Serviceman threatened with knife outside RAF base
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The RAF Police are called multiple names, but Rock Apes is not one of them.
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Do you ever remember using up the life ex ammo we had, when we were live armed in Germany, on the ranges, by the time you had found something to hack through the thick plastic bag they were sealed in to load them, you would have been better throwing the damned things at them, and that was when we were live armed lol.
Not in Germany but in Aden we (not the RAF Regt) were still issued with the Lee Enfield 303 of WW2 vintage with ammunition. It was quite common when filling the magazine for some of the rounds to separate leaving the pointy end in one hand and the explosive end in tóther. Just as well we had TTN and friends buzzing around at the time.
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Originally posted by Nutty
When I was there (1968 to 1971) I was never allowed to take my pickaxe handle off base even when going to Vera´s for a few Guinness.
Personnel in NI were armed when in civi's and off base, as the theory goes you are not off duty, so is there a difference?
When I was there (1968 to 1971) I was never allowed to take my pickaxe handle off base even when going to Vera´s for a few Guinness.
For the life of me I never expected to see Snowdrops called Rockapes on a Military aviation thread.
Must be the silly season.
Must be the silly season.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The IRA thought much the same in 1990. 
The two "off-duty military personnel" turned out to be Australian tourists.
It is a question of probability, though - TOFO's point is a good one to keep in mind, I'd have thought.
The two "off-duty military personnel" turned out to be Australian tourists.It is a question of probability, though - TOFO's point is a good one to keep in mind, I'd have thought.
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" That is a theory. Unless a theory is tested it remains a theory.
Perhaps you should approach what turns out to be part of a civilian football team or a netball team and say"
There is no "theory " attached to TOFO's accurate criteria whatsoever.
The simple and salient facts are that service personnel do stand out when in civilian environments.
As I said in a previous post, when staying in a hotel in Southsea, this was 2009, I watched in disbelief as Shrivenham's less than intellectual elite all formed into little groups outside the hotel, to be "briefed" as to getting their taxi to Gunwharf, where to assemble thereafter and which eateries they would then visit. They all wore similar clothing as military personnel are prone to do which also adds to ease of identification.
I also said that, apart from potential terrorists, not everybody in the UK was supportive of the UK military, consequently, behaving the way they were drew attention to themselves.
Then there are the ubiquitous white people carriers which can be seen at Motorway services.
The moment the pax get out, or stand around, it's obvious they are military. They form groups through the nature of being military and I might as well add they also tend to talk to each other as if still on duty. Then they all head for McJunk / KFC etc....as a group.
In 2014, I was sat on a train going through Shrewsbury and the carriage was "treated" to the arrival of, presumably, members of the Royal Irish from Ternhill. The drinking had clearly long begun and the language was more applicable to a barracks plus, they were openly discussing whom they thought would be next for promotion in the SNCO ranks.
Dishforth services, late at night, stopped for fuel. At the next pump, an Army officer dressed in civilian clothes, albeit standard "off duty" wear for officers, a topic which has been discussed on here before. Again, stood out like the proverbial.
There aren't that many military locations left in the UK and terrorists are far from stupid, they tend to do their reconnaissance to gather intelligence about potential targets first.
Perhaps you should approach what turns out to be part of a civilian football team or a netball team and say"
There is no "theory " attached to TOFO's accurate criteria whatsoever.
The simple and salient facts are that service personnel do stand out when in civilian environments.
As I said in a previous post, when staying in a hotel in Southsea, this was 2009, I watched in disbelief as Shrivenham's less than intellectual elite all formed into little groups outside the hotel, to be "briefed" as to getting their taxi to Gunwharf, where to assemble thereafter and which eateries they would then visit. They all wore similar clothing as military personnel are prone to do which also adds to ease of identification.
I also said that, apart from potential terrorists, not everybody in the UK was supportive of the UK military, consequently, behaving the way they were drew attention to themselves.
Then there are the ubiquitous white people carriers which can be seen at Motorway services.
The moment the pax get out, or stand around, it's obvious they are military. They form groups through the nature of being military and I might as well add they also tend to talk to each other as if still on duty. Then they all head for McJunk / KFC etc....as a group.
In 2014, I was sat on a train going through Shrewsbury and the carriage was "treated" to the arrival of, presumably, members of the Royal Irish from Ternhill. The drinking had clearly long begun and the language was more applicable to a barracks plus, they were openly discussing whom they thought would be next for promotion in the SNCO ranks.
Dishforth services, late at night, stopped for fuel. At the next pump, an Army officer dressed in civilian clothes, albeit standard "off duty" wear for officers, a topic which has been discussed on here before. Again, stood out like the proverbial.
There aren't that many military locations left in the UK and terrorists are far from stupid, they tend to do their reconnaissance to gather intelligence about potential targets first.
