Granby Memories
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I was part of 51 Sqn and spent the whole of Granby (Desert Shield/Storm) in Cyprus. We arrived within a few days of the invasion with our first aircraft. The second arrived shortly afterwards, with the final one rushed through major and EWAD to get all 3 out there.
All of the squadron personnel moved to Episkopi after only a few weeks to make room for others. The initial reluctance to move was soon overcome when we realised the food, accommodation and general situation up at Episkopi was much better than Akrotiri. The only real pain was the bus journey to and from Akrotiri for the 12 or 24 hour shifts. 84 Sqn put on a Wessex one night to get a team of ground crew from Episkopi to Akrotiri when the road was closed at Curium because of a terrorist alert.
The night before it all kicked off I was working late as one of a team of Fairies trying to get at least one of the three serviceable. The favourite had a problem with the Astral Box main computer and it was touch and go whether any of the aircraft would become serviceable. We had no idea at the time why SEngO was on our backs every half hour. It was only the next morning when waking to hear that it had all started that the reason for his anxious state became clear.
S-D
All of the squadron personnel moved to Episkopi after only a few weeks to make room for others. The initial reluctance to move was soon overcome when we realised the food, accommodation and general situation up at Episkopi was much better than Akrotiri. The only real pain was the bus journey to and from Akrotiri for the 12 or 24 hour shifts. 84 Sqn put on a Wessex one night to get a team of ground crew from Episkopi to Akrotiri when the road was closed at Curium because of a terrorist alert.
The night before it all kicked off I was working late as one of a team of Fairies trying to get at least one of the three serviceable. The favourite had a problem with the Astral Box main computer and it was touch and go whether any of the aircraft would become serviceable. We had no idea at the time why SEngO was on our backs every half hour. It was only the next morning when waking to hear that it had all started that the reason for his anxious state became clear.
S-D
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Remember it well S-D. just like yesterday. I had not realised it was 25 years ago till this thread popped up. The build up for us started a while before Christmas. We worked long hours, often split shifts to accommodate the mods we were developing. Going home for tea then back till 2 am. I think we did 31 TRIMs and other Mods. When the last one went out it was very heavy. Bill the weights was within a pound and 1/8" on CoG when we went down the Boscombe to do the weigh. I quiet word with Sengo Bob when I handed him all the drawings and diagrams to ensure nothing extra had been squirrelled on board. Must have been Astral Boxes finest hour, certainly it's swan song.
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Operta Aperta
Thoughts of Gary Lennox and Kev Weeks 16 Sqn Laarbruch lost on operations 22 Jan 91. Kev a neighbour on the Goch OMQ and a real gent. Last memory of Kev on his way to the garages at the end of Moylander Str, first stage of his journey to Tabuk. Like many in these forums, never forgotten.
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That evening I was on shift in the Air Force Ops Room [AFOps] in Whitehall, wearing my Suit, Pinstripe, Whitehall Warrior 
The "War Appointment" of "CAS's Briefer" was held by a colleague in DAFSD. However, when the buildup started, it was realised that [as "Mr Aviation Fuels"] he was better placed remaining at his normal desk. Thus it was that I was catapulted, un-briefed and completely ignorant, into the centre of AFOps ... and spent the next few weeks on permanent 7-day night shifts. Eventually, as things started to settle down, and the build-up became a sort of routine, I was stood down to resume normal office duties.
It must have been the morning of Wed, 16 Jan 91 when I turned up in the office as normal. My DD said "What are you doing here? You're on watch in AFOps tonight!" Instead of saying "Thanks for letting me know in advance", I just reversed course and took the Tube home to grab a bit of extra sleep before retracing my steps back to MB in the evening. So it's starting tonight!!
The next 6 weeks were spent back on a permanent 12-hour/7-day[night] shift pattern. CNN permanently playing on the TV on the end wall, my own personal ASMA console with 'extra access' codes, and bits of paper flying around the room. It was on ASMA that I was able to log in to the live HOTREPs from returning missions, flown/led by several mates from Staff College - quite a spooky sensation, as they braved SAM and AAA while I enhanced the shine on the seat of my trousers in a comfy chair in a Whitehall office building.
The "War Appointment" of "CAS's Briefer" was held by a colleague in DAFSD. However, when the buildup started, it was realised that [as "Mr Aviation Fuels"] he was better placed remaining at his normal desk. Thus it was that I was catapulted, un-briefed and completely ignorant, into the centre of AFOps ... and spent the next few weeks on permanent 7-day night shifts. Eventually, as things started to settle down, and the build-up became a sort of routine, I was stood down to resume normal office duties.
It must have been the morning of Wed, 16 Jan 91 when I turned up in the office as normal. My DD said "What are you doing here? You're on watch in AFOps tonight!" Instead of saying "Thanks for letting me know in advance", I just reversed course and took the Tube home to grab a bit of extra sleep before retracing my steps back to MB in the evening. So it's starting tonight!!
