RAF vehicles on the move

[Muzz]

Was out and about today and saw a convoy of RAF vehicles (heading north on the A1 near Edinburgh) that looked like they were deploying somewhere or returning from a deployment, various sizes of trucks pulling GPU etc, Land Rovers and a Renault recovery vehicle. They all had a black emblem sprayed on the doors, a bird of prey sitting on a gauntlet, not a Squadron mottif that I recognise, wondered if anyone can tell me who they were?

Muzz

[MPaul]

RAF Regiment perhaps?

[tonyot]

When I worked alongside the RAF`s Tactical Comm`s Wing (TCW) they had a Swallow with a lightning bolt behind it as their `Tac Badge'. I`m afraid I don`t know which unit you saw but various RAF units such as the UK MAMS, RAF Regt units, Mobile Catering Sqn etc all have their own Tac Badges,..mostly to show people that although they wears green and drive green vehicles that they are not in fact Army,....or at least it makes the Crabs think that people are thinking that anyway,...they do like to think that they are something a bit better after all!

Back in the day we just let them think that for most of the time when we actually knew differently,.....apart from on a Thursday night in the Spotlight Club when the Rockapes were bounced off the stage if they dared to challenge us!

Cheers

Tony

[Robin]

...they do like to think that they are something a bit better after all!

Cheers

Tony

Hi Tony.

We don't need to think, we know that we are better.

Robin.

Anyway, what idiot jumps out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft, hanging on to a pocket handkerchief.

[tonyot]

Hi Tony.

We don't need to think, we know that we are better.

Robin.

Anyway, what idiot jumps out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft, hanging on to a pocket handkerchief.

Hiya Robin,

Because it is safer than the landings,.....have you ever been in a Herk doing a `Ke Sanh' (spelling?) approach,.......scared the crap out of me!

Seriously though,...the RAF is the best Air Force in the world bar non,.......its just that the RAF Regt are not the elite that they like to think that they are! As for 2 Sqn RAF Regt calling themseles `2 Para',.....well what can I say? I didn`t notice any of them on P Company before going on their Jumps Course, but we did have a Bootneck (who failed!).

Cheers

Tony

[Robin]

Hi Tony.

I flew with the 'Falcons' many times in the early 80s when working in MOD, and on several occasions the crew did a Khe Sanh landing after 'dropping' off the team. Sat on the flight deck, seeing the ground come up at a high rate of knots was a real 'white knuckle' ride. Also did a 'Tac takeoff' a couple of times, going down the runway at about 10 feet off the deck, with a pull-up and wing-over at end was rather a 'squashy' feeling. In early 61 while on detachment at IAM Farnborough, I sometimes had a sandwich and pint in the 'Queens pub' outside the gate, with a bunch of Paras from the Barracks. Great times.

Robin.

[tonyot]

Hi Tony.

I flew with the 'Falcons' many times in the early 80s when working in MOD, and on several occasions the crew did a Khe Sanh landing after 'dropping' off the team. Sat on the flight deck, seeing the ground come up at a high rate of knots was a real 'white knuckle' ride. Also did a 'Tac takeoff' a couple of times, going down the runway at about 10 feet off the deck, with a pull-up and wing-over at end was rather a 'squashy' feeling. In early 61 while on detachment at IAM Farnborough, I sometimes had a sandwich and pint in the 'Queens pub' outside the gate, with a bunch of Paras from the Barracks. Great times.

Robin.

Nice one Robin,

Looks like you were in when we had a real airforce and sounds like you have quite a few good stories up your sleeves!The Khe Sahn approach was bad enough down the back with a Landy or Scorpion starting up and fumes everywhere,....so it must have been horrifyingfrom the cockpit! I was sat outside the Queens one dayin the late 80`s when a huge Russian Antonov thing came over during its landing approach and almost took the chimneys off!

Happy Day`s,......well most of the time!

Cheers

Tony

[nicE1]

Was out and about today and saw a convoy of RAF vehicles (heading north on the A1 near Edinburgh) that looked like they were deploying somewhere or returning from a deployment, various sizes of trucks pulling GPU etc, Land Rovers and a Renault recovery vehicle. They all had a black emblem sprayed on the doors, a bird of prey sitting on a gauntlet, not a Squadron mottif that I recognise, wondered if anyone can tell me who they were?

Muzz

I think the insignia you saw belongs to "1 Air Control Centre".

[bzn20]

I was stood up at the back of the cockpit of an Omani AF Herc coming into Seeb in 86. Coming in nicely but a "bit" high for a landing I thought, must be going 'round again, Wrong, all of a sudden I'm looking at the deck, windows full of roundabout! Holy cow, I'm holding on for grim death and down we were going,the jockey pulled the stick back levelled and slammed it on the runway. Legs gone, arms aching, sweating, dry mouth but it was brilliant. After they said didn't you hear when I told you what we were going to do? You never said a word before! Didn't I? oh, sorry! Did some Tac take offs and more landings at Thumrait too.

My next door neighbour in 81-83 was TCW, he had Swallow badges up the yin yang. Took his dog for a walk with an Argy radio unit and 6 foot aerial on his back calling his swmbo on the kitchen base unit!

[tonyot]

My next door neighbour in 81-83 was TCW, he had Swallow badges up the yin yang. Took his dog for a walk with an Argy radio unit and 6 foot aerial on his back calling his swmbo on the kitchen base unit!

Yup,....thats TCW alright! Your scare with the Omani Herk sounded like a trouser filler,......was that the big 5 Airborne Bde exercise in Oman? I just missed that one as I was doing my trade training!

Happy days at Brize,......my best posting by half and I was gutted when we were disbanded! It always made me laugh that the RAF lads and lasses on guard duty always did the old N.I thing by attaching the rifle sling to their wrists,.....it must hae made them feel a bit `Ally'!

Cheers

Tony

[bzn20]

Tony

No it wasn't an ex. Just one of the round robin trips round all the bases delivering and picking up.

We may have crossed paths then. I was in the other half of the PTS hangar for a couple of years. Your guys sometimes escaped and got a decent cuppa in our crew room! Or the Osprey, Eagle, Bee Hive, Mason's, 5 bells, Plough, Rose and Crown, Merry Horn, Chequers, Rose Revived, Swan (Radcot) Swan (Minster Lovell) Swan (Swinbrook)Trout, Windrush, Marlbrough, Maytime Blimey, I'm thirsty now!

Heres a long shot.. Did you know a (RAF) Sgt could have been Flt Sgt. first name Ty? He was an instructor and pretty sure he was a Falcon at one time. I did 2 stints with him in the guard room, nice bloke. One of those stints we had an odd phone call from a RAF (PTS) officer's wife saying he hadn't come home. We weren't able to do anything as he was an adult, it wasn't that late and could have been a domestic thing. Ty was the orderly Sgt and obviously knew him, me the duty Cpl. Told Police flt and left it to them. About 2-3 weeks later he was found dead in the Welsh mountains. He'd just left with out saying anything.

[2wheels]

Would the convoy be related to the Joint Warrior Exercise that's been happening in and around Scotland?

There's been plenty of aviation related activity at Leuchars and Lossiemouth, and a considerable naval force on both east and west coasts.

[Muzz]

I think the insignia you saw belongs to "1 Air Control Centre".

Thanks for that, I think your spot on, had a look at the their badge and it's certainly very similar.

Didn't think it was JW related as I think it finished on the 11/04.