By Doug Ross, Hebburn
I did my National Service with the RAF from June 53 to 55. After being kitted out during the first week of entry at RAF Padgate it didn’t seem so bad as expected.
Most of our time was spent marking every bit of our kit with your service number, and spit and polishing the toe-caps of your new boots, until you could almost see your face in them.
However, at the end of the week, our flight intake were to be transported by bus to RAF Hednesford near Walsall, where we were to do our eight weeks square-bashing. (We were the last flight to kitted out at Padgate).
No sooner had we arrived at Hednesford, when suddenly all hell was let loose with umpteen Drill Instructors (DI’s) yelling their orders to get off the bus at the double etc.
We were then taken to our allocated billet by our corporal DI where he started to lay the law down to us, unfortunately a young lad standing next to me fainted and fell to the floor.
Two of us went to pick him up, and as we did so, we heard the DI say in snarling way, “ It’s a good job he didn’t split his head and dirty my clean floor”.( Charming, welcome to the RAF)! Yes, we did all those clever things like, scraping the brush handles clean with a razor blade etc, polishing the floor till it shone and keeping it shining by sliding on felt pads, NEVER walking on the floor in your boots!! Whilst in your locker, shirts and vests were arranged BLUE:WHITE:BLUE:WHITE etc.
However, I can honestly say that, after a delayed completion to my training due to having my Appendix removed, (Brought on by the that particular mornings' Physical Exercises) courtesy of the RAF, I actually enjoyed my time in the Service, especially after completion of my Technical Training as an Electrical Fitter with the rank of Junior Technician, and the eventual posting to RAF Ouston ( now Albemarle Barracks) outside Newcastle.
This being due to a compassionate posting as my father was very ill at that time.
Ouston was home to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 607 Fighter Squadron at the time I was there (1954/55), and was equipped with 15 Vampire Jets, 2 Meteor Jets, a Spitfire and Tiger Moth.
Being an Auxiliary Squadron , all servicing to the aircraft was done during the week, so they were ready for when the Auxiliary Pilots came in to do their weekend Flying Training.
One of the highlights I was fortunate to enjoy was when I got the chance to fly in one of the Meteor Jets during one weekend when the Auxiliary Pilots were doing their target firing practices at the Target Drogue which was towed by the Meteor.
After a steep climb on take-off so as to eliminate dragging the Drogue too long across the ground we headed to the Farne Islands where the target practices were to take place.
As I turned to look back, there was this Vampire Jet baring down into the attack firing at the target when in range.
I was glad that the target was being towed 800 feet behind us,
but you could just imagine what it must have been like if this had been the real thing and the target was you.!!
Another highlight of my time with 607 Squadron, was when Ouston held the BATTLE of BRITAIN at home to the Public celebration in 1954. I was a member of the Duty Crew that weekend which involved looking after all of the visiting aircraft as well as our own, which were there to entertain the Public. It was a hectic time but great fun.
The camaraderie at RAF Ouston was great even when we had to do the odd bit of bull from time to time, especially when competing with the Officers in the squadron sports.
On the occasion when Ouston had the AOC’s Inspection Day, afterwards a camp dance would be held in the NAFFI with busloads of girls brought in from Newcastle.
Maybe I was lucky, but I did enjoy my National Service in the RAF.
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