I’ve had a request for help from a correspondent in the US as below:
“We have inherited a curious artifact which is apparently an RAF Pilot’s log book that was used / maintained by a USAF pilot flying RB-45’s in England during the mid-1950s (believe he was assigned to the 47th Bomb Wing at RAF Sculthorpe at that time).
As far as we know, this officer (Captain Ray W. Schrecengost, Jr. USAF — now deceased) was not ever assigned to the RAF. Then again, as he was subsequently assigned to the covert USAF 1129th SAS, we thought perhaps this RAF log book might be an indicator to his having been in some equally, historically obscure assignment with the RAF”
Ray Schrecengost spent a lot of his career in clandestine units including the U-2 and SR-71. I am wondering if he was somehow involved in the RAFs use of RB-45s for some overflights in 1952 and 1954; and perhaps the log book has something to do with this….but I’m clutching at straws.
can anyone help?
By: lindoug - 19th December 2009 at 06:40
lindoug:
Any chance your correspondent would post some scans of a few selected pages?
Yes, I have a copy but give me a day or two.
Also my RF-100 article in Decembers Flypast deals with some other clandestine flights.
By: sabrenaut - 19th December 2009 at 03:57
lindoug:
Any chance your correspondent would post some scans of a few selected pages?
By: The"Eh"Team - 18th December 2009 at 19:53
Vietnam
Having spotted the thread by lindoug about a U.S.pilots clandestine flying sorties shadowing as an R.A.F pilot led me to recall another grey area.
This was to deal with the conflict in Vietnam and my question was with information about our R.A.F or Naval forces aircraft and did they ever have any involvment in this conflict at any period.Thanks in advance if anyone can help with this question.
By: Stan - 18th December 2009 at 17:54
May be of interest:
By: lindoug - 18th December 2009 at 14:21
The overflights in 1952 and 1954 are well documented. Those in 1954 took place on 28/29 April. Three routes were flown simultaneously. If you ever get the chance have a look at the papers for the Early Cold War Overflights Symposium held in Washington DC in February 2001; edited by Cargill Hall and Clayton Laurie, it’s worth it. A complete chapter is given over to the memoirs of John Crampton who was in command of the RAF Special Duty Flight. Four RB-45Cs were repainted in RAF colours for the overflights.
But I’m still no closer to solving the mystery!
By: BRIAN C D - 18th December 2009 at 13:00
B45 SPY FLIGHTS
I HAVE SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SOME OF THE B45s IN R.A.F. MARKINGS!
By: DaveF68 - 18th December 2009 at 12:39
The RB-45s flew operationally as ‘RAF crewed’ aircraft so it is possible that, if he did fly on one of the operational missions, he was issued with an RAF Logbook to continue the deception if crashed (BUt logbooks aren’t flown are they?)
More likley is he was given an RAF log book while working with & training the RAF Flight at Sculthorpe
By: rhajaramjet - 17th December 2009 at 20:35
Most likely explanation is that he flew some of the mixed crew (RAF / USAF ) sorties in the RAF’s B45s from Sculthorpe. Take a look at ‘SHADOW FLIGHTS’ by Curtis Peebles ISBN: 0-89141-700-1 or 0-89141-768-0 Fascinating book!
By: Atcham Tower - 14th December 2009 at 11:03
A very interesting can of worms has been opened here! The use of RB-45s in RAF markings for clandestine ops is fairly well proven now. Photos exist too. Perhaps this officer checked out RAF crews on the type? I’m sure that there are others on this forum who will know a lot more than I do about this intriguing subject!
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December 14, 2009 at 10:48 am