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#Post#: 6600--------------------------------------------------
RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gerry Haley
Date: December 15, 2012, 1:29 pm
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On completion of my training at Compton Bassett I was posted to
this unit in Nov.1960. My journey was to say the least long and
tiring but interesting. It started with a train journey from
West Cumberland ( now Cumbria ) to Glasgow Central arriving late
evening. The local police kicked me off the station because it
closed for the night. Go to Queen St. station they said for the
train to Mallaig. At Queen St. I and 3 others caught our train
at about 06:00 and started the journey. The hills were covered
in snow and made it easier to pick out the herds of deer that
roamed the hills. The train delivered newspapers, groceries and
stoppd and put down a ladder to pickup kids for school.
The breakfast on the train was fantastic and the coffee laced
with rum. We eventually arrived in Fort William and had a short
break to stretch our legs, just before midday we arrived in
Mallaig and onto the ship the Loch Seaforth to take us to the
Kyle of Lochalsh and then Stornoway. We arrived at 20:00 to be
met by a landrover.
The short wheel based landrover already had a passenger to keep
the driver company, so now it had 4 more passengers with kit
bags and suitcases to do a 40 mile journey on a single track
road to the camp.
Just after 21:00 we arrived at the camp to the sound of waves
crashing against the cliffs.
to be cont:-
#Post#: 6602--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gordon Carle
Date: December 15, 2012, 2:13 pm
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Hi
If you haven't seen it already there is an interesting site on
Aird Uig here
HTML http://www.ceuig.com/places/villages/aird-uig/raf-aird-uig
It includes anecdotes from servicemen, incl a techie who was
there 59/61
HTML http://www.ceuig.com/archives/2151
Cheers
Gordon
#Post#: 6759--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gerry Haley
Date: December 18, 2012, 1:55 pm
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Thanks Gordon, I have visited the site on a couple occassions.
cont:- In the morning we awaken to the sound of the sea about
100 yards away at the edge of a cliff and looking up the hill we
see our radar for the first time. Blue card time is easy because
of the compact site then its up the hilll to find out which
watch we are on. I went to D watch, a good bunch of guys like
Eddie McGinley, Jack Lemmon, Brian ?
and Sgt Crowther. Frank Forrest joined us later. Things to be
informed about came fast, RAF bus Liberty run to Stornoway on
Sat. get your name down now if you want to go. When you go on
leave time it to start on the first day of your3 days of and
come back at the end of your 3 days with the right number of
leave days in between. If you have a warrant you can fly from
Stornoway to Glasgow and have rail warrant as well.
BEA used the following, Dakota, Viscount and Vangard (spelling),
much better than boat and rail. On the Liberty run we sang all
the songs we knew. Half way into town we stopped at the sheep
zebra crossing for photos and to show the sheep how to use it,
on the way back we all slept.
to be cont:-
#Post#: 6926--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gerry Haley
Date: December 22, 2012, 5:09 am
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A Saturday in Stornoway consisted of diving into a pub until
closing at 3pm, then a bit of shopping, something to eat at the
Square Cafe near the harbour and back into the pub until it
closed at 9pm, then try and get into the dance which finished at
10:30 the bus picked us up at 11pm ( we had to be out of town
before Sunday, religion was very important on the island and
nothing took place on that day. ) Our watch officer Flt.Lt.
Walker ( Clint ) went for a walk with his family on a Sunday and
people were shaking fists at him, church was the only place to
go to on Sunday. Not much entertainment on the camp other than
the naafi, and small cinema. We decided to start a canoe club so
4 canoes in kit form were duly bought and put together and
proved to be very popular.
Playing sport was a good way of getting of the island and I
travelled to RAF Leconfield with the badminton team to play in
the Fighter Command competittion we were knocked out early in
the competition but it gave us time away. To be cont.
#Post#: 6931--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: alanshield
Date: December 22, 2012, 5:33 am
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Now this place sounds like a right Hoot....... I suppose Rape,
Pillage and the occasional fire raising was completely out of
the question
Unlike Peterhead!
#Post#: 6966--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gerry Haley
Date: December 23, 2012, 7:45 am
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In some ways Alan it was a step back in time. Whilst the
drinking laws restricted the all important drinking time it
did'nt stop the fishing guys from carrying the half bottle round
in the back pocket and spoiling for a fight in the dance hall.
#Post#: 6984--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Bill Reid
Date: December 23, 2012, 4:52 pm
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--- Quote from: Gerry Haley link ---
>
> In some ways Alan it was a step back in time. Whilst the
drinking laws restricted the all important drinking time it
did'nt stop the fishing guys from carrying the half bottle round
in the back pocket and spoiling for a fight in the dance hall.
>
--- End Quote ---
I can assume therefore that the wee frees were hiding behind
their curtains tut tut tutting much as they do in this day and
age. No wonder Trump built his golf course on the Mennie Estate
just outside Balmedie the wee frees would have had a field day
with him, and his mum came from somewhere around there, the
Outer Isles. ;D ;D ;D ;D
#Post#: 7008--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: terry
Date: December 24, 2012, 6:36 am
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Great retelling Gerry. Never got that far north myself so very
interesting. Keep it coming as I am feeling a bit lonely in my
story telling. TB
#Post#: 7180--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gerry Haley
Date: December 30, 2012, 5:50 am
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cont:- Most of us will have a collection of events that standout
during our various postings and my 18 months at Aird Uig was
eventful in many ways.
We had a civilian birdwatcher called Mr Lee who had permission
to come onto the camp at anytime and observe the birdlife.
Whilst going about his work one evening some rocks he was
standing on gave way and he fell over the cliff to his death,
his body was recovered from the sea, so sad.
Returning from leave in January one year with 3 others by train
and boat we were stopped by the police as we were boarding the
boat at Mallaig. Someone on the train had reported the
disturbing behaviour of one of another group of 4 guys who were
also getting the boat to Stornoway. He had been saying that he
did not want to go back to the island, they got on the boat
without the police having words with them. We set sail and
stopped as usual at the Kyle of Lochalsh then carried on towards
Stornoway. After a short time the guy got away from his friends
who were keeping an eye on him and he jumped overboard. The ship
circled to search for him but to know avail.
to be cont on a more pleasant note.
#Post#: 7391--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Aird Uig
DIR By: Gerry Haley
Date: January 4, 2013, 1:21 pm
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Like Saxa Vord we also suffered bad weather which included very
high winds. During 1961 we had 100mph winds, I was on the T64
console watching the aerial juddering as it swung into the wind
and shortly after that it stopped completely one of our motors
had burned out. Our ae was designed to be used with 4 motors
instead of the usual 2, I think that Saxa was the same. Saxa had
problems at the same time I think.
In Dec we put on a concert for the locals in Stornoway, on the
wa
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