A true story

Langley AFB was Meyers previous base and was where his wife still lived. I guess he was trying to contact her. As he was fairly drunk at the time I guess he wasn't thinking about the range of radio transmissions!

Could one person get a C130 airborne on their own?

Seems that Meyer was able to. Or are you suggesting that he had an unknown accomplice!!!!

Yes I am! For one thing a C130 in those days had to have a ground power unit for the start up,and its got to be disconnected before taxying. Then theres the chocks.
And in the cockpit could one man start one up taxi out and get airborne? They did have a flight engineer and co-pilot for a reason!

This definately happened. When people start talking of haunted hardstands I switch off! Various rumours about F-100s from Lakenheath shooting him down are as far as I know still totally unproven. The Air Force were apparantly trying to talk him into returning when he crashed. Whether the powers that be would have risked allowing a member of the ground crew (who did have a private pilots licence with approx 300 hours) to land a C130 is open to discussion?

Page 110 of Strike Force by Robert Jackson outlines the entire event. These websites will add more details (and hearsay!)
www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 10,00.html

p094.ezboard.com/fc130herculeshe ... =1&stop=20

www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/ ... 02130.html

www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/ ... 02130.html

Yes he must have had accomplices, especially as he refuelled before departure,and if he was that drunk he really would need accomplices. I can see how he was talking to his wife, thats pretty easy he was on a phone patch.

canberra wrote:

But I still have my doubts about this Canberra at Gutersloh, especially as despite being stationed there Ive never heard of it before.

You mean because you were not personally informed that it didn't happen?
Look at the article over four parts, it gives names, dates and has a breadth of detail which is checkable, before you dismiss things may I suggest that you check them out.
It has had almost 1000 hits on the other site and it has not been questioned since the final entry on 13th December.

You are correct I was never personally informed that the Cnaberra incident happened. But surely if such an incident happened I would have surely thought it would be much better known? In a way its a story similar to the 707 at Northolt, and I know that happened!

On the morning of Tuesday 15th October 1957 ATC discovered a Canberra B (I) 8 serial number XH204 bogged down on the grass, with the engines running, at the farthest end of the airfield.
It was discovered that this aircraft belonged to 59 Sqdn, which was resident at Gutersloh. This aircraft with its mud-covered wheels was later towed to the front of the Engineering Wing for inspection
Many policemen appeared on the Station and there was a tannoy asking for anyone who had knowledge of J/T Neville to contact their Officer i/c. Many people were questioned and asked deep questions about his political beliefs and possible current location.
He re-appeared under escort in November 1957 and on his escorted trips to the Airmen’s Mess he was applauded by the other diners.
He started to make unaccompanied visits to the NAAFI until one evening there was another call out of the Police and the searching of the Airman’s Blocks in the early morning hours. It appeared that they had lost two prisoners who later returned by taxi from Gutersloh.
On 11th February 1958 he was Court Martialled at RAF Gutersloh and convicted.
Later that year he returned to the Gutersloh area and warnings were given about allowing him to visit the camp.
All of the above is from personal experience, I do not do rumour. If you wish to check my bona fides as a historian may I refer you to: www.rvsweb.org.uk/ourhistory.html

Why doesn't someone ask John Seville what happened?

www.servicepals.com/member/johnseville

Anyone a member of Servicepals?