Page 97 - Demo
P. 97
95away, and Bremgarten in Germany was a little further off - but it had a nuclear power plant close by. As low-level over-flight of nuclear facilities had to be avoided at all costs, I felt it unwise to go that way in a damaged aircraft. Therefore, I reduced speed to a comfortable 360kt and flew an orbit, while trying to raise the first Starfighter following me on the radio. The wind noise hindered clear communication, but we managed to join up, and he checked me over while I conducted a low speed handling check. We then %u2018chopped%u2019 to the Colmar approach frequency, and he made a MAYDAY1-relay call on my behalf. It was only then that I found out that Colmar was on Exercise %u2013 in fact TACEVAL2 %u2013 they were practising for war; I then really wished I'd chosen to go to Bremgarten instead! My colleague escorted me in for my landing and saw me touchdown, before heading home. I cleared the runway, and taxied behind the follow-me truck to parking. I was met by a group of armed guards in full Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protective clothing, wearing helmets and gas masks; they promptly arrested me. I could see that they were clearly %u2018very pissed-off.%u2019 The Base had been put on Air Raid Warning RED as a consequence of my unexpected visit/intrusion and, as a result, they were treating me as a 'Defector'! Because of the language barrier, it took several unpleasant minutes before I could convince the gas-mask-wearing guard commander that I was a genuine, friendly NATO pilot who had had a real emergency and needed medical help. The smashed window, blood on my hands and glass in my boots sort of did the trick %u2013 eventually %u2013 and I was released!After the %u201cAll Clear%u201d was given from air attack, the medics kindly stitched me up and then, about an hour later, the RAF Exchange Officer at Colmar appeared (someone I had last seen over 10 years before during flying training). After contacting my Squadron back at Baden, he took me for a very civilized lunch in a very empty Officers' Mess. Several hours later, a Canadian Forces Huey helicopter arrived to pick me up and fly the 60 miles home. At Base, the helicopter flew past the side of the primary school where, with the side door open, I was able to pick out my son and daughter playing at break-time -

