Gutersloh, Mid 70s
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Selects geek mode:
? was often used during WWII on sqns with more than 26 aircraft
hence
You will never see it used in the RAF ever again
geek mode off, I'll get my coat. An anorak of course.
? was often used during WWII on sqns with more than 26 aircraft
hence
You will never see it used in the RAF ever again
geek mode off, I'll get my coat. An anorak of course.
Gentleman Aviator
Al Boulden, Mike Barter and John Kennedy playing with... something of the late George McCracken's....!
.... never quite the same on a wooden bar top as it was on the marble bartop at Salalah (I sense a Boulden/McCracken connection) where the platypussies (Platypi?) could achieve warp factor lots. Until they got to the U-turn ....
Great piccies Heimdall - ISTR we used lots of Eric's in Zeitung .....
Sorry Tiger_Mate, I tried to find the pan (or watershed, or what ever it's called these days) in your pic today, but it was covered in green trucks. It's always depressing to drive around a disused airfield, although the odd cab does launch it's nowhere as frenetic as it once was. Your picture is missing two things though, a massive green eyesore of a hangar (ex-18 Sqn) and a very long and expensive fence....
Love the pics of frightnings scalping the spotters at the Ems end of the runway, health and safety would have a field day with that today.
Love the pics of frightnings scalping the spotters at the Ems end of the runway, health and safety would have a field day with that today.
Would that ex-18 Sqn hangar be a great big tent thing? I remember one being located at the other end of the airfield not far from Battle Flight - I think it was called a 'Frankenstein Hangar'.
In the background of Tiger Mate's photo there appear to be a line of rail tankers. Where they are parked was, according to our civvy storeman who operated the BFI, a burial ground for Luftwaffe aircraft which were captured when the allies took control of the airfield. Our tame civvy had been an aircraft mechanic at Gutersloh during the war. His claim about the burial ground seemed to have some substance because when the REs started to excavate the ground to install a second rail spur and pipeline manifold, they started digging up quite a bit of what appeared to be aircraft panels, pipework and other metallic bits. On some of the panels, the part number stencilling and grey paint was still visible and our civvy storeman identified markings which showed they were made by Messerschmidt and Junkers. Unfortunately, all the metal that was dug up went to the scrap yard - aviation archeology didn't feature in our lives. I have often wondered what would have been revealed if the REs had dug a bit deeper as Werner claimed whole aircraft had been bulldozed into the burial site.
In the background of Tiger Mate's photo there appear to be a line of rail tankers. Where they are parked was, according to our civvy storeman who operated the BFI, a burial ground for Luftwaffe aircraft which were captured when the allies took control of the airfield. Our tame civvy had been an aircraft mechanic at Gutersloh during the war. His claim about the burial ground seemed to have some substance because when the REs started to excavate the ground to install a second rail spur and pipeline manifold, they started digging up quite a bit of what appeared to be aircraft panels, pipework and other metallic bits. On some of the panels, the part number stencilling and grey paint was still visible and our civvy storeman identified markings which showed they were made by Messerschmidt and Junkers. Unfortunately, all the metal that was dug up went to the scrap yard - aviation archeology didn't feature in our lives. I have often wondered what would have been revealed if the REs had dug a bit deeper as Werner claimed whole aircraft had been bulldozed into the burial site.
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There was a 'tent hangar' at that end of the airfield used by the Gliding Club. The 18 sqn hangar was very much bricks and mortar and enormous to boot. When they first opened it there was talk of an MOD sponsored Abba concert being held in there, which did not happen (it was about 1982). These days the proposal would have died a death from the onset.
The hangar also blocked a huge area of radar cover that was not predicted and if my memory serves me, the AR1 or was it 15 had to be resited.
Mr Bertalsmann operated his Rockwell Turbo Commander D-IBAG from Gut, after all, he owned much of the Stadt, and one of the VASF Cpls who flew in it hours building, eventually left the RAF to become one of the full time pilots.
In those days, I worked in Flt Planning and did good deals with incoming UK based crews bringing in Walkers Crisps & Easy Cook Rice which were bartered for transport to the NAAFI in town, and I have a pic somewhere of a 2 seat F5 (RNLAF) having its centre line pod filled with Gordons Gin.
Winter was spent with weekends at the Willingen ski slopes which being situated right next door to Warstein(er) meant a top time was had by all. Summer saw many a singlie routing to Amsterdam, but I cannot recall what the attraction was for I am sure the Banana Bar had not been invented. One Bank Holiday weekend, a mate and I departed Gut to collect passport stamps and did 5 countries in 24 hours simple cause we could, and being stopped in Luxembourg for speeding, he got a bollicking from the Politzei because he was sat in the left seat (RH drive car) and the copper did not have a braincell to his name. I have been through several albums, but the common thread seems to be that it was a 'socialable' tour!
The hangar also blocked a huge area of radar cover that was not predicted and if my memory serves me, the AR1 or was it 15 had to be resited.
Mr Bertalsmann operated his Rockwell Turbo Commander D-IBAG from Gut, after all, he owned much of the Stadt, and one of the VASF Cpls who flew in it hours building, eventually left the RAF to become one of the full time pilots.
In those days, I worked in Flt Planning and did good deals with incoming UK based crews bringing in Walkers Crisps & Easy Cook Rice which were bartered for transport to the NAAFI in town, and I have a pic somewhere of a 2 seat F5 (RNLAF) having its centre line pod filled with Gordons Gin.
