I have two problems in telling the story of my father “Gaining an R.A.F. Pilot's Brevet in WW11”.
- I never knew my Father. He died when I was just four months old, so, sadly, I have no memories of him at all.
- His first log book is lost, so all I have is his 'Air Forces in India' canvas-covered log book which starts 1st March 1944 at RAF Mauripur with 317.45 hours carried forward.
I do have the sheet from 3 EFTS (June 1942) showing his first 12.20 hours before he was shipped off to 5 BFTS in Florida. I think that he went out on the 'Thomas H Barry' (Aug.-Sept.1942), I know that he arrived in Clewiston Florida 25.09 1942 for Course 11. If you visit the 5 BFTS website <5bfts.org.uk> and click on Courses, then on the Course 11 arrival picture, he is on the front row, (Burgess G). He, and two other Course 11 cadets, fell ill immediately (no immunity to a US virus) and were hospitalised and later sent off base to recuperate. They then joined Course 12 (12.11.1942 ) which was the first Course to “blend” USAAC cadets with the RAF trainees. They gained their wings 25.05.1943 and came back to Blighty on (Yes, you've guessed it), the “Louis Pasteur” late June 1943.
Now, lacking his first log book, a bit of a mystery ensues.
I cannot find out where my Dad went to OTU. As I have said, all I have is his 'Air Forces in India' log book which starts with 317.45 hours carried forward. 212.20 of that is single engined time from 3 EFTS (UK) and 5 BFTS (USA), so, he acquired 105.25 hours multi engine time somewhere in the UK before he arrived in India. However the only entry in the record of service in the back of the log book, between his US training and his arrival in India, (apart from distribution centres like Moncton ,Harrogate and Blackpool) is 6 (P)AFU Little Rissington. This (Danny tells me) is strange, as you would not spend more than 20-25 hours with an AFU, before going on to an OTU for 75-80 hours specific training. However no OTU appears on his record of service. Every other place that he served in, from joining the RAF in 1938 to his last posting in 1946, is there in the record of service at the back of his log - why would he omit the OTU?
Even the green RAF record card that I have before me which records “Unit From - Unit To” and “Mustering” etc. Reads as follows:
6 (P) AFU 3/8/43
A Chedworth 15/9/43 (Hospital admission)?
6 (P) AFU 6/10/43
This next line has been crossed out, but I think it might have said, 1517 BAT FLT
5PDC 4/12/43 (From where he was sent to India).
So the OTU remains a mystery.
Here are the bare facts (as per the Appointment Record card) of his RAF service.
He enlisted as an A/C Apprentice at Halton 30/8/38 (seven & a half weeks before his 16th Birthday).
Was placed as an U/T Instrument Maker 1/9/38 at No1 E&W School Cranwell.
Appointed Leading Apprentice 17/5/40
Mustered Instrument Maker 1 and classified AC2 3/7/40 At No.1(C))OTU Silloth
Re-enlisted at age 18 for 12 year RAF 22/10/40
Reclassified AC1 1/12/40
Reclassified LAC 17/2/41
Promoted T/ CPL 5/5/41
Remustered U/T Pilot 19/1/42
Promoted T/SGT & Remustered Pilot 25/5/43
Promoted T/F/SGT 25/5/44
Promoted T/W/O 25/4/45
Commisioned P/O 25/8/45
Confirmed in Appt. Promoted F/O 25/2/46
That's enough for now.
Ian BB
PS Danny, your last:
"We each had to fight the War we were given" .
You didn't choose your war -
it chose
you "
It really was pure luck as to where you ended up - you went where you were sent. From reading his log book, it was my Dad's luck to never see a shot fired in anger during his wartime service - his luck ran out early in 1948.