Through Space with the R.A.F., "Convoy" (From Air Cadet to Pilot Officer) Being an account of my travels from October, 1941 to February, 1943

Graham Buckley

Published by Liverpool 1943, 1943

About this Item

Personal reminiscences from the itinerary of one member of a squad of trainee airmen sent from Britain to Canada and then around the United States as "unofficial ambassadors of the RAF" while undertaking flight school, before retracing their steps. Leaving Scotland by troopship for Canada, Buckley enjoys Canadian hospitality before moving on to airfields in the USA and describing his impressions of US military discipline and social insights into the various communities visited: "I think the thing that amused us all most was the very prevalent belief amongst the populace that all Englishmen have no sense of humour and can only talk of huntin', shootin' and fishin'." He notes the change that came over their reception on December 7th, 1941: "At least one of the jobs which we'd been sent over to America to do had been done for us - by the Japs." Travelling then from Alabama to Georgia, they began flight training, of themselves and local cadets, with a notable lack of easy success; and with America now at war "I found myself at 6.30 am on Christmas morning guarding the camp against all comers, probably Japs, armed with a 1903 rifle and 20 rounds of ammunition. Looked at now it seems funny." About the American South he says: ". we learned what the colour problem was all about, though naturally we dropped many bricks such as sitting in the back of the trolley cars, the part that is always reserved for the negro. [who] always appeared to be happy and acted as if there was some inner force making him so. That inner force is his religion," and discusses the white inhabitants' views on slavery and the Civil War. Via learning the Rumba in the baggage car of his train and a meal at the Harvard Club in Boston, Buckley returns north to Canada, on which trip he takes a turn as fireman alongside the train driver. Having failed as a cadet pilot, Buckley is now trained as an Air Observer at a freezing Prince Albert on the prairies, where he was impressed by 'bush' pilots flying in with valuable cargoes of skins and the "weiner roasts", learning the role of navigator and the ins and outs of Anson and Fairey Battle machines. Buckley avails himself of enforced time off to visit Montreal, New York and Philadelphia, then heads west to Prince Edward for training in Coastal Command before heading home to the UK from Halifax. Buckley's memories continue with 'Convoy', his eye-witness account of a routine 16 hour mission flown in a flying boat sent to reconnoitre an incoming Atlantic convoy of ships, taking its position with a sextant and assessing its rate of progress and direction. 'Through Space with the R.A.F.' (31 sides typed) refers to photographs not present; bound with 'Convoy' (9 sides typed). Quarto format, bound with string in a grey card cover with paper title label to front. Cover creased and marked, text tanned but clean. Please contact Christian White Rare Books Ltd for more information or images of this item.

Seller Inventory # 7737

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Through Space with the R.A.F., "Convoy" (From Air Cadet to Pilot Officer) Being an account of my travels from October, 1941 to February, 1943
• Publisher: Liverpool 1943
• Publication Date: 1943