| Fifth Entry |
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| Courtesy Of Jim Wilcox, mostly 5th Entry taken 1950. A youthful Wilcox is on the left of the front row |
Do You Have Any Photos Or Other Memories Of The 5th Entry RAF Administrative Apprentices? IfYou Can Send Them To Me |
JOHN PACK CBE – 5TH ENTRY (1931-2008)
On a sunny afternoon on 16th October 2008 in a packed St George’s chapel, RAF Biggin Hill, we said farewell to John Pack. John was an achiever. After evacuation to the usa during world war II John
returned to the UK and on 11 October 1948 joined the RAF as an Administrative Apprentice in the 5th Entry. He quickly made his mark, was promoted to L/A/A and subsequently Cpl/A/A, the highest
apprentice rank in those days. On completion of apprentice training in May 1950, he was awarded a cadetship in the GD Branch and trained as a pilot at RAF College Cranwell. Flying became his
passion and he was never more happy than when he was in the air and at the controls of an aircraft. His RAF flying career began on Vampires followed by Canberras, as a pilot flight commander and
then Squadron Commander. Subsequent appointments included Station Commander, RAF Kinloss, where he received his CBE, Group Captain Central Tactical And Trials Coordination, Air Commodore
Operations HQ Strike Command and AOC RAF Gibralter. Retiring in August 1986 as an Air Commodore John had achieved the highest RAF of any post war Administrative Apprentice.
An achiever in every respect he was also a ‘people’s man’ making friends throughout his service career and in civilian life, an aspect that was frequently referred to during the service of
remembrance. Retirement was not to sit back and take it easy. He was active for five years in the family business in Germany, hands on in the family hotel business in Jersey and flying at every
opportunity from Shoreham, Jersey and in the USA.
It was not until 2007 that John was able to attend Association Annual Reunions which he thoroughly enjoyed. Indeed he was looking forward to the 2009 reunion in Preston.
Association members paying their last respects ato John were Don and Sylvia Burlingham (5th), Mike Heritage (11th) and his partner Madge, Bill Huggins (5th) Sam Mold (1st), Peter Pendlebury (5th)
and Jim Wilcox (5th).
Jim Wilcox
Chairman RAF Administrative Apprentice Association
JOHN MELVIN PACK
We, the 13 other 5th Entry clerics, occupants of Hut D24, RAF St Athan, first met John Pack on the 11th October, 1948, and it was almost immediately apparent that he was a “one off”
Having been evacuated to New Jersey at the outbreak of war, John completed his senior education in Newark, New Jersey. Each year, the graduating class have a book published, containing a
photo of all the graduates, and with a brief “XYZ is the student most/least likely to….”. John showed me his copy of the Book, KRAWEN, I cannot remember what was said about him; but were I
writing a summary, I would have written, “The student most likely to achieve the most.”
John played (!) the clarinet, but what we appreciated more was his portable record player when he introduced us to Danny Kaye, Mel Torme, and Nat King Cole. One of Kaye’s songs, a comedy
sentimental ballad including the names of all the various fruits in the States I still sing occasionally, and as badly as John played it!
He was never a goody, goody, apprentice, and had an infectious type of humour and adventurism whereby he began his interest in aviation. On the airfield were parked many old aircraft, mostly
Beaufighters, and we clambered around them pushing and pulling all the levers we could find – we tried several times to retract the undercarriages, but it never worked. I obtained a small aircraft
‘memento’ which I had to store in a safe place, the EWS tank by the NAAFI (I checked in 1999 but the object was no longer there), I asked him when next we met what he had done with my ‘memento’!
In quick time, John was promoted to Leading Admin App and placed in charge of a 4th Entry hut. This did not go down well with a ‘senior entry’ but after a discussion with Bert Storey of the 4th, the
occupants were won over by John’s personality,
(I only heard this story on 11 Oct 08 from a 4th Entry ex-app).
Many of we scribblies had problems with some or all the aspects of training, but not John, without any apparent effort he sailed through trade, education, handicrafts, sport, drill, and the absolute
necessity for turnout.
