大象传媒

Article written by my Dad to The Chester Observer Friday 27th November 1970 to mark the showing of one of the most historic films, 鈥淭he Battle of Britain鈥�.

A Wonderful Team

By Mr J Wolfendale, who was ground crew man with Spitfires at Biggin Hill, a bone of contention for Luftwaffe bombers and RAF fighters during the Battle of Britain.
To mark the showing of one of the most historic films, 鈥淭he Battle of Britain鈥�, I am proud to say I was able to serve in that wonderful team, the fighter branch of the Royal Air Force, on the ground.
I volunteered for the RAF and the Flight Mechanic Airframe trade, and in June, 1940, was posted to No. 92 (spitfire) Squadron, Northolt, Middlesex (Greater London), to serve under that great leader, Stanford Tuck, and his team Bob Holland, Alan Wright, Roy Mottram, Titch Havercroft, Hargreaves, Tony Bartley, Brian Kingcome, and many others.
By this time the squadron had been re-named No. 92 East India Squadron, and moved to Pembrey, Carmarthenshire.
Here, I saw many pilots off on a scramble, strapped them in the cockpit, gave the windscreen a last wipe to remove any speck which might have confused them when they were looking for a target speck, and wished them the best of luck as they gave the thumbs-up sign for 鈥淐hocks away.鈥�
Another 鈥渒ill鈥�
Later, I would receive them back and paint another 鈥渒ill鈥� on the side of the aircraft鈥� ready for another mission, which was not long.
It was a cloudy day as I sat in the tiny cockpit of the spitfire, doing some repair and service jobs: a train was passing the airfield and a Jerry was heard overhead in the clouds.. following the train down the line.
I got the signal to press the button to start up the spitfire engine, to get Tuck into the cockpit. The Jerry dropped his bombs on a local factory and turned over the airfield as Tuck took off across the field.
Will he make it in time? Will he? Yes.
I dived under a petrol bowser as the defence guns opened up. Soon Tuck returned, only a half-gallon of petrol left, and I painted another 鈥渒ill鈥� on the little aircraft.
Soon, Tuck was posted to another squadron, and my favourite became Titch Havercroft鈥� as 鈥淭itch鈥� was also my nickname in the RAF.
On 6th September, our Squadron was ordered to Biggin Hill, Kent, which had been getting a hammering, and by 11a.m. that day we were there and operational.
Biggin Hill
From the air Biggin Hill looked like a golf course bunkers everywhere, flags flying denoting delayed action bombs.
We worked 24 hours a day snatching sleep during lulls. Still the Jerry bombers came, hitting us night after night, and we would ride out on the tail plane from dispersal to point of takeoff, and see the pilot off on another scramble.
It was hard making such good friends and losing some of them within minutes. We were proud of the pilots to whom we all owe so much, and have special feelings for the mothers and fathers. They will always have our gratitude.
Today, I am still building aircraft, and always look up with a special thought when one passes over.
I shall go and see the film with my wife, who played her part in the WAAF during the Battle of Britain, and with our children. It will bring back many memories.
When I was in the Royal Infirmary, Chester, for an operation, my ward neighbour passed on to me Stanford Tuck鈥檚 book 鈥淔ly For Your Life鈥�. While there I also read Douglas Bader鈥檚 鈥淩each For The Sky鈥�.
Later, when I was convalescent, my wife came home from a jumble sale with a handsome illustrated edition of Tuck鈥檚 鈥淔ly For Your Life鈥�, which is a cherished personal possession 鈥� together with memories of the finest hours.

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