A Very Unusual Air War by Gill Griffin Read Free Book Online

ranging
 
1–20
 
 
22nd
Spitfire
CH
Self
 
Formation
 
1–20
 
 
 
Miles Master
B
Self
Sgt Garden
Map reading
 
1–20
 
 
24th
Spitfire
CJ
Self
 
Formation and target for camera gun practice
 
1–20
 
 
 
Spitfire
CG
Self
 
Formation, cross country and camera gun practice
 
1–25
 
 
25th
Spitfire
CD
Self
 
Formation and aerobatics
 
1–20
 
 
 
Spitfire
CD
Self
 
Formation and camera gun practice and evasive action
 
1–30
 
 
26th
Spitfire
CA
Self
 
Formation and aerobatics
 
1–30
 
 
 
Spitfire
CC
Self
 
Formation
 
−25
 
 
27th
Spitfire
CD
Self
 
Ranging practice
 
1–10
 
 
29th
Spitfire
CJ
Self
 
Formation and aerobatics
 
1–25
 
    3 May : This was my first experience of climbing to a height above 4 or 5,000 feet and my first use of oxygen.

    13 May : When we were ‘comfortable’ in a Spitfire the training was increasingly aimed at operational needs, hence lots of formation flying (sadly still the obsolete VIC formation, battle climbs, air drill, etc.) We all agreed that the ‘Spit’ was a delight to fly, a lady with no vices. Care was needed when taxiing on the ground, due to the narrow undercarriage and poor visibility past the long nose. With the small radiator, overheating was always a problem. It was vital not to hang about once the engine was running but to get airborne as soon as possible. The joy of flying, particularly in a Spitfire, is well described in the poem ‘High Flight’ by John Gillespie Magee Jnr: ‘Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth/And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings’.

    21 May : Although my logbook entries show very few aerobatic sessions, it is misleading. On most flights, in the spirit of joie de vivre, we threw our willing steeds through the air. I well remember flying along the North Wales coast, doing continuous slow rolls, left and right alternately.
    26 May : Following the first of the two flights on the 26th I made a mistake and collected the following endorsement:

    BLUE ENDORSEMENT Landed down wind.
    Signed by J.R. Dunsworth S/Ldr
    CFI. 57 O.T.U.    dated 31/5/41.

    At this time we were using the small airfield at Sealand, normally an EFTS operating Tiger Moths. On a windless day I had taken off from West to East. Returning after some exhilarating aerobatics, I failed to note that the ‘Landing Tee’ had been changed through 180 degrees and landed the same way I had taken off. I finished my landing run among the Tigers! Fortunately I missed them all and no damage was done, except to my reputation and ego.
YEAR
1940
AIRCRAFT
Pilot or 1st Pilot
2nd Pilot, Pupil or Pass.
DUTY (Including Results and Remarks)
Flying Time
Passenger
MONTH
DATE
Type
No.
Dual
Solo
June
1st
Spitfire
CJ
Self
 
Formation and battle climb
 
1–10
 
 
2nd
Spitfire
CM
Self
 
Formation
 
−35
 
 
3rd
Spitfire
CL
Self
 
Formation and air drill
 
1–45
 
 
 
Spitfire
CD
Self
 
Formation
 
1–30
 
 
 
Spitfire
CN
Self
 
Formation
 
−40
 
 
4th
Spitfire
CD
Self
 
Formation, battle climb and air drill
 
1–40
 
 
5th
Spitfire
CJ
Self
 
Formation, Sealand to Hawarden
 
−10
 
 
7th
Spitfire
CC
Self
 
Formation attack and evasive action
 
1–20
 
 
 
Spitfire
CK
Self
 
Formation and dog fighting
 
1–30
 
 
 
Spitfire
FI
Self
 
Air firing, air to ground
 
−25
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3–30
1–40
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
55–25
110–25
4–40
7 June :
 
 
 
Unit 57 OTU. Hawarden
 
 
 
Summary for May/June 1941
Master
1–25
5–05
 
Spitfire
 
44–30
    Signed:- H.L. Thorne Sgt
O/C‘C’ Flt Summary for 20 Course
Master
1–25
5–05
 
Spitfire
 
44–30
    Signed:- H.L.Thorne Sgt

    Signed:- J.W.Baldie F/Lt O/C ‘C’ Flight
         J.R.Dunsworth S/Ldr. O/C Training 57 OTU

    This concluded my training as a fighter pilot. It seems incredible now that only on the final flight, that on June 7th, did I experience firing the eight machine guns and then only air to ground. On