Berlin Airlift
Discussion
yellowjack said:
I was up there on my bike again yesterday. I'm now officially the 5th fastest Strava user around the old perimeter track anti-clockwise. It was very quiet up there, with only about four other people on the peri-track/bridleway, and all must have been local because there were no cars parked at the entrances.
I once cycled nearly 100 miles (clockwise) around that perimeter track – when it was still a perimeter track – on a sponsored bike ride. It sounds easy but it's all up hill and down dale and bloody windy. Yertis said:
yellowjack said:
I was up there on my bike again yesterday. I'm now officially the 5th fastest Strava user around the old perimeter track anti-clockwise. It was very quiet up there, with only about four other people on the peri-track/bridleway, and all must have been local because there were no cars parked at the entrances.
I once cycled nearly 100 miles (clockwise) around that perimeter track – when it was still a perimeter track – on a sponsored bike ride. It sounds easy but it's all up hill and down dale and bloody windy. 
And yes. That wind doesn't help. It's very much a high point in the surrounding landscape and quite exposed, so it feels the full effect of any wind that's about. Probably not an ideal cycling venue, but I've seen articles about proposals to repair the surface of the peri-track to turn it into a proper cycle-friendly loop that could also be used for bike races. Although that would hardly seem like a priority at the moment, and I've not seen anything recently about it.
yellowjack said:
You'd need a dentist on standby nowadays if you were to attempt 100 miles around the peri-track in either direction! The surface is in a poor state in many places, enough to rattle your fillings out. The most I've done in a single sitting is two laps! After that you kinda lose the will to live and head back onto the roads...
And yes. That wind doesn't help. It's very much a high point in the surrounding landscape and quite exposed, so it feels the full effect of any wind that's about. Probably not an ideal cycling venue, but I've seen articles about proposals to repair the surface of the peri-track to turn it into a proper cycle-friendly loop that could also be used for bike races. Although that would hardly seem like a priority at the moment, and I've not seen anything recently about it.
I've walked it a while back, and tried to take a rather complicated work call while being somewhat blown away. And yes. That wind doesn't help. It's very much a high point in the surrounding landscape and quite exposed, so it feels the full effect of any wind that's about. Probably not an ideal cycling venue, but I've seen articles about proposals to repair the surface of the peri-track to turn it into a proper cycle-friendly loop that could also be used for bike races. Although that would hardly seem like a priority at the moment, and I've not seen anything recently about it.
RoverP6B said:
And then maybe they could re-lay the runways too... maybe somebody could then try landing an aeroplane on them... you could call it, ooh, an airfield? Dangerously radical suggestion, I know!
You've no idea how controversial that would be! It was meant to be handed back to the land owner after the war, but because Cobham/FR Aviation were doing "important government work" there, the government apparently purchased the airfield to lease it to FR. The moment it closed, the crushers moved in and chomped up the runways and many of the taxiways and dispersal pans. It's far too big for general aviation, really, and of no real use as a commercial passenger or freight airport because the road links are poor. It's 30 miles from the nearest motorway junction, mostly on roads that are already choked with West Country holiday traffic for half the year.
Came to this thread from the link in the adoption thread..
Fascinating to hear about your relative Tyre Smoke, thank you for sharing his story, and my respects to his bravery.
My Mum lives in the nearest Chute village (there are a couple) and I also happen to know the lady you spoke to for further information. I grew up and still live in the area, and as aviation history is a bit of a hobby of mine - notably incidents in the locality - I’d heard about this very crash a few years ago.
I remember one report mentioned that the remaining wreckage had come to rest near a row of 4 cottages, which I imagine could be those still in situ above Conholt House.
The high ground of Chute Causeway also claimed an Albermarle (if memory serves) during the war, a Tempest in 1946, and Vulcan XH535 in ‘63, I think.
Not sure if you ever made it to the area in 2020, given the year it’s obviously been, but if you’re ever this way again then happy to see if there’s anybody I could find locally for any further information - although I note you’re perhaps well served there already.
All the best with piecing together your relative’s story and family history.
