Monday and Tuesday 17th - 18th February

Monday was a fine pleasant day and the aircraft situation good so a large programme of battle forms and individuals was planned. Regrettably both the brand new type aircraft went u/s and meant a stoppage in the familiarisation programme - Moose was the last person to start one which could account for almost anything whilst the other sprung a leak and disgorged fuel from many holes in the fuselage. A further hold-up occurred at mid-day when a patch on the runway took on the appearance of being more like a ploughed field than is usual and flying was held up whilst two British Workmen from AMWD administered first aid to the damaged area. Whilst all this was going on a form was diverted to Waterbeach and so the flying programme was dealt a blow from which it did not recover at all.

Tuesday was influenced by four events: Aviation for those who were available in the morning and afternoon - some unfortunates were sitting promotion examinations whilst others were suffering from sore throats and general malaises which the reigning medical King put down to the state of Wee Wee Tim's coffee empire.

After exams and aviation in the afternoon the medical empire decreed TABT Booster jabs which were followed very quickly by noises of some two dozen pilots making swiftly away for two weeks embarkation leave.

Wednesday 5th March - Sunday 9th March

After two weeks leave spent in bidding farewell to wives and parents the young men and Offord of 208 Squadron re-assembled on the morning of Wednesday 5th March most of them looking far more dissipated than usual and all having arisen at a much earlier hour than they had been accustomed to in the two weeks' grace. Exceptions to the gathering were those who had been taking the dreaded Promotion Exams at the beginning of the leave (or so they affirmed) and claimed a further two days off.

All sorts of things happened during the leave, the most notable being the fall of Don Brimms to the marital status on February 22nd. Unfortunately nobody from the Squadron was in attendance but a telegram of good wishes for the future was despatched - although not worded exactly like that. Now domesticity has entangled him and he favours home cooking to that offered by the Mess and can be seen every lunchtime in the crewroom with lunchbox and thermos - it also saves 3/- of dinner money!

Ch 1 - Tangmere 11

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