Flying History / James Flannigan / Flying Log Book ← Back to James Flannigan

His Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book (RAF Form 1767), with his 1939–45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, and War Medal 1939–45

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

James Flannigan — Flying Log Book

759151 F/Sgt Flannigan, J. · 215 Sqn · 77 Sqn · 76 Sqn

160

Flight entries

17

Operational sorties

2

Survived bale-outs

1940–41

RAF Evanton to 76 Sqn

31.10.41

Failed to return, Dunkirk

James Flannigan's log book opens as an Air Gunner under training at RAF Evanton in January 1940, and follows him through operational training units at Bassingbourn, Jurby and Abingdon, where he qualified as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Posted to 77 Squadron at Topcliffe in April 1941, he flew his first operation to Boulogne on 15 April, and was confirmed as qualified 1st Wireless Operator on an operation to Kiel on 30 April.

He went on to fly sorties to Hamburg, Bremen, Mannheim, Dieppe and Köln with 77 Squadron, before converting to the four-engined Halifax with 76 Squadron at Middleton St George in July 1941. He survived a crash on return from an operation to Hanover, and baled out safely on two further occasions — once over Yorkshire returning from Frankfurt, and once near Bedford returning from Brest. His log book ends on 31 October 1941, with his final entry: “OPS – DUNKIRK. FAILED TO RETURN.”

