Old Ned
24th Jan 2016, 12:44
Hard to believe it is 55 years since 42nd Entry Boy Entrants, 4 S of TT, RAF St Athan were inducted. (24 Jan 1961). Much water under the bridge and a much changed Royal Air Force. Not, sadly, for the better.
I still remember the day vividly. I wanted to be an Elect Mech (Air). All potential Elect Mechs (Air and Ground) were herded into one class room. We were told that a certain number (can't remember what) were to be (Air) and the rest (Ground). If too many wanted to be (Air), then a number would be made (Ground)! Fortunately the numbers were acceptable and we got what we wanted.
I went back to St Athan years later when the old wooden huts in the "Lines" were being demolished. I wandered about and the memories came flooding back: sleeping behind the lockers the day before a kit inspection; doing a "length" with the bumper down the centre of the floor; hoping the Discip Cpl wouldn't see the dart holes in the locker doors; beds being tipped by the graduating entry; waiting 4 weeks before you could wear "civvies"; having your old big white china mug smashed by the Entry above you; having to sell Battle of Britain programmes before you could see your parents on the Open Day; sneaking your parents into your billet on "Battle of Britain Day" and catching your "mates" using a knife to take money out of the collecting tins! The ex WW 2 Polish Sgt Pilot, then a Discip NCO, asking "Who has done s##t in the bath"? A tradition then before graduation.
37 years later and a bit further up the greasy pole, I left to take an RO job for 8 years. One big regret is that, after goodness knows how many posting and house moves, I can't find my "Wheel". But I'm now involved in my old flying Sqn Association. We celebrate 100 years of 50 Sqn on 15 May. Still good to be around the RAF and trade banter with guys who flew the Lancaster; now that is a great experience.
I suppose retrospect puts a bit of a glow on the memory. To any Pruners who may have been there too, stay well, guys, and fly right.
I still remember the day vividly. I wanted to be an Elect Mech (Air). All potential Elect Mechs (Air and Ground) were herded into one class room. We were told that a certain number (can't remember what) were to be (Air) and the rest (Ground). If too many wanted to be (Air), then a number would be made (Ground)! Fortunately the numbers were acceptable and we got what we wanted.
I went back to St Athan years later when the old wooden huts in the "Lines" were being demolished. I wandered about and the memories came flooding back: sleeping behind the lockers the day before a kit inspection; doing a "length" with the bumper down the centre of the floor; hoping the Discip Cpl wouldn't see the dart holes in the locker doors; beds being tipped by the graduating entry; waiting 4 weeks before you could wear "civvies"; having your old big white china mug smashed by the Entry above you; having to sell Battle of Britain programmes before you could see your parents on the Open Day; sneaking your parents into your billet on "Battle of Britain Day" and catching your "mates" using a knife to take money out of the collecting tins! The ex WW 2 Polish Sgt Pilot, then a Discip NCO, asking "Who has done s##t in the bath"? A tradition then before graduation.
37 years later and a bit further up the greasy pole, I left to take an RO job for 8 years. One big regret is that, after goodness knows how many posting and house moves, I can't find my "Wheel". But I'm now involved in my old flying Sqn Association. We celebrate 100 years of 50 Sqn on 15 May. Still good to be around the RAF and trade banter with guys who flew the Lancaster; now that is a great experience.
I suppose retrospect puts a bit of a glow on the memory. To any Pruners who may have been there too, stay well, guys, and fly right.