Westland "Whirlwind"
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Lian Pasan, e-mail, 01.03.2024 17:30

I'm from Pa Umor, Bario where 1 of the Westland Whirlwind's HAR10 (S55-) XJ433 crashed during landing in 1964. I'm making effort to reorganise all that remain at the site as a preserved site for visitors to my village as part of a history of Pa Umor during the confrontation with Indonesia then. I have photographs of its current condition. I got here as trying to find more info about the helicopter. I guess I'll need more info for the narrative of the incident.


Lian Pasan, e-mail, 01.03.2024 17:29

I'm from Pa Umor, Bario where 1 of the Westland Whirlwind's HAR10 (S55-) XJ433 crashed during landing in 1964. I'm making effort to reorganise all that remain at the site as a preserved site for visitors to my village as part of a history of Pa Umor during the confrontation with Indonesia then. I have photographs of its current condition. I got here as trying to find more info about the helicopter. I guess I'll need more info for the narrative of the incident.


Chari Bogué, e-mail, 17.02.2024 23:54

Hi Harry,

I've just come across your post.
Chris remembers dad talking about Peregrine and he flew with dad a couple of times when he was on leave.
Dad always talked about Peregrine and certainly about you and Bill Porteous, who we still have contact with.
We are just watching a programme about the Big Freeze of 1962-1963 in the hope that we would see dad flying helicopters as we remember dad talking about it.
We hope that you are well.

Chari and Chris Bogué


Paul Cornish, e-mail, 03.02.2024 16:26

Can anybody tell me the index number of the second Westland Whirlwind stationed at RAF Manston in 1959/60 please?

I have been told that one was XS460 so I need the other one. I'm hoping to get two of the Corgi diecast models renumbered.

Thank you.
Paul.


Harry Lockhart, e-mail, 06.04.2023 18:21

I just discovered mention of Peter Bogue here, while looking for other things. I remember working with Peter, while we both were flying for Peregrine Air Services out of Aberdeen' and laughing at some of his adventures while he was in the RAF and later if I remember correctly, the shellfish trade.
Peter and I flew together on a few trips when the client required required that there should be two of us.
I also remember visiting Himself and Shirley at their home a little to the north of Dyce. Sadly we lost touch a couple of years after I left Peregrine.
A great guy and excellent company. Sad he's gone, and so long ago.


Martha Pote, e-mail, 24.02.2023 09:39

Ik wil alleen mijn getuigenis hier delen. Mijn naam is Martha Pote. Ik wil God alle eer geven voor het brengen van Dr. Ige Ajayi om mij te helpen mijn huwelijk te herstellen. Ik hou heel veel van mijn man, hij is van me gescheiden vanwege een andere vrouw. ik bad en huilde maar op geen enkele manier. Op een dag was ik gewoon op internet aan het zoeken en kwam ik een spell caster tegen (Dr. Ige Ajayi). Ik geloofde nooit eerder in spellcasting, maar iets in mij zei dat ik het eens moest proberen. Ik nam contact met hem op en hij vertelde me dat alles goed komt dat mijn man me binnen 48 uur zal bellen en zijn excuses zal aanbieden. ik dacht dat het een grap was. zie, voor de 48 uur belde mijn man me en begon me alles te verontschuldigen. daarom wil ik deze getuigenis hier delen, ik weet dat velen veel doormaken in hun huwelijk, wees niet verlegen om hulp te zoeken. Dr. Ige Ajayi kan u in elk geval bijstaan. Neem nu contact met hem op. E-mail: drigeajayi@gmail.com/WhatsApp: +2348130035939..


