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tangowhiskey · 10 November 2009, 09:16 AM

Dear Friends,

I have scanned my grandfather's logbook and it's all beginning to come together now!

He went through the usual training/courses before ending up being sent out from 40 Reserve Squadron posted to 54 Squadron and he arrived with his Camel to 54 Squadron on 17th April 1918 having got lost in mist on his way and having overnighted with 98 Squadron! They broke him in it seems by getting him to fly 'Defensive Patrol for Huns, 2 sent off' Hazenbroch to Pojor on 23rd April as well as participating in a scrap with Lockwood and another with Cuffe. (I am guessing, but were the older aces making a habit of assessing the new joiners/putting them through their paces?). On 1/5 he was learning the new aerodrome (not sure which) and then the next 12 entries between 1/5 and 11/5 get very interesting as there's no comments, record of heights or other details except 'Camel' and entry for flight duration. I am guessing that there must have been a reason for no details - that he was in action rather than the previous training and build up flying entries that had preceeded these flights. The last flight was on 11/5 and years later there has been a note added 'Crashed - shot down'.

I cannot find any Squadron Record Book for this period as it’s missing from Kew. I'd obviously like to find out more about what happened on 11/5/18 for 54 Squadron (and my grandfather RTT Waring). Anyone got any ideas/help me in the right direction. I have all the Air Combat reports for 54 Squadron in 1918 but the only one missing from Kew in May 1918! Just my luck!

Prior to being active with 54 in France from 18th April 1918 his logbook shows he had had 16 hours dual instruction, 36 hours solo and just 7 hours prior in a Camel....

After he was ‘shot down’ on May 11th he had a gap from flying for 4 weeks and next entries are for Old Sarum with 11 TDS. He then did flying on a number of types at Old Sarum (mostly Avro’s and DH 6’s) until late August when he was at Turnberry and Stonehenge on DH9’s and BE2E’s Looks like he was instructing at Stonehenge and doing bombing/gunnery practice (?instruction?). Then, at beginning od October !918 he was bck to France, this time as a ferry pilot at Marquise where he did a lot of flying DH9’s and some DH4’s etc. He has one entry in his logbook on 12 11 1918 when he “flew over Paris to see crowds on the Boulevards”

His last flight before being end of his service was a DHP test flight at Maequise where he recorded: “Test OK. Fine bus. Last Trip”

When he stopped he had about 175 hours solo and had flown a number of different types including: Maurice Farman’s (3h 15), Avro (33h 15), Sopwith Pup (11h 25), Sopwith Camel (28h 55), DH4 (6h 15), DH4 Rolls Royce (8h 45), DH6 (4h15 ), DH 9 (29h 50), DH9A (23h 30), Handley Page (6h 10)

10 November 2009, 09:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
tangowhiskey Observer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bahrain Posts: 16	RTT Waring and France 1918 Dear Friends, I have scanned my grandfather's logbook and it's all beginning to come together now! He went through the usual training/courses before ending up being sent out from 40 Reserve Squadron posted to 54 Squadron and he arrived with his Camel to 54 Squadron on 17th April 1918 having got lost in mist on his way and having overnighted with 98 Squadron! They broke him in it seems by getting him to fly 'Defensive Patrol for Huns, 2 sent off' Hazenbroch to Pojor on 23rd April as well as participating in a scrap with Lockwood and another with Cuffe. (I am guessing, but were the older aces making a habit of assessing the new joiners/putting them through their paces?). On 1/5 he was learning the new aerodrome (not sure which) and then the next 12 entries between 1/5 and 11/5 get very interesting as there's no comments, record of heights or other details except 'Camel' and entry for flight duration. I am guessing that there must have been a reason for no details - that he was in action rather than the previous training and build up flying entries that had preceeded these flights. The last flight was on 11/5 and years later there has been a note added 'Crashed - shot down'. I cannot find any Squadron Record Book for this period as it’s missing from Kew. I'd obviously like to find out more about what happened on 11/5/18 for 54 Squadron (and my grandfather RTT Waring). Anyone got any ideas/help me in the right direction. I have all the Air Combat reports for 54 Squadron in 1918 but the only one missing from Kew in May 1918! Just my luck! Prior to being active with 54 in France from 18th April 1918 his logbook shows he had had 16 hours dual instruction, 36 hours solo and just 7 hours prior in a Camel.... After he was ‘shot down’ on May 11th he had a gap from flying for 4 weeks and next entries are for Old Sarum with 11 TDS. He then did flying on a number of types at Old Sarum (mostly Avro’s and DH 6’s) until late August when he was at Turnberry and Stonehenge on DH9’s and BE2E’s Looks like he was instructing at Stonehenge and doing bombing/gunnery practice (?instruction?). Then, at beginning od October !918 he was bck to France, this time as a ferry pilot at Marquise where he did a lot of flying DH9’s and some DH4’s etc. He has one entry in his logbook on 12 11 1918 when he “flew over Paris to see crowds on the Boulevards” His last flight before being end of his service was a DHP test flight at Maequise where he recorded: “Test OK. Fine bus. Last Trip” When he stopped he had about 175 hours solo and had flown a number of different types including: Maurice Farman’s (3h 15), Avro (33h 15), Sopwith Pup (11h 25), Sopwith Camel (28h 55), DH4 (6h 15), DH4 Rolls Royce (8h 45), DH6 (4h15 ), DH 9 (29h 50), DH9A (23h 30), Handley Page (6h 10)