Swanton Morley, home to No 1 ASS (how unfortunate!!) and its fleets of Percival Prentii (Prentice plural
) and the mighty Ansons. Set up for 'widget' training, these machines both incorporated trailing aerials - some hundreds of feet of fine wire at the outboard end of which was a collection of lead 'beads' - (7/6 fine if not present at sortie end!). Airfield perimeter was a wire strand fence, supported on wooden posts at intervals. Trailing aerial extension was required on most details and pre-landing checks were likely to be a bit compressed, trying to make that last couple of contacts. Result? - arrival over the hedge with trailing aerial meeting top fence wire and, finally, lead beads being forcefully removed and 'sprayed' at unfortunate caravan occupant!! Belated apologies on behalf of the culprits - not me, of course!!
