Tuesday 17 May 2016



Just dropped in my mail box:

"It is with deep regret that I have to report the death of Sqn Ldr Butch Hamer aged 92."

We used to night stop at El Adem in Libya; as we drove past the Ops Building we used to laugh, because they had never repaired the holes in its walls that Butch had put there in World War 2 when he strafed the German Luftwaffe based there, from his Spitfire.

We got into trouble when we did a 'beat-up' of 'Windy' Wellington in New Zealand ... Butch puffing smoke everywhere from his pipe ... they took a photograph from the control tower, looking DOWN on us, as Butch raised a wingtip to miss a Landrover.... in a Comet 4c!!!!! 


The kiwis loved it ... our bosses didn't when they received a copy of a Wellington newspaper, with us on the front page

He did the low-level flights to see if it was worth building the Nimrod Maritime Rece aircraft (which it was and based it on the Comet). They found seaweed on the pitot-heads which protrude 12 inches below the aircraft.

Comet 4c of 216 Squadron, RAF (1972)


Passing of a legend ... and a good 'playmate' ... the angels will being flying in a new formation today!

4 comments:

  1. "Angels 12 o'clock."

    "No Bandits".

    R.I.P.

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  2. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, John. Wonderful memories!

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  3. So sorry for the loss of your friend John. Yes, thank goodness for wonderful memories. All the best to you.

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  4. Nowt beats good memories. You have many.
    Sympathy... but admit to envy that you lived the life!

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