Log Book 1

Flying in England

Grandpa’s  last flight in Canada was September 21st, 1942. There is a gap in he Logs until December 11th when he has his first flight in England. We can get an idea of what happened in that gap from the Journal he kept, starting on Page 18. He did not number the pages. (Unfortunately, the book is not complete and there are pages missing, either intentionally or by mischance.)

Grandpa says he was summoned to the Adjutant’s office on 22 September where he was informed that he had been posted to the R.A.F. in England. He then 

went with Mother and I back to Fort Langley. He was there 9 days and then left us there, October 9th, and returned to Halifax and the war.

October 28th Grandpa boarded the Queen Elizabeth, yes that Queen Elizabeth, in Halifax for the trip to England. The ship sailed on October 30th and Grandpa’s description of the journey is interesting reading. They went ashore in the Firth of Clyde on the 4th of November and on to Bournemonth. He had time on his hands to be a bit of a tourist before arriving at No.18 A.F.U Church-Lawford about the 18th of November.

The Journal in this period is very interesting and well worth a read.  But here is where we pick up on the Log Books again. The Journal describes the early flying as being familiarization with the different flying conditions in England, getting used to their procedures and learning about the German pilots and equipment they would be up against.

No. 8(P) A.F.U. Church-Lawford

No. 8(P) A.F.U., or (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Church-Lawford is situated right in the middle of England. From what I see it was a training base and not a field for operational squadrons.

December 11 – 29 (L)  1942

December 11 – 29 (R)  1942

December 29 – January 8 (L)  1943

December 29 – January 8 (R)  1943

January 11 – 21  1942

February 1 – 18  1942

February 19th   1943

No. 54 O.T.U. Charter-Hall

No. 8(P) A.F.U., or (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Church-Lawford is situated right in the middle of England. From what I see it was a training base and not a field for operational squadrons.

February 27 – March 24  1943

March 24 – April 15  1943

April 16th – May 4  1943

5 May – 14 May 1943

409 (RCAF) Squadron – RAF Base Acklington

RAF Acklington is located near the coast on the North Sea just North of Newcastle on Tyne in the North of England. From what I see it was a training base and not a field for operational squadrons. In the First World War it was used as an air base from 1916 until it was closed in 1920. Then it was called RFCS (Royal Flying Corps Station) Southfields. It was reactivated in 1938 with the rising tensions between Germany and England and the RAF was moving swiftly to add squadrons. In September of 1939 it was turned over to Fighter Group Command 13. During the Battle of Britain it was home to several active squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes.

409 Squadron moved onto the base on the 28th of February 1943 and was there until the 13th of May 1944. The squadron was here when Grandpa received his posting to 409 about May 25th.

May 25 – June 4  1943

June 6 – 30  1943

July 1 – 31  1943

July 31 – August 14  1943

August 13 – 30  1943

September 2 – 3  1943

September 4 – 22  1943

October 4 – 20  1943

October 21 – 27  1943

November 4 – 21  1943

Record of Service  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 1  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 2  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 3  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 4  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 5  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 6  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 7  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 8  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 9  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 10  1943

Link Trainer and Misc. Records 11  1943

Inside Back Cover