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| Reservist: Hervey enrolled in the RAAF Reserve on 31st May 1940 at No.2 Recruitment Centre in Sydney as the Battle of France was all but lost and the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk was well under way. This was just over a month after the first intake of enlisted men into the RAAF proper (29th April 1940) began their training under the new Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). In November the RAAF introduced a 21 lesson pre-training course for new reservists (to brush up skills on trigonometry, physics and mathematics) and it appears that those who had previously enrolled were also required to undertake these lessons. On the top of Hervey's May 1940 enrolement form is a scribed and stamped note "O.K - Course Complete - RS Philon - F/O: Education Officer - Date 12 Dec 1940". It would not be until the new year that he was called up for service. Enlisted Air Crew - Pilot: Hervey returned to No.2 RC on 6th Jan 1941and enlisted in the RAAF - Permanent Forces (Citizen Air Force). He was mustered as Air Crew V (P) - Pilot: Rank AC2 (Aircraftsman 2nd Class) and was sent to No.2 ITS (Initial Training School) at Lindfield, New South Wales. His training under EATS was about to begin. Two months later he was posted to Narromine and No.5 EFTS (Elementary Flight Training School) to receive his basic pilot training, having been remustered Air Crew II (P) - Pilot: Rank LAC (Leading Aircraftsman) 1st March 1941. Observer: Perhaps Hervey's flight skills weren't quite up to scratch in the given time frame to warrant further pilot training or perhaps his instructors saw that he had other capabilities better suited for Observer training but in any case it appears that a month after arriving at flying school he was remustered as Air Crew V (O) - Observer and posted back to No.2 ITS Lindfield. This was not uncommon as the RAAF had more than enough reservists ready to become pilots (in fact the majority of) so pilot trainees were often remustered to bolster up the numbers of other (not so popular) duties if they weren't quite up to speed. Perhaps Hervey's age was a factor considering he was 29 years old? No doubt it would have been a disapointment for him but only those most suited (quickly enough) went on to earn their pilot wings. According to this 454-459 Sqn RAAF website, only 35% of the first 40,000 enlisted men woud be given the opportunity to train for pilot, 24% as Observers/Navigators, 40% as WAGS (Wireless Air Gunners) and perhaps the last 1% washed out? It also states that mustering (assigned duty - ie. pilot, observer etc) was based on alphabetical order in the early courses... and enlistment for duty was based on perceived abilities to handle certain technical training and personal characteristics. Off to Canada: No.2 ED (Embarkation Depot) was Hervey's next port of call. On 25th May he embarked for Canada and his advanced training as Observer. Three weeks later he arrived at No.1 Manning Depot in Toronto and proceeded to Moncton and No.1 AOS (Air Observer School). On 12/09/41 he was signed off as qualified, with effect from 14/09/41. He then made his way to Fingal and No.4 BAGS (Bombing and Gunnery School) where training was carried out on Fairy Battle aircraft. It was here that Hervey was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and remustered Air Observer, Astro-Navigation on the 24th Oct. The following day he was awarded his Air Observer's Badge and on the 26th he arrived at his final posting in Canada which was at Pennefield Ridge and No.2 ANS (Air Navigational School). Training was carried out on the Avro-Anson aircraft and upon completion he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer on the 24th Nov. 1941 and discharged from the RAAF upon receiving a commission into the RAF. Operational Service: With his training complete and his competency levels more than adequate, Hervey was ready to begin operations. On 13th Dec 1941, he left Canada for the UK and arrived on the 27th to No.3 PRC (Personnel Reception Centre) Bournemouth, where the Australians and Canadians first arrived in the U.K. A little over a month later his time had arrived and it was off to an operational unit. On 29th Jan 1942, he joined 59 Sqn at RAF Thorney Island with the following RAAF personnel. P/O M. Charlton, P/O N. Barson, P/O H.A.L Moran, P/O R.A Partridge and P/O R.D Stevenson. 59 Squadron were in the process of moving to RAF North Coates at the time and they were to begin operations with the Lockheed Hudson Mk.V in March.
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Hervey Joins 59 Squadron: In Jan 1942, 59 was non operational whilst new aircrews were being trained up to replace those who had left to fly the old 59 Sqn Hudson Mk.III's to the Far East. On the 30th of Jan, Hervey left for RAF North Coates was assigned to "B-Flight" and his first outing was on 14th Feb with S/L Douglas (posted in from 407 Sqn - 12/01/42) aboard Hudson AM836 - TR-N, noted as "X-Country, North Coates - Thorney Island - Thorney Island - North Coates". He also flew with P/O Thesiger and P/O Barson during this month all marked as training, instrument checks or air tests.
59 Sqn returned to operations on the 1st March 1942 with the Lockheed Hudson Mk.V. During March, Hervey flew no operations and only two training flights are noted for this month with a total of 2hrs 20mins flying time in total on the 25th and 30th. It appears that Hervey continued to train thoughout the period of April with only one operational flight with F/O Dunkerley (C.O - B-Flight) which was an Air/Sea Rescue on the 22nd but due to poor weather they returned to base. It's not clear at this time why Hervey flew only one operational flight during the first couple of months but in May he was posted to No.1 AAS Manby for the No.38 Bomber Leaders course, which he passed on the 29th, Grade "A". He returned to RAF North Coates and commenced duties as Bomber Leader as of June 1942. Considering that Hervey had no "operational" experience with bombing at this time, it is quite an achievement and it appears that he was more than capable for the task...
June 1942 consisted of a series of air tests, practice bombing and formation flying practice with S/L Dunkerley and crew and P/O Barson and crew. Hervey's second operational sortie was the June 22nd 1000 Bomber Raid on Bremen with S/L Dunkerley and crew in TR-X. They carried with them 2x250lb and 5x100lb bombs and delivered them to the Deschimag U-Boat yards from 12000ft. The crew on that night are pictured below. For more info on the Bremen mission, visit the Hudson History page.
July 1942 there were more practice flights and air tests, including an air test on the 24th of the Hudson Mk.VI with W/C Bartlett and crew. July saw two operational "Strike" sorties to Terschelling for Hervey, both with S/L Dunkerley and crew.
August 1942 Hervey continued to carry out his duties as Bomber Leader with practice bombing flights, various X-country and air test flights. One operational sortie was carried out with S/L Dunkerley and crew with a "Rover" to Borkum. August also saw the Squadron convert to the Liberator aircraft and by the 2nd of Sept, the whole Squadron had relocated back to RAF Thorney Island to begin training up. It appears that S/L Dunkerley and crew, took the Squadrons first Liberator, a Mk.III variant to Thorney Island on the 29th, noted in Hervey's logbook as LV342 'A'. I have come across sources that have this aircraft coded as V/59. The 'A' coding appears to be a hangover from its service with 120 Sqn as A/120. Perhaps it wasn't changed until the Squadron began operations on the Liberator in late October.
More to come...