THE LOG BOOK STORY
1946
January
Maj. Aston made a number of flights this month mainly on Horsa II gliders with a range of G Squadron captains as his second pilot. The majority of these flights are considered to be local or circuits. On January 21 major Aston and Capt Dobbyn flew a Horsa with a “live load”. The notable exception was January 10 when Major Aston flew as second pilot with Wing Commander Ingle as first pilot, spending one hour and 40 minutes practising night flying in a Halifax III tug. In total Major Aston was airborne for four hours 10 minutes during January.
February
This was a varied month for Maj. Aston are initially operating to, live load flights with Capt Dobbyn on February 7. A few days later, on February 11, Maj. Aston spent a busy day flying a Miles Magister. The first short flight was simply a circuit and landing, probably re-familiarisation, followed by a trip from base to Quastina. He went from Quastina, having collected Maj Gaitley, to Gaza Main airfield. From Gaza main airfield major Aston flew Major Gaitley back to Castillo, and from there Major Aston returned to base.
February 19 saw Major Aston and Staff Sgt Irons air test a Horsa carrying a jeep, trailer and four men. Total flying time for the month was three hours and five minutes.
Maj. Aston made a number of flights this month mainly on Horsa II gliders with a range of G Squadron captains as his second pilot. The majority of these flights are considered to be local or circuits. On January 21 major Aston and Capt Dobbyn flew a Horsa with a “live load”. The notable exception was January 10 when Major Aston flew as second pilot with Wing Commander Ingle as first pilot, spending one hour and 40 minutes practising night flying in a Halifax III tug. In total Major Aston was airborne for four hours 10 minutes during January.
February
This was a varied month for Maj. Aston are initially operating to, live load flights with Capt Dobbyn on February 7. A few days later, on February 11, Maj. Aston spent a busy day flying a Miles Magister. The first short flight was simply a circuit and landing, probably re-familiarisation, followed by a trip from base to Quastina. He went from Quastina, having collected Maj Gaitley, to Gaza Main airfield. From Gaza main airfield major Aston flew Major Gaitley back to Castillo, and from there Major Aston returned to base.
February 19 saw Major Aston and Staff Sgt Irons air test a Horsa carrying a jeep, trailer and four men. Total flying time for the month was three hours and five minutes.
(What is not referred to in the flying log, was that On the night of 25 February 1946, Irgun militants attacked Quastina airfield and destroyed several parked RAF Handley Page Halifax transports. Two additional RAF airfields, RAF Lydda (Ben Gurion International Airport) and RAF Kfar Sirkin, were attacked in what became known as the "Night of the Airplanes". Altogether, the attacks destroyed 20 RAF aircraft and damaged several others. Following these attacks, the RAF closed some of its Palestine-based planes to Egypt. (Interestingly, back in England, Maj. Aston’s first son was born.))
March
March 8 saw Maj. Aston airborne again in a Halifax as passenger going from Quastina to Bilbeis, in Egypt. He returned the following day flying a Horsa II from Bilbeis to Aqir, Palestine.
April and May
In these months, Maj. Aston saw no air time whatsoever.
June
While spending relatively little time in the air this month, on June 20 and 21 Maj. Aston was air testing Horsas TL417 & 467 at a 5000 foot release. On June 24 he flew TL 467 with staff Sgt Mooney on a “dual check”. Total time in the air was 50 minutes.
March 8 saw Maj. Aston airborne again in a Halifax as passenger going from Quastina to Bilbeis, in Egypt. He returned the following day flying a Horsa II from Bilbeis to Aqir, Palestine.
April and May
In these months, Maj. Aston saw no air time whatsoever.
June
While spending relatively little time in the air this month, on June 20 and 21 Maj. Aston was air testing Horsas TL417 & 467 at a 5000 foot release. On June 24 he flew TL 467 with staff Sgt Mooney on a “dual check”. Total time in the air was 50 minutes.
July
Again a series of three tests, to at 5000 foot release and one at 1000 foot release. Total airtime 55 minutes.
August
Maj. Aston’s airtime was busy at the beginning of the month. Between August 3 and August to 6 he flew in a Dakota transport plane from Kabrit to El Adem, El Adem to Luqa, Luqa to Bari, Bari to St Elmas, St Elmas to Luqa, Luca to El Adem, El Adem to Kabrit. On August 7 he flew a Horsa glider from Kabrit to a Aquir. Total flying time in August was 22 hours 50 minutes.
September
No flying this month.
October
October 18 saw Maj. Aston and staff Sgt Cliff taking part in Exercise Bouncer IV, carrying a jeep, trailer and four men. A few days later, he and Maj Gaitley flew a Horsa from eyeing Shem air to Achaea. October 31 saw both he and Maj Gaitley involved in exercise Purdy, where there Horsa glider carried a jeep, six pounder artillery piece and for men. Total flying time for the month was three hours and five minutes.
November
November 19 saw Maj. Aston and the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Gaitley fly a Horsa on exercise Purdy, carrying a jeep, trailer and four men. November 12 and 14, major Aston was gaining experience a second pilot on an Auster aircraft. Total flying time of the month was two hours and 35 minutes.
December
On December 20 Maj. Aston took part in EXERCISE BLANDISH, flying a Horsa and carrying jeep, trailer and four men. Total flying time was one hour 20 minutes.
Again a series of three tests, to at 5000 foot release and one at 1000 foot release. Total airtime 55 minutes.
August
Maj. Aston’s airtime was busy at the beginning of the month. Between August 3 and August to 6 he flew in a Dakota transport plane from Kabrit to El Adem, El Adem to Luqa, Luqa to Bari, Bari to St Elmas, St Elmas to Luqa, Luca to El Adem, El Adem to Kabrit. On August 7 he flew a Horsa glider from Kabrit to a Aquir. Total flying time in August was 22 hours 50 minutes.
September
No flying this month.
October
October 18 saw Maj. Aston and staff Sgt Cliff taking part in Exercise Bouncer IV, carrying a jeep, trailer and four men. A few days later, he and Maj Gaitley flew a Horsa from eyeing Shem air to Achaea. October 31 saw both he and Maj Gaitley involved in exercise Purdy, where there Horsa glider carried a jeep, six pounder artillery piece and for men. Total flying time for the month was three hours and five minutes.
November
November 19 saw Maj. Aston and the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Gaitley fly a Horsa on exercise Purdy, carrying a jeep, trailer and four men. November 12 and 14, major Aston was gaining experience a second pilot on an Auster aircraft. Total flying time of the month was two hours and 35 minutes.
December
On December 20 Maj. Aston took part in EXERCISE BLANDISH, flying a Horsa and carrying jeep, trailer and four men. Total flying time was one hour 20 minutes.