The Diary Begins

Wed.-Sept.8,1943
"I started this diary today, the day Italy surrendered. The time is getting closer when I can go home and marry Sue."
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Thur.- Sept 9/43
- "Hear that we get a weeks leave starting Sunday. Hope to go to London then up to Birmingham. No mail from Sue yet - it'll come though."

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Sat-Sep11/43
- Sure is dead around here, we don't get leave till Monday, I'm ready for it. Got RAF Uniforms today, not as good as ours. Still no mail from mouse, but as long as it comes."
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Sun-Sep12/43 - "Went on church parade, there is even class distinction in church with reserved pews - is this what we're fighting for?"
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Mon-Sep20/43
"we had a wonderful leave, came back broke and are now back in barracks in Bournemouth and start now in ground school. No mail yet"
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Tue-Sep21/43
"Really a swell day, I received eight letters from Sue and one from Mom. I really feel on top of the world now. This ground school takes up the whole day, sure is mighty tiring."
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Wed-Sep22/43
"One of the chaps wants to stay here after the war. Not me, it's too darn crowded, not enough open spaces, all England is practically one city."
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Thu-Sep23/43
- "Met a chap named Gibbons who I used to know back home in the air cadets, he's an AG. Nice to see kids from back home. Right now there is only one person I want to see, that's my Sue." Ground school is boring!!!!
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Mon-Oct4/43
- Back to boring ground school again, received some letters direct from home"
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Wed-Oct8/43
- This darn school life is getting monotonous. I got three letters from Sue today, one from Dad"
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Sat.-Oct9/43
- Found out that I'm on a posting to Banff, North Scotland - not such a hot place, but I'll be glad to get away from this ground school.
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Wed.Oct13/43
- Sure is cold up here. We're halfway between Banff & Portsay. I went to Banff, a real small town where everything is made out of brick. It's hard to understand the scotch (sic) accent and Gaelic.
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Mon.-Nov29/43
- Wrote and passed exams. We leave for Fraserburgh tomorrow; it's a small town in the county of Aberdeenshire. It's supposed to be a better station than this one here.
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Wed.-Dec1/43
- Seems we've still got to go to ground school here. One day we go to G.S. in the morning and fly in the afternoon and vice versa the next day.
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Fri.-Dec3/43
- Got a few letters today, forwarded from Banff. Good to hear from Sue, she still loves me. I've been writing a few too.
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Wed.-Dec8/43
- Well I've finally got in a few hours and should be all set for a solo to-morrow, I hope.
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Thur.-Dec9/43
- Well I've finally soloed, it's good to fly these crates solo, I'd sooner fly solo anytime than fly dual. Hope to get more hours in now.
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Sat.-Dec.11/43
- Well we had a good time last night, damn near got drunk too but so did the other fellows. Sure had a good room at the George Hotel. Nice bath too.
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Sun.-Dec.12/43
- Flying as usual. My hours are slow about getting up, only have about twelve - my log book has been lost, no fault of mine either.
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Mon.-Dec 13/43
- It's getting mighty cold around here, the beds are awfully cold when you first crawl into them, sure wish I had someone here to keep the bed warm!
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Wed.-Dec15/43
- Well I got twelve letters from Sue today, also one from Marg. She got a Hope Chest for Sue from me. Hope I get some parcels soon.

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Fri.-Dec17/43
- Well I go to Edzell for a B.A.T. course (blind approach through cloud) Beam flying. I've been getting a lot of Link hours in lately.
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Dec21/43
- Edzell really is a swell station, the Grub is tops and lots of it so I'm in my glory. It's a big station though there are only twelve of us pilots here.
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Thu.-Dec23/43
Was up with a squadron leader today, seems to think my flying is O.K. Beam flying is lots of fun although it's only a two week course.
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Fri.-Dec24/43
- I'm with six Aussies here and we all got feeling pretty high to-night, it was fun anyway. We serve the airmens mess tomorrow, xmas day!
