The Worst/Best RAF Station
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Best has to be that diamond now called the Defence Chaplaincy Centre - Amport House. Olde Worlde piece of paradise in Hants. Not in the God Squad, but I believe in Santa.
Worst has to be the Clown School known as RAF College Cranwell. Krusty would be so proud!
[ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: Ralf Wiggum ]
Worst has to be the Clown School known as RAF College Cranwell. Krusty would be so proud!
[ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: Ralf Wiggum ]
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: UK
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Best station - Gutersloh by a mile. Managed 2 tours there. Great social life, loads of horny teachers gagging for it and outstanding beer. Possibly the location of the best RAF Officers' Mess ever (built by the Krauts of course). What a dump it is now the brown jobs have got their hands on it.
Worst station - Brawdy by a mile - the fisheads knew what they were doing when they legged it from that *@&%hole.
Worst station - Brawdy by a mile - the fisheads knew what they were doing when they legged it from that *@&%hole.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Witney UK
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Best- How about Tengah in the early seventies, Tiger Tops, slant-eyed maidens, food to die for almost given away and sun, sun,sun.
Worst-Kirton-in-Lindsey (ITS in the late 50's) Cold, foggy, poor, shouted at from morning to night, only entertainment was steely S****horpe apart from duty cadet checking the Iraqi course at lights out for the number in a bed.
Worst-Kirton-in-Lindsey (ITS in the late 50's) Cold, foggy, poor, shouted at from morning to night, only entertainment was steely S****horpe apart from duty cadet checking the Iraqi course at lights out for the number in a bed.
But was Tengah's sun, sun, sun conducive to the spritely performance of that underpowered ground-gripper time-expired nuclear bomber turned tanker that you used to fly then, Art F?
Were the Boulton Paul Defiants still at K-i-H when you were there? Notice how the nannying naughty word checker didn't like 'Sc unthorpe'? Well - at least it has some taste! Wonder whether it'll allow 'Stwathorpe'?
Were the Boulton Paul Defiants still at K-i-H when you were there? Notice how the nannying naughty word checker didn't like 'Sc unthorpe'? Well - at least it has some taste! Wonder whether it'll allow 'Stwathorpe'?
Join Date: May 2000
Location: England
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Gutersloh was brilliant. The open air swimming pool was a super asset. Shame the Army filled it with concrete! That very expensive new sports centre - mothballed, I believe. What a waste.
Aldergrove ... well I just deleted what I really think about it. The mortarproofing on the windows was an interesting feature I can live without. If you enjoy confined atmospheres, fine. I don't.
Beags - the Donny girlies with the rubber skirts must have really upset you. Not the first time you've mentioned them. How many times did they turn you down?
I've never worn any rubber clothing (sounds a tad sweaty)! Knew a husband swapper at Lyneham who did though, eh Nat! Jean Poole sends her regards
Aldergrove ... well I just deleted what I really think about it. The mortarproofing on the windows was an interesting feature I can live without. If you enjoy confined atmospheres, fine. I don't.
Beags - the Donny girlies with the rubber skirts must have really upset you. Not the first time you've mentioned them. How many times did they turn you down?
I've never worn any rubber clothing (sounds a tad sweaty)! Knew a husband swapper at Lyneham who did though, eh Nat! Jean Poole sends her regards
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
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Hmm, Tengah during ANZUK days; a substantial number of antipodeans socialising in the bar at lunch-----which extended to well after 6:00pm. Non-antipodean PMC muttered 'soto voce'about shorts not to be worn after 6:00pm. Not all of them dropped their shorts, but those that didn't were too incapacitated by laughter! 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: A small wheel in a large desert
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Have passed through Singapore in the late 80s but was a shadow of its former ANZUK self. Talkng about bases, Hobsonville near Auckland took a lot of beating. Officers' Mess was a large house built near the water's edge with views of sparkling blue water and palm trees and the old flying boat ramp was ideal for launching all manner of boats. Grass airfield used by helos but I understand it is to be sold for executive housing (Plus ca change!).
