大象传媒

大象传媒 The Peoples War

My story starts about the middle of July 1941. A friend and I were working in an aircraft factory building Blenheims aircraft when we decided that we would like to join the F.A.A. (The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm).

We went to the Bristol Royal Navy recruiting office only to be told that as we were in a reserved occupation there was no chance of enlisting and that our best option would be to contact the N.S.O. (National Service Officer) who had the option of conscripting us.

In due course we contacted this N.S.O. and were told that he would see what he could do 鈥� unfortunately we could only visit him every other Saturday because of patterns he had to work 鈥� AM Monday to PM Friday, off Saturday, then AM Sunday to PM Saturday. Weeks and months went by until the beginning of February 1942 when my friend was 鈥渃alled up鈥� and he joined the F.A.A.

Naturally I increased the pressure on the N.S.O. but nothing happened despite being told that everything was in hand and that I should be patient but nothing happened. So, in desperation I pestered the recruiting office and was eventually told by them that the only way would be to get a C.O.R. (Certificate of Release) from my employer, the Bristol Aircraft Company. It was like trying to get blood out of a stone, but I was still contacting the N.S.O. and the recruiting office.

Another couple of months passed and Christmas 1942 had come and gone. However, in January 1943 I was finally given that precious document, the C.O.R. so hot foot off I went to the recruiting office only to be told 鈥渧ery sorry but we have no vacancies at the moment鈥�, talk of Victor Meldrew and his 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe it!鈥� and also to call again in about 4 weeks time! This was duly done only to get the same message 鈥渘o vacancies and to call again鈥�. Another 4-6 weeks time went by and on my next visit I was told that he did have vacancies. Questions were then asked about my general health etc and inevitably the C.O.R. This was produced with a flourish only to be told they could not accept me because the C.O.R. was out of date and that I needed a fresh off the press one.

Totally dismayed I once again had to plead with the company for a new C.O.R. which meant another wait of a couple of weeks before I could get to the recruiting office where I was told once again 鈥渘o vacancies鈥�.

At this time I really got abusive to the extent that a naval officer appeared from the back room wanting to know what all the noise was about. He explained that there were no vacancies!!! Whereupon I pointed out that there were some large posters around the walls stating 鈥淐hange your overalls for flying kit鈥� and I proceeded to blast the officer to point out what was all that about? Rather shame faced he tried to convince me that he didn鈥檛 know that I was prepared to be a flyer. But if I was I would need excellent health and particularly very good education etc etc. I explained that I had played football and cricket for the school team and had a very good Oxford school certificate. However that meant more documents that I would need to produce and so the process started all over again.

I successfully passed the general health medical which was followed by an aircraft medical 鈥� eyes, hearing balance tests and overall general reaction tests and a week or so later I was in front of a seven man board of senior naval officers and was subject to a general knowledge quiz plus maths questions 鈥� numerical, algebraic and geometric 鈥� quite exhausting. I then had to leave the room whilst they discussed my performance. Later I was called back in and told that I would be selected for flying duties but that as I was a member of the Home Guard I would have to resign from them and join a specified air training squadron which had future airforce and fleet air arm candidates.
I was also told to report to a sub-lieutenant who would advise me of where and when I would physically join the Royal Navy. I was asked by this 鈥渟ubbie鈥� when I would join up, I said 鈥渘ext week? 鈥渘o way!鈥�, 鈥渘ext month?鈥�, 鈥渦nlikely鈥� so I said 鈥渁s soon as you can!!鈥�

This conversation took place late June early July 1943 (how time flies). I kid you not but I eventually joined the Navy at St Vincent, Gosport on the 28th December 1943 nearly two and a half years from the start.

Part 2

The beginning of May 1944 I was at a U.S. naval airbase in St Louis Missouri getting my flight training.

We had now been split into two groups, one did flying mornings and some ground school whilst the other group did ground school mornings and flying etc afternoons so the whole group was paraded after breakfast and again after lunch.

At the morning parade on June 4th 1944 we were told by our American officers that Allied troops had landed in Northern France 鈥� Cheers!! At the lunchtime parade-- apologies we had definitely NOT landed in France. At morning parade June 5th we were told once again by our American officer that the French landings had taken place 鈥� this had now been confirmed! The lunchtime parade was really a repeat of the day before but with a little more grovelling!

June 6th was another bright morning and once again the news was that troops had been landied in France. This was greeted by a number of caustic comments which I do not propose to elaborate on. At the lunchtime parade we expected the same denials and much more grovelling and Bullsh*t as to the reasons but much to our amazement the landings were confirmed and we were told that this had been verified by the highest authority in the U.S.

Personally I still remain amazed that this news had not been transmitted to the German authorities bearing in mind that a lot of the staff on the naval base had access to St Louis and in the city there was a fair number of German Immigrants or possibly agents.

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