The BRIXMIS Story
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Absolutely correct, my confusion with one of our other three aircraft.
I was quite surprised this did not get a mention in Pete Jeffries book.
This aircraft was quite odd with a second Nav Stn special floor with fittings for three two man racks and seats. A big power supply rack, extra lox pot and fans with complex cooling ducting under the floor.
It was all ripped out and turned into a flat floor before being shipped off back to 115. Not sure if it went to NZ or South America.
Used to use a fair bit of water meths when we took off from Wyton,
All the drawings of this went up to Waddington along with those of the Varsity on microfilm.
I was quite surprised this did not get a mention in Pete Jeffries book.
This aircraft was quite odd with a second Nav Stn special floor with fittings for three two man racks and seats. A big power supply rack, extra lox pot and fans with complex cooling ducting under the floor.
It was all ripped out and turned into a flat floor before being shipped off back to 115. Not sure if it went to NZ or South America.
Used to use a fair bit of water meths when we took off from Wyton,
All the drawings of this went up to Waddington along with those of the Varsity on microfilm.
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BEagle
"Not just 16/8 per day though, didn't we also have free haircuts from the Mad Slasher?"
There was nothing free about the haircuts! It was the ultimate insult - we were charged for 4 haircuts a month on our mess bills, whether you had them or not. After you swanned off to a life of leisure at university and we moved up to College Hall, there was a revolt by the cadets at an AGM, as virtually everyone went into Sleaford or Grantham for a haircut rather than suffer the indignities of College Hall Slasher, who therefore spent most of his days reading the paper. We demanded that we should only pay for haircuts taken. Shock horror from PMC and staff - mutterings about mutiny. Overwhelmingly voted for by cadets, and then vetoed by PMC. However, the staff later relented and we just paid per haircut. Amazingly, the quality of the haircuts improved no end....
"Not just 16/8 per day though, didn't we also have free haircuts from the Mad Slasher?"
There was nothing free about the haircuts! It was the ultimate insult - we were charged for 4 haircuts a month on our mess bills, whether you had them or not. After you swanned off to a life of leisure at university and we moved up to College Hall, there was a revolt by the cadets at an AGM, as virtually everyone went into Sleaford or Grantham for a haircut rather than suffer the indignities of College Hall Slasher, who therefore spent most of his days reading the paper. We demanded that we should only pay for haircuts taken. Shock horror from PMC and staff - mutterings about mutiny. Overwhelmingly voted for by cadets, and then vetoed by PMC. However, the staff later relented and we just paid per haircut. Amazingly, the quality of the haircuts improved no end....
In 1952 as a Boy Entrant on 2/6 a day, we were deducted a 1/- a month, for which we had an many haircuts as we were told to have.
Haraka - good job you were not a Lightning flt cdr at Binbrook in the early 1980s. One ISTR was severely marked down on his F1369 by the staish for wearing jeans when gardening!
BTW, I have the book and have learned a lot
BTW, I have the book and have learned a lot
Thread Starter
Chipmunk Camera Vibration/ASA
BEagle
We tended to use 400ASA B/W film mostly, with occasional 400ASA Ektachrome for colour if the colour added more int to the target. Because both the 500 and the 1000mm mirror lenses had fixed apertures, the only control available was either shutter speed or pushing the ASA. On the ground, even in the summer, using the 1000mm handheld against the underneath of aircraft, it was necessary to find your own personal minimum shutter speed, which came with lots of practise. Mine was 250th, so the ASA had to be pushed to match that - normally from 800 ASA up to 6400ASA in the grey days of winter - unless the snow on the ground gave a reflective helping hand. In the aircraft, the same applied, although 500th was my minimum, making sure you never touched the cockpit surrounds. In later years (after 1988ish) the Mission changed generally to 400ASA colour print, but the analysts tended to prefer B/W for getting into details.
We tended to use 400ASA B/W film mostly, with occasional 400ASA Ektachrome for colour if the colour added more int to the target. Because both the 500 and the 1000mm mirror lenses had fixed apertures, the only control available was either shutter speed or pushing the ASA. On the ground, even in the summer, using the 1000mm handheld against the underneath of aircraft, it was necessary to find your own personal minimum shutter speed, which came with lots of practise. Mine was 250th, so the ASA had to be pushed to match that - normally from 800 ASA up to 6400ASA in the grey days of winter - unless the snow on the ground gave a reflective helping hand. In the aircraft, the same applied, although 500th was my minimum, making sure you never touched the cockpit surrounds. In later years (after 1988ish) the Mission changed generally to 400ASA colour print, but the analysts tended to prefer B/W for getting into details.
Thread revival, reading the Tony Geraghty book regarding BRIXMIS. We have been regaled on various threads about the Chipmunks and Pembrokes but what about the ground tours chasing around what was East Germany and their many areas of interest. I remember the old Recognition Journal and their very blurred pictures taken in East Germany. Is there anybody here who can tell a story of what happened on the ground? Some indeed had a lot of 'interaction' with both the Russians including Spetznaz and the Stasi who they called 'narks'. I suspect there is still an interesting story to tell.
