大象传媒

When war broke out September 1939 I was just over 17 years old. One year later at the height of the Battle of Britain on September 15th. I arrived at RAF Uxbridge and volunteered for flying duties. I was given a medical examination and then asked to take a written test on various subjects that included English and Maths. I passed the first but failed the second which included algebra of which my knowledge was hazy . However, I was kindly encouraged by an officer to return after studying the essentials of this subject.
So, following my return home , I joined what was then called the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) that later became the Air Training Corps (ATC). Within a few months training with them , drilling etc.identifying aeroplanes,and paticularly brushing up my errant maths ability, I decided to try again at Uxbridge in January 1941. This time I was able to pass all the written tests and following an interview before half a dozen Officers presided over by an impressive Group Captain , I was accepted for General Duties , which actually included flying training, receiving the rank of Aircraftsman Second class (AC2) the "lowest form of animal life" - I was informed - in the Royal Air Force. One week later , like thousands of recruits before and after,arrived at Blackpool , was kitted out with uniform and other articles of clothing plus an article I had never seen before - "A Housewife" (Hussif in service parlance) which turned out to be a small bag containing , needles thread/cotton,wool (RAF colour-blue)for mending holes in socks!
Blackpool with its hundreds of Bed and Breakfast Guest houses , each one it seemed dominated by a strict landlady, was ideal for billeting the raw recruits , and I remember arriving at one of these establishments with half a dozen other lads on the South Shore during a freezing winter.
We actually spent six weeks parading up and down the promenade, being drilled with a Lee-Enfield rifle of ancient lineage. This , as you will readily agree, was not exactly he best preparation for flying , but according to our drill sergeant , was meant to give "You horrible lot" some discipline . Our particular drill sergeant was an ex- Irish Guardsman - who really did use phrases such as "You horrible shower" and "I'll have YOUR GUTS FOR GARTERS" in stentorian tones that could be heard at the top of Blackpool Tower!
When the six weeks ended we made room for another batch and until postings came through to a real RAF Station we spent two more weeks at Morecambe the rather more genteel resort further down the coast in Lancashire. At length after a spot of leave , I received orders and a railway warrant to go to RAF Evanton at the far north of Scotland , the journey from Euston taking FIFTEEN HOURS-believe it or not!
Thus ended my initial training that began my service with the RAF ending in June 1946 after many incidents that included a two and a half year spell as a Prisoner of War . More on these in a later narrative . Philip Green