Exerpts
from the Diary of LAC Richard P. Perry.
Left
Rotorua and traveled down to Christchurch on the “Rangatira” on Wednesday, October 15, 1942 and were bussed
out to:
No.
3 EFTS, Harewood
The
first lessons were introductory and designed to familiarize us with the de
Haviland Tiger Moth. Spent considerable
hours, during each day, studying the flying manuals and sitting in the
cockpit. My first flight was on October
19, 1942 and my instructor was Sergeant Jack Morgan.
DH
82-1443
Air
Experience flight with Jack Morgan.
0.15 hrs
October
20, 1942
DH
82-897
Air
Experience flight with Jack Morgan.
0.35 hrs
Cockpit
Drill
Effect
of Controls
Taxiing
On
October 21, Jack Morgan allowed me to take over the controls and try out the
effects listed below. At this time I
can only assume that he kept his hands on the joystick while I was
experimenting.
DH
82-897
Effect
of Controls 0.30 hrs
Straight
and Level Flight
Climbing
Gliding
Stalling
On
October 22 and for the next few days, we taxied around the airfield and I had
to answer questions about the instruments and their operation. Circuits and bumps, as they were called,
were the order of the day. Take off, do
a circuit of the airfield and, then, land.
As you will note, the next few days were entirely given over to this
function.
DH
82-652
Cockpit
Drill 0.25 hrs
Taxiing
October
23, 1942
DH
82-897
Cockpit
Drill 0.35 hrs
Taxiing
Straight
and Level Flight
Climbing
Gliding
I
did have some relaxation when I learnt what happened when the aircraft stalled.
October
24, 1942
DH
82-897
Medium
Turns
0.55 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
October
26, 1942
DH
82-897
Medium
Turns
1.00 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
Cockpit
Drill
October
27, 1942
DH
82-896
Spinning
0.45 hrs
Medium
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
October
28, 1942
DH
82-896
Spinning
0.50 hrs
Medium
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
On
October 30, another item was added to the training schedule. We stalled the plane at a decent altitude
and then let it go into a spin. Nothing
like sitting in an open cockpit with the world going round you. We practiced recovery from the spin, full
opposite rudder and stick forward and open up the throttle. Then more circuits
and bumps.
DH
82-1444
Medium
Turns
0.65 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
2, 1942
DH
82-897
Medium
Turns 1.00 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
On
this day I was faced with my SOLO TEST with F/O Penny. Very unnerving to have an officer sitting up
front and directing you to do this and that and to know that he was evaluating
your progress before letting you go solo.
One of the questions he asked was what I would do in the event of a
fire. I had just read up on that one the previous night.
He
also asked how I would abandon the aircraft which I was not sure of. However, he did pass me, stepped out of the
aircraft and yelled, “Away you go”.
Imagine, FIRST SOLO FLIGHT, same old circuits and bumps but doing it on my own without anyone
in the front seat after 5 hours of instruction. I spent a joyful half hour just taking off, going around the
circuit and landing before taxiing in and shutting down.
November
3, 1942
DH
82-751
Medium
Turns 0.40 hrs
Gliding
approach and landing
November
4, 1942
DH
82-1427
Medium
Turns 0.25 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
6, 1942
DH
82-1427
Medium
Turns 0.30 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
7, 1942
DH
82-1427
Medium
Turns 0.30 hrs
Climbing
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
9 saw me doing more advanced flying, some of it with Jack Morgan and some of it
by myself and the hours in the air steadily climbed. As you can see from the following, I practiced and practiced.
As with all of us, I did some low flying and then up to 2000 feet for
some aerobatics. Very scary
particularly when hanging upside down in a loop. Tried some rolls but not very successful. Had difficulty keeping the nose up. One of those Norwest days, strong wind, very
bumpy, almost cleaned up another aircraft in the circuit. Several aircraft had undercarriages collapse
due to heavy landings.
DH
82-751
Medium
Turns 0.95 hrs
Climbing
Turns
Steep
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
Stalling
Spinning
November
11, 1942
DH
82-897
To-day
was my introduction to sideslipping and from now on all of my approaches and
landings
were accomplished by slipping sideways with the nose in the air and then
straightening out just in time to land.
Then, off again on my own and more of circuits and bumps.
Medium
Turns 0.45 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
11, 1942
DH
82-897
Medium
Turns 0.60 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
12, 1942
DH
82-897
Medium
Turns 0.60 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
13, 1942, something different. A hood was fixed over the cockpit and I was
underneath the hood. Jack Morgan was in
front and took over until we reached a decent altitude. Then the fun started. He would give instructions over the intercom
and I would do my best to obey them.
“Rate one turn on to North”, “Climb to 2500 feet”, “Let down to 2000 feet”, “Remember which way you turn to find the
airfield”. Then “OK, raise the hood and
see where you are”. We were almost back
over the airfield.
Back
to circuits and bumps.
DH
82-751
Instrument
Flying 0.30 hrs
Straight and Level
Climbing
Gliding
November
14, 1942
DH
82-751
Medium
Turns 0.55 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
16, 1942
DH
82-751
Medium
Turns 0.60 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
17, 1942
DH
82-1444
During
all of this, most of our day was spent in lectures, aircraft recognition,
navigation, fuel systems and aerodynamic calculations. There was considerable leave given as well
and I used this time to visit with Uncle Arthur, Aunt Dorothy, Mervyn, Nola,
Jocelyn and Denise.
Low
Flying 0.60 hrs
Medium
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Here
we tried a gliding approach and landing as if the engine had failed. Stood me in good stead at a later date.
