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Abandoned RAF airfields in Germany

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Abandoned RAF airfields in Germany

Old 15th Aug 2016, 10:30
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And Amstel ............. yurrggggh!

When I saw what was floating in the River Amstel I recognised the smell of the beer.

And becks was vaguely reminiscent of a mans' changing room aroma.

Wobbly for choice.

Regularly.
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Old 15th Aug 2016, 10:33
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Meanwhile, those of us perspiring in the heat and humidity of Singapore were limited to just 36 cans of Duty Free Tiger per month ... whilst those living across the Causeway in Johore Baru had no limit
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Old 15th Aug 2016, 13:37
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MPN11:
36 cans of Duty Free Tiger per month
One whiff of the Singapore River (from where it was said the water for Tiger was drawn) put you off Tiger forever - until about midnight in Bugis Street!!

Last edited by Shackman; 18th Aug 2016 at 16:02. Reason: The smell worsens with memory!
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Old 15th Aug 2016, 14:16
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Octane (#19),

I suppose my memory has stayed with me as everything else has left !

On the subject of Geilenkirchen, do you (or does anyone) know the derivation of the name ? "Geilen" has a "lewd" or "salacious" meaning in German; tacked onto a Church, is there a story here ? Could it be that we have here something like "the old monk of great renown - who made free with the wenches of Nottingham Town ?", celebrated in song (but no story).

Danny.

Should have asked while I was there.
 
Old 15th Aug 2016, 14:33
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Shackman ... I switched to Anchor, especially in Bugis Street. But when the Tengah Mess was plumbed for ice-cold Tiger, to all 3 bars, it was too easy to succumb to the convenience!
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Old 15th Aug 2016, 16:04
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Danny.
The town was built by a Frank called Geilo so it's Geilo's church not like Hornchurch in Essex.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 07:46
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Dougie M,

Thanks, Dougie ! Never knew that. Just goes to show that you're never to old to learn.

And what a shining example of the value of the "Military Aviation" Forum - there is nearly always somebody who knows.

Danny.
 
Old 16th Aug 2016, 07:47
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My recollections was the Herforder Pils in the Gutersloh area was quite a pleasant
brew as well. I wonder what has become of the Gashof zum Flughafen?
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 07:56
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Saday,
...where the Zeppelins went to be inflated...?
 
Old 16th Aug 2016, 08:09
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What became of RAF Gatow....?


Only there for a week as an Air Cadet on camp (around 1987 I think)....but what a week!
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 08:50
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Ah Berliner Kindl proper falling down lotion!

After being handed back, Gatow closed in 1995. The western end of the R/W and parallel taxyway was grubbed up and the area built upon.

The domestic site is now the General Steinhof Kaserne barracks, the remains of the airfield site is now the 'Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 11:46
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Medical Reasons for Berlin Beers

There were really only two beers available at Gatow - Berliner Kindl and Schultheiss. Real drinkers (ie the rugby club) only drank Kindl, because it was rumoured that Schultheiss was deficient in Vitamin D. Since most of the population of Gatow were in 26SU and worked shifts in windowless areas, the normal source of Vitamin D (sunlight) was in short supply. The logic therefore was that if you drank too much Schultheiss you would exacerbate the Vitamin D shortage which would lead you into developing rickets and you would fall over a lot. Besides which...... Schultheiss tasted terrible!
If you drank Kindl, on the other hand, falling over was medically attributable to the long working hours and the worry. I feel lucky to have survived two tours in Berlin under such an appalling threat to my health.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 11:48
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Ascot
It's a shame they built on Gatow. I went to the Christmas Market in Berlin last year and they flew us into Schoneberg which was the East German airfield 15 miles east of town. I had been there before on a Stockholm agreement visit and Interflug put us up in a crappy airport hotel. I was amazed to see that the facilities were still as basic and the Ubahn into the city centre still takes half an hour.
Oh for Gatow and the umsteiger ticket into the Kudamm. Many a visit to the Hofbrauhaus (now gone) and strange bath nights near the Sophie Charlotte platz.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 11:56
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Slight navigational error; I think you mean Schonefeld.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 11:59
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Sadly I never did a GE tour, but I did once have MoD/NATS Staff responsibility for the Berlin Air Safety Centre, a wonderfully anachronistic relic of 1945/46.

Sadly I only managed to do/justify one staff visit.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 15:27
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JW. Just so. Schonefeld. Equally as forgettable
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 15:36
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Other than not being herded by cattle-prods, I have not a good word for the place.

We always use a taxi to/from the centre, rather than the train.

"Because you're worth it"
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 18:18
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Wobbly - that brings back memories, plus a good fry up in Snoopy's

Happy days.
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 18:53
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Had the great good fortune to fly and work in Germany, so many times! Gatow Offiziersheim- the largest bathtubs ever! At least 7ft long and 3ft deep with 2" bore taps! I wondered (as I floated), who else might have luxuriated in their superior generosity of scale before me?

OAP
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Old 16th Aug 2016, 19:32
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"just 36 cans of Duty Free Tiger per month "

Not at Changi, duty free all month, draught in the Mally and NAAFI.

Bit of a shock to find Seletar rationed.

PM
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