Down to Earth

[Nostalgair]

Hi All,

Further to earlier posts, I thought I might take the opportunity to mention 'Down to Earth' again which details the extraordinary life and times of Squadron Leader Kenneth McGlashan AFC. He literally flew from Dunkirk to D-Day and beyond as a fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force. One of "The Few" in the Battle of Britain, he also participated in the early days of night-fighting, the Dieppe raid and the Normandy landings.

There was a fair amount of interest, so I thought I'd start this thread in a more appropriate forum for anyone who may have questions about Kenneth or the book. I'll also post a couple of snaps along the way.

Cheers,

Owen

dtearth_L.jpg

Published by Grub Street Publishing, 'Down to Earth' (ISBN 1904943845) is available via the publisher or Amazon.co.uk: low prices in Electronics, Books, Music, DVDs & more.

[Kyt]

I really must get the book soon. I think that really fascinates me is his time with 536 Squadron flying Turbinlites. Did he ever use them operationally or were they trials? There seems to be limited info on this rather strange experiment.

[Nostalgair]

Hi Kyt,

Yes, Turbinlite was used operationally, though Kenneth recalled it as a dismal failure. This tends to be supported by the abandonment of the unit after a relatively short time. Initially the Havoc had two Hurricanes in company, but this was soon reduced to one, mainly due to the ever-present risk of collision.

Cheers

Owen

[Antipodean Andy]

I don't know what it is about Grub Street books, I just love them. McGlashan certainly was a survivor. I think I'm going to scrape some money together after Chrissy!

[Kyt]

I managed to read almost the entire book in one sitting, and I hope Owen doesn't mind me repeating what I sent by PM.

From the first page the narrative really grabs you and keeps you interested. The opening chapter, with the details of the fateful Dunkirk mission and loss, is akin to Vigors' Life's Too Short To Cry opening chapter, detailing his battle with Japanese fighters and how he sustained his injuries. It's a great literary device that grabs the reader.

I just can't get over the large number of aircraft Squadron Leader McGlashan flew, and how involved he was in some of the cutting edge technology of the time. I've been dippng in and out of the History of the Air Intercept Radar and the British Nightfighter 1935-1959, which is a very technical book (hence the dipping in and out) and it was nice to read about the first-person experiences of some of these experiments. I recently read Beaufighter Ace about Thomas Pike and I found it a rather dry book, and though that too talked about night flying and fighting, I wasn't as enthralled (or indeed informed) about the actual little details of night flying.

I bet S/L McGlashan had a great sense of humour because that certainly comes through in the book. I was in stitches when he relates the story of the Defiant gunner being knocked out by his rescuer and then breaking his leg whilst drunk. And so many other one-line anecdotes.

As is the case in many memoirs there is of course sadness, and the names of friends who didn't make it bring home the toll taken on such young people.

There are some nice interludes in which Mrs McGlashan gives the reader her experiences/perspectives.

There are a number of incidents or comments that I did note for further investigation. I am particularly interested in his time in Northern Ireland and the possibility of destroying the Irish Air Force in case of them joining the Axis.

It is also interesting to read about the ups and downs of being an airline pilot during the war, and then post-war duty in the RAF. Again, there are some sad incidents, and some very funny anecdotes. My favourite, and I hope Owen doesn't mind me quoting it, is

As with any any unit immediately following the war, there were a number of highly decorated pilots circulating through the system and these chaps would have quite a handful (of medals) on display. One such squadron leader at Leeming had sewn his array of gallantry awards in a rather haphazard fashion and some of the ribbons were already starting to show signs of wear despite the passage of only a few years. George (Sheddon, the CO) caught a glimpse of this scruffy display and fronted the officer concerned, advising him that, "Willie, your medals are a disgrace!" The officer concerned looked down at the dishevelled, but imposing, collection and replied simply, "Yes Sir, I wasn't very brave."

So 9.5/10 for the book. Would have been 10/10 but I'm greedy and would have loved even more details

[Kyt]

Owen,

on page 117, a Dan Halifax is mentioned, who was killed in a flying accident. Though no exact date is given it appears to be 1947 or 1948. However, I cannot find him on either the CWGC or Home | Armed forces memorial I was hoping to find out more about him as he was shotdown during the war and sustained serious burns.

Would you happen to have his full name or any other details Owen?

cheers
K

[Kyt]

Good old rafcommands (thanks John Larder) has lead me to the right man:

Name: HALLIFAX, NOEL DAN
Initials: N D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Squadron Leader
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Age: 27
Date of Death: 08/11/1946
Service No: 33404
Additional information: Son of Edwin Richard and Eveline Hallifax, of Mayfield, Sussex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. G. Row M. Grave 14.
Cemetery: HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY

Name: CHATER, ROY EDWARD
Initials: R E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 08/11/1946
Service No: 194286
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 23.
Cemetery: SOUTH LONDON CREMATORIUM, MITCHAM

Aircraft Crashes on and around the North Yorkshire Moors

P/O N.D. Hallifax was shot down on 15/5/1940 in Hurricane N2422 of 3 Squadron and made POW. Rather intriguingly there is a Dan Halifax listed on the Colditz site, but I haven't (yet) ascertained if he is the same man.

EDIT: It does appear to be the same Hallifax who was in Colditz and a "Dan Hallifax" is mentioned in relation to repatriation of injured POWs in The Colditz Myth: British and Commonwealth Prisoners of War in Nazi Germany by MacKenzie. However, the Colditz site spells his name as Halifax but there is a picture of him:

Colditz Castle - Colditz Oflag IVC - Definitive History and guide to visiting Colditz - RAF POW Photos

[Antipodean Andy]

The next book on my "to read" list!

[spidge]

You are a sleuth Kyt!

[Kyt]

Cheers Spidge, but John on rafcommands gave me the lead. Funny how a half page in a book can lead to all sorts of information.