A year in the ATA
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Gerrard started with the ATA in July of 1943, and was posted to the ATA EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) at Barton, Bedfordshire. |
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His training followed the course familiar to anyone who has learnt to fly, with the exception that it only took him 9 hrs and 5 minutes before going solo - most people take between 10 and 30 hrs.
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| Date | Aircraft | Pilot | 2nd Pilot | Hrs (Dual) | Hrs (As Pilot) | Comments | |||
| Fri | 30-Jul-43 | Magister | P2457 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 1. Air Experience 1A Familiarity Cockpit Layout | 0.15 | 'First Officer Cowan' was Willard Edwin Cowan, a Canadian | |
| Tue | 03-Aug-43 | Magister | P2457 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 1 & 1A Air Experience | 0.35 | ||
| Wed | 04-Aug-43 | Magister | T9803 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 2 & 3 Effect of controls | 0.40 | ||
| Thu | 05-Aug-43 | Magister | T9803 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 4 Straight and Level Flying | 0.30 | ||
| Sat | 07-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 5 Climbing and Gliding | 0.35 | ||
| Tue | 10-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 5 Climbing Gliding and Stalling | 1.00 | ||
| Wed | 11-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 6 Medium Turns with Engine | 0.50 | ||
| Thu | 12-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 6 Turns Gliding and Engine | 1.05 | ||
| Thu | 12-Aug-43 | Magister | L8220 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 6 Turns Gliding and Engine | 0.45 | ||
| Sat | 14-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 7 Take off into wind | 0.50 | ||
| Sun | 15-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 7 & 8 & 10 Landings Power and Take Off | 1.00 | ||
| Tue | 17-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 7 & 8 Circuits and Landing | 1.05 | ||
| Wed | 18-Aug-43 | Magister | P6371 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 7 & 8 Circuits and Landing | 1.10 | ||
| Thu | 19-Aug-43 | Magister | L8235 | F/O Cowan | Self as Pupil | 7, 8, 10 Power Landing Take off | 0.50 | ||
| Thu | 19-Aug-43 | Magister | T9805 | Capt Woods | Self as Pupil | Check for solo | 0.35 |
Captain H W Woods, "C.O., Instructor and Father Confessor of the Elementary Flying Training School" |
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| Thu | 19-Aug-43 | Magister | T9805 | Self | Solo | 12 First Solo | 0.10 |
First Solo flight |
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| Fri | 20-Aug-43 | Magister | L5981 | Self | Solo | 7 & 8 Practising Takeoffs and landings | 1.15 | ||
| Sat | 21-Aug-43 | Magister | N3775 | Self | Solo | 7 & 8 Landings and Take Off | 0.35 | ||
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After EFTS Barton from 29 July to 23 August 1943, Gerrard was posted to EFTS at Thame from 24 August to 4 September, then to IFTS (Intermediate Flying Training School) from 5 to 25 September. |
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| … and thence to No 7 FPP (Sherburn-in-Elmet) from 8 February to 8 Mar, and back to 5FPP until 14 April 1944. | |||||||||
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Late April found him back at Thame, however, for Class II (Advanced Single-engined) Training, on the Harvard |
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| Sat | 29-Apr-44 | Harvard | FN107 | F/O Hopkins | Pupil | 29 Cross Country | 1.40 | First Officer David Hopkins joined ATA from the RAF in May 1942 and was an instructor at IFTS from Oct 1943 to Mar 1945 | |
| Sat | 29-Apr-44 | Harvard | FN107 | F/O Hopkins | Pupil | 20 Cross wind landings | 0.40 | ||
| Tue | 02-May-44 | Harvard | N7044 | F/O Hopkins | Pupil | 29 Dual Cross Country | 1.05 | ||
| Wed | 03-May-44 | Harvard | N7138 | Self | Solo | 30 Solo Cross Country | 0.50 | ||
| Wed | 03-May-44 | Harvard | FS722 | Self | Solo | 30 Solo Cross Country | 1.05 | ||
| Thu | 04-May-44 | Spitfire | X4280 | Self | Solo | 10, 11, 13, 18 Steep Turns | 1.20 |
This seems to be the first time that Gerrard flew a Spitfire; X4280 was a rather ancient Mk 1, but nevertheless must have been a big step up from the Harvard. |
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| Thu | 04-May-44 | Harvard | N7130 | F/O Hopkins | Pupil | 29 Dual Cross Country | 1.20 | ||
| Fri | 05-May-44 | Harvard | P5837 | F/O Younghusband | Pupil | 29 Dual Cross Country | 1.25 | ||
| Sat | 06-May-44 | Harvard | P5837 | F/O Younghusband | Pupil | 32 Proficiency Check | 1.00 | ||
| Tue | 09-May-44 | Fairchild | FK903 | Self | F/O Willis | Taxi Cranfield and back | 0.50 |
'First Officer Willis' would be Vernon Smith Willis.
