AFC and AFM, 31 March 1942

[HughAHalliday]

I can now supply, upon request, citations for awards to instructors gazetted 31 March 1942. Please note that the list below includes recommendations for two awards which were not approved (McIntyre and Moxham):


BARROWCLOUGH, Roy, Sergeant (950140, Royal Air Force) - No.9 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Medal

BENNETT, Peter Elkins, S/L (37592, Royal Air Force) - No.16 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

BENSON, Niale Shane Trevor, A/S/L (70060, Royal Air Force) - Central Flying School - Air Force Cross

BETTY, Stanley Gordon, S/L, DFM (45040) - No.8 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

BRETT, Norman Albert, F/L (75993, RAFVR*) - No.7 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

BUGGE, Fawcett Hagbert, S/L (08241, Royal Air Force) - No.2 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross .

CASSELS, Ralph Kennedy, F/L (41254, Royal Air Force) - No.15 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

CLOUDER, Victor Alfred, Flight Sergeant (740712, RAFVR*) - No.9Service Flying Training School - Air Force Medal

COLEMAN, Eric Howard, S/L (28036, Royal Air Force) - No.1 Beam Approach School - Air Force Cross .

DONALDSON, George Francis Keiller, A/W/C (29068, Royal Air Force) - No.9 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross.

HEATON, Albert Victor, F/O (44417, Royal Air Force) - No.14 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

HEWARD, Anthony Wilkinson, S/L (39044, Royal Air Force) - No.6 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

HICKS, Arthur Jackson, S/L (32026, Royal Air Force) - No.21 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

HOLMES, Albert John, A/W/C (19137, Royal Air Force) - Central Flying School) - Bar to Air Force Cross

KEATES, John Keyward, P/O (113955, RAFVR*) - No.15 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

KING, Basil Percy, S/L (37292, Royal Air Force) - No.1 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

KINNEAR, David, S/L (70367, RAFVR*) - No.12 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

LINDSAY, Charles William, S/L (70402, Royal Air Force) - No.2 Central Flying School, Church Lawford - Air Force Cross

MASON, Leslie Herbert, S/L (22049, Royal Air Force) - No.5 Supplementary Flying Instructors School - Air Force Cross .

McINTYRE, Richard Valentine, W/C (26143, Royal Air Force) - No.8 Service Flying Training School - AFC Recommendation

MOXHAM, Frederick William, S/L (18178, Royal Air Force) - No.16 (Polish) Service Flying Training School - AFC recommendation

MUIR, Arthur Frederick, F/L (70923, RAFVR*) - No.28 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

OLDFIELD, Edwin Charles, F/L (43189, Royal Air Force) - No.8 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross .

PALMER, William Leigh Broughton, F/L (70519, RAFVR*) - No.10 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross.

PAPWORTH, Maurice, F/O (44542, Royal Air Force) - No.2 Central Flying School - Air Force Cross

PASSEY, Frederick Ronald, Flight Sergeant (528894, Royal Air Force) - No.6 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Medal

REDDICK, David Anthony, F/L (43522, Royal Air Force) - No.11 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross .

SCOTT, William Joseph, W/C (28117, Royal Air Force) - Central Flying School - Air Force Cross

SIMMONS, William Horace, Flight Sergeant (347560, Royal Air Force) - No.6 Supplementary Flying Instructors School - Air Force Medal

SLADE, John Duncan Harcourt, S/L (27166, Royal Air Force) - No.24 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

SYMONDSON, Ronald Charles, A/S/L 77106, RAFVR*) - No.14 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross.

TOMALIN, Charles Douglas, S/L (37548, Royal Air Force) - Service Flying Training School, Cranwell - Air Force Cross .

TOMKINS, Frederick Basil, S/L (19174, Royal Air Force) - No.25 (Pilots) Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

TOMPKINS, Arthur Humphrey Basil, S/L (88654, RAFVR*) - No.4 Supplementary Flying Instructors School - Air Force Cross

TREWBY, Maurice Robert Desmond, S/L (29103, Royal Air Force) - No.26 Elementary Flying Training School, Sheffield Farm, Theale, Berkshire - Air Force Cross

TRIBE, Bertram Reginald, S/L (70784, RAFVR*) - No.29 Elementary Flying Training School, Clyffe Pypard - Air Force Cross

WARDELL, Frederick Augustus, S/L (28030, Royal Air Force) - No.7 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

WILLIAMS, Patrick Vaughan, S/L (19177, Royal Air Force) - No.9 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross.

