september 2011 no 51 - webswebzoom.freewebs.com/rafyatesbury/sparks/issue 51.pdf · september 2011...

SEPTEMBER 2011 No 51THE MAGAZINE OF THE RAFYATESBURY ASSOCIATION.

INCORPORATING RAF STATIONSCHERHILL, COMPTON BASSETT,

TOWNSEND AND YATESBURY

The Seven Standards on Parade at our Remembrance ServiceSee page 4

Photo by Gordon Chivers

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RAF YATESBURY ASSOCIATION

Patron Air Marshal Sir Alec Morris KBE, CB.

COMMITTEE

Chairman & Rev. B.L. Morris, Canterbury Bells, Ansford Hill, Castle Cary,Honorary Chaplain Somerset. BA7 7JL. Tel: 01963 351154 email: [email protected]

Vice-Chairman Ron Stempfer,24 Hazlemere Gardens, Worcester Park, Surrey,& Standard Bearer KT4 8AH Tel: 0208 3375401 email: [email protected]

Honorary Secretary Mrs. Rosie Watt, 5 Heather Way, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0QR& Treasurer Tel: 01249 814754

Minutes Secretary Alan Trinder, 7 Manor Road, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 8DP Tel: 01235 763940

Membership Phil Tomaselli, 146 Stockwood Lane, Bristol, BS14 8TASecretary Tel: 01275 836795

Public Relations Tony Gernon, 35 Bransby Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9& Standard Bearer 2JZ Tel: 0208 2874610

SPARKS Editor Clive Simpson, 113 Daubeney Road, London, E5 0EG Tel: 02032 225322 email: [email protected]

Cenotaph Co-ordinator David Clark, 35 Lampern Crescent, Billericay, Essex, CM12 0FE Tel: 01277 625448

Webmaster Bill Hauxwell, 18 Hollyhock Close, Kempshott, Basingstoke,& Archivist Hants, RG22 5RF Tel: 01256 472035

Member without Portfolio Albert Mundy, 33 Priory Way, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3LS Tel: 01444 413448

LOCAL BRANCH REPRESENTATIVE

Eastern Branch David Clark (See above for contact details)

www.rafyatesbury.webs.com

FROM THE U/T EDITORThe U/T tag was to be removed but before it is I must confess thatour Membership Secretary was contacted by a member who toldhim my number was unobtainable. I got my own phone numberwrong!! I have corrected it in this Issue. Apologies to anyone whohas tried to phone me. I am still appealing for any articles you mayhave for inclusion in SPARKS. Remember it is your magazine, allI do is collate the material I receive. Without your contributions Iam redundant. My thanks to those members who brought articles

to the AGM, they are most welcome and I will use them in forthcoming issues. The AGM,my first, was a lively and entertaining affair and following lengthy constitutional discussionsLyn Morris was voted Chairman and Ron Stempfer Vice-Chairman. After the Sundayservice I had a chat with our Patron and discovered that while we mere O/R’s had to relyon a Morris Oxford for our weekend transport he used an Airspeed Oxford. The benefit ofrank. I will say no more about this for the moment but beware Sir Alec, I have witnesses toyour confession!!

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CONTENTSANNUAL GENERAL MEETING......................................................Rosie Watt 4SILENT KEYS BRIAN SAUNDERS............................................................... 5A NOSTALGIC LOOK BACK..................................5068035 SAC Neville Fawcett 6A SHIP BY ANOTHER NAME..................................................Michael Taylor 8SMILE AWHILE.............................................................................................. 8MARCHING ON ICE.....................................................2713933 J/T Roy Perry 9CUSHY POSTING.........................................................................Jack Walton 12THE GHOST OF RF 398..........................................................Doug Bennison 1327 GROUP REMEMBERED.......................................................................... 15CARTOON BY KANE..................................................................................... 15INFORMATION NEEDED............................................................................... 16THE LAST HERCULES LEAVE LYNEHAM...............................Clive Simpson 16LETTERS TO PHIL TOMASELLI.................................................................... 18REMINISCENCES OF MY RAF DAYS............................Richard (Dick) Myers 19IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW......................................................George Cady 21THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM............................Phil Tomaselli 22MORE SILENT KEYS..................................................................................... 22


WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERSSince our last edition we have 11 new members. Welcome, we hope to meet you all soon.

YatesburyR. J. Batt Rackheath, Norfolk 1954W. Glander Calne 1964K. Curlewis Kings Langley 1956W .G. Joyce Swindon 1958J. Aitken Norwich 1954Dr.W.H. Young Weymouth 1950

Compton BassettM. E. Poutney Tadley, Hants 1958L .M .T. Munckton Sherborne 1957

NeitherMrs. B. Glander CalneG. Luck BarwellMrs. G. Abbott-Darbyshire (nee Breach) Cirencester.

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REPORT ON THE 2011 AGM Rosie Watt

The Annual General Meeting took place on the 20th August at Compton Bassett and waswell attended by 43 members. A minute’s silence took place before the meeting when weremembered our dear friend Brian Saunders (Association Chairman) who died in July. OurVice Chairman Rev. Lyn Morris took on the role of Acting Chairman for the followingmeeting.

The Saturday evening started earlier than normal with the “after dinner speaker” speakingbefore the dinner! David Court lives locally and is an ex-RAF Police officer. When hearrived I asked him how long he was going to talk for (so that our caterer would know whenshe could start serving) and he said very precisely “42 minutes” and that is what we got!

I found him to be an eloquent and charismatic speaker and I hope everyone enjoyed his talkon “The Battle of Britain”. Being one of the younger members of the Association I wasfascinated with all the facts and figures. I think it will be hard to find a better speaker fornext year – any suggestions?

The evening meal was most enjoyable, and the suggestion was made to me that our catererLiz should be made our “Honorary Caterer” as she has now completed the kitchen tasks for12 years!

Sunday morning saw seven standard bearers and a group of young ATC members at ourchurch service. There were two of our own Standards paraded, together with two BritishLegion, one Observer Corp, one RAFA and one ATC. Our Chaplin Rev. Lyn Morris tookthe service, the lessons were read by Publicity Officer Tony Gernon and our Patron AirMarshall Sir Alec Morris. Rev. Morris reminisced about his time in the RAF and his eventualcalling to the ministry. His sermon encouraged us to “use the gifts that God has given us”.The church was full and the standards were paraded outside, the last post was sounded,which is always a very poignant moment in the proceedings. The war graves have beencleaned this year, and new flowerbeds and grass planted around them,

Our AGM this year was a pleasure to attend, and I would like to encourage more membersto join with us on the 18th and 19th of August next year.

