Saving Private Lugg

Abstract

Average pilot. Works hard and good type. 9 One can only wonder if his 'unpolished flying skills' and 'average skills' would account for the accident that would later lead to his capture. Eric qualified as a pilot at the bottom of his class ('B' section) and was commissioned as a Warrant Officer Class II, while the 'A' candidates were commissioned as second lieutenants. 10 His training was limited. At the time of his appointment he had flown only 71 hours dual and 54 hours solo. 11 He was trained as a bomber pilot on Junkers (JU 52) aircraft. 12 The UDF had bought the Junkers with the intention of converting them into bombers. But, after converting them, they realised that the British bombs they would be using could not be used in German-style bomb bays. All the aircrafts had to be re-fitted to be used as bombers. 13 This oversight brought the quality of the training of the bomber pilots, and the bay loaders, into question, as they were unable to practise their loading skills, targeting skills or perform coastal patrols. After his training he was posted to 13 Squadron at Waterkloof Air Station 14 on 8 January 1941 and promoted to second lieutenant. As the UDF embarked on the East Africa Campaign, he was posted to Nairobi the following month where he would serve for almost a year. He made a few more transfers, to