Flight Lieutenant E. J. Bingham
C21473
of
THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
1940 to 1946
Index
Training in Canada ........................................................................................................................... 2
Preparation for India ........................................................................................................................... 8
India ........................................................................................................................... 9
Operations ........................................................................................................................... 11
End of Operations. ............................................................................................................................ 12
The Journey Home ............................................................................................................................ 13
Summary ............................................................................................................................ 14
Rank ........................................................................................................................... 14
Service Record ........................................................................................................................... 14
Aircraft ........................................................................................................................... 15
Records and Qualifications ................................................................................................................... 16
Certificates of Qualification as First Pilot .......................................................................................... 17
The C47 (DC3) ............................................................................................................................ 18
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 19
Notes ............................................................................................................................ 20
Earning His Wings
Training in Canada
LAC Ernie Bingham R72421 enlisted in The Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1940
Brandon, Manitoba
Manning Depot
September 1940
Regina, Saskatchtewan
I.T.S.
October/November 1940
Achievement:
Graduated
The class before Ernie’s was told they were to become bomber crew not pilots, and trashed the place
Mount Hope, Ontario
#10 - E.F.T.S.
November 17th 1940
Single Engine Aircraft:
LAC R2421 Ernie Bingham
G Flight #3 Group was introduced to single engine aircraft instruction by the Hamilton Flying Training School Limited
Aircraft Flown:
- Fleet Finch
- De Havilland Tiger Moth
Achievements:
- soloed in 14 hours 55 minutes December 23rd 1940
- completed his solo cross country January 03rd 1941 in the Tiger Moth
Total Initial Tanning Hours - 29 hours 10 minutes
Branford, Ontario
#5 - S.F.T.S.
January 13th 1941
Multi Engine Aircraft:
Service flying introduction course
Aircraft Flown:
- Avro Anson
Achievements:
- soloed on the Avro Anson January 25th 1941
- qualified to carry passengers in an Avro Anson February 27th 1941
Picton, Ontario
Conversion Training Squadron R.C.A.F.
April 10th 1941
Aircraft Flown:
- North American Yale NA 64
- North American Harvard
- Fairey Battle
Rivers, Manitoba
#1 Air Navigation School R.C.A.F.
June 03rd 1941
Aircraft Flown:
- Avro Anson
Achievements:
- navigation, day and night
- June 23rd was reprimanded for making an emergency landing in a farmer’s field
- trained Navigators and bombardiers
Duty ended October 16th 1941
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Communications and Ferry Flight #2 T.C.
October 20th 1941
Aircraft Flown:
- Cessna Crane
- De Havilland Tiger Moth
- Airspeed Oxford
- North American Harvard
- Avro Anson
Duty ended October 31st 1941
Rivers, Manitoba
#1 Air Navigation School R.C.A.F.
November 2nd 1941
Aircraft Flown:
- Avro Anson
Achievements:
- trained Navigators and Bombardiers
- testing Navigators, by getting them slightly disorientated
Duty ended March 20th 1942
Rockcliffe, Ontario
#124 Ferry Squadron R.C.A.F.
Air Force Head Quarters
March 25th 1942
Aircraft Flown:
- Airspeed Oxford I
- Fairey Battle
- Handley Page Hampden
- Avro Anson II
- Avro Anson I
- Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk IV
- De Havilland Tiger Moth
- Cessna Crane
- Fairchild Cornell
- North American Harvard
- Noorduyn Norseman
- Fleet Finch
- Consolidated PBY 5 (Water)
Duty ended October 6th 1942
Kelly Beach, North Sydney, Nova Scotia
#117 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron,
operating out of North Sydney, The Gaspe and Dartmouth
October 12th 1942
Aircraft Flown:
- Consolidated PBY 5
Achievements:
- W.O. 2
- qualify for the Consolidated PBY 5 (Water)
- qualified Captain, day flying, Canso aircraft effective October 16th 1942
- participated in anti - submarine patrols in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Duty ended October 17th 1942
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
#5 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron
October 20th 1942
Aircraft Flown:
- Consolidated PBY A (Land)
Achievements:
- qualified on the Consolidated PBY A (Land)
Duty ended October 24th 1942
Rockcliffe, Ontario
#124 Ferry Squadron R.C.A.F.
