I have read with great interest the Winterberg pages and saw a letter from John Phillips about 889 SU.  I served with 1 Signals Wing from April 1956 to April 1958 on the HQ Unit at Wildenwrath, Butzweilerhof and Handorf plus a detachment to 330 SU, as Admin Corporal, when it was at the Kalmit from July  to September 57, the site was then closed down and we returned to 'Butz' and on to Handorf with the HQ unit and where 330 was 'refitted' and I was transferred back to HQ as Corporal Clerk Personnel.  The HQ Unit moved to 'Butz' in August 1956 and to Handorf in October 1957.
John Phillips mentioned a Radar Op. being burnt to death in an office truck at 889,  this was a chap called 'Geordie' Carlin, who I knew at 'Butz' and I dealt with the paper work for the Inquiry.  I recall that 'Geordie' was about to go on demob and it was believed that he went to sleep smoking a cigarette which set his blankets on fire  -  a terrible tragedy as he was great guy.
I was posted to 1 Sigs after 8 months with the RAF Regiment at the LAA Gunnery School at RAF Watchet and after the Regiment 'bull'  1 Sigs was a wonderfully informal organisation but very efficient with the equipment we had to operate  and with a grand crowd  of all ranks under our CO Sqn Ldr Colborne, and (who can forget him) the Adj, Flt Lt 'Rusty' Rust!!
If you can spare the space in the web pages I'll put together a few more stories and list some of the chaps I served with. 
Best wishes 
Jack Sweet  4169319.

Hi ,  these lads were at Winterburg in 1950,please add Raymond Codd
medic, John Jewell MT, cpl McKinley,Neville Trever Hawks MT.

I found these photo's not very good,were taken with a old brownie
camera a long time ago.in 1950  we were the central Germany gee chain
then ( CGGC) consisting Winterberg the main station,Wasserkupe(American
zone)and Adena u(French zone)the photo of the Leisse was our billet 

thanks john 

Hi, I was posted to Winterberg at the end of 1946 as a Wireless Mechanic,and was billeted in the Leise and then the Westfallen.I was also detached to Iburg~Adenau and Wassercuppe overlooking the Russian sector.Stations 7926~7924~7925 and 7926( not in order ).
The C/o was Wing Com. Troughton and the Signals officer was Flt Lt Baker.The other Wmechs were Johnny Hollowood from Manchester and neil XXXXXXXXXXX. I was due for demob in Nov 1948 but all demob's were postponed.I was then posted to RAF Eindhoven, and then to RAF Schleswigland near to the Danish border. Finally demobbed in December 1948.

                 best wishes to any one who served on CGGC

                           Malcolm Jones    2333422

Hi Keith
Old age my dates were... Worth October 1956-December 1956 Gee Training.
Yes the Old Tea shop at Worth as well.
Without boring the pants off you
From January - August 1957 SAC as Gee Operator at Worth both at Monitor station Southern Chain and B Slave station South Western Chain at Worth.
In September 1957 shipped to Butzweilerhof  for 1 month before being posted to 330SU RAF Handorf near Munster. There to February 1958 posted to 889 SU Shleswigland, Eckenforde/Maikammer/Kalmit. I was posted as 889 SU were short one Radar operator.decapitated on runway, another Radar op burnt to death in Office Tender and another killed hitting tree in Van. We were billeted in a Hotel by a wine field. I preferred Beer.Kalmit was great with views but under Canvas in winter not good.
I have photos of myself and mates in both Gee units Would these be any good for your site..especially the Unit football team 889 SU at Shleswig.
I have a photo of me and the NAAFI girl outside the RAF WORTH MATRAVERS sign.
Have you been approached by anyone else over this period I would love to share old times but I have been unable to contact anyone over these 3 years under Forces reunited and various other service site.
Heres a couple of photos from 889Su
One is the 889 Football team early 1958 At RAF Schleswigland.
I am on fron row 3rd from left
Back row  left to right
L Foster, Brian Cuthbert, John Cutler, Dick Richards Derek Jeffery Dave W..woth & L Cook
Front row l-r
C Fluste? Derek Mason , myself "Flash Phillips" & DJ Smith 

the 2nd photo is of myself & Mick "Stores" in May 1958 889 SU digging our way back to out tents at the Kalmit nr Ludwigsburg.
 

