A Lad in the RAF.
The Auster Man.
["Don't want no water, no oil, no chocks. Just don't touch a thing!": Sketch by Joe Bosher 1959.]
RAF Church Fenton.
Visiting civil aircraft, many owned by local businessmen, would land and taxi towards me. I was doing a bit of marshalling at the time. I used to wind one particular Auster owner up by rushing out wearing my dayglow jacket carrying marshalling bats and a big oil can. If the bowser driver was around he would join in the fun by jumping in the driving seat and starting it up. Mr Starbuck would always stop on the grass in front of the hanger and use his own chocks to park. Then he would rush towards me waving his hands shouting something like "Don't touch a bloody thing. Its costing me a fortune coming here." He would then moan on that it cost him money every time I touched the plane. I think he said 7/6 for chocks?
Posh Marshalling.
Normally marshalling was quite informal but if a squadron arrived we used bats or wands. Because we had a Flying Training Group Headquarters (forget the number) there were occasions to marshall posh aircraft. For air rank official planes we wore white overalls and were inspected by the SWO for shiny boots and buttons, even those that couldn't be seen.
Let's Hear Your Stories.
I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has any stories about this aircraft; humorous, technical or historical. Any aircraft marshalling stories? Please use the Feedback Form to contact me briefly, in the first instance.
Joe Bosher (74th).