P
patmac
Guest
Hi, too old to be called a new boy, but many years ago-'64-'69- I served Her Majesty in what we then called The Mob. Six weeks square bashing at Swinderby, six months trade training at Weeton, four and a half years at Wittering, mostly in the brake chute section, with some time on personnel chutes, and some time on flying clothing in the ops centre. Then we had two squadrons on the station, 100 and 139, and something called-I think- The Bomber Command Development School or Centre. All on Victor B2.
Havn't spent a lot of time trawling the site yet, but first impressions are that we were a lot happier in those days than todays airmen and women are, but given today's circumstances perhaps that's not surprising. We were always told that we were just four minutes away at any time from incineration by the big bad bear of the Soviet Union, but we quaffed our tea and downed our Double Diamond ( a chemical beer, too strong for todays airmen! ) without a care in the world.
I was there for the last years of the old Bomber Command, and the first nine months of the new Strike Command. I was there for the arrival of the first Harrier, and the Regiment. I was there every morning at 10am for the arrival of the Malcom van and tea and a bun!
In case you think my 5+3 ( 5 regular, 3 reserve ) isn't much time in service, I actually did over twenty years ' with' the RAF because my old man did his 22 and I grew up on airfields: Bawdsey, Felixstowe, West Raynham, Martlesham Heath, Butterworth ( Malaya ) and then Wittering. I live now five minutes from Biggin Hill in one direction and Kenley in the other. Like it or loath it, wherever you are you'll never forget your time in the service, I know I never will. One tip, don't come out too early. I did and I've always regretted it.
Havn't spent a lot of time trawling the site yet, but first impressions are that we were a lot happier in those days than todays airmen and women are, but given today's circumstances perhaps that's not surprising. We were always told that we were just four minutes away at any time from incineration by the big bad bear of the Soviet Union, but we quaffed our tea and downed our Double Diamond ( a chemical beer, too strong for todays airmen! ) without a care in the world.
I was there for the last years of the old Bomber Command, and the first nine months of the new Strike Command. I was there for the arrival of the first Harrier, and the Regiment. I was there every morning at 10am for the arrival of the Malcom van and tea and a bun!
In case you think my 5+3 ( 5 regular, 3 reserve ) isn't much time in service, I actually did over twenty years ' with' the RAF because my old man did his 22 and I grew up on airfields: Bawdsey, Felixstowe, West Raynham, Martlesham Heath, Butterworth ( Malaya ) and then Wittering. I live now five minutes from Biggin Hill in one direction and Kenley in the other. Like it or loath it, wherever you are you'll never forget your time in the service, I know I never will. One tip, don't come out too early. I did and I've always regretted it.
DT_Xtremez_28: 