November
18, 1942
DH
82-787
Medium
Turns 0.20 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
November
19, 1942
DH
82-812
Medium
Turns 1.00 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
Sideslipping
Steep
Turns
Climbing
Turns
November
20, 1942
DH
82-751
Medium
Turns 1.05 hrs
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and landing
Sideslipping
Stalling
Climbing
Turns
All
of this time I’ve always had someone to help start the engine. He swings the propeller over to prime the
engine, I switch on and call out, “Contact” and he swings the propeller over to
start the engine. Now I had to learn to
do it myself. Very scary swinging the
prop over and not really knowing whether the engine was going to backfire and take
an arm off. Also learnt that it was a
good idea to put chocks in front of the wheels. There had been people killed due to the aircraft running over
them with a whirling propeller. Also
some killed or injured by walking into a revolving propeller.
I
also learnt how to climb up on the aircraft with fuel nozzle in hand and fill
the tank on top of the wing.
November
21, 1942. Now we’re really getting
somewhere. Along with all the other
items that I had learnt we added a little map reading and, most important, learnt all about forced landings. Always keep looking for a suitable field
just in case the engine fails. More
about that later.
DH
82-751
Steep
Turns 2.40 hrs
Climbing
Turns
Medium
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and Landing
Gliding
approach and landing
Map
Reading
Sideslipping
Forced
Landings
Instrument
Flying
Straight and Level
Climbing
Gliding Turns
November
23, 1942
As
usual, finished up with a bit of low flying although not daring enough to fly
under the Waimakariri Bridge like some of the course. However, this time I got caught and came in for a good tongue
lashing from our CO.
DH
82-751
Self
check – all to date 1.55 hrs
November
24, 1942
After
yesterday was mad enough that I decided to beat up the Vile’s house. All of them were out on the lawn to watch as
I roared around just over the top of the house. Forgot that the plane had a tendency to lose height in a turn and
only remembered when I noted the scared look on all of their faces. Pulled up quickly and headed back to base
with a few wing waggles. No
repercussions that time.
DH
82-730
All
to date 2.00 hrs
Spinning
November
25, 1942
DH
82-730
All
to date 1.05 hrs
Map
Reading with F/Lt Ross. He gave me
directions and I followed them as best as I could while reading a map strapped
on my knee.
Exams
in the afternoon.
November
26, 1942
DH
82-730/669
Pin
Point 3.60 hrs
Steep
Turns
Climbing
Turns
Medium
Turns
Taking
off into wind
Powered
approach and Landing
Gliding
approach and landing
Map
Reading
Sideslipping
Spinning
Forced
Landings
Instrument
Flying
Straight and Level
Climbing
Gliding Turns
November
27, 1942
DH
82-751
Check
flight with Sgt. Powell 3.40 hrs
All
of the above
November
30, 1942
DH
82-751
All
of the above
0.95 hrs
December
1, 1942
Big
test with Jack Morgan in the afternoon which I passed. Several of the course failed the exam and
were grounded.
DH
82-751
All
of the above 2.05
hrs
December
2, 1942
DH
82-751
All
of the above 0.80
hrs
December
3, 1942
DH
82-751
All
of the above 1.75
hrs
December
4, 1942
DH
82-751
All
of the above 0.55 hrs
Precautionary
landings
Turning
on to courses
Low
Flying
December
5, 1942
DH
82-893
All
of the above 2.10 hrs
Precautionary
landings
Turning
on to courses
Recovery
from awkward positions
December
7, 1942
Big
navigation flight, Harewood, Waipara, Darfield and home. Also prctised restarting the engine in
flight. Very scary. Have to point the nose straight down and
build up sufficient speed to turn the propeller over and start the engine.
DH
82-893
All
of the above 3.65 hrs
Restarting
engine in flight
December
8, 1942
DH
82-893
Cross
country map reading 1.15 hrs
Harewood - Motunau
December
9, 1942
DH
82-893
All
of the above 2.35 hrs
Taking
off and landing cross wind on runways.
Very tricky. Have to straighten
the aircraft out just before landing and hope that you don’t have a wing touch
the ground.
Something
different. Night flying using gooseneck
flares. Did eight circuits and landings
before quitting for the night.
December
11, 1942
DH
82-893
All
of the above 2.15 hrs
More
night flying with gooseneck flares
Loops
Stalls
Spins
Low
flying
December
14, 1942
Went
through all of the items that I would get on the final test, with Jack Morgan.
DH
82-1435
All
to date 3.15 hrs
Spinning
Low
flying
Loops
Stall
Turns
December
15, 1942
DH
82-1435
All
to date 1.15 hrs
Spinning
Low
flying
Loops
Stall
Turns
Rolls
FINAL
FLYING TEST WITH F/O PENNEY. I did everything
that I had been taught under his watchful eye and came through with flying
colors. What a relief to have
passed.
Right
afterwards I took off for a bit of cross country and had just reached a
reasonable altitude when the engine quit.
Remember what you were taught.
Look for the nearest piece of open pasture. Lots of wheat fields around and only one small grass field in the
distance. Headed for this, just cleared
the surrounding fence and landed neatly with a dead stick. Two of our officers came over in a car, left
one with the plane and went back to base in the car. Very lucky. If I had come
down in the adjacent mustard field the aircraft would surely have turned over
on to it’s back.
December
16, 1942
DH
82-1435
All
to date 0.50 hrs
Spinning
Low
flying
Loops
Stall
Turns
Rolls
December
17, 1942
DH
82-1435
All
to date 1.60 hrs
December
19, 1942 – FINAL EXAMS No problem
here. Passed out as a fully fledged
pilot and was advised that I was on the course slated for training under the
Empire Air Training Plan in Canada. I
spent a total of 70 hours day and 3 hours night in the air, and 20 hours in the
Link Trainer. Spent Christmas on the
farm up at Longbush and then to Auckland, MV “Bloemfontaine”, San Francisco,
Vancouver, Montreal and the Manning Depot at Lachine.