Horse-play in the Mess
Hmm, Wyton Mess on Taranto Night could be a dangerous place, and there were a few jolly japes with cars at the Towers in the 60s, including a well known officer cadet "borrowing" a sqn cdr's Jaguar and taking it for a spin. Al Deere's staff car (he was Asst Commandant at the time) also made an appearance in the Rotunda ISTR
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The night before Graduation at Feltwell, one of the guys brought his motorcycle in to the Mess and started driving it briskly down the corridor. As he approached the end, where the Bar door was, he applied the brakes. The hall carpet followed him, with no discernible deceleration, as he ploughed in to the end wall, just missing our flt lt RAF Regt DS who was leaving the Bar.
ISTR he wasn't on the Parade the next day.
ISTR he wasn't on the Parade the next day.
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The night before Graduation at Feltwell, one of the guys brought his motorcycle in to the Mess and started driving it briskly down the corridor. As he approached the end, where the Bar door was, he applied the brakes. The hall carpet followed him, with no discernible deceleration, as he ploughed in to the end wall, just missing our flt lt RAF Regt DS who was leaving the Bar.
ISTR he wasn't on the Parade the next day.
ISTR he wasn't on the Parade the next day.
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FZ ... no, that's a new one for me.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Anyone remember the speed race at Bawdsey Manor where you ran from the bar, up the main stairs, across to the west wing on the 1st (2nd?) floor; out the window and down the fire escape device and then round the front of the mess and back into the bar through the front door?
I seem to recall the fire escape device attached to the wall consisting of a reel of rope with a propeller type spinner on top to slow the escapee's descent as it played out. My memory is dim but I believe one was supposed to pull it through the window and attack a belt strap before clambering out, but after a few pints a more superman like defenestration took place grabbing the rope and belt in passing.
Of course it was over 40 years ago and my FC course there (the last before it closed as a radar site) did pass in an alcoholic daze as we tried to drink the bar fund dry before it shut.
I seem to recall the fire escape device attached to the wall consisting of a reel of rope with a propeller type spinner on top to slow the escapee's descent as it played out. My memory is dim but I believe one was supposed to pull it through the window and attack a belt strap before clambering out, but after a few pints a more superman like defenestration took place grabbing the rope and belt in passing.
Of course it was over 40 years ago and my FC course there (the last before it closed as a radar site) did pass in an alcoholic daze as we tried to drink the bar fund dry before it shut.
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Early 70s. RN Carrier (Old ARK ROYAL?) attend dining in night at St Mawgan as guests. Piano disapears from bar leaving a note that it will be used to test catapult at 10W outbound. Piano is valuable - Not a "Burner". Messages sent.
Wessex arrives with underslung load.
"One piano, where would you like it" "On Lawn outside Officers Mess please" Underslung load (spare "burner" piano) dropped fromm about 50 ft - Matchwood!! Meanwhile non burner quietly returned by 3 tonner to back door of the Mess. Epic!
Wessex arrives with underslung load.
"One piano, where would you like it" "On Lawn outside Officers Mess please" Underslung load (spare "burner" piano) dropped fromm about 50 ft - Matchwood!! Meanwhile non burner quietly returned by 3 tonner to back door of the Mess. Epic!
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It were different when I were a lad.
It's Not Working (#40),
Easy - if you're wondering how you ever found time to go to work - you're retired !
"Capolae", I rather think. After my time - sounds thoroughly unhygenic and claustrophobic to me ...... bunker only fettled once a month ? ...... hope they issued you with a good air- freshener ! What was it all for ? - to protect you against wayward aircraft, or to survive the atomic exchange ? (as Laarbruch would be a radioactive charnel house by then, not much point really).
Did you have a sort of flare tube to pop the 'red's out ? How long was your "shift" down there ? Sanitary Arrangements ? Tell us more - I never heard of these things in my life.
Don't think a CA/DF set (they were operated by the Skilled Man/or Maid in the Tower Approach Room [in later pattern Towers], they had a "slave" set upstairs so that one operator could do both Local and Approach when things were quiet).
In general: Those poor old joannas ! On TV saw one hefted a good hundred yards or more by a reconstructed Trebuchet. Struck the "Lost Chord" when it speared in ! ("Caution - Low Flying Pianos ?")
Poor man's version: (Hawarden 1942) "Duty Pilot" (Prune taken off flying for the day) on grass by side of threshold, kitchen chair, Verey pistol and big bag of reds. Fire at will if sees two Spits intending to land on the same spot at same time.
R/T "Local Control" ? - don't be silly ! (mixed bag of Spits, newly assembled Wimpeys and God knows what from ATA plus visitors - often 20 + in circuit. Control not possible). Looks like rain ? - bring your groundsheet. 
But they were good days .............
Danny.
...whether I am retired or unemployed...
...capola (capoli?)...
Did you have a sort of flare tube to pop the 'red's out ? How long was your "shift" down there ? Sanitary Arrangements ? Tell us more - I never heard of these things in my life.
Don't think a CA/DF set (they were operated by the Skilled Man/or Maid in the Tower Approach Room [in later pattern Towers], they had a "slave" set upstairs so that one operator could do both Local and Approach when things were quiet).
In general: Those poor old joannas ! On TV saw one hefted a good hundred yards or more by a reconstructed Trebuchet. Struck the "Lost Chord" when it speared in ! ("Caution - Low Flying Pianos ?")
