Gaining An R.A.F. Pilots Brevet In WW11
Thank you Danny and Warmtoast. I forgot to say that in the starboard tip tank on the Neptune we carried a 75 million candlepower searchlight which was controlled from the co pilots position. He also had a portable APS31 which could be fitted to a bracket so that he could control an attack at night on a submarine with the captain on instruments (and not supposed to look out!!)
Danny the Wright Turbo compound was only a twin row.
Now back at Topcliffe, different mess!. Transport Command and their Hastings had gone and Topcliffe was now a Coastal Command station.There were two Neptune Squadrons, Nos 203 and 210, commanded respectivly by Squadron Leaders Horton and Kerr, both soon to become Wing Commanders.The squadrons had just given up their Lancasters and converted to Neptunes, shortly they were to be obliged to post some members to form No 36, also at Topcliffe. We also had No 1453 Flight of three Neptunes but they were Fighter Command and used for Airborne Early Warning.
The people we joined were very experienced Coastal men, and they taught us so much of the Coastal Profession. (Who will teach Maritime Air now if we ever have a Maritime Force again- read Big Steamers by Rudyard Kipling)