99, Puddy also had a recce interest in ships. One fine day, discovering one of HM's war canoes in the middle of Hartland range, he nipped down in Sir Winston (complete with banner still attached) "To get the bugger's number!", as he put it.
It was HMS Bronington. Commanded at the time by HRH Prince Charles....
On another occasion I was sandbagging in a T7 with Puddy; it had been snagged for aileron restriction and he had been asked to do the air test. Up high, he took it back to a speed I've never seen in an airborne Hunter before, we were in the heaviest of heavy buffets as Puddy moved the control column from side to side..."Nothing wrong with this", he announced. Then he started peering over the side, whilst muttering "Where is the damn thing...ah, there she blows!"....
His recce skills had allowed him to spot the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry. So, over onto our backs and into a steep dive, then supersonic to drop a boom on the boat. "That'll teach the Paddies a lesson!", he chuckled.
Great times in the RAF of the 1970s!