RAF pilots training diaries

[Snautzer]

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/thread.../#post-1289081


"Hello all. I'm new to the site. I wondered if some of you might be able to help me. I recently acquired the diaries of a WW2 pilot. He was in the first wave of chaps to be shipped over on the 1st June 1941 to start his training in Arizona. It is an incredibly detailed set of daily diaries, charting his journey across on the boat from day to day activities through to precise cockpit descriptions. He writes beautifully, clearly a well educated man with a natural flare for descriptive writing. He draws sketches of his barracks and surrounding countryside and describes war and home life. There are parts of the wing of a plane stuck in a signed by a dozen other pilots. Its all just so fascinating! The diaries seem wasted with me now that i have read them.Have you any idea if an RAF museum might be interested in them or are these sorts of diaries fairly common? There are 6 large daily dairies and a scrap book 300-400 pages in total at a guesstimate. Thanks all. x "

[dp_burke]

Suggest Hendon RAF mueseum for a start.

Also ask her his name and serial number.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Snautzer

There were six BFTS formed in USA
The one in Arizona was No 4 (Falcon Field, Mesa)
It was formed in July 1941, commenced flying instructions 24.9.1941 and was disbanded on 20.8.1945. Main equipment PT-17 and AT-6.

Don't know if anyone has written anything about that particular unit, but I do have a book about No 1 BFTS which was in Texas. It might be of interest since the general basis of how things worked/functioned is in there as well. She will of course not find her man inside....

Title: The Royal Air Force in Texas by Tom Killebrew (published 2003 by University of North Texas Press)

Cheers
Stig