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Sat.-Dec25/43
- Well this is my first xmas here, sure hope it's my last. Had a pretty fair time, fraid I got drunk. Boy I sure miss Sue on a day like this!
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Sun.-Dec26/43
- First time I've ever seen everyone try to fly with a hangover. Sure were some bumpy landings to day. Went to bed and read "Sorell and Son" - good book.
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Sat.-Jan1/44
- A New Year and we have to fly on the first day of it - "Ours is not to reason why etc." It's getting mighty close to time to leave here.
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Tue.-Jan18/44
- been getting in quite a few hours lately - went over on my back in a "kite" at 5500 feet today and came out at 2000 - sure thought my number was up! Some good cross country flying.
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Tue. Jan25/44
- started night flying and tonight is my first time up over here. Must say the black-out is efficient, we fly entirely by instrument with the exception of landing. For navigation we use beacons, "occults and pundits" - (sic) Hours are ungodly, but we do get a lot of sleep.
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Fri.Jan28/44
- Tonight I pranged a kite. Accidently knocked my brake off and with 1,000 revs on each motor, we moved forward without me noticing. Our starboard prop took the tail of the plane in front of me. Hope I don't get a log book endorsement. (Saw the C.O. about this prang and got away with it! We had a nice talk about Canada - he is a real swell chap)
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Tue.Feb1/44
- I had to make a belly landing just a while ago - couldn't get the under-carriage down - No one was hurt!
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Thu. Feb10/44
- Went on a night cross-country tonight - it was lots of fun - had a wireless op. With me and was teaching him how to fly.
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O.T.U. Milner's Crew Comes Together

Tue.Feb15/44
- Arrived (23 O.T.U ) at four this afternoon, first fellow I ran into was Frank Bolter, a chap I joined up with, first time I've seen him since Manning Depot - he's leaving tomorrow!

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Thu.Feb17/44
- We have to pick up our crew of 2 air gunners, a wireless op. Bomb aimer and navigator. I've got Andy as W. op. This is a lovely station as far as food goes.
(Howard Francis "Andy" Anderson")
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Fri.Feb18/44
- We have 18 days of Ground School before flying and are supposed to get our crew in the first nine. I don't know any others here but I'll make out. Sat.Feb19/44
- Have Jack Kirschner as Bomber - he's from Vancouver - so is Andy so we are doing O.K. This school is Winding. These Wellingtons are pretty big kites and we have to learn a lot about them in a short time.
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Sun.Feb20/44
- Got my Air gunner - Peter Wein, Sgt. And P.O. Pierre Gassopi of Edmonton as Navigator - we pick up another Air gunner later on on the course. My crew are swell chaps.
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Mon.Feb21/44
- Don't think much of RAF dentists, sure are rough on a chap. Went to a dance last night, had a fair time but I never take any women home.
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Tue.Feb22/44
- Went to a dance in the Canada Club last night, had a good time. They played some records by some darn fine American orchestras.
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Thu.Feb24/44
- I've been showing my crew through the Wellington, trying to teach them the fuel system which they must all learn for examination.
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SatFeb26/44
- I've been doing a fair bit of studying lately, we have to write an exam in airmanship and bombing next Wednesday.
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Tue.Feb29/44
- We wrote an exam in Bombing theory today, afraid I didn't know much about it either. I've got to study for airmanship exam tomorrow.
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Wed.Mar01/44
- Wrote our airmanship exam today. It took up two and a half hours to do. Think I did fair, hope so. Andy wrote a three quarter hour airmanship exam.
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Thu.Mar02/44
- Payday. No result from yesterdays exam yet, keep my fingers crossed though. Andy got 45 out of 50 in their exam.
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Fri.Mar03/44
- There sure are some big crap games going on around here, one fellow won 50 pounds a while ago, I'm glad too, he owed me 3. Saw "Casablanca" at the show, it's a good picture.
