WorldAirPics.com Forum
Irish Related Topics => Irish Aviation History => Topic started by: Blue Monday on January 04, 2011, 03:29:46 pm
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Cartoon-based artwork seems to be a recurring theme when it comes to Irish Air Corps aircraft. The Fairey Battle, SIAI Marchetti and Cessnas all carried artwork based on well-known cartoon characters. The character most associated with the I.A.C. is the Pink Panther. It seems the Pink Panther was adopted by the helicopter crews and stickers and artwork appeared in various forms on the Alouette III and also on Gazelle 241 for the final years of its service. Can anyone detail the history of the connection between the I.A.C. helicopter crews and the Pink Panther? Who was responsible for its adoption as the unofficial mascot of the helicopter squadron and when did it first appear in Baldonnel?
I have heard two stories about how the association started.
The first story claims that Aerospatiale released some promotional literature in 1963 or thereabouts and it featured The Pink Panther. This literature made its way to Baldonnel and because of this, The Pink Panther character was adopted as the unofficial mascot of the helicopter unit within the Irish Air Corps from that time onwards.
The second story states that the arrival of the Alouette III at Baldonnel coincided with the release of the first Pink Panther film and such was the film's popularity that the helicopter crews decided to adopt the pink cat as the unit's mascot.
I don't know which of these stories are true but I'd love to know the full story. Maybe it's a combination of the two. The connection between the I.A.C. Alouette III and its crews and The Pink Panther was obviously quite strong though. After all, A196 nearly flew at Baldonnel on the 21st of September 2007 with a giant Pink Panther figure adorning the length of its tailboom! But that's another story. Hopefully the Pink Panther will reappear on the AW139 or EC135 at some point in the future. Thanks.
BM. :ireland:
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Blue Monday,
Papa242 is one of the people responsible for defacing the ministers property ie AlouetteIII's and bone domes :rotfl: I am sure that if he sees this he will explain the history of the Pink Panther :biggrin:
You also mention the painting of the one at the time of their withdrawl. I remember that you asked about it at the time, but it was removed before it was finished. I did not want to put it up on the forum at the time as you will understand, I will try and dig it out now that a period has passed.
Tony K
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Tony, thanks for your input on this. As you say, hopefully P242 will be along with the full story. I know it will be interesting. I really wish the green light was given for that retirement scheme on A196. It would have been spectacular and a fitting send-off for these great machines. Thanks.
BM.
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Interesting stuff.
For gods sake Tony...will ya ever write that AC book ??!! :airforce_grin:
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Interesting stuff.
For gods sake Tony...will ya ever write that AC book ??!! :airforce_grin:
;D
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Blue Monday,
Papa242 is one of the people responsible for defacing the ministers property ie AlouetteIII's and bone domes :rotfl: I am sure that if he sees this he will explain the history of the Pink Panther :biggrin:
You also mention the painting of the one at the time of their withdrawl. I remember that you asked about it at the time, but it was removed before it was finished. I did not want to put it up on the forum at the time as you will understand, I will try and dig it out now that a period has passed.
Tony K
Tony, believe or not, I have few pictures of the Pink Panther 'tail art' on the CD just inches from my hand. Unfortunately, can't stick up any of it as it wasn't me who took those photographs...
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FiSe, is there any chance you can describe fully the contents of the images that you have? The only photo I have of A196 shows the tailboom partially covered with plastic sheeting, so it is difficult to see exactly how the finished article might have looked. I know the tricolour on the tailboom was painted over, but was the roundel on the rear fuselage also painted over? Was the roundel moved further forward? Was the artwork only on the tailboom or did it extend onto the rear fuselage? Do you know if any text was going to be added to the artwork and what it was? Was the artwork completed fully before it was removed or was it only partially done? Thanks for any extra information you can share.
BM. :ireland:
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Tony, believe or not, I have few pictures of the Pink Panther 'tail art' on the CD just inches from my hand. Unfortunately, can't stick up any of it as it wasn't me who took those photographs...
Could you ask the permission of the author of the photo's? Or maybe, with a reasonable explanation you could tell the photographer that they were posted out of several requests due to increasing interest. Its up to you but I certainly would love a peak at the rare pic's.
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Tony, believe or not, I have few pictures of the Pink Panther 'tail art' on the CD just inches from my hand. Unfortunately, can't stick up any of it as it wasn't me who took those photographs...
Could you ask the permission of the author of the photo's? Or maybe, with a reasonable explanation you could tell the photographer that they were posted out of several requests due to increasing interest. Its up to you but I certainly would love a peak at the rare pic's.
Me too!!
