WW2 RAF Pilots Log Book and Photos - Court Martialled!

An intriguing RAFVR officer’s log book with a series of original related photographs of the owner and his aircraft. The Log Book is actually the Canadian issue version but the owner has crossed through the word “Canadian” and the owner is noted as F/O Cox, D.R. It has the usual canvas tears and edge bumps but is in overall good condition.

The log covers the period October 1942 until August 1944. In the back of the book it confirms he spent his war in the UK and Canada. The stations and establishments he served in and the aircraft that he flew are listed in the Record of Service and Aircraft flown sections in the back inside cover.
The log book is about half full and there are a number of other pages completed near to the back detailing various training missions flown.

So where does the intrigue come in? His final flight is in the log is given on the 30th May 1944 - ‘CRASHED’. He was flying an Oxford Mark II with the serial number 918. He was the pilot and he was accompanied by LAC Luty. The final damning assessment in his log, pasted in and dated 11th August 1944 states “As an Inst./Pilot – Below the Average” (there was no lower category).
The historical records for this particular aircraft gives us a clue as to the severity of the incident:
AS918 – Category A crash on 30 May 1944 while being operated by 32 Service Flying Training School at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Collided with Oxford BG334 at 08:05, 4 miles north and 1 mile east of Crane Valley, Saskatchewan. To No 10 Repair Depot for scrapping on 3 June 1944. Application to write off dated 24 August 1944. 14 September 1944 – Struck off, reduced to spares and produce. (Source: http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_AS804_AT444_detailed.htm Accessed 24th June 2017).

An earlier assessment of him as a pilot on 19th August 1943 came to be quite prophetic – “Should look around more often”!

Anyway, luckily he survived the crash, as he is recorded as being in the Colonel Belcher Hospital Calgary, from the date of the incident, but his career did not. The London Gazette for 6th February 1945 lists D. Cox (153096) as Dismissed by Order of General Court Martial with effect from 18th January 1945. He spent the war learning to fly and teaching others to fly accruing over 660 hours in total.

The Airspeed AS 10 Oxford is one of those aircraft which undoubtedly helped to win WW2. It grew to be the backbone of the Training Command of the Royal Air Force, and a major component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan or Empire Air Training Scheme as it was also known. There are two large and fine photos of this aircraft included with the log book, plus a picture of Cox passing out as a Pilot officer from course 80 19SFTS Vulcan Alberta on 19th August 1943 (confirmed in London Gazette as a Pilot Officer on probation 20th August 1943). He was confirmed as Flying Officer in the London Gazette on the 20 Feb 1944. Copies of London Gazette entries to be provided. There is also a large photo of his class passing out from course 80 including himself sitting in front row second from the right. Many have signed the reverse. Including a DFM.

His log book states he served:
A.C.R.C (air crew receiving centre) London. 1-10-42 to 9-10-42.
No 4 EFTS Brough. This is the No 4 Air Training School, Brough in Yorkshire. From 9-10-1942.
R.A.F (ACDW) Brighton. (This is the Air Crew Deposal Wing), No 2 School of Technical Training St Athan and R.A.F (ACDW) Brighton. From 9-19 1942 to 6-12-1943.
A.C.D.C Heaton Park 6-12-4 to 12-2-43.
No3 Personnel Dept Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. 24-2-43 to 2-3-43.
No31 EFTS De Winton 6-3-43 to 2-5-43.
No19 S.F.T.S Vulcan 2-5-43 to 20-8-43
No31 Air Navigation School Port Albert 28-8-43 to 30-10-43
No39 S.F.T.S Swift Current 4-11-43 to 1-3-44
No32 S.F.T.S Moose Jaw 2-3-44 to 30-5-44
Colonel Belcher Hospital Alberta 30-5-44
No 10 Repair Dept. No5 A.C.H Vancover. No32 S.F.T.S Moose Jaw all from the last date.
His log book states he flew De-Havilland 82A, De-Havilland 82C, Anson II and Oxford II.

Defence Medal included.

B13.4

On hold for Chris

Code: 61326