If you’re missing some background information on this story that started late in December 2013 when someone commented on this blog which is a spin-off blog from RCAF 403 Squadron.
This is the original post.
Searching for North American Harvard 2891
That’s the plane that went missing according to the logbook.
Réjeanne had it!
She did not tell me.
She took this with her iPad.
Now we have the plane and the serial number.
But we have much more since yesterday.
A reader whose grandfather was also with 128 Squadron.
Charles Redeker
My grandfather was involved in the search for P/O Roy and Sgt. Whelan. Based on his log book he had actually flown with P/O Roy about a week before he went missing. Roy flew co-pilot to Dartmouth NS and back to Sydney which took them 2hr 50min according to the log book entry.
My grandfather flew search missions on May 18th, 19th x2, and 20th x2. Based on the notes it looks like Roy and Whelan went down in a HARVARD aircraft. I can scan you the pages from the log book that pertain to Roy and Whelan if you would like. I am working on scanning his entire log book and share the 128 Squadron pages with you to include in your blog. I did see the pictures of him on the blog.
Charles Redeker
He joined the squadron on July 22, 1942, he left Sydney in January 1943 for about 6 weeks to take his Pilot Armament Officers Course in Mountain View, Ontario. He rejoined the squadron in February and in June 1943 was posted to Torbay, Newfoundland with the Squadron. He stayed in Torbay until March 1944 when he was transferred to No. 36 O.T.U in Greenwood NS prior to shipping off to England in July 1944 to later join the 418.
During his time in the 128 he logged time in the following aircraft types:
HARVARD
HURRICANE
HURRICANE XII
HARVARD II B
He logged a total time of 351:45 flying with the 128.
For more on Charles Redeker, click here.
I thought the name sounded familiar.
End of the original post
I saw Réjeanne’s father’s logbook Saturday.
She offered that I take it with me to scan it. I much prefer to scan it later because there was little information about 128 Squadron in it. I much prefer to write about Sgt. Whelan from now on just in case someone find this blog and write a comment like Réjeanne did in December 2013.