8 Squadron Galleries

2 - Crème de la Crème

Other squadron galleries

Life on the line     

1
On the range     

3
Aircraft     

4
On Ops     

5
At ease!     

6

This page differs from the other 8 Squadron gallery pages in that the photographs are full size and that by slowly moving your mouse pointer across individual faces their names will display when their identities are known. It would be nice to add the names of those currently missing so if you can help in this respect, please send them to me via this link to the author. Many thanks. Ray Deacon.

The images on this page are placed in chronological order.

Herbie Nute Ronnie Hush Des Meek Brian Hughes Mike Halpin Jock Richardson Mike Murden (EO) Rick Fisher Johnny Owusu Ben Bennett Dennis Hazell Rex Knight (OC) Jim Bates Gene Simmons Roy Hollow 'Spike' Nunn Bunny Fryer Smudge Smith Mick Beer Tubby Russell John Danson Dickie Bird Ewan Perreaux Pete Blackgrove Barry Stott Jock Jarvis Geoff Stinchcomb

Probably the oldest official photograph of 8 Squadron personnel during the Hunter years, it was taken on 17th September

1960 on the squadron apron at the west end of Khormaksar. (Ronnie Hush/Roy Hollow) (Any more names please?)

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Ronnie Hush Mike Halpin Stan Gusman Walter Lilley's hand Jock Richardson Smudge Smith

Christmas Day 1960 after lunch and a few too many beers at Khormaksar and a tour of the station by 8 Squadron airmen.

Ben Bennett and Bob Burton are in there in somewhere! (Ronnie Hush) (Any more names please?)

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Herbie Nute Tim ??? Roy Hollow Ronnie Hush 'Spike' Nunn Bob Burton Smudge Smith Jock Jarvis Des Meek 'Tiny' Thomas Dave Ragless Laurie DeFreitas

Never a dull moment as those who are able, hurl slurred expletives at the camera during a pause from ‘Cardinal Puff’ and

the umpteenth round of beer at the Corporals’ Club on the Sharjah detachment of March 1961. (Herbie Nute)

(Any more names please?)

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Chiefy Appleyard Len Wiggett Bob Spence ANOther Barry Stott Brian Hughes Jake Tennant ??? Christian Roger Cox ??? Baker ANOther Roy Porter ??? Danson Ian Bowie Paddy Weatherup Fred Rawson ANOther Colin Moore ANOther ANOther Alan Lowe Larry Forster Chas Wright Baz Clake Herbie Nute Peter Blackgrove Sandy Burns Mac Mclauchlan Hugh Craycroft Laurie Jones (OC) Brian Voller Jerry Gosnell Mutt Summers 'Loddy' Edmonston Brian Griffiths Paddy O'Burne Lofty Savage ANOther ANOther ANOther Geordie Atkinson Jacko Jackson ANOther Ben Bennett

8 Squadron pilots, groundcrew and 'local staff' in official pose, Bahrain, September 1961. (Ben Bennett/Sandy Burns)

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Sandy Burns Brian Voller ANOther Lofty Savage (John) Danson Geordie Atkinson 'Spike' Nunn Paddy Weatherup Jock Jenkins Bill Spurle Ben Bennett ANOther Roger Cox Barry Stott Larry Forster Baz Clake ANOther Jake Tennant Alan Lowe Ian Bowie Brian Hughes ANOther Jacko Jackson Brian Griffiths Roy Porter Pete Heath Herbie Nute Bob Burton Jerry Gosnell Mutt Summers Tim Seabrook Peter Blackgrove Mac Mclauchlan Hugh Craycroft 'Loddy' Edmonston Ewan Perreaux Bob Spence ???? Baker Chas Wright

8 Squadron pilots and groundcrew in relaxed mode at Bahrain in September 1961 (Ben Bennett/Sandy Burns)

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Bill Ward Alan Lowe Don Jackson Brian Griffiths Flt Lt Gathercole Bob Lowndes Roger Cox Johnnie Crombie Fg Off Free Flt Lt Davis Fg Off Summers ANOther Bubbles Neville (WC) ??? Radford ??? Ingram Stan Ovington Jock Jenkins Jock Jarvis Paddy Moran Tim Seabrook Les Elgey Laurie Jones (OC) Dave Hughes Lofty Savage Barry Stott Flt Lt Edmonston

Time to relax and take in a beer after an Officers v Airmen football match in Bahrain, Xmas 1961.  (Alan Lowe)

The flags were flying not to celebrate the importance of the match but for the coronation of the Sheikh of Bahrain

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Bob Burton 'Windy' Gale Des Meek Ben Bennett Tim ???? ANOther ANOther ANOther 'Spike' Nunn ANOther Dave Ragless ANOther Gene Simmons Butch McKay Nobby Clark Ronnie Hush ANOther

