Yesterday, 1st April 2018, marked the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the RAF
A life time ago, I did my bit for Queen and Country and, whilst I faced nothing more threatening than a dodgy kebab in downtown Adana, Turkey, I’m proud to have been one of the boys in blue.
Little photographic evidence still exists of my service, but Carl Smeaton – a former brother in arms – posted the one of us emerging from the CS gas chamber. Somehow, he is smiling as if he enjoyed the experience, I’m the one in the background, suffering. I never did like it when we played soldiers. This would have been taken whilst we were on 137 IOT (Initial Officer Training) We were part of (the notoriously tough) D Squadron.
The next photo was taken at Incirlik Air Force Base, Turkey, where I, a fresh faced Flight Lieutenant, can be seen briefing the top brass (whilst wearing a natty pair of shorts.) I used to go to Incirlik for 3 weeks at a time every few months, whilst JEngO on 101 Squadron, as part of Op. Warden – a joint US, UK, French & Turkish mission to enforce the no fly zone over Northern Iraq following the first gulf war. 101 Sqn had x2 VC10 tankers permanently stationed in Turkey.
And the last photo shows me playing football for RAF College Cranwell against the German Air Force. Can’t remember the score.