The next 6 weeks were spent back on a permanent 12-hour/7-day[night] shift pattern. CNN permanently playing on the TV on the end wall, my own personal ASMA console with 'extra access' codes, and bits of paper flying around the room. It was on ASMA that I was able to log in to the live HOTREPs from returning missions, flown/led by several mates from Staff College - quite a spooky sensation, as they braved SAM and AAA while I enhanced the shine on the seat of my trousers in a comfy chair in a Whitehall office building.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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My main memories are on this video.. ZD483, full of holes. I was on the ABDR team that got it back to being a war goer. "How the hell are we going to fix that?" We did mind and it did another 8 missions before another no war related structural failure (Canopy hinge bracket cracking), saw it swapped out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2c6...&feature=share
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2c6...&feature=share
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That Night!
25 years ago! Our group of RAF chaps were attached to 1(UK)Div HQ and formed the ASOC(SH). Arrived 2 weeks before that night – spent that time in the desert getting used to working with our ASV436 vehicles and our driver/sigs – great chaps Coxy and a guy whose name can’t remember now. We had one of about 12 x 436 amongst the HQ. Very tired and wet most of the time in the winter desert weather learning to put the HQ up, break it down, move several km at night, put the HQ up again – repeat. The HQ food was sparse and very poor at times. After 2 weeks we were declared as good as we were ever going to get as armoured vehicle commanders/operators and the HQ was ready to move to the concentration area in prep for the ground assault.
R&R time back at Al Jubail for one night in a comfy bed – went to sleep still dirty (I’ll have a good shower and change into fresh clean clothes in the morning - Stupid Boy!) Alarms all night, beds up against the windows, S6 and NBC kit on, and us taking silly photos of each other trying to sleep on the floor. Air War had started. Back in our Landrover first thing in the morning to get the hell out of Dodge and back to the “safety” of the desert!! Interesting days and the subsequent months through Saudi/Iraq/Kuwait as we advanced as part of that (US)Corps, it was quite surreal navigating using celestial skills and very basic maps. Without doubt the highlight of that time was a cold shower under a makeshift bucket each day when we were not in NBC kit.
Credit to all the guys doing the flying – would have preferred to be up there myself rather than in the panzer that became my home for 4 months. Final interesting point: many RAF were in hotels on rates with good accommodation for the duration, while the ground elements were in the field with nothing but “water money” as added cash in the bank. No one on the ground got worked up about that issue – as they knew all the work being done in the air was going to save lives on the ground when it came to them going over the top. It undoubtedly did – so thanks guys to all of you in the air during that time.
MPN11 – ASMA yes! we had a terminal in the 436! A piece of office basic IT in an armoured vehicle and after every move the RAF Cpl TCW chap came running into the HQ trailing the co-ax cable to plug in to the dish in his landrover and we were up talking to: ships, HQ, UK, everywhere – before the Army signalers could even get their Ptarmigan comms systems or radios working. Used to **ss off the RSigs Captain after every move when the Full Colonel Chief of Staff used to say “I see ASMA beat you again Comms Ops”
You couldn’t make it up …
kbc
R&R time back at Al Jubail for one night in a comfy bed – went to sleep still dirty (I’ll have a good shower and change into fresh clean clothes in the morning - Stupid Boy!) Alarms all night, beds up against the windows, S6 and NBC kit on, and us taking silly photos of each other trying to sleep on the floor. Air War had started. Back in our Landrover first thing in the morning to get the hell out of Dodge and back to the “safety” of the desert!! Interesting days and the subsequent months through Saudi/Iraq/Kuwait as we advanced as part of that (US)Corps, it was quite surreal navigating using celestial skills and very basic maps. Without doubt the highlight of that time was a cold shower under a makeshift bucket each day when we were not in NBC kit.
Credit to all the guys doing the flying – would have preferred to be up there myself rather than in the panzer that became my home for 4 months. Final interesting point: many RAF were in hotels on rates with good accommodation for the duration, while the ground elements were in the field with nothing but “water money” as added cash in the bank. No one on the ground got worked up about that issue – as they knew all the work being done in the air was going to save lives on the ground when it came to them going over the top. It undoubtedly did – so thanks guys to all of you in the air during that time.
MPN11 – ASMA yes! we had a terminal in the 436! A piece of office basic IT in an armoured vehicle and after every move the RAF Cpl TCW chap came running into the HQ trailing the co-ax cable to plug in to the dish in his landrover and we were up talking to: ships, HQ, UK, everywhere – before the Army signalers could even get their Ptarmigan comms systems or radios working. Used to **ss off the RSigs Captain after every move when the Full Colonel Chief of Staff used to say “I see ASMA beat you again Comms Ops”
You couldn’t make it up …
kbc
MPN11.
