RAF Lakenheath
Nine Air Cadets from 209 (West Bridgford) Sqn have spent the day with the US Air Force at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.
The day started at the bases Fire Department where Tech Sergeant Derflinger gave a guided tour around the fire engines and equipment, enthusiastically explaining everything in his Tennessee drawl. Then he put on a demonstration with a fire engine that could shoot 1000 gallons of water 175 feet in a minute!
The next stop was the Armoury where the Cadets were shown the rifles and machine guns that are issued to American Airman. The armourers demonstrated the weapons and explained their favourite Hollywood gun myths. Apparently not everything in Resident Evil – Apocalypse is accurate!
After the Armoury the Cadets where taken to a Hanger where a Crew Chief from the 492nd Fighter Squadron showed them around a F15E Strike Eagle. This particular F15 was displaying mission symbols from the recent operations over Libya. There were also a large number of ‘dummy’ training bombs and missiles in the hanger which the Cadets got to inspect.
The tour ended with the Cadets watching the Retreat Ceremony where the base comes to a standstill and the national flags are lowered.
Despite getting close up to a multi-million pound jet fighter and a fire engine that can shoot water 175 feet the Cadets agreed that the best part of the day was the hands on experience of the armoury.
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