In 1942 at 18 years old I joined the WAAF and was sent to Bridgenorth to get kitted out etc. From there I went to Morcombe for square bashing,inoculations and generally being initiated into life in the WAAF. From Morcombe to Leighton Buzzard (where I lived in a workhouse} to train as a "Clerk Special Duties" which I discovered was nothing to do with clerical work but the name used for plotters etc working in an Opertaions Room.
After my training I was posted to Sopley GCI Station but as Sopley was not yet operational I was succonded to Middle Wallop. However instaed of moving on to Sopley I stayed at Middle wallop until being demobilised in 1947.
During that time I plotted raids on London including V1s (doodlebugs}. But I think the greatest thrill was plotting the D Day Invasion. As we walked from our billets to the Ops Room we saw Gliders and aircraft carrying Paratroopers flying overhead. Arriving at the Ops Room the atmosphere was unbelievable. The map on the table was covered with plots all moving across the Channel towards France.
In 1946 I met a Spitfire pilot who was sent to Wallop to await his demobilization and we were married six months later. We celebrated our 58 wedding aniversary last April!
The War and joining the WAAf certainly changed my life.
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