…... he has been in great demand for a variety of communication flights. Lately he has really come into his own and spend a great deal of time fetching spares from all over the Country at a full 90 knots!

The Grand Target was attained on Friday when 100% serviceability was gleefully declared by the 'C' Flight Commander Hopalong Botters. Taking an equal pride in their work the Met men maintained their consistent inaccuracy and the front they forecast for midday was last heard of, a week later, still in the middle of the Atlantic.

Two celebrations were held during the week, one on Thursday evening when the officers and NCOs gathered at the Anglesea Arms to get to know each other - later they became acquainted with Graham and his liking for poker. On Friday eveneing the Squadron was dined out by the Mess and the word was swiftly passed around that alcohol was 'on the Mess' so it became Harry Champers all round and 'chits' signed '208'. This move quickly alerted Dez who was considerably worried as his Bar Number was 208 and he had an idea that he might be footing the bill. A welcome visitor to the Guest Night was 'Mad Major' Christopher Draper one of the first COs of the Squadron, he spoke of his early memories of the Squadron and wished us good luck for the future; later in the evening he produced the film of his flight under fifteen bridges over the Thames. 'Sir' replied to the Station Commander's speech and requested that the Beligerent Stinkers (which sounded rather like Vigilant Sphinxes) should rise and drink to the future of Tangmere. The rest of the evening was a very quiet do - no opposition of any form being put up by 25 Squadron or the few folk from 1 Squadron who were present.

Several people stayed behind over the weekend to swing compasses and burn off fuel to facilitate the booster pump changes whilst for the remainder it was the 'last bit of nookey' weekend.

On Wednesday the Botterill half of the 'C' Flight Empire wandered out in the snow to help pull an aircraft from the mud into which it had strayed; he fell over and on attempting to resume the vertical discovered an interesting condition of a starboard universal knee joint. He now sports a walking stick and hobbles about his duties.

Monday March 17th - Sunday March 23rd

At last the big week arrived, the time for which everyone had been waiting was at hand and it was time to get on with the final preparations. These preparations fell into three distinct groups of which the first was the construction and assembly of maps for the route; ……

Ch 1 - Tangmere 15

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