Leslie Rogers’ career in the RAF began as an Aircraft Apprentice in Manton, England, in 1927 and ended with his retirement in 1960 with the rank of Squadron Leader working for Air Ministry. During 33 years of service he was posted to several countries including Iraq, India, Germany, and Southern Rhodesia.
The first entry in his Leading Aircraftman’s flying logbook begins with ten minute local flight in a Westland Wapiti (J9848 – pilto F/Lt Hawkings) on the 5th November 1934 in Iraq. The final entry is for a flight on 3rd October 1959 during which he was a passenger aboard a Douglas DC-6 operated by Hunting-Clan Air Transport, returning from an establishment review in Cyprus. That journey, from Nicosia to London Airport, took eight and a quarter hours. Later entries in the same logbook list several holiday flights he enjoyed during his retirement.
- 1927 – 1930 Aircraft Apprentice, Manton
- 1930 – 1934 Fitter AA School, Eastchurch
- 1934 – 1937 Fitter AG 55 Squadron, Hinaidi, Iraq
- 1937 – 1939 Corporal Fitter No 1 Indian Wing, Kohat, India
- 1939 – 1940 Corporal Fitter 108(B) Squadron, Bassingbourn and Bicester
- 1940 – 1941 Sergeant Fitter 18 OTU, Bicester
- 1941 – 1943 Flight Sergeant-in-Command “A” Flight 18 OTU, Bicester, Hinton, Finmere
- March – April 1943 Officer Cadet, Officers School, Cosford
- May 1943 Supernumery Acting Pilot Officer No 10 OTO, Abingdon, Stanton Harcourt
- June – July 1943 Officers Engineering Course, Cosford
- August 1943 Pilot Officer No 86 NU, Sundridge, Barham
- January 1944 Plying Officer No 86 NU, Barham
- April 1944 Flying Officer No 86 NU Detachment, Manston
- April 1945 Acting Flight Lieutenant 8801 (AD) Wing, Norway
- January 1946 Acting Flight Lieutenant 8301 (AD) Wing, BAFD
- March 1946 Acting Flight Lieutenant attached 312 STC, BAFD
- May 1946 Acting Flight Lieutenant attached 422 AFAP, BAFD
- November 1946 Flight Officer posted 33 Squadron, BAFD
- June 1947 Flight Lieutenant MTR&I 140 Wing, BAFD
- November 1947 Flight Lieutenant 30 MU, Sealand
- November 1949 Flight Lieutenant OEC Henlow
- June 1950 Flight Lieutenant 85 of TT Weeton
- October 1950 Flight Lieutenant 3 Air Navigation School, Thornhill, Southern Rhodesia
- January 1951 Flight Lieutenant 5 Flyting Training School, Thornhill, Southern Rhodesia
- June 1953 Acting Squadron Leader 85 of TT Weeton
- July 1954 Squadron Leader 85 of TT Weeton
- November 1956 Squadron Leader Air Ministry (O Est 5)
- July 1960 Squadron Leader Retired
Types of aircraft flown in
- de Havilland Gipsy Moth
- de Havilland Tiger Moth
- Westland Wapiti II
- Westland Wapiti IIA
- Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIDC
- Fairey IIIC
- Fairey IIID
- Fairey Gordon
- Bristol Freighter
- Hawker Hart
- Bristol Blenheim I
- Bristol Blenheim IV
- Avro Luton
- Westland Lysander
- Armstrong Whitworth Whitley IV
- Avro Anson I
- Avro Anson XIX
- Avro Anson XX
- Miles Master
- Taylorcraft Auster III
- Savoia-Marchetti SM.80
- Lockheed Lodestar
- Messerschmitt ME108
- Douglas Dakota
- Douglas A-26 Invader
- Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
- Vickers Vincent
- Vickers Victoria
- Vickers Valentia
- Avro 504K
- Avro 504N
- Airspeed Oxford
- North American Harvard IIB
- de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
- Vickers Viscount
- Douglas DC-6
- de Havilland Comet IV
- British Aircraft Company III
Douglas DC-6 de Havilland Chipmunk de Havilland Tiger Moth Avro Anson Messerschmitt ME108 North American Harvard Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim North American Harvard Douglas Dakota
Landing ground landed at – abroad
- Kirkuk
- Mosul
- Dhibban
- Uglat
- Simel
- Diana
- Erbil
- Chemchemal
- Suliamanya
- Qaraghan
- Kinberban
- Mandali
- Banji
- Samarra
- Kut-al-Imara
- Shaibah
- Al Azizya
- Nukhaib
- Rutbah
- Ali Garbi
- Ramadi
- Landing Ground V
- Bahrein
- Sharjah
- Muscat
- Amman
- Ramleh
- Heliopolis
- Matrun
- Amrya
- Helwan
- Khanaqin
- Hillah
- Tel-Sirwal
- Abu Suier
- Aboukir
- Khurmal
- Hatra
- RAF H-1
- RAF H-2
- RAF H-3
- Peshawar
- Risalpur
- Konht
- Arawali
- Celle
- Gutebsloh
- Coxyde
- Fritzlar
- Fassberg
- Gibraltar
- Bordeaux
- Nicosia
- Naples
Southern Rhodesia
- Kumalo
- Thornhill
- Heany
- Nkai
- Gatooma
- Que Que
- Belvedere
- Moffatt
- Guinea Fowl
- Stamford Hill
- Zwartkops
- Livingstone
- Fornebu
- Gardemoen
- Kjeller
Landing ground landed at – England & Scotland
- Eastchurch
- Farnborough
- Catross
- North Coates Fitties
- Sutton Bridge
- Martlesham
- Manston
- Hullavington
- Bicester
- Heyford
- Squires Gate
- Bibury
- Stratford
- Netheravon
- Hinton
- Northolt
- Cheddington
- Weston
- Finmere
- Rochester
- Luffenham
- Cosford
- Hardwioke
- Rednall
- Moreton-in-the-Marsh
- Stanton Harcourt
- Turnhouse
- Gatwick
- Middle Wallop
- Massingham
- Honeybourne
- Squires-Gate
- Hendon
- Jersey
- London Airport
