Jump jump John

Yep, the accommodation arrangements ring a bell. Although that in itself was an excellent training session preparing us for the delights of Heumensoord during Nijmegen week. Thousands of aching and blistered squaddies and space cadets, all trying to outdrink each other. Went there as a cadet in 87 and failed the drinking badly. Did it again as a squaddie in 94 and 95, and delighted to say my drinking skills were far better by then. But then they needed to be, to dull the pain in me feet… 🙁

Steve,

yep, Swanton Morley or as we and many others called it “Swampy Mortuary”. The only highlight was a trip to Coltishall and clambering over Jags, a visiting flight of dutch F-5’s and an RAF F-4 landing with a refuelling “Lobster Cage” stuck to it’s probe.

“Fighter, Fighter burning bright have you lost you probe tonight” was apparently a well sung verse to Phantom jocks!

I did my pre-Nijmegen work-up there too in the 80’s. Still got my RAF Road March medal to prove it! But I don’t like to talk about it son….! 😉

Guess you too had the delights of kipping with several thousand other squaddies, cadets et al. in the huge echoing sports hall? Deep joy!

Seeing as noone’s guessed my 1988 picture, a few clues – it was a non-flying station in East Anglia, also had a fairly derogatory but very apt nickname.

Aha! That’ll be Swanton Mortuary then. Had a good old trog around the area there back in the mid nineties while training for Nijmegen. Never again….

1988 – the tall guy on the front row? Couldn’t be JDK could it

You are right Kev, it couldn’t be me. Never was in the ATC (Don’t they park cars at airshows? 😉 ) and I’ve never been very good at being a member or any organisation. As for taking orders…

However, I’ve been very impressed with this thread – very entertaining and a light (for me) in what was a dark corner!

Cheers

The give aways are the dark sea grey undersides and the aircraft code letter on the nose.

Bawdsey Manor?

Thanks Steve – how on earth can you tell that from the photo? Mightily impressed.

Seeing as noone’s guessed my 1988 picture, a few clues – it was a non-flying station in East Anglia, also had a fairly derogatory but very apt nickname.

The Hastings is a Met.1 belonging to 202 Squadron, who were based at Aldergrove.

1989 – St Athan it is!

Anyone care to have a stab at 1988 or do you want some clues?

1989 – St Athan ?

DGH,

1985 – yep, Brize Norton

1986 – Newton.

1989 – incorrect. Thought this would be an easy one.

1986 – Stanbridge / Halton or Newton ?

1985 – Brize Norton, 1989 – Abingdon ?

Kev35

You got the looks summed up but wrong location. Not my most exciting camp!

The only time I won “Best Cadet” (out of 80+ on station) on a camp 😀 , and it was a flamin’ non-flying base so instead of the usual fast jet trip winners got, I received a Station Plaque and a handshake – big whoopee! 😡

I’ll see if Abingdon rings a bell with the ole man.

1988 – the tall guy on the front row? Couldn’t be JDK could it? As for the location, no aircraft in sight, a couple of guys on the front row with that bewildered ‘what are we doing here?’ expression, could it be Swinderby? I spent six months there one week.

Regards,

kev35

I’ll hazard a guess that the photo of your Dad in front of the Hastings was probably Abingdon.
Shame you were at Laarbruch whilst the runway was being resurfaced as I was stationed a few miles away at Wildenrath and we had all their aircraft plus 2 squadrons of Phantoms on station at for the duration. Having seen what the Tornados did to our runway I’m surprised they had not needed to resurface Laarbruch years earlier

1987 – Laarbruch, spot on Steve. The only camp I had in Germany and all the aircraft were moved out as the runway was being resurfaced – d’oh!

1989 – Not Waddington

1985 – that’s an easy one!

Thanks for the info on dad’s piccies. he couldn’t recall where/when how etc.

I would guess 1987 as being Laarbruch. I’ve got a very similar shot to that, dated July 1985. 😉

1989 looks like Waddington.

The aircraft your Dad is in front of is a Hastings, but I have no idea on the identity, location or year.

Cracking shots though skypilot!

And finally….! 1989, very mature! A fairly straight forward one to guess. And that’s all of my own ATC photos from camp during my 5.5 years with 1075 (Camberley) Sqdn. I still regard those times as some the best ever. Anyone sad enough to want more i can bore you with some others but I reckon that’s more than enough for now!

1988 (Bored yet?!!)