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230719Clarrie East
Civilian
I did not join the RAF until 1947 as a National Serviceman, but lived throughout the 1939-45 war in the village of Tockwith. This is the village next to RAF Marston Moor. I remember the airfield being made - the first of the personnel coming and the first Halifax Bomber being delivered to the airfield. I have many memories of that period. One Air Traffic Controller from Hull called Needler helped with our Boy Scout Group. A large number of crashes occurred in the area and one Halifax Bomber took the top off the vicarage. On member of the RAF Regiment used to eat at our house but he got posted almost overnight, as he shot a horse through his billet window.My mother was cleaning the front of our house when she was asked by a Sergeant, who was from Canada, if she could do a bit of washing for him - he would let her have some soap powder. She agreed and the next day he delivered a tightly packed kit bag with dirty clothes. She never expected so much but felt sorry for him and had it ready for him, laundered and ironed, in a few days. He was aircrew but he left to go on operations and we never saw him again. I, and my late mother, often wonder if he survived the war. Many more happy memories.
Clarrie East
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