Royal Air Force Photos

Photos from my time in the RAF as a Painter & Finisher, in laymans terms, painting planes, although I can assure there is a little more to it than that, conversation on sacrificial metal coatings anyone?  Pictures include those from trade training at RAF St.Athan, my first base at RAF Brize Norton, RAF Laarbruch (Germany), Incirlik Air Base (Turkey), Falkland Islands, Pennsylvania (Ohiopyle State Park, Youghiogheny River, Uniontown).

Basic Training – RAF Swinderby

6 weeks of basic Training at RAF Swinderby 28th June 1988 with a pass out parade on the 10th August 1988 with . Unluckily for me and a few others, I got food poisoning on the very first day and spent the first 3 nights in hospital.

Polishing shoes and boots for inspection during basic training at RAF Swinderby 1988.

I was young once. No. 10 Flight, RAF basic training at RAF Swinderby June-August 1988.

RAF Passing Out Parade at RAF Swinderby 10th August 1988.

No: 10 Flight marching at Pass Out Parade, August 10 1988

Centre most. Wooden stock SLR with shiny and very sharp bayonet.

Trade Training – RAF St Athan

Four months training for the Painter and Finisher trade August to November 1988

RAF St Athan 1988. Painter & Finisher trade training flight 195. Front row, second from right aged 17

RAF Brize Norton

Aircraft Engineering Squadron, 1992 at RAF Brize Norton in front of VC10 aircraft.

Aircraft Engineering Squadron 1992 RAF Brize Norton. VC10 aircraft

Incirlik Air Base

Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in support of Operation Warden for no fly zones in Northern Iraq after the first Gulf War.

Incirlik Airbase, Turkey 1993. Outside our tent in “Tent City”. Hundreds of tents …. but very good times

Harrier GR7 of 3 squadron at Incirlik Airbase for Op Warden.

Incirlik, Turkey 1994. In support of No Fly Zone for Northern Iraq

Yılankale – Snake Castle near Adana, Turkey. An Armenian stronghold and Crusader castle of the 12th century. One hell of a climb up there.

Relaxing near the aircraft pan after a hard day in the heat.

Falkland Islands

A common sight. I think this was off the Mount Pleasant to Stanley road

Whalebone Arch at Christ Church Cathedral, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. April(ish) 2000.

War Memorial, Falkland Islands 2000

GEF crew in The Globe Tavern after a nights drinking on Mount Kent, Port Stanley, Falklands.

Sign in shop window at Port Stanley

Christ Church Cathedra, Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Others

Boat race at Well Lake just over the Dutch border while based at RAF Laarbruch 1994

Pennsylvania, USA. A week mountain biking, white water rafting and canoeing on the Youghiogheny River.