Having discovered that there is no official RAF history of the 1950s covering a particularly fraught period of the Cold War in Germany, the author decided to write down everything he could remember from that time when he served as part of the RAF’s 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force. This book is based on his memories, supported by the information recorded in his log books, in the hope that it will give future generations a wider as well as deeper view of this era.In addition to recounting the minutiae of RAF life, ‘Pod' recalls his career from National Serviceman to Flight Lieutenant, and the drama of flying the first jet fighters close to the border with East Germany.Part history, part memoir, I'll Call You Pod will appeal to anyone with an interest in aircraft, the Cold War as seen from the air and on radar, and life in Her Majesty's Royal Air Force in the mid-twentieth century.
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Dear Pod,
I have just finished reading your book "'I'll Call You Pod' - Cold War Recollections of a Low Level Pilot. I enjoyed it so much I felt it necessary to tell you how much pleasure it gave me.
I should explain that being a few months younger than you my own initial experience in the RAF followed yours very closely. Called up a few months after you I began with ITS at Kirton-in-Lindsey. Thereafter because I finished my training at RAF College I fell behind you and arrived at Jever (4 Squadron) just after you had left. But many of the personalities you mention in your narrative were still there: Ken Goodwin, Brian Iles, John Sutton, Browne with an 'e', Brian Watson, Fred Maycock, Robin Sandle, Sandy Sanderson and Pinto to mention just a few. Unsurprisingly I continued to bump into them during my subsequent 36 year RAF Career. Indeed during my last flying apointment, in Command of a Lightning squadron, Ken Goodwin was my Station Commander.
Brian Watson was one personality I got to know very well. I originally met him as a cadet at Cranwell, we were both keen squash players, and he took me under his wing during my first year at Jever. Our friendship continued years later when I was instructing at Oakinton and he was ADC to CinC Training Command. It was a sad day when he was killed in a helicopter accident the service lost a very promising officer.
But I digress from the intent of this email which was to thank you for encouraging me to wallow in a few hours of nostalgia in the midst of restrictions imposed by Covid 19.
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