Royal Navy Buccaneer | with Tom Eeles (Part 1)

Former Buccaneer pilot, Tom Eeles, chats about what it was like to fly/operate the Bucc, how it handled, living & flying from the carrier, the weapon load and much more.
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[@KRGruner]

Just fantastic interview. When I was a young lieutenant flying the F-111A at Mountain Home AFB in the early 1980s, we had two RAF (not RN) former Buccaneer crew exchange officers, one pilot (Rick Philips) and one navigator (Graham Seaward) who flew with us and they were just awesome. Learned a lot from them. I remember Graham disliking the term "WSO" (Weapons Systems Officer) which was standard terminology for us. He really wanted to be called a "navigator." I saw him again years later at RAF Lossiemouth when I landed there in an F-111 from Lakenheath. Good old days...

[@iansuren5457]

Fascinating! Find it hard to believe that I was not only his 'Boss', but also his navigator on the squadron. Was most enjoyable flying together, and delighted to see how successful he was in his career. Not only was the squadron lucky to have a 'JP' (junior pilot) like Tom, but also to have another in Mike Brooke, who went on to a great career in aviation. Best wishes from your 90 year old nav!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Hi Ian. Thanks very much for your comment! I shall pass it over to Tom who I’m sure will appreciate it.

[@iansuren5457]

Thanks. My email in Australia is: [e-mail]

[@copee2960]

These are the types of men that are needed in schools.....i just cannot get enough of these interviews...no nonsense no fuss...Great Stuff.

[@michaeldunn9228]

As a Fleet Air Arm aircraft technician fixing helicopters on a flight deck, watching the Buccaneer coming towards you at sea level from the horizon then pass you below the flight deck, looking at the pilot, was something to behold. An amazing aircraft.

[@raywhitehead730]

Even as a retired US Navy Aviator, I loved this interview!

[@colincouch2831]

Great interview with the former boss of the RAF Buccaneer OCU at Lossiemouth. I was very fortunate to be selected as the Australian exchange pilot for the RAF 12 SQN position and my first encounter with the Buccaneer was at the OCU. Tom - always a pleasure to listen to and fly with! He seemingly has not changed at all in over 35years!

[@petebuck9889]

Nice to see my old boss Wing Commander Eeles he was my 237 OCU boss at Honington and Lossiemouth, a true gent

[@bret9741]

I love to watch men who flew these and other incredible aircraft. They just come alive and you can see they are so enjoying just the memories and being able to discuss what must have been a remarkable time.

[@UncleTadhg]

He ought to have his own show, or at least narrate documentaries. A truly exceptional orator.

[@chrishewitt4220]

Cracking interview. Could listent to him talk all day!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Chris.

[@julianneale6128]

Such an underrated channel! Keep up the good work with these fascinating subjects.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers mate :)

[@gwenbuckley9980]

ex 12 sqn armourer and recall ' strapping you in ' you were my designated mentor for personal issues. your looking great sir. mj buckley.

[@SuperReasonable]

I was lucky enough to meet Tom when I was gliding with the RAF- GSA. His wife went to school with my sister!

[@Aeronaut1975]

9:07 I used to live in Egypt Farm, near Rosehearty, Scotland. These guys (as well as many others) used to fly directly over our house at silly low altitudes to put (practice) bombs on target at the (old) Rosehearty bombing range. Our house was near the cliff, directly offshore from the old bombing target (a raft that was painted orange). We had a direct view out of our kitchen windwow to the target, a mile or so offshore. This would have been around '93-97-ish. Good times... :D

[@colderwar]

This is a really good interview - the Bucc fascinates me

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@theflyingfool]

Me too! :D

[@colderwar]

I remember watching them as a kid at Wainfleet bombing range. The only two highlights of my crappy annual holiday to Skeg was visiting RAF Coningsby and Wainfleet :)))

[@ilejovcevski79]

The Bucc is one of my all time favorite naval jets, and by far the favorite naval mud mover!

