Operation CHIKARA
RAF Kinloss, Scotland 18 November 1980 |
On 17 November 1980 Nimrod aircraft XV256 operating from RAF KINLOSS had crashed after takeoff when three engines failed following multiple birdstrikes, ploughing a 300 metre scar in a nearby forest. Both pilots were killed however the remaining crew survived. The wreckage and a great deal of the forest were badly burnt.
"Just before 0730 hours a crew took off in semi-darkness on the final sortie of their conversion from the Nimrod 1 to the Nimrod MR2 aircraft. Being the final sortie, the normal crew was increased to 20 by 5 checking crew and an additional Air Engineer. The surface wind was 070 degrees at 02 kts, with 8 kms visibility in rain and a main cloud base of 3000 ft. Engine response and indications during the take-off run were normal, but shortly after take-off, at an estimated height of 20 ft, the aircraft flew through a dense flock of Canada Geese flying in arrowhead formation between overnight roosting and daily feeding grounds. It suffered numerous bird-strikes. Almost simultaneously the no.1 engine surged violently, suffering a catastrophic internal failure. The low pressure compressors on the nos 2 and 3 engines were also damaged and, although they continued to run, they produced little thrust. Effectively the fully laden aircraft was being powered by only the No 4 engine which itself may have been damaged. Some 27 seconds after take-off the aircraft came down on the relatively soft tree-tops of a forest of young pine trees 1300 yards from the end of the runway and was quickly engulfed in flames."
Posthumously, Flight Lieutenant Anthony, the flying pilot, was awarded the Air Force Cross and his Co-Pilot, Flying Officer Belcher, the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
By the afternoon, the SQMS and the rear party had collected, checked, packed and manifested the stores for the deployment to Scotland the following morning. The road trip was uneventful with six drivers, a Landrover and two Bedfords arriving at about 0300 hours 18 November. The main body of the recovery detachment had the luxury of deploying by Hercules from RAF WYTON to RAF LOSSIEMOUTH.
The Squadron was tasked with removing broken trees, creating access tracks and collecting aircraft wreckage. Access routes had to be cut through the forces and maintained, which meant that a plentiful supply of timber was available for the fire. Due to continual deteriorating weather conditions, the tracks quickly became impassable, therefore all tracks carrying heavy traffic loads had to be surfaced using Class 30 trackway. The deployment was not without its worrying moments. During one particularly bad storm, when even the haggis were taking shelter, Lance Corporal ‘Florence’ Nightingale was saved from serious injury by the observations of Flight Sergeant Dave Taylor who pointed out that he was about to saw a phosphorous bomb in half.
Due also to the amount of metal fragments in the timber, the power saws took a worse than average hammering but Lance Corporal ‘Geordie’ Casey soon became an expert on repairing them. The rolls of Class 30 trackway were laid with relative ease, but due to the ever growing presence of mud they rapidly became more difficult to lay, as the laying vehicles bogged in or slithered about on the greasy surfaces. Due to Regimental commitments, half of the original detachment returned to Waterbeach after the first week, leaving the remainder to help pick up the aircraft, maintain, and finally clear up the stores.
During the second week there was a lessening of commitment to the task due to the Board of Inquiry examiners checking particular parts of the fuselage wreckage. This allowed the detachment the opportunities to enjoy flights in various RAF aircraft. Lots were drawn to decide who went in what and after the detachment failed to get off the ground, the RAF assured the Sappers that Shackletons really were capable of flight.
The last stage of the task was to lift and clean the Class 30 trackway. This was achieved by a lot of hard work using the fact that the trackway was lifted weighing two to three times their original weight due to the mud. It was during this period that Sergeant Leon Drewnicki found his true vocation in life on the fire hose, kindly lent by the RAF Fire Section for cleaning the equipment. In this period it was discovered that diving suits would have been more useful than normal military clothing, especially to Lance Corporal Ian Horman and Sapper ‘Jock’ McGregor. Lance Corporal Norman spent most of his time on the brake, getting a soaking. The split roll was then reassembled and loaded onto Squadron vehicles, ready to be transported back to Waterbeach whilst the remainder of the Class 30 trackway were dispatched by freightliners back to parts throughout the country. At the end of the task a good party was held in the NAAFI to say farewell to the many friends made during the stay. Lieutenant Mike Gilson received further education in RAF/Army behaviour.