October 29th 1942
Aircraft Flown:
- Avro Anson I – II - III – IV - V
- North American Harvard 2B
- Airspeed Oxford I – IV – V
- Handley Page Hampden
- Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk XV - XX
- Consolidated Canso A (Land)
- De Havilland Tiger Moth
- Cessna Crane
- Noorduyn Norseman (Floats)
- Grumman Goose IA
- Beechcraft Expeditor II A
Achievements:
During this period when Ernie was grounded due to bad weather he practiced radio ranging.
This was to prove to be life saver.
This training came in handy when on a ferry flight from the West Coast of Canada, east. Two
higher ranking pilots who decided to fly the aircraft. The flight was at night, the aircraft, a
Consolidated PBY.
While the flight was over the Canadian Rockies, one of the pilots came back to the navigators
station where Ernie was.
They were lost.
Up to this point in the flight Ernie had been taking their position using radio ranging.
Ernie delayed telling the pilots he knew their position.
After letting them sweat a bit, informed them of the planes position.
Duty ended February 23rd 1944
RCAF Station
St. Hubert’s, Quebec
March 30th 1944
Aircraft Flown and Achievements:
C21473 F/O Ernest Bingham was qualified to fly as first pilot in the following types of aircraft:
- Noorduyn Norseman (Land and Water)
- Grumman Goose 1A
- Beechcraft Expeditor C.45
- Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke XV – XX
Debert, Nova Scotia
#31 O.T.U
May 25th 1944
Aircraft Flown:
- De Haviland Mosquito Mk III
Achievements:
- soloed on May 31st 1944
- May 30th 1944 F/O E.J. Bingham was qualified at this unit to fly Mosquito aircraft, day
only
- instructed and understood fully:
*the fuel and oil systems
*the hydraulic and the pneumatic systems
*the operation and emergency operation of the flaps and undercarriage of the Mosquito aircraft
- after qualifying on the Mosquito Ernie was assigned to deliver aircraft from Malton, Ontario to Scoudouc, New Brunswick
Ernie had a training experience with an instructor coming in for a landing in a Mosquito Aircraft.
The dual controls on the aircraft would only function, in one mode.
The instructor had the flight controls and Ernie had the throttle.
This was a little exciting as the Mosquito lands at 120 mph.
The landing was successful.
Transferred from #124 Ferry Squadron to #34 Transport Conversion Training Squadron August 7th 1944
Total Time on all types - 2014 hours 30 minutes
Preparation for India
Training
Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick
#34 Transport Conversion Training Squadron
August 9th 1944
Aircraft Flown:
Dakota C-47 (DC3)
Achievements:
Qualified in - 15 hours 15 minutes
Duty ended August 12th 1944
India
Travel
August 12th - October 11th 1944
- traveled by ship to England then to India
Aircraft Flown:
Dakota C-47 (DC3)
Achievements:
- first flight, in India was with 435 Squadron RCAF, at Gujrat
October 12th until October 19th orientation flights were taken around India
Duty ended October 20th 1944
Training
Chaklala, India
T.S.T.U.
October 21st 1944
Aircraft Flown:
Dakota C-47 (DC3)
Achievements:
- circuits and bumps with his crew, Co-pilot, F/L Buck Tamblyn and Navigator, F/O Ted Harris
- loaded landings on instruments (Day)
- loaded landings, 3600 pounds
- night circuits and landings
- loaded landings (Night)
- long night cross country
- glider towing, check, circuits, cross country
- night circuits glider
- supply dropping and dummy runs in hills
- cross country and supply dropping
- dummy para dropping
Total Training Hours in India - 66 hours 38 minutes
Gujrat, India
November 10th 1944
Aircraft Flown:
- C-47 KG844 from Chaklala to Gujrat
Achievements:
- 1+2 low level cross countries
- Live para and slow para drops
- Live para and slow fives
- Para 20’s
- Formation flying
- Dummy para drops
- Low level night cross country
- Para invasion exercise
- 34 plane drop Chaklala
November 27th 1944 flew (C-47 KJ902) Brigadier General Goff and party to Gujrat to Sargodha, India (now Pakistan)
Total Training Hours in India as of December 19th 1944 - 126 hours, 30 minutes
