34 Years Ago Today
Fat Albert
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SFFP
Some great memories and as I said in my original post some amazing experiences. Flying and me unforunately don't get on too well so GE wasn't even an option.
Our paths must have crossed at Lyneham, I spent 15 years there and then time at the Project Team. Now pushing paper round a desk at the super transport hub in Ofordshire.
Like you I think I've seen some of the best and worst of times over Alberts life. 63 Ks at Lyneham in 1989, down to single figures now. Gotta move on though, A400M is coming (in my time??).
Some great memories and as I said in my original post some amazing experiences. Flying and me unforunately don't get on too well so GE wasn't even an option.
Our paths must have crossed at Lyneham, I spent 15 years there and then time at the Project Team. Now pushing paper round a desk at the super transport hub in Ofordshire.
Like you I think I've seen some of the best and worst of times over Alberts life. 63 Ks at Lyneham in 1989, down to single figures now. Gotta move on though, A400M is coming (in my time??).
When I retired I handed over my watch to the young lady in stores. She looked at it and asked if I had taken the battery out as it was not going. I said that it was a wind up watch. The look on her face was priceless especially as she could not find it on the computer ! Same confusion over much of my kit. I too had a great time going from B/E to Spec Aircrew S/L in around 39 yrs. And yes my log book is full of places where pins would be on the world map.
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A great Time
I spent 26 years enjoying the challenge of RAF life, Cyprus, Germany, Halton (instructing) and a tour as a VC10 GE etc.
Then one rainy night on LYN 'B Line' I was in charge of engineering. I took the handover at 1900hrs, checked the tasking for the next 18 hours and noticed that an A/C tasked for a 0430 take-off had no chance of meeting it'd slot due to a major unserviceability. I informed Eng Ops, they told me they would leave it as tasked in case 'it came up'
. I told them that even if I threw every one of the 55 engineers at it it would still not 'come up! At midnight they asked for an update, I repeated what I had told them. Every half hour they asked for an update, my story did not change.
At 0230 the crew came to pick up the A/C and where not too pleased to find out it was not and would not be ready until the following afternoon.
The next morning the SEngO came in after an O Group briefing with Eng Ops and asked me what had occurred, I told HER all the facts and then she proceeded to rollock me and told me that in future I must lie to Eng Ops and tell them we will try to fix an un-fixable problem otherwise they will think that we are not trying
!!!!!
The next time on days I PVR'd. I still had a great time in the RAF but it was time to go.
Then one rainy night on LYN 'B Line' I was in charge of engineering. I took the handover at 1900hrs, checked the tasking for the next 18 hours and noticed that an A/C tasked for a 0430 take-off had no chance of meeting it'd slot due to a major unserviceability. I informed Eng Ops, they told me they would leave it as tasked in case 'it came up'
. I told them that even if I threw every one of the 55 engineers at it it would still not 'come up! At midnight they asked for an update, I repeated what I had told them. Every half hour they asked for an update, my story did not change.At 0230 the crew came to pick up the A/C and where not too pleased to find out it was not and would not be ready until the following afternoon.
The next morning the SEngO came in after an O Group briefing with Eng Ops and asked me what had occurred, I told HER all the facts and then she proceeded to rollock me and told me that in future I must lie to Eng Ops and tell them we will try to fix an un-fixable problem otherwise they will think that we are not trying
!!!!!The next time on days I PVR'd. I still had a great time in the RAF but it was time to go.
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watches
left at 38/16 1983, it was time to go after an enjoyable career
I forgot to hand in the watch, an easy mistake to make
The watch still works for private flying , if I remember to wind it
I forgot to hand in the watch, an easy mistake to make
The watch still works for private flying , if I remember to wind it
I am pretty much a contemporary of your's C 130 Techie, I arrived at Swinderby on 31st August 1977, Silver Jubilee and all. I left in another great year, and the lat one to see a phenominal flypast, 1990, 50th Anniversary of B.O.B.
As for Mr pr00ne's figures, I sadly have to agree. But all things are relevant I suppose. The R.A.F. then and when left, was huge compared to today, with so many things to see and do! But just 10 years before that, and its a fair bit bigger still, just 7 years before that and the number of active Fighter squadrons still to receive the benefit of the Sandys review is mind boggling and so on. I often wonder what someone joining up now will be reflecting on and saying when they reach a similar stage in life.
FB
As for Mr pr00ne's figures, I sadly have to agree. But all things are relevant I suppose. The R.A.F. then and when left, was huge compared to today, with so many things to see and do! But just 10 years before that, and its a fair bit bigger still, just 7 years before that and the number of active Fighter squadrons still to receive the benefit of the Sandys review is mind boggling and so on. I often wonder what someone joining up now will be reflecting on and saying when they reach a similar stage in life.
FB
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C130 Techie
I beat you to swinderby I got there Nov 77 and left just before christmas.
Smalley
Mind you you trounced me on the career stats, I peaked at Cpl and left in 2001 (still a Cpl)
I have some fabulous memories of my time in, with plenty of highs and lows but none of which could have been done in civvie street.
One of our JTs at Marham used to keep a daily diary logging all he had done each day including aircraft jobs numbers etc. I laughed at the time but now I wish I had done the same, I could have written a book by now.
I beat you to swinderby I got there Nov 77 and left just before christmas.