Thank you to everyone for their input, however small or large your contribution, it madefor a wonderful weekend.

Thank you for the report, Rosie. On behalf of all those who attended I would like to saythanks for the enormous amount of time and effort that you put in to ensure the AGM wasa success. Maybe next year you will be able to persuade your grandson to part with someof his parent’s hard earned money and become a member so that he can join in the fun. Weneed younger members to ensure survival of the Association. Ed.


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SILENT KEYS

BRIAN SAUNDERS YATESBURY 1954

It is with great regret and sadness that we have to reportthe death of Brian on 14 July 2011. He succeeded AlbertMundy as Association Chairman in 2010. Prior to this hehad been our Treasurer from 2004 to 2009.

His funeral took place on Friday 22 July at Worting RoadCemetery in Basingstoke and was attended by a largenumber of family and friends. Several members of theCommittee were also there, and Tony Gernon paraded theAssociation Standard at the graveside.

Brian’s widow, Pat, sent the following message via Doug Bennison :Brian joined in 1954 and after basic training at Padgate he went to Yatesbury as a Storeman.He was billeted in Hut 54 and left the RAF in 1957. He enjoyed his time in the Service andwas also very proud to be part of the Yatesbury Association

Doug Bennison, who was Permanent Staff at C.B. From 1952 - 1955 and a close friend ofBrian’s ,writes:I join in the family tribute to Brian, our late Treasurer and Chairman. Now another gap inthe earthly, Ex RAF ranks. My local pal, Brian, sadly missed and now reunited with myrelation, Bryan Pryor who was a medic in SSQ from ‘55 to ‘57. RIP Brian.

I received this letter via Phil Tomaselli:Dear Mr. TomaselliIt is with regret that I write to inform you of the death of my father, George Prescott. at the ageof 94 as the result of a stroke.

He was sent on a Wireless Operator's Course to RAFYatesbury Radio School in 1940. He joined theassociation a few years ago and very much lookedforward to receiving his copies of 'Sparks.' I accompaniedmy parents to the reunion weekend on several occasions,until he got too frail to attend, and he greatly enjoyedmeeting fellow ex-servicemen and catching up on 'oldtimes.' A photo from the last AGM he and Mum attendedin 2009 is enclosed, together with copies of a fewsketches my father made in 1941 during his time in theMiddle East.I wish the Association well

Yours Sincerely Pat Prescott-JonesGeorge & his wife can be seen atthe end of the table on the right.I will include some of the sketchesin future issues. Ed.

The Association extends its condolences to Patand the rest of the family on their sad loss. Ed.

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A NOSTALGIC LOOK AT COMPTON BASSETT 5068035 SAC Neville Fawcett

In April 1959, at the age of 21 years & 4 months, having been deferred to enable me tocomplete my studies, I was called up to serve my National Service in the RAF (NationalService was cancelled a month later in May) and reported to RAF Cardington.After square bashing at RAF Wilmslow, I was posted to Yatesbury in June 1959 to begintraining to be an Air Wireless Fitter, but due to no course being available for some time, wewere eventually transferred to Compton Bassett in August that same year on a GroundWireless Fitter course.

Whilst at Yatesbury waiting for our AWF course to begin, each morning we were assignedduties around the camp, one such duty was at the cook house and a few of us went by lorryto the goods depot at Chippenham railway station to collect Iron rations, so called becausethey were contained in tin cans to be distributed to the troops in the field of conflict duringa war. The tins were in cardboard boxes design to feed one man for 30 days or 30 men forone day. After the boxes had been in storage for two years they were taken from the storesand sent to military camps to be used in the cook houses. Each box had its own tin opener.Some of the items in the various tins consisted of:-

Toilet paper Salt Bars of milk chocolate Wine gums Corned beef Peaches Hardtack biscuits Vegetables Powdered:- milk, eggs & potatoes Etc etc

At Compton Bassett, each billet had aTannoy speaker and between the hours of1800 hrs to 2200 hrs, an entertainmentprogramme was broadcast by the ComptonForces Network (CFN) mainly consistingof music from CFN’s vast record library.

I was recruited to CFN as their chieflibrarian, responsible for keeping therecords (78, 45 and 33 rpm) in numericalorder, each record being tagged with its ownnumber and listed in the index catalogue.My other job was to read the “MelodyMaker” to find out which new tunes had entered the Top Twenty and then go intoChippenham to purchase them from the local music shop.

Because some of the RAF personnel on camp, including some CFN staff, were able to gethome at weekends, no programmes were broadcast but following some moaning from thosewho could not get home, I came up with a compromise and on a Sunday morning, 1000 hrsto 1200 hrs we broadcast “Sunday Non-stop” i.e., one record after another with no dialoguein between.CFN staff were paid a wage of 30 /- per month, and this enabled some staff to get home after

Neville , 2nd from the right, in partymood at the CFN Xmas “bash”


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payday by coach from the camp, 30/- return to Manchester for me.

Pam, who is featured in some of my photos, presented a weekly programme entitled “Lettersfrom Home” whereby families could send in requests for music to be played with a personalmessage being read out over the air, I received such a message from a girl who was mypen-friend, we have been married now for 48 years. Pam’s signature tune was “String ofPearls” by Glen Miller

Another very popular programme went out on the Wednesday night, before airmen andWRAF were posted to their new camps having completed their courses. This gavesweethearts the chance to request songs to say goodbye, resulting in one particular recordbeing the most requested song of all time, Ella Fitzgerald’s “Every time we say goodbye.”“Story Time” was always very well listened to, going out as the last programme of the nighton whatever night it was broadcast. The listeners were encouraged to turn the lights thenthe Thriller was read in a deep voice with other members of CFN providing blood curlingsound effects. Scarey.

One of the most popular presenters was a guy called Ridd Goddard who was a brilliant scriptwriter and on his last night on camp he called his programme “Getting Ridd of Goddard”in which he paid tribute to individual members of CFN staff by playing a record which heconsidered best summed them up. Blowing my own trumpet (and being big headed) he paidme what I consider to be the best compliment ever given me by, in his own words, savingmy song until next to last, (the last being for the NCO I/C), and playing “Personality”.