OPERATIONS
Aircraft C47
Pilot - F/L E.J. Bingham
Co-Pilot - F/L Ted Harris
Navigator - F/O Buck Tamblyn
Wireless Operator - F/O Jack Card
Tulihal-Assam
#435 Squadron RCAF (B flight)
December 20th 1944
Completed three sorties
Total Flying Hours - 7 hours 20 minutes
Note: December 22nd 1944 to February 5th 1945, sick with jaundice
February 7th 1945
This was Ernie’s first sortie back after being sick
Total Flying Hours - 29 hours
March 25th 1945
Completed 28 sorties in March
Total Flying Hours - 102 hours 40 minutes
April 1945
Completed 24 sorties in April
Total Flying Hours - 96 hours 20 minutes
May 1945
Completed 17 sorties in May
Total Flying Hours - 68 hours and 40 minutes
June 1945
ompleted 21 sorties in June
Total Flying Hours - 71 hours and 10 minutes
July 1945
Completed 13 sorties in July
Total Flying Hours - 55 hours and 15 minutes
August 1945
Completed 41 sorties in August
Total Flying Hours - 105 hours and 40 minutes
September 1945
Completed 12 sorties in September
Total Flying Hours - 76 hours and 50 minutes
End of Operations
Total sorties: 188
Operational Flying Hours - 589 hours 45 minutes (Day)
23 hours 20 minutes (Night)
Total Flying Hours in India - 613 hours 5 minutes
Grand Total (in Canada and Over Seas) - 2,864 hours
The Journey Home
Departed - Tulihal India - Destination RAF Station - Down Ampney, England
September 09th 1945
Arrived - Alipore (near Calcutta)
September 9th 1945
ircraft Flown:
C-47 - KG559
Air Crew:
Co-pilot, F/L Ted Harris
Navigator, F/O Buck Tamblyn
Radio Officer, F/O Jack Card
Passengers:
fourteen ground crew
September 9th Alipore to Mahayajpur (Overnight)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alipore
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharajpur,_Madhya_Pradesh
September 10th Mahayajpur to Drigh Road (Karachi) ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.phpsearch=raf+Drigh+Road+&title=Special:Search&go=Go&searchToken=4bsgu2komhmxu8w8y7oipep8x
September 11th Drigh Road (Karachi) to Masirah https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAFO_Masirah
September 11th Masirah to Shek Othman (Over night) Aden to Arabia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_of_Aden
September 12th Shek Othman to Wadi Halfa
September 12th Wadi Halfa to Lydda (Palestine Overnight)
September 13th Lydda to El Adem (Lybia to South of Tobruk)
September 13th El Adem to El Aouina (Near Tunis Overnight)
September 14th El Aouina to Istres (Marseilles)
September 14th Istres to RAF Down Ampney (Near Glouster-South East 10 miles)
A seven day trip.
On approach to RAF Down Ampney, Ernie saw another aircraft on a collision course with his aircraft.
Ernie swore that the Air Traffic Control was trying to kill him.
Never To Fly Again
Summary
Rank:
LAC (Leading Aircraftsman)
SGT. (Sergeant)
F/SGT. (Flight Sergeant)
WO 2 (Warrant Officer Second Class)
P/O (Pilot Officer)
F/O (Flying Officer)
F/L (Flight Lieutenant)
Record of Service:
Manning Depot, in Brandon Manitoba, September 1940
I.T.S. (Introductory Training School) Regina, Saskatchtewan, October/November 1940
#10 - E.F.T.S. (Elementary Flight Training School) Mount Hope, Ontario, November/December 1940
#5 - S.F.T.S. (Service Flight Training School) Brantford, Ontario, January/March 1941
#1 – A.N.S. (Air Navigation School) Rivers, Manitoba, June 1941 to May 1942
#124 – Ferry Squadron May 1942 to August 1944
#435 - Squadron (Overseas) August 1944 to September 1945
#3 - P.R.C. (RCAF) Bournemouth, England, September to December 1945
#4 - Release Centre – Toronto, Ontario, January 10th 1946
Aircraft Flown: Engine Single Twin
Fleet Finch Kinner X
De Havilland Tiger Moth Ranger X
De Havilland Gypsy Moth Ranger X
Avro Anson I – III – IV - V Cheetah IX X
Avro Anson II – IIB Jacobs X
Cessna (Bobcat) Crane Jacobs X
North American Aviation Yale NA 64 Wright Jr. X
North American Aviation Harvard II and IIB Wasp Jr. X
Airspeed Oxford I and X Cheetah X X
Fairey Battle Rolls Royce Merlin X
Handely Page Hampden Pegasus X
