A Passion For Flying

by Eeles, Tom

• ISBN13: 9781844156887
• ISBN10: 1844156885
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-04-19
• Publisher: Pen & Sword

Summary

Group Captain Tom Eeles served in the RAF for 44 years and totaled over 8000 hours of flying in twenty-eight different aircraft types. Tom entered RAF College Cranwell in 1961, he gained his RAF wings in 1963. His first posting was to No 16 squadron flying the Canberra. Its role as a light bomber squadron was primarily nuclear strike, with a secondary role of conventional ground attack by day and night. 16 Squadron was deployed Kuantan, Malaya. in July 1966 and on loan to the Senior Service, Tom reported to RNAS Lossiemouth for a swept wing conversion course on the Hunter before starting the Buccaneer Operational Flying Course. After 65 hours in the Buccaneer he was posted to 801 NAS, HMS Victorious. in 1969 he joined 736 Naval Air Squadron which was responsible for training courses for RAF aircrew converting to the Buccaneer. He moved to 12 Squadron based at RAF Honington. Their task was to provide a maritime strike/attack capability and a nuclear strike capability in support of the UK National Plan. 1975 saw a move to 79 Squadron flying the Hunter. After a spell at the RAF Staff College, Tom became staff officer responsible for all aspects of fast jet advanced flying training on the Hawk at Valley and multi engine advanced flying training at Finningley. in 1983, selected to command 237 OCU, again flying the Buccaneer at Lossiemouth.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Prologue	p. ix
Prelude to Flying - 1942 to 1960	p. 1
Early Days - 1960 to 1963	p. 5
Advanced Flying Training and Operational Conversion - 1963 to 1964	p. 15
The First Tour - 1964 to 1966	p. 24
The Fleet Air Arm - 1966 to 1968	p. 38
Learning to Teach - 1968 to 1969	p. 56
Teaching on the Buccaneer - 1969 to 1972	p. 60
No. 12 Squadron - 1972 to 1975	p. 69
Hunters in Wales - 1975 to 1976	p. 77
Chief Flying Instructor, Staff College and Strike Command - 1976 to 1982	p. 84
Hawk, Jetstream and (Again) Buccaneer - 1982 to 1987	p. 92
CFS Examining Wing, Brampton and Linton-on-Ouse - 1987 to 1994	p. 102
MoD, 5 Air Experience Flight and Cambridge University Air Squadron - 1994 to 2004	p. 115
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly	p. 123
Record of Service	p. 126
Pilot Qualifications, Military Aircraft	p. 128
Flying Hours	p. 130
Civilian Aircraft Flown as First Pilot	p. 131
Flying the Buccaneer, a Pilot's Perspective	p. 132
Acronyms	p. 140
Index	p. 143
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.