No.263 SQUADRON

THE LION IS KNOWN BY HIS CLAWS

W/O Alexander Smart arrived as Squadron 21st OCTOBER 1939 Disciplinarian. Sgt Patrick Ian Watson-Parker met with a flying W/O Sanders arrived as Armament Officer. accident in Gladiator K6145, whilst flying in the very RAF near vicinity of the Severn Bridge, near Lydney, 2nd 6th . The wingtip struck the water whilst No.263 Squadron was formed under S/L John P/O William Edmund Hunt arrived as Adjutant. carrying out a turn. Pilot swam ashore & admitted to William Donaldson. Lydney Hospital with facial injuries & exhaustion. F/L Randolph Stuart Mills arrived for flying duties 10th Aircraft exploded & sank in 30 feet of water. from HQ Fighter Command, to command ‘A’ Flight. 6 Gladiators collected from No.605 Sqn, ; F/L Tom Rowland arrived for flying duties from HQ the Squadron's 1st equipment. 26th No. 11 Group Uxbridge, to command ‘B’ Flight. 6 Gladiators collected from 8 MU, Little Rissington. P/O James Martin Abell, P/O Graham Walter Beech 11th Austin, P/O Michael Alexander Craig-Adams, P/O 4 Gladiators delivered, making 10 in total. 27th John Antony Dixon, P/O Dudley Henry Forrest, P/O P/O James Martin Abell, P/O Graham Walter Beech 5 Gladiators collected from 8 MU, Little Rissington. Harold Bryan Lillie Hillcoat, P/O Joseph Grantley Austin & P/O Harold Bryan Lillie Hillcoat posted to Hughes, P/O Louis Reginald Jacobson DFC, P/O No.605 Sqn, Tangmere. 28th Irving Francis McDermott, P/O John Woffenden Sgt Basil Ewart Patrick Whall, Sgt Patrick Ian 5 Gladiators collected from 8 MU, Little Rissington. McKenzie, P/O Sidney Robert McNamara, P/O Watson-Parker & Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener Darrell Edward David Milsom, P/O Patrick John arrived for flying duties from No.605 Sqn, Tangmere. 31st Muriel Nettleton, P/O Phillip Hannah Purdy, P/O The Squadron completed 409:30 day & 9:10 night Peter Wyatt-Smith, Sgt Reginald Thomas Llewellyn 12th hours. This was only attained by, on average 6 out of Sgt Arthur Edward Makins, Sgt Ernest Frederick P/O Wyatt-Smith force landed in Gladiator K6145. 10 aircraft being kept serviceable speaking very William Russell, Sgt Kenneth Primrose Vickery highly of the skill shown by the airmen. The standard arrived for flying duties from No.3 FTS. 19th reached is now very nearly on a par with a fully P/O George Stanley Milligan arrived for flying duties S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills & F/L Rowland carried out trained Squadron. Strength of Squadron as at 31st from No.11 Group HQ. ground attack on AA Defence Positions near . October was 15 Officers, 185 Airmen.

24th confidence in their guns which is perhaps the NOVEMBER 1939 16 Pilots now fully trained for Air Fighting. 13 most important item in air fighting. Great have reached this high standard 8-weeks after advantage & accuracy was found possible by RAF Filton passing out of Flying Training School. the fact that the CO & the 2 Flight Commanders 6th with R/T took each pilot individually & made 6 new Gladiators collected from No.6 MU, Brize 25th close observations of the aim they took whilst Norton. Sgt Reginald Thomas Llewellyn & Sgt Arthur firing. Pilots were checked & rechecked by R/T Edward Makins posted to No.41 Sqn, Catterick. from the air & it can now be stated that the 11th The Squadron, it has been ordered to take over standard not only improved rapidly with this F/S Bertrum Robert Grant appointed W/O the Air Safety of the Western part of , assistance, but it has become very accurate. (Eng). which speaks very highly of its standard considering it was formed 7 weeks ago. It is the 28th 14th only Squadron detailed for this. S/L Donaldson broadcast to the & Re-equipped with Browning .303 guns. Air Firing at Sand Bay & 50,000 rounds of AA of Command & District on Sgt Dennis William Mason arrived for flying ammunition were fired in 2 days. Many teething methods of recognition of British Aircraft as duties from No.11 Group Pool, St. Athan. troubles with the guns were experienced but against Hostile Aircraft. P/O Craig-Adams flew have now been rectified & all guns are now a Gladiator in a Demonstration. mechanically perfect. The pilots have

11th The Squadron attended a Dinner in honour of W/C DECEMBER 1939 During the early hours of the morning the Observer O'Neill, Station Commander who has been appointed Corps reported the sounds of an explosion in the G/C on taking Command of North Weald. 1 of the RAF Filton Bristol Channel & gave sound plots of a single Squadrons at North Weald is commanded by S/L 1st-2nd aircraft. These plots were intermittent coming in Edward Mortlock ‘Teddy’ Donaldson, the brother of F/O Rowland, who has proved himself most capable every 15 minutes. Later it was reported that a ship the CO of this Squadron. in his duties as Flight Commander, recommended for was making a series of short blasts from its foghorn. promotion to F/L. 2 aircraft were standing by at Readiness but owing 22nd P/O McNamara to Royal Navy as a RAF Liaison to insufficient detail it was considered unnecessary S/L Donaldson commences leave. Officer. His duties are to sort out friendly & hostile to employ them. F/L Mills takes over command of the Squadron. aircraft throughout the voyage of a Convoy which will last approximately 10 days. 14th 26th The following airmen were posted to Ground Formation led by P/O Craig-Adams made a forced 5 ‘A’ Flight aircraft formed the ‘Bomber’ formation, Training School, Eastchurch. Cpl T.F. Thornber, Cpl landing at Handley Swan owing to poor visibility & & 3 ‘B’ Flight aircraft successfully Intercepted over W.J. McDonald, Cpl J.G. Boggan, Cpl C.V. Misstear, lack of petrol. P/Os Milsom & McKenzie landed Yeovil. AC2 T.W. TROW, LAC S. Vincent, AC2 G.R. Angus, LAC successfully but P/O Craig-Adams broke his aircraft J.G. Dumbleton, AC1 G.E. Manley, AC2 J.K. McLean, when, after touching down, it passed through a 28th AC2 G.E. Parry, AC2 R.S. Saunders, LAC A.E. Thorn, bogged draining run, causing it to turn into a hedge. S/L Donaldson returned from leave. AC2 B.H. Williams, AC2 J.H. Wilson, AC2 L.J. 3 successful Interceptions during the day. It is Cheeseman, LAC R. Davies, 746561 AC2 E. Evans, AC2 15th considered that under the bad visibility conditions, C. Bowyer. S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills & W/O Grant proceeded to the flying was of the highest possible standard. 3 forced-landing field to make the necessary decision different Controllers controlled each of the 3rd regarding the damage etc. The field was situated 50 Interceptions and in each case only 2 vectors were S/L Donaldson to Eastchurch for Broadcast on miles from Filton. It was found the field was long & given. In one case the Flight Commander of ‘A’ Flight Recognition Demonstration. P/O Craig-Adams is to narrow, the surface not being considered very was given the order to orbit at Zero+12 & at that assist in a fly past in a Gladiator. suitable for landing, but the party believed it was the precise moment he was level with the hostile aircraft. best field in the district. The forced-landing field was The matter was investigated later, & it was 4th in upper part of the River Severn, & at present most considered that the fault lay with the Observer Corps, The Gloucester Observer Corps reported an aircraft of the land is under water. S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills whose plots were being plotted in the Operations bearing German National Markings. ‘B’ Flight flew the 2 serviceable machines out, F/L Mills Room some 8-minutes after observation. F/L Mills intercepted the aircraft which was found to be an reached Filton in ½-hour, but S/L Donaldson's will carry out trials with the object of bringing a Anson. The Interception was carried out with ease & aeroplane developed plug trouble & he made a higher degree of efficiency with the posts concerned. over a range of 34 miles. Place of Interception was precautionary landing at Gloster's aerodrome. With reference to the Forced Landings of the . following aircraft – Gladiators N5649, N5632 & T/Sgt W.F. Howells posted to No.1 Balloon Training 16th N5635. The following is an extract from a letter Unit, RAF Cardington. ‘Works & Buildings’ have worked on the aerodrome addressed to The Under-Secretary of State for Sgt Denis William Mason awarded a special for the past fortnight & the surface has become much Commanding. ‘I consider that all 3 pilots concerned assessment from No.13 Training School. improved, although there are still portions that showed sound common sense & I agree with the remain unserviceable. remarks made by the CO No.263 Sqn in his report 5th attached to the above-mentioned letter in that both 3 Practice Interceptions. 1st led by S/L Donaldson 38 17th pilots showed great courage & determination in miles from Filton, 2 miles south of Wincanton; 2nd led The Station Signal Officer reported that his Wireless maintaining their positions in the formations.’ by F/L Mills, 22 miles from Filton, 3 miles south of Operators had had more practise during the past 3- Bath; 3rd led by F/L Rowland, 22 miles from weeks than they had received over the previous 4 29th Malmesbury. So far, this Squadron has met with months & the efficiency & smooth running of his A thick fog broke out approximately ½-hour after 100% success of all Interceptions carried out. section had made astounding improvements. He Night Flying commenced. Orders were issued by R/T attributed this to the heavy traffic the Squadron had to land & F/L Rowland ordered pyrotechnics to be 7th given this section. fired, this enabled the pilots to locate the aerodrome The Squadron received presents for the Airmen from with ease. S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills landed safely Bristol’s Own Fund for which the CO thanked them 19th but P/O McNamara, owing to his limited flying very warmly. Whilst an aircraft was flying in the vicinity of Sand experience, was not able to cope with the situation Sgt Dennis William Mason posted to No.141 Sqn, RAF Bay, a Whitley was observed. The aircraft gave the so easily. He made 4 attempts to land. The visibility Turnhouse. challenge letter of the day & requested his position reducing greatly every minute he remained in the on his recognition lights. His position was morsed air, but his 4th attempt to land was successful & it is 8th back by the pilot’s recognition lights & this was considered this Officer displayed a cool sense Re-sighting of guns. Considering the amount of firing received. The Whitley had been plotted by the throughout his adventure. & flying that has taken place the gun sighting had to Observer Corps for 2 hours as an unidentified be altered only a very small degree to bring about aircraft, therefore a certain amount of assistance 31st perfection, which speaks very highly of the gun was given both to the Whitley & Observer Corps, in Formation of 9 led by the CO flew over the important stabilization properties of the Gladiator Aircraft. clearing up an unanswered question. towns in the Sector. The object was to bring about a sense of security to the population, at the same time 10th 20th allowing them to see the Squadron for the 1st time. Successful Practice Interception of an attack on Search in front of Bristol Harbour for an aircraft that The Squadron has now flown over 1,200 hours day Avonmouth Docks. had been seen to dive into the water out of low cloud. flying & 53 hours night flying since 13th October It was discovered ½-hour later that the aircraft 1939. All pilots who have remained with the belonged to Bristol Works & the pilot, F/L Deacon, Squadron for this period have completed 60 hours. received fatal injuries.

compromise & fit up a temporary diagram, but on 19th JANUARY 1940 looking into the matter more closely, it was found With the moon at ½-phase & the similar weather that 7 different electrical connections were condition that prevailed during the day, & with the RAF Filton necessary, therefore Gloster Aircraft were aerodrome & the surrounding country covered with 2nd approached for a suggestion. They have kindly a layer of snow, an extensive night flying programme 3 aircraft up on night flying patrol. The Pilot in consented to submit their recommendations. was carried out. Co-operation with the searchlights charge of the formation, P/O Purdy followed a mist F/L Rowland carried out an affiliation exercise with was successfully completed & a definite conclusion bound valley in mistake for the River Severn, & No.52 HAA Regiment. It was considered to be a great made as to the value of the purple searchlight. It is therefore in fact his patrol line was into the middle success & we were warmly thanked by them. considered that this type of searchlight is not yet of Wales & back, instead of up & down the River bright enough to aid homing facilities. They are Severn. The CO asked P/O Purdy on 2 occasions 11th easily discernible when a beam, but when flying up whether everything was all right & if he was certain W/O Alexander Smart, Squadron Disciplinarian, or down the beam very little light can be seen. Since of his position & his answer was ‘Yes’. After the posted to HQ, British Air Forces B.E.F. the object of the purple light is to direct pilots either formation had been in the air for 70-minutes, the on to a patrol line or for their safe return to base, it Controller ordered the Observer Corps to plot his 12th is thought necessary to have a beam that is position & it was found that no trace of the formation Scramble discernible from all angles. could be seen in the vicinity. However, by sheer Red section led by S/L Donaldson were detailed to coincidence at this moment 3 aircraft were being intercept a balloon which had broken adrift from 22nd plotted in the district of Brecon which is in the Cardiff. After searching for 40-minutes no trace Both Flights practiced Fighter Command Attacks. middle of South Wales. The Controller then could be seen. The Squadron fired 20,000 rounds of ammunition requested immediate recognition of the aircraft & it over the course of the last week & all the firing took was established that they were Gladiators. They Raid 51 place in formation. 16 pilots fired 1,200 rounds each, were ordered to Pancake Base. It is unfortunate to Red Section vectored just south of Gloucester to this denotes that each pilot fired 100 rounds per gun relate that this was not received clearly. The intercept an enemy raider approaching Bristol at on 3 separate occasions. There were no stoppages to formation had up to this time been receiving R/T 20,000 feet. The Controller informed them that the any guns throughout the week. A series of lectures exceptionally well, since communication had been enemy aircraft was immediately over Hullavington have been commenced because it was considered established over 60-miles. Had the R/T been less at 20,000 feet & 30-seconds later the aircraft was that the knowledge of the armourers was not efficient as is usual the pilot could never have gone observed. After giving the order to load guns the satisfactory for the standard required by this as far away from the aerodrome without losing Flight took up a position to attack. When at ¾-mile Squadron. communication. The leader decided to remain from the enemy it dived vertically to the ground. At airborne until daybreak & to make a precautionary 10,000 feet the Raider was overhauled & was 25th forced landing as soon as light permitted. At 0750 all identified as a long-nose Blenheim. It was fortunate P/O John Michael Vowles Carpenter & P/O Michael 3 aircraft landed safely in a field. Later the formation for the Blenheim's pilot that he was not fired on, Amor Bentley arrived for flying duties from No.11 received permission to take-off & refuel at Porthcawl since Operations had informed the Leader that it was Group (Fighter) Pool, St. Athan. aerodrome which was only 10-miles away. P/O a hostile aircraft & it carried out evasive tactics. Purdy & P/O Hughes took off from the field safely, 29th but it is assumed that P/O Wyatt-Smith was affected 13th Rain fell & on impact with the ground froze by his ordeal & his air sense whilst taking off had The following is an extract of a letter forwarded to immediately, wires having some ½-inch radius departed somewhat, since he tried to pull his aircraft HQ No.11 Group. ‘Interception Report on Raid 51. coating of ice surrounding them. The cloud base in off the ground too quickly & subsequently stalled & Only 8 plots were received from Observer Corps; the early part of the morning was 2,000 feet & crashed. The aircraft was a write off, & luckily P/O although sky was clear it was hazy & considerable despite the slight rain, aircraft took off to carry out Wyatt-Smith was unhurt. difficulty was observed in reporting high-flying local flying. It was noticed that every 5 minutes in the aircraft. Shortly after orbit had been ordered Red air approximately ½-inch covered the leading-edge 4th Leader, S/L Donaldson, transmitted enemy sighted. surfaces on all parts of the aircraft including the Formation Air-Firing at Sand Bay. It is found that This message was received indistinctly & not engine & propeller, & an emergency call was made with practice the accuracy of formation firing confirmed as R/T failed at this point. As stated in recalling all aircraft immediately. There were 9 improves greatly. At the commencement when each Combat Report, aircraft on being approached dived aircraft airborne & it was odd to note how the 1st Pilot was making his 1st effort the majority when from 18,000-8,000 feet & Red Section followed by aircraft landing with approximately ¼-inch of ice asked if they were able to locate the point of contact diving vertically & at a steeper angle that the enemy. coated evenly on all leading-edge surfaces. The last of their bullets, would answer that ‘they were paying S/L Donaldson noticed black & white wings during aircraft to land had been in the air twice as long as more attention to maintain their position in the dive & thus was doubtful of its identity. He turned the 1st & had approximately double the thickness of formation than the actual effect & result of their across his section to prevent them opening fire & ice coating. The pilot reported that the aircraft was aim.’ Most Pilots have now fired 3 times on the then identified red & white circles. During the dive manoeuvrable but was very heavy when landing. ranges & it is considered they are now able to fire in the aerials of both Leader & No.2 broke away, this Total of 5 hours flying was completed under these formation without paying too much attention to has occurred on several occasions recently. S/L conditions. The CO took 16 photographs for the their position, but the accuracy although much Donaldson showed determination in getting his Meteorological experts of the on the improved is not yet considered to be a high standard. formation in a position to attack an aircraft very icing on trees & wires. No photographs were taken much faster than his own formation & showed however of the icing on the aircraft. There is no 5th presence of mind in withholding the fire of his photographic apparatus on the station therefore this ‘B’ Flight led by F/L Rowland carried out affiliation formation.’ act was one of courtesy to those who study the exercises with No.52 HAA Regiment. weather. The results gave great satisfaction to those 14th personnel. 8th S/L Donaldson with the Station Commander & Air Interception practice was spoilt by the Observer Ministry Contractors decided the future positions for 30th-31st Corps. The ‘Hostile’ aircraft was reported to be 3,000 concrete runways, taxying tracts & dispersal points. P/O McNamara received injury to his hand & was feet but in fact they were at 14,000 feet. No admitted to RAF Hospital, Locking, where he was explanation can be given for this mistake, other than 16th successfully operated on. This injury was sustained inefficiency. A Balloon broke adrift from Avonmouth & a Flight whilst the Officer was off duty & cause has not yet was despatched to intercept. The balloon landed a been investigated. 9th few minutes prior to the arrival of the 3 Gladiators & F/L Mills assumed temporary command of the The Cine-Camera-Gun Equipment arrived, but no they returned to Base. Squadron vice S/L Donaldson, absent on leave. wiring diagram is held. The CO was willing to

1st warning to the time the last aircraft left the 22nd FEBRUARY 1940 ground was 3:25 minutes. Considering all 6 aircraft 2 sections led by F/L Mills & F/L Rowland practiced had to taxi 500 yards to get into position for the take- Fighter Command Attacks. RAF Filton off, the time for the quick getaway was very good. S/L Roberts, Staff Officer of Fighter Command visited 2nd the Squadron & witnessed 2 Interception practices F/L Rowland led a Flight on Air-Firing at Sand Bay, 11th on the Link Trainer. A heavy snowstorm approached Filton. The Flight Extensive Air-Firing programme, some 12,000 landed in 100 yards visibility. rounds being fired. Formation firing & individual 23rd firing took place & the results were most F/L Mills gave a lecture on Recognition of Aircraft to 4th satisfactory. No.236 AA Battery at Portishead. After continuous rain for 12 hours, a thaw set in, & most of the snow had disappeared. Low cloud & poor 12th 24th visibility. No flying owing to the unserviceable state P/O Bentley, P/O Carpenter & P/O Richards are During the afternoon S/L Donaldson was sent up to of the aerodrome. showing signs of developing their flying qualities, but identify an X-Raid. Whilst at 15,000 feet he noticed no opinion can be given as to the standard of the his oil pressure had dropped to zero & oil 5th ability. temperature had risen to 100°C. A precautionary P/O Walter Phillip Richards arrived for flying duties forced landing was carried out at Wanstrow 5 miles from No.11 Group Pool. 13th south-west of Frome. The cause of the engine failure ‘B’ Flight carried out a series of practices of quick was not identified, as it was dark before the 7th rearming & refuelling. ‘A’ Flight on the other hand maintenance party arrived at the scene. Interception was carried out on the Link Trainer. A carried out a continuous 6 hours Patrol at 28,000 special map was built so that it represented an feet. One aircraft Patrolling Cardiff & the other pilot 25th operations table. Suitable wheels were attached to patrolling the aerodrome. On further investigation as to the cause of engine the Link Trainer marker which gave an air speed failure compelling S/L Donaldson to make a forced (cruising) of 240mph. Telephonic communication 14th landing yesterday, it was ascertained that the failure had been arranged on 3 lines with the Operations Air-Firing by both ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights. The Squadron was internal & that repairs could not be affected at room, to represent the plotter, the controller & the fired 16,500 rounds during the day. The firing was the scene of the landing. The aircraft was therefore pilot. It is considered that this type of Interception carried out in Flight formation & there were 6 dismantled & brought back to Filton. practice most beneficial. practices on rapid rearming & refuelling. 26th 8th 19th F/L Mills assumed command of the Squadron, vice 6 aircraft took off to intercept a runaway balloon, In the early part of the morning, W/O Armament S/L Donaldson who proceeded on 6 days leave. but before this could be made, it landed. took a ground target to the Air-Firing Range for the purpose of marking each Pilot. S/L Donaldson was 27th 9th the 1st but during his Air-Firing, low-cloud & rain 4 of the 9 aircraft allotted to this Squadron from W/O Diggins to the Air Firing Range with a target 4 approached & the programme was cancelled. No.152 Squadron were flown down from Acklington feet square. The CO re-sighted his guns, all gun firing in a formation led by P/O Craig-Adams. on to one point at 300 yards. 2,400 rounds were fired 20th & 70% of the bullets hit the target. The object of this P/O Dixon was reported by the CO as being 28th was to carry out measurements of bullet spreads at unsuitable as a Fighter Pilot. P/O Richards now a qualified fighter pilot by day. 300 yards. The Squadron is being equipped as a Field Force Squadron & arrangements to complete this change 29th 10th over are well in hand. Detailed to provide 2 sections to fly on set courses to AVM Walsh, AOC No.11 Group & AVM Gossage, paid exercise the other sectors of No.11 Group. Bad a visit to the Squadron. The Secretary of State for Air, 21st weather prevented this from being carried out. Sir Kingsley Wood, also visited & met all Pilots & The training of P/O Bentley, P/O Carpenter & P/O personnel. A section of ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flight demonstrated Richards continued. a quick getaway take-off, & the time taken from the

9th 23rd MARCH 1940 P/O James Beaton posted to RAF Halton as F/O. Air-Firing at sea markers. P/O Noel James Fagan arrived as Equipment Officer. RAF Filton The Recce party left for Port “O” today., this consisted 24th 1st of F/L Rowland & 4 Airmen, together with 2 M/T. Searchlight Co-Operation with Bristol Units. The 2 Sections of 3 aircraft to act as targets to exercise results, however, were poor, the Searchlight all the other Squadrons in No.11 Group. F/L Mills 10th Companies having little idea of finding aircraft not lead a Section to Biggin Hill, via Newbury, Caterham Preparations for formation of Advanced M.T. Party. illuminated. & Maidstone. The other section led by F/L Rowland went to Hornchurch via St Albans & Colchester. On 11th 25th landing at the destination both Flight Commanders Routine work on the re-formation of Squadron. P/O William Edmund Hunt posted to No.145 Sqn as were informed great difficulty was experienced in Adjutant. carry out Interceptions owing to the lack of 13th P/O John Francis Blick arrived as Adjutant from information from the Observer Corps. This is not P/O Fagan to No.25 MU, Hartlebury for the purpose No.145 Sqn. understandable as weather conditions were perfect. of inspecting the pack up of maintenance stores. It can be noted here that No.145 Sqn was formed a On landing at Hornchurch, P/O Purdy met with an 1-2 weeks after this Squadron & therefore the unfortunate accident. He struck a Chance Floodlight 14th Adjutant brought with him reports of the progress of which was standing on the aerodrome. The aircraft Packing of Squadron Equipment is being completed No.145 Sqn, which were entirely unofficial of course, & Floodlight were both written off, but P/O Purdy for despatch by M/T tomorrow. Signal received from & an unofficial comparison can be made favourable escaped Injury. Air Ministry informing Squadron that Movement for No.263 Sqn. preparations had to be suspended. 2nd 26th F/O Denis Herbert Fowler arrived as Medical Officer. 15th Interception practice. In view of the advanced stage of the packing of P/O Gordon Wilson posted to No.3 Base Area, 3rd Squadron equipment it was decided that sections Uxbridge. The SASO No.11 Group requested the Squadron were to complete the packing & for it to be loaded on provide 2 Sections to fly as Raids for Operational to the Squadron M/T. When the loading was 27th Exercises for No.11 Group. One Section was led by completed the transport formed a convoy & Air-firing competition. 1st 3 places were taken by S/L F/L Rowland & the other by P/O Jacobsen. P/O proceeded a short distance round the camp & Donaldson, Sgt Milligan & P/O Carpenter. McNamara was compelled to make a landing at returned to the appropriate sections for unloading. Redhill in order that an adjustment could be made to The purpose of this rehearsal was to determine the 28th his aircraft. On return to the Unit the weather time to be allowed for loading & unloading of each 50-hours flying completed, which included 18-hours conditions deteriorated & P/O McNamara made a section's equipment. night flying. Night flying consisted of affiliated precautionary forced landing near Guildford. The exercise with the searchlight companies of Bristol; aircraft was successfully flown back to Base on the 16th their standard was slightly better than the previous following day. Practice Interception carried out by ‘A’ Flight led by week but still left room for improvement. F/L Mills (fighter) & P/O Hughes (bomber). 4th 29th P/O James Beaton arrived as Equipment Officer. 18th P/O Darrell Edward David Milsom & P/O Patrick P/O John Antony Dixon posted to No.1 Air Armament John Muriel Nettleton collided in the air at mid-day 5th School. & both killed. Both, more especially P/O Milsom, F/O R. Rose & F/O S.M. Brown arrived from HQ No.2 F/S P. O’Dowd appointed W/O. were exceptional pilots & exceptional types of CFF, Benson as Code & Cypher Officers. Officer, and it is a great loss to the Squadron. Both 20th were extremely popular with all those who met 6th P/O Alick Gordon Wilson arrived for flying duties them. S/L Williams from HQ Fighter Command visited & from FTS. discussed equipment arrangements on formation to Searchlight Co-Operation Severn Tunnel-Yate-Bath- 31st Field Force Unit. Glastonbury-Bridgwater. Special note must be paid to the Squadron's achievement of carrying out 450 hours flying in 10 7th 21st days. This not only shows the efficiency of the Preparation of the Squadron as a Field Force Unit. P/O Alick Gordon Wilson posted to No.3 Base Area, Squadron but also the good spirit of all the technical We are practically at full personnel strength. RAF Uxbridge. staff which compose the clockwork mechanism of the Squadron. They worked hard & have shown at this 8th 22nd early stage that No.263 Squadron has placed itself Final arrangements for the departure of the Recce Triangular navigational flights were made to well in the foreground of Fighter Command. party completed. , Wareham & Filton.

12th together with Admin Staff & the Airmen under the APRIL 1940 F/O Denis Herbert Fowler arrived again as Medical command of F/L Rowlands, completed Officer. arrangements for movement overseas. The files & records of No.263 Squadron were The process of reduction in the strength of the destroyed, preparatory to the evacuation from Squadron ceased the abandonment of the Finnish 21st . In consequence as from 1st April 1940, until Expeditionary Force project late in March, & there F/O Harold Anthony Olivier, P/O Allan Walter the personnel returned to on varying dates was an influx of signals posting personnel afresh. Naylor Britton, P/O Denis Geach Parnall & P/O in the early part of June, the Record does not so much From this it was adduced, although there was no George James Drake arrived for flying duties from effect to give a day-to-day précis of events as to piece official confirmation that the Squadron was again in No.5 OTU. together with due regard to accuracy data obtained the process of being reformed to Field Force F/O Edwin Walter Cole arrived as Intelligence from various sources. It will be appreciated that with establishment for service overseas. This proved to be Officer from RAF Filton. detachments of the Squadron sometimes widely the case & later it became apparent that the 54 vehicles of varying types appropriate for the separated, compliance with instructions laid down destination would be Norway in which country, due requirements of a Field Force Unit, departed from for the completion of the Record was a matter of to its configuration, the Gladiator aircraft flown by Filton to proceed by road to the Port of Embarkation some difficulty. the Squadron would be particularly suitable. The Port ‘O’ (Leith). The party consisted of P/O Fagan, scheme as originally conceived, projected the P/O McDermott, 54 drivers, F/S Young (transport), RECONSTRUCTED sending of 18 Gladiators in advance, to a frozen lake F/S Robson (Armoury), Sgt Pullen (Equipment), Cpl April 1940 opened quietly; activity being confined to at Lesjeskogen near Aandelsnes in Norway; servicing Watkins (Orderly Room) & AC2 Wilkinson. reduction of personnel from Field Force (abortive of aircraft to be affected by an independent party Finnish expedition) to normal Fighter unit under arrangements made by the Air Ministry. If & 22nd establishment. when events rendered the course practicable the P/O William Jones Daniel arrived as Code & Cypher remainder of the Squadron’s personnel were to Officer. 1st follow. P/O Richard Malzard Hogg arrived for flying duties 25th from No.145 Sqn. 13th The Main Party (F/L Rowland, F/O Blick, F/O F/O Denis Herbert Fowler posted to RAF Filton for The Sections attached to Northolt & St. Eval re- Fowler, F/O Olivier, F/O Cole, P/O Parnall, P/O Medical duties. joined the Squadron. Britton, P/O Drake, P/O Daniel, 4 Warrant Officers, F/O Harold Edward Vickery arrived for flying duties 4 Flight Sergeants & 262 Other Ranks) entrained at 3rd from No.3 Sqn, Kenley. Filton Junction Station for Port ‘O’ (Leith). On 25th Section of ‘B’ Flight, P/O Jacobsen, Sgt Kitchener & P/O Arthur Charles Cochrane arrived for flying April the remainder of the Squadron entrained at Sgt Milligan, under the Command of F/L Rowlands, duties from No.14 FTS, Kinloss. Filton Junction for . flew to Northolt for Searchlight Co-Operation 17th exercises. Crew of 10 proceeded to Northolt by road. P/O Noel James Fagan arrived as Equipment Officer 26th from RAF Filton. Main party arrived at Leith Station & taken in buses 6th to docks, then by Lighter to SS Ulster Monarch lying P/O James Beaton posted to ‘D’ Flight, Old Sarum. 18th in the Firth of Forth. F/O Vickery proceeded to Port of Embarkation Port 7th ‘O’ (Leith) via Air Ministry, for orders. These 27th Sgt Kenneth Primrose Vickery missing presumed appear to have been in general terms that he was to Main party at sea – dense fog. killed whilst engaged in formation flying near assist & advise in the selection of possible sites for Portishead. The weather deteriorated during the aerodromes & for that purpose was to accompany a 28th exercise & he lost touch with his colleagues & failed Royal Engineer Pioneer Party. Arrived Island of Hoy, early morning. to return, it was presumed that he had crashed into Stayed overnight in previously unoccupied huts. the sea. The presumption appears to have been 19th correct as some days later portions of the fuselage Preparations for departure of Air Party to proceed to 29th were washed up, on 1 of which was the number of the Norway. Embarked on lighters which conveyed the personnel machine which he had been flying. to SS Orion, in which conditions were found to be 20th much more comfortable than those experienced 8th Air Party (S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills, P/Os, Bentley, hitherto. P/O McNamara, P/O Craig-Adams & P/O Richards of Carpenter, Hughes, Macnamara, McKenzie, Purdy, F/O Vickery whose adventures since leaving Filton ‘A’ Flight, under F/L Mills flew to St. Eval, , Jacobsen, Richards, Wyatt-Smith, Hogg, Craig- on 18th April he was not able to speak, left on a for Searchlight Co-Operation Exercises. Adams, Sgts Russell, Kitchener, Milligan, Whall & seaplane for an “unknown” destination. Forrest) with 18 Gladiator aircraft, left Filton on the 1st stage of their journey to Sealand for refuelling. In 30th the meantime, pilots recently posted to the Squadron Aboard SS Orion. At anchor in Scapa Flow.

SS Sobriesti, King George V Dock Glasgow - 2nd 20th MAY 1940 Echelon of Main Party to embark on 12th. Echelon to Norway - 1st Echelon - Main Party moved from consist of 6 Officers & 58 Other Ranks to include Sjoveien to Bardufoss. 2nd Echelon moved from Skole The procedure adopted for the May record follows remainder of the ‘drivers - petrol’. to Bardufoss. that for April. Recourse has been had to an official HMS Furious - Air Party ready to fly off. report compiled by W/C Atcherley which has been 11th incorporated in the body of the record. Unofficial Sgt Dudley Henry Forrest posted to No.66 Sqn, RAF 21st sources have also been tapped. The Operations Duxford. F/L Tom Rowlands posted to No.43 Sqn from Record as followed seems to convey all the necessary Norway - Advance Party on SS Chrobry arrived at Norway & left Harstadt by air. information without further embellishment. Harstadt. Conveyed on Norwegian fiord boats, called Rear Party - F/O Blick, F/O Yate & 24 Airmen “puffers”, to Sjoveien. embarked on SS Monarch of Bermuda at Glasgow. 1st Scapa Flow 12th The précis following is largely extracted from the SS Orion with Main Party sailed for undisclosed SS Sobriesti, Glasgow - 2nd Echelon, Main Party Report made by W/C Atcherley of the operations destination. consisting of F/O Riley, F/O Olivier, F/O Cole, P/O undertaken by No.263 Sqn. MV Delius with Air Party on board arrived. Pilots Fagan, P/O Parnall, P/O Daniel, Sgt Watson-Parker, HMS Furious - F/L Randolph Stuart Mills & P/O conveyed by tender to Thurso, then boarded a train Sgt Mason & 56 Other Ranks embarked in Polish Walter Phillip Richards crashed in the mountains for London. steamer SS Sobiesti. north of Sorreisa as a result of the leading Swordfish HMS Furious - Air Party - by bus to Greenock & losing its way. P/O Richards was killed & F/L Mills 2nd embarked in HMS Furious. S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills, rendered ineffective. The last 2 sections returned to Firth of Forth F/L Hull, F/L Williams, F/O Ede, P/O Wyatt-Smith, HMS Furious & awaited better weather. They later SS Orion anchored within sight of Forth Bridge. P/O McNamara, P/O Richards, P/O Craig-Adams, flew off & landed at Bardufoss. London P/O Hughes, P/O Falkson, P/O Purdy, P/O Jacobsen, Norway - Squadron carried out 40 sorties on Air Party arrived in London. P/O Bentley, Sgt Milligan, Sgt Kitchener, Sgt Whall & Standing Patrol over Harstadt-Sorreisa-Salanger. Sgt Russell. 18 Gladiator aircraft flown on to Furious 3rd by pilots of the . 22nd F/O William Riley arrived for flying duties from Rear Party - sailed along River Clyde to Gourock & No.610 Sqn. 13th anchored at rendezvous with many other vessels. P/O James Leon Wilkie arrived for flying duties from Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien. Norway - 54 sorties, Harstadt-Sorreisa-Salanger. 3 No.266 Sqn. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. combats with indecisive results. Pilots reported P/O James Reginald Bryan Meaker arrived for flying HMS Furious - Air Party lying off Greenock. Gladiators inability to overtake He.111. All attacks duties from No.46 Sqn. RAF Turnhouse - Remainder of personnel as Rear attempted were stern chase. Re-equipped with 12 Gladiator aircraft to replace Party. P/O Michael Alexander Craig-Adams failed to return those lost at Åndalsnes, Norway. & subsequently his body was found in his aircraft a 14th few yards from a crashed He.111 east of Salanger: RAF Turnhouse - Main Party - From SS Orion to Leith P/O Wyatt-Smith of Air Party to Base Hospital for difficulties of recovery were aggravated by the fact Docks by tender then by bus to Turnhouse. Billeted in removal of shrapnel from his leg (received in that the crashes had induced an avalanche. Town Centre & in Hotels in Edinburgh. bombing raid whilst aboard MV Delius returning Eyewitnesses reported hearing machine-gun fire London - S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills reported to Air from the 1st expedition. His place was taken by a Pilot above clouds & seeing 1 aircraft dive steeply into the Ministry then Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State of the Fleet Air Arm, from HMS Furious, Lt. Anthony hills on fire with a trail of smoke. It is supposed that for Air, at the House of Commons. John Guy Lydekker. P/O Craig-Adams collided with his quarry in cloud. He was credited with a victory. His body was 4th Norway - 1st Echelon, Main Party, unloading stores. recovered & buried by a unit of the Chasseurs Alpins. Main Party - inspection & servicing of new aircraft. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. HMS Furious - Air Party sailed from Greenock. 23rd 5th Norway - 40 sorties, Harstadt-Sorreisa-Salanger. Main Party - 5 Officers & 217 other Ranks to embark 15th Sgt Milligan sighted a He.111 & attempted an astern on SS Chrobry on 17th. Squadron transport vehicles Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien - loading transport attack. It drew away but did not return fire. not to be loaded but to remain at Turnhouse to await for Bardufoss. 1st air raid - no damage. Sgt Whall carried out 4 attacks against a Do.17 from disposal. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. 300 yards. It dived steeply away & it was believed to HMS Furious - Air Party at sea with HMS Glorious & have crashed west of Harstadt. Shortly after this 6th escort of 4 . combat, as a result of oil pressure failure, he baled Main Party - Preparing for departure of Advance RAF Turnhouse - Rear party awaiting instructions. out near Harstadt. Echelon. HQ Fighter Command, Stanmore - S/L Donaldson & 16th 24th F/L Mills interviewed by ACM Sir Hugh Dowding & Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien despatching Norway - Pilots showing signs of tiring & ground G/C Orlebar, later visiting HQ 11 Group. convoys to Bardufoss. crews experienced heavy maintenance work as the SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. result of damage to aircraft. 7th HMS Furious - Air Party at sea. 4 Me.110s approached Bardufoss at 6,000 feet in SS Chrobry, Leith Docks, Edinburgh - Advance RAF Turnhouse - Rear party awaiting instructions. tight formation. This was broken up by accurate AA echelon of Main Party, F/L Rowlands, F/O Fowler, fire. Aircraft drew off to about 8 miles & F/O Ede took P/O McDermott, P/O Wilkie, P/O Britton & 217 other 17th off to engage. He made 2 head-on attacks as they ranks boarded the Polish steamer, SS Chrobry. W/O James, Signals Section, who was in charge of circled in defensive line astern formation with No.4 convoy to Bardufoss died as a result of a wound above in the rear prohibiting astern attack. In the 1st 8th received from the accidental discharge of revolver. attack by the Gladiator, 1 Me.110 broke off & dived RAF Turnhouse - Gladiators arrived. Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien loading transport. away & after the 2nd attack his wing guns ceased SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon nearing Norway. firing, so he dived away back to base. The hostile 9th HMS Furious - Air Party nearing Norway. aircraft made no attempt to follow but flew off F/L. Caeser Barraud Hull arrived for flying duties RAF Turnhouse - Rear Party awaiting instructions. towards the South. It is considered that 1 Me.110 was from No.43 Sqn. damaged, but no confirmation could be found of a F/L Alvin Thomas Williams arrived for flying duties 18th crash. from No.222 Sqn. Norway - 1st Echelon loading stores. F/O Ede & F/O Riley attacked a single He.111 at 500 F/O Herman Francis Grant Ede arrived for flying SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon disembarked at Harstadt, feet over Bardufoss. F/O Riley put the starboard duties from No.111 Sqn. proceeded to Sorreisa by ‘puffer’ thence to Skole. engine of the He.111 out of action. F/L Hull, who was P/O Jack Falkson arrived for flying duties from HMS Furious - Air Party lying off Norway. returning from a standing patrol, followed up F/O No.152 Sqn. RAF Turnhouse - Rear Party - F/O Blick, F/O Yate & Riley's attack, finishing off the port engine. The P/O T. Oxspring arrived for flying duties from No.66 34 Other Ranks to proceed to King George V Dock, enemy aircraft was seen to crash in the mountain 5 Sqn. Glasgow to embark on SS Monarch of Bermuda. P/O miles south of Salangen. F/O Ede's aircraft was holed Sgt Dennis William Mason arrived for flying duties George James Drake posted to No.607 Sqn; P/O T. in the petrol tank & engine but he succeeded in from No.141 Sqn. Oxspring & P/O James Reginald Bryan Meaker returning safely to base. 3 prisoners were recovered F/O Frederick William Yate arrived as Code & posted to No.249 Sqn. Surplus airmen personnel from this aircraft & taken to the Norwegian Cypher Officer. posted to RAF Turnhouse. Divisional Headquarters at Setter Moen. P/O John Woffenden McKenzie posted to No.111 Sqn. P/O Richard Malzard Hogg posted to No.152 Sqn. 19th 25th Norway - 1st Echelon - loading stores, convoys to Norway - 40 sorties. As a result of previous 10th Bardufoss. 2nd Echelon at Skole. experience all pilots were given strict orders to stick Air Party - S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills returned from HMS Furious - Air Party lying of Norway together in formation & not return individually as leave. RAF Turnhouse - Rear Party preparing to move. had been current practice. F/O Ede attacked a Ju.90 from astern at 15,000 feet starboard gun jammed, but with the port gun he LAC R.P. Jones was manning a machine gun post on 10-miles north of Harstadt. He got in 2 short bursts caused both engines to emit smoke. top of the disused concrete hanger at Bardufoss at long range & it was later confirmed that this P/O Purdy & P/O Bentley attacked a Do.17 at 2,000 when it received a direct hit. He sustained injuries enemy aircraft landed near Dyrøy Island. He then feet south-west of Harstadt. P/O Bentley continued from which he died. In the same raid, bombs were attacked a 2nd Ju.90 at 15,000 feet 10-miles south- to attack until it entered low cloud in a valley 20 dropped near a Barrack Block killing LAC S. Hurley. east of Harstadt. In 4 successive attacks he put each miles south of Narvik: it did not re-appear & was Sgt Milligan attacked 3 He.111s at 6,000 feet of the 4 engines out in turn & the aircraft was later later confirmed as having crashed in the hills. P/O between Bardufoss & Narvik. He opened fire at 200 found crashed in flames on Finneon Island, South of Purdy broke off this combat to attack 5 Do.17s which yards. During this attack he was attacked by another Narvik. he saw at 12,000 feet on a bombing run over He.111 which he had not seen. He carried out 4 P/O Purdy & Sgt. Kitchener attacked another Ju.90 Harstadt. He attacked 1 from astern from 250 yards. attacks on this aircraft & saw black smoke from the at 500 feet which was attacking a in the The port engine was seen to emit white smoke & it starboard engine. It dived into a valley which was vicinity of Harstadt. P/O Purdy made a diving ¼- turned off south, losing height. The remainder broke enshrouded by a low cloud & was later confirmed attack & put the outer port engine out of action. Sgt formation & headed south. A Do.17 was later found crashed by the Norwegians. Kitchener made an astern attack which produced no crashed south-west of Harstadt & was accredited to visible effect. In his 2nd attack P/O Purdy opened fire P/O Purdy. 28th from dead astern, silencing the rear gunner & setting F/O Riley & P/O Parnall attacked 5 He.111s at F/L Williams saw a He.111 attacking a Cruiser in the it on fire. It crashed into the fiord within 5-miles of 10,000 feet over Harstadt, having previously chased Ofot Fiord west of Narvik. He attacked from 500 the Destroyer. a He.111 away from the same area. F/O Riley made yards astern. After 5-6 bursts, black smoke was seen a beam attack at No.2 of the formation, during which emitting from the fuselage, trailing several hundred 26th he sustained wounds in the neck & chest. The speed yards & it was in a shallow dive. He was forced to RAF Turnhouse - Rear party disembarked from SS of the enemy aircraft was considerably reduced & break off owing to a shortage of fuel but was credited Monarch of Bermuda at Gourock & returned to smoke emitted from both engines. It was later with a victory as it was last seen on fire over hostile Turnhouse by bus. confirmed that this aircraft crashed near Harstadt. territory. Norway - More than 50 sorties. P/O Parnell made a beam attack against No.4 in the Sgt Milligan attacked a He.111 from astern at 8,000 F/L Williams & Sgt Milligan encountered a Ju.88 formation, but it disappeared into low cloud over the feet over Narvik without visible effect. bombing Skaanland at 10,000 feet. Its speed was mountains. It was later found crashed south of the comparatively high compared with the Gladiators & town. 29th they were forced to make simultaneous astern 3 He.111s attacked Bardufoss aerodrome from 2,000 attacks from above, having overhauled the quarry by 27th feet. Sgt Milligan caught up with 1 at Narvik. He cutting across the turns. The port engine caught fire, 10-14 Ju.87s & Me.110s appeared over the made an astern attack at 15,000 feet opening fire at the port wing broke away, followed by complete aerodrome & commenced dive-bombing a jetty 300 400 yards from slightly below. After 2 3-second disintegration of the starboard wing. The aircraft yards south-west of the landing ground. Lt Lydekker bursts & 1 of about 10-15 seconds at 250 yards, fell into the sea & burst into flames. took off followed by F/L Hull who attacked a Ju.87 pieces of metal were observed to break away from F/L Hull, P/O Falkson & Lt Lydekker were dispatched from above: it appeared badly hit & made off slow & the port engine & fuselage. He was forced to break to Bödö landing ground. On arrival, all aircraft were low over the sea. It was later confirmed that 2 away & return to Base as a result of engine trouble, bogged before refuelling was completed. As soon as Me.110s were circling over a spot on the south of the but it was later confirmed by the Norwegians that the aircraft had been extricated from the mud, 2 fiord where the Ju.87 was seen to sink. F/L Hull was the He.111 had crashed south of Narvik. He.111s appearred over the landing ground. F/L hit in the knee & head by the rear gunner of another Hull & P/O Falkson took off in pursuit, the latter Ju.87 which pulled up sharply in front of him. His 29th-30th crashing as the result of the soggy nature of the aileron controls were locked & he only just managed Several ground strafing raids carried out in the aerodrome. Both He.111s escaped. to recover from an involuntary spin at 200 feet with Narvik area. F/O Jacobsen attacked a convoy of 6 F/L Hull attacked a He.111 at 500 feet 6-miles down enough control of engine to make a crash-landing. German lorries on the road north of Beis Fiord. 2 the Salte Valley. It turned south at reduced speed He was taken to Bödö Hospital & later to Harstadt abandoned lorries were later found on the road. He with smoke pouring from engines & fuselage. He after a severe bombing attack on the hospital. also attacked German troops embarking from a lorry broke off the attack on sighting another He.111 & a Lt Lydekker received the concentrated attention of into a fishing ketch on Beis Fiord. F/O Vickery, P/O Ju.52 behind & above. The Heinkel evaded pursuit most of the remaining hostiles. Unable to land back McDermott, F/L Williams & F/O Ede between them but he engaged the Ju.52 with a beam attack & it at Bödö because 3 Ju.87s were covering the landing carried out 22 raids of this nature, attacking motor crashed in flames. 2 further He.111s were seen but ground, he returned to Bardufoss. He received bullet cars, railway stations, troops & pill boxes as well as they turned south on sighting the Gladiator. 2 Ju.52s wounds in the neck & shoulder & his aircraft was a what subsequently was found to be the local German then appeared. He attacked the leader & after 1 complete write-off. Headquarters at Hundalen. F/O Vickery sustained burst, it flew into cloud. After several beam attacks As a result of the actions of these officers, troops at severe damage to his aircraft at Bjornfjell. He at the 2nd Ju.52, it spun into the ground & caught fire. Bödö enjoyed comparative immunity from hostile air returned to Base minus an inter-plane strut, a flying He later engaged a He.111, damaging both engines: attack for a period of 7 hours which enabled them to wire & with a badly pierced wing. as the wing guns had run out of ammunition, his evacuate successfully.

under 500 yards. It dived vertically into low cloud Jacobsen awarded the DFC. Sgt Herbert Horatio JUNE 1940 apparently out of control & in following he only just Kitchener awarded the DFM. missed hitting the mountainside which was A list of airmen whose conduct merited distinction During early June, the campaign in Norway drew to enshrouded. Returning over the Norwegian border was submitted but without result. In this connection its close & the evacuation of troops was undertaken he observed several hostile aircraft circling low over it is well to observe that of its nature their work was with the menace of aerial attack considerably Bjørnfjell. He engaged a He.111 in a diving beam invaluable whilst not spectacular. In the absence of reduced as a result of the cover afforded by our attack at 250 yards & after a comparatively short many of the aids to which they had been accustomed Patrols. These were undertaken both by Nos.263 & burst it pulled up & stalled into the ground. Almost work of improvisation rarely found them lacking in 46 Sqns & continued until 7th June on which date immediately he was attacked by a Ju.88 & 3 more ingenuity & for this reason the following 4 airmen successes were secured against heavy odds. He.111s from head-on & above, the former firing were considered as especially worthy of recognition: The reproaches of the conduct of the campaign in cannon; in taking evasive action he managed a 3- - LAC K. Gilbert; F/S A. Johnson; LAC H.G. Rogers & Norway may be justified but is not a matter on which seconds burst at an He.111 from below & the beam Cpl F. Goss, the writer is able to speculate, but for the activities at about 250 yards. He was attacked again by Officers Killed or Missing: - P/O James Leon Wilkie of the Squadron there could be nothing but praise. another He.111 firing cannon & after further evasive (MIA); P/O Michael Alexander Craig-Adams & P/O The conduct of all ranks who participated was of the manoeuvring managed a 3-second burst into this Walter Phillip Richards. highest & while distinctions between them are aircraft from 50 yards from underneath as it broke Officers Wounded: - F/L Randolph Stuart Mills, F/O invidious there were some whose efforts were so away; it was last seen diving apparently out of William Riley, P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & F/L Caeser outstanding as to merit recognition. control. He then found himself encircled by 2 Ju.88s Barraud Hull. & 6 He.111s which attacked him firing cannon from Other Ranks Killed: - W/O James, LAC Hurley & LAC 1st head-on. His oil tank was holed, his windscreen Jones. P/O Robert George Lauder posted to No.607 Sqn. coated & a flying wire was also broken. He dived to avoid a head-on collision & managed a 4-seconds 8th 2nd burst from astern at another He.111 which rocked Lt Anthony John Guy Lydekker posted back to HMS F/L Williams & Sgt Kitchener encountered 12-15 violently & dived with both engines off. He then found Furious. enemy aircraft at 4,000 feet south of Narvik. They himself up against very superior numbers with made simultaneous attacks from beam & astern on ammunition exhausted & fuel depleted. By low-flying RAF Drem the rear aircraft of a formation of 4 He.111s which evasive tactics, he managed to shake them off & 10th-13th were flying in line astern. Their quarry caught fire & make Base. It was later confirmed from Norwegian Arrived at Drem from Norway. All personnel granted crashed. With similar tactics they dealt with the next sources that 3 He.111s were found crashed near the survivors leave on instructions from No.13 Group. aircraft of this formation which also caught fire & Swedish border & these were accredited to Jacobsen: F/L Caeser Barraud Hull awarded the DFC. was last seen in a steep dive. 7 more similar attacks it is felt that a thorough search would have revealed were made & a 3rd was last seen diving with both the remains of more. 11th engines out of action. Almost immediately after this F/O Frederick William Yate posted to No.15 Group. encounter 6+ Do17s were observed coming up from 3rd-5th the south, but these jettisoned their bombs & made Weather clamp. Opportunity taken to rest pilots & 13th off in the opposite direction. Next, they encountered carry out maintenance work. P/O George James Drake posted to No.607 Sqn. 2 Ju.87s; a simultaneous beam & astern attack was made on 1 from 100 yards; it caught fire in the port 6th-9th 20th long-range tank & crashed into the mountains. Sgt Numerous sorties, but no hostile aircraft attacked. It F/O Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith arrived for flying Kitchener then attacked another Ju.87 as it crossed was noticeable that at the sight of British aircraft, duties from No.1 FTS. his sights; white smoke came from the engine, but he enemy aircraft turned around & fled. lost it in cloud. At the same time, F/L Williams Ground Party, (all Officers & Other Ranks left 22nd attacked a He.111 from 50-yards astern; it dived Norway on the Arandora Star, Monarch of Bermuda F/L Caeser Barraud Hull DFC arrived for flying beyond the vertical & he found it impossible to & other transports arriving without mishap in duties from No.1 RAF Depot. follow. When their ammunition was almost Scotland. exhausted these pilots encountered a Do.17 coming 23rd up from the south which turned around, flying 7th-8th P/O William Albert Alexander Read, P/O Ellis Walter rapidly in the opposite direction again. Unfortunately, the pilots who flew the remaining 10 Aries, P/O Philip Melville Cardell, P/O Alan Richard All hostile aircraft attacked, except for the Ju.87s, aircraft of the Squadron on to HMS Glorious met Downer arrived for flying duties from No.5 OTU, jettisoned their bombs as soon as they were attacked. with disaster when on 8th that ship was intercepted Aston Down. Confirmation was later received that 3 He.111s & 1 by German battleships of the Hipper class & together P/O Patrick Glyn Thornton Brown, P/O Roy Ju.87 had crashed near Beis Fiord & these were with its escort of 2 Destroyers was sunk. Hopes were Frederick Ferdinand, P/O Henry Norman Hunt, P/O accredited to these 2 pilots. held out that survivors might have been picked up, Alan Ormerod Moffat arrived for flying duties from P/O Jacobsen & P/O Wilkie encountered 2 Ju.88s but nothing has since been heard that any of the No.6 OTU, Sutton Bridge. near the Swedish border. The former attacked from Squadron's Officers are alive - S/L Donaldson DSO, the beam & above with 4-second bursts from 500 F/L Williams DFC, F/O Vickery, P/O Bentley, P/O Ede 26th yards. The enemy drew off into Sweden, P/O DFC, P/O Falkson, P/O Louis Reginald Jacobsen DFC, F/O James Richard Tobin arrived for flying duties Jacobsen followed & gave it a further burst from 400- P/O Sidney Robert McNamara DFC, P/O Phillip from No.6 OTU, Sutton Bridge. yards astern, but it evaded by flying into cloud. On Hannah Purdy DFC & Sgt Ernest Frederick William breaking off this engagement, he found that P/O Russell DFM. 27th James Leon Wilkie had disappeared & it is now Awards for the Operations at Bardufoss & Bodø: S/L P/O Eric Wilfred Bell arrived for flying duties from considered that he was shot down during his initial John William Donaldson D.S.O. awarded the AFC; F/L No.1 ACS, Old Sarum. astern attack. Whilst over Swedish territory P/O Caeser Barraud Hull; F/L Alvin Thomas Williams; Jacobsen encountered a Ju.88 at 500 feet which he F/O Herman Francis Grant Ede & P/O Louis Reginald 28th attacked from the beam with a 2-seconds burst from Move to RAF Grangemouth.

5th JULY 1940 Sgt Basil Ewart Patrick Whall posted to No.602 Sqn. 19th 2 Whirlwinds were delivered from Westlands. Considerable progress made in the task of reforming 6th & re-equipping. The task was no light one. Many S/L Henry Eeles arrived to take command of the 20th changes were made in personnel, but by the end of Squadron & brought 1 Whirlwind with him. A section of ‘B’ Flight under F/L Hull ordered to RAF the month the back of the task was broken & under F/O Bertrum Robert Grant was re-posted for Turnhouse for Operations. its new CO (S/L Henry Eeles) it was once more a Engineering Duties. P/O Alan Richard Downer crashed attempting to cohesive unit. The most important event was the make a forced landing. He was taken to the Military decision to equip with Whirlwinds, the 1st of which 8th Hospital Edinburgh but died of his injuries. was brought by the CO on 6th when he arrived to take P/O William Jones Danial posted to RAF, Drem. command of the Squadron. Pending complete re- 21st equipment with Whirlwinds the Squadron is also 9th F/L Hull & his section returned from Turnhouse. being equipped with Hurricanes & to date by far the Sgt Stanley Allen Fenemore posted to No.219 Sqn. greater part of the training has been carried out on 22nd them. By the end of the month only 3 Whirlwinds had 10th Whirlwinds demonstrated to the C-in-C Home Fleet. been delivered & a considerable amount of what the Sub-Lt. Robert Francis Bryant posted to No.219 Sqn. Rosyth. He later sent a telegram of congratulations. Makers are pleased to call ‘teething troubles’ had P/O Arthur Hereward Ormerod arrived for been encountered. 11th Intelligence duties from RAF Catterick. F/L William Riley posted to No.302 Sqn. P/O Francis Harold Arthur Hendry posted to RAF RAF Grangemouth P/O Henry Norman Hunt posted to No.504 Sqn. Catterick as Intelligence Officer. 1st F/O James Richard Tobin & P/O Alan Ormerod F/O Thomas Patrick Pugh arrived for flying duties 13th Moffat posted to RAE. from No.1 RAF Depot. Sgt Patrick Ian Watson-Parker killed in a flying P/O Denis Geach Parnall posted to No.607 Sqn. accident at Tatfield, Biggin Hill. 23rd A Red warning was given at 0030. F/L Hull & F/L Tailwheel of 1 Whirlwind collapsed on landing. 3rd Smith took off to engage the enemy who was heard P/O Ellis Walter Aires posted to No.602 Sqn. overhead, but no Interception made. F/L Hull 24th P/O Philip Melville Cardell posted to No.603 Sqn. returned successfully. F/L Smith crashed. P/O Eric Wilfred Bell killed in a flying accident while P/O William Albert Alexander Read posted to RAF 4 Hurricanes received from the Maintenance Unit. on a course on Blenheims at No.5 OTU. Pembrey, for Intelligence Duties. P/O Francis Harold Arthur Hendry arrived as 15th 28th Intelligence Officer from Air Ministry. A 3rd Flight, ‘C’ Flight, was formed under the S/L Disbrey from No.13 Group visited to discuss the command of F/L Smith to develop the Whirlwind. Whirlwind’s wing tips S/L John Gray Munro arrived from the Air Ministry, Blackpool & posted to Air Ministry, Harrogate.

After circling the aerodrome for some time, he 18th AUGUST 1940 decided to bale out between Grangemouth & Stirling F/L Randolph Stuart Mills DFC posted as OC No.87 & descended safely north of Stirling. Arrested by the Squadron. During August, the Squadron continued on Home Guard, he was later released when the S/L Hurricanes, together with the development of the vouched for his bona fides. The Whirlwind buried 20th Whirlwinds. The experiment of a 3rd Flight (‘C’ itself 30-feet deep in the ground & could not be P/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC arrived Flight) to develop the Whirlwinds was discontinued, recovered. for flying duties from No.226 Sqn. & all pilots were given experience on them. S/L John Gray Munro arrived for flying duties from There was a considerable exchange of hospitality Air Ministry. His efforts, with some considerable 23rd between the Squadron & the Officers of H.M. degree of success, were to persuade the cannon to 7 aircraft to RAF Montrose & held at Readiness but Submarine ‘Sunfish’ which was in dry dock at fire without continual stoppages. were not called upon. Grangemouth. Most of the Officers visited the F/L Alvin Thomas Williams, F/O Herman Francis submarine & vice-a-versa. Aerobatics were given, in Grant Ede & P/O Louis Reginald Jacobsen awarded RAF Grangemouth the main by F/L Hull. DFC. 25th Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener received DFM. P/O Stein was forced to abandon his Hurricane by RAF Grangemouth parachute. While he was over Grangemouth his oil 1st 14th-15th pressure fell to zero, & the aircraft caught fire. He P/O Donald Martin Vine, P/O David Stein, & Sgt The occasion of the big raid on Newcastle, the descended safely & landed in Grangemouth Docks. Clifford Percival Rudland arrived for flying duties. Squadron provided 2 sections at Readiness, but to He was taken into custody but was later released. their disappointment, were not called on. The 7th Secretary of State for the Air, however, was good 30th P/O McDermott, in taking off, burst a port tyre & enough to send a signal congratulating the F/L Caeser Barraud Hull DFC posted to Command damaged the undercarriage in such a manner that Squadron. No.43 Sqn. to attempt a landing would have been hazardous. 31st 1 section at ‘Available’ during daylight hours.

SEPTEMBER 1940 8th Patrol P/O Irving Francis McDermott posted to CFS, Crail at 10,000 feet. Green section. ‘A’ Flight (S/L Munro, F/L Smith, F/O Oliver, P/O Upavon to undergo an Instructor’s course, before Crooks DFC, P/O Hughes & Sgt Morton) developing proceeding to Canada. Patrol the Whirlwind & were non-Operational. 2 more May Island at 10,000 feet. Green section. Whirlwinds delivered, making 7 in all. The engines 9th have not yet surmounted their ‘teething troubles’. Patrol Patrol The guns, however, are now firing satisfactorily. On May Island. Blue section. Dunbar at 10,000 feet. Red section. 1 occasion a Whirlwind (S/L Munro), firing off Dunbar, was positively identified by the Observer 10th 21st Corps as a Ju.88 machine-gunning shipping. A Patrol Patrol section of Spitfires was despatched to intercept. Dunbar. Blue section. St. Abbs Head. Red section. Happily, the encounter did not resolve itself into a trial of arms. 12th Patrol ‘B’ Flight (F/L Pugh, F/O Britton, P/O Wyatt-Smith, Patrol Bell Rock at 2,000 feet. Red section. P/O Ferdinand, P/O Thornton-Brown, P/O Vine, P/O Bell Rock. Blue section. Stein. Sgt Kitchener DFM, Sgt Milligan, Sgt Mason, Patrol Sgt Morton & Sgt Rudland) Operational on RAF Dyce Bell Rock at 10,000 feet. Green section. Hurricanes. 13th ‘B’ Flight ordered to proceed to Dyce, from where a 23rd Blue section - F/L Pugh, P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & Convoy Patrol was carried out. P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith to F/O. P/O Stein. Green section - F/O Britton, P/O Ferdinand, P/O Vine RAF Drem Patrol & P/O Thornton-Brown. 14th Bell Rock at 15,000 feet. Green section. Red section - Sgt Kitchener, Sgt Milligan, Sgt Mason The Duke of Kent visited & a demonstration of the & Sgt Rudland. Whirlwinds was given by ‘A’ Flight. 24th Dusk Patrol During the month, ‘B’ Flight has carried out 32 Patrol North Berwick-May Island-Crail.Red section. Patrols resulting in the Interception of several Bell Rock. Green section. Sharks, Wabis & Bothas, but so far, no contact has 25th been made with the enemy. Patrol Patrol For the 1st 3 weeks the pilots were hampered in May Island. Blue section. May Island at 5,000 feet. Blue section. getting off the ground quickly when Scrambled, as their machines, for reasons of safety, were dispersed Patrol 26th on the far side of the aerodrome. An arrangement Green section Patrolled 20-miles east of May Island. Patrol has now been come to, however, whereby the Drem at 20,000 feet. Red section. machines of the section at Readiness are parked 18th outside the rest hut, & on more than 1 occasion a Patrol Dusk Patrol section has been airborne in less than 2 minutes. Drem. Green section. North Berwick-Methil-Crail. Blue section.

2nd 16th 27th Move to RAF Drem. P/O Thomas Patrick Pugh appointed F/L. Patrol 2 Whirlwinds delivered. May Island. Blue section. 17th RAF Drem During the hours of darkness, the Squadron provided 28th 3rd 1 pilot at 15-minutes & 2 at 30-minutes Available. Patrol The Right Honourable Sir Archibald Sinclair P.C. May Island. Blue section. 1 Botha intercepted. M.P., Secretary of State for Air, visited Drem. Patrol S/L Munro & P/O Crooks DFC gave a demonstration May Island. Blue section. Patrol of the Whirlwinds. Drem. Green section. 18th 6th Patrol Dusk Patrol Patrol Dunbar. Blue section. Blue section. Fifeness. Blue section. 20th 30th Patrol Patrol Convoy Patrol Bell Rock. Green section. Bell Rock at 20,000 feet. Green section. Over Convoy ‘Merit’ off North Berwick.

Patrol Patrol Dusk Patrol Bell Rock. Blue section. May Island at 15,000 feet. Red section. Red section.

St. Abbs Head at 5,000 feet. 1 Botha intercepted. enemy, as none of them saw it. A few seconds later OCTOBER 1940 the Controller gave Green section a vector of 270° & Patrol they turned away. A searchlight position reported During October, the Squadron continued much along May Island at 7,000 feet. that it had heard machine gun fire, & so it is assumed the same lines as in September. ‘A’ Flight is still non- that the Ju.88 had opened fire on Green section. The Operational with the Whirlwinds. 2 more have been 8th enemy dropped 2 bombs on Crail. Just after it had delivered to the Squadron, but the prototype has 1 Whirlwind delivered. done so P/O Ferdinand caught a momentary glimpse been sent back to the Makers. The Squadron of it before it disappeared into cloud. therefore has 8 machines. P/O Hughes & Sgt Morton Dusk Patrol have spent a week at Yeovil doing 10 hours flying in Blue section. 22nd the Whirlwind. ‘B’ Flight has been Operational with Patrol the Hurricanes. During the month 24 Patrols were 11th Dunbar at 8,000 feet. Blue section. They carried out carried out, but no contact made with the enemy, Dusk Patrol an extensive Patrol in the mouth of the Forth. No although on 2 occasions a section was in very close Red section. contact was made with the enemy. Group sent a proximity to a ‘bandit’. During the 2nd half of the message complimenting the section on the way in month weather conditions were bad: very high winds 12th which it had carried out the Patrol in such bad & a considerable weight of rain. Dusk Patrol weather. Green section. RAF Drem Patrol 1st 13th May Island at 12,000 feet. Red section. Patrol Patrol Bell Rock at 8,000 feet. Dunbar-St. Abbs Head at 25,000 feet. Green section. 26th Patrol 2nd 14th St. Abbs Head at 10,000 feet. Blue section. Ordered to Patrol P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham arrived for land after 10 minutes. May Island at 18,000 feet. A Ju.88 was said by an flying duties from 600 Sqn. Observer Corps Post, to have passed over Turnhouse Dusk Patrol at 3,000 feet. No Interception due to bad visibility. 15th Red section. Dusk Patrol Dusk Patrol Blue section. Patrol Blue section. Drem-Methil. Blue section. 18th 4th Patrol 28th Blue section (P/O Wyatt-Smith, P/O Stein & Sgt St. Abbs Head at 8,000 feet. F/O Britton, P/O Patrol Rudland) & Green section at Readiness. Ferdinand & Sgt Rudland). Red section.

5th Patrol 29th Patrol Drem. Blue section (F/L Pugh, F/O Peter Wyatt- Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM to P/O. Drem at 6,000 feet. Smith & P/O Stein). A Ju.88 was in the vicinity of the Firth of Forth. The visibility was very bad, 10/10 Scramble 6th cloud below 4,500 feet. Before Green section reached Intercepted & identified as a Wellington. Patrol St. Abbs Head it was vectored to Dunbar, & then to Dunbar at 5,000 feet. Crail. The enemy aircraft dropped a bomb off North Dusk Patrol Berwick & flew across the Forth. Meanwhile Blue Green section. Dusk Patrol section had been vectored to May Island. While he Red section. was flying east down the Firth of Forth, F/L Pugh 31st sighted the enemy aircraft a mile ahead of him flying Dusk Patrol 7th north with Green section 500 yards behind it. There Blue section. Patrol must have been cloud between Green section & the

P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Dusk Patrol NOVEMBER 1940 Over the Clyde. Blue section. Over Bell Rock. P2570 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM RAF Drem P2493 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P2992 P/O Donald Martin Vine 1st P2915 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith P2857 P/O David Stein R/T Call Sign changed to “Cosy”. P3145 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Considerable enemy activity in the Firth of Forth at P2915 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith 19th night. 3 H.E. bombs were dropped in the field behind ‘B’ Flight at Readiness. the “Parachute” about 250 yards from the Officers’ May Island. 1 Shark intercepted. Mess. No damage or casualties. P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 20th P3312 Sgt Dennis William Mason F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith at Readiness. P/O Stein & F/L Patrol P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan Pugh at ‘Available’. Drem. Considerable excitement prevailed as we were informed that 12 Bandits were in the vicinity of Crail. Dunbar. 21st They were recognised as friendly aircraft (Coastal). P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan Dusk Patrol P3145 F/L Harold Antony Oliver P2915 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Over the Clyde. P2857 P/O David Stein P2570 P/O Donald Martin Vine P3606 F/O Allan Walter Naylor Britton P3992 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith P3658 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P3607 P/O George Stanley Milligan 8th P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason 2 Whirlwinds delivered. P3381 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 22nd P3315 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes RAF MacMerry Sgt Mason at Readiness. Sgt Rudland & P/O P2490 P/O Donald Martin Vine 9th-11th Kitchener DFM at ‘Available’. P2570 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC ‘B’ Flight moved to MacMerry, to operate 2 sections P3606 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand from there. This was not a happy arrangement, but 23rd it did not last long. P/O Stein at Readiness. F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & Patrol F/O Britton at ‘Available’. Bell Rock. Vectored to Montrose, then south over Fife 12th & over Crail where 2 Hudsons were intercepted. ‘B’ Flight (F/L Pugh, F/O Britton, P/O Ferdinand, 24th P3992 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P/O Stein, P/O Vine, P/O Kitchener DFM, P/O Convoy Patrol P3315 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Milligan, & Sgt Rudland) to RAF Prestwick with 8 Patrolled an Aircraft Carrier proceeding down the P3881 P/O Donald Martin Vine Hurricanes to cover a ‘special target’ in the Clyde. We Firth of Clyde. suspect that it was the Formidable. At any rate, the P2992 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Dusk Patrol Germans made no attempt to attack it, & we led a P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Firth of Forth. very uneventful existence. P3658 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan RAF Prestwick Dusk Patrol P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason 13th Patrolled an Aircraft Carrier proceeding down the Sgt Rudland to Drem. Firth of Clyde. 2nd P2570 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Patrol 14th P2992 P/O Donald Martin Vine May Island at 10,000 feet. All ‘Night Operational’ pilots called to available. P2857 P/O David Stein P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM (This was the night of the big raid on Coventry.) P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan 25th P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason 15th Sgt Rudland at Readiness. P/O Kitchener DFM & Sgt Dusk Patrol Mason at ‘Available’. 3rd Over the Clyde. Blue section. Dusk Patrol P3145 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh 27th Firth of Forth. P2658 P/O George Stanley Milligan ‘B’ Flight returned to Drem where we learnt that the P3145 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P2570 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Squadron was to move to & operate solely P3992 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith with Whirlwinds. It was with great regret that leave P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan 18th was taken of the Hurricanes. P/O Milligan to Drem; F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith to 5th Prestwick. 28th-29th Patrol 10 Whirlwinds flown to Exeter & the rest of the May Island. Squadron followed within the next few days. The end P2493 Sgt Dennis William Mason of the month, therefore, found us still not having P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan contacted the enemy.

8th P6974 P/O George Stanley Milligan DECEMBER 1940 Patrol Over Exmouth at 12,000 feet. 21st December has been little short of disastrous, & as a P6969 S/L John Gray Munro Scramble result has probably retarded the Squadron’s P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Raid 164. Off Start Point. Intercepted & identified as progress by several weeks. There have been many a Martin 167. changes in personnel, due either to deaths or Base at 15,000 feet. Plotted as a hostile, sirens P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC postings, the Squadron has, for the 2nd time, been sounded in Exeter. P6968 P/O George Stanley Milligan reduced to a shadow of its former self. We have lost P6974 S/L John Gray Munro S/L Henry Eeles, who has returned to Drem to P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Patrol command the Station; F/O John Francis Blick, who Exeter-. has gone to Grangemouth to act as Station Adjutant; 11th P6973 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith 2 Flight Commanders, F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Patrol P6976 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Smith who has been killed & F/L Harold Anthony Torquay at 15,000 feet. Raid 167. Olivier who has been posted overseas; F/O Allan P6974 F/L Harold Antony Oliver 22nd Walter Naylor Britton, who has been killed; F/O P6970 Sgt Frank Morton F/L Harold Anthony Olivier went on leave pending Peter Wyatt-Smith, who has been posted overseas, & posting overseas. P/O Donald Martin Vine, who has been killed. Added 12th to this, very little flying done by ‘B’ Flight (which up F/O Allan Walter Naylor Britton was killed this 23rd to the end of November was operating solely with afternoon. His section was carrying out firing Patrol Hurricanes & had practically no experience on practice in Sand Bay. They carried out 1 attack, but Start Point. Whirlwinds) owing to the deplorable condition of 1 of them in the words of the Master of a ship who P6973 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC the aerodrome which is, in fact, not suitable for witnessed the affair “seemed to go through his own P6974 P/O George Stanley Milligan Whirlwinds. From 18th to the end of the month the spray”. F/O Britton then made a 2nd attack: did not Squadron was hourly expecting orders to move. All fire his guns but dived straight into the sea. Scramble aircraft were grounded except for Operational Raid 43. Off Start Point. Intercepted a Ju.88 & closed purposes. As the result, the new Commanding Officer, 13th to 1,000 yards before it disappeared into cloud. S/L Munro, is faced with the task of substantially Scramble P6970 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith forming & training a new Squadron. The Whirlwinds Raid 132. Off Start Point. Plots irregular & R/T poor. became Operational for the 1st time on 7th, & during P6973 F/L Harold Antony Oliver 27th the month 30 sorties were made. On 23rd, F/L Smith P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Patrol on Patrol near Start Point sighted a Ju.88. He gave Torquay-Start Point. chase & closed to 1,000 yards, but it escaped into 15th P6976 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC clouds. The task of Interception has not been made F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith posted Overseas. P6970 Sgt Frank Morton easier by the absence of “pip-squeak”. F/O John Francis Blick posted as Station Adjutant to RAF Grangemouth. Scramble RAF Exeter Raid 130. Did not approach within 30 miles of land 1st-6th 16th & section ordered to Patrol Start Point instead. Squadron non-Operational. Several Recce flights S/L Henry Eeles posted to Command RAF Drem. P6975 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith resulted in Air Raid warnings, as the Observer Corps S/L Munro assumed command of the Squadron. P6974 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM were not familiar with the aircraft. On more than 1 occasion the aircraft were shot at, notably over 17th 29th Dartmouth. P/O Leslie Robert Hiscock arrived as Adjutant from Ordered to escort 2 Catalina flying boats arriving No.55 OTU. from Bermuda, F/L Smith, P/O Vine & P/O Kitchener 7th DFM took off for St. Eval in bad visibility, 10/10 cloud ‘A’ Flight became Operational with Whirlwinds. Patrol at 200 feet. Apparently, they got lost & came down to Start Point-Exmouth. 300 feet in near Bovey Tracey, as P/O Kitchener Patrol P6974 F/L Harold Antony Oliver thinks. He reports seeing the ground immediately Over Plymouth at 15,000 feet. P6968 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC beneath him & as he pulled up thinks he saw a dull P6974 S/L Henry Eeles red flash on his right. F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni P6975 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith Start Point-Plymouth. Smith & P/O Donald Martin Vine are missing. He P6976 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6969 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes returned to Exeter. F/L Pugh, F/O Crooks, P/O P6972 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Kitchener, P/O Milligan, Sgt Mason & Sgt Morton Convoy Patrol later proceeded to St. Eval. Start Point-Dartmouth. 20th P6975 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith Scramble 30th P6974 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Raid 148. Off Bear Head. Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates arrived for flying duties from P6973 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC No.56 OTU.

12th Patrol JANUARY 1941 Scramble P6969 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Sgt Mason lost touch with P/O Stein who went on his P6974 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown A detached Flight maintained at St. Eval, which way alone. He intercepted a Ju.88 40 miles south- carried out a considerable number of Patrols. The west of the Scillies & delivered a front ¼-full beam RAF Exeter remainder of the Squadron was at Exeter. We attack. The rear gunner opened fire but was Chameleon Patrol remain very short of experienced pilots, & it has been immediately silenced. The Ju.88 went into a spiral P6985 S/L John Gray Munro a great strain on our resources maintaining the dive through cloud & was not seen again. RDF plots P6977 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh detached Flight. faded & we understand that during the day signals were intercepted from a German Wireless Station RAF St. Eval RAF St. Eval calling for it. It was credited to P/O Stein as a 19th 2nd “Probable”. The combat is noteworthy as being the Scramble F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 1st occasion on which the Whirlwinds drew blood. South-east of the Lizard. appointed F/L. P6972 P/O David Stein P6988 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6968 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Scramble Raid 72. Dodman Point. Identified by an aircraft of 13th South-east of the Lizard. No.234 Sqn as a Ju.88 & damaged by them. Sgt Walter David Waddington arrived for flying P6985 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6992 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC duties from No.56 OTU. P6974 P/O David Stein P6974 Sgt Frank Morton Scramble Patrol Off the Lizard. 30 miles south-east of Lizard Point at 21,000 feet. P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6982 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Saw an enemy aircraft 2 miles away at 23,000 feet P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6974 Sgt Frank Morton coming straight for them out of the sun. It spotted our aircraft & turned tail. Our aircraft gave chase 20th 3rd but were unable to gain. Scramble Sweep P6974 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Off Start Point. 40 miles south of the Lizard. Vectored 40 miles east P6976 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6980 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC & north to the Coast. P6974 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6973 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 20 miles south of Lands End. Sighted a He.111 8-10 miles ahead of them at 21,000 feet. They gave chase, Off Lands End. Visibility very bad. RAF Exeter but south of the Scillies found themselves short of P6980 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P/O Bernard Howe arrived for flying duties from petrol. Opened fire at extreme range but no results P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown No.25 Sqn. observed & it escaped into cloud. P6986 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM RAF Exeter RAF St. Eval P6973 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 21st 4th P/O John Furnival Hayes DFC, P/O Albert Tooth, P/O Patrol Raid 72. Turned away 30 miles north-east of Ivor Ashley St. Clair Watson, P/O Hubert Kenneth P6976 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Guernsey. Smith & P/O John d’Arcy Waechter arrived for flying P6971 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6976 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown duties from No.56 OTU. P6988 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM RAF Exeter RAF St. Eval 9th RAF Exeter Patrol P/O Leslie Robert Hiscock posted as Adjutant to Chameleon Patrol P6985 P/O David Stein No.152 Sqn. Section think they approached to within 10-miles of P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P/O Geoffrey Hugh Hadley arrived for Adjutant the French coast. They observed a smoke trail at duties from RAF Filton. 20,000 feet but otherwise saw nothing. 23rd Sgt Frank Morton was returning in the Blenheim P6985 S/L John Gray Munro Scramble from Warmwell & passed straight over the P6977 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Off Fowey. Turned away 5 miles of the Coast. aerodrome but appeared not to see it. 1 engine was P6981 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6986 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC ‘cutting’ & the plane crashed a few miles from the P6989 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham aerodrome. He baled out at 100 feet but was killed. RAF St. Eval 14th RAF Exeter Chameleon Patrol Patrol 25th S/L Munro, F/L Pugh & F/L Crooks were detailed to P6972 P/O David Stein P/O Ivor Ashley St. Clair Watson, P/O Hubert carry out a special Operation, referred to for reasons P6968 Sgt Dennis William Mason Kenneth Smith, P/O John d’Arcy Waechter & P/O of security as a “Chameleon Patrol”. Fighter John Furnival Hayes DFC posted to No.247 Sqn. Command had reason to believe that when a night 15th Sgts Douglas St. John Jowitt, Glynn Barrow Foden, attack was made by the on South Wales or Scramble Cecil Percy King & Robert Burton Skellon arrived for South-West England, E-Boats used to come up from P6987 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown flying duties from No.56 OTU. Cherbourg & lie about 10 miles off the coast in the P6983 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM hopes of picking up the survivors of any aircraft Scramble which might be disabled & crash into the sea. It was Sighted an enemy aircraft, but it was too high & too Off Lands End. thought that the E-Boats were in the habit of leaving far off to give chase. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Cherbourg in the late afternoon, & it was decided to P6974 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown attack them if possible, with Whirlwinds. The plan P6968 Sgt Dennis William Mason was to climb to 15,000 feet over Dartmouth & from North of the Scillies. there fly to a point about 40 miles from the French 16th P6990 P/O George Stanley Milligan Coast losing to 3,000 feet. F/L Pugh had engine Patrol P6986 P/O David Stein trouble shortly after take-off & had to turn back. S/L P6987 P/O David Stein Munro & F/L Crooks carried out the Operation & P6974 Sgt Dennis William Mason Off Portland Bill. reported nothing to be seen. XXXXX P/O Kitchener DFM P6979 S/L John Gray Munro 17th XXXXX P/O Thornton-Brown P6977 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Patrol P6976 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6985 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 28th P6988 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Patrol RAF St. Eval P6986 P/O George Stanley Milligan 10th Scramble P6989 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Scramble Off Manacle Point. Raid 109. Falmouth Bay-The Lizard. P6987 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6998 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6988 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6990 P/O David Stein P6974 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland

higher authority in his task of bringing the Squadron FEBRUARY 1941 14th to a high state of Operational efficiency. At Raid 124. Faded in the direction of The Smalls. practically no time during his tenure of office was the RAF St. Eval P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC whole Squadron allowed to be on 1 station. His place 1st P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown has been taken by S/L Donaldson, the brother of the We continued to maintain a detached flight at St. previous Commanding Officer of the Squadron who Eval, an arrangement, it may be said, which does not 15th was lost in the Glorious. conduce to the efficient running of a Squadron. Patrol Furthermore, several the new pilots were detached P6958 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Scramble to Charmy Down to get experience on the Whirlwind, P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Raid 127. 30 miles south of Lands End. as Exeter was not thought to be suitable. In the P6986 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC result, what remained of the Squadron at Exeter Scramble P6990 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand became little more than a Maintenance Unit. Raid 110. Faded mid-Channel. P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Raid 140. 50 miles south of Lands End. Scramble P6990 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6996 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Raid 119. Faded south of the Lizard. P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6986 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Raid 119. Faded 30 miles south-east of the Lizard. P6985 P/O David Stein P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Raids X112 & X113. 50 miles south of Lands End. P6988 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan Patrol P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6990 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Patrol P6988 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham P6990 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Patrol P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan 2nd-3rd P6996 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown No Operations. 17th Lt. Mauiritius Rémy (FFF) & Lt. Jacques Garnier DFC 25th 4th (FFF) arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Scramble Scramble Raid 118. Dodman Point-Plymouth. Raid 141. Faded 60 miles south of the Lizard. Patrol P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6985 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6985 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham P6996 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Raid 351. North-west of the Scillies. RAF Exeter & RAF St. Eval P6996 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6986 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 8th P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Scramble Raid 139 12 miles south of Start Point. Blue section P6988 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Scramble up from Exeter on a practice flight was vectored onto P6987 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Raid X126. Off the Lizard. an Arado Ar.196. Sgt Rudland saw the aircraft & P6994 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland attacked from astern but seeing British roundels on 18th P6988 P/O David Stein the fuselage did not fire, & in fact formated on it. The S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson arrived for flying duties enemy went into cloud & reappeared flying east as CO from No.242 Sqn. RAF St. Eval 1,000 yards to port of F/O Hughes who fired a 5- 26th second burst between 450-200 yards but no results 19th Scramble were observed. Meanwhile, Red section, F/L Crooks Lt. Mauiritius Rémy (FFF) & Lt. Jacques Garnier DFC Raid 132. 25 miles south-west of the Lizard. DFC & P/O Graham, had taken off from St. Eval. At (FFF) were posted to No.238 Sqn. P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Dodman Point P/O Graham was ordered to patrol Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit, Sgt James Edwards below cloud while F/L Crooks patrolled above. F/L Sainsbury & Sgt Carl Arthur Long arrived for flying Raid X134. Proved to be a Coastal Command aircraft. Crooks came back down through the clouds, & just as duties from No.56 OTU. P6989 Sgt Dennis William Mason he emerged, passed P/O Graham who was going P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland west. He did a gentle left-hand turn, intending to call 20th P/O Graham who had disappeared. Suddenly, he saw Patrol Raid 138. 40 miles south of the Lizard. an aircraft come through the clouds in a P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM northwesterly direction on his left going lower & P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6991 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown lower until it hit the water. He had difficulty in identifying it but saw floats uppermost in the water Scramble Patrol & a black cross on the wing & on a piece of wreckage. Raid 134. Off the Lizard. P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC A Coast Guard reported that 2 aircraft had crashed P6992 F/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand XXXXX P/O Albert Tooth into the sea 3 miles south of Dodman Point, the 1st in P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM flames. P/O Graham was credited with the P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM destruction of the Arado Ar.196 but did not return & 21st P6991 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown it is assumed that the enemy shot him down. This 1st Scramble victory was celebrated by a gift of a case of Raid 108. 35 miles out to sea at 24,000 feet. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM champagne from the makers of the Whirlwind. P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6991 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6979 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Patrol 28th P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan Scramble P6968 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6990 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Raid 103. 20 miles south-east of the Lizard. P6969 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham P6986 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 23rd P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan 10th Patrol F/O Walter Pollock Weir arrived as Medical Officer. F/L Crooks had to return as his aircraft became u/s. A smoke trail was seen, but no enemy aircraft. P6986 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6991 P/O George Stanley Milligan Patrol P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 24th Patrol To St. Eval. At the same time, we lost our CO, S/L P6991 P/O George Stanley Milligan 11th Munro, who went to AGME for armament duties. It is P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Patrol understood that his job is to test the guns on new P6985 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand fighters. It cannot be said that during his period of P6988 P/O George Stanley Milligan command he was given much assistance by the

4th Lands End-The Scillies. MARCH 1941 Scramble P7000 P/O David Stein Over Lands End. P6983 F/O Bernard Howe Many Convoy Patrols have been carried out, & the P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan usual “will o’ the wisp” chases after lone cloud- P6982 Sgt Cecil Percy King Over the Lizard. hopping “bandits”. We remain very short of P6981 Sgt Dennis William Mason experienced pilots, & the average serviceability state Identified by Observer Corps as a Blenheim. of the aircraft has been low. Currently, the P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan Convoy Patrol Operations Room remains at St. Eval, & this has not P6982 Sgt Cecil Percy King Over 4 Warships approaching Plymouth. made it any easier to operate the Squadron. On more P6988 P/O George Stanley Milligan than 1 occasion all telephone lines between 5th P6993 P/O David Stein Portreath & St. Eval have broken down, & we have Scramble P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown had to reply on the W/T. South of the Scillies. P/O Thornton-Brown got lost in P6985 Sgt Cecil Percy King cloud trying to get into position, but P/O Kitchener RAF St. Eval closed on the Ju.88, & fired 240 rounds damaging the 11th 1st port wing. When last seen, it was making for home P/O Donald William Lintern arrived for flying duties Patrol only 20 feet above the water. from 56 OTU. P6993 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6991 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6991 P/O Albert Tooth P6989 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Patrol Off Lizard Point. P6996 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson West of the Scillies. P6987 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6973 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6993 P/O George Stanley Milligan Scramble P6991 P/O David Stein Raid 105. West of the Scillies. P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason 6th P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Scramble P6994 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC The Scillies-Lands End. Twin-engine aircraft seen at South of the Lizard. Damaged a Ju.88 but was hit in 25,000 feet but not possible to intercept it. both engines by the rear gunner. He returned to Scramble P6996 P/O David Stein Predannack but crashed on landing sustaining Saw a Ju.88 20 miles south of the Scillies. They had a P7000 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson serious injuries. long stern chase. P/O Kitchener’s guns jammed after P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM a few rounds, but P/O Thornton-Brown fired 156 P6994 P/O Bernard Howe rounds & damaged it before it escaped into cloud. 12th P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King The aerodrome was bombed during the night & 7 P6996 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6993 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Whirlwinds were damaged.

South of the Lizard. Intercepted & identified as a Hudson. Convoy Patrol P6988 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6993 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Over Convoy ‘Ounce’ - off Falmouth. P6994 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6993 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Lands End-the Scillies. Intercepted & identified as a Beaufort. P6994 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6994 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6988 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6991 Sgt Cecil Percy King 7th 2nd Patrol Scramble Convoy Patrol P6996 P/O David Stein Raid X131. Near Convoy ‘Ounce’. Continuous Patrol maintained by No.263, 234 & 247 P7000 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6988 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Sqns over a damaged Battleship sailing from The P6983 Sgt Cecil Percy King Scillies to Plymouth. Off the Lizard. P6991 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6993 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 13th P6983 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6986 P/O George Stanley Milligan Scramble P6982 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 3 doubtful Raids, 2 of which proved to be friendly P6989 P/O David Stein 8th Coastal aircraft. P6990 P/O Albert Tooth Scramble P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6985 Sgt Dennis William Mason Off Lands End. P6990 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Raid 122. South of the Eddystone Rocks. P6991 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6986 P/O David Stein P6983 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Raid 131. P7000 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6988 P/O David Stein P6991 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 14th P6985 Sgt Dennis William Mason Arodrome bombed during the night & 4 Whirlwinds P6982 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Off the Lizard. damaged. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6991 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6991 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Scramble P6982 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Over the Lizard. P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King Raid 146. Intercepted & identified as a PRU Spitfire. P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6996 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6990 P/O David Stein P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6985 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6983 P/O Joseph Grantley Hughes 9th Raid 111. Ju.88 which passed over St. Eval at 0950. Scramble P6989 P/O David Stein 3rd Raid 105. 15 miles south of the Scillies. P6979 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Scramble P6981 Sgt Dennis William Mason West of the Scillies. P6996 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol P6990 P/O David Stein Off Falmouth P6988 Sgt Dennis William Mason Raid 108. Off Newquay. Intercepted & identified as a P6994 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Hudson. P6987 Sgt Walter David Waddington Faded 60 miles out to sea. P6993 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6996 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6988 P/O Albert Tooth P/O Thornton-Brown crashed & sustained serious P6994 Sgt Cecil Percy King injuries. Raid 120. Falmouth Bay. P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown The Scillies-Lundy Island. P6988 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6986 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6993 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6985 P/O Albert Tooth 15th Patrol Aircraft dispersed at night to Portreath. Intercepted & identified as a Blenheim. Lands End-Falmouth. P6991 P/O David Stein P7000 P/O David Stein Patrol P6988 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6985 F/O Bernard Howe Over the Lizard. P6989 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble Patrol P6990 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Raid 127. Off Falmouth. P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6995 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6989 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 23rd South-west of the Scillies. Convoy Patrol Convoy Patrol P6990 P/O David Stein Over Convoy ‘Sentinel’. Over Convoy ‘Sapper’. P6995 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7000 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6989 P/O Albert Tooth Off the Lizard. Identified as a Coastal Blenheim. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7000 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6986 P/O Albert Tooth P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7000 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Convoy Patrol 18th Scramble Over Convoy ‘Occasion’. Moved to Portreath, a new station, or more Off the Lizard. P6989 P/O Albert Tooth accurately, a Station under construction. It could P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan well be ‘without form or void.’ A house in the village P7002 Sgt Cecil Percy King acts as the Officers Mess, but the troops are living Over Convoy ‘Robin’ off the Lizard. under very trying conditions: their quarters are very Lands End-The Scillies. P6995 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt wet: there is no water, no lighting, & no sanitation. P6998 F/O Bernard Howe P7000 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand The 3 runways are good, but the surfaces at the sides P6989 Sgt Dennis William Mason are bad, several accidents have resulted from 30th aircraft going off the runways. The pilots on Intercepted & identified as a Coastal Blenheim. Convoy Patrol Readiness sit huddled over oil stoves in the Watch P7002 P/O David Stein Over Convoy ‘Review’ off Hartland Point. Office. P6986 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7004 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason RAF Portreath 25th 19th P/O John Charles Garland arrived for Engineering Over Convoy ‘Robin’. Scramble duties from No.92 Sqn. P7000 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Raid 106. North-east of the Scillies. P7004 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6989 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh 27th P6991 F/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Scramble P6989 P/O David Stein North of St. Just. P6999 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 20th P6995 P/O David Stein Scramble P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble Off Portreath. P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan 28th P7004 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6998 Sgt Walter David Waddington F/O Bertrum Robert Grant, our Engineering Officer, left to go to West Malling as Station Engineering 3 Raids off the coast. Off Lands End. Officer. He had been with the Squadron since it was P6990 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6989 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC formed, & his going was a great loss. His place has P6989 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King been taken by P/O John Charles Garland. 2 doubtful Raids which proved to be Coastal aircraft. Near the Scillies. Scramble P6995 P/O David Stein P6989 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Plymouth-St. Agnes Head. P7004 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6989 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 2 Raids 60 miles south of Base. South-west of the Lizard. P6972 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan Convoy Patrol P6989 P/O David Stein P6998 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Over Convoy ‘Skipper’ off Lands End. P7004 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 31st 25 miles north-west of Lands End. P6995 P/O Albert Tooth Convoy Patrol P6989 P/O David Stein Over Convoy ‘Robin’ P6986 P/O Albert Tooth P6988 Sgt Dennis William Mason P7004 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7000 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson South-west of Plymouth. Intercepted & identified as a Blenheim. P7004 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 P/O David Stein P6995 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6989 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble Patrol P6989 P/O Albert Tooth Raid 145 (probably a He.111), dropped bombs in P6989 P/O David Stein Falmouth Bay. P7000 P/O Albert Tooth 29th P7002 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Scramble P7004 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 21st Raid 133. North of Trevose Head. Scramble P6996 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Off Fowey. Probably a PRU machine. P7000 P/O Albert Tooth P6989 P/O Albert Tooth P7000 P/O David Stein P6995 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Off St. Ives. Intercepted the other section of Whirlwinds.

P6999 P/O David Stein Convoy Patrol APRIL 1941 P6996 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Over Convoy ‘Sapper’. 5 miles south of Falmouth, a Ju.88 was seen attacking a ship, but it escaped as Sgt RAF Portreath P6990 F/O Bernard Howe King’s guns would not fire. 1st P6996 P/O Albert Tooth P6996 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes & Sgt Herbert John P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King Blackshaw arrived for flying duties from No.501 Sqn. P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6982 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan Scramble P6999 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Intercepted a Do.215 north of the Lizard. S/L P6996 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Donaldson attacked from the starboard ¼ firing a P6945 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6999 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson short burst at 250 yards & a 2nd at 100-50 yards. P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Pieces flew off, then black & white smoke from both P7007 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt engines; it did a ½-roll & dived into cloud. It was not P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6996 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh seen again. F/L Crooks crashed in flames near P7004 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Helston & was killed. From the accounts of people on 5th the ground, it appears that he was shot down by the F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks buried at P7002 F/O Bernard Howe Dornier. An experienced pilot, his loss is felt very Ilogan Churchyard. P6982 P/O Albert Tooth heavily. P6998 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Convoy Patrol 8th P6989 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC In the Falmouth Estuary. Patrol P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Falmouth Approaches. 2nd P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6999 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Patrol P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Raid 140. Later identified as a PRU machine. Scramble P6998 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand South-west of the Scillies. P6970 F/O Bernard Howe P7002 P/O David Stein P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Scramble Scramble Raid 143. Faded south of the Lizard. Patrol Raid 105. Intercepted & identified as a Lysander. P6998 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Over Lands End. P6970 P/O David Stein P7002 P/O David Stein P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Raid 113. West of The Scillies. Raid 148. Near the Scillies. P7007 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 F/O Bernard Howe P6982 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6995 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6999 P/O Albert Tooth 9th 3rd The Lizard. Raid 120 flying west from Start Point. F/O Geoffrey Hugh Hadley reported as Adjutant from Petrol supplies ran out & aircraft had to be refuelled P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes RAF Exeter. at St. Eval. P6995 P/O David Stein 10th Convoy Patrol Over Falmouth Approaches. RAF Filton Off the North Cornish Coast. P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Move to Filton P6996 Sgt Dennis William Mason P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P7007 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 15th Sweep Convoy Patrol P6999 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes 20 miles out to sea from Lands End. Over the Bristol Channel. P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 P/O David Stein P6999 F/O Bernard Howe P6995 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7007 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 Sgt Dennis William Mason 6th P6982 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P/O Donald William Lintern & Sgt James Edwards P6992 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6999 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Sainsbury were ordered to report to Uxbridge - Non P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Possunt. 17th Convoy Patrol P6995 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Off the North Cornish Coast. P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7004 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6999 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6996 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 P/O David Stein P7002 P/O David Stein P6999 P/O Albert Tooth P7007 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7004 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6999 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 F/O Bernard Howe P6990 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Raid 118, 15 miles south of the Lizard, 2 He.111 were P6981 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland intercepted at 400 feet. They enemy went down to P7002 P/O David Stein about 5 feet off the water. Although they saw hits, no P6994 F/O Bernard Howe damage was seen & they were last seen heading fast P6982 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6845 F/O Bernard Howe for home. P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6996 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6974 P/O Albert Tooth P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6845 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6986 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6999 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King 4th Convoy Patrol Scramble Scramble Off the North Cornish Coast. Raid 111. Identified as a Beaufort. P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6999 P/O David Stein P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6995 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King Patrol P6990 F/O Bernard Howe 7th P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6996 P/O Albert Tooth P/O Charles Stanley Fleet arrived for Adjutant duties P6981 Sgt Cecil Percy King from RAF Exeter. 20th P7002 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6994 P/O Albert Tooth F/O Bernard Howe was killed in an accident at P7001 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Wittering aerodrome. An experienced pilot, his loss 23rd P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason is felt very heavily. Patrol P7002 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6995 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Convoy Patrol P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6999 P/O Albert Tooth Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan 25th 29th P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6981 P/O Albert Tooth

P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason

P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6994 P/O Albert Tooth P7002 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6971 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7001 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes

P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6995 P/O Albert Tooth P7009 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes

21st P7006 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Convoy Patrol P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson 24th P7008 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7004 P/O Albert Tooth S/L Donaldson & F/L Pugh attended F/O Howe’s P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King funeral. P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7003 P/O David Stein P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 27th P6970 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Over the Bristol Channel. Scramble P7006 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6982 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6981 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7006 P/O David Stein P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6994 P/O Albert Tooth P6971 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6982 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6982 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh 30th P6999 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P/O George Stanley Milligan was killed as a result of Scramble an accident at . An experienced pilot, his P7006 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6995 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson loss is felt very heavily.

5th P6971 Sgt Cecil Percy King MAY 1941 Convoy Patrol In the Bristol Channel P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes RAF Filton P7003 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 1st P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes appointed F/L & given P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand command of ‘A’ Flight. Patrol P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason Over the Bristol Channel. 2nd P6906 P/O David Stein 10th Convoy Patrol P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. Over the Bristol Channel. P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh 6th P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P6999 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Convoy Patrol P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Over the Bristol Channel. P7003 P/O Albert Tooth P7006 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7004 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6983 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit

3rd P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6993 P/O Albert Tooth Patrol P7002 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7001 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Over the Bristol Channel. P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7006 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7013 P/O David Stein P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7012 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland

P6999 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6982 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6996 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw

P7003 P/O Albert Tooth P6994 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Patrol P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6993 P/O David Stein Over the Bristol Channel. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P7005 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6971 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7005 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7003 P/O David Stein P6994 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6999 P/O Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6993 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Patrol P7009 P/O David Stein P6990 P/O David Stein Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6974 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol P6982 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 P/O Albert Tooth Convoy Patrol P7006 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Over the Bristol Channel. P7004 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 8th P6982 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Sgt Dennis William Mason & Sgt Clifford Percival P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 4th Rudland appointed P/O. Convoy Patrol 11th Over the Bristol Channel. Patrol Convoy Patrol P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Over the Bristol Channel. Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6993 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7009 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P7005 P/O David Stein P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Convoy Patrol P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh In the Bristol Channel P6982 P/O Dennis William Mason P7006 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7001 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6991 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6970 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. In connection with a Raid P6970 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6983 P/O Albert Tooth which crossed the coast near Portland. P7000 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6994 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6999 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6983 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6993 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7009 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P6996 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7005 P/O Dennis William Mason P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7001 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7003 P/O Dennis William Mason 12th P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6971 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Convoy Patrol P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7006 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6996 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 P/O David Stein P7003 P/O Albert Tooth P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason P7003 P/O Dennis William Mason Patrol P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Over the Bristol Channel. P6979 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7006 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6971 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 13th 9th P/O Norman James Freeman arrived for flying duties P6982 P/O Albert Tooth Convoy Patrol from No.56 OTU. P7003 Sgt Dennis William Mason In the Bristol Channel P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Convoy Patrol P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Over the Bristol Channel. P6979 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7003 P/O David Stein P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6994 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6970 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7005 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 P/O David Stein P7001 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King 19th AOC-in-C Sir Sholto Douglas visited the Squadron. Patrol P7113 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Sgt Robert Burton Skellon & Sgt Walter David Over the Bristol Channel. P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Waddington posted to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. P6990 P/O David Stein P6970 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 22nd P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Convoy Patrol P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 Sgt Cecil Percy King 14th P7011 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Convoy Patrol P6993 Sgt Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7002 P/O David Stein P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P7005 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7013 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit

P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6979 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini

P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 P/O David Stein 27th P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. 15th P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee arrived for flying duties P6974 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt from No.504 Sqn. Patrol 28th 16th Over the Bristol Channel. Patrol P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan arrived for flying P7003 P/O David Stein Over the Bristol Channel. duties from No.600 Sqn. P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Convoy Patrol 23rd Over the Bristol Channel. Convoy Patrol Convoy Patrol P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Over the Bristol Channel. Over the Bristol Channel. P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6996 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6993 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 24th P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O David Stein Over the Bristol Channel. P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7002 P/O Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6982 P/O Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6968 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7013 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 26th Sgt Geoffrey Higson Wylde arrived for flying duties 29th 17th from No.66 Sqn. P/O Norman James Freeman posted to No.504 Sqn. Sgt Harry Garthwaite & Sgt Reginald Gunn Pascoe Sgt Geoffrey Higson Wylde posted to No.58 OTU, arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Convoy Patrol Grangemouth. Sgt Antony Victor Albertini arrived for flying duties Over the Bristol Channel. Sgt Glynn Barrow Foden re-mustered as ACH/GD. from No.600 Sqn. P6993 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6994 Sgt Cecil Percy King 30th 18th Patrol Sgt John James Walker arrived for flying duties from P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason Over the Bristol Channel. No.56 OTU. P6979 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6990 P/O David Stein P7003 Sgt Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol P7006 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6996 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt John James Walker P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh

P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason JUNE 1941 P6977 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland RAF Filton P6974 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King 1st P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P/O Albert Tooth posted to ASR, Warmwell. 13th 10th Sgt Carl Arthur Long & Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Convoy Patrol Sgt Thomas Hunter & Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Tebbit posted to No.10 Group Flight. Over the Bristol Channel. Buckwell arrived for flying duties from No.52 OTU. P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol P6970 Sgt John James Walker 11th Over the Bristol Channel. Sgt Reginald Gunn Pascoe was killed this morning. 1 P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw engine failed & instead of bringing the machine back P6987 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King on 1 engine, he tried to make a crash landing & unhappily killed himself in the attempt. P7003 P/O David Stein P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6994 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7005 P/O Dennis William Mason P7000 P/O Dennis William Mason P7000 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7003 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6977 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6974 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6987 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O David Stein P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6994 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King 14th P7013 P/O Dennis William Mason P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Warhead Operation No.1 P6990 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6990 Sgt John James Walker Information had been received of a large contingent of Me.109s on the Cherbourg Peninsula: I & II JG.2 & 2nd P7003 P/O David Stein part of III JG.26 (about 70 aircraft) at Maupertus & F/S Robert Arthur Brackley arrived for flying duties P6968 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt III JG.2 (about 30 aircraft) at Querqueville. It was from No.55 OTU. decided to attack these machines on the ground at P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland 1st light. 6 Whirlwinds proceded to Ibsley on the 3rd P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King evening of 13th & the attack was to be made by 2 Convoy Patrol aircraft on each aerodrome, the other 2 being held in Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw reserve in case of any unforeseen misadventure at P7005 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6990 Sgt John James Walker the outset. S/L Donaldson & P/O Rudland were to P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini attack Querqueville & F/L Pugh & P/O Mason Patrol Maupertus. P/O Stein & Sgt Holmes were chosen as P6974 P/O Dennis William Mason ‘A’ Flight was put on Patrol & after numerous reserves. P7009 Sgt Harry Garthwaite vectors, was informed that there was an enemy The 6 aircraft left Filton for Ibsley followed by F/O aircraft ahead of them, with a fighter on its tail. Ormerod with LAC Matthews & LAC Ellis, fitter & P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Almost immediately afterwards, a twin-engine flight mechanic. Ibsley is a new station situated P7001 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand aircraft was sighted with a Defiant on its tail. The between Fordingbridge & Ringwood in the New Flight gave chase. P/O Stein was just about to open Forest. No.118 Sqn was in possession & they did P6977 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan fire when he recognised the machine as a Blenheim. everything they could to make things a success. P7005 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini He broke away, but Sgt King gave it a 2-second burst, There had been a slight hitch on the Intelligence side, happily not hitting it. & photographs of the target had to be fetched by P7013 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7003 P/O David Stein Spitfire from Middle Wallop, while a supply of French P6968 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6987 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Money was sent by despatch rider from Fighter P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Command. All this kept us up rather late, & we were 7th P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King not in bed until about midnight. P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan appointed F/O. P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw We got up around 0315 to find conditions very P6990 Sgt John James Walker nearly perfect. There was a certain amount of cloud Convoy Patrol in the south, with a fairly clear moon. S/L Donaldson Over the Bristol Channel. 12th & P/O Rudland took off followed a minute later by P6974 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand was killed as he was F/L Pugh & P/O Mason. The former found their P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini coming into land, he appeared to be making rather target without much difficulty & delivered an attack steep turns when his aircraft stalled & crashed, on the dispersal pens in a shallow dive from 1,300- P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason bursting into flames. He had been with us since 23rd 100 feet. They saw their shells hitting & exploding in P7000 Sgt Harry Garthwaite June 1940 & had become one of the real ‘characters’ the pens, but unfortunately as these were covered of the Squadron. His death is deeply regretted & with tarpaulins, they could not see whether there P7003 P/O David Stein mourned by all who knew him. were any machines in them or not. S/L Donaldson L6845 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit then put a burst into a barrack block & had a shot at Convoy Patrol an oil tank. They went out over the Baie du P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Over the Bristol Channel. Nacqueville & S/L Donaldson put a burst into a stone P6968 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland structure with a glass top which he saw in the bay. P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King They were met with a considerable amount of flak P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw over the target, & on landing, S/L Donaldson’s P7013 Sgt John James Walker P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes machine was found to have been struck under the P7007 Sgt John James Walker port engine nacelle. They landed safely at Ibsley P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw having on their way back passed right under No.234 P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O David Stein Sqn who had taken off from Warmwell to cover the P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt withdrawal. P6968 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland F/L Pugh & P/O Mason were clean out of luck, their L6845 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King target was covered by a thick morning mist. After cruising around for 15 minutes they 9th P7045 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan returned. No sooner had they landed than the air- Patrol P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes raid alarm went, & we were informed that a Raid of P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson 6+ was coming in. They were Me.109s which had P6977 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes taken off in pursuit, but a short brush with No.234 P6987 Sgt John James Walker Sqn dampened their ardour & they returned home. P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh After an early breakfast we returned to Filton & P6974 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh made up for lost sleep. P6974 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Convoy Patrol P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Over the Bristol Channel. P7000 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh 17th P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7013 P/O Dennis William Mason Convoy Patrol P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter Over the Bristol Channel. 15th P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Over the Bristol Channel. P7000 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan 19th P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini Convoy Patrol P6968 Sgt John James Walker Over the Bristol Channel. P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O David Stein P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6974 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt

P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 24th P6999 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7046 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7044 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6987 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6999 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell

P7000 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7051 P/O Dennis William Mason P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7002 Sgt John James Walker P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini

P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 27th P6999 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6987 Sgt Cecil Percy King Patrol P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 20th P6989 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Patrol P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 28th P7003 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Convoy Patrol P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Over the Bristol Channel. 23rd P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Convoy Patrol P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7042 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7013 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7046 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6968 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7044 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter

P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland RAF Filton JULY 1941 P6996 Sgt John James Walker 29th Convoy Patrol RAF Filton 11th Over the Bristol Channel. 1st 12 aircraft to Middle Wallop to provide cover during P6998 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh S/L Donaldson included in the Birthday Honours List Offensive Operations over France. P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell & received the AFC for work in Training Command. Sgt Jack Maddocks & Sgt John Eutychus Meredith RAF Filton P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 12th P6974 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini Owing to the pre-occupation of the enemy with the RAF Portreath Russian Front, the state of preparedness was P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 2nd reduced today. The Squadron is now only to provide P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Convoy Patrol 8 Operational pilots a day instead of 12. Off the Cornish Coast. P6970 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7044 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC Convoy Patrol P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter In Barry Roads. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7003 P/O David Stein P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6999 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt Cecil Percy King Scramble P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7046 P/O Dennis William Mason Raid 96. South of Cardiff. The enemy aircraft P7004 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell dropped bombs near Cheltenham, but although within 8 miles dead behind it, they saw nothing. P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7046 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt XXXXX Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 P/O David Stein 13th P7039 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 12 aircraft to Exeter. Scramble P7004 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 20 miles south of the Lizard. 14th P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Convoy Patrol P7003 P/O David Stein P7003 P/O David Stein P7046 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6974 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6970 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6990 P/O David Stein P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7051 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 4th P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7004 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Sgt Graham Lewis Lawson posted to RAF Yatesbury. P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 5th Scramble P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell 9 aircraft to Portreath to relieve No.152 Sqn who are P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC practising as part of a Wing. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 30th Convoy Patrol Convoy Patrol P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC Over the Bristol Channel. Off the Cornish Coast. P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O David Stein P6974 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7007 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6986 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7046 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt RAF Filton 16th-17th P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason RAF Filton 6 aircraft to Warmwell for experiments on their P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell 6th efficiency against Tanks. Convoy Patrol P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC Over the Bristol Channel Convoy Patrol P7044 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh In the Bristol Channel. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes 9th Sgt Harry Garthwaite posted to No.54 OTU, Church 21st P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason Fenton. 12 aircraft started for Ibsley but were recalled. P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell

10th 22nd P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC 12 aircraft to Exeter to relieve No.504 Sqn who were 12 aircraft to Ibsley to provide cover during P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter taking part in an offensive Operation over France. Offensive Operations over France. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Convoy Patrol 23rd P7004 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC 13 aircraft to Ibsley to provide cover during P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell Offensive Operations over France. P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O David Stein 24th P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King Scramble P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Portland Bill at 13,000 feet. P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 Sgt John James Walker P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7039 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7039 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Portland Bill at 5,000 feet. P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King

3,000-ton Tankers & attacked both from the RAF Filton AUGUST 1941 broadside scoring hits. He then attacked 1 of them 6th head on; smashed the bridge & almost certainly Scramble RAF Ibsley killed the Captain. After this attack he saw smoke P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 2nd rising from amidships. The Tankers returned cannon P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Warhead Operation No.2 & machine gun fire. Simultaneous attacks on Querqueville & Maupertus P/O Rudland saw a Me.109 just taking off. It had not RAF Charmy Down aerodromes. S/L Donaldson & F/L Hughes crossed left the ground but had got its tail up. He gave it a 2- 7th the French Coast 6 miles east of Cap de la Hague at second burst from 50 yards & it immediately burst Moved to Charmy Down - a station now in a very 200 feet. Coming over Querqueville they saw an into flames. He reported that heavy flak from similar state to that in which we found at Portreath. aircraft being refuelled by the hangers. S/L Cherbourg followed him & the others out to sea. He More need not be said. Donaldson attacked it & then fired a burst into oil had also put a burst into the Ju.87s & reported that tanks, but no fires or explosions resulted. Going out Maupertus had all the appearance of being a very Convoy Patrol over the Baie de Nacqueville he attacked a dinghy well pranged aerodrome. In the Bristol Channel leaving it sinking. F/L Hughes attacked barrack F/O Coghlan went down the line of Me.109s giving P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini blocks &. 2 camouflaged oil tanks in the woods. them 2 good bursts. P7041 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee F/L Pugh & P/O Mason hit the French Coast east of Sgt Albertini also went down the line, & certainly hit Cherbourg Harbour. They saw an E-Boat, climbed to 1 in the starboard wing, & probably several more. He 11th 1,500 feet & attacked it. The E-Boat was left smoking then observed a machine gun post on the eastern 12 Whirlwinds moved to Wattisham. fiercely amidships & low in the water. The 2 sections side of the aerodrome firing at F/O Coghlan - he fell in with each other over the Channel & landed at attacked & silenced it. Going out he observed 3 RAF Charmy Down Ibsley. No.118 Sqn covered the withdrawal. Bofors Gun positions on the hill to the north of the Convoy Patrol P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC aerodrome. One of these was firing at F/O Coghlan. Over the Bristol Channel off Porthcawl. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes He attacked & silenced it. P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7003 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7049 P/O Dennis William Mason P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh RAF Ibsley P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 5th Shipping Strike Warhead Operation No.3 The presence of the 2 Tankers off Cherbourg seen on P7003 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Maupertus aerodrome. Coming over the aerodrome Warhead No.5, 4 Whirlwinds were sent to intercept P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King at 100 feet they saw 5 Ju.87s in the south-east corner. & attack them as soon as they could be re-armed. S/L Donaldson fired at the 1st & hit it. It became a This time the Hun was on his toes, & 5 miles off the 12th total loss, being burnt out. He then observed more French Coast between Querqueville & Cap de la 12 Whirlwinds to Martlesham Heath. Me.109s along the southern boundary & in the south- Hague they were met by 3 Me.109s followed by 12- west corner. He fired & hit 2-3. He then did a quick 20 more. A terrific dogfight took place, the 1st in Operation No.77 right-handed turn, came back & flew down the line, which Whirlwinds have been engaged, between 12 Whirlwinds provided close escort cover as far as spraying the machines. Several more were hit. He 1,500 feet & sea level. The Whirlwinds were Antwerp for 54 Blenheims, carrying out a daylight then turned for home, giving a lorry on the Coast outnumbered 5 to 1 but nevertheless more than held raid on Power Stations at Cologne. Rendezvous was road a short burst which set the canopy on fire. Sgt their own. S/L Donaldson saw P/O Mason being made over Orford Ness & they flew at 50 feet in 2 Holmes fired a 3½-second burst at the Ju.87s & chased by 2 Huns. He got on the tail of 1 & fired a ½- boxes. The Whirlwinds flew at the same height, 6 damaged them. second burst at 200 yards. It turned, then did a ½- between the boxes & 6 up sun of them. At the Dutch P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC roll & a dive. On the dive, S/L Donaldson fired Coast the Whirlwinds climbed to 1,000 feet & weaved XXXXX Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes another ½-second burst. He saw a panel fly off the above the bombers, then turned for home 4 miles wing & also a puff of white smoke. Probably a hit in north-west of Antwerp. They followed the course of Shipping off Cherbourg. Nothing seen. Sgt Jowitt the radiator. At any rate, it showed no more stomach the Scheldt, 6 aircraft flying at 50-100 feet while the fired at a Wireless Station near Querqueville. for the fight & made off in the direction of other 6 weaved above them at 500 feet. Near P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Querqueville aerodrome. F/S Brackley heard P/O Walcheren they saw 6 barges. Fire was observed P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Rudland call out on the R/T ‘there are 2 109s on my from them, & they were almost certainly Flak Barges. tail.’ Immediately, he saw a Whirlwind to starboard These were attacked with cannon fire, the 6th with 2 109s on its tail. The 1st broke away across his Whirlwinds diving from 500 feet to water level. 1 Warhead Operation No.4 sights, but too quickly for him to fire. As the 2nd broke was sunk & 3 damaged. F/L Pugh also attacked Maupertus aerodrome. Their navigation seems to away, he fired a 2½-second barrage. It flew right another Barge north-west of Walcheren & damaged have left something to be desired &, not to put to fine into it & dropped like a stone into the sea. At the it. No enemy fighters were seen but flak was a point on it, they do not know where they got to. same time a 109 had got on F/S Brackley’s tail. P/O experienced between Vlissingham & Neuzen. On the They flew on a course of 184° magnetic, but there is Rudland delivered a head on attack closing from 300 outward journey, F/O Stein observed some soldiers considerable disagreement as to which part of the yards & breaking away 5 feet above it. He saw his run out of a house, & shoot at him with rifles. He French Coast they struck. Some say Cap de la Hague, shells strike just behind the cockpit. He then did a marked the position on his map saying, “I’ll deal with while others say Pointe de Barfleur. At any rate, they steep turn to port: saw F/S Brackley but no 109. S/L you later, when I have more time.” On the return did not find the aerodrome & after orbiting for a Howell of No.118 Sqn, which was arriving on the journey, he & Sgt King searched diligently for the short time in search of a target, P/O Mason gave the scene, saw a 109 go straight into the water & it was spot but were unable to find it. On landing, Sgt order to return. 5 miles east of Cap de la Hague, P/O agreed that this must have been P/O Rudland’s Jowitt’s machine was found to have been hit by an Mason saw an E-Boat 1½ miles out to sea. He victim, his 2nd of the day. The Whirlwinds then explosive shell. 2 other machines had machine gun delivered 3 attacks on it & caused damage but is disengaged. F/S Brackley’s machine developed an bullets in them. unable to say whether he sank it. The other 3 got internal glycol leak in the starboard engine & he had The following message was received from AVM separated from P/O Mason, & for want of a better to return across 60 miles of water on 1 engine. As his Orelebar, AOC No.10 Group - ‘The following received target, delivered an attack in line astern on a petrol was running low, he made a forced landing at from the AOC No.2 Group. Begins; Very many thanks Lighthouse, causing considerable damage. They Hurn, further damaging his machine. for your courageous support today. You will be glad returned on 257° magnetic & made landfall at P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC to hear that the 2 great Power Stations of the Rhur, Portland, which suggests that they had been in the P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Knapsack & Quadrath with an output totalling vicinity of Pointe de Barfleur & not Cap de la Hague. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason nearly a million Kilowatts were completely P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6983 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley destroyed & described by one of the bombing leaders P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan as “fucked up” for the rest of the war. Would be glad P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland The total bag for the 5 Sweeps as follows: - 3 if you would convey the thanks of leaders & crews of P6983 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Me.109’s destroyed in air combat; 4 Ju.87’s damaged No.2 Group to S/L Donaldson & No.263 Sqn; W/C on the ground; 1 Ju.87 destroyed on the ground; 2 Herbert Percy, S/L Forbes & No.66 Sqn; S/L Darwin Warhead Operation No.5 Trawlers damaged; 1 E-Boat sunk; 1 Wireless & No.152 Sqn; & S/L Stevens & No.234 Sqn. Ends; Warhead No.4 having failed to find Maupertus, a Station damaged; 1 Dinghy sunk; 1 Lighthouse Well done - Orlebar.” further attack was ordered as soon as possible. This damaged; 2 Gun Posts silenced; Several Me.109s P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC time the 4 Whirlwinds got to Maupertus & had the damaged on the ground; 1 Me.109 damaged in the P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh satisfaction of seeing the wreckage from yesterdays air. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes Operation. S/L Donaldson flew along the line & And last but by no means least, 1 fallacy exploded, P7003 F/O David Stein certainly hit the 1st machine & probably several namely that the Whirlwind is no match for a Me.109. P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan more. He then fired a burst at the Ju.87s & hit 4 of P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland them. 3 minutes after leaving the aerodrome, he P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason looked back & saw 2 columns of black smoke rising P6991 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw from it. 5 miles north-west of Cherbourg he saw 2 P7013 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6999 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt just about to deliver the projected attack on Lannion, P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell when someone gave the warning ‘Me.109s Beat It.’ 5 RAF Warmwell P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King Me.109s was seen: 3 at 1,000 feet & 2 at sea level Offensive Operation coming towards the Whirlwinds. They made as if to Maupertus. Escorted by No.234 Sqn, they crossed the RAF Ibsley attack, but then refused combat, either because they Channel at 0 feet & made landfall 1½ miles north- 17th saw the Spitfires, or because the Whirlwinds were west of the aerodrome. There were 12 Ju.87s on the Offensive Operation too fast for them. They did however fire a burst from aerodrome, parked closely together in 3 rows of 4. The intention was for the Whirlwinds to fly over about 800 yards which took the form of a long line of P/O Rudland attacked them from 250 feet. In all 5 Maupertus at 15,000 feet to draw the German black puffs, very like a barrage. Possibly they were aircraft were set on fire. 1 of the crew was seen fighters into the air, so that the Spitfires & using shells with a time fuse. They followed the running like a rabbit between the machines, but this Hurricanes could deal with them. The Hun, however, Whirlwinds about 50 miles out to sea, keeping a soon stopped, “& another bandit bit the dust.” Going was not ‘playing’ & no enemy fighters were seen. F/L respectful distance. An RDF station on Ile Grande out north, P/O Rudland & F/S Brackley damaged an Pugh saw an Armed Trawler coming out of was attacked & damaged on the way out. RDF station on the top of a hill a mile north of the Cherbourg. He attacked it, seeing his shells exploding P7001 W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DFC AFC aerodrome. all over it. Out of 6 Squadrons employed, he was the P7044 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Sgt Meredith attacked a gun position north of the only man to fire his guns. P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh aerodrome. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini As the formation was approaching the coast, a red P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw rocket was fired & the pilots could see gun crews P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh RAF Charmy Down running to their posts. Intense & accurate flak was P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan 25th experienced & P/O Rudland’s machine had a cannon Convoy Patrol shell through the starboard aileron. No.234 Sqn RAF Charmy Down Over the Bristol Channel. provided cover at 500 feet & also destroyed 2 Ju.87s 18th P7011 P/O Dennis William Mason & 1 Ju.88 but lost 1 Spitfire. Scramble P6970 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6998 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7039 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6991 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 19th Convoy Patrol P7007 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley RAF Predannack Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 Sgt John James Walker 29th P6991 Sgt John James Walker Offensive Operation P6971 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 26th Lannion aerodrome. Owing to the exaggerated Scramble forecast of the surface winds, landfall was made 7- P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes miles south-east of Ile de Batz which were mistaken P6998 Sgt Thomas Hunter P6986 Sgt John James Walker for the Sept Iles. On reaching the coast they realised their mistake but as cloud cover was very sparse, P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh RAF Predannack they decided that it was inadvisable to go for the P7042 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee Offensive Operation primary objective. A secondary target was found in Lannion & Maupertus aerodromes. As the target was an RDF station on the western extremity of Ile de P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley not located on 24th, another attack was ordered Batz. Both aircraft attacked from 400 feet. F/L P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt against Lannion, while another 4 aircraft made a Hughes also attacked a blockhouse on the north simultaneous attack on Maupertus. It was intended coast of Ile de Batz where 4 men in white were seen P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason to send 4 Whirlwinds against Lannion, but only 3 to fire at him. The aircraft had taken off from P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan could be got ready in time, owing to some confusion Predannack in conditions of good visibility, but the in re-tuning the wireless sets. Crossing the Channel weather had “closed down” completely with a sea 20th at 0 feet they made landfall at Sept Iles. Flying west, mist right down onto the landing ground & it was Convoy Patrol they skirted the Coast, passing outside Ile Grande, only with the greatest skill & good fortune that they Over the Bristol Channel. where a dummy aerodrome was observed, until they were able to get down safely. P7011 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes reached Pointe de Sehar. From here they turned up P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6998 Sgt Thomas Hunter the river Le Leguer, flying in line astern below the P6991 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes level of the banks. F/L Pugh, leading the formation, P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan sighted Lannion Church & at the same moment saw RAF Predannack P7046 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee 2 Blister Hangers on the west bank of the river, 31st apparently at Meslar. He turned to port & saw 2 Operating as part of a Wing providing cover for 21st Ju.88s parked closely in line astern between the bombers returning from Operation Gudgeon No.4, S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC awarded the DFC, Hangers. Opening fire at 300 feet, he gave a 3-second an attack on Lannion aerodrome. No.263 Sqn was appointed & posted to Portreath. burst & saw explosions in both aircraft. Both caught leading the Wing which also comprised Nos.130 & fire with large dark red flames. 313 Sqns. 12 Whirlwinds took off, but 1 had to turn 22nd F/O Coghlan followed, noticing Pugh’s machines in back owing to its constant speed gear being u/s. F/L Pugh given command of the Squadron. flames & attacked 2 Ju.88s parked nearer to the They climbed to 11,000 feet, with No.130 at 14,000 P/O Rudland given command of ‘A’ Flight. aerodrome, opening fire at 200 feet. His burst feet & No.313 at 25,000 feet. The formation flew for straddled both aircraft & there were many 23-minutes on 151° magnetic: orbited for 15- Scramble explosions in the fuselage of both machines. Making minutes, then returned. The bombers were seen to P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt a left-hand turn, he did a flat dive on a Ju.88 parked return safely beneath the formation. No enemy P7004 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith in a field still further south of the aerodrome. The fighters seen. machine was straddled but results were not P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh RAF Predannack observed. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 24th F/L Hughes attacked a Ju.88 parked in the southern P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Offensive Operation dispersal & saw it start to burn. As he went out to the P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan Lannion aerodrome. Escorted by 7 Long Range north-east, he attacked a machine gun position P7003 F/O David Stein Spitfires of No.66 Sqn they crossed the Channel at 0 without observing results. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason feet & made landfall at Ile Grande. W/C Donaldson An admirable escort was provided by No.66 Sqn who P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley saw a Lighthouse, which he took to be the damaged 4 Ju.88s on the ground. Not a bad 3 P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Ploumenach Lighthouse, & turned west crossing the minutes work - 5 Ju.88s destroyed & 4 damaged. It P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King coast near Pointe de Plestin. P/O Rudland saw a was later reported by German Air Force prisoners P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Ju.88 1½miles south of Lanmeur but was unable to that for the attack was substantially accurate. P6999 Sgt Thomas Hunter attract anyones attention. About this moment, W/C P7004 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell Donaldson realised that he was too far west; turned P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes north & went back to Ile Grande. From there he was P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan

Coast with engine trouble, but owing to a out, but P/O Dennis William Mason dived straight SEPTEMBER 1941 misunderstanding, Sgt Holmes & Sgt Hunter into the ground. The tail section came off & the followed him. The role of the Whirlwinds was anti- aircraft turned on its back ending in a foot of water RAF Charmy Down flak. The Channel was crossed at 0 feet, the & sand. It did not catch fire. F/O Stein pulled away & 2nd Whirlwinds flying in echelon to the starboard side of the Bofors gun started to fire at him. He delivered 3 F/O Arthur Hereward Ormerod posted to Sector the bombers. 2 small Convoys were found: 1 just attacks on it diving from 1,000 feet from sea to land. Intelligence, Colerne. south of Guernsey comprising a Tug & 4 Barges After the 3rd attack there was no return fire. He then P/O Andrew Sigfrid Wordsworth arrived as (Convoy No.1), the other further south comprising 8 attacked the machine gun battery, exhausting his Intelligence Officer. Tugs & some small vessels (Convoy No.2). The ammunition. He made 4 circuits of the crashed Whirlwinds climbed to 500 feet & the bombers aircraft then turned for home. 3rd turned sharply to port to attack Convoy No.2. The P7001 P/O Dennis William Mason Convoy Patrol Whirlwinds also attacked. S/L Pugh & F/O Coghlan P7003 F/O David Stein Over the Bristol Channel. selecting the largest ship in Convoy No.2, a vessel of P7011 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan 400-tons. Hits & explosions from the HEI 12th P6971 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith ammunition observed along its length. The bombers Convoy Patrol. then attacked, crossing the Convoy from the beam. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7044 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee After this, the Whirlwinds renewed their attacks. F/L P6983 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7001 Sgt Thomas Hunter Hughes & P/O Mason attacked a Tug in Convoy No.1. As a result, the boiler burst, & it was left enveloped in 13th P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley steam & smoke. They then attacked a ship in front of During the month the personnel of the Squadron has P6996 Sgt John James Walker the Tug, & left it smoking as well. P/O Mason been unusually fluid. This has been mainly since attacked the ship already attacked by S/L Pugh. He No.263 Squadron is being used as a ‘feeder’ to the P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes saw that it was smoking & burning along the whole newly established 137 Sqn. P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell length of its deck. Sgt King attacked 2 Tugs in Convoy P/O George William Martin, P/O Philip Harvey, P/O No.2. He reports that the 2nd was sinking. F/S John Michael Bryan, P/O John Clifford Lawton, P/O Scramble Brackley, Sgt Blackshaw & Sgt Walker attacked Ormonde John Horace Hoskins arrived for flying P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Convoy No.1 doing considerable damage. The duties from No.56 OTU. P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King Whirlwinds then returned to Base, S/L Pugh & F/O F/O Colin Anthony Gordon Clark arrived for flying Coghlan in company with the bombers, the duties from FIU. 4th remainder singly or in pairs. About 25 miles north of Operation ‘Gudgeon VI’ Guernsey, F/S Brackley, returning at sea level, Scramble Close Escort for 6 Blenheims attacking an oil-ship in suddenly came on an E-Boat. It did not appear to be P7003 F/O David Stein Cherbourg Harbour. Rendezvous made at 8,000 feet moving, & he did not see it until it rose on the swell. P7009 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith over Warmwell. F/L Hughes returned early owing to He gave it a burst but had no time to see the results. P6990 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 1 engine over-heating. The bombers climbed to Some miles north of Alderney, Sgt King saw tracer P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 10,000 feet & the Whirlwinds took up station with 4 passing his machine. He took evasive action & saw a in line astern 250 yards on each side of the bombers Me.109 about 500 yards behind. He managed to 15th & 500 feet above; 2 to the rear of the bombers & 500 shake it off. On landing, several bullet holes were Sgt Ralph Otto Gustaf Häggberg Sgt John Frederick feet above, & 2 weaving 500 feet above the whole found in his aircraft. About 40 miles from Cap de la Luing, Sgt Hugh Leo O’Neill, Sgt Maurice John formation. The bombers made 1 run over the target Hague, F/L Hughes saw cannon fire passing his Peskett, Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior, Sgt Kenneth Charles & the ship was seen to be ablaze. While they were machine. He could see no enemy aircraft, & no marks Ridley, Sgt Basil Lionel Robertson, Sgt John Joseph dropping their bombs, F/O Stein saw a Me.109F were found on his machine on landing. Robinson, Sgt John Anthony William Sandy & Sgt diving on the formation. He turned towards it & it P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Douglas Francis Small arrived for flying duties from fired a short burst from 6-700 yards before diving P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes No.56 OTU. away. When south of the harbour, Sgt Holmes, one of P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt posted to No.137 Sqn. the weavers, saw 3 Me.109s behind him. They fired 4 P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan bursts, but he took evasive action, doing a barrel roll P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 18th & managed to shake them off. 2 Me.109Fs then P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Convoy Patrol. approached the bombers. S/L Pugh & P/O Rudland P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan turned towards them & they made off. Almost P7011 Sgt John James Walker P7041 Sgt Jack Maddocks immediately afterwards, P/O Mason, the other P6999 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes weaver, was attacked on the starboard quarter & P7001 Sgt Thomas Hunter 19th from astern. He fired a ½-second burst at one & it Mandolin made off. He then took violent evasive action doing 9th Morlaix aerodrome. Took off from Predannack, but tight turns & a very steep dive (ASI 480). He pulled F/O Clifford Percival Rudland DFC appointed F/L & owing to the wind having been incorrectly given, out at sea level & made for home. The 109 followed awarded the DFC, in recognition of his many & landfall was made a considerable way to the west. him 30 miles towards the English Coast, firing varied exploits against the enemy. A member of The target was not located; instead inconclusive several bursts. On landing, his machine was found to No.263 Sqn since June 1940, he is at present Flight attacks were made on a pill box. No.313 Sqn have many bullet holes in it. 2 Me.109s attacked Sgt Commander of ‘A’ Flight. (Spitfires) provided escort but showed no marked Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell just after leaving the inclination to stick close to the Whirlwinds. harbour. It is thought that he did not see them. His Convoy Patrol P7003 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes starboard engine was set on fire & he baled out, his Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes machine crashing into the sea 5 miles off Cherbourg. P7003 F/O David Stein P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley No.302 Sqn immediately attacked these 109s, P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter destroyed 1& probably destroyed the other. A launch was seen putting out from Cherbourg Harbour & it is P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes 20th almost certain that Sgt Buckwell was picked up. P6999 Sgt Cecil Percy King F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes & F/O Colin Anthony P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh Gordon Clark posted to No.137 Sqn. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes RAF Warmwell P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland DFC 10th RAF Predannack P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan Mandolin Operation 28th P6990 F/O David Stein Gestapo HQ near Quineville. They crossed the Mandolin P7011 P/O Dennis William Mason Channel at 20 feet, made landfall 10 miles west of Ju.88s dispersed on Morlaix aerodrome. Escorted by P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Pointe de Barfleur then flew down the coast 5 miles 11 Spitfires of No.313 Sqn. Landfall made at P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King offshore to the Iles St Marcouf. Here turned in over Plouescat at 1,500 feet. From there they flew to P6991 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw land. There was a considerable amount of fog on Taule, from which the town of Morlaix was visible. P6996 Sgt John James Walker higher ground & visibility was about 1,000 yards. Climbing to 500 feet they saw the aerodrome. S/L P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell They searched for 20 minutes between Lestre & Pugh studied the dispersal are but no Ju.88s were P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter Montebourg at very low, but although several houses seen. In fact, just a Me.109 was visible near a blister were seen which might have been their target, there hanger, on the south side. He fired a 2-second burst RAF Ibsley was nothing to identify them positively. They turned at it & saw hits on the wings & fuselage. He then 8th for St Vaast de la Hogue looking for E-Boats but due crossed the aerodrome at 20 feet, & ½ way across, Shipping Strike east of Lestre a Bofors gun position & a battery of 4 was caught in a tremendous & sudden barrage of Race of Alderney. Escort to 12 Blenheims in an attack machine guns was seen on the coast. P/O Mason 20mm fire. His machine was hit in the rear of the on a Convoy north-west of Jersey. Escorted by climbed in a left-hand turn to 1,200 feet, which was fuselage by a 20mm shell. The Actuating gear & Nos.234, 118 & 501 Sqns. Rendezvous made with the just in cloud; did a stall turn & attacked the machine rudder bar were rendered useless. Nevertheless, he bombers over Base, & a course of 205° magnetic set. gun post in a dive of an angle of about 60°. F/O Stein went on to attack a petrol bowser, observing hits P/O Rudland turned back before crossing the English was following him in the dive waiting for him to pull before he flew out north with violent evasive action. Although he was at 0 feet he was still followed by with which the Operation had been ordered & his ammunition, he returned at 0 feet, experiencing flak, which must have been fired from raised executed, it seems that the aerodrome was again flak all the way to the coast. He could see nothing of platforms. Sgt Dimblebee also attacked the Me.109, barren. F/O Coghlan dived in from 500 feet at the Sgt Hunter, so returned on course, making landfall observing hits; then he attacked a gun post on the northern end of the aerodrome, noticed a Ju.88 near at Predannack. There were no lights, other than the northern side of the aerodrome. W/C Donaldson a hanger on the southern side & claims to have flashing beacon & he was forced to cruise around for attacked the same Me.109, his Whirlwind was then destroyed it with a 9-second burst. He then flew back 12 minutes. His petrol was extremely low & he had hit in 3 places by flak. The coupe was shattered & his through the intense barrage which was coming from just told ‘Elver’ that he was baling out, when a helmet wrenched off; he was wounded in both arms. all around him & attacked the hangers on the Chance Light came on. He landed with 3 gallons of However, he managed to retain control & he landed northern boundary. He looked for the other petrol left. at Predannack where he was detained with Whirlwinds but could see nothing in the murk. His Sgt Thomas Hunter called up ‘Elver’ to say that he concussion. Sgt King also attacked the Me.109. Like gyro was u/s, thoroughly disturbed by the jinking & was 5-miles from the coast & that he was going to Sgt Dimblebee he experienced much less flak than the compass too must have been inaccurate, as he bale out as his engines were failing. 1 minute later he the leaders had, however, a machine gun bullet hole made at the Scilly Isles. It was now full night, said he would not bail out until he was over the coast. was found in his aircraft after he landed. It seems illuminated by a moon in the 1st quarter. He climbed A message from Exeter Observer Corps said that a possible that the preparations which had been made to 4,000 feet & called up ‘Elver’ (the homing station pilot had been seen baling out 5-miles south-west of some days before this Operation, may have led to for the Portreath sector). There was no reply. He flew Eddystone Lighthouse. An Air Sea Rescue Search was some breech of security, resulting in the barren east, & shortly afterwards picked up ‘Elver’ & maintained for 48 hours, & Home Guards searched target described. received vectors from there. His port engine then , but no trace of Sgt Hunter found. P7044 W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DFC AFC failed & his petrol gauges were showing zero, so he It is worth noting that of the 4 pilots taking part in P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh told ‘Elver’ that he proposed to bale out. The engine this Operation; 3 informed ‘Elver’ that they proposed P7011 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee picked up again after some Exactor adjustments but to bale out, & 1 was forced to do so, with fatal results. XXXXX Sgt Cecil Percy King as he was coming into land at 400 feet, both engines It is reported on hearsay, that many Ju.88s left failed within 3-seconds of each other. He made a Lannion ½ hour before No.263 Sqn visited it. Had 29th forced landing by moonlight in the fields; his aircraft they been a ½-hour later, the very considerable risks Mandolin 77 touched down on one side of a hedge & came to rest of this dusk Operation would have been more fully Ju.88s on Lannion aerodrome. This Operation was 1st on the other, only 200 yards from the end of the justified. Escort was provided by No.313 Sqn Spitfires heard of at Charmy Down sometime after 1600. It . It was a complete wreck, but he escaped who refused to cross the coast with the Whirlwinds was not possible to leave Predannack until 1833, & with a few bruises. alleging an Operational Order to that effect. after crossing the Channel at the usual zero feet, F/O P/O Warnes followed F/O Coghlan into the attack. P6998 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan Coghlan led the Whirlwinds into attack. The evening Darkness & tracer made it difficult to see anything, P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes was unusually dark & gloomy, & even if the however he was able to get in 2 bursts of 2-seconds P6987 Sgt Jack Maddocks aerodrome had contained dozens of Ju.88s, it would on dispersal pens. He made a right-hand climbing P7009 Sgt Thomas Hunter have been hard to find them. Despite the rapidity turn & dived to attack a gun post. Having exhausted

burst at a built-up gun post near the woods north of OCTOBER 1941 15th the dispersal. On leaving the airfield, his port engine Scramble gave signs of a glycol leak. He returned across the RAF Charmy Down Base at 15,000 feet. Channel on 1 engine. 1st P6986 Sgt John James Walker P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley The formation of a new Whirlwind Squadron at P6995 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior P7007 Sgt Cecil Percy King Charmy Down - No.137 has meant that many of the more experienced pilots of No.263 were posted away Newport at 15,000 feet. RAF Predannack & that many new pilots came into the Squadron from P7001 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee 30th OTUs. In consequence, October has been quiet from P7039 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini Sgt Irving Farmer Kennedy arrived for flying duties an Operational point of view. It should be noted that from No.55 OTU. the code word ‘Mandolin’ to indicate a small-scale 25th unescorted fighter attack upon enemy territory or Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes appointed P/O. Rhubarb 35 shipping has been superseded by ‘Rhubarb’. Morlaix aerodrome. They crossed the Channel at 100 F/L Guy Marsland arrived for flying duties from RAF Convoy Patrol feet & the French Coast at Pointe de Roscoff. Then Sutton Bridge. Over the Bristol Channel. flew south down the River Dessen but failed to locate P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC the target & made 2 circuits over the town of 2nd P6970 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Morlaix. The town seemed to be defended by heavy Scramble flak, bursts of which were seen 8,000 feet above Patrolled Base at 10,000 feet. In conjunction with a P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley them. Thus, the element of surprise, which would in hostile Raid in the vicinity, but it faded before P7003 Sgt John Joseph Robinson any case be harder to achieve after the previous anything was seen. days’ activity, was totally lost. F/O Stein dived to P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 26th attack from 50 feet. A concentration of flak from all P6990 Sgt John Joseph Robinson Sgt John Robert Brennan & Sgt John Edward McClure around the aerodrome met both aircraft. He was P7002 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith posted to No.137 Sqn. seen to fire by Sgt Ridley but results not observed. P7007 Sgt Cecil Percy King S/L John William Donaldson DSO AFC, F/O Herman Sgt Ridley saw no aircraft on the aerodrome, but Francis Grant Ede, F/O Harold Edward Vickery, F/O describes the area as ‘so well camouflaged, that it 8th Alvin Thomas Williams DFC, P/O Phillip Hannah would have been easy to miss them!’ He did see 1 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh & F/L Humphrey St. John Purdy DFC, P/O Jack Falkson, P/O Louis Reginald unidentified aircraft in a Bessoneau type hanger Coghlan awarded the DFC for their many & varied Jacobson DFC, P/O Sidney Robert McNamara DFC & north-west of the aerodrome. He fired 2 bursts & saw exploits against the enemy, but especially for their P/O Michael Amor Bentley are all now presumed to hits on the hanger which was left smoking. While aggressive & daring leadership in low flying attacks have been killed on the date of the sinking of HMS firing at the hanger he heard & felt a ‘woof’ & against highly defended targets in Occupied France Glorious. something struck his starboard main plane. He & Netherlands. pulled up & saw F/O Stein with his engine smoking, P/O John Michael Bryan, P/O George William RAF Predannack but not much flame coming from it. He was going Martin, P/O John Clifford Lawton, Sgt Jack 29th north-east & climbing as if preparing to bale out. Maddocks, Sgt John Frederick Luing, Sgt John Rhubarb 33 This is the last information we have of P/O ‘Davey’ Anthony William Sandy, Sgt Maurice John Peskett, Morlaix aerodrome. They crossed the Channel at 100 Stein, hearsay reports from German wireless news in Sgt Douglas Francis Small, Sgt Ralph Otto Gustaf feet & the French Coast at Ile Verte. Target English are conflicting & it would be interesting to Häggberg, Sgt Basil Lionel Robertson, & Sgt Hugh approached from the south at 300 feet, F/S Brackley obtain a correct transcript from the Leo O’Neill posted to No.137 Sqn. looked carefully at the airfield, but it seemed devoid services. There is a good hope that he is now a POW. of aircraft. However, there were 6-8 Ju.88s parked in His loss to the Squadron is inestimably great, 9th the western dispersal between the aerodrome & the whether as pilot, humorist or friend. Sgt Ridley left P/O Ormonde John Horace Hoskins was killed in a river. They were carefully camouflaged in dull black. the French Coast at 50 feet & 7 minutes later noticed flying accident. During a formation practice his He dived to attack a Ju.88, observing hits on the tail oil & glycol streaming from his starboard engine. He aircraft collided with that of F/L Coghlan. The latter & rear fuselage, & pieces were seen falling off. He was able to climb to 400 feet into cloud before the baled out successfully, but P/O Hoskins attempted to fired a short burst at a small hanger whose doors glycol temperature reached 150° & the oil pressure regain control of his machine. After circling down were open but did not observe results. He then flew reached zero. He transmitted a Mayday on all from 7,000 feet he spun in & was killed. He had been north along the right bank of the river & set course buttons but received no reply for about 10 minutes. with the Squadron only a few weeks but was already for home, crossing the Channel at 50 feet after He eventually contacted ‘River’ & made landfall at well liked for his good humour & cheerful weaving & taking cover in rainclouds. Predannack. He landed without circling, & overshot. personality. Sgt King followed 200 yards behind F/S Brackley. He His brakes failed to stop him on the runway & he Canadians Sgt John Robert Brennan, Sgt Donald Ross could not confirm the number of aircraft on the overran the perimeter track & stopped in the barbed Gill, Sgt John Davidson Mitchner, Sgt Richard Irl ground. He fired a burst at a hanger, observing hits, wire fence beyond it. This however did very little Reed (USA), Sgt Edger Brearley, Sgt William Albert & directed a 2nd burst at a Ju.88 on the ground, but further damage to the aircraft. Lovell (USA), Sgt James Patrick Coyne, Sgt John could not see results. During this 2nd attack, he P7015 F/O David Stein Edward McClure, Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF caught his port wing coolant tank on a high white P6994 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. mast in the centre of this dispersal. He fired a short

not see him, he pulled round into a turn, at the same very steep dive toward the sea, with flames & thick NOVEMBER 1941 time calling him. Absolutely no trace could be seen black smoke pouring from it; further results not seen although he completed 2 turns in the area in which but claimed destroyed. Confirmation is indicated by RAF Charmy Down he had last been seen - about 10 miles north-east of the cloud of smoke already described as seen by P/O Sgt Antony Victor Albertini to F/S. Barfleur. Warnes in the same area about 4 minutes later. The It is to be stressed that the Me.109s had not followed other enemy aircraft turned away towards Cap de la 1st them & it seems certain that enemy action was not Hague, breaking off the combat. Sgt King landed at Scramble responsible for the disappearance of Sgt Robinson. Warmwell with 16 & 22 gallons left for port & P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Sgt Blackshaw flew to Base making landfall in starboard engines. P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Bournmouth Bay & landed at Warmwell. As no military targets had been seen, neither of the Target 216 Courseulles After flying for 10 miles, F/S 2nd Whirlwinds had fired their guns. No shipping was Brackley noticed that his starboard engine oil F/L Humphrey St. John Coghlan posted as S/L, OC seen. Air Sea Rescue was maintained in the English temperature was at 110° & returned to Warmwell. No.137 Sqn. He leaves many friends in No.263 Sqn & south coast area, & in the person of P/O Tooth late of Sgt Walker flew on at zero feet. He made landfall takes with him the good wishes of all. this Squadron, now with Air Sea Rescue Warmwell, near Ouistreham & turned west along the railway P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree (USA) RCAF & P/O as far as Cherbourg, but no trace has been found of which seemed further inland than it is marked on his Vivian Lester Currie arrived for flying duties. Sgt Robinson. It seems likely that, while weaving he map. Courseulles was seen to have a very small dipped his port wing into the sea & went in at very station with a Passenger Train in it. He circled Scramble high speed. It was his 1st war flight. He had been with looking for the Distillery but could not find it, then P7061 F/S Antony Victor Albertini the Squadron since 15th September 1941 & was a followed the Ryes-Bayeux railway to the Coast. He P7041 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee quiet unassuming & efficient person, & his loss is landed at Warmwell with 11 & 22 gallons of petrol P7060 Sgt John James Walker recorded with very great regret. for port & starboard engines respectively. P6987 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior P7089 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7110 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6970 Sgt John Joseph Robinson P7084 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Tactical Exercise P7112 Sgt Cecil Percy King 14 Whirlwinds co-operated in a large-scale Home 7th P7003 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Guard Tactical Exercise. In the 1st phase, Whitchurch The 2 Whirlwind Squadrons are now separated, P7006 Sgt John James Walker Aerodrome & 3 Avon Bridges south of Bristol were No.137 was transferred to Coltishall on 7th beaten up in low-level attacks. In the 2nd phase the November 1941. No.417 Sqn (Spitfires) is now 8th southern approaches of Bristol were attacked by 3 forming at Charmy Down. No.10 Group Rodeo 5 sections of aircraft. Congratulations on the realistic F/S Antony Victor Albertini posted to No.137 Sqn. Distillery Targets reconnoitred on the previous day. display of low flying attacks received from the However, a weather test flight by W/C Boyd of the Military authorities. RAF Warmwell Middle Wallop Wing showed unsuitable weather & a P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Rhubarb Rodeo was put on instead. P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Distillery targets in the Cherbourg Peninsula. P/O P/O Warnes led the 4 Squadron Sweep over the P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Warnes led Sgt Blackshaw & Sgt King at zero feet, area. Rendezvous with Nos.501, 234 P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King passing 3 miles west of Cap de la Hague. & 118 Spitfire Sqns at 5,000 feet over Studland & set Target 207 Bréhal P/O Warnes easily identified course climbing to 15,000 feet. The Whirlwinds flew P7110 F/L Humphrey St. John Coghlan Bréhal by its 5 roads, but the target could not be in 2 boxes of 4, escorted by a Flight of No.234 Sqn on P7060 Sgt John James Walker seen. Then he flew along the road to Coutances & at either side. Nos.501 & 118 Sqns provided high & low P7061 F/S Antony Victor Albertini Hyenville saw a tall wooden building with cover respectively. They passed between Alderney & P7056 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee warehouses, by a rail yard. Subsequently, it has been Cap de la Hague & flew toward Jersey, turning west decided that this was the target correctly identified to the north of the Island & north-east to the east of P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC by Sgt King. He fired at a camouflaged military post Guernsey, so that they passed directly over Alderney. P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw near St. Malo de la Lande but could not see results, Flak, accurate for range & height was met with over P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley then Recced the western coast of the Cherbourg Alderney & 2 Whirlwinds were damaged. They P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King Peninsula, but saw only wireless stations. After recrossed the English Coast at Portland & 7 setting course for Warmwell at zero feet, a conical Whirlwinds landed at Warmwell. Sgt Blackshaw had P7061 F/S Antony Victor Albertini cloud of black smoke was seen on the water 3 miles turned back with petrol feed trouble. 2 enemy P7060 Sgt John James Walker west of Cap de la Hague. He went to look at it, aircraft were sighted in the distance over Cherbourg expecting to see a ship, but there was nothing except on the return flight & No.501 Sqn was involved in RAF Warmwell the smoke. He formed the opinion that an aircraft several combats in which 1 Me.109E was damaged 6th had just gone in there; immediately after this, he saw but P/O Greenaway missing, but in circumstances It is hoped today is the culmination of a run of bad 2 Me.109Es about 1,000 feet above. He was flying at which should lead to his life being saved. luck. F/L Fleet the Adjutant injured his leg in falling +6 boost 2,750 revs & held a straight course until 1 P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes from a bus. Sgt Albertini was shot in the eye by a dived to attack. He waited until it was in range then P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw stray pellet discharged during clay-pigeon shooting, turned violently to port at sea level. Its fire went into P7112 Sgt Cecil Percy King & it is feared that he will lose the sight of his right the sea on his right. The 2nd enemy aircraft attacked, P7060 Sgt John James Walker eye, & in any case the services of an able & aggressive then both repeated their attacks. He shook them off P6991 P/O Philip Harvey pilot are lost to the Squadron for several months. & landed with 3 machine gun bullet holes in his tail. P6987 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior There were 15 & 23 gallons left for port & starboard P7004 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Rhubarb 56 engines respectively. P7056 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Road & railway west of Maupertus. Landfall 2 miles east of Cap Levy, flew south-east at 0 feet & picked Target 206, Cerences Sgt Blackshaw flew at 100 feet 8th up the main road at the eastern outskirts of St. along the main road between Gronville & Bréhal, Fighter Rodeo in the Channel Islands area. Pierre-Eglise. Then they flew eastward along this turning east at Bréhal along the road & railway road & pulled up to 200 feet in order to get a long towards Cerences. The target was not identified so 11th view of it. This disclosed that there was nothing on he flew south as far as Avranches looking for targets Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams arrived for flying duties the road except for 2 farm carts & 2 groups of but saw none; he then swept back over the same from No.55 OTU. soldiers, who scattered. After flying to within ½mile area, again unsuccessfully. He turned west out to sea of Barfleur, they turned south-east & made the road near Mont Martin. No flak, no fighters & no guns 15th & railway running south from Barfleur. There was no fired. There were 22 gallons of petrol left for each Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw appointed P/O. traffic on either. They made a circuit & flew north engine. This is remarkable as this aircraft had been towards Barfleur. Near the town, they turned east to airborne for 90 minutes. Rhubarb 61 the coast, near which 1 machine gun opened fire; Target 206 Cerences They made landfall at 0 feet at neither aircraft appeared to be hit. They then flew on Target 305 Heugueville Sgt King located the target Cap de la Hague. Cloud cover lifted to 1,000 feet, so a north-easterly course; as he did so, Sgt Blackshaw very close to the little village of Hyenville. He then they climbed to cloud base & hugged the coast saw 2 Me.109s, orbiting about a mile inland, but turned to attack 2 Goods Trains at Orval, but saw 2 increasing height to 1,500 feet. Accurate flak at these did not seem to have observed the Whirlwinds. Me.109Es on his starboard beam at the same height; Lessay, but no hits. At Bréhal they turned east to He called up Sgt Robinson, “Rats to port”, & at the he climbed for cloud cover, but after 10 minutes Cerences, where the target was identified as a tall same time confirmed that he was in no trouble & that flying it diminished & about 3 miles west of Cap de la red brick building with 2 rows of windows & a he had 40 gallons of petrol left for each engine. Sgt Hague he saw 2 Me.109Es on his starboard beam & chimney on the northern edge of the town. There Robinson began weaving slightly behind & above Sgt about 500 feet above him. He was at 3,000 feet; both was a large Goods Train waiting outside it. S/L Pugh Blackshaw After he called “Rats”, Sgt Robinson enemy aircraft turned in for a starboard beam dived from 1,000 feet & fired a 2-second burst at the began weaving vigorously. He appeared on both attack, he turned to starboard beneath them, pulled top row of windows. Sgt Blackshaw saw an orange- sides of Sgt Blackshaw but on crossing from port to up & fired a burst at 200 yards at 1 as it turned. He flash on the opposite side of the building, then made starboard for the 2nd time he failed to reappear. Sgt expended 14 rounds from each cannon. There was an a similar attack observing hits. S/L Pugh then fired Blackshaw turned slightly to starboard & as he did explosion at the back of the cockpit & it went into a at the Loco of the Goods Train, observing hits on the fire box & boiler, which seemed to explode with a red P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes collision with a Spitfire of No.118 Sqn & seriously flash followed by smoke & steam. They then turned P6991 P/O Philip Harvey damaged both the Spitfire & his own Whirlwind. In for home. The weather closed near Warmwell, so order that fuller information may be available they turned west but no contact could be made by Target 205 Hyenville Made landfall off Cap de la before Offensive Operations, & to facilitate & either aircraft with any ground station on Button B Hague & flew along the coast to Heugueville. They enhance the display of other Intelligence or C until Crocodile was contacted whilst circling followed the river towards the target, but could not information, a Briefing Room has been established Exeter. They landed with approximately 10 gallons locate it, then followed the railway to Cerences, next to Station HQ at Charmy Down. of petrol for each engine. turned west to Salinès & flew north & made the same P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC circuit again, but still could not see the target. Flak P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw experienced on both circuits near Tourneville. P7112 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC Target 207 Bréhal They left formation 3 miles east of P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7089 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior Coutances & followed the coast north-west to Bréhal. They turned south-east but then lost contact with Target 216 Courseulles Set course from St. P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes each other. After calling up P/O Harvey & receiving Catherines Point. When 15 miles from the French P6990 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee no answer, P/O Warnes flew to Hyenville, circled the Coast at 0 feet, they saw a Me.109E diving into railway station 3 times, hoping to induce the attack. P/O Holmes turned to starboard & above Sgt 18th inhabitants to take cover, then made 2 attacks on a Prior to attack the enemy aircraft, who followed into Scramble stationary Goods Train of 20 covered wagons. Hits line astern. The enemy aircraft broke off the attack, P7003 Sgt Cecil Percy King observed on the wagons & a thick cloud of steam climbed like a rocket with thick black exhaust & P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley from the Loco. A 3rd attack was made on a tall square disappeared into cloud. They orbited, then set course building with many windows, standing over the little again. Landfall was made at the large island north- 23rd river to the east of & adjoining the railway line. He west of Courseulles. They crossed the coast on which Beat-up of Home Guard considered this more like a watermill than a 80-100 people who were gathering something from The village of Charlton west of Filton aerodrome was Distillery. He orbited again & observed the railway the beach, stood up & waved. They then found the repeatedly attacked from a low level by 3 sections. It engine still belching steam & the tall building was small railway & followed it to Courseulles, searching is worth noting that on approaching for the 1st smoking, then set course for Guernsey at 1,500 feet diligently. Over Courseulles machine gun fire from a attack, S/L Pugh found that, despite the believing that the Cap de la Hague course had been tripod was met. The target was orbited again & the arrangements, balloons were still flying very near to overdone. 5 miles west of Guernsey he broke into road searched further west, without success. P/O the target. He just avoided hitting a cable & returned clear sky & saw 9 E-Boats travelling at speed in 3 Holmes attacked flak positions & saw a white immediately without attacking. The exercise was lines of 3 towards Alderney. Unfortunately, he had no explosion following hits. The section re-united north successfully carried out an hour later. ammunition & after flying a semi-circle around them of the island, & landfall was made at Bournmouth. P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC set course for England & landed at Exeter with only They landed at Ibsley. P7089 Sgt John James Walker 5 gallons of petrol for each engine. He had P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes independently made the same observations about P7089 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Button B & C inefficiency, as reported by S/L Pugh. P7039 Sgt John James Walker P/O Harvey continued searching over Bréhal then 17th flew to Cerences but failing to contact P/O Warnes Rhubarb 64 P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC followed the railway to 5 miles south of Coutances, Distillery Targets. Unsuitable weather caused it to be P7114 Sgt John James Walker turned north-west & re-crossed the coast west of St. abandoned before the target was reached. Despite Malo de la Lande. He followed the coast for 3 miles & the storm of wind & rain & the poor visibility at 26th landed at Warmwell. A Ju.88 was sighted on the Warmwell, 3 sections took off at varying intervals F/L Charles Stanley Fleet posted to No.600 Sqn after outward journey south of Cap de la Hague but was only to find a most unsuitable lack of cloud cover 8 months service as Adjutant. not attacked through a misapprehension about the over the Cherbourg Peninsula, or to be recalled by priority of targets. 15-20 soldiers were seen playing R/T. In the storm of wind & rain, Sgt Dimblebee after on the sand west of St. Malo de la Lande. landing at Warmwell unfortunately came into

Command is, for the moment, conserving its RAF Warmwell DECEMBER 1941 resources on the Western European Front. 19th-23rd Squadron was detached to Warmwell for Air Firing RAF Charmy Down 15th Practice. Weather not favourable but some useful 1st Scramble work done. F/S Robert Arthur Brackley posted to No.2 Delivery Bogey at 21,000 feet over South Coast. Flight, Colerne. P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Scramble Sgt James Patrick Coyne to F/S. P7056 Sgt Irving Farmer Kennedy Base at 10,000 feet. P7108 Sgt Cecil Percy King 3rd 14th P6990 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee posted to the Target It is with deep regret that we record the death of Sgt Towing Flight, Warmwell. Derrick Ellis Prior. Engaged on a Searchlight Co- 28th Operation Flight, at 8-10,000 feet, he was seen to Sgt Robert Alex McFadgen (RCAF) arrived for flying 5th crash near Coleford, Gloucestershire after a vertical duties from No.51 OTU. F/L Eugene Charles Owens arrived as Adjutant from dive. It is not known whether he lost control in cloud RAF Predannack. or was the victim of icing. He had been with the RAF Exeter Squadron since 12th September 1941 & was popular 30th RAF Filton & RAF Colerne for his sense of humour & excellent spirit. 12 Whirlwinds & pilots to Exeter to stand in for 6th Squadrons covering a bombing Operation on Brest. Servicing Echelon to Colerne. A move that ended the 16th Squadron connection to Filton which has existed F/L Guy Marsland posted to No.137 Sqn. Scramble since the Squadron formed on 2nd October 1939. P/O Stuart James Lovell arrived for flying duties South of Exmouth to protect Halifax bombers from No.55 OTU. returning from Brest. P/O Crabtree’s 1st Op. 8th P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Rhubarb against transport in the Cherbourg 17th P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Peninsula planned, but permission could not be Sgt Walter Roylance Wright arrived for flying duties obtained from Group. It is apparent that Fighter from No.57 OTU.

Operational Statistics for 1941 The period of Operational quiet has been used by the Intelligence Officer for writing a summary of the history of the Squadron, & for preparing charts & summaries of the Squadron’s exploits against the enemy. A copy of Operational Statistics for 1941 is appended below: - The Whirlwinds of No.263 Sqn have certainly inflicted damage on the enemy 84 times during 1941, & DFC’s awarded to 4 members of the Squadron during 1941.

Operational Casualties Air 3 Whirlwinds shot down in air combat 12 Air Combats 2 Whirlwinds shot down by flak 6 Enemy aircraft destroyed in air combat 2 Whirlwinds missing after Operations 6 Enemy aircraft damaged in air combat 5 Whirlwinds damaged in air combat Enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged on the ground. A conservative figure, as a ‘probably damaged 23 ‘category would include about 12 more. 15 Whirlwinds damaged by flak 3 Pilots killed in action 35 Total number of enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged 2 Pilots killed (missing after Operations) Total number of enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged on the ground or in the air by No.263 1 Pilots missing Squadron since its formation in October 1939 (including the 50 victories of the 1st & 2nd Norway 1 Pilots POW 85 Expeditions) 61 Total number of enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged in air combat since 1 October 1939 1 Pilots wounded by flak 1 Pilots injured in crash due to air combat Shipping 4 Sunk - E-Boat, Flak Barge, 1 Tug, Armed Motorboat Other Targets 13 Severely damaged includes 2 Tankers Factories, Gun posts, Lorries, Troops Goods Wagons, Engines, Hangers, Dispersal Pens, Wireless Stations, Military Posts etc. 17 Total Shipping - sunk or damaged 32 Destroyed or Damaged

Expeditions were re-ordered, indexed & placed in 16th JANUARY 1942 this book in their correct sequence. Sgt Cecil Percy King appointed F/S.

RAF Charmy Down 7th RAF Colerne F/L Sampson awarded the British Empire Medal. He Sgt John Eutychus Meredith to RAF Cranage for a 20th had been posted from No.263 on 9th June, but the Navigation Course. Moved to RAF Colerne. The Maintenance Echelon award was conferred for his work with the Squadron was already there. Undoubtedly there will be a gain in Norway & subsequently. Scramble in efficiency in rejoining it. All the Officers of the F/S R.C. Brickell of Signals & Sgt N.J. Donald James Base at 15,000 feet. 2 Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron find themselves comfortably billeted in Stanley Turner of the No.263 H.Q. both with the Bf.109Fs were patrolling between Plymouth & Ibsley. Ashwick Park. Squadron during the Norway expeditions were 1 crashed due to engine failure, the pilot baled out Sgt Peter Alexander Ewing RAAF arrived for flying honoured by being Mentioned in Dispatches. successfully & was captured near Bovey Tracey. duties from No.61 OTU. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw 5th P7003 Sgt William Albert Lovell 26th Sgt Donald Ross Gill RCAF appointed P/O. F/O Walter Pollock Weir posted to RAF Goxhill as It has been ordered that all Fighter Squadrons 8th F/L Medical Officer. should become Operational at night. No.263 had The 12 pilots with Whirlwinds which had been fog- F/O Clifford William Douglas Cole arrived as Medical done no flying with the Whirlwind other than on bound at Exeter returned to Charmy Down. F/O Officer. Operations on 14th June & 29th September 1941, Warnes flew an endurance test for 2:35 hours & had which respectively started before dawn & ended 32 gallons of petrol left (17 & 15 for each engine). 27th after dusk. It is planned that the 6 most experienced Sgt Brearley attached to AFDU, Duxford. pilots should start night flying training from Colerne 9th during the moon period at the end of January, but W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DFC (W/C Flying) gave 28th owing to unsuitable weather, only 1 dusk flight was a lecture on Offensive Operations. Sgt Peter Alastair Jardine & Sgt Colin Douglas Bell made by S/L Pugh DFC on 25th January. RAAF arrived for flying duties from No.61 OTU. A perusal of the earlier pages of this book read that 11th no records of the Squadrons activity earlier than Scramble 30th April 1940 were to be found & that several Off Isle of Wight. Tactical Exercise documents of the North expeditions were missing P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Dummy attacks on troop concentrations & supply although reference was made to them on existing P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes columns in the Marlborough-Yatesbury area. forms 540 & 541. Accordingly, a visit was made to Air P7114 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Ministry Records on 5 January by the I.O. & clerk, & a P7108 P/O Philip Harvey summery of the history of the Squadron from its 13th P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King formation at Filton on 2nd October 1939 to the end of P/O Stewart Gordon Brannigan RNZAF arrived for P6990 Sgt William Albert Lovell March 1940 was made & placed in this book. The flying duties from No.61 OTU. P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC missing documents were found & Photostats were P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree made of them & all the documents of the Norway P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC

walked out with minor head injuries. He flew again FEBRUARY 1942 next day. P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7011 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams RAF Colerne P7018 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF 1st The Smalls. Plots faded & section was ordered to P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller arrived for flying Dusk Patrol Convoy ‘Peroration’. duties from No.56 OTU. Linney Head-The Smalls. P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Sgt William Albert Lovell, Sgt Edger Brearley & Sgt P6990 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Irving Farmer Kennedy to F/S. P7016 F/S William Albert Lovell Sgt John James Walker to F/S. Convoy Patrol P7100 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Sgt Abrams failed to contact his No.1 in the poor 5th P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF visibility. F/S Edger Brearley RCAF appointed P/O. P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7061 F/S John James Walker P7007 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 10th P6991 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Moved by air, train & M/T to Fairwood Common; 16 Very bad visibility, but the Convoy was found & Whirlwinds, the Hurricane, Magister & Oxford. This P7116 F/S William Albert Lovell Patrolled. P/O Holmes was flying at 100 feet near the is believed to have been the largest number of Convoy, 25 miles south of St. Govan’s Head. Without Whirlwinds airborne at any one time. Fairwood P7060 Sgt Douglas Francis Small any warning from his instruments, his starboard Common is under the command of G/C. Atcherley P7114 F/S Irving Farmer Kennedy engine exploded, caught fire & disintegrated. He lost OBE AFC, who commanded the Wing in which height to within inches of the sea but then managed No.263 Sqn operated at Bardufoss in the 2nd 14th to climb to 400 feet, pulling the fire extinguisher Norwegian Expedition. Scramble knob, which had a good effect upon the flaming P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley engine. He was unable to gain more height to bale 11th P6987 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF out, & indeed fell 50 feet. He surmounted the cliffs by RAF Fairwood Common using full flaps, then he gained 400 feet by using full Intensive instruction in the principles of Convoy 15th flap again & after pulling the emergency knob for the Patrol & in the peculiarities of the Fairwood runways Convoy Patrol landing gear he made a successful landing at Carew & control system. Off the Welsh Coast. Cherton. 2 buckets full of, still smouldering, engine P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC parts, fell out when the cowlings were taken off. Most 12th P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree of the rest of the engine had disappeared. The S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC posted as S/L Tactics Peregrine engine had scored again by being twins. HQ No.82 Group. He came to the Squadron as a F/O P6991 F/S John James Walker P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes in June 1940; appointed ‘B’ Flight Commander the P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7060 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF following November & in August 1941, became S/L. He led the Squadron in many Operational sorties & P6991 F/S John James Walker 19th-21st was a noted protagonist of the Whirlwind low-level P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Whirlwinds developed serious engine trouble & the attacks. In September 1941, he received the DFC for Squadron was grounded, only Operational his exploits with the Squadron. He takes the best P7116 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Scrambles. Defect traced to 3-way union which wishes of the Officers & men with him to his new supplies oil to the camshaft & supercharger appointment. Scramble bearings, & the manufacturers are constructing a S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC arrived for flying P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright series of stronger unions. duties from No.137 Sqn to Command. Originally a P7043 Sgt Douglas Francis Small member of the Oxford University Air Sqn he 20th transferred to the RAFVR. He destroyed 3 enemy 16th F/S John James Walker to P/O. aircraft by night with No.600 Sqn & received the DFC Convoy Patrol in July 1941. Off the Welsh Coast. Scramble Sgt Richard Irl Reed RCAF to F/S. P7004 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Off the Salters. P7051 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7014 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Convoy Patrol P7052 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Off the Welsh Coast. P7039 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7061 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7011 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7004 P/O Philip Harvey P7060 P/O John James Walker P7004 F/S Cecil Percy King P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7056 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7056 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7039 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7056 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7018 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7011 F/S William Albert Lovell P7110 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Scramble P7000 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 P/O Philip Harvey Angle at 15,000 feet. P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree The port engine of P7017 cut at 2,000 feet. F/S Lovell P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 21st returned safely; the 3-way oil union had broken off. Scramble P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Enemy Patrol P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7017 F/S William Albert Lovell P7100 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7120 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7089 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7052 P/O Philip Harvey P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 18th P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Convoy Patrol P7100 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Off the Welsh Coast. 22nd P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7052 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Escort P7004 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6991 P/O Philip Harvey 13th P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell Convoy Patrol P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Off the Welsh Coast. P7060 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Scramble P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7051 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF 19th P6987 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P7008 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Enemy aircraft out of range off Irish Coast. P7003 F/S Cecil Percy King P7061 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7120 P/O Philip Harvey P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6987 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol P7051 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Off the Welsh Coast. P7035 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7110 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC F/S Coyne landing in the ½-dark, swung off the P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie runway. His Whirlwind turned on its back, but he P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 27th P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell Irish Sea Sweep P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7004 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Intercepted & identified as a Liberator. P7014 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 22nd-28th Scramble P7016 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Squadron grounded due to 3-way union problems. P6991 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7035 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller 30th 24th Scramble Scramble P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell Intercepted & identified as a Liberator. P7014 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7035 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6991 F/S Cecil Percy King P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7120 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw 25th P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF F/S Muirhead saw a low-flying aircraft 10 miles Irish Sea Patrol north of St. Davids Head, but lost it in fading light. P7035 P/O Stuart James Lovell 28th P7035 P/O Philip Harvey P6990 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 3 sections vectored hard after plots 20-60 miles Scramble south-west of Base. Vectored on to each other. P7089 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7052 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell Note P7014 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF The remaining Operational hours, which were again P7013 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams the highest in No.10 Group, were devoted to Convoy Patrols. As these were wholly without incident, they 26th P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small have not been recorded. The large number of F/S James Patrick Coyne to P/O. P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Scrambles may be accounted for by misplotted friendly aircraft & by the renewed interest shown by Scramble Saltees. the Hun in Shipping in the Western Approaches. Anglesey-Ireland. P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF German pilots are very aware of our Interception P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Tactics & 1 dubious visual has been the only contact P7052 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith made by this Squadron. Methods of Interception P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell 29th without the use, or with the minimum use of R/T, P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble have been & will be increasingly tried out Intercepted & identified as a Liberator.

