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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesI joined the Junior Training Corps (JTC) at an early age and later transferred to the RAF Section of the newly formed Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at school, and it was when, as part of our training, pictures were shown to me of radar 'heads' that I began to understand what I had seen at Salcombe.4 My interest in aircraft was undiminished and, on family visits to the annual SBAC Farnborough Air Show, I watched many impressive flying displays by the Senior Test Pilots of the day and wondered, too, at the very different radar equipment rotating out on the airfield.5 The aircraft fascinated me much more. Apart from using radios in the CCF and building a one-valve medium-wave wireless set from Government Surplus items, an interest I had had in electrical matters began to fade.
1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesAs a CCF Cadet I was to gain 'Air Experience' as a passenger, flying three times in RAF Ansons, from RAF Hooton Park, RAF Sealand, and RAF Hawarden. During one of those flights I was asked by the pilot to wind the handle behind his seat so as to lower the undercarriage for landing. That was exciting stuff; I actually helped operate the aircraft! As a result of practice at the school rifle range, and later on the Sealand Open Range on Burton Marshes, I earned my Marksman badge and became a good shot.6
1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThat was the limit of my knowledge of the RAF until the 1950s when National Service came along.

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1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThis picture was taken by a school pal
1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesand is dated 3rd March 1949 when I was in
1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesthe Junior Training Corps, before I
1px-trans.gif, 43 bytestransferred to the CCF, RAF Section.
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4 CCF: Sometimes mockingly referred to as 'Compound Cooking Fat', a product made available to housewives during the strict rationing regime then in force.
5 SBAC = Society of British Aircraft Constructors of which there were many members at the time.
6 The school rifles were .22" calibre, whereas those we used at Sealand ranges were .303".
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