Anyone else remember "The Swamp" at APC?
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Is that Mr James Spankie with the intials GT?
If so, civvie, manager of B&Q last I heard, but that was several years ago and I am sure is history already. Left under quite sad, life changing circumstance that wiped the smile from his face; something that in his heyday would have been unthinkable.
Talking about wiping the face off; Ringo's aircrew watch in the liquidiser!
.....and who owned the one eyed Cobra, for I know Joyce (and not Pete) saw it on more than one occasion? Or Gimlets wallet going into hibernation only to reappear after several months and a police investigation.
Any Toga party survivors here, the one with the polystyrene (chips) oceon (or should that be swamp) inside the swamp to a depth of about 12".
Tasking for 7 hours 2 up, drinking a 2 gallon igloo dry between the pair and not going for a single p155.
Finally the bed under the aircon, the noisiest bliss known to mankind.
If so, civvie, manager of B&Q last I heard, but that was several years ago and I am sure is history already. Left under quite sad, life changing circumstance that wiped the smile from his face; something that in his heyday would have been unthinkable.
Talking about wiping the face off; Ringo's aircrew watch in the liquidiser!
.....and who owned the one eyed Cobra, for I know Joyce (and not Pete) saw it on more than one occasion? Or Gimlets wallet going into hibernation only to reappear after several months and a police investigation.
Any Toga party survivors here, the one with the polystyrene (chips) oceon (or should that be swamp) inside the swamp to a depth of about 12".
Tasking for 7 hours 2 up, drinking a 2 gallon igloo dry between the pair and not going for a single p155.
Finally the bed under the aircon, the noisiest bliss known to mankind.
Night flying to be avaoided at all costs
Second time I went, we had a callout at dusk to find a severely dehydrated brown job. By the time we got there it was, as Baldrick might observe, 'as black as a very black, black thing in a black sack on a very dark night'. Portly Taffy pilot from Bridgend- name escapes me was the skipper. Wouldn't want to do it for fun!
Anyone remember 'tea parties' in the mess?
CG
Anyone remember 'tea parties' in the mess?
CG
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"Is that Mr James Spankie with the intials GT?"
That's him, surely, there could be only one!!!!
As for Gimlet, a first drunken night in Rauls, then a fortnight on AB's and orange juice!!!
Mr C (Garth, as FS at the time!!) waking to find that we'd left the door open of the Trannie cage (left to us by the QM of the RIC) after a B's Ball, then processing his photos when he got home to find us with our hands and faces in said cage, and none of us could remember!!!!!
Still, and sadly, a time lost to the ravages of the past ten years. A time when you were allowed to have a bit of fun, and the saying "All work and no play makes Jack a dull lad" was sung by those above.
That's him, surely, there could be only one!!!!
As for Gimlet, a first drunken night in Rauls, then a fortnight on AB's and orange juice!!!
Mr C (Garth, as FS at the time!!) waking to find that we'd left the door open of the Trannie cage (left to us by the QM of the RIC) after a B's Ball, then processing his photos when he got home to find us with our hands and faces in said cage, and none of us could remember!!!!!
Still, and sadly, a time lost to the ravages of the past ten years. A time when you were allowed to have a bit of fun, and the saying "All work and no play makes Jack a dull lad" was sung by those above.
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Lunches on Hunting Key!
What was the recipe for the best Pinacoladas ever? I used to laugh so much, the Swamp would be ankle deep in Pinacoladas, Music on at 2 in the morning, while a couple of the crewmen would be trying to get some 'zeds'! Then someone shouts 'Fire in the hole!', The door blows off, in come the boys from22. The cleaner in the morning, the big Mamma, would just nod her head and mop up around the boys.
Lunches at Journeys end!
AG going out to fight a fire in the jungle and re-filling 'The Rain maker' at a pool in the jungle, only to find out later the pool was a fresh water shrimp farm, and he had just dumped 1 ton of fresh water shrimps on the fire!
