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Geriaviator (#12231),
A noble story, marred by one thing - Garland and Gray got VCs. The gunner (I do not know his name) got nothing. He was not part of the decision-making process, and so did not have to be brave to get killed, apparently. Makes the blood boil. |
WW2 Wings
My stepfather flew 68 bomber ops progressing from WOP/AG on 3rd Sept 39 to Lanc pilot via squadron signals leader. He converted at Canadian Schools and I would love to see his service record, as a mere stepson would I be allowed access? Incidentally I finished up as his C.O but that's another story!
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I think you will find it has to be next of kin.
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Originally Posted by Prangster
(Post 10258082)
My stepfather flew 68 bomber ops progressing from WOP/AG on 3rd Sept 39 to Lanc pilot via squadron signals leader. He converted at Canadian Schools and I would love to see his service record, as a mere stepson would I be allowed access? Incidentally I finished up as his C.O but that's another story!
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military...-elses-records |
Hello guys and especially Danny.....I was sent here by chugalug from a thread in the main forum I started about my side hobby, collecting and researching WW2 pilots flying logbooks. I’m a massive history nut and a retired RAF helicopter pilot from 5 years ago, now a commercial pilot. I was given a couple of musty old logbooks a few years ago by another commercial pilot here who was about to throw them away and I am so glad he didn’t! They were a pair to a Coastal Command Blenheim pilot (missions over Norway) and subsequently Beaufighters, including missions from Malta and aerial combat over the Bay of Biscay, with several kills before he was reported missing himself. I’ve been researching his history and have only scratched the surface, but I’ve found some really interesting things out about Fg Off RG Stringer and I’d be happy to post some photos up if anyone is interested, to maybe lead us onto finding out a bit more about him? I also have a good sized collection of Luftwaffe pilot/aircrew logbooks with some absolutely fascinating entries, including pilots who flew countless JU87, Me109, FW190, Ju88, Ju188, He111, Do17/217 and Me262 missions. Let me know if anyone is interested, if not I’ll get back in my box :) |
SimonK,
dismantle the box and post away. I am sure our CO , Danny , would agree. |
Ah, I see you've already made it to our virtual crew room, Simon. Make yourself at home, sorry about the tea mug, its one of the less chipped ones for what it's worth. As aa62 says, no boxes allowed here to climb into, merely the myriad styles and shapes of battered armchairs to slump into instead. No not that one though, if you don't mind, that's Danny's. He should be along soon, but his seniority in every sense of the word means soon might just be awhile, if you see what I mean.
In the meantime just take a look around. You'll see that the crew room at first sight takes on the appearance of a bog standard WWII Nissen hut, yet somehow has the ability to accommodate all who enter it. The reason is a bit complicated. Suffice it to say that it is all explained by the Black Hole Theory. Most appropriate you might think... |
It was the only time I saw Aden. Not sorry. "M***** this is Aeroflot**, have any of your crew served at Aden?" (in perfect English). Much consternation on board the Nimrod!! The captain asks his crew, one has … "Aeroflot** M*****, yes, one of my crew has served in Aden". "M*****, now we know why you left!" |
Geriaviator, your Khormaksar home was very Bauhaus style! If it were in the Home Counties it would now be worth a bomb. Given where it was though it has probably already received one!
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Re Accommodation
My first posting was to RAF Thornhill (5 FTS) S. Rhodesia 1951 - 1953. Airmen's Billets were named after RAF VC's i.e. Ward, Reid etc. Photo 1 shows outside and Photo 2 inside of one of the Signals Section billets. With sixteen beds per billet, occupancy varied as men were posted in or out. WT https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8e5b9e9512.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....69c850b57a.jpg |
Originally Posted by Danny42C
(Post 10258076)
Geriaviator (#12231),
A noble story, marred by one thing - Garland and Gray got VCs. The gunner (I do not know his name) got nothing. He was not part of the decision-making process, and so did not have to be brave to get killed, apparently. Makes the blood boil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...C-RNAS-RAF.jpg |
I like the picture of The Queen on the locker. Very patriotic lad!