[@equaltothetaskaviation6440]

apart from the lightning & jaguar the buccaneer remains one of my fav's even to this day due to her ability to fly low & fast. Thanks for that. looking forward to part 2 - by the way you do these interview's very well, infact one of the best on you tube. keep up the great work. cheers

[@thefrecklepuny]

Great interview. Seems a nice chap.

[@BigAlFiGala]

I remember as a lad spending a week at RAF Lossiemouth around 91. The buccaneers were old then but still some sight, espesially in desert camo. The simulator was something else, i'm sure if i remember correctly it was a physical 3d landscape model with a camera suspended above it.

[@edwardfrench9925]

I did a camp at Abingdon that year. It was the deep maintenance base for Buccaneer and Jaguar. One day, on a famil with the engineers they asked if I wanted to go and meet a Buccaneer arriving. The pilot didn’t understand the hand signal to retract the speedbrake so the engineers had to fire up the external hydraulic system and do it themselves. As part of the connecting process of the hoses I got sprayed with Skydrol...great stuff. The engineers were worried but I thought it was awesome....didn’t know as much back then. Happy memories and sad that with the exception of Conningsby, every station I visited closed soon after. Abingdon, Brawdy, Chivenor, Laarbruch, Manston, Wittering (I think Wittering is/has closed).

[@hellcat611]

Fascinating interview. Love hearing from the old dudes.

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Back in the mid 1960's I remember being on the cliffs near Ballantrae on the Firth of Clyde just hearing the woosh of the intake and being astonished to look down on a Buccaneer hugging the cliffs at about 50 feet heading south probably on course for West Freugh.

[@secretsquirrel3793]

Brilliant interview! A great storyteller with superb insights into operational life as well as the aircraft. Thank you.

[@distortedreality4603]

The Buccaneer is one of my favourite aircraft so I really looked forward to this, and it didn't disappoint ! Could listen to Tom all day

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers mate!

[@crusader5989]

Excellent interview. You can tell this man is a true professional.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@robadzso]

This was simply amazing! One of the better interviews, the presenting style and clarity of this gentleman is amazing. Thanks and keep them coming.

[@sichere]

Oooooohhhh AIM 9 Sidewinder on a Bucc's in 1967. Great info and another great interview, as ever.

[@monguzzle]

This is a wonderful interview. Tom reminds me a great deal of some of the super-experienced instructors we had on JEFTS in 2000, including Rod Bell, "Uncle", and a few others.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Dave.

[@shredjoe1]

Excellent interview, interviewer has done his homework, asks good questions & then lets Tom speak. Too many interviewers these days talk over the guest! Well done just found this channel but i'm a big fan already.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks very much. Glad you found us and I hope you enjoyed what we have to offer.

[@380Scania]

My late father was a baby stoker on the Vic in Singapore at the same time as your pilot. Small world

[@malcolm9994]

Fantastic channel. So glad I stumbled upon it. These guys are all top quality people.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Alexander, glad you found us!

[@everettsharp1917]

Superb...what a character!

[@dadmadforgot4050]

Simply a legend

[@bret9741]

I loved the buccaneer and believe it or not the A-6. Just preferred the mission of both.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

What a lovely chap.

[@roboaten6931]

Remember him from Classic British Aircraft. Very engaging speaker. Liked and subscribed!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@hondansx1000]

fascinating interview...Will forever love the Bucc, i'd have given my back teeth to fly it back in the day

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers mate. Likewise!

[@henryluebberstedt7819]

05:10 - didn't know that landing on a carrier has pretty much in common with landing of a glider. In a glider one also adjust the speed with the stick and the gliding slope with the air brakes. Interesting.

[@SimDeck]

Great stuff. Really nice listening to such a gentleman.

[@AVMamfortas]

Wonderful memories. Many thanks for sharing.

[@paultanton4307]

Excellent Video and Aircraft,in 1991 I had a Motorbike Ride out to RAF Manston one evening,when I got there I was surprised to see a whole line of Buccaneers lined up along the Taxiway,some still in their Desert Pink colours,it might have been part of their Journey back home from GW1,if only I had a Camera with me.Shame they were retired not long after that.

