Memories of RAFG
Never stationed there, but visited frequently with 360, initially in WD935, the 6th Canberra B2, which was still in old black and grey. Also had bomb shackles so could winch up pnniers containing lamb joints to keep the RAFG masses happy. I recall same aircraft flown into a clutch airfield with an all RN crew, which foxed the plods so they arrested all three for stealing the aircraft. later on with the T17s we were allowed to fight back when exercising with Lightnings. The Canberra could turn well at altitude and I briefly got on the tail of a Lightning at night, pressed the tx button and called "murder, murder". Pity it was OC 92, not my ex Cranwell mate B...n C....d who I thought it was. Got a severe talking to
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Laarbruch '77
OC 'A', (in capacity as Ground Defence Commander) decrees that, in order to get into the spirit of things, when the hooter goes, all off base personnel are to drive in wearing NBC kit and gas mask. Personnel all state that they are not too sure that their car insurance would be too happy with that, so will wait for coaches to pick them up from quarters in Goch, etc. Order rescinded.
OC 'A', (in capacity as Ground Defence Commander) decrees that, in order to get into the spirit of things, when the hooter goes, all off base personnel are to drive in wearing NBC kit and gas mask. Personnel all state that they are not too sure that their car insurance would be too happy with that, so will wait for coaches to pick them up from quarters in Goch, etc. Order rescinded.
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Wasn't there a bank robbery too when an airman during NBC Black walked into the bank, held it up with his weapon, stuffed the pockets of his NBC kit full of money then walked out to join the rest of the weapon carrying Gas Mask ( I can call it that now ) and NBC kitted throng... the failure in the cunning plan, he had his name rank and bloodgroup taped across the front of his NBC kit as you do..
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RAF plod and dog walking the Squadron site kicks something on the ground, looking down he realises it is a practice bomb, returning jet had shut down on the main taxyway, armourers rerole it as tug hooked up and moves it into HAS, armourers following, removed bombs missed in the dark until the plod finds them..
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Heading to do engine change at Gut, Sgt in co pilots seat asleep, hurtling up the Autobahn as fast as the poor Sherpa would go, comes up on a little black RAFG car, driver starts to slow down, I say its probably just some SAC driver, Cpl driving agrees so floors it again. gets lost, arrives Gut and man on gate says ahhh we have been expecting you... OC Ops would like to speak to the driver and the senior person in the vehicle, Sgt just awake looks around with that dumb what did I miss look... I make myself as small as possible in the back of the minibus.
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Sleeping on a X4 load of 1000lb'ers on a S type in an unheated Mk1 HAS was actually doable and oddly comfortable apart from the frost....installing the wiring to add spills was probably my least favourite working experience-3 days going round in circles in zone 19..highlight possibly could have been finding different idented lead seals front and rear on pre load checks ROFL ... but on hindsight best experience was being removed from sanger suffering from hypothermia (along with the rest of the off sector guards on 16 who had been in position for 23 hours in minus 15 and 2 feet of snowfalling) saw out the rest of maxival in med center wrapped in hairy blankets sipping tepid soup-bliss apart from feet...they weren't too blissful..
Buster15... now that you mention it, I remember in the First Gulf War, after the declaration, the Tornados launching from Bruggen. We lived in Montfort on the Dutch side, they went off in the evening and I wished them God's Speed. Later in the following morning they returned and as I had counted them out, I counted them back in again. Aviation is a wonderful fellowship, I worked in ATC at Eurocontrol/Maastricht UAC. Happy days, now behind me. Just my thoughts.
Petrol coupons but first the Tick Test.
Just about every squadron and every section had a complete set of the very limited number of exam papers, correctly ticked.
Seitenstreifen nicht befahrbar.
I cannot be the only joker who, having passed first time [my boss: "nobody but nobody from Met. has ever failed"] ticked a lot of wrong boxes and added the crib to the communal pool.
It worked.
Then the annual BFG check on the car. Judging by the very dubious cars that passed, money must have changed hands.
Petrol coupons brought on strange greed and miserliness. Several times my car was running on fumes, a long way from home, having passed up several filling stations that were this year's "wrong ones" for accepting coupons.
There was a garage in/near Elmpt that provided new tyres in exchange for a fistful of coupons. Naughty but nice.
