Enlisted at No.2 Recruiting Centre, Cardington, Beds, as Aircraftsman Second Class (AC2), mustering as Air Crew Hand/Pilot/Observer.

Placed on the Reserve list.

Called up and posted to No.1 Air Crew Reception Centre, Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London.

No.13 Initial Training Wing, Newquay, Cornwall.

Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC) on completion of Initial Training.

No.51 Group Pool, Plymouth, Devon, attached to No.7 Elementary Flying Training School, Cottesmore, Rutland.

Air Crew Despatch Centre, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Manchester.

No.1 Signals School, Flowerdown, Hants, re-mustering as U/T Navigator/Wireless Transmitter

W/T course & examination, Cranwell, Lincs.

Air Crew Despatch Centre, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Manchester.

Embarked UK for Canada (port and vessel n/k).

No.31 Personnel depot, Moncton, New Brunswick.

No.3 Air Navigation School, Port Albert, Ontario; probably for training as a Navigator.

Anson tbc

No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, ON.

Absent Without Leave (AWOL) to 21 June 1943 to get married.

Embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia for the UK (precise date and vessel tbc).

Disembarked UK (port and precise date tbc)

Air Crew Allocation (Reselection) Centre, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent.

Recommended for training as Air Gunner and demoted to AC2, re-mustering as Wireless Operator/ U/T Air Gunner.

No.4 Radio School, Madley, Herefordshire.

Dominie

Re-mustered as Wireless Operator/Air, presumably awarded WOp flying badge and promoted to Sgt (tbc).

Discharged on appointment to a Commission.

Commissioned as Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency) (London Gazette 20 Jun 1944, p2924), re-mustering as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WOp/AG).

No.3 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, 170 WOp/Air Course, Halfpenny Green, Staffordshire.

Anson

Re-Mustered as Wireless Operator (Air) (2) (WOp/Air 2)

No.28 Operational Training Unit, Wymeswold, Leics. Joins the H F Benson crew.

Wellington

No.30 Operational Training Unit, Hixon, Staffordshire.

Wellington

No.11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire, administrative HQ for No.1 Group heavy bomber conversions.

No. 1656, 1662 or 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, tbc

Halifax and/or Lancaster

Promoted to Flying Officer (War substantive) (London Gazette 06 October 1944, p4580).

No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, Lincolnshire (tbc).

Lancaster tbc

No.576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire.

Lancaster

No.156 (Pathfinder) Squadron, Upwood, Cambs, with the H F Benson crew, completing the following operations:
13 Feb 45 - Bohlen
17 Feb 45 - Wesel; Master Bomber abandoned the attack
21 Feb 45 - Worms
12 Mar 45 - Dortmund
14 Mar 45 - Homburg
15 Mar 45 - Hannover (Misburg)
16 Mar 45 - Nuremburg; attacked by Me410 and badly injured.

Lancaster

At 1812 hrs in the evening of 16 March, Lancaster PB375 took off for the attack on Nuremburg. The target was attacked at 2135 hrs from 18,000 ft but at the moment of release, the Lancaster was attacked by a Luftwaffe Me410 'Hornet'. The port outer engine and starboard elevator were hit, extensive damage caused to the aircraft's Perspex, and the DR compass rendered unserviceable. Four of the crew were wounded, including both Navigators, Fg Offs Milner and Mather, the Mid-Upper Gunner, Sgt Griffith, and Wireless Operator, Fg Off Wilson.
The gunners successfully responded to the attack and claimed a 'probable' destruction of the fighter.
Captain Fg Off Benson managed do bring the damaged Lancaster back for a safe landing at Upwood at 0157 in the morning of 17 March, and the four injured crewmen were taken immediately to the RAF Hospital at Ely.

Lancaster

No.1 Personnel Holding Unit, Innsworth, Gloucester, attached to RAF Northwood, Hertfordshire, for light duties.

Promoted to Flight Lieutenant (war substantive). No London Gazette entry found.

Air Crew Allocation Centre, Catterick, Yorkshire tbc.

Possibly ANSU or ARSU (unreadable in RAF Service Record) -possibly something to do with a Flight Refuelling course at Gamston, Nottinghamshire (tbc).

No.10 School of Technical Training, possibly at Jurby, Isle of Man (tbc), as U/T administrator.

School of Administration and Accounting, Credenhill, Hereford; administration course.

Headquarters, RAF Maintenance Command, Andover, Hampshire.

No.246 Maintenance Unit, Bicester, Oxfordshire.

No.267 Maintenance Unit, Croughton, Northamptonshire.

No.101 Personnel Disposal Centre, Kirkham, Lancashire.

Commission relinquished and honourably discharged from the Service (London Gazette, 28 July 1959).

Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public

Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public