大象传媒

While serving in the WAAF between 1942-44 as a Meteorologist, the following incident took place;
A new civilian Met. Officer was posted to RAF Cark from Squiresgate, Blackpool. We had been informed that he was being flown up in an Airspeed Oxford. In due course his aircraft appeared within the circuit, but after circling the airfield a number of times, it disappeared again in the direction of Blackpool. Some hours later, Mr Pitcher arrived by train with the explanation. On arriving above the airfield all attempts to put down the undercarriage failed and it was found to be lacking any fluid in the hydraulic system. It was decided that if a pancake landing was to take place it would be better to do it on their own airfield, so they headed for home. Mr Pitcher was an ingenious man and as they went he remarked that between them they must have quite alot of fluid on board, so they all relieved themselves into the system and landed quite safely with the undercarriage suitably lowered.
He was full of bright ideas. One of our hourly tasks was to take an observation of the weather at about 7 minutes before each hour. He rigged up a battery driven buzzer to sound at the appropriate time with a wire on the clock face to make contact with the minute hand. Unfortunately the electrical contact corroded the surface of the wire. It sounded the buzzer but stopped the clock.
From LACW Charmian Piper 2090215

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