| Place | Europe: United Kingdom, England |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR01043 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | 1cm (1 item) |
| Object type | Diary |
| Maker |
Wilson, Ralph A |
| Date made | 1941-1942 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Wilson, Ralph A (Sergeant/Pilot, b.1922 - d.1942)
Description
Bound typed transcription of the personal diary of No. 405008 Pilot/Sergeant Ralph A. Wilson (83 Squadron), dated September 1941-July 1942. In full daily entries, it describes his initial training in the RAAF at Sandgate (near Brisbane) and journey to England on the SS 'Ceramic', arriving in December. It details his flying, pilot and aerial bombing training in the Midlands at 14 Advanced Flying Unit (at Ossington), 1524 Beam Approach Training Flight (Newton) and 14 Operational Training Unit (Cottesmore), including his first flying experiences in Oxford, Anson and Hampden aircraft. His first mission was piloting a Hampden bomber as part of the 1,000 bomber raid on Bremen on 26 June 1942. Joining 83 Squadron (based at Scampton), he was posted missing a month later following a bombing mission in a Lancaster over Duisberg. The item includes copies of documents and photographs.