the flying logbook of navigator william a. cosway, … log v22.pdf · the flying logbook of...

The Flying Logbook of Navigator William A. Cosway, Flying Officer, RCAF Service Number J 45098 (Version 22)

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Matt Poole 12307 Middle Road Wheaton, MD 20906 USA 301 933 1727 feb2944 AT aol.com ( replace AT with @ )

1 January 2013, Version 22

The Flying Logbook of Navigator William A. Cosway,

Flying Officer, RCAF Service Number J 45098

Bill Cosway of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force as soon as possible, on his 18th birthday in April 1942. He trained in Canada as a navigator. On 8 November 1944 he and his bomber crew departed in a new B-24 Liberator for the long air journey from Montreal, across the Atlantic to Africa, through the Middle East, and on to Karachi, India. The seven separate flight segments totaled 44 hours and 15 min. Soon assigned to fly B-24s out of Bengal, India with RAF 355 and 159 Squadrons (the latter being designated South East Asia Command's Pathfinder, or PFF, Squadron), Bill went on to successfully complete a tour of 38 combat operations (398 hrs 00 min of flying time) over Southeast Asian targets in Burma, Siam, Malaya, and French Indo-China. Bill ended the war with a grand flying total of 750 hrs 05 minutes aboard Avro Ansons, B-25 Mitchells, and B-24 Liberators. He made 102 separate flights in Liberators. Upon repatriation to Canada in 1946, Bill returned to school to gain a Bachelor of Applied Science degree with honors from the University of Toronto in 1951. He then returned to his pre-RCAF employer, Bell Telephone Company of Canada, to continue a career that ultimately spanned more than 49 years by the time of his retirement in 1989. He then served as general manager of The Radio Advisory Board of Canada for four years, finally retiring for good in 1993. In 2006 Bill's book, "Earthquake McGoon, A Memoir of The 'Forgotten War' in South East Asia", was printed by

Trafford Publishing. Copies are available for purchase via Trafford's website at www.trafford.com/06-0304 or via

www.amazon.com and www.amazon.ca.

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.amazon.ca/


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Bill's flight logbook: Bill kept a wonderfully detailed logbook. From perusing it one can imagine, with admiration, how precisely and accurately he navigated his Liberator on each flight, after his rigorous training in Canada. Such a responsibility in the Far East was a special challenge to the best of navigators, given the sometimes horrific weather conditions, lack of accurate maps, unique demands of night flying, lengthy and exhausting ops (Bill's longest flight:15 hrs 40 min on 13 May 1945), and scarcity of navigation aids such as beacons. The proficiency assessment by W/Cdr Lucian Ercolani, penned in the logbook at the conclusion of Bill's tour of ops, is understated praise:

Is recommended for a S.N. [Staff Navigator] course. He has proved himself competent and reliable both in the air and on the ground and has completed a good tour of opps.

Inevitably, errors in details such as aircraft serial numbers and fuselage letter codes show up in logbooks. I have found very few in Bill's logbook. I have also noticed conflicting entries in Bill's log (i.e., two different flights aboard aircraft with the same serial number but differing letter codes) and conflict with other outside sources (not that Bill was in error in all instances). I have added solutions to as many errors and discrepancies as I could determine. See the expanded serial number error / discrepancy explanations below, following the transcription of the logbook.

Red text is used to highlight each of Bill's 38 operational flights (which comprised his full tour of ops with

355 and 159 Squadrons).

I have added a select few explanatory notes to assist the reader in better understanding the logbook lingo and abbreviations. Some of the abbreviations:

ASI Air Speed Indicator? DCO Detail Carried Out DF Direction Finder (used for navigating) DFC Distinguished Flying Cross DNCO Detail Not Carried Out DR Dead Reckoning (a form of navigating) DSO Distinguished Service Order DZ Drop Zone (for Special Duties ops)


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ETA Estimated Time of Arrival HCU Heavy Conversion Unit (transition school for aircrew moving

from 2-engine to 4-engine aircraft) M/T Motor Transport (road vehicle) PFF Path Finder Force (target marking duties) RAF Royal Air Force (British) RAFTC Royal Air Force Transport Command RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force RFU Refresher Flying Unit SD Special Duties (supply drops, often clandestine) U/S Unserviceable (non-functioning) WX Weather VC Victoria Cross (for supreme valor)

I have respectfully tidied up a few of Bill's entries, being careful not to alter the meaning. A word or two from Bill concerning the conditions which affected his logbook in India:

I should explain a couple of things in connection with my log book. Aside from the humidity, and the snakes, toads, and small four-footed animals moving about above the sacking serving for the ceiling in my 12 X 12 'basha' room, mice were around. They had nibbled off the spine backing of my log book, and scotch tape was used in a couple of places inside to hold pages together. I got it repaired as best I could locally while on 159, which is also the reason for the dark blue plastic border around the cover (which renders it rather distinctive and not quite in accordance with 'rules and regs'). As the humidity increased, my bearer had to remove most of my stuff and place it out in the sun each day in order to counter mildew which could make a real mess of things. For example, the arctic flying gear we were issued in Dorval (presumably for the crossing of the Atlantic, although at the time I wondered why – but then while I was working away up front the rest of the crew was hunkered down in back with nothing to do but try to sleep, and I guess that it was cold) was not daily placed in the sun, and when I had to mandatorily turn it in upon leaving 159 for home it was all in pieces, completely rotted in it's canvas bag container. But still, they had to have it! Everything had to be signed off, or you could not leave.


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Bill (circled) atop Liberator EV962 V, named "Earthquake McGoon", in which he flew 16 ops with 355 Squadron. He designed and painted the nose art, based on cartoonist Al Capp's character by the same name. A round bomb with a fuse was added for each completed op. Courtesy of Bill Cosway


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Bill was photographed in 2006 in the cockpit of Avro Lancaster FM213 of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Mt. Hope, Ontario, Canada. Courtesy of Gary Schroeder

Bill's transcribed logbook follows


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#7 AIR OBSERVERS SCHOOL, ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MANITOBA, CANADA All flights were aboard 2-engine Avro Anson aircraft

Month

& Year

Day Time

Up

Partial Serial #

(as inked by Bill)

Pilot Duty Remarks Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

Dec. 1943

16 0905 6641 Capt. Fleming 1st Nav. N.D. 1. Familiarization – Good. 1:30

22 0920 6640 Capt. Simpson 1st Nav. :80; 2nd Nav. 1:55

N.D. 2. Familiarization – Radius – 30 miles – Good.

2:35

28 0935 6814 Capt. Simmons 1st Nav. :75; 2nd Nav. 1:40

N.D. 3. High level familiarization – Radius 60 miles.

2:15

TOTALS FOR MONTH

ENDING 31 DECEMBER 1943

6:20

Jan. 1944

8 0850 6742 Capt O'Niell, R.D. 1st Nav. 1:40; 2nd Nav. 1:45

No. 4. Pinpointing – Drift instruments – Good – Giving initial course.

3:25

14 0945 6679 Capt Fleming 2nd Nav. 3:00 No. 5. S/C 0 [letter "O"?] wind track & G/S D.R. Birtle – Deloraine. Log – C+.

