The 'Introduce yourself' Thread

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Found the site whilst researching Loch Doon gunnery school!

About me. Ex RN aircraft fitter who transferred to the RN's aircrewman branch flying in Wasp's, Wessex, (Mk1/3/5) and the mighty Sea King's, (Mk 2/5 and 6). Left the RN in 92. Interested in history in general but nothing better than sniffing around old airfields when time permits.

I once downloaded a file that integrates with Google Earth showing all the old airfields in the Uk and when compared with what is left today shows there is lots out there to explore.

Hope to be able to join in the discussions and contribute my tiny piece of accumulated knowledge!

Doug

PNK;107421 wrote:

Welcome to the forum Craig. The website is looking good. Keep us posted on developments.

Thank you, and yes, I'll definitely keep everyone updated as and when there are changes. I've got quite a bit to add just to get the web site back up to where it was before the change of host but it's happening slowly and surely.

Hi there

I live in Lancashire and own an airfield Land Rover called ALF. He is a short wheel based station wagon and spent all of his early career based on Farnborough Airfield when it was the Ministry of Aviation. Being a civvy vehicle (registered as a batch in London) he was given a registration starting ALF hence the name. Plenty of unknown holes in the tropical roof and a whopping great big 'M' painted on his roof meant he was an airfield vehicle. I was in contact with the son of the driver of ALF many years ago and am looking for pics of airfield Land Rovers in the '60s and early '70s

Thanks

Avril

@ PeterTheEater - Thanks for the comment. It looks like you were working as an Armourer at the same time as my father. He joined in 56/57 started at Halton and left the service around 1970 at Finningly. In between he went to Middleton St. George, Cypus, Germany, Leuchars, Singapore and Penang (where I popped up) then back home to the UK.

What was his surname?

Welcome Waspie. I'm an ex - Sycamore man myself!

Why the Loch Doon MTR?

Hello All,

Stumbled upon this forum via Google, and what a discovery! Such a plethora of knowledgeable people.

I have always had an interest in aviation, particularly military operations. I was brought up in Pembrokeshire, and spent may hours on the fence line at Brawdy. Highlights from those days were when 1 TWU operated Hunters and Hawks and the circuit was ALWAYS hectic with locally based aircraft, F-111s shooting practice approaches (Rerun 57), the occasional Canadian Starfighter, the regular "Coke and Burgers" C-131 from NAVFAC Mildenhall, Regular Luftwaffe Transalls....great days. Prior to this it was the incessant drone of Gannets, more Hunters, Seahawks and the the treat of Scimitars and Sea Vixens. Also learned to fly at Haverfordwest - PPL licence now lapsed.

Now my main area of interest is ranges, particularly AFV ranges and bombing ranges, and radar sites This is largely due to my pursuit of the history of Castlemartin Range, where I had a vacation job in the breaks from college. Fond memories of mushrooms, seals, beach combing, Bedford 3-tonners, learning German, man eating horseflies and the crack of 105 mm AP rounds passing overhead whilst we sat in dugouts operating moving targets. In those days an idyllic place!

I now live in Suffolk, moving here in the early 1980s when the sky was full of military aircraft. Now it is mainly Apaches, and a fast jet is a window dashing treat.

There seems to me to be a HUGE amount of knowledge on this forum and I look forward to learning more from you all.

PETERTHEEATER;107539 wrote:

What was his surname?

His name is Brian Singleton. His entry year was actually 56 and he came back out again in 69.