UXBRIDGE
When the war broke out in September 1939 I volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was instructed to report to the Reading recruiting office on November 15th 1939 (My 20th birthday!) and was sent to RAF Uxbridge for two weeks preliminary training followed by a six week drill course (commonly known as "Square Bashing") at RAF North Coates Fittes in Lincolnshire.
NORTH COATES FITTES
This was a bleak place on the N.E.Lincs coast, and the wind in December from across the North Sea went right through you.This was where we did our 6 weeks course of "Square Bashing"
We were not allowed out for the whole of our stay there, though my Brother and I did get a week end pass to go to nearby Grimsby to see my Aunt. This necessitated an interview with the Commanding Officer and a stern warning of the dire consequences of. what would happen to my brother as the elder if we were as much as one minute late returning
BLACKPOOL
After this I was posted to No. 5 School of Technical Training Blackpool, where we were accommodated in civilian billets (I was billeted on the "Masseys" at 67 Albert Road, a 23 bedroomed boarding house) to do a 22 week course as an airframe mechanic (Flight Mechanic A).
This was heaven after North Coates. Blackpool made us very welcome and the places of entertainment owned by the Blackpool Tower & Winter Gardens Co, gave us a special Forces admission price of 6d which helped us a lot as we were only paid 2 shillings per day, and paid fortnightly during which 6d was collected for the "Sports" fund. I never really found out where those sixpences actually went.
It was here I learned to dance, (Ballroom of course). I was taught by a lovely girl called Margaret. She was a Civil Servant and her department had been evacuated from London, as were many of the Government departments at that time. I spent the rest of my spare time with her during the remainder of my stay in Blackpool and we danced every night at the Winter Gardens
I lost touch with her eventually
ALDERGROVE
This was followed by a short spell with No.2 Bombery and Gunnery School (May - July 1940) at Aldergrove, Northern Ireland with a Bombing and Gunnery School at which I made my first flight in a Fairey Battle. We went to 17,000 feet with no heating and me in shirt sleeves and no tunic. just overalls,. I had to be lifted out of the plane I was so cold.
DRIFFIELD
After Dunkirk The school was moved to Canada and I was posted to 77 Squadron at DRIFFIELD, E.Yorkshire, Which was operatingWhitley Bombers, and had a satellite airfield at Topcliffe which was on high ground and overlooked the parent station.
On August 15 1940 at 13:00 hrs we had the unpleasant experience of witnessing our colleagues at the parent station being bombed by JU88's and had to stand helpless just watching. The station was attacked every night for five nights afterwards rendering it in-operable so the squadron was moved to Linton-on-Ouse just outside York.
LINTON-ON-OUSE
It was here I learned to "Drink" at a place called Betty's Bar. They had the best bitter in York and it was really good. After a couple of these we would then go on to Rye Highballs.
The bomber crews were instructed not to drop their bombs unless they were certain of hitting the target. Everything was done to avoid hitting civilians, and in failing to find the target had to drop leaflets instead. Every morning after their return we would look in the bomb bays to see if the bombs were still there and they invariably were.
One evening in September, we were enjoying an evening out in York when we were all picked up by Redcaps and taken back to camp. It appears invasion barges were spotted gathering in the French the ports in the channel and our crews were sent to bomb them. We were confined to camp for four days. My family who lived in the south of England were convinced they heard the church Bells (an invasion warning) that night and my Father, who was in the Home Guard was called out on duty.
It was from here I was posted to Cosford on a Fitter IIa conversion course
COSFORD
I arrived here, No.2 School of Technical Training on 20/9/40 to do a 6 Weeks conversion course from Flight Mechanic (Aiframe) to a Fitter II (Airframe)
I Passed out as an Aircraftsman 1st Class (AC1) (So I lost my "Props" but had a rise in pay!)
We used to be "off" from 12 noon on Saturdays until Monday morning but was not supposed to stay out overnight, having to book back into the camp before midnight and we could book out again at 9:00 the following morning.
One weekend myself and Pal was offered a lift by one of our mates who had an old "banger" to Leicester where my Grandmother lived and we decided to go for the weekend arranging for someone to book us in before midnight Saturday and out again Sunday morning.
Half way there he decided he was short of petrol so he stopped at a garage And filled up and when the man asked for the coupons he said he had left them at home and would drop them in on the way back. The garage man would not accept this so he offered his greatcoat as security which much to his dismay he accepted!