Search the log Operations only

759151 F/Sgt J. Flannigan, RAFVR

Full flying record, January 1940 – October 1941

Date	Hour	Aircraft	Pilot	Duty	Remarks	Day	Night
13.1.40	0830	Harrow K6947	P/O Libbey	A/G	Firing Sea Markers — Ground Grouping Exercise	1:30
13.1.40	1020	Harrow K7001	P/O Witham	A/G	Tracer Sighting — Firing from front turret	0:45
15.1.40	1525	Wallace K6047	Sgt/P Hobbs	A/G	F.R.1 Camera Gun — Nil deflection	0:15
22.1.40	1055	Wallace K4347	Sgt/P Powell	A/G	F.R.2 Camera Gun — 25 M.P.H. deflection	0:20
23.1.40	1430	Harrow K6985	Sgt/P Morrison & Butler	A/G	F.R.B.S.T. — Broken extractor, 4 rounds fired out of 200	1:30
26.1.40	0915	Harrow K6973	—	A/G	F.R.B.S.T. — 200 rounds fired	1:15
31.1.40	0900	Harrow K6941	P/O Fry	A/G	F.R.B.R.S.T. — No firing, sea mist	0:45
21.3.40	1400	Anson N5115	F/O Middleton	W/O u.t.	Procedure instruction	2:50
28.3.40	1030	Anson N5030	Sgt/P Day	W/O u.t.	Landed at Jurby, I.O.M. — outward journey	2:20
28.3.40	1500	Anson N5030	Sgt/P Day	W/O u.t.	Return journey	1:45
29.3.40	0955	Anson N5192	Sgt/P Shields	W/O u.t.	Procedure instruction	3:25
30.3.40	0955	Anson N5030	F/O Chivers	W/O u.t.	Landed at Jurby — outward journey	2:25
30.3.40	1420	Anson N5030	F/O Chivers	W/O u.t.	Return journey	2:05
30.3.40	2255	Anson N5030	Sgt/P Day	W/O u.t.	Exercise 11		2:45
1.4.40	1020	Wellington L4385	P/O Berry	W/O u.t.	Target & formation practice	0:45
1.4.40	1120	Wellington L4385	P/O Canton	W/O u.t.	Target & formation practice	0:45
2.4.40	0950	Wellington L4357	P/O Canton	W/O u.t.	Formation flying	1:15
4.4.40	1010	Wellington L4375	P/O Canton	W/O u.t.	Target & formation practice	1:05
5.4.40	1025	Wellington L4273	P/O Berry	W/O u.t.	Target & formation practice	1:00
5.4.40	1130	Wellington L4273	P/O Canton	W/O u.t.	Target & formation practice	1:00
6.4.40	1015	Wellington L7385	P/O Berry	W/O u.t.	Formation with Spitfires intercepting	1:45
6.4.40	1200	Wellington L7385	P/O Canton	W/O u.t.	Formation with Spitfires intercepting	0:45
7.4.40	1430	Wellington L7315	P/O Berry	W/O u.t.	Formation + target practice	1:00
7.4.40	1530	Wellington L7315	P/O Canton	W/O u.t.	Formation + target practice	1:00
7.4.40	1630	Wellington L7315	P/O Berry	W/O u.t.	Formation + target practice	1:00
11.4.40	1500	Avro Tutor K3277	F/Lt Ollsen	—	Air sickness test — aerobatics	0:25
17.4.40	0835	Wellington N2876	P/O Morton	A/G	200 rounds mid-turret. Ex.1.	1:20
17.4.40	1340	Wellington N2876	P/O Morton	A/G	Lost drogue	0:15
17.4.40	1420	Wellington N2876	P/O Morton	A/G	400 rounds rear-turret. Ex.2.	1:35
19.4.40	1420	Wellington N2876	F/Lt Sharp	A/G	400 yds rear, 100 yds mid-turret. Ex.2.	1:40
20.4.40	1000	Wellington L4302	P/O Canton	A/G	400 yds rear turret. Ex.3+5.	1:50
22.4.40	1415	Wellington N2876	P/O Canton	A/G	Weather unfit. Ex.3+5.	0:30
25.4.40	1020	Wellington N2876	P/O Deaves	A/G	400 yd rear, 4/5 mid-turret. Ex.3+5.	1:40
25.4.40	1410	Wellington L4384	P/O Canton	A/G	Weather unfit. Ex.4+6.	0:40
26.4.40	1330	Wellington N2876	P/O Mercer	A/G	200 rds front turret	1:00
27.4.40	1425	Wellington L4302	P/O Berry	A/G	300 rds rear turret. Ex.4+6.	1:35
2.5.40	2145	Wellington L4383	P/O Canton	W/O	Circuits & landings — course completed, No.11 O.T.U. Bassingbourn		1:00
5.10.40	1050	Anson 9846	P/O Walker	W/O	Local photography	0:30
7.10.40	0915	Anson 9809	P/O Boggis	W/O	Landed Abingdon – Pensbury – Abingdon – base	3:35
8.10.40	1405	Anson 9841	Sgt/P Giles	W/O	Cross-country	2:35
10.40	1050	Anson 9741	Sgt/P Giles	W/O	Base – Marham – base	1:00
2.12.40	1025	Anson R9721	Sgt Balley	W/T u.t.	Base – Towcester – Hereford – Montgomery – Banbury – Daventry – base	2:15
7.12.40	1440	Anson R9721	P/O Outram	A/G	Formation as ordered	1:05
8.12.40	1000	Anson R3325	Sgt Jones	W/T u.t.	Base – Oakham – Whitchurch – Shrewsbury – base. 2 bearings + 2 line bearings from base.	2:45
9.12.40	1015	Whitley K8941	Sgt Davis / P/O White	W/T	Circuits and landings	0:45
