Ah the good old days of 1982!!
Bare in mind that 72 in its days at Odiham had been a fully 'deployable' squadron in that as soon as the hooter went each aircraft (and crew) was roled with sufficient kit to depart to foreign shores for an extended stay. When the Squadron moved to NI in '81all this kit (and most of the expertise) was removed, and the Squadron was now 'static' and would only do NI tasking.
Apr 30: Sqn Dining In Night at Aldergrove - half way through Boss disappears, not seen again that night.
May 1: S'man and crew depart for day tasking at Omagh, return about 1800 to the news that (a) Sqn going to war, and (b) I'm leaving at 0800 following day to help set up FOB at Benson prior to boarding ship. Massive party in mess.
May 2: Arrive sleepy hollow that was Benson (after brief formation trip with Royal Flight Wessex) to discover scene of total confusion. We have little or no kit, either for crews or aircraft. within hour we have a hangar allocated for our use - the one we vacated the previous year - and clothing stores opens for us; in one end, collect kit bag, fill with anything we think we might need, and out other end with no paperwork or signatures. back on Squadron start getting training programme organised for following day. Load of RAF Regt gunners (with guns and ammo) arrive from somewhere to be 'our' defence force, spend late afternoon and evening on range. In the meantime a load of Pumas have gone to NI.
May 3: More of sqn arrive, I'm to try to teach fighter affil v Hunters for new guys PM. Man arrives and dumps box of new gen NVGs on ops desk and leaves (anyone know how these work?). RN Capt arrives to brief us on Shipboard procedures, but immediately leaves again. Phone rings - STC (Strike Command) here - AL1, all change, Navy don't want you, go back to NI. Cancel fighter affil, rock apes disappear, stores want all their kit back (what kit? - show us signatures etc).
May 4: Hang on, Navy might want you. No, go back to NI. Man arrives to collect box of NVGs (never did discover where they came from).
May 5: Fly back to NI, resume tasking. Lot of very sheepish faces in OM after 'leaving party'.
So that was 72's part in the FI conflict!
