Memories of RAFG
I remember a big detachment to the UK with aircraft from both 18 and 230, on return of the whole flight in formation, cannot remember which Sqn led the formation, but on the approach to Gutersloh a rather suitable tune was transmitted over the airways, cannot remember if the outraged management ever found the guilty party. 
We were doing a full squadron formation return to Gut, post exercise.
Less than 5 miles out, all in "close", ATC told us to "go-around, Harrier in the circuit"!
The Harrier Gent transmitted back that "12 Puma's in formation beats a single Harrier, I will get out of THEIR way"!
Top Chap!
lsh
Less than 5 miles out, all in "close", ATC told us to "go-around, Harrier in the circuit"!
The Harrier Gent transmitted back that "12 Puma's in formation beats a single Harrier, I will get out of THEIR way"!
Top Chap!
lsh
I was line controller on 18 Sqn, when a couple of Harriers taxied by on their way for a sortie, I saw something hanging down adjacent to the Nose Leg on one and not on the other, phoned ATC and they stopped the aircraft taking off while it was looked at, after they had left I received an irate phone call from their line controller wondering what the hell I thought I was doing delaying the sortie and wasting their time, it would appear that occasionally the Harrier would taxi with the canopy unlocked and the thing hanging down was the ladder, how I was supposed to know that I have no idea, but did explain that had it not been that and something happened I would not be happy if I had ignored it, neither would they.
Another incident, I was just coming out of the Sparkasse bank on camp when a Harrier hover taxied passed ATC and dumped all its stores onto the grass, got back to 18 in time to see said Harrier with Landing Gear stuck up being landed onto air bags on large heavy duty trolleys, if memory serves me right.
We also found out that the Fire section did not have high enough ladders, or extensions to their CO2 fire extinguishers to put a burning hangar ceiling light out, and the usual method took a bit longer as new JENGO had correctly turned off the hangar electrical supplies, not normally done as standard practice was to take an extinguisher up to the overhead crane and manoeuvre to light in question and put fire out easily, left it there so work services could fix the light, this nearly turned into a bigger incident than it needed to. It also proved that opening all the hangar doors fans the flames, making the putting out a bit more urgent.
Another incident, I was just coming out of the Sparkasse bank on camp when a Harrier hover taxied passed ATC and dumped all its stores onto the grass, got back to 18 in time to see said Harrier with Landing Gear stuck up being landed onto air bags on large heavy duty trolleys, if memory serves me right.
We also found out that the Fire section did not have high enough ladders, or extensions to their CO2 fire extinguishers to put a burning hangar ceiling light out, and the usual method took a bit longer as new JENGO had correctly turned off the hangar electrical supplies, not normally done as standard practice was to take an extinguisher up to the overhead crane and manoeuvre to light in question and put fire out easily, left it there so work services could fix the light, this nearly turned into a bigger incident than it needed to. It also proved that opening all the hangar doors fans the flames, making the putting out a bit more urgent.
Is that the light house to be sure
I am no met expert. Far from it.
But it made a deep impression on me when I read many years ago about Gp Capt James Stagg's team during the run up to D-Day, and in particular the last minute (4th June a.m.) recommendation to postpone and then prepare for a narrow weather window for the 6th June.
When thinking about D-Day since, I've often pondered about the high pressure (sorry) they must have been under and the relief they must have felt when first the bad weather on the 5th and then there had been a big improvement in the last the window on the 6th duly appeared.
The Weather Forecast That Saved D-Day - History in the Headlines
But it made a deep impression on me when I read many years ago about Gp Capt James Stagg's team during the run up to D-Day, and in particular the last minute (4th June a.m.) recommendation to postpone and then prepare for a narrow weather window for the 6th June.
When thinking about D-Day since, I've often pondered about the high pressure (sorry) they must have been under and the relief they must have felt when first the bad weather on the 5th and then there had been a big improvement in the last the window on the 6th duly appeared.
