We had a checklist for seaplanes. They required service at a few hours’ interval, so we had to tow them on to the land, mainly to remove oyster shells that clung to the plane’s underside because they hamstring take-offs. We had a wheeled one for towing, and there was a slanted way besides the airport waterfront so we could drag it up. In the 40s I did seaplanes for the British Overseas Airways Corporation, but I wasn’t used to it and got seasick. We had to ride a boat out to do the service. I saw my colleague’s watch dropped into the water and it was never found.

At that time there were still seaplanes in the airport, like the “Sunderland” seaplane of the British Overseas Airways Corporation. It was special work for us to do seaplanes, because we had to ride a boat. There were four engines on a seaplane, hung down by the hanging ladders. Our tools often dropped into the water. We were fun-seeking youngsters at that time, and we dropped the tools so we could dive in to pick them up.