Hope things are ok at Catterick
 

On news, M1 closed following explosion nearby




BBC News - A1 road closed near Catterick after 'explosion'




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Very confused reporting here. if the explosion was believed to be at or on Marne Barracks (formerly RAF Catterick) then closing the A1 and diverting traffic through Catterick Village, as appears to have happened according to the report, would actually bring traffic closer to the barracks. Odd.

That sounds like a classic ambush tactic.

I suppose they have to go somewhere. Ah, Catterick. Running up and down the peri-track alongside the A1, warm hearted ex army truckers going past waving greetings with their wrists and offering warm words of encouragement. Trash, you must have done the occasional Gandale Gallop up there in your time.. or did you have one of the chaps carry one's thunderstick? ;)

Too much to hope that a potential terrorist might have scored an own-goal

Total overreaction.

As a former Traffic Control and Safety Officer (post RAF) on that stretch of the A1, I'll lay odd's that it was a HGV tyre blowing out.

They go with a BIG bang.

Years ago, manning a Landrover with an ARC 52, we 'controlled' the Vulcans destined for burning into RAF Catterick. Short runway, Vulcans on fuel mins, max braking. The odd 'bang' from a tyre exploding certainly 'rattled' the locals.

Apparently not an exploding HGV tyre:

Detonators found while part of A1 remains closed after 'explosion' near Catterick army base - Home News - UK - The Independent

Sun.

Well, maybe I have got egg on my face. However, I'm still not convinced.........but.

"Please note these are NOT the cause of the original explosion which remains unexplained, but were found during the searches today," the statement added."

You're not wrong but in that case you normally find a carriageway full of rubber and an HGV parked up a mile or so down waiting for the tyre fitters.

I did my shortest ever trade training course at Catterick.

One wet day in (November?) 1977 with the fire section and I was qualified to operate a Green Goddess, so off we went on Operation Burberry.

I still have my piece of paper to say that I completed the course.

That's the second "explosion" in a few days.

There was another on Manchester / Salford but no damage was found.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-30189831

The conspiracy theorists cup will doubtless runneth over......as will the Daily Mails headlines.

I thought it was probably something like a WRAC popping her zits in the block.

Tash, spot on.

You're not wrong but in that case you normally find a carriageway full of rubber and an HGV parked up a mile or so down waiting for the tyre fitters.

Then you have to deal with, shall we say 'an over enthusiastic senior officer of a certain law enforcement agency in North Yorkshire'.

My ex-colleagues (who I chatted with tonight) spotted rubber debris but were over-ruled

According to The Independent, this was based on ONE telephone call. Did nobody else hear anything; could have been a sensitive soul too close to a firework. Mind you, if you want to cause disruption, closing the A1(M) is as good as anything.

Nut,

WRAFs simply weren't allowed at Catterick until the mid 80s, bizarre to think now.. but I guess that was 30 years ago and no longer the yesterday I would like to think it was! I remember one particular instance of multiple reports of an explosion at Aki; it turned out to be Concorde going supersonic.

About Jan 84, just found out to be my last course on IOT staff, end of a "first Saturday" walkabout for the junior course. arrived at the layby to board the coaches when the first police car and fire engine arrived, followed by just about every fire appliance in Lincolnshire. Brant Broughton retained crew arrive 20 mins after everyone else. Turned out coach driver had been sitting in the coach in the layby with the engine running to keep him warm, a dirty injector meant the exhaust was a bit smoky, and a passing motorist went on CB (remember that) to tell the world that a bomb had gone off in an RAF bus..................

Al R - Gandale Gallop? The name doesnt ring a bell, although we certainly did our share of running around on the airfield on what was then called the 'J' course (Junior Regiment Officers' Course). Firing para-illumes from a 2" mortar on the airfield was fun in an east wind, with the parachutes drifting down over the A1!

I read through that link - how times have changed. No regiment officers under 23? I was 18 when I was considered fit to become a flight commander on a regiment squadron. I'm not daft enough to think I was ready for it then, but after 18 months (including 6 months active service in Aden) I reckon I was reasonably up to the job, and still only 19.