Kindest regards

John Phillips (Flash)

     Looking at the pictures in your website, the one of the snowman gave me a chuckle as I was the guy who made him.    Someone christened him Corporal Vic if I remember rightly.   I did it following a heavy snow fall one evening when I was on "Guard" duty.   Most of the camp were at the camp's cinema and  came out just as I was finishing it.    I remember too that the following day the sergeant (whose name fails me) got a work detail together to clear the snow from the road in the camp and despite pleas by some of us sprogs for Corporal Vic to remain on duty he ordered it to be removed.

     Besides you Keith and myself, was  Bob Ray the name of the owner of the car we had the accident in and what was the name of the fourth chap?    I can remember he came from Bristol but his name eludes me.    I remember well the German family who took us into their home to await the Military Ambulance.   Really very hospitable people.   Their house is in the background of one of the car pictures.   I remember too, the four of us returned to their house each of us with a gift in appreciation for them looking after us when they did.   I remember the four gifts.   A bottle of whisky, a carton of cigarettes, a large jar of coffee and a large package of toilet soap.   All the items were purchased from the camp's NAAFI at about ten shillings each and all would have cost an awful lot more for the locals to purchase.   I remember too the family came to Winterberg when we were all on duty in the tower and they treated us all to a meal in the Astenturm Hotel and gave each of us a hand made photo frame.   Sadly I do not know what happened to my one.

     My time at Winterberg was the highlight of my three years in the RAF.   Again Keith, thanks for the memories, I will be in touch again very soon.

G'day Keith,

     Over a year or so ago I received a salute from you on the Forces Reunited website and I attempted to contact you by e-mail at that time but no response.   Today I found your Winterberg website.   Brilliant !!!   I have numerous photographs I am sure you will find of interest but note I need to send them to a different e-mail address.   Would you please oblige me with that address. 

     I have spent a very pleasant couple of hours viewing the website, so many familiar names and some familiar faces.   If you cannot put a face to my name Keith then a wee jog of the memory, I was the Scottish member of your watch from Sept. 58 to Aug. 59.   I was also in Bob's (?)  Austin A30 when we ran into the back of that wee truck in Warstein which kind of spoiled our day out.   I have a couple of pictures of that car following the accident.

     I look forward to hearing from you and contributing to the website.   Incidentally I am resident in South Australia so would find it difficult to attend any future reunion should there be one.

Cheers,
     SAC Ron Powers.

The "Forces Reunion" website was recommended to me by a fellow bowler and I had a look at it today.
I see that Winterberg is mentioned but I can find no reference to the other members of the chain; and especially I was thinking of Uelsen, where I spent the majority of my time in Germany. I was hoping to perhaps get in touch with some friends I made during my time there (approx. Jul. 56 -  June 57).
I am sure you know of this site but do you have any advice or contacts at this base?
I hope that you are keeping well.
Kind regards,
Guy. 

Not far from the Beacon Haus was the RAF Station.

I have been back to Winterberg many times and find I miss the old days when the cows went out to pasture.

I would appreciate any and all information you might have about people that might remember the Milk Bar, Haus Hildegard, and the Stadtshenke.

Archie Martinez, USAF Retired
Winterberg, Germany 1959-1961

I've just found your RAFWinterberg site. I have been Internetting to see if I can spot Winterberg Hotel in which I was billeted 1946. I can't.
My name is Gerry, 81, living in Canberra Australia sinc e 1966. From Matlock, Derbyshire and other England places previously.
I was army, in Air Formation Signals 1944-1947, Normandy , Ghent, RAFMerignac (Bordeaux) 1945/6, Brussels shortly, Winterberg shortly on detachment, lastly at RAFIstres (Marseilles). I arrived at Winterberg by lorry from Wahn via Iserlohn 1946 just at the end of the snow season to maintain your switchboard, telephone lines and stuff while the regular man went on leave. Table tennis and darts was the normal duty. Haircut cost one cigarette at the barber shop down the road. (20 cigs. was worth as much on the black market as our German telephonist's weekly wage). The local bus stopped for lunch twice weekly - powered by a gas producer, with logs on the roof and had to be push-started by the passengers.

All a lot of my reminscent rubbish. Interesting to read about RAFWinterberg history.

Best regards and have a good day Keith.

