In '67 we on the Wessex were able to relieve the boredom with an exercise know as "Laylow". There was a barbed wire fence to the north of the airfield, known as the "Scrubber Line". (Named I believe for the Army officer whose idea it was). The plot was that on a night IS sortie the aircraft would fly along the line, firing the GPMG, which at night, with one-in-four tracer (IIRC) was quite spectacular. The line of fire was illuminated by the searchlights, so in theory no-one would be shot, but it was a nice little show of strength.