Aylesbury & Halton Branch RAFA

In this Issue…

Down in the Weeds. Let’s Do Lunch! “Mayday! Mayday!” Spring 2018 So what have we been up to as a branch so far this View year? Well, branch membership continues to rise and I am most pleased to report that as of today, it stands at 1116 members. On 31st December 2015 we had From 475 members and it had been decreasing slowly year on year up to that point. I think those figures show what a significant change of fortune has come about The for this branch and I thank everyone who has had a hand in recruiting even one of those new faces. We lost 31 lapsing members at the end of January this Chair year and I hope at least some of those members will come back to us. If you are one of them, please Welcome to the Springtime Edition of the renew your membership as soon as you can. Branch Newsletter! Later in this edition you will read about the monthly As I write this I can see the daffodils and crocuses members lunches we have been running with great have already started to open and paint the front of success since January. Arising from yet another Building 259 with splashes of magnificent colour. The bright idea from our RAFA Stn Officer and Branch evenings are drawing out and the sunshine actually Entertainments Chairman Kev O’Neill, we decided to has some warmth in it… Spring is here at last and so run a 3 month pilot scheme to offer a free hot winter is the latest newsletter. warmer lunch to any branch member who wanted to come along. Actually, we offset the costs by passing I want to start by thanking all of you who took the around a hat for anyone to make a donation if they time to attend the Branch Annual General Meeting wish and we have been pleased to use those funds to on 7th March. Such meetings may seem to be quite help pay for the next month’s food. In his defence, formal for those who have not attended one before Kev does put his own effort behind his ideas and has and I make no apology for that. It is the most been the main chef behind the delicious food that important meeting of the year for us where the has been presented, ably supported by Mrs Joy membership elects the committee members who will O’Neill and Mrs Ali Gibson who have prepared the run the branch on their behalf and where the branch wonderful desserts to go with it. accounts for the last year are formally presented and ratified. These are legal requirements so we have to We have also had great support from Squadron be sure that proceedings are conducted properly in Leader Ali Sandeman who has attended each meal accordance not only with the rules and byelaws of together with a contingent of current RAF personnel the Association, but also comply with all the who have joined in wholeheartedly, meeting and requirements of Charity Law. chatting with us and making the events particularly interesting. In conjunction with the lunches, we have The fact that I am writing this demonstrates that I embarked on a new programme of providing free have been returned as Branch Chairman for another technical support to any branch member who wants year and I thank you all for giving me your trust and some help with their home computers, laptops, support yet again. Indeed all committee members tablets or smart phones. If you want to know how to have been returned to their posts with the exception set up and use Facebook or other social media safely, of the Honorary Branch Secretary Karl Wright who to contact family members and friends, or to stay up has stepped down this year as he is due to be posted to date with branch social events for example, then away from RAF Halton on promotion to Squadron let me know and I’ll get Ali’s team on the case! Leader. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking Karl for his outstanding work for the branch over the last And finally, if you have visited the branch recently year. We wish him well in his new role and our very you will see that we have embarked upon a series of best for his family for the future. internal improvements. The kitchen has had a complete overhaul to enable us to deliver members’ And that prompts me to welcome Mrs Leigh Kirby lunches in a cleaner, more suitable environment and aboard as the new Secretary. A willing volunteer who we are now progressing through the bar redecorating put herself forward without prompting despite being all the walls, ceiling, doors and shelves as well as a relatively new member of the branch. Some of you servicing all the fridges and the glass-washer ready will know her for her magnificent portrayal of my for the summer season. I hope you will forgive us any wife in the Murder Mystery Night last summer. minor disruption, normal service will resume as soon Here’s hoping that she won’t hen-peck me quite as as possible. much on the committee! Leigh and her family have become very active supporters of the branch and Well that’s enough from me and so without further indeed her husband Dan sits on the Entertainments ado… on with the newsletter! Committee too. I am so grateful to have such an accomplished and dedicated team around me as Derf Mockford - Chairman Derf together we face the challenges and opportunities of 2018. Hot Poop!

Is your Membership in date?

The vibrancy and sustainability of our Branch, the oldest in RAFA, depends on all our members ensuring that Do you want FREE help with their annual membership renewals your IT devices? are completed as soon as possible.

If you have been struggling to get the most If you did not sign up to pay your out of your home computer, laptop, tablet or subscriptions by Direct Debit then smartphone then we have the help you your membership may have lapsed at need! the start of the year. With help from RAF Halton technical staff, we Please Check and make are offering FREE one-to-one support to help you set up your equipment properly and sure YOU have renewed show you how to use it safely to stay in touch with your friends, family and the Branch! YOURS! Just give Derf your name and we’ll arrange it What’s Happening

on Our? FirstFirstWednesdays!

Wednesday 4th April 2018 – Guest Speakers - South East Asia

Our very own Alwyn and Jos will be sharing their experiences of their recent jaunt around South East Asia.

