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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/247/7524/YDorricottAArmy2465v.1.pdf
16cef0bde6e585ad0ab8bee9626b6e37
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dorricott, Leonard William
Leonard Dorricott
Len Dorricott
L W Dorricott
Description
An account of the resource
72 items. An oral history interview with Rosemary Dorricott about her husband Flying Officer Leonard William Dorricott DFM (1923-2014, 1230753, 1230708 Royal Air Force). Leonard Dorricott was a navigator with 460 and 576 Squadrons. He flew 34 operations including Operation Manna, Dodge and Exodus. He was one of the crew who flew in Lancaster AR-G -George, now preserved in the Australian War Memorial. He was a keen amateur photographer and the collection contains his photographs, logbook and papers. It also contains A Dorricott’s First World War Diary, and photographs of Leonard Dorricott’s log book being reunited with the Lancaster at the Australian War Memorial.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Rosemary Dorricott and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-10-07
2015-11-05
Rights
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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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Dorricott, LW
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
3 Deseado
A Dorricott
2 Besford Sq
Belle vue
Shrewsbury
Salop
[underlined] Oct 28th 1914 [/underlined]
Embanked for [one indecipherable word]
29th Oct 1914 at South Hampton, [sic] on a passenger boat named SS Deseado, set sail about 7.30pm
[page break]
On the 30th sea fairly calm but weather stormy. On 31st fine day. We were [deleted] in the bay of Biscay on Sunday 1st Nov. It was very ruff [sic] it tossed us about and cleared all the crocks off the tables when we were having dinner.
We came in view of land on Tuesday
[page break]
between the coasts of North Africa and Portugal also of Spain. The rock at Gibaraltar [sic] were a site [sic] worth seeing we could see them fairly well although it was a bit misty. All round the coast it was very mountainous. We could see the forts very plainely, [sic] and we could see them
[page break]
signaling [sic] from the one side to the other.
The towns in Spain looked very funny the houses were all white.
The rock Giberaltar [sic] stood out in the water more than the other, and it is a very high rock, the fort [sic] are placed at the very edge. There were
[page break]
some very high Mountains on the coasts of North Africa, they were also very picturess. There is about 8 boats with soldiers and horses in with us besides crusers [sic] to guard us.
We passed some of the troops from India going to the front, we passed them at Giberaltar [sic] on Tuesday,
[page break]
about 5pm they were 4 and 5 Borderers.
[deleted] The last sight of land again on Tuesday morning. [/deleted]
It is the finest day we have had since we started, the sea looked splendid. We could see one of the towns [inserted] in North Africa [/inserted] lited [sic] up from the ship, on Wednesday night splendedly [sic] We also passed the 2nd Shropshires going to England on
[page break]
Thursday about 7pm they are going to have 6 days furlow before going to the front.
We passed more troops going to England on Friday Nr Malta about 4pm. We landed at Malta about 4.30.pm on Friday, and ankored [sic] there for the night, about 2 mile out
[page break]
from the shore Malta is a very nice town and is situated close the to the shore. we could see the lights of the town very plainly, and when the surch [sic] lites [sic] came over us it lit the boat up like day.
We had to wait for escorts at Malta because our other
[page break]
left us, to take the troops to England that we met from India.
The building in Malta look to be very well built their [sic] are some very fine churches their [sic] We started from Malta on Saturday morning aboat [sic] 8.30 [inserted] am [/inserted] with a fresh escort of Battle ships and torpeado [sic] boats we also had
[page break]
a submarine with us it was tugged by another boat. It was very ruff [sic] on Sunday again especialy after tea. It was not quite so ruff [sic] as last Sun when we were in the Bay of Bisky [sic] We were inockulated [sic] on Tuesday 10th Nov, we also reached Port Said on Tuesday about
[page break]
9 pm and stayed their [sic] till 5am on Wednesday morning we could see some of the streets, and see some of the Hotels. The natives are a tan colour. They were working all night, they were shouting all the time, makeing [sic] very funny noises There is a very big dock their [sic] with
[page break]
all kinds of boats in it. We saw them loading the vessels with coal, they carry it in wiskets from of [sic] a coal lanch [sic] We came into the Suez canal about 7pm There is a railway running along the side of the canal it run’s [sic] for miles and miles. Most of the native’s [sic] live in tents other’s [sic] live in stone build [sic]
[page break]
sheds, with a [inserted] slightly [/inserted] slooping [sic] roof, there are some very picture’ss [sic] building such, as “Palais. D Administration. Du. Canal” this is a very fine building We saw droves of camels, donkes, [sic] and mules, on the desert we also saw them drawing the [deleted] the [/deleted] sand and, spar from the hillocks The spar resembled [deleted] britez [/deleted] britze very
[page break]
much. They get it from big hillocks close to the canal They fill truck which run on rails for the donkey’s [sic] and mules, to pull, with slime, and the camals [sic] have to take the big lumps on there [sic] backs, in wooden boxes, the boys lead them about, and the men load them up
[page break]
The nataves [sic] run after the ship after pennies which the soldiers threw to them. The canal is about 100 yards wide and about 90 miles long. We passed a ship load of English passengers at “Gare De. Ballah, near the railway station We saw a lot of Royal Engeniers [sic] from [deleted] Lankeshire [/deleted]
[page break]
Lancashire at “Gare. De. Kantara the barricks, [sic] in which they stayed were very good looking building’s, [sic] build [sic] [deleted] of [/deleted] with stones, the roofs [sic] were flat.
We had five of the natives on board selling, tirkish –[sic] delite, [sic] post cards, cigeretts, [sic] and matches. We saw about 7 dredgers at work
[page break]
in the canal.
It is supprising [sic] to see the number of natives that work in the hillocks getting the spar The engins [sic] on the railway are something similar to the Midland railways Company’s engins, [sic] they go about 30 miles per hour.
The trees are very different to ours
[page break]
there is one class of tree that looks [inserted] like [/inserted] our fir, We saw some of the Kirkers’ from India at “Gare. De. Kantara camping in tents. We had to stop again for a fresh escort just out side a town called “Port Suez” or the town of Suez on Wednesday
[page break]
night, we were also there all day on Thursday.
On Friday we went on shore in coal boats drawn by a tug. When we got on the shore we went for a march around the town of Suez and to a-nother [sic] town about 1 mile away. The town is a lovely place. the houses are build [sic]
[page break]
of stone, and then plastered [deleted] over [/deleted] over There is generaly [sic] a lot of fancy wood work in the front of the houses which makes them look pretty. It is supprising [sic] to see the different coulors [sic] of the people there, there are some white people their, [sic] mostly French and Spaniards
[page break]
Then there are the natives which are tan coulored, [sic] also a lot of niggers. When we were on the march they stopped us and told us to go and paddle in the sea, which we enjoyed very much, as it was very dusty, and our feet were hot from marching. Then we went and had some
[page break]
thing to eat, a hard roll like a dog biscuit and a sardines.
Then we went to see a football match between the right and left half [indecipherable word] of our brittalian [sic] they had to finish before the proper time as it was getting dark, we then made our way to the shore but it was to [sic] ruff [sic] to go across to our ship in the coal
[page break]
boat, so we had to stop the night in a cargo boat called “Neghileh” we were packed like sardines in a box, some of us had to sleep on the top deck, our company were sleeping in a poky old hole were [sic] there had been a lot of hay, and which smelt [sic] of tobacco [indecipherable word] very bad, we
[page break]
had to sleep in our cloths [sic] and had our boots for a pillow, we did not have much to eat and only water to drink. We came back again on (Sat) morning about 9pm and glad we were to get a good breakfast. We saw some of the native police x they look very well in there [sic] uniform
[page break]
but I should not like there [sic] job as the natives are a ruff [sic] lot to deal with, the mounted police have splended [sic] horses. I only saw 2 bicicles, [sic] and I did not see a motor car at all their. [sic]
There has about 75 thousand Indian troops come into the harbour today Monday 16th Nov
[page break]
for the front.
We started again from the Suez harbour on Wednesday morning about 9am. The town of Suez is in Arabia. Our company were inockulated [sic] again on Thursday 19th Nov. We have two big gun’s [sic] on boat they are 4.7 bore. I saw the sailors practising
[page break]
this morning Friday our sailors are very good with them they hit the target almost every time, we have been rear guard biggest part of the way yet.
We [deleted] got to Aden on Monday at 11am were [sic] we stayed to post letters, and waite [sic] for a fresh escort. On Tuesday
[page break]
there several vessels came into the harbour with Austrailian [sic] and New Zeland [sic] troops on them, they were going to Aldershot for a short time and then going to the front if they were wanted. Aden is a very quiet place it look’s [sic] a lonely place to live at.
[page break]
There is a big barracks their, [sic] were [sic] they bring rigements [sic] that have disgraced there [sic] self as a punishment. They do not keep [inserted] them [/inserted] their [sic] more than 12 months because it is so lonely [insered] and difficult to get water [/inserted] We started from their [sic] on Thursday at 1.30 On Sunday 29th I was vaxanated [sic] most of the company were done on (Sat)
[page break]
[underlined] December 1914 [/inderlined]
We reached Bom Bay [sic] on Tuesday Dec. 1st at 7pm we ancored [sic] just outside the town till Wednesday morning and then we went in the dock, we were allowed [sic] off the boat from 4pm till 9pm to go just around the dock buildings
[page break]
only. Bom Bay [sic] is a very pretty place. Their [sic] is a big Y.M.C.A. their [sic] They use bullocks mostly to do the hauling an ploughing and use ponnies [sic] to do the cab work There is a splended [sic] market their, [sic] it is much bigger than the one at Shrewsbury.
[page break]
We started from Bom Bay [sic] for Calcutta on (Thur.) about 12 oclock. We were traveling [sic] on the Great Indian Peninsula and the Bengal Nagpur railways. The [indecipherable word] ride through the cuntry [sic] was lovely we saw droves of cattle, sheep, and goats, and a lot of monkeys
[page break]
India is a cuntry [sic] with a tremengous [sic] quantity of fruit growing in it We saw large quantites [sic] of bananas Oranges and [deleted] coca [/deleted] cocoa [sic] nuts We were three days going from Bom Bay [sic] to Calcutta we only stoped [sic] just to get our food at different stations.
[page break]
We landed at Calcutta on (Sun) about 3.30. We went on a [indecipherable word] boat called the “City of Marseilles” as soon as we could after landing. It was not so fine a boat as the Deseado We started from Calcutta on Monday morning about 7.30 for
[page break]
Rangoon. We arrived at Rangoon on Thursday morning about 7am. We disembarked about 10am. the natives brought us roses, cigars and matches and gave them to us. We then marched through the town up to our barracks, we had 3 bands
[page break]
playing us up there. The barracks are very nice places, we each have a bed and a locker of our own. Rangoon is a splendid place by what I have seen up to now. There are several other barracks were [sic] we are with different rigements [sic] in them.
[page break]
Part of our company and D company had to march back to the ship about 4 pm because we had to go back [inserted] to [/inserted] an island about 300 miles from Rangoon to guard convicts. the island is called Andaman island. We were allowed to go off the ship from
[page break]
3pm till 9.30 pm on Friday I went for a strool [sic] through the town and afterwards to the picture palace Rangoon is a buisness [sic] like town you can get almost everything you can menshon [sic] from the shops.
The shops are [indecipherable word] very much
[page break]
different to what they are in England. There is very [inserted] little [/inserted] frontage to them they are all open in the front so that you can see them making the things inside them. There are a good many British people in Rangoon. I was in the Y.M.C.A. on
[page break]
Saturday evening it is a lovely place. On Sunday morning the Wostershire [sic] regiement [sic] came on the boat they were going to England and then to the front. We are going to get of [sic] at Port Blair on one of the Andaman, [inserted] isles [/isles] and then the boat is going to take
[page break]
the Wostershire [sic] regiement [sic] on to Calcutta.
We left Rangoon about 11.30 [inserted] am [/inserted] on Sunday, we reached Port Blair on Tuesday morning at 7am. [inserted] Dec 10th 1914 [/inserted] Port Blair is a nice little place we have decent barracks, nearly the same as those at Rangoon
Dec 21st my birthday
[page break]
Dec 22nd I was on guard for my first time I was on guard with 2 more at a wireless station on the Aberdeen island about 1 mile from Ross island There is about 13000 prisoners on the two island There is a very big prison on
[page break]
the Aberdeen island were [sic] most of the prisoners are kept We did not have a very good day on Christmas day we had stew for dinner, and each man had 1 packet of cigarettes and a cigar, we also had a bottle of pop. we did not have any milk in our tea and
[page break]
very little sugar. On New Years Day we had bacon and 2 eggs for breakfast, beef and potatoes and pudding for dinner we were also allowed 1 [inserted] tin [/instered] herrings between 3 for our tea, so that is all the Xmas and New Year we have had.
[page break]
On New Years Day we selebarated [sic] what is called procklumation [sic] day in India the chief commisoner [sic] was there.
Ross island [inserted] is [/inserted] a very small island it is about 2 miles all around it It is very quiet here [inserted] there is [/inserted] no place of ammusement [sic] of any kind
[page break]
The natives of these islands are called Andamanese. They are supposed to be one of the lowest tipe [sic] of umanity [sic] there is in exstance [sic] They wear no cloths [sic] at all except a string tied around their middle and some of them not even that.
[page break]
They are not very big about 4’2” or 3” in hight [sic] with very black curley [sic] hair There [sic] skin is also very black.
Up to about 50 years ago they were savages, and used to kill everybody that went into their quarters unless they belonged to their tribe. Their [sic] is twelve tribes
[page break]
of them, At one time they were a very big race of people and used to cover biggest part of Burma, but have been driven down by the other races from the north, till their [sic] is very few of them left, these islands are the only places their [sic] are any left except a few in
[page break]
the south of Burma They are very good shots with bows and arrows, and live entirly [sic] by fishing and hunting. Their [sic] is one tribe still that are savages called gallowoys, and often when convicts go to cut timber from the part off [sic] the island in which they live,
[page break]
they kill them Since we have been at Port Blair there has been a fight between the gallowoys and the other Andamanese It was over some of the convicts cutting some cocoa [sic] nut trees down the gallowoys killed several convicts, then the other Andamanese
[page break]
that are more civelezed, [sic] and are emploued [sic] by the government of India to keep the gallowoys quiet went to stop them and then they started to fight but it did not last but a day or two or we should have had to have gone to help the Andamanese
[page break]
The reason they started this settlement here was because years ago when sailing boats were mostly used, in stormy weather this part becomes very rough so that boats used to get drifted onto these islands when crossing the bay of Bengal these islands
[page break]
are in the direct line boats take when crossing the bay.
When the boats got drifted unto the islands, and were waiteing [sic] for the sea to get calm the Andamanese used to rush down upon them and kill them and take all the things belonging them
[page break]
This was a big loss to the government (then the so called East Indian company) So they determined to start a settlement here so that if any boats got drifted the [inserted] people [/inserted] would be able to come on shore in safety, They had very great diffucalty [sic] in starting it they had to drive
[page break]
the natives off. and had many big battles with them, but after a time they began to get more freindly [sic] towards one another They afterwards started a convict settlement [sic] and build [sic] a big prison on Aberdeen Island which has about 13000 convicts in it.
[page break]
On Sunday 28 Mar I saw a shark which the convicts had caught, with a ordainary [sic] fishing line. it was only a younge [sic] one and was exactaley [sic] 8 feet long. its two side fins are 20 inches long and the fin on the tope [sic] of its back is 15 inches long.
[page break]
We left Port Blair for Singapore on Good Friday Apr 2 we started at 6pm on board a small troop ship called Mayo. The 2nd forth [sic] Somersets realeived [sic] us. We landed at Rangoon on Sunday morning (Easter Sunday) about 8.30. We were allowed to [inserted] go [/inserted] off the boat from 10am
[page break]
to 6pm. I first went up to the barracks to see some off [sic] my pal’s [sic] that were in the hospital that had been left behind the rest of the brittalion [sic] when they went to Singapore. After dinner I went to see the pogoda [sic] it is a magnificunt [sic] place, it is the
[page break]
finest pogoda [sic] in the world and is supposed to be one of the seven wonders of the world. It would be useless to attempt to describe it. We saw some very find carveing [sic] at the show room at port Blair but it is nothing to be compared with
[page break]
the carveing [sic] in the pagoda. Their [sic] is four entrances to it and you have to go up a lot of steps to get to the palace were [sic] [indecipherable words] are along the bottom of the steps there are people selling all kinds of things, especialy [sic] candles, also a lot of natives begging The natives have
[page break]
to take off their shoes before approaching the idle [sic] which they wish to worship. I afterwords [sic] went to the enclousure [sic] were [sic] the wild [inserted] beasts [/inserted] are kept. I saw several kinds of snakes, bears, lions, tigers, elephants, camels, dears [sic], monkeys, parots [sic], and many more things I cannot remember
[page break]
the names off [sic].
We started for Singapore on Easter Monday with the men that were left in charge of the lugage [sic] at Rangoon and those that were left behind in the hospital that were [inserted] now [/inserted] able to travell [sic]. We reached Singapore on Sat 10th Apr; Singapore
[page break]
is a very fine place, must hotter than Port Blair.
We started from Singapore on Tuesday 13th for Hongkong [sic] in China on a boat called Eumaeus. We reached Hongkong [sic] on Sun. 17th Apr.
[page break]
[2 blank pages]
[page break]
[numbers]
[page break]
[6 pages of addresses]
[page break]
[notes]
[page break]
[addresses]
[page break]
[list of locations and other notes]
passed a ship full of English passengers
[list of locations]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
A Dorricott's army diary
Description
An account of the resource
A handwritten notebook containing the war diary of A Dorricott from October 1914. He embarks the SS Deseado at Southampton and sails through the Bay of Biscay, past Gibraltar to Malta. They continued with naval escorts to Port Said, through the Suez canal, a stop at Aden then on to Bombay, Calcutta then finally Rangoon. After a stay there he sails for Singapore then Hong Kong. He describes the trip with comments about Australian and New Zealand troops on their way to the Western Front, the coaling station, his living conditions, the food, and the animals he saw.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
A Dorricott
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One handwritten notebook
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Diary
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
YDorricottAArmy2465v10001,
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
British Army
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Nicki Brain
Alan Pinchbeck
Karl Williams
David Bloomfield
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Burma
Burma--Rangoon
China
China--Hong Kong
Egypt
Egypt--Port Said
Egypt--Suez Canal
Great Britain
England--Southampton
India
India--Mumbai
India--Kolkata
Malta
Singapore
Yemen (Republic)
North Africa
England--Hampshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1914
1915
animal
military living conditions
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16679/MCheshireGL72021-181210-090002.2.jpg
5724394ef6d02df28e38750134092bc7
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] ABSTRACT FROM BOMBER COMMAND QUARTERLY REVIEW. JUNE 1944 [/underlined]
[underlined] Mailly le Camp Military Depot and Tank Park. [/underlined]
As will be seen in the photograph included in this issue, the damage inflicted in the attack of 3/4 May was on a tremendous scale. This Target comprised one of the chief German tank training centres in France and apart from the material damage, the enemy suffered heavy losses in troops. The importance attached to its complet [sic] destruction is indicated by the weight of bombs dropped. 1,776 tons. Very heavy destruction was wrought throughout the large group of M.T. and barrack buildings. Not one of the 47 M.T. buildings on the north side of the site has escaped damage, 34 being totally destroyed. A large group of about 114 barrack buildings also suffered severe damage. Further destruction was inflicted through out workshops to the south of this group, and to the east a group of M.T. buildings, and ammunition dump, range, training area and tank garages.
[paragraph deleted] [underlined] 29/30 April. Clermont-Ferrand Aircraft Factory [/underlined]
216 tons.
Destruction here was widespread and included two very large hangars destroyed and nine others badly damaged. The main six-bay workshop was half demolished and the offices ruined by a direct hit. No fewer than 40 other buildings were affected the main road and light railway serving the airfield were torn up in many places and there were 100 craters on the landing ground. [/paragraph deleted]
[underlined] Toulouse. [/underlined]
5/6 April. Aircraft assembly works, Montaudran airfield. 574 tons.
1/2 May. Aircraft assembly works, explosive works. 515 tons.
The target area contained four priority objectives - the S.N.C.A. de S.E. aircraft assembly plant, the Ateliers Regionnaux de l’Artillerie de l’Air (aircraft repair plant), the Louis Breguet aircraft factory, and the Montaudrun airfield. All suffered tremendous damage, most of the buildings being either destroyed or badly damaged and a number of aircraft were affected on the ground.
[underlined] 1/2 May. Lyons Motor Vehicle Works. 353 tons. [/underlined]
Almost the entire works was damaged. The despatch shed for lorries was almost completely destroyed, and the shed where these were held in stock was very severely damaged. Elsewhere throughout the plant units affected in varying degrees were the workshop for the assembly of lorry chassis, cast-iron foundry, workshop for stamping machines, hardening and welding, the administrative office, laboratory, the workshop for making transmission units, and the gear cutting shop.
[underlined] Munich. [/underlined] 24/25 April.
This attack produced damage on a scale seldom achieved in relation to the size of the force employed. Most of Munich’s important public buildings and business property, public utilities and transport facilities have been destroyed. The city is one of Germany’s principal garrison towns and no less than six groups of barracks have received extensive damage. Several buildings used by the Nazi party have either been completely gutted or severely damaged.
[underlined] Brunswick [/underlined] 22/23 April 22/23 May.
The greater proportion of damage was inflicted in the first of the above attacks with considerable destruction to the business and residential area south of the city centre. Also involved were the marshalling yard, and railway equipment works of Vereinigte Putzkraftwagen.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Abstract from Bomber Command quarterly review, June 1944
Description
An account of the resource
Provides results of attacks on Mailly le Camp military depot and tank park 3/4 May, Clerment-Ferrand aircraft factory 29/30 April, Toulouse aircraft assembly works and Montaudran airfield 5/6 April and 1/2 May, Lyon Motor vehicle works 1/2 May, Munich 24/25 April, Brunswick 22/23 April and 22/23 May
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-06
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCheshireGL72021-181210-090002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Mailly-le-Camp
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Toulouse
France--Lyon
Germany
Germany--Munich
Germany--Braunschweig
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-05-03
1944-05-04
1944-04-29
1944-04-30
1944-04-05
1944-04-06
1944-05-01
1944-05-02
1944-04-24
1944-04-25
1944-04-22
1944-04-23
1944-05-22
1944-05-23
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. 617 Squadron bomb damage assessments
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One-page typewritten document
bombing
Bombing of Mailly-le-Camp (3/4 May 1944)
bombing of Toulouse (5/6 April 1944)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/886/10930/MOrmerodA[Ser -DoB]-151001-01.pdf
bc34d2c2fd9ad6e0e9ce646a80a0dca6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hudson, Douglas
James Douglas Hudson
J D Hudson
Description
An account of the resource
529 items. Collection concerns Pilot Officer James Douglas Hudson, DFC (755052 Royal Air Force) who joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1939 and trained as an observer. While on route to Malta in August 1940 his Blenheim crashed in Tunisia and he was subsequently interned for two and a half years by Vichy French in Tunisia and Algeria. After being freed he returned to Great Britain and after navigator retraining completed a tour of 30 operations on 100 Squadron. The collection contains letters to and from his parents and from French penfriends while interned in Tunisia and Algeria, newspaper cuttings of various events, logbooks and lists of operations, official documents and photographs. A further 23 items are in two sub-collections with details of navigator examinations and postcards of Laghouat Algeria.<br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Elizabeth Smith and Yvonne Puncher and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br />
<p>This collection also contains items concerning Louis Murray and Harry Bowers. Additional information on <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/202827/">Harry Bowers</a> and <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/220410/">Louis Murray</a> is available via the IBCC Losses Database.</p>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-06-16
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Hudson, JD
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Date. Place. Comments.
Jan 1. (Night.) [underlined] Berlin. [/underlined] Hamburg. N. France. W. Germany. Lancasters. Small hours of morning. Over 1000 tons. 28 missing.
Jan 2. (Night.) [underlined] Berlin [/underlined] (W. Germany & N. France). Mosquitoes & heavy bombers. Lancasters. Over 1000 tons. 27 missing.
Jan 3. (Night) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Jan 4. (Night) Radio Installations Channel. Mosquitoes to Berlin & W. Germany. Bomber Command Mosquitoes & heavy bombers to Pas de Calais. No loss.
Jan 5. (Night) Baltic Port of Stettin. Mosquitoes to Berlin. Heavy bombers Lancs & Halifaxes. Over 1000 tons. 15 missing.
Jan 6. (Night) N. France. W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Jan 7. (Night) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Jan 8.
Jan 9.
Jan 10.
Jan 11. F.M. Mosquitoes.
Jan 12.
Jan 13.
Jan 14. [underlined] Brunswick [/underlined] Diversionary attacks by Mosquitoes on Berlin & Magdeburg. Lancasters. Over 2000 tons & 23 mines. 38 missing.
[page break]
Jan 15.
Jan 16.
Jan 17.
Jan 18.
Jan 19.
Jan 20. [underlined] Berlin [/underlined] N.W. Germany & mine laying. Over 2300 tons in 30 mines. Lancasters & Halifaxes & Mosquitoes over N.W. Germany. 35 missing.
Jan 21. [underlined] Magdeburg [/underlined] Mosquitoes and Lancasters diversionary attack on Berlin. N. France. Mines. Over 2000 tons. Lancasters & Halifaxes main. Lancasters & Mosquitoes Berlin (Ragged take off) 52 missing.
Jan 22. (Sat)
Jan 23. (Sun) [underlined] Day [/underlined] To N. France. [underlined] Night [/underlined] W. Germany & mine laying. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Jan 24. Night. W. Germany. N. France. Mosquitoes.
Jan 25. Tue. [underlined] ON LEAVE [/underlined]
Jan 26. Wed.
Jan 27. Thu. (night) Berlin. Lancs & Mosquitoes this later. 34 missing.
Jan 28. Fri. (night) Berlin. (N.W. Germany & mine laying). Lancs & Halifaxes (midnight) Mosquitoes 3 hrs earlier. 47 missing.
Jan 29. (Sat)
Jan 30. Sun. Berlin (Cent. & W. Germany & mine laying. Lancs & Halifaxes 25 mins Mosquitoes followed. 33 missing.
Jan 31. (Mon) LEAVE FINISHED.
[page break]
Feb 1. (Tue) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 2. (Wed) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 3. (Thu) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 4. (Fri) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 5. (Sat) Berlin & W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 6. (Sun) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 7. (Mon) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 8. (Tue) France & Germany Limoges. Lancasters. (small force to Limoges). No loss.
Feb 9. (Wed) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 10. (Thu) Berlin. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 11. (Fri) Central & W. Germany. Mosquitoes. ?.
Feb 12. (Sat) S. France & W. Germany. [deleted] Mosquitoes [/deleted]. 1 missing.
Feb 13. (Sun)
Feb 14. (Mon)
Feb 15. (Tue) [underlined] Berlin [/underlined]. Diversionary attack Frankfurt on order. 1000 bombers 2500 tons in 20 mins. 9.15pm. 43 missing. Lancs on from O. Halifaxes & Lancs followed by Mosquitoes.
Feb 16. (Wed)
Feb 17. (Thu)
Feb 18. (Fri)
Feb 19. (Sat) [underlined] Leipzig [/underlined] Berlin. W. Germany. Holland. Lancs & Halifaxes 4.0am. 2,300 tons on Leipzig. 79 missing.
[page break]
Feb 20. (Sun) Stuttgart. (Munich - Mosquitoes) Lancasters & Halifaxes (Mosquitoes) 2000 tons. 10 missing.
Feb 21. (Mon)
Feb 22. (Tue) W & S Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 23. (Wed) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
Feb 24. (Thu) Schweinfurt. (2 attacks during night) N.W. Germany. Mine laying. Lancs and Halifaxes over 1000 sorties. 2 attacks 1 at 11.5pm 2 at 1.5am. 35 missing.
Feb 25. (Fri) Augsburg. (2 attacks) Lancs & Halifaxes 1700 tons. Attack 1045pm. 2nd 12.45. 24 missing.
Feb 26. (Sat)
Feb 27. (Sun)
Feb 28. (Mon)
Feb 29. (Tue) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
[page break]
1st. March (Wed.) Stuttgart. (Munich - Mosquitoes.) Lancs & Halifaxes Mosquitoes. Over 600. 4 missing. 3.0am.
2nd. Mar. (Thurs.) Aircraft factories nr Paris Albert. Lancs: No loss.
3rd. Mar. (Fri.)
4th. Mar. (Sat.) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
5th. Mar. (Sun.) W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No. loss.
6th. Mar. (Mon.) Railway targets SW. of Paris (Mosquitoes N.W. Germany) Halifaxes. No loss.
7th. Mar. (Tues.) Transport targets in France. Pas de Calais. [inserted] ON LEAVE [/inserted] Lancs & Halifaxes. No loss.
8th. Mar. (Wed.)
9th. Mar. (Thur.) Marignane nr Marseilles. Lancs. No loss.
10th. Mar. (Fri.) France. Lancs. 1 missing.
11th. Mar. (Sat.) ? ?
12th. Mar. (Sun.) W Germany. LEAVE FINISHED. Mosquitoes. No loss.
13th. Mar. (Mon.) France (W Germany Mosquitoes) Halifaxes & Mosquitoes. 2 missing.
14th. Mar. (Tues.) ? ?
15th. Mar. (Wed.) Stuttgart. (& occupied territory) (Munich & Amiens.) Lancs, Halifaxes, Stirling. Over 1000 bombers. 44 missing. Over 3000 tons.
16th. Mar (Thurs.) Michelin factory 20 miles S.W. of Vichy. W. Germany - Mosquitoes. Lancs. New bomb used factory buster. No loss. Stirlings & Halifaxes nr Amiens.
17th. Mar. (Fri.) W. Germany. Mosquitoes.
[page break]
18th. Mar. (Sat.) Frankfurt. 1000 sorties. Lancs. 22 missing.
19th. Mar. (Sun.) C & W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
20th. Mar. (Mon.) Factory in France Near Bordeaux. Lancs. & Mosquitoes. No Loss.
21st. Mar. (Tues.) W. Germany. Mosquitoes.
22nd. Mar. (Wed.) Frankfurt. (W. Germany, Berlin. Mosquitoes.) Lancs & New Mark 3 Halifaxes (3000 tons.) 33 missing. Mosquitoes (Over 1000 aircraft.
23rd. Mar. (Thurs.) Laon & Lyons area. Mosquitoes on W. Germany. Mosquitoes. 3 missing.
24th. Mar. (Fri.) Berlin. Kiel & W. Germany. over 1000 planes over 2500 tons. Lancs & Halifaxes. 10.25 p.m. 73 missing.
25th. Mar. (Sat.) Aulnoye. N. France. Berlin & W. Germany. Mine laying. Heavies. Mosquitoes. 1 missing.
26th. Mar. (Sun.) Essen & Hanover. Channel ports. Mine laying. Heavies. 9 missing.
27th. Mar. (Mon.) Ruhr. Mosquitoes. No loss.
28th. Mar. (Tues.) ?
29th. Mar. (Wed.) Communication nr. Paris. Halifaxes. 1 missing.
30th. Mar. (Thurs.) Nurenburg. W. Germany. Lancaster. 900 - 1000 planes. 1 am. 94 missing.
31st. Mar. (Fri.) W.Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
[page break]
1st. April. (Sat.} W. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
2nd. Apr. (Sun.) [deleted] Wellingtons. [/deleted]
3rd. Apr. (Mon.)
4th. Apr. (Tues.) Cologne & W.Germany. ON LEAVE. Mosquitoes. No loss.
5th. Apr. (Wed.) Factories & Toulouse. Lancs. 1 missing.
6th. Apr. (Thurs.) Hamburg & W.Germany. Mosquitoes. 1 missing.
7th. Apr. (Fri.) Sea mining. LEAVE FINISHED. No loss.
8th. Apr. (Sat.) W. & C. Germany. Mosquitoes. No loss.
9th. Apr. (Sun.) Railway targets nr Sains & Lille. Lancs. Halifaxes. & Stirling.
10th. Apr. (Mon) France Belgium Railway targets. Hanover & Ruhr. Also sea mining. Lancs. Halifaxes, Mosquitoes. over 3600 tons. 900 planes.
11th. Apr. (Tues) Aachen. W. Germany. Hanover. Sea mining. Lancasters. Other aircraft. 9 missing.
12 Apr. (Wed) Osnabruck. Sea mining. Mosquitoes. 2 missing.
13 Apr. (Thurs). Berlin. Sea mining. Mosquitoes. No loss.
14 Apr. (Fri)
15 Apr. (Sat)
16 Apr. (Sun.)
17 Apr. (Mon.) Cologne. Mosquitoes. 1 missing.
18th Apr. (Tues.) France. Berlin. Railway targets nr Paris, Rouen, also Mine laying by Lancs. etc. 1000 bombers 4000 tons. Lancs & Halifaxes. Heavies. Mosquitoes. 14 missing.
[page break]
19th Apr. (Wed.)
20th. Apr. (Thurs.) Cologne. N. France. Pas de Calais. Belgium. Railway targets. Mining. Berlin. 4500 tons. 1100 aircraft. 1600 tons on Cologne. Lancs & Halifaxes. Mosquitoes. (4 only over Cologne) 16 missing.
21st Apr. (Fri.) Cologne. Mosquitoes. No loss.
22nd. Apr. (Sat.) Düsseldorf. Brunswick. N. France. Mannheim. Over 1000 aircraft. Mosquitoes. 42 missing.
23rd. Apr. (Sun.) Vilvorde 6 mls NE of Brussels. Mannheim. Mine laying. (Sick Quarters.) heavy bombers. Mosquitoes. 6 missing.
24th Apr. (Mon.) Karlsruhe & Munich. Düsseldorf. Lancs. & Halifaxes. Mosquitoes. 29 missing.
25th Apr. (Tues.) & Mine laying. Mosquitoes. No loss.
26th Apr. (Wed.) Essen. Schweinfurt. Railway yards nr Paris. Lancs. Halifaxes. Mosquitoes over 1000. 29 missing.
27th Apr. (Thurs.) Friedrichshaven. [sic] Railway targets France & Belgium. Stuttgart. Lancasters. Mosquitoes. 36 missing.
28th Apr. (Fri.) Oslo. ON LEAVE Lancs. No loss.
29th (Sat.) Explosive works near Bordeaux & factory at Clermont Ferrand. Lancs. No loss.
30th. Apr. (Sun.) Occupied territory. Lancs. Mosquitoes. 1 missing.
[page break]
1st. May. (Mon) Occupied territory nr Paris. W & S.W. Germany. Railway targets. Lancs. 2500 tons. 10 missing.
2nd. May (Tues) Chemical works in Ruhr. Lancs. etc. Mosquitoes. No loss.
3rd. May. (Wed.) France nr. Rheims. Military installations. also Nr. Amiens. & Paris. & Ludwigshaven. Lancs. & Halifaxes. 1500 tons in 1/2 hr. 49 missing.
4th. (May) (Thurs.) Sea mining. No loss.
5th May (Fri) Sea mining. LEAVE FINISHED No loss.
6th May (Sat.) Occupied France. [inserted] Nantes. [/inserted] Railway target nr. Paris. Lancs & Halifaxes. Mining. 5 missing.
7th May (Sun) Occupied territory. Brittany. Nantes Tours. Military targets France & Normandy. Sea mining. Lancs. & Halifaxes. 6 forces out. 9 missing.
8th May (Mon.) Belgium Breste [sic] Fr Coast Ruhr. Sea mining. Lancs & Halifaxes. 10 missing.
9th. May (Tues). Occupied territory. Suburb of Paris etc. Military objectives on Fr. Coast. Mining. Berlin. Lancs. & Halifaxes. Mosquitoes. 7 forces. 7 missing.
10th May (Wed.) Rway yards in France & Belgium. Ludwigshaven. (Mosquitoes) mine laying. 6 forces. Lancs & Halifaxes. 15 missing.
11th. May (Thurs). Railway & military targets France & Belgium. Sea Mining. Lancs & Halifaxes. 16 missing.
12th. May (Fri.) Railway targets etc. Belgium & France & N.W. Germany. Lorraine & [one indecipherable word] Sea mining. Lancs & Halifaxes. 14 missing.
[page break]
13th May (Sat.)
14th May (Sun.) Cologne. N.W. Germany. Mine laying. Mosquitoes. No loss.
15th May (Mon.) Ludwigshaven. Mosquitoes. 4 missing.
16th May (Tues.) Berlin. Mosquitoes. ?
17th May (Wed). ?
18th May (Thurs.) ?
19th. May (Fri.) Occupied France & Belgium Railway targets. Cologne (Mosquitoes) Orleans, etc. Coastal area. Sea mining. Lancs. & Halifaxes. Mosquitoes. 7 missing.
20th. May (Sat.) W Germany. Belgium. Sea mining. No loss.
21st May (Sun) Düisburg. Hanover. Belgium. Sea mining. Over 2000 tons. Lancs. 30 missing.
22nd. May (Mon) Dortmund. Brunswick. Lyons. Fr. Railways. Ludwigshaven. & Belgium. over 1000 Heavies. Mosquitoes. 35 missing.
23rd. May (Tues.) Berlin.
24th. May (Wed.) Aachen. Dieppe. Berlin. Mosquitoes. 28 missing.
25th. May (Thurs.) Aachen. Antwerp.
26th. May (Fri.) Ludwigshaven, Aachen. Mine laying. Mosquitoes. Bomber Command. 2 missing.
[page break]
27th May (Sat.) Aachen. Nantes. Germany. France & Belgium. Milat depot nr. Antwerp. Mining. Berlin & Dusseldorf. Over 1000. 27 missing.
28th May (Sun). [1 indecipherable words] N. W. France. Ludwigshaven. Coast of France. Mining. Lancs. 1 missing.
29th May (Mon.) Hanover. Mine laying. Mosquitoes. No loss.
30th May (Tues.) Mil. Object in France. Mine laying. Bomber Command. No loss.
31st May (Wed.) Occupied France. Railway targets. Milit. Object. In France. Mine laying. Lancs. & Halifaxes. 8 missing.
[page break]
[underlined] June. [/underlined]
1st (Thurs.) Occupied France Coast & rail targets. Denmark. Mining. Bomber Command. Mosquitoes. No loss.
2nd. June (Fri.) Pas de Calais. & Trappes [inserted] Acheres [/inserted] N of Cologne. & Mining. Bomber Command & Mosquitoes. 17 missing.
3rd. June (Sat.) Occupied France - coast. mil. obj. Ludwigshaven. Mining. Bomber Command. No loss.
4th. June (Sun.) Occupied France - coast. Cologne. Mining. No loss.
5th. June (Mon.) Targets on Coast of France. Over 5000 tons. Lancs. & Halifaxes.
6th. June (Tues.) Ludwigshaven. Battle area. No loss. 13 missing.
[underlined] FINIS. [/underlined]
[page break]
+1
22. 21-5-44 Düisburg.
23. 22-5-44. Dortmund.
24 24-5-44. [deleted] Brunsw [/deleted] France?
25 27-5-44. France.
26 31-5-44. France.
27 2-6-44 France.
28 5-6-44 Invasion.
29. 6-6-44 Invasion.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alice Omerod's record of Douglas Hudson's operations
Description
An account of the resource
Daily record from 1 January 1944 to 6 June 1944 relating operations with comments on target, numbers of aircraft, bomb tonnages and losses. Includes period of leave. From 14 January to 6 June there are 30 ticked and numbered operations. Alice Omerod later married Douglas Hudson.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Alice Omerod
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Twenty five page booklet with handwritten notes
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MOrmerodA[Ser#-DoB]-151001-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Berlin
France
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Magdeburg
Netherlands
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Schweinfurt
Germany--Augsburg
France--Paris
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Marignane
France--Marseille
France--Vichy
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
France--Laon Region
France--Lyon
Germany--Kiel
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Germany--Essen
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Cologne
France--Toulouse
Germany--Hamburg
Belgium
Germany--Aachen
Germany--Osnabrück
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Hameln
Belgium--Brussels
Germany--Karlsruhe
Germany--Munich
Germany--Friedrichshafen
Norway
Norway--Oslo
France--Clermont-Ferrand
France--Reims
France--Normandy
France--Brittany
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Dortmund
France--Dieppe
France--Orléans
Germany--Hannover
France--Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
1944-03-30
1944-03-31
1944-04-05
1944-04-06
1944-06-05
1944-06-06
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
bombing
bombing of Nuremberg (30 / 31 March 1944)
bombing of the Juvisy, Noisy-le-Sec and Le Bourget railways (18/19 April 1944)
bombing of the Normandy coastal batteries (5/6 June 1944)
bombing of Toulouse (5/6 April 1944)
Halifax
Lancaster
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/774/30953/MWoolfAS157533-170629-05.2.jpg
44675a0c06cb6169015f0e2f4d179c14
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Woolf, Arthur Sidney
A S Woolf
Description
An account of the resource
23 items. An oral history interview with Flying Officer Arthur Woolf (1922 - 2021, 1579552, 157533 Royal Air Force) his log book, a memoir, correspondence, documents, a newspaper cutting and photographs. He flew operations as a wireless operator with 630 Squadron and became a member of the Guinea Pig Club.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Arthur Woolf and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-06-29
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Woolf, AS
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[royal crest]
[underlined] RECORD OF SERVICE OF FLYING OFFICER ARTHUR SIDNEY WOOLF (157533) [/underlined]
[underlined] DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: [/underlined] 7 March 1922, Birmingham.
[underlined] NON-COMMISSIONED SERVICE [/underlined]
Enlisted as No 1579552 Aircraftman 2nd Class/Aircrafthand Wireless Operator Air 13 Oct 41
Remustered Wireless Operator (Group 2) Air 3 Aug 42
Wireless Operator under training [deleted] Air Gunner [/deleted] 22 Mar 43
Temporary Sergeant 30 Aug 43
Remustered Wireless Operator [deleted] Air Gunner [/deleted] 31 Aug 43
Discharged on appointment to temporary commission 8 Nov 43
[underlined] APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS [/underlined]
Granted a commission for the duration of the emergency as Pilot Officer on probation in General Du-ties Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 9 Nov 43
Confirmed in appointment and promoted Flying Officer (war substantive) 9 May 44
Relinquished commission on account of medical unfitness for Air Force service, retains rank of Flying Officer 16 Jan 46
[underlined] POSTINGS [/underlined]
Birmingham 13 Oct 41
Reserve 14 Oct 41
No 3 Recruit Centre PADGATE, LANCS 22 Dec 41
No 10 Signals Recruit Centre BLACKPOOL 30 Dec 41
No 2 Signals School YATESBURY, WILTS 23 Apr 42
[deleted] No 1 Signals Depot [/deleted] (HOME ON LEAVE) 13 Aug 42
Martlesham Heath, NEAR IPSWICH. 26 Aug 42
No 1 Signals School, 16 Mar 43
Aircrew Reception Centre, ST. JOHNS WOOD, LONDON. 22 Mar 43
No 18 Initial Training Wing, BRIDGENORTH 10 Apr 43
No 2 Reserve Squadron, YATESBURY 9 Jun 43
No 10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit DUMFRIES. 30 Aug 43
No 16 Operational Training Unit BARFORD ST JOHN/UPPER HEYFORD 2 Nov 43
No 51 Base, 23 Feb 44
No 3 Group Armament School, [underlined] Scampton [/underlined] 23 Feb 44
CONVERSION UNIT No. 1654, WIGSLEY. APRIL 44
No. 5 LANCASTER FLYING SCHOOL, SYERSTON. MAY 44
No 630 Squadron, EAST KIRKBY, LINCS. 22 May 44
Missing (flying battle) 25 Jul 44
Previously missing, now safe Date not recorded
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Arthur Woolf record of service
Description
An account of the resource
Details non-commissioned service. appointments and promotions and postings with dates for all.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MWoolfAS157533-170629-05
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--West Midlands
England--Birmingham
England--Lancashire
England--Blackpool
England--Wiltshire
England--Suffolk
England--London
England--Shropshire
Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway
England--Oxfordshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Warwickshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941-10-13
1942-08-02
1943-03-22
1943-08-30
1943-08-31
1943-11-08
1943-11-09
1944-05-09
1946-01-16
1941-10-13
1941-10-14
1941-12-22
1941-12-30
1942-04-23
1942-08-13
1942-08-26
1943-03-16
1943-03-22
1943-04-10
1943-06-09
1943-08-30
1943-11-02
1944-02-23
1944-05-22
1944-07-25
1944-04
1944-05
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
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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.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
16 OTU
1654 HCU
630 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Heavy Conversion Unit
Initial Training Wing
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
missing in action
Operational Training Unit
RAF Barford St John
RAF Bridgnorth
RAF Dumfries
RAF East Kirkby
RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Padgate
RAF Scampton
RAF Syerston
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Wigsley
RAF Yatesbury
training
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16562/MCheshireGL72021-181210-030008.2.jpg
4daada85d5b87cadd9758cd60479ecac
Dublin Core
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Title
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Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
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IBCC Digital Archive
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This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
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Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[underlined] ATTACK ON E-BOATS, BOULOGNE. [/underlined]
[underlined] NARRATIVE. [/underlined]
Following the highly successful attack on Le Havre, the squadron was detailed to make a similar attack on the E-Boat facilities at Boulogne.
This attack was timed to take place at the same moment that another force was to carry out an attack on the Port Installations. Unlike the attack on Le Havre, however, the Squadron planned to bomb during the Main Force “time on target” and not ahead of it. In other respects the plan was to be the same.
The weather over Boulogne was most unfavourable with 8/10 to 10/10 cloud at 15,000’, and another layer at approximately 9,000’. At 2243 hours, the Lancaster Leader, S/Ldr. Munro, decided that conditions were unfit for a precision attack and ordered the whole force to return to Base. Immediately after he had sent this message he received a signal from aircraft ’N’ saying that it was clear below 8,000’, so he cancelled his instruction and descended to below 8,000’ to investigate the conditions. In view of the poor visibility and the intense flak opposition he encountered at this height, he sent out a further signal ordering the bombers home.
By the time this last message had been received, some of the Lancasters had already dropped their bombs. Six of them had gone to below 9,000’ to do so, two had bombed through gaps from over 12,000’, while one had bombed on the red T.I. markers which had been dropped by P.F.F. for use by the Main Force. Eleven of the aircraft brought their bombs back to Base.
Results were unassessed on account of the cloud and smoke from fires and from bombing, but three very large explosions were seen in the area.
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Attack on e-boats, Boulonge - narrative
Description
An account of the resource
Describes planned timing to attack at the same time as the main force. Reports that weather was unfavourable. After initially cancelling the operation leader checked out weather at low level but decided low visibility and target defences precluded attack. Some aircraft had already bombed but 11 aircraft brought bombs back to base.
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
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MCheshireGL72021-181210-030008
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
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France
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
Temporal Coverage
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1944-06-15
1944-06-16
Is Part Of
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Cheshire, Leonard. Bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
License
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Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
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This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
Format
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One-page typewritten document
617 Squadron
bombing
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Pathfinders
Tallboy
target indicator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1189/18216/MWebbLP1876986-190604-040001.1.jpg
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1189/18216/MWebbLP1876986-190604-040002.1.jpg
88bf3c4e09a72f552106388754119cfd
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42d63b48871452509c9e470d4ffc9bf7
Dublin Core
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Title
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Webb, Lacey Peter
L P Webb
Description
An account of the resource
17 items. An oral history interview with Warrant Officer Lacey Peter Webb (1925 - 2017, Royal Air Force), service material, aircraft drills, engineering notes, photographs and propaganda leaflets. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 427 Squadron.
The collection was catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2016-10-24
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Webb, LP
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[a single sheet printed in German]
[page break]
REPORT FROM WEST GERMANY
Every day the administration and control of the Allied Military Government is being achieved in areas of West Germany. With every kilometre advanced by the Allied Armies to remove the dark shadows, successes are being reached - and the hard work to start returning you to your home and normality will begin.
In the area commanded by the forces of occupation, the war is definitely over. The terror regime of the SS and Gestapo is broken. The replacement of National Socialism will be achieved and gradually the responsibility for the task will rest upon Germany. The Bombing War is over and life goes on - it is futile to continue warring when there is so much work to be done; further bombing and senseless resistance will result in more rubble and ruins and make the road to recovery harder. Much hard work will eventually return life to normal. By doing much of the work yourselves will bring about that re-turn in the whole of Germany much quicker.
SELF HELP -THE WORDS: WE GERMANS WILL UNDERTAKE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF GERMANY.
1. The longer the unwinable war continues, the more destruction will be caused by senseless opposi-tion in German Towns and Cities, making it much more difficult for reconstruction to commence.
2. The more men captured, the longer it will be until they return, thus the more difficult it will be to commence the restructuring of your nation and the greater will be the time period before return-ing to a normal state of affairs.
3. The more livelihoods and work places the Fanatical Party destroys, the less food and help for you and your neighbours will be available, and the greater will be the need for self help.
Self help will reconstruct Germany, Self help there must surely by done to save or salvage that which is saveable or salvageable.
[page break]
Photographs
Top left “General Dwight D Eisenhower, Commander in chief of the Allied Forces and Military Gover-nor”
Bottom Right “In this village in Western Germany a soldier of the Military Government records per-sonal details”
AFTER THE ALLIES MARCH IN
to German territory there will follow a proclamation from the Military Government, in the person of General Dwight D Eisenhower, naming him as the Military Governor of the land occupied by them. The Military Government will, above all else, be strict but fair in their occupation and command. It is vital that you have no anxieties with regard to punishment nor the re-training of Germany, the safety of the general public together with the earliest possible solution of the post war problems are the main objectives of this exercise, after the range of National Socialism and the fixation of the influence of the leader together with the causes of the war can be terminated. The German population will be given every opportunity, through self help, to reconstruct normal daily life and housing their areas.
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Bericht aus Westdeutschland (Report from West Germany)
Description
An account of the resource
Report from western Germany. One page of a propaganda leaflet produced by the Psychology War Department and Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. The second page is absent, but both pages are translated into English.
Creator
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Psychology War Department and Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Format
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One printed and two typed sheets
Language
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eng
deu
Type
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Text
Identifier
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MWebbLP1876986-190604-040001,
MWebbLP1876986-190604-040002,
MWebbLP1876986-190604-040003
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Rights
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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.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
propaganda
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1535/34025/MJamesEC1385088-160907-01.2.pdf
5b74c99f712525c4d4f00cf1ca9f0c48
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
James, Eilwyn Cyril
E C James
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-09-07
Rights
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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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
James, EC
Description
An account of the resource
47 items. The collection concerns Eilwyn Cyril James (Royal Air Force) and contains documents and photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by David James and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
James, E. C.
Sergeant, R.A.F.
[page break]
[table of typical weight summary for Catalina 1 aircraft]
[page break]
[table of typical weight summary for Catalina 1 aircraft]
[page break]
[underlined] 1st Sighting Report. [/underlined]
[sketches]
[page break]
[hand sketched tables and charts]
[page break]
Catalina 1 Two Pratt & Whitney 1250 H.P. 14 cyl. in two banks of seven.
Take off full load [deleted] Bendix induction carburettor.
[circled 1] M.P. 48” 2700 RPM - 2750 R.P.M.
Never use more power than necessary for safe flight.
P. Whit. engine flies 600 before major overhaul.
As soon as leave water throttle back to [boxed] 2400 - 2650. RPM [/boxed]
[circled 2] M.P. 35” - 2350 R.P.M.
Vibration range, do not use if possible
After 200/500’ altitude depending on Surrounding hills etc close back to
[circled 3] MP 30” - 200/2150 R.P.M. may be used for any length of period
[circled 4] Full load cruising 28” - 1900 R.P.M. } (100 K T.A.S.)
Right load 25” - 1600 RPM } (100 K T.A.S.)
Fuel consumption - 60 gals per hour.
Power output roughly the multiplication of Boost & RPM.
Cylinder Head Temp.
Max. For continuous operation should not exceed 230° C
Desirable for continuous automatic lean should not exceed [underlined] 205° C [/underlined]
Oil pressure Max 105lbs min. 80lbs
Min at cruising 65lbs
[page break]
[calculations]
Extra fuel tank fixed as near C.G. as possible & special pump to pump gas to wing tanks.
Beaching gear - tyres filled with H2O to make it easier for them to sink below water when beaching
1 Imp gallon = 6/5 US. galls.
1 Imp gall of oil = 9 lbs per gallon
1 gallon of fuel = 7 lbs per gallon
1 gallon of water = 10 lbs
Fuel tanks in centre section of wing
Each top tank carries 735 Imp galls.
Tank in hull to hold 320 gals
Each man luggage & flight gear = 250lbs approx.
Approx 19000/ [deleted] 21000 [/deleted] lbs ready for flight has Crew Bomb & Fuel.
If flying with max load, better to have nose slightly heavy.
PBY @ 33000 lb load stalling speed - 75K.
Trim tab should seldom be more. than 5° one way or other.
[page break]
[underlined] Mixture Controls [/underlined] Catalina 1 - Bendix injection Carburetor
V positions, eg 1/ Full rich 2/ Automatic rich 3 Autom Lean 4/ Idle cut off
Full Rich. 1/ Used for prolonged excessive power 2/ In event of failure to automatic carburetor 3/ [deleted] When starting to give richer mixture when spitting. [/deleted]
Aut Rich 1/ Can be used under all conditions of flight 2/ Take off. 3/ Level flight
Auto Lean 1/ [deleted] Below 28” Provided boost less than 28”. [/deleted] Used for cruising provided boost has than 28” & RPM less than 2250 & Cylinder head temp does [underlined] not exceed 205° C [/underlined] If used must be used slowly.
Idle cut off. When [deleted] engine [/deleted] stopping engine & when engine is stopped.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] E.C. James. [/underlined] R.A.F.
[page break]
[underlined] THEORY OF BOMBING [/underlined]
[underlined] THE THEORY OF A FALLING BOMB [/underlined]
In studying the theory of bombing we discover firstly what woul [sic] happen to a bomb that is unaffected by air resistance, and secondly what effects air resistance has on a real bomb. With the first set information as a base and the second set applicable to any type of bomb, a sight can be constructed for any set of conditions.
2. [underlined] THE UNRESISTED FALL OF THE BOMB [/underlined]
This simplified treatment of the problem was usually referred to as the “Vacuum Fall Theory”, as it could only be in the entire absenc [sic] of air that a real bomb would fall in the manner to be discussed.
When, however, the theory of aiming comes to be considered it is necessary to take account of the wind, and it is difficult to think of a wind in a vacuum. Again, it will be found convenient to study the actual motion of a real bomb by comparing its behaviour during fall with that of an unresisted one’s fall beside it.
It is found convenient, therefore, to discard the idea of the vacuum and substitute for it the motion through air of an “ideal bomb”
This “ideal bomb” must be presumed to be perfectly smooth, perfectly streamlined and incapable of setting up pressure waves as it moves through the air, thus encountering no real resistance. It need hardly be remarked that such an ideal bomb could not be manufactured, but for successful understanding of the above theory, it must be imagined.
3. [underlined] RELATIONSHIP OF A BOMB, AIRCRAFT AND GROUND [/underlined]
The fall of a bomb, either real or ideal, must always be considered relative to the aircraft and not relative to the ground.
Wind must be visualised as a column of air moving relative to [missing word] ground. This column of air has the aircraft and bomb moving in it.
When sighting in a wind is considered, the problem consists of find the point in this column of air, moving over the ground, at which to release the bomb so that will hit the target.
4. [underlined] THE TRAJECTORY OF AN IDEAL BOMB [/underlined]
When an ideal bomb is released from an aircraft there are two factors affecting its flight to earth:-
(i) [underlined] Gravity: [/underlined] Starting at zero and giving it acceleration downwards at 32 ft/sec2 approximately.
(ii) [underlined] Initial Velocity: [/underlined] Imparted by the aircraft in the direction of its flight through the air.
As this bomb is not affected by air resistance, it will maintain this velocity until the moment of impact with the ground. Assuming the aircraft maintains its own velocity and direction the bomb will be vertically beneath it at any moment of its flight.
[page break]
Para. 4 (contd.)
If the time of fall is known then the distance forward through the air that the bomb fell can be be ascertained by multiplying the time of fall “T” seconds by the air speed of the aircraft “V” ft/sec., i.e. V x T ft. The time of fall of an ideal bomb is faint by the formula for constant acceleration.
[formula]
To calculate the time in seconds for an ideal bomb to fall through H feet; [formula] But the velocity downwards is zero at the time of release, so
[formula]
Therefore the distance an ideal bomb moves forward through the air after release is [formula]
Air speed will now be referred to as “V” ft/sec
[underlined] Data: [/underlined] 100 m.p.h. = 147 ft/sec approximately.
Conversion factor 22/15 for m.p.h. to ft/sec.
The trajectory of an ideal bomb is shown in Fig. I (see page 3) by plotting H ft. against [formula] at varying heights.
5. [underlined] BOMBING ANGLE [/underlined]
In fig. IA an ideal bomb is released at ‘0’ from an aircraft vertically over the point A. It falls through H feet and travels forward V x T feet through the air before striking the ground at M. At the moment of release the point M is at an angle to the aircraft from the vertical, angle A.O.M.
This angle is known as the Bombing Angle and is contained in a triangle of sides H and VT ft. set at right angles.
Any triangle having the same sides proportional to those lengths will automatically produce the same bombing angle [symbol] (Theta) as the triangles are similar.
[page break]
[underlined] TRAJECTORY OF AN IDEAL BOMB. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] AN IDEAL BOMB RELEASED FROM AN AIRCRAFT AT 6,400 ft., TRAVELLING AT AIR SPEED OF 400 M.P.H. FIG. I. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] BOMBING ANGLE - NO WIND [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FIG. 1A. ELEVATION [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] A SIMPLE BOMBSIGHT. [/underlined]
[diagram and calculations]
[page break]
[underlined] Para. 5 [/underlined] (contd.)
Thus a miniature triangle can be placed aircraft, which if provided with fore and aft levels, will serve to give the correct bombing angle.
When, however, we come to graduate these sights so that the fore and back sights can be set for attacks at varying heights and speeds it is found that the horizontal side of the triangle is proportional to the product of two variables V and T. It would be inconvenient to arrive at these two settings in the air.
By graduating the sides of the miniature triangle proportional to speeds instead of distances, a correct bombing angle can be produced of sides H/T ft/sec. (The average speed of fall of the bomb in ft/sec.) and V ft/sec. (the average speed of the aircraft in ft/sec.)
Since both sides have been divided by T and reproduced to some suitable scale - such as 1 inch equals 50 ft/sec., the graduations on the vertical and the horizontal sides are now only dependant on height and air speed respectively.
[underlined] DRIFT ANGLE [/underlined]
[underlined] Bombing in a Wind with an Ideal Bomb [/underlined]
In fig. II a bomb is released vertically over the point A from an aircraft heading along AM.
During the time of fall the aircraft and the bomb would move forward through the air to M, a distance of VT feet.
There is, however, a wind W ft/sec. blowing in the direction of A - A’ over the ground.
Thus, at the moment of impact the bomb, the column of air through which the aircraft has flown will have moved W x T ft. to the position A’M’.
The aircraft has therefore tracked over the ground from A to M’, and this distance divided by T will give the speed of the aircraft relative to the ground, i.e. Ground Speed.
Thus, AM’ equals G x T feet and a triangle of sides V X T feet and G x T feet will include an angle M A M’ which is known as the angle of drift. The problem of bombing in a wind is to determine:-
In what direction the aircraft should be headed in order that it will track over the target.
(2) The correct point G x T feet from the target at which the bomb should be released. In o ther words to determine the drift and bombing angles.
Provision may now be made accordingly. As it has been decided to graduate the sight in proportion to speeds, we have only to fix the base of the height bar a miniature triangle of velocities A B F proportional to the triangle of distances covered A M M’. Thus the side AB is proportional to the distance AM and will represent the airspeed “V” ft/sec. The side BF is proportional to the distance MM’ and will represent the wind speed “W” ft/sec.
/Page 7 - Drg. Drift Angle.
/Page 8 - Drg. Bombing Angle in a Wind.
/Page 9 - Para. 6 (contd.)
[page break]
[underlined] BOMBING ANGLE IN A WIND. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FIG. 3. ELEVATION. [/underlined]
[page break]
Para. 6 (contd.)
The third side AFwill be determined automatically both in length and direction and will be proportional to the distance AM’ and will represent ground speed “G” ft/sec. and track.
The foresight will be situated at Point F.
The bombing angle thus produced in a wind is shown in Fig. III.
7. [underlined] THE EFFECTS OF AIR RESISTANCE [/underlined]
When a real bomb is dropped it is subject to air resistance and will:-
Take longer to fall;
2. Be unable to maintain its initial horizontal velocity after release.
Its trajectory will therefore be behind that of an ideal bomb and at any moment during its fall the real bomb will not have fallen as far as the ideal bomb.
8. [underlined] TIME LAG [/underlined]
Time lag is the difference in times of fall of a real and an ideal bomb dropped simultaneously from the same uniformly moving aircraft. It is denoted by the symbol “t”. Thus the time of fall of a real bomb is (T + t) seconds.
9. [underlined] AIR LAG [/underlined]
Air lag is the horizontal distance at any given height between the trajectories of a real and an ideal bomb released simultaneously from the same uniformly moving aircraft. It is denoted by the symbol “L”. Fig. IV shows the trajectories of a real and an ideal bomb released from the the same uniformly moving aircraft when vertically over the point A, and shows the relative positions of the bomb and the aircraft after T + t seconds. At the moment of impact of the ideal bomb at I, the aircraft is vertically above it at 0’ bit the real bomb is at some point R’ and must still fall for “t” seconds (time lag) before hitting the ground at R.
During the time “t” seconds the aircraft will move forward through the air at a distance of V x t Feet. Thus, at the moment of impact of the real bomb, the aircraft is vertically over the point M’ which is (l + Vt) feet ahead of the point of impact of the real bomb, parallel to heading. When viewed from the aircraft the real bomb appears to trail behind.
10. [underlined] TRAIL ANGLE [/underlined]
Trail Angle is the angle between a vertical dropped from an aircraft and a line from the bomb to the aircraft at any given moment during its fall, assuming that the aircraft is moving at a constant airspeed and direction.
The angle is denoted by symbol [symbol] (Lambda). In work connected with bombing problems it is often necessary to deal with triangles one angle of which is very small.
/Page 10 - Drg. Trail Angle.
/Page 11 - Para. 10 (contd.)
[page break]
[underlined] TRAIL ANGLE. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FIG. IV. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Para. 10 [/underlined] (contd.)
[sketch]
It will be seen from the foregoing figure that the chord BC approximates very closely to the arc BDC. The whole circumference of a circle of radius H is given by the formula 2 H and the arc BDC is to the whole circumference as the angle [indecipherable] is to 360° or [formula] when is measured in degrees.
[formulae]
In a bombing problem it is required to know length of BC, and since it is very nearly identical in length with the arc BDC, the above expression would give sufficient accurate results for practical purposes. In order to facilitate working the denominator is taken as instead of 57.3. The expression thus becomes H/60. This approximation for the solution of a triangle with one very small angle will be used where appropriate. For example - if AB were 14,000 ft. and were 2° then the line BC would be
2 x 14,000/60 = 467 feet in length.
11. [underlined] TRAIL DISTANCE [/underlined]
Trail distance is the horizontal distance a bomb trails behind a vertical dropped from a uniformly moving aircraft. This distance is back along a line parallel to heading. Trail distance = 1 + Vt tan H [symbol] or as an approximation [formula] and air lag = 1 = [formula] - Vt.
12. [underlined] DROPPING A REAL BOMB IN WIND [/underlined]
In Fig. V an ideal and a real bomb are released simultaneously from the same uniformly moving aircraft when vertically over the point, heading along AM. At the end of T seconds it has been previously shown that the ideal bomb landed at point I vertically under the aircraft tracking along AM’.
The real bomb will now take a further t seconds to fall; during this time:
/Page 12 - Drg. Bombing in a Wing with a Real Bomb.
/Page 13 - Para. 12 (1).
[page break]
[underlined] BOMBING IN A WIND WITH A REAL BOMB. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FIG. V. PLAN [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Para. 12 [/underlined] (Contd.)
The aircraft will move through the air a distance of V x t feet.
(2) The air and the trajectories will move over the ground a distance of G x t feet, arriving over M’ at the moment of impact of the real bomb at R. The real bomb strikes at R (i.e. I - Vt) feet behind M’ parallel to heading. Thus RI the distance the two bombs will fall apart. RI being the third side of a triangle having I and WT as its other sides
[formula]
13. [underlined] GROUND LAG [/underlined]
Ground lag is the distance apart a real bomb and an ideal bomb fall on the ground when dropped simultaneously from the same aircraft
14. [underlined] CONSTRUCTION OF A BOMBSIGHT FOR USE WITH A REAL BOMB. [/underlined]
A bombsight has so far been theoretically constructed for dropping an ideal bomb in a wind and with such a bombsight the correct line of sight terminates at the point I in Fig. VI, the point where an ideal bomb would burst if it were released at Point A.
A real bomb, however, when released at the same point, would strike at R and it is therefore necessary to move the line of sight to that point.
Since the distance and direction of RI is not constant, being dependant on strength and direction of the wind, the alteration of the line of sight must involve two stages of modification to the existing sight.
Firstly, the height bar is graduated proportional to the average speed of fall of the real bomb, i.e. H/(T + t) ft/sec. thus projecting the line of sight to M’ which point is vertically beneath the aircraft after (T + t) seconds.
Secondly, since the real bomb trails behind the point M’ a distance of (formula) feet parallel to the line of heading, the backsight must be moved forward a proportionate distance in the same direction, bring the backsight vertically over the point B, and thus projecting the line of sight from B through F to R.
This movement of the backsight is affected by tilting the height bar forward about the point A and parallel to the air speed bar. It will be seen that since the length of the height bar is already proportional to the height of the aircraft above the ground, and the distance RM’ is subtended by the trail angle [symbol] then, if the height bar can be tilted forward through [symbol] the distance AB will be proportional to RM’.
/Page 14 - Drg. Construction of a B/Sight for use with a real bomb. (Elevation).
/Page 15 - As above (Plan).
/Page 16 - Para. 15.
[page break]
[underlined] CONSTRUCTION OF A BOMB - SIGHT FOR USE WITH A REAL BOMB [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FIG. VI. ELEVATION [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] CONSTRUCTION OF A BOMB - SIGHT FOR USE WITH A REAL BOMB. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FIG. VI. PLAN. [/underlined]
[page break]
15. [underlined] PERFORMANCE OF BOMBS [/underlined]
We have now constructed a bomb sight for use with a real bomb; this construction consisted of modifying the sight, as used for an ideal bomb, by re-graduating the height bar so as to incorporate “t” and by tilting the height bar so as to incorporate [symbol] It has already been shown that the time lag “t”, the air lag “l”, the ground lag and the trail angle [symbol] are inter-related. Since these values are dependant on air resistance it follows that the air speed at the moment of release, the height of release and the mass and shape of the particular bomb will alter them. Thus, it is necessary for each type of bomb and for each airspeed to place different settings on the sight. On the old type bomb sights an average time of fall of all real bombs was taken and one height bar graduated to this scale was fitted; a trail angle setting was provided and from a table the correct trail angle for each bomb at a number of different heights and air speeds could be ascertained and set on the bomb sight. This system has been improved upon in modern bomb sights, however, by the use of a single setting for the terminal velocity of the bomb, inter-connected with the air speed setting in such a way as to give the correct trail angle Separate heights scales are also issued for each type of bomb and can be clipped into position on the height bar.
The connection between trail angle and terminal velocity may not be apparent and is explained hereunder. When a real bomb falls it is as we have seen, subject to air resistance. How the air resistance against a body which is travelling at a speed below the speed of sound, increases as the square of its own velocity. If this body is a bomb subject to the initial velocity of the aircraft, plus an acceleration of 32 ft/sec2 due to gravity, then as the bomb’s speed increases, the air resistance will increase as the square of its speed until a point is reached when the effect of air resistance will balance the forces of the acceleration due to gravity and the bomb will travel at a uniform speed. This is known as the terminal velocity, and is related to the ballistic characteristics of the bomb through the common factor of air resistance. Thus a bomb of good shape and smooth surface will have little air resistance, its T.V. will consequently be [underlined] high, [/underlined] and its trail angle, air lag and time lag will be [underlined] low. [/underlined]
A glance at the height scales for a bomb sight will show that a number of bombs are labelled as having a T.V. above the speed of sound (i.e. above 100 ft/sec). Unfortunately, the air resistance on a body travelling above the speed of sound does not follow the simple square law that is true for speeds below 1,100 ft/sec. It does in fact, become so complicated as to make calculations impracticable and true T.V. of these bombs cannot be worked out. These bombs are therefore assumed to be subject to an air resistance equal to the square of their velocity throughout their fall. The T.V. so obtained is fictitious, but it nevertheless is a true indication of the ballistic qualities of the bomb and as such is used for sighting purposes.
16. [underlined] THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT [/underlined]
(a) When bombing a moving target an allowance must be made for the distance the target will move during the time taken for the bomb to fall. It is also necessary to adjust the drift wires so that the line of approach of aircraft and moving target is indicated.
[page break]
16. THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT (Contd.)
(b) It has been shown that a ground velocity is the resultant of air velocity and wind velocity. Similarly the velocity of approach is the resultant of the velocity of the aircraft over the ground and the velocity of the target over the ground. In Fig. I, the triangle ABE represents the three vector bomb sight and the line XY represents the enemy velocity. In order to build up a vector diagram it is necessary to consider all velocities relative to one object. Let us take the aircraft as our object, and stop the ship, then in order to get the same relative velocity between ship and aircraft we must apply to the aircraft the ship’s velocity reversed. Thus, in building up the vector diagram, ED (the ships velocity reversed) is added. Now if we join AD it will represent the resultant or the speed of approach of the aircraft and ship. Fig. IA shows the construction of the diagram when the ship’s velocity is YX. Now if AB is the airspeed bar, BE the wind speed bar and AE the ground speed bar or drift wires on 3 vector sight, then it will be necessary to add a 4th bar ED to the end of the wind speed bar, capable of rotation through 360° and of adjustment to a length proportional to the ship’s or enemy’s speed. If the foresight is carried at D and the drift wires are also connected to this point instead of to the point E, then ED becomes the enemy speed bar and AD the speed of approach bar - or the drift wires. Such a sight was constructed and is shown in the photograph Fig. IB.
The mechanical disadvantages of this sight are obvious. It can be seen from Fig. II, however, that the same approach velocity can be reproduced if, instead of moving the foresight by mounting the enemy speed bar at E, we move the backsight in the opposite direction BY MOUNTING THE ENEMY SPEED BAR AT A and move the height bar and the rear anchorage of the drift wires. Incidentally, as we have to move the backsight in the opposite direction, the enemy speed bar is now in the same direction as the movement of the target. Fig. II.A shows the same construction as Fig. II with enemy speed in the opposite direction. The photograph Fig. II.B shows how the CSBS now in use takes up the position of the diagram, Fig. II.
(c) The bombing angle for an Ideal Bomb and Moving Target will be included in a triangle of sides H feet and S x T feet (where S is the speed of approach in ft/sec). This is shown in plan Fig. III and elevation Fig. IV. If an Ideal Bomb is released vertically over the point F. Fig. III, from an aircraft tracking FI, it will strike at the point I a distance of (G x T) feet from F. In order to register a hit, the target at the moment of release must be at E, a distance of (E x T) feet from I, and of (S x T) feet from F.
/Page 18 - Drg. The construction of a 4th Vector Sight, Fig I.
/Page 19 - As above, Fig. II and Fig. II. A.
/Page 20 - Para. 16 (contd.)
[page break]
[underlined] THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT. [/underlined]
[2 sketches]
[page break]
[underlined] THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTH VECTO [sic] SIGHT. [/underlined]
[2 sketches]
[page break]
Para. 16 (Contd.)
(d) The construction of a bombsight for a real bomb and moving target is shown in Fig. V. A real bomb is released vertically over the point F from aircraft tracking FM’. Assuming that the aircraft maintains a constant velocity it will arrive at the point M’ at the moment of impact of the bomb at R. A target moving along E’M’ must be at the position E’ (E x T x t) feet from M’ and S x (T + t) feet from F at the moment of impact. The point E’ therefore represents the termination of a line of sight with the height bar at A’ graduated to a velocity scale of H/T + t ft/sec., but with zero trail angle setting. With a height bar tilted forward [symbol] parallel to the air speed bar (position B’) the line of sight is moved from E’ to E, a distance equivalent to, and parallel to the trail distance, M’R. A target at E at the moment of release will therefore move a distance of E x (T + t) feet along B R and arrive at R at the moment of impact.
[underlined] NOTE [/underlined]
Misconception may arise when studying Fig. V if it is thought since the aircraft is at F and the target E at the moment of release, F and E represent the relative positions of the target and the aircraft at a particular instant of time. The speed and direction of approach are entirely governed by the respective ground velocity and will remain unaffected, whatever the relative position of target and aircraft may be. Further, if the speed of approach bar (A’F) is a true vector of the velocity of approach, it will parallel to the direction of approach whether viewed from A’B or any other point.
/Page 21 - Drg. 4th Vector Sight, Fig. 1.
/Page 22 - Drg. 4th Vector Sight, Fig. 2.
/Page 23 - Drg. 4th Vector Sight, Fig. 3.
/24 24 - Drg. 4th Vector Sight, Fig. 4.
/Page 25 - Drg. 4th Vector Sight, Fig. 5.
/Page 26 - Para. 17. 4th Vector Sight,
[page break]
[underlined] FIG. 1. VECTOR DIAGRAM [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] FIG. 2. SPEED BARS. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] FIG. 3. IDEAL BOMB. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] FIG. 4. BOMBING ANGLE (IDEAL BOMB.) [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] FIG. 5. REAL BOMB [/underlined]
[sketch]
[underlined] FOURTH VECTOR SIGHT. [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] AZIMUTH BRACKET [/underlined]
1. The azimuth bracket and steering indicator has been introduced for use with the course setting bombsight, Mk.VII and IX, to enable the pilot of a bombing aeroplane to make use of banked turns in a bombing approach. The main advantage of the azimuth bracket is that long, straight approaches are unnecessary and major turns may be made within 40 seconds of the instant of bomb release. This means that the aeroplane is only flying on a straight course, suitable for anti-aircraft flying prediction, for about 20 seconds, with consequent decrease in vulnerability to anti-aircraft fire. The bracket has no definite advantage over the fixed spigot if long, straight approaches are made. In addition, a rapid change of course 70 to 30° may be made by a banked turn, when conditions of bad visibility occasions a late identification of the target.
[underlined] DESCRIPTION [/underlined]
2. [underlined] AZIMUTH BRACKET [/underlined] (See Fig. 1.)
The azimuth bracket consists of a main frame (1), in which a bombsight spigot (2) is pivoted about a vertical axis and is capable of rotation in azimuth, 30° left or right of a central zero, by relative movement of the bombsight. A pointer (3) attached to the vertical spindle (4), indicated on a scale (5), attached to the main frame. If and aeroplane has to be turned to pass over an objective, the actual angle measured at the start of the turn will be less than the final total change of course, due to the fact that the aeroplane cannot turn instantaneously, but must turn on a path of appreciable radius. If, therefore, the magnitude of the turn, as indicated by the azimuth bracket is slightly greater than the actual angle measured at the start of the turn, a close approximation to the total turn required is obtained. It is found, in practice, that the total turn required is about 1.2 times the actual angle measured at the start of the turn, and the scale (2) (Fig. 3.) has been calibrated in accordance with this rule. The bombsight spigot is geared to a transmitter (6) which actuates a steering indicator described below. A clutch is provided whereby the stiffness of the spigot rotation in azimuth may be adjusted and is controlled by the knob (7). Rotation of the spigot in azimuth from central position is normally prevented by a springlever (8), when it is required to rotate the course setting bomb-sight in azimuth to determine the angular offset of the target. The lever (8) may be maintained in the depressed position by a thumb-operated lever and locking pin on the side of the bracket. On releasing the locking pin, the course setting bombsight is automatically secure in the central position when the spring-loaded latch registers with the groove. The levelling adjustments are similar to those of the standard course setting bombsight levelling bracket and are controlled by levelling screws (9) and (10). The lateral levelling screw (9) has a spring loaded handle which enables the handle to be positioned to give an unobstructed view off the scale without deranging the lateral levelling of the bombsight.
3. [underlined] STEERING INDICATOR [/underlined]
The steering indicator (Fig. III) is an electro-magnetic device, which, in conjunction with the transmitter incorporated in the bracket, actuates a pointer (11) moving over a scale (12). The scale is calibrated and figured 35° left and right to coincide with the bracket scale readings. The indicator is designed so that in the event of a supply failure or when the supply is not
[page break]
3. (contd.)
switched on, the pointer leaves the calibrated portion of the scale and points vertically downwards. Two lamps, behind red and green windows (13), are contained in the indicator and work in conjunction with the switch described in Para. 4. The lamps are readily replaceable in the event of failure, the lamp retaining plate being secured by a milled screw.
4. [underlined] SWITCH [/underlined]
The switch (Fig. II) consists of two push buttons (14) coloured red and green respectively, arranged with a guard plate (15), in such a manner that the bomb-aimer may distinguish by touch only, which one to depress.
5. [underlined] RESISTANCE UNITS [/underlined]
The equipment is normally for use with a 12 volt supply. When the equipment is to be used with a 24 volt supply, suitable resistance units must be inserted in the installation wiring. This must be done by signals personnel.
6. [underlined] INSTALLATION [/underlined]
The azimuth bracket is interchangeable with the standard course setting bombsight levelling bracket. The alignment of the bombsight with the fore axis of the aeroplane should be checked with the bombsight set at zero drift and the pointer on the bracket registered in the zero position. Any necessary adjustment of installation should be made by the method normally employed when using a standard course setting bombsight levelling bracket.
7. [underlined] PROCEDURE FOR USE. [/underlined]
(a) The bomb-aimer ensures that the bombsight spigot is located in the central position, and make all the usual settings on the sight.
(b) As soon as the target is located, he switches on the electrical supply, disengages the lever (8) and rotates the bombsight in azimuth until the drift wires are on the target with RED set on RED.
(c) The bomb-aimer depresses the red and green push-buttons (1 [missing text] simultaneously to illuminate the lights on the steering indicator. The indicator shows the angle of turn required, while the illumination of the lamps is the executive signal to the pilot to start the turn. The minimum possible time should elapse between the measurement of the angle and the executive signal.
(d) The pilot banks and turns the aeroplane through the angle indicated on his steering indicator by his directional giro.
(e) During the turn, the bomb-aimer centralizes the sight. There is no need to re-set RED on RED as this has previously been done. (See Para. 7 (b). On completing the turn, he should find the target on or near the drift wires with RED still on RED. The locking lever will engage itself automatically when the sight is centrelized.
[page break]
7. (Contd.)
(f) If subsequent small corrections are required, flat turning technique can be used. [underlined] Steering corrections can be given on the steering indicator by red or green lights. Bombing crews should devise a simple code of signals to indicate the magnitude or urgency of the correction. [/underlined]
(g) If, after the first banked turn, the required correction is of such magnitude that flat turning technique cannot be used, the procedure outlined in Para’s. (b). (c) and (d) should be repeated. However, if the azimuth bracket and bombsight is used correctly there should be no reason for a major correction at this point.
(h) The bomb-aimer releases the bomb in the usual way when the target reaches the line of sight through the backsight and foresight.
[underlined] NOTE [/underlined]
As an alternative to, or in the event of a failure in the steering indicator, the bomb-aimer can transmit verbally to the pilot the angle of turn required, after reading its magnitude on the scale (5). Other steering corrections may be relayed in similar fashion as for normal bombing.
[page break]
[underlined] DESCRIPTION OF THE MK. IX C.S.B.S. [/underlined]
There are two types:
[table of sight types and specifications]
They are similar in most respects to the Mk. VII, but posses an extended range in speed settings to allow for the increased speeds of modern aircraft. To obviate any corresponding increase in the size of the bombsight, the scale of the speed and height bars has been reduced.
In addition to the extended range of speed, provision has also been made to facilitate the determination of Wind Speed and Direction by the incorporation of an Auxiliary Drift Bar and Calibrated Wind Gauge Bar. A vertical extension to the drift wires also enables early corrections to be made at the commencement of a bombing run, and obviates the necessity for a longer drift bar.
For the purpose of description, the bombsight will be considered in three groups:
The body, compass and internal mechanism.
(b) The height bar, enemy speed attachment and calibrated wind gauge bar.
(c) The air, ground and wind speed bars and auxiliary drift bar.
[page break]
[underlined] Course Setting Bomb Sights Precis B 10 [/underlined]
[underlined] Key to Photographs of C.S.B.S. & Azimuth Bracket [/underlined]
[numbered list]
[photograph]
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Bomb Aimer's Notes
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Notes forming part of a Bomb Aimer's course.
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Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
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eng
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39 typed and handwritten sheets
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MJamesEC1385088-160907-010001
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IBCC Digital Archive
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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.
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Alan Pinchbeck
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Pending text-based transcription. Under review
aircrew
bomb aimer
bombing
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Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
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IBCC Digital Archive
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This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
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[underlined] SECRET. [/underlined] [underlined] BY D.R.L.S. [/underlined]
[underlined] BOMBER COMMAND INTELLIGENCE DIGEST NO. 15 [/underlined]
(Extract from Enemy Communication Summary No. 15 published by S.H.A.E.F.)
[underlined] The SAUMUR Tunnel [/underlined]
A fairly complete account of progress on repairs to the SAUMUR tunnel can now be given. This tunnel, immediately SOUTH of the town, is on PARIS-BORDEAUX main line via NIORT and SAINTES. It was successfully attacked by Bomber Command on 8/9 June and is still not open to traffic. The LOIRE rail bridge at SAUMUR was passable during a part of June but the effective interdiction of the route by the tunnel blockage proved a serious embarrassment to German military transport.
The damage was caused by four of a number of 12,000 lb. bombs dropped during the riad. [sic] The first of these was a direct hit on the roof of the tunnel close to the SOUTH entrance. The tracks were completely obliterated for a distance of 260 feet commencing about 100 yards S.E. of the tunnel entrance by the second and third craters, while the fourth caused serious damage to the embankment near the entrance. The lining of the tunnel collapsed as a result of the direct hit and a landslide ensued.
By 23 June the craters cutting the line had been filled, debris blocking the lines between the embankment had been cleared and the northbound track had been relaid to the tunnel mouth. Repair of the southbound track was still prevented by the menacing overhang on the embankment. Sufficient debris had been cleared from the roof to confirm the suspicion that the lining had been pierced. Cover of 25 June showed no further significant change.
By 7 July the southbound track had been relaid over about half the length of its damaged portion and a narrow gauge line had been built to the crater in the tunnel roof.
By 17 July both lines had been repaired to the tunnel mouth though work on the damaged embankment was not yet complete. The narrow gauge by this time extended into the crater.
By 24 July the hole in the tunnel roof had not only been fully exposed but had been enlarged and wagons were visible on the track. [sic] below. Cover on the next day confirmed the view that damage had been so severe as to prevent repair without first collapsing the damaged portion of the roof. Two large cranes were by this time at work above the hole and two very large spoil heaps were spreading out to the SOUTH. The sides of the crater were being cut back to eliminate the necessity of building retaining walls. During this operation the lines inside the tunnel were constantly reblocked by spoil.
By 8 August the cutting back of the NORTH side of the roof crater was completed, the light railway had been transferred to the opposite side, and the hole in the roof lining had been enlarged to a rectangle 63 by 28 feet.
The last cover was on 10 August, at which time work was still in progress and traffic was still impossible. It is by now clear that the impressive progress made has not been sufficient to restore the tunnel and the important line it controls in time to be of any service to the enemy.
[underlined] AMENDMENT [/underlined]
PREVIOUS BOMBER COMMAND INTELLIGENCE DIGEST NO. 13 should read:- NO. 14.
[underlined] 23rd August, 1944. [/underlined]
GL/1.
[signature]
Air Commodore,
[underlined] Chief of Intelligence Officer [/underlined]
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Title
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Bomber Command Intelligence Digest No 15 - Saumur Tunnel
Description
An account of the resource
Account of repairs to tunnel which was attached by Bomber Command on 8/9 June 1944 which is still not open to traffic. Describes damage and provides account of repairs to craters. railway tracks and hole in the roof of tunnel.
Publisher
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Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces Europe
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1944-08-23
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eng
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Text
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MCheshireGL72021-181210-090001
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
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France
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1944-06-08
1944-06-09
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Cheshire, Leonard. 617 Squadron bomb damage assessments
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This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
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Great Britain. Royal Air Force
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Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
Format
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One-page typewritten document
bombing
Bombing of the Saumur tunnel (8/9 June 1944)
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Tallboy
-
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16561/MCheshireGL72021-181210-030007.2.jpg
f1687528f2a8c5a78f73ed905e2de830
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] DATE: [/underlined] 15/16th JUNE, 1944.
[underlined] TARGET: [/underlined] ‘E’ BOATS, BOULOGNE.
[underlined] ZERO HOUR: [/underlined] 2235 HOURS
[underlined] CREWS: [/underlined]
[underlined] LEADER & MARKER No.1: [/underlined] W/Cdr. Cheshire — Navigator: F/O Kelly [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] Mos. ’N’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 2 Red Spot Fires 2 x 500 M. C.
[underlined] DEPUTY LEADER: [/underlined] S/Ldr. Munro — F/Engineer: F/S Appleby — Navigator: F/L Rumbles — W/Operator: F/O Pigeon — A/G M. U.: P/O Howarth — Air Bomber: F/L Astbury — A/G Rear: F/O Weeks — Front Gunner: - [underlined] A/C Letter [/underlined] ‘W’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] S/Ldr. Mc Carthy — F/Engineer: F/O Radcliffe — Navigator: F/O MacLean — W/Operator: W/O Eaton — A/G M. U.: W/O Batson — Air Bomber: F/O Daniel — A/G Rear: F/L Rodger — Front Gunner: F/L Curtis [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ‘Q’ [underlined] Bomb load [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Wilson — F/Engineer: Sgt. Cherrington — Navigator: F/O Stott — W/Operator: F/O Allen — A/G M. U.: F/S Vaughan — Air Bomber: F/O Finlay — A/G Rear: F/L Chandler — Front Gunner: Sgt. King [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’N’ [underlined] Bomb Load: 1 ‘Tallboy’
[page break]
[underlined] CREWS: [/underlined]
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Poore — F/Engineer: F/S Johnson — Navigator: F/O Roberts — W/Operator: F/S Thompson — A/G M. U.: F/S Tookey — Air Bomber: F/O Elsey — A/G Rear: F/S Castleman — Front Gunner: Sgt. Fowle [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ‘O’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Fearn — F/Engineer: P/O Davies — Navigator: F/S Johnson — W/Operator: F/S Baker — A/G M. U.: F/S Wilson-Williams — Air Bomber: F/O Chadwick — A/G Rear: W/O Kemp — Front Gunner: Sgt. Ronald [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ‘X’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Clayton — F/Engineer: F/O Hill — Navigator: F/O Buttle — W/Operator: F/O Chalmers — A/G M. U.: F/S Sharp — Air Bomber: F/O Watson — A/G Rear: F/S Hume — Front Gunner: F/O Ward — P/O Carey [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ‘H’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Edward — F/Engineer: F/O King — Navigator: F/O Pritchard — W/Operator: F/S Hobbs — A/G M. U.: P/O Johnston — Air Bomber: F/S Brook — A/G Rear: F/S Isherwood — Front Gunner: Sgt. Henderson [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ‘K’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[page break]
[underlined] CREWS: [/underlined]
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Williams — F/Engineer: Sgt. Soilleux — Navigator: F/O Talbot — W/Operator: F/S Potter — A/G M. U.: F/S Blagdon — Air Bomber: F/O Walker — A/G Rear: Sgt. McKellar — Front Gunner: Sgt. Craig [underlined] A/C Letters: [/underlined] ‘B’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Kearns — F/Engineer: P/O Henderson — Navigator: F/O Barclay — W/Operator: P/O Ellwood — A/G M. U.: W/O Bickley — Air Bomber: W/O Bennett — A/G Rear: F/O Petch — Front Gunner: F/L Tate [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ‘U’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Reid — F/Engineer: F/S Stewart — Navigator: F/O Peltier — W/Operator: F/O Luker — A/G M. U.: F/S Holt — Air Bomber: P/O Rolton — A/G Rear: W/O Hutton— Front Gunner: F/S McNally [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’S’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/L Howard — F/Engineer: Sgt. Hawkins — Navigator: F/O McDonald — W/Operator: F/S Lucan — A/G M. U.: W/O Woods — Air Bomber: F/S Hartley — A/G Rear: F/S Clarke — Front Gunner: P/O Heggie — F/O Fox [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’D’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[page break]
[underlined] CREWS: [/underlined]
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] Lt. Knilans — F/Engineer: P/O Ryall — Navigator: P/O Geller — W/Operator: F/O Knell — A/G M. U.: F/S Hunnisette — Air Bomber: F/O Rogers — A/G Rear: P/O Learmouth — Front Gunner: P/O Castagnola [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’R’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Ross — F/Engineer: F/O Girling — Navigator: F/O Davies — W/Operator: F/S Hickson — A/G M. U.: F/O Platt — Air Bomber: W/O McClellan — A/G Rear: F/O Tuxford — Front Gunner: F/O Atkinson [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’Z’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Duffy — F/Engineer: Sgt. Benting — Navigator: F/O Bell — W/Operator: F/O Pearce — A/G M. U.: W/O Porter — Air Bomber: F/O Woods — A/G Rear: P/O Evans — Front Gunner: W/O Allen [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’C’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Hamilton — F/Engineer: Sgt. Rooke — Navigator: P/O Jackson — W/Operator: Sgt. Thompson — A/G M. U.: F/S Dadge — Air Bomber: F/O Duck — A/G Rear: F/S Hamilton — Front Gunner: F/S McLean [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’G’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[page break]
[underlined] CREWS: [/underlined]
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Cheney — F/Engineer: Sgt. Rosher — Navigator: P/O Welch — W/Operator: F/S Pool — A/G M. U.: F/S McRostie — Air Bomber: F/S Curtis — A/G Rear: F/S Wait — Front Gunner: F/S McKie [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’V’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] P/O Gingles — F/Engineer: Sgt. Gallagher — Navigator: F/O Beale — W/Operator: W/O Riley — A/G M. U.: F/L Scott-Kiddie — Air Bomber: F/S Hazell — A/G Rear: F/O Ball — Front Gunner: F/S Mason — W/O McLennan [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’L’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Knights— F/Engineer: P/O Twells — Navigator: F/O Rhude — W/Operator: F/O Hosie — A/G M. U.: F/S Pengelly — Air Bomber: P/O Bell — A/G Rear: F/S Derham — [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’A’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[page break]
[underlined] CREWS: [/underlined]
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Stanford — F/Engineer: Sgt. Judson — Navigator: P/O Butler — W/Operator: W/O Jordan — A/G M. U.: F/S Griffiths — Air Bomber: W/O Clarke — A/G Rear: P/O Jewell — Front Gunner: F/S Evans [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’F’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Stout — F/Engineer: P/O Gurney — Navigator: F/O Ingleby — W/Operator: F/S Nuttall — A/G M. U.: P/O C-Underwood — Air Bomber: F/O Rupert — A/G Rear: W/O Smith — Front Gunner: F/S Hoyland [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’Y’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Willsher— F/Engineer: Sgt. Hurdiss — Navigator: F/O Playford — W/Operator: P/O Bell — A/G M. U.: F/S Salter — Air Bomber: P/O Everett — A/G Rear: F/O Witherick — Front Gunner: Sgt. Matthews [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’T’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
[underlined] CAPTAIN: [/underlined] F/O Kell — F/Engineer: P/O Clark — Navigator: F/O Hager — W/Operator: F/O Evans — A/G M. U.: P/O Snell — Air Bomber: F/O Morieson — A/G Rear: F/S Price — Front Gunner: Sgt. Thomas [underlined] A/C Letter: [/underlined] ’P’ [underlined] Bomb Load: [/underlined] 1 ‘Tallboy’
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Crew list for Boulogne E-boats operation
Description
An account of the resource
States date 15/16 June 1944, target, zero hour 2235. Shows Wing Commander Cheshire leader and marker in Mosquito and 22 crews flying Lancaster all armed with Tallboy bombs.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six page typewritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCheshireGL72021-181210-030002, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030003, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030004, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030005, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030006, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030007
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06-16
1944-06-16
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. Bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
617 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard (1917-1992)
Lancaster
Mosquito
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Tallboy
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/501/22409/MCurnockRM1815605-171114-093.1.pdf
eefebf0061109ce009f489c044488d92
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Curnock, Richard
Richard Murdock Curnock
R M Curnock
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Curnock, RM
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-04-18
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Description
An account of the resource
92 items. An oral history interview with Warrant Officer Richard Curnock (1924, 1915605 Royal Air Force), his log book, letters, photographs and prisoner of war magazines. He flew operations with 425 Squadron before being shot down and becoming a prisoner of war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by Richard Curnock and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
A WARTIME LOG
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
A WARTIME LOG FOR BRITISH PRISONERS
Gift from
THE WAR PRISONERS’ AID OF THE Y.M.C.A.
