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My First Year in the Airforce 1945/46 -
France
At the end of November, I fill out my application at the recruitment office nearby. I'm called there shortly after
for the usual physical and sent back home to wait to be called. I thought it would be a matter of a couple weeks
but months go by without hearing anything. I'm told not to worry, as this sort of thing is common. I waited until
April 1945 to finally get my papers calling my to the Dijon Center to sign a 3 year contract on the 11th. This
contract was to become a pilot but could be cancelled after 2 years (the length of the draft) if I didn't get to
flying status.
This was my first contact with military life, in a training facility in the heart of downtown, and was only related
to the airforce by its name. I must admit it took me by surprise. We had very disparate and basic equipment. Even
the uniforms were a mix of a little bit of everything, even using the white fatigues from the German Kreigsmarine.
The only airforce related item was the service cap. How proud we were when we finally got to wear it. Discipline
in Dijon didn't seem strict to me, not after 5 years in boarding school I had just spent under German occupation.
While waiting for our basic training to begin, we performed all kind of chores, mainly handling merchandise at
the train station.
The "next step" was finally basic training which took place at the CIA of Bletterans (Jura) strangely
located in a convent right downtown. Once again religion was in my life. This is where on May 8th, we learned that
the Germans had surrendered. Of course, a parade, to which we participated, was organized to celebrate the event.
Basic training lasted 2 months. During that time I was part of a group who's duty was to guard the gasoline stock
located on the Courlaoux airstrip, 7.5 miles from the camp. We were housed in Chavannes, and had a mess truck with
German prisoners assigned as cooks. They were able to prepare decent meals in spite of the poor food supply. I
must point out that the restrictions were not lifted until 1947. This first period of my military career left me
good memories and friends. The fact that I was so close to home allowed me to see my family from time to time.
Moreover, being assigned at an airport, I was able to see up close my first airplanes. Most of those were just
passing through but I know could picture myself flying one of them someday. As far as the constraints of military
life, this period was relatively easy. Only the night watch, especially the one in Castel, 3/4 miles from the main
guard post, isolated, was stressful.
Having an airforce unit in Courlaoux generated a certain animation among the female persuasion. It wasn't uncommon
to see girlfriends keeping soldiers company while they were on duty. The leader of this unit, 30 men strong was
a sergeant, a WWI veteran. He was a good man who resided in Courlaoux. It looked so old to me yet must not even
have been more than 50!
There was a cheese factory in town. M. Dayt, one of my cousin's brother, ran it (by marriage). I visited him eventhough
we had never met. The factory was manufacturing Comté, a sort of Swiss cheese. I was able to bring home
a piece of this delicious cheese from time to time. Mr. Dayt also had a brand new bicycle and was kind enough to
let me use it whenever I was on leave. I was then able to make it home, 12.5 miles away.
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Proudly wearing the uniform, with the cap!
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