2
25
75
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1765/30786/ELayneWHLayneAJ431210.1.jpg
f0405564c912f5e53c07151af59ddc14
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
Layne, Wally
Walter Henry Layne
W H Layne
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
2017-06-07
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
Layne, WH
Description
An account of the resource
100 items. The collection concerns Walter 'Wally' Layne (b. 1916, 963012, 40348 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, prisoner of war diary, personal and official correspondence and photographs. He flew operations as a wireless operator with 97 Squadron and became a prisoner of war after being shot down.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by D Layne and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Kriegsgefangenenlager
Datum: Dec 10/43
My darling Joan, I hope you are quite well, I am keeping OK. I’m afraid I haven’t much news for you, it is rather difficult to think of anything to write about, I am looking forward to receiving some mail, I hope some comes thro' before Christmas. The fellows here are very optimistic, I hope it is justified, hope to see you soon, Love Walter.
[page break]
Kriegsgefangenenlager
Datum: Dec 31/43
My dearest Joan, Hope you are getting on OK, I am quite fit, I have just been to a performance of ‘Love in a Mist’ produced at the camp theatre, it was very good indeed, there is a pantomine [sic] starting in a few days. We havent [sic] had any skating yet but we all hope to get some in the near future. Hope to hear from you soon. Love Walter.
[page break]
Kriegsgefangenenpost
Postkarte
An [ink stamp]
MRS LAYNE
Gebührenfrei!
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname:
WALTER HENRY LAYNE
Gefangenennummer: 605
Lager-Bezeichnung:
[deleted] Kriegsgefangenenlager Nr.6derLuftwaffe [/deleted]
STALAG-LUFT.3.LAGER ”K”
Deutschland (Allemagne)
[censors stamp]
Empfangsort: GRANTHAM LINCS
Straße: 97 HARLAXTON RD
Land: ENGLAND
Landestiel (Proving usw.)
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
Two post cards from Wally Layne to his wife
Description
An account of the resource
Top - Says he is keeping well but little news. Looking forward to receiving mail.
Bottom - writes that he is fit and had been to performance at the camp theatre. Mentions pantomime starting in a few days.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
W H Layne
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12-10
1943-12-31
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two handwritten prisoner of war postcards
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELayneWHLayneAJ431210
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
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Poland
Poland--Żagań
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Peter Bradbury
entertainment
prisoner of war
Stalag Luft 3
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1497/28871/MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-20.2.pdf
f0b377b2862f0bff0115f428e2842404
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
Leadbetter, John
J Leadbetter
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
2016-04-21
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
Leadbetter, J
Description
An account of the resource
166 items. The collection concerns John Leadbetter (1549105, 163970 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, photographs and documents. <br /><br />There are four sub-collections:<br /><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1725">Leadbetter, John. Aerial Photographs</a><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1721">Leadbetter, John. Aircraft Recognition</a><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1723">Leadbetter, John. Canada</a><br /><a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/1718">Leadbetter, John. Maps and Charts</a> <br /><br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Keith Henry Leadbetter and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Hill Topics
Vol. 1, No. 2 PICTON, ONTARIO, CANADA December, 1943
[Crest]
[page break]
Page Two Hill Topics December, 1943
EDITORIAL
On behalf of the magazine committee, I would like to thank you for the support that you gave to the first edition of Hill Topics. We did sell all of the copies that we had printed and could have sold more if we had had them, which is extremely encouraging. The fact that this was probably, due to curiosity as to what the new magazine would be like has not escaped us, so we are going all out in an endeavour to make each issue an improvement on the last. Men in the sections rallied round even better than we expected with their contributions and so as not to lose the force of any remarks, which we ourselves could not appreciate due to lack of knowledge, we reproduced them in the original without any editing or alteration. In this connection I would like to apologize to those sections which sent material in that was not published. We underestimated the amount that we should receive and consequently arranged to have the magazine consisting of only twelve pages, with the result that we had to leave out some good articles in our endeavour to cater to all tastes. This time we have increased the size by four pages, which is the most that we can manage owing to the expense. If your contribution does not appear in this month, it will probably do so next.
The main criticism that I have heard of the last issue was lack of pictures and cartoons. The reason for this was, and still is for that matter, that we are strictly limited by the cost of producing same. Those few which we included in the last edition cost $40.00 approximately and as we cannot seem to sell more than 800 copies ($80.00 income) you can see what we are up against. However we are atempting [sic] to remedy this defect in this number. For a start we intend to include each months representative photographs of one particular section. If you are surprised that this month’s selection is the S.P.’s I will explain that the group to be pictorialized is determined by putting all the names in a hat and drawing one out. So every section will get its turn. If we find that the demand for the magazine increases we will have more copies printed and the additional income will be used to improve future numbers of Hill Topics. Anyway you can rely on us to do the best that we can to produce the most interesting magazine possible, under the existing circumstances. Incidentally, do not forget to drop us a line if you have any suggestions or criticisms, we will be only too glad to learn what type of thing you would like to see in your magazine.
In conclusion I would like to thank you for your support this time and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. (Don’t get too drunk.)
-ED.
Contents
Rambling Rudolph - Editorial . . . Page 2
Personalities . . . 3
His Doctor Was Right (Short Story), Christmas 1 and 1,943 – Picton High Spots . . . 4
Cartoon – Kicking Against the Pricks . . . 5
Sorrow An-son – The C.B.C. Entertains – Picton Menus – Believe It or Not . . . 6
In Town Tonight – Hangar Types – A Welcome Retreat – A Devilish Trick . . . 7
Pantomine . . . 8 and 9
Round and About . . . 10, 11 and 12
Postings – Day in the Life of (series) – The Ladies . . . 13
Sports and Entertainment . . . 14 and 15
Falls of Niagara – Love’s Reflections – Crossword – Torch (ure) – Babs . . . 16
“HILL TOPICS”
STAFF
Editors: F/O. Hunt-Duke and LAC. Stevens.
Secretary: F/L. Freeman.
Treasurer: P/O. Beard.
Publicity: F/O. Lowe.
Assistant Editors: Sgt. Smale, LAC. Connolly, LAC. Godolphin, LAC. Senn, Mr. A. Morris.
Rambling Rudolph
WELL, hullo fellas, this is your rambling reporter Rudolph again, I just had to drop in to Picton to see you all after seeing that book that Churchill has written about No. 31, called “Blood, Sweat and Tears”. I got into town last night and dropped into the old beer parlor for a quick one, I’ll be up to see you poisonally as soon as the chief lets me out of the jail, I was talking a little thickly when he walked in and he insisted that I was talking in German, I showed him my identity card and after he had looked at it for 5 minutes he said that it was just as he suspected. I tried to point out that he was looking at it upside down but he wouldn’t listen. Yes sir, this old America is a grand country, it was discovered by Columbus in 1485 you know, he tried to lose it again but it had already been announced over the radio so now the Yanks are stuck with it. They tried giving it back to the Indians too but they didn’t want it either. That reminds me, I was down in Brooklyn a month or so ago, I went into a bar for a drink. The barman was leaning on the counter with his chin in his hand looking morose so whilst I was sucking my bourbon and milk I attempted to engage him in conversation, it went something like this:
Me: “War’s going well isn’t it?”
Him: “We’ll moider da bums.”
Me: “Pacific’s going a bit slow though.”
Him: “Dem doity Japs.”
Me: “What do you think of the World Series so far?”
Him: “We’ll moider da bums.”
Me: “Who do you think will win?”
Him: “Dem doity Japs.”
I was silent for a while then I tried again;
Me: “I hear they banned women wearing sweaters in factories.”
Him: “We’ll moider da bums.”
Me: “You seem to have something on your mind. What’s the trouble?”
Him: “Dem doity Japs.”
Me: “What about them?”
He turned a withering eye upon me and snapped:
“Ain’t you ‘eard bud da blank, blanks have bombed Poil ‘arbour wivout provikashun.”
All of which only goes to show that the Yanks are really war-minded and determined. Well it’s a long worm which has no turning.
That reminds me of a joke? Don’t kick the lad when he’s down he’s trying hard, where was I? Oh yes, it seems that Hitler had a batman whose duty it was to waken der fuerher [sic] each morning at 09.00 hrs. and say “Nine o’clock and all’s well my Feurher, [sic] it’s a lovely day.” To which Hitler would reply, “I know it fool, my intuition tells me so.” Well this went on for a long time until the 500th time. This morning the batman came in as usual and said, “Nine o’clock and all’s well my feurher, [sic] it’s a lovely day out.” And Hitler replied as usual, “I know it fool, my intuition tells me so.” Then the batman, whose self control had finally broken, answered, “Well your intuition is all to cock because it’s 11.30 and raining like hell.”
All right, all right, there’s insanity in the best of families but as I’ve always maintained “Have a go Joe. Your mother won’t know” . . . how did we get on to that . . . oh yes, I was just going to tell you about the time that I was down in Mexico writing a book on their customs. During the course of my researches I met up with a very charming little Mexican girl, quite accidentally of course, I’m a woman hater by trade, well as I was saying here was I walking slowly along the sidewalk looking at the local talent . . . I mean architetechture [sic] when I see this . . . what is the word I want . . . senorita drop something on the ground. So I, being a gentleman (quiet!) dashed up and picked them . . . er her . . . ah it up and said, “pardon me senorita, but did you lose something?” and she replied “Why yes senor but that was the long times ago.” I said, “But you don’t understand, I mean this.” So I handed her back her . . . um . . . gloves and she said, “Oh a thousand thanks senor, the winds are sometimes veery cheel in these part and I might have felt very cold without them.” Well one thing led to another and sometime later that evening we were sitting in the beautiful San Lorenzo Park admiring the scenery and talking about the weather, when she remarked, “Rudolph my dove, although my heard she is for you with love, I am very tired, I want to go home.” We got to her hacienda and I asked her if I could come in for a night-cap and she answered, “Well, yes my sweet but we must stay in the parlor because my father he say if he find a man in my room he will throw heem through the window.” Very strict these Latin parents. Well I got out of hospital in about a week, it was only on the second floor anyway. Nice girl though, entertained me quite well whilst I was down there. I was sorry to leave but I left her a little present to remember me by.
Speaking of the weaker (?) sex reminds me about the time that I was travelling through the Rockies, I had to stop at a little town up there to get some photographs for an article. Well the biggest rancher around the parts offered to put me up for a while. It turned out that he had an exceedingly beautiful daughter and one day when things were pretty quiet, I said to her, “What shall we do this afternoon?” and she said, “Well let’s go and hunt bear.” After I was run out of town it occurred to me that I must have misunderstood but still as I always say “we learn by our mistakes” and a thing like that can happen to anyone.
Well as Cleopatra said to Anthony, “Enough is too much, I have had, it’s time to push off”. So fellow sufferers I will bid you fond adieu until next time, that is if I’m not caught up with in the meantime. Down the hatch.
-RUDOLPH
[page break]
December, 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Three
INTRODUCING
[Photograph]
OFFICER OF THE MONTH
Wing Commander J.S. Kennedy, D.F.C. and Bar, an Ulster man by birth, has enjoyed the distinction of being “the Lowest Flier in the R.A.F.” Joining the R.A.F.V.R. in 1938 he was called for service two days before the outbreak of war, since which time he has had a thrill packed career in the service.
He has been described as a “fiery little Irishman” and evidence of his fighting nature and indomitable spirit was proved early in his flying career when, as a P/O, he dived and destroyed a gun emplacement which had been responsible for exploding in mid air the leader of his formation.
W/Cmdr. Kennedy has from time to time received considerable publicity in the British national newspapers, and has been twice received by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace. One paragraph which appeared in an article printed after the magnificent air action over Dieppe is of particular interest and is given here:-“The formation was met with considerable A.A. fire and S/Ldr. Kennedy’s aircraft was repeatedly hit, one engine being put out of action. In spite of this S/Ldr. Kennedy resolutely supported by the skillful navigation of F/O. H.A. Asker led his formation over the town at low level and released smoke bombs with accuracy on the target”. For the part he played at Dieppe the W/Cmdr. received a bar to the D.F.C. and his navigator F/O. Asker already holder of the D.F.M., was awarded the D.F.C. F/O. Asker is now at Picton, as will be noted elsewhere in this issue.
W/Cmdr. Kennedy was singularly honored when selected by the Air Ministry to lead the first formation of American fliers over occupied Europe. He has been the subject of many articles published in American magazines and the following is an exerpt [sic] from the July issue of the Cosmopolitan – (The author, Lt. Randall Dorton, was a member of his 1st formation.) “Later, returning home alone in the belief that both his wing planes had been shot down, Kennedy, flaming with anger dumped his last remaining bomb on one of the ‘fishing’ boats and blasted it to hell, he then strafed the other with machine gun fire.” And evidence of his low flying in another paragraph:-“A couple of black puffs of smoke appeared ahead, as Kennedy let three of his bombs go. Then he closed his bomb doors and skidded around to the right, dragging his wing on the ground, we were flying so close to the ground that a machine gun, swinging on his ship hit a German soldier riding a bicycle. He shot straight up into the air his bicycle riding on riderless.”
In a raid over German occupied France W/Cmdr. Kennedy was piloting his Boston bomber away from his target at tree top height when he was caught in cross fire between two German batteries. He fired his forward gun at one of them and the gunners scattered. A shell burst tore off more than three feet of the leading edge of his port wing, leaving a large hole where the wing joined the fuselage, and there were many holes in the port oil tank. So low was he operating that he had to fly under a high tension cable. In spite of the damage and hazard he brought the Boston safely back home. When he landed back in Britain part of the cable was found tangled round the aircraft. Part of that cable was used to make a napkin ring for his blue-eyed, golden haired daughter Jane, who has accompanied him together with Mrs. Kennedy to Buckingham Palace. The W/Cmdr. carried out his attacks on enemy shipping at a height of only 50 feet, and included in his shipping “bag” is an 8000-ton merchant vessel.
The ”New Yorker” American counterpart of “Punch” described him as “-a Belfast man with flaming red hair and mustache, and an appropriate reputation for aggressiveness.” W/Cmdr. Kennedy has a great admiration for the American fliers, he has lived with them, flown with them, and fought with them, so he should know. The “New Yorker” in a most interesting article continues in the following strain:-“The British S/Ldr. in charge of the Boston outfit took me to the centre of the lounge and pointed upward to a big scrawl of names pencilled on the ceiling, at least ten feet beyond my reach. Among them were the names of the American officers who had come back from the July the 4th raid. There were also those of at least two who didn’t. The other fellows put those up,” the S/Ldr. said. After each man’s name was the name of his state. When a man comes back from his first “op” said the S/Ldr. we always have a beano, we make the new hand write his name on the ceiling. We drag over that long table, pile magazines on top, put a chair on top of the magazines, then make him get up and sign. The night after the American’s came back from their first “op” was the biggest and most violent beano I’ve ever seen in my life.
Credited with the sinking of six ships, more than 70 destruction packed daylight raids on enemy targets, and a participant in the famous Battle of Dieppe, it is small wonder that a man with such an intensive and practical knowledge of operational flying, it’s hazards and the important necessity of being superior to the enemy, should take such a keen interest in the training of future crews of the air. Since his inception at Picton many improvements have been introduced. He is tireless in his efforts to procure the best equipment possible. One innovation particularly appreciated by the students is the conference which every course attends, and at which, in the presence of their instructors, flight commanders, and the O/C.’s of various sections they are invited to air their views with regard to the training program, and to offer any suggestions which would be adopted and put into practice if considered to be progressive and advantageous to future students.
N.C.O. OF THE MONTH
[Sketch]
F/SGT. MILFORD
Our N.C.O. personality for this month is genial Flight-Sergeant Milford. Attached to Maintenance Wing Orderly room, he is, as we all know, to our joy, and alas, our sorrow, a popular pillar of justice. His Air Force career started in 1930, when with joyful heart, he passed through the forbidding portals at Uxbridge. After four years in England, he set sail in 1934 for Singapore. Spending two years in this delightful spot, he left in 1936 with many happy memories bound for Egypt. Soon we find him bronzed and happy, with his feet under the table in Abu-Suier. However, roll on the boat, and in 1938 it was rain, rain and all that home service means. Three happy years, embarkation leave, and Canada was his next abode. Out west, then finally Picton on the Lake. So before leaving this terror of gymnasium and parade ground, we thank him one and all, for his efforts to make this station a happier place to work, play and work.
AIRMAN OF THE MONTH
[Sketch]
TUBBY FIELDS
Aye’ lad He’ He’. Yes, it’s Tubby Fields we have to write about this month, that ball of fun, the station’s No. 1 Comedian, who, with the help of W.O. Reick, is responsible for the Station Concert Party. His experience of stage craft is a great help to us all.
He is a man of wide experience and diverse interests. At one time he concentrated on the development of his physique (you might say he has succeeded) and practised under Saldo Max Aldine, the old King of Muscular [missing letter]evelopment, and under Yulei Tani, the jui jitsu champion.
He won the Ingleton Gold Medal for having the biggest chest expansion, 4 3/4 inches, and was a Junior Champion swimmer. He aspired at one time to sing in opera and had a very fine voice as a young man. It is pretty obvious that his true bent was towards comedy work.
He started his career on the stage with concert party work during the last war while in the R.F.C., and has been at it ever since, playing on the stage and on the air with his partner, with whom as Fields and Mitchell, he has been for eighteen years, doing everything from pantomime to busking on the sands at seaside resorts. He has played with many famous people, and was principal tenor for several years at Winter Gardens at Blackpool.
From what we gather he hasn’t always been as fat as he is now, for he has played Rugby for Halifax, little though you may think it to look at him now.
He has also won the Yorkshire Swimming championship. Tubby is a very fine Billiards and Snooker player and has played exhibition matches with Lindrum, Davis and Newman.
So you can see what an asset Tubby is to the station, a man we can rely on to keep us happy, for his tomfoolery is just what the Doctor ordered.
PRIZE WINNERS
CPL. HOLE - “His Doctor was Right”.
ANON - “Kicking Against the Pricks”.
[page break]
Page Four HILL TOPICS December, 1943
His Doctor Was Right
WALLISE shuffled the sheets of his newspaper, irritably, and scowled at the pages. He did not like talking to strangers – their conversation usually bored him to death – but he could see, that unless he could find some way of avoiding it, it would not be long before the stranger seated opposite him in the first-class smoker would be making an insensate remark or two about the weather or asking him for a match or something. He forced his attention rigidly to the newspaper which he held uncompromisingly before his face.
In the opposite seat of the railway carriage, of which he was the only other occupant, his fellow-passenger was making an apparently fruitless search of his pockets. An unlighted, short, stubby pipe was clenched between his teeth. The bowl was empty so it was quite evident that he was looking for his tobacco pouch. Eventually, he gave up the search and blew noisily down the stem, gazing aggrievedly across at the unrelenting newspaper as he did so. Wallise, wondering why his fellow-passenger was breathing so hard, peered cautiously over the top of it and was caught off-guard.
“No tobacco,” ventured the other, taking his pipe from his mouth and waving it about in front of his face, as evidence of the fact.
Wallise put down his newspaper, with a barely audible sigh, and reached into his pocket.
The other’s face brightened.
“Here, have some of mine,” said Wallise.
“No, really, I didn’t mean-”, but at the same time the stranger took the proffered pouch.
“Miserable day,” he went on, nodding his head towards the windows at the grey, November countryside. Wallise grunted an indistinct affirmative.
“Travel down by this train often?” asked the other, trying again.
“No. I’ve never been down in this part of the country before.”
“Hmm. We had a murder on this train, once. I bet that surprises you.”
Wallise reflected that it would surprise him if history did not repeat itself, but, aloud, he said, “Is that so? When did that happen?”
The other did not reply immediately, but, striking a match, applied it to the two pipes in turn. Then, drawing heavily upon his pipe, answered, “It’s rather interesting. I’ll tell you about it if you wish.”
Wallise shrugged his shoulders, imperceptibly. “By all means, do.”
The man in the opposite seat settled himself back, more comfortably, in his corner.
“All this happened about ten years ago. About nineteen-twenty-four, I think it was. The 1.5 from Paddington, it’s been running for more years than I care to remember, carried, among it’s other passengers, two men who were known to each other – but that doesn’t mean they liked each other. Far from it. For that reason, only one got off the train when it finished its run at Oxford. It was this way.
“Some years before a man named Pearson had come back from the war to find that the girl who had promised to wait for hm until the war ended, had played rather a dirty trick on him. She’d got tired of waiting. Instead, she had married a chap called Valentine.
“Now, probably, in the ordinary course of events, Pearson would have got over it, but the trouble was, although one could not exactly call him crazy, the war had left its mark upon him. He went away and brooded over it.
“He never set eyes on this fellow Valentine again, until this day, in nineteen-twenty-four, that I’m talking about.” The stranger broke off here and looked across at Wallise. “I hope I’m not boring you with all this, old chap.”
Wallise shook his head. He seemed by now, to be genuinely interested. “No. Please go on.”
“Good. Well, to continue. Pearson was on the platform at Paddington, getting aboard the Oxford train, when he happened to spot Valentine also getting aboard – further down the platform. An impulse struck him.
“He had only half an idea of what he intended to do, but that was sufficient. He manoeuvred himself to a seat adjacent to the corridor, from which he had a view of the entrance to the compartment which he had seen Valentine enter, and sat, waiting, watching.
“His opportunity did not arise until after the train left Reading. He saw Valentine leave his compartment and walk down the corridor towards the toilet at the end of the coach.
“He waited a few seconds, and then followed. Luck was with him, there was not a soul hanging about the corridors. Valentine barely had time to slip the bolt behind him, when Pearson knocked sharply upon the door. Puzzled, Valentine re-opened it and was roughly pushed back inside again. Had he been about to make any protest, it died a stillborn death in his throat. Pearsons fingers were about his throat, squeezing to a stand still the life that pulsated beneath them.
“A few minutes, and it was all over. His rage spent, Pearson felt himself chilled by the beads of sweat which stood out from his body. Shakily, he turned to the door, and listened. All was quiet. He let himself out. The corridors were still deserted as he started to walk away. Then, recalling some little detail, he turned back again. Taking from his pocket one of those pencils with a small eraser fitted in the top, he held the door firmly closed with one hand, while he pressed the rubber against the enamel plate attached to the bolt, with the other. Gently, he eased the plate around, until the word “ENGAGED” was visible. It was quite easily done. The railway companies keep those locks well oiled.
“Pearson did not return to his own compartment, but went on down the train, until he found one which was empty, and there he sat, shivering, until the train pulled into Oxford. Once there, he soon made himself scarce. I don’t suppose anyone who saw him leave the station looked at him twice. His name was never coupled with the murder, anyway.
“At the inquest, which inevitably followed, a few days afterward, the coroner passed a verdict of “wilful murder by person or persons, unknown.”
The stranger finished speaking and looked up to find the other’s eyes fixed curiously upon him, while he sucked at his empty pipe, which, long ago, had burnt itself out.
“That’s a very interesting story, but there’s one thing that puzzles me. What is your name? Is it-?”
“Pearson? No, that poor devil committed suicide a few months afterwards.”
“But you said, only a few moments ago, that Pearson was never traced and that no one saw him commit the murder. I don’t-”
The stranger interrupted Wallise again. “Perhaps you will understand better if I tell you who I am. I am not pulling your leg, as you appear to think; you see, my name is – was – Valentine.”
But for the low rumbling of the wheels of the train, there was silence in the carriage when he finished speaking. For a few moments, the stranger sat, looking at Wallise thoughtfully, then, slowly, quietly, he commenced tapping his teeth with his pipe. He sat thus, a few seconds, then, rising from his seat, he commenced, deliberately, to gather up his belongings. There was no sound in the compartment save the rattle of the train as it rushed through the damp, grey countryside to Oxford.
As he finished, the man turned his head over his shoulder, to speak to Wallise once more. “Well, we’ve got to be going, now. Your doctor was right, after all, wasn’t he? He said your heart wouldn’t stand a sudden shock. Sorry I frightened you to death, old chap. I’m ready when you are.”
-CPL. HOLE
Songs Heard in the Blackout
[sketch]
CHRISTMAS 1 AND 1,943 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST WITHOUT COMMENT
Christmas 1 – There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
Christmas 1943 – Berlin was bombed again last night for the fifth night in a row by the Empire’s heavy bombers.
Christmas 1 - . . . The angel said unto them . . . behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Christmas 1943 – Scene like Dante’s Inferno, as skies rained destruction. R.A.F. aims to wipe Reich capital systematically off map.
Christmas 1 - . . . Unto you is born this day . . . a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Christmas 1943 – Gestapo kill off the hopelessly wounded and those who have been driven insane by shock, including children.
Christmas 1 - . . . Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying – Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
Christmas 1943 – Nazis threaten terrible vengeance for every man, woman and child killed and every
cultural monument destroyed.
- “MARNOCK”
PICTON HIGH SPOTS
Have you visited the following:
1 The SHQ Red Light District . . . where the S.A.D.O. presides. See him counting his takings daily. Don’t dilly-dally on the way.
2 The Morgue (N.E. corner of building No. 4). Cadavres not accepted before 21.00 hours. Must show no signs of life. Definitely not admitted if seen chewing apples.
3 The Creche . . . the kiddies spend their happiest hours with THOMAS and SULLIVAN, the amusement kings. Book your carriers in advance. Pyrotechnic displays to order. Hot dogs are out for the duration.
4 The Feline Refuge . . . (first on right inside main gate). No destitute cat ever refused admission. P.S. We also have some spare accommodation for wayward erks.
5 The Arena (station drill hall). Christians scientifically dismembered by Smale and Scott (singing Cockles and Muscles, alive, alive-o). Padre in attendance if required.
6 Hut number (supressed by censor) home for fallen women. (Or for any other kind that show up.)
7 Treasure Island . . . Where STEVENSON (stroking his long beard) may be seen in the flesh among that legendary wealth that his fertile brain created.
8 The Herb Garden (W. corner of hut 9R) where the SAGE who knows his ONIONS cuts CAPERS when the THYME comes round for the MINT to send his CELERY.
[page break]
December, 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Five
[cartoon]
KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS
On the arrival of a certain medical officer at this unit recently on posting, an examination of his document envelope revealed a neatly typewritten manuscript, obviously in code, and signed by one “L.A.W. Carroll” as being a certified true copy.
Headquarters staff were vastly intrigued by the discovery of this manuscript, and arousing themselves from their usual placid lethargy, set to work with the greatest energy to decypher it. FLYING OFFICER FLITTE-GUNNE took a leading part in this brave endeavour, ably assisted by FLIGHT SERGEANT MOTH-BALLS and LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN D.R.O. FRAGRANT.
As a result of their joint endeavours the greater part of the manuscript was eventually decoded. Verse five however proved recalcitrant. It is thought that this verse contains, enshrined in mystic jargon, the result of a series of successful experiments carried out by the M.O. in question who, being filled with the milk of human kindness, and observing with sorrow the dire and dismal anguishes occasioned by the numerous innoculations that fall to the lot of the unhappy erk, had set out to render these innoculations superfluous by eradicating for ever the dread diseases of scarlet fever, tetanus, typhoid and diptheria.
This view is supported by the curious fact that none of the rest of the manuscript contains matter of a secret nature. There would therefore have been no useful purpose served by encoding its contents had not the paragraph in question contained matter of the very highest degree of secrecy and of the greatest value to the enemy.
Unfortunately the M.O. himself is unable to assist in decoding the cryptic lines, for, as his medical documents show, shortly after the conclusion of his experiments and before the publication of his thesis, he was admitted to the station hospital, Hilltop Panorama, suffering from mild concussion and acute amnesia, having fallen down the back stairs of a block of service flats while leaving hurriedly in the small hours of a summer’s morning. All the efforts of the unit’s brilliant intelligence officer, Wing Commander C.N.R. Birt, to extract the truth by a series of cunning questions, have so far proved abortive.
It has been argued that the repetition of verse one at the end of the manuscript would indicate that his efforts to find a means of eradicating the dread diseases had failed. This however cannot be accepted. It is considered that this was his delicate way of indicating the well-known reluctance of the medical profession to accept new ideas or methods until they have been exhaustively tried and proved beyond all possible doubt.
The document is therefore reproduced below in the hope that some airman skilled in de-caballistics may succeed in solving the puzzle. It is emphasised that the solution should be treated as MOST SECRET and forwarded to S.H.Q. in sextuplicate (or in a sealed envelope).
JABBERWOCKY
“Twas brillig and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that snatch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxsome foe he sought,-
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood
And burbled as it came!”
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with his head
He went galumphing back.
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my BEAMISH boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in this joy.
“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
LEGEND
Verse One – Obviously a scene in station hospital, at the M.O.’s last unit.
Brillig – 10.00 hours.
Slithey – Unfortunate.
Toves – Erks.
Gyre – Take off their jackets.
Gimble – Shake like a leaf.
Wabe – Treatment room, station hospital.
Mimsy – Scrubbed-up.
Borogroves – Nursing sisters.
Mome – Hypodermic.
Raths – Syringes.
Outgrabe – Were working overtime.
Verse two – Advise to the newly arrived M.O. from the old and experienced Senior Medical Officer.
Jabberwock – The germs of scarlet fever, diptheria, typhoid and tetanus.
More technically “bacteria horrenda variosa”.
Jaws – Rigors.
Bite – Grip
Claws – Constrictions of the throat.
Snatch – Suffocate.
Jubjub bird – (Unsolved).
Frumious – Insidious.
Bandersnatch – Spirochete.
Verse three – The M.O. embarks on research aimed at removing the threat and even the very existence of these dreaded diseases. Most of this verse is in plain language. Lines three and four clearly indicate that, wearied of his arduous and at first unfruitful research, he returned for a period to the gentle recreational pastime of ABDOMINAL SURGERY, a common resort of the overworked medico.
Vorpal – Super-polarising.
Sword – Microscope.
Manxsome – Bacterial, (as opposed to amoebic).
Verse four – An epidemic breaks His chance for real research has come at last. No more playing around with mere abdominal surgery for him.
TO THE BATTLE.
Uffish – Peculiar to the medical fraternity.
Eyes – Temperature.
Flame – 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whiffling – Infecting all the erks.
Tulgey – Steam-heated.
Wood – Hangars.
Burbled – Laid them low with fever.
Verse five – See the introductory remarks.
Verse six – The Senior M.O. welcomes and congratulates the Junior.
Slain – Eradicated.
Beamish boy – The junior M.O.
Frabjous day – Day off, with seven days’ passionate leave attached.
Callooh – B – good show.
Callay – Another way of saying the same thing.
Chortled – Shot a line.
Joy – A feeling often experienced by the R.A.F. in the U.K.
Verse seven – See verse one and also the introductory remarks.
A chap with very bad eyesight was examined by the draft M.O. – and placed in 1A. “But my eyes are terrible,” he pointed out, “I can hardly see anything.” “Look,” said the doctor, “we don’t examine eyes any more, we just count them.
A beautiful young lady lay on a bed in the receiving ward of a Washington hospital, her only covering a large white sheet. Two upstanding young gentlemen in white passed by and were struck by the young lady’s lovely features. One of the young men drew back the sheet and carefully examined the patient from head to foot. “Do you think you will have to operate?” the girl asked anxiously after a few moments. “Oh, you will have to ask the doctors,” said one of the young men, cheerily, “we’re only ensigns.”
[page break]
Page Six HILL TOPICS December, 1943
SORROW AN-SON
A Pistol-Packing Drama – In Complete Form
Once upon a Bulova watch time there was an old woman who lived in a discarded old “Anson” fuselage. Now this old woman was a spinster and had twelve children. Eleven were boys, excepting five – (these were girls). The twelfth is too young yet to be distinguished. This small family lived in the vicinity of Hellville, (a rural village just outside Little-Picton-in-the-Mire), and was supported entirely by a devastating young air bomber named Flash Lampus, who used to fly overhead and drop 11 1/2 pounders in the old lady’s back yard. The latter’s name was Sarah Bagshot, (the old lady, not the back yard). Her father was the famous Sir Harry Bagshot, heir to the Inlet Valve.
One day when the air bomber was toasted (I mean posted), he went round to Sarah to see how the flying was going. (Sarah was a W.D. in the Canned Air Force). After blowing up the front doorway, by exploding an 11 1/2 pounder, which he usually carried around with him whenever he went on ops), the stumbled boldly, yet a trifle blasted, (as u/t air bombers can be), into a back room where Sarah was cooking her goose for his supper.
“A-ha!” he spluttered, picking up his top set from the ash can, “so you really waited for me I see!” After complimenting him on his powers of observation and shrewdness, Sarah threw over a settee, (airman for the use of). “Harry,” she slopped, her bottom tooth tripping up her enormous white tongue, “you didn’t think I would run out on yer – did yer?” Now Sarah was a well educated old woman, and ‘Harry’ was another boy friend. “You fair shook me rigid,” Flash re-spluttered, “Sarah, my nocturnal narcotic, I am posted, as all air males usually are.” “Corny,” she yelled softly into his starboard ear, “they can’t do this to us! I will see your Wing Commander tomorrow at eleven, when he starts work, and complain on passionate grounds.”
“It’s no use,” he whimpered hopefully, (he had made too many runs already with this one woman). “I have to go to the air observers’ school tomorrow to learn all about ground defence”. (His papers read “G.D.”, but we allow for these discrepancies with air crew). “But what about my family?” Sarah pleaded, her right hand around his throat, tenderly depressing same in a state of dire ecstasy. “Confound your family!” he replied politely, (he’d only been in the service six months). “I have carried the banner too long already.” “So!” she hissed, like a Lizzie’s tyre on a bad landing, “I thought as much!” You English bombardiers are atrociously abominable, and utterly erratic.” Now this was a good thing on her part, as that mouthful really shook Flash.
“O.K.”, he retorted, knowing darn well he was washed up, and using a megaphone to make himself heard, “I know my misses when I miss ‘em;” (he was constantly air-minded). “Tonight I will run out on you with my final run.” So saying, he left the house in a shambles, and rushed down the street. After pausing for a few hours at the drug store, he found his wind and ran back to his beloved billet at the R.I.F.R.A.F. station at Little-Picton-in-the-Mire. Pay A/C’s ceased playing out to the old woman, who soon starved to death anyway, and the airman was posted.
Which all goes to show, that you can’t play ball with a Waaf batman. N.B. – Any similarity between this immortal epic and the R.A.F. is purely bad show on the part of the writer.
LAC. F. LUDLAM
THE C.B.C. ENTERTAINS-
“This is the Canned Broadcasting Corporation.”
“XYZ – Hellville.”
“Tonight we bring to you, a programme of delightful entertainment . . . “
“Madam! Do you suffer from toothache, headache, eyeache, faceache, earache, dropped feet, chronic asthma, or even rigor mortis? You DO? Well, isn’t that just too bad?”
“Ladies! Prevent B.O., buy ‘NEW Rinsit’ TODAY! NOT tomorrow or even tonight – but RIGHT AWAY!”
(Fanfare of trumpets without – enter asthmatic announcer).
“You will be sorry if you don’t use NEW Rinsit’ in the near future. One day, when your limbs start falling off, and your flesh starts flaking, - you will wish that you had taken to using ‘NEW Rinsit’ earlier!”
“LISTEN TO THIS DRAMATIC TRUE-LIFE EPISODE . . .” (Strains of William Tell”).
“Sob, sob, splutter, sniff . . .”
“What’s the matter, Jennifer?”
“I had an ab-so-lute-ly AWFUL time at the party tonight, mother dear.”
“Oh? How was that, Jennifer?”
“The R.A.F. boys wouldn’t dance with me at all tonight, mother dear.”
“But Jennifer, my darling, you aren’t going to worry over a little thing like that, are you?”
“No, mother dear, but one corporal S.P. came up to me, and admitted quite frankly that I ab-so-lute-ly reeked of B.O.”
“Ah, Jennifer. You should use some of that marvellous ‘NEW Rinsit!”
“May I try some, mother dear?”
“Why, mother! I can feel it doing me a world of good already!” (etc., blah).
“YOU DON’T WANT TO BE IN SUCH A PREDICAMENT THAT OUR JENNIFER WAS IN, DO YOU?”
“Sold at all drug stores and gas stations – buy your ‘NEW Rinsit’ NOW!”
“Thank you for listening, Ladies and Gentlemen. The broadcast you just heard was transcribed. And now for an advertisement . . .” (etc., etc., blah-blah).
-L.A.C. LUDLAM
HOT SPOTS OF PICTON OR AIRMAN’S GUIDE TO PICTON CAFES
CAFE GUILT
Menu-
Egg and Bacon
Potatoes, mash or French Fry
Toast
Tea and Coffee
Specialty-
Entertaining M.T. Drivers
Points –
For-
One blonde
Tea cups read for small extra charge.
Palms read free of charge for regular customers.
Against-
Plates cracked. Duff gen. known to originate here in large quantities. Water has earthen taste – may be due to condition of glasses. S.P.’s noted to appear frequently.
POP’S SODA BAR
Menu-
Light Lunches
Sundaes
Milk Shakes
Coca-cola
Speciality-
Sundaes
Points-
For-
Clean. Good radio.
Senior N.C.O.’s, aircrew and girlfriends most frequent customers.
Water fair. Good place to collect local gen.
Against-
Little encouragement given to those on the binge
Waitresses mostly too young
Hastening methods taken against those prone to linger, when busy.
Menu: HOTEL SPHERE
Choice of-
Soups,
Fish, Steaks, Chops, etc.
Veg. Potatoes
Pie, etc.
Milk, tea, coffee.
Speciality-
Small helpings.
Points-
For-
Excellent service. Very clean.
Salt and pepper at all tables.
Cups with saucers (and handles)
Knives cut
Dehydrated potatoes never used.
Against-
Too quiet. Very ‘so so’ atmosphere.
Wing Commanders and ranks above receive special attention. Prices beyond reach of average erk’s pocket book.
THE SILVER STAR
Menu-
Clear Rice Soup
Chop Suey
T-Bone Steak
Cold Potatoes
Pie a la Mode
Speciality: Swedes
Points-
For-
Waitresses ‘dateable’
Waiters, quiet spoken – English fair.
Frequented by officers and lady friends.
Serviettes at all tables (useful Kleenex sub.)
Taxies at door for camp.
Against-
Over chlorinated water.
Phone constantly in use, takes away appetite.
Demand instant payment.
Also frequented by ‘Jackson Boy’
TOMMY’S TUCKER
Menu-
Fried Fish
French Fry
Tomato Ketchup (thinned)
Oatmeal Cookies
Specialty:
Fried Fish
Points-
For-
Service good. Three tables usually free.
No shortage of salt and pepper.
Proprietor friendly.
Against-
Little breathing space.
Strong smell of cooking fat and thick cloud of tobacco smoke always present.
Frequented mostly by S.P.’s and lower ranking erks.
Menu- JUMBO’S JOINT
French Fry
Eggs and Bacon, (except Tuesdays, just eggs).
Cocoa, coffee, Coca-cola.
Specialty-
Eggs.
Points-
For-
No shortage of eggs
Two redheads
Handles on most cups. Handy to camp.
Against-
Pepper and salt for one table only.
Three cats, (plus five more at any time now).
Avoid back corner table on left, rain comes in.
Cold
BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
(With Apologies to Ripley)
This actually happened during a recent trip to New York – to relations! We had left Watertown on the way back, and were hitching from there. Everyone says it’s more interesting. Money doesn’t seem to enter into it. As I was saying, we stopped outside Watertown, and things didn’t look too promising. There were mostly vans on the road and these were in a great hurry. Two kids came up and regarded us curiously, you know, in that impersonal sort of way in which children look at animals in the zoo.
“Waitin’ for a ride?” enquired one. “Yes,” said I civilly enough. Is there much doing on this road?” “Nope”, answers he laconically. “Say what ARE you? Marines? Coastguards? Navy? Army? I can’t GET you”. “Oh, us?” I piped up (it was the night after the second heavy raid on Berlin, you know two inch headlines in the “New York Sun”).
“Why, we’re Royal Air Force!” As the expressions on the two boys’ faces didn’t change, I added hastily, “R.A.F. you know, Raf!” Number one looked at number two, shook his head and said in tones of utter finality, “Never heard of ‘em”.
I collapsed, while my companion murmured, “Wish I hadn’t either!”
-A.C.1 TANNER
[page break]
December 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Seven
HANGAR TYPES
By “Wraplock”
Well blokes, this little matter is to put on record some of the habits and peculiarities of the individuals who go to make our little circles. They never vary much in any flight, and possibly you will recognize yourself in one or more of the groups. First let us take that comparatively rare phenomenon:
THE FLAT-OUT TYPE
Generally speaking, they are confined to junior N.C.O’s, and Senior LAC.’s, who spend their time dashing into jobs amidst a terrific flurry of tools, comparable in intensity with the flak over Berlin. Their greatest pride is to announce they have just finished an engine change, or something, in less time than ever before, but strangely enough, instead of admiring glances, they are favoured with dark murmers, which indicate that Chiefy will expect similar results from less inspired quarters.
If you should ever happen to come upon one of these creatures in full production, be warned and keep well clear, or you will find yourself being cursed in a very nasty manner for being in the way, or distracting the attention of the unfortunate underlings who make up the zealous one’s gang. This type has another habit – that of diving into a huddle and pulling to pieces the methods of other toilers, who take no notice of them anyway, but just think, - if we had a hangar full of “Flat Outs”. They would be so busy trying to out-produce each other, the rest of us would be able to pack up and catch the next boat back to mother and the local.
(Original ideas committee please note.)
However, their ranks are so thin at present, that we are in need of a few volunteers before this suggestion can be forwarded to the illustrious body mentioned above, and by the time they had adopted it, if ever, we should all be long past caring anyway, so maybe we had best let things rest as they are.
Next we come to the:
MARRIED MEN
That is to say, the ones who have their wives within week-end reach. These poor lads are really to be pitied by us all, for although it does the heart good to see them depart on 48, all clean and spritely, happy as terriers seeing nice juicy bones before them. Oh my, oh my, just get a dekko at them on Monday morning! Can these be the fine, upright young airmen who left us not three days since? These grouchy, anaemic wretches, who stagger so pitifully to work as if Tarzans or Harry Pye had given them a going over.
Yes, they are one and the same, and for the next fortnight or so, we shall have to watch them, toiling so manfully, with their thoughts far away in Montreal or Toronto. They never leave camp between week-ends, but I am sure they must spend a fortune on postage stamps. We don’t count paper, etc., of course, because they wouldn’t dream of letting all that crested paper from the “Y” go to waste.
It is awful to see them in the crew room at break time, hanging on to every word the Scrubber Boys have to say. Haven’t you noticed them before? Well you know them alright, and next time you meet one on a Monday, just step brightly up and ask “How goes it Jasper?” and then wait for that soulful expressive “Cheesed off mate”.
So all you single blokes take heed, and for Pete’s sake avoid becoming one of this type, or you too will have something extra to moan about, and most of you have more than enough already.
Cheerio until next month, fellers, when we will have a look at The Crew Room Crowd and the Senior N.C.O. type.
[Photograph] “IN TOWN TONIGHT!”
(Number One)
THIS month we interview a distinguished dock labourer from the east end of London. Here he is – Mr. Harry Hodges of Stepney, now being interviewed by Alf Norris, our roaming reporter.
“Good evening, Mr. Hodges! And what exactly do you do for a living?”
“I work at them London docks, and I am the bloke what ‘as ter do the ‘andlin’ of them crates of stuff what comes orf of them boats what’s
“I works at them London docks, and I ‘ave ter-“
“Yes, yes, quite. And have you a family to support Harry?”
“YUS! -I ‘ave a missus and seven kids. I also keeps chickens in a chicken ‘ouse what I made aht of them crates what they lands at them London docks, and –“
“Yes, yes, quite! And where do you live? -or rather, from what part of Stepney do you come from?”
“I live in an ‘ouse what used ter belong to a bloke what used to ‘elp us aht dahn at them London docks on them crates, and –“
“Yes, really, but which street?”
“Look ‘ere mate, I was tellin’ yer, ain’t I?”
“Yes, -go on please.”
“O.K. -nah don’t butt in mate.”
“Go ahead old chap.”
“Okey-doke, then. I lives in an ‘ouse what ain’t very far from that pub what is dahn Noo road, Step-a-ney! My missus works at them London docks too.”
“Is she on them crates too?”
“NAH! She ain’t on them crates mate. My missus, she ‘andles the blokes’ pay durin’ the day, and the kids durin’ the night, and-”
“Yes, of course. And what do you think of the war, Harry?”
“I am in the ‘ome guard, when I ain’t workin’, and-”
“Really?”
“Well I can’t do me job on them crates at them London docks, AND do me ruddy ‘Ome guard at the same time, can I mate?”
“No of course not.”
“Well then.”
“Er, Harry-”
“Yus, cock?”
“Would you be so kind as to tell the listeners something about the Home Guard?”
“YUS! I am a bloke what’s known as a sergeant. ‘E’ as got six stripes yer know and-”
“SIX stripes, Harry?”
“YUS, -three on each arm, see?”
“Oh, of course.”
“Well, let me go on wiv it then.”
“I’m afraid our time is up now Harry, so say ‘Goodnight’ please, to our millions of listeners, will you?”
“YUS! Of course mates, it would ‘ave bin better to ‘ave ‘ad more time, but I suppose old Alf ‘ere, ain’t got it, so-”
“Thanks very much, Harry, er- this way out.”
“O.K. chum – Ta-ta, old cock. Goodnight Bert, Sid and Charlie. I ‘ope yer’ve got me supper on at ‘ome, Liz.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Hodges.”
“So long, old cock. Where do I get paid?”
“Er – the Cashier’s office is across the hall.”
“TA-TA MATES!”
“THAT, was Mr. Harry Hodges. Phew!”
-LAC. LUDLAM
A WELCOME RETREAT
We welcome as an addition to the station facilities, the new reading room recently installed in the Library Building. Here at long last, for the first time in Picton’s history, is a place for a man to find quiet and seclusion for acquiring information on the turbulent events of today.
From the smoke-saturated and jive burdened air of the canteen one can now escape to fresh fields and pastures new, to silence and meditation.
Here, one may add to ones knowledge and get the necessary quiet wherein to collect ones thoughts. Here too, is it possible to get down in peace to that very essential but somewhat trying task of writing home. From the peaceful atmosphere of the reading room we hope our epistolary efforts will grow in regularity and coherence. We hope, too, that now indeed we shall be able to keep ourselves conversant with all the gen that is worth acquiring.
We understand that the curtains and table cloths with their welcome relief to the prevailing verdant hues were the work of the ladies of the Hostess House, in which case we offer them our sincere thanks, and regard it as a further addition to our indebtedness to them.
Note from the Education Officer: Suggestions for increasing the facilities of the reading room and other ideas for its improvement will be welcomed.
A DEVILISH TRICK
Old Tam’s was known from Ben to Ben,
The meanest man in all the glen,
His wife as fly as Murphy’s goat,
Wi’ a heart as cold as Winter’s coat.
Their house was nestled by the burn,
A cosy spot in snow or sun;
Wi’ walls as white as shorned sheep,
And roof aw thatched wi’ bracken sweet.
The garden tidy, just a treat,
A thorny hedge, the trap’s defeat;
Two apple trees stan’ roun’ the back,
Sheltering turnips in a stack.
On Christmas Eve the house was still,
Except for cries from doon the hill;
Where in the pub a merry throng,
Besiege dull care wi’ glass and song.
McGregor’s wife sat in her chair,
The fire was roaring fierce and rare;
Click, click! her needles roun’ the room,
Where dancing shadows chased her broom.
All Tam himsel’ was snoring loud,
Christmas night was but a shroud;
On he dreamt o’ shining lucre,
When all the world was in a stupor.
The grandfather clock struck twelve o’clock,
When strange enough there came a knock;
Old Tam shouted, “Weel wha’s there?”
But no’ a sound disturbed the pair.
“Say your prayers Maggie lass,
Old Nick’s out there, it’s come to pass”;
When sure enough the latch went click,
And in the doorway stood old Nick.
His horns were shining in the moon,
His long black hair was hanging doon;
Wi’ eyes as red as burning coal,
Which seemed to creep and steal your soul.
He spoke, his voice was hoarse and deep,
McGregors at last your fate you meet;
“For long you’ve tried your souls to sell,
And now it’s time to go to Hell”.
Wi’ that he turned and slammed the door,
Left them shaking more and more;
And all that night they stood in dread,
In case the morn would find them dead.
By morn they hadn’t slept a wink,
The quickly they began to think;
“We haven’t long, if we don’t tarry,
The devil’s threat with good we’ll parry.”
So to the grocer’s at fearful pace,
Bought all the sweeties in the place;
The roun’ the village from door to door,
They gave out toys and sweets galore.
Weel, since that dawn you would hardly know,
The McGregors when they come and go;
Old Tam’s known since that great day,
As a man who’d gie his shirt away.
But in the pub they’ll laugh till Dotage,
At the trick they played at Tam’s wee cottage.
-M. STEVENS
[page break]
Page Eight HILL TOPICS December, 1943
GOLDILOCKS AND THE TWO WOLVES
OR
DICK WHITTINGTON RIDES AGAIN
A Pantomine in Two Acts
CURTAIN
Scene depicts a deserted plotting office about two hours before night flying has been officially cancelled. Enter a fairy queen.
[sketch]
Fairy Queen:
“Now hullo all you A.C.2’s,
You L.A.C.’s, W.O’s, flight Lieus,
If you wonder why the hell I’m here,
Just think, wouldn’t it be rather queer?
To have a Christmas pantomine
Without a Fairy Queen divine?
Although I am not in this play
I really had to have my say,
So here I am with my small kit,
To introduce this thing a bit.
The scene is laid on any station,
Any place or situation;
Where such characters as these
Usually relax and take their ease.
There, that’s the introducing stuff,
I really think I’ve said enough.
So now I’ll leave you to the worst,
And just pop off to quench my thirst.
I hope you all enjoy the show;
(excuse me if my contours show,
I know it’s chilly to wear gauze,
But that’s the way I get applause).”
Bungho!
ACT 1
Scene 1
Any office in the control tower where any type can wander in and a Waaf can be seated at a desk. As the curtain goes up LAW. Goldilocks is in the foreground messing about. The chorus, comprised of both sexes and all ranks up to F/O., is strewn about in the background, doing everything in general and nothing in particular (loafing mostly as usual).
Goldilocks:
“I am the heroine of this story,
I’m sorry that it won’t be gory
But I am quite a demure miss,
Who never goes out on the beer.
All that you need know of me
Is that I’m built like G. Rose Lee
And to make the story go,
I’m bothered with a brace of beaux.”
“One is Sergeant Pilot Dick,
A rather useless sort of chap,
But whom I love for all of that.
The other is a Flight Lieut. Bligh,
The wolfish type, with roving eye;
Who pesters me both day and night.
(But I never yield without a fight)
They say virtue is its own reward,
But all I get is frightfully bored.
Heroines though must be true blue
So what! I ask, is a girl to do?”
[sketch]
Chorus:
“Yes! Goldi is the heroine,
It is a shame she must be clean.
If not, we know you’d like it more
But the censor’d toss this out the door.”
Chorus dances around waving plotting charts.
Enter Sgt. Pilot Dick, in battle dress with a pink sweater and a green scarf.
[sketch]
Dick:
“Relax now folks, the hero’s here,
I’m bound to win, so have no fear,
Like Goldi I am good to all
And never go to Montreal (much).”
Turns to Goldilocks:
“Oh! Darling it really is a shame,
But I am night flying again.
It’s all the work of that bloke Bligh,
Who’s trying to muscle in on I. (poet’s licence).
And so to-night I am sad to say,
We can’t go to the Y.M.C.A.
Tho’ my day will come, do not fear that
And I’ll give him an awful swat.
I cannot now ‘cause as you know,
I’m just a blinking N.C.O.
So if Bligh comes round to pester you,
Do as I, my love, would do.
A well used knee will ease his tension
And save you from, what I may not mention.”
Chorus:
“Yes! Do as Sgt. Dick would do,
If Bligh tries his games on you.
Knee work will surely do the trick,
And damp his ardour awfully quick.”
Exit Dick, enter Fl/Lt/ Bligh.
Bligh:
“I am the villain of this piece,
Who’s learn’t that she’s an M.P.’s niece
And must inherit, as you’ll agree,
Simply loads of L.S.D.
So if I can win her for my own
I’ll buy a little pub back home:
And with blonde barmaids, Watneys’ beer,
Shall face my old age without fear.
But apart from that I’ve other ideas,
Which Sgt. Dick, curse him, always queers.”
[sketch]
Turns to Goldilocks
“Goldi, you give my eyes a treat,
How about a date tonight, my sweet?
I’ve managed to borrow a wizard car,
(I promise not to go too far)
I’ve lots of gas and a case of beer,
And there’s a dance at the Arena, too, I hear.
We could have such a lot of fun.
So say you’ll come my lovely one.”
Goldi:
“Car, beer . . . hmm . . . NO! away Lt. Bligh,
That line of yours is all my eye.
You’re trying to get me in a situation,
That would involve an intruder operation.
But I am up to all your games,
Go find yourself some other dames.”
Chorus:
“Oh yes! She’s up to all your wiles,
Go seek some other charmer’s smiles.
There’s a red-head who will like your tricks,
Scrounging down in Works and Bricks.”
Bligh:
“What wench! You dare say no to me?
You’ll regret it someday, just you see.”
Aside.
“Ha, ha, heh, heh, I’ve an idea,
To fix friend Dick, leave my way clear.”
Exit Bligh, and Goldi, just after. Enter a Group Captain, puts two men on a charge for non-issue hair cuts and addresses the crowd at large.
Group Cap.:
“I’m the C.O., you all know that,
I’ve scrambled eggs upon my hat.
My office is a sacred place,
All airmen quail before my face.
(although I know it as a fact,
They call me names behind my back).
So if you men would be like me,
Here’s good advice I give you free.”
[sketch]
Sings:
“Now back in 1891,
An AC2 was I by gum!
But by the sweat of back and brow,
I’ve worked up to where I am now.
By never, never, shirking chores,
And scrubbing countless latrine floors,
I rose to rank of LAC,
By early on in ’33.
And then in war-torn ’39,
I joined the swelling aircrew line,
Defending Britain’s gallant shores
In a Spit Mk II, I shot down scores
Of 109’s and 215’s.
(I really seemed to have nine lives).
So it’s diligence I have to thank,
I now hold this exulted rank.”
Speaks:
“This inducement on to you I pass,
To shine your boots and clean your brass.”
Exit C.O. Chorus is speechless for once, then an airman steps forward.
[page break]
December, 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Nine
Airman:
“I’m the only one in captivity,
The only living AC3,
For thirty years I’ve worn the blue.
(I started as an AC2).
And although I’ve tried and tried and tried,
I’ve just been taken for a ride.
Of scrubbing floors he talks to you,
I’ve scrubbed the blooming runways too.
So when aircrew sent out for the best,
I took their ruddy intelligence test.
And look at me now an A.C.3!
Ah woe! Ah woe! Ah woe Is me!
Sniffles, then braces his shoulders.
No! I care for nobody, no not I!”
Chorus:
“He does not weep, he does not cry,
Look at his fearless, flashing eye!”
[drawing]
[drawing]
A W.O. dashes on, dances a few steps, sings:
W.O.
“You speak too soon, I’d like to point,
I’m S.W.O. of this damn joint,
So I’m the guy that weilds [sic] the whip,
The rudder of this flaming ship.
Which is only as it ought to me,
As of the hobbies that I choose
My favourite’s signing 252’s.
So have a care, don’t care to cough,
For fear that I should knock you off.”
Chorus:
“Of all the hobbies that he’d choose,
His favourite’s signing 252’s.
So now we’ll use a little tact,
And finish off scene one, first act.”
CURTAIN
Scene II
A few days later, same location, chorus strewn about as before.
Enter Dick, wearing a maroon and mauve windbreaker and a red plaid muffler.
Dick:
“Well here I am, I’m back again,
Flying’s scrubbed it’s going to rain.
I’ve just come down, alone I flew,
Away up there in the blue, blue, blue.
And do I curse when these g-dd-mn showers,
Stop me from knocking up solo hours.”
Two S.P’s wander in, stand to attention and sing:
S.P’s:
“Oh! We are the R.A.F. S.P.’s,
And we arrest anyone we please,
If you dare to blink or even think,
We’re here to throw you in the klink.
That no one loves us we know,
With this burden through life we go,
But our backs are broad and our shoulders strong,
So to hell with you, we get along.”
Enter Fl/Lt. Bligh, strides up and points an accusing finger at Dick.
Bligh:
“Come S.P.’s now arrest this man,
Take and lock him in the can.
Whilst on a weather check, now I
Definitely saw the cad low-fly.”
Enter O.C. flying.
O.C. flying:
“Oh Dick! Oh Dick! For shame! For shame
That you should smear your father’s name!
There is no choice you leave me then,
But put you down for a C.M.”
Chorus:
“For shame, For shame! You are a rat,
That you should do a thing like that.”
Dick:
“It is not true, it’s all a lie,
I never, never, would low-fly.
The very soul of honour – ME?
My Bible is the C.A.P.”
Enter Goldilocks, looking very distraught, cries:
Goldi:
“Oh Dick! Oh Dick! What have you done?
How could you? How could you? Beloved one?
Why did you do this to me?
They’ll knock you down to an L.A.C.
And apart from that you’re sure to get,
A hundred days or so of Det.”
Dick:
“It is not true! I’m not to blame,
The whole thing is a dirty frame.
I bet the real culprit is Bligh,
He’s just the type that would Low-fly.”
Bligh:
“Ha ha! We’ve heard those yarns before,
You’re trying to avoid the issue sore.
You’re wasting your time, it is no use.
Take him away to the calaboose.”
Exit Dick, under close arrest, Goldilocks falls weeping over a plotting table. Bligh laughs up his sleeve. Rest shake their heads sadly.
Chorus:
“Oh! What a sorry state of things,
They might even take away his wings.”
CURTAIN
Scene III
As before Goldilocks is working at her desk. She is looking pale and worn. Has she been worrying over Dick? Is she anaemic? Then music is heard, (it goes something like that). Dick dashes on, trips over the wastepaper basket, calls it by name, falls on Goldi’s neck and kisses her. Picks himself up, dances round and sings happily:
Dick:
“I beat the rap! I beat the rap!
And all thanks to some farmer chap,
Who with the most amazing sight
Observed the number on the kite.
It really was that blighter Bligh,
Who caused the old man’s pigs to die.
Now he has had a severe rep.
And from now on must watch his step.”
Chorus:
“He beat the rap! He beat the rap!
So three cheers for this farmer chap.
Who with most uncanny sight,
Observed the aircraft number right.”
Enter Bligh, scowling, cursing, coughing, etc.
Bligh:
“Though I was foiled, you rejoice too too soon,
Your posting’s through this afternoon.
Now you’re bound for oversea,
Which leaves the field quite clear for me.”
Dick looks stupefied, (stupid anyway), Goldi looks miserable, Bligh exits laughing harshly. (Must be he smokes too much).
Goldi:
“Oh Dick! Although away you go,
That I’ll be true you’ll always know.
So hurry win yourself some fame,
And then come back to me again.”
Dick:
“I will come back, that never fear,
Though it will be about a year.
I’ll earn some rings around my wrist,
Then I can give Bligh’s nose a twist.”
Exit Dick and Goldi to apply for some leave.
Chorus:
“Oh weep! Oh wail! Oh gnash the teeth!
Dick’s going home to Hampstead Heath.
Oh now what will poor Goldi do?
When she feels like a spot of woo?”
CURTAIN
Act II
Scene I
Goldie has got a commission and has her own office in H.Q. (we had to change the scene somehow).
Goldi:
“Oh where! Oh where! Has Richard gone?
Oh where! Oh where! Is he?
Has he been shot up? Has he been shot down?
Oh where! Oh where! Can he be?”
Enter Bligh
Bligh:
“Now listen, Dick is surely dead,
They must have filled him full of lead.
So why not listen to my plea,
And come on a 48 with me?”
Goldi:
“NO! A thousand times and more,
I’m a girl that knows the score.
If Dick has died a hero’s death,
A spinster me till my last breath.”
Aside:
“To talk you know is very well,
But I am weakening sad to tell.”
Chorus appears at various windows and doors.
Chorus:
“No! Don’t give in, they’ll never kill
Our Dick, he’s got a head like steel,
And bullets from each Messerschmitt,
Will only blunt themselves on it.”
Band off strikes up “There’ll Always be an England”. Dick enters, he is a Squadron Leader, with more ribbons than that.
Dick:
“At last I’m back from overseas,
With loads and loads of D.F.C.’s,
And for good measure, I have too,
Collected an odd bar or two.
It really was quite simply done,
I just shot down a hundred Hun.
But now’s the time for my revenge,
Bligh’s dirty tricks I will avenge.”
Goldi:
“Oh joy! Oh rapture most sublime!
He has returned, this lover mine.
Now we can wed as sure as sure,
And I’ll have babies by the score.”
Dick advances on Bligh, who is standing dumfounded, a short struggle ensues and finally Dick throws him through a window, much to the disgust of chorus members gathered there. He and Goldilocks embrace. Enter the whole company, carrying the S.W.O. who has just come back from 7 days in Toronto. (N.B. it is a big office, see).
Dick:
“This is the end, I’m doing fine,
Now Goldilocks is really mine.
As a babe she is a solid whiz,
So the moral of this story is;
That if you always toe the line,
You’ll come out on top-you hope-some time.”
Chorus:
“He says that if you toe the line,
You will come out on top sometime.
But don’t you listen to his stuff,
It really is most awful guff.
But anyway it made a yarn,
So we don’t really give a darn.
This is the end we say adieu,
And Merry Christmas, Friends, to you.”
CURTAIN
Page Ten HILL TOPICS December, 1943
MONTHLY REPORTS FROM THE FOLK WHO LIVE ON THE HILL
[Photographs x 5]
GESTAPO GOSSIP
Well, folks, here we are again with the gossip for another month! We welcome our new arrivals from the Old Country and hope they will enjoy their ‘holiday’ in the Land of the Maple Leaf. Cheer up, lads, only two more years to go! Queer happenings – six policemen arrived i[indecipherable letter] ration strength increased by twelve! Don’t ‘Howlett’, but these lads can sure eat! What a pity meal cards aren’t transferable!
Much rejoicing at the Guard room when the latest boat list was published. By the way, there is no truth in the rumour that all four are trying to get ‘off the boat’.
Our basketball team is going great guns now that we have signed on the two Chinamen. “Wew un Wunce” and “How Long Since”. “Greaves’ Follies” have now moved from the foot of the league, and are increasing their threat to the team third from the bottom.
Our sergeant, (with the encouragement of a certain Flight-Sergeant), seems to us to be spending too much of his time across the border. No names, no pack drill, but “Wilson” puts him on the spot on the slightest provocation. We have the address of his girl friend out west.
Watch for a few surprises in our section in the next few weeks. A few of the boys are adding a bit of camouflage by the growth of some hair on their upper lips. Two faced, eh? Watch to your laurels, “Diamond Gin”, “Antonio Beltup” is on the war path!
In closing, we would like to remind a few officers and Senior N.C.O.’s that the box at the Main Gate is not “Bob’s Lunch”. We don’t mind lashing up a cup of brew now and then, but how about a nickel once in a while, to help swell the Police Holiday Fund?
And so, until next time, we remain, your binding brother.
-THE SUPER SNOOPER
SIX HANGAR
The good work started by the Maintenance soccer team is being carried on by the basketball and billiards teams. Like the football team, the basketball team was off to a shaky start, but have now settled down to play really effectively. If our present team is allowed to stay together, we should be somewhere near the top when the season finishes. The billiards team started off in fine style, but slipped up somewhat in their last game. We are confident that this was only a temporary lapse. One of our chaps, Peter Forbes, has won the station table tennis championship, for which we extend our heartiest congratulations. Peter has represented the station at cricket and tennis, is a more than useful basketball player, and also plays a crafty game of billiards and snooker, so that on the whole, he is a useful member of our sporting community. We have not been able to possess his technical ability as yet.
Quite a few of our boys have joined the ranks of the LAC.’s with one G.C., while Ginger Western’s tapes came through in time to save him from the honour of being an LAC with two G.C.’s. Congratulations Ginger.
One of our new G.C.’s, Johnny Moore, is acquiring a reputation as a Jack of all trades. His trade is F.II.A., officially, but his best work is done before he comes down to the hangar, when he fills the role of a human alarm clock. Just recently he has divided his attention between doing engine changes (under expert technical supervision), and hermetically sealing the flight-sergeant’s office with great sheets of asbestos and masking tape. In his spare time, he likes to go farming, but his chief hobbies, are:
(a) Going to bed early.
(b) Getting up early.
(c) Getting everybody else up early.
He works with, and sometimes in spite of, another G.C., who spends most of his spare time in a state of semi-coma on his bed. The rest of his time is spent in a state of semi-coma in the hangar, relieved by an odd burst of feverish activity in such places as Montreal.
He is fond of good music, good food and corporal CWAC’s, (not necessarily good), although this last does not mean that he has any prejudice against corporals in any of the other services.
N.B. – The R.A.F. always expected, of course.
That is all the gossip for this month, I think, so we will close down for another month.
[page break]
December, 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Eleven
“MINOR GEN”
We open this column with a happy note by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New, and we hope the next will see you celebrating this joyful occasion in “The Local”.
We wish to extend our congratulations to F/Sgt. and Mrs. Biggs on the safe arrival of a baby daughter. Keep up the good work, “Chiefy”.
Recently we have said farewell to our very popular test pilot F/O Hughes, who is leaving us for Blighty. Goodbye sir, and good luck. In his place we welcome F/O. Bond whom we know will be very happy with us in “test flight”. We promise you sir, to find the “lost revs” from previous air tests, and keep them in a well sealed container.
Another new face has appeared in this hangar, namely F/O. Johnson, who succeeds F/Lt. Littlejohn, as flight commander. F/Lt. Littlejohn crosses over the apron to the “Sanctum of Gen”, where he now assumes command of this wing as C.E.O.
Our heartiest congratulations are extended to the pioneers who trekked from 5 to 6 hangar, a short while ago. What a huge success it must have been ! ! ! Evidently, 6 hangar blokes must have lapped up the “technical gen” from our former colleagues, for now the remainder of 5 hangar staff are to join them and make it an incorporated company known as “The Sooper Dooper Gen Shop Inc.” (Flights, please note).
Cupid is also working very hard. “The Bells are Ringing” will soon be the theme song of LAC. Sheepwash who is being married in Toronto in the very near future. Congrats Ron and the future Mrs. Sheepwash, and may you both be very happy.
What we want to know is –
Why a certain corporal booked out a nice new tool roll, complete with tools? Was it voluntary, or M.W. R.O.’s? Is it true he has promised never to use it?
How to gain admittance to the ever increasing ranks of the “Three Years Sentence Served Club”? This is indicated by a beautiful inverted chevron and is now being worn by many “old lags”. Our “sympathies” are extended to the latest members – LAC. Buckley, LAC. Dormer, and AC. Mitchell.
Did a certain unpleasant occurence [sic] to an airman’s hat in the “Regent” Theatre, one evening, have anything to do with a new hair tonic being patented? Are you going to buy a comb now, Fred?
What the two crafty hounds of wine, women and song will do on the New Year’s leave? Will Ted take Jim to Buffalo, or will Jim manage to persuade Ted to go to New York? There is sure to be a large size piece of femininity lined up, anyhow.
Is a certain corporal suffering nervous tension in case “the boat” pulls in before the big freeze up – in which case, he’ll be deprived of his one source of lineshooting, - ice hockey?
That’s all for this month, chaps, your reporter signing off.
- “GRIPPER”
Officers’ Mess Chatter
The stork has been busy recently – congratulations to F/Lt. McEvoy, F/O. Wagstaffe and F/O. Ratcliffe.
A lot of changes in the mess recently. We are all very sorry to say goodbye to S/L. Boles, whose dashing personality we shall all miss. To F/Lt. ‘Sam’ Calland, a great guy and a real friend; and to Doc Franklin, to whom we offer our good wishes on his new appointment.
A hearty welcome to our new members. Amazing how quickly these op types get in the groove.
F/Lt. – seems to enjoy his supper in the airmen’s mess. A certain nursing sister is looking rather blue these days. Is it true that F/O. – is studying dramatics with a well-known actress? There is not much privacy in the Card Room Hall, is there F/O.-? What qualifications are needed to join the Senior Officers’ Mutual Admiration Society? Those town gossips are quick on the uptake S/L.- . Our handsome, dark-eyed F/O. is very quiet these days. Losing touch, old man? Air gunners seem to have varied interests, Beauty Salons, Kindergarten schools, etc.
