Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
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Switched to Vampires when the Squadron was called up as a fighter command squadron when Korea kicked off. Patrolling above Holland was one of its regular operations
This photo was taken just before my dad rejoined the RAF in 1951. He never got to Korea as a fighter command pilot, but he squeezed in three and half years in Malaya before he was parachuted into the underground cold war bunker at Patrington in 1959, along with Ginger Lacey and others who had fighter command experience, but deemed to old to fly.
After a couple of years he took a different view and spent the next twenty years with Marshalls at Shawbury.
This photo was taken just before my dad rejoined the RAF in 1951. He never got to Korea as a fighter command pilot, but he squeezed in three and half years in Malaya before he was parachuted into the underground cold war bunker at Patrington in 1959, along with Ginger Lacey and others who had fighter command experience, but deemed to old to fly.
After a couple of years he took a different view and spent the next twenty years with Marshalls at Shawbury.
Last edited by roving; 23rd Aug 2017 at 15:51.
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I think my father favoured G&H.
Quite expensive these days.
RAF Uniform
edited by adding
This is an excellent paper on the history of RAF thinking and the rise and fall of the AAF & VR post WWII.
Page 86 addresses and explains the rationale of the belief prevalent at that time that at thirty one was simply too old to fly a military aircraft.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediaf...F0C37E7052.pdf
Quite expensive these days.
RAF Uniform
edited by adding
This is an excellent paper on the history of RAF thinking and the rise and fall of the AAF & VR post WWII.
Page 86 addresses and explains the rationale of the belief prevalent at that time that at thirty one was simply too old to fly a military aircraft.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediaf...F0C37E7052.pdf
Last edited by roving; 24th Aug 2017 at 05:11.
When I went through ITS we were given money to buy our own SD hats. The Bates were the best as they had floppier crowns that with the help of a damp towel enabled one to arrange it so that it hung over the side and back.
For more operational than the stiff Moss Bros etc..
In the seventies I reprimanded the Bates rep. because his offerings did not resemble my old one and he told me that they had had a three line whip from the Airbox to standardise them with the rest.
For more operational than the stiff Moss Bros etc..
In the seventies I reprimanded the Bates rep. because his offerings did not resemble my old one and he told me that they had had a three line whip from the Airbox to standardise them with the rest.
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Fareastdriver (#11188),
Still are. My 50-year old-stager (last remnant of uniform) sits sullenly in a corner, waiting for a call that will never come.
It was precisely because we were not "standardised with the rest" that we won the war.
Danny.
..."The Bates were the best"...
..."standardise them with the rest"...
"All progress depends on the unreasonable man" [GBS]
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Being impecunious at the onset [1965] my first SD hat was from Messrs Allkit. After a couple of tours, the second being in FEAF, it had collapsed gently into some resemblance of a cloth cap and it was soon suggested [quite firmly] that I should source a replacement. It moved gently sideways into a new existence as my shooting hat at Bisley, until that existence was 'officially' terminated by a 4* interjection some time in the late 80s and berets became mandatory. It still soldiered on, though - the attached photo is dated 1993 
As a final gesture of defiance, I wore it on my last day in uniform whilst clearing at RAF Uxbridge in 1994
It still resides in a corner of the attic.
As a final gesture of defiance, I wore it on my last day in uniform whilst clearing at RAF Uxbridge in 1994
It still resides in a corner of the attic.
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Cunning Artificer
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Oh, where did you get that hat?
...where did you get that tile?
Isn't it a lovely one? - it's just the proper style.
I would like to have one, just the same as that.
Wherever you'd go they'd shout "Hello! Where did you get that hat?"
...where did you get that tile?
Isn't it a lovely one? - it's just the proper style.
I would like to have one, just the same as that.
Wherever you'd go they'd shout "Hello! Where did you get that hat?"
MPN 11. I forgot about Allkit. It hasn't got the high front and the sweep down to the sides in the Luftwaffe style that a Bates could achieve.