Fascinating to hear about your relative Tyre Smoke, thank you for sharing his story, and my respects to his bravery.
My Mum lives in the nearest Chute village (there are a couple) and I also happen to know the lady you spoke to for further information. I grew up and still live in the area, and as aviation history is a bit of a hobby of mine - notably incidents in the locality - I’d heard about this very crash a few years ago.
I remember one report mentioned that the remaining wreckage had come to rest near a row of 4 cottages, which I imagine could be those still in situ above Conholt House.
The high ground of Chute Causeway also claimed an Albermarle (if memory serves) during the war, a Tempest in 1946, and Vulcan XH535 in ‘63, I think.
Not sure if you ever made it to the area in 2020, given the year it’s obviously been, but if you’re ever this way again then happy to see if there’s anybody I could find locally for any further information - although I note you’re perhaps well served there already.
All the best with piecing together your relative’s story and family history.
Thanks for that. I know very little about what happened that fateful night other than the navigator was following the wrong beacon and they were way off course. My grandfather and his crew were passengers.
I did take a trip to Andover one Sunday earlier this year and visited his grave. It's in quite a state and could do with a couple of days scrubbing. On the way home we went via Conholt. Literally just drove the area. I can see why the accident happened, the topography doesn't lend itself to an off course aircraft.
If you find out anything or anyone Rex, I'd love to know more. I'll definitely be in the area again. You can always message me or leave contact on here.
Thank you for taking the time to read the thread, I'm immensely proud of my grandfather.
I did take a trip to Andover one Sunday earlier this year and visited his grave. It's in quite a state and could do with a couple of days scrubbing. On the way home we went via Conholt. Literally just drove the area. I can see why the accident happened, the topography doesn't lend itself to an off course aircraft.
If you find out anything or anyone Rex, I'd love to know more. I'll definitely be in the area again. You can always message me or leave contact on here.
Thank you for taking the time to read the thread, I'm immensely proud of my grandfather.
Hi My uncle Bill Cusack was a pilot who was killed in GAHJW [Jig Wille] crash - he flew with the Fleet Air Arm during the war.
I will add more detail in a while
He was Irish and his remains were flown back to Limerick where he was buried.
http://mountsaintlawrence.limerick.ie/content/will...
After the war, he flew for AerLingus - training pilots to fly the Constellation Aircraft which they had purchased.
When the Irish Government canceled the order for the aircraft he left AerLingus and joined up with Flight refueling - his name is on the memorial at Tempelhof.
I will add more detail in a while
He was Irish and his remains were flown back to Limerick where he was buried.
http://mountsaintlawrence.limerick.ie/content/will...
After the war, he flew for AerLingus - training pilots to fly the Constellation Aircraft which they had purchased.
When the Irish Government canceled the order for the aircraft he left AerLingus and joined up with Flight refueling - his name is on the memorial at Tempelhof.
Tyre Smoke said:
And replied. 
OBIT:-Captain Bill Cusack
The tragic death of Capt. William Cusack in the air-crash in Chute, Conholt England last Monday week has come as a profound shock to his many friends in Limerick.
Knowing Willie personally, he always impressed me as a sincere and warm-hearted manly fellow. He had a virile personality, full of unbounded energy and enthusiasm, possessed of many fine qualities of head and heart, which he brought to bear in the various activities with which he was associated.
Willie received his education at the C.B.S schools in Sexton Street, limerick and his natural aptitude and intelligence stamped him as a pupil of outstanding ability qualifying with first class honours in his intermediate and leaving certificate examinations.
On the athletic field, he displayed his prowess at rugby and hurling, as well as being an accomplished swimmer. He had acquired quite a collection of cups and medals, and would doubtless have had a distinguished career as a sportsman.
Imbued with a love of aeronautics since he was a boy, Willie decided to adopt flying as a career, and he studied the art of flight at an air-school in Belfast.
When he qualified for his Air licence he completed his training in Canada and was transferred to Bomber Command, and operated off the coast of Norway against German Shipping.