3:00

21 0850 6746 Capt. McBride 1st Nav. 3:25 No. 6. S/C 0 [letter "O"?] wind track & G/S D.R. Whitemouth Lake – Arkborg. Log – B.

3:25

23 0850 6060 Capt. Gates 2nd Nav. 3:25 No. 7. Base – Birtle – Killarney – Fannystelle – Base – Obtain ASCO brgs [bearings]. Log – 77.

3:35

30 1240 6580 Capt. Keueriga 1st Nav. 3:05 No. 8. Base – Deloraine – Oakburn – Elm Creek – Base – Keep an air plot – Climb on track – Chart inaccuracy – Fair trip. Log C+.

3:05

31 1345 6640 Capt. Petersen 2nd Nav. 3:05 No. 9. Base – P. Target [Portage Target] – Macdonald – Russell – Binscarth – Oakville – P. Target – Base. ASCO Brgs. – D/F D/L's [?] – D.D. [?] W/V's – Good trip. Log B+.

3:05

TOTALS FOR MONTH

ENDING 31 JANUARY 1944

19:35 0:00

Feb. 1944

1 1005 9883 Capt. Stubbs Camera Operator

P.1. Hand held obliques. 5 photographs. 1:45

1 2020 6346 Capt. Williams 1st Nav. 3:50 N.N. 1. Base – Portage Targets – MacDonald Shoal Lake – Neelin – Oakville – Target – Base. Keep an airplot. Map read continuously. Log C+.

3:50

2 1345 6448 Capt. Maber 1st Nav. 3:05 N.D. 10. Base – Gladstone – McCauley – Melita – Notre Dame de Lourdes – Base – S/C 0 [letter "O"?] W/V – Fixes. Pilot Nav. by 2nd Nav. on 2nd leg [?]. Log 66.

3:05

3 1920 6648 Capt. Young 1st Nav. 3:15 N.N. 2. Base – Kirkella – Rivers targets – Rapid City – Elm Creek – Base – Climb & let down on track – S/C Met W/V – Fair. Log C.

3:15

9 0915 469 Capt. Brandeth 2nd Nav. 3:35 N.D. 11. Base – West Bourne – Sealed orders. Oaklake Rivers targets – Kemnay – Sealed orders. Elm Creek – Base – Fair. Log B.

3:35

13 2200 6183 Capt. James 2nd Nav. 3:10 N.N. 3. Base – Oakville – Target – 5030 N 10030 W. Bone Lake – Oakville – Target – Base. Good trip. Log C+.

3:10


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Feb. 1944

14 1255 6660 Capt. Watson 1st Nav. 3:25 N.D. 12. Base – Elm Creek – Sealed orders. Pine Falls – Sealed orders – St. Claud – Base. Keep airplot. Obtain W/V by drift. Log B.

3:25

15 2200 172 Capt. Bolton 1st Nav. 3:05 N.N. 4. Base – Portage target – Ninga – Dominion City – Oakville – Target – Base. Good – ASCO fixes entirely. Log B.

3:05

19 2115 6969 Capt. K. Andersen 2nd Nav. 2:10 N.N. 5. Poor weather – Called back to base. On second leg – Base – Crystal City – Woodridge – Lokportbridge – Target – Base.

2:10

21 0950 6021 Capt. Reid [blank] P. 2. Line overlap – Vicinity base – Poor weather.

1:05

23 1245 6305 Capt. Reid 1st Nav. 3:15 N.D. 13. Base – Melita – Reston – Base. D/F pinpoints. Fair trip. Log C+.

3:15

24 1355 6073 Capt. Petersen 2nd Nav. 3:15 N.D. 14. Base – 5040 N 10130 W – Oaklake – Rivers targets – Kemnay – Base. Sun shots. Check CO.T. Good trip. Log 93.

3:15

27 2105 6410 Capt Allen 1st Nav. 3:05 N.N. 5. Base – Oakville – Port. target – Clandeboye Bay – 4914 N 9640 W – Pine Falls – Oakville – P. Target – Base. Poor trip. D/F ASCO Brgs. Log C.

3:05

TOTALS FOR MONTH

ENDING 29 FEBRUARY 1944

19:25 18:35

Mar. 1944

3 2150 6111 Capt. Richards 1st Nav. 3:30 N.N. 6 3:30

4 1335 6204 Capt McInnes 1st Nav. 1:35 2nd Nav. 1:40

N.D. 15. Ht 1500' – Navigate by drift and contact navigation – Fair. Log B.

3:15

9 1245 6480 Capt Oniell, R.D. 1st Nav. 3:10 N.D. 16. Base – 4915 N 9500 W – Base. Coastal Command exercise. Restart airplot from D.R. posn – Turn on E.T.A. – 3 drift W/V.

3:10

9 2110 6032 Capt Brondum 2nd Nav. 3:15 N.N. 7. Base – Treherne – Oaklake – Rivers targets – Kemnay – 5045 N 10043 W. Astrograph – Poor weather.

3:15

15 1235 9715 Capt. Brondum 2nd Nav. 3:25 N.D. 17. Base – Woodside – 5200N 4930 W – Woodside – Base. Coastal Command ex. [Next notation unclear] Sun shots – 4 plotted. Establish good tr. [track?]

3:25

25 0845 6535 Capt. Moorehead 3rd Nav. 2:55 Extra day – Sun shots. Base – Gardenton –Beavesnour [?] – Morden – Base. Actual trip was N.D. 5.

2:55

26 1320 6221 Capt. Cassidy 1st Nav. 2:50 N.D. 18. Square search – Mild weaving – Leading Line. Base – Birtle – Base. Not particularly good. Log C. Co-pilot was getting instruction.

2:50

28 1240 6088 Capt. Beaton 2nd Nav. 3:05 N.D. 19. Square search – Mild weaving – Leading line. Base – Birtle – Base. Good trip – 3 sunshots worked in air. Log B+. Sunshots.

3:05

30 0835 6547 Capt. Hughes 2nd Nav. 2:35 Compass swing, Mental D.R. and Recco. Good trip. Mental D.R. okay. Curve tough to plot but matched with first navigator's.

2:35

30 2110 6076 Capt. Mahoney 2nd Nav. 3:00 N.N. 8. Astro D/F – Sextant shots. Half of route clouded – Good trip – But poor for astro.

3:00

TOTALS FOR MONTH

ENDING 31 MARCH 1944

21:15 9:45


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Apr. 1944

2 1340 6274 Capt. Murray 2nd Nav. 3:45 N.D. 21 3:45

10 2145 6010 Capt. Maber 1st Nav. 3:00 N.N. 9. Base – Oakville – Target – Neepawa – Gardenton – Oakville – Target – Base. Log B+. Enjoyed this trip as it was 1st astrograph trip.

3:00

11 2040 6876 Capt McInnis 2nd Nav. 3:00 N.N. 10. Base – Oakville – Target – Neepawa – Gardenton – Oakville – Target – Base. Good trip. Good night for astro. Log B+.

