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RAOC Gazette - page 61

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Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
Book page
Chapter head
Chapter key
Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1980
Real page
Colour Yes
Grey No
Early date 1980
Late date 1980
Transcription indeed show RAOC Soldiers of the 1st Armoured "Division
Combat Supplies Company, the Chilwell Shadow Unit, doing
helicopter operating work with their combat jacket sleeves
rolled up. However v/hat appears to be headdress is not head-
dress at all but ' goggles' worn to protect the eyes from the
tremendous air blast given off from the Chinook.
The soldiers were trained to ' Hook U p ' the nets to the
load carrying hook on a hovering helicopter. They were taught
and supervised by American instructors who told them to roll
up their sleeves because bare arms offer less wind resistance,
enabling the soldiers to keep their arms steady when placing
the ' Doughnut' on to the fixed hook of the aircraft.
I hope this assures members of the Corps and the readers
outside the Corps who may have got the wrong impression, that
our soldiers training is properly conducted, in fact the soldiers
are not, in the strict sense of the term, formally trained helicopter
operators.
For the record the perception and efficiency of our soldiers
greatly impressed the Americans.
{Well you " pays your money and you takes your choice."
I still think that the photograph was taken out of context
but have a close look a' the cover of the July 1979 GAZETTE—
if you have a copy.)
3Utter£ to
t|ie €t»ttor
HELICOPTER HANDLING
From: SERGEANT F. J. EDWARDS
Dear Sir,—With reference to the letter from Captain B. P.
Wilson in April's issue of the RAOC GAZETTE.
It is impossible to wear a beret when a Chinook helicopter
lands as a down draught of over one hundred miles per hour
can be experienced—not only can berets be lost, but fuel
tankers have been known to move]
FORGOTTEN NAMES
iM&F:.
From: MAJOR J. D. BROOKSBANK (RETD)
Dear Sir,—Some of your readers will probably be aware that a
fairly large scale modernisation project is being undertaken at
Kineton. This project includes the building of several new
roads connecting the new storehouses. We have been consider-
ing names for these roads and we feel that it would be appro-
priate to resuscitate the names of former Ammunition Depots.
I have managed to identify most of the 1939—1959 vintage
but there are a few gaps and I wondered whether any of your
readers could help to fill them in.
The list reads: —
-J
BADs
1 BAD—Nantes?
)
2 BAD—Marseilles -
3 BAD—Rouen
J
4 BAD—Trondheim
8 BAD—? Egypt
9 BAD—Abu Sultan
14 BAD—Bitonto Bari
15 BAD—? Belgium
16 B AD—Nola, Naples
17 BAD—? Belgium
443 BAD—Kranji
The photograph in question.
If a closer look at the picture is taken it will be seen that
the helicopter is closed down and therefore of no danger to the
soldiers concerned. In fact myself—and the American crew,
had just left for chow.
(/ rather felt that this might be the explanation—but wait.)
From: MAJOR D. M. BRAITHWA1TE of COD Chilwell
Dear Sir,—In response to your letter in the April Edition of the
NWEF 1940
MELF 1940/44
CMF 1945
21st A Gp (a)
CMF 1948
21st A Gp (a)
,(a) Later 3 BAD
'Liebenau and 3
BAD Bracht
ASDs—UK 1940/56
2 ASD—Ascot
21 ASD—Craven Arms
22 ASD—?
23 ASD—Bedale
24 ASD—Clumber Park, Worksop
25 ASD—Aberfoyle
26 ASD—Shanes Castle, Northern Ireland
27 ASD—Shefford
28 ASD—Savernake Forest
29 ASD—Drymen
30 ASD—Olney, Bucks
31 ASD—Buckingham
32 ASD—Garenden Hall, Loughborough
33 ASD—Easingwold
Any assistance or comments would be appreciated.
Corps GAZETTE.
To put our 'disturbed' reader at rest.
BEF 1939/40
The picture does
CONDUCTOR MICHAEL CRAWLEY
From: MRS SANDRA CRAWLEY
I would like to say " thank you " to all those who so kindly
helped me at the sad time of my husbands death.
I have made so many friends over our eighteen years in
RAOC and to them also, I would like to express my sincere
thanks.
Photo Sergeant J. Horner.
The Hook Up.
44
Book number R0404