RAF flying school 1942 Bulawayo South Africa - photos

[Ali Smith]

I thought I would post some of my late father's old photographs from his time at the RAF training school as maybe some of them may be of use to other people. I have no names apart from "Hal" and also some Names on back - A E Reed, G Williams, T R Swale, . Obviously I would love it if I could find Hal or his family - my dad was Albert Evan Price - known as Van or Bunny !!!
I do have some others I need to scan in

[Ali Smith]

and this is my dad's friend  "Hal" - I know no more !

[WelshDragon86]

Hello,

Which one is your father, Albert Evan Price?  (example- first row, forth in, on the right side)

I am just curious because MY Grandfather's name was also Albert Evan Price.  Price is originally a Welsh name.  Did he come from Wales?


~ WelshDragon86

[Ali Smith]

My dad is in the second row ( the sitting row ) 2nd from the left - his mother was welsh and father from Leominster - would be strange if I am a long lost aunt 

[barryd]

Bulawayo is town in the then Rhodesia or Southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe. The correspondence in the attached address below may be of interest to you. 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WW2-RAF-Heany-Bulawayo-S-Rhodesia-Letter-Free-On-Active-Service-Gateshead-1942-/392216257608?oid=392182622243

[barryd]

What is interesting about the "School in Bulawayo" is the people involved are NCO's. Normally Officers only and sent to places overseas for their training. One of the letters home to Gateshead gives a brief snapshot of the life of these NCO's "missing the bus".

[Chilternbirder]

What is interesting about the "School in Bulawayo" is the people involved are NCO's. Normally Officers only and sent to places overseas for their training. One of the letters home to Gateshead gives a brief snapshot of the life of these NCO's "missing the bus".

My father was trained as a navigator at No 45 Air Training School in South Africa and finished the war as a sergeant.

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was responsible for training about half of all air crew according to Wikipedia.

[barryd]

A relative of mine was also in Navigator School in Miami, Florida. Their passing out parade was marching though the streets in Miami in their RAF issued Pith Helmets. That must have been a great sight to see. Must have amused the locals too.