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#Post#: 50980--------------------------------------------------
RAF NSU Tongeren / JOC Maastricht
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: January 15, 2019, 12:11 pm
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My posting from Fylingdales was be detached to the Falklands for
4 months, to be carried on my new Units strength, never found it
who it was.( think it was MOD had been PV'd .
Sqn Ldr Dave Todd had me in to ask me on St Paddy's day would I
accept a quick posting on the 1st May to Eiffel at JOC
Maastricht on my Q - annotation, where's that says I . Holland a
three year posting says he.
So on the first of May 83 I arrived at NSU Tongeren on my bike
direct from the ferry at Zeebrugge and reported in to find the
SNCO's house was full ( no mess) and I would have to wait for a
bedroom to become available.
Duly billeted in the only Hotel in town the Lido, run by another
Eddie an ex Belgian Para Commando.
As it turned out I was there for just over three months, before
I moved into the house outside the Kazerne, really enjoyed my
time in Fawlty towers as I christened it, great tucker produced
every evening meal with a bottle of wine included.
NB all single personnel were based at the Amboroix Kazerne
Belgium and Married were lodged in Holland, Maastrich etc.
Hotel Lido in the Centre of Tongeren right opposite the
Cathedral and the square and all the cafes.
The local folk were great and one of the Cafe's let me keep my
motorbike in their stables/storeroom.
Chris Dart and I were the first one's in in and the Eifel
Computer system was still being fitted out and it was a while
before we did the course at GAF Birkenfeld and OJT at the ATOC
at USAF Sembach.
I did two detachments prior to the course at ATOC Sembach and it
was very useful and made some very useful contacts and friends
in the process and am still in touch with most of them.
In the meantime Chris Dart and I worked in the National tasking
cell for RAFG in the ATOC, funny enough, one of them was an ATC
assistant.
Vince Taylor and Andy Jones followed us to make up the full
complement.
Eifel at Maastricht was a three nation project Holland, Belgium
and the UK, which fitted into the system with the Germans and
the USA
Captain Stevens was the Dutch Officer in charge and Chris Dart
was his deputy. All shift leaders were Dutch and one each of the
Belgians and the UK.
Two Belgian's worked on days and I am still in touch with them
and Rene who was on my shift, great characters.
The main achievement for me was near the end of my tour, being a
RAFLO for the European area Council, I used my spare time to
visit most of the RAFA branches on the Continent and that's were
I met my Wife Hilary, she was the membership secretary of the
Luxembourg branch.
Upon return to the UK on May 86 to SOFC at West Drayton, we got
engaged at the Area Conference in October 86 and I PVR'd and
left in March 87 and married whilst on terminal leave and
returned to Luxembourg.
lots of other tales to tell, whilst the memory is still there :)
#Post#: 50987--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF NSU Tongeren / JOC Maastricht
DIR By: Bill Reid
Date: January 15, 2019, 3:55 pm
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Amazing how we AATC get everywhere.
#Post#: 50992--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF NSU Tongeren / JOC Maastricht
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: January 16, 2019, 2:39 am
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Finished.
Come on folks , some tales etc of your postings, it now looks
our old trade group is history this year.
Sad as it is, we do remember our Esprit De Corp :)
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