[@nickbreen287]

That 'bang bang' guidance was very common for all early guided munitions, even early LGB's. Sounds like a nightmare to control.

[@AaronStuartHall]

Love this.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@arfurwitt6221]

Fantastic interview with great questions and very informative responses delivered in great style.

[@gary6514]

Fabulous Cold War aircraft. Designed to deliver a nuclear weapon against soviet warships. Back when Britain had some of the world's most awesome kit...Great interview...

[@mg_claymore8611]

Always been interested in the Bucc. Great interview, m8

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@FallenPhoenix86]

On handling, I once heard the Bucc described as somewhat like a Hunter with 4 external tanks fitted... haven't flown either personally but sounds like a handful.

[@modelrailwaynoob]

My favourite aircraft

[@Tarten21]

Brilliant interview can't wait for part 2 i think Tom must have come back to the RAF as im pretty sure I have a video tape from many years ago when he was examining some Red Arrows pilots on their emergency procedures I wonder if that will be included in part 2 he must have gone to the CFS.

[@chrisj2848]

Excellent interview thanks!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Chris.

[@NorthernerInSpace]

Excellent interview, really enjoyed it.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers mate!

[@doriensutherland8893]

a consumate professional ... great interview

[@kougerat5388]

Now that was a great interview. Looking forward to part 2 ! (yep just sub'd)

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you!

[@figmo4227]

I live for this aircraft!

[@Tamburello_1994]

LOL

[@nolanolivier6791]

Eh, what now..!?

[@figmo4227]

@@nolanolivier6791 I'm not a fanboy just passionate

[@nolanolivier6791]

@@figmo4227 ... is English your first language? I mean, you understand the gravity of your statement, right? You can't say you 'live for this aircraft', and then state that you're 'not a fanboy'; at this point, you are so far past the designation of fanboy that it is receding on the horizon.

[@figmo4227]

@@nolanolivier6791 yes English is my first language and clearly my use of hyperbolic operation had flown over your head... Much like the buccaneer 😉

[@gubulgaria5416]

Love how the Buccaneer beat the Hornet to the "hand-off" take off by 20 years

[@markpriestley7884]

Looked amazing in Navy colours than the RAF versions

[@88SPIKE]

That opening clip is an NF14

[@granskare]

The first Buccaneer was made in USA, along with the Buffalo. We also had Canberra, built under license when we called the Martin B-57.

[@jimdavis8391]

You are confusing the Buccaneer with the Buckeye....

[@markhepworth7822]

Nope.

[@stanleybuchan4610]

Don't think so.

[@pauljones8149]

Interesting chap !!

[@garwhittaker3743]

Bullpup = Friz X.

[@bobomac8330]

Why wouldn't the navigator fly the bullpup missile, instead of the pilot

[@jsfbr]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@exiletsj2570]

Tom should do audiobooks.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

Landing Buccaneer sounds like landing a sailplane

[@theangryMD]

did he say streets ahead????

[@khankrum1]

This is the aircraft Mountbatten destroyed the TSR2 for

[@tonyjames5444]

I knew a girl who had p..s flaps like a Buccaneers air brakes:)

[@swiper1818]

We’re you on 45 Squadron during your time in Singapore/Malaysia?

[@allgood6760]

👍🙂

[@shainemaine1268]

Sorry! Didn't mean to "dislike", sometimes my phone spazzes out and change the screen right as I'm about to touch it. Makes me hit a bunch of random shit all the time

[@stevenhoman2253]

Surely the buccaneer wasn't in any way comparable to the English electric lightning? In RAF service.

[@jimdavis8391]

A very different aircraft for a very different purpose.

[@markhepworth7822]

Like comparing bananas and oranges,both fruits of course..

[@davewolfy2906]

I have not heard of a Buccaneer going super, the Victor yes but not the Bucc. Someone must have done it.

[@CK-lp3nm]

The advert was more interesting

[@wishiwas-jd9cd]

See ya!