During a period when a lot of the Wing were on detachment, a Royal Navy Submarine visited Wilhelmshaven.   Nevertheless the usual party was held in the Officers' Mess to welcome the Submariners.

In the absence of Wing Commander Hammer West, OC No 122 Wing on the detachment, his wife Nancy led the hosting party.  It got rather hair-raising and there were stories of brave aviators jumping off the balcony of the Minstrel's Gallery in the Mess with brollies held high as parachutes.   {Click here to see a photo to give an idea of how high this was.]

Nancy West ended up with her ankle in plaster and also Flt Lt Eric Hughes, OC Station Flight.   Eric managed to continue driving his Landrover using his crutch on the clutch rather than his plastered left foot.   Eric Pigdon tells me it was quite startling to see his gear changing with the crutch banging on and off the clutch, while steering and gear change with the other hand!