- Contributed byÌý
- salisburysouthwilts
- People in story:Ìý
- Min from Salisbury
- Location of story:Ìý
- Salisbury
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A5857112
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 22 September 2005
Min from Salisbury
Aircraft Electrician
I was conscripted to work in the aircraft factory in Castle Road
(Vickers Armstrong) We worked in 12 hour shifts — starting at either 7.30 a.m. or 7.30 in the evening. We had a rota to work at the weekend on fire-watching duties. I lived with my mother and we got extra bread coupons because I worked at the factory — they must have thought we needed building up!
I worked as an electrician installing the wiring through the plane. I used to fit the radio mountings and the gyro gun-sight in the cockpit. I really enjoyed it. One day I was right at the end of the fuselage when the air raid siren went off. When that happened, all of the lights went out. I was in pitch darkness and had to go along on my hands and knees feeling my way out so that I could get to the shelter. I was terrified — after that I always made sure I had a torch in my pocket!
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