So a certain S/L. goes to Montreal just to sleep. Strange! That hotel in Picton is a friendly place, F/Lt.- or do you think so? Why so worried these days Mac? Any truth in the rumours that our great lover has at last got caught?
But Christmas is coming – we should be charitable and so to one and all we extend our heartiest wishes for the Yuletide season. “NICHEVO”.
The Sergeants’ Messings
The Sergeants’ Mess has had a recent influx of new members so that with perhaps one exception their behaviour has been without blemish (and interest), or well hidden . . . and since the exception has been published in DRO’s, no further comment is necessary except to remind this lad that N.C.O’s are supposed to be able to carry their liquor or stick to Coke . . .
One Sergeant-pilot, (no, he hasn’t got his crown yet . . .) managed to make a perfect landing without any assistance from his undercart and was congratulated by his goons but NOT by the authorities . . . No esprit de muck-in . . .
Another is wearing a beautiful “shiner” together with half-a-dozen stitches and claims that he was not under the influence, but was merely playing his part of the Big Dog . . . (no one seems to know the exact meaning of the expression). Mess meetings still have their familiar Burlesque or Old-Time Music Hall atmosphere, and our scantily haired concert comedian oft times seems to think he is in the Y.M. and not the S.M. . . .
Some of our older members are leaving us or have left, either for the Land of the Free (!) or to the Officers Mess . . . and in this latter respect Laddie Shedden (better known to some as the Duty Gremlin) and Digger Lowett, our Colonial friend from the land of sheep, are to be congratulated or something. Well, lets hope that there will be more of interest next month as the newer members settle down to their salub-
CORPORALS’ CLUB
The club itself is situated opposite the Drill Hall, and is open all day for use by members to spend their leisure hours in comfort. It is hoped that more and more use of the club with the facilities it has to offer, will be made by all junior N.C.O.’s, to keep alive the interest that is necessary to continue to make the club a success, so that it may be regarded as their “home from home”.
Flying Officer Dawson as President, Corporal Spencer as Chairman, Corporal Blake as Treasurer, and Corporal Hinds as Secretary, (newly elected), are the club officers.
The bar, which opens at 18.30 hours each evening, is under the very capable management of Corporal Bragg-Smith, and every endeavour is made to meet the requirements of all members. Any corporals willing to help behind the bar any evening, are asked to contact Corporal Bragg-Smith, who is only too anxious to receive help, no matter how small.
A complaint was received from the Treasurer, that he is bein[sic] “run off his feet” collecting “subs”, and the committee hope this will continue?
Sunday night is Guest Night, and all corporals are asked to take full advantage of the facilities offered.
Social evenings are arranged and it is noticed that a more active interest is being taken by the members on these occasions, and every effort is being made to make these evenings more successful every time one comes along so that our guests will go away full of the praises of the Corporals’ Club, as they have done in the past.
The club congratulates Corporals Robertson, Hamilton, Brown, Boardman and Ward, on their recent promotion and trust they will make themselves “at home” in the Corporals’ Club.
Who is the corporal who goes to bed with stripes on his pyjamas?
CPL. A.G. HIND
Control Calling
We hope you are receiving us loud and clear – rather a needless question, of course, because your set will probably be switched off – but nevertheless, we take this opportunity to remind all concerned that :
(a) The wash-out flag does NOT indicate a right-hand circuit.
(b) The Rumble Club is still in existence, despite the absence of the Black Dog.
(c) The best place to build a fire is in the fireplace – (it does not do the tarmac any good).
After much practice, we observe that some Lizzie pilots are becoming quite dexterous at knocking down the Christmas trees on the runways, and we are wondering who will be the first to achieve a 100 per cent score when touching down. We regret to announce that Works and Bricks are NOT offering a prize.
We wish our ex-O/C Flying, S/Ldr. Boles, the best of luck and happy landings – (the Verey pistols have been greased and stored away), and we welcome his successor, F/Lt. Ritcher to our midst.
That’s all for the moment gentlemen. Until next time we shall be listening out, listening out.
Song titles illustrated No. 1 “Pistol Packing Mama”.
- S/L Geo. Boles Standing at Control Tower Firing Signal Cartridges.
N Flight – Do Not Disturb
By the time this is published, the season of goodwill will be upon us once more; so we will start by wishing one and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The month of November has been an eventful one for the children of “Tong”. A month that they could have been justly proud of, but for the two unfortunate incidents, which the whole camp no doubt knows about, by now. To those who were injured, we tender our sympathies, and wish them a speedy recovery.
Apart from accidents, the flight has done very well, setting up a new record for bombs dropped at night, and also maintaining a high percentage of serviceability. Keep it up, lads.
The “Wooden Spoon”, this month, goes to a certain F/O., whose record for two details was; one burst tyre and one belly landing. Truly a good record. Maybe that certain Sgt. pilot was trying to equal this record, when he came in with his undercart up. What about it, Jock? Then there’s another F/O., who is haunted by brake trouble. Why don’t you try having a mag-drop sometime, sir or is that too technical?
AC. Malt came back from leave with some tall stories about his capacity for alcoholic beverages; and it seems he has devised a new time system, whereby he gets thirty-six hours out of twenty-four. Good going Malt. “Boston” Harry has left for the “States”, where he will spend his hard-earned leave; shooting? The rest of us are waiting for Christmas; when the Moonshine Boys will scatter to the four winds to spend their leisure time whoofing, guzzling, and spreading good-will throughout the land. Nothing like it.
The entertainment side of “N” is taken care of by the “Choristers”, led by one AC. Adlam, who does a good job of murder. Anyone caring to hear them, should submit their applications on the appropriate forms (triplicate), and then wait the usual six months for an answer; or they can take a bomb aimer’s course.
Unable to participate in any station sports, we have devised our own program, consisting of hockey (played in crew room), rugby (played in crew room), football (played in crew room) and baseball (played in crew room). If anyone has a spare crew room, we would be glad of it, as we wish to have two games going at once.
If anyone wishes to see a “Zombie”, just come along to 8L around six a.m. He walks then.
Here’s an incident worth recording. The scene is Chiefy’s office.
Pilot – “Why is the flame from the exhaust blue?”
Voice – “That’s because we’re using blue coloured gas.”
Pilot – “Well, if you used pink gas, what would you get”
Voice – “Pinking.”
A note to “B” and “C” Flights – When entering the billet, please leave your soap boxes outside.
[page break]
Page Twelve HILL TOPICS December, 1943
“A” Flight No. 4 Hangar
Here we are with just a few lines for our Christmas number. The festive season will be close upon us when this issue is en route, and we would like to say a “Merry Christmas” to all members of the Flight ground crew and flying personnel. May it be as near to as real Christmas as you would have it, and may the next one be spent with those in “the old country”.
Last month we achieved our ambition and saw all our serviceability tabs white on the serviceability board. During the past week we have reversed the order – and they were not the only things that were red either. The languages was of an equally outstanding hue.
Still, the panic is almost over and although somewhat exhausted, we find our heads keeping just above water again. No doubt someone will shove them under again by informing us that after all, if we want our New Year’s grant, we must forego our days off and 48’s for about six weeks – Jonah’s nightmare. Surprising how much can be demanded of so few as those who work with them, and yet know so little of them!
We are given to understand that F/O. Spencer is following in the footsteps of Mr. Pulleyn. Perhaps they both want real live Christmas presents and not paper dolls – or do they want someone to nurse them?
F/O. Hall appears to be next on the list. After all, Winnipeg on five days’ leave usually means something. He is in such a hurry he’s going by T.C.A. How is he getting back? Who is the officer who “shoots the line” that he takes his lady friend up to No. 4 range at night to see the bombs burst?
We welcome our new pilots on drivers airframe and hope they will be as (un)happy as their colleagues. F/O. Dawson and Davis have been transferred to “D” Flight. Perhaps their new Flight Commander may have more success with them with regard to P.T. than we had.
Congratulations to F/O. Dennis and F/O. Hall on their promotion. We observe that F/Lt. Davies is not looking quite the picture of health of late. We understand he complains that the early morning weather tests are killing him by inches.
P/O. Smith returning from leave in New York is just an empty shell. We believe he left his heart there and also something in Toronto. One current suggestion interests us, and also fills us with a certain amount of dismay. We understand it is intended to transfer to our hangar the night flying flight, plus one or two Bolingbrokes in addition, to a certain area also required by the training wing. Signals section – where do we put the other half of our complement of aircraft? No. 5 hangar crew room? The idea seems to be to spread the different sections over as many hangars as possible with a view to making the N.C.O’s in charge of flights hold their heads in dismay and wonder which hangar they are operating from.
And so “for the present we leave you” with, once again, Hearty Christmas Greetings.
Station Sick Quarters
Once again we take yet another plunge into the realms of journalism. This time, our staff having depleted somewhat, we have very little material from which to glean sarcasm, scandal and smut, or items of interest.
A short time ago a very substantial piece of medicine mixing machinery found its way to the sickery, in the person of Sgt. Ben Berebaum, alias, Whispering Smith. He soon became a very popular member of the staff and took the lead in the basketball team, helping us to lose our first game with a fair margin! !
The classification test for R.C.A.F. airmen caused quite a stir amongst the Canadian members of the staff. One clk. gen. med. was heard to say; “I think it was most unfair, I had just started when they said time was up!” However, they may decide he is below average and discharge him from the service, then he will be sorry; but why worry there’s always the R.A.F.!
The pressure of work in this section is too much for some of the staff. One worthy LAC. G.C., who has suffered from ponophobia for some time, had a very disturbing dream recently. After dreaming that he had been beheaded, he awoke with a start, and raising his hand was amazed to find his head still there!
In conclusion we wish our new Station Mag. every success.
SMELLS OF THE AIRMEN’S MESS
Camphor, turpentine, and tea.
The smell of coffee freshly ground,
Of these, we love three,
When ma is not around.
After a short summer we see the departure of F/Sgt. Harrison, LAC. Chadwick and with knashing of teeth, the boy Kernigan. Bon voyage to them. Count Horribin has left us, accompanied by the fast-fading LAC. Thompson, whose death we will report, when he has kicked the bucket.
Dan Cupid has been working overtime lately, with the weddings of AC. and Mrs. Brom Jones, AC. and Mrs. Harry Jones and AC. and Mrs. Stanley Leversidge. Our best wishes to all ten of them.
That dashing young dark-head late of Wellington, misled in the past, has changed his route to Waupoos. We are now suffering from a milk shortage. Last week, amid the horrors of the English language, Pop Beasley and Mrs. Maggs were promoted. Bags of binding now.
Who is that Corporal we see standing outside school every day? Is some one moving into the fourth form soon? Old toothless is sure getting some in. We have never found out whether those missing teeth were the result of too much bobbing, or acting co-pilot on a flying stock pot.
The S/O. office floor looks clean these days. Our corporal who lives out should keep off his knees. He may go up with the blind some morning.
That Gen. man of the concrete mixers is again on the grave yard shift along with the old firm of Steads and Davey Incorporated. Those Blue Circle Blue-prints sure make a good win of the pastry with the many slabbering spittle-throwers that the dentist sends us.
The day will come when we will meet you binders on the Burma Road and we shall shovel you the bean ration for breakfast, dinner and tea.
“Duff Gen.” From H.Q.
Corporal “Gabby” Whiteley, our departed (on posting) and much lamented “D.R.O. King” and basketball enthusiast, has, as a result of his leaving us, caused the question to be raised as to the necessity for the installation of a Tanoid System at 31 B. & G.S.
The other “loud speaker” in S.H.Q. (no names mentioned) has, for some unknown reason, been less audible of late. This may assist “the powers that be” to reach a decision regarding the above mentioned proposed installation.
LAC. Jimmy Foster, Corporal Whiteley’s successor, has been advised not to “dally” with D.R.O’s.
It has been recently observed that a certain Senior N.C.O. in S.H.Q. Orderly Room (not F.F.) has displayed a considerable amount of keenness in obtaining an ‘early chit’ on top of his “48’s”. We wonder whether the reason is compassionate or just passionate.
Extract from an article on Fish Farming from the November issue of Hill Topics:- “The local fishermen also co-operate in the work of obtaining the eggs, and they also are packed in boxes and taken to the hatchery in the usual way” – In the ensuing paragraph the writer explains how the boxes are unpacked and the eggs removed, but we are at a loss to know what happens to the fishermen. Perhaps “E.D.B.” could solve the mystery.
“G.I.S. Gen”
The G.I.S. is settling down after its “shakedown” cruise, and the staff and pupils are beginning to understand the hieroglyphics issued by the Central Control. Despite gossip, Central Control is organized. Look how it organized itself the man who could fix lino on the floor; (would-be central controllers might do well to study easy chairs in the local dealers).
We offer our congratulations to F/Lt. McEvoy on his promotion to fatherhood and F/Lt.’ancy and our best wishes for a safe trip home. Also “on the boat”, F/Sgts. James Brookfield and Woodman. All our best to them.
Welcome to F/Lt. Rigg, the new school Adj., and to F/O. Olver, who descends from AMBT to the mad-house. Hockey should commence soon, so roll up fans and players; we want to blow up W. & B. this season.
Footnote
What is the attraction at Niagara Falls? No prizes offered, but it’s not watching the water. Two instructors used to slip away furtively, leaving much speculation behind them.
The secret is now out; they were caught building their own boat.
PLOTTING OFFICE
(H.Q. of the Wrong Bomb Society)
Who is the Sgt. Pilot who is getting a reputation for binding the analysis. No NOT binder Stevenson. And he is not to be confused with the pilot who claimed two spinners during a night exercise. To substantiate these claims efforts are being made to give the bombs a covering of phosphorescent paint. Is it possible to get lost over Prince Edward County, (in reasonably good weather of course). We know of at least one pilot who had reason to be grateful to a bomb aimer map reader. It is only fair to state that he had been engaged on our longest “hop” – to number 3 target – of course there is always the possibility of flak over Waupoos, or would it be arrows? Then there is the pilot who shouted “Tally ho, bandits ahead” as he observed two strange Ansons tack on to his detail over number one target (bags of squadron bombing) plenty of fourth of July stuff and all that, for the range staff who were frantically firing red signals to such an extent that Flight Sergeant Perfect had to replenish his stock.
Mention of the range staff and pyrotechnics brings to mind the ghastly attempt to flatten one of the quadrant huts recently, or should I say ghastly, strange as it may seem the student had found a very good wind, his line of sight was good, and even the pilot must have been on the “bit”, for the bomb fell close enough for even the range staff to realize that they were under fire, resulting in a frantic race to the table, the unlucky one emulated the example of “Pistol Packing Mama” dared the dangers hurtling from above, and fired more of FLIGHT Sgt. Perfect’s pyros. The student’s excuse was that on certain headings he mistook the quadrant hut for the target. Likely story eh? Let me hazard an opinion of what really went on in his mind. During the run up:- Targets are getting too dull and uninteresting. After all that same triangle does get a trifle boring, the bloody bombs usually steer clear of it anyway. Ah: and he chortles craftily what better target could one select than the quadrant hut, - kill two birds with one stone – ruin the quadrants and the B-ers inside it. Ha ha, as he thinks of his 300 yard error yesterday, I’ll teach ‘em to make such a “balls, picnics and parties” of our bombs. Unheralded unsung and frequently cursed, these heroes of the ranges defy death daily, not even a bloomin’ Picton long service medal. Some more hopeful faces appearing in view. AC. Bennett is pushing the charts ungracefully through the wicker so until next month good plotting.
P.S. – Who are the MOODY individuals always COOKING something together?
P.P.S. – Who is the “lowe” type who solves coefficient “C” when swinging a compass by using quadratic equations, and who is his sergeant fellow criminal who insists on using simultaneous equations.
-R.M.L.
[page break]
December, 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Thirteen
AU REVOIR
We have suffered quite a few losses during the past month and many well known figures have left us, others we welcome to Picton, perhaps especially those fresh from the “Old Country”, the lads from whom we wrest the latest gen.
W/C/ Anderson has departed, his dog still roams the camp in search of him. Medical officers have come and gone, but it seemed that “Frankie” went on for ever. Now the popular F/Lt. Franklin has left us, having said “cheerio” for Saskatchewan. S/L. Geo. Boles who has been the stations O/C. flying for the past eleven months, is leaving, this probably means goodbye too, to R.A.F. The Scotch terrier to whom he is so closely attached. Wing Commander Kennedy thus loses his staunch and able snooker partner, and the officers’ mess it’s most perlific [sic] commentator. His constant advice to his opponent, and his ready assistance in giving them “the angle” was always a source of amusement.
A soccer personality well known to officers and men alike has the “boat gleam” in his eye. He is F/O. Jock Campbell who has been a real stalwart in the station team for so many months. Jock has won many admirers by his grand sportsmanship, his coolness, and clean play, never unruffled he was an inspiration to the team and will certainly be missed. Before joining the ranks of the R.A.F. F/O. Campbell played professional football in Scottish league football with Partick Thistle. Another Scotsman, one of the quiet types will be with him – F/O. McKellar. We make mention elsewhere re the departure of F/Lt. Calland, popular junior accountant officer. P/O. Simpson who has waited a long time for the boat was well known as a W/O. Quite a few whose bombs he had plotted in the early days, returned to the station after graduating as instructors.
One of the strangest sights to be seen on the station, was a rather eccentric (peculiar type) fellow, who invariably wore his hat from ear to ear, and whose weird grin matched the slant of the hat. He ambled along and his stock phrase was “I’m only a – Corporal” if you know the description you know the man. The last word of the phrase changed recently to sergeant. A peculiar sight perhaps, but one that will be missed. Sgt. C. Douglas Deane, the station’s eminent photographer returns to England with a few of America’s choicest photographic competition prizes. An expert with birds we wish him good hunting on his return. The station dance band has felt the loss of its drummer and string bass, and “A” Flight it’s comedian, by the posting of F/S. Norman Richardson.
The well represented clan of Scotland has lost another of its number by the departure to Charlottetown of F/Sgt. Robertson, the genial “Robbie” was quite an old timer at Picton.
We are happy to welcome yet another “gonged” flier to Picton, coming to us from the west F/O. Asker, D.F.C., D.F.M., is not among strangers. He has flown on operational sorties with our chief instructor W/Cdr. J. Kennedy, D.F.C.
We extend a cordial welcome to F/Lt. Fenn, medical officder, and F/O. Johnson, engineering officer. A welcome return is given to F/L. Rigg and P/O. Beatson, two ex-operational types from New Zealand. As F/O. Rigg and F/Sgt. Beatson they left Picton a few weeks ago and have returned to us from Pennfield Ridge. Congratulations to them both on their promotion and on being posted back to Picton.
F/Lt. Rither comes to us from 31 S.F.T.S. which is “just up the lake a piece” at Kingston, and from 32 S.F.T.S. (which is not next door as the number might suggest) we welcome Sgt. Ritchie and Sgt. Lewis added to the recent influx of pilots are Sgts. Spikins, Hammel, and Halfacre from 34 S.F.T.S.
Two new faces have appeared in the photographic section, Sgt. Matthews has arrived from Medicine Hat, and Corporal Reynolds said farewell to England recently, and has brought some of the latest gen for his section. Photography is playing a most important part in this war and his up to date knowledge should be of value to those whose duty deals with this subject.
“A DAY IN THE LIFE OF” SERIES
No. 1
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A C.O.
Overture: “Colonel Bogey”.
Curtain
The C.O. of No. 594 B. & G. School is seated at his desk carefully scraping egg off of his tie with an old razor blade. Time 14.30 hours. Year 1975.
Enter the Adjutant, spurs jingling, salutes smartly.
Adj. – “Good morning sir.”
C.O. – “Good morning, put yourself on a charge, you have your hair parted in the middle again.”
Adj. – “Very good sir.”
C.O. – “Well how many charges have we to deal with today?”
Adj. – “1,863, sir.”
C.O. – “Practically the whole station eh! Oh well, send the first one in.”
Adj. – “Sorry sir I can’t, it’s a mutiny and they are barricaded in the cookhouse with all the available arms and ammunition.”
C.O. – “Mutiny eh! What’s the matter with them this time?”
Adj. – “It’s about that airman that you had flogged to death yesterday for having dirty boots, sir. They think that you should have let him off with the rack sir.”
C.O. – “Oh! Is that all? I thought that they were beefing about the food again. Take the S.W.O. on the square and shoot him, that should appease them.”
Adj. – “Can’t sir, no ammunition.”
C.O. – “That’s the trouble with you, always finding difficulties. Alright, throw him to the mob then.”
Adj. – “Very good sir.”
Exit Adjutant.
C.O. goes back to scraping his tie. Five minutes alapse [sic] then a loud roar of voices is heard followed by a horrible scream cut short suddenly.
Enter Adjutant.
Adj. – “Everything is alright now sir they’ve gone back to work.”
C.O. – “Good, what happened?”
Adj. – “They tore him limb from limb sir.”
C.O. – “Too bad, still we all have to make sacrifices in wartime. Give the remains a military funeral.”
Adj. – “I’ll attend to it personally sir.”
C.O. – “Creeping again, eh? Alright you can have a 48 next year. What’s next?”
Adj. – “A.C.2 Plunk interview for a commission sir. He applied 5 years ago, everyone else has interviewed him and he has had the ordeal by fire, it’s your turn now.”
C.O. – “Alright send him in, have to do it somewhen I suppose.”
Exit Adjutant, enter AC.2 Plunk in best blue, prostrates himself before the desk.
C.O. – “AC.2 Plunk, so you want a commission eh?” Laughs fiendishly.
“Alright I’ll give you an intelligence and general knowledge test. Now, who is the most popular man on the station?”
Plunk – “You are sir.”
C.O. – “Good, and who is the most intelligent man on the station?”
Plunk – “You are sir.”
C.O. – “Good, and who is the best looking man on the station?”
Plunk – “You are sir.”
C.O. – “Very good, and are you going to lend me $5?”
Plunk – “Yes sir.”
C.O. – “Excellent, 100 per cent, go and buy a uniform.”
Plunk prostrates himself again and goes to leave the room.
C.O. – “Just a minute, make it a Flight Lieut.’s, you’re promoted. I shall need a new Adjutant, have to get rid of the present one, I can’t stick a yes-man.”
Plunk – “Yes sir.”
Salaams and exits. Enter Adjutant.
C.O. – “What’s next?”
Adj. – “A number of documents for your signature sir.”
C.O. looks at his watch.
C.O. – “Too late now, time for tea. Give them to the Senior Admin., he’s always signing my name on checks, can do it better than I can.”
Adj. – “Very good sir.”
Exit Adjutant. C.O. gazes thoughtfully after him, mutters to himself.
C.O. – “Haven’t thrown anyone to the crocodiles for a long time.”
Puts on hat and exits to strain of “Nearer My God to Thee.”
Curtain
THE LADIES
I’ve taken my fun where I’ve found it;
I’ve rouged an’ I’ve ranged in my time;
I’ve ‘ad my pickin’ o’ sweethearts,
An’ four o’ the lot was prime.
One was an ‘arf-caste widow,
One was a woman at Prome,
One was the wife of a jemadar-sais, (head groom)
An’ one is a girl at ‘ome.
“Now I aren’t no ‘and with the ladies,
For taken them all along,
You never can say till you’ve tried ‘em,
An’ then you are like to be wrong.
There’s times when you think that you mightn’t,
There’s times when you think that you might;
But the things you will learn from the yellow an’ brown
They’ll help you a lot with the white!”
I was a young un at ‘oogli,
Shy as a girl to begin;
Aggie de Castrer she made me,
An’ Aggie was clever as sin;
Older than me, but my first un –
More like a mother she were –
Showed me the way to promotion an’ pay,
An’ I learned about women from her!
Then I was ordered to Burma,
Acting charge o’ Bazaar,
An’ I got me a tiddy live ‘eathen
Through buyin’ supplies of her pa.
Funny and yellow an’ faithful –
Doll in a teacup she were –
But we lived on the square, like a true married pair.
An’ I learned about women from her!
Then we shifted to Neemuch
(or I might ha’ been keeping ‘er now),
An’ I took with a shiny she-devil,
The wife of a nigger at Mhow;
“Taught me the gipsy-folks ‘bolee’; (slang)
Kind o’ a volcano she were,
For she knifed me one night ‘cause I wished she was white,
An’ I learned about women from ‘er.
Then I come ‘ome in a trooper,
‘Long of a kid of sixteen –
Girl from a convent at Meerut,
The straightest I ever ‘ave seen.
Love at first sight was ‘er trouble,
She didn’t know what it were;
An’ I wouldn’t do such, cause I liked ‘er too much,
But – I learned about women from ‘er!
I’ve taken my fun where I’ve found it,
An’ now I must pay for my fun,
For the more you ‘ave known o’ the others
The less will you settle to one;
An’ the end of it’s sittin and thinkin’,
So be warned by my lot (which I know you will not),
An’ learn about women from me!
- Rudyard Kipling
Corporal so-and-so was in S.S.Q. with a badly festered hand which had necessitated two incisions. On one of the daily rounds made by the M.O. the corporal enquired, “Do you think I shall be able to play the piano alright when it’s healed up Sir?” “Why of course Corporal”, replied the M.O. “That’s good,” replied the corporal, “I couldn’t before I came in hospital!”
[page break]
Page Fourteen HILL TOPICS December, 1943
Sport and Entertainment
THE Christmas festivities will soon be upon us and plans are being feverishly put into operation to bring you lots of the old Christmas Spirit, (not the kind that comes out of bottles). A Christmas dance has been fixed for the 22nd of December, in the Armories, and a children’s party which will give you the opportunity to return some of the hospitality that you have enjoyed in the locality, on the 21st of December. This is also being held in the Armories. There are plans going ahead to make some very amusing novelties for the kiddies, so a good time should be had by all.
We hope to make the Christmas dance the best ever, a pretty tall order say those who were at the other Christmas dances in the past, the people who are organizing it think that they can at least try. Well I think we can say that we have had a pretty lively month in the Recreation hall, with such grand shows as the Lifebouy Follies, Hitting the Jackpot, and the Massey-Harris show “Combines”.
The Lifebouy Follies were superb; they seem to improve with every visit. The slick way they put their show over stamps them as first class performers. Those two live wires Pat Rafferty and Jimmy add just the right amount of fun and games without lowering the class. Hitting the Jackpot was also a good show with a lot of smart girls ably led by Mrs. Kenny, that versatile lady with lots of pep. The Massey-Harris “Combines” had something different with the Adagio dancers Meta and St. John, assisted by a very fine chorus of lovelies. This party all work in the Massey-Harris plant during the week and do this entertaining of troops in their spare time.
The Station Concert Party presented a show on Wednesday, 24th November in the Recreation Hall, I think everyone will agree that it was super and anyone who didn’t have aching sides when they left the hall must be a hard man to please, for there were comedians galore, and it was difficult to walk about backstage without treading on one.
W.O. Rieck and Tubby Fields were, of course, the leading lights with their fun and games which knitted the show together. The Orderly Room sketch was good too with Mr. Reick as the “Brains Trust” Chiefie who forgot his pants.
A very good turn was the Western Bro.’s act typical topical songs put over by LAC. Abercrombie and Cpl. Spencer in a manner that brought memories of the pre-war Music Halls and a couple of everybodies’ favourites.
LAC. Abercrombie also did his parson sketch with some variations from last time, and again brought many laughs.
The unusual item in this show was Mr. Green and Sgt. Sleeper with guitar and fiddle, playing square dance music in the rustic manner, which was well received by the audience.
LAC. Cartlidge was wizard on the piano, his three interpretations of “Stormy Weather” were grand, as were his other numbers.
The singers were good; LAC. Hughes’ “Holy City” was particularly fine. By the way I Boobed in the last issue of the Mag by misnaming this man Smith (no it wasn’t the first name I thought of). LAC. Jones sang “Trees” and Richard Tauber’s latest hit “My Heart and I” in splendid manner.
Thanks Mr. Reick and Tubby for a grand show. More! More! is the cry. The airmen’s dances have been still running successfully if somewhat spasmodically and good attendances are reported.
The Whist Drives are like the parson’s egg, good in parts. Why are the attendances so bad? Reasons for it dropped in the right quarter would be appreciated.
We have had some good films lately, and now that we have that second projector, a good picture is not spoiled by those irritating breaks. There are some good pictures due here in the near future.
Well all that remains for me to say is a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
ICE HOCKEY
With the cooler weather approaching, there is the possibility we shall soon be exposed to that all-Canadian game “ice-hockey”. It is suggested that before the season opens all hockey enthusiasts reserve their box seats on the rink adjacent to Headquarters. The rink for “skating only” has been made by Works & Buildings between G.I.S. and the Gaiety Theatre. No hockey sticks will be permitted on this rink so as to leave all possible scope for the headlong tactics of stunning beginners. New lights have been installed on the hockey cushion, and all is in readiness for that first sheet of ice. A meeting of all sections in an inter-section league has been called which resulted in representatives appearing for Works & Buildings, last year’s champions; G.I.S. Instructors, runners-up of last year; the Hospital; the Ranges; Repair Squadron; and the G.I.S. Pupils. The representatives from “down under” (Australians) are planning to “have a go” at this game. From all reports it appears as though there will be six sections interested in an inter-section league. Up to the time of writing the “Cooks and Butchers” of last year have not signified their intentions of icing a team. Possibly they are cooking up something so they can butcher or hack away as they did last year? There will, of course, be an inter-mess league, composed of officers’, sergeants’, corporals’, and airmen’s teams. There will be ample scope for exhibition games between such sections as the “Wingless Wonders”, the “Spitfires”, the “Australians”, the “English”, the “Scotch”, and the “Welsh” players.
Just as soon as the weather permits an ice surface will be produced to all and sundry to experience the “ups and downs” of ice hockey and skating in general. It is not likely we shall be able to commence the inter-section games until the middle of January. Any section interested in a team in the league should prepare a list of players and attend league meetings when they are called. When the season commences make full use of skating facilities, because the season is all too short.
FLOOR HOCKEY
Since the last issue of ‘Hill Topics’ this activity has made some headway, also the odd casuality [sic]. Some hopefuls have turned up for practice games, and have gone away with the thought that the game is a little rough. But as was expected the hardy rugged individuals that like to use their avoir-dupois in a sport stuck it, and are proving very inept in taking up this new sport.
We have tackled R.C.A.F. Trenton, which proved to be a very tame affair, even though we lost it to the tune of 13-2. The outstanding players for Picton were LAC. “Frenchy” Moore, Cpl. Vaukins in goal, and Cpl. Knight as forward. Being the first encounter, the Picton players were content mainly to feel their way around, and pick up the points as they went along.
In our second station game we played on our floor against the experienced team from I.T.S. Belleville, which proved to be a bruising affair. Although Picton lost 15-0, the Canadians were shaken up in more ways than one to realize that the R.A.F. were quite able to take them on at a game that is a half-brother of Canada’s main winter sport. The checking of our team was all that could be expected, but the scoring was fruitless, mainly because until now the R.A.F. players have not developed the technique of lifting the puck off from the floor. Improvement in playing was observed in LAC. Livingstone, Cpl. McKnight, and LAC. Waitson. Without the smart net-minding of Cpl. Vaukins in goal and Cpl. Hawley (who upsets the opponents) the score might have been considerably higher.
Since the above game more potential material has shown up to practices, in the shape and form of the “Anzacs” on the station. They have taken to floor hockey as “dice does to a black man” and will prove a liability to all whom they meet. It is hoped that in future games against other stations we shall render a better account of ourselves, anyway when games are played in the drill hall come along for this sport, and be prepared to turn out for pending practices.
BOXING
Those who like a live show had better make a date for Wednesday, 15th December – there will be a display of boxing in the Drill Hall. It’s going to be an interesting evening, with a team from Mountain View, “squaring up” to a number of our boys, as the main attraction. Trenton have promised to put on several exhibition bouts, and a couple of our own Corporals have promised to give a display.
Boxing has an appeal of it’s own, arising, not just from the satisfaction of being able to use your fists, but mainly from the feeling of well being that only perfect physical fitness can give. The team now in training is showing great enthusiasm, and with the increased facilities available in the Drill Hall, will be able to vary their routine considerably.
If you are interested in learning something about this game, come around to the Drill Hall any Monday or Wednesday evening, and see for yourself what is going on. Get in touch with the officer or N.C.O. in charge, who will tell you how to get into condition, and learn how to use your fists and your feet, and your weight.
Finally, there is one point you must always remember, service boxing is NOT prize fighting. The winner is the man who scores points for quick, clean hitting, smooth foot work, and ability to defend himself, the courage to take a little punishment, and the “guts” to work as hard in the third round as he did in the first.
BADMINTON
At the moment those interested in the art of knocking shuttlecocks around have the use of the courts on Tuesday evenings commencing at 19.15 hours. On Tuesdays all interested may meet in the Drill Hall and arrange games as they desire. It is hoped with a larger area now available in the Drill Hall to locate two or three courts away from the basketball courts, so that players may use the badminton courts on any evening of the week. There is still a shortage of shuttlecocks however, and the amount of playing done will be in proportion to the number of shuttlecocks available.
We have had one inter-station tournament to date, in which Picton did not fare too well, in fact of stations participating Picton was on the bottom rung. However with the next one which is being held on Thursday, Dec. 9th at No. 5 I.T.S., Belleville, we might produce some upsets in the district.
Some badminton enthusiasts and beginners are finding ample scope for playing and social experience by playing with the local Picton club where girls abound. For further details ask F/O. “Jock” Campbell why he is taking up this racquet (racket) game?
[page break]
December, 1943 HILL TOPICS Page Fifteen
RUGBY
Our first game was against the pupils at Mountain View when the team comprised of the players left from last season assisted by pupils. The station won by a large margin of 33-3, thanks to the help of LAC. Hughes. Sad to relate Flight Sgt. Robinson was injured in this game – an injury which kept him out of station rugby for the remainder of the season.
After a practice match the station XV visited Kingston and were badly defeated despite sterling work by F/O. Ellis. This game however served as a very useful lesson to all in that their defence must be more vigilant. Flight Sgt. Wilson sustained a wrist injury in this game which kept him out of active rugby for the rest of the season.
On the following day the station second XV entertained Kingston II and although Kingston again won by a small margin a good hard game was played until bad light drew the game to a premature end.
The outside activity of the game was then marred by the quarantine ban and during this time many very enjoyable games were played between the Officers and Sergeant Messes and the G.I.S. The latter team were most successful thanks to the good work of LAC.’s Wardell, Fellows, Small, Hughes and Lemon and also managed to bring to light some very useful players. What the Officers team lost due to fitness they made up in the experience of W/C. Kennedy, F/L. Sleep and others. During one of these games Sgt. Hayes received a knees injury which kept him out of the game for several weeks, the captaincy of the team being taken over by F/O. Ellis. It was also during this stage of inertia that our players from “down under” arrived and added zest to the games.
On the ban being raised the station XV again visited Kingston in the Command Championship Play-off on 19th October were defeated by 3-11 our score being a splendid kick by LAC. Fellows who unfortunately received a head injury in the last few minutes of the game. LAC. Jenkins also suffered a back injury in this game which rendered him for the rest of the season.
On the 30th October, we visited Mount Hope and after a hard game were defeated 8-6. We were unlucky to loose [sic] LAC. Lemon early in the first half especially as he was playing his best game of the season.
The G.I.S. in the meantime had two games with Mountain View G.I.S. both of which we managed to win mainly due to the good work of LAC. Hughes and some good kicking by LAC. Fellows.
Our last game of the season was against Port Albert at Toronto, on 13th November when we were without the valuable assistance of F/O. Birt, who unfortunately broke his collar bone in a practice game, and LAC. Wardell who had been posted. The game was lost by 4-11 our only score being an excellent drop kick by Sgt. Dix. The whole team played a hard clean game making a fitting close to a successful season and were glad to have such a good body of supporters for an away game.
INTER-SECTION BASKETBALL LEAGUE STANDING TO
NOV. 25/43 INCLUSIVE
[Table]
BASKETBALL
Since the last issue of “Hill Topics” the inter-section league has had many games, and the standard of their sport has been greatly enhanced. Although we commenced the season with 22 teams and now have 19 teams, the competition is keen in each section of the league. Synthetic training, “D” flight air, and the station armoury teams have dropped out of the league. However if any players from these former teams desire to play, they can affiliate themselves to other sections.
To date there has been no attempt made to develop a “station team”, mainly because the scouts or touts have had no opportunity to see all potential hoopsters in action. Anyway those players that merit a try-out for the team will have the opportunity after the Christmas season.
At present, Headquarters rule the roost in the league by defeating Workshops in their last game. With only two reverses which were Maintenance Armoury and G.I.S. Pool the S.H.Q. team have a well balanced passing team, and will prove a threat to any section team. If Sgt. Verney could be on hand more frequently, his team would have a debating member on hand at all times. However, Cpl. “Timber” Wood as coach and scorer is seeing that all of AC. Elsey’s baskets are recorded.
Workshops as runners-up in the league, have proved a surprise team. With LAC. Gill on defence, and
LAC. Lord as a forward, this team proves a menace to teams that cannot keep their pace.
Maintenance Armoury have to date scored more baskets than any other team, mainly through the uncanny shots of our P.T. corporal, Cpl. McKnight. A tip to the other teams – “Why let this player score so many baskets without marking him?” This team has a good side and bags of enthusiasm, but the loquaciousness and perspicacity of some players will in the long run prove a liability to the team as a whole.
The G.I.S. Pool or “Anzac team” have proved themselves to be a winning side, with only one loss to date. With LAC. Hann sick the Aussies lost to Maintenance, 13-20. They have beaten Headquarters 12-14, and Workshops 30-11. With three games in hand over the leaders the “Kangis” will be leading contenders for the top rung.
The dark horse of the league has proven to be 92 Course led by LAC. Jenkinson. Although to date they have not met the league’s leading teams, 92 Course have played with much success against other touted teams. This team have the least number of goals scored against them which speaks well for their defence.
Maintenance with the experience of last season are plodding on up the ladder. Although having very few players they are experienced. With Cpl. Critchley their most persistent scorer off the team, Maintenance will be under some handicap.
Plotting Office with their forceful interceptions and plays have proven to be a robust team led by P/O. Spencer. However, with the fine nearly-unobserved movement of F/Lieut. Moody and P/O. Cook the team are somewhat handicapped by free shots. Cpls. Cooper and Wilson show up best for this team.
“A” Flight coached by AC. Smith, have developed into a fast-moving team, what they lack in size they possess in speed and stamina. The most recent surprise was when AC. Smith scored a winning basket to defeat G.I.S. Instructors 18-16 in the last few minutes of play.
The G.I.S. Instructors’ team have let all and sundry prognosticators down in their standard of play. Although made up of over 90 per cent Canadian personnel their results have proved disastrous and “Lloyds” would have been the losers. From all observations the R.A.F. team have checked them to a standstill, anyway the Instructors should be able to produce more than five players per game. F/O. Ellis shapes up very well and really forgets his rugger tactics.
“D” flight ground team coached by LAC. Paton, have recently suffered some telling reverses. However, the season is young and the experience of the early season should prove fruitful.
94 Course had a good position bequeathed to them by 89 Course but have been gradually slipping. Anyway they are the babies of the league and will progress as time goes on.
Messes are always in there battling, however, with two exceptions (AC. Padgett and AC. Palmer) the team still give a wonderful demonstration that one could expect to see in rugger. Especially the wonderful tackling plays and plunges of LAC. Davey, who still believes he is playing defence on the soccer team. Anyway, Messes, do not be discouraged for your results have been encouraging.
90 Course really should be in a better position than the one they now show. Possibly LAC. Kehoe has been marked too frequently?
Servicing have shown up considerably better than last year led by AC. Gillard, LAC. Dormer, and AC. Julian. They are moulding into a fine team. With their superior height over the average team in the league this section with more passing and shooting practice should go places.
93 Course to date have not accomplished much to date. It is hopeful by the next issue of Hill Topics we shall be able to report better results.
“B” & “C” Flights, mainly because they lack recruits, are not doing as well as was expected, having such players as LAC. Quinn, AC. Reeves, and AC. Brooks from last season. Why not use some of the players from Station Armoury section and have more substitutes?
Police team have proved to be the gamest group of the players, even with their consistent losses. Even when Cpl. Greaves, the tallest player in the loop is around the basket the police cannot find the elusive loop. With a little less charging and more passing to “Lofty” Greaves, police should do better. “Lofty” wants all and sundry players to know that he is not a ladder, and therefore asks all to refrain from crawling up his back.
91 Course and Hospital teams are doing badly now, however if the sections players rally around the team, better results will automatically occur.
TABLE TENNIS
The table tennis tournament that commenced on Monday, Nov. 8th, had a total of fifty-two entrants. The opening games eliminated the budding hopefuls such as F/L. Wallace, P/O. Rootes, F/O. “Jock” Campbell, F/L. Chester, F/O. Spencer. By the time the first round was finished, the more polished player came into his own, but not before some had tussles, LAC. Green lost to LAC. Forbes, Cpl. Whitely lost to Sgt. Johnstone, and for those others that were eliminated they found the pace increasing. LAC. Forbes won through to one of the top brackets of semi-finals by defeating LAC. Chapman. F/O. Thomas showed brilliant form in defeating LAC. Devey to ultimate victory to win a semi-final berth. In the other semi-final position, LAC. Jessop lost to LAC. Philips, and LAC. Burns placed in the other semi-final bracket. After a hard fought match LAC. Forbes beat F/O. Thomas to win a place in the finals, and LAC. Burns defeated LAC. Philips. In the final game, the best three of five sets, LAC. Forbes won in three straight sets to be declared the winner of the first single tournament of the season.
A second tournament was held on November 25th. This time there were only 20 entries, however it included practically all the top-line racquet wielders. One very dark horse showed up in the person of AC. Rogers from W/T. section who defeated the winner of previous tournament, LAC. Forbes in two straight games.
[page break]
Page Sixteen HILL TOPICS December, 1943
THE FALLS OF NIAGARA
Above the falls the wide stream’s path is made
Of striving cataract and steep cascade,
Which hurtling toward the awesome verge brook no delay-
And then the vast amazing sight
Of waters rushing o’er the height
And raising by their foaming might
A steaming crown of spray.
Far, far below upon the rocky floor
From dizzy heights the surging waters roar;
The sight of ages, but forever new-
And from below one can behold
A scene to awe the very bold,
The shaking crash of waters cold
And bows of rainbow hue.
What mighty strength and what colossal power!
About one hundred million tons an hour
Of blue-green water dashes o’er the falls,
Six million horsepower thunders down
The might of nature’s power to crown
Splitting the rocks of deepest brown,
A vision that enthrals.
Our Cousin’s falls a thousand feet are wide,
Three thousand feet is the Canadian side;-
And grandeur, beauty, power go hand in hand,
One-sixty feet they tower in height
Mantled by waters snowy white,
Like crystal in the sunshine bright
Glistening with rainbows in the light
And whether it be day or night
All the deep colours make a quite
Never-to-be-forgotten sight-
The pride of all the land!
- L.M. LEWIS
An A.C.H.G. beseeched his section commander for three days’ leave. Asked for a reason, he explained that his wife had just been made a sergeant in the W.A.A.F.’s. “That’s very nice,” said the Flt.Lt., “but why should you get three days’ leave for you?” “Sir, said the airman earnestly, “I want to do something that every airman has dreamed of doing for the past twenty-five years.”
[Crossword Sketch)
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CLUES ACROSS
1. He arranges dances, but not the one’s named after him. (3,6).
6. Is this the order to end the war? (5,4).
9. If looked at backwards they show a great deal.
10. To avoid, this, or the drill sergeant’s command backwards.
11. Observed.
12. Darwin’s ancestor?
14. They handle loads of trouble.
17. A shelter for the cockney, and his means of travel.
18. This is often shot backwards.
CLUES DOWN
1. The pilot is on his way up.
2. Tells where the bomb drops.
3. Opened by the poet.
4. Frequently visited by the R.A.F.
5. Well-known kites going up.
7. Not a mirage, but the real thing seen looking up.
8. Is he one of the 14 across?
13. Should the maker of this be punished?
15. Large Crowd.
16. A very long time.
SOLUTION TO LAST MONTH’S PUZZLE
ACROSS
(1) Blonde job. (6) Mundi. (7) R.S.M. (9) Rub. (10) A.M.O.S. (11) Byes. (14) I.T.W. (16) M.O.I. (17) ‘Oping. (19) Right, left.
DOWN
(1) Bomb aimer. (2) Own. (3) Drip. (4) Jerry. (5) Bomb sight. 8) Sue. (11) M.T.O. (12) Owing. (15) Boat. 18) Ice.
LOVE’S REFLECTIONS
Low-hung the branches spread,
Embracing us in silver shadows,
Where
We stood,
And loved,
In a moonlit dream,
In a mantle wrapped
In the misty air –
In Central Park not ten yards from the road
And the black, burnt bulk
Of Victoria there,
Gaunt and grim and broken and bare,
Sentinel hailing our world –
A world that’s dead
As the million sons
That she bore and hurled
To a useless death,
For a few . . .
Look not to the stars for answer;
Sigh not for the inaccessible skies.
Gaze down blind youth to your lover;
Look down
To the stars in her eyes . . .
New love, new life.
Oh hail, new world!
And slowly, slowly came the dawn;
But surely spread the rosy hue
Of sunrise, ‘till Victoria stood
Imbued
With a fantastic grace,
Like some forgotten ruin
Of the timeless past,
When men hated and fought.
And from it rose in the misty sky,
Reaching high
And ever higher,
The eternal promise
Of a new day.
- ALLAN BOWDEN
Young Yank officers, now stationed in England, have captivated the hearts of many comely English lasses, so they say. There is the story of one stalwart young American who met a beautiful lady at Blackpool one weekend and had quite a good time. As he bade her a tender farewell, the young lady’s eyes narrowed and she tentatively remarked, “How about a bit of change as a going away present?”
The Yank drew himself up to his full six-foot two. “Young woman,” he remarked sternly, “American officers never accept money from ladies.”
TORCH(URE)
By the Education Officer
A word about the Canadian Committee
This body, initiated by the gift of money from an anonymous donor in England, has as its object the promotion of cultural relations between Canada and the United Kingdom and the spreading of a wider knowledge and better understanding of Canada, both at home and abroad.
With this object in view and seeing that the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan had brought men from Britain and all parts of the Empire to Canada, it made the R.A.F. stations in Canada its primary care and the chief recipients of its benefactions.
Week by week, and month by month regular supplies of periodicals and magazines are sent to messes and reading rooms. “Saturday Night”, “Maclean’s Magazine”, “Canadian Geographical Journal”, “Review of Music and Art”, “Canadian Nature”, “New World”, “National Home Monthly”, “The Listener”, and “London Calling” are among those that reach the messes and reading room at this station.
In addition about sixty new books including novels, poetry, travel and general information about Canada have been sent. These are to be found in the Station Library and are available to all personnel.
Each month a program of films arrives presenting Canadian scenes, Canadian ways of life, Canadian industry and Canada at play. A film dealing with Britain is always included.
The Canadian Committee have also presented the station with a set of reproductions of pictures by Canadian Artists and photographs of Canadian scenes. These now grace the recreation and reading rooms.
It is hoped that full use will be made of these provisions which should make possible for those, whose lot it is to linger here, to gain a very wide knowledge of Canada and her people.
Remarks have been passed on the heights of the paper-stands in the Reading Room.
The aim, of course, as readers of this magazine will appreciate, is to keep the reading of this station on a high level.
[Sketch Cartoon]
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
Hill Topics Vol. 1 No. 2 December 1943
Description
An account of the resource
A newsletter produced by the No 31 Bombing and Gunnery School, Picton, Ontario. It contains stories, mini-biographies of station personnel, poems, reviews of Picton cafes, a pantomime, news and views, sport and entertainment and cartoons.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
31 Bombing and Gunnery School
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
16 printed sheets
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
MLeadbetterJ163970-160421-20
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Ontario--Picton
Ontario
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.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Under review
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Angela Gaffney
air gunner
aircrew
Anson
arts and crafts
bomb aimer
bombing
Boston
Distinguished Flying Cross
entertainment
sport
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1491/28587/PEleyNJ1633.2.jpg
6a4b1d937c4289ae362ae791867cab4c
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1491/28587/PEleyNJ1634.2.jpg
d4770b15b8b3a16b066a9fec1b7f0eed
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
Eley, Jim
Norman James Eley
N J Eley
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
2016-02-29
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
Eley, NJ
Description
An account of the resource
40 items. The collection concerns Jim Eley (163588 Royal Air Force) and contains his memoir and photographs. He trained in Canada and flew operations as a pilot with 514 Squadron.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jim Eley and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
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
Jim Eley
Description
An account of the resource
Two photographs of Jim.
Photo 1 is submitted with caption; “Self Dec. 1943”.
Photo 2 has Jim standing beside a Lancaster tyre and is submitted with caption; “At 514 Sqdn, Waterbeach.”
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two b/w photographs
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PEleyNJ1633,
PEleyNJ1634
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
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.
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
1943-12
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
514 Squadron
aircrew
dispersal
Lancaster
pilot
RAF Waterbeach
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1396/28410/SHookKG195765v10074-0001.2.jpg
52146656498c686d4988b603a1f4240d
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
Hook, Ken
Kenneth Gordon Hook
K G Hook
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
2018-07-04
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
Hook, KG
Description
An account of the resource
53 items. The collection concerns Flying Officer Kenneth Hook DFM (b. 1923, 1335989, 195765 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, documents, photographs, objects and correspondence. He flew operations as an air gunner with 75 Squadron.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Iain Hook and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Iain. With the coming of D Day I am enclosing these details which you might like to keep. After his flying accident in Dec' 43, Dad returned to "ops" in March & after a few cross countries, this was his next unforgettable incident!
(I was on duty in the Operations Room at Mepal at that time,)
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
Covering note from Patricia Hook
Description
An account of the resource
Note is to their son Iain suggesting that he might like to keep the recollections and reflections that she has produced.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Patricia Hook
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Hand written note
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Correspondence
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SHookKG195765v10074-0001
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
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sue Smith
RAF Mepal
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1396/28397/SHookKG195765v10017.2.jpg
c8446a92d72ba4102262c9218cd45702
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
Hook, Ken
Kenneth Gordon Hook
K G Hook
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
2018-07-04
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
Hook, KG
Description
An account of the resource
53 items. The collection concerns Flying Officer Kenneth Hook DFM (b. 1923, 1335989, 195765 Royal Air Force) and contains his log books, documents, photographs, objects and correspondence. He flew operations as an air gunner with 75 Squadron.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Iain Hook and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] NOTE [/underlined]
After the aircraft accident on the 1 December 1943, Ken received six letters from the Mothers of his crew.
They were the same . . . .
Dear Ken,
We were all devastated to hear the news at the loss of our dear Son - .
However, we were so pleased to hear that you were fortunate enough to survive the crash. We send all our good wishes to you at Halton for a very speedy recovery.
Yours [underlined] . . . [/underlined]
(These letters – few lines, were kept by Ken all his life until they just fell apart. It would seem memories can last forever.)
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
Note about letters
Description
An account of the resource
Note concerning letters received by Ken following the crash from the mothers of his crew members.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Patricia Hook
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Hand written note
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
SHookKG195765v10017
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
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
crash
killed in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030001.1.jpg
14df1250d92fd230bea92ad8124b70cf
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030002.1.jpg
79c14e11c5aa169331fd6f262837d4a5
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030003.1.jpg
c2d88b94b82941079edb67f9696dd770
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030004.1.jpg
ba3224402309fb67dc848be56b22a2b0
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030005.1.jpg
a4c4142663d1c29bad111a72b77c4a1a
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030006.1.jpg
8df3e6d1e657235fd41db22ec96f3971
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1490/27550/MMitchellJEF550261-160125-030007.1.jpg
a2cd6a2eacea7b392b328ebf0e27bfc1
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
Mitchell, Mitch
John Ernest Francis Mitchell
J E F Mitchell
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
2016-02-27
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
Mitchell, JEF
Description
An account of the resource
59 items. Flight Lieutenant John Ernest Francis 'Mitch' Mitchell. Joined the RAF as a boy entrant in 1934 and trained as a wireless operator. Flew on Vickers Virginia, Handley Page Heyford and Whitley before the war. Completed an operational tour on Whitley 1939-41. After being rested he flew a second tour of operations as a wireless operator with 207 Squadron before retraining as a pilot post war. Collection contains his flying logbooks, memoires of his air force career and first operations, lists of his operations, correspondence and photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by C A Wood and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[John Mitchell - notes for memoire]
1.
Describe first raid of war 3rd Sept 1939. Leaflets.
Loaded up A/C day before. Work Out details flight & route.
YORK across North Sea & DENMARK. Turn in via KIEL CANAL. OVER GERMANY TURN SOUTH INTO RHUR [sic] HEIGHT 12,000 SEARCH LIGHTS IN VIEW NO SIGN OF FIGHTERS
*LEAFLETS OUT* STARBOARD ENGINE OVERHEATING THROTTLE BACK TO COOL CHECK RADIATORS RAN FOR ½ HOUR AT LOWER TEMP LATER INCREASED AGAIN WENT ON RISING – HAD TO BE STOPPED INCREASE POWER OF PORT.
*PARACHUTE ON*
ONE HOUR TEMP RISING DANGEROUSLY HIGH – DECIDED BALE OUT OR FORCE LAND [deleted]ENGINE HAD TO BE STOPPED[/deleted] OR USED TO LAND
[page break]
2.
GROUND MIST – GETTING LIGHT USED LAST OF ENGINE POWER FOR LANDING BEFORE GOING ON FIRE.
FRENCH GATHERED ROUND A/C GERMAN LEAFLETS SCATTERED PITCH FORKS STICKS STONES CARTED OFF TO GATHERED UP BY ARMY. POLICE HOUSED IN OLD BARN – STRAW DOCUMENTS SECURITY 3 DAYS LATER DH116 FLY LONDON FLYING BOOTS NO HAT LIFT ON MOTOR CYCLE ISSUED RAIL WARRANT BACK TO BASE
[page break]
3.
1) FIRST RAID OF WAR 3 SEPT 1939
2) ENGINE FAILURE FORCED LANDING AMIEN[sic]
3) RETURN BOAC 2 DAYS LATER
4) CONVOY PATROLS WEST OF FRANCE
5) 1940 MINE LAYING CHANNEL KEIL CANAL
6) APRIL NORWAY (PAGE 1) STAVANGER
7) APRIL NORWAY OSLO
8) MAY HOLLAND & GERMANY DESCRIBE PREPARATION FOR RAID
9) JUNE [underlined] ITALY[/underlined] – TURIN ENGINE ICING UP 8 HOURS LIGHTNING – [indecipherable word] OF ICE ST ELMO FIRE PARACHUTES ON
10) JUNE FRANCE 3 – 5 HOURS RECALLED FORCE LANDED GERMANY 6 HOURS TRAINING SCOTLAND
[page break]
4.
11) TO 207 SQUADRON
APRIL 43 DUSSELDORF BOCHUM
JUNE FREIDRICKSHAVER [sic] 9.45 LANDED BLIDA N/AFRICA
JUNE BLIDA TO BASE VIA SPEZIA BOMBS
26 JUNE GELSENKIRKEN [sic] SHOT UP FORCED LANDED COLTISHALL
JUNE 43 BERLIN LEIPZIG GLADBACH [sic]
AUGUST SEPT OCT NOV INVASION PORTS
DEC 43 PARIS FRANCE ANTWERP VISITED SUB PENS
FEB 44 BERLIN LEIPZIG
MARCH SUB PENS “V” SITES
JUNE 45 RHUR[sic] MUNSTER DUSSELDORF
AUG 45 NORTH LUFFENHAM TRAINING
NOV 46 POSTED 91 GROUP MORTON HALL 5 GROUP
5.
9 AUG 48 TO TERNHILL
20 AUG 53 TO 202 SQUADRON ALDERGROVE HASTINGS AIRCRAFT
26 AUG TESTING FOR RUSSIAN ATOM BOMB CLOUDS CAPTAIN FAILURE FORCED LANDED
NOV 53 MARITIME TRAINING ST MAWGAN LANCASTERS
JAN 54 220 SQUADRON ST EVAL SHACKLETON
MAR 54 236 OUT KINLOSS SHACKLETON
JUNE 54 224 SQUADRON GIBRALTAR SHACKLETON
FEB 55 GIBRALTAR EXERCISE FORCED LANDED MALTA
[page break]
6.
10 FEB 55 GIBRALTAR FORCED LAND IN MALTA
16 AUG 55 GIB TO EL ADAM – ENGINE 1 U/S 5.06
18 AUG 55 EL ADAM MAURIPUR
19 AUG 55 MAURIPUR NEGOMBO
6 SEPT NEGOMBO POONA 5.30
8 SEPT POONA MAURIPUR 3.00
9 SEPT MAURIPUR HABBANIYA [sic] 6.30
10 SEPT HABBANIYA[sic] – IDRIS 7.45
11 SEPT IDRIS – GIBRALTAR 6.30
11 DEC 55 MADEIRA – AZORES EXERCISE TWO A/C MISSING AFTER HEARING RADIO
14 MAY 56 FLYING IN SUNDERLAND FROM PEMBROKE DOCK TO GIBRALTAR
15 OCT 56 AT LUQA MALTA HYDRAULIC FAILURE
15 NOV 56 S/L FLOOD LANDING GIB WIPED TAIL WHEEL ON RUNWAY THRESHOLD
OCT 57 POSTED VAMPIRE TRAINING WORKSOP
[page break]
7.
1954 ALGERIA EARTHQUAKE
1955 SUEZ UPSET
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
John Mitchell - notes for memoire
Description
An account of the resource
Notes describing first leaflet sortie, problems with starboard engine, forced landing and activities in France and return to England. Then moves on to 207 Squadron and lists operations and flying after finishing second tour and post war.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
J E F Mitchell
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Seven page handwritten document
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
MMitchellJEF550261-160125-03
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--Kiel Canal
Norway
Norway--Stavanger
Norway--Oslo
Netherlands
Italy
Italy--Turin
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Friedrichshafen
Algeria
Algeria--Blida
Italy
Italy--La Spezia
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Leipzig
France
France--Paris
Belgium
Belgium--Antwerp
Germany--Münster in Westfalen
North Africa
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939-09-03
1940
1940-04
1940-05
1940-06
1943-04
1943-06
1943-08
1943-09
1943-10
1943-11
1943-12
1944-02
1944-03
1945-06
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
207 Squadron
bombing
forced landing
mine laying
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1576/25898/PDentonDH20036.2.jpg
ed737fb0c92aaf1964942e5e7d68e8fc
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1576/25898/PDentonDH20037.2.jpg
18d363d0f445c6723c5ec74d2e7068f6
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
Denton, Dennis Hugh
D H Denton
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
2020-01-14
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
Denton, DH
Description
An account of the resource
59 items. The collection concerns Dennis Hugh Denton (b. 1920, 1256316 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, album and photographs. He flew 62 daylight operations with 21 and 226 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Angela Sadler and Pamela Hickson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
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
Ted Bellis and Ted Pennill
Description
An account of the resource
Standing in front of small private car parked in a field, buildings, trees in background, on reverse 'Ted Bellis and Ted Pennil approx December 1943'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PDentonDH20036, PDentonDH20037
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
aircrew
observer
pilot
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1576/25890/PDentonDH20042.2.jpg
eaf6f8a72d7c668e738a49cec1411a63
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1576/25890/PDentonDH20043.2.jpg
c46d2b7d113d98ab9c94a7f451d9e65d
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
Denton, Dennis Hugh
D H Denton
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
2020-01-14
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
Denton, DH
Description
An account of the resource
59 items. The collection concerns Dennis Hugh Denton (b. 1920, 1256316 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, album and photographs. He flew 62 daylight operations with 21 and 226 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Angela Sadler and Pamela Hickson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
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
Ted Pennill and Ted Bellis
Description
An account of the resource
Two aircrew standing under centre section of an aircraft, on the reverse, 'Looking left to right, on left Ted Pennill on right Ted Bellis, approx December 1943'.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PDentonDH20042, PDentonDH20043
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
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.
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
1943-12
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
aircrew
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1612/24527/MCothliffKB[Ser -DoB]-151020-120003.pdf
5c119710c996380c0a81d48dbade8a68
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
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. 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
Cothliff, K
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
Flying Control Log book
Description
An account of the resource
A record of events and their times at RAF Tholthorpe for the period 26 November 1943 to 25 January 1944 (61 pages).
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
61 handwritten pages
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCothliffKB[Ser#-DoB]-151020-120003
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
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.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11
1943-12
1944-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
RAF Tholthorpe
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1612/24525/MCothliffKB[Ser -DoB]-151020-13-01.pdf
b7dec0ab567900caf1926b0c0d8ee57c
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1612/24525/MCothliffKB[Ser -DoB]-151020-13-02.pdf
29223c98c34923dee6a7e4be26213561
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
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. 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
Cothliff, K
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Underlined] LK 963. [/underlined]
[Underlined] CONTROL OFFICER’S LOG [/underlined]
[Underlined] JULY 1ST – 1943 [/underlined]
[Page break]
A.R.P. Controller – Telephone Easingwold 288
Local Police – Helperby 213
Local A.R.P. – Mr. Webster – Main Street Tholthorpe
CLERK OF WORKS EXT. 8 OR 12-1
[Page break]
This log is to be kept daily by the D.F.C.O. It should contain all events of importance. Times of occurrences must in all cases be noted. An effort should be made to write clearly and concisely. As this type of scribbler is the only thing available for log keeping, special care will have to be taken, so that our diary remains neat and tidy.
H.G. Austin F/L.
Dear Diary:- You should have been opened on the day our party of five arrived, namely June 19TH. But you were unobtainable from an Orderly Room which then didn’t exist. Today, July 5TH you were born, thanks to F/O Hancock, the Met. Officer, on the promise of the return of your twin, should we ever get same and remember.
Tholthorpe has grown gradually. The days events since June 19TH have consisted of work, more work & bl-- little sleep. Sunday June 20TH, was a Red letter day, for at 1345 hours an ANSON EG120 was the first aircraft to land. The next few days saw the first four Halifaxes make their appearance. The balance of the time has been industriously spent preparing equipment and offices. In cases where much-needed articles were not obtainable, they have been scrounged, borrowed or built from materials which appeared suddenly on the horizon. Much work remains to be done. Much work will be done. You, Dear Diary, will record from this day, all the main events of R.C.A.F. Tholthorpe, its happenings, its operations and its – Well, you can tell the rest:-
[Page break]
[Underlined] Tuesday – 6TH July 1943. [/underlined]
1415 The first Squadron a/c O 434 (F/L Lytel) took off.
[Underlined] Wednesday 7TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Flying all day. Sgt Bowker & Lac Stubbs (U/T A.F.C.) and Lac Mount A of W. arrived for duty.
[Underlined] Thursday 8TH July 1943. [/underlined]
Some flying.
[Underlined] Friday 9 TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Quiet. LAC Hanley arrived for pre-FCO instruction.
[Underlined] Saturday 10TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Quiet.
[Underlined] Sunday 11TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Six new aircraft arrived during afternoon.
[Underlined] Monday 12TH July 1943 [/underlined]
One new aircraft landed. Some squadron flying also two visiting a/c who were lost.
[Underlined] Tuesday 13TH July 1943. [/underlined]
One new aircraft landed. Local flying.
[Underlined] Wednesday 14TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Quiet day
[Underlined] Thursday 15TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Quiet day
[Underlined] Friday 16TH 1943 [/underlined]
Bags of fighter affiliation
[Underlined] Saturday 17TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Some local flying. Tiger Moth landed on grass. Reported surface O.K.
[Underlined] Sunday 18TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Some local flying. Sgts. Abbott, Tidmarsh and Shacklady arrived for A.F.C. duties post course Watchfield.
[Underlined] Monday 19TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Quiet day.
[Underlined] Tuesday 20TH July 1943. [/underlined]
Two more new aircraft. Some flying.
[Underlined] Wednesday 21st July 1943 [/underlined]
Six aircraft on local flying. Biggest effort so far.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Thursday 22nd July 1943 [/underlined]
Tiger Moth (T7737) allotted to station. F/O Taylor arrived from Linton on attachment.
[Underlined] Friday 23rd July 1943 [/underlined]
Biggest day so far. Seven a/c up on local flying Five new a/c arrived during afternoon.
1758 First a/c off on practice operation. Eleventh off 1810.
1915 Eleventh & last a/c [deleted] off [/deleted] landed. Average time 2 mins 05 secs.
[Underlined] Saturday 24TH July 1943 [/underlined]
Air-to-air firing, x-countries and one new aircraft caused an interesting day. N 434 landed at Pershore with engine trouble.
[Underlined] Sunday 25TH July 1943 [/underlined]
More x-countries. W 434 went to Pershore to take ground crew to repair N & went U/S too.
1425 Report of a crashed aircraft SE of us received from Linton. Later proved to be one of Topcliffe’s. (Crew all killed.)
2252 T 434 off on X country
2255 A 434 off on X country
2257 E 434 off on X country
2315 F 434 started C’s & B’s. First landing at night made at 2325.
2336 F 434 finished C’s & B’s.
0029 T 434 finished X country. Overshot twice
0033 E 434 finished X country. No R/T.
0047 A434 finished X country. Overshot twice. (Bags more grey hairs
[Underlined] Monday 26TH July 1943. [/underlined]
1448 N 434 returned from Pershore.
2253 U434 started C’s & B’s. Flarepath No 24.
2257 D434 started C’s & B’s.
0109 U 434 finished night flying.
0123 D434 finished night flying.
[Underlined] Tuesday 27th July 1943 [/underlined]
1320 W 434 arrived back from Pershore.
2 A/C on X-countrys. 1 on Bombing & 1 on height test (21,000’ easy)
17.45 V. F/O. Hanson landed from Middleton as he could not get his [missing words] after take-off. A/Cr. O.K. so returned immediately [obscured words] Documents CD209-No125. CD0261-No1525 and CD260-No [obscured words]
[Page break]
[Underlined] Wednesday 28TH July 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch – Runway 28
1315 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 10.
1520 Runway changed to No.24.
1715 All flying finished. Watch closed.
[Underlined] Thursday 29TH July 1943 [/underlined]
0845 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 28.
13:00 F/O Taylor on Watch – Runway 28.
1806 Day flying finished = 4 on Cross Country tonight.
1930 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Gooseneck & glim lamp flarepath laid
2152 T 434 off on night X-country.
2154 D 434 off on night X-country.
2202 E 434 off on night X-country.
2203 S 434 off on night X-country.
[Underlined] Friday 30TH July 1943. [/underlined]
0057 T 434 landed from X-country. Base informed
0108 D 434 landed from X-country. Base informed
0141 S 434 landed from X-country. Base informed
0150 E 434 landed from X-country. Base informed
0900 F/O Taylor on watch. Runway 28 = Wind – Light & Variable.
1315 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 10 = QAN – E’ ly light.
1930 F/O Taylor on watch = Runway 10 Gooseneck & glim flarepath.
2125 A.V.M. Brooks landed in Phoenix & left again for Linton.
2232-2236. D, G, U, & O. off on Bullseye.
2259. E. took off for Bombing at Strensall.
[Underlined] Saturday 31st July 1943. [/underlined]
0023 E returned from Bombing & carried on C & B. till 0109.
0157 G landed after doing one overshoot.
0220 O landed after doing two overshoot.
0230 D not shown up, started chasing base.
0234 2nd class fix on Hull, acknowledged 54°49N. 03°02W.
0248 2nd class fix on Hull acknowledged 54°38N. 02°47W.
0254 2nd class fix on Hull acknowledged 54°27N 02°33W.
0310 An A/C passed over from NW heading SE. Put out a call for Ragman D but received no answer.
0330 Ex=Base= Group working on it.
Ex=Base= Group say R.O.C. plotted him over Linton at 03.00
[Page break]
0420 Base advise D/434 landed at [underlined] Cork [/underlined] Radio U/S No landing time given. = Search light recalled. Flare-path doused. R/T off.
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 16 – QAN SE’ly 10+ mp.h.
