RAF Laarbruch memories
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East Midlands
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
464 at Leuchars
It is Leuchars, we were on det there (TFM or APC?) and the aircrew threw 1000 pounders around, a bit of a change from their usual recce job. We erks lived under canvas by the SAR compound and took our turn at night doing armed guard (with pick axe handles) on Harriers. Unless I'm very much mistaken that's me (as a FLM) strapping the nav in with my mate Viv taking care of the pilot. Happy days.................................(and I do have some piccies of my time on II (AC) and later XV at Laarbruch somewhere but at the time we weren't allowed to take many and get away with it!)
By coincidence one of the few piccies I have from that det happens to be of the same aircraft.
Thought police antagonist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Where I always have been...firmly in the real world
Posts: 1,371
Received 106 Likes
on
75 Posts
It is Leuchars, we were on det there (TFM or APC?) and the aircrew threw 1000 pounders around, a bit of a change from their usual recce job. We erks lived under canvas by the SAR compound and took our turn at night doing armed guard (with pick axe handles) on Harriers. Unless I'm very much mistaken that's me (as a FLM) strapping the nav in with my mate Viv taking care of the pilot. Happy days.................................(and I do have some piccies of my time on II (AC) and later XV at Laarbruch somewhere but at the time we weren't allowed to take many and get away with it!)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Germany
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Phantom photos
@ Captain Radar: Is this really the same detachment? on your (and my first) photo the triangle on the tail is white, but on the 2nd photo it's red, as it was aroung mid 72-74 ...
regards RAFG
regards RAFG
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East Midlands
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The first pic you posted on 3 Jan of XV 464 is the the same aircraft on the det in '76. The red badged 486 was at Leuchars by the look of it parked next to 43 Sqn aircraft but not at the same time as the '76 det. Red markings were before my time.
Last edited by Captain Radar....; 12th Jan 2020 at 19:20. Reason: Clarify original response
16 Sqn jet looks to be at Honington.
Bottom pic of XV864 is definitely Alpha Hard at Lossie, the old 237 OCU line.
Very quickly a Puma launched and landed just opposite our office on the North side of the main runway and we quickly realised he was picking up the pilot. Thank God he managed to eject in time! I'm not sure I'm allowed to mention the pilots name here - D_n S_________r, but if you're reading this D_n, can I say, never have I been so relieved to hear you got out OK with I think just a broken angle/leg.
Incidentally, I'm pretty sure AVM Harv Smyth, the new UK Space Commander and similarly nice guy was also on 3(F) at the same time.
I was ground-crew for D_n, not on the day in question but I remember it well. Really really nice guy, think he was a JENGO before becoming flight crew. I'll need a GR7 driver to comment really but I think it was a flap controller failure which meant the flaps didn't retract when the nozzles were moved 'forward' and the word on the street was he was the only pilot to have survived this failure. The pic below shows he did well to eject in time! I did his first see-off when he returned to work. Understandably he checked the flaps quite a few times!
Incidentally, I'm pretty sure AVM Harv Smyth, the new UK Space Commander and similarly nice guy was also on 3(F) at the same time.
Incidentally, I'm pretty sure AVM Harv Smyth, the new UK Space Commander and similarly nice guy was also on 3(F) at the same time.
This incident (and the three week clean-up after it) changed the views of many of Laarbruch's "Fire Orders" in that the direction of the wind was taken into consideration of "Composite Material Fires" leading to alternate Muster Areas to avoid smoke inhalation from them.
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: EGKK
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts