Fire Engines Photos

I so remember that RAF issue fire kit, string vest and long johns to be worn underneath.....The Regiment NCOs hated it with a vengeance because they couldn't order us to put nice smart creases into it. If there was a big parade or VIP inspection they told us to hide out of the way !!!
Great times


Added by Barrie Green on 15 July 2011.

Hey Martin what was the 1977-'78 Fireman's strike and weren't you issued with helmets and a turnout coat and SCBA sets to attend to aircraft emergencies and the like? Surely a string vest and long johns worn underneath weren't all you had? With thanks from Tiger.

Added by Tiger on 16 July 2011.

Tiger, The Kit we wore for Both Aircraft and Domestic fire fighting on Airfield stations were the same, Under the heat resisting suit string vest and long john's, On occasions we wore the Normal fire helmet for domestic fire and wearing of a BA set.as would a Local authority fire-fighter.

Added by Bobe on 17 July 2011.

Thanks Bobe very helpful. With thanks from Tiger.

Added by Tiger on 17 July 2011.

Sorry Martin I forgot to add why did the firemen go on strike 1977-1978? Was it pay or overtime issues or was it work conditions? With thanks from Tiger.

Added by Tiger on 17 July 2011.

tiger, the pay back on 77 was rubbish, it was so poor that the children of fire fighters got free school meals.this was the first national strike in the service, we went out on the 7Th november 1977 and thought we be back by dinner time but the government held firm and we were out for nine weeks.sad to say during the strike in the area shown in the picture a Green Goddess overturned on the way to a call killing a number of soldiers from the Royal Irish Rangers. there is a memorial in one of the Manchester parks to them.

Added by Dave Price on 18 July 2011.

Thanks Dave did you get better pay or did the strike fail? With thanks from Tiger.

Added by Tiger on 24 July 2011.

we got better pay in the end and a new shift system meaning more jobs.we had stopped overtime back in 73 as some brigades ran on overtime this also made a lot of jobs.

Added by Dave Price on 25 July 2011.

I remember the Kermit crew well, I was drafted in from my post at RAF college Cranwell for the duration of the strike at Bury but was assigned as a medic to a Land Rover crew of Royal Engineers. Sadly I was involved in the rescue attempt and recovery of both Royal Irish Rangers who died beneath the 'Green Godess' which crashed whilst they were attending a false fire alarm at a commercial premises. Sad as one I recall was married with kid's and the other engaged? both were drafted in straight from a tour in Northern Ireland. Will always remember that night and the wasted loss of life, RIP lad's

Added by Jim Oakes on 05 April 2017.

I remember that night well, we were informed that a green goddess had overturned on it's way to a call out, sadly when we got there the rescue crew including probably yourself Jim were on the seen, Those vehicles were unsteady to start with but fill there tanks with water, and they became a nightmare to drive, we were billeted in bury with the Irish rangers in the old territorial hall smack in the centre of town. good bunch of lads, remember all the antics we got upto to this day.

Added by [email protected] on 07 September 2018.

Martin, if you remember the vehicle struck a barrier and overturned demolishing petrol pumps on a garage fourcourt. The entire area around the wreckage was soaked and flowing in fuel leaking from the pumps. For that reason the risk of ignition of the fuel meant that the only equipment we could safely use to raise the water tank which had pinned down two Irish Rangers trapped in the wreckage was using several bottle jacks, I remember crawling into the wreckage to reach both casualties soaked in petrol and crapping myself in-case something ignited the petrol. Sadly both had passed away and there was little I could do other than assist in recovering them. I recall reading that the green godess's had three baffles in their water tank and a modern Fire Engine has something like 26 which would stop large volumes of water swilling around which was what apparently caused the vehicle to become unstable as it travelled at speed around a tight slip road.

Added by Jim Oakes on 17 February 2019.

Hi Jim. I remember it like it was a week ago. it was a strange setup the Irish Rangers an excellent bunch of lads were driving those ancient Green goddesses. Not much experience and asked to race to a fire. god love them they gave their all and paid the ultimate price, I myself never recovered from the adrenalin rush of daily racing to fires as the breathing apparatus rescue team and left the RAF a year later. I must admit a decision I regret to this day. I am 63 years of age now and will never forget the 4 months spent in Bury. attempting to save lives. I met a girl there, and although we parted at the time we are still in touch over 40 years later. Karen Featherstone is her name and I still think of that town as my second home. To all the lads that lost their lives giving their all I salute you and remember you.

Added by Martin John Collingwood on 26 January 2023.

From memory the tyres on the crashed Goddess were under inflated but it then turned out the recommended pressures were too low to start with. A sad way to find out.....

Added by Neal Glover on 27 January 2023.

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