The World War II Story of My Aunt

The World War II Story of My Aunt

Before World War 2 started my Great Aunt lived in Kilkenny, in

Ireland, and then she came over to England at the beginning of the war

to join the forces. She spent her first four years training at a

special camp for flight mechanics. After a long four years she went to

Hereford for 6 months were she learnt to use the tools involved in

mechanics and about aerodynamics. Next she was moved to Northholt

which was a special school for pilots learning to fly at night. When

she was there she looked after all the planes including lots of tiger

moths.

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During her time at Northholt my Great Aunt and one of her friends were

checking one of the planes between two of the hangers. My Great Aunt

was holding the tail of the plane while her friend started the engine.

Then a huge gust of wind came between the hangers and the plane, witch

had its propeller going, was flipped up into the air with My Great

Aunt still holding onto the tail. Luckily she was not hurt but it was

a funny moment for her to remember during her time at Northholt.

After that she went to Helton where they were training WAF's (women's

air force) until she was moved again to Harlow. Here planes from all

over the country came for repair. Part of her job was to mend

spitfires and to put bomb racks onto planes but the main part of her

job was to build Hurricanes. All the bits had been transported over

from Canada and they were then build in England. The only problem was

that the last five planes did not have enough parts because some of

the pilots would come along at take parts which they needed for their

own planes. My Great Aunt stayed there for the rest of the war. Then

at the end of the war she was demobilized (demobed).

After the war her mother persuaded her to do a flower course and she