大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from Radio Northampton Action Desk on behalf of W F Havies and has been added to the site with her permission. W F Havies fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

My war started before the day the war broke out. I was on duty as a Messenger in the A.R.P. aged 14 at St Mary Magdalenes post in Chiswick, W4.

On the 6th May 1943, I joined the Royal Airforce and served as a Towed Target Operator on No. 41 O.T.U. RAF Hawarden & Chilbolton

The TTO鈥檚 had a very raw deal; no rank or flying Brevet, in fact we cannot even join the Air Crew Association even though if it was not for us letting them fire real bullets and canon shells at our target, which was only 1200 fett behind the aeroplane (a Miles Martinet), many of them would not be walking around today, as quite a few were not as good a shot as they thought. I was supposed to be a WOP/AIR but was kept on target towing as we could not get any volunteers.

After coming off target towing, I became an S.E.W. and served at No. 1 P.T.S. and Lunerberg, Germany.

In October 1948, I transferred into 601 Sqdn Royal Auxiliary Air Force and served until 1952 when the R.Aux.A.F. was scrapped by a stupid government.

In October 1952, I went into the Civil Defence Corps and became a Home Office Certificated Instructor and Platoon Ambulance Officer, and served until that too was scrapped in about 1975.

I think I can say I have done my bit, but looking at the country as it is now, I am of the same opinion as many of my companions; that we wasted the best years of our lives and our companions wasted their lives.

I am now 80 and probably the only WW2 Towed Target Operator left. There is only one Marinet left, which is being rebuilt at Berkshire Aviation Museum. I would like to go and see it.

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