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Sat.Mar04/44
- Nearly all the boys were out on a big drunk. They are closing down this station soon, we're supposed to go to Stratford-on-Avon but haven't heard any more about it lately.
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Sun.Mar05/44
- Well we had the morning off. Andy's brother who I knew back home, came up yesterday, we had a good chat today, it's good to hear from fellows you know. We're in bed at nine tonight.
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Mon.Mar06/44
- I've been keeping up a regular correspondence with Cliff Fletcher, my instructor at L.F.T.S. Got a letter from him today. I've just been to a dance at the Canada Club.
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Tue.Mar07/44
- Am posted to Stratford-on-Avon, don't have to report there 'til the 12th. Am up a Uncle len's in Birmingham until Thursday, then down to London for a few days.
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Thu.Mar09/44
- Arrived in London, am staying in a very lovely place sort of a "Y" hostel, three fellows to a room, nice soft bed. Went to the show.
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Mon.Mar13/44
- Well my full crew are here, they seemed to have a pretty good time on their few days leave. Andy and I are in the same hut, once again Nissan huts.
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Tue.Mar14/44
- Pete Wiens, my Air Gunner is in the hospital in town, got hit by a truck the other day. Andy and I went in to see him today.
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Wed.Mar15/44
- Stratford-on-Avon is a pretty nice town, lovely setting, real old English with everything named after good old William Shakespeare. No flying yet.
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Thu.Mar16/44
- Well we're just taking sort of a ground school here, take our time doing things, get lots of time off to play snooker and table tennis.
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Fri.Mar17/44
- Town is only two miles away so I went in again to a show, they have a Shakespearian theatre here which I'll have to go to some night.
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Sat.Mar18/44
- Flew the Wellington today for the first time. They are quite heavy on the controls compared with Oxfords and certainly a whole lot bigger.
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Sun.Mar19/44
- Am flying circuits and landings, so far I have not soloed, need another few days, we have to get about six hours in before we solo. I have a French Canadian instructor.
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Mon.Mar20/44
- We fly circuits with my full crew except Pierre, the navigator, reckon I should solo next trip. Am doing okay in my flying.
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Tue.Mar21/44
- Flying scrubbed. Jack (bomb aimer) and I are getting a fair amount of link in, and we are all getting bombing teacher and use of the Gee (navigational instrument)
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Wed.Mar22/44
- Flying scrubbed. We were in town again for a while this afternoon, did some shopping. Andy (wireless op) got three parcels from home, so we eat!
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Thu.Mar23/44
- Well one more day of circuits and bumps dual. Spring is here and the country side around here is starting to look real nice, flowers, birds and all that stuff.
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Fri.Mar24/44
- Well I soloed, but I'm still having a little trouble with my instructor, a Scotsman, I had a French Canadian the first days, he was good.
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Sat.Mar25/44
- Flying scrubbed, Andy tried to get me to go into town with him to a dance but no joy, I'd just as soon stay around here tonight to get some sleep.
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Sun.Mar26/44
- More solo circuits and bumps, my flying is improving, slow but sure. (this country looks quite nice from the air)
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Mon.Mar27/44
- This country is just what the picture post cards are like back home; very pretty inm the spring now. From what I hear they're even boating on the Avon now.
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Tue.Mar28/44
- Flying scrubbed - a so called domestic night when everyone had to stay on the station and clean up, we all had to dig up the gardens and such.
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Wed.Mar29/44
- We did our first bombing exercise today, flew at 14,000 feet and of 8 bombs we only had an error of 55 yards, 67 converted to 20,000 feet, which is pretty good for beginners.
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Thu.Mar30/44
- First Xcountry today, up for four and half hours at 10,000 feet, boy was it ever cold -12 deg.C, guess we just can't take it, Pete (A.G.) nearly froze.
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Fri.Mar31/44
- Flying scrubbed, just loafed away the whole day, ah me, spring has really come to England, wish we could get off the station someday to enjoy it.
