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The Grumpy Gang

The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch

That evening, with Ramadan approaching, our work was cut out to find a restaurant selling alcohol, but thanks to some good reconnaissance by Peter Romeikat such an establishment was located and we enjoyed an excellent meal and wine to round off a memorable if non flying day. With our planned programme now thoroughly disrupted by the weather and other events outside of our control, thoughts turned to how we were going to get to Majorca in time to meet our other European colleagues flying to the island for the coming week end.

As we assembled at Fez airfield on the morning of Wednesday the 12th September, our options looked distinctly limited. The intended route, north east to Melilla and thence straight across the Mediterranean to the Spanish airfield of Almeria was now blocked by low cloud, with no improvement forecast. Eventually it was decided that we would fly to Tangier and on to Jerez again, to try and get around the area of poor weather. The plan worked, and we enjoyed a flight in steadily improving conditions as we flew west and then north. As we approached Tangier, the leader had a great idea.

"Let's get clearance to fly up the runway at Gibralter" he announced on our common chat frequency.

You have to hand it to Jörg, after some exchanges with the Tangier controller who said that the route was not authorised and that we would have to await permission, Jörg said that yes he would wait! When after a 30 minute hold, permission was finally granted four of the squadron had the exhilarating experience of flying low over the runway at Gibraltar, while an urbane RAF controller took the whole thing in his stride. There was a certain swagger apparent when the crews disembarked at Jerez airfield 40 minutes later.