We were dropped at the Clock Tower in Leicester arranging for him to pick us up the next evening at 6:00pm.
THE BIG WALK
At 6:00pm we were at the Clock Tower waiting and by 8:00 he had not arrived! We had no alternative but to start walking and we got a lift to Hinckley. We then started our walk again and got as far as Tamworth before we got another lift.This as far as Brownhills. From there we walked all the way to Cosford, arriving there at 8:30am. In all I calculate we walked 28 miles that night.
The Technical office as very good about it and said "Get to your class straight away and if they don't complain we will let it go". They didn't so I got away with it. I had blisters on my feet the size of Two Shilling pieces so went to the sick bay at lunch time and was treated and got "Excused Boots" for a week!
DEBDEN
After six weeks having successfully completed the course as an AC1 Fitter2a I was posted to 25 Squadron at Debden in Essex which had Blenhiem Fighter-Bombers. These were being used to train pilots to use Radar (Tho' it was called Special Signals in those days) and gradually we changed aircraft to the new Beaufighters. We went into operation in March 1941 and actually the Squadron (25 Squadron) shot down 2 enemy bombers on the first night and three on the second. This was explained by the Air Ministry that the pilots were fed on carrots which made them see in the dark. Of course it was an attempt to keep the secret of Special Signals (Radar) the aircraft were fitted with. We were bombed here but more of that later, have more research to do. I still keep in touch with "Charlie" Saban (a "Brat")who I met on 25 Sqdn. He is living in Portishead with Joan his wife who unfortunately has been suffering from MS for quite a few years now.
Dec-Jan 1940/1 were cold wet months and we were billeted in married quarters (These were not used during the war) 3/4 to a room and the heating was by coal fire and we were only allowed, I think, one bucket of coal twice a week which was not enough. There was a coal dump on the station surrounded by a chain link fence and when it was dark, we used to go there and scoop a small hole in the ground, enough to put a hand under the fence, and pull out bit of coal. While we were doing it it was scary as we would hear coal falling down the heap a few yards away and we would realize it was others doing the same as we were!
I went on a weekend pass at the end of March. On my return the train was late getting into Cambridge so I missed the last train to Saffron Walden and had to spend the night on Cambridge Station. I eventually got back to camp at 08:30am so was AWOL for 8½ hours and was put on a charge when I booked in at the Guard Room. When I got to my billet I was greeted with "Come on, Get your kit packed were on the move", and by 9:00am was on a lorry to Wittering!
WITTERING
The Squadron was posted to Wittering, near Stamford Lincs on18/3/41 and on the 1/4/41 I got My "props" back and once again became an LAC(Leading Aircraftsman)
One day, in July 1941 I remember well, I was sitting on the wing of a Beaufighter when one of my mates called out to me "Hey Smudge, you are Orderly Corporal"!! I replied "Don't be daft, I'm not a Corporal" he replied "Well you are on DROs as Orderly Corporal today". As it was by then nearly 9 o'clock and duties changed at 9 o.clock, I dashed to the notice board and it was true!. I went to the squadron office where they confirmed I had been promoted on 15/7/41 I said "thank you very much for telling me!" I ran to the Tailors Shop where the Tailor hastily removed my Props and sewed on my Corporals Chevrons and spent my first day as a Corporal as "Orderly Corporal" (More to Follow)
We were bombed here four nights running. More of that later.
In January 1942 The Squadron was sent to Ballyhalbert, Northern Ireland. (Ballyhalbert).
Ballyhalbert
25 Squadron arrived in Ballyhalbert January 1942. I found the area rather isolated but pleasantly Rural. The Bathing Facilities at the camp were rather primitive so we used to have a day off from midday to midday and got the bus to Bangor where we stayed the night in a guest house and had a bath. I remember the wonderful breakfast the lady used to give us.
Nearby was a little seaside resort called Cloghy. We used to walk there some evenings and went in a little cafe' where we had coffee for 1d and a refill for ½d!
Shortly after this I was sent home on Embarkation leave and told to wait for further instructions. I was at home for 6 weeks and sent to the camp for some ration cards. I received a telegram "Return to unit immediately"! They had apparently forgotten me.
THE MOVE!