37, Quai Wilson
GENEVA — SWITZERLAND
[page break]
[hand drawn R.A.F. crest]
[hand drawn sketch of a Halifax aircraft]
[page break]
THIS BOOK BELONGS TO
R M CURNOCK. 2108
SUNNYCROFT.
59. MINEHEAD STREET.
LEICESTER
[Y.M.C.A. crest]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
CONTENTS
Addresses of the Crew Page 122
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
1
[private addresses - aircrew]
S. J. Wheadon — G I. Dunsmore — Wesley Skink
[page break]
2
More of The Crew
C. A. Stowell — R. Friskey
[page break]
3
Pals
Gord. McGillway — Robert J H. Prince — A. Laing. — George. F. Cole.
[page break]
4
Basil Cotton — Eric G. Standen. — A. G. Hunter
[page break]
5
Jack French — A. G. Fripp. — W. N. Wiffen — Jim Toole.
[page break]
6
C. A. MELLING. — J. M. Hudson — ALFRED HUNT
[page break]
7
A. J. Gulucke — W Marshall Featherstone — F. A. Bartlett — George. A. Kirk.
[page break]
8
David Y. Young, — D, Stubbs, — W R Forbes,
[page break]
9
John. Waldron.
[page break]
20
[blank page]
[page break]
21
APRIL 20th 1945 To our Engineer “Ginger” Wheadon
Ginge was killed by a bullet from a Typhoon whilst we were resting during a march on April 19th 1945, he was killed instantly. We are trying to get some of his personal kit to bring home for his Mother and Mary his girl. He was buried at a village of Heydekrug, 4 KM. from Gresse where we had just drawn food parcels. He was buried by our Padre and a parson. The time of his death was approximately 12 noon.
Harry looked after one or two of the badly wounded lads, I went back to Ginger only to find that all his kit had been taken and his pockets empty. Some thieving B — had pinched everything he had on him.
I only hope the food
[page break]
22
choked them and all the other things brought them the worst luck possible.
[page break]
23
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a scantily dressed female firing a bow and arrow]
MAMA MIA
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a person holding a tray of steaming tea, the steam is obscuring their face. From out of the steam is another face saying “WHERE”]
[underlined] BREW UP DICK [/underlined]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of an air gunner in the rear turret of an aeroplane. The fuselage of the aeroplane is twisted like a corkscrew.]
NOT SO VIOLENT NEXT TIME CHUCK!
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
1st
[underlined] D. H. TIGER MOTH [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch of a Tiger Moth aeroplane]
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a Lysander aeroplane]
[page break]
3rd
[underlined] BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch of a Defiant aeroplane]
[page break]
[underlined] AVRO ANSON [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch of an Anson aeroplane]
[page break]
5th
[underlined] AIRSPEED OXFORD [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch of an Oxford aeroplane]
AIRSPEED OXFORD
[page break]
6th
[underlined] WELLINGTON] [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch of an Wellington aeroplane]
WELLINGTON
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a Halifax aeroplane]
HALIFAX III
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a Dakota/DC3/C47 aeroplane]
DAKOTA
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a line of washing hanging above 4 cupboards]
[page break]
[hand drawn sketch of a drunken man leaning against a crooked lampost]
OPERATIONS CONTINUING ACCORDING TO [underlined] PLAN [/underlined]
[page break]
55
[blank page]
[page break]
56
[blank page]
[page break]
57
[underlined] A KRIEGIES X COMMANDMENTS [/underlined]
I THOU SHALT NOT REFUSE ANYTHING.
II THOU SHALT DO NO ARBIET. NIETHER [sic] SHALT THOU DO DHOBI. NIETHER [sic] SHALT THOU LABOUR WHEN ON STOOGE NOR DO ANYTHING IN HASTE. THOU SHALT ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO BLUDGE.
III REMEMBER THAT THOU KEEP HOLY PARCEL ISSUE DAY.
IV HONOUR THE RED CROSS. Y.M.C.A. AND GENEVA CONVENTION LEST IN THE DAY OF NEED YOUR CRIES GO UNHEEDED.
V THOU SHALT NOT WALK OVER THE WARNING WIRE.
VI THOU SHALT NOT BE FOUND OUT.
VII THOU SHALT GET INTO AS MANY RACKETS AS POSSIBLE.
VIII THOU SHALT EXPOSE THE REST
IX THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOURS SPACE
X THOU SHALT NOT COVERT THY NEIGHBOURS BEDBOARDS, NOR HIS PALLIASE, [sic] NOR HIS DIXIE NOR ANYTHING THAT IS HIS.
[underlined] AMEN [/underlined]
[page break]
62
11
12 didn’t sleep very well about 4 1/2 hrs up 6.30 picked up a 7.10 went to Bristol thru evesham stratford still [one indecipherable word] about breakfast, transport cafe dripping toast into depot [inserted] lunch on way back [/inserted] back to Shawbury for delivery into work at 3.45 did some jobs home about 5.20 went to badminton home just after 10-00 bed at 12 and slept quite well up once only.
13 up at 11.30 breakfast read paper read a part of book Dutch resistance watched [one indecipherable word] long range desert group. Sea of sand Richard Attenborough, went for walk in garden finished The stand started another about Dutch resistance. very good.
14 didn’t sleep well up 10.30 lovely morning went in garden and did a bit of tidying up same after dinner.
15 very cold and windy had log fire sat by but chilblain on toe playing fine tune had to move to other end.
16 after dinner started jigsaw. B out. phone rang got it too late bed 11.30 raining.
17 up 9.30 walk to Branston. Peter phoned from work wonder what budget surveyor B gone to town made self coffee 11.30 Rich cold no Badminton raining would have walked down B hair then TLG home been on own most of today.
[page break]
18th Rough nite with children snowed today most of morning walk in Garden afternoon cut some plaster off to set at toe.
19th Nice morning B at Drop out then hair do finished nuzzle watched snooker went to badminton read a bit bed at 12.
20th up 10.30 was going for walk but it snowed for a while. Went for walked [sic] when finished 1.30 it is snowing again.
21 Not good night snowed again today watched snooker and filmed T.V read book F Forsyth fourth protocol. J Stewart film to finish up bed 12.05
22 up 10.30 after good night went for walk round new st met a number of folks after dinner Peter came in Sues car then their house to watch Rugby France Ireland. F won Wales v Scotland S won then to B & R for tea then played cards till 11.50 nice meal not too [one indecipherable word] home at 12 now watching final of [one indecipherable word] snooker [two indecipherable words]
23
24 Up 7.30 to LRI FOR 8-50 straight in had plaster of saw doc no more treatment, walk as much as possible no [one indecipherable word] 3 wks leg all scaly and white feels funny not much sleep went to badminton Lynden taking me into work Mon
[page break]
64
25 up by 10 cold day tho sunshine finished book 4th Protocol F Forsyth good Frank came in 3pm went 4pm brought book on RAF, been for walk but not very good, starting work Mon.
26th Went for walk as far as Branston foot rather swollen read watched tele Rick & C came told us they have decided to go back to Aussie later this year [two indecipherable words] winch went badminton watched Bowls
27th Two slates of [sic] roof had to prop up fence mine also blown down by Mrs Austin lots of destruction severn bridge closed also Humber an M2 lots of lorries blown over
[page break]
65
[blank page]
[page break]
104
AUGSBURG — FRANKFURT AM MAIN — DAEMSTADT — FALLINGBOSTEL NR HANOVER — THORNI (POLISH CORRIDOR — HYDECRUG [deleted] NR HANOVER [/deleted] EAST PRUSSIA — MARCH - CELLE CROSSED ELBE HEADING FOR LUBECK — LUNEBURG CAMP FLEW HOME
[page break]
105
COSFORD
[page break]
106
RANKS AND SERVICE Nos OF FRIENDS
[page break]
107
[blank page]
[page break]
108
[list]
Letters received and sent.
[page break]
111
[blank page]
[page break]
112
[blank page]
[page break]
113
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
WAR PRISONERS AID
AIDE AUX PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE
KRIEGSGEFANGENENHILFE
WORLD’S ALLIANCE OF YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS
ALLIANCE UNIVERSELLE DES UNIONS CHRÉTIENNES DE JEUNES GENS WELTBUND DER CHRISTLICHEN VEREINE JUNGER MĀNNER
Quai Wilson, 37
GENÈVE (Suisse]
Centre International
Addresse Télégraph, : FLEMGO-GENÈVE
Compte de Chèques postaux : 1. 331
Téléphone 2.70.60
Dear Friend,
After the Canadian and American editions of the War-time Log, here is a special issue for British prisoners of war. Though its format is somewhat different, its purpose is just the same as the others: to bring you greetings from friends and to facilitate your recording some of your experience during these eventful years.
Not everyone will want to use this book as a diary. If you are a writer, here is space for a short story. If you are an artist, you may want to cover these pages with sketches of your camp, caricatures of its important personalities. If you are a poet, major or minor, confide your lyrics to these pages. If you feel that circumstances cramp your style in correspondence, you may write here letters to be carried with you on your return. This book may serve to list the most striking concoctions of the camp kitchen, the records of camp sports or a selection of the best jokes cracked in camp. One man has suggested using the autograph of one of his companions (plus his fingerprints?) to head each page, followed by free and frank remarks about the man himself. You may write a commentary on such photographs as you may have to mount on the special pages for that purpose with the mounting-corners in the pocket of the back cover. This pocket may be used for clippings you want to preserve, or, together with the small envelopes on the last page, for authentic souvenirs of life in camp.
Your own ingenuity may suggest to you many other ways of using this book, which comes to you with our greetings and good wishes.
Yours very sincerely,
WAR PRISONERS’ AID OF THE YMCA.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dick Curnock's Wartime Log
Description
An account of the resource
In the log Dick Curnock recorded crew and friends names and addresses, an obituary of Ginge Wheeldon who was shot by a Typhoon whilst on a march, cartoons, sketches of aircraft, dates of letters received and samples of window.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Dick Curnock
Format
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29 page handwritten book
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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MCurnockRM1815605-171114-093
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Leicester
England--Leicestershire
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
1945-04-19
1945-04-20
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
aircrew
Anson
arts and crafts
C-47
Defiant
final resting place
flight engineer
Halifax
Lysander
military living conditions
Oxford
prisoner of war
Red Cross
strafing
Tiger Moth
Typhoon
Wellington
Window
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/886/10932/NHudsonJD151001-010008.1.jpg
4eb5510ad784c8501c5a208cea27c5b6
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/886/10932/NHudsonJD151001-010007.1.jpg
ab5cdd550c3c011aed6925d11e33f403
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hudson, Douglas
James Douglas Hudson
J D Hudson
Description
An account of the resource
529 items. Collection concerns Pilot Officer James Douglas Hudson, DFC (755052 Royal Air Force) who joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1939 and trained as an observer. While on route to Malta in August 1940 his Blenheim crashed in Tunisia and he was subsequently interned for two and a half years by Vichy French in Tunisia and Algeria. After being freed he returned to Great Britain and after navigator retraining completed a tour of 30 operations on 100 Squadron. The collection contains letters to and from his parents and from French penfriends while interned in Tunisia and Algeria, newspaper cuttings of various events, logbooks and lists of operations, official documents and photographs. A further 23 items are in two sub-collections with details of navigator examinations and postcards of Laghouat Algeria.<br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Elizabeth Smith and Yvonne Puncher and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br />
<p>This collection also contains items concerning Louis Murray and Harry Bowers. Additional information on <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/202827/">Harry Bowers</a> and <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/220410/">Louis Murray</a> is available via the IBCC Losses Database.</p>
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-06-16
Rights
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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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Hudson, JD
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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From: A/V/M. E.A.B. Rice, C.B., C.B.E., M.C.
[crest]
Royal Air Force,
Bawtry Hall,
Bawtry,
Yorks.
20th September, 1944.
1G/EABR/DO.
Dear Hudson
I heartily congratulate you on the Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
I am very glad your splendid achievements have received due recognition.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
P/O. J.D. Hudson, D.F.C.,
No. 1667 H.C.U.,
R.A.F. Station,
[underlined] Sandtoft. [/underlined]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Douglas Hudson Distinguished Flying Cross
Description
An account of the resource
Congratulatory letter from group headquarters on award of Distinguished Flying Cross
Creator
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E A B Rice
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-09-20
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Service material
Identifier
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NHudsonJD151001-010007, NHudsonJD151001-010008
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
Temporal Coverage
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1944-09-20
Format
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One-page typewritten letter and envelope
Distinguished Flying Cross
RAF Bawtry
RAF Sandtoft
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1414/27903/EWareingJPillotJ441028-0001.1.jpg
2639c074eab1b77227f260bfdeb0c7b7
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1414/27903/EWareingJPillotJ441028-0002.1.jpg
f8c09eae79d3fb20b9cb161f54c5962b
Dublin Core
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Title
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Wareing, Robert
R Wareing
Description
An account of the resource
258 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Robert Wareing DFC* (86325 Royal Air Force) and contains his flying logbooks, prisoner of war log book, memoirs, photographs, extensive personal and official correspondence, official documents, pilots/handling notes, decorations, mementos, uniform badges and buttons. He flew operations as a pilot with 106 Squadron. After a period of instructing he returned to operations on 582 Squadron but was shot down and became a prisoner of war.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Andrew Wareing and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2016-10-05
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Wareing, R
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[front of envelope]
[3 postage stamps]
[post mark] Scunthorpe 1PM 28 OCT 1944 LINCS.
[stamped] UNDELIVERED FOR REASON STATED
RETURN TO SENDER
[deleted] Mademoiselle Jacqueline Pillat,
La Cerlargue,
Seine Inferieure,
France. [/deleted]
SCUNTHORPE
Lincs
PTO
[page break]
[rear of envelope]
FROM:- MRS. Robert Wareing,
56, West Common Garens,
Old Brumby,
Scunthorpe,
Lincolnshire
England
[stamped] NO SERVICE
RETURN TO SENDER
[postmark] LONDON 5.15PM 2 NOV 1944 E
Dublin Core
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Title
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Envelope from Mrs Wareing to Jacqueline Pillot
Description
An account of the resource
Addressed to Jacqueline Pillot on front postmarked Scunthorpe - returned to sender.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-10-28
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
Format
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Handwritten envelope
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
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EWareingJPillotJ441028-Env
Coverage
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Civilian
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Scunthorpe
France
France--Seine-Maritime
Temporal Coverage
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1944-10-28
Rights
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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.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/416/7655/MTwellsE171780-151026-06.2.pdf
5f56be434d3d90bf672b7eb72bcf9ee3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Twells, Ernest
Ernie Twells
E Twells
Description
An account of the resource
19 items. The collection concerns Flying Officer Ernie Twells DFC (1909 - 1979, 6042416, 805035 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books training notebooks, his medals and lucky mascot. It also includes a scrap book of photographs.
Ernie Twells served as an engine fitter before remustering as a flight engineer. He completed 65 operations with 619 and 617 Squadrons including sinking the Tirpitz.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Ernest Twells and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-10-26
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Twells, E
Access Rights
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Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
F/O TWELLS
Form 619
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Notebook for use in Schools.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[page of calculations]
[page break]
[page of calculations and formulae]
[page break]
[formulae and a graph]
For constant boost and [one indecipherable word] RPM. IHP [one indecipherable word] to RPM for a constant boost RPM will determine weight of air consumed and I.H.P is ∝ to the weight of air consumed. The losses of power between IH.P and B.H.P will be
A/ Frictional losses witch [sic] are ∝ to RPM
B S/G witch [sic] are ∝ RPM at constant Boost
[example calculation]
page break]
[page of calculations and graph]
[page break]
[underlined] SUPER CHARGING [/underlined]
Rate of air consumption by [underlined] weight [/underlined] governs the I.H.P
Supercharging is a means of obtaining higher power at S L or of maintaining cruising power to a higher altitude.
[formulae and calculations on super charging]
Power absorbed prop to square of RPM and weight of air consumed
[page break]
[formulae]
[page break]
TEMP AND PRESS IN ENGINES FITTED WITH TURBO S/C
[graphs]
[page break]
Performance of Supercharged Engines
1/ Normally asperated [sic] engine
[graphs]
[page break]
[page of formulae and calculations]
[page break]
POWER REQUIRED FOR CLIMBING
[page of formulae]
[page break]
[calculations scribbled out]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
For any given revs and boost there is a full throttle height - it is the height up to which the given boost can be maintained with the given revs
Full throttle height affected by
1/ Given boost higher the boost lower [inserted] FTH [/inserted]
2/ Given R.P.M higher RPM higher F.T.H
3/ Ram effect
4/ Intake efficiency
[underlined] Rated conditions [/underlined] are those that may be used for more than 5 mins and less than 1 hour (1/2) generally the max climbing conditions in rich mixture
Rated Power is the power developed with rated R.P.M and Boost at rated height
[graph]
[page break]
[page of graphs]
[page break]
[graphs]
To find power required at any altitude multiply BHP by Altitude Factor for height wanted.
[page break]
[underlined] FUELS [/underlined]
1/ [underlined] DETONATION [/underlined]
2/ FREEDOM FROM VAPOUR LOCK
3 ES DISTROBUTION [sic] VARIOUS CYLDS
4 ABSENT OF TENDIE TO FORM DEPOSITS
[underlined] EFFECT O DETONATION [/underlined]
(a) Increase of heat losses to cylinder walls and pistons
(b) Maximum pressure exceeds normal max value.
Factors governing Detonation
1/ Nature of Fuel
2/ Compression Ratio
3/ Boost Pressure
4/ RPM
5/ Air intake temp
6/ Ignition advance
7/ Cylinder Cooling
Anti Knock Fuel the Property of the fuel ton resist detonation
[one indecipherable word] octane and [one indecipherable word] to get the octane No.
[page break]
[underlined] Volaldily [sic] [/underlined] Tendency of a fuel to Vapourise
Absent of vapour lock
[underlined] SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION [/underlined]
[formulae]
[page break]
[underlined MIX POWER [/underlined]
[graph]
BHP
20:1 rough running combustion will not take place below this ratio
16:1 most ecconical [sic] used for cruising [one indecipherable word] [inserted] power [/inserted]
15.2:1 C . C
14:1 Weak mixture max power
12:1 Rated mixture streath [sic]
10:1 Take off
[underlined] REQUIRED [/underlined]
[one indecipherable word] rich
Cruising 16:1
High power 14:1
Take off 10:1
[page break]
[page of graphs]
VARIATION OF S.F.C. CON BOOST
[Graph showing S.F.C. against power at constant boost]
S.F.C. GRID
[Graph showing S.F.C. against power]
The S.F.C. Grid shows a variety of ways witch [sic] any given power output can be obtained. But there is only ONE seting [sic] for any given power witch [sic] gives envelope minimum S.F.C. this setting is that given on the S.F.C.
EFFECT OF HEIGHT ON S.F.C. GRID
1. Up to full throttle height better S.F.C. same power can be obtained with less revs ie better mec effo [sic]
Above full throttle height S.F.C. increases as to maintain same power revs must be increased.
2. If operating at min R.P.M. to maintain constant power, throttle must be closed gradualy [sic] to full throttle heighjt and opened above full throttle height
[graph of P against A showing full throttle height]
Summary of Factors affecting S.F.C.
1. air fuel ratio (S.F.C. Loop)
2. Power developed.
3. R.P.M. (friction losses)
4. Butterfly opening (boost)
(power wasted in S/G)
[page break]
Carburation
Venturi injection type Stromberg and Seco Venturi with float chamber. SU [two initials] non venturi injection no float chamber R.A.E. Hobson
S.E.C.O and Stromberg
Basic principles of operation
A-B chambers pressure [symbol] airflow
D-C chamber pressure [symbol] fuel flow
[sketch of carburettor]
SUMMARY OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Engine caracteristics [sic] of interest
1. Power – speed rate of climb
2. Fuel flow – endurance
3. Specific consumption – range
Factors affecting performance character
1. Boost
2.R.P.M
3. Barometric pressure altitude
4. Temperature
5. Mixture strength.
[table showing effect of changes of the above factors]
[page break]
SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION TENDENCIES
1. Variation of power – const [sic] height temp mixture
a. increasing boost R.P.M const [sic] S.F.C. decreases
b. Increasing RPM boost const [sic] SFC increases
c. Increasing Power at full throttle SFC rough [sic] constant may decrease at low RPM definite increase at high RPM
2. Increase in height
a. constant boost and RPM S.F.C decreases up to full throttle height
b. Constant I.A.S increasing power
(i) at const [sic] RPM S.F.C. decreases
because increase boost
decrease in back pressure
decrease in temp
(ii) At constant boost S.F.C may decrease at low RPM otherwise increase.
(iii) full throttle – much the same as (ii) poss [sic] more favourable see (1c)
Increase in temp
(a) Const [sic] boost and RPM – S.F.C. increase more so in uncompensated carb
(b) Const [sic] IAS increase of power
(i) const [sic] boost S.F.C. increase more so in uncompensated carb
(ii) Const [sic] R.P.M. S.F.C. may decrease slightly with a comp [sic] carb, increase with uncomp [sic] carb
(iii) Full throttle. S.F.C. increase more so at high R.P.M. and even more so with uncomp [sic] carb (PR of supercharger [one word] for higher temp therefore not such a great increase of boost)
[page break]
General Range Flying Principles
Range is distance with a given amount of fuel
Specific Range dist [sic] with a unit amount of fuel
Specific Air Range SAR is A.M.P.G
[formulae for calculating SAR]
S.A.R is a measure of the overall eff [sic] of A/C since L = prop eff [sic] S gives measure of both E and airframe efficiency.
Speed and power can only affect SAR through there affect on E. S or D
Assumption of const [sic] S and E.
[graph of SAR against Speed]
[page break]
Since V1 and D remains constant for changes of height and temp best V1 for range will remain constant and also S.A.R
[graph of SAR against speed]
Best speed for range prop square root of weight
Range inversely prop to weight
[graph]
Increase in parasite drag reduces the best speed for drag and reduces the range also the power required at the new speed is greater than the old speed.
For summary for const [sic]
Best V1 for range is the same V1nn independent of the ht [sic] and air temp and prop to the square root and weight
Percentage vari [sic] of best V1 =[formula]
Increase in parasite drag increases total drag decreases best V1 also increases power required
[page break]
SAR at the best V1 is also independent of height and temp and is inversely prop [sic] to the weight.
Although the assumption of cost [sic] E and S it is not generally true in practice it some times occours [sic] that the value of E over S is allmost [sic] [deleted] negible [/delete] neglidlle [sic] and the above conclusions hold, and in any case can be graphed on to the above results.
EFFECT OF VARIATION OF S.F.C
[formulae and graph]
[page break]
OPERATION AT CONST [SIC] BOOST WHERE SFC INCREASES AT INCREASE POWER
[graph]
At V1MD drag is approx const a small decrease in speed giving but this small decrease in speed gives a decrease in S so D x S is decreased S.AR is increased. If speed is still reduced we shall reach a point where decrease in S and increase in D are balanced and we get best S further reduction in speed shows [deleted] decreasing [/deleted] D increasing much more rapidly than S is decreasing So D x S has a net increase S.A.R therefore fall off
Increase in speed above V1 MD shows both D and S increasing therefore D xS increases and therefore S.A.R decreases see graphs
[page break]
OPERATION AT CONSTANT RPM
SFC decreases with increased power
[graph]
An aircraft is said to be under powered for range flying when the power used at the best speed for range is greater than the power giving min [sic] S.F.C.
It can be seen that an aircraft can commence a sortie underpowered and finis [sic] overpowered.
VARIATIONS OF PROP EFF
Prop eff can generally be taken to be between 75 percent and 85 percent but in any particular case the variation in eff [sic] will be small and of the order of 2 to 4 percent. Above rated altitude however efdf drops off due to high angle of attack required to absorb the power. High angle may also give reduced eff when operating at high boost low RPM In a few isolated cases where prop eff does not remain aprox [sic] constant the variation in drag and S.F.C and the need for operating at certain conditions may override the low RPM high boost rule
[page break]
[graph]
[table]
[graph]
[page break]
Fig A [graph]
The tables show that the rate of power around V1MD in [sic] generaly [sic] lower for lower weights in other words as weight is decreased the aircraft becomes less underpowered or overpowered.
We saw that for an underpowered a/c speed for range is less than V1MD in an overpowered aircraft speed for range is greater than V1MD
This difference depends on slope of S.F.C envelope. As the aircraft becomes less underpowered ie as power is reduced the slope of the envelope is reduced and speed for range becomes nearer V1MD As the aircraft becomes more overpowered ie power required still less the slope increases and speed for range becomes more and more above ViMD
Fig it shows that the variation of speed for range is less for ViMII and in practice we say the percentage of speed for range is
[formula]
EFFECT OF VARIATION OF HEIGHT
For a constant SFC and Prop eff. We saw that variation of height had no effect on range for as on best speed for range and so in practice variation in height will only effect range and speed for range where it effects S.F.C and prop eff
[graph]
[page break]
Aircraft overpowered at Sea Level
Therefore operated at const R.P.M. increased power with height by increasing boost. S.F.C improves therefore therefore range improves therefore S.A.R improves up to the full throttle height At full throttle height aircraft correctly powered S.F.C minimum. If above full throttle height extra powered required obtained at higher RPM this gives greater S.F.C therefore smaller air range.
At sea level overpowered aircraft the best speed for range is higher than ViMD at full throttle height it is correctly powered speed for range ViMD
Above full throttle height high RPM required therefore reduce speed to avoid uneconomical engine settings
Aircraft underpowered at sea level
Operating at max boost increase power increase R.P.M S.F.C may improve at first giving slight increase of range with height, but when high R.P.M are required SFC increases more rapidly giving reduction in range. Speed for range aircraft underpowered Vi less than ViMD remains aprox [sic] constant up to full throttle height up to when heigh [sic] RPM make a reduction necessary to avoid unnecessary engine [word]?
EFFECT OF VARIATION OF TEMP (INCREASE)
Constant IAS RPM compensated carb SFC decreases slightly therefore range increase
Uncompensated carb SFC increases slightly therefore range decreases.
At constant boost and IAS full throttle range will allways [sic] decrease more so with uncompensated carb 2.5 percent.
With increase of temp aircraft become less overpowered or more underpowered (due to increase T.A.S) the effect in both casses [sic] on the best speed for range is the same and is a reduction
PERFORMANCE AT LOW SPEEDS
[graph]
[page break]
Minimum speed for cruising is the speed at which a small change of speed the power required is sufficiently large to make the aircraft return rapidly to its mean speed. In rough air bigger changes in speed bigger margin required. Fly a little faster. Tendency to instability biger [sic] movements of control are required biger [sic] changes of speed fly a little fast.
Recommended speed is chosen suffice [sic] above the minimum speed for cont cruising to allow for all normal variations and C of G and stability and average rough air conditions
SUMMARY OF FACTORS AFFECTING S.A.R
1. Speed – drag handling.
2. Weight – drag (C of G)
3. Engine settings – S.F.C. Prop efficiency
4. Height – S.F.C. (prop at height)
5. Air temp – S.F.C.
6. [word]? – average drag
7. Pilot efficiency – use of auto pilot
[table]
Range summary
1. Use max boost and low RPM to obtain optium [sic] IAS
2. Use M.S gear at an altitude such that the optium [sic] I.A.S. is obtained at full throttle but do not fly so high that RPM near the max must be used
[page break]
3 Roughly % change best speed =1/2 to 1/4% change in weight 1/4 (2/3) % change in range = 1 to 1/2 change in weight.
[underlined] EFFECT OF WIND [/underlined]
[calculation of T.M.P.G.]
[calculation of A.M.P.G]
[calculation of TMPG]
[calculations for the above]
Graph shows that best speed for range with a head wind is increased from 155 to 173 TAS aprox [sic] 12% Graph will lack would show a decrease in speed
[calculation]
[page break]
It will be seen that the head wind reduces T.M.P.G. by aprox [sic] 30%. Where as changing our speed for range we regain aprox [sic] 3% it similar effect and it is seen that the loss due to the wind is far in excess that than that gained by increase of speed. Thus it will be seen more probable to change height for more favourable winds were the gain will be a greater % than any obtained by changing speed or operating at full throttle.
[calculation for best INS for wind]
its empirical rule is usely [sic] found for each aircraft where by speed for range is changed 1 mile/hour for a given change in ground speed i.e after speed 1MPH for every 10MPH ground speed
[page break]
[underlined] CLIMB AND DESCENT
Climbing T.H.P. = T.M.P to overcome drag + THP for climb.
[underlined] Vertical Climb [/underlined] it dont [one deleted word] a where range is of no importance and heigh [sic] gained per gall is important factor.
Telling max climbing never and boost gall/hr are fixed so to climb max number of feet per gall we must climb as fast as poss.
[diagram of power for climbing]
Max climb obtained where max power is obtained for climb in threshold region but flight is not now uncomfortable since a good margin of power is available above that now required to maintain speed
[page break]
[diagram of climb/speed ratio]
POWER FOR CLIMB DOUBLED
RATE OF CLIMB “ say from 500FT/MIN to 1000FT/MIN.
TOTAL POWER INCREASE 50% AND SO FUEL CONSUMPTION INCREASES 50% SAY FROM 60 GALLS/HR TO 90 GALLS/HR.
CLIMB PER GALL AT LOWER POWER
[calculation for climb per gallon at lower power]
CLIMB PER GALL AT HIGHER POWER
[calculation for climb per gallon at higher power]
And so increase of power in addition to giving greater rate of climb given more climb per gall and so is more eff in a vertical climb.
[page break]
[underlined] RANGE CLIMB [/underlined]
To climb to where the horizontal distant [sic] is important and there is ample time to available to get height.
The first aprox [sic] ratio would be to climb at best speed for range but a little extra power is required for the climb and so the aircraft is less overpowered or more underpowered than it would be when flying level this means a slight reduction in speed is required to obtain the best speed for range Therefore obtain rate of climb or 200/300 ft/m by a reduction of speed from 5/7MPH and an increase in power.
[underlined] Delayed Climb [/underlined]
Would be employed were [sic] is not [one deleted word] necessary.
[diagram for delayed climb]
[page break]
RANGE DESCENT
[underlined] Descent [/underlined]. Power to overcome drag. Power from engines + power from gravity.
[underlined] Vertical descent [/underlined] distant [sic] covered unimportant.
[underlined] Range descent [/underlined]
Will require [corrected word] most miles per galls. Less power required from engine therefore aircraft more overpowered or less underpowered there for best speed is slightly over best speed for range (in level flight) e.g. reduce power slightly and increase speed aprox [sic] 5 miles/hr to get rate of descent.
[underlined] ENDURANCE [/underlined] Max number of hours flying with min fuel.
Total fuel = G.P.H x No of hours
[diagram of fuel endurance]
[page break]
Thergical [sic] best speed would be the best speed for M.P. but this is not practical and so we fly as slowly as poss for comfort i.e the minimum speed for continuous cruising and as low as poss.
[Height for endurance formulae]
Since endurance flying is at low power 500ft should be taken as safety height.
Endurance decreases 1% per 1000ft of altitude.
[underlined] Speed [/underlined]
Speed is any speed in excess of speed for range flying
[formulae for speed / range / power]
Since V is large the important [indecipherable word] is a V3 and the term b/V has proportaly [sic] has much less affect on the power required. Thus changes in weight will have less effect on the power required to fly at speed than change
CON AFTER 3 PAGES
[page break]
[underlined] WEIGHT AND CENTRE OF GRAVITY DETERMINATION [/underlined]
Requirements
(a) it standard simple method of calculating weight and c of G without use of appliances.
(b) Complete doc proof of safe loading.
(c) It standard prep of aircraft plan (i.e) list showing modifications to be carried of out by MVs and units combined with card index checking system.
[one indecipherable word] is absolute point laid down by the numb usely [sic] near the sect of the leading edge of the main plane but working with different aircraft.
[underlined] Weight [/underlined] Weight [one indecipherable word] to the nearest 16 Arm is the [one decipherable word] felt measured fore and aft parrlel [sic] to the dalium line if any item from the self line to the nearest 05IT.
[underlined] Moments [/underlined] is the weight of an [calculus].
Refference [sic] line. an [indecipherable word] line perpendicular to the aircraft for and aft dalian al [sic]some commence distance forward to the dalian point.
[page break]
[underlined] Tare weight [/underlined] The weight of the aircraft less all removeable [sic] items of equip (Col 9) but modified to a certain standard. Can be found in Vol 4 Sec 4.
1. Aircraft Tire condition and weight and moment only of any mods fitted but not included list of tare mods plus weight and moments of any command mods to give.
2. Weight modified tare condition. Ad [sic] weight and movements of all items of moveable equip. required when aircraft is operating to given role to give.
3. The gives a/c basic condition. The weight and movement of the crew and baggage oil and any other item of equip to give.
4. aircraft weight and cond [sic]less fuel and pay load ad [sic] all items of pay load this gives
5. Aircraft light condition.[Table to accompany above notes]
[page break]
The weight and movement of all fuel is add the given
6. Aircraft condition.
[underlined] Compartment loading [/underlined] procedure. Object to simplify loading of large number of small items of exp of known weight.
1. Aircraft is divided into 10 phicical [sic] compartment letted [sic] A to K no letter I.
2. Aprox [sic] mean arm in round feet is painted inside of each compartment this is known as the centract [sic]. When loading all items are grouped round the central in each compartment the arm of the centrical [sic]is then taken of [sic] all the items.
3. To find aircraft light conditions add weight and movement of all compartments to aircraft less fuel and payload. Weight and movements charts. To simplyfy[sic] calculations the chart consists of weight ploted [sic] against movements so that you can read the [indecipherable word] the C of G levels are also shown on the chart.
CONTINUED 2 PAGES
[page break]
in factors producing parasite drag. Fly at full throttle height for the power require because up to full throttle height power increases and S.F.C. decreases.
For a given required T.A.S. (to make good a required ground speed) the I.A.S will be less if we increase the altitude This means within increased altitude V1 will be nearer V1 MD That is we are approaching nearer to the most eff. Flying condition for A.M.P.G.
[underlined] ASSYMETRIC [sic] FLIGHT] Height will one or more [inserted] (engine failed [/inserted] if windmilling [sic] of feathered prop and the fact that the a/c is crabing [sic] (due to unsymetrical [sic] thrust) all lend to increase parasite drag therefore lest speed for range is reduced. In addition power required from the remaining engine(s) will be greater thus making the aircraft more underpowered or less [one deleted word] overpowered again reducing less speed for range (except in the care of the A/C very much overpowered) were range and speed for range will be increased). Generaly [sic] then in assymetric [sic]
[page break]
flight best speed for range is reduced and range is reduced.
[underlined] TAKE OFF [/underlined]
[Graph for Take Off – speed/time]
5% increase weight 71/2% increase in take of [sic] time
10% “ “ 15% “ “ “ “ “ “
Take of [sic] run is ∝ to W2.
i.e. 3% increase in weight 10% increase T.O. run
8% “ “ “ 16% “ “ “
[page break]
Compartment Loading Tables published with to give a quick guide of distribution of pay load between compartments when any given pay load is to be carried.
The section of the table are laid out in the same manner as the ap. section of the weight and balance clearance form to facilitate compiling.
Remember prove [sic] sal [sic] loading is the weight and ballance [sic] clearance form.
Weigh [sic]
This is intended to provide written prof [sic] of satif [sic] loading of [indecipherable word] a/c. With slide rules no such proff [sic] existed.
It will entail additional work for captain and load control officer but is felt justified with a view to safty [sic]. Loading data in course of prep. will greatly simplfy [sic] its completion. Pending issue of loading data the form [underlined] must be used [/underlined] in combination with ex data. Refference [sic] to data used will go under remarks collumn [sic] of weight and clearance.
[page break]
Compleation [sic] and distrabution [sic] W and B will be comp in Trup [sic], partly by captain and by load control officer. On compleation [sic] it will be certified by person 1/C loading party captain and load control officer.
[underlined] Distribution [underlined]
Original handed to load control officer next step [underlined] Duplicate [/underlined] retained by captain and attached to MC PAPER. Triplicate retained by local officer at place of departure.
Completion.
1. Enter details of flight plan (part 1)
2. Crew baggage part 2 3 4 .
3. Enter details palload [sic] computation (T.MU. )
4. “ payload offered to trafic [sic] (lesser fig col U)
5. “ quantity weight and movement of fuel load TO Landing V to Z
6. C.G limits at bottom of part 2 and C.G limits prefered [sic] by pilot.
Action by load control officer.
1. He will decide load distribution from loading tables and will enter data on loading plan (fig 9) giving seperate [sic] details for pass mail freight
[page break]
2. He hands loading plan to I/C loading party to carry out.
3. On receipt of loading plan on comp of loading he checks the captains entrys [sic].
4. Enters details in sec A to K. on W.B from loading plan.
5. Enters details in col V V1 V2 Certification of W an [sic] B form by the loader that load has been dest as shown on the loading plan [underlined] 2 [/underlined] By load control officer that he has checked loading and is satisfied with the dist.
3. By the captain that O/C is safely loaded load is securely lashed and C of G is within limits.
Captain [underlined] is finely [sic] responsible for [/underlined] loading
[page break]
LOADING DATA
1. DETAILS OF MODS INCORPEDATED [sic]
2. “ “ BASIC WEIGHT EX
3. COMPARTMENT LOADING PLAN
4. WEIGHT MOMENT CHART
5. COMPARTMENT LOADING TABLES
6. LOADING PLAN (FIG 9)
7. WEIGHT AND BALLANCE [sic] CLEARANCE FORM
8. AIRCRAFT LOADSHEET
[page break]
[underlined] AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE TESTING [/underlined]
Much carefull [sic] prep on the ground by pilot and crew.
2. Necessary to prepare and complete a flight plan for each member of crew & aircraft is being tested for eco the pilot may require from 10 to 15 min to settle his speed when IDS has settled pilot should warn the crew that they may take reading he should note his height at com the run and endeavour to maintain that height during the run.
Equip required.
A. Standard equip
B. Flow meters
C. Air mileage unit for accurate of T.A.S.
D. Stop watches
E. [indecipherable word] sensitive altitude metres set to 10/3 MB
F. Instruments should be calibrated
G. Free air cannot be trusted see met. Take off weight must be assested [sic] as accurate as poss.
This may be done by carefull [sic] check of equip against loading chart And the fuel in the tanks should be checked as accurately as poss
[page break]
[Table showing ready to start run checks]
[page break]
TO CHECK WITH ENGINEER
[Table for readings and clock times]
Find out if the engine obeys H R L REVS Unless aircraft is to be tested it will be necessary to examing [sic] the power altitude [indecipherable word] at height is chosen al [sic] watch the throttle is likely to be open A series of reves [sic] and boost
[page break]
watch range of power and with what combination the best AMPG results are obtained.
In order to find out the mean weight for the best of series of combination are tested and then repeated in the reverse order giving an average result at a weight aprox [sic] for TO with half fuel consumed.
[page break]
[page break]
[Page of calculations]
[page break]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Ernie Twells' notebook
Description
An account of the resource
Ernie Twells' engineering notebook covering the theory of aircraft engines
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ernie Twells
Format
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One notebook of 70 pages of handwritten notes.
Language
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eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Training material
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MTwellsE171780-151026-06
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
Trevor Hardcastle
Gemma Clapton
David Bloomfield
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/416/7657/MTwellsE171780-151026-08.1.pdf
01af8896cc04ef1d960605bfe72e7566
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Twells, Ernest
Ernie Twells
E Twells
Description
An account of the resource
19 items. The collection concerns Flying Officer Ernie Twells DFC (1909 - 1979, 6042416, 805035 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books training notebooks, his medals and lucky mascot. It also includes a scrap book of photographs.
Ernie Twells served as an engine fitter before remustering as a flight engineer. He completed 65 operations with 619 and 617 Squadrons including sinking the Tirpitz.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Ernest Twells and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-10-26
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Twells, E
Access Rights
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Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Form 714.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Rough Notebook for use in Laboratories and Workshops.
[page break]
[inside front cover]
[2 deleted words] — C [one indecipherable word] — 2 ME 110 X — BEAUFIGHTER ✓ — FORTRESS ✓ — STIRLING ✓ — DO 217 ✓ — MARTLET ✓ — TYRHOON [sic] ✓ — ME 109 ✓ — MUSTANG ✓ — DO 117 X — BEAUFIGHTER X — KITTYHAWK X — DO 117 X — TYPHOON ✓ — MUSTANG ✓ — JU 88 X — HALIFAX ✓ — TYPHOON ✓ — [underlined] ME 110 ✓ [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Single Engine Fighters [/underlined]
1/ Spitfire — 2 Huricane [sic] — 3 ME 109 30 FT — 4 [one deleted word] Typhoon — 5 Mustang — 6 FW 190 30 FT — 7 Martlet — 8 Hen 126 50 FT — 9 JU 87D 50 FT
Four Engine Aircraft Single Fin and Rudder
1 Stirling — 2 Fortress — FW 200 K 110 FT
Four Engine Twin [inserted] FIN [/inserted] and Rudder
HALLIFAX [sic]
2 Engine A/C TWIN FIN AND TAIL
1 ME 110. 50 FT — DOR 217 60 FT — 3 L Lighting
[page break]
Twin Engine Single Fin an [sic] Rudder
1/ Beaufighter — 2/ JU 88 A6 70 FT — 3 Heinkel 111 70 FT — 4 Heinkel 177 100 FT — 5 Boston — 6 Mosquito — 7 FW 187 50 FT — 8 Henchel 129 50 FT — 9 ME 210 50 FT
1/ STIRLING ✓ — 2/ ME 110 ✓ — 3/ HALIFAX ✓ — 4 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ X — 5/ MARTLET X — 6 ME 109E ✓ — 7 FW 190 ✓ — 8 TYPHOON ✓ — 9 KITTYHA [sic] ✓ — 10 JU 88 X
1 BEAUFITER [sic] ✓ — 2/ JU 88 ✓ — 3/ MOSQUITO ✓ — 4 JU 88 ✓ — 5/ FORTRESS ✓ — 6 MUSTANG ✓ — 7 TYPHOON ✓ — 8 DO 217 ✓ — 9 MARTLET ✓ — 11 ME 109E ✓ — 12 ME 110 ✓ — 13 MARTLET ✓ — 14 HURICANE [sic] ✓ — 15 STIRLING ✓ — 16 FW 190 ✓ — 17 MUST ✓ — 18 MARTLET ✓ — 19 KITTYHARY [sic] ✓ — 20 DO 217 ✓
[page break]
1 ME 110 ✓ 40 — 2 HALIFAX X ✓ — 3 TYPHOON ✓ — 4 ME 210 ✓ — 5 JU 88 ✓ — 6 KITTYH [sic] ✓ — 7 ME 117 * — 8 ME 109 ✓ — 9 MOSQUITO ✓ — 10 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ X — 11 KITTY ✓ — 12 ME 110 ✓ [deleted] 200 [/deleted] — 13 FS FW 187 [deleted] 250 [/deleted] — 14 TYPHOON ✓ — 15 DO 217 ✓ 550 — 16 FORTRESS — 17 FORTRESS ✓ 400 — 18 HURICANE [sic] ✓ 350 — 19 MOSQUITO ✓ 400 — 20 ME 210 ✓ 800 — 1/ JU 88 ✓ — 2 HE 111 ✓ — 3 HE 177 X — 4 STIRLING X — 5 MARTLET ✓ — 6 DO 217 ✓ — 7 MOSQUITO ✓ — 8 [one indecipherable word] ✓ — 9 HE 177 ✓ — 10 ME 110 ✓ — 11 MOSQUIT0 ✓ — 12 TYPHOON X — 13 FW 190 ✓ — 14 ME 110 X — 15 [deleted] ME 210 [/deleted] BENU ✓ — 16 BOSTON ✓ — 17 FW 200 ✓ — 18 HURICANE [sic] ✓
ME 210* — MOSQUITO ✓
1 FORTRESS ✓ — 2 HURICANE [sic] ✓ — 3 LOCKHEED LIGHTING ✓ — 4 HE 111 ✓ — 5 [one indecipherable word] ✓ — 6 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ * — 7 111 HE ✓ — 8 ME 110 ✓ — 9 SPIT ✓ — 10 HE 111 ✓ — 11 MUSTANG ✓ — 12 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ * — 13 ME 109 X — 14 MOSQUITO * — 15 JU 88 ✓ — 16 FU [sic] 190 ✓ — 17 ME 177 * — 18 KITTYII [sic] ✓ — 19 JU 88 ✓ — 20 HE 177 — 1 BOSTON ✓ — 2 STIRLING X — 3 JU 88 ✓ — 4 FW 187 ✓ — 5 [one deleted word] FORTRESS ✓ — 6 HURICANE [sic] ✓ — 7 HURICANE [sic] X — 8 ME 110 ✓ — 9 KITTY ✓ — 10 MARTLET ✓ — 11 HE 177 10 * — 12 BOSTON ✓ 13 MUSTANG ✓ — 14 BEAUFIGHTER ✓ — 15 BOSTON ✓ — 16 BEAU ✓ — 17 DO 217 X — 18 HALIFAX ✓ — 19 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ — 20 109
page break]
ME 109 ✓ 30 — 2 ME X — 3 BEA X — 4 MARTLET ✓ — 5 BEAU ✓ — 6 HE 111 70 ✓ — 7 JU — 8 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ — 9 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 111 70 — 10 FW 200 ✓ 110 — 11 FW 190 30 — 12 TYPHOON ✓ — 13 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ — 14 H — 15 TYPHOON ✓ — 16 ME 110 70 — 17 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ — 18 109 ME — 19 TYPHOON ✓ — 1 [deleted] HE 111 70 [/deleted] — 2 BEAUF — 3 FORTRESS ✓ — 4 BOSTON ✓ — 5 HURY ✓ — 6 FW 187 X 50 — 7 HE 177 ✓ 100 — 8 SPIT ✓ — 9 BOSTON ✓ — 10 FORTRESS ✓ — 11 JU 88 ✓ 70 — 12 MARTLET ✓ — 13 [deleted] HE 111 70 [/deleted] — 14 TYPHOON ✓ — 15 HE 111 ✓ 70 — 16 FW 190 ✓ 30 — 17 ME 210 X — 18 KITTY ✓ — HE 111 ✓
1 HURY ✓ — 2 DO 217 60 ✓ — 3 KITTY X — 4 H 177 ✓ 100 — 5 STIRLING ✓ — 6 HURRY ✓ — 7 HS 126 50 ✓ — 8 ME 109 ✓ 30 — 9 BOSTON ✓ — 10 FW 200 ✓ 100 — 11 FW 190 ✓ 30 — 12 FORT X — 13 FORT ✓ — 14 L LIGHTING ✓ — 15 HE 111 ✓ 70 — 16 JU 870 ✓ 50 — 17 MARTLET ✓ — 18 [deleted] ME 210 [/deleted] 1111 ✓ [deleted] X [/deleted] — 19 FW 187 [deleted] X [/deleted] — 20 DO 217 60 — 1 HALIFAX ✓ — 2 BEAU ✓ — 3 JU 88 ✓ 70 — 4 FW 200 X — 5 DO 2 [deleted] 17 X [/deleted] — 6 ME 110 ✓ 50 — 7 BEAU ✓ — 8 TYPHOON ✓ — 9 MUST ✓ — 10 MUS ✓ — 11 BOSTON ✓ — 12 HALY ✓ — 13 ME 110 X — 14 STIRLING ✓ — 15 FW 200 ✓ 110 — 16 STIRLING X — 17 HURY ✓ — 18 SPIT ✓ — 19 STIRLING ✓ — 20 HS 126 ✓ 50
[page break]
FW 190 150 YDS ✓ — FW 190 150 YDS ✓ — FW 190 300 YDS ✓ — HE 177 500 YDS ✓ — H 111 700 YDS ✓ — ME [one indecipherable word] 600 YDS ✓
1 HENCHEL [sic] 129 ✓ 50 — 2 TYPHOON ✓ — 3 HE 217 * 70 — 4 DO 217 * 90 — 5 HALIFAX ✓ — 6 FW 190 ✓ 30 — 7 JU 88 ✓ 40 — 8 DOR 214 ✓ — 9 ME 210 ✓ 56 — 10 MUSTANG ✓ — 11 FORTRESS ✓ — 12 HE 111 ✓ — 13 BOSTON ✓ — 14 [one indecipherable word] ✓ — 15 MUSTANG ✓ — 16 MOSQUITO ✓ — 17 — 18 HE 177 * — 19 ME 110 ✓ — 20 FORTRESS ✓ — HE 177 ✓ — SPIT ✓
FW 300 YDS ✓ — JU 88 600 YDS — HE 111 600 X — FW 187 350 ✓ — FW 190 150 ✓ — ME 210 300 X — FW 190 200 ✓ — FW 190 250 ✓ — FW 200 1000 YDS ✓ — FW 190 150 ✓
1 BEAU ✓ — 2 HE 111 ✓ — 3 MARTLET ✓ — 4 MOSQUITO ✓ BEAU X — 5 MUSTANG TYPHOON X— 6 FORT X — 8 JU 87 ✓ — 9 SPIT X — 10 FW 187 ✓ — 11 DO 217 X — 12 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ X — 13 MUSTANG ✓ — 14 BOSTON ✓ — 15 — 16 F 190 ✓ — 17 HALIFAX ✓ — 18 MARTLET ✓ — 19 BOSTON ✓ — 20 DO 217 ✓
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Browning Gun [/underlined]
1 Make sure gun is unloaded
2 Remove flash elinmator [sic]
3 Remove Back leg
4 Remove [one indecipherable word] spring
5/ Remove locking stud
6 Breach Block
7/ Rear fear Release Unit
8/ Lock Frame
9/ Barrel and Barrel extension
[underlined] D T Reflector light [/underlined] (3 A X)
1/ Check Bulb for serviceability and alingment [sic]
2 Check mounting for security, leads Fuse (allso [sic] spare)
3 Check cleanlyness [sic] and dryness of glass surface
Check sun screen for operation
4 Bulbs must be changed every 30 flying hours or upon signs of blacking are seen
5/ Three spare bulbs are carried in the turret. Advantages of Reflector light on to target. Both eyes can be kept open when using sight alows [sic] for head movement and [one indecipherable word] is focust [sic] on
[page break]
[underlined] Safty devices on Browning Gun [/underlined]
1/ Locking of breach block. Ensures that the breach block is locked to the barrel extension for 5/6” movement before the round is fired preventing blow back.
2/ [underlined] Unlocking of the Breach block [/underlined]
Ensures that the bullet and excessive gases have left the barrel before the breach block is unlocked
3/ The fire and safe mech
Ensures that the recoiling portions are fully forward before the gun can be fired.
4 The cocking lever during the forward of the breach block the nose of the cocking lever is not clear of firing pin untill [sic] the breach block is fully forward. In case of broken bents on firing pin or a broken point on the rear causing [one deleted word] the firing pin to go prematurly [sic] the cocking lever takes the main force of the spring rendering the blow on cartridge [two indecipherable words] to fire it.
5/ The near rear prevent a round being cooked by the heat of the barrel.
[page break]
[underlined] No 1 Stopages [sic] [/underlined]
[numbers 1 - 7 deleted at side of page]
Locking stud fully forward imedate [sic] action is to cock the gun and fire watching the feed if gun fires. Stopage [sic] is due to Dud ammo. Feed takes place but gun does not fire stopage [sic] due to broken firing pin or faulty Fire and safe mech. Feed does not take place stopage [sic] due to either defective retaing [sic] paul [sic] or spring. Feed paul [sic] and/or spring broken claw on transporter or misalindge [sic] belt.
[underlined] No 2 Stopages [sic] [/underlined]
Cocking stud [inserted] between [/inserted] fully forward and half way back imediate [sic] action cock and fire. Gun does not fire stopage [sic] due to broken [deleted] sp [/deleted] transporter spring or weak loose link jambed [sic] in feedway cross feed due to misalingded [sic] belt or separated case due to undo breaching.
No 3 Stopagse [sic]
Cocking stud half way to fully back. Imediate [sic] action Cock and fire if gun fires stopage [sic] due to insufine [sic] recoil due to dud cartriage [sic]
[page break]
Gun does not fire stopage [sic] due to weak or broken ejector broken or damaged cartridge rim guides Note friction.
Note weak barrel return spring broken transporter guide spring will give stopages [sic] in any position.
[page break]
[underlined] Fraser Nash Layout
Working Pressure 300 lbs sq” [/underlined]
[2 diagrams of hydraulic systems]
[underlined] Engine Driven Pump [/underlined]
Drives oil round circuit. Output 7/9 Galls per min. One pump per circuit.
Volkes Filter Fitted on exhaust pipe line and filters 99% of dirt.
Recuperator Fitted on exhaust pipe line
[underlined] Functions [/underlined]
1/ Means of filling system
2 Means of bleeding system
3 Prevent EWP starvation
4 Conpersats [sic] for temp change
5/ Conpersats [sic] for leakages
[page break]
[underlined] Rotating servis [sic] Joint [/underlined]
This brings the oil from the fixed part of the AC to the moving part.
[underlined] Valve Box [/underlined]
This consists of 4 valves
1/ Master valve 2/ Elevation and depression Rotation and Poppet valve. Poppet valve to prevent gun sinkage
[underlined] Hydraulic Jack [/underlined]
This elevates and depresses the guns
[underlined] Vane Oil Motors [/underlined]
This rotates the turret
Palmer Firing Gear
An hydraulic means of firing the guns
Accumalator [sic] this is a means of firing the gun should a pressure pipe line get broken Fire gun about 7 8 times
Release valve Safty [sic] device if pressure is above 300 lbs sq”
External Rotation valve
When valve is opperated [sic] turret can be rotated from out side [sic]
[page break]
[diagram of the layout of components in turret]
1/ Reflector light — 2/ Rotating servis [sic] Joint — 3/ Palmer firing gear — 4/ Valve Box — 5/ Vane Oil motor — 6 Manual Rotation Handle — 7 Intercom — 8 Other Mean of [symbol] — 9/ 3 Spare Bulbs — 10 3 Fuses Cockpit 5 light fuse 5 Camera 10 — 11 Seat — 12 Safty [sic] Belt — 13/ Safety Device — 14 Oxygen — 15 Handles for moving seat — 17 Tool Bags 1/ Toggle 2/ Aiming wire 3/ Cleaning Tool 4 Combination Tool 5/ Drifts — 18 Ammunition Boxes — 19 Guns — 20 Cockpit Lamp — 21 Jettonson handles — 22 Camera Switch
Oil used in Fraser Nash system
Summer time NO % antifreeze 30 eng oil
Winter time 100 % antifreeze
[page break]
[underlined] Means of entry to Fraser Nash Turret [/underlined]
1/ Make sure recuperator spindle is up 5 ins — 2/ Open turret doors — 3/ Climb in feet first — 4/ Plug in I/C — 5/ Close Doors — 6/ Fix safty [sic] Belt — 7/ Check Tools Spare Bulbs — 8/ Check ammo — 9 Check Fuse — 10/ Switch on light — 11/ Load Guns — 12/ Make sure Manual rotation handle is free — 13 Unlock turret and opperate [sic] [deleted] and [/deleted] for elevation and rotation — 14 Inform pilot turret O.K
[underlined] Means of Exit [/underlined]
1/ Lock and centrise turret — 2/ Unload Guns — 3/ Switch off [deleted] shight [sic] [/deleted] sight — 4/ Undo Safty [sic] belt — 5/ Unlock doors — 6/ Take out I/C — 7/ Slide out of turret head first — 8/ Close doors
[page break]
[underlined] Boulton and Paul Turret
Electric Hydraulic Layout 1200lbs sq” [/underlined]
[diagram of electric hydraulic system]
[underlined] Engine Driven Electrical Generator [/underlined]
This generates and supplys [sic] the electricity to the turret
[underlined] Electrical Distributor [/underlined]
This brings electricity from the fixed part to the moving part of A/C
[underlined] Electric Motor [/underlined]
This drives the hydraulic [deleted] motor [/deleted] [inserted] generator [/inserted]
Hydraulic Generator
A means of filling the system and allso [sic] supplys [sic] the oil to hydraulic jack and hyd motor
[page break]
[underlined] Hydraulic jack [/underlined]
This elevates and depresses the guns and is a ballance [sic] type
[underlined] Hydraulic motor [/underlined]
This rotates the turret
[underlined] Pressure regulator box [/underlined]
To prevent gun sinking
[underlined] Gun Fire interuptor [sic] [/underlined]
Prevents us shooting our own tail
[underlined] Inter lock mech [/underlined]
This prevents is from fouling our own Fuselarge [sic]
[underlined] Fairing Switch [/underlined]
This prevents us from fouling [word missing] fairing
[underlined] High speed button [/underlined]
This should never be used for more than a few seconds
Normal speed 3,000 R.P.M high speed 3,400 RPM.
[underlined] 9 Fuses [/underlined]
4 Gun fuses (10 AMPS) 2 Cockpit Fuses (5 AMPS) 1 light fuse (5 AMP) 1 Solinoid [sic] fuse [inserted] 5 AMPS [/inserted] 1 motor fuse ([corrected] 10 [/corrected] AMP)
[underlined] Oil used [/underlined] 80% antifreeze 20% engine oil
[page break]
[paper with list laid over the next page which would be diagram of turret layout]
[list of aircraft with ticks and crosses by them. Many are undecipherable or deleted]
[page break]
[underlined] Hydraulic jack [/underlined]
This elevates and depresses the guns and is a ballance [sic] type
[underlined] Hydraulic motor [/underlined]
This rotates the turret
[underlined] Pressure regulator box [/underlined]
To prevent gun sinking
[underlined] Gun Fire interuptor [sic] [/underlined]
Prevents us shooting our own tail
[underlined] Inter lock mech [/underlined]
This prevents is from fouling our own Fuselarge [sic]
[underlined] Fairing Switch [/underlined]
This prevents us from fouling [word missing] fairing
[underlined] High speed button [/underlined]
This should never be used for more than a few seconds
Normal speed 3,000 R.P.M high speed 3,400 RPM.
[underlined] 9 Fuses [/underlined]
4 Gun fuses (10 AMPS) 2 Cockpit Fuses (5 AMPS) 1 light fuse (5 AMP) 1 Solinoid [sic] fuse [inserted] 5 AMPS [/inserted] 1 motor fuse ([corrected] 10 [/corrected] AMP)
[underlined] Oil used [/underlined] 80% antifreeze 20% engine oil
[page break]
[lists of aircraft types]
[page break]
[lists of aircraft types]
[page break]
[list of aircraft types]
[indeterminate drawing]
[page break]
[Diagram of Cockpit Controls]
1 SIGHT
[underlined] 2 [/underlined] [ditto symbol] SWITCH
[underlined] 3 [/underlined] COCKPIT SWITCH
4 POG [ditto symbol]
5 MOTOR [ditto symbol]
6 FAIRING [ditto symbol]
7 OXYGEN
8 OXYGEN REGULATOR
9 COCKPIT LAMP
10 40 AMP MOTOR FUES [sic]
11 MANUAL ROTATION HANDLE
12 FREE ANGAGED [sic] LEVER
13 HIGH SPEED BUTTON
[underlined] 14 [/underlined] CONTROL COLOUM [sic]
15 FIRING BUTTON
16 INTER.COM
17 ELECTRIC MOTOR
18 HYDRAULIC GENERATOR
19 MANUAL ROTATION
20 BIMMER [sic] SWITCH
21 COCKPIT LAMP
22 OXYGEN PLUG IN
23 FUESE [sic] GGGG 10AM
24 CCSC 5 AMP
25 SPARE BULBS
26 TOOL BAG
27 PARACHUTE PACK
[page break]
[underlined] Entry to Boulton and Paul turret [/underlined]
[underlined] 1 [/underlined] Open Doors
2 Put in parachute
3 Climb in feet first
4 Plug in I/C
5 Close doors
6 Fix safty [sic] belt
7 Check bulbs
8 Check fuses
[underlined] 9 [/underlined] Check ammo
[underlined] 10 [/underlined] Check tools. locking toggle) Drifts Combinations [inserted] Cleaning tool [/inserted]
11 Load Guns.
12 Switch on light
12 [Turn on light
13 Use Cockpit lamp if necessary
14 Push fairing switch up
15 Switch on Motors
16 Put POG to gunner
17 Free and engage lever to engage
18 Operate controls for elevation and depression
19 Inform Pilot turret OK.
[underlined] Exit from B.P [/underlined]
[underlined] 1 [/underlined] Turn guns to beam
[underlined] 2 [/underlined] [deleted] Unlock [/deleted] Unload guns
3 Switch off reflector sight
4 [ditto symbol] [ditto symbol] master [ditto symbol] switch
5 [ditto symbol] [ditto symbol]cockpit switch
6 [ditto symbol] [ditto symbol] Motor
7 Pull down fairing lever
[page break]
8. P O G to off
9 Free and engage lever to free
[underlined] 10 [/underlined] Unlock doors
[underlined] 11 [/underlined] Undo safty [sic] belt
[underlined] 12 [/underlined] Take out intercom
13 Climb out head first
14 Take out parachute
15 Close doors
[page break]
[underlined] LOADING FRASER NASH WITH AMMO [/underlined]
[diagram]
[underlined] BOULTON AND PAUL [/underlined]
[diagram]
[page break]
[underlined] R/T PROCEDURE [/underlined]
Tail gunner to Pilot – Over
Say again & say again
[diagram and explanatory notes]
[page break]
R Rythm [sic]
S Speed
V Voice
P Pitch
[underlined] Not [/underlined]
There is not repeat not
A Gerry in sight
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[unreadable]
[page break]
[underlined] tracer bullets [/underlined]
[partially obscured explanatory notes]
[page break]
[miscellaneous list]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
Using a 849 does away with using capsules it has a selling [sic] indicator as also 28B
[page break]
[underlined] SIGHTING [/underlined]
[underlined] Rules of aiming [/underlined] for curve of pursuit
[underlined] 1 [/underlined] Bead aircraft
2 Estimate range
3 Make [indecipherable word] zone allowance towards aim [indecipherable word]
4 At 600 yds fire a burst and note the end of the tracers
5 Keep firing with target at end of trace
6 At 400 yds bring tagget [sic] ½ way along trace
7 Keep firing till 150 yds then fire point blank till breakaway
8 on break away deflection one rad in direction of breakaway and fire continusly [sic]
Rules for aiming target holding off [underlined] 1 [/underlined] to [underlined] 4 [/underlined] the same. After that corrections can be made with trace
[page break]
[underlined] Smoke Float [/underlined] MK II
Fitted with type No23 Tail pistol before launching remove safty [sic] pin an spring [indecipherable word] clip flying above 200ft launch tail first.
[underlined] Aluminium MK V [/underlined]
Used to mark position of subs lifeboats ect [sic] and air to sea gunnery exercise
[underlined] Fuses [/underlined]
Type [underlined] No 42 Static operated [/underlined] 2 safty [sic] devices [underlined] 1 [/underlined] safty [sic] pin 2 spring [deleted] sutter [/deleted] shutter Used for all types recco [sic] flares [underlined] Type 848 Air operated [/underlined] Has three safty [sic] devices [underlined] 1 [/underlined] and 2 same as fuse 42. [underlined] 3 [/underlined] Vane cover Used for all types recco [sic] flares and photo flash
[underlined] Capsules MK 2 [/underlined]
No stamped on each side reversible 3.4.6.8.10.12.14.16.18.20
[underlined] Rules for fusing [/underlined]
When using Mk 1 and 4 flares and flying at even no of feet use same no capsule when flying
[page break]
od [sic] number of ft use capsule 1 below
[table of capsules]
When using Mk V flares – at even [indecipherable word] of feet use capsule 2 below when flying odd number of feet use capsule 3 below
[table of capsules]
[underlined] Recco Flares [/underlined]
MK I to IV Contains parachute and candle ¾ [indecipherable word] CP. ejection and ignition take place together
No V MK 2 Sinalar [sic] to MK I to IV but 2 minute delay on candle ejection takes place first followed 2 mins later by ignition
PHOTO FLASH
Fuse 848. 849. 28.B 2000 4000FT CAPSULE No 4 2000 [indecipherable notations]
[page break]
[underlined] SAA [/underlined]
[drawings and notations of various ammunition types]
[page break]
1 ½ “ [underlined] SIGNAL CARTRIDGES [/underlined]
[drawings and notations of various signal cartridges]
[underlined] SIGNAL ROCKET [/underlined]
[drawings and notations of signal rocket]
[page break]
[underlined] Curve of Pursuit [/underlined]
[drawings, notations & tables for deflection, aiming & distance when firing tracer]
[page break]
Positioning for curve of pursuit allow 600 to 400 yds end of trace 400 to 150 ½ way on trace 150 Point Blank
[underlined] Breakaways [/underlined] Downwards rear gunners one rad ahead fire continusly [sic] Mid upper the same. Front gunner 2 rads ahead (usely [sic] over outside shoulder of pilots) Breakaways upwards rear gunner one rad ahead fire cont [sic] mid uppers and front gunners point blank.
[underlined] Head on attacks [/underlined] If any attacks head on open fire 1200 yds point balnk and if he breaks away upwards increase deflection as much as possible fire contin [sic] [indecipherable word] action if he break away downwards If enemy attack shallow dives ahead aim one rad above un till break away in shallow climb one rad below break away up full deflection break away down no action Point Blank shot at [indecipherable word] the two banks at begining [sic] of curve of pursuit [underlined] ground [/underlined] straffing [sic] Front gunner two rads short and increas [sic] rear gunners 3 rads over and decrease
[page break]
[drawings & notations for bullet patterns, gravity drop & bullet trails]
[page break]
[table of speed and distance]
More guns towards our aircraft.
[underlined] Gun deflection [/underlined]
Allow 1 rad for ever [sic] 50 miles faster or slower. I e alway [sic] in the front of the [indecipherable word] the aircraft appears to move. Correct with tracers Traveling [sic] same speed [indecipherable word] band allowance only (FROM TABLE) Traveling [sic] slower aim point blank correct with tracers
[underlined] Typical types of attack on Bombers Converging course [/underlined]
[diagram]
[underlined] Astern Attack [/underlined]
Usely [sic] from 10˚ to 45˚ attack from above or below mostly from above to gain speed
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Sighting [/underlined]
KEY Ranges
600yds Limiting Range Small Expenditur [sic] Am [sic] 400 [ditto symbol] Effective [ditto symbol] Larg [sic] amount Ammo 150 [ditto symbol] Point Blank Range Fire point blank continuisly [sic]
[underlined] Rang [sic] Estermation [sic] [/underlined]
[diagram, table & notes]
[page break]
[blank page]
Dublin Core
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Title
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Ernie Twells' notebook
Description
An account of the resource
Ernie Twell's engineering notebook covering aircraft type, machine gun and gun turret operation.
Creator
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Ernie Twells
Format
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One notebook of 48 handwritten pages
Language
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eng
Type
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Text. Training material
Text
Identifier
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MTwellsE171780-151026-08
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
Steve Christian
David Bloomfield
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IBCC Digital Archive
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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.
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/165/2256/MWrightJ[Ser -DoB]-150527-11.pdf
f5184ff46672a53d7297a45fb343812a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Wright, Jim
J R Wright
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2015-05-21
Rights
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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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Wright, J
Description
An account of the resource
93 items. The collection contains two oral history interviews with Jim Wright, letters, cuttings and photographs. It concerns James Roy Wright’s research into his father, Sergeant Arthur Charles Wright (1911 - 1943, 1149750 Royal Air Force) and an operation to Turin 12/13 July 1943 which caused 100 aircraft to violate Swiss airspace. Two aircraft were shot down or crashed in Switzerland. There are many photographs and details of the activities that night including reports by the Swiss authorities. The crews are identified with photographs and there are several photographs of the funerals at Vevey. Additional material includes aerial photograph of bomb damage in Germany and the logbook and airman's pay book of W G Anderson. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jim Wright and catalogued by Nigel Huckins, with descriptions of official Swiss documents provided Gilvray Williams. <br /><br />Additional information on Arthur Charles Wright is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/126015/">IBCC Losses Database</a>. This collection also contains items concerning Hugh Burke Bolger and his crew. Additional information on Hugh Burke Bolger is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/102186/">IBCC Losses Database</a>.
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Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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EXTRACTS FROM. “NOUVELLISTE VALAISAN” NUMBERS 161 - 164
14 July 1943
[underlined] THE SIRENS RESOUNDED ON MONDAY NIGHT
Waves of planes
A bomber crashes on the slopes of Mount Gramont
5 Dead [/underlined]
After a few months of happy [inserted] un [/inserted] interruption, the sirens hooted warning against aircraft on Tuesday, 9 minutes after midnight. It ended at 01.52.
A little before 1 o’clock a violent explosion was heard in the area of Bouveret. Witnesses say that shop windows and panes were broken. A fire broke out near Ternay but quickly went out.
The scene can easily be described as a tremendous rumble.
The cause of it was thought to be a bomber crashing on the mountain with its murderous burden. Investigations, immediately undertaken, confirmed this hypothesis.
[inserted] M. CURDY AND HIS TEAM. 1 1/2 HRS CLIMB. [/inserted]
Straighteway, [sic] firemen in collaboration with soldiers repaired to the spot of the accident.
Of the aircraft only charred debris remained. It seems that airmen attempted to bail out, for some of the parachutes have been found hanging down the trees very close to the point of impact.
In the village of Bouveret, as we have said above, panes of numerous buildings, particularly those of [deleted] numerous buildings [/deleted] the station, of the pisciculture, of some hotels and restaurants, of private houses were shattered. The aircraft had fallen into the forest, by the quarry of Bussien, about 500m from this place.
The public relation of the authority in charge of the district officially declares on the telephone : In the night of the 12th July at 0.55 h [inserted] AN [/inserted] English four-engined aeroplane struck the slopes of Mount Grammont at about 500m. south [sic] of Bouveret. The military chief of this area and the Bouveret firemen went to the spot where they found at 0.50 h 5 corpses of airmen. Two have not been found yet.
[page break]
A second aircraft crashes on “Les Mayens de Sion : Six dead.
From midnight to 1 o’clock, the Sion population was kept awake by British bombers flying at low altitude and in compact waves.
[inserted] AUSTRALIAN SQN. AIRCRAFT. [/inserted]
A formidable explosion was suddenly heard and a huge red flame could be seen rising from “Les Mayens de Sion”
A British bomber had engine troubles. It flew at very low altitude above “Les Mayens de Sion” vainly attempting to go up. Just as it was about to fly over the meadows of Thyon touched a high voltage line and crashed down. Its six passengers were burnt as it exploded.
Competent military authorities went to the spot and began an inquiry.
[nine dots across the middle of the page]
A call from Sion :
The plane which [deleted] bumped] [/deleted] [inserted] CRASHED [/inserted] into the high voltage line which carries electricity to “La Dixence” crashed in flames near the water-tower not far from Nendaz Valley. The people of Vex, Nendaz and Veysonnaz as well as a great many families spending their holidays in this country were suddenly awakened.
First on the spot were [deleted] man [/deleted] [inserted] men [/inserted] of the local guards and Gendarme Genoud from Basse Nendaz [inserted] When [/inserted] one got to Thyon, a dreadful sight awaited us. A pungent smell came from the charred corpses of the unfortunate airmen. Six or seven unrecognisable bodies. Only one escaped the fire but he is lifeless. He is a sergeant gunner. His name, Bolgar is written on his flying suit. Nothing remains, as it were, of the charred aeroplane. One can notice machine guns and bombs which have not yet exploded. An engine can be found further than 500 m. from the point of impact. The soldiers are on the spot and the inquiry has begun with competent military authorities. Experts are [deleted] being [/deleted] unloading the bomber.
[nine dots across the middle of the page]
[deleted] Wher [/deleted] [inserted] Where [/inserted] the victims will be buried
It is stated that the English Legation in Berne has given instructions to have the victims’ corpses taken to Vevey. This town has a (Church of England) church with a private graveyard.
The funeral service of the English airmen killed at Bouveret and at Thyon sur Sion last Tuesday night will be held in Vevey church on Thursday afternoon.
The [deleted] soldiers [/deleted] [inserted] AIRMEN [/inserted] will be lying in the part of the graveyard reserved to
[page break]
the British in the First World War. The services will be performed by a protestant and a catholic chaplain. The Air Force attaché of the British Legation in Berne is dealing with the ceremony. Three hearses left Lausanne [deleted] on [/deleted] [inserted] ON [/inserted] Tuesday morning to collect the corpses but two are still missing.
The airmen will be buried in crews.
[line across part of the page]
Bombs falling in Vaud, Freiburg, Neauchâtel and Berne cantons
It is said officially :
In the night of the 13th of July about 100 foreign planes entered Switzerland 3,000 m. high from 0.04 h. until 0.51 h. between Porentruy and Le Brassus. The planes left Switzerland in the area of Geneva Lake and the Tessin. Some of them flew over the frontier.
Bombs have been [deleted] launchednear [/deleted] [inserted] DROPPED NEAR [/inserted] Riggisley (canton of Berne), near Flammat (canton of Freiburg), in the area of Maennlichen (Oberland Bernois) as well.
One house was destroyed and another one caught fire. No victims for the moment. In Flammat the explosion has made havoc in cultivations and houses around 800 m. The nearest house of the falling place (about 150 m.) [deleted] has pretty important [/deleted] [inserted] SUBSTANTIAL [/inserted] damage. The roofing tiles have been blown off on a corner of the roof. The roofs of other houses in the distance have damage as well.
All the windows panes [sic] have been smashed into bits. It seems it might be one of the biggest missiles.
Near Saligny, exactly in Mollie-Margot, a lot of incendiary bombs fell down the fields around the hamlet making big explosions and opening craters in the earth. Some of them did not explode. Most of the others burst up setting the village in a flutter. There [deleted] is [/deleted] [inserted] are [/inserted] no victims. [deleted] Nons [/deleted] [inserted] UN [/inserted] exploded [deleted] instruments [/deleted] [inserted] BOMBS [/inserted] have been neutralized.
A bomb fell on Geneveys sur Coffrane named place Les Hotèts (Neuchâtel). The deflagration was quite mighty driving the population of all of the area scared ; a thick cloud of smoke hung over the station.
The projectile fell in forest within 50 m. from Mr. A Nydegger’s farm. This one has [deleted] important [/deleted] [inserted] SEVERE [/inserted] damage : a roof smashed open, doors and windows [deleted] pulled [/deleted] [inserted] BLOWN [/inserted] out. An animal has been injured on the grazing ground. Damages are also [deleted] important [/deleted] [inserted] SEVERE [/inserted] in the forest. A 2,000 kg. bomb is likely to have fallen from one of the planes.
[a short line across the middle of the page]
[page break]
LOCAL NEWS
The funeral of the English airmen tragically killed in Thyon and Le Bouveret
The funeral of the 14 English airmen tragically killed at Le Bouveret and Alpes de Thyon have been celebrated on Tuesday - 16.30 h. , in Vevey British graveyard. Then Followed then [sic] by a manifestation of compassion in which Vevey’s people have taken part some lovely wreaths had been sent from every part of Switzerland from all British corporations. It could noticed [sic] those from the British Legation in Berne, Royal Air Force, and the British Legion, English interned people, Greek, Belgian, Dutch, Yugoslavian colonies, from United-States, from Palestinians S.E. the Minister of Great-Britain in Berne, Sir Clifford Norton, [deleted] the [/deleted] Air-Commodores West, Air Attaché, allied military attachés, the representatives of several legations from several consulates attended ; so did Major Boissier, a representative of H.Q. , the legation of interned English airmen, Agan Khan, M.E. Denereaz, Vevey syndic etc… The crowd was extensive, kept in check be a body of [inserted] those [/inserted] responsible for order.
The official suite left Saint Martin’s terrace at 16.20 h. in order to get to the English graveyard where two grave had been dug out for the 14 coffins ; a brass band played the Funeral March by Beethoven. Then a religious service was held by Reverends Legg from Vevey, Maywood from Clarens, Middleton from Lausanne and Vicar Kurfürst from Vevey who had already held one twenty five years ago when the first interned British interned were buried in this graveyard. After “God Save The King”, some English and Swiss soldiers lowered the coffins down the grave ; blessing and absolution were given. H.E.M. Clifford Norton put the British colours wreathes down the grave, Air Commodore [inserted] WEST [/inserted] another, followed [inserted] [ by [/inserted] allied military attachés’ wreathes and United States’. The brass band beat the tattoo and sounded the reveille. Regular salvoes were shot and official guests withdrew whereas the impressed crowd was queueing up along the graves.
[a short line across the middle of the page]
[inserted] [underlined] Legg. C of E. [/underlined] [/inserted]
[page break]
[underlined] A TRAGIC NIGHT [/underlined]
Two British Four-Engined Bombers Crash
Into Valaisan Mountains
To inform our readers quickly about the events that occurred in the night of Monday we stuck up the following news on Tuesday morning in Station Avenue on Publicitas offices shop window :
[underlined] On the slopes of Mount Grammont [/underlined]
The competent territorial district public relation chief announces :
In the night of July 12th at 00.55 h. An English four-engined plane crashed on the slopes of Mount Grammont at about 500 m. south of Bouveret, 900 m. up. A big detonation was heard and high flames rose up from the plane. The Military major of the district and the chief of the firebrigade [sic] got to the place where it could be found at 5. o’clock A.M. 5 airmen’s corpses. Two others have not been found yet.
[underlined] On the ridges of Thyon [/underlined]
Sion, during the night of Monday 13th [inserted] 12/13 [/inserted] July knew a few thrilling moments. For more one [sic] hour and a half between midnight and 1 a.m. a lot of British bombers squadrons flew over Berne and Valaisan Alps by using a route right over the town. The flow of heavy and mighty four-engined machines lasted unendingly at relatively low altitude judging by the intensity of the noise of the propellers.
The time it lasted to fly over our sky is the longest ever. A sultry and threatening atmosphere hung over the town. Many shutters could be seen opening. Observers scanning the sky vainly. Between the clouds rather low, a few stars sparkled now and then but no planes could be seen. Besides, in order to get their route, several squadrons sent up yellow and red flares. They burst in the same way as short flashes of lightning. Near the end of their passage, when when the noise began to fade away, in the dark sky, another sound of planes was suddenly heard. It was flying lower than the others and its engine had characteristic misfires.. At the very time when this plane flew over Thyon ridges all of a sudden an enormous yellow glimmer lighted up the sky. At the same time time [sic] an explosion reflected back in the echoes of the valley.
The plane had crashed into a mountain and exploded. Then, another reddish glimmer rose up with a second explosion. This tragic drama concluded in the saddest way the [deleted] smbre [/deleted] [inserted] SOMBRE [/inserted] forebodings that had kept inhabitants in suspense through the grim development of the passage of the innumerable bomber squadrons.
[page break]
With the four-engined bomber that [inserted] CRASHED [/inserted] into the slopes of Mount Grammont, south of Bouveret 900 m. up, the British lost two planes in Valais during their air raid.
A military column left during the night to the place of the catastrophe. It was back on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
[underlined] A [deleted] Thrilling [/deleted] [inserted] CHILLING [/inserted] Sight [/underlined]
On Tuesday morning, at half past 6 the wreck of the four-engined bomber that crashed into Thyon ridges 20 m. below the J.O.C. hut were still burning. As soon as the first arrivals came a terrible sight was shown to them. Eight corpses among which seven are completely charred are found in the machine. The plane has been completely destroyed. An engine had cast off and lies some 100 m. lower Which [sic] allows us to think that the plane was already on fire when it crashed into the ground.
Just around the wrecks of the majestuous U.D. bomber : non exploded bombs, equipment, a rubber boat. Only one of the corpses can have been identified, English Sergeant Bolger’s.
Two machine guns and ammunitions, lots of them, are scattered round the wrecks as well. It is most likely [deleted] taht [/deleted] [inserted] that [/inserted] the plane was shot [inserted] at [/inserted] while flying over the Alps, by an incendiary A.A. shell. It’s not fitting to say that it is because of a high voltage line. Let’s remember that a few minutes after the catastrophe which we witnessed from the distance, a violent storm had burst. It is also likely that the plane had to land because of magnetic effects on the engines that might have suffered a lack of power, fatal to the airmen.
The present investigation will solve these questions.
[page break]
[underlined] EXTRACT FROM THE VEVEY ‘FEUILLE d’AVIS [/underlined] [inserted] No 78 [/inserted]
Extract 1. Dated 13 July 1943.
[underlined] A STRONG EXPLOSION [/underlined]
About one o’clock, a lot of people noticed, in the direction of Bouveret, a bright light, similar to that produced by a flare, which seemed to be coming down from a black cloud bank. (A storm was blowing at the time). The light flashed to the ground and suddenly tall flames rose up in the forest, some 400 to 500 metres above the western end of Bouveret. A terrible explosion followed. It could be seen as far as Vevey and district, awakening a fair number of inhabitants and shaking the windows.
The fire above Bouveret quickly faded in intensity; but for more than an hour it was possible, both by the naked eye and field-glasses, to make out numerous pockets of fire spread out within a fairly short radium, suggesting that a bomber had come down at this spot. It is possible, as there was a storm at the time, that the plane may have been struck by lightning.
This morning, using powerful glasses, one can make out the traces of the disaster, in the middle of which can be seen some whitish objects, probably debris.
On this subject we have received the following official communique:
[underlined] BOMBER CRASH
Five Bodies Recovered [/underlined]
The responsible press-chief of the district informs us:
During the night of the 12/13 July, at 0.55 hours, an English four engined plane crashed into the Grammont slopes about 500 metres from Bouveret, at a height of 900 metres. An enormous explosion was heard and huge flames rose up from the machine.
The sector-commander and the fire-chief from Bouveret went to where the five bodies were found.
Two of the crew have not yet been found.
[three 8 across the middle of the page]
The force of the explosion was such that several windows and window-panes were blown out in Bouveret.
At Vevey itself, three big windows of the Hotel des 3 Couronnes were shattered. One of the hotel guests, the Aga Khan, was hit on the head by flying glass which caused no damage, however.
[underlined A SECOND BOMBER THOUGHT TO HAVE COME DOWN AT VALAIS [/underlined]
We are informed from Sion that, on this night, about one hour, an explosion occurred on the Thyon alp, grazing ground above Sion, at a height of about 2,000 metres. The high-tension wire (10,000 volts) of Dixene appears to have been cut. In this case too, there are good reasons for supposing that a bomber had come down.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT ONE [/underlined]
[page break]
Concerning the plane which fell at Thyon, above Mayens de Sion, we are informed that there would appear to have been eight victims whose bodies were hard to recover, scattered as they were amongst the debris spread over an area 150 metres in diameter. The bomber crashed against a hill-side.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT TWO [/underlined]
[inserted] Next [/inserted]
The Dixence ‘chateau’ (country house) with water some 100 metres from the artificial channel.
Amongst the still smouldering debris on Tuesday morning at six o’clock a large quantity of un-exploded bombe were found, along with broken flying instruments, a pneumatic canoe with its unflating [sic] bottle and two machine guns. Only one body could be identified - that of the English Sergeant Bolger. It is confirmed that the plane did not touch the high-tension cable but that it must have come down in flames.
An engine from the plane broke off and is lying in the field, about 100 metres lower down. This is probably the reason why the plane crashed but it is not impossible that it may have been hit by a shell from our Ack-ack.
A high calibre bomb fell above Heremence village into the rock in which it produced a crater five metres deep and 15 metres in diameter. Several flares were dropped by the pilots. On falling, the flares caused small fires.
[three * across the middle of the page]
The English four engine plane crashed against two sides of le Grammont near Bussien quarries above le Bouveret. It came down right in the middle of forest which was destroyed over an area of 150/200 metres. On hitting the ground, the plane broke up into a thousand pieces and produced a crater ending in a gully filled with debris and loose rock which rolled to the foot of the hill.
Incendiary bombs were found in several places. It is not yet known whether the full bomb-load exploded after the crash. The only certainty is that no (bomb) pieces have been recovered.
The rush of flames was so fierce (obviously from an exploded bomb) that several windows were broken, in le Bouveret of course and in the surrounding district. The paper ‘Revue’ points out that at Montreux a big mirror 3.50 metres long and 2.50 metres high., [sic] seven millimetres thick, was shattered in the hall of the Hotel Eden. A window was blown in under the ‘Palace’.
[underlined] SWISS PROTEST IN LONDON [/underlined]
The Swiss legation in London was immediately told to protest with the greatest firmness against this new and serious violation of Swiss neutrality committed by many English planes during the night of 12/13 July to demand reparation for damage caused in various places by the bombs dropped on Swiss territory.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT THREE [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Extract 2. Dated 14 July 1943
AFTER THE LAST FLY-OVER OF BRITISH PLANES [/underlined]
The following communeque [sic] concerning the massive fly-over of our air space during the night of the 12 to the 13 July.
In all, two English four-engine bombers crashed to the ground, the first as already indicated near Bouveret and the second to the south of Sion. The enquiry, still in progress, has not yet established whether the crash was caused by the defensive fire of our Ack-ack or if it was the result of the bad weather.
From different places, notably from the Fribourg district, came reports of incendiary and explosion bombs having been dropped: some of them caused considerable material damage. Propaganda sheets, aimed at the Italian population, were also dropped.
[three * across the middle of the page]
[underlined] RIGGISBERG: [/underlined] 13th. An incendiary, bomb fell in the middle of the village of Riggisberg on a house situated between the “Adler” restaurant and the post-office building. The bomb crashed through the roof and set fire to the house occupied by four people. The house is completely burned out but fortunately its occupants were able to reach safety. The adjoining building was equally gutted. In this case, too, the occupants were not harmed. Almost all the windows in the village were smashed. Numerous rooves [sic] were more or less torn off by the rush of air. An explosive bomb also fell in the district of Riggisberg. A house situated at about 200 metres from the village was so damaged that its walls now lean at an angle and will have to be completely demolished. Here too, no-one was hurt. On the other hand, the damage caused was considerable.
[short line across the middle of the page]
[underlined] FLAMMAT: [/underlined] 13th. During Tuesday night, a bomb dropped by a plane exploded near some huses of the “Bergli” hamlet in the parish of Ueberstrof. The explosion caused damage to crops and houses over a radius of 800 metres. The house nearest to where the bomb fell (about 150 metres) suffered considerable damage. The windows of all the houses were shattered. It appears to have been a higher-powered bomb than normal. There were no casualties.
[short line across middle of the page]
[underlined] FRIBOURG: [/underlined] 13th. During Tuesday night bombs were dropped on the hamlet of Praratout, attached to the Fribourg enclose of Surpierre, three kilometres from Lucens.
[short line across middle of the page]
During the night of Tuesday, a bomb fell over “Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane (Val de Ruz). It fell in the forest, about 50 metres from the farm of M.A. Nydegger which suffered considerable damage. In thee fields one animal was hurt.
[three * across the middle of the page]
[page break]
[underlined] Extract 5. Dated 16 July 1943.
