I was born in the UK in 1927, just nine months after the General Strike. I was 12 years old at the outbreak of World War II in 1939. However, I did manage to survive the blitz and the doodlebugs in London and joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps (this later became the Air Training Corps).
In 1944, at age 17, I joined the RAFVR under the Pilot/Navigator/Bomb Aimer Scheme. By this stage of the war aircrew were two-a-penny so "they" sent me to the School of Oriental and African Studies and force-fed me with Japanese, which got me to Burma to see out the end of the war in the "Y" Service.
With a Release Group number of astronomical proportions I took the easy option of commissioning which saw me in Kandy and Katukurunda in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
I went back to the UK for a stint at USAF Burtonwood for Operation Vittles (the American version of the Berlin Airlift) before I managed to break free and get myself back overseas to RAF Changi as an Air Mover. We had an Air Commodore who used to say "Gentlemen... in England you starve; overseas you starve like gentlemen" which coloured my whole career thereafter.
In 1944, at age 17, I joined the RAFVR under the Pilot/Navigator/Bomb Aimer Scheme. By this stage of the war aircrew were two-a-penny so "they" sent me to the School of Oriental and African Studies and force-fed me with Japanese, which got me to Burma to see out the end of the war in the "Y" Service.
With a Release Group number of astronomical proportions I took the easy option of commissioning which saw me in Kandy and Katukurunda in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
I went back to the UK for a stint at USAF Burtonwood for Operation Vittles (the American version of the Berlin Airlift) before I managed to break free and get myself back overseas to RAF Changi as an Air Mover. We had an Air Commodore who used to say "Gentlemen... in England you starve; overseas you starve like gentlemen" which coloured my whole career thereafter.
After a full tour, which included opening the Air Movements Sections in Butterworth and Labuan, I managed to wangle myself an extra tour as Air Movements Adviser to the Burma Air Force. My penance was three years with E40 at the Air Ministry, but by the late fifties I found myself back in Changi... this time at HQFEAF.
I spent three years as Chief Equipment Instructor (Movements) at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and then I was back overseas again...this time to HQMEC in Aden. I was on the Joint Movements Planning Staff, where my particular role was writing war plans for the theatre and then going off to do them when they happened.
This brought me into the MAMS world, and I had a ball with such ventures as the Radfan - flying in on a twin rotor Belvedere to the MAMS Unit in the Radfan (Don Cleland) with a kerosene fridge underslung and the beer on board! Also moving the Strategic Reserve through Nairobi, Kenya into such interesting spots as Swaziland and Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. I suppose my claim to fame (if any) could be said to be flying in with MAMS (again Don Cleland) to Salisbury and signing for 780 breakfasts at the Airport Restaurant (and living in fear of retribution thereafter!)
We actually took off for Zanzibar on one occasion, but thought better of it when we heard that the airfield anti-aircraft protection was manned by Russian advisers, and did a smart 180!
Resigning my commission after 21 eventful years, I betook me to the Faculty of Education, Bristol University, to qualify myself to teach.
I spent three years as Chief Equipment Instructor (Movements) at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and then I was back overseas again...this time to HQMEC in Aden. I was on the Joint Movements Planning Staff, where my particular role was writing war plans for the theatre and then going off to do them when they happened.
This brought me into the MAMS world, and I had a ball with such ventures as the Radfan - flying in on a twin rotor Belvedere to the MAMS Unit in the Radfan (Don Cleland) with a kerosene fridge underslung and the beer on board! Also moving the Strategic Reserve through Nairobi, Kenya into such interesting spots as Swaziland and Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. I suppose my claim to fame (if any) could be said to be flying in with MAMS (again Don Cleland) to Salisbury and signing for 780 breakfasts at the Airport Restaurant (and living in fear of retribution thereafter!)
We actually took off for Zanzibar on one occasion, but thought better of it when we heard that the airfield anti-aircraft protection was manned by Russian advisers, and did a smart 180!
Resigning my commission after 21 eventful years, I betook me to the Faculty of Education, Bristol University, to qualify myself to teach.
After spells in Cheltenham and St Austell, I managed to get myself overseas again and spent 21 happy years in New Zealand, nine of them as deputy head of an Anglican Boys School in Hamilton, on the North Island.
20 years ago, we removed to this Paradise in Queensland...I wish I'd found it ten years earlier....and now live in happy retirement (for the fourth time ) with my wife, my dogs, my books, fishing rod and computer.
I'll be very happy to spend time corresponding with anyone who cares to write.
I have a son living in West Belfast [has since died]. Meanwhile an architect son and his family live in Brisbane; a piano teacher daughter and her tribe in Melbourne; a businessman son and a sculptress daughter in North Island New Zealand
Thus with grandchildren older than my daughter I can claim something or other! I manage to keep young by continuing to run lawn bowls sessions. At 86 I’m by no means the oldest member!
20 years ago, we removed to this Paradise in Queensland...I wish I'd found it ten years earlier....and now live in happy retirement (for the fourth time ) with my wife, my dogs, my books, fishing rod and computer.
I'll be very happy to spend time corresponding with anyone who cares to write.
I have a son living in West Belfast [has since died]. Meanwhile an architect son and his family live in Brisbane; a piano teacher daughter and her tribe in Melbourne; a businessman son and a sculptress daughter in North Island New Zealand
Thus with grandchildren older than my daughter I can claim something or other! I manage to keep young by continuing to run lawn bowls sessions. At 86 I’m by no means the oldest member!
[Last updated September, 2013]
Squadron Leader Jack Riley, RAF (Retd)
