Speaker Meeting, 6.15 for 6.30pm

Prue Hardie was 9 years old when a WRAF Officer gave a talk at her school. Prue was hooked - a flying career was for her. 

 “My RAF before Health and Safety” 

Prue told us that she joined the RAF in 1956 and in 1962 responded to a call for female volunteers as Air Quartermasters. She fell a little short on some of the qualifications, “but”, she said “Bacchus was on my side. The MO was drunk and I passed.” 

She joined 216 Squadron at RAF Lyneham. It flew Comet C2’s which were small aircraft for just 44 passengers and 7 crew, mainly taking families to RAF bases in Malta, Gibraltar and Cyprus. Also to “the dreaded El Adem” in N.Africa with its cockroaches and scorpions. Prue said shaking out shoes in the morning, and stripping the bed at night before getting in it were essential. However, one advantage was being able to buy a bottle of Gin and 200 cigarettes and get 6d change from a Pound. 

In those days most passengers were nervous of flying. She was told that should a strong man go berserk she was to hit him on the head with an oxygen bottle. During the Arab-Israeli 5 day war they were sent to Benina to pick up some British Night Club dancers. A Russian transport aircraft was on the tarmac, loading up paratroopers. “As the Russians taxied out they fixed their machine guns on us.” When they’d gone the terrified dancers were brought out, still wearing their sequins, diaphanous veils and slippers with turned up toes. 

The Comet 4C arrived in 1967. Its perfect, totally aerodynamic lines made it a most beautiful aircraft. Promoted to a Category A Load Master Prue was now on ‘planes carrying VIPs, such as senior military people, politicians, and royalty. A bird strike happened on a return flight to Heathrow when Harold Wilson was on board. The captain made a Pan Call (one below Mayday). It was not known if the under-carriage was damaged. On arriving above Heathrow there was a mass of blue flashing lights below. Every emergency vehicle in Greater London must have been there. If the Comet veered off the runway London’s fleet of emergency vehicles would be seriously depleted. Thankfully, the landing was uneventful. 

On another occasion George Brown was a passenger. He had a serious fear of flying and would come smelling of alcohol. During the flight he would see off a bottle of brandy but somehow, on landing, he had the ability to walk off the ‘plane looking and sounding immaculate. 

Prue’s final flight with 216 Squadron was the Queen’s visit to S.America in 1969. The schedule gave the crew a completely free week in Rio so they took the opportunity to do all the normal touristy things that tourists do. A posting to Brize Norton to fly the old milk runs to America was Prue’s last. Her eyesight was failing and her final year in the RAF was spent in the PR section at Brize. 

It was an extremely interesting and amusing talk. Prue is a very confident and determined lady with a mischievous sense of humour. On giving a vote of thanks Peter Hinton said that 3 years ago she did a sky-dive to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research. She lost her husband due to that dreadful disease and wanted to do it as a memorial for him.

Click here for Age is nothing but a number for 78-year-old skydiver (Swindon Advertiser)