THE FUNERAL OF 14 BRITISH AIRMEN [/underlined]
As was to be expected a very big crowd flocked to the St. Martins Cemetery yesterday afternoon, to be present at the funeral of the British airmen, victims of implacable fate/duty, who had on Tuesday night come down above Bouveret and on the Alp de Thyon (Valais).
Those responsible for the control of the public, a task well organised by the police under command of M. Carrel, did not have and [sic] easy task and it was only with difficulty that they could curb the enthusiasm of the crowd once they were allowed free entry.
It was a splendid afternoon and bright sunlight shone down on the St. Martins Cemetery where the slight cypress trees, as upright and straight as candles, offer intermitent [sic] shade.
At 15.00 hours, already, a great crowd was thronging on the St.Martin terrace where the official funeral procession was to form up. Behind the British cemetery the final preparations were being completed. Innumerable and splendid wreaths - perhaps a hundred - were set out on trestles, producing a guard of flowers for the coffins. They had been sent from every part of Switzerland, from every British community. Notably present were representatives from the British legation in Berne, the R.A.F., the British Legion, English internees, Greek, Belgium, Dutch, Yugoslavia colonies, the U.S.A., Palestine, etc.
About 16.20 hours, a battalion brass band plays Beethoven’s Funeral March. A moving moment. The official personalities and delegations arrive. The procession is headed by the representatives of the British Legation in Berne, amongst others, His Excellency Mr. Clifford J. Norton, C.M.G., C.V.P., envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary minister, Air Commodore F.M.F. West, V.C., M.C., Air Attache Colonel H.A. Cartwright, M.C., Military Attache, Major H.N. Fryer, assistant Military Attache. They are follow by representatives from the U.N. diplomatic corps, military attaches in full uniform, the Verney municipal representative, Officers from our Army, headed by Major Bossier of the 10th Territorial ‘arrondissement’ commanded by Colonel Carrupt, plus representatives of Air Defence are present.
The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of 80 million Musulmans, [sic] staying at the Hotel des 3 Couronnes is also present. A fine wreath from him had been sent beforehand. There are no speeches. Only the church officials speak; they are the English priests Legg (Vevey) Heywood (Clarens) Middleton (Lausanne), Williams (Geneva) and Father Kurfurat (Vevey. They all wear surplice.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT FIVE [/underlined]
Before the reading of the Gospels, English soldiers (interned) [deleted] as aviations [/deleted] and Swiss soldiers took their places at the foot and head of the 14 coffins. They are at attention. The band plays ‘God Save The King’; the slab supporting the coffins are lifted, the soldiers slowly let them down on ropes to the bottom of the communal graves. The Absolution is given by Father Kurfurst, then Mr. Legg and the British minister perform the symbolic gesture of throwing handfuls of earth onto the coffins. Three salvos fired by a Swiss military detachment frighten the birds and small children (whom one might have wished to have been elsewhere than at a cemetery), trumpets sound, and the ceremony ends with the laying of magnificent wreaths by the British minister at Berne and the R.A.F. representative. These wreaths were brought by 4 English soldiers. They placed them against the posts previously set up in front of the graves.
[page break]
Impressed by so much simplicity coupled with an absence of words which said much more than a thousand speeches, the crowd slowly withdraws as the military attaches come and bow before the graves where a quantity of flowers, simple bunches, are piled up on the ground an expression of the warmth of feeling felt towards the victims of the war.
[page break]
[underlined] -Extract Four
Dateline 14th July 1943 [/underlined]
The funeral the British aircrew killed on active service at Bouveret and Alpe de Thyon on Tuesday morning, will take place at Vevey on Thursday at 1630 hours: the burial arrangements are being made by the Air Attache of the Great Britain Legation in Berne.
3 hearses from Lausanne undertakers left on Tuesday at 1300 hours to collect the bodies, one to Bouveret and two to Sion; 7 bodies have already been brought in and the coffins are in the Crematorium: the others will arrive today.
Already in Vevey cemetery are the graves of British soldiers who died in internment during the last war. The airmen will be buried in groups. The ceremony will be led by Protestant and English Catholic Chaplains.
The Airmens [sic] last resting places are ready, close to the British cemetery.
[eight * across the middle of the page]
[underlined] Dateline 15th July 1943.
Funeral of British Airmen [/underlined]
Yesterday, M. Curchod and his assistants dug 2 big graves behind the St.Martin British Cemetery. In each one 7 coffins will be placed.
This afternoon’s ceremony will certainly be followed by a great number of people. In view of the very limited amount of space available around the open graves, and common courtesy which demands that officers and British colony be in the front, special measures have had to be taken.
The cemetery will be closed to the public from 12 noon to allow the coffins to be put in place. After the British Officers, U.N. representatives (Diplomatic corps, consulates etc) Swiss authorities, members of the British colony (on production of the appropriate authority) have entered the garden of rest, the general public too will be able to follow the ceremony from outside the ropes set up the authorities.
[four * across the middle of the page]
The ceremony will retain a strictly military character. There will be no speeches. It will be none the less impressive for that.
A battalion band and a group of Swiss soldiers will pay the last honours to their comrades in arms, fallen on active service.
Beethoven’s funeral march will open the ceremony during which representatives of the Protestant and Catholic faiths will take part. His Excellency, the Minister for Great Britain in Switzerland, Mr. Clifford Norton will lay a wreath on behalf of his country, then the regulation salutes will be fired.
The ceremony, interspersed with a few pieces of military music, will last half and hour at the most. The funeral procession (officials and delegations) will leave the St. Martins terrace at 16.20 hours for the cemetery.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT FOUR [/underlined]
Seven coffins have so far been laid out in the crematorium. They are covered with the English flag and wreaths. The other coffins are expected this morning.
Sentinels are mounting the guard.
[page break]
[underlined] THE STATEMENTS OF A PILOT [/underlined]
One of the pilots who took part in the raid at Turin disclosed a detail which allows us to understand better the reason why the airmen were looking for a landing strip.
He stated to Exchange agency: “This venture has probably been the most risky of those in which I took part. When we had flown several hundreds of km, we arrived in an electric storm which, further on, changed into a violent tempest. Because of the electric tempest, some apparatus didn’t work normally and several pilots lost their direction. We tried to escort the planes in trouble and to show them the route to follow”.
The planes, if one includes their way back, have flown 2,000 miles.
[underlined] DAMAGES AT LE BOUVERET [/underlined]
Nearly all the houses in Le Bouveret had a large number of panes and windows broken. At the Cooperative, large mirrors worth about 2,000 f., some others in Hotel Bellevue worth several hundred f. have been shattered down. Shutters have been blown off. The church has not been spared. On its floor fragments of gypsum have been found and two others of the stained glass windows have been broken.
[underlined] THE TRAGIC RAID AT TURIN [/underlined]
Thirteen 4-engined planes have not come back from this air raid. The Italian communiqué says that the centre of Turin underwent considerable damage. There 101 [sic] dead and 203 wounded.
At the R.A.F. H.Q. it is stated : during Thursday night, strong formations of bombers attacked the industrial Italian town of Turin, which has a great importance not only by its industrial output, but also as a railway junction. The British bombers arrived over Turin by a very propitious weather and moonlight made it easier for them to reconnoitre the targets. Thousands of incendiary and explosive bombs were launched, causing vast fires and heavy damages. On their way there and back [deleted] a craft [/deleted] [inserted] the aircraft [/inserted] met with heavy storms which originated several crashes.
[underlined] SWISS PROTEST IN LONDON [/underlined]
A Swiss Legation in London was immediately told to protest with the utmost vigour against the latest serious violation of the Swiss neutrality, caused by many British planes in the night of the 12th. July and to claim reparation of the damages caused by the bombs which had fallen on several spots of the Swiss territory.
[page break]
The force of the explosion was such that several windows and window-panes were blown out in Bouveret.
At Vevey itself, three big windows of the Hotel des 3 Couronnes were shattered. One of the hotel guests, the Aga Khan, was hit on the head by flying glass which caused no damage however.
[underlined A SECOND BOMBER THOUGHT TO HAVE COME DOWN AT VALAIS [/underlined]
We are informed from Sion that, on this night, about one hour, an explosion occurred on the Thyon alp, grazine [sic] ground above Sion, at a height of about 2,000 metres. The high-tension wire (10,000 volts) of Dixene appears to have been cut. In this case too, there are good reasons for supposing that a bomber had come down.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT ONE [/underlined]
[underlined] Extract 2. Dated 14 July 1943.
AFTER THE LAST FLY-OVER OF BRITISH PLANES [/underlined]
The following communique concerning the massive fly-over of our air space during the night of the 12 to the 13 July.
In all, two English four-engine bombers crashed to the ground, the first as already indicated near Bouveret and the second to the south of Sion. The enquiry, st6ill [sic] in progress, has not yet established whether the crash was caused by the defensive fire of our Ack-ack or if it was the result of the bad weather.
From different places, notably from the Fribourg district, came reports of incendiary and explosion bombs having been dropped: some of them caused considerable material damage. Propaganda sheets, aimed at the Italian population, were also dropped.
[three underlined * across the middle of the page]
[underlined] RIGGISBERG: [/underlined] 13th. An incendiary, bomb fell in the middle of the village of Riggisberg on a house situated between the “Adler” restaurant and the post-office building. The bomb crashed through the roof and set fire to the house occupied by four people. The house is completely burned out but fortunately its occupants were able to reach safety. The adjoining building was equally gutted. In this case too the occupants were not harmed. Almost all the windows in the village were smashed. Numerous roofs were more or less torn off by the rush of air. An explosive bomb also fell in the district of Riggisberg. A house situated at about 200 metres from the village was so damaged that its walls now lean at an angle and will have to be completely demolished. Here too, no-one was hurt. On the other hand, the damage caused was considerable.
[short line across the middle of the page]
[page break]
[underlined] EXTRACT FROM THE VEVEY ‘FEUILLE d’AVIS No. 78
Extract 1. Dated 13th July 1943
A STRONG EXPLOSION [/underlined]
About one o’clock, a lot of people noticed, in the direction of Bouveret, a bright light, similar to that produced by a flare, which seemed to be coming down from a black cloud bank. (A storm was blowing at the time). The light flashed to the ground and suddenly tall flames rose up in the forest, some 400 to 500 metres above the western end of Bouveret. A terrible explosion followed. It could be seen as far as Vevey and district, awakening a fair number of inhabitants and shaking the windows.
The fire above Bouveret quickly faded in intensity; but for more than an hour it was possible, both by the naked eye and field-glasses, to make out numerous pockets of fire spread out within a fairly short radium, suggesting that a bomber had come down at this spot. It is possible, as there was a storm at the time, that the plane may have been struck by lightning.
This morning, using powerful glasses, one can make out the traces of the disaster, in the middle of which can be seen some whitish objects, probably debris.
On this subject we have received the following official communique:
[underlined] BOMBER CRASH
Five Bodies Recovered [/underlined]
The responsible press-chief of the district informs us:
During the night of the 12/13 July, at 0.55 hours, an English four engined plane crashed into the Grammont slopes about 500 metres from Bouveret, at a height of 900 metres. An enormous explosion was heard and huge flames rose up from the machine.
The sector-commander and the fire-chief from Bouveret went to where the five bodies were found.
Two of the crew have not yet been found.
[page break]
[underlined] 15TH JULY 1943.
FUNERAL OF BRITISH AIRMEN [/underlined]
Yesterday, M. Curchod and his assistants dug 2 big graves behind the St. Martin British Cemetery. In each one 7 coffins will be placed.
This afternoons ceremony will certainly be followed by a great number of people. In view of the very limited amount of space available around the open graves and common courtesy which demands that officers and British colony be in the front, special measures have had to be taken.
The cemetery will be closed to the public from 12 noon to allow the coffins to be put in place. After the British Officers, U.N. representatives (Diplomatic corps, consulates, etc) Swiss authorities, members of the British colony (on production of the appropriate authority) have entered the garden of rest, the general public too will be able to follow the ceremony from outside the ropes set up the authorities.
[three underlined * across the middle of the page]
The ceremony will retain a strictly military character. There will be no speeches. It will be none the less impressive for that.
A battalion band and a group of Swiss soldiers will pay the last honours to their comrades in arms, fallen on active service.
Beethoven’s funeral march will open the ceremony during which representatives of the Protestant and Catholic faiths will take part. His Excellency, the Minister for Great Britain in Switzerland, Mr. Clifford Norton will lay a wreath on behalf of his country, then the regulation salutes will be fired.
The ceremony, interspersed with a few pieces of military music, will last half and hour at the most. The funeral procession (officials and delegations) will leave the St. Martins terrace at 16.20 hours for the cemetery.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT FOUR [/underlined]
Seven coffins have so far been laid out in the crematorium. They are covered with the English flag and wreaths. The other coffins are expected this morning.
Sentinels are mounting the guard.
[page break]
[underlined] A second Aircraft crashes on “Les Mayens de Sion : Six dead. [/underlined]
From midnight to 1 o’clock, the Sion population was kept awake by British bombers flying at low altitude and in compact waves. A formidable explosion was suddenly heard and a huge red flame could be seen rising from “Les Mayens de Sion”. A British bomber had engine troubles. It flew at very low altitude above “Les Mayens de Sion” vainly attempting to go up. Just as it was about to fly over the meadows of Thyon touched a high voltage line and crashed down. Its six passengers were burnt as it exploded.
Competent military authorities went to the spot and began an inquiry.
[three underlined * across the middle of the page]
A call from Sion :
The plane which crashed into the high voltage line which carries electricity to “La Dixence” crashed in flames near the water-tower not far from Nendaz Valley. The people of Vex, Nendaz and Veysonnaz, as well as a great many families spending their holidays in this country, were suddenly awakened.
First on the spot were men of the local guards and Gendarme Genoud from Basse Nendaz. When one got to Thyon, a dreadful sight awaited us. A pungent smell came from the charred corpses of the unfortunate airmen. Six or seven unrecognisable bodies. Only one escaped the fire but he is lifeless. He is a sergeant gunner. His name, Bolgar is written on his flying suit. Nothing remains, as it were, of the charred aeroplane. One can notice machine guns and bombs which have not yet exploded. An engine can be found further than 500 metres from the point of impact. The soldiers are on spot and the inquiry has begun with competent military authorities. Experts are unloading the bomber.
[three * across the middle of the page]
Where the victims will be buried:
It is stated that the English Legation in Berne has given instructions to have the victims’ corpses taken to Vevey. This town has a (Church of England) church with a private graveyard. The funeral service of the English airmen killed at Bouveret and at.Thyon our Sion last Tuesday night will be held in Vevey church on Thursday afternoon.
The airmen will be lying in the part of the graveyard reserved to the British in the First World War. The services will be performed by a protestant and a catholic chaplain. The Air Force attache of the British Legation in Berne is dealing with the ceremony. Three hearses left Lausanne on Tuesday morning to collect the corpses but two are still missing.
The airmen will be buried in crews.
[page break]
[underlined] Bombs falling in Vaud, Freiburg, Neauchatel and Berne Cantons [/underlined]
It is said officially :
In the night of the 13th of July about 100 foreign planes entered Switzerland 3000 metres high from 0.04 hours until 0.51 hours between Porentruy and Le Brassus. The planes left Switzerland in the area of Geneva Lake and the Tessin. Some of them flew over the frontier.
Bombs have been dropped near Riggisley (canton of Berne), near Flammat (canton of Freiburg), in the area of Maennlichen (Oberland Bernois) as well. One house was destroyed and another one caught fire. No victims for the moment. In Flammat the explosion has made havoc in cultivations and houses around 800 metres. The nearest house of the falling place (about 150 metres) has substantial damage. The roofing tiles have been flown [sic] off on a corner of the roof. The roofs of other houses in the distance have damage as well. All the window panes have been smashed into bits. It seems it might be one of the biggest missiles.
Near Saligny, exactly in Mollie-Margot, a lot of incendiary bombs fell down the fields around the hamlet making big explosions and opening craters in the earth. Some of them did not explode. Most of the others burst up setting the village in a flutter. There are no victims. Unexploded bombs have been neutralised.
A bomb fell on Geneveys sur Coffrane named place Les Hotets (Neuchatel). The deflaration [sic] was quite mighty scaring all the areas population. A thick cloud of smoke hung over the station.
The projectile fell in forest within 50 metres from Mr. A. Nydeggers’ farm. This one has severe damage: a roof smashed open, doors and windows blown out. An animal has been injured on the grazing ground. Damages are also severe in the forest. A 2000 kg. bomb is likely to have fallen from one of the planes.
[three underlined * across the middle of the page]
[page break]
Before the reading of the Gospels, English soldiers (interned) and Swiss soldiers took their places at the foot and head of the 14 coffins. They are at attention. The band plays ‘God Save The King’; the slab supporting the coffins are lifted, the soldiers slowly let them down on ropes to the bottom of the communal graves. The Absolution is given by Father Kurfurst, then Mr. Legg and the British Minister perform the symbolic gesture of throwing handfuls of earth onto the coffins. Three salvos fired by a Swiss miliary [sic] detachment frighten the birds and small children (whom one might have wished to have been elsewhere than at a cemetery), trumpets sound and the ceremony ends with the laying of magnificent wereaths [sic] by the British Minister at Berne and the R.A.F. representative. These wreaths were brought by 4 English soldiers. They placed them against the posts previously set up in front of the graves.
Impressed by so much simplicity coupled with an absence of words which said much more than a thousand speeches, the crowd slowly withdraws as the military attaches come and bow before the graves where a quantity of flowers simple bunches, are piled up on the ground, an expression of the warmth of feeling felt towards the victims of the war.
[page break]
[underlined] Extract 5. Dated 16 July, 1943
THE FUNERAL OF 14 BRITISH AIRMEN [/underlined]
As was the be expected a very big crowd flocked to the St. Martins Cemetery yesterday afternoon to be present at the funeral of the British airmen, victims of implacable fate/duty, who had on Tuesday night come down above Bouveret and on the Alp de Thyond (Valais).
Those responsible for the control of the public, a task well organised by the police under command of M. Carrel, did not have an easy task and it was only with difficulty that they could curb the enthusiasm of the crowd once they were allowed free entry.
It was a splendid afternoon and bright sunlight shone down on the St. Martins cemetery where the slight cypress trees, as upright and straight as candles, offer intermittent shade.
At 15.00 hours, already a great crowd was thronging on the St.Martin terrace where the official funeral procession was to form up. Behind the British cemetery the final preparations were being completed. Innumerable and splendid wreaths - perhaps a hundred - were set out on trestles, producing a guard of flowers for the coffins. They had been sent from every part of Switzerland, from every British community. Notably present were representatives from the British legation in Berne, the R.A.F., the British Legion, English internees, Greek, Belgium, Dutch, Yugoslavia colonies, the U.S.A., Palestine, etc.
About 16.20 hours, a battalion brass band plays Beethoven’s Funeral March. A moving moment. The official personalities and delegations arrive. The procession is headed by the representatives of the British Legation in Berne, amonst [sic] others, His Excellency Mr. Clifford J. Norton, C.M.G., C.V.P., envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary minister, Air Commodore F.M.F. West, V.C., MC., Air Attache Colonel H.A. Cartwright, M.C., Military Attache, Major H.N. Fryer, assistant Military Attache. They are follow by representatives from the U.N. diplomatic corps, military attaches in full uniform, the Verney municipal representative, Officers from our Army, headed by Major Bossier of the 10th Territorial ‘arrondissement’ commanded by Colonel Carrupt, plus representatives of Air Defence are present.
The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of 80 million Muslems, [sic] staying at the Hotel des 3 Couronnes is also present. A fine wreath from him had been sent beforehand. There are no speeches. Only the church officials speak; they are the English priests Legg (Vevey), Heywood (Clarens), Middleton (Lausanne), Williams (Geneva) and Father Kurfurat (Vevey). They all wear surplice.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT FIVE [/underlined]
[page break]
The English four engine plane crashed against two sides of le Grammont near Bussien quarries above le Bouveret. It came down right in the middle of forest which was destroyed over an area of 150/200 metres. On hitting the ground, the plane broke up into a thousand pieces and produced a crater ending in a gully filled with debris and loose rock which rolled to the foot of the hill.
Incendiary bombs were found in several places. It is not yet known whether the full bomb load exploded after the crash. The only certainty is that no (bomb) pieces have been recovered.
The rush of flames was so fierce (obviously from an exploded bomb) that several windows were broken in le Bouveret of course and in the surrounding district. The paper ‘Revue’ points out that at Montreux a big mirror 3.50 metres long and 2.50 metres hight, [sic] seven millimetres thick, was shattered in the hall of the Hotel Eden. A window was blown in under the ‘Palace’.
[underlined] SWISS PROTEST IN LONDON [/underlined]
The Swiss legation in London was immediately told to protest with the greatest firmness against this new and serious violation of Swiss neutrality committed by many English planes during the night of 12/13 July to demand reparation for damage caused in various places by the bombs dropped on Swiss territory.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT THREE
Extract 4. Dated 14 July 1943. [/underlined]
The funeral the British aircrew killed on active service at Bouveret and Alpe de Thyon on Tuesday morning will take place at Vevey on Thursday at 1630 hours, the burial arrangements are being made by the Air Attache of the Great Britain Legation in Berne.
3 hearses from Lausanne undertakers left on Tuesday at 1300 hours to collect the bodies, one to Bouveret and two to Sion; 7 bodies have already been brought in and the coffins are in the Crematorium: the others will arrive today.
Already in Vevey cemetery are the graves of British soldiers who died in internment during the last war. The airmen will be buried in groups. The ceremony will be led by Protestant and English Catholic Chaplains.
The Airmens’ [sic] last resting places are ready, close to the British cemetery.
[three underlined * across the middle of the page]
[page break]
[underlined] FLAMMAT: [/underlined] 13th. During Tuesday night a bomb dropped by a plane exploded near some hours [sic] of the “Bergli” hamlet in the parish of Ueberstrof. The explosion caused damage to crops and houses over a radius of 800 metres. The house nearest to where the bomb fell (about 150 metres) suffered considerable damage. The windows of all the houses were shattered. It appears to have been a higher powered bomb than normal. There were no casualties.
[short line across middle of the page]
[underlined] FRIBOURG: 13th. [/underlined] During Tuesday night bombs were dropped on the hamlet of Praratout, attached to the Friourg [sic] enclose of Surpierre, three kilometres from Lucens.
[short line across middle of the page]
During the night of Tuesday, a bomb fell over “Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane (Val de Ruz). It fell in the forest about 50 metres from the farm of M.A. Nydegger which suffered considerable damage. In the fields one animal was hurt.
[three underlined * across the middle if the page]
Concerning the plane which fell at Thyon above Mayens de Sion, we are informed that there would appear to have been eight victims who [sic] bodies were hard to recover, scattered as they were amongst the debris spread over an area 150 metres in diameter. The bomber crahsed [sic] against a hillside.
[underlined] END OF EXTRACT TWO [/underlined]
The Dixence “chateau” (country house) with water some 100 metres from the artificial channel.
Amonst [sic] the still smouldering debris on Tuesday morning at six o’clock a large quantity of unexploded bombs were found, along with broken flying instruments, a pneumatic canoe with its unflating [sic] bottle and two machine guns. Only one body could be identified - that of the English Sergeant Bolger. It is confirmed that the plane did not touch the high-tension cable but that it must have come down in flames.
An engine from the plane broke off and is lying in the field, about 100 metres lower down. This is probably the reason why the plane crashed but it is not impossible that it may have been hit by a shell from our Ack-Ack.
A high calibre bomb fell above Heremence village into the rock in which it produced a crater five metres deep and 15 metres in diameter. Several flares were dropped by the pilots. On falling the flares caused small fires.
[three underlined * across the middle if the page]
[page break]
[underlined] A POWERFUL BOMB DROPPED OVER HEMERENCE [/underlined]
By carrying out esearches, [sic] it has been possible to establish the cause of the first explosion that was heard. A 4000 lb. bomb fell near Hemerence , not far from the hamlet of Riod between the former 5 gate of the flow pipe and the pastures of Thyon. It dug out a fifteen foot deep and 45 foot wide funnel into the rock.
In the village, every pane was shattered and the shutters blown off. Around the funnel a large field of rhododentrons [sic] was seen to be been mown down level with the ground, as if by a scythe.
Official investigations only got there around 5am after many a vain search. Yesterday afternoon, amongst officials one could see M. Le. Conseiller d’Etat (State Counsellor), Mr. Fama and Gendarme Theiller. Some readers objected: How was it that the occupants did not have time to bale out? We have answered by this arithmetic demonstration:
A bomber flies at 400km. an hour. That is 200km. per 30 minutes, 100km. per 15 miles [sic] or 10km. per 90 seconds; 10km. is the distance between Sanetsch and Les Mayens de Sion.
If the engine has been touched by by an A.A. shell (as it seems likely) in the region of Sanetsch, the crew had only 90 seconds left to rid of the heavy weights, bomb, burning engine, and find if possible a landing strip in the midst of the storm gathering its opaque clouds over Thyon. 90 seconds, that’s very little.
[underlined] THE PLANE HAD TAKEN AWAY THE HIGH VOLTAGE LINE [/underlined]
Let’s remember that the Lancaster weighs between 30 and 40 tons.
The proportions of the wrecks have deceived even the witnesses. Several have, in good faith, believed that the tail of the plane has disappeared. It is a mistake. What they mistook for the body of the craft is the tail, which bears the gunner’s turret. The forepart has been burnt out, has vanished.
On the other hand, contrary to the first information, the plane has fallen onto high voltage line, which caused s short circuit and perhaps set fire to the craft, as well. At Benson, in the tunnel being built, this short circuit switched off the light and the electric pumps so that the water rose immediately. The miners had to run out of the emergency exits to escape the flood.
[page break]
[underlined] THE STATEMENTS OF A PILOT [/underlined]
One of the pilots who took part in the raid at Turin disclosed a detail which allows up [sic] to understand better the reason why the airmen were looking for a landing strip.
He stated to Exchange agency: “This venture has probably been the most risky of those in which I took part. when [sic] we had flown several hundreds of kilometres, we arrived in an electric storm which, further on, changed into a violent tempest. Because of the electric tempest, some apparatus didn’t work normally and several pilots lost their direction. We tried to escort the planes in trouble and to show them the route to follow”.
The planes, if one includes their way back, have flown 2000 miles.
[underlined] DAMAGES AT LE BOUVERET [/underlined]
Nearly all the houses in Le Bouveret had a large number of panes and windows broken. At the Co-operative, large mirrors worth about 2000 F. some others in Hotel Bellevue worth several hundred francs, have been shattered. Shutters have been blown off. The church has not been spared. On its floor fragments of gypsum have been found and two others of the stained glass windows have been broken.
[underlined] THE TRAGIC RAID AT TURIN [/underlined]
Thirteen 4-engined planes have not come back from this air raid. The Italian communique says that the centre of Turin underwent considerable damage. There are 101 dead and 203 wounded.
At the R.A.F. H.Q. it is stated : during Thursday night, strong formations of bombers attacked the industrial Italian town of Turin, which has a great importance not only by its industrial output, but also as a railway junction. The British bombers arrived over Turin in very propitious weather and moonlight made it easier for them to reconnoitre the targets. Thousands of incendiary and explosive bombs were launched, causing vast fires and heavy damages. On their way there and back the aircraft met with heavy storms which originated several crashes.
[underlined] SWISS PROTEST IN LONDON [/underlined]
A Swiss Legation in London was immediately told to protest with the utmost vigour against the latest serius [sic] violation of the Swiss neutrality, caused by many British planes in the night of the 12th July and to claim reparation of the damages caused by the bombs which had fallen on several spots of the Swiss territory.
[page break]
[underlined] A Chilling Sight [/underlined]
On Tuesday morning, at half past six, the wreck of the four-engined bomber that crashed into Thyon ridges 20 metres below the J.O.C. hut were still burning. As soon as the first arrivals came, a terrible sight was shown to them. Eight corpses among which seven are completely charred are found in the machine. The plane has been completely destroyed. an [sic] engine had cast off and lies some 100 metres lower, which allows us to think that the plane was already on fire when it crashed into the ground.
Just around the wrecks of the majestuous U.E. bomber, non exploded bombs, equipment, a rubber boat. Only one of the corpses can have been identified, English Sergeant Bolger’s.
Two machine guns and ammunitions, lots of them, are scattered around the wrecks as well. It is most likely that the plan [sic] was shot at while flying over the Alps, by an incendiary A.A. shell. It’s not fitting to say that it is because of a high voltage line. Let’s remember that a few minutes after the catastrophe which we witnessed from a distance, a violent storm had burst. It is also likely that the plane had to land because of magnetic effects on the engines that might have suffered a lack of power, fatal to the airmen.
The present investigations will solve these questions.
[page break]
[underlined] A WITNESS’s RELATION [/underlined]
The first car coming ton the area of Petit Vallon near the hut of the Collons arrived at the top of Mayens of Thyon 20 minutes after the crash.
Some passengers of the car related the sight. About 20 shepherds, most of them with shirts on ran about briskly around the burning machine, petrified with terror, once the petrol had exploded. Apart from the rear gun turret gunner who was thrown out of his seat, the [deleted] seven [/deleted] [inserted] six [/inserted] other [inserted] CONTORTED [/inserted] assengers [sic] crumpled up packed in the pit. Only remains can be seen. Further the gunner lying [underlined] contored [sic] [/underlined] wears his big airman overall. He’s still wearing his headphones. The plane turned up on a wing. The other one has been pulled out.
In the night it is a gloomy scene. Flames rise up into the sky, as black as ink, where the storm rumbles. They light up the cows which are grazing a few yards away from the charred wrecks. They look at the sight with placidity. Whereas the white silhouettes of the terrified humans shout and gesticulate, powerless around glowing and crackling scraps of iron.
The funerals will take place in Vevey after the corpses have been taken to the valley. Two funeral hearses from Vevey waited this morning at Planta Square in Sion for the grave diggers to be back. Vevey City owns a church of England with its private graveyard. They unfortunate airmen will be lying in crews in the part of the graveyard reserved to the interned British people during World War 1.
Military experts went this morning to the pastures of Thyon in order to make the official enquiry going on. The wreck of the plane is leaning on the Mount of the water tower of Dixens electric plant. It covers a large area. The span of the wings has been measured, they are 40 metres long.
The two four engined machines that have had such a tragic end on. Valaisan ground belonged to the Flights which bombed Turin on the dawn of Tuesday.
[page break]
[underlined] A Chilling Sight [/underlined]
On Tuesday morning, at half past six, the wreck of the four-engined bomber that crashed into Thyon ridges 20 metres below the J.O.C. hut were still burning. As soon as the first arrivals came, a terrible sight was shown to them. Eight corpses among which seven are completely charred are found in the machine. The plane has been completely destroyed. an [sic] engine had cast off and lies some 100 metres lower, which allows us to think that the plane was already on fire when it crashed into the ground.
Just around the wrecks of the majestuous U.E. bomber, non exploded bombs, equipment, a rubber boat. Only one of the corpses can have been identified, English Sergeant Bolger’s.
Two machine guns and ammunitions, lots of them, are scattered around the wrecks as well. It is most likely that the plan [sic] was shot at while flying over the Alps, by an incendiary A.A. shell. It’s not fitting to say that it is because of a high voltage line. Let’s remember that a few minutes after the catastrophe which we witnessed from a distance, a violent storm had burst. It is also likely that the plane had to land because of magnetic effects on the engines that might have suffered a lack of power, fatal to the airmen.
The present investigations will solve these questions.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Extracts from 'Nouvelliste Valaisan'
The Sirens Resounded on Monday Night
Description
An account of the resource
27 pages transcribed from a local newspaper covering the night 100 bombers overflew Switzerland leading to two being shot down. Bombs were dropped on Swiss territory.
14 airmen were buried at Vevey and the funeral is described. There is repetition of documents and accounts.
Date
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1943-07-14
1943-07-15
1943-07-16
Format
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27 typewritten sheets
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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MWrightJ[Ser#-DoB]-150527-11
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
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Italy
Switzerland
Switzerland--Bouveret
Switzerland--Sion
Switzerland--Vevey
Italy--Turin
Temporal Coverage
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1943-07-12
1943-07-13
Rights
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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.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
bombing
crash
final resting place
killed in action
shot down
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1612/24530/MCothliffKB[Ser -DoB]-151020-120006.pdf
a2a15777baf10098d78632eefbf8bfda
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken. Tholthorpe Logs
Description
An account of the resource
10 items. The collection contains flying control log books from RAF Tholthorpe.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Cothliff, K
Transcribed document
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Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
March 31, 1944
[underlined] S.O. Book 129. [/underlined]
Code 28-69-0.
F. C.
Log.
G. [crown symbol] R.
[boxed] SUPPLIED FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE [/boxed]
31 March 44 – 13 May 44
T. 4269. Wt. 7837. 1/43. 240,000 Bks. E.J.A. & S. Ltd.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
Friday – March 31, 1944.
1830 / On duty HL Spence F/O.
1850. / 429/Q Ditching 31-3. A.S.R.S. / Ex. 11 Group: Following crew picked up and taken to Hospital at New Haven:-
F/O. Hall. [inserted] B/A Friston. Exposure. [/inserted]
P/O. Findley
F/S. Way [inserted] Nav. Hosp. Eastbourne – Gunshot wounds left leg – [/inserted]
Sgt. Sharp
Sgt. Gloss [inserted] F/E Friston [/inserted]
Sgt. Robinson [inserted] MU/G. Friston [/inserted]
No news of the captain F/O Wilson.
Two of crew are injured but expected to pull through O.K.
Above passed to Leeming Watchkeeper & Air I.
2030 / 429/Q Ditching 31-3. A.S.R.S. / Now taken to R.A.F. Friston, Pilot went down with aircraft – from A.S.R. 11 Group Duty Staff Officer. Leeming informed
[underlined] SATURDAY – APRIL 1, 1944 [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Board changed.
0134 / N.F. / All 6 Group a/c landed.
0315 / LPP/M / Ex. Middleton. Following message to them from mfn. at 0215
0325 / “XQHP OZXA EYVC UU SP PB” (Landing at bearing (?) E.T.A. 0310. Request Bar Pressure, vis, ht, cloud base. Passed to 12 Group who say it is a 3 Gr. a/c. 27E passed to a/c & acknowledged at 0302 hrs, after [deleted] bearing of [/deleted] “QDY” of 206” given at 0245 hrs. Passed to M.L.O. 12 who say he landed at Acklington and message (1st 4 letters) no doubt should have been “XQEP” NOTE – Some a/c were diverted to Acklington from 3 Group
09.00 / Off duty / H.L. SPENCE F/O
On duty. / JD Clelend F/L
10.00 / 1666/J / At Stanstead Mountfitchet – u/s Oil leak. Informed F/L Smith. who will try to send servicing party.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday April 1st 1944 [/underlined]
10.15 / Permission for Eastmoor to fly a crew to Silverstone for L/432.
Permission for Leeming to fly parts to Friston – Lasham for 429 a/c.
12.00 / L.F.B. / Flamborough Head 290° from 22.15 – 23.15 hrs
Balloons / Billingham, close-hauled from { 18.30 – 20.30 hrs
{ 22.30 – 00.30 hrs
12.15 / A.S.R. / Checked for Leeming as to disposition of crew of Q/429 who ditched and were picked up by 11 Gp ASR. They will call back.
12.40 / “Eric” / 61 Base say their a/c will be flying out over Middlesborough and Newcastle to get to starting point for this exercise. This was approved by MLO 12 Gp.
14.20 / Fix 427P. / 5345N 0015W III Hull [symbol] 0215. Passed Leeming.
14.30 / Oxford / at Middleton reserved for Croft to take patient to Prestwick. Authorised by Air I.
14.55 / Oxford / Now cancelled. Permission granted W/C Newsome to take Halifax.
16.30 / Fix G/427 / 55.38N 00.32W I 1602 Hull.
Fix Q/427 / 55.38N 01.20W II 16.05 Hull.
17.00 / Ref Entry 22.30 hrs Mon 30/44. / “Large flash and explosion” seen & heard by [deleted] Middl [/deleted] Wombleton, Eastmoor & other stations. No reports have been received of bomb damage, but today Wombleton report that pieces of a bomb, thought to be a photo flash have been found at Harome, Sheet 22 – 134014.
Asked all stations to report whether any of our operational aircraft had lost any bomb or bombs that night at 22.22 hrs.
Croft report that Photos say they had one photo-flash failure on target.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND.
On Watch B.T O’Beirn F/O.
2045 / DIVERSION / C.F.C. request Div. Base for 5 a/c from Bramcote at 0230. – Mid. given. Scrubbed at 0115/2/4
2120 / G/1659 / landed Croft A.S.I. u/s.
[page break]
D.F.C.O – NOTE
– We require new W/T & R/T call sign for April from F/L Lacey.
62 Base – S.F.C.O. Requests that the following Camera equipment of L/426 – be brought back in an a/c returning from Ford or Tangmere.
[underlined] List to be brought [/underlined] from Ford 11 Grp.
(1) F-24 Camera (less the magazine)
(2) Type 45 mount
(3) Type 35 – Control no 20
(4) Camera muff heater
(5) Camera driving motor
(6) Flexible drives
(7) Electric leads no 4.
[page break]
2230 / Ex 61 Base / Dishforth now have Sodium funnels and sodium flare path on 2000 yd R/W.
2330 / N.F. / Completed. All a/c returned. E/434 landed Topcliffe.
[underlined] Sunday April 2nd 1944 [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Board Changed.
0330 / DIV – 3 Grp / – Anticipate diversion at 0430 to us – Mid-St-G. given.
0450 / ditto / – All 3 Grp landed at own base.
0750 / Weather / – Continuous rain in south & rain in Yorkshire most of the day – a/c away will not be able to get off. Not much hope of local flying to-day.
0900 / Off duty F/O O’Beirn.
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
0300 / Ref Entry 1700-1-4-44 / Ex 62 Base, Linton are certain this was not a bomb from any of their aircraft. Leeming also state it was not theirs. Skipton – no. Middleton – no. Eastmoor – no. Tholthorpe – no. Croft – no. 61 Base informed.
1830. / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O
18.30 / On duty. JD Cleland F/L.
19.00 / No flying in Group tonight.
00.01 / Ident Bd changed.
[underlined] Monday April 3rd 1944 [/underlined]
09.00 / Off duty / J.D. Cleland F/L. On duty B.T O’Beirn F/O
09.00 / Met Picture / Chances of getting our aircraft back today – very poor. Poor vis. all day plus long rainy spells.
1145 / [underlined] 1666 C.U. [/underlined] F.C.O. NOTE / permission granted for a/c to go to Worksop & Slanstead [sic] mount fitchet with crew & work party when weather permits.
1815 / Off duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Tuesday – Apr. 4th 1944. [/underlined]
0200 / Ident Board changed.
0900 / Off duty H L Spence F/O.
0900 / – / On Duty. [signature]
1245 / LFB’s. / Selsey Bill
Bearing. 350° T –
Time – 22:45 to 23:45 hrs
Portland Bill –
Bearing. 020° T
Time – 23:30 to 00:30 hrs.
Balloons / Langley – } 1500 to 2230/0030.
Heybridge – } 1500 to 2230/0030.
Portsmouth – } 1500 to 2230/0030.
Southampton – } 1500 to 2230/0030.
Yeovil } 1500 to 2230/0030.
Billingham - Close hauled.
(1) 1930 to 2000 hrs
(2) 2345 to 0145 hrs
Diversion Base. / Mildenhall – arranged as provisional weather bases.
1400 / L.F.B. / Portland Bill unavailable.
1700. / Lightnings / Ex J.C.L.O. 12. Aid requested for 2 Lightning a/c plotted in this area.
– All 6 Group stations fuelled [sic] up and standing by.
1745 / Lightnings / Landed safely at Lisset. [sic]
Stations informed.
Plots of all remaining a/c flying down the wall discussed with J.C.L.O. 12 and ROCLO no Identification. See passed South.
[page break]
Secret
HW647 5/April Tail of aircraft picked up in sea has markings MCO/E805 DTD 83. Any information on this a/c to be phoned to Station Z.
[page break]
1830 / On watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
no night Flying
[underlined] WEDNESDAY APRIL 5 [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Board changed.
0745 / Met / Occasional rain & drizzle in our Grp. Cloud base 1000 – 1500 – vis 2 – 3 miles improving.
Low cloud & fog in the Midlands. Check with Met at 1000 hrs before bringing back a/c away.
0900 / Off watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
On duty H L Spence F./O.
1405 / 75 Sqn. Stirling Mepal. / 3 Group F.C. authorize [sic] take off if Pilot is satisfied and has a route forecast. Passed to Skipton.
1440 / 75 Sqn. Stirling Mepal. / Now staying over until tomorrow 3 Group informed.
1830 / Off duty H L Spence F/O.
On duty W.A. Warwick F/O
2030. / NITE [sic] FLYING. / Eastmoor 3 A/C on C & B’s, only Stn. flying in Group.
2240 / NITE FLYING / All flying packed up in 6 Group.
[underlined] THURSDAY – APRIL – 6th 1944 [/underlined]
0001 / Ident board changed.
0200. / Ops. / All other Grps. working tonight are diverting A/C down South, due to unfit weather.
0900 / Off Watch F/O Warwick, W.A.
On Watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
0910 / HW 647 / 5/April. Have passed on to Eng & Equip office with a request to check.
[page break]
[underlined] Balloons. [/underlined] 6/4/44
Billingham close-hauled – 1900 – 2100
0100 – 0330
Langley Weybridge, } 2100 – 2230/2330 – 0130
Portsmouth and Southampton } 2100 – 2230/2330 – 0130
Landfall Beacon.
Selsey Bill – 350° T – 2400 – 0100
[page break]
[underlined] THURSDAY APRIL 6th. [/underlined]
1040 / 1666 a/c / – One a/c to go to Worksop with an extra crew and one a/c to Stanstead Mountfitchet with engineer and equipment – permission granted by Air I.
1132 / To 62 Base. / Request for Oxford for S/L Rawson – Cancelled.
1150 / Balloons and L.F. Beacon requested.
1205 / Diversion / – To C.F.C. request for 3 provisional weather aerodrome in 91 Group. – 60 a/c
1330 / 427 / – Permission for 1 a/c to go to Honeybourne with crew for C/427
1400 / permission granted to S/L Knight at Topcliffe to take to Foulsham.
1415 / Smoke / – 12 Grp report a Column of smoke in E8797 – perhaps a crash. Inf. 61 Base.
1445 / Dominie / – R-9545 left Wombleton 1630 for Lympe [sic] ETA – 1845. Gen Wainwright batman & F/Capt Hagman.
1450 / Dakota / – FZ – 685 – landed Wombleton at 1400 from Stradishall with 17 passengers staying overnight.
1500 / Diversion / – C.F.C. Cannot give us diversion bases until after the Met Conference.
1530 / HAL – E/431 / on fire in one engine in Z-73. reported by F.C.L.O. 12 Grp. – Landed Safely at Croft.
1620 / Lanc KB-711 / left Linton 1618 for Mid.
1625 / Hal – / LL175 left Croft for Topcliffe to remain.
1625 / [underlined] Mustang [/underlined] IV-Y landed Leeming 1605 from East Reatham, [sic] and took off 1625 for Milfield.
1735 / Ops – scrubbed.
1740 / Balloons & L.F. Beacon scrubbed.
1815 / Off watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
[page break]
[underlined] 1666/A. Summary [/underlined]
Previous – Diverted by W/T from Wombleton to Topcliffe.
0135 – Diverted by Topcliffe to Skipton.
0157 – Unable to land Leeming or Skipton.
0210 – a/c Course 130° Height 900’
0214 – Skipton told him Reciprocal Course – Height 2000
0222 – a/c Endurance 1 1/2 hours – Diverted to Croft.
0230 – Croft - Middleton told to divert him by R/T to Silloth but could not contact him. on transmit.
0230 – Told 61 to divert by W/T to Silloth.
0247 – R/T contact established. Landed Middleton.
[page break]
1830 / on duty. H.L. Spence F/O.
1940 / N/F / Summary passed to C.F.C. and 6 Gp stns.
7 APRIL 1944.
0001 / Ident Board brought up-to-date.
0100 / x/c a/c / 6 Gp. met. say there will be trouble landing at Wombleton due to low stratus which is coming in. However Topcliffe and Dishforth are holding up as an attempt will be made to land 1666 a/c there.
0118 / 1666/X / Landed Topcliffe. Undercarriage collapsed obstructing runway in use. (14/32) Contacted Leeming and told them to be ready to receive remaining aircraft.
0125 / 1666/G. / This Local flying aircraft landed and staying overnight at Dishforth.
0135 / Accidentally learned from 61 Base that Topcliffe F/C had diverted 1666 K and A to Skipton (a local arrangement over their own tie-line). Reason – shortage of Petrol.
0142 / 1666/K / Landed Skipton.
0157 / 1666/A. / This aircraft made several attempts at both Leeming and Skipton, but could not affect a landing at either ‘drome. Re-diverted to Croft (viz 3000x QBB 3000’.). However the lure of those bright lights at Middleton were too strong and he circled there, and could not be contacted as his R/T was on transmit.
Nearest cast-iron station was Silloth with 15 miles viz and NLC. Attempts were made to divert from [deleted] Skipton and [/deleted] Croft by R/T but as he was only being received strength 1, no diversion message.
0247 / Diversion message ready to be sent by W/T when a/c landed 0247
0310 / x/c N/F complete / Told 6 Gp. Stations to stand down; also Silloth. P.S. said “Thank you.”
0900 / off duty H.L. Spence F/O
[page break]
[underlined] Scallops & Greengage [/underlined]
L.F.B at Selsey Bill on bearing 350° T from 23.00 – 00.01 hrs.
Billingham Balloons close-hauled from [deleted] 20.00 [/deleted] 18.30 – 21.30 & 00.15 – [deleted] 01.30 [/deleted] 03.00 hrs
[underlined] Z 571. or Z 801. [/underlined]
LFB at Beachy Head on bearing 310° T from 23.10 – 00.10 hrs. hrs.
LFB at Beachy Head on bearing 350° T from 23.45 – 00.45 hrs.
Balloons at Langley, Weybridge, Portsmouth & Southampton will be at 1500 ft from 21.00 – 01.00 hrs.
All above cancelled at 18.00 hrs.
[page break]
[underlined] April 7th 1944 [/underlined]
09.00 / On duty. / J.D. Cleland F/L
10.30 / Ex “Blighty”. / Wombleton is involved. Last night a Dakota with 17 passengers landed there. They are expecting a Harrow from Doncaster today. Asked Doncaster to phone us a [sic] soon as Harrow is ready to take off for Wombleton.
16.40 / Diversion Bases / Requested from C.F.C. diversion bases for 180 a/c.
16.20 / Darky Call / From “Cushion O” – belongs to Cottesmore. Heard by Topcliffe and Croft asking for QDM and distance to Cottesmore. Top. & Croft unable to contact the aircraft. We asked Cottesmore to try to contact him by W/T.
DF.C.O’s. / When it becomes necessary to open the Intruder lines to obtain plots please ensure that the girls on the Board are told that 12 Group have been asked to tele through. It has happened that this was not done and 12 Gp discovered no one was taking them at this end. [underlined] XWS [/underlined]
17.35 / Cancellation of main effort.
17.35 / Cloud Marker / Beacon requested by SFCO at Dishforth tonight for return of Bullseye effort.
17.50 / Cancellation of Command Bullseye & Gardening. ADGB (F/L Napier) & C.F.C. informed.
1830 / Off duty F/L. Cleland – On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1840 / N.F / – 3 a/c on C & B – 1664 CU. 2100 –
3 a/c on C & B – 1666 C.U 2100 – 0330
2 a/c on C & B – 419 2030 – 2130 [inserted] (SCRUBBED) [/inserted]
Inf. stations & C.F.C.
2100 / Skymaster – much natter between 61 Base & 6 Grp – re Skymaster supposed to have left Milfield before 1202 for Wombleton for “Lesser M” – F.C.L.O 12 Gp have no account of him. 61 Base believed a/c diverted to Thorney. – but he did not land there. Where oh where?
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
2305 / Diversion / – C.F.C. request a diversion base 7 fortresses from 100 Grp. – Met advise Leeming with Linton or Middleton as alternatives. Leeming – Cld base 1800’ vis – 3 miles.
2315 / 100 Grp / 214 Sqdn Sculthorpe on Bullseye.
12 Officers and 46 NCO’s R/T – C/S [underlined] Crowbar [/underlined] W/T c/s NKR. – a/c O. C, A, H, M, N, F.
Leeming Inf. 61 Base, 62 Base. Mid. CROFT. Skipton. ETA – 0030 – 0045
[underlined] Saturday April 8th [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Board Changed.
0030 / F.C.L.O. / 12 Grp has no plots yet.
0100 / 5 Grp / provisional diversion of 20 a/c.
0230 / 100 Grp / – “H”/214, F/214, C/214 from Sculthorpe landed Leeming. A/214 landed Thornaby at 0213. “O” “M” “N” landed at Sculthorpe. Inf C.F.C.
0240 / 5 Grp / – Request us to continue to stand by 62 Base & 61 Base standing by.
0300 / 61 Base / – N.F. Ceased, no snags – Closed down.
0302 / 62 Base / – 2 aerodromes standing by for 5 Grp. – 1 on Bullseye, 6 a/c on X/C.
0337 / 62 Base / – Stood down. 5 Grp coping – 2 a/c outstanding – (Landed 03.45).
0345 / 62 Base / HF/DF received frequency check from USN-O – (SWINDERBY a/c on local stooge.)
0800 / Weather / – Low cloud 800’. vis – 500 – 1500 yds in 6 Grp until 1130 – 1200. – no flying until then.
0825 / CFC / – Last nights diversion from 100 Grp. reported.
0830 / Off duty F/O. O’Beirn.
[page break]
[underlined] SATURDAY – Apr. 8. 1944 [/underlined]
0830 / On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
0940 / 425/G Tangmere / Permission granted to fly crew to Tangmere to pick up this a/c. When down there are to pick up camera & equipment belonging to 426/L at Ford. 62 Base informed.
1030 / 433/V / Permission granted to fly crew to Middle Wallop to pick up this a/c. Skipton informed.
1032 / 100 Gr. a/c / Ex 100 Group. OK to return to Sculthorpe. Passed to Leeming, also Thornaby as one landed there.
1040 / 1666/J / Permission granted to fly crew to Stanstead Mount Fitchett to pick up this a/c. Passed to 61 Base.
[boxed] D.F.C.O.’s [/boxed] / your attention is drawn to the Crash pro forma to be given to G.A.I. (W/C Saunders). Please ensure that he gets one of these chits for each accident unless it is a [underlined] very [/underlined] trivial one. JWS.
1105 / L.F.B. [symbol]2 / At Flamborough Head will be flashing on 300° T at 070° from 2330 – 0030 hrs.
Billingham Balloons / Will be close hauled from 2000 – 2130 hrs and 2345 – 0100 hrs.
1215 / 433/T / Permission granted for a/c to fly crew to Ford to pick up 433/T
1510 / 1659/a/c LL-132 / Permission granted to fly crew to Foulsham to pick up a/c. 61 Base informed.
1830 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
18.30 / On duty. / JD Cleland. F/L
22.45 / U/1666 / Heard by 61 Base calling “Darky” – “P.O.E feathered and S.I.E faulty.”
Told to land at Dishforth.
23.05 on R/T with Dishforth and landed there at 23.08.
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday April 8th 1944 [/underlined]
23.00 / Diversions / 100 Gp. may have to send one Wellington due about 02.00 hrs.
92 Group also have some aircraft out which may need diversion bases.
4 Group are worried about one Halifax.
Met. think Leeming will hold until 01.00 and after that M.S.G & Croft may still be workable.
23.45 / Recall of Bullseye Aircraft due to weather deterioration.
00.01 / [underlined] Sunday April 9th 1944 [/underlined]
01.00 / 100 Gp. / will not require us for diversions.
0300 / F/427 Colors [sic] of Period / From 18,000 ft – Time 22.42 Pos’n – 5 to 6 mi E of position 53° 20’ N 01° 15’ E – RR. Color [sic] of period fixed twice at 3 minute intervals.
0310 / FCLO / – Passed to FCLO 12 for information.
09.00 / Off duty. / J D Cleland F/L.
On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
0910 / a/c away / – Weather not fit for some time.
1000 / Skipton / – Wish both crews back from Middle Wallop either via A/433 or V/433 if serv. – otherwise by train.
1050 / A/433 – S.O.E U/S – also 4 inch “crack” in tyre (too dangerous for take off) V/433 – no oil pressure. If V/433 not serv. by 1200 hrs – both crews instructed to return by train.
1055 / Darky / – If 62 Base – Tholthorpe heard Bookwood “R” on Channel A-1695 asking for position – Call sign not listed – F.C.L.O. 12 Grp - think if so an American.
1330 / C.F.C. (DIVERSIONS / Request 3 prov. weather aerodrome in East Anglia, & 6 aerodromes in 11 Grp.
[page break]
EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 9.
1330 / L.F.B. / SELSEY BILL. 350° T – 0040 – 0140 F.C.
L.F.B. / [deleted] DEBDEN 1112 300° T 2335 – 0035 [/deleted] F.C.
BALLOONS / HARWICH – 2250 – 0030 – 1500’ BL
BALLOONS / LANGLEY, WEYBRIDGE } 0030 to 0230 – 1500’ BL
BALLOONS / SOUTHAMPTON, PORTSMOUTH } 0030 to 0230 – 1500’ BL
BALLOONS / Billingham – close-hauled } 1900 – 2100 [inserted] 2230 [/inserted] 0030 – 0230 [inserted] 0130 – 0400 [/inserted]
1415 / F/L Smith proceeding to Middle Wallop & Gransden Lodge. Will report on V/433 & A/433.
1440 / Oxford / from Castle Camps landed Linton – Checking on weather before proceeding to Drem.
1450 / 11 Grp / – Two crews of V/433, A/433 are returning by train from Middle Wallop.
1500 / Dishforth / S.F.C.O. – queries – Where are the [underlined] duties of O.C. of N.F. [/underlined] laid down? D.F.C.O. to get gen from S/L Stanley to-morrow.
1520 / DIVERSION / – Met advise bases west of London instead of in 11 Grp. But our bases will be fit. Requested C.F.C. for bases in 91 Grp.
1610 / CFC. / Diversion Bases. Provisional weather given.
1700 / V/433 / – F/L Smith at Middle Wallop reports V/433 serv. 2 Crews did not return by train but remained in hopes of returning by a/c to-day.
Grp met advise weather unfit for return – Advise 11 Grp. & F/L Smith & Skipton that V/433 to stay overnight.
1745 / Diversion Bases – Emergency Petrol instead of Weather.
Passed to 92 GRP. { Westcott – 424 – 15 a/c
Passed to 92 GRP. { Wing – 433 & 427 24 a/c.
Passed to 92 GRP. { Silverstone – 429 16 a/c
Passed to 92 GRP. { Chipping Warden – 432, 408, 426 23 a/c.
Passed to 92 GRP. { Desborough – 425 15 a/c.
Passed to 92 GRP. { Market Harborough. 420 14 a/c.
Passed to 100 Grp. { Foulsham – 419 & 428 29 a/c.
Passed to 100 Grp. { West Raynham 431 & 434 24 a/c.
1800 / L.F.B. / Debden 412 scrubbed. Searchlights in the area.
[page break]
1830 / Off duty F/O. O’Beirn.
On duty H L Spence F/O.
1930 / Diversion Bases / Ex 92 – Understand from C.F.C. 6 Group a/c will not be using 92 Gr stations tonight as they have been allotted to 4 Group.
Checked C.F.C. who say this is correct, as our weather is OK. We can use the 92 Gr. Stations for emergency. Explained to 92 Group who are quite happy about the change from “Weather” to “Emergency Petrol.” Diversion on our part.
2000 / N.F. / Summary of Night Flying passed C.F.C.
0840. / Billingham Balloons / Revised times – 1900 – 2230 & 0130 – 0400 Passed to M.S.G.
2135 / BALE-OUT NEAR LINTON (427/G) [underlined] LV960 [/underlined] / F/L Young 62 Base advises an airman seen to bale out of an aircraft 3 miles south of Linton. Contacted ROCLO who had no “gens”.
62 Base say S/L Avant saw 2 chaps bale-out and then a big flash in in same direction as above. Flash report ties up with one from F.C.L.O. 12 Gp in posn E8765. Police in area & C. D. advised by 12 to keep a look out. No organized action by 12 Gp.
2200 / BALE-OUT NEAR LINTON (427/G) [underlined] LV960 [/underlined] / Ex Leeming. Message from farmer at Green Hammerton [inserted] (WHIXLEY) [/inserted] that Sgt. Nunziatto had landed there & was slightly injured. Also that a Sgt. Dennis had shown up at the N.F.S. at Green Hammerton. 62 Base arranging to send an ambulance for injured member Farmers tel. No. Green Hammerton 319
62 Base arranging to pick.
2220 / BALE-OUT NEAR LINTON (427/G) [underlined] LV960 [/underlined] / 2 more of crew located, one at Priory Convalescent Home at Nun Monkton and other at the Vicarage there.
62 Base arranging to pick them up.
2240 / 424/2 Mid-Air Collision / Skipton report [indecipherable word] collided with another Halifax and damaged control rod of left rudder. Landed safely. Collided at 2118 hrs, at 8,000 ft, heading of 350° T over Thirsk R/W Station.
[page break]
[inserted] LV960 [/inserted]
427/G. Crash. / Crew List & State
F/S. Stevens – Pilot – at Snaith OK.
F/S. Murrey – Nav. – Allerton Park – Stitches.
Sgt. Nunziato – B/A. – Allerton Park OK.
Sgt. Bogle R.A.G. – Allerton Park OK.
Sgt. Dennis M.U.G. – Allerton Park OK.
Sgt. Trowsdale F/E. – Tholthorpe OK.
F/S. Steele WOPAG – Tholthorpe OK.
Leeming informed.
Informed:- Controller [symbol]
Air I [symbol]
S.A.S.O.
G.T.L. [symbol]
G.A.L. [symbol]
Equipt. [symbol]
Engr. [symbol]
[page break]
427/G [underlined] Crash. [/underlined] / Crash action being taken by R.A.F. Breighton. Bombload being handled by BDS – R.A.F. Snaith. 7 x 1000 MC } T.D. 025 Det. [symbol] 57 Pistol [symbol] 30
6 x 500 MC. } T.D. 025 Det. [symbol] 57 Pistol [symbol] 30
2330 / 427/G [underlined] Crash. [/underlined] / Pilot reported to Leeming from Goole. OK. All crew baled out. a/c crashed 1 mi N. of Goole. Pilot staying at Snaith overnight.
2 more of crew at Easingwold Police Station. Tholthorpe arranging to pick them up.
Complete crew now accounted for. 12 Group, 4 Group and all concerned in the picture & thanked. Pilot of 427/G stated collision of a/c occurred at 8,000 ft while circling over base, at 2118 hrs, indicating it collided with 424/S. (see entry 2240 hrs.) Location of crash:- 200 yds north of Goole – Snaith Rd. WA/944. south of village of Airmyn.
[underlined] MONDAY – APRIL 10TH, 1944 [/underlined]
0200 / Ident Board changed.
0334. / Op. a/c / all landed.
0401 / Cross Countries / all landed.
0440 / a/c away / Passed to C.F.C.
0800 / a/c away / Passed to Gransden Lodge for info. F/L. Smith.
0815 / Met – / Possibility of some local fog patches in south part 6 Group for an hour or two – Leeming, Croft & M.S.G. should not be affected.
0855 / a/c away / Serviceable a/c to return to their bases. 2 Group, 10 Group & Hampstead Norris [sic] Flying Control
0900 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
09.00 / On duty. J.D Cleland F/L.
[page break]
Hurricane KZ-396 BRG.
F/L Gardner from Red Hall landed Croft at 1753 for re fuelling. Took off at 1830 for Grangemouth.
Cesna [sic] Crane – took off from Dishforth at 1825 for Peterboro.
[page break]
Monday April 10th 1944.
1100 / V/426. / Report from Lasham C.S.U. u/s. If shorted, the station engineer hopes to fix it. Otherwise a new motor will be necessary.
D/426. / Unable to start Starboard outer this morning. Passed to 62 Base.
12.00 / Permission for 431 Sq. to fly crew to Church Lawford to pick up H/431 which is now serviceable.
13.15 / “Darky” / Heard by Croft – “Station W” – Seems to be an American. Reported to 12 FCLO.
14.00 / LFB. / at Orfordness 290° T from 23.15 – 00.15 hrs.
LFB. / [symbol] 15 Worthing 275° T from 04.20 – 05.20 hrs.
Balloons. / Billingham C/H. 1930 – 2145 & 0010 – 0230 hrs.
Langley Weybridge [symbol] 1500’ from 04.20 – 0600 hrs.
Harwich [symbol] 1500’ from 23.00 – 0030 hrs.
14.30 / Permission granted by SASO for W/C Hamber to go to Lasham with Oxford carrying spare parts for 426 V & 426 D.
17.30 / Diversion Bases / 419 and 428 Sqdn. to Sculthorpe. [inserted] 100 Grp. [/inserted]
434 and 431 Sqdn. to Foulsham [inserted] 100 Grp. [/inserted]
427 and 424 Sqdn. to West Raynham. [inserted] 100 Grp. [/inserted]
429 and 433 Sqdn. to Little Snoring. [inserted] 100 Grp. [/inserted]
432 Sqdn. to Coltishall [inserted] 12 Grp. [/inserted]
420 & 425 Sqdn. to Docking. [inserted] 16 Grp. Bircham Newton [/inserted]
408 & 426 Sqdn. to Coltishall. [inserted] 12 Grp. [/inserted]
17.30 / Met Picture / Tonight for Return at 01.00 – 1500 – 2500 yds in south, 2-4000 yds in north QBB 2000 ft.
For return at 06.00 hrs – 1000 – 1500 yds in south 2000 yds in North.
17.55 / Gardening / scrubbed.
1830 / Off duty F/L Cleland On duty B.T O’Beirn F/O
1900 / [underlined] Lanc Crash [/underlined] / 9 Grp F.C. report that a Lancaster was seen to break up in mid air at VO 3567. near LLANWRTYD WELLS. – police & N.F.S. on the job. Six bodies recovered – including Sgt Atkins – thought to be R.C.A.F. Informed – 3 Grp & 5 Grp.
[page break]
[underlined] M/427 [/underlined] CRASH 2345 hrs 10/4/44.
– [underlined] LV-883 [/underlined]
Pos’n – M595789. (near [underlined] Ipswich [/underlined] Millgreen Farm, Stoneham, Asthall.
[underlined] Crew [/underlined] – all baled out – and safe.
W/C Burgess Pilot – Slight foot injury at East Suffolk Hosp. Ipswich.
F/O Ferguson Nav } OK. – at Helmingham Police Station phone 211
F/O Karloff B/A } OK. – at Helmingham Police Station phone 211
Sgt Galloway – F/E – OK – at Ipswich
P/O Tobin MU/AG – OK – Helmingham. Pol. Stn
F/O O’Callaghan R/G – OK
Sgt. McCuldrey W.O.P. – OK.
P/O Tobin reported that M/427 was caught in searchlights and flak on crossing in on the French coast. They turned back, made [underlined] two [/underlined] more attempts, but a/c damaged so turned back.
[underlined] Guard [/underlined] – Mendlesham – 3 US B.D
[underlined] Bombs [/underlined] – scattered – 3 Grp requested to get B.D. squad – possibly Waterbeach
(9 x 1000 M.C. 6 x 500 M.C. Tail Delay .025)
a/c – complete write off – in small pieces.
Informed. Controller [symbol]
SASO [symbol]
AIR I [symbol]
GTI [symbol]
Equip [symbol]
Engr O. [symbol]
[page break]
APRIL 10 (CONT’D).
2305 / 1666/Z / Hull passed a [sic] incorrect fix at 2241, then phoned 61 Base direct. Later gave the correct fix on MF. as a/c was yet over the sea.
2350 / DIVERSION / – Requested 16 Grp to keep Docking standing by – Skipton [indecipherable word] vis about 3 miles.
2359 / Met / advise return of a/c to bases – Vis at Linton & Eastmoor – 2 mi. – elsewhere in the Group 3 mi +. Mid SG – 6 mi. Inf. 100 Grp. 12 Grp.
[underlined] Tuesday April 11th [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Board changed.
0020 / [underlined] Crash [/underlined] M/427 / – 3 Grp (from Woodbridge) report a Hal / 427 crashed at M 595 789 Sgt Galloway baled out. Ipswich County police may have details. Inf. Leeming.
0040 / M/427 / From 3 Grp F.C. & from Ipswich County Police – all baled out.
W/C Burgess – Pilot – Slight foot injury –
Sgt Galloway – OK.
P/O TOBIN – 9 Miles from Ipswich.
0100 / M/427 / – Crash at Millgreen Farm, Stoneham, Asthall – a/c a complete write off. Nearest aerodrome – Mendlesham Station (AM) – 3 U.S.B.D. at 2345 hrs.
0105 / M/427 / F/O Ferguson (NAV) & F/O Karloff B/A at police station Helmingham phone 211 – Both O.K.
0110 / M/427 / Mendlesham – 3 USBD supplying the guard.
0300 / M/427 / on request of 3 USBD, asked 3 Grp to send Bomb Disposal squad to Millgreen Farm. 3 Grp will try to arrange for Waterbeach B.D.S.
0330 / Leeming / – F/O O’Callaghan & Sgt McCubbing are OK.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] TUESDAY – APR 11TH, 1944 [/underlined]
0400 / RAF NI / – Dishforth a/c infringed on Eire (neutral territory) – Who? and Why?
0440 / B/1664 / F/O Townsend, pilot, reported that he was over Eire –
Reason – “Gee” was U/S and had navigation difficulties.
0626 / Ops / – All Lancs returned to base.
0630 / Ops / C.F.C. informed of Diversion Summary.
0750 / Met / advise that Cloud is breaking with vis 4 – 5 miles in 6 Grp. Conditions may decrease a little.
0800 / 427/Y / – Landed Horham – 1 Eng u/s, and petrol low. Leeming Inf.
0900 / Off duty F/O O’Beirn.
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
0945 / Wombleton / Liaison visit to Honeybourne OK. Air I. 61 Base informed.
1000 / 1664/B / Ref. entry 0440. 61 Base requested to have complete report submitted to Air I.
1045 / C/F Proctor / Reserved for S/L Rawson 1200 hrs 11-4-44 – to Wombleton.
1145 / 433/C / Authorization given to fly crew to Boscombe Down to pick up m/n a/c. Skipton informed.
1155 / 427/M Crew / All now accounted for – 6 at Woodbridge and W/C Burgess in Hospital at Ipswich.
1240. / L.F.B.[symbol]2 / as Flamborough Head to be flashing on 280° T elevation 070° from 0120 – 0220 hrs.
1830 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
18.30 / On duty / J.D. Cleland F/L.
1830 / F/L Smith / now at Framlingham.
10.10 / Balloons / Middleton doing local flying and would like Billingham Balloons close-hauled. All now at 1500 ft.
10.35 / Balloons / Billingham balloons now close-hauled until 01.30 hrs.
[page break]
[underlined] Darky at Croft Wellington. [/underlined]
ED/O – of 21 OTU – Moreton-in the-Marsh. [inserted] 91 - Grp. [/inserted]
This aircraft had received several priority fixes while still at sea on X-Country. His port engine had failed [inserted] At 00.05 hrs. [/inserted] 12 Gp. FCO asked us to plot the aircraft and we had M.S.G. light up. The aircraft was then given homing assistance by searchlights to M.S.G.
Croft had been warned by M.S.G. of the aircraft in distress and also put on their lights, including sandras and fired mortars.
M.S.G. were able to contact the aircraft on RT at 00.19 but were only able to give him their identification. From then on no more contact by RT could be made.
Pilot, having identified M.S.G, made right hand circuit, fired two red very lights and was given green to land at Middleton. He made normal approach but was unable to get wheels down in time to land. Rather than risk another circuit on the one engine pilot decided to keep straight on for Croft where he had seen all lights on and mortars fired.
At 0030 Croft saw [deleted] O [/deleted] the aircraft approaching low, gave him a green and he was able to come right in. Fortunately both runways were almost in line at the two aerodromes.
The pilot made a rather bumpy landing and his brakes were u/s. The aircraft overshot the runway and crashed into the boundary fence past the perimeter. Petrol tank burst and aircraft went up in flames.
All crew were able to get out safely just before the fire. Time 00.30 hrs.
Croft [deleted] had [/deleted] F.C. had the ambulance and crash tender on the aerodrome while he was landing and immediately sent out assistance and ordered fire tender from Darlington N.F.S.
[inserted] CREW of Wellington – In ED/O – Instructed to return home by train. [/inserted]
[page break]
[deleted] Tuesday [/deleted] [inserted] Wednesday [/inserted] Apl. 12/44.
00.05 / “Darky” / Hearty “O”. Heard by M.S.G. We have already asked M.S.G. to light up as 12 Gp are homing a distressed bomber in from coast.
00.23 / “Darky” / Contacted by M.S.G. after calling “Darky”. Was given position and seemed quite happy, answered “Okay”
See opposite page :-
04.00 / [underlined] Air Sea Rescue [/underlined] / [underlined] Search Areas [/underlined]
Area I a / 5300N 01.25E } WCF 76 Z – WCF 77 U } Allotted to 431 Sq.
5308N 0125E } WCF 76 Z – WCF 77 U } Allotted to 431 Sq.
5308N 0230E } WCF 76 Z – WCF 77 U } Allotted to 431 Sq.
5300N 0230E } WCF 76 Z – WCF 77 U } Allotted to 431 Sq.
Area I b / 5307N 0125E } WCF 74 F – WCF 75 C } Allotted to 431 Sq.
5315N 0125E } WCF 74 F – WCF 75 C } Allotted to 431 Sq.
5315N 0230E } WCF 74 F – WCF 75 C } Allotted to 431 Sq.
5307N 0230E } WCF 74 F – WCF 75 C } Allotted to 431 Sq.
Area II / 5345N 0130E } WCF 78 a/c Z – WCF 79 L – WCF 80 Q } allotted to 1659 C.U.
5357N 0130E } WCF 78 a/c Z – WCF 79 L – WCF 80 Q } allotted to 1659 C.U.
5357N 0239E } WCF 78 a/c Z – WCF 79 L – WCF 80 Q } allotted to 1659 C.U.
5345N 0239E } WCF 78 a/c Z – WCF 79 L – WCF 80 Q } allotted to 1659 C.U.
Area III / 5357N 0130E } WCF 81 H – WCF 82 D – WCF 83 L } allotted to 431 Sq.
5410N 0130E } WCF 81 H – WCF 82 D – WCF 83 L } allotted to 431 Sq.
5410N 0239E } WCF 81 H – WCF 82 D – WCF 83 L } allotted to 431 Sq.
5357N 0239E } WCF 81 H – WCF 82 D – WCF 83 L } allotted to 431 Sq.
Parallel track from West to east at 1/4 mile vis creeping north.
Three Group will have Stirlings searching in an area north of our Area I b which overlaps. Croft have been informed of this.
Search has been initiated on information returned by Americans who were out on large scale raid today.
0900 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On watch B.T O’Beirn F/O
DCFO’s NOTE / AIR I wishes a list of the [underlined] totals [/underlined] of Day Flying Training and Night Flying Training each morning. i.e. – just take the totals off the sheets prepared for W/C Palmer.
[page break]
0930 / 12/4/44
[underlined] F/L Smith [/underlined] reports – Re a/c away.
433/C – at Boscombe Down – Serv. Skipton had permission to send a/c [inserted] with crew [/inserted] yesterday but a/c went u/s & did not go to Boscombe Down.
433/A – at Middle Wallop – should be S.
433/O } u/s at Framlingham. 424/E is S.
442/E } S. 433/O requires mag points and retaining clips. Corpl. of work party instructed to phone S/L Brown at Skipton telling him about the spare parts required and requesting that the spare parts be sent down when the 2 crews are sent down.
Skipton informed.
427/Y – at Horham requires powerplant change – Crew instructed to return by train
1666/J – F/L Smith leaving it to Wombleton.
F/L Smith proceeding to Church Lawford, Wellesbourne & Boscombe Down.
Oxford LX-574 landed Skipton proceeding from Castleford to York – Took off again at 1351 to York.
DAKOTA – 223416 from Grove landed Leeming at 1734 – proceeding to North Witham after getting position
Mitchell V D/O – G/C Dunlop from Dunsfold landed Leeming, proceeded to Mid S.G. – Expect to go to Topcliffe to pick up G/C Dunlop.
[page break]
[underlined] WED. 12th APRIL [/underlined]
1020 / P/1669 / – 1 Group report CSU u/s and one engine will not feather. Hemswell think they can cope without parts or work party – may have it serv to-day and their weather to be fit at 1200 hrs 61 Base Inf.
1130 / 3 Grp 90 Sqd/A / – Request crew to return by a/c which Tuddenham will send to Skipton this afternoon.
1230 / X/C’s (RADAR / Skipton request Met advise re. Routes Radar 27, 37 & Leicester.
Met advise Grp bases OK 2 mi’ vis this afternoon. Route – some low cloud. Much medium cloud – patchy – local icing at 10000 – 15000 ft. Suggest they fly at 18000’ – less icing (cirrus)
1235 / DIVERSION C.F.C. / Emergency Weather Base – requested in East Anglia – near Downham Market, Docking etc.
[underlined] Balloons [/underlined] / Billingham – close-hauled [deleted] 1930 – 2145 [/deleted] [inserted] 2000 – 2215 [/inserted] [deleted] 0030 – 0230 [/deleted] [inserted] 0100 – 0300 [/inserted]
L.F. Beacon [symbol] 2 – Flamborough Head. – 300° T 0045 – 0145
1315 / All Communication Flight a/c at Linton are Serv. except proctor HM422.
1330 / DIVERSION / – Foulsham given – if possible a change after the Met conference.
1530 / 1666 CU / Permission for Hal. to fly crew to Marston Moor to pick.
1535 / 61 Base [underlined] (Crash [/underlined] (S/432) / – Wombleton report via Pickering Police via Scarboro police that an a/c crashed at Langdale End sheet 23 approx 4110. reported at 1525 new position – Birch Hall Sheet 23 – 4012.
Inf. F.C.L.O 12 Grp. – Request Wombleton to take Crash Action.
[page break]
S/432 – LW-614 Crash – at Birch Hall. HAL III sheet – 23 Ref 404104
[underlined] Crew [/underlined]
F/S CLARKE A.K. – Pilot
F/S. WOODARD T.H. - NAV.
SGT. CRANCH S.E. – B/A.
SGT. HINDMARSH S.C. – W/OP
SGT. BELL D. – MU/G.
SGT. MacNEILL D.S.M – R/G. in Scarboro’ Hosp.
SGT. HALLIWELL H. – F/E
R-142262. LAC McKENZIE D.V. – passenger.
GUARD – 66 B.S.D. R.A.S.C.
Category – a/c practically burned out.
Category E – Burnt out.
6 Bodies taken to Eastmoor.
1 Body still in crash.
Sgt MacNeill (RG) taken to Scarborough Hospital suffering from shock & burns.
Informed:
SASO [symbol]
Controller [symbol]
GTI. [symbol]
GEgO [symbol]
P.4 [symbol]
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday April 12th 1944 [/underlined]
1720 / [underlined] Crash [/underlined] S/432. / 62 Base report that S/432 overdue, was on F/A – detail 1440 to 1550?
Scarboro Hosp. report to 62 Base – Rear Gunner of S/432 in Scarboro Hosp.
1730 / S/432 / 62 Base report – S/432 Crashed at posn. sheet 23 – 404104
Rear Gunner alive in Scarboro Hosp. Six bodies recovered. Eight member not found. a/c practically burned out
1830 / DIVERSION BASE – MOLESWORTH – 1st U.S. B.D. for Ops a/c. Foulsham is left as an alternative base.
18.30 / Off duty. / B.O’Beirn F/O.
On duty / J.D. Cleland F/L.
19.30 / Call Signs passed to Molesworth.
419 Sq. Batty. KVG – 5 a/c.
428 Sq. Toiler. JYR – 5 a/c.
434 Sq. Headman. WPZ – 15 a/c.
20.20 / S/432. Hal III LW 614. / 6 bodies taken to Scarborough hosp. one still in aircraft.
Rear gunner at Scarborough hosp. with injured hand. Aircraft is Cat E – burnt out.
2200 / Recall 61 Base a/c / 61 Base request recall of RZF – BKVC and WGX – LTS on m/n a/c - mlf section K. Test of message “07 HQ”
Not necessary to call RZF-K as he is now overhead. Passed to D.S.O. for Transmission.
23.50 / Diversion. / All gardening aircraft diverted to Molesworth.
00.01 / [underlined] Thursday April 13th 1944 [/underlined]
02.31 / Gardening a/c / All landed safely.
08.00 / Gardening a/c / Unable to take off due to American operations, until 1000 hrs. Due to weather, it is also inadvisable to take off before that hour.
09.00 / Gardening a/c / Information passed to F/L Smith.
09.00 / Gardening a/c / Told to return at 10.00 hrs. [deleted letter]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday Apl 13th 1944 [/underlined]
11.45 / L.F.B. / Selsey Bill 355° T from 23.15 – 00.15 hrs.
Balloons / Billingham close-hauled 19.45 – 21.15 hrs
00.01 – 02.00 hrs
Balloons / Langley, Weybridge, Portsmouth, Southampton at 1500 ft from 21.45 – 22.45 hrs.
23.15 – 00.15 hrs.
15.40 / Lancaster / seen flying about 500 ft near high ground about V 1519 or V 1526 (Westerdale). Not seen to come out again. Asked 61 Base to try to investigate by flying over that area.
16.30 / Lancaster / Report from Wombleton who sent an aircraft over that district – No sightings.
15.55 / Message to 1664 Hals. / On X-Country. 61 Base request us to pass following message : To WBL – E,H, JRJ – B,J,E : – 07 BM – VFYE – SUBI – EPXU – DR TOD 15.47 “Lose height, fly at 5000 ft by 5530N.” To be sent on Sect. K M7/DF.
Passed to D.S.O. for action.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND, On Watch B.T. O’Biern F/O.
1850 / Darky / – Reported by Dishforth. Inf. F.C.L.O. 12 Grp. One a/c circling Topcliffe & one over Dishforth.
1855 / Darky / a/c now heading S.E. from Dishforth.
1900 / Diversion / – Met. advise Thorney Island. C.F.C. cannot allow it as signal states it may be used in emergency only.
1940 / Diversion / Tangmere pleases C.F.C. & Met. as prov. weather base. Informed Mid. & amended “B” Form.
2000 / N.F. / C & B’s in 61 Base 2100 – 0330
2120 / DIVERSION / – Call signs of 428 given to 11 Grp.
2300 / DIVERSION / Cancelled – Hope to get a/c back to base.
[page break]
Command Bulls Eye. C – 92.
Route – Swaffham - Westcott – Odstone Down (Target)
Devizes – Newport – Winthernsea [sic] (amended now to Doncaster) – Base.
Ref. – BC/S. 26484/TRG. d. 7-4-44 (6G/S 326/TRG. 11-4-44.)
Starter Beacon at Swaffham.
Fighter & S.L. to co-operate along route.
T.O.T. [deleted] Do [/deleted] Odstone Market 2230 – 2300 hrs.
[underlined] DIVERSION BASES – EMERGENCY. [/underlined]
431 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } BRADWELL BAY.
420 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } BRADWELL BAY.
425 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } BRADWELL BAY.
432. [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } BRADWELL BAY.
408 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 15 } COLTISHALL.
426 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 12 } COLTISHALL.
424 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } MANSTON.
433 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } MANSTON.
427 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } MANSTON.
429 [underlined] No. A/C [/underlined] 8 } MANSTON.
[page break]
[underlined] FRIDAY APRIL 14th. [/underlined]
0005 / Met / Mid. St. G – Cloud base 3500’ – Vis 2+
0058 / Ops / – all a/c landed at base. Inf. FCLO 12 Grp & C.F.C. MLO. 12 Grp.
0205 / N.F. / Completed in 61 Base. All quiet.
0750 / Met / Fog on deck – May clear about 1200 hrs – probable rain showers in afternoon.
0800 / Diversion summary passed to C.F.C.
0845 / Off watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
On watch H.L. Spence F/O.
1000 to 10.30 / A-N/17 / 12 Group reported a/c in Linton – Dishforth area who appeared lost or in difficulty. Opened board & had him plotted. Stations in picture & to send him to M.S.G.
62 Base :- Linton in contact with a/c who is happy. Had intended landing there but has now returned to his base. Stations stood down.
1315 / L.F.B. [symbol] 2 / At Flamborough Head will be illuminated at an elevation of 070° on a bearing of 270° T from 0115 – 0215 hrs.
1317 / L.F.B. [symbol] 12 / At Debden will be illuminated at an elevation of 070° on a bearing of 310° T from 2315 – 0015 hrs.
1318 / Balloons / at Harwich will be on a control at 1500 ft from 2300 – 0030 hrs.
13.19 / Emerg. Dvn. Bases / Requested 3 Bases in East Anglia – Stradishall – Docking vicinity.
1430 / Emerg. Dvn. Bases / Ex. C.F.C. :- Given Coltishall, Manston & Bradwell Bay. Allotted as on opposite page. Passed to Stations.
1440. / 433/F V (&W) R/T GRAPNEL / m/n to do C & L at Middleton at about 1500 hrs. “Gen” passed.
1530. / 433/A. / Permission Granted to fly crew to Middle Wallop to pick up m/n.
[page break]
VISITOR –
S/LDR BRENNER [inserted] U I [/inserted]
A/CRAFT = WELLINGTON = H.F. 335 [inserted] U I [/inserted]
HOME BASE = SILLOTH 17 GROUP
REMAINING OVERNIGHT
F. C. 17 GROUP INFORMED.
[page break]
[underlined] FRIDAY - APRIL 14, 1944 [/underlined]
1725 / Command Bulls Eye. / C-92. Cancelled.
Stations & all concerned informed.
1830 / Off Duty H.L. Spence F/O.
1830 / On Duty – [signature] F/L
2000. / X. Cty Routes / Warning from Met of Thundery deterioration.
Cancellation of flights discussed with S.A.S.O. Ruleing: [sic]
1659 – Recalled from Southern route.
Base 62 – X Cty cancelled.
1664 – Permitted to proceed subject to recall.
All concerned advised.
2030 / L.F.B’s / } Operational requests cancelled
BALLOONS / } Operational requests cancelled
DVN BASES. / } Operational requests cancelled
2040 / C.F.C. / Pictures on X. Cty efforts passed to C.F.C.
2215 / 1664 / Recalled because of weather on route and at bases as at normal ETA. Aircraft instructed to fly at 5000 feet from position 54° 30’ N 01° 45’ E.
– Base 61 F.C. advised.
2230 / 1664 / Mix-up in aircraft letters. “D” should have read “G” – Because we were not advised by F.C. Base 61 of this change, the recall signal went out to “D” – fortunately “G” replied.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
APRIL 14.
2300 / OXFORD. / Request from F.C.L.O. 12 to light up Linton and surrounding stns for a wandering Oxford – Broadcast made at once to Bases 61 & 62 F.C.
2305 [deleted] 2320 [/deleted] / OXFORD. / – Line opened to York Oxford 9210 for plots on the Oxford.
2320 / OXFORD. / Oxford Crashed at Marston Moor. – Stations Base 61 62 informed and stood down.
2330 / 1664 / Lines reopened to York 9210 for plots of halifax a/c re. turning over Flamborough Hd. because thought to be 1664 a/c & making landfall
0001. / [underlined] APRIL. 15th ’44 [/underlined]
0010 / 1664 / Last of X-ctys. landed at Bases.
Remainder of night quiet.
0900 / – / off Duty - F/L [signature]
On duty – B.T O’Beirn F/O.
D.F.C.O.s / AIR I requires an additional report on training flights. Therefore please send a copy of the day and night flying reports up to his office each morning. JWS
1100 / Y/427 / Permission granted by SASO for a/c of 427 to take crew down for Y/427 at Harham – when weather fit.
0330 / Balloons / Billingham close hauled 1915 – 2115 and 0150 – 0345
[page break]
Spitfire – F/L Seath landed Linton at 1426 from Odiham – Returning to Odiham.
Liberator – 264437 from Hardwick landed Wombleton 0235. Had gone to East Fortune, unable to land there, went to York – unable to land – landed at Wombleton. Took off for York to drop a passenger and proceeding to Hardwick.
[deleted] [underlined] Crash – Topcliffe [/underlined] [deleted]
[underlined] 2110 [/underlined]
Message from 1664/D – 10 QDYA – 2035 – Decyphered [sic] – “IFF u/s.
1st class position 5503N 0203W 2100 A.
Told MLO 12, who says let him carry on
Told 61 Base who say O.K.
[page break]
1400 / Liberator / – 12 Grp report one near Wombleton 3 – 4000 ft – Inf 61 Base to ask Wombleton.
1430 / Liberator / – in sight over Wombleton – Does not acknowledge Darky, nor green signal. – Reported to F.C.L.C. 12 Grp. a/c now proceeding N.W.
Liberator / Landed Wombleton 14.45
1445 / Yeovil / Balloons – Controlled height 1500’ 2200 – 2300 and 0010 – 0145.
1455 / C. Bullseye scrubbed owing to weather – Laid on to-morrow night if w/x permits.
1650 / Ops scrubbed.
1710 / [underlined] Mustangs [/underlined] – FT-N & FT-D landed Mid. S. G. from Ops over France – Ran into “Front” on way over & landed at Mid. S. G.
From Boxted – 3 U.S.B.D.
Took off for Boxted 1745 – 3 U.S.B.D. Inf.
1715 / D.F.C.O. NOTE / – Re 2230 entry 14/4/44 – mix-up in 1664 Call signs. –
Controller insists on knowing who is at fault – D.F.C.O. at 61 Base is to find out & inform us.
1830 / on duty – S R Wyman F/L
2030 2100 / Night Flying 61 Base / No X-countries in Group, except at 61 Base who followed advice of local met. experts. 6 Gp met sat weather sticky for a/c returning after eleven p.m (2300 hrs). Talked with S/Ldr Swann who still had the 61 Base Met outlook after talking the matter over decided to recall a/c after 1st leg of journey at 2200 hours.
2115 [deleted letters] / Linton stand-by / [indecipherable word] & airfield standing by to receive Topcliffe aircraft. R/T call signs & a/c letters passed to 62 Base. viz 4 mis & QBB. 2500’.
2300 / 1664 – 4 a/c outstanding; but all on H/F D/F except D.
1659 – all a/c landed except Z.
2309 / Crash I. 12 Gp F.C.L.O. / Crash near Topcliffe – nr Railway Bridge on road Thirsk. Topcliffe village.
Thirsk N.F.S. advised by 61 Base.
Ambulance & tender sent to crash.
[page break]
[underlined] CRASH I – 1664-K. [/underlined] EB-205
TIME – 2309
POSN. – 897000 - on the Railway Bridge on the THIRSK – TOPCLIFFE [inserted] VILLAGE [/inserted] ROAD.
CRASH ACTION – Taken by Topcliffe Crash tender and Ambulance and Thirsk N.F.S. North Allerton Hospital had ready but mobile operating unit not re’q’d.
Crashed into 2 houses and a railway bridge. At least 1 civilian casualty. There are believed to be 2 or 3 others.
3 civilians dead.
[underlined] CONDITION [/underlined]
Dead / P. – F /O Holloway D.R. – J25803
Alive / NAV – P/O Pearce S.H.J. – J27505
Dead / B/A – F/O JOBSON S.W. – J27433
Died en Route / W/O – P/O SMITH J.H. – J18558
Dead. / F/E – Sgt. POWELL H.G.J. – 1894686
Alive / M/U – Sgt. TYNSKI J.W – R183425
DEAD / R/G – Sgt. FRENCH K – R.197655
2 Survivors are in North Allerton Hospital.
[underlined] CRASH II – 1664-E [/underlined] EB203
TIME – 2328
POSN – 1/4 mile north of Bishop Monkton on Lowther Farm.
CRASH ACTION – Taken by Dishforth crash tender and Ambulance. Ripon N.F.S and Police on the job. Crashed into a hay stack. Burning furiously, could not be approached.
[underlined] CONDITION [/underlined]
Dead / P. – F/S WATKINS N.W. – US10601597
Dead / NAV – F/O WALLACE H.A. – J23362
Dead / B/A – Sgt. MUISINER H.L. – R160427
Dead / W/O – W/O. HUDDLESTONE J. – R106580
Dead / F/E – Sgt. HOLDEN K.D. – 2209331
Dead / M/U – Sgt. CULL L.J. – R20097
Dead / R/G – Sgt. LOVETT C.A. [sic] – R208139
[inserted] All bodies found. [/inserted]
[underlined] DF.CO please advise of both crashes [/underlined]
S.A.S.O. [symbol]
AIR I [symbol]
Controller [symbol]
GTI [symbol]
GAI [symbol]
G.Eg.O. [symbol]
P4 [symbol]
[page break]
2328 / Crash II E.7989 / 12 FCLO reports crash in VE 7989. Contacted 61 Base and advised for Dishforth to carry out crash – action.
2338 / North Allerton Hospital / Reported a crash in Thirsk area and said they had mobile operating unit standing by as soon as any casualties reported. Said we would advise them.
12 Gp. / Location of 2nd crash Wormald Green 5 mis. from Ripon. 3 – 4 miles south of Dishforth. Ripon N.F.S. and Police in attendance.
1657/Z / landed Linton 2332
1664/G / landed Linton 2335
2338 / 61 Base aircraft. / all aircraft landed except 1664/D who is on R/T at Linton. Looks as if crashed aircraft are E and K of 1664 HCU.
Probable cause of crash. Lots of icing cloud and a/c iced up coming down then & were too heavy to even attempt a landing.
2350 / Crash I / a/c demolished 2 houses and the railway bridge. R/Gunner dead & 4 civilians (dead) brought to Topcliffe. Aircraft not yet identified.
2353 / Middleton and Croft definitely DUFF (Red) Told to Stand-down.
