Royal Flying Corps - how to find records

[abstraction]

I'm trying to find the records of John C. Mercer, who enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in Canada, as miscellaneous aviator cadet, third class air mechanic No. 74240 R.F.C.   He was in course No.11.

Where would i find the records? I've tried English and Canadian online archives but can't seem to find anything.

I know he flew missions in Europe and had three crashes -

• One in Canada where in a forced landing he clipped an outhouse that wasn't visible because of the engine.  The outhouse was demolished, and a man came running out.
• The second in England, transporting an important American, it flipped, landing upside down. Both survived.

[mmm45]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8648101&queryType=1&resultcount=32

could this be him?
Cant see him on any other sight did he serve in France if so he should have medal card but if he was in RAF then records arent online
where did you get his number and training info?

Ady

[abstraction]

You are brilliant!  Thank you, yes, that's him.  My grandfather was shipwrecked in Cape Horn in 1913 at 16 years of age, and crashing planes just a few years later.  The service information I had is from his autobiography that I'm wanting to get published - he died in 1976. 
My brother has his flight records somewhere, but he's been uncontactable for a little while.  My memory is hazy, but he flew some kind of bristol - F2 i  think.  He said once the bombers had dropped their bombs, they dipped their noses and were faster, and would leave them behind. One time at least one of the bombers was shot down because the fighter escort had fallen behind, and they were given a talking to about it.

He also had a forced landing, fortunately behind his own lines in either France or Belgium.  He managed to put his plane down in a field. He and the gunner jumped out of the plane and got away (in case of explosion), and  lit up a cigarette.  Looking back at the plane however brought the real shock. There underneath was the bomb he had forgotten to jettison!

Are there other places to look for information?

[mmm45]

You could google "flight international"  magazine and see if he features in their archive.
A lot of RFC/RAF  lads do.
If you download his record it may give other info.
Cant see him in the Aero club of great britain on Ancestry which sometimes has info on RFC Pilots

Ady

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Thanks, I'll check that out.

[maidmarianoops]

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=royal+flying+corps+in+canada&hl=en&sa=X&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&sout=1&biw=1024&bih=571


may help



sylvia

[mmm45]

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1919/1919%20-%200186.html?search= mercer

Two hits on Global as JCL Mercer.
Promoted to Lieutenant on 20/11/1918

The other one was 1917
Ady

[abstraction]

Thanks Ady.  I've been away for a week, so only just saw your message.  Nice!

Nothing on his accidents.  I think planes crashing with everyone surviving was probably small news during a war - but i'm thinking the newspapers might have something. 

And the Canadian archives and newspapers are the other things i'll work out how to get into.