With his American background, he was the star performer of the Apprentice basketball squad, he was also a good goalkeeper, and when I coerced him to play rugby, I was miffed to find he could punt
the ball 60 – 80 yards effortlessly (I had practised for years but could only manage 50 yards or so – and that with a following wind).
In due course John became the senior Admin App as Cpl Apprentice, and where he did an excellent job, firmly but fairly, he played no favourites, not even his chums in the 5th Entry!
It was no surprise to anyone that on Pass Out, John was awarded the General Duties (Flying) Cadetship, well merited and loudly applauded. I must add that other cadetships awarded were not
always so highly regarded by the Unofficial Apprentices Selection Committee!
Over the next 11 years following our Pass Out, I never met John, but via the travelling jobs I had and jungles drums I did hear of his activities and movements.
In 1961 I arrived at Waddington just as 83 Sqn had moved to Scampton, but since the Vulcan Simulator was at Wadd, John would visit and we would have a quick word or two.
Then another interregnum until 1976 when I was the non-professional Gp Sy Officer at 18 Group when John was Stn Cdr at Kinloss. I happened to see the draft of a proposed visit to Kinloss and
spotted a couple of no no’s his staff had missed! I
gave him a quick call and he had the programme amended. Several times subsequently I have spoken to colleagues to pass on advice, and sadly have been greeted by ‘mind your own b….. business’,
there was none of that from John.
At Northwood I was involved in the admin connected with the Annual Reunion of Coastal Command C-in-Cs, and heard an interesting conversation, an old C-in-C asked John’s successor how things
were going at Kinloss. The Gp Capt replied that it was going well, but he was still having to cope with the spirit and legacy left by John. Incidentally John was the first non-maritime Stn Cdr at
Kinloss, and breaking into that hierarchy too raised a few eyebrows.
Next came RCDS, a prerequisite for further promotion. After that, one is normally put in a holding appointment. At Strike Command where we next met up, two events that illustrate John’s
personality. One day he was chatting to some of his colleagues, so I saluted them and marched on, John grabbed, or rather punched me in the stomach and said “Too proud to speak to me
Huggins!”. One Dining In Night with all the Gp Cdrs, a schooner race was set up. There were two false starts, senior officers complaining about sharp practice and the atmosphere became
somewhat tense, at the third start, when John’s turn came, he just poured the whole of his pint on his head, defusing the situation with humour.
It was at Strike, however, that due to his honesty, John was never promoted.
He was offered two possible appointments for his last tour, Air Attache Ottawa, or Air Commander Gibraltar; since he had served at Ottawa previously he opted for Gibraltar.
I met John once again at Gibraltar whilst carrying out an inspection, and we again recalled days and colleagues of the past.
At my next station, the CO had served under John and was always complaining about his own promotion. He didn’t realise I knew John, and from time to time would moan, about everyone’s
promotion but his. After one Dining In night, about 0200 whilst he and I were polishing our boots, he got on again, questioning John’s intelligence! Quietly (I assure you), I remarked that there is
perhaps a more important word beginning with ‘i’, “And what’s that?” he asked. “Integrity” I replied.
John joined our Assn quite early on, but due to his many commitments was unable to attend our reunions, until the latter two, at Bristol, and then at Huntingdon. I chided him about two incidents long
time passed – “How is it that you weren’t charged with the rest of us at St Athan for not changing for PE on a wet, cold winter’s Monday morning first period?” His answer was that he had quickly
untied his bootlaces and obviously was getting ready for PT! The second point I ragged him about how most of our Entry were sent to the Canal Zone in 1951 Here his reply was perhaps more
acceptable He replied “I did go to Suez, in 1956!” He flew, we had to go by boat!
Despite all the pressures he had faced, John still looked much younger than most of us, and had retained his enthusiasm and his wicked sense of humour.
On reflection, in my many years in the service, I met four people whom I would follow anywhere, John, two Gp Capts, and FS Davis. However, I would trust John and Dave not only to lead well, but
also aim for us to survive!
John, we will surely miss you, but be assured that you will long be remembered by all who knew you.
Vale old pal.
Bill Huggins
5th Entry
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| Obituraries John Pack CBE |