As a species are we maturing earlier physically but later in all other ways? It certainly seems that way, or are we are just less inclined to give responsibility to our young people?

You just reminded me of the night that 51 Sqn's Scorpion's used para-illum on the training area and almost burned Richmond to the ground. Gandale was the camp about 6/7 miles from camp and all exercises finished with a detoured 12/14 mile gallop back to Catterick, up and down the dales and usually back via the Swale for good measure, and then bunny hops around the airfield to finish off. Steel helmets, boots of iron, Gimpys, hideous 58 pattern webbing, 'marching order' large packs.

Those were the days, no human rights.. being chucked out of bed at 0430 and being beasted around the airfield twice before breakfast was all part of the game. The budget was different then, as was the training mentality.. out of 35 or 40 or so who started, 5 finished. If you see the JROCs and TGs going through Honington now, they seem to be twice the muscle and bulk we were then. The range of kit they have to master today is vast too, certainly compared to what I had to use.

Nail on head IMO. I'm currently teaching my nine year old grandson the gentle art of plastic kit modelling. He handles a surgical scalpel with ease and safety because I've taught him how to do it properly; a fact which horrifies friends. I'm also teaching him how to fly, he can hold heading and altitude as well as I can (no clever comments thank you!) Can't reach the rudder pedals though...I've thought about stilts, I think they might work.

They certainly do go off with a large bang, not as big a one as a 52" haul truck tire though:p

Hi Viz!
 

Just checked the BBC report and picture shows two camouflage soldiers wearing hi viz vests!

Was there a dining-in night going on at the time? Mess cannons perhaps?? The "bang" was reported at about 03.00. Or somebody rolling a thunder flash under the door of Trap 1?

"Just checked the BBC report and picture shows two camouflage soldiers wearing hi viz vests"

Couple of years ago I was driving from 'Bushe to farnborough in the middle of the day - just past the Engineers barracks at Minley a couple of NCO's in hi-viz jackets and waving those mini-light sabre traffic batons appeared in the road and stopped the traffic - a shout of "All right lads!" and about 40 engineers in full combat kit with guns, camouflage , blacked up faces etc, come out of the shuberry by the road and rather shame facedly sprinted across to the wood on the other side

It took some time to get started as all the motorists were in tears of laughter

Because it's really funny when someone gets run-over when in their working rig - which does just what it's designed to do.

Ahhh, RAF coaches, remember them well, we went from Bruggen to Jever for TLP. The MT put on the only transport they had available... A 56 seat coach for 6 of us... Pulling out a ratty and back on to the autobahn we looked around and said in unison where's Ivor? Peering back we could see him standing at the top of the on ramp looking at us disappear into the distance... Took about an hour to get back to pick him up, he was not amused.. :E

Has the 'MAIL' missed it again???
 

No mention of Catterick or the A1 in this piece from the 'MAIL' !!!

PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)

Put it down to the old Sprouts, Gas! Gas ! GAS !!!

Nah, just its norf of Watford

At least no one appears to have been hurt, that's the main thing.

That's because nothing happened! Move on, nothing to see.

S-D

hi viz
 

Remembers me off the the story of the pilot who just stepped of a flight when a hiz viz professor approached and asked why he wasn,t wearing his hi viz,he replied along the lines,if you can see me why do i need a hi viz!

Just waiting before they issue hi-viz to SLF.

I'm surprised you don't already have your own, suitably emblazoned with your former rank, (RAF Retired) etc and your post nom's. Would look a real treat boarding your next cruise.

S-D

Mystery solved by the good folks at the Mirror: Russian supersonic airships.

I/C

Sure it was not Aurora ? :mad: I mean lifting off from the UAV Parc at Aberporth lol

Cheers and glad alls well that ends well

Salad-fidget, carry on , amuse with your wit, I am sure the others enjoy your humour. Farewell and don't forget the bum wipes.

Wit and humour are not salads strong points Pontius.

From S-D

PN was too modest to say....

"With all that information it would no longer be hi-viz"

He has a strong point? PM me if you see it, I would be fascinated to see it as well.