1313 D 434 returned from Cork.
1315 F/O Taylor on Watch – Runway 16 – QAN SE’ly. 15+ mph. A flt advise D landed Cork at 03.30.
1830 All day flying finished – Watch Closed.
[Underlined] Sunday 1st August. [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. - #24. Runway = SW ly. S
1300 F/L Austin on Watch.
1530 Runway changed to No. 16 – Varying S by E to SE – gusty.
2000 F/O Taylor on Watch. = Runway 24 = Gooseneck & glim flarepath
2226-2303. P. O. C. & A. took off for night bombing exercise.
2333. O landed O.K. followed by P, C. & A. (Searchlight U/S)
[Underlined] Monday 2nd August. [/underlined]
0006 2 flares seen to the West: probably mortars.
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 24 – S-SW 20-25 MPH. Monthly report for July forwarded to G/C.
1135 Runway changed to No. 28 - QAN – WSW to W’ly.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1600 4 A/C on A/S/Rescue. ETD. 17:00 hrs. E.T.A. 19:38
1705 L/434 off on A/S./R. Landed 20:11
1715 U/434 off on A/S.R. Landed 19:58
1721 O/434 off on A/S/R
1743 G/434 off on A/S/R.
1958 U/434 landed from A/S/R.
2011 L/434 landed from A/S/R.
2139 G/434 landed from A/S/R.
2144 O/434 landed from A/S/R.
F/Lt Austin on Duty.
2221 T/434 off on Night Bombing
2228 V/434 off on Night Bombing
2338 T/434 Landed from Night Bombing
2347 V/434 landed from Night Bombing.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Tuesday August 3rd, 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor on watch. Runway 34. QAN WNW-N-W. 8-10 backing.
1052 W/Co Newsome took off in B. = First 431 A/Cr to go up.
12.45 Changing runway to 28. Wind light mainly W.ly.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
8 A/Cr for Bulls-eye tonight. ETD. 22:15. ETA. 01:56.
2000 F/O Taylor on Watch. Wind forecast Easterly No 10 flarepath laid.
2221 D – 1st A/Cr off. QFE = 1011.
2230 7th A/Cr off. S failed to go. = Undercarriage trouble
2245 D – landed. = returned with “Gyro” trouble.
[Underlined] Wednesday 4th August 1943. [/underlined]
0221 F landed from Bullseye.
0226 T landed from Bullseye.
0235 G. did an overshoot; after failing to line-up on first attempt.
0239 U landed from Bullseye.
0242 P did an overshoot.
0245 G did another overshoot.
0250 E landed from Bullseye.
0250 P & G diverted to Linton.
0304 P & G re-diverted to East Moor.
0318 G Landed at East Moor.
0325 P landed at East Moor.
0330 Three a/c are detailed for Air Sea Rescue at 0615 hrs.
0530 Time of takeoff for A.S.R. postponed to 0900 hrs.
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 28 N W’ly under 5 MPH.
0920 F 434 off on A.S.R.
0930 T 434 off on A.S.R. V 434 scrubbed –(mag drop)
1228 T 434 landed from A.S.R.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1316 F 434 landed from. A.S.R.
1330 Runway changed to 10. Wind light but mainly Easterly.
1533. G 434 returned from East Moor = left there 15:11
1656 P 434 returned East Moor left there 16:40
[Underlined] Thursday, 5th August 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor on watch.
1020 Group stand down tonight
1020 Runway 10: E to ESE. 5-10. mph.
[Page break]
[Deleted] Wednesday [/deleted] Tuesday 10TH August 1943 (Continued)
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 10 QAN SE’s – under 5 MPH.
1145 Eight a/c for tonight.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1445 Runway changed to 24. QAN. S – SW. 5-10 mph.
1930 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 28
1950 Scrubbed. – Aircraft unable to be ready in time.
[Underlined] Wednesday 11 August 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor in Watch.
Halifax E-NA 428 Sqdn. (EB210.) (F/S Newton) landed here about 0600 hrs. on 2 motors. ? short of petrol. Crew were taken over to Linton.
10.00 Not required tonight.
Further note re: above Halifax = Linton had given him “Pancake.” After he had landed they heard him very faintly asking where to disperse. Called our exchange operator, who marshalled A/Cr in front of W/O. Linton sent transport over for crew.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch - Runway 34 QAN NW’ly 10+ MP.H.
1526 E/428 left for Middleton St. George.
[Underlined] Thursday 12TH August 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/Lt Auston on Watch. Runway 28 – W’ly light.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
10 A/Cr for tonight
1500 F/O Stephenson and P/O Lister reported for Flying Control Officer duties.
2000 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
2115 [Underlined] First a/c V434 (F/O Tyler) off on operations. [/underlined] 1st OP.
2128 Tenth & last a/c airborne. (A couple of phews.)
[Underlined] Friday 13TH August 1943. [/underlined]
0046 P 434 returned early. Overload tank U/S.
0305 Runway changed to No. 16 – QAN – SSE’ly 5-10 MPH. Wind strengthening.
0459 Base advise E434 is landing at Boscombe Down short of petrol & engine U/S.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Friday 13TH August (Continued [/underlined]
0515 Runway changed to No. 10 QAN SSE under 5 M.P.H.
0525 E434 landed at Middle Wallop. Short of Petrol – Port outer U/S.
0550 M434 landed at West Malling. Short of Petrol – (O.K.)
0600 R434 landed at Middle Wallop. Short of Petrol – Engine U/S
0615 G434 landed at Great Ashfield. Short of Petrol – (O.K.)
0650 T434 landed at Sherburn-in-Elmet – Short of Petrol – (O.K.)
0739 Ops-Int – inform L434 landed at Ford at 0615.
Three a/c returned to base. All o.k.
(What a night – definitely Friday 13TH).
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. Runway 28.
09:44 T434 landed from Sherburn-in-Elmet = Left there 0920
10:30 Ex. Int. Not required tonight.
12:18 L 434 landed from Ford = left there [deleted] 12:18 [/deleted] 10:51.
13:00 Runway 24. Wind SW-S.SW- 10mph.
15:21 M. landed from West Malling.
1545 Runway 28. Wind WSW-W – 15mph.
1651 G. landed from Great Ashfield.
1842 R landed from Middle Wallop. Left there 17:25.
A/C Wolfe attached from Linton for pre-Flying Control course duties.
[Underlined] Saturday 14TH August 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/O Stephenson on duty – Runway 28 – QAN – W’ly 10+
0943 Ambulance despatched to D434. Accident occurred. Reported by R/T. Some person with broken ankle.
1005 Stand down tonight.
1047 Spitfire P7613 landed from [deleted] Dalton [/deleted] Rufforth S/L Lashbrook.
1048 W 434 sqd. off on F/A and B exercise.
1055 Workman crossed in front of Spitfire whilst he was touching down on R/W. Report made by Pilot.
1059. P 434 sqd. airborne on air test.
1107 X 434 sqd. airborne F/A and B exercise.
1144 P 434 Sqd. landed from exercise.
1149 W 434 Sqd. landed from exercise.
13.00. On duty Lister P/O. Off duty F/O. Stephenson.
15.25 Linton ‘phoned “Can we take one of their a/c. They have a prang on runway. O.K. Two a/c. V426 & J426 landed here, Linton sent a crew to de-bomb “V”.
[Page break]
1630 F/O Stephenson on duty. P/O Lister off duty.
1653 R 426 sqd Linton landed here debombed.
[Underlined] Sunday 15th August, 1943. [/underlined]
09.00 On duty Lister P/O. Runways and perimeter tracks inspected. O.K.
09.20 Secret and Confidential documents checked. C.D.260. C.D.209 S.D.110. C.D.0261. A.P.3024.
10.10 We are not required to-night. Ex Int.
10.50. We are required for 6 Bullseyes to-night. Ex Int. Further information when available.
13:00 F/O Taylor on Watch.
16.45. Off duty F/O Taylor. On duty Lister P/O.
18.00 Inspected Runways, perimeter tracks and dispersals & found all O.K.
1900 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 28.
2000 Bullseye scrubbed. Possible cross country same route.
2025 Cross country same route as Bullseye. F scrubbed.
2030 Cross country scrubbed.
20.36. Definitely scrubbed. Ex Int. Flarepath called in.
Monday 16th August 1943.
0900 F/O Stephenson on duty.
Wind light and easterly. R/W 10 in use.
0930. Aerodrome inspected. O.K.
1000 Stand down to-night.
1110 Wind light and now S. Westerly R/W 28 in use.
1500 M.U.A. Halifaxes from Topcliffe landed here. Thunder storm over Topcliffe & Dalton. Put in here till it passes.
1640 Guard Room called us for ambulance. Ambulance proceeding to #2 hanger. Will establish the call and accident.
1715 Ambulance reported back. Had picked up airman, who had fallen off ladder, & took him to M.I. Bldg. M.O. attending him.
1812 All three Halifaxes returned to Topcliffe.
[Underlined] Tuesday 17th August, 1943. [/underlined]
09.00 On duty Lister P/O. Runway 10 in use. QAN E-SE.
09.30. Inspected Runways and perimeter tracks, dispersals. All O.K.
[Page break]
09.35 Checked Secret and confidential documents. AP3024. C.D.0261. SD0110. C.D.260.209.
10.50. We are required for 10 aircraft to-night. Ex Int.
1445. Main Briefing 19.00 hrs. Ex Int. C/S. Q3J
16.10. Aircraft over York with R/T on “send”. Any amount of “careless talk.” Position of Royal Ordnance factory 280° from York, making truck parts. York a small town with tremendous marshalling yards. Proceeds with instruction of a pupil on how the aircraft flies, etc. Pilot’s name, apparently is “Cliff.” A conversion unit aircraft. Passed gen on to Linton who have contacted Group.
16.30 Halifax aircraft GV-T passed over here with R/T on transmit heard pilot say to pupil “O.K. She’s all yours now.” S.D.110. gives this aircraft as 1652. Conversion Unit.
1930 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Flarepath laid on No. 10.
19.30 ETD. 21.15. ETA 04:24hrs.
20.50. “W” scrubbed “U” substituted – leak in overload tank.
21.12 “P” 434 First a/c. airborne. 10th & last a/c. airborne “U”. 21.24 hrs. QAN E. R/W. 10.
2124 Tenth & last a/c off on operations. Average time – 1 1/5 minutes
23.09 “Darky” Call received from “Downpit” Yoke. Answered by Linton [deleted] and [/deleted] who gave permission to land. Strength 5. Starboard engine trouble.
23.12. Tripod “X” called Linton for permission to land. Given O.K. as “Downpit” “Y” was at 7,000ft. Instead of circling Linton, “Downpit” [deleted] us [/deleted] circled us. Linton lost touch with “Tripod” X, but eventually managed to land him.
23.31. Unknown aircraft given green to land here. [Underlined] Landed at 23.39. [/underlined]
23.45. Despatched our van to “U”’s dispersal who discovered that the above named aircraft was 434/U who had returned with his electrical system U/S.
2355 A.R.M. Purple.
00.10. A.R.M. Red. [Underlined] Wednesday 18TH August 1943 [/underlined]
0059 A.R.M. White.
0312 Base advise that 6 Group have diverted our a/c to Newmarket (3 Group) on last broadcast.
0442 D434 landed Newmarket
0452 L 434 landed base.
0455 F 434 landed base
0458 C 434 landed Newmarket
0504 S 434 landed Newmarket.
[Page break]
0517 P 434 landed West Wickham.
0630 Contacted Newmarket & instructed C, D & S. aircraft to return.
0715 Contacted West Wickham & instructed P 434 to return.
0800 Nothing heard of G (Sgt Johnston), M (F/O Colquhoun) or T (F/S Piper).
0828 D434 landed from Newmarket. = Left there 07:28
0830 On Watch F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson.
0847 P-434 landed from West Wickham.
0858 C-434 landed from Newmarket. Left there 07:39
0905 Base – QDM. 011° to S-434 at 0853.
0920 S-434 landed from Newmarket. Left there 08:00
0940 Standown To night.
1000 Runway 28. QAN. SW-Wly 5-10 mph.
[Underlined] Thursday 19th August, 1943. [/underlined]
09.00 On duty Lister P/O.
0935 Inspected Runways and Perimeter tracks. Picked up two bricks dropped by contractors.
09.40 Runway in use – No. 24. QAN [deleted] NE- [/deleted] SW’ly 5-10
10.50. We are required for 12 aircraft to-night. Ex Int.
1300 F/Lt Auston on Watch.
16.45 On duty Lister P/O.
16.56 Ops scrubbed. Ex Int.
17.22 Master II A/B for Digby. G/C McNab aboard. Signalled. S/Ldr Bartlett, pilot.
18.40. Office locked up. Off duty Lister P/O.
Friday 20th August 1943
0900 F/O Stephenson F/O Taylor on duty. Runway 16.QAN SE. 10.
0915 Met forecast of winds increasing to 35 M.P.H.
1012 Possible Bulls Eye to-night.
1420 Bulls Eye – 6 a/c 434 sqd. – 2300-0500 A/C to marshal for take off.
1530 Tunnels & Flare paths on 16-34 now serviceable.
1545 R/W 24 in use Wind S. Westerly.
1625 Bulls eyes scrubbed.
[Page break]
Drem lights on Runways 16-34 and respective funnels now in operation.
[Underlined] Saturday 21st August 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/L Austin & P/O Lister on Watch Runway 16 –
1010 Stand down tonight.
Note:- A notebook with local F.C. instructions is now in the small drawer. All Control officers will read & initial each order. This book should be consulted when first signing on Watch in case new instructions have been made.
Note 2:- A Suggestion book is also available. Officers are encouraged to write in this book any suggestion that will improve our office or its operation.
1415 Runway changed to No. 24 QAN – SW’ly – 5-15MPH.
[Underlined] Sunday 22nd August 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor, F/O Stephenson on duty. Q.A.N southerly 5-10 R/W 16 in use.
1015 12 A/Cr for tonight. Briefing 18:00 hrs.
1045 Runway changed to 24. QAN. WSW. 5-10.
1800. Take-off time 21:10 – ETA. 0235 C/S DM8.
2000. Runway 28. = with goosenecks 1st 6. & 12th.
2110 =2129 12 A/C 434 airborne on “Ops”. L replaced A. Mag Drop. D replaced N. inter-com u/s.
2200. A/Cr circling us. Heard Linton give their T. pancake. Contacted then & this A/Cr proved to be theirs, & they called him home.
23:52. Fix on D 434. Hull. 1st class 5235N 0038E 23:36.
[Underlined] Monday 23rd August 1943 [/underlined]
0001 Another Fix D434. Hull 2nd class. Ack. 52.08N 0003W. 23:39.
Fix on D 434 Hull. 3rd class 52°36N 0115E. 23:57
[Page break]
0010 Base request all lights turned on a/c about 20 mls N.W. – S.O.S.
All we have are on.
0020 Int. – D for Dog – [indecipherable] U/S.
0053 D 434. Landed OK = with load.
0101 O 434 landed OK. = [Deleted] Did [/deleted] Asked for a rt-handed circuit. = No Nav lights.
0202 U/434 1st A/Cr up on R/T.
0239 C/434 landed, All but V & P now safely back.
0245 C/434 called for help, bomb container dropped on Runway.
0255 A.F.C. reports Incendiaries on Runway; advised Int, who are passing this on to Armament Officer.
0249 QDY to V/434
0259 V/434 up on R/T. Had to stand-by till Runway clear.
0315 V/434 given Pancake. Did one overshoot due to u/c trouble.
0327 V/434 landed OK. – Turned him back runway to his own dispersal.
0430 Nothing from P 434. = Flare-path doused.
0900 On duty Lister P/O. Runway 28 QAN SWly.
10.00. Inspected Runways and Perimeter tracks, dispersals. O.K.
10.05. We are required for to-night – perhaps 11 aircraft. Ex Int.
1300 F/L Austin on Watch. Runway 24.
1549 Third a/c landed from Leeming. (AL/K JD164, AL/X JB967 & AL/O JD273 borrowed)
1632 Main briefing 1800 hrs.
1655 Runway changed to 28.
18.28 Be prepared for take-off at 20.00 hrs.
18.55. Runways Perimeter Tracks and Dispersals inspected.
2024 First a/c off on operations.
2047 Twelfth & last a/c off on operations. X, U, O, and S scrubbed
2217 L 434 returned early – artificial horizon U/S.
2309 K 434 returned early – Severe icing – Unable to climb.
2326 K 434 returned early – Intercomm U/S
2331 D 434 returned early – Engine trouble.
[Underlined] Tuesday 24TH August 1943 [/underlined]
0020 Phoned Base to determine if any further word had been received on X’ 434 – (Fix at 2250 hrs.) Nothing heard.
[Page break]
0042 Fix on X’434 now identified as having been obtained by K’434.
0054 X’434 returned early (From where or who got the fix I don’t [sic] know.)
0119 Base informed C434 landed Coltishall at 2310 with engine trouble
0419 Fifth & last a/c landed. V434 (S/L McLernon) missing.
0515 Visibility 1500 yds. Arranged with base to land V at Linton should it come.
0530 Flarepath doused.
[Deleted] Wednesday 25th August 1943. [/deleted]
0900 F/O Stephenson & F/O Taylor on duty.
[Deleted] 0 [/deleted] R/W 28 in use. Q.A.N. very light.
0920 Runways etc inspected.
1015 Standown to-night.
1130 O/431 while taxying towards runway, went off track near No 2 hanger, over a tree stump & damaged undercarriage. Resident engineer checking on stump.
1430 R/W 10 in use now. QAN Light Easterly.
1552 431 Sqd. A. landed with 3 motors. No R/T Green light given.
[Underlined] Wednesday 25th August, 1943. [/underlined]
09.00 On Duty Lister P/O Runway 10. QAN. E-ly. Changed to R.16.
1010 Not required tonight.
10.20 Inspected Runways & Perimeter Tracks. Perimeter tracks getting stony.
1035 Phoned base re a Spitfire which flew northerly after flying low over our aerodrome during rainstorm.
[Deleted] 1055 We are required to-night [/deleted]
Thursday 26th August 1943.
0900 F/O Stephenson & F/O Taylor on duty
0910 R/W in use Wind Northerly very light
[Page break]
0930 R/Ws & Perimeter Track inspected
1055 We are required to-night.
1130 Runway changed to 16, QAN SSE. -5-10
1135 Ops cancelled.
1147 X/AL returned to Leeming.
1200 SD.229 Copy No 1069. received from Cypher Officer.
[Underlined] Friday 27th August 1943 [/underlined] CIV
0900 F/L Austin & P/O Lister on Watch – Runway 28.
09.25. Inspected Runways, Dispersals & Perimeter tracks O.K.
10.15 We are required to-night. Ex Int. 10/A/C.
1020 Linton base phoned to see if we could take six Lancasters for C’s & B’s this morning. Otiss A, E, F, G, S and T.
19.45. Inspected Runways, Perimeter tracks & Dispersals. All O.K.
2030 Runway 28 laid.
20.45 No.5. drem-light u/s. Stbd side. 28 R/W.
20.54 First aircraft off on ops.
21.10 Last a/c. off on ops. Average take off time:- 1 min 6 secs per aircraft.
21.25 Phoned Linton re u/s Fire Tender. Unable to take any Crash Action.
23.36. Fix on W/434. 52°41”N. 01°29”E. E.T.A. 00.40.
[Underlined] Saturday 28th August, 1942. [/underlined]
00.54. W/434 returned early.
0513 – First a/c landed from ops.
0538 – Last a/c landed. X434 (SGT THOULD) missing.
0830 On Watch F/O Taylor.
0851 D/434 landed from Ford. No warning. – Raining, viz about 1500 yds. (Left there 0730)
0930 Phoned Clerk of Works re u/s Drem light. #28. Fire laddie reports MT section sending u/s Fire Tender to Linton, trying to get a replacement.
1013 B/434 landed from Ford. No warning. Still raining, viz about 1500 yds. Rushed out 4 money flares, contacted base, to have Linton beacon & contact strip available. (Left Ford 08:44)
1023 Not required tonight.
1045 No 28 Drem now all OK.
1212 Capt. Francis A.T.A. landed in Anson. After conferring with Met. took off for Sherburn 12.54
1600 Switch Board now in operation; 2 PBX lines. 1 lie line to base. Extensions 1 to G/C. 3- F/C. 6 Int. 7 Met. 8 O/C 434.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Note:- [//underlined] Effective 0900 hours 29TH Aug 43 the Control officers & staff will observe a 24-hour watch. The hours of duty shall be from 0830-1300 hours; 1300-1900 hours; 1900-0830 hours Whenever possible the hours of duty for staff personnel will observe similar times but variation may be permitted when there is little flying.
[Underlined] Sunday 29th August, 1943. [/underlined]
09.00 Lister P/O. On duty Runway No. 28.
10.00. Stand Down to-night.
11.10 L/434 has large cut in tyre. Passed to 434 Eng. O. and asked him to ring Silverstone
1225 Silverstone advise Engineer two engines on L need checking.
1236 Money flares sent out to assist K434 landing.
1247 K434 landed from Tangmere.
14.45. Runway 24 in use.
[Underlined] Monday 20th August, 1943. [/underlined]
0830 On Watch F/O Taylor. F/O Stephenson.
Runway 28. QAN. WSW. 15-20 mph, veering Wly 15-20. Gusty.
0945 Contacted S.L.E. & S.L.A. re Accommodation for Duty Crew. 9 men reported here from 431 sqdn for week Aug 30 – Sept 5.
1000 Required for tonight. – 9 A/Cr.
1040 Contacted Silverstone for F/L Thomson, instructing L/434 to return just as soon as possible.
1500 Briefing 2100 hrs.
2000 Flarepath & taxying track laid for Runway 28.
2115 Funnel lights 28 & 10 u/s. Reported to Works & Bricks.
2200 Funel [sic] lights now OK.
2343 Everything in readiness for take off.
2348 K/434 off on operations.
2357 O/434 7th A/Cr. off on operations.
2358 A.F.C. reports D. taxied into tail end of U.; U apparently had not moved from point where he was marshalled. – Nobody hurt.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Tuesday 31st August 1943. [/underlined]
0100 D piled up on top of U. Will not be removed till morning. Now 130 yards from main runway. Trying to debomb U. Cannot do D. Base have been kept informed of this.
0135 An A/Cr flew down our goose-neck flare patch. Heard Linton giving Pancake to their E, so phoned them about this one. After another run at our flarepath ACP gave him a Rad & he headed for Linton.
0420 Ex Base. N/434 has identified on MF/DF.
0431 A/434 first A/Cr. landed safely.
0500 Ex Base. O/434 landed at Ford. [Inserted] 04.25 Flt. Engineer Wounded.
0545 Nothing heard from K/434. Quite light now so gathering up flarepath equip.
0640 Ex Group. re O/434 at Ford. Badly shot up with flak. Holes in wings. F/E not seriously wounded. Pilot says engines are ropey & doubts that he will be able to return today.
0645 Ford phoned “O/434 did attack primary target. Hit by cannon shell & flak. F/E not seriously wounded, but in hospital for observation.”
09.00 On duty Lister P/O. Runway 28.
10.15 We are required to-night.
10.37 Ordered 434/B to return to dispersal on authority of Group & Sqdn. Eng. Crew are to take 431/T. instead to Coltishall & Middle Wallop.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
1400 Armament Officer reports a 2000 lb bomb has fallen off a trolley on the perimeter. It is to be treated as “live”. [Deleted] D [/deleted] M 434 being moved. Guards being posted to block traffic from perimeter track.
1500 Bomb now moved to firing point. O.K. for traffic.
1503 Briefing 1800 hours.
1641 L434 landed from [deleted] Middle Wallop [/deleted] Silverstone.
16.55 “O”/434 at Ford unable to return for a few days. F/O German requires instructions for return to base. Contacted C.O. 434.
17.12 W/Cdr. Harris instructs F/O German will be picked up tomorrow.
17.18 Called Ford and passed on gen to F/O German. “O”/434 classified as cat. B. Squadron Eng. O. informed.
1830 Middle Wallop called Halifax E for Edward left 1830.
1913 E434 returned from Middle Wallop. (Left there 1754).
1930 Flarepath laid on Runway 28- Wind calm.
[Page break]
20.19 “S.” First a/c. off on ops.
20.22 “N.” made a false take-off. Stopped in centre of runway. “F” took off afterwards.
20.33 4th and last a/c (“N”) off on ops. (W. scrubbed P. outer u/s.)
2155 A.R.M. Purple. 2200 A.R.M. RED. 2219 A.R.M. WHITE.
[Underlined] Wednesday 1st September 1943. [/underlined]
0310 Runway changed to No. 10 – QAN – ESE’ly 3-5 M.P.H.
0421 F 434 landed at Barford St. John.
0426 First a/c landed from operations.
0440 Last a/c landed from operations.
0441 Asked Base if we could assist in landing other aircraft. Told O.K. to stand down. Flarepath doused. (Happy day).
0600 Phoned Barford St. John o.k. for F 434 to return as soon as possible. They report a/c short of fuel & an oil leak but will let us know when F is ready.
0830 F/O Stephenson & F/O Taylor On Duty.
0900 Runway 10. QAN. S.E.ly. light.
0950 6 Group Stand down.
1000 434 2 A/Cr on Bulls-eye.
1015 Barford – Phoned. F/434 will be leaving shortly.
1108 Barford – Phoned F/434 left 10:55
1147 TRUSTME A ABLE [deleted] asking [/deleted] asked to standby while we light money flares on touchdown end of R.W 10. Viz about 1400 yds.
1240 A/431 landed OK. = chance light put on edge of drome, to be used as a funnel. A/Cr told to land directly over it.
1254 M/431 landed OK; after several stabs at it. No R/T.
14.20 Tannoyed:- “All windows must be left open at 3 o’clock. Explosion.” F/O Stephenson
1525 Bulls eye – scrubbed.
1545 Trench dug across entrance to S Sugars dispersal will not be filled to-night – To [sic] much water in trench.
[Underlined] Thursday 2nd September, 1943. [/underlined]
09.00 On duty Lister P/O. & F/Lt Austin. Runway No. 28.
0944 Four a/c on gardening.
1000 Command Bullseye tonight. (434 offer 3 a/c. – 431 offer nil)
[Page break]
1225 W/T Callsign for 434 Sqdn. 5AV.
14.30 Ex Base – One of Topcliffe’s aircraft dropped a bit of his engine between here and East Moor. In case it is picked up return to Topcliff. [sic]
15.37. Contractors Lorry crossed R. in U. in front of “N”/434. Sgt. Snelgrave in a/c. Very near collision narrowly averted only through pilot taking off on grass at side of runway. Rang contractors and threatened police action on any future transgressors for trespass. Driver not traced
16.30 Briefing 18.00. ETD. 20.00. ETA. 23.25.
20.00 1st aircraft N/434 off on operations.
20.24 4th and last aircraft off on operations. R/434.
21.50 A.F.C. reported a red glow in the sky – checked up with base – Eastmoor have a burning Lanc. No injured.
22.20. Fix on “N”. 53°54”N. 01°50”E.
23.24. First aircraft back off operations. N/434.
[Inserted] Boob! [/inserted] [Underlined] Friday 3rd September, 1943. [/underlined]
00.10 Fourth and last aircraft landed safely.
00.15. Contacted base, offered our assistance. Stood down. Phew?!
00.20 Flarepath lifted. Much jubilation amongst the bodies.
0830 On Duty F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson. Runway 28. Calm, becoming L & V.
1000 Not required for tonight.
1130 Not accepted for Bullseye.
11:30 F/O Tyler left in Oxford for Coltishall.
13.13 M/434 stuck in mud off perimeter track, near wood. S/L Thomson informed.
1445 M/434 now clear of the mud.
1607 C/434 returned from Coltishall.
1750 Phoned Guard Room to chase civilians off the airfield (mushroom pickers).
1820 Base phoned re possible diversion.
1835 We are [underlined] not [/underlined] required for diversion.
[Underlined] Saturday 4TH September 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/L Austin & P/O Lister on Watch – Runway 10 – QAN – light E’ly.
1000 Stand down tonight.
1045 Runway changed to 16. QAN SE’ly – 10-15 MPH.
1048 Gale Warning – SE to S’ly gales 40 miles per hour within next 6 hours in districts on W & SW coasts, N. Ireland & north of Scotland.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Sunday 5th September. [/underlined]
0830 On duty F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson.
0900 Runway 16. QAN. SE-ly 15-20 mph.
1000 We are required tonight. 10 A/Cr.
1115 Main briefing 1800 hours. – now 17.30 hrs.
1520 SD 300 (#603) received from Base Cypher Officer. CD209. = 125 returned 123 received.
1600 431 Sqdn have 3 A/C. C & L’s tonight 20:00-23:00. A/Cr. D. B. & O.
1715 Runway 24 now in use. QAN S-W. 10-15
1830 Runway 28 QAN. S-Wly less than 10. Flare-path laid.
1918 R/434 1st A/Cr off on ops.
1931 E/434 9th A/Cr off on ops T/434 scrubbed. Petrol leak.
2021 O/431 commenced night flying, followed by B & D.
2209 Ragman E called.
2212 Told to Jetison. [sic]
2213 Ragman E says he must land.
2214 Q.F.E. passed to Ragman E. Pancaking.
2219 Ragman E landed. O.K. with bomb load.
2300 A.C.P. reports 431 A/C coming in to right of flare path. They are not coming down centre of funnel. Result overshoots.
2315 TRUST ME B. called cannot taxi, low brake pressure
2324 TRUST ME O landed. 431 sqd now finished night flying. Another bad landing for O. B/431 now in dispersal at end on No 16 runway.
[Underlined] Monday 6th September 1943. [/underlined]
0215 FIX on L/434. 2nd class Southampton 50.37N. 0040W
0234 R/434 1st A/Cr back landed OK.
0331 L/434 8th A/Cr landed OK.
03.40 Ex Base. W/434 landed MARKET HARBOROUGH at 03.00. P.O. U/S. All our A/Cr accounted for, phoned Group. 18 group A/Cr still stooging so we’re still to keep lighted up.
0405 Flare-path doused. R/T watch closed.
08.30 On Watch Lister P/O. Runway 24 in use. QAN SSWly – 15-25.
09.30 Inspected Runways, Dispersals and Perimeter tracks. E/431 Pile of bricks too near edge of track to dispersal. Informed C.O.W. & requested movement of same.
10.25 Ex Group:- W/434 at Market Harborough has a Glycol leak in Port Outer. Requests permission to run up. If O.K. he will return but this may mean on three engines only. Informed Sqdn. Engineer not in at moment
[Page break]
10.45 We are required to-night for 8 aircraft. Ex Base.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
1550 Possible diversion of our a/c to Ford tonight.
19.00 Inspected Runways and Perimeter tracks. Removed sundry obstacles. O.K.
1924 First a/c off on operations. (Runway 24 used for first time).
1935 Eighth & last a/c off on operations.
2021 D431 off on night bombing.
2023. O 431 off on night bombing.
2150 Bomber Command expect Intruder activity between 0300 hrs & dawn.
2155 G434 overhead with radio trouble. Sent to jettison.
2206 Base inform E434 landed FORD (Flight Engineer ill) at 2125.
2217 O431 landed from night bombing.
2227 D431 landed from night bombing.
2246 G434 landed from operations.
2249 T434 overhead with hydraulic trouble. Could not get the undercarriage down. Asked for instructions. Told to standby until Runway changed to 28. (Wind S’W 6 M.P.H.) Message Rogered. Decided to have only Drem lighting, Angles of Glide & Chance light as T looked like it would have to crash-land. Reserve tender and ambulance ordered to standby.
2340 Chance light (and angle of glide) refused to operate. T informed. Said he was coming in anyway.
2345 T informs that wheels have come down o.k when he throttled back. Coming in without A’s of Glide.
2347 T434 landed o.k. (Baby remained unborn).
2350 Runway changed to 28.
[Underlined] Tuesday 7TH September 1943 [/underlined]
[Underlined] NOTE:- [/underlined] Control officers are [underlined] not [/underlined] reading the local instruction book when coming on duty. [Underlined] This is to be done. [/underlined] It is recommended that all instructions that have been initialled as understood be carried out. Particular reference is made to No’s 4, 8, and 15.
[Page break]
0320 A434 landed Ford
0351. S434 landed Ford
0357 C 434 landed West Malling.
Nothing heard of F434 (Sgt Tovey) or R434 (Sgt Olmstead).
0700 Group say they have notified 11 Group to tell all 6 Group a/c to return as soon as possible.
0830 On Watch F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson.
0900 Following Sec Docs around. SD300, 229, CD 0110, 209, 0261, 260. AP3024
0930 Runway changed to 24. QAM. [sic] SSW. 10+
0930 R/W’s perimeter track, Night lights and premises inspected.
0950 Chance-light now serviceable.
1000 Stand down to-night.
1030 S/434 returned from Ford. (left there 0913)
1103 A/434 returned from Ford. (left there 0955).
1240 E/434 returned from Ford.
1305 Phone call from West Malling finally came through but results nil, as F.C.O. there had just come on duty. He thought C/434 would not be returning today but knew no details. Is getting gen & will phone back.
1535 Reported to Group Flying Control an A/Cr flying with transmitter on. – one of crew Jock. Talked about Bomb-sight, new TR, that Darky was still 6440, weather approaching front, nice down South at Port Wreath & Red Ruth, stand by to land at 15.28.
1545 C/434 leaving West Malling for Tholthorpe.
1906 C/434 landed from West Malling. (Left there 17:55).
Wednesday 8th September 1943
0830 Flt Lt Austin & F/O Stephenson on duty.
0835 Secret Documents checked.
0855 R/W 28 in use. Winds light, Westerly 5-10 mph.
0945 We are required to-night. 7 A/C
1008 Crew for Air to Air firing Robin Hood Bay to Flamborough
1645 Diversion drome if Weather bad is Coltishall.
1740 Operations scrubbed.
2000 Flarepath laid on Runway 28.
2143 P431 off on night bombing.
[Page break]
[Page break]
2225 A431 off on night bombing. (D431 scrubbed. Engine U/S).
2240 || A landed with air speed indicator U/S. Overshot on landing and on attempting to swing undercarriage collapsed. Runway 28 blocked. //
2318 Flarepath being changed to 16 (Wind very light).
[Underlined] Thursday 9th September 1943 [/underlined]
0022 P431 landed from night bombing.
0040 || Darky call Music M (?) (27 O.T.U. Waddington) shouting short of petrol. Phoned Linton to put on all lights. They had not heard the call. A/C landed at Linton O.K. (eight minutes petrol left).
0830 On Watch F/O Taylor. QAN L & V. QBA. 300 yds. – SD’s ckd.
0930 Viz now 1300 yds. Wind E ly light. Runway 16. No 10 U/S.
0950 Required tonight. 7 A/Cr.
1030 Wind NE.ly 5-10. Runway 06.
|| 1113 Signaled [sic] Station “Z”. Runway 10/28 U.S. TRN. CRASHED AIRCRAFT.
1321. Workman replacing turf on 10-28 runway.
1810 Both gates on Tholthorpe-Raskelf road closed. 3 red glims on each.
1830 Called guardroom to place police on gates, but they haven’t the men.
1900 Arranged with Linton to take any local A/Cr if they should return before Ops take off.
1954 V/434 off on X-country.
20:10 Met advise weather will be bad by 2200 hrs. Contacted S/L Hockey.
20:20 Asked Linton to recall V/434.
2022 Scrubbed 431 night flying on instructions from W/Co Newsome.
2027 A.CP reports crashed A/Cr now removed from Runway. [Inserted] Signal sent to Station Z. [/inserted] 10 now S.
2109 Operations Scrubbed.
2230 All A/Cr safely tucked in dispersals.
2351 V/434 landed from X-Country. Base was never able to contact him.
[Underlined] Friday 10th September 1943. [/underlined]
0845 On Watch F/L Austin F/O Stephenson S Doc. checked.
0900 QAN Easterly 15-25 mph R/W 10 in use.
[Page break]
0900 R/W’s & Perimeter Track inspected. Also premises.
0940 We are not required to-night.
[Underlined] Saturday 11th September [/underlined]
0845 On Watch F/O Taylor. SD ckd.
0900 Runway 10. QAN. E ly 10-15.
0952 Not required tonight.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
[Underlined] Sunday 12th September [/underlined]
0845 On Watch F/O Stephenson S.D. chd.
0900 Runway 10 QAN ELY 10-20.
0945 Not required to-night
1515 Ragman G. could not get wheels up making circuit with wheels down.
1535 Ragman G. landed wheels O-K. now.
[Underlined] Monday 13th September. [/underlined]
0830 On Watch F/O Taylor. SD. Ckd.
0900 Runway 10. Calm, Met Ely 5-15.
0945 Stand-down tonight.
1000 East Moor phoned, if weather OK will we take 1 Lanc on C’s & B’s? Yes.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
[Underlined] Tuesday 14th September [/underlined]
0830. On Watch F/O Stephenson S D. ckd.
0830 QAN Light Easterly backing to South. R/W 10 in use.
0920 R/W & perimeter [deleted] ckd [/deleted] inspected.
0935 Eastmoor asked is we could be ready to take two Lancasters in case their drome was U/S. (O.K.).
0952 Stand down tonight.
1610 R.W. 28 in use. QAN Wstly 5-10.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Wednesday September 15, 1943. [/underlined]
0845 On Watch F/O Taylor. SD ckd.
0900 No 28 Runway QAN. WNW 5-10.
1010 Required for 12 A/Cr tonight. 434. – Briefing 17:30
1010 Possible 5 or 6 431’s on Bulls eyes.
1240 D/431 at Dispersal asked on R/T if we had heard an A/Cr calling. Kiwi in distress. We had not. S/434 on landing called on R/T, “as A/Cr went down & cloud of smoke came up.” Contacted Base. – They are working on the crash.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch – Runway 24 QAN SW’ly 10+
1320 Base informs of two crashes. One was Q of Topcliffe near Rufforth (Six of crew baled out; pilot killed). The other as yet unidentified was at A 0385. Six of crew have baled out.
1605 Briefing Bullseye 1800 hrs at 431 Nav Hut.
1740 Bullseye for 431 scrubbed.
1924 B431 off on night X-country. Runway 24 in use.
1926 P 431 off on night X-country.
1927 V 431 off on night X-country.
1950 M 431 off on night X country.
2025 L 434 1st A/Cr off on ops. (With A/Comm, McEwan)
2032 P 434 7th A/Cr. Last of 1st wave off.
2041 C 434 8th A/Cr 1st of 2nd wave off
2049 M 434 12th A/Cr. – Last off.
2120 Phone to Flare path now OK.
Today we received AMCO’s A23/42, A24/42. A25/42. from Base Cypher Off.
2205 Ex Base: V/434 QDM 351 at 2152.
2225 M/431 landed from X-country.
2236 P/431 landed from X-country.
2244 V/431 landed from X-country.
2303 B/431 landed from X-Country.
2305 Ex Base. V/434 QDM 274 at 2305.
2339 V434 returned early (Starboard outer U/S – jettisoned 2000 lber.)
[Underlined] Thursday September 16TH 1943 [/underlined]
0253 P 434 1st A/Cr up on R/T.
[Page break]
0258 ex Base. W/434 landed at Tangmere 0240, because of low cloud base, returning at daylight.
0308 N/434 ran off perimeter track in front of watch office. Crash tender & big ambulance managed to get clear. Small ambulance slightly dented. No-one hurt. Starboard outer prop. damaged. Met. Office damaged by Ambulance backing in to it.
0340 M/434 last A/Cr landed. All safely accounted for.
0430 Tangmere phoned. They have not the facilities to get W/434 off at first light, but will have him ready to return in forenoon.
0830 F/O Stephenson on duty. R.W. 24 in use QAN S.W. 10-15
0930 Sec. Doc. ckd. Runways & Perimeter checked.
0950 We are required to-night. 9 A/C.
1045 434. W departed Tangmere 10.20
1137 W 434 landed here.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
1430. [Underlined] Note [/underlined] Contacted Station electrician. Effective from Monday 20TH September there will be a Duty Electrician for Flare Path duties. The F.C.O. on duty Monday morning will see that he is instructed in his duties as per 6G/FWS/DO-13 Sept 43.
1520 Briefing 1730 hours.
1540 Changing runway to 28 & Lighting money flares. Vis-poor-rain.
1601 Last of our a/c landed o.k.
1930 Flarepath laid on Runway 28. Vis – under 2000 yds raining
1932 First a/c off on ops.
1951 Eighth & last a/c off on ops. (Swung violently. Vis less than 1000 yds. G scrubbed visibility too poor).
2230 Base inform aircraft are now definitely diverted to Bassingbourn.
2313 A.R.M. Purple. 2324 A.R.M. White.
[Underlined] Friday September 17th 1943 [/underlined]
0435 Base notified that A, C, M, P, T and X 434 had landed at Bassingbourn. L434 was heading in that direction after last fix.
[Page break]
0455 Base inform L 434 landed at Bassingbourn.
0523 Base inform N 434 landed at Thurleigh.
0525 Contacted Bassingbourn. Informed their F.C. to keep a/c there until we phone them. They also say they would notify Thurleigh re N.
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor. Runway 10. QAN. SSE.8. SD ckd.
NOTE. When our crews return Base want us to enquire as to what they think of Bassingbourn Flying Control Facilities, re further diversions
0945 Not required tonight.
1100 431 Sqdn. offer 6 + 2 for Bulls-eye tonight.
1150 S/L Hockey phoned from Bassingbourn. A/Cr will be leaving there shortly. He will bring along full details about A/434.
1200 Runway changed to 28. Wind light, now W of S. – becoming W ly 5-10 mph.
1600. Bullseye Briefing 18:15 in Nav. Hut. 8 A/Cr.
1745 434 Squadron B. G. R & V scrubbed. (F/Lt Linnell)
1830 Met Forecast NW-ly wind 10-15. Runway 34 for take-off.
2000 Phoned Group for permission for 434 to send a Halifax to Bassingbourn tomorrow morning
2115 Group given permission for Halifax to go to Bassingbourn in the morning.
2120 Bullseye scrubbed. Marshalled A/Cr will be returned to dispersals in the morning.
[Underlined] 18th September, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30 On duty Lister P/O. Runway 28. QAN. N.W. light.
09.20 Runway inspection completed.
1010 Stand down tonight.
1300 F/L Austin on Watch.
1350 Runway changed to 10. N’ by E less than 10.
1852 D431 off on night X-country and bombing.
1910 C431 off on night X-country and bombing.
19.25. M/431 off on night X-country and Bombing.
19.33. V/1933. [sic] off on night X-country and Bombing.
19.45. Runway Flarepath laid on #28. QAN N by E. 2 mph.
2207 C/431 Landed from XC & Bombing.
22.40 Aircraft in our circuit flashing on ident. lights series of unintelligible signals. A.C.P. gave a green.
22.55. Mystery aircraft landed – no R/T. Taxied up flarepath and thence
[Page break]
towards 431 Dispersals. AFC’s telephone & R/T “dead”. Could not find out a thing. Borrowed a van from M.T. and sent Cpl. Adams to check up on identity of aircraft and reason for cause of AFC’s silence.
23.15. A/C. in question is D/431 who swung very badly through over-correction on landing. Ripped up telephone wires through his swing off the runway. Pilot reported to watch-office; said he had no difficulty in getting back onto R/W. Apparently this swing is a common fault in this a/c. Wind dead calm at the time of the “incident.” Pilot:- F/S. Hamby.
23.22 V/431 Landed. No R/T. TR1196 went U/S in the air, but O.K. for ground test.
23.41 M/431 Landed in approved fashion.
2350. Contacted base, offered our help which was declined & so = Good-night.
[Underlined] Sunday 19th September, 1943. [/underlined]
0845 On Watch F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson. S.D. ckd.
0900 Runway 28. QAN. L & V. becoming SW-WSW – 10.
1000 Command Stand-down.
1307 T/434 returned from Bassingbourn.
1415 Runway changed to 24. QAN SW-ly 10-15.
Tonight’s flying 434 3 A/Cr on X-country. 431 2 A/C on C & B.
1900 Runway 28 for night flying.
1920 T/434 off on X-country
1923 W/434 off on X-country
1955 X/434 off on X-country
2004 B/431 & E/431 commenced C’s & B’s.
2144 431 finished C’s & L’s.
2214 T/434 landed from X-Country, with P.O. U/S.
2238 A/Cr landed. W/434 given pancake, but I think this one if [indecipherable] C. as W/434 still flying around.
2319 Viz terrible arranged with Base for X & W/434 to go to Topcliffe
2329 X/434 landed here, Viz had improved, & we had been unable to raise him on R/T to divert him.
2330 Base advise W/434 landed at Linton. 23:10. Crew bus sent over, as their bus had already left for here for C’s crew.
2359 Flare path doused. R/T watch closed. (Phew!)
[Page break]
[Underlined] Monday September 20th 1943 [/underlined]
08.30 On duty Lister Runway #28. QAN. W-NNW.
09.30 Inspected aerodrome, runways and dispersals. Checked SD’s. D261. 229. C.O’s 23, 24, 28. AP3024. 110. 260. C.D.209.
09.45 Stand-Down to-night.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
1408 Six a/c 431 on Bullseye tonight.2 a/c 434 Sqdn. M/434 V/434.
1424 Briefing at 1800 hrs. 1434 – Changed to 1545 hours in Main briefing room
1706 Flarepath telephone now serviceable
18.20 Inspected aerodrome runways & perimeter tracks. Grass requires cutting on & around signals area.
1928 First a/c off on Bullseye. QFE 1009.1
1941 Seventh & last a/c off on Bullseye. E431 scrubbed.
2358 D 431 landed from Bullseye.
[Underlined] Tuesday 21st September 1943 [/underlined]
0120 Seventh & last a/c landed o.k.
0845 On Watch F/O Taylor. SD ckd.
0900 Runway 28. QAN W’ly -10.
0945 Runway 34 QAN NWly. 13 miles. (Telephone tested OK).
1015 Stand-down tonight.
1045 Command Bulls-eye. 431 will have some A/Cr on it.
1500 434 have 5 A/Cr on X-Country tonight. 19.30-23.10
1450 Two crews proceeding to Linton by bus to go in OXFORD to BASSINGBORNE to fly 434 A back to base. (first thing to-morrow morning) (Inf. passed to Linton).
1900 Runway 28. – Wind N ly less than 5.
1932 M/434 first A/Cr off on X-Country. – F & P.
1938 X/434 4th A/Cr off on X-Country. QFE 1013.
1947 M/434 landed, did a ground loop but OK & taxied away.
1955 First 431 A/Cr off on Bulls-eye. C. -then B, E, P, N.
2015 M/434 all ok again & took off on X-Country.
2017 Q/431 6th & last A/Cr off on Bulls-eye.
2021 E/431 called on R/T. Goon & D.R. compass U/S. Instructed him to carry on, as per S/L Pleasance.
2020 Strensall bombing range called re 431 Bombing Schedule. Advised A/Cr. B, E, Q, P; 2 from 2330 till 2359, other 2 from 2359 till 0030.
2215 Ex Base. All Bulls-eye A/Cr being recalled immediately.
[Page break]
23.28 Q/431 proceeding to Range for practice bombing.
23.43 E/431 1st A/Cr landed OK.
[Underlined] Wednesday 22nd September 1943 [/underlined]
0032 Q/431 tenth & last A/Cr landed OK.
Not required by base so Flare-path doused, R/T off.
08.30 On duty Lister P/O. Runway 28. QAN W’ly.
09.05 Aerodrome Runways & Dispersals inspected & found O.K. Secret docs checked.
10.20 Operating to-night. 12 a/c. Briefing 1700 hrs.
1414 A434 returned from Bassingbourn.
17.30 Aerodrome, Runways, Dispersals inspected. Perimeter tracks on both sides of 28 very stony.
1851 First a/c off on operations (Runway 28).
1922 Twelfth & last a/c off on ops. [Underlined] Thursday 23rd. Sept. ’43 [/underlined]
00.20 434/P. Landed from ops. First aircraft. Shot up badly.
00.49 434/N. Landed – no R/T. Given a green by ACP after flashing S.O.S.
00.59 434/L. Landed on 3 engines; bogged near D/434 dispersal. Priority.
01.05. 434/F landed with only 15 mins petrol. Priority landing
01.11 434/K landed with only 20 mins petrol. – ditto - .
03.30 Base passed on to no ex Group “Stand Down.” Flare path lifted.
[Underlined] G/434 Missing. [/underlined]
0845 On Duty F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson. SD ckd.
F/O Boyd reported for temporary duty.
0900 Runway 28. QAN. W-WSW 15-25. Very Gusty.
1030 Phoned Clerk of Works to have perimeter swept of stones. He will get to work on it this morning.
1040 Required tonight.
1400 431 have 8 on X-Country. ETD 1500. E.T.A. 1932.
1514/1547 431 Sqdn. G, F, P, Q, V, off on X-Country.
2044 Air Raid Warning Purple. Lights doused.
1852 F/434 off on Ops.
1903 W/434, 10th A/Cr off on ops. Drem taxi lights now Serviceable.
2017 All 5 – 431 A/Cr landed OK.
2110 ARM. White.
2216. 434 R landed back. Rear turret u/s. Used perimeter track lighting and a/c made a successful run to his dispersal. 1st a/c on Drem taxi lights.
[Page break]
2237 R/T went dead – Found aerial wire broken – tied ends together. OK again.
2320 Ex Base. If we have trouble with visibility (smoke haze) Dalton standing by.,
[Underlined] Friday 24th September 1943 [/underlined]
0158 B/434 1st A/Cr Landed.
0230 M/434 7th A/Cr. Landed – Taxi track OK. A/Cr all back in dispersal. W/434 landed at Hartford Bridge & K/434 landed at Cranfield.
0330 Flarepath doused. R/T watch closed.
0830 On Duty F/O Boyd. P/O Lister.
Runway in use No. 28. QAN. W’ly.
09.30 Runways, dispersals & perimeter tracks inspected. Stone clearing needed. Checked secret documents.
10.15 Stand-down to-night.
11.15 Changed to 24. QAN. SW ly.
12.05 W/434 airborne at 11.56. from Hartford Bridge.
12.55 K/434 at Cranfield will be airborne about 13.30 for Base. ASI now serviceable. Take-off delayed because F700 for DI not completed.
1320 434/W landed from Hartford Bridge.
1420 Runway changed to No [circled] 28 [/circled]. QAN Wly
1445 434/K airborne at 1415 from Cranfield. Landed 15.49.
15.15 Changed to #34. QAN. NW.
1615 Changed to # 28 QAN W’ly
17.30 Volunteered to take 2 of East Moor’s Lancs for Cs & B’s from 20.00 to 23.00 hrs. They have an early return & take-off for ops. to-night
20.16. Night flying commenced with 1679/R. landing here from E.M. for C & B.
22.43. 1679/R. Returned to Eastmoor. Flare-path lifted. R/T watch closed.
[Underlined] Saturday 25th September [/underlined]
0830 F/O Stephenson and F/O Taylor on duty R/W 28 in use QAN Westerly 5-10 Secret Doc. checked. R/W’s and field inspected.
1040 We are required to-night. 12 a/c. 434 sqdn
Bulls-eye. 431 sqdn. 8 A/Cr.
1130 Runway changed to 34. QAN NWly 10-15.
1129 C/431 landed on 3 engines. He had signalled base that one engine was u/s but the message just reached us as he was making his final approach.
[Page break]
Briefings 434 – 17:00 hrs. 431 17:15 in Nav. Hut.
1750 431 take off. 1840. RW 34 434 Marshaling [sic] R./W 28 take off.
1844/1849. 431 Sqdn. M, N, P, Q, R, & V. off on Bullseye.
1944 Q/431 landed OK. Asked permission to do a tr. hand circuit
20.15 Sgt Francis and Sgt Scott reported from Watchfield for A.C.P. duties. S/L Kyle informed.
2040. Operations scrubbed. Group recalling 431 Bullseye on original ETA.
2140 || 6 lights of drem system R/w 28 U/S.
2316 M/431 landed. 1st a/c.
[Underlined] Sunday Sept 26th 1943. [/underlined]
0017 P/431 last bulls-eye A/Cr. landed. OK. Flare-path doused.
08.30 On duty Lister P/O. & F/O. Boyd. R/W. 34. QAN. NNW. Checked Secret documents.
09.30 Inspected Aerodrome, R/Ways and dispersals. All a/c back in their dispersals by 10.30.
10.45 Operating 12 a/c to-night.
10.57. Main briefing 17.00.
1721 Ops scrubbed informed by Base.
1815 R/T Watch closed.
[Underlined] Monday Sept 27th 1943. [/underlined]
0830 On Duty F/O Taylor & F/O Stephenson. RW. 34. QAN NWly 10-15
1000 Required tonight. 14 A/Cr.
1250 Runway changed to 28. QAN. W-Sw ly. Light.
1450 As per N.O.P. Instructions Ambulance now standing by at Sick Quarters.
1725 R/W changed to 24 QAN WSW 18 MPH.
1845 Runway 28 laid for take-off. Wind. SW.-ly – light.
1921-1936. 14 a/c 434 off on Ops.
Drem on No 24 now U/S. Electricians can’t find the fault.
2100 W/434 returning to base Engine trouble.
2115 Linton advised we will send W/434 to them wind is more favourable to their long runway.
2155 W/434 landed Linton.
2235 K/434 up on R/T. 3 engines Diverted to Linton.
[Page break]
2240 All a/c diverted to diversion bases.
2255 K/434 landed Linton.
2322 O/434 returning early will be diverted to Linton.
[Underlined] Tuesday September 28 1943 [/underlined]
0015 Crash near [deleted] L [/deleted] Newton (Base) will inform us if it is our D/434. A.O.C. instructs us to keep watch till all a/c accounted for
0045 D/434 landed Thornaby 2355. One motor u/s.
0052 Totem poles on R/W 16-34 serviceable.
Changed to this Runway as Wind SE ly - SSE ly. 15-20.
0420 A, C, M, T, & V landed at Ridgewell; B at Snetterton Heath, N, at Cranfield, P, at Chelveston, // F, R, & Z still not accounted for. Flare-path doused & R/T watch closed.
08.30 On Duty Lister P/O. F/O. Boyd. R/W. 34. NW 23-25.
09.00 Aerodrome inspected. O.K. Secret documents checked.
10.30. Standdown. Command Bulls-eye to-night.
12.30 A/C at Thornaby & Snetterton Heath Serviceable. Instructed them to await further instructions. D at Thornaby & B at Snetterton
12.50 S/L Hockey phoned from Ridgewell. Instructed him and other crews to standby for weather improvement.
1330 434/D ordered back from Thornaby
1337 434/P ordered back from Chelveston.
1345 Advised group to Contact Ridgewell and order our a/c back.
1529 434/W landed from ops via Linton
1634 B/426 landed with A/M. Edwards & AVM Brooks aboard. Linton informed.
18.15. D/434 Unable to return until 30/9/43. due to overheating of Stbd. Outer engine cause [sic] by U/S thermostat. Being replaced.
18.20 P/434 Landed from Chelveston.
18.53 B/426. with Air Marshall Edwards & A.V.M. Brooks aboard airborne for Linton. ACP reports he thought bomb doors were open so gave a “red,” a/c took no notice. Landed at Linton at 18.57.
1900 Flarepath laid No 34 Runway.
20.10 M/434 Hydraulic trouble scrubbed & returned to dispersal.
20.15. N/431 First a/c off on [deleted] ops [/deleted] Bulls-eye.
20.25 F/431 Last a/c off on Bulls-eye. 7th & last a/c.
[Page break]
21.00 #34 Runway Flare-path, funnel & totem poles completely u/s. Phoned electrical standby section for action.
21.09 Linton agreed to take our a/c if necessity arises.
22.15. Lights now O.K. We land our own aircraft – weather permitting.
23.15 Bulls-eye aircraft recalled by base. Runway being changed to #28. QAN W-ly 8-9 mph. Backing to S.W. and increasing.
[Underlined] Wednesday 29th September, 1943. [/underlined]
00.01 B/431. First a/c to land from Bulls-eye. #28. Swung a trifle off R/W.
00.20. B/C message received ex base E/431 “returning on 3 engines.”
00.59 431/Q 6th & last a/c Landed. 431/N. Landed at Linton, persisted in using the wrong R/T call-sign for us. Instructed base to send him back but N got bogged in Linton aerodrome. Bad show.
01.30 Base gave permission to stand down. Flare-path lifted.
0830 On Watch F/O Stephenson & F/O Taylor. Runway 28. QAN Calm & a light Sly.
1045 Required tonight 7. A/Cr.
L.A.C. Simmons posted to Watchfield W.E.F. 1/10/43. Phoned S/L Kyles. He will try to send us a body to replace him.
1330 Briefing 1600 hrs.
1410 Message from Ridgewell. V/434 not yet serviceable, probably not today but they will advise us when to send crew for it.
1713 434/N landed from Cranfield.
1818=1822. 7 A/Cr 434 off on ops. A. B. C. L. M. P. T. = Runway 28.
1931 C/434 returned & landed OK on 3 engines.
2115 Flare path and totems. 16 – 34 U/S.
2239 Power failure here.
2246 Power serviceable.
[Underlined] Thursday 30th September 1943. [/underlined]
0200 No word from T & L/434/ Flare path doused, R/T watch closed.
0830 On Watch F/O Boyd, P/O Lister Docs Checked OK.
Runway 28 QAN light & variable.
0930 Runway changed 24 QAN S’ly 10 MPH
10.05. Operating 7 [deleted] 8 [/deleted] aircraft to-night. Briefing 16.00.
10.55. Changed to #28. QAN. Wly. 10-12.
12.55. Ops scrubbed.
[Page break]
12.36. Q/431 1st a/c. off on X Country.
1330 Runway changed to 24 QAN. SSW/10
18.16. M/431 Last a/c back-off Cross Country.
Friday Oct 1/43.
0830 F/O Taylor on duty. F/O Stephenson on duty.
0830 R/W 16 in use. QAN [deleted] S [/deleted] Light & Variable
0900 S.D. checked.
1000 Runway 24. Wind SSW. – freshening.
1030. We are required to-night 434 8 a/c 431. 6 a/c.
1048 Briefing 434 – 1600 hrs. 431 – 1645 hrs.
Note [Boxed] New R/T and W/T call signs are in effect today – They vary every 9 days. Control officers will take careful watch that the correct callsigns are listed during the appropriate periods. [/boxed]
1350. Operations cancelled.
1420 V434 landed from Ridgewell
1450 Operations are on again.
1520 Confidential Doc. C.D. 0250 (9) #834 and C.D. 0250 (11) #852 received by us from Base.
1615 Operations Cancelled.
[Underlined] Saturday October 2nd 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On duty Lister P/O. F/O Taylor. R/W/ 28. QAN. Wly. light.
09.15. Inspected Runways, Perimeter Tracks & Dispersals. Checked Secret docs.
10.50. Operating to-night. 4 a/c 431 8 for 434.
Three Crash crew in hospital leaving only 4 men, LAC Bacon i/c Fire Party notified. F/Lt. Hudson president fire committee.
12.10. Briefing 1600 to-day. (431 Sqdn.).
1400 T.F.N. = We have no reserve crash tender. Informed Base. They will have to look after all requirements off the drome.
1901. Q/431 First a/c off on ops.
19.12. C/431 Twelfth & last a/c. off on ops.
19.13. Crash Tender from Linton reported for duty.
2145 ARM. Purple. – Goose-necks doused.
22.06 ARM. White.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Sunday 3rd October, 1943. [/underlined]
00.46. 434/V Landed early from Gardening.
02.44. 431/D. 1st aircraft back off ops.
03.23. 431/Q 11th & last aircraft to land off ops. A message was received from Base that he had asked for an emergency landing at Linton, his hydraulic pressure being u/s. He was told by [deleted] W/T [/deleted] Base to land here on 28 as R/W was clear and all ready waiting for him. Q/431 landed swerving violently off R/W and back on again, finishing up at the end of #28 where he was left red lights marking him as an obstruction. Base informed and gave us stand-down.
03.33 U/431. Diverted and landed at Peterhead in distress – short of petrol.
All aircraft safely accounted for.
Flare path doused.
0830 F/L Austin and F/O Stephenson on duty.
0830 R/W 24 in use. QAN. SW.ly Light.
S.D. checked.
1005 We are required to-night. 8 a/c 431 8 a/c 434
1110 Briefing 434 1530 431 1600 hrs.
1555 U434 returned from Peterhead.
1841 First a/c off on operations (431 first wave)
1918 Sixteenth and last off on operations (434 second wave)
[Inserted] 1935 Pilots escape hatch found after take off undamaged #1 HANGER [/inserted]
2051 O431 returned early. (Rear turret U/S)
2108 S431 returned early (Port outer U/S)
2213 V431 returned early (Navigator error)
2221 M431 returned early (Trimming faulty)
[Underlined] Monday 4th October 1943 [/underlined]
0100 First a/c landed from operations.
0138 Y429 (F/S Hingston – Skipton) landed following green from A.C.P. – A/C had no R/T. Mistook here for Skipton.
0222 Last a/c landed from operations. V434 (F/O German) and R431 (W/O Reynoldson) missing.
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. F/O Taylor. #24 QAN SW. 20-35.
[Page break]
09.30. Inspected Aerodrome & Runways. a/c now returning to dispersals. Checked Secret documents.
1000 East end runway 28 = section of concrete cracked & dropped about an inch. Runway 24 at intersection 16 = water always seeping up through concrete. Reported these to Resident Engineer so he can keep a watch on them.
1020 Required tonight 431 – 8, 434 – 8. Briefing 434 – [deleted] 15:30 [/deleted] 16:15 431 – 16:15.
[Underlined] NOTE [/underlined] In future A.T.A. will use R/T when delivering new 4 engined A/C. Here they will use FISHZONE & ABUSH.
1115 Y/429 took off to return to Skipton. (Base advised – Skipton advised).
17.45. A/434. 1st a/c. airborne on ops.
18.12 F/431 13th and last a/c. airborne on ops.
P/434 Q/431. N/431. Scrubbed. Too late to take off.
[Underlined] TUESDAY 5TH OCTOBER 1943. [/underlined]
IIII 00.30. 28 Lighting U/S. a/c. diverted to Linton. 434/A. /B. 431/E. 431/O. N/434.
01.05. 434/D/M. Landed at Harwell. S/434. On Darky at Harwell. Ex Base.
01.08. 431/A. On R/T. to Linton.
01.31. A/431 Landed here. Runway having been changed to #24.
01.35. V/431 Landed here Port Outer engine u/s. F/431 landed here 01.51.
01.30. All lights in Watch Office extinguished, worked by torch light!!
01.40. Lights on again.
01.45. S/434 Landed at Morton-in-Marsh as 01.05.
02.30. No news from W/434. Base stood us down. Flarepath doused.
Quite a rest cure.
03.00. Off Watch Lister P/O. & F/O A. S. Taylor.
0845 F/O Stephenson F/L Austin on duty.
0900 We are to call 6 Group for permission to recall a/c.
0900 RW 24 in use. QAN SWly 10-15
0930 S.D. Checked.
1045 We are required to-night. 431 8 a/c 434 6 a/c
1135 Briefing for both Squadrons 1515 hours.
1145 Base advise W434 ditched [deleted] 10 [/deleted] 1 mile from the French coast. Too close to send out A.S.R. Sending broadcast on International frequency.
1218 B434 returned from Linton.
1224 N434 returned from Linton.
1248 A434 returned from Linton
1305 E431 returned from Linton
1332 S434 returned from Moreton-in Marsh.
[Page break]
1405 Broadcast from Base. Linton having a large effort to-night. Due to low cloud may be forced to use intruder routes. A/C are being briefed to have Nav. lights on. Suggest we also brief crews to this effect.
1434 O431 landed from Linton
1656 Operations scrubbed.
1707 D434 landed from Hanwell.
1738 D4311 landed from Middle Wallop.
2020 Group have authorized 434 sqd. to use a Halifax for a cross country flight, and to stop at Harewell and leave parts for M434 a/c.
[Underlined] Wednesday 6th October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30 On Watch Lister & F/O Taylor. Runway #24. QAN.
09.15. Aerodrome, Runways, dispersals & Perimeter tracks inspected. O.K.
09.30. Secret docs. Checked.
10.08. Operating approx 18 a/c. to-night.
14.30 Runway #28. QAN. Less than 5 mph.
16.28. Scrubbed.
[underlined] Thursday 7th October 1943. [/underlined]
0830 On Watch F/O Stephenson S.D. checked.
0845 RW 34 in use. Q.A.N. WNWly 5-10.
0915 RW 28 in use now.
1000 We are not required to-night.
1045 Telephone U/S.
1100 431 advise they will have 10 a/c on X-country from 1500-2200. Briefing 1330 hours.
1500 First 431 a/c off on X country.
1507 Moth landed breaking telephone wires.
Note:- Group Captain Gordon authorizes that the Moth be grounded until the G.P.O. lines are serviceable to the flarepaths.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Thursday 7TH October 1943 (Continued [/underlined]
1534 Eleventh & last 431 a/c off on X-country E.T.A. 2143
1730 Flarepath telephone now serviceable.
1928 F434 off on night-cross country. Taxied out to No 10 first. O434 bogged when perimeter track caved as he came out of dispersal (Perimeter track blocked)
1933. U434 off on night-cross country.
1935 K434 off on night-cross country.
2115 A.R.M. Purple.
2120 First 431 a/c landed from X-country.
2135 A.R.M. White.
2200 Report of 80 enemy aircraft off east coast.
2219 All lights on airfield [deleted] blew [/deleted] went out. Called electrician
2229 Lights on again. (Fault at substation)
2251 Last 431 a/c landed from X-country.
2315 U434 landed from X country.
2347 F434 landed from x country.
2357 K434 landed from X country.
2359 O434 now clear of the perimeter track.
[Underlined] Friday 8TH October 1943 [/underlined]
0001 Standing by for assistance to Linton a/c if needed
0200 Base advise Linton vis has shut down. We will be required to take some a/c if our weather is o.k.
0300 Weather here = No cloud, vis 2 miles. Changed to Runway 10.
0325 Base advise sending K408, C 426, R426, T426 and O426.
0336 K408 landed.
0339 C 426 landed.
0350 R 426 landed. Vis closed down as he came in.
0351 T426 diverted to Eastmoor.
0352 O 426 diverted to Eastmoor.
0405 Report that R426 is bogged at end of 10 Runway.
[Underlined] Note [/underlined] There was no duty crew available for dispersing the aircraft. The A Flight 434 crew were not available at their Hut. They had dispersed K434 so that it was bogged down and protruding over the perimeter. We were not informed of this.
[Page break]
There was no intelligence staff on duty to open the briefing room for visiting crews. 3 site Picket Post failed to answer the telephone when we tried to contact the Duty Engineer. On sending a messenger to 3 site no one there knew where anybody was. The same situation existed at 2 site.
08.30 On Watch Linton P/O. F/O. Taylor. Runway #16. QAN. [Deleted] None [/deleted] 5. mph. Visibility about 5-10 yds. Secret docs. checked.
1015 Required 431/7, 434/11
10.55. Gale Warning received from Met. covering Scotland to a point West of Tholthorpe to Northern Ireland.
Bad hole where A/Cr. ran off taxi track at end of 34 Runway, cable for taxi track disrupted. Clerk of Works & Elect Engineer informed. [Underlined] (Fuses removed from switch). [/underlined]
1500 Briefing 21:00 hrs.
17.15 Commenced marshalling on either side of Runway 10 for T.O.
2243 K/431 1st A/Cr. off on Ops.
2313 K/434 19th & last A/Cr off on Ops. A/434 scrubbed. S.O. U/S.
[Underlined] Saturday 9th October 1943. [/underlined]
0205 A/Cr definitely being diverted via W/T. to SHIPDHAM
0500 Ex Base. F/434 landed at Chedburgh 0352.
0537 Ex Base. “Shipdham advise they have landed 14 of our A/Cr.” ?14.
0630 Received letters but not times at Shipdham. 434/B,D,K,O,P,S,T,U, 431/E,D,G,N,O,P,Q.
0645 Received landing times from Base.
0730 434/C = F/O Small; 431/C = F/S Chalmers & 431/K Sgt Ryan still unheard from.
0830. On Watch Lister. Runway #10. QAN. L. & V.
09.20. Telegraphed “Immediate” to Shipdham that none of our a/c is [indecipherable] for base TFN. Bad weather. Our phone call was cut in half so am uncertain whether message was understood.
0930. Aerodrome, Runways, Perimeter tracks & dispersals inspected. Trolley a/c. Starters in showers at marshalling points. Instructions given for removal. Holes in side of #34 not filled in – reported to Mr. Jess.
