SERVING IN THE RAF: ON FILM

Film: Minchin Connections

Simon Riding came up trumps again searching on You Tube, discovering these films about British military service at a time when his father Vic was an officer in the RAF.

The first one, from 1954, is entitled: New British HQ in Monchen-Gladbach.  This shows the Army and 2nd Tactical Air Force moving to Rheindahlen, West Germany. It is where Vic was stationed with Peggy, Julie and the newly-born Simon. These are houses and buildings they would have been familiar with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d89RtFRPjO0

After they left Germany, Vic was stationed at RAF Feltwell. The second film is entitled: Rocket for RAF, Feltwell, Norfolk. Thor rockets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhA7Zy7oZAk

Simon writes: “On 22nd October 1962 the USA went to Defcon 3 during the Cuban Missile Crisis – the closest we ever came to a nuclear showdown with the USSR. A recent documentary I watched said that the UK would have been at a similar level and the US missiles deployed in the UK were based at RAF Feltwell. At the age of 5 I can vaguely remember missiles! Consequently RAF Feltwell would have been near the top of the list for a strike by the Soviets. We left Feltwell in May 1962 when Dad retired so he missed the excitement by a few months.”