Tag

Royal Air Force

Stories

Return to Unit

10th July 1943. The aircraft flew unsteadily through the thickening sea mist. Flight Lieutenant Mike Peters struggled wearily to keep it straight and level. He was an old hand--a survivor of the Battle of Britain and now he needed all his skill to nurse this failing aircraft back to base.…
David Nicholls
14th May 2010
Stories

First Solo

There are many of life’s first experiences that are etched indelibly on our memory. First girl friend, first day at work, first bike ride, first ski run, first fish landed. All of these have a special place that is held in affection –or terror- or wonder. My most enduring memory…
David Nicholls
25th April 2010
Stories

Navex RBS

( Navigation Exercise Radar Bombing System ) Having transferred fuel from one wing tank to another to bring the Vulcan aircraft's centre of gravity within the required tolerance, I set the calculator aside and relaxed. The soft lights from the instrument panel reflected onto the cabin windows and little could…
Geoff Faragher
30th May 2009
Stories

The Kit bag

I was searching in the attic of our house for something to stow odd items tidily in our motor caravan when I came across my old RAF kitbag. (For those who haven’t seen one the Serviceman’s kitbag was a strong canvas cylinder with one end closed and the other secured…
David Nicholls
5th May 2009
Stories

The last outlaw

He leaned on the broken down perimeter fence, and gazed across the deserted airfield. In the distance to the south west he could make out the old group H.Q. buildings, now occupied by a construction company. To his right toward the north stood what was left of the Squadron Site,…
John Knight
15th April 2009
Stories

The Chiefy

The wind was cold as it blew across the bleak airfield, and the rain drizzled from a darkening sky. We stood under the bombers wing in a forlorn group, eight youngsters out of merry quips. The false laughter of bravado had died away as we suddenly found that we needed…
John Knight
15th April 2009
Stories

My ( Very small ) part in the Cold War

September 1962; the “Cold War” was at its height. A Young Airman, 21 years old, arrives at the Gates of R.A.F. Scampton. Fresh out of Trade Training as an Air Traffic Operations Clerk, and about to take his first steps into a Real “Operational Station”. Was he nervous? Certainly! Did…
John Burrows
21st March 2009
Stories

Henry’s Star

Henry’s daddy was an airman who often had to spend time away from home and sometimes had to go to foreign countries to help all the brave men and women that were trying to make the world a better place for everyone to live. This particular year, his daddy, whose…
Mrs Denise Fuller
16th March 2009
Stories

RAF/RN Rivalvry..from a military forum

( Found on a Military Forum ) 5-Feb-09 14:49 NEWTON Current weather conditions have reminded me of a story doing the rounds in, I think, the mid-70s. Apparently, RN ratings at an RAF base (Phantom squadron at Leuchars?) in similar conditions built a snowman, which a passing RAF driver then…
Unknown
9th March 2009