Our NCO I/C lived in London, owned a car and offered to take four of the staff to the MotorShow at Earls Court, we drove there after work, visited the show then drove back to campafterwards. That was quite a journey because there were no motorways in 1959.

Christmas in the CFN Studio was typical RAF madness, all the decorations being WEIRD,a Christmas tree hanging from the ceiling, a huge spider’s web, a ghost and a hangman’snoose.

As members of CFN we were excused any duties or parades but once a month, when therewas a camp parade, we set up a tape-recorder on the edge of the parade ground to providethe RAF March Past. Happy days.

My days at Compton Bassett were marred by the death of my father who died, at the youngage of 50, from a brain tumour. The last time I saw him, a fortnight before his death, he wasa vegetable just like a baby. This image of him in his hospital bed haunted me and I failedmy Fitters course leaving me as a Ground Wireless Mechanic. I was posted near home in1960 to RAF Norton near Sheffield, a wireless maintenance depot, where I applied my skillsas a wireless fitter, without the rank or pay. Life’s a bitch.

On 1st April 1961, April Fools Day, I was demobbed and returned to civilian life.

Take a look at the great set of photos that Neville has posted on the website. Ed.


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A SHIP BY ANOTHER NAME Michael Taylor Member No. 784

I thoroughly enjoyed the December issue of “ SPARKS” (No. 48), but would point out anerror on page 22, the ship in question is not the “ Dunera”.

The real Dunera was launched in 1937 for the British India Steam Navigation Co. and wasused as a troopship. In 1944 it was the Headquarters of the 7th Army for the invasion ofSouthern France. When the war ended she spent many years as a troopship in various parts

of the world. In 1961 shewas converted to a school-ship and was broken up in1967.

I have a suspicion that theship in the photographcould be a Bibby Line Ltdvessel as that companywas also concerned withtroop shipping at thistime.

Michael formerly worked in the PR Dept. of P&O and BISNC was a subsidiary. Thanks forthe correction Michael. I think our previous Editor would say that this was a “deliberatemistake.” in his final issue!! In an attempt to prove my ability I have located a photo of whatI hope is the correct vessel. Ed.

SMILE AWHILE

Phil Tomaselli sent me a selection of conversations between Air Traffic Control and Pilots,I hope you find them as funny as I did. More will follow in future issues. Ed.

O’Hare Approach Control to a 747:” United 329 heavy. Your traffic is a Fokker, one o’clock,three miles, Eastbound”.United 329: “Approach, I’ve always wanted to say this......I’ve got the little Fokker in sight.”

Miami Centre to TWA 2341, “For noise abatement turn right 45 degrees”TWA 2341 “Centre we are at 35,000 feet how much noise can we make up here?”Miami Centre “Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?”

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

Any member who would like to attend the annual service at the Cenotaph, on SundayNovember 13th, is asked to contact David Clark as soon as possible so that tickets can beallocated.

David’s contact details can be found on Page 2.

SS Dunera


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MARCHING ON ICE 2713933 J/T Roy Perry

In early January 1954 I said goodbye to Parents and puppy dogand travelled, by bus and train, to Hitchin Station inBedfordshire. This was one of the pick-up points for the Januaryentry. We travelled over frosty roads to RAF Cardington, homeof the British Airship. Well, the huge hangars on the site usedto house the famous R 34, R 100 and R 101 dirigibles before thewar. This facility was to be reborn in the 1980’s as the base forAirship Industries ‘Blimps’ but all that was to be found in thelofty buildings when I was there was a selection of BarrageBalloons used for parachute training. Civvies were exchangedfor battledress and Best Blue. Caps, mugs and irons, clothing

and kitbags were issued. I had also acquired a number and a different first name. As 2713933I was known by my middle name of Stan in the billet of 24 beds. This was because therewas another Roy in the hut. It turned out that he was always in trouble and I got the blame!We set about the important tasks of rapid ageing, not ourselves, but clothes. It was veryimportant not to look like the ‘sprog's we were so cap badges were smoothed berets shaved,steamed and moulded to fit he head and work started on boots. Getting the required mirrorfinish on these took several months. First the pimples and defects were shaved off, and thenhot polish was liberally applied. This was smoothed with spit on the back of a spoon whichhad been heated in the coke fire. This process was necessary before every inspection of kitduring my service. We also made specially shaped pieces of card for use as the backing forall brass badges, buttons and buckles. Another template was needed for protection whenapplying thick grey ‘Blanco’ to webbing belts, small and large packs and their belts. Thepacks themselves were boxed off internally with stiff card. There was a big trade in makingcopies of the ‘1250’ ID card in case the original was lost. (Losing your 1250 was almost acourt martial offence). We were interrogated about religion, political beliefs, fitness to fightand health.

After two weeks of tests, kitting out and some sleep we had photos taken in groups and werethen assigned to our next camp. This was for six weeks basic training otherwise know as‘square-bashing.’ Here we were to meet the most hated NCO’s in the Air Force, DrillInstructors (D.I.’s)! We formed up and marched down the hill to platforms where a longtrain had been drawn up in the station adjacent to the camp and it soon set off on a tortuouscross country journey. Stops were made at Bedford (for Cranwell) where the Officer materialrecruits de-trained, Wolverhampton (for Hednesford), Wilmslow (near Warrington) for halfthe rest of us, Shrewsbury and finally Bridgnorth. As our RAF bus climbed out of the deepgorge of the River Severn into a howling blizzard we were filled with trepidation. At thecamp gates we fell out as a rabble. We were lined up in column of threes, told to ‘rightdress’ and marched off to our billets. We were halted a dozen times by no less than threeD.I. corporals and finally drew up at the hut. It was still snowing heavily. After being toldwhere the ablutions and cook-house were we dismissed and set about choosing the best bedspace. There was to be a kit inspection at 07.30 next day so we soon tumbled into hastilymade beds. Two small groups huddled around the stoves, one casually playing cards; theother spooning their boots. I was in neither group.