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Sat.Apr01/44
- April Fools Day and a full day of cross country for us, had to do a 8B.A. appch. On coming in today, the first I've really had to do. Lots of people in town tonight.
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Sun.Apr02/44
- Another six hour cross country flight, they sure do wear a guy out. Everyone is ready for bed after one and that's where I'm heading in a few minutes.
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Mon.Apr03/44
- Flying has again been scrubbed, all we do is loaf around, try to dodge the CO and work. Seem to get away with it O.K. too.
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Tue.Apr04/44
- Flying scrubbed. This station is getting worse every day. We had a CO's inspection today and I am afraid that few of the Canadians enjoyed it. R.A.F. boos!
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Wed.Apr05/44
- All we do is try to dodge work, today they had us doing some digging, great outfit this R.A.F., worse than the R.C.A.F. even.
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Thu.Apr06/44
- We finally flew, had a try at a bombing exercise, it was darn hard too, didn't have a great deal of success with it either.
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Fri.Apr07/44
- Everyone got off early and went into good old town of Stratford for a general piss-up (drunk) I'm still in barracks and planning on going to be soon.
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Sat.Apr08/44
- Went to a dance in town, had a few pints before I went, it seems to be the only way to enjoy yourself at any of the dances around here.
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Sun.Apr09/44
- Another cross country, ended up somewhere over N. Ireland, these trips last five or six hours.
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Tue.Apr11/44
- Had to make a forced landing at another drome, got back ok. Davey Eland a hut-mate had to bail out with his crew over Wales, Engine failure was the cause.
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Wed.Apr12/44
- Over to Wellesborne our main drome for a grope trainer. Saw "As you like it" at the Shakespearian Theatre, it was good too. We should get a forty-eight soon.
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Thu.Apr13/44
- Wellesborne again, another grope. We should go on our forty-eight tomorrow, up to B'ham and have a darn good drunk, we hope. Hope we have some good weather for it too.
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Fri.Apr14/44
- Here we are in B'ham, It's now three in the morning, time to hit the hay, we've had a real swell night, lots of drinking and some dances. Really going through some dough too!
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Sat.Apr15/44
- Another day, nearly whole day of drunken glory, gee but it was fun. Once again it's two in the morning, we're drinking beer and eating sandwiches. Gee it's a great life.
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Mon.Apr17/44
- Started in on our night flying tonight, lots of fun, not too hard either. I received three parcels from Sue today. She's a good cook, the cookies sure disappeared fast once they were started.

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Tue.Apr18/44
- Another night, should solo tomorrow, one thing about night flying, we usually have bacon and eggs for dinner at midnight. We also get a chocolate bar every night.
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Wed.Apr19/44
- Flying scrubbed and we were hoping to miss the C.O.'s parade tomorrow morning, oh well such is our luck, I guess we'll have to walk around and get soaking. Did some fighter affiliation this afternoon, good fun.
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Thu.Apr20/44
- Well I soloed night flying here. We sure had a gruesome C.O.'s inspection today, they are nothing but a waste of good flying time, that's what I say anyway. We should graduate in four weeks.
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Fri.Apr21/44
- More night flying. Wish we could get into town for another one of Shakespeare's plays, but no luck.
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Sat.Apr22/44
- Well we got the night off, went to the show in town and then got roaring drunk, went to a dance after, gosh it was fun. I'm afraid it'll give us a hangover though.
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Sun.Apr23/44
- Went to Wellesbourne for a group training exercise. Boy there's lots of B.S. on that station, it 's our parent drome. We also have to work tonight, ah well such is life.
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Mon.Apr24/44
- Well we still get our eggs after night flying, that's the only thing I like about it, we sleep in the morning but have to go to ground school in the afternoon.
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Tue.Apr25/44
- Did a bombing exercise today, it'll be a great day when we can drop those bombs somewhere they'll be appreciated. Did solo fighter affiliation also, with a Hurricane.
