Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Prompted by this thread I am rereading Alexander Frater's book "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and in it he notes that King Farouk owned a Catalina which was sent to England to be decked out in polar bear fur. Clearly a tasteful and "eco" friendly monarch! Fortunately he was deposed before that order could be fulfilled. The man was a grotesque collector (after his forced abdication he was found to have what looked like the world's biggest collection of pornography). I have been trying to find out what happened to his Catalina, but to no avail at the present moment.
The historynet article mention his Catalina in passing but is very interesting nonetheless.
https://www.historynet.com/cat-tales-co ... g-boat.htm
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/mo ... ing-farouk
The historynet article mention his Catalina in passing but is very interesting nonetheless.
https://www.historynet.com/cat-tales-co ... g-boat.htm
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/mo ... ing-farouk
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- Ex-Ascot
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
GG contact the Catalina Society. https://www.catalina.org.uk/contact/ They have historic inquires on that page.TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:00 amPrompted by this thread I am rereading Alexander Frater's book "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and in it he notes that King Farouk owned a Catalina which was sent to England to be decked out in polar bear fur. Clearly a tasteful and "eco" friendly monarch! Fortunately he was deposed before that order could be fulfilled. The man was a grotesque collector (after his forced abdication he was found to have what looked like the world's biggest collection of pornography). I have been trying to find out what happened to his Catalina, but to no avail at the present moment.
The historynet article mention his Catalina in passing but is very interesting nonetheless.
https://www.historynet.com/cat-tales-co ... g-boat.htm
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/mo ... ing-farouk
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Much obliged for that link. I have taken the liberty of enquiring of the Catalina Society about what happened to King Farouk's Catalina after his forced abdication.Ex-Ascot wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:58 am
GG contact the Catalina Society. https://www.catalina.org.uk/contact/ They have historic inquires on that page.
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
I have received a very interesting and detailed response to my question from David Legg at the Catalina Society. I am not at liberty to post the contents here as the material he sent me is intended for use in a forthcoming book but suffice it to say that I don't think I will get a better answer to my question anywhere else.Ex-Ascot wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:58 amGG contact the Catalina Society. https://www.catalina.org.uk/contact/ They have historic inquires on that page.
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- Ex-Ascot
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Brilliant GG. If you are in contact with David again tell him that I went through JP training with Paul W W.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
David contacted me with some interesting detail of his connection with the BBC Documentary The Last African Flying Boat and some subsequent African adventures.
I passed on your message.
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
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Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
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Your destination remains
Elusive."
- ian16th
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Would that be the one that was at Rand?TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:58 pmDavid contacted me with some interesting detail of his connection with the BBC Documentary The Last African Flying Boat and some subsequent African adventures.
Cynicism improves with age
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
It was Z-CAT. Registered in Zimbabwe after being flown out (see documentary posted on this thread - The Last African Flying Boat ) from the USA via Egypt etc... Not sure if she was ever based at Rand Airport.ian16th wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 3:10 pmWould that be the one that was at Rand?TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:58 pmDavid contacted me with some interesting detail of his connection with the BBC Documentary The Last African Flying Boat and some subsequent African adventures.
Her history after flying Safari's was still an interesting one...
http://www.michaelprophet.com/News_arti ... r%20scheme.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/news/catalina.html
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Definitely not the Catalina sitting at Rand Airport... here is that aircraft's latter day history...TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:46 pmIt was Z-CAT. Registered in Zimbabwe after being flown out (see documentary posted on this thread - The Last African Flying Boat ) from the USA via Egypt etc... Not sure if she was ever based at Rand Airport.ian16th wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 3:10 pmWould that be the one that was at Rand?TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:58 pmDavid contacted me with some interesting detail of his connection with the BBC Documentary The Last African Flying Boat and some subsequent African adventures.
Her history after flying Safari's was still an interesting one...
http://www.michaelprophet.com/News_arti ... r%20scheme.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/news/catalina.html
http://www.pilotspost.com/arn0000205
And this is truly the Last African Catalina to my knowledge...
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
A small diversion to Rand Airport... (I hope the OP will forgive me) but I note that that article was written by Flippie Vermeulen who deserves an article in his own right...TheGreenGoblin wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 5:24 pm
Definitely not the Catalina sitting at Rand Airport... here is that aircraft's latter day history...
http://www.pilotspost.com/arn0000205
And this is truly the Last African Catalina to my knowledge...
Flippie Vermeulen
If I remember correctly one of the old long lost denizens on this site used to fly the Dakota with Captain Vermeulen. Whatever happened to A Lutra Continua?
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
DIVERSION OFF
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
The net result of this thread is that I obtained the information I sought about King Faisal's Catalina and have joined the Catalina Society...
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- Ex-Ascot
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Congrats GG. I note the name of the signatory.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
An aside but just reading some WWII history of 10 Sqn. We had three Halifax's, consecutively, named Farouk. They do not know why.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- Ex-Ascot
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
The question was posed three years ago. We do not have a history research group just the occasional project with a group of members getting together. The last work was on the history of the VC10 now published, 'From Brooklands to Brize'.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
- TheGreenGoblin
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Could the answer lie in the National Archives?
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. ... r/C2784704
It is also possible that the RAF "loaned some aircraft", i.e. flew them themselves, for the flypast associated with Farouk's wedding in 1938...
I belong to the local history society and in normal times would make at least one trip to the National Archive per annum. When this contagion situation is less restrictive I am happy to do some research for you at Kew if you want.
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."
- Ex-Ascot
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
That is very kind GG I am sure that our members would be very interested in any information.
Seems ironic that during WWII we had a Halifax bearing the name of Farouk but each VC10 took on the name of a Royal Air Force VC holder.
Seems ironic that during WWII we had a Halifax bearing the name of Farouk but each VC10 took on the name of a Royal Air Force VC holder.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
Ex A,
As I see it the Halifax's were named Farouk, not King Farouk!
Might have been Tom, Dick or Harry.
Was there ever a reason to connect them to King Farouk?
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Re: Escape from Loch Ness - The Rescue of Catalina Miss Pickup
A very good point Ian. I wonder if I should put your point forward.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.