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The
Ex-RAF Aerial Erectors Association was founded as a result of my
trying to trace my old service friends.
I had served as a rigger for 12 years having joined the
RAF in 1956. I passed the climbing test at RAF Canewdon and on completing the
Aerial Erector Course(6B) at RAF
Chigwell I was posted across the road to No. 4 Ground Radio
Servicing Squadron before being posted overseas.
I
did 3 overseas tours, the first tour started in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
at RAF Ekala Transmitter Site where I was promoted to Corporal and then posted
to the Signals Centre, RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong(1956-59).
This was followed
by a short spell as an instructor at the Aerial Erector School at RAF Norton
and RAF Digby.
Then it was back out to the Far East for a second time from
1959-62 to the Radio Repair Squadron, 390 Maintenance Unit, RAF Seletar in
Singapore.
On my return to the UK, I was based at the
Ground Radio Installation Squadron (the Gypsy Squadron), Radio Engineering Unit
, RAF Henlow for a while, working on various detachments including a job at
El Adem in Libya.
In December 1963 I was posted to Aden for 2 years on
the Electronics Repair Squadron, 131
Maintenance Unit, RAF Khormaksar (1963-65).
This was followed by a
spell at the Ground Radio Servicing Centre,
RAF North Luffenham where I was promoted to Sergeant.
On promotion
I was posted again to the Ground Radio Installation Squadron, Radio Engineering
Unit, RAF Henlow where I worked on various detachments including RAF Episkopi
in Cyprus until I finished my service in 1968.
In
1996 I decided to try and renew old friendships and put an
advert on the, now defunct, "Service Pals" page of Teletext.
I received only
4 replies from riggers , but
they knew the whereabouts of several other riggers and so
my list steadily grew. I put further adverts on the Teletext and
in the RAF Newspaper, "The Airmail" (RAFA) and the
British Legion magazine.
There
are now over 400 riggers in the Association and I am pleased
to say, it is still growing. We have a four monthly newsletter,
The Update, and a reunion is organised every other year.
If you
are an existing or past RAF Aerial Erector and not a
Member of the Association then why not contact me now by using
the contact link above?
Membership is FREE and who knows, you may find some of your old mates here.
Eddie
Edwards (4178312)
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