Fg.Off McCarthy
Fg.Off C A O'Regan
F/S Schofield
Ch/T Kelt
Sgt Evans
Cpl Dave Bodley
Cpl Ray Stainer
Cpl Ted Timms
J/T Johnny Hitchin
J/T Alan Parr
SAC Johnny Cane
LAC Botwright

Unfortunately I haven't traced any others on 'Servicepals' website, although I've got a contact page there for anyone from 416 SU who might see it.
Pete

24-04-03  From Gary Ireland re Alan Ireland
Just found your website, what a marvellous site it is to. My father served at Winterberg in the 50s. His name is Alan Ireland. He now lives in Truro, Cornwall with my mother Joyce Ireland nee Carter. They first met over the airwaves! My mum served at 2nd TAF Ops room and my dad was at RAF Fassberg (spelling?) in RDF.
I am sure he would love to hear from anybody who knew him or my mother. I will up date proper details after I have spoken to my father. He will pleased as punch to know I found a site like yours. Keep up the good work.
Best regards
Gary Ireland 

I posted a letter on  your wonderful website asking if anybody knew my father, Alan Ireland. We have had a number of replies but these have been via the phone. I also failed to put my contact address. Please could you put my fathers name in the contacts through my address and I will forward them to him. My address is garyshack@aol.com and phone number is 0771 9522 796. 
Many thanks for a wonderful site, keep up the good work.
Kindest regards

Gary Ireland 

I have just found your page(s) on the North German GEE chain, very 
impressive.

I was at the Nordhorn site when it started in late 1954, or was it early 
'55? In the summer of '54 I was hauled out of a nice quiet ROTOR radar 
station at Goldsborough in Yorkshire and shipped, along with about 250 
others, to a holding station near Cologne (Butzweilerhof I think). I, 
along with three others were given a job to equip a truck for a field 
operation with a Rebecca beacon and were sent up to Nordhorn as an 
advanced party to provide a Navaid for RAF bombers using the bombing 
range there. Apparently they often missed the range and the Germans were 
wondering if the war had started again!

I was a three year man just starting my last year as a Junior Tech/ 
Corporal, trained on heavy ground radar and was by then quite accustomed 
to the comfort of living in a mahogany adorned air conditioned  bunker 
under 20 feet of concrete with the latest equipment that money could 
buy. Working out of 1940's trucks with equipment in old tin cans that 
should have been junked in 1945 came as quite a shock.

In Nordhorn we seemed to be a detachment from RAF Iburg and had to rely 
on the bombing range crew for food and communication. However, we were 
not billeted with them, but instead lived in a modern house commandeered
for us in a small suburb of the town. The food was terrible, most of our 
cigarette ration disappeared on the way from Guterslow and in general, I 
don't think any of the SU crew that arrived there found the place very 
inspiring.

We set up the GEE station up on the moors NW of Nordhorn and of course 
turned in the Rebecca beacon, which had not been seen by the Canberra's 
for the initial two weeks of operation because it was mistuned by 20 mHz 
due to a poorly calibrated wavemeter!

I have some pictures of the crew and the site somewhere and will try and 
dig them out, clean them up and send them if you are interested. Seems 
to me that this initial set-up period does not have much, or any 
coverage on your pages and this might jog some memories. Let me know if 
there is anything I might contribute. Not much I suppose at this late 
date, and I have never been good with people's names, but the year in 
Germany was probably one of the most crital and positive episodes of my 
life in terms of my feelings regarding other peoples in this world.

Very best regards,    Laurence Gooddy  (Laurie) ex Corp/JT

Location:  Ottawa, Canada
Phone:  613-824-3371
E-mail: lgooddy@rogers.com

From Gary Godfrey Jan 22nd 2003
I was a radar operator on the Cental Germany Gee Chain AMES 7925 from 1949 to 1951 ,when it was closed . The site I was on was the B slave at a village called Adenau which is also the Home of the German Grande Prix. the master station was Winterberg and the other slave was Fulda in the Tyrol. When the site was closed I was posted to West Prawle c slave and then spent the next three years at Truleigh hill in Sussex. 
If their are any reunions of any Gee stations I would be pleased to be invited, regards Gary Godfrey

(01443) 473749

I was stationed at Winterberg in 1954 and 1955, although my name is Albert I would possibly be more remembered as Alf that played the piano.  We lived in the Sports Hotel and at some stage moved to billets further up the road.

