn would be closing in, it is still daylight at 7pm in early October.
Funds were quite healthy and the search began for a suitable and enduring memento to present to the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess, which has hosted the Reunion for nearly every year apart from those ruled out by building extensions works (and cockroaches). In the event we went to Bentley and Skinners, a company of silversmiths in London, who provided a good deal of the silver commissioned for messes in the 1950-60s. And they proposed the silver plate, now beautifully engraved with words of thanks and the outline of an Argosy. I am pleased to tell you that the CMC, Warrant Officer Robert Warren, is delighted with our gift.
As we recorded on this web-site earlier, the Catering Staff at RAF Benson were in some turmoil as we approached the due date. But, as expected, they delivered on the night under the management of Flight Sergeant Carrie Coates who, with her six staff, produced the meal and arrangements we have come to expect. None of them had any prior experience of one of our Reunions which, thank goodness, have never followed a conventional path of seating plans and formality. And our repast was rounded off with delicious 50th Reunion cake provided by Barbara Walker.
The Station Commander was able to find the time in his already-crowded diary to join us for the supper, and then to treat us to an in-depth description of the role of RAF Benson. And it was evident that RAF Benson is here to stay, with a pattern of life quite familiar - long-standing detachments overseas and families to support back at base. It came as a momentary shock rather than a surprise to learn that the Station Commander was born in the year we had our 5th Reunion . .
And so thank you, all 90+ of you, for supporting me for this Reunion, and all the others that went before. For 50 years we have set the standard for Reunion attendance and enjoyment in the RAF.
My best wishes to you all,
Norman
Pictures of the night may be found at REUNION PICTURES below. You may also download a PDF of the 300-plus pictures from the continuous-running video show that was playing all evening. It may be downloaded from Dropbox
[1 Oct 23] Daughter Sarah has passed us the sad news that her Father Peter de Bourcier died on 1 October. Peter was a pilot on 105 Sqn 1964-65 and 114 Sqn 1967-70. The funeral will be held at 1.30 PM on Friday 27 October at St Christophers Church, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield, SK10 5RT, followed by a private committal at the crematorium. Everyone is invited to join the family for following refreshments, which will be served in the Tilden Suite of Shrigley Hall Hotel, SK10 5SB. We pass our deep condolences to Sarah and the family.
[22 Aug 23] Norman Hodnett & Barbara Walker have passed us the sad news that Tom Norcross died on 17 August at the age of 91. Tom was Wing Navigator at Benson in the early 60s and on 215 Sqn in 62-65 before going on to Hercs as Wing Staff at Lynham. He was a stalwart supporter of ARDET reunions; it is so sad that he will miss our last. We pass our deep condolences to the family.
[25 Mar 23] On 14 March, The Telegraph published a full obituary for Flt Lt Francis Souness DFC, who had been a navigator on Valettas during the Malaysian campaign from 1952, earning the DFC after 148 successful sorties. He became an instructor and then joined 47 Sqn Beverleys, followed by secondment to Malaysia and then, in 1961, a posting to 114 Sqn Argosies, although he was poached for the OCU Staff at Thorney instead. Following the Argosy tour he undertook various VIP duties in Africa before returning to the RAF in UK in ATC, retiring in 1987. His wife died in 2008; we pass our condolences to their daughter and family.
Telegraph subscribers may download the full obituary at The Telegraph
[23 Feb 23] Mike Seller has passed us the sad news that Malcolm Hogg died on 22 February after a short illness. Malcolm was a pilot on 21 Course at Thorney in November 1963 before serving on 267 Sqn at Benson and 70 Sqn at Akrotiri. He then went on to Hercules at Lyneham before passing through CFS as a flying instructor, teaching at Oakington before returning to Lyneham, where he ended his 16 years in the RAF as an OCU instructor. He then joined Britannia Airways, flying the the Boeing 757 and 767 before retiring on medical grounds. We pass our condolences to Malcolm's family.
[8 Feb 23] Colin Mugridge has found the website and joined us for our last year. He was a pilot on 18 Course and joined 114 Sqn for a few months before moving to the Support and Development Flight at Thorney. After that tour he became a captain back at RAF Benson and did one ARDET detachment before joining 70 Sqn at Akrotiri for a year before the Argosy was retired. He then joined 511 Sqn at Brize Norton on Britannias for 5 years as co-pilot and then captain. On retirement from the RAF in 1976, Colin joined Danair for 17 years on the Comet, 727 and 737-200 as a captain. On the demise of Danair he joined Malaysian Airlines on the 737-400, then Caledonian Airways on the Airbus A320 and A330, finally retiring in 2003. We welcome Colin to the fold and look forward to meeting him at our final Reunion.
