contact, other than in my role as
i/c PSI Gardens, was
Wg.Cdr. Russell-Bell the
Admin Wing
CO. Strangely,
Fg.Off. John Sutton of Station Flight,
Flt.Lt. Love the
Senior Air Traffic Control Officer,
Flt.Lt. 'Al' Fairfax the Intelligence Officer, and
Fg.Off. Dennis Tann the Gunnery Instructor, although all directly responsible to
Hammer West, seldom came to see him.
I flew only once more at Jever on a base-to-base sortie after being grounded. This time I was a passenger in the back seat of a Percival Prentice. It was a joy-ride
on what was officially a
CRDF calibration run.
2 Fg.Off. Doug Bridson from
4
Squadron was at the controls and I had my movie camera with me. We were
airborne for an hour and forty minutes in freezing weather. Only the runway and
major taxiways were clear of snow. My film came out reasonably well and was later
spliced into my RAF Jever movie.
Shortly after I had taken over from
Brian and was 'going solo', so to speak, a posting notice arrived for me. I was to take over as the permanent Range Safety
Officer of Meppen Range. The very thought of being posted to that God-forsaken
place, and to have to live alone in a German hotel for the next five months, filled me
with horror. I showed it to my Boss the
WingCo. He said "Ignore it. Don't do
anything. I'll fix it", and went on "Ignore it completely. That's an order. Blame me if
anyone gets awkward". True to his word, he had the posting cancelled and it was
replaced about a fortnight later by another, posting me as his Adjutant. That was a
relief!
Now that I was officially off
93 Squadron strength it was time for the
Squadron
to 'Dine me Out'. This event coincided with, and was tacked on to, a normal monthly
Mess Dining In Night. After the formal part of the evening was concluded, all
members of
93 foregathered in the bar. Due speeches were made by
Des Browne
and
Al Colvin, my old 'B' Flight Commander and, of course, I had to reply. All parts
of the proceedings were accompanied by a mixture of well lubricated cheering and
jeering. Then came the serious bit. As was the norm on such occasions - and I can't
remember which came first - I presented the
Squadron with an engraved silver
tankard and, immediately afterwards, I was presented with an almost identical
(apart from the wording) engraved tankard. But there was another difference: I
presented an empty tankard, as was usual, but the one presented to me was full of a
cocktail of liqueurs and spirits, diluted slightly with Pils. It was my duty at once to
down the lot in one breath. This I did, to great cheering all round. It tasted very
strange, but not too bad and, much to the disappointment of the assembled throng,
it had very little effect on me. They, and I, had seen other departing pilots in similar
circumstances collapse, legless, within five minutes, or make a dash for the toilet to
commune with nature down the big white microphone. I actually survived the rest
of the evening without ill effect. Mind you, I did take two precautionary Alka-
Seltzers before going to bed.
I was to remain an 'honorary' member of
93 Squadron throughout the
remainder of my stay at Jever. Not to be outdone,
4 Squadron awarded me the
same informal honour. I was still among friends.
