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Only top-level descriptions Lt. Langman, V.M. World War II, 1939-1945
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Royal Air Force Pilot's Flying Log Book of Lt. Langman, Victor Michael
Item · 1940-1945
Lieutenant Langman was appointed as a Naval Airman 2/c RNVR on September 16th, 1940. He underwent training in H.M.S. St. Vincent for the #19 Pilot Course in 1940, followed by training in Collins Bay Aerodrome (Kingston ON) for the #31 Service Flying Training School in 1941. In 1942, he served in H.M.S. Grebe for 775 and 815 Squadrons. The following year, he served in H.M.S. Shah for 851 Squadron as Senior Pilot. He then served in H.M.S. Daedalus for 703 Squadron (Naval Air Sea Warfare Development Unit) as Senior Pilot in 1945.Victor Langman was inspired to fly airplanes himself when Alan Cobham brought his flying circus to Chingford and enjoyed a circuit.Langman was educated at Brighton College, where he enjoyed rugby and diving and volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm, joining HMS St Vincent as a Naval Airman 2nd Class in June 1940.Langman was a slow learner and it was 12 hours and 25 minutes before he was allowed his first solo flight in a Miles Magister.In the Spring of 1941 he undertook further training at Kingston, Ontario in the Fairey Battle.After courses and several sea passages, Langman flew as a passenger in a KLM Junkers 52 from Lagos to Cairo to join the Fleet Air Arm squadrons based at Dekheila, five miles west of Alexandria.At first Langman was disappointed to be appointed to 775 Naval Air Squadron employed on communications duties, but he quickly familiarised himself with the Middle East flying several aircraft types and experiencing a variety of emergencies. After flying with 815, Langman spent more time in the USA, learning fly the Grumman Avenger and joined 851 Naval Air Squadron flying from the escort carrier Shah in on operations in the Indian Ocean.Throughout Lieutenant Langman's career, he flew numerous aircraft including the Fairey Barracuda, Avro Anson, Miles M-14 Magister, Fairey Battle, Fairey Swordfish, Fairey Albacore, Junker, Short Stirling, Blackburn B-25 ROC, DE Havilland DH82B Queen Bee, Gloster Gladiator, Fairey Fulmar, and the TBM Turpon. During the first five years of his flying career, he served in multiple theaters of war, including Egypt and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). SAM.2019.0105.002