RAF Germany Band

[Swinepipe]

It is a long time since 1985 and the tragic coach crash in Germany. I remember so many friends lost that day. I recall the adventures of being a young musician at Rheindahlen in 1970 and making friends, some of who joined me later in the Central Band at Uxbridge. I still see the faces, frozen in their 30's, although I look in the mirror now and see only an old man. I hate that they have missed so much that I have been lucky enough to do. Their nicknames, so much a part of their characters. "Quackers, Wink, Treacle and Jonpeti......we had so many laughs. Still Resting.

 

[mick-a-nick]

Welcome Swinepipe - An interesting first post!!

 

[Oldstacker]

Although I was a stacker I also remember it well. I was at Locking at the time and the Western Band were based there - the numb, blank faces were everywhere around the camp as the names of the dead were almost all well known to somebody. Several of the families came back to Locking to be housed temporarily in quarters.... that was when the RAF looked after its own properly. My wife befriended a couple of the widows and we still get a Christmas card from one of them to this day.

RIP guys, still not forgotten.

 

[dkh51250]

R.I.P. Gordon Harrison one of my neighbours at Catterick who had already suffered tragedy in his life.

 

[Oldstacker]

R.I.P. Gordon Harrison one of my neighbours at Catterick who had already suffered tragedy in his life.

His wife was Joan?

 

[dkh51250]

Yep, and her claim to fame was she was born on the same day as Joan Collins.

 

[Irritant.]

Being based in Germany at the time, the incident was a big shock to us all.
May all of the bandsmen involved RIP along with Cpl George Crawford RAFP, who also died on that dark day.

 

[Bren]

George was a great rugby player. Front row of the RAF rugby team were all RAFP in 1983. He also played for Newark when at Newton.

RIP mate.

 

[Bob_E]

George Crawford

George Crawford

George took my place on that job. I still have nightmares sometimes. I had one last week which is how I ended up here.

RIP George.