Damian Waters, e-mail, 24.02.2023 00:34

Hi, would love to chat. Regards, Damian


Damian Waters, e-mail, 24.02.2023 00:33

Hi Mac, would love to chat to you about my grandfather Roy Victor Waters. Just saw your reply to my post. Regards Damian Waters


Damian Waters, e-mail, 24.02.2023 00:28

Hi, would love to email you about that time if that would ok. regards, Damian


Damian Waters, e-mail, 24.02.2023 00:27

Hi, would love to email you about that time if that would ok. regards, Damian


MR C E WATERS, e-mail, 13.02.2023 19:36

Hi Damian,
I remember your grandfather.
I served from Feb 56 to Dec 59 at RAF Middle wallop.
The unit was officially the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (JEHU) but the Experimental was dropped from the title just for the Suez campaign


Anonymous, 13.02.2023 19:34

Hi Damian,
I remember your grandfather.
I served from Feb 56 to Dec 59 at RAF Middle wallop.
The unit was officially the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (JEHU) but the Experimental was dropped from the title just for the Suez campaign


Anonymous, 13.02.2023 19:34

Hi Damian,
I remember your grandfather.
I served from Feb 56 to Dec 59 at RAF Middle wallop.
The unit was officially the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (JEHU) but the Experimental was dropped from the title just for the Suez campaign


Kevin Christie, e-mail, 19.04.2022 23:53

I remember falling out of these on exercise in Thetford army training ground. Did it a few times. Noisy but fun at the time,


Chari Bogué, e-mail, 26.08.2020 18:32

Dear Keith,
Thank you for sharing your memories of Peter Bogué, my father-in-law, here. We miss him very much.

Chari Bogué


Chari Bogué, e-mail, 26.08.2020 17:48

Dear Terry,

I just saw your comment in response to Peter Bogué's text. Peter was my father-in-law and it's great to know about other pilots who got to know him and fly with him. He passed away in April this year and we miss him terribly. I hope you get to read this message.
Best wishes for you and your family.
Chari Bogué


John Stubbert, e-mail, 01.06.2020 16:55

I had many happy hours in these aircraft. I was Photographer, RAF. I had trips in GB, Cyprus, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Happy days!


Rolie James, e-mail, 28.01.2018 01:13

First flew Wirlwind HAR 10 during my flying training at Tern Hill in 1971! On course completion l was posted to Odiham and was the first, first tourist to fly the Puma helicopter. After 5 years on the Puma, I was posted to the UN at Nicosia to fly the Wirlwind 10! Whilst the Puma was a fabulous helicopter, the Wirlwind was more fun! After the QHI course and a posting to Oman, I was fortunate to fly Bell 205, 212 and 214, but the Whirlwind 10 was 'still in my system!'. I was fortunate to fly it again in UK and Cyprus. I retired from flying this year, aged 70 years!


Bob Cowell, e-mail, 10.12.2017 07:09

I can always remember the 103 sqn whirlwind helicopters based at RAF Tengah in the early seventies which were camouflaged. Back in the mid sixties to early seventies , I'm led to believe at RAAF Butterworth , there was at least one Whirlwind Har10 I think was a yellow Raf rescue helicopter, does anybody remember or ever seen these whirlwinds at Butterworth?


Steve Lister, e-mail, 15.09.2017 14:50

The article states that the single cabin door was on the LHS of the fuselage & the jet exhaust made loading hazardous??? The door was on the RHS of the fuselage. If this has already been pointed out I missed it

Regards Steve


Darrell Drury, e-mail, 30.09.2016 15:06

Hi, I work with British Forces Postal Service. We produce commemorative covers for Forces charities. We are producing a commemorative cover for the 60th Ann, of Op Musketeer. Based on the first helicopter troop landings. We are desperately short of an image showing 45 Commando troops be flown in by the Wessex Whirlwind helicopter. There are a couple on the internet but they do have IWM copyright. I would be grateful if you could email me if you can help us out. Kind regards, Darrell


John Eaves, 11.07.2016 16:12

I have read with interest the e-mail from Bob Cowell regarding the Mirage crash July 1972. I was one of the crewmen (M.A.L.M.) involved in that incident and spent many sorties to and fro the incident site. I spent just over 5 years on whirlwinds (mks 7 and 10)based at Boscombe Down, Changi and Tengah. Fond but distant memories. Went on to Wessex mk 2 at Odiham but not quite the same.


