Description
Object description
Photocopy of a well written ms account (64pp) of his service in the RAF (1940 - 1945) covering his enlistment in 1940, flying training at RAF Kingsdown, near Carlisle, at No 14 Flying Training School at RAF Cranfield where he qualified as a pilot (April 1941) and at No 17 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Upwood, Lincolnshire (May - June 1941), his posting to No 114 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, a Blenheim Squadron based at RAF West Raynham, Norfolk (July 1941 - June 1942) flying low level bombing operations in daylight over France and the low countries and then from November 1941 on night intruder strikes against enemy airfields, then after the end of his tour of operations posting to an OTU at RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire on training duties (July 1942 - summer 1944), his posting to an OTU for training in Mosquitos following his request for a transfer back to operations but being invalided out of the RAF (suffering from a gastric ulcer) before he could begin operations. The memoir, which contains an interesting account of the squadron's brief posting to RAF Lossiemouth for participation in an attack on the enemy airfield at Herdla in support of the British Combined Operations raid against the German held Norwegian islands of Vaagso and Maaloy (December 1941) and operations against the two German battleships GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST in the English Channel (February 1942), also includes his reflections on applying for and receiving his commission, his feelings at being turned down for a gallantry award, details of squadron social life, arranging mess parties and acting as part time catering officer to the squadron and is accompanied by a photocopy of his flying log book and a number of photocopied photographs and sketches of the author.
Content description
Photocopy of a well written ms account (64pp) of his service in the RAF (1940 - 1945) covering his enlistment in 1940, flying training at RAF Kingsdown, near Carlisle, at No 14 Flying Training School at RAF Cranfield where he qualified as a pilot (April 1941) and at No 17 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Upwood, Lincolnshire (May - June 1941), his posting to No 114 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, a Blenheim Squadron based at RAF West Raynham, Norfolk (July 1941 - June 1942) flying low level bombing operations in daylight over France and the low countries and then from November 1941 on night intruder strikes against enemy airfields, then after the end of his tour of operations posting to an OTU at RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire on training duties (July 1942 - summer 1944), his posting to an OTU for training in Mosquitos following his request for a transfer back to operations but being invalided out of the RAF (suffering from a gastric ulcer) before he could begin operations. The memoir, which contains an interesting account of the squadron's brief posting to RAF Lossiemouth for participation in an attack on the enemy airfield at Herdla in support of the British Combined Operations raid against the German held Norwegian islands of Vaagso and Maaloy (December 1941) and operations against the two German battleships GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST in the English Channel (February 1942), also includes his reflections on applying for and receiving his commission, his feelings at being turned down for a gallantry award, details of squadron social life, arranging mess parties and acting as part time catering officer to the squadron and is accompanied by a photocopy of his flying log book and a number of photocopied photographs and sketches of the author.
History note
Cataloguer AAM
History note
Catalogue date 2003-05-02