The Fairchild Argus was a light aircraft used as a 'taxi', taking pilots to their pick-up points... |
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| Wed | 10-May-44 | Proctor | P6268 | Self | Solo | Ferry Broxbourne - Hucknall | 1.20 |  ... as was the Percival Proctor |
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| Wed | 10-May-44 | Fairchild | EV808 | Self | William Abney | Taxi Wroughton and back | 1.00 |
'Bill' Abney was seconded from the RAF in May 1944. |
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| Thu | 11-May-44 | Spitfire IIa | P7853 | Self | Solo | Ferry Cowley to 33 MU Lyneham | 0.23 | MU = Maintenance Unit | |
| Fri | 12-May-44 | Hurricane IIc | P4582 | Self | Solo | Ferry Langley - Silloth | 2.00 |  |
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| Sat | 13-May-44 | Spitfire V | P8099 | Self | Solo | Ferry Witney - Lyneham | 0.25 | ||
| Sat | 13-May-44 | Spitfire IX | R5388 | Self | Solo | Ferry Lyneham - Cranfield | 0.45 | ||
| Sun | 14-May-44 | Spitfire IX | P5557 | Self | Solo | Ferry Little Rissington - Reading | 0.40 | ||
| Thu | 18-May-44 | Hurricane | P9595 | Self | Solo | Ferry Langley - Sherburn | 1.10 | ||
| Mon | 22-May-44 | Spitfire II | EP575 | Self | Solo | Ferry Cowley - Brize Norton | 0.15 | ||
| Tue | 23-May-44 | Spitfire Ia | R7252 | Self | Solo | Ferry Cowley - 39 MU Colerne | 0.35 | ||
| Wed | 24-May-44 | Spitfire IX | PL269 | Self | Solo | Ferry 9 MU Cosford - 511 FRU Odiham | 0.40 | FRU - Forward Repair Unit | |
| Thu | 25-May-44 | Faichild | FK393 | Self | Solo | Taxi Thame - Reading & Return | 0.25 | ||
| Fri | 26-May-44 | Fulmar II | P4595 | Self | Solo | Ferry Thame - Hamble | 0.30 |
The Fulmar was a carrier-based fighter, rather obsolete by 1944 |
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| Sun | 28-May-44 | Fairchild | EH808 | Self | 1 Passenger | Taxi Bicester - Witney | 0.15 | Gerrard flew himself and a passenger to Witney to pick up … | |
| Sun | 28-May-44 | Hurricane III | KX407 | Self | Solo | Ferry Witney - Sherburn | 1.00 | … a Hurricane… | |
| Sun | 28-May-44 | Spitfire Vb | AP572 | Self | Solo | Ferry Sherburn - 6 MU Brize Norton | 0.50 |
… and then a Spitfire (before getting a ride home, presumably) |
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| Tue | 30-May-44 | Martinet | NR650 | Self | Solo | Ferry Reading - Shawbury | 1.15 |
The Miles Martinet was a rather unglamorous aircraft designed for towing airborne targets. |
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| Wed | 31-May-44 | Hurricane IIc | PZ737 | Self | Solo | Ferry Langley - Sherburn | 1.00 | ||
| Thu | 01-Jun-44 | Martinet | PW952 | Self | Ferry Reading - Wroughton | 0.25 | |||
| Fri | 02-Jun-44 | Fairchild | FK333 | Self | 2 Passengers | Taxi Thame - Cowley& Return | 0.30 | ||
