Collection of military logbooks
Dec 14, 2019 15:09:39 GMT
Post by Stig Jarlevik on Dec 14, 2019 15:09:39 GMT
Hi All
Henry Matthews started a thread on AB-IX about the importance of saving (preserving) various individuals flight log books.
While having no issue with that as such, but in the particular case of the Saunders-Roe SR.53 and the pilot in question, I had an opinion of my own. The thread itself is now closed on AB-IX and I cannot see that Henry has started any thread over here.
This was Henry's initial message
I have this suggestion for Air Britain and/or any other learned body that may be interested.
Nothing tells the history of an aircraft or a unit better than the flying log book or pilot reports. Over three decades, I repeatedly came to this conclusion as I tried to piece together stories of research aircraft and test pilots, One example that always comes to my mind: the SR.53 rocket/jet interceptor prototype.
Every reference that I knew of, by esteemed authors and publications, said that the SR.53 program was terminated after the crash of the second prototype on 5 June 1958, while taking off on its Flight 12. Pilot John Booth was killed. The late SR test pilot Peter 'Sheepy' sent me photocopies from his flying logbooks. He made 14 flights on the remaining prototype after the accident. His last flight, on 20 October 1959, was the last flight in the program (Flight 57).
To avoid distortion of history, I suggest that a serious effort be made by Air Britain to convince families of deceased test pilots to donate to Air Britain all flying log books and reports. The immediate survivors of the deceased test pilot may preserve these archives but future descendents may not see the importance,
Henry Matthews
HPM Publications
And here is my response
Henry
Just because the SR.53 continued to fly does not mean the program itself continued.
The SR.177 has already been canceled in 1957 and the only fighter option remaining was the Lightning.
Those 15 extra flights made no difference what so ever.
I agree that log-books are important, but they simply don't give the whole picture.
Does the log book answer why the flights continued all the way into October 1959? That is to me the most important and interesting question.
Peter London, in the Putnam book, says the Spectre engine had been damaged and the aircraft was moved to Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Westcott in 1959. Did Peter Lamb make his extra flights there? Or where did they take place and who paid for it?
Cheers
Stig Jarlevik
Air Britain member 09564
Henry Matthews started a thread on AB-IX about the importance of saving (preserving) various individuals flight log books.
While having no issue with that as such, but in the particular case of the Saunders-Roe SR.53 and the pilot in question, I had an opinion of my own. The thread itself is now closed on AB-IX and I cannot see that Henry has started any thread over here.
This was Henry's initial message
I have this suggestion for Air Britain and/or any other learned body that may be interested.
Nothing tells the history of an aircraft or a unit better than the flying log book or pilot reports. Over three decades, I repeatedly came to this conclusion as I tried to piece together stories of research aircraft and test pilots, One example that always comes to my mind: the SR.53 rocket/jet interceptor prototype.
Every reference that I knew of, by esteemed authors and publications, said that the SR.53 program was terminated after the crash of the second prototype on 5 June 1958, while taking off on its Flight 12. Pilot John Booth was killed. The late SR test pilot Peter 'Sheepy' sent me photocopies from his flying logbooks. He made 14 flights on the remaining prototype after the accident. His last flight, on 20 October 1959, was the last flight in the program (Flight 57).
To avoid distortion of history, I suggest that a serious effort be made by Air Britain to convince families of deceased test pilots to donate to Air Britain all flying log books and reports. The immediate survivors of the deceased test pilot may preserve these archives but future descendents may not see the importance,
Henry Matthews
HPM Publications
And here is my response
Henry
Just because the SR.53 continued to fly does not mean the program itself continued.
The SR.177 has already been canceled in 1957 and the only fighter option remaining was the Lightning.
Those 15 extra flights made no difference what so ever.
I agree that log-books are important, but they simply don't give the whole picture.
Does the log book answer why the flights continued all the way into October 1959? That is to me the most important and interesting question.
Peter London, in the Putnam book, says the Spectre engine had been damaged and the aircraft was moved to Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Westcott in 1959. Did Peter Lamb make his extra flights there? Or where did they take place and who paid for it?
Cheers
Stig Jarlevik
Air Britain member 09564