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to decide whether to shoot at it or not! Fortunately, again, this was the period of the ‘phoney war’ and there were no incidents to disturb the comparative peace of the Lincolnshire countryside. The weather was good, and we enjoyed our time there together. ATS training proceeded uneventfully, with practise in aerial photography, formation flying and cross-country navigation. The course finished on August 13th 1940, by which time I had flown on it some 27 hours 55 minutes dual and 80 hours 40 minutes solo. What surprises me now is the small amount of night flying in those totals. It accounted for only 1 hour 25 minutes dual and a single 1 hour solo. I was once again happy to see my assessment as ‘Above Average’ as a pilot, if only ‘Average’ as a pilot/navigator and in bombing and air gunnery. I still disliked guns.


There are a few memories of social life at Cranwell which stick in the mind, although they had nothing to do with flying or the War. There were, on our Course, some bright chaps interested enough in one command from the top which some of us would have found tedious – an order to put on a show to entertain the permanent staff and others when our Course was nearing its end. It was a tradition. One P/O Ryan I specially remember for his interest in the stage and in devising, with help, a performance which I believe was regarded as doing us credit. I, who have always disliked amateur dramatics of any type, took no part except for joining in the choruses but I admit I did enjoy it when we came to stage the show. Ryan had concocted a few bits of doggerel which went down well with the audience, especially after dinner. My memory lets me down over some of the lines he produced, but perhaps I can repeat most of one of his efforts. It was a chorus, sung to a well-known tune which I think is the Robbers’s Chorus from ‘Chu Chin Chow’. Here it is:


At Cranwell we were taught to fly. We satisfied the CFI


And now at last we’re free to blast The Jerry from the British sky. We’re on Blenheims, We’re on Spitfires, We’re on every sort of fighter. We’ll loop and roll and take our toll Of Marshal Goering’s bligh – igh – ters. The time has come for us to go, It’s up to us to give a show. It won’t be good, that’s understood, But Halley says it must be so!


32


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