Aircraft diversion procedures
Title
Aircraft diversion procedures
Description
General principles and role of Bomber Command central flying control, communication of diversion airfield on group operational frequencies and rules and procedures for diverting aircraft. Followed by Fighter Command procedures for sector controllers, night fighter aerodromes, and general rules and procedures.
Language
Format
Two page typewritten document
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
MSoltysiakB781032-170622-200001, MSoltysiakB781032-170622-200002
Transcription
[underlined] DIVERSIONS. [/underlined]
1. General Principle – always divert to a FIT aerodrome in preference to landing aircraft in bad weather, provided endurance is adequate.
2. CENTRAL FLYING CONTROL (B.C. Ops. Room) watch over diversion policy and are available for advice to all Commands during the 24 hours.
3. Function of Central Flying Control in BOMBER COMMAND is:
(a) To advise Group Commanders during [underlined] the planning stage [/underlined] of operations should large-scale diversion be considered probable.
(b) To advise and co-ordinate diversions [underlined] during operations [/underlined] when Groups can no longer land their own aircraft.
(c) To co-ordinate the efforts of Groups so as to make the best use of available diversion airfields.
4. Central Flying Control must therefore have the latest information as to the weather fitness of Airfields (colour code on Met. teleprinter lines) besides surface equipment serviceability (daily from Groups). They also keep fullest details regarding each aerodrome.
5. Central Flying Control inform Groups as to their position in a diversion. Each Group makes its own arrangements in allotting to stations. Except for local diversion by [missing word], Control Officers must [underlined] only receive diversions through their own Group. [/underlined]
6. The Diversion Signal is transmitted on Group operational frequency in the appropriate code.
7. No other method than that of the letters allotted to diversions airfields in the code is to be used. Should it be necessary to divert aircraft to an aerodrome not included in the Code, the name call-sign and frequency, can be spelled in the Code alphabet.
8. Should a station regard diversion as necessary either before take-off or during slight, Group Flying Control must be consulted.
9. When an aircraft is diverted in Bomber or Coastal Command, the Control Officer at aircraft's base will inform his Group Control who will inform Control Officer at Station of destination. Message should be prefaced "Flying Control" and contain the following information:
(a) Aircraft's type. R/T and W/T call signs, letter, and squadron.
(b) Last time of W/T communication and with whom.
(c) Position and bearing of aircraft at the time, if known.
(d) Endurance remaining.
(e) Action taken – [indecipherable words] to proceed to . . . . . . . "
(f) Acknowledged or not by aircraft.
(g) E.T.A.
10. When aircraft are being diverted, remember:
(a) To make provisions for transport and in Officers' and Sergeants' Mess.
(b) To keep aircraft base informed as each aircraft lands.
[page break]
2
(c) Warn Group if [missing word] Station becomes overcrowded or if airfield surface becomes badly cut up.
11. In all cases of diversion, a close check on the aircraft's movement should be kept in collaboration with the F.C. Liaison Officer at Fighter Group.
[underlined] FIGHTER COMMAND PROCEDURE. [/underlined]
1. Diversions are arranged by the Flying Control Officer in consultation with the Sector Controller.
2. Every control room is equipped with a "DIVERSION CHART" showing track to and call-signs of every other Night Fighter Station within a radius of 150 miles, together with details as as [sic] to length and direction of runways, lights etc.,
3. All night-fighter aerodromes keep a listening watch on "Command Guard" (Channel C) for homing aircraft in distress. When need arises, a D/F Tender, coupled with a high-powered transmitter, is transferred to this frequency. One of the two Station D/F Tenders must always be available for this purpose.
4. Normally an aircraft will be homed over its base on Channel A and then given by the F.C.O.
(a) Bearing to diversion aerodrome. (b) Call Sign to diversion aerodrome
(c) Orders to change to Command Guard and then call diversion aerodrome.
5. F.C.O. of diversion aerodrome must be notified and:
(a) Asked to accept aircraft and provide homing facilities on Command Guard.
(b) Given aircraft's call sign and type.
(c) Approximate position and endurance.
This is normally done by Sector Controller.
6. If the aircraft has insufficient endurance for the above procedure, it will be homed direct to the diversion aerodrome. In this case, the Sector Controller will pass instructions to aircraft, as he alone is in a position to fix the aircraft's position and plot its course under the control of the diversion aerodrome.