Pretty much "Snap!", only my little team were sucked in 24on/48off.
One evening CDS and his entourage required a briefing at short notice and so I hastily threw my suit jacket on, gathered up my notes and slides and headed off.
As I started I was initially under the uncomfortable impression that he was actually nodding off, as he kept looking down at my feet.
It was only on getting back to my desk that I realized I was still wearing my soft moccasins ( liberally sprinkled with white paint from house decoration) having kicked off my shoes earlier on.
Pretty much "Snap!", only my little team were sucked in 24on/48off.
One evening CDS and his entourage required a briefing at short notice and so I hastily threw my suit jacket on, gathered up my notes and slides and headed off.
As I started I was initially under the uncomfortable impression that he was actually nodding off, as he kept looking down at my feet.
It was only on getting back to my desk that I realized I was still wearing my soft moccasins ( liberally sprinkled with white paint from house decoration) having kicked off my shoes earlier on.
Last edited by Haraka; 22nd Jan 2016 at 13:09.
Riyadh - 21 January just after midnight I was sleeping in my "Bedroom", actually a part of the villa dining room, when the Air Raid Warning siren went off. Out of bed wearing only a pair of shreddies, quickly donning Battle Bowler and Respirator, and taking cover under the washbasin in the downstairs toilet to avoid any flying glass from the window. Short time later a very load bang and shaking of building, and a covering of plaster from the ceiling. Very warlike NOT.
After a few days we got rather blase about the Scuds, and being confident that the Patriots were dealing with them, we stayed out to watch the firework display from the Patriot batteries. Even took photos of the firings. That is until a 9" metal rod came through the Int Offs Portakabin roof and missed him by inches. After that the shelters seemed a better idea.
The other noteable event was, during the early hours one morning, working in HQ Air Tasking Order office, putting the AAR details in the ATO, there was gunfire in the corridor outside. Since we were several floors below ground level under the Saudi Air Force HQ my first thought was that it was Iraqi Special Forces who were not going to take prisoners. In a room of about 100 US Senior Officers I was the only person with a weapon. Fortunately what had happened was that a Saudi guard had fired his rifle by accident and an American guard had "returned fire". Nobody was hurt and there was no need for a Gunfight at the OK Corral. The next day we had a room full of "Rambos".
After a few days we got rather blase about the Scuds, and being confident that the Patriots were dealing with them, we stayed out to watch the firework display from the Patriot batteries. Even took photos of the firings. That is until a 9" metal rod came through the Int Offs Portakabin roof and missed him by inches. After that the shelters seemed a better idea.
The other noteable event was, during the early hours one morning, working in HQ Air Tasking Order office, putting the AAR details in the ATO, there was gunfire in the corridor outside. Since we were several floors below ground level under the Saudi Air Force HQ my first thought was that it was Iraqi Special Forces who were not going to take prisoners. In a room of about 100 US Senior Officers I was the only person with a weapon. Fortunately what had happened was that a Saudi guard had fired his rifle by accident and an American guard had "returned fire". Nobody was hurt and there was no need for a Gunfight at the OK Corral. The next day we had a room full of "Rambos".
On that memorable morning I was fast asleep in a sweaty Motel near Al Jubayal. I was woken at about 0130 from my Bunk. As one of two Chinook Field Repair Teams we were placed into a very long (I think about 15 hours!) and circular convoy into the Saudi desert at 0400.
On arrival at Al Quysumah we Rigga's were told that one of the cabs had a Fwd Xmsn failure and that we had to return to where we left! (And a return time of just three hours!)
We spent the next day fixing the cab and returned again to Al Quysumah to find our tent awaiting us!
We later moved to Wadi Al Batin (near Hafr Al Batain) where, one evening, we found ourselves surrounded by a US Army Tank unit digging in for a long stay...we later found there was an Iraqi Convoy headed toward the other end of the Wadi!!!
On arrival at Al Quysumah we Rigga's were told that one of the cabs had a Fwd Xmsn failure and that we had to return to where we left! (And a return time of just three hours!)
We spent the next day fixing the cab and returned again to Al Quysumah to find our tent awaiting us!
We later moved to Wadi Al Batin (near Hafr Al Batain) where, one evening, we found ourselves surrounded by a US Army Tank unit digging in for a long stay...we later found there was an Iraqi Convoy headed toward the other end of the Wadi!!!
we later found there was an Iraqi Convoy headed toward the other end of the Wadi!!!
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DC8's from Thanet Air IIRC.
Southern Air operated LYE-AKT-DHA-LYE rotations in one duty day on behalf of London European Airways with a DC-8-71.
Heavylift's B707 was at Burbank getting hush kits fitted, but the good old Belfast's and Guppy were used quite a bit.....
Heavylift's B707 was at Burbank getting hush kits fitted, but the good old Belfast's and Guppy were used quite a bit.....
