Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
Thank you for the link, Roving. A varied and eventful career indeed! Ironic that having survived WWII, as a Gp Capt he almost met his maker trapped in a blazing and upturned Lightning. BZs to the crash crew who managed to extricate him alive. No doubt he showed his gratitude in the appropriate way!
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Another very interesting and varied career ... Dakota to Lightning is quite a jump, even with interim steps!
BTW, Danny42C is now posting on CapCom.
BTW, Danny42C is now posting on CapCom.
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Chugalug et al,
Thank you all for your good wishes in your #12413 of 23/10/18 and #12416 and #12417 of 24/10/18 and today's #12421. #12420 ? - not so sure !
Laptop is behaving itself pro tem (fingers crossed), but I'm flat on my back again with yet another lung infection, and having to scoff some horrible antibiotics. Mary administering them as part of her unfailing TLC.
Actually sitting up in bed with laptop on a "Lavolta" frame (a bit wobbly), so can try to keep an eye on proceedings from time to time, and able to put in my two cent's worth when I feel like it.
Re: Barrage balloons; there was an early postwar story (sorry, no refs) about one which broke loose, and drifted slowly Eastward over our green and pleasant land, shorting out power cables and causing general mayhem. Someone rang the Duty Officer at Air Ministry. "Never fear", said this chap, "our brave fighter boys will sort it out in no time !"
But it was Wednesday afternoon, and those not engaged in official Sport were pushing supermarket trollies in town, or otherwise engaged (was there a time when there was no QRA ?) Anyway, they couldn't get an armed fighter into the sky in time, the Balloon carried on its trail of destruction before drifting out into the North Sea, and was never seen again.
Was the story true ? - Dunno. Could it have happened ? What do you think ?
Keep the old Thread going ! Cheers, Danny.
Thank you all for your good wishes in your #12413 of 23/10/18 and #12416 and #12417 of 24/10/18 and today's #12421. #12420 ? - not so sure !
Laptop is behaving itself pro tem (fingers crossed), but I'm flat on my back again with yet another lung infection, and having to scoff some horrible antibiotics. Mary administering them as part of her unfailing TLC.
Actually sitting up in bed with laptop on a "Lavolta" frame (a bit wobbly), so can try to keep an eye on proceedings from time to time, and able to put in my two cent's worth when I feel like it.
Re: Barrage balloons; there was an early postwar story (sorry, no refs) about one which broke loose, and drifted slowly Eastward over our green and pleasant land, shorting out power cables and causing general mayhem. Someone rang the Duty Officer at Air Ministry. "Never fear", said this chap, "our brave fighter boys will sort it out in no time !"
But it was Wednesday afternoon, and those not engaged in official Sport were pushing supermarket trollies in town, or otherwise engaged (was there a time when there was no QRA ?) Anyway, they couldn't get an armed fighter into the sky in time, the Balloon carried on its trail of destruction before drifting out into the North Sea, and was never seen again.
Was the story true ? - Dunno. Could it have happened ? What do you think ?
Keep the old Thread going ! Cheers, Danny.
Welcome back Danny, even though in a less than vertical position!
For what it's worth I remember being told of the barrage balloon saga in ATCS ground school and repeating it in the classroom years later … heaven knows in what context though, it might have had something to do with 'securite' messages
For what it's worth I remember being told of the barrage balloon saga in ATCS ground school and repeating it in the classroom years later … heaven knows in what context though, it might have had something to do with 'securite' messages
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All,
I am humbled and gratified by the extent of your good wishes for my "recovery". Alas, at my age, this is too much to expect. The best I can hope for is to fend off the Grim Reaper as long as possible.
Having said that: "Dum spiro, scribo !"
(Horizontal) Danny
I am humbled and gratified by the extent of your good wishes for my "recovery". Alas, at my age, this is too much to expect. The best I can hope for is to fend off the Grim Reaper as long as possible.
Having said that: "Dum spiro, scribo !"
(Horizontal) Danny
Welcome back, Danny! All is now well with our world!
Over on 'Aviation nostalgia' a chap has been seeking info' on his late Grandfather, who trained as a pilot in Canada about the same time as you were in the USA. I've advised him to have a look at our favourite thread to see what he can find re those far-off days.
Over on 'Aviation nostalgia' a chap has been seeking info' on his late Grandfather, who trained as a pilot in Canada about the same time as you were in the USA. I've advised him to have a look at our favourite thread to see what he can find re those far-off days.
