ukmike
29th Jun 2005, 08:34
Morning All,
I have recently been given a copy of a Royal Canadian Air Force WW2 Logbook by a friend, whose uncle served with the pilot in question. The logbook copy is the pilots and I said I would try and get some more info from him. To this end can anyone expand or clarify the details below.
The pilot in question seems to have begun flying in March 1942 on Single Engine Aircraft. Originally at RAF Grantham on the Magister, and then on the Stearman at a place named AAFTD Americus, Georgia. He then moves on to flying the Vultee at AAFTD Cochran Field, Macon, Georgia, in Nov 1942. Basic Multi Engine Training was done on the Beech AT10 at AAFAS Moody Field, Valdosta, Georgia.
Next came the Oxford in May 1943 at Beam Approach Training Flight at RAF Grantham. Next there are several entries for a 'link trainer' at RAF Harwell - is this the simulator of its time? He moves on to the Wellington OCU in Aug 1943 (Harwell?).
Following this is the Halifax in Nov 1943 (Ricall?). There is then an entry in the logbook of him being posted to 51 Sqn, flying his first operational mission to Berlin in Dec 1943 in the Halifax mk2. He carries on training and operational missions, operating over Berlin (twice) Stuttgart (twice), Le Mans, Augsburg and Magdeburg.
In March 1944 there is an entry for an operation over Stuttgart. It is his eigth operational sortie. Underneath in a different handwriting (possible written by my friends uncle?) is KIA with the date. I am assuming that this pilot and crew were shot down on their ninth op.
If anyone has any more info I`d be very grateful. I don`t know if the pilot was Canadian or whether he just had the logbook as he appears to have been at UK based Air Force units before he began flying training - for example ACRC London, ITW Scarborough (any ideas on abbreviations?), before moving to Canada and America for flying training and then back to the UK for advanced training.
I've deliberatly been a little vague on the details but if anyone wants to PM with specific questions I`ll get an answer to you.
Thanks in advance.
I have recently been given a copy of a Royal Canadian Air Force WW2 Logbook by a friend, whose uncle served with the pilot in question. The logbook copy is the pilots and I said I would try and get some more info from him. To this end can anyone expand or clarify the details below.
The pilot in question seems to have begun flying in March 1942 on Single Engine Aircraft. Originally at RAF Grantham on the Magister, and then on the Stearman at a place named AAFTD Americus, Georgia. He then moves on to flying the Vultee at AAFTD Cochran Field, Macon, Georgia, in Nov 1942. Basic Multi Engine Training was done on the Beech AT10 at AAFAS Moody Field, Valdosta, Georgia.
Next came the Oxford in May 1943 at Beam Approach Training Flight at RAF Grantham. Next there are several entries for a 'link trainer' at RAF Harwell - is this the simulator of its time? He moves on to the Wellington OCU in Aug 1943 (Harwell?).
Following this is the Halifax in Nov 1943 (Ricall?). There is then an entry in the logbook of him being posted to 51 Sqn, flying his first operational mission to Berlin in Dec 1943 in the Halifax mk2. He carries on training and operational missions, operating over Berlin (twice) Stuttgart (twice), Le Mans, Augsburg and Magdeburg.
In March 1944 there is an entry for an operation over Stuttgart. It is his eigth operational sortie. Underneath in a different handwriting (possible written by my friends uncle?) is KIA with the date. I am assuming that this pilot and crew were shot down on their ninth op.
If anyone has any more info I`d be very grateful. I don`t know if the pilot was Canadian or whether he just had the logbook as he appears to have been at UK based Air Force units before he began flying training - for example ACRC London, ITW Scarborough (any ideas on abbreviations?), before moving to Canada and America for flying training and then back to the UK for advanced training.
I've deliberatly been a little vague on the details but if anyone wants to PM with specific questions I`ll get an answer to you.
Thanks in advance.