-and The Men who Kept Them in the Air!!!
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| When I first decided
to join the British Army in 1968, I desperately wanted to be a Para! I'd read all the
right war comics, seen all the right films, and I coveted that famous red beret.
Fortunately for me (and, I suspect, also for the Paras), a farsighted Recruiting Sergeant
realised my true potential and steered me into the less physical, more rewarding (yes, the
pay was better) trade of Aircraft Technician in the Royal
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Following the customary basic training at Depot REME, Poperinghe Barracks, Arborfield, I embarked upon my new career in May 1968 at the very hub of the Army Aviation universe, Middle Wallop. My first posting in 1969 as a newly-qualified Aircraft Technician was to the Mobile Wing of 70 Aircraft Workshops REME, also based at Middle Wallop. Although not much of a posting in terms of distance, I can honestly say that my four years at Mobile Wing were the most enjoyable of my entire career. In addition to the sheer variety of work, I also enjoyed brief tours of duty on detachment with the Paras and the Royal Marine Commandos in the Caribbean, America, Gibralter and Denmark. The relatively unremarkable remainder of my fourteen years in the Army were spent almost entirely in Germany, at Celle, Detmold and Osnabruck. I have documented some of my Army career in photographic form below. In the event that any visitor to this page would like to contact me (old Army mates are very welcome), please click on the link below. |
Alan Hutchins |
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