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027_GHP_County_15nov19— Greater Houston Partnership State of the County luncheon and address by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo November 15, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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473_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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269_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.
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Chronicles of PBY-5A Buno 2459; The top-scoring allied antisubmarine aircraft of WW.II
On November 15th 1941 PBY-5A Catalina Buno 2459 (c/n 300) rolls of the production line. It is one of a series of 33 for the U.S. Navy ordered in December 1939. Who would have thought at that time this Catalina would sink three submarines, damage one more, fight fires in Chilli and Canada and doing roundflights with passengers in the Netherlands, would still be flying almost 69 years later! The story of this Catalina truly is remarkable.
Buno. 2459’s first mentioning in the war diary of VP-73 is on December 23rd 1941. Three planes drawn from VP-83 are test flown at NAS Norfolk, Virginia and put on board seaplane tender USS Albemarle (AV-5) at NOB Norfolk for shipment to Iceland that day. One of these planes was Buno 2459 (73-P-9). The USS Albemarle departed on the 28th and transported one division of VP-73 (Second Division). Commanding officer was David W. Shafer. While on route to Iceland via Quonset Point, Rhode Island and Argentia, Newfoundland it picked two more Catalina’s of VP-83 at Quonset Point making a total of five Catalinas. After arriving at Hvalfjord, Iceland the five Catalina’s were flown to Fleet Air Base at Reykjavik between the 12th and the 16th of January.
The five PBY-5A Catalina’s replaced the PBY-5 of VP-73's Iceland division. This was done because winter operations at Iceland and Argentia were considered "extremely hazardous" as concluded in a study made by the Bureau of Aeronautics. On the 15th of January three PBY-5's of VP-73 at anchor in Skerjafjördur (seaplane anchorage adjacent to Reykjavik airfield) were lost during a storm with wind of 90 kts, gusting to 120 kts. The four PBY-5As that were already at the airfield were tied down but it took all hands and all available lines and weights to secure the planes.
Coastal Command
In January flight operations were curtailed because of the bad weather and familiarisation flights to check out pilots commenced not until the 21th. On February 1st Buno. 2459 starts an operational life common to many a Catalina: hours of boredom with a few moments of sheer terror. During February and March Buno 2459 made 20 operational flights. Six were on escort flights, two on ice-reconnaissance flights, one on antisubmarine patrol and eleven on the socalled “Hvalfjord Sweeps”, antisubmarine sweeps of the approaches to the naval anchorage at Hvalfjord. The ice-reconnaissance flights to Greenland (of which Buno 2459 flew its first on March 9th) were flown regularly by Iceland-based aircraft to establish the position of ice on the Denmark Strait, the stretch of ocean between Iceland and Greenland. A vast number of ships sailed through the Strait to reach the North Russian ports, including the infamous PQ/QP convoys bringing much needed war supplies to the hard-pressed Russians.
Although flight operations were badly affected by the bad weather in April, Buno 2459 was forced back twice because of zero visibility and icing, Buno 2459 made fifteen operational flights. During May a new duty was included into the operations of VP-73. The North Atlantic ferry route was inaugurated to handle the massive flow of air traffic from the United States to the European war theatre. Reykjavik was one of the sagging posts on this route and from this month on VP-73 would provide planes on stand-by for rescue operations. Also eight PBY-5As of VP-73's First Division arrived in Iceland.
During an ice-reconnaissance flight to Jan Mayen island on the 23rd of June, a flight of close to twelve hours, Buno 2459 sighted a German Heinkel He 111 north of Iceland. The enemy was not engaged with gunfire.
In July 1942 The Germans renewed their campaign against the transatlantic convoys and VP73 was to become heavily engaged in many of the ensuing battles. During the month of August the PBYs of VP-73 made nine attacks on U-boats. Buno 2459 attacked twice and sank its first. On August 9, shortly before noon, Lt.(jg) Henry C. Colee, Jr. took off in Buno 2459 to conduct an A/S sweep South West of Iceland. At 1706 hrs a U-boat was sighted three miles dead ahead. The U-boat's conning tower was all that was visible and it submerged immediately. Lt.(jg) Colee started Buno 2459's first attack and arrived one minute after the U-boat had disappeared and dropped six depth charges set to explode at a depth of 50 feet, in a stick 68 seconds after the U-boat submerged. All the bombs exploded but it was estimated that they caused no damage as the U-boat would have reached a safe depth. This was VP-73's fifth U-boat attack and Lt.(jg) Colee's second.
