I was sent on a routine two month detachment from Gutersloh to Belize. I was due in Belize in the first week of January. I was told to expect go via the usual method, which was a civvy trooper flight in early Jan to UK then by rail to Brize to get on the usual VC10 flight via Dulles. No problem, as fairly recent newlyweds we settled down to a nice German Christmas.

I received a short notice message to report to Gutersloh to embark on an evening flight on an RAF C130 to Lyneham then to get myself to Brize. Annoyingly, this was on the 27th Dec, which was our wedding anniversary. Wife far from impressed. I arrived at Gutersloh to check in only to discover I was not on the pax manifest for the C130 and because they had freight as well as pax they were full. I told the movement staff to sort it out. I was told I would have to fly by other means. As I was about to leave for home, someone ran after me to tell me the captain had agreed to take me as supernumerary crew if I was happy to fly on the jumpseat. I reluctantly said yes (despite the protestations of my now even more unhappy wife) and off we went. Via Aldergrove into a 65 kts headwind! I got to Aldergrove, was made to disembark with all my kit, clear security which was far from straightforward because I wasn't on the pax manifest(!) sit in the departure hangar for hours while the aircraft was reloaded then reclear security with all my kit. I landed at Lyneham well after midnight, found there was no transport to Brize and no accommodation....I slept on my baggage until the following morning until I could get the SDO to authorise a car to Brize. I arrived at Brize to find the Officers' Mess closed so I was put in transit accommodation (Gateway House?) ..... Where I remained trapped for three friggin' days until the VC10 to Belize departed. All main meals were reheated Christmas lunches, arrived in foil trays and hardly fit for consumption and the rooms were like they were from the set of "Prisoner Cell Block H" (thankfully without the occupants from that TV programme).

i think that was also the time the oncoming VC10 crew for the Dulles - Belize flight change over arrived very late then screwed up the departure, resulting in an aborted takeoff and another very long wait. One of the few times I was actually glad to get to Belize!