From Spitfire to Focke Wulf
eBook - ePub

From Spitfire to Focke Wulf

The Diary and Log Book of Pilot H. Leonard Thorne, 1940-45

  1. 160 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

From Spitfire to Focke Wulf

The Diary and Log Book of Pilot H. Leonard Thorne, 1940-45

About this book

'I hold the greatest respect for Len for what he achieved in the RAF.' – Gordon Mitchell, son of Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell

In May 1940, 20-year-old Len Thorne joined the RAF, as did many young men during the Second World War. After two hectic tours of operational duty as a fighter pilot, including some desperately dangerous low-level flying at Dunkirk, he was posted to AFDU (Air Fighting Development Unit) and remained there as a test pilot for the rest of the war.

Fortunately for us, Len kept a detailed diary, which, set alongside his log book, tells the unique story of a test pilot tasked with developing operational tactics and testing captured enemy aircraft, such as the feared Fw 190. During Len's career, he worked alongside some of the most famous fighter aces and his records cast light on some of the most famous flyers of the RAF, including Wing Commander Al Deere and Spitfire aces Squadron Leader 'Paddy' Finucane, Ernie Ryder and many others.

A unique record of military aviation history, From Spitfire to Focke Wulf offers a window to this era of rapid and high-stakes aircraft development.

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Yes, you can access From Spitfire to Focke Wulf by H. Leonard Thorne, Gill Griffin,Barry Griffin in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Military & Maritime History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

1

TRAINING

No. 7 E.F.T.S. (Elementary Flying Training School), Desford
No. 9 S.F.T.S. (Service Flying Training School), Hullavington
No. 57 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit), Hawarden
YEAR 1940 AIRCRAFT Pilot or 1st Pilot 2nd Pilot, Pupil or Pass. DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) Flying Time Passenger
MONTH DATE Type No. Dual Solo
September 30th DH 82 GADXT P/O Hayne Self 1. Air Experience
1a. Familiarity with cockpit layout
2. Effect of controls
4. Straight and level flight
5. Gliding 1-25
Towards the end of September 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, I was posted to No. 7 E.F.T.S. (Elementary Flying Training School), Desford, near Leicester, to be taught to fly De Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes.

Explanation of exercises

The sequence of flying lessons is in accordance with the following numbers:
1. Air experience
1a. Familiarity with cockpit layout
2. Effect of controls
3. Taxiing
4. Straight and level flight
5. Gliding
6. Medium turns
7. Taking off into wind
8. Powered approach
9. Gliding approach and landing
10. Spinning left and right
12. Side slipping
13. Precautionary landing
15. Steep turns
16. Climbing turns
17. Forced land...

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. List of Photographs
  6. The Logbook
  7. Foreword
  8. Introduction
  9. 1 Training
  10. 2 41 Squadron, Home Base Catterick
  11. 3 602 Squadron
  12. 4 RAF Duxford AFDU (Air Fighting Development Unit)
  13. 5 Development Flight AFDU, RAF Duxford
  14. 6 Development Flight AFDU, RAF Wittering
  15. 7 Enter the Focke Wulf 190
  16. 8 Mustangs and Others
  17. 9 The Wind-Down
  18. Appendices