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Wed.Apr26/44 - it certainly is beginning to look nice around here, this certainly is a nice part of England. I'm going to go boating as soon as I get the chance.
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Thu.Apr27/44 - well we did another Xcountry exercise, only one more and we're finished, hope we get a little leave soon. We have to do a bulls-eye exercise yet.
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Fri.Apr28/44
- Well we did our bulls-eye, it was fun dodging searchlights. They didn't get us in them either. Carried out some good evasive action, had the boys scared.
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at.Apr29/44
- Well we all went into town, had a real good time, went to the dance, 'fraid we had a bit too much beer.
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Sun.Apr30/44
- This is the life, we stay in bed all morning, then get up at noon if we want to get up at all. In the afternoon we just loaf around out in the sun.
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Mon.May01/44
- Another day of loafing around, boy what a life, I'd just as soon be on leave but we can't do anything about that.
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Tue.May02/44
I'm starting to get a sun burn, this easy life sure is swell but I'm afraid my letter writing has sort of had it lately, guess I'm just lazy.
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Wed.May03/44
- Have to go for an interview with the chief instructor at Wellesbourne something about a commission I think.
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Thu.May04/44
- Saw the C.I. he asked me quite a few questions. I think I got a pretty good recommendation from the flight commander.
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Fri.May05/44
- Had to see the C.O. today, seems a pretty nice chap. I have to go to see some big-wig at another station on Tuesday.
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Sat.May06/44
- well another easy day, all we do is loaf around, go into town at night, have a few pints and go to dance or such.
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Sun.May07/44
- We're doing O.K. just as long as we don't get nagged for any parades or anything. The country side is looking really lovely, wish I had some film.
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Mon.May08/44
- Am spending tonight at Oxford. It's a fair place, too bloody many Yanks around here for me, I have to go down to Abbingdon in the morning.
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Tue.May09/44
- Well I saw the big-wig about the commission. I'm afraid I told him what I thought of the outfit and he didn't like it - goodbye commission.
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Wed.May10/44
- My letter writing is still behind, I'm getting lazier every day too, they won't give us any leave either.
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Thu.May11/44
- The boys are all buzzing around, take the day off, we went to a dance tonight as well. Someone swiped Pierre's and my bikes, we had to walk back.
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Fri.May12/44
- Went punting on the Avon and it's really nice too, all I need is Sue and I'd be the happiest guy going, guess I'll bide my time though.
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Sat.May13/44
- The country side is looking really lovely, lot of flying being done but none by yours truly, we've been having a real good time, trying to get a sun tan.
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Sun.May14/44
- Well it looks like we're finally getting posted, up to Dalton, near "Yorks" in Yorkshire, we get a weeks leave first, then to Dalton for a commando course.
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Mon.May15/44
We've been all morning trying to get clearance and have just finished the afternoon at Wellesbourne, trying to get cleared, we have to go back tomorrow.
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Tue.May16/44
- I've never seen so much red tape as there is at Wellesbourne here. What a job to try and get cleared, we did and we're off to London tomorrow, all of us except Lloyd.
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Wed.May17/44
- Well here we are in London. It's hard to get a room and we ended up some place full of old people, anyway it'll do, it's right close to the centre of town.
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Thu.May18/44 -
Well Pete and Pierre are off to a good start, they got good and plastered last night and are well on their way now. London certainly is crowded.
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Fri.May19/44 -
I'm becoming an expert at eating with chopsticks, been to a Chinese restaurant lately. All the boys except Andy are doing pretty good as far as drinking goes.
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Sat.May20/44 -
Went to the dog races, there certainly are a crowd of people who go to them and bets can be made as low as two bob, I won about eight bob.
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Sun.May21/44
- Am on my way to Liverpool, plan to spend a few days there a couple of days of real rest would do me some good, besides I enjoy the gold clubs.
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Mon.May22/44
- What a lovely bed I've got! Will go to the dance at the Towers, dance hall, hope to enjoy myself but this is once I'm going good and sober.