Poor man's version: (Hawarden 1942) "Duty Pilot" (Prune taken off flying for the day) on grass by side of threshold, kitchen chair, Verey pistol and big bag of reds. Fire at will if sees two Spits intending to land on the same spot at same time.
R/T "Local Control" ? - don't be silly ! (mixed bag of Spits, newly assembled Wimpeys and God knows what from ATA plus visitors - often 20 + in circuit. Control not possible). Looks like rain ? - bring your groundsheet. But they were good days .............
Danny.
Anyone remember the speed race at Bawdsey Manor where you ran from the bar, up the main stairs, across to the west wing on the 1st (2nd?) floor; out the window and down the fire escape device and then round the front of the mess and back into the bar through the front door?
I seem to recall the fire escape device attached to the wall consisting of a reel of rope with a propeller type spinner on top to slow the escapee's descent as it played out. My memory is dim but I believe one was supposed to pull it through the window and attack a belt strap before clambering out, but after a few pints a more superman like defenestration took place grabbing the rope and belt in passing.
Of course it was over 40 years ago and my FC course there (the last before it closed as a radar site) did pass in an alcoholic daze as we tried to drink the bar fund dry before it shut.
I seem to recall the fire escape device attached to the wall consisting of a reel of rope with a propeller type spinner on top to slow the escapee's descent as it played out. My memory is dim but I believe one was supposed to pull it through the window and attack a belt strap before clambering out, but after a few pints a more superman like defenestration took place grabbing the rope and belt in passing.
Of course it was over 40 years ago and my FC course there (the last before it closed as a radar site) did pass in an alcoholic daze as we tried to drink the bar fund dry before it shut.
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A couple of comments from Waddo in the 80s:
1. My Alternate Local became Primary Local when the horn went, thus allowing the Taceval Team to waste their energies trying to put 'the former Primary' out of business.
2. My Station Bicycle (of the pedal powered persuasion, before you lot start!) was also painted in 'Tone Down Green'. In the interests of conforming with the current style, I added yellow tape to the cross-bar, with letraset saying 'Royal Air Force' and a small roundel transfer from my Airfix spares collection. I never got round to installing the flashing Amber light denoting 'a vehicle regularly employed on the airfield'. It amused me, anyway
1. My Alternate Local became Primary Local when the horn went, thus allowing the Taceval Team to waste their energies trying to put 'the former Primary' out of business.
2. My Station Bicycle (of the pedal powered persuasion, before you lot start!) was also painted in 'Tone Down Green'. In the interests of conforming with the current style, I added yellow tape to the cross-bar, with letraset saying 'Royal Air Force' and a small roundel transfer from my Airfix spares collection. I never got round to installing the flashing Amber light denoting 'a vehicle regularly employed on the airfield'. It amused me, anyway
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hehe ... good to see your memory is working well
My only major Messing high jinks on Exercise was when I managed (as IC DISTAFF) to shut down the entire Station's power supply with the cooperation of DoE. I then received a bleat feom OC Catering that all his freezers were without power. "Don't open them, then" was my helpful response. Hopefully somone connected them to Stn Standby Power eventually
oops ... Thread Drift. Sorry!
My only major Messing high jinks on Exercise was when I managed (as IC DISTAFF) to shut down the entire Station's power supply with the cooperation of DoE. I then received a bleat feom OC Catering that all his freezers were without power. "Don't open them, then" was my helpful response. Hopefully somone connected them to Stn Standby Power eventually
oops ... Thread Drift. Sorry!
I once went back to a former station having been invited to a Guest Night. Later in the evening, it was announced that a car was to be burnt outside....
It seems that not only had a 'hazard assessment' been conducted, but a specially marked location had been designated and a fire engine with crew was standing by...
To be honest, it was utterly childish and embarrassing. None of the spontaneous "That looks like a burner" and subsequent piano torching I recall from earlier times, with the fire crews summoned to douse conflagration and miscreants alike.
Rather an indicator of the direction in which the RAF was heading, I guess...
It seems that not only had a 'hazard assessment' been conducted, but a specially marked location had been designated and a fire engine with crew was standing by...
To be honest, it was utterly childish and embarrassing. None of the spontaneous "That looks like a burner" and subsequent piano torching I recall from earlier times, with the fire crews summoned to douse conflagration and miscreants alike.
Rather an indicator of the direction in which the RAF was heading, I guess...
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BEagle ... not the Coningsby one, involving C4, I ope?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
MPN, noooo, and the car was a goer, the owner's only way to get to work. He was worried about telling the wife
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
IIRC, there a rock ape Flt Lt at Coltishall back in the 1970s who had - somewhere - a stash of C4 or equivalent.
He had a violent antipathy to anyone who left a party early when it was in full swing and would set out to roust them from their rooms. People learnt not to lock their doors - whether alone or accompanied - as this usual resulted in a sharp crack and the door falling inwards sans hinges and lock.
He had a violent antipathy to anyone who left a party early when it was in full swing and would set out to roust them from their rooms. People learnt not to lock their doors - whether alone or accompanied - as this usual resulted in a sharp crack and the door falling inwards sans hinges and lock.
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Danny, I think your #88 has escaped escaped from Runway Controllers... to this thread commemorating playing with horses in the mess. I'm not qualified to comment here as my mess's entry requirements took much longer to achieve than a 4-months course at Sleaford Tech, twelve years for me if I remember correctly. That said I must admit I did enjoy your annual hospitality to contest the Bone of Contention.
Last edited by It's Not Working; 26th Mar 2017 at 21:45.