Memories of RAFG
I was in on a short visit from Odiham to Gutersloh when I was flying Pumas on 33 Squadron. Gut had 18 Sqn with Wessex at the time and for some reason Mickey Martin, o/ic RAF Germany asked for a ride to see what one was like.
I knew Mickey personally as he had been the first to arrive when Chunky Lord and myself wrote off a Whirlwind when he was AOC 38 Group.
Off we went with him in the LHS and I demonstrated rotor tip vortices when you were close up to trees and then I took him low level (50 ft.) on the Dambuster's track on the Moehne Dam.
It was a favour returned. I got away with the prang and Chunky only got an admonishment.
I knew Mickey personally as he had been the first to arrive when Chunky Lord and myself wrote off a Whirlwind when he was AOC 38 Group.
Off we went with him in the LHS and I demonstrated rotor tip vortices when you were close up to trees and then I took him low level (50 ft.) on the Dambuster's track on the Moehne Dam.
It was a favour returned. I got away with the prang and Chunky only got an admonishment.
Talking of RAFG, those of an older generation will recall Two Way Family Favourites with songs from/to boys in BFPO this or BFPO that rather than the name of the base.
I've often wondered was a BFPO number particular to a base or unit and did it follow said unit on its travels?
I've often wondered was a BFPO number particular to a base or unit and did it follow said unit on its travels?
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I too flew the Mohnesee "bombing run", as many did. Due to the terrain, even in a helicopter at 140 kts it wasn't easy to get the height down to the required 60' by day, let alone by night. How they did it in a heavily laden Lancaster while being shot at.....
We never heard any comeback on my slight indiscretion. Nor about our later one at the Edersee when more than one aircraft had to land when caught out by freezing fog, but that's another story.
We never heard any comeback on my slight indiscretion. Nor about our later one at the Edersee when more than one aircraft had to land when caught out by freezing fog, but that's another story.
Then there was the dreaded mehrwertsteuer, the German equivalent of VAT. For airmen, this was administered by the PSI, who nominally made/ legalised the tax-free purchase, and debited the airman. Known as a "murgatroyd" by those who found the language challenging.
Officers worked through the Mess, and paid [or defaulted] on their mess bills.
Lets see: Schrank, set of chairs, corner seating unit, top of the range camera and full set of lenses, ornate lamps, clothing. Drink, kassler, cheeses ......
The lawnmower and the Weber [both still going strong] were via the PX, the peanut butter from the Maple Leaf.
Army garrison towns such as Detmold were very very anti accepting such tax-free business until it was explained that "this is by an RAF mess". My wife still has the loden overcoats.
Officers worked through the Mess, and paid [or defaulted] on their mess bills.
Lets see: Schrank, set of chairs, corner seating unit, top of the range camera and full set of lenses, ornate lamps, clothing. Drink, kassler, cheeses ......
The lawnmower and the Weber [both still going strong] were via the PX, the peanut butter from the Maple Leaf.
Army garrison towns such as Detmold were very very anti accepting such tax-free business until it was explained that "this is by an RAF mess". My wife still has the loden overcoats.
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I can remember an incident at Laarbruch where two scrotes cut a hole in the Station fence, to get off to a pub.
By all accounts the SWO clocked them, pinned them dow and got the Feds in. The base had interesting weapons and two scrotes tried to take a shortcut off base, leaving a gaping hole in the fence!
By all accounts the SWO clocked them, pinned them dow and got the Feds in. The base had interesting weapons and two scrotes tried to take a shortcut off base, leaving a gaping hole in the fence!
Took my wartime pilot dad to the Dam and the cemetry near Laarbruch where he visited the graves of those pilots he trained with involved in the crossing of the Rhine, very emotional. However, my main memory is of organising the hosting of visiting aircrew for the last airshow at Laarbruch before it closed. The barbecue at the airfield flying club, free beers for the weekend and free tickets to all evening attractions, including the pool party and Naafi bop. I had to defend the expense to the air day commitee the following morning, but it was a cheap price to pay for the outstanding flying and static displays that were the main attraction that brought in many locals for the day. It was a good farewell for many locals and service folk alike
Flown the Mohne and the Eder dams in the Tornado. Hats off to the 617 Lancaster crews. Very brave attacks. Getting the weapons on the Eder dam was a particularly incredible feat.
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I made a few private visits there but also volunteered to attend a formal event during my squadron's 75th anniversary (XV Squadron). Quite a few former members came over to Laarbruch for the weekend. There was a big hangar party on the Saturday night and on the Sunday morning, those that were not too hung over turned out at the Reichwald for a ceremony.
There are about a dozen or so XV Sqn aircrew buried at the Reichwald so each of those graves was marked by a current squadron member of the same rank, standing behind the headstone. It was a beautiful spring morning and a very, very emotional occasion.
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That's the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. It is an emotional place but its also a very tranquil and serene place. It's beautifully maintained, as it should be.
I made a few private visits there but also volunteered to attend a formal event during my squadron's 75th anniversary (XV Squadron). Quite a few former members came over to Laarbruch for the weekend. There was a big hangar party on the Saturday night and on the Sunday morning, those that were not too hung over turned out at the Reichwald for a ceremony.
There are about a dozen or so XV Sqn aircrew buried at the Reichwald so each of those graves was marked by a current squadron member of the same rank, standing behind the headstone. It was a beautiful spring morning and a very, very emotional occasion.
I made a few private visits there but also volunteered to attend a formal event during my squadron's 75th anniversary (XV Squadron). Quite a few former members came over to Laarbruch for the weekend. There was a big hangar party on the Saturday night and on the Sunday morning, those that were not too hung over turned out at the Reichwald for a ceremony.
There are about a dozen or so XV Sqn aircrew buried at the Reichwald so each of those graves was marked by a current squadron member of the same rank, standing behind the headstone. It was a beautiful spring morning and a very, very emotional occasion.
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I first visit the dam in 1960 as an army brat on a mo-ped ( All the rage at the time ) Reg: MO 10 B. You could certainly see the join then. I went back to sail the mohne See in dinghies when at Laarbruch fourteen years later in my Peugeot 504 Reg: JE 605 B and the join had faded. Nobody in Soest seemed to be upset by presence of the Brits by then.
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Nobody in Soest seemed to be upset by presence of the Brits by then.
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Lands at Wildenrath to refuel and wandering down the main drag after nipping to the NAAFI gets pulled over for wearing my combat jacket by the SWO, one sided conversation about only to be worn on detachments or exercise blah blah, but I am is my reply, that threw him, so next an invite to get a haircut and visit him at xyz time.... Righto says I as I wander back up to the apron climb aboard and depart for the UK.
