More Cigarette smugglers using RAF AT
There is a reference to 101 Sqn earlier. Something about 'nothing illegal' etc?
Well, when 101 were on Ex sunspot in Malta (Yes, yes, Vulcan days, I know and it could have been 50 or 44 I guess) IIRC there was an aircraft returned to Waddo which was impounded for a comprehensive customs examination. Despite the rear cockpit being full of some very sensitive ECM equipment, the 'officials' removed some of the equipment control panels to discover several cartons of 200 ciggies taped behind them. The cartons were wrapped in bodge tape and camouflaged to resemble the 'black boxes' associated with ECM gear. Despite being chaperoned by security cleared bods, the officials had gone straight to them....
At the same time all aircraft carried 3 packed brake parachutes on detachment positions or ranger fights. One installed, one in the nose and the third in the pannier. The idea being that if an aircraft was diverted on return, the crew chief could fit the replacement from the nose, the streamed one would replace the one in the pannier which went up into the nose. Great plan. Worked well for years The guys packing chutes at Luqa for the detachment knew this and some of them decided to pack some 'extras' into the 3rd chutes as they would be removed from the aircraft nose on arrival back at base even if a diversion had taken place.
All went well (for years allegedly) until a Jet diverted into Italy. Streamed on arrival and had the chute from the nose fitted on the crew chiefs AF. Still not a problem. However at the time there was a temporary 'OOP installation' period imposed on all brake chutes (something to do with doors freezing shut?) whereby all installed chutes were deemed unserviceable and had to be changed after a certain period.
Suffice it to say, rectification of the jet took longer than the mandated period. Of course, the crew chief did his job and replaced the timex chute. The jet later returned to Waddo and performed a faultless chute assisted landing.
The runway inspection teams thought christmas had come early.
Well, when 101 were on Ex sunspot in Malta (Yes, yes, Vulcan days, I know and it could have been 50 or 44 I guess) IIRC there was an aircraft returned to Waddo which was impounded for a comprehensive customs examination. Despite the rear cockpit being full of some very sensitive ECM equipment, the 'officials' removed some of the equipment control panels to discover several cartons of 200 ciggies taped behind them. The cartons were wrapped in bodge tape and camouflaged to resemble the 'black boxes' associated with ECM gear. Despite being chaperoned by security cleared bods, the officials had gone straight to them....
At the same time all aircraft carried 3 packed brake parachutes on detachment positions or ranger fights. One installed, one in the nose and the third in the pannier. The idea being that if an aircraft was diverted on return, the crew chief could fit the replacement from the nose, the streamed one would replace the one in the pannier which went up into the nose. Great plan. Worked well for years The guys packing chutes at Luqa for the detachment knew this and some of them decided to pack some 'extras' into the 3rd chutes as they would be removed from the aircraft nose on arrival back at base even if a diversion had taken place.
All went well (for years allegedly) until a Jet diverted into Italy. Streamed on arrival and had the chute from the nose fitted on the crew chiefs AF. Still not a problem. However at the time there was a temporary 'OOP installation' period imposed on all brake chutes (something to do with doors freezing shut?) whereby all installed chutes were deemed unserviceable and had to be changed after a certain period.
Suffice it to say, rectification of the jet took longer than the mandated period. Of course, the crew chief did his job and replaced the timex chute. The jet later returned to Waddo and performed a faultless chute assisted landing.
The runway inspection teams thought christmas had come early.
A long time ago Lyneham customs threw the book at a Gib Shackleton crew for smuggling, watches I think. Three of the excise men lived in the officers mess and were part of the regular bar crowd. Until they clobbered the Shack crew when they were effectively sent to Coventry by 99 sqn aircrew.
A couple of weeks after the break down in communications when I was a 2nd pilot on the Hastings standby crew we were called out to fly an Admiral from Northolt to Lossiemouth to carry out an annual inspection.
After the old Hastings clattered to a halt abeam the red carpet and station commander the AQM called out for help to open the jammed rear door. Our renowned navigator responded quickly and managed to open it with one hard shove. Standing in the ledge in the open doorway PS surveyed the assembled men in navy blue and gold and declared in a very loud voice: “Fu*king hell, CUSTOMS”
A couple of weeks after the break down in communications when I was a 2nd pilot on the Hastings standby crew we were called out to fly an Admiral from Northolt to Lossiemouth to carry out an annual inspection.
After the old Hastings clattered to a halt abeam the red carpet and station commander the AQM called out for help to open the jammed rear door. Our renowned navigator responded quickly and managed to open it with one hard shove. Standing in the ledge in the open doorway PS surveyed the assembled men in navy blue and gold and declared in a very loud voice: “Fu*king hell, CUSTOMS”
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
We had a routine. I would meet and greet at the door and he would set up 'office ' on the Jez launchers. We then ensured that all the squeaky clean went first with Me Bailey just nodding them through.
Then came the AEO. "I'll just check this case". He opened the case, packed with undeclared goodies, Mr Bailey moved these and continued to rummage until he found the couple of items that had been declared. The AEO had gone white. Mr Bailey out everything back, shut the case and said OK.
Message received and understood.
A couple of years later we had a couple of returning aircraft a few hours apart. Mr Bailey was accompanied by a shiney new CO. After that aircraft was cleared the new sprog said he would wait and clear the next aircraft. He might have had overtime in mind. Mr Bailey however would have none of it; he knew us and wasn't going to upset the apple cart with unnecessary prosecutions.
