Two 1929 RAF Bailouts Mysteries

[paulmcmillan]

After sorting out my 1927 mystery I am now up to the first half of 1929

Can anyone provide any information on the following two bail outs the dates might be wrong by a few days



May 7, 1929 P/O. C. Kirkland RAF location quoted Netheravon, Wilts. Probably on a Training Unit
June 11, 1929 Flt. Lt. Reginald Stanley Barbour, D.F.C RAF location quoted as South Farnborough, Hants.

Notes: Can't find P/O. C. Kirkland in London Gazette
Barbour was transferred to Reserve in May 1929 so probably testing an aircraft

Thanks

Paul

[Pete]

Nothing in The Times for these 2 but a fair few others, On June 17th The Times reported that in 1929 so far there had been 13 fatal accidents in the RAF resulting in 18 dead, In 1928 76 persons were killed in RAF a/c accidents

[paulmcmillan]

Pete

Thanks realy mysteries these too can't even find P/O. C. Kirkland unless anyone can find something similar in the Air Force Lists

Paul

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Paul

Neither Kirkland or Barbour are listed as deaths in the AFL.

Malcolm

[paulmcmillan]

Malcolm


They were both survivors of the incidents. I am trying to match Irving Caterpillar awards to specific RAF incidents.. Even found one early RAF bailout without a matching Caterpillar

[malcolm_raf]

Paul

Barbour joined Class 'A' of the Reserve on 1 May 1929 so at the time hebailed out he was probably being employed as a civilian

I can't find a C Kirkland or similar in the Jan 1934 list

Malcolm

[paulmcmillan]

Malcolm thanks for info on Barbour looks very likely civilian especially as location quoted farnborough

Paul

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Paul,

Are you sure of the year as no Kirkland in the Dec 1929 Air Force List

..but

P/O Clive Kirkland, 70918, RAFO 13th Dec 1938

Regards
Ross

[paulmcmillan]

Ross

Thanks

I am not sure of year or name actually only that I know the incident happened before 1930!

The list I am taking it from has a few mistakes but was published in 1930!

Paul

[paulmcmillan]

There was a Clive Kirkland born in 1907, which would make him Ok for 1929 and no born in England upto 1926

So I wonder if him being a RAFO 13th Dec 1938 is possible..

[paulmcmillan]

Maybe getting nearer, could be actually not P/O but Pilot airman under training in 1929. thanks for the first name hint Ross!

13 December 1938

ROYAL AIR FORCE RESERVE.
Reserve of Air Force Officers.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
The undermentioned class E reservists are
granted commissions as Pilot Officers on probation
in class A. 13th Dec. 1938: —
363637 Sergeant Clive KIRKLAND.

and that service number makes him

363281 to 370000 366493 Jan 1924

which fits!

[Ross_McNeill]

Yup,

Looks better.

I was away looking up the paper editions and the Feb 1939 shows no location where serving but gives Class A reserve.

Class A basically was suitable for immediate mobilisation and appearance at operational unit so to be given this reserve class he would need to be flying the current service types and current on all courses before transfer to the Reserve.

This would fit with a Sgt Pilot who had been commissioned into the RAFO.

It would also explain his age and lack of entry in the 1926 - 1929 Air Force Lists that we would expect to see if he was SSC.

Regards
Ross