9.12.40	1440	Whitley K8954	LAC Hammond / F/Lt Mercer (C)	W/T u.t.	Instrument flying, local	0:30
10.12.40	1925	Anson N5002	Sgt Gibbons	W/T u.t.	Base – Warpsgrove (bombing) – Peterboro' – Heyford – base. 6 line bearings, 2 QDMs.		2:50
15.12.40	1010	Anson N5022	Sgt Levitt	W/T	Base – Warminster – Northampton – Peterboro' – base. Messages to base.	2:30
15.12.40	1515	Anson N5266	Sgt Gibbons	WT/AG u.t.	Airfiring Berkshire Downs. 2 QDMs.	1:00
16.12.40	1020	Anson R3437	Sgt Levitt	W/T u.t.	Map reading and W/T practice	1:55
22.12.40	1745	Whitley K8946	LAC Simm / P/O Lawson	W/T 2nd	To Stanton Harcourt. Plane u/s after landing.		1:00
23.12.40	1145	Anson N5006	F/Lt Lister / S/Ldr Hallam	W/T	Local flying and W/T practice	0:45
27.12.40	1435	Anson N5002	Sgt Balley	W/T	Base – Banbury – Newbury – Cheltenham – base, returned owing to poor visibility. Message to base. QDMs from LGE.	1:25
11.12.40	1450	Anson N5007	P/O Outram	W/T	Bombing W/T exercise	0:30
11.12.40	1530	Anson N5007	P/O Outram	W/T	Bombing W/T exercise	0:30
30.12.40	1100	Anson N5007	Sgt Levitt	W/T	Bombing Marcham. No W/T used, receiver being used for I/C.	0:40
30.12.40	1715	Whitley K8946	P/O Whyte	W/T	To Stanton Harcourt. M/F cancelled.		0:20
30.12.40	2100	Whitley K9013	F/Lt Seymour-Price	W/T	Return from Stanton Harcourt		0:15
2.1.41	1130	Anson N5002	W/Cdr Clarke	W/T	Local flying	0:45
5.1.41	0955	Anson N5004	Sgt Levitt	W/T	Base – Taunton – Newbury – Kidderminster – base	2:30
5.1.41	1445	Anson N9744	Sgt Gibson	W/T	Recco. Base – Leighton Buzzard – Bicester – base	0:55
9.2.41	1140	Whitley V N1423	F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	W/T	Instrument flying. Local flying.	2:05
10.2.41	0945	Whitley P5099	Sgt Russell (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P)	W/T u.t.	Cross-country as ordered. Bombing Marcham. Landed at Jurby, I.O.M.	5:30
11.2.41	1845	Whitley P4944	Sgt Russell (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	W/T	Dual circuits and landings		2:00
12.2.41	1000	Whitley P4940	F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	A/G	Low flying (cloud base 300'). Low level bombing.	1:30
13.2.41	1430	Whitley P5099	F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	W/T	High level glide bombing	1:00
13.2.41	1535	Whitley P5099	F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	W/T	High level glide bombing (reloaded)	1:25
13.2.41	1900	Whitley T4133	F/Sgt Veistage (C) / Sgt Thrower (P)	W/T	Check dual circuits and landings		1:10
13.2.41	2155	Whitley N1411	F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	A/G	Local flying. Circuits and landings.		1:30
14.2.41	1545	Whitley N1503	F/Lt Gibson	W/T	Bombing Marcham	2:00
14.2.41	1850	Whitley P4932	F/Lt Gibson	W/T	Local circuits + landings		0:45
16.2.41	1200	Whitley T1411	P/O Warner (C) / Sgt Thrower (P)	W/T u.t.	ZZ landings	0:45
17.2.41	1840	Whitley T4133	F/Lt Corby	Passenger	To Stanton Harcourt	0:15
20.2.41	1045	Whitley P4932	P/O Warner (C) / Sgt Thrower (P)	A/G	Cross-country as ordered, bombing Marcham (bad visibility, no firing)	5:00
21.2.41	2105	Whitley N1411	Sgt Thrower (P1) / Sgt Bird (P2)	W/T	Local circuits and landings		2:00
22.2.41	1400	Whitley P4997	Sgt Simm (P1) / Sgt Bird (P2)	W/T	Local instrument flying	1:00
23.2.41	1900	Whitley P4932	P/O Warner (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P)	A/G	Cross-country as detailed, bombing Marcham		5:00
24.2.41	0945	Whitley P4997	P/O Warner (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P)	W/T	Live bombing at Warpsgrove	1:15
25.2.41	2111	Whitley N1360	P/O Warner (C) / Sgt Thrower (P)	W/T	Cross-country as ordered		4:00
26.2.41	1915	Whitley N1360	P/O Warner (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	W/T	Bombing, high level stick, high glide stick, Marcham		2:00