10.00. Stand down to-night.
11.31. Tiger Moth P/O. Livesy from Lossiemouth via Acklington. for Leicester. landed here through bad weather. York aerodrome telephoned, to which he had signalled first. Detaining him for weather improvement.
[Page break]
P/O. Livesy reported he saw a Taylor Cub trying to land in a field near the railway line somewhere roughly near Philmour Junction. Passed to base who are investigating. Rough area is 100° 3 miles from Dalton & 356° 7 miles from Tholthorpe.
12.10. Base phoned that we are to inform them for onward transmission when our a/c may return.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
1529 F/434 returned from Chedburgh. } Weather poor.
1648 D 434 returned from Shipdham } – vis about 2000 yds.
1655 O 434 returned from Shipdham }
1658 T 434 returned from Shipdham }
1707 U 435 returned from Shipdham }
1709 Spitfire MB 257 (Sub-Lieut Blackburn) landed. Signal sent to Christ Church & Church Fenton.
1712 K 434 given priority landing. Starboard outer U/S. From Shipdham. }
1720 Q 431 returned from Shipdham }
1726 N 431 returned from Shipdham }
1735 O 431 returned from Shipdham }
1740 B 434 returned from Shipdham }
1743 P 434 returned from Shipdham }
18.55. Five aircraft left at Shipdham. Not returning to-day. All U/S. No flying in 6 Group to-night.
Sunday 10TH October 1943.
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch – S.D’s checked. Runways & taxi track checked.
1015 Command stand down tonight.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1420 Base report a Defiant flying about with no R/T. Land him if he comes around here. – (QBA 1500, QBB 500)
1425 Base report. “Defiant has landed OK. somewhere.”
14.38 Hurricane BD 715 F/O KIRSCH landed due to weather. Signalled Church Fenton Fairlop.
Monday 11th October 1943.
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. S.D.s ckd. – Runways & taxi tracks, etc.
0945 Crossley Crash tender going to Linton for a welding repair job, back by 1500 hrs. 2nd tender standing by – Base informed.
[Page break]
0950 Not required tonight.
NOTE [Underlined] Bomber Code CD 0250. W.E.F. 10 Oct, Daily change at 1600 hrs G.M.T. [/underlined]
1240 Permission granted from Group for a 434 Halifax to go to Harwell.
1300. Off Watch F/O Taylor. On Watch Lister P/O. R/W #28. QAN. Wly.
13.35. Instructed Shipdham to send D/431 back immediately & S/434 when ready. No further a/c are serviceable. Weather down there is poor.
1507 First 434 a/c off on X country. ETA – 2157 +.
1618 Sixth & last 434 a/c off on X country.
1512-1554 Four a/c of 431 off on X country. ETA 1931.
1630 Aerodrome Serviceability signal sent to Station Z.
16.00. Asked base to contact all 434 a/c. on X country by W/T instructing all a/c to be back at base not later than 22.00 hrs.
This message also passed by R/T to 434/U. prior to take off.
Weather deteriorating rapidly after 22.00hrs.
17.00. Crossley Crash Tender back in commission again. Base informed.
17.10. Base informed all 434 a/c. have acknowledged W/T. signal except A & O. Message still being sent to them.
17.31. M/434 Returned from Harwell.
17.44. K/434 Returned from Harwell.
19.00. S/Ldr. Stanley visited Watch Office & inspected aerodrome.
1942 S/431 landed from X-country – Runway 28 in use.
1956 A/431 landed from X-country.
2012 O/431 landed from X-country = Went off runway but came back OK.
2058 T/434 landed from X-country
2133 O/434 landed from X-country
2147 U/434 landed from X-country
2154 A/434 landed from X-country
2158 F/434 landed from X-country
2215 D/434 landed from X-country
All A/Cr down. Flare path doused.
2255 Base inform us to keep a listening watch for one of Topcliffe’s a/c – R/T – Thickhead or Ratcliffe B. which is lost. One hour overdue on a X-country.
2358 A/c has crashed. Crew bailed out. (Stood down).
[Page break]
[Underlined] Tuesday 12th October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #10. QAN. Sly.
09.15. Inspected the aerodrome etc. Large a/c. hole on edge of #34 not yet filled in. Phoned C.O.W. who promised to fill in to-day.
09.45. Command Stand Down.
10.00. Yesterday V/434. Went A/S/F. off Whitby. On approaching the coast he was fired on by a Convoy. Checked up this morning with S/L Kyles re of not being told of passing Convoys. Base had omitted to pass on the gen to us so in future it is advisable to check up with base first re-convoys to make sure we get this information.
10.30. Picked up Darky call from ARDWELL W William. Answered him but reception was too bad to get anything on him. He was immediately afterwards answered by Hat-badge & Blue Sea who gave him QDM 090 3 mins. These two stations are St. Davids & Talbenny in [underlined] Wales. [/underlined] Later heard Ardwell N Nan given pancake. Freak skip-distance responsible for this reception. He was also answered by Linton.
1300 F/Lt Austin on Watch
Contacted Shipdham to tell them to hold S 434 & D 431 there until we call. Weather here too poor for return. Both a/c are serviceable.
18.00. TR.1196. Receiver U/S. Wireless Mechanic summoned to investigate trouble
18.40. No night flying in the group to-night. R/T Watch closed.
[Underlined] Wednesday 13TH October 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch. Runways inspected. No. 10 in use.
1000 Stand down tonight.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1500 Group are advising Shipdham that our A/Cr are not to return today, weather conditions are not improving.
1915 Command broadcast, via Group. “Italy has declared War on Germany”
[Underlined] Thursday 14th October 1943. [/underlined]
0830 F/O Taylor – on Watch – Runway 28. – QAN. Wly 5. SD ckd.
0900 Advised Shipdham – S/434 & D/431 are to return this morning.
0930 Advised Middleton a 431 A/Cr is taking crews to bring back 2 A/Cr from there this A.M.
[Page break]
1000 Not required tonight.
1130 S/434 returned from Shipdham.
1205 D/431 returned from Shipdham.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. off watch F/O. Taylor. QAN. L & V. #28.
16.20. S/Ldr Kyles phoned:- We may have to land 20 USA aircraft (Fortresses?) here. If we can [indecipherable] them by dusk Tholthorpe will be used. If not, one of the other stations in the clutch
17.56. Diversion cancelled. Flarepath laid on Runway #10.
18.10. M/431. 1st a/c. off on X Country. } [Underlined] All a/c are to be recalled at 20.00 hrs. Ex W/Cdr. Newson. [/underlined]
18.30 S/431 6th & last a/c off on X Country. }
18.28. M/434 landed Middleton St. George. 2 engines cut.
18.46. B/431 Landed of X Country - early return. G. u/s.
1930 On Watch F/O Taylor. Off Watch P/O Lister. = Runway No 10. in use.
1957 Instructed Base to send message to 431 A/C. “Return to Base by 21:30 hrs”.
2053 R/434 landed from X-Country – touched down on grass – vis. on approach poor.
2125 A/431 landed from X-Country, vis. terrible (ugh!).
Contacted Base. = Sending A/Cr to Linton to make use of Contact Strip & O. Circle.
2126 B/434 - “Proceed to Linton”. Landed there 21:38.
2127 O/431 on R/T. – Can see flare-path – so gave him Pancake. W/Co Newson prefers trying to land his A/Cr here rather than send them to Linton.
2135 S/431 up on R/T. Given turn 2.
2142 O/431 landed OK. S/431 not acknowledged “Pancake”. V/434 now on R/T so given “Pancake.”
2151 V/434 landed OK.
2200 O/431 now in front of Watch Office. Had turned wrong way off runway, had taxied this far OK so instructed him to carry on, getting a green to cross runway.
2210 M/431 landed OK, having lost drome once & returning on Leeming Beam.
2211 O/431 at last in dispersal, having traveled [sic] 3/4 of taxi track.
2214 M/431 called on R/T. “I appear to have bogged at end of Runway.” S/L Higgins went out & taxied him clear. = Reached dispersal OK.
2221 S/431 landed at Middleton St. George. = As S had disappeared after receiving turn 2, (21.35) had base chasing after him. At one time reported near Eastmoor. Later R.O.C. plotted him at Middleton. Before Base could instruct M. St. G. to send him home he had landed there. (Many silent thanks)
2247 C/431 on R/T. at 8000’. Instructed to break cloud at Leeming Beam.
[Page break]
2315 C/431 again on R/T saying he was going to land at Leeming. Instructed to try here first. = Base advise all stations in Group closing in quickly. Leeming still OK.
2318 Instructed C/431 to Proceed to Leeming. Acknowledged.
2327 C/431. “I can see flarepath, may I land now.” OK.
2336 C/431 landed safely. How? I dunno. Viz about 1000 yards, cloud 700 ft.
2359 Flarepath doused. R/T watch closed. All “Help” gone to mess.
[Underlined] Friday 15th October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #28 QAN Wly. Fog.
09.30. Aerodrome, Runways, Perimeter Tracks & dispersals Inspected. Secret docs
09.45. Stand down to-night.
11.05. Base informs that a Halifax Caprice or Gremlin “L” is lost. If any base in 6 Group can contact him he is to proceed to Acklington. No joy on R/T.
11.20. Acklington closed in. Now to go to [indecipherable] Still unable to contact.
11.40. Halifax landed safely at Leeming.
13.00. Off watch Lister P/O. On Duty Austin F/L.
1438 Contacted Middleton, re M/434 & S/431 returning. Weather conditions there now QBB 600 QBA 700 yds. FC & Met will not let them take off. - today.
1640 B 434 returned from Linton.
16.55. A/c. at Middleton not returning to-day. Weather deteriorating
1800 Oxford landed from Northolt. Signalled.
[Underlined] Saturday 16 October 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/Lt Austin on Watch. Runway 10.
S. D’s checked.
1000 Stand down
1005 Runway changed to 16. QAN SE’ly. 10-15MPH.
1021 M434 returned from Middleton St. George.
1118 Runway changed to 10. QAN – SE’ly 15 QBA. rotten.
1123 S/431 returned from Middleton St. George.
1215 Runway changed to 16. QAN. SE’ly 15 QBA – better.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1600 Runway changed to 10. QAN. ESE.ly – A Pilot reported it was hard to line-up on 16 due to sun on smoke on X-wind leg.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Sunday – 17th October 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch – Runway 10. – QAN ESE – 6. = Runways & taxi track ckd. S.Ds ckd.
10.50 K/431 called on R/T for Clearance to take-off on Air-test. Raining. Viz 1800 yds so scrubbed detail on S/L Pleasance OK.
1103 Stand down tonight.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. F/O Taylor off Watch. R/W #10. QAN 0.
16.00. Runway #24 in use.
16.10. [Underlined] R/T call signs for 431 & 434 Sqdns. are now ISLAND and CLIMAX respectively. These call signs will [deleted word] be permanent. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Monday 18th October, 1943 [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #10. QAN. E ly.
09.30. Inspected Runways, perimeter tracks & dispersals. Secret docs O.K.
10.34. Training only.
13.00. Off Watch Lister P/O. On Watch S/L Austin.
1448 First a/c of 434 off on X-country.
1501 First a/c of 431 off on X-Country.
1518 Third & last a/c of 434 off.
1548 Eighth & last a/c of 431 off.
1641 Q431 returned early. (IFF U/S).
1743 C431 returned early (ST. OUTER U/S).
1847 K 431 returned early.
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. [Deleted] F/Lt. [/deleted] S/L Austin off watch. Runway. #10. QAN. E ly.
20.35. N/431 First a/c of 431 Sqdn. to land from X Ctry.
21.04. F/431 Landed turned right instead of left & parked on E/434 dispersal. (F/O. Christinson new pilot here & not used to ‘drome yet.)
21.18. D/431 5th & last 431 a/c to land from X Ctry.
21.16. V/434 1st a/c of 434 Sqdn to land from X-Ctry.
21.39. P/434. 3rd & last a/c of 434 to land from X Ctry.
21.40. Standing-by to assist Linton should they require us.
N.B. S.F.C.O. Please consult “Suggestion Book.”
23.50. All Lintons a/c safely accounted for. Flare path doused. R/T watch closed.
Off watch Lister P/O.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Tuesday 19TH October 1943 [/underlined]
0830 F/Lt Austin on Watch.
0900 F/O Stephenson on duty.
0900 Perimeter track & Runways inspected. R/W 16 in use. QAN. SE’ly light.
0930 S.D. checked.
0945 S/L Higgins (431) phoned asking who had given permission for Q431 to return to base from X-country.
1000 Contacted Base re above. Permission was given by Base at 1605 for Q to return. They will let us know who authorised the return. No message was passed to us at any time.
1032 We are required tonight.
1045 Re permission for Q431. – Q426 was on a Gee exercise. When the message was received the call sign used was that which 426 Sqdn had been using up till yesterday. The message was passed by Base D/F as originating from Q426. So the aircraft was instructed to return. Definitely finger trouble at D/F.
1230 Gale Warning. SE veering SW. Gusts to 70 mph within 6 hrs area west of line Mersey to Portland Bill. Gale SE veering S.W. Gusts to 50 M.P.H. within 6 hrs all other areas Br. Isles.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1525 Ops Scrubbed.
[Underlined] Wednesday 20th October 1943 [/underlined]
0830 F/O Taylor on Watch – Runway 16 – QAN. SE-ly 10-15. SDs ckd. Phoned Clerk of Works. Sending someone to fix stove so it won’t smoke.
1000 Not required for Ops tonight.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O. Taylor.
13.39. F/434 1st a/c of 434 Sqdn. airborne on bombing & X Country.
13.50. A/434 Developed tail wheel lock on perimeter track; xc & bombing scrubbed.
14.20. K/434 substituted for “A”. Pilot F/O. Clinkskill. XCtry Exercise only.
14.45. K/434 third & last a/c off on X Country.
[Page break]
15.00. || Darky call from “Byplay” H Harry received and answered. Informed us he was not sure of his position. Called him to watch out for flares. Acknowledged. He said he was over a town with two aerodromes and was going to land at [/underlined] one of them. Thanked us for assistance rendered. [/underlined]
16.00. Anson a/c. landed on #34, went off runway and perimeter tracks and bogged. Efforts being made to clear runway. No a/c to land until clear. Cleared at 16.20.
17:15 Group asking what A/Cr we have flying, as there has been a crash near Middleton about 1500 hrs.
17.42. W/C Newson gave permission for N & E to return to-night if they are serviceable & if they get “flimsies.” Weather O.K.
18.00. Base called re above crash. One of Crofts aircraft and a total write-off. Crew all killed.
18.09. A.F.C. reports A. of A.I. on starboard side of R/W #16 u/s. Spirit level smashed. Reported to C.O.W. Will try to fix to-night.
18.30. N/431 Took off from Shipdham at 17.45. E/431. Still u/s.
18.54. N/431 Returned from Shipdham.
18.58. A/431. Landed safely.
19.15. W/C. Newson states E/431. ready to return 21/10/43 – weather permitting, & is to return as soon as possible.
19.30. Stood-Down. R/T watch closed. Flare path lifted.
Off Watch Lister P/O.
[Underlined] Thursday 21st October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. R/W #16. QAN. SSEly. 15-20 mph.
09.30. Inspected Runways, dispersals & Perimeter Tracks. Large pile of rubble on island near wood. Men on Perimeter track S end of R/W 28. Otherwise O.K. Secrets docs. checked.
09.50. Not required for ops. to-night.
10.50. Angle of approach indicator now serviceable on R/W #16.
12.40. Base QFE. 996.
1245 S/L Austin on Watch.
1423 K431 off on X country
1439 M 434 off on X country.
1443 N 431 last off on X country. Airborne are B, F, M, O & D.
1451 U434 off on X country. R434 returned with Port Inner U/S
[Page break]
[Underlined] Thursday 21st October 1943 (Cont). [/underlined]
1452 E 431 returned from Shipdham.
1700 F/O Stephenson on duty.
1800 R/W 10 in use.
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off watch F/O Stephenson.
19.45. Laid 2 M. Flares on 1st flare position.
20.20. Flare on 1st position put on 2nd position.
20.16. B/431 Finally landed after doing two overshoots. Off X Country.
20.31. U/434 Second and last aircraft of 434 landed off X Country.
20.38. D/431. 7th and last a/c. of 431 Sqdn to land safely off cross country after three hairy overshoots and one refusal to land due to an aircraft not clear of runway. Bags of practice required. S/Ldr. Higgins & S/Ldr Austin both present.
20.44. Contacted Base, no longer required. R/T watch closed, orders given for lifting of flarepath.
[Underlined] Friday 22nd October 1943. [/underlined]
0830 S/L Austin F/O Stephenson on duty. RW16 in use.
0930 R/W’s perimeter Track and Sec Doc checked.
0940 R/W 10 in use. Vis 400 yds R/W16 [deleted] in [/deleted] Sun on mist.
1000 We are required to-night.
1030 Main briefing 1400 hours both squadrons.
1115 Runway changed to 28. QAN S’W 10+ sometimes.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1716 D/434 off on operations R/W. 28 in use.
1729 E/434 Last 434 a/c airborne (14 a/c)
1730 Q/431 1st a/c 431 off on ops. (12 a/c)
1741 C/431 Last a/c airborne Tholthorpe operations.
1822 Provisional Diversion Bases 431 Acklington 434 Croft.
2000 S/L. Austin & F/O Stephenson on Watch.
Runway changed to No. 10. QAN SE - 4MPH.
2030 431/S upon R/T Sent to Sea (Whitby) to Jettison load.
[Page break]
2039 434/V Landed Early return
2045 431/C Landed (Three Engines}.
2051 431/M Landed
2135 431/S. Landed Three Engines.
2219 431/O Landed.
2225 431/O reports he is bogged at end of Runway Organized Duty Flight, Bowser & 431 to assist a/c. Asked Base to have Linton stand by in case of any other early returns.
2333 R/W 16 in use. Changing now.
2336. 431/A, K, diverted to Eastmoor.
2338 431/B diverted to Eastmoor.
2341 434/D diverted to Eastmoor.
2346 A 431 landed at Eastmoor.
2349 Runway 16 now O.K. Recalled B431 & D434.
2355 First a/c landed M434.
2358 K431 landed at Linton.
Saturday 23rd October 1943.
0001 E 434 landed. SOS procedure. Given priority landing Had no R/T. (Identity of a/c unknown till 0100).
0010 S 434 given priority landing (3 engines).
0015 N431 landed. No R/T. No permission.
0022 R431 landed Eastmoor.
0032 B 431 landed at Eastmoor.
0028 D431 given priority landing. (3 engines) Ran off runway.
0029 Diverted B & D 434 to Eastmoor. (Recalled them when D431 announced he was o.k.).
0038 O434 unable to get undercarriage down. W/C Newson took over R/T and checked with Pilot on what had been done.
0050 Switched on Runway 10 & told O434 to land on Runway. Ambulance & two fire tenders all ready.
0055 O434 landed on wheels. All O.K.
0200 Nothing heard of F434 (S/L Thomson), A434 (F/L Bryan)
[Page break]
N434 (Sgt Fry) T434 (F/S Nadeau) or E431 (Sgt Skinner). (The most trouble in the shortest time was never experienced by so few in front of so many people)
0400 Watch closed.
Note:- 431 a/c will be refuelled & ready to take off at 0930 hours this morning.
0830 On Watch. F/O Taylor. Runway 28 QAN. L & V or SSW. 5-10.
Runways & Taxi track ckd. Lots of holes in soft ground. Particularly at E. end of 28 where A/Cr bogged last night. 3 A.A.I. U/S = Phoned Mr. Rocket.
0940 Not required for tonight. – SD’s ckd.
11:02 K/431 landed from Linton = East Moor having vis. troubles so it will be a little while before they let our A/Cr. off.
1213 A/431 landed from East Moor. B & R returning after lunch.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O. Taylor. R/W 28 in use.
14.00. Work commenced on filling bog-hole on R/W. 28.
14.13. B/431 Returned from East Moor.
14.45. U/434 Returned from East Moor.
16.00. Bog-hole now filled. Completion of hardening & re-surfacing to-morrow
17.36. R/431 Returned from East Moor.
[Underlined] Sunday 24th October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch – Lister P/O. R/W. #10 QAN. S ly to E’ly. Checked Secret Documents.
10.15. Not required to-night.
11.00. Inspected runways, dispersals & perimeter tracks. Grass surfaces badly cut up and water logged. Notice to be inserted in S.R.O’s.
1300 On Watch F/O Stephenson
Monday 25th October 1943
0830 On Watch F/O Stephenson
0830 R/W 28 in use. QAN SWly 5-10.
0900 Sec. Doc checked.
0930 R/W and Perimeter Track checked.
1020 Signal AFI sent to Station Z re perimeter track work.
[Page break]
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor. QAN. L & V. Runway 28.
1500 Bags of X-Countrys = 431/A, C, F, H, S, K, P, R, S, T, = 434/A, L, O, R, S, Y. V/431 to Shipdham.
1613 H/431 returned from x-country early – 3 engines.
1630. All G.P.O. flare-path phones tested O.K.
1800 Viz getting poor. 1500yds. = Strensall phoned that it’s too hazy there for 434 to do bombing. Told them to send A/Cr home as soon as they come up on R/T.
1814 Contacted Shipdham. V/431 staying there overnight.
R/434 tried to land but had to overshoot. Sent him to Topcliffe.
1824 Instructed A/434 to proceed to Topcliffe.
1828 Instructed C/434 to proceed to Topcliffe.
1839. A/434 landed here in error for Topcliffe.
1848 L/434 took a try at landing, overshot, sent to Topcliffe.
1853 O/434 landed here. C/431 landed at Topcliffe at 18.40
1858 P/431 landed here. – R/434 landed at Topcliffe.
1933. All remaining A/Cr landed here OK. – Viz down to 700 yards, but just a thin smoke layer. A/Cr could see lights from above OK.
[Underlined] Tuesday 26TH October 1943 [/underlined]
0900 S/L Austin on Watch – No runway selected – Vis 30 yards. Runways & perimeter tracks inspected by A.F.C. – S.D’s checked.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch – Contacted Shipdham to have V431 return by 1600 hours.
1530 Base inform weather in 6 Group deteriorating rapidly & that they have told V431 to remain overnight.
[Underlined] Wednesday 27TH October 1943. [/underlined]
0900 S/L Austin on Watch – Runways & perimeter tracks inspected S.D’s checked.
1000 We are required for tonight.
1030 Briefing both Squadrons at 1430 hours.
1035 T1196 and TR9 both U/S. Reported to Signals officer.
1235 T1196 temporarily now Serviceable.
1300 F/O Stephenson on duty. RW/W 10 in use.
1350 RW 16 in use.
1430 R/W 10 in use. Oxford landed on R/W 10. Expect sun bad on 16
[Page break]
1515 R/W 28 in use.
1603 Operations scrubbed.
[Underlined] Thursday 28th October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #10 QAN. SSEly.
09.50. Stand Down to-night.
10.25. Electricians will be working on #28 funnels for a week. Funnel will be serviceable each night at 18.00 hrs. & before on 1/2 hrs. prior notice.
1300 On watch F/O Maher: Off watch F/O Lister
[Underlined] FRIDAY, 29TH OCTOBER, 1943 [/underlined]
0930 Docs. checked: Airfield inspected
1000 Not operating to-night.
1300 On Watch F/O Stephenson off watch F/O Maher
1700 On Watch F/O Maher off Watch F/O Stephenson
[Underlined] Saturday 30th October 1943. [/underlined]
0830 On Watch F/O Stephenson off Watch F/O Maher R/W 10 in use. Wind light Vis 1000 yds.
0900 Sec. Doc. checked. R/W & Perimeter Track checked.
1020 We are required to-night
1255 Broadcast from Base – Formation of Fortresses heading this way. Will likely call for instructions to their bases but are to be discouraged as their bases have closed in. Base desires these a/c to be landed at Eastmoor as much as possible so as not to congest Linton & Tholthorpe.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O Stephenson
13.30 Changed to #16.
16.05. Operations scrubbed. Flarepath lifted.
[Page break]
16.45. We now have an outer circle which operates. Getting On nicely!
[Underlined] Sunday 31st October, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #16. QAN SSEly.
09.30. Inspected aerodrome, runways, perimeter tracks & dispersals. Checked S.D’s.
09.40. Not required to-night.
1300 On duty F/O Maher.
[Underlined] MONDAY, 1ST NOVEMBER, 1943 [/underlined]
0900 On duty F/O Maher; runway in use No 10. Docs. checked. Airfield inspected
1010 Signalled AS4, Mk II lighting now complete.
1255 Wellington flying very low, circled twice and then disappeared in cloud to the south; contacted Linton who advised he had just landed there.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
[Underlined] Tuesday 2nd [circled] 31 [/circled] November 1943. [/underlined]
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway No. 10. S. D’s checked.
0901 Crosley fire tender U/S for two days. Notified base we would be unable to take outside crash action.
1045 Command Stand-down.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #10. QAN NWly.
[Underlined] Wednesday 3rd November, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway 16.
09.15. Inspected aerodrome Runways etc. Checked S. D’s.
09.50. Required to-night.
10.50. Briefing 14.30.
1300 On duty F/O Maher: off P/O Lister.
1317 Runway changed to 10.
1402. Requested Service Police to furnish 4 guards on perimeter touch from 1615 onwards.
1630-1701 15 a/c /431 and 14 a/c 434 airborne on operations
S/L Stanley advises that P/O PYLE, post-course from Watchfield [deleted] just [/deleted] to-night.
[Page break]
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER, 1943 [/underlined]
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O Maher. Runway #10 QAN. L. & V.
20.27. S/431. Returned early. unable to maintain speed above 16,000 ft.
20.33. N/431 Returned early. Rear Turret guns u/s.
21.15. F/431. IFF u/s. Returning to Base. Completed operation O.K.
21.10. TR9. u/s. Receiving O.K. T’mitter u/s.
21.39 434/V. First a/c to return from operations.
21.54. W/408 Landed here – no R/T. apparently in error for Linton.
22.44. 431/D Landed and bogged himself on entrance to dispersal. A.F.C. instructed to mark with red lights.
22.24. 434/B. Landed on 3 engines. Given a priority landing. All O.K.
22.34. 434/N. Landed at Linton in error.
Not bad for such a large effort to be so trouble free – for a change.
23.31. 431/F. Last aircraft to land safely from ops.
AVM Burkes and Mr. Patterson of Newfoundland Airways present for take-off and return.
[Underlined] Thursday, 4th November, 1943 [/underlined]
00.40. Still now news of 434/E. Base O.K.’d our stand-down. Flarepath lifted, and all to bed.
0900 On duty F/O Maher: off P/O Lister.
Runway in use No 10. Docs checked: F/O Taylor reported back form leave.
1020 Contractors given permission to work on No 10 runway: Runway changed to No 16.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
[Underlined] Friday, 5th November, 1943. [/underlined]
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor & P/O Pyle – Runway 16. QAN SE. 10-15. QBA. 1400 yds.
Runways & Perimeter ckd – Phoned MT for Sweeper to work on Taxi track. Sec. Docs ckd,
1000 Training Only.
13.00. ON Watch. Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O. Taylor. Runway #16.
15.15. Station engineer reports portion (abt 1/3) of perimeter track [inserted] near the wood [/inserted] completely u/s. for at least two days. All aircraft (M, N, R, & P of 434) when taxying will have to [inserted] use [/inserted] perimeter track on North side only.
Saturday 6th November, 1943.
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #28 QAN. Wly. J W Pyle P/O.
0930 Runways, perimeter & dispersals checked
[Page break]
431 A
1000 Training only
1015 Docs. checked
10.18. || S/L. Orchard desires that in future all operational crew lists passed to Base by Teleprinter show the number of operational trips each captain of A/C has to his credit. Sqdn. Adjts. instructed.
1120 Runway changed to 34. QAN NW. 22 mph.
1150 Starboard A.A.I. knocked over by 434 “L” on take-off on 34 runway
1157 Station engineer informed of A.A.I.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1400 Both A.A.I’s on 34 now Serviceable. = One missing on 06 runway, being repaired.
1611 New A/C LK993 re-directed to Leeming at request of W/C Newsom.
|| 1619 If A/C LK995 arrives it is also to go to Leeming.
1620 When V-M & C return from X-country, they are to be instructed on R/T to do 3 extra circuits & landings (per S/L Higgins).
20.15. 434/V Landed at Topcliffe short of petrol, after receiving Pancake here.
20.45. 431/V DK 264 Crashed on grass at intersection on 34 & 28 runways. Crash action initiated. (Informed Ambulance, M.O. & Squadron C.O.). Several aircraft overhead at time. N/434 short of petrol, sent immediately to Linton. O. B. P. E. of 431 Sqdn. & D/434. Diverted to Linton. Contact with Base maintained at all times. Base advised that V/434 was to remain at Topcliff. [sic] Crew of V remaining overnight at Topcliff [sic] to bring aircraft back sometime to-morrow – we hope.
|| Station Z signalled= “Runways 28/10 & 34/16 u/s. Crashed A/Cr.)
2330. Station Engineer, with crew, started moving A/Cr. = Complete write-off.
[Underlined] SUNDAY, 7th NOVEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Inspected scene of crash. Runway 28 is about 65 yards clear. Set out Caravan on Runway 28 to bring back a/c from Linton & Topcliffe.
0950 Training only tonight.
1130 Docs. checked
1155 Required tonight.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1725 Crashed A/C now moved back approx. 150 yds. clear of runway
STATION Z. Signalled Runways S. – Base informed.
[Page break]
[Underlined] SUNDAY, 7th NOVEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
1820 Operations scrubbed
1930 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 28 lit.
1935 We are to open watch at 0600 hours for Lancasters from Linton just in case we are needed.
[Underlined] MONDAY 8th NOVEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
0830 On watch F/O Taylor – Runway 10 QAN E’ly 4-5
0845 On watch P/O Pyle – runways & perimeter checked
0920 Docs. checked
1000 Training only, but standing by for 2 hours.
1100 Phoned Clerk of Works. re Perimeter track Sweeping – He will “get cracking on it”
1208 Halifaxes definitely not required.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O Taylor.
15.45 Marshalling will commence for take-off on Runway 28
17.45. Station electrician reports Sodium lighting on #28 serviceable.
19.30. On Watch F/O Taylor & P/O Pyle.
2000. Night flying F, M, D, N, Y/434 – X-C 20:15 = 0100. C, D, T, R/431 X-C. 21:30-01:10.
We are to be standing by as at 0600 in case Lintons Lancs need us.
2019. M/434 1st A/Cr off on X-C.
2048 F/434 last A/C off on X-C
2130 R/431 1st A/C off on X-C
2150 D/431 last A/C off on X-C
2207 R/431 returned with hydraulic leak
2220 Linton report ops. scrubbed – we will not be needed to stand-by.
2316 O/431 back from Linton with both crews – B/431 U/S at Linton
[Underlined] TUESDAY, 9TH NOVEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
0011 M/434 1st A/C back from X-C
0059 Y/434 last A/C from 434 Sqdn. back from X-C
0139 C/431 back from X-C – port outer engine u/s
0238 D/431 last A/C back from X-C – flarepath doused, R/T Watch closed
08.30. On Watch Lister Runway #10. QAN Light. S.D’s Checked.
09.50. Inspected runways, dispersals, perimeter tracks. Number of glim lamps picked up.
10.00. Not required to-night.
1600 Runway changed to 28
[Page break]
[Underlined] Wednesday 10TH November 1943 [/underlined]
0800 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 10 in use.
Tracks & Runways inspected. SD’s checked.
1009 Stood down tonight.
1045 Runway changed to 28. Vis poor. (Pilot reported that he could see sodium lighting on his approach.)
1300 ON Watch F/O Taylor. Runway changed to 24. QAN. S-Wly 10-15. gusty.
1550 431 A/C U, T, A, Q, O recalled from X-Country due to weather becoming duff
1652 All A/C on X-C have now acknowledged recall signal
1747 Last X-country a/c landed o.k.
[Underlined] Thursday 11th November 1943 [/underlined]
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor & P/O Pyle. – Runway 28. – QAN W ly light becoming 15-20.
Tracks & Runways Inspected. S-D ckd.
1020 Training only tonight.
13.00. On Watch Linton P/O. Runway #28 QAN: Light Wly. – Nwly.
13.30. A/C.1. John definitely returning here to resume Flarepath duties.
1557 434/Y Sgt. Stanley landed without calling for permission on R/T
17.15. TR1196 u/s. Radio Mechanic’s services sent for. Power u/s.
17.38. Trouble eliminated and all now O.K.
17.40. Last a/c Landed so completing day flying.
17.50. Flare path doused. R/T watch closed.
Friday 12th November, 1943.
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway [deleted] 28 [/deleted] 34. QAN NWly.
09.15. Runways & dispersals inspected.
09.30. Documents checked.
10.00. Not required to-night.
11.15. Squadron flight commanders informed of gale warning being in force. Flights were told last night.
1145 Oxford MP414 ready to leave – duty crew could not be contacted at fire hut
1300 S/L Austin on Watch – JW Pyle P/O. on watch
1614 Runway changed to 28. QAN. – WNW – 15MPH.
19.30. On Watch Lister Off Watch S/L Austin. Runway #28.
19.55. F/431 Landed at Topcliff. [sic] Before he landed there he was given a QDM of 150° 8 miles. Acknowledged but did not comply.
20.15. F/S. Johnson called from Topcliff [sis] to say that the reason he did not land at base was that the oil pressure
[Page break]
in the Port Outer engine dropped below 45lbs □” and was also falling in two other engines as well.
20.24. [Boxed] “Judgement” M. Darky Call worked by Topcliff [sic] landed here. Whitley a/c. Landed O.K. [Deleted] lost both engines stopped [/deleted] one engine completely u/s. He managed to taxy to [deleted] the end of the [/deleted] intersection of 20 & 34 runways but unable to get clear. Sent duty crew & tractor to pull him clear. [/boxed]
21.25. Runway cleared. Whitley crashed at Ashbourne. ‘Phoned their F.C.O.
21.32. R/431 First a/c to land from X/C.
21.45 N/431. Fourth and last a/c to land from X/C.
23.00 Flare path lifted, R/T watch closed.
Saturday 13TH November 1943
0900 S/L Austin & P/O Pyle on Watch – Runway 28.
Perimeter & runways checked. SD’s checked.
[Underlined] Note [/underlined] [Boxed] Effective Nov 15TH, 1943 a twenty-four hour watch will be kept by this Flying Control Establishment. When no flying takes place from this station there need only be an officer, an R/T operator, airman of the watch and a watchkeeper on duty. [/boxed]
1000 Training only
1240 Signal sent to Station Z “Flying Control Facilities available on 24 hour basis WEF 0900 hours 15 Nov.”
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
18:25 Snow Warning. = “Snow Probable during next 24 hrs, in most parts of Br. Isles, amounts moderate over high ground, & mainly slight elsewhere.”
1924 H/431 landed from X-Country.
1938 P/431 landed from X-country
[Underlined] Sunday 14th November [/underlined]
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor & P/O Pyle. = Runway 34. Wind NWly. 20-50mph. Perimeter & Runways ckd. – still there – S.D ckd.
0945. Training only tonight.
13.00. On Watch Lister Off Watch F/O. Taylor.
[Underlined] Monday 15th November, 1943 [/underlined]
08.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Runway #28. QAN. Light NWly.
09.30. Aerodrome inspected. Documents checked.
[Page break]
0950. Training only to-night.
1145 Runway changed to 34 QAN NW’ly 10-15 mph.
1450 Topcliffe informs us that 431/F is now serviceable – “C” will take crew there to bring F back
1645 431/F back from Topcliffe
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off duty F/O. Taylor.
[Underlined] Tuesday 16th November, 1943. [/underlined]
08.30. Quiet Watch. Off duty Lister On duty F/O Taylor.
Runway 34. QAN. NWly – 10-20 mph. – S.D ckd. Runways & Per. Inspected.
1000 Training only
1130. From Base: We are provisional diversion base for 15. U.S.A.A.F. A/Cr. for between 1400-1600 hrs
1300 On duty S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
1440 Frost warning late tonight – min. air temperature 30°-31° F
1510 Air sea rescue crews not required
1547 Not required for U.S.A.A.F. diversions
1930 434/N is bogged at corner of taxi track & #28 runway – action taken.
1945 On Watch F/O Taylor. =
20.10 Crew has bogged near AFC Caravan. Phoned MT for something to pull it out. Tractor couldn’t
2217 M/434 – 3rd A/Cr landed OK. = When F/434 first called up it was raining quite heavily. Instructed him to fly in a northerly direction into the clear until shower had passed, to avoid icing = landed safely an hour later.
2224 M/434 now stuck off taxi track.
2245 M/434 back in dispersal.
[Underlined] Wednesday 17th November, 1943. [/underlined]
0625 Base advise – Require 3 A/Cr of 434 Sqdn for A/S/R. – take off approx. 0830hrs. Phones out of order so sent a written message to W/Co Harris by M/T driver.
0815 Daylight Caravan out on Runway 28 – QAN – L & V.
0845 On duty S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
0945 Docs. checked
1000 Training only 1001-1026 N, J & O 434 off on A.S. Rescue.
1215 Runway changed to 34.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch S/L. Austin. Runway #34.
16.00. Frost warning to-night. Min Temp. 30°.Passed to M.T. & Flights.
1445-1456 – N, J, O 434 landed from A.S.R.
1335-1403 – A, C, Y, R 434 & H, J, R, & O 431 off on A.S.R.
[Page break]
1707-1906 – All a/c [deleted] off [/deleted] landed from A.S.R.
1823-1835 – A, D, K, L & T 431 off on night X-country.
20.45. Taxy track across #28 R/W u/s. Glims laid. Electricians informed.
20.31 434/F first a/c off on night flying.
2114 434/N bogged in front of dispersal
2119 434/X off on night flying
2136 434/F landed from night flying.
2215 434/X landed from night flying
2316 431/A landed from night flying – S/I engine u/s – landed O.K.
2338 431/U last A/C landed from night flying – trouble with u/c at first but landed O.K.
[Underlined] Thursday 18 TH November 1943 [/underlined]
0830 Runways & perimeter inspected.
On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch S/L. Austin. P/O Pyle. Runway #34. Documents checked.
10.00. Required to-night.
13.00. On Watch F/O. Taylor. Off Watch Lister P/O.
16.30. 431/K First a/c. off on ops.
16.54. 434/M First a/c. of 434 Sq. off on ops.
17.22. 431/Q. Thirty-first & last a/c. off on ops.
19.40. L/431. Returned early. Sent to jettison as he had not done so.
19.45. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O Taylor.
20.07. B/431. Returned, had jettisoned, asked for permission to do Right Hand circuit.
20.55. B/431. Bogged on Perimeter track. Impossible to move – no a/c can pass. S/L Hudson has organised a crane – may be [deleted] done [/deleted] cleared in 2 hrs.
22.00. B/431 Back on dispersal.
23.45. P/434 First a/c back off ops.
Friday 19th November. 1943.
00.15. U/431 Landed short of petrol. Z/434 Stood-by.
00.21. K/431 Landed short of petrol. C/434 Stood-by.
00.41. R/434 Landed Linton short of petrol. Was not certain he was over the right aerodrome but said “so short am landing anyway.”
00.38 1/2. T/431 Landed short of petrol. Priority
00.56. L/434. Bogged on corner of #28 and perimeter track.
03.40. The following aircraft have landed away (short of petrol etc.) F. E & J of 431. G. E. R. M. of 434.
[Page break]
No news of A/434. U/434. M/431. No further news received of Q/431 who was ditching at 23.28 (app.) One fix and 1 QDM only received.
08.30. Off Watch Lister P/O. On Watch F/O Taylor.
Runway 34. QAN – NW – 5-10. = L/434 still obstructing No 28. = Clerk of works phoned re Taxi track lighting around 28 loop being very dim, & AAI’s on 34 runway.
1000 We are required tonight. SD’s ckd.
1045 Ex Base. F/431 should be leaving Woodbridge any time now. They are bringing a 428 Sqdn crew back here with them. Leeming to arrange transport from here.
11:37 W/Co Newson: When F/431 comes on R/T advise him to take crew of 428 to Leeming.
12:16 Call from Stanton Harcourt. E/431 left 12:09, G/434 left 12:11, M/434 Glycol leak.
12:41 G/434 landed from Stanton Harcourt.
1300 S/L Austin & P/O. Pyle on Watch
1311 E/431 landed from Stanton Harcourt.
1410 E/434 landed from Little Harwood
1430 F/431 landed from Woodbridge. 1506 J 431 landed from Little Harwood
1621 First a/c off on operations. Runway 34 – zero wind – 28 blocked.
1655 Twentieth & last a/c off on ops. Z434 & L431 scrubbed.
1656 Ordered flarepath changed to 28 as L434 was cleared.
1746 Flarepath caravan finally arrived in position.
2000 F/O Taylor on Watch.
2004 T/431 landed OK. (Had completed detail) (Nav. error, would have been too late on Δ)
2030 Arrangements with Base re weather: Unless Group suggest diversion A/Cr come back here. If raining then, we have no more than 4 overhead at 1 time. Send extras to Linton or East Moor alternately. These stations to help with transport.
2205 N/431 first A/Cr up on R/T.
2215. J/434 landed West Malling 21:25. – flak damage. – Crew OK.
2334 R/431 landed = No news from D, X, Y, of 434.
Saturday November 20th
0030 Still no news. Flare path doused. (Tractor & Trailer Bogged at 28.)
0754 Just heard Y/434 landed Thorney Island. 22:39.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 28. Calm. SD’s checked.
0956 Training only tonight.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch S/L Austin. R/W #28. Calm.
13.42. Instructed M & Y/434 to return to base.
13.50. M.T. contacted re perimeter track being swept.
15.30. M/434 unable to return to-day – bad weather down at S. Harcourt.
1655. Base inform: “Body picked up in the sea by A.S.R off Newhaven. M.U. A/G.” Further details may be had from F./C. 11 Group.
[Page break]
1930 Off watch P/O Lister – On watch P/O Pyle
2000 QBA 600 yds. QBB – 2000 10/10ths. – Widespread fog persisting through the night at base & our diversion stations till later tomorrow
[Underlined] SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21st, 1943 [/underlined]
0830 Quiet watch – Doc’s checked – Runway 28. Calm
On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch P/O. Pyle.
09.25. Aerodrome, dispersals & perimeter tracks inspected. S/431 is an obstruction at the entrance to North side Hangar.
09.45. Our diverted aircraft may, if serviceable return today between 14.00 & 17.00.
10.10. No operations in command to-night – but we are to stand-by for a big effort to-morrow night.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1436 Y/434 took off from Thorney Island.
1614 Y/434 landed OK, after a bit if trouble finding the drome in poor viz.
1700. Orderly room phoned – LAC Strangeland is posted to 50 Group Pool for A.F.C Course WEF DEC 18
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O. Taylor.
[Underlined] Monday November 22nd 1943. [/underlined]
08.00. Quiet Watch. Runway #28
08.30. Off Watch Lister P/O. On Watch F/O Taylor. QAN. W ly light. SD ckd.
09:55 We are required for tonight = Briefing 1400 hrs. = changed to 13:30 hrs.
12:24 434/M returned from Stanton Harcourt.
12.45 S/L Austin & P/O Pyle on watch
1636 P/434 1st A/Cr. off on ops. = Runway 28. QAN – W ly 5.
1709 K/434 24th A/Cr off. - V/434 scrubbed – Internal Glycol leak.
1822 W/434 returned early. (A.S.I. u/s).
1918 A/431 returned early. Used up all oxygen in first hour.
2014 L/431 returned early. – on 3 engines.
2342 U/431 first A/Cr landed OK from ops.
2352 W/431 landed on 3 engines, burst a tyre & stopped near intersection of 28 & 34 runways. Appeared to be an obstruction. Seven aircraft overhead so sent them to East Moor. 434/F, G, O, K. 431/D. E. F.
[Underlined] Tuesday November 23rd 1943. [/underlined]
0010. W/431 found to be more than 100 yards from runway so started landing A/C again. K/434 came back from E. Moor.
[Page break]
0019 L/434 called up short of petrol so given priority landing. B/431 landed at East Moor without calling Base. X/431 landed at Woodbridge on 3 Engines; P/434 & Z/434 landed at Docking.
0018 Y of 429 Squadron (P/O Kingston) landed on a Darky call from Linton.
0130 No news from C & E/434, lights doused, flare-path party stood down.
0200 N/431 which had gone off taxi track near end of 24 runway, now in dispersal.
0900 S/L Austin & P/O Pyle on Watch. Runways & perimeter inspected. SD’s checked. Runway 28 in use.
1000 Training only.
1203 Runway changed to 16. QAN S’ly to S by E 9+ M.P.H.
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch S/L Austin. R/W. #16.
14.11 All a/c at Eastmoor returned safely. Two or three overshoots. G. F. O./434. And B D E F/431.
1810 Flarepath lights No. 16 u/s Clerk of Works informed
1930 S/L Austin on Watch & P/O. Pyle.
2000 Switchboard u/s. Reported to Signals.
2205 Asked Flarepath to be switched to 28 with reserve on 24 as wind is expected to veer and decrease in intensity.
2220 Switchboard serviceable. (Cable broken).
2300 Possible diversion now remote. Standing by for Linton (just in case).
[Underlined] Wednesday November 24TH, 1943 [/underlined]
0030 Flarepath & lights doused.
09.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch S/L Austin. R/W #24.
09.30. Runways Perimeter tracks & dispersals inspected by Sgt. Shacklady. Documents checked.
10.05. Training Only To-night.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1335. Shipdham Phoned – G/431 S. – send a crew for it; take 48 spark plugs, spanners & 4 accumulators. Passed to Stat. Eng. Office.
1500 Runway changed to 28. = QAN. W ly-WSWly. 20-30 mph.
Night flying tonight. 434 doing Bombing. 431 – 3 possible X-C’s.
1800 Night flying scrubbed.
1925 Contacted Docking. Z/434 should be ready for take-off in about an hour
[Page break]
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O. Taylor.
21.30. Z/434 not coming to-night but will be ready for take off by 09.00 tomorrow.
[Underlined] Thursday 25th November, 1943. [/underlined]
08.00 Quiet Watch.
09.00 Off Watch Lister P/O. On Watch F/O Taylor.
Runway 28. QAN W-WNW – 15-20. Runways etc inspected. SD’s ckd.
1000 Required tonight.
1300 On Watch S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
1930 On Watch F/O Taylor.
2325 L/434 first A/Cr off on ops – Runway 28.
2359 L/431 last A/Cr off on ops – 26 in All – 13 each Sqdn.
[Underlined] Friday 26th November 1943. [/underlined]
0337 Q/434 landed – early return – trouble with rear turret.
0401 S/431 landed – early return
0624 V/434 1st A/Cr up on R/T. – landed 0629.
0803 W/434 landed, after having trouble with hydraulics.
L/434, K & Y/431 landed. Tangmere, G/434 landed at Breighton.
0850 G/434 airborne from Breighton, returning to Base.
0901 G/434 landed from Breighton
On Watch P/O Pyle
1015 We are required tonight – Runways & perimeter inspected R. 28 in use S.D’s checked
1201 434/L landed here form Tangmere
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch P/O. Pyle.
13.10. K/431. Returned from Tangmere.
13.15. Y/431 Returned from Tangmere.
16.45. K/434 1st a/c off on ops.
17.20. H/431 17th and last a/c off on ops. N/431 too late for take off.
18.40. Provisional diversion of 30 aircraft from Nos. 5 & 8 Gps (P.F.F.). All available transport to stand by.)
1930 S/L Austin on Watch & P/O Pyle.
2026 K434 landed early from ops – P/outer u/s.
2315 Base inform us that 14 Lancasters of 467 Sqdn. Waddington (R/T “Pandrop”) are to be diverted here at approx. 0130 hrs. – A/C letters C, D, E, G, J, S, K, L, M, O, P, R, A, B.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Saturday 27 November 1943 [/underlined]
0012 V434 first a/c down from ops.
0020 Base inform they are sending over two of 467 a/c.
0036 G467 landed (P/O Coulson)
0041 1/2 D467 landed. (F/L Symonds.)
0100 K467 landed. (P/O Whitford).
0110 I 103 landed (Four other a/c landed between these times). (F/S Campbell)
0116 R431 asked for priority landing by W/T.
0150 H 106 landed (F/O Lee)
0152 1/2 J 106 landed (F/O Jardine)
0156 1/2 F 106 landed. (P/O Holbourn)
0200 All a/c of both 434 & 431 reported down.
G434 at Bourne; R 431 at Eastmoor; Y434, N434; D431, H431and P431 at Thorney Island. Rest at base.
0230 Still standing by for any diversion.
0300 Base o’k’ed standing down.
0610 Sgt. Bell reports Lancasters refuelled – 350 gallons each – J, H, D, G, F, K
0800 S.D’s checked – Group report weather at our diversion A/D’s ‘grim’ – [deleted] no [/deleted] crews standing by
09.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch P/O. Pyle. R/W. #10.
10.15. Not required to-night.
13.00 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1500 re 431/L. at Tangmere. = New S. = A crew are leaving here to arrive there Sunday evening to fly A/Cr back. Monday morning. = Base informed.
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O. Taylor.
Sunday 28th November, 1943.
Quiet Watch. Very quiet.
07.30. Diverted Lancasters to standby for take off on confirmation at 10.00.
09.00. Off Watch Lister P/O. On Watch F/O Taylor Runway 24 SSW-WSW – 10. SD ckd.
09.45 Training Only.
10:37 I/103 Sqdn left for Elsham Wolds. – landed there OK.
11:30 Changed to Runway 28. QAN. Light W ly.
11.04 P/431 took off from Thorney Island.
11.10 N/434 took off from Thorney Island. W & D/431 will be leaving shortly.
1227 P/431 landed from Thorney Island
[Page break]
1231 G/434 landed from Bourne
1234 N/434 landed from Thorney Island
1235 H/431 left Thorney Island with 2 of D’s crew – D/431 not leaving yet.
1300 S/L Austin & P/O Pyle on Watch.
1730 Lancasters D, G, K/467 Sqdn. & F, J/106 Sqdn. left for Waddington & Metheringham
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
2006-2031. = A, K. S. N. T./431 & A. C. O. U./434 off on X-C’s. R/434 off for Thorney Island.
[Deleted] 0010 )/434 [/deleted] [Underlined] Monday November 29th 1943. [/underlined]
0010 O/434 landed from X-Country.
0033 S/431 on return from X country landed off runway, far to the right. Holding up 4 others while investigating position.
0044 S/431 back on runway taxying to end. – clear at 0046.
0055 S/431 called up. he was on taxi track, out of brake pressure & had to shut off motors. Had K & N/431 turn left & parked them in front of watch office.
0129 Had U & R/434 turn left, taxi all the way round & across the main runway
0142 U/434 bow bogged, so R/434 left on taxi behind him – Bags of Red lights. Everything at least landed OK.
0300 Taxi track now all clear. A/Cr in dispersals.
0845 F/O Taylor off watch S/L Austin & P/O Pyle on watch Runway 24 QAN SW’ly gusty
[Deleted] 0900 [/deleted] 0945 Runway changed to 28 – S.D’s checked
0955 Training only
13.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch S/L. Austin P/O Pyle.
13.15. Ex Base:- Any Lossiemouth a/c to be landed here if seen as weather up north has clamped.
15.45. [Boxed] Darky call from “Dear Friend” E; [inserted] 360th Bomb Sqdn. [/inserted] lost. Got him to fire Verey light & he was located over Marston Moor. Requested QDM for Molesworth & Northampton; told to land. Rogered. Boston aircraft. [/boxed]
16.20. Stbd. A of I. on #28 u/s. C.O.W. informed.
17.30. Above now serviceable.
17.37. L/434 Off on bombing and C Country.
19.04 C/431 last A/C off on X country
1930 Off watch P/O Lister – on watch S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
2213 434/L bogged about 100 yds. from his dispersal at intersection of taxi & perimeter track on west side of 34 Runway – bowser & crew organized – S/L Holman informed
2257 431/C last A/C to land from X-country.
[Page break]
2325 Duty crew report 434/L now clear & being towed to dispersal
[Underlined] TUESDAY – NOVEMBER 30th 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch
09.00. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch P/O. Pyle. R/W. 28. NWly.
10.00 Runways, dispersals & Perimeter tracks inspected. Portions of P.T. require sweeping.
10.10. Re ops. Standing by.
10.20. Training only.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1454 Barracuda Royal Navy BV734 – Lt Walker – landed for refueling [sic] – Proceeding to EAST HAVEN dept. 15.30
1743 G/434 off on X-Country
18.11 H/106 Sqdn Lancaster left for home base – Metheringham -Signalled – P2.
18.20 E/434 off on X-Country.
1900 Runway changed to [deleted] W [/deleted] 28. Wind WNWly 5-10 mph.
19.30. On Watch Lister P/O. Off Watch F/O Taylor. R/W. 28. QAN. S.
21.36. G/434 Landed from Cross Country.
22.19. E/434 Landed from Cross Country.
[Underlined] Wednesday December 1st 1943. [/underlined]
08.00. Quiet Watch.
09.00. Off Watch Lister P/O. On Watch F/O Taylor.
Runway 28 – QAN – WNW – 5-15 mph. – S.D’s ckd.
0945 Required tonight.
13.00 Off watch F/O Taylor – On watch S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
14.00. Lister signing off at Tholthorpe for the last time. Best of luck and good wishes. Wombleton (?!*) here I come!!
1600 Operations temporarily postponed. Aircraft are to marshall & be ready for night take off.
1625 All a/c so instructed
2245 Operations cancelled.
[Underlined] Thursday – December 2nd – 1943 [/underlined]
0830 Runway 24. QAN = SSE to SW – 15-30mph. = SD’s ckd.
0900 Off watch F/O Taylor – on watch S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
0910 Runway changed to No. 28 – QAN W’ly
0950 Sgt. Rutherford is to be cleared today and to proceed to No. 41 Base Marston Moor tomorrow on attachment
0955 We are required tonight
[Page break]
[Underlined] Saturday 4TH December 1943 (Cont.). [/underlined]
0135 R431 overhead. Too heavy to land so is circling base.
0200 Runway changed to 06 – QAN NNE’ly 10+ MPH.
0234 U434 returned early. (Captain ill.)
0243 R434 returned early. (Port outer u/s.).
0249 R431 landed o.k. (Port outer u/s.)
0253 M434 returned early. (Couldnt [sic] climb over 12,000 – Icing.)
0307 H431 returned early. (overload tank would not feed).
0330 Back on Runway 10 again. QAN E’/y 4MPH.
0738 F434 first a/c landed from ops.
0804 X429 (F/O Keenan) Leeming landed by mistake.
0827 L431 last a/c landed/
0830 Base inform C434 landed Newmarket 0737; T431 landed Newmarket 0752; N434 at Dunsfold 0700; Y431 landed Lakenheath 0754.
0855 Base inform Sgt McQueen & crew of V434 have been picked up in Channel. Believe all crew are safe.
0913 G434 landed from ops. (9 1/2 hours airborne).
0915. On Watch F/O Taylor.
1010 Training only
1030 Runway 28. QAN. L & V.
10.47 429/X returned to Leeming
1100 Ex Base. ASR picked up 7 crew of 434/V 3 miles S of Beachy. Now being looked after in Newhaven Police Station. All OK.
1050 C/434 landed from Newmarket
1120 T/431 landed from Newmarket
1234 Y/431 landed from Lakenheath.
1515 434/N (Dunsfold) will not be serviceable so crew is [deleted word] returning via Middleton (428-P) A/C
1620 431/D at Thorney Island remaining there till evening sue to engine trouble
1635 431/D left Thorney Island
1723 P/428 Sqdn landed here. Middleton closed in so they are to spend the night here.
1810 D/431 landed OK from Thorney Island; ran off the end of runway, swung around & came back onto taxi track. Later ran out of brake pressure, Duty crew working on it
2100 D/431 now put in dispersal
2122 K/431 landed safely from X-Country after 2 dummy runs. Vis about 1200 yards.
[Page break]
[Underlined] SUNDAY – 5th DECEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
0900 Off watch F/O Taylor On watch S/L Austin & P/O Pyle
0915 Doc’s checked – Runway 28 QAN light NW’ly
1000 Not required tonight
1024 P428 returned to Middleton (phoned).
1230 Weekly training figures passed to Base.
1300 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1448 H 431 1st of 3 a/c airborne on XC’s.
1523 P, K, 434 airborne on A.A.F.
1625 Lanc circled aerodrome with wheels down and flashed letter. ACP gave green but Lanc evidently proceeded to Linton.
1715 S/431 landed okay from AAF – vis. 2000x
1930 K431 last of 3 X countries to return to base.
Vis:- 144 Yds. On watch P/O Pyle
[Underlined] MONDAY – 6th DECEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch
0830 Runway 28 QAN light W’ly S.D.’s checked
0900 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0930 Contacted Thorney Isle re Y434. Advised them not to let Y434 take-off this morning or until we again contact flying control.
0935 Stand down tonight.
1100 N 434 at Dunsfold S/O engine change and possibly P/O change. Ground crew despatched. “LK970”
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1722 Y 434 landed from Thorney Isle. Vis 1800 yds Good landing.
1930 Aerodrome red.
[Underlined] Tuesday 7 Dec, 1943 [/underlined]
0700 Quiet night.
0820 Doc’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch – Runway 28.
0920 Five cows found grazing on Runway 28.
0950 Training only.
[Page break]
Dunfold [sic] at 0830 hrs Dec 10. Route base, Fleet, Dunsfold.
1717 Base okay flight P434. Route & times to be passed before take-off.
1721 Group advise 1717 entry cancelled. Dunsfolds [sic] u/s for 4 engine a/c to land. S/L Hockey notified.
1800 S/L. Linnell in Oxford returned from Dalton, etc.
1900 F/O Taylor off watch, F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Quiet.
Friday Dec 10, 1943.
0730 Quiet night.
0840 On Watch F/O Taylor. = Runway 10. QAN. L & V – mainly N.E.ly. SD ckd. 431’s departure delayed as Croft’s weather duff.
1015 Not required tonight.
1145 431 now standing by to leave for Croft at 13:30 hrs.
1200 A crew from 1664 Con. Unit. Dishforth should be coming over this afternoon to pick up EB205. = old 431/S. = St. Eng. has keys & log books
1300 Off watch F/O Taylor – on watch P/O Pyle
1344 B431 first a/c of Squadron to take off on transfer to Croft.
1357 R431 eleventh off. Airborne are B, A, D, E, F, H, W, K, T, Y& R. Several a/c violated the low flying rule by coming within twenty feet of the tower. Unable to make out letters of a/c to take disciplinary action.
1500 Pilot & navigator left for Dunsfold today to bring back 434/N tomorrow
1521 431/L off & 431/U & S off
1930 On Watch F/O Taylor.
Saturday December 11th 1943.
0900 Off watch F/O Taylor – on watch P/O Pyle – Runway 10 QAN light [deleted] N [/deleted] NNW’ly – no tractor available to move caravan
0920 Runway now 28
1112 U/434 – 15th A/C off – airborne are O, P, R, U, W, X, Y, Z, D, E, F, H, K, L, & M
1215 Runway changed to 06
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1403 C 434 last a/c airborne for Croft. [Underlined] So a chapter in
[Page break]
the history of Tholthorpe is completed. The next begins with the arrival of 420 and 425 Squadrons.
1930 Off watch S/L Austin – on watch P/O Pyle
[Underlined] SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12th, 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch
0830 Runway 10 QAN NE’ly light – S.D.’s checked
0900 S/L Austin on Watch.
|| 1151 First a/c LW405 of 425 Squadron landed from Linton
|| 1157 a/c LW391 of 425 Squadron landed from Linton
|| 1219 a/c LW 395 of 425 Squadron landed from Linton
|| 1220 a/c LW 396 of 425 Squadron landed from Linton
|| 1246. a/c LW381 of 425 Squadron landed from Linton
(And so the Second Chapter has begun).
1300 ON Watch. F/O Taylor.
[Deleted] 1545 [/deleted]
1417 Halifax LK.734 delivered for 431 Sqdn. Pilot could not take it on to Croft.
1543. A/Cr. LW375 for 425 Sqdn Landed from Linton.
1625 Whitley BZ 6825 from Ashbourne brought a Crew for LA943.
1719 Whitley LA934 left for Ashbourne.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch – Runway 10 in use.
[Underlined] Monday 13TH December 1943 [/underlined]
0830 Runway 28. QAN light & variable – S.D’s checked.
0900 ON Watch F/O Taylor. Runways & perimeter inspected.
10:35 G/C Bradshaw arrived from Linton on a Proctor. Later going to Middleton or Leeming.
12:20 431 sqdn sending a crew this afternoon to pick up LK734
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1449 G/C Bradshaw left in Proctor for Middleton
1547 AL/F landed with crew to take back LK 734 which has been authorized by signal to be transferred from 431 Sqdn. to 429 at Leeming.
1630 LK 734 left for Leeming
[Underlined] TUESDAY, 14th DECEMBER, 1943 [/underlined]
0900 On watch P/O Pyle – Runway 28 QAN light variable – very foggy
0930 S.D.’s checked
1300 On watch S/L Austin
[Page break]
1930 On watch P/O Pyle
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY, 15th DECEMBER, 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch – dense fog throughout the night
0830 S.D.’s checked – Runway 28. QAN light & variable – persistent fog
0900 Off watch P/O Pyle S/L Austin on Watch.
0950 Training only.
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
[underlined] Thursday 16TH December 1943 [/underlined]
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. = Runway 10 – Calm – E-ly if any.: Rwys & Perimeter OK. SD’s ckd
1300 On watch P/O Pyle
1700 Linton A/C operating – returning about 2330 – Provisional diversion bases south
2000 On Watch F/O Taylor. We are to be prepared to land some of Linton’s A/Cr. = Runway 10. QAN. SEly – 9. QBB 1500’.
2341 M/426 sqdn given Pancake, but did not appear. = (Landed at Linton)
2354 D/408 Sqdn landed.
23.59 G/408 Sqdn landed.
[underlined] Friday 17th December 1943. [/underlined]
0004 B/408 Sqdn landed.
0018. S/408 Sqdn given Pancake on right hand circuit; couldn’t see our runway so returned to Linton.
0100 Base report a Crash in our area. = Ref. 064944 = Yearsley. = Two survivors in a Public House there; and 5 casualties: M.O. & ambulance sent; F.A.F. Regiment arranging guard.
0900 P/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0905 Runway 16 in use.
1000 Bomber Command stand down tonight
1317 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
1730 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2350 Quiet and foggy.
Saturday Dec 18, 1943.
0700 Quiet night.
0800 Doc’s checked.
0810 Runway 16.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch.
[Page break]
Tuesday 21 Dec 1943.
0100 Linton circuit clear.
0700 Quiet night.
0830 Doc’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
0910 Runway 16 QAN SE’ly 20
1000 Training only
1300 P/O Pyle off Watch F/O Taylor on Watch.
1327 LW388 landed from Linton – A.T.A. = for 420 Sqdn.
[Underlined] NOTE [/underlined] Clerk of Works = Thursday & Friday will be putting duct under taxi track for new Watch Office. 1/2 of track will be up each day, but will be cemented in for use at night if necessary.
[Underlined] Wednesday 22nd December 1943. [/underlined]
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor. Off Watch P/O Pyle. RW28. QAN W ly. 15-20.
1108 W/Co Richer took off in Oxford for Croft, returning after lunch = Advised their base
1118 S/434 F/S Gardner left for Croft. Base informed.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1335 3°’s frost warning tonight.
1708 Last of 5 new Halifaxs landed.
1930 F/L Gant off watch. F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] Thursday 23rd December 1943. [/underlined]
0900 F/L Gant on watch.
0905 Runway 24 in use.
1005 6 Group operating tonight.
1132 Heard darky call on TR9. Answered but heard other 6 group stations answering so did not bother further.
1300 F/L Gant off watch.
1511 New Halifax LW 396 for 420 Sqdn. from Hawarden – snag S.I. oil leak
1540 Eastmoor informed that our spare crash tender is u/s (cylinder block) – parts have been wired for but it will be u/s for about 2 weeks
1551 New Halifax LW 414 for 425 Sqdn. from Hawarden
1620 Memorandum from S. and O. suggests that reveille be announced over the tannoy system at 0645. Agreed by telephone to begin this system at the beginning of the week.
[Page break]
1755 We are required to stand-by for landing 20 A/C. ETD approx. midnite – ETA [underlined] 0730 [/underlined]
1930 P/O Pyle off watch F/L Gant on watch.
2100 Standing by for provisional diversion.
Friday 24 of Dec 1943.
0035 Base advise Linton and Eastmoor scrubbed, we still are standing by for provisional diversion.
0630 Diversion cancelled.
0730 Doc’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. – P/O Pyle on Watch.
0910 Runway 24 – QAN light & variable at first – later W’ly
1015 A few A/C in Command on special targets – 431 ‘Gardening’
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch = P/O Pyle off Watch.
1400 Runway 34. – QAN NWly. 7mph.
1600 S/L Stanley, 6 Group, phoned “A Merry Xmas to all the Staff”.
[Underlined] Saturday, December 25th 1943. [/underlined]
[Underlined] Merry Christmas [/underlined]
0930. F/O Taylor appeared – Runway 24 – S’D’s ckd.
1000 Stand-down tonight.
2330 Very quiet.
Sunday December 26, 1943.
0900 F/L Gant on watch.
0905 Runway 24. QAN light SWly.
0910 Secret doc’s checked.
0940 Command stand down tonight.
1020. State of Station crash tenders:- is at present, 1 from Middleton St. George being repaired here. Should be serviceable in 48 hrs. Our own stand by will be u/s until further notice.
1300 F/L Gant off watch.
1541 LW 418 New Halifax from Linton 420 Sqdn.
1548 LW 387 New Halifax from Linton 425 Sqdn.
[Page break]
[Underlined] MONDAY – 27th DECEMBER, 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch
0900 Runway 24 QAN WSW light – SD’s checked
1300 ON Watch. F/O Taylor.
1545 From S/L Kyles = As of 1/Jan 44. Captains names must be passed with all details of movements.
1930 On watch P/O Pyle Runway 34
2200 Runway changed to 24 QAN SW – 5-10
[Underlined] TUESDAY – 28th DECEMBER 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch – Llandrwog called to ask us if we could take an aircraft – advised no – heavy ground fog
0900. On Watch F/O Taylor. Runway 10 – QAN. Light E.ly. SD’s ckd.
1000 No ops in Command tonight.
1300 P/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1400 Runway 24 in use.
1605 Frost warning tonight. 4°.
1630 Flare path laid 24 runway.
1930 F/L Gant off watch F/O Taylor on Watch.
Wednesday – 29th December.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0905 Runway 24 in use.
0910 Doc. checked.
0950 Halies and Lancs working in group tonight.
1300 On watch P/O Pyle
1515 Runway changed to #28
1700 Runway 24 in use.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1955 Base advise to stand by to land East Moor a/c if necessary. Sick quarters advised.
2310 Base advise East Moor runway now clear and we are not to land their aircraft.
[Underlined] Thursday 30 Dec 1943 [/underlined]
0730 Quiet night.
0815 Doc’s checked.
0830 F/L Gant off watch. F/O Pyle on watch
[Page break]
1000 No operations in Group tonight – 1 & 3 Group ‘Gardening’
1010 Runway changed to No. 34 QAN NW 18
1040 Runway changed to No. 28 QAN W 16
1130. Runways & perimeter inspected 1253-LW429 new a/c for 425 landed.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1443 LW393 new a/c for 420 Squadron landed.
1449 LW397 new a/c for 425 Squadron landed.
1503 LW417 new a/c for 425 Squadron landed.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
[Underlined] FRIDAY, 31st DECEMBER, 1943 [/underlined]
0800 Quiet watch
0815 Doc’s checked
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 28. Perimeter checked.
1300 F/L Gant on watch.
1930 F/L Gant off watch. S/L Austin on Watch.
[Underlined] SATURDAY 1ST JANUARY 1943. ? [/underlined]
0800 Quiet Watch. SD’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1015 Taxi track, runways and dispersals inspected.
1020 Linton operating tonight.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Quiet.
[Underlined] Sunday 2nd January 1944. [/underlined]
0015 Linton taking off.
08.30 Doc’s checked.
0840 All Linton’s a/c accounted for except one, on which they have a QDM.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on Watch.