The British Task Force SN-73 passed Iceland 250 miles to the Southeast on the 20 August. Lt.(jg) Robert B. Hopgood took off in Buno 2459 from Reykjavik a few minutes before 3 a.m. to cover the Task Force. Shortly before dawn while flying in low visibility under a low cloud base at 500 feet he happened upon U464. U464 (commanded by Kapitänleutnant Harms) was a valuable type XIV Milchkuh Utanker. A type XIV Milchkuh could carry enough fuel-oil to replenish twelve type VIIC boats for four weeks. U464 had departed Kiel on 4 August and was on its maiden voyage to replenish U-boats in the Atlantic.
At first tbe fully surfaced U-boat was believed to be one of the task force's destroyers and a recognition signal was fired from the plane's blisters.
The initial sighted was made at a range of one and a half miles dead ahead. But when the plane came in closer the object was recognised as being a U-boat. Lt.(jg) Hopgood went straight for an attack, releasing five 250lb. depth charges directly across the U-boat's beam in what appears to have been a perfect straddle. The plane carried six depth charges but one failed to release. The explosion lifted the U-boat almost clear of the water and it was evidently badly damaged.
Following the attack Hopgood made several strafing runs firing his .30 and .50-caliber machine guns to which the enemy replied with accurate antiaircraft gunfire forcing the plane to withdraw to safe distance (after the plane returned to base 25 small shrapnel holes were discovered in its wings). For the next forty-five minutes Hopgood circled the disabled U-boat, but lost sight of it when a rain squall closed in on the area. He started searching for the convoy with which he remained until 0715 hrs. While searching for U464 again Hopgood first came across an oil-slick and then sighted an Icelandic fishing vessel (Skaftfellingur) with U464 alongside. The U-boat was heavily listing to one side and its crew were in process of boarding the fishing vessel. The plane made a low pass and was fired upon by the U-boat's crew. In fear of hitting the fishing vessel the gunfire was not returned. Hopgood returned to the convoy he'd been assigned to and summoned one of its destroyers (HMS Castletown) to the scene. While flying back and forth between the destroyer and the U-boat directing the destroyer to the scene he found the U-boat gone, presumably scuttled by its crew. Shortly afterwards the destroyer arrived and took 52 German prisoners on board (two German sailors were killed).
A rather interesting angle to this victory came later when the squadron learned from the British that the depth charge inflicting the mortal wound to U464 was one that had fallen harmlessly on the deck end was held in place by the deck grating. Apparently a 'green' seaman simply rolled the deadly bomb over the side. When it reached the depth for which its hydrostatic fuses were set to detonate the explosion it went off causing lethal damage to boat. Every submariner should have known that the only way to save the boat would have been to roll the bomb onto a raft or lifeboat and set it adrift.
Another interesting sideline to Hopgood's attack on U464 gave birth to a since-famous U.S. Navy phrase: "Sank sub, open club'. The Fleet Air Base and air detachment in Iceland were commanded by Captain (later Rear Admiral) Daniel V. Gallery, jr., a tough and uncompromising naval officer. Gallery was utterly distressed with VP-73's failure to sink U boats. The squadron had delivered some seven attacks on U-boats over the past few weeks, all of which were “muffed” in his opinion. He possibly felt that the poor performance of his crews was caused by too many late nights spent in the Officers Club, so he ordered the club closed until the squadron sank a U-boat. Captain Gallery also pointed out the requirements for obtaining confirmation of the sinking of the U-boat. "What it amounts to", he told the crews, "is that in order to obtain confirmation of the sinking of a German U-boat, you fellows have to bring in the sub skippers pants as proof. Following Hopgood's attack all ears at Coastal Command headquarters were glued to the radio listening to Hopgood's reports of the dramatic development taking place out at sea. The reports were all framed in very officies language and coded, of course. Then at the end when the destroyer had taken the Germans off the Icelandic fishing vessel, Hopgood's final report came in to Gallery in plain English, no code, saying: “Sank sub, open club”. And they sure did, they damn near blew the roof of the joint. Hopgood further requested that as soon as the U-boat skipper was given dry cloths, his pants be forwarded to Captain Gallery. The salt-encrusted trousers served as a valance over the mirror in VP-73s officers club bar for the remainder of the squadron's tour.
Two months after Buno 2459's successful attack VP-84 took over the tasks of VP-73. About half of squadron VP-73 was already en route to the United States when orders were received to return to Iceland and then on to North-Africa. Some of VP-73's planes were probably quite battered and in need for overhaul so seven of these were exchanged for newer planes of VP-84. One of the planes passed to VP-84 was Buno 2459 which became 84-P-7. During its last operational flight for VP-73 on 5 October Buno 2459 came to battle U582 a type VIIC U-boat. Its assignment that day was to cover convoy HX-209 400 miles south of Iceland. The convoy was being pursued by a 'Wolf Pack' of seventeen U-boats. With the 'Wolf Pack' tactics, which the Germans started in August of 1942, one submarine would locate a convoy and call in others to attack the convoy en masse.