26.2.41	2145	Whitley N1411	F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	A/G	Local circuits and landings		2:00
27.2.41	1015	Whitley N1429	P/O Warner / F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	W/T	Bombing at Marcham	2:15
1.3.41	1045	Whitley P4932	P/O Warner (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	A/G	Bombing at Marcham. Airfiring scrubbed — turret system u/s.	2:15
3.3.41	1600	Whitley P4944	P/O Warner (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	W/T	Bombing at Marcham. Two details.	2:00
3.3.41	0145	Whitley N1429	F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	A/G	Local circuits and landings		2:15
4.3.41	1940	Whitley P4944	F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	W/T	Local circuits and landings		2:50
5.3.41	0955	Whitley N1360	F/Lt Gibson (P1) / Sgt Thrower (P2)	W/T	Short cross-country as detailed, landed Bassingbourn	3:25
5.3.41	1430	Whitley N1360	Sgt Thrower (P1) / F/Lt Gibson (P2)	A/G	Short cross-country as detailed	3:00
5.3.41	2110	Whitley T4178	P/O Warner (C) / F/Lt Gibson / Sgt Thrower	A/G	Bombing at Marcham		1:20
6.3.41	1430	Whitley N1360	P/O Warner (C) / Sgt Thrower (P)	W/T	Z.Z. landing	0:20
8.3.41	1405	Whitley P5101	Sgt [?] (C) / F/Lt Gibson (P)	A/G	Z.Z. landing. Airfiring, 3,000 rounds fired.	2:00
14.4.41	1100	Whitley V N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Air test. Z.Z. at Linton.	2:00
15.4.41	1100	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Air test	0:50
15.4.41	2135	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Ops — Boulogne ★		5:25
17.4.41	1545	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Air test	0:30
19.4.41	2100	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Ops — Rotterdam ★		5:45
19.4.41	2125–2315	N1524	Sgt Singleton / Sgt Hughes	W/T	Local circuits & landings (four short sorties)		2:30
21.4.41	1045	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Air test	0:40
23.4.41	1130 / 1615	N1474	Sgt Smith	W/T / A/G	To Kemble to drop aircrew; return to base	3:00
24.4.41	1110	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Air test	0:50
24.4.41	2130	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Ops — Kiel ★		7:15
26.4.41	1130	N1474	Sgt Smith	W/T	Air test	0:45
28.4.41	1100	N1474	Sgt Smith	W/T	Test. Formation.	1:15
29.4.41	1030	N1474	Sgt Smith	W/T	Formation	0:25
29.4.41	1540	N1474	Sgt Smith	A/G	Air test	0:30
30.4.41	1030	N1474	Sgt Smith	W/T	Air test	0:30
30.4.41	2155	N1474	Sgt Smith	W/T	Ops — Kiel — qualified 1st WOp ★		7:20
2.5.41	1620	Whitley V T4200	P/O Ireton	W/T	Air test	0:30
2.5.41	2140	T4200	P/O Ireton	W/T	Ops. Hamburg. Over target with lights on — pretty well shot up!! ★		7:50
5.5.41	1030 / 1500	N1524 / Z6643	Sgt Singleton / Sgt McLean	Passenger / W/T	To Shawbury to collect A/C Z6643. Shawbury to Dishforth.	2:55
6.5.41	1145	N1474	P/O Ireton	W/T	Air test	0:35
6.5.41	2230	N1474	P/O Ireton	A/G (1st WOp)	Ops. Hamburg. ★		7:55
8.5.41	1115	T4279	P/O Ireton	A/G	Air test	1:15
8.5.41	2247	T4279	P/O Ireton	A/G (1st WOp)	Ops. Bremen. ★		8:00
9.5.41	1535	N1474	P/O Ireton	A/G	Air test	0:40
9.5.41	2205	N1474	P/O Ireton	A/G (1st WOp)	Ops. Mannheim. ★		8:15
11.5.41	1540	N1474	P/O Ireton	A/G	Air test	0:35
11.5.41	2230	N1474	P/O Ireton	A/G (1st WOp)	Ops. Bremen. ★		7:40
13.5.41	1145	N1474	Sgt Bizley	W/T	Altitude test	1:30
15.5.41	2242	N1474	Sgt Thrower	W/T	Ops. Dieppe. ★		6:25
17.5.41	1515	T4200	Sgt Thrower	W/T	Air test	0:45
17.5.41	2235	T4200	Sgt Thrower	W/T	Ops. Köln. ★		6:35
19.5.41	1525	Z6461	P/O Ireton	W/T	Test petrol consumption	1:30
20.5.41	1525	T4200	Sgt Thrower	W/T	Air test	0:45
21.5.41	1125	T4200	Sgt Thrower	W/T	X-country – bombing	4:00
22.5.41	1200	T4200	Sgt Thrower	W/T	Test petrol consumption	0:45
24.5.41	1105	Z6461	P/O Ireton	Pass.	Formation	1:00
26.5.41	1520	T4200	Sgt Cradduck	W/T	Air test	0:40
5.7.41	1845	Halifax I L9516	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Air test	0:55
