The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991
borrowed a cycle, I had already got one which I used for travelling backwards and forwards to camp, and we both struggled up a rather rough track but were well rewarded when we got there by the magnificent scenery. The return descent was a nightmare, steep descent on a rough track and Doff found her brakes wouldn’t work. She reached base all in one piece but was extremely lucky to do so. We were doing a lot of flying and generally working hard. I took my Wireless Operator board on Oct. 2 , passed O.K. and was promoted to Flight Sergeant on Nov. 2 . I was put in charge of programming and at one stage became acting course officer. nd
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Just before Christmas 1943 I was sent on Operations attachment to no. 9 Squadron at Bardney in Lincolnshire so another jaunt with the kitbags! Bardney was very much a wartime base, Nissen huts in wide-open spaces, a satellite of Waddington. Despite bad weather I managed to get in some good trips including one to the ‘Big City’ (Berlin) when I saw 11 of our aircraft shot down and a J.U. 88 and M.E.109 hit by their own flack. On my return to Evanton I was made acting C/O of one of the cadet training courses. Grandad Sparrow came up for a few days in July 1944 and during his stay I was called before the C.O. for an interview and was recommended for a commission. At the end of July word came through that the station was closing down in August, which meant that on my next leave, August 3 , we all went back to Needham. rd
Pilot Officer Sparrow On my return to camp I had an interview with the A.O.C.(Air Officer Commanding) re my commission and was posted to Bishops Court about 30 miles from Belfast. Off I went again, spending a very rough night in a Y.M.C.A. in Glasgow and then on to Stranraer for a bumpy trip across the Irish Sea to Larne, on to Belfast and Ardglass by rail, a trip that was nearly as bad as the sea crossing. When I got 45