Fifteen minutes after reaching the convoy in the morning of 5 October, the crew of Buno 2459, with Chief Aviation Pilot M. Luke in command, sighted a fully surfaced U-boat ten miles away end about fifteen miles ahead of the convoy's starboard column. Diving from 2000 to 75 feet Luke dropped four 650lb. depth charges on the still visible U-boat in a perfect straddle: two bombs failing on each side of the U-boats hull. Following the explosions the U-boat sank from sight and the only evidence of damage was a patch of oil seen on the water after the attack.
There was every reason to believe that this attack resulted in the destruction of the U-boat. But for some reason this was overlooked when U-boat attacks were assessed after the war. The credit for sinking U582 was given to a Hudson of 269 squadron of the RAF. Research by Ragnar Ragnarsson shows that the mentioned Hudson sank.
Another U-boat on the same day in the same area (U619). In Robert L. Carlisto's book "Cats over the Atlantic: VPB-73 In World War II" the sinking of U582 is credited to another VP-73 plane: 73-P-12 (Buno 02974) flown by Ensign William R. Huey. Again Ragnar Ragnarsson's research shows this to be incorrect. Buno 02974 attacked U257 which is confirmed by war diary of the U-boat. The U-boat narrowly escaped with heavy damage.
As a result of the strong air coverage by RAF Liberators and the aforementioned Hudsons and Catalinas the 'Wolf Pack' was driven off and ordered to break off at first light the next moming. The rest of her voyage HX-209 sailed unmolested having lost only one tanker to the enemy. To Admiral Dönitz, C-in-C of the U bootwaffe, the operation against HX-209 was a total failure. Only one ship sunk for the price of two destroyed U-boats and a third heavily damaged. When VP-73 left Iceland the squadron's planes had made thirty attacks on U-boats. Two submarines were sunk, both by Buno 2459.
After heavy storms and few operational flights during the winter period of 1942-1943 the weather improved in April 1943. By then the U-boats had adopted so-called 'fight-back' tactic. With this tactic, instead of diving when an aircraft was sighted, a U-boat would stay surfaced and fight back when it was not possible to reach a depth of 80 meters before the plane reached the U-boat. Because standard Catalinas are unsuited for this type of warfare some Catalinas were fitted with a fixed .30 calibre gun in the bow. The barrel of the gun protruded through the air thermometer hole. Later experiments were even made with a 20 mm canon obtained from a P-38 squadron. Two planes were fitted with the experimental installation, one being Buno 2459. As we will see later on the canon was only fired once before it jammed.
The effectiveness of the .30 calibre gun was demonstrated several times but its use produced a serious snag: it upset the bomb aim when used during the final stage of the run. On several occasions when the pilot's attention was focused on firing the gun rather than on the bomb run, the plane drifted from its target upsetting the bomb aim. Another problem was the Catalina's high angle of incidence which caused the gunfire to fail short when the plane dove towards its target. On April 28 Lieutenant (jg) William A. Shevlin flew Buno 2459 to cover convoys ONS5 and SC127 when a U-boat was sighted by Shevlin's copitot Ensign Albert M. Slingluff. This was probably the 1100 ton type IXC/40 long-range U528. The U-boat's lookouts apparently spotted the plane before they were sighted themselves. The boat disappeared thirty-five seconds before the plane arrived over it's swirl. Wisely, Shevlin withheld his bombs but only this time. Because, later when he returned to the spot he sighted a fully surfaced U-boat was seen off the port bow at a range of three and a half miles. Visibility was poor and the U-boat's lookouts supposedly did not notice the approaching plane until it was only a mile away. As the enemy crash-dived Shevlin dove in. He crossed the boat from port quarter to starboard bow, raking it with 200 rounds from the .30-caliber fixed bow gun. The U-boat was still only half submerged when Shevlin released the four depth charges, aiming them to strike the water just ahead of the conning tower. But, because he had been pointing the Catalina's nose at the U-boat while firing his fixed bow gun, the depth charges dropped slightiy farther ahead than intended. Nevertheless, they hit the water close by the U-boat's bow and it is difficult to imagine that the boat had escaped unscatherd. Still, evidence of the damage being all-important, this well executed attack was officially judged as a near-miss due to "insufficient evidence of damage." Before long, however, the result of Shevlin's attack became known. On 11 May 1943 U528 (Oberleutnant zur See von Rabenau), one of the boats operating against ONS5, was sunk in the Bay of Biscay by British air and naval forces. Interrogation of the boat's survivors revealed that on 28 April the boat was attacked from the air with four depth charges that exploded close by its bow. Three torpedo tubes were damaged and the boat was unable to launch its warheads. Furthermore, several air bottles were put out of action and the boat was leaking fuel. After determining the extent of damage, von Rabenau decided U528 was unfit for further operations and headed back to port for repairs.