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SimonK (#12326),
Grand (?) Old Man Danny retires early and sleeps late these days, so a bit late in seconding Chugalug's welcome for you into our happy band in our cybercrewroom of nostalgia. Now I am intensely interested with your logbook of a Ju87 pilot: I can read German with fair ease, and already have: "CONVERSATIONS WITH A STUKA PILOT CONFERENCE FEATURING PAUL-WERNER HOZZEL BRIG. GENERAL (RET.)/ GERMAN AIR FORCE AT THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE NOVEMBER, 1978" which I will get round to reading when I have the time. I shall PM you about the Stuka logbook. As for the rest of your collection, I would suggest that the IWM would be grateful for them. Danny. |
Originally Posted by MPN11
(Post 10258747)
I like the picture of The Queen on the locker. Very patriotic lad!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f9e8f5c70e.jpg |
[QUOTE=Warmtoast;10258770]My pit was not so patriotic. Very small photo of my girlfriend on the locker door. Pinups were tolerated, but were suitably decorous as they were in those days - so nothing too exciting![QUOTE]
Is that girlfriend in the singular? She seems to have used a lot of hair colouring!! :) |
The one on the locker door is fairly consistent.
The barrack blocks are exactly the same as the barrack blocks at RAF Heany or Llewellyn Barracks when I occupied them in 1958. The same beds, wardrobes and lockers as well |
Originally Posted by Danny42C
(Post 10258760)
SimonK (#12326),
Grand (?) Old Man Danny retires early and sleeps late these days, so a bit late in seconding Chugalug's welcome for you into our happy band in our cybercrewroom of nostalgia. Now I am intensely interested with your logbook of a Ju87 pilot: I can read German with fair ease, and already have: "CONVERSATIONS WITH A STUKA PILOT CONFERENCE FEATURING PAUL-WERNER HOZZEL BRIG. GENERAL (RET.)/ GERMAN AIR FORCE AT THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE NOVEMBER, 1978" which I will get round to reading when I have the time. I shall PM you about the Stuka logbook. As for the rest of your collection, I would suggest that the IWM would be grateful for them. Danny. Thanks for the contact and it is an honour to speak to you on here sir. I am sorry if my post above was unclear, but I am not looking to get rid of any of my logbooks, I merely meant I would be happy to post scans/photos of any interesting pages for your interest in this thread. As an aside they have cost me a lot of money over the years (the Beaufighter pilots ones are the only ones I didn't pay for!) and many of them are utterly unique....sounds like there is some interest on here so I'll find some interesting bits and post them on this thread. As happens the Ju87 Flugbuch is utterly fascinating, as it covers an intense period of fighting on the Eastern front and the pilot is finally severely wounded after flying well over 200 missions. He writes a huge amount of detail and records gunners of his being killed, attacks on landing craft etc etc. It is written in a pretty unfathomable old fashion way of writing German called 'suetterlin', which is very hard to get translated or indeed read. Luckily a friendly German pilot over at another forum translated it for me, so I'll post some screenshots and explain what he wrote. Anyway, all the best chaps and thanks for having me here. |
Welcome from me too, and a wee request for non-German speakers ... the odd translation (certainly at the outset) woukd be helpful!! We didn’t all do tours in RAFG/2ATAF!! ;) I get the feeling that Flugbuch thing is a sort of scrapbook, as opposed to a flying logbook? |
[QUOTE=MPN11;10258796][QUOTE=Warmtoast;10258770]My pit was not so patriotic. Very small photo of my girlfriend on the locker door. Pinups were tolerated, but were suitably decorous as they were in those days - so nothing too exciting!
Is that girlfriend in the singular? She seems to have used a lot of hair colouring!! :) WT https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1970185113.jpg |
Oh, bless! |
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