On the 9th September 1966 my original SD hat had accumulated 1,000 hrs. in the back of an aircraft with me. That was when I retired it and sent it to explore the Borneo jungle some 40 miles east of Tenom.
Should you see a gibbon or an ourang-outang wearing an SD hat on your travels in Borneo; it's mine.
On the 9th September 1966 my original SD hat had accumulated 1,000 hrs. in the back of an aircraft with me. That was when I retired it and sent it to explore the Borneo jungle some 40 miles east of Tenom.
Should you see a gibbon or an ourang-outang wearing an SD hat on your travels in Borneo; it's mine.
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FED ... it swooped quite well at the beginning, possibly with a bit of user-assistance! But it collapsed quite quickly.
My parents insisted on a studio photo ... God, I was young then, and subsequently collapsed as well!
My parents insisted on a studio photo ... God, I was young then, and subsequently collapsed as well!
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Did you ever come across Bob Garlick?
He was qfi on JP4s.
I did a search for him on pprune and these threads provided answers ... both however were some years ago.
http://www.pprune.org/where-they-now...ht=bob+garlick
http://www.pprune.org/where-they-now...ht=bob+garlick
Cadet Pilots
' 21st May 1965
Robert William GARLICK (4232623).
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/6423
He was qfi on JP4s.
I did a search for him on pprune and these threads provided answers ... both however were some years ago.
http://www.pprune.org/where-they-now...ht=bob+garlick
http://www.pprune.org/where-they-now...ht=bob+garlick
Cadet Pilots
' 21st May 1965
Robert William GARLICK (4232623).
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/6423
Flying-Officer J. E. LYDALL
Does anyone of this congregation know of the above WW2 pilot?
My mother (92 years young ex-WReN) found his 2nd log book, (runs Dec 1940 - Feb 1943) at an antiques fair/curio sale and was upset that such an item should end up thus. She purchased it, (the stallholder thought it had come from a house clearance), now some years later, she has given it to me, and interesting reading it makes. This log book covers his service with 267 Comm Sqdn, 113(B)Sqdn, 272 (Beaufighter) Sqdn (all of these in the middle east). After his return to UK and leave in 1942, he goes to fly for the Parachute Training School at Ringway and that is where this log book ends in Feb. 1943.
His Aircraft Flown page has 35 types logged and his Aerodromes landed at totals 100 in the UK, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Cyprus, Libya, Crete, Greece, and Sudan.
Here's hoping someone here can tell me more
Ian BB
My mother (92 years young ex-WReN) found his 2nd log book, (runs Dec 1940 - Feb 1943) at an antiques fair/curio sale and was upset that such an item should end up thus. She purchased it, (the stallholder thought it had come from a house clearance), now some years later, she has given it to me, and interesting reading it makes. This log book covers his service with 267 Comm Sqdn, 113(B)Sqdn, 272 (Beaufighter) Sqdn (all of these in the middle east). After his return to UK and leave in 1942, he goes to fly for the Parachute Training School at Ringway and that is where this log book ends in Feb. 1943.
His Aircraft Flown page has 35 types logged and his Aerodromes landed at totals 100 in the UK, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Cyprus, Libya, Crete, Greece, and Sudan.
Here's hoping someone here can tell me more
Ian BB
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Fit. Lts. : —
*J. E. LYDALL (40546}.
*Since promoted.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 MAY, 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2340
*J. E. LYDALL (40546}.
*Since promoted.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 MAY, 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2340
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Tuning out some of my old stuff the other day, daughter Mary came across a pair of gold lace RAF wings. They were full-size (not Mess kit). And it wakened an old memory. I told the story on this Thread 4-5 years ago, so it may be new to some people. Anyway, it's in full on Page 165, #3288.
Here is Google's take on it:
Did anyone else get caught in this ridiculous trap ? Did you ever wear it as a SD Jacket ? Or as a Mess kit top ? Was there a tropical version ? What did you do with the wretched thing ? Was there an Other Ranks equivalent ?
I can't have been the only one !
Danny.