A “simple” Air Sea Rescue (ASR) flight nearly ended Bu 2459's career on 14 June 1943. Lieutenant (jg) 'Roy' Neff took off to search for the crew of a missing PBY-5A of VP-84. He had all disposable items be removed of the aircraft to be as light as possible for a possible open sea landing. The fixed .30-caliber nose gun was left in place though.
While circling a Faeroes fishing schooner the schooner, probably thinking it was under attack by a German reconnaissance aircraft, fored its ingenieus defence mechanism - a parachute cable. This parachute cabine consisted of a steel cabine with canisters at each end containing a small parachute. When fired in the flight path of an aircraft the cable wrapped around the wing of its target and the chutes discharged from the canisters. The drag thus created was designed to yank the plane to one side with such force that it would plunge to sea out of control. Although Buno 2459 suddenly jolted violently to one side, by a stroke of good fortune one of the canisters became embedded in the starboard aileron and did not discharge its chute. It did jam the aileron and the other chute trailed beside the tailplane, its chute fully open. With full opposite rudder Lieutenant Neff kept the PBY under control despite the hard starboard pull. But something had to be done fast. Ordnanceman A.B. Grant rushed to the bow and quickly dismantled the fixed .30-caliber gun from its mount and brought it to the starboard blister. He took aim and with superb marksmanship shot the chute canisters from both ends of the cabine with a few short bursts. After a landing at the emergency landing field Höfn on Iceland's Southeast coast, where the cabine was removed, Buno 2459 returned to base.
Only ten days after the almost fatal incident, 24 June 1943, while flying south of Iceland Lieutenant (jg) Joseph W. Beach's copilot Lieutenant (jg) Albert M. Slingluff sighted a fully surfaced U-boat six miles slightly off the port bow. The Catalina was armed with three depth charges and a homing torpedo familiarly referred to by its users as “Fidol”. The U-boat spotted was U194 (Kapitänleutnant Hermann Hess); the first of the type IXD2 very long range Oberseekuh Ucruisers to put out of poil for an operation in the Indian Ocean. Lieutenant Beach went straight for his quarry, diving from 1600 feet. After initially not showing any reaction the U-boat suddenly brought its stem to point at the attacking plane. At the same time puffs of black smoke were seen at the conning tower, the Catalina was under fire. Beach aimed the Catalina's nose at the U-boat and pressed the firing button of the 20-mm fixed bow gun now fitted on the aircraft. As mentioned before, one round was fired before a gas jet broke. Afterwards the failure was attributed to the crew's lack of knowledge in the gun's operatie Beach unhesitatingly pressed home his attack while the U-boat's deck and conning tower were kept by the remaining .30-caliber gun. At an attitude of only 65 feet Beach crossed the U-boat stern to bow but the three depth charges failed to release. Pulling away from the attack Beach made a climbing left turn. The U-boat turned with him, keeping its stern pointed at the plane to bring the full force of its antiaircraft guns to bear. Beach circled his quarry at a distance while trying to manoeuvre the Catalina for abeam attack, but to no avail. The enemy always managed to keep his stem pointed in the plane’s direction. A remarkable feat considering that manoeuvrability was not a strong point of these large long-range boats. The second run was started from a mile and a half in face of heavy gunfire. As the Catalina passed over the U-boat stem, to bow the two starboard depth charges were released manually. Both fell short and exploded some 50 feet astern the boat. Beach came in almost immediately for the third time hoping the remaining depth charge would release. But the bomb release failed again. Kapitänleutnant Schoner had clearly had his fill and crash-dived. it was his last dive, for Beach dropped his 'Fidol' in the enemy's wake. Fifty seconds later the crew watched as the torpedo's shock wave caused a mushroom-like upheaval on the surface. The missile had found its target, but lacking the all-important visible evidence of damage the destruction of U194 could only be confirmed untit after the war.
Buno 2459 finished the war with three U-boats (U464, U582, and U194) sunk, and a fourth (U528) severely damaged.
During its operational assignment to VP-73 and VP-84, Buno 2459 flew a total of 195 operational missions, 92 with VP-73 and 103 with VP-84. The highest monthly tally was in May 1942 when it carried out 18 sorties for VP-73, closely followed by 17 with VP-84 in May 1943, the month the German U-boats were run out of the North Atlantic. It finished the war with three U-boats (U464, U582 and U194) sunk, and a fourth (U528) severely damaged. It is believed to be the highest score achieved by a single allied antisubmarine aircraft of any type in WW.II
Prior to its departure from Iceland on 1 September 1943, Buno 2459 transferred to FAW 7’s Hedron, where it remained until January 1944 when it was assigned to a unit named Atlanta Test 39. Buno 2459 was flown out of lceland to Quonset Point, R.I. by Lt. G.S. Smith on 1 September 1943, via BW-l, Greenland and Goose Bay,Labrador, arriving at Quonset Point on 3 September 1943. The total flying time from Reykjavik to Quonset Point was 20 hrs. 25 min.
