Special Memories
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27 years which included:
Amazing flying experiences, flying great FJ aircraft, in various roles
Special and like-minded people, and the comradarie
Five particularly hair-raising incidents
Three long, overseas tours in warm places
Many memorable detachments
Losing many mates
Being underpaid
Knowing three nice ladies
Having three nice kids
Amazing flying experiences, flying great FJ aircraft, in various roles
Special and like-minded people, and the comradarie
Five particularly hair-raising incidents
Three long, overseas tours in warm places
Many memorable detachments
Losing many mates
Being underpaid
Knowing three nice ladies
Having three nice kids
Memories
Really there are too many memories to recall. As many have said already it is the people you worked with - even the F4 guys (Wimps) down South at Stanley and then MPA:
1312 flt Q dinners culminating in the whole flight dining-in-night aboard XV206. Menu was compo because of a food poisoning scare but we were determined to dine as planned.
Leaving Addis Ababa on a "trucks to famine relief" slip and listening to the BBC World News to learn that there had been a revolution and coup in Addis the night before (when Haile Selassie was deposed). We had heard and seen nothing and at that stage it was bloodless. I still have my photograph of me standing under the wing with 2 "Revolutionary Guards".
However, perhaps the most memorable occasion was on a night leg from Akrotiri to Masirah. We were crossing Saudi Arabia at about 0300 local, 25000 ft with dead silence on the Air Traffic radios so we were listening (again) to the World Service. This time it was a recording from the Proms, starring Venus from the Planets Suite. As it played we watched Venus rising above the eastern horizon. Words cannot describe the feeling.
1312 flt Q dinners culminating in the whole flight dining-in-night aboard XV206. Menu was compo because of a food poisoning scare but we were determined to dine as planned.
Leaving Addis Ababa on a "trucks to famine relief" slip and listening to the BBC World News to learn that there had been a revolution and coup in Addis the night before (when Haile Selassie was deposed). We had heard and seen nothing and at that stage it was bloodless. I still have my photograph of me standing under the wing with 2 "Revolutionary Guards".
However, perhaps the most memorable occasion was on a night leg from Akrotiri to Masirah. We were crossing Saudi Arabia at about 0300 local, 25000 ft with dead silence on the Air Traffic radios so we were listening (again) to the World Service. This time it was a recording from the Proms, starring Venus from the Planets Suite. As it played we watched Venus rising above the eastern horizon. Words cannot describe the feeling.
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Last edited by Jackw106; 1st Jan 2013 at 12:07.
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Predawn sensory overload
Watching the multicolored exhaust plumes spitting out from RF-4s of the 432 TRW in the tropical predawn darkness, as the ABs kicked in--KABOOM KABOOM--during takeoffs at Udorn RTAFB in 1967. Takeoffs were scheduled for a TOT in NVN, and target photography, of about dawn.
Last edited by Setpoint99; 2nd Jan 2013 at 02:35. Reason: adding detail
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From a groundies perspective:-
-Sunday morning cocktails on Ops in Italy '99
-Standing on the stern of illustrious in the Atlantic as our GR7s did a fly past after winning the bombing comp, I could have reached out and touched the wing
-First Nimrod Det which should have been one night in the Azores ended up crossing the pond several times and some cracking nights out in US / Canada
- Flying into Basrah on a Nimrod in 03 watching the aircrew put on their body armour (us groundies weren't issued with any so we made some comedy home made armour consisting of pie tins and locking wire.
- Fixing crew in snags - knowing that its important that the jet get airborne in the next 10 mins
- Curaēao 05 awesome Det
- laughing my ass of getting rocketed in KAF
-Sunday morning cocktails on Ops in Italy '99
-Standing on the stern of illustrious in the Atlantic as our GR7s did a fly past after winning the bombing comp, I could have reached out and touched the wing
-First Nimrod Det which should have been one night in the Azores ended up crossing the pond several times and some cracking nights out in US / Canada
- Flying into Basrah on a Nimrod in 03 watching the aircrew put on their body armour (us groundies weren't issued with any so we made some comedy home made armour consisting of pie tins and locking wire.
