Thoughts And Advice Needed - 50MU Diary

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Member for

13 years

Posts: 520

Good work Beermat: many would keep it all to themselves (like many a pilot's logbook) or worse still place it on Fleabay.

I have a few logbooks that I would like to scan but the time it would take using my flat bed scanner would result in a divorce. Always assuming I can find a way of making WIndows 10 accept a Twain connection.

Any thoughts on a quicker way of doing it that doesn't involve paying someone loads of money? I'm happy for people to see them but don't want to lend them out, I've been bitten that way too many times.

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 3,447

You could try photographing them - do it outdoors for best results. Maybe rig up a frame or something - maybe just weights - to hold each page down? A decent digital camera would be best, but a mobile would do it. Certainly less damaging to a marriage at - what - 5 seconds a page?

Member for

16 years

Posts: 729

You could try photographing them - do it outdoors for best results. Maybe rig up a frame or something - maybe just weights - to hold each page down? A decent digital camera would be best, but a mobile would do it. Certainly less damaging to a marriage at - what - 5 seconds a page?

Of if you've got an Android tablet or phone, try Google PhotoScan from the Google Store (it's free). It's specifically for photographing documents/photos at odd angles.

If you want to photograph them, my tip would be that if you can't do it top down, place them open on a large sheet of grid paper that extends beyond the edges of the log book. That gives anyone using something like ScanTailor a chance to correct any distortion and pull them back square.

Just use the highest quality/size setting on your camera and if you have a zoom lens, do it at a focal length of 50mm+ as it removes a lot of distortion in the final image from the wide angle affect.

(I do this stuff a lot)

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 3,447

Here it is. The typed notes at the end of part III about how best to approach specific types are worth a read from an engineering perspective as well as an historical one

I hope this link works https://1drv.ms/w/s!AmagSHTAGd0OaVASBhgxApGGH1M

Formatting is messed up by the on-line version, it's best to download it and open it locally.

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 2,004

Thanks very much for taking the trouble, Beermat. A very philanthropic action.

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 3,447

Thanks to Rosie, Jim's daughter, for allowing it.

Member for

16 years 10 months

Posts: 2,004

Fascinating stuff. Particularly having visited some of his 'jobs'. Getting the local blacksmith to fashion cross milled screwdrivers to disassemble a Hudson was especially notable.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Yes thanks for posting

"Thursday 21/1/40
First job: Fairey Battle L6065: St Brides, Nr. Cardiff"

L6065 was not a Fairey Battle Serial - I suggest it was

L5065

http://ciapoldiescorner.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/events-for-18th-january.html

" On 18th January 1940 Battle I L5065 of 7 BGS bellylanded into trees near Cardiff after its engine cut out"

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 3,447

Some of the notes were typed up in 1945 by Jim Wilson, from his own handwritten diary of the time - some wrong digits may have crept in there. I think the next job, the Hart, has the wrong serial too - but after that they seem accurate. The handwritten version that survives only goes back to June 41. Still, there is so much detail in the narrative I think Jim can be forgiven for a couple of typos.

Highlights for me are the bomber wheel caught up on a mine (Jim's assistant saying he'd work with him on it, but only if Jim would tell head office he'd volunteered. Later the bomb-disposal chap turns up to find it swinging about in a sling, still armed) and the 'hush-hush' job picking up a Spitfire PR1A (which he called a 'Blue Peter' Spitfire).

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Friday 9/2/40
Second job: Hawker Hart N9062: South Cerney.

Trying to ID this incident

N9062 was a Hereford - South Cerney was the base of 3 FTS flying Hawker Hart T1 with serials in Knnn range (and also Audax (I) India)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

The document is really interesting I just wonder if the accrued knowledge since 1945 has allowed us to fully ID various incidents

For instance the Two Blenheims at Bicester: Cat. E2. 15/2/40 will probably be 104 or 108 Sqn machines

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Saturday 24/2/40
Fouth Job: Hawker hart: Lower Chatford, Nr. Andover.
Via Avingdon, Newbury, Andover.

This will be

23.2.40 Hart T K5806 1 FTS Lower Clatford, near Andover, Hants. Flown In Ground

Member for

14 years

Posts: 1,788

Some of the notes were typed up in 1945 by Jim Wilson, from his own handwritten diary of the time - some wrong digits may have crept in there. I think the next job, the Hart, has the wrong serial too - but after that they seem accurate. The handwritten version that survives only goes back to June 41. Still, there is so much detail in the narrative I think Jim can be forgiven for a couple of typos.

Highlights for me are the bomber wheel caught up on a mine (His assistant saying he'd work with Jim on it, but only if Jim would tell head office he'd volunteered, and the bomb-disposal chap turning up to find they already had it swinging about in a sling, still armed), and the 'hush-hush' job picking up a Spitfire PR1A (which he called a 'Blue Peter' Spitfire).

These notes would be a very good basis for a very interesting book. Ever thought of it?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Sixth job: Hawker Hart: Rudder Townsend Farm, Devizes.

Suggest..

21.2.40 Hart T K4768 1 FTS Devizes, Wilts. FHG

I suggest the pilot of this aircraft was F/O Basil Allen Mortimer who was killed in Devices on this date

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Monday 4/3/40

Seventh job: Miles Magister: Horton Nr. Slough.

27.2.40 Magister I N3839 5 EFTS Horton, Bucks. FIG

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Tuesday 12/3/40.
Ninth Job: Fairey Battle: Bryn Berion, Prescelly.

26.2.40 Battle I K7688 9 BGS Prescelly Hills, near Carnbica, 8m S of Cardigan CFL

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Thursday 4/4/40
Eleventh job: Hawker Hart: Theddingworth, Nr. Market Harborough.

29.3.40 Hart T K5798 3 FTS Theddingworth, Leics. CFL

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Tuesday 9/4/40.
Twelth job: Hawker Audax: Hullavington.

3.4.40 Audax I K5601 9 FTS Hullavington COA

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Friday 10/5/40.
Eighteenth job: Hampden: Soldern, Nr. Fritwell.

5.5.40 Hampden I P1251 16 OTU Fritwell, Oxon. CTO

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,598

Tuesday 14/5/40.
Twentieth job: Oxford: Lew, Nr. Heyford.
Almost certainly this one
12.5.40 Oxford I P1964 2 FTS near Tew, Oxon. SIG