Training the crew of Halifax LL178 went through.

On creation of this section to this part of the website some parts of the crew's training is not yet known. What is known is shown in full on this webpage. But the part what is clear is that crews received intensive training over a very short period of time. It is hoped to complete this page in time. The Operational Training Unit (OTU) the main part of the crew trained at is not yet known.

All arrived at Topcliffe's 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) in the late summer of 1943 and joined "B-Flight" and were assigned their Flight Engineer who had trained individualy until now. During October 1943 they undertook a number of flights.

17th October 1943, flying Halifax "J" they carried out a Beam Practice flight which lasted 1.5 hours, taking off at 17.25 hrs. Before this flight Edson Armour had already 329 hours flying time, with 147 hours being at night. It is not known whether all this was during his training for Bomber Command or his pre-Bomber Command airforce duties in Canada.

18th October 1943, flying Halifax "K" the crew carried out practice on flying on three engines and overshooting landings, they departed at 13.25 hrs and finished just under a hour and a half later. F/O McLaughlin is given as the pilot, he may well have been the instructor, with Evans flying but as a pupil.

19th October 1943, flying Halifax "W", they carried out further Beam Flying, in a flight lasting just over an hour, taking off at 14.00 hrs. Also on the same day flying the same aircraft "W" they carried out training on three engined landings and overshoots, again F/O McLaughlin being the instructor. This training lasted an hour, no take off time being recorded. In addition to these two flights a third was done later the same day in the same aircraft, "W", Beam Flying again lasting 1hr 40 minutes.

20th October 1943, flying Halifax "D", they took off at 13.55 hrs for a height test, followed by bombing practice and air-to-air firing, this flight lasted 3.5 hrs and was probably over the North Sea in part.

21st October 1943, again flying Halifax "D", they undertook a cross-country flight with practice bombing, they departed at 13.15hrs and returned five hours later.

25th October 1943, following three days rest (or possably training on the ground), they departed at 12.45 hrs flying Halifax "C" for a cross country training flight, photo and bombing exercise. Thet returned just short of five hours later

These few flights listed here account for only 20 hours flying, one can therefore begin to imagine the intensive training Bomber crews went through.

26th October 1943, P/O Evans and his crew were posted to 434 Squadron on completion of their training at 1659 HCU (although 343 Sqdn ORB gives the date as being the 28th of October 1943). They were to arrive at 434 Squadron with another crew from 1659 HCU, that of Sgt R J A Stanley's. At this date 434 Squadron were based at Tholthorpe and would later move up to Croft.