~ L~ L~ L~ L VVVV EEEE: ‘Poole to Poole’ with Romance in the Air !

With the Summertime upon us, and no doubt romance in the

air, a great place to visit is Solent Sky Museum - Southampton,

where VH-BRC Beachcomber is the marvellous centrepiece…

This beautifully restored ‘Sandringham 4’ has its fascinating

story to reveal, for it started life as an RAF Sunderland MkIII

- JM715 by Shorts in 1943, before being converted at Belfast.

Postwar, like so many of its counterparts this Flying Boat was

surplus to requirements, but was destined to be a Tasman Class.

It was so called, as Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL)

needed 4 replacements for its pair of ageing C-Class Empires

on the Sydney - Auckland route: So a great adventure began !

From Poole, Capt. Tommy Rose of BOAC (a Lilliput resident)

flew now named RMA Auckland to Sydney on 15th. Oct. 1947,

with 12 stops en route, then on to Auckland arriving 28th.Oct.

However, by 1950 the 4 Sandys had in turn been replaced by

Solent 3s, and RMA Auckland sold to Barrier Reef Airways !

As VH-BRC Beachcomber it next passed to Ansett Airways

in 1953, and operated between Sydney and Lord Howe Island

until an airfield opened in 1974: Beachcomber was sold again.

The new owner was Antilles Air Boats in the Virgin Islands WI

belonging to the distinguished & decorated Capt. Charles Blair,

where it was re-registered VP-LVE and named Southern Cross.

As an ex Pan Am Clipper pilot and record breaker, Capt. Blair

was a celebrity, and in 1968 he had married Maureen O’Hara !

She was a glamorous star ~ so their romance was captivating !

Webfooters + Webfootage: ‘PFBC Postcard from…’

The term Webfooters applies to Aircrews of the Flying Boats

of the RAF as they operated out of the UK around the world

and the RAAF Squadrons formed in WW2 in their vital role .

PFBC Archive + Website are benefiting from the generosity

of John Witcombe & other members on 461 Squadron when

at RAF Hamworthy from Sept. 1942 through to April 1943,

coping with challenges of Wareham Channel & Lake Shore,

and the U-boat menace in the Western Approaches & Biscay.

PFBC Trustees are determined to mark 461 Sqd.’s History

when at Poole with a ‘fitting memorial’ as our Celebration:

More news about this Project will hopefully follow soon...

Just as members of RNAS Sandbanks and RAF Hamworthy

reached far and wide, so did the routes of BOAC Flying Boats

which stretched out from Poole in WW2, and postwar period.

‘For the Record’: New Project Underway for PFBC

Iconic Photo of G-AGCA Berwick taking off from a lagoon at Lagos

Barbara with Dave Rose (- formerly of BOAC’s Marinecraft Units):

Dave has been unwell recently, and we wish him a speedy recovery !

Barbara Plumbridge (nee Davis) is heading up a major project

for PFBC involving audio-visual recordings of those with their

marvellous stories to tell and to record for future generations...

Her own background as a member of the distinguished Poole

Davis Family with long associations with boating, and BOAC,

means that Barbara has a keen appreciation of our local history.

Her father Gilbert Davis was a senior figure in BOAC’s MCU

as Coxswain, together with her uncle David who later became

a much-respected broadcaster: So that it is hardly surprising

Barbara has inherited their knowledge and passion for Poole !

[ Her affable & engaging disposition have already benefitted

‘Friends of Poole Park’ where she is a volunteer for its kiosk.]

In turn, Barbara is now seeking volunteers for this Task Force

where you might have expertise for interviewing & recording !

An approach has been for technical & other support from our

local College, for this is such a significant initiative to PFBC

and to Poole’s History of the era of Flying Boats + Seaplanes. Likewise, if you have your story to tell about your experiences

or such information to relate about your parents /grandparents

and would like to be interviewed ~ then please contact PFBC...

Our promise is that it be enjoyable, and certainly not onerous;

as we aim for a stress-free, and informal atmosphere/settings !

Barbara is also seeking volunteers for the PFBC Day at Poole’s

Dolphin Centre. It is scheduled for the Bank Holiday Saturday,

29th. August in the main foyer just outside Marks & Spencer

PFBC’s set of Display Boards (see above) will be set out there

for so many visitors on the day to Poole’s prime shopping mall.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For News about a forthcoming BBC4 Production see Col.6 overleaf

Just imagine the publicity when this famous couple took off:

In 1976 VP-LVE Southern Cross was flown ‘transatlantic’ to

Lough Derg as Maureen O’Hara had a residence near Bantry,

and then flew onwards to land in Poole on 23rd. August 1976.

Touching down, LVE had gone ‘Poole to Poole’ in 28 + years !

To be continued: Exciting Times when at Poole (+ PFBC Members)

VP-LVE Southern Cross

Postcard From...© due on PFBC’s Website

Postcard From...©

G-AFRA Cleopatra

with Captain Peers

Captain Bernard (Taffy) Barrow

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death

of a PFBC Hon. Member - Capt Bernard (Taffy) Barrow,

who had been unwell for some time in a nursing home.