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After our kit had been inspected it was time for our bodies. We filed into a hall, disrobedcompletely in a temperature well below zero and stood in turn in front of the Medical Officer.You would not have thought his hands could be colder but most of us jumped when beinggrasped by the balls and told to cough. Cook-house lunch came as a relief, if you likescrambled egg floating in water, burnt toast and mugs of tea like ditchwater (dishwater wasbetter!). Then, for the first time, we attended pay parade, if we failed to reply with ournumber, Sir!, , we had to wait for 27/6 d. The only place to spend it was the NAAFI as wewere all confined for 90 days.

Drill training started the next day, after another kit inspection. Forewarned I had kept theprevious lot under the bed and had slept in my greatcoat only to find that ‘persons unknown’had nicked the lot and distributed it around the hut members. Name tapes were sewn in toeverything after that. Drill was split into two elements, hurried instructions followed byinept performance. All this on a skating rink called a Parade Ground. Actually I rather likedthe discipline of the Drill and soon learned the moves – two –three. Drill was followed byPE in a hangar-like hall. Vaulting, rope climbing and wall bar scaling were the order of theday. I was no good at any of these. Surprisingly there was more compassion from the PTInstructors compared to the DI’s. Life went on and on and on. There were three flights intraining at one time, identified by coloured plastic discs behind cap badges. Ours were red,so we were called redcaps. Confusion reigned when a squad of Army Police was temporarilyhoused due to their camp having frozen solid. They were real Redcaps. We also hostedtrainees from snow-bound RAF Hednesford during this freezing period.

We soon became used to the rigour and routine but there was worse to come. Route marchescross country and the dreaded assault course. I wonder how many 21st century 18 year oldswould be able to cope with the conditions yet alone grow in strength and stature because ofthem. In hindsight, I would have been happier to have undergone just this Basic Trainingbecause the other 18 months of my National Service were a waste of both my time and theAir Force’s.For the route march we assembled on the parade ground in battledress, greatcoats, both smalland large packs, webbing belt with ammunition pouches ready for the off. That garb wasfine at the start but after a mile of icy roads we were sweating. At the command “Halt” weactually collapsed like dominoes because of the treacherous surface. You had to laugh; butinwardly! After 5 miles we were all in, except for the DI’s Pets. Even they were on theirknees after ten miles, and we had to get back! We were enormously relieved when we cameacross a couple of RAF buses ready to take us back to camp. The weather was not muchbetter for the assault course. Going hand over hand on a rope wearing packs and slinginga rifle across a river in spate is not my idea of fun but somehow I managed. I pitied thosewho fell and were told to do it again. The worst part for me was the mud slide. We had toslide down a hill of mud with all the gear on and remain on both feet. I bit the dirt threetimes before being hauled to my feet by an irate DI. The scramble nets were OK but thehigh wall almost beat me until I took a good run at it, launching myself upwards from a logat the base. I made it to the top but lost hold of my rifle on the way so had to do it again.We learned to clean and fire the Lee Enfield 303 Rifle that had been standard issue sinceWorld War I, but were only given one chance to fire it. At the range I managed a fair grouping


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although only 4 out of five shots were to be seen on the target. The instructor said one hadgone wide whereas I maintained it had gone through and existing hole in the card target.His reply to this assertion is unprintable here! We carried out bayonet practice against severalstuffed Hessian sacks mounted on a frame. On being told to yell while running up to ‘scarethe shit’ out of the ‘enemy’, I cried ‘Tally Ho’ and managed to get the bayonet stuck in thewooden frame. Next time was better. Drill with rifles was quite exciting, being able to slapthe strap against the barrel at the ‘Present Arms’ sounded good. You can’t do that withmodern equipment. We had to polish the inside of the barrel to a high gloss. At the command‘Port Arms’ with the bolt withdrawn, a thumbnail was pressed into the breech so theinspecting officer could peer in at the dangerous end and pronounce it clean.

After the rifle came grenades. We had the chance to toss a couple of dummies although onelad tried it S.A.S. style, nearly swallowed the pin and had us all diving for cover. We tookan interesting look at mortars, anti-personnel weapons and the sort of missile that could beused against us, including German grenades, Mills bombs etc. After weapons training camethe ‘chicken run.’ To imitate battlefield conditions we donned fatigues and had to run acrossa field dodging mock bullets and real thunderflashes. Here we sustained ‘serious’ injuries.One recruit had a twisted ankle, another a lost tooth and a third collided with a ‘tree’ thatmoved! Inside this obstacle was a D.I. who was using it as a hide. Talk about Dads Army!This was followed by a series of lectures about personal hygiene, sexually transmitteddiseases etc. At last I was taught how to treat the opposite sex and prevent any nasty problems.

In the next issue we will join Roy at Yatesbury. Ed.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Clive

I graduated from Yatesbury, (Course AWM 91A , 2 Wing, Cpl. “No Neck” Morrell i/c), inFebruary 1952 and was invited to travel to RAF Chivenor where they were desperately inneed of my assistance. (Sgt. Baker i/c). Shortly after promotion to LAC, in about May 1952,another invitation. This time I was to make my way to RAF Locking to attend a course,known as SAC 1, which was to last about 8 weeks. We were told that this was anexperimental SAC course which, if successful, would continue at Locking. Members weredrawn mainly from Yatesbury course 91A and we all passed out with our 3 bladed prop.Does anyone know of, or remember if these courses continued?

I don’t remember learning much more than we did at Yatesbury, where we were taught thebig 4 channel VHF (?1430), whereas at Chivenor we operated the small 10 channel 1934set which was filled with the miniature CV 138’s and 140’sHappy daysYoursW. Brian Marsh

Thanks Brian. I’m sure if anyone remembers these courses they will be in touch. Ed.



CUSHY POSTING!! Jack Walton

I received the following letter from Jack. I hope he is right about the floodgates opening.Contributions on any subjects are always very welcome. Ed.

You may have opened the floodgates by inviting members to nominate their favouriteposting, but it can only auger well for contribution volume to our Sparks magazine. Happysorting !!!

Perhaps I could be so bold as to suggest that a posting that I was lucky enough to achieve,purely by chance, might qualify in the upper order of things.

Those members who might have read my earlier article (in Newsletter 28) about my postingto the Air Attache's Office in the British Embassy , Warsaw) may recall that I only obtainedthat posting because I, being one of three W/Op's at Bassingbourn had more National servicetime to serve than the other two bods. The vacancy occurred because the incumbent hadbeen very ill and was being shipped back home as soon as a replacement could be found.