| Tue | 06-Jun-44 | Fairchild | FK333 | Self | 1 Passenger | Taxi Thame - Cambridge | 0.40 | He was quite busy on D-Day! | |
| Tue | 06-Jun-44 | Magister | T9844 | Self | Solo | Ferry 22 EFTS Cambridge - 51 O.M. Lichfield | 1.20 | ||
| Tue | 06-Jun-44 | Magister | P6378 | Self | Solo | Ferry 25 FTS Cosford - Squires Gate | 1.20 | ||
| Wed | 07-Jun-44 | Stinson Reliant | K9596 | Self | Solo | Ferry Squires Gate - Andover | 1.45 |
The Reliant was another light transport/communications aeroplane, similar to the Fairchild |
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| Wed | 07-Jun-44 | Fairchild | FS510 | Self | 2 Passengers | Taxi Andover - Reading - Thame | 0.50 | ||
| Thu | 08-Jun-44 | Fairchild | FK315 | Self | 3 Passengers | Taxi Thame - Reading | 0.25 | ||
| Thu | 08-Jun-44 | Master II | RK991 | Self | Solo | Ferry Reading - 7 RAFM Peterborough | 0.35 |  |
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| Fri | 09-Jun-44 | Spitfire Vc | AR514 | Self | Solo | Ferry 6MU Brize Norton - Cranfield | 0.35 | ||
| Sat | 10-Jun-44 | Mustang III | FK908 | Self | Solo | Ferry Kidlington - Sherburn | 0.55 |
Four flights in one day; |
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| Sat | 10-Jun-44 | Tiger Moth | T8252 | self | Solo | Ferry Sherburn - 124 Sq Bradwell Bay | 2.25 |  A Tiger Moth, |
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| Sat | 10-Jun-44 | Fairchild | PK315 | Self | 1 Passenger | Taxi Bradwell Bay - Woodbridge | 0.25 | a Fairchild | |
| Sat | 10-Jun-44 | Mustang III | FX139 | Self | Solo | Ferry Woodbridge - Redhill | 0.40 |
and two Mustangs. Impressive. |
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Seconded to 2FPP Whitchurch |
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| Fri | 16-Jun-44 | Tiger Moth | T6173 | Self | Solo | Ferry Roxburgh - Whitchurch | 1.25 | ||
| Sun | 17-Jun-18 | Fairchild | FK347 | Self | Solo | Taxi Weston-super-Mare - Lyneham | 0.25 | ||
| Sat | 17-Jun-44 | Fairchild | EM790 | Self | Passsengers | Taxi Whitchurch - Kemble - Weston-super-Mare | 0.40 | ||
| Sat | 17-Jun-44 | Fairchild | HE603 | Self | Passsengers | Taxi ?? | 1.10 | ||
| Sun | 18-Jun-44 | Fairchild | EH779 | Self | Passsengers | Taxi Whitchurch - Aston Down - Kemble | 0.35 | ||
| Mon | 19-Jun-44 | Fairchild | EH779 | Self | Passsengers | Taxi Whitchurch - Barnstable & Return | 2.00 | ||
| Tue | 20-Jun-44 | Fairchild | EV790 | Self | Passsengers | Taxi Weston - ?? - Whitchurch | 1.00 | ||
| Tue | 20-Jun-44 | Fairchild | NB624 | Self | Solo | Taxi Whitchurch - ?? | 0.25 | ||
| Tue | 20-Jun-44 | Fairchild | EV790 | Self | Solo | Taxi Whitchurch - Filton | 0.10 | ||
| Mon | 03-Jul-44 | Seafire III | NN200 | Self | Solo | Ferry Yeovil - 33 MU Lyneham | 0.20 | The Seafire was the 'navalised' version of the Spitfire. | |
