Cleaned missile with a rag (From Malvern Gazette)

Cleaned missile with a rag

11:36am Friday 7th September 2007 in Letters

I WAS fascinated by the articles last week about Malvern's College of Electronics and reference to the Bloodhound missile.

It was in 1957 when I was called to do my National Service and after basic training at Blandford was posted to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer's No.5 Training Battalion at Arborfield. I had been selected to train as a radar mechanic but whilst waiting to be placed on a training course had to report for the usual round of General Duties which many ex-National Servicemen will remember, not always with affection!

One morning I was assigned to the Guided Weapons Unit' which was in a separate compound having extra security.

Once inside the compound I entered a large Marsdon building and to my surprise was confronted by two rockets. One was the huge Corporal missile and the other was the smaller Bloodhound missile. Remembering that this was 1957 I was dumfounded to realise that we had such weapons on the camp and wondered what important task I was going to ordered to do. I was quickly brought down to earth when hailed by the Warrant Officer in charge who pointed me in the direction of some rags and a tin of paraffin. His orders were that I was to clean the two missiles and their associated launch trailers!

I did eventually pass out as an XII Radar Mechanic and if I remember correctly many of the equipment manuals we used had been prepared at the College of Electronics in Malvern.

Peter Wood, Birchwood Road, Malvern.