The following September it was briefly assigned to the resident Operational Unit at NAS Anacostia, Washington, DC, before passing to the Naval Air Navigation Radio School at Gainsville, Georgia, in October. Towards the end of 1944, Buno 2459 spent a month or so with Assembly & Repair at Pensacola, presumably for maintenance, before transferring to the US Coast Guard in December 1944, and assigned to the Coast Guard Air Station at Elizabeth City, North Carolina, were it was taken on charge by the station's Operational Unit. It was still at Elizabeth City when stricken from the Navy's inventory on 31 October 1945.
By: Prudent Staal
Taken on the evening of April 25th, a day of strange weather, it was raining very hard at this time, but the sinking sun in the west was just starting to drop below the cloud base above London.
Long before the opening of the DLR in 1987, there had been three stations with the name Poplar. However, none was on the site of the current station.
Poplar railway station was on the London and Blackwall Railway between 8 July 1840 to 4 May 1926. This is near the site of Blackwall DLR station.
Poplar (East India Dock Road) railway station on the North London Railway was in use from 1866 until 1944. This is now the site of All Saints DLR station.
A third station named Poplar was constructed in 1851 but never opened. This was sited due south of the North London Railway station (now All Saints DLR), and due east of the present DLR depot.
Poplar DLR station was opened on 21 August 1987, originally with just two platforms, being served only by the Stratford-Island Gardens branch of the DLR. As the DLR was expanded eastwards, the station was extensively remodelled, given two extra platforms and expanded to take two-car operation. On 28 March 1994 Poplar became the western terminus of the new Beckton branch, which opened the same day; on 31 July 1995 the line was extended west, joining Poplar with Westferry via a flying junction and enabling Beckton services to run to Tower Gateway. Bank to King George V (later Woolwich Arsenal) services through the station commenced on 2 December 2005.
018_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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A couple of weeks ago, Dave and I spent an evening pouring over maps, exploding all our paragliding and camping gear over a room, finally composing our gear and a plan to carry us for potentially many kilometres over the wildest landscape that I had yet flown in New Zealand.
The next morning we set off at dawn for the start of our journey: Kidds Bush, near The Neck of lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Allowing 2.5 hours to ascend the spur, I was surprised when we reached a suitable launch in under 90 minutes; a perfect start, allowing us more time to soak in the view, prepare our kit, and assess conditions. It also allowed more time for the nervous anticipation to brew. The view was already inspiring: intense aque-marine water of Hawea set against rugged spurs leading to lofty peaks. We intended to fly straight in to the heart of that rugged landscape, and although we had a rough plan, in reality we had no idea where we would land, or sleep, later that day.
Kit prepared, final routines executed, we pulled our wings in to the air and soared over the warm easterly face of the spur above the Sawyer Burn track. Soon we we working small bubbles that helped us slowly ascend towards our first milestone: Sentinel Peak. The going was really slow, no classic thermal that takes us in one exhilirating journey to cloud-base. Instead, a metres here and there, using each little gain to push further back on to higher ridges, all the while making sure we had a safe glide out over the mainly forested gully below.
Finally, we found the stronger stuff, and reached the clouds above Sentinel Peak; now, in theory, the world was our oyster. In practice though, the sky didn't look so great in our desired direction - the north-east - so we followed the west side of the range, chasing the better-looking clouds, making good progress past Makarora. Our slow start meant that we didn't have as much of a usable day left by the time we got up to cloud-base, and after a few hours we noticed the climbs becoming weaker, harder to harness, so we started looking for options. My priority was to avoid having to hike in the morning: land high, sleep high, launch with minimal exertion the next day. We pushed past one attractive hill, with a flat top, steep northerly face, and some tarns, to try its neighbour to the north. If we got a climb off it, we'd push a little further north, if not, it seemed possible to make it our home for the night.
The climb never materialised, so soon enough we were lining ourselves up with a flat-topped ridge that was slightly worryingly strewn with rocks and scree. Dave aimed perfectly on top of the ridge first, and I was glad for his advice that the wind was coming straight up the face, making my choice of landing spot much easier.
It wasn't quite 6pm, so there was plenty light left. Once packed and fed, we had plenty time to do nothing but soak up the landscape from our lofty vantage point, nobody in sight, and the only human noise being the distant traffic on the Haast Pass. 30km from where we started was a lot less than we thought we could have potentially flown that day, but it was our first attempt at vol-biv flying, and we accepted that it was a small step to bigger things. With a view like this, there was really nothing to be disappointed about.
