Dads War

As I get older, I find myself constantly looking for answers to my own life through what may have been my fathers eyes. Sadly, I had so little "real time" with my Dad that this is not really possible. I have fond memories of my father from pre adolescent days, but of course, his philosophies and my own teenage outlook didn't coincide exactly, which I know is a situation that is common to most father / son relationships! I can remember being very disrespectful. Of course, my father forgave me but I considered myself to be more of a man than he had ever been! How wrong I was! I always appreciated my fathers intelligence but the fact that I owed him so much eluded me for much of my life. He was a rock and sacrificed most of the rest of his potential life for his family. I left home in my early 20's to travel the world so I didn't see much of him until his stroke in 1975, when I returned home to see what the wretched illness had done to him. He migrated here to Australia with my mother in 1980, where he was able to enjoy an improved environment to see out his days.

Dad died in 1982. My knowledge of my father is sadly limited. However, it seems that he left me a great legacy. I have the Log Book from his war years as a Navigator in the RAF. He would never speak to me of this time which I believe were the formative years of his life. I can only imagine that to do so would have brought back the fear and pain of reliving some terrible events.

During mid October 1941, my father began his training as a Navigator at the Number 41 Air School in East London, South Africa. This went on until mid January when he took part in a months Bombing and Gunnery training. His final preparation took place at Penrhos in Linconshire where he participated in the Number 13 Advanced Flying Unit Course. In June 1942 he was ready for the "slaughter". He joined 115 squadron and began his "in house" training. The most traumatic year of his life began in September 1942. It only lasted a year before he was returned to South Africa as a Navigator Instructor. However, he survived 2 tours of duty which I am told was almost unheard of. Click HERE to view Operation details only, or all flights in 1942/43 are catalogued below:-

Date	Aircraft Type	Aircraft Number	Pilot	Duty	Hours	Squadron	Day / Night	Mission Category
15-09-1942	Wellington	Z1668	Sgt McCree	G. Exercise from Chipping Warden	2.10	115	DAY	Training
16-09-1942	Wellington	X3477	Sgt Baldwin	G. Exercise	1.00	115	DAY	Training
17-09-1942	Wellington	BJ842	Sgt Baldwin	G. Exercise	1.45	115	DAY	Training
18-09-1942	Wellington	Z1657	Sgt Baldwin	Air Firing	1.30	115	DAY	Training
20-09-1942	Wellington	BK272	Sgt Baldwin	G. Exercise	1.30	115	DAY	Training
20-09-1942	Wellington	X3354	Sgt Baldwin	Circuits & Bumps	1.00	115	NIGHT	Training
21-09-1942	Wellington	BK272	Sgt Baldwin	Cross Country	2.20	115	DAY	Training
21-09-1942	Wellington	Z1574	Sgt Baldwin	Cross Country	3.45	115	NIGHT	Training
24-09-1942	Wellington	Z1574	Sgt Baldwin	Transfer to Mildenhall	0.20	115	DAY	MT Flying
26-09-1942	Wellington	BK272	Sgt Baldwin	Air Test Oakington	1.15	115	DAY	Testing
26-09-1942	Wellington	BK272	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening	3.35	115	NIGHT	OPS
30-09-1942	Wellington	BK272	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening	3.45	115	NIGHT	OPS
02-10-1942	Wellington	BJ272	Sgt Baldwin	Fighter Affiliation	2.05	115	DAY	Training
02-10-1942	Wellington	BJ272	Sgt Baldwin	Ops - Failure Rear Turret U/S	1.15	115	NIGHT	OPS Fail
05-10-1942	Wellington	BJ272	Sgt Baldwin	B.A. & George Exercise	1.40	115	DAY	Training
05-10-1942	Wellington	BJ272	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - AACHEN	5.45	115	NIGHT	OPS
06-10-1942	Wellington	BJ770	Sgt Farquason	Return from Diversion	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
08-10-1942	Wellington	BJ990	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening	2.45	115	NIGHT	OPS