Wednesday 2 May 2018 – The Tea Man!

No doubt some of you will recall the excellent talk from Mr Colin Smith of Smith’s Coffee Company at Hemel Hempstead last year. As promised, he is coming back to talk all about tea, our national obsession. Colin is most definitely an expert on the subject and you will be amazed at how much you didn’t know about tea!

Wednesday 6th June 2018 - Play Your Cards Right!

Will you go higher or lower? This TV favourite is coming to the Branch in June so don’t be shy, it’ll be nice to see you, to see you, nice!

And don’t forget, points mean prizes and you don’t get anything for a pair, not in this game. Down in the

As part of our ‘Charitable Outputs ‘ for 2018, the Branch Committee has decided to take one of the RAF Halton Contact Houses under our wing. The RAF Halton Contact Houses are a facility of the So we have stepped in and hired a local gardener to Station Community Welfare Support System. The pop in and cut the grass and keep the place tidy all Contact Houses are there to provide safe temporary through the year. With help from a large party of accommodation for a wide variety of purposes such Servicemen Awaiting Trade Training (SATTS) from as compassionate and welfare cases, child custody the Station, the worst of the weeds, brambles and visits, emergency re-housing due to fire, flood etc or scrub was cleared away on 20th February and we simply to accommodate visiting family and friends. now have a bit of a blank slate to work from. Contact Houses are fully furnished and equipped to modern standards and 78 of them all around the RAF We plan to put in proper play equipment for kids to have been renovated with the assistance of RAFA. burn off a bit of steam safely, bring the central water feature back into use and plant some shrubs and There are 4 such houses here at RAF Halton, but only colourful flowers to create a nice tranquil area for 3 of them are covered on the existing grounds families to relax and unwind in times of stress. The maintenance contract so this particular house, next fencing to the rear is falling down so we will need to to the Post Office and the Thrift Shop, has had to rely replace that too. We will publish updates through on volunteers to keep the gardens tidy. Ironically, the year to keep you all informed of our progress. this house has by far the largest gardens, especially the rear garden, and the efforts of volunteers alone There is a lot to do and we will be holding the odd have not been sufficient to stay on top of the fundraising event through the year to give us the workload. It gets cleared periodically then re-grows money we need to get the job done. We hope you just as thickly within short time. will support those events! Fancy a nice hot lunch on us? Don’t forget, on a chosen Thursday each month throughout 2018 we will be offering a 2 course FREE BRANCH LUNCH to any member that wants to come along and join us. This has proven to be a very popular event and we change the menu monthly to take advantage of fresh seasonal ingredients.

