Code: 10846
A rare WW2, RAF Air Gunner, and then post war pilot grouping.
Grouping consists of three RAF log books, WW2 medal group of four, WW2 air gunner brevet, pilots wings, copy photographs.
RAF, 3030646, Brian D. Winkworth qualified for his Air Gunner brevet on 12th May 1944. After some further training he was then posted to RAF, 215 Squadron flying in Liberator bomber's as a front air gunner. He was part of Warrant Officer McPhee's crew, operating in India against the Japanese army in Burma. His log book has 23 operations recorded, in good detail and underlined in red ink. His liberator aircraft for each flight is listed with the squadron code and the serial number. His last flight recorded was for 23rd April 1945, in a Dakota and his wartime service finishes here.
There is a gap in this logbook of 5 years and suddenly Sgt, Winkworth is flying again with the RAF at Scampton in Lincoln bombers as a mid upper gunner. We can only presume here that he left the RAF after the war, and then joined up again in 1950. Lots of Lincoln training flights are recorded, he is then posted to RAF 214 Squadron at Upwood, where he join's up with F/O, Cartlidge as the crew's Lincoln mid upper gunner. lots of flying then starts, and with their aircraft even appearing in a Battle of Britain air show. His Log book then records his time as an air gunner finally ending in May 1951.
He is transferred to RAF Driffield for initial pilot training, progressing to RAF Cranwell for further pilot training.
In December 1951 his pilot's Log Book number 1 starts with his learning to fly. He is ultimately awarded his pilots wings in July 1952. Next he is posted to the RAF advanced flying school at Oakington, where he is learning to fly Meteor VII jets. February 1953 comes and he is posted to 288 Squadron Middle Wallop, where he starts flying on Oxford aircraft until April of that year, when he gets to fly the Spitfire MkXVI. Posted again, this time to 231 OCU at Bassingbourn and back to flying the Meteor, and later onto Canberra B2 bombers. In July 1953, he is posted to RAF 27 Squadron at RAF Scampton flying Canberra's. In 1954 he has a certificate stuck into his log book certifying that he has qualified as a Combat Pilot. In June 1954 he and his crew take their Canberra on a 'Med Trip' operation to France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, with a lot of demonstration flying for different countries V.I.P's. Pilot's Log Book number 1, in December 1954 is then full. Onto Pilot's Log Book number 2, which starts in January 1955 and still with 27 Squadron on Canberra's. Now flying in Cyprus and in Egypt, on March 11th 1955, an incident is recorded in his log when flying Canberra WH728, with his crew, the starboard engine failed on take-off in a dust cloud created by the first two aircraft. The Canberra crash landed and was destroyed, but the crew, F/O B.D. Winkworth, F/O O.F. Temple & Captain N.E. Parsons all escaped unhurt. 1956 now, and still with 27 Squadron on Canberra's and lots more flying back in the UK. January 1957 he is posted to 232 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Gaydon. Here he is converting onto fly V bombers, particularly the Valiant B1. From July 1957 until January 1958 he flies the Valiant on a number of sorties. In February 1958 his flying service with the RAF ends. His log book does not finish there though, as he further uses it during his career as a commercial airline pilot ! Log Book number 2 ends with two thirds of the pages being full.
A superb grouping, and one being fairly unique with a wartime air gunner then going onto become a V Bomber pilot.
Not for sale to the EU.