Just about every squadron and every section had a complete set of the very limited number of exam papers, correctly ticked.
Seitenstreifen nicht befahrbar.
I cannot be the only joker who, having passed first time [my boss: "nobody but nobody from Met. has ever failed"] ticked a lot of wrong boxes and added the crib to the communal pool.
It worked.
Then the annual BFG check on the car. Judging by the very dubious cars that passed, money must have changed hands.
Petrol coupons brought on strange greed and miserliness. Several times my car was running on fumes, a long way from home, having passed up several filling stations that were this year's "wrong ones" for accepting coupons.
There was a garage in/near Elmpt that provided new tyres in exchange for a fistful of coupons. Naughty but nice.
Last edited by langleybaston; 9th Nov 2017 at 16:45.
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One vivid memory of RAFG was in the bunker at Laarbruch in the mid 70s where I was an Ops bod. The night shift was deadly but a safari bed and green maggot whiled away the dark hours. Nobody could get in after all. There were 2 key holders for the safe, the other being the airman on the "floor". O.C. WRAF decided that it being a non sleeping shift, here gels could work nights. At Oh Christ hundred the teleprinter leapt into life. I reached out to the console and said "Keys to the bridge" and rolled out of bed. "Sh!t there's a Wraf on duty" so pulling my trousers on I got to the safe. A delightfully dishevelled young lady arrived up the stairs with the key nestling in the cleavage of a shell pink bra I recall, just as the 2ATAF Taceval team and the Staish burst though the office door.
"We will observe the Station Call Out then retire while your staff regain their decorum" said Wg Cdr La T*****. the team leader. The Staish gave me the death stare. Often wondered why my career stagnated.
"We will observe the Station Call Out then retire while your staff regain their decorum" said Wg Cdr La T*****. the team leader. The Staish gave me the death stare. Often wondered why my career stagnated.
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Wasn't there a bank robbery too when an airman during NBC Black walked into the bank, held it up with his weapon, stuffed the pockets of his NBC kit full of money then walked out to join the rest of the weapon carrying Gas Mask ( I can call it that now ) and NBC kitted throng... the failure in the cunning plan, he had his name rank and bloodgroup taped across the front of his NBC kit as you do..
Mr B, correct of course, 1969. Must have got carried away remembering the DA incident (can't remember what happened to said cpl) when the moon landing came to mind and too dim to check the date.
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Left hand didn't know what right hand was doing
Gut in the 90's. For some reason Gut had a public holiday mid week that wasn't enjoyed by the rest of RAFG. A games night was organised between the Officers and Sgts Messes and a very good night was had by all. I got home at about 0400hrs and then RAFG Command HQ called an exercise at 0600hrs. I cycled to work and sat in the toilets with my head in my hands, most people drove to work. For some reason EndEx was called at 0800hrs. 
(All times approx.)
(All times approx.)
What was the name of that restaurant near Rheindalen that served amazing chicken?
Fuchsbau?? Something like that. Never tasted the same before or since. 1974-7 Harriers.
Fuchsbau?? Something like that. Never tasted the same before or since. 1974-7 Harriers.
Wasn't there a bank robbery too when an airman during NBC Black walked into the bank, held it up with his weapon, stuffed the pockets of his NBC kit full of money then walked out to join the rest of the weapon carrying Gas Mask ( I can call it that now ) and NBC kitted throng... the failure in the cunning plan, he had his name rank and bloodgroup taped across the front of his NBC kit as you do..
There was another, similar, escapade where a couple of 'equally smart lads' got some dosh out of a bank at Wildenrath and the call went out on BFBS Radio and TV (it was there then) for all listeners/viewers to be on the look out for the getaway car...a brown Allegro!
In a country full of VW's, Merc's and Beemers, they didn't last long!
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Actual German name (you are correct) 'Im Fuchsbau' in the Hardterwald
It was still there in 2009 when I was at language school, and still did the hottest chicken rub known to man - so scharf wie scharf kann sein, bitte!
langleybaston #49
At Rheindahlen the fearsome German who examined us for the BFG Driving Licence (with the dreaded 'Tick-test') issued SOXMIS forms to successful BFG licence applicants promising dire consequences if we failed to report sighted SOXMIS vehicles.