In May, I think, The Squadron was moved to Church Fenton in Yorkshire,
Eventually The Squadron received orders to move to Church Fenton Near York. I was assigned to the railway siding to load the Squadron equipment into railway wagons. We were then taken by train to Larne where we spent the night in a transit camp. It was awful and the food terrible. In the morning we were up early and loaded the equipment on to the boat and we sailed for Stranraer where we disembarked and unloaded the gear onto a train, we were then told we were going to a transit camp for lunch. We had enough of transit camps so most of us refused thinking we would go into town and buy some food. However the Officer had different Ideas and ordered us into the train and locked us in! so we were left hungry.
It was a special train so there were no scheduled stops but surprise surprise we stopped at Crewe ,so four of us decided to try to get to the buffet bar to get some food. The Buffet Bar being on the platform opposite. There was a bridge across the lines. The bridge was accessed by two short flights of steps at 180 degrees to each other and these joined the final flight of steps at 90 degrees to them. I went up the first flight only to be stopped by a "Redcap" who said I have orders not to let you Cross the Line. So I came back and had an idea (we were starving by then) I said to two pals "you go and try to get over the bridge and when the Redcap stops you argue with him and I will go up the Steps behind him. Keep him occupied until you see me come back and then say OK mate and come back to the train". It Worked like a dream and we were all "fed and hunger assuaged"
CHURCH FENTON
The squadron moved here from Ballyhalbert whilst I was still awaiting an overseas posting.on the 16th June I as sent to West Kirby and then on to Gibraltar (More to Follow)
NARKUNDA
The troopship I sailed on from Gurrock in Scotland to Gibraltar in 6th June 1942.It was 12 day journey. 4 days sailing west to mid Atlantic,4 days sailing South, then 4 days sailing east to Gib. This was to try to evade the U-Boats. (Coming home in 1944 it was only a 4 day journey) She was sunk by Enemy Aircraft 14 Nov. 1942 off Algiers (details of life on board to follow)
GIBRALTAR
I arrived in Gibraltar on 18th June 1942 and after a short spell in station Workshops was posted to 202 Squadron (History) which operated Flying Boats. Sunderlands and Catalinas. When I first arrived there, there was a Team working like hell assembling Spitfires and these were loaded on to an aircraft carrier H.M.S. Ark Royal which sailed down the Med. and then the Spits flew off to Malta to relieve the blockade. The Ark Royal was eventually sunk and was replaced by the Wasp. One night a terrific storm blew up and a destroyer broke its mooring and drifted into our flying boats damaging three or four of our planes and cutting one adrift and it floated into "no man's land", a half mile strip of land between Spain and Gibraltar and beached itself. The next night about six of us and an Officer put on overalls and covered all signs of our uniforms and we went over the border to try. to salvage it. We started to strip all the bits out of it we could to lighten it when we were surrounded by the Spanish Army. The officer was concerned because all the radio equipment, some very secret, was Iying on the beach. After about 10 minutes of arguing the Spaniard said we could return to the Rock but could only take back what we had brought with us. So of course, nonchalantly picked up all the radio stuff and got it back to Rock. Three days or so later we received information from the Spanish authorities that permission had been granted to go over and retrieve the plane. Rumour had it that 40,000 gallons of aviation fuel had been given in exchange.On the 1/7/43
In June 1943 A consignment of Walrus Aircraft arrivedin crates by ship which had been attacked by the Enemy and the crates had collapsed, they were riddled with Bullet/Shrapnel holes and contaminated with Sea Water. The O/C Royal Navy, Gibraltar wrote them all off and told our Group Captain he could have one for himself. I was given the job of sorting the Best "bits" out, repairing them (there were thirteen holes in the hull alone!) and the leading and trailing edges of the main plane were crushed, The ailerones were crushed so I had a lot of work to do. On July the 7th, being Friday was pay day. We were paid fortnightly, I could not go to the NAAFI for my usual deep fried jam sandwich (they were delicious) so I used to go back to the billet, whip my overalls off and schive off down town to a cafe for a tea and a "wad". This day going down a narrow road with no pavement I was passed by an army lorry which was to near the wall and it picked me up and rolled me the the length of the lorry against the wall causing severe bruising to my hips and elbows, The lorry did not stop and I could hardly stand but managed to crawl to an Army first aid post near by, where the MO sent me to the Military Hospital and I asked them to notify my unit. About the same time as this, an aircraft carrying the exiled president of Poland, Sykorsky, back to England took off from North Front and crashed into the sea about