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#Post#: 15893--------------------------------------------------
RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Wolf
Date: November 20, 2013, 1:47 pm
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HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI36_iEtOS8&feature=youtu.be
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI36_iEtOS8&feature=youtu.be
#Post#: 15895--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: guest5
Date: November 20, 2013, 2:27 pm
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It's a good watch Nige, what a lovely women and Boss
#Post#: 15903--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: guest182
Date: November 20, 2013, 4:20 pm
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One of the best...A really top notch C.O. and a lady!
#Post#: 15919--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: November 21, 2013, 10:47 am
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Indeed Gary,
She was a true legend and a Professional all the way through.
#Post#: 16531--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: terry
Date: December 20, 2013, 3:17 pm
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Sqn Ldr Joan Hopkins got me out of a shallow hole when I was at
Bawdsey as a Cpl. Confrontation between me and Flt Lt Freddie
Flowers. She called me into the ops office and ripped me a new A
hole for speaking out of turn in the main ops room. Then
'Freddie was called in and they had a few words. strangely from
that day on me and 'Freddie' got on really well. TB
#Post#: 34741--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Martin Boughen
Date: March 25, 2016, 7:04 am
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The posts about Joan Hopkins reminded me of two incidents during
my short time at Neat when was the CO.
During a particularly wet day I had reason to have to go over to
SHQ from Ops, while there she came out of her office and I met
her in the corridor. I politely said good morning to her and she
stopped what she was doing to say good morning back and noting
that I was soaking wet remarked that the weather was bloody
awful. She asked if I had to go back to Ops after completing my
business in SHQ, I said that I would as I was due on position
shortly. She instructed me to call by her office on the way out.
Although confused by this I did so, her PA informed her that I
was there and she came out picking up her coat and hat telling
her PA that she would return shortly. With that I was invited to
join her in her car and she gave me a lift back to Ops. I
assumed she was going into Ops but no, she simply gave me a lift
joking that she didn't want any of her airmen dripping in the
ops room. With that she turned to drive away as someone else
came out, she stopped and gave him a lift as well. Not many CO's
would do that!
In another incident we were told that we would get a low fly
past by an SR-71 returning to Mildenhall, this was put out over
the station tannoy and many people went out to watch. Once again
I was on my way to SHQ, she was standing at the open window of
her office. As I walked past I saluted and said good afternoon,
she replied and asked if I had seen the SR-71 before. I said not
and made a lame joke about knowing her interest in birds and
that this would the biggest blackbird she would ever see. She
laughed and quipped that it would but we should be very worried
if it shat on us!
#Post#: 34764--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Martin Boughen
Date: March 26, 2016, 4:19 am
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Another memory of Neatishead sprung into mind but this time
relating to the infamous Roddy (JC) Smith who was the FS DISIP
there. I have met JC many times during my service including
basic training at Swinderby where generally bollocked me all the
time for offences including breathing it seems :)
JC had been promoted, busted, promoted, busted and promoted
again over the years and made to FS before retiring. He was a
strange guy with a brilliant mind and wicked sense of humour but
also scared the sh*t out of everyone.
On day I had parked my car over by the HSA and was making my way
around via SHQ. I was a sunny day and I was wearing these light
sensitive sunglasses (the ones that change in the light). As I
passed JC's office suddenly a hand appeared through the blinds
and the window opened followed by a voice bellowing in a deep
Scottish twang ' Oi You , Roy Orbison, my office!!!'
Yep, I was in the sh*t again I guessed. I entered SHQ and made
my way down his office at the end of the building and given the
different light my glasses changed to 'normal' by the time I got
there.
The look of surprise on his face was priceless when I appeared
in what looked like normal glasses. I was convinced that I had
won one over on him but no, realising that the initial reason
for my bollocking had now gone he demanded to know if the
glasses had been in issued in stores. I told him that I bought
them in Boots to which he told me I was there incorrectly
dressed and that I had insulted The Queen to whom I had sworn
allegiance and I owed the tax payers of the country an apology
for not using service issued equipment. He then bellowed that he
guessed I was a bloody operator, I stated that I was and told me
to get out as I looked like a poof! As I walked down the
corridor I could hear him chuckling to himself.
Priceless....
#Post#: 64639--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: laurieb
Date: July 10, 2022, 8:50 pm
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Resurrected this thread after reading an interesting article on
PPRUNE:
HTML https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/647672-civilian-buyer-raf-neatishead-wants-get-type-84-radar-working.html
Anyone else seen this?
#Post#: 64640--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Myrtle Meads
Date: July 11, 2022, 1:45 am
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--- Quote from: Laurie Bean link ---
>
> Resurrected this thread after reading an interesting article
on PPRUNE:
>
>
HTML https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/647672-civilian-buyer-raf-neatishead-wants-get-type-84-radar-working.html
>
> Anyone else seen this?
>
--- End Quote ---
Just joined PPRuNe, and read it, also sent a message, as I was
on the Type84 trials with Marconi in 1962 at RAF Bawdsey before
the RAF took it over. I think there were 4 of us Judy
Passingham, Leo Bell Simmons, and Dave Aplin, plus a Sgt. The
trials lasted from March to Sept.1962, though I left at the end
of August as Sqd. Ldr. Lowne wanted me on the Battle of Britain
Display in Air Ministry, London. It was good going back to
Bawdsey as I was there in August 1959 to October 1960.
#Post#: 64677--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: laurieb
Date: July 13, 2022, 9:21 pm
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Thanks Mrytle.
I think the new owner will have his work cut out for trying to
fire up the T84 again.
Good luck to him.
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