On Thursday 15th March the Branch will be cooking up a St Patrick’s Day lunch from 1200 to 1500. It will be entirely free of charge but donations would of course be welcomed to help fund the next month’s meal. Check the diary of events at the back of the newsletter for the lunch dates each month. However, to ensure we cater for the correct number of people we need you to tell us that you are coming beforehand! So please ring Derf on 07775 664064 a minimum of 4 days before each date. The new monthly Members’ lunches are going down a storm and Kev has been slaving away in the kitchen producing some outstanding main courses while Mrs Joy O’Neill and Mrs Ali Gibson have taken charge of the delicious desserts. The first offering of succulent beef stew and herby dumplings went ahead in January followed by ‘Italian Day’ in February with ‘Ragu alla RAFA’ the main dish of the day. Each lunch has been attended by an average of 36 people with more coming each month and having promoted the event on nearby RAF Halton, they have been joined each time by different groups of ‘Blue Suiters’ who have mixed themselves in amongst the diners and chatted away for a couple of hours. If you’ve not been down yet, perhaps you should put your name down and check it out for yourself! RAF Recruit Intakes Where did they get their names? Training has been conducted here at RAF Halton award of the GEORGE CROSS to: 521319 since the Royal Flying Corps moved its air mechan- Sergeant John Archibald Beckett, Royal ics school from Farnborough in Hampshire in 1916. Air Force, Royal Air Force Station, Ein In 1917, the school was permanently accommo- Shemer, Air Headquarters, Levant. On dated in workshops built by German PoWs. the night of 28th March, 1947, during refuelling operations on a Lancaster In 1919 Lord Trenchard established the No. 1 aircraft of No. 38 Squadron, a violent fire School of Technical Training at RAF Halton for RAF broke out suddenly in the pumping aircraft apprentices, which remained at the station compartment of the refuelling vehicle of until it moved to RAF Cosford in 1993. The move which Sergeant Beckett was the driver. created space for the RAF School of Recruit The flames enveloped Sergeant Beckett Training to be moved from RAF Swinderby to RAF and set alight the front of the Lancaster's Halton in July 1993 and it has been here ever since. fuselage. Another airman beat out the flames on There are 6 ‘Intakes’ of Recruits, each named after Sergeant Beckett but not before the latter had RAF personnel who distinguished themselves in sustained very severe burns on the hands and face. At the Service. But who were these men and women? this moment, there was grave danger that the main Let’s start with Beckett Intake which is named tank of the refuelling vehicle, containing over two thou- after Sergeant John Archibald Beckett GC RAF. sand gallons of fuel, would explode, in which case it is John was born on 14 March 1906 in Lurgan, County practically certain that most, if not all, of the twenty or Armagh, Northern Ireland. He was the son of Sam- more aircraft in the park would have been destroyed. uel Nicholl Beckett and Elizabeth Swanton Beckett. In spite of his serious injuries and the pain he was Tragically the couple lost two other sons. William suffering, Sergeant Beckett got into the driver's seat of was killed in action with the Merchant Navy in the blazing vehicle and drove it a distance of about four 1941 and Samuel, a Warrant Officer in the RAF, hundred yards to a point outside the aircraft park, was killed in action on 11th April 1943. John was where it could do no further damage. After this he educated at St. Enoch's Public Elementary School, collapsed and was taken in an ambulance to the Belfast. He first worked as a fitter for Coombe Station Sick Quarters dangerously ill. He died on 12th Barbour (Textiles) and Harland & Wolff (Shipyard). April, 1947. The fires in the Lancaster aircraft and in the He enlisted in July 1935 probably in Belfast. His vehicle were eventually first job in the RAF was as a rigging mate. He be- brought under control, came a rigger and then a fitter. He served in Cana- and extinguished with no da for two years from 26th March 1942 until 29th further damage to per- March 1944. His next recorded posting was to the sons or property. There is Middle East on 21st Feb 1946 where he was based no doubt that, by his at Hetropolis. He was not employed as a driver but prompt, gallant action, as a fitter, a member of the ground crew, he was Sergeant Beckett saved a simply driving the vehicle at the time of the inci- number of valuable air- dent for which he was later awarded the George craft from almost certain Cross. destruction and his com- rades, who were working His Citation as published in the London Gazette on nearby, from the risk of 16th December 1947 reads; The KING has been serious injury. graciously pleased to approve the posthumous Douglas Intake is named after Leading Aircraftman when the first of the bombs exploded. Realising then Robert Ewing Douglas GC RAF. He was born on 7th that there was no hope of the pilot being still alive, April 1906, the son of he started to get clear and was some thirty yards James and Euphemia away when a second bomb exploded. In advancing Douglas of Stirling so close to the flames this airman took a grave risk and died in Hackney as he was fully aware that the aircraft contained live on 10th August 1959. bombs of a powerful type." He joined the RAF in (London Gazette - 27 March 1931) 1923 and rose to the rank of Flying Officer before his discharge Pearson Intake is named after Corporal Joan in 1945 but the inci- Daphne Mary Pearson GC WAAF. Daphne was born dent for which he on 25 May 1911 in Christchurch, Dorset. She was an earned his George English Women's Auxiliary Air Force NCO (and later Cross took place on an officer) during World War II and one of only 13 June 1930 in Kohat thirteen women recipients of the George Cross to on the North West date, the highest medal for gallantry not in the face Frontier of India. of an enemy that can be awarded to a citizen of the United Kingdom. Douglas was originally awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry which was later later commuted to the George Cross. His Citation reads: "The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the Award of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the undermentioned:— For Gallantry. 362370 Leading Aircraftman Robert Ewing Douglas, Royal Air Force. For conspicuous gallantry displayed in an attempt to save the lives of two fellow airmen at Kohat, India, on the 13th June, 1930. An aeroplane proceeding on patrol with a crew of two and a load of live bombs stalled shortly after leaving the ground and crashed on the edge of the aerodrome, immediately bursting into flames. When her father was appointed as vicar of a parish Leading Aircraftman Douglas, who witnessed the in St Helens, Isle of Wight, her family moved there, crash, was the first to arrive on the scene of the to a house facing France across the English Channel. accident and found the air gunner lying two yards She later said that was the first time in her life she from the wreckage, his clothes burning badly. These considered joining the Navy. She boarded at St Bran- flames Douglas quenched with a hand extinguisher, don's School, Bristol, away from her parents who and, after disentangling part of the gun equipment lived in the parishes her father looked after. After from the injured man's person, dragged him clear of leaving school, she worked as a photographer and the machine with the assistance of another airman photographic assistant, with her own studio, before who had arrived on the scene, and, after subduing a giving it up because of ill health. She then did a renewed burst of flames in his clothing, got him on variety of jobs while learning to fly in her spare time. board the ambulance. He then turned his attention She joined the WAAF as a medical orderly after war to the pilot in the burning machine and had broke out in 1939. approached to within twelve yards of the wreckage In the early hours of the morning on 31 May 1940, a Pearson was a 29 year old corporal at the time of her bomber of No. 500 Squadron RAF undershot on courageous action. A month later she was commis- approach to an airstrip near the WAAF quarters in sioned as a section officer. For the remainder of the Detling, Kent, crashing into a field. Upon landing, a war, she served mainly as a recruiter. After demob bomb exploded, killing the navigator instantly, and in 1946, she became the assistant governor of a leaving the pilot seriously injured. Corporal Pearson women's Borstal. She later worked at the Royal entered the burning fuselage, released the pilot Botanical Gardens at Kew and owned a shop nearby from his harness and removed him from the imme- selling gardening equipment, produce and flowers. diate area around the aircraft. When she was 30 yards from the aircraft, a bomb exploded. She flung Pearson visited Australia in November 1969 on the herself on top of the pilot to protect him. first flight of the Comet IV on the Heathrow to After medical staff had removed the pilot, she went Darwin route. She decided to emigrate there, work- back to the plane to look for the fourth crew mem- ing in the Victoria region as a horticulturist, first at ber, the radio operator. She found him dead. Several the Department of Agriculture and later at the Com- weeks after the incident, she was commissioned as monwealth Department of Civil Aviation. She an officer in the WAAF and served in RAF Bomber attended reunions of the Victoria Cross and George Command until the end of the war. After the Cross Association until her late eighties. Her attend- revocation of the Empire Gallantry Medal, King ance at one of those meetings led to a report about George VI invested her on 31 January 1941 with its her in a Sunday newspaper in 1995, and eventually replacement, the George Cross. She was the first to her meeting the pilot whose life she had saved, woman to receive the new award. after his son recognised the circumstances sur- rounding his rescue.

