55th Ann of 42nd Entry BE RAF St Athan
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55th Ann of 42nd Entry BE RAF St Athan
Hard to believe it is 55 years since 42nd Entry Boy Entrants, 4 S of TT, RAF St Athan were inducted. (24 Jan 1961). Much water under the bridge and a much changed Royal Air Force. Not, sadly, for the better.
I still remember the day vividly. I wanted to be an Elect Mech (Air). All potential Elect Mechs (Air and Ground) were herded into one class room. We were told that a certain number (can't remember what) were to be (Air) and the rest (Ground). If too many wanted to be (Air), then a number would be made (Ground)! Fortunately the numbers were acceptable and we got what we wanted.
I went back to St Athan years later when the old wooden huts in the "Lines" were being demolished. I wandered about and the memories came flooding back: sleeping behind the lockers the day before a kit inspection; doing a "length" with the bumper down the centre of the floor; hoping the Discip Cpl wouldn't see the dart holes in the locker doors; beds being tipped by the graduating entry; waiting 4 weeks before you could wear "civvies"; having your old big white china mug smashed by the Entry above you; having to sell Battle of Britain programmes before you could see your parents on the Open Day; sneaking your parents into your billet on "Battle of Britain Day" and catching your "mates" using a knife to take money out of the collecting tins! The ex WW 2 Polish Sgt Pilot, then a Discip NCO, asking "Who has done s##t in the bath"? A tradition then before graduation.
37 years later and a bit further up the greasy pole, I left to take an RO job for 8 years. One big regret is that, after goodness knows how many posting and house moves, I can't find my "Wheel". But I'm now involved in my old flying Sqn Association. We celebrate 100 years of 50 Sqn on 15 May. Still good to be around the RAF and trade banter with guys who flew the Lancaster; now that is a great experience.
I suppose retrospect puts a bit of a glow on the memory. To any Pruners who may have been there too, stay well, guys, and fly right.
I still remember the day vividly. I wanted to be an Elect Mech (Air). All potential Elect Mechs (Air and Ground) were herded into one class room. We were told that a certain number (can't remember what) were to be (Air) and the rest (Ground). If too many wanted to be (Air), then a number would be made (Ground)! Fortunately the numbers were acceptable and we got what we wanted.
I went back to St Athan years later when the old wooden huts in the "Lines" were being demolished. I wandered about and the memories came flooding back: sleeping behind the lockers the day before a kit inspection; doing a "length" with the bumper down the centre of the floor; hoping the Discip Cpl wouldn't see the dart holes in the locker doors; beds being tipped by the graduating entry; waiting 4 weeks before you could wear "civvies"; having your old big white china mug smashed by the Entry above you; having to sell Battle of Britain programmes before you could see your parents on the Open Day; sneaking your parents into your billet on "Battle of Britain Day" and catching your "mates" using a knife to take money out of the collecting tins! The ex WW 2 Polish Sgt Pilot, then a Discip NCO, asking "Who has done s##t in the bath"? A tradition then before graduation.
37 years later and a bit further up the greasy pole, I left to take an RO job for 8 years. One big regret is that, after goodness knows how many posting and house moves, I can't find my "Wheel". But I'm now involved in my old flying Sqn Association. We celebrate 100 years of 50 Sqn on 15 May. Still good to be around the RAF and trade banter with guys who flew the Lancaster; now that is a great experience.
I suppose retrospect puts a bit of a glow on the memory. To any Pruners who may have been there too, stay well, guys, and fly right.
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Happy Anniversary, I was on the 179 mechs course at Saints in 76 
ahh bumpers, though brick buildings for us, the wooden ones were still there if I member correctly.
Messing around with a bumper one evening we split the Lino, just a small cut about an inch by an inch but right in the middle of the floor, panicking our Senior man reached down got hold of it and tore a 6 foot plus section up, he then told us to turn all our beds over and trash the place, this done we all trooped up to the guardroom to sheepishly report coming back to finding our room trashed and the Lino ripped up..
