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Post by rj on Jan 21, 2016 15:23:58 GMT
In a round about way I have been made aware of probably the final surviving Boston Pilot Robert Grecourt. He was born in 1923 and escaped France in 1940 and joined the RAF. He flew 49 missions with 342 squadron from Hartford Bridge and Virty-en-Artois. He has written, a book that I now have, and I need to brush up my schoolboy French! I have tried to contact him through a third party with now luck so far. I will try and post the gist of the book on here
Rob
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Post by rj on Jan 21, 2016 15:41:37 GMT
Robert Grecourt was born 28/2/1923 in Noyon in North East France. He came to the UK with his family in 1938 due to his fathers work. He became a apprentice electrician in Shropshire aged 16 in 1939. After hearing General de Gaulle's speech for Frenchmen to keep on fighting he was determined to join the fight when old enough. He joined the RAF as a trainee pilot in January 1924. He first visited the camp at 'The old Dean', Camberley where the volunteers were checked over by British Intelligence and had medical tests. Then to 10 ITW at Scarborough for equipping and 'square bashing'. From there to 22ETFS at Cambridge for flight instruction and ground school on Tiger Moths. Robert commenced flight training at cambridge 12th April 1942 and went solo after 10 1/2 hours on 8th May.With 34 hors, 8 of them sole he was chipped to canada on the Queen Elizabeth to continue his training at 31 FTs in Alberta. After completingbasic training he went to 32 SFTS, Moosejaw where he converted to the Airspeed Oxford. Back in the UK at 3 AFU South Cerney for night flying and instrument rating.By March 1944 he was at 13OUT, Finmere for Mitchell and Boston experience. This left him with 30 hours on Bostons and 500 on other types. He arrived at Hartford Bridge 25th April 1944 with the rank of sergeant.
to be continued
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Post by Andre on Oct 11, 2017 19:46:47 GMT
Hi, I have in my possession a photo of one of Bob's crew, Gilbert Perrin, I would like to share with Gilbert's daughter, Jacky, this is a long shot but was wondering if You may have a contact address if any sort?
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