3:00

12 1400 6864 Capt. Beaton 1st Nav. 3:15 N.D. 22. Base – Wawanesa – Kemnay – Rivers Targets – Melita – Pleasant Lake North Dakota – Base. Sun & D/F fixes. Good trip. Varied navigation. Log B+ (82).

3:15

14 2050 5023 Capt. Haag 2nd Nav. 3:00 For [?] star shots only. Good trip. 3:00

19 2145 6424 Capt. Giffen 1st Nav. 3:20 N.N. 11. Pennant trip. Sextant U/S. D/F U/S. Fair trip in spite of equipment.

3:20

27 2150 6316 Capt. Edwards 1st Nav. 3:35 N.N. 12. Special – Base – Rollete – Grafton – Base. (North Dakota). Fair trip. Logs not marked.

3:35

TOTALS FOR MONTH

ENDING 30 APRIL 1944

7:00 15:55

TOTALS AT # 7 AOS 73:35 44:15

CUMULATIVE FLYING TOTALS,

ALL UNITS, THROUGH 30 APRIL 1944

73:35 44:15

COSWAY

NAVIGATION COURSE FOR

NAVIGATORS OR AIR BOMBERS

Held at: No. 7 AOS, RCAF, Portage la Prarie

From 13 / Dec / 43 To 5 / May / 44

GROUND WORK AIR WORK

Subject Marks Allowed Marks Obtained Subject Marks Allowed Marks Obtained

Air Nav. – Elements 200 158 Air Nav. – Day 400 298

Air Nav. – Theory 200 150 Air Nav. – Night 200 137

Air Nav. – Exercises 200 150 Log Keeping 200 148

Meteorology 100 69 Reconnaissance 100 77

Signals – Written xxxxx xxxxx Photography 50 34

Signals – Practical 100 L.50, M.50 Met. Observations 50 43

Aircraft Recognition 50 50 Bombing xxxxx xxxxx

Reconnaissance 50 41 Signals – Air Operating xxxxx xxxxx

Photography 50 44 TOTAL 1000 737

Armament 50 36 % 73.7

TOTAL 1000 798

% 79.8 FLYING TIMES ON COURSE

PASSED

Type Day Night

ANSON 73:35 44:15

TOTAL 117:50

(Signed)

S/L Hawkins Chief

Instructor


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# 5 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT, BOUNDARY BAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA All flights were in 2-engine B-25 Mitchell bombers,

except for one 4-engine B-24J / Mk VI Liberator flight (25 July 1944)

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Fuselage

Letter Code, Serial #

(as inked by Bill)

[Expanded and/or corrected serial # & letter code given]

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

July 1944

12 1100 AT 280 FW280 AT

WO II Hughes Nav. 1:00 Range flying 1:00

21 1515 J 318 HD318 J

F/O Ardis DFC WO II Hughes

Nav. 1:35 Height test – Radius of action 1:35

22 1520 J 318 HD318 J


Nav. 2:00 Formation – Flying vic of 3 2:00

23 0845 V 335 HD335 V


Nav. 2:05 Range flying 2:05

25 0900 AL 260 FW260 AL

WO II Hughes Nav. 2:15 Range flying 2:15

25 1600 (B-24 Liberator) T 210

EW210 T

F/L Martin Nav. 1:30 Compass swing – Loop swing. Results good (with F/L Lyon). [Bill recorded this flight below the 28 July flight in his logbook. I have repositioned it in the correct chronological order.]

1:30

28 1320 L 320 HD320 L

F/O Ardis WO II Hughes

Nav. 1:30 Formation – Vic of 3 1:30

Aug. 1944

4 0945 AH 239 FW237 AH

[See serial # notes at end.]

WO II Hughes Nav. 2:15 Radio range flying 2:15

4 1515 J 318 HD318 J

WO II Hughes Nav. 2:40 # 1 Cross Country 2:40

5 1420 J 318 HD318 J


6 2200 AT 251 FW251 AJ


WO II Hughes Nav. 1:30 Circuits & landings. [Bill recorded this flight below the 16 August flight in his logbook. I have repositioned it in the correct chronological order.]

1:30

8 0740 AH 237 FW237 AH


11 2240 AI 246 FW246 AI

WO II Hughes Nav. 2:00 Night bombing exercise 2:00 2:00

16 2100 AJ 251 FW251 AJ



ALL UNITS, THRU 16 AUGUST 1944

100:10 52:00


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# 5 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT, ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE

ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA DETACHMENT All flights were in B-24J / Mk VI Liberator bombers

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Fuselage

Letter Code, Serial #

(as inked by Bill)

[Expanded and/or corrected serial # & letter code given,

where known]

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

Aug. 1944

25 1450 218 EW218


W/O Reynolds W/O Hughes

Nav. 2:15 Familiarization – Local flying. Height test. 2:15

26 0945 AJ 281 EW281 AJ

F/O Sherk W/O Hughes

Nav. 1:30 Formation – Vic of 5 1:30

27 1340 AJ 281 EW281 AJ

F/O Johnson W/O Hughes

Nav. 2:45 Emergencies – Local & solo flying 2:45

29 1415 AJ 281 EW281 AJ

W/O Hughes Nav. 3:00 Formation 3:00

Sept. 1944

4 1415 F 133 EW132 F ? EW133 R?


W/O Hughes Nav. 3:05 Day Cross Country Ex # 101 – Bombing 3:05

8 1215 H 135 EW135 H

W/O Hughes Nav. 5:10 Cross Country Ex # 106 – Bombing 5:10

10 1100 J 136 EW136 J

W/O Hughes Nav. 8:10 4 [?] Cross Country Ex # 103 – Bombing 8:10

12 1055 G 134 EW134 G

W/O Hughes Nav. 4:00 2 [?] Cross Country – No bombing on account of WX – Diverted to Boundary Bay.

4:00

13 2045 R 133 EW133 R? EW132 F ?


W/O Hughes Nav. 3:30 1 [?] Night X-Country Ex # 110. Bombing. 3:30

14 2215 T 210 EW210 T

W/O Hughes Nav. 5:30 2 Night X-Country Ex # 108. Bombing. 5:30

17 2040 K 137 EW137 K

W/O Hughes Nav. 7:00 3 Night X-Country Ex # 109. No carrier – No bombs – No panel.

7:00

FLYING SUMMARY FOR # 5 O.T.U:

Boundary Bay, B-25 Mitchell 26:35 7:45

Abbotsford, B-24 Liberator 29:55 16:00

TOTAL # 5 O.T.U. 56:30 23:45


ALL UNITS, THRU 30 SEPT. 1944

130:05 68:00


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TRANSIT FROM CANADA TO INDIA (ATLANTIC CROSSING) All legs of the journey were flown in B-24J / Mk VI Liberator KH392

8 – 13 November 1944

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Serial #

(as inked by Bill)

[There was no fuselage letter code

on this Liberator yet.]

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

Nov. 1944

8

0900

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Delivery & Reinforce-ment Nav.

Dorval to Kindley Field (Bermuda)

4:20

8

2300

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Same – Nav.

Kindley Field to Lagens (Azores)

10:40

10

0900

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Same – Nav.