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الفائزون Construction Computing Awards 2015 Winners and Runners Up
افضل برامج و أفضل مشاريع
One to Watch CompanyWinner: Human Recognition SystemsRunner Up: BPR Architects
One to Watch ProductWinner: Vectorworks, Inc. for Vectorworks ArchitectRunner Up: Handshq – Innovative Compliance Solutions to Manage and Mitigate Risk
Best Use of IT in a Construction Project 2015Winner: CONJECT with Essential Living for Apartment Construction ProgrammeRunner Up: Fujitsu and Heathrow Airport Limited with Fujitsu Network Integration for New Terminal 2 Construction
Best Use of IT in an Infrastructure Project 2015Winner: Costain for A160 Port of Immingham ImprovementsRunner Up: Synchro Software Ltd – Crossrail
Collaboration Project of 2015Winner: Dome Technology Ltd for Vastint’s Strand East Development, Stratford, LondonRunner Up: CONJECT with The Merseylink Consortium for The Mersey Gateway
BIM Project of 2015Winner: Bond Bryan Architects for Bradford College and Beyond: OPEN BIM Research and DevelopmentRunner Up: maber for PSBP Schools in Hertfordshire, Luton & Reading
Team of 2015Winner: Sypro Management Ltd for Team SyproRunner Up: RedSky IT for Sykes and Son Ltd Implementation Team
Health & Safety Software of 2015Winner: Safetybank™ for Transforming Health & Safety Standards at Swan HousingRunner Up: Mobilengine for McGee Mobile Application Product Suite
Cloud Based Technology of 2015Winner: Asite for TheAdoddle PlatformRunner Up: Human Recognition Systems forMSite&MSkills
BIM Product of 2015Winner: Graphisoft – ARCHICAD 19Runner Up: Autodesk – Revit
Architectural Design Software of 2015Winner: Bentley Systems – AECOsim Building DesignerRunner Up: Graphisoft – ARCHICAD 19
Structural Design Software of 2015Winner: Tekla (UK) Ltd – Tekla StructuresRunner Up: Autodesk – Robot Structural Analysis Professional
Collaboration Software of 2015Winner: Viewpoint Construction Software – Viewpoint For Projects (Formerly 4Projects by Viewpoint)Runner Up: Aconex – Aconex
Document and Content Management Software of 2015Winner: Newforma – Newforma Project CenterRunner Up: Bentley Systems Inc – ProjectWise
Estimating and Valuation Software of 2015Winner: RedSky IT – SummitRunner Up: Exactal – CostX
Construction Accounting Software of 2015Winner: Eque2 Ltd – EVisionRunner Up: RedSky IT – Summit
Project Management/Planning Software 2015Winner: Elecosoft UK Ltd – AstaPowerprojectRunner Up: Synchro Software Ltd – Synchro PRO
Project Lifecycle Management Software of 2015Winner: IFS – IFS ApplicationsRunner Up: RedSky IT – Summit XCIPIO
Mobile Technology of 2015Winner: Viewpoint Construction Software – Field View (Formerly Priority 1)Runner Up: Bentley Systems Inc – Navigator Mobile
Hardware Product of 2015Winner: Faro – FreestyleRunner Up: Leica Geosystems – Leica CS35 tablet
Channel Partner of 2015Winner: ExcitechRunner Up: Applecore Designs Ltd
Editor’s Choice for 2015Winner: Oasys for Flow: Pedestrian Simulation Software
Product of the YearWinner: Asite- AdoddleRunner Up: Graphisoft – ARCHICAD 19
Company of the YearWinner: GraphisoftRunner Up: Bentley Systems Inc
Filed under: 3d
037_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.
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243_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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361_GHP_AnnualMeet_28Jan22 — Greater Houston Partnership 2022 annual meeting with 2022 Chair Thad Hill outlining the organization's priorities for the year ahead while outgoing Chair Amy Chronis provides a look back at the accomplishments of 2021 at the Hilton Americas January 28, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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024_GHP_State2017RC.JPG_Greater Houston Partnership State of the State Address with Governor Greg Abbott photographed April 18, 2017 at the Hilton Americas. (photo by Richard Carson)
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090_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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116_GHP_Airports2018.JPG - Greater Houston Partnership State of the Airports address at the Hilton Americas December 14, 2018 at Partnership tower. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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203_GHP_Airports_5Oct22 - Greater Houston Partnership State of the Airports with Mario C. Diaz, Director of Aviation, Houston Airports held at the Marriott Marquis October 5, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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336_GHP_AnnualMeet_28Jan22 — Greater Houston Partnership 2022 annual meeting with 2022 Chair Thad Hill outlining the organization's priorities for the year ahead while outgoing Chair Amy Chronis provides a look back at the accomplishments of 2021 at the Hilton Americas January 28, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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135_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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Lightning seen from the bedroom window. I spent about an hour but in that time, I never saw a ground strike. All the lightning (and there was a lot of it) was cloud based
11 August 2020
129_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21 — 2021 Houston Region Economic Outlook shares perspectives on the region’s economy and future outlook. Speakers include Northern Trust Chief Economist Carl R. Tannenbaum,
and Partnership Senior VP of Research, Patrick Jankowski, December 1, 2021 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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532_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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Amazing lift, amazing site. Quickly snapped a shot or two from the air while holding the controls with one hand.
