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51 OTU Cranfield
At Cranfield the maintenance and operation of the radar equipment was initially centred on a workshop in one of the hangars, but this was eventually moved, primarily for the sake of security, to a large hut on the opposite side of the field. It was well over a mile away and the bicycle was the normal mode of travel. However, it was only a few minutes walk from the workshop to the village of Cranfield and Pam's restaurant, which somehow always managed to have eggs, chips (fries) and sausages in spite of rationing. Of course it was forbidden to climb the barbed wire perimeter fence, but Pam's was always full of hungry airmen.
Cranfield was built as a permanent air base several years before the start of the war. A modern cinema had been built in the village specifically to cater to the needs of the service people stationed there. It was the only cinema for miles around, and was always full, but tickets were expensive for the comparatively lowly paid "Erks" (Newly recruited airmen and airwomen). The commanding officer of the base was Group Captain Fullergood. He was said to be ex Indian Army and was every bit the typical officer as portrayed by the movies. A large moustache and a tall upright figure, he could instill fear into anyone who crossed his path. He was a strict disciplinarian, but fair and with a keen sense of humor, and Cranfield was a happy and well-run camp. Fullergood visited the cinema owner in the village and suggested that a reduction in ticket prices would assist morale especially as the huge increase in personnel now provided full houses at every show. The owner declined and Fullergood immediately began construction of our own camp cinema. A workshop that had been used for the repair of the old fabric covered planes was gutted and rebuilt. The result was a modern and very comfortable theatre holding around 600 people. Movies were shown twice each night Monday to Saturday and stage shows on Sundays. I worked here in the evenings as a volunteer and learned the skills of the cinema operator. We ran the projectors during the week and on Sunday we helped put on the stage show.
We had a choice of every film available, but the winner of all times was "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby. Every few months we would become inundated with requests, and once again we would show "White Christmas". One fascinating film we received was the original movie taken on Scott's last expedition to the South Pole. It was a rare opportunity to view history and we had to treat the film with the greatest care. On the stage we had whoever was sent to us, with little choice. It did not matter; we always had a happy evening whether it was a well-known star or hard working amateurs. One memorable evening we enjoyed the talents of Gertrude Lawrence and it was fascinating to watch her bring the entire audience under her spell. After Pearl Harbor we had the comradeship of our neighboring American airbase, and their airmen were also welcomed at our shows. We were very excited when we learned that Glen Miller was to perform at their base but I was not able to get to the show although our people were invited. The next day Glen Miller took off from our little satellite field at Twinwood Farms and was never heard of again.
For most of the time I was at Cranfield we worked a normal day in the workshop where we repaired and serviced the equipment that was removed routinely from the aircraft for a thorough check. A team was attached to each squadron to check the radar on the aircraft before the day's flying began and when any problem arose. They also had to arm the IFF (Identification Friend or For) equipment immediately prior to take off. Power for checking the radar was supplied by a small gasoline powered generator mounted with two large batteries on a two-wheeled cart that we pushed from plane to plane. The squadron teams had to be available whenever aircraft were flying, which could involve very long hours when the weather was fine. When the weather was bad they often enjoyed a great deal of free time, and we all listened for the call over the loudspeakers. "Because of weather conditions flying for tonight is cancelled". There were other duties to be carried out, running the various air crew training devices, maintaining nav equipment such as beacons and so on, but inevitably when flying was cancelled we all had more free time.
As D-Day approached the work became harder and the hours longer. Eventually we all worked a 24 hours on and 24 hours off schedule, and that spring and summer I frequently slept out on the field while waiting for returning aircraft. On one occasion no one called me and I woke covered with dew, to find all the aircraft had returned and everyone left for their quarters. There was concern that the start of the invasion could trigger off commando raids on our airfields and a machine gun post was built outside our radar section, which was to prevent an unexpected attack. We were all supposed to take a short course in operating the weapons, although I managed to avoid it. It was manned for several weeks around D-Day but when nothing happened it was dismantled. Of course we did not know when D-Day was to take place although it was obvious that something was afoot, especially when all leave was cancelled and no one was allowed to leave the camp. A few weeks earlier a huge glider had landed in some fields nearby and to avoid it being seen by too many people it had to be quickly retrieved. There was no time to dismantle it so it was towed along the road to camp, the telephone poles at the side of the road being pulled down to allow the wings to pass without damage. It only sat on the field for a few hours and was then towed off. Very early on the morning of D-Day formations of planes began flying over the field. We stood in amazement as they filled the sky for hours stretching from one horizon to the other.
When I first joined the service, the idea of women doing anything but serve in the cookhouse, do office work, or assist in the medical centre would have been considered impossible. They had for some time operated the ground radar stations and control centres, but these were all considered "women's work". Several lost their lives during bombing attacks, and the male radar mechanics had a high regard for their skills and respect for their tenacity under fire. It was not long before we had WAAFs (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) driving trucks and taking over more and more of the tougher duties on the squadrons. I remember my surprise one day when going to service a plane in one of the hangars to find a woman clad in coveralls working on one of the engines. We always had WAAFs carrying out ancillary duties in the radar section and very soon we began to receive the first women radar mechanics. Going from an "all male" operation required some changes in behaviour and attitude, but it was not long before they became an accepted part of the service in almost every task. Inevitably from time to time the natural reactions between the sexes overcame the comradeship and we would loose one of our girls who had become pregnant.
Life varied considerably from camp to camp. Cranfield was self-contained although rather overcrowded, with an excellent library, a good canteen and facilities for sports and hobbies; Food was excellent, the catering officer being in civilian life the chief chef from the Savoy Hotel. Much of the credit for all of this went to Group Captain Fullergood, a strict disciplinarian but a fair and effective leader. I experienced several different camps during my time in the RAF, some for only a few days, but I always found that one rule applied. The stricter the discipline the better the facilities and the happier the camp.
Ralph has been a US citizen for the past 30 years and the Cranfield Express would like to thank him dearly for his memories ... Peter Hinson
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