The 'Introduce yourself' Thread

cookm;144698 wrote:

Hi Peter,

I have a DJI Phantom quadcopter. After over 40 years of involvement in model aircraft and photography, I reckon that the combination of the Phantom carrying a GoPro Hero3 camera attached to a motorised gimbal mount gives some of the best photos (and video!) I have ever taken!

Martin

Welcome to the forum Martin.
That's a useful piece of equipment, the ARG could have done with the use of one of those on a number of occasions in recent times!

Thanks. I try to keep up but I think technology is advancing faster than me!

An estate agent in my location is using a quadcopter to image desirable properties from a 'bird's eye' view to give that extra selling point.

Peter, I don't know if you've seen my post in the Dorset, Warmwell section but I'd be very grateful for any help you could offer me there...
Cheers,
Martin

Yes, I did read it but can't suggest a source for contemporary images.

flyinghigh;144689 wrote:

Hello PETERTHEEATER,

Yes many long slow journeys, made slower in some cases by bombing. My longest journey on leave, going up to see my fiancee in Dundee Scotland, when it took 14 hours from London to Edinburgh.

After being posted from Hestlington Hall we were to fly down to Waterbeach, minds were changed when they realised trucks were going to go there anyway, and so 2 truck loads of WAAF and airmen started and it took 2 days.

My arrival at Sturgate Gainsborough.
When the train moved out there were 15 WAAF on the platform; all strangers. Picked up by a truck, taken to what was to be the waaf site, usual huts; very run down; no doors on either end, no pot bellied stove, beds pretty rusty,cows still in the field, DECEMBER. Blanket & biscuits bought later. Overcoats very useful.
Sarge came to show us the mess and other building we had to sign into.
Generally you were called to see the Waaf Officer (on dispersed camps) within 48 hrs, informed her of our problem, next day two doors; pot bellied stove, box coal ( this is where I learned to make paper sticks) ammunition box for our kit and a nail banged in the wall for our coats (we did get tin waldrobes later).
Apart from the FIDO unit and 15 waaf (we were the first to arrive) we learned there were almost 2,000 men; staff and aircrew (moving).
The aircrew were on a moving system; they stayed for a few days a week ?? and then moved out. They were all men who had lost part of the crew and came to be re-crewed, we knew them for such a short time, when they left it was to go on more missions.
I had found by chance this hut which was a stores for bedding the elderly RAF bod (most likely only in his forties, but at 19 he was old) always had a fire going always seem to have hot water and tea, after finishing duty some of us gathered there with the aircrew drinking tea without sugar or milk, as he would quote" yorkshire way".
Some how he got to know when some we had met did not make it, it was just another day.
The waaf site was far away from the main fido and buildings, we could see of course when it activated ,we were not issued with bikes; so life went on in a really small area.
Hope this will be of interest.
rose

Thanks Rose. I like to hear and read first hand accounts from that era. It adds life to the bricks and concrete.

Hello Rose,

Welcome to the forum

At what time were you at Netheravon? Just curious if it was when the Glider Pilot Regiment used to train there with their gliders.

OneEighthBit;144784 wrote:

Hello Rose,

Welcome to the forum

At what time were you at Netheravon? Just curious if it was when the Glider Pilot Regiment used to train there with their gliders.

Hello One Eight Bit,
Was posted to Netheravon about 6 weeks befor the great Storm of 1946/7.
It was not a happy camp for me being posted once again away from friends; and it was very bleak and cold, there I worked in the Medical Centre which was lovely & warm and very friendly.
Most camps I was posted to I did different work.

To explain when we left basic training the whole intake came out as Batwomen told to remuster when we arrived at our camps, mine was Lindholme Doncaster,I requested to see the WAAF Officer and told her; I came to see about remuster and was told I had to be in 6 months before that could happen; I was not happy; her comment "the only thing she could do was change me a G / D" and so was always posted as a G/D. Then I was posted before the six months was up ?.

Netheravon while I was there was a grave yard for gliders; fields of them.

We also still had German Prisoners of War at the camp; they use to make photo frames from the windscreens and would sell them to the personal, they had a small business going if you gave them a snap they would make you a frame to fit it, gave them one of my Sister; but guess what I was posted again; because of the storm.

The storm of 1946/7 was horrendous for days we walked in blizzards, the snow was as high as the telephone wires, never seen anything like it before or since ( having been born in the Eastend of London). Not sure how long it went on but as soon as a truck came through all Waaf Personal were taken out; it was a journey to remember. The snow eased off the nearer we reached Salisbury; the storm was actually over.
I was posted to Heslington Hall Now part of York Unniversty.
England was under water, as I looked out of the window all you could see was water; all the way up to York, and when I arrived half of York was under water, (so nothing has changed). Just incase you would like to know at Hesligton Hall I did internal post; so was lucky enough to be trucked into York several times a week.

Rose

Paul wrote:

Thanks very much Rose, your stories are priceless and of great interest to us - more please!

I second that ! A complete pleasure to read. Anymore Rose that you may have..