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Momories of M.T.R.I., 1948

By Tom Cuthbert (in Canada since 1952)

Hi Paul,

Both photographs below are from 1948 and really there is nothing exiting behind them. As you may have observed, we were not part of the glamorous pilot cadet unit of that time. All of the people pictured including myself were part of the maintenance group, our officer was Flt .Lt .Ashbee.

A little more detail which you might find of interest----- we were housed in the #1Barack block, the first building on the left as you passed the Guard house. Between us and the guard house there was a wooden structure which for a period of time was occupied by a number of civilians from Northern Ireland who were contracted to paint the hangers. (This may have been the wooden church? Paul)

My close friend at that time, Tommy McAleer was also Irish which led to many interesting social get togethers .To complete this picture the American Air base was at Lakenheath at that time and they were usually included in the gatherings which ultimately leads to the end of my story. Without fail we could always depend on the Yanks to show up in a couple of jeeps on a Sunday morning, bribe their way past the guard room and deliver copious amounts of the "hair of the dog" to the Irishmen.

The parties took place in Feltwell (Chequers), Thetford and as far away as Kings Lynn.

The Chequers part I would like to address again, if you are interested in the local material.

Before ending I meant to include earlier that the pilot cadets always began their training in one of a couple of old Tiger Moths which were based here. Tried one once after a maintenance check,-----preferred terra firma thank you!

In the truck Chic Hunt Back row - Jeff, Dawkins Jock Wilson, Ken Punt, Whittle and Spellman----- Frontt row - Grant, Hewitt, Mitchell, Gibson,  Robinson, Davenport	Extreme left, yours truly, age 19, 1948. On my left George Winstanley from Wigan, the others I have no record.
Clicking on this Sports Day image will load a 1.6mb file in which you can read the names, etc.	RAF Feltwell versus Thetford Town, 25th September 1948. It looks like Tom was in goal.  Again, another large file to view if clicked.

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