Elderly politicians run through their diaries and write their (often loaded) memoirs. Elderly pilots run through their logbooks, and from the bald entries the past comes alive.
In 1940 I was OC No 3 Ferry Pool, Air Transport Auxiliary, White Waltham.
14 June — Anson 3375, WW-Brooklands, 0.20 hours. Wellington 2466, Brooklands-Silloth, 1.50 hours. Anson 9469, Silloth-Ringway-WW, two hours.
15 June — Anson 9651, WW-Radlett, 0.25 hours. Hampden 4396, Radlett-Kirkbride.
23 June — Avro 504N G-ADBM, Christchurch-Worth Matravers.
Avro 504N? Have I slipped a war? Memory floods back. I turn a page. Avro 504N G-ADBM, Tiger Moth R5191, Avro 504N G-ADET, up to 8 July. Then, on 11 July, back to Hurricane 1973, White Waltham-Hullavington, 0.35 hours.