Wildenrath 1955-1965

On 9th of July 1959 while on a training flight a Canberra T 4 (WT487) of 17 Sqn RAF Wildenrath was involved in a mid-air-collision (touch) with a GAF F-84 F Thunderstreak of 31 JABO-Staffel Noervenich. The accident in which the Canberra suffered a damaged rudder as the result of being hit by the extra fuel tank of the F.84 F, happened over Kevelaer, Germany, near to RAF Laarbruch. The damaged fuel tank became dislodged and crashed onto Kapellenplatz, fortunately missing people and buildings. Both aircraft were able to return to their airfields landing safely but damaged. The crew of both aircraft were unharmed but a little shaken.
Pilot of the 17 Sqn Canberra was Fg Off Lees, navigator Flt Lt Alan Potter, also on board for an Instrument Rating Test Flt Lt Webster
Does anyone know any more details about this incident?[ATTACH=CONFIG]249698[/ATTACH]
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My Dad was at Laarbruch from 1962 to 65. He was the Church of Scotland Padre.
He was an active member of both the gliding and flying clubs. I have many memories of weekends spent watching their activities, and generally trying not to get in anybody’s way.
The flying club initially had an all red Tiger Moth, which was replaced by a Percival Prentice, the very same one that is now on display at Newark Air Museum.

My brother and I were at RAF Wildenrath as my father was stationed at RAF Wildenrath from 1963 to 1966 as a navigator flying Devons and Pembrokes on VIP and Casevac services. He remained on both these types when he was posted to RAF Northolt where he remained until he retired in 1979. My brother went to the RAF school at Wildenrath but I was a boarder in Surrey so I used to visit 4 times a year.

At least one of the Devons survives to this day – used by the BoB Flight.

VP981 This Devon C.2 was the BBMF crew ferry between 1985 and 1993; at this time it had recently been painted in this overall silver scheme which dated from the early ‘50s.

Now with Air Atlantique Classic Flight as G-DHDV but remains in the 50s scheme it wore while with BBMF.

David, I was there on both the dates you give – we could have sat next to each other in the primary school! Attention usually went out of the window when an aircraft came past at low level. In ’62/63 dad was on 88Sqdn. I played football for the Squadron – a great station – went back there two years ago to see all the changes – the army still have the married quarters.

There’s a few here who were in 2TAF in Germany David. I was just down the road at Geilenkirchen at that time on 3 Sqn – Canberra B(I)8s.

So was I. ’62-’65. Electrician. Great Squadron. And a great aircraft.:D

Bruggen

You should try the ‘archives’ of ‘Flght’ International on the net.
It has some info on the Coronation day in Germany.

You or anyone remember the Belgian 23sq with F84G at Bruggen?

Hi
I went to Bruggen in 1953, I was only 4 years old but I do remember a lot
about the place, on one occasion Princess Margaret visited the camp and
the base aircraft put a formation up in the shape of an M, an event that I can’t find a trace of anywhere on the internet, my late father was a general
armourer on 130sqd. Pictures from bruggen in the 50s are as rare as rocking horse sh!t.
Regards Phil.

2nd TAF Comms Squadron – WILDENRATH

I was posted to Comms Squadron at Wildenrath some time in 1957 and was posted out to RAF Lyneham in late 1959.

While I was there they had about a dozen Ansons, three Pembrokes (for Casevacs), three Devons, three Vampires T11, and the C-in-C RAF 2nd TAF’s ‘personal’ Valetta (VX573).

At least one of the Devons survives to this day – used by the BoB Flight.

VP981 This Devon C.2 was the BBMF crew ferry between 1985 and 1993; at this time it had recently been painted in this overall silver scheme which dated from the early ‘50s.

At least one Pembroke survives. Pembroke WV746. WV746 (cn P66/53) Ex Wildenrath, now preserved in the UK at the RAF Museum, Cosford.

I would like to know if anyone knows the serial numbers of the three Vampire T11 that were on 2nd TAF Comms Squadron? Or has any pictures of any of the a/c that were on 2nd TAF Comms Squadron?

Thanks Les and Grounded

Dad was a pilot, on Canberra PR7s on both tours. The first tour 80 Sqn Laarbruch (for only 2 days!) then 17 Sqn, initially at Wahn (from Sep 56) and then at Wildenrath (from Apr 57) until Mar 59. We lived, for quite brief periods I think, at Troisdorf and Wahn, before moving to Wildenrath where we lived at 14OMQ, fairly close to the school. The second tour, all with 17Sqn at Wildenrath, was Jun 62 to Jan 64 when he left the RAF. Unfortunately I accidentally passed my 11-plus just before this 2nd tour and so ended up stuck in a boarding school in Lincolnshire. Still I was able to visit about 4 or 5 times, but it wasn’t like living in Germany.

I’m afraid my memories of Germany and in particular Wildenrath were very childish ones but they were also very fond memories and, although I have traced my family history back to the early 1700’s I realise that there are big gaps in my knowledge of my own early life.

I’m afraid I can’t remember the name of the station CO. SqnLdr B.R. Wade was OC 17Sqn during the first tour. I remember him as being VERY important. The navigators Dad usually flew with were a FltLt Wright (1st tour) and FltLt Jock Bulloch (2nd). I wonder what happened to them?

I remember one day sneaking into the Comms Sqn hangar and climbing into a number of different aircraft including a transport aircraft (did they have Ansons at the time) before being extracted from another (possibly a Vampire?) by a very agitated serviceman until reclaimed by a very angry dad. We also used to cycle around the airfield and I remember many happy hours playing in the front half of a Javelin which from memory was used for fire practice. We also tried to get into the nuclear dump but didn’t get very far!

I remember that you could travel almost anywhere on the base by walking along the large pipes that seemed to go everywhere. And didn’t the ejection seat trainer thingey look like fun (never did get a go).

I remember my first girlfriend aged 6 who was a really great girlfriend because she could ride a bike as good as a boy. Her name was Patricia. Her father was a NZ exchange officer. I wonder what happened to her?

I can remember the sound of the Canberra engines being tested. Why did they they run them up so high and suddenly shut them down? And I remember lying in bed at night during squadron scrambles. What a magnificent sound! I never did get to follow dad’s footsteps (colour blind and short sighted) but many years later I did get my PPL(A). Still, even a whole squadron of Cessna 172s doesn’t quite sound the same.

But above all I remember how proud I was of my dad. Sorry about rambling on. This probably isn’t the right place for sentimental reminiscences – if anyone would like to PM me, please do!

I was down the road at Bruggen but not very involved with aircraft, being an M T driver, though I did on occasions operate a coles crane changing engines on the Sabres, strangely I don’t recall 17 squadron, however 71 squadron rings a bell, Was Johnny Johnson the station C O when you were there David?

There’s a few here who were in 2TAF in Germany David. I was just down the road at Geilenkirchen at that time on 3 Sqn – Canberra B(I)8s. Your dad (on 17Sqn) was a PR Canberra man, ground or air?