Tim Granshaw, our Chief Instructor passed an amazing milestone in his career this week in that he flew his 500th hour on Mk IX Spitfires. Flying a Spitfire for any pilot today is an immense privilege and a huge responsibility.
Tim started his career at Sandown and Goodwood in many roles from ops to fire crew and even Air traffic before getting his PPL at Age 18 and onwards to his CPL and ATPL at Age 24. Tim progressed onwards and upwards to becoming a flying instructor at Age 29, teaching on the DHC Chipmunk.
A conversion to Harvard then with just over 300 hours in his Logbook. The similarity of Tim’s training with tailwheel time on the basic DH chipmunk and then the more complex and heavier North American Harvard mirrored the basic approach taken by the RAF for trainees during WW2.
Working Up to Flying the Spitfire
Tim went on to do some formation and aerobatic training in the Yak 52 prior to his work up to flying the Spitfire. Tim’s first solo in the Spitfire at age 33 with 549 total hours was an incredible achievement, in the next 3 years Tim went on to achieve 1000 hours total flying time and this year 500 hours on the Spitfire.
The route to the cockpit of a Spitfire today is much more convoluted and organic than in WW2. Today there is no need to train for combat or have operational training. So how did those young pilots of WW2 end up In the cockpit of a WW2 fighter, what was the route to that much sought-after seat.
For the trainee pilot of any Air Force, the focus of their attention would be to pass out from flying training and be able to sew on or wear the coveted flying badge which signified them as a qualified pilot. For the RAF trainees, this meant they had to fulfil a number of criteria as laid down in Air Publication 958 “The Kings Regulations” which says:
‘Officers, cadets and airmen undergoing the course of training at a flying training school or the RAF College must qualify as service pilots on the conclusion of their training.'
Becoming a Qualified Service Pilot
To qualify they must obtain not less than 50 per cent in the practical ground and air examinations in airmanship and maintenance, navigation, armament and reconnaissance, appropriate to the type of aircraft on which trained as laid down in the syllabuses for the flying training schools and the RAF College, and pass the following air
tests:
Be able to fly consistently good compass course in clear air or in cloud ;
Be able to fly at a steady height, course and speed accurately for periods of 5 minutes as for bombing;
Be able to climb with war load at or near maximum rate up to 15,000 feet or service ceiling if less
Be able to fly accurately in and position of a flight of three aircraft during take-offs and landings, climbs, dives and turns as appropriate to the type of aircraft;
Be able to take off and land consistently well by night
All of this, plus to have completed a minimum of 80 hours of dual and solo flying, and be able to fly in instruments, and demonstrate and execute aerobatic manoeuvres for the type being flown.
Cross-country flights also had to be conducted successfully with a triangular route of not less than 200 miles. It was no easy feat and no wonder the pilots were proud of their achievements, however, for this coming out of training and being posted to the squadrons in the front line, experience on the Hurricane or Spitfire was often limited during the Battle of Britain.
Spitfire Training During WWII
Many quotes exist that pilots had less than 100 hours flying before arriving on a squadron. That is not true, although experience on type Spitfire or Hurricane was often anything between 0 and 200 hours on type depending on what date they started flying.
Nearly all had at least 200 -300 hours of flying time on Tiger Moths and other biplanes such as the Hawker Hart and Audax, for example. Many didn’t get the luxury of any training on tactics or gunnery though. As the war progressed training and hours on types that were being flown in front-line squadrons increased
The time taken to qualify as a pilot varied throughout the war. At the start of the war it could be as little as six months (150 -200 flying hours). On average it took between 18 months to two years (200-320 flying hours).
During basic training at Elementary Training Schools pupils learnt the basics of how to fly in aircraft such as the de Havilland Tiger Moth and flew their first solo flight as Tim did on a PA28. One such pilot who has a link to our home airfield was Warrant Officer PH Clay, who flew Mk Vb Spitfires and later Mk XIV’s. He started his flying training in the UK in 1942 on the Tiger Moth and completed 67 hours on type before heading off to Canada for further training.
Warrant Officer PH Clay's Spitfire Training Story
He was to complete his advanced training at 39 Service Flying Training School at Swift Current in Canada on the Harvard. The course introduced pupils to more powerful aircraft with retractable undercarriage and variable pitch propellors. Getting them ready for the modern-day fighter, heavier and with greater performance. Warrant Officer Clay completed 135 Hours on the Harvard and gained his wings. Within the space of a year, he had completed just over 200 hours of flying and undertaken his final tests and examinations receiving his flying brevet or Pilot’s Wings.
Of course, obtaining Pilot’s Wings did not mark the end of training. Qualified pilots were sent to Operational Training Units to make them ready for front-line duties. During a pilot’s operational career attendance on specialist training courses also kept him up to date with new technical developments and changes in operational procedure.
P H Clay returned to the UK to fly the Miles Master at 57 Operational Training Unit and carried out his first Spitfire solo on the 2nd April 1943 gaining a total of 59 additional hours on both the advanced trainer and the Spitfire.
His solo occurred at just over 220 hours of flying and 12 months after his first flight. In June of 1943 P H Clay arrives on his first Spitfire Squadron with just under 300 hours experience and 40 hours on Spitfires. He went on to fly Combat sorties with 130 (Punjab) Squadron out of RAF Lympne, RAF Westhampnett and RAF Merston. He undertook sweeps and escort duties over France and took part in air support over D-Day. In his just under 2 years of combat duties he amassed over 400 hours of combat flying and was shot down whilst flying a Spitfire Mk IX.
Although Tim had no need to carry out any combat training or have to take the Spitfire to war, it is worth reflecting on how similar Tim’s Hours were on his route to the front seat of a Spitfire.
There are so many stories of such brave airmen that we love to be able to research and bring to life. It is part of why we do what we do to ensure that the memory of their enormous efforts and sometimes sacrifice is not forgotten.
Comments