Raaf Pilot Names Mirage Aerobatic Teams Please?

I'm trying to track down some REAL RAAF info about a chap claiming to have been in the 'last Vampire course' (don't see his name for No.69 course) and claiming he was in 1975 No.77 Squadron Mirage IIIO aerobatic team with Sqn Ldr Geoff Warrener. He may well have been however I cannot find info. When same found I'll give name.

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 3 2018, 06:17 PM

Luig,

I think your guy would be Ian Bailey (now "Byron" Bailey in the media).
He was an officer on course (ex-NZ nav) so he must have missed the 69 Cse photoshoot. I saw him at Avior in August, he was there for the 69Cse reunion, organised by "Sexy Rexy".
Bails was at BUT (on 75SQN I think early-mid 70s), then at WLM on 77 - so the time does tie in.
He left Mirages for the airlines.

Bat

BATMAN you saw the BATSIGNAL! BZ! Thanks very much. Good info on being older than others and why not at course photo. Yes I have an I. Bailey undergoing a Mirage conversion course:

No 18 MIR 20CU Crse - 15 Feb 71 Page 132

http://www.radschool.org.au/Books/the_raaf...e_story_opt.pdf (15.4Mb)

I.R. Bailey 'Bails' FLTLT

Bit of a media hog eh? :-) And a bit dumb about the F-35 but hey IMHO. :-)

Do I ask 'sexy rexy'? I guess I can look that up in the photo. :-) I only vaguely knew the RAAF component of the last Vampire course but knew the RAN boyos well.

Rex is 2nd row, 2nd last from end. He was not called 'Sexy Rexy' by us - but by the nursing sisters at Richmond.
Circumspect, just in case his wife is an aviation history buff !!

UhOH. Wives are aviation buffs? Who'da thunk. :-) I'm guessing BAILS has moustache standing next to prop OR kneeling next to BARNESY but I could be todally rong and a dancing fool. Probably next to Owen Nicholls is Barry Bromley who did not make it through (to become a Tracker Observer involved in the only Twacker loss from MELBOURNE during a night bolter).

Who is the guy hiding his face in helmet below Jim GUMLEY? Nope guy just holding helmet. :lol: Some guys appear to have fancy white helmets. WHATS WITH THAT? B)

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 4 2018, 02:17 PM

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Is THE BAILEY in the photo above? :rolleyes:

Yep, sitting on cowl above "WINJEEL", beside Woody.

Thanks. Care to provide names so these can be annotated please? This photo appears in my 4.4Gb PDF online to illustrate 'the LAST VAMP' course. TAH.

Not many names, they're after my time, but a few:

Top row - n.k, Bails, Woody, n.k
2nd row - 4 x n.k.
3rd row - Copley, Terry Hayes (Army), n.k, n.k, Gumley, Smith, n.k, QFI, n.k, n.k, n.k, Rex, Leahy, n.k.
Bottom row - n.k, apart from CFI "AB"..

Russ Pyers next to Matt Leahy, Ian Watson sitting on the cowl next windscreen.

Steve Ormorod front left. J.L. Edwards lower to right

This post has been edited by Invader26 on Nov 4 2018, 07:54 PM

Thanks all - I'll check nicknames with course photo: http://www.radschool.org.au/Course%20Photo...ts/69Pilots.htm
&
http://www.radschool.org.au/Course%20Photo...ges/69Pilot.jpg

Apologies for not providing this link earlier to refresh thine memories - it was now 50 years ago! FFFAAAARRRRKKKK!

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 4 2018, 08:54 PM

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http://www.radschool.org.au/Course%20Photo...ges/69Pilot.jpg

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Does anyone have information about a MIRAGE 'deadstick' into a fringe airfield by BAILEY please? I have just started to look around, vaguely recalling reading about something like this many years ago now.... TIA.

Maybe it was a SABRE and NOT a Mirage? Sorry 'bout that - I'm still lookin'.

Could this be it in the SABRE section of ADFserials: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a94.htm

"A94-989 CA27-89 Mk.32
On the 18/05/70 at Williamtown FLGOFF Bailey experienced difficulty during take off and crashed back onto the runway with wheels retracted. The drop tanks split and caught fire seriously damaging the aircraft. The pilot escaped uninjured."

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 24 2018, 04:33 PM

The Mirage "deadstick" was a couple of years earlier with Garry Cooper landing on the old disused strip at Tomago just West of Willi....

Thanks I saw that entry: (I think this is the one read about yonks ago now)
"A3-29 Mirage IIIO(F) 05/66 Suffered a bird-strike and flame-out shortly after takeoff from Williamtown, Flt Lt. Garry Cooper (75 Sqn.) made a dead-stick landing at a disused airstrip at Tomago. A3-29 was then towed back along the road to Williamtown." http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htm

http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mira...3_29_RAAF_Photo & http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/albu...Photo.sized.jpg

UNLESS a lot is wrong with the entry above then it was not BAILEY. I give in. A Bailey Miracle dead stick cannot be found from my searching the interrubble. There are two apparently I am told. One was into Mascot. Any takers?

(IMG:http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/albums/Mirage-III-A3-29/Mirage_A3_29_RAAF_Photo.sized.jpg)

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 25 2018, 01:09 PM

I've not heard to the Mascot one. Of course don't forget Tony Ford landing a Mirage gear-up at Tulla

OK thanks. Yes the FORD Tulla was spectacular. I'm trying to find out more from my first respondent (telling me of two Bailey Miracle dead sticks).

I know of no Mirage deadsticks by Bailey, although I think he had some incident at BUT. (And of course his Sabre incident at WLM.)

No-one did two Mirage deadsticks, your facts (or guesses) must be wrong.

Time to move on...

I'm just asking a question - whether I move on is up to me - but it seems you have some buts about a BUT incident with Bailey and a Miracle. Please add some more info. You seem to say that our Bailey is responsible for the Sabre landing on full tanks during an aborted take off? That is good to know and perhaps explains some confusion about Sabre/Mirage & Bailey. Bear in mind I would not ask the question if I knew the answer. IF someone knows more then please add that info. IF the question is tiresome then don't bother replying.

I'm not stating a fact - just asking a question posited by a third party saying that Bailey had told them about 'the question I posed here'. IF Bailey did not carry out any Miracle deadsticks anywhere then he did not. Simples (as far as we can ascertain).

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 27 2018, 12:06 AM