BRIXMIS is one of the most interesting parts of the cold war for me, by far. I remember reading a book about it - probably the Geraghty one - on holiday and not being able to put it down. And that's probably the tame stuff.
I was born 25 years late.
I was born 25 years late.
I’ve just finished BRIXMIS, The Last Cold War Mission by Steve Gibson. I’ve always been interested in the mission as one of my old nav instructors did a tour there. He gets a mention in the book.
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Checkpoint Charlie by Iain Macgregor is also a good [lockdown] read, covering the post war years in good detail and explaining WHY some events occurred. It talks about Brixmis, and is particularly good concerning the military confrontations and actions when the wall came down, with insights into the Soviet attitude and Russian patriotic priorities. It's very readable as it relies on witness narratives.
I remember watching a video (from the driver's perspective) inside a UK BRIXMIS vehicle that was driving around East Germany when they came across a convoy and on being spotted sensed mal-intentions from the GDR commander and the UK vehicle started reversing at speed in fight or flight mode to get away and avoid conflict. I'm sure there were times that this was not possible and violence ensued.
US Major Nicholson got shot by a soviet guard while on duty within East Germany. At the end of this link (from page 14) there is some East German secret police document from that time. Note that first aid was denied.
https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/108637...n_Missions.pdf
From the original Stasi report:
On several occasions mission vehicles were intentionally rammed. At least one French soldier died this way. This was no game but serious business.
https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/108637...n_Missions.pdf
From the original Stasi report:
After about ten minutes the vehicle entered the shooting range once more and stopped approximately 30 meters in front of the tank sheds. Major Nicholson left the vehicle, approached the tank sheds, tried to open them, and took photographs. These actions were observed by the Soviet guard. At 3.55 p.m. the guard acted according to his instructions. After a warning call not acknowledged by Nicholson, the guard fired a warning shot. Nicholson ignored it and sprinted directly to his vehicle. He still did not stop when ordered. Thereafter the Soviet guard fired a targeted shot, Nicholson went down about three meters in front of his vehicle. Sergeant Schatz was prevented by the Soviet guard to leave the vehicle. Nicholson died at the place of action.
Last edited by Less Hair; 5th Nov 2020 at 13:49.
Thought police antagonist
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I'm sure it would be equally interesting to learn about Soxmis little ventures and sight seeing tours.....
Checkpoint Charlie by Iain Macgregor is also a good [lockdown] read, covering the post war years in good detail and explaining WHY some events occurred. It talks about Brixmis, and is particularly good concerning the military confrontations and actions when the wall came down, with insights into the Soviet attitude and Russian patriotic priorities. It's very readable as it relies on witness narratives.
many thanks for the recommendation, and I heartily endorse your comments, acquired it via Amazon kindle and it is indeed a fascinating read.
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I always wanted to join the RAF, and remember reading books about aircraft in the late 70s/early 80s. I often wondered where the grainy aircraft photos came from. I have now been in the RAF for 32 years and have a Father-in-Law who was on BRIXMIS. His stories are certainly interesting, and he is very proud of the fact that he was never caught by the 'narks'. He tells a story about being the driver on one mission when they were ambushed by East German forces. The RAF Officer in the back was crying with fear and demanded that they surrender. My Father-in-Law ignored this and sped off bouncing across fields and ditches back to homeplate. They made it back safely and he drove the wrecked Opel back into MT and immediately signed for a brand new one!
Thread Starter
This may be disappointing, but I can assure you that the photographs taken out on the ground in the GDR were clear and in focus. The decision to blur them was a policy decision to try to hide our capabilities from the Sovs. I don't think it did! As to what went on on the ground, the following is an extract from some notes about a (relatively) normal day for an Air Tour in the mid-80s - Air Tour being normally an RAF officer and WO (Master Aircrew) plus a cpl driver who could have been RAF or army.It was almost impossible to come up with a first sighting of a major item of equipment such as an aircraft, missile or radar system, since virtually all of them had been observed by other means whilst under development in the Soviet Union, but the essential item that the Mission could bring to the intelligence solution was the close-up, or, particularly, the view from underneath. On aircraft, the images of flying controls, pods, weapons and antennae were something that only observation from ground level could obtain. Military attaches were another source of such imagery, but they were severely constricted by their diplomatic status as to where they could go, whilst the Mission could play the "risk versus gain" game without such concerns. In addition, unlike the basically static images that could be derived from satellite imagery of new aircraft or weapons in the Soviet Union, Mission tourers could observe and record them in use, seeing tactics, manoeuvres and weapon delivery as it happened. As with all elements of the overall intelligence "picture", the art and success comes with an analyst's ability to link together information from a number of sources to complete the "big picture".
