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Orders to pack and be ready to move by 1600hrs. Everybody binds away at moving in the evening, especially as we know the conditions that exist where any NCO has to report after ordinary duty hours, nobody wants you, nobody cares, its each man for himself. At 1630 hrs after a very hurried tea we climb aboard an ordinary RAF truck bound for Skellingthorpe, no 61 Squadron.

The WAAF MT driver informas us that she did not want the job as she has a date in Lincoln so we had better hold on, and away we go. By jove we did go! Slung from one side of the lorry to the other, Bob shot a bit of a line and sat up front with the WAAF.
We reported to the guardroom about 5pm. Just as we surmised nobody expected us or had any idea we were on the way. Bob and Allan went to the officer's mess to try their luck and to really find out if the orderly officer was available, but instead they had the luck Squadron Leader Moss, actually our CO, at the moment he was very decent and having a few minutes to spare (ops had been scrubbed) he fixed us up with billets etc back to the old nissen!
The boys Phil, Loyd and Bill went to the ENSA show, Alan and I mad the 2 mile journey to the nearest telephone box to make our where abouts known to our respective Ball and Chains! Of course Audry was pleased to hear me once again or at least she seemed to be.
So, back to the Sgt's mess for me, and the officer's mess for Alan. After a reasonable supper we made our way back across the site 3 through the wood and across a field to our site 4. I had an interesting chat with one or two of the inmates, all members of 61 Squadron and so to bed.
Dec 1st
We had breakfast and met Bob, Alan and Frank, all walked up to the 61 Sqdn flights and checked in OK. I reported to the signals and meet all the boys and signals officer F/lt Newbound quite an enthusiastic Australian, unfortunately he is posted to go away Friday. After lunch we all had an interview with the squadron leader Moss (our wing commander is away on leave) he gave us quite a pep and gen talk and quite an interesting desciption for whta to expect whilst on ops.
Frank and I went into Lincoln and saw the pictures "5 Graves to Cairo", and of course, we had to call in one of the locals for an odd one, night cap!!
Dec 2nd
Reported to signals at 0930 we went out to one of the planes and did a DI; had quite a lot of interesting new gen. After lunch we all (the crew) caught the camp bus to Waddington (main station)to visit pay accounts etc arriving back at Skelly for tea.
We played card in the billet, Loyd, Bill, Phil and I and by heck did I catch a cold!!
I couldn't do anything right, anyway I managed to hang out till suppertime withouit being too much in debt. Had a very primitive bath after supper in fact I was almost as dirty by the time I managed to get dressed owing to the layers of mud on the bathroom floor!
We finished the evening up with a game of table tenis and snooker. All the boys were away- Berlin! Hardly anyone in the mess at all.
Dec 3rd
Reported at 0930 again, did a DI on M for Mike, M had been to Berlin but was in good shape (no faults). Changed my flying boots for new type, very good idea (new boots I mean). Reported to section after lunch had a nice job of reading all the satnding orders. I see they have copped me for group exercise tomorrow nice and early, Phil was down on the list for operations with another crew but the aeroplane was u/s. Bill has been detailed as F/E stand by, Bob fixed up his 2nd dicky trip and Alan has had to practice the flight plan just as if he was going on the trip. Frank and Loyd have disappeared into town, so I have spent most of the evening trying to get our stove alight with wet wood, what a job!! Had supper and so to bed, boys ready for- take off late.
Dec 4th
Boys all still landing at 8am from Leipzig Bob got back ok had quite a goos trip. My watch let me down instead of 7.15 getting up I didn't get going until 8am, had to report to signals by 8.20 for group W/T exercise. Hell of a cold morning lots of frost. Fortunately, I managed to get a lift up to flts.
Didin't do too well on exercise-too cold and too many people talking and interfering, did the usual DI afterwards on E for Easy, had lunch and collected my laundry, back up to the flights by 2pm. We all got ready for our cross-country take off 8.45 put forward to 6.45, we managed to wangle sandwiches from the mess and all filled our flasks.
