Reply to Post 7.
Bob,
In reply to your questions at post 7:
With two in the crew 90 minutes at cockpit readiness was rarely boring. Various competitive games were devised (some of which I hesitate to outline here), dozing was common and general discussion on a variety of topics frequent.
When the Sqn was tasked for standby whichever flight was on nights met the commitment (Javelin Sqns operated one flight on days-one on nights for routine training. The flights swopped over each week). With up to 10 crews per flight no more than two sessions of cockpit readiness was necessary per night. The remainder of the period was spent at 10/30 mins readiness in the crewroom (with usual crewroom activities).
In the Autumn of 61 my situation changed dramatically. My pilot was posted to the transport force as he wished to prepare for BOAC/BEA etc. I had just received the welcome news of selection for pilot training and was eager to depart ASAP. With only 24 hours notice 85 was detached to 2ATAF (Laarbruch) when the Berlin wall was erected and the upper level thinking anticipated another possible Berlin airlift. I was now a gash/nav only filling in when illness/leave left an empty back seat. Our home base (West Raynham) received my posting to South Cerny but failed to notify the detachment at Laarbruch. Hence I departed in something of a minor flap when a WTF signal arrived demanding my presence elsewhere. Thus I never held a reaction state during my final weeks on the Sqn at Laarbruch.
I left with the biggest grin north of the Channel.