Finding out that the beat of helicopter blades on the water did actually attract sharks, and trying with a junior crewman to put a slab of meat on the end of an 80ft strop to try and catch one and drop it in the brigadiers swimming pool.
Driving to Cancun and staying in a flea ridden $10 a night hotel, staying up till morning in Signor Frogs, going back to the flea pit, change into beach wear then walk through reception in the Sheraton, blag good morning to the concierge and walk out the back and spend all day sleeping on the beach, to start all over again at 6pm, never sleeping in the flea pit for five days.
Where is HG Wells with that time machine of his?? PLEASE!!
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Tiger_mate:
Lemme see... I did three tours in the Swamp in '87... One of the Tiger pilots had too much class, (not to mention sense), to go calling people dicks in a public forum when they don't know who's watching... That leaves two others... Funnily enough one was generally known as "Mary" and the other was generally known as "Chrithtine", (yes, that's a lisp on the "s").
Unfortunately I don't recall the specific event you mention but I am quite sure that if I was ordering Mary or Chrithtine to attend Rosie's it was because I was the only one with the balls to tell whichever one of you it was the general consensus of the "troops"... That being that you were probably finally old enough for sex with a partner other than the palm of your hand... and please don't start regaling us with stories of "Doctors, nurses, teachers, CSE Roadshow chicks" because we all know that the percentage of "scores" in the officers mess wasn't even close to the number of blistered palms....
So... Is is Mary of Chrithtine??? PM me... I'd love to know...
Lemme see... I did three tours in the Swamp in '87... One of the Tiger pilots had too much class, (not to mention sense), to go calling people dicks in a public forum when they don't know who's watching... That leaves two others... Funnily enough one was generally known as "Mary" and the other was generally known as "Chrithtine", (yes, that's a lisp on the "s").
Unfortunately I don't recall the specific event you mention but I am quite sure that if I was ordering Mary or Chrithtine to attend Rosie's it was because I was the only one with the balls to tell whichever one of you it was the general consensus of the "troops"... That being that you were probably finally old enough for sex with a partner other than the palm of your hand... and please don't start regaling us with stories of "Doctors, nurses, teachers, CSE Roadshow chicks" because we all know that the percentage of "scores" in the officers mess wasn't even close to the number of blistered palms....
So... Is is Mary of Chrithtine??? PM me... I'd love to know...
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God bless the Puma crews for the weekly Friday night ride out to San Pedro and back on Sunday afternoon.
Being a Butcher Radar boy we made full use of this excellent service!!
Being a Butcher Radar boy we made full use of this excellent service!!
Wasn't San Ped redesignated the A/C Rollover Pan in the early 80s?
One of the crewmen (Iwasn't there) said it was like the dunker going in to get the bits and pieces afterward. Except it was dry of course. And not in Portsmouth...
CG
One of the crewmen (Iwasn't there) said it was like the dunker going in to get the bits and pieces afterward. Except it was dry of course. And not in Portsmouth...
CG
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And thankfully not at the top of a 60 foot tower...... 
San Pedro, the duty lunch was nice. Not so sure about the time we were over-run with land crabs in the duty room.
San Pedro, the duty lunch was nice. Not so sure about the time we were over-run with land crabs in the duty room.
Remember it well.....my leaving do in the Mess which then ended up in the Swamp...Jabba naked in the bar mixing the pina coladas, Bratty forgetting to put the top on the mixer and covering everyone within 10ft with the contents of the jug. Raoul's and the daughter of the owner of the bar on the Hummingbird Highway doing a lesbian show for the boys with one of the employees. Staying 10 up in the Mayan Princess in San Pedro, skinny dipping with the Air Commander's daughter and some other very fit young doctors...them's were the days. These reminisences have just cheered me up no end...life in the stink pit (Asskrakistan) is the pits right now.
All of us that have left the air force and wish we were there to help and support all of your effort in these times,hope that you can still have a laugh and get home safely.