| Mon | 03-Jul-44 | Martinet | MS874 | Self | Solo | Ferry Whitehead - 7 AGS Stormy Down | 0.30 | RAF Stormy Down was a Royal Air Force station located near Pyle, Bridgend. It opened in 1940 and closed in August 1944 due to the dangerous grass landing strip. 7AGS was an Air Gunners School. | |
| Tue | 04-Jul-44 | Seafire III | NN147 | Self | Solo | Ferry 39 MU Colerne - 52 Cardiff | 0.25 | ||
| Tue | 04-Jul-44 | Fairchild | HB624 | Self | Passsengers | Taxi Colerne- Cardiff, St Athan & Whitchurch | 0.55 | ||
| Returned to 5FPP Thame | |||||||||
| Tue | 11-Jul-44 | Seafire III | NN387 | Self | Solo | Ferry Colerne - Kirkbride | 1.40 | ||
| Tue | 11-Jul-44 | Proctor III | P6038 | Self | Solo | Ferry Kirkbride - Thame | 1.55 | ||
| Wed | 12-Jul-44 | Fairchild | FK360 | Self | 2 Passengers | Taxi Thame - Bramcote & Return | 1.25 | ||
| Thu | 13-Jul-44 | Spitfire IX | PL204 | Self | Solo | Ferry Reading - Bognor | 0.25 | Bognor Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) was opened on June 1, 1943 and was home to three Spitfire squadrons which were tasked with conducting 'Ramrod' raids (day bomber raids escorted by fighters). | |
| Thu | 13-Jul-44 | Mustang III | FZ159 | Self | Solo | Ferry 5 Wing Ford - 83 GSU Bognor | 0.10 | ||
| Fri | 14-Jul-44 | Fairchild | EV770 | Self | 1 Passenger | Ferry Thame - Langley | 0.20 | ||
| Fri | 14-Jul-44 | Hurricane | PZ830 | Self | Solo | Ferry Langley - 22 Silloth | 2.00 | ||
| Fri | 14-Jul-44 | Mustang Ia | FD479 | Self | Solo | Ferry 22 Silloth - Kirkbride (overnight) | 0.15 | ||
| Sat | 15-Jul-44 | Mustang Ia | FB479 | Self | Solo | Ferry Kirkbride - 84 GSU Thornton | 1.50 | ||
| Sun | 16-Jul-44 | Fairchild | FK360 | Self | 2 Passengers | Taxi Thame - Biggleswade & Return | 0.55 | ||
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After more training at AFTS White Waltham between 19 Jul and 28 Aug 1944, Gerrard was posted back to 16FPP Kirkbride until 10 Oct; then followed a spell of sickness, which lasted until 12 Jan 1945. He returned to 16FPP until 28 Aug, then finally back to White Waltham until he left the ATA on the 30 September 1945. |
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Sir Gerrard Charles Peat KCVO "Sir Gerrard continued flying after WWII; his last civilian flight was on 7 Oct 1990 in a Robin from Rochester. It can be seen from his RAF log book that his service flying after the ATA continued with two periods with the RAAF, first with 600 City of London Squadron and second with RAFUR 8 Flying School where he finished his service flying at No.8 Flying School Woodley in a Chipmunk on the 18 Jan 1953. His service flying hours grand total is recorded as 1,130 hrs 15 mins. and the number of types of aircraft recorded was 33." David Collingwood, Gerrard's stepson |
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RAF/FAA Aircraft flown:
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He trained on the Miles Magister.