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I agree with Machlooper, it would not be a good idea to put them up at the moment, dont want to make it difficult for anyone.
Tony K
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I have to agree with two previous posts, as I understand this is a very sensitive issue and I don't want to :stirthepot: Sorry...
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I know the modified paintwork on A196 didn't meet with official approval at the time, hence its quick re-spray but are the people responsible (and I have to say I support their efforts in modifying that tailboom) still being sought by the authorities? If this is still a hot topic at Baldonnel then maybe we should let it lie for another while. Thanks.
BM :ireland:
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Is this the artwork everyone is asking about? It's already posted on the photographs section of the website
http://www.worldairpics.com/photo/1011800/L/?&sid=8391396577&sp=143
http://www.worldairpics.com/images/wap_images/1000534.jpg
http://www.worldairpics.com/images/wap_images/1000536.jpg
http://www.worldairpics.com/photo/1001875/L/?&sid=8391396577&sp=221
And if memory serves the tailboom is on display in the Museum. Will check during the week.
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Nope, none of the above. The paint scheme being asked about was for the Alouette retirement.
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And if memory serves the tailboom is on display in the Museum. Will check during the week.
You are correct. The 30 year anniversary tailboom is currently mounted on the training airframe that was used as a method of teaching new technicians how the various mechanisms work on the alouette such as the control inputs from the cyclic, collective and pedals, hence the transparent plexiglass floor. In my opinion and I really want to avoid :stirthepot: but I think the boys should have been let away with the pink panther scheme because if the swiss can paint an entire machine why cant we just have a tailboom :thumbsup:
(http://www.swissheli.com/history/xv-262c.jpg)
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Machlooper, thanks for that little nugget of information. That's the first I heard that the entire airframe was getting a modified paint scheme. We are slowly building up a picture of "what might have been".
Does anyone know if any drawings would have been created showing the intended paint scheme or was it going to be an "ad-hoc" effort that would have progressed until it looked "right", even if it was an unofficial scheme?
(Again, I am not trying to stir things up in any way, this is simply a topic that is, I believe, of genuine interest to Air Corps fans. I am pretty sure that in many years to come, this scheme will generate much debate and interest. So now is a good time to record this little part of the Alouette III's history.)
Thanks.
BM. :ireland:
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Just to give a bit more info on the Pink Panther story, I got this via email this morning from a reliable source:
I heard the story that when the RAF visited us with a Whirlwind on one of the first SAR exchanges in the late sixties they plastered the hangar and aircraft with stickers depicting Mickey Mouse in dayglo silhouette. In retaliation the Air Corps heli crews 'adopted' overnight the Pink Panther and returned the favour by sticking quite a few on the RAF aircraft!! The aim is to put them in inaccessible spots so that you inadvertently advertise the opposition - not sure who won that years' competition!!!
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I heard the story that when the RAF visited us with a Whirlwind on one of the first SAR exchanges in the late sixties they plastered the hangar and aircraft with stickers depicting Mickey Mouse in dayglo silhouette. In retaliation the Air Corps heli crews 'adopted' overnight the Pink Panther and returned the favour by sticking quite a few on the RAF aircraft!! The aim is to put them in inaccessible spots so that you inadvertently advertise the opposition - not sure who won that years' competition!!!
[/quote]
Thanks for that Frank. It looks like that finally explains the connection between the Helicopter Wing and the Pink Panther. It'd be interesting to hear how the Pink Fella came to be chosen above other cartoon characters but I guess we'll never know that for sure. It's a very interesting little story. Thanks for sharing that. Let's hope there is a plentiful supply of Pink Panther stencils at Baldonnel for any future visitors!
Machlooper, thanks for that photo. Do you have more showing A196 prior to that respray?
BM :ireland:
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Frank,
I think that the visit of the Whirlwind was a bit before the Pink Panther time. Whirlwind HAR.10 XP352 "C" Flight 22 Squadron (detachment) at Valley first visited on 7 August 1967 and was accompanied by Pembroke WV749 from the Northern Comms. Squadron. Prior to the Whirlwind leaving it was zapped with a shamrock and when the Alouette 197 visited Valley later it was zapped with the 22 Sqn badge (which it carried for a number of years after).
The group picture shows Heli Flight and RAF personnel with the late Brig Gen (Barney) McMahon 3rd from right back row and Flt.Lt Weaver RAF standing below the cockpit window beside Lt (later Lt Col) JP Kelly.
Tony K
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Set up a search programme for my archives ie everything is filed under C for confusion :yikes:. Found this slide dated August 1975 Alouette 213, Sorry about the quality. That is the size of the Panther on the aircraft and bone domes, it could also be found at different times on the nose of the Alouettes.
