The video brings back a lot of memories. I was involved in some of the initial trials c/o 431 M.U when the techniques were in their infancy. The work was interesting and we started to learn about the practicalities and logistics of carrying out various repairs in "field" conditions, using the Canberra's that were on Bruggen at the time. Bear in mind that at this stage, BDR as such, was still an unknown and intially, the repairs we carried out still reflected the more permanent types we embodied on a daily basis.
A lot of our work resulted in the changes required to alter this mindset.
The lighter side.
It was Germany, in the summer, we were sent across the airfield for the day, so we took the required refreshment with us...naturally.
Canberra airframe vs crash axe. The Canberra won.
However, how many on here have seen a grown up reduced to tears ?
Enter our "heroic and inspirational leader" at the time, the cleverest man on Bruggen ( his words, and a view not entirely shared by the rest of the Station) and who was known, by one and all, after a small caged bird and its habits...i.e. "all chirp and sh&t ". Thus one day, our "hero" decided to invite the grown ups to watch our developing expertise....alas.
On the day in question, a novel twist...Baldric would have been envious!..no briefing, just split into two groups and collect weapons... one group arrives on site, commences setting up and prepares to repair the damage. Then. our hero arrives and places great emphasis on having our weapons ready. The grown ups watch, bemused, but interested. Then cometh his moment.
Adoping a stance of placing on leg against a sandy ridge, drawing his pistol with a flourish, and in a manner that would have been more akin to an Ealing B movie / Harry Enfield sketch, our hero proclaims "Enemy attack ( long pause ) to the front ( another pause ) men !...pick up you weapons!". We had wondered as to where the other group had gone, now we found out, they were the "attacking force" who, in theory, would now come stormimg out of the woods.
Sadly, this was not the case. The gravitas of our leader resulted in attackers and defenders collapsing in derisive howls of laughter such was the delivery of his speech.
The grown ups ?...the one with 3 rings was seen to place his hands over his eyes ( whether to avert his gaze, or prevent us seeing a senior officer in tears, or probably both, I do not know) and shake his head...slowly. The grown up with 2.5 rings was seen to silently suggest our hero could both masturbate and engage in the anglo-saxon term for sex at the same time.
The troops waited untl their tear ducts were empty before returning to the tasks.
Our hero, blissfully unaware as to why all the above had transpired. was dispached for refreshments by the grown ups, who then spent a lot of time talking practical engineering with us....sans leader.
Last edited by Krystal n chips; 28th Feb 2013 at 04:55.