8 Squadron groundcrew cooling off on the white sandy beaches of The Creek at Sharjah in 1961. (Ben Bennett)

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Brummy Robinson Paddy Weatherup Lofty Savage Roger Cox Jake Tennant Bob Lowndes Alan Lowe Bob Cailes Fred Rawson Vic Cozens Larry Forster Brian Griffiths Chiefy Appleyard Pete Webbon Flt Lt Gathercole Laurie Jones (OC) Ken Hayr Mike Murden (EO) Chas Wright Laurie De Freitas Ray Deacon Ken Rochester Paddy O'Burne Chiefy Wright Barry Stott Jock McVie Bertie Bell Mick Bennett Tom Banks Brian Watling Jock Harman Pete Hall Stan Ovington Pete Cussels Ginger Rees Pete Marshall Jona Jones Snaz Snazell Baz Clake Bob Burton Sid Bottom Taff John Len Wiggett Roy Porter Tim Seabrook Nick Adamson Graham Williams Mac Mclauchlan Robin Howell Ernie Powell Neil Ferguson Gordon Talbot John Morris Tim Rolt

The full complement of 8 Squadron officers (front five rows) and men at Khormaksar on 23 June, 1962.  (author)

Sadly, two days later the FGA.9 on the left, XE600-G, crashed on the range killing Plt Off Webbon

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Jock Harman Bill Shephard Chris Cureton Pete Hall ANOther ANOther Tom Banks Brian Watling Owen Truelove Ray Deacon Taff Evans

The all-conquering 8 Squadron football team pictured before a match at Bahrain in 1963. (author)

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Dave Barnes Geoff Maynard(?) Bertie Bell Paddy O'Burne Taff John

The photographs above and below depict the ceremony held for the burial of a huge rat that plagued the squadron crewroom.

 

The depth of the hole can be judged by the top of the head of the person digging in the photograph below. Ksar, 1963  (author)

Dave Waring Polish Sgt Geoff Maynard(?) Vic Cozens Bertie Bell

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??? Barnett Jona Jones Laurie(?) De Freitas Peter Marshall Taff Evans Vic Cozens Jock Harman Geoff Maynard(?) Neil Mason

We counted them all out and we'll count them all in! Waiting for the aircraft to return from a late sortie at Khormaksar in

1963.  (author)

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ANOther Mike Flynn ANOther Dave Smith Steve Jarvis Ray Byatt Sid Bottom Jock Harman ANOther ANOther Terry McNally Chalkie White Owen Truelove (EO) Graham Williams Tammy Syme (OC) Taff Price ANOther Bob Browning

Another officers v airmen contest, this time in the Airmen’s crewroom at Khormaksar in 1963. After a hectic month and excellent serviceability achievements over a prolonged period, the officers supplied the Slops and everyone polished them off.  (author)

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Tam Syme Sid Bottom Roy Humphreyson Mac McCarthy Dave Baron Chris Cureton Paul Constable Jock McVie Gordon Talbot Graham Williams Pete Sturt Nick Adamson Owen Truelove Tim Notley

8 Squadron officers in Dress uniform prior to an official function while on detachment to Bahrain, 1963. (Tam Syme)

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Chris Cureton Jock McVie Dave Baron Tim Notley (RN) Tam Syme (OC) Gordon Talbot Roy Humphreyson Mac McCarthy Sid Bottom Pete Sturt Paul Constable Owen Truelove Graham Williams Nick Adamson

Another shot of 8 Sqn pilots in their Dress uniforms taken during Christmas in Bahrain in 1963 (Nick Adamson)

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Mike Flynn Mal Grosse Mac McKenzie Crooks Andy Bell Chris Cureton Roy Humphreyson Alan Dix Chris Hulse Nick Kerr Kiwi Hounsell Tam Syme, OC Graham Williams Ian Porteous Mac McCarthy Martin Johnson

8 Squadron pilots at ease in the Jungle Bar at Khormaksar shortly before Christmas 1964 (Tam Syme/Mal Grosse)

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Chris Hulse Mike Flynn Dick Wharmby Val McCarthy Peter Sturt Alan Dix Kip Kemball Andy Bell Mal Grosse Dai Rastall Graham Williams (A Flt OC) Tammy Syme (OC) Graham Hounsell (B Flt OC)

8 Squadron pilots sporting a selection of moustaches at the end of a detachment to Masirah, March 1965. (Tam Syme/Peter Sturt)

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Peter Whitfield Pete Brewer Tony Wraight 'Rum' Rumbelow John Lowrie Rod Sensicle 'Toby' Tobin Dougie Dixon Willy Duff

8 Squadron groundcrew gather tightly round 360 lbs of high explosive at Khormaksar in 1967. The photograph was

contributed by Peter Whitfield, who is standing on the extreme left (can anyone add more names please?).

 

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FR.10 pilot training detachment to Sharjah in 1968 (Brian Hersee) (Any names please?)

 

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Jock McVie (OC) Frank Hoare Al Cleaver Ken Parry Bill Anderson Martin Widdowson John Bolton Graham Chilvers(EO) Flt Sgt ??? Trevor Beney Mick Herberts Vaughan Dow Steve Glencorse Rocky Goodall Ken Miles Rob Wright Keith Grumbley Grant Taylor Pat Kiggell Pete Boulter Chris Haynes

 

8 Squadron pilots and groundcrew during an APC at Sharjah in August 1970  (Ken Parry)

(If anyone can add the missing names they would be most welcome - please?)

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