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Tue.May23/44
- Gee it's great to be walking around in civvies, just wish I had a film to have my picture taken. Watched some Yanks play softball, first game I've seen played over here.
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Wed.May24/44
- Well here I am in York. It's a pretty nice city. Met Jack at the dance, also met Hal Grimble, first time I've seen him in a year and a half, boy what a surprise. I am sleeping at Jacks tonight.
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Thu.May25/44
- Well here we are at Dalton, all of us except Pierre, he must be enjoying himself on leave. We all sleep in nissen huts, it's a all Canadian station and seems pretty fair, I'm glad I got my bike though.
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Commando Training

Fri.May26/44
- We were issued denim trousers and jackets and great big boots. Started in on drill right away. There are Canadian Army chaps in charge of us. Still no sign of Pierre, hope he comes in soon.
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Sat.May27/44
- Classes in camouflage, field cooking, sten gun firing, it's a real good course. Pierre came in today, seems he was enjoying himself so much that he didn't want to come back, hope he gets away with it.
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Sun.May28/44
- The day of rest for some, but just as much work as ever for us. I ran into Kirby, he's here on the course too., hope we stay together for a while. We expect a posting pretty soon.
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Mon.May29/44
- I received eight letters today from Sue, full of lots of love and stuff, now I've got to get down and answered them. We wish I could get a parcel from home.
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Tue.May30/44
- We've just finished a fifteen mile chase, took seven hours, we couldn't go on roads and there were armoured cars and trucks trailing all over the place after us. Boy am I tired.
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Wed.May31/44
- We're getting posted tomorrow. Up to 1666 Conversion Unit at Wombledon. It's in a very isolated spot but we aren't there more than four or five weeks, I hope.
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Conversion Unit Training

Thu.Jun01/44 - Arrived at the Con unit. It's stuck away up in the hills of Yorks. We even had to get out of the bus & walk up hills because it couldn't make the grade.
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Fri.Jun02/44
- Day off. We do ten days Ground school nine days of it on Halifax III's, one day on Hali II's with inline engines, we fly II's here but III's on a squadron.
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Sat.Jun03/44
- We are in a great big Nissen hut. The food is good compare with some stations I've been on. It certainly is a dispersed station, only eight crews in our course.
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Sun.Jun04/44
- This ground school is pretty good, we go to a lot of classes with flight engineers, we ge t a F/E from the course ahead but I don't know when.
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Mon.Jun05/44
- There's a pub about a mile or so away so we go there once in a while for a few pints. The countryside is real nice up here, wish I had some films.
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Tue.Jun06/44
- Well the second front started last night and this morning, places have been flying overall day & night, but we still go on with our ground course.
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June 6th, 1944
... D-DAY! combined allied invasion of Europe begins
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Wed.Jun07/44
- Well the second front seems to be going O.K. I just wish we were in on it, but the war won't end that soon, about all we do now is listen to news broadcasts.
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Thu.Jun08/44
- Second front or no second front, we still have a C.O.'s hut inspection. A kite pranged last night, everyone in it were killed. Practically all prangs are due to the human element at these stations. Little structural failure.
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Fri.Jun09/44
- Was in a poker game today, lost a few quid but it was fun.
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Sat.Jun10/44
- Well the ring & flowers should arrive for Sue today. I certainly hope everything went according to plan and we are engaged - won 12 quid at poker.
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Sun.Jun11/44
- We wrote our ground school exams yesterday, hope they come off O.K. Also got a big parcel from the folks yesterday and one from Sue, boy they sure are appreciated.
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Mon.Jun12/44
- Now we start in on the Halifax II which we will fly on this drome. They're pretty well worn out kites, all had a lot of trips over Germany.
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Tue.Jun13/44
- Day off and went into Scarborough, a city not far away and on the coast, had a pretty nice time too. Went to the dance last night and tonight.
