8F ATC Squadron, Frederick Bird School

Hi John, Only just realised who you are. I was at 8F the same time as you. I knew your mate Baz Hopkins who lived in Pinners Croft next door to Smithy(Derek Smith) We are about the same age. I went to Caludon Castle after Stoke Heath Primary. Left Cally in 1964 and did an apprenticeship at Bristol Siddeley. I stayed in 8F and moved with it to Wyken. I took 6 months off in 1971 when I got married and then went back as a Civvy Instructor for 9 years. Hope you are well!

A John, while on the subject of 8f and Freddie's I wonder if you remember the flag pole situated just behind the outside toilets on the parade ground( playground ) I remember the toilets very well I was always on jankers and the only place to fill the fire buckets were the toilets I seem to have spent more time in there than deemed normal. The reason I mentioned the flag pole was because of a little episode that took place one Sunday morning just before parade, I cannot remember the Cadet's name but I think he had been a bit mouthy and you know the punishment for that was to be debagged ( a practice that is frowned upon today but when we were there it was the norm, in fact anyone who joined the Cadets could expect to go though the ritual ) anyway on this occasion the person who had his trousers removed was in for a bit of a shock, one of the Cadets shimmied up the flag pole and placed one leg of his pants over top so that the pants feel to the mast base, the only way the recover was for the poor Cadet to do the reverse action, ie climb back up the pole pushing his pants up to the top in order to release them. The only problem for him was the fact he had only his underpants on, not a pretty sight. To make matters worse, that's if they could get any worse, the Squadron secretary (her name slips my memory but I bet you will know it) came walking across the playground and as all the assembled Cadets were looking skyward she had no choice but to look skywards also to see what the lads were all looking at. Now if you can imagine it's not a pretty sight to see someone aloft with no pants and for a young girl it must have scared her for life, as for the lads, well when the shock had worn off from seeing the secretary, ( I think her name was Miss Simms ) we all fell about laughing, have to admit it was very funny. It was not long after that the order came out not to continue with the debagging or blacking and although we all thought they were spoil sports, on reflection I think it was a good call. John I wonder if you recall that little caper?. Soon be Christmas. Colin.

Sorry Colin I do not remember that one but do remember the flag pole. I know at Leuchars, summer camp, they blacked one cadet three times in one night. They went to far, he refused to wash himself after the third time and demanded to see the c/o to be sent home. The rest of us were not very pleased either and made our feelings known as well. It took a lot of time and wheedling to calm the situation down that night. The Blackers knew they would have all been demoted or kicked out. I, for myself, never ever agreed with blacking. The lad who was blacked they only done for a third time because they could not find me. They hunted high and low for me but I was clinging to the bed springs under the one bed that they would not black because he was a " favourite ", he also dare not say I was there either.

I think the Squadron Sec was called Daphne Simms who was a Bus conductress in real life.She wore really tight skirts and loved uniforms lol. Other recollections of the early sixties, Clive Cartwright arriving on his James Motorcycle and somebody turning up in a yellow GPO telephones van and a CI called Dawson with a meshersmitt 3 wheeler car. other staff were Dickie Ascough ex army officer, Gerry Barwell, Alan Hewins, John Grose, Brian Bayliss, Eddie Cartwright, Ken Stansbury, John King, WO Dennick, WO Ray Norton who eventually made Wing Commander. Ron Baber CI. John Ward always had a company car, worked for Smiths industries, John Grose was his boss at Smiths. Happy days!

Hi scrutiny and Kaga, I'm at 8F still, after joining in 2011, and we are still going strong with about 40 cadets on the books (compared to most where they have about 20-ish and we are the biggest squadron in Coventry and the only Founder squadron, one of the first 50 in England) . The type of planes we fly now are Grob Tutors and the guns we use are an air rifle (the .22 No.8 has just come out of service) and an L98A2. Here is us on Remembrance Parade 2014 (from 4:40 onwards - we are the first flight).

Great footage Steve, was that the Longford Rocker's in the black leather's?

Steve Orland, thanks, great, really enjoyed that. I thought the 8 was because at the time it was the eighth squadron to be formed. We had no training with any type of gun, or camping, what we did have was an enormous amount of time on aircraft recognition,observation etc I still have an old faded photo, in uniform must be 1942 time, try to remind myself,was young once.

Kaga, you are right. Only the first 50 squadron's formed carried the F after the number. They were formed in 1938. I think Leicester is the home to number 1F squadron. 8F is the only founder squadron in Coventry.That is what Stevie mean't. Baginton has number 84 Squadron.

scrutiny, Steve,I lost touch with 8F many years ago,only this forum has refreshed my interest, Had no idea about Baginton. I doubt there was fifty of us in my day, as fast as there was a new recruit, others would be leaving for the main force.no cadet above18, the instructors or officers, were either old or invalids, (what could be spared) But it was exciting, and a good background, I enjoyed every minute.

scrutiny, Steve, I can add little to this thread as such, but as 8F was linked to Ansty, When they ceased flying at the aerodrome, they drained the underground fuel tanks, and believe or not left it that way. A few years later we had days of heavy rain, the water got in the casing, pushed the empty fuel tanks through the concrete and tarmac up like giant grubs sticking out of the ground.Lot of red faces I assume.

Nearly right Kaga. The heavy rain caused a high water table and the tanks tried to float up. I worked at Ansty many years later and they had the same problem with the underground engine test bed tanks. the whole site suffered from a high water table and when the heavy rains came it caused problems. What they should have done was fill them with water to stop them floating. They did this on the test beds but after many years they corroded and started leaking and bobbing up. All the underground tanks were eventually taken out of service.

Blue leader, Rob, I was about to talk to Rob, I need to explain, where the members are dedicated musicians accountants, engineers etc I was not like that, I could not settle after the forces, so was here there and everywhere, now all I have is personal memories, of unusual tales, some dangerous some humorous, now if they are of no benefit to the forum or you think people don't want them then tell me Rob.because this forum is rocking my memory. 'example' Most members would read the thread about Geof Duke as such, but my memory takes me back to a argy-bargy with two dispatch riders (m p) right outside the pub in Ansty village, also for about eight-months one year I ran-jogged round the airfield, three or four times a-week, around 11/12pm at night, now I'm finding a lot of threads fit in like that. Now in case some ones going to talk about young women. I once worked at a young ladies Secretarial hostel, about 130 young ladies including staff, except me, (some-one had to move the Potatoes) Poor pay, Career-nil, sitting in a rest room with 30-40 young ladies watching tele, God was I bored. Nearly forgot Blue leader, those fuel tanks came right up, nose 6-7ft above ground, I reported them, had all sorts of people come out. By the way, was the rocket still there, and the 'saphire'and what was the other one?

keep the stories coming Kaga, they are interesting. The Rocket test was still there in the 60's and 70's. The Sapphire and Olympus, Avons, Proteus engines were all there and we visited the site many times with 8F Squadron as cadets in the 60's. The last important old engine there today is the RB199 from the Tornado. The EJ200 Eurofighter engine is there too, but all these will stop when the site closes soon.

We could hear those engines fire up in Bell Green. Norman