She died in 2000, aged 89, in Melbourne, Australia, and is interred in "The Garden of No Distant Place" located in the grounds of Springvale Cemetery, south-east Melbourne.

Arnold Intake is named after LAC Walter Arnold who was 22 years of age when he was awarded The Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (Later com- muted for the George Cross).

"The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the Award of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the undermentioned : — For Gallantry. No. 363339 Leading Aircraftman Walter Arnold, Royal Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry displayed at Digby Aero- drome on the 20th June, 1928.

This airman was a passenger in a machine which was wrecked upon landing and immediately caught fire. Arnold extricated himself from the burning wreck- age and, although fully aware of the grave risk he was taking, re-entered the flames and succeeded in dragging the pilot, who was unconscious and very A portrait of Pearson at the time of the incident was severely injured, to a position of safety. (London commissioned, and painted by the artist Gazette- 9 November 1928) Laura Knight. Walter Arnold died on 12 Mar 1988. L.A.C. Campion and A.C.1 Frost were both awarded Campion Intake is named after Leading Aircraftman the Empire Gallantry Medal, which was automati- Michael Patrick Campion GC RAF who displayed cally exchanged for the George Cross under the great courage in effecting the rescue of an uncon- terms of the institution of that award in September scious pilot from a burning aircraft which resulted 1940. from a collision between two Blenheim aircraft during takeoff.

There is a drawing of Campion and Frost Rescuing the pilot by Terence Cuneo, held at the National Archives.

