大象传媒

March 鈥� May 1941: Another step toward hopeful transfer to the Royal Air Force - a course of Initial Training. Still in Army Uniform, but under the jurisdiction of the R.A.F. Location Cambridge; favourite City, especially in the spring, and some of the coursework even took place in Old College Rooms, vacated only two years previously, and now wired up to teach the Course participants the rudiments of the Morse Code. Otherwise the work was undemanding, and most of the time spent visiting old haunts and friends. In general, absolute bliss.

June 1st 1941: Arrived at an elementary Flying Training School at North Luffenham in Rutland, and came face to face with an actual aeroplane. This was a D.H. 82A, better known as a Tiger Moth. After some dual instruction, first solo flight after about 7 hours. This was about average for the course, although those with a natural aptitude for flying needed less time. It did not take long to come to the conclusion that was not a born aviator, and would therefore have to rely, to a great extent, on the advice and teaching of others.

The elementary training programme, which was usually strictly followed by the staff, laid down procedures varying from 鈥渟traight and level flying鈥� to 鈥渁erobatics鈥�, interspersed with several sessions devoted to 鈥渢aking off and landing鈥� 鈥� the latter of which presented the greatest problems. This schedule was compressed into a programme lasting only about five weeks, after which was passed out with a classification of 鈥渁verage鈥�. This classification was repeated throughout all subsequent training courses, and if anything was quite generous.

During the 5 weeks, the Principal Instructor allotted to this student was a Flying Officer who was never happier than when he was in the air. This resulted in a disproportionate amount of time doing aerobatics. All this when the student already had enough difficulty learning to keep the aircraft straight and level, and get it back on the ground in one piece. This early introduction to aerobatics was a life cure 鈥� never did a loop or roll again in any of the following years. In spite of these incidental problems, was given a fond farewell by Flying Officer Instructor, who managed to conceal his thoughts about the lack of competence of this particular pupil.

There was a sequel to this. Over two years later by then a Flight Lieutenant, dressed in contemporary scruffy battledress, was driving up the Great North Road en route to Cambridge. Stopped off at the Comet 鈥� a well known Roadhouse at Hatfield 鈥� at about noon for a beer. Inside was a very long bar 鈥� empty except for one other R.A.F. Officer at the far end. Recognition was mutual 鈥� the original Flying Instructor. All he said was 鈥� My God it鈥檚 ------鈥�, followed by 鈥淎re you still alive鈥�?

July 21st 1941: More serious training, this time at Grantham, Lincs. Aircraft: twin-engined Airspeed Oxford. This was quite large and a very different experience to the old Tiger Moth. The latter had been more or less foolproof, but the Oxford was less so, as it had some instability characteristics at low speeds. This feature was probably not chosen on purpose by the R.A.F. training school, but it nevertheless brought home to the trainees that flying could sometimes be tricky, even dangerous, if good discipline was not maintained.

The Grantham course lasted for about 2 months and included in its requirements nine solo night landings. The first three of these presented no difficulties: a fine night and full moon. Unfortunately these procedures were cut short by the advent of a German night-flying intruder. The remaining six became a problem as the course was nearing its end and was behind schedule. They eventually took place on September 25th 1941 at a grass auxiliary airfield, on a very dark night somewhere out in the Lincolnshire countryside. Night flying facilities were extremely limited with temporary gas fired lights to mark out the landing strip. How there were no serious accidents was a miracle.

On October 1st finished the course with the usual 鈥渁verage鈥� qualification, albeit modified with above average night vision and navigation ability. On the same date was awarded 鈥淲ings鈥� and gazetted Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. The year-long journey towards this goal was thus completed and at last the Army uniform could be discarded.

The future, though obscure, offered much. It remained to be seen what could be done with it.

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