Memories of RAFG
Some photos from my album of the married quarter we occupied in the Bunte Garden area of Monchengladbach. Most of our neighbours worked in JHQ plus there were some who worked in Ayrshire Barracks in Moenchengladbach and a couple of others who worked at a depot near Dusseldorf.
I installed the rotatable antenna on the roof so we could receive TV from Dutch and Belgian transmitters as well as German stations. Dutch and Belgian TV tended to broadcast many BBC and American shows in original English with Dutch or Belgian sub-titles whereas German TV often dubbed these into German, overall it worked very well indeed.
Above views of our lounge and dining room.
One routine my wife and I got into was on Saturday to go shopping over the border in Venlo – the market was fabulous, especially for fruit vegetables and fish and being Holland flowers too!
Finally - being not far from Borussia Monchengladbach's football stadium, on home-match days fans parked everywhere - this is our quarter besieged by cars!
Enjoy - WT!
I installed the rotatable antenna on the roof so we could receive TV from Dutch and Belgian transmitters as well as German stations. Dutch and Belgian TV tended to broadcast many BBC and American shows in original English with Dutch or Belgian sub-titles whereas German TV often dubbed these into German, overall it worked very well indeed.
Above views of our lounge and dining room.
One routine my wife and I got into was on Saturday to go shopping over the border in Venlo – the market was fabulous, especially for fruit vegetables and fish and being Holland flowers too!
Finally - being not far from Borussia Monchengladbach's football stadium, on home-match days fans parked everywhere - this is our quarter besieged by cars!
Enjoy - WT!
Last edited by Warmtoast; 16th Dec 2017 at 15:26.
Somewhere not far from Gutersloh there is a china clay (or similar) quarry where it was not unusual to find quite naked ladies mud-bathing/baking thence swimming/washing before repeating the process. Does anyone remember where it was? Or is it just another of those recurring dreams?
For my sins I was an Hon. Member of one of the Hunter squadrons at EDUO.
Their photo-recces certainly brought back excellent images of such cavortings.
I should perhaps add that my "membership" rested not on forecasting prowess, but on my perceived ability to recognise recce. shots of WW II armour relics scattered across NW Europe.
Their photo-recces certainly brought back excellent images of such cavortings.
I should perhaps add that my "membership" rested not on forecasting prowess, but on my perceived ability to recognise recce. shots of WW II armour relics scattered across NW Europe.
Last edited by langleybaston; 18th Dec 2017 at 15:22. Reason: added a letter r in about the correct position
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Gutersloh 1984 - 1986. I/C Harrier Wing Bay trying to keep up the supply of wings & building wings to Phase Six standard.
Had no war role until made 'Deputy Camp Commandant' which meant first into the field & last out. Worst experience ever - three weeks camping in the North German wilderness. Best experience a shower & a beer post deployment but SWMBO telling me to strip outside the front door as I stank to high heaven.
The only good thing that came out of deployment was playing with toys, like tanks, which our Army friends allowed us to drive.
Did any one beat the compo ration competition of going without a sh1t for 14 days?
When not deployed exercises were spent locked behind the double WW2 blast doors in my office!
The other half was the 'secretary' for Zeitung 47 in the days of copy, cut paste. This job opened many doors in the local community for the two of us
Lived in a very nice first floor apartment at the end of Paulus Strasse, Harsewinkle.
Had no war role until made 'Deputy Camp Commandant' which meant first into the field & last out. Worst experience ever - three weeks camping in the North German wilderness. Best experience a shower & a beer post deployment but SWMBO telling me to strip outside the front door as I stank to high heaven.
The only good thing that came out of deployment was playing with toys, like tanks, which our Army friends allowed us to drive.
Did any one beat the compo ration competition of going without a sh1t for 14 days?
When not deployed exercises were spent locked behind the double WW2 blast doors in my office!
The other half was the 'secretary' for Zeitung 47 in the days of copy, cut paste. This job opened many doors in the local community for the two of us
Lived in a very nice first floor apartment at the end of Paulus Strasse, Harsewinkle.
Dinner was, I believe, 2/6d, or was it DM 2.50? Either way, very good.
Edinburgh House was OK, but ................
Edinburgh House was OK, but ................
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Spotty SAC at the time; After a little success with a local lady near Gutersloh, I was cutting it fine to get in for early shift.
I hadn't been there long so I didn't want to make a bad impression. Missed the early transport run, so set off jogging to work. I got just past the station carp pond "peep peep" - a landrover - "Need a lift? I'm going as far as three if that's any use?" "F'ing great mate, you've saved my arse, cheers" as I climbed aboard. Two seconds of silence followed by a bellowing laugh befitting of Brian Blessed. I glanced across to look at the driver who was wearing a peculiar uniform.