Smalley
Mind you you trounced me on the career stats, I peaked at Cpl and left in 2001 (still a Cpl)
I have some fabulous memories of my time in, with plenty of highs and lows but none of which could have been done in civvie street.
One of our JTs at Marham used to keep a daily diary logging all he had done each day including aircraft jobs numbers etc. I laughed at the time but now I wish I had done the same, I could have written a book by now.
Fat Albert
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Oi Bill2b it's a year or two since I was last called a smalley
Bit of a down to earth moment this last couple of days with the untimely death of a friend and contemporary (still serving). Puts things into perspective a little. Life is great fun but you only get the one chance.
Engtechp
Did a few shift handovers with HER. (Ex G Shift B Line) I suspect that she had a significant negative impact on numerous careers other than her own which clearly went places
Bit of a down to earth moment this last couple of days with the untimely death of a friend and contemporary (still serving). Puts things into perspective a little. Life is great fun but you only get the one chance.
Engtechp
Did a few shift handovers with HER. (Ex G Shift B Line) I suspect that she had a significant negative impact on numerous careers other than her own which clearly went places
Last edited by C130 Techie; 14th Jan 2012 at 08:03.
Courtney Mil,
No offence taken, I was merely picking out the phrase about budgets and money which seemed to imply that the RAF of 1978 was some financial wonderland with unlimited funds and no worries, which of course was FAR from the case. Nor, I accept, was it what C130 Techie was saying.
I have no wish to either deny or denigrate C130 Techie his sentimental memories, and he is right to point out in his reply that his post was meant to be simplistic and light in tone. No offence to C130 Techie intended.
Seldomfitforpurpose,
You can have a controversial opinion, you can have a controversial point of view, you cannot have controversial facts, and all that I posted consisted of the facts of the RAF in 1978. Just because you confess that you were were ignorant of them at the time does not render them any less factual.
Actually you too are being rather selectively sentimental. “More MT vehicles than you could shake a stick at”. Really? I recall various friends of mine at the time of the Royal Review of the RAF the previous year bemoaning the fact that if they didn’t use their own vehicles for daily routine purposes their various squadrons and units would have ground to a halt...
When I joined their were various folk at South Cerney who were bemoaning the mickey mouse Air Force that they were left with and that was before the cuts of 1968...
No offence taken, I was merely picking out the phrase about budgets and money which seemed to imply that the RAF of 1978 was some financial wonderland with unlimited funds and no worries, which of course was FAR from the case. Nor, I accept, was it what C130 Techie was saying.
I have no wish to either deny or denigrate C130 Techie his sentimental memories, and he is right to point out in his reply that his post was meant to be simplistic and light in tone. No offence to C130 Techie intended.
Seldomfitforpurpose,
You can have a controversial opinion, you can have a controversial point of view, you cannot have controversial facts, and all that I posted consisted of the facts of the RAF in 1978. Just because you confess that you were were ignorant of them at the time does not render them any less factual.
Actually you too are being rather selectively sentimental. “More MT vehicles than you could shake a stick at”. Really? I recall various friends of mine at the time of the Royal Review of the RAF the previous year bemoaning the fact that if they didn’t use their own vehicles for daily routine purposes their various squadrons and units would have ground to a halt...
When I joined their were various folk at South Cerney who were bemoaning the mickey mouse Air Force that they were left with and that was before the cuts of 1968...
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I arrived at Bzn in Jan of 1975 and was posted to 10 Line and had a fantastic 2 and a bit years there. Whilst my memory is slightly clouded I clearly remember a selection of MT vehicles outside the line that included mini vans, land rovers, 1 "Toners" and a couple of cherry pickers hence going anywhere on station was courtesy of HMG.
I shared a lift to work, shared a lift home but used MT for all other needs.
You also say,
"Really? I recall various friends of mine at the time of the Royal Review of the RAF the previous year bemoaning the fact that if they didn't’t use their own vehicles for daily routine purposes their various squadrons and units would have ground to a halt...
There is absolutely no substitute for personal experience
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C130 Techie,
Nice one. The thing that I realised, only after I had been out for a while was that my time in was a means to an end and not the end itself. I needed time and distance to realise that. When you're caught up in a military career, you just don't think about anything else because of the tempo and insularity of it all. It doesn't really matter about the detail, the politics or the funding at the time.. it was the people I knew who made it for me what it ultimately was - a very worthwhile, pleasant and enjoyable interlude. And I'm glad you also think of yours as the same and are able to leave with your sanity and some great memories.
Nice one. The thing that I realised, only after I had been out for a while was that my time in was a means to an end and not the end itself. I needed time and distance to realise that. When you're caught up in a military career, you just don't think about anything else because of the tempo and insularity of it all. It doesn't really matter about the detail, the politics or the funding at the time.. it was the people I knew who made it for me what it ultimately was - a very worthwhile, pleasant and enjoyable interlude. And I'm glad you also think of yours as the same and are able to leave with your sanity and some great memories.
C130Techie
Congratulations on your service. Same year as myself, but you lasted 18 years longer!
That so many of us come on here, just to be in touch with the Service tells you all you need to know - Its in your blood.
Enjoy.
Congratulations on your service. Same year as myself, but you lasted 18 years longer!
That so many of us come on here, just to be in touch with the Service tells you all you need to know - Its in your blood.
Enjoy.
