264561 F/Lt. Julius "Staff" Stafford-Baker Royal Air Force from:Leigh-on-Sea Julius Stafford-Baker, a/q officer was Wing Intelligence Officer at Blida during WW2. Also OiC Entertainments Cafe Coastal show planned for one night, but ran for a week, many of the 8th Army travelled to see it. Chorus girls were very senior officers in grass skirts with cocoa nuts. I have a copy of the programme and some photos.
There were ex Vichy French aircraft about, which we had disabled to prevent take off. Free French pilots were training on Spitfires, much too elderly for this - kept on crashing.
Bilda was the base for the Gliders used in the Sicily landings. Gliders towed from Gibraltar round the back of the Atlas to Blida so as not to be seen on German radar.
The Fleet Air Arm contingent from sunk HMS Ark Royal operating one or two Swordfish, and also saluted the quarterdeck of HMS Blida!! on passing through the gate!!
Also Warwick aircraft on lifeboat dropping ASR work and Halifax Special Duties Flight with no gun turrets, black all over. Engines changed every flight, they landed in occupied France with oxygen boosted take off, which is why engine rebuilds were required. Yes four engines did land in southern France. Flight commander had the shakes off duty after too many ops in Europe, but at take off he was back to normal.
Father was also the RAF's pet War Artist, he has many pictures at Hendon incl. Blida, also pictures in the IWM and world-wide.
|