大象传媒

Unfortunately My Grandfather passed away when I was only six, so I am relying on my Father to pass on the story. `My Grandfather had been posted to sierra leone in Africa.

Being an electrician can be a demanding job at the best of times, being an electrician on a sunderland flying boat with a faulty bomb rack is as tough as it gets. The sunderland was equipped with two inernal bomb racks that, when needed, could retract in and out of the aeroplanes fuselage out underneath the wing. On one occassion the bombs slid into postion ready for attack when all of a sudden the bombs decided to retract back into the plane!It seemed the bombs couldn't decide what to do and began sliding in and out of the aeroplane. Obviously this is not an ideal situation! Fortunatey a fully qualified R.A.F. Electrician was on board (my Grandfather). He was as able to tackle the problem much to the relief of the crew on board.

I cant imagine what it must have been like living in Africa during wartime. The only story i can remember my grandfather telling me was the size of the insects over there. Bats as big as birds and snakes 20 ft long. Temperatures so hot you could cook your eggs on an upturned rock!

I am sure that this was just one of the many stories he shared. Unfortunately as time rolls by these stories are forgotten and unheard. If any one who served with the squadron or knew my grandfather {Leonard Trickett} could share their stories with me I would be most grateful

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