Here is Google's take on it:
...[Wiki]: "In 1947, the temperate officers' services dress jacket was altered. The lower side pockets were removed and the single slit was replaced by two hacking jacket style slits. The lower button was moved up to a position behind the belt and silk embroidery flying badges were replaced with ones in bullion embroidery. These changes were unpopular and in 1951, with the exception of the lower button move, the former uniform style was re-adopted.[1]"...
I can't have been the only one !
Danny.
Thanks roving for - yr. post No.11197. I now have Gazetted Details:
Squadron Leader John Elgie Lydall (40546)
Short Service Commission as Acting Pilot Officer for 4 years (WEF 6 Dec. 1937).
Confirmed as Pilot Officer 6 March 1939.
Flying Officer 6 Aug. 1940.
Flight Lieutenant (War Substantive) 6 Aug. 1941.
Transferred to the Reserve and retained on the Active List 6 Dec. 1941.
Squadron Leader (Temporary) 1 July 1943.
Commission Relinquished retains rank of Squadron Leader 1 July 1953
So sad that my mother could not find, over many years, any living relative to return his log book to - maybe PPRuNe may yet find someone?
This log has some YLSNED items for me and I hope to post some of it for your consideration.
Ian BB
Squadron Leader John Elgie Lydall (40546)
Short Service Commission as Acting Pilot Officer for 4 years (WEF 6 Dec. 1937).
Confirmed as Pilot Officer 6 March 1939.
Flying Officer 6 Aug. 1940.
Flight Lieutenant (War Substantive) 6 Aug. 1941.
Transferred to the Reserve and retained on the Active List 6 Dec. 1941.
Squadron Leader (Temporary) 1 July 1943.
Commission Relinquished retains rank of Squadron Leader 1 July 1953
So sad that my mother could not find, over many years, any living relative to return his log book to - maybe PPRuNe may yet find someone?
This log has some YLSNED items for me and I hope to post some of it for your consideration.
Ian BB
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A John E Lydall, whose mother's maiden surname was Elgie, was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the 4th quarter of 1919, which would fit with his being commissioned in December 1937 -- at the age of 18.
Thanks roving -
"A John E Lydall, whose mother's maiden surname was Elgie, was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the 4th quarter of 1919, which would fit with his being commissioned in December 1937 -- at the age of 18".
That would be right, and I know that he was at Hanson High School Bradford.
His Record of Service page shows -
E.F.T.S. Desford 6.11.37 - 18.2.38
No. 5 F.T.S. Sealand 6.3.38 - 24.10.38
No.30(B) Sqdn Habbaniya Iraq 25.10.38 - 8.8.39
Nav'n Course Att. Abu Sueir 9.8.39 - 29.8.39
No.30(B) Sqdn. Ismailia 30.8.39 - 22.4.40
Comm Flight Ramleh 23.4.40 - 16.6.40
Comm Flight Amman 17.6.40 - 9.10.40
No.267 Comm Sqdn. Heliopolis 10.10.40 - 15.6.41 ........which is where this No. 2 log book starts on Dec. 5th 1940.
Ian BB
"A John E Lydall, whose mother's maiden surname was Elgie, was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the 4th quarter of 1919, which would fit with his being commissioned in December 1937 -- at the age of 18".
That would be right, and I know that he was at Hanson High School Bradford.
His Record of Service page shows -
E.F.T.S. Desford 6.11.37 - 18.2.38
No. 5 F.T.S. Sealand 6.3.38 - 24.10.38
No.30(B) Sqdn Habbaniya Iraq 25.10.38 - 8.8.39
Nav'n Course Att. Abu Sueir 9.8.39 - 29.8.39
No.30(B) Sqdn. Ismailia 30.8.39 - 22.4.40
Comm Flight Ramleh 23.4.40 - 16.6.40
Comm Flight Amman 17.6.40 - 9.10.40
No.267 Comm Sqdn. Heliopolis 10.10.40 - 15.6.41 ........which is where this No. 2 log book starts on Dec. 5th 1940.
Ian BB