- Fixing crew in snags - knowing that its important that the jet get airborne in the next 10 mins
- Curaēao 05 awesome Det
- laughing my ass of getting rocketed in KAF
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My special memory,,Lying wounded on the floor of a Wessex, looking at the door gunner, who looked like he hadn't washed, shaved or slept in days, then watching the coast line of the Falklands disappearing and thinking that's it I'm out of here.
Manandboy,
I, too, have many memorable memories of special people spanning 28 years of my time in light blue and if I start reminiscing this post will last for pages!
However, like you, the tri-service dinner in the painted hall at Greenwich still brings the hairs up on the back of my neck when I think about it.
Happy days!
I, too, have many memorable memories of special people spanning 28 years of my time in light blue and if I start reminiscing this post will last for pages!
However, like you, the tri-service dinner in the painted hall at Greenwich still brings the hairs up on the back of my neck when I think about it.
Happy days!
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Hard to choose
Out of many memorable times: in chronological order
late Aug '69, Sun PM, joining queue for bus for OASC Biggin in Sevenoaks?, seeing prettiest girl I've ever seen- stunning blonde in miniskirt amongst group, all en route to OASC. (would be loadmistress- chopped- blind as a bat!)Think of this everytime I hear Hollies "bus-stop"
post OCTU at Church Fenton- day we were issued flying kit- life's dream accomplished!
at CGY waiting for OCU course, 2 AM, hooters sound- Taceval- no idea what's going on- turn on BBC- no martial music- thank G*d its an exercise
Winter, lousy weather, haven't seen the sun for two weeks. Late PM airborne, climbing thru 15K+ of clag, put Radio Luxembourg quietly on HF. It plays introduction to " the Entertainer" fm film "the sting" (big at the time). As intro music breaks into the main tune, we break out into a gorgeous colourful sunset above an unbroken cloud layer.....
experiencing, for myself, many of the things I'd read about from Johnny Johnson, 'Pappy Boyington', Stanford Tuck and others
late Aug '69, Sun PM, joining queue for bus for OASC Biggin in Sevenoaks?, seeing prettiest girl I've ever seen- stunning blonde in miniskirt amongst group, all en route to OASC. (would be loadmistress- chopped- blind as a bat!)Think of this everytime I hear Hollies "bus-stop"
post OCTU at Church Fenton- day we were issued flying kit- life's dream accomplished!
at CGY waiting for OCU course, 2 AM, hooters sound- Taceval- no idea what's going on- turn on BBC- no martial music- thank G*d its an exercise
Winter, lousy weather, haven't seen the sun for two weeks. Late PM airborne, climbing thru 15K+ of clag, put Radio Luxembourg quietly on HF. It plays introduction to " the Entertainer" fm film "the sting" (big at the time). As intro music breaks into the main tune, we break out into a gorgeous colourful sunset above an unbroken cloud layer.....
experiencing, for myself, many of the things I'd read about from Johnny Johnson, 'Pappy Boyington', Stanford Tuck and others
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How about, every time you were posted?
Something new, new friends, new challenges, new and exiting places but you knew that you would be able rely on whoever you met and worked with.
Later in any long career there was also the meeting of old friends in different places.
I always remember my 1st time in Akrotiri Electronics Centre and meeting a guy I'd last seen 6 or 7 years before we swapped 'hellos' as though it had been yesterday.
Something new, new friends, new challenges, new and exiting places but you knew that you would be able rely on whoever you met and worked with.
Later in any long career there was also the meeting of old friends in different places.
I always remember my 1st time in Akrotiri Electronics Centre and meeting a guy I'd last seen 6 or 7 years before we swapped 'hellos' as though it had been yesterday.
OLD RED DAMASK
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Jackw106, a special thanks to that link. John Wells certainly has a wry sense of humour.
