RAF Stations
My first posting after training: RAF Pembrey, 1948/49. A tiny station with just 595 Sqn, later renumbered 5 Sqn. Spitfires IX's & XVI's plus Miles Martinets, with a station Oxbox. Long summers, can't remember it raining. After Yatesbury, it was paradise. The whole of the Domestic Site was a 'Hats Off' zone, no saluting necessary. The Station Commander, Sqn Ldr Dudley Farmer, would get on the tannoy and announce "Too hot to fly, three tonners will be at the guardroom for those who want to go to the beach". LLanelly (Slash) was nearby, with an absolute abundance of lovely South Walian girls. Far more people lived out than lived in, start work and cease work was governed by the train times to and from Carmarthen, Swansea, and Llanelly. Livers out arrived at Kidwelly Flats Halt, only yards from the guardroom and walked straight on to working parade. What an introduction to the real RAF! Then on to Kai Tak, Iwakuni, Seletar, getting better and better !
LXXIV