Lagens – Rabat Sale (N. Africa)

6:40

11

1100

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Same – Nav.

Rabat Sale – Castel Benito (Tripoli)

5:45

11

2230

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Same – Nav.

Castel Benito – Cairo West (Egypt)

5:00

12

0830

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Same – Nav.

Cairo West – Shaiba (Iraq)

5:05

13

0730

KH392

Capt. Hoover RAFTC,

W/O Hughes

Same – Nav.

Shaiba – Karachi (India).

6:45

TOTAL FLYING TIME

FOR TRANSIT TRIP

28:35

15:40


ALL UNITS, THRU 13 NOV. 1944

158:40

83:40


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355 SQUADRON, ROYAL AIR FORCE, SALBANI, WEST BENGAL, INDIA All flights were in B-24J / Mk VI Liberator bombers

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Serial #

& Fuselage

Letter Code

(as inked by Bill)


where known]

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

Dec. 1944

6 [7?]

1000 KG882 P

F/L Brown Passenger on search

Search (echelon of 4). 1 engine failed, turned back.

3:20

8 1615 EV926 V


S/L Giles W/O Hughes

Navigator Local flying. Circuits & landings. 1:20

10 1900 EW162 X

or V ? [See serial # notes

at end.]

S/L Giles W/O Hughes

Navigator Night local flying. Circuits and landings. 2:00

11 1005 EW162 X


at end.]

W/O Hughes Navigator Cross country (not formation). Uneventful. 5:30

14 1045 EV815 Y

W/O Hughes Navigator Delivery of aircraft to Cawnpore Depot. 3:30

14 1610 EW162 X


at end.]

P/O Hawke 2nd Nav., Assist. 1st

Nav.

Return from Cawnpore to Salbani. 2:35

16 0830 EV815 Y

W/O Hughes Navigator Formation cross country. Sym. [simulated?] bombing. Four squadrons – boxes of four.

9:55 4:00

19 1140 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Cross country (the snow route). Fuel consumption test.

4:10

21 0615 KG882 P

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Base to Taungup. # 3 in # 3 box – S/L Stewart – Lead. 4 – 1000 lb and 8 – 500 lb bombs. Successful. [Op # 1]

7:10

28 0905 EV921 W

F/L Brown W/O Hughes

Navigator Low level bombing practice. 20 bombs (11½ lb) – Success. Camera experiment.

2:40

29 0900 KH210 R

W/O Hughes F/L Brown

Navigator Low level bombing practice. 30 bombs (11½ lb) – Success. Camera experiment.

3:10


13

Dec. 1944

29 1610 EW162 V

or X ? [See serial # notes

at end.]

W/O Hughes Navigator Air test. Local area. :45


ALL UNITS, THRU 31 DEC. 1944

202:45 89:40

Jan. 1945

3 1045 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Cross country (the snow route) and consumption test (Mt. Everest etc.).

3:45

4 0935 EV815 Y

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Base – Anankwin (Burma) [Burma-Siam Railway]]. S/L Giles leader - # 3 pos'n – 5000 lb bombs – Successful. [Op # 2]

9:00 2:30

8 0930 EW162 X


at end.]

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Base – Mile 41 Burma Siam Railway – Railway smashed – 5000 lb bombs. [Op # 3]

9:00 2:45

13 0910 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Mandalay – Transit area smashed – Good air cover – 8000 lbs (4 – 1000). [Op # 4]

7:45

16 0930 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Zyatkwin Field [Zayatkwin Airfield, near] Rangoon. Good air cover. 8000 lbs – Lots of cloud. [Op # 5]

8:10

19 1520 EV815 Y

G/C Edwards "VC DFC DSO"

W/O Hughes

Navigator A.S.I. calibration & local flying. Lib familiarization for G/C Edwards "VC".

1:30

22 0555 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Combined operation – Ramree Island invasion – 10,250 lbs bombs – Very successful. [Op # 6]

6:25

25 0835 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Mandalay marshalling yard operation. 6000 lbs of bombs – Box barrages of flak. Successful trip. [Op # 7]

7:30


ALL UNITS, THRU 31 JAN. 1945

255:50 94:55

Feb. 1945

3 0855 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – First bombing of Jumbhorn – Marshalling yards – Kra Peninsula – Vics of 3 – All 9 bombs (4500 lb) on railway line – Good trip in every way – No cloud on target. [Op # 8]

10:00 4:35

5 0840 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Maday – N.E. of Mandalay. 6000 lbs of 500 lb bombs – Target was stores area – Good pattern on target. [Op # 9]

7:25

6 1715 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator A.S.I. calibration – Compass swing – Loop swing.

1:25

11 0930 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Rangoon – Victoria Lake dumps. Damaged wing from 2 attacks by Tony – 8500 lbs bombs – Accurate heavy A.A. – Good fighter cover. [Op # 10]

8:45

12 1230 EW962 W

Probably EV962 V [See serial # notes

at end.]

W/O Hughes Navigator Army co-operation – Gun position (150 mm) on hill feaure S.W. of Mandalay 2152 North 9536 East – 9500 lbs – Good pattern on the target. [Op #.11]

7:25


14

Feb. 1945

16 0105 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Compass swing and air test :15

17 0815 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Pyinmina Airfield – 10,000 lb of bombs – Weather perfect – To make runway U/S – Bombs fell 4 yards off target. [Op # 12]

7:55

20 0740 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Japanese H.Q. – S.E. of Mandalay –10,000 lbs bombs – Target was obliterated – Weather good. [Op # 13]

7:20

22 0815 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Guns situated in large white pagoda 5 miles N.W. Sagaing & S.W. Mandalay. Target pranged – 10,000 lbs bombs – Vics of 4. [Op # 14]

7:15

24 0805 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Myingyan – On the Irrawaddy south of Mandalay & Sagaing – 10,000 lbs of bombs on stores and H.Q. – Smoke to 7000 ft – Good trip. [Op # 15]

7:10

28 1125 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator First bombing of Korhat marshalling yards, Siam. 2300 mile round trip – Target clear of weather. 4500 lb bombs on yards and engine sheds – Astro good. [Op # 16]

7:10 6:00


ALL UNITS, THRU 28 FEB. 1945

327:55 105:30

Mar. 1945

2 1900 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Bangkok – Makasin [Makasan] railway shops and marshalling yards – Coned by searchlights 3000' – 6000 lbs bombs – Light and heavy flak. [Op # 17]

13:50

7 0820 EV962 V

W/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Docks at Martaban – 6000 lbs N.I.T.I. bombs – Pranged ball turret – Had to land with it down – Not a scratch – Heavy flak extremely accurate from Moulmein nearby. [Op # 18]

10:00


ALL UNITS, THRU 31 MARCH 1945

337:55 119:20

CERTIFIED 1 DINGHY & 1 PARACHUTE DRILL CARRIED OUT IN MARCH

Apr. 1945

2 1050 KH210 R

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Kaeng Khoi R.R. yards, Siam. Experiment "gaggle" operation – No bomb bay fuel tanks – 2 rendezvous points – Target truly pranged – Dusk attack. [Op # 19]

8:00 5:40

5 0810 EV962 V

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Rangoon – Victoria Lake dumps. 6000 lbs bombs – Group formation – Target well hit – Vic leader – 3 aircraft. [Op # 20]

8:45

CERTIFIED 1 DINGHY AND 1 PARACHUTE DRILL CARRIED [ out in April ]


ALL UNITS, THRU 5 APRIL 1945

354:40 125:00


15

159 SQUADRON (PFF), ROYAL AIR FORCE, DIGRI, WEST BENGAL, INDIA All flights on 159 Squadron through 17 July 1945 were in B-24J / Mk VI Liberator bombers.

