大象传媒

Background information

I am writing these accounts on behalf of my Dad - with his permission - who was born 25th May, 1925 in Bermondsey, London. Sid turned the grand age of eighty in May 2005; a particularly significant achievement as in 2004 he had been extremely ill in hospital. Despite this he fought back and had for some months a newer lease of life. However with the launch of 2006 he is once again in hospital, although following his latest course of treatment, he is now making good progress and we hope to have him home again soon.

In the past my dad has had an incredible ability to recall many tales from his experiences during the war, including being evacuated to Kent with his younger brother Ken, in 1939. However, despite his ill- health, he has managed to provide the following details - including a number of photographs - which he hopes readers will find of some interest.

RAF Background and Chronology

Sid applied to join the RAF in January 1943 aged 17 and 8 months. He had 10 months deferred service which was then extended to 16 months because the air-crew death rate had eased as the war continued. He eventually began his RAF life in May 1944. He was de-mobbed on Armistice Day, 11th November 1947 and finally discharged, on the 5th January 1948.

He trained as a Flight Engineer. Whilst Sid never saw active duty as such during his 3.5 years service he was assigned to some 22 RAF camps in England, France and Belgium. He specifically spent 10 months at RAF Sealand Cheshire; 3.5 months in Buc Airport Versailles, Paris, France; 6 weeks in Lod猫ve, southern France and 1 month in Belgium.

Sid鈥檚 earliest experience of RAF life commenced with 6 weeks training at ACRC - Air Crew Receiving Centre - Prince Albert Rd, St Johns Wood, London. And following this he was transferred to the ITW 鈥� Initial Training Wing 鈥� Cranidge, Cheshire for a further 6 weeks. He then spent one week having flying experience at a Satellite Station of Chipping Norton, at Little Rissington in Oxfordshire. This was where fully trained and qualified pilots were upgrading their skills from single to twin-engined planes.

A Flight to Remember 鈥� the Airspeed Oxford 1944

The new recruits were training to become flight engineers and each day they would queue up or sit around outside the crew room; eventually a few would be offered the opportunity to accompany a training flight. Usually these observers would have a log sheet to take notes during the flight which would last about 2 hours.

On this particular day the training was 鈥渃ircuits and bumps鈥�. The plane 鈥� a twin鈥攅ngined Airspeed Oxford, which could do a maximum of 160 miles per hour - would follow a circuit of the aerodrome, touch down and immediately take off again.

Sid was eventually offered a chance to observe a flight. The Instructor and Pilot took their seats and Sid clambered in behind them. He perched on the step in between the 2 seats in the cockpit where the wing was attached. The plane was dual-control so both Instructor and Pilot had the ability to take control of the flight at any point.

As the evening flight commenced visibility was limited. Everywhere was in darkness because of the war except for the paraffin lights on the runway. Sid thought they had the appearance of watering-cans; the ground-crew would carry them out from a wagon each evening in preparation for the night flights.

Sid had been observing from his vantage point for sometime, as the Airspeed Oxford cruised through the night, when he spotted a set of lights in the distance coming towards them. As these lights continued to get closer, Sid estimated the on-coming plane was only slightly above them but because of his keen eye, he thought they would avoid a collision and he assumed the Instructor and the Pilot had everything under control.

Suddenly the Instructor pushed the control stick forward to dive below the approaching plane; however the pilot thought he had control and yanked it back again. The plane jerked up and down in the next few seconds. Eventually the pilot realised what was happening 鈥� a situation too close for comfort - and he pushed the control stick violently forward as the on-coming plane flew just overhead. Sid bounced up and down. He hit his head on the top of the fuselage but only sustained a slight bruise. A silence hung in the air as the Instructor glanced sideways at the Pilot and the flight continued.

Eventually the training flight drew to an end. The plane taxied on the runway as Sid made his way towards the tail and exit door; the close confines of the plane required the last person in to be the first person out. In the darkness Sid carefully felt along the sides of the plane and pulled on a wire thinking it would open the door. He felt something else give way and thought oh no 鈥� that鈥檚 not the handle!

The Instructor turned and shouted 鈥楴o don鈥檛 pull that,鈥� and swiftly made his way along the plane and reached from behind Sid. However, as the Instructor pulled on the handle, the retaining pins released and the door fell way.

Fortunately the plane had halted. The Instructor turned to one of the ground-crew, handed him the door, 鈥楩ix this will you old chap.鈥�

As they walked across the field the Instructor turned to Sid, 鈥榃ell that was a bit of excitement.鈥�
鈥榊es it was, especially as it was my first time.鈥�
The Instructor replied, 鈥極h, your first night flight then.鈥�
鈥楴o,鈥� Sid said emphatically, 鈥榤y first flight, ever!鈥�
鈥楢h 鈥� well we really put you through it then.鈥� And the Instructor smiled broadly as he disappeared into the crew room.
Sid walked away thinking mmh 鈥� yes 鈥� a flight to be remembered for sure.

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