Thanks to Alan Donaldson who first contacted me we have been able to find with the aid of my UK2000 CD Eddie (Geordie) Halpin who lives in Northumberland, Tony Simmonds in Waterlooville, Ken Partridge in Sudbury and Maurice (Mo) Smout in Plymouth.  I have put out an appeal on the www.watn.co.uk web-site, Alan has an appeal currently appearing on Page 172 on Channel 4 but so far no response apart from someone who 'phoned Alan and told him about your web-site.

Geordie Halpin has a terrific memory and has sent me a list of names that he remembers and we hope that any of these will contact me or Alan, phone numbers at the end of message.

Mick Rodell, Nick Nicholls, Colin Gough, Taff Jayne, Roy Austin, Jack Melai, Brian Mullaney, Roy Lewis, Taff Evans, Don Harte, Don Swann, Pete Doyle, Alf Cresser, Bill Bailey, Staff Walker, Frank Batham, Mick Briggs, Tony Binelli, Taff Thomas,Maxie Maxwell, Pilot Officer Upton, Fl.Lt. Swann, Pete James,  Ted Hughes, Ted Peck, Bob Barfoot, Terry Bushell  or any other RAF or Army members there at that time

We do not have definite information about their whereabouts and contacting those of the same name on the UK2000 CD has so far proved unsuccessful.

Frank Smith was a friend that married a French girl and lived in Aix-en-Othe near Troyes, I unsuccessfully managed to contact him after searching through the French telephone directory then wrote to the Mayor of that town for help in finding him.  I regret to have to say that I had a telephone call from his grandson to say the Frank passed away last year.

I notice that someone by the name of Bob Ratcliffe is being searched for, perhaps there was a Bob that came after me or have they got my Christian name wrong?

I have not had a chance to look at the rest of your web-site but will do so when I send this off to you.  I congratulate you on what you have done in setting up this web-site, it is amazing after almost fifty years to be able to speak to these friends again.   We are hoping to organise a reunion next year.

Alan Donaldson 01933-397835
Albert Ratcliffe   01572-755724

The American 601st Signals Unit was based at Winterberg too while we were there, I cannot remember any of their names but I was friendly with quite a few of them, if you can play the piano you are everybody's friend.

I will keep in touch and let you know of any contact successes.      Albert

November 2001 From Reg Hall
I joined what became 124SU at RAF Chicksands not far from Henlow where the unit was in the process of being formed. There were twenty six of us and quite an  array  of  vehicles , two Bedford  QL`s  two Austin equipment vans with the radar GH sets installed plus a Bedford 15 cwt. Van for odds and sods. We also had   a   Bedford  water Bowser ,two  seven ton Austin`s  fitted with  Deisel generating  plant   another  Austin with extending sides to convert into a triple size office wagon and for the CO. a  Landrover.
Manning  was   if  I remember correctly a total of twenty six ,Flt . Lieutenant Stanley the C.O.  Sgt. Henderson  ,for the Technical signals side and Sgt. Jenkins for the M.T.Section. There were two Corporals Baker and Cunningham on the Radar watches and several lads ,four or six as watch  keepers ,a bunch of lads as drivers and myself and Don Cannon the cooks and one or two GDH`s.
We kicked our heels at Chicksands for a while and  eventually  set off for the continent in convoy escorted by two “snowdrops” to guide us to Sandwich where we stayed  overnight before boarding the train ferry Lord Waldren the following morning .the crossing was calm and only two of the lads succumbed to Mal de Mere, on arrival in Dunkirk we made our way to a small Pension in the outskirts of the town  witch turned out to be a  small time House of  ill repute on the side  ,much to the discomfort of the liason  officer who joined us on disembarkation . The lads were billeted three or four to a room and the Nco`s were given the job of safe guarding our morals   ,I`m  glad to report that the morals appeared to be in good order when the next day we made our way to a Belgian Air Force Barracks  in Brussels  where we stayed  the night ,the next morning we discovered that the Barracks had been the scene of a  mutiny three days before and most of the Belgian erks thought we had been sent to help restore order. There was a bit of tension in the air and we were glad to be on our way again.
Our next stop on the grand tour was at Whan near to Cologne where we stayed for some while, I don’t have dates for the wanderings, but it took several months before we hit the road to a site at Adenuar in the Eiffel near to the Nurberg Ring race circuit, the technical site being on the course itself. We stayed there for some months before going to Butzweilerof for another bout of   heel  kicking ,  with the GH  lads going off for minor test runs lasting perhaps a day as part of schemes with “2ND  TAF.
Eventually   we made our way to Roberts Barracks near Osnabruck where we lodged on 38TH Field Regiment of the Royal Engineers, the barracks were allegedly pre-war SS accommodation , but I woudn`t  swear to that. After settling in there we set up what was to be our home base at Iberg and the pictures on the Iberg page show the site pretty much as we found it. As you entered the site up the hill road the tech wagons were parked up on the right hand side and the domestic stuff, the marquee-cook house cum mess on the left. Most of this stuff was parked fairly well up the site and the office truck, spare transport and the bowser on the lower short side of the hole witch we forbidden to enter. At the very far end of the site beyond the tree line a small desert Lilly was constructed and we made daily journeys to and fro to Osnabruck, . At Osnabruck we lodged on the Royal Engineers and made our daily trips to Iburg in one of the QL`s   where  Don  and I would prepare the midday meal  on a twin burner  petrol stove of the camping variety. This went on for several  months  lasting  throughout the  winter, with us  lot all issued with flying suit inners, and a Rum ration  each day.
The   following  spring brought  the start of the construction of  our new  domestic site  in the village of  Iberg  to which we moved in the early summer,  it was a great  relief to all of us as it was not far from the Gasthous where we spent most of our  evenings  in  concentrated  supping when in funds.  The time  passed  happily till it came round to  September of 52 and  I  travelled back to the UK and demob, I wouldn`t have missed  it for worlds.

