40073 Wg Cdr Peter McCall Bond

[Chris Goss]

Has anyone got this pilot's career history or a photo? He was commissioned 12 Jan 40 and commanded 91 Sqn Aug 44 to March 1945 only to be killed in an accident flying Hornet PX273 of 32 MU on 30 Sep 46

[BruceMk11]

Chris,

Have you looked in Peter Hall's book? It might include a photo and some background on your man.

[Chris Goss]

Photo quality in the book is poor

[JohnE]

7. February 1941 posted to RAF Ambala from 20 Sq.
27. October 1941 posted to RAF Karachi
8. February 1942 joined 1 FTS
10. April 1942 joined 2 EFTS
8. May 1942 joined 1 OTU RIAF
8. July 1942 joined 607 Sq.
26. August 1942 attached to 17 Sq.
30. August 1942 joined 146 Sq.
1. October 1942 commander of 607 Sq.
17. October 1942 commander of 5 Sq.
22. July 1943 posted to RAF Rednal
5. August 1943 joined CGS
6 September 1943 joined 12 PAFU
28. September 1943 joned 60 OTU
4. December 1943 joined 605 Sq.
8. January 1944 joined 91 Sq.
23. March 1945 joined HQ 12 Group

/John E

[Chris Goss]

Thanks John. Can you quote your source? It was said his crash was in a Hornet of 32 MU but it looks like he was at HQ 12 Gp?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Thanks John. Can you quote your source? It was said his crash was in a Hornet of 32 MU but it looks like he was at HQ 12 Gp?

Chris
Something is "fishy" here.

Every loss report seems to agree the aircraft belonged to 32 MU when lost.
However the Air Britain Hornet File does not agree.
PX273 was obviously assigned to Horsham St Faith as the Sector Leader's aircraft coded PM-CLB
Five interesting letters here, don't you think? At least I can see a certain indication of P(eter)MC(al)LB(ond) here!
Co-incidence?
As far as I can see only two Hornets were assigned to this "unit", PX237 and PX273.
Looking at PX237 it was more or less immediately transferred to 12 Gp Comm Flight. Another co-incidence?

So, sticking my neck out a bit, I can only assume there was some kind of agreement here that these two
aircraft were allowed to "float around" a bit (if such an expression could be allowed....)

No complete evidence as such, but at least worth considering.
Cheers
Stig

[JohnE]

@Chris: source is his log book (available at National Archives).

John

[Chris Goss]

John: VMT.

Stig: HQ 12 Gp was at RAF Watnall nowhere near Horsham St Faith so a puzzle indeed

[Stig Jarlevik]

Chris

Just trying to read a little between the lines here.
To me it is quite clear that PX273 was assigned to W/Cdr Bond as his personal aircraft.

Was it actually PX237 that was assigned to 12 Group?
An easy clerical mistake to make and with the knowledge that Bond was with the HQ 12 Group, it could
just as well have been PX273 that was assigned instead, or why not, perhaps both aircraft went to 12 Group?

Was the code PM-CLB thus assigned while the aircraft was at Horsham St Faith or with 12 Group? No idea.
I doubt the remaining records will show any exact date anyway.

Cheers
Stig