The crew I joined had the Wing IRE as skipper,caused me to go a bit Crinkle Chip,but he proved to be not only the wings most experienced pilot,but a first class chap,took me under his wing and taught me to a standard that was to stand me in good stead in years to come.
Our aircraft DP198 "Oboe",yes we used the old phonetic alphabet,had just come off major servicing,so a shake down trip was in order. 14.15 hours to the Andaman Isles,overfly and return.No snags.Now ready for my first detachment of the tour.
We departed Seletar in the wee hours,one could not land at Kai Tak at night,too many unlit junks and sampans.In a emergency a flarepath could be provided in a bay 5nms away,followed by a long taxi escorted by marine craft. Sometimes we routed via Sangley Point in the Phillipines,usually in the Typhoon season.
Halfway we changed from Singapore to HK area of responsibility and although we called theFrench in Saigon,they rarely answered.The W/Op would pass our ETA,request latest weather etc and ask the HK operator to book a table for ten at Tshenkos Russian Restaurant in Kowloon,and order a roast sucking pig.This was a first night HK ritual.These boys knew how to live! Arriving at Kai Tak,refuelled ,went ashore for a quick shower,change of clothes and piled into two taxis for the fleshpots of Kowloon. After a sumptuous meal of Borch,Roast Sucking Pig and all the trimmings,we departed for a short walk to the renown "Hotel Peninsular" a right den of iniquity!! where "Ladies of the Night" sat lined up on barstools,high heeled shoes hooked over a rung so the soles of their shoes were visible,thereon was displayed in HK Dollars the price of their "Service" It was soon made apparent to me that as an apprentice,I could look but not touch Bugger!!
After a couple of drinks,back to base,we had another 10 hour trip tomorrow. Another dawn takeoff,detour around Formosa and the long haul past the Phillipines,Okinawa to the Inland Sea,passing myriads of small islands,heavily cultivated with terraced fields to alight at Iwakuni,an ex Japanese Navy base,comprised of a seaplane base,airfield,barrack complex,Hospitals,Messes married quarters. A joint Australian/Anglo/American combined organisation.For some strange reason,not understood at that time,each crew was accomodated in Married Quarters amid American dependants.Each crew had a house and a bungalow for Officers,we also had two Japanese housemaids to clean and do laundry
It was bitterly cold,I had left Singapore in the 90's 48hours ago,now there was snow on the ground.To exacerbate the situation I had a severe case of sunburn,trying to emulate my brown crewmates,Id overdone it.the transit flight was very uncomfortable.So I was packed off to the Base Hospital.Dont let anyone tell you Aussie Nursing Sisters have an ounce of compassion,they don't.Even my boyish good looks counted for zilch. I suppose when you are used to dealing with wounded from Korean battlefields,a berk with sunburn does not rate much in the way of sympathy.A dollop of something like "Hellmans Mayonnaise and I was sent packing.
Iwakuni was a vast complex. It handled troops in transit,troops on R&R,wounded,all three Services were involved of at least three nations and the infrastructure was accordingly large. We had the PX,Naafi,a unit called Comex.Huge entertainment theatre,where I was privileged to see "The Bob Hope Show" Marilyn Monroe [she had just married Joe Di-Maggio,the baseball player] Terry Moore and Jane Russell in tiger skin bikinis!! There were many more,including the latest film releases. This was the scale of the American contribution.ENSA our organisation to provide entertainment for the troops was not to be beaten!!! One show I remember had some old biddy who played"Greensleeves on the piano and a burke who told"Max Millar" jokes! There were times I was ashamed to be a Brit.
We had 24 hours off. The aircraft were to be armed and got ready for Ops. we had to draw winter flying clothing which was a farce.I appreciate that we could not be equipped and retain Irving jackets and trousers.in a tropical enviroment,they would have been covered in mildew within a week.We had enough problems with our UK uniforms but some bean counter in FEAF worked out that as only three crews would be deployed at any one time.ergo,three sets of Irving Jackets and Trousers Now I am 6ft.4inches tall allow for the fact the "Old Hairys had it all worked out long before me. I got what was left.I could be recognised from a mile away.I ended up with a set belonging to a dwarf! my sleeves ended just below the elbows and my trews well above the ankles.but I learnt fast for future deployments. So you see when it comes to equipping the boys for the job in hand,nothing has changed.Bean Counters always win.
The RAF shared the operational commitment with a USN VP Squadron of fifteen Mariners>the Flying schedule was Operational flight,Day Off,Duty?Standby Crew.Repeated every three days.So in the usual month you would fly 10 Operational Flights.then return south.
Tomorrow my first Operational trip.