18-10-1942	Wellington	BJ990	Sgt Baldwin	Air Exercise & S.E. Flying	1.30	115	DAY	Training
22-10-1942	Wellington	BJ990	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - LINGEN	4.30	115	DAY	OPS
24-10-1942	Wellington	Z1653	Sgt Baldwin	Ops - Failure Port Engine U/S	0.45	115	NIGHT	OPS Fail
29-10-1942	Wellington	BJ274	Sgt Baldwin	Air Test	0.30	115	DAY	Testing
31-10-1942	Wellington	BJ274	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening La Rochelle	6.10	115	NIGHT	OPS
03-11-1942	Wellington	BJ274	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening La Rochelle	6.10	115	NIGHT	OPS
04-11-1942	Wellington	BJ274	Sgt Baldwin	Return from Diversion- St Eval	2.00	115	DAY	MT Flying
08-11-1942	Wellington	BJ274	Sgt Baldwin	Transfer to E. Wretham	0.20	115	DAY	MT Flying
10-11-1942	Wellington	X3565	Sgt Baldwin	Local Flying	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
20-11-1942	Wellington	BJ274	Sgt Baldwin	Ops Failure - Port Engine U/S Turin	1.40	115	NIGHT	OPS Fail
21-11-1942	Wellington	Z1653	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening St Nazarre	5.45	115	NIGHT	OPS
22-11-1942	Wellington	BJ898	Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - STUTTGART	7.40	115	NIGHT	OPS
23-11-1942	Wellington	BJ898	Sgt Baldwin	Return from Diversion - Newmarket	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
27-12-1942	Wellington	Z1694	F/Sgt Baldwin	Local Flying	0.50	115	DAY	MT Flying
28-12-1942	Wellington	Z1657	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening Frisians	4.40	115	NIGHT	OPS
31-12-1942	Wellington	X3351	F/Sgt Baldwin	Formation Flying	1.30	115	DAY	Training
31-12-1942	Wellington	Z1764	F/Sgt Baldwin	Formation Flying	0.30	115	DAY	Training
02-01-1943	Wellington	Z1764	F/Sgt Baldwin	Formation Flying	1.00	115	DAY	Training
02-01-1943	Wellington	BK166	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ops Failure - Engines U/S	0.15	115	NIGHT	OPS Fail
13-01-1943	Wellington	BK166	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ferry to Lakenheath	0.20	115	DAY	MT Flying
14-01-1943	Wellington	BJ990	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - LORIENT	5.30	115	NIGHT	OPS
18-01-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Thomas	Ferry - BASE to WYTTON	0.20	115	DAY	MT Flying
18-01-1943	Wellington	Z1609	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ferry - WYTTON to BASE	0.30	115	DAY	MT Flying
20-01-1943	Wellington	Z1609	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening Frisians	4.00	115	NIGHT	OPS
21-01-1943	Wellington	BJ832	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ferry - BASE to W.MALLING	1.30	115	DAY	MT Flying
28-01-1943	Wellington	BJ832	F/Sgt Baldwin	Ferry - W.MALLING to BASE	1.20	115	DAY	MT Flying
03-02-1943	Wellington	Z1609	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - HAMBURG	4.40	115	NIGHT	OPS
11-02-1943	Wellington	Z1609	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - Gardening La Rochelle	6.40	115	NIGHT	OPS
13-02-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - LORIENT	6.00	115	NIGHT	OPS
14-02-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - COLOGNE	4.00	115	NIGHT	OPS
16-02-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying & Photography	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
16-02-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - LORIENT	5.40	115	NIGHT	OPS
18-02-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying & Photography	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
19-02-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - WILHELMSHAVEN	4.50	115	NIGHT	OPS
24-02-1943	Wellington	Z1620	P/O Baldwin	Air Test & Local Flying	0.40	115	DAY	Testing
25-02-1943	Wellington	Z1620	P/O Baldwin	Air Test & Local Flying	1.00	115	DAY	Testing
25-02-1943	Wellington	Z1620	P/O Baldwin	Ops Failure Intercom U/S La Rochelle	0.20	115	NIGHT	OPS Fail
