Alfred Fartknocker:
This Lynx AH.1 is brand new, with 662 Sqn AAC, seen here at Loddenheide, Munster, West Germany. XZ218 survives at Cobham, as the remains of an AH.7 after decades of service.
Alfred Fartknocker:
I guess this Valetta must have been broken up at Aldergrove, but its nose got repurposed as a bothy by the resourceful engineers. It is VW837, a Valetta C.1, seen in 1979, but it doesn't feature in the Euro mil book, even as a 'recent' disposal.
Alfred Fartknocker:
It's a happy scene at the Eagle Gliding Club, in Detmold, W. Germany c. 1981. I flew all these a/c. 554 is our Schleicher K-13. 558 a K-8 (in which I nearly killed myself) & 567 our K-7 trainer. Everyone mucked in to make the day go well!
Alfred Fartknocker:
662 Sqn Army Air Corps had six Scouts in 1979, but only XP849 was in the old Brown/ Green glossy camo. Seen here at Loddenheide, Munster, it survived to fly on as G-CBUH, then ZK-HQU.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This is 70-16061 of 503rd Avn, US Army, seen while visiting 662 Sqn AAC at Loddenheide district of Muenster, West Germany.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Westland Scout AH.1 XP853 at Munster 1979. It's with 662 Sqn, AAC.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This 2 Reg't AAC Gazelle is with 652 Sqn at Bunde, West Germany. ZA729 was brand new, and the first Z prefix aircraft that I saw. Last noted derelict at Wattisham in 2013.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This is Corporal Wallace 'Jock' Lawrie at Munster with a 662 Sqn Scout.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Seen at Ballykelly, N. Ireland is this Royal Navy Wessex HU.5, XS515/ N of 845 NAS. It was last heard of in Aldershot in 2001, but its fate is uncertain.
Alfred Fartknocker:
2 Reg't AAC were at three locations; RHQ at Lubbecke, 652 Sqn at Bunde & 662 Sqn at Munster. This Scout AH.1 is XW282, seen at Bunde. This chopper flew as ZK-HUC for a while, in New Zealand- but cancelled in 2002.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Another of 652 Sqn's Scouts, seen at Bunde, West Germany in 1980. XW283 was one of the latest ones, and flies on as G-CIMX.
Alfred Fartknocker:
XT638, is a Scout AH.1 from 1 Reg't AAC based at Hildesheim in West Germany. It's taking part in one of the many BAOR exercises and has just been refuelled in the field by the Bedford MK 4,400 litre tanker behind it. Operated by 651 Sqn, AAC.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Gazelle AH.1 XX445 at Detmold. 71 aircraft workshop did the heavy maintenance for the AAC in West Germany. This one flies on in Mozambique as FA-085.
Alfred Fartknocker:
An Air Trooper marshalls in a pair of 503 Avn's AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters at 662 Sqn AACs base at Loddenheide, Munster, West Germany. Note the grass runway in the background. The Cobra will be 68-15030, a combat veteran in Viet Nam when an AH-1G.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Gazelle, Chaz Parsons and a REME dude whose name escapes me now.
Alfred Fartknocker:
70-15183 is a US Army OH-58A. This Kiowa, and a few other choppers stopped for fuel at Detmold in 1979.
Alfred Fartknocker:
XZ195 during its time with 662 Sqn AAC at Munster, West Germany. It was auctioned off in 2013, but it seems the nose survives at Mildenhall. This Lynx AH.1 is brand new!
Alfred Fartknocker:
'Ginge' Smith in the 662 bar at Munster. I remember our pissfights at the bog, both running out of ammunition.....sooner than required.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Scout AH.1, XT626/ Q on show at Farnborough. When I joined 662 AAC, these were very much operational.
Alfred Fartknocker:
John Songhurst, a REME bloke, poses with Jock Kennedy at 662 Sqns base in Loddenheide, Munster, West Germany. The UK band 'Madness' was a big thing then.
Alfred Fartknocker:
A view of the 662 Sqn AAC bar in Munster. 'Chippy' Wood in light blue, Tony Richards sitting, Ken Footnam with 'tache and Ian Hall who went on from being a REME Tech to Gazelle Pilot with his back to us. Everything cost One D-Mark.
Alfred Fartknocker:
It's a dazzling hot Summer day somewhere near Sibbesse, West Germany in 1979. This 662 Sqn Scout AH.1 gets inspected by a farmer and some kids while it gets refuelled in the field. XP849 still wears the old style camo.
Alfred Fartknocker:
72 Sqn Wessex HC.2 gets some fuel at Ballykelly. XT670/ AU was based at Aldergrove in 1979, but can now be found preserved at Hermeskeil in Germany.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Three old Army Scouts linger on at Sproughton. This one is XT640, clearly been in use for BDR.
Alfred Fartknocker:
A lot of people spent the entire weekend at Detmold, in the Eagle GC clubrooms. Many a happy Saturday night was whiled away, talking and drinking.
Alfred Fartknocker:
This Scout pod is on the Middle Wallop fire dump in December 1978.
Alfred Fartknocker:
Westland Lynx AH.1, XZ217 at Munster with 662 Sqn.
Alfred Fartknocker:
On exercise in West Germany with 662 Sqn AAC. One of our guys does a post-start walkaround on this Gazelle, looking for leaks, fires etc. A Scout sits nearby under its cam. Exercise 'Keystone'.
Alfred Fartknocker:
US Army AH-1S Cobra being refuelled at Detmold c.1980
Alfred Fartknocker:
Cobras on 662s' apron at Munster, West Germany.
