I don't think the threat was actually carried out. I remember my Father telling me that he volunteered for the FAA but was 'on the wrong half of the list'. Apparently those that did transfer were lost at sea, how true this might have been I cannot say.
I was talking to my Uncle this pm who had trained at Pensacola with the USN on PBYs, and who was at Harrogate a month or so before my Father. He told me that he knew of at least one chap who was itching to get on 'Ops', volunteered based on a notice in the Majestic Hotel and found he'd volunteered for the GPR and couldn't retract.
The gentleman involved was P/O Cy Henson and was part of the original organising team for the Op Varsity Remembrance Parade at Earls Colne (the first being in 1991 IIRC).
Last edited by ExAscoteer; 28th Sep 2010 at 20:22.