[underlined] 16 April 1944 [/underlined]
0015 / I crash / a/c now identified as 1664-K.
II crash / Hit a hay stack in posn noted on facing page. 1664-E.
2210 / Crashed aircraft / Ex 61 Base – 1664 a/c were not briefed to return if they met the dangerous cloud. They were to call on R/T to ascertain weather conditions before doing 2nd half at 2220. At 2210 following message sent on H/F – “Fly at 5000’ – Icing”. The aircraft acknowledged at the following time.
H – K –
D – 2321 F –
E – 2316 G –
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday. April 16th 1944. [/underlined]
0100 / Re. Crashes from 61 Base. / 1664/E. near base – overheard on R/T and was told to let down & return to base.
Police say that before he crashed there was an orange red flash – went into 45° dive May have been lightning.
1664/K. 1 engine fully feathered.
3 Civilians recovered.
2 of crew still in a/c
09.00 / off duty – S R Wyman F/L
On duty – F L Cleland F/L.
16.30 / Weather / Met. expect low stratus to spread over group from north very soon. All stations warned – no X-Countries out now, only local flying & bombing.
17.15 / Weather / Two aircraft of 425 Sq. overhead at Tholthorpe. Can we give them a diversion base? Told 62 Base that Eastmoor was best station in group – 2000 ft QBB & 4 miles vis. Also lined up Pocklington in 4 Gp in case of need.
17.40 / All a/c down in Group.
18.00 / Night Flying / No X-Countries – C & L at Dishforth – Wombleton.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On Watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
2000 / No Night Flying in 6 Grp.
2000 / a/c / over Dishforth at 500’ heading toward Leeming – Think it a Wellington. Inf. Leeming & FCLO 12 Grp.
2015 / a/c / This a/c possibly an Oxford or Dakota headed NW from Leeming at 5 – 600’ Leeming lit up – no sign of a/c wishing to land. F.C.L.O. 12 Could not identify it.
[underlined] MONDAY APRIL 17th 1944 [/underlined]
0001 / C.F.C. / – All quiet. M.L.S. 12. quiet also.
0900 / Off Watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] MONDAY – APR. 17, 1944 [/underlined]
1015 / F/L Patton / Permission granted by Air I to fly Hurricane from Dalton to Northolt, provided weather is O.K. and return today is intended.
(Interview with A.D.G.B.)
(Cancelled)
1200 / Emergency Dvn. Bases / Requested 3 bases in 91 Group.
i.e. Honeybourne area.
1204 / Emergency Dvn. Bases / Amended request to Middle Wallop – Boscombe Down area. Better Met conditions.
1230 / L.F.B. / Special Beacon at Selsey Bill will be illuminated on a bearing of 355° T from 2345 – 0045 hrs. [inserted] (see amended times) [/inserted]
Balloons / Langley } Control at 1500 ft. } from 2100 hrs to 0100 hrs [inserted] } see amended times [/inserted]
Weybridge } Control at 1500 ft. } from 2100 hrs to 0100 hrs [inserted] } see amended times [/inserted]
Southampton } Control at 1500 ft. } from 2100 hrs to 0100 hrs [inserted] } see amended times [/inserted]
Portsmouth } Control at 1500 ft. } from 2100 hrs to 0100 hrs [inserted] } see amended times [/inserted]
Billingham will be close hauled from 1830 – 2030 hrs and from 0100 to 0300 hrs. [inserted] (see amended times) [/inserted]
1430 / L.F.B.[symbol] 2 / will be illuminated on a bearing of 270° T from 0130 hrs to 0230 hrs. [inserted] (see amended times) [/inserted]
1440 / L.F.B’s. / Amended times:-
Special at Selsey Bill – “0055 to 0155 hrs”.
No. 2 at Flamborough – “0150 to 0250 hrs.”
Balloons. / Amended times:-
Billingham – 1940 to 2140 and 0145 to 0410 hrs.
Portsmouth } 2210 hrs to 0210 hrs.
Southampton } 2210 hrs to 0210 hrs.
Langley } 2210 hrs to 0210 hrs.
Weybridge } 2210 hrs to 0210 hrs.
1745 / L.F.B. / at Selsey Bill cancelled.
Balloons / in 11 Group cancelled.
1740 / Dvn. Bases Emergency / After much delay C.F.C. allotted us Hurn, Boscombe Down & Middle Wallop. Shortly thereafter the operation was cancelled. Lossiemouth laid on for Gardeners – provisional weather M.S.G. informed.
[page break]
[underlined] Oxford [/underlined] – W 6615 – F/O Miller landed Linton at 1140 from Milfield.
[underlined] OXFORD [/underlined] – LX 353 – W/C Fleming & 2 passengers landed Linton from Cranwell at 1142 – a/c intended landing at Leeming.
Proctor – arrived Marston S/L Monk.
ANSON – DG-877 landed Linton at 1232 en route from Preston to Holme.
Oxford – T 1049 – taking off for Clifton from Topcliffe.
Proctor from Hendon landed Linton 1657 – Staying overnight.
Spitfire 8030 – F/L Seath en route Turnhouse landed at Croft 1559 & staying overnight – owing to weather.
Barracuda DR181 landed Linton from Wartling Down. Staying overnight.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday. April 17th 1944. [/underlined]
1830 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
1830 / On duty. J.D. Cleland F/L.
21.30 / Balloons. / M.S.G. request Billingham close-hauled until 00.30 hrs. as they are having C & L’s. Action taken.
23.50 / 1666/F / 12 ML BN LI 23.35 rec. 23.48 hrs.
(Returning to base – Port Engine.)
[underlined] Tuesday Apl 18th 1944. [/underlined]
00.48 / 1666/F / landed OK. P.O.E. u/s.
02.37 / Last oper. / aircraft down.
03.30 / Night Flying finished.
0900 / Off watch F/L CLELAND On watch B.T. O’Biern F/O.
1000 / MOSQ. / Z 112 – Pilot F/O DIX returning from Croft to Little Snoring. Route – Base – York – Peterboro, L Snoring.
1015 / SKIPTON / – Have 2 a/c on Radar – Request prov. weather base for return at
1123 / SKIPTON / Diverting G/424 & T/424 to Lissett. R/T – shortsight or Jasper W/T KSU
1215 / SKIPTON / G/424 & T/424 proceeding to Lissett.
1310 / SKIPTON / G/422 & T/424 landed Lissett 1239 & 1244 Crews to stand by ready to return.
1315 / Balloons / – Langley – Weybridge, Southampton & Portsmouth – (2150 – 0150)
[deleted] 2230 – 2400, 0100 – 0230. [/deleted]
L.F. Beacon – Brighton –
320° T [deleted] 0115 – 0215 [/deleted] 0035 – 0135
Balloons – Billingham – Close hauled 1945 – 2145 ; 0230 – 0500
L.F.B. / Flamboro [symbol] 2. 0245 – 0345
[page break]
[underlined] DIVERSION BASES [/underlined]
[underlined] GARDENING [/underlined]
STRADISHALL – 434 SQD. [inserted] 0316 [/inserted]
CHEDBURGH. 419 SQD.
WRATTING COMMON – 428 SQD.
[underlined] MAIN EFFORT – Z 800 B [/underlined]
[underlined] SQN. [/underlined] [underlined] A/C. [/underlined] [inserted] 0100 [/inserted]
431 – 12 } Market Harborough
427 – 8 } Market Harborough
429 – 13 } Desborough
427 – 7 } Desborough
420 – 15 Husbands Bosworth
425 – 13 Wing
433 – 15 Turweston
424 – 16 Little Horwood
432 – } 6 Turweston
432 – } 8 Wing
408 – 16 Wyton
426 – 11 Bourn
[page break]
1400 / DIVERSION / – Requested C.F.C. to prepare for 7 Emergency weather aerodrome for main effort and 3 from Gardeners.
1450 / Skipton / Crews of G/424 & T/424 being brought back by transport.
1510 / Skipton / – G/424 & T/424 now instructed to take off & land at Eastmoor where crews will be picked up. T.O. – 1537
1540 / Hal – LV-997 / left Radlett 1130 for Croft – Has not arrived. 6234
1750 / DIVERSION BASES. / Finally given by C.F.C. for main effort in 92 Grp.
1810 / DIVERSION BASES. / 92 Grp – do not expect their southern bases – Wing
1900 / Stirling / A – left Skipton at 1749 for Tuddenham & Q/Stirling took off at 1848 for Tuddenham.
Off duty F/O O’Beirn
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
1900 / Dvn. Bases. / Emergency bases received from C.F.C. Allotted as on opposite page and “gen” passed to stations.
2100 / Dvn. Bases. / 3 Group very unhappy about their Met at 0300 – 0330 hrs and wish us to check with them before diverting our Gardeners. They have laid on bases in 5 Group for their own Gardeners.
6 Group happy about conditions at M.S.G. & Croft for return.
92 Group a bit concerned about their southern stations around 0200 hrs but feel capable of coping by re diverting by R/T (if necessary) to Parent stations a little further north.
2330 / Halifax LV997 / Landed at Sherburn (from White Waltham [symbol] 1 Ferry Pool) Croft informed.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
WED – APR. 19/44
0035 / Met Picture in Gp. from D.F.C.O’s / [underlined] Middleton [/underlined] Happy – 5 mis viz – we can cope.
[underlined] Croft [/underlined] – 6 miles – N.L.C – sure they can handle their own aircraft unless something
[underlined] Leeming [/underlined] – NLC – viz 3 – 4 miles. Expect to look after their own aircraft.
Sodium flare path ready.
[underlined] Skipton [/underlined] – Feel that they have too many a/c to cope if the viz gets down to 1500X. However a later check with their met. put viz at time of return between 2 – 4000X in which case they are happy.
61 Base Stations – happy
62 Base – Tholthorpe & Eastmoor – think they can just do it.
To 62 Base / work out QDM – DISTANCE – TIME from Tholthorpe to Eastmoor to both Dishforth and Topcliffe.
0310 / LPJ/P MESSAGE. / Ex 62 BASE – following message from m/n picked up by Linton HFDF :- QWC (unable to communicate with Control Tower)
Passed to Filton Station (44 Gr.)
0110 / Dvn. Bases. / Finale check with Met & Controller & decision made not to divert outside Group. Stations laid on stood down.
0500 / a/c away / Passed to C.F.C. summary of aircraft landed away.
09.00 / Off duty. / HL Spence F/O
09.00 / On duty. / JD Cleland F/L
10.30 / a/c away / Told to return as soon as possible.
12.15 / No Bullseye tonight. Weather reasons.
13.50 / Met Picture / re ASR. Between 15.00 – 16.00 we should start having slight rain in the group probably becoming continuous. QBB 1500 ft. vis 2+ miles Met. are fairly confident conditions at Linton will be satisfactory at 16.30 hrs.
14.15 / Emerg Weather base for ASR is Newmarket.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday April 19th 1944. [/underlined]
16.30 / [underlined] A.S.R. Results. [/underlined] / [underlined] 426 Sq [/underlined] No sightings except fishing vessels.
Area VII.
Weather: Halfway out to area, sea rough with large white caps. Search area itself was calm and vis. good except for a strip running N & S through area with low stratus down to 300 ft & vis down to 1/2 mile.
[underlined] A.S.R. Results. [/underlined] / [underlined] 420 Sq. [/underlined] At 500 ft. in posn. 5324N 0314E – G – fix sighted empty dinghy. Dropped smoke floats & flew at 50 ft over dinghy. Found it empty and tried to sink it. Believed sunk. There appeared to be loose mines & debris in that area. Also mine sighted in position 5332N 0310E. [deleted words] Tried to explode mine by firing about 150 rounds but were not successful.
[deleted] Weather. Good vis. [/deleted]
At posn 5334N 0300E S/420 sighted four bright red objects which seemed hooked together – did not seem to be buoys.
[underlined] 434 Sqdn: [/underlined] No sightings. Good vis in search area. Sea calm.
[underlined] 419 Sq. [/underlined]. No sightings
[underlined] 428 Sq. [/underlined] No sightings
Vis. varied between 2 and 3 miles. Sea had slight swell, moderate to rough. Wind about 16 – 20 mi from south.
[underlined] 425 Sq. [/underlined] No sightings. Vis good, sea quite calm.
16.30 / Fortress “M” 42-9773 M. Ft Lt FS WEILDIN / from Gt. Ashfield en route Warton landed at Eastmoor 16.12. Called Darky and landed safely. Will stay overnight due to weather. 1st USBD informed.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On Watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1930 / 61 Base / – No X/C’s - C & B’s 1659, 1666, 1664 from 2130 – 0330. – Stns & C.F.C.
2225 / C & B’s scrubbed.
2226 / Enemy / – 20 intruders apparently from Dieppe – no plots on our board.
[page break]
Re entry 1230 opposite:- Dishforth states General Crerar is at Bishop Monkton and will be taking off tomorrow morning from Dishforth (presumably for Redhill). Pilot of a/c is F/O. Garthwaight. S.A.S.O., Air I and P.A. to A.O.C-in-C. informed.
Note entry 1400 opposite:- Night Ops. 11 Group (S/L. Crooks) was concerned about the routing of so many a/c in at Bradwell Bay & would prefer it further up coast. Could not change route which originated at B.C. Changed the position for L.F.B. from Bradwell Bay to Clacton on Sea, same bearing, same time.
[page break]
[underlined] THURSDAY APRIL 20th 1944. [/underlined]
0900 / Off duty F/O. O’Beirn
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
0940 / 1666/J / Permission granted by Air I to fly crew to Stanstead Mt. Fitchett [sic] to pick up m/n.
1140 / 434/H / Permission granted by Air I to fly crew to Shipdham to pick up m/n.
1138 / Well. 20 OTU Lossie/“O” / Landed at Croft 91 & 12 Gr. informed. Topcliffe had previously been giving QDM & QDY to a Lossiemouth a/c “O” but it was not this one. Darky call (1105 – 1108) received by Topcliffe from a/c “O” (c/s not intelligible) indicated “one engine u/s” & was given “Pancake”. a/c not in Topcliffe circuit & no plots at 12 Gr until about 1125 when Wellington showed circling Croft on one engine. M.S.G. & Croft keyed up for him & he landed at Croft.
1230 / Anson MH/191 V.I.P. / Landed at Dishforth from Redhill. Staying overnight. Picking up General [deleted word] [inserted] Crerar [/inserted] in morning.
1250 / L.F.B. Spec. Selsey Bill / Will be illuminated on a bearing of 355° T (elev. 070°) from 0001 – 0100 hrs.
Balloons / Langley } Controlled at 1500 ft. from 2245 hrs to 0100 hrs.
Weybridge } Controlled at 1500 ft. from 2245 hrs to 0100 hrs.
Southampton } Controlled at 1500 ft. from 2245 hrs to 0100 hrs.
Portsmouth } Controlled at 1500 ft. from 2245 hrs to 0100 hrs.
Billingham – close hauled from 2115 – 2215 and 0115 – 0245 hrs.
1310 / LFB. [symbol] 2 / Will be illuminated on a bearing of 270° T (elev. 070°) from 0345 - 0445 hrs.
1400 / L.FB. [symbol] 13. / To be illuminated on a bearing of 315° (elev. 070°T) from 0010 – 0110 hrs. (Location changed to Clacton-on-Sea. – all concerned informed.)
Balloons / Chelmsford } Control at 1500 ft. from 2345 to 0130 hrs.
Thames Est. } Control at 1500 ft. from 2345 to 0130 hrs.
Billingham – close hauled 2000 – [deleted] 0300 [/deleted] 2200 hrs & 0110 – 0300 hrs.
[page break]
[underlined] DIVERSION BASES – EMERGENCY [/underlined]
[underlined] SQDN. No A/C. DIV. BASE [/underlined]
[underlined] GARDENERS. [/underlined]
428 4 } FORD
[underlined] (SMOLT.) [/underlined] (AMENDED TO TROUT.)
408 15 } DOCKING
426 9 } DOCKING
[underlined] Z – 798 [/underlined]
420 14 } BRADWELL BAY
425 13 } BRADWELL BAY
432 15 } BRADWELL BAY
424 16 } STRADISHALL
427 16 } STRADISHALL
429 16 } STRADISHALL
419 8 } CHEDBURGH
428 12 } CHEDBURGH
433 16 } CHEDBURGH
431 16 } WRATTING COMMON
434 16 } WRATTING COMMON
[underlined] Crash O/428 [/underlined] JP-199
[underlined] Crew list: [/underlined]
Pilot. — J3716 — S/L McGugan F R — Found dead in crash.
Nav. — J20246 — F/O Steele T L — Baled out O.K.
A/Bom. — J22437 — F/O England G A — Baled out O.K. [inserted] Latest Report Killed. [/inserted][symbol]
F/Eng. — 1635279 — Sgt Ellis R F — Baled out O.K.
Wop/Ag. — R97454 — W/O Mason N C — Baled out O.K.
MUG. — 1682079 — Sgt Eyre L W — Baled out O.K.
R/G. — R197322 — Sgt Laford L E — Baled out O.K.
Posn. of crash. Mount Farm – P9913, (RAF.) CAT. E.
GUARD – RAF. MOUNT FARM
Informed – SASO [symbol] EQUIP [symbol]
AIR I [symbol] ENG. [symbol]
Cont. [symbol] P4 [symbol]
To AIR I
NON - STARTERS. 408/N – MAG DROP EARLY RETURN
(LEGITIMATE) 426/D – MAG DROP 426/M – S.O.E. U/S.
425/S – MAG DROP CSU. U/S.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday. Apl 20th 1944. [/underlined]
1450 / V.I.P. a/c TRAIL / From Millford [sic]. Landed at Middleton. Staying overnight. 12 Gr. M.L.S. informed.
1500 / Emergency Dvn. Bases. / Received from C.F.C. and allotted as on page opposite. All information passed to Stations.
18.30 / Off duty. H L Spence F/O
On duty J D Cleland F/L
20.30 / Times / of operational efforts passed to 61 Base.
20.30 / Night Flying / schedule passed to C.F.C.
21.30 / Division / Call-signs etc passed to Groups concerned.
23.05 / Balloons / Norwich, Lowestoft, Yarmouth & possibly Humber balloons are now up to oper. height – 6500 ft. 62 Base informed.
[underlined] Friday. Apl 21st 1944. [/underlined]
01.00 / Crash O/428. / Crashed near Mt. Farm (P9913) Aircraft reported as being on fire in the air. Both navigator & Rear gunner baled out & have been found. They believe all the rest of the crew also baled out. Navigator is at Clifton Hampden 3.
03.30 / Crash O/428. / 4 crew now safe. Pilot found killed in crash.
05.00 / Summary passed to C.F.C.
07.55 / A/428 / From M.S.G :- They received a telephone call from [deleted] Norwich [/deleted] 120 Station USAAF [inserted] 2nd US B.D. (Attlebridge) that A/428 had crashed near Attlebridge. Four of crew Ford, Ardis, Corrigan, Shaw are in Norwich hospital, seriously injured. Three members of crew had baled out over France.
Nav. B/A & W/Op baled out.
0900 / O/428 / Ex Mid. S. G. – Bomb aimer and Rear Gunner safe at Mount Farm.
0900 / Off watch F/L CLELAND On Watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1015 / X/431 / F/L Smith of Gransden is at Edgehill – checking fuel consumption and hydraulics.
[page break]
428/A JP 113.
[underlined] CREW – [/underlined]
CAPT – F/L FORD. CG. – J-21372 - Scalp lacerations
– NAV F/O McGREGOR – J-14675 – Baled out over France
– A/B P/O HENRY – J-19136 – Baled out over France
F/ENG Sgt CARRIGAN J.W. – 1867113 – Severe lacerations of Right leg.
– WOP/AIR F/S JONES. E.S. – 1089363 – Baled out over France.
MUG F/O ARDIS B.D. – J-26495 – Rib fracture, lacerations.
R.G. P/O SHAW A. – 54773 – Head injuries, unconscious.
The four injured members in Norfolk County Hospital.
Posn. of crash near ATTLEBRIDGE (NORFOLK) 2nd U.S.B.D.
CAT. E
Informed – SASO [symbol] ENG [symbol]
AIR I [symbol] EQUIP [symbol]
CONT [symbol]
AUSTER – MY – 126 landed Linton 1335 from Acklington to Doncaster owing to weather.
T.O. 1504 for Four Oaks.
Wellington LN-456 left 61 Base (Top.) 1450 for Seighford.
[page break]
1030 / VIP GEN. CRERAR / Anson 191 left Dishforth at 1030 for Redhill. Pilot F/O GARTHWAITE F.C.L.O. & M.L.S. inf.
1031 / V.I.P. A/C TRAIL / PROCTOR LZ-571 took off at 1012 for Hendon from Middleton – Informed Hendon, F.C.L.O. 12. MLS 12. – & requested Whitehall Ext. 5646. to send a car to meet a/c Trail at 1200 hrs.
1205 / W/426 / Hal. left Linton at 1204 for Alconbury - Major Stephenson pilot a/c Hawber.
1215 / V/429 / Instructed to return before 1500 hrs and to bring crew of N/426.
1315 / L.F.B. / No 2 Flamboro’ – 290° T [deleted] 0005 – 0105 [/deleted][inserted][symbol] 0135 – 0235. [/inserted]
Balloons / – Yeovil – C.H. – 1500’ 2145 – 2245 0001 – 0100
1600 / F/L Smith reports that they expect to open another 6 Grp servicing unit at Thorney Is.
1727 / 11 Grp / – Report a “body” found near area of Mount Farm Crash O/428 – No identification – yet all crew of O/428 accounted for.
1830 / Off watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
On duty H L Spence F/O.
1900 / Crash O/428 / Ref. entry 0900 hrs. [inserted] & 1727 hrs. [/inserted] Ex 11 & 91 Groups & M. St. G. F/O England (Bomb Aimer) now reported killed – parachute failed to open. Body at Harwell.
1925 / Dvn. Base Emergency. / Middle Wallop allotted by C.F.C. for emergency. Gen. passed to Skipton.
1930 / Early Return 426/M / Ex 62 Base. C.T.O. informed the mfn was a legitimate E.R.
2050 / N.F. / Summary to C.F.C.
[page break]
[underlined] Perch [/underlined]
LFB at Orfordness 290° T from 0215 – 0315 hrs
Harwich Balloons will be at oper. ht. 6500 ft.
Billingham Balloons: close-hauled – 1930 – 22.30 hrs.
0145 – 04.30 hrs.
[underlined] Z604 [/underlined]
LFB. Selsey Bill 355° T from 0040 – 0140 hrs.
Langley, Weybridge } Balloons at 1500 ft from 2145 – 2245 hrs
0020 – 0120 hrs
Portsmouth, Southampton } Balloons at 1500 ft from 2145 – 2245 hrs
0020 – 0120 hrs
Billingham Balloons: Close-hauled 1930 – 22.30 hrs
0145 – 04.30 hrs.
[underlined] Diversion Bases [/underlined]
Emergency Petrol: 419 Sdn } to Ford.
428 Sdn } to Ford.
434 Sdn } to Ford.
431 Sdn Little Snoring
427 Sdn } Docking
429 Sdn } Docking
424 Sdn } Coltishall
433 Sdn } Coltishall
420 Sdn } West Raynham
425 Sdn } West Raynham
432 Sdn Hardwick
408 Sdn } Foulsham.
426 Sdn } Foulsham.
[page break]
2306 / Emerg. Base Mid. Wallop. / 10 Gp say weather at m/n aerodrome not too good. Advised HQ met. who will check & ring back.
[underlined] 22 April 1944 – Saturday [/underlined]
0023 / S/16 O.T.U. Barford St John / Ex 62 Base:- S/16 O.T.U. landed 2359 at Linton. Reason – Stb’d motor losing 400 Revs. Will remain overnite. Advised F/C 92 Gp.
0425 / N.F. / All X-C’s landed.
09.00 / Off duty HL Spence F/O.
On duty JD Cleland F/L.
10.00 / O/428 / Controller, SASO, GTI, GAI, F/L Stubbs, P4, Air I informed that F/O England was killed.
11.03 / S/16 O.T.U. / Took off from Linton for Barford St. John.
11.15 / Permission by Air I for Linton to send Oil cooler down by Oxford to Nuneaton.
12.05 / Spitfire / FG/Catfoss landed at Eastmoor. Engine trouble.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1850 / Martinett from Pocklington landed Eastmoor at 1844. – Took off for Catfoss at 1944.
2055 / HAL/426 / – Permission granted for 408 sqdn to send a crew and a special work party to verify that S/408 is serv. at Docking and to bring it back. Hal/426 to take off early to-morrow.
2219 / Intruders reported in Yarmouth area. Our X/C a/c will not be in the area until near midnight.
2340 / Intruders disappeared.
[underlined] SUNDAY 23RD. APRIL / 44. [/underlined]
0030 / 431/C / – Bogged – blocking perimeter – Permission granted to debomb it.
0035 / Flashes in the sky – F.C.L.O. 12 GRP. – report that yard 9 & 10 believe them to be T.I. flares on misson Bombing Range.
[page break]
Q/408.
Mid UNDER GUNNER – has broken arm due to evasive action.
a/c – set in.
[underlined] CRASH. [/underlined] 1659/G (R9384) – [underlined] CREW LIST & CONDITION [/underlined]
NO. / TRADE / RANK / NAME & INITIALS / CONDITION
/ PILOT / P/O / HERBERT H.M. J85150 / all killed.
/ W/O / Sgt / LAMMAN A.L. R144120 / all killed.
/ R/G. / Sgt / DAWSON R.F. R202351 / all killed.
/ F/E / Sgt / ELLEMS T. 858945 / all killed.
/ M/U / Sgt / McGOVERN, JJ. R210726 / all killed.
a/c written off.
[underlined] ADVISED [/underlined] –
S.A.S.O [symbol]
AIR I [symbol]
CONTROLLER [symbol]
G.T.I [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
C. of A.
ENG. [symbol]
EQPT. [symbol]
P.4. [symbol]
A.O.C. [symbol]
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday Apl 23 / 44. [/underlined]
0225 / ALL STN / – Informed all stations that Americans had 15 a/c shot down over bases on return. Southdown warned us to be ready for this on our return and that F.C. be prepared to send our a/c on intruder evasion routes.
0238 / 431/X / – proceeding to jettison M.L.O. requests to jettison at 5410N 0050E. – Croft to send this message to 431/X.
0400 / Local N.F. finished. No snags.
0500 / 5 Grp / – 1 a/c shot down over base by intruders.
0800 / C.F.C. / Passed summary of diversions to C.F.C. & to F/L SMITH.
0900 / Off Watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O
On watch H.L. Spence F/O.
1200 – 1315 / 432/X / 62 Base requested permission to fly crew to Wigsley to pick up mfn. (Crew still there) Later changed request to take 2 ground crew to service aircraft. Checked with W.O. Barton at Wigsley & learned a/c is now serviceable. Informed 62 Base it was not necessary to send a/c down.
1130 / A.T.C’s at Wombleton / 61 Base asked if O.K. to take some of those 26 on local flying this P.M. Air I ruled it to be at Station Commander’s discretion.
1230 / L.F.B. [symbol] 2 / On 270° from 0300 hrs [inserted] 0230 [/inserted] to 0430 hrs. [inserted] 0330 [/inserted]
Balloons / Billingham close hauled from 2030 hrs [inserted] 2000 [/inserted] to 2200 hrs and from 0230 hrs to 0430 hrs.
1440 / 1659/G [underlined] CRASH. [/underlined] / Ex 61 Base. Crash near Topcliffe village. Dishforth Topcliffe & Skipton tenders dispatched & MO & ambulance from Skipton. Later:- a/c was on Circuits & landings. Took off on runway 27, got nicely airborne an [sic] then crashed about 1 mile south of Topcliffe Village (towards Catton). Thirsk N.F.S. also on scene. Time of crash approx 1435 hrs. Burning. Engine caught fire in air, a/c plunged to earth at 60° angle. Topcliffe taking action.
[page break]
[underlined] missing from SWEET PEA [/underlined] target
428/Z – LW 285 – F/O BLAKE M.V. CAPT.
[symbol] EQUIP inf
[symbol] C of A.
Crashed in Swedish coastal waters, Pilot believed drowned in a/c. Six of crew interned in Sweden.
2 Whitleys + gliders took off at 1000 hrs for Linton from Seeland
[page break]
[underlined] – Sunday. Apl 23rd 1944 – [/underlined]
N.B. / [underlined] D.F.C.O’s [/underlined] / The A.O.C is interested in all casualties within the Group – whether operational or training. In future he is to be informed of [underlined] all [/underlined] crashes
1640 / Crash / Pilot of 408/L on local flying reported an aircraft exploding in air and wreckage on ground, at about 6 1/2 miles south-east of York, near an aerodrome, at 1610 hrs. Informed F.C.L.O. 12 who stated there had been a crash near Elvington of a 4 eng aircraft, but no details known. Promised to let us know if it concerned us.
1825 / L.F.B. [symbol] 2 / Revised times 0230 to 0330 hrs.
Balloons / Revised times 2000 to 2200 hrs & 0230 to 0430 hrs.
1815 / Darky / Croft report a/c calling but unable to contact him. 61 Base, Leeming nor M.S.G. have heard it. Nothing from 12 Gr.
1830 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
18.30 / On duty. / J.D. Cleland F/L
20.30 / Entry 16.40 / Not one of our aircraft. All our day-flying aircraft have now landed.
22.00 / Night Flying / passed to C.F.C.
[underlined] Monday. Apl 24 / 44 [/underlined]
02.55 / SOS Bomber / Coming in over coast near Whitby. Asked Wombleton to light Sandras for him.
03.19 / SOS Bomber / Landed OK at Middleton. Probably faulty I.F.F.
03.51 / Oper. Flying / Last aircraft down. Z/428 missing.
0845 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
0920 / V/1664 / – To jettison bombs – 30 miles east of Flamboro. – X/C. Route 14. – Correction – posn – 5400N 0200E
1025 / Hal/426 / – Request permission for X/C slapping & L Woodbridge to pick up secret equipment – Request refused. To send secret equipment by train
[page break]
[underlined] CRASH [/underlined]
[underlined] 425/C [/underlined] MZ-525 Gp – Fighter Affiliation.
Pos’n – 2 1/2 miles east of Topcliffe E-9199. Topcliffe – sent crash tender & ambulance.
GUARD – DALTON.
[underlined] 9. KILLED. [/underlined] A/C CAT E.
[underlined] CREW. [/underlined]
PILOT. – 10601611 FLT/O. KRAUSE P.E. (AM.) – Killed
PILOT. J-24961 F/O GILLIES J.A. – Killed
W/OP. 1330246 Sgt. WEST C. – Killed
MU/G. R-198670 Sgt PICKERING D. – Killed
R.G. R-163091 Sgt LEACH J.P. – Killed
ENG. 1808537 Sgt HIGGINS A.J. – Killed
GUN. R-189329 Sgt. SMITH R.W. – Killed
GUN. R-192536 Sgt CAMPBELL K.F. – Killed
RADAR. R-74336 CPL WILCOX L.R. – Killed
INFORMED – A.O.C. [symbol] EQUIP. [symbol]
SASO [symbol] ENG. [symbol]
AIR I [symbol] PA. [symbol]
SOC. [symbol] C. of A. [symbol]
S.F.C. [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
C.T.I. [symbol]
[underlined] PIKE [/underlined]
ROUTE – I L.F. BEACON – [symbol] 14 DUNGENESS – 360° T 0230 – 0330.
[underlined] 11 Grp [/underlined] ROUTE – II L.F. BEACON [symbol] 13 BRADWELL BAY – 330° T. 0230 – 0330
BALLOONS. Both Routes.
Thames ESTUARY. } 0200 – 0400.
CHELMSFORD. } 0200 – 0400.
CANTERBURY. } 0200 – 0400.
GARDENS.
[symbol] BILLINGHAM BALLOONS – C.H. – 2045 – 2200
0100 – [deleted] 0245 [/deleted] [inserted] 0300 [/inserted]
11 [symbol] LANGLEY, WEYBRIDGE } – 1500’ 2245 – 0030
PORTSMOUTH, SOUTHAMPTON } – 1500’ 2245 – 0030
10 [symbol] YEOVIL. – 1500’ { 2220 – [deleted] 2250 [/deleted] [inserted] 2320 [/inserted]
{ [deleted] 0045 [/deleted] [inserted] 0030 [/inserted] – 0135
10 [symbol] [deleted] CHELTENHAM [/deleted] [inserted] BROCKWORTH [/inserted] – 1500’ { 2220 – 2250
{ 0045 – 0135
11 [symbol] V.L.F. Beacon – Selsey Bill 355° T 2340 – 0040
[page break]
MONDAY APRIL 24.
1030 / Parachute exercises – Rumour from 62 Base – 62 Grp lanc no word of it.
[boxed] DFCO’s [/boxed] / All officers are to read AM.C.O. A45/44 on Air Sea Rescue Procedure and [symbol] reporting sightings, etc. [signature]
1137 / 425/C [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] / 62 Base report black smoke NW of Tholthorpe.
1138 / 425/C [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] / 61 Base report C/425 crashed 2 1/2 miles due east of Topcliffe – GRID E-9199
1150 / 425/C [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] / F/S Wilson of Hurr on F/A with 425/C reported “C” was at 4000’ and Hurricane went into a dive to attack it. “C” pulled out too sharply & Hurricane went up to gain height. “C” went into a flat spin & did about 2 turns before hitting the ground.
1300 / 425/C [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] / nine bodies recovered. a/c completely burned out Cat. E. Guard – Dalton.
1350 / Balloons and Beacons laid on. See opposite page.
1430 / C.F.C. / Request for 5 Emergency Diversion bases in East Anglia.
1440 / [underlined] S.F.C.O. [/underlined] / G/C Rutledge of Eastmoor wants to contact S/L Stanley re – F.C.O’s
1450 / MARTINET / MS – 558 at Dalton – Taxiing slowly, wind caught it and threw it on starboard wing and starboard U/C collapsed. – 20 yds off R/W in use.
1530 / 16 Grp / – Sea Search of 6 a/c based on last nights sightings. nil report re missing 428/Z
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
0420 to 0500. / Diversion 420 & 425 a/c. / Ex62 Base: 425/J undercarriage collapsed and runway in use [deleted] collapsed [/deleted] [inserted] obstructed [/inserted] Requested Station to send them. Controller suggested Middleton but latter also had obstructed runway. Keyed up Croft, but before diverting they also became partially obstructed and while their own a/c could cope did not want strangers to chance an overshoot. Contacted 61 Base & had Wombleton keyed up to handle them. Passed c/s & a/c letters. Meantime 420/N, K, & 425/W, E had been diverted to Croft, who agreed to take them. Then as 425/E had no brake pressure it was redirected to Wombleton. All 4 landed OK.
Wombleton were standing by to refuel all other 14 a/c but only 425/E landed. Checked 62 Base to learn they were diverting within their own base. Poor show not informing us after panicking for a diversion base.
0547. / Ops. / Last a/c landed. – 6 missing.
0730. / a/c away. / Diversion Summary passed to C.F.C.
a/c at Croft. / 420 & 425 a/c at Croft to stand by for return at 1200 hrs. Croft informed.
a/c away / Were instructed to stand by for morning return.
0830 / a/c away / Told 3 Group serviceable aircraft could return – Tholthorpes to come to Linton instead of base.
0900 / Off duty / H.L. Spence F/O.
09.00 / On duty / J.D. Cleland F/L.
09.30 / All aircraft serviceable away told to return immediately.
11.24 / G/429 & K/433 / Both at Woodbridge. CFC report them CAT AC so we instructed both crews to [deleted word] return by rail. Informed stations concerned.
[page break]
[underlined] Z 801 [/underlined]
L.F.B. Beachy Head 300° T from [deleted] 01.20 – 02.20 [/deleted] [inserted] 03.45 – 04.45 [/inserted] hrs.
Balloons: Langley, Weybridge { [deleted] 22.40 – 23.40 [/deleted] [inserted] 01.05 – 02.05 [/inserted]
{ [deleted] 01.45 – 02.45 [/deleted] [inserted] 03.10 – 05.40 [/inserted]
[underlined] Z 800 B [/underlined]
L.F.B. Beachy Head 300° T from [deleted] 01.50 – 02.50 [/deleted] [inserted] 0415 – 0515 [/inserted]
Balloons: Billingham: [deleted] 21.20 – 23.15 [/deleted] [inserted] 23.45 – 01.40 [/inserted]
[deleted] 03.20 – 05.20 [/deleted] [inserted] 05.45 – 07.45 [/inserted]
Langley, Weybridge [deleted] 02.15 – 03.15 [/deleted] [inserted] 04.40 – 05.40 [/inserted]
[page break]
[underlined] Tuesday. Apl 25th 1944 [/underlined]
11.30 / Ex 9 Gp. / Query about XGV “O” who was heard calling M.S.G. and never received answer. Checked with DSO here who found that “Q” had called & been given a QTE at 10.59. No calls heard from “O” We have a monitoring watch on M.S.G. this morning. Passed to 9 Gp.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1930 / L.F.B. & Balloons times changed.
2135 / 61 Base / Request permission to send Bomber code message on HF/DF to 1666 a/c – Be at Goole at 15000’. – S.O.C. OK’d it.
2150 / W/T Room / Call sign of 433 – LAG – incorrect should read LAJ
Checked with Skipton – c/s is LAJ on their pro forma – just an error in passing it to 6 Grp. – Crews have correct call signs and error corrected 3 hrs before take off.
2220 / Smoke – / 61 Base report black smoke & small flames – 6 miles east of Wombleton.
ROCLO. – say it is army manoeuvres [sic].
2300 / 61 Base / – Topcliffe HF/DF having difficulty contacting 1666 a/c – with message. “Require fly at 20,000’ to Goole.” Request us to send it on MF Section K at 2330 – 2335 & again at 0001 – 0005.
2330 / Ops cancelled. – Also cancelled message to 1666 a/c.
2343 / Red flares – reported by 61 Base – pos’n between Dishforth & Tholthorpe.
ROCLO – say it is army manoeuvres [sic].
2345 / CROFT / Leaving marshalled a/c on A/D
2345 / Skipton / Leaving marshalled a/c on R/W – 27
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[page break]
WEDNESDAY 26th APRIL.
0310 / RAFNI. / – 1664/B was heard calling QTF – “O” – Given a bearing by Belfast as 160° II – at 0216.
Inf. 61 Base, & Grp Sigs
0315 / 428/Z / – missing since 23 April – now reported crashed in Swedish coastal waters – pilot believed to be still in a/c. Six others of crew are interned in Sweden, ( – M.U/G – wounded & in hospital) a/c attacked by German fighter from Denmark.
0420 / 1664/H / Roclo report a/c apparently lost near Middleton –
Mid – Croft & Leeming lit up & prepared. – Course plotted.
Croft report a/c near them calling Darky – on 3 engines, short of petrol must land. Croft answered by nemo as a/c did not give a call sign.
a/c stooged up & down near Leeming, then went east about 10 miles. Finally Dishforth contacted “H” on R/T & by use of sandras & pyros – vis 10 miles & clear sky – attracted pilots attention.
0507 / 1666/H / “H” landed safely at Dishforth.
0545 / Dishforth D.F.C.O. – reports that pilot was a bit “shaken” because his F/Eng told him he had only 15 min. of petrol left when he was at Middlesboro. – Croft say pilot was screaming on Darky.
Check of petrol to be made in the morning as he should have had 9 hrs of petrol for 7 1/2 hour trip.
0550 / ROCLO / – Informed [inserted] R.O.C.L.O. [/inserted] that pilot was not sure of his position – R.O.C. pleased to know they helped save him – Granite scheme not used, as he was not far enough west.
N.F. completed – all safe.
[page break]
[underlined] DIVERSION BASES - EMERGENCY ONLY [/underlined]
[underlined] SQN A/C STATION [/underlined]
419 6 } WESTCOTT
428 14 } WESTCOTT
434 11 } WING
427 16 } WING
431 14 } STRADISHALL
429 14 } STRADISHALL
424 15 } STRADISHALL
433 13 } CHEDBURGH
432 15 } CHEDBURGH
420 12 ] CHEDBURGH
425 12 } WRATTING COMMON
468 16 } WRATTING COMMON
426 8 } WRATTING COMMON
Note: 1528 hrs. / FCLO 12 reported advice from army authorities of an a/c (Halifax) force landing in Abel 29. Neither Wombleton nor Eastmoor have anything on it. a/c of 61 Base flying in area were requested to be on look-out for it without success. Went back to 12 Group on 3 occasions to get more definite information & pin point without success.
1830 / They are checking Church Fenton again for more particulars.
18.50 / Wombleton have had aircraft searching in the area, but nothing found. Believed to be a false alarm. Passed to 12 Gp.
[page break]
WED. 26th APRIL
0815 / C.F.C. / No diversions last night.
0900 / Proctor Com. Flt. / Reserved for 62 Base Signals Officer from 1100 to 1400 hrs. going to Skipton
Off duty F/O O’Beirn
On duty H.L. Spence. F/O.
1045 / Proposed ERIC 27-4-44. / Ex A.D.G.B. (F/L Napier) to be confirmed tomorrow.
Timing:- 1545 – 1600 hrs (near Weymouth)
Route:- Base – Kettering - Uskfield (Sussex) – Looe (Cornwall) – [deleted] Barry [/deleted] – Leicester Base.
Heights: Operational.
Window: To be dropped –
(a) Between Arundle [sic] & Poole
(b) Between Brampton [inserted] 51N 0330W [/inserted] (Devon) & [deleted] Capstowe [/deleted] [inserted] Chepstow [/inserted] NR. (Bristol)
Rate: 4 bales (together) every 15 seconds. (250 bales in each track)
Fighter Interception [inserted] 15 front [/inserted] along the route – with concentration of if in window areas. Passed to 61 Base. [inserted] maximum combat manoeuvre when night fighters attack [/inserted]
1200 / Bulls Eye. / Not laid on for today.
1330 / L.F.B. [symbol] 2 / On 300° T from 0100 hrs to 0200 hrs [inserted] GAMDOSS [/inserted]
On 270° T from [deleted] 0350 [/deleted] [inserted] 0320 [/inserted] hrs to [deleted] 0450 [/deleted] [inserted] 0420 [/inserted] hrs. [inserted] BH [/inserted]
Special / On 315° T from 0115 hrs to 0215 hrs. at Beachy Head [inserted] Z801 [/inserted]
L.F.B. [symbol] 13 / On 300 T from [deleted] 0315 0320 [/deleted] [inserted] 0245 [/inserted] hrs to [deleted] 0415 0420 [/deleted] [inserted] 0345 [/inserted] hrs. [inserted] BH [/inserted]
Balloons / Billingham will be close hauled from [deleted] 2100 [/deleted] [inserted] 2030 hrs [/inserted] to 0530 hrs. [inserted] BH. [/inserted]
[inserted] Z801 [/inserted] Langley } Controlled 1500ft. From 2245 hrs to 0230 hrs.
Weybridge } Controlled 1500ft. From 2245 hrs to 0230 hrs.
[inserted] Z801 [/inserted] Southampton } Controlled at 1500ft. From 2300 hrs to 2345 hrs.
Portsmouth } Controlled at 1500ft. From 2300 hrs to 2345 hrs.
Chelmsford } Controlled at 1500ft. From 0300 [inserted] 0230 [/inserted] hrs to 0430 [inserted] 0400 [/inserted] hrs. [inserted] BH. [/inserted]
Thames Est. } Controlled at 1500ft. From 0300 [inserted] 0230 [/inserted] hrs to 0430 [inserted] 0400 [/inserted] hrs.
1530 / Emerg. Div. Bases / Conferred with Controller & Met. Requested 3 stations in 3 Group and 2 in 91 or 92 Groups all to be high ground stations. Secured & allotted on opposite page. Passed to Stations 1630 hrs.
[page break]
408/U DS-719 Missing from Bullhead.
Pilot F/O ROGNAN
W/e Guish – Equip Off [symbol] P4 [symbol]
Oxford Z 7218 T.O. from Dishforth at 1103 for Leconfield.
Bullseye (Combined Command)
Form B. T.73.
Route – Base – Mablethorpe – 5420N 0600E
5350N 0630E – 5400 – 0500E
Spalding – Northampton Base
[page break]
Tuesday [underlined] April 26th 1944 Wednesday. [/underlined]
1715. / M.S.G. Oxford Investigate O/428. / Permission requested for F/L Betcher to take Station Oxford to Harwell. To investigate the accident of S/L McGugan. (crash O/428 20-21 of April) Not granted. Travel by train. M.S.G. informed.
1800 / L.F.B. [symbol] 2. / Revised on 270° T. Now from 0320 to 0420 hrs.
L.F.B. [symbol] 13. / Revised on 300° T. Now from 0245 to 0345 hrs.
Balloons / Billingham now close hauled from 2030 to 0530 hrs.
Chelmsford & Thames estuary controlled at 1500 ft from 0230 to 0400 hrs.
Stations informed.
1830 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
18.30 / On duty. J.D. Cleland F/L
[underlined] Thursday. Apl 27th 1944. [/underlined]
05.00 / Permission granted by Air I for S/L Hoodspith & S/L Miller (Radar) to fly to Leconfield tomorrow.
05.00 / All Oper. / aircraft landed. One Lancaster missing – 408/U
08.20 / K/434 / Landed at Wing and was told to return as soon as possible this morning.
0900 / Off watch F/L CLELAND On watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1025 / Eric / – scrubbed – Replaced by special Bullseye. Inf. Met. Grp 61B.
1045 / 426/Hal. / 62 Base request permission for a trip to Woodbridge to pick up guns, camera, Radios & special Radar Equip.
Permission refused for Hal – May take Oxford or send it on the train.
1110 / 427/A / Leeming request permission to fly a crew to Stradishall.
Permission for a/c to go if it is [underlined] not [/underlined] to be used to-night.
[page break]
[underlined] Z-599 [/underlined]
12 [symbol] Billingham Balloons – 2245 – 0045
[underlined] 0400 – 0545 [/underlined]
2045 – 0045
0130 – 0545
[deleted] Ipswich [/deleted] [inserted] Harwich [/inserted] } 0045[symbol] – 0130 0245 – 0345
11 [symbol] Chelmsford } 0045[symbol] – 0130 0245 – 0345
Thames Estuary } 0045[symbol] – 0130 0245 – 0345
[underlined] Z B907 [/underlined]
12 [symbol] L.F.B. [symbol] 2 Flamboro 270° T – 0320 – 0420
[symbol] Billingham Balloons – 2130 – [underlined] 0005 [/underlined] 0230 – [underlined] 0500 [/underlined] [inserted] } 2045 – 0045 0130 – 0545 [/inserted]
[underlined] Gardeners [/underlined]
11 [symbol] L.F.B. Selsey Bill [inserted] – 355° T 0015 – 0115
11
[symbol] Balloons – Langley & Weybridge } – 2300 – 2345 0015 – 0115
Southampton & Portsmouth } – 2300 – 2345 0015 – 0115
10 [symbol] Balloons – Yeovil 2245 – 2345 0030 – 0130
12 [symbol] Balloons – Billingham – } [underlined] 2045 [/underlined] – 2230 [underlined] 0130 [/underlined] – 0300
[underlined] GR 3682 [/underlined]
11 [symbol] L.F.B. [symbol] 15 – 325° T – 0420 – 0520
11 [symbol] Langley & Weybridge – 2225 – 2325
1500’ 0430 – 0545
Diversion – Emergency Petrol
426 } – 7 – [underlined] Tangmere. [/underlined]
408 } – 12 – [underlined] Tangmere. [/underlined]
[underlined] EMERGENCY DIVERSION BASES [/underlined]
[underlined] SQN [/underlined] [underlined] A/C [/underlined] [underlined] STATION [/underlined]
408 & 426 19 TANGMERE
428 8 BOSCOMBE DOWN
428 & 419 } 35 LITTLE SNORING
432 } 35 LITTLE SNORING
424 & 433 28 FOULSHAM
427 & 429 28 SWANTON MORLEY
420 & 425 27 WEST RAYNHAM
434 & 431 27 SCULTHORPE.
[page break]
1145 / VIP / – AVM Cable arrived Wombleton by a/c at 1130. – A.V.M. McEwan & W/C Palmer had decided to return to 6 Grp prior to that time.
1225 / C.F.C. / Request for 1 Emergency Petrol Base south for Lancs (20)
1300 / VIP. / Proctor T6322 with AVM Capel T.O. at 1250 from Wombleton for Topcliffe. Landed 1314. A.V.M. McEwan sending a car to Top. to pick him up.
1500 / CFC. / Tangmere given as Emergency base for 426 & 408 on GR 3682.
1750 / V.I.P. / Proctor T 6322 – AVM Capel T.O. from Dishforth at 1745. for Linton.
1830 / [deleted] Off [/deleted] [inserted] On [/inserted] H L Spence F/O.
Off duty F/O O’Beirn.
1845 / Emerg. Dvn. Bases. / Received from C.F.C. & allotted as an opposite page. “Gen” passed to Stations.
2030. / Emerg. Dvn. Bases. / 100 Group state C.F.C. had not informed them of Emergency Diversion bases laid on for us in their Group. However it’s O.K.
2130 / 61 Base W/T o/s. / Wrong ones phoned in originally. Corrected. Signals “bull” at 61 Base.
2220 / N.F. / Summary to C.F.C.
2300 / 11 Group Balloons / At operational Heights.
2355 / 10 Gr. Balloons / At operational Heights.
2335 / Bulls Eye 1666 a/c Taxi Accident. / Taxi accident holding up T.O. of 4 a/c. Marshalling as for operational take off. 4 of these aircraft on Bulls Eye not airborne. Unlikely to take off.
[page break]
[underlined] TAXY ACCIDENT. [/underlined]
H/1666 – J.B. 859 – Cat [deleted] A/C [/deleted] “A”
T/1666 – J.D. 106 – Cat “A/C.”
R-207621 Sgt. Salem W.J. – Rear Gunner – KILLED.
Advised:
A.O.C. [symbol]
S.A.S.O. [symbol]
Air I [symbol]
Controller [symbol]
P.4 [symbol]
Equipt. [symbol]
Engr. [symbol]
C. of A. [symbol]
G.T.I. [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
[page break]
Friday – April 28/44
0110 / Taxy Accident 1666/H + T / In taxying to Marshalling Post a/c H overran “T”, killing Rear Gunner from o/c N.F. at Wombleton :-
6 a/c detailed, not marshalled, all had to proceed to take-off point (R/W 28) from south side of aerodrome “T” (3rd in line) stopped at take-off position into line. “H” taxyed up & stopped in position, then started forward again, (reason unknown) port inner (and port Outer) engines chewed into the tail of “T”. Lights (nav. nose, Tail, Downward Recos) were being burned by all aircraft. Night bright, plenty of taxy lights.
0120 / 19 O.T.U./“U” Whitley / Landed at Leeming 0100 hrs, no W/T or R/T. Staying overnight. Informed 91 Group F.C.
0140 / German Night Fighters / Ex 11 Group:- Operating near Ostend, about where our bombers are. For our information.
0400 / Enemy Activity / One hostile plotted in Norfolk. Stations informed.
0445 / Enemy Activity / Hostile showing at Nottingham.
0730 / A/C landed away. / Summary to C.F.C.
0830 / 408/K Crew. / If mfn aircraft can be made serviceable for return tomorrow morning, crew are to remain at Tangmere Otherwise, 426/M which is at Ford is to bring the crew back from Tangmere with them to-day. Instructions passed to F.C.L.O. 11 Group & 6 Group servicing Unit at Gransden Lodge for transmission to F/L. Smith at Thorney Island.
0900 / Off duty H.L. Spence.
0900 / On duty J.D. Cleland F/L.
09.30 / O/432 / at Woodbridge. Crew told to return by rail.
10.10 / K/408 & M/426 / Told to return soon as possible.
[page break]
W/C Laine T.O. from Linton for Gransden Lodge at 1836.
Tiger Moth landed Middleton 2035 on [symbol] 6 R/W & took off & landed again on same R/W without circuiting. Then took off and landed on [symbol] 5 R/W – the R/W in use – and then [indecipherable word] away – Who? – Possibly T Moth 9444 – Engineer from Hendon who was staying at Dishforth.
[page break]
Friday April 28/44
1800 / 420/E / At Hethel – 2nd USBD. – now serv. may return to-morrow when crew sent.
1830 / Off watch F/L CLELAND. On watch B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1900 / 424/J / – a/c required a new wing – MU/G slightly injured by flak
Skipton inf. – crew instructed to return by train.
2300 / HF/DF / [inserted] TOPCLIFFE [/inserted] Sense finder U/S. – If a/c require a bearing they will be instructed to use Leeming HF/DF
2310 / Fire / – reported [inserted] at 2205 [/inserted] by 61 Base at Norton Le Clay E-89 – 2 1/2 miles S.E. of Dishforth proved to be a chicken coop. Owing to a hasty report turned in to Dishforth F.C. their crash tender was dispatched.
2330 / 61 Base / Topcliffe F.C. report chandelier flares and small explosions near Catterick – ROCLO say it is a wood fire.
Also flashes in the direction of Hull – R.O.C.L.O. report 3 bombing ranges near the Humber.
[underlined] Saturday April 29, 1944 [/underlined]
0215 / Bullseye a/c landed safely. – Opened lines and plotted 1664/B and 1666/S. (both overdue) until they landed. N.F. completed in 61 Base.
0330 / X/C / Last of X/C landed Wombleton beginning C & B’s. Inf. 12 Grp M.L.O. & F.C.L.O. & C.F.C.
0507 / 12 GRP / – F.C.L.O. reports a 4 Grp a/c short of petrol near Topcliffe heading toward Wombleton. Request for Top. Skipton, Wombl. to light up & call Nemo.
0510 / 4 Grp think a/c is “Elsie” or Background “X” x-ray.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
SAT. APRIL 29 1944
0535 / Lost a/c / FCLO now believe a/c to be a Liberator on weather test stooging about until dawn.
0540 / Lost a/c / Leeming heard Darky call from “Z” Liberator – Leeming & Croft answered – no joy.
F.C.L.O. say another a/c (Halifax) heading over Wombleton toward Scarborough. Request Wombleton to contact him.
0600 / Lost a/c / All stations stood down – 4 Grp a/c missing and must be out of petrol. Liberator got his position and headed south. Other a/c over Wombleton was a Well. on W/X test.
0845 / 4 Grp / – Lost 1 a/c on X/C.
0850 / 62 Base / Request permission for Tholthorpe to send Hal. to Hethel with crew to pick up 420/E OK’d by Air I – 62 Informed.
0900 / Off duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
On duty H.L. Spence F/O
1120 / Night Bombing 431 Sqn / 8 a/c will be dropping 2 bombs each on following Ranges tonight between 2200 hrs & 0100 hrs, on cross countries :- Rufford (93 Group), Redway & St. Tudwallis [sic] (91 Group). 91 & 93 informed.
1140 / 431/B Accident 27-28 April. / Following advice from G.A.I. learned from Croft F/C. of taxy – accident by 431/B on return from Ops. night of 27-28th April. Flying Control Croft were not informed and only discovered it the following morning on regular aerodrome inspection. This was not an overshoot, appears to have been a case of Pilot mistaking his dispersal and ending up in a hedge, or having no brakes.
Wombleton Pundit / Ex 61 Base – Now ready to be operative but will be u/s on first scheduled night. Signal Action taken.
1220 / Night Bomb. 431 Sqn. / Ex 91 Gr. St Tudwals not to be used at night. Use Bardsey Island instead. C.F.C. Croft to advise 431 Sqn B.L.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday. Apl 29th 1944. [/underlined]
1200 / Lost 4 Group Aircraft. X-1658 C.U. / Reference entries 0507 & 0845 hrs. Ex 4 Group – This a/c was on X-C over Irish Sea. Was given a QDM at 2259 hrs. which, based on his route, would put him at approx 5435N 0205W [deleted] at 2259 hrs. [/deleted] May have crashed in Pennines or near Middleton on Tees. All 6 Group Stations informed and requested that any a/c flying in the vicinity to keep a sharp lookout for a trace of the missing kite.
1330 / L.F.B. No. 2. / Will be on 295° T from 0030 to 0130 hrs.
L.F.B. Selsey Bill / Will be on 355° T from 2320 to 0020 hrs.
Balloons / Billingham will be close-hauled from 2030 to 2200 hrs. & from 0045 to 0300 hrs.
Yeovil will be at 1500 ft. from 2210 to 2310 hrs. and from 0010 to 0120 hrs.
Brockworth will be at 1500 ft. from 2200 to 2300 hrs and from 0030 to 0140 hrs.
Langley } will be at 1500 ft. from 2200 hrs to 0015 hrs.
Weybridge } will be at 1500 ft. from 2200 hrs to 0015 hrs.
Portsmouth } will be at 1500 ft. from 2200 hrs to 0015 hrs.
Southampton } will be at 1500 ft. from 2200 hrs to 0015 hrs.
1540. / 62 Base Hal. I.F.F. U/S. Air Firing. / Informed M.L.O. 12 that one Halifax (62 Base) would be crossing out at Whitby on Air Firing exercise at approx 1550 [inserted] hrs [/inserted] for 1/2 hr whose I.F.F. was U/S.
1645 / 431/B Accident / Reference entry 1140 hrs. Checked croft for more complete story. S/L Stanley there and has full details.
18.30 / Off duty. F/O Spence.
On duty JD Cleland F/L.
21.00 / 420/E / At Hethel. Will return tomorrow morning. 62 Base informed.
[underlined] Sunday. Apl 30th 1944. [/underlined]
04.30 / Last a/c down in Group.
09.00 / Off duty JD Cleland F/L. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
[page break]
Anson landed Linton at 1030 from Jurby. W/T – U/S – Returning when W/T S. [inserted] TO. 1433 [/inserted] Anson landed Topcliffe from South Cerney. Ret. to-day
[underlined] Local Bullseye [/underlined] – 12 Grp.
Route – Peterboro, Goole, Middlesboro 5400N 0030E. Mexborough (near Doncaster), Peterboro.
20 Wellingtons dropping windows 5400N to coast – 6 Grp to follow. Start Peterboro [deleted] 2310 – 2325 [/deleted] 2320
plenty of fighters and searchlights. Height 12 – 16000’
[underlined] Offers [/underlined] – to night OPS – 12 Grp.
1659 C.U. – 3 HAL
1664 C.U. – 4 HAL
1666 C.U. – 3 HAL
10
426 4 Hal.
10.
TO. 2230
S/C – 2254
[underlined] Z-834 [/underlined]
L.F. Beacon – [symbol] Worthing [symbol] 15 – 350° T
0020 – 0120 hrs.
Balloons. – [symbol] Langley Weybridge. – 0020 – 0140 hrs.
[underlined] Gardens [/underlined]
Balloons [inserted] 12 [/inserted] – [symbol] [underlined] Billingham [/underlined] – close hauled – 2045 – [deleted] 2200 [/deleted] [inserted] 2230 [/inserted] hrs.
– 0100 – [deleted] 0400 [/deleted] [inserted] 0420 [/inserted]
Balloons [symbol] [inserted] 10 [/inserted] Yeovil – 1500’ – [deleted] 2230 [/deleted] [inserted] 2300 [/inserted] – [deleted] 2315 [/deleted] [inserted] 2345 [/inserted]
[deleted] 0030 [/deleted] [inserted] 0100 [/inserted] – [deleted] 0230 [/deleted] [inserted] 0300 [/inserted]
Balloons [symbol] Portsmouth } 1500’ – [deleted] 2245 [/deleted] [inserted] 2315 [/inserted] – [deleted] 2315 [/deleted] [inserted] 2345 [/inserted] [deleted] 2330 [/deleted] [inserted] 0001 [/inserted] – [deleted] 0030 [/deleted] [inserted] 0100 [/inserted]
Southampton } 1500’ – [deleted] 2245 [/deleted] [inserted] 2315 [/inserted] – [deleted] 2315 [/deleted] [inserted] 2345 [/inserted] [deleted] 2330 [/deleted] [inserted] 0001 [/inserted] – [deleted] 0030 [/deleted] [inserted] 0100 [/inserted]
Balloons [symbol] Langley [symbol] } – 1500’ [deleted] 2230 [/deleted] [inserted] 2300 [/inserted] – [deleted] 2300 [/deleted] [inserted] 2330 [/inserted] [deleted] 2345 [/deleted] [inserted] 0015 [/inserted] – [deleted] 0045 [/deleted] [inserted] 0115 [/inserted]
Weybridge } – 1500’ [deleted] 2230 [/deleted] [inserted] 2300 [/inserted] – [deleted] 2300 [/deleted] [inserted] 2330 [/inserted] [deleted] 2345 [/deleted] [inserted] 0015 [/inserted] – [deleted] 0045 [/deleted] [inserted] 0115 [/inserted]
L.F. Beacons –
[symbol] Selsey Bill [symbol] 16 – 355° T – [deleted] 2330 [/deleted] [inserted] 0001 [/inserted] – [deleted] 0030 [/deleted] [inserted] 0100 [/inserted]
[symbol] [inserted] 12 [/inserted] Flamboro’ Head [symbol] 2 – 300° T – 0045 – 0145
[page break]
0910 / [underlined] 2 USBD. [/underlined] / Requested 420/E to return this morning.
1015 / A.T.C. / 61 Base requests permission to take A.T.C. boys on local flights. AIR I & SASO give permission. – as per Letters 6G/370/I/AIR 29/3/44 & 10/4/44
1145 / Local / Bullseye – 12 Grp – offer it along with 20 Wellingtons. – Details on opposite page. – passed to 61 Base. Offered to H.C.U’s only.
1205 / 408 / W/C Jacobs of 408 permitted to take radar mechanic on monica test.
1340 / Bullseye / B. Farm T 75 dispatched – no offers from Linton or 419.
1435 / 425 / – Tholthorpe wish permission to take a non-ops a/c & 2 non-ops crews to Thorpe Abbots to pick up an a/c now serv.
1440 / L.F.B. / Balloons & L.F. Beacons laid on – see opposite page.
1500 / C.F.C. / – Friston aerodrome (runways grass) is to be used only in gravest emergency, and if brake pressure is good, - otherwise land with undercarriage up.
1515 / Balloons & L.F. Beacons for Gardens pushed on 30 minutes later.
1530 / C.F.C. / Request for 5 Emergency Bases for Z-834 and 2 Emergency Bases for Gardens.
1645 / 426/Hal / – Request to put 4 on Local Bullseye – W/C McIntosh OK’d it but cannot contact 12 Grp Night Ops.
1645 / V.I.P. / ANSON – M.H. 191 – Gen Crerer, with pilot F/O Garthwaight landed Dishforth 1639 from Redhill staying 2 days & 2 nights. – phoned to 11 Grp to pass to Redhill.
[page break]
1659/Z. RV – landed Elvington 1615
[underlined] EMERGENCY BASES [/underlined] – Z – 834
432 – TANGMERE
420 } – LASHAM.
425 } – LASHAM.
427 } ODIHAM
429 } ODIHAM
431 } TANGMERE
434 } TANGMERE
424 } HARTFORD BRIDGE
433 } HARTFORD BRIDGE
EMERGENCY BASES – GARDENS.
428 HURN
433 IBSLEY
[deleted] 434 IBSLEY [/deleted] – RT call sign
[page break]
1715 / 1659/Z / – landed Elvington at 1615. From bombing exercise at Strensall. P.I.E. – no boost. Stbd. O.E. flaming. – pilot F/O McKaskill.
61 Base instructed to send motor transport for the crew.
1715 / C.F.C. / assigned emergency stations.
1830 / Off duty F/O O’Beirn.
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
2230 / Balloons / Billingham close-hauled also from 2230 hrs to 0100 hrs.
2245 / N.F. / Summary to C.F.C.
[underlined] MONDAY – MAY 1ST – 1944 [/underlined]
0110 / 424/B. Message / Ex Southampton:- Message received as follows – “PCKB NPLC WFCA PKSU PWGB HWBE 0025 Hrs. Decoded:- Friendly aircraft shot down on sea, position 5005N 0054E.”
At request of M.L.O. 12, instructed Skipton Ops to get conformation of the position and other details from the Captain at interrogation for transmission to M.L.O. 11 Group, who will be taking action in the morning.
0145 / 428/G / This a/c whose C.S.U. was U/S had been told at 2215 hrs by R/T to set [inserted] a [/inserted] course for 2 hrs to lose weight. As he was now approx 1 1/2 hrs overdue, on instructions of Controller arranged to have message: “Return to base” sent him both by Station H.F.D.F. and Group Op Freq.
0227 / 428/G / Acknowledged message on G.O.W. Have requested M.S.G. to learn what happened to this aircraft & why earlier broadcast messages not received or acknowledged.
0400 / 424B. / Report from Capt. – Saw a/c hit by flak over Dieppe, burst into flames but kept flying, losing ht, then exploded disintegrating into 3 pieces which burned on surface. Took bearing at 0023 hrs, 5005N 0054E. Passed to Stanmore M.L.O. & F.C.L.O. & Staff Officer 11 Group, who will arrange for a look-see in morning (may have been 420/J)
[page break]
[underlined] ZB909 [/underlined]
[underlined] Landfall Beacon [/underlined] [symbol] 12 at Harwich – Bearing 290° T, 0045 – 0145 hrs.
[underlined] Balloons. [/underlined] Billingham 20.50 – 22.50 } Close-hauled
01.50 – 03.50 } Close-hauled
Harwich 00.30 – 02.00 1500 ft.
[underlined] Gardens. [/underlined]
[underlined] Balloons. [/underlined] Yeovil 00.45 – 02.30 hrs 1500 ft.
[underlined] Mitchell FV-977 [/underlined] - F/O Struthers & G/C MacDonald left Leeming at 1958 – for Dunsford.
Radway – Bombing Range – 91 Grp } Requested
Rufforth – Bombing Range – 93 Grp } Requested
[page break]
[underlined] Monday – May 1st 1944. [/underlined]
0430 / a/c away. / Passed to C.F.C.
0455 / 428/G / Ref. Entry 0227
Ex. M.S.G. Had trouble with C.S.U. (found on examination a valve stuck) could [inserted] not [/inserted] feather motor & also had no brake pressure. Was told to set course for 2 hrs, and did so on his original flight plan. Seemed to continue OK, so went on his detail, arriving at Garden 7 mins late. While over enemy coast had his trailing aerial pulled in and did not get any message from us until 0210 hrs.
09.00 / Off duty H L Spence F/O
On duty / J. D. Cleland F/L.
12.15 / Message / from JLY/A to Bruntingthorpe via M.S.G. “Crossed coast at 5408N 0155E”. T.O.O. 11.30 rec. 12.01. Passed to 92 Grp.
12.20 / Searchlight Activity. / Complaints from 428 Squadron on Ops last night – evidently there was a Bullseye on the south coast at time they were in that area. Passed to FCLO 11, MLO 12 for action and suggested we be informed whenever our operational aircraft are routed over Bullseye areas.
18.30 / Off duty. / J. D. Cleland F/L On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1850 / 61 Base / – Request permission for X/C – a combination of Routes 21 + 23 – Checked with Group Met S.O.C. & M.L.O. 12 Grp – O.K. – S.O.C. request 61 Base a/c to remain above 8000’ until they return to base to avoid trouble with Ops returns.
2000 / [underlined] Dalcross [/underlined] / 29 Group – Whitley LA 854 F/S McHugh and Glider Horsa DP 841 – Sgt Sharp left Dalcross 1240 hrs, due Linton 1540 hrs. –
Did not arrive Linton. Inf – 29 Grp F.C. Requested that they instruct their pilots to inform 6 Grp or Linton if they land elsewhere.
[page break]
[underlined] non – starters [/underlined]
X/431 - OIL BY PASS VALVE U/S.
[underlined] Early Returns. [/underlined]
427/R – P.I.E. U/S To be checked by C.T.O. [symbol]
427/O – P.I.E. OVER – REV’D [symbol]
432/Q – P.I.E. U/S – Caught fire. [symbol]
432/Y – HYD LINE U/S – could not lift U/C.
425/P – BOOST ANEROID (P.I.E) U/S. [symbol]
[underlined] MISSING. [/underlined]
419/C KB – 711 – Capt – P/O Mc NARY
429/K. LW – 415 – Capt – F/O LESLIE. S.M.
[underlined] ACCIDENT [/underlined]
429/Z – [inserted] LW – 694 [/inserted] BLEW A TYRE ON LANDING. AFTER HITTING ANGLE OF GLIDE INDICATOR. – OBSTRUCTED 2 R/Ws
[page break]
2000 / C & B’s D.F.C.O.’s note. / Skipton 424 Sqd – have 2 a/c on X/C and wish to do C & B’s for about 30 minutes. Topcliffe also have 3 a/c on C & B. W/C Blane insists on doing circuits at Skipton and not at Leeming. S.O.C. is to get ruling by AIR I or SASO.
2010 / Gale Warning – as far south as [two indecipherable words] – Wind will freshen to 25 mph over our bases 0400 – 0500 hrs 2/5/
2045 / C & B’s D.F.C.O’s note. / – S.A.S.O. ruled that Skipton do their C & B’s at another operational aerodrome & give priority to Topcliffe – or else scrub it. Inf. 61 Base & Skipton.
2255 / 432/Q / – On fire – 62 Base sent him to Jettison 30 miles off Flamboro. MLO – 12 – suggest 20 miles off Whitby.
[underlined] Tuesday May 2nd. 1944. [/underlined]
0311 / OPS. / – a/c landed. – 2 missing – 2 landed Skipton when “Z”/429 obstructed 2 R/W’s.
0400 / a/c away – Reported to C.F.C. – none away.
0400 / Explosion – Reported north of Wombleton at 0315 – F.C.L.O. 12 say it is bombing on the range. Inf. 61 Base.
0840 / V.I.P. / ANSON MH – 191 – Gen. Crerer with pilot F/O Garthwright expect to leave Dishforth at 0930 – ETA Redhill 1130 – Ht 2000 – 2500. Checked with Met, MLO 12 & 11 Grp. movement no N1313.
0900 / Leeming / R/W 30/12 obstructed by Z/428 – Landings in emergency only.
0900 / Gransden / – no a/c away.
[page break]
[underlined] CRASH - 1659/N. [/underlined] (BB-247) – WRITE OFF
Pilot F.O. J. L. McKinnon [deleted] J-25965 [/deleted] [inserted] J-27633 [/inserted] } killed.
B.A. P.O. N.T Seabrook J-25965 } killed.
W.O.P. Sgt. H.R. Donnelly R-193801 } killed.
R.A.G. Sgt. H.R. Davies R-212758 } killed.
M.U.G. Sgt. H. Astrand R-196182 } killed.
Engr. Sgt. Giles } killed.
Informed.
A.O.C. [symbol] (out – left message.) also informed A.O.C.
SASO. [symbol]
Air I [symbol] (out – left message.)
Cont. [symbol]
P.4. [symbol]
C.A. [symbol]
G.T.I. [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
Engr. [symbol]
Equipt. [symbol]
S.F.C.O. [symbol]
REF CRASH. 1659N.
G.T.O. = A/C TOOK OFF. CLIMBED VERTICALLY DID STALL TURN TO PORT CRASHED BURNED OUT. NO REASON VOICED UNTIL AFTER INVESTIGATION.
[page break]
0930 / Off duty F/O. O’Beirn
On duty F/O. Spence H.L.
1145 / Dalton Hurricane / Permission granted to pick up some [inserted] (Radio) [/inserted] equipment at Abingdon.
1430 / 1659/N [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] / Engine stalled on T.O. aircraft crashed on runway 09 burned, all crew killed. No instructor in a/c.
1435. / 420 Sqn Army Affil. / Request for Army personnel attached at Tholthorpe to fly on some Air-to-Sea Firing detail this afternoon. OK’d by S.A.S.O. + at Station Commanders discretion.
1640 / 428/B&I / M.S.G. request permission for mfn to be flown to Snaith – for modifications. E.T.D. 0900 hrs.
1800 / Comm [deleted] Oxford [/deleted] [inserted] PROCTOR [/inserted] / Reserved for S/L. Rawson. for 1130 hrs tomorrow morning. Going to Halton. Remainder of day.
1830 / Off duty. / F/O Spence
On duty. / J D Cleland F/L.
WED [underlined] MAY 3RD. [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Bd. Corrected.
0400 / A/C NEAR WOMBLETON / Query from ROCLO ref aircraft circling near Wombleton. – [indecipherable word] of F.C. Wombleton who report seeing no a/c other than ones with call sign “LOVE YOU” “D” which had for some time been doing bombing runs on “Snape Ranges” – Information passed on to ROCLO.
– Remainder (?) of night quiet.
0900 / On duty – B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
Blanket cover for Bombing Local eta to MLS 12.
[page break]
[underlined] Offers. [/underlined] – Command Bullseye C. 93.
1659 C.U. – [inserted] 6 [/inserted] [deleted] 2 [/deleted] HAL.
1664 C.U. – [inserted] 0 [/inserted] [deleted] 2 [/deleted] HAL.
1666 CU – 5 HAL.
424 – 4
433 – 3 +
431 – 8 HAL.
408 – 5 LANC
426 – 6 LANC
432 – 10 LANC
420 – 5
425 – [inserted] 7 [/inserted] [deleted] 6 [/deleted]
428 – 4
419 – 5 LANC.
434 – 4
429 – 2
427 [inserted] 4 [/inserted] – [deleted] 10 [/deleted]
[deleted] 71 [/deleted] 10 LANC = [deleted] 81 [/deleted]
68 + 10 = 78
TOTAL – 155 Heavy + 65 Medium = 220
[underlined] Gardens. [/underlined]
[underlined] L.F. Beacon [/underlined] – [symbol] Selsey Bill [symbol] 16 – 0001 – 0101
355° T.
[underlined] Balloons [/underlined] – [symbol] Billingham – C.H. – 2100 – 2230
0120 – 0345
[symbol] – Langley – Weybridge } 2230 – 0100
Portsmouth – 1500’ } 2230 – 0100
[symbol] – Yeovil – 1500’ – 2245 – 0230.
[underlined] Bullseye. [/underlined]
– [symbol] Billingham Balloons. 2020 – 2220
0230 – 0445
Hudson – T 9349 left Mid. St. G 1233 for Hatson [sic] in the Orkneys. – Route via [indecipherable word] Kinnaird Head, Helmsdale, [indecipherable word] & Hatson.
Wellington – F/O Merrifield left Linton 1551 for ATDSTONE
[page break]
[underlined] WED. MAY 3. [/underlined]
1030 / Call Signs / – New list for May 1 – 12.
1115 / 426/HAL / – Request permission to take extra crew to Foulsham to pick up additional a/c – OK’d by Air I.
1115 / 426/ X/C. Cpl EPSTEIN / – Request permission for Cpl Epstein U.S.A. war correspondent to go on X/C tonight with F/L Smith.
1125 / C. Bullseye to-night. C – 93.
1145 / CPL EPSTEIN / – may go on X/C if he has certified proof from the Americans that he can fly. – must be checked.
Inf 62 Base.
1200 / Black Smoke / – Black smoke 345° from Linton Inf. R.O.C.L.O.
1215 / Eve / – Probable for to-morrow.
1330 / Army L.O. / permission to go on local flying and bullseye for Can. Army Liaison Officer. – OK. if he has permission of his unit & Stn. Com. Also 2 officers at Tholthorpe.
1415 / 426/C / W/C Hamber left for Foulsham 1401 Inf. 100 Grp.
Well. LN – 646 – T.O. at 1415 for Bruntingthorpe. – Inf. 92 Grp.
1420 / 424/K / Landed Yeovilton at approx 1400 hrs. P.I.E U/S. Hope to get it S. & off to-day. Inf. Skipton.
1430 / Bombing Ranges / – Ottmoor, Tudwell etc are being used by 6 Grp. –
D.F.C.O.s NOTE. / S/L Brittain may be presenting us with signals about results at these ranges. D.F.C.O’s are to check from flight plans, – and mark on the signal what squadron used the ranges, – or “not 6 Grp” if N.A.
1640 / Oxford - N4760 / left Catfoss 1514 for Leeming but landed Leconfield at 1600 hrs. Leeming Inf.
[page break]
Proctor – S/L Rawson left Linton 1410 for Halton.
MISSING A/C. on X-COUNTRY
420/F. (MZ – 596)
[underlined] CREW LIST. [/underlined]
Pilot. P/O Lapointe P.J. J85411
B/A WO. Monaghan R.J R156773
Nav. WO. Michie E R79767
W/Op Sgt. Beer GW 1338354
M/U. Sgt. McDougal JM R117210
R/G. F/S. Stobbart W 1104089
F/E. Sgt Ellwood G 939956
Gunner Sgt. Simmons H.E. R193718
“J” Type dinghy with radio.
Informed. Controller. [symbol]
A.O.C.
S.A.S.O. N
Air I. [symbol]
Equipt. [symbol]
Engr. [symbol]
P.4. [symbol]
C of A. [symbol]
G.T.I. [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
[underlined] Route [/underlined]
Base 22.15
Hexham 22.45 10000 ft.
5458N 0305W 23.00
5455N 0335W 23.05
W. [indecipherable word] 23.25
Strumblehead 00.18
Olney 01.11
Goole 01.55
Base 02.10
[page break]
1825 / AM army officers forced landing near Thirsk – Requested Topcliffe for transport for 2 officers to Whitby
1830 / Off duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
[underlined] Thursday – May 4/44. [/underlined]
0030 / 429/F (Bulls Eye) / Ex. Leeming. Message from a/c: “IFF u/s” Told Leeming to instruct him to Identify on W/T before each crossing of coast but before the message got out a/c was overhead on R/T.
0200 / Ident Board changed.
0507 / 426/K. / Last a/c on Bulls Eye landed at Charter Hall short of fuel. Must have got lost – about 1 1/2 hrs overdue. Passed to C.F.C. 0745 hrs.
0300 to 0600 / 420/F Missing X – C (MZ-596) / Missing from X-country. Checked 13, 15, 9, 10, 12 Groups [inserted] ([indecipherable word] at 08.15 hrs.) [/inserted] for possible landing or crashes. No luck. Route – Base – Hexham – 5458N 0305W – 5458N – 0335W – West Freugh, – Stumble Head – Olway – Goole – Base T.O. 2215 ETA 0210 hrs.
Pilot P/O. Lapointe. Overdue action taken with A.S.4 & “gen” passed. 6 Group Met say weather quite good over route.
0450 / 1659/L / Landed at Croft short of Petrol & S.I.E. feathered. Crew report big burst of flame seen just before landing. At the time were heading for Croft on course of 170°, flash seen on port quarter about 10 to 15 miles north of Croft. Contacted 12 Group R.O.C.R.O. & F.C.L.O. but neither have any knowledge of this.
0825 / Missing 420/F / Still no trace. 11 Group having a look from Bardsey Island to Stumble Head. 15 Group will endeavour [sic] something from West Freugh to Bardsey Island but the weather may hold it up in the Irish Sea.
0830. / Ref. entry 0450. No information on reported burst of flame from Bishop Auckland or Barnard Castle Police.
[page break]
Martinet – MS – 869. F/O DAGGET & S/L STANLEY landed White Waltham at 1405 from Dalton & Bassingbourn.
2100. – 6 Grp. Met forecaster predicts nasty squally showers, over the north sea from Mull of Galloway to Lands End. – CUN. – 5 – 9/10 – Tops 12 – 15000’ occasional tops up to 18000’. Since the squadrons are flying at 20000’, they should be OK. Warned 61 Base as 1666 a/c
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday. May 4th 1944 [/underlined]
0840. / Tiger Moth (EM-945) / En route from Gosport to Dalton. T.O. 1816/3-5/44 W/C St. John. Overdue [symbol] (Signalled wrongly.)
09.00 / Off watch / HL Spence F/O
On watch / J.D. Cleland F/L.
09.15 / Crew list 420/F / of 420/F passed to 15 Gp. Also dinghy information. They will organize search this afternoon.
13.05 / S/L Stanley. / Landed at Bassingbourn –
14.50 / Permission / for 1659 C.U. to use Oxford to fly crew to Elvington to pick up 1659Z – at 1700 hrs – 5/5/44
15.00 / 420/F / Sea search organized by 15 Group. 26 Ansons from Squire’s Gate doing parallel track search along F/420’s track from Mull of Galloway to Bardsey Island.
Two other Ansons searching north of Bardsey & Warwicks searching 5240N – 5300N and 0440W to 0500W. where a fire was sighted last night. Other Warwicks searching from Strumblehead to Bardsey Island.
15.15 / 420/F / Broadcast to all bases request that, if any X-Countries are planned during daylight today, would they report RCAF route [symbol] 3 with view to sighting crash.
15.20 / Ref entry 08.40. / Tiger Moth should have been signalled to Halton instead of Dalton – landed O.K. at Halton.
16.50 / Landfall Beacon / At St. Alban’s Head on bearing 010° T from [deleted] 02.30 – 03.30 hrs [/deleted] 01.00 – 02.00 hrs.
18.30 / Off duty. / JD Cleland F/L On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
2130 / 420/F – Sea Search – 15 Grp. F.C. report that 42 a/c on search. Saw patch of oil at 5253N 0510W – on the extreme edge of search area. – The oil patch reported by 2 a/c was in the wake of a convoy which passed through this area. – No sign of wreckage. This oil patch is 20 – 50 miles from the spot where the fire was reported.
AIR. I recommends scrubbing the search. Inf. 62 Base F.C.
[page break]
[underlined] 09.15 hrs. [/underlined] Ex 61 Base. – Reports of accidents.
[underlined] 1659 Sqn (EB248) [/underlined] – 3rd May at 1755 hrs.
When taxying to dispersal swung off into a hedge damaging S.O. Prop & stbd fin shoe & rudder. – Cat A.
[underlined] 1664 Sqn (DG232) [/underlined] – 4th May, 1130 hrs.
Had a heavy landing – strained Stbd main [deleted] a [/deleted] plane – Cat A-C.
Informed. Equipm, G.A.I., Controller, Engr.
These only just came to light at 61 Base Flying Control when copies of teleprinter signal was received. In view of nature of the accidents have not informed all on the list.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday – May 4th 1944. [/underlined]
2300 / W/X / S.O.C. informed 61 Base & 62 Base that winds at 20000’ were 120 mph 220° in place of 65 m.p.h. as forecast especially over the Irish Sea. Croft F.C. also informed, but their a/c should be crossing coast in shortly.
2300 / 426/K / at Charter Hall remaining until to-morrow.
2350 / Winds / – 61 Base & 62 Base have sent message in Bomber Code – re increase in speed of winds.
[underlined] FRIDAY MAY 5th 1944. [/underlined]
0015 / RAFNI / – One of 61 Base a/c. instead of going from West Freugh to Holy Head followed Irish Coast.
0200 / Whitley – Z / – Landed Wombleton at 0135 from Long Marston (91 Grp) – W/T U/S. Inf. 91 Grp. T.O. – 0306 for Long Marston.
0245 / Gale Warning - S.W. veering west later – now in operation all coasts of Br. Is. N.W. of a line joining Newcastle & Start Point Deepening [inserted] [indecipherable word] [/inserted] trough off N.W. Ireland moving east.
0250 / 1664/H / on Hull MF/DF – Asks any further messages from Topcliffe.
0520 / N.F. / Completed. – all down at bases.
0815 / C.F.C. / – No a/c landed away.
0815 / Weather / – Gale continues in S.W. England. Check with Met before authorizing flights in this area.
0900 / Off duty [deleted] HL Spence. [/deleted] F/O O’Beirn
On duty HL Spence F/O.
1000 / H.H. 274 Restriction / Prohibition of movement in area defined not effective after 0001 hrs 5-5-44. (M.L.O. 12)
1050 / 408/K away / Checked 13 Gr. & learned mfn took off from Charter Hall 0952 hrs without our OK. (Landed OK.)
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Friday – May 5th 1944. [/underlined]
1100 / 420/F Missing a/c / Report of Rear Gunner of 420/W :-
“At 0023 hrs saw, at pos. 5310N 0500W 3 fighter flares dropped at intervals of 2 – 3 mins. and then burst of tracer.”
Informed 15 Group who declared all that area was diligently searched yesterday.
[deleted] 01 [/deleted] 1320 / L.F.B. Selsey Bill / On 355° T, elevation 070° from [deleted] 0001 [/deleted] [inserted] 02.45 [/inserted] hrs to [deleted] 0101 [/deleted] [inserted] 03.45 [/inserted] hrs.
Balloons / Langley } Controlled at 1500ft [deleted] 2230 – 0100 hrs. [/deleted] [inserted] 01.40 – 03.40 hrs. [/inserted]
Weybridge } Controlled at 1500ft [deleted] 2230 – 0100 hrs. [/deleted] [inserted] 01.40 – 03.40 hrs. [/inserted]
Portsmouth } Controlled at 1500ft [deleted] 2230 – 0100 hrs. [/deleted] [inserted] 01.40 – 03.40 hrs. [/inserted]
Southampton } Controlled at 1500ft [deleted] 2230 – 0100 hrs. [/deleted] [inserted] 01.40 – 03.40 hrs. [/inserted]
Billingham – close hauled [deleted] 2100 – 2230 0120 – 0345 hrs. [/deleted] [inserted] { 00.01 – 01.30. 04.00 – 06.30. [/inserted]
Yeovil – Controlled [deleted] ditto [/deleted] [inserted] at 1500 ft. [/inserted] [deleted] 2245 – 0230 [/deleted] hrs [inserted] 01.40 – 02.40 — 03.25 – 04.45. [/inserted]
1340 / 426 a/c Foulsham / Permission given by S.A.S.O. for 426 Sqn to fly crew to Foulsham to pick up a Halifax delivered there in error. Also for the Squadron Adjutant to go along for the trip.
1400 / 5 Group Diversion / Request Diversion Base if required. Offered M.S.G. and Croft.
1430 / 5 Group Diversion / Not required M.S.G. informed.
1445 / Permission / By S.A.S.O. for Army chaps to go along on exercises this afternoon – one with 408 Sqn. on Air to air and 2 with 420 Sqn on local flying – at the discretion of the Station Commander. Also permission given for U.T. Flying Control (2 or 3) to go along on tonight’s Bulls Eye. S.A.S.O. checking Station Commander re 2 New Zealand Pilot Sgts (attached from Reception Depot awaiting posting to A.F.K.) at Croft to go along on Bulls Eye.
1600 / Divn. Base Emergency / Middle Wallop offered by C.F.C and passed to M.S.G.
1700. / ? / Ex. Leeming :- Message from a/c “K” did not give a/s. NRI Groups 2. 25 LC NJ. [inserted] Too. 1645 [/inserted] (Will need ambulance Market Harborough) Asked for 2.B.B. Told to wait and replied he was closing down. Informed 92 Group – not one of their a/c.
[page break]
Mosq – “S” landed Wombleton from Northolt. To return to-day.
Whitley & Glider landed Linton 1234 from Netheravon.
Mitchell – G/C Dunlop left for Benson 1320 from Linton.
[underlined] Gardens [/underlined]
L.F. Beacon – Selsey Bill – 355° T – 0200 – 0230
Balloons – Langley, Weybridge, Portsmouth } 1500’ – 0140 – 0415
Yeovil – 1500’ – 0100 – 0200
0230 – 0400
[underlined] MAIN TARGETS. [/underlined]
L.F. Beacon – Beachy Head – 315° T – 0310 – 0410.
Selsey Bill – 355° T
– 0250 – 0350.
[underlined] Balloons [/underlined]
[symbol] Billingham. Close Hauled – 0001 – 0140
0420 – 0600
Chelmsford } 1500’ – 0150 – 0250
[symbol] Thames Estuary } 1500’ – 0150 – 0250
Portsmouth } 1500’ – 0140 – 0415
[symbol] Langley & Weybridge } 1500 – 0140 – 0415
[underlined] EMERGENCY BASES. [/underlined]
4900/S/13 431 } [deleted] DUNSFOLD [/deleted] ODIHAM [symbol]
434 } [deleted] DUNSFOLD [/deleted] ODIHAM [symbol]
427 } HARTFORD BRIDGE
429 } HARTFORD BRIDGE
426 } HARTFORD BRIDGE
4902W/S/179 420 } TANGMERE
425 } TANGMERE
432 } FORD
424 } FORD
426 } FORD
GARDENS 433 } SILVERSTONE [symbol]
[page break]
Friday May 5th 1944.
18.30 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O
On duty J.D. Cleland F/L.
21.15 / Bullseye / cancelled. Weather conditions.
22.30 / Landfall Beacon Balloons /} Times revised with 12, 11, 10 Groups.
[underlined] Saturday. May 6th 1944 [/underlined]
00.01 / X-Country A/C / K/408 on X-Country recalled by 62 Base.
Landed 00.20 hrs.
00.20 / Gardening A/C / off
05.51 / Last A/C / down.
09.00 / Off duty / JD Cleland F/L. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
0950 / Oxford /Z / – SASO gives permission to go from Top. to Dishforth to Downham Market – passenger W/C Clarke – Route via Spalding.
1030 / Low Flying / – Dishforth report a/c flying low – 3 – 5 miles south – disappeared – ROCLO have one at Finningley at 500’.
1050 / Radar X/C. / – 1659 – M.L.O. – 12 request that Radar – does not pass over Liverpool to-day. but to the south of it.
1130 / 428/B & L / – Permission by Air I for delivery of “L” to Kinloss. “B” bringing back the crew. Training both ways.
1225 / 431 SQD / permission for S/L Dow to take Hal & the crew to Foulsham to pick up new a/c NA-494
1530 / C.F.C. / Emergency Bases assigned.
1620 / Oxford Z / – Permission by S.O.C. for Top to take crew to Elvington to pick up Z/1659. T.O.
1650 / L.F.B. & Balloons laid on.
[page break]
[underlined] 102/R. [/underlined] Crash.
Position:- on the right hand side of Railway track facing north, to the east of Hutton Bonville & Danby Wiske, near Hall Farm.