Saw your email address on the ServicePals web site at http://www.servicepals.com and thought you might be interested in my web site at http://www.vimart.co.uk 

On my site you can search for old Service and civilian pals from any location even if you've forgotten their names!  You can also enter your own school, service and civilian history and wait for old friends to find you.

Good luck!

Ian Martin (Royal Navy 1964 - 1989)

January 2001
Hi Keith, By chance I have just visited the Winterberg web site and was delighted to hear about Winterberg again. I was stationed there from May 62 to March 64 and spent the best 20 months of my life there. I was an electrician on the MT section and worked with Corporal Jack Pratt, In charge was Flight Lt. Lamming. Sgt Mclinden was SWO and I have cut out of the local Winterberg newspaper dated Feb 1st 1964 an account of the hospitality shown by RAF Winterberg to the local community. Whilst I was stationed at Winterberg I played football for the local team for two seasons. I have a few photographs of parties held at the camp and when I find out how to scan them to you I will send them to you. I was sorry to see that I have missed the last reunion and if there is another one I will do my best to attend. 
Best Wishes   Dave Williams
daiwilli@hotmail.com

Incidentally, there’s a book by Gerry J.Lewis, an ex Education Officer who was at Gutersloh. It’s called “Flugplatz Gutersloh 1937-1987” (copyright 1987 by RAF Gutersloh and proceeds to RAF and Luftwaffe charities) and covers the history of the Station from its building by the Luftwaffe to late NATO exercises. Many photos included. 
I got mine from the station itself, but the last address I have for Lewis (in 1988) is F/Lt G J Lewis, BA MITD RAF, RAF Aldergrove, BFPO 808.  Tel Crumlin 22051 ext 31309… I doubt he’s still there!  (His home was in South Wales, address unknown) 

John Murray, Honley, Huddersfield.  (previously contrib. To the W’berg page, and may have got some “false memories”, as I gather from the correspondence that the Gee chain didn’t come into operation until after my time (49-51). ANY CORRECTION WELCOME

November 2000

Hi Keith, 
Just come across your web-site! I learnt to ski in Winterberg 1950... with the RAF. The "Snow Inn" cost 6d per day, I think, and ski school another 1/- (or it might have been the other way round). We went as often as we could on winter weekends, by train from RAF Guetersloh. I believe the head of the ski school was Kurt Vollmer, and we used ex Wehrmacht skis and suits, all in white. Difficult to find us when we fell in the gullies. There was a big ski jump there too. Got quite a few photos of us there. Old fashioned ash skis which you had to hot wax every day. I was jealous of the GEE chain operators, as they had skis issued to them, and could ski down to the town from their eagles nest (so I was told.. true?)

