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WHEN WERE YOU THERE?
by FLTLT Tom Russell
I arrived at the Squadron in the middle of '42,
Young and fresh, very eager to be in 'the Blue'.
We were at Amyria, a place near Alamein,
Were you there too? ... and did you feel the same?
Gibby was our CO; Danny and Keith had the Flights,
Remember Danny singing 'Danny Boy'? Oh ... those nights!
Happy times in the mess, when stories were told,
By the pilots before us ... truly "the Brave and the Bold".
The 'erks' * of all trades were quite a different lot,
Just ask them for anything, and that's what you got.
The skills they displayed in the jobs that they did,
Like keeping the aircraft 'top class' ... I dips me lid.
When the time arrived to take ourselves off,
We would walk to the aircraft ... 3 P's and a cough.
Into the seat and they'd help you strap tight,
Then a pat on the shoulder ... thumbs-up ... "You'll be right".
The cooks were terrific, they'd agree of course,
But sometimes bully-beef tasted like meat from a horse!
Though the times I remember most are the 5am starts,
Always a hot cuppa before the aircraft departs.
These are some memories of the Squadron I knew,
I can't recall everyone, but I remember YOU.
So when you are thinking of your times ... good or bad,
Think of the friendships you made ... be thankful and glad.
* The term "erks" was a nick-name applied to non-ranking aircraftsmen of all musterings