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Wed.Jun14/44
- Started aircrew assembly where we stay for four days and do dinghy and parachute drills before flying. We don't have to work too hard either.
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Thu.Jun15/44
- I sure hope Sue has the ring by now and likes it and I hope the folks got a nice one for her. Just wish I could pick it out for her myself.
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Fri.Jun16/44
- looks like we're going to start flying tomorrow. My crew is taking H2S - a secret navigational aid, depending on reflected light & sound waves.
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Sat.Jun17/44
- Well these kites aren't so bad if we'd flown another half hour I'd have got away solo. They take off at 110 mph, land at 130 mph, cruise at about 160-170.
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Sun.Jun18/44
- All the day flying we do here is about 10 hours on the circuit, a couple of bombing flights & fighter affil., then on to night flight for cross country.
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Mon.Jun19/44
- I flew an HsS kite today, they're a lot better than the average kite here and are a bit heavier with their equipment. The time mounts up pretty fast here.
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Tue.Jun20/44
- Well I was supposed to start night flying tonight but it was scrubbed. Did some bombing and air firing today and it was lots of fun.
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Wed.Jun21/44
- It's not too hard night flying. Got a letter from Mom saying that Sue got the ring O.K. We didn't get to bed until five this morning, sure am tired too.
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Thu.Jun22/44
- Went on a short cross country to give the H2S's stuff a try and it's darn good stuff, so are the kites. Night flying again tonight.
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Fri.Jun23/44
- I sure wish we'd get some good weather so we could get through with this night flying. We're supposed to start cross countries.
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Sat.Jun24/44
- Well we went on our cross country, flew seven hours and were second back, got to bed at six this morning and are we ever tired.
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Sun.Jun25/44
- Jack and Pierre found D.R.O.'s and noticed that I've got my commission, my number is J-86366, which is pretty large. We should get a forty-eight but will wait until finished the course.
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Mon.Jun26/44
- Well here I am living in the officers mess, not a bad spot either, the food isn't a lot better than the sergeant mess, but the mess is a lot nicer, no poker games either.
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Tue.Jun27/44
- Sure had a big party after flying was scrubbed, after that we went to Pierres's hut and had a feed. Boy we get a lot of duff weather around here.
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Wed.Jun28/44
- Was on a diversionary Bulls-eye tonight, went a good distance out to sea, dropped window. Even had to climb up to 20,000 feet to get above clouds, one more X country.
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Sat.Jul01/44
- Dominion Day, We are on a forty-eight, in York here where I'm getting my officers uniform, sure costs a pretty penny too. We're having a pretty good time.
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419 Squadron

Sun.Jul02/44
- Arrived at the station, we aren't due in 'til tomorrow. Pierre and Pete haven't shown up yet but give em time. A pretty dispersed place here.

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Wed.Jul05/44
- Well the boys had quite a trip last night, lost three kites from our squadron, but they got the target O.K. We'll be through these lectures sometime today.
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Thu.Jul06/44
- Well I flew and soloed on the Lancaster after two dual circuits this morning and we've just got down from a cross country. They certainly are lovely kites.
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Fri.Jul07/44
- Went to Stockton for some wet dinghy drills, stayed in town when it was finished and had a darn good time too, went to a dance and then came home by train.
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Sat.Jul08/44
- Did some fighter affiliation with a Hurrican. Boy these lancs sure handle nice and can really be thrown about compared with the Halifax.
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Sun.Jul09/44
- Ah yes the day of rest or sumpin, Anyway we flew and are supposed to night fly but two of my boys, Peter and John went into town and I couldn't find them.
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Mon.Jul10/44
- Well I was supposed to be on a Second Pilot trip but we're still standing by. I'm down at the local having a pint with Chuck, a second tour chap.
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Tue.Jul11/44
- Supposed to make a daylight 2nd Dickie stooge, but it was scrubbed at the last minute. We sure have been waiting around for the second dickie trips, oh well maybe tomorrow.
