R.A.F.V.R. - Topcliffe - 102 Squadron - 'A' Flight - Frankfurt et al - Dalton - Orders is Orders - Sentanced to Life
Nov.'41 the Squadron moved to Dalton while they installed runways at Topcliffe.
Dalton was what they called a dispersed camp with two main sites, the airfield with buildings to house the Squadron Offices, crew rooms and for the various trades, the other site about a mile away contained the Messes, admin and stores etc.
The billet sites were dotted all over, our site was between the airfield and the Messes and consisted of four huts with ten rooms each (two to a room) with central ablutions and store room.
We were all issued with a bicycle and a pair of rubber boots as it was quite muddy.
Christmas Eve we were told that we would not be operating on Christmas day if the enemy did not, so after breakfast on Christmas morning we all stayed in the Mess. Ten-o-clock and the bar opened, of course everyone was partaking of Christmas cheer.
About 11.45 the phone rang, someone answered it and shouted, ”Ops on” so we all put on our coats, mounted our trusty bicycles and off we went, meeting up with the Officers and through the village singing Christmas carols the time we approached the airfield they became more like RAF songs, ”Lullabies”
Turning into the camp there was W/Cmdr Bintley, he took one look and shouted “You drunken Bums you are not flying my aircraft to-day” so we saluted as we went past, turned around on the tarmac and headed back for lunch.
After living with 15 other lads at Skellfield House it was a luxury to live two in a room, Jimmy Fraser and I roomed together until he was FTR from the 1000 raid on Bremen in June.
January '42 and the conversion unit arrived with Wally Lashbrook to change us over to the Halfax 11's.