The Weather Forecast That Saved D-Day - History in the Headlines
Received Met. wisdom was "many a forecast has been ruined by looking at the actual from Valentia".
You would expect, in all innocence, that west and SW Irish obs would provide brilliant info on the onset of, or clearance of, rain.
That way madness lies.
This is not a dig at the observers, just a wry commentary on "sh1t happens"
Another folk lore aspect was "reconnaisance rain". This happened at Finningley more often than not. A confident, highly skilled [not to say expert] forecast of rain arriving at, say , 1200Z was rewarded with rain at 1000, causing the forecast to be amended, then ceasing by 1100, only to resume at the allotted time.
You would expect, in all innocence, that west and SW Irish obs would provide brilliant info on the onset of, or clearance of, rain.
That way madness lies.
This is not a dig at the observers, just a wry commentary on "sh1t happens"
Another folk lore aspect was "reconnaisance rain". This happened at Finningley more often than not. A confident, highly skilled [not to say expert] forecast of rain arriving at, say , 1200Z was rewarded with rain at 1000, causing the forecast to be amended, then ceasing by 1100, only to resume at the allotted time.
Avoid imitations
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I remember a big detachment to the UK with aircraft from both 18 and 230, on return of the whole flight in formation, cannot remember which Sqn led the formation, but on the approach to Gutersloh a rather suitable tune was transmitted over the airways, cannot remember if the outraged management ever found the guilty party.
Avoid imitations
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Zeitung 47
Zeitung 47, might be of interest -
PPrune won't let me post URLs without more posts first, but there's a sample edition at
sg-etuo.de/media/xdc/artikel/197301_Zeitung_47.pdf
PPrune won't let me post URLs without more posts first, but there's a sample edition at
sg-etuo.de/media/xdc/artikel/197301_Zeitung_47.pdf
Food has been mentioned so, as it is almost Christmas, a reminiscence of Portadown Way, JHQ Rheindahelen.
We were privileged to do two separate tours totalling 9 years.
The Way was a close with a central small wood, with grass and shrubs.
A brake parachute provided summer shade in the middle if needed. There was a row of our garages very near.
In addition to Maypole antics on the due date, and al fresco communal BBQs in season, the annual mass BBQ was held on Christmas Eve, cooked in front of [or in], the garages, decorated with baubles and with drink to suit.
Father Christmas arrived on a garrison fire engine , with a sack of presents [not sure if they were secret Santa or targeted]. Santa had a bevvy or two and got the chidren [and my wife] to sit on his knee. She seemed to be there a long time.
The aftermath was for the hardy; after clearing up, many of us were regulars at St Boniface church: choir, sidesman and the rest. Attending the Midnight Mass was a bit of a duty after a heavy afternoon and evening, but we did manage it on bikes one year.
Not much prospect of such goings-on round these parts nowadays, I regret.
We were privileged to do two separate tours totalling 9 years.
The Way was a close with a central small wood, with grass and shrubs.
A brake parachute provided summer shade in the middle if needed. There was a row of our garages very near.
In addition to Maypole antics on the due date, and al fresco communal BBQs in season, the annual mass BBQ was held on Christmas Eve, cooked in front of [or in], the garages, decorated with baubles and with drink to suit.
Father Christmas arrived on a garrison fire engine , with a sack of presents [not sure if they were secret Santa or targeted]. Santa had a bevvy or two and got the chidren [and my wife] to sit on his knee. She seemed to be there a long time.
The aftermath was for the hardy; after clearing up, many of us were regulars at St Boniface church: choir, sidesman and the rest. Attending the Midnight Mass was a bit of a duty after a heavy afternoon and evening, but we did manage it on bikes one year.
Not much prospect of such goings-on round these parts nowadays, I regret.
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I arrived on my Sqdn two days before Christmas '55. My mum was furious that the RAF should send her little lad to, of all places, Germany (she was bombed out during the blitz) so close to Christmas. Actually I had a great time, though that .was somewhat tempered by having to do airfield guard duty on New Year's Eve.