All flights after 17 July were in B-24L / Mk VIIIs with one exception: 4 July, (a B-24J / Mk VI – either KL 491 R or KH 399 R).

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Serial #

& Fuselage

Letter Code

(as inked by Bill)


where known]

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

Apr. 1945

9 1645 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Salboni [Salbani] Bombing Range. Practice bombing – 8 bombs.

2.00

10 1700 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Salboni [Salbani] Bombing Range. Practice bombing – 8 bombs. Forced down at Salbani.

1:00

11 2130 EV901 F


P/O Hughes Navigator Salboni [Salbani] Bombing Range Practice bombing – 12 bombs.

2:40

12 1120 EW118 K


2:30

14 1615 EW118 K


1:15

16 1500 EW118 K


2:45

17 1015 EV905 A


2:20

18 1140 KH116 C

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Mine laying – Mergui. Abortive due to weather over target. [Op # 21]

6:30 6:45

19 1515 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Salboni [Salbani] Range – Bad WX – Recall. Practice bombing – 4 bombs.

1:20


ALL UNITS, THRU 30 APRIL 1945

374:20 134:25

May 1945

1 0410 EW982 D

EV918 D [See serial # notes

at end.]

P/O Hughes Navigator P.F.F. Main force – Gun positions on Rangoon River . Preceding combined operations – Bad cloud conditions. [Op # 22]

8:30 2:00

7 1035 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Mine laying – Victoria Point. Successful and smooth trip (WX good). [Op # 23]

8:10 6:30

11 11 KH324 J

KH364 J [See serial # notes

at end.]

F/O Mitchell

Navigator Mine laying – Prachuab Ghirikan, Siam. 4 mines – large storm on return track – Successful trip. [Op # 24]

8:00 6:00


16

May 1945

13 0640 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Bridge at Ban Tak Kam. Low level dive bombing – WX good. Very good trip – Bridge toppled into river and broken up – Three spans. [Op # 25]

11:00 4:40

19 0845 KH324 F

P/O Hughes Navigator Practice bombing – Salboni [Salbani] Range. Bombsight U/S – ASI Calibration.

1:25

20 1220 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Mine laying – Fell Passage – Successful. WX closed in – Forced down at Akyab, Burma – Lack of fuel – Carried out at 500' or less most of the way. [Op # 26]

7:20 5:00

21 0700 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Return – Akyab to base. Uneventful. 2:25

25 0600 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Mine laying – Kisseraing Channel – Good trip carried out mostly at 400' due to WX – Diverted to Dhubalia on return. [Op # 27]

13:50

26 1100 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Dhubalia to base. Return from diversion. :40

28 1300 EW118 K

P/O Dennett Navigator Medium level practice bombing. A.S.I. calibration.

2:45

29 0200 KH324 F

P/O Hughes Navigator Medium level practice bombing. 1:50

30 1050 EW118 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Naval vessels – Deep water anchorage – Sitahip [Satahib Bay], Siam – Bombsight power U/S over target – Missed our target (sub depot ship) by less than 100 yards. Heavy and light flak – Good nav trip. [Op # 28]

8:45 6:00


ALL UNITS, THRU 31 MAY 1945

450:00 163:35

June 1945

2 1200 KH364 J

P/O Hughes Navigator Base – Ramree Island – Crew pickup 2:30

3 07:00 KH364 J

P/O Hughes Navigator Ramree Island to base – Bad WX 2:50

5 06:00 EV981 D

P/O Hughes Navigator Mining Meklohng River – 3 mines. Returned to base with mines due to WX over Kra Isthmus. [Op # 29]

11:50

8 06:00 EV981 D

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Army co-op – Bilin, Burma near Moulmein – 5200 lb of 20 lb frag anti personnel bombs. [Op # 30]

9:25

12 07:00 EW173 B

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation – Army co-op – Alugale near Bilin – 7000 lb of bombs – Returned with load due to bad weather. [Op # 31]

5:40

17 09:00 EV981 D

P/O Hughes Navigator Base – Allahabad – Base – Mail & document delivery – Picked up repat airman with immediate boat posting.

5:00

20 05:00 KL677 X

F/O Dowding, P/O Hughes

Passenger Base to Delhi – H2X test flight. Also proceeding on leave.

4:45


ALL UNITS, THRU 30 JUNE1945

492:00 163:35


17

July 1945

4 1500 R KH399 R or KL491 R

? [See serial # notes

at end.]

F/L Ellis Passenger Alipore to base :40

10 0600 KL684 K

P/O Hughes Navigator (screen)

Operation – Mine laying – Bangkok River – Abortive due to weather. [Op # 32]

4:40

12 1600 KL660 M

P/O Hughes Navigator Digri to Akyab with ground crew. Proceeding on detachment.

2:30

STILL WITH RAF 159 SQUADRON (PFF), BUT OPERATING FROM AKYAB, BURMA All flights in B-24L / Mk VIII Liberators

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Serial #

& Fuselage

Letter Code

(as inked by Bill)

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

July 1945

15 0540 KL684 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Operation to Singora, Siam – Shipping strike – Stores and jetties – Bags of straffing – Very successful trip. [Op # 33]

13:35

17 0540 KL684 K

P/O Hughes Navigator # 2 Dive bombing. Operation to Singora – Stores area. Bombs dead on target – Straffed and sunk 80' Coaster. [Op # 34]

13:10

21 0540 KL684 K

P/O Hugues Navigator # 3 Dive bombing. Operation to Singora (Siam). Godowns and stores – Jettisoned 11 bombs into roof of target – Demolished – Straffed M/T on 9 miles of road – Hit 7 – 1 blew up. [Op # 35]

12:40

23 1500 KL684 K

S/L Stroud P/O Hughes

Navigator Akyab to base – From detach [detachment]. 2:40

26 1000 KL683 F

S/L Watson F/L Owens

Navigator Base to Jessore – Carrying baggage and crew on detachment.

:45

STILL WITH RAF 159 SQUADRON (PFF), BUT ATTACHED TO

358 SQUADRON (SD), ROYAL AIR FORCE, JESSORE, INDIA All flights in B-24L / Mk VIII Liberators

Month

& Year

Day

Time

Up

Serial #

& Fuselage

Letter Code

(as inked by Bill)

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

July 1945

26 1500 KL661 T

P/O Hughes Navigator Practice supply dropping :35

28 0800 KL683 F

P/O Hughes Navigator S.D. ops to French Indo China. D.Z. covered by cloud – 8000' alt. – D.N.C.O. [Op # 36]

9:25

30 0630 KL683 F

P/O Hughes Navigator S.D. ops to French Indo China. D.Z. clear – 3 runs – D.C.O. Very successful trip. [Op # 37]

12:05


18

Aug. 1945

3 0620 KL683 F

P/O Hughes Navigator S.D. ops to Toungoo area, Burma. D.Z. in mts [mountains] covered with 10/10 cloud. 2 hrs attempting to get in (target area). [Op # 38]

9:00

4 1030 KL683 F

P/O Hughes Navigator Jessore to base – With ground crew and baggage – From detach.

