1944 World War 2 Diary F/Sgt Dennis Walter Wright No.6 Service Flying Training School RCAF Dunnville, Ontario Canada

This is the second of five diaries by Dennis W. Wright all of which will be published on Kindle. The 1944 diary starts with Dennis in Canada at No.6 Service Flying Training School RCAF Dunnville, Ontario, transferring to No.4 Air Observer School in London, Ontario in late January. His navigator training has its ups and downs, and sometimes infrequent due to the severe weather. The flying has its lighter moments (“…last night I had a violent attack of the sh.ts whilst on the third leg of the flight. We had to land at RCAF Brantford to let me sh.t…”), as well as the darker side (“…2 RCAF guys killed in crack-up at noon today..”). After graduating in June, he transfers to RCAF Moncton and then on to Halifax before returning to Britain in July in the Empress of Scotland. After a brief stop in Harrogate, he transfers to RAF Llandwrog in Wales and his training begins again (28/8/44 “..We flew tonight on the third detail. Forced down in Northern Ireland at RAF Bishopscourt. Port engine stopped”). Again, his progress is somewhat patchy, resulting in a brief suspension as Navigator in late September, before reinstatement a couple of days later. On October 25th he transfers with much excitement to 10 Operational Training Unit RAF Abingdon where he starts with various speed tests as well as “circuits & bumps” in Wellington bombers. The diary comes to and end with a note “Flew my 1st “2nd Dicky” trip tonight under night conditions. It was a bulls eye on London. I didn't see a bloody thing” (a “2nd Dicky” was co-piloting with an experienced pilot). The next diary covers 1945 where he finally attacks Germany in a Lancaster bomber of 149 Squadron.