- Contributed by听
- Researcher 237758
- People in story:听
- Richard Slatcher
- Location of story:听
- Padgate & Yatesbury
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A1135865
- Contributed on:听
- 06 August 2003
I joined the RAF on September 4 1939 and was sent to Padgate for basic drill training and swearing in. When we were kitted out I had odd bits of uniform as only the new issue trousers were available. The old peaked style hats were issued and when on drill doing eyes right the hat stayed in the same place but my head went round much to the drill sergeants disgust. Kitchen utensils just a knife and fork, trying to eat custard, porridge, soup and stuff like that etc. was an art to be learned. I was then transferred to Yatesbury No. 3 E & W S (Electric & Wireless) for training as a Wireless Operator this was in October 1939. At Yatesbury there was no lights except two blue bulbs in the hut and the only lights were in the Naffi and we had to do our studying and swatting and writing up there. We trainees started scratching a little bit of blue paint off the bulbs to get a bit of light and eventually it was realised the Germans were not going to attack tomorrow and common sense prevailed, shutters were put up to the already curtained windows to complete the blackout and proper lighting was restored
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