Tales from the Engine Bay Steve, Mario and Murph Part 1 RAF Binbrook

Steve, Mario and Murph (Propulsion Maintenance Engineers) re-unite under XS459, 34 years since they were together in a Lightning Engine Bay. In Part 1 they share their first impressions of RAF Binbrook

[@HerbertDuckshort]

I arrived at Binbrook from RAF Cosford in 78 and spent 18 months on ASSF…..a.k.a. the Breaker’s Yard. A shed full of about 40 Lightnings in various states of dismantlement which were gradually robbed of all their parts by whichever squadron needed them at the time. As an 18 year old singley without a car the only escape was the regular, free Thursday night bus to Cleethorpes….generously provided by the MT Flight…which usually got you back to camp at 23.30 after a sozzled evening of beery excess in The Dolphin pub. I had some great mates at Binbrook but the job ( basically helping to run an aircraft scrap yard ) was a complete and utter ball ache. The only thing I ever really learned at Binbrook was how to play Euchre, a strange card game which I play to this day and is very popular in Cornwall where they have pub Euchre leagues. On reading PMC bulletin one morning ( during one of my many stints as Tea Bar mechanic ) I saw that the RAF were asking for volunteers for RAF Kinloss. I applied, got accepted within a week and spent most of the rest of my time in the RAF on Nimrods. While in Scotland I went “native”. Learned the bagpipes, married a local girl and developed a taste for Scotch whisky. Great to see this channel and listen to the banter. Keep the faith guys.

[@brecklander]

Just binge watched all four videos. Thanks guys, from a fellow Sooty 😎

[@Lee78072]

So nice. Hearing those old Stories

[@raycarter6037]

Great listen, thank you all, 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@batchint]

I knew there was a noise factory... found that at biggin hill... under an avro.... never mind it was traffic stuff...

[@frankxavier7519]

Had a tin of PRC explode in the pie oven while on tea bar duty!

[@FrankC321]

Listening to these UK aircraft maintainers stories, these are the exact same stories that US Marine aircraft maintainer stories would be of the same era. Only difference is the aircraft type and location. Everything else is the same.