RAF Laarbruch memories
Aug 74 to Aug 77 on 16 Squadron or re-titled to Zulu Squadron, Black Sector for exercise purposes. The area, looking at Google Earth, now looks like a solar panel farm. Incongruous for an area I always associated with being dark and wet. I arrived there the year before HAS’s were being built. As langleybastion has said, a lot of days were not too clever. I would not have taken my dog out on some of the nights our Aircraft used to go flying. Just the walk from the Hangar to the dispersal was bad enough and I certainly did not envy the Crews on those nights. We were soaked just strapping them in but then we could go and get a warming cup of tea and dry off whilst they went off into the dark and stormy night but still soaking.
One of the sights to behold and not seen after all the HAS’s were built was watching the water being ejected from along the leading edges when ‘blow’ was selected on after the Aircraft had sat outside overnight in wet weather.
Towards the end of my tour we had some brand new Buccs arrive with delivery mileage only in their log Books. A delight to be able to read the clearly marked cable identifications.
The pictures I have are of pans just to the West of our Hangar. We had an Open day and there was a four ship fly-by for those present. They couldn’t be too spirited in their flying as QRA (Pink Zone?) was quite adjacent.
In 1976 we had an exceptional Summer though and Koblenz / Moselle were just down the road in our new duty free cars. Happy days.
One of the sights to behold and not seen after all the HAS’s were built was watching the water being ejected from along the leading edges when ‘blow’ was selected on after the Aircraft had sat outside overnight in wet weather.
Towards the end of my tour we had some brand new Buccs arrive with delivery mileage only in their log Books. A delight to be able to read the clearly marked cable identifications.
The pictures I have are of pans just to the West of our Hangar. We had an Open day and there was a four ship fly-by for those present. They couldn’t be too spirited in their flying as QRA (Pink Zone?) was quite adjacent.
In 1976 we had an exceptional Summer though and Koblenz / Moselle were just down the road in our new duty free cars. Happy days.
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Talking of Mineval/Maxeval/Taceval, we had a det. to Laarbruch and it turned out that a Taceval was in operation.
Everyone was in masks and protective clothing.
A couple of us went down to SHQ to exchange GBP into DM's, over 12 to the £ IIRC
, there we were accosted for not being properly dressed for the occasion.
This state went on for about another 2 days, no one had told RAFG that we never participated in any 'Vals. even at home.
Everyone was in masks and protective clothing.
A couple of us went down to SHQ to exchange GBP into DM's, over 12 to the £ IIRC
, there we were accosted for not being properly dressed for the occasion.This state went on for about another 2 days, no one had told RAFG that we never participated in any 'Vals. even at home.
Laarbruch also served Vino Plonko in the airmen's mess. Due to a series of "unfortunate incidents ", the MU driving section decided it would be a good idea to give the engineers a few days " helpful " driving instruction. This was actually quite interesting, however, we arrived at Laarbruch for lunch. All was going reasonably well at this point, until, we dined and duly consumed the one permitted small glass of plonk as we did when working there. ......the remaining days training did not involve Laarbruch and lunch.
Ah Rigga, the NPFC, and the infamous Laarbruch Rallies! Dawn Patrols, Weeze, Goch,side trip to the Dams, what could be better! Thank you to you and your colleagues for organising them.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Nice view, didn't see much of it though. https://goo.gl/maps/eJxTQDQD2KM51kYA8
Well, Riggs, it does say on the image that Google took the pic in 2010 - daresay it looks rather different now. Good view of where I used to get the UN-white Disco airborne over the speed-bump during the daily commute
Aircraft ZA446 (1983 Panavia Tornado GR.4 C/N 234/BS076/3112) Photo by Chris Hall (Photo ID: AC706521)
Not sure how up to date that is now mind...
Not sure how up to date that is now mind...
Definitely not Nellis AFB - no hangars like that anywhere near the touchdown point or indeed anywhere else on base.
White on green runway designator sign might be a clue.
White on green runway designator sign might be a clue.