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Being a driver, I was only allowed in the swamp with an invitation. Not being there every day probably saved me from alcoholism. Fantastic memories, made better by fantastic people. Gary Seaweed giving the CSM absolute rocks for daring to enter the 'new' swamp, Pigpens face when we forced landed in the jungle, my face when the group captain refused to pick us up post-incident (barsteward). A trip to Columbia, via Honduras, Nicaragua (at height of war!!) and Costa Rica. My R+R flight diverted to El Salvador, with subsequent detention for 3 hours by the secret police (never did report that). A total of nine months spent in paradise, 80% boring and uncomfortable, 20% total class. Do they use 151 in the Afgan Pina Coladas??
Then there was "Funkletrumpet" who turned on the fan to "blow" the f troops smoke grenade out of the Swamp, problem was it was a "goes-in"!! Red - Red - Pink!
JD's 3-ship, "smoke-on GO", the tape holding them to the step melted!!
Alfie Wells "swimming pool" (the reserve water tank), post-swim he lay on my bed. Very wet, Very smelly foul orange/green scum!
"Charlie" Farley "moonbathing", sunbed, shorts, shades etc etc.
Remember "the spermbank"?!
Belize, what a craphole!
lsh
JD's 3-ship, "smoke-on GO", the tape holding them to the step melted!!
Alfie Wells "swimming pool" (the reserve water tank), post-swim he lay on my bed. Very wet, Very smelly foul orange/green scum!
"Charlie" Farley "moonbathing", sunbed, shorts, shades etc etc.
Remember "the spermbank"?!
Belize, what a craphole!
lsh
Belize Radio: "The sea is chop to choppy", "Mrs Smith of San Ignacio, come home, your son is dead".
Air to ground GPMG firing at old cars on the range.
Airfield attacks, low flying up the river.
STIMS
Gateway House
RSM,s
Maybe I do miss some of it after all!?
lsh
Air to ground GPMG firing at old cars on the range.
Airfield attacks, low flying up the river.
STIMS
Gateway House
RSM,s
Maybe I do miss some of it after all!?
lsh
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Appleton's 151, rocket fuel for $10 Belize a bottle. So smooth on they way down, awful the next morning!
I remember at certain Crewman Ldr, DS, at Odious who had a bottle in his drinks cabinet for special occaisions, and came back one evening to find that his wife had used it in coffees for the girls after a night out!!
I remember at certain Crewman Ldr, DS, at Odious who had a bottle in his drinks cabinet for special occaisions, and came back one evening to find that his wife had used it in coffees for the girls after a night out!!
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DS made us swig it neat at the post sqn lunch cricket match!!
Was the sea anything other than light chop to choppy??
Ish, if I was paying for a holiday then I would have felt ripped off, but it was a detachment for gods sake!! Cyprus, HK, Las Vegas all have a million tales to tell here, but Belize was just another planet compared to those places.
Swinging the lantern again..... The Gloucestershires were the resident pongos in country, they decided to hold an open day at airport camp. The SNCOs did a Morris Dancing demonstration for the locals. The look on the reggae devotees faces will stay with me forever, bewilderment as these grown men danced in the FULL kit. I was in tears as they all walked away and mobbed the jumble sale stall instead. Classic.
Was the sea anything other than light chop to choppy??
Ish, if I was paying for a holiday then I would have felt ripped off, but it was a detachment for gods sake!! Cyprus, HK, Las Vegas all have a million tales to tell here, but Belize was just another planet compared to those places.
Swinging the lantern again..... The Gloucestershires were the resident pongos in country, they decided to hold an open day at airport camp. The SNCOs did a Morris Dancing demonstration for the locals. The look on the reggae devotees faces will stay with me forever, bewilderment as these grown men danced in the FULL kit. I was in tears as they all walked away and mobbed the jumble sale stall instead. Classic.
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Avoid imitations
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Anyone else remember the two crewmen (GMcA and PT) getting caught in the act of "liberating" the bell from the Sgts Mess back to blighty?