After waiting all evening and eventually getting out to the aircraft, the exercise was scrubbed. Aircraft u/s, and the weather closing in too quickly. We all sat in the crew room and ate up the food finishe up the tea, and enjoyed Bobs talk on his experience over \leipzig. We managed to get to be dabout 1030.
Dec 5th
Another white frosty morning and some fog. Took boots in for repair and did a DI on E for easy again. Got down for lunch early as we were going to fly first after lunch.
Fog clamped down again so flying scubbed. Spent a good 2 hours getting lots of new gen. All had tea, then Bill and I walked to the phone at Swanpool, got through to Audrey ok, and had quite a chat for 4-5 mins, then back to our billet-chorus when we walked in -where the heck have you been? Bob Alan Loyd and Phil playing bridge and waiting for Bill and I to play Poker! There goes my last financial means I nearly always loose. We didn' play after all, the bridge game was too exciting for them to leave, anchored down about 10.30.
Dec 6th
Real bull inspection Adj and Squadron Leader Moss came round at 9am everything ok. Too foggy (to) fly.
Again so the usual DI the the dinghy drill complete with Mae West and harness in W for William. Walked down to the mess for lunch, a very stormy mess meeting at 13.15 due to bad food and general conditions in the mess and the dining hall.
Back to the flight for general discussion group for the topic- Will bombing win the war? Some bright ideas put forward and quite a good show. Walked back to the mess had my haircut at the camp barbers- quite a good job for a change. Had tea with Bill all the others changed quickly and went into Lincoln (still very foggy). Bill and I spend the evening in the billet good fire and a good book.
Dec 7th
Up at the usual time 7.30 breakfast improved (after the mess meeting) did the usual DI and then lecture for all of us.. After lunch too foggy for flying again and had short lecture on RDF, then met Alan, Frank and Bob, caught the camp bus into town. Did a bit of shopping, not much in the shops although thousands of people about. We went into Boots for tea, in came Loyd and then Bill so we all had rissoles and chips and welsh rabbit bread and butter tea and mince pies. We all went to see the good old film 'The Four Feathers' still very enjoyable, we all had a drink or two afterwards before catching the bus at 10pm, What a struggle lots of fellows left behind to walk 5.5 miles. And so to bed ; at 11pm.
Dec 8th
Still too thick to fly did the usual DI, nothing doing a spot of dinghy drill with our complete clothing on. After lunch another lecture and down for tea at 4.30. Bob and Alan came along and we played poker and for once I won 5/8pence to be exact. Bed about 10.30. Phil made a few snares and set them in the wood behind the hut.
Dec 9th
Phil and I up a bit earlier to have a look at the snares, but no luck. Fog not so bad, prospects of flying! Did the usual DI, then did a spot of painting in the helmet room.
Ha dlunch and got back to the section ready to fly, all dressed up in Mae West, harness, boots etc. Gunners in their electrical suits, and in the bus ready to go out to the aircraft. Met sent an urgent message cancelling the trip, as the fog was closing in too fast, so back we go cursing the weather etc. Took a photo of the whole crew, but the camera stuck, hope \i can have it done ok. Tea about 5pm, then Bob and Alan came along for poker and chess I actually won 3/8 pence-wonders will never cease.
Went along to supper about 9pm dogs and bread! And back to bed 10.30.
Dec 10th
Up at usual time D.I m.w with Phil and Frank, Lectures after lunch changed and went to Lincoln with Frank (after tea) we went to the pictures 'china' (not too bad). Popped in for one or two and caught the bus back to camp 10pm. Phil, Bob and Loyd played cards all evening and so to bed.
(editor's note)to be continued 'Diary of Sgt Bernard Clark RAFVR Dec 11th-Dec 20th'
Story ID A2736173

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