THE TRIALS AND TRBULATIONS OF W0681633 DAVE READ 1956-1958 82nd Entry RAF HALTON. 3 SQN 1 WING The only claim to fame during this time, was being promoted to Cpl App. And for a period being camp Trumpet Major as 1 Wing trumpeters won the competition. RAF SWINDERBY 1959 to 1960 8 FTS Worked in Rectification Flight along with loads of other mad J/T’s . RAF NICOSIA 1960 to 1963 Unfortunately, on arriving at RAF Innsworth, certain of us were selected for the dubious honour of going to Cyprus on the wonderful HMT Dunera. Rumour had it that it had been sunk twice and some dozy devil brought it back up to the surface. Worked on Hastings all the time apart from a gap year on the Mobile Oxygen Unit at Nicosia and on being posted back, drove my VW Beetle back overland from Istanbul. Promoted to Cpl 1962. RAF SWINDERBY 1963 to 1964 8 FTS Worked in the same Rect Flt until we closed the station ready for recruit training. Choices of posting, Little Rissington or Syerston. Check the next one out …. RAF LEUCHARS 1964 to 1965 74 SQN Had my first wonderful opportunity to work on the Lightning. Became very good at darts, as the Sqn was just re-equipping with Mk 3’s and I worked on the line and they couldn’t get anything serviceable. RAF KUCHING 1965 to 1966 TRANSIT AIRCRAFT SERVICING FLIGHT. Promoted to Sergeant in Dec and ran one of the two shifts servicing everything that flew in the far east. RAF CRANWELL 1966 to 1969 AES Worked on Jet Provosts, Varsity’s and Chipmunks as well as anyone’s car that needed fixing. RAF GUTERSLOH 1969 to 1972 92 SQN Renewed my acquaintance with the ruddy Lightning again. Promoted to C/T and ran one of the shifts as well as the Sqn entertainments. Main claim to fame, I managed to FOD two engines on one of the aircraft on the reheat pan, on my last working night in Germany. Fortunately, turned out it wasn’t my fault. Negative choices on posting, not Lightning’s and not Lincolnshire. Check the next one. RAF BINBROOK 1972 to 1974 TARGET FACILITIES FLIGHT. Arrived on TFF with a blue chit and an application for overseas. RAF AKROTIRI 1974 to 1975 56 SQN. What can I say, Lightning’s again, wonderful island and some cretins go and start a war. I ended up with 17 people living in my married quarter and we had to sleep at work. Good fun! RAF WATTISHAM 1975 to 1976 56 SQN. Lightning’s again and whilst there they split the sqn in half and I ended up running one of the two shifts. RAF BRUGGEN 1976 to 1979 431 MU ENGINE BAY. I joined the engine bay which had about thirty eight engine guys stripping Speys, then the Jaguar came to town and I became the SNCO in charge of the Adour strip and build teams and the number of blokes went up to 120 engine guys within a few months. Jeepers, you needed a helluva lot of beer on beer calls. I also read on orders I had been put in charge of the “Fear Dry Inn”, the MU’s own club. Turned out really well, as I enjoyer running bars. !978 promoted to Flt Sgt after having told they where they could put it twice, so they said ok your promoted, stay in post. Negative choices on posting, not Lightning’s, not Lincolnshire. Check this ……..