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mel wilson  Forum Moderator - Master member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Total posts: 1700 Location: England, Biggin Hill, (EGKB) Age: 62 Gender: Male
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Ok guys, seeing as though we have the topic here, a brief posting of my time spent in the ATC............. Some years ago.....
Joined 66 Sqdn. Surrey Wing on April 19th 1961 as a Cadet, my goals were to achieve everything that was available to me during my time there.
Goals:
To rise through the ranks as quickly as possible. Experience as much flying as I possibley could.
Made Corporal on 23rd Oct 1962.
Sergeant, 6th Feb 1963.
Flight Sergeant 14th May 1964.
Cadet Warrant Officer 10th May 1965.
Flying Hours logged in 3822, Total 24 hrs 40mins
Included were:
Chipmunk
Anson
Hastings
Gnat Trainer
Varsity
Lancaster
Hunter Trainer
RAF Marksmans badge awarded on 21st July 1965 @ Bisley Firing Range, Surrey. Lee Enfield .303 & Bren Gun.
Never Missed yearly camp.
Became leading Side Drummer in our Sqdn Band. In June 1963
Band Competitions: we won 5 times out of 7 entry’s.
June 1967, Due to age limit reached, I was forced to bow out as an NCO, But stayed on a further two years as an instructor.
Those were the day when boys were made Men, ready to enlist in the Armed Forces.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/graham605/Air%20Training%20Corps/RAFAldergroveNorthernIreland.jpg
Above: RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland. I am second from the left, front row.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/graham605/Air%20Training%20Corps/RAFAldergroveNorthernIreland-Lanc.jpg
Above: RAF Aldergrove again. I am standing on the left of my CO. below the prop of the Lancaster.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/graham605/Air%20Training%20Corps/RAFStAthensWalesUK.jpg
Above: RAF St Athens. I am back row, and to the left of my CO.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/graham605/Air%20Training%20Corps/RAFWaterbeachCambridgeUK.jpg
Above: Me standing to the left of my CO.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/graham605/Air%20Training%20Corps/RememberanceDaySqdnBand.jpg
Above: Remeberance Day Parade Sept 1962. I am front row, center, Side Drum.
Hope this was of interest to some of you, I know it's all changed an awful lot over the years.
Mel. |
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Dan Morera  Junior SurClaro Member Joined: 07 May 2007 Total posts: 95 Location: Heredia, Costa Rica Age: 34 Gender: Male
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| Those pictures are priceless Mel, thanks for sharing them. |
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mel wilson  Forum Moderator - Master member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Total posts: 1700 Location: England, Biggin Hill, (EGKB) Age: 62 Gender: Male
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Glad you liked then Dan....
Mel. |
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sonicboom2885  SurClaro.com Regular Forum Member Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Total posts: 211 Location: Debrecen, Hungary - Hometown Chicago, IL Age: 22 Gender: Male
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oh man, i love viewing pictures like these mel. I had a couple uncles who flown for the Indian Air force, back at a time when the gnat was their primary aircraft.
=)
didnt know you had played with those. thats jus amazing. |
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mel wilson  Forum Moderator - Master member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Total posts: 1700 Location: England, Biggin Hill, (EGKB) Age: 62 Gender: Male
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It was an amazing time of my life Sonic, I loved every moment of it, and would do it all over again....... What I didnt mention, was that I applied to the RAF as an electrical engineer, passed my medical up in London, and also my entrant exam........ Right up until the last minute, I was ready to go......... Signed up for the 9 year stretch........ Then met the love of my life........ And everything changed, decided to bow out at the last minute, before it got too advanced, and had to pay my way out........ Always wondered what it would have been like, but no regrets, either way. Just celebrated our Ruby Wedding Anniversary.
Mel. |
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sonicboom2885  SurClaro.com Regular Forum Member Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Total posts: 211 Location: Debrecen, Hungary - Hometown Chicago, IL Age: 22 Gender: Male
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| lol, awesome! cheers to you and the wifey mel! |
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lc  Junior SurClaro Member Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Total posts: 91 Location: Hythe, Southampton (80 miles southwest of London) UK Age: 19 Gender: Male
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Jeez, I have no history compared to you! lol
lc |
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tomcatdriver2006 Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Total posts: 401 Location: KMCK Age: 52 Gender: Male
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mel wilson  Forum Moderator - Master member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Total posts: 1700 Location: England, Biggin Hill, (EGKB) Age: 62 Gender: Male
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| lc wrote: | Jeez, I have no history compared to you! lol
lc |
Life is what you make it, take it by the throat, and get stuck in........ pack as much in as you can........ at 62, i'm still racing lawnmowers, and now karts........ I am not ready to slow down for anyone yet, there are still things I want to do and acheive.
Mel. |
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SU37Berkut  SurClaro senior forum member Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Total posts: 319 Location: KGSO Age: 16 Gender: Male
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I like those pictures Mel.
On the Remembrance day parade picture, are you the tall drummer in the middle, or the shorter one on the left?
I like the uniforms and the drums.
A late congratulations for your Ruby Anniversary.
Cheers,
SU37Berkut |
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mel wilson  Forum Moderator - Master member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Total posts: 1700 Location: England, Biggin Hill, (EGKB) Age: 62 Gender: Male
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| SU37Berkut wrote: | I like those pictures Mel.
On the Remembrance day parade picture, are you the tall drummer in the middle, or the shorter one on the left?
I like the uniforms and the drums.
A late congratulations for your Ruby Anniversary.
Cheers,
SU37Berkut |
Tall one in the middle, (leading side drummer).
Thank you for your belated congrats.
Mel. |
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rd Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Total posts: 3550 Location: COMFORTABLY NUMB, in U.S.A. *** KOFF *** Age: 51 Gender: Male
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Now I am dying with laughter........
LMFAO
RD |
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SU37Berkut  SurClaro senior forum member Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Total posts: 319 Location: KGSO Age: 16 Gender: Male
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Dear RD,
What does LMFAO mean?
I don't know much about all those abreviations.
Cheers,
SU37berkut |
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mel wilson  Forum Moderator - Master member Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Total posts: 1700 Location: England, Biggin Hill, (EGKB) Age: 62 Gender: Male
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| SU37Berkut wrote: | Dear RD,
What does LMFAO mean?
I don't know much about all those abreviations.
Cheers,
SU37berkut |
he he..... this is gonna be worth watching Get out of that one RD
Mel. |
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SU37Berkut  SurClaro senior forum member Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Total posts: 319 Location: KGSO Age: 16 Gender: Male
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Why, is it something he shouldn't be saying?
Better not be, or I'll have to tell the moderators.
Cheers,
SU37Berkut |
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