Memories of a Posting

The Defector

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In January 1976 as a brand new Corporal, I was posted to RAF Gatow in Berlin. The aircraft maintenance team there was only 11 strong and our main job was to maintain the two DH Chipmunk aircraft used by the station operations officer and station commander. The purpose of the Chipmunks was to maintain the right for the RAF to operate in the Berlin Control Zone that was a 20-mile radius from the Berlin Air Safety Centre and also maintain the flying skill of the pilots. However, they had another purpose and that was their use by BRIXMIS*, the control zone actually stretched beyond the boundary of the Wall, and as there were several Russian and East Germany military installations close by they could be kept under observation. We also looked after any visiting Hunting Percival Pembrokes from 60 Sqn at RAF Wildenrath and many UK based RAF aircraft carrying VIPs and on training flights.

So where does the title “The Defector” of this article fit? Well, one Sunday morning in April 1978 I went on the official military tour of East Berlin, the occupying forces (British, American and French) had free access to East Berlin provided we travel in uniform. We toured the East taking in the sites, some of which I had visited on previous trips and therein lies another story. On our return, there was a buzz around the camp that an East Germany aircraft had landed on the airfield and the occupants asked for political asylum.

The aircraft was a Zlin-42M similar to the Scottish Aviation Bulldog used by the RAF. The pilot had taxied up to the Army Air Corps (AAC) hangar as that was the only place he could see any signs of life, the Army worked weekends and the RAF only when there were aircraft movements. The AAC whisked the aircraft into their inner hangar out of the prying eyes of the watchers on the Wall. (The AAC operated Gazelle helicopters but only within the city boundary) On the opposite side of the airfield to the hangars at Gatow was the Wall, and we were under continuous surveillance including directional microphones.

The pilot had been undertaking solo circuit flying at an airfield relatively close to Berlin and had elected to defect along with his brother. The pilot landed on a road close to his airfield, picked up his brother, did a further circuit and then slipped across the Wall and landed at the first airfield he saw, Gatow. This, however, was not to be the last aerial defector to Gatow as in 1979 a glider and in 1987 another Zlin-42M did the same.

The presence of the aircraft generated much discussion with the high ups but the result was the aircraft would be dismantled and returned to the Russians. We asked the question, why not fly it back and the answer was, as we did not recognise the East Germans they could not, the Russians would not let the RAF so we did not let the Russians.

With the aircraft in the AAC hangar, we set about draining the fuel tanks and removing the wings along with working out how to lift it onto a flatbed truck. The station carpenters made suitable packing cases for the wings and tailplane which was also removed. With everything loaded it was agreed that 2 of our team would accompany the trucks to assist the drivers and my Flt Sgt and I would follow in the section VW Combie. The handover was on the East German side of Glienicke Bridge, famous for the exchanging of spies, with BRIXMIS acting as the liaison team between the RAF and the Russians. The Russians allowed the trucks to cross the bridge but would not let us follow. We had loaded the aircraft onto the truck using a crane and had expected the Russians to do the transfer the same way, however, they parallel parked alongside our truck, where some very apprehensive looking East Germans and our team manhandled the aircraft fuselage and wings from one to the other. The Russians keeping a close eye on everyone involved!

This was not the end, as the East Germans wanted back the fuel we had drained off. We considered it to be waste as it was an unknown type to us, therefore, to be disposed of. Red in colour indicated it was 115 to 145 octane whereas we used 100 to 115 octane in the Chipmunks which is dyed green. My ever-resourceful Flt Sgt mixed it with the low octane German Benzene and ran his old Renault 16 on it for a little while. I think it did wonders for the valves!

What happened to the defectors, I don’t know but they probably started a new life in West Germany. The aircraft was returned to service and was still active until involved in an accident in 2006.

Author:: Cliff F

* BRIXMIS The British Commanders’-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany

Images of the Zlin (click to enlarge)

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