The Snapshots in Time Collection
Naval Aviator Flight Logbook Page, Lt. Wayne E. Bancroft, PBM-5 Mariner Squadron, November 1950
This page from Lt. Wayne E. Bancroft's personal flight logbook documents his squadron's operations flying the Martin PBM-5 Mariner, a twin-engine patrol flying boat, during November 1950 -- the opening months of the Korean War. Handwritten entries record individual sorties, aircraft bureau numbers, and flight hours, culminating in a certified total of 361.8 hours flown. Personal logbooks such as this provide invaluable primary-source detail on naval aviation operations, tracking not only flight time but the rhythm of squadron life during a pivotal early Cold War conflict. Project: 218132