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Two arrested over 'disarming warplanes' at BAE Systems in Warton

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Two arrested over 'disarming warplanes' at BAE Systems in Warton

Old 29th Jan 2017, 16:58
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Two arrested over 'disarming warplanes' at BAE Systems in Warton

Two people have been arrested in Lancashire after allegedly trying to disarm warplanes bound for Saudi Arabia.
The Rev Dan Woodhouse, a Methodist minister in Leeds and Sam Walton, a Quaker, are accused of entering the BAE Systems site in Warton to disarm planes.
Police said they were being held on suspicion of criminal damage.
In a statement, Rev Woodhouse said stopping warplanes "would save lives".
Rev Woodhouse added: "Stopping or even delaying Saudi Arabia having more planes with which to bomb Yemen would save innocent lives and prevent war crimes."
BAE Systems said the matter was being investigated by Lancashire Police and it was assisting officers with their inquiries.
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 17:04
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Reminds me of this:

BBC - 11 March 2003 - Tornado attack probe launched.

The Ministry of Defence has begun an inquiry after a woman allegedly damaged a Tornado aircraft at RAF Leuchars in Fife.

A 48-year-old woman is due to appear at Cupar Sheriff Court on Wednesday after the incident. An RAF spokeswoman said it was understood that access had been gained to the base near St Andrews and that a hangar had been entered.

Tornados are among the aircraft being deployed to the Gulf but the aircraft involved is not part of the war preparations.

In a statement later, the MoD said: "We are conducting an inquiry into this incident. It is not acceptable for activists to be able to get in and damage an aircraft. "We will do all that we can to learn lessons from this, obviously security is something of an issue and we will continue to tighten it up, but that costs a huge amount of money."

RAF Leuchars is home to 43 and 111 Squadrons which both fly the Tornado F3 in the air defence role.

Meanwhile, two people have appeared at Cupar Sheriff Court in relation to an incident at RAF Leuchars on Monday. Roz Bullen, 33, from Edinburgh, and Petter Joelson, 22, from Glasgow, face two charges of malicious mischief relating to the perimeter fence and spray painting. They made no plea and were allowed bail.

A small group of anti-war protesters were outside the base on Saturday and were faced by a counter-demonstration staged by families of RAF personnel. Banners were held up by the forces families, urging people to "support our troops".
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 18:05
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Reminds me of this:


pounds 1.5m Hawk attack women freed | The Independent
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 18:24
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LOL - reminds me of a group of anti-war demonstrators turned up at RAF Gutersloh one Sunday lunchtime; demanding we cease storing nuclear weapons; in view of the fact it was pouring down with rain, we didn't have the heart to leave the Sgts Mess bar and go and tell them we didn't have any.
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 19:20
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I think the rev Woodhouse should now spend some time looking after the needy in one of HM's plush hostels, Wormwood maybe.
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 19:37
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A pity the use of lethal force is not authorised within an area which is under the protection of the Official Secrets Act.

I wonder what would happen to these two if they tried trespassing at the Lockheed plant in Fort Worth. Perhaps one of out Texas based members could enlighten us?.
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 19:55
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Another Tornado base (RAF Leeming)... 2004

Always felt weird being on the main gate, by yourself for 2hrs...this certainly gave you a friend to talk too..

BBC NEWS | UK | England | North Yorkshire | Peace woman walked into RAF base
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 20:42
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Nukes at RAF Leeming?. Not quite. In fact, no nukes at any RAF base-as opposed to RAF Lakenheath, which is a USAF base masquarading as a RAF base since the WE169 was taken out of service.

Poor standards of reporting on the BBC.
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Old 29th Jan 2017, 20:53
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Nothing new about 'activists' not being prosecuted for vandalizing military aircraft in the UK.

“I was the pilot in this video, but did not fly the SR-71 out of RAF Greenham Common. I was the “mobile control” officer when the aircraft departed and the pilot was Maj Jim Jiggens, a USAF Thunderbird pilot and formally a US Army helicopter combat pilot in Vietnam.

On the evening of the air show featured in this video, women, who were protesting President Reagan’s decision to station intermediate nuclear missiles in England, broke into the security cordon around the air show aircraft and threw paint on several, including this SR-71.

Owing to the unique metals associated with the SR-71, the removing of the paint required special maintenance procedures to assure that no “hot spot” would develop on subsequent flights. It was quite a hassle and we were not amused over this incident.

