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Old 28th Aug 2009, 12:06
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foldingwings
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Guns, rockets, bombs both visually delivered and radar delivered by BAF, USAF, GAF, RDAF, RNoAF, RNlAF, RAF and anybody else who was operating in 2ATAF or 4ATAF including the French. In the Buccaneer and Tornado we used level and dive deliveries as did most others. There were strafe panels, a dive bomb circle and a Strike Target for the practice of nuclear deliveries (visual and blind). In the 70s and 80s, the RAF dropped 28lb and 4kg (replaced the 16lb PB) practice bombs and fired SNEB rockets as well as 30mm Aden and 28mm Mauser cannon. The RAF were based at Laarbruch, Gutersloh, Bruggen and Wildenrath.

One day, back in the 70s, the locals complained about the use of the range and protested on top of the Strike Target. We were banned from flying on the range the first day of the protest, on the second day we were told to fly as low and as fast over the target as possible to make the point that they were trespassing on British territory (RAF Nordhorn), on the third day the local police and Fire Service removed the trespassers with water cannon and on the 4th day we were bombing again!

The IP for the range was well to the north almost on the Dutch border and the trick was to skyline the church in the village and then set off from overhead it on a track of 181 degrees across the right hand house in a row that crossed track and then over a crossroads known as the crows 'feet', which was also the split point turn for the dive circle and strafe!

Great days.

Foldie
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