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No 1 Wing Signal Troop, No 11 Air Formation Signal Regiment

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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesNo 1 Wing Signal Troop was a detachment of No 11 Air Formation Signal Regiment at RAF Jever.   They were essential to the running of the camp.   This unit had sole responsibility for:-

Manning the telephone exchange;
Installing telephones and intercoms;
And all land lines such as those connecting the Tower to the Transmitter and Receiver stations and intercom between VHF & CRDF and for example the "talky box" on the wall behind OC Flying's desk.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesAll the cabling in the new Tower that was needed to connect up the equipment was installed by them.   They in fact fulfilled more or less the same role for our forces abroad as the GPO did in the UK but with the additional responsibility of reproducing it all on a green field site.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesGeorge Englefield-Bishop tells us that "the CO of the unit at Jever had his office in Flying Wing HQ, first left up the steps that appear on the right of "the photo from my room" (Click to see) and every morning they had a parade outside, below my room, and possibly because they were in a minority did their best to maintain a high standard of turnout, the inspection each morning was very thorough and any failure to come up to the standard was punished.   I used to feel sorry for them at times, such as when having been made to Blanco their webbing black one month they were then next month told to do it white.   They were a nice bunch of lads, about 50 or 60 of them I would guess, but sometimes, not unexpectedly seeing they were out numbered, seemed a little on the defensive."

Lt. Malcolm Fluendy was the unit CO from October 54 to Sep/Oct55.   He tells us:
"George Englefield-Bishop has some very warm words about us - thank you George.   I took over from Rod 'Pongo' Ping as OC No.1 Wing Signal Troop (part of 11 Air formation Signal Regiment) in October 1954 leaving in Sept/Oct for demob at the end of National Service.   There were about 30 to 40 of us and I think we all enjoyed our time with the RAF at Jever.   I certainly remember Wright, his train set and the somewhat unsuccessful attempt to mobilise the Radio set up.   We were concerned in that wherever it ended up we would need to provide line communications to it.   I recall my troop Sgt., Sergeant Nicholls, being very relaxed about it - I think he had some inside knowledge about the state of the vehicles.   'Pod' Senar and Robbie from 5352 Airfield Construction Unit (who sometimes lent their trenching machine) are also memories.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesDo other people remember the serial sonic boom incident?   There was some disagreement between the Station Commander and the W Co Flying (West?), the exact nature of the dispute being far above my pay grade but Station HQ was subjected to sixteen booms in quick succession.   I know because our troop office had been relocated there shortly before!   Other memories include the unfortunate incident of the demob party, the riding stables and the midnight equestrian party, which produced an RAF police report complete with numerous photographs of horses and stable doors."

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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesTelephone Exchange Vehicle (TEV) from No 1 Wing Signal Troop

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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesMain Station Telephone Exchange in the woods to the rear of HQ Flying Wing.

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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesCpl Fisher with a 7B Teleprinter.

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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytes1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesSignalman Hamilton in front of camouflaged TEV.

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