50 Squadron

This is the main page for the squadron or unit. More info will be added here as I get the time, but for now it's a "base" for establishing comms with other members of the same unit. You can post messages for other members of the same unit using the messages link above this blurb, and you can also search for other members of this unit. Once you find them, click on their name to send an email direct to them. Please note that this website doesn't "remember" your emails, they are sent direct from you to the recipient without sappers.co.uk getting in the way. That helps you get in touch quickly and it keeps everything simple and free. Have fun. Gordon

Bob Young sent me this - "Hello Gordon,A bit more info for you,50 Sqn were in Osnabruck for a number of years-I can't help with the actual dates but I went to them in 1960 and they had been there for some time then,I left in 1963 and I believe that they left Osnabruck not long after that.Incidently,28 Amphibious Regt.started life as 1 troop 50 Sqn.during the time I was there.Regards Bob"

 

Comments

I was based in kenya in 1971 and i am trying to remember the name of the camp we built and a bridge we painted and deck . i was in 50 field squadron.
many thanks
james J

Lanet old raf base

Sorry that was 81

I served in 26 from October 1960 to 1963 tanks at first were Churchills then changed to Centurian tanks. The squadron was an Assault Squadron in war we would be "First in Last Out" the tanks were Flails, Bridgelayers, Arks and AVRE. In a war the tanks would clear minefields to allow the progress of our troops and blow bridges if in retreat so the enemy could not follow also make it difficult to progress with any vehicle.

Troop SSgt Dutch Holland, Troop Sgt Pete Vant, Troop Cpls Sam Sarfass and Ian Boyd, Troop Officer Lt Guy (splitpin) and for buck house 2lt Zimmerman (Big Carl) sorry scouse Morton but myself and graham (smudge) smith were first, its been along time since tick tock time.

Spanner here, ex-61 HQ, '71 to '75.
Apparently 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment are going to do Royal Duties at Buck House in the near future.
Was it 50 Sqn who carried out the same duties in the early '70s?

Hi, I served with 50 Squadron from Dec 66 through to April 72. this included tours in Aden,(1 Troop, attached to 10 Sqdn), Gibraltar, Kenya (Lake Baringo) and Canada (Chilliwack British Columbia).
Also did Royal Duties at Clarence House.
Feel free to get in touch.

Looking for members from the Squadron around 84 - 88, just trying to get back in touch with friends

http://www.sappers.co.uk/members-list?field_wkhist_city_tid=All&field_sq...

Click the link, it should bring up a list of names and you. An click on any you recognise to send them an email

We deployed from Maidstone ( I think ) using Shorncliffe as a Staging camp. We were based in Little Aden camp but Troops were deployed and rotated up country ( Radfan / Habilayn ) at intervals. OC was Maj Johny Fowles - the only man allowed to take his wife out with him ! He was a qualified pilot and often used to fly Beavers up to Habilayn. I was a very green subaltern who joined the squadron for the tour.

Alan, I'm afraid you got the years wrong & I've added a it extra. Brian D.

I joined 50 Sqn in January 1964. We were one of the Sqns of 25 Corps Engr Regt, in Roberts Barracks, Osnabruch. We deployed to the Radfan (Habilayn/Thumier), in the Aden Protectorate, Staging through Shorncliffe. We were on a 1 year unaccompanied tour starting in September 1964 (Advance Party). Initially the whole Sqn was deployed in the Radfan as part of 39 Bde & stayed when they were replaced by 24 Bde. After a few months most of Bde moved down to Little Aden. We left one Tp in the Radfan, One troop went to Al Milah, working on the Dhala road & the remainder went to Little Aden. After the tour the Sqn joined 36 Engr Regt in Maidstone.

Brian is of course correct - don't know how I slipped years in my earlier post. I definitely recall flying out - in a Britannia - in early October (?) 1964 - won't forget the flight either because I made the mistake of playing cards with my tp Cpls - and losing some cash !

For Brian Daly. Yes, I was the Troop left in Radfan for a while. Boss never came near us. Sgt Spreader Hurst was my Tp Sgt. What a great man!

Staff Sgt Spreader Hurst!

Hurst ( 1Tp), ?? 2 Tp , and Coles BEM ( 3Tp )
A powerful trio - but I can't remember 2's name. Jeremy Gibb was 2 Tp Comd I think.

I was posted to 60 Sqn. in Maidstone & I am sure my neighbor was a L/cpl.Jonny O'Donell in 50 Sqn. from Springburn in Glasgow. any one know or heard of him.

Hi, I joined 50 Fd in Dec 1986, fresh out of 39CW(M) course and posted directly to RAF Laarbruch. My muckers were Delboy Ford and CJ (Johnston). Tom Farr replaced Delboy on posting. Our job was the redrafting of all the essential services dossier for the station - boring. I had two GE's Eddie Howard in Germany and Stuart Ness in the Sqn. I did fit in FI for 4 months with the Sqn in 1989 before crossing the corridor to the PSA. If there is anyone out there in SapperLand who remembers me then please drop me a line. Steve Smith