Gaining An R.A.F. Pilots Brevet inWW11
Addenda. In 1943 and 1944 all our aircraft at Terrell were silver.
After leave it was back to Harrogate and then to Whitley Bay for a month with the R.A.F. Regiment at the NCOs School where we had lectures, drill and regiment training. There were a lot of pilots waiting for further training and some were sent on the railway as firemen. Not a happy prospect and some trains apparently ran out of steam as the coal was not shovelled quickly enough|
Back to Harrogate and to Elmdon, now Birmingham Airport, for a month flying Tiger Moths to get used to mapreading and English weather. Very enjoyable and managed 45 hours in the four weeks of which only twelve days were flyable.
During this time, September 1944, Monty's Arnhem Battle went disasterously wrong. He lost so many glider pilots that the Glider Pilot Regiment was non-operational.
Brigadier George Chatterton, who was the C.O. of the Regiment had been a pilot in the R.A.F. and had friends in high places. He asked for pilots, such as we, awaiting further training, to be seconded to his Regiment. Volunteers were called for at Harrogate, but we wanted Spitfires of Mustangs and not many volunteered. We were paraded and told in no uncertain manner, that, if we did not volunteer we would never fly again. So we became voluntary conscripts. 500 to India and 500 to stay in U.K.
Off to Bridgnorth for two weeks with the R.A.F. Regiment, shooting, digging trenches etc., and then on to Brize Norton to fly Horsas and Hadrians for two weeks,towed by Whitleys. We were drilled by RSM Briodie, Irish Guards, also a glider pilot. Another two weeks at Hampstead Norris, towed by Albermarles and this time with Army Glider instructors and after that our postings to Horsa or Hamilcar Squadrons.