大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War web site by a volunteer on behalf of Joyce Ray, widow of David Ray and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

David went into the RAF in March 1942 and after his initial training was selected for aircrew training. In July of the same year as an LAC he went to 15 EFTS at Kingstown, CARLISLE. He flew 12 hours 30 minutes on DH82A, Tiger Moth's on his Aircrew Grading Course. He commenced his Ab Initio Pilot Training in January 1943 with 28 EFTS at WOLVERHAMPTON on Tiger Moth's, logging a further of 89 hours on type. In May he moved on to No 2 Sqn RAF College (FTS) CRANWELL. Here he flew the Miles Master Mk II, logging a total of 232 hours on type. Whilst at 59 OTU December 1943 at Milfield, he first flew a Hurricane (VE-H), logging a total of 11 hors on type. He next moved to 61 OTU at REDNAL in January 1944 and first flew a Spitfire (TO-E). He had now been promoted to Flight Sergeant, logging a further 48 hours 10 minutes on type. He returned to fly the Hurricane at 3 TEU at ANNAN. He continued to fly Hurricane's with 1681 BDT Flt LONG MARSTON with short attachments at 24 OTU and 10 OTU. In September 1944 he was posted to 1688 BDT Flt at NEWMARKET where he remained until the November, still flying Hurricane's. His next posting was to 1651 CU at WOOLFOX LODGE where he returned to flying Spitfires in December 1944, as well as continuing to fly Hurricane's. By the time he moved to 55 OTU at ASTON DOWN he had logged a Grand Total of 589 hours and 15 minutes. Here he converted onto Typhoon's between 15th and 23rd of April he flew 19 hours 15 minutes on type. He was Graded as Above Average. At the end of the month he was posted to 84 GSU in Germany. Unfortunately his first flight on 16th May ended with an accident when he crashlanded (Typhoon MN 860) in a German Farmer's field, much to the farmers annoyance. The following month he returned to 198 Squadron at WARMWELL for two weeks, with no flying, before being posted to 609 Squadron at WUNSTORF at the end of June 1945. During the next three month he logged only 10 hours 55 minutes flying. The months of October/November, whilst with 84 GDC, he flew 4 sortie totalling 1 hour 55 minutes. His last recoded flight was on 29th November 1945 in Typhoon (RB 363) from Middleton St George to Litchfield, total flying time was 30 minutes. After this he came off flying duties and was posted to Boscombe Down. It was whilst here that he met Joyce Voss, who was in the WAAF. They later Married.

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