P7061 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Scramble MARCH 1942 P7117 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie RAF Fairwood Common P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 1st P7116 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes His Majesty the King graciously approved the P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF granting of a Crest & Motto to No.263 Squadron. The P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Crest, devised by the Chester Herald, consists of the P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6991 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Lion of Scotland rampant, holding in the forepaws P7007 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams the Blue Cross of Norway, commemorating thereby P7051 P/O Philip Harvey th the Squadron’s exploits in the 1st & 2nd North- P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 15 Western (Norway) Expeditions of 1940 & the period Convoy Patrol of re-fitting with Whirlwinds which was spent in P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P7100 P/O Philip Harvey Scotland. The Motto is ‘Ex Ungue, Leonem’ - The Lion P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley is Known by His Claws. AVM Orlebar visited to present the Crest & Motto. He P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC inspected the Squadron & spoke to F/S Goss BEM P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie who is one of the several veterans of the Norwegian Expedition still serving with the Squadron. He then P7051 P/O Philip Harvey P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree made a speech in which he commemorated the P7116 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7007 F/S Richard Irl Reed major events in the Squadrons history. He remarked that the Squadron was chosen to be re-equipped P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC with Whirlwinds, because it was at that time the P7011 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF crack Squadron of Fighter Command; but events showed that height had become a major factor & this P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Scramble the Whirlwind lacked. Nevertheless, Whirlwinds of P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Congratulated by Group, on being the only aircraft No.263 Sqn had been markedly successful in the in the Group to take off in thick weather. Sgt Offensive Operations of 1941. He presented the Crest 9th Muirhead landed at Pembrey short of fuel. & Motto to S/L Woodward DFC. Air-to-Air Firing. F/L Warnes, P/O Currie & P/O P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw G/C R.L.R. Atcherley OBE AFC & W/C Arthur Hay Holmes all shot away their drogues. P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Donaldson AFC DFC were both present at the ceremony. The former was Air Attaché in Norway at Convoy Patrol P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC the time of the 2nd Norway Expedition & acted as Off the Welsh Coast. P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes W/C of the Wing; he is now the Station Commander P7011 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley of Fairwood Common. W/C Donaldson’s connections P7004 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7060 P/O John James Walker with the Squadron are well known. P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7060 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes 1st P7007 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P/O Stuart James Lovell attached to No.2 Delivery P7060 P/O John James Walker Flight, Colerne. P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6991 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 16th 3rd Scramble Several new 3-way unions arrived & 6 Whirlwinds P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes were rendered serviceable. P7116 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes

th th 4th 10 18 17 Whirlwinds serviceable. Convoy Patrol Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw 7th P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Scramble P7003 F/S William Albert Lovell Section plotted within 4 miles of the Bogies off Lundy 19th P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Convoy Patrol P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7056 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Convoy Patrol P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7117 P/O Philip Harvey P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7060 P/O John James Walker P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7003 F/S William Albert Lovell P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7116 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 20th P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Sweep 11th P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7061 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P/O Stewart Gordon Brannigan attached to No.2 P7117 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7041 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Delivery Flight, Colerne. Evening Patrol P7116 P/O John James Walker 14th P6990 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Convoy Patrol P7003 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 20th P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy to P/O. P7003 P/O Philip Harvey A team of Photographers arrived to photograph the 8th P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley aircraft & personnel of the Squadron, on the ground Co-operation in General Invasion Manoeuvres. Beat & in the air. All possible facilities afforded them. up of approaches to Oxwich Bay, railway lines, P7051 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Swansea station & Fairwood. P7052 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 21st Sgt Colin Douglas Bell RAAF & Sgt Peter Alexander Scramble P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Ewing RAAF posted to No.450 Sqn. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7052 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Convoy Patrol Evening Sweep P7052 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7051 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Convoy Patrol P7117 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7001 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P6991 P/O John James Walker P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Irish Sea Sweep P6991 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7100 P/O Philip Harvey Convoy Patrol P7100 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 28th 22nd P6990 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Convoy Patrol P/O Stuart James Lovell transferred from No.2 P6990 F/S William Albert Lovell Delivery Flight, Colerne to No.51 OTU. P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Irish Sea Sweep P7112 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Saltees. Irish Sea Sweep P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7114 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7100 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 25th P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Photos of the Squadron appeared in the newspapers, P6990 F/S William Albert Lovell together with extensive accounts of the Offensive P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7051 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Operations of 1941. Cuttings of these were obtained P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie from Durrant’s Agency & will be found in the Patrol Squadron Scrapbook, together with a brief history of P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC the Squadron which was prepared for the AOC before P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7100 P/O Philip Harvey his visit on 1st March. P7116 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7100 F/S Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol P7060 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Air Sea Rescue Patrol P7116 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes A pilot of No.402 (Spitfire) Sqn on Convoy Patrol P7060 P/O John James Walker Scramble ‘pancaked’ in the sea 12-miles south of Tenby. It was P7061 F/L Cecil Percy King established that this pilot, F/S Elliott, never P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes managed to leave his aircraft, which remained nose P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF down in the sea for a few seconds before sinking. He 26th had been ordered to bale out at 1,000 feet. This sad P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes No.10 Group Tactical Exercise 28 incident caused much comment on the advantages of P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 6 Whirlwinds led by S/L Woodward DFC beat up 8 2 engines. The cutting of a Whirlwind engine is a lorries on Dartmoor. 2 more Squadrons had routine occurrence, so much so that only the more P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams previously attacked & left 1 lorry blazing. After the spectacular cases have been recorded. P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Whirlwind attack, there were 3 more ablaze. G/C P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Edwards-Jones congratulated the Squadron on very P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC good shooting & well-planned attacks. A general P6991 F/S Richard Irl Reed message of congratulations was also received from 29th AOC No.10 Group. Convoy Patrol P7051 P/O Vivian Lester Currie S/L Jackson, Fighter Command Maintenance Officer P7117 F/S William Albert Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley visited Fairwood & congratulated the Engineering P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Officer, P/O Hay BEM, on the high standard of P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF maintenance & serviceability which was evident P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright during the whole of the month, after the 3-way union P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree problem had been cured. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Convoy Patrol P7060 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy Over Convoys ‘Steward’ & Supper II’. Thick haze up 23rd to 5,000 feet. Balloons were flying from these Air Sea Rescue Patrol Irish Sea Sweep Convoys at 2,000 feet in accordance with SD158, but P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Saltees. nevertheless afforded great danger to the fighter P7110 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes escort, which therefore returned to Base. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Note P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Despite the presence of 36 Ju.88, He.111, He.115s in P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF the Brest area, there has been little activity by day or P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes night. An analysis of plots by members of the P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Operations Staff & the Intelligence Officer & is still Convoy Patrol continuing. 28 Sweeps of the Smalls-Carnsore-Saltee Sgt Abrams’ port engine cut 5 miles from Base. He Convoy Patrol area were flown & 4 Evening Patrols of the area made a good single engine landing. Over Convoys ‘Steward’ & ‘Supper II’. south-west of Linney Head, but the plan has not yet P6991 P/O John James Walker P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree succeeded. No enemy aircraft were contacted during P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams the month. Irish Sea Sweep 256 Operational & 284 Non-Operational hours P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7011 F/S William Albert Lovell flown. Total 540 hours. 20 flying days. There were P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 152 Cine-Camera Exercises in which 2,201 feet of film were exposed; 58 Air-Firing Exercises; 14 Air-to- P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes 27th Ground, 31 Air-to-Sea & 13 Air-to-Air. If the P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Irish Sea Sweep Operational commitment of the Squadron is born in P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC mind, these figures become comparable with the P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith work done in the Spring of 1940. The Squadron P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright would like to remark on the unusually extensive co- Convoy Patrol operation between Fairwood Common Station 24th P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Officers & the Squadron. This takes many forms but Patrol P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes is most evident in flying matters. The Fairwood P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes runways with their multivariate slopes & borders of P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Patrol treacherous ground necessitated a complex system P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree of Flying Control, a system which is not always P7160 P/O John James Walker P7050 Sgt Douglas Francis Small without friction. But this, too, as well as in other P7116 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams spheres Fairwood Common has been found to be a Linney Head-Smalls-Carnsore-Saltee. Very wide Station in which keenness on every branch of Flying P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF echelon, 2 miles between the sections & aircraft ½- develops properly to its full extent. P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small mile apart.

P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell Convoy Patrol APRIL 1942 Off the Welsh Coast. P7001 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7056 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree The Squadron, in flying 382:05 hours Operational & P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 276:50 hours Non-Operational, total 658:55 hours, set up a record for any month since its formation. P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7116 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy 10,536 rounds of ball ammunition were also fired. P7100 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7110 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams

RAF Fairwood Common P7035 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes 1st P7003 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7056 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 2 accidents in a 50-mph cross wind. P/O Holmes broke a wing tip, but P/O Harvey swung off the P7117 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7035 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC runway, bounced & turned over. He walked out of a P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6990 P/O Vivian Lester Currie sheer disintegration with only a bruised arm, a spectacular escape. P7052 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7110 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 2nd The hydraulic system failed, through slow running P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell (extended taxiing) of the starboard engine which P7051 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF operates the hydraulic pump, so that Sgt Small, in going down one of the Fairwood Hills, ran into a P7117 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith bowser. P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie

Patrol Patrol P7052 P/O Philip Harvey Over the Irish Sea. Over the Irish Sea. P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7060 P/O John James Walker P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7060 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7035 F/S Cecil Percy King P7116 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7003 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 15th Saltees Sweep Convoy Patrol 10th P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Off the Welsh Coast. Convoy Patrol P7052 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Off the Welsh Coast. P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P/O Harvey swung off the runway on landing in a P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright crosswind & damaged starboard wing & engine. P7056 F/S William Albert Lovell P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7120 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7090 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6990 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7120 F/S William Albert Lovell P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 5th Convoy Patrol Scramble Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. 2 Spitfires from Llandow misplotted due to Over the Irish Sea to the Saltees in very wide echelon. P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF temporary absence of I.F.F. in all Spitfire Mk. V’s. P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 8th 66:20 hours flying, a record with Gladiators or 10th Scramble Whirlwinds. 3,285 rounds, the contents of 55 P/O Coyne made a good single engine landing after P7000 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC ammunition boxes, fired. his starboard engine cut in the circuit. P7061 Sgt Douglas Francis Small

Convoy Patrol 11th Saltees Sweep Over Convoy ‘Skipper’ off the Welsh Coast. Scramble P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7060 P/O John James Walker Raid 159. P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7060 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Patrol P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Over the Irish Sea. Raid 159. It escaped in cloud. P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 P/O John James Walker 15th P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 8 Smalls-Saltee Patrols.

P7060 P/O John James Walker Raid 159. 16th P7114 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7035 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Scramble P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Convoy Patrol P7060 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Over Convoy ‘Steward’ off the Welsh Coast. 12th P7060 P/O John James Walker Irish Sea Sweep Convoy Patrol P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Vectored towards the ‘Milk Train’ off Carnsore. Off the Welsh Coast. P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7114 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7114 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7035 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7061 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Convoy Patrol P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Off the Welsh Coast. P7060 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7089 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7116 P/O John James Walker P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7114 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy 14th Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF to F/S. P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7035 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7035 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7052 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7061 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7089 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7035 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7013 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6990 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7011 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7060 P/O John James Walker P7114 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Scramble P7061 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7035 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 24th P7000 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 10 aircraft to Predannack for a Ramrod, cancelled. P7000 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Scramble P7060 P/O John James Walker P7110 P/O John James Walker 17th P7061 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7056 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Scramble P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 26th P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. Convoy Patrol P7000 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Off the Welsh Coast. P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7000 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7089 P/O John James Walker P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7061 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Scramble P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Intercepted & identified as a Liberator. P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7000 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy 22nd P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Convoy Patrol P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy Off the Welsh Coast. P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7089 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7060 P/O John James Walker P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 27th F/L Rudland DFC shot down an escaped balloon. It 18th P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell burst into flames, though only ball ammunition used. To RAF Angle, the forward aerodrome in the XXXXX P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Fairwood sector. When the train was passing Convoy Patrol through Llanelli, the wooden truck next to the engine P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Off the Welsh Coast. was seen to be burning fiercely. As it contained the P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King contents of ‘A’ Flight Armoury, it was moved to a P7035 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF siding where the Verey lights gave an excellent P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF display, but the fire was extinguished before any of P7110 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7016 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw the ammunition, which was packed in drums, P7056 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF exploded. The train went on its way, after a ½-hour. P7060 P/O John James Walker P7000 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7090 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley RAF Angle P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 20th P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell Convoy Patrol P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King Off the Welsh Coast. P7035 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7035 F/S Cecil Percy King P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7116 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Scramble P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7000 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7056 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King 29th P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Convoy Patrol P7110 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Off the Welsh Coast. P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 23rd P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King F/S William Albert Lovell to P/O. P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7035 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Convoy Patrol P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell Off the Welsh Coast. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7014 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7035 P/O Philip Harvey 21st P7011 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7110 P/O Stuart James Lovell Convoy Patrol P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7114 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Off the Welsh Coast. P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7000 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7060 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6990 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 P/O Philip Harvey P7011 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7114 P/O Vivian Lester Currie sections made landfall too far west owing to an P7114 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC incorrect forecast wind & neither found its target. P7110 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7114 P/O Philip Harvey The moral seems to be, once again, that more time must be given for briefing, just ½ hour was available Scramble P7035 P/O Stuart James Lovell at Predannack. P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7114 P/O Philip Harvey P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell 30th P7114 P/O Philip Harvey P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. RAF Predannack P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7051 F/S Cecil Percy King No.10 Group Ramrod 18 P7089 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Lannion & Morlaix aerodromes. 4 aircraft of ‘A’ P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Flight (Red section) & 4 aircraft of ‘B’ Flight (Blue P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith section) escorted by Spitfires of No.310 Sqn. Both

P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw MAY 1942 P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF

May, which was spent at Angle, was uneventful but 6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC meritorious. The number of hours flown was easily a 1130-1150 P6991 P/O Philip Harvey record for this Squadron & must be amongst the P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie highest recorded without accidents in Fighter P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Command. In effect, the Squadron was responsible P7089 Sgt Edger Brearley RCAF P7051 F/S Cecil Percy King for the Shipping protection & escort of the Fairwood P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Common sector, helped out on occasion by a section 14th of No.421, a new Squadron under training at 5th P/O Ash arrived as Engineering Officer. Fairwood Common. Some attempts were made to Scramble restart Rhubarb Operations. Targets of considerable P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell Scramble importance were selected in the Cherbourg area, but P7120 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw after full briefing, the destruction of them was P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell postponed. This order came from a higher source 6th than Group HQ. Another section took off to attack Scramble P6990 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF targets in the Brest area on 26th May, but the P7013 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley weather proved unsuitable. It is in fact, difficult to P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley find, or forecast, days in which the weather is P7061 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Operational, being here & at an advanced P7011 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC XXXXX F/S Richard Irl Reed aerodrome 150 miles away & which affords at the P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley same time cloud cover over the target. Convoy 15th commitments in this sector do not permit aircraft Patrol Scramble being detached for more than 24 hours. It is to be Portreath-Falmouth. ‘B’ Flight had the honour to P7061 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree understood that Whirlwind aircraft must be serviced Patrol that part of Cornwall which was being visited P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed by Whirlwind trained crews, & that a Daily by the King & Queen. It was a hot day, & after flying Inspection must be done once every 24 hours. A for 40 minutes, the pilots were exhausted. P7060 P/O John James Walker detachment could not consist of less than 3 aircraft P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7000 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams & it would be necessary to send at least 10 ground P7114 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright staff over distances of 200-300 miles. The Squadron P7060 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy 16th Servicing Echelon, No.3055, is still at Fairwood P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Scramble Common & this makes the maintaining of high P7089 Sgt Edger Brearley RCAF P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams serviceability more difficult. Besides flying a great P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright many hours, the pilots occupied themselves in P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small ‘binding’, playing poker, shooting rocks & rabbits, P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams dancing & sailing. The last 2 are recorded more fully 8th P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright below. Scramble Vectored far out over the Irish Sea. 19th RAF Angle P7013 P/O Stuart James Lovell S/L Woodward, F/O Wordsworth & P/O van Zeller 1st P7016 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF paid a visit to HM Naval Base, Milford Haven, & Scramble discussed details of escort. These Anti-Shipping Recce aircraft, Ju.88s of 1/123 P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie F/O Wordsworth secured a charter on a pair of 12 & 3/123 are exceedingly tricky. There seems little P6991 P/O Philip Harvey foot Sailing Dinghies from N. Ward Esq., the doubt they listen to our R/T communications. Their secretary of the Pembroke Yacht Club. These were plots often diverge evasively from our vectors & they 9th towed across to Angle by the Barge ‘Mary Jane’ & fly at 200-500 feet to evade detection. Scramble were carpentered, painted, rigged & varnished by P7013 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7013 P/O Stuart James Lovell members of the Squadron. They were both P7116 P/O Philip Harvey P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Operational by 27th May, & thereafter were regularly sailed by 12 members of the Squadron, who formed Scramble P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley a Sailing Club. S/L Clover, Station Commander, P7060 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF became Commodore & generously presented £2; 0; P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 0d to the Club. P6991 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 2nd P7116 P/O Philip Harvey 20th Scramble Scramble P7116 P/O Philip Harvey P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7013 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF

P7060 P/O Stuart James Lovell 10th P7011 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Sgt Robert Alex McFadgen posted to No.1 Depot, RAF P6991 P/O Philip Harvey Uxbridge. P7116 P/O Philip Harvey P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7013 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Scramble P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 3rd P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy Whilst on Convoy Patrol, Sgt Meredith thinks he saw P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell a submarine crash-dive 3-miles south-east of the 13th Smalls. Depth Charges were dropped all day, but F/O Alfred Arthur Hay posted to RAF Zeals as 21st ultimately Naval opinion was that only a tidal rock Engineering Officer. With the Squadron since F/O Eric Comissiong Eadie arrived as Medical had been dislodged. October 1941, the serviceability figures are some Officer. measure of the work he has done. Scramble Balbo P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Sweep P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Irish Sea Sweep in another determined effort to P6991 P/O Philip Harvey intercept the elusive 1/123. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Followed a single bogey towards St. Eval. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 P/O William Albert Lovell P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7051 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7003 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King 1st Solo P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7116 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7089 P/O William Albert Lovell P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King Scramble 4th P6991 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Scramble P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Produced plots coincidental with enemy aircraft off P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Carnsore. P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell

22nd P7061 P/O John James Walker RAF Angle F/L Clifford William Douglas Cole posted to RAF P7007 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Scramble Zeals. He had been Medical Officer since January P7007 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes 1942. He showed great interest in all flying matters P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7114 Sgt Douglas Francis Small & was a most popular member of the Squadron. A dance was held in the Officers Mess, a rambling 23rd 30th house in a woody garden by the sea known as ‘The Scramble P/O Bill Lovell & Sgt Yates became Operational on Hall’. This was the 1st dance to be held there, & P7056 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Whirlwinds. although the great distance from other human P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 2 photographs, of the many taken by various Press habitants prevented there being a superfluity of Agencies on 12th March 1942, are attached to the young ladies, a good time was had by all. 24th Squadrons copy of this Form as Appendices B & C. ‘B’ Scramble shows a group of pilots taking tea outside ‘A’ Flight Scramble P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree dispersal hut at Fairwood Common. ‘C’ shows two The longest Operational flight ever made by P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Whirlwinds taking off behind a foreground of Whirlwinds. The section was vectored to the Smalls workmen. It is felt that these photographs may have & back, then to the Smalls again, where P/O Walker’s P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams some relevance should any future historian seek to R/T failed. Sgt Reed took the lead & they were P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small elucidate the charge of idleness which is frequently vectored hotly after an enemy aircraft towards brought by RAF Personnel against workmen who Dublin. They lost R/T touch with Humbry Repeater 25th work on airfields. & near the coast of Ireland, P/O Walker took the lead F/L Rudland DFC, F/O Holmes, P/O Currie & P/O again in heavy rain & 10/10 low-cloud. A vector to Crabtree USA fetched by the Commanders Gig from 31st Base was received from Humbry via a Beaufighter of the Hall jetty, to dine in HMS Brocklesby commanded Sweep No.125 Sqn. He knew he had not got enough petrol by Lieutenant Commander Ash DSO. This Officer was Off Carnsore Point. to make Base & continued to fly due east. The decorated for leading MTBs to attack the P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw weather was foul & he saw the small aerodrome at Scharnhorst & Gneisenau in March 1942. The P6991 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Hells Mouth near Pwllheli at which they were able to Officers returned very late in a thick mist. land by the strong westerly wind. He saw 67 gallons P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw of petrol put into his starboard tank - its capacity, 67 Sweep P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF gallons. The Smalls P7060 P/O John James Walker P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7090 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6990 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith

Scramble RAF Predannack 321 Convoy Patrols flown during the month; & as P7090 F/S Richard Irl Reed 26th none were marked by incident or interest, they have P7061 P/O John James Walker Rhubarb 54 not been individually recorded here. Railway objectives near Landiviseau. Abandoned 15 Air Sea Rescue Patrol miles off the French Coast due to no cloud cover. 10 miles off St. David’s Head. Nothing seen of the P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Blenheim supposed to have gone in there. P7090 P/O Vivian Lester Currie

the coast, F/L Warnes decided that the element of west. The 2nd developed into a Liberator whilst the JUNE 1942 surprise had been lost & returned to Base. plots of the 3rd faded. The 4th Scramble was P7089 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes eventually chased by aircraft from RAF Station, RAF Angle P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Valley. Again, the 5th Scramble reiterated the 1st-4th P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes experience of the 1st, for the Bandit was out of range. Convoy Patrols P7090 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy 21st 1st Scramble Home Guard Tactical Exercise F/S John Davidson Mitchner to W/O. Off Lundy. Oxford returning from Portreath. ‘B’ Flight ‘beat up’ Camarthen in liaison with the P7043 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Home Guard. Scramble P7007 P/O William Albert Lovell P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 22nd P7120 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller 6th Convoy Patrols. Scramble Patrol P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 23rd Smalls-Carmsore. P7013 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller F/L Warnes had the misfortune to damage the tail P7089 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes wheel of his Whirlwind on landing. The accident was P7007 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates 7th traced to hydraulic failure. Thus, the longest Sgt John Eutychus Meredith posted to No.175 Sqn. accident free period in the history of Whirlwinds of RAF Predannack No.263 Squadron came to an end. From 30th April 5th 8th until 23rd June, Whirlwinds of No.263 Squadron had No.10 Group Ramrod 19 Scramble flown 1236:50 hours without accident, a record Lannion aerodrome. Escort by W/C Blake DFC & a P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF which will probably be difficult to emulate. Flight of No.234 Sqn Spitfires. S/L Woodward flew P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright over Lannion aerodrome Watch Tower & saw a line 24th of what he took to be 5 Ju.88s parked close together 10th P/O Norman Latham & Sgt Curtis arrived for flying in line abreast. He dived to the attack from 400 feet Scramble duties from No.59 OTU. & fired a 2½-second burst & hit them but was pretty P7114 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes sure after he had passed over them that they were P7117 P/O William Albert Lovell 26th dummies. He was also able to get in a short burst & Cdr Hughes-White visited to arrange passage for S/L observed hits on a flak post. P/O Coyne also fired at 13th Woodward in HMS Destroyer ‘Tynwald’. The 3-day & hit the dummy aircraft, only recognising them as Scramble trip from Milford Haven to Belfast & back was to such when he had passed over them. P/O Blackshaw Identified as a Liberator south of the Smalls. report on the system of plotting & vectoring to scored hits on 3 of the 4 Blister Hangers south of the P7043 P/O William Albert Lovell enable our aircraft to intercept enemy aircraft Watch Office. He then saw & recognised the dummies P7007 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF attacking or threatening our convoys. A ‘Shadow’ & flew across the south-eastern extension of the exercise took place during the voyage, in which a airfield to see a Ju.88 being serviced in a hanger. This 14th Beaufighter provided the ‘shadow’ & 2 Whirlwinds aircraft was held up by the nose & exposed its dark P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy posted to No.421 Sqn. provided the interception. Much valuable data was sea blue underside camouflage. Strikes seen. This gained & transmitted by S/L Woodward, in his suggests that the Squadron has at last seen & 15th official report. partially damaged an aircraft of 3/123 which it has P/O Walker of ‘B’ Flight, whilst flying the Group lately so often chased. P/O Blackshaw also fired a Captains Master, was given a green landing safety 27th short accurate burst at a flak post. F/S Muirhead lamp at Fairwood Common. He landed to find that Convoy Patrols. who was number 4 in the attack flew on to the un- his undercarriage was retracted. visited northern dispersals & scored hits on 2 Blister 28th Hangers. 16th-17th P/O Phillip Harvey appointed F/O. P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Convoy Patrols. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Army Co-operation Exercise P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 18th ‘Beat up’ RAF Manorbier. P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF F/L Pierard who is Port Liaison Officer, Milford Haven visited. His objective being to promote more 29th No.10 Group Ramrod 19 fully the mutual understanding between pilots & W/O John Davidson Mitchner posted to No.55 OTU. Morlaix aerodrome. Escorted by a Flight of No.130 merchantmen of their respective tasks. Sqn. They flew precisely on a course given by 30th Operations at the last moment. Landfall was made 19th Convoy Patrols. 12 miles too far west, after investigating 3 inlets on A day of Scrambles. The 1st gave chase to a Bandit who eventually was found to be out of range, too far

Command on the result of his experience with JULY 1942 the Whirlwind. 21st Scramble RAF Angle & RAF Portreath 8th P7057 P/O William Albert Lovell 1st-8th Scramble P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Convoy Patrols. ‘B’ Flight at Angle, ‘A’ Flight at P7007 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw RAF Predannack Portreath. We held down the whole of the 23rd Operational commitment of both Fairwood P7052 P/O Philip Harvey Rhubarb Common & Portreath sectors during this week. P7090 P/O John James Walker Rendezvous with No.234 Sqn Spitfires at the There were many Convoy Patrols & Scrambles, P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Lizard at 300 feet, dropped to sea-level & but these were quite uneventful, although crossed the French Coast west of Plouescat at enemy aircraft were plotted with regularity. P7060 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree zero feet. Sgt Curtis posted. P7000 F/S Richard Irl Reed Red Section - S/L Woodward DFC & P/O Coyne. flew to Lesnoven then south & at Landiviseau 1st Patrol both fired at the Station & trucks. P/O Coyne Sgt James Ian Simpson arrived for flying duties Carnsore Point. reported smoke & people running away. They from No.175 Sqn. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree then flew on to Morlaix where S/L Woodward P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed fired at more trucks. They then turned for Base Scramble via Taule. P/O Coyne attacked a Lightship P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes 10th Tender & a Trawler, seeing hits. They then P7087 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Patrol joined 4 other aircraft & on the way back saw a Irish Sea. Whirlwind followed by 2 Me.109s. They turned P7020 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7060 P/O John James Walker in their direction & saw 2 more Me.109s. By now P7007 P/O Philip Harvey P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams the Whirlwind had hit the sea. Later, about 10 P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes minutes from the English Coast, another P7052 P/O William Albert Lovell Whirlwind was seen with 3 Me.109s on its tail. P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 12th Again S/L Woodward DFC turned back but Scramble could not see owing to a dirty windscreen. They P7060 P/O John James Walker P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw were unable to contact any other section as P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7014 F/L William Bow Douglas Symington Davie their R/T was unintelligible. P/O Coyne saw 5 unidentified aircraft, 1 of which went into the 3rd 13th sea about mid-Channel. Whilst taxying at Portreath Sgt Muirhead was The weather proved unsuitable for visit of HRH Blue Section - F/S King & P/O Currie. The violently wind swung into another unoccupied the Duke of Ken. An escort from ‘B’ Flight took former fired at a lorry on the Morlaix road, Whirlwind. Both Cat AC. to the air in preparation for his arrival. seeing hits on the radiator. P/O Currie was last seen with 4 other aircraft near the French Coast 4th 13th-20th & is missing, believed killed in action. P/O Norman Latham posted. The usual round of Convoy Patrols seasoned Yellow Section - P/O Walker & Sgt Abrams. The with a dash of unfruitful Scrambles. former flew south to Landiviseau, turning left Scramble along the railway to St. Tregonnec, he fired at a P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 14th lorry & a signal box on the line south of Morlaix. P7120 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Patrol His next target was a Train in Belair Station. South of Eire Hits seen but no smoke. No enemy aircraft seen, Patrol P7114 P/O William Albert Lovell but a Convoy of 12 ships spotted 8 miles north- South of Eire. east of Chaises de Prims. P/O Walker did not P7089 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Modified form of Operation Pigstick, designed return & is presumed killed in action. P7000 F/S Richard Irl Reed to catch unplotted low-flying aircraft of 1/123 Green Section - F/L Warnes & P/O S. Lovell. & 3/123. They attacked 2 huts near some tall wireless 5th P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree masts north of the Landiviseau-Landernau Scramble P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed railway. F/L Warnes also attacked 2 huts by a South-east of the Lizard at 8-10,000 feet. gun post north of Landiviseau. P/O Lovell Watched in the Operations Room by the Angle-Eire-Lundy. attacked a large camouflaged transport on the Intelligence Officer. The plots came regularly & P6995 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF road south of the railway. rapidly. The section received vectors from the P7056 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Black Section - P/O Holmes & Sgt Wright. Controller but within 3 minutes, the plots faded Attacked the same huts as Green section. P/O & did not re-appear. P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Holmes fired at them & they collapsed. They P7014 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7060 P/O Stuart James Lovell then attacked a Distillery 1 mile north of P6991 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Landiviseau (see White section) which was 16th burning before they attacked. P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Scramble White Section - F/L Rudland DFC & P/O Harvey. P7052 P/O William Albert Lovell P7003 P/O William Albert Lovell Attacked 3 tall, black covered railway trucks P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF coming out of St. Pol de Leen. The 1st truck was 6th left glowing red. Then they attacked the Scramble 18th Distillery 1 mile north of Landiviseau which was P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC Scramble left on fire, referred to under Black section. P7003 P/O William Albert Lovell P6995 F/OGeoffrey Berrington Warnes P/O Currie & P/O Walker were skilled pilots & P7090 P/O Stuart James Lovell were held in general high regard. These were P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree the 1st losses suffered by the Squadron since Sgt P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Patrol Prior was killed on 21st December 1941. The Smalls. P6990 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7062 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 P/O Philip Harvey P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7057 F/S Cecil Percy King P7056 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 7th P7000 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O John James Walker Patrol P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7120 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams The Smalls. P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P6995 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Scramble Similar Operation to that of 14th. A feature of P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7089 P/O John James Walker both was R/T silence. Nothing aircraft seen. P6979 P/O Philip Harvey P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 25th 7th-14th Scramble F/L William Bow Douglas Symington Davie of 20th P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams RAE attached to the Squadron for experimental Scramble P7110 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright purposes, & duly reported to Group & Fighter P7116 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7003 P/O William Albert Lovell 26th P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC A/C Gallehawk, Army Liaison Officer to the P7000 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7120 P/O Philip Harvey Welsh Regional Commissioner, visited & a P7110 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell lecture on flak was given by Major King. P6990 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller The considerable hospitality which the P7007 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Squadron has received from His Majesties Ships P7120 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King was somewhat repaid when Lt Commander P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Bumphrey DSO DSC & other Officers of HM 27th Destroyer Brocklebank were entertained in the Air Sea Rescue Patrol P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams mess. P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small The Squadron Intelligence Officer was absent P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small for 3 weeks, attached to Intelligence Course A at Patrol Harrow. F/O Yorath of Sector Intelligence, Patrol The Smalls. Fairwood Common ‘stood in’ for part of that The Smalls. P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC time. P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7110 P/O Stuart James Lovell Scramble 30th The Smalls. P7117 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF arrived for P7120 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6995 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates flying duties from No.87 Sqn.

P7110 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 28th Scramble P7117 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Scramble P6990 P/O Philip Harvey P7057 F/S Cecil Percy King P7014 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P6995 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7056 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates

1941 but was formally rejected. However, on 21st AUGUST 1942 P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes July, a letter was received from HQ No.10 Group P7099 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright stating that the aircraft were to be modified to take RAF Angle 250lb bombs; later it was found that 500lb bombs 1st Sgt Reed hit a lorry near the runway on take-off. were practicable. By the end of the month bomb Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates to F/S. P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams racks had been fitted to 8 aircraft. P7117 F/S Richard Irl Reed Convoy Patrol 17th P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 10th Convoy Patrol P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Convoy Patrol P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7003 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7057 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7120 F/S Cecil Percy King P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Scramble P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Scramble P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw 40 miles west of Lundy. P6991 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7014 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 11th Sgt Douglas Francis Small attached to No.2 Delivery Scramble Saltees. Flight, Colerne. P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Convoy Patrol Convoy Poker. P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 4th P7059 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7090 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Convoy Patrol P7056 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7014 P/O Philip Harvey Anti-Rhubarb Patrol P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7056 P/O William Albert Lovell P7062 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7099 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7090 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7000 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7056 F/S Richard Irl Reed Patrol The Smalls. P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 18th P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Scramble P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 12th P7090 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 5th Convoy Patrol Convoy Patrol Convoy Steward. 22nd P7014 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7014 P/O Philip Harvey P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7014 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7062 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 24th Scramble P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7057 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7092 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6991 P/O Stuart James Lovell

P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Scramble 28th P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Scramble P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell 2 aircraft believed He.177s, bombed Bristol, causing P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams many casualties in crowded buses. Plots were good P7056 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 13th from Cherbourg at 20-30,000 feet but our aircraft Convoy Patrol saw smoke trails at 35,000 feet. P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6991 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7059 F/S Richard Irl Reed

P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P6079 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Cardiff bombed from 35,000 feet. The Observer Corps P7056 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley made an unlikely identification of a Fw.200. The Whirlwinds struggled to 24,000 feet & saw nothing. Scramble P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7099 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Doubtful plots identified as friendly. P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7057 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7014 F/S Cecil Percy King P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Scramble P7000 P/O Philip Harvey P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7043 P/O Stuart James Lovell Patrol P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes 21st P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 14th Sgt David John Williams arrived for flying duties Sgt Peter Alastair Jardine arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Air Sea Rescue Patrol after a Refresher Course at No.54 OTU. Blenheim believed ditched off St. Davids Head. 23rd P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 15th F/L Rudland flew a Whirlwind fitted with 500lb P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Sgt Hicks attached to A&AEE, Boscombe Down. practice bombs & submitted the following: Move to RAF Colerne. The Squadron had been at I found the performance not greatly impaired by the 6th Angle since 1st April, & in the Fairwood Sector since addition of bombs or racks, except for the maximum Convoy Patrol 10th February. In that time, the number of Convoy speed. With 500lb bombs, from take-off the aircraft P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Patrols & the Operational hours flown were climbed to 1,500 feet at +2 Boost, 2,400 revs, in 16½ P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF consistently the highest in the Group. But, except on minutes. When diving at 310 mph indicated, at 3 Offensive Operations from Predannack, there was 15,000 feet, there is a disconcerting aileron flutter. 9th no contact with the enemy & although there were This also becomes apparent at slower speeds nearer P/O Gill took a Whirlwind at St. Andries Camp. compensations in the country sports of shooting, the ground on occasions. Take-off appears to be 125 sailing & bathing, the place was too remote for a stay yards greater & landing 100 yards greater. Convoy Patrol as long as ours to be continuously enjoyable. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 30th P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF RAF Colerne P/O Philip Harvey posted to HQ Fighter Command 16th-31st for Liaison Duties. P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF No.3055 Echelon fitted bomb racks. The fitting of P7056 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates bombs was suggested by S/L Pugh DFC in September

ship. F/L Warnes could not fire during the COs 18th SEPTEMBER 1942 attack, & his bombs were not observed, but he P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes posted as a F/L to believed them to be accurate. F/L Blackshaw & P/O our daughter Whirlwind Squadron, No.137. He had RAF Colerne Brearley attacked the 1st ship with cannon & bombs. been in this Squadron since March 1941. 1st F/L Blackshaw’s bombs were observed to be near Commissioned a year ago, he became deputy Flight F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC posted to No.19 misses, P/O Brearley were unobserved. In fact, both Commander of ‘B’ Flight. Of steady good temper, a Sqn. He had been with the Squadron since 31st July these ships were sunk. When S/L Wootton fine athlete & a good companion, Joe will be missed. 1940. Commissioned 10 months later, he took over accompanied by the Warmwell Station Commander, He took part in 9 Offensive Ops. the command of ‘A’ Flight in September 1941 & was W/C Boyd DSO DFC, arrived with the rear support the 2nd pilot to be awarded the DFC for work done Spitfires 6 minutes later, only 2 ships were left 19th with Whirlwind aircraft. floating. This was the 1st Operation in which 250lb Sgt Douglas Francis Small posted to No.2 Delivery P/O Herbert John Blackshaw appointed F/L & ‘A’ bombs were dropped by Whirlwinds “in anger”, & in Flight, Colerne. Flight Commander. fact the 1st time in which anything but practice Sgt John Gray Macaulay arrived for flying duties bombs were dropped. It was also the 1st Operation Anti Rhubarb Patrol from No.175 Sqn. whose take off & landing were witnessed by the Swanage-The Needles. Squadron personnel, because this was the 1st week in P7014 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC 3rd which the Squadron, albeit on Group Practice Camp, P7057 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Scramble was situated at a forward aerodrome. Vectored south at 15,000 feet. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7052 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7090 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P6991 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7057 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6979 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 20th-21st Vectored south at 15,000 feet. Advanced readiness in cockpits. P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 10th P6995 F/S Richard Irl Reed F/S Cecil Percy King appointed P/O. 21st Sgt Peter Alastair Jardine crashed fatally from cloud. 4th RAF Bolt Head After about 40 minutes of Sector Recce, P/O King S/L Woodward DFC & 2 others dropped practice No.10 Group Roadstead who was leading, turned to avoid a raincloud, & bombs (11½ lbs.) on the Chesil Bank Range. Sept Iles-Brehat Shipping Lanes. Escorted by thereafter saw & heard nothing more of him. He was F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC arrived Nos.310 & 312 Sqns. They returned to find 100 feet seen by the occupants of an Army lorry to dive out of for flying duties as Supernumerary. low cloud at Bolt Head & so flew to Warmwell & cloud between Wool & Wareham. A South African by landed in the dark, very short of petrol. birth, he had been with the Squadron since 20th 7th P7065 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC January 1942. Of quiet but good-humoured RAF Warmwell P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell disposition, he was very well liked. The pilots & 90 of the Ground Staff moved by air & P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw rail to Group Practice Camp, Warmwell. The Pilots P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble dispersal was a tent on the south side of the 20 miles south of St. Aldhelms Head. aerodrome. Fortunately, the weather was fine & 11th P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree warm during the 1st 10 days. Telegrams of congratulations upon the successful P7110 Sgt John Gray Macaulay As Nos.174 & 175 Hurri-bomber Sqns had been Operation of 10th September which was fully released from Operations, No.263 Squadron was the reported in the newspapers, were received from F/L Off Portland. only fighter-bomber Squadron in No.10 Group which Eugene Owens, the RAF Colerne Station Adjutant; P6987 P/O William Albert Lovell could be brought to Readiness. And so, when enemy from Humbug, the call sign of Fairwood Common P7000 Sgt James Ian Simpson shipping was reported in the Channel Islands area Sector Operations 1, & from S/L Humphrey St. John during the 1st afternoon at the Practice Camp, S/L Coghlan DFC OC the daughter Whirlwind Squadron, P7099 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Woodward DFC was asked if he could bring 4 No.137. Letters were also received from the Manager P7110 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates Whirlibombers to Readiness. The request was of Westland Aircraft Limited, & Mr. Harold Penrose, complied with & the CO & 3 other pilots moved to the Chief Test Pilot. 23rd-24th Bolt Head. After a great deal of telephoning, 250lb 3- F/S (now P/O) King awarded the DFM, in It is hoped to get as many pilots as possible second delay bombs were brought from Exeter to recognition of his many & varied exploits against the Operational at night, so that night bombing attacks Bolt Head & the Whirlwinds were bombed up. enemy & of the steady example he had given to the can be carried out. other pilots of the Squadron. 8th 26th On this day & every other fine day during the month, 13th S/L Woodward DFC led a bombing display (250lb. practice bombing on the Chesil Bank Range. RAF Warmwell bombs, 11-seconds delay) at West Lulworth A.F.V. Move to Warmwell. The Orderly Room Staff, the Camp. RAF Bolt Head Groundcrews & No.3055 Servicing Echelon, made Sgt Jardine was buried at Warmwell Village Church. No.10 Group Roadstead the journey by train & transport. Conducted from Bolt Head, to which the Whirlwinds 27th had been flown the previous evening, it was the 1st in 15th-16th P/O Edger Brearley RCAF to F/O. which Whirlwinds were fitted with bombs (2 250lb Air Sea Rescue Patrol 3-second delay). Escorted by 2 Spitfire Squadrons of Escort to ASR High Speed Launch. 28th the Exeter Wing, the Channel Islands Shipping Lanes P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF posted to No.286 were searched for a Trawler reported there. Nothing P7052 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Sqn, Colerne. was seen of it & the Whirlwinds landed back at Bolt F/S Basil Courtney Abrams to P/O. Head, 3 of them safely with bombs on. Bolt Head is a 16th small landing ground & so F/L Warnes dropped his Air Sea Rescue Patrol 29th bombs into the sea. For a Typhoon pilot who baled out 20 miles west of F/O Norman Vincent Crabtree, P/O William Albert P7062 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Cherbourg after engine failure the previous day. Lovell & F/S Richard Irl Reed, all citizens of the P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC , who joined the RAF about 2 years ago P7042 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw & who were posted to this Squadron in October 1941, P6979 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7062 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC were honourably discharged from the RAF on taking P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF up appointments with the USAAF. It is believed that 9th they will be posted to No.94 Sqn (P-38 Lightning) at No.10 Group Roadstead Above search was continued 15-25 miles north of Ibsley. Before they left, F/O Crabtree & P/O Lovell A large ship reported by a Shipping Recce near Cap Cherbourg, often within sight of the French Coast. entertained the Officers & Sgts of No.263 Squadron de la Hague. 4 Whirlibombers were bombed up with P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes to a party at the Arms, Weymouth. 250lb 3-second delay bombs & escorted by Spitfires P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree of Nos.118 & 66 Sqns, took off from Warmwell. 4 P7000 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Shipping Recce large Armed Trawlers (1,000-1,200 tons) found P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Channel Island Shipping Lanes. Intending to make steaming west between Cap de la Hague & Alderney. use of cloud cover, they found heavy rain squalls 45 Following immediately behind the anti-flak Spitfires 17th-20th miles south of Warmwell & returned to Base. (No.118 Sqn), S/L Woodward DFC & F/L Warnes ‘B’ Flight moved to a dispersal vacated by No.175 Sqn P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes attacked the 2nd of the ships which were in line in the wood at the west of the aerodrome. ‘A’ Flight P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF astern. S/L Woodward fired all his ammunition from remained in the tent until the 20th, when it blew extreme to very short range & his bombs were seen down. They then moved to a nearby Nissen Hut. to explode on the waterline against the side of the

9th 18th OCTOBER 1942 W/O Donald Burton McPhail RCAF & Sgt John Zeals Non-Operational, Readiness at Warmwell. McGowan Barclay arrived for flying duties from RAF Bolt Head No.137 Sqn. 19th 1st The CO, F/L Warnes, P/O Lovell, P/O Harvey, P/O P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant arrived for flying Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley to F/S. Gill, P/O King & F/O Wordsworth attended a dance duties from No.137 Sqn. given by Messrs. Westland, makers of the Whirlwind, Sgt John McGowan Barclay awarded the 1st G.C. No.10 Group Roadstead at the Boden Social Club, Chard. 1st class Badge. Minesweepers in the Trieux Estuary. Escorted by organization, plenty to eat & drink & lovely partners. No.312 Sqn. Unable to pinpoint their position. The party was very greatly enjoyed. 20th Returned on 352°, which brought them to Eddystone Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Lighthouse & thence to Bolt Head. Armed Shipping Recce arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Alderney-Barfleur. P7059 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7013 F/O Philip Harvey 21st P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6979 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM Convoy Patrol P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Portland-St. Aldhelms Head. 10th P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley RAF Warmwell Armed Shipping Recce P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 3rd Alderney-Barfleur. Twice held, even at sea-level, by No.10 Group Roadstead enemy RDF, heard as a ‘buzz’ on the VHF R/T. P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley Following a PRU report & a Recce by No.501 Sqn, this P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Roadstead was laid on to attack a 3,000-ton P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Merchant Vessel in Alderney Harbour. Escort by 5 P6995 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Spitfires of No.501 Sqn Anti-Flak & No.118 Sqn, Rear Alderney-Cotentin-Cap Barfleur, 3 miles offshore. P7000 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Support. The Anti-Flak aircraft did not catch up with P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes the Whirlibombers & only 1 of them crossed the P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 24th target area. In order to attack out of the sun, landfall Night Operations cancelled owing to the imposition was made at the Casquetes where the Whirlibombers 12th of a restriction upon attacks on surface vessels. turned east. When they were still more than 2 miles F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC awarded from Alderney, they were engaged by flak from a hill the Czech Air Force pilots Badge, ‘as a mark of 25th top position & thereafter from flak of all calibres gratitude & appreciation’. The Squadron learned with much pleasure that the which was accurate & very intense; indeed, it is Bellows Club has added to its gift of 8 Whirlwinds, reckoned that by reason of its concentration round Armed Shipping Recce another most generous gift to the whole personnel of the target this was the most intense barrage through Alderney-Cap de la Hague-Guernsey. Flying at 30 the Squadron. It appears that this gift reciprocated which Whirlwinds of the Squadron have flown. 3 feet they were engaged at 3-5 miles by heavy the autographed Greetings Card, which was sent to Pilots attacked the large ship which was lying 40 accurate flak from Alderney. Bursts behind, the Bellows Club, together with photos of the yards off the Mole. Results not seen. No further underneath & between them. Pilots jinked & skidded. Squadrons aircraft & pilots. information has been received by the Squadron P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF about the success or failure of the attack. The COs P7059 F/O Stuart James Lovell 27th aircraft was hit by flak just as he bombed. He Ratification received from HQ Fighter Command of returned to Base on 1 engine, very closely escorted Bomb Dropping Test the claim that 2 ships were sunk on 9th September. by No.118 Sqn. P/O King attacked a smaller ship P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC The tonnage, however, was reduced from 1,000 to alongside the Mole. Results not seen. His aircraft was 500-tons. holed in the tailplane. & a chunk was torn from F/S 13th Ridley’s propeller. F/L Blackshaw led the other 2 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF arrived for flying duties 28th Whirlwinds back to Base. from No.59 OTU. Night Operations cancelled owing to another P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Surface Vessel restriction. P7062 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw Armed Shipping Recce P7052 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM Barfleur-Cherbourg. 2 sections of No.266 Sqn 31st P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley Typhoons provided Rear Cover. F/S Francis Leslie Hicks RAAF arrived for flying P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC duties from AAEE, Boscombe Down, where he had 7th P7009 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF been on attachment. W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit arrived for flying F/S E. Matthews, Electrician I, who had been with the duties after 15 months with No.10 Group Flight & 14th Squadron since the 21st February 1941, & in charge No.286 Sqn. P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller posted to No.1 RAF of the Electrical Section for the past year, posted to Depot, Uxbridge. RAF Station, Valley. 6th Secretary of State for Air, the Right Honourable Sir No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Armed Shipping Recce Archibald Sinclair visited Warmwell. He spent a few Guernsey-Sark. Doubtless because of the Sark Guernsey-Alderney-Barfleur. minutes in ‘A’ Flight Dispersal Hut & spoke to S/L Commando Raid, a small ship was expected. F/L P7013 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC Woodward DFC, F/L Johnstone DFC, F/L Blackshaw, Warnes set course at 0 feet. Over the South Coast, P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF F/O Harvey, P/O Coyne & P/O King DFM. He cloud was at 200 feet, which lowered to 50 feet & congratulated the Squadron on the Op of 9th visibility fell to zero in heavy rain. Believing this to 15th September, & on the present days work. P/O Coyne & be an important mission, the Whirlibombers No.10 Group Exercise 108 P/O King DFM escorted his Flamingo to Andover. penetrated the Casquetes area, but finding less than P/O Coyne led a section to attack a landing party in 50 yards visibility, returned to Base on instruments. a Launch & Jolly Boat off Lulworth Cove. They were Rhubarb P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes eventually found off Ringstead, where attacks were La Haye du Puits rail triangle. The courses given by P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF carried out. Operations took them west of the Casquetes & thence to a correct landfall at Barneville. All bombs in the 8th 17th target area. No flak & no enemy aircraft seen. The No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Convoy Patrol Squadron composite report claimed that, ‘The F/L Johnstone DFC attempted to take off in course The Needles-Portland. railway line was probably destroyed in 2-3 places.’ pitch & failed to do so. He throttled back, avoided P7052 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF According to the BBC News Service of 1st November dispersed aircraft, & piled up his aircraft Cat ‘AC’ in P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 1942, ‘Whirlwinds, without seeing any enemy the trees of Knighton. S/L Woodward DFC orbited fighters, penetrated the Cherbourg Peninsula & over the coast & found no cloud cover P7013 Sgt John McGowan Barclay bombed an important railway junction, scoring hits P7014 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P6979 Sgt David John Williams on the tracks & in a cutting, & destroying a Loco. P7057 F/O Philip Harvey P7052 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7120 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7043 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Bomb Dropping Test P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7099 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7094 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF

P7094 Sgt John McGowan Barclay Bombers NOVEMBER 1942 P7113 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7059 F/S Walter Roylance Wright RAF Warmwell P7062 Sgt David John Williams P6995 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF 1st P6987 W/O Donald Burton McPhail Sgt Walter Roylance Wright to F/S. P6987 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7059 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 20th 4th The Operation of the previous day was repeated at 2 British Movietone News cameramen arrived to P7089 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes 1st light with the same results. This time ‘B’ Flight photograph Squadrons activities, obstensibly for P6995 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF were Anti-Flak & ‘A’ Flight were the bombers. South American (‘Bellows Club’) comsumption. The Beaufort photographic aircraft did not arrive, so P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams No.10 Group Roadstead they filmed a line of Whirlwinds & personnel, from P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Anti-flak. the back of the ‘A’ Flight van. S/L Alcott of No.10 P7113 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Group acted as Liaison Officer, the arrangement for 11th P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson the photographing of the Squadron having been Excellent low attacks & formations flown by F/L P7099 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone made by the Air Ministry. Warnes, F/O Lovell, F/S Abrams & Sgt Wright, for P7059 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates Movietone News. Camera Beaufort still not arrived. 7th AVM Dickson CB DSO OBE AFC, who has recently No.10 Group Roadstead No.10 Group Rhubarb been appointed AOC No.10 Group, paid his 1st official Bombers. Valognes- railway. Good Rhubarb weather visit to RAF Warmwell, & honoured both ‘A’ & ‘B’ P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC off the French Coast, but over land it deteriorated Flights with a visit to their dispersals. P6079 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley with poor visibility in heavy rain; indeed, pilots could P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw only see properly through their side panels. They 14th P7013 F/O Philip Harvey were just turning for home when targets were seen The camera Beaufort did arrive, but permission to in the Valognes-Montebourg triangle. P/O Coyne use it had been withdrawn by the Air Ministry. It is Convoy Patrol scored cannon strikes on a Loco. Sgt Cotton thinks regretted that the cine-film programme could not P7007 W/O Donald Burton McPhail his bombs hit the tracks. P/O Gill’s bombs were seen not be completed by the making of air-to-air photos. P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson to explode on the track by Sgt Abrams who then lost all contact with him. This was the last that was seen Convoy Patrol 22nd of P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF. He is missing in P7105 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF to F/O. circumstances which at present, only guesswork can P7117 Sgt John McGowan Barclay provide any clue. He joined the Squadron in October 23rd 1941. Efficient, hard working & of great integrity, he 16th Convoy Patrol will be greatly missed in the Squadron. Rhubarb P7105 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Valognes-Carentan railway. This was perhaps, the P7094 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF most successful Rhubarb yet carried out by the P7043 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Squadron. It was F/S Yates’ 1st Offensive Op. Good 24th P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Rhubarb weather prevailed over the Cotentin P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF to F/O. Peninsula & they flew down the line from Convoy Patrol Ecausseville but reserved their bombs for the much- 25th Off Portland. A Hudson was chased & identified. bridged watery area north of Carentan. F/O F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates to P/O. P7089 W/O Donald Burton McPhail Brearley destroyed the tracks, & F/S Yates considers P7059 Sgt James Ian Simpson that his bombs hit the bridge over the River 26th Madeleine. F/O Brearley then scored cannon strikes Rhubarb 8th-11th on a line of Goods Wagons. F/S Yates saw tracer La Haye du Puits. F/O Coyne shot up a pillbox & Convoy Patrols over some important units. coming from an E-Boat off Village du Nord & fired a bombed the harbour installations at Dielette. P/O 2-second burst at it, observing strikes. Samant (his 1st Offensive Op) bombed camouflaged 8th P7094 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF huts 7 miles south-east of Pierreville. Convoy Patrol P7013 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7052 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Isle of Wight-Portland, & a Floating Dock from The P7013 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant Needles-Portland. 17th P6986 W/O Donald Burton McPhail Eextensive endurance tests carried out. The results, Rail objectives south-west of Isigny. Abandoned due P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson in the present state of Whirlwind experience, were to weather 10 miles south-east of Barfleur. evidently confirming rather than surprising. P7105 F/O Philip Harvey P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7052 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7059 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 18th Convoy Patrol P7113 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams The Needles-Portland. 16-18 ship Convoy. P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7000 Walter Roylance Wright P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7105 Sgt David John Williams 29th P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Scramble P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley Vectored after a Ju.88. According to Operations they P7117 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF were ‘right on top of it’ 16 miles north of Cherbourg, P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw but it was concealed in 10/10 cloud. P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7113 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P6979 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant P7000 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 9th P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes appointed F/L & P7117 P/O Cecil Percy King 30th given command of ‘B’ Flight. P7062 F/O Philip Harvey The Squadron has noted with admiration & affection the awards of the DSO & Bar to the DFC which have 10th P7105 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley been gained recently in Malta by W/C Arthur Hay Convoy Patrol P7013 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Donaldson DSC DFC AFC. W/C Donaldson was of Escort of Floating Dock westward from The Needles. course the brother of this Squadrons 1st P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Commanding Officer, S/L ‘Baldy’ Donaldson of P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7007 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes Norwegian fame. He was himself Commanding Officer of the Squadron in the summer of 1941 & P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 19th continued to be closely associated with the Squadron P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit No.10 Group Roadstead 40 as Wing Commander Flying, Colerne Sector. P7089 W/O Donald Burton McPhail 1st all Whirlwind Roadstead Operation. 2 enemy F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone posted. P6995 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Torpedo Boats between Le Havre-Cherbourg. Interception P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Anti-flak Diversion from practice. Airborne north of Base on a P7062 Sgt David John Williams P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Camera Gun dog-fighting practice, they were P7013 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF diverted to chase a Bandit. Recalled 20 miles south P7052 P/O Cecil Percy King P6094 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF of Swanage. P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6979 F/O Philip Harvey P7105 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7094 Sgt David John Williams Woodward’s bombs overshot, but Sgt William’ the with No.601 Sqn & has taken DECEMBER 1942 scored direct hits on the western & it set well on fire. part in a great many Offensive Operations. S/L Woodward’s aircraft was hit by flak & was seen RAF Warmwell to make what looked like a prepared ditching about Rhubarb 1st 400 yards from the ships. F/Harvey’s bombs scored a Valognes-Carentan Railway. Recalled by ‘Facta’ Shipping Recce very near straddle of the bows. F/O Lovell, P/O Yates, from 15 miles south of St. Aldhelms Head, as “the sea Cap Levy-Casquetes-Jersey. Escorted by 4 Mustangs W/O McPhail & F/S Wright attacked a Seiner type was too rough for Air Sea Rescue”. of No.400 Sqn, & 4 Spitfires of No.118 Sqn, they met vessel. F/O Lovell’s bombs were very near misses. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 3 x Me.109Fs. The Whirlwinds & Mustangs were W/O McPhail was seen to fly through a heavy flak P6995 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit ordered home, while W/C Morgan led the Spitfires to burst whilst making his run up. His aircraft damage one of the 109s. disappeared straight into the sea. F/S Wright had to Scramble P7113 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF slide away from the Seiner to avoid his leaders bomb P7094 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7000 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit bursts. He attacked a Barge. Both P/O King & P/O P6991 Sgt David John Williams P6995 F/O Stuart James Lovell Yates’ bombs hung up: neither was flying his own P7059 Sgt John McGowan Barclay aircraft, & the hang ups were due to a differently 14th placed bomb release button & to an unusually stiff Fighter Readiness while No.266 Sqn were Released. 3rd one respectively. Other than those of our two This led to the 1st No.263 Squadron combat, or even Convoy Patrol casualties, no other Whirlwinds were hit by flak. It is visual, from a defensive Patrol since March 1941, the Convoy approaching the Solent from the Needles. 8 hoped that S/L Woodward may be a POW 1st Whirlwind combat with a Focke-Wulf Fw.190 of invasion barges which the Navy could not place, but A point about today’s Operation which may be of this war, & the 1st enemy aircraft to be damaged in later identified. The pilots returned very hungry for future interest. No.66 Sqn led in the line abreast air combat since P/O King DFM shot down a Me.109 breakfast. formation which has recently been developed in the just over a year ago. P6991 F/O Philip Harvey defence of Malta. It was today probably used for the Portland-St. Aldhelms Head. Vectored to 20 miles P7094 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant 1st time by No.10 Group aircraft. north of Barfleur. Returning from there, they met 2 P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Fw.190s & had a dogfight from 0 feet to 4,000 feet. 5th P7117 Sgt David John Williams F/O Coyne twice got on their tails & fired good bursts Crimson sunset & scarlet dawn led to a fortnights P7094 F/O Philip Harvey but at extreme range. Sgt Cotton also got in 2 bursts, frontal weather in which a mild southerly wind blew P7057 P/O Cecil Percy King DFC 1 head on. 1 Fw.190 damaged by F/O Coyne. Both at gale or ½ gale force. 12th November to 6th P7113 F/O Stuart James Lovell Whirlwinds were undamaged. They broke off the December were an astonishing succession of mild, P6986 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates combat at cloud base & returned to Hurn, very short sunny, grey-blue days. The weather which followed P6987 W/O Donald Burton McPhail of petrol. was windy & wet & was either non-operational for P6995 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF flying or rendered the aerodrome waterlogged & so P7052 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF unserviceable. 8th Telegrams of congratulations & regrets from AOC 10 Anti-Rhubarb Patrol 7th Group & No.118 & No.66 Sqns. Vectored 40 miles south of Portland. A day of triumph & tragedy for the Squadron. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 9th P7059 F/S Walter Roylance Wright No.10 Group Roadstead 45 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes appointed S/L & 1 ship was probably sunk, 2 seriously damaged & 1 given Command of the Squadron. He learnt to fly 15th probably damaged, but W/O Donald Burton McPhail with the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club but was rejected The range of the Whirlibombers on Offensive RCAF is missing presumed killed in action, & S/L by the Air Crew Selection Board for defective Operations was reduced to 135 miles from 165 miles, Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC is missing in eyesight. Commissioned in the RAFVR in April 1940, at which figure it had stood for the past 4 weeks only. circumstances which lead to the hope that he may be he served as an Equipment Officer in France. He then The reason for the temporary increase, which was a POW. S/L Woodward was awarded his DFC for his managed to make his way into a Flying Refresher wholly impracticable, has not been disclosed. night fighting exploits with No.600 Sqn. He had Course & so to become a Flying Instructor in commanded this Squadron since 10th February 1942. Training Command. After serving in Training Anti-Rhubarb Patrol Something of his record may be gleaned from the Command for several months there came a shaky The Needles-Portland. foregoing pages in this book. The months May to time when the local Medical Officer observed that he P6991 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM November without accidents. The full & effective always wore glasses. During a fortnight leave he got P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley programme of Operational training, as well as the himself fitted with contact lenses & at a subsequent intense Convoy activity of the spring of this year. The medical board he came before (now 18th development of the Whirlibomber, & finally the Air Commadore) Livingston. With his help, a F/L Blackshaw gave a 1-hour lecture, with Offensive activity of the past 3 months. In Operations, conversion course at Upavon was arranged, & so to epidiascope pictures, on of Army Co-Op tactics. S/L Woodward showed his keenness both in OTU & No.263 Sqn in September 1941. Appointed persuading Group to lay them on, & in his own F/L in Command of ‘B’ Flight in November 1941. The 25th leadership. He personally led the Squadron in 11 Officers of the Squadron celebrated in a memorable Christmas Day. During the morning, a goodwill flight Offensive Operations & his own exploits were both party at Stafford House the double event of his by 4 Whirlwinds was made to Middle Wallop, (Sector gallant & successful. W/O McPhail came to us 2 promotion to Command the Squadron & of his HQ & ‘Facta’ Control) & Bath. Thereafter the day was months ago from No.137 Sqn. Of sober habits, he was forthcoming marriage. celebrated by all ranks together in traditional very well liked. An excellent amateur photographer, unstinted RAF fashion. his productions were in great demand, & as W/O i/c Rhubarb Squadron Photographic Records he greatly enriched Rail triangle north of La Haye du Puits. Good landfall 29th the Squadron scrap book (q.v.). west of the Casquetes but found 6/10 cloud north of Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF to P/O. Rendezvous over Warmwell with No.66 Sqn Anti- Cap de la Hague & returned. Flak & No.118 Sqn with W/C Morgan as close escort. P6991 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 31st After skirting west of Guernsey, an enemy Convoy P7117 Sgt John Gray Macaulay Air-to Air & practice bombing at the Chesil Bank was sighted lying off Baie de St. Brelade south-west Range. Also, a beat-up by 2 sections of Bofors Gun of Jersey. The anti-flak went in, closely followed by 10th positions on the common west of Sturminster the Whirlwinds. S/L Woodward, Sgt Williams, F/O F/L Donald Bruce Ogilvie arrived for flying duties to Newton. This was the last of about a dozen similar Harvey & P/O King divided left & right to attack an Command ‘B’ Flight. This is his 2nd Tour, he fought in exercises in co-operation with the Army &/or Navy, 800 & 500-ton merchant vessel respectively. S/L which were flown during the month.

did not interfere with the flap. A rather longer run serviceable for emergency flying & the Squadron JANUARY 1943 than usual was necessary for the take off, but the maintained its normal state of 30-minutes Available. machine handled as usual in the air & the stalling On the 17th, a Roadstead with 8 Whirlibombers was RAF Warmwell speed was the same as when carrying 250lb bombs. only cancelled when the Ibsley Wing had become 2nd The containers were dropped from 500 feet, the airborne. The large ships reported by the Tangmere F/O Brearley RCAF, F/S Ridley, P/O Lee-White & Sgt parachute opening practically instantaneously, & Recce off Cap Levy were recognised by a 10 Group Cotton detached to Predannack to harass enemy there will be no difficulty in dropping these Recce as rocks. Night Operations were fully laid on minesweepers expected off Ile Vierge. containers in a very small space. for 3-4 nights, but weather caused them to be cancelled. There were several excellent flying days RAF Predannack 15th during the month in which the waterlogged 6th 1st No.263 Squadron Night Operations. aerodrome caused the Squadron to be grounded 11 Airmen detached to Predannack to maintain the while the air hummed with aircraft for more Whirlwinds there. The hard & efficient work of these Air Sea Rescue Patrol fortunate Bases. Airmen, under Sgt Taylor, was commended both by Escort to a Defiant of No.276 Sqn. Sighted the S/L Warnes attached to RAF Old Sarum for No.12 the authorities at Predannack & by the 2 Officers in missing pilot in his dinghy 20 miles south of Portland, Senior Officers Course. command of the detachment. but owing to failure of R/T communication, which is normal & well known within this area he was not 18th 7th picked up. P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant posted to No.118 Sqn. No.10 Group Roadstead 46 P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw Minesweepers off Ile Vierge Escorted by Nos.130 & P6991 Sgt John Gray Macaulay No.10 Group Roadstead 234 Sqns. Only thing of interest was a floating mine. Ile de Batz. Search for the promised but entirely P7099 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Unsuccessful. elusive, if not illusionary, Minesweepers. Returning P7013 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7007 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams from Ushant, the formation was attacked by 4 P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7059 F/S Walter Roylance Wright Fw.190s. No Whirlibomber combats or casualties, P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw but 1 enemy aircraft damaged by F/L Bell of No.19 RAF Warmwell P6991 Sgt John Gray Macaulay Sqn. Unfortunately, Sgt Sloan of the same Squadron 8th P6986 F/O Philip Harvey is missing & Sgt Glover was seriously wounded. Convoy Patrol P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6995 F/O Stuart James Lovell South of St. Aldhelms Head. P7054 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7099 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6971 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7097 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 19th RAF Predannack F/O Cyril Brooking Thornton arrived for flying 10th Night Recce duties from No.535 Sqn. No.10 Group Roadstead 49 Channel Islands. Ile Vierge Minesweepers. Escorted by Nos.19 & 130 P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw RAF Predannack Sqns. 6 x Fishing vessels found but not molested. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC 21st P7013 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF No.10 Group Roadstead 51 P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley Night Rhubarb Escorted by No.19 Sqn. Recalled 7 minutes out from P7099 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Penetrated the Cotentin as far as Baupte. Released the English Coast. starboard bomb on a Train, reserving port bomb for P6995 F/O Stuart James Lovell 14th the track about a mile ahead. After orbiting he found P7099 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM F/O Stuart Lovell, P/O King DFM, P/O Yates & Sgt the Train stopped & obscured by bomb smoke. P7097 Sgt David John Williams Williams replaced the 4 pilots at Predannack. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF S/L Warnes experimented with the dropping of 2 26th parachute containers, such as might contain food 17th-26th F/O John Peyto Shrubb Slatter arrived for flying supplies or arms. 2 Containers were loaded up with On most of these, & nearly all the other similar days duties. 120lbs sandbags. No difficulty was found in during the month, the aerodrome was counted as attaching them to the bomb racks & the container

14th 21st FEBRUARY 1943 No.10 Group Rhubarb RAF Harrowbeer Carentan-Valognes railway. Abandoned off Settling in at Harrowbeer in conditions which, whilst RAF Warmwell Cherbourg, no cloud cover. no doubt not unreasonably described as “on Active 2nd P7117 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Service” are very much less comfortable than the F/O John Peyto Shrubb Slatter posted to No.2 P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay particularly good facilities of dispersal & messing Delivery Flight. which the Squadron enjoyed at Warmwell. 15th 5th Sgt Max Cotton flew as a ‘hostile bomber’ in an 22nd A Rhubarb returned from Ile St. Marcouf due to lack Interception Exercise with Spitfires of the Ibsley F/O Cyril Brooking Thornton posted to No.141 Sqn. of cloud cover. Wing. HE was congratulated by G/C Hardy on A Squadron dance held in the NAFFI was greatly contributing to the success of the Exercise by his 24th enjoyed by all ranks. accurate courses. Sgt George Albert Wood, Sgt John Thould & Sgt William Edwin Watkins arrived for flying duties 7th No.10 Group Rhubarb from No.61 OTU. Practice dive-bombing attack from 15,000 feet to Carentan-Valognes railway. Abandoned off 9,000 feet. Cherbourg, no cloud cover. 25th P7057 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer, Sgt Norman Peter 8th P7117 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Blacklock, Sgt Harold Medd Proctor & Sgt John Beat-up Exercise with a Sunderland off Bournmouth. Barrie Purkis arrived for flying duties from No.56 No.10 Group Night Rhubarb OTU. Army Co-Op Exercise Railway line south of Carentan bombed. Equipment Containers dropped on Netheravon. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC 26th-28th Good timing & accurate placing were warmly ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights employed 3 times in a form of commended. F/O Brearley containers hung up. Channel Islands. bombing which this Squadron at any rate had not P7094 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7057 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC used before. Soon after he took over command of the P7095 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Squadron, S/L Warnes DFC suggested to Group P7052 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 16th authorities that the Squadron might practice & use Sgt John McGowan Barclay posted to No.137 Sqn. a form of dive-bombing, so that it might take part in 9th Circus Operations. Practices were carried out, & the P/O Arthur Lee-White posted to HQ Fighter Night Rhubarb Operations of these 3 days were laid on. Judgement Command for Liaison with the USAAF at Goxhill. S/L Warnes bombed a train north of Carentan by, about their absolute success, whether in the form of Sgt MacAulay’s starboard engine cut out during take which stopped in clouds of steam. F/L Blackshaw damage to aerodrome installations & or morale at off. He managed to maintain a few feet of height for bombed a bridge south-east of Carentan. Maupertus, or in the bringing to battle of enemy nearly 2 miles, just avoiding high tension cables, & P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC fighters, must evidently be the concern of higher made a good crash-landing in a field west of the P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC authorities & of complete information. However, let aerodrome. The accident was categorized as a it be recorded here that these Operations were technical failure. A letter from AVM Dickson CB DFC Returned to the above locality, but too dark for intensively enjoyed by all who took part in them. OBE AFC, AOC No.10 Group reads: accurate observations. “The AOC directs that the above-named pilot be P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC 26th commended for putting up a creditable performance P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC No.10 Group Circus 16 when his starboard engine cut when taking off.” Landfall at Cherbourg avoiding intense & accurate 17th flak. The Flight dived from 12,000 to 7,000 feet at 10th S/L Warnes & F/L Blackshaw awarded the DFC. 45°. Hits on aerodrome, dispersals & buildings. ‘B’ Flight moved by rail & air to Fairwood Common. F/L Donald Bruce Ogilvie posted to RAF Milfield. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Arrival of Movietone News Photographers escorted F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes arrived for flying P7010 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley by S/L Allcott, PAO No.10 Group, also an Air Ministry duties from No.137 Sqn to command ‘B’ Flight. P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM Photographic Beaufort from PRU Benson. However, P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC cloud was too low for flying. 18th P6971 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF No.10 Group Rhubarb P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 11th Bombed the railway junction at La Haye du Puits. Overcast morning, too dark for Air-to-Air filming, P7094 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 27th but more Ground-to-Air film was taken. The P7013 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Diversion to No.10 Group Ramrod 54 extensive photographic efforts at last came to a Landfall at Pointe du Barfleur. Dived vertically from successful culmination. Air-to-Air film was taken off Lock Gates at Ouistreham. 15,000. Hits observed on the aerodrome, dispersals & Lyme Bay of formation bomb dropping & fighter P7094 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM buildings. attacks. We have learned since, that the filming was P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC altogether successful. P6971 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 19th P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 12th ‘Exercise Longford’ P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC No.10 Group Rhubarb 164 An otherwise an interesting & useful exercise in full P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF La Haye du Puits rail triangle. 2 trains were attacked co-operation between ‘A’ Flight at Warmwell & the with cannon & a siding at Pont Bail was bombed. Sgt Armoured Brigade of Guards, attacking Reading 28th David John Williams was hit by flak from a train & from the south-west, was sadly marred by the fatal No.10 Group Circus 17 1st Wave ditched 4 miles off Cap de Carteret. He was last seen crash of F/S Francis Leslie Hicks. 4 aircraft led by ‘B’ Flight took off from Warmwell. This was their 1st organising his dinghy. F/O Harvey followed up in a F/O Harvey were briefed to beat up mechanized dive-bombing attack. It was successful, buildings gallant attempt to rescue by acting as navigator for transport. The actual target selected in the were seen to “open up like flowers.” the Air Sea Rescue Walrus which had to be concentration, which was found 2 miles south of P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC abandoned owing to the roughness of the sea. Chiselden, on the Wroughton-Swindon road, proved P7110 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7094 F/O Philip Harvey to be the large wagons of Divisional HQ. The attack P7095 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7052 Sgt David John Williams & the accident were seen by SASO No.10 Group who P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams characterized the 1st as excellent & the 2nd as due to P7086 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 13th a slight but fatal error of judgement. F/L Francis P7108 F/S Walter Roylance Wright Air-to-Air Firing. The new Martinet Target Tug Leslie Hicks’ wing struck a tree, the aircraft was aircraft was found to have a useful turn of speed, thrown into a violent horizontal spin from which it No.10 Group Circus 17 2nd Wave which improves the resemblance of Operational never recovered. The veterans of dive-bombing - ‘A’ Flight - went in for conditions. 2 Army Officers from the Armoured P7094 F/O Philip Harvey the 3rd time. A Fw.190 which was about to get a bead Fighting Vehicle School, Lulworth were given flights P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay on Sgt Cotton as he began his dive, was shot down by in the Magister in order to test the possibilities of P6971 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM F/O Andrieux of No.130 Sqn. AFV Air-to-Ground recognition. It is understood that P7062 F/S Francis Leslie Hicks RAAF P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC they concurred with the Squadrons view that this is P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF extremely difficult. 20th P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM ‘A’ Flight, the Squadron Orderly Room, Intelligence & P6971 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Medical sections to Harrowbeer near Yelverton, P7010 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley South . No.3055 Echelon remained at P7115 Sgt James Ian Simpson Warmwell & ‘B’ Flight at Fairwood Common.

No.10 Group Roadstead 53 Flaps would not lift. Jettisoned bombs & landed. MARCH 1943 Convoy south of Guernsey. Escorted by Nos.504 & P6974 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 616 Squadrons led by W/C Morgan. Thick black haze 1st-13th forced them back. These 12 Whirlibombers were the 23rd ‘A’ Flight & SHQ at Harrowbeer, ‘B’ Flight at greatest number ever to become airborne for an No.10 Group Night Rhubarb 25 Fairwood Common & No.3055 Echelon at Warmwell. Operation. It was a pity therefore that the convoy Ponthou Viaduct. All 10 aircraft returned safely could not be located. (serviceable) to Warmwell. Convoy Patrol P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Off Angle P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes Bombed target after dummy runs in thick haze. P7099 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7110 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P6971 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Target not found. Bombs jettisoned in sea. 5th P7013 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Convoy Patrol P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Off St. Davids P7010 F/O Philip Harvey Target not found. Bombed unknown rail target. P7099 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7108 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P6974 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Target not found. Bombed unknown cutting. P7110 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7108 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7117 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates 20th Found target but unfortunately mis-fused bombs. 6th F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley detached to No.1 P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Sgt Hoare arrived for flying duties from No.195 Sqn. S.L.A.I.S., Millfield. Target not found. Bombed main line cutting. 7th RAF Predannack P7010 F/O Philip Harvey Convoy Patrol 21st Off St. Davids No.10 Group Night Rhubarb 23 ? P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Morlaix viaduct bombed again, with even greater P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson success. A feature of these 3 Operations was that the same 9 pilots took part in the same order in each. A Artificial horizon etc u/s returned to Base. 12th telegram of congratulations received from AOC P7040 F/S Walter Roylance Wright Convoy Patrol No.10 Group. Convoy ‘Dinner’ Bombed after 2 dummy runs. No results seen. P7089 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates Held by searchlights & accurate flak from 2,000-200 P6974 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6995 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan feet. Bombs jettisoned. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC 24th Dusk Patrol Cpl Loughlin arrived as Orderly Room Corporal from P7099 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes Bombed from 1,200 feet through accurate flak. No.537 Sqn. P7117 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson No.10 Group Rhubarb 13th Gyro, Artificial Horizon u/s. Returned to Base. Railway objectives at La Haye du Puits. Abandoned Scramble P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes at the Casquetes, no cloud cover. Over Cardiff at 25,000 feet. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7099 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Bombed 4,000-1,000 feet. Heavy flak. P7089 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7110 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF 26th 14th Bombed from 3,000-1,500 feet. Direct hit on Viaduct. 4 Rhubarbs. 1 found no cloud cover, 1 found no useful RAF Warmwell P7057 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams target, 1 was successful, & 1 brilliantly successful. No.10 Group Circus 18 1st wave Both Flights returned to Warmwell. Escorted from Bombed 4,000-1,500 feet. No flak no searchlights. No.10 Group Rhubarb Warmwell by No.312 Sqn, they made landfall at Saw P/O Abrams’ results. Rail objectives at La Haye du Puits. They mistook Cap Barfleur at 15,000 feet & dive-bombed Maupertus P7010 F/O Philip Harvey Flamanville for Cap Carteret & searched too far aerodrome from 15,000-9,000 feet. north. P6971 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes Target not found. Jettisoned bombs over the sea. P7007 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7108 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P6971 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7117 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7059 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates Target not found. Jettisoned bombs over the sea. Landfall at Langrunesm they bombed Ouistreham P7089 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7013 F/S Walter Roylance Wright Lock Gates through light flak, which tore a large hole in P7108. Lock Gates damaged. RAF Ibsley Bombed 4,000-2,000 feet. No flak. No results seen. P7108 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF No.10 Group Circus 18 2nd. Wave P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6974 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates Escorted by Nos.616, No.504 & 139 Sqns. Led by W/C O’Brien, they crossed the French Coast at Barfleur at 22nd Transformer Station at St. Lo. Landfall east of Isigny, 16,000 feet. Dive-bombed from 15,000-8,000 feet & No.10 Group Night Rhubarb 24 they located the target. P/O Abrams’ bombs saw bursts on the centre of the aerodrome. Ponthou viaduct. Only 3 aircraft located it in haze. disintegrated the Transformer unit. F/O Lee-White’s P7094 F/O Philip Harvey exploded amongst the complex of huts. Perhaps the P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay Bombed from 300 feet after a dummy run. Squadrons most successful Rhubarb Operation. P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7112 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7113 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7089 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Bombed from 3,000-1,000 feet. Accurate flak. P7010 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Carentan. Abandoned 20-miles north of Carentan, no cloud cover. 15th Bombed from 1,000 feet & scored a direct hit. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF RAF Bolt Head P7108 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson SHQ to Warmwell. 8 aircraft moved to Bolt Head; they stayed for 3 days, but the weather was too hazy Bombed from 3,000 feet after a dummy run. 27th-31st for the Operation which had been planned. They P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF The mobility of the Squadron during the past 6 were serviced by 4 Ground Staff who were weeks is accounted for by the fact that this has been transported in the Oxford. They worked manfully. Landfall at Ile Vierge & bombed the Penze Bridge. the only fighter-bomber Squadron in No.10 Group. P7057 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 16th 31st Sgt O. Ramamoorthy arrived for flying duties from Bombed from 3,000-1,200 feet. Accurate flak. Sgt N. Turner posted to RAF Colerne. He was posted No.58 OTU. P7010 F/O Philip Harvey to the Squadron on 16th March 1940 & was thus 1 of Port engine u/s. its oldest members. As Orderly Room Sergeant he 19th P7040 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC came as near as absolute perfection as is given to 47 Ground Crew to Predannack. 6 aircraft to Bolt human beings in the RAF. He will be very greatly Head for a last bid for 10 Group Ramrod 59. Unable to evade searchlights, jettisoned bombs. missed by all ranks, as a friend & councillor. P7013 F/S Walter Roylance Wright RAF Perranporth & RAF Predannack without seeing results at a Ju. W34, another of which APRIL 1943 No.10 Group Roadstead was destroyed by No.65 Sqn. A 3000-ton Merchant Vessel escorted by E-Boats had The aircraft then returned to Warmwell from April was to prove the most dramatic month in the been reported off Bréhat, but this sweeping Predannack, F/O Arthur Lee-White later than the history of the Squadron since its return from Operation failed to locate them. Corporal Matthews others, in full darkness. The Ground Crews also Norway, nearly 3 years ago. & 12 Ground Crew worked extremely hard & long & returned to Warmwell. effectively to keep these aircraft serviceable. P7090 F/O Philip Harvey 1st P6974 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7094 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Combined Church Parade in commemoration of the P6879 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7010 Sgt John Gray Macaulay 25th. Anniversary of the RAF. P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7089 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7013 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7059 Sgt James Ian Simpson 1st-3rd P7099 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes RAF Warmwell P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell RAF Warmwell Influenza struck down 5 members of the Squadron, 15th but most recovered rapidly. No.10 Group Circus 22 No.10 Group Roadstead 58 Brest-Guipavas aerodrome. After a hasty but Channel Islands. Rendezvous with No.616 Sqn over 4th adequate briefing & a good deal of a ‘rush’, the 1st Warmwell & searched Guernsey-Jersey. The reported No.10 Group Roadstead time the Squadron has attacked Guipavas, though ships were not found. Alderney-Cap de la Hague. Escorted by No.129 Sqn Morlaix, Lannion & Maupertus are ancient enemies. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Spitfires. Swept the area at zero feet, in a quest for Taking off from Predannack, the Squadron made P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF several E-Boats reported there, but none found. rendezvous with the Portreath Wing over P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7113 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Predannack & flew at zero feet for 12 minutes then P7110 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF climbed to cross the French Coast correctly at P7094 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson Pontusval at 14,000 feet. The target was easily P6979 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6695 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams identified, being indifferently camouflaged & P6971 F/O Stuart James Lovell outlined by a newly made perimeter track. Dive- 16th P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF bombing was in echelon port from 15,000-6,000 feet. Armed Dusk Recce Bursts seen in the dispersals, on the Watch Office & a Channel Islands. Search for E-Boats leaving 5th hanger near it. Flak followed our aircraft back to the Cherbourg for their Channel Islands bases, & thence P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates posted to No.286 Sqn. coast. Fortunately, no enemy aircraft were seen since towards the Cornish Coast. However, Recce did not F/O Arthur Lee-White only got his aircraft started 5 find them. Our aircraft landed in the dark. 6th minutes after the formation left. He joined up over P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF RAF Tangmere Guipavas; & F/O Lovell got detached after bombing P6874 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF No.10 Group Circus 20 & returned alone from the Ushant area. P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell Caen-Capiquet aerodrome. Escorted by Nos. 616 & P6971 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6979 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 129 Sqns. Intended to form a 2nd bombing wave to P7099 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes the Typhoon bombers which had bombed an hour P7010 F/O Philip Harvey No.10 Group Night Rhubarb before. However, they found 9/10 cloud at P7089 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Mondeville Industries. Ouistreham at 8,000 feet & the Operation was P6979 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Compass jammed then west u/s. His point of entry abandoned, P7013 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF should have been at Cap de la Hague, but he recce’d P7059 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7090 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Isigny-Carentan for ships & trains instead. P7113 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7094 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7007 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell Nothing heard after he left Warmwell. A Vichy radio P7090 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF report suggests that his ‘Canadian aircraft’ (he P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF RAF Warmwell & RAF Predannack carried Maple leaves crest) was shot down whilst P6974 Sgt John Gray Macaulay 14th attacking a train at St.Lo. He had been with the P6971 F/O Stuart James Lovell No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Squadron for 19 months & was so competent a pilot P6995 Sgt James Ian Simpson These 1st light Reconnaissances from Predannack & & so likeable a person, that to write briefly of him P7010 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM Warmwell respectively, were to search for E-Boats here would scarcely do him justice. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams which, after mauling a Convoy off Falmouth, were P6995 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF believed to be returning towards Cherbourg. The 9th Warmwell Recce found nothing, but that from Mistaking the Isigny for Caen canal, he pin-pointed RAF Harrowbeer Predannack found a Lancaster floating & its crew in too late. Disintegrated the line north of Carentan. No.10 Group Roadstead 55 a dinghy near to it, 20 miles south of Start Point. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Sept Iles-Ile de Batz. Escorted by Nos.312 & 313 (They had attacked Spezia, Italy). Their R/T had Spitfire Sqns at 0 feet. As often, ship like rocks were been u/s, & their forced landing unknown. Our Attacked from 2,000 feet in a 30° dive. Saw bursts in found. A Spitfire chased a Ju.88, but it escaped into aircraft orbited them & obtained fixes, waiting until the target area. Moderate flak. cloud. ASR Beaufighters appeared. The crew of 7 were P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes rescued, but the attempt to tow in the Lancaster was P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF unsuccessful. Made a dummy run through the flak & then attacked P7099 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7090 F/O Philip Harvey the target from 800 feet, seeing bursts. He was shot P6979 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF up by ships on the way out. P7094 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6971 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7010 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7040 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM Found a heavily defended Armed Trawler north of Ouistreham. He bombed it but thinks that in evading 10th RAF Predannack the flak, he missed. Squadron Readiness all day: it seems that No.10 Group Roadstead 57 P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC considerable shipping movements have been The most successful Operation of the month. observed off Brest & Cherbourg. Shipping was reported in the Lannilis Estuary, & Bombed from 100 feet but saw no results. escorted by No.65 Sqn they searched for it at 0 feet. P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM RAF Exeter & RAF Predannack By chance, landfall was made too far south & F/O 11th Harvey inadvertently led them into the area off Baie Making landfall near Courseulles, he flew east but 6 aircraft taxied out to fly from Exeter but were de Brest & thereby found 3 ships: one of which was missed the Caen canal so returned to disintegrate the recalled by Verey signals & told to fly to Predannack. reported as an 800-ton Dredger & was left “well on main line west of Bayeux. Called down (in error) at Exeter they got to fire.” It was shown in cine-gun film as a large P7090 F/O Philip Harvey Predannack in the evening. Trawler type with a heavy crane in the bows. The cannon attacks were extremely good. The other 2 17th RAF Exeter were also Trawler types. They were claimed Cat 4, At night, 9 aircraft sought out targets in almost the 13th but this claim is under revision, since these cannon whole seaward & landward area which is within the Walter Roylance Wright posted Overseas. attacks were also clearly effective. Sgt MacAulay Squadron’s range from Warmwell. F/O Phillip The rest of the Squadron’s aircraft were summoned alone attacked a small 4th ship. Nothing definite was Harvey, F/O ‘Percy’ King DFM & F/O Basil Courtney to Predannack, in quest of the shipping reported off seen of him after his attack, but the CO of No.65 Sqn Abrams did not return. Brest. These were again called down at Exeter & flew heard him say, “I’m going down now, I am going to F/O King was very much the oldest member of the an uneventful Roadstead from there. land.”, so that we hope he may have force landed Squadron, having been in it for 25 months (a rather safely in the Brest Peninsula. F/O Harvey fired long single tour of Operations). F/O Abrams & F/O Harvey, like Brearley, had been with us for 19 months. These 4 seemed to be the backbone of the No.10 Group Night Recce detailed to search for a large Convoy which had Squadron. F/O Harvey & F/O Brearley were the Channel Islands-Barfleur. already been mauled (5 ships sunk) by H.M. deputy Flight Commanders of ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Destroyers Goathland & Albrighton, not without respectively. Nothing more is known of the 3. It is not Southern Channel Islands. casualties to themselves, south of Jersey. S/L Warnes’ possible to set down here what we felt about them. P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF aircraft would not start, & he therefore got into W/O Harvey, son of the Bishop of Cashel, was a person of Tebbit’s, & F/O Lee-White’s aircraft had Exactor rare charm & goodness. He had been married for 5 No.10 Group Night Roadstead trouble. Escorted by the Exeter Wing led by W/C weeks. King & Abrams were close friends of each Jersey-Cap de la Hague. Dolezal, they found a Convoy of 8 ships north of the other but were equally good companions of the rest P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Sept Iles. After some good anti-flak attacks (so too on of the Squadron. The 4 were typical of the varied P7007 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF the previous day), S/L Warnes & F/L Blackshaw origins of our pilots. They came from Canada, Eire, P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF scored direct hits on an ‘M’ Class Minesweeper, & British Guiana & South Africa respectively. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson probably sunk it. Sgt Simpson scored many cannon strikes & direct hits on a 2nd Minesweeper (also No.10 Group Night Armed Shipping Recce 19th claimed Cat 3). Flak was very intense throughout, & Channel Islands. He returned from the Casquetes No.10 Group Night Armed Recce accurate. P/O Cotton returned with an 18” hole in his with port engine trouble. It is difficult to see the damage at night & the ships starboard wing. 1 of the Spitfires was shot down. P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF could only be claimed Cat 4 or 3. Both these attacks P7089 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC were carried out from below mast height. P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Houlgate-St. Marcouf. Nothing heard after he left P7059 Sgt James Ian Simpson Warmwell & it is surmised he attacked an Armed 2 Dutch Coasters, a small Merchant Vessel & 2 Motor P6981 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Trawler off Ouistreham. Barges north-east of Guernsey. He bombed the P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Merchant Vessel & doesn’t think he missed. No.10 Group Roadstead 62 P7108 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. Convoy not found. Alderney-Marcouf. Bombed Fort St. Marcouf. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7089 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 2 Armed Trawlers 2 miles south-east of St. Marcouf. P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit He made a beam attack on 1 & doesn’t think he P7059 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF No.10 Group Night Rhubarb missed. Moderate flak. P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Good, visibility brilliant moonlight, nothing definite P7007 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson is known about our 3 casualties. It is guessed that P7057 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF flak from land or sea was the cause. No.10 Group Night Roadstead The Channel Island Convoy attacked by F/O Coyne 29th Bayeux-Airel. Disintegrated track near Carentan. was sought for, but not found. It had probably F/S Ridley re-joined the Squadron just in time to P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF berthed in Alderney. make the 6th Pilot Operational for shipping attacks, P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC & to take the place of F/O Lee-White who was Granville-Folligny. Returned from the Casquetes P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC collecting a Whirlwind from Exeter. Perhaps this is with Exactor trouble. P7089 Sgt James Ian Simpson the place to mention the frequent journeys taken by P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF small parties of our ground crews in the Squadron Oxford. Whirlwinds can only be serviced by Trains in the Bayeux-Caen. Nothing heard after he RAF Warmwell Whirlwind trained crews. During this month, our left Warmwell. 27th ground crews have serviced Whirlwinds at P7090 F/O Philip Harvey No.10 Group Roadstead 59 Warmwell, Exeter, Harrowbeer, Predannack, Middle Without doubt the most successful Operations to Wallop & Ibsley. La Haye du Puits. No targets found. date. Rendezvous with the Ibsley Wing led by W/C P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Morgan, at Anvil Point. They flew west at sea-level to No.10 Group Roadstead 63 the south of Jersey where they found a Convoy of 9 Ships off Isigny. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, found Trains between Isigny & St.Lo. It is likely that he was ships. S/L Warnes, F/L Blackshaw & P/O Cotton left the ships (reported as 1,000 tons) near Isigny, & S/L shot down by the Airel flak, see below. a 1,500-ton Merchant Vessel in flames & an Armed Warnes, closely following the anti-flak Spitfires, P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM Trawler seriously damaged. Sgt Simpson probably exploded a vessel with his bombs. Attacks were then sank a 100-ton converted Yacht & then went on to called off, as the remaining ships were identified as Trains on the Carentan-Valognes line. He saw an damage an E-Boat with cannon fire. W/O Tebbit fishing vessels. intense barrage of flak over Airel at 2348. probably sunk a Motor Barge. F/O Lee-White’s tail P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC plane was damaged, probably by debris P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6079 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 18th P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC No.10 Group Armed Dusk Recce P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Channel Islands-Ile Marcouf. Escorted by No.616 P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7057 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Sqn. P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 30th P6974 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan No.10 Group Roadstead 63 P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC 28th From Predannack escorted by the Portreath Wing to P6971 F/O Stuart James Lovell A congratulatory signal from AOC No.10 Group on attack shipping off Ushant. Nothing sighted & the P7007 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Roadsteads 59 & 60 read, “Hearty congratulations aircraft returned to Predannack. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson on your shows of yesterday & today. I realise full well P7040 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC your present difficulties over aircraft & pilots.” P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7110 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF No.10 Group Roadstead 60 P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF The same 6, who were the only pilots Operational for shipping attacks, flew to Exeter & from there were

7th being airborne for 2 hours 12 minutes, 12 minutes MAY 1943 Sgt John Thould, coming into land, held off at 30 feet, longer than the accepted maximum Operational & wrote off a Whirlwind near the Watch Office. This flight time of a Whirlwind. It is probable that he had It had been evident since the middle of April, that it was the 1st accident ascribed to carelessness for 10 dropped his bombs & was concussed by flak from the was no longer possible to obtain from Westlands or months. He was detached forthwith to the Air Crew Convoy. The loss of ‘Blackie’ as a friend, leader & the Maintenance Units, replacements for more than Refresher Course, Brighton. councillor in every matter concerned with the 1 or 2 of the several Whirlwinds which were written Squadron’s activities was extremely severe. He came off in Operations, or which were u/s during major 10th to the Squadron as a Sergeant in March 1941. inspections. Further, the number of pilots Mr S. Rostron of Westland’s & Mr H. Penrose, the Commissioned in November 1941, he took over the Operational at night & by day for Anti-Shipping Chief Test Pilot, came from Yeovil to present the command of ‘A’ Flight in September 1942 & attacks had fallen rather low. Accordingly, the CO Squadron with a large & handsome silver cigarette completed 43 Offensive Operations in Whirlwinds & obtained a directive from Group that the Squadron box. The box was inscribed: - Whirlibombers. A careful & clever pilot, he was was to maintain at the normal ‘30 minutes available’ shrewd, witty & gentle as a person. by day (& by night in the moon period) as many pilots WHIRLWIND P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC & aircraft as was possible in the circumstances. No.263(F) SQUADRON P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC FROM RAF Warmwell WESTLAND AIRCRAFT P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes 1st AS AN APPRECIATION OF P7110 F/S James Ian Simpson P/O Patrick Harvey who was missing from Night GALLANT WORK DONE Rhubarb Operations on the night of 17th-18th April, 1943 16th awarded the DFC. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Sgt James Ian Simpson to F/S. 11th Recalled due to failure of R/T reception at Middle No.10 Group Shipping Recce Wallop. 2nd Channel Islands. Escorted by 16 Spitfires of Nos.504 P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF arrived for flying & 129 Sqns. Sgt Proctor nearly put his wing down P7059 F/S James Ian Simpson duties from No.55 OTU. landing in a strong crosswind. P7013 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7057 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF No.10 Group Roadstead 64 P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Channel Islands. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. It P7110 F/S James Ian Simpson 2 Destroyers & a Merchant Vessel near the Channel seems that the Casquetes had again been reported as P6971 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor Islands. Escorted by No.504 Sqn. 7 miles west of the a Trawler. Casquetes the formation, which was in loose line P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC 14th abreast at 0 feet was attacked by 2 Fw.190s, which P6979 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF No.10 Group Roadstead 67 fired rather wildly then foolishly turned south back P6989 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 2 Destroyers alongside the Quai Maritime in over the Whirlibombers. F/O Lee-White & F/O Coyne P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Cherbourg. Alternatively, a medium Merchant who had turned to port, were able to get in bursts of P7023 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Vessel, probably our old enemy the Solmglint, in the 76 & 56 rounds respectively, using full deflection. P7113 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Basin Napoleon in Cherbourg Docks. The method of Both saw strikes, & the 2 aircraft were claimed attack was left to the Squadron, & S/L Warnes damaged. Spitfires of No.504 Sqn were detached to 3rd decided on a dive-bombing attack from 12,000- chase, but made no further contact, while the No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce 5,000 feet. Escort was by W/C Morgan, Nos.504, 129 Whirlibombers returned to Base. This was the 2nd Guernsey-Sept Iles-Ile de Batz. Escorted by the & 610 Sqns (the Ibsley Wing) as cover & top cover. Fw.190 damaged by F/O Coyne, & the 3rd by Exeter Wing. W/C Dozel & No.310 Sqn involved in They formed up below 200 feet at Warmwell; flew Whirlibombers. Bombs were not jettisoned. combats with 6 Fw.190s. These resulted in the W/C just above sea-level for 7 minutes; climbed to 12,000 P7040 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC damaging 1, 1 Czech pilot being killed & another feet where the escorting Squadrons took their P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley wounded. They effectively protected the appropriate positions. S/L Warnes led the P7110 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Whirlibombers, who were not engaged. The Whirlibombers in over Querqueville, gliding down to P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Minesweepers being searched for were not found. 11,000 feet, & then turned left in the base of a P7074 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC valuable cloudbank. Thus, he was able to position the 17th P7079 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Squadron to dive-bomb out of cloud, & out of the No.10 Group Night Reconnaissance P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC glaring yellow sunset. This manoeuvre seems to have Channel Islands-Isigny Shipping Lanes. P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF surprised & abated the Cherbourg flak - it merely P7040 F/S James Ian Simpson P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley attempted a curtain barrage, & only 3 Whirlwinds P6989 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit were dented by it. The Destroyers were not there, but Channel Islands. the Merchant Vessel was in Basin Napoleon, & the P7008 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 5th Whirlibombers secured a good pattern of bombing No.10 Group Roadstead without seeing a direct hit. This it was felt would Alderney-Pointe de la Percee. Bréhat-Sept Iles. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, they have been a remarkably lucky shot. P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF searched for a Minelayer reported east of Brehat. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC The French Fishing Fleet was found again. Returned P7089 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer Barfleur-Isigny. via Bolt Head in case anyone was short of petrol, but P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley our formation all got back to Warmwell, though Sgt P7110 F/S James Ian Simpson Thyagarajan had let one of his fuel tanks fall P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC 18th unreasonably low. P6979 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF No.10 Group Roadstead P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Jersey-Ile Brehat. Escorted by Nos.504 & 616. P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC XXXXX Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7089 F/S James Ian Simpson P6989 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 15th P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Night Shipping Recce P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7074 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Alderney to Isigny. Found an 8 ship Convoy off Cap XXXXX F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Barfleur, he kept out of range & sound of it & bombed XXXXX P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 6th the rearmost ship, a 2,500-ton Merchant Vessel, up No.10 Group Roadstead 65 moon from mast height. He heard a tremendous Night Reconnaissance Channel Islands. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing at 0 feet explosion as he passed over it. It is claimed as Cat 2. Channel Islands-Isigny Shipping Lanes. (as in all these Operations) to attack a Tanker with P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7059 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes 5 Escorts north-west of Alderney. The Casquetes P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF were found. Intense & accurate flak from Alderney. Channel Islands. Chased after E-Boats that eluded P7013 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC his bombing run. 19th P7048 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7972 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF No.10 Group Roadstead 69 P7007 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer Jersey-Ile Brehat Escorted by Nos.504 & 616 Sqns. P7069 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan No.10 Group Night Roadstead 2 Minesweepers not found. Sgt Watkins’ 1st Operation. P7059 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley Convoy off Barfleur. S/L Warnes & Sgt Simpson could P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6994 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC not find it. F/L Holmes bombed 1 ship but did not see P7050 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF results (Cat 4). F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC, P7089 Sgt William Edwin Watkins P7110 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit who set out late, returned to crash fatally in P6974 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF mysterious circumstances, near Exeter. He had P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley orbited Exeter, Harrowbeer, then Exeter again without lights & without R/T, & finally seems to have left his aircraft a few seconds before it crashed, after 20th flak), 2 were under repair for minor flak damage & 2 The cipher message of the previous day was F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF to F/L & given more at normal inspections with No.3055 Echelon. cancelled by a teleprinted signal. Plans then command of ‘A’ Flight. 23rd emerged for obtaining Whirlibombers - 14 it is The funeral of F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC took No.10 Group Roadstead 70 believed - now on charge with No.137 Sqn, our place at RAF Warmwell, & Warmwell Village Church. Guernsey-Herm. The 4 available Whirlibombers daughter unit now to be re-equipped with another In the evening it was learned that the body of F/O were enough for an effective Roadstead. A Convoy type of aircraft. Thus, to the great satisfaction of this Edger Brearley RCAF, who had been missing since had shot down 1 of the Reconnaissance Spitfires unit, No.263 Squadron which flew the 1st Whirlwinds Night Intruder Operations of 16th-17th April, had which found it. Accordingly, the Whirlibombers, in July 1940, & 1st used Whirlwinds in Defensive & been washed ashore near Swanage. His body was escorted by the Ibsley Wing flew through the Russell Offensive Operations in 1941, & flew the 1st brought to Warmwell but gave no evidence of what Strait (Guernsey-Herm) where, “The sea seemed to Whirlibomber Operations in September 1942, will had happened. It is likely that he too was shot down boil with flak” & found a 7 ship Convoy in line astern also have the privilege of using, as profitably as we by flak from a ship. near St. Peter Port neatly disposed for immediate may reasonably hope, the last two dozen Whirlwinds north to south beam attacks. F/L Holmes probably that remain. 21st sank a Dutch Coaster (its centre section was No.10 Group Night Roadstead 2 disintegrated on the water line). The others No.10 Group Roadstead 71 Cap de la Hague-Cherbourg. S/L Warnes found the damaged an Armed Trawler (Cat 3). P/O Cotton’s 15 ship Convoy off Barfleur. Escorted by the Ibsley Convoy 3 miles north-west of Cherbourg. He bombed starboard petrol tank was holed by a 20mm shell & Wing, they found the French Fishing Fleet again - a 3500-ton Merchant Vessel escorted by 4 Armed lost 30 gallons before it sealed itself & he got back to they were not attacked. Trawlers, then Patrolled 3 miles north of the Convoy Warmwell with his 3rd aircraft Cat B for Westland’s. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC broadcasting directions & a commentary & P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit observing the next 3 attacks. This broadcast was P7000 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6972 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF relayed to the Squadron Intelligence Office by Middle P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Wallop Operations. F/L Holmes & P/O Cotton P7089 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF finished off the Merchant vessel. F/L Coyne sank 1 of P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley the Armed Trawlers. When F/O Lee-White arrived, 24th there were only 3 Armed Trawlers left. His starboard The funeral of F/O Edger Brearley RCAF took place Scramble engine was set on fire by flak 400 yards from the in the afternoon. Protection for 36 Spitfire IX’s of the Hornchurch Convoy, but he went in to bomb 1 of the Trawlers Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan posted Wing. The airfield was photographed by an enemy from mast height in a port beam up moon attack to No.286 Sqn. aircraft when abnormally crowded with aircraft, & (this was used throughout). Then he called that he these were now refuelling after Ramrod 67. was baling out over Querqueville. However, the 25th-26th P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF slipstream abated the engine fire, & he was able to Only 5 Whirlwinds serviceable. P7013 Sgt William Edwin Watkins struggle back to Warmwell & land, where the engine now in full flame was extinguished by the fire tender. 26th P6974 Sgt Norman Peter Blacklock P/O Cotton’s aircraft was also Cat B - flak, with a F/S James Ian Simpson was dangerously wounded by P7113 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF fuselage like a pepper box. He made a good landing a revolver bullet discharged accidentally by Sgt John after 4 attempts without ASI & with his rudder partly Thould. He was taken to Bovington Hospital, where P7040 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit jammed, neither aircraft had hydraulics; wheels & he underwent a complete & successful operation. P7007 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer flaps answered to the emergency air bottle. Thus, this Operation was the most successful, exciting & 27th 30th spectacular of our Night Operations to date. Sgt John Thould posted to RAF Warmwell. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Jersey. Initially laid on for 1st light, then for 1100, it P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes 28th was flown uneventfully at 1845. This Operation P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF A cipher message was received, which ordered the completed 400 sorties with Whirlibombers. Escorted P7007 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF immediate re-equipment of the Squadron with an by Nos.616 & 504 Sqns, they saw nothing. P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF unexpected type of aircraft. It was received with P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC more feigned than real enthusiasm. P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 22nd P6972 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF Only 5 Whirlibombers serviceable. 4 were being 29th P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF dismantled to be returned to Westlands (Cat B - Sgt Hoare posted to Target Towing Duties.

the Squadron at Warmwell was largely of his 19th JUNE 1943 creation. Briefly, he was a strict disciplinarian who Move to RAF Zeals. Accomplished in 24 3-Ton Lorries imbued a fierce & forthright manner with personnel brought by Zeals RAF Commando Units. 10 June brought 19 days of frontal weather. Rain, wind, kindness; a commander who never left the least Whirlwinds & the Magister by air. 1 Whirlwind left low cloud & sea fog followed each other with only a doubt about what he wanted & who consistently at Warmwell with u/s radiator. few bright & not very sunny intervals. The same 19 obtained these qualities because he himself days also brought high honours & far reaching consistently displayed them: He himself did more 20th changes to the Squadron. than he required of others. As a tactician, S/L RAF Zeals Warnes may have some place in the history of the A place in very beautiful country. A Station which has RAF Warmwell War, as the creator of medium-level dive bombing by been without a flying Squadron since 1942, & overall 1st fighter-bombers. His notes on shipping attacks, have determined to be co-operative. It is understood that Sgt Leonard Scott Gray arrived for flying duties from been adopted as a Fighter Command Tactical the Squadron will remain for 3 weeks at Zeals for No.55 OTU. Memorandum. intensive training. It will be Non-Operational. The S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC arrived for flying Squadron now consists very largely of new pilots. 2nd duties from No.182 Sqn to Command. He comes to F/L John Edward McClure arrived vice F/L Joseph F/L Holmes & F/L Coyne awarded DFC in recognition the Squadron on his 3rd Tour. He has fought & flown William Ernest Holmes DFC who is at the end of his of gallant & successful work accomplished with in aircraft of many designations in almost every tour of Operations. It is understood that F/O Arthur Whirlibombers. theatre of the war, other than the Far East. It is felt Lee-White DFC & F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley are in that the Squadron has again been most fortunate in the same position. 6th his appointment. After making a successful landing on his 1st No.10 Group Roadstead 72 Whirlwind solo, Sgt R.S. Hughes selected ‘wheels up’ Cherbourg Docks. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce instead of ‘flaps up’ - aircraft Cat.B. Abandoned due to 10/10 cloud over the target. North-east of Sark. Escorted by 8 Anti-flak Spitfires P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes DFC of No.616 Sqn, & 8 Close Escort Spitfires of No.504 21st P6997 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Sqn. Rendezvous over Warmwell below 200 feet. F/L Teeling of Air Ministry arrived to discuss Belows P6990 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer No.616 Sqn Spitfires made excellent attacks on 2 ‘M’- Affairs. Political considerations make it necessary P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Class Minesweepers abeam of 2 2-Funnel Warships, for the Squadron to continue & to increase the P6974 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley presumably small Destroyers or ‘Geleitboote’. 1 of publicity given to the Bellows Club activities on P6981 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor their pilots was shot down by flak & is missing. Our behalf of the RAF. sections each bombed an ‘M’-Class Minesweeper During an Army Co-Operation Exercise, Sgt Watkins 8th from below mast height coming in the classical hit a tree. He managed to land at Stoney Cross Sgt Leonard James Knott arrived for flying duties manner fully abeam to the ships. As they jumped over aerodrome, Cat B. from No.56 OTU. the minesweepers, they presented an unpleasantly good target to the ‘Geleitboote’. F/O Lee-White & Sgt 22nd 13th Wood feel sure that they did not miss, but they saw F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF arrived for flying duties F/O Lee-White & P/O Cotton awarded the DFC. no explosion because of the 11-second delay bombs No.59 OTU. S/L Warnes DFC awarded the DSO. It is the 2nd to be which were used for the 1st time on this Operation. awarded for work accomplished entirely with F/S Ridley also does not think he missed. P/O 22nd-25th No.263 Squadron. The 1st was awarded postumously Maxwell Tylney Cotton’s bomb splashes were seen, as Collection of 5 Whirlwinds from No.137 Sqn which is to S/L ‘Baldy’ Donaldson in July 1940. The DFCs usual, amidships. His aircraft then received a direct now re-equipped with Hurricane IV’s. Unfortunately, bring the number awarded to the Squadron, during hit from a 40mm shell & there was an explosion in they are all overdue for inspection. No.263 is thus the past 9 months, to 7. the cockpit. The aircraft disintegrated when it hit the again the only Whirlwind Squadron. F/S R.A. Hollamby who has been for nearly a year i/c sea & it is not thought possible that he would have ‘A’ Flight ground crews, & F/S H.O.J. Watts who is i/c survived. Our aircraft reformed with the escort & 26th the Armament section, have been honoured & the returned to Base, having probably seriously F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC & F/L John Edward Squadron with them, by being Mentioned in damaged or sunk 2 Minesweepers, but at severe cost McClure dropped live 250lb bombs at an Army Despatches. to the Squadron. F/S Ridley’s aircraft was rendered Demonstration at Lulworth. In the evening, the Squadron Oxford, T1064, an old & Cat B by a glancing hit by flak in the fin & rudder. useful chariot which has hitherto proved inviolable, P/O ‘Max’ Cotton came to the Squadron in July 1942. 28th-29th was rendered Cat B at Ibsley by a Spitfire which From the 1st, he proved himself to have an Few aircraft serviceable during intensive 40-hour taxied into it while it was stationary before taking extraordinary flare for accurate bombing. Both in inspections. off. The fuselage was severed behind the cockpit. F/O practice & in action, he rarely missed his direct hit. Intelligence Lectures on Ship Recognition, S.D. 158, Arthur Lee-White DFC & his pupil uninjured. T1064 As a pilot & leader, his matter of fact calmness Offensive Operations & Dinghy drill in the lakes at was replaced by a newer & faster Oxford, T1058. before, during & after Operations made him Stourton Park. A party was held at the Golden Lion at Weymouth. It invaluable to the Squadron. As a person, his courtesy was given by the 4 Officers who have recently been & frank & open nature & constant good humour 29th decorated, to all Officers & Aircrew of the Squadron, endeared him to all who knew him. F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC proceeded to the Air & 3 members of the Warmwell SHQ, who have been P7097 F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC RCAF Ministry for an audition for a broadcast in Spanish especially friendly & helpful to the Squadron, S/L P7110 Sgt George Albert Wood to South America. Marshal - SMO, F/L Ken Baker - Equipment Officer, P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton DFC RAAF F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes DFC posted to & F/O Buchanan - Sports Officer. A magnificent party P6974 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley No.29 Pilots Gunnery Instructors Course, Sutton magnificently enjoyed. Bridge 17th F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC & F/S Kenneth Charles 15th The British Woman’s Patriotic Committee in the Ridley posted to AFDU, Wittering. Sgt Norman Peter Blacklock appointed P/O. Argentine Republic have sent a large consignment of S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC posted to Woollen Comforts for the Squadron, doubtless a 30th No.10 Group. He had commanded the Squadron Corollary of Bellows Affairs. F/O Wordsworth proceeded to AFV School, Lulworth since December 1942. During that time the work of for Recognition Instruction Course.

as has happened before, the cockpit remained in one P6986 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC JULY 1943 piece, & was not telescoped. He was rather badly P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC burned but is well on the road to complete recovery. P6990 Sgt William Whittaker Heato RAF Zeals P6997 Sgt Fred Green 1st No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce F/O Lamont Maroy Parsons RCAF arrived for flying Channel Islands-Ile Bréhat. Escorted by 12 Spitfires 26th-31st duties from No.3 PRC. of the Ibsley Wing. Flown below 70 feet. Practice bombing against a target towed by an MTB. F/O Vincent Kenneth Moody RCAF & F/O Stanley P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Joseph Shewell RCAF arrived for flying duties from P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF 30th AFDU. P7111 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor F/O Lee-White DFC, until recently a member of this Sgt C.B. Foes arrived for flying duties. P7097 ???? Squadron, broadcast to the South American station F/O Peter Roland Green arrived as Medical Officer. in Spanish, on the recent exploits of the Squadron, & 14th in the Squadron’s attacks on enemy shipping. 2nd P/O Kenneth Charles Ridley awarded the DFC for his F/O Wordsworth attended a course on Tank F/O Lamont Maroy Parsons RCAF posted to No.610 many gallant & successful Offensive Operations with recognition at Lulworth School (AFVU) & passed the Sqn. this Squadron. He had been posted to AFDU last June. tests in Tank recognition. F/S James Ian Simpson to P/O. 4th 16th Thus, July ended without any contact with the enemy F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg arrived for flying F/L David George Ross, P/O Douglas Wallis other than 4 reviews of the Channel Islands & rocks duties from No.53 OTU. Sturgeon, P/O Robert Charles Hunter, P/O Kenneth & the occasional & not inaccurate bursts of flak James Forrester Funnell arrived for flying duties which are commonplace on these Recces. 6th from No.55 OTU It seems that the enemy now very seldom moves F/L John Edward McClure RCAF awarded the DFC in shipping between Brest & Le Havre by day. No.164 recognition of his gallant & successful Offensive 18th Sqn have been at Warmwell since June & have not yet Operations with No.137 Sqn. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce had even 1 Strike. Moreover, the presence of a new Channel Islands. Flak from Alderney. Squadron of Typhoon bombers in the Portreath 7th-8th P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC sector removes the possibility of Offensive work in Exercise Driver P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC the far south-west which formerly fell to this Sgt Wood made dummy attacks on a Destroyer off P7097 Sgt George Albert Wood Squadron. The work of No.263 Squadron therefore the Needles without being intercepted by Spitfires. P6990 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF tended to become a kind of anti-Convoy Patrol whose success is measurable by the absence of enemy 10th 20th shipping in the Channel Island area & off the coasts F/O Vincent Kenneth Moody RCAF, F/O Stanley No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce of the Cotentin. It is possible that the historian of the Joseph Shewell & Sgt C.B. Foes posted to No.610 Sqn. Flak burst shook Sgt Beaumont’s aircraft. future will observe that air mastery together with a P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC negative control of shipping movements by day over 12th P7111 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF those areas of enemy occupied waters which are, so Move to Warmwell. P7056 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont to say, in the Middle Wallop sector was established & P7055 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray strengthened during 1942 & 1943 by Spitfire’s of the 13th Ibsley Wing with the co-operation successively of the Sgt Leonard James Knott in coming into land, stalled 23rd Hurribombers of No.175 Sqn & the Whirlibombers of from 80 feet & crashed north of the Watch Office. The No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce No.263 Squadron. aircraft disintegrated completely & caught fire, but Abandoned near the Casquetes in thick sea haze.