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Folks - I am trying to find out anything about this base, which my (sadly long-deceased) father-in-law served at during 1945-46. I have been able to learn the basics from internet research but can't seem to get much beyond that. He would have been an AC1 or AC2 at the time but his service records don't go into any detail so it's really difficult to understand what he might have been doing there. Any help at all would be very welcome.....
Danny
This one happened on 30th November 1951 - not sure if it's the one you remember.
Re: Barrage balloons; there was an early postwar story (sorry, no refs) about one which broke loose, and drifted slowly Eastward over our green and pleasant land, shorting out power cables and causing general mayhem. Someone rang the Duty Officer at Air Ministry. "Never fear", said this chap, "our brave fighter boys will sort it out in no time !"
But it was Wednesday afternoon, and those not engaged in official Sport were pushing supermarket trollies in town, or otherwise engaged (was there a time when there was no QRA ?) Anyway, they couldn't get an armed fighter into the sky in time, the Balloon carried on its trail of destruction before drifting out into the North Sea, and was never seen again.
Was the story true ? - Dunno. Could it have happened ? What do you think ?
But it was Wednesday afternoon, and those not engaged in official Sport were pushing supermarket trollies in town, or otherwise engaged (was there a time when there was no QRA ?) Anyway, they couldn't get an armed fighter into the sky in time, the Balloon carried on its trail of destruction before drifting out into the North Sea, and was never seen again.
Was the story true ? - Dunno. Could it have happened ? What do you think ?
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I’ll hang Danny’s Laura Ashley mug on the hook for now (yes, I washed it up properly) and I will also sweep the crewroom floor. Any takers for Danny’s SDO duty, or should I phone cyber-OC GD Flt? 
Blessings on you, Danny and Devoted Daughter.
Blessings on you, Danny and Devoted Daughter.
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Folks - I am trying to find out anything about this base, which my (sadly long-deceased) father-in-law served at during 1945-46. I have been able to learn the basics from internet research but can't seem to get much beyond that. He would have been an AC1 or AC2 at the time but his service records don't go into any detail so it's really difficult to understand what he might have been doing there. Any help at all would be very welcome.....
Reminds me of a RAID balloon(remote camera surveillance) we lost in Basra in 2007. During a storm it was being recovered and a sudden downdraught Caused it to break its tether and it was last seen heading for Iran with about £1000000 of surveillance equipment never to be seen again.
Hi Andrew, Jefford's book RAF Squadrons shows the following Sqn numbers served at Chaklaka in the time frame you mentioned.
10 SQn Dakotas
298 " Halifax A7
670 & 672 Gliders
So it's possible he was something to do with planned operations involving Daks etc towing gliders for use against the Japanese.
Other squadrons did time there but not on those dates.
10 SQn Dakotas
298 " Halifax A7
670 & 672 Gliders
So it's possible he was something to do with planned operations involving Daks etc towing gliders for use against the Japanese.
Other squadrons did time there but not on those dates.
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I wonder if the barrage balloon was one from Hullavington used for parachute training. Looking at the report the wind was blowing in the wrong direction.
Hugh Hunt of Trinity College Cambridge did a television programme describing how difficult it was to shoot down hydrogen filled balloons.
Hugh Hunt of Trinity College Cambridge did a television programme describing how difficult it was to shoot down hydrogen filled balloons.
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Re Dakotas in Burma against the Japanese: Rawalpindi is a long way west of Burma, especially for glider operations. Perhaps it was a training base for operations into the Burmese jungle? My father was the army major in charge of supporting the Chindits by air, and he was based in East India, and later even closer to the action from jungle clearings. He told of arranging to drop all sorts of goods and equipment out of Dakotas over mere map references in the Burmese jungle. These included primitive outboard motors, and, once, some £10,000 in gold sovereigns.These he had to throw out of the plane personally and sign a chit to certify so doing. He often used to wonder if anyone managed to find them.
pettinger93
I wasn't suggesting that an operation would be launched from that far west - it was likely a training base.
B48N
PS I've read of your father's exploits in 'War in the Wilderness' - what heroes those guys, the Chindits, were!
I wasn't suggesting that an operation would be launched from that far west - it was likely a training base.
B48N
PS I've read of your father's exploits in 'War in the Wilderness' - what heroes those guys, the Chindits, were!
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 27th Oct 2018 at 20:38. Reason: addition
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Given the current propensity for aircrew awards for one operation in theatre, I wonder whether that’s how AndrewClark’s father might have acquired a Burma Star .. perhaos as a despatcher?