'GET SOME IN'
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
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oxenos, this is an even better story and no listening required.
RAF&SDFSA-Biographies
A very close female relative of mine went from enlistment as a teenager to GD branch S/L and then became a public school bursar.
RAF&SDFSA-Biographies
A very close female relative of mine went from enlistment as a teenager to GD branch S/L and then became a public school bursar.
For a lad who were born in the mid 60s - you spent your 18 months `in' doing what?
I've checked on Wiki, but there doesn't seem to be much detail.
Basic training obviously, square bashing etc, but did you get taught a trade etc. Forgive my lack of knowledge, how close did you get to the sharp end?
Did anyone decide they liked it and stay on?
I've checked on Wiki, but there doesn't seem to be much detail.
Basic training obviously, square bashing etc, but did you get taught a trade etc. Forgive my lack of knowledge, how close did you get to the sharp end?
Did anyone decide they liked it and stay on?
Ian16th
I was looking at a Piston Provost at RIAT this year and telling my friend it was used for training, when the chap next to me said he'd learnt to fly on them in 1954. He was on 2 years national service and hadn't had to extend. He moved on to the Vampire and when I asked him if he'd done any productive flying he said he hadn't. In his words the scheme was a sprat to catch a mackerel. When I asked how many of his cohort had stayed in after their 2 years he said very few, hence the scheme was stopped soon after. Against that, getting a year out of a radar fitter doesn't seem so bad?
I was looking at a Piston Provost at RIAT this year and telling my friend it was used for training, when the chap next to me said he'd learnt to fly on them in 1954. He was on 2 years national service and hadn't had to extend. He moved on to the Vampire and when I asked him if he'd done any productive flying he said he hadn't. In his words the scheme was a sprat to catch a mackerel. When I asked how many of his cohort had stayed in after their 2 years he said very few, hence the scheme was stopped soon after. Against that, getting a year out of a radar fitter doesn't seem so bad?
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 59°09N 002°38W (IATA: SOY, ICAO: EGER)
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RAF Driffield 1961 - the last few National Servicemen were in my room. One was a Jnr Tech who had a BSc and in civilian life designed Rolls Royce engines. The RAF made him a Ground Wireless Fitter. And in the Education Centre at RAF Cosford 1959-61 the only difference between the National Service Cpl Techs and the Pilot Officers was their accent and their approach to the job. One Plt Off tried to teach the resistor colour code using "Bye Bye Rollie, Off You Go..." whereas the Cpl Tech used the non-PC but more easily remembered "Billy Brown Raped Only Young Girls..."
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Norfolk
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My Dad remembers a guy from GEC who had worked on Rebecca in Civvie street. Once they found that out, he spent his whole 18 months at Luqa in the small Rebecca hut at the end of the runway, no requirement to attend parades or anything else............. beacon serviceable 100% of the time.
No idea what happened after he left.................
Arc
No idea what happened after he left.................
Arc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
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My Dad remembers a guy from GEC who had worked on Rebecca in Civvie street. Once they found that out, he spent his whole 18 months at Luqa in the small Rebecca hut at the end of the runway, no requirement to attend parades or anything else............. beacon serviceable 100% of the time.
No idea what happened after he left.................
Arc
No idea what happened after he left.................
Arc
The 'BABS hut' was usually at the end of the main runway, there were also 'BABS Vans', that were used at the end of other than main runways. These were based on a Standard 9 van and had a fold out reflector system around the aerial. The vans were driven into a ramp that was edged with something akin to railway lines to line the van up with the runway.
It wasn't normal practice to have the BABS hut/van manned, it was only visited in the morning for its 'daily inspection, and in the case of a runway change, or a navigator snagging it.
With Rebecca MkIV, the navigator could see the signal and detect any deteriation in signal quality, so they could inform the tower who would call ARSF.
The Lindholme BABS Van was the 1st motor vehicle I ever drove.
*Blind Approach Beacon System.