The air was full of gliders but there was so much mountain to explore. People were practicing acro behind me and I went straight from launch to cloud base. Brilliant.
La Coupe Icare, St Hillaire, France.
140_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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AIRCRAFT HISTORY
(Courtesy of ADF Serials)
- 12 Oct 1972 - First Flight
- 1973 - Delivered to Australian Army Aviation Corps (then 171 Op Spt Sqn)
- 12 Oct 1987 - Crashed at Lakeland Downs (near Cooktown, QLD) after a wire strike.
***************************
SOURCE INFO
- Original image was captured during my Australian Army Aviation service as a Craftsman, Mechanic Instrument (AIR), with 1 Aviation Regiment Workshops detachment at Goroka Airport, Papua New Guinea, using a KODAK Instamatic 100 35mm compact camera, with AGFA Agfacolor 126 slide positive film.
***************************
PROCESS INFO
- Re-digitized using a CANON Canoscan 8800F scanner @ 2400 DPI, 48 bit color, 2400 x 2400 pixel size.
- Re-restored from the badly scratched, faded & blue colour cast original slide quality, using Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 8.0.
One from a few weeks back on one of my outings to East Lothian to try and get a shot at Gosford Bay.
At low tide the beach creates wonderful patterns in the sand and is full of rock pools.
I found a lone rockpool with a shell on the rock as the sun dipped below the dense cloud base to light up the scene.
007_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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362_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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250_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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419_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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143_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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024_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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048_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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057_GHP_Tech_19Apr22 - Greater Houston Partnership State of Technology lunch and conference at the Hilton Americas Lanier Ballroom April 19, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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048_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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063_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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172_GHP_EconomicOutlook2018.JPG - Greater Houston Partnership Houston Region Economic Outlook featuring Ellen Zentner, Managing Director and Chief U.S. Economist with Morgan Stanley Research, on the national economy. In addition, the following panel of local experts will share their perspectives on the region's economyDecember 5, 2018. (Photo by Donna Carson)
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054_GHP_EconomicOutlook2018.JPG - Greater Houston Partnership Houston Region Economic Outlook featuring Ellen Zentner, Managing Director and Chief U.S. Economist with Morgan Stanley Research, on the national economy. In addition, the following panel of local experts will share their perspectives on the region's economyDecember 5, 2018. (Photo by Donna Carson)
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414_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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394_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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067_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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Visibility through the mountains was particularly good allowing a near perfect view of the snow capped summit of Snowdon up through the valley, Cwm Llan waterfall can also be seen in the middle distance.
This image was taken on the same day as the previous upload with just sufficient time to manage a few shots during the infrequent breaks of light through the cloud base.
Just to drive through the mountains is such an amazing sight but also good to get off the beaten track away from the typical tourist routes to absorb the tranquility of your surroundings, I could sit for hours just taking in the views around me at the time, it was extremely peaceful with no 3G or mobile phone network available until you hit upon civilisation again.
This particular day saw us take the route from Trawsfynydd through Llan Ffestiniog, Betws-Y-Coed, Capel Curig and on to Beddgelert and venturing up some of the tracks to gain a little height.
Bogong High Plains, VIC, Australia
Best viewed large on black at www.fluidr.com/photos/phunnyfotos
Being right at the cloud base meant that the "weather" and light were constantly changing. One minute it was foggy and dark, then a glimpse of light in the distance, then sunshine eerily peeking through the fog, then back to darkness again.
As I ascended towards cloud base, with nothing to see over the edge, for some reason, memories of Wales came to the fore ;-)
The Remarkables, New Zealand.
April 30, 2025 - Kearney Nebraska
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A dramatic sky filled with an approaching thunderstorm looms over a lush green field. In the distance, a faint glow below the cloud base suggests nasty shelf cloud on the horizon.
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Dale Kaminski @ NebraskaSC Photography
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Ok, I normally don't post two shots in one day but this is a different shot.... please take the time to read on.... because I know some people just like to post comments like great shot and run...