RAF Predannack double explosion & he saw 2 sailors swimming AUGUST 1943 No.10 Group Roadstead 74 - “The Massacre at the among debris. Then he continued towards Bréhat & Aber Wrac’h” was returning north of Guernsey at 300 feet when he August proved that the ‘new Squadron’ led by S/L Aber Wrac’h estuary. 10 aircraft flew to Predannack saw a He.111 1,000 yards ahead at 200 feet above Baker DFC is in no way less in stature than the & from there 8 accomplished the Squadron’s most him, flying on a parallel course. He climbed & closed Squadron was under S/L Warnes DSO DFC before the uniformly successful Operation. Escorted by the slowly from below & 10° off (to avoid being seen) & period of retraining at Zeals. Polish Portreath Wing. They flew at sea level. The then fired a short burst from 200 yards dead astern. During the month the Squadron has twice been leader of the Anti-Flak Squadron, No.302, recognised The port engine caught fire. Another burst sent it honoured by a visit from the AOC No.10 Group - AVM the coast, & turning 10° to port enabled the attack to crashing into the sea. S/L Baker DFC nearly followed, Steele DFC. be made straight into the mouth of the Estuary. Thus, but instead pulled out & returned to Base. It was a curious error of judgement which caused the a notable surprise was affected. 7 E-Boats & an F/L McClure saw nothing on the Barfleur routes. statement in the July record that Typhoon Bombers Armed Trawler were lying off the pier at Landéda. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC in the Portreath Sector “removed the possibility of The Anti-Flak shied in from 800 feet & the P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC Offensive work in the far south-west.” During August, Whirlibombers followed as the last cannon shells the Squadron operated 5 times from Predannack & exploded & bombed 6 ships. An Armed Trawler & 4 15th it was from these that the extremely successful battle E-Boats were blown to pieces by direct hits, it seems Scramble at Aber Wrac’h took place & that Guipavas was dive- likely that High Explosive of German origin helped in Swanage-Portland. 10-15,000 feet. bombed. the remarkable explosions which were seen. 1 E-Boat P7097 P/O James Ian Simpson was left in flames. Flak was slight from the ships but P6990 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF RAF Warmwell intense from the shore batteries. 1 machine gun 1st bullet pierced the nacelle of 1 Whirlibomber. The No.10 Group Circus Strong crosswinds. Sgt Cooper bounced on landing, crews of the boats were seen trying to wrench the This Operation was planned after the manner of that dipped a wing, cartwheeled twice on the wings, canvas covers from the guns, others diving of 3rd August. S/L Baker had Exactor trouble & shedding both engines & finally stopped upright & on overboard in panic, others rushing up & down the returned to Base. F/L McClure led, but found 10/10 fire. Sgt Cooper got out unbruised & the remains of deck with doubtful purpose. cloud in the Brest area, & no attack could be made. the aircraft were foam extinguished. Congratulatory signals on the Aber Wrac’h P7111 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Operation were received from the Commander-in- P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC RAF Predannack Chief, Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, from the Secretary P6997 Sgt William Edwin Watkins 3rd of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair & from the P7098 Sgt Fred Green No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Board of the Admiralty. P7012 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton Channel Isles Shipping Lanes. Escorted by the Ibsley P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7013 F/L David George Ross Wing, which now consists of only 2 Squadrons, P7111 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock Nos.616 & 453. P6974 F/L David George Ross P6971 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P7055 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P6971 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7097 Sgt George Albert Wood Sgt Beaumont mistook Cherbourg Forts for ships. P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Investigating them, he found a Coaster & 3 Barges in P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis the entrance to the harbour. He bombed the Coaster No.10 Group Circus 49 (Cat 4) but very properly did not wait to see results Dive-bomb of Brest-Guipavas. The “new Squadron’s” 12th as the harbour flak had opened with full intensity. 1st blow at the enemy. Escorted by the Ibsley & No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce This was the 1st time that a Whirlwind had bearded Portreath Wings, they dive-bombed from 13,000- Pointe Barfleur-Marcouf, investigated Isigny Bay & the Cherbourg flak at low level. G/C Hardy sent a 7,000 feet. 6 bursts seen within the aerodrome, 4 of as far as Grand Camp, returning past Barfleur to Cap message of congratulations. these among the buildings. A Fw.190 attacked but de la Hague with an extension to Alderney & Cap P7092 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont missed our aircraft during the dive. Flamanville thrown in for good measure. P7055 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Channel Islands. Uneventful. P6979 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray Channel Islands Shipping Lanes-Bréhat. Thus, the P7013 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7040 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer whole area within the range of Warmwell was P7111 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont covered 2-3 times nightly. Heights were at the pilots’ 16th P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC discretion, but they were briefed to cross the Channel An extensive night flying programme was severely P6997 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF at 100-200 feet & to search at 200-1,500 feet, cut in order to obtain 14 aircraft to fly to P7012 P/O James Ian Simpson changing height continuously. Flak from the Islands, Predannack at 1st light. The ground crews worked all P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF if the pilot approached to within 2 miles, was a night: the complete repainting at night of a commonplace, so too were the lighthouses at each of Whirlwind is worth a special mention. 4th the Channel Islands, Cap de la Hague & Point No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Barfleur. Channel Islands. F/O Mercer found nothing Profiting from the presence of the Whirlibombers at P7012 P/O James Ian Simpson remarkable. Sgt Heaton had a long chase of a Predannack & remembering perhaps the successful P7096 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF doubtful aircraft. Each attempted to silhouette the Operation of 14th April 1943, No.10 Group laid on other against the moon & each foiled the others this Recce west of Ushant & as far as Cap Chievre, 10 13th attempts. He thinks the aircraft may have been a miles south of Brest. No ships found. The Squadron The 8 pilots who took part in the Wrac’h Operation, Wellington. He landed at Exeter, refuelled & returned from Predannack through low cloud. together with the Adjutant & Intelligence Officer, returned to Warmwell. P7055 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC were filmed by British Movietone News. S/L Baker P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis described the Operation for sound recording. P7047 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton P6974 F/L David George Ross P6990 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce 17th P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC Channel Islands Shipping Lanes. Escorted by a 20 pilots now Operational by both day & night. P7012 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer Squadron of the Ibsley Wing. P7098 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC No.10 Group Ramrod 74 P7111 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7056 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont Guipavas aerodrome. At 1st light 12 aircraft flew to P6074 F/L David George Ross Predannack. They were a fine sight in formation with 5th P7111 Sgt John Barrie Purkis their navigation lights burning in the still clear It was reported that ‘Solmglint’ was about to quit twilight before dawn. From Predannack they Cherbourg. S/L Baker DFC obtained leave to bomb it 14th provided the bombing element of the 5-Squadron in the harbour from low-level. The whole Squadron In the afternoon an Evasion Exercise was held. Pilots Operation - No.10 Group Ramrod 74 with the usual volunteered to accompany him, he briefed 3 pilots, in “mufti” were dropped from M/T some 5 miles from escort & cover of the Ibsley & Portreath Wing. The but the Operation was cancelled at the last minute the aerodrome & had to make their way into it target was again Guipavas aerodrome, but for the by the Air Ministry. without being captured by the Police, Home Guard or 2nd time in succession it was covered with 10/10 RAF Regiment. This was very successful as 12 of the cloud, & on this occasion it was evident from 5 miles 11th 20 pilots returned without being apprehended. from the French Coast that no part of the Operation F/L David George Ross, supernumerary to the could be successful. The Squadrons returned to their Squadron was posted to Fighter Command. Night Recce Bases with some irritation The Oxford carried a W/O Donald Frank Jelicoe Tebbit appointed P/O. S/L Baker returned from his Recce having destroyed spare wheel to Predannack & the 12th aircraft came a He.111 & sunk an E-Boat. This was quite simply the back later. most remarkable individual achievement up to the P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC present time by any member of the Squadron. He P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer found an E-Boat running at high speed from Jersey P7040 Sgt Fred Green towards St. Peter’s Port & bombed it. There was a P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7096 Sgt William Edwin Watkins & saw a large explosion on the stern. After orbiting, P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P7097 Sgt George Albert Wood he saw it well down by the stern & sinking. Its guns XXXXX Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P6974 F/L David George Ross were silent. F/L Ross found no trace of the ship an P6971 Sgt John Barrie Purkis hour later. P6986 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7040 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P7046 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P7096 F/L David George Ross P7047 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P6979 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P6990 F/O Eric John Holman 23rd P6971 Sgt George Williams Convoy Patrol No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Swanage-The Needles. P6977 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF The 1st 3 pilots found nothing remarkable other than P7098 P/O James Ian Simpson P7097 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton more mysterious flares north of Barfleur - these P6990 Sgt Fred Green appear to come up from a totally empty sea. Sgt P6979 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock Beaumont had an uneventful Patrol but a thrilling P7047 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P6971 Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop landing. His hydraulic system was u/s. However, the P7040 Sgt William Anthony Handley emergency bottle procured wheels & flaps down. 31st Then his port engine cut with a loud report. He 24th Convoy Patrol dropped his bombs ‘safe’ in a field west of Knighton Captain Meade of the Royal Irish Fusiliers attached West of Portland. F/O Sturgeon & F/O Holman Wood & made a very creditable landing. to the Squadron for 2 days as Instructor in Combined received warnings from Ops & the Convoy that a P7113 P/O James Ian Simpson Operations. His lecture & conversations were both Bogey was approaching, & indeed a visual was interesting & informative. obtained on a distant aircraft, probably a Ju.88. It P7047 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton turned south & our pilots were not seduced from 25th their task. P7098 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF Convoy Patrol P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor Swanage-Portland. P6979 Sgt George Williams P7096 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont P7047 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon 19th P7098 F/O Eric John Holman 4 aircraft ‘beat up’ 20 MTBs in Weymouth Bay. The P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Navy expressed themselves as “alarmed & satisfied.” P7040 Sgt Fred Green P6990 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7047 Sgt George Albert Wood 21st P7086 Sgt George Albert Wood F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC, who joined the P6997 Sgt William Anthony Handley P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor Squadron as Sergeant & rose to F/L ‘A’ Flight P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis Commander, left for a well-earned rest via 26th Warrington en route for some leave in Canada. He F/S William Whittaker Heaton appointed P/O. P6990 Sgt George Albert Wood took part in nearly all the Squadrons Operational P7047 Sgt William Edwin Watkins work & by his gallantry & leadership earned the Balbo. award of the DFC on 2nd June 1943. It should be noted that correct formation flying is of P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor absolute importance in dive-bombing Operations, & P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce that rapid & precise changes of formation are an S/L Baker was flying down moon along the north important factor in low-level bombing of ships. P7047 Sgt Fred Green coast of the Cotentin when he saw flak coming from P6990 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton port & astern. He turned to investigate & saw a 29th Trawler lying a mile off Cherbourg & firing Convoy Patrol P7119 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF vigorously. He turned inside Cherbourg Harbour, Needles-Portland. A curious Convoy, it consisted of 2 P7056 Sgt Peter Frederick Cooper positioning for the attack meeting 2 searchlights & Merchant Vessels of 3-4,000 tons escorted by 2 flak from shore batteries. He bombed it from 50 feet Destroyers & 2 Corvettes.

hoped for by higher commands. Nevertheless, the single track & become ‘Ranger’ targets for SEPTEMBER 1943 sense of having an important part to play in a very Mosquitoes on the following night. large Operation lent a dramatic excitement to 14 Whirlwinds moved to Bolt Head. The Intelligence, September was remarkable for the variety of the Squadron sorties which were in themselves less Medical & Flying Control Officers moved there in the Operations conducted in it & for the peregrinations eventful than our normal dive-bombing Operations Oxford. As Met. had foretold, this time correctly, the of the Squadron between Manston & Predannack, in No.10 Group. What it is desired to say here, that, weather cleared & the Operation which had been the most south-easterly & the most south-westerly whatever the other results of the Operation may carefully planned & briefed for, was carried out. This aerodromes of England. have been, there should also be added on the credit was the largest Night Operation ever undertaken by side the roaring good spirits (“excellent morale” is the Squadron. Pilots were carefully & extensively 1st the official phrase) which were engendered in the briefed at Warmwell during the previous days. They RAF Warmwell pilots of this Squadron by the privilege of playing a were to make landfall at 2,500 feet at the point Sgt Alton James Ryan (RCAF) arrived for flying duties part in the drama of the preparation & execution of nearest to their target where no flak was to be from No.56 OTU. this Operation. expected & to bomb their allocated targets as an absolute priority. 11 aircraft were to bomb the 2nd 10th target at approximately the same time. These orders CO & FCO Warmwell to Bolt Head to investigate Detachment returned to Warmwell by air & railway. were nicely carried out. Our aircraft met neither possibilities of Night Operations based there. searchlights of flak, though these were seen out of 12th range at Morlaix. Bombing carried out from 2,000 5th Convoy Patrol feet to 700 feet. No pilot ‘lost his way’. All aircraft Considerable activity to arrange a Squadron From 1st light to the afternoon, Patrols flown over a took off from Bolt Head & after material assistance detachment to Manston. Pilots recalled from leave. large Convoy forming off the Needles & moving west. from F/L Connolly (FCO Warmwell) who had P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock established night flying & homing facilities at Bolt 6th P7013 F/O Eric John Holman Head landed back at Exeter, most of them after a 44 Ground Crew & F/O Mercer by train to Manston. flight of 2 hours duration, 1 after a remarkably long P6986 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF 2 hours 10 minutes. 7th P7097 Sgt William Anthony Handley 14 Whirlwinds & the Oxford with the Intelligence Bursts in cutting near Lamballe. Officer to Manston. This is the Squadron’s 1st P7047 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7056 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont detachment to No.11 Group since the famous “escort P7040 F/S Fred Green of bombers to Doel” on the Knapsack Raid of 12th Bursts on or near a bridge north of Lamballe. August 1941. P6979 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P6983 F/L David George Ross P6971 Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 8th Bursts on or very close to line east of Plouvara. RAF Manston P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7040 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer 2 more Whirlwinds arrived at Manston making 16. P6799 F/S John Barrie Purkis Bursts on or very close to line in Bois de Manlany. He No.10 Group Operation Starkey P7056 Sgt Denis Charles Todd then fired at & secured hits on a loco (Cat B). Naval & heavy Flak guns at Hardelot. Designed to P7097 F/S William Whittaker Heaton safeguard the ships of the Amphibious Exercise P6986 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit (Exercise Menagerie) which were to make a feint at P7040 Sgt Fred Green Returned with u/s constant speed unit. Boulogne the next day. At the last-minute it was P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC changed by No.11 Group to a standard dive-bombing RAF Predannack attack which was carried out by 7 aircraft as 13th Bombed line west of Plouaret. unfortunately 5 had returned early - 3 with technical Sgt Leonard Scott Gray to F/S. P7098 P/O James Ian Simpson trouble & 2 with finger trouble. 10 aircraft to Predannack. P7096 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Ponthou Viaduct. F/S Purkis bombed the line south- P7056 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 14th west of Morlaix (bursts on or near). The others P6983 F/S Harold Medd Proctor Operation cancelled at Predannack. Intelligence, attacked the target but think they hit the cuttings to P6979 F/S John Barrie Purkis Medical & Flying Control Officers returned by car. the south & north of the viaduct. P6974 F/L David George Ross P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7055 Sgt Denis Charles Todd RAF Bolt Head P6990 F/S John Barrie Purkis P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC 15th P6971 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6997 F/S William Whittaker Heaton 25 Ground crew arrived at Bolt Head; their lorry had P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7040 F/S William Edwin Watkins broken down near Exeter. The Air Party returned P7013 Sgt George Williams from Predannack to Bolt Head but did not land as Bombs on or near the line east of Morlaix. P7097 F/S George Albert Wood they ordered to Warmwell. Intelligence, Medical & P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7092 Sgt Peter Frederick Cooper Flying Control Officers returned by car. These 2 ‘Rangers’ went out an hour later. The 1st 9th 16th bombed a train (Cat C) east of Plouaret. The other No.10 Group Operation Starkey 13 Whirlwinds to Bolt Head, but again ordered back secured bursts on or very close to the line west of Repetition of the dive-bombing of the Hardelot Gun to Warmwell without landing. Intelligence, Medical Plouaret. Unfortunately, weather u/s the following positions. It went well from start to finish. Dives from & Flying Control Officers in the Oxford landed at Bolt night so that Part 2 of this Operation, ‘Ranging’ by 14,000-3,500 feet & all bursts in target area, within Head & later returned. Mosquitoes, could not be carried out. a circle of 150 yards radius. In both Operations, the P6990 F/O Eric John Holman coast was crossed at Hastings at 4,000 feet, after No.10 Group Night Armed Shipping Recce P6997 F/S William Edwin Watkins which they climbed to 14,000 feet, dive-bombed in Cap de la Hague-Isigny & Channel Island Shipping echelon starboard & returned in formation at 1,000 Lanes. S/L Baker DFC bombed an E-Boat north-west 18th feet. Target cover provided by a Typhoon Squadron. of Marcouf (Cat 4) & cannoned a 2nd (Cat 4). F/L Air Party to Bolt Head for a Circus Operation, but The aircraft were quickly re-fuelled & re-armed for a McClure found 2 E-Boats 1-mile south-west of weather prevented this & the detachment returned dive-bombing attack of St. Omer aerodrome. They Guernsey’s Pleinmont Point. He bombed rearward to Warmwell by air & lorry. taxied out but it was cancelled in gathering haze. ship in an 800-200 feet up. They burst very close to F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin (RCAF) arrived for flying P7096 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC the stern (Cat 4). He was then held by searchlights duties from No.55 OTU. P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock from Guernsey. Remaining Recces uneventful. P6974 F/L David George Ross P7096 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7055 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7098 P/O James Ian Simpson Cap de la Hague-Channel Islands. Lightening vied P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC with flak in 10/10 cloud. F/S Green’s 1st night P6947 F/O William Whittaker Heaton P7046 F/O Eric John Holman Operation. P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P6983 F/L David George Ross P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 Sgt William Anthony Handley P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7040 F/S Fred Green P7097 F/S George Albert Wood P7056 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont RAF Warmwell 19th P6979 F/S John Barrie Purkis 17th News that the bombing of the Hardelot guns (shared P7013 Sgt Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Night Ranger ChatanoogaChoo-Choo with other Squadrons) was remarkably successful. Devised by S/L Baker in co-operation with No.10 These 3 days at Manston under the auspices of Group Intelligence, the aim was to sever the main 20th “Operation Starkey” were very greatly enjoyed by all -Brest railway line between Lamballe & F/L Frederick Donald Snalam arrived for flying who took part in the detachment. It may be that the Morlaix so that: - a) trains were ‘bottled up’ & b) duties as Supernumerary from No.616 Sqn & results of the Operation were not those which were trains should be diverted to the southern loop line attached to ‘B’ Flight. P/O Alexander Barr (RCAF) arrived for flying duties P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC French Coast from 100 feet. An explosion in the from No.55 OTU. P6990 F/S William Whittaker Heaton water, perhaps from an acoustic mine, made a hole F/S Richard John Hughes was posted to No.616 Sqn. P7113 F/S George Albert Wood in his starboard engine. He flew back on the port P7040 F/S Fred Green engine to a good single engine landing at Warmwell. 21st P6983 F/L David George Ross P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC 9 aircraft to Predannack for an Operation which was P6971 Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7040 F/S Fred Green cancelled in thick weather. P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6997 F/S George Williams P7055 F/S Leonard Scott Gray P6977 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 22nd P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 9 aircraft to Bolt Head for a Shipping Strike, but it 24th P6983 F/S Leonard Scott Gray was too late & too dark to take off. Scramble P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor Over Portland at 10,000 feet. P6974 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock RAF Bolt Head P7040 F/S Fred Green 23rd P7047 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF 26th No.10 Group Ramrod 85 P/O James Ian Simpson received the DFM. Dive-bomb of Morlaix aerodrome. The Squadron Over Isle of Wight. Recalled. operated from Bolt Head escorted by No.610 Sqn. P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 27th Bombing from 14,000-6,000 feet, results were good. P7047 F/S William Whittaker Heaton S/L Baker received a Bar to his DFC. Bursts seen across the airfield & among buildings. A German R/T message instructing their aircraft not South of Base.Various vectors at 10,000 feet. 29th to return to Morlaix was intercepted by our Listening P7046 F/S Harold Medd Proctor 9 aircraft to Predannack at 1st light. Op abandoned Service. Accurate heavy flak. F/S Wood’s aircraft P6971 Sgt Denis Charles Todd due to weather. received a direct hit at about 5,000 feet during the dive. He was not seen to bale out & is believed to have 25th 30th been killed instantly. F/S George Albert Wood was No.10 Group Ramrod Establishment posted to the Squadron on 24th February 1943. He Lannion aerodrome. F/L McClure led through The Squadron converted to the new establishment was a skilful & gallant pilot who had taken part in 7 patches of cloud to the French Coast (from where the under Fighter Command’s reorganization scheme. Offensive Operations. He had recently been accepted escort of the Perranporth Wing simply disappeared) Total establishment 32 including 11 Officers & 7 for a Commissioned rank. Gay & light-hearted in his & to within 5 miles of the target but 10/10 cloud over airmen pilots. Surplus transferred to 3055 Echelon. manner, handsome, he was very like the popular the target prevented dive-bombing. F/S Green, like notion of a typical pilot. His age was 21. the others, jettisoned his bombs ‘safe’ north of the

No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce was vicariously the shakiest thing the writer has ever OCTOBER 1943 Warmwell-Sept Iles-Iles de Batz-Predannack. The 1st seen. of many night searches (without bombs so that the P6971 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock RAF Warmwell distance could be covered) for a 6,000-ton M/V. P7046 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 4th P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor No.10 Group Armed Recce P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer 21st Lezardrieux Estuary. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, Whirlwinds on Rhubarb Operations are forbidden to they searched for 2 Destroyers reported lurking 14th carry bombs, & this order is now enforced. there. Discontent felt as nothing was found. No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Repetition of the long searches of the previous night. No.10 Group Rhubarb P7097 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Locomotive damaged with cannon fire 3 miles south- P7098 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock east of Barneville. P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P7012 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P6974 F/L David George Ross P6974 F/L David George Ross P6979 F/S John Barrie Purkis P7092 F/O Eric John Holman P7111 F/S John Barrie Purkis P6983 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit RAF Predannack Insufficient cloud-cover off Barfleur. P7046 F/S Leonard Scott Gray 15th P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P6979 F/S Leonard Scott Gray 5th-6th P6974 F/L David George Ross Briefing for “Chuffa-Prang” took place. 22nd 16th No.10 Group Rhubarb 7th Shipping Recce Insufficient cloud-cover off Alderney. No.10 Group Armed Recce Predannack-Porspode-Sept Iles-Predannack. Recces P6974 F/L David George Ross Channel Islands. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. for the blockade runner M/V ‘Münsterland’ inbound P7092 P/O Eric John Holman P7012 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC from Japan. P6974 F/L David George Ross P6974 F/L David George Ross No.10 Group Rhubarb P6983 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper P7111 F/O Eric John Holman Having obtained special permission to carry bombs, P7046 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont they attacked the large railway bridge over the River P7040 F/S Fred Green Vire south of Isigny at 20 feet. 1 bomb burst in the No.10 Group Night Recce concrete eastern end of the bridge, 1 in the water Cherbourg. Abandoned in thick haze to 1,000 feet. RAF Predannack under the bridge, 1 in the railway embankment & 1 P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC 18th dislodged a girder which was seen hanging down. P7012 F/S/ Fred Green No.10 Group Night Ranger - “Chuffa Prang” Good bombing. This Operation was planned to disorganize railway P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 8th communications in & near the Cherbourg Peninsula, P6979 F/S Leonard Scott Gray No.10 Group Night Recce & thereafter to take advantage of the tactical Channel Islands. S/L Baker damaged an E-Boat off situation. It was a great success. Each pilot arrived 23rd Varreville. at his target after a route which had correctly All Officers & Aircrew of the Squadron have been P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC avoided the intense flak which is to be met with by made (for mutual services to the Bellows Club) P7055 F/O Eric John Holman the unwary. S/L Baker blew up an ammunition train honorary members of the Argentine Club in London. south-east of Valognes, then damaged a Loco near Despite moonless darkness, the Squadron was No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Bricquebec; P/O Blacklock damaged 2 trains (with 1 brought to Readiness to attack the Münsterland Channel Islands. P/O Heaton was shot up by a 2,500- bomb planted between them as they lurked which was being searched for by Albacores. ton Flak Ship off Cap de la Hague. alongside each other) in Airel Station; F/O Mercer P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock damaged a Loco on the bridge over the River Seulles 24th P7097 P/O William Whittaker Heaton near Bayeux. 4 pilots disintegrated the rail track at No.10 Group Shipping Recce selected places & 3 pilots damaged the bridge over Cherbourg Shipping Lanes. After a fine dawn, we No.10 Group Night Shipping Strike the River Vire south of Isigny. On the way back, P/O were informed by No.10 Group that Warmwell S/L Baker found P/O Heaton’s ship off Cap de la Blacklock sank a motor launch off Ile St. Marcouf. weather was non-Operational. After an hour spent Hague & bombed it from mast height without seeing However, we reckon the chief success of the explaining that it wasn’t, the Squadron took off, 6 more than indistinct explosions (Cat 4). He was Operation was in the remarkably large number of Whirlwinds & for the 1st time - 6 Whirlwinds anti-flak forced to orbit in heavy flak from Alderney & Cap de trains which were attacked in the same area in as had often been mooted & suggested in the past. la Hague, as well as light flak from the ship which daylight Rhubarbs of the next 5 days. Our neighbours The Münsterland was not found. It is thought that was judged to be a small Speerbrecher. As the No.257 Sqn (Typhoons) showed 17 successful attacks this will be found to be the last time in the history of visibility was very poor in sea haze the C.O. decided on Locos & Goods Wagons in the Cherbourg the world in which 12 Whirlwinds were airborne that the ship should not be further attacked & Peninsula & on the main line between Caen & Airel. together. Soon after this, the Münsterland was ordered the 6 aircraft which were following, to P6974 F/L David George Ross photographed in the Digue Du Homme T, Cherbourg. return to Base. Meanwhile, fog had come in rapidly P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer Anti-Flak at Warmwell & all aircraft were ordered to return to P7046 F/S Denis Charles Todd P6974 F/L David George Ross Tangmere. It seems that P/O James Ian Simpson P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7108 P/O Alexander Barr DFM who was, next to S/L Baker, the Squadron’s P7012 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper P7046 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin most experienced pilot, had engine failure not due to P6997 F/S George Williams P7098 F/O Eric John Holman enemy action, & then his other engine failed during XXXXX F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7040 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg his run in at Tangmere. He crashed into an anti- P6990 F/O Kenneth James Forrester Funnell landing post a hundred yards from the runway & was 19th Bombers killed instantly. This accident had many features in No.10 Group Rhubarb P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC common with that in which F/L Blackshaw was Badly damaged 2 Locos with cannon & bombs at a P6979 F/S Harold Medd Proctor killed. He had been with the Squadron for 15 months junction. F/S Dunlop got back with starboard wing P6997 F/S John Barrie Purkis & was an experienced Whirlwind pilot. He had damage & only 1/10 aileron movement to make a P6998 F/S William Edwin Watkins recently been awarded the DFM. ‘Simmy’ was well good landing in a stormy crosswind with no landing P6986 F/S William Anthony Handley liked by all the Squadron & is a great loss to the gear after jettisoning bombs. P7012 F/S Leonard Scott Gray Squadron, as a pilot & a friend. P6979 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7055 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop No.10 Group Roadstead 79 P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor This was the 1st time that the Squadron (& we think P7055 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF Flying through very heavy rain, they arrived to find any Squadron) has made a low-level attack on P6983 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont good Rhubarb conditions. They bombed & cannoned Cherbourg Harbour. Flew at sea level between the P7047 P/O James Ian Simpson DFM a Goods Train north of Airel. Their attacks severely Outer Moles & straight to the Münsterland alongside P7012 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer damaged the Loco, disintegrated several trucks, set the Digue du Homet. 4 aircraft bombed the & 2 of P6974 F/L David George Ross others on fire, & tore up the track. Meanwhile, the these attacked with cannons, leaving her on fire in 2 weather had deteriorated at Warmwell to 1,000 places - she was well ablaze 11 minutes later, but the 9th yards visibility in heavy rain with a 45-mph fire had been extinguished 90 minutes later. The No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce crosswind. They were ordered to land into wind & other 4 aircraft bombed 2 ships aft of the Landed at Middle Wallop due to fog. did so from the Watch Office to the Battle HQ, just Münsterland & saw cannon strikes. 2 pilots scored P6983 F/L David George Ross 500 yards. P/O Blacklock overshot & did not have strikes on 2 of the 6 M-Class Minesweepers in the enough petrol for another circuit. He therefore Trans-Atlantic Dock. Flak was fired from more than 13th stopped by pulling up his undercarriage. F/S 100 guns within range, from harbour & ships “it was F/L John Edward McClure DFC posted. Beaumont struggled in safely. Watching this landing like a horizontal hail-storm, painted red”, (F/S Beaumont). All our aircraft were hit, seriously. The formation broke ½ to port to the south-east over the XXXXX F/L David George Ross has been liaising in several social & service ways, at Peninsula. F/S Leonard Scott Gray’s starboard XXXXX F/S Leonard Scott Gray Warmwell & Weymouth. engine was smoking & he glided down from 150 feet, XXXXX F/S Robert Charles Beaumont Security lectures by the I.(S) O. to all members of the 3 miles south-east of Cherbourg in the manner of a XXXXX F/S Peter Frederick Cooper Squadron & No.3055 Echelon. controlled forced landing. F/O Mercer’s aircraft was hit over the target & it 25th 30th may have been for this reason that he was flying Our 4 aircraft were brought to Fighter Readiness. No.10 Group Ramrod 99 considerably above the formation when it re-crossed 7 aircraft - there are no more serviceable - took off the coast 3 miles south of St. Vaast. Here his aircraft 26th to dive-bomb the Münsterland & 6 did so. F/L Snalam received a direct hit from a coastal flak battery & S/L Baker talked to all pilots on the tactical lessons lost a 500lb bomb 10 miles south of Lulworth & was dived into the sea, disintegrating on impact. It is not of Roadstead 79. ordered back to Base. The CO started the dives too thought that he could have survived. Paul Thomas early, & pulled back again to 12,000 feet, then dived Richard Mercer has been with the Squadron for 8 28th almost vertically. A cluster of bombs hit warehouses months & was a skilful & gallant pilot & very well F/O Gerald Geoffrey Racine RCAF arrived for flying west of the target, 2 in the Dry Dock area. The Hun liked as a person. He had recently married S/O duties from No.1 TEU. now has dive-bombing weighed up. His heavy flak Anderson of No.10 Group. was intense & accurate at 12,000 feet & during the F/L Ross’s aircraft was severely hit in the starboard No.10 Group Ramrod 96 dive from 9,000-7,000 feet. The CO therefore led on wing, which juddered & stalled at 180 mph, as well The Münsterland, now in Dry Dock No.5, brought a down to 5,000 feet. This & the change of the early as at the wing root. He made a perfect belly landing 3rd ‘1st time’ to the Squadron, the use of 500lb bombs dive seems to have led to only 1 Whirlwind being at Warmwell at this speed. in dive-bombing. In fact, she brought 4 ‘1st times’ if slightly damaged by flak (F/S Dunlop). The 6 aircraft F/S Cooper’s aircraft was damaged by flak & the Shipping Reconnaissances of 13th-20th October returned over Warmwell in excellent formation, 2 collapsed on landing. are added in. These 8 aircraft dive-bombed from vics, vics line astern. Quite good results - good in the S/L Baker was bruised on the shoulder by Perspex 12,000-7,000 feet. All bombs fell within 500 yards of sense that it would be a truly lucky shot if the vessel dislodged by 30mm bullets. the target. Warehouses were hit & what looked like received a direct hit. 90 minutes later, No.183 Sqn Typhoon’s attacked the an oil fire was started, possibly in our old antagonist P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Münsterland & lost S/L Gowers DFC a veteran of the the Solnglint. This time the Mitchells drew the flak (1 P6997 P/O William Whittaker Heaton Battle of Britain & 2 other pilots. was shot down). None of our aircraft were damaged. P7037 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam This Operation reduced the number of immediately P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 F/S Fred Green available Whirlwinds to 4 or 5. Thus the re- P7037 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor equipment of the Squadron with some other type of P6977 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7108 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop aircraft, which has been expected consistently to be P7092 F/S William Anthony Handley P7092 F/O Eric John Holman more or less immediate during the past 2 or perhaps P6983 F/L David George Ross 3 years - has become truly inevitable in the not to P7046 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 31st distant future. It is felt that these 2 low level attacks P7111 F/S John Barrie Purkis P/O Dugald Andrew Carmichael arrived for flying on shipping in Cherbourg’s Inner Harbour by No.263 P7108 F/S Harold Medd Proctor duties from RAF Uxbridge. He got in a 1st solo, & there & 183 Sqns, deserves to be remembered among the were Camera-Gun attacks. It is interesting to record many exploits of true gallantry in this bloody war. 29th that in this the 5th year of total war, it is impossible P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Dive-bombing of Münsterland cancelled due to to use the Chesil Bank Range for practice bombing XXXXX F/S Harold Medd Proctor unsuitable weather. on a Sunday. XXXXX F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer 6 aircraft beat-up MTBs commanded of Lt. Cdr F/O John Thomas Lilleystone arrived for flying duties XXXXX F/S George Williams Dickinson DSO MBE DSC with whom the Squadron from No.1 TEU.

No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce 15th NOVEMBER 1943 F/S Dunlop abandoned his Recce over Base owing to No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Exactor trouble. F/S Proctor’s recce uneventful. Returned from 10 miles north of Ushant due to RAF Warmwell P7098 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop weather. November proved to be a fitting climax to the work P7108 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7097 F/S Fred Green of the Squadron with Whirlibombers, in the sense that Operations were intensive, successful & entirely Both sorties abandoned 40 miles north of Cap de la 16th typical of what had gone before. The month was, in Hague due to weather. No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce fact, an epitome of the Squadrons history during the P7037 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6997 F/S William Edwin Watkins last 15 months. 88 Offensive sorties were flown P6783 F/L David George Ross P7097 F/S Fred Green which included typical low-level shipping attacks by day & night. There were several Shipping Recces, 9th 19th uneventful except for the routine flak from the RAF Warmwell F/O Holman took the M.O. F/O Green & Cpl Hamer to Channel Islands & Cap de la Hague. But the No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Biggin Hill in the Oxford. On touch down it swung uneventful Shipping Recces must not be thought of Cap de la Hague-Marcouf. Abandoned due to violently in a strong crosswind & F/O Holman as strategically abortive. The function of the weather north of Cap de la Hague. attempted to take off again. Unfortunately, he hit the Squadron at Warmwell has been primarily that of a P7098 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF prop of a Typhoon which tore the port flap off. The central Channel Stop. Its work has been to prevent as P6997 F/S William Anthony William Oxford then flew into the top of a building, crashed far as possible the enemy from making use of the outside the M/T Store & caught fire. The 3 occupants coastal waters from Ile Bréhat to Isigny. RAF Predannack were removed immediately, unburnt but severely Consequently, it is arguable that the presence, at No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce injured. All 3 are recovering satisfactorily. varying hours of light & darkness of armed P7092 F/O Eric John Holman Whirlibombers, & the absence of enemy shipping in P7108 F/S John Barrie Purkis 24th these waters is as complete a strategical victory as it No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce is a tactical blank. Furthermore, there were more 10th Channel Islands. Abandoned due to weather. dive-bombing Operations conducted in the now No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC classical manner invented by this Squadron. The SS Cap de la Hague-Marcouf. F/O Mogg thought he saw P7100 F/L David George Ross Münsterland, which replaced the SS Solmglint as 6 ships 3 miles west of Corbierè Point, Jersey. Owing P7108 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF No.1 Static Seabourne Enemy, was twice dive- to intense heavy flak he did not attack, & not being P7088 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit bombed in Cherbourg Docks, & a new secret target quite sure that they were ships, returned to Base P6983 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop was also attacked. No Operational casualties during without transmitting. F/S Williams saw nothing. P7097 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg the month, but extremely good news about 2 pilots P7012 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF who had been missing. P7037 F/S George Williams P6997 F/S George Williams

1st Cap de la Hague-Marcouf. F/O Sturgeon sighted 4-5 25th F/S George Albert Wood, who was reported missing Armed Trawlers, 4 miles south of Sark. He asked for No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce believed killed when his aircraft was disintegrated an emergency homing, then attacked 1 of them from 10 miles north of St. Malo. by flak during the dive on Morlaix aerodrome on 23rd 300 feet. No results seen. F/S Watkins saw nothing. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC September 1943, arrived in good health at Plymouth P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P6997 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam yesterday. He is the Squadrons 1st evader. P6997 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7108 F/O Kenneth James Forrester Funnell P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF 2nd No.10 Group Roadstead 78 No.10 Group Rhubarb Escorted by Nos.312 & 313(Czech) Spitfires Sqns, No.10 Group Ramrod 106 Part 1 Rail targets near Carentan. Returned from 20 miles attacked 3 ships 2-3 miles off the north-west coast of Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, north of Cherbourg due to weather. Guernsey. 2 Armed Tugs claimed & 1 250-ton Cherbourg. 10/10 cloud over Cherbourg. P7037 P/O William Whittaker Heaton Merchant Vessel damaged. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7098 F/L David George Ross P6997 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin P7037 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7097 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg 5th P7046 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6997 F/S George Williams No.10 Group Ramrod 100 part 3 P7097 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper P7108 F/L David George Ross Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, P7111 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF Cherbourg. Abandoned due to weather. No.10 Group Night Shipping Strike P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC 4 Whirlibombers took off to attack the ships seen by P6971 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7108 F/L David George Ross F/O Sturgeon. The convoy was not located but S/L P7046 F/O Eric John Holman Baker attacked a small Trawler of 75-tons south- No.10 Group Ramrod 106 Part 2 P7098 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont east of Hurn. His bombs burst alongside & a search Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, P7037 F/S William Edwin Watkins after the attack found no sign of it. 1 Trawler Cat 3. Cherbourg. Escorted by the Ibsley Spitfire Wing they P7092 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper The other aircraft jettisoned their bombs. F/S dive-bombed 12,500 to 7,000 feet through gaps in P7111 F/S Denis Charles Todd Cooper landed at Warmwell, the others at Hurn. the cloud. 4 bombs burst close to the target & 2 hit in P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC the Dry Dock of the Basin Napoleon. Flak, as usual, 6th P6997 F/S John Barrie Purkis very heavy but the aircraft escaped with a few dents. No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7037 F/S Fred Green F/S Todd turned back mid-Channel with 1 engine Channel Islands-Cap de la Hague-Marcouf Shipping P7097 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper u/s. Lanes. Uneventful. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7108 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 11th P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7111 F/S Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7040 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7097 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7097 F/S Denis Charles Todd P7108 F/L David George Ross Channel Islands. P/O Heaton flew alongside the P7111 P/O Alexander Barr Cherbourg Mole at 50 feet. He encountered no flak, No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit as at the time the defences were concentrating on an F/O Holman was west of Guernsey when he was P6983 F/S Denis Charles Todd aircraft with navigation lights on at 2,500 feet east called by F/O Tuff, who had sighted 2 Tugs ½-mile of Maupertus. F/S Green’s Recce uneventful. from Cherbourg about to enter the harbour. He P7037 P/O William Whittaker Heaton attacked the Tug furthest out from mast height, 26th P7102 F/S Fred Green scoring a near miss. F/O Holman arrived after the No.10 Group Ramrod 108 Tugs had entered the harbour & did not attack. Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, 7th P6997 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF Cherbourg. 8 bombs burst within 300 yards of the Air Sea Rescue Patrol P7012 F/O Eric John Holman target. Intense & accurate flak, even though the dive Search for F/O Coombe of No.257 Sqn in a radius of was continued to 4,000 feet. 10 miles from the reported position of the dinghy. No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7040 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7037 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Channel Islands. P7108 F/L David George Ross P7098 F/L David George Ross P7100 F/L David George Ross P7111 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin P7012 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7100 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6990 F/S Fred Green 13th-14th P6971 F/S Denis Charles Todd P7046 F/S Harold Medd Proctor Army Co-Operation Exercise, beat-up of tanks at XXXXX P/O Alexander Barr P6979 F/S William Edwin Watkins Lulworth. XXXXX F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7100 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont XXXXX F/S George Williams

No.10 Group Ramrod 109 P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7040 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Secret target south-west of Cherbourg. Protected by P7100 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7012 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg at least 8 heavy flak positions. All our aircraft were P6971 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7046 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam hit, but no serious damage done, except to F/O P6983 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7102 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock Mogg’s aircraft, which flew back on one engine to a successful landing. Bombing results good. 29th 30th P6983 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC Operation Hanwich F/S Leonard Scott Gray, who was missing after the P7097 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam Intercept minesweepers or mine destroying Ju.52s low-level attack on the Münsterland in Cherbourg P6997 F/L David George Ross off Cherbourg. Nothing seen in violent rainstorms & Docks, is a POW. P7046 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg 10/10 cloud from 1,000 feet to sea-level.

S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC posted to W/C were put up for disposal. The Squadron is now non- DECEMBER 1943 Flying, RAF Colerne. operational during training. S/L Geoffrey Beddington Warnes DSO DFC arrived RAF Warmwell for flying duties to Command. 23rd 1st The Oxford took S/L Baker to Fighter Leaders Distribution of 10lb parcels & 55,000 cigarettes to A dozen Whirlibombers serviceable at Warmwell. Course, Ashton Down. Returning in haze & poor light, the Squadron & No.3055 Echelon by the River Plate F/O Unwin lost his way near Poole & made a Committee, sent as suggested no doubt, by the 2nd successful forced landing in gathering darkness near Bellows Club. There was some local flying with Whirlwinds. North Maltravers. 6 Typhoon 1b’s were delivered. 24th 4th-10th Unfortunately, while dogfighting at 12,000 feet, F/O 3rd RAF Ibsley Funnell went into a spiral dive, then into a spin & In the evening Messer’s. Westlands gave a party to Settling in at Ibsley. The Typhoons were flown over crashed fatally. He baled out at about 100 feet but members of the Squadron & a number of faithful by No.257 Sqn from Warmwell. was killed. Smoke & flames came from the engine in adherents of No.3055 Echelon. The party consisted of the air, but not known what the cause of them was. an excellent dinner at the Manor Hotel, Yeovil, 11th followed by a dance in the Assembly Rooms. This 6 Typhoons arrived in a snowstorm from Warmwell. 25th marked the end of the Squadrons relations with A traditional RAF Christmas Day. Messer’s. Westlands of Yeovil, a liaison which has 12th constantly been maintained with good will & F/L Ross & others flew a 1st solo in a Typhoon. 26th personal friendship. In one of the speeches at the 4 aircraft on a formation practice. The sections split dinner, S/L Baker DFC paid tribute to the Whirlwind 14th into 2. Then F/S Handley led F/O Mogg, who was drawing on the material which may be found in these F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF to P/O. following at about 400 yards, into conditions of low pages. The writer would like here to state plainly cloud & high ground. F/S Handley pulled up into that all the pilots who flew Whirlwinds in Operations 14th-15th cloud & received vectors back to Base. Nothing more against the enemy had absolute confidence in & Living conditions at Ibsley for both Officers & Sgts was seen or heard of F/O Mogg until midday of the affection for their aircraft. It is worth noting that all very much less comfortable than at Warmwell. 27th, when his body was found still in the cockpit of the 114 Whirlwinds built were known to the However, it has been possible to get in a great many the crashed aircraft near Melbray Abbas, South of Squadron & the Echelon by their individual numbers, hours of flying time here on days in which Warmwell Shaftesbury. & the idiosyncrasies & excellences of each were noted has been winter waterlogged. Liberty runs to & respected. Bournmouth & to the St. Leonards Hotel have 31st compensated for the poor state of the messes. The funerals of F/O Mogg & F/O Funnell were held 4th at Parkstone & Ilford respectfully & were attended 12 Whirlwinds flew in formation over Yeovil. 19th by representatives of the Squadron. 7 Typhoons were delivered by women pilots of the In the evening, all Officers & Sgt Pilots went to a New 5th ATA making 19 on charge. Years Party at the Officers & Sergeants messes at Move to RAF Ibsley. The 6 Whirlwinds which were brought to Ibsley to Warmwell, where the hospitality was unstinted & maintain night readiness during the moon period very much enjoyed.

F/S Sheppard arrived for flying duties from No.55 JANUARY 1944 6th OTU. Weather during the Practice Camp unfavourable. RAF Ibsley RAF Beaulieu 1st 10th 25th Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan The remainder of No.3055 Echelon moved to RAF F/S John Thould had engine failure near Dinton arrived for flying duties from No.286 Sqn. Beaulieu. (west of Salisbury) & force-landed successfully. Continued training on Typhoons. It is more difficult F/O Clifford Sydney Hames & F/O Leon Parent RCAF to maintain serviceability than onWhirlwinds. arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 29th-30th Fitting of long-range tanks. 2nd-4th 17th Air-to-Sea firing in Christchurch Bay. P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Rested. 31st F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM arrived for RAF Fairwood Common 23rd flying duties from No.55 OTU. 5th Ground-crews from Fairwood Common to Beaulieu. The Squadron looks forward to becoming To Fairwood Common for Armament Practice Camp. Aircrew were weather-bound at Fairwood. Operational on 1st February. Our neighbours at The rest of the Squadron & 80 members of No.3055 Warmwell, No.257 Sqn, left to join TAF at Tangmere Servicing Echelon moved by train. The remainder of 24th & are replaced by No.486 Sqn. No.3055 Echelon stayed at Ibsley. 12 aircraft to Beaulieu at midday.

JR330 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR441 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop FEBRUARY 1944 JR129 F/O Alexander Barr JR196 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock JR330 F/S Denis Charles Todd 1st JR251 F/S Alton James Ryan JR382 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF RAF Beaulieu JR253 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR353 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF Operational with Typhoon aircraft. JR304 F/S George Williams JR309 P/O William Edwin Watkins F/L David Patrick Murray Bell arrived for flying JR215 F/S William Anthony Handley duties as a Supernummary from No.84 GSU. No.10 Group Ramrod 129 Part 3 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam posted. No-ball target. Bombs straddled the target & it is 11th likely that some damage was done. Flak was Scramble 2nd accurate & holed F/O Tuff’s aircraft. South of Portland to investigate a K Plot. 1st Typhoon Operation JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR938 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper Shipping Recce JR434 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR309 F/S William Anthony Handley Channel Islands. Abandoned near Cherbourg in JR253 P/O William Edwin Watkins 10/10 cloud at 200 feet. JR196 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF 12th JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR441 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop No.10 Group Rodeo 81 Force C JR531 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR330 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF Beaulieu-Portland-Sillon de Talbert in line abreast JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock JR129 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin at zero feet. South of Gael the CO saw a Do.217 to XXXXX F/L David George Ross port. He turned, chased & fired while the enemy JR330 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce aircraft evaded among trees. Return fire damaged Alderney-Barfleur. He reported enemy shipping off his tail plane before the enemy aircraft pulled up to 3rd Cap de la Hague at 2134 & it was evident from his 1,000 feet & the crew of 6 baled out. It then crashed No.10 Group Ramrod 128 message ‘Apples are red’ that he was going into with a remarkable explosion. This was the 1st Dive-bomb of No-ball site. Target covered by 7/10 attack. Nothing more heard of him other than an aircraft to be encountered by the Squadron flying cloud at 2,000 feet. Bombs jettisoned over the sea uncertain ‘I am going into....’. Typhoon aircraft & it was the 40th to be destroyed by (except for 1 which hung up & fell off ‘safe’ in a field JR251 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock the Squadron. P/O Smith & F/S Ryan also got in near Christchurch). bursts as the enemy aircraft pulled up but considered JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC Cap de la Hague. He found 6 E-Boats & reported it was then ‘finished’ & make no claim. JR251 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF them to control who ordered him to 10,000 feet for a JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock fix & then to return to Base. Before returning he dive- JR309 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR531 P/O William Whittaker Heaton bombed the E-Boats but thinks he missed. JR330 F/S Denis Charles Todd JR382 F/L David George Ross JR309 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper JR249 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR304 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont JR389 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin JR196 P/O Harold Medd Proctor Cap de la Hague. The next 4 aircraft took off JR365 F/S George Williams JR253 P/O William Edwin Watkins immediately for a strike, but did not find the E-Boats, JR253 F/S Alton James Ryan either because of sea haze below 1,000 feet or No.10 Group Ramrod 128 because the ships had reached Alderney Harbour. 13th No-ball site. Impossible to reach the target through JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC No.10 Group Rodeo 82 thick cloud so Maupertus airfield was dive-bombed JR253 F/S George Williams Sweep of Chartres-Mondesir. At Chartres airfield the as an alternative & 5 bursts were seen in the south- JR441 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont CO shot down a Me.109F while F/L Racine strafed 5 east dispersal. 1st bombs dropped ‘in anger’ by JR330 P/O John Barrie Purkis Me.109Fs which were refuelling. He destroyed 3 of Bombphoons of the Squadron. them in a remarkable conflagration. P/O Purkis JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC 6th attacked covered shelters. Flak was surprised & late, JR251 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF Army Co-Operation Exercise but at Etampes-Mondesir it was intense & accurate. JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock S/L Warnes & P/O Heaton beat-up gun posts & M/T F/S George Williams was seen to go in from zero feet JR253 P/O Fred Green near Yaunbury Castle. & was killed instantly. P/O William Edwin Watkins JR382 F/L David George Ross streamed glycol & baled out. His parachute opened JR196 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF Air Sea Rescue Patrol at 1,500 feet. JR129 P/O John Barrie Purkis Cherbourg-Casquetes. In search of F/O Blacklock. JR389 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR330 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin Nothing found. JR196 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR215 F/S George Williams 4th JR129 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF JR249 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF No.10 Group Ramrod 124 JR253 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR309 P/O William Edwin Watkins No-ball site. Unsuitable weather, bombs jettisoned & JR365 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper a Shipping Recce of the Ile Marcouf area flown. 7th JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC Exercise Bulls Eye 14th JR351 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF 13 sorties as targets. Each aircraft made 2 runs The pilots went to Bournemouth for dinghy drill in JR304 P/O William Whittaker Heaton between 6,000-10,000 feet from 20 miles north of the swimming baths before an evening of various JR434 P/O William Edwin Watkins Cherbourg to 30 miles north of Weymouth. They pleasures. JR496 F/L David George Ross were constantly held by searchlights & intercepted JR330 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF by Mosquitoes & Beaufighters. 15th JR353 F/O Alexander Barr Long-range Operation laid on & cancelled. 8th Weather Recce In the afternoon, F/S Todd had his engine cut out 17th JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC whilst on his downwind leg in the circuit & made a Long-Range Operations cancelled after 8 aircraft JR304 F/S George Williams commendable crash-landing near the perimeter had taken off for Exeter in increasing mist. track receiving only a slight cut on his nose. 5th 18th No.10 Group Ramrod 129 Part 1 Exercise Bulls Eye F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark arrived for Repeat of previous days Operations. Cloud prevented Repeat with 11 aircraft as targets. flying duties from No.609 Sqn to command ‘A’ Flight. dive-bombing. F/L Stark is highly experienced in long-range JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC 9th Typhoon Operations. He has destroyed 5½ enemy JR253 F/S William Anthony Handley F/L David George Ross posted as S/L & CO No.193 aircraft besides a commensurate score against JR251 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper Sqn. This Squadron has now provided all the CO’s of ground targets. JR382 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF the Harrowbeer Wing. W/C Baker DFC* is the W/C JR330 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF Flying & S/L Joe Holmes DFC is OC 266 Sqn. 22nd JR300 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont No.10 Group Rodeo 88 JR129 P/O John Barrie Purkis 10th Kerlin Bastard-Vannes. This Sweep proved to be No.10 Group Rodeo 79 disastrous to the Squadron. Finding 10/10 snow Weather Test/Recce The 1st long-range Operation but no enemy aircraft cloud off the French Coast S/L Warnes abandoned Recce’d to 5-miles south of Querqueville at 8,000 feet. encountered. Crossed the Channel at zero feet the primary task & began a Shipping Recce west of JR129 P/O John Barrie Purkis climbed to 8,000 feet to cross the French Coast (too the Channel Isles. When at zero feet 10 miles west of JR304 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont far west). Dived to zero feet to Carentan then swept Guernsey S/L Warnes said he was going to ditch (not Vire-Rennes-Gael. Long Range tanks were dropped due to enemy action) & was seen to do so. Our other No.10 Group Ramrod 129 Part 2 near Vire. Flak at Gael holed F/S Dunlop’s aircraft & aircraft orbited & obtained a reasonably good fix Dive-bombing of alternative target 9,000-5,000 feet. he was escorted safely to Warmwell. The others from Middle Wallop & Exeter. Only F/L Racine & F/O Somewhat hampered by cloud & results not seen. landed at Beaulieu. Tuff saw the CO apparently swimming towards JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR389 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC something that looked like a dinghy pack. F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF then said he thought the CO tribute to him leaves no more to be said. He was MN432 F/S Denis Charles Todd was hurt & was going to bale out. F/L Racine told regarded & admired, as a friend of all ranks JR432 P/O Harold Medd Proctor him not to, but it seems certain that he did. Visibility throughout No.10 Group. In the hearts of many JR187 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop was not good, but they continued to orbit for 30 intimate friends he leaves a place which cannot JR440 P/O William Whittaker Heaton minutes until they were ordered back to Base. F/O possibly be filled. JR446 F/S William Anthony Handley Robert Charles Hunter was simply not seen or heard MN249 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC of after the CO went in. Extensive Air Sea Rescue JR446 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF 24th searches using every available resource were laid on JR129 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Lister Miller RNZAF arrived for flying & continued, but nothing has been seen of these 3 JR432 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont duties from No.486 Sqn. Officers who are missing in circumstances which give XXXXX F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF little hope. Weather was bitterly cold. F/L Racine JR304 F/O Robert Charles Hunter 27th had difficulties with his petrol feed in changing MN129 P/O Fred Green S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay (Belgium) tanks, & ultimately force landed wheels down at JR307 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF arrived to Command the Squadron. He has a long & Roborough. It is possible that the CO had the same distinguished career of Operational flying both in sort of technical trouble. Our other aircraft landed Air-Sea-Rescue Search France & this country. back at Beaulieu. West of Guernsey. Nothing found. S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC came to JR440 P/O William Whittaker Heaton 28th the Squadron as a P/O in September 1941. He took JR250 F/S Alton James Ryan Exercise ‘Rush’ command of ‘B’ Flight in October 1941 & of the JR382 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Protection of Albermarles & gliders over the coast. Squadron in December 1942. The development of JR446 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark awarded the dive-bombing & the successes obtained by the JR253 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper DFC in recognition of gallant work accomplished Squadron as an Anti-Shipping unit owes much to his JR129 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont with No.609 Sqn. leadership & tactical brilliance. Awarded the DFC MN129 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin early in 1943 & the DSO at the conclusion of his 1st 29th Operational tour in June 1943. After 5 months rest as 23rd It is to be noted that these days & probably the next Ops2 at No.10 Group he returned to the Squadron in Air-Sea-Rescue Search week, are being used for the maximum of flying December 1943 & supervised its re-equipment with West of Guernsey. practice, in order to get all pilots of the Squadron Typhoons & then the Operations of the last 3 weeks. JR129 P/O William Whittaker Heaton operational on Typhoons. The Squadron is not As a leader he was absolutely trusted. F/O Tuff’s JR253 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper therefore used for Offensive Operations.

