Training in Ramsgate, 1937
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"Summer, 1937 saw the part-time squadron flying its nine Avro
Tutors and Hawker Harts down south to Ramsgate for a two week long 'Summer
Camp'. This appears to have been regarded as something of a paid holiday
by many of its pilots, some of whom gained the unnerving (though valuable)
experience of flying and landing whilst still suffering the after-effects
of a previous night out in nearby London."
(Extract from The History of 609 Squadron by Frank Ziegler.)
Jack Lister describes his first flight:
"We were at Ramsgate Airfield for the 1937 camp. We were still a bomber
squadron in those days and out aircraft were Hawker Harts. One day the
officer in charge of the photo section, PO Drummond-Hay, came along and
offered to give us all a short flight".....
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....."I had never ever flown and awaited my turn with eager
anticipation as I was being prepared (parachute and harness fitted).
I then realised I would be standing behind the pilot and wondered
would I fall out if he looped the loop."...... |
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....."However there was a wire anchored to the floor and
the other end had a fitting which in some way fastened to the harness.
It gave me some comfort to know I was now part of the aircraft and
there was no way that sort of accident could happen."
"Hawker Harts had no canopy to protect the crew from the elements
so it was rather breezy when airborne. Ramsgate airport was just
a grass field so we bumped our way to the edge and took off.".....
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....."We did not fly very high and as we flew along the
coast over Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate, some of the people
on the beach waved to us. Coming back we took the inland route to
the airfield."
"Coming down I expected to get that sinking feeling but with
the excitement of the flight I was too thrilled to have any feelings
until we were bumping along the ground. The whole flight was a sensation
I have never forgotten."
(From an article in Tally Ho - the 609 Squadron Association
Newsletter by Jack Lister.) |
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609 Auxiliaries at Ramsgate Camp in 1937.
From left to right then top to bottom: P Kendall, Cpl Daniels,
L Garrit, J Lister, R Parke |
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John Payne
A mechanic with 609 squadron, relaxing in his tent at Ramsgate
Camp.
My grandparents would keep in touch with John Payne until his death
in the 1990s. He would be a regular dancing partner to my grandmother
who remembers he was particularly good at quickstep. |
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Boulton Paul Overstrand
Piloted by flying instructor Flight Lieutenant N Odbert. It was
presumably used to transport 609 Auxiliaries from their base at
Yeadon to Ramsgate Camp. |
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A pre-war group photograph of 609 squadron
The photograph includes both pilots and ground crew.
Jack Lister is 8th from the left in the bottom row. |
Next: Fun in Broadstairs - 609 Off Duty
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