:45

RETURNED [from Jessore, India] TO DIGRI [India] AUG. 4, 1945.


ALL UNITS, THRU 4 AUG. 1945

575:10 163:35

FIRST OPERATIONAL TOUR COMPLETED AUG 4, 1945

ON 355 AND 159 SQUADRONS R.A.F.

SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES LIBERATORS – INDIA !

355 SQUADRON DEC 2, 1944 – APRIL 8, 1945:

DAY NIGHT TOTAL

OPERATIONAL HOURS 152:10 35:20 187:30

NON-OP. HOURS. 43:50 6:00 49:50

TOTAL, DAY HOURS 196:00

TOTAL, NIGHT HOURS 41:20

TOTAL SORTIES 19 1 20

159 SQUADRON APRIL 8, 1945 – AUGUST 4, 1945:

DAY NIGHT TOTAL

OPERATIONAL HOURS 173:35 36:55 210:30

NON-OP. HOURS. 46:55 1:40 48:35

TOTAL, DAY HOURS 220:30

TOTAL, NIGHT HOURS 38:35

TOTAL SORTIES 18 18

HOURS FLOWN DURING FIRST TOUR:

DAY NIGHT TOTAL

TOTAL HOURS 416:30 79:55 496:25

NUMBER OF SORTIES 37 1 38

TOTAL OPERATIONAL HOURS 325:45 72:15 398:00


19

RAF 159 SQUADRON (PFF), DIGRI, WEST BENGAL, INDIA First tour previously completed; all new flying hours were non-operational.

All flights in B-24L / Mk VIII Liberators.

Month &

Year

Day

Time

Up

Serial #

& Fuselage

Letter Code

(as inked by Bill)

Pilot

Duty

Remarks

Hrs.

(day)

Hrs.

(night)

Aug. 1945

29 1020 KL653 C

S/L Watson Passenger Base to Calcutta (Alipore) :40

Sept. 1945

3 1330 KL684 K

P/O Hughes Navigator Base – Jessore – Base. S.D. Load pickup. 1:40

5 1300 KN759 U


7 1000 KN812 Q


9 1100 KN807 L


10 1330 KL683 F


13 0900 KL677 X


15 1000 KL660 M



ALL UNITS, THRU 15 SEP. 1945

586:30 163:35

Bill Cosway's wartime flying career ended with a grand total (day and night) of 750 hours & 5 minutes airborne.

PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENTS

DATE AS NAVIGATOR AS BOMB

AIMER

AS GUNNER REMARKS UNIT CMDG. OFFICER'S

SIGNATURE

21-9-44 Above Average N/A N/A #5 O.T.U. Boundary Bay

F/L. A.L. Parnall

7-7-45 Above Average, Very Keen.

N/A N/A 355 Squadron J. Martin, W/Cmdr, Officer Commanding

355 Sqdn. R.A.F.

9-8-45 Above Average N/A N/A Is recommended for a S.N. [Staff Navigator] course. He has proved himself competent and reliable both in the air and on the ground and has completed a good tour of opps.

159 Squadron L. Ercolani, W/C

Bill's logbook has no further entries.


20

List of troublesome B-25 Mitchell and B-24 Liberator serial numbers

found in Bill's logbook, with errors and discrepancies analyzed

The Avro Anson serials have not been analyzed.

5 OTU B:25 reference:

RAF Liberator veteran Jim Fail's report "SEAC Liberator Bombers in Far East, 5 OTU RCAF – 231 Group RAF SEAC" ( pdf file on Robert Quirk's website: http://www.rquirk.com/seac.html )

Main Liberator references:

"The Liberator in Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Service"

by James D. Oughton with John Hamlin and Andrew Thomas (Air-Britain, 2007)

Royal Air Force 159 Squadron Operations Record Book

NOTE: With all due respect to the authors for their tremendous and valuable efforts, I have found contradictions and sometimes obvious errors within the Oughton and Fail sources. I do not, therefore, have complete confidence in my solutions to serial number problems

based primarily upon the Oughton and Fail references.

B-25 MITCHELL SERIAL NUMBER PROBLEMS:

Aircraft ID

(fuselage letter code,

then 3-digit

partial serial number),

as written by Bill;

Date of logbook entry

Correct

Serial #

&

Fuselage

Letter Code

Aircraft

Type

&

Model

RCAF or

RAF Unit

where

flown by

Bill

COMMENTS

AH 239

4 Aug 1944

FW237

AH

Mitchell B-25D (Mk II)

5 OTU

This is a 4 Aug 1944 logbook error. Per Jim Fail's research, the letter code AH was given to

aircraft FW237. This ties in perfectly with Bill's own 8 Aug 1944 logbook entry of AH 237. Of the

seventy B-25 Mitchells assigned to 5 OTU, not one had 239 in the serial number.

AT 251

6 Aug 1944

FW251 AJ

Mitchell B-25D (Mk II)

5 OTU

This is a 6 Aug 1944 logbook error. Jim Fail has been able to link letter codes to only some of

the seventy B-25s at 5 OTU; he has not matched the AT letter code to a specific B-25. However,

per Jim's research, 251 corresponds to FW251 of 5 OTU. This ties in perfectly with Bill's own 16

Aug 1944 entry of AJ 251.


21

B-24 LIBERATOR SERIAL NUMBER PROBLEMS / SELECTED CLARIFICATION:

Aircraft ID,

as written by Bill;

Date of logbook entry

Correct

Serial #

& Fuselage

Letter Code

Aircraft

Type

&

Model

RCAF or

RAF Unit

where

flown by

Bill

COMMENTS

EV901 F 11 Apr 1945

Correct,

as is.

Liberator B-24J

(Mk VI )

159 Sqn

No logbook error. Further clarification: Per Oughton, EV901 was F with 1673 HCU as of 20

March 1944, and then F with 6 RFU as of 8 Nov 1944. Oughton gives no EV901 link to 159 Squadron. However, 1673 and 6 RFU were stationed at Kolar, India – far from 159 Sqn in Digri,

West Bengal, India. I have found no operational flying record for EV901 in the official 159 Sqn records; practice flights were not recorded in 1945 when Bill was on the squadron. In addition to

Bill’s 159 Sqn-linked flight aboard EV901, I have located one other airman’s logbook reference to

a flight aboard EV901 while assigned to 159 Sqn: a 30 minute non-operational transit flight from Digri (159’s base) to Dhalbhumgarh on 30 March 1945 by flight engineer L. Myland. This was 12

days before Bill’s one flight aboard EV901. It is possible that EV901 was not truly a 159 Squadron aircraft, at least not for ops. Perhaps it was on strength with 159 Squadron for only a

brief time. The logbook of air gunner R. Norton lists one training flight in EV901 on 30 June 1945 while he was posted to 6 RFU.

