Dead Ambassador, Obese Minister, The Final Posting

Ernest Bevin arrives in Gatow

In 1953 the Squadron once again had to move, this time to RAF Dishforth. Command had said, “other than a couple of Queen Marys you will move yourself.” So not only had we to maintain all our schedules but constantly fly to and fro to Dishforth carrying everything you could lay your hands on, jacks, spares, filing cabinets, mod kits, tow bars, furniture etc.

3 small incidents happened at Dishforth. The Turkish Ambassador died in London and the Squadron had the task of flying him home. Rear seats, dining tables and bulkheads at the rear of the VIP Valettas were removed. White ropes bordered the area of the coffin. The aircrew, we understand, were presented with gold watches for their efforts.

Then there was the rather amusing incident told to me by a quartermaster on one of the VIP aircraft. They were flying Ernest Bevin, the huge Labour Foreign Minister, to Germany. On boarding the aircraft at Northholt he slowly eased himself down into his seat and the AQM (Air Quarter Master) went to help fasten his seat belt. The ends failed to meet even at extreme length. He looked up at the AQM and said with a smile on his face, “Ee, lad, you'll have to get a bigger bugger than that.” I guess you never lose your roots.

Again an incident with one of the VIP aircraft. It was carrying a party of government officials and their secretaries to Germany. Over France, when flying straight and level, 'George' suddenly became airborne. One official, his head went through the netting of the luggage rack in the roof and when the pilot took over and straightened the aircraft out he was still suspended by the neck with his feet on the seat until the AQM cut him loose.

It appeared that the Valletta C1, the Freighter, had been cleared for autopilot use but not the C2, the VIP aircraft. Autopilot fuses were removed immediately and stayed removed for a very long time.

After completing the Aircraft Fitter's Course at St Athens I returned to the Squadron for another year or so but was finally posted to RAF Lynham to join the Command Mobile Servicings unit which travelled the world carrying out engine changes etc. on Transport Command aircraft.

Two months at Lyneham saw my Flight Sergeant arrive with an amazing posting back to Dishforth to take over the team which carried out the 2^nd Line Servicing i.e. Base Inspections of 30 Squadron aircraft. So though belonging to Dishforth I was still connected to the Squadron. The connection was finally broken when I was posted to RAF Changi, Singapore in September 1957. 10 years.

-written in February 1998

Here marks the end of DT's war memoirs. He died peacefully aged 100 this year. I hope that these memoirs assist war historians, RAF researchers and aeronautical enthusiasts somewhere. RIP Uncle DT.