The **** hit the fan and all the courses / other rooms in the block had a week of extra bull nights, we in the meantime were exempted bull nights until they could get the Lino replaced which was a few weeks later
ahh bumpers, though brick buildings for us, the wooden ones were still there if I member correctly.Messing around with a bumper one evening we split the Lino, just a small cut about an inch by an inch but right in the middle of the floor, panicking our Senior man reached down got hold of it and tore a 6 foot plus section up, he then told us to turn all our beds over and trash the place, this done we all trooped up to the guardroom to sheepishly report coming back to finding our room trashed and the Lino ripped up..
The **** hit the fan and all the courses / other rooms in the block had a week of extra bull nights, we in the meantime were exempted bull nights until they could get the Lino replaced which was a few weeks later
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Happy anniversary to our junior entry in 2 Wing (red and blue hatbands).
Shack37, 40th D Flt. St. Athan, May 1960 - Nov. 1961.
We had to put up with the 38th.
Happy days.
Shack37, 40th D Flt. St. Athan, May 1960 - Nov. 1961.
We had to put up with the 38th.
Happy days.
Many memories of time in the 42nd. I had always wanted to join up and be like my uncle Frank, although he was commissioned. All these years on, no regrets; very likely I would have stayed in my home town never to experience life outside its close confines. Just the other day a random memory came: remember outside the mess the tin bath full of warm greasy water in which to dip your 'irons' and mug? Not much elf and safety in those days. I was once on duty server and watched the civvie cook let his nose drip into the oil bath that cooked the fried eggs. And the Irish cpl DI, one day he had all his teeth extracted, had trouble with words of command for some time. But he did have a BSA Gold Star which I admired every day.
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Old Memories
Yep, the filthy water into which I dropped my irons more than once. Also got 3 days jankers for pinching 2 sandwiches out of the cook house at tea time to take back to the billet for later.
Also being duty server and re-paying the miserable b*****s who gave me a broken egg.
Also on serving duty and finding 1941 POM (powered egg) being used!
Also being duty server and re-paying the miserable b*****s who gave me a broken egg.
Also on serving duty and finding 1941 POM (powered egg) being used!
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Those were the days. 42nd were the Senior Entry when I arrived at St Athan in May 62 (46th Entry) I seem to recall that there were two NCOs in charge of us in the Initial Training Sqn (ITS). Sgt Skellern, a huge man ( four of us young lads could fit into his webbing belt) and Cpl Gilligan an Irishman and member of the RAF Regiment. Flemingston Mess to start with and then, after ITS (August 62)we moved to the, now vacant, Ex 42nd Entry billets. I can still remember the winter of 62/63. St athan was cut off by huge snow drifts so that at Xmas 62 we all got telegrams to remain at home TFN. When we all eventually returned, training was suspended and we all spent days shifting snow from the taxyways on West Camp (they had to get a Valiant out that had just completed a major service). All in all I had a good time there, the training was good and set you up for the future. I ended up doing 40 years and retired in Nov 2001. And yes I would do it all over again.
Steve H
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memories
Unsure if I was 42nd or 43rd entry though my number started B1943... Must have been around 1960/61 I started in St Athan East. Old wooden billets, might have been C, but memories faded these days.
I well remember was it to be Ground Electrics or Air - a choice sprung on us - I opted for Air - I mean that's what the place was called - Royal Air Force - which made up my mind.
Went on to Leuchars 29 and 23 squadrons, then Cyprus 29 Squadron then 43 Sqdn, then Fitter training - then Marham on Victors, then back to St Athan west until I left medically down graded - stopped my promotion to 3 stripes, so I left when I was young enough to do something else.
Experimental Electrics, then electronics in civilian/Forces partnerships, then Sales & Marketing, Technical Sales Managering etc etc until I retired.
Looking back I miss it . . . . Oh to be young again!
I well remember was it to be Ground Electrics or Air - a choice sprung on us - I opted for Air - I mean that's what the place was called - Royal Air Force - which made up my mind.
Went on to Leuchars 29 and 23 squadrons, then Cyprus 29 Squadron then 43 Sqdn, then Fitter training - then Marham on Victors, then back to St Athan west until I left medically down graded - stopped my promotion to 3 stripes, so I left when I was young enough to do something else.
Experimental Electrics, then electronics in civilian/Forces partnerships, then Sales & Marketing, Technical Sales Managering etc etc until I retired.
Looking back I miss it . . . . Oh to be young again!
