Beefsteak 305 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 I left my mums at 7.50am to get to Robs for 8.15, and arrived at 8.30!!! The traffic level has gone up a bit since I last traveled that route at that time !! After a quick brew it was off to meet up with Rog , and on the way Flight Sergeant Beefsteak spotted the first of many surprises,after slowing down steadily and reversing slowly !!!! I was able to point out to Rob a flock of about 25 Quail right at the side of the road. Great start to what was to prove to be a great day. We got to Rog's and met up with his mate and exchanged the customary pleasantries As we left Rog's we had a demonstration that it was going to be a good day, in the distance, over Lincoln , could be seen "The Red Arrows" having a practice over their airbase at Scampton. Up to Waddo for a gleg and we weren't to be disappointed as first we got an Islander doing 'bump and goes' This was followed by first a Merlin departing and then a Sea king. Two Sentinels were hiding The 'Old with the New' The "Rock Apes" came for a nosey but Rob 237 told them bu99er off so they did. It was then on to The Petwood Hotel via the old runway of RAF Metheringham !! and some old railway lines (Now sadly defunct , it's amazing the amount of old lines there is out there.) Petwood was the officers mess for 617 Sqdn (Dambusters) and we took coffee in the Dambusters bar. The branch can be seen on the wall above Rog and his mate , (Rob also,) Fascinating stuff. A quick visit to the Dambusters memorial and then to former RAF Woodhall Spa to see Rogs UXB !!! I forgot to take a pic ,,,,sorry.!! Rob 237 in front of the memorial (In the shape of a breached dam.) More to follow Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,580 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Ayup Beefsteak, Great pictures from a great day out, I'm not sure whether Lincolnshire has recovered yet from the Nottstalgia invasion but I'm think they will survive, until next time. The Petwood was the highlight for me, (well it was all an highlight really) and I would advise anyone who's visiting that area to make the effort and just go in for a coffee like we did, they won't be disappointed (although I can't guarantee we'll be in there,ha ha) As I said before thanks for coming over, great day, great company,and that Nottingham sense of humour is priceless Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 My report from yesterday...posted in another thread: Many thanks to Ian and Rog for their company on the Lincolnshire Air/Bird/Rail/Ham & eggs/Bomber County ale/Frostbite excursion...enjoyed it all immensely. Despite: 1) Ian braking to a rapid halt from his usual speed...as he had spotted a squadron of rare McDonnell-Douglas quail in a distant field...looked like a thrush to me... 2) Capt Oates wandering around the Waddington viewing compound, as we arrived...he seemed to be lost and cold. 3) Rog selecting a parking spot (in an empty car park, and in a rainstorm) 1,000 yards from the venue's door... 4) My permanent deafness made even worse by a Typhoon take off in vertical mode... Already looking forward to next years excursion, when hats, gloves and scarves won't be so vital. Lunch at the Bell Inn please... Slept like a log last night...too much fresh air! Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Cont.... We headed off from Woodhall ,after a short stop , to RAF Coningsby, via Thorpe Camp , we headed to the far crash gate and I got a shot of my favourite gate guard The English Electric Lightning. There was a little rain in the air and we got a fantastic rainbow, I stood there and waited for the two Typhoons , that had taxied off to the right of this shot, to come screaming through the rainbow, to no avail, they just sat at the end of the runway and the rainbow dissipated The first of many, Then off to "The Blue Bell" for lunch of Lincolnshire Ham,Eggs, Chips and Peas, and a pint of Bomber County in this "Green King" pub,,,,, Laaaverly!!!! Some of the decorations . Buccaneer Character Guess whos signature ????? Answers on a postcard to "Prince William signature contest, c/o Petwood Hotel. " After a wonderful lunch, it was off to the RAF Dog handling school at ???????? for a hush hush pic as we drove past. Then back to Coningsby in time to see this fellow go up verticle, I missed a couple of shots as he flew directly into the sun (The bloody Hun) but what a fantastic moment that was !! More to follow...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Cont........ The vertical take off continued A De Haviland Heron gave a fly past More from a Typhoon After a while we were treated to a cracking high speed fly pass from a Tornado from RAF Marham We then drove off to the other veiwing area stopping to get a pic of The Phantom gate guard (Taken through the fence) A local delicacy , served up by the "Tractor Mechanic" when she ain't serving mice and rats !laughing! More.... (I'm going to watch "The Bill") Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Was that the BlueBell Inn in Tattershall Thorpe ??......If so just got in contact with an old mate 'Alan' who owns it now.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Did Alan work for Camms Coaches? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Yep....Was a Mechanic i do believe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 I did here that mine host was from Nottingham. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 He Lived in Chilwell ( was one o the kids I used to knock around with ) and he was a year behind me in school 'Henry Mellish'......havent seen him since about 72....just got in touch thru 'Friends Reunited' last week ...Small world eh ?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 He seemed very pleasant . It was him who showed me where Prince William (William Wales ) had signed the ceiling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Right Mr Fynger...time to call in the favour for the 1921 map Do you know Alan well enough to find out who supplies his hams, and then convey said information to Bro's Ian, Rog & I? Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 To finish off the day at Coningsby we got the "3 o'clock slot" Typhoons in the twilight The base commanders chopper And off for a quick drive through RAF Cranwell, to see the tutors doing bump and goes (Too dark for pics by now) and then a quick sojourn back to Waddo to get this shot of a Merlin (In pitch black , very much enhanced) Then back to Rog's to say our goodbyes , a promise to do it again in the Spring and off home. I got stuck in the traffic all the way to Rob's house and finally got back to my mums for 6.00pm !! On the way home i saw a Radio Nottingham ariel car and a T.V. sattelite earth station, I wondered what had gone off , to hear 'live' on the Midlands Today news , that they had agreed funding to duel up the A46 from Widmerpool to Newark , at last . Thats been in the pipeline for 20 years to my knowledge!