Jim and I planned a farewell departure for the protesters who were encamped in a squalor of tents just outside the main gate. Jim obtained clearance for a “closed pattern” and turned to a downwind leg, descended to about 100 feet above the ground, and flew directly over the protesters’ encampment. It was early and probably most were asleep, but not for long.

Jim was flying about 250 knots and selected afterburner in both engines as he was approaching the tents. As the SR-71 accelerated to 350-400 knots, he pulled up and focused the plume (and noise) directly on the protesters. It was a magnificent sight.

I also had the honor to prefer charges against the women, but the British government later declined to prosecute.”

Lt.Col B.C. Thomas, USAF
From Col. Rich Graham's SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story:

In July of 1985, an SR-71 was flown to [England], on static display for visiting King Hussein of Jordan. The very next day, British nuclear protesters threw paint on the SR-71. There was no permanent damage to the aircraft. Several days later crews flew “low” passes over the protesters tents near [the RAF air base]. Rumor had it that several tents were leveled and hearing problems lasted for hours afterwards.”
From:

https://tacairnet.com/2014/11/07/blackbirds-revenge/
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 01:21
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Detached from RAFG, we were warned there was a CND camp outside Lossie and we were to avoid talking to them etc...
First night there sampling the local brew downtown and staggering back past it to see four of our guys in it having a party with some of them.

Anyone remember the Greenham Common Tepees and the news that one night a car had pulled up when they were sleeping, the flap opened and a large selection of fishing maggots were chucked inside..... ohh, how I laughed when I read that.
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 06:48
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What part of premeditated criminal damage to a front line jet putting it out of action does not constitute SABOTAGE.

Who knows if these particular jets were destined for RSA, it is irrelevant. They were on British soil. Should the need arise they would be frontline UK in short order.

A long custodial period in an uncomfortable environment is called for. Since we are at war in various places around the world, the "Protesters should be considered fortunate in having not been shot.

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Old 30th Jan 2017, 09:50
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Originally Posted by Thaihawk
Nukes at RAF Leeming?. Not quite. In fact, no nukes at any RAF base-as opposed to RAF Lakenheath, which is a USAF base masquarading as a RAF base since the WE169 was taken out of service.

Poor standards of reporting on the BBC.
Wrong on three counts!
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 10:33
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Detached from RAFG, we were warned there was a CND camp outside Lossie and we were to avoid talking to them etc...
First night there sampling the local brew downtown and staggering back past it to see four of our guys in it having a party with some of them.
That was before the unfortunate fire that gutted their caravan in a Scottish mid winter and they had nowhere to stay
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 12:17
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Originally Posted by NutLoose
Anyone remember the Greenham Common Tepees and the news that one night a car had pulled up when they were sleeping, the flap opened and a large selection of fishing maggots were chucked inside..... ohh, how I laughed when I read that.
Cruelty to maggots!
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 13:05
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Several days later crews flew “low” passes over the protesters tents near [the RAF air base]. Rumor had it that several tents were leveled and hearing problems lasted for hours afterwards.”
This I like very much, hoorah!
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 13:25
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Jet noise, the sound of freedom.......
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 13:31
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Strange to read that such things happen.

Agree that those guys should be happy of not catching "flying lead". Also, letting them enjoy the music of a plane (they attempted to damage) breaking the sound barrier at low altitude could be a right bonus.

Or let them repeat this trick in Saudi Arabia - would be interesting to hear the results.
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 14:55
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RAF Leeming (1986) whilst it was under 'care & maintenance' had a peace camp for about 3 weeks. A handful of us were living in the Mess at Leeming (Catterick was full) and commuting daily in the ancient RAF MT bus. We used to wave cheerily to the protestors on the way out in the morning and on the way back in at the end of the day. I thinks that was the sum of their excitement. They didn't hang about for too long.....
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 15:28
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Re the SR71 - that was one of the reasons the F117 had armed UK Police guards round it when it eventually pitched up at fairford for IAT
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Old 30th Jan 2017, 15:55
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I remember that Liverpool court case of the women who caused a million quid's worth of damage to a Hawk with hammers and were acquitted.

Liverpool juries are a little "different" when it comes to punishing people who break the law, just ask Ken Dodd. Over here in the US you would choose a jury in California - who would probably also have given them a payment from court funds.
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