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I joined the W.A.A.F. in March of 1942 aged 19 and was demobbed in February 1946.
I travelled to Bridgeworth where I received my uniform and lectures about service life. Then after a few weeks with gas mask training, drill and how to make our beds. Yes, the blankets were folded and the sheets separated then one blanket was folded around this bundle. We had to keep our lockers, bedspace and buttons, of course, cleaned every day. One day a week was "Domestic Evening " and that was our chores for the rest of our time in the service.
Then our posting to Morecambe came next. We were billeted in rooms in a boarding house. Every morning we had Physical Training [P.T.] on the outdoor swimming pool. Guess how we were dressed! Just knickers and a bra! The knickers had the name of "Blackouts" as they were all navy blue.
From Bridgenorth I was posted to the Sergeants Mess [I had opted to be a cook] at a place called Marston Moor. I wasn't there long when the first 1000 bomber raid took place. I can remember being recalled to help cook the meals for the returning air crew. This was the first time I saw men cry. The Group Captain ordered the bar to be opened. I can also recall seeing Flight Lieutenant Leonard Cheshire. He flew with the Americans that dropped the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He was eventually awarded the Victoria Cross. As we had such a long walk from our huts to the Mess we were told to go to York Station to collect new bicycles. Unfortunately the German got there before us so no bikes!
From Yorkshire I was posted to R.A.F. Methwold then onto R.A.F. Oulton. Our W.A.A.F. huts were in the grounds of Anne Boleyn's ancestral home. Our hut was demolished by a huge tree during a storm with the reult we were moved to Blickling Hall.
Next step was R.A.F. Scunthorpe where I joined 21 Squadron. I thoroughly enjoyed my short spell there as we moved to what I believe is now Stansted Airport. While at Scunthorpe I was very fortunate to befriend a Canadian pilot who was prepared to let me join him unofficially in a Mosquito on a bombing training exercise along the sands. He dropped small flour bags on the target. It was really exciting. The Squadron moved down to near Guilford to prepare for the invasion. All the Squadron W.A.A.F. flew in a Hardy Page troop carrier. Flying over London was terrifying as the barrage balloons were all up and between dodoging them many of the WAAFs were sick though I wasn't. As I hadn't volunteered for Overseas duty I was posted to RAF Banff miles and miles away. Before leaving and arriving at a new station we were all given a F.F.I. [Free From Infection] in other words a medical examination. When I arrived at Banff my friend from Hove and I duly reported to the Medical Officer. What a shock was in store for the two of us. We had nits in our hair and had to spend one night with our heads covered in a paraffin head square. We were most embarassed.
I thoroughly enjoyed Banff, firstly I got my stripes then I was in charge of the "OPERATION CANTEEN." All the operations were over the North Sea and Norway. The aircrew were supplied with a "FLYING MEAL" before take off, usually egg and chips also a sweetie ration of barley sugars and chocolate.We also filled flasks of coffee. We had to keep in touch with Operation Control as to how many were due to return. One particular night we waited and waited only to be told one aircraft had crashed in Sweden. The Mosquito only had 2 of a crew and one of the team came from my home town of Perth. They eventually arrived back in Britain having had to destroy all the secret equipmwnt on board. The money they got for the Mosquito paid for their passage back home. I was never told how but every stitch of clothing they both wore , even shoes, was made from paper. The Perth Airman was Flight Officer JIMMIE HALLEY. Incidentally, after we were demobbed our back gardens in Perth were divided by a fence. Jimmie broke a leg and it was never set properly and was crippled for the rest of his life.
Our Group Captain at RAF Banff was Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook's son and the owner of the Daily Express.The canteen held about 10 tables and we sometimes catered for 30 crews.If it wsa a really bad op. Group Captain Aitken would tell the orderly to open the bar.We never ever took a drink the whole time we were there. When the the war in Norway was over I was posted to RAF Kinloss and the great job of being in charge of the ration store. What a job that was as the rations were only a little better than "civvy street". Most things were all counted in fractions and have another station supplied was quite a job.
The hut I was in charge of had about 20 WAAFs and we used to heat our beds with hot bricks. We collected nice new bricks and and put them on our stove until they were really hot and carried them with gloves on to the latecomers bed. The war ended when I was there and eventually was discharged in February 1946.
My eldest brother, JIMMY HORNE, was killed in a flying accident at Halkirk in Caithness on December 17th 1943 and while at Banff. the adjutant gave me permission to fly in a Mosquito to RAF Wick where his Canadian pilot was buried. I also flew all around Balmoral in an Anson which was very enjoyable.

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