In November 1941 my Grandfather, H. C. Kelsey, transferred to RAF Booker, Marlow, Bucks. (RAF Booker Wiki link) He continued training student pilots in Tiger Moths for 21 E.F.T.S. (Elementary Flying Training School), but it seems that someone else started filling in his Log Book as the handwriting is different and the names of his pupils are now included.
Elementary Flying School Tiger Moth
This new posting was interesting because as well as training RAF students, he also started to become involved in the training of Glider Pilot Regiment Pilots. These Glider Pilot students were army personnel and they were being trained in preparation for allied landings in Europe. (Glider Pilot Regiment Wiki link)
RAF Booker Air Training Gliders
During November and December 1941 my Grandfather trained the following RAF pupils to fly;
L.A.C. Bailey
L.A.C. Barnes
L.A.C. Buxton
L.A.C. Campion
L.A.C. Waldron
L.A.C. Warnes
L.A.C. Bunday
L.A.C. Walker.
Of these pupils, Bailey, Bunday, Walker and Warnes were taken on for further intensive training, which included some night flying.
I don't know anything much about what happened to these men after they gained their wings, but L.A.C. Campion was awarded the George Cross for bravery in helping the crew of a crashed Blenheim. He later died in a Flying Fortress crash in the Azores 1943. ( Michael Patrick Campion GC). If you think you are related to one of these men, I would be happy to send a scan of the Log Book to you.
December 1941 was a pivotal month in the 2nd World War. On the "Home Front", things were getting pretty desperate. With so many men being occupied on war work, the Government decided to implement Women's Conscription (BBC, Women at War). At first, only single women aged 20-30 were called up, but by mid-1943, almost 90 per cent of single women and 80 per cent of married women were employed in essential work for the war effort.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans abandoned the attack on Moscow, after being bogged down in the snow. Perhaps a history lesson from another little dictator would have shown the folly of not being ready for a Russian Winter! On 6th December, the Russians launched a huge counter attack around Moscow and this was the first major defeat of the Wehrmacht. This news and the fact that on 15 Nov 1941 - The de Havilland Mosquito light bomber enters service with No. 105 Sqn at RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk, would have been of great interest to my Grandfather!
Then, on 7th December 1941, the Japanese launch an attack on Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, USA.
USS Arizona after the attack by the Japanese
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