Views of Swinderby

July ’75, I couldn’t remember my DI’s name but now you mention Cpl Smith that rings a bell..

Gibson block then on to Shawbury for AATC trade training. I remember hearing of bedpacks thrown out of windows for being not of the required standard, did it actually happen to anyone here?

5 Flt 1 Sqn 1978, Gibson Block, saw bedding and kit going out of window when Sgt Crewe and Cpl Bowskill found fellow recruit still in land of nod upon their entry to room…sad it’s all gone…

Swinderby Jan 1969..

I still have fond memories of Swinderby…anyone else get the much feared Cpl Westerman..??
I’m top row second from the left….
This is a top thread thanks to all for sharing..

cor,what memories.i was there at the end of 1976 but we had a break for christmas.we were given the gas chamber the morning we were due to go on leave-happy christmas.

Nov-Jan ’72/’73. Backflighted once due to tonsillitis.

The last picture in the group at the top of the thread looks like the gas chamber!

Somewhere I have named photos, but I don’t know where. Probably one of my sisters has them. I’ll try and get hold of them and scan them in.

Sounds like one of my DIs in 1991 Cpl Jock Meston

Martin

Ah Jock Meston, He was my DI on my second stint in 1994-& still a Cpl.

I’m top left:p IIRC We were the last flight to go through with the old style hairy mary battledress uniforms.

Can’t remember our DIs name, but I can picture him – short, stocky with a crew cut!

Sounds like one of my DIs in 1991 Cpl Jock Meston

Martin

TAG! I was 1 Sqn 7 Flt 1983 – marched off to ‘Thunderbirds’

Went through ‘Swinditz’ Oct – Dec 1973. Can’t remember any DI’s names, spent the next 23 years at war with the GD trade in general!

I never forgave the numpties who ran the laundry on the coastel block in Port Stanley for fataly shrinking my best, most comfortable, most warm camo’s to the size of an ‘Action Man’ suit! 😡 (Got drenched in avtur emptying a Herc refuelling point)

Still annoy everyone in the house when ‘Bargain Hunt’ is shown from the airfield informing them for the umteenth time that I did my basic there. :diablo:

BB

I was TG9 aswell……but not as old as rover!!!!

Just remember Flap, you’re only as old as the woman you feel!;)

Can’t remember our DIs name, but I can picture him – short, stocky with a crew cut!

Can also remember one of the recruits known as Brains – he was seen putting his dirty laundry in a locker and sprinkling it with washing powder before shutting the door. When asked what he was doing his reply was “Dry cleaning”!

Course Commander at Shawbury was Maggie Haughey – No. 405 Course.

Already posted elsewhere but thought I’d put it here too..

I was TG9 aswell……but not as old as rover!!!!

Dunnit take yer back!!!!!

I did “Swinditz” in March ’89 with an AATC course after( in which I was Back-flighted twice:mad:,) left in Nov ’90 & then Re-joined in 1994- basic training at Halton this time, followed by 10 1/2 years as a Mover – Hell I must have been barmy !!!!!:eek::eek::eek:;)

July ’75, I couldn’t remember my DI’s name but now you mention Cpl Smith that rings a bell..

Gibson block then on to Shawbury for AATC trade training. I remember hearing of bedpacks thrown out of windows for being not of the required standard, did it actually happen to anyone here?

Although they didn’t go out of the window, our Cpl found the 1st he inspected to be safety-pinned- in a rage he proceeded to throw the remaining packs all over, only to find mine was the only one that wasn’t pinned. Needless to say I was gutted.:(

Already posted elsewhere but thought I’d put it here too..

I was TG9 aswell……but not as old as rover!!!!

Darnsarf,

We were there at the same time, Shawbury also as I was TG9 too.
What AATC course were you on?

No idea, I’ll see if I can find out when I get home tonight, there’s a group photo of our course in a drawer somewhere that might help. Anyway Shawbury was followed by stints at Northolt, West Drayton and North Luffenham (really adventurous eh?) and I left the mob in ’82.

Which prompts me to ask when the RAF was first colloquially called The Mob and why?

July ’75, I couldn’t remember my DI’s name but now you mention Cpl Smith that rings a bell..

Gibson block then on to Shawbury for AATC trade training. I remember hearing of bedpacks thrown out of windows for being not of the required standard, did it actually happen to anyone here?

TG9 here too! And yes, I clearly remember bedpacks, shoes, webbing and sundry other items being thrown out of the window. 6 weeks of hell, Shawbury was like a holiday camp after that.

I was TG 9 AATC, 1973 Shawbury.
I do recall the bedpacks fiascos, people sleeping on the floor to avoid remaking them, and the night we carried a drunk recruit into the drying room , so that if he was sick it would not ruin our floor before the inspection. He awoke in the night, on a dark cold blanket and thought he was in the gaurdroom cell block !

Darnsarf,

We were there at the same time, Shawbury also as I was TG9 too.
What AATC course were you on?

Not to me personally but seen it happen

Martin

January the 1st 1975 here, with the (infamous) Cpl Smith as my DI :dev2:

July ’75, I couldn’t remember my DI’s name but now you mention Cpl Smith that rings a bell..

Gibson block then on to Shawbury for AATC trade training. I remember hearing of bedpacks thrown out of windows for being not of the required standard, did it actually happen to anyone here?

March/April 1983

Seems like yesterday.

Nic Jackson