1000 Runways & perimeter track inspected
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1446 Fire tender dispatched to SHQ to put out a fire. (Very slow getting away.) (Adjutant informs it is only a test call).
[Page break]
0930 Runways & perimeter inspected
1300. On Watch F/O Taylor. Off Watch P/O Pyle.
1420 [Underlined] NOTE [/underlined] Signal to Station Z. “Runway QDM 101 U/S for Operational landings TFN Taxi track under repair”. Base informed
1930 S/L Austin on Watch –
[Underlined] Sunday 19 December 43 [/underlined]
0830 Quiet. Doc’s checked. Runway 16.
0930 QAN – Swly – 5-15mph. T & No’s changed to 24; cannot move caravan.
0945 Nothing in Command tonight.
1010 Crash Wagon U/S. Reserve in use. Base informed.
1127 G & B/408 Sqdn returned to Linton = D/408 left at 11:42.
[Underlined] NOTE [/underlined] If LK738 is delivered here, phone Leeming right away so they can pick it up
1219 LW380 – New A/Cr for 420 delivered from Linton.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1358 D 434 departed for Croft. Croft notified.
1545 New a/c being delivered from Linton reported wheels would not lock down. Advised to put 30° or 40° of flap and slow down to 140 MPH.
1548 Pilot advises wheels locked down. Given pancake
1930 F.L Gant off watch. F/O Taylor on watch
2330 Quiet.
Monday 20 Dec, 1943
0730 Quiet night.
0800 Doc’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant [deleted] off [/deleted] on watch.
0905 Runway 24 in use. Qan WSW – SW 20-25.
1010 Linton operating tonight.
1300 On watch P/O Pyle
1439 New Halifax LW426 for 420 Sqdn. landed
1630 Our standby Crossley Crash Tender has been lent to Eastmoor
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2000 Standing by for Linton a/c. Flare path layed on runway 24. [Deleted word] Duty crew standing by.
2330 Quiet.
[Page break]
[Underlined] MONDAY – 3RD JANUARY 1944 [/underlined]
0615 Asked to stand-by & light up for any Eastmoor A/C who may wish to land here QBB about 1700. Crash crew ordered to stand-by – sick quarters asked to have ambulance stand-by. Call signs “Island” or “Landfall” QFE 1009 (-4)
0730 Darky call “Ringboard R-2 Robert” – answered by Linton & Eastmoor
0750 “Ringboard” R2 Robert landed OK at Eastmoor
0810 All Eastmoor A/C accounted for but 2
0830 No longer required
0845 S.D.’s checked
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 28 – QAN – NW’ly – light.
0930 Runways & perimeter checked.
0950 Command stand down tonight.
1300 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1517 W/C Richer 425 B airborne on C & B. 1st a/c of 425 to take-off from this base.
1915 Practice Intruder Plotting scheme from Group.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
2115 [Underlined] Snow Warning [/underlined] – Small amounts of snow expected within the next 24 hours within 30 miles of the east coast of Gr Britain, north of [deleted] a line [/deleted] Felixstow [sic] and excluding Edinburgh. Met is warning Station Commander, Squadrons, M.T. and S.A.O.
[Underlined] Tuesday 4TH January 1944. [/underlined]
0830 S.D’s checked. Runway 34.
0900 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0925 Runways & perimeter inspected.
0940 Notified clerk of works re lights on runways & per.
1010 Gardening in Group tonight.
1110 Base advise Linton and East Moor beams u/s TFN.
1300 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
1400 Frost warning tonight
[Page break]
1425 LW 421 Halifax from Linton
1437 LW 425 Halifax from Linton
1506 LW 431 Halifax from Linton
1530 Missing SD 229 Supplement No.1069 returned by F/L Allen
1548 [Deleted word] – 420 B W/C McIntosh circuits & bumps
1600 M.T. Section advised to warn all drivers re obedience to runway traffic lights.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY, 5th JANUARY 1944 [/underlined]
0900 P/O Pyle on watch Runway 28 QAN S’ly 8 Runway 24-06 obstructed para
0910 S/Docs. checked
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1350 Runway changed to 24 QAN SW’ly 10+ mph.
1735 Provisional diversion of 20 a/c from 1 Group. E.T.A. roughly 0830 hours in the morning.
2315 Asked by base to light up for A/C in this vicinity – Crash crew & ambulance warned –
2330 Aircraft landed at Eastmoor
[Underlined] THURSDAY, 6th JANUARY 1944 [/underlined]
0020 Asked again to light up for A/C – standing by
0045 A/C headed off in a NW’ly direction – apparently O.K.
0700 Base informs we are not required for diversion.
0750 Asked to light up for A/C which may be sent from Linton or Eastmoor
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. S.D’s checked. Runway 24.
1000 Runway 28 in use.
1300 S/L Austin off Watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1700 Day caravan on 24 – night 28.
1930 F/L Gant off watch. S/L Austin on Watch.
2005 Base gave authority to Stand down for tonight
Friday 7TH January 1944.
0100 Closed watch.
0900 F/L Gant on watch.
0925 Runway perimeters and dispersals inspected.
0930 SD’s checked.
Runway 28 in use.
[Page break]
1000 Group stand down tonight.
1025 Runway 34 in use.
1229 B420 W/C McIntosh C & B from 1142-1229.
1300 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2300 Flare path laid on runway 28. Vis and ceiling deteriorating. QBA 1200. QBB 1500.
2359 Quiet.
Saturday 8 Jan 1944.
0700 Quiet night.
0835 Doc’s. checked.
0900 Runway 24 QAN 10 SW P/O Pyle on Watch.
1000 Runways, perimeter track & dispersals inspected
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1655 Operations in Group cancelled.
1930 On Watch F/O Taylor
Sunday 9th January 1944.
0800 Quiet Night – S.D’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 28.
1300 F/L Gant on watch.
1930 F/L Gant off watch.
2000 S/L Austin on Watch.
2015 Snow Warning –
Monday 10TH January 1944
0800 Quiet night.
0900 S/L Austin off watch F/L Gant on watch.
0905 Runway 34 in use.
0908 Secret Doc’s checked.
0935 Runways, perimeter and dispersals inspected.
0937 No operations in 6 Group tonight.
1005 A country routes passed to base
1015 Checked with CTD’s office re – frost on a/c scheduled for flying.
1030 Base notified x-countries delayed due to frost on wings.
[Page break]
1050 Crash tender u/s – pump frozen - should be ready shortly.
1116 Crash tender now okay.
1117 Base notified x countries delayed until further notice.
1300 F/L Gant off watch, F/O Taylor on Watch.
1730 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Everything Quiet.
Tuesday Jan 11, 1944
0730 Quiet night.
0815 Doc’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. On Watch F/O Taylor.
0915 Runway 16 – QAN. – light SW ly. shortly becoming 15 mph.
1000 No Ops in Command tonight.
1100 Broadcast = U.S.A.A.F. have a force of over 700 heavy bombers out at present, = due back between 1400-1500 hrs. Weather poor everywhere so all stations to be on the look-out to land any if necessary. Group 1400 forecast 1000-2500 yds, 4-7/10 at 2000 10/10 at 10,0
1200. [Underlined] Met. [/underlined] = Snow possible in next 24 hrs in E & N. Eng. – N of a line Morecombe to Flamb amounts mainly small, moderate on high ground. Thawing generally by this evening
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] Wednesday January 12 -1944 [/underlined]
0730 Quiet night – Doc’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch.
1300 [Deleted] F [/deleted] S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1930 F/L Gant off watch.
2230 S/L Austin on Watch.
[Underlined] Thursday January 13TH 1944. [/underlined]
0800 Quiet night – Doc’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin off watch F/L Gant on watch.
0940 Bomber Command stand down tonight with possibility of a few PFF in wx improves
1212 Looma V called darky. Very clear. Answered numerous times but no contact could be made. Base notified
[Page break]
1300 F/L Gant off watch/ F/O Taylor on Watch
1930 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Very quiet.
[Underlined] Friday Jan 14, 1944 [/underlined]
0730 Very quiet night.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. – F/O Taylor on Watch
Doc’s checked. = Runway = 28. QAN W-WSWly – 15.
0950 Runway 24 QAN. – WSWly – Swly. – 15-25. = Taxi approach a little awkward
1000 Lancasters working tonight.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1400 Runway changed to 28.
1930. F/O Taylor on Watch.
2220 Flare-path ready in case required by Linton.
2359 Not used at all – Stood down.
[Underlined] Saturday January 15 1944. [/underlined]
0800 Sec. Doc’s checked.
0813 Ex Base – Basic QFE 1029. – passed to Met.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch.
1300 F/L Gant on watch.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch – Vis 10 yds. Quiet watch.
[Underlined] Sunday January 16TH 1944. [/underlined]
0825 Basic QFE – 1039 – Passed to Met.
0830 Doc’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant on watch.
1010 Runways and taxi track inspected.
1013 Command stand down tonight.
1300 F/L Gant off watch/ F/O Taylor on Watch.
1515 Base request the Oxford be ready for W/C Jacobs for a trip to Ireland in the morning. Advised Station Engineer who will have it ready.
1930 F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Very quiet.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Monday Jan 17, 1944 [/underlined]
0730 Quiet night.
0800 Basic QFE 1026.
0815 Doc’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. F/O Taylor on Watch.
1005 Nothing in Command tonight.
11:45 Clerk of works attending to hole at edge of taxi track this afternoon, with rubble.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
[Underlined] Tuesday Jan 18th 1944. [/underlined]
0805. Basic Q.FE – 1021. Passed to Met.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway No. 10.
1300 F/L Gant on watch.
1700 Night caravan on 28.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
| Se. D’s received
SD214 – No 671
SD 264 – No 445
S.P. 02443 – No 4877
S.P. 02440(2) – No. 5869
S.P. 02442 No 6156
[Underlined] Wednesday Jan 19TH 1944 [/underlined]
0800 S.D’s checked.
0827 Basic QFE 1014 – Met informed.
Note: All officers to read & initial Note 2-1944 in Instruction & Order Book.
0900 F/L Gant on watch.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch = Taxi track inspected. = Up again at end of 28 so that N.F.E. cannot get onto hard standing.
15:55 Bulls-eye scrubbed.
16:15 All night flying Scrubbed.
1930 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant [deleted] of [/deleted] on watch.
2330 Very quiet
Thursday Jan 20th 1944.
0730 Quiet night
0800 Basic QFE 1027. Met informed.
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor. – Runway 24 – QAN: light SWly becoming 15-20mph
1010 Linton & Eastmoor will be working tonight.
1130. Command Bulls-eye tonight. – We are not offering any a/cr.
[Page break]
1300 On watch P/O Pyle
1930 On Watch F/O Taylor.
2100 Linton aircraft landing at Base – E.T.A. 23:15 = We are standing by.
[Underlined] NOTE. [/underlined] Taxi track lighting in dire need of cleaning.
Friday 21st Day of January.
0035. Base have just advised only 1 a/cr to hear from so we’re stood-down.
0800. S.D’s ckd, - Basic QFE 1018, - Passed to Met.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0940 Runways & perimeter inspected.
1030 420 x countries using Bomber code for 20 day, 12 now.
1110 Operations in group tonight.
1300 On watch P/O Pyle
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2215 C countries all back. C & B finished for night.
2220 Base advise we are to stand by for return.
2340 Wx deteriorating. Light rain.
Saturday Jan 22, 1944.
0055 Base advise all base a/c are diverted. But we are still to stand by in case of emergency.
0255 Base advise a number of a/c are coming in over North Sea. We are to stand by and land any a/c we can.
0400 Base advise to stand down.
0730 Base request a/c from 420 and 425 for sea search. ETD 0930.
0740 Base advised no a/c available from 420.
0745 Base advised 3 a/c available from 425.
0750 Base advised 425 a/c can not be airborne by 0930.
0805 Basic QFE figure 1002. Passed to Met.
0830 S.D. Checked.
0900 On watch P/O Pyle – Runway 24 QAN WSW 30 gusty
1100 Local flying details cancelled – weather duff
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Page break]
13:45 Runway 28 = QAN Wly 15 – gusty.
17:42. Last A/Cr landed OK. = Night flying scrubbed.
2340 Asked to listen out for an A/C in area Linton-Eastmoor-Marston Moor – call sign “Bundalk K” – no sign of A/C in this vicinity
2345 Asked if we can offer 3 A/C for sea search tomorrow morning at 0930 – contacted W/C Richer – advised Base that 3 A/C can be offered by [underlined] 1030 [/underlined], weather permitting
[Underlined] SUNDAY – JANUARY 23, 1944 [/underlined]
0012 Group have advised that we will not be required for sea search – also we may cease listening watch for “Bundalk K” – W/C Richer advised re above cancellation
0815 Basic QFE 989 – Passed to Met.
0830 S.D’s checked
0900 On Watch F/O Taylor. = Night Caravan on Runway 28 = QAN. Wly – 10-15.
1015 Nothing operating in 6 group tonight.
1025 E425 returned from Eastmoor.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1520 Runway changed to 24. QAN SW’ly 20MPH. (At least it was when we changed)
1705 Runway changed to 28. QAN W’ly 20MPH.
1915 Perimeter track form Control office to Wood is in need of lights cleaning. No 2. Port flarepath glim on R.28 shining wrong way.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
2012 U/425 off on X-Country.
2021 B/420 off on X-Country = 22:00 hrs – Called. “Completed first part of detail, setting course on 2nd.
2024. R/420 off on X-Country D/420 Scrubbed – engines U/S.
2030 W/420 off on X-Country
2117 Q/420 airborne = Finished at 2154 – P.I. cut on circuit.
2130 Base report a crash near Cranfield, only identification – one tag – McGorsser. J26422 = Contacted both Sqdns. = not theirs. advised base.
- 425 Sqdn would like 7 flimsies by noon tomorrow if possible.
2330 N/420 – Bogged at take-off point of 28 runway, & will be there till morning. Changing to 34 runway.
2345 Ready on 34 Runway QAN WNW – 5-10.
[Page break]
24th January, 1944 – Monday.
0043 B/420 landed from X-Country.
0137 W/420 landed from X-Country.
0139 R/420 landed from X-Country.
0800 Basic QFE. 1010. S.D’s ckd.
0850 Southerly Gale to 40 mph, expected this area – 6 to 12 hrs.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 16.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1330 Informed Mr. Rocket re taxi & runway lights – work will be started at 1400 hrs today.
1419 Mitchell A/C in this area – asked to give him a call – no reply
1440 Base report A/C [deleted] landed OK [/deleted] headed south of here.
1645 SE Gale becoming severe on E coast of B.I. from Hornsea to Cape Ross
1830 All A/C marshalled ready for take-off – Runway 24
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
2030 Reported interference to Group. Interference on 1194 sounded like 2-way German aircraft & ground transmissions.
2045 All night flying scrubbed by 6 Group.
Tuesday 25TH January 1944
0810 Basic QFE 984. Met informed. S.D.’s checked.
0835 | Aerodrome put U/S. QAN – W’ly 25MPH gusting to 40. N420 still bogged on edge of Runway 28. Base informed.
| Signal AF 1. Sent to Station Z. “Runway 28-10 U/S TFN. Temporary obstruction. No landing of aircraft if wind from West or East.”
0900 P/O Pyle on watch
1022. Goodwood Lancs & Halifaxes tonight.
1130 Runway 24 QAN WSW 30 MPH – 425/E A/B on local flying
1200 N/420 now clear – signal to Ops. Station Z “Runway 28-10 now S – obstruction removed – Runway QDM 101 still U/S for operational landings – cannot use taxi track”
1242 425/E finished 4 C & B – last landing bounced twice & tipped badly to port – returned to dispersal.
[Page break]
1250 Ambulance returned to sick quarters.
1300 425/E bogged off perimeter track near Ruskelf road.
1300 F/O Taylor on watch.
1330 Runway changed to 28. Wind WSW 40 but veering to Wly.
1335 425 offering 8 for Bulls-eye tonight.
1343 Bulls-eye cancelled
14:30 E/425 now clear of perimeter track =
16:47 O/425 landed OK on 34 after doing 2 overshoots on 28.
17:30 61 Base phoned. W/425 landed at Dishforth at 16:31 = Damaged oleo-leg & Bomb doors won’t close. = A/Cr u/s till tomorrow = should crew remain overnight.
1800 F/425 airborne on X-Country.
1815 = 1900 – A/Cr out of brake pressure all over taxi track & runway.
2347 F/425 called on R/T & given pancake
2355 U/425 given turn 2 on R/T but A.F.C. reports only one A/C in circuit – asked F his height (2000’) and he said he was coming in to pancake – no A/C approaching this circuit
[Underlined] Wednesday 26th January 1944 [/underlined]
0001 Told F/425 to identify A/D by outer circle position switching on & off but he landed elsewhere
0016 F/425 landed at Dishforth at 0006 – Asked Base to inform him to return if S
0045 61 Base advised to have crew of F/425 remain overnight at Dishforth and return in the morning – A/C was short of petrol
0156 420/C last A/C to land from X/C
0815 Basic QFE 1009
0830 SD’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. – Runway 24: QAN SW light backing & increasing. Phoned Clerk of Works re Totems & lights on 34, & taxi track = A man has been on TT all yesterday.
[Underlined] NOTE. [/underlined] Starboard A.A.I. on 16 runway in shop for repair – if runway required for night flying borrow one from another runway.
12:45 D/420 given 3 tries at landing, no go, so sent to LEEMING.
1300 S/L Austin on Watch.
1301 D420 landed at Leeming.
1930 F/O Taylor on.
[Page break]
Thursday – January 27 – 1944
0830 Basic QFE = 1002. Passed to Met – S.D’s checked.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0930 Aerodrome, dispersals, taxi track inspected.
0950 Lanc’s and Halies marking in group tonight
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1500 4 copies of A.P. 3024 received from Base complete with amend 1 copy sent to G/C Gordon, 1 LO 420 O.C. & 1 to 425 O.C.
[Symbol] 1845 Runway 28 inspected – 2nd Port glim [inserted] shining [/inserted] wrong way – port totem pole out of alignment.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2029 B425 landed Linton – mistook aerodrome for Thol
2255 Last a/c down from x countries.
2315 Runway 24 in use.
Friday Jan 28, 1944
0050 Standing by for Lintons return.
0800 Basic QFE 1026. Passed to Met.
0815 S.D’s checked.
0830 Runway 24 QAN SW’ly 9 P/O Pyle on watch
[Symbol] 0900 Mr Rocket informed re above notation
0945 Workmen filling hole at edge of 28 Runway
1000 Lancasters & Halifaxes working in Group tonight.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1859 V/420 first A/C off on X/C
2019 P/420 last A/C off on X/C – A/B are V, W, O, S, H, B, G, P, K, on X/C
2249 J/425 last of 6 A/C (425) returned from X/C
Saturday – January 29, 1944
0031 Runway changed – No. 28
[Inserted] 0130 420/W last A/C from X/C – 8 A/C averaged [deleted] over [/deleted] 2 min. each on [missing word] [/inserted]
0715 Runway changed – No. 24 QAN SW 18
0755 Basic QFE 1033
0800 S.D.’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. = Runway 24 QAN. – SW ly. 5-15
Fire tender out of gas & none on station. – Advised base. Equip Officer says petrol tanker on its way now.
[Page break]
0950 Command Stand-down
1030 Now have 10 galons [sic] in Crash tender – got it out of u/s tender – Advised base.
11:35 Darky call on TR9 = AMBUSH “A”. – asked directions to Valley = acknowledged directions from somebody else = Advised
11:11 Whitley T4236 – F/O Matthews landed from Honeybourne & returned at 11:25.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1435 Group Oxford V3602, G/C Jones, landed. Deplaned W/C Jacobs.
1445 V3602 airborne.
1500 Oxford 6098 W/C Jacobs airborne.
1820 P420 final landing. Flying completed.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
Sunday = 30th January – 1944.
0815 Base QFE. = 1017. Passed to Met. = SD’s ckd.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0948 Lancs and Hali III operating tonight.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1605 Received from Base CD 0250(15) and Appendix I SD0110(1)
1730 R/420 first A/C off on practice operation
1734 A/420 fifth A/C off on practice operation
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2133 T420 over base 13000ft on 3 engines says detail incomplete. Advised he could complete detail. Told to do so. Base notified.
2240 V 420 landed. Hydraulics u/s
2324 T 420 landed on 3 engines.
Monday, Jan 31, 1944
0044 R 420 called saying he had 5 min petrol – requested landing.
0049 R420 mistook another aerodrome for Tholthorpe. Requests that we turn on our contact strip again. We immediately contacted East Moor and Linton in case R420 was circling either base by mistake. A/C advised to land at nearest aerodrome – switch to button D
[Page break]
and call darky.
0055 R420 crash landed at Rufforth. A/C B category, crew safe. Made wheels up landing as motors cut.
0257 U 420 landed from cross country. Last a/c to return.
0500 All quiet.
0800 Basic QFE 1025. Met advised.
0830 S.D’s checked.
0900 On watch P/O Pyle – Runway 28 QAN light SE
0930 Runways & perimeter inspected
1200 Vehicles still persist in crossing runway against traffic lights – arranged with guard room to have 2 S.P.’s on duty for an hour this afternoon to report all offenders.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1600 425 have 8 A/Cr on night X-Country; Take-off 21:00 hrs. Briefing 19:00 hrs. 17:30 = 8 A/Cr marshalled for 28 Runway. = order. D. J. C. G. N. Q. O. R.
1900 Drem. – 2nd Port fitting on 10 and 28 flare-paths still u/s.
Night flying scrubbed, A/Cr returning to Dispersals.
[Underlined] TUESDAY – 1ST FEBRUARY 1944
0820 Basic QFE 1004 – Passed to Met.
0830 S.D.’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch = Runway 24. = QAN – SWly 10-20mph.
1000 Nothing in Command tonight.
1038 W/C McIntosh took off in B, landed at 10:47 after 1 overshoot, scrubbed other details.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch/ F/L Gant off watch.
2100 N/425 first A/Cr. off on X-Country = followed by D, S, O, Q, F; & G at 21:30 G= reported I.F.F. u/s. received permission from Base for him to proceed. H/425 scrubbed – it taxied over the W/Co’s car & damaged bomb doors. etc.
2205 T/425 airborne, replacing H. Runway 24 in use.
[Underlined] Wednesday – 2nd February 1944. [/underlined]
0020 1196 went dead, - Outer circle, funnel & taxi track off, lights in phone exchange off = Exchange cannot contact duty electrician at stand by plant. Guard room sent runner – I sent our van. Base informed.
[Page break]
0100 Lights now On again. – Base advised.
0120 O/425 1st A/Cr. landed from X-Country
0301 T/425 9th & last A/Cr. landed from X-Country.
NOTE. The R.O.C. plotted an A/Cr flying low in the Leeds area; then S.W of Harrogate at about 200ft, heading for high ground. Red flares were set off. A/Cr. climbed & flew away in opposite direction. Approached Tholthorpe, circled & landed at 02:05. = F/425 landed at 02:06 by our board so it must have been him. Group anxious to have the pilots report on the amount of help he received from the flares, so it can be passed on to 12 group & on to the R.O.C.
0800 S D’s checked. – Basic QFE 1012 – Passed to Met.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0945 3 sqn’s of 6 group standing by for gardening tonight. No bombing from group.
0950 Aerodrome inspected.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2028 K420 finished C & B’s.
2201Base advise a/c has crashed SW of here. Asked if we could see same. Could not locate.
2205 Base advise location E 9185. We offered crash tender as we are not flying at present. Not needed as Dishforth have despatched one.
2350 Everything quiet.
Thursday Feb 3, 1944
0730 Quiet night.
0750 S D’s checked.
0800 Basic QFE 999
0900 On watch P/O Pyle – Runway 28 QAN WSW 30
0915 Runways, perimeter & dispersals [deleted] ch [/deleted] inspected
0958 Nothing in 6 group tonight – possible gardening in 1 & 3 Groups
1150 Calls signs (W/T) for tonight’s bullseye 420 UDG, 425 -JVA
1240 420/J bogged at junction of taxi track and 28 runway
1335 420/J now clear – P/O Pyle off. F/O Taylor on Watch.
1530 S/L Kyles phoned about a letter from 6 Group re R/T irregularities, on 29/1/44 at 15:10 hrs. Wants a report as soon as we get the letter.
[Page break]
1843 H/420
1849 AFC reports Sodium Tunnel lights U/S = Also outer circle.
1851 Mr Rocket going out to check Sodium lights.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2000 Outer circle & sodium lights now O.K.
2027 420/V first A/C off on Bulls-eye
2044 420/J ninth & last A/C of 420 off – average time 2 mins.
2046 425/F first of 425 A/C off on exercise
2112 425/G last A/C off – average time for 425 – 2 1/2 mins.
[Underlined] FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 4th 1944 [/underlined]
0140 425/W first A/C “pancaked” from Bullseye exercise
0152 420/S bogged blocking perimeter near 24 Runway
0241 425/U 21st & last A/C to land – average landing times approx. 3 mins.
0700 425 Sqdn report all A/C now in dispersals
0800 Basic QFE 1008
0815 S.D’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. Runway 28. QAN. W’N. 25-20mph. – increasing to 35.
0955 No ops in 6 group. – Gardening in Command, & Special [inserted] Command [/inserted] Bullseye for non-op. A/Cr.
[Underlined] 1040 [/underlined] Snow Warning: Snow expected during next 24 hrs in this area. Amounts, except on hillsides, small.
11:30. Tonight’s Bullseye. 420 – 11. A/Cr. 425 – 10 A/Cr.
11:30 Day caravan has blown off hard standing, breaking phone point. Sergeants working on it now – 28 runway.
1200 Runway 34 – night caravan because of high wind – NWly over 30 mph.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1615 Bulls eye scrubbed. No yellow flares as wind too strong towards camp.
1740 A/C are to take off 1830, proceed to Sywell, return to base. Operational take off & landing exercise.
1830 1st a/c airborne on exercise
1847 Last a/c airborne on exercise.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] 2000 [/underlined] Port A.A.I. is u/s, replaced by one from 06 runway. U/S one now in N.F. shed.
2036 S/420 landed from exercise.
2118 G/420 15th & last A/Cr landed from exercise.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Saturday, February 5th 1944 [/underlined]
0800 S.D’s ckd Basic QFE 1021 – Passed to Met.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0930 Aerodrome, dispersals, taxi tracks inspected.
0935 No operations from base tonight. Some mining in Group.
1005 425 420 refuse bulls eye for tonight.
1020 Bulls eye cancelled.
1300 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
1615 420/A engine pouring smoke badly in dispersal – crash tender sent
1630 Crash tender returned – 420/A O.K.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2345 Very quiet.
Sunday Feb 6, 1944.
0730 Quiet night.
0800 Basic key QFE 1036. Met advised.
0820 S.D’s checked.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch – Runway 28 QAN light QBA 500
0930 Runways, perimeter & dispersals inspected
1015 Command stand-down tonight
1300 On Watch F/O Taylor.
1930 On Watch P/O Pyle
[Underlined] MONDAY, 7th FEB. 1944 [/underlined]
0810 Basic QFE 1010 – met. advised
0815 S.D’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. = Runway 24 QAN. SWly. 20-35 gusty.
0940 No operations tonight.
1100 Runway 28. QAN. W ly 10-20.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1545 A 425 airborne on x country.
1702 V420 sent msge “starboard engine u/s instructions” [Deleted] It [/deleted] Told to return to base.
1752 M.T. notified crash tender will only do 15-18 MPH. When flying finished tonight MT will give crash tender DI
[Page break]
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] 2045 [/underlined] U/420 in turning at take-off point on 28 runway damaged Port A.A.I. replacing it with one off34 runway. Concrete Base now U/S.
2125 O/420 landed at Riccall at [deleted] 20:50 [/deleted] 21:14. Refueling [sic] & will return later.
2230 O/420. Compasses u/s. Staying overnight at Riccall.
2315 Q/420 bogged near dispersal. One wheel in our french drain.
2355 T/420 landed OK. Last A/Cr. from X-Country.
[Underlined] Tuesday. 8th February 1944 [/underlined]
0050 Q/420 now clear of taxi track.
0800 SD’s ckd. – Basic QFE = 1016. Passed to Met.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0940 Aerodrome, runways & dispersals checked.
0945 Command stand down tonight.
1010 Requested S. P. for intersection of old perimeter and 34. Sun bad.
1030 Group bull’s eye tonight. 420 10/ a/c.
1359 New Halifax LW591 for 425 Sqdn. landed – to go to Linton
1540 Runway changed to No. 28
1630 Port A.A.I. blown over when 425/D took off (No. 28 Runway)
1704 425/T (F/S Landry) made bumpy landing with S/O engine u/s touched down approx. 600 yds. down runway just past intersection of taxi strip & runway – swung to port landing on one wheel – corrected it to starboard on one wheel & swung off runway to starboard [inserted] Stbd. Wing touching [inserted] – gunned motors – undercarriage collapsed – ended up facing east with both outer engines torn out – position approx.. 135 yds. clear of 28 runway & about 120 yds. clear of 34 runway. Winds 10-12 m.p.h. W.N..W.
1800 P/420 first A/C off on Bullseye exercise
1809 E/420 last of 10 A/C off.
1811 Halifax LW590 from Linton – dispersed near R. & I. hangar
1845 Port A.A.I. on runway 28 now O.K.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2231 J 425 1st 425 a/c back from x country
2302 J 420 1st 420 a/c back from bullseye.
[Page break]
2318 R 425 last 425 a/c back from x country
2339 O 420 last 420 a/c back from bull’s eye.
Wednesday Feb 9, 1944
0730 Quiet night.
0800 Basic QFE 1020. Passed to met.
0810 S D’s checked.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch – Runway 28 QAN light S’ly.
1005 No operations tonight – Bullseye scrubbed
1100 Works department will be starting work tomorrow on tarmac on west side of 16 runway.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
[Underlined] THURSDAY – FEBRUARY 10, 1944 [/underlined]
0800 S.D.’s checked
0810 Basic QFE 1015 – Passed to met.
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. Runway 34. – QAN NNW-ly 20-30mph.
1000 Training only tonight.
1107 Church Fenton enquired if we had any Mustangs circle us or land here during past 15 minutes. – Had not seen or heard any.
1300 F/L Gant on watch. F/O Taylor off watch.
1715 All night flying scrubbed.
19:30 F/O Taylor on Watch.
Friday – 11th February, 1944.
0808 S.D’s ckd. Basic QFE 1016
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0925 Runways, dispersals, taxi track inspected.
0950 No operations from Linton base. 8 a/c 428 only operations in 6 group.
1020 Combined command bull’s eye tonight. 10 a/c 420. 10 a/c 425.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1731 R/425 on X/C – E, F & N/425 also off on X/C
1930 Runway changed to no. 28
P/o Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
[Page break]
2110 E 425 first x country to return.
2115 Base advise that at 2010 they broadcast a msge to our a/c to proceed direct to Birmingham and carry on exercise from there. Intruder activity on south coast. Should shorten ETA by approx. 45 min.
2302 K420 landed. Was completely lost. Hit by [missing word] Returned to base
2345 Vis dropping, 1500 YDS. Contacted base for possible diversion.
2357 Base advise Leeming and Middleton standing by for diversion. Vis at present 1000 yds.
Saturday Feb 12, 1944.
0128 R420 landed. Last a/c to land with stream
0140 O 425 unreported. No a/c flying in group at present
0210 O 425 crashed near Droitwich, nr Birmingham
0236 Base advise 8 bodies of O425 at Hanbury mortuary, Nr Droitwich.
0800 Everything quiet
0805 Basic QFE 1015. Met advised.
0825 S.D.’s checked.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch – Runway 28 QAN light NW’ly.
1000 No operations tonight
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1732-1829. 8 A/Cr of 420 & 5 A/Cr of 425 off on X-Country.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2112 E/420 first a/c returned from x-c
2304 S/425 last of 14 a/c to return from a/c
SUNDAY FEB. 13, 1944
0810 Basic QFE 1025 – Passed to Met.
0815 S.D’s checked.
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. Runway 28 = QAN light
0945 Goodwood effort tonight. =420 Sqdn 12 A/Cr.
Briefing at 13:30 hrs.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
[Page break]
1320 Definite diversion base for tonight Sculthorpe.
1409 Base advise data on Sculthorpe as “1 runway 2000 yds 2 at 1400 yds. Complete II dum.” Our a/c are to use the Foulsham Beacon. 240° at 4 miles. Flashing I U.
1555 Operations scrubbed.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] Monday 14th February 1944 [/underlined]
0800 Basic QFE. 1025 Passed to met. SD’s ckd.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0945 Aerodrome, dispersals, taxi track inspected.
0950 No operations in command tonight.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
1525 Runway changed to No. 10 – QAN light NE
1615 420 & 425 Sqdn. X/C details scrubbed.
1810 Asked to stand-by to land A/C in this area – probably Marston Moor – vis. about 4 miles QBB 1500
1825 No call received from A/C – Runway changed to No. 28
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2100 No flying in base.
2200 Very foggy. Also quiet.
[Circled] Tuesday Feb 15, 1944 [/circled]
0730 Quiet night.
0800 Basic QFE 1016. Passed to met.
0815 S.D.’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
1000 Goodwood effort tonight – 420 Sqdn. 12 A/C
1045 Runway changed to 10
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1705 Phoned Millfield that Hurricane KX199 F/L JOBB & Thunderbolt I 6343 Lt Almond staying overnight.
[Underlined] 1729=1754. 12 A/Cr. of 420 squadron Airborne on their 1st operation. [/underlined]
1855. In case of early returns, if unable to land at Base to be diverted to Binbrook. QDM. 148 – 64 miles.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
[Page break]
2045 420/G landed early from Ops. – S/O u/s
2145 All our A/C being diverted to Hethel on return.
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY – FEB. 16th 1944 [/underlined]
0015 T/420 called on R/T at 6000’ At 0022 he was given pancake but he did [deleted] an [/deleted] two overshoots and lost the circuit despite goose-necks and money flares. At 0037 he was told to climb to 1000’ and home again. At 0043 he was given pancake again and was passed QBB – 1500’. “T” reported he could not see the flarepath – vis. had deteriorated considerably since 2400 hrs. due to rain. At 0047 he was asked how much petrol he had left and reported 95 gallons in each side. Was told to take his time and try once more but he lost the circuit – could not contact him again on R/T.
0156 T/420 crashed [inserted] at 0050 [/inserted]. Ref. Sheet 22 966973 – 1 mile from the Raskelf Q site – our ambulance to be despatched – [deleted word]
0220 T/420 mistook railroad lights at Pillmoor junction for aerodrome and came in on poor vis. 5 of crew at scene of crash – one at Q site – Position of crash [deleted] ed [/deleted] passed to Tollerton fire section and Easingwold police. Guarding of A/C to be handled by Topcliffe. Q site was switched off at 0040.
0240 Base report all other 420 A/C except “F” landed O.K. – no time or aerodromes given. Base also report that two ambulances from Dishforth may take crew to York Hospital depending on M.O.’s advice. [Underlined] Note: [/underlined] see that 420 adjutant is informed of all details so that he may take all necessary signals action
0320 Base report 2 of crew killed – names not yet available – 5 injured
0330 All [indecipherable] at Middleton & Leeming O.K.
0430 The following are in the Northallerton hospital – F/O Damgaard, F/O Taylor, F/S Masur, Sgt Fletcher & Sgt Harvey – the body of Sgt. Downey has been brought here, body of WO2 Whale is pinned under the A/C. Easingwold police give position of crash as [underlined] “961928” [/underlined]. (This position confirmed later by M.O.)
0545 NW Railway District Control inform that no guard is at crash
0553 Advice from 61 Base if that Dishforth is now sending out a guard
[Page break]
0645 Dishforth are going to handle the raising of the crashed A/C to remove the body pinned beneath it – their guard has at last arrived at the scene!
0815 No further word on F/420 or landing times
Basic QFE 1020 – Passed to met.
0830 Base reports F/420 landed O.K.
0845 F/O Taylor on Watch. Base report all out A/Cr landed at Hethel.
Runway 10. Light Wind – Viz 400 yards. – SD’s ckd.
1000 Runway 24. QAN. NWly. 5-15.mph. – Viz improving.
1005 Ops tonight. = 8 A/C 425. = 420 5 plus as many as get back from Hethel.
1045 425’s 5 A/C for ASR Search not required.
1215 W/O Walker phoned from Hethel. “Require a mechanic as Throttle Control to S.I. severed.” Very poor connection & could not get any word on other A/Cr there. = No engineering officers contacted to pass this gen. too.
1300 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1303 Flying Control Millfield contacted re Thunderbolt and Hurricane taking off for Millfield. They give okay.
1330 CTO contacted re W 420. Entry 1215.
1500 Operations in Command scrubbed.
1615 S/L Beall on X Country. TO 1750 ETA 2234.
1705 Group advise all a/c at Hethel remaining over night.
1808 N/420 off on X-country
1930F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] 2100. [/underlined] Note. = Port totem pole on upwind end of 34 flare-path U/S.
[Underlined] 2200 [/underlined] The Telephone engineers advise that the flight-planning loud-speaker system in the Ops room is now completed – but they have removed a fuse, otherwise if anybody tampers with the keys it is liable to put the station PBX switch-board u/s. – Pass this to Signals Officer in morning, for onward transmission to Base S.O. as none could be contacted tonight.
2305 N/420 landed OK from X-Country.
Thursday – Feb 17th 1944
0730 SD’s ckd.
0817 Basic QFE. 1014. – Passed to Met. Runway 06, QAN. NE’ly – 10-15 mph.
[Page break]
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0910 On inquiry from base our a/c have been told by 6 group to remain at Hethel TFN.
0955 Operations tonight in 6 group.
1000 F/O Laing, L.N. P/O McLure, H.G. and P/O Lawrence W.G. reported to Flying Control for instruction.
1300 P/O Pyle on watch
Note: Hethel phoned at 1230 re E/420 – probably cat. AC – Stbd. wing tanks holed – at least one wing change
1600 Operations scrubbed
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1935 1196 dead. Signals officer informed. Electrics Cpl reported. Could not fix. Signals advise they cannot fix until morning.
2340 Everything quiet.
Friday Feb 18, 1944.
0750 Quiet night.
0755 S.D.’s checked.
0800 Basic QFE 1038. Passed to met.
0825 Base advise 6 Group Flying Control have just issued a warning for all stations to stand by for their respective returning a/c.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
0930 Runway 10 QAN NE’ly light
0945 TR1196 now serviceable
1000 Goodwood tonight
1140 Group have advised that a/c at Hethel are to remain there T.F.N. 420/[deleted] T [/deleted] W – no throttle – severed by flak E/420 needs a wing change, 40 or 50 flak holes – Q/420 starter u/s but they may be able to fix it.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch. & P/O McLure
425 Briefing – 21:00 hrs in 425 Briefing Room. = 420 Briefing 20:30 M.B Room
[Page break]
1430. Group have instructed our A/Cr to return this afternoon
1510 Runway changed to 28. QAN. NWly – 5-10, viz deteriorating.
1555 Runway changed to 10 QAN. NE-ENE. 5-10. Viz 4-8 miles now.
1635 Ops scrubbed. 425’s X-Country’s scrubbed.
1640 J & V/420 returned from Hethel. These are the only ones to get away before it started snowing again. Rest tomorrow maybe
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
[Underlined] SATURDAY – 19th FEB. 1944 [/underlined]
0824 Basic QFE 1025 – Passed to met.
0830 S.D.’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch. & P/O McLure.
Runway 28. = Wind light & variable. = At present NW ly.
0950 Required tonight. = 425 10 A/Cr. – 420 7 A/Cr +.
425 Briefing 14:45 if early take-off.
1230 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1255 Hethel advise more of 420 a/c now u/s and want 12 sets of plugs, 2 fitters, 1 electrician and 1 set of tools to make serviceable. F/L Raherge advised.
1333 Base advise F 420 airborne at 1320 at Hethel for Tholthorpe.
1426 F420 returned from Hethel
1820 W/O Dupuis remaining over night at Hethel.
1825 Provisional diversion for both sqn’s tonight “Lakenheath.” Mk II lighting contact strip, 1 runway 2000, 1400, 1 1300 Pundit 025° 12 miles. Sat. of Mildenhall.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch. & P/O McLure.
[Underlined] 2330 [/underlined] Chance light U/S. Fitters have been working on it for three hours but still no joy. Will have to be taken to M/T in morning.
Sunday. – 20th February, 1944.
0000 1/2 N/420 airborne on Ops. – followed by R. V, G.
0005 F/420 bogged on [inserted] NE [/inserted] corner of taxi track so no more A/Cr can taxi past him. Endeavouring to bring 425 A/Cr along inner taxi-track onto runway in use.
0037 1/2 D/425 managed to get off – Why the delay?
0040 G/425 airborne. = Remainder too late
[Page break]
0130 425 report a Photo flash on edge of taxi track near U’s dispersal. Contacted armoury.
0200 Investigation finds that F/420 taxied between 2 blues on outside of bend in taxi track, & got bogged, blocking taxi track. 425 A/Cr had started following 420 A/Cr & one of them was in such a position as to block the entrance to the inner taxi track. Their a/c could not be moved forward until three others in front of him had moved.
0240 H/420 bogged on [inserted] outer [/inserted] taxi track between 34 Runway & R & I Hangar. Bust a taxi light.
0300 H/420 is an obstruction to 34 runway. Will have to be debombed
0512 Changing to Runway 06, QAN. N’E. 14 mph. F/S [deleted] Reinholt [/deleted]
0705 BM/O landed. = Skipton A/Cr. 433 Sqdn. F/S Reinelt, landed on pancake from Skipton; being refueled [sic] to return p.d.q.
0718-0740 G. R. V, 420 & D & G/425 landed Safely.
0750 N/420 landed at Coltishall at 0711 = refueling [sic] & returning.
0800 Basic QFE = 1025. passed to Met.
0815 A flight 420 report all bogged A/Cr back in dispersals ie. F & H.
0830 Our Van u/s. – at 06 runway. =
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1010 Operations in 6 group tonight.
1012 Contacted Clerk of works office re filling in bog holes near 28 and 43 runways.
1205 Combined Command bull’s eye tonight. 425 offer 4.
1230 New Halifax LW632 landed from Kirkbride P/O Pyle on watch
1425 425 Cancel bull’s eye
1435 Definite diversion Harwell, runways 2000 yds 1400 & 1300. Mark I drem, contact strip SBA 9 & F DF and sandra.
1515 Q 420 returned from Hethel.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1948 S420 returned from Hethel
2115 Enquired from base as to diversion. They now advise Harwell has become a provisional petrol diversion. QDM 018° 6 miles of Harwell pundit.
[Page break]
2213 C 425 1st a/c to return from x country.
2254 U 425 last a/c to return from x country.
2340 D 425 first a/c off on operations.
[Underlined] Monday 21st February 1944 [/underlined]
0020 J425 fourteenth & last a/c off on ops. V.420 scrubbed (Bomb gear circuit failure).
0146 N425 returned early. (starboard outer u/s.) Aircraft after landing did a slight ground loop at end of runway 06 crashing into a parked van belonging to the station duty electrician who was inspecting a totem pole which had gone u/s. The van was parked in the entrance to the unused dispersal point just east of the runway and about 6 feet clear of the perimeter track. The rear end of the van was crushed by the starboard wheel but the aircraft suffered no apparent damage.
0200 Runway 10 in use.
0350 F 420 early return. Given permission to pancake. Landed at Linton in error. Returning to base. Oxygen trouble.
0404 F420 landed from Linton.
0407 Change to Runway 06.
0721 E 425 1st a/c to return from ops.
0800 Basic QFE 1041. Passed to met.
0840 Group advise D V 425 R420 landed at Harwell.
0847 S.D’s checked.
0900 F/L Gant off watch – P/O Pyle on watch
Runway 06 QAN 10-15 N’E
1015 No ops. from 6 Group – 10 A/C from Middleton gardening – also gardening from 1, 3 & 4 Groups.
1300 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1309 R/420 W/O Walker returned from Harwell.
1310 LW645 new Halifax delivered for 420 Sqdn.
1455 P/420 returned from Hethel.
1708 G/434 left for Croft. = Had been in M.A.P. hangar since Sqdn left
1639 V/425 returned from Harwell. = Injured Navigator taken to [missing word] Brought a Leeming crew with them. Leeming sending transport
[Page break]
1804 C/425 airborne on X-C, 18.09. P/425 airborne. 18:24 A/425.
1822 D/425 returned from Harwell.
1837 A/420 returned from Hethel.
1827. V/420 off on X-C. 18:50 N/420 off on X-C.
1900 Mr Rockett reports taxi lights u/s, on outside of perimeter track from 24 runway round to 420 B flight dispersals; cables cut somewhere
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
1950 Blue glims out on perimeter track from 24 runway to dispersals
1953 425/R landed early – reported flaps would not come down – no replacement
2125 Funnel on 06 runway u/s – could not contact Clerk of Works. Fuse gone but replacement still leaves funnel u/s
2148 Electrician reporting immediately.
2155 Reported to Base earlier this evening that crew of 425/D (F/L Bryson) heard a J-jig call up on R/T while they were in the circuit at Harwell – they thought call sign was “Hillguard” – Base checked up with Group who report that the only J who landed there was Peach-pudding at 0715 – no R/T log record of “Hillguard J”.
[Underlined] TUESDAY – 22ND FEB. 1944 [/underlined]
0030 Mr. Rocket reported with electrician to work on 06 funnel
0100 N/420 landed – last of 5 A/C from X-C – lead-in & main funnel O.K.
0800 S.D’s checked
0820 Basic QFE 1022 – Passed to met.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch –
1050 Runway changed to 06 – QAN – NNE’ly.
1230 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1515 Diversion bases for tonight 420 Hartford Bridge. 425 Graves End Provisional./ D420 returned from Hethel.
1740 Operations scrubbed. Notification from J.C. Group.
1745 [Underlined] A.V.M. Brooks [/underlined] visited Tholthorpe watch office from 1720 to 1745.
[Page break]
1831 Wellington BZ/K departed for Gamston after landing at 1734 and deplaning Hill F/L, new signals leader for 420 sqn.
1930 F/L Gant off watch. S/L Austin on Watch.
2300 || Inspection of aerodrome lighting made. Following faults found & [underlined] reported to Mr. Rockett, [/underlined] Resident Engineer.
Port totem Runway 34 U/S. Runway lights need cleaning. Starboard totem Runway 06 U/S. Left outer-bar light U/S. 8TH starboard flare and both outer bar lights U/S Runway 10. Left outer bar Runway 24. U/S. No angle of approach. Port totem no 28 needs turning in to runway.
[Underlined] Perimeter Track [/underlined]
Amber shields now installed on outer edge from 06 to 16 runways on West side. Excellent.
Outer lighting from 16 all around to wood U/S. Old perimeter lighting very poor 34 end has blue shields removed but lighting poor.
[Underlined] Wednesday 23rd Feb 1944. [/underlined]
0730 S.D’s checked.
0805 Basic QFE 1015 – Passed to Met.
0830 Perimeter & runways inspected.
[Underlined] Note [/underlined] – Three dispersals and track past wood may be used for parking if first swept.
0900 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1008 Command standown tonight.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1401 [Deleted] F/O Ward [/deleted] H/420 1st A/C off on X-C
1421 K/420 11th A/C off on XC
1710 14 A/C are A/B on X-C’s with incorrect resin lights. As no signal had arrived in conjunction with signal Y 783 bringing into force [deleted] new [/deleted] reserve set of recognition signals, contacted Base on the 21st & was informed that outfit colours unchanged till 25th. Telephoned Base intelligence this afternoon to confirm that postagram had
[Page break]
1710 (cont’d)
had been forwarded to us. Checked with orderly room. Signal had arrived but had been marked for the adjutant. Runner brought it to F.C. at about 1600 hours.
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1959 S/420 first a/c to return from x country.
2049 K/420 last 420 a/c to return from x country.
2234 K/426 landed here instead of Linton, cutting off T425, to whom we had given pancake
2240 CTO advises V420 who turned off 06 runway before reaching end and bogged, would not be able to be cleared immediately as jacks had to be put under port wheel before moving.
2257 V 425 landed and all motors cut at intersection of 16 & 24 runways. B flight 425 arranging to tow off. Had landed on 3 motors
2259 N 425 in circuit – told to stand by until runway cleared.
2314 N 425 given pancake
2318 N 425 advises P/I u/s. Told to make right [deleted] had [/deleted] hand circuit.
2327 N 425 landed. Told to taxi clear on runway on 16 and cut all motors. B flight arranging to tow to dispersal to take precautions on possibility of bogging.
2345 All a/c with exception of V 420 in dispersals.
Thursday Feb 24, 1944.
0005 K/426 airborne for Linton.
0750 S.D checked.
0805 Basic QFE 1025. Passed to met.
0830 P/O Pyle on watch
0900 Runway 10 QAN NE’ly light.
1000 Goodwood tonight – also Gardening from 6 Group
[Time obscured] S/L Austin on Watch.
[Page break]
1530 Received from Base new SD.229 (Copy no. 147) & S.D.300 (Copy No. 587) – old copies to be picked up in [deleted] a [/deleted] two days time
1800 First a/c off on operations.
1841 Twenty-second & last a/c off on ops. A420 (oil leak) & U425 (burst tyre) scrubbed.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2110 Informed by W/C MacIntosh that 420 A/C have definitely been diverted to Wing – S/L Kyle’s notified
2151 425/C returned early – had not jettisoned – ambulance standing by
2159 420/Q landed – ‘detail completed’.
2220 425/C bogged near end of 24 Runway – tractor & crew organized
2237 425/Q early return
2240 All taxi lighting north of 28 runway is u/s – electrician now working on it – flights warned.
2315 Vis. beginning to deteriorate – goose-necks & moneys laid out
2318 425/C now clear & being towed to dispersal
2340 [Underlined] All [/underlined] taxi track now u/s – warned flights to have crews ready to lead a/c into dispersals north of 28-10 runway
2355 Taxi tracks now O.K.
[Underlined] FRIDAY 25th FEBRUARY, 1944 [/underlined]
0030 Taxi track on north half of aerodrome is definitely u/s – laying emergency taxi track with all available glims from north end of 28 as far as possible west towards 10 runway
0100 Changing onto 28 runway – 425 A & B flights notified – glim lamps being laid on perimeter track north of 10 runway up to 24 r’way.
0218 B/425 first A/C landed from ops.
0245 D/425 landed at Breighton – returning as soon as refuelled
0400 K/420 at Dunsfold, 420 U, F, H, J, O, R, P, B, V, W at Wing, S/425 at Dunsfold, T/425 at Tangmere, A, E, F/425 at Little Horwood
0430 D/425 landed from Breighton – C/420 only A/C still outstanding
0730 SD’s checked
0815 Basic QFE 1032 – Passed to met.
0900 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1005 Goodwood effort tonight.
[Page break]
1010 Base advise all serviceable a/c both sqn’s ordered to return to base. W/420 hydr. u/s E 425 P/i u/s. CTO advised.
1045 Runway 34 in use.
1200 J 420 landed from Wing
1203 U 420 landed from Wing
1230 F/L Gant off watch. S/L Austin on Watch.
1320 P 420 landed from Wing
1328 B 420 landed from Wing
1329 V 420 landed from Wing
1333 O 420 landed from Wing
1430 A 425 landed from Little Horwood.
1513 F425 landed from Little Horwood.
1520 Base advise W/420 needs petrol filler cap & new starter motor for S/i. CTO informed.
1545 Definite diversions for tonight’s operations both sqn’s. Wing. Runways 2000 – 1450 – 1150. SBA. Mark II lighting, HF/DF, Sandra, pundit 172° 4 1/2 miles. Flashing X R.
1548 K 420 landed from Dunsfold
1615 T 425 landed from Tangmere
1631 F420 landed from Wing
1641 H420 landed from Wing
1702 S425 landed from Dunsfold
2009 R420 landed from Wing.
On Watch S/L Austin.
2120 1/2 First a/c off on operations.
2141 Twelfth and last a/c off on ops – 420 – (7) 425 (5)
P425 scrubbed (-two port engines oiled).
2359 Switching to Runway 28 – QAN – NW’ly 2-5MPH.
[Underlined] Saturday 26TH February 1944 [/underlined]
0520 P420 returned from operations
0530 Base inform that Q425 landed Abingdon and that 425 B, D and G; 420 B, J, N and A landed at Wing. V420 landed at Westcott.
[Page break]
0800 No news of either U420 or U425.
0810 Basic QFE. 999. Passed to met.
0900 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1018 Command stand down tonight.
1020 Base admin 6 group have issued orders for all 425 & 420 a/c that are not airborne by 1130 are to await further orders. 420 & 425 CO’s advised, int, Stn. Nav.
1225 All a/c away from base have been instructed to be standing by at 1930 ready to take if wx okay. Otherwise they will be ready for 0800 hrs take tomorrow morning.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1530 Contacted Little Horwood to have S/L McLennan’s crew standing by at 0930 tomorrow to be picked up by A/C from here.
1600 All A/C away from Base stood down till tomorrow morning
1830 Changing to No. 34 Runway – QAN N’W 20-25
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Everything quiet. No flying in group.
Sunday Feb 27, 1944.
0400 Slight snow and sleet.
0700 Checked with MT for snow removal apparatus to be ready.
0800 Basic QFE 1001. Passed to met.
0900 F/L Gant off watch. P/O Pyle on watch
Runway 06 QAN NNE 24
1000 Stand down tonight
1030 Duty crew & fire crew clearing snow from taxi & r’way lights
1115 N/420 ran into A/420 – the port elevator & outer hinge of N is u/s the stbd. inner airscrew of A was damaged & will need a new airscrew – B/425 has the stbd. wing tip damaged & needs new wing tip – C.T.O. has been informed
1230 message from Base – N420 had Brake failure in dispersal. (Reason for above entry)
[Page break]
1440 [Underlined] NOTE [/underlined] Station Admin. Officer to be notified of all taxing accidents
1510 Recalling B, T, O, V/420 – S/L McKenna’s instructions
1515 N/425 crew returning by transport – A/C/ u/s u/c & flaps
1520 A/420 left Wing at 1510
1605 A/420 landed from Wing
1700 V/420 (Sgt. Hardy) X/C A.C caught fire at Aberystwyth (N. Wales) (Grid Ref. VO 0185) and crashed at approx.. 1510 hrs. The Engineer and W.O.P. have been rescued but fate of rest of crew is uncertain.
1810 Ex – Castell Maur – re V/420 W.O.P. & Engineer slightly injured – crash took place at Cross Inn – 2 crew were known to have baled out – probably W.O.P. & Eng.
2330 Nothing doing. F/L Gant on Watch.
March 1, Wednesday, 1944.
0745 S.D’s checked.
0805 Basic QFE 1004. Passed to met.
0830 Runway 28, QAN WNW.
0845 P/O Pyle on watch – Runways, perimeter & dispersals checked – trailing aerial on 24 runway.
0930 Duty crew found in bed – told to report to F.C.O. at 0900 hours daily in future.
1000 Working tonight
[Inserted] 1015 Checked with Base cypher officer re sheets for March beacon letters (S.D. 264) – apparently sent to Eastmoor in error [/inserted]
1100 A.F.C. reports numerous vehicles ignoring traffic lights & crossing runway in use – guard room will supply S.P. to check all offenders
1145 Ex Aberporth re V/420 – a/c crashed on or near Hafodmawr farm- control had snapped and A/C went into a spin. nearest salvage unit – 78 M.U. Bynea
1230 S/L Austin on Watch
1415 Snow Warning – Snow probable during next 24 hours in Scotland & N. England north of a line Derby – Humber. Amount moderate on high ground But mainly slight in NE England.
[Page break]
1655 Linton Pundit U/S. Will not be available for tonight.
1800 Runway changed to 24. QAN SW’ly 10+.
1900 Runway changed to 28. Met forecast wind of 20MPH WNW for takeoff.
1930 On watch P/O Pyle
2145 Flights report icing not serious – clearing with brushes – 420 using de-icing fluid.
2315 T/420 first A/C off on operations
2347 P/420 last A/C off on Ops. 8 of 420 and 11 of 425 airborne
K/420 had P/I oil pressure too low, S/420 – icing – scrubbed.
[Underlined] MARCH 2 – THURSDAY – 1944 [/underlined]
0326 Three early returns – R/420, J/425, W/425
0340 Base & then 12 Group ask which of our A/C went out to sea off Flamboro Head & then returned – intelligence to let us know as soon as possible
0630 Early returns interrogated and no A/C was out to sea in this area – Base & Group informed by Intelligence
0810 Basic QFE 1008 – Passed to met.
0828 V/425 last A/C to land from Ops. Other than early returns only 3 A/C returned to Base (C, V, F/425) All others landed south
0900 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1005 Stand down tonight.
1159 O 425 landed from Ford
1205 G 425 landed from Middle Wallop.
1207 S 425 landed from Thorney Island.
1230 S/L Austin on Watch
1246 F420 landed from Westcott
1248 D425 landed from Thorney Island.
1329 R425 landed from Thorney Island.
1515 Group report T425 bogged – no towing equipment; P, Q and T 420 o.k. but no fueling [sic] facilities; D420 P/I U/S mag drop, G420 P/I U/S oil leak; J420 flak damage and hydraulics u/s.
1624 E425 landed from Little Horwood.
[Page break]
1757 B 425 landed at Linton. One engine packed up, shut off red flare and landed at Linton.
1807 Base J.C.O. advises a/c of 425 and 420 are calling DF hut for information (QFE, QDM etc) and not giving squadron callsigns. In such cases information to be refused as more than one a/c of same letter may be calling for same information causing confusion.
1942 Base advise Q 425 returning to base due to one engine u/s.
1945 S/L Austin on Watch.
2000 Flarepath report a crash NE of us. A425 had been given Pancake. Believe it might be our aircraft.
Note:- at 1955 hours, A425 came over R/T asking me to switch on the flarepath so he could identify the aerodrome. The outer circle was switched on & off until the aerodrome was identified. He acknowledged the assistance. At 1955 1/2 I asked him if he was having any trouble. He replied that his starboard outer engine was now feathered. We instructed him to Pancake 28 which he acknowledged.
Base 62 was immediately informed to get a definite plot. The medical officer, Engineering officer, F/L Bryson O/C night flying were notified. Linton’s ambulance & firetender; our ambulance & possibly Wombleton’s equipment were despatched. Eastmoor have sent ambulance & firetender.
2015 Phoned Easingwold Police & found crash was in approximate area of Crayke. (east of Easingwold.) Informed base.
2045 Q425 landed from X country with starboard outer feathered. Despatched our tender to crash scene.
2130 Definitely report crashed a/c A/425. Six killed, one badly injured taken to St. Monica’s Hospital Easingwold.
[Page break]
2145 Base inform crash is in our area. Contacted R.A.F. Regiment to organise a guard.
2159 Easingwold Police inform that Sgt Bertrand R164538 was one of those killed.
2230 Sick Quarters reported eight people were in craft. Killed – Sgt Bertrand pilot; Sgt Goudreau, bomb aimer; Sgt Bousquet, W/OP; Sgt Dix, Engineer Sgt Trudel, M/Upper; Sgt Cole Rear Gunner and Sgt. Hay Spare gunner.
Injured – Sgt. Houle – navigator.
March 3rd – Friday 1944
0810 Basic QFE – 1007 – Met informed.
0900 S/L Austin off Watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0940 Aerodrome, dispersals and runways inspected.
0948 Command stand down tonight.
0950 Runway 34 in use.
1022 Crash tender u/s. N 425 waiting to take-off. Informed S/L MacLarnen. He advises to let N425 take-off with out crash crew.
1030 Informed S/L Kyles re crash tender situation He advises to declare aerodrome u/s until we have a serviceable crash tender.
1200 Aerodrome still u/s. No crash tender.
1230 Crash tender now serviceable.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1400 Cpl. Seib posted to 50 Gp. Pool – Base advised to supply relief advised later by S/L Kyles that they cannot supply a relief
1600 Keen frost warning tonight Min. air temp. 27 – ground 21
1745 New crash tender arrived from Linton but M.T. Section refuses to accept it – mechanically bad – S/L Kyle informed
2023 W 420 landed on 2 1/2 motors. Made nice approach and landing but ran off the end of runway. B flight tractor and bowser sent to assist.
2037 34 runway u/s. Changing to 28. Met report QAN 6 NW
[Page break]
2132 Base enquire names of J 425 crew. They are under impression J 425 has crashed.
2142 Base advise the a/c that crashed has been identified as one from 4 group.
2150 Runway 34 now in use.
2348 S 425 1st a/c back from Bull’s eye.
Saturday March 4, 1944.
0025 K 420 last a/c back from Bull’s eye.
0800 Basic QFE 1017. Passed to met.
0815 S.D.’s checked.
0830 Runway 34 QAN NW, P/O Pyle on watch
1000 Not working tonight
1110 Gale warning NW to W within next 12 hrs. 40 m.p.h.
1230 S/L Austin on Watch.
1340 Snow Warning – Moderate amounts expected in our area within next 24 hours.
1600 Met warn of rapid deterioration of weather in next few minutes.
1608 V434 landed from Croft. Weather poor.
1611 G425 landed OK.
1615 F 425 landed OK. Vis poor
1620 Asked base for diversions. They suggest Eastmoor.
1632 C425 diverted to Eastmoor.
1633 R425 diverted to Eastmoor.
1635 Gimcrack H calling darky. Contacted & diverted to Eastmoor.
1639 Hard frost warning probable tonight. 26°/27°.
1642 Base inform Eastmoor closed down and are diverting C and R 425 to Downham Market.
1646 Q425 diverted to Downham Market by R/T.
1715 Runway changed to 28.
C425 landed Pocklington.
1830 Base inform that J from Eastmoor may be diverted here. Vis 10 miles.
1840 Base inform J pranged on landing at Eastmoor.
[Page break]
1850 Group inform that no aircraft is to return to bases tonight.
1855 Base inform Q & R 425 landed at Downham Market.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
1955 Informed M.T. to have 4 trucks ready for snow ploughs and three trucks available for [deleted word] carting sand.
SUNDAY – MARCH 5th, 1944
0810 Basic QFE 1030 – Met advised
0815 SD’s checked
0900 S/L Austin on Watch. Runway 28.
1000 Phoned SHQ for 20 men to sand runways
1030 Ice melting rapidly on runways.
1053 V434 left for Croft.
1110 Sanding of runway 28 for 600 yards completed.
1130 C 425 landed from Pocklington.
1230 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1535 Group request report from pilots on last 3-4 Mar Bull’s eye re illuminated target over London
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
MONDAY 6TH MARCH 1944.
0806 Basic QFE – 1036 – Met informed.
0815 S.D.’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0945 Taxi track, dispersals inspected.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1820 K/420 1st A/C off on Ops.
1854 J/425 last A/C off – airborne are 4 A/C from 420 and 9 A/C from 425
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2256 B 425 1st a/c back from operations.
2327 T 425 last a/c to return to base.
2350 N420 landed at Thorny [sic] Isle at 2322.
[Page break]
Tuesday. March 7, 1944.
0750 S D.’s checked.
0804 Basic QFE 1033. Passed to met.
0830 Base advise all a/c away from base have been ordered to stand by, but group doubt very much if wx will improve enough for return.
0845 P/O Pyle on watch
1000 Advised Base to have R/425 return from Downham Market as soon as he is serviceable (oil cooler)
1005 Working tonight
1105 Runway changed to 06 – QAN NE
1208 New A/C V/420 (LW692) [deleted] lef [/deleted] landed from Linton
1210 425/R left Downham Market at 1145
1230 S/L Austin on Watch.
1235 R425 landed from Downham Market.
1603 N420 landed from Thorney Island.
1831 C425 first a/c off on ops.
1848 O420 last of 18 a/c. off on ops (420 – 6 a/c; 425 – 12 a/c).
[Inserted] 1930 P/O Pyle on watch [/inserted]
2129 C420 landed from X-country.
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY – MARCH 8, 1944 [/underlined]
0018 All our A/C returned safely – O/425 landed at Thorney Island
0045 P/405 landed here – short of petrol – hydraulics u/s on landing – returning to Linton later in the day.
0730 S.D.’s checked
0820 Basic QFE 1047
0830 Flights warned re 2 1000 lb. hang ups on 420 O & D
Note: 425/ C-J-Q-U-T & 420/W returned with full bomb load
0900 Runway 10 QAN light & variable – mainly easterly
0915 S/L Austin on Watch – Runway 28.
1230 F/L Gant on watch.
1510 P408 airborne for Linton
1525 Our emergency diversion base for tonight Thorny [sic] Island.
1625 Ops scrubbed.
[Page break]
1648 O 425 returned from Thorney Island.
1905 Bomb removed from point SE of new watch tower.
1930 F/L Gant off watch. S/L Austin on Watch.
2015 F425 landed from X country.
[Underlined] THURSDAY 9TH MARCH 44 [/underlined]
0200 S.D’s checked.
0205 Met report a herd of sheep on aerodrome near their instruments. (Girl very frightened). Informed guardhouse.
0815. QFE Basic – 1038 – met informed.
0900 S/L Austin off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0950 Halifaxs in 6 group working tonight.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1418 Emergency diversion for both squadrons – Thorney Island
1445 The jettisoning area up to 1800 hrs. 11th Mar. – 40 miles from the coast south of lat. 5400N.
1630 LAC Macleod (R/T Op.) posted – S/L Kyle’s advised re replacement
1643 Ops. scrubbed
1915 Vis. deteriorating – advised Base who are diverting them to Prestwick
1930 Changing runways to No. 28
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1935 Base advise E 420 cannot be contacted. Have not contacted A, K 425. Central Flying Control debating whether to divert a/c to Prestwick or Silloth.
1938 Base advise A 425 landed at Skipton 1933.
2003 Base advise E420 K425 still not contacted. Last time of contact with E420 35 minutes ago at which time he was advised to stand by for message.
2010 Base advise K425 diverted to Prestwick. Still no contact with E 420.
2100 Pos of K 425 as 53° 40’N 04° 40’W.
2106 Base advise E 420 acknowledged diversion. Sent msge they would call back.
2119 Base advise E 420 requested pos. Prestwick at 2100.
[Page break]
2308 Base advise 420E 425K on R/T at Prestwick.
2335 Base advise E 420 landed at Prestwick 2257. K425 landed 2326 at Prestwick.
Friday March 10, 1944.
0745 Quiet night.
0750 S.D.’s checked.
0805 Basic QFE 1029. Met informed.
0845 P/O Pyle on watch – Runway 28 WNW light
1000 Ops. tonight
1230 Ops. scrubbed – Command Bullseye instead
1230 S/L Austin on Watch
1614 E420 landed from Prestwick.
1644 A 425 landed from Skipton.
1917 O 425 off on Bullseye Exercise
1918 W 425 off on Bullseye Exercise (Swung very badly).
1920 H 420 off on Bullseye Exercise
1921 A 420 off on Bullseye Exercise.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
1934 O/420 off on Bullseye Exercise
[Underlined] SATURDAY – MARCH 11th 1944 [/underlined]
0008 H/420 returned from Bullseye
0034 O/420 last a/c landed form Bullseye
0730 S.D.’s checked.
0800 Basic QFE 1020 – met. advised
0845 P/O Pyle off Watch. F/O Taylor on Watch.
Runway 28. Perimeter & Rwys checked.
0930 W/O. Palmer, Sgt. McKinnon, Sgt. Newby, Sgt. Duffy, Sgt. Kennedy, reported to watch office. – Pilots for temporary control Duties.
1010 Not required tonight. Gardening in Group.
1030 Asked Base to get some Gen on K/425 which had to return to Prestwick. F/L. Lomas was through on G.P.O. but could not contact anybody who knew anything about it.
11.25 Runway changed 34. QAN. WNW-NWly – 18mph.
12:30 Note for 425. OK for their A/C. A. O. L. T, to bomb smoke-floats anywhere off coast, at least 30 miles out to avoid convoy routes. Base suggest 40 miles off Flamboro Head.
[Page break]
1230 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
18:30 Off Watch F/L Gant On Watch F/O Taylor.
18:35 V/420 off on X-Country.
2152 U/425 landed from X-Country. Had trouble finding drome. Flicked lights off & on but still no go, so came in on QDM’s.