LAC Campion died three years later in December ‘Working heroically, with great risk to himself, due 1943 when his B-17 bomber crashed into the sea to the imminent danger of the petrol tanks explod- on take off. His body was not recovered. He was 24 ing, he extricated the pilot from the burning wreck- years old. age.’ Thompson Intake is named after Flight Sergeant On the 12 March 1940 at approximately 1000 hours George Thompson VC RAFVR who was awarded the there was an accident involving two Blenheims. The Victoria Cross for gallantry in the presence of the two aircraft L6596 and L8845 collided just after be- enemy during WW2. coming airborne and finished up a short distance apart, both caught fire. On L6596 the fire was Thompson was born confined to the engine nacelles and the occupants on 23 October 1920 were able to escape from their aircraft. The Pilot and in Trinity Gask in sole occupant of L8845 was rendered unconscious. Perthshire and edu- LAC Champion and AC1 Frost were the first to arrive cated at Portmoak at the scene. Primary School and Kinross High School. AC1 Frost searched for the wireless operator not After being appren- knowing that the pilot was the only occupant of the ticed to a grocer in aircraft. By the time AC1 Frost had completed his Kinross he joined the search for the wireless operator the aircraft was well Local Defence Volun- alight. Suffering from the effect of the fumes, AC1 teers when the Sec- Frost joined LAC Campion in rescuing the pilot which ond World War they did with the aid of a fire-proof blanket. The began. In January cockpit by this time was surrounded by flames and 1941 he joined the in imminent danger of the main petrol tanks explod- Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, training as a ing. A short time after the pilot was rescued, the ground crew wireless operator and serving in Iraq. petrol tanks exploded and the whole aircraft was He then volunteered for aircrew and was posted to rapidly burnt out. Regrettably, the pilot later died RAF Bomber Command. from his injuries. He was 24 years old and a Flight Sergeant in No. 9 Despite his own serious injuries, Thompson, by now Squadron when the deed took place for which he almost exhausted, set out to report the fate of the was awarded the VC. On 1 January 1945 Thompson crew to the captain. He made the perilous journey was the wireless operator in a Lancaster aircraft back through the burning fuselage, clinging to the which attacked the Dortmund-Ems Canal in daylight. sides with his burnt hands to get across the hole in The bombs had just been released when a heavy the floor. The flow of cold air caused him intense shell hit the aircraft in front of the mid-upper turret. pain and frost-bite developed. So pitiful was his Fire broke out and dense smoke filled the fuselage. condition that his captain failed to recognise him. The nose of the aircraft was then hit and an inrush Still, his only concern was for the two gunners he of air, clearing the smoke, revealed a scene of utter had left in the rear of the aircraft. He was given such devastation. Most of the perspex screen of the nose attention as was possible until the crippled aircraft compartment had been shot away, gaping holes had crash-landed some forty minutes later. The rear been torn in the canopy above the pilot's head, the gunner survived and made a full recovery but the inter-communication wiring was severed, and there mid-upper gunner died. Flight Sergeant Thompson was a large hole in the floor of the aircraft. Bedding began to recover from his injuries in hospital but and other equipment were badly damaged or alight; died of pneumonia three weeks later. one engine was on fire. Flight Sergeant George Flight Sergeant Thompson, seeing that the mid-up- Thompson's Victoria Cross per gun turret was ablaze, went at once through the is displayed at the National smoke filled fuselage into the fire and exploding War Museum of Scotland ammunition in the turret to help the gunner to a at Edinburgh Castle. He is place of relative safety. He extinguished his burning commemorated on The clothing with his bare hands and in doing so sus- Portmoak Parish War tained serious burns to his legs, hands and face. Memorial, which is located within the grounds of The He then went to the rear turret which was also Bishopshire Golf Club at ablaze and again used his already burnt bare hands Portmoak in the county of to beat out flames on the gunner's clothing. Perth & Kinross, Scotland. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for years, you’ve likely heard the term ‘Mayday’, especially in critical situa- tions involving ships and aircraft. Have you ever wondered what the story is behind this unusual word? I mean, it’s not even a proper English word, right?

Why do sailors and aviators use this word when their ship is about to sink or when their aircraft has experienced a criti- cal technical problem that places them in imminent danger? What’s wrong with using English words like ‘help’ or ‘danger’ instead? Is it just another term in aviation/maritime jargon without a definite meaning that just stuck?

The short answer? The term ‘Mayday’ is derived from a French term ‘m’aidez‘, which basically means ‘help me’. Mayday is a special word used as a distress signal in radio communication by mariners and aviators all over the world. If a ship/aircraft faces immediate danger that could be Did you know that ‘we’ have a life-threatening to the crew and passengers, the radio special link to this word? operators onboard will broadcast a Mayday signal to request help.

Frederick Stanley Mockford (Derf’s Uncle, always The first use of airborne warfare took place on 24 known as Stanley) was born in 1897 and after September 1914 when pilots in No 4 Squadron RFC leaving school became a Morse Code Operator for directed artillery fire onto enemy positions from the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. At the air. In 1917, Wireless Officer Mockford was put the outbreak of WW1 he volunteered for the newly in charge of training and the installation of two- formed Royal Flying Corps and was sent to France way radio telephones in all aircraft and No 141 Sqn with the first wireless telegraphy unit. (Home Defence) was the first to be equipped.

At the end of the war he became an official in the newly formed Air Ministry and helped in the early development of wireless services for civil aviation. He was the first examiner of candidates for the air operator’s licence, and in 1923 he became the senior radio officer at London’s Croydon Airport, once the landing place for two famous flying pioneers, Charles Lindburgh and Amy Johnson.

Amongst the earliest radios to be used in aircraft was the 30-watt, No 1 Aircraft Spark, powered from an accumulator. The set was designed in 1914 and fitted to approximately 600 aircraft during 1915. It was used for spotting enemy artillery and reporting back to ground by Morse code. There were several variants of the set and, altogether, nearly 4000 of these were manufactured. Charles Lindbergh and Amy Johnson Stanley attended many international conferences After the war, he was appointed commercial where aircraft communication was discussed. He manager and stayed in this post until retirement. He invented the first phonetic alphabet code used was a council member of the Electronic Engineering commonly today by the emergency services and the Association, a founder member of the Radio military . He also wanted to find a distress signal that Industry Council, a member of could be used swiftly by a pilot needing urgent help. the Institute of Navigation, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

He received no honours from the British Government but was made a Knight of the Order of the Falcon (an Icelandic award of merit).

