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Albert Hudson — Memories of the War

Joining The Navy

I joined the Navy on 25th January 1943. We spent 6 months in the RAF learning about the Merlin engine - a boy of 17 —doing what graduates do now! We were all training as air fitters in the Fleet Air Arm. The Pilots relied on us to service and repair the aircraft.

At first we went to Malvern — HMS Duke — land based. We did 6 weeks initial training and did Psychometric and educational tests. Then they sent us to the RAF base outside Walsall Hednesford. We were then sent to our home base — Lea-On-Solent. This is where we were split up and sent our different ways. I was with the RAF until 1944.

Memories of D-Day

Ten days prior to D-Day we were moved from the American Air Base at Beaulieu to RAF Manston - supposedly waiting for transfer to a Royal Navy Air Craft Carrier. Two days before D-Day, I found myself driving a petrol bowser refuelling air craft coming in. At this time they were putting black and white markings on the wings of the all air craft (English and American) - amongst deep speculation of what was going on. All shore leave had been cancelled.

The next thing we heard D-Day had started and we were refuelling and re-arming aircraft coming in for the next 14 days. We were then taken to Liverpool to join HMS Striker. We were a mobile service and repair Unit in the Fleet Air Arm — wearing Khaki uniforms with naval hats. We were destined to work on shore fighting alongside the Americans against the Japanese. Eventually we only went ashore at Laytee - an island recently taken by the Americans. The rest of the time we spent dodging kamikazes!

I was on board HMS Striker (a Woolworth Carrier - so called because of the cheapness of the build!) until the end of the War. Whilst on board we heard about the atomic bomb strikes. Everyone was very scared — worried about the repercussions. And also wondering if there could be a chain reaction — at the time no one was sure where it would end.

I was injured in April 1945 on HMS Striker — I wedged my foot under the tail wheel of an Avenger aircraft that had just landed on the flight deck after a patrol. The aircraft was heading towards the side of the ship and would have gone into the ocean. The only way to stop it was a sliding football tackle against the tail wheel to turn the plane in line with the flight deck. The tail wheel went over my foot and dragged me to the arrester cables - which stopped the aircraft and myself. The incident was witnessed by a chap called Sam Roberts — Lieutenant in the RAF. I received a commendation for this.

I arrived back in the UK in 1946. I was discharged on 10th September 1946.

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