Some information from Michael Slorance, who served with 5 Squadron:
"I spent 6 years as an Instrument Fitter working on Javelins starting in 1959 on 29(f) Squadron with Mk 6's then
Mk 9's . Our Sister Squadron was 151 operating Mk 5's so XA699 would have been there at the time 59/62 at RAF Leuchars .
I was posted to RAF Laarbruch in May 1962 and joined 5 Squadron there .Ground crew don't keep log books but I must have worked on XA699 .
It was a bit of a culture shock at Laarbruch to realize that we held fully armed Javelins on "Battle Flight" in readiness to repel the Russian threat .We had plenty of Scramble's but never actually shot anything down , although we did actually manage to fire a 30mm cannon on the ground ,I'm told!
The main problems for Instrument Bashers when not pulling oxygen trolleys up and down pans was pitot static leaks and flickering fuel gauges . The later fault caused by droplets of water in the fuel .Rectification meant removing the underwing fuel tank unit panel's (thank God for pump screwdrivers) removing the tank capacitance units and swabbing out the fuel tanks. Everybody stank of kerosene in those days!
Nov 62 the Squadron moved to RAF Geilenkirchen and re-equipped with Mk 9's .Battle Flight duties resumed with the assistance of our sister Squadron 11(F) at the far end of the airfield .
The Mk 9's were armed with 4x Firestreak Missiles and 2x 30mm Cannons so the Eastern Block knew not to mess with us although now and again we deployed to RAF Gutersloh ,nearer the border when there was a threat.
End of 1965 meant the end of an era as 5 then 11 disbanded and were replaced with 19 and 92 Lightnings who eventually moved to Gutersloh .
I returned to Germany on a subsequent tour in 1984 to join 19(F) Squadron operating Phantoms at RAF Wildenrath where we still maintained readiness with "Battle Flight" until 1992 .
I'm proud to have done my bit" .
We have no exact information as to whether the conversion from Javelin FW.5 - Javelin FW.9 actually took place at Laarbruch.
5(AC) Sqn History (I)
5(AC) Sqn History (II)
5(AC) Sqn History (III)
