Ah, the wonderful 'year' of ASC. I found it most agreeable, even if unaccompanied due to my wife's posting at Brampton. I started the Course with a small advantage over most students ... I already had 3 Staff tours under my belt! (HQ MATO, NATS and 11 Gp)

Thank you Langley. Do you think the Family Curry and use of uniforms on a Sunday in church were specific to RAFG / overseas and less common in the UK?

Yes I do, although in UK we lived in our own houses and not on a married patch so saw little of Mess or station church weekends. My mess usage was confined to lunch, happy hour, and dining in nights. and the occasional wedding reception on a Saturday.

Being cynical, I think part of the church in uniform thing was because very senior officers attended!

I can well imagine. Thanks.

Would definitely agree with Langley about church/Sundays/Mess in the UK based on Coningsby start of and again mid 70s and Leeming late 80s. From the odd occasion when I was dragged there on a Sunday there were very few people present and no one in uniform other than Remembrance Sunday. JHQ as stated by Langley.

Never, ever, encountered a Church Parade (1965-1993). I must have served on God-less Stations.

Perhaps there was one at IOT (Feltwell, '65) but no recollection of the event.

Late '50's - church parade every Sunday (and the unthinkable now - "Fall out"-- ( certain religions) - who remained on the parade ground until the service (?) was complete! Unreal !!

Bill

Remember doing the full fig at Kinloss one year, late 70s, no idea why, and vaguely remember all the left footers falling out.

I remember one particular and very religious C.O. who held church parades (and plenty of rehearsals for them). Everyone thought he must have had flat knees as he spent so much time on them!!

Not a church parade as such, but after the passing out parade at Feltwell in 1964 most of the course, together with parents, wives etc repaired to the station church, while the handful of left footers (self included) went to the small RC church for our own service. Other than my sister in law's requiem mass in around 2005 it was the last RC Service I ever attended. Been to lots of C of E services since - the architecture and the singing are a lot better!

Well, it's taken a while, but The Final Flight is out. Thank you all for your valuable help. Any authenticity errors are entirely mine.

As a thank you to those above who helped, I can send a link to an electronic version of the book (can be loaded onto most devices). Drop me a PM with an email address.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1ff713842a.jpg

Alternatively if you feel generous it's available in paperback at Amazon and (at the time of writing) available for pre-order on Kindle. Also available until next week more widely at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books etc. (It goes exclusive to Amazon next week).

I hope it will be an enjoyable foray back to the 1960s Royal Air Force for you.

This link will take you to the Amazon page relevant for your country: https://geni.us/thefinalflight

James.

Just spent this weeks pocket money on a copy. Thank you!
:ok:

Pre-ordered for me too!

Thank you. Hope you enjoy it :)

I've blown this month's pocket money on a DVD copy of B-25 Mitchells Do Fly IFR, but it's on the shopping list!

treadigraph To be fair, that sounds pretty good. :)