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday May 6th 1944 [/underlined]
18.30 / Off duty F/O O’Beirn
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
2240 to 2300 / Crash 102/R (crew of 6) (4 Group) / Reported by Leeming (explosion & lots of smoke) south & east of North Allerton. 12 Group R.O.C.L.O. gives pos. as Z8319, east of Thirsk then later Z8515 near Brompton, then later still as 3 1/2 miles N.N.W. of North Allerton on the Yafforth Road. Croft requested to take crash action & dispatched Tender & Ambulance.
Leeming report further [deleted] cr [/deleted] 2 of crew were at Great Smeaton Police Station and that 2 others had baled out before them and were being searched for. Also that it was a Pocklington aircraft of 102 Sqn R. Informed 4 Group F.C.O. who understood the Skipper was OK, indicating all the crew had baled out, also the crash occurred at Oaktree Farm.
Thirsk & North Allerton Police & A.F.S. on the scene. Further position of crash from Leeming, near Lovesome Hill close to Danby Wiske. Ex Croft:- Scorton also have taken crash action.
2355 / 102/R. Crash / Ex. North Allerton Police: Location 5 miles from North Allerton along Darlington Road, between Lovesome Hill and Hutton Bonville.
2358 / L.F.B. & Balloons / For 2 main targets – cancelled.
Gardening still standing.
[underlined] Sunday – May 7/44. [/underlined]
0001 / 102/R Crash. / Ex. Great Smeaton Police:- 3 of crew (including Pilot) at Great Smeaton, 1 at Hutton Bonville and one at Blackberry Farm Deighton. One still unaccounted for.
0010 / 102/R Crash. / Ex Great Smeaton:- Last of crew found. All crew have proceeded to North Allerton Hospital, none injured. Informed 4 Group.
0020 / 102/R Crash. / Croft to arrange for guard but say aircraft a total wreck and scattered all over the field
[page break]
Crash landing – 1664/J. – DK 246.
On return from cross country found his undercarriage would not come down. All possible suggestions & assistance offered to no avail. Finally belly landed on grass beside the runway in use. Good landing – crew OK. Cat. A.C. Pilot F/O Rokeby.
Informed. A.O.C.
S.A.S.O. [symbol]
Air I [symbol]
Controller [symbol]
Equipt. [symbol]
Engr. [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
G.T.I. [symbol]
[underlined] Undercarriage Collapse KB716 [/underlined]
D/419 (Pilot, Lt. Hartshorn) burst tire on take-off. Landed with undercarriage down but port undercarriage collapsed at end of his run. No one hurt. Cat. E
AOC
SASO [symbol]
Air I [symbol]
Controller [symbol]
Equipt. [symbol]
Engr.
GAI. [symbol]
GTI. [symbol]
Lanc. at 1610 hrs.
ANSON – DG-782 T.O. from Topcliffe at 2119 for West Freugh. Landed 2254.
ANSON – DG-764 T.O. from Linton 23:58 for West Freugh.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday May 7th 1944. [/underlined]
0200 / Ident Board changed.
0518 / 1664/J / Belly landed – Undercarriage u/s. See opposite page.
09.00 / Off duty / H L Spence F/O
On duty / J D Cleland F/L.
09.30 / Permission for ATC to fly with 1664 Con. Unit this afternoon.
Permission for 408 Sq. to send Lanc. to Ford to pick up serviceable a/c.
15.15 / Gardens. / [underlined] Landfall Beacon: [/underlined] Flamborough at 300° T – 00.15 – 01.15 hrs.
[underlined] Balloons: [/underlined] Billingham close hauled – { 20.50 – 22.10 hrs.
{ 00.30 – 02.00 hrs.
Main Target. / [underlined] Landfall Beacon: [/underlined] Beachy Head 350° T – 23.30 – 00.30 hrs.
[underlined] Balloons: [/underlined] Billingham C/H – { 20.50 – 22.10 hrs.
{ 00.30 – 02.00 hrs.
Langley Weybridge at 1500ft. – 23.45 – 00.45 hrs.
14.50 / Y/426 / Left Linton to pick up Lanc. at Foulsham. SASO’s permission.
17.00 / J.J. Demonstration / Tonight at Helmsby Bombing Range. 4 Group are conducting it. About 70 bombers taking part. Also M/C using call-sign “Bandbox – H” Heights 10 – 15000 ft J.O.J. 23.30. Also sea marking flares [deleted] be [/deleted] are going to be dropped off Flamborough shortly after. Passed to all stations.
1830 / Off duty F/L CLELAND On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1900 / [underlined] Woodbridge [/underlined] / – C.F.C. report that “Red” runway is replaced by Green R/W. lights. W.e.t. night of May 7/44.
i.e. Green, white & yellow airfield lighting in operation
2030 / Anson / – DG 764 – l. Linton 2025 hrs from West Freugh. W/T. U/S.
Inf. 29 Grp.
[underlined] MONDAY MAY 8th 1944. [/underlined]
0200 / Ops / a/c – all returned to Base. Inf. C.F.C. & F/L Smith.
0515 / NF / Ceased. No Snags.
[page break]
429/U LANDING ACCIDENT (LW 691)
Pilot F/L Gellner.
After completing Fighter Affil. exercises mad [sic] several attempts to land (downward vis. not so good) Made touchdown OK but then swerved to port, passed No1 Hangar into a pile of shale in front of some gun butts. Undercarriage and props damaged. No wind at time. Runway [symbol] 17 in use. Vis. 3,000 yds. N.L.C.
Crew O.K.
Informed. P.A. to A.O.C. [symbol]
S.A.S.O. [symbol]
Air I [symbol]
Controller [symbol]
G.A.I. [symbol]
G.T.I. [symbol]
Equipt [symbol]
Engrg. [symbol]
S.F.C.O. [symbol]
[underlined] DIVERSION BASES – PROVISIONAL WEATHER [/underlined]
[underlined] SQN No A/C STATION GROUP [/underlined]
424 12 Boscombe Down } – 23 (Thru 10)
433 10 Boscombe Down } – 23 (Thru 10)
431 13 [deleted] Bourn [/deleted] – 8 – changed to Upwood.
408 13 Wyton } 8
426 8 Wyton } 8
420 13 Oakington – 8
425 13 Stadishall – 3
432 13 Wratting Common – 3
[underlined] MISSING [/underlined] – 8/9 – MAY
426/J
425/A
432/G.
432/L.
431/T
431/X.
[underlined] EARLY RETURN [/underlined]
432/H – unable to retract U/C.
432/F – PIE – damaged. Landed Woodbridge.
[underlined] CAT AC [/underlined] STB’D FIN & TAIL plane shot up.
Rear Turret jammed.
CREW to return by train.
[page break]
0900 / Off duty F/O O’Beirn
On duty H L Spence F/O.
1015 / 432/C Manston / Permission asked to fly crew to Manston to pick up m/n. Authorised provided neither crew nor a/c [deleted] are [/deleted] [inserted] is [/inserted] required to-day for ops. (By Air I)
1200 / Emergency Dvn. Bases / Requested of C.F.C. – 1 around Boscombe Down 3 North West of Bradwell Bay.
1315 / L.F.B. / [symbol] 13 at Bradwell Bay on 305° T, elev. 070° – 0410 – 0510 hrs.
Balloons / Yeovil – 1500 ft – 0015 to 0115 hrs.
0200 to 0400 hrs.
Chelmsford } 1500 ft. – 0400 to 0500 hrs.
Thames Est. } 1500 ft. – 0400 to 0500 hrs.
Harwich } 1500 ft. – 0400 to 0500 hrs.
1220 / 429/U Landing accident / See opposite page.
1530 / Diversion Bases. / Received from C.F.C. & allotted as on opposite page. Now changed to Provisional Weather.
1214. / Darky [indecipherable word] /S. / Ex 61 Base. Heard by Topcliffe asked for QDM to Syerston. Unable to contact him. Believed to be an American. Passed to 12 Group.
1600 / Dvn. Bases. / “Gen” passed to Stations.
1745 / Dvn. Bases. / Ex C.F.C. Upwood now replaces Bourn “Gen” passed to Croft 1815 hrs.
1817 / D.F.C.O’s to Note Amendment to SD. 300 / New Green area in Irish Sea from Strumble Head tp Mull Oa. M.L.S. 12 Group will not require notification on ordinary cross country routes. [inserted] (day or night) (in that area) [/inserted] Will, however, on H&S Exercises, Air Firing, Bombing, low flying, flare dropping, or other special flights. The above from 12 Group.
1830 / Off duty H.L. Spence F/O.
[page break]
9th MAY
Search – By AIR – SEA Rescue – 11 Grp. – near area of sighting 51° 07’ N 02° 17 E.
1000 hrs – 11 Grp Continuing the search - 3rd search is due – not very satisfactory as they have been interrupted by Am. a/c going out and by two who baled out. Wreckage of a/c spotted 5 miles east of Dover.
Oxford – W6656 – took off at 1056 from Croft for Sydenham – passing the coast out at Millom.
[underlined] Gardens. [/underlined]
[underlined] Balloons [/underlined]
[symbol] Billingham – Close-hauled – 2045 – 0545 hrs
[symbol] Yeovil – 1500’ – 2300 – 0230 hrs
No L.F. Beacon
[underlined] Target 11/J/13 [/underlined]
[underlined] Balloons - [/underlined]
[symbol] Langley, Weybridge at 1500’ } – 0145 – 0430
[symbol] Billingham – Close-hauled – 2045 – 0545
[symbol] L.F. Beacon – Beachy Head – 310° T – 0305 – 0405
[underlined] Target 4/J/39 [/underlined]
[underlined] Balloons. [/underlined]
[symbol] Billingham – Close hauled – 2045 – 0545
[symbol] Chelmsford – 1500’ – 2230 – 0030.
Thames Estuary } 1500’ – 2230 – 0030.
Canterbury, Dover [inserted] (2000’) [/inserted] } 1500’ – 2230 – 0030.
Harwich. } 1500’ – 2230 – 0030.
[symbol] L.F. Beacon – North Foreland – 310° T – 2330 – 0030.
Spitfire – T.O. 1537 from Tholthorpe to Dyce.
[page break]
May 8th 1944
1830 / On Duty - F/L [signature]
MAY 9th 1944.
0001 / Ident Bd corrected.
0430 / F/C 8 and F/C 3 stood down as for Emergency Diversions.
0530 / No Inter Group diversion required.
0545 / Sighting Reports of a/c in sea passed to F.C. 16 with request that search be conducted.
Air I and AOC informed.
0900 / off Duty F/L [signature]
On Duty - B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
0920 / 432/F / – TO C.F.C instructed crew to return by train.
1135 / VIP. AVM. / Monarch / W-6462. – AVM Grey (4 Grp) landed Linton. Inf. SASO.
1310 / 432/A / T.O. for Manston 1323 with crew for 432/C
1430 / Balloons & L.F. Beacons laid on – See opp. page.
1800 / Emergency Diversion bases given by C.F.C. Gen passed to Stations.
1805 / V.I.P. / Monarch W-6462 – left Linton at 1731 for Abingdon. AVM. GREY.
1830 / Off duty F/O O’Beirn
On duty H.L. Spence. F/O.
1923. / G/C [deleted] Chiston [/deleted] [inserted] Chisholm [/inserted] S.A.S.O. 100 Grp. / Ex 100 Group:- Mfn to visit AOC tomorrow. Expects to arrive here by 1200 hrs. Flying to Linton in an Oxford. 62 Base & Air I [inserted] & A.O.C. [/inserted] informed M.T. arranged sending transport to Linton from here.
2100 / Sea-Search / No results from 11 Gr. Air-Sea Rescue for us on any of our missing a/c from last night.
[page break]
[underlined] EMERGENCY BASES [/underlined]
419 SQDN – WING.
427 SQDN } ODIHAM
429 SQDN } ODIHAM
424 SQDN } HARTFORD BRIDGE
433 SQDN } HARTFORD BRIDGE
408 SQDN } MILDENHALL
426 SQDN } MILDENHALL
420 SQDN } TUDDENHAM
425 SQDN } TUDDENHAM
434 SQDN LAKENHEATH
428 SQDN MORETON – IN – MARSH.
1030: Commons Bullseye No C. 94
Route-
Base – Newark – Great Yarmouth – London - [indecipherable word] – Sheffield – Hull – Thirsk – Base.
PARTICIPATION
1659 – 3.
1664 – 4.
1666 – 6.
431 – 5.
420. 3.
[deleted] 425 [/deleted]
426. 3.
432 – 14.
TOTAL – 38
[page break]
2200 / N.F. / Summary to S/D.
2210 / Movements In Green Area D.F.C.O’s to Note / Movements in [inserted] all [/inserted] Green areas which are [underlined] not [/underlined] ordinary cross countries (day or night) must be passed to M.L.S. eg if I.R. is being done, bombing, air firing, H&S, low flying, or anything which might be interpreted as unfriendly action, places and times it is to be executed must be passed. Also [underlined] any [/underlined] crossing of east coast must be reported in advance, irrespective of using corridors laid on. Ex 12 Group. M.L.O.
10 MAY 1944
0001 / Ident Board changed.
0109 / Skipton a/c / Presumed going off Flamboro to jettison. Advised M.L.O. 12 Gp.
0545 / Re. Ops. / Nil – missing.
Nil – Landed away.
Stood down Prov. Bases (Div.).
0900 / Off Duty – F/L Hyman.
F/O Spence.
On Duty. F/L [signature]
1500 / Balloons / BILLINGHAM – CLOSE HAULED – 20:40 = 2230
– 0100 = 0245
HARWICH – 1500 FT – 2240 – 0130
YEOVIL – 1500 FT – { 2300 – 2345 0030 – 0230
1510 / L.F.B. / FELIXSTOWE – BEEARING – 280° T. Timing 0015 – 0115
1515 / Diversion Bases. / Requested of C.F.C. as provisional Petrol bases.
1525. / Bullseye. / Arrangements cancelled. Stations advised.
1800 / Diversion Bases. / [underlined] SQNS. [/underlined] 420, 426, 433, 428, 419, 427, 429, 425.
Emergency Base. Stradishall. Lakenheath. Tuddenham. Chedburgh.
Passed to Stations
1830 – off Duty – [signature]
[page break]
10/11 MAY
[underlined] NON – STARTER. [/underlined] – 424/R – P.I.E. MAG U/S. OK’d by C.T.O.
[underlined] CRASH [/underlined]
427/V – LV-986. Pilot – W/O CLIBBERY.
AT. – WOODBRIDGE A/D. 0110 hrs
Belly landed. – Fires in SIE, SOE & Starboard main plane – put out before landing – Damaged by cannon & machine gun during operations.
Crew O.K.
[underlined] MISSING [/underlined] (GARDENS – ARTICHOKES.
[underlined] 424/C – HX-314 [/underlined]
PILOT – F/O MILLMAN I – R.
[underlined] Crash Landing [/underlined] - 434/I (LW 385)
Pilot F/L Hammond.
Was on C & L detail. Tire burst on take off (1055 hrs) damaging hydraulics; could not get flaps up once they were down. Undercarriage rendered U/S. Advice to Pilot from C.O. & Engr. Officer finally instructed to crash land which he did at 1220 hrs on runway 33. On landing a/c swerved to port off the runway. Crew OK. Undercarriage, port wing & props damaged.
Informed. A.O.C., S.A.S.O., Air I, Controller, G.A.I., G.T.I., Engng, Equipt., S.F.C.O.
[page break]
WED. MAY 10
1830 / On duty. B.T. O’Beirn F/O
2000 / Call sign / LFL of 424 is op. c/s – 17 Group.
2110 / HW480 / 10th MAY. – Important Nav. warning – Exercise Eagle taking place Dusk to Dawn. – In areas VP, VO, VT, VU – Large formation of a/c traversing three routes at all heights up to 4,500 feet. – some a/c with gliders.
Results will be flashing 2200 to 0600 hrs.
[underlined] THURS. MAY 11th 1944 [/underlined]
0001 / Ident Board changed.
0115 / 427/V / – Crash landed at Woodbridge. Crew O.K.
0115 / Whitley / UD – “N” landed Mid-St-G. At 0015 from Kinloss – Inf 91 Group – Staying overnight.
0830 / a/c away report to CFC. We & F/L Smith. F/L Smith will go to Woodbridge to see 427/V.
0900 / Off duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
1100 / HW. 480 & Ops Log Entry 1400 – May 10. / No Objection from 10 or 11 Groups to cross countries at 15,000 – 20,000 ft. Passed to 61 Base.
1345 / Balloons / Yeovil – 1500 ft. 2300 – 2345 & 0110 – 0245 hrs.
Langley } – 1500 ft. 2330 – 0200 hrs.
Weybridge } – 1500 ft. 2330 – 0200 hrs.
Dover – [deleted] 1500 [/deleted] [inserted] 2000 [/inserted] ft 2345 – 0045 hrs.
Billingham – close hauled, 2130 – 2330 and
0145 – 0330 hrs.
1400 / L.F.B. Special / Beachy Head on 190° T from 0035 – 0135 hrs.
1220 / Crash Landing 434/I / Crew OK. – see opposite page for details.
[page break]
[underlined] Missing [/underlined] 11/12 MAY
427/S – LW 114 – F/L Perry.
432/G – N.A. 500 – S/L Barrett
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday May 11th 1944 [/underlined]
1420 / Nav. Warning / Ex. SD:-
I.F.N. crews should be warned not to fly below 3,000 ft. in the areas – lines joining Selsey Bill, St Catherines Point, Hengisbury [sic] Hd, Southampton, Emsworth, Selsey Bill, by day or night. Passed to Stations.
1430. / Smoke. (Z-8527) / Ex 12 Group. F.C.L.O. :- Observer Corps report Black column of smoke about 3 miles south of M.S.G. Latter says it was 5 to 10 miles south south west of them and believe it to be a brush fire on a farm. M.S.G. checking police at Great Smeaton. Result – house fire.
1600 / Dvsn. Bases Emergency. / No definite bases laid on but C.F.C. confirm that Tangmere, Ford. etc., will be standing by for lame ducks. Stations informed.
[deleted] 1840 [/deleted] [inserted] 1820 [/inserted] / Anson S/L Epps. Overdue / Left Moreton - in – Marsh 1550 (15 mins prior to Proctor) for Linton. Proctor landed 1721 hrs. No word of [deleted] Proctor [/deleted] [inserted] Anson [/inserted] since. Checked 91 Gr. 1, 3, 4, 5, Groups. Also 12 Group. Good weather. – no report of a/c in difficulty.
1830 / Off duty H. L. Spence. F/O.
On duty / J D Cleland F/L
1835 / Anson / referred to in entry 1820 hrs, landed OK at Linton.
23.25 / L.F.B. / Beachy Head on bearing of 190° T obviously wrong, checked by 11 Gp and changed to 315° T which is Bombers’ track.
Friday MAY 12th
0030 / Sighting / Flare Sighting in Irish Sea passed to F.C.L.O. 9.
0055 / Jettisoning / L/434 – Engine trouble – Jettisoning total bomb load – SAFE – position 53° 58’N 00° 30’ 30” E – Information passed to MLO 12 and NSO H.Q. B.C. – Bomb Load to the latter.
[page break]
431/L. landed Beaulieu - P.O.E } ENG. CHANGE oil leak
S/L HIGGINS & CREW RETURNING by TRAIN.
[underlined] Command Bullseye. C – 94 [/underlined]
Route – Peterboro, Newcastle (Flashlite target (0025 – 0035); 5510N 0140W. 5510N 0100W. – 5536N 0100E – 5320N – 0200W – Base.
OTU’s drop windows 10 miles before and after Newcastle.
Height – 12000 – 15000 ft.
MF/K.
[underlined] Offers [/underlined]
[deleted] 1659 CU – 0 [/deleted]
1664 CU – 2
1666 CU – 1
[deleted] 434 SQD – 3 [/deleted]
424 SQD – 4
425 SQD – 1
8
[underlined] Balloons [/underlined]
Billingham: 2115 – 2300 and 0130 – 0400 Close hauled.
1500’ { Yeovil – 2300 - 0001 and 0040 – 0140
1500’ { Thames Estuary } 2300 – 0015 and 0100 – 0230
1500’ { Chelmsford } 2300 – 0015 and 0100 – 0230
1500’ { Harwich } 2300 – 0015 and 0100 – 0230
L.F. Beacon – Flamboro Head – 270° T. 0120 – 0220 hrs.
L.F. Beacon – Clacton – on – Sea – 295° T 0045 – 0145 hrs.
[underlined] Emergency Bases [/underlined]
426 & 419 – Mildenhall
420 & 425 Lakenheath
431 & 432 Tuddenham
427 & 429 Waterbeach
428 Boscombe Down
[page break]
MAY 12th 1944
0210 / TVG/W / On Topcliffe HF – following message EX : A/C TVG/W to ZJ.9 = 20 OTU Lossiemouth “99 SQ GO CX FO CX = Position 55° 20’ – 02° 20’ .” - Passed to F.C. 91.
0900 / – / off Duty – [signature]
On duty – B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1000 / 426/P + Q – To go to Sanlesbury [sic] (M.U.) to leave “Q” and return with crew. OK’d by Air I.
1000 / Photographers – F/O Davidson & Cpl Thomas request permission to fly with 425 X/C (R.C.A.F. H.Q. photographers) OK’d by Air I.
1230 / Darky / (61 Base – Agent “P” heard by Dishforth answered by Tholthorpe.
Ancient “O”. – Wombleton gave him QDM & distance to Chelveston
1400 / Master / DK 975 – 12 Grp looking for the a/c – thought to be at Croft.
Not located in 6 Grp.
1400 / Balloons & L.F. Beacons laid on – see opp. page.
1545 / 61 Base / – a/c Cowlie “O.H” – Calling Topcliffe. – 12 Grp FCLO – Cannot help us. By his call sign it belongs to Great Massingham –
1550 / 431/L / at Beaulieu requires P.O.E. F/L Smith requests Croft to send a new engine and fitter crew to change P.O.E – passed inf. to Croft.
1645 / 427/U / at Woodbridge. Cat B. – F/L is taking Radar equipment to Gransden. Two other a/c at Woodbridge nearly ready.
1645 / Emergency bases allocated – see opp. page.
1830 / Off duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
[page break]
Oxford “H” from Hullavington (23 Group)
(1620 hrs) landed Topcliffe – Inf 23 G.
Spit – P-7668 – F/L Seghers landed Mid.S.G. 1520 from Catfoss – Inf. F.C.O. 12 Grp.
Anson – landed at 1700 from Croft at Linton. TO. 1706 for Pocklington.
FAIRCHILD – left Linton 1642 for Sherburn - in - E
[page break]
1830 / On duty H. L. Spence.
2250 / Pundit / 62 Base report pundit & spare u/s. Repairs in progress. Signal action taken.
[boxed] Saturday – May 13/44 [/boxed]
0055 / Intruders / Ex 12 Group. Hostiles plotted in “W.C” Stations informed & warned of possibility of intruder plots being passed.
0015 / BullsEye / Ops. Controller 12 Grp requested Bulls Eye a/c [inserted] be [/inserted] 62 Base & Skipton instructed to recall on H.F.D.F.
0117 / Intruders / “X” raids in W.B. 5800. Due to uncertain identification lines manned & plots told stations.
0130 / Bulls Eye 424 Sqn a/c / 6 Group Monitoring Watch discovered Leeming H.F.D.F using Operational C/S (TTJ) to recall Bulls Eye aircraft D.S.O. Group cleared with Leeming H.F.D.F.
0143 / Intruder Warning to a/c / Instructed M.S.G. & Skipton to broadcast warning to their aircraft.
0210 / Intruder Lines / Ex 12 Group “X” raids confirmed as friendly. Lines closed down.
0200 / Ident Board changed.
0313 / Bulls Eye / Last a/c landed from Bulls Eye.
Ops. / Last a/c landed – 5 missing.
Dvn. Bases / Stood down.
0740 / a/c away / Summary to C.F.C.
0840 / a/c away / Summary to F/L Smith.
0900 / Off duty H. L .Spence F/O.
Carried forward to next log:-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Flying Control Log Book
Description
An account of the resource
A record of events and their times at RAF Tholthorpe during the period 31 March to 13 May 1944 (68 pages).
Format
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68 handwritten pages
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
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MCothliffKB[Ser#-DoB]-151020-120006
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
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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.
Date
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1944
Temporal Coverage
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1944-03
1944-04
1944-05
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
RAF Tholthorpe
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1612/24533/MCothliffKB[Ser -DoB]-151020-120009.pdf
750ecc3663ce463e815059a8e6ed67d6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken. Tholthorpe Logs
Description
An account of the resource
10 items. The collection contains flying control log books from RAF Tholthorpe.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
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Cothliff, K
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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[front cover of notebook]
[underlined] S.O. Book 129. [/underlined]
Code 28-69-0.
[underlined]Flying Control Log [/underlined]
From July 21st 1944 to 17 Aug 44
G. [crown symbol] R.
SUPPLIED FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
T. 2523. Wt. 5630. Gp. 99-21-0 10/42. E.J A . & S. Ltd.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Friday July 21st 1944 [/underlined]
1110 G- 1659 To stand by to await Oxford which will change instructor at Ossington to check a/c
1115 Warwick — Thornaby. Airborne for Thornaby from Skipton at 1024 - Passed to GV for direct transmission to Thornaby.
1125 Y - 420 At Cranwell instructed to return as soon as possible to check weather carefully.
1133 OXFORD T - 1104 From Dalton landed at Tholthorpe at 1121. Taking off from Tholthorpe at 1330 for Swinderby thence to Halton. Brought a visiting WAAF officer.
1147 SOS. M.S.G. picked up following message BPO B - that is all very faint no bearing - passed to 12. Can’t find out who it belongs to.
1207 SOS. Following message received by M.S.G H/F D/F. SOS - BEN B X 8 BEN NC NC 090 H 6000 P 5230N 0230W 0900
Bearing 0880 T at 1201 1/2 Passed to 12 Grp. & W/T.
1214 SOS Following Message received by M.S.G. H/F D/F SOS - BEN B X 8 BEN NC 0902K Soi [deleted] 5230W [/deleted] 520 (3) [inserted] faint [/inserted] 0230W 1605
Bearing 0880 T ate 1210 Passed to 12 Grp & W/T.
W/T cannot break message down, nor find out who it belongs to. Position indicates a/c over land, but bearing indicates it is over North Sea. Suggested to 12 Grp. that Posn’ given might be last known position at 0900 hrs. Bearing indicates he might be down in the sea as it doesn’t change. M.S.G. have transmitted to a/c but received no acknowledgment. 12 Grp are getting 16 Group cracking. Bearings were 1st class.
13 13 SOS. 12 Grp advise that 16 Grp have sent an a/c from Thornaby on a COT from M.S.G. of 0880 as far east as 04000 E.
1340 Wellington HF 719 at Skipton going to Gaydon - Bassingham Derby Doncaster Gaydon - Advised to keep clear of these towns. Also check W/X before going. Let it be known we don’t like the route.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Friday July 21st 1944 [/underlined]
1346 P/427 Needs an engine change. Crew instructed to return to Base by rail. From 63.
1430 Wellington HF719 Route changed to Base - Newark Gaydon Took off at [space] Signalled [one indecipherable word]
MW 362 Hurricane Enroute from Catterick to Andover landed at Leeming with gun panel u/s. Catterick was advised by 63. [deleted] when [/deleted] [one indecipherable word] is serviceable and will be signalled by Leeming on to Andover.
1457 Crashed Sterling Wigsly called Topcliffe regarding Crashed Sterling at Posn. 5325N - 0138W (near Sheffield) - Topcliffe is connected with mountain rescue service - Topcliffe want to know what action they should take with regard to searching for lost crew. - 1 of which had passed information regarding position of a/c. Contacted 5 Group who said Wigsly should not have done this and no action by Topcliffe was required as search of crew was well in hand.
1730 W-6547 Oxford F/L Appleton from Skipton down at Cork, told not to return to base tonight call us in the morning. He says O.K.
1835 W-6547 Oxford. Cork advise us that a/c is airborne at 1828 without our permission. Asked them to have the R.O.C plot him.
1845 Off Duty F/O [signature] On duty F/L W A Warwick.
1900 Met. Re - 61 Base & 420 Sqd x countries met rather worried about conditions on approx E.T.R. 0400 & 0100 respectively put matter in the hands of controller S/L Ganderton.
2015 61 Base - Scrubbed night x countries.
2045 62 Base Tholthorpe doing bombing ex. at Strensall Bombing range until 2315.
2330 62 Base All A/C in Group down
[page break]
[underlined] D.F.C.O [/underlined]
F.C.L.O 12 Grp. phoned re. the placing of small searchlites [sic] at practically every R.O.C post in this area, he suggested that in case of emergency re. lost A/C to be homed, that we suggest 2 aerodromes, well placed in location etc. I suggested Topcliffe & Eastmoor, if any Duty officer feels that this is not a suitable suggestion, place suggested places below. (too many suggested etc) [indecipherable letters]
PROCTOR - HM - 422 (6 Grp Com. Flight)
Pilot - S/L BOOSEY
At 2000 hrs 18/7/44, upon return from Dalton swung off runway - tipped up nose and damaged the propeller. Category A.R.
[page break]
[underlined] Friday July 21/1944[/underlined]
2345 63 Base Re. A.O.C’s car to be at Leeming by 0945 hrs. on Saturday 22nd July re. Lord Swinton M.T. advised.
[underlined] Saturday July 22nd/44 [/underlined]
0200. All quiet.
0900 Off watch F/L W. A. Warwick. On watch F/O Mountjoy
0930 63 Base advise that Lord Swinton will not arrive at Leeming until possibly tomorrow morning.
1000 A.O.C advised of the above - after [one indecipherable word] conference etc. was completed. Air I also advised when message first received. Unfortunately A.O.C’s car had left for Leeming prior to 0900 hrs.
1127 4 Grp Report of Low flying Report that an a/c - Halifax III GU-N- flew over 4 Grp H.Q at a Height of 400’ at 1118hrs. W/C Warner took his letters. We have no Squadron letters GU. Dishforth with a/c letters ZU have no Halifax III.
1135 ANSON NK710 Air Ambulance This a/c arrived at Dishforth to take Dental Officer injured several nights ago down to Odiham. (25m. SW of London.) Intends to leave about 1300 hrs. 61 Base don’t think Met is good enough and want to delay ETD till 1400 hrs. Our Met say it should improve by 1400 hrs and agree with 61 Base. Route for flight Base - Peterboro [sic] - Odiham. Further check on weather made at 1230 and Controller agrees to let him go at 1400 hrs.
1215 Proctor Damage to Dishforth’s proctor discovered. This was not reported to 6 Grp. Check made and it was not reported to 61 Base. 61 Base are getting all possible “gen” for us. Apparently damage occurred on 18th.
1310 6 Grp met. Anson NK710 Say weather hasn’t developed the way they had anticipated and that cloud base was down to 600 feet in places. SOC scrubbed all thoughts of making flight until 1800 hrs.
[page break]
F.C.O. - Please note.
On H2S Cross Country Route [symbol] 28 the Route is as follows Base - Blyth - Conquest I etc.
Blyth is within an I.A.Z. - 12 Group request that this is changed. With permission of S.O.C we have changed it to read Base - Hexham - Cougnet I etc.
Check 23/7.44 for Air I
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday July 22nd 1944 [/underlined]
1447 61 Base Complaining of a mosquito shooting up watch tower [inserted] TOPCLIFFE [/inserted] at 50 feet. We haven’t got his letters checked with 12 Grp. - They have nothing.
1537 12 Grp. Report a column of Black smoke about 4 miles SW. from Skipton. in E 7799. Plot from R.O.C. Called Skipton asked them if they could see anything, they couldn’t. Called Snape Bombing Range. They couldn’t see anything either. 12 Grp had nothing
1605 61 Base Oxford Request clearance for 61 Base Oxford to go to Ossington tomorrow morning - S/L. Stinson doing liaison work. AI gave his permission T.O. about 1030.
1637 61 Base Oxford from Full Sutton. Report an Oxford landed at Dalton at 1515 He brought a navigator who wished to pick up some of his kit left there. a/c P-8978 - Took off at 1647 for Full Sutton.
1647 61 Base DARKY Report - Topcliffe - Dalton - Dishforth heard a Darky call from Powder Cream A - Able at 1645 - Sounded like an American and signal was not very strong.
Checked with 12 Grp - R.O.C had a Dakota plotted in E96 in no apparent difficulty - but that was only plot in the area. Asked 12 Grp to watch this plot. Called 4 Grp - they had had no report of a Darky call or any a/c in difficulty.
1730 64 Base Report yesterday that [inserted] Lanc [/inserted] N28/F on Radar X/C on approved route serial No N526 at 10000’ and at position 5435N - 0437W - was fired at by Heavy ack ack bursting below at 8000’ Checked with 12 Grp who checked with 13. This is an artillery zone. Air I wants this to be checked tomorrow to see what is being done. a/c was on track and on time Time of incident 1822.
1805 12 & 13 Grp Report that 2 Halifax a/c crossed coast out this afternoon at St. Abbo Head. Proceeded out to sea to about 100 miles east of Peter Head turned and came in at Peter Head. They were tracked across country and landed at Dishforth.
[page break]
[underlined] Crew List Z/426 : NP 700. [/underlined]
Pilot : P/O McIntyre. H.B J86652
Nav : P/O Mahler L.H J35749
WOP : W/O Stone T.A R129668
A/B : W/O St. Pierre A.L R158073
F/E : Sgt. Rhodes F. 1680670 *
M/U : Sgt. Fairty H.C. R201301
R/G : Sgt. Fosty A.M. R147033.
* broken ankle - All the rest O.K.
Inf - AOC. SASO AIR 1, SOC, ENG. EQUIP G.A.I.O
Sgt Rhodes in R.A.F Hospital Hereford.
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday July 22nd 1944 [/underlined]
Checked with 61 Base who were taking it up with Dishforth.
1810 62 Base Z/426 X/country exercise RCAF No 24. Report that they have a report that Z/426 had pranged in South Wales [deleted] Sl [/deleted] Shobdon was looking after it. Pilot reports he saw 5 other parachutes than his own. 5 members of the crew have been located - one with a leg injury. Location VO 9090 5.6 miles from Shobdon airfield.
2200 62 Base Z/426 X/country exercise RCAF No 24. Report from Pilot that the Port outer engine caught on fire - due to the prop overspeeding. Unable to feather and the prop broke off and in doing so, broke the port inner prop. The Port Inner engine then also caught on fire. Five baled out at 5000 ft and the Pilot & Flight Engineer followed. [inserted] a/c crashed & burned [/inserted] All the crew are at Shobdon and are OK with exception of F/E who broke his ankle.
22.00 27 Balloon Centre. BLO says he believes this is now located at Redhill, Surrey - Passed to 64 Base.
[underlined] Saturday July 23. 1944 [/underlined]
0900 Off duty B.T O’Beirn F/O On Duty F/O [indecipherable] Mountjoy Lord Swinton. 63 Base report that Lord Swinton may arrive at Leeming to-day. Request a car at 1000 hrs.
0930 ANSON NK-710 Air Ambulance Air I gave permission for Anson to go to Odiham this morning 61 Base advised Dishforth are handling the notification to Harrogate hospital.
1050 Bullseye Advised 61 Base of Combined Command Bullseye
1055 LIAISON VISIT Sir Ashley Cooper visited the operations room.
1205 Z/426 Crew. Instructed all well members of this crew to return to base by rail - Sgt. Rhodes F. - the injured member of the crew is in Hereford. (R.A.F) Hospital - Casualty signal being sent to [deleted] hosp [/deleted] Air Ministry by Shobdon & Engineer is completing form 1921 re-write off of a/c.
1247 This information passed to 62 Base.
[page break]
408/K DS - 705 (Lane)
PILOT P/O SNIDER
A.O.C. — S.A.S.O — AIRI — SOC — ENG. — EQUIP — G.A.I.O.
[page break]
1405 61 Base STC in H.C.U a/c Permission given for ATC to fly in Dishforth’s a/c this afternoon - An instructor will be aboard in each case.
1309 0/426 Sqdn. Reported overdue - No report of crash. He was on a bombing detail at Strensall then to go Air to Air Firing - Checked with 61 Base who give following report. He was on R/T at Dalton at 1230. A Martinet was sent out but failed to pick him up so returned to base - refuelled and went out again at 1328 when he presumably completed the detail, but at 1330 he was on R/T again at Dalton, asking for another detail. He is now out to sea on another detail.
1435 MITCHELL FR 297 62 Base F/LT [deleted] ORPEN Flto [/deleted] ALTON from Hartford Bridge landed at Linton at 1410. He will be returning at 1530. F/LT ORPEN
1505 K/408 CRASH On Dalton Aerodrome on Rwy 36. Told to land on 30 and he landed on 36. Dalton were in the process of changing Runways.
a/c still Burning no further “gen” re - crew etc.
1645 Oxford 62 Base Air I gave permission for 62 Base Oxford to take F/LT King to Warboys for Court of Inquiry.
1700 Spitfire EAM From Digby landed at Tholthorpe at 1650. S/C Mc Nab was pilot - 12 Group advised (TO 1900 hrs for Digby - 12 Grp advised).
1703 CRASH K/408 Crew all O.K - a/c ran off end of Runway on landing, turned over - and burst into flames. P/O Smiles was pilot and Crew are all O.K.
1845 MITCHELL FR 297 62 Base report a MITCHELL Pilot F/LT ALTON pilot & passenger F/LT Orpen reported overdue at Base - Hartford Bridge. Pilot reported he had been routed both ways. Checked with 12 Group who had no report of any crashes other than one north of Thornaby believed to be a twin. [inserted] (a mosquito from Benson.) [/inserted] Approx [symbol] TA. 1830. Took off at 1606.
1845 Off duty F/O Mountjoy. On duty B. O’Beirn F/O
1900 K/408 Lancaster - one of 3, D.K.X being delivered to Dalton. Category E Burned.
[page break]
CRASH
408/S - DS - 692 - P/O Brown - J.A. J- 19709
INFORMED. SASO — AOC — AIRI — SOC — ENG — EQUIP — SFCO — GAIO
[page break]
2100 F/L King - Re 62 Base request for 62 Base Proctor or 6 Grp Anson to take F/L King to Warboys. Air I rule no - He can take the train.
2300 62 Base 408/S [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] 2305 HRS. - Lanc 408/S had difficulty on take off - believe one engine cut. Cannot gain height headed toward Marston Moor at tree top height. Inf 4 Grp - to inform Marston Moor - Also inf 12 Grp and asked for any R.O.C plots and opened our board.
2311 12 Grp 408/S Lanc believed our 408/S crashed at Marston Moor.
4 Grp. confirm this. No details yet.
2320 AIR I Informed A.O.C. of the above crash.
2335 408/S (4 Grp report) - Crew all OK. - a/c landed on a U/S runway about the middle of the aerodrome and burned fiercely.
Inf 4 Grp. of the bomb load 18 x 500 - 2 of them 72 hr delay. Also inf 12 Grp.
2340 408/S (4 Grp report) G/C Dennis reported to 62 Base that the leading edge of the starboard wing between the inner engine and the fuselage folded up on take off.
2350 Flare - 2 small & one large explosion reported by 6 Grp police, 62 Base & 61 Base & 12 Grp - explosion of Lanc 408/S.
[underlined] Monday July 24 [/underlined]
0200 408/S - Crew staying overnight.
0125 434/C Landed at Exeter - S. E U/S.
[page break]
[underlined] CRASH [/underlined]
1666/U - JD - 372.
PILOT - SGT. MOFFATT H D - R - 186738B - KILLED
NAV - P/O LEWTHWAITE G. A. J - 37164 KILLED
A/B SGT DUTNER D. F. R - 179976 KILLED
W/OP SGT GREEN F S. R - 160985 KILLED
R/G SGT LUDLOW J M R 209960 KILLED
MU SGT REYNOLDS A. C. R 203113 KILLED
F E SGT LIVINGSTONE
Informed. AOC — SASO — AIRI — SOC — ENG — EQUIP — P4 — GAIO — C of E — SFCO.
[page break]
July 24
0325 SOS a/c approached Flamboro from the sea. Inf 62 Base. - Later declared no longer SOS.
0400 Crash 1666/U - Ex 62 Base of A0988 - near Sheriff Hutton.
12 Grp report crash A1793. Instructed 62 Base to send Eastmoor crash tender dispatched via Sherriff Hutton to Shackleton near the position A1793 confirmed by 12 Grp.
0430 1666/U JD-372 - Hurricane Q, reported that his detail 1666/U caught fire and exploded in the air. May be the crash noted above.
0500 424/H Landed at Ossington with 2 long delays - If these bombs were fused pilot is to jettison them 20 miles off Flamboro before returning to base.
0500 a/c Away - Instructed to be interrupted refuelled and sent back to base.
0645 1666/U - Eastmoor crash tender returned to base - They reported all the crew dead and Wombleton was in charge of the crash.
0700 Location 1/2 mile east of Coneysthorpe Village [indecipherable] summary passed to C.F.C. - 8 a/c 7 stations.
0730 1666/U - Pilot of Hurricane Q - F/S GAUKROGER on fighter affiliation with 1666/U reported - Five minutes after contact about 0400 hrs at 7000 ft. the Halifax did a violent corkscrew. After straightening out “Q” saw starboard O.E on fire. He tried to warn the pilot of 1666/U but made no R/T contact. Caught fire very quickly and spun to earth; no one seen to bale out.
0840 1666/U - Malton N.F.S. - report that all 7 bodies found - at least three identified - Wombleton now in charge of the matter.
[page break]
[underlined] Re Bullseye [/underlined]
12 Grp. that Black Widow a/c
[page break]
July 24.
0900 Off Duty F/O O’Beirn On Duty F/O [indecipherable] Mountjoy
1000 61 Base Request a Blanket cover for the next 5 weeks in permission for Wombleton to fly ATC boys - 35 per day - [deleted] for next [/deleted] in training a/c - carrying an instructor pilot and full crew. 3 ATC per a/c - only in fit weather and only day flying. Referred this to S.A.S.O. Who is going to confer with the G/C Mc Gregor of Wombleton.
1005 12 Grp Report 2 men picked up at sea - presumably both alive - off the Humber in North Sea. Sgt AG. - B-N- Graves 1896264 & W. Good - [one indecipherable word] 169375. Checked with P4. who say these men do not belong to 6 Group. Advised R.
1110 62 Base Proctor LZ 560 From Holton - landed at Linton at 1105 Proceeding to Mildenhall this afternoon. S/L Watson was pilot. Returned at 1430.
1348 12 Grp. Report column of smoke in E 8599 1 mile SW of Skipton. Called Skipton and had fire department check. It turned out to be a Haystack 12 Grp informed.
1410 63 Base a/c at Hampstead Norris. Inquire whether or not it will be O.K for them to send an a/c to Hampstead Norris to pick up crew of P/427 U/S at this station. Controller gave his permission with the reservation that crew of a/c going down should be careful to look the airfield over carefully before attempting to land as it has very short runways. If not satisfied they should proceed to Harwell, drop off extra crew there and continue on training X/C.
1815 W/O Burton Gransden L advises C/434 at Exeter needs S.I.E change Crew are to return home by rail. S.O.C refuses permission for an a/c to pick them up while doing a X/C. Crew instructed to return to Base by rail.
1850 Off Duty F/O [indecipherable] Mountjoy. On duty B. O’Beirn F/O
1910 Petrol To C.F.C. Diversion Bases - Request for Tangmere or equivalent for 408 Lancs.
[page break]
[underlined] Definite Diversion Base [/underlined]
408 - LASHAM - II Grp.
[underlined] Emergency Bases if required. [/underlined]
Hartford Bridge
Thorney Island
Tangmere
Ford
Odiham
[underlined] MISSING [/underlined]
420/U - MZ - 713
Pilot - F/O TRICKETT D.
419/T - KB 719
Pilot F/S PHILLIPS J.A.
[underlined] ACCIDENT [/underlined]
CAT - E [deleted] 1 [/deleted]
428/V - KB 740 LANDED WOODBRIDGE
Pilot P/O CORBET C H.
Collided with another a/c.
Rear Gunner SGT SANDULAK j. R-208898
BALED OUT OVER ENEMY TERRITORY
1664/J - LK - 694 HAL II CAT E (PROP)
PILOT F/O HUCHALA
Inf - AOC — SASO — AIRI — SOC. — ENG — EQUIP.
AOC — SASO — AIRI — SOC — ENG — EQUIP — P4 — GAIO — C of A — S.F.C.O
[page break]
1945 Petrol - Diversion Base - allocated and gen passed to 62 Base & 64 Base.
2015 To 2 Grp - Gen re 408 petrol Diversion given to 2 Grp. for Lasham including the call signs etc.
[underlined] Tuesday July 25 [/underlined]
0100 420/U (FIX) - S.O.S. - 4950N 0134E 1st 0043 [inserted] (From Southampton) [/inserted] passed to 62 Base. Inf 11 Grp and 10 Grp. (overland near Dieppe).
Marston Moor - Re damage by 408/S - no damage to building and no casualties. Left a big crater 25 yds off the main runway. Aerodrome put U/S until 1000 hr - now O.K. One piece of bomb went through an aircraft no damage of any consequence - a few panes of glass broken in Tockwith village. Inf - 62 Base.
0230 From 11 Grp - A Broad IFF. north of fix position - WR 8200 at 0057 hrs faded. 11 Grp reported it to A.S.R. 11 Grp Inf. 62 Base this a/c was possibly 420/U whose posn & fix on giving S.O.S priority was over land. A.S.R. 11 Grp are putting on a search when weather fit around Le Touquet [inserted] South [/inserted] area & will notify us of such. Inf. 62 Base
0700 Diversion -Runway - passed to CFC.
0700 1664/J LK-694 CAT E (Prov) On return from Bullseye on 3 engines, landed at 0406 hrs, swung at right angles to the runway and bounced once to starboard and headed for the Great North Road and then swerved to Runway 16 and undercarriage collapsed crew O.K.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
428/U KB-740 PILOT P/O CORBET. - Landed Woodbridge at 0326. Collided with another aircraft at 2359 hrs. Rear gunner Sgt Sandulak baled out over enemy territory. The other aircraft possibly crashed at time of collision 40 - 50 miles from target and was seen going down in flames (possibly 419/T - missing a/c). 428/U - Category E1.
[deleted] 1000 [/deleted] 0900 U/420 MISSING. Off duty F/O O’Beirn & On duty F/O [indecipherable] Mountjoy. Reported SOS message etc re this a/c to S/L Seaborne.
0915 62 Base Navigator of 408 Sqdn. injured before take - off on Bullseye last night - had a cut requiring two stitches in his head. Nothing serious.
0935 64 Base W/C McLeish wants to send an a/c of [deleted] U/425 [/deleted] 428 Sqdn, on a training flight to Woodbridge to pick up crew of V/428 Sqdn. AIR I would not give his permission. 64 Base will contact Woodbridge re having crew return by rail..
0940 61 Base S/L Stinson wants to go to Ossington in 61 Base Oxford on a liaison visit. AIR I gave his permission
E.T.D 1100 hrs. ETA. 1145.
0945 62 Base all of 408 a/c that landed away are now back at base.
1015 11 Grp U/420 MISSING Called 11 Grp re ASR search for 420/U. They have searched the area WR 8200 and found nothing. S/L Seabourne advised.
1030 ANSON EG 184 This Anson landed at Linton for refuelling he is proceeding to Prestwick via Carlyle. Checked with met. this will be O.K.
T.O. 1045 ETA 1215.
1032 62 Base 415 have one flight that becomes operational tomorrow 26/7/44
408 - offer 11 for duty.
All other 62 Base Squadrons - 426, 432, 420, 425 can offer 15 for duty. operations officer informed.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
1033 63 Base L/433 at Dishforth having an Engine Change.
1037 10 Grp Re U/420 MISSING Checked with 10 Grp. They have taken no action as plots were in 11 Grp area. Suggest we might get in touch with ASR Officer on the beach head who controls A.S.R. fixed positions in the channel. Informed S/L Seaborne who asked 11 Grp to carry out another search this afternoon. They will let us know if they see anything.
1050 4 Grp. S/L Thompson & F/O Jeffson are going to pay us a Liaison visit today. F/Lt Cleland informed.
1150 61 Base DARKY Report a Dark Call - presumably an American a/c using Call sign - CLAPTRAP - FLASHBACK - ALLSACK in FLAPJACK - Y - Yoke. - Reported this to 63 Base who had heard him and were trying work him. Show to 62 Base. Reported to 12 & 4 Grp. 4 Grp had heard him earlier on - 12 Grp are trying to get a plot.
1225 64 Base report that a Cessna Crane with an American Pilot is down at Croft - From Bovington - more “gen” later appeared to be lost. Reported to 12 Grp, 61, 62, 63, Bases.
[deleted] 1230 64 BASE DARKY [/deleted] At 1255 Croft Reported that the a/c they had landed wasn’t calling Darky, his a/c letters were H - 322102. Home Base Bovington destination Turnhouse - Bovington & Turnhouse advised. Croft is refuelling him. His R/T C/S was Longfellow. 12 Grp have been unable to get any more “gen” on the DARKY - although 4 Grp have landed on DARKY call with the letter H.
1245 11 Grp Re U/420 MISSING They are starting search again. Report of a dinghy at Posn 50 30 1/2 N - 0108 E & wreckage at 5030 - 0058 E. These are almost on Track for the a/c, but cannot fit in with the fix as previously given. 11 Gap say there are a great many a/c over most of the channel area today and area should be well covered.
1250 CFC Re Z/425 Advise that this a/c will probably need an Engine Change. F/LT Smith or W/O Burton have inspected it & a signal has been sent by him presumably to Grp engineering officer or Station Engineering officer stating repairs needed. 62 Base advised.
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CRASH
433/I - LV-911
Pilot - P/O WRIGHT W.H.
Inf. AOC — SASO — AIR1 — SOC — ENG. — EQUIP — S.F.C.O. — C.A.I.O.
Preston “N” HM - 3GH W/C Wally. Landed Wombleton at 1152 from Turnhouse 24/7.
Took off 1935, 25/7 to Northolt ETA - 2045.
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1403 63 Base HAL MH-T Landed at Leeming last night - O.K given for him to return to Snaith. T.O. - 1403.
1435. F/LT SMITH Called Re C/433 at Woodbridge formerly a Cat AC. now repaired. The crew of Z/428 Tholthorpe is flying this a/c and they are also bringing the crew of N/428 that crash landed at Woodbridge last night. The a/c will go to M.S.G first and then on to Skipton. 62 Base advised and asked to organise transport from Tholthorpe for their crew. 64 Base also advised and 63 base.
1535 DIVERSION BASES. Called Central Flying Control for definite diversion bases, as many on the coast as possible. Emphasised these must be had and will be used as this will be extreme range for our a/c.
1725 C/433 went U/S will probably return tomorrow morning. 64, 63, 62, advised.
1940 Diversion Bases. Allocation passed to the stations.
2015 6 Grp Met - do not like the diversion bases offered east of of Isle of Wight. Request a new group of bases.
2000 C.F.C. Offer Thorney Island, Hartford Bridge, Ludham & Dunsfold - We do not like Dunsfold.
2120 Crash 433/I LV-911 P/O WRIGHT - Skipton have a/c crash on take off [inserted] 2112 hrs [/inserted] no details - 63 Base required a crash tender 61 Base are sending one from Topcliffe.
2150 12 Grp - Request us to get a Norseman Bluestream 342 - to land and check weather before proceeding Inf. 63 & 64 Base.
2210 Norseman - Bluestream 364 - Pilot 2nd Lieut Clays landed Dishforth at 2207 from Warton. Staying overnight. Inf. 12 Grp.
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427/J - MZ-316
Pilot - P/O EGLI H.D.
NAV - F/O SUNSTRUM IN BAYEUX HOSP - OK
A/B - F/O CAMPBELL H H - BACK INJURY.
WOP/AG. SGT FOY T.S.
MO/G. F/S G T KOTYK M.W. R177905
R/G. SGT REGIMBAL P E
F/ENG. SGT BRIERS G.R. LR - 1894468.
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2300 Diversion Bases - Removed - and letters [deleted] signals [/deleted] call signs etc sent to the various Grps. 11, 92, 8, & 38.
2310 433/I crash - Swung on take off - port wing seemed to catch fire as he came to rest about 50 yds from the Bomb dump. His bombs exploded [inserted] 2120 hrs [/inserted] and damaged 2 crash tenders but no casualties. Category burned
[underlined] Wednesday July 26. [/underlined]
0350 Diversion signal sent
420 - Land at Bourn
425 - Land at Warboys
419 - if petrol low land at Polebrook
428 - if petrol low land at Bassingbourn
0420 Diversion Bases - signal repeated.
0400 - 0700 - Numerous messages & fixes from aircraft. - see message sheet.
0725 427/J - T.A.F. report that the a/c that crashed 6 miles S. W. Of Bayeux Pilot - P/O [one indecipherable word] found - but no particulars if alive or dead. Ex 11 Grp - 427/J - navigator F/O Sundrun and 2 others are O.K - slight bruises and in Bayeux hospital.
0730 a/c away - All instructed to be refuelled and to return to base.
0900 off Duty F/O O Beirn. On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1015 2 Grp 420/X - landed at landing strip B6 in Normandy - Took for Dunsfold will refuel and return to Base
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1330 61 Base Dalton Hurricane Gave permission for this Hurricane to go to [one indecipherable word] for a major inspection.
1400 Off duty - F/O Mountjoy - On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1430 64 Base - Request permission for S/O Blackburn to fly in 434/X - on SBA tests. SASO says his duty requires it. No permission required by from 6 Grp.
1500 427/J (Bayeux) - From 6 Grp Intelligence - Word received from Bognor :- navigator, F/E, R/G. and M/UG are O.K and plan to return to base via an Anson a/c. Bomber Aimer F/O Campbell has back injury and is in a hospital in France. Captain P/O EGLI is O.K. but his location is vague no news of WOP. - but he is thought to be safe.
427/J bombed the [symbol] at 0153 hrs - was hit by flak at 0155 and hydraulics and U/C damaged. Ran out of petrol over Bayeux and baled out.
Inf 62 Base. Intell advising SASO & A.O.C.
1530 Weather - Met do not advise X/C flights this afternoon. Heavy at 10000 feet risk of thundery showers Warned 64, 61, 62 Base. Re. flashlight target at Bristol - expect 10/10 cloud and bases :- poor in smoke and fog. 0330 hrs and later.
1800 Anson - From Bognor landed with 4 of crew of 427/J.
1830 U/429 and 426/J returning to base tonight remainder to remain overnight.
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July 25 62 Base - Received a postogram 6G/S42/AIR which is an amendment to BC/S31408/3/AIR/FC Dated July 3/1944 62 Base - claim they have not received the BC letters. Checked - 6G/S42/AIR/16 July with a letter attached to BC/S 314 08/3/air/FC. -
Suggest Emergency Airfield.
Inf - 62 Base.
[underlined] Reference a/c away [/underlined] 1100 hrs 27-7-44
From - F/S Warmsley - Gransden Lodge.
426/R - Tangmere - Requires P.O.E. Change.
420/V - Beaulieu - S. - Tire changed by Ground.
62 Base want it back to-day
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432 sqdn - given permission by air I to take our a/c to Ford plus 2 crews to follow if weather permits.
1830 Off duty B.T O Beirn F/O
1930 Central FC. Advise crew of Z/425 are returning to base by rail - 62 base advised. 64 Base have no information re the crew of V/428
2002 61 Base LANCASTER PH-A. This a/c landed at Dalton at 1955. - an a/c from Wickenby - No1 Group. No further information yet.
2010 1 Grp Enquired if that we had their a/c, he had sent a W/T message “making a forced landing” Advise that a/c was struck by lightning and Electrical equipment and instruments went for Burton. 1 Grp. Advised. a/c to be made serviceable and to return to base W/X permitting as soon as possible.
0900 Off Duty F/O Mountjoy. On duty B. O’Beirn F/O
0920 425 (AIR I) a/c to Ford - permission granted to take fitters & parts - But must get approval from 6 Grp when weather clears about Sunday.
1000 419/Z - Request permission for flight to Ringway -
[one indecipherable word] Eng. Lanc are fitted with rivets, but Can. Lanc. are fitted with screws. Ringway is believed to be the only place where these screws can be fitted in the fuselage. - If a/c cannot be repaired at Ringway it will not be fit for operations.
1012 419/Z SASO is & AIRI grant permission for above - 64 Base [one indecipherable word] W/X.
1100 424/O At Thorney Island - of Thorney Is will be ready within 24 hrs. - crew have returned by rail.
1300 Top Oxford - Air I grants permission for
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432/D - T.O. - 1432 for Ford with skeleton crew for 432/G Returned to base 1700.
Wellington - LP-496 landed Linton from Topcliffe. Liaison visit.
Hurricane - W/C Fleming landed from Cranwell at Leeming at 1540.
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1300 Oxford (Topcliffe) pilot (W/C Weiser) to fly a north Allerton doctor to Castle Kennedy. The doctor will perform an emergency operation at Stranraer and return this afternoon.
433/C Air I grants permission for a trip to Woodbridge with a crew for 433/C. T.O. - 1445
1300 a/c at Silverstone, Turweston and Tangmere & Beaulieu which are serv - are instructed to get a met forecast and return to base.
1320 F/L Betcher at Andreas - Isle of Man is awaiting transport home. Inf. AirI
1600 Local Bullseye - not favoured by 6 Grp Met nor 61 Base Met. 61 Base are withdrawing their offer. Inf 12 Grp night Ops.
1600 [one indecipherable word] Exercise to-morrow afternoon Gave information to 61 Base.
1610 63 Base Oxford - AIR grants permission for a skeleton crew to Harwell for 424/J
1700 431/F - F/L Smith of Gransden - reports craft to supply a Part fin + people to put it on plus variety of hydraulic connections and Hyd. fluid.
420/CK Requires a new P.I. engine starter. Smith of Gransden will provide starter and get it ready to-night or to-morrow.
1750 433/C. - Farmer can AC ex Woodbridge requires inspection by “Bristol Engineers” - before being here. 433/I with additional crew made useless trip.
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D.F.C.O. Please Note.
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1830 Off Duty F/O O Beirn. On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1840 Ex 92 Grp 432-G 432-E. These a/c landed at Oakley. They were on the way back from Ford. E/432 had hydraulics u/s. It will be O.K to take - off and return by 2100 hrs. After that check with us.
1900 Ex 92. G/432 airborne at 1845 for base landed at Oakley at 1730. E/432 should be S by 2000 hrs. 62 Base advised.
1918 Ex 92. F/429 - Took off for Leeming from Turweston at 1910 63 Base advised (Landed at Base)
Note 4 Grp Bombing 4 Group will be using Helmsley Bomb Range Time 02.10 - 13 a/c involved - 3 Red T.I s. at 1000. hrs. - advised 61 Base
2001 Ex Harwell J/424 airborne for Skipton at 1925 63 Base advised. (Landed at Base)
2030 OXFORD 61 Base Called 9 Group re Topcliffes Oxford. Asked them if this a/c had taken off on Return from Castle Kennedy. Met it will be O.K for him to return, if he is not already on his way.
2040 Met tonight For X/C Checked with met re - 61 Bases X/C training tonight E.T.R 0050 approx. Met say it will be O.K.
2050 Oxford 61 Base. 9 Grp advise that this Oxford was airborne from Castle Kennedy for Topcliffe at 2005 (Landed at Base)
2110 Ex 92 Grp. E/432 E/432 cannot take - off from Oakley before 2130.
2130 Oxford 61 Base. S.A.S.O. - Requests 61 Base’s Oxford be at Linton at 1330 hrs tomorrow, Ready to take - off by 1400 hrs, to pick up A/C Ross and take him to Prestwick and return immediately. 61 Base advised.
2200 E/432 Checked with 92 Group. They have found an Air - lock in Hydraulic system and he is not ready to take - off yet. They will get permission from 6 Grp before he takes off.
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HURRICANE - NO. LF 385-G Pilot - F/S LONG
415/U - S.O.E Cut on take off. Pilot knew he was going too fast to stop, so tried to get airborne, lifted his wheels and tried a belly landing clear of the R/W in order to let the other a.c off.
[underlined] CRASH [/underlined]
415/U MZ - 686 Pilot - P/O [deleted] Andrews D R [/deleted] WILLIS.
Inf. - AOC, — SASO — AIR I — SOC — ENG. — EQUIP — G.A.I.O.
Re - the bombs - 16 X 500 - 2 - 6 hr long delay and 14 TD. 025 of which 10 are found. 0130/29 - Bomb Disposal Squad Snaith informed. promised to be at Eastmoor by 0500 hrs.
Eastmoor have blocked the road, posted a guard and a farmer has vacated his home until the bombs are disposed of.
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2231 92 Grp. Says E/432 airborne for East Moor at 2222 He will be coming back with his wheels down. 62 Base advised also W/C Smith who was in ops room at the time. Landed at Base 2322.
2325 61 BASE DALTON Report one of Daltons Hurricanes coming in to land had a flat tire.
2355 HURRICANE A/C No LF 385 - G - Pilot F/S. Long AUS. 419859 Port tire was flat on landing Port undercarriage and Port main Plane damaged. CAT. A/C. He had been on a weather flight and had done a F/A exercise. Pilot is O.K.
FRIDAY [underlined] JULY 28/1944 [/underlined]
0900 Off duty F/O Mountjoy On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
0930 Oxford - W/C Lawless requests that F/L Betcher be informed to be at [one indecipherable word] between 1500 - 1700 hrs to-day to be picked up by [one indecipherable word]
1300 Off duty F/O O’Beirn On duty F/O Spence.
1730 CFC. - Request for 8 [one indecipherable word] weather lancs.
1830 Off duty F/O Spence. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
2000 Ops - Met forecast our bases are O.K for return [one indecipherable word] TOT is earlier.
2030 C.F.C. - Cancelled request for bases.
2227 415/U CRASH - Crashed on take off [inserted] 2219 hrs [/inserted] is clear of runway, not burn - no details of crew or reason for crash. MZ - 686 Pilot P/O [deleted] Andrews [/deleted] Willis Other a/c taking off on time.
2240 415/U landed 150 yds off the end of the runway and burned. One member of the crew has a
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[underlined] Missing a/c [/underlined]
408 - A, C, M, P.
426 - P U
420 - N
425 - K. S.
415 - Q
432 - B.
427 - Y
424 - E
433 - W
428 - K
431 - A, B, H, J, R.
434 - X X.
All missing a/c passed to W/C Guest. Equipment officers & crashed a/c P4 notified of all casualties, G.T.I, — AIRI, — ENG, — S.O.C, — SASO — C of A.
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slight cut over his eye; the remainder of crew are O.K. Inf. 12 Grp. - AIR I. S-O-P.
2300 Bases - met forecast northern bases OK for return. 62 Base may get yellow. Inf. C.F.C. that we may need - 4 - 6 bases.
[underlined] Saturday July 29. [/underlined]
0130 Bases - Request for 1 or 2 bases north of 6 Grp. - Met recommend Charter Hall, Ouston etc.
0200 Bases - C.F.C. & 12 Grp offer Ashlington - 15 a/c Ouston 10 a/c. Charter Hall also open. In emergency can use Syerston, Wigthorpe and Wigsley - 6 Grp.
0200 62 Base - Offered Dishforth for Eastmoor, and Wombleton for Tholthorpe. 61 base inf.
0315 Linton - vis decreasing. - Eastmoor improving. Linton to use Dishforth if necessary.
0405 408/K DS - 730 Pilot - WO McLeod Landed at Woodbridge 0351 - no brake pressure. - Questioned 62 Base why not briefed for Carnaby. [inserted] P.I.E SO.E U/S. [/inserted]
420/E - Fix from Hull
5354N 0152E 3rd 0330 ask. Message P.E. U/S - 0330 Inf. 62 Base. (Landed base at 0427)
0410 Bases - remaining fit - Tholthorpe 3 miles. 12 Grp & 61 Base stood down.
0530 Diversion Summary to C.F.C. - 3 a/c landed away at 3 stations.
0530 429/D HX-339. P/O STEWART. Landed at Charter Hall at 0405 navigator seriously injured - in Peel Hospital. Pilot and MUG. slightly injured and in S.S.Q Charter Hall. Aircraft is badly
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shot up. - Ailerons and one tire - Pilot - wounded in the shoulder made a good landing a/c totally U/S.
0520 408/K DS - 730. - at Woodbridge PI. & SO U/S - a cannon shell in bomb bay. Pilot and F/ENG slightly injured.
0530 415/U - Landed Skipton at 0423 hrs. - short of petrol. Both starboard engines kept cutting all the way from the target. Gee & W/T U/S.
Crew instructed to remain at Skipton & bring aircraft back when serviceable.
0540 433/J MZ - 284 Pilot F/O DEVINE - Came in on emergency landing at Skipton, all engines cutting, short of petrol. As he landed two engines cut, a/c ground - looped and collided with 433/N, which was at dispersal without a crew.
Crew of 433/J - O.K.
Categories - 433/J - Cat - AC 433/N - Cat EI.
0600 431/U NA - 550 Pilot F/O Holden. - Landed Strubby. Aircraft badly shot up, rear turret shot to pieces, holes shot in the wings, bomb doors will not close.
Category -
Crew - Pilot, W.O.P, & F/E OK. now. B/A, MU/AG - baled out and are OK. - all six at SSQ Strubby Rear Gunner - badly wounded taken to RAF - Rauceby.
0900 Off Duty F/O [one deleted word] O’Beirn On Duty F/O Mountjoy
1115 62 Base Eastmoor aerodrome U/S TFN - Unexploded bombs - They will advise us when the aerodrome EASTMOOR is S.
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Ex. F/L Justason
Careful check made of flying training times result in following totals for 64 Base.
419 Sqn. 281:40 hrs (Group total Shows 268:38 hrs
428 Sqn. 481:35 hrs (Group total Shows 443:55 hrs
431 Sqn. 322:04 hrs (Group total Shows 333:28 hrs
434 Sqn. 321:57 hrs (Group total Shows 331:53 hrs
Explanatory letter & tabulation from July 1 to July 26 (incl.) being forwarded by 64 Base - S/L Ganderton informed.
[underlined] Poor Weather Bases [/underlined]
420 - 15 Little Harwood
426 - Little Harwood
425 - 15 Wing
426 - 5 Wing
424 - 15 Silverstone
433 - 15 Market Harborough
427 - 15 Bruntingthorpe
429 - 15 Bitteswell
[page break]
1130 62 Base Report that last night several of their a/c reported a searchlight exposed at Flamboro Head, parallel to the sea and shining out to sea on the track of a/c returning. Pilots report that a/c could be seen silhouetted against it. Checked with 12 Grp.
1424 F/434 FORD F/LT Smith informs us that this a/c is definitely serviceable and is ready to be collected. [one indecipherable word] advised that in view of the weather situation, it would not be advisable to send a crew by air to pick up F/434. Therefore Controller suggests they send down a crew by rail today.
1500 SKIPTON Require 1/2 hrs notice before any a/c can take-off or land. - Due to work on Rwys. - All Rwys till 1800 hrs.
1556 MET WARNING Local thunderstorms expected this afternoon & evening over England & Wales.
1815 LOCKHEED AE 628 G/C Keddie landed at Lemming at 1813. Presumably staying the night
1830 Off duty F/O Mountjoy On duty H.L. Spence F/O.
2140 Harvard “20” (R/T) (284591) Took off from M. St. G at 2120 for Turnhouse Pilot Major [one indecipherable word] Informed M.R.S. 12 Grp. Who state this a/c is u/s. (Cessna C-78 previously advised by 12 Grp not to take-off.) Both a/c from Kingscliffe, or are same one.
2220 ditto “Outcry 20” called Darky. Heard by M. St. G. Landed at Croft 2222 hrs.
Sunday - July 30/44.
0100 Div’n Bases Provisional Weather bases received from C.F.C. and allotted as follows - see opposite page. - passed to Stations 0130 hrs.
D.F.C.O.’s to note Authorisation by S.A.S.A. for Wombleton a/c to take up A.2C. personnel during week July 30 to Aug. 6 (incl.) (daylight - with Instructions)
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Sunday - July 30/44
425/Z Serviceable at Woodbridge (ex. 62) Authorisation by S.A.S.O. to fly skeleton crew down to pick up [one indecipherable word]
0450 Div’n Bases Met in 92 Group not so favourable. Most of our own bases Red for take off.
0500 Div’n Bases Checked C.F.C. who state weather bases given will be unfit at 0600 hrs but should be fit by 0900 or slightly thereafter. 6 Group Met suggest some other bases be laid on in case 92 Group cannot cope.
0530 Div’n Bases Requested C.F.C. to let us know what other stations might be able to assist. Suggested (by 6 Group) service stations in 3 & 8 Groups. C.F.C. still feel 92 Group will be O.K. but agreed to check for other bases.
0615 Div’n Bases 92 Group quite satisfied to take the diversion. Gen passed. S.A.S.O. Ruling is that if bases in 6 Group are 800 - 1000 ft. cloud base with “bags” of visibility aircraft are to be brought home. Decision to be made by 0800 hrs for 0820 & 0850 broadcasts.
0810 Div’n Bases S.O.C requested diversions to 92 Grp
Off duty F/O Spence, On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
0900 Div’n Bases 92 Grp advised W/C had not cleared - re - diverting on R/T to 93 Grp
0920 Div’n W/X in 6 Grp clearing. Recalling all a/c to 6 Grp stns by Grp W/T & R/T. Inf. 62 & 63
1005 427/D Landed at Mildenhall at 0832. - 3 eng - 13 X 500 lb. bombs aboard - Instructed 3 Grp to have him de - bombed and repaired for return.
1010 Proctor - 6 Grp - Request for m/u a/c for 1315 hrs - for S/L Rawsden - for trip to Wombleton - 61 Base OK.
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420/G - NA - 528 Crashed at White Waltham Crew.
Pilot F/L KALLE R.A. DFC. J-19881
INJURED A/B. F/S HALIBURTON W. R-170839.
INJURED NAV. P/O MAGSON L.T. J-87446
Killed. W/OP. F/S CUSACK. C. 551450
OK. MUAG F/S HARVEY FU R201568
SERIOUSLY INJURED F/E SGT BURTON G.D. 2206983
OK. MID/UNDER SGT WALLACE R.W. R217796.
Inf - AOC. SASO. AIRI SOC ENG. EQUIP PA C of E G.A.I.D. S.F.C.O.
Bristol Flashlight Inf 61 Base 1420 hrs.
2345 - 0100 hrs.
91 Grp. - 17000 ft.
6 Grp - 16000 ft.
Route - Swindon, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea.
W/C Fleming HV - 366 Hurricane landed Linton 1205 hrs - [one indecipherable word] M.S.G.
Hudson (AE - 628) G/C Keeder T.O at 1300 hrs from Lemming for Acaster Malbis (York)
Mosquito - PZ - 313 landed Tholthorpe at 1302 from Little Snoring.
Mosquito HK - 285 landed Dishforth at 1552 from Coltishall.
Oxford PH - 124 landed Shipton 1805 from Gransden.
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1015 424/D - Landed Defford at 0950 - sun - Instructed to return to base.
1020 61 Base - request Bristol Flashlight tonight
1025 92 Group - say they are poor for landings in foggy weather as they are fairly high. Consider they were a bad choice. Evidently C.F.C. would not allow [underlined] other [/underlined] bases for our operational returns.
1130 420/G NA - 528 F/L KALLE - Crash landed at White Waltham at 0920 hrs. Aircraft ran across the tee, overshot and crashed into railway line. It burned but the crew were taken out in time It had bombs aboard, and these blew up, blocking the railway.
Rear gunner has died and the other 7 are in hospital at TAPLOW. - broken arms & legs - details later. The railway runs E - W on north side of airfield.
1600 Request to CFC. For diversion bases (4) in 92 - 93 Groups and one more for C.V. a/c from Bristol Flashlight.
1630 429/A - Landed at Litchfield [sic] this morning - 93 Grp definitely reported it as an engine change. - Now proves that CSO was u/s but crew had returned meanwhile.
1700 429/D at Charter Hall is Cat B. - all crew, except navigator who is ill in hospital, are instructed to return by train. Inf 62 Base.
1730 424/R - at Litchfield [sic] is S. - Instructed to return.
433/U - at Litchfield [sic] - Bad had leak in the wing - will be a day or two
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1830 C.F.C. Request for definite diversion base - for 1666 & if necessary 1664 - area Middle Wallop Boscombe Down.
SASO has ruled they can do this, as met have said bases in 92 - 93 are good up to at least 0200 hrs.
Off duty - B.T O’Beirn F/O On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
WELLINGTON BJ - 644 63 Base report this Wellington landed at Leeming. He brought a S/L to hospital from Leconfield and is returning immediately to Ossington. Landed at 1830. T.O. for Ossington at 2020.
[deleted] 1845 [/deleted] 1910 DIVERSION BASE Secured Hartford Bridge as an [one indecipherable word] diversion base for 61 Base a/c. (Provisional) WX.
[deleted time] 1930 DIVERSION BASE W/C Weiser says this would not make a long enough X/CC route. Wants to have a/c brought back to base and if its not possible to land them, divert them on R/T. Says Hartford Bridge would then be too far suggests some place in 93 Group.
[deleted time] 1955 He secured Castle Donington from CFC as best place so far as weather, but 93 Group met can not promise even that after 0200 hrs. Passed this to 61 Base who say they will have their down by 0200. Informed 93 Group and C.F.C.
2035 61 Base Hurricane from Dalton going out to sea 50 miles east of Whitby for a weather check T.O 2100 hrs. T.O. 2057
2110 12 Grp Say the movement has been passed to them as going out to sea at Seaton Snook which is an IAZ and therefore banned.
Checked with 61 who had given the route at first as out at Whitby then on suggestion of their met had changed the route to NE [one indecipherable word] without getting approval or checking the route. 12 Group say they will try and warn the guns as a/c has already taken off.
[deleted] 2315 61 Base [/deleted] 2315 61 Base W/C Weiser asks us to try and get Ossington as a diversion base, as Castle Donington is not in Bomber Code. Secured it and 61 are sending diversion signal.
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F/LT SMITH. - Will give a recap of serviceability and progress in work on a/c away from base.
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MONDAY - JULY 31st - 1944
0230 [underlined] DIVERTED AC. [/underlined] All training A/C down O.K. Seven at Ossington. Standing By ready to return by 0900 - 1000 hrs today weather permitting. Met don’t think it will be possible to have them back before 1100 hrs.
0800 OSSINGTON V/1666 on landing at Ossington last nite, landed with hydraulic trouble & swung off the runway. Crew A/C. & have not stated the cat of the A/C.
0835 SKIPTON W.I.P. will require 1 hr. notice to land A/C, should have work completed by 1200 noon.
0900 Off duty F/O Mountjoy. On duty H. L. Spence F/O.
1000 Wombleton Oxford Flight to Ossington S/L Mc Gowan and servicing assistant authorised by S.A.S.O.
Liaison Visit Permission for F/L Carew (O.C) to go to Holme on Spalding Moor in Hurricane this p.m. S.A.S.O. says OK. subject, to OK from Base Commander
1100 420/G Crew Ex. Sick Bay - White Waltham:- F/S Cussack (W.O.P.) is the person killed - not Sgt. Metcalfe. F/S. Harvey & Sgt. Wallace are O.K. F/S Hallburton & P/O Meson have fracture of femur. F/L Kalle and Sgt Burton progressing satisfactory. Sgt Metcalfe unconscious on admission. 62 Base informed. Also Controller.
1120 428/M Lanc. To fly to Ashton Down this p.m. for inspection. Special job of W/C Powell’s. Controller says O.K.
Hal. at. Elvington. Allotted to Wombleton. Skeleton crew to be Instructors. Wish to fly down in Hal. O.K.d by S.A.S.O.
1425 Div’n Bases Provis. Weather Requested 3 bases for 46 Lancs from C.F.C. To let us know after Met conference.
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Reported by F/L Smith
426/R. - Tangmere - S.
420/F - Tangmere - S.
425/B - Tangmere - should be ready in 1 day.
420/T - BEAULIEU - Should be ready in 1 day.
433/C - Serv - Woodbridge.
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1500 429/(A & H) Now serviceable. Skeleton crew to be flown to Litchfield [sic] & Turweston this P.M. OK’d by Controller.
1530. W/C Powell. Accommodation arranged at Ashton Down for 5 Officers (4 Senior) & 4 Sgts overnight.
1520. 420/F Now serviceable at Tangmere. Permission granted by Controller to fly crew down to pick it up.
1555 Prov. Weather Div’n Bases. Requested 8 more diversion bases for 100 Hals. from C.F.C.
1600 Com Flt. Proctor Reserved for W/C Smith to go to Ashton Down, 0900 hrs 1-8-44. Pilot arranged for.
1745 Div’n Bases Weather C.F.C. could not give us any definite bases for after 0300 hrs.
1810. 426/R Permission by Controller to fly crew to Tangmere to pick up [one indecipherable word] Both a/c on training details.
1830 Off duty H.L. Spence F/O. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1910 Re Bases - Since T.O. is now earlier our met believe we can cope in 6 Grp.
2100 Div. Base - C.F.C. allocate Harwell as prov. W/X base for our 4 Gardeners - 92, 91 Grp will be prepared for emergencies.
2200 Oxford. W - 6574 - S/C Newson requests clearance from Lemming 1000 hrs ETR Hendon 1130 hrs. July 1st. Hendon & 12 Grp MLS - will not give clearance now - must be done with both early to - morrow.
2300 X/Country a/c - S.O.C. on SASO’s ruling recalls all X/C a/c to be down by 0001 hrs. Inf 63, 61, 62, 64 Bases.
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HAL - WZ - 363 landed Lemming at 1955 from -
possibly allocated to Leeming
Inf. EQUIP ENG.
[underlined] Missing [/underlined]
429/C - LV950 Pilot - WO2 IRISH. Inf w/c [one indecipherable word]
[underlined] Early Returns [/underlined]
420/C at 2326 at posn 5407N 0140E at 5500ft
Reason - Hyd’ U/S. Could not retract undercarriage Conf by C.T.O.
420/S - 2324 at posn 5407N 0130E at 10000ft
Reason - could not get above 6000’ at 2400 rev & 6 boost speed - 155 - 160 M.P.H. Tried to gain lift - went to gate - a/c responded - climbed to 10000, - fly O.K.
Wouldn’t respond at first very rough.
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2310 63 Base - Are recalling 433/I,E,M,P,R,V. - by HF/DF.
2315 61 Base - TO 1664 / K,A,L,W,O,Z,M, - Return to Base - ETA 0001.
426/R. - Remaining at Tangmere. “R” took off at 2113, but returned to Tangmere at 2118. - Weather bad.
2330 Clunas - Bombing Range - controlled by Lossiemouth - not informed - by 61 Base - Wish to be advised of bombing. Inf. 61 Base.
2330 420/C. - Early return - going to jettison.
2
August 1st
0025 Gardeners Diverted to Harwell. -
0115 Gardeners Diversion [one indecipherable word] to Harwell.
0150 426/A,F,J,M,W - diverted to Skipton.
0200 Tholthorpe - 23 a/c Skipton.
0212 420/U “D” rated U/S sent to Croft
425/N - No Art Horizon sent to Croft.
0225 16 a/c sent to Croft and mid S. G. From 63 Base.
0225 4 Grp - Sending us a/c from 5 Grp, 1 Grp and 4 Grp - 10 - 15 in all. Offered Dishforth. 62 Base informed. Have Dalton and Topcliffe ready if needed.
0430 All aircraft down in 6 Grp. 4 Gardeners 433 sqdn at Harwell. 9 a/c of other groups landed at 3 of 6 Grp stations.
0515 C.F.C. - Diversion summary reported.
0750 63 Base X/C - planned for take off 0930 - return 1230 - advised to wait 2 or 3 hours. Bases 10/10 1200’ vis 2 miles.
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[underlined] Serviceability [/underlined] of a/c diverted within the Group.
F/426 - Hyd - used emergency landing procedure.
X/420 - Oil leak, low oil pressure.
N/425 artificial horizon U/S.
I/425 - serv.
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0800 Oxford (63 Base) G/C Newsom - Weather poor at base and at Hendon. Advise 63 Base to have him wait.
0820 W/C Smith - proctor to Aston Down. Inf. that weather was good until 1100 hrs or later.
0900 Off Duty F/O O’Beirn On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1030 12 Grp LOCAL BULLSEYE Major Jackson says local Bullseye in the Tyne Tees area - [deleted] for [/deleted] dropping window and firing white Verey Cartridges - Scheduled for tonight is off until Saturday due to weather. They will check with us on Saturday re this.
1125 38 Grp SKIPTON DIVERTON [sic] Called them. They report all a/c are serviceable and will wait for the O.K to return from us.
1210 63 Base N/425 W/O Ryan reports that when diverted to M.S.G. He had artificial Horizon U/S and was in their circuit when lights went out. Called on R/T but got no answer. Croft answered and he saw their lights. Also saw Leeming’s lights and proceeded there. Takes a dim view of M.S.G. Reported to 64 Base who will look into it.
1220 Oxford W - 6574 63 Base T.O. Time for Hendon 1300 E.T.A. Hendon 1430 Hendon say this is OK. M.L.O. 12 Grp say OK also - going direct. 63 Base advised. Permission to make this flight was granted by S.O.C.
1225 DIVERTED A/C. Wickenby ask us to have their a/c standing by for T.O. at 1330 hrs. 61 Base & 63 Base informed.
1547 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT OXFORD 61 Base asked to lay on Communication flight Oxford to go to Halton to be ready at first light - to take photographs to Halton.
1555 S.O.C. 61 Base. Permission given for Tholthorpe to send for 2 crews by air to Tangmere to pick up 2 a/c - B/425 & F/420 - now serviceable - providing it is on training flight - weather permitting otherwise send crews by train.
[page break]
431/L - Pilot P/O Skeaff.
[underlined Damage [/underlined] :- U.C wiped off. - broken back.
[underlined] ML 853. [/underlined] Other damage. Cat E. Crew OK.
Informed Controller — SASO — G.A.S.O. — AIRI — Equipt — ENG — GTI
[page break]
1700 62 Base R/426 Request permission for R/426 to return to base. Controller gave his permission. Asked 11 Group to see he was routed clear of all high ground, and that he checks with weather.
DIVERTED A/C at HARWELL Checked with met who say weather enroute a little improved. Cloud base 1000 to 1500 with cloud at 800’ on hills. Bases will be O.K. Controller gave his permission for them to return. Harwell informed.
1720 4 Grp [one indecipherable word] Gave permission for this a/c at Eastmoor to return to base.
1735 PROCTOR 61 Base Communication Flight. Controller OK’d change to Proctor. It will be standing by ready to Take off at first daylight together with pilot & navigator.
1830 Off duty F/O Mountjoy On duty H. L Spence F/O.
2100 425/N Ref entry 1210 hrs. Ex. 64 Base. Possible explanation of Middleton not being lit up & failing to hear [one indecipherable word] when called. “Told to prepare for some a/c being diverted, by S.A.S.O. at 0215 hrs. In past, due to interference of balloon squeakers permission was given not to listen out on 6440 kcs. Possibly 425/N came up before Middleton were able to switch over from channel D to 6440 kcs” Informed 62 Base.
431/L Throttles jammed on touch down. Kicked left rudder, swung off runway, could not get stopped and crossed over perimeter track. Damage to aircraft not yet assessed - Cat, E.
2200 a/c off course (Op’l) Ex 12 :- Some a/c approaching up North Sea & crossing in at Flamboro. Want to know why? Have requested 63 Base to check & let us know.
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[blank page]
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1100. 4 Grp Ex 6 Group Met :- Query by 4 Group for possible diversion. Believe Leeming, Skipton & Dishforth may hold.
1150. Met Informed 61 Base low stratus at 1000ft & would be down to 500’ within next 30 - 40 minutes.
Liaison Visit S.F.C.O. to note. Ex. Ouston - F/L Tennant. Flying Control, desires to visit Middleton and Croft for purpose of acquainting himself with conditions of a heavy bomber operational station. Feels it would be to advantage in case of diversion to them. This occasioned by several instances of diversions earlier in year. Had in mind visit on Thursday or Friday this week. Told him it should be O.K. and didn’t require further clearance. Advised F/L Justason, who was agreeable subject to S.F.C.O’s O.K. but suggested first of next week as a better time. Possibly you may wish to confirm this with F/L Tennant.
[underlined] Wednesday - Aug. 2/44 [/underlined]
0010 429/D D.F.C.O. note. C.T.O. at Charter Hall has not yet signalled category of mfn. Please check him up.
0900 Off duty F/O Spence. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1030 433/Hal + 2 extra crews to go to [underlined] Litchfield [/underlined] & [underlined] Woodbridge [/underlined] for U/433 and C/433 respectively. S.O.P. gave permission for ops crew & a/c. when w/x is fit.
1055 Hurr. PG-523 - Took off at 1050 from Linton for Melbourne. Inf. 44 Grp x [one indecipherable word] Weather not good at Melbourne. he may have to return.
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Re - 429/D - at Charter Hall. - Cat B. Checked with Charter Hall, who had signalled it. (G.T.I.) have a copy of the signal. Inf. 63 Base F.C. to inform C.T.O.
Re - [underlined] Routing to Hendon [/underlined] - (Heston, HALTON, NORTHOLT)
D.F.C.O. NOTE 12 Grp. MLS. say they do not require routing to Hendon. - but that Hendon must be advised and willing to accept the aircraft.
[page break]
1105 Hurricane PG - 523. - back over Linton. Landed Linton 1110. Inf 4 Grp & 12 Grp F.C. Instructed 62 Base to insist that the Pilot get approval before T.O.
1120 420/G - Re crash of July 30 at White Waltham from 62 Base adj x F.C.
W/OP F/S - SUSACK. C. 552450 - KILLED
A/B. F/S HALIBURTON. W. R - 170839. Severely Injured.
R/G. SGT METCALFE DH. R - 192794 Severely Injured.
Inf. PA. — C. of A.O.
1135 Proctor - P-6248 - (2 F/L.) Took off from Linton at 1133 for Melbourne without permission. - seemed to slip off without any control by Linton - Bad show by Linton F.C. 4 Grp & 12 Grp annoyed as the weather is bad. Landed Melbourne 1150 - OK.
1155 A/C Constantine - left Halton at 1100 hrs for Linton. Inf. 62 Base F.C. S.A.S.O. S.O.C. Linton F.C.
1155 12 Grp - Request whereabouts of a Dominie - who had crashed as landed - Linton.
62 Base report no Dominie in their base.
61 Base [underlined] Dominie X - 7395 [/underlined] w/c VAUX. landed from Northolt - a Searton a/c - owing to w/x proceeding to to Northolt later to-day. Landed [underlined] Dishforth 1145 [/underlined] Inf. 12 Grp. 61 Base inf. Searton.
1255 A/C Constantine (Ex 62 Base) landed Denton at approx 125 - remaining there until the weather clears - Inf. S.A.S.O.
1310 Weather - conditions in 6 Grp & inland will improve. At 1500 hrs expect 7 - 10/10 at 1000’ - 1500’ - vis 3 - 6 miles. Advising X/C. a/c to be down by 2200 hrs.
1515 Woodbridge - C.F.C. say their weather is OK. Can send a/c with crew for 433/C Inf. 63 Base.
[page break]
Fairchild - 314419 - Pilot Capt. Coken. Landed Leeming 1809/2/8 from Alconbury - Returning to - morrow. 3/8/44.
S.F.C.O. - Wants July average landing times from 62 & 64 Base stations Inf. 62 & 64 Base.
Request - Total number of a/c and average time.
(1) Time up on R/T to Last Landing (amended figure)
(2) Time up on R/T to Last Landing Throwing out waste time.
(3) Average time - 1st down to last down.
Received - Eastmoor’s Repair.
[page break]
1520 Lichfield - Cloud base 800’ - 1000’ broken cloud - Inf - 63 Base - Requested that the 433 a/c go to Woodbridge first, - drop one crew there and proceed to Lichfield - if favourable land and if not return home.
1630 420/F Instructed 11 Grp to have [one indecipherable word] a/c return to base. ETA before 2100 hrs.
1630 Hurricane (Dalton) [two indecipherable words] “R” going on weather test off Flamborough head to 01300 E M.L.S. 12 Grp inf. also Church Fenton.
1650 Proctor LZ-586. - a/c Constantine left Denton at 1430. Linton F.C. had this information by telephone but a/c has not arrived.
1650 JP-166 Took off from Leeming at 1643 for Kinloss. Had stopped at Leeming en route from York to Kinloss.
1700 Proctor LZ-586 - a/c Constantine landed at Linton at 1657. Inf - Denton Inf SASO.
1730 Weather - met advise x/country a/c to land not later than 2359 hrs. Inf. 61, 62, 63, 64 Bases F.C. re above.
1830 off Duty F/O O’Biern on Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1935 11 Grp F/420 advise that pilot says he has a Mag Drop of 150 on Port Inner Engine Does this make kite u/s? Told him to check with the engineering officer at Tangmere. If he says O.K then return to base. Otherwise stay until a/c is fixed.
2050 12 Grp. Report on a/c around Linton Skipton Topcliffe area - a Halifax with 1 wheel down. Called 61, 62, 63 bases. He landed at Skipton. It was U/433.
[page break]
CRASH OF - HAL. III - NA 581 425/U
CREW.
PILOT - F/LT. STARK. C.D. - J85641
NAV - P/O PITKIN. E.F. - J86151
WOP - P/O DAVIES P.P. - J87366
A/B - F/Sgt. PIGEON J.C. - R155052
R/G - F/Sgt. CODE J.E. - R155143
M/U - SGT SNIDER L. - R192720
F/E - SGT WATERS M.H. - R70189
AOC. — SASO. — ENG. — SOC. — AIRI. — SFCO. — EQUIP. — P4 — C of E. — G.A.T.O — [indecipherable] — SFCO.
[page break]
2105 Proctor. a/c Constantine left for Sheffield at 2050 advised 4 Grp.
2110 CRASH. Ex - 12 Grp 425/U An a/c of 425 Sqdn. crashed between Worksop & Fubeck near Hobstock Grange at A 0805. 2 bodies identified - a/c Burnt out. Sgt. MK Waters Sgt L. Snider - Flying NNW at 4000’ turned suddenly S and spun in. Checked with 62 Base. He was on a X/C. It must have been U/425 as he was 1 hour overdue - 12 Grp are checking further.