half a mile off the eastern end of the runway, killing all on board. It was rumoured that it was sabotage as they wanted to get rid of Sykorky. I find this hard to believe as I cannot see the whole of the crew being sacrificed to achieve this. In the meantime I was cursing as nobody had arrived to see me in hospital. It appears the unit had not been notified. The boys sharing my billet, about 12 of them, were getting anxious as they handn't seen me and was wondering if something untoward had happen to me. They decided to wait until curfew, 11:00 pm to se if I turned up. When I didn't they reported me missing and then all hell let lose. RAF police interview everyone on the camp asking had I contemplated suicide, Had I planned to conceal myself on a plane back to England etc.etc. One airman told them I was friendly with and airman at North Front. I had palled up with him on the boat coming over and we would meet up when we had time off. They interviewed him, so he got worried. The next day a body was washed up on the beach and my friend thinking it was me dashed up to see. He told me later when he saw it it had brown shoes on so he knew it wasn't me! All day Saturday I lay in bed in the hospital and still no one came from my unit, was I cursing them all! Sunday came and then in the afternoon a voice was heard booming down the corridor "I'm looking for a Corporal Smith of the RAF" you can imagine the leg pulling I got from the other 29 Soldiers in the Ward. Then in breezed the unit Adjutant with my small kit and he said "so glad to have found you, you had us all worried, I've brought you these " and gave me an orange and some biscuits! On the Monday I was discharged from the hospital and on Tuesday morning,as was required on discharge from hospital, I reported sick. The MO had a look at me and said "I think you had better come in to Sick Bay for a few days. I'll just fill in the admitance form". You can image how I felt thinking how am I going to explain being in the town at 10 o'clock in the morning! anyhow he filled the form then he said "History of accident",I thought "Here it comes" but before I could reply he said "I know, 'knocked down in HM Dockyard while on duty'". did I breathe a sigh of relief. They had fixed it for me. I finished building the Walrus and the Group Captain took it up and it flew perfectly first time. He took me on his second trip and when we were airbourne he said "Have you flown a plane corporal?" I said "no sir" so he said "Time you did, Take over" so I did and flew her round the rock, no problem!
I was officially promoted to Temp Sgt but it was some time after that that I knew about it. It was in 1943 we took part in Operation "Torch" which was the landings of the American Troops in North Africa. This operation was conducted from Gib., and 202 Squadron Catalinas met the American invasion force half way across the Atlantic and escorted them to the invasion beaches. In the meantime "thousands" of American and British fighters were assembling in Gib. and the British planes had the American Star painted on them. It was Then and for my work in "Operation Torch" as the invasion was code named, that I was "Mentioned in Dispatches" for "Devotion to Duty" During the time I was at Gib. we lost two planes, one crashed in the mountains of Algeciras Bay and all the crew were killed, and the other never returned from an Atlantic patrol. It was a sad time to lose the crews, particularly the one that never returned as it was the first operation for one of the gunners (Bibby). He had been a mechanic on the squadron and had remustered and trained on the squadron as an Air Gunner. (I have since learned there was in fact one survivor, The Flight Engineer, who was taken in by the Spanish Army and later returned to Gibraltar, and then to England. I have been in touch with him and he told me in fact Bibby was one of the crew Killed in the crash.It is interesting to note this contact was made through this page by The Gibraltar Chronicle which published this extract in their publication on the occasion of the anniversary of of "Operation Torch" in 1998
After the Invasion of Normandy The Squadron was sent to Northern Ireland - Castle Archdale., on Lough Erne,
WINCHESTER CASTLE
This is the ship that took 202 Squadron back to Blighty (Me included) (More to follow)
CASTLE ARCHDALE
We arrived at Castle Archdale, which is near Enniskillen,Co.Fermanagh in August 1944 and continued to escort convoys over the Atlantic.I remember in the summer of 1945 when a duck seemed to attach its self to us and it followed us around. It was always there so we made it a little leather collar and lead and used to lead it around with us. It seemed quite happy. Lough Erne
One day I was was "Orderly Sergeant" and at 9:0 PM I was in the hut had telling the Sergeant who was taking over from me what the duty entailed, as was the custom, although the duties where written down we would pass on "short Cuts", and I said "So and so" and " so and so", "And at six o'clock you take the ***!!1 FLAG DOWN" I had forgotten and rushed up to the Castle which was some distance away and there was the flag still flying in the dark. I quickly lowered it and hoped nobody had noticed.
