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HighlandSniper58
23-03-04, 13:37
What was unusual about the flight made by Flt. Lieut. Rick Phillips RAF, and Lieut-Cdr. Ken MacKenzie RN on 27 Nov. 1978, and why was F/L Phillips involvement particularly noteable.
Zofo
24-03-04, 17:22
Were these chaps flying a balloon and one chap nearly falls out? (I hate seeing "0 replies in the box!)
Bombardier
24-03-04, 17:36
was it something to do with the buccaneer?
HighlandSniper58
24-03-04, 17:45
Webmaster's getting tepid................
Bombardier
24-03-04, 19:57
Were these chaps flying a balloon and one chap nearly falls out? (I hate seeing "0 replies in the box!)

DOH!! :D
HighlandSniper58
24-03-04, 20:28
Were these chaps flying a balloon and one chap nearly falls out? (I hate seeing "0 replies in the box!)

DOH!! :D

Not quite - refer to Webmaster's previous.
Derrick Stephenson
25-03-04, 22:37
C'mon now, there'll be no 'Buccanear'
Derrick.
HighlandSniper58
25-03-04, 22:43
Ok, so the navy kept its Buccaneers under its Buccin' 'ats.............

But what about an anaswer to the question...................
Derrick Stephenson
27-03-04, 18:45
Rob,
The only thing I can find out is that Flt. Ltnt. Phillips gave a lecture on Canberra Reconnaissance Operations after he was promoted, but this obviously has nothing to do with Buccaneers.
Derrick.
HighlandSniper58
27-03-04, 20:04
Yes, Rick Phillips went on to fly Canberras with 39 Sqn. - right guy.
HighlandSniper58
31-03-04, 10:50
Clue.

It was the last time we did it, but it might happen again in a few years.
HighlandSniper58
01-04-04, 18:34
OK, no more attempts...............

ANSWER

The .45 calibre De Lisle Carbine of 1942
http://www.imgmag.org/images/fugue/delisle.JPG
This was a heavily modified .303 Enfield rifle in .45ACP calibre (Colt pistol cartridge) with a built in silencer and 8 round magazine. Usually it was issued with the wooden Enfield stock, but some were built with folding stocks similar to that later used on the Sterling SMG.

This was one of the most effective supressed weapons ever issued and was almost totally silent until the bol-action was manipulated. The De Lisle was used by specialist commando/SF units and saw use certainly as late as the late-1950s in Malaya, possibly later.
HighlandSniper58
01-04-04, 18:38
Jusrt shows how confused I am :? just posted the wrong answer to this question.

ANSWER

This was the very last occaision a British Naval aircraft was launched by catapault from a British Aircraft Carrier (HMS Ark Royal), what was particularly unusual was that the pilot F/L Rick Phillips - was RAF!

Rick Phillips continued to fly the Bucc. through GW1 until its retirement in 1993, and was the all-time high-hours pilot with over 3,700 hours on type. He briefly flew the Tornado, and was last heard of flying the Canbera PR.9 with 39Sqn. from Marham in Norfolk.
Zofo
02-04-04, 09:46
Good question - I admit I'd lost track of this quiz Q.