Needles-Portland. Much shipping seen. 19th MARCH 1944 JR365 F/O William Whittaker Heaton Move to RAF Harrowbeer. 16 Typhoons (out of 18 on MN139 P/O Fred Green charge) flew in 4 boxes of 4, also the Hurricane. 1st RAF Beaulieu 7th 20th S/L Gonay spoke to the assembled Squadron & Scramble Settling in at Harrowbeer. Conditions remarkably No.3055 Echelon. He promised much Operational MN187 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC improved since the Squadron was here a year ago. work in the not too distant future & stressed the MN196 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop security aspect of what would soon be seen & heard. 21st F/L David Frederick Evans & F/L Richard Ulick MN170 P/O Fred Green Shipping Recce Williams arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. MN129 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF Brought to bomber availability for ships in Morlaix F/S John James Morgan arrived for flying duties from Estuary-Goulet de Brest, but weather unsuitable. No.84 GSU. 8th Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan to F/S. Scramble Evening Recce MN250 F/L Alton James Ryan Cherbourg Harbour. Flew over the outer moles at 2nd MN989 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 3,000 feet & surprised the flak but no ships seen. Patrol MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF South of Ringstead to protect calibrating Blenheim. 11th JR389 P/O Fred Green MN136 P/O Harold Medd Proctor 4 sections at Standby & Readiness for Exercise ‘Fox’. MN136 F/O William Whittaker Heaton JR 382 F/S John Thould MN989 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 12th No.10 Group Rodeo 85 At 1500, P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF, in beating- 24th Harrowbeer-Mont St Michel-Rennes-Gael-Cap de up Warmwell, attempted a slow upward roll at low No.10 Group Rodeo 103 Erquy-Guernsey-Beaulieu. The 1st Op with the height. His engine cut when he was inverted & he was Kerlin Bastard-Vannes-Morlaix. Crossed the French Squadron for S/L Gonay & F/L Stark. unable to right his aircraft before he crashed fatally Coast in & out at 10,000 feet, but nothing seen. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay south-west of Knighton Wood. P/O Smith or JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF ‘Smudger’ was a person of quiet voice & genial ways. JR441 F/S William Anthony Handley MN187 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC He was very well liked by all who knew him. JR389 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC JR531 F/O William Whittaker Heaton MN136 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont Exercise Fox 3rd A large-scale amphibious exercise off Slapton Sands. 26th Scramble JR389 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont No.10 Group Rodeo 104 South of the Isle of Wight. Intercepted a Wellington. JR382 F/S John Thould Mont St. Michel-Rennes-Gael-Pleubian.Hoping to JR432 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop catch the Hun airborne early in the morning. F/S JR382 F/O John Barrie Purkis MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF Ryan had engine trouble & F/O Heaton returned MN989 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper with him from east of Rennes. 4th MN990 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Scramble JR389 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR389 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop South of Portland-Needles. JR382 P/O Harold Medd Proctor MN250 F/O William Whittaker Heaton JR432 F/O John Barrie Purkis MN989 F/S Alton James Ryan MN196 P/O Alexander Barr Scramble MN989 P/O Fred Green 31st JR365 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan MN139 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S Sheppard posted. JR253 F/S John Thould 14th No.10 Group Rodeo 109 5th 10 aircraft to Predannack; took off for a Rodeo but Kerlin Bastard-Vannes. F/O Purkis & P/O Green fired Scramble recalled & landed at Warmwell in thick weather. at soldiers & a Barge near Auray & Hennebart. F/O Bogey became friendly. Purkis hit a tree near Loudeac, his throttle jammed JR365 P/O Fred Green 15th at +5 boost & on landing at Harrowbeer he cut his MN129 F/S John Thould Shipping Recce switches too early & made a wheels-up landing. Lezardrieux-Treguieu Estuaries. Fishing vessels. MN136 F/O John Barrie Purkis Enemy turned south after feint from Cherbourg. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay JR446 P/O Fred Green JR389 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin MN139 F/O William Whittaker Heaton MN449 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper MN990 F/O Alexander Barr JR389 P/O Harold Medd Proctor MN250 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan No.10 Group Rodeo 108 MN136 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin Ile de Groix. To catch Ju.88s at Vannes & Kerlin JR382 F/O Alexander Barr 16th Bastard at last light as they approached or left their Shipping Recce Bases to & from the Bay of Biscay. Our aircraft 6th-8th Guernsey-Jersey-St. Malo-Lezardrieux. patrolled near Ile Groix, but poor visibility & dusk RAF Warmwell JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay caused F/L Racine to lead our aircraft at 5,000 feet The Echelon moved to Warmwell where it is a lodged JR253 F/S John Thould over the Lorient flak area. They evaded to seaward, unit upon the USAAF. We have the commodious MN250 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC but F/L Racine went back into the area & was caught dispersals & billets which we occupied for 12 months. MN139 F/S Alton James Ryan in a concentration of flak. The others made their way back & ctively. There is evidence that F/L Racine 6th 17th straggled after them, crossed out near Morlaix & F/O William Lister Miller RNZAF posted to No.486 No.10 Group Rodeo 98 then turned back to the coast where his plot failed. A Sqn. Vire-Fougeres-Rennes-St. Malo-Channel Isles. search next morning found no trace of him. F/L JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF came to the Squadron in Scramble MN990 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin October 1943 & took command of ‘B’ Flight in 20 miles north of Cherbourg. MN120 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF February 1944. We very much hope to hear that he JR389 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR369 ? is safe. JR441 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR531 F/O William Whittaker Heaton JR432 P/O Rober Charles Beaumont JR389 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop

No.10 Group Rodeo 115 10,000 feet to 4,000-2,000 feet were repeated in the APRIL 1944 St. Malo-Gael-Rennes. 7 subsequent Operations & in each, accurate light F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC flak of great intensity was encountered. RAF Harrowbeer F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis 1st F/L David Patrick Murray Bell P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/L Robert Durham Rutter arrived for flying duties F/L David Frederick Evans P/O Fred Green from No.195 Sqn. F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S Jack Donnelly Pringle arrived for flying duties P/O Harold Medd Proctor from No.55 OTU. F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 26th-27th F/S John Charlton 4 dive-bombing attacks on shipping in Morlaix Air Sea Rescue Patrol Estuary. Consistently improving results. The last For F/L Racine off Batz - but he was footing it ashore. 18th Operation through the good observation of P/O P/O Harold Medd Proctor RAF Tangmere Beaumont secured a successful Air Sea Rescue of a F/S John Thould No.10 Group Rodeo 117 Seafire pilot who had baled out during the 2nd of F/S William Anthony Handley The Squadrons 1st Sweep around Paris was them. F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan rewarded with 2 enemy aircraft. F/S Thould destroyed a Me.410 at 5,000 feet near Bretigny 26th 2nd whilst F/L Rutter, F/O Purkis, F/S Handley & P/O Roadstead 88 Evasion Exercise across Tavy Valley profitably Green shared the destruction of a Do.217 near Dive-bombing of 3,500t M/V or Sperrbrecher with 5 enjoyed. Villaroche. Both exploded on hitting the ground. F/S other ships including 2 Destroyers in Morlaix Handley damaged a He.111 at an airfield south-west Estuary. Bombs fell wide. 5th of Paris & F/L Stark DFC, damaged a Tank, trailer & S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Shipping Recce Staff Car. F/L Robert Durham Rutter Aberwra'ch-Lezardrieux. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC P/O Fred Green F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Thould F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Charlton F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S William Anthony Handley Roadstead 90 6th P/O Fred Green Dive-bombing of previous targets with 2 aircraft as F/S Cooper collided with F/L Stark on the F/S John Thould close escort. 2 bombs near miss of the large M/V & Predannack runway & wrote off 2 Typhoons. F/O Heaton continued his dive to cannon it (Cat 3). S/L Gonay to Milfield for Fighter Leaders Course. 21st He also fired at an Island flak post. No.10 Group Rodeo 118 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay 11th Breton airfields. Spoilt by technical failures. Leaders F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Todd returning from Exeter in bad weather, lost compass 20° out & No.2 R/T u/s so returned from F/L Robert Durham Rutter his formation & landed at Roborough, overshot & French Coast. F/L David Frederick Evans pulled up undercarriage. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O Robert Charles Beaumont 12th F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard Marshall of the RAF, Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan visited Harrowbeer. He spoke of his confidence in the W/O Alton James Ryan plan & forces designed for the Invasion of & No.10 Group Rodeo 119 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop recalled the splendid record of No.263 Squadron Cap Carteret-Vire-Rennes-Gael. which he thought would be well enhanced in the next F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC 27th 6 months. F/L Robert Durham Rutter Roadstead 91 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Dive-bombing of previous days targets still in 13th F/S William Anthony Handley Morlaix Estuary. One very near miss of large M/V Shipping Recce (S/L Gonay) with smoke & flame from an ‘M’-Class Channel Islands. Flak from Guernsey & Little Russell The 2 spare aircraft returned as planned. Minesweeper from direct hits (both Cat 4). F/O Strait. P/O Robert Charles Beaumont Heaton scored hits on a flak position. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Clifford Sydney Hames S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Leon Parent RCAF F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O William Whittaker Heaton 25th F/O William Whittaker Heaton P/O Harold Medd Proctor Shipping Recce P/O Robert Charles Beaumont Brehat-Batz. In search of E-Boats in Lezardrieux. F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin Channel Islands. F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S John Thould F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Roadstead 92 F/L David Patrick Murray Bell Dive-bomb of Morlaix ships. 2 very near misses of F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin No.10 Group Rodeo 122 large M/V (S/L Gonay). Smoke & flame from an ‘M’- F/O John Barrie Purkis From Tangmere. Trouville-Chartres-Chatenudum- Class Minesweeper. Seafire escorts consider this was P/O Fred Green Flers-Pointe Perceé. certainly damaged. Both ships claimed (Cat 4). P/O P/O George Albert Wood S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Beaumont who led the 2 aircraft fighter-escort F/S John Thould F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC thought he saw a dinghy on the way to the target but F/S John James Morgan F/L Robert Durham Rutter continued his task. By careful computation & F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin navigation, he found the dinghy 45 miles south of 16th F/S Alton James Ryan Start Point orbited it & obtained a successful ASR of F/L ‘Gerry’ Racine returned after being shot down F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop the Seafire pilot - Lt. Briggs RN - who had baled out near Morlaix on the night of 31st March. Later we during Roadstead 90 the previous day. Previous learnt from him that he had been attacked by a Shipping Recce searches had been too far south. Good work ‘Beau’. Me.410 had then got on its tail & destroyed it but his Brehat-Batz. In search of E-Boats in Lezardrieux. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay controls then jammed & he had to bale out. The rest F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/L Robert Durham Rutter is, or must be, silence but we believe that Gerry had P/O Fred Green F/L Richard Ulick Williams some extremely remarkable adventures. F/O Clifford Sydney Hames F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin ? P/O Robert Charles Beaumont 17th F/O William Whittaker Heaton No.10 Group Rodeo 113 No.10 Group Roadstead 87 W/O Alton James Ryan Crossed in St. Malo 8,000 feet & attempted to sweep Dive-bomb of 3 Destroyers lying in River Rance F/S John Walter Shellard Breton airfields but abandoned owing to 10/10 at between St. Malo & Dinard. Near misses of central F/S Cooper 2,000 feet. Destroyer. P/O Beaumont then cannoned 2 Armed F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC Trawlers (both Cat 3). The AOC No.10 Group F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin congratulated the Squadron on the short time in 28th F/L Robert Durham Rutter which this Operation was organised, planned & Roadstead 93 F/S Alton James Ryan airborne. The tactics of crossing the Channel at 0 feet Elbig Destroyer forced to beach by Naval action in climb to 1,000 feet & dive-bomb with a pair of 500lb Aberwra'ch Estuary. Found another Destroyer with MC bombs fused .025-seconds out of the sun from 7 escorting Armed Trawlers off Pontusval. Our best group of bombs in this series was entirely among the S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay 30th enemy formation & 4 near misses off the Destroyers F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins who baled out near stern should have damaged it. F/O William Whittaker Heaton Rambouillet on 13th February back in London, the S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay P/O Robert Charles Beaumont Squadrons 3rd Evader. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S John Thould Shipping Recce F/O William Whittaker Heaton Lezardrieux-Aberwrach Shipping Lanes & Harbours. F/O Harold Medd Proctor Shipping Recce The shipping of the previous day seems to have P/O Fred Green Batz-Lezardrieux. More ships than have been evaporated. The dive-bombing was carried out with F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop reported at any 1 time in this area within the 2 near misses on the rusty, blackened, waterlogged memory of this Squadron (3 years). Their accurate wreck of the Elbig Destroyer in Aberwrach Estuary. 29th reporting provided good targets for W/C Reg Baker F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC Roadstead 94 DFC who arrived at Harrowbeer with his TAF Wing. F/L David Frederick Evans Wrecked Elbig Destroyer. 2 near misses. F/L Stark F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O William Whittaker Heaton DFC went around again to get a pair of direct hits. A P/O Fred Green W/O Alton James Ryan smoke screen was in action but did not hinder.

of strain in their wings - rivets pulled etc - & R/P was F/O William Whittaker Heaton MAY 1944 removed from the other aircraft pending an F/S William Anthony Handley investigation. RAF Harrowbeer 14th 1st 8th RAF Tangmere F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF, F/O John Alfred No.10 Group Circus 61 No.10 Group Rodeo 135 Hodgson & F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Dinard-Plourtait airfield & Shipping Recce. Flak Around Paris. Uneventful, except for the damaging of arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. surprised & did not fire. 2 pilots strafed a flak post on 2-3 Barges on the Seine & near Compiegne. a hulk in the Rance Estuary. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay 2nd S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Harold Medd Proctor No.10 Group Roadstead 101 F/S John James Morgan F/L Robert Durham Rutter Shipping in Lezardrieux Estuary. 7 small ships & 3 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Patrick Murray Bell M/V 2,000-tons dive-bombed from out of the sun. F/L Richard Ulick Williams P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O Heaton’s camera gun film shows cannon F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan damage to 1 M/V & an M-Class Minesweeper. The F/O William Whittaker Heaton standard approach used for all dive-bombing F/O Clifford Sydney Hames 15th Operations during the month - Rendezvous with the P/O Robert Charles Beaumont P/O Robert Charles Beaumont posted to RAF Spitfire escort at Bolt Head or Predannack; Cross the F/O John Barrie Purkis Harrowbeer en-route to marriage & some Non- Channel at sea-level; Rapid climb to 10,000 feet 20 Operational flying after a gallant & successful Tour miles off French Coast; Dive-bombing of targets from Shipping Recce of Ops. We hope to have him back with us soon. 10,000-3,000 feet out of sun, or from astern of ships; Concentrations of shipping in Morlaix & Aberwrach Orbit offshore at 3,000 feet for reform & return to Estuaries. No.10 Group Roadstead 107 Base. 16 Offensive Operations involving 120 sorties F/O John Barrie Purkis Dive-bombing of ships in Aberwrach. Poor results. were flown in the course of which considerable P/O George Albert Wood F/L Robert Durham Rutter damage was done to enemy shipping. A great F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O Fred Green improvement in the accuracy of dive bombing which F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin has been made as a result of constant practice, has F/O William Whittaker Heaton been noticeable. 10th F/O John Barrie Purkis Exercise Driver F/O Harold Medd Proctor S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay With HMS Glasgow & Plymouth guns. F/S John James Morgan F/O Fred Green F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O William Whittaker Heaton Patrol F/O Harold Medd Proctor The Lizard-Start Point at 10,000 feet. 18th F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Peter Frederick Cooper Our normal state has now been established at the P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Walter Shellard aristocratic state we enjoyed with Whirlibombers. 8 F/O John Barrie Purkis aircraft & pilots at 60 minutes availability for bombs No.10 Group Roadstead 102 Part 1 F/L David Patrick Murray Bell or R/P. Abandoned due to 10/10 cloud. P/O Robert Charles Beaumont S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S John Charlton 19th F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Leon Parent RCAF F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers, who has flown F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Whirlwinds with No.137 Sqn, arrived for flying F/S Denis Charles Todd duties from No.198 Sqn. W/O Alton James Ryan The Lizard-Bolt Head. Pilots & the IO to Mountbatten. Pleasant & useful F/S John James Morgan F/S John Thould cruise in pinnace around Plymouth Harbour & F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John James Morgan Devonport for ship recognition. F/L David Patrick Murray Bell The Lizard-Bolt Head. Patrol No.10 Group Roadstead 102 Part 2 P/O George Albert Wood Predannack-Start Point-Predannack. Beached Elbig Destroyer off Kerlouak. PRU of target F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin confirms our observations & claims - 4 near misses & F/O Leon Parent RCAF 1 direct hit amidships. Dusk Patrol S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay The Lizard-Bolt Head. Predannack-Start Point-Harrowbeer. F/O William Whittaker Heaton S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Clifford Sydney Hames F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/S William Anthony Handley F/S William Anthony Handley Start Point-Lizard. Dusk landing. F/O Clifford Sydney Hames Scramble F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Denis Charles Todd Mid-Channel for Dinard-Alderney plots. F/O Leon Parent RCAF F/S John James Morgan F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Start Point-Lizard. Dusk landing. Patrol F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Start Point-Lizard at 6,000 feet. 11th P/O George Albert Wood P/O Robert Charles Beaumont Exercise Driver F/O Fred Green With HMS Glasgow & Plymouth guns. 20th Patrol 3rd 12th Start Point-Lizard. Dusk landing. PRU has at last established that there are 2 beached No.10 Group Roadstead 105 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC ships opposite 1 in Aberwrach & the Destroyer near St. Malo. 1 pair of direct hits on a medium M/V. F/S William Anthony Handley Kerlouan. Damage to Harbour installations & Town. P/O John Barrie Purkis 21st 4th-5th F/O Clifford Sydney Hames No.10 Group Roadstead 110 AOC No.10 Group AVM Steele visited & met the pilots F/O Leon Parent RCAF For reasons not disclosed, it was necessary to at dispersal. He did not mention the 2nd Front. P/O George Albert Wood prevent a convoy of 8 ‘M’-Class Minesweepers, which F/S John Walter Shellard were leaving St. Malo, from continuing their Patrol F/S Denis Charles Todd Operation & since there was cloud at 2,000 feet this Start Point-Lizard at 6,000 feet. F/S John Thould strike was laid on at low-level. The convoy was met F/O Harold Medd Proctor head on 10 miles north-west of Cap Frehel & after F/L Richard Ulick Williams No.10 Group Roadstead 106 very good anti-flak attacks by No.610 Sqn which left CO’s aircraft u/s ½-way across but his whole section 1 ship on fire, our aircraft cannoned & bombed from Start Point-Lizard at 6,000 feet. of 4 returned to Base with him. F/L Rutter led the mast height. Results difficult to observe but 1 ship P/O George Albert Wood other 4 & personally scored direct hits on the M/V claimed Cat 3 by F/O Proctor. The ships were F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan M.65, a Ship of 1,564-tons (Cat 3) deterred from their proposed Operation. F/L David S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Patrick Murray Bell who has been Supernumerary 6th F/L Robert Durham Rutter for 3 months is missing in not very hopeful S/L Gonay, F/O Heaton & F/S Thould (who have F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin circumstances. ‘Tinkle’ Bell was very well liked by us practised at SLAIS, Milfield) demonstrated R/P F/L Richard Ulick Williams all. He was one of those who had served steadily & against tanks at Bolt Head. Unfortunately, the F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop well in Training Command without ever loosing Typhoons which demonstrated showed marked signs F/S Peter Frederick Cooper sight of his ambition to fly on Operations. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay No.10 Group Roadstead 113 30th W/O Alton James Ryan Lezardrieux Estuary. Cloud at 6,000 feet prevented a No.10 Group Roadstead 116 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC proper dive & bombs undershot or went wide. Approaches to Brest. Found a 3,500-ton M/V off the F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Robert Durham Rutter Goulet towed by a Tug. Dive-bombing secured the F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC neatest results to date. 12 bombs (500lb MC .025) F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor near the stern of the ship, 1 direct hit & another F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin produced debris. Believed sunk. F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC RAF Predannack F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O William Whittaker Heaton 23rd W/O Alton James Ryan F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor The Squadron has completed 60 Offensive F/L David Frederick Evans Operations & 354 Offensive sorties with Typhoon 28th F/S John Thould aircraft (since 2nd February 1944). While taking off, F/S Jack Donnelly Pringle hit the F/S John Walter Shellard top of Yelverton Church & crashed fatally. ‘Paddy’ F/S John James Morgan No.10 Group Roadstead 111 was a keen & able pilot & an excellent friend. 3 Minesweepers & 2 Destroyers off St. Mathew Point. No.10 Group Roadstead 117 Direct hit on 1 of the Destroyers, Cat 3. Armed Shipping Recce South of Ushant. Repeat of the morning Operation. 5 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Brehat-Aber Wrach. Nothing seen so dive-bombed 6 Trawler Type Auxiliary & a Barge attacked. F/L Robert Durham Rutter Barges in Aberwrach with poor results. Bombing poor, due to an early dive. F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S John Thould F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S John James Morgan F/O Fred Green W/O Alton James Ryan F/S John Walter Shellard F/S John Thould No.10 Group Roadstead 112 F/S Denis Charles Todd 31st Lezardrieux Estuary. Dive-bomb of 3,000-tons & F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/L Eugene Charles Owens who has been the 1,000-tons M/Vs in Lezardrieux. Both Cat 4. Adjutant since November 1941, was posted as S/L to F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC 29th Predannack. ‘Bish’ always seemed to be the F/L Robert Durham Rutter Squadron party in the NAFFI. Beer drinking & immemorial figurehead of the Squadron. Despite his F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers dancing enjoyed by all. F/O Sandy Barr, the Master years, which trebled those of most members of the F/O John Barrie Purkis of Ceremonies, achieved perfect timing in an Squadron, he was an excellent companion & F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor unrehearsed act. He concluded a display of inimitable raconteur. It goes without saying that he F/S William Anthony Handley aerobatics on a crossbar by falling head 1st into a was an adept, able to penetrate & control all the F/S John Walter Shellard brimming fire bucket. mysteries of the Squadrons ‘bumph’. As a man of the F/S Denis Charles Todd law & an inveterate weigher up of sporting chances he was particularly helpful to anyone involved in any sort of sticky or delicate situation. He will be greatly missed by us all & we wish him the best of luck. F/O Clifford Sydney Hames posted

No.10 Group Roadstead 127 P/O Peter Frederick Cooper JUNE 1944 A 1st light Recce by No.41 Sqn reported a F/S William Anthony Handley concentration of enemy shipping in St. Peter Port & F/O Fred Green RAF Harrowbeer 5 M-Class Minesweepers steaming towards St. Malo. F/O William Whittaker Heaton 1st 8 aircraft (500lb MC .025) found a ship, identified by F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF, F/O John Francis F/L Rutter as a 1500-ton M/V but thought by F/O F/S John Walter Shellard Reilly RCAF, F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Heaton to be a 2-funnel Torpedo boat in the River F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Woodward RCAF & P/O Frederick Stanley LeGear Rance. Dive-bombed from 9,000-3,000 feet in 60° RCAFarrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. dive. 8 bombs exploded within 70 yards of the Ship. 1 9th R/P firing at Ham Stone. probably close enough to have done some damage. F/O William James Windelar RCAF arrived for flying W/O Ryan shot up a light flak post on the west side duties from No.84 GSU. 2nd of the estuary mouth & F/O Heaton an island flak A day of flaps. 1st for Dol Marshalling Yards, then for post in the estuary. Both saw a good concentration Close Army Support Goulet U-Boats but both evaporated. of strikes. Gun positions near St.Lo. Our aircraft were believed F/L Robert Durham Rutter to be the 1st over the Hun lines but impossible to get 3rd P/O Peter Frederick Cooper through 10/10 cloud at 100 feet at French Coast. R/P firing at Ham Stone. F/O William Whittaker Heaton S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S John Charlton F/S Denis Charles Todd 4th F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop R/P practice in poor weather. Somebody is in a hurry F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John James Morgan for something? W/O Alton James Ryan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S John Walter Shellard F/O John Alfred Hodgson 5th F/L David Frederick Evans Cloud too low for R/P. Those who did fly to Bolt Head No.10 Group Roadstead 129 F/O John Barrie Purkis saw a noble pride of Warships steaming slowly east Shipping in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Briefed to avoid & F/L Stark DFC, who visited Manston to collect R/P damage to St. Peter Port town, they approached Close Army Support spares, was lucky enough to have to fly below cloud from the south over St. Martin Point at 8,000 feet & Gun positions near St.Lo. F/O Heaton last seen along the south coast & thus to see “so many ships in fired 56 R/P (60lb HE) in ripples & salvoes in a 30° climbing & turning in cloud & F/O Bill Heaton is the Solent you could walk from the Isle of Wight to dive to 3,000 feet. All burst in target area but missing in circumstances which offer nothing but Southampton across their decks.” produced so much smoke results not seen. 2 aircraft guesswork. We hope to see him again, but.... returned early - oil leak, & a seagull in the radiator. F/L Robert Durham Rutter 6th S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S John Charlton After a midnight flap for 12 aircraft, 8 flew a Goulet F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Fred Green Recce in duff weather & returned to find it is ‘D-Day’. F/L David Frederick Evans P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Thus, what had been demanded for 3 years, expected F/S John James Morgan F/O William Whittaker Heaton for 2 years & hourly awaited for 3 months arrived F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor more or less unheralded in No.10 Group while the F/O Harold Medd Proctor W/O Alton James Ryan Squadron was doing an Armed Shipping Recce, & F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S William Anthony Handley continued while we did R/P practice at Bolt Head - & F/S Denis Charles Todd bound in the dispersal. However, as so often, things Close Army Support were far better than they seemed & the next hours & No.10 Group Roadstead 128 Gun positions near St. Lo. Recalled 5-miles from days were very much our busiest since Norway. That Ship near Sark. Not found in thick cloud. target. Section landed at Hurn & Tangmere. evening saw the Squadrons 1st R/P Operation, a S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Robert Durham Rutter damaging attack on a 500-ton M/V off Granville, & F/O Fred Green F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan the start of 121 Offensive sorties in 5 days. F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S John James Morgan F/O Fred Green Armed Shipping Recce F/O Harold Medd Proctor P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Harrowbeer-Batz-Ushant-Predannack. F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O John Thould S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/S Denis Charles Todd 10th F/O John Barrie Purkis 40 Offensive sorties & 51 Operational hours most F/S John James Morgan No.10 Group Roadstead 128 certainly an all time Squadron record for 1 day. F/L Robert Durham Rutter Ship near Sark. Not found so dive-bombed a 1,200- F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop ton M/V alongside the north side of the Basin No.10 Group Roadstead 133 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Duguay Trouin & a 1,000-ton M/V in the Bassin Channel Islands-St. Malo. Escorted by 8 Spitfire XIVs W/O Ryan Interieur in St. Malo. 4 very near misses. F/O Leon of No.610 Sqn. They climbed to 8,000 feet in the Parent RCAF was seen to bale out at 2,000 feet a few Channel Islands area & flew down the west coast of Armed Shipping Recce seconds after bombing. He was fired at while Jersey. 3 ‘M’-Class Minesweepers seen off Noirmont Channel Isles-Granville. Led by S/L Gonay & escorted airborne in his chute but was last seen alive & Point approaching St. Helier in line astern. The by Spitfires of No.610 Sqn, the only target found was kicking in the sea 500 yards north of St. Malo old Typhoons turned to port & fired their rockets (60lb a 400-ton M/V of the central-island type, described town. We much hope to see Joe again - but the Huns HE Inst.) in ripples & salvoes in 7,000-2,000 feet as having an unusual number of portholes for so shooting at him in his parachute will not be dives. All 3 ships received direct hits. F/L Stark DFC small a ship ‘like the ship which ferries between forgotten. attacked the rearmost ship but was hampered by a Lymington & the Isle of Wight.’ It was lying 3 cables F/O Leon Parent RCAF patch of cloud & only had time to ripple 2 rockets south-west of Gravelines. The Typhoons attacked in F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers from 1,000 feet. These hit the starboard bow, 2 sections from 8,000-3,000 feet in 45-30° dives. All F/L Robert Durham Rutter confirmed by No.610 leader orbiting at 4,000 feet. R/P (60lb HE Inst.) in target area. Many near misses F/S William Anthony Handley The other 2 ships were hit by salvoes & black smoke caused the ship to be enveloped in smoke. F/O Green, F/O William Whittaker Heaton came from each, again confirmed by No.610 Sqn. No.4 in the 1st section, saw his salvo enter the port W/O Alton James Ryan S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay side of the ship & No.610 Sqn orbiting at 9,000 feet F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC also saw direct hits from 1 salvo. Black smoke was F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop seen to emanate from the ship which is claimed Cat P/O John Thould 3 damaged. 8th F/L David Frederick Evans S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay Despite yesterdays activity all 19 aircraft on charge F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC to the Squadron were serviceable by 1000 hours. F/L F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/L David Frederick Evans Wannop & the ground crews of No.6263 (ex- F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/S Peter Frederick No.3055) & of the Squadron had worked all night on F/L Robert Durham Rutter them, as they did not infrequently. No.10 Group Roadstead 134 F/O John Barrie Purkis Rouge Nez Radar, Jersey pranged by 8 R/P (60lb). F/O John Alfred Hodgson No.10 Group Roadstead 130 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Fred Green Shipping in St. Malo Harbour. A Recce by No.41 Sqn F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC reported a 2,000-ton motor vessel in the Bassin F/L Richard Ulick Williams 7th Interieur, St. Malo. Accordingly, 6 Tybombers went F/O John Barrie Purkis A ‘double’ Squadron of 8 Typhoon bombers & 8 to attack it but found only the 1,000-ton M/V which F/L David Frederick Evans Typhoon R/P (60lb HE) was created; a state which had been attacked the previous day. 8 bombs seen to F/S John James Morgan was “phenomenally maintained” (the AOC’s words). be within 50 yards of the ship, 1 a close near miss to P/O John Thould Thus ‘2 Squadron’ Operations possible, either 2 starboard which is thought likely to have damaged W/O Alton James Ryan waves with the same objective or different targets. it, another a near miss to port. No.10 Group Roadstead 135 F/O Fred Green R/P (60lb) fired in the presumed position of a 500- F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan ton U-Boat. Strikes also seen on 1-2 small F/O Harold Medd Proctor unidentified ships between 400 & 1,200-tons in the F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC north-east basin. Intense flak damaged 3 Typhoons. F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/L Stark flew back from St. Peter Port with several F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O John Thould control wires cut by flak & others shredded whilst F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John James Morgan W/O Ryan’s petrol system ‘fell to pieces’ when he F/S John Walter Shellard F/L David Frederick Evans landed. F/S John Charlton F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S John Charlton No.10 Group Ramrod 136 W/O Alton James Ryan F/S William Anthony Handley Yffiniac bridge. Abandoned in 10/10 cloud. W/O Alton James Ryan S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John Charlton F/S John Walter Shellard F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Fred Green F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S William Anthony Handley F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O Harold Medd Proctor 15th P/O John Thould F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Robert Durham Rutter, ‘B’ Flight Commander promoted to Command the Squadron. F/L Robert Durham Rutter 13th At 1220 hours F/O William James Windelar RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard At 1500 hours the Bomber Command of the crashed fatally near Launceston. It is believed that F/O Fred Green Squadron was released & (perhaps only for the time he had engine trouble & attempted a forced landing. F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan being) wound up. Groundcrews set to work to F/O Harold Medd Proctor convert all of them to R/P. No.10 Group Roadstead 142 F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor U-Boat in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Attacked in P/O Peter Frederick Cooper 14th standard dive the presumed position of the U-Boat F/S William Anthony Handley Shipping Recce indicated above. Hampered by a wisp of cloud at St. Helier-Granville-St. Malo. Escorted by 8 Spitfire 1,500 feet, the results were hard to see, but all R/P 11th XIVs of No.610 Sqn at 8,000 feet. As our aircraft were (60lb) in the target area & hits were seen on the Weather clamp. Everyone got up as usual at 0345 leaving St. Malo, which was partly obscured by 3/10 Mole. Flak damaged its 3rd Typhoon Cat B. but went back to bed & slept till lunchtime (except cloud at 1,000 feet, shipping was sighted below. They F/L Robert Durham Rutter the CO, F/L Wannop & all groundcrews). Much work orbited to port, rousing the rather dormant flak & F/S John Walter Shellard was done on aircraft, but there was no need to re- attacked a large Schooner. Thought to have 3 masts F/S William Anthony Handley establish serviceability. We had it already. & to be of 800-tons or more. Diving from 8,000-2,500 F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor feet, they fired 48 R/P (60lb) & saw at least 3 explode F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC 12th amidships leaving it smoking heavily. 1 pilot fired 8 F/O John Alfred Hodgson Soon after 1st light the Bomber Command dive- R/P at 6 Barges moored 2 cables north-west of the F/O John Barrie Purkis bombed 4 TAAs off Jersey. Then 32 sorties in which Schooner & saw explosions among them. After F/L David Frederick Evans 128 (60lb HE) R/P & 32 (500lb MC .025) were hurled reforming & setting course for Base, they saw a TTA into the railway viaduct south of Yffiniac. Excellent towing a Barge. They attacked in echelon with 1207 16th concentration, but it is a bloody awful target. x 20mm HEI & SAPI. Good concentration of strikes on Secret sources indicate that the attacks in St. Peter the Trawler & consider that considerable damage Port damaged a 500-ton U-Boat & sank a Trawler No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce was done to it. 1 pilot attacked the Barge with 94 Type Auxiliary. We were told that the Squadrons job 4 TTAs bombed in St. Aubin Bay – no claims. rounds & saw strikes. of harrying the ships between Cherbourg & Brest is F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Robert Durham Rutter of great importance to the Normandy Beach Head, F/S John James Morgan F/O Harold Medd Proctor since our parachute troops have succeeded in F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan destroying nearly all road & rail communications F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S William Anthony Handley between Cotentin & North-west France. P/O John Thould F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John Walter Shellard Letter from the C-in-C AOC ADGB AM Sir Roderic Hill F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor was received today, alas not by S/L Gonay. ‘Please W/O Alton James Ryan F/S John Charlton accept my congratulations in the fine work you & your Squadron did yesterday & last Saturday. Your No.10 Group Ramrod 137 Armed Shipping Recce attacks have been splendid & show both skill & Yffiniac viaduct over the Brest-Rennes railway. The 3 TTAs in line astern off the south coast of Jersey. The magnificent spirit. If you would convey my Squadron twice put up 8 Typhoons R/P & 8 leading ship was entering St. Helier harbour while appreciation to your pilots. Bombphoons simultaneously (32 sorties). Bombing the 3rd ship was still off Corbière Point. The last 2 & R/P concentration excellent in the 1st attack (a ships were attacked out of the sun in starboard 17th 500lb crater & 3 60lb R/P craters) & good in the 2nd. fashion. S/L Gonay’s salvo of 8 R/P were direct hits Shipping Recce However, the girder construction mentioned in the amidships in the rearmost ship, which was left St. Malo. The 975-ton L.97 M/V Passenger Packet target information (but not visible in the only burning, stopped & drifting in a spreading oil patch sunk & a TLC was seen sinking by the escort. photograph available, a vertical) was never with much black smoke. The middle ship turned S/L Robert Durham Rutter identified & the railway line appeared to be carried towards it. All other R/P undershot or went wide. S/L F/O John Barrie Purkis across a ‘dried up river bed’ (which was very clearly Gonay then called, “I’ve had it boys, I’m going to F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM pinpointed by its position 2,000 yards south-west of crash land” & he was seen to make a rather fast but F/S William Anthony Handley the Yffiniac bite), on a continuous embankment of apparently controlled crash-landing in the north- F/O Harold Medd Proctor masonry with small drainage arches at its base. The east of Jersey. His aircraft began to burn about 2- F/S Denis Charles Todd target was thought to be an unsatisfactory one. seconds after the crash. It is hoped that he may F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Observation of results by W/C Bird-Wilson & 610 Sqn possibly have got free of it. The loss of S/L Henry F/L David Frederick Evans Spitfire XIV close escort. It should be added that 64 Alphonse Clement Gonay is a sad blow. Arriving 3 R/P create a dusty mess of ‘smoke & corruption.’ months ago, & never before flown a Typhoon, he very Shipping Recce F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC quickly proved himself master of every situation. As Shipping in St. Malo harbour & in the entrance to F/S Denis Charles Todd a leader he was absolutely trusted; admired & loved River Rance. 64 R/P (25lb). 1 section attacked a F/L Richard Ulick Williams as a friend. 1,600-ton M/V, direct hits amidships. The other P/O John Thould S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay section attacked 2 TLC in the entrance to the River F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O John Thould Rance. Direct hits on 1 & a pilot of No.610 Sqn saw 1 F/S John James Morgan F/L David Frederick Evans of them sinking, with bows awash. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Alfred Hodgson S/L Robert Durham Rutter W/O Alton James Ryan F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Denis Charles Todd P/O John Thould S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S John Charlton F/S John Walter Shellard F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor No.10 Group Roadstead 140 F/S John Walter Shellard F/L Robert Durham Rutter U-Boat in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. The Squadrons 1st F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O Peter Frederick Cooper such attack (& prang too we believe) of a U-Boat. 64 F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Alfred Hodgson quest of supposed intention of the Hun to evacuate F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM troops (but more especially technicians & other High F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Ups) from Cherbourg by sea. If he ever did, this F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Squadron did not catch him. The burning of F/S John Charlton 18th Cherbourg was an awful sight, producing a pall of P/O John Thould Afternoon flap for an immediate move to Bolt Head - black smoke cloud visible for miles to seaward. W/O Alton James Ryan all 10 Group Squadrons are being re-sorted mainly S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan to release advanced marques of Spitfires for Anti- F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC Diver activities in ‘Southern England.’ Note: - The F/O John Barrie Purkis 24th Huns have sunk the old Whirlwind target ship F/O John Alfred Hodgson Roadstead 146 Solmglint, Whale Oil Ship, 10,000-tons as a Blockship F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop St. Malo. A Recce by No.126 Sqn reported a in Cherbourg. She has not left port for 3 years - but F/S John Walter Shellard remarkable concentration of ships in Basin Bouret she won’t lie quiet for long now. W/O Alton James Ryan St. Malo. M.70 M/V 270 feet 1,500-tons (ship 1); M.65 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan M/V 200 feet 1,590-tons (ship 2); Sailing Schooner No.10 Group Shipping Recce 200 feet 800-tons (ship 3); M/V 200 feet (ship 4) & Channel Islands-St. Malo. 2 M-Class Minesweepers & 21st M.69 Huxter Hospital ship 1,000-tons (ship 5). 2 TLC off Jersey Corbiere Point attacked with 64 R/P Shipping Recce (60lb & 25lb). No results seen. Intense flak. Cherbourg. Abandoned due to weather. 1st attack S/L Robert Durham Rutter S/L Robert Durham Rutter 8 60lb salvo (S/L Rutter) hit Ship 1 amidships. W/O F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Barrie Purkis Alton James Ryan RCAF was the last to attack & was F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM simply not seen or heard of after. A black smoke F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Harold Medd Proctor cloud rising from south-east of the basins may F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John Walter Shellard possibly point to his fate. F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S William Anthony Handley S/L Robert Durham Rutter W/O Alton James Ryan F/O Allan Somerville Proctor F/S John James Morgan F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Charlton No.10 Group Ramrod F/S William Anthony Handley Shipping Strike Cherbourg. Abandoned due to weather. W/O Alton James Ryan Channel Islands. Same 8 Typhoons returned to S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis harass the convoy attacked 2 hours earlier. Found it F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Denis Charles Todd off the west coast of Jersey, heading towards St. F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Helier. It now consisted of a TLC & a TTA close F/O Allan Somerville Proctor alongside each other in the centre surrounded & F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 2nd attack proceeded by 5 TTAs & followed by a 2,000-ton F/S Denis Charles Todd St. Malo. The same ships disposed as above. This time escort vessel, thought to be a small Sperrbrecher. 2 F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM salvoes were seen to enter Ships 1,2 & 3. The last, the minutes after the attack Spitfires of No.610 Sqn, F/S John Walter Shellard Schooner, which was claimed damaged by this close escort, observed that the 2,000-ton escort Squadron on 14th June, was now seen to have its vessel was smoking heavily with an oil patch 22nd central mast broken off & hanging awry & was on developing around it. An oil patch also surrounded The evening & night were enlivened by a most fire. More by luck than management, damaged the the TLC. remarkable flow of contradictory orders. It is Huxton Hospital Ship. F/S John Charlton made a S/L Robert Durham Rutter believed that these originated from very high up & good R/P attack, his R/P striking the side of the mole F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin were caused by contradictory reports from different to the left of Ship 1. Then his aircraft rolled twice & F/O Harold Medd Proctor sources about what the Hun was doing or was going dived into the sea north of St. Malo old town. S/L F/O Allan Somerville Proctor to do in Cherbourg - but all evaporated. Rutter’s aircraft was hit by 37mm flak in the port F/S Denis Charles Todd mainplane. 2 other aircraft also hit by flak. F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan No.10 Group Ramrod 142 S/L Robert Durham Rutter W/O Alton James Ryan Radar at Ploumanack. A great success. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S William Anthony Handley S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John Charlton F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson 19th P/O John Thould F/O Fred Green Aircraft moved to Bolt Head. The rest of the F/S Denis Charles Todd P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Squadron & No.6263 Echelon followed at intervals F/O Fred Green F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM during the next 4 days, in an insufficient number of F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/S John Walter Shellard M/T vehicles which regularly broke down - & then it F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin was too windy to erect tents for those of No.6263 for F/S John James Morgan 26th whom no other billets were available. Bolt Head has W/C Reggie Baker DFC & S/L Dave Ross DFC are often been visited by the Squadron as a forward 23rd both missing believed killed in TAF in France. Base. As a permanent Base it suffices from its No.10 Group Ramrod 144 establishment as an & its Radar at Peugarnam. The Wurtzburg apparatus 27th actual use as a 2 Squadron Station (No.263 with ½ was damaged by F/L Stark. F/S Dunlop had some Recce of No.406 & ½ of No.276) & also as an ALG for the light flak in oil system which brought him down 60 St. Ivy College, Pontry. departure & arrival of many Operations by other miles off the French Coast & 35-miles from Bolt Head. S/L Robert Durham Rutter Squadrons for which, as a further point of fact, the He took 2 minutes to get into his dinghy where he F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC day fighter Squadron has to provide re-fuelling. But had to wait 30 minutes for a Walrus. “Dauntless these things sort themselves out. As a Base from Dunlop” is the 1st pilot of No.263 Squadron to be No.10 Group Ramrod 146 which this Squadron can conveniently get at the rescued by ASR which was smartly done. Camouflaged building (telephone exchange for enemy between Cherbourg & Brest at sea or inland, S/L Robert Durham Rutter Paris) in the St. Ivy College courtyard. 1st time with 4 it could not be bettered. And from the Offensive point F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC R/P & 2 Long-Range Tanks (combination suggested of view, the Mess at the Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin by F/L Stark), used in No.10 Group. with its attendant mess pleasures is a remarkably F/S John James Morgan S/L Robert Durham Rutter good thing. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O John Alfred Hodgson 20th F/O Fred Green F/O Fred Green No.10 Group Ramrod F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Radar at Ploumanach. All R/P in target area but hut, No.10 Group Ramrod 145 P/O John Thould radar aerial & base apparatus not hit. Radar at Lannion. Thoroughly pranged. S/L Robert Durham Rutter S/L Robert Durham Rutter No.10 Group Ramrod 146 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Barrie Purkis Long-Range Tanks fitted too tight, wouldn’t drop off. F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Fred Green F/L David Frederick Evans F/S William Anthony Handley F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O John Thould P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O John Thould

No.10 Group Shipping Recce Shipping Recce 30th Alderney-Cap de la Hague-Cap Levy-Ludden. This Only smoke from the destruction of Cherbourg. F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers posted. was the 1st of many Recces & continuous flaps in F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Denis Charles Todd 11th JULY 1944 F/S William Anthony Handley RAF Hurn F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 1st 6th appointed P/O. F/O William James Fowler RCAF & F/O Malcolm No.10 Group Ramrod 152 No.20 Sector of No.84 Group & No.136 Airfield are in Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF, F/O William Gordon Despite the change of name, this Op was for the same a state of being reorganised. Kemp RCAF & W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF target, the oil dump in the Bois de Maulanay. R/P arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. burst on huts, no results. 12th S/L Robert Durham Rutter Joined No.136 Airfield TAF. Personnel introduced to 2nd F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/C Dring DFC (W/C Flying) & several ALO’s, one of P/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF to F/O. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF whom gave a lecture, after which the Squadron P/O Peter Frederick Cooper carried out some practice R/P firing. 3rd P/O George Albert Wood 13th No.10 Group Ramrod 151 F/S William Anthony Handley F/L Richard Ulick Williams posted to No.183 Sqn. Murde Bretagne Transformer Station. R/P hits on F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/L Edward William Foott Hewett AFC DFM arrived buildings & the electrical complex produced a bright F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan for flying duties from No.164 Sqn to Command ‘B’ flash. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark hit by flak Flight. & streamed glycol. After a few typically ‘Pinkian’ 7th words of R/T talk, he baled out & waved to P/O No.10 Group Roadstead 148 15th Thould from a field near Kerpert. His loss would be a Convoy north of Lanneur. A TTA & 2 small ships P/O William Edwin Watkins arrived from Typhoon serious blow if we did not hope to see him again. attacked after a too steep a dive. No claims. refresher course. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Visited stores for field service kit e.g. Camp kit etc. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis 17th F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/L John Barrie Purkis appointed ‘A’ Flight F/O Fred Green P/O Green Commander. P/O John Thould F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM to F/L. F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 18th Welcome news, the return of F/L Stark from enemy 4th No.10 Group Roadstead 149 territory in 16 days (record for Squadron). The AOC No.10 Group AVM Steele DSO DFC visited & The Squadrons last Operation in No.10 Group. F/O Ralph Arthur Bowden Stephens arrived as congratulated the Squadron on the accuracy of their Returned to attack the Convoy near Lanneur. F/O Adjutant. attacks. Also, AM Conningham & AM Sir Roderic Hill John Alfred Hodgson’s R/P hit the bridge, but he did had commented at a conference on the excellence of not recover from his dive & hit the sea in what might 23rd this Squadrons attacks. These remarkable have been an attempted ditching. It bounced 4 times RAF Eastchurch strawberries were received by the Squadron with than disappeared. Move to RAF Eastchurch for a course in R/P firing. pleasure but with certain diffidence. “Well....Well” as F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin The range is still occupied by No.183 Sqn & will not F/L ‘Pinkie’ Stark would say if he could hear them. F/L David Frederick Evans be available until Wednesday, so 2 days occupied in F/O John Barrie Purkis resting. No.10 Group Rhubarb 304 F/O John Alfred Hodgson Oil dump in the Bois de Maulanay. F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF 26th S/L Robert Durham Rutter P/O John Thould Lectures & start of R/P course in the afternoon with F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Denis Charles Todd 30° dives. F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S John James Morgan F/O Fred Green 27th F/O John Alfred Hodgson 8th Everyone gets in 2-3 trips of mostly low-level & 15° P/O John Thould Squadron to move to Hurn & 2nd TAF on 10th. It is the attacks. Rather more difficult than 30° dives. F/S Denis Charles Todd 1st time it has been posted away from No.10 Group F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan since it arrived at Exeter on 29th November 1940. 28th F/O Fowler overshoots but gets away with slight 5th 9th damage to aircraft. No.10 Group Rhubarb 306 Packing & Picking for move - the latter because Oil dump in the Bois de Maulanay. No.6263 Echelon must be reduced to TAF strength. 29th S/L Robert Durham Rutter Signal received announcing award of DFC to S/L F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin 10th Rutter, F/L Purkis & F/O Harold Proctor. A very good F/O John Barrie Purkis Squadron move by air (3 Dakotas) & rail to Hurn. day indeed for the Squadron. F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Fred Green 31st P/O John Thould F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark Rested

S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S William Anthony Handley AUGUST 1944 F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC Wing Attack RAF Eastchurch F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Radar station at Beauvais. Wing attack - Nos.193, 1st F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF 197 & 266 Sqns. No.263 were the 2nd Squadron in & The Squadron officially celebrates the award of the F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF all R/P in target area. Direct hits on main building. DFC to S/L Rutter, F/L Purkis & F/O Proctor. F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L John Norman Payne Arkle 6th F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle arrived for flying Armed Recce P/O John Thould duties as Supernumerary from No.84 GSU. Falaise-Villy. 2 M/T flamers & 2 probables. F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Move to France to join No.146 Airfield at B.3 in S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S Denis Charles Todd Normandy. Day spent settling in & making us as F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/S John James Morgan comfortable as living under canvas will permit. F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 7th P/O Peter Frederick Cooper 12th B.3, Normandy, France P/O William Edwin Watkins Armed Recce 1st Operation from France, in fact the 1st Operation P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Marteaux-Crevecocur. 2 M/T damaged, Armoured after a lapse of 1 month almost to the day. Rather W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF troop carrier destroyed; 1 lorry flamer. F/S Todd hit different to the type of Operation than in ADGB, but by flak but returned OK. the last few weeks practice have not been wasted. Close Army Support S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Tanks & M/T in Rouvres village. All R/P in target F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Close Army Support area. Large fire, smoke & a big explosion. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Defence Post. All R/P in target area, plenty of smoke. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O Alexander Barr S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L David Frederick Evans P/O John Thould F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/S John James Morgan F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd P/O John Thould P/O John Thould P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 1 tank transporter, 1 large lorry with trailer & 3 M/T F/S Denis Charles Todd damaged. Intense flak north of Falaise. 1 aircraft Tanks & M/T near Montain. 3 flamers. damaged. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Armed Recce F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC All R/P in target area. F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O George Albert Wood F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S John Walter Shellard Armed Recce W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Fleurs-Briene-Falaise. 3 M/T damaged. Heavy flak. 2 M/T destroyed & 1 damaged near Trouville. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 10th S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Armed Recce F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans Falaise-Putanges-Argentan-Trun. 1 Tank damaged; F/O Alexander Barr F/O William James Fowler RCAF 2 M/T destroyed & 2 AFV damaged. F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O Fred Green F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF 8th F/O Alexander Barr 13th Close Support P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Armed Recce Guns at a crossroads near Potigny. Well plastered F/S John James Morgan Falaise. 3 Tank flamers & 1 M/T flamer. but no results seen. F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC P/O George Albert Wood F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Close Army Support F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Chateau HQ at Sommant-St. Quentin. Main building F/S John Walter Shellard F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM destroyed. P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O George Albert Wood S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S William Anthony Handley P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Fred Green F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/S John Walter Shellard F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM 14th F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Armed Recce Infantry & mortar positions near Brettenville. Red P/O William Edwin Watkins Falaise-Vimoutiers-Lisieux. 1 AFV damaged. smoke seen & all R/P in target area. P/O George Albert Wood F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor A return, 2 hours later, to just east of the Chateau P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM (still burning) to attack hutments & flak positions. P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood All R/P in target area & a large oil fire seen. P/O George Albert Wood P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S William Anthony Handley F/L John Norman Payne Arkle W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Lisieux-Argentan-Fleurs. No M/T seen. 64 R/P fired F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Close Army Support into wood covering enemy concentrations. P/O John Thould Guns & defence posts. W/C Baldwin led, flying 1 of S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S John James Morgan the Squadron aircraft. All R/P in target area. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Alexander Barr 11th F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Close Army Support F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O John Thould Guns west of Potigny. All R/P in target area. F/O Alexander Barr F/S John James Morgan S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O Fred Green P/O John Thould F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM 9th F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Troops & guns. All R/P in target area. Direct hits on Close Army Support F/O William James Fowler RCAF houses & 88mm guns. Tanks south-east of Potigny. Attacked 10+ M/T with P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC R/P. Moderate results. F/S John Walter Shellard F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O Fred Green F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S John Walter Shellard P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S William Anthony Handley F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley 17th 15th Armed Recce 19th Armed Recce Barges on the Seine Les Audelys-Quille Boeuf. 1 F/O Harold Medd Proctor appointed F/L & given Lisieux-Vimoutiers. Staff Car damaged, 3 M/T Barge flamer; 1 Dredger flamer; 2 Barges smokers; 1 command of ‘A’ Flight. flamers & 1 M/T exploded, suggesting it was loaded M/T damaged; 2 Barges damaged; Cannon strikes F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor calmly with ammunition. 4 Ambulances south-east of on 2 locks. Intense flak. walked in after a night wandering in no mans land, Livarot not attacked. Heavy flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC none the worse for his experience. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans Armed Recce F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF Orbec-Brungle-Baumesnil-Beaumont. Many burnt F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF out M/T, few new targets but 1 M/T flamer & 2 F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd damaged. P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans Tanks east of Fleurs. Smoke made attack impossible. M/T south-west of Vimoutiers. 4 flamers, 2 damaged. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Alexander Barr F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O George Albert Wood P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins M/T & HDT east of Vimoutiers. 1 aircraft returned P/O John Thould with mechanical trouble. 3 M/T destroyed; 2 F/S John James Morgan Vimoutiers-Orbec-Livarot. probable & 2 damaged. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM Wing Attack F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green 4-Squadron attack on roads east of Falaise. Army F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM reported later that the attack was very successful. F/O Alexander Barr F/L Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan, F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 18th 20th Close Army Support Armed Recce Armed Recce All R/P in target area. Smoke & flames from target. Bernay. 2 M/T destroyed & the road cratered by R/P. Trouville-Thiberville. Abandoned due to weather. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Alexander Barr P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O Fred Green F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O George Albert Wood P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Walter Shellard P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S William Anthony Handley F/S William Anthony Handley

16th M/T south-west of Orbec. 1 tank destroyed, 5 M/T Orbec. 1 M/T destroyed & 1 Staff Car damaged. 1 F/O Edwin Robert Bickerstaff arrived from RAF Filey destroyed, 1 M/T damaged. Suspicious ambulance Tank seen but not attacked as the pilot who sighted as Medical Officer. convoy of 22 M/T under a hedge. Not attacked. it was out of ammunition. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Armed Recce F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Bernay-Lisieux-Falaise-Trun. 1 small car damaged. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Alexander Barr F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Denis Charles Todd P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S William Anthony Handley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 22nd F/S William Anthony Handley Trun. 1 tank flamer; 4 M/T flamer; 6 M/T probable Armed Recce & 5 M/T damaged. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville No M/T seen. Livarot-Vimoutiers-Orbec. 4 Tanks, 8 M/T & a bridge Proctor was hit & force-land in friendly territory F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM attacked. No definite results. The Squadron had its behind our lines. Seen to get out of the aircraft. F/O William James Fowler RCAF 1st loss when F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC was F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM reported missing. There is a good chance he will F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF return as he called over the R/T that he had been hit P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper & was returning home. He probably baled out & it is F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan hoped he made friendly territory before doing so. P/O Peter Frederick Cooper S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC 23rd F/L John Norman Payne Arkle W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF S/L Rutter, F/L Edward William Foott Hewett AFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC DFM & F/L Proctor paid a visit by road to the battle F/O Alexander Barr Lisieux-Corneilles-Bernay. 3 M/T destroyed. area & in the vicinity of Cabourg ran over a land- F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC mine with the result that F/L Hewett received F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin multiple injuries & was taken to a Military Hospital. F/S John James Morgan F/L David Frederick Evans He sustained a fractured leg as well as other very bad F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle wounds. S/L Rutter & F/L Proctor sustained slight F/O Alexander Barr cuts & abrasions. The jeep was a complete write off. Wing Attack F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF Chateau HQ. Led by W/C Baldwin with Nos.193 & F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 24th 197 Sqns. Direct hits & building left burning. Armed Recce F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM South-west of Trun. 12 M/T flamers. 15-20 HDT & M/T & tanks. Only 4 aircraft able to attack. 2 M/T P/O William Edwin Watkins troops strafed; 4 M/T damaged. damaged & 1 flamer. Intense flak. P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O Peter Frederick Cooper 6 ships were located at the given pinpoint sailing F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John Walter Shellard south-west, 4 Destroyers & 2 Motor Vessels. Owing to F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S William Anthony Handley doubt as to the identity, Controller was asked 4 times F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF whether to attack as the ships had fired coloured F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF 1 Barge sunk, 2 damaged. 1 Staff Car damaged & 2 smoke. Light flak. P/O John Thould M/T smokers. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/L David Frederick Evans North end of the Seine. No M/T seen. 2 aircraft F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF attacked a paddle ferry proceeding towards the west F/O Alexander Barr F/O Alexander Barr bank of the Seine with R/P. It was left on fire, but F/L F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Harold Medd Proctor was hit by flak & ‘went straight P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan hit by F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF in’ on the far bank of the river. This meant a very flak & announced over the R/T that he intended to P/O John Thould grave loss to the Squadron as Proc I was a grand make a forced landing in a nearby large field. fellow, very popular with all the No.263 pilots & was Unfortunately, he overshot, crashed into a wood & Armed Recce an excellent Flight Commander. No further news was immediately burst into flames leaving very little Pontoon bridge over the Seine. Destroyed. heard of him. chance of his getting out alive. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/L Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell was hit by flak at 7,000 F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O George Albert Wood feet. He flew south & was followed by his No.1 down P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O Peter Frederick Cooper to 4,000 feet but was seen to start a steep dive & from P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S John Walter Shellard then on, his No.1 lost sight of him so it can only be F/S John Walter Shellard P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan hoped that he managed to bale out in time. F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF 28th 25th P/O John Thould F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF & F/O Austin Bertram The days losses were offset in part by the return, McCully RCAF return to the Squadron after their bright & cheery, of F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC. He 26th ‘refresher’ & conversion courses, now fully had baled out, but as soon as he landed, he was F/L Arkle took over Command of ‘B’ Flight. Operational we hope. pounced upon by SS troops & after interrogation was thrust into a civil prison in Bernay. A few days later Sweep Armed Recce the Germans hurriedly left & must have overlooked North-east of Rouen. 3 HDT damaged; 1 M/T Abandoned due to weather. him in all the panic as he was later discovered & damaged & 1 motorcycle destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC released by the advancing British troops. He is now S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin off for a 10 day well earned rest in the UK & it is F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans hoped he will return to carry on his good work with F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF the Squadron. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor R/P attacks on 2 Barges, both claimed as flamers. Operations carried out along the Seine, primarily P/O John Thould S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC with the aim of keeping a constant Patrol to prevent F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin enemy troops & transport from crossing. Each Patrol F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O William James Fowler RCAF consisted of 2 R/P carrying aircraft supported by 2 F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM bombers of No.193 Sqn. Armed Recce P/O William Edwin Watkins M/T. Thick haze made search impossible. P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Seine Patrol S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S John Walter Shellard Crossings on River Seine. 2 M/T destroyed. 2 Barges F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/S Denis Charles Todd damaged. No M/T & no attempts at Seine crossings. F/O William James Fowler RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM 31st F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF The enemy has been driven back so far that long- F/L David Frederick Evans P/O Peter Frederick Cooper range tanks must be fitted but there are not enough F/O Alexander Barr F/S John Walter Shellard immediately available. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF Armed Recce P/O John Thould 27th Abbeville-Amiens-Dieppe. 3 M/T flamers, 1 M/T F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Shipping Strike damaged, 4 ammunition truck flamers. Ships off Etretat The Squadrons records would have F/L David Frederick Evans Paddle steamer on the south bank of the Seine hit by been greatly enhanced by this day’s work but for the F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin R/P & left smoking. A Barge crossing east-west also fact that someone not connected with the Squadron, F/O Alexander Barr left a smoking. Wing or in fact the RAF, gravely blundered with the F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC result that a convoy of ships including 4 Destroyers F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L William James Fowler RCAF & 2 motor vessels belonging to the Royal Navy were F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM attacked. 2 Destroyers were sunk & the others badly F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF damaged. P/O John Thould P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan

F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC SEPTEMBER 1944 F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF B.3, France P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 1st P/O John Thould Armed Recce 12th P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Abbeville-Amiens. Saw M/T column with white stars Shipping Strike W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop north-west of Doullens-Auxi le Chateau. 1 Tank Dutch Islands. Direct hits on 1 Dredger & 4 barges. 1 W/O Denis Charles Todd smoker, 2 M/T destroyed & several damaged in a Barge sunk. No flak & attacks pressed home. village 5 miles north-east of Montreuil. On return, S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 17th W/O McNinley ran short of petrol & landed on a new F/L John Norman Payne Arkle A Church Parade was in commemoration of the aerodrome at Bernay. F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Battle of Britain. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF Armed Recce F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF V-2 activity on Schouen Island. Took off in pairs at P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O Peter Frederick Cooper 30-minute intervals. 2 direct hits on trucks on F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard narrow gauge railway; direct hit on 1 of 3 concrete F/S John Walter Shellard buildings west of Hammstade; 1 direct hit on 1 of 5 W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 13th M/T in a quarry; camouflaged huts in dunes left Close Army Support smoking; 1 Barge damaged. Auxi, 15m north-east of Abbeville. Several M/T Strong point near Boulogne. All R/P in target area. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle flamers & damaged near Foret de Crécy & Auxi. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O George Albert Wood W/O William Anthony Handley P/O John Thould W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd 20th 14th Close Army Support 2nd Shipping Strike Guns south of Calais. All R/P in target area. No Operations partly due to bad weather & partly Shipping at Flushing. 5 large power-driven Barges S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC owing to the long distance to the bomb line. attacked but only near misses. Intense flak. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF 3rd F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Alexander Barr F/S Denis Charles Todd, F/S William Anthony F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Handley & F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF appointed W/O. Hearty congratulations. F/O Alexander Barr P/O John Thould P/O John Thould W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 4th F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF The battle is now well out of range so again no W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop HQ at Walcheren. Abandoned due to weather. Operations. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 16th F/L John Norman Payne Arkle 6th Record day for the Wing with 170 sorties to its credit. F/O Fred Green 16 aircraft to Manston to be nearer the front line. No.263 did its fair share with 4 Operations involving F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 35 sorties. F/O William James Fowler RCAF RAF Manston P/O George Albert Wood 8th Close Army Support W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Remaining aircraft & pilots left in France join the 155mm guns near Dunkirk. 32 R/P fired & the W/O William Anthony Handley Squadron at Manston. ammunition dump in the centre detonated. From the force of the explosion, considerable damage done. 22nd 9th S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Interdiction Shipping Strike F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Power plant at Dunkirk. Attack made through a hole Minesweepers between Jersey & Guernsey. F/O Fred Green in the cloud. F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William James Fowler RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/O Alexander Barr F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O John Thould P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Observation Post in a Church at Zeebrugge. Body of W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S John Walter Shellard the Church destroyed but tower left standing. Later W/O Denis Charles Todd destroyed by another Squadron. 10th S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Close Suport Shipping Recce F/O Alexander Barr Gun positions. Recalled, already capyutred by Army. Dutch Islands. M/V in a channel between 2 Islands F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC attacked. F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear was seen to F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle attack & break away but did not re-join the P/O John Thould F/O Fred Green formation. He was No.2 to W/C Baldwin DSO DFC. It W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O William James Fowler RCAF is hoped that he may have force landed on Dutch soil W/O Denis Charles Todd F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF although it is strange, he did not call over the R/T. P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Shipping in Ternougan harbour. P/O George Albert Wood F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O William Anthony Handley F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle P/O George Albert Wood F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 26th W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Fred Green Close Army Support F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Alexander Barr Guns north of Antwerp. Led by W/C Baldwin flying F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF one of the Squadron aircraft. All R/P in target area. 11th P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC B.51 Vendreville, France P/O George Albert Wood F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Back to France, to Vendeville aerodrome near Lille. F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Fred Green Close Army Support W/O William Anthony Handley F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF On the way from Manston, ‘A’ Flight attacked a F/S John Walter Shellard P/O William Edwin Watkins strongpoint near Boulogne. Target left burning. P/O George Albert Wood Landed at Vendeville. Cap Gris Nez Lighthouse. Several direct R/P hits but W/O William Anthony Handley F/L John Norman Payne Arkle still standing. Guns & farm buildings south-west of Noouzen. All F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin R/P in target area. Ammunition explosion seen. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L David Frederick Evans F/L David Frederick Evans W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 28th F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF Army Close Support P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Gun battery. All R/P in target area. W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O Denis Charles Todd F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF 29th W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O William Anthony Handley Brussels ????? The Service Echelon worked full tilt all night until the 27th early hours of the morning tearing off R/P rails as Army Close Support Gun battery. R/P attack, no results seen. the Squadron was reverting to bombs. At dawn, 10 Guns. Led by W/C Baldwin flying a Squadron F/L John Norman Payne Arkle aircraft took off to operate from Brussels. aircraft. Red smoke seen, all R/P in target area. F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Army Close Support F/L David Frederick Evans P/O William Edwin Watkins The 1st Operation to be carried out with bombs. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Abandoned due to weather. All bombs brought back. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Mortars & Guns in a wood. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins Railway-road bridge. No red smoke, no attack. P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O George Albert Wood S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S John Walter Shellard F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF Guns. Not seen, but 6 metal huts left burning. 30th F/O Fred Green F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Operating from Brussels again but weather poor. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green The Wing is moving to a new location, rumours point F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF to Antwerp as our next stopping place. P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Army Close Support P/O William Edwin Watkins Bombed causeway at Arnemuide. Medium guns. No red smoke, no attack. W/O William Anthony Handley S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/S John Walter Shellard F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Fred Green P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Guns & troops in a wood. Red smoke seen. All R/P in Petrol Dump. All R/P in target area. target area. F/L David Frederick Evans S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC

