THE
TRIALS AND TRBULATIONS OF W0681633 DAVE READ
1956-1958 82ND Entry RAF HALTON. 3 SQN 1 WING
The only claim to fame during this time, was being promoted to Cpl. App.
And for a period being camp Trumpet Major as 1 Wing trumpeters won the
competition.
Posted:- 1959 to 1960
8 FTS RAF SWINDERBY
Worked in Rectification Flight along with loads of other mad J/T’s
Posted:- 1960
to 1963 RAF NICOSIA
Unfortunately on arriving at RAF Innsworth, certain of us were selected
for the dubious honour of going to Cyprus on the wonderful HMT Dunera. Rumour
had it that it had been sunk twice and some dozy devil brought it back up to the
surface.
Worked on Hastings all the time apart from a gap year on the Mobile
Oxygen Unit at Nicosia and on being posted back, drove my VW Beetle back
overland from Istanbul.
Promoted to Cpl 1962
Posted:- 1963
to 1964 8 FTS SWINDERBY
Worked in the same Rect Flt until we closed the station ready for recruit
training. Choices of posting, Little Rissington or Syerston. Check the next one
out
Posted:- 1964
to 1965 74 SQN RAF LEUCHARS
Had my first wonderful opportunity to work on the Lightning. Became very
good at darts, as the Sqn was just re-equipping with Mk 3’s and I worked on
the line and they couldn’t get anything serviceable.
Posted:- 1965
to 1966 TRANSIT AIRCRAFT SERVICING FLIGHT RAF KUCHING
Promoted to Sergeant in Dec and ran one of the two shifts servicing
everything that flew in the far east.
Posted:- 1966
to 1969 AES RAF CRANWELL
Worked on Jet Provosts, Varsity’s and Chipmunks as well as anyone’s
car that needed fixing.
Posted:- 1969
to 1972 92 SQN RAF GUTERSLOH
Renewed my acquaintance with the ruddy Lightning again.
Promoted to C/T and ran one of the shifts as well as the Sqn
entertainments.
Main claim to fame, I managed to FOD two engines on one of the aircraft
on the reheat pan, on my last working night in Germany. Fortunately, turned out
it wasn’t my fault. Negative choices on posting, not Lightning’s and not
Lincolnshire. Check the next one.
Posted:- 1972
to 1974 TARGET FACILITIES FLIGHT RAF BINBROOK
Arrived on TFF with a blue chit and an application for overseas.
Posted:- 1974
to 1975 56 SQN RAF AKROTIRI
What can I say, Lightning’s again, wonderful island and some cretins go
and start a war. I ended up with 17 people living in my married quarter and we
had to sleep at work. Good fun!
Posted:- 1975 to 1976
56 SQN RAF WATTISHAM
Lightning’s again and whilst there they split the sqn in half and I
ended up running one of the two shifts.
Posted:- 1976
to 1979 431 MU ENGINE BAY RAF BRUGGEN
I joined the engine bay which had about thirty eight engine guys
stripping Speys, then the Jaguar came to town and I became the SNCO in charge of
the Adour strip and build teams and the number of blokes went up to 120 engine
guys within a few months. Jeepers, you needed a helluva lot of beer on beer
calls. I also read on orders I had been put in charge of the “Fear Dry Inn”,
the MU’s own club. Turned out really well, as I enjoyer running bars.
!978 promoted to Flt Sgt after having told they where they could put it
twice, so they said ok your promoted, stay in post. Negative choices on posting,
not Lightning’s, not Lincolnshire. Check this.
Posted:- 1979
to 1980 LIGHTNING TRAINING FLIGHT RAF BINBROOK
SNCO I/C LTF and again arrived with a blue chit and an application for
overseas. I also was informed on a day off I had arranged for the flight, that I
had to report to SHQ. They informed me that if I didn’t turn up, they would
send the Police for me. Anyway, seems someone in Germany had awarded me the BEM,
which as everyone knows, should be an OBE. I also read on orders I had been put
in charge of the Families Club at Manby. Can’t be bad, had two bars.
Posted:- 1980
to 1983 431 MU ENGINE BAY RAF BRUGGEN
Back to the same desk, same job, same blokes, and even got put in charge
of the “Fear Dry Inn” again. However, this is where my “meteoric” career
took a downturn. Fell out with the Flt Lt and my assessments definitely went for
a ball of chalk. He thought I was his Clerk. Wrong.!!
Posted:- 1983
to 1986 AES RAF LYNEHAM
SNCO I/C a hangar doing
minor’s and minor star’s on Fat Alberts.By now I had upped my sights and
fell out with Sqn Ldr’s, so posted to “B” line running a shift and fell
out with that one as well, so moved to SNCO in charge of Propulsion Repair
Flight. Checked with records and they said you have more chance of becoming a
Space Shuttle Pilot than being promoted.
DECEMBER 1986 Joined Fields Aircraft Services in Croydon as a Project Engineer and was eventually promoted to Facility Services Manager and Then Deputy Engineering Manager where I was involved in everything from building new engine test facilities to ladies toilets. 1995 I bought a house in Spain right round the corner from a mate who bought one whilst we were at Bruggen together. January 2002 the boss of another company phoned me whilst on holiday in Spain and said I’ve just heard you have been made redundant. Anyway, he said don’t worry, I have a job for you. So I ended up in Abu Dhabi on an UAE Air Force base as a site manager whilst we built a new engine test facility, that lasted two years and as they say the rest is history. I am now happy doing about as much as some people used to accuse me off in the past. At least Spain is sunnier!!!!!