WRAF Block RAF Laarbruch
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- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2024
- In this video we explore the former accommodation block used by the Women's Royal Air Force or WRAF personnel. The structure of British Forces in Germany has changed dramatically since 1991 - most notably with the withdrawal of the Royal Air Force.
Today many of the former Air Stations have been redeveloped like RAF Laarbruch, which is now commercial airport Weeze.
Twenty years ago RAF Laarbruch was closing, today it's a new airport and a new centre for business. The site has been transformed, if you believe the signs, but in reality very little hides it's history.
Dave is familiar with RAF Laarbruch as he was stationed here in the 1970's and 1980's with 26 squadron RAF Regiment.
In this video we are within the security boundary of the airport on a permission visit back in 2020.
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Wow and the years roll away. I was transported back to 92-95. You actually went into two rooms I lived in. The first corridor you went into the first room and then the room at the end of the corridor which you said would have been a shared room, I had a sofa at one end with my tv and a double bed at the other. By time I was there everyone had their own rooms. They had a points system… for both time served and time at Laarbruch so you worked your way up to if you were lucky enough having the big rooms.God we had some great corridor parties there!!!
Ahh the points system sounds like a good idea. Getting your own room is definitely a good perk indeed. I certainly don’t miss being in a 15 man bunk space on warships!
I’m really pleased you commented as it is nice to hear from real people who stayed in these buildings. It’s the people that make the RAF what it is and it is interesting to hear your recollections:)
There wasnt a points system for any of the singlies there and I was at Laarbruch 89 to 93 most of the tine in BB50 at the end of singly strasse.
I was in the block near the JRM, if you went through the trees/bushes you came out near the mally. As I say thanks to the points system I finally got a 4 person room! Maybe that didn’t apply in the other point. I can’t comment on that I wasn’t in there
Hi, My husband was based at Laarbruch 1982 and when we married in 1983, I left the WRAF and joined him at Laarbruch. We lived in Tedder Crescent. An interesting video. Very sad to see everywhere derelict. Brought back memories. 🤩👏
I’m glad it brought back some nice memories. Some of the houses are renovated and lived in :)
Moist interesting!!! I visited the Rhine Valley many years ago although moistly staying in Moselle! Thank you for a moist enjoyable trip down memory lane ❤
It sure was a moist one 😂 and a real pleasure to film albeit badly
Blimey, that walk around the WRAF block took me back. I can assure you that a member of your squadron did used to jump in and out of a ground floor room on a regular basis (until we got married). Was there 1979 until 1982.
Hello Sallie, I’m pleased you enjoyed the tour of the WRAF block. Dave was stationed at Laarbruch back then so likely knew your husband.
You made me smile.
Thanks so much for posting. We didn’t have the wallpaper borders when I was there.
As for the ablutions…. I recall someone playing a prank
After a sgts mess do, someone placed a pigs head down the loo, think the girl who sauntered through all bleary eyed got a shock when went to flush. Seeing a pigs head looking back up and it had got an apple stuffed in its mouth!!!!
Wow that would certainly make me jump ha ha 🐷
Well I wasn’t expecting a tour of the WRAF block when I started watching the video! 🙂
I was stationed at RAF Laarbruch from 1988 until 1990 and lived in the barrack block you looked around. It’s sad to see it in such a state.
It made me laugh that you guys were fixated on us having ‘privacy curtains’, the poles were there, but there definitely weren’t any curtains. 😂
I was hoping you’d turn left at the top of the stairs so I could see my old room, mine was somewhere between the tiny ones and the larger ones in size.
Great channel guys, thanks for sharing!
Fitted for but not with. Good old Mod :)
We might go back there one day
I lived there from 1983-86. I was 10. It was superb!
To Andy and Dave: Thank you for another comprehensive and historical reflection, imbued with humour.
To you both ( and, of course, *Thomas!* ).
Stay free, Men. Rab 🍻 😎 👋
Hello Rab :) you’re very welcome
@@ALWResearchTeam Thank you, Andy. I wish yours and you a very peaceful goodnight.
R 😴💤
Was stationed here 82 - 85. Great days indeed !
Glad to be back watching your videos. Been hospitalized with Covid 19 for three months. See you again! Cheers mate!
Good to hear you're on the mend Martin :) the 19 sure is a nasty one to catch. Thanks for commenting and I hope you fully recover
I would not like to leave my coat above a urinal 😆 nice one alw 👍
Hey Luke, me neither 💦😁
Nice one lads. Even better with Dave's personal memories! 👍
Glad you enjoyed it Rudi 79, it sure was a pleasurable explore.
Loved the Swimming pool at Laarbruch big open air swimming pool.
Yes we couldn’t film it as it was cordoned off during our visit
That's a nice German Flecktarn Field Cap you have there! Very cool explore. It was great to hear Daves' stories and experiences from being there. Thanks for sharing!
Hello Lesslee:) I picked the hat up from a NATO shop whilst we were there. Dave was like a kid in a sweet shop in there lol
20:45 not a 12 man room..it was the WRAF Sitting room. Made me tear up seeing it like that. We had some great times there.
Hello there, that’s great information. Thanks you but really is nice to hear from people who used to live in these forgotten blocks
Nice to see you and Dave walking about at Laarbruch. The man sure has some stories to share, aye?
Cheers, you legends.
