We had arrived in mid-afternoon, some hours before the main party drew in on their special train. During that time Johnny MacKnish and I were the only 93 Squadron Officers present.
The purpose of RAF Sylt was to accommodate Squadrons on detachment for live gunnery practice over the sea. Their personnel were well rehearsed in allocating accommodation and directing newcomers to their various destinations, so there was no problem with our settling in. I had to inform both the Station Adjutant and the MTO of our railway 'adventure'. In proper RAF fashion, forms had to be filled in for each damaged vehicle. Had they been only 'paint jobs' we would have said nothing, but some metal had been bent, and there was the matter of the Opel Kapitän.
The Boss, Sqn.Ldr. Allen, arrived with the other pilots and aircraft next day. He had to be informed but wasn't too bothered. I had to fill in five Forms FMT3, in triplicate. These are multi-page documents and each had to be accompanied by an appropriate memo. There was a snag. Johnny MacKnish, as Squadron Adjutant and therefore responsible for providing the Orderly Room and Admin facilities, had omitted to ensure that a typewriter had been brought from Jever - and there was no carbon paper. Rather than for the Squadron to lose face by admitting this omission to others, the Boss told me to complete all these forms by hand; a job which took several days (between other activities) whilst sitting at the end of the Crew Room table, and amid the inevitable distractions.
Whilst not wishing to give a detailed flight-by-flight account of my activities I shall mention, primarily, the significant sorties and events on the ground.
Winter had set in and frost was generally widespread. Added to this the island as subject to poor visibility and unforecastable banks of low cloud and fog drifting in from over the North Sea. It could also be very windy. Towing aircraft (Tempest) serviceability also had its effect on the flying programme. My first flight, on the last day of 1953, was a case in point. Once airborne, I made contact with the tug pilot, only to be told that he was returning to base owing to a snag with his aircraft. I flew a Sector Recce instead and was airborne for 35 minutes.1
In the evening there was a dance in the Mess but a few of us opted to go into Westerland, the main town on the island, instead. Some of us had been to Sylt before and knew of a restaurant where we could get a good meal. There, I can remember having, among other things, Känguruhschwanzsuppe (kangaroo tail soup) for the first time in my life.2 On the way back to camp the youth of the area were letting off fireworks, mostly bangers, to celebrate the New Year, and took the opportunity to drop or throw many of such close to us to test our reactions.3 Our British stiff upper lips held sway and no satisfaction was allowed these revellers.
The very next day, with many pilots nursing hangovers, mercifully there was low cloud and no flying in the morning. However, Bernie Revnell and I went to Hamburg to represent the Squadron at the funeral of Plt.Off. Stacey of 4 Squadron who had been killed in a flying accident at Jever on December 28th. His funeral, a cremation, was with full military honours. It was a particularly sombre occasion in the freezing weather. The deceased's family had been flown in by the RAF and it was up to us all to help comfort them as much as we could. One of the Bearers, a brother Officer from 4 Squadron, had to go 'behind the scenes' at the crematorium to witness the destruction of Plt.Off. Stacey's body. This was done without his family knowing and was apparently to comply with regulations in force at the time. Bernie and I
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1 This was to familiarise myself with the lie of the land, location of firing ranges, etc.
2 I was surprised at the availability of such 'exotic' food. There were also bananas and sweets available in the shops, off ration, and all this in a 'defeated' nation. Back in the UK such items were scarce to non-existent and rationing was still in force.
3 This was the first time I had heard of fireworks being used in the New Year celebrations. It certainly didn't happen at home. I knew the Chinese used firecrackers at their New Year but that was all.
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