Monday
13th January - Sunday 19th January 1958
On this fine Monday morning No 208 Squadron (UK Detachment) came into being with Squadron Leader Granville-White in command. Roy King, the B Flight Commander, Dickie Robertson and Ian Semple turned up to augment the nine pilots from 34 Squadron and in the 34's old crewroom the game was on. To start off in the right way some folk managed to pursue the dangerous pastime of aviation with Sector Recces, familiarisation trips and the dreaded cine ¼s - at - 20000 sortie; there were nine aircraft, Hunter 5s of 34 Squadron, provided by the 'C' Flt Kingdom managed by Pete Botterill. Throughout the week aircraft serviceability was very good. The Botterill Kingdom although depleted in numbers of men standing the pace very well.
Details about the formation and general administration of the Squadron were attended to during the day and in the course of looking through the list of people who arrived and who are due to arrive it was observed that we are to be loaded with a full complement of some ten Flight Lieutenants and about half a dozen IREs. On the Monday evening provisional details were given about the length of tours in Cyprus and embarkation leave. In the evening one or two attended a small 34 Squadron groundcrew party at the Anglesea Arms in the nearby village of Boxgrove whilst others arrived and unpacked.
Some more new members turned up on Tuesday 
morning namely Tom Sheppard and Dons Dewhurst and Brims. Tom S without the chauffeur that would so have completed the picture graced the gravel car park with a Rolls-Royce - thoroughly un-Air Force like and an act which had lots of airmen muttering about inequalities in pay or just saying "Cor!", "'Ere, look at this 'Enery", "D'you fink he's a lord?" etc. Don Brimms also arrived by car, an undersized Austin Seven which has oversized tyres and looks rather as though it has boots on. The final newcomer on Tuesday was Des Melaniphy who introduced himself so that we could all get checked out on pronunciation.
Most of the folk f
orming 208 (UK Detachment) are Hunter 6 pilots and after their mighty Avon-powered machines were somewhat depressed by the prospect of putting their faith in the grumbling Sapphire - this state of depression was soon dispelled by the first famil trip when it turned to sheer panic on take-off. Pete Botterill, a Hunter Five man, had his panic on take-off when half way down the runway he decided that his beast would have to remain on the ground and as a result came to rest on the ORP with flames playing around his wheels.
13th January -
morning namely Tom Sheppard and Dons Dewhurst and Brims. Tom S without the chauffeur that would so have completed the picture graced the gravel car park with a Rolls-
orming 208 (UK Detachment) are Hunter 6 pilots and after their mighty Avon-