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It was while compiling photo's of Portsmouth &
Southsea I decided to cross the harbour and visit Gosport. Low and behold! the first photo's I came across were of Fort Rowner and Fort Grange, 2 photo's of which I never thought existed. It so happened
I was posted to AACU (Anti Aircraft Cooperation Unit) stationed at Grange in November 1939 and there until June 1942. Being a Flight Mechanic I was assigned to a Blackburn Shark - similar to that of a
Swordfish - and used principaly for Target Towing over the Naval Gunnery School at Eastney. Our other duties included low-level attacks and high dive bombing. It was on Xmas Day 1939 we had been informed
Winston Churchill would be present at the Gunnery School so were looking forward to the target-towing exercise. Being Xmas Day there were only a handful of us present in the hanger as the remainder were
on leave. Some bright spark suggested we paint A MERRY XMAS on the target and almost immediately the 12 foot by 6 foot target was spread- eagled on the floor and 2 riggers went to town on it. The type of
paint used dried fairly quickly so it wasn't long before it was rolled up a placed it it's compartment alongside the Shark. Such was the response when unfurling the target, it was obvious the gunners
were not trainee's. It was at that moment in time it began to snow and we were concerned as to their safe return. By the time we had put the Shark to bed in the hanger, the snow was coming down fairly
heavy and by mid-afternoon it was more than ankle deep. From all reports, it was the heaviest fall of snow the U.K. had experienced for years. As to be expected, I could write a book related to want went
on during my stay but not wishing to bore you, will close now and send a photo of interest. Don Sutherland (Added 4th February 2008)
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