93 Grp. Confirmed above - Worksop took Crash action. Crash occurred at 1855 - there was a report from a villager that a/c was on fire in the air. The ROC did not confirm this. - All crew killed - Wreckage strewn over a large area and burnt.
2350 62 Base Say Tholthorpe will be demolishing 2 X 500 lb bombs. 61, [deleted] 62 [/deleted] 63 bases, 12 Grp and 4 Grp advised.
0900 Off duty F/O. Mountjoy On duty H.L. Spence.
1510. 1666/V Permission for crew to be flown to Ossington to pick [one indecipherable word] OK. - by Controller.
1625 Oxford for A.O.C. No Oxford in Communication flight. 62 Base checking Linton if their’s available for Sunday. (4 passengers.)
1620 420/F C.T.O’s office at Tangmere say mag drop has developed in 2 motors now. F/L. Smith’s office informed.
1650 62 Base Linton Oxford (for A.O.C.) Linton’s Oxford reserved for A.O.C. & passengers for. Aug 6th (Sunday) at 1430 - 1500 hrs. Pilot & standby navigator to be ready also. Going to Prestwick - may stay overnight.
1710 Nickeling Paris Query from 62 Base as to pts on trips counted for nickering Paris in Nso./943. Have some crews who took part when at Gaydon. 91 Group say these trips were not counted as operational. Informed
[page break]
[underlined] D7/C/O N.B. [/underlined]
Oxford for A.O.C.
Suggest D.F.C.O. on duty Sunday, Remind 61 Base in the morning of 6-8-44
[underlined] CRASH [/underlined] - on farm - of W.C. Ingledew - [one indecipherable word] Leeming Bar.
1666/S - JD - 274 Pilot - P/O SICOTE crew OK. Cat. - prov. E
Inf - SASO — AIR I — SOC — ENG — EQUIP — G.A.I.O. — S.F.C.O. — G.T.I.
2040 hrs. [underlined] Report by F/L Smith. [/underlined]
427/E - at Woodbridge - former Cat AC - serv - but requires a small piece of cowling - looking at S.O.E. head on, the piece is at about 4.30 hrs. It is not on the cowling around the engine but just behind the gills - 6 X 12 inches roughly. Inf 63 base
(63 base to send crew & above piece of cowling
420/Z - Tholthorpe working on it at Woodbridge. - Requires new oleo leg & new feathering parts - supposedly serv
420/F Tangmere - 50 mag drop. 150 mag drop.
[page break]
1710 Oxford for A.O.C. Entries 1625 & 1650 cancelled. Oxford and Pilot [inserted] F/L Holmes [/inserted] being provided by Dishforth.
1715 431/F. Permission granted by Controller to fly crew to Wing if a/c & crew are not required on todays ops.
1830 Off duty F/O Spence. On duty F/O O’Biern.
1845 1666/S JD - 274 [underlined] CRASH [/underlined] - On air to air and practice bombing detail, crash landed in a field near Catterick. Grid Ref - sheet 21 739138 crew are O.K. Lemming are guarding the crash. Pilot P/O SICOTE
2050 427/U - [one indecipherable word] 5134N 0210E I at 2032 hrs.[inserted] from Southampton [/inserted] [underlined] Message [/underlined] Aircraft hit by bomb completed operations, returning to base. 2030 hrs. - confirmed by 11 Grp from MLS Stanmore - Inf 4.3.R.
2055 420/C. FIX priority “P” fix from Hull 5130N 0208E I at 2041 hrs.
2100 Night Flying - 61 Base have only C & Bs - 62 Base, 64 Base nil. 63 Base 1 a/c ETA. 1130. Advised all bases that met forecast is duff after midnight.
2110 431/F at Wing ready to take off. Instructed not to take off until after 2130 hrs so he will arrive after the operations.
2145 431/F - 92 Group now report that the pilot phoned some one at Croft and decided that stratus cloud was [inserted] expected to [/inserted] come in at Croft and that the pilot decided to wait until to-morrow. Inf. 64 Base and asked them to check up who gave authority for the crew to stay.
2240 431/F 64 Base & Croft F.C. and 431 Flight Commander had no phone conversation with pilot re his staying overnight [one missing word]
[page break]
[underlined] Re - movements - MLS 12 GRP. [/underlined]
[underlined] Pass [/underlined] - (1) All movements north of a line - Edinburgh - Glasgow if route is overland even in the green area -
(2) All movements over the Irish Sea - north of Mull of Galloway and south of Strumble Head (Aberporth)
(3) Bombing or Air Firing - if not covered by Day Blanket coverage.
(4) movements over the north Sea north sea, or crossing the coast out, north of Berwick.
F/420 - TANGMERE - S - TOOK FOR BASE - RETURNED TO TANGMERE WITH HYDRAULICS U/S & ENGINES RUNNING WARM.
E/427 - WOODBRIDGE - S - NEEDED A CREW AND A PIECE OF ENGINE COWLING.
Z/425 - WOODBRIDGE - U/S - BURNT OUT FEATHERING MOTOR AFTER ENGINE CHANGE. -
F/431 - WING - S - CREW THERE - SHOULD BE RETURNING M.S.G.’S Oxford was to take Hyd. Fluid today but flight was cancelled.
T/420 - BEAULIEU. -
C/434 - EXETER - HAD A S.I.E CHANGE - MAY NEW NEW [sic] OIL TANK. PARTY FROM CROFT WORKING ON IT. N.C.O I/C PARTY WILL CALL 66 Grp WHEN A/C IS S.
B/424 - WELFORD -
[page break]
2330 Ops - 261 a/c - returned safely to base - a record, only 2 early returns. All Night Flying finished. Stations turning yellow - stratus Inf - 12 Grp & C.F.C.
[underlined] August 4th. [/underlined]
0745 Bases - For take off at 1000 hrs met forecast 800 to 1000’ - vis 3 miles plus. For returns - 4 - 7/10 at 1500 - 2000’ lowest vis - 2000 yds with possible smoke haze; most of the stations will be better than this.
0800 431/F - at Wing - Requested 92 Group to have him airborne as soon as weather permits - perhaps about midday - 92 Group will give us take off time and will consider our weather as fit unless we contact them.
0910 431/F - Requested 64 Base to have 431 Squadron Commander take up the matter with the pilot on return.
Off duty. B.T. O’Beirn F/O. On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1015 A/C u/s away from Base. Checked with F/LT Smith Re a/c unserviceable and away from base.
1130 DALTON HURRICANE Permission granted for F/L Crewe - O C Clay F/A - to go to Wittering and return this afternoon on a liaison visit.
1400 64 Base Say Visibility a M.S.G. down to 1 mile in smoke. [one indecipherable word] Wombleton & Dishforth. - 419 to Dishforth 428 at Wombleton - 61 Base advised and O.K this. Provisionally Croft say they can cope O.K.
1410 Ex 12 Grp 433/S 433/S passed two Fixes on this a/c
1415 Distress message from 433/S
1417 Cancel Distress message - Backing out. - Ex 11 & 12 Grps. asked them to plot this a/c if possible.
[page break]
CRASH - [underlined] A/C NO HX275 433/2. [/underlined] ASHFORD, KENT.
J28667 F/O Simpson R.H. Capt.
J35750 F/O Woodhouse R. nav.
R130038 W/O Benoit J.P. WOP.
J35761 P/O Dandy C.M. A/B.
I855215 Sgt Purdie W. F/E.
R200588 Sgt. Budd R.E. M/U.
R182018 Sgt. Brown, O.M. a/g.
Doc, — saso, — Eng, — SOC, — air I, — STCO, — Equip, — [circled P4,] — [circled C of a], — Ga. — T.O., — GTI
[page break]
1430 DIVERSION 419 a/c diverted to Dishforth by W/T. - 428 are going to try & cope
1445 428 a/c diverted to Wombleton by W/T.
1506 CRASH S/433 11 Grp Report Halifax crashed near ASHFORD in Kent County - 6 Parachutes seen by R.O.C.
1520 Ex 64. Report 419/X in X/C on early return with a duff engine - Weather Duff so sent him to Dalton.
1530 DIVERTED A/C CROFT. Croft can’t cope instructed them to send remaining a/c to Dalton, as previously arranged. Following a/c sent.
431 - D, S, T.
434 - W, Q, S, N, E, J, P.
1540 Permission given for Z/1666 to go to Ossington with crew to pick up V/1666. This a/c did not go as yet (1845).
1550 61 Base Dalton reports black smoke to south. Checked with 63 & 62 base & 12 Grp. Turned out to be 4 Grp aerodrome burning incendiaries.
1557 CRASH S/433 11 Grp advise P/O DANDY in County Hospital at Canterbury & F/O Woodhouse picked up O.K. Dandy baled out when too low. Others not accounted for. Time of Crash 1440 approx.
1605 62 Base say Pilot F/O Simpson phoned from Lympe - he says all crew got out O.K.
1705 64 Base Weather has cleared will we have all serviceable a/c return to base. Contacted 61 Base and told them to have all serviceable a/c with crews ready to take - off as soon as possible they must have 2 hrs flying endurance before they take off.
Permission given for W/426 with extra crew to go to Woodbridge to pick up A/426 a former Cat AC.
1825 62 Base Halifax LL362 - From BLYTON LANDED at Linton at 1810 - Member of crew sick. 1 Grp informed.
[page break]
0915 hrs 5 Aug.
From - 6 Grp - Servicing Gransden
434/C - Exeter S.I.E Charge - ignition trouble and oil pressure men working on it.
431/F - Wing - requires hyd fluid - Gransden instructed to send it no other information.
[underlined] Non - starters [/underlined]
424/D - HYD. Leak - sealed off but there was an air lock. Bomb door would not close and u/c. would not retract.
424/V mag drop.
[underlined] Early Returns [/underlined]
420/L - Carnaby - Hyd. U/S.
408/I - Carnaby - one wheel would not retract.
433/V - Wouldn’t climb, excessive petrol consumption will have to be air tested.
424/O - Oil leak. S.O.E - front cover gasket broken C.T.O.
Flamingo - Lord Swinton landed Leeming at 1157. From Hendon. a/c went to 4 Grp in the afternoon without Lord Swinton.
[page break]
Aug. 4. 1944
2135 11 Group - re disposition of crew of 433/S that crashed on todays operation on Z-3257.
F/O Simpson & Woodhouse - RAF - Lympne
Sgt. Brown. RAF - Hawkinge.
Sgt. Budd. RAF - Hawkinge.
Sgt. Purdy. RAF - Hawkinge.
W/O Binart. RAF - Hawkinge.
P/O Dandy = Canterbury Hosp.
phoned to 63 Stn. ops. (to relay to 63 Base ops.
2245 All Flying down in Group.
[underlined] AUG 5. 1944. [/underlined]
0200 Very quiet.
0800 Off duty F/L. Warwick. On duty B. T - O’Beirn F/O
1000 1666/B. - SASO grants permission for F/L Bond to go to Honeybourne on liaison visit - dropping hydraulic fluid at Ossington.
1025 Oxford - W/C Weiser has permission of S.O.C. to go to Abington with a crew to pick up AOC’s Anson.
1125 426/A - TO. 1115. Took off without permission, as we had instructed CFC to hold him until we informed them that base was fit. Inf. 62 Base. Requested that the squadron commander checks the pilot.
1150 420/L (Early Return) Landed Carnaby - Hyd. u/s. at 1143. Inf. 62 Base. Jettison Posn 5415N 0022E at 1120. expect to return at 1300 hrs.
433/U 63 Base given permission by SASO to go to Lympne or Newchurch to pick up crew of 433/S who baled out 4/8.
[page break]
1430 - Report by F/L Smith.
425/Z - Woodbridge S. & awaiting a crew. Can a crew from Pocklington fly it to Tholthorpe & the latter [two indecipherable words] to Pocklington.
SASO agrees also 62 Base FC.
1845hrs CFC. - now report this a/c as U/S for a day or two. 4 Grp are having Pocklington a/c return by train.
CRASH
433/H MZ - 828 Pilot - F/O Harrison J.R. Crash at Skipton Village.
Equipt G.T.I.
[deleted] 433/Y [/deleted] l. Linton
[deleted] 415/V [/deleted] l. Boscombe Down.
425/U - [deleted] NA - 581 [/deleted] [inserted] LL - 594. [/inserted] - S/L PHILBIN G.B. (25)
Equipt G.A.I. C of A P4
Aug 5.
1250 433/L. Fix from Southampton 5033N 0048W I at 1240
433/V From Southampton - message Returning to Base.
1500 64 Base - Laid on Wombleton for Croft and Dishforth
1550 Croft - 431/G, & S to Wombleton 431/K to Dishforth.
1700 Croft weather improving. a/c at Dishforth and Wombleton may return to base.
1715 C.F.C. Request for Colerne as diversion base for 4 Gardeners. Colerne is crowded will try & get us another.
1730. 425/Z now serv. - at Woodbridge but without a crew. F/L Smith suggests that Pocklington crew fly it to Tholthorpe & the latter provide transport to Pocklington.
SASO agrees, also 62 Base contacted 4 Grp who will reply.
1745 Oxford 61 Base DFCO NOTE - for AOC - To be ready with pilot & navigator at 1430 hrs on Sunday Aug 6 at Dishforth for trip to Prestwick. Arranged OK with 61 Base.
[underlined] Oxford [/underlined] Request to 61 & 62 Base. F/L Holmes requests another Oxford - pilot & navigator to go to Hendon at 0900 hrs to-morrow Sunday Aug 6, to bring LT. Col. RAINVILLE to Tholthorpe.
Pilot is to go to Flying Control at Hendon to meet L.t Col. there. Flying Control Tholthorpe is to advise the adjutant of 425 squadron when the Col. arrives. Col. Rainville is to return to Hendon Sunday eve. Or early Monday.
[page break]
433/H - M.Z - 828
CAT. E - Burned.
[underlined] Crew [/underlined]
Pilot - F/O Harrison JR - 21448 - Killed. (203)
NAV. - F/O KINDER JF - North Allerton Hosp - not seriously injured.
WOP. F/O Dutresne. LE. - N. ALL. HOSP. - slight
AB. F/O WIDENOSA ET - N. ALL. HOSP. - seriously
A/G P/O GODFREY NS - N. ALL. HOSP. - slight
F/E SGT WHITBREAD DL. N. ALL. HOSP. - Dangerously Injured
M/U F/S BOURNS R N. ALL. HOSP. Slightly Injured.
[underlined] Civilians [/underlined]
1 - 5 - YR - old Boy - Killed.
1 Woman - Seriously injured.
1 Woman - dangerously injured.
Inf. SASO — AIR I — SOC — ENG — EQUIP — C of A — P4 — G.A.I.O. — G.T.I. — SFCO.
0930/ Aug. 7/44.
F/E. - SGT WHITBREAD - DIED. - There were 3 civilian casualties - One infant killed and two women severely injured.
[page break]
AUG. 5
1900 DIV. Base. [underlined] Lyneham [/underlined] - Definite weather base for 4 a/c of 424 passed gen to 63 Base.
1915 433/H Crash. MZ - 828 Crashed Skipton Village at 1535 hrs.
Made normal approach on 3 engines turned and crashed - Pilot killed, and rest of crew injured, see opposite page.
2025 61 Base - Continuing a search for pilot and Oxford a/c for to-night.
On duty F/O Mountjoy.
2045 61 Base V-3533 F/O BALDWIN (Heston) Have this Oxford with Pilot & Navigator ready to take off for Hendon. Checked with Hendon and find that they close airfield at 2200 hrs. As they are not allowed to use airfield lighting Sent a/c to Northolt arranged his accommodation for the night and left instructions for him to proceed to Hendon to be there by 0900 hrs. tomorrow morning.
2130 Checked with bases re - training a/c and their ETA’s in view of weather.
64 Base, 63 Base, 61 Base, all down. 62 Base have 3 a/c of 420 Sqdn out on X/C. ETA. 2320. This time was near dead line for bases to be open according to met forecast. Discovered these a/c were 1 hr to 1 3/4 late in taking off. This had not been reported and made their ETA about 0100 hrs. Reported this to met who spoke to 62 Base at Tholthorpe met. Poor conditions were known by OC night flying at Tholthorpe but he let a/c go. Not being available at the moment 62 Base sent a recall signal and Controller OK’d this.
2336 DARKY Wellington Reported by 61 Base say Tholthorpe is working him. Turned out to be Wellington from Bramcote - F/L Lucani - Had W/T U/S. Pilot contacted Bramcote who suggested he finish his detail as a/c was otherwise serviceable. TO 2234.
[page break]
Re - points for target. Forêt de Nieppe. night of Aug 3/4
63 Base, 62 Base for Eastmoor request this.
Points 3 - 2 Inf 62 & 63 Base
[page break]
[underlined] SUNDAY AUG 6. [/underlined]
Off Duty. F/O Mountjoy. On Duty B.T O’Beirn F/O
433/H Crash - Yesterday - S.O.E was cut and the pilot was making a righthand circuit with wheels up. He was near the led - in lights when the wing dropped and he spun in and crashed. a/c was completely broken up and burned. Damaged 2 houses broke telephone wires and a tree.
Later report that pilot tried to overshoot.
0955 Oxford V-3533 F/O BADWIN at Heston for Lt. Col RAINVILLE. Requested F.C. Henden to contact pilot of Oxford at Heston. LT - Col. RAINVILLE was at Heston F.C. at the time. Inf. 61 & 62 Base.
1115 Proctor 61 Base. - W/C Friesen [inserted] Dishforth [/inserted] to be flown in m/u a/c to H.Q. London this afternoon SASO grants permission Inf. 61 Base
1140 4333/L - Crew. a/c u/s at Church Broughton - Re - crew. SASO grants permission for 424/A at Lyneham to drop in to Church Broughton to bring back crew of 433/L. Inf. Lyneham - to have 2 a/c airborne by 1230 hrs. Inf 63 Base.
1150 420/O - Former Cat a/c at [underlined] Edgehill [/underlined] now S. 62 Base granted permission [inserted] by SASO [/inserted] for 420/U - S/L Kluger to take a crew to Edgehill for 420/O. Inf. 62 Base.
1210 Oxford (Topcliffe) with a pilot and nav. will be ready at Dishforth at [deleted] 1430 [/deleted] [inserted] 1730 [/inserted] hrs for AOC. to go to Prestwick. Inf. P.A. to AOC. & 61 Base.
1210 X/Country - 61 Base planning Day X/C. 1445
1445 to 2000. Bombing 2100
[page break]
Re - Key - to “Gen” Room, no 23.
A.O.C. wanted to show a visitor around but the door was locked. Clerk had left the key in the girls rest room.
A.O.C. requests that we keep a duplicate of the key in Ops room for ready use.
Gen Room clerk instructed to leave the key with S.P. at main Door.
[page break]
1320 64 Base - Have 3 X/C - with ETR 1650 - Request a prov. w/x base - offered Leeming. Above x/c cancelled at 1300 hrs.
1345 Oxford 61 Base - Request Oxford V-3533 Pilot F/O Baldwin & nav. To be prepared to take Lt - Col Rainville to Hendon to-night or tomorrow.
1405 Oxford - V-3533 - (61 Base) with Lt. Col Rainville arrived Tholthorpe at 1400 hrs. Inf. F/L. Holmes & 61 Base.
1415 415/K - at Sturgate serv & ready to leave soon. Landed - Eastmoor
431/F - Left Wing at 1342 for Croft.
1500 425/A - S.O.C. grants permission for m/u a/c to take crew to Woodbridge for Z/425
Proctor (Dishforth) (HM-422 or V-7218) took off at 1400 hrs for Hendon ETR. 1515 Pilot - F/L Smith passenger - W/C Freisner. Inf. Hendon.
DFCO. note Hendon - insists upon notice of a/c prior to their take - off so they can cancel it if they cannot cope. - Also they have no night Flying equipment.
Oxford - V-3533 & Pilot - now at Dishforth preparing for trip to Hendon with Lt. Col Rainville. from Tolthorpe
1600 Oxford (Topcliffe) see entry 1210 hrs. The passengers are Capt. Spencer (Civil Service) and Mr. Crawford (Pensions) Due to arrive at Dishforth at 18.30 hrs. Passed to 61 Base.
1130 1659/N EV-275 CAT - A (R) Pilot F/O Coutte - was doing circuits and landings at Topcliffe - Tail wheel collapsed.
Inf. SASO — SOC — ENG — [deleted] EQUIP [/deleted] — GAIO — GTI
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
Oxford - (61 Base) remaining at Prestwick overnight.
Oxford (61 Base) V-3533 remaining at Dishforth to-night, as Lt. Col. Rainville is remaining at Tholthorpe.
[underlined] Monday August 7. [/underlined]
0001 Ident board changed.
0130 N.F. - based in 6 Grp.
0900 433/H - F/E - Sgt Whitbread - died [inserted] Aug 6 [/inserted] from his injuries sustained in crash at Skipton on 5 Aug. Inf - P4 C of A
Off Duty - B. T - O’Beirn F/O On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1045 61 Base Oxford V-3533 F/L Homes [sic] requests Oxford to be standing by by 1300 hrs ready to take off for Hendon. Met advise T.O. time should be at 1400 hrs. F/LT Holmes advised. 61 Base advised they have Pilot & Nav. standing by.
1200 61 Base Confirmed T.O. Time for Oxford as 1400 hrs. 6 Grp Met quite happy about weather at that time at base & Hendon, also enrolee. Passed following message to 61 Base
“All training a/c in all Groups must be down before midnight.” - They will pass this to their Squadrons & stations
1310 B/424. F/LT Smith says B/424 Squadron now serviceable at Welford - 63 Base advised.
1315 Hendon V-3533 Hendon gave their permission for this Oxford to land at Hendon.
1330 Diversion Bases Contacted Central Flying Control Re diversion Bases. Asked for Bases as far north as possible with good Met Conditions from 0030 to 0130 hrs. Central F/C gave us the following stations in 93 Grp. Finningly, Worksop, Lichfield, Church Broughton, Wymeswold, Castle Donnington, Hixon, Seighford, Ossington, Gamston, Peplow, Tilstock. advised met.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
1345 6 Grp Met. Say they have consulted 93 Grp. [deleted] with [/deleted] [inserted] about [/inserted] diversion bases. 93 Grp met & our met do not think that the following bases will hold up after midnight. Finningly, Worksop, Wymeswold Ossington. Gamston, and Castle Donnington not later than 0100 hrs. This leaves 6 bases.
1355 Diversion Bases Contacted 93 Grp with a view to determining whether or not they could land 200 a/c at 6 aerodromes. 93 Grp were not happy, but said in a pinch they thought they could cope but could could not promise a great deal from servicing point of view.
1420 Diversion Bases Contacted Central F/C and asked for some more aerodromes - Also asked for St Eval as diversion base for Gardening a/c. C/F/C say it will be out by Return time of a/c at 0200 hrs. Suggested [indecipherable word] Our met say it will be O.K and Central said they would be O.K too.
1440 62 Base OXFORD C-604 Want permission for this a/c to land at Hendon tomorrow morning. Route Base Lincoln Hendon - This has been approved by SASO.
1500 63 Base OXFORD V-3604 Want permission for this a/c to go to Welford this afternoon. T.O. 1600 hrs. Route Base - Goole - Welford E.T.A. 1730. To pick up B/424. S.O.C gave his permission.
1545 12 Grp Report a/c c/s WBL-F FIX 5424N 0026W class 2. T.O.O. 1523 (1664/F)
1664/U Crash in Sea. [underlined] DG 363 [/underlined] 12 Grp say this a/c was seen to ditch in Robin Hood Bay by R.O.C. Also by above Halifax. 2 Halifax’s an Martinet now circling spot. also a Warwick diverted to spot and a fishing vessel F/L MacIntosh (F/A pilot) in fighter at 1500 hrs reports he approached from the East and called “air Firing a/c formate on my port. Halifax turned steeply to Stbd. Went into a spiral dive and span in.
W/O Harrison in Martinet reports he circled spot - very little wreckage left and a partly inflated Dinghy.
1715 Fishing Vessel reports he picked up 1 body (unidentified) from among small amount of
[page break]
[underlined] Prov Weather Diversion [/underlined]
[underlined] Sqn No. a/c. — Station[/underlined]
433 — 6 Hal. — Colerne (Definite) — 10 Gr
408 — 6 Hal. — Tilstock — 93 Gr
420 — 20 Hal. — Tilstock — 93 Gr
433 — 11 Hal. — Peplow — 93 Gr
427 — 21 Hal. — Peplow — 93 Gr
431 — 15 Hal. — Seighford — 93 Gr
434 — 17 Hal. — Seighford — 93 Gr
424 — 16 Hal. — Church Broughton — 93 Gr
426 — 16 Hal. — Church Broughton — 93 Gr
429 — 21 Hal. — Litchfield — 93 Gr
425 — 19 Hal. — Hixon — 93 Gr
415 — 19 Hal. — Hawarden — N.W. Filter
432 — 19 Hal. — High Ercall — N.W. Filter
419 — 15 Lancs — Wymeswold — 93 Gr
428 — 15 Lancs — Castle Donnington — 93 Gr
408 — 10 Lancs — Wymeswold & Castle Don. — 93 Gr
[underlined] Crash in Sea [/underlined]
1664/U - DG-363.
Crew List.
Capt. F/O Green L.A. - J25905
Nav. F/O MacIntosh A.S. - J14575 - identified by Police.
B.A. P/O. Gorman H.E. - J36878 -
W.Op. Sgt. Ellis, J.W. - R196611
Engr. Sgt. Morgan, C - R76725
M.U.G. Sgt. Southwick, N.L. - R186297
A.G. Sgt. Clarke N.E. - R205305
All crew lost.
Informed. A.O.C. — S.A.S.O. — Air I Controller — GII — G.A.I. — Engig. — Equipt. — P.4. — C. of A.
2305 hrs. - Darky heard by Dalton c/s taken N calling but could not make contact.
[page break]
wreckage left. Body taken to Scarborough Morgue.
61 Base - when message was first reported say that this may be a Dishforth a/c but as all their a/c are not due back at base until 1715 they will not be able to check.
1845 61 Base Say the a/c was DH-U - 1664 U - will pass us Time of Crash - crew list - a/c No.
1850 1666-J Ex 12 Grp Sent Following messages.
[circled 2] FIX 5434N - 0440W - Class I Hull 1846 ENGINE U/S - Returning to Base
[circled 1] C 0950 H 18000 A/S 2050 1835
[circled 3] FIX 5426 N 0421 W - Class I Hull 1858
[deleted] St 1855 92 Group intercepted SOS from this a/c
[circled 4] Cancel Distress 1904
Advised 61 Base of above. Had Station Flying Control standing by to land a/c on 3 Engines. Landed OK.
1830 Off Duty F/O Mountjoy. On duty [indecipherable] F/O.
1930 Prov. Weather Divn. Bases. Allocation & “gen” passed to Stations, and to 10 & 93 Groups.
Training a/c. To be all down or in circuit by 0001 hrs.
2200 M. St. G. 64 Base report 3 a/c on H2S X - C due back at Midnight. Request us bear in mind diversion base if their state unfit. 6 Group Met feel they will be OK but in any event can put them down within group.
2359 Divns. Named 61 Base to be tee’d up for return of Op. a/c if required - Dishforth Dalton - Womblelton.
[underlined] Tuesday - Aug 8/44. [/underlined]
0025 Divns. Following Sqns Diverted as laid on 408 Lancs, 427, 433, 420, 432. Remainder returning home. Stations informed by S.A.S.O.
[page break]
[underlined] Overshoots [/underlined] at Eastmoor
415/H LW 680 - Cat B. Pilot F/L Barnes
415/R NA 517 - Cat B. Pilot P/O Gingrich
408/X NP 713 - Cat E. Pilot F/O Joues
Crews O.K.
[underlined] Take off accident [/underlined] at Croft.
434/E LK 799 (Cat. E) Swerved and crashed into (U.C. Collapsed - Pilot Sgt. Hart, F. R174498)
434/J LW 176 (Cat B) Bomb doors damaged
Pilot.
Crews OK.
[underlined] Take accident [/underlined] Middleton
428/Q KB 751 - Turned wrong direction on clearing runway taxyed thru barrier tearing off HVS Blister. Cat (Pro.) “A” Pilot Hawthorn Crews OK.
[underlined] Missing [/underlined] - Middleton
419/F - KB 755. Pilot. F/O. Walker, B.D.
A.O.C. — S.A.S.O. — Air I — Controller — GII. — G.A.I. — Eng. — Equip. — P4 — C of A
[page break]
[underlined] Tuesday - Aug. 8/44 [/underlined]
0120 Gardeners Diversion Definitely diverted - Skipton & 10 Group informed.
0130 Re Diversions C.F.C. in the picture.
N.B. Servicing Parties Arranged by W/C. Smith - To consist of Sr. N.C.O. I/c - 6 fitters, 4 Riggers, 1 electrician
Aircrew Bus, per party
[underlined] Party From [/underlined] — [underlined] Report to [/underlined] — [underlined] Also service a/c at [/underlined]
Linton — Tilstock — -
Leeming — Peplow — High Ercall.
Croft — Seighford — -
Skipton — Church Broughton
Tholthorpe — Litchfield — Hixon
Middleton — Wymeswold — Castle Donnington [sic]
Eastmoor — Hawarden
All parties report to Flying Control .
To take with them - Small spares, spark plugs, Hydraulic lines & fluid, one spare tire & brake assembly. To leave immediately after take-off.
Passed to the Groups concerned. Later instructed party at Hawarden to got to Tilstock
0400 a/c away Groups concerned instructed to have serviceable a/c stand by at 1000 hrs for return.
0900 Off Duty F/O Spence. Off Duty F/O Mountjoy
0950 DIVERTED A/C All diverted a/c have been instructed to return to base. Met has given its O.K. a/c to Take-off as soon as possible.
1000 A/C ON FIRE SKIPTON 63 Base advise there is an a/c at Skipton in its dispersal on fire. Topcliffe is assisting in putting fire out.
1005 93 Grp. Say two a/c at Peplow have complete Bomb loads, and 1 a/c has a hang up that has been made safe. Instructed 93 that it was OK for a/c with bomb loads to take off and return but the hang - up should be removed.
1010 DIVERTED A/C All bases instructed to stand-by for the return of their a/c.
[page break]
433/S - MZ - 895 - [underlined] Fire [/underlined]
A.O.C. — S.A.S.O — AIR I — S.O.C. — G.T.I — G.A.I. — ENG. — EQUIP — C of A.
1666/Z - HR 855 Cat E1 Pilot F/O Osbourne
A.O.C. — S.A.S.O — AIR I — S.O.C. — G.T.I — G.A.I. — ENG. — EQUIP — [deleted] P4 N/A C of A [/deleted]
420/K — Cat E. Pilot -
On return from operations landed with full bomb load at Tangmere. Landing was heavy. Swung off runway and put put [sic] u/c through main plane.
A.O.C. — S.A.S.O — AIR I — S.O.C. — G.T.I — G.A.I. — ENG. — EQUIP
[page break]
1025 93 Grp Worksop Have a Wellington at Worksop BK 149 - U R/T Order. Pilot - F/O Wood. Bringing S/L Frieson who has an appointment at 6 Grp. a/c wants to land at Linton. O.K. by Linton. Passed to 62 Base.
1045 A/C ON Fire SKIPTON 63 Base advise a/c still burning. It was being refuelled. Bowser and a/c both caught fire. Both a complete write off. Two and possible three killed, presumably ground crew. There is reported to have been a gasoline explosion. (1500 hrs) Two men killed, both ground crew.
1145 OXFORD AS 741 61 Base want permission for G/C Vernes to go to Ossington, thence to Honeybourne. TO. 1200 hrs. Informed Ossington and asked them to let Honeybourne know when he took off for them.
1258 OXFORD T - 1104 64 Base say this Oxford landed at M.S.G at 1236 Apparently T.O. from Linton for Melbourne Reported to 4 Grp.
1515 61 BASE CRASH Z/1666 Z/1666 Squadron swung on Take - off - wiped out his undercarriage. No other information as yet. He was going on an A/A firing detail. Time 1500 hrs. - all Crew O.K.
1530 F/LT SMITH Gransden Lodge L/433 - Repair Crew should arrive today for Engine change.
Q/433 - Cat. AC.
K/420 - Cat E. This a/c made a heavy landing at Tangmere with a full bomb load - Swung off Runway and put his undercarriage through the main plane. Crew OK and returning with crew of J/425 who landed at Ford.
1800 DIVERSION BASE Request for Diversion Base. Contacted Central Flying Control and asked for Gaydon. Satellite to Wellesbourne. Met say this base should be O.K till at least 0400 hrs.
1945 D.S.O. informed of Prov. Weather diversion Base to go out on G.O.F.
1810 Diversion stations passed to 63 Base and Skipton (424 Sqdn Gardeners) W/X Prov.
[page break]
Missing a/c.
H/429 - LW 132 -
Not found P. - F/L HALL D.B. - J5492
Injured NAV. - F/S HARROD R.V. - R165497 - SERIOUSLY INJURED
Dead - A/B - F/O HACKMAN T.A. - J27118
Dead - F/E - P/O GLASS H - C-87159
Dead - WOP - F/S MURRAY D - R94474
Not found MUG - F/S PHILLIPS WS - R192357
Dead RG - P/O SYME L.B. - J87672
[deleted] Z/426 - NP737
P. - P/O SIMMONS SA - J86680
NAV. - F/O LAWSON GH - J24695 Landed
WAG - W/O THISTLE LB - R162804
A/B - F/S MOUNTAIN WB - R129998
F/E - SGT COOPER JF - 1811783
MUG. - F/O JONES EC - 169913
R/G. F/S KOGUCHIS - R193885 [/deleted]
A.O.C. — SASO — SOC — GAI — GTI — EQUIP — C of A — ENG — AIR I
[page break]
2100 DIVERSION Bases Information Re Provisional Weather Diversion to Gaydon passed to 91 Group.
1947 MARAUDER 131636 Landed at Eastmoor - F/LT Roe - came from Turnhouse. Landed at 1935. Took off 1946 for Greater Dunmow. He dropped a Passenger.
1955 Oxford P-1820 61 Base advise a/c arrived from M.S.G. for the Communication Flight at Dishforth.
2120 WELLINGTON HZ 653 Landed at Eastmoor - F/O Pattison - Came from Docking. - no reason given other than it was not any trouble with the a/c Landed at 2032 and took of for Bircham Newton at 2110.
2150 Oxford ED-152 9 Grp say this Oxford left Leeming for Wolverhampton and hasn’t arrived Checked with 63 Base. This a/c landed at Leeming at 1530 from Leuchars. He wanted refueling [sic] and he wasn’t sure of his location. He took off for Wolverhampton at 1605. Leeming Signalled him out. 9 Group informed pilot was Capt. Braithwaite - maybe ATA or a yank.
2323 420/J 62 base report this a/c came up on R/T over his home base and said he was proceeding to Carnaby as his Brakes were U/S - Informed 4 Grp. Landed Carnaby 2345. O.K. 62 Base Informed.
2350 62 Base Say Tholthorpe have had a couple of priority Petrol landings think they may be more. [indecipherable word] Dishforth for their OK with 61 Base.
WEDNESDAY - AUG 9 - 1944.
0013 91 Grp D/431 Landed at Honeybourne. Shot up. Crew O.K. Time down 2258 - about 100 Flak holes 64 Base informed.
0115 2 a/c missing. From sighting reports H/429 was seen to be heading back to English Coast on Fire. a/c exploded several parachutes seen. 4 Bodies picked up
[page break]
[underlined] Crash [/underlined]
1666/J - HR 780 F/O Harris (capt).
Crew OK. (Pos Z815382)
Informed. A.O.C. — S.A.S.O. — Air I — G.A.I. — G.T.I. — Controller — Engig — Equipt — S.F.C.O.
[page break]
an [sic] 1 seriously injured. - F/Sgt Harrod. R.V.
0300 DARKY WELLINGTON Landed at Dishforth - R/T. Downfall Y - a/c of # O.T.U. Westcott. Had accumulators on fire. F/Sgt Pamblyn & Crew O.K. Dishforth passed all information to his base. Crew & a/c will be staying overnight.
0815 OXFORD AS-741 61 Base request permission for Oxford to go to Hendon to take W/C Weiser there [sic] Route Topcliffe Doncaster, Newark Hendon T.O. 1000 hrs E.T.A. 11.30. Hendon say it will be OK to land there. W/C Weiser is going on leave back to U.S.A. must be in London at R.C.A.F H.Q. this afternoon.
0830 Off duty F/O. Mountjoy On duty H.G. Spence F/O
1100 431/D 434/C. Cat A.C. at Honeybourne. Skeleton crew to en train to Exeter to pick up 434/C, dropping down at Honeybourne to pick up remainder of 431/D crew. Cleared with 64 Base & 91 Group. Also to bring 4 ground crew back.
1100 433 & 429. 2 crews require C & L. Controller OK’d use of operational a/c for an hour or so.
0930. 61 Base a/c 5 a/c desire to make C & R detail at 62 Base. Latter say OK for 3 of them at Linton. Cannot handle other 2.
1130. Comm. Flight Proctor reserved for S/L Rawson for 1415 hrs. Going to Wombleton. Later - cancelled, not available.
1245. Crash 166/J (H.R. 780) Ex 12 Group Crash in Z8139. north of M.S.G. on Darlington Stockton Rd.
Middleton had already taken action. a/c called up on Darky, entered circuit on 3 engines, appeared to be OK, then suddenly nosed down and crashed on main highway (Darlington - Stockton Rd.) about 1/2 mile west of Sadberge. Crash tender, ambulance, M.O. and CTO dispatched. Crew shaken but OK. Pilot being detained overnight at S.S.2. Middleton a/c did not burn. Cat E. Time approx 1230 hrs.
[page break]
Re - 426/Z - at Ford - Linton sent a P.O.E and a propeller early to-day. Inf. W/C Smith.
[page break]
Wed Aug. 9/44
1100 A.V.M. Movement. Ex W/C Smith. Inform F/L Holmes when Proctor takes off from Wombleton to Dishforth. Requested 61 Base to inform us. (Later) Took off 1321 & landed 1341 A.O.C’s car left Wombleton for Dishforth immediately aircraft took off. Informed F/L Holmes.
1300 Lord Herewood Movement Wombleton report request received to have an a/c pick up [indecipherable word] at Barnaby (?) Trying to check up origin of request. Nobody here at Group or 61 Base have any knowledge of this. Later development - place should have been Thornaby, but in any event Lord Herewood was proceeding by M.L. car to Wombleton.
(Why aren’t we given some advance notice of these movements?)
1550. Photo’s for B.C. Com flight Proctor to be lined up for first light take off (0500 - 0530 hrs) to transport photos to B.C. 61 Base Flying Control has this in hand.
1600 1666/J crew Requested 61 Base to advise what transportation arrangements Wombleton were making to get crew home.
1830 Off duty - F/O Spence. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O.
1930 Met - Forecast bases
2150 63 Base - Report an explosion - 0520 from Leeming.
R.O.C. report that it is army manoeuvres at Newton - le - Willow.
2200 Snape Bombing Range - not operating to-night. After checking with 61 Base, 63 Base & Snape, it appears that Snape B.R. called 61 Base between 1830 - 1900 hrs to say that 6 Grp & Lemming cancelled bombing. Hence no crew at Snape to-night. - No reference in this log. - Query - who gave permission for Snape to stand down?
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[underlined] non starters [/underlined]
433/D - Insufficient petrol with power jet open.
433/G - Insufficient petrol with power jet open.
C.T.O. wishes to check them more thoroughly to-morrow.
[underlined] missing. [/underlined]
427/Y - MZ 363. Pilot - F/L WYSE (14 TRIPS)
Inf. SASO — AIR I — SOC — GAIO — GTI — ENG — EQUIP — P4 — C. Of A. — SFCO.
[underlined] ACCIDENT [/underlined]
425/N - MZ - 674. (MANSTON) CAT AC. Pilot - WO2 RYAN. Crew OK.
SASO — AIR I — SOC — GAIO — GTI — ENG — EQUIP.
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2200 427/G From Southampton - message “Airmen hit silk at 5102N 0112E at 2115 hrs.” - in plain language.
(forward to 63 Base) Ident - 5017N 0054E II at 2123 hrs. 11 Grp - are arranging A.S. Rescue - It is probable that the crew of 427/G are O.K. and that this message is a sighting only.
2230 424/Q - 63 Base sent m/u a/c to Carnaby - “without break [sic] pressure” Inf 4 Grp. (Landed 2255. OK.)
2300 415 & 432 - Cannot report accurate take off time because [inserted] a.c. [/inserted] [deleted] A.O.C. [/deleted] would not let the A.F.C. use an aldis lamp to spot the aircraft letters on take off. Inf. S.O.C., AIR I.
2350 61 Base - report - a red fire north of Dishforth. R.O.C. say it is verey lights of army manoeuvres.
[underlined] Thursday August 10. [/underlined]
0030 427/Y - missing from Z - 3326. This is probably the a/c reported by G/427. A sighting report by 429/A indicates that an a/c was hit by flak both port engines caught fire, and 5 parachutes seen to open. G/C Newson reported that 427/G saw 7 men bale out about 10 miles north of Dieppe and that the port wing broke away and damaged one of the parachutes.
0115 425/N MZ - 674. Pilot WO2 Ryan CAT. AC. Landed Manston at 0028 hrs. Pilot had to feather S.I.E. soon after take off, When near Dunkirk S.O.E began to seize, as pilot unfeathered S.I.E & feathered S.O.E. Before landing at Manston.
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4 Group - J. F. Demonstration at Helmsley - 11/8/44. 4 a/c dropping -
2 x 250 lbs. Green J.F’s 0259 hrs.
2 x 250 lbs. Red J.F’s 0259 hrs.
Will burst at 3000 ft. If target [inserted] can [/inserted] not be seen will burst at 10000 ft.
Main force dropping 27 x 10 lb. flash bombs. 13 a/c in main force. Broadcast to stations at 1935 hrs.
[underlined] D.F.C.O’s. to Note:- [/underlined]
Mock attack on convoy by 1695 Sqn (Dalton) Hurricane. (Grid References are to Ordnance Survey Map Sheet 26)
1. Hurricane will attack Motor convoy between T junction 688874 and X-Road 657856 at 1000 hrs. 14-8-44.
2. Vehicles will have red sheets laid on top to aid recognition
3. Attack will be made on working party at bridge 606801 at 1400 hrs.
Above arranged between Assault School, Ripon and Dalton. OK’d by S.O.C 9-8-44.
Advised 12 Grp. MLO 1245 hrs. 10/8/44. Also Stations.
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Thursday Aug 10.
0115 425/N. S.O.E. blew up. blowing off S.O. prop and damaging S.I. prop. Pilot landed the a/c and crew are OK. Did not reach target a/c is Cat A.C. - requires 2 star ENG.
0635 Oxford (Dishforth) - took off at 0635 with photographs for Halton.
0845 11 Grp ASR. - No success in search for 427/Y - wx poor low level cloud. - but search will be continued.
0900 Off duty F/O O’Beirn On duty H.G Spence F/O.
1000 Snape Range. Ref. Entry 2200 hrs: 65 Base only closed up range during their take-off. Complete close - down a misunderstanding.
0954 Fortress B-17 - 9205 Landed at Linton [inserted] controller [/inserted] Informed Prestwick & requested instructions, as mail on Board. Some confusion at Prestwick trying to contact responsible authority. Meantime guard placed at aircraft. Finally gave up Prestwick end and contacted T.A.C. 44 Group (Controller) who got through to A.D.T.U. Prestwick (F/O. Wilson).
Following instructions received and passed to 62 Base.
[circled 1] a/c to return to Prestwick when weather OK. Prestwick will advise us or Linton when OK.
[circled 2} G/C Leigh is to call F/L Knowles of mail can. Sqn Prestwick.
1100 Bristol Flashlight. Requested by 61 Base from 0200 to 0215 hrs, ht. 16000 ft, approaching from Swindon 16 a/c. Arranged with 10 Group & Controller at S.W. informed. 1664 - 11, 1659 - 4, 1666 - 1. S/L’s co-operate. Time changed to 0115 to 0145 hrs.
1130 Linton Oxford. Mc Powell flying S/L Ewan to Hendon for conference at Handley Paige. [sic] T.O. 1400 - 1500 hrs. Hendon say they already had movement direct from Linton and W/O Self would be Pilot.
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1659/ EB - 275. Cat Prov. Cat A.C.
Pilot - F/L E. T. Sherlock. 315489 No instructor
2nd Pilot - F/L. A.A. Sherlock J15488
Informed: A.O.C. — S.A.S.O. — Air I. — G.A.T. — G.T.T. — Controller — Equipt — Engig. — S.F.C.O.
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1400 425/N Crew Tholthorpe wish to lay on X - C, to land at Tangmere to pick up 425/N crew. OK’d by controller.
Local Bullseye. Gen passed to 62, 63, 64 Bases & Stations by Ops. 61 Base by F.C.
1500 Linton Oxford Now u/s. 61 Base arranging to take S/L. Ewan to Hendon, Pilot returning to-day.
1800 Met. 6 Group Met for return. - vis 4 - 8 miles cloud Strats Cu., north part of 6 Group 1500ft. base south part 1,000 to 1500 ft.
1815 Com. Flight Proctor. Arranged with 61 Base to have Proctor at Linton 1330 hrs, 11-8-44, to pick up photographs to be taken to Hendon. R.C.A. F.O.Ts. H.T will have representative there at Control Tower to receive them. The pilot is then to bring S/L. Ewan back to Linton, if he is ready to come back.
1830. D’vn. Base Petrol. 62 Base queried if Petrol Bases were being laid on. Checked controller who stated the a/c should be OK, but if desired Lancs may be given more petrol if there was time. Informed 62 Base.
2100. ditto Reference entry 1830. Checked again with Controller S.A.S.O. Result tee’d up. Dishforth to handle any emergency landings for 62 Base.
63 Base Offered OK by S.A.S.O. to fly representative to Cranwell to take part in funeral.
[underlined] Friday - Aug. 11/44 [/underlined]
0140 1659/ EB-275. [underlined] Accident. [/underlined]
Ex 61 Base :- Tail wheel collapsed on landing C. & L. detail. Aerodrome Fit. Crew O.K. Capt. F/L Sherlock E.T. Time 2343 hrs. 2nd Pilot F/L. Sherlock A.A. Normal landing cause believed to be structural failure Provisional Cat A.C. No instructor
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415/B - at Exeter - 10 Grp. Report that it needs an engine. P/O Barton checking on it. Then we shall know what instructor to give the crew.
[page break]
[underlined] Friday - Aug 11/44 [/underlined]
Off duty. F/O Spence, On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1015 Oxford - AD-132 left Skipton for Cranfield at 10-05 hrs.
1040 Fighter Crash into sea. - 61 Base report that Falsgrave N.R. police report that a fighter a/c went into the sea off the coast near Hayburn Wyke, north of Scarborough - 0945 hrs. Grid ref - 491165. 12 Grp F.C. believe it to be a “Tempest” - Grid reference 5317. Assume launch has been sent out though success of search is doubtful.
61 Base had 1 martinet off at 0945 and another at 1010 hrs so it is not likely their a/c. Inf - 61 Base.
1115 Fighter Crash into sea. Contacted Falsgrave Police. - no more details - Estimate a/c crashed into the sea about 3 miles off the coast. Rescue launch dispatched.
1130 Oxford - T1104 - W/C Sutton from H.Q.B.C. landed Dishforth at 1426 hrs, took off at 1820 for Melbourne on 10-8-44. -GFC wish to know if and when he is returning to Halton. Inf. 4 Grp FC. & C.F.C.
1205 415/B. at Exeter - requires P.O.E. change. - Instructed 10 Grp to have the crew return by rail. Inf. 62 Base.
1301 Fighter (sea) - Falsgrave police report to Wombleton that an oil patch is the only thing seen. 12 Grp are investigating what appears to be a dinghy.
1458 Oxford Took off from Linton for Hendon. Hendon informed.
[page break]
[underlined] Accident 1664/M - (LL 283) [/underlined]
Intoxicated airman drove crew bus into this a/c Red lights had been placed around it. Cat “A”
Airman R 101217 Lac Johnson S.F.
Inf. A.O.C. — S.A.S.O — Air I — Cont. — Equipt. —Engig. —G.T.I. —G.A.T. — S.F.C.O.
Note Regarding Lord Trenchard.
Likes to talk to aircrew informally - No Parades - Does not stand on ceremony. Hopes to see A.O.C.
This information together with arrival & departure times was passed to F/L Homes at 1340 hrs 11/8/44.
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[underlined] Friday August 11th 1944 [/underlined]
15.00 B/415 At Exeter needs P/O engine change. Asked 62 Base to send down new power plant and working party.
15.30 N/425 At Manston with S. Outer & S. Inner u/s. Formerly cat AC. F/L Smith wants Tholthorpe to send down two engines & two props. Manston will do all the repairs. Passed 62 Base.
16.00 NZJ “D” 91 Group have Wellington overdue now who has been briefed to call 61, 62, 63, 64 Bases on H7/S7 using M/N call-sign. Queried Bases - no word from him. Told 91 Group.
17.10 Bullseye scrubbed in view of weather. Cloud over most of the route and fighter bases mainly unfit.
1830 On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
SATURDAY AUGUST 12TH - 1944.
0045 61 BASE A/C LL-283 DAMAGED 1664/M. Report that this a/c at Dishforth was damaged. A drunken airman stole a crew bus and ran into the a/c. It is Cat A. There were red lights placed around it. Time 0015.
0512. OVERDUE A/C 1664 Called 61 Base re K/1664. ETD 2230 Took-off 2149 - ETR 0410 - No word heard from him as yet. Checked with 61 Base re early take-offs at Dishforth. Reply was C & B a/c were going to interfere with take-off of X/C a/c so started them away early so they could all s/c on time. Called 12 Grp to see if there was any report of prangs. There was none.
0522 61 Base Advise K/1664 landed OK at Dishforth. 12 Grp advised.
0540 LORD TRENCHARD Advised 64 Base of this signal giving arrival and departure times
0830 Off watch F/O Mountjoy On duty HF Spence F/O.
0930 1659/N F/O Armstrong on Nav. Liaison visit to Ossington. OK’d by Air I
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Special Bulls Eye - 12 Group (Maj. Jackson)
Starting Point 5307N 0000.
Route - Base 5307N 0000 - Whitby - 5500N 0055W - 5500N 0155W - Halifax - Nottingham - Base
1st. a/c at 5307N 0000 at 2300 hrs remainder at 30 second intervals.
Window - Type K to be dropped 1 bale per 10 seconds between Whitby & 5500N 0055W.
Height - 16,000 feet.
Target - Newcastle. After pos. 5500N 0055W a/c to dive from 16000 ft to 8,000 ft. at 5500N 0156W. When over Newcastle a/c are to fire white cartridges.
a/c of 1 Group will also take part, flying at 18,000 ft. Over Newcastle they will fire Green cartridges. 1 Group a/c will not dive between positions 5500N 0055W to 5500N 0155W.
Inform 12 Group (Night Ops.) Time at Whitby and run over Newcastle in advance.
1400 - Ex 12 Group - above cancelled in view of Combined Command Bulls Eye. Wish to try it tomorrow.
Ex 12 Grp. There will be Searchlights over Humber area. Mosquitos & Black Widows will be operating over the Humber area and to the North of it. - 61 Base informed
13/8/44.
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Sat. Aug. 12/44.
1115 Com. Flight G/C Creighton (Richmond 4383 Tel. No.) 61 Base to have Oxford at Hendon [deleted] by [/deleted] ready to pick up G/C Creighton and 1 other passenger by 1500 hrs. Oxford V 3533 F/L Spencer TO. 1200 - ETA 1330 - 2500’ Hendon informed 1220 hrs. [indecipherable] Signplate “Z”
1135 Crash Nr. Tholthorpe (Stirling) Ex 12 Grp. - crash 2 miles north of Tholthorpe. 62 Base informed. Tholthorpe to take action.
1140 - V.I.P Movement. (A.O.C.) [underlined] N.B. SFCO [/underlined] Request from 64 Base as to type of a/c and take off of A.O.C. for Middleton. This is first information we (F.C.) had of movement, here at Group. Same applied at 61 Base F.C. also Dishforth F.C. Proctor taxied out and took off. No previous advice given Flying Control as to movement or passengers.
(Why aren’t Flying Control put in the picture from source??!!) 61 Base F.C. checking looseness between Communication Flight & Dishforth Flying Control to prevent recurrence. Explained to 64 Base T.O. 1112.
1210. Crash 1665/P. 1300. (NY) Ref. entry 1135 hrs Ex 62 Base - Crash 1 2/3 miles from Tholthorpe - bearing of 1320, on main railroad near Orne. Aircraft burned. Holding up traffic. M.U. at Skipton informed. Railway Company are moving it. 2 of crew killed, 2 seriously injured. Informed Tilstock who are checking number in crew, names etc.
1630. Com Flt. Oxford. V-3533 Ref entry 1115 hrs. Took off from Hendon 1525 hrs. Should arrive approx 1705 hrs. Informed F/C Holmes.
1530. P.G.G/W. Ex 12 Grp confusion in message from this a/c as to position at which dinghy sighted.
“1530 hrs - Dinghy sighted, 5110N 0045W Southampton” confused with 5110N 0444W Search is being made and 12 Group wish correct “gen” as soon as aircraft lands. 62 Base asked to arrange.
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Anson - From Milne - u/s l. at Leeming 1616.
Whitney Straight - took off from Leeming at 1913 hrs to go to Cranfield and thence to Henlow.
Hudson - T9312 from Burn landed 2131 hrs at Topcliffe. T.O. 1816/13/Aug for Burn.
[underlined] Early Returns [/underlined] -
4701/E/28.
432/O - SIE u/s cont CTO.
Non starter
4701/E/28. 433/I - made false start. P.I.E. oiled up. So he taxied around for another take off he developed tyre creep. Engineers cancelled it.
[page break]
Com Flight. Aug 14. Oxford To take a/c to Burton Wood to pick up Mr. Corbin at 1400 hrs on Monday. Burton Wood is in 9th U.S. Air Force and prior clearance should be secured for landing. Mr. Corbin will be at Warrington. Pilot, on landing at Burton Wood is to call F/L Smith at Warrington 2001, Extension 2, advising him he is there to pick up Mr. Corbin.
AT 2000 hrs - Request to 61 Base for [indecipherable word]
1530. Lord Trenchard V.I.P. Took off in Lockeed [sic] from Middleton 1502 hrs for Turnhouse. Informed 12 Group.
1530. PKQ/M. 420 Sqn. Ex 12 Group Message.
“Navigator killed. Returning to base. Will need ambulance” [inserted] (Light flak) [/inserted]
W/C McKenna. TO 1455 TOR. 1509. (6 Grp 1525)
Informed 62 Base & 11 Group.
Bearing taken - 1030 from Exeter.
1600 Leeming Oxford. OK by Air I for G/C Newsome to take Oxford to Everton [inserted] (29 Grp) [/inserted] Also landing at Abbotsinch [inserted] 13 Grp [/inserted] Tomorrow AM.
V.I.P. U.O.C Movement. [deleted] On [/deleted] Ref. entry 1140. On return journey information from 64 Base F.C. was that A.O.C had taken off for Linton. Then it developed that he returned to Dishforth
1830 Off duty - F/O Spence, On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1850 AOC - Re visit of G/C Creighton. Enquiries if G/C Creighton has arrived yet at Dishforth. Has not arrived Dishforth checked with 61, 62, 63, 64 bases - also 12 Grp & Hendon.
1915 V-3533 G/C Creighton. Oxford landed at Croft at 1656 and took off again at 1910 for Dishforth. Landed at 1928. Inf. A.O.C. - Requested Dishforth to provide transport to 6 Grp as provided transport sent from 6 Grp had been recalled. S.F.C.O. at 64 Base to check why Croft did not report this earlier.
[page break]
Early Returns.
427/C - P.O.E - INGNITION U/S - (CTO)
424/S. P.I.E. U/S - Oil from exhaust landed on [indecipherable word] C.T.O.
428/I - R/G Violently sick.
419/Z - SOE & INTERCOM U/S.
[underlined] non starters [/underlined]
424/J - S.I.E. U/S - only 2500 RPM. 7lb. boost with full throttle (CTO)
424/ U - High oil temps on all engines (CTO)
433/E - Spare - Oil poured from exhaust of P.I.E. - due to broken seal on carburettor (CTO)
428/S - could not be bombed up in time.
419/B, T, Y, U,
Early Return 429/G. [deleted] (H) [/deleted] - Too late to reach target.
419/R. - KB-772 Pilot - W/O Weston. TAXI ACCIDENT - DAMAGE TO [inserted] S.O. [/inserted] AIRSCREW CAT -
Inf. SASO — AIR I — SOC. — ENG. — EQUIP — GAIO — G.T.I. — S.F.C.O.
Hurricane - from Holme on Spalding Moor landed Dishforth 0208 - Compass u/s staying overnight Inf. - 4 Grp.
[underlined] Wellington [/underlined] - NT/T F/S Peterswold from Bruntingthorpe landed Topcliffe at 0208 Port Engine u/s. Inf 92 Grp.
[underlined] Accident [/underlined] 432/A - NP-720 (crew 415) S/L WILMOT Landed at 0325 - Burst a tyre and blocked runway. Other 415 & 432 a/c being diverted to Linton. Cat. B.
Inf. SASO, — SOC. — AIR I — ENG. — EQUIP — G.A.I.O. — G.T.I. — S.F.C.O.
[page break]
2100 428/V - Got off on Bullseye - Tried to recall him but failed.
2115 1664/Z - Took off at 2108 disappeared below the trees toward Ripon. Checked with 12 Grp - no report.
1659. a/c - took off with bomb doors open. S.O.C. instructed 61 Base nit to warn him by W/T.
2120 Mocking Bird - Inf. 12 Grp MLO. to warn Regional Com. for Civil Defence.
[underlined] SUNDAY AUGUST 13th 1944. [/underlined]
0010 Oxford 63 Base - Ref. 1600 entry. Abbotsinch is a naval airfield - all grass - OK for an Oxford. - a/c to get green from A.F.C. Renfrew and aerodrome nearby. Inf 63 Base.
0100 non - starters S.F.C.O NOTE. - 419/M - Ran off the taxi track - bogged and blocked the runway. “B” & “U” blocked by “M”
Y/419 - Could not be bombed up in time.
S/428 - Could not be bombed up on time.
0100 419/R TAXI - ACCIDENT. During the afternoon “R” was taxying along near the south end of main runway, struck a bulldozer working on the edge of the taxi track. Airscrew damaged the top of the bulldozer and the driver received head injury.
0325 432/A (crew 415) - Burst a tyre on landing and blocked the runway. Category B. - 5 remaining Eastmoor a/c diverted to Linton.
0500 N.F. Closed - 5 a/c missing off target sheets - 16 a/c on Bullseye returned safely.
0500 DIVERSION To C.F.C. Only 2 a/c out of 265 landed away from Base.
0900 Off duty - B.T. O’Beirn F/O
[page break]
[underlined] MISSING [/underlined] - Night 12/13 AUG.
429/E - MZ-825 - F/O DEPEW 27 Sorties
427/N - LV-821 - F/L CRONYN 32 Sorties
424/A - LV-951 - F/O CAMPBELL G.D. 11 Sorties
434/Q - LW-175 - F/O McINTYRE 14 Sorties
428/Z - KB-758 - F/O McGREGOR 14 Sorties
Inf. - SASO, — AIR I — EQUIP — C of A — P4 — SOC — ENG.
Note.
64 Base advise that their Bombing Range at Bradbury will be closed from the 15 - 18th of August inclusive (4 days). Request permission for any bombing details to use Strensall (62 Base). This will be arranged by 64 Base Bombing Leader with Group Bombing Leader. Bradbury u/s by day only.
Master WD 980 - W/C Smith pilot landed Leeming at 1940. From Catterick.
Took off at 2005 for Donibristle after refueling [sic]
Anso LV - 270 landed Croft 2015 from West Freugh - Eng trouble.
Beaufighter HQ/A left Leeming at 2120 hrs 13 Aug for Winkley. Pilot F/O Donovan.
[page break]
0900 On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1020 Ex 12 Grp. Major Jackson wishes us to participate in Bullseye - all information the same as yesterday. 61 Base informed.
1030 Ex 92 Grp. Burning of Incendiary Leaves. Brafferton will be burning [deleted] leaves [/deleted] incendiary leaves during the next week, probably on each day and only during daytime. 12 Grp. 62 Base, 63 Base.
1050 63 Base OXFORD. S/L Kyles reports he will be going flying with G/C Newson this afternoon - S.O.C. say O.K. T.O - 1300 ABBotsinch [sic] 1410 - Refuel T.O. 1440 EVANTON 1540. - Abbotsinch tee’d up on refuelling
1055 61 Base OXFORD Permission given for W/C Weiser to go to Prestwick in this a/c. Movements have route.
1145 BULLSEYE “Gen passed 62, 63, 64 bases. Asked them to make an offer if Non - operational a/c.
1400 433/L. Permission granted for 433 squadron to send an a/c to Church Broughton with an extra crew to pick up L/433.
1545 ANSON Landed at Linton 1508 - Came from Castle Bromwich. T.O. 1515.
1830 Off duty - F/O Mountjoy. On duty B.T. O’Beirn F/O
1930 Weather - Met forecast bases will be fit for Local Bullseye return at 0400 hrs.
2145 433/L - Crew was taken down to Church Broughton during the afternoon. Some trouble 93 Grp checking to see the reason.
2210 433/L - Went to take off. P.I.E. developed trouble - staying overnight. Inf 63 Base.
[underlined] MONDAY AUG 14, 1944. [/underlined]
0115 Ex 12 Grp (MOSQUITO) from WYTON Crash occurred at V 2925 N.F.S. dispatched. Guard placed
[page break]
[underlined] Accidents [/underlined]
1666/J - DT - 584. Pilot - P/O Egan. Prov. Cat E.
Inf - SASO, — AIR I — SOC. — ENG. — EQUIP. — G.A.I.O. — G.T.I. — S.F.C.O.
1659/F LL - 171 Pilot - F/O LOCKE
Inf. SASO, — AIR I — SOC. — ENG. — EQUIP. — G.A.I.O. — G.T.I. — S.F.C.O.
[page break]
MONDAY AUGUST 14/44.
CRash. [sic] (MOSQUITO) U KB - 269 (WYTON) by RDF station. Request for an ambulance from Wombleton. Believed to be a twin engine a/c. Crash near Egton village. 61 Base requesting Wombleton to send ambulance
0210 Mosquito Ex - 61 Base (Whitby police) - from Wyton - pilot - F/O Timpton nav - Watkins.
Navigator - located and is OK. - believes the pilot is OK. N.F.S - and an ambulance is standing by.
Two men from Danby Beacon are providing the guard. Wombleton are not sending their ambulance
0215 1666/J DT - 584 P/O EGAN. Ground looped [inserted] on landing [/inserted] damaged U/C and blocked the runway. 61 Base diverting their a/c within the base. [underlined] Prov. Cat E [/underlined] (On circuits and landings)
1659/F LL - 171 Pilot F/O LOCKE - Early return from Bullseye at 2249 hrs. - P.O.E. U/S. The undercarriage came down - then began to retract - came down again but did not lock - hence a/c practically made a belly landing. - Blocked the runway. - [underlined] Category E. [/underlined]
0330 Mosquito (crash) KB - 269. “U” pilot - F/O Timpton suffering from shock. - in Marine Hotel Military Hospital, Whitby a/c completely burned out.
DFCO NOTE (Wombleton, the nearest aerodrome may have to provide the guard to - morrow).
0900 On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
MOSQUITO “U” 12 Grp enquiring about this crash. Report Danby cannot provide guard for more than 24 hours. Wombleton say it is not their crash boundry [sic] but they are nearest aerodrome. 61 Base Engineers to let us know when the M.U. will be able to remove the wreck. Arrangements then to be made to guard wreck when this information is available.
[page break]
[blank page]
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1100. 61 Base BRISTOL FLASHLIGHT. Request for Bristol Flashlight 2345 - 0015 at 15000’ - Route Swindon to Bristol to Coast thence due North to Menai Bridge. Contacted 10 Grp who say Flashlight is booked already between 2245 & 2310 hrs. Approach from Northampton. This information passed to 61 Base.
1115 61 Base OXFORD J - 3533. Permission for this Oxford to go to Buttonwood and land obtained. E.T.A. 1400. Checked with 61 Base to see that they have complete instructions. S/L Knight arranged with Dishforth station adjutant to have transport tee’d up to bring this Passenger to 6 Group. R/T c/s “Clockdress.” Z. T.O. 1320.
1204 433/L Returned to base from Church Broughton - He had still got his full bomb load on and was overweight for landing so was sent out to jettison.
1215 MOSQUITO U - CRASH. 61 Base say that local Police have located an Engine & Prop located 1 1/2 miles North East of wreck map Ref. 281261 sheet 16. If inquiries are made at Oliver Welbourn’s store in Egton they will give the required directions - 61 Base have been asked to find out when the Engineering officer at Wombleton is going to make his required report to 60 MU at York.
1230 61 Base BRISTOL FLASHLIGHT advised that they will take part in Bristol Flashlight exercise. Advised 10 Grp we will be participating with about 30 a/c at 16000’ - 10 Suggest we fly route from Bristol to Fishguard as we will get considerable searchlight activity over the Cardiff & Newport I.A.Z area and circuits to Fishguard. - 91 & 92 Groups are also participating - advised 61 Base.
1252 62 Base Report Cloud of Black Smoke N W of Tholthorpe in direction of Brafferton. Informed 12 Group who will check with R.O.C before we take any action. (See not Re burning Incendiary Leaves at Brafferton.)
1310 434/C. 64 Base advise 434 C/ took was - was airborne before he should have been - Bounced hard and damaged his undercarriage - now circling base with one wheel down. (Stbd).
Stood Carnaby by a/c remained over base
[page break]
Early Returns
L/420 - Jetissoning [sic] Position - 5413N - 0111E to 12 Grp & Int. Time 1406 S.I.E u/s - C.T. O.’d
R/420 - Jetissoning [sic] Posn. 5407N 0200E. To 12 Grp. & Int P.O.E u/s Throttle Linkage. - C.TO’d.
[page break]
and then s/c with other a/c. Contacted 12 Group ROCLO. had attempted to have him plotted to see if he went out to jetisson [sic] or proceeded to target. Apparently continued on to Target.
1330 Ex 4 Grp Special Exercise. There will be a Special Exercise at Helmsley tonight which will involve dropping of Red & Green T. I’s at 0158 hrs.
L/420 Message from L/420 “Returning to Base S.E u/s Bombs dropped.”
1515 Jetissoning [sic] Position 5413N - 0111E. Time 1406 L/420. To 12 Grp L/420 landed at 1448 R/420 at 1511
1537 Ex 4 Grp Special Exercise This Special Exercise has been cancelled for tonight. They will let us know when it is laid on again.
1539 61 Base Report a Spitfire JZ - S an a/c of 57 O.T.U. Eshott shot up Dishforth aerodrome in a dangerous manner at about 1500 hrs. Report turned in to H.W. Fitter.
1628 OXFORD BG 604 Landed at Linton from Lulsgate Bottom. Staying Overnight.
1650 4 Grp. Report C/434 landed at Carnaby at 1645. Wish to emphasize that he made a wizard landing 1 wheel being 450 out of true. Passed to 64 Base.
1655 Ex 6 Grp Signals. Intercepted a message to Leeming HF/D/F. from V/429 - Asked for an Ambulance - Navigator wounded. Checked with 63 Base.
1710 61 Base MOSQUITO “U” CRASH No further “gen” on this crash Except Wombleton are taking over guard on crash at 1800 hrs today. 60 MU not collecting wreckage today. Whereabouts of Watkins the Nav. not known. He is not at Wombleton
1830 Off duty F/O Mountjoy. On duty B.O. O’Beirn F/O
1905 Hurricane Walton - AIR I grants permission for S/L Mc Carthy to send a Hurricane to Catterick to-morrow - 0930 - 1030 Film Unit (A.M.) wish feature of simulated landings & take off
[page break]
[deleted] Stirling [/deleted]
[underlined] Accident [/underlined] on Take off.
434/C - NA - 497 Pilot - F/L BOYLE Starboard u/c damaged. fixed at an angle of 450
Informed A.O.C. — S.A.S.O. — Air I — Cont. — G.T.I. — G.A.I. — Engig. — Equipt. — S.F.C.O.
[page break]
2000 434/C (Carnaby) NA - 497. F/L BOYLE - Early return mission abandoned. Jettisoned safe at 5404N 0047E Starboard wheel retracted and fixed at an angle of 45 deg.
2015 Re new H2S D.F.C.O. Routes which were to be effective Aug 7. - 12 Grp M.I.S have not yet received copies from M.I.O. Hence 6 Grp movements are to pass to M.I.S. 12 Grp. T.F.N. (1) T.O. (2) S/C time (3) Coast penetration times (4) ETR.
2125 434/C - Croft sending transport for the crew. Carnaby informed.
[underlined] Tuesday August 15[/underlined]
1005 Window - 10 Grp M.I.S. report that 2 a/c on X/country - are dropping window. Inquired from 61 Base - who say the crews were not briefed for window.
0035 X/C - Met advise possibility of low stratus in our Group - suggest recall of 408/P - Inf 62 Base to recall above a/c Inf 61 Base - who are having their a/c cancel bombing exercise and return to base
0115 408/P - 62 Base report that “P” acknowledged recall.
0125 Diversion - 1659/C. landed Tholthorpe 0108 1659/R, P, S - diverted to Linton. Dishforth coping at present.
0215 Night Flying All 6 Group aircraft landed.
0400. Ex 12 Group. Querry [sic] if our a/c all accounted for as a crash reported.
0840. Ex 5 Group Querry [sic] as to Skipton weather at 0230 hrs 600 - 800 ft. cloud vis. 10 - 20 miles. Say they [missing words] a crash near.
[page break]
[underlined] State of a/c Away from Base. [/underlined]
426-Z - FORD - Should be ready by 17/8/44.
415-B - EXETER - F/LT. Smith will visit it today.
425-N - MANSTON - Should be ready by 20/8/44.
434-C - CARNABY - Cat AC damaged undercarriage.
Early Return & Non Starters
424/M - Non Starter - Oil leak in S.O.E. - CTO’d.
419/R - Early Return. - P.I.E u/s - FEATHERED. C.TO.’d
433/K - Non Starter - Flat Oleo Leg - Could not be repaired in time - C.T.O’d.
433/G - Early Return - S.O.E u/s FEATHERED - C.T.O.D Lay shaft on S.O.E Broken
425/W - Early Return - P.I.E cut at English Coast. C.T.O.D Throttle Shaft Broken
432/Y - Early Return - Nav. Trouble with D.R Compass. Not C.O.T’d. Later C.T.O’d when Transmission Spring in DR Compass was broken.
[page break]
0845 Crash Ref. entries 0400 & 0840. 12 Group advise crash in E 3990 about 50 miles west of [deleted] Wes [/deleted] Topcliffe in the Moors. 1 body found. Crash action was taken by an M.U. in the vicinity and we were not requested to act.
0900 On Duty F/O Mountjoy.
1035 64 Base 419/R. Report R/419 Squadron landed - Not R/T & No W/T contact made. Apparently landed OK with full Bomb load. No further information yet.
1050 BRISTOL FLASHLIGHT Passed information regarding Bristol Flashlight target to 61 Base.
Target Time - 2330 - 2355 91 Group are participating - Position of their route will be - Abingdon - Portland - Bristol - Fishguard. Heights so far allotted, 10000 - 11000 - 17000.
Information also passed to 62, 63 & 64 Bases.
1125 61 Base Offering 7 a/c - 1659; 10 a/c 1664; 10 a/c 166; Doing part of following route. Abingdon - Portland - Bristol - Cardiff (Locals) - Base. Confirmed route later. 10 Grp advised. [inserted] 16000’ [/inserted]
1130 Oxford BG604 Took off for Fulsgate Bottom from Linton. Route Passed to 12 Grp.
1135 RAPIDE N450 Landed at Linton - S/L Turner - Hughes to see W/C Smith. Informed S/L Dawson who says W/C Smith already on his way to Linton.
1220 62 Base K/408 Advise a phone call (very indistinct) from Horham regarding K/408. Will we contact them and see what the call was about.
1223 63 Base G/433 - overhead at Skipton on Early Return.
1225 K/408 Contact Horham who say they have not landed any RAF a/c today, but they were calling Linton regarding an a/c of 408 Sqdn that landed at Horham last March. They had all the information they require. Advised 62 Base.
[page break]
a/c Missing - Crew List.
428/A - KB749
PILOT. - W/O JAKEMAN APA. - R157995
NAV. - P/O HETHERINGTON. L. - 179430
A/BOM. - BROWN D.W. - J28937
F/E - SGT WRIGHT S.W. - 1894352
WAG - W/O CLEAVER. S.B. - R90404
MUG. - F/S REVELL. P.C. - R.208111
R/G. - F/S WHYTE. E. - R217083.
A.O.C. — S.A.S.O. — S.O.C. — S.F.C.O — C of A. — ENG. — G.T.I. — GAI. — P4 — AIRI — EQUIPT.
[page break]
1250 Darky - Dishforth gave QDM - 2300 - 98m. to a/c “M” For Whitchurch (Tilstock) Overheard by Tholthorpe. - c/s underway
1350 1659/P - Hydraulic trouble. Linton will inform us when it is ready to return.
1659/C - At Tholthorpe - no crew.
1530 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT OXFORD A.O.C requests 61 Base Oxford (DISHFORTH) & pilot to take Sgt. Rainville from Dishforth to Hendon. To be ready at Dishforth at 1900 hrs this evening. Advised 61 Base. T.O. 1904.
1615 61 Base BRISTOL FLASHLIGHT Asked us to confirm with 10 Grp that the Bristol Flashlight will be on regardless of whether 91 Group scrub or not. 10 Grp confirm that it will be on regardless of whether 91 Group scrub due to whether [sic] or not.
1620 MOSQUITO NS538 Landed Linton at 1148. Left Linton at 1608 for Swinderby.
1632 62 Base Oxford. Took off from Tholthorpe for Leeming at 1630. Due Back at Tholthorpe at 1800. 63 base advised.
MILES MASTER From Montrose stopped at Linton for refueling [sic] proceeding to Hendon.
1635 COMMUNICATIONS FLIGHT OXFORD Permission granted by Hendon for this a/c to land at Hendon. Warned 61 Base that he must be on time as Hendon have no lighting, also to have pilot report to Duty Flight when he lands.
1820 WELLINGTON LN701 - H An a/c of 14 O.T.U. Market Harborough landed at Dishforth at 1543 with R/T & W/T failure. Pilot was F/Sgt Williams. Trouble was fixed but a/c developed an oil leak in Port Engine - This may involve and engine change - 92 Group Informed the a/c will be staying overnight.
1810 BRISTOL FLASHLIGHT Gen passed to 61 Base re - Flashlight exercise.
2115 Off watch F/O Mountjoy, On watch
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
2120 10 Grp - Re Bristol Flashlight - 10 Grp report that Navy do not wish a/c to go over Portland. Must change our route. Inf 61 Base - Their a/c now airborne.
Advised 61 Base to snd on HF/DF message to a/c in 10th day Bomber Code. Negative Portland proceed to Blanford (5052N 0211W) T.O.T same (10 Grp to inform Navy should a/c cross Portland)
2230 Diversion Ex C.F.C. - Prov Weather base for 6 Gardeners 429 Sqdn. Wymeswold - Checked with Met - Vis - 2000 - 4000 yds - up to 0430 hrs.
2350 Diversion “gen” passed to 93 Group.
2355 64 Base - [two indecipherable words] Ops report green flares on Z. 93 at 2346 hrs. ROCLO say it is Bradbury Range. Inf. 64 Base.
[underlined] Wednesday Aug 16, 1944 [/underlined]
0125 1664/J - 9 Grp report that M/U a/c lost - over [indecipherable word - given QDM & distance to base - Has 2 hrs endurance. Inf 61 Base.
0250 Gardeners - Met believe Mid. S.G. will be fit if Leeming closes in so decided to bring 429 a/c home. Inf. 63, 64 Base.
0300 X/C - a/c All X/C a/c landed base - 419 - 1 a/c 428 1 a/c on local Bullseye. Message sent to HQ 12 Grp.
0500 Gardeners - all returned to Base - Inf 93 Grp. 12 Grp.
Off Duty F/O O’Beirn
[page break]
[symbol]
[underlined] D.F.C.O. PLEASE NOTE. [/underlined] - GET PERMISSION FOR [symbol] OXFORD TO LAND AT HENDON - TOMORROW AT NOON. 19 AUG 1944.
[page break]
On Duty F/O Mountjoy
1015 DISHFORTH OXFORD. S.A.S.O. has given permission for A/C Waite 61 Base to be flown down to Hendon tomorrow T.O. about 1600 hrs. E.T.A. - Hendon about 1730. a/c will be returning immediately. A/C Waite will be contacting us possibly on Saturday to arrange for Oxford to pick him up on Sunday at Hendon. 61 Base informed.
1025 1695 - F/A UNIT DALTON Permission given to Dalton to send a fighter to Catterick this morning to assist in filming of 3 Hurricanes taking off in formation. W/C Miles gave permission. Passed to 61 Base.
1050 ANSON AJ 332 This Anson landed at Dishforth this morning at about 0400 hrs from Jurby. Wishes to return to Jurby via Fleetwood at 1130 Ht 5000’ ETA Jurby 1200 hrs. No luck in contacting Jurby. Passed Met information re conditions at Jurby. Small amounts of low stratus and frontal conditions at about 1400 hrs. Told Dishforth to signal him out. 1110 Ex ADGB. No Bullseye Tonight.
1112 ANSON DJ 244 Visiting Anson at Tholthorpe T.O. at 1130 for Sleap. - P/O More pilot.
1150 WELLINGTON 24. OTU.
Landed at [blank] at 1105, T.O. 1150 return to Honeybourne ETA - 1250.
1230 BARACUDA BU - 910 Landed at 1227 at Dalton - Refuelling - Proceeding to Acklington.
1905 BULSEYE Passed action sheet “gen” to 61 Base. Asked them to make suggested route points between Base & Cromer - They suggest Melton Mowbray.
1910 LIBERTOR 64 XX Landed at Skipton at 1233 from Attle Bridge Returning to Attle Bridge via York - Wisebeck - Attle Bridge. T.O. 1430 ETA. 1600.
1615 DIVERSION BASES S.O.C. asked for best diversion Base area for diversion of all a/c tonight. Consulted met who gave following area. South of Little Snoring to Henlow. West of Watton to Polebrook. Asked CFC for a minimum of 8 aerodromes
[page break]
Diversion Bases - Emergency weather.
[underlined] Sqn — No. A/c. — Station. [/underlined] — Group
408 — 9H — Chedburgh — 3
429 — 10H — Chedburgh — 3
427 — 15H — Wratting Common — 3
424 — 12H — Newmarket — 3
415 — 15H — West Raynham — 100
432 — 14H — Oulton —100
420 — 15H — Bourn — 8
425 — 14H — Wyton — 8
426 — 15H — Bassingbourn — 1st US
431 — 11H — Ridgewell — 1st US
434 — 14H — Shepherd’s Grove — 3
419 — 12L — Bury St. Edmunds — 3rd US
428 — 15L — Thorpe Abbotts — 3rd US
433 — 12H — Horham — 3rd US
429 — 5H — Horham — 3rd US
[page break]
preferably U.S.A. - large enough to take Halifaxes & Lancasters
1730 1800 DIVERSION CFC C.F.C. have no bases for us as yet. Tie up in all lines due to Met Conference. C.F.C advise that 8 Grp have asked for Prov. Diversion Bases themselves and want to know if we are still happy about this area. Consulted Met who say at Met Conference 6 Group suggested diversions [indecipherable word] East Anglia and there were no protests. Also 100 Group are still happy about this area. Informed Central Flying Control we still would like diversion Bases - Preferably American ones - for our Major effort and that our restrictions on the area might be
1830 Off duty F/O Mountjoy On duty Spence F/O
1830 to 1930 D’v’n Emerg. Weather Stations offered by C.F.C. - allowed as on opposite page - Gen passed to Stations. Met. believe we shall cope on early Ops; some doubt for later one.
Thursday - Aug 17/44
0030 to 0045 Diversion Keyed up 61 Base & M. St. G. to be ready to assist on return of early ops if required. Requested some bases from C.F.C. on West coast in case weather goes duff when we’re landing a/c.
0120 Divn. Decided Met would hold & a/c on early operation should be brought home.
0015 Bulls-Eye Due to uncertainty of Met. Controller recalled BullsEye a/c to have them out of the way for return of ops. a/c. Messages sent on Section K and [deleted] Hull [/deleted] Station K.F.D.F.
0120 D’vn. 9 Group, offer Hawarden High Ercall 12 Group offer Acklington Scorton & Ouston. Advised them not required
[page break]
Aug. 17/44
Following [indecipherable word]
429/O 5417N 0226E. Ack.
5401N 0135E Class 2. Ack.
5409N 0128E Class 2. Ack.
428/L Emergency 5426N 0026E Class 2. At 0115 hrs.
434/S S.O.S. 5428N 0043E Class 3. At 0243 hrs.
5427N 0046E Class 3. At 0245 hrs.
Report by F/L. Smith.
415/B - Exeter - should be ready to-day
425/N - Manston - Ready soon - call F/L McCallum at Manston.
426/Z - Ford - soon.
[page break]
Thursday. Aug 17/44
0400 D’v’n Met holding Decision to bring M. St. G. a/c home to base Informed 3rd U/S. BD.
0014 429/O. Cancelled Emergency.
0145 428/L Cancelled Emergency.
0212 434/S. [underlined] S.O.S. [/underlined] Emergency bearing [circled 1] 0650 Hull - 0270 [circled 2] Heston. A.S. 1700 Ht. 2000 pos. 5428N 0018E. - 0238 T.O. Fix 5428N 0043E 3rd class - 0243.
Contacted 12 Group F.C.L.O. on above priorities.
0245 Crash. Ex 12 Group F.C.L.O. Report from ROCLO of crash at or near Croft. Checked Middleton who say Croft handling also reported a red glow North east of Middleton which later was confirmed as a fire only. Informed 12 Group.
0300 434/S. S.O.S. On request of 12 Group had M. St. George endeavour to contact mfn on HFDF. As indications were that a/c was in sea at last position heard of it & wished confirmation it was not airborne still.
0330 ditto No joy on HFDF. 12 Group arranging search by 16 Group.
0330 Crash North of Flamboro. 424/G, 424/W and at least one other a/c report what appeared to be a crash at pos. 5409N 0010W at 0210 hrs. explosion on impact. Appeared to be in hills just on coast. Informed 16 Group. Also 12 Group at 0500 hrs. Police searching.
0225 420/N. Landed at Carnaby. Reported collision with another a/c at pos. 5257N 0245E. Perspex smashed & injured Pilot. He is in S.S.2 and should be able to return tomorrow.
[page break]
[underlined] Missing [/underlined]
428/Q (K751) F/O. W. Kairgreive J25437.
420/L (MZ687) P/O. G. Pritchard J86684. Co. P/O R.H. Davies J87194)
431/Y (MZ372) F/O. T.H. Dable J17647
434/S (LK796) P/O. J Wagman J35150 - Sea Search.
433/D(MZ899) F/S. Avard JGM.
433/I (MZ863) F/L. J.C. Valk J21433
433/P (MZ808) F/O J.A.W. Morgan J25000
EQUIP.
Proctor - BX - 216 landed Linton from Hendon. On route to
Ventura - JP - 862. Landed Linton at 1245 from Pershore owing to weather. Linton inf. Pershore.
Oxford (Leeming) - took off at 1545 for South Cerney.
431/Q - (KST/Q) - MLS. 12 from Pulham message.
GPOM YEYE UVXF GPUV YEXF OMGP XFUL YNYU YUEM YEHX [symbol] ULUV YUHY SMOV LD 1215.
Thursday - Aug. 17/44
0600. Crash at Croft. Report of crash by R.O.C. turned out to be incendiaries going off. No damage.
0900 Off Duty - F/O Spence. On duty B. O’Beirn F/O.
1015 mid. (Croft’s Oxford) - Air I grants permission for mid to borrow Croft’s Oxford to take parts to 20 MU. near Gloucester.
1040 Com Fl. Oxford P1820 - (Ref 1015 hr entry 16 Aug. A/C Waite & G/C Creighton to Hendon. T.O. at [underlined] 1400 hrs. [/underlined] - Weather - 5 - 8/10 - 2 - 3000 vis 5 MT.
1105 Hurricane “E” from Northolt wishes to return Take off at 1105 from Dishforth. Pilot - F/L Austin Inf. Northolt.
1105 16 Grp A.S.R. - Report that KST - “G” sent message WBA - am over dinghy position 5313N 0034E (message faint may be 5413N) Checked with D.S.O & with 64 Base may be 431/Q using our non - ops c/s. Inf 16 Grp.
1150 16 Grp A.S.R. - message KST - Q WBA - 5413N 0034E (Dinghy sighted) WBC - IFF (switched on) 16 Group sending out one a/c immediately by S.O.C. & A.S.R.O.
1230 12 MLS A.S.R. (From Pulham
431/Q - Send message “Cannot contact H.S.L. Lindholme dinghy 6. - Inf AIR. SOC. 64 Base. TOR - 1215 (Inf ENG)
1300 408/R. 420/N. At Carnaby - both Cat. A.C. crews require transport from Carnaby - Pilot of 420/N can travel.
62 Base to arrange transport & to let us know time of arrival so we can inform Carnaby as crews are at Lissett.
[page break]
Report from S/L Bently - Intelligence Officer at Croft 431 Q - F/L McLeod.
Detailed for Sea Search in Area 5415N - 0000 5435N - 0045E
After completing 1st leg of 1st sweep, observed green, red & Green vereys, seen to our port at position 5413N 0038E at 1025 hrs - Height 400 feet Sea calm - dropped a smoke float between 1025 & 1028 hours. At 1028 Lindholme Dinghy and supplies were dropped, downwind from a height of 120 feet. The equipment landed 25 - 50 yds from the dinghy with crew in it. At 1039 hours we set course from dinghy to make rendez-vous with the H.S.L. Arrived at rendez-vous position at 1055 hrs. The H.S.L. was not there. Instituted a square of search - unsuccessful - at 1112 hrs. returned to Lindholme Dinghy - arrived there at 1131. At 1230 instructed other a/c to stand-by. At 1259 set course from Dinghy to H.S.L. Gave H.S.L. direction to dinghy. At 1325 we returned to dinghy. At 1341 notified dinghy that H.S.L. was on the way by aldis. Maintained contact with H.S.L. and dinghy until 1545 hours when H.S.L. arrived at dinghy. Rescue successfully carried out. Left H.S.L. and dinghy at 1555 hours. Landed at Base at 1622. Night camera in a/c and several exposures made.
Ex 12 Group.
Received a signal from H.S.L. - “Picked up 7 men - 2 slightly injured” - will be in Grimsby at 2000 hrs. Humber suggested they stay in Grimsby tonight. Rescue effected at B-19 - 25 - 26 miles - 25 to 26 miles east Flamboro - Position 5414N - 0039E
434/B - F/O Browning - Detailed for Sea Search over area 5415N 0000 to 5455N 0045E
At first run out at 1023 hrs at position 5412N 0038E at height of 500 feet we sighted a dinghy with crew of 7 aboard. Verey Cartridges were fired to attract other a/c. Then dropped smoke and flame floats, also aluminium sea markers. Smoke floats did not work. 431/Q was seen to drop a Lindholme dinghy and supplies. The crew made contact at 1106 hours. The Lindholme dinghy believed to be only partly inflated. Crew used own dinghy, but were seen
[page break]
1340 Message A.S.R. From Q/431 via Pulham:
From : KST/Q - GQ UL YN YU - T.O.O. 13.25 TOR 1328 : 431/Q - Located H.S.L.
1440 Oxford P/1820 - Pilot Chad - passengers G/C Waite & G/C Creighton took off at 1440 for Hendon. ETR 1600. Inf Hendon.
1450 Hurr. (Dalton) - Air I gives permission for S/L McCarthy at Dalton to fly to RAF Scampton on Liaison visit to 1690 Battle Defences Unit (Scampton is 5 miles north of Lincoln). Inf 61 Base.
1507 408/R (crew) 420/N (crew) - AIR I grants permission for W/C [indecipherable word] to fly to Carnaby for crew. Suggested that he also bring back crew of 420/N. Inf 4 Grp to inform the crews.
1558 Message A.S.R. - KST/Q - MUSM, YNGP, DHSM, HXUV, LUUJ. ([indecipherable word] Pulham) Received O.K. returning to Base.
1700 ASR Intell Report of 434/V 434/B.
1725 ASR Intell Report 431/Q.
1730 12 Grp Report WL/S - 434/S - crew of 7 picked up in H.S.L - 2 of which slightly injured - should arrive Grimsby by 2000 hrs. - Humber expect them to remain at Grimsby Inf. A.O.C. SASO. AIR I. SOC. A.S.R.O. 64 Base inf.
1740 Met - Bases should be fit for return
1750 4 Grp - Mocking Bird ex - at Helmsley.
1830 On Duty F/O Mountjoy
1915 Passed times of A.S.R. a/c to 16 Group.
1930 MOCKING BIRD EX Advised 61 Base & 62 Base & 63 Base of Mocking bird Exercise to be carried out by 4 Grp at Helmsley.
[page break]
to take supplies. At 1220 hours the Coastal Command Hudson marked dinghy [deleted words] with smoke floats at 1229 - he dropped a Lindholme dinghy [deleted words] upwind. Did not make contact. At 1430 hours W.O.P contacted Hudson a/c with Aldis lamp asking for orders & received “Return home taking over”. At 5417N 0000 at 1439 hours - 1000 feet - passed over 6 ships thought to have been stationary. Query “We were on the job 4:08 hours but no sign of ASR launches - why so long?