Vic, e-mail, 21.11.2015 03:20

I served with the 1st and 2nd Royal Australian Regiment [Infantry]in Malaya 1959-63 and recollect the Battalion being airlifted from an LZ by Whirlwinds off the H.M.S. Ark Royal, it turned out as I remember to be a bit of a shambles with a good number of the aircraft [which I was told were veterans of the Suez crisis in 56] failing to fulfill the requirement to lift troops, something to do with air density ? tropical conditions ? don't know only a "grunt"


Mac McConnell-Wood, e-mail, 27.05.2015 12:45

Hello Damian Waters,
Yes- I remember your Grandfather -I was with the Joint Helicopter Unit on the Suez op. Flew from HMS Theseus-trained on HMS Ocean.
First attempt to get the choppers decked and stowed prompted Commander Air to announce over the tannoy Happy days! "Get those B..things stowed or we'll be in Paris in 5 minutes"...Oh how we chortled !


Mac McConnell-Wood, e-mail, 27.05.2015 12:37

McConnell-Wood...Just found this blog. I was a crewman at Butterworth '59 -'61. Remember picking up an Aussie Sabre pilot who'd ejected over light ulu-and we trecked in from a nearby paddy to get him....Also remember fixing a hydraulic snag with the help of aboriginals, who operated the test rig from the deck, while I was bleeding the system from the top--all done by sign language.!These guys looked primitive , but they were intelligent enough to figure out what I was trying to explain!...Happy days!


Mac McConnell-Wood, e-mail, 27.05.2015 12:33

McConnell-Wood...Just found this blog. I was a crewman at Butterworth '59 -'61. Remember picking up an Aussie Sabre pilot who'd ejected over light ulu-and we trecked in from a nearby paddy to get him....Also remember fixing a hydraulic snag with the help of aboriginals, who operated the test rig from the deck, while I was bleeding the system from the top--all done by sign language.!These guys looked primitive , but they were intelligent enough to figure out what I was trying to explain!...Happy days!


davie mcelhinney, e-mail, 22.10.2013 18:46

can anyone tell me did the westland whirlwind helicopter
ever fly an operational roll in northern Ireland. either
before operation banner or as part of the operation

thankyou


aaron dengate, e-mail, 10.09.2013 20:48

i know that whirlwinds were based at raf manston betwwen 1961-1974 and xj763 g-bkha attnded the airshow here in 1986


Jeff Morris, e-mail, 13.02.2013 06:54

Recognize a couple of names there; I too was a crewman on 103/110 Squadron based at Labuan from May 1964 to May 1965 and spent a fair bit of time at Bario (Y10). Start of a long flying career!


Damian Waters, e-mail, 15.01.2013 11:14

Hi, my grandfather Major Roy Victor Waters served in the British Army Air Corp. He flew the Whirlwind in the Suez crisis of the HMS Theseus. Looking for anyone who knew or served with him.


Bob Cowell, e-mail, 13.01.2013 14:52

I was on attachment at RAF Tengah in the early seventies from RAAF Butterworth. On 06Jul72 We had an inflight fire on RAAF Mirage A3-98. Pilot F/O John Kindler ejected safely, aircraft crashed 30nm n/w of RAF Tengah near Johore Bahru. One of 103 SQNS Whirlwinds HAR10's rescued pilot and brought him safely back to Tengah . I can always remember the squeaking of the wheels as the whirlwind taxied up to our 3Sqn flt line as F/O Kindler happily
jumped from the aircraft still with the ejection seat handle in his hand. The Whirlwinds from 103 sqn also transported us to the crash site over several more days after. Is there any way of finding out those Whirlwind HAR10 serial numbers that 103SQN had on strengh at Tengah at that time. Regards Bob Cowell.


Lou, e-mail, 10.08.2011 15:06

Did XD164 Mk.10 finish up on gate guard somewhere? after it was retrieved from Holyhead harbour.


Bill Fletcher, e-mail, 07.03.2011 17:07

When I arrived at Seletar at the end of 1962 103 sqdn consisted of 1 Flt/Sgt, 1Ch/Tech and 2 corporals including me. We built the ground equipment then assisted in building the aircraft from boxesIwas on the party which took the aiorcraft to Borneo on HMS Albion. Happy days!


Terry Jones, e-mail, 20.02.2011 21:43

Just seen Peter Bogué's post. I well remember flying with him as crewman on 103 Sqn at Seletar and from Kuching. Good to know that he is still alive. I have memories of my time on helicopters.


