The weather in the afternoon was not very good and only one form and attendant bouncing pair got airborne whilst the remainder went to the Small Arms range and practised pistol shooting - just in case the need ever arises for anyone to make like Wyatt Earp. At four in the afternoon everyone attended a lecture in the Wing Briefing Room on Communications Security which added after the usual 'Thou Shall Not' remarks that pilots' individual voices tend to break down R/T security - with five Scots, one Welshman and a New Zealander 208th are probably recorded in every Russian log book this side of the Urals.


On Wednesday evening the pilots entertained the senior NCOs at the Anglesea Arms and were then themselves plied with beer in the Sergeants' Mess. General feeling is that with one party after another, although enjoyable, the constant subscription demanding is creating a financial draught in one or two pockets.

Moose sported a large black eye on Thursday, this ignoble alteration to his smiling features had been affected by certain Naval characters from RNAS Ford against whom Moose had been engaged in a game of rugger. That was the main feature of Thursday as events conformed strictly to the snake-battle and bounce pattern. There was a quiet Dining-In Night, quiet apart from a battle between Steve and someone on One Squadron.


Showing greatest form during the week has been the small building behind the hangar which for the past two weeks has boasted an atmosphere to compete with the pig-farm's odours and a complete lack of paper.


The Met Man forecast snow after lunch on Friday so 'Sir' and Jack Gregg set out to check the veracity of the forecast. Fifteen minutes later 'Sir' returned in moderate snow and landed with fuel trouble leaving Jack up there - before the snow got much worse he too reunited wheels and runway. Snow for the remainder of the day prevented aviation and gave an excuse for a lecture and discussion on SOPs which lasted most of the morning and was followed by a film on the Aden gun. In the afternoon everyone lined up in the gymnasium to have a Yellow Fever inoculation - everyone meekly accepted the necessary evil except Moose who vociferously maintained he was immune and was up to date and didn't need them etc; he was however pumped full of fiendish little germs from the Medico's machine. The Station Commander spoke briefly to the Squadron pilots on Friday afternoon and then they went their diverse ways on a weekend.


Monday 10th February - Sunday 16th February


After a month in being the 208th (UK Detachment) started the week by becoming rather more 208 and less spare as on Monday two sparkling all-singing all-dancing Hunter 6s arrived from St Athan.

Ch 1 - Tangmere 08

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