One of these occurrences came during a visit to Altenburg Soviet airfield, between Leipzig and Dresden. This was the home of a regiment of Flogger J strike/attack aircraft, and was a popular destination for air tours as it seemed to be one of the higher grades of unit that introduced new weapons and tactics. We were able to establish ourselves in a good OP and then heard a fairly large number of aircraft taking off - we were at the landing end of the airfield. About 40 minutes later, a stream of Flogger Js came into land, many of which were carrying a new (to us) pod of some sort on the wing pylons. In good weather we were able to get good pictures of each of them on the approach, and, in our log, record the bort (side) number, weapon/pod fit and, more usefully, the exact landing time. Unable to decide what was going on, we waited, and, within a couple of hours, had a repeat performance, but, this time, were able to image the strange pods to see that they now had openings in the bottom, revealing empty interiors. Interestingly, we could also see that the bort numbers were landing in exactly the same sequence as in the morning. On returning to West Berlin, we commented on this in the Highlight Report which was circulated around the various intelligence units in Berlin, including the US and French Missions, and, by the next morning were receiving numbers of requests for further information.
This event led to a very useful series of discussions and reports. The Altenburg Floggers in the first wave had flown to the main Soviet air-to-ground range at Gadow Rossow, to the north-west of Berlin. There they had flown a rehearsal for the afternoon live demonstration of a coordinated attack using the new pods, which turned out to be a form of bomb dispenser. This activity was observed by an air tour from the US Mission, and had also featured in the overwatch of the signals intelligence (Sigint) and radar units. When all the images from the tours, plus the description of tactics used at the range, were put together with the radar plot and the identification of individual aircraft with their weapon fit or new pod, plus the ability of the Sigint units to tie together bort number, weapon/pod fit and therefore callsign from the accurate landing times that we were able to provide, a first-rate report was able to be produced.
One of these occurrences came during a visit to Altenburg Soviet airfield, between Leipzig and Dresden. This was the home of a regiment of Flogger J strike/attack aircraft, and was a popular destination for air tours as it seemed to be one of the higher grades of unit that introduced new weapons and tactics. We were able to establish ourselves in a good OP and then heard a fairly large number of aircraft taking off - we were at the landing end of the airfield. About 40 minutes later, a stream of Flogger Js came into land, many of which were carrying a new (to us) pod of some sort on the wing pylons. In good weather we were able to get good pictures of each of them on the approach, and, in our log, record the bort (side) number, weapon/pod fit and, more usefully, the exact landing time. Unable to decide what was going on, we waited, and, within a couple of hours, had a repeat performance, but, this time, were able to image the strange pods to see that they now had openings in the bottom, revealing empty interiors. Interestingly, we could also see that the bort numbers were landing in exactly the same sequence as in the morning. On returning to West Berlin, we commented on this in the Highlight Report which was circulated around the various intelligence units in Berlin, including the US and French Missions, and, by the next morning were receiving numbers of requests for further information.
This event led to a very useful series of discussions and reports. The Altenburg Floggers in the first wave had flown to the main Soviet air-to-ground range at Gadow Rossow, to the north-west of Berlin. There they had flown a rehearsal for the afternoon live demonstration of a coordinated attack using the new pods, which turned out to be a form of bomb dispenser. This activity was observed by an air tour from the US Mission, and had also featured in the overwatch of the signals intelligence (Sigint) and radar units. When all the images from the tours, plus the description of tactics used at the range, were put together with the radar plot and the identification of individual aircraft with their weapon fit or new pod, plus the ability of the Sigint units to tie together bort number, weapon/pod fit and therefore callsign from the accurate landing times that we were able to provide, a first-rate report was able to be produced.
Thread Starter
With regard to injuries and deaths, Adjutant Chef Mariotti of the French Mission was killed in a deliberate ramming set up by the Stasi in Halle on 22 Mar 84. Nick Nicholson of the US Mission was shot on 23 Mar 85. BRIXMIS did not suffer any deaths, but there were numerous incidents, including serious wounding from gunshots, over the years. BRIXMIS was the largest Mission, with 31 Soviet passes (ie 31 personnel could travel in the GDR), whilst the French only had 18 and the US 14. That did mean that BRX could tour with 3 personnel in each vehicle, which was much safer for lookout etc than the 2 that the US were obliged to use. The French used either 2 or 3, depending on the task. All 3 Missions had many rammings and attempted rammings by Soviet and East German military, but they, unless injury resulted, were looked on as a working hazard. Luckily, I don't think H&S applied in the GDR, and I don't remember anyone being tasked to write an H&S Risk Assessment!
Ramming an apple from the rat-pack into the flash-eliminator of a cannon while avoiding detection as a trainload of vehicles was sat in a marshalling-yard gave us the calibre of the main armament carried by BMP-2. There are a number of verified 'tourists' on ARRSE.