Page 72 - Demo

70Top End of the Food ChainA couple of years before I retired from full time service I was with the Examining Wing of Central Flying School. One slightly oddball task I was given was to fly with the soon to retire Chief of Air Staff, Sir Michael Graydon, so that he would be current on light aircraft.It will be no surprise that he proved to be a most capable pilot, and I thoroughly enjoyed the couple of days I spent with him. After a couple of sorties he was well up to scratch, so I climbed out of the aircraft and sent him off solo for a session of circuit bashing. As I walked back to the crew-room carrying my parachute the following thought occurred to me. %u201cFor heaven%u2019s sake don%u2019t bend it, sir, it will be one hell of a job finding anyone senior enough to lead the Board of Enquiry!%u201dPete BruceWell Contained\ he completed pilot training with 94 Entry, Alan Harris failed his final medical because of his eyesight and became a navigator. He did two tours before falling foul of the medics again (ears this time) and in 1973 became a Fighter Controller. In 1982, he was sent down to the South Atlantic as a Squadron Leader to set up a radar site to give warning of any encroachment from Argentina. Very early one morning %u2026\Something was pulling me back %u2013 shaking me... %u201cYou can call me Paddy,%u201d said a voice. Several times I struggled into consciousness and tried to sit up. In front of my face I found a small, calloused hand wrapped around a steaming tin cup. %u201cStandard NATO,%u201d the voice continued.%u201cPaddy? Paddy who? And what rank are you?%u201d I was aiming for dignity and authority but failing miserably. It was two o%u2019clock in the morning, and the luxury four-poster bed I had been hoping for and