In the Army Now - The joy of the Armed ForcesI've never been a soldier. I was an air cadet once, but that mostly involved sitting in a mouldy hut learning about aeroplane engines with the hint that one day we might go flying.
Yet, anyone who has spent time defending their nation, or at least drinking bromide-laced-tea for their nation, must have stories to tell. Tell them now.
(
chthonic, Thu 23 Mar 2006, 18:26)
« Go Back
Another Two RAF OnesNeither of these happened to me - both to people who were either acquaintances of mine or my fathers.
Are you sitting comfortably children? Then we'll begin.
First story ... 1970s. Bill Murphy ('twas his name) a flight engineer aboard Nimrods flying out of RAF Kinloss. This particular aircraft had just come out of major servicing and was on its first "real" trip out to the north Atlantic. Did his pre-flight checks everything seemed OK but something seemed wrong. Aircraft taxis, gets permission to take off, rolls down runway, reaches V1 (decision speed) and Bill lurches forward, grabs the throttles and pulls them right back to the stops saying "taxi back - I don't know what's up, but something's wrong".
Aircraft taxis back to dispersal everyone gets off. Bill jumps up on one wing - full of fuel. Jumps on to other wing - empty. Had they gotten up the aircraft would've immediately flipped over killing all 13 people on board.
Bil got the DFC for that.
Second story ... 1980s. Mr Lawrence (father of a school friend of mine) flying in Germany aboard an F4 Phantom with live weapons doing a simulated dog-fight with a Jaguar. Hits the wrong button on the control column and instead of taking a picture of the Jaguar, erm, lets off a Sidewinder that promptly shoots it down.
Oops. Mr L severely reprimanded by RAF court martial!
(, Tue 28 Mar 2006, 19:24, Reply)
« Go Back