Worst? Well, both are Welsh - there's Sealand (a dump) and St Athan (a bigger dump). And they speak funny. At least no ac have been based at Sealand in lving memory.
Worst? Well, both are Welsh - there's Sealand (a dump) and St Athan (a bigger dump). And they speak funny. At least no ac have been based at Sealand in lving memory.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Sealand - now there's an idea - how big is the airfield? Sealand is crap itself but good for Chester, Manchester etc.
Valley - sad to say it has gone down hill since Oct!
See ya boyos
Valley - sad to say it has gone down hill since Oct!
See ya boyos
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: A small wheel in a large desert
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Sealand is unlikely to remain an RAF site for much longer. East Camp is part of DARA and South Camp is primarily DCSA (therefore part of the DLO empire!). Plus there's a few pesky problems about disposing the airfield. Perhaps a future SH force base, then? The hunting's not too bad locally and Chester is pleasant. The Arkle in the Grosvenor is a nice restaurant, too. 
Join Date: Oct 1998
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Art Field, I had forgotten about the Iraqis (though we trained who would now be their top air force brass)when I nominated Kirton in Lindsey for worst. For me they were not a bonus entertainment, living in the same barrack block and having to listen to that everlasting wail of arab music from the other floor. Beagle by that time K i L boasted only a station flight of 1 Anson & perhaps a chipmunk.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Desert Crash, Hobsonville is indeed closing, with the Iroquois moving south, and yes it is a beautiful spot for a Mess.Someone with a bag of loot will no doubt convert it back to the large house it was originally. The airfield of course is prime real estate, and will be sold.
RAF Changi was an interesting place after the RAF left. The embryo Singapore Air Force hired QFI's from the RAF, RAAF, and RNZAF for the purpose of IFT on their Marchettis.One Aussie was in his mid-40's and had never had a desk job!I think there was at least one who had flown Hunters in both the RAF and the now defunct Royal Rhodesian Air Force.Some were seconded, and others wore Singapore uniforms.
Well, the story I heard one night was that, during the detachment of Javelins to Entebbe(?)whose purpose was to contain the RRAF should IAN Smith fall foul of the British Govt. (which he did of course, making a unilateral declaration of independence),the pilots of both the RRAF, many of whom were of course ex_RAF, and the Javelins had regular meetings to discuss tactics!
Ian Smith himself was an ex_RAF Spitfire pilot.
[ 17 November 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
RAF Changi was an interesting place after the RAF left. The embryo Singapore Air Force hired QFI's from the RAF, RAAF, and RNZAF for the purpose of IFT on their Marchettis.One Aussie was in his mid-40's and had never had a desk job!I think there was at least one who had flown Hunters in both the RAF and the now defunct Royal Rhodesian Air Force.Some were seconded, and others wore Singapore uniforms.
Well, the story I heard one night was that, during the detachment of Javelins to Entebbe(?)whose purpose was to contain the RRAF should IAN Smith fall foul of the British Govt. (which he did of course, making a unilateral declaration of independence),the pilots of both the RRAF, many of whom were of course ex_RAF, and the Javelins had regular meetings to discuss tactics!
Ian Smith himself was an ex_RAF Spitfire pilot.
[ 17 November 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Beagle. Yes the ten ton Budgie did give one a few anxious moments but the sweet and sour prawns made up for it and I still have the shorts made to measure I picked up then, unfortunately I'm no longer made to the same measure.
Pom Pax. Must have been 56/57 time then, I went on to Canada, Centralia, Penhold, MacDonald after graduating from language school at London, Ontario the day after we arrived.
Pom Pax. Must have been 56/57 time then, I went on to Canada, Centralia, Penhold, MacDonald after graduating from language school at London, Ontario the day after we arrived.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Starring at an Airfield Near you
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No arguments!