[3 Dec 20] Farewell to Geoff Walker. Geoff's funeral took place on 2 December at St Mary le More Church, Wallingford. The church was packed, within current regulations, with others standing outside. RAF Benson provided a Guard of Honour and a helicopter fly-pass as the coffin, adorned with a Union flag and Geoff's hat and medals, was about to enter the church. The service was a moving experience, with his and Barbara's two sons giving wonderful eulogies, a grandson making a reading and granddaughter accompanying a hymn on her flute. Sadly, there was no opportunity to celebrate Geoff's life afterwards, but Barbara is determined to do so when life returns to normality.
The service was live-streamed; this may be viewed for 90 days at this link. The family ask that donations be made to the Sobell Hospice Charity.
Once again, we pass our deepest condolences to Barbara and the family, in the hope that their sadness will now turn to a wealth of happy memories.
Click pic for full size . .
[12 Nov 20] Barbara has just given us the sad news that Geoff Walker passed away in Sobell House Hospice in Oxford at 1215 today, 12 November. Geoff was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour in August and ultimately could no longer be cared for at home. Thankfully, he was in no pain.
Geoff navigated on 215, 267 and 105 Squadrons from 1963 and became Wing Nav at Benson in 1968, moving to 114 Sqn in 1970 as the Argosy Force was run down. It was then that he served on ARDET.
Shortly after the withdrawal of the Argosy from the UK Transport Force, the first ARDET Reunion took place - which grew into the Association embracing everyone who had served in the Argosy Force. And every year it took place on the first Friday in October at Benson. The need for continuity in the organisation led to Geoff and Barbara, living in Wallingford, taking over the reins. They created a caring Association quite unlike any other, and a Reunion that you could not miss. Last year, Geoff was presented with a cake depicting our 47 years of the get-together. We owe Geoff a huge amount of gratitude for his successful endeavours on our behalves.
The RAF Benson Station Engagement Officer adds 'I am so very sorry to hear this sad news; Geoff will definitely be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. If there is anything we can do, please do let us know, including whether his family would like RAF representation at his funeral. Please do pass on our thoughts and sympathies to Geoff's family and to the wider ARDET family.'
We pass our deepest condolences to Barbara and the family.
[10 Nov 19] Pete Read has been given this painting by the artist, Mal Grosse, with whom he trained at RAF Syerston back in 1962-3 before Mal went on to fly Hunters in Aden. Since his retirement, Mal has pursued painting and has donated a handful of pictures to the RAF Club. ARDET Members can purchase an A4-sized mounted print of this beuatiful Argosy painting for the princely sum of £30 - go to HMG Artwork or malgrosse@talktalk.net.
[12 Mar 19] As mentioned below, Graham Oliver, has sadly died and had asked to be buried with a model Argosy and with a picture of an Argosy on his grave's nameplate. His son Mark has passed us this picture of the nameplate - surely the only such one in existence. Again, we pass our condolences to the family, but thank them for remembering father so well.
2018 ARDET REUNION The Reunion was a wonderful event, incorporating the unveiling of the Argosy 'Mark' and a return to the Sergeants' Mess for the reunion itself.
[9 Jan 18] Tex Macaulay has found a black-and-white short film 'Soldier in the Sun', covering Aden and Radfan in 1964. It has many shots of Argosies, Bevs and Hunters, including interesting shots of Argosies delivering one-ton containers to the troops on top of Jebel Wadina. The film can be found at the BBC.
[8 Jan 18] Dick Amor has found yet another gem - a video of a large electric-powered flying model Argosy. In Boscombe Down colours, it flies beautifully and drops loads from the rear doors (but the parachute packer is not much good . .). Click on YouTube to view.
[23 Dec 17] Dick Amor has also found a recently-published book on the development of the Argosy and its civilian and military use. It's available in the 'Warpaint' series and is number 71. He explains that it contains several photographs and is worth a look for those who are interested. The author, Charles Stafrace, hasn't quite got all his details correct and there are some errors . . for example, he says that 38 people were killed when XP133 crashed at Afrag, when the number was 11. He also has the landing weight of the Argosy at 90,000 lbs when it was 92,000 . . and a coloured depiction of the battle-axe on a 105 aircraft shows a blue handle and not a green one! Some errors in his research or perhaps misprints! There is only one picture of a crew member at work and this is an AEO in the back of a 115 Sqn aircraft. Dick doesn't know of any other books concerning the Argosy unless any of our members is compiling one! The book can be found at Guideline Publications.
[14 Nov 17] Dick Amor has found an impressive 'Aden 50th Anniversary Souvenir & Commemorative Journal, 1967-2017'. The huge (112-page) journal gives an enormous amount of background as well as fascinating descriptions of the problem times and the withdrawal, including Argosy activities. It's a must-read for those involved and can be freely read and downloaded from Horizon Publications.
