Informal loan of aircraft from one sqn to another 1940.

[Danny152]

Another random question. When aircraft are unofficially allocated from one sqn to another.

One example is.....

A pilot flies a loaned aircraft, but he is from a different airfield and as a Sqn boss, and friends with the other skipper he is allowed to keep it at his own sqn, not the unit where it was from. If that makes sense.

Has anyone seen any Air Ministry documents - informal - formal reports reflecting any of this type of deals from the Battle of Britain period.

Again random question.

Thanks

Danny

[Franek Grabowski]

It was not unusual to borrow aircraft and pilots within a station. This way No 303 Sqn flew No 1 RCAF Sqn aircraft, when they were short of serviceable aircraft few times.
The example you are describing is more likely a case of gaps in movement cards, as I cannot imagine a commander giving away own aircraft without a paper trace. If found out it would inevitably end up in a court martial.
Franek

[Chris Goss]

Informal loan implies no record. Formal loan would probably appear on movement cards