5.7.41	2215	L9516	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Ops — Magdeburg (bombed Emden) ★		5:25
7.7.41	2010	L9494	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Air test	0:30
7.7.41	2230	L9410	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Ops — Frankfurt. I/C u/s. ★		5:10
8.7.41	2225	L9410	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Ops — Leuna. I/C u/s. ★		7:00
11.7.41	1620	L9494	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Formation bombing + gunnery	1:15
14.7.41	1800	L9532	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Air test	0:30
14/15.7.41	2230 – 1300	L9532 / L988	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Ops — Hanover (crashed at Linton) / Linton – base ★		6:15
17.7.41	1530	L9523	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Air test	0:40
19.7.41	1150	L9530	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Air test	0:50
19.7.41	2250	L9530	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Ops — Hanover ★
21.7.41	1100	L9530	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Formation bombing + A.T.	2:15	6:00
21.7.41	2310	L9563	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Ops — Mannheim ★		6:45
23.7.41	1045	L9530	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	Formation and bombing	2:30
23.7.41	1930	L9530	P/O Ireton	1st W/T	To advanced base, Stanton Harcourt	1:30
24.7.41	2205	L9523	F/Lt Hillary	Pass.	W/O	0:15
25.7.41	1100	L9523	F/Lt Hillary	Pass.	Return to base	1:10
7.8.41	1915	L9513	Sgt Hutchin	1st W/T	Air test	0:25
7.8.41	0015	L9513	Sgt Hutchin	1st W/T	Ops — Essen ★		5:30
29.8.41	1830	L9518	S/Ldr Bickford	1st W/T	Air test	0:20
29.8.41	2110	L9518	S/Ldr Bickford	1st W/T	Ops — Frankfurt. Baled out at 0410 hrs near Everingham, Yorks. ★		7:00
30.8.41	1145	L9564	W/Cdr Jarman	Passenger	Return from Pocklington – base	0:25
13.9.41	1110	L9573	P/O Wright	Pass.	Base – Dishforth to collect A/C	0:25
13.9.41	1145	L9513	P/O Hutchin	1st W/T	Dishforth – base	0:30
13.9.41	1500	L9567	P/O Hutchin	1st W/T	Air test	0:40
13/14.9.41	0135	L9567	P/O Hutchin / Gp Capt Obert	1st W/T	Ops — Brest. Baled out at 0335 hrs near Bedford. ★		2:00
25.10.41	1125	Halifax L9534	Sgt Herbert	1st W/T	Air test	0:45
26.10.41	1410	L9534	Sgt Herbert	1st W/T	Air test	0:45
26.10.41	1835	L9534	Sgt Herbert	1st W/T	Ops — Cherbourg ★		5:40
28.10.41	1510	L9534	Sgt Herbert	1st W/T	Air test	0:50
31.10.41	1510	L9602	Sgt O'Brien	1st W/T	Air test	0:25
31.10.41	1915	L9602	Sgt O'Brien	1st W/T	OPS — DUNKIRK. FAILED TO RETURN. ★

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A note on this transcription: entries marked with a gold star (★) are operational sorties. Duty codes follow RAF convention of the time: W/O (Wireless Operator), W/T (Wireless Telegraphy), A/G (Air Gunner), u.t. (under training). Aircraft serial numbers and remarks are transcribed exactly as recorded, including occasional crossings-out and corrections in the original.

His final entry: Halifax L9602 took off from Middleton St George at 19:15 on 31 October 1941, on an operation to Dunkirk, with pilot Sgt Charles Stuart O'Brien. The aircraft failed to return and the crew were reported missing, presumed killed — the stamp “DEATH PRESUMED” appears on this final page of the log book. Further detail on the loss of L9602 and the rest of the crew is on James Flannigan's page.

Returned to his mother, 1947: a letter from the RAF Central Depository at Hornchurch, Essex, dated 1 July 1947 — almost six years after James was lost — forwarded this log book by registered post to his mother, Mrs A. Flannigan, of 38 East Fountainbridge, Edinburgh. She was asked to sign and return an "Official Paid" acknowledgement form. This is that same log book, now in William Allen's private collection, transcribed here in full.