大象传媒

Oliver Simpson submitted his story via the Peoples War Outreach worker. He agrees to the site's terms and conditions:

My service career in the R.A.F. Here鈥檚 my unusual story鈥�

I volunteered and went for basic training at Cardington, Bedfordshire, in April 1940. Six weeks later I went to a place in Lincolnshire for 鈥楪unnery鈥� Practice. As I was in the R.A.F. Regiment, I was posted to the Air Ministry in London to guard the building.

One of the posts was patrolling the large flat roof area with another airman. No unauthorised person was allowed on the roof without saying the password. During the nightly bombing raids, Sir Winston Churchill would venture up to see from the rooftop how serious the blitz really was.

If I was on duty, I had to ask him what the special 鈥楶assword鈥� was, although, naturally I knew who he was. On several occasions, I had the honour of conversing with him. One remark he mentioned was 鈥淭he Huns will get all this back鈥�, relating to the bombing.

To try and cut this story short, I will leave out many exciting and interesting events which happened while on Guard Duty. One day, sitting in the guardroom, I penned in two-inch letter the word 鈥楪UARD ROOM鈥� on a piece of card. The W.O noticed what I had done, and pinned it on the outside of the door. During the next few days, I was asked to do similar jobs for the Army and R.A.F, this meant no more guard duties. Little did I know how my service life would change!

One day, the W.O told me that A W.A.A.F and a car driver would be taking me to Harrow Weald, to a place called Z, and R.A.F establishment, where I would have an appointment with a Squadron Leader. I had no idea what the reason I had to go to Harrow Weald was. On arrival a service police man walked me to an office, knocked on the door, and told me to enter. The officer shook hands with me (a good sign I thought) had a cup of tea brought in and informed me why the visit.

He said the Directorate of Public Relations, P/R.8, Air Ministry, London with the Air Attach茅, chose me to carry out duties of forming R.A.F exhibitions at Home and abroad. Somehow they know about what I done in civilian life and thought I may be the man wanted for the post. I realised I would be the only R.A.F man to do this 鈥楽pecial Duties鈥� job working with civilians at the Air Ministry. I had no choice but to accept my responsibilities in carrying out this wartime job.

We discussed a few private details, the officer had done his job, and then it was back to the Air Ministry (29 Queen Anne鈥檚 Gate) where the PR8 department is and I could liaise on the day to day happenings regarding my new job. My work consisted of designing the exhibitions, making hardboard Air Force Wings, 6 by 8 feet long, many signs all hand lettered, and various other items.

After the bombing raids, I had access to the photographs taken during the raids; the ones chosen for display would be enlarged to 20鈥� x 30鈥� size, pasted on hardboard. Up to 40 would be used in each exhibition. I then had to hand write captions, depicting where and when the raids took place. Each caption had to be lettered in 3 languages to tell the story of each photograph.

Each exhibition took approximately 6-8 weeks to produce. Large model aircraft had to be created. These had been specially made for the R.A.F for me to put o display. Planes had to be ready, usually one large one, so that all the exhibition material could be loaded ready for take off on the day allotted. There was usually 5 aircrew boys and myself on board; we did many trips together both at home and abroad.

A friend of mine from P.R.8 Air Ministry was told to visit Warsaw to see the possibility of staging the R.A.F exhibition in the city. On his return, the information he gave the air attach茅 was enough to warrant the exhibition taking place. As there were not many buildings left standing, he found it hard to find a hall big enough to assemble all the bits and pieces for the exhibition. He gave me the area size so I was able to design and plan accordingly. Six weeks later I was ready to move, the aircraft was available, loading up was completed, and we were on our way. Although a storm was imminent, we decided to take off.

As we flew over Poland, I could see the devastation caused by bombing and shellfire; it was a mass of rubble. We arrived in a field close to where the exhibition will be held; three vans were waiting to take our load from the aircraft. The aircrew and Polish workers all helped to load the vans, and then we took off along the unmade roads to our destination. I saw no shops, no transport, not many people; it was a sorry sight. It took two days to assemble the exhibition, I had plenty of Polish helpers, and they seemed so pleased to see such an event taking place in their beloved city.

Hundreds of people lined the street to visit the show, several people remarked on what a wonderful job the R.A.F did, to bring peace and stability to Poland and other countries. I wandered around the exhibition explaining to the people what the event taking place was all about. They were very interested in the photographs of the bomb damage the R.A.F had done to Germany. They could read the captions I had sign written in their particular language.

I shall never forget the soothing tearful music coming from loud speakers attached to posts lining the streets. Evidently helping to boost the morale of the poor people to make their lives more bearable. Whenever I hear the melody 鈥榃arsaw Concerto鈥� my thoughts go back to the dear people of Warsaw 鈥� nowadays a beautiful city.

On my return to England I had three weeks sick leave, the conditions out there had badly affected my health, but in a way, I felt fine. Maybe I had the satisfaction of knowing that in some small way, the role of 鈥楽pecial Duties鈥� helped the war effort.

We in the service all had a part to play, maybe in the background, but working with those in the front line we did win the war. I was offered to continue my service with the Air Ministry Public Relations, with my friends in P.R.8, this time as a civilian. I reluctantly refused the offer, my wife and two children needed my 鈥楽pecial Duties鈥� at home in Ipswich.

By the way 鈥� Thank you R.A.F 鈥� I did some flying after all!

I tried to remember all the facts relating to this story, as I am nearly 90 years of age, I may have left a few bits out, but who cares!

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