Steve,
mention of the Trabant now in the RAF museum, reminds me that shortly
after the wall came down, an East German lady drove her Trabant into
the former West part of Berlin, and traded it in for a Ford Capri, the
Trabbie was bought by RAF members at Gatow and given to the RAF
Benevolent Fund. The RAF flew it into Lyneham, where a token
customs charge was made. My good friend Brian Ransley, retired Wing
Commander, Provost Branch, was involved with the disposal of gifts to
the BF, and knew that I was buying vehicles at that time for a museum,
rang me and asked if I was interested in it, a figure of £350
was agreed on, and the picture below shows me handing over the cheque
to Brian, at RAF Fairford, with the Trabbie on my trailer. We had some
fun belting it around for a bit, (in a cloud of smoke). It is
on permanent exhibition still, even though I was offered a good profit
on it, Frank.