22.55 Base advise D/433 – Skipton c/s Pease pudding, floating around the Group, may start calling for help.
23.09 V/420 landed from X-Country. = also had trouble locating drome.
[Underlined] SUNDAY. MARCH 12th 1944. [/underlined]
0830 Basic QFE = 1016. SD’s checked.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0905 Group stand down tonight.
1045 Local Bullseye tonight. [Deleted] 4 [/deleted] 3 a/c 425, 9 a/c 420.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1250 E/420 landed from X/C – S/O engine trouble
1318 S/420 landed from Westcott
1420 Bullseye cancelled.
1430 K/425 left Prestwick at [deleted letters] 1301 but had to return (1335) due to engine trouble. Prestwick F.C. will let us know state of serviceability in the morning
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2330 Quiet.
Monday 13 March 1944
0730 Quiet night.
0800 Basic QFE 1003 Met informed.
0805 S.D’s checked.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch
1020 Operations tonight- 420-8 A/C 425-7 A/C
1100 Extreme emergency aerodrome for both squadrons – Hartford Bridge Runways 2000, 1400, 1400x Mk II Drem, S.B.A. Sandra Pundit GP 064° [deleted] 6 1/2 [/deleted] 1 1/2 mls.
1230 Runway changed to 34
12:30 Off Watch P/O Pyle, on Watch F/O Taylor.
13:10 Base inquired, Could we take 5 Dishforth A/Cr for C’s & L’s. = Answer “No Not with this strong cross wind.”
[Page break]
1435 New Halifax MZ503 delivered for 420 Sqdn.
15.49 K/425 returned from Prestwick. (Diverted there March 9/44)
16.52 G/420 returned from FORD. (Landed there March 1/44)
16:55 Ex Base. S/L Kyles: Croft have just had a sleet shower, so warn Sqdns to be on guard re ice on A/Cr. Contacted Met. Sqdns have been warned of the possibility & will be told again if things look bad.
17:10 The sleet shower has passed with no ill effects.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2225 R/425 1st A/C off on operations
2250 Q/425 last A/C off on operations – 420-8 A/C, 425 7 A/C
[Underlined] TUESDAY – 14th MARCH, 1944. [/underlined]
0023 R/425 returned early with A.S.I. & other instruments u/s. At the time the wind was westerly at 14 m.p.h. so told him to land on 28 runway instead of No. 34.
0038 C/425 last of 4 A/C to land from X/C – also landed on 28 – his two port engines caught fire but went out when he cut ignition – tractor towed him clear of runway.
0221 D/425 returned early – hydraulics u/s – undercarriage had been down since T.O. – landed O.K. on 34 with 30° flap.
0243 Y/420 landed at Hartford Bridge – short of petrol – advised by Group to remain there till morning
0341 All our A/C landed safely – 14 at Base and 1 away
0500 S.D.’s checked
0800 Ex Hartford Bridge – Y/420 will be leaving about 0900 hrs.
0815 Basic QFE 1010 – met informed
0900 Off Watch. P/O Pyle. On Watch F/O Taylor.
Runway 34. QAN NWly. 15-20 mph.
0950 Not required tonight = Group Bulls-eye.
1131 Y/420 landed from Hartford Bridge.
1230 Off Duty F/O Taylor. F/L Gant on watch.
1930 Off Duty F/L Gant on Duty F/O Taylor.
2015 A number of reports have come in about flares having been seen, do they mean Scrub. Flares away to the west. Contacted Base. = They are from Army Manoeuvres
2050 H/420 first A/Cr airborne on Bulls-eye.
2103. Request for ambulance. 2 airmen injured by explosion of an oxygen bottle, near [deleted] B [/deleted] /420 B flight dispersal, - Ambulance dispatched – M.O. advised.
[Page break]
2108. N/425 – 10th A/Cr. airborne on Bulls-eye. J & R/425 taxied down runway & clear.
2122 V/425 airborne, replacing R,
2229 V/425 landed on 3 engines.
2253 P/420 landed OK. (oxygen, & engine trouble, and intruders)
2300 Runway changed to 28. QAN 5-10. NWly – WNWly.
2343 O/425 landed OK. = compasses u/s.
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY – 15th MARCH – 1944 [/underlined]
0044 G/425 landed from Bulls-eye; C/420; H/420; T/425
0215-0224 U; N; A; F landed from Bulls-eye & bombing detail.
0813 Basic QFE. 1013. Met informed.
0955 6 group goodwood Lancs Hali III’s
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1600 Diversion bases if A/C have less than 350 gals. Petrol when crossing English coast – 420 Tangmere, 425 Ford
1800 Runway in use No. 24
1930 F/L Gant on watch.
2145 T425 called on R/T. Was asked if he had completed detail. Not jettisoned. Told to fly locally for 25 min. to bring gas down to safe landing weight.
2152 Asked reason for 425T Reported aileron control not functioning properly. Was asked if he could land safely. Reported “everything under control”.
2213 T 425 given pancake, runway 28.
2217 T 425 landed okay. Back on 34.
Thursday March 16, 1944.
0220 Runway 23 in use.
0254 Base advise Q425 sent in Q code “short [indecipherable] has broken down.
0255 Base admin fix on “C” 420 as 50° 25 0001W at 0234. “C” 420 not airborne. Probably G420.
0305 “C” 420 (base advise) sent message “on 3 motors special equipment u/s.
[Page break]
0315 Base advise C 420 msge “Navigator killed, S/I u/s Feltwell – Ford – SPEQ – Instructions.
0320 Msge from DSO 6 Group to C420 – land at Ford.
0328 Base advise Q 425 called Mayday near Hixon at 0300
0340 Base advise Q 425 crashed near Hixon: no details as yet.
0350 Base advise S420 crash landed at Friston. Pilot injured, navigator killed. Base believe this a/c to be “C” 420.
0405 F/O Tracey Nav. Q425 called from Bromsgrove, crew bailed out. Was first out of a/c, uninjured.
0425 F/O Hogan W ag Q425 called from Bromsgrove, 3rd out of a/c uninjured.
0430 4 a/c 420 returned to base. 6 a/c 420 landed at Tangmere. 2 a/c 425 returned to base, 7 a/c 425 landed at Ford.
0745 No word of Q420, F 425.
0800 Basic QFE 1019 Passed to met.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch
0920 Ex S/L Kyles – F.C.O. is to check daily flying times passed to Base
0945 Ex Halfpenny Green – all members of Q/425 accounted form but exact whereabouts of P/O Bush unknown
1030 All Q/425 crew O.K. except for a couple of slight injuries – Halfpenny Green arranging to have them return
1155 W/420 returned from Tangmere
1215 O/420 returned from Tangmere
1230 G/420 (at Frishon) is a total write-off – Navigator killed – pilot wounded and in hospital – rest of crew O.K. & returning by rail
1227 Y420 returned from Tangmere
1230 P/O Pyle off Watch. F/O Taylor on Watch.
1231 R/420 returned from Tangmere.
1238 J/425 returned from Ford.
1242 B/420 returned from Tangmere
1248 N/425 returned from Ford.
[Page break]
1327 S/425 landed from Ford.
1437 D/425 landed from Ford.
1454 F/425 landed from Ford.
17:33 E/425 landed from Ford.
18:09 A/425 landed from Ford.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
1950 Broadcast from Base – stations to have intruder systems ready for possible use
2030 Ex Base - we can forget about intruder warning!
[Underlined] FRIDAY – MAR 17, 1944. [/underlined]
0800 S.D.’s checked
0805 Basic QFE 1025 – passed to Met.
0830 Off Watch P/O Pyle. On Watch F/O Taylor.
0945 Not required tonight.
1230 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
1448 CTO reports new petrol installation near 425 A flight a definite obstruction and should be marked by red obstruction light at night. Agreed to do this nightly.
1930 Off Watch F/L Gant on Watch F/O Taylor.
[Underlined] SATURDAY – MARCH 18 – 1944. [/underlined]
0215 Base – Light up Drome. Wombleton A/Cr = Fighead or Jimcrack J wandering about.
0225 Base = Group have had several fixes on this A/Cr. but he seems to be lost & wandering aimlessly. If he comes near land him.
0320 A/Cr landed OK at Church Fenton. All lights doused.
0800 Basic QFE 1018. SD’s checked.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0945 Runways, perimeter checked.
0955 Command Goodwood tonight.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1400 Inspected perimeter track & found incendiary rack at entrance to 34 r’way – armament section notified to check up on drivers responsible
1515 Runway changed to No. 24
[Page break]
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
2020 O 425 early return. Had not completed detail. Told to do so. Base informed. Sick crew member on board.
2114 O425 landed. Bomb aimer nose bleed.
2125 Starboard totem end 24 knocked over, still [deleted words] alight. Duty electrician informed.
2220 Base advise air raid warning purple.
2230 Air raid warning white.
2325 Base advise our a/c are definitely diverted. We are to stand by for diversion from Middleton and Croft.
Sunday, March 19, 1944.
0023 Base advise we can stand down re Croft and Middleton a/c.
0200 J 420 returned to base.
0230 Base advise A, D, E, K, R, T, W, Y. 420 at Thorpe Abbotts. A, B, D, N, R, W, 425 at Thorpe Abbots. G at Little Snoring, S 425 at Shipdham.
0720 Thorpe Abbott advise W425 port wing flak damaged, 425 N 420 F taxied into each other. 2 motors on N out, tail section on F damaged.
0800 Basic QFE 1013. Met advised.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch
0915 Runway 28 QAN W’ly 15-20.
0920 All serviceable A/C returning to Base as soon as possible – W/425 also damaged prop. – taxied into vehicle – driver killed
1000 Not working tonight
1230 P/O Pyle off Watch. F/O Taylor on Watch.
12.47 F/O Wilmot phoned from Thorpe Abbott. re A/425 Mag trouble; PI cut out when switch tested. = F/L Loomis informed.
15.00 W/O Rutherglen left his bag near the perimeter track in from of watch office at Thorpe Abbott. Phoned them to have one of our crews pick it up. A message from T.A. for Engineering Officer relayed to F/L. Loomis.
[Page break]
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2100 E/425 at Horham out of hydraulic fluid – not procurable there – advised C.T.O. who is sending some down tomorrow – Horham asked to let us know if there is a break in the line so we can send spare parts
2208 Air Raid Warning RED
2230 All Clear
2312 H/425 landed from X-C P/O Wells reports that he saw A/C shot down in vicinity of E. Anglia (5235N 0019E) at 2206 – reported to Base
[Underlined] MONDAY – MARCH 20, 1944 [/underlined]
0035 X/420 landed from X/C
0730 S.D.’s checked
0810 Basic QFE 1025 – Met. informed
0900 Off Duty. P/O Pyle. On Duty F/O Taylor.
Runway 28. = Runways & T. Track inspected. Places at beginning of 28 where new macadam put over bad spots is sinking again. Surface of 28 scaling in a few spots. Resident engineer informed
1015 We are not required tonight.
1125 Thorpe Abbott phoned. “Can P/O Renaud & crew fly back with F/O Wilmot?” O/C 425 instructs “Yes” but in any event they must be back by tomorrow noon.
1230 S/L Austin on Watch.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
[Underlined] TUESDAY – MARCH 21 – 1944 [/underlined]
0800 Basic QFE 1021 – Passed to Met. S.D.’s checked.
0900 S/L Austin on Watch.
1015 Not required tonight. Everybody else working.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1345 Advised Horham that hydraulic fluid for 425/E would reach there tomorrow morning
1400 Ex Thorpe Abbots:- A,D,/425 & W/420 will probably be returning tomorrow – W/425 probably a week – N, [deleted] W [/deleted]/425 & F/420 - ?
1604 S425 landed from Thorpe Abbotts.
1918 V420 off on night X-country
1920 X 420 off on night X-country.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
2305 V420 landed from night X country
2340 X420 landed from night X country
[Page break]
[Underlined] Wednesday 22nd March 1944 [/underlined]
0805 Basic QFE 1021. Passed to Met.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch
1030 We are working tonight – Goodwood – 425 14 A/C, 420 – 12 A/C
1110 Thorpe Abbotts advise that A, D/425 are serviceable – B/425 leaving here with crews to bring them back – T. Abbotts will advise us then any other of our A/C are serviceable
1140 B/425 will not be going to Thorpe Abbotts till this afternoon
1230 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1250 Contacted Horham. (messages passed via 2 switchboard operators) E/425 tried to leave this AM when another minor snag developed. Hope to come this afternoon.
1415 Y/425. F/L BRYSON left for Thorpe Abbotts.
1515 Runway changed to 10, to facilitate marshalling. QAN L&V.
1636 E/425 returned from Horham.
1734 L, & V. 420 airborne on X-Country.
1757 Y/425 returned from Thorpe Abbotts.
1807 A/425 returned from Thorpe Abbotts.
1845-1922. 10-420 & 14-425 Airborne on operations. X replaced P/425.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2251 L/420 landed from X/C – U/420 landed 2227 – used emergency u/c release
2320 Runway changed to No. 28
[Underlined] THURSDAY 23RD MARCH 1944 [/underlined]
0051 J/425 first A/C to return form operations
0140 K/425 last A/C to land here – J/420 at Foulsham, O/425 at Leeming no report from G/425
0810 Base QFE 1024 Met. informed
0815 S.D.’s checked
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch Runway 28. QAN. SE 3mph but viz terrible. R & TT Inspected.
1000 Not required tonight.
1100 J/420 airborne from Foulsham.
1204 J/420 landed OK. (first called 11:37 = viz 1400 yards = used 38 yellows).
1230 S/L Austin on Watch.
1247 Proctor HM301 – (W/C Williams) landed. Signalled Northolt & Catterick
1531 O425 returned from Leeming.
1537 Phoned Group to authorize crew from 420 Sqdn. to bring back D425 from Thorpe Abbotts. OK’ed by S/L McKernon & W/C McIntosh. W420 still u/s.
[Page break]
1645 Base advise W420 left T. Abootts at 1634. (Most confusing).
1740 W420 landed from T. Abbotts.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
2200 Base = A/Cr. from 4 Group may be diverted to 6 Group. If so they will be sent to 61 Base if possible; otherwise 62 Base. E.T.A. 0035=0100 hrs.
2212. We are not required for this diversion; Leeming & Skipton laid on provisionally.
[Underlined] FRIDAY MARCH 24th 1944 [/underlined
0812. Basic Q.F.E. 1027. Passed to Met:
0900 S/L Austin on Watch.
0935 Signalled Station Z re Proctor (Vega Gull) landing at 1247 yesterday. Overdue message HW274 had been initiated. Checked with teleprinter message sent at 1301 – Left Linton at 1406
1010 Goodwood tonight – 425-14 = 420-12.
1230 S/L Austin off watch – P/O Pyle on watch
1330 Q/425 airborne for Thorpe Abbotts to bring back D/425
1530 Emergency petrol diversion base for both squadrons – “Coltishall”
1650 Runway changed to 10
1842 First a/c off on operations.
1918 Twenty-fifth & last a/c off on operations. E/425 scrubbed.
1936 O420 off on Bullseye exercise.
1941 P 420 off on Bullseye exercise.
2000 S/L Austin [deleted] off [/deleted] on Watch.
2011 K/425 landed from ops. Shot off 2 Red Flares (?). After landing called up that red lights on undercarriage were on and that horn was blowing. Told to switch engines off.
2012 Flarepath told to change to Runway 24. as X-country had to get off.
2025 Long runway clear. Runway changing to No. 28.
2053 V420 overhead from ops. Power failed on T1196 and flarepath & funnel of 28. Electrician called.
2118 All lights & 1196 on – Fuse had blown. Recalled V420 from Linton to which he had been sent.
2123 E 425 X-country scrubbed as engines were overheating owing to long delay in getting lights on.
[Page break]
2124 Base inform that V420’s R/T is poor & cannot contact him very well. Had done one overshoot. Did not want to have him return
2125 V420 landed OK at Linton.
2145 Pilot of V420 reports hydraulics u/s.
2236 Y425 early returned.
2304 R425 early returned.
[Underlined] Saturday 25 March 1944 [/underlined]
0018 P420 landed from Bullseye exercise
0038 O/420 landed from Bullseye exercise.
0405 Base inform T 425 has landed Coleby Grange at 0325.
0445 Base inform B, D, K, S & Y landed Coltishall. No times available. No report on W 420, V425 or C 425.
0805 Basic QFE 1024 – Passed to Met.
0900 S/L Austin off watch – P/O Pyle on watch
0930 Runways & perimeter inspected – stbd. A.A.I. on 06 u/s – apparently run over by A/C taxying clear of 24 r’way.
1000 Not required tonight – Hal. II & V & Stirlings working – inexperienced Hal. III & Lancs. crews may be put on tonight at C.O.’s discretion.
1030 420 offering 2 for target and 4 for A.S.R.
425 offering 3 for target and 1 for A.S.R.
1050 Sea search cancelled
1155 Coltishall advise that all our A/C will be returning as soon as refuled [sic].
1230 P/O Pyle off Watch. F/O Taylor on Watch.
1400 Colby Grange phoned. T/425 taking off right away. No Flaps.
1443 B & D/420 landed from Coltishall.
Briefing = 420 – 15:30. 425. 16:30.
1510 T/425 landed from Coleby Grange (No trouble though flaps u/s)
1516 Y/420 landed from Coltishall.
1538 K/420 landed from Coltishall.
1627 S/420 landed from Coltishall.
1729 H/425 off on a X-Country.
1731 J/425 bogged on intersection of 28 & inner taxi track. (!XXX! the runway for tonight)
[Page break]
1742 V/420 returned from Linton – landed him on 24 runway
1756/7. O & N/420 off on X-Countrys.
1907-09 A & X/420 & L/425 off on operations!
[Deleted 200 [/deleted] 1930 F/O Taylor off watch – P/O Pyle on watch
2000 Runway changed to 24 to accommodate U/420 (C & B) – much against his wishes!
2003 U/420 decided to scrub detail as it would be too late before he got started to get in any ‘dusk’ landings
2115 J/425 now de-bogged but crews have no means of [underlined] towing [/underlined] it clear [inserted] (bracket on tail wheel broken) [/inserted] (?) – must be taxied – contacted S/L McLernan.
2116 A.F.C. reports A/C parked on 34 runway
2152 Landed N/420 on r’way 24 –
2157 J/425 now taxied clear
2202 H/425 landed on 24 r’way
2203 N/420 bogged near R & I hangar – went off perimeter track – flight organising tractor – Engineering officer notified
2207 O/425 landed 24 runway
2230 Now on 28 runway
2250 N/425 now clear!
2350 Q/425 landed from X/C – did not receive our R/T
[Underlined] SUNDAY – MARCH 26 – 1944 [/underlined]
0027 L/425 landed from ops.
0046 A/420 landed from ops.
0057 X/420 landed from ops.
0730 SD’s checked
0805 Basic QFE 1020 – informed met
0900 F/O Taylor on Watch – Runway 28 QAN. L & V. – R & TT Inspected.
Mr Jess phoned as filling in holes where A/Cr bogged last night. Has no men today (Sunday), so will get cracking tomorrow morning.
1020 Goodwood effort tonight.
1230 S/L Austin on Watch.
1530 Runway changed to 34.
1930 F/O Taylor on Watch.
2000 U/425 first aircraft airborne on operations.
[Page break]
2026 P/425 = 23rd A/Cr off on Ops. = This A/Cr swung badly to starboard on first take-off run: Came round back of line-up for second try.
[Underlined] Note [/underlined] Port totem pole on 34 runway (downwind end) shining wrong way.
2030 Runway changed to 28. QAN [underlined] L & V [/underlined]
2143 Y/425 landed from X-Country.
2219 N/420 returned early.
2227. Call from R.T.O. at WARMINSTER (phone 236) Sgt. Cameron, crew member of X/425 sqdn. baled out at 6000’ at about 21:30 hrs. 1st one out & doesn’t know about rest of the crew. R.T.O. trying to round up information about rest of crew. G/C; Base, etc informed.
2230 Y/420 sqdn on R/T; has not completed detail & will call again when light enough to land.
Crew of X/425. SGT. HALL, W/O GROVER NAV, SGT NEWTON, SGT PORTER, SGT SIMPSON SGT. CAMERON, SGT. EVANS, & Cpl REID – R129385 – testing RADAR SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
2319 Y/420 landed OK.
2336 Royal Victoria Hospital, Westbury, Wilts. Phone Westbury 181 – Cpl. Reid, OK. but badly shaken up, keeping him overnight. = 3rd man out at about 6000 ft. at about 21:30 hrs. Police endeavouring to find other crew members.
[Underlined] MONDAY – MARCH – 27th 1944. [/underlined]
0025. Base: “X/425 crashed at 2053 hrs – Position 51:23N; 02:18W, 5 miles south of Colerne, 3 baled out but did not survive; 2 did not bale out; A/Cr caught fire on ground.”
0057 L/425 first A/Cr landed from operations.
0115 Base, re X/425 = 5 bodies in A/Cr.; 3 of which are identified as W/O Grover, Sgt Newton & Sgt. Evans, = Sgt Cameron & Cpl Reid are OK. Reid going back to A/Cr to try to identify other two bodies. Sgt Simpson still missing. Warminster police checking up. – Crashed at BRADFORD-ON-AVON, 5 miles South of Colerne. = Went into a spin, so pilot ordered crew to bale out.
0153 U/420 landed OK. 23rd A/Cr All accounted for. D/425 22nd A/Cr called that he thought he’d dropped incendiaries on runway. U/420 sent round again but as he could not get wheels & flaps up, told to pancake immediately. - When he had landed, told to use landing light & taxi round obstructions. Proved to be containers only. Armament people informed.
[Page break]
0230 Base request we “Light up” 426 A/Cr lost & short of fuel. Called “Pitchtent A” but no reply.
0250 Incendiaries observed burning near a 425 A/Cr. Sent fire crew & informed Armament Officer. Could read the Squadron letters on A/Cr by light from fire.
0255 Ground crew put incendiaries out. – A fitter badly hurt, dragged by bowser getting away from A/Cr. = Removed to hospital
[Underlined] Note [/underlined] → First Aid Kit from Q/425 used on this chap.
0310 Base advise we may douse lights again.
0815 Basic QFE = 1023. Passed to Met. – S.D’s checked.
0820 Crew list. Numbers etc of X/425 given to 6 Group. – Colerne handling crash.
- Sgt Cameron at 225 MU. – Phone No. WARMINSTER 456,
0900 S/L Austin on Watch.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1518 5 A/C of 420 & 2 A/C of 425 airborne on Exercise “Eric”
1700 Runway changed to 10
1837 R/425 last A/C to land from “Eric” exercise.
1930 S/L Austin on Watch.
2330 Standing by to land any of Linton’s a/c returning from X-country. Vis – poor, about 1500 yds.
[Underlined] Tuesday 28TH March 1944 [/underlined]
0039 Last of Linton a/c landed at Topcliffe. Our vis had increased to 3500 + yds.
0800 QFE Basic 1011 – met informed – Sec. Docs. checked.
0900 P/O Pyle on watch
0930 Runway 28.
1045 Trying all morning to get our van replaced without success - !!@
1130 Dalton supplying 2 fighters for 1400 hours.
1145 Port totem pole on 34 runway now O.K.
1150 Secured van from Engineering officer – r’ways & perimeter inspected
1230 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1415 Runway 10. QAN E ly. 0-10 mph. viz 2500 yds smoke haze.
1419-1437 L/420. Airborne – asked to report visibility from air. Not so hot. – Dalton not letting fighters come so told L to land. Squadrons scrubbed all other details.
[Page break]
19:17 Group called – A Topcliffe Halifax stooging up and down Leeming beam, at present going S. Plots show him near us. Try & get him in.
19:25 Neither seen nor heard this A/Cr. = contacted base, Plots now show him south of Marston Moor. – He may come north again.
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
2000 Topcliffe Halifax landed safely at Ashbourne
[Underlined] WEDNESDAY 29th MARCH 1944 [/underlined]
0730 S.D.’s checked
0810 Basic QFE 1012 – Met informed
0820 Men working on east end of 28 runway this morning
0830 F/O Taylor on Watch. Runway 06, QAN NE ly 5-15 mph.
0900 F/420 & W/425 at Thorpe Abbotts are now Serviceable.
1000 Required tonight, 1700 hrs scrubbed.
2038 O/425 airborne on X-Country.
NOTE Stbd A.A.I moved from 24 runway to 06 runway.
[Underlined] THURSDAY – 30th MARCH – 1944 [/underlined]
0138 O/425 landed from X-Country.
0526 Group – Light up & keep look out for a lost hurricane.
0547 Group – A/Cr now clear of our section.
0806 Basic QFE = 1007 Met informed. SD’s checked.
Workmen on 28 end of main runway.
0900 F/O Taylor off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
0930 Aerodrome and dispersals checked
0940 O 420 F/S Gray proceeding to Thorpe Abbotts to deplane crew for F 420. F/S Brisson for W 425
0955 Goodwood effort tonight.
1230 P/O Pyle on watch
1500 Emergency petrol diversion bases – 420 Thorney Island, 425 Middle Wallop. Tangmere and Ford may be used in extreme emergency
1620 Runway changed to 06
1625-32 420/F & 425/W returned from Thorpe Abbotts
1640 Frost warning tonight -27°-28°
1930 P/O Pyle off watch. F/L Gant on watch.
[Page break]
2218 14 a/c 420 sq and 12 a/c 425 sq. airborne on operations. No none starters.
2225 Runway 28 in use.
2310 X420 off on night X-country. (Bombs & Full Overload).
2315 Y425 early returned.
2350 R 420 early return – had not jettisoned – flying locally to reduce gas.
2356 R420 reports hydraulics completely u/s. has wheels down.
Friday, March 31, 1944.
0002 R420 given pancake.
0006 R420 landed.
0109 U420 returned early.
0350 X420 landed from X-country.
0805 Base advise C420 called darky in 5 group short of petrol – last word was that crew were baling out.
0807 Basic QFE 1015. Passed to met.
0830 P/O Pyle on watch – Runway 28 Wind NW’ly less than 10 mph.
0900 K/420 landed at Tangmere 0530
0915 Ex: Cranwell – A/C crashed near Cranwell (presumably C420) – crew O.K.
0954 U/425 landed from Boscombe Down. D & Q/425 landed from Middle Wallop
1010 S/425 landed from Middle Wallop
1025 J/420 landed from Thorney Island
1108 H/425 landed from Middle Wallop
1115 C/420 landed in a field 4 1/2 miles from Cranwell – crew returning by rail – A/C probably cat. A/C [Inserted] Note: Pilots advises he force-landed at [underlined] 0628 hrs [/underlined] [/inserted]
1148 N, V, Y [inserted] 420 [/inserted] returned from Ford & Thorney Island
1150 Command Bullseye tonight – 420 3 A/C 425 2 A/C
1215 E/420 returned from Thorney Island.
1230 F/O Taylor on Watch.
1330 K/420 returned from Tangmere.
1340 Runway now 34 QAN. NWly –
1509 L/425 returned from Ford.
[Page break]
1917 F, U, O/420 & U/H /425 airborne on Bullseye Exercise
1930 P/O Pyle on watch
Over
To
New
Log
Book -
[Page break]
[Underlined] Aircraft landing away [/underlined]
L 434. – Silverstone – returned
E 434. – Middle Wallop – returned.
C 434 – Coltishall – returned.
O 434 – Ford. Not on strength now.
F 434 Barford St. John. returned
[Table of aircraft landing away]
[Page break]
[Table of aircraft landing away]
[Page break]
[Table of aircraft landing away]
[Page break]
[Table of aircraft landing away]
[Page break]
Linton Beacon.
To Linton QDM 237° 3 mi.
To Eastmoor QDM 110 4 3/4 mi.
To Tholthorpe QDM 315 3 mi.
420 OILLESS
425 HILLGUARD
THOLTHORPE FISHZONE
LINTON DOGBARK
EASTMOOR SINGER
TOPCLIFFE GOODFRIEND
DALTON HOLDTIGHT
DISHFORTH MARTEX
WOMBLETON CHICKEN LEG
LEEMING MUSTWE
CROFT
SKIPTON BRIARWOOD
MIDDLETON
[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
Control Officer's log book
Description
An account of the resource
A log kept at Tholthorpe to record events and times of importance. It commences July 6th 1943 and ends 30th March 1944.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
143 handwritten pages
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCothliffKB[Ser#-DoB]-151020-13
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
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.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-07
1943-08
1943-09
1943-10
1943-11
1943-12
1944-01
1944-02
1944-03
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anne-Marie Watson
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Yorkshire
RAF Tholthorpe
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1339/22070/SValentineJRM1251404v10087.2.jpg
cad0ed9102aee5dd96d3c4f661622e20
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
Valentine, John. Ursula Valentine's newspaper cutting scrapbook
Description
An account of the resource
131 items contained in a scrapbook. Mainly newspaper cuttings of events from May 1942 to 1945.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1943
CHURCHILL – ROOSEVELT – [inserted above] INONU [/inserted above] TALKS: ‘CLOSEST UNITY’
General Smuts joins Premier and President in new Cairo Conference
Mr. Churchill, President Roosevelt and President Inonu of Turkey have concluded in Cairo a three-day conference at which they discussed the general political situation and the policy to be followed.
The Turkish President, said the communique issued last night, went to Cairo on the invitation of the British, U.S. and Soviet Governments.
Although the third of the great Middle East conferences has now ended, talks continue in Cairo. Gen. Smuts has now arrived from London on his way to South Africa and has conferred with Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill.
SCHARNHORST SUNK IN ARCTIC BATTLE
ATTACK BY HOME FLEET GUARD[missing letter]NG RUSSIAN CONVOY
LONG FIGHT OFF NORTH CAPE
THE Scharnhorst has been sunk by British warships of[missing letters] Norwegian coast. This news was given in an Admiralty anno[missing letters]ment, issued late on Sunday night, which stated:-
This afternoon (December 26) the German battleship Scharn[missing letters] was brought to action by units of the Home Fleet, under the comm[missing letters] of Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, K.C.B., K.B.E., which were cove[missing letters] a North Russian convoy.
Scharnhorst was sunk this evening off the North Cape.
DECEMBER 28 1943
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
Churchill Roosevelt talks: closest unity and Scharnhorst sunk in arctic battle
Description
An account of the resource
Article 1 headlines: Churchill-Roosevelt-talks, closest unity, General Smuts joins premier and president in news Cairo conference. Article 2 headlines; Scharnhorst sunk in arctic battle, attack by home fleet guarding Russian convoy, long fight off north cape.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12-08
1943-12-28
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings mounted on a scrapbook page
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
SValentineJRM1251404v10087
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 Navy
Wehrmacht. Kriegsmarine
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Egypt
Egypt--Cairo
Norway
Norway--North Cape Region
North Africa
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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
David Bloomfield
Steve Baldwin
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Workflow A completed
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
Scharnhorst
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1339/22065/SValentineJRM1251404v10083.1.jpg
24ee2112a2210ae010e34edede5003e5
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
Valentine, John. Ursula Valentine's newspaper cutting scrapbook
Description
An account of the resource
131 items contained in a scrapbook. Mainly newspaper cuttings of events from May 1942 to 1945.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
THE PLANNERS OF VICTORY GIVE US A SMILE
FIRST pictures of the meeting in Teheran of the leaders of Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union were received in London last night by special aeroplane.
It was the first time Marshal Stalin, President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill had met together and the first personal meeting of Stalin and the President. The picture below was taken at the Soviet Legation in Teheran. Stalin, wearing his Marshal’s uniform, and the President are in specially good humour. Mr. Churchill, whose smile is more restrained, is in the uniform of a Commodore of the R.A.F.
Other pictures of the leaders with their staffs and a 69th birthday party for Mr. Churchill are on the Back Page.
[photograph]
[photograph]
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
The planners of victory give us a smile
Description
An account of the resource
Photograph 1. Stalin and Churchill both in uniform sitting either side of Roosevelt with a building with windows in the background. Photograph 2. Stalin and Churchill both in uniform sitting either side of Roosevelt. In the background several officers of different nationalities and services.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cutting mounted on a scrapbook page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SValentineJRM1251404v10083
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Iran
Iran--Tehran
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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
David Bloomfield
Steve Baldwin
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Workflow A completed
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1339/22064/SValentineJRM1251404v10082.2.jpg
4c99d87848781ee52c5c027cd9c1c8d1
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
Valentine, John. Ursula Valentine's newspaper cutting scrapbook
Description
An account of the resource
131 items contained in a scrapbook. Mainly newspaper cuttings of events from May 1942 to 1945.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1943
[underlined] Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin: We agree on plans and timing for destruction of Hitler [/underlined]
United Nations are determined to make a peace which will banish the scourge of war
DECISIONS REACHED BY CHURCHILL, ROOSEVELT AND STALIN DURING THEIR FOUR-DAY CONFERENCE IN TEHERAN WERE ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT IN THIS DECLARATION SIGNED BY THE THREE LEADERS:
“We, the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and the Premier [missing word] the Soviet Union, have met these four days past [missing word] this the capital of our ally, Iran, and have [missing letters]aped and confirmed our common policy.
“We expressed our determination that our nations shall work together in war and in the peace that will follow.
“As to the war – our military staffs have joined in our round table discussions and we have concerted our plans for the destruction of the German forces. We have reached complete agreement as to the scope and timing of operations which will be undertaken from east, west and south.
“The common understanding which we have reached guarantees that victory will be ours.
“And as to peace, we are sure that our concord will make it an enduring peace. We recognise fully the supreme responsibility resting upon us and all the United Nations to make a peace which will command the good will of the overwhelming mass of peoples of the world, and banish the scourge and terror of war for many generations.
“With our diplomatic advisers we have surveyed the problems of the future. We shall seek the co-operation and active participation of all nations, large and small, whose peoples in heart and mind are dedicated as are our peoples to the elimination of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance. We will welcome them as they may choose to come into a world family of democratic nations.
“No power on earth can prevent our destroying the German armies by land, their U-boats by sea and their war plants from the air.
“Our attack will be relentless and increasing.
“From these friendly conferences we look with confidence to the day when all the peoples of the world may live free lives untouched by tyranny and according to their varying desires and their own consciences.
“We came here with hope and determination. We leave here friends in fact, in spirit, and in purpose.”
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
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin: we agree on plans and timing for destruction of Hitler
Description
An account of the resource
Headline: united nations are determined to make peace which will banish the scourge of war. Announces decision made by Churchill. Roosevelt and Stalin during the Tehran conference.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12-07
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One newspaper cutting mounted on a scrapbook page
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
SValentineJRM1251404v10082
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Iran
Iran--Tehran
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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
David Bloomfield
Steve Baldwin
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Workflow A completed
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
Stalin, Joseph (1878-1953)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1339/22063/SValentineJRM1251404v10081.1.jpg
78d22ff295945d802aca370b0620a5bb
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
Valentine, John. Ursula Valentine's newspaper cutting scrapbook
Description
An account of the resource
131 items contained in a scrapbook. Mainly newspaper cuttings of events from May 1942 to 1945.
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
Churchill, Roosevelt, Chiang have met, agreed on plans to beat Japs
Description
An account of the resource
Additional headline: to be stripped of all territory taken since 1895. Photograph with seated Chiang Kai-shek on left, Roosevelt in the centre and Churchill on the right. Behind then are a number of standing military officers.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12-02
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two newspaper cuttings mounted on a scrapbook page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SValentineJRM1251404v10081
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
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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.
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1341/21929/PShipmanJ18010002.1.jpg
6468914e9d142b8c6072df03984aed06
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
Shipman, John. Album
Description
An account of the resource
33 items. An album of photographs from his service in the Middle East and India.
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
2018-10-10
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
Shipman, J
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
Christmas 1943
Description
An account of the resource
Four photographs from an album. Another two are missing.
Photo 1 is a group of men on the back of a cart.
Photo 2 is a group of 13 actors dressed for a pantomime.
Photo 3 is airmen dressed in Arab dress, drinking beer.
Photo 4 is a group on a cart pulled by a camel and a man, watched by airmen.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Four b/w photographs on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PShipmanJ18010002
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
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.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
aircrew
entertainment
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1322/20146/PCahirFS1605.1.jpg
df061ee05e1d532bb360efd541f0faed
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1322/20146/PCahirFS1606.1.jpg
c6b5f8691217df0ca4e5c88acb86c436
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
Cahir, Francis Shamus. Letters and photographs
Description
An account of the resource
32 items. The collection contains correspondence and photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jim Cahir and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-09
2016-06-08
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.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cahir, FS
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
Jim Cahir and crew
Description
An account of the resource
Seven airmen including Jim Cahir dressed in flying gear. On the reverse 'Bomber Command 4 Group 466 Squad Leconfield Yorks circa. Nov/Dec 1943
Reg Hall Reg Spalding Geo Brett Pat Edwards
Ralph Parsons
Jim Cahir'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCahirFS1605, PCahirFS1606
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
Royal Australian Air Force
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.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11
1943-12
4 Group
466 Squadron
aircrew
RAF Leconfield
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1318/19809/EDaviesDHHughesB440102-0001.1.jpg
1aad7cecb3242bc60ce3703f11b3d49e
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1318/19809/EDaviesDHHughesB440102-0002.1.jpg
20afedf4c97202abfa43edbb9b4ced0b
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
Davies, Dave
D Davies
David Howell Davies
Description
An account of the resource
26 items, including 22 letters, three photographs, and a service and release book. The collection consists of correspondence sent by Sergeant Dave Davies (1923 - 1984, 1653015 Royal Air Force) during his pilot training in Canada to his fiancée, Betty Hughes, who lived in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales. It also includes photographs of Dave Davies in Royal Air Force uniform, one with his bride, Betty, in wedding dress; and his service and release book. Dave Davies served with 48 Squadron from 28 January 1942 to 1 October 1946.
The collection was digitised on behalf of the IBCC Digital Archive by Edward Davies and catalogued by Monica Emmanuelli with additional contribution by Natalie Brimecome-Mills.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-08-10
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
Davies, DH
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[missing]
[postmark]
MISS BETTY HUGHES.
50 PORTLAND STREET
ABERYSTWYTH,
CARDIGANSHIRE WALES
[page break]
1653015 LAC DAVIES D H
R.A.F. STATION.
ESTEVAN.
SASK.
CANADA
2/1/44
My Dearest Darling.
Received two letters from you today. one dated 4th Dec and the other the 10th. Your letters arrive very often now darling. and I suppose they’ll arrive often again after this New Year's rush. I wish I had more time to write a little oftener [sic] to you darling, but you know how much I love you
[page break]
and always will. I wish I was back there again to tell you personally. I'm looking forward so much for that day darling. It w’ont [sic] be long now though it's only five more weeks to the end of the course. We take our final ground subjects a week next Wednesday. I’ll have more time then, and I shall be able to catch up with my sleeping hours too. We're all looking forward to the end of the course, we’re throughly cheesed with this course. The R.A.F chaps like cracking a joke about this place especially when there’s some Canadians around. They say this place [missing] offered back to the Indians some time ago, but [missing] it. By the way there are some Indians living [missing] You ought to see them. I [deleted] ‘ve [/deleted] saw two pictures while [missing] in Winnipeg - Betty Grable in “Sweet Rosy O’Grady” and [missing] and Hardy in “Dancing Masters”. Two quite good pictures. How is the “Elijah” coming on darling. I hope I'll be back in time to hear it. I hav’nt [sic] heard some good singing for ages. By the way are you wearing white this time? I'm looking forward to seeing the house too. I can imagine mam [sic] in the middle of it all. I wish I had a home of my own to come back to, and you waiting for me on the doorstep. Would’nt [sic] it be lovely darling. Do'nt [sic] worry it will happen one day. I’ll certainly have a garden. I love that kind of work. I used to do a little gardening at home. Well darling we’re still very busy here - plenty of night flying to do. I do’nt [sic] dislike it all though, tiring as it is. If I ever get through this course, and somebody tells me that we hav’nt [sic] earned our wings. I’ll soon make him change his mind.
Well darling this is all for the present, I'll write again soon. Keep that chin up, it w’ont [sic] be long now. Think of me sometimes - as if you never did. I'm always thinking of you too darling. I better watch
[page break]
out when I come back if you're going to make all there kisses real. You better be prepared to. we have so much to make up for all this.
I love you as much as ever darling, and miss you ever so much.
Please remember me to mam [sic] and dadan [sic] also to Eunice. Tell them I hope to see them all before very long.
Yours forever
Your darling husband (to be)
Dave.
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
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
Letter from Dave Davies to Betty Hughes
Description
An account of the resource
Dave tells his fiancée, Betty, that he now receives her letters more often. He expresses homesickness and the desire to be with her, looking forward to finish the course. Dave says he saw some local Indians. The letter closes with words of love.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Dave Davies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-01-02
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Monica Emmanuelli
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EDaviesDHHughesB440102
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.
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan--Estevan
Manitoba
Manitoba--Winnipeg
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
love and romance
RCAF Estevan
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/834/18899/YGeachDG1394781v5.2.pdf
10162827a32d552c966e4454065fa9f0
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
Geach, David
D Geach
Description
An account of the resource
<a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/218400/"></a>52 items. The collection concerns Warrant Officer David Geach (1394781 Royal Air Force) and contains his diaries, correspondence, photographs of his crew, his log book, cuttings and items relating to being a prisoner of war. After training in Canada, he flew operations as a bomb aimer with 623 and 115 Squadrons until he was shot down 24 March 1944 and became a prisoner of war. He was instrumental in erecting a memorial plaque to the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. <br />The collection also contains a scrap book of photographs.<br /><br />Additional information on his crew is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/218400/">IBCC Losses Database.</a><br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Harry Wilkins 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
2016-03-14
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
Geach, DG
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[blank page]
[page break]
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
NO. 288
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday 17th March. [/underlined]
Back in England again, gee! its great to be home, I don’t know how fellows must feel being overseas 10 years or so, 8 months was enough to make me feel really thrilled at the sight of old England again. Beg pardon! I should have said Scotland, for it was up the firth of Clyde we slipped and anchored off Greenock. It was a nice morning & the fields & hills looked really pleasant in the sunshine. As we slid along we were shot up by Hurricanes and Martletts from the Auxiliary Aircraft Carriers. There were quite a few of the latter, converted merchant men turned into A.C. Carriers, quite large some of them. Beside this, the usual swarm of naval craft lay around. Destroyers, & corvettes slipped past, & occasionally the sleek black hulk of a submarine would slide along; in the distance. There was a Catalina station, with quite an amount of activity going on. One of the “Cats” landed quite close to us in a flurry of foam, nice looking jobs! We anchored just by three aircraft carriers & the modern battleship Howe, there was quite an amount of Aldis flashing, but far beyond our limited 8’s. I was glad I was on guard as I had a fine view, whilst all the others weren’t allowed up on deck.
[page break]
We docked on the 15th about 3 pm and it was 24 hrs. before we got off her. Being as there were no large docks as at Boston & New York everyone had to be taken off in lighters, & there were a good few thousand to go ashore. The lighters seemed like little toys alongside the Queen Elizabeth, although in reality they were quite large two funnelled vessels. Pumping oil in was a large tanker she really was a size, a smart looking American ship, with the T of the Texaco Oil Coy. on her funnel covered by the grey war paint. We struggled into the boat in full webbing lugging the kit bag, that everyone had crammed with cigarettes, chocolates, cosmetics, & heaven knows how many with stockings, for everyone at home. Quite a delay ensued before the lighter was packed to capacity, then away she went. My God as we passed alongside the Q.E. we could get an idea of her size, she was immense. As we drew further away, & saw the cluster of ships around her, dwarfed to doll size, looking like a duck with a swarm of ducklings we realised what a prize it would make for Jerry U Boats. No wonder they had claimed to have sank her, that made us laugh when we were on it. She really had a rakish cut, though, and as we neared the dockside, gazing back through the [deleted] Deff [/deleted] half mist, I was glad I had had the opportunity of travelling on the two largest ships afloat.
[page break]
On the dockside we had the inevitable hours wait with packs, full webbing on, but being as it was our priviledge [sic] to moan we indulged in it to the full, & were cheered by it. The troop trains were drawing away and at last our turn came. Comfortable seats were taken, our mass of webbing crowded everything out of the way but nobody worried away we [deleted] wend [/deleted] went, into a lovely drizzling evening, it may sound dim, but were we glad to see the rain again, after months of continuous snow without a drop of rain. It must have appeared depressing to the Canadians, raining on their arrival, bearing out tales of the island when it always rains, that they had heard, but to us it was home & heaven. Everyone waved out of windows & from streets as we slid along, everything was so friendly. Some of the fellows tackled the canned rations they had of Beans & Hash etc. but I stuck to the Biscuit & Sweet ones. Into Glasgow we rattled, onto Edinburgh when the NAAFI gave us tea on the platform, & so to Harrogate. Here we were assembled in the [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] dim light & pushed into lorries & away we went to Pannel Ash, three miles out of Harrogate to a large school. Here we whizzed around getting bedding & filling forms and having an eagerly awaited breakfast. However I am getting tired so I’ll continue in my next entry.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday 21st March [/underlined]
As I said we arrived here at Pannel Ash, about 5.30 AM. on the 17th & they told us to be on parade at 8 A.M. to start the whirl of kitting, form filling and heaven knows what else before we went on leave. It sounded a line of bull to us, but the magical word leave was enough to keep us moving. We rapidly discovered that there were two of the biggest b-s I have seen here, & the two most influential. No 1 the C.O. and No 2 the W.O. I can truthfully say the C.O. or Sqdn/Ldr was the most illiterate fellow I have ever seen holding a commission. They say [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] he was an N.C.O. pre-war & just got a lucky push. The W.O. vies with him for our hatred, he is a fat red faced guy & a real nasty piece, just loves to catch one of us N.C.O’s with something wrong. It is something like a Gestapo purge, they are [deleted] [indecipherable letter] [/deleted] possessed with the idea, that because we have come back from overseas we are no longer fit for aircrew, are a pack of scare-crows, are unruly & undisciplined etc. etc. Admittedly the Guards could give us a few points on smartness but hell! we haven’t had time to get back into the rut of drill again. Our job doesn’t depend on whether we can drill smartly either, a point which they always try to hammer in.
[page break]
We have whizzed about filling in reams of forms, kitting up to the English scale once more, this was a scream Some of the fellows had thrown away nearly all their service kit in order to make room for their presents, & they certainly had some 664B action. When they can’t think of anything for us to do, we drill, with the C.O. binding continually. The latest purge is haircuts, & as mine hasn’t been trimmed for about 6 – 7 weeks I’m right in the line of fire, guess I’ll need a lawn mower on my mop. On the evenings that we can get away we generally walk into town to see a show, the trouble with this town is it is [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] lousy with aircrew. When we first arrived we were so tired that we got some bed hours in, & wrote letters with the old 2 1/2' stamp on again. It was quite good to write a letter, & in a couple of days get a reply come buzzing back. The family & Mary had a surprise as they didn’t think I would be home for a couple of days, Mary is trying to get leave at the same time as myself. We should be going on leave pretty soon now, yippee! will we hit the high spots, & guess I’ll be glad to hand over their presents after lugging them quarter way round the world & guarding them, ah! well it wont [sic] be long now.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday April 8th [/underlined]
Time certainly has flown by, but in a glorious fashion, since I made my last [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] entry. In the last couple of days we got packed, stowed our flying kit, & personal kit in the in the cellars & were all ready to move. The great day was Wednesday the 24th. and the coaches came to take us to the station. All the A.G.’s had gone a couple of days before, but only for 7 days, as they needed them, I felt sorry for them as we were all getting 14. After some waiting the train drew in, & we piled in heartily, it was well organised, all the London fellows were in one train those going South, Portsmouth etc in another, & Midlands & North a third. We got a good seat & old Fred Porce was opposite me so we arranged to travel on the Met to Plaistow together. On the journey we dozed & ate a little of the rations, & thought & made plans of what we would do on leave, then finally we drew into London, bang on! Fred had a monster kit bag crammed with tinned goods, & it certainly was a weight, we both had to drag it along to get on the Met. Sinking into a seat, not daring to remove our packs, for fear we wouldn’t get them on again, we soon became wedged, & I had the devils
[page break]
own job to struggle out, when we reached my station. It was really great to get home again, there was a great welcome, everyone saying things together & I know, I forgot lots of the things I wanted to tell them. Mary & my sister certainly were enthusiastic over the cosmetics, most probably be run in for hoarding.
Leave time as usual simply whirled by, shows & films, different people to see, & places to go. I saw Frank Pritchards mother, apparently I just missed him at Greenock, he went back on the Queen Elizabeth, they must have embarked the morning after we disembarked. Life always seems to be like that just missing people, well, I hope he likes Canada, one thing he won’t get the hellish winter conditions I had. I could kick myself missing the mildest winter England had for 17 years, & catching the coldest Canada had for 19 years. Anyway time flew, & yesterday it was time for me to return, they ran a special train for us, good show, & at 5 PM I met Norman & all the boys, & back we travelled swapping stories of leave. Harrogate once more, & in the Grand Hotel, where we were billeted when we arrived from Hastings, & so here I am.
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday 14th April [/underlined]
We are ‘squaddied’ now, (placed in a squad) and waiting for the lectures to commence. Still the memories of our leave keep coming back to torture us, in heaven knows when we will be home again. Won’t be till after O.T.U. I’d wager, some fellows say we get some after AFU but I doubt it. Most of the fellows here whilst they are waiting for a posting are sent to Whitley Bay on a 4 week Commands Course with the RAF Regiment, I don’t quite know whether I relish the idea or not. The first few days we were back we didn’t do anything merely route marches, occasionally if we had a decent fellow in charge we would lay down in a field for the afternoon, but that wasn’t often. That state of affairs rarely lasts long however & we were soon put in a squad and commenced lectures. These are held at the Majestic Hotel, & we parade and march there each morning and afternoon. The lectures themselves are the same as they are anywhere the inevitable Signals, Armaments, Aircraft Rec, & Bombing Theory, they certainly cheese us, & I have a hell of a job to keep awake.
[page break]
There is quite a bit of P.T. as well, & we always have to run up to the Crag or thereabouts then turn off, for a general town of Yorkshire, around 5 miles or so. A fellow who was already in our room when we arrived, (a pilot on singles) is on the permanent P.T. squad, this is a hell of a racket. You are put on this when you have finished all the lectures. They parade in the morning in P.T. kit, or more often than not trousers, vest & jacket, then after roll call, go for a run by themselves to the Cing Café & sit there gazing at the view, & eating scones & supping tea till nearly dinner time, then they trot back for their midday meal. In the afternoon they repeat the process, maybe add a game of football, if they feel energetic, always ensuring that they finish in plenty of time for an early tea, & a quick get away to the cinema. Still you can’t blame them, they’ve been here nearly four months & I’d be really fed up.
Looking around at the thousands of aircrew here, & hearing of the thousands of Canadians & Australians at Bournemouth it amazes me. All these aircrew hanging around waiting to get onto operations and they can’t, & it goes right to the
[page break]
bottom of the ladder, to the fellow just joining up for aircrew who has to wait nearly a year after he has been accepted, to get into the RAF. If only we could clear the bottlenecks & get all these fellows on ops’ what a mighty bomber fleet we should have. Surely it isn’t the shortage of aircraft, we should be turning out enough by now. It must be a bottleneck at O.T.U. & AFU & not enough to cope with the flow of crews, or the most likely explanation they have been piling up here, owing to there being limited flying during the winter. I daresay there will always be the same situation here, though. As for myself I’m quite content, we have a decent room, Norman, Henry, Jack, & Ron & myself all together. There’s a wash basin in the room & a bath room next door, which is good. The food isn’t bad either, it is a rush for meals now that we are on [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] lectures. There isn’t much to do in town but go to the cinema I have been six nights running, but there’s nothing else available. One thing about coming in at night the lights are switched off at 10.30 PM by a master control, so we always creep in, in the dark, stumbling over things. Rumours of leave here are as prevalent here as at any other posting centre, but after a while we discredit them all.
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday April 21st [/underlined]
Norman, Harry & myself are still here, but Ron & Jack are at Whitley Bay now, getting that cave man complex on the North Sea now. The went off in the traditional RAF style full webbing etc, & kidding us about our getting posted up there when they had nearly finished. Us not to be outdone assuring them, that there was an AFU posting on the way & they were merely clearing the dim ones out. I wouldn’t mind betting we’re “joes” though & get sent up there shortly. In the meantime we are just continuing with lectures, we have had one period of wet dinghy drill. We went in the swimming baths, belonging to a school, now occupied by the Civil Service. Being as the changing accommodation in the boxes is inadequate a lot of fellows changed on the spectators seats at the far end. There are a lot of full length windows, & as the boys changed & stood there in the altogether, quite a lot of the female Civil Servants opposite found a sudden lack of interest in their work. We have to don full flying kit and Mae Wests, & as a crew jump in & swim to the dinghy & climb in. It wasn’t so bad in the water, but when one went to climb into the dinghy, their weight
[page break]
soaked, with water, became apparent, & it really was a struggle to get aboard.
I have been with Norman to visit his Aunt & Uncle living here. His Uncle is in the Civil Service & took us to their club they have on the Ground Floor of a Hotel. Its a nice place with refreshment bar, dance hall, games & card rooms, we went to a nice dance there the other day. It is so nice to meet someone like that, because Harrogate is a hell of a place if one knows nobody. Being as it is crammed full of aircrew & soldiers, every place of entertainment is bound to be packed. There is nowhere to go but the cinemas really cos the dances are pretty dear. Most probably with the idea of keeping the services away, because the citizens really resent the troops being here, & hate the war being forced on them. It really is a “Forget the War”, town. The solitary Y.M.C.A. & a couple of small Forces Canteens do sterling service, but are overwhelmed & can’t cater for all their customers This leaves the troops at the mercy of the money grabbing café owners. The Copper Kettle being one, 2 small sausages & a few chips being 3/6’, out of an ordinary soldiers 2/6 a day its not even funny. Yes this town certainly wants re-organising & a few of the rackets squashed.
[page break]
[underlined] Tuesday 27th April [/underlined].
We are on the point of recommencing our flying in England we have arrived at our Advanced Flying Unit, at Bobbington near Stourbridge. So we did steal a march on Ron & Jack after all, I bet they are annoyed about it, but still most probably they will be posted soon. They called us all out together all our little clique, & when they said Bobbington we jumped for joy as most of us are Southerners and didn’t fancy going up North again. There was quite a dash around & quite a bit of bull with kit inspections & parades, clothing parades, & Heaven knows what else. Bags of waiting around & queuing as usual, arguing and scrambling for different things. At last all was done & our kit was left downstairs in the lobby ready to go next morning. We went out in the town to have a last night celebration, I am a bit sorry now that I have left there, as it was pretty good there, and I had some decent times with Norman’s Uncle & Aunt. Still there it is the training system doesn’t worry about individuals, & it is the only way I guess. Anyway after that last night we staggered in rather merry & noisy stumbling through the pitch black corridors of the hotel.
[page break]
Up the next morning bright and early, early anyway I dunno so much about the bright. With bull to the last we had to parade in full webbing and march to the station. We got fixed up on the train O.K. & commenced our first stage of the journey to Leeds. It was crazy weather, raining like anything, when we arrived at Leeds we were going to have a stroll around but the weather deterred us. The train to Birmingham was crowded & although we had a carriage reserved, bags of civilians crowded in & as there were elderly women & women with babies, we gave them the seats, but boy! was it a squash. At Birmingham we darted around unloading the kit & dashing over to another platform to catch the Wolverhampton train. We were beginning to look like porters after lumping the kit around all the time. The train had to wait a few minutes until we had loaded everything, the guard was a bit peeved but there was nothing he could do. Off we bowled and then found we had left Norman behind, nothing could be done then so on we went. At Wolverhampton there was a lorry waiting so we loaded it all on & climbed on the kit. We were rather shaken by the distance we were from the town through miles of country lanes until we finally arrived here.
They say that first impressions are often misleading, & I hope so, because our first impressions of this place is that it is a bloody awful station. We are in a damp Nissen hut with a concrete floor, that clouds of white dust rise from on the slightest stir of anything. Being ‘pupils’ as we are termed we aren’t allowed to eat in the sergeants mess, they say it isn’t large enough. We may go into there for letter writing etc. after 5.30 P.M Our meals are in the airmen’s mess, and we queue up amongst all the a.c’s and it is no exaggeration that we get less food than them. I have experienced it many a time the WAAF has given the fellow in front a ladle full, & had one ready for the next chap. Then looking up & seeing they are aircrew they tip half of it back. The mess is terrible and so is the food. All this we have found out in our few hours of being here, tomorrow we start the course. Our ablutions is a place not finished, no bowls or mirrors, just a line of taps containing freezing cold water – grim isn’t the word for it. By all accounts aircrew are disliked on this station by all & sundry from the Groupy downwards, we meet him tomorrow. – Norman has just rolled in he followed on the next train, had quite a shock when he found we had gone.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday May 2nd. [/underlined]
We have been here long enough to dislike the place entirely, & the sooner we leave here the better for all of us. On our first day we met the W/O in charge of the school, Alves his name is, & we didn’t take much of a liking to him. He gave us quite a few warnings with a long list of “Donts”, [sic] & impressed upon us how the “Groupy” disliked aircrew and was always ready to catch them out, then he marched us off to see the big noise himself. All the time he was marching us along in threes he was binding “Stop that talking”, and “Swing those arms”, just like the old I.T.W. back again, it gets a bit cheesing at this stage. We had the ‘welcome’ address in the station cinema a rather bare place that is still undergoing completion. The Groupy bore out all the stories we had heard about him, a rather mean faced individual. During the talk he broke off three times to tear a strip off a poor M.T. driver who had the misfortune to be starting his lorry & drowning the old man’s voice, what a type. Quite a lot of his talk was devoted to the subject of WAAF’s we weren’t to go around with them or associate to any given extent, & if he caught anyone near the WAAF site it would be too bad. Anyone would think it was a convent here, still from what I’ve seen of the WAAFs here, I can’t see anyone wanting to associate with them.
[page break]
Our day is quite a long one here, we rise & have our icy wash then dash over to the airmen’s mess to queue for our “breakfast”. Back to the hut to dash around making up our beds & sweeping the floors, then on parade at the unearthly hour of 7.45 A.M. Even at I.T.W. we went on parade at 8 A.M. nowhere have I seen it as early as this, a quarter of an hour doesn’t sound very much, but one can pack an awful lot into it in the morning. Lectures are from 8 AM. to 10.15 then a quarter of an hours break, lectures from 1.30 to 5 P.M. a half hour for tea, then back for an hours lecture 5.30 to 6.30. The latter is the worst of all I think, we have to dash from the classroom to the mess, which takes about 6 mins, queue for our meal, bolt it down then dash back to the classroom, all in half an hour, we’ll all be suffering from indigestion before long. Unless the instructor taking us is willing to let us off a little early then we are unable to catch the 6.30 p.m. bus into Stourbridge.
Each day we have an hours P.T. & there is a mad F.O. for the P.T. officer, at least we call him mad, he is one of these very keen types he used to be a champion swimmer before the war. The first
[page break]
time we went over the assault course, it was pretty gruelling. Twice round a half a mile track then into a veritable maze of climbing over walls, crawling under wire, balancing along poles ten feet high. One part was swinging along on a single rope across a pond until we were able to wrap our legs around a tree & pull ourselves in. The P.T. instructor a Cpl that was showing us got about three quarters of the way across to the point where the rope sagged the most & there he fell in. He had his long blue P.T. trousers on too, boy! did we laugh, needless to say he didn’t join in. Twice we have been on hellish long cross country the P.T. officer being bang on at running cracks along at a hell of a pace. Then he binds us because we dont [sic] do so well & shoots the bull about being fit for flying etc. We bind him back, & tell him to have a crack at aircrew it is quite a scream. The trouble is we generally arrive back at about 12.45 & have to wash & dress & dash for dinner in three quarters of an hour, so invariably we arrive back late for classes.
The NAAFI here is a pretty good one, we have our break there, they have a good selection of cakes. In classes we are doing all the old familiar Bombing Theory over again, & using the Bombing Teacher. We do our flying on Ansons, seems we are never free from them, I’m really cheesed of winding that undercart up & down.
[page break]
Yesterday, May Day, was our day off, not because the RAF favoured the Labour Party, but it just happened that way. After quite a bit of wangling they finally granted us the priviledge [sic] of getting off an hour earlier [inserted] Friday [/inserted] There was a bus running at 5.30 P.M. & we went into town on that & there caught a bus to Birmingham, we were able to book beds at the Services Club that night. Jimmy Selkirk, Harry & I went out on the beer as Norman had gone by train to Oxford as his fiancé was there spending her leave. We eventually found a pretty low dive & finished the night there. The next day we wandered around for awhile, then went to a cinema, & travelled back on the 9 P.M. bus to catch the 10.30 P.M. from Stourbridge to the camp.
The other day we had our flight photograph taken, we all agreed to look cheesed in it, to register our disappointment of this place, & it came out pretty well. We have been to the station cinema here, they charge us 1/- it isn’t too bad, if only they didn’t have rows of old seats on the same level. Because if one is sitting a fair way back it is impossible to see over all the heads on the same level as yourself. I wonder if we will get leave after this place, I hope so, there are the usual rumours floating around, first we will then we wont, [sic] I guess we wont [sic] know till it arrives.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday 7th May. [/underlined]
I should say roughly half our time has passed here, as most chaps remain here a [deleted] fortnight [/deleted] [inserted] month [/inserted] anyway roll on the next fortnight, & lets get to hell out of here. It is a fairly hum drum existence with the lectures & so forth. On Monday we had a pleasant diversion in the form of wet dinghy drill, in Stourbridge baths, I rather like it as we are able to swim about afterwards – Turning the large bomber dinghy over when one is in the water with full flying kit, will be some job in the North Sea, I reckon. It isn’t too bad in the baths, but then there is no rough sea or wind to contend with.
The F/Sgt in charge of us is a pretty good guy, pretty quiet, & got quite a bit of service in, he is thoroughly cheesed with the station. Beside the famous old Theory of Bombing lectures he takes us on the Bombing Teacher. We were up there the other day & looking from the open window, when old Alves went dashing past. Tom Alan commented “Old Alves is on the warpath”, boy! he must have had keen ears because he called us down & bound us rigid. For the Gunnery lectures there is an F/O A.G with a V.F.M. he is a Welsh chap, shoots a fair amount of lines, but is really a good type, his lectures make a welcome break. For the aircraft rec. there is a nattering little sgt A.G. who absolutely cheeses everybody, nobody likes him. The other chap a tall F/Sgt is a good egg though, livens up the epidiascope slides with an occasional nude woman.
[page break]
The map reading periods are O.K. too. the F/O who takes us did his tour out in Abyssinia, I believe it was on Valentine or some obsolete kites. Thinking of it, it must have been a pretty easy tour, but he is a good chap, a Flt/Lt D.F.M. who is also there, shoots bags of lines, but they are worth listening to & at this stage, we are ready to lap up all lines. A chap who ‘nattered’ to us the other day about ‘ops’ in the Middle East, said at the beginning of the campaign, the crack Italian liner Rex was in the harbour at Tobruk. They were briefed to attack & did so, but they were made to bomb with 25 lb H.E. naturally they were like pin pricks, & that night she whipped up steam & was away. An Air Commodore was slung out of the RAF for that. We went out on a lorry the other day for practical map reading, & drove around the lanes, stopped & had to find where we were & make tactical sketches. About three times we did this, & then had to change into our P.T. kit, that we had brought, leap out of the lorry & run the 3 miles back to camp. It rather reminded me of the hunt with the hounds leaping from the van & tearing down the road. We have been on Groupie’s parade, & he certainly is down on aircrew, the parade was a real bully one, bags of shouting & everything. He whizzed through the permanent staff without saying much, & when he came to us, he went really slow & bound practically everyone rigid, & the W.O. almost wore his pencil out, taking names.
[page break]
Yesterday was our day off again & once more we spent it in Birmingham. We were unable to get in at the Services Club & had to go to a large house converted into a hostel, it was pretty good. This week saw the commencing of our Flying here, I made three flights all day bombing exercises. The first one was Wednesday, & came off alright, there is a village fairly near the range & that made me twitter. It is a bit more awkward to bomb from the kite than from the Canadian Anson, because there is no perspex panel in the nose. Also the sliding panel is metal, not perspex, this necessitated having it always open, causing quite a draught. On Friday Harry Jamieson & I did two more flights with an ex-operational pilot F/O Ryan. It was pretty grim because he hadn’t the technique of the steady bombing runs, like the regular B.G pilots. The kite would be bouncing around necessitating us giving corrections & sometimes we would be nowhere near the target so we had to call ‘Dummy Run’. He would scream & bind & curse like the clappers, & said “It’s a bloody good job you’re not over a target”. That kind of stuff never gets anybody places though, & only leads to a bad exercise. We do a few of these Day Bombing trips, maybe some Night bombing, & then some Night Combined exercises. These are only cross countries but they give them the high sounding titles. We’re beginning to get really cheesed with all this training, no wonder chaps get stale, & lose all their interest & enthusiasm.
[page break]
[underlined] Friday 14th May. [/underlined]
Life still flows in its uninteresting way, we have done some map reading trips. We go on a small cross country of 3 legs, with the pilot & 3 B.A’s each who map reads one leg of the trip. They are O.K. if you get a decent pilot, who puts the Forces programme on the intercom, & is fairly tolerant with the map reading. I was up with ‘Taffy’ Evans & Norman Griffin the other day & we had a binder! Poor old Taffy chopped in the mire, by losing himself completely. The pilot was one of those tricky individuals who would fly the aircraft so a village was directly under the nose, & out of sight, & then ask you suddenly where it was. We coped anyway.
I had a good laugh the other day, whilst standing by in the flight hut for a day bombing exercise. There were a couple of chaps from the previous course there, also detailed for a bombing exercise. Like us all they weren’t very keen on it, but the antics of one of them kept me in fits. He was small with dark wavy hair, & a perfect cherub face, chubby rosy cheeks etc. looking about 17. Every few minutes he would pop to the door & gaze at the sky. Any cloud, no matter however small, was greeted with a beaming smile & the exclamation “Wizard” drawing out the last syllable, as it meant there was a faint hope of the exercise being cancelled.
[page break]
Whilst every time the sun burst forth he would scowl & slump disconsolately back in his chair, resigning himself to Fate. In the end they took off & so did we.
The lectures are still as binding & unvarying. Yesterday our “Chiefy” was taking us on Bombing Theory & although he is a good chap, he is a real lousy lecturer. Bombing Theory being one of the driest subjects in itself he succeeded in putting half the class to sleep in a quarter of an hour. Then a Sqdn/Ldr Education Officer from Group slipped into the room, & after listening for 10 mins, took over the lecture. For the next half hour, it even became quite interesting, & some points were cleared up, which I for one had been doubtful over for a long time.
So far rumours that we will not get leave at the end of the course have gained strength, I hope they turn out false. When the last few days arrive W/O Alves gives the Senior Man a list of the O.T.U’s to which we are to be posted & then the course is left to sort them out amongst themselves, I hope we get some decent ones.
Norman has had an old cycle of his sent up, it is quite handy for getting around on, and half the course use it. It might be a good idea to get one if I land on one of there really dispersed drones I hear about. I played a game of football earlier & am just beginning to feel the effects, so I’ll have supper at the NAAFI & turn in.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday May 20th. [/underlined]
We had our day off on Tuesday, & a crowd of us caught the bus outside the camp into Wolverhampton. The morning was spent looking around the town & then after dinner in a nice little café we found a decent park & spent the afternoon. After tea in the Forces Canteen above Surton’s we got down to a steady pub crawl. I have never seen a place like it, for so many girls of 16 – 17 in the pubs. Old Pete Rawlings had quite an amusing encounter with one, but this is not the place to disclose it. Anyway after closing time, four of us wandered around in a happy stupor till we sobered up a little & realised we had better look around for means to return to camp. We finally phoned a taxi who took us right into the camp, & off we bowled to bed.
As far as the flying part goes we are on the last stages, that of day and night cross countries. I don’t know which one the greater bind the latter gets it by a narrow margin, I think. It will be a relief to get to O.T.U. & go on a really organised X country. So far I have been on two day trips & five ‘scrubs’, it is an inoffensive word – ‘scrub’, but conceals a lot. When we are due for a day X country we hand our names into the Guard Room & then at 5.30 or 6 AM an S.P. rudely awakens
[page break]
us, to tear off for early briefing, breakfast & take off at 8.30 A.M. – there are afternoon X countries but I haven’t had the luck to get on one yet. It is binding to get up, see the rain, & knowing in advance it will be scrubbed, tramp 10 mins through the rain to the briefing room, & wait until they inform you officially it is cancelled. Now we are getting wise & only two going up, one with Norman’s bike to nip back & arouse the others if by chance, flying is on.
