Chuck wrote:Yes, funny that. My first kit was the Hawker Hunter, followed by the Mig15 combo. Had over 100 including the Boeing Superfortress and the Focke Wulf Kondor . My favourite was /is still the Mosquito, still wish I could get a flight in one....
Chuck...
My Dad applied to Fly Mosqutos. Didn't make it.
After a spell at two more satellite airfields, Wheaton Aston and Perton near to Wolverhampton, I was posted to Wymeswold near Loughborough as a Beam Approved Instructor having recently completed a course at the Beam training school.
While there we had a nasty accident, one of our aircraft having got permission to use a Beam had a head on collision with a Lancaster who was also using the beam without permission. Both aircraft were in cloud at the time. The young flying officer at the time was going steady with our W.A.A.F. driver. I remember the conversation in the crew room afterwards. Someone said “who is going to tell Dot”? A Canadian pilot said “I’ll tell her”, and another one said “break it to her gently Johnny“. We were shocked when he came back and said all she said was “Oh blast we were going dancing tonight”.
Later I applied to fly Mosquito aircraft for the Pathfinders as Beam trained pilots were needed. I was interviewed at P.F. Headquarters and was accepted but would be required to pass an altitude test. This took place soon afterwards. The test was 3 x 2 hour periods at 38000 feet with 10 minutes in every hour at 42000 feet. This took place in a de-compression chamber with 6 bods being tested and a doctor supervising and controlling. We were given certain problems to solve and showing the answers at a Port Hole. Myself and one other just could not stand the pain at 42000 feet. It was excruciating, just like the cramp in every joint in one’s body.
The result was a posting on to Halifax heavy bombers, but after just 8 operations I lost my Navigator and rather than going back to O.T.U. to train with another crew I volunteered for transport command and a Far East posting. After being crewed up and training on Dakota aircraft the Wing Commander sent for me and talked me into another tour instructing as they were short of Instructors.
