Arsenaal NR 24 2015

November 11, 2015
SPECIAL THEME
George Edward
Jones: LIFE IN THE
RAF: Part two
When we arrived in Grosse Isle
there was a police escort on motor
cycles to take us from the station to
the camp. But in Pensacola just a US
Navy bus and the resident R.A.F.
Officer.
We were housed in very nice barrack
blocks only about a quarter of a mile
from the beach There were about
ten double bunks to each room with
showers and toilets all attached on
the first floor. Down below was a
large dining hall and various offices.
Also at the bottom and the top of
each stairway was a coca cola
machine which provided an ice cold
bottle without fail for one nickel coin
(5 cents at that time or 3d). The rate
of exchange was $4 to £1.
US navy cadets were in the same
block and from now on we were
mixed together for training. All
cadets were obliged to have two
years College before acceptance
but the academic qualities of some
of the Colleges were extremely
doubtful. The same cadets were
under the authority of their cadet
officers, very much so. We more or
less elected our own officers but as
we were all the same rank their
authority only extended to calling
the roll at the morning parade and
issuing orders for marching etc. The
weather was very good and hot but
not unpleasant. It was however too
hot for our normal blue uniforms.
Incidentally, we travelled from
Grosse Isle to Pensacola in our
civilian clothes as the US were still
neutral.
THE THIRD INSTALMENT
BEGINS HERE:
U.S.PENSACOLA
The train journey started in
Detroit with an overnight run
to Cincinna6 and sleepers
were provided. Then another
two nights and two and a half
days later we arrived in
Pensacola. It made us all
realise for the first 6me what a
large country we were in. The
nicest scenery on the way
south was in Kentucky.
Magazine ‘T Arsenaal• 18