I served in the RAF from 1953 until 1968 and was trained as an Air Radio Fitter at No 1 Radio School.

My introduction to the Handley Page Hastings, came when I was posted to RAF Staging Post Katunayake, Ceylon, in 1958 and worked on the Staging Aircraft Servicing Section, until the RAF Unit closed in 1960, when BOAC took over from us.

I got to know the wireless/radar installation of the Hastings very well and fixed snags on the aircraft and also repaired radio units in the Airborne Radio Servicing Flight.  This kept me fully occupied for the duration of my tour; SASF worked shift work, so we very often worked at night. We were always available to tend to the requirements of RAF aircraft and the occasional civvy aircraft. For more photos of what life was like on a staging post in the 50s, please see my postings under" Photography" Chips Rafferty's Photos.

My next dealing with the Hastings, after Ceylon, was when I was posted to RAF Muharraq and worked on the Visiting Aircraft Servicing Section. Here, once again, I worked on the Handley Page Hastings and many other different types, for my one year tour.

My next dealing with the Hastings came in 1966, when I was posted to RAF Colerne and  worked on 36 Squadron aircraft.

During my time on 36 Squadron I flew many times in Hastings, including detachments on exercises and several Caribbean trips.

I visited, by Hastings, Iceland,  Newfoundland ,Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad, Grand Cayman, Guiana,, Barbados and the Azores.

And then, when the RAF procured it's first Lockhead  C130 Hercules aircraft, I was trained on their avionics systems and the Hastings was withdrawn from RAF Colerne.