The RAF in Suffolk

Just to put you in the picture who I am:

John Cooper

Born Cricklade, Wiltshire 14th July 1939, my father was based in the RAF at nearby South Cerney in Gloucestershire

My early years took me to where my father was based until I too 'joined up' so my formative years were based on and around aviation thus:

1940-45 lived at Empingham, Rutland [whilst father was in South Africa at an Empire Test Flying School] My earliest recollection of aviation was seeing a Tiger Moth crash in a field and the USA Army en route to the East Coast from Liverpool in huge convoys

1946-1947 I travelled from Tilbury, Essex to/from RAF Khormaksar, Aden by Troopships HMT Orbita/Orman via The Suez Canal and return via Liverpool in that horrendous winter of 1947

1947-1950 Was at RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire, I recall my Dad working all the hours on the Berlin Airlift with Avro Yorks, Dakotas [there were still some WWII gliders on the drome Horsas and Box/Hamilcars] We moved on when the USAF Strategic Air Command moved in with their huge B47 Jets

1950-55 RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire here my Pa was promoted to Warrant Officer and ran ASF [Aircraft Servicing Flight] it was whilst here that I flew in many aircraft and types and amassed a huge amount of flying hours as a kid of 14 onwards with the Air Training Corps [2189 Squadron Calne]. I went to Tech College studying engineering at Swindon College

1955-56 RAF St Eval, Cornwall although my Dad was i/c ASF at St Mawgan we lived at 'Eval' I went to Camborne Tech College continuing my studies in Engineering [although my father really wanted me to go into farming, I'm glad I didn't otherwise I would be boring you all with Claas Combined Harvesters and the like]

1956-57 I now joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice at RAF Halton electing the trade of Aircraft Engine, after much medical treatment and not wanting any more of this training I opted for an Engine Mechanics Course

1957-58 RAF Weeton, much time spent here undergoing hospital treatment

Through 1958 til Dec 12th I flew out to RAF Seletar Singapore by Airwork Hermes G-ALDC arriving on the day of the Man Utd Munich Ambassador Crash. At Seletar I was posted to The Far East Flying Boat Wing 205/209 Squadrons flying Short Sunderland MRV Flying Boats, this was the last Squadrons flying any Seaplane/FB in the RAF

1958-60 I and many others became surplus to requirements and I was posted to RAF Negombo [Staging Post] in Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] with detachments to RAF Changi [Singapore] and RAF Gan [Maldives]

March 1st 1960 RAF Gan I nearly lost my life in a Hastings crash story here:
http://splashdown2.tripod.com/index.html

!960-63 Posted to Number 201 Squadron RAF St Mawgan [Cornwall] this was originally the first squadron of aircraft in the world known then as No. 1 Squadron RNAS. This unit flew MR3 Shackletons, I flew with these aircraft to many different places

1963-65 Posted to RAF El Adem, Tobruk, Libya a Staging Post

1965-67 Posted to RAF Stradishall where the last flight of Meteor NF14s were based and being replaced by DH [BAe] Dominie 125's but Varsity aircraft also stationed here

1967-69 Posted to 29 [F] Squadron RAF Wattisham on F3 Lightnings this unit was once based at MH with Blenheims

July 13th 1969 End of Service Engagement

To follow a brief history of my Dad Joseph Cooper with some rare period photos from the RAF of 1929.............