By Frank Reeve
People in story;- Myself and F/O Manawalla (dec)
Location of story;- A.I.D; Unit R.A.F; Winthorpe ,Newark, Notts
This was the base of the New A.I.D; Inspection Unit, which consisted of six Inspectors under the Command of a brilliant Engineering Officer, F/O; Mandawalla. Every call into the office indicated another urgent A.I.D; inspection was under way, it was impossible guess what or where it might be. A newly installed Merlin engine down on power, that meant a ground test and reject to be returned to whatever unit had rebuilt it. Ground testing had to be 100% sure, sure that a Pilot would get off when he was called upon. I seemed to get good deal of calls for ground testing Spitfires, this involved a rough journey in Dispatch Riders side-car down to the Dunlop testing unit near Birmingham, it involved putting the Spit through its paces up to take-off, shut down and sign its documents as fit to fly. Then back to Newark for the next job, I was getting used to this trip when I remembered one Spitfire was a regular?? what was happening I found out was that the Dunlop Test Pilot was bringing the fighter in under conditions that a "Rookie pilot might do, with the Brakes still on. That tipped the Spit on its nose, a new propellor another A.I.D; test and back to work. Of course as you would expect there was a Unit Car and WAFF driver, but I think that was for the F/O.....That brings my "True Stories" to a close.....The only remaining task was a quick dash to a tempory demobilisation centre collect my Suit, Over-coat and trillby and railway warrant together with 56 days leave.....No hand-shakes or Thank You very much. Some-one had just taken Six Years of my Life..
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