by Diana Trafford | Jan 31, 2022 | Consolidated Liberator, Ferry Command, Gander, RAF Transport Command
Bomber Delivery at Record Speeds In April 1943, normally tight-lipped officials of the Montréal-based Royal Air Force Transport Command (formerly RAF Ferry Command) did the unthinkable. They broke the veil of secrecy that shrouded wartime bomber ferry operations. With...
by Diana Trafford | Aug 4, 2021 | Consolidated Catalina, Flying boat, Gander, RAF Transport Command
The Royal Air Force Transport Command (RAFTC), formerly Ferry Command, faced one of its toughest jobs in the spring of 1944 – to diplomatically help Russian aircrews ferry four dozen PBN-1 Nomads from the eastern seaboard of the United States to Murmansk. There...
by Diana Trafford | Jul 29, 2021 | Consolidated Catalina, Flying boat, Gander, RAF Transport Command
Background In 1944, a total of 138 PBN-1 Nomads were made available to the U.S.S.R. by the United States under its Lend-Lease program. Of these, 48 were destined for Russia’s Northern Fleet (Bu numbers 02795 to 02856). An improved version of Consolidated...
by Diana Trafford | Mar 11, 2021 | 45 Group, Ferry Command, RAF Transport Command
In February 2021, one of the few remaining members of RAF Ferry Command passed away. Peter Maitland was 96. He joined the RCAF in 1942. In October 1943, he was assigned to 45 Group of RAF Transport Command, the successor to Ferry Command. At the age of 19, he was...
by Diana Trafford | Mar 15, 2018 | 45 Group, Bruce Watt, Consolidated Catalina, Ferry Command, RAF Transport Command
During the Second World War, PBY Catalinas served the Allied forces well, mainly on coastal surveillance missions. Here, Catalina Z2147 (a Mark I Catalina), approaches the southern tip of Gibraltar after completing an anti-submarine patrol for RAF No. 202...
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