Best: Leeming when 7 FTS (1978/9). LOADs of JPs, Bulldogs, Wetdreams, Vulcans and PDs.
Worst: Her Majesty's Open Prison Machrihanish. Would have thought Kinloss and Lossie luxury.
Best: Leeming when 7 FTS (1978/9). LOADs of JPs, Bulldogs, Wetdreams, Vulcans and PDs.
Worst: Her Majesty's Open Prison Machrihanish. Would have thought Kinloss and Lossie luxury.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Best - Bruggen, when we still had a cold war to fight! Gatow was good for a laugh.
Worst - Sleaford Tech. The most depressing sight was seeing winking willy after a weekend away from the bullsh!t.
Worst - Sleaford Tech. The most depressing sight was seeing winking willy after a weekend away from the bullsh!t.
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Best: Chivenor, Heaven in Devon, check the surf on the way home from the last sortie, then into that wetsuit! However when my course finished they shut it!!! Equal: Decimomanu, one year of living downtown Cagliari!
Worst: Of course, V****y, proud to say I only ever stayed there for one weekend, escaped Wales every other!
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Nice to see I'm not the only one to think that Leeming is a hole. Never actually been there ever when it was dry, mud-free, sunny, warm or even mildly pleasant. However, saved from complete disaster by the presence of the Free Northumbrian Air Force (NUAS) and a good bunch of F3 jocks.
Still, you service boys ought to count yourselves lucky - ever been to Kidlington???? At least you have something to do, and armed guards to keep the six-fingered banjo players at bay!!!
Still, you service boys ought to count yourselves lucky - ever been to Kidlington???? At least you have something to do, and armed guards to keep the six-fingered banjo players at bay!!!
I just have to concur that Gutersloh was the best - in the days of the English Electric wonderjet, before the press-up mates moved up the road from Wildenrath and started the inevitable decline into the brown-job disaster that it has become today.
There was a brilliant Officers' Mess with plentiful cheap beer and a lifestyle embracing all the duty-free benefits. Numerous schoolies' parties: Sennelager, Osnabruck, Munster, Mansergh Barracks etc, etc - and I was still a batchelor. Happy days!
In the UK I was fortunate to do a UAS summer camp at Thorney Island just before it closed. I can see why the fun detectors targeted that station. I'm amazed that Coltishall has lasted this long!
There was a brilliant Officers' Mess with plentiful cheap beer and a lifestyle embracing all the duty-free benefits. Numerous schoolies' parties: Sennelager, Osnabruck, Munster, Mansergh Barracks etc, etc - and I was still a batchelor. Happy days!
In the UK I was fortunate to do a UAS summer camp at Thorney Island just before it closed. I can see why the fun detectors targeted that station. I'm amazed that Coltishall has lasted this long!
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Best: Bruggen in the early 70s. Brilliant fast jet, plentiful duty-free (booze, cars, hi-fi), schoolies on base and nurses just down the road at Rheindahlen.
Second best: Chivenor in the early 70s. Brilliant fast-ish jet, drinking to survive the course, but a dirth of crumpet.
Worst: DOAE, West Byfleet by a country mile. OK, so it wasn't an RAF station, but it was the pits of a place for a ground tour. No mess, no mates, just scientists.
Not convinced by Warthog 11's love of Nellis on a Friday night. It was good enough, but who wanted to stick around the O Club with Las Vegas on your doorstep?
Second best: Chivenor in the early 70s. Brilliant fast-ish jet, drinking to survive the course, but a dirth of crumpet.
Worst: DOAE, West Byfleet by a country mile. OK, so it wasn't an RAF station, but it was the pits of a place for a ground tour. No mess, no mates, just scientists.
Not convinced by Warthog 11's love of Nellis on a Friday night. It was good enough, but who wanted to stick around the O Club with Las Vegas on your doorstep?
Cunning Artificer
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The Best and Worst are long gone - Changi and Salalah in that order.
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Through difficulties to the cinema
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Through difficulties to the cinema