434/V - P/O Senberg - Detailed for Sea Search over are 5415N 0000 to 5435 0045E after completing outward leg of sweep, sighted dinghy with 7 occupants, at posn. 5413N 0035E at 1026 - 500 feet - Sea Calm. Circled dinghy dropping smoke floats, immediately east and west of dinghy. Observed leader (431/Q) go up to approx 3000 feet to send message [deleted word] He circled for some time then headed SSE.
(prior to sending message 431/Q dropped a Lindholme dinghy at approx 1032 hrs downwind and to port. Occupants of dinghy made contact with Lindholme dinghy and the crew are of the opinion that the ditched crew used Lindholme dinghy. He continued to circle dinghy dropping occasional aluminium sea markers. At 1220 Coastal Command Hudson appeared and dropped Lindholme dinghy to starboard of crew and wide. Also dropped smoke floats then flew shoreward. Returned in a short time continuing to drop smoke floats. We secured signal from Hudson at 1433 hours. “Return home - taking over”
At 5420N 0010W at 1445 hrs [indecipherable word] passed over 6 good sized ships heading north - no contact - This crew wonders why over 4 hours were necessary for launch to be sent out.
[page break]
[inside back cover]
[indecipherable word] B.R - 5728N 0350W cancelled by Lossiemouth
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Flying Control Log Book
Description
An account of the resource
A record of events and their times at RAF Tholthorpe covering the period 21 July to 17 August 1944 (73 pages).
Format
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73 handwritten pages
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
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MCothliffKB[Ser#-DoB]-151020-120009
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
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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.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944
Temporal Coverage
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1944-07
1944-08
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
Conforms To
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Pending text-based transcription. Under review
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
RAF Tholthorpe
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1970/33723/MWakefieldHE174040-171016-20.1.pdf
03d9a7992b8a2a887aef045c8b1afb99
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Wakefield, Harold Ernest
H E Wakefield
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2017-10-16
Rights
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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.
Identifier
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Wakefield, HE
Description
An account of the resource
93 items. The collection concerns Harold Ernest Wakefield DFC (1923 - 1986, 1582185 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, training publications, decorations and badges, training notebooks, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, photographs and parachute D ring.
He flew operations as a flight engineer with 51 and 617 Squadrons.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jeremy Wakefield and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[front cover of notebook]
1582185 A.C.2 WAKEFIELD, H.E.
123 ENTRY.
Form 714.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Rough Notebook for use in Laboratories and Workshops.
T. 9686. Wt. 8930. 350,000 Bks 2/41. E.J. & S. Ltd.
[page break]
[inside front cover]
[underlined] Questions & Answers [/underlined]
1/ Is a compound of iron & carbon called ferric carbide.
2/ is a laminated structure of cementite & ferride [one indecipherable word] it is the eutectoid of steel.
Solid solution is an intimate mixture of one substance dissolved in another in the solid state.
Austerate is a solid solution of cementate [sic] in it is formed when steel is heated where the upper vertical points critical or change points are these temperatures at which structural changes take place in the solid metal. Lower critical points if the temp at which the change from [one indecipherable word] steel to austenite begins (also called A.C. 1)
Upper critical point is the temp. at which the above change is complete (also called A.C. 3)
Decealascent [sic] points are the change points observed on testing the metal which appears to glow less brightly at these temperatures.
Recealascent [sic] points are change points observed on cooling the metal which appears to glow more brightly at these temps.
E is that alloy which changes completely from solid solution to normal perlite [sic] solution (or vice versa) at a temp lower than any other carbon steel it has only one critical point for example 84% carbon steel or perlite. [sic]
[page break]
[underlined] FORCE:- [/underlined] is that which will cause a body to move faster or to move slower.
The unit of force in British engineering practise is the [underlined] pound weight. [/underlined]
The pound weight is the force exerted by gravity on a mass of 1lb.
[underlined] Moment of a force [/underlined]
[sketch]
It is required to find the value of x
Sum of clockwise moments = Sum of anti-clockwise moments.
[calculations]
[sketch]
Where must a 2lb weight be placed between B & C so that the lever is just kept horizontal.
[calculations]
[page break]
[sketch]
The weight of the lever is 5lbs. Find the reaction on each support.
[calculations]
[underlined] Work [/underlined] = force x distance. The unit of work in engineering practice is the foot pound.
A crane raises 650lbs. through 25 ft. How much work has been done?
WORK = FORCE x DISTANCE
= 650 x 25 ft. lbs.
= 16250 ft. lbs.
[underlined] Power:- [/underlined] is the rate of doing work, WORK DONE PER SECOND or WORK DONE/TIME.
An aeroplane weighing 5 tons rises through a vertical distance of 1000 ft. in 5 mins. What [inserted] extra [/inserted] power is the aircraft developing during ascent?
[calculations]
[underlined] Horse power:- [/underlined] is the rate of doing 550 ft. lbs. of work per second.
H.P. = WORK DONE/TIME x 550
1/ A crane raises 55 tons of cement thro’ 66 in 2 mins. What H.P. is developed?
[calculations]
[page break]
2/. A small engine of cyl. bore 3”.8 and stroke 4” has an average pressure 50 [missing word] and makes 1000 revs per min. What H.P. is developed?
[calculations]
3/ A loco. has a mass of 120 tons & maintains a speed of 30 mph. up a slope of 1 in 100. If one slope is 2 miles long what extra h.p. is required to make the ascent?
[calculations]
[page break]
N.B. Mechanical advantage = load/effort
Vel. ratio = distance moved by effort/distance moved by load
Efficiency = work done by load/work done by effort
N.B. The efficiency is always less than 1
Efficiency = Work got out/Work put in
[sketch]
[calculations]
[page break]
Density = Wt. of 1 cu.ft of substance
Specific gravity = wt. of substance/wt. of equal substance of water.
Pressure = Force per unit are (lbs. per sq. inch)
Pressure = Force (lb.)/Area (sq.in.).
Density = Weight (lb)./Volume (Cu.ft.)
Pressure = Ht. x Density (lbs./sq.ft.)
Degree of hotness = Temperature.
1. Heat to raise 1lb. Water through 1 Deg C.
= 1 Centigrade Heat Unit (CHU)
2. Heat to raise 1lb water through 1 deg F
= 1 British Thermal Unit (B. Th. U.)
[underlined] Fuels [/underlined]
Hydrocarbons
[underlined] Mixture Strength [/underlined] - ratio of air / fuel by weight.
A/ [underlined] Chemically correct [/underlined] - ideal, worked out from chemical equation (15 : 1 for petrol).
B/ [underlined] Rich Mixture [/underlined] - contains less air than A/ 12 : 1 = 20% rich.
C/ [underlined] Weak mixture [/underlined] - contains more air than A/ 18 : 1 20% weak.
Density of a gas varies with pressure & varies inversely with temperature.
[page break]
Cylinder temperature:-
Flame rate - 1/ rapid for rich or correct mixture.
2/ slow for weak mixture.
causes high cyl. temp in [circled 2].
[underlined] Detenation [/underlined] [sic] - spontaneous ignition of part of the charge - due to high cyl. temp. & pressure.
[underlined] Over. Rich [/underlined] - 1/ take - off. Extra fuel for cooling, to prevent detonation.
2/ [underlined] Rich [/underlined] (12-1) full power, normal running.
3/ Weak (16-1) cruising under small load. Gives fuel economy.
[underlined] Energy equation: [/underlined] Total energy in a gas is constant.
Pressure energy + kinetic energy = constant.
1/ [underlined] Volatility:- [/underlined] property of vaporising easily.
2/ [underlined] Calorific [deleted] heat [/deleted] [inserted] value [/inserted] :- [/underlined] heat produced in combustion of 1 lb. of fuel.
3/ [underlined] Latent heat of vaporisation:- [/underlined]
4/ [underlined] Freezing point:- [/underlined] should be as low as possible (about -500 C to -600 C)
5/ [underlined] High anti-knock value:- [/underlined] can be raised by
[circled 1] Blending (e.g. benzole)
[circled 2] Doping (with tetra-ethyl-lead)
[page break]
Requirements of A/C carburettor.
1/ the liquid fuel must be broken up as far as possible and thoroughly mixed with the air.
2/ in normal working conditions a constant mixture strenght [sic] must be maintained.
3/ a rich mixture must be supplied for idling.
4/ extra fuel must be supplied during acceleration.
5/ provision must be made for weakening the mixture when cruising at reduced power.
6/ provision must be made for enriching the mixture for max. power & take off.
7/ means must be provided for preventing the mixture from becoming richer with increase in altitude.
8/ ice must be prevented from forming within the carburettor.
9/ as far as possible the carb. should be automatic, simple to adjust, & robust enough to remain in adjustment under service conditions.
[underlined] Idling System:- [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Volumetric Efficiency:- [/underlined] = Wt. of charge drawn in/Wt. of charge filling cyl. at S.T.P.
To increase power, we raise V.E. by increasing [underlined] density [/underlined] of charge by [underlined] supercharging. [/underlined]
[underlined] Reasons for supercharging [/underlined]
1/ To increase the power of an engine of given size & weight.
2/ To maintain the sea-level power up to a high altitude.
[underlined] Acceleration:- [/underlined] Sudden throttle opening causes fuel deposition & the mixture tends to become [underlined] weak. [/underlined] Prevented by small pump discharge of fuel.
[underlined] Rated Altitude - [/underlined] that [deleted] wh [/deleted] at which full power is obtained at full throttle, with climbing boost & standard R.P.M.
[underlined] Supercharger - [/underlined]
1/ Fixed gearing.
2/ Two - speed gearing
3/ Exhaust driven turbine.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] STRESS [/underlined] When a body is acted upon by a force These forces are called stress.
Stress is measured as internal force per unit [deleted] measure [/deleted] [inserted] area, [/inserted] & so measures the tendency to break.
[underlined] Measurements of stress:- [/underlined] Stress equals applied load/area transmitting load.
[underlined] Strain [/underlined] when a body is acted upon by a force it is deformed. This deformation is called strain.
Measurement of strain, tensile strain = extension/original lenght [sic]
compressive strain = contraction/original length.
[underlined] Elasticity. [/underlined] If strain dissappears [sic] when the force is removed the body is elastic.
[underlined] Relation between stress & strain. [/underlined] [deleted] W [/deleted] within the elastic limit, stress is proportional to strain. (Hookes law) Stress/Strain = Constant (E)
[2 sketches]
[underlined] Proof Stress:- [/underlined] the test piece is subjected to a specified stress for 15 secs. The stress is removed & if there is no permanent deformation the yield point must be higher than the applied stress.
[page break]
Heat treatment normally applies to high carbon steels.
Steel when heated undergoes several changes of internal structure which affect it properties. These changes in the reverse order take place on cooling only if a cooling is slow. The various changes take place at fairly well defined temps. Steel should be heated slowly. Do not insert directly into the furnace.
[underlined] Normalising:- [/underlined] object,
1/ To relieve the stresses set up by previous work, such as forging & bending &
2/ To produce a good internal structure.
[underlined] Method:- [/underlined] Heat to cherry red heat & allow to cool freely in air.
[underlined] Annealing:- [/underlined] object,
1/ To produce softest possible state when cold.
[underlined] Method:- [/underlined] heat to a cherry red heat & cool as slowly as possible N.B. The best way is to allow steel & fire to cool together, or to bury steel in the hot ashes.
[underlined] Hardening:- [/underlined] object:-
1/ To produce a maximum hardness.
[underlined] Method:- [/underlined] heat to a cherry red & cool very rapidly by quenching in water, or oil, which is less drastic.
The rapid quenching prevents the usual change of structure & traps the steel in a hard intermediate form. This form is only stable providing
[page break]
that the steel is not heated above 2000 C in use.
Tempering:- Object
1/ To relieve excessive brittleness consequent on hardening while retaining sufficient hardness.
[underlined] Method:- [/underlined] Reheat to the temp. appropriate to the purpose of the two & quench.
[underlined] Equilibrium Diagram of C-Steel. [/underlined]
[sketch]
If more than 1.8% carbon then you get cast iron. Cast iron used for piston rings, because of its high elasticity, good wearing, self-lubricating.
1/ Up to .25% carbon is always called low carbon or mild steel
2/ .25 to .7% carbon is always called medium carbon or mild steel
3/ .7 - 1.5% carbon is always called high carbon or mild steel
All known as straight steels as there is no alloy present in them.
[page break]
As the percentage of carbon increases the hardness & tensile strenght [sic] increases but the material becomes more & more brittle.
Impurities of carbon steel:- all classes of carbon steel contain small quantities of silicon sulphur & phosphorus. Sulphur causes brittleness & tensile strength. The ill-effects of sulphur eliminated by adding .5 to .7% manganese, which combines with the sulphur to form anon injurious product.
Phosphorous causes softness
[underlined] Silicon [/underlined] gives fatigue resisting properties
Silicon manganese [inserted] steel [/inserted] used for laminated springs.
Silicon chrome steels heat resisting.
[underlined] Alloy Steels [/underlined] Their strength depends more on their structure & composition than on the hardness produced by special heat treatments as in the case of carbon steels.
1/ Increased tensile strength (40 - 110 tons per [symbol] “ combined with greater ductility.
2/ Increased impact volume & greater resistance to fatigue
3/ Minimised mass effect giving increased uniformity in strength & toughness throughout large masses
4/ Anti-corrosive properties
5/ Large reduction in weight.
6/ Greater strength at high temps
7/ Less rapid quenching necessary, owing to slower critical changes consequently less risk of cracking.
8/ More difficult to produce needs special care & treatment
[page break]
during manufacture, thus more expensive.
[underlined] Alloying elements used:- [/underlined]
Nickel Ni Molybdenum Mb Vanadium V Cobalt Co Tungsten W Chromium Cr Manganese Mn Silicon Si
[underlined] Ni [/underlined] Increases tensile strenght. [sic] Lowers critical points & percentage carbon in the eutectoid. Anti-corrosive, reduces the crystal size increases the depth of hardening, gives a fine grain, no scaling (3.15% nickel gives .75% carbon in eutectoid.
[underlined] Invar [/underlined] Contains 36% nickel & is an austenitic steel i.e. critical points are below room temp. It has a low coefficient of expansion & is thus used for precision instruments.
[underlined] Non-magnetic steel [/underlined] contains 25% nickel. Is used for shafts of polar inductor magnetos.
[underlined] Perlitic Nickel Steels [/underlined] 3 to 4% nickel & .2 to .5% carbon used for core hardening (tough core, hard case)
[underlined] Chromium [/underlined] gives great strenght & hardness slows up the critical changes gives greater depth of hardness in large masses. Raises critical points & produces fine grain i.e. added strenght without loss of ductility
Chromium Steels.
1/ Less than 2% chromium if strenght & hardness & toughness required
2/ 2 to 4% chromium - for permanent magnets.
3/ 10 to 20% chromium - stainless steel.
[underlined] Nickel Chrome Steels [/underlined] When alloyed together they give increased strength & hardness combined with greater toughness & ductility. These steels must be quenched to avoid brittleness.
[page break]
[underlined] MARKING OUT EXS. [/underlined]
1/ [underlined] To disect an angle. [/underlined]
[2 sketches]
2/ [underlined] To draw a perpendicular to a line. [/underlined]
[sketch]
3/ [underlined] To disect a line. [/underlined]
[sketch]
b. [underlined] Quick method [/underlined]
[sketch]
[page break]
4/ [underlined] To draw a parallel to a given line [/underlined] (1 1/2” from it)
[sketch]
5/ [underlined] Bisection of angle - lines not meeting [/underlined]
[sketch]
6./ [underlined] Perp. [deleted] at [/deleted] [inserted] near [/inserted] end of line. [/underlined]
[sketch]
[page break]
7/ [underlined] To divide a line into 7 equal parts [/underlined]
[sketch]
8/ [underlined] To draw a square on given base line. [/underlined]
[sketch]
9/ [underlined] To contruct [sic] a regular hexagon. [/underlined] (2” across corners)
[sketch]
[page break]
10/ [underlined] Chamfer. [/underlined] Radius of chamfer 1/2”
[sketch]
11/ Draw circle of radius 3/4” In centre of circle, draw 1” [symbol]
[sketch]
[calculations]
[page break]
[calculations]
[underlined] Magnetism:- [/underlined] Natural magnet - lodestone
Artificial magnet - cobalt Steel, Nico & Alnico.
[underlined] Rule:- [/underlined] Like poles repel
Unlike poles attract each other.
A magnet is surrounded by
A [underlined] magnetic [deleted] flux [/deleted] field [/underlined]
A magnetic field is made up of a number of [underlined] lines [/underlined] of [underlined] magnetic force [/underlined] The closer together these lines of force lie the stronger is the magnetic field or flux.
Soft iron is easily magnetised & demagnetised & is more permeable to magnetic lines of force than air.
This means that when a piece of soft iron is placed in a magnetic field, the lines of force crowd into the iron increases the magnetic flux & the iron becomes a temporary magnet. The iron loses its magnetic properties on being removed from the field.
[underlined] Electricity [/underlined] An electric current is a flow of electrons.
All [inserted] material is [/inserted] made up of small particles called [underlined] atoms [/underlined]
Atoms have equal amounts of positive electricity (protons) & negative electricity (electrons)
Conductors of electricity e.g. metals.
Will lose electrons when a force is applied. This is called an Electro Motive Force (EMF) & is measured in volts.
[page break]
There must be a [underlined] potential difference [/underlined] or pressure difference between the terminals of a battery or a storage cell, before a current flows through a circuit.
This P.D. is also measured in volts.
Electric current is measured in [underlined] amperes [/underlined] (amps)
[underlined] Ohm’s Law [/underlined] EMF/current = constant
E/I = R (Resistance)
[underlined] Resistance is measured in Ohm’s. [/underlined]
If a current of 1 amp. flows through a conductor under a force of 1 volt the resistance of the resistance of the conductor is one Ohm.
[underlined] Resistance depends on [/underlined]
(1) The kind of metal
(2) Secondly on the lenght [sic] of conductor.
(3) on the thickness of conductor.
[sketch]
[page break]
[2 sketches]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
1582185 A.C.2 Wakefield, H.E.
Hut No1, A Line,
A Squadron, IT.T. Wing,
R.A.F. Cosford.
Nr. Wolverhampton.
Staffs.
Tuesday.
Dear Sheila,
Many thanks for your last letter. You’re nearly as bad as Den, it took him two weeks to reply to my letter it took you ten days. I thought you weren’t going to write back. Not that it worried me!
At the moment a Flt. Lieut. is giving us a lecture on something or other, I don’t know what because I’m not listening.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
Two Score Steel High Cr non-corrodable [sic] steel.
Staybright (High chromium, high nickel steel) 188 Steel 18% chrome 8% nickel This is more resistant to corrosion, is austenetic [sic] & so can’t be hardened by quenching. Hardened by cold working. Non-magnetic. Very tough & difficult to machine. Resistant to sealing at high temperature & no tendency to harden on cooling. Is used for aero-engine valves. Chromium is key element in valve steels
Molydenum [sic] - small quantities .15 to .65% produce fine grain, it also induces a uniformly fine grain or structure in steel. Thus it increases impact value greatly, gives a tougher steel which is more resistant to vibration
Tungsten is the base of all high speed tool steels (i.e. steels which retain their cutting edge to a dull red heat & also permit of heavy rapid machining operations in which a straight carbon steel would be completely softened. Tungsten raises the critical points (almost double)
2% tungsten to straight carbon tool steel gives a finer grain, a tougher material & a much more durable cutting edge. 6% tungsten used for permanent magnet steels. 14% tungsten gives normal qualities of tungsten 22% tungsten gives better qualities
Silicon is not a metal but behaves as one in steel alloys. It is present in all steels up to .33% as an impurity, gives fatigue resisting properties This good quality is increased if alloyed with manganese Silver. manganese steels are used for laminated springs.
[page break]
Silico Chrome gives great heat resisting properties Nickel Molybdenum Chrome Steel. High expansion steel used for steel inserts for valve seats The valve seats are hardened by facing with
1/ [underlined] Stellite [/underlined] Co 65% — Cr 27% — W 4% — Si 2.75% — C 1.25%
2/ [underlined] Brightray [/underlined] 80% Ni 20% Chrome.
3/ Duro-chrome Si Cr Mb
These are also used for facing rockers, valves, [inserted] stems [/inserted] tappets, cams, etc.
Vanadium in small quantities up to .25% increases fatigue resistance usually alloyed with tungsten, cobalt & mb. are sometimes added. used in valve springs.
[underlined] Cobalt [/underlined] gives powerful magnetic properties
Alnico, 15 25 & 10%
Mn gives greater depth of hardness in large masses a tough non magnetic steel used for steel helmet.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[3 sketches]
[page break]
[3 sketches]
[page break]
[line graph]
[page break]
[line graph]
[page break]
[inside back cover]
[missing words] is third alloy which completely solidifies or melts at a [missing words] lower than any of metals of which the alloy is [missing words] used & lower than any other alloy of these metals.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Harold Wakefield's engineer/fitter course notebook
Description
An account of the resource
Contains: notes on physics of force and moments with formulae and calculations. Notes on chemistry of fuels, requirements for carburettor,. Continues with mechanics of stress and properties and chemistry of metals. Continues with geometry and drawing followed by physics of magnetism. Then is included part of a letter to Sheila followed by notes on metal alloys diagrams and graph.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
H E Wakefield
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Format
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Multi-page notebook with handwritten entries
Conforms To
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Pending text-based transcription. Under review
Identifier
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MWakefieldHE174040-171016-20
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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
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Alan Pinchbeck
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1970/33722/MWakefieldHE174040-171016-19.2.pdf
ed5c11086a13fc5b711d8b5b2820855a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wakefield, Harold Ernest
H E Wakefield
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
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2017-10-16
Rights
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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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wakefield, HE
Description
An account of the resource
93 items. The collection concerns Harold Ernest Wakefield DFC (1923 - 1986, 1582185 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, training publications, decorations and badges, training notebooks, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, photographs and parachute D ring.
He flew operations as a flight engineer with 51 and 617 Squadrons.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jeremy Wakefield and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[front cover of notebook]
Wed 1
thur 0
Frid 0
BAROMETRIC
[page break]
[underlined] HALIFAX MK. III [/underlined]
[underlined] Starting & Running Up. [/underlined] Gills fully open.
Test for hydraulicing after 1 hr. stand on ground
after 4 hrs. stationary in air.
Do not prime until engine is turning.
Run at 800 revs. then 1000 - 1200 revs. for warming up. Turn head to wind.
Before ground checking: - cylinder temp. min. 1000 C.
oil temp. min. 150 C.
oil press. min. 60 lb [symbol] “
oil temp. max. 900 C.
cyl. temp. max. 2700 C.
Check R.P.M. lever at 2200 revs. 2800 revs & 8 1/4 boost. throttle back to just under +6lbs. boost. & check mags. limit 50 revs. drop. Throttle back to 1500 revs. & check blower, temporary loss of 30lbs. oil press.
Do not run in S gear above 1500 revs. below 5000ft. [underlined] Stopping. [/underlined] Run at 1000 revs. until cyl. temp. finishes dropping, open up to [deleted] 12 [/deleted] [inserted] 1800 revs. [/inserted] for few seconds then throttle back & cut.
[page break]
[underlined] Handling & Climbing. [/underlined]
Climb at 2400 revs. & E.C.B. (+2) M gear at [underlined] 155 [/underlined] I.A.S. when boost falls to +1 (about 12000 ft.) change to S gear. Climb to 16000 ft. then advance throttle to mid-way position & climb at [underlined] 145 [/underlined] I.A.S. to 22,000 ft. then bring throttle back to E.C.B. position & fly at [underlined] 160 [/underlined] I.A.S. with 2400 revs. After releasing bombs climb to 24,000 ft. at 2400 revs. E.C.B. 160 I.A.S.
When descending leave throttle at E.C.B. position and progressively reduce revs. (Change back to M gear about 12,000 ft.) where revs. are down to 16,00 start closing throttle progressively.
For cruising throttle should be always left at E.C.B. position.
In emergency increase revs. to 2800 & open throttle until highest possible boost pressure is obtained.
[page break]
[chart of numbers in rows and columns]
[page break]
[underlined] LANCASTER [/underlined]
[underlined] FUEL [/underlined] :- 3 tanks. No1 INNER 580 GALS.
No2 CENTRE 383 GALS.
No3 OUTER 114 GALS.
[underlined] TOTAL CAPACITY. [/underlined] 2154 GALS.
Use 120 gals. from No.2
Turn on No. 1 & use 283 & pump 114 from No3. into No. 2.
Now No 1 & No 2 are level use alternatively for 1 hr.
[calculations]
Always turn on booster pumps & test before T.O. Always turn on booster pumps for T.O. LANDING. EVASIVE ACTION. & ABOVE 17,000 F.T. & WHEN WARNING LIGHT COMES ON.
Aways switch on booster pumps of appropriate tanks before turning on those tanks.
[page break]
To run all engines on 1 tank.
Turn on booster pump & then appropriate tank, turn on Main Balance & turn off necessary tanks.
Before landing run all 4 engines on each tank in turn to test pipelines.
[underlined] Oil. [/underlined]
Capacity 37 1/2 Gals + 4 1/2 Gals air space.
[underlined] COOLANT [/underlined] 12 1/4 gals. inboard.
11 gals. outboard.
[underlined] RAD FLAPS [/underlined] Two positions fully open or closed.
[underlined] EXTERNAL CHECKS [/underlined]
1/ PITOT HEAD COVER OFF.
2/ SECURITY OF LEADING EDGE & COWLINGS.
3/ CHECK WHEELS FOR CUTS & CREEPS & OLEO LEG EXTENSION (MIN. 2” LOADED)
4/ CHOCKS IN POSITION.
5/ STATIC VENT PLUGS OUT
6/ CHECK MASTER COCK FOR BOMB DOORS.
[page break]
[underlined] AUXILIARIES [/underlined]
[underlined] P.O. [/underlined]
REAR TURRET
ALTERNATOR (GEE)
[underlined] P.I. [/underlined]
MID-UNDER
HYDRAULIC PUMP
ELECTRIC GENERATOR
PESCOE PUMP
RAE COMPRESSOR
[underlined] S.I. [/underlined]
FRONT TURRET
HYDRAULIC PUMP
ELECTRIC GENERATOR
PESCOE PUMP
HAYWARD COMP.
[underlined] S.O. [/underlined]
MID-UPPER
H2S ALTERNATOR.
[underlined] MIN. TEMPS FOR RUN-UP. [/underlined] OIL 200 C.
COOLANT 600 C.
[underlined] MIN. OIL PRESSURE. [/underlined] 45 lbs. per [symbol] “.
[underlined] MAX. COOLANT. [/underlined] 1250. C. T.O. & CLIMBING (CONTINUOUS)
1350 C. (5 MINS)
[underlined] MAX. OIL. [/underlined] 950 C. CONTINUOUS
1050 C. 5 MINS.
[page break]
[underlined] MAX. LANDING WEIGHT. [/underlined] 55,000 lbs.
[underlined] NORMAL MIN. REVS. [/underlined] 1950 REVS.
1800 for 1/2 hrs then clear engines at 2650 +4.
[underlined] FEATHERING [/underlined] 1/ I.C.O. OFF
2/ PRESS FEATHERING BUTTON.
3/ PETROL MASTER COCK OFF
4/ ENGINE STOPS. ENSURE BUTTON RELEASED.
5/ SWITCHES OFF.
[underlined] UNFEATHERING [/underlined] 1/ PITCH C/U TO COARSE
2/ THROTTLE OPEN 1/2”
3/ MAG. SWITCHES ON.
4/ PRESS BUTTON (15-1800 revs)
5/ MASTER COCK ON.
6/ I.C.O. SWITCH UP.
7/ SYCHRONISE. [sic]
8/ RETRIM.
[page break]
[underlined] RUNAWAY PROP. [/underlined]
THROTTLE BACK.
HOLD NOSE UP.
PITCH FULLY FINE.
TRY FEATHERING.
[underlined] RUN-UP. [/underlined]
Idle at 1200 Revs.
Open throttles to 0 boost 24-2500 R.P.M.
Check C.S.U. fully coarse 17-1800 R.P.M.
Full fine 24-2500 R.P.M.
[page break]
Open throttle to +9 boost check 2850-3000 R.P.M. check mags 150 MAX.
Close to 0 boost check Supercharger S gear
1/ Flicher in revs & boost.
2/ Red warning light in cockpit.
Return to M. gear
Fully close throttle, check slow running
Line I 600 R.P.M.
Line III 800 R.P.M.
Idle at 1200 R.P.M.
[page break]
TAKE-OFF ON 1
USE 150 gals from 1
TURN ON 2 & PUMP OVERLOAD INTO 1. WHEN ENOUGH HAS BEEN USED FROM 2 TURN BACK ON TO 1 & PUMP 3 INTO 2 THEN USE 1 & 2 AS PLEASED
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Harold Wakefield's Halifax flight engineer notes
Description
An account of the resource
Covers Halifax Mk III, starting and running up, handling and climbing, cruising, and data tables. Continues with Lancaster fuel (capacity), oil, coolant, rad flaps, external checks, auxiliaries checks on turrets and engines, temperatures for run up, max landing weight, engine revs and drills (feathering and unfeathering, runaway prop as well as run-up, take off fuel pumps settings).
Creator
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H E Wakefield
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Format
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Notebook with handwritten entries
Identifier
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MWakefieldHE174040-171016-19
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
Conforms To
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Pending text-based transcription. Under review
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
Halifax
Halifax Mk 3
Lancaster
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1970/33713/MWakefieldHE174040-171016-11.1.pdf
4f181739a6aa2b6e085c9dbf3d5bd3fd
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wakefield, Harold Ernest
H E Wakefield
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-10-16
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wakefield, HE
Description
An account of the resource
93 items. The collection concerns Harold Ernest Wakefield DFC (1923 - 1986, 1582185 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, training publications, decorations and badges, training notebooks, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, photographs and parachute D ring.
He flew operations as a flight engineer with 51 and 617 Squadrons.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jeremy Wakefield and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[front cover of notebook]
32 COURSE [underlined] F.T.I.C. [/underlined] WAKEFIELD P/O.
Form 619.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Notebook for use in Schools.
91/5074. Wt. 2037. 200M. 6/43. P. & T.
[page break]
[inside front cover]
[underlined] P.L. [/underlined]
[underlined] 10 mins [/underlined]
Telephone System,
Thousand Isles,
Demobilisation
Punting
Motor - Cycle Trials.
Newspaper printing
Holiday in France.
Rabbiting
Cartridge Making
Journey across Africa
Ledrs. Sandtoft, Wickenby, Kershaw, Rook
[page break]
A Flight, Flying Training Command
Training Organisation 11 1/2 hrs
Law & Admin. 13
Organisation 12
Visiting Lecturers 4
Category
81% & over = ‘A’
71% to 80% = ‘B’
60% to 70% = ‘C’
59% & under = FAIL
A Excellent — B Very Good — C Avr. — D B. Avr. — E Very weak
B Flight. [underlined] Bomber Command. [/underlined]
[underlined] 1st day [/underlined] :- Summary by C.I. Preparation of Instruction, Preparing lectures. Practise Lectures, Use of Blackboard. Organisation.
[underlined] 2nd day [/underlined] :- Organisation, Admin. P.L. Organisation. Inst. Method. P.L. Critiscisms [sic] of lectures, & how to assess lectures.
[underlined] 3rd day [/underlined] :- I.M. Organisation. P.L. B.B. Inst. I.M. P.L.
[underlined] 4th day [/underlined] :- Training analysis I.M. P.L. Disc. groups. P.L. Law & Admin. Training Analysis.
[underlined] 5th day [/underlined] :- P.L. I.M. T.O. Admin. Visiting Lecturer. Law & Admin.
[underlined] 6th day [/underlined] :- T.O. I.M. P.L. B.B. ADMIN. I.M. T.O.
[underlined] 7th day [/underlined] :- ADMIN. I.M. org. I.M. P.L. ADMIN. ORG.
[underlined] 8th day [/underlined] :- ADMIN. Training [one indecipherable word] P.L. Unit Talks. Visiting Lecturer. Speech Training.
[underlined] 9th day [/underlined] :- P.L. Org. P.L. I.M. Court Martial
[underlined] 10th day [/underlined] :- Org. P.L. Org. I.M. Org. Ad. P.L.
[underlined] 11th day [/underlined] :- T.O. T.O. Exams. Exams. C.O’s address.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] R.A.F. SUBJECTS [/underlined]
Training Organisation
Organisation
Administration.
[underlined] TRAINING ORGANISATION [/underlined]
T.O. (1) [underlined] R.A.F. Organisation. [/underlined]
[underlined] Air Council [/underlined]
R.A.F. Governed by Air Council, founded 1917.
Sec. of State for Air.
[sketch]
[underlined] Sec. of State [/underlined] :- Responsible to the King for all R.A.F. affairs. His work is largely parliamentry. [sic] Presides over Air Council
[underlined] Parl. u/s of S [/underlined] :- Deputises for S & S in Parliament & Air Council, specialises in all training matters, personnel admin. accidents & civil aviations.
[underlined] Parl. u/s of S (L) [/underlined] :- Specialises in works, contracts, welfare,
[page break]
publicity, Royal Observer Corps, Met. Parl. S of S (C) is the senior.
[underlined] Chief of Air Staff [/underlined] :- Operations, Signals & intelligence. Serves on Chiefs of Staff committee.
[underlined] Vice Chief of Air Staff [/underlined] :- Merely understaff to C.A.S.
[underlined] Air Member to Personnel [/underlined] :- Responsible for manpower, recruitings, postings, chaplains, medical service, Provost Marshall & S.P’s.
[underlined] Air Marshall of Supplies & Organisations [/underlined] :- Supplies, works directorate, airfields, organisation & establishments.
[underlined] Air Marshall for Training [/underlined] :- Flying & Ground Training, O.T.U. & C.U. under him, also responsible for all Technical Training.
(All in charge of departments which are split into various directorates)
[underlined] Addisional [sic] Civilian Member [/underlined] :- Financial Adviser
[underlined] Permanent U/S of State [/underlined] :- Secretary to council, controls R.A.F. Accounting, Publicity & Met.
[underlined] HOME COMMANDS. [/underlined]
[underlined] A.E.A.F. [/underlined] Allied Expeditionary Air Force.
[underlined] BOMBER COMMAND [/underlined] - 8 ops. groups.
3 training units.
American Bombardment Divisions
[underlined] COASTAL COMMAND [/underlined] - 4 Reconnaisance [sic] Groups
1 Training Group.
[underlined] BALLOON COMMAND [/underlined] - 3 Barrages.
TRANSPORT COMMAND - 5 Groups (3 England, 1 Eygpt [sic] 1 India. 1 Canada.)
[page break]
[underlined] Maintenance Command [/underlined] - 4 Groups + 2 Wings.
Responsible for [deleted] shop keepers [/deleted] all crashed ‘planes
53 Wing Packed a/c pools
54 M.T. Companies.
[underlined] Flying Training Command [/underlined] - 7 Groups
[underlined] Technical Training Command [/underlined] - 4 Groups
[underlined] Works Directorate [/underlined] - comes under A.M.S.O.
(TO 2) [underlined] Scope of Aircrew Training [/underlined]
Estimates for aircrew are presented two years in advance
Variable’s affect estimates
Casualties
2) Shipping
3) Change of aircraft.
4) Availability of aircraft
5) Enemy interference
6) Changes in syllabus.
7) Shortage of airfields & groundstaff.
8) Course of War.
[page break]
[flow charts]
[page break]
[flow charts]
[page break]
[flow chart]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
Org. 1 [underlined] TRAINING ANALYSIS I [/underlined]
1/ Object of Research is to ascertain the truth by scientific inquiry.
2/ To find out what is happening & why it happens.
3/ Research substitutes conclusions based on facts for personal opinions.
4/ Research enables correct decisions to be taken instead of relying on trial & error.
Department at Air Ministry called Department of Research, covering Flying Training & Technical Training.
[box of text]
Deductions must not be made from small samples.
[box of text and numbers] [calculations]
[underlined] TRAINING ANALYSIS II [/underlined]
The backbone of report on training is the statistical tabulation.
A tabulation is facts arranged in columnar form with top & side headings. 2 sets of facts can be arranged in 2 ways
3 sets of facts can be arranged in 12 ways
5 sets of facts can be arranged in 200 ways
[page break]
[underlined] Points to watch when tabulating facts. [/underlined]
1/ Every tabulation should have an explanatory heading or caption.
2/ The tabulation should be self explanatory.
3/ Headings to columns must be understandable.
4/ Give tabulation a number.
5/ Use double lines to indicate major divisions.
6/ State basis.
Charts have 2 uses 1/ a record 2/ to clarify tabulations
[chart]
[underlined] Pie chart [/underlined] (circle chart)
TITLE
[3 pie charts]
Bad for comparing different figures.
[page break]
2. [underlined] Pictogram [/underlined] (Do not use)
[pictogram]
3. [underlined] Bar Chart [/underlined] (Vertical or Horizontal)
[bar chart]
4. [underlined] Compound Bar Chart. [/underlined] (nearly always vertical)
[compound bar chart]
5. [underlined] Component Bar Chart [/underlined] (nearly always vertical)
[component bar chart]
[page break]
[circled 6] Histogram (or Distribution Charts)
7. LINE CHART (Historigram)
[line chart]
[circled 8)
[bar chart]
[page break]
[underlined] Timetable Compilation [/underlined]
1/ Obtain syllabus & master it, length of coarse in weeks Subject & hours on subject Total hours Frequency of intake No. of bodies.
2/ Prepare general plan consulting those affected C. I. & specialist instructors & messing officer & obtain agreement.
3/ Accommodation available
4/ Make a table of hours allowed on each subject
5/ Prepare time - table blank. Decide on layout Fix precise lecture hours. Leave gap between lectures & arrange break in 4 hr period. Days of the week Hours of the day Units
6/ Filling in blank form grid:-
Consider instructors with other duties (SMO, Met officers etc)
b) Alternate doing & listening periods. Last period am & pm. Should be active such as P.T.
c) consider instructors (day - off, common room)
d) accommodation
e) time - table for special [deleted] inter [/deleted] equipment.
f) evening instruction
g) reproductions (stencilled 10 letters to 1” [one indecipherable word] hectograph typewriter 12 letters to 1” (elite) handwritten photographed vertically 6 lines to 1”
[page break]
[underlined] PRINCIPLES OF ORGANISATION. [/underlined]
Organisation is a skill which can be acquired.
Organisation deals with the division of work & and its subsequent co-ordination.
Every undertaking has two divisions or aspects 1) LINE - PURPOSE.
2) STAFF - PROCESS.
PESDCOR
P = Prévoyance (forseeing [sic] your objective & laying plans to achieve it.)
E = (Establishing the structure of the undertaking)
Principle of span of control.
There are 2 forms (1) LINE (disciplinary)
(2) FUNCTIONAL (technical)
Principles of Relationship. LINE STAFF LIASON FUNCTIONAL LATERAL
5 Forms.
Organisation charts can show
Control
2. Relationship
3. What YOU do.
4. What OTHERS do.
S = Staffing. (Engagement & training)
D = Directing (making descisions [sic] & giving orders)
Co = Coordinating.
R = Reporting (keeping oneself informed - i.e. research.
Keeping ones superior informed.
Keeping ones subordinates informed.
[page break]
[underlined] ORGANISATION [/underlined]
[underlined] Servicing Wing [/underlined]
[underlined] Non - Routine [/underlined] - (I) Variable opportunity
(II) Fleeting opportunity
[underlined] Routine [/underlined] - O.T.U. Training Schools
Object of Servicing Wing - To get maximum flying from minimum servicing personnel & a/c.
Achieved by - 1/ Centralising all technical resources
2/ Relieving Flying personnel of [underlined] all [/underlined] responsibility for a/c & servicing personnel.
FORM 700 Servicing Wing
Daily Service
Daily inspection
2. Pre - flight & between flight
3. Petty u/s.
4. Refuelling. - re-arming etc TURN ROUND
5. All (S.) a/c.
FORM 701
Repair & Inspection
1/ Minor Inspections.
2/ Major Inspections.
3/ Modifications.
4/ Engine change.
5/ Repairs
[page break]
[underlined] Sequence of Inspections [/underlined] -
1/ Daily - Between flights - Pre-flights
2/ Minor - Minor*
Seven minors alternate M - M*
Followed by major I.e. on 50 hr. cycle 8 x 50 = 400 allowed latitude of + or - 10% on all inspections.
[underlined] Planning [/underlined] -
C.T.O. plans on.
1/ Unit Servicing Task
2/ Unit Servicing Statistics
Stage or Gang System of Inspections
[underlined] FLYING ACCIDENTS [/underlined]
Accident Rate :- no of accidents for 10000 hrs.
Accident Trend :- Rise & fall in the rate
MAF Metropolitan Air Force.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] ADMINISTRATION [/underlined]
Judge Advocate General:-
In charge of legal proceedings dealing with land etc. Sueing [sic] etc.
Also cheque summaries of evidence. Find out prosecutors & advisor to courts in difficult cases, e.g. against officers.
Defendant can hire [underlined] anyone, [/underlined] civilian, to defend him.
The Accused (no [sic] what is alleged against them before trial)
The Prosecutor (Does not know what accused will say until trial)
President
All three have summary of evidence
Court Martial cannot try for very serious offences unless there is no civil court for 100 miles E.g. Treason,
If chief witness [underlined] against [/underlined] defence is missing, accused cannot be tried.
1/ Either C.O. or accused can say whether summary is on oath. It is normally on oath.
2/ Officer taking summary must not be implicated
[underlined] Proceedure [sic] against Officers [/underlined]
Any officer must be dealt with by court martial or by A.O.C for minor charges NOT BY C.O.
[underlined] Must [/underlined] be in arrest to go before C.O for charge
[underlined] Must [/underlined] be in arrest for summary of evidence.
[underlined] Must [/underlined] be in arrest for court martial.
[page break]
Punishments:- Reprimand & Severe Reprimand & 12 months loss of seniority
Only Air Council or Court Martial can stop pay or make officer pay.
[underlined] Powers of A.O.C. in Relation to Junior Officers & W/O’s [/underlined]
Severe Reprimand
2. Reprimand
3. Loss of seniority up to 12 months. *
4. Deduction of Pay (W/O’s only) *
Carry the right for C. Martial.
[underlined] Court Marshall [/underlined]
Field Court Marshall :- Very uncommon
General Court Martial :- Deals with officers & very serious offences against airmen
District Court Marshall :- Max punishment 2 years for dealing with smaller charges against airmen. Cannot deal with officers & W/O’s
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[underlined] Y Syndicate. [/underlined]
[underlined] INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD [/underlined]
[underlined] Basic Principles of Instruction. [/underlined]
Ends & Means :- Good instruction requires a thorough knowledge & the subject, ability to impart that knowledge & an understanding of the pupils.
Keep in touch with changing conditions & requirements. Invite suggestions e.g. Instructor Discussion Groups.
Help other instructors, treat them as friends. Commend swell as criticise them.
[underlined] Preparation of Instruction [/underlined]
Syllabus:- Assimilation - material collected, analysed, reflected upon systematised & then applied.
Time factor, the intellectual capacity of pupils, which regulates the rate at which they can assimilate the work. Provision of time for recapitulation, revision exercises & note-taking.
[underlined] Preparing & Lecture [/underlined]
Thorough & detailed preparation of every phase. A clear statement of aim - calls up revelant [sic] ideas, excludes irrevelant [sic] ideas & specifies a definite objective.
The instructor must in his own mind at least, if not on paper:-
Analyse the subject, break it up & rearrange it in proper sequence
(b) How to teach each step:- question & answer, model or apparatus diagrams, analogies, exercises, balance & timing.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[page on Instructional Method repeated]
[page break]
[underlined] 1st. 20 min Lecture [/underlined]
Pneumatics :- [underlined] The braking system of Halifax III [/underlined]
Draw each component on the board in correct order, explaining the function & purpose of the component, this will lead up to the next component required in the system, thus by drawing & explaining each component in turn & leading up to the next eventually the complete diagram will be on the board & the pupils will then understand the purpose & necessity of each component & will be able to follow the complete system through.
Components in the system,
Compressor,
Oil & Water trap,
External charging valve & regulator,
Dunlop air filter,
Relay Unit, governed by hand operated brake levers & rudder bar.
Brake units in u/c wheels.
[underlined] Diagram [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch]
[page break]
[underlined] Use of Blackboard for Instruction [/underlined]
Try & use 3 boards.
1 for summary, one for diagrams & one for rough work.
For plotting & accurate work use chisel pointed chalk.
For uniform drawings use a thick blunt end.
For parallel lines us two pieces of chalk together.
For dotted lines use chalk flat, vertically, and for colouring use flat and horizontal
[underlined] Colour Strength [/underlined]
1. White 2. Yellow 3. Pink 4. Red 5. Green 6. Blue 7. TerraCott 8. Purple 9. Brown. (white & yellow most suitable)
[underlined] Writing [/underlined] :- no characteristics, copperplate, etc. Keep the same pressure all the time, make the letters [deleted] letter [/deleted] legible, simple, with no flourishes.
BLOCK for title.
Medium block sub-title.
Script for rest, except for emphasis when BLOCK can be used. Stand directly in front of word which you are writing to prevent writing curving downwards.
If board is greasy, repaint. If blackboard paint is unobtainable use vegetable black with a little carborundum or crocus powed [sic] mixed with it, to give chalk a grip enabling it to powder.
[underlined] Diagrams [/underlined]
Plot it first with faint lines middle of board. Thicken lines later. Prevent reference lines crossing each other as far as possible. Always move from top to bottom & left to right.
Colouring :- [one indecipherable word] large surfaces & block in small ones.
[page break]
[underlined] How to Learn [/underlined] :-
Wanting to learn - Motive & its value
How - imitation - impulsive or unconscious
Imitation - conscious & deliberate.
Conscious learning - contagious
Conscious learning - memorising facts
Conscious learning - reasoning.
For learning time is required.
Association of Ideas.
(Schgod, Gamed, Gantos, Sekmb,)
(River, Piano, Walk, Late, Eats, basket, flower, paper, house, (3 missed))
(Christmas mistletoes parties dancing games skating Hole danger ducking pneumonia, death, doctor)
[underlined] Lecture Criticisms. [/underlined]
[underlined] Introduction [/underlined]
Purpose apparent: interest value: linkage with previous knowledge
[underlined] Development [/underlined]
Sequence of ideas: explanations: illustrations
[underlined] Conclusion [/underlined]
Knowledge of subject.
2. [deleted] Subject [/deleted] questioning
3. Apparatus, models, diagrams
4. B.B. writing, drawing, arrangement.
[page break]
5. Simplicity of language, verbal mannerisms
6. Speech - clarity, loudness, variation.
7. Attitude to class.
8. Responsive class.
[underlined] Assessment of Instructional Ability [/underlined]
Through the medium of the class.
(II) By observations on the instructor.
[underlined] Attributes of instructor [/underlined] :-
Voice
Manner
Ability to explain
Knowledge of Subject
[underlined] The Astro Compass [/underlined] (Example Lecture)
[underlined] Aim [/underlined] :- [deleted] The [/deleted] To show the class that the direction of the north can be obtained on a heavenly body.
[underlined] Previous Relevant Knowledge of Pupils [/underlined]
Meaning of (1) altitude (2) azimuth (3) declination (4) local hour angle. Use of Air Almanac & A.N.T’s.
[underlined] Method [/underlined]
I Introduction - Atain [sic] from class definitions of azimuth & altitude. Show that the direction of true north can be obtained from an observation on a star by the application of az & alt at the time of the observation.
Emphasise that to obtain true north from Az & Alt both A.N.T’s & Air Almanac have to be used & a calculation used.
[page break]
[underlined] Development [/underlined]
Show that at the north Pole azimuth & alt. are equal to Dec. & L.H.A.*
(2) Show that Dec. & L.H.A.* are sufficient to find direction of true north, provided one can obtain [deleted] ed [/deleted] at the observers position a plane [symbol] to the horizontal at the N. Pole.
(3) Shows how to obtain a plane [symbol] to horizontal at N. Pole.
(4) Emphasise that Dec & L.H.A.* can be obtained from A.A. alone.
(5) Demonstrate the Astro-Compass.
[underlined] Revision [/underlined]
Stress main points by 2 & A.
Summarise on B.B.
[underlined] Exercise [/underlined]
(1) Find true north using the Astro Compass by the observation on the sun.
(2) Find the Dec. & L.H.A. from log observation on the sun & compare your results with those tabulated in the A.A.
[page break]
[two hand drawn sketches]
[page break]
[underlined] THE PRACTISE OF INSTRUCTION [/underlined]
[underlined] Learning by understanding, [/underlined] - never tell the pupil what he should understand.
Grasping an idea - Why & How.
[underlined Questioning Technique [/underlined] - Sequence, progress in little steps, clearcut unambiguous questions direct the questions to individuals not merely asked for the sake of asking.
Do not echo answers and generally deal with wrong answers.
[underlined] Giving Information [/underlined] e.g. certain formulae
Law & administration, the Signals area, Meteorology etc. The main concern is the atmosphere which is created around the subject matter.
[underlined] Conditions for clear & adequate reception. [/underlined]
1/ Sense organs in good working order
2/ Interest produces alertness
3/ Direct attention to essential details, otherwise they will be missed
4/ Create a correct & adequate “mental set.”
5/ Organise the necessary mental background.
6/ Appeal to the full complement of the senses e.g. by aids.
ie Blackboard
Printed & Wall diagrams.
Models. (Do not pass models round class)
Epidiascope
Films
Syncrophone
Synthetic Devices
[page break]
[underlined] Rates of Forgetting [/underlined]
[underlined] Nonsense Material [/underlined]
More than 1/3 in 20 mins.
More than 1/2 in 1 hr.
Nearly 2/3 in 9 hrs.
More than 2/3 in 24 hrs.
[underlined] Meaningful [/underlined]
1/3 in two days
1/2 in 7 days
3/4 in 30 days
The normal rate of forgetting is extremely rapid in the period immediately after learning.
[underlined] Development of a Skill or a Habit [/underlined]
e.g. Service drill, cockpit drill, Stripping & assembling a gun Morse transmission etc.
Facts to be considered :-
Take care the learner has no reason for wishing to forget.
2. Drill is essential, but not drudgery.
3. There is no drudgery when the drill enables the learner to achieve some end he desires.
4. Expect no improvment [sic] without knowledge of results.
5. Periods of no improvement occur though practice is maintained.
[page break]
[underlined] EFFECTIVE SPEAKING [/underlined]
[underlined] CHOICE OF WORDS. [/underlined] Three essentials for success
SIMPLICITY
WIDE VOCABULARY
USE PICTURE LANGUAGE
2. [underlined] USE OF VOICE [/underlined] Three hints :-
BE AUDIBLE
LOOK AFTER ARTICULATION
VARIETY OF PITCH, PACE & EMPHASIS.
[underlined] THE INSTRUCTOR [/underlined]
[underlined] Exercises two influences on his class [/underlined]
Witting - his attitude of authority which he consciously exerts
2. Unwitting - the force of his personality essentials include confidence, vitality, cheerfulness, sense of purpose, adaptability, patience
B [underlined] Manner & Attitude [/underlined]
Not supercilious, superior or condescending
2. Pleasant, friendly, dignified, tolerant, capable, calm
3. Judicious use of such qualities as sense of humour vitality a interest in subject
4. Proper sense of discipline (effective co-operation)
C [underlined] Choice of Language [/underlined]
Simple yet varied
2. Speech clear : attention to ends of words & to speed of delivery
3. Vary the tone, pace, pitch & intensity.
[page break]
4. Look at & speak to the class.
D [underlined] Characteristics of Pupils [/underlined]
Lack of self - assurance.
2. Hunger for self enhancement or self - asertion [sic]
3. Self respect
[underlined] 2nd 20 min Lecture [/underlined]
Messier Pump Circuit Hal II
[underlined] Introduction. [/underlined]
Need of a pump circuit - to have a continual supply of pressure ready at any moment to operate u/c, bomb - doors or flaps. Draw the main components, pressure line & return line.
[underlined] Development:- [/underlined] Explain other requirements needed & then draw in to complete the whole system.
[underlined] Conclusion :- [/underlined] Run through the system briefly again, revision of main points by questions, colour diagram & put in annotations.
[underlined] Diagram [/underlined]
[hand drawn sketch]
[page break]
[underlined] HINTS ON LECTURING [/underlined]
Use your common sense.
Moderation is power.
Voice cultivation.
Avoid coarse flattery.
Be earnest, humourous [sic] not flippant.
No fine talking & no affection.
No redundancy of expression.
Cultured language.
No grimaces.
Initial quiet confidence.
Order & arrangement.
Separate your points.
Use illustrations & stimulate.
End on a good note.
[underlined] EXAMINATIONS AND TESTING. [/underlined]
An examination is an attempt to pass [deleted] upon [/deleted] judgement upon a persons knowledge off, ability at, or aptitude for a particular subject.
[underlined] Subjective [/underlined] - personal whims of examiner come into play in marking.
[underlined] Objective [/underlined] - examiner does not count.
[underlined] OLD TYPE QUESTION [/underlined]
Give an account of A.S.I. & discuss how its readings are corrected for the height at which the a/c flies.
[page break]
[underlined] NEW TYPE TEST [/underlined]
What does the pitot head do?
2) What does the static head do?
3) What is R.A.S?
4) How is R.A.S. obtained from I.A.S?
5) How is T.A.S. obtained from R.A.S?
[page break]
[underlined] FLYING AT H.G.C.U. NORTH LUFFENHAM [/underlined]
6/9/44 WHITELY MK V 19 SGT FAYE GLIDER TOWING .30
6/9/44 WHITELY MK V 19 SGT FAYE GLIDER TOWING .30
6/9/44 HORSA GLIDER 30 W/O THOMPSON LOCAL FLYING .20
6/9/44 HORSA GLIDER 30 F/O FULLER LOCAL FLYING .10
TOTAL 1.30
[page break]
[rear cover]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Harold Wakefield's instructor training notebook
Description
An account of the resource
Covers RAF top level organisation, list of all home commands and scope of aircrew training. Continues with description of structure of air council, and detailed description of bomber command structure. Followed by two training analyses with diagrams, how to compile timetables, principles of organisation. administration, instructional method, example lectures, how to use blackboard and colour, how to learn, lecture criticisms, assessment of instructional ability and development. Continues with the practice of instruction, effective speaking, further example lecture and hints on lecture.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
H E Wakefield
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Format
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Multi-page notebook with handwritten entries
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Under review
Identifier
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MWakefieldHE174040-171016-11
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1970/33708/MWakefieldHE174040-171016-08.2.pdf
4fbf4d7fea45c1cdb580d1bbd74da36a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wakefield, Harold Ernest
H E Wakefield
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-10-16
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wakefield, HE
Description
An account of the resource
93 items. The collection concerns Harold Ernest Wakefield DFC (1923 - 1986, 1582185 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, training publications, decorations and badges, training notebooks, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, photographs and parachute D ring.
He flew operations as a flight engineer with 51 and 617 Squadrons.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jeremy Wakefield and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Transcriber Alan Pinchbeck
Web address of item or file identifier(s) MWakefieldHE174040-171016-08
Date completed 21/01/2024 (SB 07/03/2024)
Notes to reviewer (if any)
IBCC Digital Archive – Transcriber Worksheet
Transcription:
F/O H.E. WAKEFIELD F/E No. 13 COURSE
1332 H.C.U.
13/7/45
ROYAL AIR FORCE
Notebook for use in Schools.
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[3 sketches]
Decrease in speed gives increase in pressure } or vice versa.
Increase in speed gives decrease in pressure } or vice versa.
Lift is 20 times the drag } approx.
Lift & fuselage etc. is 10 times drag } approx.
Optimum Angle of Attack = That angle of attack which gives greatest lift with minimum drag.
Speed & Angle of Attack considered in efficient results.
[sketch]
[page break]
SINGLE ENG. LAND.
[sketch]
[underlined] Absolute Ceiling [/underlined] is the max. height obtainable in a standard atmosphere under specified conditions.
[underlined] Service Ceiling [/underlined] is the height at which the rate of climb has fallen to 100ft. per minute.
[page break]
B.T.H.U. British Thermal Unit
The power to raise 1lb of water 1° F.
1 gal. of petrol contains 14000 to 20000 B.T.H.U
1 B.T.H.U. = 778 ft. lbs.
100% Heat Generated.
[sketch]
Thermal Efficiency = Output/Input x 100/1
Indicated Th. Eff. = Heat converted into work in cyl./Heat input x 100/1
Brake Th. Eff. = Heat converted into work at crankshaft/Heat input x 100/1
Fuel H.P. = Consump (lbs. per min) x Cal. Val. x 778/33000
Find fuel h.p. of engine consuming 10lbs per min when Cal Val = 19000 BTHUs?
[deleted] 33000 [/deleted] Work energy required to [inserted] lift [/inserted] 1lb 1ft in 1 min - 33000ft. lbs. per min = 1 H.P.
[page break]
An engine develops 1200 H.P. at 22000 ft. If it consumes fuel at 10 lbs. per min. calculated its Thermal Efficiency.
(Cal. Val. of fuel = 19.800 B.T.H.U.)
H.P. for cylinder. = P.L.A.N./33000
P = M.E.P.
L = length for Stroke
A = Area of piston
N = no. of power strokes
R.P.M./2
B.H.P. = 2 [symbol] TN/33,000 T = torque N = no. of power strokes per min.
Frictional H.P. = 1. H.P. - B.H.P.
Mech. Eff = B.H.P./1.H.P. X 100/1
[calculations]
[page break]
[calculations]
Comp. Ratio = Swept Volume + Clearance Volume/Clearance Volume.
[underlined] Carburetters :- [sic] [/underlined] S.R Rich 9 : 1 } Condensation in induction system. Cold induction system, [indecipherable word] scavenging giving weakening of [indecipherable word] in cyl. Diffuser gives correct strength for cruising only.
Cruising. Weak 16 : 1 } Diffuser gives correct strength for cruising only.
Climb Rich 12 : 1 } Diffuser gives correct strength for cruising only.
T.O. Rich 10 : 1 } Diffuser gives correct strength for cruising only.
[underlined] Prevents Icing by :- [/underlined] { Coolant round jacket
[underlined] Prevents Icing by :- [/underlined] { Hot oil through butterfly
[underlined] Prevents Icing by :- [/underlined] { Fuel entry above butterfly
[underlined] Prevents Icing by :- [/underlined] { Hot air.
[underlined] Prevents Icing by :- [/underlined] { Small plates on air intake.
[underlined] Has to give [/underlined] :- { Correct mixture strength at all eng. conditions
[underlined] Has to give [/underlined] :- { Atomise the fuel
[underlined] Has to give [/underlined] :- { Fully Automatic
[underlined] Has to give [/underlined] :- { Overcome flat spot
[2 sketches]
[page break]
[sketch]
Altitude Control gives correct constant mixture strenght [sic] up to all altitudes.
Boost Control gives richer mixture for increased boost.
[underlined] Balance Duct [/underlined] [deleted] communicates [/deleted] gives constant pressure difference between choke & float chamber at all altitudes. S.U. is Variable Jet System.
[underlined] Boost Reversal [/underlined] Exhaust gases going out through inlet valves.
[underlined] Boost Bias [/underlined] prevents this by giving slight boost pressure to conteract [sic] high exhaust gas pressure.
[underlined] Supercharger :- [/underlined]
Increased power at sea - level
Maintain sea - level power up to a certain altitude
[underlined] Rated Boost [/underlined] is boost at which engine can be run under International Figures.
[underlined] Rated Altitude [/underlined] Highest alt to which R.B. can be maintained
[underlined] H.P. increases at Alt with supercharger [/underlined] due to better scavenging, (less back pressure) less back pressure in crankcase.
Cooler charge.
[page break]
[underlined] Propellers [/underlined]
[underlined] Pitch [/underlined] Is then distance the airscrew would move forward in one revolution assuming the air to be a solid body
[underlined] Slip [/underlined] = [symbol] of attack
Advance per Rev = Practical distance moved in one revolution.
[underlined] States of Compressability [sic] [/underlined] layers of air formed in front of blade
[underlined] Cavitation [/underlined] vacuum at rear of blade. (When blade is travelling at over 90% of speed of sound) Speed of sound 746 m.p.h.
[underlined] A blade has a varying [symbol] along its length to equalise the load [/underlined]
[underlined] Centrifugal Turning Moment, [/underlined] tendancy [sic] for a free propeller blade to turn to a fine pitch when rotating. [sketch]
[underlined] RANGE FLYING [/underlined]
[formulae]
L = Lift in lbs.
D = Drag in lbs.
S = Max. Plan projected area in square feet
(RHO) P = Density od Atmosphere
V = Velocity of undisturbed airflow in feet per second.
[3 graphs]
[page break]
[calculations]
[page break]
1 Nautical Mile = [underlined] 6080 [/underlined]
1 Statute Mile = 5280
1 [deleted] Statute [/deleted] [inserted] Nautical [/inserted] Mile = 33/38 = 1.15 [deleted] Nautical [/deleted] [inserted] Statute [/inserted] Miles
[calculations]
1 [deleted] Nautical [/deleted] [inserted] Statute [/inserted] Mile = 33/38 = .868 Nautical Mile.
Power Required At Altitude = Power Required at S.L. / [symbol] Relative Air Density
Power at Sea-Level = 650 B.H.P.
Find power at 10,000’ given that [symbol] Rel. Density = .8594
[calculations]
[page break]
[underlined] Rules for Range Flying. [/underlined]
Reduce I.A.S. by 1/4 the % of the % reduction in weight Max. boost min revs gives full throttle, less h.p. to drive supercharger less frictional losses.
If I.A.S. is to [sic] high with min. revs climb higher until I.A.S drops off.
Take off in rich mixture climb & get to height quickly as possible. Lose height at no more than 300 ft. per minute.
[underlined] Max range climb [/underlined] climb at recommended cruising I.A.S. using boost obtainable in weak mixture, select R.P.M. to give rate of climb desired
[underlined] Max Rate of Climb in Weak mixture, [/underlined] use max. boost obtainable & I.A.S. approaching that for rich mixture climb.
[underlined] Cruising [/underlined] cruise at optimum altitude selecting R.P.M. to give recommended I.A.S. It is usually better to climb slightly above opt. height & descend to it letting I.A.S. increase slightly finally bringing it back to recommended by R.P.M.
[underlined] Power Descents [/underlined] Use max. boost obtainable in weak mixture, maintain recommended I.A.S. & control rate of descent by R.P.M. levers & altitude. When min. R.P.M. is reached then allow airspeed to increase up to about 10 m.p.h. thereafter reduce boost (regulation rate of descent 300 ft. per min.)
[underlined] Hot & Cold Air. [/underlined] if warm air is used we lose boost due to a) loss of ram effect b) increase in inlet air temp.
[page break]
Use warm air only if (a cold air intake is blocked due to icing or foreign matter) b) when descending if carburettor icing occurs
Gills if fitted or rad shutters. Reduction of drag (parasite drag) by closing all apertures & streamlining or protuberences [sic] will mean that less B.H.P. is required to maintain a given speed better A.M.P.G. figure will be obtained if gills are closed. If cyl. head or coolant temp rise to a figure approaching max. permissable [sic] during cruising due possible to high outside or an enforced low altitude it is advisable to increase I.A.S. up to approx 6% rather than to open gills. If temp continues to rise then open gills.
During economical climb cyl. temps. Should be controlled by altitude (I.A.S.) & not by the use of gills.
[underlined] High & Low Supercharger [/underlined] [indecipherable word] never use S if can obtained power in M.
[underlined] Head Wind [/underlined] Under 30 mph. no change in speed, increase I.A.S. 4% for increase of every 10 mph. over 30 mph
[underlined] Optimum Altitude [/underlined] on a given trip over a reasonable distance if the flight is at [inserted] any [/inserted] F.T. height the total fuel used will be approx. the same. The fuel used on a weak mixt. climb will be made up by that saved on power descent.
[underlined] Economic Ceiling [/underlined] this is a max. height at which cruising power can be obtained in weak mixture & M. gear. This height varies with the A.U.W. (when rate of climb drops to 50 ft. per min at cruising I.A.S. in weak mixt. = Economic ceiling) 4% decrease or increase ceiling alters 2500 ft.
[underlined] Automatic Pilot [/underlined] as much as possible.
[page break]
For Short Distances, fly at constant revs.
For Medium Distances, fly at constant I.A.S.
For extreme Distances, fly at extreme range conditions.
[underlined] FLIGHT PLANNING [/underlined]
Factors affecting the flight plan:-
Type of load being carried & destination.
Whether flying under one of the following conditions:-
in a given time carrying max. Payload
flying at leisure carrying max. payload
or is it possible to make a certain destination carrying a given load.
flying under weight a short distance.
3) Terrestrial topography.
4) Met. Forecast.
5) Alternative landing grounds if there is a possibility of destination aerodrome being unusable.
6) Max. take off & landing weights of various staging posts en route. (possibility of jettisoning cargo)
7) Handling of the a/c - I.A.S. altitude, bearings, etc.
8) Handling engs.
9) Basic weight of A/C with essential equipment al etc.
10) Fuel required & payload.
Transport fuel safety margin 25% extra
[page break]
[sketches]
[page break]
[sketch]
[calculations]
[page break]
[calculations]
[page break]
[sketch]
[calculations]
[underlined] Flemings R. Hand Rule [/underlined]
Point the thumb in direction of motion of conduction, point the first finger in the directions of the lines of force. Hold the second finger at [indecipherable] [symbol] to the first finger then second finger will indicate the direction of current.
[underlined] Wheatstone Bridge - [/underlined] is an electrical balance [formula] for measuring a voltage difference when the resistance is thrown off balance.
[page break]
[sketches]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
[sketch]
ATOM OF HELIUM
ELECTRON
[circled N] NEUTRON
[circled +] PROTON
[underlined] ohm’s Law [/underlined] In any conductor at a uniform temperature the current is directly proportional to the potential difference between its end, & inversely proportional to the resistance.
[calculations]
746 Watts = 1 Elec. HP.
Power = Volts x Amperes
Power = Watts
Board of Trade Unit = 1 Kilowat [sic] Hour
[page break]
[blank page]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Harold Wakefield's notebook
Description
An account of the resource
Notes on theory of flight, thermodynamics, power calculations, engines and components, superchargers, propellers, range flying, velocity/speed calculations, rules for range flying, flight planning, electronic circuits and electrical theory.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
H E Wakefield
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-07-13
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-07-13
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Printed notebook with handwritten notes
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MWakefieldHE174040-171016-08
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Under review
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/748/27302/YCollettHWA422260v1-a.1.pdf
c04dc4803112bac970b6db9008bd9808
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/748/27302/YCollettHWA422260v1-b.2.pdf
dd7c90e9e0b44154010e756c71ce0346
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Collett, H W A
Collett, Henry William Amner
Description
An account of the resource
One item. The collection concerns Sergeant <span>Henry William Amner</span> Collett (<span>412468 Royal New Zealand Air Force</span>) and contains his diary. He flew operations as an Observer with 101 Squadron and was killed 16 November 1942. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Max Collett and catalogued by IBCC digital archive staff.<br /><br /><span data-contrast="none" xml:lang="EN-GB" lang="EN-GB" class="TextRun SCXW150328861 BCX0"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW150328861 BCX0">Additional information on <span>Henry William Amner Collett</span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW150328861 BCX0"> is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/205472/">IBCC Losses Database</a></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW150328861 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Collett, HWA
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Purchased at
Halifax,
Nova Scotia,
[underlined] Canada [/underlined]
Jan 2/41
[page break]
HWA Collett
Mc Greevy St.
Wiapawa
Hawkes Bay
New Zealand
[page break]
Five Year Diary
This Book is the Property of
Sgt. Obs. H.W.A. Collett
[inserted] NZ. 412468
℅ N.Z. House
415 The Strand
London
[page break]
[indecipherable word] JANUARY 1. Thursday
New Years Day and still in Halifax - Have been here now since Dec 16th. Got home at 3.30am after going to dance at “Y” Depot. Had our parade at 11am and were dismissed for the day. Slept till 1.30 then cleaned up and went with a NZ pilot to Sgt. “Ham.” Hamilton for new years tea arrived 4 and stayed till 12.15 played crib and had a jolly good time.
[page break]
JANUARY 2. Friday
Woke about 8 just in time to dress wash and make the parade. Were then marched to G & S and went to sleep during a gas lecture. Slept all through dinner - hour parade 1.15 and then went to the gym and listened to Such [indecipherable word] “Renfrew of the RCMP” quite a good show several shorts. Rumour of a draft of 4,00 to-morrow & we hope so as it is raining like Hell now. Went to town brought this diary tea, cheese, cigarettes.
Letter From Nova - good show Cable from Rosemary.
Cabled Rosemary.
[page break]
JANUARY 3. Saturday
Usual late rising but made parade O.K. Were marched to Gym and had a talk on the Attention Area etc. Then saw “In old Chicago” with Tyrone Power and Alice Faye had seen it still it passed the time. Draft of 400 called on 1.15 parade we waited till 3.30 were then marched to arena to see ice Hockey and were dismissed. Went to town with Cookie and brought some silk stockings, shirt.
Went to [indecipherable word] to Barracks and then to Jubilee - good show. To supper and then home.
[page break]
JANUARY 4. Sunday
Did not have to be on parade until 10 so got up about 9.45. As our names were called R.A.A.F. & RNZAF chaps fell out & went up to G/S to listen to the newsheet. Arranged a game of indoor cricket for Tuesday night so it looks as though we’ll be in Halifax for some time yet. Went to church at 11 with Dune Mac and then back to “Y” having bacon & eggs on the way. Went to bed for the afternoon. Up about 7.30 showered and felt a bit better snowing & raining intermittently
[page break]
JANUARY 5. Monday
Up early paraded at 8.30 drafts called but we still miss - its getting uncanny saw a show. Very little all day. Went to town with Dave & Biggs (R.C.A.F.) and then to Barracks for a couple then down to Jubilee Boat club to a dance. Met Rita M. a very nice girl. home about 1 with Phil Skinner
[page break]
JANUARY 6. Tuesday
On Parade in Morning but still no draft for us. Although several more flights were formed up. Saw a show in the morning and at the 1.30 parade it came at last we were called in no 19 flights at last. Had an F.F.I.P in the afternoon and all passed O.K. Mucked around all afternoon, mostly sleeping
Went to meet R.M at 11.30, went home & spent some time there finally camp at 2.
[page break]
JANUARY 7. [deleted] Thursday [/deleted] [inserted] Wednesday [/inserted]
8.30 parade everyone getting sorted out, and everything is at sixes & sevens. Finally got fixed up at 9.30 and have now another number No 15 of flight 19. Dismissed 9.40 and went to barracks to pack. Parade 1.30 some called for pay parade, rest dismissed till 3. Parade again at 5 and were paid received $25.90 and £3 English. Brought quite a bit of canned food sugar and the like. Packed & left 1 Kit Bag on Parade ground
Wrote to office.
[page break]
JANUARY 8. [deleted] Friday [/deleted] [inserted] Thursday [/inserted]
Up early and had first breakfast at “Y” depot Paraded on parade ground at 8.15. Mucked around and finally marched off with the Aussies about 10. Marched right down to wharf more waiting finally marched on to “Stratheden” at 11.45 quartered on “G” deck to port side. Crowded as hell like Rats in a trap thought we would leave that night.
Slept in hammocks as cold as ever I’ve been in my life A lot of talk about walking off in mass but no go
Posted a letter to the office as I left Y depot
[page break]
JANUARY 9. [deleted] Saturday [/deleted] [inserted] Friday [/inserted]
Up & awake early as it is cold as hell. Paraded for lifebelts - ship very cramped chaps all over the show. Pulled out into the harbour about midday. Snowing and very cold and wet. Dinner fair enough considering we are on a troop - ship and would be O.K if the boys would pull to - gether. To bed with more blankets and had a good nights sleep.
[page break]
JANUARY 10. Sat
Up about 10. Went up top and we pulled out about midday passing through the net and passed several corvettes. Had first boat drill which was a farce as there was no nominal role or any organisation at all. Received 50 cigarettes and it all helps.
From now on it will be the usual dull monotony of sea travel (I hope!)
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JANUARY 11. Sunday
Slept in till 10 and then got dressed and went up on deck - the old crate rolling & pitching pretty good. Inspection by C.O. & M.O. but they can’t do much with our quarters or general conditions. Went up to [deleted] sh [/deleted] Sgts room for a couple of drinks with La (IRAF) Up again in afternoon with Sunny & Mac. Up to Canteen at night and won $2 at Crown and Anchor back and to bed about 10.
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JANUARY 12. Mon
Up at 7 early for a change and on deck by [missing word] sea was very calm and only a slight roll chaps still sick - but so far no Aussies or N.Z.’s. Chaps had darn good clean up in our quarters, scrubbed the floors and it looks a lot better. Played Crown & Anchor and won $7 lost $3
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JANUARY 13. Tues
Dinner breakfast and all meals now working [deleted] under [/deleted] pretty good and the place is a lot cleaner. Spent quite a bit of time on deck, as it is nice & smooth and surprisingly enough its pretty warm I think we must be well south. Had a couple of goes at Crown & Anchor $4 in afternoon but ditched them again after tea. Lot of row and fun after tea all about 1 am when finally got to sleep.
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JANUARY 14. Wed
Missed breakfast as was jolly tired, slept till about 8 when I got up and went up on deck to get some fresh air, wind is rising and sea is getting choppy.
12 noon sea running high and wind a howling gale increasing all the time. Played a bit of Crown & A the usual up & down, plenty of all kinds of money changing hands, brought 2 lots of 200 Craven “A”. The ship rocking and rolling the worst yet but nobody down yet so here’s hoping.
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JANUARY 15. Thurs
Sea still running high and the wind is almost at gale force. Water in our section and it made hell of a mess. Sixth day out and as expected rumour running wild as to day of arrival, its marvellous how these things get around. The destroyers are pitching something awful would hate to be aboard. Felt a little groggy so went to bed early but could not get to sleep Lost a life - boat to day & when we woke there was water kit bags, broken dishes and rubbish galore rolling round the floor. Our K ship left but picked us up again about 4.
Rough!!
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JANUARY 16. Friday
7 days out to morrow at noon. Sea has calmed down & only a fair swell now, sky is clearer and the wind has dropped. Rumour as usual is hard at work and the latest has us landing at Liverpool on Sunday. We’ll see! My turn at getting the meals to day Food still pretty crook eatable and that’s about all, no breakfast. Orders in D.R.O. to sleep with clothes on at last the war is here. We had an air - raid alarm at 10 & boat warning at 10.30 The O.C Troops came around Our officer acted in such a manner to heighten that “Blasted Pommey” idea
Wrote to home
Wrote to Ray
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JANUARY 17. Sat
The whole gang slept in till 9.15 consequently nobody had breakfast this morning. A P/O and F/Sgt came down to pull us out but they had two shows.
Sea Smooth and wind practically nil, the four ships still in the same formation. Talk of [deleted] enemy [/deleted] a plane escort coming out but Same Rumour is still tops. We should see land to morrow, it is hard to know what direction we are going as we altering course often & sky is still overcast.
Went up on deck about 2 am (Sun) & saw two lights
Wrote to Nona
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JANUARY 18. Sun
Up about 9 missed breakfast as per usual. Up on deck and land ahoy! what a welcome sight, expect we’ll dock Sunday now. We are sailing north so expect the coast line is Wales. Up along the coast all day. 6 “Hurrys” came out in the morning and watched for a while. Sea calm and no wind. Only 1 destroyer now but suppose we are pretty safe. Had a medical parade by the M.O at 3 o’clock all our gang O.K. Packed all my gear and am all ready now
Wrote 11 pages to Clare.
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JANUARY 19. Mon
Land at last! Evidently the coast of Wales! We had the job of cleaning up, made a good job at least its cleaner than when we had. Sailed up the Clyde and berthed about 3. Ships everywhere, air balloons for the Balloon Barrage It is cold & snowing fairly hard. Disembarked about 9.10. Went by train & left about 9.40 First good home - like food, meat pies & cocoa for supper
Played cards but found it hard to get to sleep after, four of us in four seats.
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JANUARY 20. Tues
Saw the dawn break passing through heavily populated “Black” district. Mines and crowded houses all along the line, Nottingham York, Southampton towns every few miles, big. Towns too!
Not much to do & see all day. Meals we had were all O.K and R.A.F. chaps serving were all O.K - good chaps serving good food despite the rationing.
Arrived Bournemouth about 9.20 Stepped on to platform black as pitch. Were taken on buses to dinner and then to lodgings at Sea Lodge rooming with Harvey, Ferd & Curly.
Country-side covered in snow right from Glasgow to Bournemouth
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JANUARY 21. Wed
Up & on parade in time for 9.45 check up. Were dismissed and wandered about trying to look at the sights. B is very nice place and would like to see it in the Summer time. Paraded again at 2 pm but were dismissed after roll call. Went down to Lady Ryder’s filled in a form and had nice afternoon tea. Back to Prince of Wales. Then Curl Skin. Ferd Harvey & I went to Bobbys for supper but arrived too late.
Home safe even in blackout
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JANUARY 22. Thurs
Called at 8 but still did not get up until 8.30. Just in time for 9 parade. Were marched down Rochdale for particulars for 1250 - identification card. Were dismissed after 2pm parade so went down town took a bus & went out to Fishermans Walk, back & to tea.
Went to P of W and then went to Rink for a dance. Nice place, nice floor & English girls are good sports. (First opinion) met a nice girl but took another home. Luckily she lived behind the NAAFI so it was not far out of my way - made date for Sat. 2 pm.
Mail
Posted mum, Clare, Nona, Kay
Cabled Home
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JANUARY 23. Frid
Were woken up at 7 but did not get up until 8.15. Round to Parade were dismissed and went down town and walked around the shops.
After 2pm parade we went to a lecture by a N.Z. Fl/lt on pay, posting etc not much chance evidently.
Rainy as anything so lit fire & stayed in for the night
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JANUARY 24. Sat
After 9 parade we were paraded for stores. We are evidently going to be issued with shirts socks and the like. Were dismissed after that so went down town to have a meal, came back and went to the NAAFI. Collected - after and went to a picture show at the Regent Back & to tea.
Down to “Apples & Pears & then to Rink where danced till ten.
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JANUARY 25. Sun
Slept in & missed parade hurried round but were too late Came back and cleaned up. W.O. was round but let us off Curly & I went around and walked along the beach to the Hippodrome and got a bus to the Square.nWent around to the flat with G. J and then went around to the sing song and dance at the YMCA
Home 10.30
Good Show
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JANUARY 26. Mon
Up for parade - nothing doing so were dismissed. Took washing up to the “C.K.” laundry in Boscombe, back Wednesday I hope. Had tea at a little place and it was rather good too!
After noon parade went back to sea Lodge and slept till late. Missed tea and got up about 7 and went to Pavilion Nice place & nice dance
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JANUARY 27. Tues
Dismissed after 8.45 parade. Feeling rather seedy went for a ride out in the country - it was O.K cows, green paddocks, even the good old blackberry. Came back and it was raining so went to the N.A.A.F.I. for tea Still feeling crook so went to bed coughing like an old model “T” In bed all after noon & all night.
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JANUARY 28. Wed
Very little all day.
Went to Pavilion with Curl Sid Giff and had a good time
Went & Saw “Hold that Ghost” a darn good show
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JANUARY 29. Thursday
Were given the rest of our gear, flying suit helmet etc. Have now got quite a lot, 3 kit bags and a small suit case
Went to the Hippodrome and saw a dud show. Had my thoughts read & the woman [deleted word] said I would meet Chum inside of 4 months & receive from [indecipherable word]
Home & to Fish & Chip Supper.
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JANUARY 30. Friday
Up for parade and then went down to “Rochdale” for identification cards & leave passes - got mine O.K. Down town for meal. To Beales Restaurant for after noon tea good show good music. Went to Pav. with Curl Brad & Co & met a nurse who is a damned good sort! A nurse, she lives at Boscombe
Home about 1.
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JANUARY 31. Sat.
Curly Bunny & I played football V army a tank corps we won 17/0 I scored once
Curl & I went back to N.A.A.F.I. for tea with team then to Pavilion beer women out to Boscombe & Home about 1.
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FEBRUARY 1. Sun
Left from Bournemouth west Stn for London.
Arrived in the middle of a snow fall, snow, ice, slush everywhere could not get accommodation for a long while finally found the allied [indecipherable word] club a real hole - stayed one night
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FEBRUARY 2. Mon
Changed lodging to Victoria League a very nice place. To N.Z. house and got one letter from Rosemary dated July 29 also got cigarettes & Home Comforts parcels
Still Snow Ice & Cold
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FEBRUARY 3. Tues
Bed nearly all morning
Saw Gordon Harker in “Warn that Man”.
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FEBRUARY 4. Wednes
Wandering around London
And not very Impressed by its age.
Saw Show at Hippodrome
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FEBRUARY 5. Thurs
Went to “Phoenix” Vaudeville show on tickets from NZ Club
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FEBRUARY 6. Fri
Last day of stay at Victoria League. Went to Kings Cross get sleeper at 21 to picture till 4 - got sleeper - Back to NZ forces Club. Met Bunny Warren and were given tickets to Phoenix vaudeville show. From there to Kings Cross where had a sleeper with Major - Petty Officer & AC.
[underlined] Left 10.15 [/underlined]
FRIDAY
In 8.30 to Edinburgh, left 10.27 at Leuchars at 12.30 met Chum and the boys. Long talk and yarn.
Slept on Godfrey’s [missing word]
Was taken to a chap Gallon home nr Edinburgh for b’fst
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FEBRUARY 7. Sat
In about 8.30 met George Gallon and he took me out to his place for breakfast Missed first 1
Slept in till ten at Leuchars RAF station. Had all my meals in the mess. Chum & I started by bus to go to Dundee but it broke down so went by train only a 15 mins run. Have now passed over Forth & Tay Bridges. Had a meal & went to a show in Dundee - quite far had a sleeper on a through train which I caught at 7.45
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FEBRUARY 8. Sun
Very good trip! Woke feeling very fit. Arrived in London at Kings Cross Station about 8.00. Took underground [deleted] to Waterloo where I caught a train to Bournemouth which left at 8.37. Arrived Bournemouth about 12.30 so checked in at Rochdale and went round to Sea Lodge. Went to “Westover” picture show in afternoon fair show All the boys except Giff home that night
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FEBRUARY 9. Mon
Up at 8 and went on sick parade. Waited until 11.15 utterly fed up and only the usual aspirin.
Went to the “Westover” Cinema in afternoon after having gone to M.O. for second dose
Brought tickets for Vivien Leigh’s show for to-morrow
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FEBRUARY 10. Tues.
Up 7.45 and walked down to the hospital From there we walked along the beach to Boscombe where we had dinner, caught a bus back, shaved and went down to hosp & then to “Doctor’s dilema” [sic] with Vivien Leigh good show with Shaw’s weak ending very noticeable. To Bobby’s NAAFI & home
WIRED HOME
“Saw Chum Seeing MURIEL
ALL WELL
BILL Collett.
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FEBRUARY 11. Wedn
Up 7.45 and down to M.O. where had usual. Took a walk out to Boscombe along the sea shore, morning tea at Methuish’s. Then went out to ruins at Ch’ch Back to Sea Lodge & mucked about till 2 went down & took medicine. Out to Windbourne afternoon tea & then home.
To NAAFI to write
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FEBRUARY 12. Thurs
Missed parade by going to M.O. for gargle. Walked along sea front to Boscombe & our daily dozen. Caught a bus out to Christchurch again sat in Sun amongst the ruins had dinner out there & then came back. Went to Palais de Dance at Boscombe and met a very nice (?) young girl she lived away out in the cactus and took a long while to get her home.
Good Night
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FEBRUARY 13. Friday
Parades but with usual RAF efficiency there was nothing doing except the announcement of a pay parade at 1.45. To Methuish’s along the beach with Giff at 10.30.
Afternoon parade biggest ever received £9 which is not bad. Went to Pavilion and met Yanks had a good reunion and a rather wild night.
Home 11.30
Received £9
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FEBRUARY 14. Sat
Parade but as usual nothing doing. We went around the beach to Boscombe and then to “Mel’s” where toast and crumpets made a good morning tea. No [deleted] tea [/deleted] dinner but to parade and then out to football with Curly and Slump & Giff. We beat the Army 6 - 3 I played half & felt as much at home as a pork pie at a Jew’s picnic. To NAAFI for tea and had a gay time - Does drink make you do things through tinted glasses.
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FEBRUARY 15. Sun
Up late cause parade at 9.15. Some postings but still no observers - not even any good old Air Force Rumours. Caught a bus out to Swanage. lovely trip but we couldn’t get any lunch so came back on the 2.10 bus & lunched back in Bournemouth. Met Ginger at the Devon went to pictures at the Regent then to [indecipherable word] for supper then to old Pavilion where we downed quite a bit
Singapore Fallen
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FEBRUARY 16. Mon
Up late but caught parade only there was nothing doing. Dismissed and went back to Sea Lodge to collect washing & take my No. 1 to be cleaned up a bit took bus to Boscombe and left my washing at the “C.K.” and suit at the place up from the “Hippo” Had morning tea at Methuish’s back there for Dinner. Then to picture show at “Savoy” - back to NAAFI for [deleted] Lunch [/deleted] tea - Then to S. L. and to bath & bed.
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FEBRUARY 17. Tues
Called twice up finally about 7-45. On to parade but after roll call went down with Giff to town. Met Curl & out to Met’s. Back there for dinner. Had Kit Inspection in afternoon. Went for bus ride with Curl & Han Cold & dismal day. To NAAFI for tea. Then to picture show at Wests.
Posted letter to Mum
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FEBRUARY 18. Wednesday
Up O.K and was late for parade. They are lightening up. Divided us into squads & the F/lt marched the whole lot to “Sea Cliffe” where we had ship Recognition & went to the Regent theatre for a lecture on Balloon Barrages. Had dinner at Methuishes & back to Parade were marched up to P.I. & Signals. Went to “Central” and then to P de D met Peg home 2 am - Wow! Walking not so hot!
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FEBRUARY 19. Thurs
Went on to parade marshalled up and observer’s & D/Gs were advised of a shift to Hotel Metropole. Went out to Boscombe for morning tea. Back packed and round to Rochdale and were marched to Hotel Metropole in Lansdowne. Good show warmer & meals on premises Went to “Reluctant Dragon” at the Regent - good show. To Bed early.
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FEBRUARY 20. Friday
Parade at 8.45. Marched to Hotel Majestic and had a roll call were then dismissed and went out to Boscombe for our little snack Wrote to Alan McLeod & Clare over at the Queen’s. Did not do much At dinner time Sid Armory brought my mail which had been sent down from London. Went to central till 7.30 and then around to the Pavilion where I met Pat in the A.T.S. Good time rather happy
Mail from Clare, Barb. J.M., Ray, Rosemary, Max, Gwen, R.B. A. Uncle Tom & Alan McLeod
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FEBRUARY 21. Sat
Up in time for the 8.45 parade. Nothing doing and were dismissed. Went out for our crumpets and back to Hotel Metropole for lunch. Went to the Electric Theatre - saw “Santa Fe Trail” During the show there was an air raid alarm but nobody moved, the “all clear” was sounded about 20 mins later. Went to Mrs Jackley’s at San Remo Towers had a good meal, with N.Z. butter too! Home about 1.15.
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FEBRUARY 22. Sun
Slept in till 9.20 and were rudely awakened by Kin who wished to tell me that Pat would ring at 11, could have killed him. Up & had a good dinner. Wrote to Rosemary and then went to “Footsteps in the dark” with Errol Flynn good show. Back to “Met” and had tea went up to NAAFI and had tea met Carl Slump & G back to Met hot bath & bed.
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FEBRUARY 23. Mon
Up in time for parade but as about 15 RAF chaps were posted were walked off with them so missed any possible lectures ac dismissed us. Went out to Methuish’s for morning tea.
In the afternoon we pushed off again very uneventful day
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FEBRUARY 24. Tues
On parade but as usual the same old thing - nipped away on a Boscombe bus and had our crumpets A.P.U. Went and saw a couple of of fair shows one with the Dead end Kids in out at Boscombe. Supper at the Queens and home for an early night
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FEBRUARY 25. Wed
Had another row made out - about the third. Went to Eastcliff but as there was nobody about we went for a route march of 200 yds and then nipped out to morning tea, which is taking the place of breakfast.
Went to Tom Brown’s School days” and “Slave Ships” at Boscombe - home & to bed early.
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FEBRUARY 26. Thurs
Up & on 8.45 parade the Rumour of leave looks O.K. now, only hope it comes true, we’ll know to-morrow anyway.
[indecipherable word] marched us off after the parade and we went out for morning tea. Came back and went for a swim in the tepid baths at the “Hydro” with Phil Shin - water good but I am not fit.
Met Pat G. outside the “Metropole” at 6.30 and went to the Pavilion, supper at the Regent Theatre
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FEBRUARY 27. [deleted] Frid [/deleted] Thurs
Up early and down to parade everyone ready to go. Were marched to B. West but everyone got sick of walking so we caught a bus. Before we went we were paraded at Mayrick court and were paid £11. Having received warrant to Dundee & leave pass nipped back and drew my money from Lloyds, got my washing from C.K. and went to “Affectionately yours” at the Electric
To “Bettys” for Supper after
Received £11
Letter from Ted Jackson Cable from home
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FEBRUARY 28. [deleted] Sat [/deleted] Fri
Up bathed, packed and ready to go at 10.30
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FEBRUARY 29. [deleted] Sun [/deleted] Sat
“Ferdy” & I slept in and I got up about 9. Washed packed & left about 10.30 Dropped my boots in to get the heels filled in. Missed the train by about 2 mins so took a taxi to the station at Central & caught the train. Arrived in London about 2.30 and went to the N.Z. forces club for tea. Then went to see “Captains of the Sky” in Leicester Sq. - good! Then to Kings X and my sleeper to Leuchars.