The funeral took place at Aldershot on the 11th. June:

Our thoughts were with his widow Pat (- also ex BOAC);

Paul, Nigel and David his sons who take great interest in

PFBC, and kindly forwarded some items for our Archive.

Taffy was a RAF Catalina pilot from 1943 based in N.I.

He saw service in Ceylon, before transferring to BOAC

and the famous Empire C-Classes before the end of 1945.

By 1946 Taffy was at Poole captaining G-AFKZ Cathay

in the final year of her operations ending in March 1947.

He next flew the ‘Hythes’ to the Far East and Australia,

then ‘Sandringhams’ until Poole’s services were closed. His illustrious career turned to landplanes when flying

Constellations, Stratocruisers and also the Britannias - with finally the VC10s, through to British Airways’ 747s for the last 5 years of his career… Throughout, Taffy was a gentleman who lived his life

with distinction and much enjoyment. As Taffy’s Sons write:

Poole Flying Boats Celebration Charity No. 1123274

Trustee Newsletter: Summer 2009

From the Trustees:~

‘A Very Happy Third

Birthday for PFBC !’

Welcome to our Newsletter ~ for Members, Friends & Supporters

www.pooleflyingboats.com (THE ' OPUS in colour)

On the occasion of its recent 3rd. Birthday, and Achievements

to date, PFBC was presented with the specially commissioned

Civil Air Ensign, based upon the type once proudly flown at

Poole, and aloft from the cockpits of BOAC’s Flying Boats…

Accompanied by a slice of birthday cake, our new flag was

raised at the second presentation / open meeting for ‘Friends’

held at the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks (courtesy of FJB Hotels).

PFBC is delighted to take ever-forward its rolling programme

aimed at the involvement of ‘Friends’, with their vital support

in planning for the future of our organisation (as a Charity).

A success of the meetings so far, is that PFBC will be able to

have a significant part in this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival

which is scheduled for the four days of the 20th.-23rd. August.

Accordingly, a rota of willing volunteers has been compiled

for a Veterans’ Tent where our display will take pride of place

(- further offers of assistance like this are always greatly welcome).

The volunteers from ‘Friends’ will now mean that PFBC can

potentially reach out to those who will be visiting the Festival,

where our inclusion in leaflets is also provisionally confirmed.

Since the ‘Unveiling of the 3 Storyboards’ at Whitecliff Rec.

there has been a significant increase in the number of Friends

which is very encouraging for all of us associated with PFBC.

It is prospected to hold the next round(s) of Friends’ Meetings

in the Autumn so that others will have opportunities to attend.

If you would like to have an invitation then please let us know.

We are also prospecting at least 2 social events with excellent

guest speakers (PFBC HLMs): Colin Pomeroy and Mike Phipp.

Details and dates for these occasions will be sent to you soon,

along with an outline of our Programme /Celebrations for 2010.

THE ' OPUS

©

First * Postcard From... Focus will be on the Horseshoe Route

with links from Poole established Autumn 1940 via W.Africa

and then the 44 ‘ports of call’ between Durban and Sydney…

These note the passage along Empire C-Class FB routes from

inception of IAL service Southampton -Australia, May 1938.

See* ‘The Story of Southampton Docks’ by Mike Roussel ISBN 978-1-85983-707-8 published by Breedon Books July 2009 where Mike provides welcome reference to PFBC, and Poole !

[Congrats to Mike on this well researched & beautiful book.]

From UK via the Med to Cairo, and the R.Nile to South Africa,

or from Cairo to the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and

Burma, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Indonesia,

through to Australia (Sydney’s Rose Bay), possibly Auckland,

provided a superb awe-inspiring form of luxurious transport

in an era when the world was in turmoil and moving to war !

A mode of travel for the wealthy which contrasted with the

period when life was hard + times were tough for the majority:

Cue* Leona Coulter and the production for BBC Channel 4

Leona wishes for those with a story to tell about these travels

to contact her on 028 9024 3331 (Mon-Wed) or 07905 913975

Celebration* September will be the 70th.Anniversary of IAL

moving to Poole: PFBC will be holding an event to mark this. “ Where do We start ? Born in, Llanelli, and a good scholar Dad always had an interest in flying. His parents however did not share this interest and it was only when the war came along that he got his chance by signing up for the RAF. Some of his flying exploits are well recorded in a chapter of the book ‘Wings over the World’…”

“He cared for us in many considerate ways that we never appreciated at the time. He imbued in us many things that we will never forget. The way he handled all aspects of general life, discipline, the work ethic, and how to enjoy yourself, have all been handed on.”

We wish you well, Bon Voyage, Happy Landings, and God Bless.

© PFBC

Provisionally booked for the evening of Thurs 17th. Sept.