This is the form in question.
Petrol Coupons but first the Tick Test
This is the form in question.
MG Bank Robbery
This has gone down in the anals of history. I remember the BFBS TV announcement; " We interrupt this broadcast of Corinna Schnarbels and her German speaking parrot to bring you news of an armed heist in downtown MG"
If I remember rightly the poor fella was under pressure to take his wife and kids on holiday and dipped into the sports club fund he was treasurer of. Which unfortunately then became the subject of an unannounced audit.
He wasn't long on the run before the meatheads collared him, last I heard he was a cause celebre in the Bruggen glasshouse. RAFG's very own own Norman Stanley Fletcher.
This has gone down in the anals of history. I remember the BFBS TV announcement; " We interrupt this broadcast of Corinna Schnarbels and her German speaking parrot to bring you news of an armed heist in downtown MG"
If I remember rightly the poor fella was under pressure to take his wife and kids on holiday and dipped into the sports club fund he was treasurer of. Which unfortunately then became the subject of an unannounced audit.
He wasn't long on the run before the meatheads collared him, last I heard he was a cause celebre in the Bruggen glasshouse. RAFG's very own own Norman Stanley Fletcher.
BFG - Tax free cars
Here’s my experience of tax and duty-free car purchases when I was posted to JHQ Rheindahlen in the early 1970’s
I was vaguely aware of the tax and duty-free shopping privileges available in Germany, but decided I’d make use of the UK’s Personal Export Scheme to buy a new car before I departed for Germany, so I sold my trusty Ford Anglia to a neighbour and with the proceeds had enough cash to put towards a new car.
At the time (late 1971) I wasn’t totally au-fait with the car purchase situation for Germany so was tempted enough to take advantage of the UK’s Personal Export Scheme whereby one bought a car in the UK without Purchase Tax provided one exported it permanently within a certain time (about three months I think) after purchase. With a young family and having examined the market and taken advice from friends, a new Austin Maxi 1750cc with rear seats that folded down to a bed seemed to be an ideal family car. So I went ahead and purchased a new Maxi as a personal export vehicle, paying the princely sum of £837 pounds i.e. UK price less Purchase Tax. I exported it in January 1971 and this car served me and the family well for our initial two years in Germany, but in 1974 knowing I’d be returning to the UK in mid-1975 decided that a new and up-market car at a BFG Tax and Duty free price would be a sensible long-term choice — the only stipulation to importing into the UK at the end of one’s tour without paying tax etc. was that it had to be registered in one’s name and be more than one-year old. No problems with this, as when I returned to the UK a year later I would meet these HM Customs’ requirements, and so it was.
Maxi with family en-route to Italy 1972 - taking a break near the San Bernardino pass in Switzerland
At Rheindahlen one was spoilt for choice when buying a new car as on Saturdays the environs of the JHQ NAAFI and the car park outside were filled with a plethora of car dealers all after one’s custom.
Having taken to camping in a big way in the first two years of our tour in Germany, an estate car with plenty of room would tick all the boxes, so I arranged a test drive of a Volvo estate. The dealer was very generous and allowed one to drive around for half-a-day — and I was hooked. A Volvo 145 Estate it was to be. Altogether it cost me the equivalent to £1,300 sterling.
Despite the relatively low price, all car prices whether British, German and French or others included a “delivery” charge and for Volvos from Sweden to Germany the delivery charges were a bit on the steep side. After forty-years I can’t remember exactly what it was, but the dealer did suggest an alternative where one could take personal delivery at Volvo’s plant in Gothenburg in Sweden. Having done the sums it was clear that the cost of a railway journey from Moenchengladbach to Gothenburg plus the cost of a hotel and fuel for the return would be cheaper than paying the relatively steep “delivery charge”. So I opted for a “personal” collection from Volvo in Sweden. This was a relatively simple process. I paid a deposit to the dealer and he placed the order with Volvo. All that was necessary then was to get a bankers draft payable to Volvo for the balance from the bank where I banked in Germany (Rheindahlen’s Commerzbank). A copy of the BFG registration document as arranged in advance with the BFG licensing authorities, a green (insurance) card, BFG number plates, a GB sticker and that was it.
