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Edgar John Alder.

R.A.F.1608470.

April 5th1943----March 1947

I joined the A.T.C. 1105 Squadron Winchester as a founder member in 1941 with an ambition to become a Pilot in the R.A.F. At 17, I Volunteered to join the R.A.F. and on July 2nd 1942 I was requested to go to Oxford for an aptitude test etc. for selection for Air crew. This was successful and I was to be trained as a Pilot and placed on deferred service until 5th April 1943
On this day I commenced my service with the R.A.F. and reported at the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lords Cricket Ground London. Here we were kitted out ,our first introduction drill, service routine and FFI’s and inoculations.
After about three weeks I was posted to No 11 Initial Training Wing at Scarborough where we studied subjects of Navigation, Meteorology, Morse, and any other subject required for our ability to pilot aircraft. The course lasted three months and after successfully passing the examinations I was posted to Grading school at Carlisle where I did 12 hours flying assessment, going solo after 6 hours and then being accepted for further Pilot training.
The next month or so was rather tedious in transit camps at Heaton Park Manchester, some leave, return to Heaton then the news of a drafting overseas and on the 13th November we joined the liner “Arundel Castle” in Gourock, and set sail in a ship well over capacity.
No one had any idea where it was going to take us but after 10 days in Atlantic we arrived at Gibralta and into the Mediterranean. This being the first convoy to pass through the Med. on its way to the Far East. During our passage to The Suez Canal there two air attacks with one ship lost.
Passing through the Suez Canal was quite something and then into the Red Sea, by now we realized we were going to South Africa and finally on Christmas Day 1943 the liner docked in Durban and the White Lady sang to us on our approach to the dock which I believe she did for all troop ships.
Another transit camp but a treat after our journey and being Christmas everyone had a great feast, no shortage of food here!!! A short stay in Durban prior to a three day train journey to Bulawayo,Rhodesia(Now Zimbabwe). Yet another transit camp for a few weeks before going to No27 Elementary Flying School (EFTS) at Induna for training on Tiger Moths (DH82A) and further studies with exams and flying tests at the end of three months training, and being successful was posted on to No21SFTS(Services Fling Training School).
This was at “Kumalo” just outside of Bulawayo, and I spent another three months here learning to fly twin engine Oxfords. At the end of this course came the great day when I was awarded my “Wings” and given my three stripes, which I believe was well celebrated. While here at Kumalo my Parents sent an address of friends at home who had relations in Bulawayo so I found them and they were very kind to me and I had some wonderful times with them, almost home from home.
After having a good life in Rhodesia I was then posted to Cairo and arrived in the transit camp at Heliopolus and was under canvas but not for too long as I was soon posted to No75 Operational Training Unit at Shallufa near the Suez Canal to learn to cope with Baltimores, which I didn’t like very much but it all worked out okay and on completion was moved to No56 P.T.C. which was near Naples in Italy and after a short stay I went to Salerno and the original landing strip for a conversion on Bostons (a nice plane to fly).
By the time this was completed and the crew all geared up for the challenge ahead the European War came to an end .After all the effort I think we were all a little disappointed, but after a while we all felt very lucky !!
My career in the R,A.F. then became very varied, going to Rome to fly with MED/COM. Squadron, then on to Ancona to test fly Bostons and Baltimores. My next surprise was a posting to Khartoum to join No39 Squadron (Marauders)who were converting to Mosquitoes, but this meant going on to Nairobi to do the conversion. On completion of this conversion I was returning to Khartoum and had to make a forced landing on a grass strip at a place called Faradje in the Belgium Congo.
At the end of my overseas tour I went to Aden to collect a Mosquito to bring back to Cosford U.K. this was a very interesting trip and all went well with two weeks leave to conclude that part of my service,
After my leave I was then to join 691 Squadron at Chivenor to return to the famous Oxford and fly in connection with the R.N.Gunnery training school at Plymouth which was very boring..
My career ended here after 4 years of service with the R.A.F.

I would like to add that I feel I had 4 good years during the war but I do understand what terrible times were endured by all other crews during this time and realize just how lucky I was.
Eddie Alder.

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