Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
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Nugget90 (#9515),
As far as I remember, it was a sort of tabloid newspaper - but never seeing one (the SEAC Anson only delivered to the major airfields [in the Arakan would be only Chittagong and Dohazari] with paved strips which they could use in the monsoon), I cannot be positive. All the 'kutcha' strips would be mud: we'd all pulled back to W.Bengal till the rains stopped. Never saw it there, either.
Might there be a possibility of some of that coming our way.......?
Danny.
As far as I remember, it was a sort of tabloid newspaper - but never seeing one (the SEAC Anson only delivered to the major airfields [in the Arakan would be only Chittagong and Dohazari] with paved strips which they could use in the monsoon), I cannot be positive. All the 'kutcha' strips would be mud: we'd all pulled back to W.Bengal till the rains stopped. Never saw it there, either.
...My late father kept these two journals as they both contain poems he contributed whilst attached to Air HQ India before joining No 215 Squadron (Wellington 10s and then Liberators)...
Danny.
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Thank you Stanwell - takes me back -appreciated.
An interesting photo of the Single Pin - I photographed an Andover at Abingdon that overran the runway and broke it's back - A mother in a wheelchair on the road out side the fence suddenly found herself being propelled at an incredible rate by her daughter!
Back on track, Union jack, I wouldn't dare tease in such company.
Attached is a page of a log book from Flt Lt 'Rusty' Waughman DFC AFC.
He was on fine form today - I am tempted to put his operational tour with 101(SD) Squadron Ludford Magna on the thread before his training. What do people think?
An interesting photo of the Single Pin - I photographed an Andover at Abingdon that overran the runway and broke it's back - A mother in a wheelchair on the road out side the fence suddenly found herself being propelled at an incredible rate by her daughter!
Back on track, Union jack, I wouldn't dare tease in such company.
Attached is a page of a log book from Flt Lt 'Rusty' Waughman DFC AFC.
He was on fine form today - I am tempted to put his operational tour with 101(SD) Squadron Ludford Magna on the thread before his training. What do people think?
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People really said/wrote "wizard prang"? And we complain today about YoofSpeak? 
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Even the older generation can lapse ... it's the constant exposure to poor grammar, punctuation and strange words
I must have been the laziest administrator in the Air Force. All in the operational flying I did; OK not in a big shooting war like WWII but I never recorded where I had been or who was wanting to shoot at me across three Continents.
The Royal Air Force in the sixties and seventies was undoubtedly the biggest flying club in the World so it probably never occurred to us.
The Royal Air Force in the sixties and seventies was undoubtedly the biggest flying club in the World so it probably never occurred to us.
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Hey Danny, it looks like they are working on getting your beloved Vengeance back in the air.
Vultee Vengeance legacy
Vultee Vengeance legacy
The team behind Classic Wings magazine has/is getting one as an airworthy restoration. I'm not sure about the ID but it has been alluded to in Facebook posts.
Very exciting times.
Very exciting times.
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BB (your #9523),
Yes, please ! Any references to a Sqn Ldr David Brown DSO (would have been the Gunnery Leader) ? He was at Ludford Magna, and I think on 101 about the time.
Was my Auxiliary C.O. on 3608 (Fighter Control) Unit, RAF Thornaby in the '50s (I was his Adj).
Nicer chap never lived,
Danny.
...I am tempted to put his operational tour with 101(SD) Squadron Ludford Magna on the thread before his training. What do people think?...
Was my Auxiliary C.O. on 3608 (Fighter Control) Unit, RAF Thornaby in the '50s (I was his Adj).
Nicer chap never lived,
Danny.
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Fareastdriver (#9527),
The Thirties' RAF was called "The finest Flying Club in England", but I'm not so sure about the '60s and '70s. We all (well, some of us) - had "Careers" to worry about then !)
Danny.
...The Royal Air Force in the sixties and seventies was undoubtedly the biggest flying club in the World so it probably never occurred to us...
Danny.
Last edited by Danny42C; 14th Oct 2016 at 12:36. Reason: Add Bracket,
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Nutty,
Thanks for that Vengeance link.
As for the rumour that EZ999 might be seen airborne anytime soon ... it's best summed up in four words - 'Don't hold your breath'.
She's there in one piece and they'd like to keep it that way - which I think is a pretty good idea.
The only hope of seeing and hearing one flying again is if HARS at Wollongong can find the time and money to cobble one together
from the bits they've inherited from the Boulder scrapyard.
.
Thanks for that Vengeance link.
As for the rumour that EZ999 might be seen airborne anytime soon ... it's best summed up in four words - 'Don't hold your breath'.
She's there in one piece and they'd like to keep it that way - which I think is a pretty good idea.
The only hope of seeing and hearing one flying again is if HARS at Wollongong can find the time and money to cobble one together
from the bits they've inherited from the Boulder scrapyard.
.
