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K. HALLIDAY : 1940s ORIGINAL WWII ROYAL AIR FORCE MANUSCRIPT DIARY BY AN RAF PILOT CRUISING THE BAY OF BENGAL FOR ENEMY SHIPPING AND SUBMARINES IN THE WONDERFUL SUNDERLAND FLYING BOATS

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a unique original 1940s diary handwritten by British RAF pilot K. Halliday. The diary measures 3.5'x 6.5', contains 100 pages, about 80% of which are complete. The leaves are saddle-stitched, but staples started to rust and the center leaf is detached, and the cover is partially detached. Otherwise the diary is in very good condition and the handwriting is very legible. The diary was kept by 188335 Flying Officer K. Halliday. F/O Halliday was a pilot of Sunderland Flying Boats with 302 FTU and 240 Squadron (until March 1946), and 205 Squadron (from April 1946). No. 240 and No. 205 Squadrons were a Royal Air Force flying boat and seaplane squadrons. No.240 Squadron spent the first half of the war serving in Home Waters and the second half operating from India. From July 1942 until the end of the war it flew anti-shipping and submarine patrols over the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. In December 1944 the squadron also began to fly agents and supplies into the Dutch East Indies, it was disbanded on 1 July 1945. No 205 squadron flew anti-submarine and air rescue patrols out of Koggala (Ceylon) from July 1942 to the end of the war. The squadrons were flying Consolidated Catalina, and since summer 1945 Short Sutherland, a British flying boat patrol bomber, one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats in WW2. The diary records details of flights between Oban, Gibraltar, Port Augusta, Kasfereit, Habbaniya, Bahrein, Korangi Creek, Trombay, Red Hills Lake, Koggala, Cochin, Calcutta, Syriam (Burma), Penang, Singapore, Seletar, Hong Kong, Labuan (Borneo), Macasser (Dutch East Indies), and the UK. The text on the front paper says: "Observations taken "en-route" on Transit Trips"; F/O Halliday K.; No ops or routine flights recorded; Non-secret" The diary covers several ferry trips made between Marc 6th, 1945 and March 20th, 1946. The first ferry flight was from Obam to Gibraltar and return to UK, it took 101.05 hours in 17 days. RAF Oban was a Royal Air Force (RAF) flying boat base located at the northern end of the island of Kerrera, Scotland during the Second World War. Halliday gives details of the flights, weather conditions, occurrences with the flights, problems with the aircraft, provides information about the bases where they stopped, including sleeping arrangement, food and service. He also kept lists of many of his passengers, crew rosters, etc. Many of his passengers signed the diary, particularly those shortly after the war ended. Here are some excerpts from his entries: "Ferry No 1. Oban to Gibraltar... 6th March 1945. Took off from Oban at 1850. ½ route after take off radar packed in, went out three times during the trip. "George" [automatic pilot] went u/s with same old trouble. I/c was howling a lot. Fuel pressure lights came on for S.O. Engine. Had a wizard trip down, weather perfect the whole way. Things weren't too bad up till the time the S.O. gave trouble but decided to stay airborne till daylight than risk a landing at night with bad engine"; "8th March. Got cracking on D.I's and snags. There are no radar mechs at New Camp but North Front will lend you a few. The crystal current is apparently the trouble as it drops right off every now and then...The nuts were loose on the "George" oil bottle resulting in loss of oil, we ran theP.I. up to the test here and came to the conclusion the compressor had sgeared. - They haven't any new ones here and so as they come by sea from England I'll be flying without it..."; "Friday 9th March....On the first leg from Gib. Though there is a little Spanish island to be watched, as they boast 2 20mm guns and occasionally use them." He also gives information about personnel, meals and accommodation at each destination: "Summary of stay in Gib. Accomodation for officers O.K., the NCO's were rather crowded. Food in both messes O.K. Maintenance fellows quite keen and helpful, Cigarettes very cheap (2/4 for 50) as were the wines..."; "Summary of stay in Fanara. Officers and N.C.O's eat and sleep together, accommodation very crowded indeed - 7 of us in one tent (c.o. Mentioned they were arranging more accommodation). Food quite good in the mess, quite sufficient spirits in the bar." Most of his flights after the war were in Asia, where there were not many large runways and their ability to land on water was required. In addition, the diary contains crew rosters, lists of passengers, etc. Among the passengers were war correspondents, Lieutenant Colonels Lathbury and Biddle, and other officers, and some civilians. Many of his passengers signed the diary, particularly those shortly after the war ended The diary provides wealth of technical details, names of RAF personnel, information about airfields and can be an excellent source of information for a military or aviation historian.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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