In 1989 I went back to Winterberg with my wife, and camped there. The Snow Inn had closed and was deserted. There was a new ski jump. The old ski lift "built by the British Army for the training of its troops. German civilians are however allowed to use it provided they comply with the orders of the person i/c lift"...  which didn't stop them pushing to the front) had been removed. While searching for it, with the help of my old photographs, we met the son of a grocer, a member of the Triumph Spitfire motor club of Germany (really. His car was kept in the drive-in basemant of the grocer's shop, on a carpet. It was, of course, immaculate) He'd been in the Deutsche Jugend and showed us photos of W'berg at that time, and presented me with the handbook of the Winterberg Ski Gemeindschaft. Strange to have been on opposite sides. I'm now Chairman of the local branch of the European Movement.... 

So, auf wiedersehen.
John Murray, Huddersfield   jmurray@breathemail.net

Jim

I believe Keith has forwarded to you my earlier email concerning my father's tour at Winterberg & querying if you had any record of him (J1585402 Cpl Walter (Wally) Phillips). I now have a bit more info.

My father's tour at Winterberg was actually from '59 to '60. He was a Radar Operator, and was based there with Taff Wilde, Del Higgs & Paul Dunn, also operators. Their posts became disestablished following automation of the radar, and they were all then posted to RAF Goch, probably in spring '60.

While my father was at Winterberg, he was i/c mess & i/c canteen (secondary duties).

I was wrong about there being a still at Winterberg, it was apparently at the USAF base further up in the forest. My father can recall there being a severe breach of security at this base in that local girls were smuggled in and subsequently discovered, resulting in a large number of USAF airmen being prematurely returned to the States.

Regards,    Larry

Thanks for the reply. I found your site by accident. We have a German girl
working in our office & I had mentioned that I had lived in Winterberg. She
didn't know where it was so last night I searched on Alta Vista so that I
could print off a map, and there also in the hits was your site.
I was very pleased to have come across the site as I enjoyed living in Winterberg, particularly as it was weeks before school was arranged for me (I had to go to Hamm - awful!). My brother & I were allowed in the camp social club (accompanied by my father) and I'm sure I can recall film shows being laid on.

On day my father showed me around the top floor of the Astenturm tower where
I proceeded to crush stinkbombs under the rubber mats! I had yet to learn about how airmen spend ages bulling floors etc, and I was only 13.

Cheers,   Larry

My father 1585402 Cpl Walter (Wally) Phillips was posted to RAF WInterberg around 1960-61 along with the rest of his family (wife Joyce, sons Larry & Dougie). I was 13 at the time. We rented rooms in the village from a Frau Abel and I can remember the pig & cow living in the cellar. Our house was just a short distance from where Eric Finkle lived.
I can recall the pleasure of having a fistfull of BAFVS (correct abbreviation?) - even as low as 3d notes - for pocket money & spending this at the Dewdrop Inn.

My father often talks fondly about his posting to Winterberg and it is apparent that this was a memorable event in his RAF career. He now lives in Drayton, near Norwich. I followed him into the RAF and completed 22 years in 1987, my last posting being RAF Swanton Morley (where I ensured that my father was an Honorary Mess Member!).

I will try & persuade my father to contribute a story to your site - he has mentioned to me that there was some sort of fermenting device (or even a still?) that could be hoisted out of sight into a loft (of the kitchen?) during inspections. Also he says that once a couple of American servicemen went down the skijump on a motorcycle (they didn't live to tell the tale!)

Meanwhile do you have any records that mention him?

Regards
Larry Phillips

    On the photo album page just below the Asten Turm there is Barry with his hand in the air- half my face on the left - and the back of Biffos' head. The extra photos showing the Winterberg Christmas party has the Army Doctor from the leave centre as Father Christmas (probably about the time he was overheard muttering 'I'm not having that fat girl sit on my knee') 

    If there was a chance of a another reunion I (and Barry) would like to be involved - my wife also joined me in Winterberg for a year (after my fitters course) in 1960 - she also has never recovered from the total unreality of it. 

    I have a few photos I will scan and send later. 
 

        Thank you for the Website and the recovery of some happy memories. 