"Ahh, sorry Sir."
More uproarious laughter (him) and a very red face (me).
And that, boys and girls, is how I first met our resident Pongo, the Sqn GLO (how was I to know what all those pips meant?). �� As it turned out he was a smashing bloke who gave me one of those knowing grins when he saw me ever after that.
I hadn't been there long so I didn't want to make a bad impression. Missed the early transport run, so set off jogging to work. I got just past the station carp pond "peep peep" - a landrover - "Need a lift? I'm going as far as three if that's any use?" "F'ing great mate, you've saved my arse, cheers" as I climbed aboard. Two seconds of silence followed by a bellowing laugh befitting of Brian Blessed. I glanced across to look at the driver who was wearing a peculiar uniform.
"Ahh, sorry Sir."
More uproarious laughter (him) and a very red face (me).
And that, boys and girls, is how I first met our resident Pongo, the Sqn GLO (how was I to know what all those pips meant?). �� As it turned out he was a smashing bloke who gave me one of those knowing grins when he saw me ever after that.
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Early Harrier Force Days
Well remember arriving at HF sub-site at Sennelager in early-1970s as on of two Army PI reinforcements. Caused a degree of consternation by arriving with DPM kit, 58 Pattern webbing etc and our own Land Rover. Felt for the RAF guys at that time who were in blue battledress, some with shoes and a variety of patterns of steel helmet - only a German Pickelhaube was absent. By my next deployment the RAF had got its act together and the guys were properly kitted out.
During this deployment we did a slow time move to Geseke and the field kitchen was closed and 24 hour packs issued. Army mess tins were no longer a butt of humour but a prized item. The secret? move went well but as we arrived at Geseke there in the small car park was a mobile bratty shop - so much for secrecy.
I believe the owner of Geseke at the time used to hunt wild boar for a hobby and invited the site personnel to join him on one of these enterprises - the queue was NOT long.
During this deployment we did a slow time move to Geseke and the field kitchen was closed and 24 hour packs issued. Army mess tins were no longer a butt of humour but a prized item. The secret? move went well but as we arrived at Geseke there in the small car park was a mobile bratty shop - so much for secrecy.
I believe the owner of Geseke at the time used to hunt wild boar for a hobby and invited the site personnel to join him on one of these enterprises - the queue was NOT long.
Cromwellian Got rid of all that nonsense , even more so after we moved to Gutersloh. In fact 4 Sqn,'s new 6 Site RIC "leper colony" led the way in kicking out many ingrained and then inappropriate concepts, adding new ideas, as was noted by DS's on Max and Tacevals 
(any fool can be uncomfortable etc.etc..)
(any fool can be uncomfortable etc.etc..)
Timelord & Langleybaston
Berlin Military Train and Menu
Menu below served by staff from Companie International Wagons Lits
Drinks and cigarettes were at BFG Duty Free prices
Not my photo, but passed to me by a friend - looks like it's from a RCT postcard
Berlin Military Train and Menu
Menu below served by staff from Companie International Wagons Lits
Drinks and cigarettes were at BFG Duty Free prices
Not my photo, but passed to me by a friend - looks like it's from a RCT postcard
Last edited by Warmtoast; 19th Dec 2017 at 21:07.
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The Train Conducting Warrent Officer (TCWO) Royal Corps of Transport is employed permanently as a member of the train staff.
Avoid imitations
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The military train was a unique thing. I was lucky enough to have travelled on it on two different trips, about eight years apart. First time was in the usual way, originating in West Germany to Berlin (then back a week later). The second occasion was from Berlin to West Germany then back again on the same day. That was, unknown to everyone, only a week or so before the Berlin Wall was torn down. Nothing to do with me, it was still there when I left it.
It seemed, even then, like travelling in a different era. Being physically locked in a train (doors chained up on the inside) with armed soldiers on board, and the other 'formalities', including the train roof being searched by the East Germans from an overhead gantry, helped bring home the seriousness of the Cold War.
It seemed, even then, like travelling in a different era. Being physically locked in a train (doors chained up on the inside) with armed soldiers on board, and the other 'formalities', including the train roof being searched by the East Germans from an overhead gantry, helped bring home the seriousness of the Cold War.
On posting to Gutersloh the Sqn WO arranged a stay in a hotel local to where our married quarter was going to be, so we were settled prior to march in. The address was No. 1 Thomas-Mann Strasse, and very nice it was too, especially when the heating was upgraded, and windows replaced.
After moving in I decided to go to the Schnellimbiss just around the corner, having practiced my food order in German I walked into a fairly crowded place and when it came to ordering launched into ‘drei frikadelle mit pom frittes bitte’ (have not checked spelling), the old lady picked a frikadelle up with some tongs, waving it in front of me, and proceeded to talk fast German, of which I had no idea what she was saying, plus the audience now sniggering and observing that I was indeed ‘Ein Englander’, thankfully the young daughter took pity on me and told me she was asking if I wanted it hot or cold, having finally got the meal I retreated back to my house to enjoy it.
Over the next 4 years I used it quite regularly, when I was leaving I walked in and as I suspected the old lady did speak English as after I had ordered everything in English she handed me my change and food with a smile and a thank you, certainly helped my German though, I can only remember a very small amount these days.
I bought a bicycle to save me using the car to go to work, used it once, I was trying to use the correct gears, but embarrassingly I found I was struggling to overtake a really old German women on one of those really old bikes from the war era, my excuse for not doing it again was it was to far and to much like hard work.
After moving in I decided to go to the Schnellimbiss just around the corner, having practiced my food order in German I walked into a fairly crowded place and when it came to ordering launched into ‘drei frikadelle mit pom frittes bitte’ (have not checked spelling), the old lady picked a frikadelle up with some tongs, waving it in front of me, and proceeded to talk fast German, of which I had no idea what she was saying, plus the audience now sniggering and observing that I was indeed ‘Ein Englander’, thankfully the young daughter took pity on me and told me she was asking if I wanted it hot or cold, having finally got the meal I retreated back to my house to enjoy it.
Over the next 4 years I used it quite regularly, when I was leaving I walked in and as I suspected the old lady did speak English as after I had ordered everything in English she handed me my change and food with a smile and a thank you, certainly helped my German though, I can only remember a very small amount these days.
I bought a bicycle to save me using the car to go to work, used it once, I was trying to use the correct gears, but embarrassingly I found I was struggling to overtake a really old German women on one of those really old bikes from the war era, my excuse for not doing it again was it was to far and to much like hard work.
Exrigger
I lived on Thomas-Mann Str 83 to 86! And yes, they were lovely houses with full attics and basements. Remember my first trip to the schnelli, and was horrified to have a dollop of mayo on my chips- yuk. The first phrase I learned after arrival in quarters was, 'ohne mayo bitte'! The street was a U shape, and we lived in the far corner (can't recall the number) with the cornfield behind us. (Alongside the brown job WOs and the ancient MAOT. Very happy days on 230.
CG
I lived on Thomas-Mann Str 83 to 86! And yes, they were lovely houses with full attics and basements. Remember my first trip to the schnelli, and was horrified to have a dollop of mayo on my chips- yuk. The first phrase I learned after arrival in quarters was, 'ohne mayo bitte'! The street was a U shape, and we lived in the far corner (can't recall the number) with the cornfield behind us. (Alongside the brown job WOs and the ancient MAOT. Very happy days on 230.
CG
CG, 87 to 91 on 18 Sqn, had a great time overall and probably the best posting out of all the ones. No. 1 was the first one as you turned to go around the horseshoe, the schnelli was at the end of the garden, just went out the gate at the bottom.
I nearly caused an incident as I had borrowed a HIAB fitted truck from work to load up my old Rover SD1 and take it to the Gutersloh scrap heap, loading was no problem even though it stuck out over the back, what I had not noticed was the huge nail sticking out of the wooden beam in the back of the truck, it punctured the fuel tank, the resultant fuel began its trail down towards the main road, so frantically got out the hose and started trying to wash it back onto to the grass verge outside the house, thankfully the police car did not stop and I left on the journey to camp trailing less and less fuel until it had finished leaking.
I nearly caused an incident as I had borrowed a HIAB fitted truck from work to load up my old Rover SD1 and take it to the Gutersloh scrap heap, loading was no problem even though it stuck out over the back, what I had not noticed was the huge nail sticking out of the wooden beam in the back of the truck, it punctured the fuel tank, the resultant fuel began its trail down towards the main road, so frantically got out the hose and started trying to wash it back onto to the grass verge outside the house, thankfully the police car did not stop and I left on the journey to camp trailing less and less fuel until it had finished leaking.
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Cromwellian Got rid of all that nonsense , even more so after we moved to Gutersloh. In fact 4 Sqn,'s new 6 Site RIC "leper colony" led the way in kicking out many ingrained and then inappropriate concepts, adding new ideas, as was noted by DS's on Max and Tacevals (any fool can be uncomfortable etc.etc..)
(any fool can be uncomfortable etc.etc..)