EV921 W 28 Dec 1944

Correct,

as is.

Liberator B-24J

(Mk VI )

355 Sqn

No logbook error. Further clarification: Oughton says that 355 Sqn's EV921 was letter code

D, named Dauntless Donald. Per Jim Fail's RAF Lib research, D was EV921 (aircraft name not given). However, both Bill’s logbook and that of Roy Hill, his fellow 355 Sqn navigator, show that

EV921 was W on 355 Sqn before becoming D. Hill’s recording of EV921 being W dates to 18

Dec 1944, ten days before Bill’s W entry. Hill’s logbook, several months later, record flights in

the same EV921 on 355 Sqn, but by this time the aircraft was coded D.

EV926 V 8 Dec 1944

Correct,

as is.

Liberator B-24J

(Mk VI )

355 Sqn

No logbook error. Further clarification: Bill's logbook records only the one flight in EV926 V

on 8 Dec 1944. Starting on 19 Dec 1944, he records many subsequent flights in EV962 V (his

trusty "Earthquake McGoon"). The Oughton book lists 355 Squadron for both EV926 and

EV962, and also gives each a V code. The logbook of fellow 355 Sqn airman Roy Hill, like Bill,

lists one flight aboard EV926 V, on 11 Dec 1944 – three days after Bill’s flight. The evidence,

then, points to the V code being assigned first to EV926, but then, between 11 Dec and 19 Dec

1944, to another 159 Sqn Liberator, EV962.

133 F 4 Sept 1944

133 R

13 Sept 1944

EW132 F for

4 Sept ?

EW133 R for

13 Sept ?

Liberator B-24J

(Mk VI )

5 OTU

Discrepancy, uncertainty: There was certainly an EW132 and an EW133 Liberator on strength

with 5 OTU. Bill recorded one flight in 133 F, and one flight in 133 R; there is a likely error. The

Oughton book, pg. 162, says that EW132 was F of 5 OTU, and that EW133 was also a 5 OTU aircraft with an unknown letter code. Jim Fail's data agrees with Oughton's. Despite his

extensive 5 OTU research, Jim has been unable to link an R code to any individual 5 OTU

Liberator. If EW132 was F, as per Oughton and Fail, then EW133 might very well have been R. I am assuming, for the time being, that:

On 4 Sept 1944 Bill erroneously wrote 133 F. He must have meant either 132 F (for

Liberator EW132 F) or 133 R (for Liberator EW133 R); the truth is lacking.

On 13 Sept 1944 Bill accurately wrote 133 R for Liberator EW133 R.


22

EW162 V

29 Dec 1944

EW162 X 10, 11, 14 Dec 1944

8 Jan 1945

Almost

certainly

EW162 X

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

355 Sqn

Probable logbook error on 29 Dec 1944: The Oughton book says EW162 was X, not V.

EW162 X, in which Bill flew for certain three other times in Dec 1944 (on the 10th, 11th, and

14th), is likely the correct code. Jim Fail has no information on EW162.

218

25 Aug 1944

AJ 281 26, 27, 29 Aug 1944

EW218 U ?

EW218 A ?

EW281 AJ ?

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

5 OTU

Discrepancy, uncertainty: The problem is with Bill’s incomplete 218 serial, not his AJ 281

notations. Each definitely corresponds to an EW-series Liberator of 5 OTU. Oughton and Fail

both agree that EW281 was AJ, which matches Bill's logbook perfectly for his three flights in AJ

281 in Aug 1944.

But 218? Did Bill inadvertently switched the digits, writing 218 when he meant to write 281?

Since both EW218 and EW281 were on 5 OTU at the same time (EW218 was on strength 12

May 1944, EW281 was on strength 8 June 1944), the answer is unclear.

Assuming that Bill correctly recorded 218, then what was the letter code of EW218 when Bill flew

in it: A or U? I am assuming, for the time being, that U is the answer, but the jury is out due to my lack of full confidence in the sources.

Oughton source: This book is a mess here. The individual aircraft serial listing for EW218 (p.

167) lists the letter code as U, and a photo on p. 164 of the Oughton book also identifies EW218

as U, in a group formation flight. The bottom photo on p. 82 identifies EW218 as A. The top

photo on p. 82 also has an A coded Lib but is identified as EW211. In this top caption, though,

aircraft N is also ID'd as EW211! If the bottom caption is accurate, then possibly aircraft A in the

top photo is also EW218, which, of course, contradicts the U code info on pgs 164 and 167. On the other hand, given the fact that individual aircraft letter codes did sometimes change at 5 OTU, and given that the photos were allegedly taken more than three weeks apart, it is also

possible that A in the top photo is a different Liberator than A in the bottom photo! [The book errs again in the year each p. 82 photo was taken – 21 March 1944 (bottom) and 12 April 1944 (top); 1945 was the year, not 1944. Not one of the photographed Libs had been taken on strength at 5 OTU until 26 April 1944, and the last of these aircraft were not on strength with 5 OTU until 1945 (probably Jan, but Oughton has 28 May 1945 for KH288!). My guess: the dates of the photos were 21 March 1945 and 12 April 1945. Ugh! Jim Fail dates the bottom photo to March 1945; see below.]

Fail Source: EW218 was U, per Jim's research. Also, a photo on p. 6 shows EW281 AJ. This is a cropped version of Oughton's p. 82 bottom photo, but Jim dates the photo to March 1945, not 1944.

EW962 W

12 Feb 1945

EV962 V

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

355 Sqn

Definite logbook error. Per Oughton, EW serials for RAF Liberators only went as high as 634;

there was never a Liberator coded EW962. Certainly Bill twice wrote W instead of the correct V

for his 12 Feb 1945 flight in EV962 V, his crew's trusty "Earthquake McGoon".


23

EW982 D

1 May 1945

EV981 D

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

159 Sqn

Definite logbook error: Per Oughton, EW serials for RAF Liberators only went up to 634; there

was never a Liberator coded EW982. 159 Sqn records clearly show that Bill actually flew in

EV981 D on 1 May 1945, the date on which Bill penned EW982 D in his logbook. The Oughton

book says that EV981 was coded D, which is in agreement with 159 Sqn's records. And Bill

recorded three other flights in EV981 D : 5, 8, and 17 June 1945. On 1 May Bill simply miswrote

V as W and 981 as 982.

KH324 J

11 May 1945

KH364 J

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

159 Sqn

Definite logbook error: The 159 Sqn portion of Bill's logbook lists two non-op flights in KH324

F (19 and 29 May 1945) and two non-op flights in KH364 J (2 and 3 June 1945). 159 Sqn's

surviving records show that KH324 F and KH364 J participated on the 11 May 1945 op, but not

KH324 J. The Oughton book lists KH324 as F and KH364 as J, in agreement with 159 Sqn

records and with Bill's logbook entries for his KH324 and KH364 flights (excluding 11 May 1945).