I travelled out to Warsaw from Northolt in a DC 3 accompanied by the King's Messenger,a retired army Major as I recall. The journey took two days with overnight stops atBuckenburg and Gatow......amazing , it takes about 3 hours nowadays.

My arrival in Warsaw was celebrated by a night on the town' when I was introduced to thepotent alcoholic effects of Polish vodka. Not being used to strong drink I suffered theinevitable consequences, and I threw up most of the night. Next morning I had to report tothe Air Attache, Group Captain Claude Henry Turner. I can only imagine what his thoughtswere when he saw this white faced, sickly individual presenting himself as his new wirelessoperator,

But the desirability of the posting soon became apparent. Two corporals, another AC andmyself occupied a furnished flat near Ockencie airport. The apartment was looked after bya maid who did our laundry. Another corporal, driver and motor mechanic had anotherapartment. Being attached to the Foreign Office we were entitled to Foreign Serviceallowance which was 10 guineas a week (not bad when as an AC2 I was on 9/- a day ). Butwe did have to pay for our own messing. At that time (1948/9) Warsaw had not begun torecover from the tremendous destruction imposed by the retreating Germans and theadvancing Russians; but there were still a few good restaurants around and food was cheapand plentiful

Once a month we were allowed to submit a list of items not available locally, such as Englishetc. The cigarette, allowance was 1000 and you could get three bottles of booze (whisky,gin etc). I smoked at the time, but 500 was all I needed. And this is where another 'perk'came into play. The Polish doorkeeper at the rear entrance of the Embassy had black marketcontacts and in fact paid more for 500 fags than the cost of the monthly bill for all the items.The cigarettes would end up at cafes, bars etc at about four times the price that we paid; soeverybody was happy.


We also had access to the American Embassy PX . Socially it was usually nights out withthe other lads, or attendance at official functions at other embassies (in best blue), or partiesat other staff quarters. During my time in Warsaw I was studying a correspondence coursein telecommunications and was allowed leave to go back to U.K. to sit City &Guild exams.My plan was to return to Warsaw, but the RAF thought otherwise as I only had another threemonths to serve, so my return was cancelled and I was ordered to report to RAF Manston.This was upsetting as I had formed a relationship with a young Embassy typist and, had Ireturned, that might have flourished.

So I ended my service at Manston on HF DF. After the comparative high life style of WarsawManston was a great come down, and was one of the deciding factors in my returning toCivvy Street. But I thank the RAF for giving me a taste of the ex-patriate life which I wenton to enjoy for thirty years.

THE GHOST OF RF 398 Doug Bennison

This aircraft was parked on a remote hardstand of an RAF airfield and virtually abandonedfor thirty years. The big four-engined bomber deteriorated slowly in the weather extremesof heat and cold, and from the worst destroyer of all, neglect. Then history began to be abuzzword, and a clamour rose to “save old machines for posterity.” The RAF decided toplace the Lincoln in the museum hanger at RAF Cosford, Shropshire. This particular aircraft,RF 398, had never itself shown a record of combat but was considered worthwhile torepresent the developing line of British bomber development.

In the huge hanger with other planes, the Lincoln, during its restoration period of someeleven years, was kept safely behind locked doors. Each night the power was cut, and theold plane waited in darkness for the next day. It was supposed to wait in silence. It didn't.Guards passing outside the museum doors stopped to listen to strange sounds from the otherside of the locked doors. They heard men shouting to one another, engines surging in power,propellers changing from fine to coarse pitch, staccato blips of Morse code signals, cockpitvoice call-outs as switches and levers snapped and banged, and even the hanger doors rollingopen and closed. A guard opened an entry door and peered in. no question: the uproar wascoming from Lincoln RF 398. No one was in the airplane. No one was in the museum. Theguard heard the faint sounds of machine gun and cannon fire. He blinked, he knew 398 hadnever been in war service. He slammed the door shut, locked it, and called the museumauthorities.

The story spread swiftly. It appeared that for nearly eleven years this aircraft had been acentre of haunting's, voices, thundering combat action, and other sounds. No one, outsidethe small group affected had ever talked about it. Now, with higher authority on the scene,they not only related what they had heard, but admitted that many of the workers had refusedto go near the aircraft day or night. An official investigation pressed for details, they becameever more startling, and each detail was sworn to not by one man, but every worker in themuseum at RAF Cosford.

Men who were still willing to work on the aircraft would, on the day of' a violent winterstorm, enter the freezing hanger, icicles hanging perilously from the roof.

When the workers entered theLincoln, they found the aircraftinterior comfortably warm and inthe seventies! The other aircraftwere freezing cold. On other days,when the hanger doors had beenopened and the blustery winds ofShropshire swirled dust throughthe hanger, something hadhappened during the night whenthe shop was closed down. Theworkers entering the hanger in themorning stared in disbelief at theaircraft. They were covered from

nose to tail, from wingtip to wingtip, with dust. Not RF 398, shining a glossy and lustrousblack, without a speck of dust, as though she had just been polished.

Ivan Spenceley, an investigative reporter from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, found the storiestoo inviting to ignore. He received permission to go through RF 398, and he did, from oneend to the other. He found nothing unusual during his visit. but when he left the Lincoln,he hid his battery powered tape recorder inside the aircraft, concealed within the cockpit.Then he stayed with the museum staff as they locked all the hatches to the bomber andpadlocked all entrances to the hanger itself. Next morning he was at the hanger doors asthey were unlocked and, standing by the aircraft as they unlocked the hatches, he was firstinto the cockpit to retrieve his tape recorder. Terry Treadwell, my fellow researcher inEngland, confirmed this series of events.

In Ivan Spenceley's own words: "When I played back the recording, I shuddered. It was asif the old girl had suddenly taken to the skies. Human voices are clearly audible, but it isimpossible to make out what they're saying. It's eerie."

The administrator of the museum, John Francis said, "I can confirm the hanger was emptywhen the recording was made because I locked the doors behind Mr. Spenceley. The noisesare a mystery. I've got an open mind about it all, but the ghostly stories come fromlevel-headed people who stick by what they have seen and heard."

