Originally Posted by
ancientaviator62
This is us 'slipping' at Akrotiri with AR5 kit on our way to start the RAF AT Det at Riyadh. We had to take it all despite the lack of safe storage and servicing facilities.
We also had our 9mm and eight rounds. Again no secure storage.
That really takes me back, I was with you on 30 at the time, and on the Riyadh Det when the war started.
Later, on 47 Sqn I was 'volunteered' for the Aircrew Instructors AR5 Course, after that I found out that wearing the kit for anything over an hour sent me very soundly to sleep (white noise from the whistling handbag, cool breeze on the face, limited sensory input).
I flew in the kit on a couple of training sorties, but when one of the other crewmember's (NATO Reporting Name 'Kate') lithium battery started smoking, we landed quick sharp!
I also remember the 9mm rounds being supplied in a see-through sandwich bag and the Loadie being given a huge bag of 'sleeping tablets' (Temazapam?) to dole out as required. I seem to recall that a crewmember (possibly a Flight Commader?) from 24 Sqn lost a 9mm round and declared it as a loose article on the flight deck.