Jim Fail's data makes no reference to either KH324 or KH364. Without a doubt, then, Bill's 11 May 1945 logbook entry was in error and should have been

KH364 J.

KH392

8 to 13 Nov 1944

Correct, as

is

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

[not

indicated]

General note of explanation: No logbook error. KH392 did not carry a fuselage code when Bill and his crew delivered it to India, as it had not yet joined a squadron.

R

4 July 1945

Probably

KH399 R

or

KL491 R

Liberator

B-24J (Mk VI )

159 Sqn

Logical guess, but uncertain: KH399 R or KL491 R. Bill recorded only an R letter code, with

no serial number, for this non-operational 4 July 1945 flight. This is most likely either KH399 R

or KL491 R. 159 Sqn records show that R was associated with KL491 thru 24 June 1945. The

next appearance of an R in these records was KH399 – for ops flown on 10, 27, and 29 July

1945; these were the only three times KH399 appeared in the 159 records. The next R on 159

was KL655 on 7 Aug thru 12 Sept 1945; non-op flights were not listed in the 159 records. Also,

the logbook of 159 Sqn air bomber Harry Fryer lists a 10 July 1945 op aboard KH399 R, with P/O

Green as skipper, and the ORB for this op lists Green as skipper in KH399 R. Given all of this

and the fact that Bill's 4 July flight in R fell between the last recorded 159 flight of KL491 and the

first recorded 159 flight of KH399, it is not known which Lib was Bill's aircraft on 4 July.

Further muddying the picture is the Oughton book. The individual aircraft entry for KH399 lists

no 159 Sqn service. It was B of 99 Sqn (there is no date of acceptance or arrival), and then it went to 1347 Flight (its letter code is not noted; there is no date of acceptance or arrival). 1347 was an Air Sea Rescue flight formed at Argatala, India on 15 June 1945. The Oughton book's

KL491 entry says it arrived in India on 19 April 1945, became R of 159 Sqn, and crashed on a POW camp supply drop on 1 Sept 1945. Thus, at this time, the mystery serial for Bill's 4 July 1945 flight cannot be established with full certainty.


24

The Victoria Cross and Bill's logbook: two connections

On 19 Jan 1945 Bill participated as navigator for a 1 hr 30 min flight aboard Liberator EV815 Y of 355 Squadron. Aboard was Group Captain Hughie I. Edwards VC DFC DSO (his decorations at the time, per Bill's logbook entry). An Australian, G/Capt Edwards had been presented with the Victoria Cross – the British Empire's highest award for bravery against the enemy – for his leadership on a daring daylight Bristol Blenheim raid on Bremen, Germany on 4 July 1941. His VC made him only the second Australian aviator to receive such an award ( the other being in World War I ).

To quote Flt Lt Charles Patterson, a veteran who served with him:

Edwards was legendary. . .not only for what he had done, but for what a wonderful individual he was. He made a tremendous impact just by his mere presence. The quality of his leadership was elusive, indescribable. It had something to do with his presence and ability to inspire. He was very imaginative and sensitive, but he placed a premium on efficiency and made it clear that this had two purposes. One was that the target must be hit, secondly, that crews should cover every possibility that would ensure their survival. He studied the tactics of survival combined with success to a greater degree than any other wing commander with whom I came into contact. He inspired crews not by appeals to their sense of duty and purpose, but through the supreme achivement of allowing them to conquer their fear. Far from playing down fear, he brought it into the open and made conquering it the ultimate goal. I didn't find this particular approach in any other leader I came across. He made no attempt to conceal his own fear.

From "Mosquito Bomber / Fighter-Bomber Units 1942-45" by Martin Bowman (Osprey Publishing, 1997)

By 1944 Edwards had been appointed to a Senior Air Staff Officer position in South East Asia Command. On 19 Jan 1945, when Bill flew with him, Edwards was taking the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Liberator – the primary bomber for waging long-distance aerial warfare against the Japanese forces in the Far East. Australia's most decorated airman ever, Hughie Edwards died in 1982. Bill also has a link, though very tenuous, to another Victoria Cross recipient: W/Cdr Eric James Brindley Nicolson VC DFC. On 29 Dec 1944 Bill was navigator on a 355 Squadron training flight in Liberator KH210 R. This is the same aircraft in which W/Cdr Nicolson later lost his life, on 2 May 1945, as an observer on a 355 Squadron flight to Rangoon, Burma. Suffering an engine fire, KH210 R ditched in the Bay of Bengal, killing all but two aboard. Nicolson's body was never found.


25

The wording of his Victoria Cross citation:

During an engagement with the enemy near Southampton on 16th August, 1940, Flight Lieutenant Nicolson's aircraft was hit by four cannon shells, two of which wounded him whilst another set fire to the gravity tank. When about to abandon his aircraft owing to flames in the cockpit he sighted an enemy fighter. This he attacked and shot down, although as a result of staying in his burning aircraft he sustained serious burns to his hands, face, neck and legs. Flight Lieutenant Nicolson has always displayed great enthusiasm for air fighting and this incident shows that he possesses courage and determination of a high order. By continuing to engage the enemy after he had been wounded and his aircraft set on fire, he displayed exceptional gallantry and disregard for the safety of his own life.

On his parachute descent he suffered a further wound when fired upon by excited Home Guard troops below. Having recovered, Nicolson was posted to India, where he commanded 27 Squadron and flew many ops. He was the only Fighter Command recipient of the Victoria Cross.

More details on Bill Cosway's book, Earthquake McGoon: A Memoir of The "Forgotten War" in South East Asia

From the website of Trafford Publishing ( http://www.trafford.com/06-0304 ) :

142 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #06-0304; ISBN 1-4120-8548-9; US$17.35, C$19.95, EUR14.25, £9.98 A page-turning tale of a boy-to-man navigator in WWII in the Far East.

About the Book

Earthquake McGoon is the memoir of RCAF airman R214205, later Flying Officer J45098 William A. Cosway from his entry into the service as an 18-year-old on April 9, 1942, until his discharge in February of 1946, to begin a new life. He volunteered for aircrew, trained as a navigator, flew a B24 Liberator to India where, attached to 355 Squadron and subsequently 159 PFF (Pathfinder) Squadron of the Royal Air Force in Bengal, he and his crew successfully completed 38 missions of all kinds in 'The Forgotten War' in South East Asia, eight more than the mandatory 30. It gives a taste of what it was like to navigate a four-engine airplane halfway around the world using only dead reckoning and then to live in the unique conditions of an ancient, poorer and much different culture. Described is the special nature and experience of the war against the Japanese on very long, dangerous flights with his nine-man crew to poorly mapped far off places, without any electronic aids - particularly during the Monsoon season.


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Forty pictures selected from among those taken throughout his wartime service, half of them taken by his talented navigator friend Wendell W. Watters, two illustrative drawings and a number of interesting anecdotes are included in the narrative. The Epilogue, in two parts, provides details on fallen comrades now buried in a military cemetery in Rangoon Burma, together with brief synoptic information on the post-war life the author subsequently created. References, Reproductions of the Squadron Crests and a Map of the South East Asia combat area complete the memoir. If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

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