7. Sector Controllers keep in close touch with F.C.L.O. at Group as to possible diversion aerodromes.
8. The F.C.O. at the diversion aerodrome will – immediately the aircraft has landed – inform the F.C.O. at parent aerodrome (through Sector). If the aircraft is on operational flight, F.C.O. must arrange for Intelligence [missing word] interrogate the pilot, and for transport and accommodation.
1. General Principle – always divert to a FIT aerodrome in preference to landing aircraft in bad weather, provided endurance is adequate.
2. CENTRAL FLYING CONTROL (B.C. Ops. Room) watch over diversion policy and are available for advice to all Commands during the 24 hours.
3. Function of Central Flying Control in BOMBER COMMAND is:
(a) To advise Group Commanders during [underlined] the planning stage [/underlined] of operations should large-scale diversion be considered probable.
(b) To advise and co-ordinate diversions [underlined] during operations [/underlined] when Groups can no longer land their own aircraft.
(c) To co-ordinate the efforts of Groups so as to make the best use of available diversion airfields.
4. Central Flying Control must therefore have the latest information as to the weather fitness of Airfields (colour code on Met. teleprinter lines) besides surface equipment serviceability (daily from Groups). They also keep fullest details regarding each aerodrome.
5. Central Flying Control inform Groups as to their position in a diversion. Each Group makes its own arrangements in allotting to stations. Except for local diversion by [missing word], Control Officers must [underlined] only receive diversions through their own Group. [/underlined]
6. The Diversion Signal is transmitted on Group operational frequency in the appropriate code.
7. No other method than that of the letters allotted to diversions airfields in the code is to be used. Should it be necessary to divert aircraft to an aerodrome not included in the Code, the name call-sign and frequency, can be spelled in the Code alphabet.
8. Should a station regard diversion as necessary either before take-off or during slight, Group Flying Control must be consulted.
9. When an aircraft is diverted in Bomber or Coastal Command, the Control Officer at aircraft's base will inform his Group Control who will inform Control Officer at Station of destination. Message should be prefaced "Flying Control" and contain the following information:
(a) Aircraft's type. R/T and W/T call signs, letter, and squadron.
(b) Last time of W/T communication and with whom.
(c) Position and bearing of aircraft at the time, if known.
(d) Endurance remaining.
(e) Action taken – [indecipherable words] to proceed to . . . . . . . "
(f) Acknowledged or not by aircraft.
(g) E.T.A.
10. When aircraft are being diverted, remember:
(a) To make provisions for transport and in Officers' and Sergeants' Mess.
(b) To keep aircraft base informed as each aircraft lands.
[page break]
2
(c) Warn Group if [missing word] Station becomes overcrowded or if airfield surface becomes badly cut up.
11. In all cases of diversion, a close check on the aircraft's movement should be kept in collaboration with the F.C. Liaison Officer at Fighter Group.
[underlined] FIGHTER COMMAND PROCEDURE. [/underlined]
1. Diversions are arranged by the Flying Control Officer in consultation with the Sector Controller.
2. Every control room is equipped with a "DIVERSION CHART" showing track to and call-signs of every other Night Fighter Station within a radius of 150 miles, together with details as as [sic] to length and direction of runways, lights etc.,
3. All night-fighter aerodromes keep a listening watch on "Command Guard" (Channel C) for homing aircraft in distress. When need arises, a D/F Tender, coupled with a high-powered transmitter, is transferred to this frequency. One of the two Station D/F Tenders must always be available for this purpose.
4. Normally an aircraft will be homed over its base on Channel A and then given by the F.C.O.
(a) Bearing to diversion aerodrome. (b) Call Sign to diversion aerodrome
(c) Orders to change to Command Guard and then call diversion aerodrome.
5. F.C.O. of diversion aerodrome must be notified and:
(a) Asked to accept aircraft and provide homing facilities on Command Guard.
(b) Given aircraft's call sign and type.
(c) Approximate position and endurance.
This is normally done by Sector Controller.
6. If the aircraft has insufficient endurance for the above procedure, it will be homed direct to the diversion aerodrome. In this case, the Sector Controller will pass instructions to aircraft, as he alone is in a position to fix the aircraft's position and plot its course under the control of the diversion aerodrome.
7. Sector Controllers keep in close touch with F.C.L.O. at Group as to possible diversion aerodromes.
8. The F.C.O. at the diversion aerodrome will – immediately the aircraft has landed – inform the F.C.O. at parent aerodrome (through Sector). If the aircraft is on operational flight, F.C.O. must arrange for Intelligence [missing word] interrogate the pilot, and for transport and accommodation.
Collection
Citation
“Aircraft diversion procedures,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 18, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/34976.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.