Harry Callaghan - navigator
Harry Callaghan came from 70 Highfield Road, Prestwich, Manchester, he was nearing his 21st birthday. He was an apprentice at Salford Electrical Instruments and was in the final year of a 3 year National Certificate in the evening at the Radcliffe Technical College, which he was hoping to complete before being called up after volunteering at Padgate. Harry always wanted to be a navigator, he trained in Canada prior to returning to England and OTU where he crewed up. (Photo courtesy of Steve Callaghan)
An aerial view of the Salford Electrical Instruments works, Silk Street, where Harry worked prior to his call-up.
Harry sent this photograph to a friend of his, George Brumpton. The white flash in his cap shows that this was taken in his initial training days.
Having completed his ITW stage in England and being selected for navigator training, Harry spent some time at Heaton Park, Manchester which was a "holding camp" for aircrew awaiting posting to other areas for further training. Harry would have received a copy of the following booklet to let him know about the regime at Heaton Park.
(with thanks to Clive Smithers for a copy of these pages)
Harry went from Heaton Park to Canada for his training. Here he is togged up in his flying suit, boots and parachute ready to go off on an exercise at CFB Manitoba.
(With thanks to George Brumpton)
Most navigator training took place in Avro Ansons.
The training and study involved was thorough and intense, with many hours spent in classroom lectures and practical exercises.
But Harry was successful, here he is sporting his new sergeant's stripes as a smiling qualified navigator, though with still a long way to go before he became operational.
(Photo courtesy of George Brumpton)
Having completed his ITW stage in England and selected for navigator training, Harry sent some time at Heaton Park, Manchester which was a "holding camp" for aircrew awaiting posting to other areas for further training. Harry would have received a copy of the following booklet to let him know about the regime of Heaton Park: (with thanks to Clive Smithers for the copy of these pages)