Former RAFG via GoogleEarth

Ah, I see. You were there when it was all running down then, in the days when the whole Cold War thing was all but over. Seems you missed all the ‘tension & action’ or you would have included Geilers. Never mind, maybe you can get to play in the next one. :rolleyes:

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I was at Gutersloh 1988-91. Sure, the soviets weren’t rattling their sabres quite as loudly, but we were still training as if they were (endless tacevals & weeks spent under canvas as the Harriers & helicopters played on the German backroads). And things were a “little tense” as the Warsaw Pact broke up & the soviet political machine went into meltdown.

As I recall, we did manage to fit in a little war & a large slice of RAFG deployed to to where bullets & not threats were being exchanged.

My most enduring memory, however, is the steps we (& our families) were forced to take in order to disguise ourselves as locals (not easy with the german fashions & haircuts of the day) or tourists in order to outwit the IRA cells operating in Germany. Lets not forget that a number of RAF personel were murdered by these scum. The enemy was all around & not just in the east!

Rich

Its used by Siemens as a test track for trains, seems all the barrack blocks are gone

Just catching up on these recent posts – thats a chuffin’ big trainset!!!!

Ah yes, I pondered whether to put Geilenkirchen on or not, but I ended up doing places that were active (RAF) when I lived out there. At that time only the MQs at GKirchen were in Brit hands

Ah, I see. You were there when it was all running down then, in the days when the whole Cold War thing was all but over. Seems you missed all the ‘tension & action’ or you would have included Geilers. Never mind, maybe you can get to play in the next one. :rolleyes:

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I can hardly recognize Wildenrath. Looks a ‘bit’ different from those days that I was standing along the fence watching the Phantoms (1 & 92) and Pembrokes (60) with everything else RAF (and other NATO AirForces) visiting.

Its used by Siemens as a test track for trains, seems all the barrack blocks are gone

Wildenrath

I can hardly recognize Wildenrath. Looks a ‘bit’ different from those days that I was standing along the fence watching the Phantoms (1 & 92) and Pembrokes (60) with everything else RAF (and other NATO AirForces) visiting.

Ah yes, I pondered whether to put Geilenkirchen on or not, but I ended up doing places that were active (RAF) when I lived out there. At that time only the MQs at GKirchen were in Brit hands

Thanks “sjwmoore” for that…
Yeah I know Les – it wasn’t a “clutch base” as such – just that I went there and I hadn’t seen a recent ariel shot thats all… I feel I’m missing out on this Google Earth – must hook my laptop up online one day and download it and play – I love a good ariel photo…lol

:diablo: 😀

sjwmoore

You got Wildenrath, Bruggen, Laarbruch, Gutersloh (Clutch Base?), even JHQ, but you missed Geilenkirchen. Didn’t you know about this one?

Geilenkirchen hosted 3 Sqn – B(I)8 Canberras; 11 Sqn – FAW9 Javelins; 5 Sqn – FAW9 Javelins. :diablo:

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Fantastic isn’t it. I just love wandering round Beijing’s Forbidden City.

Don’t suppose anyone would like to share a similar shot of RAFG Gutersloh base too would they please? I can’t actually run Google Earth on my steam driven pc, so I can’t get to enjoy it’s wonderful features 🙁

Google Earth is now amazing for detail, and surley must have some Ministry guys pulling their hair out over security.

I was having a good look at the Weapons Establishment the other day at Aldermaston in Berkshire, you can even see the entrances to undergound bunkers !

Don’t suppose anyone would like to share a similar shot of RAFG Gutersloh base too would they please? I can’t actually run Google Earth on my steam driven pc, so I can’t get to enjoy it’s wonderful features 🙁

Brilliant.
“I can see my house from here….”
I lived in JHQ for 8yrs as a kid and would frequently go ‘spotting’ at RAF Wildenrath.
Happy times!
Thanks for posting.