On a night cross country, our main function is winding the undercart. Actually we are supposed to do some infra red bombing, but no-one has been known to see the target, the pilot hates stooging around, & the navigator is chomping to set course. Consequently we sit & shiver in the darkness, maybe once in a while giving a beacon position to the Navigator, or taking over the controls while the pilot dives to the back. We had a little excitement on one trip when the weather was closing in over the airfield when we returned, but we got in O.K. The only good thing about it is we sleep the next day, & it breaks the monotony. A kite crashed the other day killing the occupants, they weren’t on our course. The S.S.Q. backs onto our billets though & the blood wagon was outside with the bodies in while they were getting things ready inside. It was a fairly sobering thought, but I guess we shall see more of it, the closer we get to ‘ops’.
[page break]
[underlined] 25th May. [/underlined]
Once more a change of address, I am now at my O.T.U. at Hixon, Staffs, having arrived here today. Most of us came here, some went to Whitehead & four to Lossiemouth. ‘Taffy’ Evans has gone to Whitehead & ‘Buntie’ Rogers, Norman, Jimmy, Harry, & most of our clique are still together. Naturally the Lossiemouth posting wasn’t wanted, there being no Scots on the course, so it was drawn for, I thanked the Lord my name didn’t come out of the hat.
Anyway the usual clearance procedure was got through & we were driven by lorry into Wolverhampton this morning. There was a couple of hours to kill before the train & we spent them in town. Although the distance from Bobbington to Hixon isn’t so great as the crow flies it took us a few hours by train with the changing. Transport came out after we phoned from Stafford station, & I was surprised to find the airfield was 8 miles, out from the town, at least – somebody had told me it was nearer than that.
We are all in the same hut, they are not Nissan huts, but kind of asbestos boarding & wood, on concrete bases, much better & larger than the Nissan hut. Each collection of huts is called a site & given a number, the site with the mess etc. is called Command Site, these sites are dispersed over a wide area, & are a considerable distance from the airfield. Apparently a cycle is a very handy thing, Pete Rawlings has one now.
[page break]
A course arrives here every fortnight, & we are No 17 course. After nearly a fortnight of ground training terminating with exams, we commence flying, by this time we have ‘crewed-up’ of course. This is the stage where we crowd of Air Bombers will finally split up, because inevitably after each of us joins a crew we shall go about with them, I shall be sorry, because we have been together a long while, but this breaking up of friendships happens again & again in the RAF as ours is an odd course number (17) we move to the satellite airfield, Seighford, when we have completed our ground training & finish our O.T.U. there. It is situated the other side of Stafford & is more dispersed than this, but there is a lot less discipline, as chaps say who have been there.
As usual on arrival at a new place, we have been pumping all the fellows that we can find on the various aspects of the course, & every conceivable thing attached to it. We haven’t collected much ‘gen’ yet though, beyond the fact that we parade outside the mess, after breakfast tomorrow, with the rest of training wing personnel, & then the S.W.O. will march us to the Training Wing for roll call. Apparently this is an everyday procedure & is fairly strictly adhered to. I have written off the letters to home & Mary as usual on arriving at a new station, with the address & what gen is available, & now I’ll close this entry and get into bed I think, then tomorrow I’ll start one of my last stages towards a squadron.
[page break]
[underlined] June 1st. [/underlined]
Things have changed somewhat since I last wrote. I have just returned from a compassionate 48 hr pass, which I went on when I received some very bad news from home. The C.G.I. said that I would have to revert back a course, so I am staying here on 17 course, whilst the boys on 17 go over to Seighford. We would have broken up anyway so maybe it is just as well this way. They finish their ground training this week and then my course commences the following week.
This O.T.U. course lasts approximately 3 months, after the fortnights ground training, it is all flying training with an occasional lecture slipped in. Half of the time, (the first half of the 3 months) is day flying, & the other or second half night flying. The exercises are similar in each case, we commence circuits & bumps with an instructor, then after our pilot has flown solo with us as a crew, we complete our circuits & bumps without the instructor. Then day bombing with a ‘screened’ or instructor pilot & a ‘screened’ Air Bomber after the first exercise, we do the rest alone, there are quite a few of them too. The same procedure is followed for gunnery & fighter affiliation, although most of the actual firing exercises are done with four gunners & a ‘screened’ gunner in one aircraft. Then we do a cross country with a ‘screen’, & afterwards another couple by ourselves, each longer in duration.
[page break]
The same procedure is followed for night flying, as far as is practical. Then at the end of the course comes the pièce de resistance – a leaflet [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] or “nickel” raid on France. I hope we are able to do one, as sometimes the weather prevents it & crews do a “bullseye” instead. This is an exercise over England, combining Fighter Command & the ground defences, except ack ack naturally. It isn’t that I am all that keen to see what the other side of the Channel is like, but I think it affords quite good practise, before going to a squadron and the real thing.
From what I have seen of the actual station here it isn’t too bad. The mess is about 8 minutes walk from our site, & the food is pretty good, (a lot better than Bobbington anyway) it is laid out fairly well too, & the waitresses serve us sitting down. The ante room & billiards rooms are quite large, & the station cinema, isn’t too bad, they are improving the latter I believe. Getting in & out of Stafford is rather a snag, there is a liberty bus from the Guard Room of an evening, but we are required to book seats the previous day by dinner-time, & as we rarely know that far ahead if we are going in, it is generally by taxi that we arrive there. At the moment I am acting as runner in the Discip Office until the next course commences, I wonder what sort of chaps they will be. Pete Rawlins has crewed up with the pilot that I originally had, he seemed a decent chap.
[page break]
[underlined] 8th June. [/underlined]
Well, I have been on the course nearly two days now. There wasn’t much for me to do last week stooging around in the Discip. Office, so I was given a 48 hr pass over the weekend. So I said goodbye to all the boys as they moved over to Seighford during the week end, though I shall see Norman a couple of times in Stafford if we can arrange it. I was lucky travelling into Stafford, I had just come out of the Guard Room with my pass, when an MT Corporal said “Going into Stafford, Sarge?”. So in I travelled in style, lolling back in the Groupie’s car, the driver was going to meet the Groupie at the station.
When I returned yesterday I had expected to find the billet empty, but I had switched my things to the corner bed, just on the off chance, somebody might roll in. They certainly had – a whole room of Canadians, pilots, navigators, and Air Bombers. On the whole they seem a pretty decent crowd, pretty noisy, but full of life and really generous & anxious to be friendly, I like Canadians quite a lot, anyway. I had to smile, because as soon as they found I had been on the previous course, they kept asking me all sorts of ‘gen’ about the course, in exactly the same manner as I had done a fortnight earlier. It was precious little I could give them. Then today we started the ground work, it was exactly the same as my first few lectures on the last course, they follow a strict pattern here.
[page break]
[underlined] June 13th. [/underlined]
I have arrived at a stage which will play a most important part in my immediate future – I am crewed up. In a bomber a man’s life is wholly in the hands of his crew members, and the closer they are together, and the better they are as a team, then the more chance of survival they have. I [deleted] a [/deleted] had always understood that considerably rare, and quite an amount of time was allotted at O.T.U’s for the purpose of selecting crews. Hixon has proved the fallacy of it, everyone starts the course separately as a course of pilots, & course of navigators or Air bombers – W/Ops etc. They remain in their classes for the first lot of lectures and hardly have any chance of meeting the various other categories of air crew, the only chance being in the mess or the billet. Suddenly like a bolt from the blue it is announced that everyone must be crewed up in two days or else they will be allocated by the instructors into a crew. A mad flap then starts, people go wandering about, staring into each others faces, vainly trying to sum up whether a person will be an asset to crew up with – or otherwise. Having experienced this on the previous course, I thought it best to let matters take their own course.
Friday night, I was sitting in the mess, after writing a few letters, having a quiet drink & waiting for the sandwiches to arrive for supper. At the next table to me, were two Canadian
[page break]
pilots from my billet, McCann who slept next to me & Cecil Kindt who slept opposite McCann. They had been drinking for a while and were both pretty mellow, as Kindt went out to get some more drinks he [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] leant over me and said, “Mac said would you join him at the next table”, so I moved over to where McCann was sitting.
We chatted for a couple of minutes, then he asked if [deleted] [indecipherable letter] [/deleted] I was crewed up with anyone. When I replied in the negative, he said “Well how would you like to sling in with me, and be my bomb-aimer?” I rather liked him, and so I had found a pilot. Cecil Kindt returned with the beer and we had a drink to it. Well, I think I had better put on record my impressions of Mac, as he is always called, & the other crew members. Len McCann, though I’ve never heard anyone call him Len, is only about 5’ 4”, and almost as broad. He said he has lost a lot of weight over here, & that he weighed 220 lbs in Canada, so he must have been tubby. For his weight & size though he isn’t so very fat, he has some superfluous flesh but is extraordinarily thickset under it. The amusing part of him is his neck which is very short & seems almost as thick as his shoulders are wide, actually he takes an 18 1/2" collar. The other fellows often call him for no reason at all, just to watch him turn around.
[page break]
He cannot swivel his neck as we do, but has to lift his shoulder & turn as one would with a stiff neck, yet the action is not a slow one; he takes all the kidding in very good part. In features he strikes me as very similar to the comedian Lou Costello, having the same cheery round face & turned up nose. He had his hair cropped right short in Canada & now stands up in a mass of wiry black bristles. With a short bristly moustache this completed my description of Mac, with whom I shall be for long time – I trust.
I asked Mac if he had a Navigator, & when he said he had one in mind, I told him of another one, who seemed quite a ‘gen’ chap to me. He was a Canadian & Mac knew him & told me he was a real farmer, & that he always ‘nattered’ nineteen to the dozen, so we didn’t ask him. On my advice Mac tackled the navigator he had in mind, just in case somebody else should snap him up. Nobody had, and he became our navigator.
His name is Ken Price, also a Canadian, and I cannot give a better description than say he is the exact image of Gary Cooper. It may seem as though I am rather a film fan, but the resemblance is remarkable. He is tall & lean, very quiet and reserved, and seems a thoroughly decent chap all round. By all accounts, from what the other navigators say he is a darned
[page break]
good man at his job.
Then this afternoon Mac introduced me to the wireless/op. he had chosen. Bill Bowery is his name, and he is English coming from Sunderland. He seems quite a keen type and knows his gen, his broad “Geordie” accent tickles us, but it is nowhere near as broad as Jimmy Selkirk’s was, or others I have heard. In appearance, he is about 5’ 8” well set, with straight auburn hair, brushed down, he seems to have an expression as though puzzling or enquiring over something, & that may be a good thing. Anyway there are four of us now, we shall get a rear gunner in a day or so, & the five of us do O.T.U. together.
Mid/Upper Gunners do their Gunnery School somewhere and then join us at the end of the course, generally in time for the “Nickel”. As we are flying Wimpeys there is no accomodation [sic] for them, & it would be a waste of time their coming here all through the course. Also in Fighter-Evasion Tactics the Rear Gunner gives all the instructions, as the co-operation between the pilot & him is the result of their training at O.T.U. The remaining member of the crew, the Flight Engineer we will pick up at our Heavy Conversion Unit, and then we will be a full crew of seven. I hope the other three members will be as good as these, & we should have a rattling good crew.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 17th June. [/underlined]
On Monday we found ourselves a rear gunner. Mac had noticed a chap who looked pretty keen, but I had heard him ‘nattering’ away and didn’t go much on him. I had another one in mind, fairly similar in appearance to the above mentioned one, and pointed him out to Mac, so he told me to go ahead and contact him.
Nobody has asked him to crew up, and he agreed to pitch in with us. He is a pretty decent kid, he is only 18, I know I’m only 19 myself but he looks very young and he is only about 5’ 5” and slimly built. He is a Londoner and comes from fairly near me, the most important thing, he seems to know his ‘gen’ on gunnery pretty thoroughly. His name is Johnny Watson.
So there we are the five of us, who will do O.T.U. together as a crew and pick up the other two afterwards. Somehow I can’t help wondering sometimes what lies in store for us, and the ability of a crew counts for such a lot in emergencies. Still ours looks pretty good to me, even though it does seem rather early to say it.
At the moment we are completing our ground lectures, and then tomorrow we start our exams. They aren’t actually long ones, or terribly important, although if one makes a pretty poor showing they are liable to be put back a course. The only subject
[page break]
I am hazy on is gun turrets, I had hardly any instruction on them at B. & G. School, then here a couple of hours were devoted to it. As it happened I was at the back of a crowded class room, and the diagram being on the wall, well I just couldn’t see a thing.
We have had some lectures together as a crew although for the majority of them we remain in our aircrew categories. There is an old Wellington Mk I in the Airmanship Hangar, & is sitting on supports, so that undercart drill can be carried out. We scramble all over it, learning the positions of various things, petrol cocks, escape hatches, crash positions, oxygen bottles, dinghy releases, & a 101 other things necessary to learn in an aircraft. A couple of times we have scrambled out of it, on dinghy or baling out drill – hope I never have to use either. The Wimpey is a real battered old thing, but it was used for the “1,000 bomber” raid on Cologne. Apparently to make up a 1,000 aircraft they called on all the old kites at O.T.U’s & anything that could get airborne was used. If the public had only known some of the old kites that were used they would have had a shock.
The airmanship instructor, Sgt Peacock, did a tour on Lancs as a mid/upper gunner and saw quite a bit of action apparently. One would think he would at least get a crown at the end of the tour, but his is well overdue.
[page break]
[underlined] 21st June [/underlined]
‘Midsummer’s Day’ – it certainly has been glorious weather too, I’m afraid the long daylight evenings mean later day flying for us and consequently less evenings off. We officially started our Flying Course today, though our crew weren’t on today, we commence our circuits and bumps tomorrow.
The results of the exams were posted up today. I had done well in everything but Turrets, on which I made a horrible ‘boob’ – it was as I expected Macgillvray the Canadian pilot opposite me in the billet was cursing because his Bomb Aimer, another Canadian named Dodson, had come bottom in the B/Aimer course. Apparently Dodson is a bit of a woman chaser, & didn’t bother staying in to do any swotting for the exam. Macgillvray was giving forth “He wants to get down to some studying instead of getting on the nest so much”, and so forth. The most amusing part is that Macgillvray is one of the biggest wolves I’ve known. He has a stock of Tangee lipsticks & cosmetics, with a few silk stockings which he uses as bait for the women, - he says. I have never known him to part with anything in the fortnight he has been here & he has been with a couple of women. It is dead funny to hear Mac slang him about them, as Mac has very little time for women. He isn’t a misogynist but he just doesn’t bother. Anyway most of his remarks although screamingly funny are quite unprintable.
[page break]
We are all in ‘A’ Flight, a whole course comprises a Flight which goes round in strict rotation, as the courses commence Day or Night Flying. Our Flight Commander Sqdn/Ldr. Ford seems quite O.K. he gave us a welcoming natter, and was very much to the point regarding keeping the crew room tidy, punctuality etc. still he is quite right in stressing these points. This afternoon I squeezed in an hour’s practise on the Bombing Teacher. There is a system here where the various aircrew categories each have to put in so many hours practise on exercises relating to their own particular aircrew duties Bomb Aimers have to do 20 hours in the Bombing Teacher, 10 hours on the Link Trainer, and 6 hours operating a secret navigational instrument. Navigators have to spend quite a few more hours on this instrument than we do, and also take a certain number of astro-shots. W/Ops have to get [deleted] [indecipherable word] a stated number of Q.D.M’s fixes etc. & Gunners get so many hours, spotting turret training, and other exercises, I haven’t found out what the pilots do yet. All the exercises which are carried out on the ground, that is practically everyone’s except the W/Ops have to be fitted into our spare time. That is when we are hanging around the crew room & not flying, then we can nip across & tick off an hour in the Bombing Teacher or the Link. During the rest of the course, although we are flying most of the time, we still have some lectures, as crews on matters of general interest & importance.
[page break]
[underlined] 27th June [/underlined]
Sunday again – although it is very similar to all the other days of the week, here. We have a Church Parade, first thing, all the pupils fall in at Training Wing and then march to the airfield, along the perimeter track, to a temporary parade ground outside a hangar, its about 1 1/2 miles from Training Wing. Anyway all the station is on parade there, & we take our place, the Groupie then rolls up for the flag hoisting, inspection and so forth. The flag is flown on a double line & pully attached to the extension of the hangar roof, where the door slides back into. Today the S.P. that was doing the flag hoisting pulled the flag up O.K. then when he gave a pull to unfurl it at the top nothing happened. He pulled & pulled & still no joy, the poor devil got very red in the face as the Groupie was waiting to give the order “General Salute”. However there was nothing else for it, & shamefacedly he hauled it down, & not daring to risk it again, pulled it up already unfurled. After the salute we had to march off in squadrons to another hangar where the pulpit was an RAF lorry covered with the Union Jack and a piano, for hymn singing on. When this was over we were marched off dismissed, and then everything carried on as in a normal day. On all stations when flying is done there is no break for Sundays as they had in the peace time RAF, funny how one almost loses track of the days that way.
[page break]
Although we are still on the circuits and bumps stage we are about at the end of it, and will soon be onto some more interesting exercises. All of the crew except the Navigator fly on circuits & landings, & he is lucky not to, it gets pretty binding after the first hour or so. When we first started a ‘screened’ pilot flew with ‘Mac’ giving him the ‘gen’ and everything, and after a little while let him go solo. We were a little apprehensive, in case the short time given, wasn’t enough to let Mac become acquainted with the new cockpit layout. However everything went O.K. and then we continued on our own with circuits & bumps. It hardly seems as though we are off the ground before we are getting ready for the approach & landing. Some of the landings we bump up & down quite a few times & Mac [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] refers to these as the “Grasshopper Blues”. I sit in the collapsible seat, for the second pilot, & it is O.K. seeing everything that goes on, but I wouldn’t like to be in the W/Ops position, feeling the bumps & jarrings, without seeing what was what. For some of our circuits we go over to Seighford and do them there. Actually if we could fly continually we could do them all in a couple of days. However in order to make the aircraft go round, & keep all the crews at the same stage in training, we are allotted the same length of detail. Sometimes a crew does get ahead of the others by luckily striking good weather every time, & never scrubbing an exercise through snags.
[page break]
[underlined] July 4th. [/underlined]
American Independence Day – I expect all the Americans around here are making whoopee. There are always a lot in Stafford, they come from the large transit camp at Stone, a small town 6 – 7 miles from here. All American aircrew, I believe, entering or leaving the country pass through there.
We are making steady progress on the course, we have managed to get three bombing exercises done, we are a bit ahead in that respect but behind in Fighter Application & a couple of other things. As I said before it is a matter of luck sometimes the kites are U/S & that puts us behind on that type of exercise for a while, it pretty well evens up at the end though. On the first bombing exercise we went up with a ‘screened’ pilot & a ‘screened’ bomb aimer. Mac had never made bombing runs before, it is only pilots that have been instructors, & staff pilots at B & G schools who have that experience. The ‘screened’ pilot was there to instruct Mac on how to make the corrections of course, that I asked for, & various other little points. There wasn’t very much need for the ‘screened’ bomb aimer, as bombing is very similar on whatever aircraft one flys in. The main point, he was there to point out, was in the method of giving corrections of course. In Ansons the pilots could flat turn them, thus the sighting angle was practically round when you gave “steady”, and a good pilot could hold it practically as it was. However a Wellington has to have banked turns, consequently if the bomb
[page break]
aimer waits till the target is in the drift wires of the bomb sight & then gives “Steady” – the pilot flattens out and the target is then way off to one side, so it requires some practise to estimate when to say “Steady” thus making the target come into the drift wires when the pilot flattens out.
Poor old Mac has a hell of a time on run ups, he is so small that he can just see out of the windscreen. He watches the target whilst making his run up, & then when I give a correction, he slides down in his seat to kick the rudder bars, & his head is below the windscreen level, so then he has to pull himself up again to look out. He told us he is actually just under the height standard for a pilot but flannelled his medical.
We did a low level bombing exercise yesterday, & once more took up the two ‘screens’. My first bomb overshot by about 300 yds, & so did the next, I checked every setting on the bombsight, & all were correct, so I called the ‘screened’ bomb aimer & told him, & he could find nothing wrong. So I tried the third one & that was 300 yds overshoot again, then I realised I was taking a line of sight with the back & fore sights as for high level, whereas for low level bombing the back sight, & front beads are used. I told the screen & he told me to carry on & they would make the exercise a grouping one. That is by maths they discount the different sighting & work out where the bombs would have landed, using the front beads. The exercise came out to 47 yards so it ended O.K.
[page break]
[underlined] 10th July [/underlined]
The time is slipping past and we are well on the way to finishing our day flying. We had rather an amusing incident the other day, amusing that is to everyone but Mac. He always taxies rather swiftly & as we were passing the control tower, we reached the part where the perimeter track, dips a little. Consequently we gathered speed and started to swing, instead of throttling back & braking, Mac decided to open up the opposite throttle to swing us back. However he over-corrected and we swung back across the perimeter track & onto the grass the other side, in the direction of the runway. Again Mac opened the opposite throttle, and again over-corrected, & we crossed the perry-track once more & raced towards a hangar. Mac clamped on the brakes for all he was worth but it wasn’t enough, the hangar doors were fully open, & we struck the edge of them with our port main plane & sent them thundering across. It must have shaken the people inside to see the hangar doors suddenly move swiftly. From our point of view it was quite amusing, one moment there was hardly a soul [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] in sight, then with the same effect as if someone had kicked an ant-hill, people came pouring out from the hangar, & clustered around the kite. The pièce de resistance was the fact that we had cut clean through the ropes that held the Groupie’s flag & this was now drooped nonchalantly over our astro-dome. – Groupy took a dim view of it. Poor Mac sweated blood, but he only got a strip torn off, but the kite had a mains-plane changed.
[page break]
[underlined] 17th July [/underlined]
We had an enjoyable night in Stafford this week, as usual we got set into a regular pub crawl. Old Mac is all against this, he likes to get settled in at one pub and stay there all night drinking steadily. His words of wisdom are “Jeeze, you’re wasting valuable drinking time, going round looking for other pubs, - sit here”. I have never seen anyone drink so much, and affect them so little, it is amusing. He can knock back the pints and I have never seen him, what you might call drunk, merry yes, but inebriated – never. His personality is amazing everyone everywhere gets to know him, & all like him, he will sit and ‘natter’ with people for hours, and tell the most amusing stories of his life in Ottawa, and recount anecdotes of his numerous friends. He certainly is a tonic to have around. While we were in Stafford we saw the Gunnery Leader, he is an Aussie Flt/Lt, and a real lad when he is sober. Now he was out on the beer, evidently, & was strolling down the High St, with his hat on the back of his head, a dingy old battle dress on, & swinging, a gent’s black umbrella, rolled up (where he got [deleted] [indecipherable letter] [/deleted] it from I dont know). On his other arm was a real brassy blonde – he certainly doesn’t give a damn.
All our bombing exercises are finished and two of our three cross country trips, I have one more gunnery trip to do, and so has ‘Nipper’, thats [sic] what we call Johnny now. I rather like the Air Firing trips which are carried out in Cardigan Bay, then
[page break]
they generally fly to Rhyl, & fly at about 30 – 50 ft just a little way out from the shore. There are always lots of holiday makers there. Cecil Kindt had a strip torn off the other day, through an Air Firing accident. They were sent out over the Wash to fire so many rounds into the sea, this in itself is pretty boring and the gunners always look round for some sort of a target. His rear gunner spotted some sort of an old hulk and fired at it on a couple of runs. Apparently it was a wreck & their [sic] were a couple of divers, & salvage men working on it, & one leapt into the water, because of the bullets. God knows how the rear gunner didn’t see them, anyway they got the kite’s letter, phoned to the shore, & by the time Cecil landed the pressure had been put on Sqdn/Ldr Ford as he gave it to Kindt hot & strong.
Macgillvray has been providing laughs all round with his amorous adventures. Not so very long ago he met a nurse in Nottingham, a very nice girl by all accounts, a widow, anyway it wasn’t long before Macgillvray was staying at her flat. However he couldn’t get to Nottingham very much so he began associating with a WAAF Sgt here on the camp. One thing about him he admits openly what he is after, anyway she wasn’t that type, but after a little while with Macgillvray she was. Now she is crazy over him, & runs about after him, whilst he is very off handed. At the same time he meets an A.T.S. girl, on leave who lives in a house, a couple of hundred yards from our billet. It didn’t take him very long to string her along
[page break]
as well, so there he is with three strings to his bow at the same time – no wonder he looks a wreck. The amusing incident arose the other night when the WAAF Sgt saw him coming out of a corn field with this blonde A.T.S. She was furious & drinking with him the next night she said “Don’t let me see you with that – tart again,” which for her is a very strong word. Jokingly one night she said she was the “Three-hook Wonder”, hook meaning Stripes, Macgillvray, & Mac, who also knows her well, immediately changed it to the “Three-Hook Blunder,” & later cut it down to “The Blunder,” & so it has remained – poor girl.
They are a pretty decent bunch of fellows in this hut, we have had a little reshuffle in order to get crews together. Some of the original Canucks are in other huts, whilst Johnny, & Bill are now in here so we have all our crew. Macgillvray has his Navigator – Lance Weir, & his Bomb Aimer Dodson, both Canadians in here. Weir is a really decent chap, very quiet spoken, some of the boys kid him & call him “Toody-Fruit,” because he has a habit of rubbing talcum powder over his body. Frankie Allen, pilot, Yelland, navigator, & Tom Hughes – bomb aimer, all Canucks form another crew. Hughes is very decent, I have only one pair of pyjamas & when that was at the laundry he saw me dive into bed in the altogether, & asked the reason. When I [deleted] said [/deleted] [inserted] told [/inserted] him he tossed me a Canadian Comforts pair & said “Keep it, I’ve got five other pairs”, it was good of him. Their rear gunner Rose, an English chap is here, a small comical fellow, they call him John L. after the boxer Sullivan, because he wears long pants like him. Cecil Kindt, with Sam Small, navigator, and Macdonald, b/aimer, all Canadians, complete the hut.
[page break]
[underlined] 22nd July [/underlined]
We are now the senior course here, and have now moved on to become the ‘night-flying’ flight, tonight we expect to start our night circuits & bumps, some of the chaps commenced last night. They hoped to squeeze us a 48 hr pass in between the end of day flying & the start of night, but we were a little behind as a course through unavoidable incidents, so we had had it! I am sorry the day cross country trips are over, as I really enjoyed them, we generally flew to Rhyl, and I camera-bombed the pier. Then drill was done as if we were on an ‘op’ & that was our coast we were leaving. We then flew across to the Isle of Man which separated the enemy coast, & I would camera-bomb the quay at Ramsey. With a brilliant sun, & flying in our shirt sleeves everything looked lovely. The sea was a sparkling blue and invariably there would be a huge convoy spread about, a never failing source of interest to us. However we had been warned to keep well clear of them, as the naval gunners were very trigger itchy, and one of our crews had been fired on by an aircraft carrier. We would fly across the Isle of Man, head North, then turn in at the English coast once more, & return to Cannock Chase for a bombing exercise of 12 practise bombs on the range, & then return to base. The rations were pretty good, we always saved our tin of orange juice to drink on a morning after the night before it was very good, I suppose we will get the same on night X-countries.
[page break]
On the first one we had a ‘screened’ pilot, then the next one did by ourselves, the third & largest, we carried a full bomb load of 250 lb H.E’s filled with sand, except one which was live. This I had to bomb on a sea range with and photograph the splash. We had a ‘screened’ bomb-aimer/navigator on this one, an F/O pretty decent chap. [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] [inserted] He [/inserted] asked Mac if he would let him do some tight turns over his home in Aberystwyth as we were passing over it. Mac agreed but quickly retrieved the controls when he saw we were almost stalling.
For night flying we report to the flight just after 6 P.M. to see what is on, naturally it is broad daylight then. Then if we are not on till late we can go to the Station Cinema, as we did last night. It is the usual effort, it is in the lecture hall, when we first came the cinematograph was mounted on a large table, so if one sat well back, the noise of the machine drownded [sic] the sound track. Now they have built a brick projection box, and have provided a wooden platform for the dearer seats – with the usual front two rows reserved – Officers Only.
Looking back at my last entry, I see I have forgotten to mention ‘Pinky’ Tomlin. He is a Canadian Bomb Aimer, but his pilot, & navigator are commissioned, & his W/Op & R/Gunner are in another hut so he is ‘one alone’. He is pretty tubby & really loves food, he bought himself an electric [deleted] plate [/deleted] [inserted] heater [/inserted] to use as a grill, & cooks things from the numerous parcels he receives from home. He was a scout master back in Canada – not a bad chap, rather hail-fellow-well met.
[page break]
[underlined] July 30th. [/underlined]
Night circuits and bumps are almost completed for us – Thank God! – they really are binding. We follow exactly the same procedure as with our day flying, first of all with an instructor, then Mac solo’ed and we carried on by ourselves. The first couple of times were O.K. but then it grew monotonous staring out into the blackness, with just the circuit lights to relieve the unbroken darkness. I suppose an artist gazing at them would murmur “Pearls cast upon a black velvet background”, but to us they mean “Keep me under your port wing, and fly at [symbol] 1,000 ft.” The Dren lighting takes some getting used to, the flarepath lights are only 15 watt bulbs and are hooded and secured to give a 15o vertical, and 40o horizontal spread of light, only in a down wind direction. Consequently one can only see them, immediately facing into them, as soon as we have taken off we can no longer see them. It was funny when Bill first saw this, he is generally working on the radio, then he looked out of the astro-dome for the first time on night take off, and called on the A/T “Hey! they’ve switched off the flare path now we are airborne”. Johnny has the worst job, sitting right at the end of the kite, cramped in his turret, and feeling all the crashes and jars of landing far more than us. Every now & again, I go lurching along the catwalk with coffee for him. Bill was quite eager to sit in the cockpit, so I change places with him sometimes & listen to dance music on the radio.
[page break]
We get more time off now than we did on night flying, our day off now becomes a night off. So we have the day off after night flying, then that night off & the following day until 6 P.M. Should night flying be scrubbed the night before, then one can make two nights and two days out of it, providing one hasn’t put in a pass. On a couple of days off we have been into Birmingham and stayed at the Services Club. At least we did the first time, the second time they were full up, so we had to doze in arm chairs & so forth. Mac took me into the American Red Cross, I didn’t think we could go in there, but it was O.K. The food in there is very good indeed, I believe it is sent over from the States. I took Johnny in there on our second visit and he thought it was an excellent place, they are certainly superior to our Services Clubs.
There is another instructor in the Bombing Section now, a Sgt Bomb Aimer, just finished his tour of ‘ops’, Sgt Mason his name is, quite a decent fellow. He gave us a ‘natter’ on what life was like on a squadron at the moment. It certainly cleared up a few points and provided a shock. According to him it is a pretty odds on chance that a crew will get the chop before finishing a tour. On his squadron only about 4 crews finished, as far as he could recollect all the time that he was there. It certainly isn’t a rosy future anyway, still there’s always the chance we will be one of them to come through.
[page break]
[underlined] 5th August [/underlined]
We have only about a fortnight left before we finish here, one crew became well advanced so they were sent over to Seighford onto 17 course the previous one to ours. At the moment we are on Night bombing exercises, and somehow we always seem to be ‘joed’ for the very last detail. Consequently we hang about all night waiting to take off, and finally get the exercise in between 6 & 7 A.M. when it is beginning to get light. Then we arrive back in the hut to find all the others are up and have been for hours – they nicknamed us “The Dawn Patrol”.
Our first prang on this course occurred the other night. There have been some major prangs on other courses while we have been here, and a few minor ones [deleted] [indecipherable letter] [/deleted] on our course, this was our first major one though. We were circling the airfield waiting to land, when we saw a kite overshoot, prang and burst into flames, not far off the end of the runway, we couldn’t see much detail at all. So we continued to circle and await instructions, then all lights were extinguished and we were ordered to land at Seighford. Over we went and lobbed in then with three others crews, and naturally were wondering what had happened.
We had a meal in the mess, & then as there was nobody around to fix us up with beds, we had to doze on chairs in the mess. After breakfast, which was quite early,
[page break]
we decided to sleep on in the ante-room, as Hixon was going to phone when we were to return. However the C.M.C. had locked the ante-room, & said it was always out of bounds in the morning, and would make no exception for us – nice type. So we had to sit on the grass outside the mess for a couple of hours.
I met Derek Ashton over there, they will be finished in a day or so, & so would I if I had still been on that course. I couldn’t have had a better crew than what I have now, though. Ashton said they liked Seighford better than Hixon as there was no ‘bull’ there and it was a lot easier to get into Stafford. The only snag is, it is far more dispersed than Hixon is.
We didn’t get back to Hixon before 1 P.M. as we were held up for brake pressure. It turned out to be Carr’s crew who had pranged. They were making a flapless landing with an instructor, owing to trouble with the flaps. The instructor was flying it, and he approached too fast, overshot didn’t make it, and crashed on the railway lines, when the kite immediately caught fire. Luckily they were all unhurt except Sgt Mann, the ‘screened’ bomb aimer, he was burnt slightly on the face, and has been admitted to hospital for a short while. It seems Fate that he should get through a tour unscathed and then have this happen at O.T.U.
[page break]
[underlined] 12th August [/underlined]
Only a week to go, and then most probably we shall fly over enemy territory for the first time – on a ‘nickel’, I hope we do one anyway. The course is split practically in half with the first half slightly ahead of the others – we are in the latter. I said goodbye to Norman and the boys on 17 course, when they came over here, they have to get cleared here as well as at Seighford. Pete Rawlings was chatting to me about his skipper, he was the one I would have had on 17 course. He said he was a damn good pilot, but he would ‘natter’ such a lot on the inter-com. – I should have hated that.
We certainly get good meals on night flying, they have opened, a place especially for us near the cinema. It is a pukka little cook house, with a Cpl & two WAAFs, just for our flight. The Cpl is a good type & we get steaks & eggs for our flying meals, it is bang on. Although we are not supposed to officially, we go there for supper, if there is no flying detail for us that particular night. There is a real craze for cards now, & Hughes, Mac, Bill, Johnny & myself & various others, often play Blackjack & Pontoon, of a night if we aren’t on. We start in the evening & play till the small hours & then stagger down to see what Flying supper is. The Canadians are fond of playing “Shoot”, & have a school regularly in the locker room.
[page break]
If night flying is scrubbed for everyone, most of the boys turn in at 11 P.M. or so, in order to have the next day free. However Mac & a couple of others hate getting to bed at that time, preferring to turn in late, & sleep the following day, as if night flying was on. They generally get Pinky Tomlins, electric heater out, & cook things out of their Canadian food parcels. Mac is really amusing when he gets nattering about “Chicken soup with noodles”, & “weeners” & various other Canadian foods. Naturally they kick up a fair amount of noise, and the boys trying to sleep shout out uncomplimentary remarks to Mac, as he is generally telling an anecdote or a story about back home. Then he immediately bellows back “- this is a night flying hut, get out of that bed, you lazy so & so”. The amusing part is the following day, when they are all up & about, & Mac is trying to sleep through the noise. He will sit up & shout “Quiet, let a guy get some sleep”, & they laugh & generally Hughes will give him a shake & say “Come on McCann this is a night flying hut”, & various cracks until Mac aims a boot. They are a good bunch of boys though.
Another good thing about this night flying is that we don’t bother about the C.O’s billet inspection every week. We just put a notice on the door “Night Flying Hut – Do Not Disturb”, & funnily enough nobody does.
[page break]
[underlined] 19th August. [/underlined]
Our O.T.U. Course has now ended, the perk was last night when we did a “Nickel” to Rennes. The first lot of our course left a few days ago, they had to do a ‘bullseye’ exercise to finish as there were no “nickels” laid on. They got 10 days leave, & posted to Lindholme to go on Lancasters, that is where we will go, everyone goes onto Lancs from this O.T.U. We had another cross country to do, the usual long stooge right up to the Orkneys, with airfire and bombing at Caernarvon – what a farce.
Yesterday we were told that all the remaining crews would finish with a ‘Nickel’ that night, & we have to take up the kite we would be flying in and Air-Test it. The tail trim proved to be U/S on ours & another was put on, with another crew air testing it. At evening time we assembled in the intelligence room for briefing, it was a pukka briefing, like they have on a squadron, with the Sqdn/Ldr Intelligence Officer taking it. Then the C.O. & a couple of other officers said a few words, & briefing was over, they even had an S.P. on duty outside the door. We put all our personal belongings in an envelope with our name on it, collected our escape kits & foreign money, then off to the locker room to dress.
Half of the crews were going to St. Malo, and the rest of us to Rennes, we were flying the same track & course to Isigny at the base of the Cherbourg peninsula, & then to Avranches our next pin point, where we would continue our various ways. Soon we were all dressed, then into the crew bus & out to the kites.
[page break]
They were lined up together, & as R/T isn’t allowed on any ‘ops’ take-offs, a yellow verey was to be fixed from control for the signal to start up engines, then a green verey, when it was time for the first kite to start taxying out. The photographic vans drove out with the camera magazines, & the LAC, rather a gigolo type, who handed up mine, uttered the famous words “Wish I was coming with you”. Suddenly up went the yellow cartridge & the ground crews leapt into action, and the roar of engines shattered the summer’s evening. Johnny then called up to say none of the lights would work in his turret, & the spare fuses had no effect. This caused quite a flap, ‘bods’ went dashing everywhere, & both an armourer & a fitter came dashing along when it was a job for an electrician. During this time the green verey went up & the first kite taxied out, Macgillvray was next, on our right and he waved to us, as they went out, we were still waiting there as the kites on our left followed Macgillvray out, & soon we were sitting there alone. The Groupy came whizzing over in his car to see what the electrician was doing, but at that time one came along with the fuses that had to be changed inside the fuselage. So everything O.K. at last, we taxied out by ourselves, the others all having taken off. All the officers were on the control tower and they waved as we went past, then onto the runway, a green from the A.C.P. and off we went. The others were circling base to gain height, & there was 10 mins to go before setting course, so we were O.K. for time. We set course with them, & made up our height by the first turning point.
[page break]
It was quite dusk as we crossed the coast near Southampton, & it was quite dark when Ken said “We’re getting near the enemy coast”. I strained my eyes to peer through the darkness, & after a little while made out the long narrow neck of land, that I had memorised so well as the Cherbourg peninsula. Then I saw my first flak, the sudden whitish flashes on the ground, & after a brief while, the flashes (like twinkling lights but not so harmless). I felt a sense of false confidence, as it seemed remote from us, but the truth was there wasn’t very much flak, and nobody would have worried much. I told them we were starboard of track, & we altered course & soon crossed the enemy coast. Johnny said there was quite a bit more flak going up at the chaps behind us.
I pinpointed the river at Avranches, & after a while we came to the dropping place, it was 15 miles S.E of Rennes owing to the wind. We had to follow the bombing procedure, & drop them by a distributor in order to space them out. A sudden shout from Johnny caused a flap, & as he said “There’s thousands of them floating everywhere,” I cursed him as I wanted to give the order “Close Bomb Doors”. Eventually we shut him up and returned to base. It was an uneventful return journey, & we landed tired but happy (admittedly mainly because we were going on leave). Carr got quite a bit of flak over St. Malo.
We slept in this morning for a while & then got going on our clearance chits. Mac has met the Mid/Upper who has joined our crew, but the rest of us haven’t seen him yet. Tomorrow morning we will complete our clearance chits, then off on 10 days leave, before going to a Con Unit. So goodbye to Hixon.
[page break]
[underlined] 29th August. [/underlined]
Since I last wrote various changes have taken place. On the morning of the 20th, the day we [deleted] went [/deleted] left Hixon, we reported at the Adjutant’s office for our warrants & passes. He came out very apologetically & said a last minute change of posting had occurred, we were to go on Stirlings & report to a Con. Unit at Woolfox Lodge, after [underlined] 6 [/underlined] days leave. Losing four days leave didn’t seem too good to us, also we had heard pretty duff reports of Stirlings on ‘ops’. Still off we went – the orderly room had told us the Con Unit was near Cambridge & the warrants were made out to there.
I caught the evening train back, but when I went to the Cambridge R.T.O. they said Hixon Orderly Room had boobed, & Woolfox Lodge was near Stamford. As there were no more trains that night, I had to spend the night in the Nissen hut there, rather grim. In the morning I met Johnny & Pinky Tomlin, & we travelled to Stamford, we had to change at Peterborough and there met some more of the boys. At Stamford we phoned for transport, but it was a few hours before it arrived and we had [deleted] dinner [/deleted] lunch in the George Hotel. Mac & some of the others arrived here yesterday and are in the hut near to ours, and today we have been tramping around with our arrival chits, but as the course commences for us tomorrow we won’t bother to finish them. This course has already been on a couple of days, they were as unprepared for us, as we were for coming here.
[page break]
[underlined] [deleted] August [/deleted] [inserted] September [/inserted] 5th. [/underlined]
First, I had better bring my crew up to date, as we have a full crew now. Don Keeley the Mid-Upper Gunner, who joined us as we left Hixon is tall & very dark, his face has been sunburnt so much it leaves one with the impression almost of an Indian, he is quiet a good looking chap & seems very decent. Our engineer was allotted to us by the Engineering Leader, and is a Welshman, Jack Barker. He is about 5 ft 5” with a cheerful face, & crisp wavy hair, we haven’t had a lot to do with him yet, as quite naturally he still goes around with the engineers who came with him as a course, from St. Athens, I think I can safely say that we have got a very good crew, though.
This station is far more dispersed than Hixon was. It is cut in half by the Great North Road, to the East of the road is the airfield itself, whilst to the West are the living & communal sites. Our billet is a quarter of an hours walk to the mess, then from the mess it is a 20 min walk, to the other side of the airfield where training-wing is. There are no ablutions on the sites, and washing kit is stolen if it is left in the ablutions by the mess, so we wash from an old rain water tub at the back of the hut.
We have a ground course of a week to 10 days here, comparable to that at O.T.U. only bringing newer work into it. At last I have met the MK. XIV Gyro Bombright, the one I shall actually use on ‘ops’ – it certainly is a bag of tricks. In a day or so we will have our exams, & then commence our flying on Stirlings.
[page break]
[underlined] 14th [deleted] August [/deleted] [inserted] September [/inserted]. [/underlined]
The exams are over, everyone passed O.K. and we are now underway with our Flying Conversion. For the engineers, this is when they fly for the first time, as they pass out from there [sic] training school, and come straight here to be crewed up, without ever having flown before. It seems pretty hard on them, to have only a few hours air experience before they arrive at a squadron and go on ‘ops’.
Stirlings are the largest 4 engined bomber there is, and the cockpit is certainly a height from the ground. They have a long undercart, & it is quite a common prang, to see an undercart wiped off, as the aircraft have a tendency to swing & if one brakes severely & swerves, the undercart is quite likely to go. I have to fly as second pilot in there, and attend to boost, revs, flaps & undercart, it takes both of us to get the kite off the deck & they take a hell of a long run.
For a lot of our circuits and bumps we flew over to a Yankee airfield, they had Fortresses. We used to fly there for 2 hours or so & then return. Before Mac had soloed, he was taking off there, & the kite swung viciously & shot across the grass straight towards a Fort. There were some mechanics working on it, and they looked up to see a Stirling thundering at them, without pause they leapt off the wing, fell over picked their selves up & dashed off. If it hadn’t been dicey, it would have seemed ludicrous, however, the screened pilot took a hand, pulled at the controls, & we took off right over the Fort. Mac soloed O.K. a little later, & now we are on X-countries.
[page break]
[underlined] 22nd [deleted] August [/deleted] [inserted] September [/inserted] [/underlined]
Our Con. Unit is nearly over, & we shall soon be on an operational squadron, different instructors speak in glowing terms of their old squadrons, & advise us to try & get posted there so we don’t know where we are. At the moment we are commencing our night X country period, this is a tricky airfield to taxi on at night.
Macgillvray has been going out with a WAAF M.T. driver here, & at last it seems like the real thing he is talking seriously of marriage. When he left Hixon, “The Blunder”, went into Stafford with him to stay the night, & then spins a 48 hr pass with him at the Strand Palace. Macgillvray was half & half about telling her to go, however when he arrived here he wrote, & told her he didn’t want to see her again. She wrote back & said as soon as she got a pass she was coming to have it out with him. Then a letter arrived yesterday saying she would arrive in the evening, & would he meet her in town. Macgillvray religiously stayed in camp all evening, & every now & again the phone would ring for him, it was her, phoning from Stamford, & it was really funny to see him keep telling chaps he wasn’t in. Suddenly, the boys came in with the news, she had come out on the 10.30 P.M. bus, & fixed up with the WAAF Officer to stay the night. Macgillvray was off to his billet like a shot. [deleted] Next [/deleted] [inserted] This [/inserted] morning, the Blunder, was in the dining hall, early, & waiting behind the servery, when Macgillvray came in, she dashed out, & told him exactly what she thought of him, in a loud voice. Everyone listened interestedly, & the cooks even ceased serving in order to hear clearly, Mac went deadly white, & after a while walked out, with the Blunder behind. Anyway that was exit to the Blunder. We’ve certainly had some laughs here.
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday [deleted] August [/deleted] [inserted] September [/inserted] 29th. [/underlined]
At last the time has arrived, and what a time I have had to wait for it, 2 1/4 years ago I volunteered for aircrew, & right up till now I have been training for the real job, & we have arrived at last on a squadron. It is a new squadron just forming, No 623, and we are stationed at Downham Market with No 218 squadron. We left Woolfox about 8 AM. on Monday, and caught the 9.15 AM. to Peterborough, where we arrived about 10.15 AM. Deciding to spend the day we trooped out and started off with a large meal in the Silver Grill, a very satisfying start. During the afternoon we looked over the Cathedral, and afterwards went to the cinema to see Tyrone Power in “Crash Drive”, pretty good. Another large meal at the Silver Grill then off on the 6.46 PM. to Downham Market. Naturally the trains were late and we reached Downham Station around 10 PM. & phoned for transport. When it arrived we threw the kit on, we were getting rather cheesed with it by now, after lumping it on & off different trains, and out we went.
It was rather a grim reception, they told us we couldn’t have a meal, & then we found out there was no accommodation for us. So we drove round in the dark in a lorry and they found room for us in ones & twos with the erks, it was pretty grim organisation.
[page break]
They locked our kit up in a hut, my overcoat & groundsheet amongst them, so of course it poured of rain during the night & the next morning. Being as the station is all clay like most of the Fen country, it was one helluva mess. Like all Bomber Stations it is horribly dispersed, & we tramped around miserably in the wet, with our arrival chits. The mess was large and new, & very bare, & the food just happened to be pretty grim, so I’m afraid we took a rather poor view of the station, things look a little better now though.
There is a rigged up cinema & I believe they have occasional shows there, but there isn’t a lot of entertainment available. The town [deleted] of [/deleted] or village of Downham is only 15 mins walk from the mess, but there isn’t much life in there. They have one rather ancient cinema with old films & a dance hall, that is always over crowded & 21 pubs, the latter is over shadowed by Stamford’s 63. I don’t think we will be going in there very much. There were three crews arrived from Woolfox together, Pete, Macgillvray & ourselves, Carr is travelling down too today, as he hadn’t finished his flying at Woolfox. We are binding for leave as most crews get it on arrival but our efforts haven’t been successful so far. Our first two ‘ops’ here are mining trips & the pilot was a second “dickey” (pilot) trip, before we start we have to do a bullseye though.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday 4th October. [/underlined]
Things are looking quiet a bit better now, the mess seems comfortable, & the food really is good. Up till Saturday we didn’t do much, mainly hung around & had a few lectures, & got our kit into the parachute section. This is a new idea, they have a large room, with lockers, & hang our kit up properly, to dry etc, also testing it each time, then when we want something we go & ask for it & they bring it out. If they have found any stuff U/S they tell us what it is so we can change it, it’s a good scheme. The essentials such as chute, harness, helmet, boots, & ‘K’ type dinghy, are laid out already when the crew is on ‘ops’. No waiting or anything its quite a good scheme. We drew our electrical kit & our new flying boots, from stores, there [sic] boots are the new type with leather boots as bottoms, they have a knife in the side to cut the upper off, should we land in enemy territory, & thus leave a fine pair of walking boots.
On Saturday our bullseye arrived and we were briefed in the afternoon for a 7.50 PM take off. We got away a few minutes late but with no mishap & climbed over the drome then set course for Bedford, this was the starting gate of the bullseye. About 15 mins after we left there, we were coned by about 20 beams & passed on to other cones. We were diving all around the sky but we were
[page break]
held pretty well for around 10 – 15 minutes, before we got out. At Portsmouth we were held for around 2 minutes, & again at Beachy Head, then we headed for the target – London. We came in over Croydon & Lewisham to run up to our target, Westminster Bridge. There were about four cones in action with about 30 beams in each, and they all had a kite in, jerking like mad. Whilst they were occupied we were able to slip in smoothly on our bombing run without interference. The searchlights blinded me a bit though and I was unable to get a good line of sight on the bridge, but took the photographs. The black out of London was pretty grim, there were bags of lights about, & the docks were clearly lit up along the river & so were the main railway stations. I don’t think I would fancy an attack on London though, the defences seem pretty hot. After London we went to Bedford again where the bullseye finished, so we had no engagements with fighters. From here to base then up to Goole and back on another I.R. stooge. It was pretty nippy & poor Johnny & Don in the turrets were frozen stiff. There were hardly any fighter interceptions I guess the fighter boys didn’t feel like playing. Anyway back to the bacon & egg, the usual natter with the other crews on various points & then off to bed, for a nice lengthy sleep.
[page break]
When we got up at dinner time yesterday it was to be told that we were operating that night – mine laying, it rather shook us. Briefing was at 4 PM. & we learned we were going off the Frisian Is. (a fairly short trip) & taking 6 x 1500 mines. Back to the mess in the bus for the operational meal, then over to the billet, where like old men we clamber into our long flying underwear. Even though it is all pure rayon lined it makes me itch, just not used to long legs & sleeves I guess after jockey shorts & singlet. Our next move is back down to the dressing room in the parachute section, where we collect our kit. We never put the stuff on otherwise we would sweat moving around & then it would freeze when we got up & defeat the clothing. Out to the kite in the bus then, dump the kit on the grass & everyone climbs in for their last minute check of their equipment. Whoever D.I’d the first turret did a poor job, because the reflector sight was left on & the guns weren’t loaded, so I got cracking on those & tested the tuner, then climbed down for my initial bombing check. The engines were run up, tested, then shut down again & we climbed out for a smoke and sign our various forms. The Wing Comdr & Sqdn Ldr drove out to give last minute tips & see if there were any snags, then we all climbed aboard again, fully dressed now, all hatches closed, & taxied out.
[page break]
The first aircraft was due off at 7.35 and took off dead on time, we were third, got the green from the ACP opened up & away we went. They are a bit of a job to get off with a heavy load & we didn’t miss the trees by much but we made it. We set course for Cromer, where we were leaving the coast, at 1500 ft, we were staying at that height so Jerry couldn’t pick us up, then climbing to 5,000 ft at the last moment to avoid any flak ships. Everything went fine, poor old Ken was sick again, he certainly has guts to keep flying and navigating when he is often queer. We had to climb quickly at the mining area, & the revs wouldn’t increase for the minute, consequently we nearly stalled. At 1500 ft with that bomb load we would [deleted] dive [/deleted] have dived straight into the waves, it was touch & go for a minute but worked out. The mines were dropped, one [deleted] f [/deleted] could feel them drop, & back we went. When we got back to Cromer there were lots of searchlights & they picked us up, but shut off when we flicked our nav lights on & off. They suddenly coned a single engine kite so we watched it like hawks just in case, there have been a lot of intruders around this area. There was a large fire about 50 miles off the port bow, enemy activity maybe. We landed O.K. though were interrogated & off to the mess, when the siren went so we had just dodged it, still we were safe then. A bang on supper then off to bed for another good rest.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 7th October.. [/underlined]
Life is proceeding along fairly smooth lines, and we are pretty well settled in. The other night when we did our mining trip, the main force went to Kassel. Clarc Carr went with another pilot to get his second ‘dicky’ trip in. The pilot he went with had 23 trips in & was on the point of completing his tour, but they never returned. Poor old Clarc, he was one of the best chaps I have met, he never got in a temper with anyone, yet he was pretty tough, it’s a shame that such fellows have to go. It really shakes us when fellows we have been with for a long while get the chop, brings it home the hard way. They have sent his crew home on 3 days leave, I don’t know what they are doing after that, whether they are returning to ‘Con’ Unit to pick up a new skipper, or stay here as ‘spares’, the former would be better I should think.
Speaking of spares they grabbed Don, our mid upper to go in somebody else’s crew on Monday for the raid on Frankfurt, as their m/u.g had gone sick. It was rather a nerve I thought both asking a crew to fly with a chap they didn’t know, & worse for the gunner to fly with a strange crew. They did the same thing to Smith, Macgillvrays rear gunner, if they keep this thing up they will
[page break]
soon be doing away with the crews & just have a pool that they draw on, I always thought that if somebody was sick in a crew the whole lot was declared U/S. there is a word they have when referring to men they call them ‘bodies’ or ‘bods’, & how right it is, you are just merely a figure on paper. Every morning the big noise walks into the flight office & asks the flight commander “How many crews have you, fully operational?”, and then demands those that aren’t be made so in as short a time as possible. That is all they are interested in, is, how many crews have they available for an ‘op’, regardless of how much flying you’ve done, just recently some of the chaps have been on the main force 3 out of 4 nights. Anyway all kites returned from Frankfurt O.K. and Dan gave us a vivid description, it was very interesting but I guess we will be seeing all we want of it very shortly.
Tuesday night we were on ‘stand down’, but Wednesday we were briefed for a long mining trip to La Rochelle, right down near the Spanish border. There was a hell of a front expected at base around 6.30 so they were rushing us off at 5.50 & come back to meet the front over the Channel & battle through it. There was severe icing from 7 – 15,000 so we had to try & climb above it, not an easy job in a Stirling, the extent was possibly
[page break]
right up to the London area as well. The briefing & everything was terribly rushed & we tore around in a mad flap to get everything done, and we were all dressed & on the point of going out to the kite when they scrubbed it, what a life, tonight we were in it again but it was scrubbed once more.
Last night I decided I would see what Downham was like so I ambled in with the boys & was I cheesed. I had seen the [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] film on at the little cinema, so all there was to do was sit in a smokey pub, & swill lousy beer. At last the smoke made my eyes ache so much I came home. Macgillvray was on a short mining trip last night, & a Picture Post reporter was going along. They sent down 4 camera & news men, & took photographs of them having an operational meal & were going to take bags more in the kite, but it was scrubbed, what bad luck, a chance like that only comes once in a life time. The traditional RAF bull was in evidence, for the photograph they had a spotless table-cloth, cream crackers on the table, & a Cpl WAAF waiting on them. Actually we queue up for our meals & a long one at times & eat of [sic] bare dirty tables, & the only biscuits we see are hard dog ones. – We did our first day flying, here, today, took two kites up on air tests, we were doing a loaded climb but that was scrubbed, at least we know what the drome looks like in daylight now.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday October 10th. [/underlined]
We look like having our first leave in a few days we are officially due to go at 0700 hrs on Thursday 14th, until the following Tuesday midnight. The chaps generally get away on the Wednesday, & if they are very lucky & they aren’t on ops on Tuesday they get away Tuesday afternoon which is pretty good. I only hope we are that lucky, Mac has to do a second dicky & if he gets that in tomorrow night we may be on ops the following night (Tuesday) & mess things up a bit. Should it be scrubbed tomorrow, Mac will go Tuesday & we can go Tuesday afternoon, I am afraid we are unscrupulous enough to hope that the weather is lousy tomorrow night. He has got his Flight through at last, & is now ‘Chiefy’ McCann, it is well overdue, but the Canadians get back pay on crowns, one of the numerous ways they are better than the RAF, so he has about £16 back pay to come. The comical part is that after all this waiting & binding now it has appeared in P.O.R’s the stores have no crowns so he is unable to wear it – poor Mac.
Friday night we went on our long mining trip, off Bordeaux in the estuary of the Gironde. We took 4 1,500 mines a fair weight, our all up weight was 69,784 lbs. The briefing was at 6.0 P.M. it shook us but they were having a late take off because the room was nearly full & they were waiting for it to die down as the German fighters have an easy time in the bright moonlight. The bus took
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting showing a WAAF with a mine] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
us back [missing words] as our operation [missing words] wasn’t until 8.45 we had bags of time to fill in. Lots of Forts went over then & we watched them the next day we learned they had been to Bremen. We had our egg & at 10.25 the transport took us back, we didn’t have to struggle with our kit as we had taken it out in the afternoon. The run up & testing commenced, then shut down while we donned our kit & start up once more. We took off bang on time & 5 mins later set course. Old Petch who was the only other one beside us going swung on take off & hit his undercart against some iron rails for fog lighting & they wouldn’t let him take off, consequently we were the only ones from this station that went.
It was practically 10/10ths cloud down to the coast, it cleared there & I was able to get a wizard pin point on Selsey Bill, our crossing point. The moon was like a searchlight & we felt all naked illuminated up there, it set quite a bit after they told us it did, because there was the time of setting as seen by a ground observer, whereas we were at 12,000 ft. The cloud built up more & more over the Channel until it was 10/10ths again on the French Coast and we were unable to pin point. It remained like that most of the way, the least it was, was 7/10ths, approaching the target area it began
[page break]
to clear & I got down into the bombing hatch ready. I was determined to get my night vision up to scratch because if we couldn’t pin point we had to bring the mines back. The green indicator target on the VCP was glaring on my vision panel like a searchlight so I piled my long cushion over it. Then I wanted to see my target map so hopped to switch on the light for a brief second, next the cushion fell down & the light glared again, I dove back at that. I was hopping around like a rubber ball, & sweating lest I should miss the coast & be unable to pin point. Suddenly I saw it, it was pretty dark, I could make it out clearly though, then we passed out to sea over the first island & swung out to rear to clear the island defences. Then altering course we swung in for the mainland once more, I was straining my neck, thats [sic] the worst of the Stirling bomb aimers window, the Lancs have a beauty. After a bit I made it out we were heading up the Gironde estuary, so we made a left hand turn & came bang on the corner of the estuary, which was our pin point. Setting course on a D.R run we dropped the eg O.K. & set course home. Just after we left the flak began to open up on the islands & one searchlight probed around, but they weren’t near us.
Stooging along happily with thoughts of home & bed we were shaken by a show of
[page break]
flak suddenly thrown up. We had got a little port of track & were too near Nantes, they had some accurate heavy flak down there, because of the Fort raids on the U Boat Bases. Anyway they were too accurate for our liking the first burst exploded with quite a crash underneath us & burned the kite a bit. We did some hectic weaving & finally got clear, it was a sticky moment though that predicted stuff is deadly they reckon to get you on the first burst. Nothing happened on the way back beyond sighting another Stirling, the cloud thickened over England, & when we reached base they diverted us to Tangmere, although we could have got in. So we had to fly back all the way we had come down to the South Coast. Arriving there after 6 hrs 40 mins flying we found 11 other Stirlings there. We had a meal, & the guy told us you can sleep as long as you like they gave us good accommodation, boy! we needed sleep. Hardly had we laid our heads down when they dragged us out saying we had to return right away. Then we had to wait 3 hours before we were re-fuelled & away. Two squadrons of Typhoons scrambled while we were there, straight off down wind a lovely night. Flying back to base I could hardly keep my eyes open we had had no sleep for nearly 36 hours. We certainly slept well on return. Today there hasn’t been anything doing because of the lousy weather. Jack Spackly & Ron Winnitt have arrived here, they were with me from Manchester & all through Canada, I was glad to see them arrive here, they are in 623.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday October 24th [/underlined]
It is a fortnight since I last made an entry but I have been on leave during that time, & following my maxim of never letting work interfere with pleasure I made no entries in here. I had a fine leave, Mary was able to get the time off & that made it just right we saw a couple of shows, popped around to a few friends & had a wizard time. There was one disappointment overshadowing it though, Ken didn’t come on leave with us, it all began a little while before - . A fair number of times through his earlier training, so he tells me, and during the time we were with him at O.T.U. and on Conversion Unit, he was sick during trips. He tried hard, by doing everything he knew to overcome it, but unsuccessfully. Then on our first mining trip to the Frisians he was sick at the target area & we had to rush to drop them & there was a fair flap resulting as I have previously mentioned in the kite nearly stalling in. Poor Ken, he reckons he is to blame but I don’t think he has anything to worry about, out of the lot I think he did his job the best & the smartest. He was sick a lot on the long mining as well so he reported sick a couple of days afterwards to see what the M.O. could do.
[page break]
He was given some Anti-Air Sickness capsules, & tried them without effect, so the M.O. grounded him for a little while. Then they took Ken’s case up a little more & the Wing Comdr said he would have an interview with him. This was the position on the day we were going on leave Tuesday 12th, Mac also hadn’t done his second dicky trip. So Ken was hanging around all morning waiting for the Wing Co to say he would see him, & we were worried in case he wouldn’t catch the 3.51 London train with us. We left him waiting at the camp & told him to whizz down on his bike if there was a chance of catching the train, if not, to follow us down on the later train. On the road we got a lift to the railway station in an army lorry & had a cup of tea in the café next door. Waiting on the platform later, the [deleted] [indecipherable letters] [/deleted] train was almost due in, when Ken came dashing up. Everyone was overjoyed because we thought he had just made it, but he told us the Wing Comdr. had cancelled his leave and he had to remain behind to get 15 hrs Fighter Affiliation in, to see how often he was sick & then go before a Medical Board. My God! as if anyone wouldn’t feel lousy after 15 hrs. Fighter Affil. Also with the weather as it had been, a stinking yellow fog, there didn’t
[page break]
appear to be much chance of flying. It was a hell of a twist all the way round, and poor Ken was on the receiving end. There was nothing to be done, however, so off we had to go without him. I felt pretty rotten though seeing him standing there watching us go on leave, & having to ride back & spend a week by himself.
As I said previously I had a fine time, the days flew swiftly as they always do, & the last day arrived. I had arranged with Johnny to meet at 5.30 in Liverpool St to catch the 5.40 P.M. However he arrived up from Bristol early & came over to my place, so we travelled up together, & met Jack on the station. The train was very crowded & we had to bunk in the luggage room, at the first stop, Bishops Stortford, lots of people got out & we got a seat easily. At Cambridge there was about a 20 minute wait so the three of us got out for a cup of tea. A porter told us it wouldn’t be going for a while yet & we had plenty of time. We were only in the canteen for about 3 minutes and as we emerged, saw the train about a quarter of the way along the platform. I broke into a sprint with Jack about 10 yds behind and Johnny 10 yds behind him. Down the platform we raced, porters shouted out “Clear the Way”, and people skipped
[page break]
nimbly aside, luckily the platform was fairly empty. Some people shouted encouragement, other shouted “You’ll never make it”, but unheedingly we pounded quickly on.
One American soldier told us it was just like the races, first I flashed past, and he turned to watch me when Jack whizzed by. As he swivelled his head to watch him Johnny shot past, so he ran after us to see the result. Down the whole length of Cambridge platform we raced & closed the distance to about two yards, I had already selected the door I was jumping for, when we reached the blacked out part of the platform. There were no lights at all & it was as dark as the pit, I tried to maintain speed but cracked against a pillar and spun around like a top. So the chase was abandoned & we stood watching the tail light disappear into the darkness. We were in rather a fix as all our kit was on the train, none of us had hats & Johnny had no belt either. After hunting around & getting wrong directions from a few people, we contacted a porter, and old sweat from the last war, who was very helpful & took us to a fellow, who sent off a wire to the different stations telling them to take our kit off the train & send it to Downham. That done, with certain misgivings as to whether it would work out we went over to the A.T.O.
[page break]
Here we phoned the camp and told them we would be arriving late & fixed things up. That done we adjourned to a nearby pub & treated our helpful porter to a few. After that it degenerated into a regular crawl, hatless & hands in pockets we rolled round Cambridge. Greatly warmed by the beverage, we didn’t notice the hardness of the bunks, & I didn’t suffer as I did on the previous occasion I slept at Cambridge ATO. We travelled on to Downham on the 8.13 AM. next day & arrived about 9.15. As I feared they hadn’t any of our kit there, so I thought “Goodbye to that”. It rather shook the S.P’s in the guard room when we rolled up with no hats or anything, they didn’t say anything, though, I shudder to think what would have happened at a training unit under similar circumstances. Within an hour of arriving back we were flying on an air test, maybe they thought we would forget how.
We haven’t done much since arriving back, the weather has been pretty rough. The situation regarding Ken appears pretty obscure, he didn’t get much flying in as he predicted, now he is just hanging about to see what the score is. I hope they wont [sic] take him out of the crew he is such a decent chap. Its growing late & the other guys are binding for the lights out, so I guess I’ll put more next time.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 28th October [/underlined]
The weather still remains duff, after days of rain, it has changed into pretty thick fog every day. The last time we flew was over a week ago when we did a loaded climb in “D”, we now have I for Ink, instead of D. For the time being Ken is out of the crew, we are all praying it wont [sic] be for long although we have another decent chap in his place, Les Gray another Canadian. The whole situation is pretty vague, Ken himself feels he would rather not go on in case he should be sick one time & we wandered into a flak area whilst he was sick. As for us, we would put implicit faith in him whatever happened, & I just hate to lose him. So nobody knows what is going to happen, we’re just keeping our fingers crossed.
To keep ourselves amused now quite a bit of our time is spent in seeing films, I have seen a couple of decent ones on the camp recently. The other day they had the power off all day, no electric light, wireless or anything, I certainly think they ought to get there [sic] fingers out with the lighting in the ante room, it is very dim. Last night seeking amusement further afield, Mac, Jack, Don, Johnny & myself went in the liberty bus to Kings Lynn. We had a good meal when we arrived there, & then saw a decent show, coming out from there, Jack, Johnny & myself
[page break]
went into a dance, while Mac & Don went to the Duke’s Head for a meal. I think they had the best of the deal, because the dance was pretty corny, & then when it finished at 10 P.M. we were tramping all over the town trying to find a place with something to eat without success, it was pretty grim.
We got back to the bus O.K. & off we went, by this time a thick mist had rolled in, add to this the fact that our driver had a fair number of drinks under his belt, & we went weaving all over the road. It wasn’t long before we went into the ditch, & a fellow raised a laugh by asking “Does this count as an op?” We lifted the thing out of the ditch, then he found he had taken the wrong turning so back we had to go. It took us 1 1/2 hours to travel a 25 minute journey, we heaved a sigh of relief when we arrived back here. It would be that night too that they had an ENSA show at the camp and who should be in it but Pat Kirkwood, I would have liked to have seen it. Our next leave is due on the 24th November & I have written to Mary & told her to book some shows up. It is rather a long chance, that we will be there on time, even providing all goes well. Still I think it is worth trying. Ah! well I’m tired we didn’t get much sleep last night so I’ll turn in.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday November 1st. [/underlined]
Friday was just one of those uneventful days, though the mist seemed to have lifted a bit, a few very keen types were speaking eagerly of the prospects of flying, but the main horde, including all of our crew, nearly, retired to the mess early & buried theirselves [sic] in the newspapers, springing up eagerly to get in the dinner queue. That evening we went into town to see an Abbot & Costello film, it wasn’t bad, with a simple meal of fish & chips, we wandered back, what an uneventful life this is. Saturday was no better, but we really put some work in on the kite harmonising all the guns. We made quite a job of it, having Bill & Jack run backwards & forwards with the harmonisation board. The only thing that marred it was the fact that both Johnny & myself broke our lateral levelling screws on the reflector sights, necessitating harmonising them over again. We have been informed that it is nigh on impossible to get any small nuts & bolts of that type, so we are waiting for them, meanwhile the kite is unable to go on ops without the two reflector sights harmonised. So a kite has to stay back because of two nuts & bolts. Just a classic example of the important part played by the small cogs in the big wheel.