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Here is the SEAC Newspaper. As described by its publishers. And you can see it being dropped on airfields. Front Line Newspaper - British Pathé
And - eBay's always good for these things - here are some copies:
WWII Era SEAC (South East Asia Command) Newspaper July 25th 1944, Military, War | eBay
SEAC SOUVENIR South East Asia Command Newspaper | eBay
What are those yellow-painted aeroplanes at the end of - and during, I've only flicked through it quickly - the colour film and why are they painted yellow? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBwkYRGnd0s
And - eBay's always good for these things - here are some copies:
WWII Era SEAC (South East Asia Command) Newspaper July 25th 1944, Military, War | eBay
SEAC SOUVENIR South East Asia Command Newspaper | eBay
What are those yellow-painted aeroplanes at the end of - and during, I've only flicked through it quickly - the colour film and why are they painted yellow? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBwkYRGnd0s
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Nutloose (# 9528),
Stories like this have been circulating for some time. "Cooda Shooda" (for one) has some 'gen' on this, if I remember correctly.
Seems there are several groups scouring the Land of Oz for any remaining bits of VV that were not hoovered-up for the Camden Museum rebuild. Think they're all on a hiding to nothing, myself. Any bits found may be from US A-31s or A-35s: they do not necessarily mix. Seventy-five years is a long time.
The Museum specimen looks the best bet to fly - if the Museum would allow. It seems reasonably complete. But why would they ? They've got the only one in the world (so far), if they bust that, there aren't any more !
My attitude is that of the "Doubting Thomas" - "All this will I believe when I shall see !"
Caution: if they do resurrect a A-35 (Vengeance Mk.IV), have a care. This was a Lend-Lease aircraft; it should have been destroyed after VJ. As it hasn't been, they have broken the Lend-Lease Agreement (buy it from us if you want to keep it or destroy it completely if you don't). Nasty letter may come round from US Embassy, enclosing stiff bill (they were around US$65,000, don't know how much discount you might get !)
Camden is in the clear, EZ999 is an A-31 (Vengeance Mk.I), bought and paid for by Whinging Poms and graciously donated to RAAF in WWII. That Camden then went to a lot of trouble to disguise it as a Mk.IV is another matter.
Not fanciful, nearly put me before a Court Martial in India in 1945.
Danny.
... Hey Danny, it looks like they are working on getting your beloved Vengeance back in the air...
Seems there are several groups scouring the Land of Oz for any remaining bits of VV that were not hoovered-up for the Camden Museum rebuild. Think they're all on a hiding to nothing, myself. Any bits found may be from US A-31s or A-35s: they do not necessarily mix. Seventy-five years is a long time.
The Museum specimen looks the best bet to fly - if the Museum would allow. It seems reasonably complete. But why would they ? They've got the only one in the world (so far), if they bust that, there aren't any more !
My attitude is that of the "Doubting Thomas" - "All this will I believe when I shall see !"
Caution: if they do resurrect a A-35 (Vengeance Mk.IV), have a care. This was a Lend-Lease aircraft; it should have been destroyed after VJ. As it hasn't been, they have broken the Lend-Lease Agreement (buy it from us if you want to keep it or destroy it completely if you don't). Nasty letter may come round from US Embassy, enclosing stiff bill (they were around US$65,000, don't know how much discount you might get !)
Camden is in the clear, EZ999 is an A-31 (Vengeance Mk.I), bought and paid for by Whinging Poms and graciously donated to RAAF in WWII. That Camden then went to a lot of trouble to disguise it as a Mk.IV is another matter.
Not fanciful, nearly put me before a Court Martial in India in 1945.
Danny.
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Reader123 ... they're many different training types, in Canada where yellow was the colour!
I don't have time right now to try to ID all the types for you, but plenty of Harvards in there.
I don't have time right now to try to ID all the types for you, but plenty of Harvards in there.
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Thanks, I wasn't looking for an identification of all the aircraft type, although I suppose you might have thought that was what I wrote. Clearly I was misled by the title of the film, if they're training aircraft in which case presumably they're not in Burma (for all that the title suggests).
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Danny, I have just spoken to Rusty. The Gunnery Leader during his time on the squadron was a Fl Lt Hill. 101 Squadron, because of security reasons, were the only squadron on the base. Rusty recalls that there was a P/O Brown who was a gunner in the crew of F/O McKenna in 1944.
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Flt Lt John Dunbar DFC (RIP)
For those following the story, I appear to have found the missing tape.
This should please Chug as there is a section on training in Canada. Perhaps it is best to continue with the story of John's time in Burma so that we have continuity. The tape also contains a second telling of the 'rescue' with added detail.
For those following the story, I appear to have found the missing tape.
This should please Chug as there is a section on training in Canada. Perhaps it is best to continue with the story of John's time in Burma so that we have continuity. The tape also contains a second telling of the 'rescue' with added detail.
Well done, BB! Deliver John's story in any order you please, just as long as we can see it. Did you manage to view the Canada/Burma link in my #9517? Plenty of yellow aeroplanes there as you can see!
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Thank you Chug. Yes to the 'yellow aeroplanes'. Some nice formation flying. The Harvard at the start, FE433, was taken on charge on 14.9.42 and struck off charge on 3.7.47. Units - 1TC, 1AC and 20TT
Attached is a photo taken at Kemble a few weeks ago. The second test flight of a restored Harvard.
Attached is a photo taken at Kemble a few weeks ago. The second test flight of a restored Harvard.