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MARCH 1. [deleted] Mon [/deleted] Sun
Arrived in Edinburgh about 8 a.m and the Dundee train left about 11.25 so had 3 hours to wait. I could not get anything to eat so it was not so hot. Finally got on the train and all it was a lovely day had a pleasant trip through Scotland. Arrived Leuchars and found Chum O.K. There was a dance at the station so we went it was a good show and I had a good time. Slept with Chum, Buck, & [indecipherable word] in Sandy’s bed.
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MARCH 2. Mon
Slept in till 10.20 and then got up washed and went over to the hangar watching Hudson’s, Mosquitos, Blenheim’s & Beaufort’s muck about. Went up to Dundee with Chum & collected his photographs. Back and we adjourned to the mess where we celebrated 489’s transfer A lot of trouble including a gaol break with “Tweak” as the star. Cut Buck’s cake with a lot of tradition. Then cut MacPhearson’s throat a hell of a lot of fun which was broken up by the appearance pf 4 service P’s. Slept in Joness bed.
Good night
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MARCH 3. Tues
Up at 9 and went over to the observer’s crew-room where proceedings were livened up by some of the chaps selling off flares & Rockets. Said cheerio to Chum and went in to Dundee, had afternoon tea and then went to “Blossoms on the dust”
Caught the 8.37 & [deleted] arrived [/deleted] had good company in my sleeper - 2 capts and an L.A.C
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MARCH 4. Wed
Arrived in London about 9.30. Went to P.O in Agar St (Off Strand) and changed some of the boys addresses to Thorney Island. Then to N.Z. forces club for dinner. Caught the Bristol train by the skin of my teethe. Arrived in Bristol (worst bombing I’ve seen yet) and booked in at the hotel Chum suggested.
Tried to ring Muriel but couldn’t get her, so went to the pictures. Found my way home among the ruins
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MARCH 5. Thurs
Tried again to get Muriel and succeeded. We arranged to meet at the hospital at 2 pm. Went out and wandered all around the place but couldn’t find her was finally taken in tow by a young nurse and finally we had our happy reunion. We went to a place for afternoon tea and talked for 3 hours solid. Then I got a taxi and took Muriel back to the hotel and collected my silk stockings, & 400 cigarettes also my N.Z. handkerchiefs.
To a picture show & back to hotel
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MARCH 6. Friday
Up & washed and went down to breakfast. Paid my bill of £1.4.0 and went down to catch the 8.12 for Bournemouth. Was supposed to change at Salisbury but got “balled” up and went on to Southampton. Met a nice W.A.A.F which made the trip shorter. Went back on the train with Russ back at 3. A letter from I.G waiting so went to went to the Pav quite a good night when alls said & done.
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MARCH 7. Sat
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MARCH 12. Thur
Usual rise shine and parade. Lecture & then we were supposed to have P.T. but went to morning tea. Drill but we were dismissed, so nipped off and had a game of snooker Lectures all afternoon
Home early to write this up.
Bed Early
Letters from Dick Harwood
Aunty Kate
Alan Macleod
Enclosing Doc’s letter
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MARCH 16. Mon
Parade and to East Cliffe attended lecture and mosied off to Boscombe for morning tea Had a game of snooker at the Hydro. To dinner at the Hydro. To 1 lecture on air-craft Rec. and then down to “Betty’s” for afternoon tea. Had tea and went out for a game of billiards then back to bed
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MARCH 17. Tues
Went to Lectures at East Cliffe, Intelligence lecture very good. Usual Morning trip to Boscombe Went to tea & Crash told me George Nelson had arrived so popped down to see him. Went to pavilion met Audrey at Dance and had a good night.
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MARCH 18. Wed
Dodged lectures all morning on pretext of drawing football kit. Had a good meal and went to football at 3 o’clock.
Raining like the very dickens, but finally got on to the field about 3.15 “Baldy” Mac Alpine Refereed
We won a mud scramble by 6 - 3. Celebrated at the Salisbury at Boscombe Took Barbara home & it was 1.30 before bedded down
Mail From :-
Ray Addis
Clare Hawke.
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MARCH 19. Thurs
On parade and what a shock posted! Whacko. We are posted to a place called Millom. Mucked about all day - tea at Methuishs’s and I met Audrey at the Carlton Hotel at 6.5 walked down the sea shore to the Regent theatre, had tea and in to see “Sun Valley Serenade” good show - supper at the “Anglo-Swiss” and then home
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MARCH 20. Friday
Had my three bags packed and down in the hall at 9. Paraded and had an F.F.I all our gang O.K then to dinner.
Paraded at 2 o’clock with our bags started a march to the station but happened a bus arrived in London about 7, went to N.Z. forces club and then to the Old Sussex & in to Tartan Dive.
Very Happy but caught the 10.15 at Euston. They had no accommodation slept anywhere and everywhere
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MARCH 21. Sat
After one hell of a trip we landed at Millon about 7.15. Were taken in trucks out to the airport which is about 2 1/2 miles from the town which looks very scruffy.
They had a good breakfast for us and it was well appreciated. Were then taken to the hospital and had another F.F.I. Went to bed very early as I was jolly tired
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MARCH 22. Sun
No Sun. off here it’s going to be a 7 day week. Over to the class room where we had a talk by F/Sgt Furlonger our instructor. He let us go in the afternoon so we had a clean up of kit and another early night. I had my first flight flew out over the Irish sea up past the Isle of Man bombed a rock and I took a couple of photos with the F24.
Time of trip = 3.20.
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MARCH 23. Mon
Up & on parade and got a bit of a shock when we had an inspection by a Group Captain who is O.C.
Usual lectures and not a hell of a lot yo do.
Played billiards at night and went to bed.
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MARCH 24. Tues
On parade, inspection drill. To class room where we had lectures a.p.v.
Went in to town with Sid & Harvey to the Peel which looked as though it will be our rendezvous while we are here. Just caught the last bus home.
Posted letters to Chum.
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MARCH 25. Wed
Parade Inspection & were marched to class room. Lousy lectures all day & were briefed for flight at 4.15 to-morrow morning.
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MARCH 26. Thurs
Was called at 3.15am. Had breakfast and went to breakfast of peas, beef & potatoes - good meal. Over to ops room for briefing and then found that they didn’t want us, so back to bed.
Woke about 8 and decided to go to Barrow with Sid Slump & Co. Missed first train so lunched in Millon and then went [deleted] to [/deleted] at 1.15. Good time in Barrow back to the Peel & then to the dance
Home 1.30.
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MARCH 27. Fri
Up & on parade marched round and down to class room. Had armament lectures all morning on bombing vectoring & the like
Taken to plotting room and generally were shown all round the place. Saw a Botha, Gypsy Major, “Hurry”, spit Lysander & a lot of diff other types
Kicked a football around for a while and then had a shower & to bed.
Letter from Nona
Parcel from home Pullover
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MARCH 28. Sat.
On parade and had usual inspection and drill. Flew in the afternoon to Isle of Man, Mull of Gallows, Whitehaven. Took plenty of photographs, dive-bombed and had plenty of low hedge-hopping.
Home about 7.20 no tea so went in to the “Peel” - good night home on 10.30 Bus.
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MARCH 29. Sun
Up early and went to parade and then the usual lectures. Had a game of snooker at [indecipherable word] Went to bed early
Reported sick with a dirty cold.
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MARCH 30. Mon
On sick parade at 8 and then went to lectures. Flew with Jack Sheppard, & Sid Armory to Chicken Rock, Mull of Galloway, bombed scare Rock - Whitehaven home. Took photographs, dive bombed and shot up a train. J. S. Sick as the devil.
home & into the “Peel” about 8
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MARCH 31. Tues
Had first pop in D.R. Trainer which to my mind is a jolly good thing. Great Day mail from home.
Received Mail
Clare, Shirley, Rosemary, Nola Luxford, Max.
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APRIL 1. Wed
Our day off. And what a day. Were pulled out of bed at 3.15 am then to mess where they Finally finished had no [deleted] mach [/deleted] breakfast for us. To operation’s room where we found that the other crates wouldn’t be in till 6.40. Finally finished up no flying at all. Played snooker all morning and went in to the “Peel” at night
Played Station Team with with the Aussies and lost 6 - 3 scored our try
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APRIL 2. Thurs
Lectures on and off all day flying that was to have been was scrubbed as the weather has been particularly foul lately. To bed about 8.
Received Parcel from school
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Good Friday
APRIL 3. Friday
Good Friday - not that you’d notice it, no church services or anything not even a hot cross bun. Went down to “A” dispersal for “P.T.” in the morning. More N.Z. mail still trickling in. Knocked off early and went to sick-parade. Then to tea and hitched into Millom where we saw “Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary” and then to “Peel” and home.
Newspapers from Gwen & Jamie
Received £9:2:0
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Easter Sat.
APRIL 4. Saturday
Easter Saturday last year April 12th - I went into camp in Levin, N.Z.
On to sick parade and then to class-room. We did our first practice compass swing with F/sgt Beattie who is one of the Best!
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APRIL 5. Sun
Went down to the sick bay and got off my sick parades.
On the range with the V.G.O. all morning, fired 100 rounds and went back to the Armoury and had to fill 5 magazines. Had lectures on the bombing panel of the Wimpey, - switches & lights every where.
Had to Parade at 6.30 just for the pleasure of FL/LT Cotton - Boo! To him.
First day with the clocks on the extra hour.
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APRIL 6. Mon
Slept in until 8.15 as I didn’t fly then over to the class-room. Both morning details scrubbed. We had to calibrate a D/F loop in the rain and to say the least it was bally wet. Finished the job O.K. and was in for dinner about 12.20.
Nothing to do in the afternoon so had early tea at 3.30 and then the darn flight was scrubbed.
To bed about 12.
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APRIL 7. Tues.
Up & over to class room there was no parade. Had lectures in the morning and in the afternoon we were allowed to [indecipherable word] off which we did. Had a couple of hours sleep and then went in to town with Mick R. Mac & Sid had tea at Y.M.C.A. and then went on to “49th Parallel” which was not a bad show. Then to the “Peel” quite a good night, home on 10.30 bus.
Sent cable to W.D.H.S. - Head Prefect.
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APRIL 8. Wednes.
Pulled out at 12.45 and over to the ops. room at 1.15 - no breakfast. Flew with Les Winslow and we had quite a trip. Started off in good weather but after 1/2 an hours flight we struck dirty weather and it really was foul, bumpy, rain, snow & ice over 2500. We set course from [deleted] home [/deleted] furby for home and then the fun started - had to get QDM’s but finally got home O.K. Went in to Barrow at 11.30, tried to get my photo taken but no go, went to a picture “Kathleen” with Shirley Temple - not bad. Tea & home on 6.15 to Millom. Down to “Peel” with Les Tunstall home to camp on 10.15.
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APRIL 9. Thurs
Slept in until 7.30 up and in time for 8 o’clock parade could have had another 1/2 hour as the parade was called off.
Were on the Fraser-Nash turret all morning and in the Bomb Alley room all afternoon mainly on flares & their method of release
Wrote to Clare, Muriel Clark
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APRIL 10. Fri
Had to be in the Plotting [missing word] at 7.15 so it was hard to get [missing word] at 6.30. Ken McKenzie & went [missing word] for a weather test - it was [missing word] so we went on bombing. Weather [missing word] but very high wind which made bombing very difficult. Dropped 2 bombs & then came home as target [missing word] U/S. Went in to the A.M.B.T. and tried pinpointing on a [missing word] of the Ruhr Valley.
Wrote letter to home after [missing word] then to bed.
Received air mail from [missing word] dated Feb. 25th. [missing word] posted to Mam, Clare & Muriel
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APRIL 11. Sat.
Up at 6.30 and in to breakfast then over to the ops room but it was scrubbed as was the 1.15 detail. We just waited for flying all morning and played billiards. Had plotting in afternoon till 4.30 when we hopped away.
Went for a 6 mile walk came back and had supper and boiled some eggs in the barracks.
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APRIL 12. Sun
On to parade but there was not even a church parade armament all day. Played billiards in afternoon as after the boys were briefed we had the afternoon off. All the boys were flying so went to bed early.
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APRIL 13. Mon
Up at 6.30 and got ready to go to Barrow. To breakfast and we had mushrooms & bacon, met Dunc. Mac and he suggested going to Coniston. We walked into Millom and caught the train to Coniston. We walked from Coniston nearly to Ambleside a distance of 8 miles & it was through some of the most rugged country, lakes everywhere. Ambleside is on Lake Windermere then across the Lake on the ferry and climbed the hill & down to Hawkeshead - then to Ambleside & afternoon tea. Came back to the “Peel” and celebrated our 1st anniversary as a course although now we have only 13 out of 42. Good day and I am getting a better opinion of England as a countryside but not the people.
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APRIL 14. Tues.
On parade and had drill and then went to lectures. Armament all day. A big row in the mess because the WAAF’s had orders not to wait on us the whole mess refused to at the meals & so 250 meals went west. Quite a racket and we sent a representative to the mess treasurer, I think it will all come come out O.K. Down in the shadowgraph room and then to barrack’s for kit-inspection by Fl/lt. Gardner.
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APRIL 15. Wed
Up for breakfast and it is vastly improved. On parade and over to the classroom where we mucked about pretty near all day waiting to fly. All details were scrubbed and we had to hang round the ops room. Tried to have some clay - pigeon shooting but the turret was U/S. When the last detail was scrubbed Dune, MacAlpine, Harvey, Flower, Phil Skinner & I went in to drown our disgust in the “Peel” - which we did. Went to the dance home about 12.
Posted [inserted] mail [/inserted] to Max.
Opened a bank account with £10 at Millom Post office
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APRIL 16. Thurs
We were on armament all day. Went down to the 400 yard range firing from Bolton - Paul Fraser - Nash & Daimler turrets, good time marvellous weather. In after - noon we went to spot light and knocked off early.
Uneventful.
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APRIL 17. Friday
Up early and on parade. Here we got a real talking too because some chaps are not turning up at the plotting office at 7.15. Went on a route march. Pay parade at 12.30 and got our battle - dress in the morning. Briefed for our flights to-night & then dismissed for the afternoon. Played snooker
Posted mail to Shirley Todd - P.S.C.
Received £9 : 2 : 0
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APRIL 18. Sat
Pulled out at 3.15 am and over to the ops room to fly. Flew as first navigator to Harrogate, Dumfries, Isle of Man. Landed after a good trip we left at night and saw sunrise landed about 7.30. Changed and caught the 8 o’clock bus to Millom where met Duncan Mac and went to Coniston and caught a ride to Ambleside. Hired bikes and rode to Grasmere - Rydal Water saw Wordsworth’s grave & house, back to dinner and then got a rowing boat and went across the [inserted] Lake [/inserted] Windermere and saw an old castle. Back to have a look at the Waterfall and afternoon tea
Home after a very happy day.
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APRIL 19. Sun
On parade and we had a route march round the camp, back and were dismissed and went to the class - room.
Armament all day. Down on the 25yd range. Fired 100 rounds out of a Browning into the sand. On the bomb teacher and turrets all afternoon
Very quiet day
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APRIL 20. Mon
Armament and not a hell of a lot to do.
Went in to pictures at night and it was really quite a good show, then went with Sid Armory down to the “John Peel” where we celebrated the departure of the Aussies They wrecked the canteen and I think will get a good rap
We’ll see.
Home with Phil Skin.
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APRIL 21. Tues
In the D.R. trainer in the morning was pilot & Phil Skinner navigator. We had the after - noon off. Wandered down to the plotting office and went up for a trip with Fedirchyk came down & went to the Ops room at 10.15 but was washed out so to bed
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APRIL 22. Wed
Up & in the plotting office at 7.05. Flew with Sgt Mundy on Duddon target - error 92 yds at 10,000yds. One more trip before dinner with Sgt Cartwright good trip one direct hit and error was 85yds at 10,000ft. Late lunch and one more trip with Sgt Cart. again about 6.30 dropped my eggs on Duddon again and had an average of 117yds at 10.000’ Down and to bed
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APRIL 23. Thurs
Woke up at 8 o’clock and was met by a F.lt. who was rather annoyed because we were not on his parade. Finally arrived in the class room about 8.40.
Did a plot in the morning and hopped away in the afternoon. Flew about 5 out to Isle of Man but vis less than a mile heavy rain back about 6.20 and over for a game of snooker.
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APRIL 24. Fri
Up early to atone for yesterday’s effort on parade we did some good marching for a change as it was so cold
Had the afternoon off as we were on the night detail. Got my maps ready and played billiards in the afternoon. On 10.15 detail and a.p.u. was scrubbed so went back to bed
Received School Mag from W.D.H.S.
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APRIL 25. Sat
Pulled out at 3am. and this time I got away with F/Lt Viney and Skin as second. Trip was excellent down to Sherries, Coreswall Lt at 5000’ then hedge hopped to Whitehaven & home. Landed about 7.10 and pulled Sid Baldy & Co out of bed & just caught the 8 bus.
Train to Coniston, [deleted word} Taxi to Ambleside had dinner caught bus to Windemere. [sic] Hired bikes and rode down to the lakes where we got a boat each it was very pretty as the grass is green & the trees are just breaking out into leaf.
Taxi back to Coniston and so to bed after a lolly good day
Letter from Muriel C.
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APRIL 26. Sun
Up very tired after yesterdays effort. Told by flight Furlonger that we are posted to No110 O.T.U. Bassingbourne. Did very little all day. Went into the Peep Sat night and had a real show.
Harvey lost his false teeth coming home, and when Skin and I arrived back everybody came out of bed.
Received £4 : 10 : 0
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APRIL 27. Mon
Up about 9 o’clock and slowly started to clear up but oh what a job! Went over & got my clearances fixed up and paid my mess bill. Went back to the mess barrack block in the afternoon packed and had a good sleep
Went in to town about 5, had tea at the Y.M. and then went to “A woman’s face,” home on the after picture bus. Skin and Les were very happy
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APRIL 28. Tues
Called at 5.30 up dressed and down to the mess for an early breakfast. Went in on the bus and then the fun started - We changed trains at Barrow, Brentchley, Cambridge and finished our journey at Royston. Where we packed the luggage on a waggon and went out to get our first glimpse of Bassingbourne. [sic]
We went out to the camp and then came back to “Kneesworth Hall” a lovely old place about 400 yds off the main road -
Very glad to get to bed.
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APRIL 29. Wednes
Up about 7.20 & Sid Armory and I walked to camp which is quite a walk. Has to get our arrival chits filled in Had a lecture by the C.O. a Group Captain, also lectures on Met., Nav., P.T after tea and then had a game of cricket - home and had a good bath.
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APRIL 30. Thurs
Up very early and walked out to the main road where we caught a lift to camp in time for breakfast. Lectures all day but nothing unusual all day long. Back to bed about 10.30
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MAY 1. Frid
In time for breakfast ordinary routine of lectures all day. Gas alarm from 9 to 9.30 Received £8 on a pay parade in “B” hanger [sic] at 1.30. Posted some more snaps in & wrote to Chum. Had an exam to see who was going to be observers and who Bombardiers - heres hoping!
Wrote to Chum
Received £8
Posted letter to Chum
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MAY 2. Sat
Usual routine all day Learnt in the afternoon that Russ, KGM & L.B.W. were to be Bombardiers I passed with 86%. Had an hours drill after tea and then back to Kneadwood Hall.
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May 3. Sun
Slept in until about 10. and then got up and lay out in the sun and then walked slowly down to dinner. Mucked around in the afternoon putting photos in and sleeping in the sun.
Went down to the “Red Lion” after tea and met O. and went for a walk.
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MAY 4. Mon
Up with the lark good lectures on intelligence in the morning.
Saw first uncovered Wimpy in Airmanship Hall.
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MAY 5. Tues
Lectures all day nothing unusual.
Had a mock gas attack and it was funny. Went dashing for a shelter when a bomb exploded in front of me, and I dived smartly to earth. Several of the chaps were caught and decontaminated.
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MAY 6. Wednes
Lectures and PT last period but played cricket instead.
Went down to “Red Lion” after tea with Sid & Lofty
Letter from Chum
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MAY 7. Thurs
In DR Trainer nearly all day.
Went to “Red Lion” with Scotty and met a very nice W.A.A.F and then we went up to “Waggons & horses,” then to camp and home about 11.
Inserted Later :-
Night I met Sheila Styde - a jolly good Sort!
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MAY 8. Fri
Lectures
Nothing unusual.
Letters from Mum Hilary Russell
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MAY 9. Sat
DR Trainer in afternoon
Parcel from Gwen
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MAY 10. Sun
Up about 9 and was pulled out by Phil - Phil. He, Les, Russ and I caught a bus into Cambridge which is a very pretty place. It was a beautiful day and we had a pleasant time We went to an address Rus [sic] had, and Phil & I brought 2 push-bikes mine costing 50/-. We then went down and hired boats. Saw three boatloads tipped out. Rode the 15 miles home on our newly acquired bikes.
Home with a tired seat
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MAY 11. Mon
Heard this is our last day in Headquarters. Had a D/F exam by PO. Fryer. Heard a few good lines from F/O. Brown. A picture on Met after tea. Baldy, Sid and I went in to the “Green Plunge” and had a jolly good too.
Letter from W.D.R.S.A.
Posted } Letters to Mum
Rosemary
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MAY 12. Tues
Duly reported to “A” flight and had a pow - wow with our P.O. instructor. Then we went down and drew our parachute which are great contrivances. Then we drew watch, sextant, and all navigational equipment which seems O.K. Were to fly in the afternoon but weather was foul cloud height was only 600’ so whole flight was washed out
Went in to Royston at dinner time with Skin and bought some pencils & sent a cable to Jocelyn.
Home straight after tea
Banked £3
Cabled Jocelyn
Letter to Ted Jackson
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MAY 13. Wed
Fixed up all my maps very elaborately in the hope that we would fly but all to no avail. Down to the Lion after tea.
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MAY 14. Thurs
Had my first trip in the [deleted] afternoon [/deleted] morning up to Goole in the Hull estuary. We landed at Finningly [sic] and saw quite a few “wimps” and Manchesters. Landed at Base about 12.30. Quite a fair trip but it was pretty bumpy. Nothing of interest in rest of day
Saw “Underground” at the pictures in Royston.
Letters Chum [deleted] Mum Hilary Russell [/deleted]
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MAY 15. Fri.
On DR trainer nearly all day which wasn’t very interesting was pilot to Powley. Took some sun [missing word] in Afternoon. Went to the Rose with “Snow” my wireless operator
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MAY 16. Sat
Most of course flying but I missed again so had to hang around in the crew room nearly all day. Went in to tea & Pictures with Sid Mac & Skin, had a good meal at the Green Plunge.
Letter from WDRSA
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MAY 17. Sun
Was not on morning schedule so decided to calibrate my sextant - after a lot of mucking about I came to the momentous decision that I have an error of 3 1/2 A. Flew in afternoon to Horncastle - Mablethorpe and then to 60 miles out to sea which is the nearest I have been yet to the enemy. Was challenged by a convoy and had to a/c about 6 times. Home & Harvey & I biked to Cambridge. We had a W.A.A.F in the Plane on our trip. Met Sid & Stump at the Criterion and then looked in at the “Red LIon.” Good wild night with Williams & Co. Chasing ducks in a punt at midnight - lost our bikes chased by police
What a show!
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MAY 18. Mon
Up at “nine - ish” and had breakfast. Went shopping and brought a new tennis racquet costing £3:12:6. Had dinner and went punting on the Cam, it started to rain so we cut the trip short. Biked home via Granchester [sic] had tea there and after going a couple of miles we had to take refuge in a pub on account of the rain - this gave us cause to stop at about 6 more. Home - shifted all my gear into the huts am now in A2. Sleep pretty late
Posted Letter to [underlined] Clare Hawke [/underlined]
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MAY 19. Tues
Not on the morning detail so plotted in some D/F stations on my Mercator. Went to the mess early and had a fairish dinner. Was not on the afternoon detail either so went back to Kneesworth and got my tennis gear
Had 3 sets with Les Winsloe and slept before tea in the [deleted] of [/deleted] mess. Biked home with Les. Had a bath and wrote this up to date.
Cable from { Shirley Todd
{ Joan Hopper.
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MAY 20. Wednes.
Up early and over to the crew room, prepared my maps and as per usual the whole [deleted] usual [/deleted] show was scrubbed and instead we acted as a taxi & took a F/Sgt. up to York - ran into dirty weather up there but on the whole it was a good trip, Harvey dropped 4 bombs.
We were nabbed for the C.O.s parade and it was a big show as the whole she-bang was on parade. Got a late chit and had dinner about 2.30. Watched the cricket & tennis in the afternoon and then had tea & back to Kneesworth
Received letter From Mum. 6/3/42
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MAY 21. Thurs.
Upon with the lark for a change. Was not on the detail in the morning so went over to the Intelligence library to swot up on some new “Gen.” Was out of the detail again in the afternoon, but went for a ride with P/O “Sim Hayden. We landed at Feltwell picked up some log forms. We just map read and it was a change not to have to work. Landed about 4.45 and had tea and back to kneesworth - down to [deleted] (bed) [/deleted] the “Lion” with Sid A. Then we went to a dance at the camp, home about 12.
Letter from Ted Jackson
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MAY 22. Fri.
Slept in until 7 o’clock and then popped down but the weather closed in and it was scrubbed. So sat in the crew room until dinner time. Scrubbed again in the afternoon so went back to the mess. Home & to bed early
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MAY 23. Sat.
Shaved at camp and then went over to the crew room. Flew up towards Horncastle at 3,000’ above cloud, came down through the cloud and ceiling was only about 100 feet with vis less than 1 mile in rain. Back to camp about 1.45pm. and slept till 4. Then went back to Kneesworth and read till 9.
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MAY 24. Sun.
Over to the crew room and went for a flight with W/O Price, up to Polegate landed then up to Uphaven but turned before we were there as it started to rain. Home about 12.30. Got our discharge from “A” flight, saw my logs and they were O.K. Went back to Kneesworth and slept
Wrote home to Mum
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MAY 25. Mon
Duly caught the bus to Steeple Morden and found that I was crewed up with a Sgt. Brooks and crew who seem jolly decent chaps, but rather disappointed I am not with Harvey & Co. Went over to Bass for a “Grope” in the afternoon but there was not enough time so it was called off. Back in the “chattle” to tea and then back to Bass for a lecture by a navy man on Convoys. Back S.M. about 6 and had supper, afterwards writing to Ted Jackson
Shifted all kit to Steeple Morden
Wrote to Ted Jackson
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JUNE 3. Wed
Arrived in London about 12.11 so had dinner at the N.Z. Forces club. Went out to the [deleted word] Kew gardens in the afternoon the weather was wonderful and the Gardens were an unforgettable sight. We lay down under a tree and slept for a couple of hours. Back for tea. Met two [deleted] N.Z. [/deleted] American privates went to the Sussex and afterwards to the “Mazurka” Club - in all - one hell of a wild night
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JUNE 4. Thurs.
Got up about 9. and went to the New Zealand Forces club and had a game of snooker and had dinner there. Caught train from Kings Cross about 2.15 home after a very hot and uninteresting journey
So bed and not feeling very happy after last night’s effort
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JUNE 5. Fri.
No flying so went over to Bass to see Ted Jackson but had no luck as he was still in bed. Received two parcels from home, caught the 11.45 “shuttle” home to Steeple. Started to walk in with Harvey Flower when Ted & “Stevie” came out in the YMCA’S car. Went back with them to a dance at the Sgt’s Mess. Had a jolly fine reunion and the dance went with a swing. Met Sheila Hyde who I met in my first week at 11 O.T.U. Took her home to Kneesworth.
Jolly good night
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JUNE 6. Sat.
Went on our first cross country in a wimpy. Dual - with P/O Smith as stooge pilot a good exercise from every point of view. Landed rather late.
Went in to the green plunge for a swim in the afternoon as Bill Still on Circuits & Bumps.
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JUNE 8. Mon
Went up but there was nothing doing as Bill was still doing circuits and bumps. There was no wireless in the Kite he was in so decided to take up a map and go for a trip. Went up for 2 hours and went to Cambridge Hitchin Letchworth Luton & just stooged around
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JUNE 12. Friday
A five hour country lined up but the weather is duff with low cloud. Over to Bass in the afternoon and had a test in the decompression chamber - went up to 25,000 feet no ill effects experienced but because of a slight cold had a little ear - trouble on the way down but no harm done - thank goodness.
Had a pay parade and evidently our pay has not come through from Millom yet.
Took Sheila to pictures in Royston
Received £8/0/0.
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JUNE 13. Sat.
Due for a cross - country but because of adverse weather it was called off so just hung around. Went over to Bass. about 10.30 and had my inter-com changed. Had dinner their [sic] and then came back nothing doing but circuits and bumps so went to bed early
Papers from Janie
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JUNE 14. Sunday
Our day off so made the most of it & stayed in Bed until 12 then got up for dinner. Lay in the sun all afternoon reading and sleeping. Over for a shower shave and tea at 5.
Wrote to { Chum
{ Ray Addis
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JUNE 20.
Harvey Flower missing on ops!
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JUNE 29. Mon
Sid & Stump burn to Death in a crash at 4.30 am.
P/O Callander went for Burton.
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JUNE 30. Tues
Have Received Mail from Mum (2) Clare (2) Shirley Todd, Gwen
Parcels from home Gwen
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JULY 1. Wed.
Went for a bike Ride with Sheila
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July 2. Thurs.
Lay I and missed breakfast as per usual. Went up with Bill Spinney to get my maps ready for our night trip. Rode in and saw Sheila and had to cancel our picture date
Flew Base - Henlow - Aberystywth [sic] - Helmswell [sic] Base back about 10 past 3.
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JULY 10. Frid
Went to Dance at Coco - nut Grove with Crew
What a night
Received £13:0:0.
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JULY 11. Sat
Celebrated our Departure with Mick Moon
Hell afloat!
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JULY 14. Tues
Left No 11 OTU Bass. - Caught the 9.36 with Bill Spinney my pilot. Decided to hitch hike so got off at Hitchin it wasn’t so hot but got their [sic] at last. Met Chum, Chris & Mick and celebrated finishing up at Covent Garden. Caught the 10.55 to Barrow.
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JULY 15. Wed
Arrived in Barrow about 8 had breakfast and went out to Conishead Priory to see G.J.F. but he has gone. Had my photo taken and caught a bus to Windermere arrived OK and was lucky enough to get board. Had a walk around met Dunc Mac - to Bed early
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JULY 16. Thurs
Up 9 and went to Keswick - lovely scenery but unfortunately bad weather still had a good day
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JULY 17. Fri
Wandered leisurely down to Bowness had dinner and sat down by the lakes edge. To pictures & an early night
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JULY 18. Sat
Got up fairly early but missed the first train to Barrow caught the 11.15. and it was very packed
Arrived at Euston about 8.30 booked in at the Victoria League cleaned up and then went to Covent Garden but it was full and so had supper & home.
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JULY 19. Sun
Had a lovely hot bath & went round to the NZ [inserted] Club [/inserted] for dinner. Met Alan Russell so went for a walk to Hyde Park to listen to the hecklers - went to a show and back to the club for dinner. Then met old Snow who is back in the crew! Went to the Mazurka and got fairly happy so decided to go to Covent Garden before it got too bad. Met a nice girl and took her home arranging to meet her to-morrow night
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JULY 20. Mon
Slept in pretty late and ambled round to the Forces club for lunch. Then strolled round Oxford St. Regent St. just going where pleased. Went to “Son of Fury” - met Snow, Mick & Chris in the Club and then went round to meet J.M. at C.G. Station. Went to the Regent palace Hotel for tea and to the show at the Hippodrome after having supper at a flash restaurant
Mail { Clare (29th May)
{ Mum.
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No 101 SQUADRON - BOURN.
JULY 21. Tues.
Met Mick & Snow and caught the 10.10 for Cambridge. After a whole of a lot of trouble got all our kit ready at Bass. and got a shuttle into Royston. Met Bill Spinney on the train and went to Cambridge. Finally got to Long Stanton and a shuttle to Oakington. Nobody knew us so we bedded in the same room as Burgess & Co.
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JULY 22. Wed
Up earliest for a long time and down and had a look over a Stirling.
Got a truck to Bourn where we are going to be on MK III’s. Had a good tea and early to bed.
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[underlined] JULY 23. [/underlined] Thurs.
Up & saw the C.O. of our squadron - got all our arrival chits filled in all of us got clean sheets
Could not get a ride to Oakington so played snooker
To tea & to write letters
Posted letters to Mum, Sheila, Doc Turnbull & Photo people in Barrow at 20 Paxton St, Barrow in Furness.
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JULY 24. Friday
Reported to the flight at 9 o’clock but there was no one about on a/c of ops last night. Went to Oakington to draw flying kit - got underwear but no Irvin. Received my nav kit, parachute & harness and had a chat by the navigation officer who showed me round the station
Went to an ENSA concert at night which was not bad.
Rec. £9:2:0
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JULY 25. Sat.
Received som instruction on G.B. and tried to use my [indecipherable] sextant very good but heavy. Mucked around and went to tea about 4.15.
Went to “Red Lion” with Snow bed 11.15.
Spin went on a raid to Duisberg [sic]
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JULY 26. Sun
Went up to flights but as there was ops last night no one was about, so went around with Snow while he did his DI’s. Then spent the rest of the morning on “Q6”. Had morning tea at the NAAFI but nothing doing in the afternoon as it is the big do [deleted] the [/deleted] to-night 16 kites - looks like another 1000 bomber “do”. With Chris & Bill going
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JULY [deleted] 27. [/deleted] [inserted] 29. [/inserted] [deleted] Mon [/deleted]
Chris came in
Nothing interesting rained all day!
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JULY 28. Tues
Chris woke [inserted] us [/inserted] up after [deleted] he [/deleted] 7 to know the time - I could have killed him. We went up to the drome and had a good morning tea. Then fooled around with my sextant and popped back to have a game of snooker.
Up in the after-noon and spent a couple of hours on the T.R.
Received a letter from Sheila. Wrote Rosemary. Doc Turnbull, Shirley Judd.
[page break]
JULY [deleted] 29. [/deleted] [inserted] 27. [/inserted] [deleted] Wednes [/deleted] [inserted] Mon [/inserted]
Was awake when Chris and Bill came back from Hamburg - Chris dropped a 4,000lb bomb - good show.
There was nothing doing as all personnel had been on last night and as it rained I stayed behind and wrote letters.
Went up in afternoon, was supposed to go up for a trip with the T.R. but it was scrubbed
[page break]
JULY 30. Thurs
As there was ops last night. Had breakfast and came back to the billets it started to rain but cleared before dinner and went on an air - firing trip up to the Wash with Nobby Clarke Played with the T.R. for a while but unfortunately the set packed up.
Durn of flight 1hr 30
Received letters from Mum & Dick Harwood
[page break]
JULY 31. Fri
Heard in the morning that we were to be pall bearers at the funeral at P/O Stubbings, Sgts Webster & Comber. Had an early dinner and went in to Cambridge on a shuttle with S/L Watts. Acted as pall bearers to Eric Webster and Bob Stubbings. Then went and got a punt with Spin, Mick and Snow. Had tea and went to the pictures then to the Criterion, from there to dance at Rex arriving home by taxi about 1 o’clock
They were killed when a wimpey collided with a Stirling off the Oakington Circuit.
[page break]
AUGUST 1. Sat.
Up rather late as I was pretty tired after last night. Went up to the drome but there was nothing doing. Biked into [deleted] Cambr [/deleted] Bassingbourne [sic] & took Sheila & Beryl to the [deleted] pictures [/deleted] green plunge & had a steak then went to the “Waggon & Horses” and then went to the dance at the sergeant’s mess Rode back with Bill Spinney & Gordon Otter.
[page break]
AUGUST 2. Sun
Big Day as a crew we at last got off the deck for 1 1/4 hrs. I played with the T.R. & it worked great. Nothing in the afternoon. Down to soldiers mess for supper & then Dance.
[page break]
AUGUST 3. Mon
Up to the flights but as the boys had been on ops there was nothing doing. Weather very duff. Ops scrubbed at night so went in to Cambridge on the bus Went to the pictures and had a good supper of chicken (?) after
[page break]
AUGUST 4. Tues
Nothing doing - weather is still pretty duff. Walked down to supper.
Had a chat by the Group Captain
Papers & Truth but no letters inside.
[page break]
AUGUST 5. Wed
Went up to the flights and was supposed to fly but it was cancelled.
Went up in the afternoon and flew with F/S Brown for a couple of hour on the T.R. then had [deleted] dinner [/deleted] [inserted] tea [/inserted] and flew again at 6.30 with Bill Spinney and crew & did local flying on fixes & homing, home to supper and bed
Letters { Mum
{ Gwen
Cable from Home re Birthday
[page break]
AUGUST 6. Thurs.
Woke up early and cleaned the room out for a change. Had [inserted] morn [/inserted] tea at the NAAFI and then went on a cross-country with the crew arriving back about 2 o’clock. Had a late dinner and came back for pay parade. Bill on C & L’s and I’m not going. Had supper at the Army canteen and Home
Had the old Jerry over but no bombs close.
Received parcel from Clare
Received £9:2:0
[page break]
AUGUST 7. Fri
A very dirty miserable day. Went down to the canteen for supper and then to the golden Lion and got a bit happy. Home about 11.30
[page break]
AUGUST 8. Sat.
Supposed to swing a loop but everything went wrong so will do it to-morrow morning. Had a lecture on Hun fighter tactics and a couple of illustrative films. Had a game of billiards after tea and went to the ENSA concert which was quite a good show.
Home & to [inserted] do [/inserted] letter writing
Wrote to Clare.
[page break]
AUGUST 9. Sun
Went up to the flights and was “Joed” for a compass swing in the morning before lunch. Went to dinner and when we came back there was nothing doing, was just ready to bus off when I was caught again at 4.15. Swing “R” for Robert and it rained just to make matters worse.
Went to bed early.
[page break]
AUGUST 10. Mon
As Mick & Snow had been flying last night I got up quietly. Up to the flights but was nothing much doing. Came home early and started to write a letter. Came back from the drome about 3 and played Snow at Snooker. Went for a ride down to the soldiers barracks for supper and came back to pack for our shift to Stradishall to - morrow.
Wrote to Nona.
Wrote to Mum.
[page break]
No 101 Squadron STRADISHALL
AUGUST 11. Tues
Snow & Mick went up to fly and I got up quickly & packed. Carried my kit over to the Airman’s mess. Had dinner and up to the flights had a talk by Sq. Ldr. Watts. Took off about 4 and went over to have a look at Cambridge landing at Stradishall about 4.30.
Went to the pictures and to bed
A funny trip bags gas masks, bombsight, chute Mae Wests all piled in the kite
Mail from Mum, Jocelyn, R.S.A., Max, Clare, Chum.
[page break]
AUGUST 12. Wedn
Slept in all day nearly as rest of squadron has not yet arrived. Went to NAAFI for supper then to bed
[page break]
AUGUST 13. Thurs.
Were to report to flights at 9.30. nothing doing so lay on the grass and then went to dinner. Had all the fuel system explained by Bill S.
Got a shuttle and went out to “Edward” and got our kit bringing it back to the hut.
Went to the mess with Snow and then went to the dance. Had a pretty good time.
Cables Janice Gwen
[page break]
AUGUST 14. Fri
Nearly missed breakfast and was glad I didn’t as we had bacon & eggs. Came back and all the boys were still asleep so popped out and down to the hangar but everything in pretty much of a mess. Heard that we were “on” to-night. Went for a trip in the after-noon around Cambridge testing the T.R. Came down to hear that ops had been scrubbed.
Went to “Arizona”
Letter from Sheila Hyde
Cable from Home
Wrote to Sheila.
[page break]
AUGUST [deleted] 15 [/deleted] [inserted] 16 [/inserted] Sat
Just mucked around cleaning up the navigation room. Went to the pictures which I had seen before
[page break]
AUGUST [deleted] 16 [/deleted] [inserted] 15 [/inserted] Sun
Up to the flights and we are on the battle order at last! Did our N.F.T. and were all ready to go Target was Dusseldorf. On our turn to take off but we went off the runway with 4000lbs (6 x 500 & 1 x 1000) so the trip was scrubbed
[page break]
AUGUST 17. Mon
Saw two “Typhoons” in the morning they look very nice kites. N.F.T. unnecessary as our kite “X” was tested in the morning. Briefed and were out at the kite in plenty of time. Target - Osnabruck. Airborne 2154 on target 0023, medium & plenty light flak, fair trip - time 5 hrs 40 mins, load 1 x 4000lb.
F/Sgt Brown & Crew missing
Sgt. Foderingham - pulled out after 11 hours in drink
[page break]
AUGUST 18. Tues
Slept in until 12.30 and then went to dinner. Nothing doing in afternoon. Put our names down to go to Cambridge. Went in a 5.30 with the crew Stayed in the “Criterion” till 10 and then went to the Kex till 11. Home on the 12 bus.
Letter from Sheila.
[page break]
AUGUST 19. Wed.
What a night! Not feeling so good so slept in till about 10 and then wandered down to the Nav. office. Went on a bombing trip up by Honington and dropped a few 11 1/2 lbs. Came back and it was a big day on the station. All personnel had the day off. Sports all afternoon and a dance at night. Went to the dance to bed
[page break]
AUGUST 20. Thurs.
Up & cleaned up as we thought the C.O. was coming but he let us down as he didn’t turn up. Went up for a trip in the morning about 1 1/2 hours bombing. Came back had dinner. There was nothing doing in the afternoon so stooged over to “G” & shifted my kit
Flew on a cross country at night of 3 1/2 hours and had a good nights astro & “G” practice
Bed 2.30
[page break]
AUGUST 21. Fri.
Slept in till 11 o’clock. Went over to the flights but there was nothing doing, a group stand down to night Handed in my maps at the intelligence store
Were payed [sic] at at 3.15
Went over to the Sgts. Mess until 9.15 then down to the dance for the B.A.T. boys.
Received £9:2:0
Banked £12:0:0
[page break]
AUGUST 22. Sat
Not feeling so hot at all this morning. Down to the hangar and went out to our kite to miss compass swinging. Did an N.F.T in “Edward” and then went in to the pictures and to the NAAFI for supper
[page break]
AUGUST 23. Sun
“Stand - by” for daylights. Were all ready to go at 11 o’c but were put off till 3 o’clock. Swing “K” Kitty in the morning and when we finished we heard that the daylights were scrubbed. “V” victor & “O” Orange went and bombed Emden from 4,500 feet. Shooting down 1 Me110 on the way back Went on a T.R. stooge in the afternoon with P/O Hill
Received my birthday cake
[page break]
AUGUST 24. Mon
Got my ration of 4 bars of chocolate. Did an N.F.T. in the afternoon and the “G” was not too good so reported to the Spec. signals. Went to Frankfurt - bags of flak, attacked by a nightfighter off the French coast - hit by shrapnel over [inserted] Target [/inserted] Total - 6 hrs 15. landed 03.20 - very tired
“C” charlie missing
[page break]
AUGUST 25. Tues
Woke up at 12.00 and went to dinner. Went to “Edward” and took my charts to the Intelligence. Did an N.F.T. in “L” London and then went to briefing at 16.45. Ops were scrubbed at the Last minute
So went to the pictures
Letters from { Clare
{ Mum
{ Ray Addis
Good Show!
[page break]
AUGUST 26. Wed
Up to the flights in the morning and was lucky enough to get out of several compass swings. Did our N.F.T. in “L” London for ops to-night. Briefed at usual time and were already and over at the crew room at 11.30 when it started to rain cats & dogs so the whole show was scrubbed.
To bed about 12
Post - card from Sheila
[page break]
What a day.
AUGUST 27. Thurs
Taking “Q” “Queenie” to-night. Went to do an air test in the afternoon but the kite was U/S so did a ground test after tea. Target - [underlined] KASSEL [/underlined] At last we get away at 8.50. No trouble over the Dutch coast - passed north of Amsterdam and had quite a bit of flak light and intense. Arrived at the target 20 mins early so stooged around and watched the fireworks, let the bombs go at 11.47. - Bright moonlight and intense ground haze. Coming home the fun started. Flak & S/L from Hamm, then got caught in the S/L’s over Essen and were hit several times by heavy flak, diving from 16,000 to 3,500 & finally got clear, then we climbed to height and crossed Over [indecipherable word] at 12,000, were 30 miles out to sea when we were attacked by a night fighter. Rear gunner severely injured, hydraulics shot up,
[page break]
AUGUST 28. Fri
no H.S.I. wheels down, bomb doors open, T.R & wireless U/S, crossed English coast at 3,500, called darky and immediately got a reply - drome lit up by S/L and we crash - landed - got Mick out & about 1 min later the kite burst into flames. Landed at Martlesham Heath - at about 0220 on Aug 28th.
28/8/42
Feeling a little shaky this morning. Up & had bacon & eggs. The boys came over for us and we got back about 12. Saw the C.O. and the M.O. and saw Pilky. The only thing saved was 2 pencils and my Nav log. Supper at NAAFI & to bed
Good Show!
[page break]
AUGUST 29. Sat
Still feeling a bit tired nothing doing in the morning. Swung all the compasses on “J” Johnnie in the afternoon and then went in to Cambridge about 4.30.
Went to the “Popular” had tea then to the “Barron [sic] of Beef” and to the Dorothy getting back about 1.30
Paddy Colhoun in “A” } Missing from Numburg [sic]
Beale & Rowles in “U” } Missing from Numburg [sic]
Ayres in “X” } Missing from Numburg [sic]
[page break]
AUGUST 30. Sun
Slept in and missed breakfast. Went down to the hangar and got a new Irvin suit, went back and had an hours sleep. No ops to-night so went to the picture and then to the NAAFI for supper.
[page break]
AUGUST 31. Mon
Slept in again and missed breakfast. Went down to the flights but there was nothing doing so went back to clean up and write a letter.
Posted letter to Mum 1800
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 1. Tues
Did an N.F.T. in the afternoon in “K” Kittie. Left about 12 o’clock for Saarbruken with Sgt. Crawley replacing Mick. Tested gun over Thames estuary - two guns in rear turret U/S so decided to return to base. Bombs jettisoned in wash and on return to Base cloud found at 200’ - hang of a job finding a drome but finally landed O.K.
Letter from Sheila
Truths (4) Received
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 2. Wed
Down to the flights and “ops” to-night. Tested “H” Harry it is a good kite. Briefed 8 o’clock and airborne 2300. S/C for English coast immediately 10/10 cloud. Climbed to 15,000 and crossed French coast where there was some heavy flak. Fairly quiet in to target, at target experienced heavy & intense light flak, no S/L’s - large Fires & big bomb bursts seen - home [missing words] - Target was [underlined] Karlsruhe [/underlined]
Durn 6 hrs 30 mins
Received Mail Mum W.D.R.S.A.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 3. Thurs.
Woke up at about 12.30 and went to dinner. Stand - down to-night. Went to pictures at night & to Bed.
Wrote to Sheila
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 4. Fri
Had a good nights sleep. And went and swung the compasses on “J” they were all O.K and did not need any adjusting.
Did our N.F.T. in the afternoon in “E” Edward Went to Bremen. Hundreds of S/L’s and intense flak, quite a hot spot. Came back OK. landing 0500.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 5. Sat.
Woke about 1300 and had dinner. There was a “Stand-down” so went in to Cambridge at 5 o’clock.
Went to the “Boar’s Head.” at night and stayed till the bitter end. Home about 1 o’clock.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 6. Sun
Woke very tired & wandered down to the flights. Air tested “E” Edward and she is still as good as ever.
Left for Duisberg, [sic] not much in the way in. With bomb doors open we turned in to the target when bang the port motor cut we jettisoned our bombs and made for home. Could not track as the starboard motor pulled us to port a very shaky do! Had to get a QDM - shaky do.
P/O Gill & Crew Missing
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 7. Mon
Woke up 12 to hear that they had put overload tanks in. First target was Stettin 60 miles NE of Berlin. Then we were going to Warnemunde were in the kites ready for take-off when they scrubbed it - I was jolly glad as I am not partial to swimming the north sea
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 8. Tues
Slept in till 9 and got down to the flights late. Did an N.F.T. in “D” Donald and everything was O.K.
Went to Frankfurt Taking off at 9 o’clock, crossed Fr. coast bags of flak & S/L’s fairly quiet to target where there were hundreds of S/L’s and much heavy flak. Load 1 x 4000 lb.
Target well alight [inserted] with [/inserted] incendiaries attacked by a Me110. got rid of hime O.K. more flak on Fr. coast. Landed very short of juice about 0300
Letter from Clare
Poor old Williams & Joe [indecipherable word] & Pinky Reame missing
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 9. Wednes.
Woke up very tired about 11 o’clock we sure aren’t getting much sleep lately. Down to flights and Pilky said leave to-day. Got paid - £11:18:0 a jolly good sum. Hitch hiked to Newmarket and caught the train for Bury had to stay the night there as no train to Ipswich
Stayed at the Suffolk hotel and turned in early
Cabled Mum
Clare
Sheila
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 10. Thurs
Up & had breakfast at 7 caught the train to Ipswich arriving there about 9.40. Went straight up & saw Mick who looks very pale & washed out
Caught the 11.30 train to London. Booked in at the Victoria League till Monday. Met Sheila by good luck. Saw Sam Brydon, Tony Taylor and Ross Buckley. Went to a show with Sheila
A Jolly good night!
Nice thing this leave
Whacko!
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 11. Friday
Wake about 11, had a hot bath and went to the NZ Forces club where I met Sheila and took her to dinner. Then saw her off on the 2.05 train to Cambridge. Back and saw a show meeting the boys at the NZ F.C. and then to a club where we got pretty tight. Spin & I went to the Covent Garden where I met Irene who took me to Kensington South arriving home at 12.45.
Another Good Day.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 12. Sat
Woke pretty late so ambled round to the forces club for dinner. Met Bob Stevenson and went to a show in the Afternoon. Met Norm Picton in the evening so went to the Sussex and then back to the N.Z.F.C. where we met 2 WAAFs Took them to supper and hitched a ride in a van to Fleet Street. Back to the Strand where we had a very wild night -
“Bonnee” - I’ll say Bonny Berry
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 13. Sun
Went for a walk along the Embankment till 10 o’clock then saw the girls off at Trafalgar St., station. Went to the Milkay Club with Snow back about 6 met Steve went to the Sussex, too hot so went to a show. Left Steve in Piccadilly and meet P. fair time home 0200
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 14. Mon
With Steve all day not doing much.
Saw a couple of Shows
[page break]
Wed. the 16
SEPTEMBER [deleted] 15 Tues. [/deleted]
Woke about 8.30 & so Steve & Co missed their train. Had breakfast down at Lyons on Strand. Back to NZ. Forces Club & then back to the Strand Palace Hotel. Saw Steve & co off, and then caught the 11.55 for Cambridge. Arriving about 1.40. Booked in at the Red Lion and then went to the Flix and home to an early bed very very tired
[page break]
[inserted] Tues 15th [/inserted] SEPTEMBER [Deleted] 16. Wed [/deleted]
Steve & I met Ted Grey & celebrated at the Sussex. Then to Covent Garden met three nurses and saw them to London Bridge.
5 of us slept in a three roomed bed, Steve, his pilot, a Canuck P/O, Grey [indecipherable] & myself
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 17. Thurs
Woke about 8.30 and went down town for breakfast. Then walked slowly down to the train. Caught the 10.8 for Newmarket then hitch hiked out to the camp arriving about 12. Down to the flights in the afternoon and went for a height test with the Aussie - Hawkins - reached 21,000 temperature was minus 20 centigrade - above 10/10 cloud landed 6.20. Home to an early bed.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 18. Fri
A Good night’s sleep and was it welcome - I’ll say. Down to the flights and there was nothing doing Cloud 10/10 weather was not too good. Went up on a height test with Hawkins. We went up to 21,000 feet and “G” packed up and we did not know where we were finally pinpointed at Colchester got back about 6. Tea and went to the [deleted] pictures [/deleted] Three Tuns and got pretty well oiled
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 19. Sat.
Not feeling so good this morning. Went up on an N.F.T. in good old “E” Edward pretty good everything OK for ops tonight.
Took off at 8.10 with Andy Gould and a new rear gunner. No trouble over Fr coast quiet to target and then quite a bit of difficulty locating it. Home with bags of flak over Fr coast.
Trip 5hrs 40.
No 8. SAARBRUCKEN 72 x 30lb incendiaries
1 Kite missing - P/O De Bartok & Drury.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 20. Sun
Woke up about 11.30. To a lecture on last nights do. 7 photos within 5 miles in all a pretty good show.
Nothing on tonight to-night so went to NAAFI for supper then to Hellzappopin [sic]
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 21. [underlined] Mon [/underlined]
Up feeling fresh & fit. Nothing doing in the morning but ops to-night. Did an N.F.T. in “E” - weather awful ceiling 150 feet in rain. Kite all O.K. back about 3.30. Target Mining 5 mile from mouth of Kiel Harbour. Made landfall at Mandoss OK after a 330 mile [inserted] sea [/inserted] crossing Map - read into the target OK saw a flak ship or two but very quiet really. Had “George” in all across the Sea. Saw a single ME 110
Durn - 6.30
Trip 9.
Hawkins the Aussie & S/Ldr Patterson (Patrick) Missing Bad Show!
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 22. Tues
Woke about 11pm had a bath and went down to the flights - Stand down. Had a lecture on the photographs taken at SBKN. [indecipherable] within 5 miles. Went to the mess to celebrate Brads flight. Then to waaf’s dance and got pretty happy.
Wrote 10 pages to Mum
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 23. Wedn
Woke feeling good after last nights do. Down to the flights and then shifted upstairs in “D” block. Down after lunch and watched a football match with a station crew. Standdown to-night
Wrote { Sheila
{ Steve
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 24. Thurs
Nothing doing in the morning. No ops tonight Watched a football match in afternoon - weather shocking
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 25. Fri
Woke pretty early & standing by for day flights but they were scrubbed as the cloud dispersed very quickly. Ops to-night but we are not on - played Chris a couple of of sets of tennis and then went to the pictures - Ops scrubbed.
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 26. Sat
Nothing doing again to-day - ops to-night but we are not on again. Ops were scrubbed at the last minute. Played Chris tennis and then went to the “Three Tuns” with Smithy & Brad - a good sing song & quite a good night
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 27. Sun
Down to the flights at 9 o’clock and everybody getting ready to shift. Went up for an Air Test in “C” with Spin - swung the compasses first - Kite O.K. Checked harnesses in the afternoon and had a talk by the Group Captain on leaving naafi - [indecipherable word] & bed
Posted mail { Chum
{ Snow
[page break]
SEPTEMBER 28. Mon
Took off about 10.20 for Holme. Chris navigated and I map - read arrived O.K. and had a good dinner. Settled in at billets well away from the ‘drome. Went to the Waafs welcome in the Sgts mess and boy was it a “Boozeroo.” Bags of drinking hours everyone very happy.
[page break]
OCTOBER 8. Thurs
No lectures except 1 by S/ldr Ruth on ops, pretty fair.
Mail Mum (2) Jocelyn, Rosemary, Doc J, Nona, Chum
[page break]
OCTOBER 9. Friday
Supposed to fly kites all U/S.
Mail from Chum & Sheila
Wrote to Nona, Florrie, Chum, Shiela, Rosemary.
[page break]
OCTOBER 10. Sat
Had lectures on “ops” & tactics - a bit late but good for the birds from O.T.U.’s
Went to town on the 5.30 bus with Spin & Andy - To Saracens Head for tea and to Crown for a few drinks then to “Montana” dance hall
Posted my photo home
[page break]
OCTOBER 11. Sun
Bacon & eggs for breakfast About the best thing thats happened since we’ve been here. Nothing doing in the morning but got off in a Manchester for two hours in the afternoon Spin did a couple of landings and when we were going solo the brake - pressure gave out.
Wrote to { Clare 8 pages
{ G.P.O. about Bank Book.
[page break]
OCTOBER 12. Mon
Up 7.15 and down to breakfast. Lectures on Astro - it is surprising how much I don’t know about navigation - still we live & learn. Lecture by S/LDR Ruth on evasive action his experiences tally with ours.
Same in afternoon, home to barracks and lit the fire, it overbalanced and darn near set the place on fire.
Letter Aug 10 from home.
2 [inserted] lots [/inserted] Papers from Janie
[page break]
OCCTOBER 21. Wed
Flew in Morning & 2 1/2 hours at night too.
Wrote to Chum
Telegram from Chum
[page break]
OCTOBER 24. Sat
Woke up early but stayed in Bed went up to Parade but was to [sic] late
No flying home to Write Letters
Letters from { Gwen
{ Mum.
Wrote to Mum, Shiela, Steve, Colchester, Muriel [indecipherable]
[page break]
[underlined] 22/3/41 [/underlined] Anson 930 Sgt Sansom AB 1400 1720 [underlined] 3hrs 20 [/underlined]
STATIONS I HAVE
I.T.W. LEVIN NEW ZEALAND APRIL 13th 1941.
No 6 A.O.S. PRINCE ALBERT SASKATCHEWAN CANADA.
No 3 B&G MACDONALD MANITOBA. CANADA.
No. 1 ANS RIVERS MANITOBA. CANADA.
No “IY” Depot HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA CANADA.
No 3 P.R.C. BOURNEMOUTH ENGLAND.
No 2 AFU MILLOM. CUMBERLAND ENGLAND.
No 11 OTU BASSINGBOURNE [sic] HERTS. ENGLAND.
No 11 OTU STEEPLE MORDEN Herts. ENGLAND.
No 101 SQUADRON BOURN. Cambs. ENGLAND.
No 101 SQUADRON. STRADISHALL (Trans 11/8) ENGLAND
No 101 SQUADRON. HOLME YORKSHIRE Trans. 28/ [missing date]
No 1654 CON FLIGHT WIGSLEY - NOTTS Trans. 29/9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
Description
An account of the resource
The entries proceed from 1 January 1942 to 24 October 1942.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Diary
Format
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One diary
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
YCollettHWA422260v1
Title
A name given to the resource
Henry William Amner Collett's diary
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
H W A Collett
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
101 Squadron
aircrew
killed in action
observer
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/110/1079/MBubbGJ1477939-160322-03.2.pdf
3af8e2d4f48d11c69a7fec7722b429f8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bubb, George
G J Bubb
Description
An account of the resource
13 items. Collection covers the wartime service of Leading Aircraftsman George Joseph Bubb (b. 1911, 1477909 Royal Air Force), an instrument fitter on 44 Squadron. the collection contains notebooks from training courses, a service bible and 1946 diary as well as the contents of a scrapbook which include personal documents and photographs of people and bombing operations.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dave Pilsworth and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-03-22
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Bubb, GJ
Transcribed document
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[Front cover]
1477939 LAC. BUBB
GROUP A
Form 714.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Rough Notebook for use in Laboratories and Workshops.
[page break]
[blank page, inside of front cover]
[page break]
[diagram of Fahrenheit and centigrade scales]
[underlined] MERCURY IN STEEL THERMOMETER [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a thermometer]
[underlined] BOURDEN TUBE [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a Bourden tube]
[hand drawn diagram of a bi-metal strip]
[underlined] RADIATOR THERMOMETER [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a thermometer]
[underlined] Vapour Pressure Thermometer
Water B P. [/underlined]
Boiling Point at 10,000 ft is 92o C
Boiling Point at 20,000 ft is 86o C.
[page break]
[underlined] ENGINE CYLINDER THERMOMETER [/underlined]
THERMO COUPLE
[two hand drawn diagrams of thermo-coupling]
[underlined] MAGNETISM [/underlined]
[eight hand drawn diagrams of magnetic fields]
[page break]
[underlined] ELECTRICITY [/underlined]
Matter is made up of one or more of the 92 elements on this earth. The smallest particle of any element is an ATOM. Every atom consists of nucleus around which revolves small units of negative electricity called ELECTRONS
[two diagrams of helium and hydrogen atoms]
A [underlined] Conducter [sic] [/underlined] is a [underlined] substance [/underlined] in which there are a number of free electrons. A [underlined] Current [/underlined] of electricity is said to flow when these free electrons are made to move along the conductor by the application of a force called an ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (E.M.F.)
E.M.F. is measured in VOLTS
An insulator contains very few free electrons and so a flow cannot be so easily set up.
Conditions for a electric current to flow are a complete circuit of conducters [sic]and E.M.F.
An E.M.F. causes a fall of pressure as potential along a conducter [sic] and between any two points in the circuit, there will be a [one indecipherable word] [underlined] potential difference [/underlined] (P.D.) which is also measured in [underlined] VOLTS. [/underlined]
page break]
[underlined] Resistance [/underlined] is the opposition to a conducter [sic] to the flow the electrons.
Resistance is measured in OHMS.
Thin wire has a greater resistance than thick wire.
Resistance of a wire is based upon material and increases with length and temperature.
The electrical energy carried by a current in a circuit is converted into [underlined] Heat [/underlined]
[underlined] Energy, Magnetic Energy [/underlined] and may be converted into [underlined] Chemical Energy. [/underlined] eg. breaking up water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The quantity of electricity is measured in [underlined] Conlombs [sic] [/underlined]
Current strength or quantity per sec is measured in [underlined] amperes [/underlined]
1 AMPERE = 1 CONLOMB [sic] per sec.
i.e. 6.23 x 1018 electrons per sec.
Work = Distance (ft) x Force (lbs)
= Volume or Quantity x Pressure
Power = Work per sec.
(1 HP = 550ft per sec)
Electrical Power = Elect [symbol] work per sec.
Electrical Power = Elect [symbol] quantity x Elect pressure per sec.
Watts = Amps x Volts.
1 KILOWATT = 1000 AMPS (1 HP = 746 watts)
1 BOARD OF TRADE UNIT = 1 KILOWATT for 1 HOUR
100 WATTS for 10 HOURS
[page break]
[underlined] Resistances [/underlined]
[six hand drawn electrical diagrams]
The ammeter has a very low resistance and is connected in series with the circuit.
The voltmeter has a very large resistance and is connected in parallel with the conducter. [sic]
[page break]
[underlined] OHM’S LAW [/underlined]
This states that for a given conducter [sic] the current flowing is proportional to P.D applied.
[table showing Volts, Current and V/I]
Thus we show V/I is constant. If the above figures are for copper then for a similar gauge iron wire V/I = 14 . Thus V/I for Iron is 7 times as great as for copper. These ratios express the resistance of the conducter [sic] in ohms.
Therefore ohm’s law can be written
V/I = R. I = V/R V = I x R
WATTS = I x V
[page break]
[underlined] Costings of Work Done by Electricity [/underlined]
The rate at which work is done by electricity is measured in [underlined] Watts [/underlined] the cost is measured in kilowatt hrs = 1000 watts for 1 hr = A Board of Trade Unit = 1 B.O.T.O [sic] = [underlined] 1 UNIT [/underlined]
Find the cost of supply a 500 watt fire. 100 watt lamp. 100w Radio for 5 hrs a day - 7 day week @ 1D per unit 2/-1/2
How many 60w on 5 amp @ 240 volts.
60 = 5 x 240
60 = 1200
20
[page break]
[underlined] MAGNETIC OF CURRENT [/underlined]
[a page of hand drawn magnetic diagrams]
[page break]
Current in the coil makes on face N the other south. Coil moves to bring it’s north opposite south of permenant [sic] magnet and south opposite north. It turns against the hairsprings so that the pointer measures strength of current
[hand drawn diagram of an electric motor]
[underlined] ELECTRO MAGNETIC INDUCTION [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of an electro magnet]
When a magnet is plunged into a coil current flows in one direction. When magnet is removed current is reversed. There is only an induced current when lines of force are being cut. The size of the [inserted] induced [/inserted] E.M.F is proportional to the rate at which lines of force are cut.
[underlined] Lenz’s Law. [/underlined] The direction of an induced
[page break]
E.M.F. is such as to oppose the motion producing it.
[underlined] The Simple Dynamo [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a simple dynamo]
Rotating coil in a magnetic field is the easiest way of continuously cutting lines of force and hence of producing a continuous induced E.M.F.
The size of the E.M.F. depends upon 1.) Speed of rotation 2.) Strength of the magnetic field 3.) The number of turns on the coil.
[underlined] D. C. Dynamo [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a brush and commutator]
A commutator is joined to each end of the coil - note that the gap between the two halves is opposite the brushes when the coils vertical. As the induced E.M.F changes its direction the brushes make contact with the reverse ends of the coil. The current therefore always flows out at one brush and always flows in at the other, although it continues to alternate in the coil itself.
[underlined] Modifications to the Simple Dynamo [/underlined]
1) A soft iron armature is used to increase the effect of the magnetic field the iron is laminated in order to reduce eddy.
[page break]
[underlined] PRIMARY CELLS [/underlined]
1.) [underlined] SIMPLE CELL [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a simple cell]
Bubbles will eventually form (HYDROGEN) on Copper plate and so stop current.
2.) [underlined] LACLANCHÉ [sic] CELL [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a Leclanché cell]
3.) [underlined] DRY CELL [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a dry cell]
[underlined] SECONDARY CELL [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a secondary cell]
[underlined] On Charging [/underlined] - By passing an electric current through + plate it becomes lead peroxide, - plate is reduced to spongy lead.
[underlined] On Discharge [/underlined] - Both plates tend to become lead sulphate (white.)
[page break]
[five hand drawn diagrams of electrical circuits]
6 Compare Current passed by
a) Two 3 [ohm symbol] in series
b) Two 3 [ohm symbol] in parallel
at a pressure of 24V.
[hand drawn diagram of an electrical circuit]
[page break]
currents
2). Many turns of wire on H shaped armature
3). Turns are distributed round the core
[hand drawn graph showing electrical output of coils]
The curve is made smoother by circular pole pieces.
The curve is made smoother by diagonal slotting.
Electric magnets used instead of permanant [sic] magnetics.
More than one pair of poles.
[underlined] 2. Phase A.C. [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagrams of electric generation]
[page break]
Suppose two separate but similar A.C. supplies to be plotted on the same graph. It is unlikely to have the maximal of the would occur at the same time. The result shown in the graph could be obtained by having two coils mounted on the same axis at right angles to one another and rotating in the same field. The ends of the coils would be lead to separate slip rings. The result would be two phase A.C. Alternatively the coils could be stationary and the field magnets made to rotate (The Rotor). Advantage equals small currents for field excitation can be fed through brushes and slit [sic] rings while large currents and voltages from the armature are led away through stationary leads.
[underlined] 3. Phase A.C. [/underlined]
See next page.
[page break]
[underlined] Mark IV ENGINE SPEED INDICATOR [/underlined]
Consists of 1 3 phase A. C. Generator 2 Indicator (A.C. Induction Motor Type)
[underlined] 3. Phase A. C.Generator [/underlined]
Consists of 4 pole permenant [sic] magnet which rotates between 3 Stator Coils. 3 seperate [sic] A. Cs will be produced within the coils differing in phase by a 120o hence 3 phase A. C.
It can be seen by fig 2. that the total algebraic sum of the 3. E.M.Fs is zero.
Also it is seen that since the 3 coils of the indicator have equal resistances (i.e. it is a balanced lode) then no wires are necessary to take current back to generator.
[hand drawn diagram of a 3 phase generator]
[hand drawn graph showing 3 phase output, fig 2 mentioned above]
[page break]
[underlined] INDICATOR [/underlined]
A.C. INDUCTION MOTOR
[hand draw diagram of an A.C. induction motor]
4 Pole permenant [sic] magnet surrounded by copper sleeve rotates against tension of hairspring carrying the R.P.M pointer.
[page break]
[underlined] The Atmosphere
Composition [/underlined] An ocean of air round the earth. Air is a mixture of 79% Nitrogen 20% Oxygen 04% Carbon di-oxide water vapour and dust.
[underlined] Air Pressure [/underlined] At S.L. 1 cu. ft of air weighs .08lb. Air pressure is the [underlined] total [/underlined] weight of a column of air to the top of the atmosphere. It can be measured by the mercury Barometer ([one indecipherable word] type very accurate) aneroid Barometer (without liquid therefore portable).
[underlined] The Altimeter [/underlined] the Altimeter is fitted in all aircraft and it measures the height of the aircraft above sea level. [underlined] It is an aneroid Barometer [/underlined] with the scale calibrated in feet. This is possible because air pressure [underlined] falls with height [/underlined] 1 in of mercury per 1000 ft or 1 [indecipherable character] millibar 30 ft. The air tight case is connected with the static tube. [deleted] Atmen [/deleted] At mean S.L. air pressure is 14 lbs per [square symbol] “ or 30” of mercury or 1013.2 millibars.
[underlined] Calibration [/underlined] since the pressure at a height is affected by the temperature of the an altimeter has to be calibrated by assuming certain atmospheric temperatures etc.
A formula connecting height with
[page break]
pressure can be worked out knowing 1 M.S.L. pressure 2 M.S.L. temperature. 3 Temperature at a given height.
[hand drawn table of temperature and pressure]
[page break]
[underlined] Conversion HG - MB [/underlined]
[hand drawn graph of Inches of Mercury and Millibars]
[page break]
[underlined] BOOST GAUGE [/underlined]
1/2 LB [square symbol] “ = 1” H.G. (APPROX)
HENCE 1” HG ABOVE 30” DEDUCT 1/2 LB [square symbol] “
1” HG BELOW 30” ADD 1/2 LB [square symbol] “
[page break]
[underlined] The Gyroscope [/underlined]
[two hand drawn diagrams of a gyroscope]
[underlined] Properties of Gyroscope [/underlined]
1 The rotor tends to maintain its plane of spin in space.
2 A force tending to twist the outer ring (torque) causes precession of the inner ring. Torque on inner presses outer ring.
[underlined] Sperry’s rule of precession [/underlined]
Replace the torque by push on rim of the rotor. A point 90o in direct of spin will by [sic] in direction of precession.
[underlined] Earth Gyro.[/underlined]
If the inner ring is purposely unbalanced by a weight it can be made to precess the outer ring round in step with earths rotation.
[underlined] Connection between Size of Torque & Speed of Precession [/underlined]
The size of torque required :- Increases with 1 rate of precession
[page break]
2 Speed of Rotor 3 Weight of Rotor, 4 Diameter of Rotor.
Simple fractions - Cent - Fahren - inches to miles - Ohm’s law - amps, watts, volts.
Electricity - accumulator - dynamos. Electric Motors. AC - DC. Generators. - Atmosphere. [two indecipherable words]
[page break]
[underlined] Installation of Follow Up Cable [/underlined] (Cont)
the loop in the end of the spring slips over the pin projecting from the mounting unit.
The servo-motor piston must be placed in an extreme position so that the cable may be attached to the short end. Attach the cable to the piston by a shackle, the pin of which must locate in the slot of a Clevis plate underneath the servo-motors. Pass the cable around free pulleys where necessary and lead it to the rear of the mounting unit. Before attaching cable to the pulley rotate it round until it is fully wound and release 1/4 of a turn. Pass the cable once round the pulley and through the hole provided and mark where it passes through the hole. (Disconnect the pulley and cable and then solder the nipple on the end of the cable). Apply opposite extreme [one indecipherable word] holding tension on pulley, now pull slack cable through the pulley and tie knot where marked. Tin the cable before
[page break]
cutting off the waste correct installation may be checked by the direction of movement of the follow up pulleys or the follow up indices.
1 Elevator [underlined] down. [/underlined] [symbol] index moves up: [symbol] pulley moves anti - clockwise
2 Right aileron [underlined] up. [/underlined] - [symbol] index moves right. [symbol] pulley moves anti - clockwise.
3 Right rudder. [symbol] index moves left. [symbol] pulley moves anti - clockwise. The servo - motor piston must be central before this check is carried out.
[page break]
[hand drawn diagram of a automatic control pipe lay-out]
[page break]
[underlined] Mk IV Auto Pilot - George
Compressor [/underlined] This is the eccentric type of rotary compressor, having the two compression chambers set at 180o apart. Each chamber contains a light alloy rotor with 10 steel blades. Free to slide in slots. The blades are thrown out by centrifugal force into contact with the linings of the compressor. This is drawn in as the space between the rotor and the casing increases and when the space is decreasing, is compressed and forced out at high pressure. Oil is admitted to the chamber through two jets size 42 thousandth front and 63,000th rear and is required to seal the compartment for air tightness and to lubricate. There are three unions, air inlet, oil inlet, and delivery from which air at 60lbs per [square symbol] “ is emitted. Filters are fitted in the inlet union oil and air. Before fitting new compressor check the following. 1 Correct type 2 Removal of inhibitor [deleted] gun [/deleted] [inserted] oil [/inserted] by washing out with anti - freezing oil 3 Check gland asbestos yarn gasket etc 4 Check copper washers for correct size and
[page break]
anneal.
[two hand drawn diagrams one of an Oil Reservoir and Separator and one of an Automatic valve]
[underlined] Oil Reservoir & Seperator [sic] [/underlined]
The lower part of this is for the oil, the upper part being the seperator, [sic] air & oil from the compressor impinge on the wall of the reservoir the oil falling to the bottom to be re-used, and the air going up through the union to the next
[page break]
component, the chemical Air Dryer. From the lower part, oil is fed through a filter to the oil cooler which has a finned radiator. The oil then passes to the Automatic Valve which can be situated between the reservoir and the cooler or between the cooler and compressor. If the reservoir is fitted lower than the compressor the valve ensures an oil supply to the compressor on starting. If the compressor is lower than the reservoir the valve prevents the former from being flooded with oil when it is not in use. It is fitted in the lowest part of the oil system. Oil changed on each minor. Automatic Valve and Oil Cooler flushed with 50 - 50 anti - freeze and petrol and system re - pressured [inserted] [underlined] NB [/inserted] [/underlined] There are fibre washers on Oil Reservoir. Oil level [inserted] to be [/inserted] maintained. Arrow of Auto - valve points in direction of Compressor.
[page break]
[five hand drawn diagrams showing Chemical air Dryer, Automatic Test Cock and Main Control Cock]
[page break]
[underlined] Chemical Air Dryer [/underlined] (To prevent freezing up)
The Chemical Air Dryer consists of an inner and outer container, the former being filled as follows, 1 gauze disc, 2 silica Gel, (To within approx 1/2” from the top) 3 gauze filter, 4 Half inch cotton wool and then the perforated lid. Recharging must be done immediately prior to flight. 1 Wash container with hot water and allow to dry before using. 2 Silica Gel must be returned to stores in tins provided when u/s. Silica gel is u/s when colour changes from white to brown.
[underlined] Test Cock. [underlined]
This is a three - way cock having two positions. In the test position air is supplied to the units from an outside source. In the flying position, air from the a/c compressor passes straight through the cock to the main control cock. 1 On a Mk IV ensure that cock is lock [sic] in flying position on D. I and between flight inspections. 2 Mk IV A Check that locking tab is in position on
[page break]
D. I and between flight Inspection. If it is necessary to strip the cock ensure when replacing together that plunger is put in the correct way - blanked - off end to the top of Test Cock.
[underlined] Main Control Cock [/underlined]
This has three positions, 1 [underlined] Out [/underlined] :- the jets and centraliser are connected to atmosphere by annular groove air passes back to regenerated system through a choke which is fitted to maintain a pressure so that; a There is always an adequate supply of oil to the compressor b So that [one indecipherable word] seperation [sic] is ensured.
2 [underlined] Spin [/underlined] :- air is fed to the jets, relay valve, torque valve and steering control. The centraliser pipe-line is still exhausted to atmosphere.
3 [underlined] In [/underlined] :- air is fed to the above components and the centralisers, to de-centralise the gymbal system and feed the main valve
1 With datums coincident on the
[page break]
inner and outer barrels M.C.C is then in the out position.
2 The handle can be fitted in any six positions
3 Name plate fitted with the “Out” in line with the handle when datums are coincident.
4 Ensure distance pieces fitted between name plate and outer casing
[hand drawn diagram of an Air Intake Throttle]
[page break]
[underlined] Air Intake Throttle
Purpose [/underlined] To maintain and regulate a pressure not exceeding 60lbs [square symbol] “ in the system, and to act as a non-return valve to prevent air from Compressor (Oil Reservoir & C.A.D) carrying oil along regenerative pipe lines.
[underlined] Description [/underlined]
Has three connections, to Compressor, Regen & Supply systems. Consists of a sylphon bellow the outside of which is sealed off. Inside is a powerful spring which normally holds them open, a piston runs down the centre and when engine is not running, a small return spring pressing against a collar on the piston holds the piston on the seating and gives a non - return action. When engine is started the piston is drawn of its seating as the Compressor commences to draw air in.
The lower connection (supply) feeds the air round the bellows. As pressure increases in the system this pressure will increase and the bellows
[page break]
will be contracted against tension of spring the piston will then be forced up off its seating and air supply to Compressor will be cut off.
An inlet or breather at top of A.I.T. allows an additional supply of air to be sucked in when starting - up it also acts as a compensator for slight leaks. An arrow indicates direction of flow to Compressor.
Is situated on teed piece between A I Cock and Main Control Cock.
[underlined] Steering Control [/underlined]
Is used by Bomb aimer or Pilot can do a course change. Filter in inlet (centre connection) gauze and cotton, through which air passes into the two compartments beneath the knife edge valves which are held in position by a spring. Air leaves the compartment by the two outside unions at base and on to course change valve via turn regulator.
When steering control is operated, the pulley rotates the rotor arm which forces
[page break]
[underlined] STEERING CONTROL [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of steering control system]
[page break]
one of the leak valves resting on the springs in the compartment. This valve depresses the knife edge valve and so prevents air from entering. At the same time air escapes through the leak valve and so pressure in compartment will fall. This will effect the the [sic] pressure on that side of the course change valve, and as the pressure on oposite [sic] still remains at 60lbs [square symbol] “ the valve will move and through links and levers will apply torque to the inner ring of gyro which will precess outer ring. As rudder control valve is connected to outer ring there will be a movement of the rudder via the servo.
The filter is cleaned on every Major inspection.
[underlined] Steering lever [/underlined] To enable pilot to change course of a/c - is connected to steering control by a bowden cable.
[underlined] Steering Control [/underlined] - Test before installation by applying pressure of 60 lbs and attaching U tube of wow water to outlet - allowance of 1/2” on each side
[page break]
[underlined] AILERON CENTRALISER [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of an Aileron Centraliser]
[page break]
[underlined] Servo Motors
Follow Up [one indecipherable word] Guide [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a disc with numbers on and a corresponding chart of numbers and letters]
[underlined] Clutches
D I [/underlined] 1 Take clutch lever out and test a/c controls by moving pulley in all all [sic] directions (reason to prove a/c controls are OK.) Put clutch lever in move each a/c at control singly should hear clutch slip in. Test a/c controls with clutch in. [underlined] Leave clutch in [/underlined]
There is an overide [sic] on the servo. Movement of a/c controls with clutches in is not so great as when clutches are out.
[underlined] Stripping of Servo Motor Clutches [/underlined]
1 Remove 2 BA nuts and locking tap from top of operating spindle
[page break]
2 Remove split pins and take out clutch locking assembly pins, remove clutch claw arm.
3 Remove spring tension assembly with box spanner.
4 Remove clutch plate from splined shaft with special tool (Extractor)
5 Remove follow - up pulley and dowel plate by means of two 4 BA screws taking care not to damage flange underneath.
6 Remove stop plate assembly.
[hand draw diagram of a R. E. Centraliser assembly]
[underlined] R. E. CENTRALISER [/underlined]
[page break]
[two hand drawn diagrams of Clutch Cable Layouts]
[underlined] CLUTCH CABLE LAYOUT [/underlined]
[page break]
[hand drawn diagram of a Rudder and Elevator Unit]
[underlined] RUDDER AND ELEVATOR UNIT [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] RUDDER & ELEVATOR UNIT [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram]
[underlined] The Gyroscope [/underlined] is pivotted [sic] 15o off the vertical and also off centre. [underlined] The Azimuth Balance [inserted] Adjustment weight [/inserted] [/underlined] is attached to the inner ring and controls the amount of precession on the outer ring. [underlined] The Out of Balance weight [/underlined] precesses the inner ring to [inserted] conform to [/inserted] the earth’s curvature. [underlined] The Azimuth Balance [/underlined] helps to precess outer ring to the earths rotation. [underlined] Watts weight [/underlined] 1. Counteract the effect of centrifugal force on out of balance mass when [inserted] flying straight [/inserted] 3 To give extra stabilisation.
[underlined] Cross Balance Weight [/underlined] is to steadily
[page break]
balance outer ring. [underlined] Top and Bottom balance weight [/underlined] is to steadily balance inner ring
[hand drawn diagram of component layout]
[underlined] PRECESSION OF OUTER RING CAUSED BY AIRCRAFT TURNING AND FOLLOW UP [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] PRECESSING VALVE AND TORQUE MOTOR [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a Precessing Valve and Torque Motor]
[page break]
[hand drawn diagram of a Relay Valve]
[underlined] RELAY VALVE [/underlined]
[page break]
[hand drawn diagram of Elevator Movement Mechanism]
[underlined] ELEVATOR MOVEMENT
Aileron Plate [/underlined]
Force of Gravity Control Weight counteracts the forces in either direction of fore and aft of the a/c.
[page break]
[underlined FILTERS
Rudder and Elevator Plate. Subsidiary Main [/underlined]
Rudder Main Valve. 3
Elevator and Elevator Valve 3
Relay Valve 1
Course Change Gear 2
Spinning Jet 1
Centraliser 2
Servo motor pipes 2
[underlined] Components [/underlined]
Anti Intake Throttle 1
Compressor (Air & Oil inlets.) 2
Oil Reservoir Outlet 1
Chemical Air Dryer 1
Steering Control 1
[page break]
[underlined] CABLE LAYOUT MK IV [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of a cable layout]
[page break]
6. Look for cable fraying or cracking and test spring tension of Spring Tensioner.
[page break]
[underlined] BREEZE WIRING CONDUIT [/underlined]
[hand drawn diagram of components]
[page break]
[underlined] Fault Finding [/underlined]
FAULT
1 Indic reads above zero when empty.
2 Pointer does not move off vertical when switched on or tank being filled.
3 Pointer comes 180o in advance when switched on and rotates correctly.
4 Pointer gives a fixed reading when tanks are known to be empty.
CAUSE
Bent plunger.
Broken supply lead.
Brush not contacting resistance.
Bad contact at indicator.
Crossed supply leads.
Locating [inserted] pin [/inserted] dislodged from brush.
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Instrument course notebook
Description
An account of the resource
56 pages of course notes. Contains basic theory of thermometers, electricity, magnets, dynamos and batteries. Has more detailed notes on the atmosphere and gyroscopes followed by detailed description of Mk IV autopilot and all its component systems including flight controls. Includes hand-drawn colour diagrams.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
George Bubb
Format
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Cover and 32 double page notebook
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Training material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MBubbGJ1477939-160322-03
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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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.
Spatial Coverage
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Great Britain
Contributor
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Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
ground crew
ground personnel
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16563/MCheshireGL72021-181210-030009.1.jpg
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] INTERPRETATION REPORT. [/underlined]
[underlined] BOULOGNE. [/underlined]
[underlined] PROVISIONAL STATEMENT OF DAMAGE. [/underlined]
The attack was well concentrated over the whole of the docks area and on and around the E-boat pens. Damage to shipping and port facilities is very severe.
The pens have clearly been hit several times, a section of the lower docking, measuring 100 feet x 40 feet, along the south side of the Bassin Loubet has been blown away, and several craters are visible on the main roof although there is no apparent structural damage. A large building of similar construction to the West of the pens has received at least one direct hit. All three oil storage tanks, and some nearby buildings, to the north west of the pens have been completely destroyed. In the same vicinity, coal handling facilities have been seriously affected by the buckling of a grantry. [sic]
Damage and destruction of port facilities includes very severe damage to the Maritime Station, the destruction of the Customs Offices, damage to the lock gates between Port de Maree and Arriere Port and numerous craters on almost every quay.
It is evident from the number of wrecked or partly submerged craft still visible in the port that shipping suffered seriously in the attack. No fewer than 8 wrecked or damaged vessels measuring from 100 to 150 feet in length and 5 measuring from 150 to 200 feet can be seen, and in addition the floating dock in the Bassin a Flotto is severely damaged and almost completely submerged.
Railway facilities situated to the south west of the Bassin Loubet have been heavily hit and almost all the buildings are partially or completely wrecked. The central station is severely damaged and seen to be still on fire at the time of photography.
The Arsenal to the South of the Bassin Loubet, damaged in previous attacks, is now almost razed, the major portion of the destruction probably having been caused by a large explosion which is revealed by the presence of an unusually big crater.
The/
[page break]
The adjacent barracks have again been hit.
Further damage has been caused by this attack in the town Marshalling Yard and the railway bridge crossing the river Lione has received at least 2 hits.
In the main part of the town of Boulogne to the East of the Port de Maree, damage to business and residential property is severe, and in this area identified buildings which have suffered heavily include the main post office and a fish market.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interpretation report - Boulogne - provisional statement of damage
Description
An account of the resource
Reports severe damage to shipping over the whole dock area. Describes hits on E-boat pens, with some craters visible on roof with no apparent damage. Three oil storage tanks destroyed, Describes other damage to port area and facilities. Mentions large number of wrecked and submerged craft and other damage to railway facilities, the arsenal, barracks and the town of Boulogne.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page typewritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCheshireGL72021-181210-030009, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. Bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
bombing
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cheshire, Leonard
Cheshire, Geoffrey Leonard
Baron Cheshire
Description
An account of the resource
374 items concerning Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC. Collection consists of photographs of people, vehicles, places, aircraft, weapons and targets; documents including, private and service letters, signals, telegrams, intelligence reports, crew lists and official documents. Cheshire served on 102 and 35 Squadrons and commanded 76 and 617 Squadrons. The collection includes details of 617 Squadron's precision bombing operations. Also included are two sub-collections: one containing 21 photographs of Tinian and Saipan, the other consisting of 37 audio tapes of speeches given by Cheshire after the war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by The Leonard Cheshire Archive and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
Permission granted for commercial projects
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] INTERPRETATION REPORT. [/underlined]
[underlined] BOULOGNE. [/underlined]
[underlined] GENERAL STATEMENT. [/underlined]
A re-examination of the photographs taken after the daylight attack on the Dock Area of Boulogne on 15th June, 1944 by aircraft of Bomber Command confirms the damage and destruction of shipping and port facilities and devastation of parts of the town reported in Immediate Interpretation Report.
A more detailed study, however, has shown that some 25 vessels are damaged or sunk in water shallow enough to permit interpretation, and that of the nine E/R boats visible on 15th June before the attack, only one, and that probably damaged, is seen on these photographs taken two days later. Sheds in the boat building yards and warehouses in the immediate neighbourhood of the docks have all been damaged and the dock walls and quays breached in many places.
A large Brick and Tile Works, two ice factories as well as other small industrial concerns are seen to have suffered damage. The Town Gas Works and an Electricity Sub-Station have also been affected.
1. E/R Boat Pens Section of Quay destroyed; 1 crater in roof, possibly penetrating and 2 or 3 blast areas on roof.
2. Building of similar construction S.W. of E/R Boat Pens. Non-penetrating blast area on roof due to direct hit.
3. Three Oil Tanks W. Of Pens - all 3 destroyed.
4. Defended Area - numerous craters.
5. Fuel Storage for Submarines. Two or 3 craters in camouflaged area, one being a very near miss to one of the two tanks.
6. Defended Area - numerous craters.
7./
[page break]
7. Probable Warehouse Areas - Many previously damaged and now further damaged or destroyed.
8. Probable Personnel Huts or Stores - almost entirely destroyed.
9. Vessels sunk but still visible, or severely damaged.
10. Cranes damaged or destroyed.
11. Breaches in dock walls or jetties.
12. Warehouse almost entirely destroyed.
13. Large Multi-bay building and Stores adjoining slips, very severely damaged.
14. Large multi-bay building adjoining slips, very severely damaged.
15. Complex of buildings almost entirely destroyed.
16. Slipway cratered, and landward half of jetty destroyed.
17. Offices of Customs and Captain of the Port - almost entirely destroyed.
18. GARE MARITIME - previously damaged, now about 1/3 structurally damaged by direct hits. Several hits on platforms and tracks.
19. FISH MARKET, QUAI THUROT - a remaining undamaged section destroyed.
20. FLOATING DOCK - Dock submerged and damaged, approach ramp and building destroyed, probable control building severely damaged and several craters on dockside.
21. Customs House, Boulevard de Chatillon - damaged by blast.
22. Unidentified Public Building - further damaged.
23./
[page break]
23. Probable Boat-building Yard - all roof lights of four buildings destroyed.
24. ADMIRAL LOUBET’S HOUSE - corner damaged by blast.
25. Unidentified Industrial Building - gutted.
26. ARSENAL, RUE DUPARC - already severely damaged, the main building is now 2/3 destroyed by a large secondary explosion. Four other buildings destroyed or very severely damaged.
27. HOTEL CASTIGLIONE, PLACE DU LOUVRE - entirely destroyed.
28. Boom in BASSIN LOUBET - disrupted.
29. Coal Transporter - damaged and associated building destroyed.
30. CASINO - almost entirely destroyed.
31. CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE - gutted.
32. CUSTOMS HOUSE - 2/3 destroyed.
33. BATTERY - corner of perimeter wall destroyed.
Direct hits or near misses to railway tracks are indicated by crosses on the distributed print.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interpretation report, Boulogne
Description
An account of the resource
Gives overall assessment and then detailed list of damage to E-boat pens, oil tanks, fuel storage, warehouses, huts, vessels, cranes, port facilities, public buildings, arsenal, other buildings in the town including the casino.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Three page typewritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCheshireGL72021-181210-030011, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030012, MCheshireGL72021-181210-030013
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-06-15
1944-06-16
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. Bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
License
A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource.
Royalty-free permission to publish
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is property of the Leonard Cheshire Archive which has kindly granted the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive a royalty-free permission to publish it. Please note that it was digitised by a third-party which used technical specifications that may differ from those used by International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. It has been published here ‘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.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Alan Pinchbeck
David Bloomfield
bombing
bombing of the Boulogne E-boats (15/16 June 1944)
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)