Battle of Britain - July 23

Sgt. Campbell's second entry in the extended section.

Hawker Hurricane of 85 Squadron.

It's a slow day,one of the last that Fighter Command will see for a while.

Quiet day today. The lads flew their standing patrols over the convoys, but the weather was too bad for Jerry to come out and play.

A little about my job, Kate and Mum. I'm the leading Airframe Artificer, which means I supervise the other blokes who take care of the actual wings and fuselage. Sergeant Gough is the leading Engine Artificer - his lads are about the engines. Sergeant Hockleby is the leading Armorer - they load and repair the .303 Browning guns, eight to a plane. Finally, Sergeant Stovall is the leading Radio Artificer - they maintain the radios on the planes. If you'd told me when I started in the RAF that every bird'd have its own radio - it's an amazing business we're about, here.

My lot, the Airframe mob, are a mixed lot. I have a few old hands, including a few that had been in India and Singapore before the war; most of the rest are erks, or at least they were when Hitler attacked Poland. Most of them are new on the squadron, posted here since 85 Squadron came back from France and rebuilt.

So most of my job for the moment seems to be teaching the new lot how to do the job. I'm sure that'll change, if Jerry really is getting ready to invade Britain.

So for now - just the odd bullet hole or bent oleo strut.

Posted by Mitch at July 23, 2005 07:59 AM | TrackBack