He died in Chelmsford on 1 March 1962, aged 64, and was laid to rest at Selmeston Church in East Sussex.

The Navy’s distress call had been S-O-S, which could be tapped on a morse key, but this sounded blurred when spoken into an early microphone. As much of the air traffic flying into Croydon originated from France, and the flyers often used the term ‘M’aidez’ literally meaning ‘help me’. Mockford decided to adapt this word into something all English speaking Located just before the entrance to the church is a people could understand; the result was ‘Mayday’. memorial tablet with the words, In 1923, the Book of Wireless Telegraphy designated SOS as the international distress call. In 1924 it designated both ‘SOS’ and ‘MAYDAY’.

In 1930, Stanley Mockford joined the Marconi Com- pany, and three years later became the assistant Sales Manager. Two years later he became the man- ager of the company’s aircraft department, and then the deputy general manager. During WW2 he was the personal assistant to the Chairman, whilst he continued working on war contract negotiations.

No one will ever know how many lives have been saved by Stanley Mockford’s work.

We used to record our arrival on RAF stations by walking all over the base with an increasingly dog-eared piece of blue card called an arrival chit, which had to be signed by about 20 people in positions of more or less power over you. One of the more powerful was the Mechanical Transport Officer (MTO). I arrived at his office with blue card, but not knowing that MTO was on leave and MT Warrant Officer was covering for Stories from a ‘Light Blue World’ him.

Practice Parade at RAFC Cranwell. Drill Instructor (DI) Knock, knock....."Come in". Fg Off SOSL opens “Turn to the right in column of route – RIGHT TURN”. door and steps in, right foot connects with “By the centre quick march...... Left Right, left Right – wooden batten nailed to the floor to stop the swing your arms gentlemen, swing your arms MTO's carpet from curling up any more. Fg Off shoulder high front and rear”. Front left hand marker SOSL falls to his knees and utters an expletive. (flight Cadet Bloggs(FCB)), plays number 8 for the MT Warrant Officer looks up from his paperwork college first fifteen, hurt his shoulder in practice the and sees in front of him a Fg Off on his knees night before. “Swing your xxxxing arms gentlemen”. holding up his arrival chit. Warrant Officer opines Short pause then “Squad halt! Into line, left turn”. "D'you know, Sir, I think you and I are going to get DI marches across the Orange parade square. Hat on". peak on his nose, pace stick under his arm, quivering with rage, steel studs on each boot biting into the ………. Puma loading troops in field - troop brief gravel. Marches up to FCB and screams “Mr FCB completed - men told 16 troops in LFO is max what the xxxx are you doing not swinging your load. Crewman counts 17. He goes to the man xxxxing arms shoulder xxxxing high front and xxxxing at the front and tells him that only 16 troops are rear on my xxxxing parade Sir”. FCB replies “I’m a allowed. “But I'm not a troop. I'm an officer.” little stiff from rugby Sgt”. DI replies “I don’t give a xxxx where you come from Sir – swing your xxxxing ………. arms shoulder xxxxing high on my xxxxing parade Sir. FI F4 line, after sortie chat: ………. Pilot to Nav - I always put my tomatoes into growbags in the greenhouse when I want them RAF Robin Hood, when it was a Nav training school. to mature. 100 year old WO: I've been in this Small, blonde, rather sexy WRAF Cpl in Flight mans air force for 40 years and I've never seen Planning is counting out the tea swindle money. Flt anything mature in a growbag. Lt QNI enters room (he is a fully qualified txsser), says to WRAF Cpl "can you change a fiver for me". ………. She answers "yes". He counters "dont you mean yes Doing a Freedom Parade of Sodding Chipbury or sir". She replies "sorry sir". He says "shall we start some such place in a cricket pavilion because it again?". "alright sir". "Can you change a fiver for was raining. Lots of local dignitaries etc. Came me?". "I'm afraid not sir". fix bayonets and my scabbard came away with ………. the bayonet, however not to break the timing I carried on and was left with a non gleaming Flight Sergeant George Matejski was a Polish pilot. scabbard at the end of my SLR with bit of white His casual acknowledgement to any instruction, frogging attached. I could see a 'lady of worth' whether on the ground or in the air, was “Ochki smiling at me and felt like a complete expletive. Dochki!” (Okay in English). With three of the four Everyone pretended to ignore my pain and later engines feathered, his fly-pasts at BofB shows were on at the bun fight said smiling woman came up truly memorable. to me and said 'You haven't had a good day have you?' I apologised for the gaff and said that When hauled over the coals his response would be, these things happen unfortunately. “I got back from Germany on less than that,… in a 'Oh it wasn't the bayonet, it was the fact that Wellington!” (Wellingtons only have 2 engines - Ed). your flies were undone for the whole parade.' RAF Association scheme rewards members

Did you know that the Royal Air Forces Association has a scheme to give members discounts on a wide range of products and services?