Subsequently a group of workers refused ever again to enter the Cosford museum. Theyhad watched a ghostly airman, in full flight gear and battle jacket, walking through thehanger. That wasn’t so bad, but they could see the aircraft through the unknown airmanfrom the past.

This extract of Avro Lincoln RF 398, was taken from: "Ghosts of the Air," true stories ofaerial haunting's by author Martin Caidin. Published by Galde Press Inc. PO box 65611,St .Paul. Minnesota 55165. USA. ISBN 1 -880090-1 0-U.


RF 398 in the Hangar at RAF Cosford Museum.

15

As the proud wearer of the ‘S’ brevet this one has particular significance for me ,eventhough some of my time was spent on Shackletons not Sunderlands. Ed.

CARTOON BY KANEI inherited several cartoons by Kane, depicting life in the Far East Flying Boat Wing, fromDavid Clark. I will reproduce them when space permits.


27 GROUP REMEMBERED

Ron Stempfer presenting the 27Group plaques to Gordon Chivers

After the Church Service on Sunday, Ron Stempferpresented two framed plaques to the local Yatesburyhistorian, Gordon Chivers. They tell the story of HQ 27Group Cherhill, and the Squadrons based at Yatesbury.Ron designed and prepared the plaques and, as a tributeto his lifelong friend and Association member BarryDavis who died in July 2010, he felt that a fitting placeto display them was the Yatesbury Village Hall. Barryand Ron both served at RAF Cherhill. A note on theplaques reads:Donated by ex. RAF Cherhill airmen.SAC Barry Davis.(Group Teleprinter Operator)SAC Ron Stempfer (Group Drawing OfficeDraughtsman).

Also on display will be the recently re-discovered SilverTrophies which were given to a local school by Gp.Capt. Pugh when Yatesbury closed in 1965.


INFORMATION NEEDED

The following is an edited extract from a message posted on the website by Kev Lloyd -Jones.If anyone who does not have access to the website can help, then contact either Bill Hauxwellor myself and we will pass on any info. Ed.

I am asking if any members have personal experiences or images they could give me, tohelp in putting together a website detailing the “ROTOR” defence project that was inexistence in the 1950’s. My interest in the subject stems from 30 years in the RAF as a RadarOperator. Most of my time in the Service was spent underground in former ROTOR bunkers.If given permission by individuals the images and personal accounts I use will contain thedetails of the source. The website is not a commercial venture. It was conceived as adedication to all the personnel who were involved in the ROTOR project, and I hope it willbe a testament to the sacrifice those personnel made during the dark days of the cold war.

WERE YOU THERE ?

Recently Bill Hauxwell received a request from the Scout Master of the Calne group. They,along with other local volunteers, have been re-chalking the White Horse and this hasattracted some interest from the BBC Countryfile programme.

Apparently a group of Boy Entrants from Yatesbury or Compton Bassett did a ‘paint job’on the horse sometime in the 1950’s and the details of this seem to have dimmed with thepassing years.

Do any of you remember having seen the transformation? and if so, what colours were used?

As an ex Boy Entrant I often wonder why we always get the blame for this sort of incident.We were a very diligent, educated, responsible crowd of boys!! Ed.

THE LAST HERCULES LEAVE LYNEHAM Clive Simpson

Four Hercules aircraft, such a familiar sight and sound in the skies above Compton Bassettand Yatesbury, were the last planes to leave RAF Lyneham at 1030 BST on 1st July 2011

Lyneham has been the home of the planes, which have earned the nickname ‘Fat Albert’,since 1967. Due to restructuring and cost saving from the government cut backs it wasdecided that the base should close completely in 2012 and transfer operations to BrizeNorton. During the ceremony the Station Commander, Gp. Capt. John Gladstone said, “Itwill be a very sad day for everyone at Lyneham but it’s just a new chapter in the history ofthe Hercules.” He then boarded the last aircraft to leave.

I am sure the good people of Royal Wootton Bassett will have mixed feelings about theclosure of Lyneham. They have been so steadfast in support of the families and friends ofour fallen service men and women. I am equally convinced that Brize Norton and Cartertonwill become focal points for those who wish to pay their respects as the corteges leave BrizeNorton. Long may the tradition continue until the day when war is no more.

LETTERS TO PHIL TOMASELLI

Following Phil's request in Issue 50, for information about Fit. Lt. Breach he received severalletters. Unfortunately no one remembers the Officer in question but here are some of theresponses. Ed.

John Summers, 2598615 Cpl (Acting, paid) writes:

Dear PhilI was at Yatesbury in class AWM/AWF 12 starting in September 1953. Some of the lads in thebillet were running the Theatre and one week, during the winter, there were three shows televisedlive from the Theatre by the BBC. I attended one show given by a stage hypnotist (Bristolbased Henry Blythe or Boot?), who was later sued by a woman he "influenced" because everytime she heard a certain piece of music she burst into tears. The second show was a Panelprogramme and the third a Variety show. One of the performers was Winifred Atwell playing herusual piano rags. I'm sure there was a well known female singer but cannot recall the name. Onelad from the billet gave a hand to film the end titles, which at the time was wound from one rollerto another by hand.

The font of all knowledge about Yatesbury, Phil Tomaselli, replies:John it must have been in Feb. 1954. The singer was probably Carole Carr. Also in the cast wasNicholas Parsons and Dick Emery. The other two were first a Sporting Panel where people wereinvited to ask questions, followed by a Boxing contest RAF Home v RAF Germany

Rob Lawrence says

Hello Phil,I was at Yatesbury 1954 to 56 and was on Front of House staff at the Theatre. Flt. Lt. Green wasO i/c at this time. I guess that Flt. Lt. Breach was there much earlier.

Finally John Woodnutt sent this:

Dear Phil,I don't remember Flt.Lt. Breach but do have a Flt.Lt. Rimmer back in the old 'buzz box.'There were, as I recall, several Officers involved with the Theatre. Usually, I suspect, detailed bythe CO to inspect the mess we were creating!!

I was 'volunteered' to assist with the production of St. Joan, and stayed to help with “I’ve BeenHere Before” by J.B. Priestley,”Men in Shadow” by Mary Hayley Bell and “Tons ofMoney” by Will Evans. Bristol Rep used to visit occasionally, when we were running short ofideas or material.

There were two groups of players at the Theatre, alternating every two weeks, together with avariety band show with its excellent resident pianist Freddie Gordon.

