Reminiscences of service in the Royal Air Force - 1937 to 1945

Reminiscences of service in the Royal Air Force - 1937 to 1945

Starts with joining on short service commission and covers, in great detail, his pilot training activities, including a crash landing during a cross country. After receiving his wings award, he moves to trials work, target towing and aircraft ferrying. After a short time on Fairy Battle he was posted to sea planes. In 1940 he moved to Wellington conversion and then to operations on 115 Squadron. He gives his account of flying and operations, including diversion due to bad weather over England, and the loss of 42 aircraft that night. He tells of life at RAF Marham and problems of extreme cold when flying. Comments on German defences, bomber tactics, problems with dinghies and ditching and discipline. He mentions moving to 218 Squadron and comments on Wellington Mk II. He relates a story of an operation to Kiel and the end of first operational tour. He goes on to describe a training tour, including involvement in 1,000 bomber operation to Cologne. He provides history of 9 Squadron and covers his posting as flight commander to that squadron. He writes of operations to Bremen, Saint Nazaire, where his aircraft was hit and damaged by anti-aircraft fire resulting in a crash landing at RAF Abingdon. He goes on to describe Wellington fuel system and hospitalisation for an eye injury. He writes of conversion to Lancaster and comments on aircrafts good points and mentions attacks on Italian targets. He covers his aircraft's "Zola" nose art and the end of the second tour. He relates subsequent loss of his aircraft and navigator who had not completed his tour. He gives a good description of bombing tactics and start of pathfinders and target marking. He writes about his subsequent postings as a test pilot and trips through Africa. Appendixes include: transcripts from newspaper reports about his crash while training; seven letters home which cover his operations and activities on his first operational tour (Berlin, Hamburg), Cologne, operations to Italy, press reports, and Royal visit. Included is a transcript of The Times newspaper article which describes actions by Denis and his rear gunner, P/O F G Chalk, when attacked by Me 110. Concludes with service history and marriage announcement.

1941-03-03

1941-06-21

1941-07-03

1942-05-30

1942-10-25

1942-11-01

1942-11-16

1938-05-10

1939-12-10

1940-12-10

1941-07-04

1943-02-09

1943-05-10

29 printed sheets

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