Ian Pearson
29-03 2020 14:12
wrote:
Along with aircrew arriving at Edinburgh in 1979 for P-3 conversion training, (then) Group Captain Tom Trinder had also arrived at the beginning of the year to take over the role of Commanding Officer, Base Squadron. Holding the ‘secondary duty’ of President of the Mess Committee (PMC), Tom was disappointed to find that the Mess silver collection did not include a P-3 model that could be used as a table arrangement at formal Mess dinners. However, given his last posting as Staff Officer to the Chief Defence Scientist, when he had seen the fabrication of metal models for wind tunnel research at the nearby Defence Science and Technology organisation laboratories, he knew exactly where could get one made. Confirming that they could assist, DSTO engineers requested a model that they could use as a reference. As it turned out, there was a Lockheed P-3B model in the office of the base commander, also a recent arrival. With the base commander (formerly a fast jet pilot) away at the time, Tom borrowed the P-3B model and made it available to the DSTO engineers. Subsequently, with the base commander return imminent, Tom became anxious to restore the P-3B model to his boss' office. He hastened the DSTO engineers who promptly returned the plastic model and the new Mess ornament - one and the same thing as the plastic model had acquired an expensive silver skin. The Mess silver requirement addressed, Ron Tayles was able to donate a manufacturer’s P-3C model to replace the missing model, much to the relief of the fearful PMC. Nothing was ever said about how the P-3 model in the base commander's office had ‘grown’ an IRDS turret. Ian Pearson
Ian Pearson
29-03 2020 14:12
wrote:
Along with aircrew arriving at Edinburgh in 1979 for P-3 conversion training, (then) Group Captain Tom Trinder had also arrived at the beginning of the year to take over the role of Commanding Officer, Base Squadron. Holding the ‘secondary duty’ of President of the Mess Committee (PMC), Tom was disappointed to find that the Mess silver collection did not include a P-3 model that could be used as a table arrangement at formal Mess dinners. However, given his last posting as Staff Officer to the Chief Defence Scientist, when he had seen the fabrication of metal models for wind tunnel research at the nearby Defence Science and Technology organisation laboratories, he knew exactly where could get one made. Confirming that they could assist, DSTO engineers requested a model that they could use as a reference. As it turned out, there was a Lockheed P-3B model in the office of the base commander, also a recent arrival. With the base commander (formerly a fast jet pilot) away at the time, Tom borrowed the P-3B model and made it available to the DSTO engineers. Subsequently, with the base commander return imminent, Tom became anxious to restore the P-3B model to his boss' office. He hastened the DSTO engineers who promptly returned the plastic model and the new Mess ornament - one and the same thing as the plastic model had acquired an expensive silver skin. The Mess silver requirement addressed, Ron Tayles was able to donate a manufacturer’s P-3C model to replace the missing model, much to the relief of the fearful PMC. Nothing was ever said about how the P-3 model in the base commander's office had ‘grown’ an IRDS turret. Ian Pearson
