As part of my Cambridge Air Force history project (New Zealand that is) I'm pleased to be able to publish the memoirs of ex-Cambridge airman Trevor Pearce.
Air Force Memories by Trevor Pearce is an interesting and detailed, yet lighthearted, look at one man's career as an RNZAF pilot. And what a career it was. He trained initially in New Zealand and completed his advanced training on Cranes in Canada. Expecting to be sent on to the UK and become a bomber pilot, his path took another turn when his excellent navigation skills saw Trevor become a Staff Pilot.
He served in various roles at various well known BCATP schools, flying for navigation students, towing targets and then flying gunnery aircraft - and becoming experienced on types such as the Anson, Lysander and Bolingbroke.
However in this 'tell all' Trevor admits it's the things outside of these mundane flights that made his career interesting. Buzzing US boats on the great lakes. Flying under two bridges, one in NZ, the second being at Niagara Falls! Flying between the masts (and under the aerial) of a ship. Duck hunting in a Bolingbroke. And over a dozen forced landings!
He talks at length about the Canadian and American hospitality that was extended to Kiwis there during the war. And various other slightly illegal things he got up to when not in his aircraft. He was a right hard case, and still is.
On his return from Canada in late 1943, Trevor joined an RNZAF fighter squadron and did a tour in the Pacific in Corsairs.
So far, 9 of the 12 chapters are up online and ready for you to read. You won't see this story anywhere else, and you get to read it for free, so why not take a look. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Here's the contents page.
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Tre ... 20Book.htm
Note: Trevor has loads of photos, some of them amazing (he had a photographer onboard for some of those low flights, including between the masts!!). He's currently sorting the photos out to go online, so they're not up just yet. But the lack of them does not detract from a great read.