In 1943 Alan was serving as an LAC Armourer at RAF Honeyborn near Evesham, UK when he saw an advert in the SROs (Station Routine Orders) saying:

".......Volunteers sought for duties that could be dangerous."

As a young airman this appealed to Alan, and he promptly applied. Volunteers knew that there would almost certainly be no promotion in the new role, but volunteered all the same due to the esprit-de-corps, and the comradeship.

Trading in his RAF blue uniform for a khaki 'Army' one, Alan moved to RAF Zeals in Wiltshire, where he and the other volunteers were trained in a variety of weapons. Non-drivers were taught to drive by civilian instructors.

To earn the 'Commando' title, the RAF volunteers made a three day drive to Inverary in Scotland, where they undertook the 'combined ops' training course. They were billeted in the Duke of Argylls home.

Combined Ops training

The Combined Ops training was intense, and involved 'wet landings', 25 mile full-kit marches and live-fire excercises.

Alan said about the course; ".....most of us were young, daft and fit. We were excited about our new role and enjoyed the training."

After qualifying the volunteers of the RAF Servicing Commando were dispersed around other RAF airfields, until they would be needed. Alan was posted to RAF Hawkinge in Kent. With the rest of 'C Flight' he was then posted to RAF Friston near Eastborne, where he worked on a Sqn of Belgian Spitfires.

Around May '44 Alan was re-issued an RAF blue uniform, with the circular 'Combined Operations' badge on both sides. The 'blue suit' was to prove nearly fatal to some of Alan's flight later in Normandy.....

".....around May 1944 we knew we were going somewhere, but not where; as all the flights assembled in a field outside of Bognor Regis where we did some preparation for a wet landing"

From here the Servicing Command moved to a transit camp on Sailsbury Plain. On Alan's birthday, June 5th, they drove to Fareham. Revale was 02:30 the next morning. June 6th 1944.

"....most of us were young, daft and fit. We were excited about our new role and enjoyed the training."