End of Basic Training 1946 (1 Viewer)

H

Harrytheheid

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Not too sure where to post this one. Suppose this section is most appropriate.

END OF BASIC TRAINING AND JUST AFTER THE PASSING OUT PARADE - 1946 (I THINK).

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The rather handsome and debonair young chap, (all of 18 years of age), sitting at the far left is my Dad. He was in the RAF for 7 years. This wasn't National Service - he volunteered for the RAF after walking the 20-odd miles to the recruiting station. Just after this photo was taken his first posting was Khartoum in Sudan - his subsequent posting took him to Palestine - which he's never really spoken much about.
His Squadron flew Tempests initially, then converted to Mosquito's.

Regards
Harry
 
Harry

You sure he's your dad!! where did the looks go:D!! Dapier and good looking gent

Tony
 
Spitfrnd said:
Very cool Harry, which squadron, I know a bit about most of them?
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Sorry for the delay in getting back to you Spitfrnd, my Mum & Dad have been on holiday. Yeah, no kidding - in Scotland - in March. Think they won it off a local newspaper competition.
:rolleyes::p:p
Anyway, where was I?
Yeah, they're home again and I'm just off the phone. It was 39 Squadron and they did indeed convert from Tempests to Mosquitos. Forgot to ask if Khartoum was his first posting followed by Palestine, but I'm pretty certain that's correct.

Regards
Harry
 
Harrytheheid said:
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you Spitfrnd, my Mum & Dad have been on holiday. Yeah, no kidding - in Scotland - in March. Think they won it off a local newspaper competition.
:rolleyes::p:p
Anyway, where was I?
Yeah, they're home again and I'm just off the phone. It was 39 Squadron and they did indeed convert from Tempests to Mosquitos. Forgot to ask if Khartoum was his first posting followed by Palestine, but I'm pretty certain that's correct.

Regards
Harry
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Ah thanks Harry. 39 Squadron at that time was tasked with the defense of the Suez canal. They converted from the Tempests to Mosquito night fighters. Those are two pretty nice aircraft to have flown, especially as a young pilot. The squadron converted to Gloster Meteors in 53, did he by any chance fly those as well?
 
Spitfrnd said:
Ah thanks Harry. 39 Squadron at that time was tasked with the defense of the Suez canal. They converted from the Tempests to Mosquito night fighters. Those are two pretty nice aircraft to have flown, especially as a young pilot. The squadron converted to Gloster Meteors in 53, did he by any chance fly those as well?
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Wait a minute, my Dad had a much more important job than a mere pilot. He was a mess waiter.
Let's see now, they got married when he was still in the RAF, so that must've been around 1951 cos my older sister was born in 1952. I think he returned to Civvie Street in 1953 so he probably didn't get any snaps of the Meteor, one of the all time beautiful and classic British aircraft of the 1950's.
Next time I'm in the UK, I'll dig out more photo's and ask some more about his service. I seem to remember him mentioning he was in Jerusalem when the King David Hotel was blown up.
Regards
H
 
Harrytheheid said:
Wait a minute, my Dad had a much more important job than a mere pilot. He was a mess waiter.
Let's see now, they got married when he was still in the RAF, so that must've been around 1951 cos my older sister was born in 1952. I think he returned to Civvie Street in 1953 so he probably didn't get any snaps of the Meteor, one of the all time beautiful and classic British aircraft of the 1950's.
Next time I'm in the UK, I'll dig out more photo's and ask some more about his service. I seem to remember him mentioning he was in Jerusalem when the King David Hotel was blown up.
Regards
H
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Ah well you crossed me up with that talk about flying things in the first post but all RAF jobs are important to me. I do take a wee exception to the "mere pilot" jib however.;):D
 
Spitfrnd said:
Ah well you crossed me up with that talk about flying things in the first post but all RAF jobs are important to me. I do take a wee exception to the "mere pilot" jib however.;):D
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My sincere and grovelling apologies to all ex or present "mere pilots", erks, tugboat captains, panzergruppenfuehrer's, rear-admirals, plus their pets and nearest family members, and anyone else whom I've innocently managed to insult/offend this time.

Aye, some things never change right enough.

In actual fact, what I said in the first post was; "His Squadron flew Tempests initially, then converted to Mosquito's"....!!!!
I did not by implication claim that my Dad was a "Brylcream Boy" - but despite that, I do happen to be very proud of his service to my country. And I'm certain sure the Mess patrons appreciated his service too.

My Kindest and Cuddliest Regards
Harry
 
Harrytheheid said:
My sincere and grovelling apologies to all ex or present "mere pilots", erks, tugboat captains, panzergruppenfuehrer's, rear-admirals, plus their pets and nearest family members, and anyone else whom I've innocently managed to insult/offend this time.

Aye, some things never change right enough.

In actual fact, what I said in the first post was; "His Squadron flew Tempests initially, then converted to Mosquito's"....!!!!
I did not by implication claim that my Dad was a "Brylcream Boy" - but despite that, I do happen to be very proud of his service to my country. And I'm certain sure the Mess patrons appreciated his service too.

My Kindest and Cuddliest Regards
Harry
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Thanks so much your Harryship. I do feel warm and cuddly now.:D Yes I know what you said, it was what I read into it that caused my miscue. Brylcream lads are often noted by their quick but sometimes impetuous reactions. As I said, "all RAF jobs are important to me". So you have every right to be pround of him, as I am of my former MP sargent dad; no "despites" or other reservations are needed or appropriate. So don't you even think about reading anything other than sincere respect and appreciation for his service from my remarks.;) Of course my noted offense was in jest, as I assume was your reaction. Kindest and Cuddliest regards in return. Should we hug now.:D
 
Come on guys try to control all this cuddling and hugging -KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A FAMILY FORUM
 
Spitfrnd said:
You mean families should not hug?:eek:
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In the northern climes we tend to be a reserved and proper bunch - same sex hugging prohibited; hugging in families only encouraged at weddings and funerals and if you hug your cousin , you will marry her.:)
 
4th Hussar said:
In the northern climes we tend to be a reserved and proper bunch - same sex hugging prohibited; hugging in families only encouraged at weddings and funerals and if you hug your cousin , you will marry her.:)
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Well Mr 4th, what makes you think I'm not some ravishing, 22 year-old, buxom blonde, in the real world..??
Uuuuh.....naaa, forget it.
:eek::eek: :D
Regards
Harry the Heidette
 
4th Hussar said:
In the northern climes we tend to be a reserved and proper bunch - same sex hugging prohibited; hugging in families only encouraged at weddings and funerals and if you hug your cousin , you will marry her.:)
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Uh, I think that depends on your northern clime.;) It seems to be quite the norm here in New England. Of course I am from a southern clime and I did have some cousins that were quite huggable.:eek::D Now I have gone and done it for sure. Not even Harry is likely to save me now.:eek:
 
Spitfrnd said:
Uh, I think that depends on your northern clime.;) It seems to be quite the norm here in New England. Of course I am from a southern clime and I did have some cousins that were quite huggable.:eek::D Now I have gone and done it for sure. Not even Harry is likely to save me now.:eek:
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Same thing happened to Uncle Floyd, from upstate Michigan. He went to family wedding , had a couple of drinks and got frisky with the cousins. I now have 3 aunts and one uncle, but I only send out one Christmas card. Hence the no hugging rules
 
4th Hussar said:
Same thing happened to Uncle Floyd, from upstate Michigan. He went to family wedding , had a couple of drinks and got frisky with the cousins. I now have 3 aunts and one uncle, but I only send out one Christmas card. Hence the no hugging rules
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I just keep hearing duelling banjos......:eek::D
 
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