Previous picture Station pictures Next picture
RAF Germany's gunnery team, comprising (5 Hunter F.6s of No. 4 Squadron and their groundcrew) landing at Base Aerienne Cazaux Arcachon, SW France in September 1960.   We, (the groundcrew), and ground equipment had flown in by Beverley previously.   In 1960 John Mackenzie had been detached to RAF Sylt with 2 Sqn, 4 Sqn and then on to the gunnery team as a 2nd line armourer servicing the 30mm Aden and harmonising the guns, the other 2nd line armourers were Derek 'Nobby' Hobbs and Al Jelley (who had replaced Erol Palsey who had succumbed to chicken pox at Sylt).   The work up and preparation were quite meticulous.   Every round that was to be fired was checked electrically using a safety ohmeter and then 'tipped' using a soft lead paint.   Both practices would probably not be allowed these days.   Prior to the Hunters flying down they were washed with aviation fuel in the hangar at Sylt, dried and then polished with copious amounts of Wadpole.   The living accommodation at Cazaux was dire.   The washroom was a communal trough interspersed with cold water taps that lined the walls.   As we were washing or shaving you would get someone's expectorated toothpaste floating by, you were buoyed in the knowledge that someone 'downstream' from you was also suffering the same fate.   The toilets looked as if a land battle had raged through them although the graffiti that adorned the walls was both interesting and artistic.   It was a relief (in more ways than one) to go to Arcachon on the nightly recreation run and find a hotel with real toilets and good food.   John has a great photograph of the previous gunnery team's detachment comprising Fighter Command's 66 Squadron and Hunters of the Norwegian and Dutch Air Forces and French Mysteres.   Apart from those there was quite an eclectic mix of aircraft at Cazaux including B-17s and Fairchild Packets? (Or the French equivalent [Web Master: Probably the Nord Noratlas?]).
(Thanks to John Mackenzie)
Previous picture Station pictures Next picture