The Life of a Cold War and Red Arrows Pilot
eBook - ePub

The Life of a Cold War and Red Arrows Pilot

  1. 231 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The Life of a Cold War and Red Arrows Pilot

About this book

Wyndham Ward's aviation journey spans frontline Cold War tests to Red Arrows mastery, revealing relentless drive and transformative flight.

Wyndham Ward grew up with a determination to fly whatever the odds. Starting out as boy mechanic in the RAF, he progressed to being a ‘Junior Joe’ fighter pilot in the iconic Hawker Hunter, despite making almost every mistake possible during air combat training. The Cold War threat loomed large, and Ward was transferred to operating high-speed low-level Buccaneers—a dangerous job—flying with the RAF and Fleet Air Arm on board HMS Ark Royal, where he eventually mastered hair-raising catapult launches and the art of shaky recoveries. Following active duty, Ward received an unexpected posting to the Red Arrows aerobatic team in a significant year—1979—when the Gnat was replaced by the Hawk.

This is the story of a lifetime in aviation, from eager youngster to strike formation leader, with an insider’s view into squadron life, the camaraderie of the mess, the howlers committed during training and the tensions of frontline duty during the Cold War. It reveals the inner workings of the Red Arrows during a year of exceptional pressure when, with new jets and a redesigned display, the nation expected something truly groundbreaking. Through it all, and onwards into an extraordinary career in civil aviation, Ward’s boyish enthusiasm never faded; this book is, above all, a testament to the joys of flying.

Information

Publisher
Fonthill Media
Year
2026
Topic
History
eBook ISBN
9781036152796
Subtopic
Military Biographies
Index
History

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Preface
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. Contents
  9. 1 Country Boy with Gunpowder
  10. 2 The Royal Air Force
  11. 3 The V-Force
  12. 4 East Africa
  13. 5 Kenya
  14. 6 Inconvenient Insurgents
  15. 7 A Step Forward
  16. 8 The Kipper Fleet and The Old Grey Lady
  17. 9 204 Squadron v Soviets
  18. 10 Northern Patrol
  19. 11 Capricious Fortune
  20. 12 Pleasant Endings
  21. 13 RAF Primary Flying
  22. 14 RAF Basic Flying—Linton-on-Ouse
  23. 15 Trouble with Enthusiasm
  24. 16 Wings Parade
  25. 17 Advanced Flying Training
  26. 18 Supersonic, Night Flying and Tragedy
  27. 19 Dining-Out Night: A Strip-Tease Dancer
  28. 20 Flying Hunters
  29. 21 Cutting Edge
  30. 22 Hunter Squadron
  31. 23 Dark Arts
  32. 24 Buccaneers
  33. 25 Rock-Solid Ride
  34. 26 Consequences
  35. 27 Sharpening the Steel
  36. 28 ‘Tragicum Nocte’
  37. 29 208 Squadron
  38. 30 ‘Flying Shuftis’—Badged Operational
  39. 31 Tanking Up
  40. 32 Gearing Up
  41. 33 Three Thousand Turkeys Never Made Christmas
  42. 34 Shanghaied
  43. 35 Fly Navy
  44. 36 809 Naval Air Squadron
  45. 37 ‘Down Hooks’
  46. 38 Operational Work-Up
  47. 39 A French Incident
  48. 40 The Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range
  49. 41 Working with Mother
  50. 42 Crimson Crab Selection
  51. 43 The Red Arrows
  52. 44 First Season Hitches and Highs
  53. 45 The Hawk
  54. 46 Meeting Expectations
  55. 47 A Royal Welcome
  56. 48 Farewells and a Rewarding Year
  57. Plates

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