Glad you enjoyed it :) Being in Laarbruch was sure a pleasure and a true privilege
Having more good memories whilst I watch this episode, thanks again (not the speaker though, 'Reveille, reveille, reveille the time is O five hundred hours!')
Hello there 👋 I would like to catch up with you at some point. Is it ok if I pop round when convenient to you?
@@ALWResearchTeam Yeah, of course. A bit tied up Monday and Tuesday, but this weekend or from mid morning Wednesday onwards not a problem. If the van is there I'm very likely in, if the side gate is wide open I'm definitely in, just come around the back or drop me a time. Cheers!
27:35 is that a MOD arrow symbol in the middle of the reel ?
Excellent work as usual Andy/Dave keep the good work up!
Hello Anthony, yes it sure is an MOD arrow. Why buy off the shelf when the MOD can have their own made for huge expense lol
Brilliant video guys 👍🏼. Fascinating place. Interesting use of what looked like runway lights (?) at the gatehouse to illuminate the underside of the cars when searching them. Great to hear some of the funny stories from ‘Naughty Dave’ as well. Keep up the good work 👍🏼😊
Hello there, it sure was a brilliant place to film. The lights were similar to runway lights with a different lens/cover to shine up in a wide cone. Runway lights are usually bi or omnidirectional. Same base just a different cover, Well spotted :-D Dave sure does have some tales of old lol
@@ALWResearchTeam Thanks for that. Interesting about the lights. All makes sense 👍🏼😊. I maybe ought to know about runway lights, having worked at Brough for 34 years 😁
The boxes on the window sills were used to house the bottoms of the blast curtains that were lead weighted, and minimised the risk of flying glass. Fitted as a direct result of the IRA threat.
Oh wow. Thanks for the information
The big tower you thought was a water tower at 8:40 ish was the harrier flight simulator before they built it the aircrew had to fly back to RAF Wittering to get their sim hours in.
Ah interesting. Thanks for the information:)
I like Dave's sense of humour 😂
Anyone not familiar with UK plugs, they contain replaceable fuses ranging from 3, 5, 10, 13 amps
Dave sure has a lot of tricks under his hat lol. Thanks so much for watching and commenting Anthony
@@ALWResearchTeam thanks for putting the effort in to keep us entertained 👍
@@anthonydefreitas6006 Youre Very welcome :)
Excellent video guys...... The Transit is a Mark two....and very tidy!
Hi Adi 👋 it sure was a good condition one. We filmed this series back in 2020 and I never edited it 😀
Beautiful video my friend 🙂 absolutely incredible capture of this amazing location.
Hello 👋 Anna, thank you very much :)
the 'plant container' on the windowsill in the WAAF block was for anti blast net curtains.
Oh wow ok :)
I was just about to say the same. They were super long but the bottoms were rolled up and sat in these boxes
@@elaineparkinson1873 Thanks Elaine; I'm glad you backed me up there. I think some people thought I was crazy?
One thing I did wonder, was who cleaned the net curtains?
That room at the end with the bamboo ceiling I’m fairly certain that used to be a tv lounge
Hello Elaine, that’s great information, thank you :)
The reason there are areas for urinals in the WRAF block is that when originally opened RAF Laarbruch was a male only camp.
Ah that makes sense
Those window boxes used to contain bomb blast net curtains. The curtains reached the floor and were weighted down by lead weights. The curtain was gathered up and placed in the window box. In the event of a bomb blast the net curtain was designed to catch the flying glass. Every barrack block had them. I was based there when they are all fitted early 90’s. Memories 😎👍
Hello there, Good memories indeed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge
The building I forgot to visit 😂
I was there1980-83 1 Sqn RAF Regiment.
hello TESS I was on 1SQN LATE 1978 until Apr 1980 UK with 2SQN on the ULSTER TOUR then got posted to 63 SHORAD SQN Oct 1981 just In time for FALKLANDS :OP CORPORATE 1982 ...THERE WHERE a couple of ROBINSON'S on 1 sqn at that time ..anyhow greetings from PADDY "RUSS MAY
@@russellmay7347hey paddy you were a good friend to me when I joined 1 sqn at 18 last saw you when you were on your FT I got demobbed in 2002 and am now 62 Cosmo
x 2429 on the door of the accommodation room would've been the occupants 'workplace extension phone number' to call, if that person was needed for anything when not there. (ref 14:06)
Oh wow that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the information:)
Thanks
Hello Andy. Regarding Thomas' recent Bun Funder In Memoriam of his Mum and your Darling: Thank you, Thomas, your Dad and, Always, Your Dearest Mum. A heart-warming upload, Young Man!
I shall now send a small donation via your Dad's AWL Channel - requesting that that is passed on to you, for you to save - or spend frivolously!
All the best to you and yours, from mine and me, Thomas.
Stay free. Rab 🥜🐿 🕊
PS. Andy: I am dismayed, to type the least, that honest donations are Government-taxed with VAT, aka *Luxury Tax* ...
Whatever! Bye for now, A and T ( and *L* ). R 👋
Yes Rishi is poor. Lol
Hey Rab, thank you so much :)
Bit of Reeves and Mortimer going on there.
Ouvaaavoo :)
mark 2 transit
Wow its an old one then, looked mint too :)
RAF Police Gatehouse
I worked the original entrance post the one you show was built after my tour so after 1980 I was in B flt RAF Police sqn