Alan Richardson’s Royal Air Force Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book. One

Alan Richardson’s Royal Air Force Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book. One

Alan Richardson’s Flying Log Book as an air gunner from 11th April 1940 until 31st August 1943. Trained as an air gunner and wireless operator at No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School and No. 9 Air Observers School. Posted to 11 Operational Training Unit and then 38 Squadron for operations as a wireless operator. Posted to Malta in November 1940 with 148 Squadron. June 1941 saw a posting to 70 Operational Training Unit in Egypt and then East Africa. In January 1942 posted to 211 Squadron in Sumatra, Java and then India as air gunner/wireless operator. Posted to 308 Maintenance Unit in May 1942. Served at RAF Penrhos, RAF Jurby, RAF Marham, RAF Luqa, RAF Ismailia, RAF Nakuru, RAF Palembang, RAF Bandoeng, RAF Kalidjati, RAF Allahabad, RAF Bamrauli. Aircraft flown were Wallace, Harrow, Demon, Battle, Wellington, Anson, Blenheim, Oxford, Empire Flying Boat, Bisley, Hudson, Beaufort, Beaufighter, Vengeance. With 38 Squadron he flew 16 night bombing operations. His targets included Hamm, Hamburg, the Ruhr Valley, Borkum, Bernberg, Osnabruck, Schwerte, Barnsfeldt/Barnstoiff, Ostend, Calais, Le Havre, Magdeburg, Gelsenkirchen. His pilots were Sergeant Studd, Sergeant Lewin, Pilot Officer Robinson and Flying Officer Chivers. On the 24th September 1940 his aircraft flew in to a balloon barrage and had to abort the operation, landing at RAF Andover. With 148 Squadron he flew 12 night bombing operations to Naples, Castel Benito, Tripoli, Palermo, Messina, Catania and Syracuse. His pilots were Sergeant Lewin, Sergeant Berry and Pilot Officer Day. For 211 Squadron he flew 4 day operations. These include a reconnaissance to Sumatra, evacuation from Palembang II, and bombing Palembang I. His pilot was Pilot Officer Coughlan. During his bombing operation to Palembang I on 19th February 1942 he shot down an Me 109 fighter. He also flew two reconnaissance operations with 308 Maintenance Unit supporting Army Cooperation with Pilot Officer Rowe as his pilot.

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One booklet

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