Winter was spent with weekends at the Willingen ski slopes which being situated right next door to Warstein(er) meant a top time was had by all. Summer saw many a singlie routing to Amsterdam, but I cannot recall what the attraction was for I am sure the Banana Bar had not been invented. One Bank Holiday weekend, a mate and I departed Gut to collect passport stamps and did 5 countries in 24 hours simple cause we could, and being stopped in Luxembourg for speeding, he got a bollicking from the Politzei because he was sat in the left seat (RH drive car) and the copper did not have a braincell to his name. I have been through several albums, but the common thread seems to be that it was a 'socialable' tour!
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Oh yes, the Top Secret "Hotel Foxtrot" exercise names.... which everyone for miles around knew actually stood for "Harrier Force".
Ours were were "Spring, Summer, Autumn and Frozen Tiger". Saw some lovely farmyards and a few 7 by 5 tents with no poles, pegs or guy ropes.
And no fridge..... unlike the Harrier "home from home", tented city sites.
Ours were were "Spring, Summer, Autumn and Frozen Tiger". Saw some lovely farmyards and a few 7 by 5 tents with no poles, pegs or guy ropes.
And no fridge..... unlike the Harrier "home from home", tented city sites.
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Blomberg Glding Site and its porcelain. It is amazing how the human body can be trained to become serviceable as the rotor blades stop. There is an RAFG PR Photo around somewhere showing troops boarding a Chinook with a stationary Puma parked beyond it. Location = Blomberg and now you know why!!
Puma field sites: Bridge or PLJs It didnt take long to learn.
...and a hip flask belonging to JE that helped one get to sleep in "minus you dont want to go there"
Happy Days
Puma field sites: Bridge or PLJs It didnt take long to learn.
...and a hip flask belonging to JE that helped one get to sleep in "minus you dont want to go there"
Happy Days
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4mastack - I think the vehicles you refer to are the trucks and trailers, gennies and sundry bits of wheeled kit in the deployment yard. Our battle wagon lived there unless we were Hill Foiling, Hazel Fluting or Hard Frosting.
And no fridge..... unlike the Harrier "home from home", tented city sites.
Great time, esp on 4 Site FRT
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That's the fella - Erich Westersoetebier!! In the 1970s he appeared to be the unofficial 19 Sqn photographer and when they knew he was on the Bailly Bridge over the Emms they used to 'pose' the Lightnings so he could get the right shot. He even flew in their T bird a couple of times, so he was in a very fortunate position. I think he still lives in the same farm - I'm only surprised he's never made any money out of his massive photo collection.
maybe of interest for some of you: there is a "new" website about RAF Gutersloh with a lot of photos (also many from erich): http://www.sg-etuo.de ...the site is in german only but maybe the google translation link will help you. we are always looking for input for our site (photos or stories).
Beady Eye
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Nice video link in that german site thanks
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tOXke5CvxzU
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NCRCJt...eature=related
BD
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tOXke5CvxzU
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NCRCJt...eature=related
BD
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Glad to see so many happy memories of Gutersloh over the years, but the real good time was 1958 - 1961 with 14, 20, 26 and 79 Squadrons ( we called it 124 Wing ). A small group returned for a looksee in Spring 06 and were royally entertained by the pongoes.
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Will that be the Farmer who was also a Journalist & Professional Photographer who lived at the 90` RH bend on the Blankenhagen Road. (Where road and rail split) The one that would have made James Bond look like an amateur when it came to gathering intelligence, for he had an entire room with literally thousands upon thousands of slides of every aircraft to have been at Gutersloh since WWII. I am crap at names but he could have been 'Eric', either way, he proved that 'friendly interrogation' works every time.
That's the fella - Erich Westersoetebier!! In the 1970s he appeared to be the unofficial 19 Sqn photographer and when they knew he was on the Bailly Bridge over the Emms they used to 'pose' the Lightnings so he could get the right shot. He even flew in their T bird a couple of times, so he was in a very fortunate position. I think he still lives in the same farm - I'm only surprised he's never made any money out of his massive photo collection.
If anybody here has something to contribute (photos, infos or anything else about RAF Gütersloh) feel free to contact us via the contact form on www.sg-etuo.de.
Ours were were "Spring, Summer, Autumn and Frozen Tiger". Saw some lovely farmyards and a few 7 by 5 tents with no poles, pegs or guy ropes.
(I was issued with a 7 by 9).
Maybe yours "shrunk in the wash"?!
lsh
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Well it was mine so I washed it as much as I wanted.
And if you've only got one guyrope and three pegs it's difficult to know how big the tent was supposed to be....
(At least I was never forced to share a tent with Eric the farting nav...
)
And if you've only got one guyrope and three pegs it's difficult to know how big the tent was supposed to be....
(At least I was never forced to share a tent with Eric the farting nav...
)
Well it was mine so I washed it as much as I wanted.
And if you've only got one guyrope and three pegs it's difficult to know how big the tent was supposed to be....
(At least I was never forced to share a tent with Eric the farting nav... )
And if you've only got one guyrope and three pegs it's difficult to know how big the tent was supposed to be....
(At least I was never forced to share a tent with Eric the farting nav... )
"I dont know what you are wearing Steve, but it needs ironing"
when he was standing stark boll*ck naked in our barn.
God! What a sight!
lsh
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Anyone remember Jim Davidsons Concert in 18 Sqn's hangar...I seem to remember 3 Sqn's Boss taking him up for a Jolly the next day too.
Chinooks doing wheelies down the peri track and fodding us on the tie down pan....
Chinooks doing wheelies down the peri track and fodding us on the tie down pan....