Just as well we had TTN and friends buzzing around at the time.
Funnily enough I was only just talking to Mrs TTN about Aden yesterday. When we were outside the camp in civvies we certainly weren't armed, but always armed when in uniform, of course. I was there in 1966, I suspect by 1967 things had tightened up considerably.
TTN (ex Rockape, not Snowdrop!)
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Not in Germany but in Aden we (not the RAF Regt) were still issued with the Lee Enfield 303 of WW2 vintage with ammunition. It was quite common when filling the magazine for some of the rounds to separate leaving the pointy end in one hand and the explosive end in tóther. Just as well we had TTN and friends buzzing around at the time.
A little surprised to be told that the laying up of 31's old standard had been cancelled 'for security reasons'.
I would have thought it possible to have provided a suitable amount of overt and covert protection for such an event and news of its cancellation is - of itself - an admission that the bad guys have got us (the general population) rattled.
Old Duffer
I would have thought it possible to have provided a suitable amount of overt and covert protection for such an event and news of its cancellation is - of itself - an admission that the bad guys have got us (the general population) rattled.
Old Duffer
Occasionally there would be a dog handler inside the perimeter fence, but mostly security was left in the hands of the Air Traffickers and Radar Techs.
This included manning the gate for shift changes which were at different times for the civvy controllers, one of which we were warned had republican sympathies.
Drivers were supposed to turn off their headlights when approaching the gates, but he had to be "persuaded" to comply on a number of occasions.
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Presently, at a unit near me, they locked the private entrance from quarters thus requiring everyone to go round busy public roads to the front gate!
At another, with quarters behind the wire and a guard on the gate, the back gate is a simple unmanned vehicle barrier
At another, with quarters behind the wire and a guard on the gate, the back gate is a simple unmanned vehicle barrier
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Common sense has to prevail, of course, but I'd hate to see the services go back to the days of the 70s when we never wore uniform in public.
I joined the RAF in 1979 and during basic training at RAF Swinderby was made to wear my No1 uniform on weekend passes into Lincoln, it always caught the attention of the locals and some fights occurred. I also wore it home to London. I well remember stepping off an underground train and walking a gauntlet of around 20 Punk Rockers stood on the platform! Funnily enough, they never said a word. They just stared.. Same thing on posting to RAF Shawbury for trade training.
I never had any live rounds on Guard Duty until at RAF Wattisham in the mid 80's and again at Brize up to 1991 still with the SLR.
I knew an AATC (TA) at RAF Manston on my first posting that had served in NI on Special Operations who regularly carried a Browning 9mm in civilian clothes off base.
Last edited by Out Of Trim; 25th Jul 2016 at 17:06.
24 years as a bearer of The Mudguard and I didn't know I was a RAF Copper.
RAF COPPER!!!!! How very dare you. Please allow me to gas you to within an inch of your life. Gas in this instance means CS in the Respirator Testing Facility.
Good on the Gunner for fighting dirty, if in doubt headbutt it out. All rules go out the window and maximum violence is to be issued in these circumstances.
I have no idea who he is but I am more than happy to buy him many beers and then indulge in Snowdrop Baiting
RAF COPPER!!!!! How very dare you. Please allow me to gas you to within an inch of your life. Gas in this instance means CS in the Respirator Testing Facility.
Good on the Gunner for fighting dirty, if in doubt headbutt it out. All rules go out the window and maximum violence is to be issued in these circumstances.
I have no idea who he is but I am more than happy to buy him many beers and then indulge in Snowdrop Baiting
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The story gets better
RAF Man May Have Given Suspected Kidnapper A Black Eye | Forces TV
RAF Man May Have Given Suspected Kidnapper A Black Eye | Forces TV
One of the men who tried to abduct an RAF serviceman while he was out jogging may have a black eye after he was head-butted by the airman.
Detectives from Norfolk Police say the suspected kidnapper could have “swelling and bruising” around his eye after he was head-butted and punched to the ground by the serviceman, who is reported to be a non-commissioned officer in the RAF Regiment.
Detectives from Norfolk Police say the suspected kidnapper could have “swelling and bruising” around his eye after he was head-butted and punched to the ground by the serviceman, who is reported to be a non-commissioned officer in the RAF Regiment.
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Funnily enough I was only just talking to Mrs TTN about Aden yesterday. When we were outside the camp in civvies we certainly weren't armed, but always armed when in uniform, of course. I was there in 1966, I suspect by 1967 things had tightened up considerably.
TTN (ex Rockape, not Snowdrop!)
TTN (ex Rockape, not Snowdrop!)
They tightened to the extent that we were no longer allowed to go outside camp. By then the families had gone home and the Camel Club did a roaring trade. I ended up at Ballykelly where we fired five rounds SLR per annum under the watchful eye of the local "Rock" but were never trusted with them for guard duties.
