大象传媒

The call-up papers sent me to the RAF induction centre at Padgate near Warrington. Their task was to kit me out and to try and convert me frm being "The man from the Pru" into an homicidal maniac in just two weeks.They failed of course.The big shock came when we were allocated to our hut. There the 40 or so let their emotions have full lease when we ewere out of sight of the Corporal in charge. The language used be some of the new recruits realy shocked me.I had never met people who used words like that and seventy years on I find those words unpleasany/
Somehow I became the "senior man", Was made acting unpaid corporal. I quite liked the stripes.As time went by I madage to retain the stripes and got the "acting" deleted and received the pay.
After a difficult two weeks we were sorted to our respective trades and I wnet to Kirkhan for training as airframe mechanic. I found the subject absorbing and managed a level of marks which meant that I should upgrade to become corporal Fitter 2.
Now I was qualified to do really serious work on real live active aeroplanes. The posting was to RAF Station Feltwell at Lakenheath. The squadron was making its first night attacks on the Channel ports.
One thing I knew was that I was very inadequate for the job and no where near as competant as my exam results stated.It was daunting but very exciting. These were real live planes I enjoyed working on them and the daily short flights to and from dispersal.There was excitment when my plane went on a mission and the anxiety waiting its return. There were frequent attacks by German aircraft. Oh yes I was in the war now,
I had been earmarked for a teaching course and quite soon I was posted to No 2 School of Technical Training at Halton.So a new phase started.

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