WILLIAMS, Jack, Warrant Officer, AFM (364374, Royal Air Force) - Central Flying School - Air Force Cross

WOMPHREY, Edward, A/F/L (43079, Royal Air Force) - No.9 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

WOODS, Arthur Bickerstaffe, F/L (75403, RAFVR*) - No.3 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross .

WREN, Alexander, S/L (70755, Royal Air Force) - No.5 Supplementary Flying Instructors School - Air Force Cross .

[nimrodman]

Hugh
Is it possible that you could share with me the details of the citation to BENNETT, Peter Elkins, S/L (37592, Royal Air Force) - No.16 Elementary Flying Training School - Air Force Cross

[HughAHalliday]

BENNETT, Peter Elkins, S/L (37592, Royal Air Force) - No.16 Elementary Flying Training School, Derby - Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 31 March 1942. Commission dated 6 January 1936. Commenced flying as an instructor on 1 January 1941. Public Record Office Air 2/9621, courtesy Steve Brew, has citation drafted when he had flown 2,470 hours total, 1,500 hours since outbreak of war, 690 operational hours, 755 instructional hours, 380 in previous six months.

"This officer commenced the duties of flying instructor on 1st January 1941. He has displayed great skill and keenness which, combined with his operational experience, have been largely responsible for the high standard of efficiency of his flight, both from a flying and administrative point of view. In addition to the administrative work, his flying hours exceed those of any instructor in his flight. Squadron Leader Bennett is a first class pilot and instructor and has proved a valuable asset to the station."

Recommendation drafted 9 January 1942 by Commanding Officer, No.16 EFTS (H.R. Harben ?) who wrote:

"This officer has served a Short Service Commission which terminated after the declaration of hostilities and is continuing his service in the RAFO [Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers].

"He is one of my flight commanders and I can say without hesitation that his flight is the most efficient one at this Unit, both from the flying point of view as well as in its administration.

"He has largely achieved this efficiency and keenness in his own flight by setting the example himself, and in addition to the administrative work his own flying hours exceed those of any instructor in his flight.

"He is a first class pilot and instructor and an asset to this station."

On 12 January 1942, the Air Officer Commanding, No.51 (Training) Group (Air Commodore R.B. Baker ?) wrote:

"Squadron Leader Bennett is a most efficient officer and flight commander. He has flown 2,470 hours, 755 hours of which have been as an instructor and 690 hours operational flying in Coastal Command.

"His keenness and efficiency, coupled with his experience of operational flying have been of very great value to his station commander.

"He has set a very good example to other operational pilots in the energetic manner that he has got down to flying instruction after the glamour of operational flying. Recommended for the award of the Air Force Cross."

The recommendation also noted that in his most recent six month block of service his flying hours had been reduced somewhat owing to greater night flying activity relative to day instruction.

[nimrodman]

Hugh
Thanks very much for your assistance in this matter, much appreciated. I am currently looking after his medals which also includes 3 x MiDs, two on his War Medal 1939-45 ribbon and one on his Defence Medal ribbon. I can only find reference in LG 11 Jul 1940 referring to the award of a MiD when he was an acting Flt Lt. Any assistance you could give me in trying to find dates of other MiDs and how to find a write up would be appreciated. Thanks again for your help. Chris

[AndyBaldEagle]

Hugh
Could I bother you for the citation for the following please:
DONALDSON, George Francis Keiller, A/W/C (29068, Royal Air Force) - No.9 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross.

Thanks in anticipation
Andy

[HughAHalliday]

My apologies for a very late response.

DONALDSON, George Francis Keiller, A/W/C (29068, Royal Air Force) - No.9 Service Flying Training School - Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 31 March 1942. Public Record Office Air 2/9621, courtesy Steve Brew, has citation drafted when he had flown 3,758 instructional hours, 177 in previous six months.

This officer is employed as chief instructor. His work has been of the highest class and he has set an excellent standard to pupils and instructors alike. He has been indefatigable in his efforts to decrease the accident rate and in generally improving the standard of flying training in the school. Wing Commander Donaldson has completed 6 ½ years as a flying instructor.

Recommendation raised 28 December 1941 as follows:

Wing Commander Donaldson has been indefatigable in his efforts to decrease the accident rate and in general improve the standard of flying training in this school. He is a first class instructor and at work or play sets an excellent example to pupils and instructors alike. He has cow completed some 3,000 hours during his 6 ½ years as a flying instructor.

On 16 January 1942 this was endorsed by a Group Captain (signature looks like “Strugnell”), No.23 (Training) Group, who wrote:

I agree with the above remarks. Recommended for the award of the Air Force Cross.

[AndyBaldEagle]

Hugh
My apologies for not thanking you sooner - thank you very much

Regards

Andy