Unfortunately the ship that I was told I would be going on hit a free floating
mine, which must have come adrift with the huge waves, it sank with all the people
on board, who were lost. To me, this was not very encouraging- to think that
we would be sailing soon. We were later told that we would be sailing across
about a week later in a tank landing craft. These are flat-bodied transporters
with very little in the way of comfort.
The next morning, we arrived at Tilbury, here were checked out to see if we had
brought any illegal goods into the country-mainly money. Having checked my pay
book, against the money I had in my pockets, I was let through to proceed home,
or so I thought. I actually ended up at Bramcote. Here I was on the Wellington
medium bombers; they had radial engines, which I had not worked on before. My
main basic job was running around doing various bits and bobs, so I was pleased
when I was reposted.
This time it was to a place called Portreath, which is down in Corwall; this
was a far nicer place to be. The actual aerodrome was the furthest out towards
the Atlantic and here I started working again with aircraft. The actual aerodrome
was perched right on the top of a hill with Redruth down in the valley. The runway
was straight over the cliff edge so whoever took off, had the one chance, which
meant they either took off or ended up in the sea. Whilst I was there, no one
ended up in the sea.
The main reason for me at Portreath, was that they were fetching aircraft from
all different areas, all different types, Mosquito’s, Spitfires etc.
and these were being made into groups to be flown out to the Far East, where
the
war was still going on with the Japanese.
I enjoyed being at Portreath. One day a gale warning was issued which could
be as high as 100 mph. This was a new experience to me. All the aircraft that
we
had were ‘double picketed’-this means, cross screwed wires into the
ground with a rope tied underneath the wing, one at either side, and the tail
lashed down as well. The next thing we were told was each one of us would have
to sit in the cockpit of an aircraft, to control it in the high winds. I finished
up in a Spitfire. As the wind gradually increased, so the propellers started
to turn round, then the aircraft began to shake. First on my feet, then through
the joystick. Then I realised the aircraft was ‘flying’ in the wind –a
very funny feeling knowing that you were flying but stood still! Having had to
sit there through the night, along with all the other chaps; we were all very
pleased that in the morning the wind had subsided and things returned to normal.
At this point someone asked where was the Commanding Officers Tiger Moth, everyone
looked at each other, and we then realised it wasn’t there. It was found
all in crumpled heap away off the aerodrome. This to my knowledge was the only
casualty.
Staying at Portreath was one of my most pleasant experiences whilst in the
forces. The countryside is absolutely beautiful and the people were marvellous.
We went
into the local pubs and listened to the stories from the locals, we made many
friends here. On one occasion, we were asked if we would like to volunteer
to go and talk to some R.A.F pilots. When asked, little had I realised that
these
people turned out to be pilots and aircrews who had been involved in accidents
whilst flying. Having passed the afternoon with them, I could only but admire
the ‘guts’ of these people, some were half burnt figures with burnt
hands and faces. I really did enjoy their company and I’m sure they enjoyed
ours. Afterwards, I walked up into the hills and admired the views of the Cornish
coast.
Eventually the war ceased in England but in the Far East the war carried on.
On many occasions I went down into Redruth, the nearest large village, and as
the aircraft ceased to go out as frequently, I then became a gardener. Unfortunately
this did not last that long, as again I was posted on.