26-02-1943	Wellington	Z1620	P/O Baldwin	Ops as Ordered - COLOGNE	3.50	115	NIGHT	OPS
09-03-1943	Wellington	BJ832	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
17-03-1943	Lancaster II	DS624	F/O Avant	Transfer to Gransden Lodge	0.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
21-03-1943	Wellington X	HE233	P/O Baldwin	Base to St Eval	1.45	115	DAY	MT Flying
22-03-1943	Wellington X	HE234	P/O Baldwin	St Eval to Base	1.50	115	DAY	MT Flying
24-03-1943	Wellington	HE380	P/O Baldwin	Air Firing	2.00	115	DAY	Training
26-03-1943	Wellington	HE226	P/O Baldwin	Air Test & BH Exercise	1.45	115	DAY	Testing
01-04-1943	Wellington	HE227	P/O Baldwin	Air Test	0.30	115	DAY	Testing
05-04-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying - Gransden to Feltwell	0.20	115	DAY	MT Flying
14-04-1943	Halifax	DT735	W/Cmdr Webster	Petrol Consumption Test	2.50	115	DAY	Testing
15-04-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Petrol Consumption Test	2.50	115	DAY	Testing
22-04-1943	Mosquito	DZ375	P/O Baldwin	Circuits & Bumps	0.40	115	DAY	Training
24-04-1943	Halifax	DT737	W/Cmdr Webster	Air Test	0.30	115	DAY	Testing
27-04-1943	Halifax	DT738	W/Cmdr Webster	Base to Portreith	1.50	115	DAY	MT Flying
28-04-1943	Halifax	DT739	W/Cmdr Webster	Portreith to Gibraltar	7.00	115	DAY	OPS
30-04-1943	Halifax	DT740	W/Cmdr Webster	Gibralter to Blida	3.00	115	DAY	OPS
04-05-1943	Halifax	DT737	W/Cmdr Webster	Blida to Gibraltar	2.30	115	DAY	OPS
04-05-1943	Halifax	DT737	W/Cmdr Webster	Gibraltar to Weston Zoyland	9.15	115	NIGHT	OPS
05-05-1943	Halifax	DT737	W/Cmdr Webster	Western Zoyland to Base	1.10	115	DAY	MT Flying
07-05-1943	Wellington	HE230	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	115	DAY	Testing
09-05-1943	Wellington	HE439	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	115	DAY	Testing
11-05-1943	Wellington	HE498	P/O Baldwin	Ferry - Base to Dyce	2.30	115	DAY	MT Flying
11-05-1943	Wellington	HE498	P/O Baldwin	Ferry - Dyce to Base	2.30	115	DAY	MT Flying
11-05-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Cross Country	1.30	115	DAY	MT Flying
12-05-1943	Wellington	HE439	P/O Baldwin	Cross Country	0.45	115	DAY	MT Flying
12-05-1943	Wellington	HE439	P/O Baldwin	Cross Country	2.40	115	DAY	MT Flying
13-05-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Cross Country	2.30	115	DAY	MT Flying
13-05-1943	Wellington	HE236	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	115	DAY	Testing
13-05-1943	Wellington	HE236	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Dutch Coast	2.50	115	NIGHT	OPS
15-05-1943	Wellington	HE498	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	192	DAY	Testing
15-05-1943	Wellington	HE498	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Bay of Biscay	9.30	192	NIGHT	OPS
18-05-1943	Tiger Moth	T6906	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying	0.45	192	DAY	MT Flying
18-05-1943	Wellington	HE230	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	192	DAY	Testing
19-05-1943	Wellington	HE448	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	192	DAY	Testing
28-05-1943	Wellington	HZ413	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.30	192	DAY	Testing
28-05-1943	Wellington	HZ413	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Dutch Coast	2.40	192	NIGHT	OPS
31-05-1943	Wellington	HZ413	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Atlantic Ocean	8.15	192	NIGHT	OPS
01-06-1943	Wellington	HZ413	P/O Baldwin	Return from St Eval	1.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
02-06-1943	Wellington	HE229	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Dutch Coast	3.00	192	NIGHT	OPS
08-06-1943	Wellington	HE230	P/O Baldwin	Air to Sea Firing	1.30	192	DAY	Training
11-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.40	192	DAY	Testing
11-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Heligoland & Frisians	3.30	192	NIGHT	OPS
14-06-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Atlantic Ocean	7.45	192	NIGHT	OPS