"Just before 0730 hours a crew took off in semi-darkness on the final sortie of their conversion from the Nimrod 1 to the Nimrod MR2 aircraft. Being the final sortie, the normal crew was increased to 20 by 5 checking crew and an additional Air Engineer. The surface wind was 070 degrees at 02 kts, with 8 kms visibility in rain and a main cloud base of 3000 ft. Engine response and indications during the take-off run were normal, but shortly after take-off, at an estimated height of 20 ft, the aircraft flew through a dense flock of Canada Geese flying in arrowhead formation between overnight roosting and daily feeding grounds. It suffered numerous bird-strikes. Almost simultaneously the no.1 engine surged violently, suffering a catastrophic internal failure. The low pressure compressors on the nos 2 and 3 engines were also damaged and, although they continued to run, they produced little thrust. Effectively the fully laden aircraft was being powered by only the No 4 engine which itself may have been damaged. Some 27 seconds after take-off the aircraft came down on the relatively soft tree-tops of a forest of young pine trees 1300 yards from the end of the runway and was quickly engulfed in flames."
Posthumously, Flight Lieutenant Anthony, the flying pilot, was awarded the Air Force Cross and his Co-Pilot, Flying Officer Belcher, the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
By the afternoon, the SQMS and the rear party had collected, checked, packed and manifested the stores for the deployment to Scotland the following morning. The road trip was uneventful with six drivers, a Landrover and two Bedfords arriving at about 0300 hours 18 November. The main body of the recovery detachment had the luxury of deploying by Hercules from RAF WYTON to RAF LOSSIEMOUTH.
The Squadron was tasked with removing broken trees, creating access tracks and collecting aircraft wreckage. Access routes had to be cut through the forces and maintained, which meant that a plentiful supply of timber was available for the fire. Due to continual deteriorating weather conditions, the tracks quickly became impassable, therefore all tracks carrying heavy traffic loads had to be surfaced using Class 30 trackway. The deployment was not without its worrying moments. During one particularly bad storm, when even the haggis were taking shelter, Lance Corporal ‘Florence’ Nightingale was saved from serious injury by the observations of Flight Sergeant Dave Taylor who pointed out that he was about to saw a phosphorous bomb in half.
Due also to the amount of metal fragments in the timber, the power saws took a worse than average hammering but Lance Corporal ‘Geordie’ Casey soon became an expert on repairing them. The rolls of Class 30 trackway were laid with relative ease, but due to the ever growing presence of mud they rapidly became more difficult to lay, as the laying vehicles bogged in or slithered about on the greasy surfaces. Due to Regimental commitments, half of the original detachment returned to Waterbeach after the first week, leaving the remainder to help pick up the aircraft, maintain, and finally clear up the stores.
During the second week there was a lessening of commitment to the task due to the Board of Inquiry examiners checking particular parts of the fuselage wreckage. This allowed the detachment the opportunities to enjoy flights in various RAF aircraft. Lots were drawn to decide who went in what and after the detachment failed to get off the ground, the RAF assured the Sappers that Shackletons really were capable of flight.
The last stage of the task was to lift and clean the Class 30 trackway. This was achieved by a lot of hard work using the fact that the trackway was lifted weighing two to three times their original weight due to the mud. It was during this period that Sergeant Leon Drewnicki found his true vocation in life on the fire hose, kindly lent by the RAF Fire Section for cleaning the equipment. In this period it was discovered that diving suits would have been more useful than normal military clothing, especially to Lance Corporal Ian Horman and Sapper ‘Jock’ McGregor. Lance Corporal Norman spent most of his time on the brake, getting a soaking. The split roll was then reassembled and loaded onto Squadron vehicles, ready to be transported back to Waterbeach whilst the remainder of the Class 30 trackway were dispatched by freightliners back to parts throughout the country. At the end of the task a good party was held in the NAAFI to say farewell to the many friends made during the stay. Lieutenant Mike Gilson received further education in RAF/Army behaviour.