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke IV Mercury IX X
Fairchild Cornell Ranger X
Noorduyn Norseman (Land) Wasp Jr. X
Consolidated PBY 5 (Water) Twin Row Wasp 1250hp X
Consolidated PBY A (Land) Twin Row Wasp 1250hp X
Lockheed Electra 10 Wasp Jr. X
Avro Anson V Wasp Jr. X
Airspeed Oxford V Wasp Jr. X
Bristol Bolingbroke IV-T Mercury XI X
Noorduyn Norseman (Water) Wasp Jr. X
Grumman Goose IA Wasp Jr. X
Beechcraft C45 Expediter Wasp Jr. X
De Havilland Mosquito III Packard Merlin X
De Havilland Mosquito XXV Packard Merlin 1750hp X
Douglas DC-3 (Dakota C47-A Mk III - IV) Twin Row Wasp 1250hp X
33 different types (includes aircraft varients)
Records
Qualifications
R72421 WO 2 Bingham E. J. to fly:
Fleet Finch
De Havilland Tiger Moth
Avro Anson I – II
Airspeed Oxford
Cessna Crane
North American Yale
North American Harvard
Fairey Battle
Handley Page Hampden
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk IV
Fairchild Cornell
Lockheed 10 (Electra)
Certificates of Qualification as First Pilot
E.J.Bingham is qualified as first pilot (day) on Avro Anson landplanes w.e.f June 07th 1941 - Unit #1 A.N.S. Rivers, Manitoba
Donald Eshelman N/O Flight Commander No. 1 Air Navigation School
E.J.Bingham is qualified as first pilot (night) on Avro Anson landplanes w.e.f June 13, 1941 - Unit #1 A.N.S. Rivers, Manitoba
Donald Eshelman N/O Flight Commander No. 1 Air Navigation School
E.J.Bingham is qualified as fist pilot (day) on Canso A l seaplane w.e.f. October 26, 1942 - NO. 5 (B.R.) Squadron RCAF Dartmouth Nova, Scotia
BS Shaw WO for The O.C.
The C47 Dakota (DC3)
- was exceptionally strong and easy to maintain
- carried a 7000 pound cabin load
- 20 fully equipped troops
- 16 stretcher and 12 sitting causalities
- cruised at 170 m.p.h.
- range of 250 miles
Abbreviations
E.F.T.S. - Elementary Flight Training School
L.A.C. - Leading Aircraftman
I.T.S. - Introductory Training School
O.C. - Operations Commander
O.T.U. - Operational Training Unit
R.C.A.F. - Royal Canadian Air Force
S.F.T.S. - Service Flight Training School
T.C. - Transport Command - was the Canadian part of the British Commonwealth Air Plan
The Canadian part of this program was to deliver much needed aircraft, to the British Isles
Notes
Squadrons: Canadian Squadrons are established for 25 aircraft (20 on unit strength and five on reserve)
(Canadian Flying Operations In South East Asia 1941-1945, 1976, Pg. 112)
RAF Down Ampney was a Royal Air Force station located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north east of Cricklade, Wiltshire
and 3 miles (4.8 km) south west of RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.
The airfield operated during World War II from February 1944 until February 1947.
Down Ampney was part of a group of airfields dedicated to air transportation,
alongside RAF Broadwell and RAF Blakehill Farm.
Manpower Shortage Pacific Theater: In late 1944 the British needed pilots and air crew for Air Transport Operations in India.
It was billed as a volunteer assignment, an easy job.
Nobody wanted the job.
The usual candidates were Bomber crew who had finished their tour of duty.
These men had had enough and would not sign up.
The British sold the job as easy work, with fair weather flying, a pay bonus, little no treat from enemy aircraft, terrain made for easy navigation.
Ernie took the bait.
He found out the weather was horrific, the enemy showed up on one occasion, in the case of the pay bonus, The Canadian Government reneged on it.
The Airlines: After the war Ernie applied to the commercial airlines for a pilot’s job. The airlines said at the age of 30 he was too old.
The Korean War: The R.C.A.F. asked if Ernie was interested in going over seas. He said no.
Ernie always loved flying: He encouraged his sons (Robert and James) to take up flying and they did.
Source: E. J. Bingham Pilot Log Book 1940-1946
Also a night of reminiscing at the cottage in the Gatineau that I stayed awake, listening to Dad tell my mother his adventure in the airforce.
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