Hi everyone,
Yes SOC still alive and kicking and up for a meet when safe to do so. Glad to see some of you old buggers still around. Like a lot of guys not been on this site for some time. Hopefully get some crusty KOS's up for a chat.
Hi Steve, were we on 14Sqn, Bruggen, together? Pat
Hi John and everyone, yes, I check the site from time to time. I confess that I didn't look at the forum on my last visit, but I guess that I check in around every 3 months; always hoping that something is going down somewhere.
Yep, still here and checking in occasionally. Definitely up for a post covid bash.
Me too Danny! Hic! 🍺🍺
Yes, I look occasionally and look forward to meeting up with people in one form or another after this **** has passed
Hopefully not too far in the future...
Fingers crossed John.
Has anyone seen or heard of Tiny McClucas? He gave me his email address and I lost it before I could use it.
Hi
I am here
Paul Hayden 228 ocu from 1976 to 78
Hi Steve, great to see you are still out there. Many happy?? memories of our time in the Falklands 1982-1983 and Wildenrath.
Do you remember the Mixed Fruit pudding and wine **** ups we had in our rooms on the Coastel? somewhere i have a picture of you, Trog and Mick Hammond in my room, totally smashed with Hammond eating my big toe!! but there again he was a "Leckie"
take care,
stay safe,
Dick Elvin
Hello there Dick, how the devil are you??
Hello John, such a long time and so many great memories!! thank you for getting in touch via the site. After 24 years on Phantoms its a bit difficult to know where to begin! As I recall we first met at Conningsby 1974 forming up 23Sqn, and it all went down hill from there!! then the move to Wattisham and the drive from Shotley AMQ's to camp every day.I can honestly say that our shift on 23 had some of the best guys I ever worked with, you, Paul Smith,Kev Bovis, my boss John Hazzard, Les Barron and of course my brother Ray.And of course all the detachments.
The loss of Paul Smith came as a great shock to me, I was on 92sqn at Wildenrath and coudn't make it back for his funeral' I lost my brother Ray to the big "C" 12 years ago, life has not been the same since. I finished my time on Phantoms at Wattisham on the Phantom aedit working with Kipper Watt, Andy Newton, Ray, Ken Brown Brian Cardy as Flt Sgt and Mike Wight as the boss. I remember one of the last acts Ray I did whist on the aedit was to take a pair of bolt cutters and cut through all the INAS cables in the rear cockpit of a kite that was due to be scrapped and I remember working on that aircraft in 1968 at Conningsby on 228 OCU as a brand new LAC!! How time flies!
When the Phantom finished I was posted to Wittering teaching Harrier but then got a side ways move to become the Deputy Station Health and Safety Officer !! Go figure, how to become Mister Popular and the most hated person on the station all in one go! Finally I got my promotion to C/T and was posted back to Conningby on 56sqn Tonka's as Quality and Safety Manager. So that John, is 26 years in a very small nut shell. Like you John, there are so many people on this site that I know, have worked with over the years or know by reputation!!
It has been an honour John, would I do it all again? you bet your ass!!
Once again, thank you for getting in touch, I hope you and the family are fit and well,
take care John,
Dick Elvin
Yes, Paul Smith was a tragic loss. I have my own theories but we'll never know why. I also heard about Ray but didn't know why. Ironic, but I also have cancer. I was diagnosed as terminal/incurable back in Feb 2019 but, to date, am leading a "normal" life thanks to a relatively new TKI drug - and it doesn't help I also have AF (irregular heart beat). However I'm only just giving up work, and still get out for a few beers regularly so nothing's changed there. I must admit 23 Sqn had a lot of crazy characters, and life at Shotley was "interesting"
Hope you are keeping safe - I presume you've retired - and maybe we'll catch up at the next reunion.
John
I’m still checking the site now and then. I haven’t been reading the forums as often as I should though.
I’ve spent the last four years contracting to the Temora Aviation Museum in New South Wales, Australia. I’ve been lucky to be able to perform the Major Maint on the Canberra here. She’s just flown for the first time in 11 years and is going great. We also converted her to electric start! She’s ex RAF WJ680 and was on the display circuit as G-BURM in the 90s.
I’m retiring at the end of the year and moving to warmer winters in Queensland where the seafood is delicious.
I would love to see another reunion although a more informal one than 2015 but it is a bit of a trip to attend.
Best wishes to all.
Johnny Boy will hopefully catch up with you In Skipton have booked accom there for 17th Sept
Hi John, don’t know if you remember’Boris’ Taylor, he was in the MCS Bay at Leuchars and is currently a WO at Coningsby, retires this year in November
Hello Soc, looks like the meds are still doing their job so should be there in Sep
Got to admit, I havnae checked in here for donkeys ages.....
Looking forward to seeing all the peeps at Skipton next month!!
