RAF cuts back in Gib
 

See below:

MoD News - RAF Cutbacks On The Rock

I'm slightly surprised that we had 50 stationed there, given that it has no aircraft1 Nice posting though. :ok:

I wonder what is the "Per Capita" cost of running an RAF Station for 5 people?

Not all the personnel are on the airfield, there are many other jobs in Gib.

So, Stn Cdr, OC Ops, OC Base Support, OC Eng and Logs and a SWO. Should work well.

"Submarine Parachute Assistance Group"
 

From the news article....
I didnt know submarines had parachutes!
Sounds like a spoof team to me, like the underwater basket weaving support group.

SPAG was formed from former members of the Women's Auxiliary Balloon Corps if I recall correctly.

SPAG - Submarine Parachute Assistance Group

Rumour has it that the SPAG puts a set of parachute wings in a bottle every time one of its members jumps and takes one out every time a 'proper para' jumps. It is now looking to find an inexhaustible supply of demi-johns.

"Of the fifty serving at the airfield, mostly aircraft technicians, a mere five will be staying." Reads to me as 5 on the airfield = RAF Gibraltar

When was the last time there was any major RAF presence on the Rock in terms of aircraft movements? I've been to Gib a couple of times and its always felt a bit like a sleepy hollow.

Ultimately I'd imagine there is sufficient transit space that people can be accommodated for austere dets, but do you really need nearly 50 people hanging about for I'm guessing one or two movements per week?

Er, depends what you classify as 'major'. Think there are 8 GR4's off there on det in the very near future.

Wonder who will be cooking their lunch then.

only done one visit with the AFBLT but had a great time. Not sure if I could have hacked a full tour though.

Mods- resize if required
 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...65644008_n.jpg
Taken this year

Blimey, couldn't you get them any closer... :O

Did a detachment there with Jags during the border opening, there was a bunch of Navy Hunters there too

Nimrods use Gibraltar every year for exerciss and even Boltholes.










What, we don't have any Nimrods?

When we were there, one Nimrod in 84 had left a set of skid marks down the runway that would of done an incontinent OAP proud.



.

Pontius
i assume you are talking in the past tense.
In the 70/80`s i seemed to get stuck down there every month, almost as often as going up to Kef. At least the beer was better and the rates were good if in the Caleta Palace.

Delete reread it and the light text at the bottom ;)

Had a great 3 years in Gib....another of my old stations effectively gone. Just Brize left now.

Back in the early 60s, the navex from Thorney to Gib was the final part of the course. The Varsities, without dip clearance would take the sea route and bets would be made at the sharp end on whether landfall would be Europe or Africa. Leave UK Friday night and depart Gib Monday morning. It seems a long time ago...