The train journey from Moenchengladbach was via Hamburg (change), Copenhagen (change) and then direct to Gothenburg. The timetable showed I could leave Moenchengladbach in the evening, change late at night at Hamburg and catch the overnight train to Denmark arriving at Copenhagen very early in the morning. At Copenhagen one caught the first early morning train to Gothenburg. In those days international trains were conveyed by the ferry across the water, the passenger railway carriages were driven onto the ferry and driven off at the destination terminal, a new locomotive was attached and the journey continued to the destination. There was no way, except in an emergency of getting off the carriage whilst it was on the ferry, just stay in the carriage for the ferry crossing and it all worked well.
The journey from Germany to Sweden involved two sea crossings: The first from Hamburg to Copenhagen was the Puttgarden (Germany) and Røby (Denmark) ferry, the second from Copenhagen to Gothenburg with the ferry over the Øresund from Kronborg (Helsingør) in Denmark to Helsingborg in Sweden.
The Hamburg – Copenhagen train was overnight in a carriage with couchettes. The journey was relatively short and although the train arrived in Copenhagen at about 05.00, one was allowed to stay in the carriage until about 06.30 or so which allowed for breakfast in the station buffet before boarding the onward connection for Gothenburg in Sweden that left at 07.34.
This shows the 07:34 Stockholm and Gothenburg train (“The Vikingen”) waiting at Copenhagen to depart for Gothenburg.
The ferry on the Øresund from Kronborg (Helsingør) in Denmark to Helsingborg in Sweden (with Hamlet's castle in the background)
I’d been instructed to ring Volvo’s Tourist Delivery Centre when the train arrived at Gothenburg and they responded by sending a car to collect me from the station and take me to Volvo’s Tourist Delivery Centre. Volvo’s delivery service worked well and the formalities were dealt with efficiently.
The banker’s draft was handed over, documents checked etc. and the BFG number plates and GB sticker affixed. This took a little while but the icing on the cake, and totally unexpected was that Volvo had arranged a free overnight stay in a Gothenburg hotel which allowed for a bit of sightseeing and the chance to have a good Swedish meal (with fish of course!). So the next day after an early breakfast I departed Gothenburg south towards Copenhagen (200-miles) my next planned night stop.
Taking delivery of my new Volvo at the Volvo Tourist Delivery Centre.
I took delivery in June. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and being mid-summer I was pleasantly surprised by the strong sunlight and almost Mediterranean look of the Kattegat as I travelled south down the west coast of Sweden to Helsingborg to take the car-ferry back over the Øresund to Helsingør in Denmark.
The west coast of Sweden had absolutely stunning scenery as seen below
In 1974 the Sweden to Denmark ferries over the Øresund were reputed to be the busiest in the world, probably right as my photo shows.
Here’s my experience of tax and duty-free car purchases when I was posted to JHQ Rheindahlen in the early 1970’s
I was vaguely aware of the tax and duty-free shopping privileges available in Germany, but decided I’d make use of the UK’s Personal Export Scheme to buy a new car before I departed for Germany, so I sold my trusty Ford Anglia to a neighbour and with the proceeds had enough cash to put towards a new car.
At the time (late 1971) I wasn’t totally au-fait with the car purchase situation for Germany so was tempted enough to take advantage of the UK’s Personal Export Scheme whereby one bought a car in the UK without Purchase Tax provided one exported it permanently within a certain time (about three months I think) after purchase. With a young family and having examined the market and taken advice from friends, a new Austin Maxi 1750cc with rear seats that folded down to a bed seemed to be an ideal family car. So I went ahead and purchased a new Maxi as a personal export vehicle, paying the princely sum of £837 pounds i.e. UK price less Purchase Tax. I exported it in January 1971 and this car served me and the family well for our initial two years in Germany, but in 1974 knowing I’d be returning to the UK in mid-1975 decided that a new and up-market car at a BFG Tax and Duty free price would be a sensible long-term choice — the only stipulation to importing into the UK at the end of one’s tour without paying tax etc. was that it had to be registered in one’s name and be more than one-year old. No problems with this, as when I returned to the UK a year later I would meet these HM Customs’ requirements, and so it was.
Maxi with family en-route to Italy 1972 - taking a break near the San Bernardino pass in Switzerland
At Rheindahlen one was spoilt for choice when buying a new car as on Saturdays the environs of the JHQ NAAFI and the car park outside were filled with a plethora of car dealers all after one’s custom.
