What's the RAF like today?
in the modern-day RAF are single people still allowed to live out/ off base? In 1971 myself and a few mates were amongst the first to live-out in a rented house in West Drayton. What are the wages now? I started on about £9 a week in1966 less an allotment to my mother, most lads sent money home in those days. Most went on beer and cigs so it didn't matter really. No responsibilities and some good mates but I remember we stood our like sore thumbs with short hair as long hair was the fashion then. Remember being in a dodgy drinking club with a mate and the manager coming up and asking anxiously,' not police are you lads?' My mate replied, 'get us a pint and we'll be on our way we can't be bothered tonight.' On the way out he winked at the manager and said, 'watch how you go.'
Hello just read your thread.
We all have great memories from those days.
I always laugh to myself when things get hard " your Swinderby trained", the elite of the elite. Which is total nonsense.
However I do remember being constantly worked, absolutely non stop. We never had a rest. We've all got great memories from those days, let's face it...our formative days.
RAF Bridgnorth has always intrigued me.
What was it like in comparison to Swinderby?
Al Hart
We all have great memories from those days.
I always laugh to myself when things get hard " your Swinderby trained", the elite of the elite. Which is total nonsense.
However I do remember being constantly worked, absolutely non stop. We never had a rest. We've all got great memories from those days, let's face it...our formative days.
RAF Bridgnorth has always intrigued me.
What was it like in comparison to Swinderby?
Al Hart
I started off as a "Trenchard Brat" in 1957, 16 years old, never been away from home before. The morning that I left home I arose from bed in my own bedroom, the same night I shared a barrack room dormitory with 15 other youngsters. The following day, we were all sworn in and then swore at! I served for 31 years so so it must have been OK. Today, I live a couple of miles from RAF Marham where the up-market Harriers, the F35Bs of 617 and 207 Sqn. chunter around local skies and from time to time head off to the open seas to practice landings on Big Lizzie. I say this slightly tongue in cheek because I was employed as an armourer on the Harrier GR3s of 3 and 4 Sqn's at RAF Guetersloh during the Cold War.
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