Name of a Book
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Name of a Book
Folks, looking for some help in tracing the title of a book. In essence it tells the story of a RAF airfield somewhere in RAFG, the story is set during National Service days and is based around a fast jet camp flying Meteors. The CO in the book is a WW2 Veteran and is slightly barking mad and drives the troops very hard. I read this book back in the mid eighties, and have forgotten both the name and the author, what I do remember about the paperback version was on the front was a busty young model wearing a pilot's no 1 Jacket, but displaying a very agreeable cleavage. I wonder could anybody help me with the name/author ?
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
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I seem to remember a book called " The Camp ", read it years ago. Could that be the one ? That big South American river company stock same name book written by Gordon Williams ( who was stationed at Gutersloh in cold war era ) .
Last edited by sled dog; 3rd Sep 2012 at 19:06.
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Last edited by NutLoose; 3rd Sep 2012 at 19:34.
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Cover is a bit of a let-down though 
....what I do remember about the paperback version was on the front was a busty young model wearing a pilot's no 1 Jacket, but displaying a very agreeable cleavage.
There was a wooden beer crate on the original cover (as well as the half-dressed fraulein) to make it even more appealing. 
I think the aircraft were Vampires.
I think the aircraft were Vampires.
PS. It was also made into a TV play with Ronnie Corbett and Christopher Timothy (of James Herriot fame) according to IMDB:
"2nd House" Episode dated 20 October 1973 (TV episode 1973) - IMDb
"2nd House" Episode dated 20 October 1973 (TV episode 1973) - IMDb
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Seem to remember that it did the rounds in the 60s and got banned at RAF Watton by the Staish, as 'bad for morale'. Whose morale he didn't specify, but I suspect it was those of us who had our ranks on our shoulders as opposed to on our arms!
Actually quite a good read and (can't remember whether it specified the station in the book), but was supposedly based on Gutersloh.
Actually quite a good read and (can't remember whether it specified the station in the book), but was supposedly based on Gutersloh.
Last edited by Lukeafb1; 4th Sep 2012 at 06:35. Reason: Added sentence.
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51 copies here Gordon Williams - The Camp - AbeBooks starting at £5 delivered.
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According to Threeputt senior ( Air Trafficer at Gutersloh in the mid 50's) the Stn cdr 's character was based on a Gp Capt "Deadly" Dudley Lewis who was as mad as a bag of snakes ..apparantly.
3P
3P
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IIRC there is a sadistic ATC F/O in the book by the name of "Rice-Pritchley". I was told by a mate (K McR) who had been a young pilot at this camp, that he was, in reality, one "Price-Reece". I'm not sure it was Gutersloh though.
He also remembered well the incident of the 20mm cannon.
He also remembered well the incident of the 20mm cannon.
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I was serving at RAF Wahn during the period that this book was written. Horror stories filtered through the grapevine about the harsh regime that existed at Gutersloh. Read the book years ago and was glad to have been posted to Wahn which, by comparison, was a fairly relaxed place to be.
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"The Camp" was being read out in installments over the station radio at Halton when I joined as an apprentice (1968), somebody twigged and it was suddenly banned, we of course aquired copies to read, then wondered what we had let ourselves in for, however times were changing by then and we had it easy, - no webbing for jankers,
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How did you keep yer stockings up then?
Would this be the book that had a line of airmen on a fod plod after an aircraft crash and one of them kicked what he thought was a leather football to find it was a flying helmet complete with head?
I remember during the seventies watching a film about a girl called Debbie in a city somewhere in Texas; don't suppose anyone remembers it.
I remember during the seventies watching a film about a girl called Debbie in a city somewhere in Texas; don't suppose anyone remembers it.