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RAF Training
After working in Woolwich Arsenal, both in Woolwich and at
Knockholt (Fort Halstead) in Kent, developing lightweight (bakelite) hand
grenades Leslie decided to leave his ‘reserved occupation’ and apply to join the
RAF, a plan that was hastened when he discovered that the Arsenal had filled in
his exemption certificate wrongly and it went unregistered, a mistake which led
to a policeman knocking on his mother’s door - then in
Ealing, West London,
after a bomb had destroyed their old house alongside the docks.
He was was first instructed to report to
Cardington and from there went to Skegness for initial training.
Two photographs taken in Skegness on 5th March 1941. On the
right is ‘5 Squad of A Flight’. Note that not all of these recruits have yet
been issued with a uniform. (Middle row, third from left.)
After training, 138 Squadron
became ‘home’.
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