THE LOG BOOK STORY
1945
January
Capt. Aston spent one and a quarter hour’s in the air completing circuits in a Hamilcar. Interestingly he was attached to ‘B’ Squadron, taking Captain Millar up twice on 7 January.
February
February
Thirty minutes flying circuits this month - both times in a Hamilcar glider.
March
Capt. Aston was in the air three times this month. On March 20 he flew a Hamilcar to the advanced base for OPERATION VARSITY. On March to 24, in red ink is the entry for the self-same glider flown by Aston and Sgt Whitehead during operation Varsity. Total time in the air was three hours and 40 minutes. On March 29, we see Aston being flown home from Eindhoven to down Ampney in a Dakota transport aircraft. Total flying time for the month of March was four hours and 55 minutes.
April
April saw only 30 minutes flying by Capt. Aston with both flights being in a Hamilcar glider, as expected.
May
A month of limited flying on both occasions Capt. Aston was flying De Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth. Total flying time for May was one hour 30 minutes. (It should be noted that the war in Europe ended this month.)
June
This month did not see Capt. Aston in the air at all.
Capt. Aston spent one and a quarter hour’s in the air completing circuits in a Hamilcar. Interestingly he was attached to ‘B’ Squadron, taking Captain Millar up twice on 7 January.
February
February
Thirty minutes flying circuits this month - both times in a Hamilcar glider.
March
Capt. Aston was in the air three times this month. On March 20 he flew a Hamilcar to the advanced base for OPERATION VARSITY. On March to 24, in red ink is the entry for the self-same glider flown by Aston and Sgt Whitehead during operation Varsity. Total time in the air was three hours and 40 minutes. On March 29, we see Aston being flown home from Eindhoven to down Ampney in a Dakota transport aircraft. Total flying time for the month of March was four hours and 55 minutes.
April
April saw only 30 minutes flying by Capt. Aston with both flights being in a Hamilcar glider, as expected.
May
A month of limited flying on both occasions Capt. Aston was flying De Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth. Total flying time for May was one hour 30 minutes. (It should be noted that the war in Europe ended this month.)
June
This month did not see Capt. Aston in the air at all.
Captain F C Aston. Operation Varsity. After Action Report.
This force RV’d at Div. HQ. It was late in arriving owing to dispersed landings, the first crews arriving about 12.30 hrs. On arrival the force came under command of Major Bartlett and was worked into the general defence scheme for the HQ. One party of nine NCOs and one officer was dispatched to a nearby farm as a standing patrol. There was practically no activity by the enemy in the Div.HQ. area the whole time, and little mortar or shellfire. There was some strafing in the area during the night of D plus 2 by enemy night fighters.
This force RV’d at Div. HQ. It was late in arriving owing to dispersed landings, the first crews arriving about 12.30 hrs. On arrival the force came under command of Major Bartlett and was worked into the general defence scheme for the HQ. One party of nine NCOs and one officer was dispatched to a nearby farm as a standing patrol. There was practically no activity by the enemy in the Div.HQ. area the whole time, and little mortar or shellfire. There was some strafing in the area during the night of D plus 2 by enemy night fighters.
July
Again, a month of limited flying where Capt. Aston completes 30 minutes of circuits in a Hamilcar glider and 45 minutes of flying with Sgt Whitehead in a DH 82 Tiger Moth.
August
The log would show the Cpt. Aston spent no time in the air during this month.
September
Capt. Aston flew two short flights in a Hamilcar glider, simply circuits lasting 15 minutes. He spent 45 minutes flying locally in a DH 82 Tiger Moth. (Most local flights in the Tiger moths lasted 45 minutes).
October
Capt. Aston took two flights in a DH 82 Tiger Moth, flying locally for a total of one hour and 45 minutes.
November
This month sees the newly appointed Maj. Aston moving out to Palestine. Early in the month he spends two hours flying a DH 82 Tiger Moth locally. On November 26 he flies out as a passenger in a Halifax VII from Tarrant Rushton to El Quina in Tunisia. The following day, November 27, Maj. Aston flies from El Quina to El Quastina in the same aeroplane. His role is now Squadron Commander, G Squadron, GPR.
December
interestingly, the month of December sees Maj. Aston spending 7 ¾ hours acting as second pilot in a Halifax VII tug. All the flights were local cross-country and must be assumed this was familiarisation training.
Again, a month of limited flying where Capt. Aston completes 30 minutes of circuits in a Hamilcar glider and 45 minutes of flying with Sgt Whitehead in a DH 82 Tiger Moth.
August
The log would show the Cpt. Aston spent no time in the air during this month.
September
Capt. Aston flew two short flights in a Hamilcar glider, simply circuits lasting 15 minutes. He spent 45 minutes flying locally in a DH 82 Tiger Moth. (Most local flights in the Tiger moths lasted 45 minutes).
October
Capt. Aston took two flights in a DH 82 Tiger Moth, flying locally for a total of one hour and 45 minutes.
November
This month sees the newly appointed Maj. Aston moving out to Palestine. Early in the month he spends two hours flying a DH 82 Tiger Moth locally. On November 26 he flies out as a passenger in a Halifax VII from Tarrant Rushton to El Quina in Tunisia. The following day, November 27, Maj. Aston flies from El Quina to El Quastina in the same aeroplane. His role is now Squadron Commander, G Squadron, GPR.
December
interestingly, the month of December sees Maj. Aston spending 7 ¾ hours acting as second pilot in a Halifax VII tug. All the flights were local cross-country and must be assumed this was familiarisation training.