I thought this may have warranted some interest, as there used to be a lot of Claude Grahame-White fans on this forum. I had no idea he was an author. I guess it was not news to anyone here.

Thanks.

Interesting Echo India, I’d gotten the impression from him that he was a pilot. I wonder if he was a Wireless Operator instead. He definitely seemed to have worked with the Flamingos, he had a nice photo of one on his wall in his flat, and who’d have that up on the wall if they had no connection to the type? I recall him telling me about how Winston’s Flamingo aircraft had a big armchair fitted for him. Years later I actually saw a photo of that exact fit out.

Thanks, yes that makes sense. I’d forgotten that there was no rigid crews in the early days, just whoever was available and rostered on. The RNZAF was ahead of the RAF in this respect it seems, while our bomber crews mixed and matched in the early days too, they formed up crews as soon as Hudsons came on strength in mid-1941.

In terms of the RAF there will have been a first individual airman to complete the 200 flying hours of a tour, but no crew. I wonder if he was recorded anywhere.

Did the RFC/RAF bombers have set crews at all during WWI or between the wars? Or was it always ad hoc with whoever was available?