The 81st Entry
RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices
Sept 1955 - July 1958

ISSUE No.21 - NOVEMBER 2009
81st ENTRY NEWSLETTER
Editor: Mike Stanley

The Trials and Tribulations of Alan England. End of An Era

In 1969 Navigators were required for calibration duties with 115 Squadron RAF Cottesemore, flying Argosies; so up to the cold North of England I went. Nothing much had changed since I had left in 1962 , except it was no longer a priority RAF station equipped with the latest aircraft. The Victor "V" bombers were now replaced by Argosys and Canberras; the joint RAF / RN 360 squadron equipped with the latter, which were used for reconnaissance.

The calibration duties required one navigator to be in the aircraft whilst the second set up a theodalite at the end of the runway with the same angle of approach settings as the "ILS" approach settings. He then proceeded to talk the aircraft down the glide slope in the same manner that air traffic would carry out a radar approach. Mean while the technicians would calibrate the "ILS". system.

The job was very pleasant on the ground in the summer, though if you were in the aircraft it was not pleasant at the navigator station, as it was similar to the "Black Hole of Calcutta" and one became queasy!

The RAF decided that another of 115 Squadrons duties would be to act as an airborne communications system in the event of nuclear war!

Overseas calibration trips included a rare weekend stay at Berlin over flying the desolate Eastern sector whilst carrying out calibration of the airfield "ILS". We also enjoyed a visit to Berlin Opera House [beer house with an "Oompa" band]. We learnt that should anyone accept the bandmaster’s invitation to conduct the band it would entail buying them a round of drinks. I was also fortunate enough to take the eye of a pretty "Frauline".

The next night the mess staff had a party to which we were invited, and much to my surprise one of the girls was our next-door neighbour from Plymouth, small world!

Another notable trip was to Hong Kong with stops at Malta, Cyprus, Bahrain, Masirah, Gan [calibration], Christmas Island, Changi [calibration]. I also displayed my "superb organisational skills" by attending the nurse’s summer mess ball at invitation of a nurse from RAF Halton.

I also “volunteered “ for a survival interrogation “ course at RAF Mountabatten. This entailed sea survival, with four hours in a dinghy fighting sea sickness , followed by a helicopter lift ; all good experience for my future exploits. It also involved a few days living in a parachute, with such culinary delights as killing your chicken and cooking it. Unbeknown to the RAF a few miles over the hill I had some friends who were able to provide a better source of sustenance. The course reached its climax with an escape and evasion exercise, which made certain that we were captured by the Marines and then subjected to the type interrogation that the IRA were being subjected to, though it was soon to stop. It included such delights as sleep deprivation, imprisoned in darkness, standing naked in front of interrogators and having one’s “manhood mocked” plus many other interesting games Yes a very interesting experience, it set me up for civvy street!

However 115 Squadron was being disbanded and I commenced a conversion course on the Devon at RAF Andover. Though this was not completed , my last flight ending with the collapse of the nose wheel under carriage!

This was 1972 and Edward Heath was cutting back on the armed forces, which included me! I ended up on flight planning duties at RAF Upavon for the last three months of my RAF service. My last notable task was to organise a three-week trip, via RAF VC 10, to Newfoundland to visit a distant relative.

Yes I left the RAF on a high!