[27 Jun 17] An aviation artist (and ex-professional pilot), Alan Spears, has put some attractive paintings of civil IPEC Argosies on his website. Some have been added to our CIVIL AIRCRAFT PICS - well worth a look . .
[15 Aug 15] The September edition of Aeroplane magazine features an 18-page 'Database' of the Argosy, covering 'Development, Technical Details, In Service and Insights'. It's a fascinating read, with lots of pictures and drawings accompanying the words - some of which emanate from our own Martin Willing. Well worth a read - it's £4.30 at newsagents.
[2 Aug 15] Trevor Lightburn visited the Newark Air Museum today and took a couple of photos of the cockpit of XN819 that was recovered from Finningley - where it had been an Engineer Procedure trainer. There is no Nav position installed; the APU panel is there, as is the periscopic sextant mounting - but the museum volunteer had wondered what that was for . . The cockpit is wired up for lights and noise and Trevor reports that children of all ages have a great time in there! He recommends that it's worth a visit if anyone is passing by, it is a few minutes off the A1 at the A46/A17 junction. The museum is open most days, but the Argosy is only open when attended by a volunteer - so a check beforehand is worthwhile. Trevor's pics are in our Photo Gallery.
[26 Jan 15] Nick Huband, son of John Huband, has spotted an article on the Whistling Wheelbarrow in the January issue of Aviation News. It's 5 pages of interesting reading - photos included are mainly of civilian aircraft or former RAF machines after they had been sold, but there are also pics of aircraft in RAF markings. If you can't find a copy, it can be bought online at Aviation News.
[22 Jul 14] Nick Huband (see news below) has spotted an impressive DVD featuring Argosies at Benson in 1962. 'Classic Airliner Collection No.1' from Avion contains 72 minutes of pure nostalgia, including Benson at work. It costs £17.95 + £1.50 P&P from Avion
[7 Nov 13] We have been informed of another company selling what appear to be superb 1:200 Argosy (or 'RAF Benson Load Lugger' as they call it) scale models. They have some in camouflage as well as in Boscome Down livery and the Training Command scheme as at Cosford. The die-cast models cost £50-60. For details see Flying Tigers Ltd.
[Dec 12] Martin Willing tells us that Aviation 200 is producing Argosy models at 1/200 Scale - a handy size for detail, but not too big that they take up a lot of space. So far, it has produced XN817 in Boscombe Down colours, XP444 in 70 Sqn's colours and they are just producing XP108 in the camouflage scheme; it has also produced XP411 in the Training Command scheme as seen at Cosford. They cost around £50, but look good and a nice reminder of happier times. Martin adds that for those amongst us who are true aviation 'nuts', there are a mass of models at the website in various scales, so one can almost certainly have a collection of all the aircraft in which one has flown. The site is www.aviationretaildirect.com
The Midland Air Museum at Coventry ran an Argosy Day on 19 May 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first flight - it was actually on 8 January 1959. Three ARDET members attended - Ian Haldane, Dave Pritchard and David Broughton. To see a few pics of the day, CLICK HERE.
To celebrate 50 years of the Argosy (first flight was in January 1959), Brian Fare has produced a very nice A5-size greetings card featuring a pencil sketch of two aircraft, with more on the back. These can be purchased at £1 each + £1.50 postage for up to 5 cards. To order, email Brian.
'Drop Zone Borneo' is a first-hand and entertaining account by Roger Annett of two-and-a-half years' excitement in the Far East from 1963 to 1965. It is the story of the so-called 'Confrontation' with Indonesia and the missions flown by the Argosy in support of combat troops on the ground. It is published in hardback with 160 pages and 36 illustrations by Pen & Sword Books (ISBN: 1-84415-396-7) at £15.99 plus £2.50p/p. Orders can be placed on 01226 734555 or at www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
And Roger has written another book - 'Drop Zone Burma' was published on 23 October 2008. With a strap-line 'Adventures in allied air-supply 1943-45', it demonstrates the brave determination of the transport squadrons' air and ground crews and the soldiers who fought one of the longest, most remote and demanding battles of the war. It is published in hardback with 214 pages by Pen & Sword Books (ISBN: 978 1844157504) at £19.99. Contact on 01226 734555 or at www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
An interesting book 'Masirah; Tales from a Desert Island' by Colin Richardson (an ex-RAF and SOAF pilot) has been found by Trevor Lightburn, who says it brought back a lot of memories (for anyone who wishes to be reminded of the place . . ). It is from Pentland Press with an ISBN 1 85821 801 2. It's still available from the author at £24.95 p&p free; contact Colin Richardson, Five Acres, Fulbeck Lowfields, Grantham, Lincs, NG32 3JD.
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