He was later posted to Fleet Air-Arm in 1942 and saw service in the Middle-East, India and the Pacific. Three days before the war against Japan ended he was posted to Okinawa. The operation was cancelled on the cessation of hostilities, but Willie volunteered to continue.
Writing of his experiences to his people he described the magic of the Middle-East as unforgettable and added that he had flown over every square mile and would treasure the memories of its beauty in his old age.
On his resignation from the R.A.F. he joined Aer Lingus in 1946, and proved to be one of their most capable pilots. He was promoted Acting-Captain and was later appointed flying instructor, but at his own request he resumed operational flying and stayed with the company until May, 1948, when he resigned with the rank of senior captain.
He then joined a freight carrying service in Pakistan. His next job was with Flight Refueling Ltd., an organisation operated by Sir Alan Cobham. The plane in which he was killed was owned by this company and he was returning from Berlin on leave.
Capt. Cusack was married about a year ago to Miss Edith Newman, who was Chief Hostess of Aer Lingus at the time. They lived in Beaufield House, Stillorgan, Dublin.
His father was Mr. Richard Cusack, haulage contractor, Ballysimon Road, Limerick. Bill was a brother-in-law of Mr. P. O’Connell, Victualler and Pork Butcher, Little Catherine Street, Limerick
An Irish connection - very interesting. Note that the Irish airline that was due to fly those Constellations was NOT Aer Lingus but a new and separate state owned airline called Aerlinte Eireann. Following a change of government, the four Constellations ordered were sold to BOAC.
Aerlinte finally started trans Atlantic operations ( with leased Super Constellations) ten years later in 1958.
Aerlinte was merged into Aer Lingus in 1964.
Aerlinte finally started trans Atlantic operations ( with leased Super Constellations) ten years later in 1958.
Aerlinte was merged into Aer Lingus in 1964.
What are the chances!!
Lovely to hear your story NapperTandy.
I need to get the grave cleaned up in Andover now that lockdown is easing.
I think I posted the picture I took last year, but if not here it is, along with a picture of my grandmother at the graveside not long after the burial by the look of things.
Lovely to hear your story NapperTandy.
I need to get the grave cleaned up in Andover now that lockdown is easing.
I think I posted the picture I took last year, but if not here it is, along with a picture of my grandmother at the graveside not long after the burial by the look of things.
Was at RAF Tempsford on Saturday for a reunion which was very emotional but a fantastic experience.
And dropped down to Andover to see what a great job Dave at Grave Concerns has done to the grave in Andover Cemetery.
Which is absolutely fantastic and nothing less than the four heroes deserved.
I'm now on a search for relatives of Donny's err, bedmates Reginald Heath, Alan Burton and Cyril Taylor.
And dropped down to Andover to see what a great job Dave at Grave Concerns has done to the grave in Andover Cemetery.
Which is absolutely fantastic and nothing less than the four heroes deserved.
I'm now on a search for relatives of Donny's err, bedmates Reginald Heath, Alan Burton and Cyril Taylor.
A little while ago, beginning of July to be precise, I requested the report into the crash from the National Archive at Kew. This week it arrived. All 396 pages of it. Luckily I had requested it be emailed (the cheapest option) and have just spent the afternoon reading through it all.
It would seem that the navigator was working by DR as there were 10/10 cloud cover over Southern England. And as suspected was following the beacon at Netheravon rather than Tarrant Rushton. There were descending from 2000' on what they thought was final approach to Tarrant Rushton, except they were quite a bit north and flew into the hills around Chute on the Hants Wilts border. It makes very interesting reading and has some photographs of the crash site. How anyone survived is amazing.
It would seem that the navigator was working by DR as there were 10/10 cloud cover over Southern England. And as suspected was following the beacon at Netheravon rather than Tarrant Rushton. There were descending from 2000' on what they thought was final approach to Tarrant Rushton, except they were quite a bit north and flew into the hills around Chute on the Hants Wilts border. It makes very interesting reading and has some photographs of the crash site. How anyone survived is amazing.
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