Francis George Kenneth Bowles' Diary

I have brought in my father's diary from 1942. Francis George Kenneth Bowles, 1920-2005, known as Frank, grew up in Gravesend, Kent. He completed a sheet metal apprenticeship in 1941. By 1942 he knew that if he didn't volunteer he would be called up. He 'didn't fancy the army and was a rotten sailor' and so he volunteered for the RAF.
After the initial training and assessment he was posted to RAF Colerne, which was a maintenance unit. He was able to utilise his sheet metal skills patching up aircraft bodies. He was also good at maths and studied Maths and Aircraft Design part-time at with Bristol University. He also taught trainee pilots the maths for understanding their instruments.
Much of the diary is mundane - who he received and sent letters to, films he'd seen and girls he dated. One, named Mary, was fairly long-term and they got engaged, although the engagement ended in January 1944.

On 15th August 1945 Japan surrendered after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima. Frank travelled back to RAF Colerne following a few days home leave in Gravesend. With the announcement of the surrender all leave was extended by 24 hours. Frank went into the village of Colerne, and joined a group of RAF colleagues who were trying to break into the local pub. They were being egged on by local girls and one of them, Edna, went on to be my mother.

Frank and Edna were married at Colerne Parish Church on 2nd November 1946, and settled in Gravesend.