News: Pylon magazine
The de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School published a periodic magazine, Pylon, from 1933 to 1970, with gaps at times especially during WW2. A partial set is held by the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre at Salisbury Hall, Hertfordshire.
The Association has published four issues in recent years, in 1998, 2003, 2005 and 2008. The last three were compiled by Ken Watkins with the help of an editorial sub-committee. This recent issue, Pylon 80, commemorates the 80th anniversary of the founding of the School. Pylon is printed in limited numbers and is available only to members. Pylon 80 included a number of group photographs, as usual - some with unidentified students yet to be named. Ken Watkins is keen to expand further our growing collection of group photos, whether contemporary or more recent, formal or informal. Either send Ken a good copy (or an original if you are prepared to lend it to him) or a scan at 600 dpi, with black and white photos scanned in grayscale, please (colour in colour, of course!). Scanned files too large to be emailed can be sent on a CD. In whatever format, please send your photos to:
Ken Watkins, 2 Rue de Songeons, 60220 Campeaux, France. Email: braynord@orange.fr
Ken has now retired as compiler of Pylon and if there are to be future issues we need a new compiler. Any Association member reading this who would like to take on this fascinating task can find out more from Ken at his address above. He is waiting for your call!
Comments
- 06 Jul 08 12:05 Mike Greenaway from East Grinstead
- Many thanks for the latest Pylon and congratulations to all who contributed and compiled it. It evokes so many memories. Have not read all yet but particularly liked the Duncan Simpson and Dave Sparrow articles. Remember being posted to AFDS West Raynham just after the first Hunters arrived and working on the large defence excercises with rapid four minute turn-rounds on the Hunters (re-fuel, re-arm etc). Still have some old photos of a group of pilots in front of their tent and with their cars in the background. Also one of we erks sitting on a bomb trolly. Well remember Wingco Bird-Wilson and him ferrying a Venom without canopy back to West Raynham. Recently heard that he was Guinea Pig Nr2 at the famous McIndoe burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital which is just along our road. One pilot on the photo was USAF Captain Beck who later had a miraculous escape when his Hunter2 collided with another one. He lost his stbd tailplane and tailcone and the other aircraft lost a wingtip and pitot head. Another aircraft guided it to landing due to lack of ASI. Dave Sparrow's experiences mirror my own in many respects-SDCR Leavesden-Heron spar mods in Jersey with apprentice Ray Pigott-Dove canopy change with John Liddington (first job there-is he still about?) Memories too of Morton's and Leavesden Air Services and the various work he describes. People who work this way are sometimes termed gypsy fitters but we also doubled as GIPSY fitters! Have belatedly joined the net and reget not having done it much earlier.
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