5

No.2 I.T.S. Kirton-in-Lindsey.

If some of us thought our course at Digby was hard, then at No.2 I.T.S. Kirton-in-Lindsey (an old fighter airfield) we were in for a shock.1 There was fierce competition between the four courses undergoing training there in sequence. There was no flying. Lessons were more detailed; there were punishing cross-country runs, we were constantly watched by our superiors, and examinations, drill, and inspections were just about as tough as they could get. There was much emphasis on discipline, aerodynamics, physics, aviation law, mechanics, meteorology, aviation medicine, initiative training, and learning how to conduct oneself as an Officer. We also had to keep personal diaries which were examined each week. There was an emphasis on physical training, with particular importance attached to 'dry swim' parachute landing techniques and in how to fall properly without injury.
As can be imagined there were times when tensions ran high. Wednesdays were sports afternoons, Thursday night was bull night, Friday morning was full kit inspection, and on Saturday mornings we were on CO's Parade. We were housed in pre-war, two storey, H-style barrack blocks, one Squad to a room, two Squads to a Flight, two Flights to a course. Except in the evenings, Saturday afternoons, and Sundays, we marched everywhere. We removed the RAF 'Eagle' shoulder flashes from our uniforms to further distinguish us from the permanent staff, and we were issued with Lee Enfield rifles and bayonets for drill purposes.2
Henceforth we were addressed as 'Sir', often in various sarcastic or insinuating tones by NCOs and permanent staff, particularly when found to be ignorant of a matter, or missing the obvious in certain situations. Officers called us by our surnames. There was no escape other than to be chopped.
There were times when some Cadets would lay out the kit on their beds, and that remaining in and on their lockers for inspection late on Thursday night and, rather than disturb it or have to get up very early next morning (which most of us did), they would sleep on the hard linoleum floor of their bed spaces. A few Cadets became fanatical and even pressed creases in their pyjama trousers. One lad had his hair cut each week so that it stood up in 1" bristles - he was nicknamed 'Bog Brush'.
If we thought bull nights at Digby were tedious, those at Kirton were arduous. They are worthy of further description.
All beds and lockers had to be moved, the entire floor swept, black boot marks removed, polish applied and 'bumpered' in to bring all to a high shine.3 As this progressed the windows were cleaned streak-free and the brass window handles polished. Light shades and the tops of doors received due attention; trouble would ensue if dust was found on them during inspection the following morning. Beds and furniture were then put back at uniform distances apart to the nearest inch. Lockers were dusted all round and realigned perfectly. Everyone slithered around on pads under their feet so as further to polish the floor, and keep it polished. These pads (known to all Airmen throughout the RAF) were pieces of old blanket torn into rough 12" by 6" pieces. Pads were issued but we provided our own dusters. Communal passages had to receive similar but not so stringent attention. It was only after this routine was completed that we could turn our attention to our personal kit.
___________________________________
1 No.2 Initial Training School. This course was for budding pilots and navigators and was equivalent to, but stricter than, that at an O.C.T.U. (Officer Cadet Training Unit) attended by Cadets of other trades.
2 The eagle emblems on our shoulder flashes were known, in RAF vernacular, as 'Shite Hawks'.
3 Bumpers were heavy metal blocks pivoted on the end of long handles and used, with pads underneath, to polish our brown linoleum floors. Much energy was expended when doing this.
10