Pen Portraits: what happened next
Pen portraits of post-graduation life, as submitted to the 69th Association newsletter over the period 1994 - 2011
Clive "Tug" Wilson - Airframes
RAF Career
1954-58
From Halton I was posted to North Weald (Essex) and worked as a J/Tech, Corporal and Cpl/Tech in Aircraft Servicing Flight, and later on 111 Sqdn which initially flew Meteor 7's and 8's, then Hunter 4's and 6's, from which Sqdn Ldr Topp formed the aerobatics squadron the "Black Arrows". It was the "Black Arrows" that achieved the world's first loop-the-loop at Farnborough with 22 Hunters.
We worked "heathen" weekends to support the weekend pilot squadrons and 604 (Meteors). I also covered Stn Fits Anson and Chipmunk, and the Ground Equipment Bay. During this time I was detached to Istres (France) as part of a six-man specialist team to see the Hunter squadrons through for the Suez war, where I met my first (and only) 69th Entry colleague in Ted Bogg (Engines).
Late 1958
Posted to Wattisham with 111 squadron and then a short spell in Stn Flt on Meteors, Ansons and Vampires.
1959 - 62
Attended two CFR Engine Operators courses at Shell and AID Laboratories prior to a posting to Akrotiri (Cyprus) where I took over the Aeronautical Inspection Services Engine Test House as a Senior Tech, and met Ted Bogg again. The work involved calibrating aviation and motor gasolines for performance number and octane number ratings. This was my best posting in the RAF! I had a free technical mandate with no interference and a twice a year trip to the UK to report progress direct to Air Ministry. We worked a six day week with every afternoon free for water-skiing, where I was the Water Ski Club engineer.
1962-64
Posted (Norfolk) where I took over the Powerplant Servicing Bay as a Chief Technician, building Avon and Merlin powerplants for Canberras and Lincoins before joining Aircraft Servicing Control as Manpower and Resources Controller.
Civilian Career with Rolls Royce (Aeroengines)
1965-70
I joined RR as an Engine Performance Engineer on test analysis of various engines including the Phantom Reheated Spey, and the Jaguar Adour. Several trips to Paris were needed to cover the altitude testing of RR made engines.
1970-78
I swapped to R&D Combustion on promotion and helped to develop combustors for the Trident 3B booster engine, XJ (vertical lift) and Adour. I then switched to the RB-211-524 fan jet for the Tristar and Boeing aircraft, and also the RB-211-535.
1979-94
On promotion to Combustion Operations Manager I became involved in test programmes, manpower levels, budgets and Quality Assurance.
1995
I took voluntary early severance (with both hands!).
Tertiary Career
1995 to date
Retirement !
- RAF Halton and the Brats
- The Aircraft Apprentices Scheme
- Clubs, Societies and Sports at Halton
- RAF Halton's goats
- Tributes to Halton and the Brats
- The 69th and the Apprentices Network, 1951
- The Presentation of the Queen's Colour, 1952
- Summer Camp, RAF Formby, 1953
- The 69th and the Queen's Coronation, 1953
- The 69th's Graduation Review, 1954
- The Senior Entry - a graduate's letter, 1954
- A full list of 69th Graduates
- Halton days: stories from the 69th
- The 69th's Burmese Brats
- The 69th's commemorative window
- 69th Entry Reunions