Being an ex brown job, thanks to the RAF helicopter crews in NI for taking us to remote places to get shot at.
Actually "bombing" up the tanks with live ammo on a crash out in Germany.Thought well this won't last long if the Russians are on their way!
Enjoyed every minute and proud to have done my little bit for Queen and country.
Being an ex brown job, thanks to the RAF helicopter crews in NI for taking us to remote places to get shot at.
Actually "bombing" up the tanks with live ammo on a crash out in Germany.Thought well this won't last long if the Russians are on their way!
Enjoyed every minute and proud to have done my little bit for Queen and country.
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"The three best things in life are a good landing, a good orgasm, and, a good bowel movement. The night carrier landing is one of the few opportunities in life where you get to experience all three at the same time."
Glad I had that opportunity !
Glad I had that opportunity !
Many, many good memories of my time in, but sadly they are becoming more and more sparse these days.
I think somebody already said something similar about a Jag, but I will never forget looking behind me on my first GR7 sortie and seeing nothing but wing and those massive intakes. Big smile
30(ish) seconds of fear that turn into relief after the bomb leaves the wing on its way to the bad guys down below. No matter how many times I dropped HE in anger, there was always a great deal of trepidation whilst the bomb was in flight.
Plugging into the tanker at night IMC with flashing fuel cautions...
Cactus Moon
An 8 ship Op launch off the deck in a thunderstorm with huge breakers slamming over the ramp.
But the best feeling of all was way back in 2004 when a huge hairy guy who looked like he hadn't washed in months walked silently into our crewroom in KAF, asked for Devil47, shook my hand and told me his patrol would have been dead had it not been for us. A really humbling moment, and one that still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck even now.
I think somebody already said something similar about a Jag, but I will never forget looking behind me on my first GR7 sortie and seeing nothing but wing and those massive intakes. Big smile
30(ish) seconds of fear that turn into relief after the bomb leaves the wing on its way to the bad guys down below. No matter how many times I dropped HE in anger, there was always a great deal of trepidation whilst the bomb was in flight.
Plugging into the tanker at night IMC with flashing fuel cautions...
Cactus Moon
An 8 ship Op launch off the deck in a thunderstorm with huge breakers slamming over the ramp.
But the best feeling of all was way back in 2004 when a huge hairy guy who looked like he hadn't washed in months walked silently into our crewroom in KAF, asked for Devil47, shook my hand and told me his patrol would have been dead had it not been for us. A really humbling moment, and one that still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck even now.
When I hand in my F.1250 this week I won't be thinking of too many good times, just saddened at the f£kking jobsworths that now seem to inhabit most jobs where an amount of thought for others used to be the norm... 
However, the good times exist, and as often as not included Squipping with and for some good mates in some pretty dire (and sometimes nice) places for a bunch of outstanding F.3, Lancaster, Gazelle, Lynx, Spitfire, Harrier, Puma, Merlin, Hurricane, Typhoon, Dakota and Chippy air and ground crews, this has made it all worthwhile, so thanks from me to you.
However, the good times exist, and as often as not included Squipping with and for some good mates in some pretty dire (and sometimes nice) places for a bunch of outstanding F.3, Lancaster, Gazelle, Lynx, Spitfire, Harrier, Puma, Merlin, Hurricane, Typhoon, Dakota and Chippy air and ground crews, this has made it all worthwhile, so thanks from me to you.
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Dont worry stitchbitch. The crap memories fade dsster than the good. You'll convince yourself it was all brilliant in a few years.
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Me and the observer yoffling wild buckshee RAF Leeming mega-mushrooms, picked 5 minutes before, with a full English, at 0500..... all Met Docs ready, good anticyclops, and knowing the Duty Pilot and first ATC in would be driven mad by the food smell at 0600!
And walking from Met. to nightflying mass brief at Nicosia c. 1963, with the airfield crammed with Beverleys and Hastings to do a very big Para exercise drop. Me aged 24 and VERY nervous. Not a life lost, not a leg broken. And the paras were OK, too.
