RASC & Arnhem help needed

RedBull racer, could you scan or photograph the document and post it? sounds very interesting. Good idea to transcribe it as it makes it 'findable' by search engines.
I believe many aircraft were fitted with a sort of roller conveyor to make it faster to unload air cargo over drop zones.
You, Dave, me - becoming an Essex thread here!
What have you driven round the Nurburgring?

 

I think what I'll do is type up the document and then post it, not sure whether scanning it will damage it in any way. It's quite delicate already.

As for the Nurburgring (don't get me started!) we had different Focus ST's each year. Firstly the wonderful Electric Orange, then white with blue stripes and then finally boring black. But they all had added horsepower making them 278bhp. The most wonderful, exhilerating, scary feeling I've ever had in my life. After finishing a lap I felt so alive, the adrenaline must have been pumping round my body in bucket loads.

This year we are passing by on our way to Austria hence no ST, the petrol bill would bankrupt us! Our holiday car this year is a C-max, no doubt we will see what it can do on the autobahn. I hold the record in our house 145 mph

I could go on all day about the things we saw driving round (Dukes of Hazzard car) and overtaking manoeuvres by us and others but I'd bore you all I'm sure.

 

I have a totally unhealthy interest in Sabine Smit and the Nurburgring. A friend drove me around it 2 years ago in his Porsche and I squealed like a pig.Consolation was, Sabine passed us and smiled made me feel a whole lot better

 

I was very vocal when my husband was driving but not in a good way. However when 2 of the 'ring taxis came past us a full speed and then the Aston (that'll be 300 euros a lap please) came past all of us at full speed I did manage to shout "I want to be in that car". :p

 

I must ask my mate for the video and photographs,the cam was set up on the dashboard.

 

As promised I have typed up the document belonging to my Grandfather that I have. I have typed it up word for word as far as I can, there are a few words that I just can't read.

Aircraft – Albermarle
Air-crew –Capt. Cornish
Sgt. Nutt
Cpl. Edge
Dvr. Featherstone
Air crew arrived at ‘P’ strip at 0830 hours. RAF technical personnel were fitting conveyer at time of arrival. This was completed by 0900 hours. During this time air crew was attaching parachutes available to containers and panniers. It is recommended that this be carried out before arrival on strip. Containers were in position by 0910 hours. It was found that 30 minutes was sufficient time to b??b up containers.

The panniers were in position by 1005 hours. Reasons for this length of time taken to load panniers:-
(1) Rope for securing panniers had to be cut into lengths
(2) As this was first time crew had carried out loading operations it took longer than necessary to get panniers secured in position in aircraft.
With more practice panniers could be in position within 30 minutes. It is not possible for the crew alone to load the panniers into the Aircraft or to raise the containers into position. It is recommended that at least six men be detailed per aircraft to act as loading parties. Here again it is necessary that these six men be practised in their duties.
The conveyor was fitted with one wood block underneath the end of each side piece. These blocks resting on the floor of the fuselage forward of the hatch. One tie-rod was attached centrally on each side of the conveyor, these rods being secured to staunchions on the starboard and port sides of the fuselage. The forward end of the conveyor was secured by two pieces of rope to staunchion next to the gun-turret.
Panniers were loaded three in line along the conveyor the rear one having the fourth pannier on top of it, three “double” panniers being ‘daisy chained’.
The complete stick was held by the lengths of rope, one being tied securely to a staunchion next to the stop going round the bottom pannier and fixed by a slip knot to the opposite staunchion. The other rope was tied in the same method except that it went round the top pannier.

On take –off a distinct “surge” was experienced but with the crew holding the panniers as an extra precaution, the panniers only moved back a fraction of an inch.
Crew positions as follows:-
No 1. Capt, Cornish – On step aft of gun turret
“ 2 Sgt Nutt - Port side on edge of step.
“ 3 Cpl Edge - Starboard side on edge of step
“ 4 Dvr Featherstone – Tail (Aft of hatch)

The hatch doors were opened by No 4 as any movement by Nos 2 & 3 was almost impossible owing to the confined space and parachute harness being worn.
The order for release was given through the gunner as none of the crew could see the warning lights. The green light warning therefore had to come over the intercom from the navigator to the gunner, to crew commander, to No 2 who released the two securing ropes. The passing of the order in this manner lost valuable seconds.
All panniers left the aircraft without any trouble whatsoever. The strap from the last panniers to leave released the containers.
The static lines were drawn in by Nos 2 & 3 who then closed hatch down.
It is suggested that:-

(1) The red and green lights be modified to face the tail.
(2) The crew be cut down to three i.e No 1 in the tail, his duties being to open the hatch and give the signal to release. No2 on the port side well back on the step, his duty being to release the panniers. No3 opposite No 2 on the Starboard side. Thus No 1 opens hatch (he should wear Gym shoes), watches for lighting and give signal to No2. No2 releases the panniers, Nos 2 & 3 pull in static lines and close hatch whilst No 1 reports panniers gone to pilot. With this method it should be possible to carry a fifth pannier placed in the tail in front of No 1; also Nos 2 & 3 are behind the panniers and their in no danger of their parachute harness being ????????????? panniers when released.
The rope method of release proved satisfactory but a double rope round the ‘daisy-chain’ pannier, spliced and ??ating in a single rope with a quick release for No 2 should prove more efficient. The quick release would be attached to a staunchion with the end of the rope looped and held by lever-operated jaws.

 

Hi Redbull

I note that his aircraft was an Albermarle, I posted the following link some months back, perhaps it maybe of some interest to you.

ALBEMARLES AT ARNHEM By Kenneth FRERE, 296 Squadron, RAF

 

I've just come into possession of some letters that my grandmother sent to my grandfather during the war the address is: 93rd Company RASC, Airborne Division Comp. APO England.

I'm still trying to find out some definitve info on where he was during WW2. I've been a bit distracted by doing family history with my mother lately only to discover that about 4 generations in my grandfather's family were all in the Buffs (East Kent Regiment).