1970s
Contributed by Anthony (Tony, Madd Dogg) Maddox
Photo taken of Queen Elizabeth II, when she flew in to RAF Bentwaters, to open a local post office. Was thinking the photo was taken between 1974 & 1975. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to get that close to the Queen. She walked like an Angel, Awesome lady!!!
Janet's Birthday. The car was a 1975 metallic gold Austin Marina GT. It was an American spec. model (Left handed steering wheel, EGR system, etc.). I purchased it, brand new, at a dealership that was located in Ipswich, driven from the show room. (Not bad for a 19 year old Airman First Class).
The funny thing was that when I had purchased the car, I did not know how to shift a manual drive automobile. However, I could drive our "Aerial Stores MJ-1 and MJ-4 Bomblift" (Used to load bombs on to the assigned F-4 and A-10 aircraft).
The toughest part was trying to figure out how to apply the bomblift's shift pattern (Which was rotated clock-wise, and the shifter was to the immediate right), to the Austin Marina. If it were not for my friends, (who came with me to pick it up), I probably would not have made it back to Bentwaters.
That car cost a little over $3,000. dollars, and it was not a matter of choice, as far as the colour. It was what they had, and to be honest, it really did not matter. Especially when you consider having to do everything from "hiring a taxi cab, to having to rely on friends".
Still just the same, for a first car, it was not a bad machine. The car got me from A to B, and it's looks were not too bad. Its real draw back (for me), was that "The G.T. label and it's hatch back" cost me dearly, when it came to auto insurance. The other part was lack of intestinal fortitude under the hood... (No balls)! But, as the saying goes: "You get what you pay for". Or, in my case: " You get what you can afford".
Many would have probably said that "Their first car was the coolest"! But, despite the car's condition, my all time favorite vehicle (and we have owned many), would have been our old Mini Car.
We have always wanted to be able to cruise those narrow back roads (Coming into, and exiting Ipswich). Through the hills and valleys, with all those tight turns. If ever there was a vehicle built for the roads of Great Britain, it was the Mini Car. Now, add in the station wagon version... Now, you've got one awesome traveling machine.
Any way, our Mini Car had a "White racing stripe" painted from the Bonnet to the Boot........ (Wow, its funny how that semantics thing works)...
We really enjoyed this car, except for the fact that it was literally falling apart when we bought it. Still, the good far out weighed the bad. We too, thought it looked good at the time.
Not many pictures of our 1969 Mini Car. She went out the hard way........ Her first failure was the seperation of the right steering ball joint. A "split ball joint", which is still a tough concept to grasp.
The second failure was the "rear suspension system". Although I cannot remember it's proper nomenclature, it had something to do with "Hydro-lastick Suspension"... Or something like that. One of the hoses under the frame was pinched, causing the suspension's balls to leak it's fluid. Thats the night that Janet and I discovered "What it was like to ride a Wild West Covered Wagon"!!!! Wooooo-Weeeeee!!!
If you ever rode inside of one of those older Mini Cars, you might remember that the front seat's "front edge" was hinged so that it could tilt forward, allowing the rear passengers to enter or exit.
Well, the "Front passenger seat's hinge" broke loose, and required some sheet metal work on the rusted floor. Unfortunately, I ran out of materials before the seat could be repaired, when Janet and I were heading through Ipswich's "rush hour traffic", when the unspeakable happened.....
Uuuuh, well......... "I hit the pedal, as soon as the light turned green, and as I did...... there was this THUMP sound. I looked to the right, and all I could see was Janet's combat boots and lower legs. Pulling over as soon as I could, the first view of her face was undescribeable........ It was funny at the same time, but at that moment, I did'nt dare laugh. Janet was alright, of course. But, the repair of that passenger seat became a "Top Priority"!
Still, despite the push starts down the driveway and lousey heating,failing wiper system, etc., that old Mini Car was by far our most exciting of all the cars we have ever owned.
Searching through our "Photo Archives", I found one of our wedding pictures, which also shows the Miller couple, (Right side). 1976 seems like a long time ago, but with Janet there by my side (rhen and now) time seems to just slide right on by.
Janet was an Aerospace Ground Equipment Technician, stationed at RAF Woodbridge, while I was in the same career field, but assigned to Bentwaters. We met the first day she arrived to Bentwaters. When I first saw her, "I knew she was my soul mate".
We took the relationship nice and slow, and dated "The old fashioned way". November of 1976, during the middle of a military exercise, (12 Hour Shifts), we were released to get married. Janet & I, along with a few friends, (The Fitzgeralds and The Millers were our Witnesses), we nervously performed the wedding ceremony at the Register Office of Woodbridge Town, despite the resistance from our Flight Chief, Friends and Family from both sides.
Since Castle Hunting was one of our favorite past times, we spent our "brief honeymoon" in the village next to Orford Castle. Didn't see much of the castle that weekend...
More than anything else, we will always miss the little shoppes, in small towns like Lavenham. Also the "Beautiful Flower Stands", which seemed to adorn almost every corner of Ipswich. Lets not forget the restaurants and antique stores.
We have all of these things in the United States, but its never really the same.... Is it? The best memory we will always have is being able to experience life in England, along with all of those "local blokes" whom we mingled with, on a daily basis. Would love to experience it again, some day... Perhaps we will.