Having taken to camping in a big way in the first two years of our tour in Germany, an estate car with plenty of room would tick all the boxes, so I arranged a test drive of a Volvo estate. The dealer was very generous and allowed one to drive around for half-a-day — and I was hooked. A Volvo 145 Estate it was to be. Altogether it cost me the equivalent to £1,300 sterling.
Despite the relatively low price, all car prices whether British, German and French or others included a “delivery” charge and for Volvos from Sweden to Germany the delivery charges were a bit on the steep side. After forty-years I can’t remember exactly what it was, but the dealer did suggest an alternative where one could take personal delivery at Volvo’s plant in Gothenburg in Sweden. Having done the sums it was clear that the cost of a railway journey from Moenchengladbach to Gothenburg plus the cost of a hotel and fuel for the return would be cheaper than paying the relatively steep “delivery charge”. So I opted for a “personal” collection from Volvo in Sweden. This was a relatively simple process. I paid a deposit to the dealer and he placed the order with Volvo. All that was necessary then was to get a bankers draft payable to Volvo for the balance from the bank where I banked in Germany (Rheindahlen’s Commerzbank). A copy of the BFG registration document as arranged in advance with the BFG licensing authorities, a green (insurance) card, BFG number plates, a GB sticker and that was it.
The train journey from Moenchengladbach was via Hamburg (change), Copenhagen (change) and then direct to Gothenburg. The timetable showed I could leave Moenchengladbach in the evening, change late at night at Hamburg and catch the overnight train to Denmark arriving at Copenhagen very early in the morning. At Copenhagen one caught the first early morning train to Gothenburg. In those days international trains were conveyed by the ferry across the water, the passenger railway carriages were driven onto the ferry and driven off at the destination terminal, a new locomotive was attached and the journey continued to the destination. There was no way, except in an emergency of getting off the carriage whilst it was on the ferry, just stay in the carriage for the ferry crossing and it all worked well.
The journey from Germany to Sweden involved two sea crossings: The first from Hamburg to Copenhagen was the Puttgarden (Germany) and Røby (Denmark) ferry, the second from Copenhagen to Gothenburg with the ferry over the Øresund from Kronborg (Helsingør) in Denmark to Helsingborg in Sweden.
The Hamburg – Copenhagen train was overnight in a carriage with couchettes. The journey was relatively short and although the train arrived in Copenhagen at about 05.00, one was allowed to stay in the carriage until about 06.30 or so which allowed for breakfast in the station buffet before boarding the onward connection for Gothenburg in Sweden that left at 07.34.
This shows the 07:34 Stockholm and Gothenburg train (“The Vikingen”) waiting at Copenhagen to depart for Gothenburg.
The ferry on the Øresund from Kronborg (Helsingør) in Denmark to Helsingborg in Sweden (with Hamlet's castle in the background)
I’d been instructed to ring Volvo’s Tourist Delivery Centre when the train arrived at Gothenburg and they responded by sending a car to collect me from the station and take me to Volvo’s Tourist Delivery Centre. Volvo’s delivery service worked well and the formalities were dealt with efficiently.
The banker’s draft was handed over, documents checked etc. and the BFG number plates and GB sticker affixed. This took a little while but the icing on the cake, and totally unexpected was that Volvo had arranged a free overnight stay in a Gothenburg hotel which allowed for a bit of sightseeing and the chance to have a good Swedish meal (with fish of course!). So the next day after an early breakfast I departed Gothenburg south towards Copenhagen (200-miles) my next planned night stop.
Taking delivery of my new Volvo at the Volvo Tourist Delivery Centre.
I took delivery in June. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and being mid-summer I was pleasantly surprised by the strong sunlight and almost Mediterranean look of the Kattegat as I travelled south down the west coast of Sweden to Helsingborg to take the car-ferry back over the Øresund to Helsingør in Denmark.
The west coast of Sweden had absolutely stunning scenery as seen below
In 1974 the Sweden to Denmark ferries over the Øresund were reputed to be the busiest in the world, probably right as my photo shows.
Last edited by Warmtoast; 9th Nov 2017 at 20:50.