Lieutenant Commander G W Barras, MBE RN (Retd)
Born in 1931, he entered the Royal Navy on an 8 year Supplementary Commission in 1952 after three somewhat unhappy years learning to become an accountant! Initial training aboard HMS Implacable started the morning after joining, when the ship sailed for Gibraltar into the remains of a force 10 in the Bay of Biscay! Early instruction in the rigging and entry into a hammock was much appreciated. After six months in the Training Squadron aboard Implacable and Indefatigable, he was selected for flight training with the USN under the MDAP Scheme. Travelling by RMS Queen Mary to the States was a great experience, leaving austerity Britain.
A year in the Pensacola complex followed, flying SNJ’s (Harvards), including DLP’s aboard the USS Monterey, and then six months in the Corpus Christie area flying T28’s, F6F Hellcats, TV2’s and finally the F9F Panther. Returning to the UK (again by Queen Mary), the usual courses followed before joining the OJC at Lossiemouth on Vampire T22’s and Seahawks, and then 764 holding squadron at Ford. Whilst here, Lt Cdr Mike Crosley DSC* came looking for a replacement Wyvern pilot, and he volunteered, joining 813 Squadron in April 1955. With insufficient time to complete the type conversion to the Wyvern it looked as if he would not be fully qualified when the ship sailed. However the delay imposed when Jim Jarrett speared HMS Eagle’s funnel, allowed the conversion to be completed, and when the ship finally sailed, he was able to complete his DLP’s and become a full member of the squadron.
When 813 disbanded at the end of 1955, he was appointed to 830 (Lt Cdr Viv Howard), and again embarked in HMS Eagle for the Med. An interesting tour followed, including a Meteor T7 conversion at Hal Far, and involvement in Operation Musketeer, the Suez affair, flying Wyverns. After leaving 830, and a short stint in JOAC, he joined 187 course at Central Flying School on Piston Provost’s and Vampire T11’s. Type experience included a brief acquaint including a ‘bang run’ in a Hunter F4, and an ejection from a Vampire doing high level spinning when the instructor became disorientated!
A tour instructing at Lossiemouth in 736, and later 738 squadrons was followed by an exchange to the RAF at No 1 FTS, Linton on Ouse on Piston Provosts, during which time he completed a twin conversion course and managed to get his hands on the Dominie for a few hours! During both this and the previous Lossiemouth appointments, he was loaned to the Dartmouth Flying Camp at Arbroath, flying Tiger Moths. It was at Linton that he met his wife Pat, and they were married in 1961. After this a SMAC 9 conversion to helicopters and OFS at Portland before joining 815 (Lt Cdr Tony Skinner), with Wessex HAS 1’s on formation in June 1961, and then embarking in HMS Ark Royal. This was the first Wessex 1 squadron which was subsequently awarded the Boyd Trophy for bringing the Wessex into service and proving its night and all weather capability. CFS Helicopters followed before joining 706 squadron at Culdrose as an instructor, finishing as Senior Pilot. Then back to 815 as Senior Pilot and HMS Ark Royal again and the Far East.
Returning to the UK in 1965, he was appointed to the staff of CFS(H) at Ternhill, but following the tragic accident to the SP design for the Wessex HAS 8 IFTU, he was pierheaded back to Culdrose to the IFTU (Lt Cdr Robin Doe). In 1967 he was given his first squadron command, 705 at Culdrose, at that time equipped with Hiller HT2’s and Whirlwind 3’s and 7’s.
In 1969, with the build up of forces to cover the withdrawal from Singapore, it was decided to appoint a dedicated Lieutenant Commander (Air) at RNAS Sembawang, and he took up the post in May of that year. An interesting married accompanied tour followed including flying COMEF on a weekly basis in a Brigade Air Squadron Sioux, and carrying out QFI checks, mainly (EOL’s) on the many small ships Wasps passing through the area, the latter often on the downhill runway at RAF Seletar with no brakes on the aircraft!
Returning to the UK in 1971, he was appointed CO of 706 squadron with Seakings and Wasps before becoming Chief Flying Instructor of the RN Helicopter School at Culdrose. It was then time to go to sea, and he joined HMS Hermes in 1974 as Lt Cdr (Flying) on her second commission as an LPH, during which time Red Dragon (HRH Prince Charles) was embarked.
Back ashore as OC School of Aircraft Handling in 1976, after which he went to MOD(PE) in the helicopter chair in DHP. This was very interesting, and involved work in conjunction with the soon to be EH 101. Completing here in 1980, he joined Culdrose as Lt Cdr (Flying), a post which, with extensions of service he held for five years! Finally, on further extension of service he joined 750 as a ground instructor. However he then completed a conversion to the Jetstream, and in his last two years service flew over 1000 hours, flying until he was 58.
In 1986 he was awarded the MBE, and finally left the Service in June 1989, having served for 37 years of an 8 year Short Service Commission! during which time he flew some 27 types as first pilot, and over 6000 hours. He often stated that whilst he had taken up a number of appointments without great enthusiasm, he did not leave any of them without considerable regret. What a club to belong to!
After leaving the Service he built two cars and acquired a small gaff rigged traditional sailing boat which gave much enjoyment in the Falmouth Bay area. A keen DIY man he spent much time working in wood and metal to the benefit of children and grandchildren, and even partly came to grips with the computer.
A2 QFI, A2 QFI(H), FW & RW IRI, IRE, GAPAN PPL Examiner, CFI Day/Night FCS & SAR
March 2005