Now look, some pictures have been found, I know that it is very late in the day, but I hope that it is appropriate to post them on this "sticky" which I regard as a 'journal of record' for future readers.
I told the story of my late father gaining his R.A.F. Pilot’s Brevet
in WW2 (at No.5 B.F.T.S. Clewiston Florida USA) in this wondrous
thread, between pages 291 - 298, and my late mother, who was one of
the first female Fleet Air Arm Aircraft Engine Mechanics was also
remembered in various of my other posts back in 2014.
The two photos from my father’s career show him :
With one of his Expediters at Palam, Delhi when with 229 Group Comm
Flight 1944. Dad on right of shot.
If I was quite a bit younger, I would be tempted to say “My dad’s Twin
Beech is shinier than your Dad’s, so there!
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The Comm Flight Group Photo at Palam 1945.
Now, as my Dad was the only pilot in the Flight who had trained in the
USA, do you think that he might be the bloke with the Ray Bans?
My sincere thanks to Mr. Andrew Gemmell for this (to me) priceless photograph.
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Mother in service WW2 :
Just turned 18 years old my W.R.N.S. mum was trained on the second
ever course for female Air Mechs (Engines) at HMS Fledgling, Mill
Meece Staffs. 1943.
Mother (head in front of Starboard air intake of a Barracuda) with her
motley crew of fettlers and menders of 747 Squadron R.N.A.S. 1944/45.
Photo is either at HMS OWL, Fearn, Highland, Scotland, or at HMS
URLEY. (now Ronaldsway Airport Isle of Man)
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PS.
My father logged 1,170 hours as an R.A.F. pilot (in service Nov. 1942
- Dec. 1947). His seemingly uneventful wartime service was in India
(March 1944 - Nov. 1945), mostly with 229 Group Comm Flight. He also
ferried a/c for 21 F.C. Mauripur and finished his Indian service with
232 Squadron. Post-War he served with 16 F.U. and later 1 F.U. mainly
flying surplus R.A.F. aircraft to other air forces. Ferrying gave him
the opportunity to fly diverse a/c. He flew 13 types as 1st Pilot and
a further 4 types as 2nd Pilot.
*Or 5 types as 2nd Pilot if you count the ghastly C-87 as sufficiently different from the B-24 that it was spawned from.
Ian BB.
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