Slightly open-ended question this one. Question popped up in the office today off the back of a Today’s Pilot article (not researched enough and too short so I’m told)
The TP article goes from trainer to Harvard to Spit. A big difference I would have thought, in terms of weight mostly. I suppsoe it add complexities though.
Scenario. You are a WW2 newbie pilot. Assume, pre-, during and post-War to cover all marques.
Question: What would be the route from trainer to fighter pilot in a Spitfire, covering types and training locations, e.g. Canada, Empire School etc.
By: Dan Johnson - 10th August 2003 at 07:26
Pilot Officer (Later F/O then F/L) H.B. “Bruce” Moffett RCAF
March 20, 1941-No. 13 EFTS, St. Eugene, Ontario-First flights in a Fleet Finch 2
May 19, 1941 No 6 SFTS Dunnsville-Flying the North American Yale initially, then Harvards
October 12, 1941 No 53 OTU, Llandow, Wales-First three flights in a Miles Master III. First solo flight in a Spitfire I on October 14, 1941
Posted to 416 Squadron as one of the original pilots. First flight in a Spitfire IIA on December 9, 1941.
Moffett had roughly 200 hours when he was posted to 416 Squadron. He later flew Spit Vbs with 416, then Hurricane Is with the MSFU unit at Speke, England, and later Gibralter.
He got back to Spit flying with 41 Squadron in April 43, flying Spit XIIs and later served as a Flight Commander with 91 Squadron in the Spring/Summer of 44 flying XIIs, XIVs and IXs before being sent home to Canada in late August 44.
Dan
By: BlueRobin - 7th August 2003 at 15:55
Miles Master? Ahhh… http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/database/master.htm
http://www.constable.ca/MilesMaster.htm
Another other intermediate types used besides the Master and Havard?
By: Snapper - 7th August 2003 at 15:48
1333551 Sergeant John George Wiseman
Record of Sevice
28/06/41 – 05/07/41 No. 1 Receiving Centre, Babbacombe, England
05/07/41 – 15/08/41 No. 4 Initial Training Wing, Paignton, England
17/09/41 – 23/11/41 No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School, Calgary, Canada
De Havilland Tiger Moth
23/11/41 – 13/02/42 No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, Canada
North american Harvard
10/03/42 – 29/04/42 No. 3 Personnel Receiving Centre, Bournemouth, England
29/04/42 – 26/05/42 No. 17 Air Fighting Unit, Watton, England
Miles Master
26/05/42 – 13/08/42 No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Dundee, Scotland
Hawker Hurricane
21/08/42 – 18/09/42 No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Duxford, England Hawker Typhoon
18/09/42 – 06/11/42 No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Biggin Hill, England
Hawker Typhoon
06/11/42 – No 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Manston, England
Hawker Typhoon
14/02/43 – Killed in Action over Straits of Dover
By: Eddie - 7th August 2003 at 14:39
Funnily enough, I have a friend who was an RAF instructor in Canada. He wound up going to Bomber Command after his tour instructing, but the route was much the same.
He did an initial grading course on Moths at Sywell. That was to select the candidates for flying training.
He then went out to Canada, and did his initial training on Moths (with enclosed cockpits and heating) at 34 EFTS at Assiniboia, which lasted 2 months, and around 60 hours.
Then he went on to Harvards at 41 SFTS, which was around 3 months and 135 hours.
At that point, the wings were earned, and I think that most crews went onto OTU’s, where for fighters most pilots would learn on Masters and then battered old Spits, I think. My friend was held back in Canada as an instructor for around 18 months.
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August 7, 2003 at 2:25 pm