As a young photographer, stationed in the United Kingdom, during the mid 70s, one of the views that attracted my attention were their unique billboards and advertisements.
I always figured that the English were a very conservative bunch. This is true, to some extent. The advertisers still had that special skill to get the attention needed to draw you to a particular product.
Attached is a "Heineken Beer" billboard, photographed in Ipswich, Suffolk, (1974). The ad shows a "before & after" affects on a Native American Indian Chief's Bonnet. This was just a small example of some of the ads we used to find around cities in England, during that era.
Touring England, back in the 70s, offered a great number of things to see and do. The summers and Autumns were especially full of events, that kept those who wanted to be involved in the local economy, very busy in deed.
Besides Squadron Events, Discos, Parties and Rock & Roll Concerts, there were events like Medieval Banquets. These banquets were a "Once In A Lifetime Event", and can only be experienced, "First Hand".
The Banquets were usually held in a Castle, which definitely enhanced the ambiance. Some banquets required that one wear a costume from the era, (See the attached photo). Just throw in the "Wild Wenches" serving up the Bread, Mutton, Grog and Mead, ( Lets not forget the "Flirtatious Smiles" ), and it all adds up to one heck of a good time!
Martin Lawrence almost got it right, (The movie: Black Knight).
It took a number of attempts to synchronize this picture. What you might see is a running "USAF F-4 Phantom Jet Fighter Plane" in line with private automobiles.
Of course, we know this is not possible, so here is the trick: The F-4 is preparing to launch from the end of the runway. The cars you see, are maintenance personnel who have to drive around the outer perimeter of the "Flight Line", in order get to their respective duty sections. Good timing allowed me to get a shot, giving the impression that the plane was in line with the automobiles.
The launch area was right across from the 81st Field Maintenance Squadron, and the Aerospace Ground Equipment (A.G.E.) Shop, which is located at Royal Air Force (RAF) Bentwaters, England. The picture was taken during the Summer of 1974.
When first assigned to RAF Bentwaters, (back in 1974), one of my hobbies was to become a "Special Effects Photographer". In this picture, what you see was a "pitch black parking lot at the 81st FMS Dormatory". My camera was facing the field, (of what eventually became the new addition of the Bentwaters Base Housing Area).
I called this picture, "Laser Light Dance". Actually what you see was my first attempt of "Time Lapse Photography". The "Neon" looking light streams is from a traffic marshaling flashlight called a "Lackland Laser". Those "ghostly images" you see, of people in the parking lot was just me, trying to write the words, "Peace, Love & Happiness". An Al Greene thing.
Yes, and believe it or not, it took about 15 minutes to produce this picture. This photo was obviously before my "Disco / Party" days.
Most thought is was a bit strange, that I was standing in the dark, waving a flashlight. But, it meant doing something that was just fun, with a positive outcome. Besides, what else was there to do for a economically strapped 18 year old Airman, away from his home country without transportation? Back then, it was called "Keepin' yer' ass out of trouble."
One of our favorite past times, while assigned in England, was touring the castles of the area, and beyond. Castle hunting was a great escape from the "Disco & Bar" scenes. It also offered a sense of British History, and the respective lifestyle, based on the era. One could actually "relive the adventures", if your imagination was wild enough.
Castles were in a great abundance for touring, especially in the immediate area of the Bentwaters / Woodbridge Community. One would only need transportation, a few friends, a bit of cash and a desire to have a good time.
Enjoying the tours of Castles, I would envite newly assigned Airmen from my shop and squadron, with hopes they too would appreciate the visits enough to "reciprocate" with the next new person.
Attached is a photo of "Orford Castle". This particular structure, I nick named "The Condo On The Hill", simply because it is a castle, but a very conservative one, as you can see. Compact and self contained, it sits there, in all of it's splender. Its was this area where my wife (Janet), and I spent our honeymoon, (back in November of 1976), in a quaint little village close by the castle.
By far the most exciting castle would have to be "Framlingham", mainly because it was built in the way that "The Media" has taught that castles should look like... You know, "Draw Bridge, Moat, Court Yard, Full Perimeter Look Out, etc. It was a very impressive tourist attraction that seemed to keep expanding each time we visited.
The year 1976 was full of many positive memories. One of them being the day I met A special lady. This special lady was able to keep life down at earth's level, and knew how to turn a simple thing like a picnic, or a walk in the park, into a special event that will always be fondly remembered.
While stationed at RAF Bentwaters / Woodbridge, one of our favorite past times was, not only shopping, Castle Hunting, and touring the off beat towns, we (just the two of us), would drive past RAF Woodbridge to a small village called Bawdsey Bay.
A rare visit, during certain times of the year, (due to heavy fog, overcast skies, or military obligations), we always took the trip seriously and would run straight out to the Bay, just in time to catch those beautiful rays. For those warm memories, and the millions there after, we would like to wish our Special Lady a "Happy Birthday!"
King, Alcarez, Maddox - Ramstein 1983.
Tony, Oscar, at Chanute
Just a few pictures from the old "proverbial time machine". Showing my wacky sense of humor, these pics are just a couple seconds of the positive. Just a little something to share with family and friends. The last one is quite recent!
T.T.F.N.
Tony M. :<)
The Reminiscing Dolphin