Darke, Roy Harry (Flying Officer, b.1923 – d.1972)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 432678 Flying Officer Roy Harry Darke, 456 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 1943 to 1945.

Wallet 1 of 2 – Consists of four books [with associated documents] relating to the training and service of Flying Officer Darke, 1943 to 1945. Books include:

1x Log book, dated 28 September 1943 to 7 June 1945. This logbook contains flight entries related to the training and service of Flying Officer Darke in Canada and England. Entries include aircraft types, locations, accompanying pilots, observations, duties, remarks, course assessments, times and dates.
1x Royal Canadian Air Force Sight Log Book, dated 6 November 1943 to 1 February 1944. Within this logbook are flight entries related to the training of Flying Officer Darke in Greenwich, Canada. Entries include aircraft types, observations, times and dates.
1x Royal Air Force Notebook, [date unknown]. This book contains training notes taken by Flying Officer Darke. Training notes relate to Beaufighter cockpit drills and electric systems, compass swinging, searchlight homing procedures and harmonisation. This exercise book includes two associated documents including a blank airgraph and illustration of navigation.
1x Omar Exercise Book, [date unknown]. This book contains training notes taken by Flying Officer Darke during his time at 2 Initial Training School in New South Wales, Australia. Training notes relate to service rifles, machine guns, wing guns, gases and respirators, aircraft recognition and American fighter planes. This exercise book includes five associated documents relating to magnetism, electrostatics, clearance certificates for course aircrew and a glossary of aircraft types.

Wallet 2 of 2 – Consists of one Notebook for Air Observers, dated 4 November 1943 to 29 January 1944. This notebook contains lecture notes and a watch log and recorded by Flying officer Darke in Canada. Lecture notes relate to navigation, meteorology and astronomy, crossing flights and signals. This notebook includes one newspaper cutting titled ‘Australia Magnificent in War’, one typed transcript of a conversation between Flying Officer Darke and Miss Luizzi [exact identity unknown], 13 lecture transcripts, one blank airgraph addressed to Mrs W J Taylor [exact identity unknown], two charts and one pilots log sheet.