BRIGANDS TO "V" BOMBERS
ISBN 1-904030-37-8
Synopsis
LJ Braithwaite BEM LSGCM & Clasp RAF Retd.
1st July 1934 - 1st July 1989
The author "Lawrence James Braithwaite was born 1st July 1934 in the village of Near Sawrey about halfway between Hawkshead and the Ferry across Windermere in the Lake District.
What more could one want than to be born into such idyllic surroundings. He attended Hawkshead school and left at the age of 15yrs to join the RAF as a "Boy Entrant" and signed the dotted line on 27th September 1949.
Having trained as an Airframe Mechanic over a period of 18 months was then posted to RAF Leeming to work on "Bristol Brigand & Buckmaster" aircraft.
After a while a Fitters Course was offered and away to RAF St Athan went young Lawrence. Six months later (Now a Junior Technician) he was posted back to the Brigands, which by now had moved to RAF Colerne.
The next move was to RAF Celle in December 1953 to serve with 16 Sqdn and stayed there for 3yrs, returning to RAF Coningsby which turned out to be a stay of some 10yrs. By now Coningsby was equipped with Vulcan B Mk2, Phase 2 aircraft. A posting notice appeared saying "Go to RCAF Goose Bay" but before you go you are to complete "Victor" (all marks) and Valiant courses at RAF Gaydon.
July 1964 saw the start of a memorable year and ten days on "The Goose" The 10th July1965 saw a posting to RAF Wattisham, which didn't last long!
Having been considered medically unfit for aircrew on joining in 49 and again for Air-Eng. duties on C130's now was the time to go flying. All the requisite qualifications were held and the application to become a Vulcan Crew Chief was submitted. Success at last. A nine-month course was completed followed by a posting to RAF Waddington. This was home for six memorable years.
There then followed what was possibly the "Plum Posting" within the RAF to Offutt AFB near Omaha, Nebraska, USA. for a period of three years.
The next posting was to RAF Cranwell and that lasted until 5th April 1982 when a rapid departure to RAF Marham was made. Flight Sergeant LJB was gainfully employed in various departments and jobs until 1st October 1986 when a "Last Tour of duty" posting to RAF Waddington was granted.
It was not the Waddington of old! But it sufficed to see out the end of a forty years of service. This period saw the demise of the AEW Nimrod program and the introduction of works services in preparation for the Boeing E3D, AWAC. (With Nimrod pods on the wingtips)
Demob day was the 1st July 1989. Farewell to the lifestyle and to the many friends over the years.
This book is available as an "E-Book" downloaded to your computer directly from myself.
lynnebraithwaite@lynnesdiaries.freeserve.co.uk
or
It is not in print as "Ground crew" stories are not as profitable as aircrew exploits! Yet were it not for the engineers and thousands of support people the aircrew would never have got airborne,