Jim Mason
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HMS Vengeance 1950In 1950 I was a Corporal in the Aircraft Carrier Vengeance. She was the Training Carrier and we spent long periods at sea, doing both day and night flying - at the time I believe that we were training Dutch pilots and there were numerous "prangs" and the odd case of a wrecked plane being heaved over the side.
About once a month, the ship would spend a night in harbour, usually Bangor or Penzance, but on this occasion we anchored off Ayr in West Scotland. Bill (Jock) McConnell and I had been on a "cultural" run ashore, visiting Robbie Burns cottage in Alloway (or something!!) and returned to the jetty late, having missed the last boat. We were debating what to do next when a policeman advised us to go to the local all night bakery (owned by an exRN CPO Cook) and to tell them "Alec sent you". We duly arrived at the bakery and were welcomed, taken to the staff canteen and fed on rolls and tea. After a while, the owner directed us next door, where he said we could crash out for the rest of the night in one of the bedrooms, but not to make a noise or switch the lights on as it would disturb the neighbours.
We woke to sounds of scuffling, to find a large proportion of the good citzens of Ayr peering at the spectacle of two Royal Marines in full blues lying on the double bed in the display window of Jay's furniture shop!
We crept back to the bakery to find the staff enjoying the joke. I think that we did too! Eventually!
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:smt046 
