SOLD! WW2 RAF Flying Log Book to RW Durrant Observer Engineer Bombers, Tobruk Interest

A fantastic WW2 RAF Flying Log Book for Flight Lieut RW DURRANT Observer Engineer flying in Bombers mainly in North Africa, including raids on Tobruk Harbour, Bengazi in 1940.

The logbook covers the period Sept 1940 - Nov 1956, though the front page is dated 1937 when he was in 113 Squadron

He completed just over 1058 hours of  flying, 996 hours of which are carried over from a previous log book that was destroyed in enemy action over Greece in 1941. The remnants of this log book, (10 pages) are also included in the set, the pages remaining are from his early flying days in 1936. 

The front of this log book describes the destroyed log book and a mission in 1940 where he was forced to bail out on a raid over Bengazi due to lack of fuel and descended 5000 feet by Parachute.

It also states that the detail within this book that predates the loss of his book in 1941 was copied from one of his co-flyers.

Aircraft flown in this log book include Blenheim, Bombay,  Electra, Lysander, Lancaster, Wellington, Master, Tutor, Anson, Hotspur glider, Martinet, Hamilcar X glider, Horsa gliders, Dakota, Auster.

During 1940 he flew many Operational missions over North Africa before moving to Greece in 1941. There are details of many bombing raids and being attacked / fired upon.

In April 1941 he was involved in the evacuation of Crete ahead of the German invasion.

 

Flight Lieutenant RW Durrant

It is unknown when Durrant joined the RAF, but he attended Perth Flying school and RAF Abbotsinch. He was posted to 35 Squadron as an air gunner in 1933, serving with them until 1935 before joining 113 Squadron as an Observer from 1937-1941.

On 26/9/1940 he carried out a squadron raid on Tobruk harbour.

On the 27^th October 1940 his log book reads “Blenheim T2068, Bengazi via Siwa, night raid, no moon, formation lost on return, find as by feat Alexandria, formation split up. S/c for Amriya, signalled, no answer, ten minutes petrol left, climbed to 5000’ and abandoned aircraft” all crew including F/O P. Squires , Sgt Durrant and Sgt Hancorn safe were all declared missing presumed dead, but were later found safe.

From November 1940 to January 1941 he carried out more than 20 bombing raids in North Africa, including several on Tobruk. He carried out 54 operations with 113 Squadron, including 28 raids and 26 recces.

The squadron then moved to Greece on the 24^th March 1941, to assist in the evacuation of Crete. In action on the 12^th April, his logbook was destroyed. In 1942 he was flying Belnheims in Palestine and Syria.

The logbook then jumps to 1944 at RAF  Elsham Wolds flying Lancasters in 576 Squadron, carrying out air tests and training for the remainder of the rest of the war.

Some highlights from the logbook include

Date	Aircraft	Pilot	Place	Duty
26/09/40	Blenheim IV T2068	P/O Squire	Tobruk Harbour	Squadron Raid
27/10/40	Blenheim IV T2068	P/O Squire	Bengazi via Siwa	night raid, no moon, formation lost on return, find as by feat Alexandria, formation split up. S/c for Amriya, signalled, no answer, ten minutes petrol left, climbed to 5000’ and abandoned aircraft
07/11/40	Blenheim IV T2059	F/O Squire	Salum	Bombed enemy MT at Salum
11/11/1940	Blenheim IV T2059	F/O Squire	Siwa- Bengazi	Bombed Berca LG
26/11/1940	Blenheim IV T2069	F/O Squire	Bin Sofafi	Raid bombed MT
08/12/40	Blenheim IV T2174	F/O Squire	Benina LG & Bengazi	Reces of enemy LG’s and shipping
09/12/40	Blenheim IV T2066	F/O Squire	Bomba	Sortie one a/c, bombed camp
10/12/40	Blenheim IV T2069	F/O Squire	El Adern	Bombing 3 a/c, night, incend
11/12/40	Blenheim IV T2066	S/L Bateson	Halfeya	Squadron raid, bombed MT
13/12/40	Blenheim IV T2066	F/O Squire	Derna	Bombed LG by night
14/12/40	Blenheim IV T2173	F/O Squire	Bardia	Sortie one a/c, bombed 4x250lb
16/12/40	Blenheim IV T2186	F/O Squire	Bardia	Bombed enemy MT
29/12/40	Blenheim IV T2063	F/O Squire	Derna	Six a/c raid, bombed LG
01/01/41	Blenheim IV T2063	F/O Squire	Derna	Squadron raid, bombed LG
02/01/41	Blenheim IV T2063	F/O Squire	Bardia	Five a/c raid, bombed camp
03/01/41	Blenheim IV T2063	F/O Squire	Zei Martuba	Three a/c raid, bombed
05/01/41	Blenheim IV T2063	F/O Squire	Tobruk	Bombed town, attacked by G50s
09/01/41	Blenheim IV T2054	F/O Squire	Tobruk	Mosaic of Tobruk defences, heavy aa fire. Telegram
10/01/41	Blenheim IV T2063	F/O Squire	Tobruk	Bombed by night
12/04/41	Bombay	F/O Squire	Maleme- M Bac	From Crete, Evacuation, Logbook destroyed in enemy action
13/07/41	Blenheim IV	F/O Squire	Mersa Matrun local	Mosaic of defences, F.24, Carnia 8’ lens, 8:500’