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dragartist, not just the finest hour for Astral Box, but it must have been one of EWAD’s finest hours too. For all the new mod’s that went onto the aircraft, we, along with the aircrew had to learn how to operate and maintain them pdq. Boz, MAWS, GPS, Havequick, etc are just the ones I remember. We certainly had some interesting debriefs from the Nav’s as they got to grips with chaff and flare.
Unfortunately, the spares situation was not great. I can remember the decision being made to swap aircraft on one morning see off. Not an easy decision as we had to swap both INUs, both TACAN Tx/Rx and I think two pedestal and aerial combinations.
S-D
Unfortunately, the spares situation was not great. I can remember the decision being made to swap aircraft on one morning see off. Not an easy decision as we had to swap both INUs, both TACAN Tx/Rx and I think two pedestal and aerial combinations.
S-D
I well remember it. I was one of the Training Co-ordinators in Ops at LYE at the time.
I was in the bowling alley when it kicked off and remember the reaction on learning that the BBC had announced that hostilities had started.
A very busy time during the run up and subsequently with 18 or so flights departing every night and aircraft returning mostly during the day. Plus all the civilian charters. At the beginning the place was full of W/Cdrs and other wheels for several nights until they either got bored or were convinced that the Ops Staff actually knew what they were doing and left them to get on with it!
After that it slowly returned to normal night shift staffing, Ops Controller, Training Co-ord and the Eng Controller and his colleague all working flat out but like a well oiled machine. Can't remember if we had a Mover actually in Ops by that time or if that was later on, if we didn't they were just through the hatch next door.
OK, I was thoroughly REMF, but a very satisfying time doing "The Job".
Doc C
I was in the bowling alley when it kicked off and remember the reaction on learning that the BBC had announced that hostilities had started.
A very busy time during the run up and subsequently with 18 or so flights departing every night and aircraft returning mostly during the day. Plus all the civilian charters. At the beginning the place was full of W/Cdrs and other wheels for several nights until they either got bored or were convinced that the Ops Staff actually knew what they were doing and left them to get on with it!
After that it slowly returned to normal night shift staffing, Ops Controller, Training Co-ord and the Eng Controller and his colleague all working flat out but like a well oiled machine. Can't remember if we had a Mover actually in Ops by that time or if that was later on, if we didn't they were just through the hatch next door.
OK, I was thoroughly REMF, but a very satisfying time doing "The Job".
Doc C
An excellent RNZAF WO ran the Gnd Def desk at KKIA and did a superb job. Cool, calm and collected and very efficient.
His part of the Ops Room was shared with a Mov Det, including an arrogant little Sqn Ldr who obviously considered that his rank outweighed his ability.
One night some American had a negligent discharge, loosing off a fair number of rounds into the dirt about a mile away. The Sqn Ldr Mover went into headless chicken mode and started ordering people to Stand To... But he was largely ignored as everyone knew he was an utter tw@t, whereas his teams worked their bits off to support the Op.
This was the final straw for the WO, who eventually managed to persuade him that the Iraqis weren't coming over the fence. Next time the Gp Capt appeared, he went up to him and said "Sir, you're going to have to arrest me soon". "Why?", queried the Gp Capt. "Because if that idiot doesn't keep his nose out, I'm going to deck the bastard!".
Words were had, the Sqn Ldr was told to STFU and the good Kiwi carried on as before!
His part of the Ops Room was shared with a Mov Det, including an arrogant little Sqn Ldr who obviously considered that his rank outweighed his ability.
One night some American had a negligent discharge, loosing off a fair number of rounds into the dirt about a mile away. The Sqn Ldr Mover went into headless chicken mode and started ordering people to Stand To... But he was largely ignored as everyone knew he was an utter tw@t, whereas his teams worked their bits off to support the Op.
This was the final straw for the WO, who eventually managed to persuade him that the Iraqis weren't coming over the fence. Next time the Gp Capt appeared, he went up to him and said "Sir, you're going to have to arrest me soon". "Why?", queried the Gp Capt. "Because if that idiot doesn't keep his nose out, I'm going to deck the bastard!".
Words were had, the Sqn Ldr was told to STFU and the good Kiwi carried on as before!
I was sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag near Khafji until about 2 am. A hotel, no matter how crappy would have been great but I recognize that's not what I signed up for.
Can anyone remember if the Tornado GR1 was fitted with mode 4 IFF during Granby, I believe the F3s were but I am interested in GR1. I am just asking as for my GR1 cockpit rig build I have just got a IFF controls which is from Tornado, I already had one but from what I can tell the one I have was an earlier version which does not have mode 4, the new one does and I have ben told that is thee type fitted to Granby jets, but I think the chap who told me was speaking as a F3 pilot or nav, so I am unsure if it was also fitted to GR1, it makes sense that it should be.