S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin OCTOBER 1944 F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF 1st F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF B.51, Vendeville F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Wing moving to new quarters at Antwerp tomorrow. P/O John Thould F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies & F/O Donald James W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Denis Charles Todd Stanley Turner arrived for flying duties from No.84 W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop GSU. Railway bridge. 1 direct hit online. Moderate flak. Railway bridge at Nijverdal, Netherlands. 2 direct Armed Recce S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC hits cut the line west of the bridge. Results not seen Barges near Yerseken-Dam. 50 barges found in the F/O Fred Green due to thick haze. harbour moored closely together. 10/10 cloud made F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC attack difficult, but 3 pairs of bombs fell among F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green them. 2nd attack with cannon. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O William Edwin Watkins F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John Walter Shellard P/O George Albert Wood F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Thould W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF Interdiction F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Bombs dropped but results not seen. Abandoned due to weather. P/O John Thould W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin 2nd F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L David Frederick Evans We rise at 0600 to pack kit & strike tents in order to F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC move off for Antwerp by 0900. Only 14 of the 18 F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF aircraft got away on time owing to difficulties in F/O Alexander Barr F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF starting 1-2 aircraft. They followed later. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O John Thould B.70, Antwerp W/O Denis Charles Todd We are billeted in houses, a welcome change from 6th W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop tents. In between shows, the day is spent in making Close Army Support them habitable & comfortable. Buildings. 2 direct hits. Several trains also strafed. 11th S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 4 Operations against the village of Oostburg, an Armed Recce F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin inoffensive looking place on the western side of the Rail junction south of Amersfoort. 4 direct hits. F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF Scheldt. Apparently enemy troops were firmly S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor ensconced in the village & the Army were having F/L John Norman Payne Arkle W/O Denis Charles Todd difficulty in dislodging them, so naturally the Typhies F/O Fred Green F/L David Frederick Evans are called in to remove the obstacle. This the F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Squadron carried out with great enthusiasm & with F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF excellent results. A record day for the Wing with just P/O George Albert Wood Close Army Support under 200 sorties, 41 of which were flown by No.263 P/O Peter Frederick Cooper German HQ in a Chateau 5 miles north of Antwerp. Squadron. F/S John Walter Shellard Led by W/C Baldwin flying 1 of the Squadrons aircraft. Building destroyed. Armed Recce Railway junction south of Amersfoort. 3 direct hits W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC Oostburg. 6 direct hits on road going north-east out scored & both tracks cut. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC of the village, 2 M/T destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L David Frederick Evans F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Austin Bertrum McCully RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Fred Green F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Alexander Barr P/O John Thould F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Denis Charles Todd Interdiction F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Railway targets. A train was strafed & many strikes P/O John Thould 3rd observed despite intense flak. W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Charles Archibald Bury & F/S Richard Walton S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O William Anthony Handley Ainsley arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. P/O George Albert Wood F/O Fred Green Bombs dropped on the east side of the village. Many 4th F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF fires observed. Interdiction F/O William James Fowler RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Railway lines near Amersfoort. 8 aircraft attacked a P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Fred Green factory alongside railway, which would probably P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O William James Fowler RCAF have obstructed the line. The other 4 could not locate F/S John Walter Shellard F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF the target in poor visibility, so attacked the railway P/O Peter Frederick Cooper line near Utrecht. 1 wagon’flamer & 2‘smokers. Rail/river bridge at Zwolle. Bombs well P/O George Albert Wood S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC concentrated, but no direct hits. P/O William Edwin Watkins F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John Walter Shellard F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Bombs dropped on the north-east edge of the village. F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor 2 M/T strafed. P/O John Thould F/O Alexander Barr F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O John Thould F/L David Frederick Evans P/O George Albert Wood W/O Denis Charles Todd F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Alexander Barr F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF 7th P/O John Thould 5th The day marked quite an event in the Squadrons W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC arrived for history, for the 1st time in this war an Operation was W/O Denis Charles Todd flying duties from No.197 Sqn to take over ‘A’ Flight. carried out over German soil. F/S Richard Walton Ainsley

Armed Recce Armed Recce Bombs dropped in south-west & east of village. No Level-crossing. 2 direct hits on the road. 10 large Railway targets. Direct hits on rail bridge & lines cut. results observed. barges also attacked. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/L David Frederick Evans & F/O Alexander Barr S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF collided on re-forming after the attack & were last F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF seen spinning down. A tragic loss to the Squadron. F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Alexander Barr P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury 12th F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Armed Recce W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O William Anthony Handley AA guns west of Breskens. 2 aircraft carried 1,000lb F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF bombs. 2 of which fell in the centre of 6 guns. 15 500lb bombs also fell in target area. 15th All bombs in target area, but no results seen. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Weather Recce F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L David Frederick Evans Venlo-Wesel. 3 M/T damaged & 1 HDT destroyed. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Armed Recce 20th P/O John Thould Bridge in the Rhine Valley. 4 bombs overshot & Close support for the Army who were making an W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop considered worth a repeat attack. A train was advance up the Antwerp-Esschen road. W/O Denis Charles Todd strafed & strikes seen. F/S Richard Walton Ainsley S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Close Army Support F/O Fred Green Strong points. The northern end of a village was Army Close Support P/O Peter Frederick Cooper attacked & many buildings blown up. Mortars & Artillery. No red smoke; no attack made. P/O George Albert Wood F/L John Norman Payne Arkle S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Fred Green W/O Charles Archibald Bury P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Denis Charles Todd P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O William Anthony Handley P/O George Albert Wood Railway targets. 3 direct hits on rails & 1 on trucks W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury in a siding. W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Denis Charles Todd F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Railway south-west of Zutphen. 2 lines cut. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Interdiction F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Rai targets near Roermond. W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/L David Frederick Evans W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM 16th W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Alexander Barr Army Close Support F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor The Army still having trouble with Oostburg, so we Strongpoints. White smoke seen. Bombing was good. F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF step in again to give a hand. All bombs in target area Message received from Army HQ to say attack was P/O John Thould 1-2 failed to explode. very successful & they had been able to advance to W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC within 1 mile of Esschen. W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L John Norman Payne Arkle S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Fred Green F/L John Norman Payne Arkle P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper 13th P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood The Wing was honoured by a visit of HM the King W/O William Anthony Handley P/O William Edwin Watkins accompanied by Field Marshall Montgomery, ACM W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Charles Archibald Bury Conningham & several other high-ranking Officers. F/S John Walter Shellard W/O John Walter Shellard Pilots were paraded & His Majesty inspected them. W/O William Anthony Handley Strong point. 4 1,000lb & 12 500lb bombs dropped. Army Close Support S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 21st Guns & Infantry in a wood south of Bergen-Op-Zoom, F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Armed Recce 20 miles north-east of Base. The Squadron lost 1 of F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Railway bridge between Lochtenburg & Breda. its oldest & most stalwart members - John Thould. He F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Bombed to such effect that it can be considered a was flying No.2 to S/L Rutter & was hit by flak whilst F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor complete write-off. in the dive. His aircraft burst into flames & spiralled F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC straight in. Johnny had very little chance of baling W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin out. A great loss to the Squadron. W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 18th F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/L David Frederick Evans Armed Recce W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM Railway line cut & 1 direct hit on 3 trucks in a siding. W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Alexander Barr F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Barges in Yerseke harbour. 10 bombs fell amongst F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF them but failing light made observation difficult. P/O John Thould P/O Peter Frederick Cooper S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM 4 Guns. All bombs in target area, but no direct hits. W/O William Anthony Handley F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Fred Green Bombs dropped on 12 pontoons, 3 left sinking. P/O George Albert Wood F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O George Albert Wood F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Denis Charles Todd P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Denis Charles Todd Close Army Support W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Enemy HQ at a crossroads south of Breskens. All 14th F/S Richard Walton Ainsley bombs in target area. Plenty of smoke & fire. Army Close Support S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC 3 gun-positions south of Bergen-Op-Zoom. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O John Walter Shellard F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Charles Archibald Bury 24th F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Wing Show F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett German 15th Army HQ in Dordrecht. No.263 led by F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor 29th carrying out a feint attack on a railway bridge thus F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Armed Recce drawing flak away from following Squadrons W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Rail line at Harderwijk. 2 direct hits on Station. carrying out attacks on the HQ. The target was in a F/S Richard Walton Ainsley S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC small park in the centre of the town. After 1 orbit F/L John Norman Payne Arkle No.263 went into attack the real target. An 28th F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies Intelligence report received later proved this W/O Hugh Barrie & F/S John Quigley RAAF arrived F/O Fred Green Operation as having been highly successful in that for flying duties from No.84 GSU. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF casualties alone sustained by the enemy included 2 F/O William James Fowler RCAF Generals, 15 Staff Officers, 50 other Officers & 200 Army Close Support P/O George Albert Wood other ranks. 10 aircraft in three sections (4-3-3). 1st section W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC attacked a railway station south of Kapelle. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Buildings damaged & line cut. Road running west Goss-Thelen-Steenbergen. 2 Barges & 1 launch F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF from Kapelle also strafed. The 2nd section was under damaged with cannon. F/O Fred Green the control of VCP over the battle area & the target F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William James Fowler RCAF was a road junction. This was missed with bombs, F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins but well strafed & 1 M/T ‘smoker’ claimed. The 3rd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley P/O Peter Frederick Cooper section attacked the railway in the same area as the W/O William Anthony Handley 1st & a direct hit was scored on buildings. Radar installation at Walcheren. Attacked with S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC cannon. Strikes observed. Intense flak. Armed Recce F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Railway junction. F/L Stooke Alan Leslie Stooke F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Donald James Stanley Turner Hallett AFC, AFM missing. He baled out over enemy F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley territory after stating his engine was cutting. It is P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Denis Charles Todd hoped he got down safely, but Germans were P/O George Albert Wood shooting at him on way down. P/O William Edwin Watkins 30th S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop to UK on rest

.

Gestapo HQ on the edge of Rotterdam. With 4 W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF NOVEMBER 1944 aircraft from No.266 Sqn. Our aircraft were to attack gun positions while No.266 attacked the HQ 8th B.70 Antwerp buildings with R/P. Several near misses. Interdiction 1st F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Railway at Amersfoort. Line cut in several places. Army Close Support F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Guns on seawall at Westkapelle, north of Flushing. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin All bombs in target area. F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O William James Fowler RCAF Armed Recce F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Veere-Middleburg. Attacked 4 heavy guns in a small F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies village south of Veere. The area was flooded but this F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green strongpoint stood out on high ground. All bombs in F/S John Quigley RAAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper target area with 3 direct hits. F/L Arkle hit by flak. F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies 9th F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Morris Luck RNZAF & F/S John Irvine arrived 2nd F/O Fred Green for flying duties from No.84 GSU. S/L Rutter DFC went off on a well-earned leave. P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins Weather Recce Army Close Support W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Road from Breda to the River Mark. Low-level attack W/O Hugh Barrie F/S Richard Walton Ainsley made & direct hits scored on several buildings. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC 5th 10th F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Weather Recce W/O Rupert Alan Richardson arrived for flying F/O Donald James Stanley Turner Utrecht-Zwolle. duties from No.84Sqn. F/O Fred Green P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Interdiction F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Goch-Xanten rail line in the Rhur Valley. Direct hits F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Interdiction on buildings near to the line & wagons in a siding. F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Rail targets south of Zwolle. Line cut. A suspected V2 F/L John Norman Payne Arkle site was discovered near the line between Wexep & F/O William James Fowler RCAF Strongpoints near Steenbergen. Intense flak. the River Ijssel. A heavily defended train was not F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle attacked due to low cloud. P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle W/O John Walter Shellard F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies W/O Hugh Barrie F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp Kemp RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury 11th F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Hugh Barrie W/O William Anthony Handley appointed P/O. F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 6th Interdiction P/O William Edwin Watkins Weather Recce 8 aircraft attempted to off but only 5 did, the other 3 W/O Hugh Barrie Zwolle-Deventer. failed due to mechanical trouble. The 5 gave a good W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor account of themselves by blowing up an ammunition F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF train. F/O Kemp hit by debris from target. F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Interdiction F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin 3rd Rail line north of Deventer. Successfully despite a F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Army Close Support heavy rainstorm. All bombs in target area & line cut. W/O Denis Charles Todd Strong-point in an orchard on Zevenbergen-Breda F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC P/O William Anthony Handley road. Low cloud kept aircraft at 4,000 feet. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Donald James Stanley Turner Amersfoort-Zwolle Railway. Line cut in 3 places & 3 F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF trucks destroyed. F/O Fred Green F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S Richard Walton Ainsley P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S John Quigley RAAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Charles Archibald Bury Zwolle-Utrecht railway. Line cut. Found burning W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF train being attacked by Spitfires. We helped to W/O John Walter Shellard 4th spread the conflagration. Army Close Support F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Rail lines cut 3 times, including 1 in a cutting. There Ammunition dump in Sugar factory at Zevenbergen. F/O Fred Green was a cloud of white smoke from a direct hit on a 1 direct hit, the remainder near misses. F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies Station. Train attacked on the 1st Op still burning. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd F/O Donald James Stanley Turner 7th P/O William Anthony Handley F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF Rested. F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Interdiction 13th Rail/Road crossing north of Nijkerk. 1 direct hit cut Weather Recce Ammunition dump in Sugar factory at Zevenbergen. the line. Several trucks left smoking. Intense flak hit P/O William Anthony Handley 4 1000lb & 12 500lb bombs dropped. Debris thrown F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies. He force-landed south of W/O Rupert Aaan Richardson up to a height of 3,000 feet. Zwolle & called over the R/T that he was all right. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Sseen to leave his aircraft & run for cover. 14th-15th F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L John Norman Payne Arkle Moved dispersal nearer the taxiing track. F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 16th F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Fred Green Weather Recce/Interdiction F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Railway east of Amersfoort. F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Hugh Barrie F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Wing Show 26th F/S John Irvine Gestapo HQ in Amsterdam. Concentrated effort by Interdiction Nos.266, 193, 197 & us. We were assigned the HQ Rail line east of Lachen. 18th building & 4 direct hits with 1,000lb bombs were F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin Interdiction scored. Operation was very successful. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Road bridge north-east of Heineberg. Hits around S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O Rupert Alan Richardson the bridge, but it was left intact. Moderate flak. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/S John Irvine S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Cancelled by GCC after the aircraft were airborne. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Irvine S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Denis Charles Todd 20th W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward arrived for W/O Morris Luck F/S John Irvine flying duties from No.266 Sqn. 29th Road bridge north-east of Heineberg. 1 direct hit 21st Wing Show making a fair-sized hole. F/L John Norman Payne Interdiction Gestapo HQ in Rotterdam. Nos.193, 266 & 257 Sqns Arkle ‘B’ Flight Commander was hit by flak & force Arnhem-Utrecht line cut at Klemp west of Arnhem. also took place. Led by W/C Wells. We were assigned landed in or near our lines, so it is hoped he will get S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC the job of silencing flak guns & a direct hit was scored back safe & soon. (Killed). P/O William Edwin Watkins on 1-gun position. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L John Norman Payne Arkle W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 25th P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward arrived for W/O Morris Luck P/O William Edwin Watkins flying duties from No.266 Sqn & given command of W/O Hugh Barrie P/O Peter Frederick Cooper ‘B’ Flight, as there is still no news of F/L Arkle. W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie Weather Recce/Interdiction W/O Morris Luck Recce-Waal. Interdiction P/O William Anthony Handley Rail bridge near Raalte. 3 direct hits & 1 near miss. 19th W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Line also cut in 3 places. Interdiction S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Marshalling yards at Maarne. Low-level attack & the Interdiction W/O Denis Charles Todd line cut in 2 places. Flak from Hertogenbosch. Abandoned due to weather. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O William Anthony Handley F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/S John Irvine F/O Fred Green P/O William Anthony Handley F/S Richard Walton Ainsley P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Quigley RAAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 30th W/O John Walter Shellard F/S John Irvine Interdiction Utrecht-Zwolle. Several direct hits cut line near Wireless station in a Chateau east of Lachem. 8 Railway near Amersfoort. Line cut in 2 places. Hardwerijk. 1000lb bombs & 8 incendiaries. Destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF

8th F/L Donald James Stanley Turner DECEMBER 1944 Interdiction F/O W. Gordon Kemp RCAF Railway lines near Zutphen. Rail cut & 1 very near F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor B.70 Antwerp miss on a road/rail bridge. F/S John James Morgan 1st S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC DFM, missing on F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 24th October is a POW. F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Marshalling yards at Amersfoort. 4 hits on sheds. Weather Recce/Interdiction F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Nijmegen-Zwolle. P/O William Anthony Handley F/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Rupert Alan Richardson P/O William Anthony Handley F/S John James Morgan W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury 2nd 10th W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Whilst on an Air Test they saw a V-1 at 5,000 feet. Weather Recce/Interdiction W/O John Walter Shellard Both attacked & F/S Morgan scored a direct hit. It Zwolle. fell in an open field & exploded. This is the 1st V-1 to P/O William Anthony Handley 26th be shot down by the Squadron. F/S John Irvine Armed Recce & Interdiction W/O Morris Luck Zwolle-Deventer railway. 8 carried bombs, 4 carried F/S John James Morgan F/O Fred Green Long-Range Tanks as fighter escort. 2 near misses P/O William Edwin Watkins with 1,000lb & 3 with 500lb bombs. Line cut. We lost 3rd F/L Donald James Stanley Turner when his aircraft Interdiction 11th exploded at 500 feet over the target. He had only Railway lines near Zwolle. Signal box damaged. Wing Op been with us a short while & will be sadly missed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC V2 storage depot, Leiden. Nos.193 & 257 also took S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin part. This Squadron claims 1 hit which produced an F/L Donald James Stanley Turner F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC orange flash & much debris. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O William Anthony Handley F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O George Albert Wood W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Quigley RAAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 4th W/O Morris Luck F/S John Irvine F/O Green & F/O Hamilton visit the Polish Army to W/O John Walter Shellard F/S John James Morgan give talks on air support for the Army. 12th 27th-28th Weather Recce/Interdiction A V-1 fell close to the dispersal, very little damage. Reverting to R/P & all aircraft fitted with rails. Zwolle-Hengels. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 13th-22nd 29th W/O Charles Archibald Bury Compass swinging. Shipping Strike Off Overflakke Island. Large Barge sunk. Interdiction 15th S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Utrecht-Amersfoort-Zwolle. Bombs dropped on a F/O Rheon Thomas Parry the Engineering Officer F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward railway/road crossing near Naarne, 1 direct hit & 2 appointed F/L & posted to No.145 Wing. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF near misses. F/O William Edwin Watkins F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward 22nd P/O William Anthony Handley P/O George Albert Wood F/O Fred Green & F/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O John Walter Shellard P/O William Edwin Watkins proceed to UK on Rest. We will miss them a lot. F/O William James Fowler to Sheffield for a course. 31st 5th Saw the Old Year out & welcomed the New Year in at Interdiction 23rd the Wing dance in Antwerp & the Officers Club. Utrecht-Alphen rail line. 1 section attacked a railway Armed Recce bridge & claimed 4 direct hits on the embankment. Barracks & airfield, Saesterberg near Amersfoort. Armed Recce 2nd section bombed a railway bridge, 2 near misses. Hits claimed on the barracks. No aircraft on airfield. Gouda-Zutphen-Zwolle. 10 Trucks destroyed with S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC R/P & cannon. Line also cut. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Denis Charles Todd F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Hugh Barrie W/O John Walter Shellard F/S John Irvine W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John James Morgan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John James Morgan

Bridge over the Utrecht-Gonda canal. The bridge 24th Army Close Support was swung open. 1 near miss. Long-range Fighter Sweep Observation Post in a tower east of Nijmegen. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC Rhur area with No.257 Sqn. 30+ Me.262s seen Attacked with R/P & cannon. Confirmed by the Army F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward attacking Lancasters of which 3 were seen to go that it had been eliminated by our attack. F/O William James Fowler RCAF down in flames. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S John James Morgan F/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Hugh Barrie F/S Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 7th Utrecht. With No.197 Sqn. 3 M/T damaged. F/L F/S John Irvine Weather Recce/Interdiction Leonard Arthur Unwin hit by flak & blew up. He had Amersfoort-Apeldoorn. Loco & 6 wagons attacked been with the Squadron since 18th September 1943. Meeuwen village. All R/P in target area. with cannon. Yellow flash from the Loco. A very sad loss to the Squadron. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O William Anthony Handley F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin + 4 more F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S John Irvine F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 25th F/S John James Morgan Amersfoort-Apeldoorn. Interdiction F/S John Irvine F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF North-east of Arnhem. Attack on a Loco & 25 F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John James Morgan wagons. 3 direct bomb hits on wagons. F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor

Summary of Events & Records of Offensive Operations of No.263 Squadron with Typhoons 1st January 1944 -31st December 1944

The Squadron having been equipped with Typhoon aircraft in December 194,3 the 1st month of 1944 was spent entirely on training of pilots & groundcrews on this type of aircraft with the help of the Armament Practice Camp at Fairwood Common. It was not until 1st February 1944 that the Squadron 1st became Operational with Typhoons & the 1st actual Operation was carried out on 2nd February. From that date until they joined TAF on July 10th, it was employed attacking shipping in the English Channel, harbours particularly on the Cherbourg & Brest Peninsulas, & airfields in France, also radar stations & V1 launching sites in France.

For the 1st few weeks a pair of 250lb bombs HE & AP were carried on each aircraft, but later this was increased to a pair of 500lb, & then in May, 50% of the Squadron aircraft were fitted with R/P. On 6th June the 1st Operation with R/P was carried out. As only 50% of the Squadron aircraft had been fitted with rails, attacks were often made with a mixed Squadron of bombers & R/P with considerable success. 2 Flights were thus employed of 10 simultaneously either in 2 waves with the same objective or with different targets. On July 10th, the Squadron was transferred to TAF after being in No.10 Group for nearly 4 years. The Squadron 1st joined No.136 Wing at RAF Hurn, but only for a few days, as under a reorganisation scheme this Wing is disbanded & the Squadron wass transferred to No.146 Wing also at Hurn. All the aircraft were now fitted with R/P & from July 23rd to August 6th the Squadron was stationed at RAF Eastchurch with the Armament Practice Camp there, & the next 14 days were well spent practising Air-to-Air & Air-to-Ground with cannon & R/P. In the meantime, No.146 Wing had moved to France. August 6th was a memorable day, as on this day the Squadron set foot in France & joined No.146 Wing at B.3 in Normandy. On August 7th, the 1st Operation from France was carried out, & from that date the Squadron took part in attacks of every kind of fighter bomber targets with bombs & R/P, but mainly with the latter. The targets included many close supports of the Army, Interdictions, enemy Headquarters housed in large buildings, enemy strong-points, V1 & V2 launching sites. October 7th was marked by an event in the history of the Squadron, as on this day for the 1st time in this war an Operation was carried out over German soil. On October 12th for the 1st time a proportion of the aircraft carried a pair of 1000lb bombs & from this date to the end of the year, 70 such bombs had been used on a variety of targets.

The following is a brief summary of the various movements of the Squadron.

05 January 1944 RAF Ibsley to APC Fairwood Common 24 January 1944 APC Fairwood Common to TAF Beaulieu 06 March 1944 TAF Beaulieu to RAF Warmwell 19 March 1944 RAF Warmwell to RAF Harrowbeer 19 June 1944 RAF Harrowbeer to RAF Bolt Head 10 July 1944 RAF Bolt Head to RAF Hurn & TAF 23 July 1944 RAF Hurn to APC Eastchurch 06 August 1944 APC Eastchurch to B.3 Normandy, France 06 September 1944 B.3 Normandy, France to RAF Manston 11 September 1944 RAF Manston to B.51 Lille, France 02 October 1944 B.51 Lille, France to B.70 Antwerp to end of the year

Offensive Operations 1st January 1944- 31st December 1944

334 Offensive Operations 2202 Offensive sorties 4496 Rocket Projectiles - mainly 60lb HE heads 55 250lb bombs HE 2543 500lb bombs HE 14 500lb bombs AP 8 500lb bombs Incendiaries 70 1000lb bombs HE

Total weight of bombs 1,366,250lbs approx. 609 tons 18 cwts Total weight of R/P 26,976lbs approx. 12 tons 1 cwts

Approx ¾ of the above total weight of bombs & R/P were expended from August 6th, the day the Squadron arrived in France to December 31st, 1944.

Approx (all types), 117,780 rounds of 20mm cannon shells, of which 7/8 of these were expended from ‘D-Day’ to December 31st.

HONOURS & AWARDS 142445 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark awarded DFC 81635 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay awarded DFC 42574 S/L Robert Durham Rutter awarded DFC 158700 F/L John Barrie Purkis awarded DFC 159873 F/O Harold Medd Proctor awarded DFC

Army Close Support Army HQ post on Schouwen Island. 3 salvoes of R/P JANUARY 1945 Observation Post in a Church at Hedal. It was direct hits on building in target area & left burning. causing considerable embarrassment to the Army. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward B.70 Antwerp 16 direct hits with R/P at the base of the church & 8 F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 1st on the steeple. Many hits with cannon also claimed. W/O Rupert Alan Richardson The New Year opened with an attack on the Smoke & debris hindered observation, but it is W/O Charles George Points aerodrome by 20+ 109s & 190s, but very little believed that the church is now useless as an O.P. damage was inflicted although all Squadrons were F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Interdiction grounded owing to ice on the runway. We heard F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Gouda-Schoonhoven railway near Stolwijk. 2 direct later that many of the TAF airfields had been F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF hits & 2 near misses claimed with salvoes of R/P, the attacked & several had suffered considerable W/O Charles Archibald Bury line was cut. Originally intended as an 8 aircraft damage to aircraft on the ground. Out of 300 enemy W/O John Walter Shellard show, but only 4 were airborne when just as 4 aircraft that took part, 193 were destroyed. F/S John Irvine aircraft were taxiing out to the runway, an aircraft W/O Richard Walton Ainsley of No.257 Sqn, jettisoned a 1,000lb bomb near to Hearty congratulations to F/L Marten Trevor Scott F/S John Quigley RAAF them which exploded & the 4 were hit by shrapnel. Rumbold DFC who today takes over command of the Luckily, there were no casualties; although there Squadron. The late CO - S/L Robert Durham Rutter 2nd-3rd were several near misses. DFC - having been sent on a much deserved & well- Weather Recce/Interdiction F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF earned rest. S/L Rumbold DFC has already proved Schouwen Island. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF himself a capable leader as ‘A’ Flight Commander, & F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O William Anthony Handley the whole Squadron welcomes his appointment to W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John Walter Shellard command the Squadron. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF to 4th 6th F/L. P/O David Edward Morgan & W/O Charles George F/O George Albert Wood & F/O William Edwin F/S Richard Walton Ainsley to W/O. Points arrived for flying duties from No.266 Sqn. Watkins posted on a much-deserved rest.

Armed Recce Armed Recce 9th Barges east of Dordrecht. 56 direct R/P hits were Factory near Sliedrecht. Attacked with R/P, many F/L Edward Alan Tennant arrived for flying duties scored on 20+ barges which were left smoking. 2 direct hits. Accurate observation not possible as area from No.257 Sqn to Command ‘A’ Flight. flamers believed oil fires. obscured by explosions early in the attack. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC 13th F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury RAF Fairwood Common F/O William Edwin Watkins F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward The Squadron flew to Fairwood Common for an R/P P/O William Anthony Handley P/O David Edward Morgan Course, the pilots with their Typhoons, the ground W/O Hugh Barrie F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF staff in 2 Dakotas. W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O George Felix Gillman arrived for flying duties W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF from No.257 Sqn. W/O Morris Luck W/O Morris Luck

F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF FEBRUARY 1945 F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF No.18 APC Fairwood Common F/O George Felix Gillman F/O William James Fowler RCAF 1st-8th F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan F/O Connel Joseph Devey arrived for flying duties P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck from No.257 Sqn. W/O Charles George Points W/O John Walter Shellard R/P & cannon practice. Weather bad, results very W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Charles Archibald Bury good & equalled the best of any previous Squadrons. W/O Morris Luck W/O Richard Walton Ainsley A higher average than any other Squadron on the W/O Hugh Barrie F/S John Quigley RAAF Wing recorded, which reflects well on the keenness & W/O Patrick Joseph NcNinley efficiency of the Squadron as a whole. Guns, mortars & strong points. All R/P in target area German Divisional HQ, Wetten. Target reached 10 & 3 fires started. 9th minutes late owing to approach being above cloud, W/C Wells Fairwood to Manston en-route to the Continent. 2nd approach necessary. Red smoke seen & R/P S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC attack along edge of wood. W/O Charles George F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward 10th Points was hit by flak & called on the R/T to say that F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Manston to B.77. he was baling out, he was not seen to leave the F/O William James Fowler RCAF aircraft & his body was found close to the wreckage P/O David Edward Morgan Interdiction of his aircraft. He was buried by soldiers of the W/O Morris Luck Recce’d north of Arnhem-Apeldoorn-Zutphen. 156/156 Brigade. W/O Points came to us from W/O John Walter Shellard Aircraft landed at B.89 Mill in Netherlands (the new No.266 Sqn & had only been with the Squadron for a W/O Richard Walton Ainsley Base) to join up with the Wing, which had meantime short time but was popular & well-liked. W/O Charles Archibald Bury moved from B.70. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 22nd F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodwar F/O Connel Joseph Devey Army Close Support F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O George Felix Gillman Strongpoints in 2 houses near Calcar. All R/P burst F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF in target area. Both were left smoking & damaged. W/O Morris Luck P/O David Edward Morgan S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles George Points F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Morris Luck F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF B.89 Mill, Netherlands W/O Hugh Barrie F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 11th W/O Patrick Joseph NcNinley F/O William James Fowler RCAF Interdiction P/O David Edward Morgan Abandoned due to 10/10 cloud at 1,000 feet. Armed Recce W/O Charles Archibald Bury S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Canal east of Zutphen. 15+ laden Barges. Dusk was W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward falling & visibility was poor so results not seen, but 1 W/O John Walter Shellard F/O William James Fowler RCAF salvo direct hit on 1 barge & 6 damaged by cannon. W/O Morris Luck P/O David Edward Morgan F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/S John Irvine W/O Charles George Points F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Armed Recce W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 10 aircraft in pairs. 1st pair - 3 signal box & station F/S John Irvine W/O John James Morgan buildings destroyed; 2nd pair - 2 Barges left smoking W/O Richard Walton Ainsley & 1 M/T damaged; 3rd pair - 1 Barge damaged; 4th 13th F/S John Irvine pair - 1 signal box destroyed; 1 M/T damaged; 5th Winkle F/S John Quigley RAAF pair - railway line cut. Winkle along the northern edge of a small forest east F/L Edward Alan Tennant of Reichwald Forest by 4 aircraft. 8 aircraft attacked 16th F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor houses with R/P & destroyed several. 2nd strafing Army Close Support F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF attack by all 12 aircraft. Despite poor visibility & Asperden Village. All R/P in target area. The Army F/O Connel Joseph Devey cloud base at 2,000 feet the attack was pressed captured the village soon after with little trouble. W/O Rupert Alan Richardson home. The Operation was watched by the Corps S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Charles Archibald Bury Commander, & he sent a signal congratulating the F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O John Walter Shellard Squadron on its fine work. F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O John James Morgan F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Davy F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Irvine W/O John James Morgan F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan Kepellin village. Target indicated by red smoke. Poor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Richard Walton Ainsley visibility prevented results being observed. Heavy F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson flak. W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Quigley RAAF S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Irvine F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 21st F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies, missing on 7th November F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O David Edward Morgan 1944, returned., We were unable to see him as he had W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Charles George Points to return to England for interrogation. W/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine Armed Recce Army Close Support F/S John Quigley RAAF Abandoned before crossing the bomb-line. Fragmentation R/P rippled along the edge of a S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC wood. Winkle F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward Houses along a road. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O George Felix Gillman F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O John James Morgan W/O John James Morgan W/O Morris Luck F/S John Quigley RAAF W/O Morris Luck W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Richard Walton Ainsley 24th W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Record day for the Squadron. 6 Operations with a P/O David Edward Morgan P/O David Edward Morgan total of 50 sorties - very successful. W/O Charles Archibald Bury 14th Close Army Support Army Close Support Strongpoints in buildings. 1 destroyed & several Guns & infantry. All R/P in target area & area well Target Wood located & attacked with R/P & heavily damaged. strafed. Infantry positions in houses also attacked strafed with cannon. No results observed. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC with R/P & cannon. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Recalled by Longbow. W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O William James Fowler RCAF S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Quigley RAAF P/O David Edward Morgan F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/S John Irvine W/O Morris Luck F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Hugh Barrie F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 28th W/O John Walter Shellard F/O Connel Joseph Devey Armed Recce W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Ferry crossings, Rees-Wesel. 5 barges near Rees & 8 W/O John James Morgan near Wesel. Train north of Millingen seen being Strongpoints in buildings. Destroyed with R/P. F/S John Quigley RAAF attacked by Spitfires. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Irvine P/O David Edward Morgan F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 25th F/O William James Fowler RCAF Close Army Support Ferry crossing at Wesel. Jetty attacked but no hits. 4- P/O David Edward Morgan Observation post, mortars & infantry in a church at 5 barges seen on the river near this point. Intense W/O Morris Luck Wesel. The church appeared to already be in ruins, flak which hit 1 aircraft. W/O Hugh Barrie but several direct hits were made. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward W/O John Walter Shellard F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Large Barge. Not hit with R/P but received many Strongpoints in buildings. 1 destroyed & 1 left W/O Rupert Alan Richardson cannon strikes. burning. W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O John James Morgan W/O John Walter Shellard F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Irvine F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF 15+ Barges attacked with R/P; no claims made. W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Cannon strikes on 3. W/O John James Morgan HQ & Infantry. Red smoke seen. Eastern ½ of F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/S John Irvine building destroyed. Smoke & flames from remainder. W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Loco & trucks. Cloud obscured target but 4 large Observation Post & HQ in a Seminary. 9 R/P salvoes F/O Connel Joseph Devey Barges attacked with direct hits on at least 3. Flames direct hits. Northern ½ of target destroyed. No flak. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor & grey smoke seen. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/S John Quigley RAAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Irvine 2 Barges sunk & 1 damaged. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Troops & M/T in a wood. All R/P in target area. W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O David Edward Morgan F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/S John Irvine F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Heavily defended buildings near Uden. Many hits left F/S John Quigley RAAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey smoking & badly damaged. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Observation post in a Church. Attacked with R/P & W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/L Edward Alan Tennant demolished. The seminary previously attacked was W/O John James Morgan F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward seen to be on fire from end-to-end. F/S John Quigley RAAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Irvine F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Primary target not attacked as no red smoke seen. W/O John James Morgan F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Alternate at Sonsbeck attacked. All R/P in target F/S John Quigley RAAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey area. 2 aircraft hit by flak. F/S John Irvine W/O John James Morgan S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant Weather Recce/Interdiction F/S John Irvine F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Venlo. F/O Connel Joseph Devey P/O David Edward Morgan W/O John James Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury

21st MARCH 1945 Shipping Recce Wing Show 4 submarines south of Schouwen Island. A 200-ton 25th German Army HQ at Bussum. 193, 197 & 266 B.89 Mill, Netherlands vessel but marked with a Red Cross so not attacked. Sqns also took part, led by W/C Deall. This Squadron 1st S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC attacked with R/P & at least 6 salvoes were seen to W/O Leslie J. Miller arrived for flying duties from F/O Robert Logan be direct hits causing much smoke & fire. The target No.84 GSU. P/O David Edward Morgan was destroyed. W/O Charles Archibald Bury S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Weather Recce/Interdiction F/O William Gordon Kemp F/L Edward Alan Tennant 14th F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Connel Joseph Devey P/O David Edward Morgan appointed F/O. F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Ferry Patrol Shipping Strike W/O John James Morgan Barges south of Rees. 2 hit by cannon fire but no 500-ton ship at Nijerk. Vessel not located but 5 W/O Richard Walton Ainsley results observed owing to haze. Drifter type vessels in a nearby lock attacked. The F/O William Gordon Kemp lead aircraft scored a direct hit among the vessels P.O.L. depot near Deventer. 1salvo direct hit on a W/O Richard Walton Ainsley causing smoke & flames. The remaining aircraft school, 2 salvoes direct hits on a garage. The guard fired into the smoke & flames, results not seen. room was attacked but no results observed. An office Close Army Support S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC attacked with cannon, strikes seen. Enemy battery. Abandoned due to weather. F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF F/O James Arthur Smith F/L George Edward Cassie F/S John Irvine W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey W/O John James Morgan W/O Hugh Barrie 3rd F/S John Quigley RAAF W/O Arthur Bales Armed Recce W/O Richard Walton Ainsley Rhine-Rees-Wesel. 2 Barges hit by R/P; no results 15th-17th W/O John Walter Shellard seen. 1 aircraft hit by flak & landed at B.80, pilot Pilots briefed for an attack on a Generals’ HQ at W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF uninjured. Intense flak from Xanten. Deventer. F/L Edward Alan Tennant 23rd F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 18th Close Army Support Weather Recce/Interdiction All pilots briefed for a big push over the Rhine to take F/O William Gordon Kemp Deventer. place this night. No.146 Wing are to carry out anti- F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Robert Logan flak attacks in support of the airborne troops. This W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Operation was against a HQ in Halle but was 4 Barges damaged. abandoned due to failing light & thick haze. F/S John Quigley RAAF Wing Show S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/S John Irvine As a result of the above an attack was made on a F/L William James Fowler RCAF Generals’ HQ just south of Deventer in which all F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Wesel-Dorsten & Wesel-Raesfeld. Squadrons took part. There were 5 distinct targets & F/O Robert Logan W/O John James Morgan No.263 Squadron was assigned Nos.3 & 4. 2 aircraft W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Richard Walton Ainsley attacked No.3 & a cloud of red brick dust was seen. W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF The remaining 6 aircraft attacked No.4 target, a W/O Arthur Bales 5th church, & scored direct hits with 2 salvoes of R/P. W/O John Walter Shellard No.257 Sqn disbanded & 5 of their pilots, F/O Robert The church was left burning. The HQs were of Logan, F/O Edwin John Whitfield, F/O James Arthur General Student & General Blaskowitz & the results 24th Smith, F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey & W/O Arthur were highly satisfactory. Towards the evening the whole battle area was Bales arrived for flying duties. We also receive 5 of S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC covered with a haze & dust so thick that Operations their aircraft, making our total strength 26 pilots & F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF were brought to a minimum. The battle, according 19 aircraft. F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey to unofficial reports is going very well & a good F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor foothold on the east bank of the Rhine. Armed Recce F/O Connel Joseph Devey Rhine crossings. 5 pairs took off on Armed Recces F/O James Arthur Smith Close Army Support during the day, but weather again was not helpful. W/O Rupert Alan Richardson HQ at Halle. 4 aircraft attacked this Priority 1 target. W/O John James Morgan A large white building appeared undamaged, but 10 stationary railway trucks attacked with R/P; no buildings nearby largely destroyed. There was 1 results seen. 4+ stationary M/T seen in a village. 19th explosion. 5 aircraft attacked priority 2 target & all F/L Edward Alan Tennant Wing Show R/P in target area. A large rectangular building was W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Repair factory north of Emmerich containing burning & 3 smaller fires in buildings. armoured vehicles. 8 aircraft attacked a rectangular S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Kemp had mechanical problem. Operation building at the eastern end of the target. At least 4 F/L William James Fowler RCAF abandoned. direct hits with R/P. Target area covered with smoke F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp & haze. F/O Robert Logan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Hugh Barrie F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Arthur Bales W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O James Arthur Smith W/O John Walter Shellard W/O John James Morgan F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O John James Morgan Anti-flak Patrol F/S John Quigley RAAF 1 M/T destroyed near Dorsten. Flak position Barge damaged with R/P. attacked with R/P & cannon & direct hit claimed. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward Armed Recce S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 80+ barges & 3-4 small boats attacked with claims of F/L William James Fowler RCAF 2 direct hits on the barges. It is regretted that W/O F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Barges near Wesel. Not attacked due to heavy flak. Rupert Alan Richardson is missing. His aircraft was F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF hit by flak, but he baled out so there is every hope F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey P/O David Edward Morgan that he landed safely & will get back eventually. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L George Edward Cassie F/O Connel Joseph Devey 6th-11th F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie arrived for flying duties F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Edwin John Whitfield from No.193 Sqn to take over ‘B’ Flight. F/O James Arthur Smith F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Richard Walton Ainsley 12th W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward posted to W/O John James Morgan Command No.266 Sqn. Our loss is their gain, a well- F/S John Quigley RAAF Road east of Wesel rippled with R/P & cannon. earned promotion. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Zutphen-Lochem canal. 4 barges damaged. 3 M/T & F/O Robert Logan F/O Robert Logan 1 tracked vehicle also. F/O Edwin John Whitfield F/O Edwin John Whitfield F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O James Arthur Smith W/O John Walter Shellard F/O Robert Logan Tanks at Zutphen-Isselburg. 2 R/P fired at 2 M/T on W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF the Keppel road junction, near misses claimed. 25th F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF posted to No.401 26th F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Sqn. Close Army Support F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Billets & defence position south-west of Arnhem. F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey Close Army Support With 12 aircraft of No.197 Sqn, many direct R/P hits, HQ in a house at Driel west of Arnhem. Many hits & a target covered in smoke. Southern part of the 9 Barges on Zutphen-Raalte canal damaged. huge mushroom of flame as the last R/P were fired. building destroyed; north-west portion badly F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Target destroyed. damaged but still standing. F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/L Edward Alan Tennant S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O John James Morgan F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey 31st F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O Edwin John Whitfield F/O Edwin John Whitfield to F/L. F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Robert Logan F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Richard Walton Ainsley Armed Recce W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan Zutphen. Ordered by Longbow to attack M/T on the W/O John James Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury road east of Zutphen. Approximately 10 well W/O Hugh Barrie scattered M/T attacked, 4 damaged. Armed Recce W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor The aircraft took off in 4s. The 1st section found 10+ F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF M/T including at least 1 well camouflaged tank Armed Recce along the edge of a road north of Raalte. An attack Zwolle-Deventer-Ryssen. Took off in 4’s. F/L Oldenzall. Scattered M/T found, but no attack made. was made but no results observed. Tennant’s section damaged 2 Barges; a Paddle Saw fires on Enschede aerodrome also 1 Me.109. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Steamer or Dredger damaged & 2 M/T destroyed, F/S John Quigley RAAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Fowler’s section claimed 4 Barges damaged, 1 W/O John James Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury smoker, 1 Tug destroyed & 3 M/T damaged. W/O John Walter Shellard F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Deventer. Returned to Base owing to R/T trouble. W/O Hugh Barrie F/L Edwin John Whitfield Doesburg-Zelhem-Ruurle-Greenle. Barge damaged W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Arthur Bales east of Deventer. W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Edward Alan Tennant Goor-Hengele. Attacked 5 mixed M/T damaged. F/O Edwin John Whitfield F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Morris Luck W/O Arthur Bales F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF

10th F/L Edward Alan Tennant APRIL 1945 Armed Recce F/O James Arthur Smith Water transport near Texel. Near misses with R/P on F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF B.89 Mill, Netherlands a 400-ton Barge, also strafed & it was last seen F/S John Irvine 1st smoking heavily, bows out of the water. Armed Recce F/L Edward Alan Tennant Shipping Strike Enschede-Almelo-Koeverden. Barge damaged near F/O James Arthur Smith Midget submarine off Knocke. Landed at B.83 & later Lingen. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF returned to B.89. F/L George Edward Cassie W/O Leslie J. Miller F/L George Edward Cassie W/O Morris Luck F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Army Close Support W/O Charles Archibald Bury Enschede-Almelo-Koeverden. 2 M/T destroyed, 1 Battalion HQ, Arnhem. Led by W/C Deall. 6 R/P F/S John Irvine damaged. salvoes on target which was obscured by smoke & F/L Edward Alan Tennant brick dust. Whole building gutted by fire. 16th F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie B.105 Drope, Germany F/L Edward Alan Tennant A memorable day, the Squadron for the 1st time in its 2nd F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF history moved into Germany, an airfield near Lingen. W/O Leslie Saunders, F/S William Rees Williams & F/O Connel Joseph Devey Sgt George Thomas Carter arrived for flying duties F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Close Army Support from No.84 GSU. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Mortars near Apeldoorn. P/O John Walter Shellard F/L George Edward Cassie Army Close Support F/O David Edward Morgan F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Telephone exchange south-east of Utrecht. No. 197 W/O Morris Luck P/O John Walter Shellard Sqn also took part, the formation was led by W/C W/O Arthur Bales F/O David Edward Morgan Deall. Target consisted of several buildings, 2 being F/S William Rees Williams allocated to us. Direct R/P hits on both buildings. 500-ton Barge towed by a small Tug south-east of F/L George Edward Cassie 4 guns south-west of Deventer. All R/P in target area. Vlieland. Barge sunk & Tug severely damaged. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie F/L George Edward Cassie F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Morris Luck F/L Edwin John Whitfield F/L William James Fowler RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/O Robert Logan P/O John Walter Shellard F/S John Irvine F/O David Edward Morgan F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Morris Luck Observation Post in a church tower in the village of W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury Edewecht west of Oldenburg. All R/P in target area. W/O Morris Luck F/S William Rees Williams Results not seen due to smoke & dust. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF 4th 11th F/O David Edward Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF appointed P/O. Shipping Strike W/O Morris Luck Tanker north of Nuld. 2 small Tanks damaged south W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Close Army Support of Zwolle. 1 HDT & 6 dug-in M/T destroyed. Under FCP Control. Abandoned due to weather. F/L Edward Alan Tennant 17th S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Connel Joseph Devey Shipping Strike F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/S John Irvine Shipping off Texel-Borkum. A convoy of 9 vessels seen F/O Robert Logan Sgt George Thomas Carter south of Borkum led by a 1,500-ton flak ship, the W/O Arthur Bales remaining vessels 500-tons. Attack pressed home Armed Recce through intense flak & a 500-ton Steamer received a 7th Trains north of Assen. Poor results in poor visibility. direct hit with R/P. Several strikes with cannon on Armed Recce F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor others. Intense flak from Terschilling & Borkum. Train previously attacked by No.266 Sqn. 40 R/P hits F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie scored, also well strafed. There was an explosion & F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Walter Shellard the train was left burning but 5 of the 8 aircraft were F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Morris Luck hit & damaged by debris. W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Leslie J. Miller F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Edwin John Whitfield Train near Assen. 1 aircraft returned with Shipping Strike F/O David Edward Morgan mechanical trouble. 40 trucks in Assen attacked with Same Convoy as above. 1 salvo direct hit amidships P/O John Walter Shellard R/P, no direct hits. 2nd attack was called off when Red on the largest vessel which was left smoking W/O Morris Luck Crosses seen. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O David Edward Morgan F/S William Rees Williams F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Charles Archibald Bury Army Close Support W/O Leslie Saunders Strong-points, guns & troops south-east of Barges at Harderwijk. 8 damaged. Direct R/P hit on Amsterdam. Camouflaged positions in a wood & gun Railway targets. 1 aircraft returned due to a shed at the south end of the Harbour. Intense pits along a road strafed. W/O Ainsley hit by flak & mechanical trouble. 2-3 trains in sidings. Intense 20mm & 40mm flak. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney baled out inside our lines. He returned in the evening. flak. Lead aircraft fired R/P, results not seen. Woodward RCAF crashed into the sea ½ mile from F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor the harbour. It is believed he was hit by flak. There is F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey very little hope of his having escaped & the Squadron W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF has lost 1 of its most popular & skilful pilots. F/O James Arthur Smith S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC 8th F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF Army Close Support 12th F/L George Edward Cassie Factory near Deventer. F/L Whitfield hit by flak over Armed Recce P/O John Walter Shellard the target & baled out in our lines. Railway targets. 6+ trucks destroyed; others F/O David Edward Morgan F/L George Edward Cassie damaged. A Loco with 20+ trucks also attacked. Loco W/O Hugh Barrie F/L William James Fowler RCAF destroyed & many tracks damaged. W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L Edwin John Whitfield F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Robert Logan F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Shipping north-east of Delfzijl. 4,000-ton Red Cross F/O David Edward Morgan F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor ship & 8 sea going Barges & Coasters off Borkum. 2 W/O Arthur Bales F/O Connel Joseph Devey destroyed & a flak ship silenced. W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Leslie J. Miller F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/S John Irvine F/O Connel Joseph Devey 9th Sgt George Thomas Carter F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 4 aircraft carried out a R/P attack on a dummy F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey Japanese type pillbox, a pit approximately 10 x 3 feet. Train between Emden-Aurich. Found north of Leer, P/O John Quigley RAAF The shooting was good despite poor visibility, but as probably loaded with wood. It was already burning W/O John James Morgan no direct hits the demonstration was not a success. in the middle. Whole train destroyed. F/S John Irvine S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF Army Close Support F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Robert Logan Guns on causeway north of Oldenburg. As the 1st F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Arthur Bales aircraft was taking off the port tyre burst. It swung P/O John Quigley RAAF F/S William Rees Williams to the left & rolled onto its back. F/O Devey was W/O Leslie J. Miller rescued from the wreck suffering with lacerations of W/O Leslie Saunders A train which was already on fire attacked with R/P the scalp & arms. It is feared it will be a few months F/S John Irvine & cannon & was wrecked in the centre & well alight. before he will be able to fly again which means the Sgt George Thomas Carter F/L George Edward Cassie Squadron loses another very popular member. P/O John Walter Shellard S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Shipping Strike W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant Shipping south-east of Wangerooge. 17+ vessels of W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey 200-4,000-tons, found north-west of Wilhelmshaven. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF 5 were flak ships. Attacked with R/P & cannon, 1 ship 3 Locos & 18 wagons destroyed near Bokel. P/O John Quigley RAAF of 1,500-tons left sinking. Another left smoking. F/L William James Fowler RCAF W/O Leslie Saunders S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Morris Luck W/O John James Morgan F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Leslie J. Miller F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S William Rees Williams P/O John Quigley RAAF 18th W/O Richard Walton Ainsley A train at Brake. R/P hits & 4 wagons destroyed. F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey admitted to Sick Quarters P/O John James Morgan F/L George Edward Cassie with injuries sustained in a motor accident when he F/S John Irvine F/O Robert Logan was proceeding to the 25th British Hospital to visit Sgt George Thomas Carter W/O Arthur Bales F/O Devey. The extent of his injuries, although not W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF serious, will entail his absence for 2-3 months. 2 Ships off Terschilling. R/P hits scored on both, 1 exploded throwing debris to 2,000 feet, damaging 1 26th Shipping Strike aircraft. The other hit on the waterline & left sinking. Armed Recce 2 3,000-tons Coasters off Borkum received direct R/P S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Train at Nielbull Station. Loco & 20 trucks damaged. hits; 1 giving off greyish smoke, the other sinking. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC P/O John Quigley RAAF F/O Robert Logan F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Morris Luck F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O James Arthur Smith P/O John James Morgan Train at Nielbull Station. Cannon strikes seen. W/O John James Morgan During the attack F/O David Edward Morgan was W/O Leslie Saunders 20th hit by flak & pulled up smoking. He called over the W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O John Morgan appointed P/O. R/T to say he was going to force-land. W/O Barrie P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Dennis Coles arrived for flying duties from followed him down to 300 feet & he made a good No.195 Sqn. landing. While he was making his landing, 2 Me.262s Shipping off Borkum. 20+ ships up to 1,500-tons attempted to bounce the section but were seen in found but were well inshore & protected by shore Shipping Strike time & engaged. 1 crashed in flames & the other batteries. Not suitable for R/P attack. Shipping near Cuxhaven. 2,000-ton cargo ship left quickly broke away & was last seen climbing very S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC burning from 1 salvo direct hit. 1 Minesweeper fast & outstripping the Typhoons in hot pursuit. This F/L George Edward Cassie damaged by 2 R/P & another damaged by cannon is the 1st enemy jet aircraft shot down by this Wing. P/O John Walter Shellard fire. Oil tanker received 2 direct R/P hits & well F/L William James Fowler RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF strafed. 1 motor launch also damaged. F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Hugh Barrie F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S William Rees Williams P/O John Quigley RAAF 1 aircraft returned with engine trouble & another P/O John James Morgan could not jettison tanks. 4 hits on E-Boat near Kiel. Close Army Support W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/L George Edward Cassie 80mm guns near Amersfoort. All R/P in target area. F/S John Irvine W/O Arthur Bales S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L George Edward Cassie 22nd F/S William Rees Williams P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Rupert Alan Richardson, missing on 19th March, W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF returned to the UK. He was rather badly burned & Transport near Wessermunde. W/O Morris Luck the Germans had placed him in Zwolle hospital F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Charles Archibald Bury which was later overrun by our troops & he was F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie evacuated to the UK. We wish him a speedy recovery. P/O John James Morgan F/S William Rees Williams P/O John Quigley RAAF 23rd W/O Leslie Saunders 19th Armed Recce W/O Dennis Coles Close Army Support North-west of Hamburg. Abandoned due to weather. F/S John Irvine Dug in positions south of Pappenburg. ‘Winkled’ the F/L George Edward Cassie Sgt George Thomas Carter Dewecht-Zwischenaher Lake road. F/O David Edward Morgan F/L George Edward Cassie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 27th F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Hugh Barrie F/L Ian Archibald McLean Thomson arrived as MO. P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Morris Luck W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury Armed Recce W/O Charles Archibald Bury Transport near Wessermunde. Loco & 30 trucks W/O Morris Luck 24th attacked with R/P. The train jumped the points & W/O Hugh Barrie Armed Recce collided with 15 more trucks, causing much damage. F/S William Rees Williams Trucks at Jever, 2 Red Cross trains at Wittmund & 2 S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Ju.88s on the ground at Ardorf. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor Winkle. Hits on 7-8 buildings & a windmill. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Robert Logan F/L George Edward Cassie F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF P/O John James Morgan P/O John Quigley RAAF P/O John Quigley RAAF F/O David Edward Morgan 29th W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Eric James Harold Rogers arrived for flying W/O Morris Luck W/O Richard Walton Ainsley duties from No.84 GSU. W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Dennis Coles F/S William Rees Williams Sgt George Thomas Carter 30th P/O John Walter Shellard Move to B.111, Ahlhorn, Germany. 25th Strong Point near Pappenburg. Several buildings Armed Recce received direct R/P hits. Area also strafed. Cannon strikes on a Loco & 12 trucks at Heide.

Marshall Montgomery & the cease-fire was given at P/O Quigley appointed Sports Officer & already MAY 1945 0800 this morning. proving very keen. F/S John Irvine appointed Warrant Officer. B.111 Ahlhorn, Germany 15th News came through that Hitler is dead, resulting in 6th 12 aircraft assisted in the display by the Group. The much celebrating. P/O Morgan (Dave) returned after having spent a gaggle flew over Lingen-Utrecht-Amsterdam-The few days as a POW. He was plied with questions Hague-Rotterdam-Zwolle. 3rd regarding his ‘lot’ & had quite a lot of interesting Shipping Strike information to divulge which was ‘lapped up’ by the 16th Lubeck Bay. Abandoned due to weather. boys. Repeat of formation, over Hanover-Bremen- S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Wilhelmshaven-Emden. F/L Edward Alan Tennant 7th F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 12 aircraft sent out over the old front line to display 17th F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor our ‘might’ to a General who was reluctant to Pilots started doing Orderly Office duty today. The 1st P/O John James Morgan surrender. Desired effect was obtained. lucky gentleman, P/O Morgan, kicks off for ‘A’ Flight. W/O Leslie Saunders F/O David Edward Morgan went home on leave - W/O Leslie J. Miller good show. 19th W/O Dennis Coles F/L Fowler fell into the water when the yacht he was 8th sailing capsized on Drummer Lake. He swam for his Neustadt Bay. 10,000-ton motor vessel hit amidships VE-DAY life until he found that he was thrashing madly in 3 & left smoking. Motor vessel of 12,000-tons seen on The war for all practical purposes is over. Cessation feet of water! fire from stem to stern. of hostilities with effect from 2359 tonight. The S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Officers waited on the Airmen at lunch & wound up 22nd F/O James Arthur Smith the day with a champagne dinner in their own mess. The NCO’s think we may be staying here as hot water F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF A good time was had by all. ‘Archie’ Bury picked the has been ‘laid on’ in the Officers quarters! F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor proper day to get married. P/O John James Morgan 25th W/O Dennis Coles 10th F/O Robert Logan to F/L. W/O Morris Luck We led the Wing in a practice flypast to prepare for W/O Leslie J. Miller the Victory Fly-Past. 27th W/O Leslie Saunders F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey & F/O Connel Joseph We flew over Celle to herald the arrival of No.84 Devey posted non-effective sick - we hope they Group HQ. 4th return. A Bücker Bü.181 containing 2 Jerry pilots, landed to 29th give themselves up. 11th W/O Morris Luck posted to PRC for boat to New The NCO’s held a party in their Mess in the evening & Zealand. ‘Good Luck Lucky.’ 5th several Officers were invited. The celebrations were The Hun in North-West Germany, Netherlands & long & cheery. 30th Denmark surrendered unconditionally to Field A few pilots went to Amsterdam to study bombing of 12th the 88 Corps HQ.

Brief summary of movements of the Squadron & Offensive Operations 1st January 1945-31st May 1945 8th February 1945 B.70 Antwerp to B.89 Mill, Netherlands 16th April 1945 B.89 Mill, Netherlands to B.105 Drope, Germany 30th April 1945 B.105 Drope, Germany to B.111 Ahlhorn, Germany

120 Offensive Operations 546 Offensive Sorties 4242 Rocket Projectiles 112 Fragmentation R/P 19 Incendiary R/P Total weight of R/P 267,960lbs - approximately 117 tons.