Pen Portraits: what happened next
Pen portraits of post-graduation life, as submitted to the 69th Association newsletter over the period 1994 - 2011
Alan Smith - Aircraft Technician
Aug 1954Posted to St Athans (yet another) as an "improver" (how well they know me!). Hated it there, volunteered for everything in SRO's - turned down for aircrew, finally accepted for Bloodhound Missile Training
Oct 1956 Off to Kirkham, then BAC and finally Northcoates.
May 1960 Posted to Woomera and Edinburgh Field (South Australia) to fire Bloodhound missiles.
March 1965 Supply of missiles ran out (much to the relief of the few remaining aircraft). Posted back to Northcoates. Detached to Butterworth to instal No 33 (B/H) Sqdn in virgin jungle (complete with snakes, spiders, panthers, etc!). On return to UK started volunteering to get away from missiles!!
Aug 1967 Posted to No 33 (B/H) Sqdn, RAAF Butterworth!!
May 1971 Posted to CSDE (Swanton Morley) to establish a Missile Servicing Co-ordination Flight. Stuck with this for a few years (because I bought my first house) then started volunteering again. Tried "Golden Bowler" - got turned down; applied for career brief (for promotion to Flt Sgt) and informed by PMC that had been looked at but found wanting - try harder! One month later, promoted to acting fit sgt, paid!!!
Nov 1975 Posted to St Mawgan - real aircraft! No missiles! Heaven! After training - screened for three years. (Who says - see next line ?!)
April 1977 Posted to Bruggen to expand ESA to supply four Phantom and Jaguar sqdrs.
Oct 1979 Promoted to WO. Offered several posts including Kinloss and Macrihanish. Accepted unknown Stafford (Third/fourth line servicing). Engineering at its best, loved every minute of it!!
Dec 1982 Awarded MBE for "Services to Queen and Country" - was I that good?
July 1983 Post elevated (?) to "Flt Lt"; WO disestablished, posted to Cosford to run Weapons Training Sqdn. Absolutely wonderful post with enormous job satisfaction, until the 'Financiers' took control and started their 'penny pinching'.
August 1989 38 years of service ended, accepted full retirement with absolutely no regrets. Now pursuing hobbies such as wine brewing, DIY, gardening, tapestry, Morris Minor rallying, folk dancing, philately, holidaying, etc, as the mood takes me!!
Married 40 years to the perfect wife, having two wonderful sons (with their partners), and now one gorgeous grandson!!
- RAF Halton and the Brats
- The Aircraft Apprentices Scheme
- Clubs, Societies and Sports at Halton
- RAF Halton's goats
- Tributes to Halton and the Brats
- The 69th and the Apprentices Network, 1951
- The Presentation of the Queen's Colour, 1952
- Summer Camp, RAF Formby, 1953
- The 69th and the Queen's Coronation, 1953
- The 69th's Graduation Review, 1954
- The Senior Entry - a graduate's letter, 1954
- A full list of 69th Graduates
- Halton days: stories from the 69th
- The 69th's Burmese Brats
- The 69th's commemorative window
- 69th Entry Reunions