- Contributed byÌý
- cambsaction
- People in story:Ìý
- Eric Gayton
- Location of story:Ìý
- Northamptonshire
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4379835
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 06 July 2005
Eric Gayton worked at Denton Airfield — which was a relief landing ground for RAF Sywell, Northants. In 1943, while only 14 years old, he gained employment with Brooklands Aviation Ltd His work involved cleaning, servicing and refuelling Tiger Moth aircraft. On an average day he could refuel up to 12 aircraft.
A few of his memories of events are as follows:
9 Spitfires landing in one day.
A B17 Flying Fortress that landed one day and just missed the canteen.
Easter Monday 1944 a Beau fighter that crashed.
During 1945 Eric was offered a flight in a Tiger Moth. He readily accepted and remembers the seat having to be padded out so he could see out of the cockpit.
When the airfield closed Eric was made redundant and so, in 1947, he joined the Royal Air Force.
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