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Alan bought the Blue Bell and got Mick Ellery(now elsewhere) to run it, both ex Nottm lads. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Well you lot seem to have had a jolly jaunt, good weather for it too, it would have been a disaster today. There's one thing that really concerns me though, The Blue Bell being taken over by Greene King, if they find out he's selling Bomber County Bitter they'll be on top of the landlord like a ton of bricks. Did you see any AWACS or have they been all deployed elsewhere. The Typhoon has to be my favourite fighter of all time, there doesn't seem to be an end to its capabilities. The Lightning was spectacular in a straight line or going vertical, I believe that only the F-15 can match it for it's climb rate. The Phantom was pretty heart stopping when it attempted low level displays, particularly it's for it's lack of tight turning, it would wobble precariously when such a move was demonstrated. The Tornado F-3 was a cheapo option developed from a low level strike bomber, I always thought it's combat capabilities were probably limited, the Yanks knew that when it was restricted to AWACS defence during the first Gulf War. Interesting to see an AEW Sea King, it must have been from either Culdrose or Yeovilton, probably all the airborne radar protection we have if the AWACS are away. With regard to the closed railways, we took a trip on them in the 60's, unfortunately our DMU that we boarded at Firsby Junction caught fire at Woodhall Spa. No messing about in those days, after telling the station master that we had to catch the Harwich Boat Train from Lincoln to Sheffield, the fire was duly put out with the hose from the station masters garden and we limped on to Lincoln on one engine. Sorry, I couldn't resist it, our favourite BBMF Lanc at it's first public outing, BoB day, Waddington 1965, note the lack of dorsal and front turrets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 ...There's one thing that really concerns me though, The Blue Bell being taken over by Greene King, if they find out he's selling Bomber County Bitter they'll be on top of the landlord like a ton of bricks.... We raised our glasses and jointly toasted both Greene King and your goodself Bomber County secreted under the bar... Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 I shall enquire about the HAMS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Good Lad...map blackmail was only in jest... Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Hmmmm Thank you for your kind thoughts, especially towards my favourite brewery. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 We raised our glasses and jointly toasted both Greene King and your goodself Bomber County secreted under the bar... Cheers Robt P. Hee Hee Hee !rotfl! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,580 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Firbeck Sentry's (awacs) based at Waddo , 2 at the moment (7 altogether) on the apron outside the new hangar, 3 Sentinals in front of sqdn HQ building, last night when I nipped up there for some more pics there was a Nimrod parked up, I will try and get over again this afternoon to see if I can get a pic of it, also yesterday at the bottom of the airfield there was 3 Merlin's and 1 Sea king, if you want pictures of Sentry's I will post them Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Thanks for your info, I wonder if the Nimrod is an ordinary example or a special R1. Waddoe seems to be the centre of things for intelligence gathering aircraft, I worry about how our armed forces are coping with things at the moment, on all branches, not just the RAF. It was interesting to see Beefsteaks photo of the patrolling vehicle, aren't these the specialist armoured vehicles that our troops abroad are crying out for, why isn't it out in Afghanistan instead of roaming around Lincs, or perhaps Beefsteak took his air rifle with him, you must have looked a very dangerous lot. I used to go up to our local base at Wethersfield when the Yanks ruled the local economy, they encouraged the local population to attend antique fairs and whatever, held on the base. They had a simple way of dealing with it, you arrived at the entrance, got out the car, the guards had M16's and pistols which were made very prominent, but in a subtle, unthreatening way and your car and identity were checked out on what was obviously a more sophisticated data base than the UK had at the time, all this done jokingly and with such politeness, but you knew they meant business. I miss em', they were such lovely people who did a lot of charity work in the area, some folk hated their political stance and whatever, but we forged real friendships with our US allies, we were very saddened when they left the area, lovely blokes, sorely missed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,580 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 firbeck, The Nimrod is the latest mark, covered in aerials and stuff, the military vehicle is based there for the protection of the airfield, a couple of weeks ago there was about a dozen of them lined up at the bottom of the airfield, they have been loaded up and shipped out to where they are needed. They patrol the airfield now to prevent pictures being taken of sensitive areas such as aircraft on site etc, by the way this is a picture out side their main hangar with a few sensitive aircraft lined up. If you want a picture of the Nimrod let me know, I have one but not too close if you know what I mean Rog !secret! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,580 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Another one for good measure Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Nice one Plantfit, those particular vehicles kept turning up at our local Tesco's, well we're not far from Colchester and they were being delivered I reckon, they turned up most mornings in groups of four, covered in odd desert camo. The troops, from various regiments, went in for their breakfasts every morning, yet keeping an alert presence around the vehicles, and themselves, communication was definatley discouraged, looking at their badges they were Paras, RA and what I took to be the SAS, brave boys, they deserve our support in these dreadful times, it makes you want to weep in view of whats happening in India, but yet our local paper is concerned that our assasins have to face east and shove their arses in the air in a local car park, my heart bleeds for them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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