Firstly this shot itself is an experiment for me, the sky over this site was completely flat and featureless and I have been unable to do anything with it in photoshop, so I've cloned in a sky from a shot taken somewhere else on a different day.... that's allowed isn't it? ;o)
Secondly this shot isn't about the shot, it's about the story that follows... please read on.
On the 8th of May 1945 the Second World War in Europe ended. The following month on the 13th of June 1945 a B-24 Liberator bomber of the United States Army Air Forces took off from Prestwick in Scotland with the crew of nine from 66th Bomb Squadron together with six other crewmen from Air Transport Command. The plane was to fly to the United States via Keflavík (Meeks Field) in Iceland and its route should have taken it over Stornoway in the Western Isles, enroute to Iceland.
The combat crew of nine had completed their long tour of combat duty exceeding 30 missions and covering a period of more than six months. The other passengers were all “old” veterans who had served heroically in the dangerous air over Europe with Troop Carrier units and Bomber Units. Each of these men had accumulated many combat experiences that he could not divulge to anyone due to the strict censoring of all correspondence. During the few days that these men had waited at a Redistribution Center awaiting passage home they had written letters home with the super news that they were alive, had survived the war, would soon be home, and could then tell everyone about their dangerous experiences. Likewise, the families were so thankful that their loved ones had survived the war, were just fine, and very soon would be together again.
The reason for the tragedy that then unfolded are not known but the plane ended up overflying the Scottish mainland. A navigational error, instrumental or engine failure, all are possible. For whatever reason, they found themselves descending through thick cloud to attempt an emergency landing. It seems the aircraft struck the top of Slioch and the descent continued until they broke through the cloud base over Gairloch. They circled once round the loch, possibly looking for a place to ditch, and may have decided on the sea loch itself. The aircraft was on the run in when they just failed to clear the rocky spurs by the Fairy Lochs. All crew and passengers were killed, with the wreckage strewn over the mountainside around the Fairy Lochs... where it lies to this day.
Casualties (USAAF Flight Crew)
* 1st/Lt Jack B Ketchum (22), Pilot
* 1st/Lt J H Spencer (22), Co-Pilot
* 2nd/Lt R J Robak (20), Navigator
* Technical Sgt H L Cheek (21), Engineer
* Technical Sgt J C Stammer (23), Radio Op.
* Staff Sgt E J Giles (24), Gunner
* Staff Sgt A L Natkin (20), Gunner
* Staff Sgt R E Davis (26), Gunner
* Staff Sgt H Riefen (25), Gunner
Casualties (USAAF Air Transport Command / Passengers)
* Staff Sgt J B Ellis Jr. (24), 314th T.C.G.
* Staff Sgt J D Harvey (30), 314th T.C.G.
* Staff Sgt A W Hastings (23), 314th T.C.G.
* Staff Sgt E Einarsen (48), 314th T.C.G.
* Staff Sgt J H Hallissey (27), 93rd B.G. (H)
* Staff Sgt R J Francis (20), 323rd B.G. (H)
For a detailed account of this incident and of its crew and passengers, see 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties under Scottish Highlands (Non-Operational), Gairloch, Scotland (pp. 28-31)
Further info also here: www.aircrew-saltire.org/lib170.htm
Lest we forget...
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It was a LONG weekend, when I woke this morning, I just wanted to grab a coffee and sit under this tree and watch the clouds drift by me. Changing into wild animals and faces.... Airplanes and guitars.... ex-girlfriends and camera lenses..HA! (I thought that was funny) I'm gonna plant a tree like this in my yard someday and watch it grow old. I'm sure I'll take pictures of it thru the seasons... Littered with wild flower blankets in the spring, decorated with red and orange leaves swaying in the crisp autumn breeze, dripping with icicles and wearing a snow jacket in winter, and shadowed by the warm starlight of humid summer sky... with dragon flies and swallows swooping by the lens, maybe even a fire fly or two if I'm lucky.. We'll see. Hell, why stop there... If I'm feelin really crazy, and i think i just might be, I'll dress her up for Christmas every year, break out the Santa suit, and get a pic of that too... don't get me started on Halloween. Anyway... I found this little fella up on a mountain peek in malibu Creek state park.... I arrived early.... what a feeling it is hiking that early up thru the foggy hillside, all alone, except for some inquisitive deer that found me to be quite interesting that morning. I don't think they're accustomed to seeing creatures like me in their neck of the woods that early in the day :) And to finally arrive at the top... the only one there... quietly watching the cloud base drift up and down like surf, mountain peeks cutting the cloud base like shark fins. Do you think I love what I do. (Cue the jaws music now). I gotta go. It's poppie season. Enjoy this tree. I do.
009_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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065_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)
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