We also had a “Crazy Gang” part of the show, originally with 5 members, but postings reducedthis to 3 in the last show that I was associated with, They were known as the “D' Rheumatics”and appear in one of the enclosed photos. My apologies for the quality of the photos but I have


‘tweaked’ the machine as much as possible. Maybe some of the other members will be able tohelp with clearer copies.Very best wishesJohn. (Woodnutt)

Thanks for the photos John. I have tried a bit more “tweaking” to get some of them to a printablestandard and the one I have succeeded with so far is reproduced below. I will work on the othersand publish them when they are done. I hope I have the names correct. Ed.

Yatesbury Players present “Men in Shadow” by Mary Hayley Bell

.

Back RowTony Goodlam, “Alleyluya”Jackson,?, Brian Quilter, ?, Richard ”Polly” Marks ,?

Front Row?, Chris Hodgson, ?, ?.

Jackson, Hodgson and Quilter were the “D' Rheumatics”

I am not a member of your Association but a friend from Wiltshire sent me the Gazette &Herald with a notice of your AGM. I was at RAF Yatesbury in the fifties where I trained asan Air Wireless Fitter before being posted to RAF Feltwell in Norfolk on National Service.I now live in Canada so I shall not be able to attend your meeting, but please convey mygreetings to all present and especially anyone from hut X58 in 1953 (or perhaps it was 1954)Alan Waller, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.


Bill Hauxwell received this email via the website. Anyone remember Alan? Ed.

A MESSAGE FROM CANADA

REMINISCENCES OF MY RAF DAYS - 1950 Richard (Dick) Myers (2469567)

I reached 18 on January 7th 1950 and became liable for National Service or Conscription as itwas better known. Shortly after my birthday I received my call-up papers and was summonedfor a medical examination and some sort of IQ test. I obviously passed both because I wasdrafted into what ,at that time, was His Majesty's Royal Air Force. In April 1950 I was sent arailway warrant to Warrington in Lancashire and then went on to RAF Padgate situated justoutside Warrington and I spent 6 weeks there doing what they called basic training (squarebashing).The prime object of such training seemed to be to submit you to as much physical and mentaltorture as they could devise. We were equipped with a uniform and a pair of boots that werequite unlike anything that my poor feet had previously experienced. We also got a Lee-Enfield.303 rifle to be used primarily for drill practice. We were taught how to march and swing thatrifle which initially seemed to weigh a ton but ultimately became as light as a feather. Ourmuscles protested violently and we used all manner of lotions to soothe them. I remember thatSloan's Liniment was a favourite. I learned how to swear properly, what girls were really for,how to smoke and drink and all those good things. We also got extremely fit. They put saltpetrein our tea to subdue our sexual urges. We didn't realise this until and old lag who was marriedtipped us off and told us to avoid the tea if we were planning any sexual exploits in the foreseeablefuture.

We learned how to fire a rifle and were each given 50 rounds of ammunition to fire at varioustargets on the firing range. I handed one of my targets back to the Sergeant in charge without ablemish on it. He was not amused. We learned how to fire a Bren gun and a Sten gun. We weresubjected to a GVK test. This stood for General Vocational Knowledge. It took most of the dayand involved a series of intelligence tests and interviews. I did quite well on the tests scoringaround 94% overall. We were given a long list of possible trades for which the Air Force wouldtrain us and were asked to select 5 trades in order of preference. I chose five that were associatedwith electronics since this was a hobby of mine. During the interview that followed , the officerin charge asked me why I had chosen such a list when in "Civvy" street I was a Timber Agent.I pointed out to him that if I had to be in this mob for 18 months (it was later extended to 2years) I was going to try to get something out of it. He thought that was an excellent attitude andat the same time asked if I would be willing to go abroad. Naturally I gave the same answer andwas eventually sent to Egypt.

In due course the basic training was over and we got 1 or 2 weeks leave. During the leavewe got our postings in the mail and I was posted to No 3 S. of R. T. (School of Radio Training)at Compton Bassett near Calne in Wiltshire. Here I was to be trained as a GWMIC. (GroundWireless Mechanic, Inter Command) This grandiose title meant that I was to be given theequivalent of a 3 year City & Guilds course in telecommunications, however it was to be"crammed" into a period of just 6 months.

I spent the rest of 1950 stationed here. Compton Bassett was a tiny village just outside Calnein Wiltshire. Calne's claim to fame was that it was the home of the then popular Harris sausagesand pork pies. I have no idea if they still exist. The closest town of any size was Chippenham.You got from Calne to Chippenham via a single railway line with a "Push Pull" train. This wasa great novelty to me since they were becoming an increasing rarity even in 1950. The onlyother such train I had encountered was the "Stanmore Rattler" that ran between Harrow and


Wealdstone station and Stanmore via Belmont. Compton Bassett, was a large sprawling campthat housed around 500 persons. A large part of the camp was devoted to classrooms andlaboratories. They had working examples of the then current hi tech communications devices.Receivers and transmitters were available for training. We were taught all about inter-commandcommunications which at that time used radio transmitted signals that drove teleprinters. Thesystem was extremely sophisticated and considered to be "state of the art." The course includedbasic electronics and all the principles of M.C.V.F. (Multi Channel Voice Frequency) and F.S(Frequency Shift) transmissions . Naturally I've forgotten a large amount of the technicalaspects but I still recall the general principals. The teleprinters were, again bang up to date,and I recall that they were Creed 7B models. These were in use right up into the mid 70's buthave been almost totally replaced by facsimile machines.

Thanks very much for the article Dick and for the one about John Bloom. I will do someediting on it and include it in the December issue.

YATESBURY MEDICS

This photo of the Medical Staff , taken in the Summer of 1951, was sent by Anthony Lewis.He is sitting in the front row, third from the right.

Anthony says it was taken outside the Staff Entrance of SSQ which I presume to be the backdoor, as opposed to the Main Entrance where we all had to go to be tortured by the peoplewith blunt hypodermic needles and cold hands!! Ed.



IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW George Cady (1080)

I finally joined the RAF on 17 June 1942, having initially passed a Medical in October 1941.Final exams at Oxford College delayed the procedure and consequently I had to undergo asecond Medical and Interview before appearing before a Selection Board. Initial training atPadgate and Blackpool was followed by a posting to Yatesbury.