16-06-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying	0.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
16-06-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Cross Country	2.40	192	DAY	MT Flying
17-06-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Night Flying Test	0.20	192	DAY	Testing
19-06-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Air Test	1.10	192	DAY	Testing
19-06-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Air Test	0.40	192	DAY	Testing
20-06-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty - North Sea	1.40	192	DAY	SD
21-06-1943	Halifax	DT737	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - North Sea	3.00	192	DAY	OPS
23-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Base to Farnbborough	1.00	192	DAY	MT Flying
23-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Special Duties Farnborough	2.00	192	DAY	MT Flying
23-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Farnborough to Base	1.00	192	DAY	MT Flying
24-06-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Base to Langford Lodge - Nth Ireland	2.10	192	DAY	MT Flying
24-06-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Langford Lodge to Base	2.00	192	DAY	MT Flying
27-06-1943	Wellington	HE454	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Heligoland & Dutch Coast	4.10	192	NIGHT	OPS
29-06-1943	Tiger Moth	T6906	P/O Baldwin	Base to Ewretham & Return	0.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
30-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Base to Chivenor	1.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
30-06-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Atlantic Ocean	9.15	192	NIGHT	OPS
04-07-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Air Test	0.30	192	DAY	Testing
04-07-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Base to Chivenor	1.45	192	DAY	MT Flying
04-07-1943	Halifax	DT735	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Atlantic Ocean	10.20	192	NIGHT	OPS
06-07-1943	Wellington	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Air Test	1.00	192	DAY	Testing
07-07-1943	Wellington	HE438	P/O Baldwin	Air Test	1.15	192	DAY	Testing
16-07-1943	Wellington	HE438	P/O Baldwin	Base to Chivenor	1.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
16-07-1943	Wellington	HE438	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Atlantic Ocean	9.30	192	NIGHT	OPS
18-07-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Base to Chivenor	1.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
18-07-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Atlantic Ocean	9.30	192	NIGHT	OPS
20-07-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Cross Country	3.20	192	DAY	MT Flying
24-07-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Local Flying	1.00	192	DAY	MT Flying
24-07-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - HAMBURG	4.50	192	NIGHT	OPS
25-07-1943	Wellington	LN349	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - ESSEN	3.15	192	NIGHT	OPS
27-07-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - HAMBURG	5.15	192	NIGHT	OPS
01-08-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Base to Chivenor	1.50	192	DAY	MT Flying
01-08-1943	Halifax	DK244	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Bay of Biscay	9.30	192	NIGHT	OPS
06-08-1943	Halifax	HE472	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Failure	1.10	192	DAY	OPS Fail
08-08-1943	Halifax	DK246	P/O Baldwin	Fighter Affiliation	1.00	192	DAY	Training
09-08-1943	Halifax	DK246	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - MANNHEIM	5.30	192	NIGHT	OPS
11-08-1943	Halifax	DK246	P/O Baldwin	Base to Chivenor	1.30	192	DAY	MT Flying
11-08-1943	Halifax	DK246	P/O Baldwin	Special Duty Ops - Bay of Biscay	6.00	192	NIGHT	OPS
12-08-1943	Halifax	DK246	P/O Baldwin	Chivenor to Base	1.30	192	DAY	MT Flying

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