226 Signals Squadron (Radio),Wesendorf

I was stationed at Wesendorf from 1973-1978. I was at the time a REME RADAR TECH and was surprised when receiving my posting to be deployed to a Radio Squadron. However on arrival all became clear as this was a Radar Intercept station located in the corner of a Bundeswehr Barracks in what had been the old railway station. Wesendorf had been an experimental airfield during the war with at it's height 27 grass runways. Aircraft had been transported to the airfield and unloaded. In the Quartermasters located on the ground floor was a very large lift which it was believed descended to the underground hangars below. This had been sealed and no access was available to the underground facilities.

remeradartech wrote:

Hi,
I am new to this web site. I was searching for historical information on 226 Signals Squadron (Radio) which I served in from 1973 to 1979 at Wesendorf. I was on the formation parade upon the amalgamation with 225 Signals squadron to from 14 Signals Regiment (EW). Is this the place to add information or can you direct me to the appropriate location.

Thank you

Welcome to the group
If not already found have a look here
http://www.birgelenvets.org/webpages/history.aspx
Have memories of the camp in 67/68 doing signals despatch service there in a Hillman Husky from the Comcen at 1 Div Verden-Aller

A yes... 13 Sigs Regiment. I went on an exercise once there on detachment from 223 Sig Squadron (Radio) from Bushfield Camp, Winchester way back in '1971. It was an interesting experience.

Quote :

It was an interesting experience.

Do tell..

Well, I didn't get to get into for a looksee around the secure ops compound, but was sent out on a field exercise with an I Corps Major in the back of a Ford Box Body vehicle. All I, and another geezer were there for was to provide a teleprinter link and operations for this Major whilst out in the field. The exercsie was only around 4 or 5 days long so memory serves me right. The I Corp Majors job was to collate teleprinter reports coming on on the course of the exercise. My job and this other geezers role was to provide the teleprinter operator cover on 12 hour shifts. We were located in one location for the full 4 or 5 days of the exerce. the only map reading I had to do was was on the initial move out from 13 Sigs to the field location, and back again after the exercsie was over.

I must say, that I quite enjoyed it. The I Corps Major was a genetleman, and used to share his ciggies and the occasional tot of rum with us. It hink that this was in 1971 before I was sent to Norn Irn. Memory grows dim, and as for the reasons I was sent/detached to 13 Sigs, was that they did not have any spare Data Telegraphists to cover for this particular exercise. It was all very laid back.....

When I arrived at Wesendorf the squadron was in an experimental phase having previously been a static location with the secure operations room on the second floor of the former station. As technicians we were tasked with creating 4 "Mobys" mobile intercept vehicles based on the Signals Box body unfitted mounted on a Bedford which towed twin Onan generators. Each unit consisted of the Bedford and Trailer and a Landrover and trailer. The section consisted of a Combat Power man / driver, A REME or Royal Signal Technician who were 2 I/c of the Detchment and 3 / 4 Spec Ops. The vehicle had a 27 foot Clark's pneumatic mast mounted through the centre of the office body. We operated 80 km apart and therefore with all 4 vehicles deployed a 320 km base line. Two weeks away and then two weeks back 12 months of the year leap frogging from Ferman Island in the north to the Austrian border of the year.

As anyone knows, you wont get the truth out of anyone who served here at Wesendorf.
we were specially selected from a cast of thousands,
and the time we had here was special
The Bundeswehr saluting us every day
The waiter service in their mess
The close camaraderie of those we served with
I'm still in touch with all those i served with in this special place,

Got flown from the Falklands on a Herc to this place to join the REME crew in 1984
and was the best posting ever.

I didn't want to go at the end of my tour but was threatened with going back to 22 Air Defence if I didnt do my Tiffy course

Spec Ops hated me, only cos i knew more than they did,
have to admit I was a bit obsessed with Juliet
bit she was good to me.

Special memories:

my 6 year old son having his drawing of Langy classified an official secret and it being confiscated, hahahaha!

Sitting on a hill in southern Germany peeling spuds and 6 minibuses of GSG9 troops assaulting the
hill and when they all started pointing their rifles at me; telling then to eff off! hahaha, they did too after a word to there boss.

Showing my arse to the East German Border guards at the Brocken on the toboggan slopes, and my Mrs and kids doing the same hahahah.

Remember the day we excavated the Bahnhof to lay the ghost to rest and putting the weapons on display in the Taunton barrack guardroom.

Remember the horrors of what was supposed to lie below the flooded levels of Taunton barracks and the divers who came out with severe paranoia issues.

The Wesendorf Bahnhof ghost; What can I say, I was subject to this horror one night after being called out at 11pm to fix something.
having climbed the tower to get to the broken box, I replaced it with a new box and took the faulty one into the REME workshop to fix it, (as you do).
The workshop was about 20 meters in length and had a long work bench, from one end of the room to the other, interspersed with swivel chairs, there were about 6 of them, each end of the room was a 4 inch thick metal door weighing tons, to keep the riff raff out ! lol!
Anyway as I was fixing this box, at about 1 am in the morning, the door at the far end of the room opened, I watched it open, and close, then the first swivel chair started spinning round,
then the 2nd did the same, followed by the 3rd and then the 4th
i cant say what happened after that , I was gone out the opposite door, and run through to the Set room, shouting let me in.
Needless to say i was greeted with roars of laughter and a welcome to the Wesendorf ghost,
that place was so spooky at night the guards walked round in pairs.
i spent the rest of the night shovelling till breakfast,
The old guys( ancient spec ops) there taught me so much.

Anyway i have always maintained a healthy attitude to places of previous terror since, it lives on.

I could talk about the Dorf all day, but those of us that were there will remember it as a job that was real and meaningful.

Espcially testing the safety nets in the tower ;-)

I didnt want to leave the dorf but was forced to do my tiffy, (against everyone's in authorities wishes)band to those who opposed it, yep you will always be a narrow minded .....
but i cake walked my tiffy course.


Time with 226 Sqn was the best of my 24 years service, to everyone who new me from Delta and juliet, I hope your ok and having a good life.

Smarter than the average were - Steve W, Tom F, John M, Richie R, Molly, and John W, we were a crew! ( only sent here cos REME manning and records did'nt know what to do with us)

I was also at sunny wessendorf 226 sig sqn my very first posting I still have my leaving plaque with the moby whale and the raf eagle