                Norman Keat

I received a message from Harry English, formerly C.O. at Uchte, in response to my letter containing lots of the information from the Winterberg website.Harry had this to relate: In September 1954 Harry was posted direct from OCTU to 2nd ATAF to be Station Signals Officer at Gutersloh but was diverted to Butzweilerhof where the NCO and Airmen members of the shortly to be formed North Germany GEE Chain were due to arrive later in the month. W.O. Coombes, Flt. Sgts Ayres & Cotton and Harry duly sorted out the members for each unit and for a brief period Harry was O.C. all four units.

In addition to those names above here are a few more remembered by Harry from early days at Uchte: 

Flt. Sgt. Ruthven,
Sgt. Pierce [Admin], 
Cpl. Roberts, 
Cpl. Lamsdell, 
Cpl.Wareham, 
Cpl. McKellow, 
Cpl. Bugg, 
Cpl. Pickles, 
Cpl. Tay, 
Cpl. Ormston [M.T.], 
Cpl Laidler, 
Cpl Bright, 
J.T. Tyrell [I thought it was Turrell],
J.T. Kamerling, 
SAC Adams, 
SAC Oakley, 
SAC Cochrane, 
SAC Stewart, 
SAC Maxwell, 
SAC Ablett, 
SAC Braithwaite [Medic}, 
LAC Derrick, 
LAC Forshaw, 
CPL Kent, 
SAC Warwick, 
LAC Kelly, 
SAC McLusky, 
SAC Smith, 
SAC Dooler [MT Driver]
NOTE: the bracketed notes are my additions.
In March 1958 [1957] Harry was relieved by Fg. Off. McCarthy, who was later  relieved by Flt. Lt. Reagan.

If I remember correctly there is a very interesting story attached to Flt. Sgt. Cotton which I might relate at a later date because it will take some time in the telling. 

Peter

August 1999  From Roger Rutter, ex Winterberg newly 'discovered' by Jim

Dear Keith,

Thanks for the e-mail just received during a report I was doing on Botswana (crazy business I am still into).

Good to hear that you are going well and now domicled in the big city. Hope you are still pursuing your photography as I always knew you were an ace at that. How are you enjoying retirement - I have tried it more times than Frank Sinatra but each time something comes up to take me off again. Have spent the last 38 years overseas in some good and some not so good primative locations with the threat to life quite serious on occassions. At present am involves a) with moving house next week and b) South Africa and Morocco. My wife thinks I am losing my senses at my age.

I did often wondered over the years what had happened to yourself and others but I had no way of finding out, especially being abroad. It was a chapter that I think in one way or another changed our lives. Anyway, I would appreciate a background of who is doing what to who!!.

Sent an e-mail back to Jim but cannot get through (each time it is rejected). Maybe you could let me have his e-mail address then I could thank him for his phone call.

Anyroadup 'Bunge', must away and finish my report.

Very best regards,

Roger

Keith

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet and your Website on Winterberg I have received an E mail from Reg Hall who was stationed at Iburg between 1951-54. He was an SAC cook and although not on the technical side remembers that in those days Iburg was a slave station and known as 124 S U. I had a lengthy conversation about our time in Germany and he came up with the following names he remembered 

Ft Lt Stanley    Sgt Henderson (Tech)    Sgt Jenkins (M T) 'Taffy' (General Duties)    'Lofty' Goodall (Driver) married a German girl,   Charlie Green (Driver)    Don Cannon (LAC cook)
'Jock' Nicholson (Driver) fron Ayr

JIM

From: Philip Hastings

 hastings@bcm.tmc.edu

 Subject: Here I am

 Keith

 How nice that one of you has email. I know of almost no other way to communicate now. You will all hear more of me if more of you get email.Perhaps you would post my address on your web site so that anyone else who is wired can find me. I live in Houston, Texas now, working at Baylor College of Medicine. I worked at the University of Alberta in Canada for 27 years, took early retirement, and then came back to work.I would love to come to a reunion some day, but as yet it has been impractical. Too much duty and responsibility and not much money. (I bet very few of the Winterberg gang made much money. Ah well, all we need is enough. Wouldn't that be nice.) I visit England once or twice a year to see family, but no visit has coincided with a reunion as yet. Perhaps we should arrange an unofficial one for whoever is nearby when next I pass through. I didn't try looking for your website yet, but I shall as soon as I have time. Phil

