No.8 Flying Training School - No.18 Course - RAF Montrose 1940 - Looking for Help

[MontroseAir]

A copy of the group photograph for No.18 Course of 8 Flying Training School at RAF Montrose has been supplied by the son of one of the trainee pilots on the course. 38 trainees attended the course and the photograph includes the surname and last 3 digits of their service number whilst on the course.

As a project for Montrose Air Station Heritage I'm researching the history of the trainees. Unfortunately there are 4 men on the course that cannot be identified. These are :

Robinson or Robenson 122
Hurlbatt 079
Jones 117
Thomson 072

I can supply a copy of the photograph to aid any searches. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately as part of the research we have identified some errors in spelling of the surnames and also discrepancies with the last 3 digits of the service number.

Thank you in advance of any help.

[paulmcmillan]

Can you please give a date of the course and sample
Service numbers and names identified to we can get an idea of range of numbers

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Here's one:

AIR 78/82/26
Hurl, A - Hurlstone, Sydney Arthur.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C15624375
Image 3 of 76.

956079 Frank Henry HURLBATT.

RAF Service Numbers.

935000-965999 - UK enlistments, Cardington - September 1939-August 1940.

There is also a Frank Henry HURLBATT (Cadet/2nd Lt., Royal Artillery), mentioned here:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...supplement/141 (see also p.139)

Possibly a RAF-Regular Army transfer.

Col.

[MontroseAir]

Thanks, I've added an example of a few of the names and service numbers we've managed to identify. Hope these can help as we've now only three names to identify.

Mair, John Drysdale 748302
Keane, David Graham 748708
Paton, R G 750554
Gage, Douglas Hugh 754757
Steadman, Dennis 748599
Lloyd, Dennis Ward 758193
Silk, Frank Harry 754792
Robertson, Basil Lionel 748333
Robenson, ?
Stanley, James William 745652
Pigott, William Thomas 754458
Jones, ?
Lloyd, John Philip 758203
Lindsay, Alec Ian 754460
Mathews, Kenneth 745501
Hurlbatt, Frank Henry
Thomson, ?
Jooris, Raymond Albert 754758
Stanley, S W 758200
Morgan, James T 748420
Mitchell, David Cooper 748420

[MontroseAir]

Thanks Col, that's really helpful.

[gedburke3]

Hi,
Could Thomson be a mis-spelling of Sebastian Maitland Thompson?
He was on this course at that time,
Regards
Gerry

[paulmcmillan]

Service number end not right

754754 Bastian Maitland TIHOMPSON( 83250)

[gedburke3]

Hi Paul,
Of course, you are right it was Bastian Maitland Thompson not Sebastian....
None the less, he was definitely on No 18 course at RAF Montrose.
Perhaps there was a Thomson and a Thompson on the course.
gerry

[paulmcmillan]

A service number is duplicates I think it should be

Morgan, James 748241

18 Course which ran from 9th April to 26th July 1940.

[gedburke3]

Hi Paul,
I've just been through my records.
I have the following Battle of Britain airmen that were on 18 course at Montrose for the dates you mention above.

Tweed, Sellers, Gage, Steadman, Lloyd, Silk, Robertson, Robinson, Thompson, Mitchell, Sykes, Marston, Lawford, Sibley and Rowden.

I also have a note to say that several others on this course were posted to 56 squadron during the qualifying period for the BoB but failed to complete an Operational Flight.

Regards
Gerry