Of course many of our members join us for the friendship that comes from being part of a Branch, others join to support our welfare work, but whatever YOUR reason for joining, the RAFA Rewards Scheme * allows our members to get a little something extra back.

Discounts available include up to 15% off in high street stores, 10% off Apple products, 5% off holidays from big names like TUI, Cosmos and Thomas Cook. Film buffs can save up to 40% at Showcase, Cineworld or Empire cinemas. With golf membership, discounts on new cars or joining the gym, there’s something for everyone.

Members can also reduce their insurance costs with savings of up to 10% on car insurance, 20% on travel insurance and a huge 25% on home insurance – plus discounts on private medical insurance. To find out how much you could save with your RAFA Rewards, try our savings calculator at http://www.rafa.org.uk/members/rewards

RAFA Rewards is only open to RAF Association members.

*Terms and conditions apply to all benefits, see website for more details. Offers are subject to change without notice. Insurance subject to underwriting. RAFA Rewards is managed on behalf of the RAF Association by Parliament Hill Ltd of 3rd Floor, 127 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6BT who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for non-investment insurance mediation only under registration number 308448. Details can be checked on the Financial Services register by visiting the FCA’s web site at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do J Y W R B U L R S G A K U N V P A O R L Q T H E R H O L E E O E V X I O D H Q T V I V O A L T Z I T E D R S N M H O N A G I I D R M R R N P N R A N P R R T D H A N N U C E P A V E R U R N L I H O I S R P L T I Q T G E H A V H E R O T W D E H U E Y R O K S O Q U A R E U O B F V U I A I A Q T E M A O R A A W D B T I I N K O C N L M W S D C E M N V B K H Q F R Q E A K S A D G S K N K S I A V U G I O E C T A L C W T N E R A U A L M G N C V D N I H R E K W A H R O L E S A P K N X C U P T X A T O K A D T C W E Y T I S R A V A L X E I O R J E O R M H E J A R S E J T E N C G W N L X O M O D M K L C E O Q O D L N E A V N B E A U F O R T O L Q B H P Q L V A E N H S I N E G K N U M P I H C S M R H G C R M W A S N N W E S T L A N D W E S S E X I A Z I O L I T C O M E T I G E R M O T H L R Y L N Q Y I C H I N O O K T Y I S E L U C R E H T L L O F S G G K O G O J A V E L I N U C O F G G K E A Z I M L B N R E I R R A H H T H M E R L I N X C L T R I S T A R M O N E V Y

There are 50 current or vintage RAF aircraft hidden in the grid above. Their names may run vertically up or down, forwards or backwards or even diagonally! How many can YOU find?

Answers on page 22 Sir, All these wind farms are ridiculous. As if this country doesn’t have enough wind of it’s own already without wasting valuable electricity running these massive fans. It’s a scandalous waste of taxpayer’s money.

Dwayne Pipes Wendover

Dear Editor, I write hoping that you may be This is your chance to share your thoughts with able to settle a dispute I am your fellow members… just keep it clean folks! having with my wife. Are Nice Here are the latest batch. biscuits pronounced Nice or Nice? I think it is Nice but my wife insists it is Nice. Dear Sir, Perusing the papers Bill Dersyard today, I was struck by Aston Clinton the number of adver- tisements for walk-in Sir, baths, each of which My wife purchased some multi-purpose compost featured an attractive from the garden centre today but we are at a bit of a blonde of around 42, loss to find another use for it except growing plants. pictured either entering Any ideas? or leaving the bath in a swimsuit via the side Dan Gleebitz door. Is there any particular reason for this age Aylesbury group of blonde ladies requiring walk-in baths? I suspect it may be related to wine but perhaps I Dear Sir, have missed something. I was most dismayed to hear the Yours sincerely, Home Secretary say last week that the UK prison population has been Rhoda Borrocks ballooning for the past ten years. Halton Village My God, has the world gone mad? Those people are there to be Dear Editor, punished not given ‘thrill of a lifetime’ experiences As I pencilled in a comedy moustache on your that most law-abiding citizens can only dream of. photograph of Derf Mockford in a previous edition of this newsletter I wondered how many other Freda D. Dark readers were doing the same thing. Stoke Mandeville Sir, Yours, ‘You don’t have to be a pilot to fly in the Royal Air Force’ says their latest TV advert. Imagine my dismay Andy Waywego when I was dragged kicking and screaming from the Wendover Heights cockpit of a Typhoon and placed in handcuffs by the rozzers last week. I have written to my MP about this blatant deception.