And the Staish at Guetersloh c. 1967 taking a brilliant catch as he came through the Met Office door from my square cut whilst I was batting in the very naughty indoor cricket league.
OC 19 [Laurie Jones?] applauded him and the moment [and my arse] was saved.
And ........... thanks a million Royal Air Force. I couldn't be RAF, but I did the next best thing for 41 years.
And walking from Met. to nightflying mass brief at Nicosia c. 1963, with the airfield crammed with Beverleys and Hastings to do a very big Para exercise drop. Me aged 24 and VERY nervous. Not a life lost, not a leg broken. And the paras were OK, too.
And the Staish at Guetersloh c. 1967 taking a brilliant catch as he came through the Met Office door from my square cut whilst I was batting in the very naughty indoor cricket league.
OC 19 [Laurie Jones?] applauded him and the moment [and my arse] was saved.
And ........... thanks a million Royal Air Force. I couldn't be RAF, but I did the next best thing for 41 years.
Locating a seriously short-of-fuel Cessna near Berwick-upon-Tweed, lost en route from Cumbernauld to Carlisle in foul weather and gathering darkness, and leading him southbound at very low level towards Brunton, then a tense R/T message "Engine's quit, going for the beach" followed by the relief as he executed a good forced landing near Holy Island and the two of them climbed out onto the mud, boots and underwear soiled in equal measure...
Launching on a first light search in the Highlands, perfectly still morning, not a ripple on the lochs until the downwash created a wake across the water.
Role demo on Lake Windermere, beautiful summer's day in 2002, thousands of people watching on shore and on countless boats, running in at 50' to put smoke on the survivor, dodging the masts of numerous boats which had strayed into the supposedly sterile area, then a series of wingovers in front of the adoring crowds while the winchman was busy on the IRB. Or another role demo at Queensferry which involved searching for then rescuing a bendy diver...well there had to be some reason for flying repeatedly under both Forth Bridges...
Racing the express trains on the main line north of Boulmer, lots of waving and smiling faces from the children in cattle class but not so many from the posh people in first class (won't mention the times when a slight headwind meant that Westland's finest couldn't keep up with the train).
Launching on a first light search in the Highlands, perfectly still morning, not a ripple on the lochs until the downwash created a wake across the water.
Role demo on Lake Windermere, beautiful summer's day in 2002, thousands of people watching on shore and on countless boats, running in at 50' to put smoke on the survivor, dodging the masts of numerous boats which had strayed into the supposedly sterile area, then a series of wingovers in front of the adoring crowds while the winchman was busy on the IRB. Or another role demo at Queensferry which involved searching for then rescuing a bendy diver...well there had to be some reason for flying repeatedly under both Forth Bridges...
Racing the express trains on the main line north of Boulmer, lots of waving and smiling faces from the children in cattle class but not so many from the posh people in first class (won't mention the times when a slight headwind meant that Westland's finest couldn't keep up with the train).
Gentleman Aviator
But the best feeling of all was way back in 2004 when a huge hairy guy who looked like he hadn't washed in months walked silently into our crewroom in KAF, asked for Devil47, shook my hand and told me his patrol would have been dead had it not been for us.
Recalling the wise words of a JP QFI of mine many years ago - he was an ex Hastings co-pilot perpetual Fg Off (no B Exam) with a GSM, amongst many creamie and FJ QFIs (who in those days had no op experience):
"Remember that - fun as it is - you are rarely flying for your own benefit. It's usually for a bloke on the ground who's a bit smelly - and you'll probably never meet."
LateArmLive - you're lucky you did! And you might still get a beer off him in 20 years time!
Last edited by teeteringhead; 7th Jan 2013 at 15:11.
Hittadu 67/68 during the gap between the evening meal and the bar opening. Walking around the perimeter of our 120 acres with a couple of mates, mug of tea in hand, watching the sunset and speculating if sometime in the future people would pay a fortune to come here on holiday.