Jamie MacAlister, e-mail, 12.10.2010 21:53

I am presently a Lecturer/ Instructor with Air Service Training (Engineering) at Perth Airport, Scone in Scotland. I thought you may like to know we have a Whirlwind HAS Mk 9 in the hangar (she is used extensively to teach young Helicopter engineers) amongst other types. XL 875 is her Royal Navy Service number.


Keith Cannon, e-mail, 22.09.2010 18:25

Just noticed the posts from Pete Bogué.I was a Jnr Tech based at Labuan from Nov 63 to Nov 64, and managed to get a job as a crewman on 103 Squadron Whirlwind 10s. He may well not remember me from that far back, however I did fly with him on XR 478 and XR 479 from the 7th to 29th October 1964. I well remember sitting in the door with my feet dangling out either high above the rain forest or way below the tree tops. The WW10 was an exciting aircraft to fly in and did not give me many problems when it came to servicing them in the field. The year I spent flying on the WW10 was without doubt the best fun that I have ever had. Given the chance I would do exactly the same tomorrow - even though I am now a bit long in the tooth!!


Pete Bogue, e-mail, 08.08.2010 18:41

Just noticed 'howler' in my previous post. Just to be sure, the door was on the right and the jet exhaust on the left! The later Wessex had twin Gnomes and thus an exhaust on both sides. The view to the right from the pilots seat was often hazy due to the exhaust heat! The Gnome was capable of giving about 1050 shaft horse power, but was de-rated in the WW10 to around 850 because the main rotor gearbox and drive train could not absorb more power. A bit more range, a tad more speed and the old Whirlybird would have taken some beating as a battlefield chopper.


Pete Bogué, e-mail, 08.08.2010 00:44

I flew Whirwind 2/4s at 'B' Flight No 228 SAR Squadron, RAF Leconfield in the early sixties. We re-equipped with the Mk 10 Turbine-powered aircraft (mostly re-built 2/4s). The cabin door was on the right-hand side and the jet exhaust on the right. I later flew on No 103 Squadron based at Seletar, Singapore. However, we spent most of our time in either Malaya or Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation. The 'brochure' says the aircraft can carry ten soldiers or six stretchers, but that was nonsense on operations and we usually managed five or six fully equipped soldiers. Ghurkas weighed more than the others! The WW 10 was nice to fly, very manoeuvrable and the automatic throttle control took the sweat out of chopper flying (no need to do the 'one-armed paper hanger' act of the earlier piston-engined Whirlwinds. I would not have missed Search and Rescue, or Borneo and Malaya for anything. It was fun, fun, fun all the way! So, I'm 79 and some now and the last time I flew it was in a Tiger Moth!!


Ray Butchart, e-mail, 22.07.2010 18:51

Looking for the numbers and code letters for HAR10 Whirlwinds used at 84 Squadron Nicosia in late 1970s


DAVID ANGEL, e-mail, 02.01.2010 01:27

CAN YOU TELL ME THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE MK10 AT RAAF
BUTTERWORTH

I SERVED ON BOARD THIS HELICOPTER WHILST SERVING WITH THE REGIMENT (I SQUADRON)


DS Mallock, e-mail, 30.10.2009 06:35

The cabin door for all S-55s is on the righthand side!


paul, e-mail, 26.05.2009 22:31

I worked on the last operational Mk7 at RAF Old Sarum. We where a Royal Navy Dtachment (Flee Air Arm)Using the helo as a trials aircraft for tactical innovations for helo`s. The abiding memory I have was of putting the handle in the front of the engine and turning it 3x30 times to put oil round the engine prior to stating first time daily. Comments like winding the rubber band where always being thrown our way when operating at varios RAF or fleet Air Arm establishments


kiran, e-mail, 20.04.2009 17:44

will u send me model sketch of your project let me know something about your project please


maurice gillon, e-mail, 07.12.2007 14:45

Hi, I was stationed in Malaya with the RAF in the early 50's working with the HAR Mk 4 and wonder if you know where I could purchase a print of this model.




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