The Best and Worst Postings in the RAF
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The Best and Worst Postings in the RAF
hi all. as an airman in the raaf i just wondered what the best and worst postings in the RAF were in the 60s-70s-80 .you had bases around the world to chose from./
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We had no choice! There was an illusion of choice - in that you could express your wishes but in most cases they rarely had much effect. Sometimes you felt that the desk officers were 'avin' a larf. So - I asked for a posting anywhere North of Oxford - meaning not the South of England. So - I got Bicester just a few miles North of Oxford. Asked for overseas - got Northern Ireland.
Still - back on thread. Best posting - either Honington or Kinloss. Worst - there weren't any bad ones but a final tour as a staff officer and the promise of more staff tours to come persuaded me to exercise my option and leave.
Why Honington and Kinloss - the people, starting at the top with cracking staishs and all the way through to cracking aircrew, NCOs, airmen and civvy staff, everyone working flippin' hard to support the aircrew and aircraft. Made it fun and all worthwhile.
Still - back on thread. Best posting - either Honington or Kinloss. Worst - there weren't any bad ones but a final tour as a staff officer and the promise of more staff tours to come persuaded me to exercise my option and leave.
Why Honington and Kinloss - the people, starting at the top with cracking staishs and all the way through to cracking aircrew, NCOs, airmen and civvy staff, everyone working flippin' hard to support the aircrew and aircraft. Made it fun and all worthwhile.
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BEST ... RAF Tengah
WORST ... MoD Main Building
In fact, after a posting succession that went HQ 11 Gp > MB > HQ NATS > MB > HQ MATO I decided I would probably never see an aircraft or airfield again. I turned the lights out when I left, but someone turned them back on again.
WORST ... MoD Main Building
In fact, after a posting succession that went HQ 11 Gp > MB > HQ NATS > MB > HQ MATO I decided I would probably never see an aircraft or airfield again. I turned the lights out when I left, but someone turned them back on again.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Best Cottesmore, great mess life and a walk across the fields, passed the staish's house, to the pub.
Worst when everywhere was behind barbed wire.
Worst when everywhere was behind barbed wire.
Postings
I enjoyed all my postings/long term detachments; Cottesmore, Tengah, Khormaksar, Lyneham, St Athan, Episkopi, Bicester, Abingdon, Odiham, Belize, Gutersloh and Wyton. (Plus umpteen other short term detachments). Some were better than others but with enough effort all were enjoyable in their own right. I made friends that were to stand the test of time.
If pushed I would say that Episkopi was the best overseas and Bicester was the best UK. The overseas postings depended largely on what rank I was as money was an important factor. If I had been other than an LAC/SAC at Tengah I would have enjoyed that a lot more. I tried to make the most of where ever I was with the money that was available to me. They were great times - now just great memories.
Aaron.
If pushed I would say that Episkopi was the best overseas and Bicester was the best UK. The overseas postings depended largely on what rank I was as money was an important factor. If I had been other than an LAC/SAC at Tengah I would have enjoyed that a lot more. I tried to make the most of where ever I was with the money that was available to me. They were great times - now just great memories.
Aaron.
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They were great times - now just great memories.
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It was the best of times...it was the worst of times!
Best - Aberporth. I was Senior RAF Officer West Wales and military advisor to the Mayor of Cardigan. Best of all I reached the pinnacle of my career...I was the first man in the RAF Phone Book ....'Aberporth - Officer Commanding'
.
Worst - the 2 occasions when I was student on the OCU at Coningsby even though I passed both courses!
.Worst - the 2 occasions when I was student on the OCU at Coningsby even though I passed both courses!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Aaron, yes, Dets and flag stops could be interesting too. Guam as the Vietnam War ramped up was interesting as was Hawaii for entirely different reasons.
Best - as a 'scaley brat' (dependant) - Bruggen - all you needed as a kid was inside the wire including the world's best 'adventure playground' that was Hill60!
As serving - Kinloss (but then again I only did Kinloss and Waddo
).
Worst - Seeb/Basrah/PSAB - not really 'postings' but spent enough time in all 3 to feel like they were! (I know, I know, "hot food, welfare, aircon etc etc while others were 'digging in'
")
As 3rd generation RAF, it does seem amazing how much the 'estate' has shrunk since the end of WWII.
Still, it is our job as old gits to bang on about how good it was, otherwise what will the guys of today have to roll their eyes about? (Like we used to at the last generation of old gits...)
As serving - Kinloss (but then again I only did Kinloss and Waddo
).Worst - Seeb/Basrah/PSAB - not really 'postings' but spent enough time in all 3 to feel like they were! (I know, I know, "hot food, welfare, aircon etc etc while others were 'digging in'
")As 3rd generation RAF, it does seem amazing how much the 'estate' has shrunk since the end of WWII.
Still, it is our job as old gits to bang on about how good it was, otherwise what will the guys of today have to roll their eyes about? (Like we used to at the last generation of old gits...)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria without any doubt whatsoever!
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Best Bruggen and Brize
other I enjoyed Odiham
Worst Halton
Best Detachment Jever (several times) Gibralter, Deci ( I know, someone who actually liked the place)
Worst Detachment some bl**dy wood in deepest Surrey with a tent and a Landrover.
other I enjoyed Odiham
Worst Halton
Best Detachment Jever (several times) Gibralter, Deci ( I know, someone who actually liked the place)
Worst Detachment some bl**dy wood in deepest Surrey with a tent and a Landrover.
Best positing
RAF Lossiemouth 208 Sqn, straight from training onto the best Bucc Sqn, stayed there until the Bucc went out of service.
Worst Posting
Abbey Wood Bristol. Nice area, just a weird place to work.
RAF Lossiemouth 208 Sqn, straight from training onto the best Bucc Sqn, stayed there until the Bucc went out of service.
Worst Posting
Abbey Wood Bristol. Nice area, just a weird place to work.