Tony K
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Thanks for that latest update, Tony. It is great to see the original artwork from that far back.
BM. :ireland:
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Funny just noticed the photos on the ‘Pink Panther’ chat page of this chopper. Westland Whirlwind XP352 HR.Mk.10, It rang a bell, had a look in my log book, It looks like I had a trip in XP352 on 9th March 1975, by this time ‘352’ had moved from 22 Squadron, Valley to ‘B’ Flt 202 Squadron, Based at RAF Leconfield me and three other guys in my ATC unit were involved in a land winching excises on the airfield followed by a 20 min flight around the local area nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, happy days! My one and only Whirlwind trip
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Thanks for that latest update, Tony. It is great to see the original artwork from that far back.
BM. :ireland:
You are welcome BM, maybe if and or when you build a model of the Alouette with the panther on it you will show it to us!
Ascot 1960, what a coincidence that you should have had a flip in XP352 after it went to 202 Sqn.This unit visited Baldonnel also , with their Wessex and Sea Kings in later years but usually from Chivenor. I notice that I had made a note to myself ( and NO I am not talking to myself.....yet) that XP352 is now in a museum in Germany and painted up as XD186, anyone confirm that?
As another useless piece of information, and following the return of the Alouette 197 after it visit to Valley as a comparison to the qualitites of the two types of Helis. One of the RAF crew is supposed to have said that the Alouette flies over the Welsh Mountains, the Whirlwind flies around them! Apparently they liked the Alouette.
Tony K
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I notice that I had made a note to myself ( and NO I am not talking to myself.....yet) that XP352 is now in a museum in Germany and painted up as XD186, anyone confirm that?
Tony,
I think both are currently at Hermeskeil, the largest private museum in Europe. In face I there are 4 Wessex there. Maybe only two on display. Will dig out the photos later & check.
Joe
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Thanks for your informative reply Tony, yes ‘352’ now living out its days in Germany at the Hermeskeil Flugausstellung,) it’s now back in its 22 Squadron markings as XD186 , you talk about 22 and 202 Squadron visits to Ireland, if you go to the 202 Squadron web page
http://www.202-sqn-assoc.co.uk/memories_page_1.html or nav your way to the page go :’Scrapbook’ –‘Memories’-‘Picture postcards’ scroll across the photo page (last photo) you will see a photo taken of 202 squadron members ( all in Civvies) on a visit to Guinness, Dublin, looks like it could be late 1960s or early 70s. It’s amazing what’s out there when you do a bit of digging. Keep up the good work.
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Thanks Joe, Is that the same place where the Vampire 185 is parked out in the open and deteriorating?
Thanks Ascot 1960, the boys from 202 seem to be enjoying the Guinness.
22 Sqn from the Valley detachment undertook more visits including this Wessex XR518 and later 202 Sqn from Chivenor visited with Sea King XZ589, I have attached also the Sea King formating with Dauphin 246 for your interest.
Tony K
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You are welcome BM, maybe if and or when you build a model of the Alouette with the panther on it you will show it to us![/quote]
Tony, I have an Alouette kit in the pipeline but it won't feature a Pink Panther. I plan to build it as A212 on its last life saving mission on Croagh Patrick in July 2007.
(http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Bolkow1/Alouette%20photos/IMG_1595.jpg)
I hope to get it back on my work bench and finish it soon. Thanks.
BM. :ireland:
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To continue the Pink Panther theme, I wonder why Clyden Airways DC-3 EI-BDT also carried PP nose art in the early 1980s:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3867803642_9993abbc21.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24101413@N03/3867803642/)
Clyden DC-3 EI-BDT nose art "Pink Panther I" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24101413@N03/3867803642/) by Irish251 (http://www.flickr.com/people/24101413@N03/), on Flickr
PS: Ascot1960, you were present on this occasion also, I think!
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Indeed i was (FG)........
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BDT probably zapped by the Heli boys at some time when it was in Baldonnel January, February and twice in March 1980.
Tony K
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Thanks, Tony. I'd forgotten about that. Can you recall what it was doing at Baldonnel (frightening to think that was over 30 years ago!)?
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Thanks, Tony. I'd forgotten about that. Can you recall what it was doing at Baldonnel (frightening to think that was over 30 years ago!)?
Fergal, I did not see it myself, when I asked afterwards, photographic equipment was mentioned, I have been searching through the ongoing blanking areas of my grey matter but that is as I recall. Yes it is frightening that it was over 30 years ago, but heck they were great times :applause:
Tony K