Ex Lionheart/Spearpoint '84
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Anyway, don't know if you caught it but there was a tv series called 'Deutchland '83' recently that caught the time well and I thought pretty entertaining considering being there & what was going on at the time.
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My sincere commiserations to you, I did 2 months on the MU in the engine shop as the squadron was disbanding, so a couple of us got shuffled to complete our tours on the MU, and I found it dire
You had to bloody clock in on a time clock! First and last time I ever had that to do thank God, one felt like a lab rat.
Shows how much I enjoyed the place, whenever anyone asks my service career details, it never pops up on my radar.
You had to bloody clock in on a time clock! First and last time I ever had that to do thank God, one felt like a lab rat.
Shows how much I enjoyed the place, whenever anyone asks my service career details, it never pops up on my radar.
No such clock when I was there! But we turned up to work and got sent to wherever for repairs/recoveries or sent into the Bruggen shed (can't remember the number now) for Cat 4/5 projects. Jobs I did were re-skinning after the replacement of Harrier Main u/c beams. Trail Mods for Jag Chaff/Flare on engine doors. Fin1064 for Jag Avionics. New Jag Drag-Chute door mods. Repairs to Bucc outer wings. Strip & Recover a Bird-Striked Jag from a GAF Station.
Variously good times for Riggers & I enjoyed 431 tremendously.
Variously good times for Riggers & I enjoyed 431 tremendously.
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Flying my Gazelle down the main street of a German town low enough to wonder whether I should stop at the red light. 
For those too young to remember, or those old 'uns who have forgotten, see here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...x+lionheart+84
For those too young to remember, or those old 'uns who have forgotten, see here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...x+lionheart+84
How did we win?
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
How did we win?
In 1982 there was 'Ex Quarter Final', again in 1985 and also one in 1990; I don't recall us ever making it to the Semi's
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..like yourself I did wonder just what "win" actually meant at the time...
Slighty Off-Thread (well, loads actually) - for the ex-431 MU guys - what was the story behind the RN Gannet aircraft sat in the back of one outdoor storage areas? I remember seeing it as a scaly brat in 83-86 and always wondered how it ended up at Bruggen? (it was too ugly to even get a date at the Crossbow Club disco!)
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Do you remember the MU Gate Guardian? as it was in effect a Station within a Station the bod in charge decided they should have a Gate Guardian to like the Jag outside Bruggens SHQ, so an old Artic cab unit was painted and stuffed on the ramps? near the entrance.
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Went to RheinD as a 'helper' as an OTC cadet for Ex Lionheart. With a couple of mates though it to be a great idea to go down a line of Landies that the Hofficers had parked up for a meeting and turn the underseat fuel tank taps to the mid position. Meeting ends, and a line of Landies conk our about 300yrds down the road......tsk tsk...student humour!
Fairey Gannet AEW3 XL450 is now at Flugausstellung Hermeskeil in south-west Germany.
It was sold in 1984 and moved from Brüggen to Bruntingthorpe, before being relocated to Germany the following year.
The largest private aircraft museum in Europe - quite a list of exhibits: Flugzeuge Flugausstellung Peter Junior
It was sold in 1984 and moved from Brüggen to Bruntingthorpe, before being relocated to Germany the following year.
The largest private aircraft museum in Europe - quite a list of exhibits: Flugzeuge Flugausstellung Peter Junior
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I think it was the Argyles and the Irish Rangers who were deployed to reinforce JHQ. 1st disco in walk 10 Para's one shouts to the Irish 'that Jock is dancing with one of your girls' and then walks away'. Carnage ensued it was very funny to see the fallout the next day. Also wasn't this the exercise when a certain Puma pilot decided to reposition a Puma closer to the trees and got a lot closer than advised.
Also wasn't this the exercise when a certain Puma pilot decided to reposition a Puma closer to the trees and got a lot closer than advised.
CG
Helicopter rejoin
On returning to Gutersloh in our trusty Puma from the south, the reply from ATC was something like "your clear to join, 12th in line behind 3 Pumas 2 chinooks 4 Blackhawk and 2 Lynx but not necessarily in that order!". Oh, and to Charlie Golf who was on the vip puma, we got diverted mid task to go to Hannover to pick up some very top brass Americans in our very muddy pursuit ship and on delivering them to HQ flt was castigated by Brit army senior officer for the state of our aircraft, fortunately American chap who outranked him thought it was authentic and swell! Good for him
Avoid imitations
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I must admit to stealing one particularly "onerous" 230 Sqn task though, but not on the exercise in question. I arrived direct from Odiham to A Flight's deployed field site with full war games kit for a winter exercise. I was not looking forward to it, from past experience the squadron SH aircrew were particularly badly looked after in the field. OC A was the only occupant of the CP and had just been presented with a signal which caused him some concern. He said. "I need to find a self authorising crew for a noduff deployment. I also need to get a flight sub imprest from somewhere.... That's going to be a big problem right now..."
I reminded him that all OCU QHIs were self auths and pulled the fsi from my nav bag. Half an hour later my crewman and I were on our way to southern Germany, where we were forced to live in a nice Gasthof for the remainder of the week. I did feel slightly guilty but didn't miss the 5 by 7 tent and NBC kit that was on offer up north.
Cheeky beggar, that's why they made us lead your task formations....
Q-Ski, have I asked if I know you (7 secs have gone by since I did- if did!)
CG