Most of our time off we spent in a small town about 4 miles from the station. One of our favorite places was the Railway Hotel near the station. It was run by a delightful lady we referred to as "Ma Shutt" she was very obliging and you could also get a meal there.
Another place was a bar in the main street - I can't remember the name - but he sold the "McEwan's Export Ale" it was like drinking cream. When he drew it it had a thick creamy head and he used a wooden ruler which he drew across the top of the glass to remove the surplus. It was delicious and was the cause of many a thick head
Days off were spent in Enniskillen Where on VJ night I remember we did the "Palais Glide" down the main street after a few beers of course. There was a little Tea Room we used to go but can't remember much about it. I think we used to have to leave Enniskillen early as there were transport problems I think
Occasionally we would visit Omagh where we would go shopping. We would have lunch at a Hotel on the right hand side of the main street, I can't remember the name but we went upstairs to the dinning room. Opposite was a draper's Shop where in anticipation of getting D-mobbed we go to buy clothes. We had no clothing coupons but, after having made our purchases, we would go to another counter at the end of the shop and buy the neccesary coupons for one shilling each . I bought a suit ready for "civvy street" .I can still remember it, it was a navy blue chalk stripe.Very natty!.
On the 12 May 1945 I was detailed to fly with a Catalina to Felixtow where we stayed overnight. On Sunday May 13th we took off and flew to an airfield (I don't remember which) and flew over the runway at about 10 feet, it was a bit scary, remember we had no wheels. The runway was lined with members of the Royal Observer Corps and the occasion was A Salute To the Royal Observer Corps on them "standing Down" after VE Day. Apparently one of every type of aircraft flew by that day. After the pass we flew straight back to Castle Archdale. I remember our stay at RAF Felixstow for a wonderful Black Currant Pie served in the mess. It is the best I have every had, before or since!
VJ Day came in August and shortly afterwards the Squadron was disbanded we had a dance to "Close" the squadron. It was suggested we killed the duck at midnight when the squadron Ceased to be and would take it to "Ma Shutt's" to be cooked and us six senior NCO's would have it for dinner. Of course when it came to it we couldn't kill it as we had grown to fond of it. So we took it on stage at midnight and let go and it flew the length of the hut where we had our dances and concerts, so we got Ma Shutt to buy a couple of ducks and we had a duck dinner to say "Farewell 202". However thinking of our little duck I could not eat any and still cannot eat duck until this day!
( I have recently been contacted as the result of this page by Mr.& Mrs Joe O'Loughlin. Joe used to watch the flying boats take off and land on the Lough when a boy living in Belleek which is situated on the North West tip of the Lough. Joe is involved in erecting permanent Memorials to the airmen who died on the sites where aircraft crashed. Mr. & Mrs. O'Loughlin were kind enough to invite me to stay with them for a week in Belleek which I did and I am most grateful to them for the extremely kind hospitality they showed me during the week 11-18/6/02. I am at present constructing a page about this visit. At the moment there is only a few pictures but hope to expand this as and when time permits. You can view this page at Belleek.. Joe has written a fictional Book based on fact. It is an intriguing story of the spirit of RCAF Airman who helped crews in danger. You can get this book by contacting Joe O'Lough in ref "The Phantom Airman" (ISBN 0-9546605-0-1)
Later we were posted to separate units. Me to Aldergrove (again coming round full circle) Northern Ireland and spent the time moth-balling Lancaster bombers until January the 6th 1946 when I was returned to England and Demobbed at Cardington near Bedford
PEACE!
I still lie here, beneath the hill Abandoned now, to natures will My hangers down; gone; my people all The only sound; a wild birds call
But my mighty "birds" shall rise no more I do not hear the engines roar And never now, does my bosom feel The lift of that silver keel
From this ageless hill their voices cast Thunderous echoes of the past And still in lonely memory Their great broad wings sweep down to me
Laughter, sorrow, hope and pain I shall never know these things again Emotions that I came to know Of strange young men so long ago
Who knows as evening shadows meet Are they with me still? That phantom fleet And do their ghosts still fly unseen? Across my waters so wide and green
And in the future should the forest tall Change my face beyond recall I shall still remember then My metal birds and long dead men
Now trees grown high, obscure the sky O! remember me when you pass by For atop these curling wavesI was your home in other days.