 From Karen Wallis

 Hi Keith ,

 just browsing your site this am as My dad is Ex 4th entry RAF Compton Basset, and he saw it on teletext, and I tried hitting the link to service pals at clara net, the link did not work so I copied and pasted to my browser and discovered that instead of NET it says NOT which is why it doesn't work! I also cannot access the Royal wings site, there seems to be a full stop in the link between royal and wings when I copy and paste, otherwise a site I will be looking at on a regular basis as My father is seeking the whereabouts of someone named ? Van Geldern who was GRF at Nordhorn(330 signals unit) My Fathers name is John Pond trade Tel (aka Splash)

 Thanks and good luck with the site

 -- Karen Wallis

 From Johnny Walker

Many thanks for your E mail received in early December.Like many of our generation I never did learn to type so this a very laborious process for me. However, I am going to give it my best shot so here goes. I got on to Keith's collection very quickly,I was surprised when it came up so fast.I think you have done an excellent job in getting this site up and running,  keep up the good work.
I then tried your new site but I got the problem you described on the last two lines of your ps.
Undaunted, I pressed on. Acidentally, I hit the X button to close the box, upcame the web site with 2 pictures. I exited the site then tried it again. It came up as before. Knowing nothing about computers I don't know what made it do that but it works.
For reference,I was one of the first to arrive at Winterberg in October1954, we were attached to 747SU at first, then they moved out and we became 205SU Myself and Terry Brown were demobbed in May 1964, so I may not have met you. Terry is one who we have not yet been able to contact, to the best of my knowledge he lived in Hackney London.Well, that's about it for openers, hope to see you in Winterberg in July.
                   Best regards, 
                                      Johnny Walker.

From Ray Barker.

It is always a pleasure to receive news from an ex-Winterberger as I have only met one or two others who served there at the same time as me. I know that your contacts are mainly post 1950's when Winterberg was a somewhat different place from the one we knew and loved. Yes I still have a great feeling for the town and fortunately the memories of the war seem to centre on the good things, seldom on the bad or horrible.

I have looked at the web site and found it interesting especially as I had not previously known of it's existence so full marks for that even if the photographs seem to centre on conviviality rhather than work !!! 'well, why not'

From John Welsh

Not bad but you could add the guys we know as well as the ones we want to find

From Jim Hooper

I'm new to this email game so I hope you manage to receive this message how are you getting on with your website for Winterberg do you now have a web address and if so how do I use it to look at the pages you designed a reply would be appreciated so I know this reached you.

From Peter Magnall

Thanks for the letter, very interesting developments. I took a brief look at your web-site this evening but am rather pushed for time as we are going on holiday tomorrow.  I will study it in more detail next Thursday when I return.  I will also ask the advice of my eldest son regarding your web-site problems, it is not something I have ventured into as yet.  He has had one set up and expanding for a couple of years and he spends his working life installing local networks in schools and small businesses.
All for now, keep up the good work

From Jim Hooper

Keith, thanks for your letter & Email. The 3 Winterberg pages are really excellent, well done !
I like your idea of a letter to everyone letting them know that 205 is up and running on
the Internet. I'm not planning a mailing at the moment but in the next couple of days I will send you a set of address labels to use.
I've had a quick look at the rest of 'Keith's collection', very impressive. If you have no objection, I would'nt mind you showing my Email address on the Winterberg information.

From Trefor Naughton-Evans

      I have started to get aquainted with the Internet and I have just read your pages on  Winterberg. How about us setting up a site for all of  the personnel who served on the GEE chain so that we build a full picture of the work that was put in by so many ?

   As you probably know I was at RAF Iburg 140 Signals Unit (MASTER) , from June 1958 to August 1960.

Regards for now,

Trefor Evans (I was known as RAS, shortened down from Rasputin).

From Ray Barker

Pleased to receive your letter, have looked at your web site and found it very interesting though it refers to a much later period than covered by my experiences. I have many photographs of that period together with various historical articles of the chain at that time. I am sending you a copy of the book which I wrote and you are welcome to use any or all of the articles  refering to Winterberg. Maybe some of your members would Like to buy copies as I still have a few remaining. Please keep me informed about future visitsto Winterberg as I am still very interested in the place and still have many    German friends I first met there during the war. Best Wishes  for 1999.