I knew some thing was up as soon as PT staggered (for more than one reason) into the "trooping centre" (cinema) with something very heavy in his beach bag; the strap was nearly cutting his shoulder off. As they sat down next to me it was more than a small giveaway when the bag went "DOI-OI-OING!" as it hit the floor.... I quickly moved along half a row!
Enter RSM and OC Det (JS) who beckoned said miscreant crewmen. Exit McA and PT, only to return minus the bag and contents.... lucky they weren't locked up.
One night a "well worn" Harrier pilot tried to shoot a big ferocious landcrab which was living under the water cooler outside the pilot's rooms. A big claw used to appear and have a go at unsuspecting flip-flop clad feet... "Bona mate" took aim with his spear fishing gun, missed completely, only to see the spear bounce off the concrete and go straight through the plywood wall into the latrine block. Another pilot was showering when he had a very miss with the spear, which clattered in alongside him.
lsh, I think I was there too when "Noeffinit" did his trick with the red smoke grenade. First time I'd seen red flying suits apart from the Red Arrows.
I knew some thing was up as soon as PT staggered (for more than one reason) into the "trooping centre" (cinema) with something very heavy in his beach bag; the strap was nearly cutting his shoulder off. As they sat down next to me it was more than a small giveaway when the bag went "DOI-OI-OING!" as it hit the floor.... I quickly moved along half a row!
Enter RSM and OC Det (JS) who beckoned said miscreant crewmen. Exit McA and PT, only to return minus the bag and contents.... lucky they weren't locked up.
One night a "well worn" Harrier pilot tried to shoot a big ferocious landcrab which was living under the water cooler outside the pilot's rooms. A big claw used to appear and have a go at unsuspecting flip-flop clad feet... "Bona mate" took aim with his spear fishing gun, missed completely, only to see the spear bounce off the concrete and go straight through the plywood wall into the latrine block. Another pilot was showering when he had a very miss with the spear, which clattered in alongside him.
lsh, I think I was there too when "Noeffinit" did his trick with the red smoke grenade. First time I'd seen red flying suits apart from the Red Arrows.
No unfortunately we're dry. If we weren't I'd probably spend the day wrecked. Even the air here is poisonous!
Back to the thread; Best flight was with Ges C. down to Rideau the onto a Caye for lunch and a stim, watching the scandanavian scientists on the next caye sunbathing naked....cool.
Learning to Dive and sail at Journey's End.
Top Fun. Flying Island Air to San Pedro was the scariest thing I have ever done
. Taking Batties Bus to Cancun was the second scariest. Water-skiing by TJI Fridays not knowing the Croc in the Lake was a REAL LIVE ONE! Bungy jumping over the lake..the next scariest. Being flown from San Ped to APC by the Air Commander Martin E was an event I do not want to repeat
.
Cane Juice hangovers....my god they lasted for days! Living in the Jungle for 10 days with a bunch of Hereford Hooligans was a real honour. Being taught to blow sh1t up and carrying out river crossings was a giggle. Land Crabs in the Mess, they were big bastards! Having a genuine Fer-de-Lance in the Bar one night...quickest I ever saw the Permanent Staff Pongoes move!
Back to the thread; Best flight was with Ges C. down to Rideau the onto a Caye for lunch and a stim, watching the scandanavian scientists on the next caye sunbathing naked....cool.
Learning to Dive and sail at Journey's End.
Top Fun. Flying Island Air to San Pedro was the scariest thing I have ever done. Taking Batties Bus to Cancun was the second scariest. Water-skiing by TJI Fridays not knowing the Croc in the Lake was a REAL LIVE ONE! Bungy jumping over the lake..the next scariest. Being flown from San Ped to APC by the Air Commander Martin E was an event I do not want to repeat.Cane Juice hangovers....my god they lasted for days! Living in the Jungle for 10 days with a bunch of Hereford Hooligans was a real honour. Being taught to blow sh1t up and carrying out river crossings was a giggle. Land Crabs in the Mess, they were big bastards! Having a genuine Fer-de-Lance in the Bar one night...quickest I ever saw the Permanent Staff Pongoes move!