- Contributed byÌý
- George Smith
- People in story:Ìý
- George Smith
- Location of story:Ìý
- Cosford
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:Ìý
- A1071848
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 07 June 2003
COSFORD
I arrived here, No.2 School of Technical Training on 20/9/40 to do a 6 Weeks conversion course from Flight Mechanic (Aiframe)
to a Fitter II (Airframe)
I Passed out as an Aircrftsman 1st Class (AC1) (So I lost my "Props" but had a rise in pay!)
We used to be "off" from 12 noon on Saturdays until Monday morning but was not supposed to stay out overnight, having to book
back into the camp before midnight and we could book out again at 9:00 the following morning.
One weekend myself and Pal was offered a lift by one of our mates who had an old "banger" to Leicester where my Grandmother
lived and we decided to go for the weekend arranging for someone to book us in before midnight Saturday and out again Sunday
morning.
Half way there he decided he was short of patrol so he stopped at a garage And filled up and when the man sked for the coupons
he Said he had left them at home and would drop them in on the way back. The garage man would not accept the so he offered
his greatcoat as security which much to his dismay he accepted!
We were dropped at the Clock Tower in Leicester arranging for him to pick us up the next evening at 6:00pm.
THE BIG WALK
At 6:00pm we were at the Clock Tower waiting and by 8:00 he had not arrived! We had no alternative but to start
walking and we got a lift to Hinckley. We then started our walk again and got as far as Tamworth before we got
another lift.This as far as Brownhills. From there we walked all the way to Cosford, arriving there at 8:30am. In all I
calculate we walked 28 miles that night.
The Technical office as very good about it and said "Get to your class straight away and if they don't complain
we will let it go". They didn't so I got away with it. I had blisters on my feet the size of Two Shilling pieces so went to
the sick bay at lunch time and was treated and got "Excused Boots" for a week!
More can be seen on http.www.localdial.com/users.airforce/warser.html
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