Page 7 - John George Blair

Conversion training airfield 6 miles South East of Doncaster in South Yorkshire and
home to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit. It is believed here he was an Instructor,
teaching the novice aircrew’s Flight Engineers all he had learned on operations. His
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promotion to Flight Sergeant was confirmed on the 31 December 1944.
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He stayed at RAF Lindholme until 29 March 1945 when Jack was posted to 576
Squadron at RAF Fiskerton to commence Main Force operations. The first operation
with 576 was on 11 April as the Flight Engineer to Flight Sergeant Sayers, the
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target that night was the German town of Plauen in Saxony close
to the Czech border.

Jack completed a further 9 operations with 576 Squadron bringing his total war
operations to 28.

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Post War jack was posted on the 26 June 1945 to RAF Burn near Selby in North
Yorkshire finding himself in an Aircrew Holding Unit, staying there until the RAF
decided what they were going to do with him. On the 3rd August 1945 Jack was
posted out of RAF Burn to No.5 Air Navigation School, part of Flying Training and
Support Group. The reason for this posting is not known but it could be the RAF
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using him in the Instructor role. His stay at 5 A.N.S. lasted until 9 January 1946
when he was posted out to No. 8 School of Technical Training at RAF Weeton in
Lancashire to retrain as a Ground Airman driving the RAF’s heavy Lorries in
preparation to be posted to 5003 Squadron, part of the RAF Airfield Construction
Branch. 5003 were shortly disbanded and the Unit renamed 5002 Squadron. He
stayed with this Unit until 16 February 1946 when he was demobbed at 101
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Personnel despatch unit at RAF Kirkham, Blackpool.

Post war Jack enrolled in the Durham Constabulary as a Police Officer and rising
through the ranks to Chief Inspector.