"The snow flurried down onto an already white land. The yellow-grey sky gave a promise of more to come. The Lancashire countryside looked like a Christmas card, with the exception of a large rectangular-shaped mound that protruded from the ground like some ancient burial site. On a levelled piece of ground at the side of the mound stood a number of parked vehicles; three lorries, their canvas backs sagging under the weight of snow and three utility-looking coaches. Just in front of one of the lorries stood a signboard which bore the words ‘Royal Air Force Police Dogs Patrol This Area’."
This was RAF Longley Lane, one of a chain of underground operation centres used in the defence of Great Britain and part of a wider system which formed the ‘eyes and ears’ of NATO air forces. The year was 1956 and one of the airmen working inside was Peter Voyse – now nearing the end of his two-year ‘stint’ as a National Serviceman...
In this entertaining memoir, Peter remembers his days as a Royal Air Force ‘erk’ at RAF Longley Lane and elsewhere. Like many others who served in the post-war era of the 1950s, Peter looks back on his years in uniform with great affection and considers himself fortunate to have experienced the camaraderie and humour of fellow servicemen with whom he experienced the ups and downs of military life.
His colourful reminiscences are sure to evoke many nostalgic memories among members of his own generation, whilst being highly informative to younger readers.
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an interesting account of the underground early warning system used by the UK during the Cold War era |
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an entertaining depiction of basic training and life in the RAF in the 1950s |
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a worthwhile record of National Service in the postwar RAF |