No.2 Wing of No.2 Radio School was commanded by Flt. Lt. Woolland and after a fewweeks I was called to his office. I tried hard to think what I had been caught doing as I wasmarched in but to my surprise the C.O. said, “I saw your name on the intake and I knowyour Father very well. Whilst you are here there is no reason, providing you are not on duty,that you shouldn't have a weekend pass if you want one. Collect it from this office onFriday's, be outside the Officer's Mess at 1630 and I will give you a lift as far as Marlborough.You will have to find your own way back for 2359 on Sundays though.”

Life was strict. Polish the brass hinges and catches on the windows, polish the brown linoflooring, last two out of the hut walking backwards on paper polishing as they leave. A markon the bath showing how little water we were allowed to use and every so often Guard duty,in full kit, up from the pumping station by the White Horse to guard the water tanks.

Various classes on the theory of Radio followed by weekly exams. If the required % wasnot reached then an extra hour each evening in the particular subject or subjects. Anymiscreant who still failed to achieve the mark would be 'CT'd' and posted elsewhere. Litterpicking and kerb painting were the punishments for anyone who was confined to camp forany reason.

Once a week, at least, a run down to Beckhampton and back up the hill via the assault coursewhich consisted of ropes strung between the Beech trees. The Cpl. PTI always kept pacewith us.....on his bicycle!!

An outbreak of Scabies meant that we were all sent into isolation for a few days andeverything, and everyone was thoroughly de-fumigated by an outdated steam process.

On successful completion of the Course we had to assemble in a room prior to interviewand the awarding of our Sparks badge. Above the door, painted in bold letters, were thewords “Sgt. John Hannah V.C. sat in this room” From Yatesbury I was posted to Madeleyand after further training passed out as a Sgt.

How did the C.O. know my Father? They were both into Shooting and Gun dogs. My Fatherwon the All England Field Dog Championship 3 times and he also won the South of EnglandOpen Clay Pigeon Shooting “The Golden Pheasant.”

COVENTRY CATHEDRALOn the 17th September at 1900 hours, a service will be held in Coventry Cathedral to markthe 70th anniversary of the blitz. Among those performing will be the Band of the RoyalAir Force, Coventry Choristers and the Worcester Male Voice Choir.

22

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM Phil Tomaselli

In April this year I visited theNational Memorial Arboretum inAlrewas, north of Birmingham, withmy daughter and son-in law. Thiswas set up ten years ago on the siteof an old quarry, covers 150 acresand contains over 160 Memorials,mostly to military organisations. Themain Memorial is to all theservicemen who have died, forwhatever reason, since the end ofWorld War Two. There are over16,000 names and, what is worrying,room for a lot more.

One of my interests was to see the tree for our Association, and the two pictures show thetree and a close up of the plaque. You will see it is close to the main memorial, but when Iasked at the entrance desk where it was, they could not find it as I had asked for Yatesburywhile, as you can see from the plaque, it is No. 2 and No.3 R.S. There is a memorial to theBoy Entrants not far from the tree and around it are the names of all the camps that trainedthem including Compton Bassett and Yatesbury.

It is well worth a visit, but you will need all day, we were there over five hours and did notsee all of it.

I agree completely Phil. I have been there each of the last four years for the annual BoyEntrants Memorial Service. It is a very emotional place. Ed.


MORE SILENT KEYS

No. 958 R. Wheatman of Milnethorpe who was at Yatesbury in 1943. Died April 2011.No. 235 J.T. Jones of Weston-sub-Edge who was at Yatesbury in 1951. Died March 2011No. 282 M.F. Plant of Guildford who was at Yatesbury in 1943. Died October 2010.

Phil and the Association tree with the main wall of theNational Memorial in the background.

TAILPIECE AnonWhen square bashing at Wilmslow in 1959 there was a ditty based on Green grow the Rushesbut substituting RAF terms, the only three I can recall are :Five are the parts of the LMGTwo two- the lily white boys clothed all in BlancoOne is just an AC2 and ever more shall be so.Any memories being stirred?If anyone can remember the missing lines let me know and I will put the full version in thebumper Xmas issue . Ed.

23

A close up of the Association plaque on our tree at The National MemorialArboretum

Photo by Phil Tomaselli


ASSOCIATION TIESThe Association’s distinctive tie,designed by David Clark, features the‘fist and flashes’ telecom’s motif and No.2 Radio School crest. UK price is £11.00including P&P. Overseas price onapplication to Phil Tomaselli.

Please make cheques payable to RAFYatesbury Association

ASSOCIATION BLAZER BADGESAssociation blazer badges bearing either No.2 or No. 3 Radio School crests are availableat £7.50 including P&P. Both include thewords RAF YATESBURY ASSOCIATIONbeneath the badge.

Please make cheques payable to RAFYatesbury Association

RAF YATESBURY ASSOCIATION MERCHANDISE

No. 2 RADIO SCHOOL LAPELBADGES

The lapel badge is available direct fromBill Hauxwell, 18 Hollyhock Close,Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 5RF.

The cost is £3.00UK P&P £0.50Overseas P&P £1.80Cheques payableto W. Hauxwell.If you have a PayPalaccount you can usethis and order byemail.

ASSOCIATION SWEATSHIRTS AND POLO SHIRTSSweatshirts and Polo shirts are available with either the Yatesbury orCompton Bassett crest under which, in either case, are the words: RAFYATESBURY ASSOCIATION. They are available in five sizes: Small,Medium, Large, Extra Large and Outsize and five colours: Light Blue,Royal Blue, Navy Blue, Grey and Black.Price is £19.95 including P&P. Cheques payable to RAF YatesburyAssociation

RAF YATESBURY - THE HISTORYBy Phil Tomaselli

Phil’s excellent definitive history of RAFYatesbury from theCretaceous perioduntil the gates wereclosed for the lasttime in 1965.UK price £18.00 incP&P.Europe £8.50 P&P.Rest of the WorldSurface £8.50 P&P.Airmail £17.00 P&PCheques payable to

P. Tomaselli

All orders and enquiries to P. Tomaselli 146 Stockwood Lane Bristol BS14 8TA


september 2011 no 51 - webswebzoom.freewebs.com/rafyatesbury/sparks/issue 51.pdf · september 2011...

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