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Wed.Jul12/44
- Well we finally got in the second Dickie stooge withy Flt. Peck. We went into a bit of flak but otherwise it was uneventful, Dropped our bombs through 10/10 cloud by GEE.
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Thu.Jul13/44
- My crew & me are still doing training flight and are getting a fair amount of sleep in. I've got another 2nd Dickie trip before I can get on any trips with my own crew.
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Fri.Jul14/44
- I've been flying an Oxford around, flew a crew down south to a York drome where they picked up a Lancaster. I darn near got lost on the way back too.
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Sat.Jul15/44
- Well I've just been to a briefing and we're set to takeoff in another hour on a night do. Lately the trips haven't been very deep into France.
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Sun.Jul16/44
- My birthday and it was spent flying over France. We didn't have much trouble, a bit of flak, no fighters.
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The Crews First Operation

Mon.Jul17/44
- Took off early tomorrow morning with my own crew to bomb a Flying Bomb installation. Think we got the darned thing too. It was right near our kids in Normandy, a daylight affair.
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Tue.Jul18/44
Night take off to bomb some oil factories near Cologne in the Rhur Valley which is really a hot bed of flak, there was plenty of it and searchlight a a few fighters. Rather a shaky do when four engines cut out on me over the sea, they picked up again.
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Wed.Jul19/44
- Presumably a night off, but we had to help bomb up etc. for a do tomorrow morning, we aren't on it either.
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Thu.Jul20/44
- Been in the R.C.A.F. two years today. We are supposed to go on a do tomorrow morning. All the boys who went out this morning got back O.K. and didn't run into any trouble.
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Fri.Jul21/44
- Well our do for early this morning was scrubbed and so once more we crawled back into bed, at least we get some sleep once in a while.
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Sat.Jul22/44
- Well we're getting a fair amount of time off, this loafing around I mean. I've been getting a fair amount of mail lately, I just hope I keep writing.
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Sun.Jul23/44
- Did a little bit of fighter affil.' and such today, also a little low flying across the hill, it was lots of fun too. Got my wings a year ago today.
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Mon.Jul24/44
- Well we're going on leave Weds morning for a week. We're going on a do tonight.
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Tue.Jul25/44
- Well we went to Stuttgart and it was a juicy trip, all night, nine hours and boy am I tired. There was lots of flak and fighters, boy what a long grueling grind worth four points, we now have seventeen points.
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Wed.Jul26/44
- Pierre and I arrived in London` at six this morning and got a room at the G.W.R. hotel Paddington. First thing we heard was a buzz bomb but we just went to bed.
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Thu.Jul27/44
- Pierre went down south to visit his girlfriend's sister. I went to a show and was up to see Mr. Fiddler - also got my money all fixed up so I know I can enjoy myself.
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Fri.Jul28/44
- Went up to se John & Pete who are staying at John's place. He's got a nice sister, two in fact but both in their thirties. They've got some very nice bars in London here.
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Sat.Jul29/44
- Went to see John again, then we had a party at their house. Pierre came with me and we stayed at their place the night. Pierre and I bunked in together.
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Sun.Jul30/44
- John & his sister have a girl from Scotland living with them, she's engaged too. I took her out today. Went to Hyde Park and heard the Soap Box Orators, was funny.
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Mon.Jul31/44
- We sleep in 'til noon every day and it sure is swell. They have a fair number of Buzz Bombs, but we always miss em and get in lots of sleep.
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Tue.Aug01/44
- Left London and am now back at the squadron, all set to go. Got a fair number of letters from home too. Right now I'm dead tired.
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Wed.Aug02/44
- Well all the boys are back from leave O.K. and we're not on tonight so I reckon a good sleep is in order. I didn't get around to seeing Uncle Len.
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F/O Milner's Last Diary Entry

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Thu.Aug03/44 - Well we went over to France and bombed out a "F" bomb site. Quite an easy do.