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48end. In those days we could go into East Berlin in uniform. You just walked through Checkpoint Charlie, although to be fair you checked in with the Americans first and told them. Britain did not recognise East Germany and so we just ignored the guards standing there pointing guns at us. On our Oakington visit we were immediately mobbed by a group of pretty girls who told us they were Hungarian. We chatted for a bit and they took some photos. No doubt those photos are in a Starsi archive somewhere. Anyway, we were both up for another trip there and said yes. The Squadron had to check out one of the QFIs on the route and needed students on board to justify it. Most of the people who were refreshing on the Varsity were experienced pilots going back to flying after a ground tour and just wanted to go home at weekends and so were not keen on this weekend jolly. The weather on the weekend that this was planned for was too poor and so it was cancelled. The next week the Flight Commander was very apologetic saying that we had already given up one weekend, but would we be prepared to go the weekend coming up. Of course, we were and this time we got away OK. Berlin was a great place to visit with various night clubs and bars.On the Monday morning the weather was below limits for take-off. I think we needed a 600 ft cloud base at Wildenrath, and it was nowhere near that. We sat around until late afternoon then cancelled and briefed to try again in the morning. Tuesday and Wednesday were the same.And on Thursday Mike and I did not bother to get into uniform for breakfast and had planned an outing somewhere. The QFIs however were desperate to get back and there was a forecast of a high enough cloud base at Wildenrath at midday. Thus, we rushed to get changed and away we went. It was my take off in thick fog. You could see hardly anything ahead, just keeping straight on the runway with the compass. We made it ok and landed at Wildenrath for a quick refuel and then home. However, while we were being refuelled one of the airmen put his foot through the dinghy release panel on the wing and so we had