as a fifteen year old air cadet, binbrook was my second annual camp in 1983.we were billeted in wooden single storey barrack blocks,not disimilar to those in the great escape.these were to be pulled down after us poor spacers had finished the summer camp.got on to flight line servicing for 2 days.this involved following an raf erk around the lightnings,checking everything was ok for flight,refueling,strapping in the crew,and then marshalling the aircraft from the stand.
on the friday i was in one of the squadron hangers helping to service several lightnings and change the ventral tank on one aircraft. finishing early in the afternoon the raf chaps i had been with then took me to the squadron bar and plied me 3 pints.off i went happy sandboy.i had been shooting,flying with a lightning pilot in a chipmonk and had been playing with lightnings for three days and was squiffy as well.what a fantastic experience.
i will never forget binbrook or the mighty lightning.
cheers karl
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