What were you doing?
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What were you doing?
10 years ago tonight I was sitting in Luton radar approach when the news broke that Desert Storm was under way, and on the telly the CNN images were coming in.
The controller I was with expanded our radar range to 60 odd miles and we could see primary returns from around the military airfields as we watched aircraft going to war, it was a very sobering night shift realising that some of the blips might not be returning, and realising 'chuffin ell, this is for real!'.
Thinking about it even now still gives that 'hairs standing on end' feeling we had watching those blips, and I wonder what some others of you remember of that night?
RIP those that didn't come home.
JS
edited cos I put a rude word in a 24/365 environment
[This message has been edited by jumpseater (edited 17 January 2001).]
The controller I was with expanded our radar range to 60 odd miles and we could see primary returns from around the military airfields as we watched aircraft going to war, it was a very sobering night shift realising that some of the blips might not be returning, and realising 'chuffin ell, this is for real!'.
Thinking about it even now still gives that 'hairs standing on end' feeling we had watching those blips, and I wonder what some others of you remember of that night?
RIP those that didn't come home.
JS
edited cos I put a rude word in a 24/365 environment
[This message has been edited by jumpseater (edited 17 January 2001).]
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Standing around on an cold, wet airfield somewhere in the UK with a platoon of US Marines (grunts - not aviators). It'd been p!ssing down for hours, and they obviously wanted to be in the Gulf with their mates. They were the most miserable bunch I've ever met.
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What a fantastic thread, if all add their moments in history from 10 years ago you could make a book from the comments and send the proceeds to a charity.
Lets not ever forget those that did not return and also those that did, but were changed forever.
Snapshot
Lets not ever forget those that did not return and also those that did, but were changed forever.
Snapshot
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I was in a sandy ops room thinking "5h1t, what do I do now?!"
I've never been so nervous/frightened/excited in my life, and I suspect I never want to be again....it can't be good for you!
Editted for Splleing!
[This message has been edited by Dimmer Switch (edited 17 January 2001).]
I've never been so nervous/frightened/excited in my life, and I suspect I never want to be again....it can't be good for you!
Editted for Splleing!
[This message has been edited by Dimmer Switch (edited 17 January 2001).]
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Had been night flying late and got back in the early morning. Did some 'Q' planning and stacked to the hotel in Riyadh. Just about to go to bed when called in for some spurious reason. When we arrived, were given the real SP. Big replan over the secure phone with the mates from Muharraq, just about to brief when we went to Air Raid Red. After that had finished, went to the jets and led a 3-ship to RV with 8 Tornados from Muharraq. Airborne as fragged, but v.difficult weather. Let the boys go at the cast-off point at 0036 with best wishes, couldn't balance up the fuel amongst our formation due to centre-line hose fault. Waited for over an hour for all the team to reappear safely from Iraq; all aboard and homeward bound. Then a night flapless approach on absolute minima on a BDZ arrival (very carefully!). Debriefed, stacked to hotel, much smiling from friendly Saudis at the gate, up to room, watched F117 images, went to bed. Another 36 missions followed, then home on Mar 13, back to the pre-war Bulldog job on Mar 15.
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Sat in the Tower at Marham all night watching the MT personnel trying their best to keep the only significant snow that Norfolk had seen for years off the runway. Clearing the Victors to take off in the early hours of the next morning and wondering if they would make it back.
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Great idea for a thread.
I was sat in the sand, amazed at how far the tide went out!!
My first emotion was one of relief. At least the waiting game was over. I then realised the enormity of it all and got a little scared. My thoughts then went to my family, although God knows how they felt at the time. Then it was time to concentrate on work.
Did my bit, went home. Will never forget the experience. Damn proud to have been there.
RIP those who never came back and those who suffered.
I was sat in the sand, amazed at how far the tide went out!!
My first emotion was one of relief. At least the waiting game was over. I then realised the enormity of it all and got a little scared. My thoughts then went to my family, although God knows how they felt at the time. Then it was time to concentrate on work.
Did my bit, went home. Will never forget the experience. Damn proud to have been there.
RIP those who never came back and those who suffered.
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Great Thread.
Woke up in my parents house having got back from a 3 month Tornado GR1 det in Bahrain 4 days before. A group of my squadron offered to stay in theatre but Wg Cdr Nav GR1 Detco told us we weren't needed (2 days later 2 of our replacements were dead, 2 were POW's and 2 of his sqn were POW's and on there way to making loads of money capitalising on there mistake.) I was the most PI55'D off I have ever been seeing mates on the TV who 5 days before I had been drinking and flying with (although obviously not at the same time) now going off and doing "The Job" when I was freezing my parts off back in the UK.
Got a 24 hour recall back to Germany and then watched the war progress for 2 weeks before getting the call to replace a crew who had gone sick. I think the Boss sent me just to stop me from hassling him any more. Flew 6 Op trips, all med lvl LGB attacks against airfields, with varying levels of success but at least I survived. Whilst I am not a household name, not wealthy, not an author and not on TV every time any military aviation aspect is discussed I know that I did my job and came home without the benefit of the quality room service on offer at the Bagdhad Hilton.
Divorced 18 months later.
Remembering those who gave in 1991 along with those who have become part of aviation history since then.
CJS
Woke up in my parents house having got back from a 3 month Tornado GR1 det in Bahrain 4 days before. A group of my squadron offered to stay in theatre but Wg Cdr Nav GR1 Detco told us we weren't needed (2 days later 2 of our replacements were dead, 2 were POW's and 2 of his sqn were POW's and on there way to making loads of money capitalising on there mistake.) I was the most PI55'D off I have ever been seeing mates on the TV who 5 days before I had been drinking and flying with (although obviously not at the same time) now going off and doing "The Job" when I was freezing my parts off back in the UK.
Got a 24 hour recall back to Germany and then watched the war progress for 2 weeks before getting the call to replace a crew who had gone sick. I think the Boss sent me just to stop me from hassling him any more. Flew 6 Op trips, all med lvl LGB attacks against airfields, with varying levels of success but at least I survived. Whilst I am not a household name, not wealthy, not an author and not on TV every time any military aviation aspect is discussed I know that I did my job and came home without the benefit of the quality room service on offer at the Bagdhad Hilton.
Divorced 18 months later.
Remembering those who gave in 1991 along with those who have become part of aviation history since then.
CJS
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Acting Station Int EWO at Odiham. Left bar to go to bed, turned on TV and caught news of first raids. Went back to my office and sat up all night answering questions and trying to work out the scores on the doors from ASMA - impressed by how much info I could get out of the system with a little bit of patience. Got no sleep. Gave OC Odiham his morning brief at 08.00. Went to bed. Not very exciting I'm afraid.
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Saudi airfield, initials A J. Been there 3 days with 2 GCs, recceing then setting-up FOB for Flt ops. Having watched a Pave Low launch in front of a bunch of visiting Apaches earlier, I was trying to get some sleep 20m from the flight line where the US C130s planned to bring in the first casualties for triage. Woke up to find that a GR1, an F14 and something else which I forget now had joined us for boil-in-the-bag breakfast, unable to make it all the way home owing to the odd requirement for BDR. Didn't see the Apaches again, but once the rest of the Flight had joined us 2 days later we did work with the Pave Lows again from time to time. Oh, and we moved our tents away from the flight line...
[This message has been edited by Thud_and_Blunder (edited 17 January 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Thud_and_Blunder (edited 17 January 2001).]