A Bookmark...

[petermcleland]

I was pleased to receive in the post today, this bookmark:-


I ordered it yesterday from Squadron Prints Ltd. and it cost 75p plus postage of £1.20.


I ordered it because I flew KF265 on my Final Handling Test on 6th May 1952...My testing instructor was Squadron Leader Len Trent VC...He was in the back seat and I was in the front. Thankfully I passed the test and got my "Wings" brevet! I have the bookmark at the page in his biography which describes his "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III. He was number 79 in the escape and was crawling along the ground towards the tree line when the guard discovered the tunnel exit with number 80 just poking his head out. So the escape was all over then and as it later transpired, Len was probably fortunate to have not got any further.


Here is my logbook with the bookmark in the page containing the flight with Sqn.Ldr. Len Trent VC.

[Tomliner]

Another fascinating post from you Peter.What were your impressions of the Harvard? EricT

[Airspeed]

Quite a story, and personal coincidence, Peter!
I think I would have done the same, despite the postage exceeding the item cost!

[petermcleland]

Another fascinating post from you Peter.What were your impressions of the Harvard? EricT

Well Eric, to a 19 year old youth, just standing alongside the Harvard is rather awe inspiring and one gets a feeling of apprehension at the thought of actually flying it. On that page of my logbook you can see my Grand Total hours are only 196hrs 30mins and only 134hrs 30mins of that was on the Harvard, so I never really flew it to any limits...It was not until about 1983 that I flew the Harvard again and that was in New Zealand. By that time I was much more experienced 50 year old and flew it past many limits. I realised then that the Harvard is a fabulous aeroplane to fly and I would have liked to get a lot more hours in such a wonderful machine...When I got out of that Harvard and stood back to admire it, I could hardly believe that a 19 year old youth could learn to fly in such a big, powerful machine.

[airboatr]

Thanks for posting another recollection of your flying days, Peter.
You - Flying the Harvard at 19 doesn't surprise me at all. You were obviously far more mature than 19 years olds.
Ironically, you are far more youthful in your...... how can I say this... .. ¿ More mature years.?... and I can attest to this having flown several times with you in FLIGHT- sometimes, You left me absolutely knackered . . The other times I was just, reg-u-lar-ly knackered

I salute you!

Joe

[petermcleland]

Thanks Joe!...That made me laugh...I'm not sure that my FLIGHT still works but I hope so as I will be sorry to lose it.