SAC John Thomas PSF, RAF Lossiemouth DATE DAY AFTERNOON EVENTS EVENING EVENTS 1 Mar Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 2 Mar Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 3 March Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 7 March Wednesday 19.30 - 23.00 1st Wednesday, Branch AGM. 8 March Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 9 March Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 10 March Saturday 14.00 - 18.30 6 Nations Rugby 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 11 March Sunday 14.00 - 18.30 6 Nations Rugby 14 March Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 15 March Thursday 12.00 - 14.30 Members Lunch 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 16 March Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 17 March Saturday 12.00 - 18.30 6 Nations Rugby 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 20 March Tuesday 19.30 - 23.00 Brill Preservation Society 21 March Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 22 March Thursday 1500 - D & C End of Course 'Wake' 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 23 March Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 24 March Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 28 March Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 29 March Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 30 March Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 31 March Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 4 April Wednesday 19.30 - 23.00 1st Wednesday, SE Asia Talk 5 April Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 6 April Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 7 April Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 11 April Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 12 April Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 13 April Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 19.00 - 23.00 Air Cadets Camp 14 April Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 17 April Tuesday 15.00 - 18.00 Meet & Greet 19.30 - 23.00 Brill Preservation Society with AVM Cliffe 18 April Wednesday 19.30 - 22.00 Branch Committee Meeting 19 April Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 20 April Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 21 April Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 24 April Tuesday 19.00 - 23.00 RAF Halton Flying Club AGM 25 April Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 26 April Thursday 12.00 - 14.30 Members Lunch 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 27 April Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 28 April Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night DATE DAY AFTERNOON EVENTS EVENING EVENTS 19.30 - 23.00 1st Wednesday, 'The Tea 2 May Wednesday Man' 3 May Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 4 May Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 5 May Saturday 12.00 - 17.00 Area Council Meeting 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 8 May Tuesday 19.30 - 22.00 Branch Ents Meeting 9 May Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 10 May Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 11 May Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 12 May Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 16 May Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 17 May Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 18 May Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night, and… 19 May Saturday Birthday party 23 May Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 24 May Thursday 12.00 - 14.30 Members Lunch Club 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 25 May Friday 15.00 - 18.00 RAF Halton Social 26 May Saturday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night 30 May Wednesday 19.30 - 22.30 Line Dancers 31 May Thursday 19.30 - 23.00 Branch Night Remember…

Your Branch needs YOU to come along and support events. The Ents Team are always open to ideas so please sing out.

This list is constantly updated so you must check the Forthcoming Events Board in the Branch or on Facebook. The Word Search Solution There were 50 hidden RAF aircraft - how Don’t forget to many did you find? check ANSON BEAUFORT BEVERLEY BLENHEIM BUCCANEER CANBERRA YOUR CATALINA CHINOOK CHIPMUNK COMET DAKOTA FLYING FORTRESS Membership GLOSTER GLADIATOR GNAT HALIFAX HARRIER HARVARD HAWK Renewal! HAWKER HIND HERCULES HUNTER HURRICANE JAVELIN JET PROVOST LANCASTER LIGHTNING MERLIN MOSQUITO NIMROD PHANTOM SEAKING SENTRY SHACKLETON SHORT SUNDERLAND SPITFIRE SQUIRREL TIGERMOTH TOMAHAWK TORNADO TRISTAR TUCANO TYPHOON VAMPIRE VARSITY VENOM VICTOR VULCAN WELLINGTON Because we can’t WESTLAND WESSEX WHIRLWIND do all this Future Issues of this without you! Newsletter

A limited number of copies of each edition of this newsletter are printed and placed in the Club for everyone to enjoy. We obviously cannot print and post out over 1000 copies to all members. However, it is also distributed electronically (in glorious technicolour no less) to everyone on the Newsletter Mailing list and a link is placed on our Branch Facebook and Website pages.

If you want to receive your own electronic copy of this newsletter then you must make sure that you have added your email address to the list behind the Clubhouse Bar and given us your express permission to send it to you!

Similarly, if you have any specific accessibility requirements then please make them known so that we can make arrangements to meet your needs!

contacts

For more information please contact:

Derf Mockford, Chairman

By telephone on: 07775 664064

If you are struggling to access By e-mail at: [email protected] this publication due to to visual Or visit our website: impairment then please contact www.rafa.org.uk/aylesbury-halton the Branch Chairman

An Appeal from the Editor.

These newsletters will only be as informative and interesting as the articles it contains so please consider submitting something for publication. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece of prose, just be of interest to your fellow members! It might describe a particular event you RAF Halton Airfield Building 259 have organised or attended, it might First Building on right at airfield entrance. describe work that you have carried 01296-656402 out or an issue that you wish to bring to wider attention.

We are also pleased to receive stories that have links to the RAF, RAF Halton, the Branch or the wider Association.

Please hand articles in to the bar staff clearly marked ‘For the Editor of Editorial Note: the Branch Newsletter’ together with The views expressed by the contributors to this any pictures you want to use. newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editor, The RAF, The RAF Association, the MOD or any other organisation. All precautions are taken to ensure accuracy. © Aylesbury & Halton RAFA - 2018 All rights reserved Registered Charity 226686 (England & Wales) - SC037673 (Scotland)