"Main Point" (Archive 20).Main Point Newsletter Archived 23rd March 2009.
74th Entry Football Team: Missing Persons.
Ken Pearn has sent me this photograph of the 74th Entry football team 1954/55 for inclusion in the new Halton Days photo album being compiled for the Website.
The players are:-
Rear: Young, Gosling, Kendrick, Wheeler, Pearn, Moore.
Front: Warnock, unknown, Tingay, Saint, unknown.
But, who are the two unknowns?
If you know, please contact the Editor by email.
The Funny Side of Flying.
Ken Pearn also sent in this contribution for the Flying Humour section of our Website.
As Concorde landed in New York the pilot announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, thankyou for flying on Concorde and on behalf of the crew I hope that we shall have the pleasure of your company on future flights". Then forgetting that his microphone was still switched on, he added "Now all I need is a nice cup of coffee and a woman".
Hearing the gaffe, a pretty young flight attendant rushed up the gangway towards the cockpit. Halfway up the aisle, an old lady patted her on the arm and said. "Dont hurry dear, give him time to finish his coffee".
Send in Your Photographs for the New Halton Days Photo Gallery.
There has been some demand for a photo gallery, on the Website, showing groups and individuals from the Halton days. So if you would like to contribute please contact me first by email to arrange how you can send any pictures you may have. Please don't send any originals. Thankyou [Editor].
And thanks to those members who have already sent in their contributions to the new Gallery.
Photograph: The original 74th Entry Shield presented to 3(A) Wing N.A.F.F.I. Any information?
"Auster Man" Sketch Discovered on the Web.
I received this email from a visitor to the Website:
"My name is Peter Gill , I am the Secretary of the International Auster Club.
I was browsing the web today and came on an amusing little drawing , which tickled my fancy.
I was wondering if we could use it as a bit of humour in our magazine?
"If you would care to let us use it , I know it would raise a chuckle, more importantly if you would care to give us a small story about your experiences handling and Auster baiting that would much appreciated?
"Peter Gill, Hon Secretary,International Auster Club. "
www.austerclub.org :- Excellent Website! Well worth a visit [Ed.].
Below is a copy of the sketch and story from the Website referred to in the email.
The Auster Man.
["Don't want no water, no oil, no chocks. Just don't touch a thing!": Sketch by Joe Bosher 1959.]
Don't Touch a Bloody Thing!
Whilst serving with the RAF at Church Fenton around 1958(ish) I worked on the Station Flight. Apart from servicing our own Anson and Provost aircraft we also dealt with visiting aircraft at times. This entailed marshaling, parking, checking oil and refueling many different types of aircraft.
Most of these visitors were military aircraft but not all. Visiting small civil aircraft, some owned by local businessmen, would use our airfield for short stop-offs. The Station Flight ground crew shared out the responsibilities of receiving and servicing any incoming visitor. On one occasion, when it was my turn to do the honours, the aircraft was recognised as an Auster we had seen before.
I used to wind this particular Auster owner up by rushing out wearing my dayglow jacket carrying marshaling bats, chocks and a big oil can. If the bowser driver was around he would join in the fun by jumping in the driving seat and starting it up.
The poor man would land, taxi and stop on the grass some distance away from the parking area, leap out and use his own chocks to park. Then he would rush towards me waving his hands shouting something like "Don't touch a bloody thing. Its costing me a fortune coming here." He would then moan on that it cost him money every time I touched the plane. I think he said 7/6 for using our chocks?
Joe Bosher (74th).