Ian Macfadyen gets a Nice Surprise !!
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Ian Macfadyen gets a Nice Surprise !!
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Gayford ...
Your Link appears to be broken ...
Surprise knighthood for retiring Windsor Castle governor
Your Link appears to be broken ...
Surprise knighthood for retiring Windsor Castle governor
Guetersloh Lightnings c. 1967 perhaps? Rings a bell.
19 squadron?
19 squadron?
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Fantastic!
The run down of the F4 was far from glorious for us 'erks. Tired airframes and systems meant long days and longer nights for those who toiled, without support it must be said, towards the end.
Despite the hours, frustrations, HPS and gas,gas,gas one moment is still clear today as it was almost 30 years ago....
So, the Stn Cmdr was out to lunch, in the northernmost outpost of RAF Leuchars at the Sqdn feeder in fact.
Things weren't too bad [ok once you'd checked the bread for mould] in the feeder, hot free grub can go a long way to keep your average 'erk happy with his LOT [sorry Courts
] and this day were were told to be on our best as the staish was coming and "behave", so, stuff that we thought...
Anyway in comes harry the staish, gets his slops and then with a nod, walks past the aircrews little partitioned den and straight to the set of pulled together tables, where us oily 'erks were, by now, realising it was game on...
The tables were pretty rammed [we were a brotherhood after all] but undaunted Sir Macfadyen grabbed a chair in passing with the words "move over lads".
Conversation at the table was perhaps slightly stilted [I would like to think most were tinkering how to say something meaningful without swearing] but it certainly made a strong impression on the boys, such a little gesture meant so much...
He left with a wry smile and a good idea of the problems we faced.
His affectionate nickname was macfadyin the bad yin to us 'erks.
Despite the hours, frustrations, HPS and gas,gas,gas one moment is still clear today as it was almost 30 years ago....
So, the Stn Cmdr was out to lunch, in the northernmost outpost of RAF Leuchars at the Sqdn feeder in fact.
Things weren't too bad [ok once you'd checked the bread for mould] in the feeder, hot free grub can go a long way to keep your average 'erk happy with his LOT [sorry Courts
] and this day were were told to be on our best as the staish was coming and "behave", so, stuff that we thought...Anyway in comes harry the staish, gets his slops and then with a nod, walks past the aircrews little partitioned den and straight to the set of pulled together tables, where us oily 'erks were, by now, realising it was game on...
The tables were pretty rammed [we were a brotherhood after all] but undaunted Sir Macfadyen grabbed a chair in passing with the words "move over lads".
Conversation at the table was perhaps slightly stilted [I would like to think most were tinkering how to say something meaningful without swearing] but it certainly made a strong impression on the boys, such a little gesture meant so much...
He left with a wry smile and a good idea of the problems we faced.
His affectionate nickname was macfadyin the bad yin to us 'erks.
Brilliant! Could never understand why it took so long. Never forget the grin with which he greeted me on arrival at Watton when we became part of Strike Command, and he arrived as ADC to our new CinC. He had been an SUO on I think D Sqn at the Towers when I was a fairly junior cadet on "A", but he was a gentleman even to junior cadets back then. Many congratulations.
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Guetersloh Lightnings c. 1967 perhaps? Rings a bell.
19 squadron?
19 squadron?
Whichever, congrats Sir.
Top result,
I never met or served under the man, I did deliver some important equipment on his way to his past five years, and was honoured to meet his lovely wife. All the best for your futures both.
Smudge
I never met or served under the man, I did deliver some important equipment on his way to his past five years, and was honoured to meet his lovely wife. All the best for your futures both.
Smudge
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Good story's here about a man who was, obviously, the epitome of a RAF Officer.
Congratulations Sir.
I was fortunate enough to serve under a few good officers of his ilk.
Congratulations Sir.
I was fortunate enough to serve under a few good officers of his ilk.
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As a first-tourist JEngO on the RAF's premier fighter sqn (the one with a chicken on the tail) I first met Sir Ian when he took over command of the Air Forces of the Kingdom of Fife. For several days he arrived on the squadron, planned, briefed and walked out, only to walk back in following a crew-in snag. Oh the joys of the mighty F4.
Then, on a further attempt, I heard that the Staish was crewing out again this timedue to a hydraulic problem. Sensing the opportunity for some career building face-time I donned ear-defenders and bravely walked out to the line to find him kneeling under the wing of the aircraft watching hydraulic fluid dripping from a mainwheel well. I joined the Staish under the wing and after a few moments uttered the phrase "you really should stop doing this to my aircraft, sir"....I thought the glare lasted for ever but it was probably only milliseconds before the smile broke through.
On another note, my wife joined me at Leuchars for her introduction to RAF life. She subsequently found herself in Ninewells Hospital with complications prior to delivery of our first child. Sally was a regular visitor, leaving Mrs Grob with an indellible image of the RAF family and a model to follow in the future.
Fantastic news.
Then, on a further attempt, I heard that the Staish was crewing out again this timedue to a hydraulic problem. Sensing the opportunity for some career building face-time I donned ear-defenders and bravely walked out to the line to find him kneeling under the wing of the aircraft watching hydraulic fluid dripping from a mainwheel well. I joined the Staish under the wing and after a few moments uttered the phrase "you really should stop doing this to my aircraft, sir"....I thought the glare lasted for ever but it was probably only milliseconds before the smile broke through.
On another note, my wife joined me at Leuchars for her introduction to RAF life. She subsequently found herself in Ninewells Hospital with complications prior to delivery of our first child. Sally was a regular visitor, leaving Mrs Grob with an indellible image of the RAF family and a model to follow in the future.
Fantastic news.
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Can you folks who know him ask him to publish a book with all his Falkland island photos. He came to the Victory Club to give us a fascinating talk on the subject. A recurring theme in his talk was the make shift ablution blocks.
Real down to earth chap and a well deserved and long overdue award.
Real down to earth chap and a well deserved and long overdue award.
ga,
Good post, but 92 Sqn was the RAF's top-scoring squadron in WWII - and in the Cold War with a Jaguar kill!
Hence the RAF's premier fighter squadron: no arguments!
Oh - and many congratulations to "Fadge", a fellow glider pilot.
Good post, but 92 Sqn was the RAF's top-scoring squadron in WWII - and in the Cold War with a Jaguar kill!
Hence the RAF's premier fighter squadron: no arguments!Oh - and many congratulations to "Fadge", a fellow glider pilot.
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remember him as the staish at Leuchars I maybe wrong as a lot of beers and years have gone by but did he not take over from the 'Scottish officer'? either way at total great OC and congrats from an erk to.