[page break]
Yesterday the weather seemed to be better, but there was nothing doing in the morning so we put in quite a bit of work on the kite. In the afternoon though there was a sudden flap, to get as many aircraft airborne as possible, so off we went for our air test. We have a new kite now I Ink instead of D Dog that we used to have, yesterday was the first time we had flown in it. She seemed a pretty decent kite, if we can do a loaded climb on it, & see how much height we can get out of it, it will be O.K. In the evening I just remained in the mess & went over to the hut early, I just seem to be in a state of lethargy here, with no inclination to do anything. We tried to get the fire going in the hut, these stoves are grim things at times. All the time we are chopping fences down & scrounging wood & ‘borrowing’ coal from out of the dump opposite. Most times that we light it, huge clouds of smoke belch out in every direction and there is a frantic rush for the doors to breathe some fresh air in. Last night was an exception though, the fire lit right away, & it gradually warmed up until it was giving out a heat like a blast furnace. It isn’t very often that we get it to go like that though, still I am nearest to it, I had that in view when I chose my bed.
[page break]
Today we had quite an interesting time, the morning we spent going round the bomb dumps. Practically all the bomb aimers went out, and at the dump we saw how the carriers are fixed on, & then at the firing point how they are flared. It was quite a sight in the dump to see all the rows of bombs laid out in their rows behind the blast walls. The corporal who was giving us the gen set a 4 lb incendiary off for us to show us how they went, boy they certainly burn, they seem better than the ones the Jerries dropped on London in the blitzes. We handled all the equipment & all of it was quite different from the stuff we had been taught throughout training all that was obsolete a good while before. Finally we went out to the kites to watch them bomb up & then try the various ways of releasing hang ups, it was quite a useful morning.
This afternoon we flew again, to level the bomb sight, & then to continue to Goodestone for a bombing exercise. It went off pretty well, but I don’t know how they are going to figure out where bombs are where, because we didn’t have 3073’s and didn’t inform the range as we dropped each one. As there were at least four kites bombing, they seemed to be showering down. Most certainly there will be some news in the morning.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 4th November. [/underlined]
There has been some flying recently but not a lot we have been up on a couple of air tests but on the whole the weather is still rather grim. We have been putting in quite a bit of work on the kite, Johnny, Don & myself have had our guns out & cleaned them. They were in a hell of a mess as they were packed with grease, then somebody borrowed our kite & the dope of a bomb aimer fired my guns, mucking things up well & truly. We have got them back again now. Tuesday afternoon they gave us a stand down, its funny no sooner do they say stand down & the fellows have started trekking into the different towns, when the old sun comes out & things are fine again, I bet they gnash their teeth.
All of us except Mac caught the 2.3 P.M. into Cambridge, had a look round, & a decent tea then booked our beds in the W.V.S. Afterwards we saw a show, then diving into a pub for a drink we landed in a flight passing out party. They had just finished their exams at Cambridge I.T.W. & were celebrating, when we entered somebody said “Here’s the gen boys”, at which I nearly fell over. Still they plied us with free beer so that was bang on, they also asked quite a bit about their future training & ‘ops’. Maybe quite a few lines were shot, but we had enough shot at us
[page break]
during our training so it was our turn. They all had bright blue uniforms, ‘bully’ white belts, close cropped hair, a general sprog appearance altogether. I shudder to think I was like that once, though not to such a degree, but I was & so must everybody who goes in for aircrew, we didn’t notice anything strange then. They had various toasts & I’m afraid I smiled a little cynically when one chap said “Goodbye to all exams and binding”. Still we had a good time, followed by a meal in a nearby café & then to bed. We rose at 7 AM. & went round to another W.V.S. place for our breakfast, then from there to the station to catch the famous 8.13 AM. to Downham.
They were taking a squadron photograph, & naturally Jack & I had to roll up late and miss being in it – such is life. Last night they had an ENSA show to which we went and surprisingly enough it was quite good, we almost got in without paying, but not quite, it would have helped our financial status quite a bit. Today we had to take the Flight Commander’s kite up an [sic] Air Test it, a doubtful priviledge. [sic] The bind was it was 12 midday when they rang the mess and told us & we were already in the dinner queue, so out we had to go & tramp back to the flights. We came down fairly late so didn’t go back again, but phoned into town & booked our seats for the cinema it was a good film, though I’d seen it before.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday November 7th [/underlined]
Friday was quite a busy day, in the morning there was a smashing lecture by a Dutch F/O who had been shot down in a Lanc. & had got back from Holland. We had been listening to him for about 10 mins & lapping every word, when they came in and dragged us up for flights affil. typical RAF. The bind was there were two crews in the same kite, ourself [sic] & Bennett. We stooged around for over an hour but the fighter didn’t show up, so back we had to go, I was pretty cheesed about missing that lecture though. They put us up again in the afternoon, & after a bit of stooging around, boy! that fighter could fly. I sat in the Wops seat all the time, listening to “Music While You Work” poor old Bennets Engineer was sick, he must be quite a lot because he had a paper bag ready with him. I felt a bit grim once or twice, because they were really throwing the kite around. I am O.K. if I can see out to see whats [sic] doing, but if I am in the middle of the kite unable to look out then its rough.
Ken has gone on leave at last, this was the one he missed when we went, he has gone to Iver, Bucks & to London. I have told him to pop in at my house I hope he does. Meanwhile he has let me ride his bike which comes in very handy at this blasted place. Friday
[page break]
night it was given out on the radio that F/Sgt Aaron who used to be with 218 had been posthumously awarded the V.C. The citation said his courage had never been surpassed, & by jiminy they were right. In absolute agony & with severest wounds he had diverted the kite on from Turin to N. Africa, where he died 9 hours after, it was a marvellous show! The air bomber who flew it & landed it, belly landing, with 4,000 lb still on received the C.G.M. & most of the crew the D.F.M. They arrived back from Gibralter not long ago, with tins of sugar & heavens knows what else besides.
All our trips recently have been in other kites ours was U/S, when we came down from a flip they found the tail plane was only secured with about 3 nuts & bolts, we nearly had it that time. Yesterday it was put serviceable again & we had to take her up for a couple of hours. It had rained cats & dogs in the morning so there was a stand down & we were the only joe’s flying, & Saturday afternoon too. We were caught in some hellish storms but dodged them, then found parts with clean weather, & played tag with the cloud tops it was good fun. I broke a bigué and then we couldn’t get the undercart down, so poor old Jack & Bill had to set to & wind it down. We all held our breaths when we came in but it didn’t collapse & we were O.K.
[page break]
The Wing Cmdr was attacked by a JU88 on a gardening trip to the Baltic the other night, & they claimed it shot down. Who is to dispute them, I bet they went nowhere near the thing, as everyone else thinks & its popular talk that the Wing Cmdr. may get a gong for it whether its true or not I don’t know. There is something funny going on Stirlings haven’t operated against a land target for a month now, & there are all sorts of rumours going around. We are going on Coastal Command, are going out East, are converting onto Lancs, are towing gliders, are only going to do mining trips, these are but a few of the speculations floating around, there certainly seems to be something in the air. The most obvious solution I think is they are waiting until a .5 mid under gun is fitted, we also have to operate this, quite a few jobs we have now.
It has been bitterly cold all day today, whilst harmonising my front guns I gashed two fingers & I didn’t feel it, nor did it start to bleed for a good while, my fingers were so frozen, it’s a real touch of winter. There are two fires in our huge ante room & that is the only method of heating the place. Consequently there is a circle of fellows packed tightly around it, & another circle around them waiting for someone to vacate a chair at which there is a mad rush. The rest of the fellows just have to hover around hoping to catch a glimpse of the fire or of moving into the outer circle.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 11th November. [/underlined]
The cold weather continues, it takes ones breath away just walking down to the flight, I am glad there are no ‘ops’ on from this station nowadays. I wonder what is happening, it certainly is funny, Stirlings off ‘ops’ all this time, must be something behind it all. The rumours are flying as thick as ever, but nobody has any definite ‘gen’ at the moment. We will find out in due course I daresay. Yesterday we went on rather an interesting trip, an Eric, which is a daylight bullseye. Naturally the only defences we had to combat were fighters, & we didn’t have any engagements, so everything went smoothly. Our route took us across London three times, & pin pointing became very interesting, as I found the various places I know. The balloons were quite a sight, flying at their operational height, there seemed literally hundreds of them. Old Father Thames looked grand in the sun with the boats chugging slowly up & down, there was a fair amount of shipping off Tilbury & Grays & a convoy at Southend. At Chatham there were a fair amount of naval vessels, but nothing like peace-time. We followed the Thames up to attack our target Tower Bridge, there was a certain amount of difficulty in finding this owing to cloud that had rolled across. We eventually made it though.
[page break]
Being used to stooging along by ourselves at night it was a novel experience for us to see about another hundred bombers all around, on the same course & height. It was rather tricky at turning points, some kites E.T.A’s would be due slightly before one’s own & they would turn & come cutting across, diving underneath, or lifting above, there must be some close shaves at night, which the darkness hides. When we returned to base the weather had changed down so we had to stooge around for a bit, but we landed quite safely.
Our leave is due on the 24th, and we are beginning to make our arrangements, praying to the Lord, that nothing crops up & we lose it. I had a letter from Bill today, saying that old Bob Blackburn, who was in our room at I.T.W. had got the chop on his 13th over the Ruhr. He always maintained there was nothing in superstition & insisted on third lights, I guess it was just Fate that it should be his 13th, I hope he managed to bale out safely. We lost a crew the other night on a long mining off the Spanish border, Johnston was flying with them as rear gunner, it was his first trip. He was in Carr’s crew that is the second one gone, these mining trips certainly don’t seem to be such a stooge nowadays.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday 14th November. [/underlined]
What a hum drum life this is, & a cold one. Rush for breakfast, fight to get a wash basin then trudge down to the flights. Knock around in the Bombing Office for a while to see the score then out to the kite for a D.I. It’s a hellish cold job polishing the perspex on the first turret, especially the outside I have to mount a rickety iron ladder, & perched up there 25 ft in the air polish away vigorously with frozen hands, each movement causing the ladder to sway. We generally continue to get back to the flights at 11.15 AM. in time for the NAAFI van. Then back to the mess, with more chances than one of being called back for an air test, just as we are about to go into dinner. The afternoon’s procedure is very similar, if we aren’t flying, it is link or Gee, Astro or something, until we scuttle back to tea. Over to the billet, then, to coax a fire into the stove & all huddle round it. Gangs of fellows scour the immediate vicinity of the huts for wood, posts are pulled up & everything of an inflammable nature seized upon. There is a huge coke dump opposite & every evening sees a dozen fellows or more filling buckets & other articles. These stoves are quite our pride & we take an experts delight in raising a large fire in a short while.
[page break]
If we aren’t writing letters we are listening to records on a gramophone that Bill managed to ‘borrow’ from the W/T section, I wish we had a wireless here, though. Sometimes we attend an ENSA show, the one this week wasn’t so bad. Friday afternoon we had a stand down so Jack, Johnny & myself bowled into Cambridge again, following the routine of our previous visit, but not having the luck to fall into any flight parties again. So far this month we have gone in quite a few flying hours the weather has been lousy on quite a few trips. Last night we were stooging round in a rain storm trying to find a bombing target before we were recalled, Saturday night, too. The other day Mac, Johnny Don & myself went up with Wiseman’s crew for Air to Air firing over the Wash. After landing & unloading the blasted ammo. when it came to my turn the Martinet ran out of fuel & had to return.
The other day on our Air Test, Mac feathered the starboard outer to test it, but couldn’t unfeather it. After a few unsuccessful attempts we gave up & landed with it feathered, & got down O.K. too. If it isn’t the undercart refusing to come down, its something else. Still old I Item is quite a good kite now, & we can get a fair turn of speed from it.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday November 18th [/underlined]
Quite a lot of things have happened in the few short days since I made my last entry. First like a bolt from the blue came the news that the squadron was being disbanded. It was quite a shock we are supposed to be moving to Chedburgh shortly & there given individual postings. Everyone is thoroughly cheesed about it, we were just getting settled in here too, all the top bags, Bombing, Nav & Gunnery Leaders are fine fellows, one couldn’t wish for a better bunch, I guess that’s typical of the RAF when one gets a piece of cake, they aren’t allowed to eat it. 214 squadron which is at Chedburgh is coming here in our place & we are gradually breaking up. They say we are converting to Lancs & if so it may be time that Stirlings are gradually dieing [sic] out of Bomber Command & the Lancs taking their place. If we are moving in a few days, as the tale says, then it will mess our leave up, after all our arranging, its driving me nuts, we never get a leave that works out smartly. Johnnie Smythe a Nav. from Sierra Leone has had a letter from the people there saying they want to adopt 623 Sqdn. & have collected 100 to £150,000 for our benefit – phew! that’s over £250 per head ground & air crew, of course it would be used for the betterment of the squadron, building a wizard crew room, & various other things.
[page break]
The Wing Cmdr. has been up to Group to raise Cain, I don’t know if he has had any satisfication, but I & everyone else hope we stay here together. Monday night we had our Sqdn party, strictly bachelor, the air crew paid for it all, & invited the ground crew to show their appreciation for their maintenance of the kites. There was lots of beer & everyone was happy especially old Mac he was well under, a gang of them started down the mess before the party, then rang Downham for a taxi to take them to the party 200 yds away. There was a championship table tennis match between a couple of top notches in peace-time & then the winner issued a challenge. Ginger Morris who used to play for England, had been waiting for this to just bowl out & beat him. The only fault was Ginger had been imbibing heavily & consequently could hardly see the ball, so lost easily. At 10.30 P.M. it broke up and Mac got in at 5 AM. he had wandered over to the mess to shoot the bull & fell asleep there.
Poor Johnnie has been feeling grim and was very bad the other day & went sick, & they chopped him in dock with flu. Jack was also feeling bad but has recovered, but Don is in bed very queer & I feel it myself, what a crew, but this place is enough to give people all the illnesses under the sun.
[page break]
Tuesday night, six Canadians came & gave a concert show, they were a travelling party all [indecipherable word] & they put up quite a performance too. Last night there was an ENSA show which I thought rather good, so we haven’t done too bad for entertainment. Today held a big shock for quite a few people, Group came through to say there was a big do, & 218 & 623 were on the main effort. All crews available were put on, & after 6 weeks they thought it was a laugh & a joke, but realised it was true. Mac was due to go on a second dickie with Sqdn/Ldr. Overton, but it was scrubbed at the last minute as Overton’s Navigator was sick. Petch has gone with Flt/Lt. Willis, & Macgillvray with Flt/Lt. Nesbitt, I hope the morning saw them all back safe & sound. Apparently we are still an operational squadron, but for how long is the question. There is also a fair amount of mining & a new crew is taking our kite, so Don & I were out there this afternoon checking on the turrets.
The other afternoon we had a wizard lecture from a Lieutenant in the Navy. He had quite a few experiences to recount he had been on the Greton in the Graf Spee battle & in the U-Boat War, & seen quite a bit of excitement in the Med., he was very interesting to listen too. [sic] His story showed both sides of the picture too, we weren’t always winning. He said a good word for mining, the results of which were definitely assessed as 1 ship sunk every 11 mins which is good going.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday November 21st. [/underlined]
The squadron definitely is disbanded, though in the meantime it is fully operational. The Wing Co. leaves on Dec 6th to some O.T.U. I believe. Sqdn/Ldr Smith adding his D.F.C. to his D.F.M. is going to an O.T.U. also, - as a flight commander, he has both his tours completed now. The Navigator Leader has already gone, & the Wing Co. has been asking crews what squadrons they would like to be posted to, but nothing is promised. Anyway it appears we are remaining in 3 Group & not going onto Lancs, so that is one theory squashed. Right now we are just praying that nothing will crop up to cheat us of our leave, there are only two days to go. We have arranged to get on the 11 AM pay parade Tuesday & hope to catch the 11.48 AM London train.
Three kites were lost from here on Thursday’s trip to Ludwigshaven – one from 218, & two from 623. Poor old Ray Bennett was one, Johnny Smythe was his Nav. I only hope they baled out, F/Lt Wallis was the other & Petch was with him on a second dicky. That leaves only Macgillvray & us with complete crews from Hixon. P/O Ralph & F/Lt Nesbitt turned back with engine trouble, so it wasn’t too good for 623. It was even grimmer on Friday night, they were going to Leverhulme or something a small place just north of Cologne, & a pretty easy trip it turned out.
[page break]
623 only managed to get two kites off the deck, & there was hell to pay, there was quite a bit of finger trouble, though. They said Group sent through the bomb load too late, but then it was the armament officers first experience of bombing up for ‘ops’. Bombs were being sent out to kites that were U/S with engine trouble when others were standing there with engines running merely waiting for bombs, consequently most of them never got off in time. They told one chap to take off 5 mins after time & catch the force up, he told them what to do. Another just got off & set course over the runway in his take off. Wiseman was waiting for one more 1,000 lb H.E. when the Armament Officer said that’s O.K. take off without it, this made the C. of G somewhere in the region of the rear turret – Wiseman’s reply was rather flowery. So poor old Mac didn’t get off again & still has to get his second dicky in. All the kites got back safely but were diverted owing to local fog, one of 218’s was pretty shot up by flak, and pranged at Chedburgh. The kites that were on mining also returned safely. Nesbitt has been told that his tour is completed now, so they are screening him after 24 trips, still that’s enough for anyone, and if I had that number under my belt I would feel very contented.
[page break]
Johnny seems a lot better now, we have popped in to see him each day, & he is having a regular rest cure, he intends trying to come out tomorrow as he doesn’t want to miss his leave – nor do any of us – keen types. Ken & I went to the camp cinema the other night, quite a good show but the place is like an ice box. There is a real fiasco here, the water supply is being cut right down, apparently the camps normal consumption is 52,000 gals a day, & the water company will only supply 10,000 gals daily, until their reservoir rises. Consequently all water on the sites is cut off & we cant [sic] have any baths or showers, & now we have been informed we are not supposed to wash or shave in the mess ablutions. This means not washing or showering day in, day out, I wonder what the M.O. thinks of it! There are a couple of water carts that come round the sites & people fill up old cans etc. Even of we hand round all cans we are never on the sites, our whole day is spent down the flights or in the mess. The whole situation is preposterous and it’s a pretty poor show for an RAF camp.
I went into town last night, for the first time for over a week, it was a real pea souper of a night & we muffled right up. The film was quite a decent one, & a drink after made a little break out of the monotony.
[page break]
[underlined] Wednesday December 1st. [/underlined]
Another fair interval since I last made an entry, & for the old reason that I have been on leave, we arrived back last night. After all the sweating & heartbreaking we eventually got away on Tuesday, & we did sweat as I will account. On the Sunday, before going on leave, when I last made an entry there had been rumours of something big coming off the following day, as all Ground Crew N.C.O’s had been ordered to have their kites in really tip top condition. Monday dawned a thick misty day, visibility wasn’t more than 50 yds, Jack & I danced for joy as Mac couldn’t possibly do a second dicky that night & we would definitely go on leave on Tuesday, what a fine world it was. Down at the flights a rude shock was awaiting us there was ‘ops’ on that night & Mac was going as second dicky to Sqdn/Ldr. Overton. Everyone thought it must be a farce, it was bound to be scrubbed, the Met reckoned it would clear though. However out we went to the kite & gave it a thorough D.I. because Sgt Ralph was taking it. Gradually the weather cleared, and gradually our hopes sunk, because if Mac got his trip in we would be definitely on “ops” the following night instead of on leave. Every few moments we would gaze at the cloud formations & the fast disappearing mist & try to cheer each other up, although we all felt we had had it.
[page break]
We had found out all tanks were to be filled that meant Berlin or Italy & it all pointed to The Big City. Briefing was at 2.30 P.M. & off they went & I went out to the kite again, Johnny was still in dock as his guns had to be checked but Johnny Hyde the Gunnery Leader was out there to do them. At this time the sky clouded over really black, & everyone was certain the Met had boobed. When large drops of rain fell I could have danced for joy, but as though the Met had exercised a superhuman influence the skies miraculously cleared as take off time grew near. The crew came out to I Item & I spoke to the Air Bomber for a bit & happened to see the Nav’s charts, & Berlin it was. I wondered whether Mac was twittering inside, Overton was taking Les Gray, our Nav. who had only done a Nickel before. What a task without even having done a Mining to navigate to Berlin & back. When the actual take off started the weather wasn’t too good but they went, they scrambled at 5 P.M. & set course 5.30 P.M. with our best wishes. During the evening five kites returned early but old Mac wasn’t amongst them, they were mainly 218’s kites too. So off we went to bed, hoping to hear old Mac come banging in at about 2 AM he did. It had been a fairly quiet trip he said, cloud cover all the way, & no fighter sightings. Les’s navigation had been bang on & he was personally congratulated by the Groupie.
[page break]
There had been a lot of reporters and photographers there & someone said a B.B.C. chap, lots of lines were shot anyway, we listened to all the story & then sank back asleep. When the morning came it seemed as though our luck was really out, it was clear as a bell. Jack & I grabbed two bikes & dashed down to the Flights to see whether we were on or not. What an anxious half hour that was, the Wing Co. rang for P/O Ralph who was acting Flt/Comdr. then & he came out with lots of papers etc. our hearts sank, but then he said “Nothing on, only mining” we could hardly believe our ears. Back we tore & dressed up for pay parade & a speedy get away. We reckoned without Pay Accounts, with their typical efficiency they paid us at 11.45 AM instead of 11 A.M as it was supposed to be. So we missed the 11.47 train, still nothing mattered then we were off & going home. Scorning the RAF food we had a dinner in Sly’s Café then a drink & homeward bound.
I had a fine leave although the weather wasn’t so hot, that night (Tuesday) it was Berlin dunno if any Stirlings went but we didn’t send any at all. During the leave I saw quite a few shows, among them the new film “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, also read the book, both very good. We arrived back O.K. without any incidents we only stopped 5 mins at Cambridge so couldn’t recreate our previous escapade.
[page break]
Johnny was looking very seedy going home, as he had only come out of the dock that day, he wangled round the M.O. He came back looking fit though, we all seemed to have reduced our colds. Ken had been down to Pastow for his Medical Board, & has been taken off flying. So we have definitely lost him, it is goodbye to a fine Navigator & one of the finest fellows it has ever been my priviledge [sic] to meet. We are lucky to have an equally good chap to fill his place they are much alike in many ways. Old Jack Yardley the W/Op who is in our hut & also suffered with air sickness went down with Ken & he is also off of flying.
This morning we did the inevitable Air Test, it always happens the day one returns from leave. I Item is still here, someone buckled a wing tip whilst we were away, there are only four kites left now, they have ferried all the others away. So we should be leaving in a few days, but where to nobody knows yet, rumours are flying as thick as ever. One thing that is definite 214 Sqdn are arriving here on Monday so we will have to leave by then. It is so cold as anything today, there was a frost like snow this morning. If this weather continues & gets worse during the winter I would welcome a posting to Italy or somewhere warm. Talking of warmth, I think I’ll turn in, bed is the best place to warm anyone up.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting] [/inserted] [Duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting about the raid on Berlin with a photograph of the crew led by Flying Officer Wiseman, and including Sergeant Twydell, engineer; P/O Craig, Sergent Foreman, Sergeant Copley F/Sergeant Brasington, F/O Theriault, and Flight Sergeant Macgillvray, second pilot] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
[underlined] [missing words] December. [/underlined]
The cat is out of the bag, & there were a few surprises in the bag too, the gen has been dished out as to where we are all going. We all leave tomorrow on the 2 P.M. train, except for those who were due for leave & they went today, (our luck was in we were the last ones to get away, all leave was cancelled after we went). The Wing Co. went a few days ago to 90 Sqdn at Tuddenham, & P/O Ralph, Macgillvray & somebody else are going as well. After all this time then we are parted from Mac, it’s a pity, we two crews have been together a fair while, we are the only ones from Hixon now. By the by. Macgillvray appeared in the newspapers, there was a large photograph of old Wiseman & crew being interrogated upon their return from Berlin, & Macgillvray was in as second pilot quite celebrities now. That B.B.C. chap was here he gave a hell of a ‘bully’ story after the 1 P.M. news the following day.
To resume we and about six other crews are off to Waterbeach to convert onto Lanc IIs. As they have Hercules engines, we wont have Jack, as he won’t have to take another course. Four or so of the crews have gone on leave, today as they are due for it & they arrive there a week after us. It came as quite a surprise we all thought we were set on Stirlings, it will be quite a
[page break]
bind, circuits & bumps & screened cross countries all over again, oh hell! There is a squadron there as well 514, I wouldn’t mind being put on that, pray to the Lord we are. Four chaps are being transferred to 218 Sqdn. Overton & Wiseman are amongst them, they say Overton will have to revert to F/O. Nickie Nesbitt went back to P/O & Vickers the Engineering Leader did also, daresay they will have ‘em back again soon though. Some of the postings were to 199 & 149 Sqdns I believe. Last night we were put on the main effort, right in the middle of getting cleared from here, quite a flap. It was only 2, 4 & 6 tanks and 8 x 1,000 lbs & 6, x 5,000 lbs, as it must have been to these rocket gun emplacements they are building to shell London. It was scrubbed though, the minings went & poor old P/O Puch got the chop, his B/A Sutherland was a good guy, they were only an a short mining, too, quite shaking.
The latest Berlin raid where they lost 41 two war correspondents are missing, one got back though, gee! if they were paying that reporter £200 for going on a mining trip, heavens knows what those boys were raking in. One thing is sure from the way the Lancs are operating nearly every night whatever the weather, our tour will be over pretty soon one way or the other. We were paid today & finally cleared from here, last night we went into town to the dance & to the Crown for a farewell ‘do’ before we said goodbye to the hallowed precincts of Downham.
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday December 9th. [/underlined]
This entry is being made at Waterbeach, another new station this is my eighteenth station since I have been in the RAF, like Crosby & Hope I certainly get around. We left Downham Monday dinner time, and in the rush I missed saying cheerio to Ken, and was sorry but I have written to him. As usual when they tell you transport will be waiting, there was none, so we walked it was about 15 mins to the billet. The tales of the billets etc. being good inside the camp are quite true, the only snag being we aren’t in the camp. Our quarters are in the inevitable huts “Con Sight” as we call it though it is listed as Conversion Site. The Con Unit (1678) is almost entirely separate from the squadron we have our own mess about 5 mins walk from the hut. The food is good, better than at Downham, but the mess is bare, empty & cold. Not being many crews here either, it is generally isolated, & not very cheering. The squadron have a smashing mess in the camp, with living quarters above, very handy, wish we were in it.
I think the most shaking thing is that breakfast finishes at 7.45 A.M. right on the dot, so we have to be up really early. Then breakfast over we wash & are supposed to be at the flights at 8.15 A.M. It is a 25 min walk too, so we have to start out in time. There is [underlined] P.T [/underlined] 8.15 till 8.30 AM. then lectures.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting with photograph of an Avro Lancaster II] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
The walking is rather a bind as we didn’t expect it here, poor Mac is looking somewhat slimmer, as he lost his bike at a [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] wild party, before leaving Downham. Tuesday was occupied with filling in the arrival chits as usual, then yesterday & today we have had ground lectures, weather permitting we may commence our circuits & bumps tomorrow. There was nothing new in the ground work, the bombing side of the Lanc. is simpler than the Stirling. We carry cookies on there now, there is no second pilot, so I have lost my comfortable seat. This is compensated by the much better bombing compartment, there is a fine huge vision panel in the nose, no more straining one’s neck to get a line on the target. One also enters the turret from the bombing compartment, so there is no chance of being locked in the turret. The performance of these aircraft are pretty good, especially speed & climbing power.
Tuesday afternoon we went into Cambridge, there is a pretty decent bus service to & from there. In the village there isn’t a lot of life but a couple of decent pubs do a good trade. I have just heard from Bill Taylor, & he tells me poor old Jack is missing now, he was on the same squadron as old Bob Blackburn who is now reported killed. Its pretty grim to hear of the old pals getting the chop, wonder if I’ll be alive at the end.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday 13th December. [/underlined]
The weather at this place is as bad as at Downham, I didn’t think there could be another place as bad. Mac’s day circuits & bumps are now complete & we are ready for a day cross country which finishes the day flying & then on to night c & b’s. I rather like the lay out of this station, it is very neat and compact, of course that is because it was a peace time station. I wish we were billeted in the camp although I understand the food in the permanent mess isn’t as good as in ours. On Friday the Duke of Gloucester came down to inspect the camp, we knew a full 24 hrs before who it was, the old grape-vine certainly defeats security. On the Thursday morning the Bombing Leader asked us who it was as he wasn’t able to find out. Our six crews were joined for a cheering party we had to line up opposite a line of WAAF’s at the gate & cheer when he left. I haven’t been on P.T. yet I have a hard enough job to get up in the mornings. Mac has managed to scrounge an official bike now, that is one thing he moves fast for. Every Wednesday they have a C.O’s parade and march past, there is a fair amount of bull here considering they have an operational squadron, I guess it is because they have the Con Unit still, yes, the more I think of it, the more easier 623 appears.
[page break]
[underlined] Tuesday December 21st. [/underlined]
We are now back on an operational squadron again, 115 Sqdn at Witchford near Ely. Our course finished here last [inserted] Sunday [/inserted] night and yesterday & this morning we were completing our clearance chits. It wasn’t such a bad place, & the work was pretty easy, the ground work was nothing new at all, except a new photo flash fuse. Our first flip was a day cross country at 23,000 ft, a really binding trip, 10/10ths all the way, just sit there and freeze about 25o below. Then after the night circuits and bumps, we were on a Bullseye, Sunday night. Or rather a Flashlight exercise, because the I.R. bombing is abandoned over London, & they have a target of three red lights to simulate T.Is, & at various distances of a couple of miles altogether were white lights flashing various Morse characters, so on the photograph, one could tell in theory how near the bombs would have landed. That trip was a cold one as well but we had a hot time with the defences, a solid belt of searchlights all the way round, & a hell of a cone sight over the target, we were picked up on our bombing run & they sure dazzled me. We rather preferred to remain at Waterbeach with 514 Squadron owing to the compactness of the station. They don’t operate such a lot, the other night they landed at Downham Market, practically all kites were diverted. It was a black night, & the Met boobed badly, all England almost was fog bound, & we have heard from reliable sources that 65 kites either crashed or had to be abandoned owing to weather. With the 30 kites lost that made 95 kites, the public will never know of that.
[page break]
The transport brought us by road from Waterbeach it is 13 miles & when we reached Witchford there was a howling gale & the rain was lashing down. Nobody knew where we were supposed to be billeted & we were driving around the place, dashing in & out of huts, until soaked to the skin, we eventually found one. Roger’s crew is in the hut with us, we are on 4 site & it is about two miles from the mess. I have seen some dispersed stations but this is the worst of them all, the mess is a 30 min walk from the flights as well, we certainly use Shanks Pony here, it is killing Mac he hasn’t done so much walking for ages. The usual thick mist is everywhere that is the trouble in East Anglia. Everything about the station & squadron seems to be grim, at one time it was a happy squadron & contented, but this station has got everyone down a lot; they have only been here 3 weeks. To give a typical example of the way the place is run, they moved here via Berlin. The crews were sent off to Berlin from this base & on return had to land here, what a fiasco that must have been, tramping round in the dark trying to find billets etc. Leave here is about every 12 weeks, its incredible, they don’t appear to worry whether you have any or not. There is no operational meal before ops, just tea & a couple of sandwiches & the rations are pretty small, & no coffee. No transport is organised to take us into Ely, & there are hardly ever stand downs, there appears to be a complete lack of interest in air crew, oh! well I’m too cheesed to write any more.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday 27th December. [/underlined]
Xmas is over now, & I’m none too sorry really, it wasn’t a lot to shout about. Now we are settled down a bit better, but its hard to shake off the feeling of being cheesed here, everyone is, the old chaps of 115 Sqdn, the fellows on 196 the sqdn that was here before, & ourselves the mix crews from 623. The Bombing & Engineering Sections are in the same room, the Bombing Leader is a decent chap, but I don’t see how you can get to know the other bomb aimers, they don’t make any advances or anything. We flew the second night we were here on another Flashlight exercise, & were getting around O.K. but as we were running in towards London for the target, all the searchlights began homing us away from London, so we realised there was an air raid in progress, & beetled back to base. There they told us over the W/T to continue with our exercise & we had to beetle up North & keep cracking around. The trip took us 6 1/2 hours & they didn’t give us any rations at all, I was absolutely frozen, & had an electric waistcoat on, but that didn’t keep my legs warm, I was glad when we landed. On Thursday night, Mac did his second dicky they have to do them on these kites as well, of all places it was Berlin again. Thats [sic] two second dickeys he has done there now, packing ‘em in alright. I think it is a terrible feeling waiting around for them to come back I would rather go myself, he returned O.K. there was one missing from here.
[page break]
On Xmas Eve afternoon Bill & I cycled the 26 mls to Waterbeach & back to collect the Xmas mail for about a dozen fellows, we could have used a truck coming back. That night we all went into Ely to the Lamb Hotel to commence the celebrations. What a night it was, & what a head I had next morning. On Xmas Day the officers mess invited us over in the morning then came over to our mess in the afternoon, it was more of a drunken brawl than anything else. Bags of broken bottles & glasses, it is grim like that, we were supposed to serve Xmas dinner to the airmen, but I felt too grim to go across. Our tea that night was really wizard, it was served buffet form, & there were sausage rolls, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, sardine on toast, spam & chopped egg, trifle & cream cake it was grand! There were two fights, because tempers were rather frayed after drinking. Afterwards we all tramped into town to have our Xmas Dinner for the crew, in the Lamb Hotel, it was pretty good, we were in bed pretty early that night. Boxing Day was very quiet, we had our turkey dinner at 7.30 P.M. it was well served, afterwards there was a dance in the mess. There wasn’t a single decoration in the mess for the Xmas just lovely & bare. Anyway that was the end of the festive season, & this morning we donned battle dress once more & got cracking on the same old grind.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [three newspaper cuttings regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 30th December. [/underlined]
We have made a start at the squadron now, they don’t waste a lot of time, last night we began ‘ops’ here with a trip to Berlin. The pre-briefing was at 1.30 P.M. & Les & I got cracking on the maps and charts before all the crews arrived at 3 P.M. for the main briefing. Our route was worked out to try to bluff Jerry in believing the attack was being carried out on Leipzig or Magdeburg. We went straight for those places and as Mossies opened the dummy attacks on both towns we suddenly turned north & headed for the “Great City”. Taking it on the whole it wasn’t a bad trip twenty kites lost when over 700 were sent.
The trouble with these early take offs is that we don’t get a meal before we take our kites away & start dicing. At the end of briefing there is a mad rush to grab a cup of tea and a couple of sandwiches at the back of the room; then down to the locker room to change. Out we lumber to the transports, & they take us to the waiting kites. Here we dump all our heavy kit & climb in to check all our equipment & run the kite prop to see everything is bang on. Then we shut her down, & climb out to complete our dressing, a few minutes for a smoke for those that need it, then 20 minutes before we are due to take off we climb aboard again & start up. As the time approaches we taxi out & take our place in the line, then one by one [missing words]
[page break]
Round & round we circle, then as the time for setting course arrives we make the last circuit and away we go. By this time we are at about 13,000 ft & generally by the time of crossing the English coast we are a little [deleted] of [/deleted] over 15,000 ft. I carry out all my Bombing checks & put the front guns on Fire, all ready for something, we begin our vigilance here, as the German fighters often operate right across the North Sea. At our turning point we are at our operational height of 20,000 ft, & we set course for the Dutch Coast. Approaching the coast the flak can always be seen coming up from Texel or other equally well defended spots. The cloud was 10/10ths awarding us a natural protection from the searchlights.
Every now & then along the south some place would start throwing up flak, if it came close we weaved but generally didn’t bother. Quite a few times a fighter would drop three flares, lighting up quite an area of sky, if they were too near for safety we corkscrewed quickly, with everybody searching the sky carefully. The searchlights would also shine on the clouds in large concentrations causing us to be silhouetted to any fighter above. Two markers were dropped on the route to guide us away from hot spots, we didn’t see the first, but the second at Leipzig was plainly visible. The dummy attacks had commenced & there were some red & green T.I’s & a few bombs, they were certainly throwing up some flak, we had to nip in between Magdeburg & Leipzig, it was very warm & we got away as soon as possible.
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding the raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cuttings] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
Just after leaving Leipzig I had a momentary panic when three ME110’s came whizzing past us going the opposite direction to Leipzig, I guess they came haring back later when Berlin opened up. We were running into a head wind coming up to the target & I thought we were never getting there; the T.I’s were burning there, & the cookies exploding, & the flak was pouring up, although it wasn’t too heavy; but we never seemed to be getting any nearer. As we eventually approached I could see the glow of a large fire reflecting on the clouds. Then “Bomb Doors Open” – “Running Up”, “Left Left” “Steady” “Bombs Gone” “Bomb Doors Closed” & away we went. The return journey was much the same as the outward, but we found the W/Op had turned the inter-wing balance cock the wrong way & we had lost 200 galls. So we had the worry of whether we would be able to make it or not. We crossed the English coast O.K. and were trying to make base, when the fuel warning lights started to flicker meaning we were almost out. There we were at 400 ft to [sic] low to bale out & unable to use up petrol to climb, just expecting the motors to cut at any moment. Suddenly a drome appeared & we screamed in there without announcing or anything but we were down & that was the main thing. It was a P.F.F. place Warboys, we didn’t get the egg there & had to sleep in a chair in the mess, so it wasn’t so good, next morning we flew back to base, & had a badly needed sleep. There was one missing from here which wasn’t so bad, however that was our first major ‘op’ over.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday January 3rd [/underlined]
Well that’s another year gone and 1944 is here, I wonder if this year will see Germany out of it, somehow I doubt it, though I think she will be well on the way. Last Friday ‘ops’ were on, so we had visions of seeing the New Year in over the other side. Briefing was at 3 P.M. again and the target was Frankfurt, it was an attempt to fool the Jerries and make them think we were going to Berlin, somehow I don’t think it would have been successful, anyway just as briefing it was scrubbed and we didn’t cry over it. There was a New Year’s Dance on in the gym, so we went there and got pretty merry, eventually getting into bed around 4 A.M.
Getting up well the worse for wear in the morning we were shaken to find there were ops on again that night. Pre briefing was 1.30 P.M. but the main briefing wasn’t until 9 P.M. there being an operational meal before we took off. The target was once more Berlin, this time we were going in from the north with a dummy attack on Hamburg though I wasn’t so sure that that would fool them. Take off was at a quarter to one in the morning a hell of a while to wait up till. This time they sent the fighters out to meet us and the fun started right over the Dutch coast. The flak was as eager to greet us as ever.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding a major air battle over Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting showing a photograph of Hitler’s new Chancellery in the Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
About 10 mins after we had crossed the Dutch coast I saw a burst of tracer go streaking across the sky then suddenly flames burst out on a Lanc & she slowly peeled over & went spiralling down through the clouds, then a few seconds later a huge glow shot up – poor devils. It couldn’t have been more that five minutes afterwards when Johnny the rear gunner screamed “Corkscrew Port”, I thought “here it comes” & gripped on. I guess whoever they are they all feel a bit of panic at such moments, I know the flesh on my back crawled as I kept anticipating the feeling of bullets ripping into my back. However we dodged him, it was a JU88 who came screaming down and fired a burst at us, he broke off the attack though. The flak in the target area was quite a bit heavier this time & it was really close, the return journey took us a fair bit longer as we were pushing against the wind. There were quite a lot of fighters lobbing down three flares at a time, it certainly is a hell of a feeling when one is battling along in the dark, & suddenly one is lit up as plain as daylight, & the feeling that every fighter in the sky is leering down at you is no fun. Mac generally swears and corkscrews viciously. We got back to base without mishap, shot the lines at interrogation then trotted off to another bacon & egg meal. There were 28 missing on that raid out of about 450 kites so it was heavier losses, none were missing from here which was good but 3 didn’t take off, and 3 turned back. ‘We got to bed at 10.30 A.M.
[page break]
At 2 P.M. we were awakened by the Tannoy blaring for all Navigators to report to the briefing room at 4 P.M. for pre-briefing. My God! there were ops on again & we were feeling nearly dead from lack of sleep already. It certainly set me back when going into briefing the target map showed Berlin again, gee! three times in five nights to the Great City it was pretty rough. Take off was at 12.20 P.M. because we were fighting to avoid the moon, even then it wasn’t set when we took off, but it had set before we reached the enemy coast. Things were pretty lively because there was a ninety mile an hour gale blowing and we had to go straight to Berlin, with no dummy attacks, & boy were they ready for us. For miles around the target it was like day with lanes of flares and kites whizzing around. It certainly was hectic over the target, I was expecting a fighter attack at any moment, & when the bombs had gone I got in the front turret & scared old Mac by flashing the guns backwards & forwards. Altogether we were in the thick of it for nearly 25 minutes it seemed like 25 years. I thought we would never get clear of there. It took us 2 1/2 hours [deleted] for [/deleted] to reach the target & 4 1/2 hours returning, because we were battling almost head on against the gale, it seemed an eternity before we reached the French coast. We reached base O.K. & tumbled in at 10.30 A.M. & boy! did we need the sleep, we lost one from here & I believe 27 on the whole effort.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the bombing raid on Brunswick] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cuttings] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [duplicate newspaper cutting] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding bombing raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [duplicate newspaper cutting] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[underlined] Saturday 12th January [/underlined]
Its quite a while since I wrote here, but as usual I have been on leave in the meantime. There were no ops on the Tuesday after I last wrote, but on Wednesday there were. It was to Stettin & the route was all around Norway & the Baltic, then the stream suddenly headed south to Berlin, where Mossies started a dummy attack & the main force suddenly swung west to Stettin. The trip was terribly long 8 hr. 32 mins at the minimum & it was cutting it fairly fine with a full petrol load. At the last moment the route was lengthened by another three quarters of an hour, so that if we had made the trip we would have landed in the North Sea, consequently all Lanc IIs were scrubbed, the I’s & III’s went though & only lost 15 I wouldn’t have minded going. The next morning at two hours notice we were told we were on 7 days leave & had to rush around to get away that day.
We returned Thursday night, & got to bed about 1 A.M., then as it was the 4th day after the full moon, we were sure there would be no ops. Because 4 days before & 4 days after the full moon is the moon period & there are no ‘ops’. However Chopper Harris shot us up by putting ops on, after the morning air Test we dashed off for dinner then Les & I went back for 1.30 pre-briefing. The target was Brunswick, the place that the Forts went to a couple of days previously. They attacked aircraft factories about 20 miles from Brunswick, & we attacked the town.
[page break]
It was a real daylight take off, & when we were approaching the Dutch Coast it was quite light behind us, so I was expecting a head on attack. The weather was quite clear so the searchlights were active, there was quite a cone on Texel, & three large dummy fires as well, they must have quite a faith in the dimness of Air Bombers to bomb there. Our route took us quite close to Bremen, & there was a T.I. marker there cascading yellow. Later as we were getting close to the target we had to come really close to Hanover, & they were pretty active there. She had a hell of a lot of searchlights and if anyone strayed across the old flak would poop up. The attack started when we were a quarter of an hour from there, down went the T.I’s & up came the old flak. At briefing they said it would be pretty quiet, and that the Americans had destroyed 150 fighters for us – lovely it sounded. However there was quite a bit of flak and damned accurate, & more fighters milling around there us & other crews had seen before. I saw four kites go down in flames, [inserted] & burst [/inserted] on the ground, it was really grim. There was a lovely fire burning a huge thing with the green T.I’s in it, then a minute later our load went crashing down to help the conflaguration. The return journey wasn’t so bad there were numerous red flares dropped that burnt for a very short [deleted] [indecipherable letters] [/deleted] while, not like the usual fighter flares. We landed at 10.20 A.M. came butting back to beat the moon rise, we lost Blackwell & Christianson two senior crews, which was pretty grim, 38 [missing words], it certainly was no easy raid.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the bombing raids on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cuttings regarding the bombing raids on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting of account of an eye-witness of the effects on the citizens during the bombings on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[underlined] Tuesday January 18th. [/underlined]
The weather certainly is grim, we haven’t flown since Friday, there has been a thick fog, and these last two days it has rained, but tomorrow promises to be clear so I guess there will be ops on then. According to the Press the Brunswick raid was fairly easy, they certainly harped out some guff, one of them said there were no fighters over the target & the Luftwaffe was fooled. I was looking at the official list of combats & sightings over the target, & there really were some. One chap from here claimed a confirmed & a probable. Three times over the target Bill the W/Op. happened to knock our huge nose light on, it put five years on my life, ‘cos the first time nobody knew who did it, & I was crouched there with my hands over it, & cursing like a madman. F/Sgt Foggarty who was with us put up a damn good show, over the target he was attacked consistently for half an hour by fighters & an engine (stbd inner) hit by cannon shell. He feathered it and it fell right out, he came down from 23,000 ft to 7,100 ft before he could pull out, & had to stay down low all the way. He sent out an SOS because he thought he wouldn’t make it, & the Jerries followed our homing procedure identically. They homed with searchlights to a ‘drome in Holland, lit it up & gave him a green, luckily his Gee operated and he battled off in a hurry. He crash landed with 3 engines, one bust tyre, no flaps or brakes, & nobody hurt. The engineers right arm & leg were rendered useless over the target & he carried on, but they both got a gong. Beside the two we lost we had three kites written off through fighter attacks, Waterbeach lost two. Dimmock was one of them he came back from leave with me the night previously.
[page break]
[underlined] Monday January 24th. [/underlined]
Still no more ops, in a week, at least no ops that we have completed. Last Thursday we were on the Berlin trip, it seemed a pretty good route, but there was a terrific long sea leg up to Denmark. I hate that, I don’t mind baling out over land ‘cos you have some chance, but there is no sense in baling out over water as by yourself in a Mae West, a chap wouldn’t last a couple of hours. So the only thing is ditching, then if the kite is out of control & we are unable to ditch, we’ve had it. However soon after taking off we couldn’t see any other kites & Johnny & I were picking up opposite drifts from what they should have been. Suddenly Mac checked his compasses and found they were all haywire, we were well off track, and crossed the coast at Ipswich instead of Cromer. Then trying to steer a straight course we went round in a huge circle. It was impossible for us to go on so we tried to jettison fuel in order to land. Mac & Jack tried to jettison fuel to bring our load down, but were unable to do so. We had to jettison the cookie, and flew sixty five miles out from the coast & let her go. So back we went, & were we cheesed, & hate a turn back, it was our first. Jimmy Rodgers returned earlier with a U/S rear turret & W/O Robbins with a U.S Rev counter, Anderson got lost & bombed Wilhelmshaven & I believe F.O Ogden came back after 4 1/2 hrs we were airborne 2 hrs. We lost P/O Canning, on his 19th trip.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting on raid on Magdeburg] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
The following night we were going to Magdeburg, with a dummy attack on Berlin, by 15 Mosquitoes, & 20 Lancs (dont [sic] fancy that). There were 690 kites detailed, quite a few for a place that size, we were taxying out, & were almost at the flare path when the kite in front of us became bogged, it was old Howby in F, Freddie. The dim of an ACP let us get right on top of it, before flashing a red, so there was no room for us to turn & go round the perimeter in time to take off. There were other guys in the same position as us & there we all sat whilst the minutes ticked by & we were scrubbed, did we curse. In all eight kites didn’t take off & we lost one, Waterbeach lost four, which was grim, and they say six returned early, I don’t know if thats [sic] right, if so only six kites got to the target & back, it certainly was a chop raid.
Hardwick the chap who was at OTU with us has 5 weeks more [deleted] week [/deleted] grounded, he is cheesed. He gave us some news of fellows at OTU. Doc & his crew are P.O.W’s poor old Cecil Kindt had the chop, Chiefy Young is a P/O with 15 in & his navigator Shields has his W/O they have [deleted] [indecipherable letters] [/deleted] been doing O.K. Bouchard is O.K. with 9, old Towne is in jail, stripped for beating up a town low level. Mac met, Pat Macguire, who was Petch’s Navigator, in London, he said Petch was killed outright. They have an English chap who was a staff pilot in Canada. Ray Bennett was killed outright, but Johnny Smythe his dark navigator is a P.O.W. I don’t know about the rest of the crew.
[page break]
[underlined] Sunday 30th January [/underlined]
Everything was peaceful until Wednesday & then ‘ops’ were on again, bags of twitter, we beetled out to old G George to see everything was bang on. The weather wasn’t too hot & everyone was sure it would be scrubbed. When we found out it was Frankfurt, we were certain we wouldn’t go as before we had been briefed for it & hadn’t gone, sure enough it was scrubbed. The Forts went there the other day though, (yesterday in fact) 800 bombers, they certainly must have wanted to rub that place out. However the following night (Thursday) we were dicing once more & it was the old Faithful Berlin again. It seems strange but I have on obsession for that place, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like it, that would be plain dumb, but I am less disturbed when we go there than anywhere else. Why I am at a loss to explain as it is the longest & hardest trip we will ever have to do. All I know is I wouldn’t mind doing quite a few there, I hope it isn’t a fateful fascination & we get the chop over there.
We had a strong westerly wind blowing behind us & the outward trip only took 2 1/2 hrs, whilst the return took 5 1/2 hrs. Our journey wasn’t too bad, we had a nasty moment when Les told Mac to turn on a course of 037o & Mac thought he said 137o. We were on it for 2 minutes before I saw a Lanc. cut across us & I queried our course.
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding a gale over Berlin causing fires to rekindle] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
This caused us to stray over, Brandenburg I believe it was & by jimini their predicted flak was damned accurate. It burst at the dead same height about 200 yds in front & another lot off the starboard beam. Another few seconds & we were flying through the black smoke puffs. As we saw the P.F.F. flares go down (they were a couple of minutes early) the first fighter flares dropped. Some of the kites had obviously arrived early & been stooging around, waiting for zero hour, because the flak had been going up for a while already. By the time we arrived, we were in the blasted last wave as usual, there were scores of yellow fighter flares making a lane into the target & another one out of it. There was one fair sized fire going but not so big as I have seen, just after the W/Op watched my cookie go through the clouds he reported a huge explosion. I smile to think it might have been me, but one can never tell what happens in a concentrated attack like that.
Two minutes after the bombs had gone, Don the Mid Upper spotted a fighter, & called to Johnny to watch it. Then we heard Johnny’s excited voice over the inter-com, “Its a JU88, he’s coming in he’s crossing over now, get ready to corkscrew port, - corkscrew port go”. I was scrambling up to the front guns & just reached there in time. Our corkscrew was so violent that neither of the gunners were able to open fire, it also
[page break]
must have surprised the Jerry because he overshot above us, & skidded in a stall turn about 200 yds away from our nose. I remember thinking “My God what a bloody size he is”, somehow I had never realised how large a 66ft wing span was for a fighter. Anyway he was in the wing right & a no deflection shot my fingers squeezed & I nearly whooped with joy, when I saw the tracer striking the rear of the port engine & the [deleted] sp [/deleted] mainplane between the engine & the fuselage. Then he dived down to port at a hell of a speed & my little bit of fun was over. It shook me that I was the one to open the attack, as the B/A’s don’t often get a crack. I think it rather shook him to be fired at from the front as he didn’t break away there again.
The battle really started then, & it was a battle too. Up he came from underneath, & Johnny yelled “corkscrew” & opened fire, we could hear his guns shattering, & we were zooming around the sky. Johnny said he hit the port engine again, as I hit it previously & some sparks & flames shot out then subsided to a glow, I think everyone thought we had had it then, though I must hand it to that fighter pilot he really had guts. Round he would come firing right in close & both our gunners would return the compliment. We were corkscrewing violently all the time and my stomach felt as though it was being torn apart & my head smacked against the perspex. Mac & Jack were both thrown against the
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings of the Berlin raid from two eye-witnesses] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the 12th major bombing raid on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
roof too. Every now & again a huge stream of tracer would pour across the top of us, & my mouth was dry with fear as I saw the cannon shells exploding at 600 yds. The gunners would be shouting “Corkscrew keep corkscrewing – here he comes again,” then the guns would chatter & we’d roll around. When it came to the break aways I kept praying he would come up to the front & I could get another crack but he never did. I would yell “Where is he?” each time but he would dive right down underneath & they would lose him, it was a separate sighting & attack each time. He made 7 attacks on us, I thought it would never end, on the third he hit us in the elevator trim. Then on the fifth attack a cannon shell exploded in the port wing & bullets ripped through the port inner nacelle. Though we couldn’t tell where the damage was we could only feel the hits. However we gave him quite a bit of punishment, we all hit him, & on the seventh attack, the glow in his engine suddenly became brighter & he dived down & that was the end of the attack, we claimed him as a probable. The whole engagement lasted 18 to 20 minutes it seemed like years, I had one moment of real fright in it. In the middle of a corkscrew with squirts of tracer everywhere I felt a violent blow in the left leg & thought “Hell, I’ve been hit” but it was all the heavy bundles of window that had shaken loose & crashed on my leg.
[page break]
We were at 18,500 ft when the attack started & were down to 13,000 ft at the end, the corkscrews were so violent, the Elsan came right out & was all over the floor & the ammo from one of Johnny’s tanks was all out. My God I was really thankful we had seen that through, one doesn’t often get continuous battles like it. Mac had a fair amount of work with no elevator trim but there was nothing vital hit and the kite flew O.K. We managed to get back on track but we were pretty late, everything went pretty well until it came to the part we squeezed between Frankfurt & the Ruhr. Everything was O.K. until some wicked predicted flak shot up about half a mile to the starboard, there were only three bursts then suddenly there was a Lanc. with flame pouring from the nose & three of her engines. She held her course for a short while, then swung round in a huge circle, came behind, assumed course for half a minute or so then plunged down, I hope they got out. I thought the return journey would never end, I hate it as long as that. We came out pretty well south of track, but we were back O.K. a fair few landed away through lack of fuel. The bullets that ripped through the port inner [indecipherable word] punctured the tyre, but we didn’t know, and landed with a flat tyre, swerved off the runway & there we were. The crash wagon & blood wagon tore out, & they insisted on us riding in the blood wagon.
[page break]
The M.O. insisted upon giving us some capsules, to make us sleep that night & wouldn’t let us go on ops the next night. He knew his ‘gen’ because when we woke we were pretty dizzy & weak from their effect & couldn’t possibly have operated. It was Berlin again, another 8 hr effort, it was a shambles here. They only got 9 out of the squadron airborne, & 2 of these returned, leaving 7 to go on to the target. Out of these 7 we lost 2 which is pretty grim, F/Lt. Aarvin & P/O Tyn were the ones missing. From the night before we lost F/O Harris & F/Sgt Morris, old Morris had been with us at Downham, they said he was in a dinghy, at least he was going to ditch, but they heard no more. Friday night, the RAF Bomber Command Band gave a performance here & was very good, Saturday there was a stand down we went to a camp dance. G George is U/S for a fortnight or so & we were going to take another kite tonight but they were so short of kites they couldn’t put us on. We are right hard up for kites now, two had a head on crash when taxying, nobody was hurt, but the kites are really ripped up. Another had incendiaries through it, they only sent 11 tonight, it was Berlin again, Chopper is really pushing ‘em in again. Old Foggarty has been awarded the DFM for the show he put up, I thought he would. So 623 has made a start here anyway. I wonder if we will be going to Berlin much more I should think it must be pretty well smashed up, they haven’t been able to get photographs for awhile.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting saying that the Battle of Berlin is almost won and suggesting that Breslau may be the new Capital.] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
[underlined] Monday February 7th. [/underlined]
A week has elapsed since I last wrote, a week of doing practically nothing. That Sunday raid on Berlin was the last op there was, we got eight kites off I believe, & lost poor old F/Lt Hicks. He was the Asst. Flight Commander in our flight, a [deleted] [indecipherable letter] [/deleted] ‘Newzie’ & a good chap it was his 24th. There were no ‘ops’ then for a few days & then the moon period commenced. Our kite won’t be serviceable for nearly three weeks so they have given us J Johnny, Hicks’ old kite it was U/S & he took another when he got the chop. Sqdn.Ldr [indecipherable name] the ‘Corkscrew King’ had a real do. They had a contact on the Monica & instead of corkscrewing as they were told he asked the gunners if they could see anything. They were looking down & said “No”, & a fighter sitting about 10o up gave them a long burst while they were straight & level. He raked them right along, the rear turret smashed, the mid upper had about 20 fragments pass between his legs. A couple of cannon shells exploded in the fuselage, the [deleted] [indecipherable letter] [/deleted] D.R. Master Unit was hit, a large hole in the main plane, one prop damaged, Boy! they were really shot up. The only one who was hurt was the A/B who had a small piece of flak in his behind. We have been informed that the old Groupie has detailed us for an hours circuits & bumps for the bad landing we made returning from Berlin. That was with a burst tyre. God knows what he wants, I don’t even believe he knows we were shot up.
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting regarding the raids on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting with a photograph of a Halifax III] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
It seems pretty definite that the German [indecipherable word]. is evacuating from Berlin to Breslau, its another 200 miles to the South East, surely they wont go there from here, it would be about a 10 hour trip. There is some talk that the tour is being reduced to 25 ops as they are pretty grim now with the Berlin trips, it seems pukka ‘gen’ I hope it is. During the week we have been doing loaded climbs on J to test her starboard outer now it has to be changed. We have also been trying to get some GH Bombing in but the weather isn’t so good. Yesterday we had the day off, they are giving crews a day off during the moon period. Johnny & I went home catching the 1036 AM. Sunday, & travelling back on the 8.20 AM. Monday, I had a wizard time.
On Saturday night we lost a kite on the Bullseye, it was Bishop who was at Downham with us. Poor old Jack Speechly was the Bomb Aimer, I had known him 18 months ever since Manchester, we did our training in Canada together, he was a rattling good chap. They had an American pilot with them, they were all killed, & they don’t know how it happened yet. The crash was found with them all in it, its really grim. That’s three of the crews that were with us at Downham gone now P/O Whitting Ginger Morris & now old Bishop, boy! I only pray we see the tour out & so do all the others. There’s nothing much happening, consequently there isn’t much to make an entry of, think I’ll snatch an early night.
[underlined] Sunday February 13th. [/underlined]
The moon period has definitely finished now and our period of rest is over. Once more ‘Chopper’ whipped a day off the end of it, we were briefed for Berlin & were out at the kites with about 30 mins to go before take off when it was scrubbed. The reason being the bad weather at base on return, it was pretty grim, & was a [deleted] poo [/deleted] wonder it wasn’t scrubbed before. I wouldn’t have minded the trip, because for a change it was a long trip out, & a short trip home. Last minute scrubbings are worse than some ‘ops’ I think after being keyed up all that time, still it shows there is still some of the Big City left there.
We haven’t done much this week, as the weather has been pretty duff, most of the time we tried some GH Bombing nothing came of it, owing to climate conditions. The other day we were up in a hell of a snow storm, all the time we were running before it & trying to find a way out. All the countryside looked pretty Christmassy with a coating of snow over the fields & villages. As I was in the rear turret all the time I was more interested in keeping warm. Our turrets got in grim condition during the moon period and we had to work like the devil all day to get it in shape. I was late for briefing through it and had a hell of a flap trying to get my tracks & maps all ship shape.
[page break]
All Jimmy Rodgers crew went to Cambridge on Friday, as two of [deleted] Jim [/deleted] Bishops crew were being buried there. It is terrible really four of them were married & a couple engaged, old Bishop was only married at O.T.U., I would never get married in war time for that reason. Looking at it soberly with all the chaps getting the chop it seems a hell of a mugs game still there it is.
There has been a fair amount of entertainment this week, we had a night out in Ely with a wizard meal in the KUMIN Café. On Wednesday night there was a dance in the gymnasium, then Thursday night we had a big social in the mess. They even went to the extent of polishing the floor, & in our grim mess that really is something. It went on until 1 AM. & there was bags of beer & eats, the food was very good, marzipan cakes, sausage rolls etc. £25 was allowed for it, so it should have been good. On Saturday there was another dance but I was cheesed with that & don’t think I will bother going again.
The siren is going now & there is some gunfire, be quite comical now, with us refraining from bombing Berlin owing to the met. here, & the Jerries using the same conditions to bomb us. They have left the bombs on the kites & only drained the tanks to 1500 so it looks as though they will be parking us along tomorrow. I guess now they have started again, Chopper will try & really finish Berlin, hope he doesn’t finish us.
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding the continuing raids on Berlin and their effect] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[duplicate page]
[page break]
[underlined] Thursday 17th February. [/underlined]
All was quite [sic] until Thursday, when ‘ops’ were on again, & there it loomed on the briefing room chart, the [deleted] G [/deleted] Big City once more. It was another daylight take off, quite a sight to see all the kites streaming over the coast at Cromer. The first leg was a terrific long one up to Denmark, & it was quite light most of the way, but luckily got dark by the time we were crossing the coast. Those Danish islands can certainly poop up some flak, & I was glad when we hit the Baltic Coast. The last leg to the target was a terrific long one, straight to it, I couldn’t see that the Jerry would be fooled regarding the target, even though there was a spoof attack on Frankfurt-on-Oder. The P.F.F. boobed by sending the flares down before zero hour, & the flak certainly opened up. It was the heaviest I have seen there, I think he was relying more on that than his fighters. Running up I could see about six Halifaxes beneath us, they seemed quite happy as the flak was all bursting between 18 & 21,000 ft. We were carrying just one 8,000 lb cookie, which is quite a goodly size, it was handy in the way that immediately I said ‘Bombs Gone’ Mac could whip the Bomb Doors shut.
Bomber Command was trying new tactics this time the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd waves went one way, & we in the 4th & 5th waves went a bit south of them along another route. The idea was to split the fighter forces, & I think it succeeded we only saw two all night, one ME110 just after
[page break]
[inserted] [two newspaper cuttings regarding the raids on Berlin] [/inserted] [duplicate page]
[page break]
[inserted] [newspaper cutting about obliterating bombing techniques]
[page break]
leaving the target flashed across our nose. We ran into some flak though, getting off track a bit we stooged right over Magdeburg. Beside window there were two huge packets of nickels to throw out so I was sweating like anything shovelling it all out. Not much happened on our return journey apart from a few fighter flares & some rockets. We saw a kite go down in flames over the North Sea, I should hate to get the chop right back there. Two were lost from here, F/S Whyte who had 16 trips in & F/S Ralph who was with us at Downham. He had Pinky Tomlin, Petch’s old B/A, who arrived with a new skipper F/O Nice, beside losing his B/A he lost his rear gunner who went as a spare with Whyte. I hate this spare business they always seem to get the chop.
Yesterday we were briefed for Berlin, then scrubbed, then again tonight & were out at the kites before being scrubbed, the weather was terrible both days, yet they wait till the last minute before scrubbing it. We were read a message from Chopper Harris C in C. congratulating us on the progress of the Battle for Berlin. After the usual flowery comments on our ‘courage & steadfast spirit’ he said we were well ahead of schedule in the obliteration of the capital. He also said the Allied Command considered it the most important battle of all land, sea or air battles fought & yet to fight in the war. There was a long list of reasons of its immediate need to be liquidated, & he said he had to rush us to finish the job as the lighter nights and the Northern lights would soon be making their appearance. Well I hope there isn’t many more trips to be done there.
[page break]
22
[underlined] 60/520 [/underlined]
8
196
2443
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
Book 5, Return to UK
Description
An account of the resource
Fifth and final diary kept by David Geach chronicling his time training and on operations. He writes about his return from Canada on the Queen Elizabeth then his training in England which began with arriving at the Posting Centre in Pannal Ash, Harrogate. He was then posted to AFU Bobbington, training on Ansons. From there he went to O.T.U. Hixon and satellite station Seighford training on Wellingtons. He then went to Flying Conversion Unit Woolfox Lodge to train on Stirlings. Once training was complete he was posted to RAF Downham Market on 623 Squadron flying Stirlings on operations. When 623 Stirling squadron was disbanded he was transferred on to Lancasters. He was posted to Flying Conversion Unit 1678 at RAF Waterbeach to train on the Lancaster and then on to RAF Witchford where he undertook operations over Germany, including a number on Berlin. Covers the period 17 March 1943 to 17 February 1944.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
David Geach
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One handwritten diary
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Diary
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
YGeachDG1394781v5
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
Scotland--Greenock
Scotland--Glasgow
Scotland--Edinburgh
England--Harrogate
England--Whitley Bay
England--Bournemouth
England--Stourbridge
England--Birmingham
England--Wolverhampton
England--Stafford
Canada
Ontario--Ottawa
Atlantic Ocean--Cardigan Bay
Wales--Rhyl
England--The Wash
England--Nottingham
Great Britain Miscellaneous Island Dependencies--Isle of Man
England--Cannock
Wales--Aberystwyth
Scotland--Orkney
France--Saint-Malo
France--Rennes
France--Isigny-sur-Mer
France--Cherbourg
France--Avranches
England--Southampton
England--Stamford
England--Cambridge
England--Peterborough
England--Bedford
England--Portsmouth
Netherlands--Friesland
England--Cromer
France--La Rochelle
France--Gironde Estuary
France--Nantes
England--King's Lynn
Italy--Turin
North Africa
Gibraltar
England--Thames River
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Berlin
England--Ely
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Magdeburg
Germany--Hamburg
Norway
Netherlands--Texel
Germany--Bremen
Denmark
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Brandenburg
Germany--Frankfurt am Main
Germany--Braunschweig
Germany--Hannover
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
Poland--Szczecin
Poland--Wrocław
England--Southend-on-Sea
Italy
Atlantic Ocean--Firth of Clyde
Poland
France
Ontario
Germany
Netherlands
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
England--Bedfordshire
England--Durham (County)
England--Essex
England--Hampshire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Norfolk
England--Northumberland
England--Sussex
England--Staffordshire
England--Worcestershire
England--Nottinghamshire
England--Warwickshire
England--Selsey (West Sussex)
Wales--Caernarfon
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
Tricia Marshall
David Bloomfield
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-03
1943-04
1943-05
1943-06
1943-07
1943-08
1943-09
1943-10
1943-11
1943-12
1944-01
1944-02
115 Squadron
149 Squadron
1678 HCU
196 Squadron
199 Squadron
214 Squadron
218 Squadron
30 OTU
514 Squadron
623 Squadron
90 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aerial photograph
air gunner
aircrew
Anson
anti-aircraft fire
B-17
bale out
bomb aimer
bombing
Catalina
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
crewing up
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
entertainment
fear
flight engineer
Gee
ground personnel
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
Hurricane
incendiary device
Ju 88
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 2
Me 110
military living conditions
military service conditions
mine laying
Mosquito
navigator
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
Nissen hut
Operational Training Unit
Pathfinders
pilot
RAF Chedburgh
RAF Downham Market
RAF Halfpenny Green
RAF Hixon
RAF Lindholme
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Seighford
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tuddenham
RAF Warboys
RAF Waterbeach
RAF Witchford
RAF Woolfox Lodge
Red Cross
sanitation
searchlight
Stirling
target indicator
target photograph
training
Typhoon
Victoria Cross
Wellington
wireless operator
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/17543/PThompsonKG15010042.1.jpg
0c58cc914c219e4871aa6062f2df33ef
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/17543/PThompsonKG15010043.1.jpg
f8f57649c07434063f7a4caae9198394
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/17543/PThompsonKG15010044.1.jpg
dcb3ba228d2437d6db5bcb04329a87c1
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/17543/PThompsonKG15010045.1.jpg
77b923fc0aaaf54ee6c7d520e690f4bf
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
Thompson, Keith G
K G Thompson
Description
An account of the resource
95 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Keith Thompson DFC (1238603 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, photographs and training material as well as his navigation logs. He flew operations as a navigator with 101 and 199 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Mark S Thompson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
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
2015-09-07
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
Thompson, KG
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
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
Photographs and memorabilia of Keith Thompson's time at West Freugh and on the OTU
Description
An account of the resource
Eight photographs and a newspaper cutting, the cutting has four Wellingtons in flight, captioned 'Vickers Wellington bombers'.
Three photographs are captioned Port Patrick.
One, not captioned is of an aircrew sergeant standing in a country lane. One is a formal course photograph of 20 uniformed individuals, 18 have aircrew brevet visible, posed in three rows, corner of a wooden building in background, captioned 'May '43 West Freugh, Stranraer'. Three pictures are of a Wellington parked on dispersal, two have six aircrew in flying clothing posed in front of aircraft.
Page captioned 'June to Aug '43 Operational Training with a crew - Castle Donington - now East Midlands airport. 11 Aug - our first flight "Over there" - leaflets to Angers, - France - in the Wellington.
Telegram stamped Rotherham 18 Sep 1943 to Keiths parents, 'Write to Blyton love Keith'.
Christmas card captioned 'Xmas 1943 Toronto, Ontario'.
Menu from RAF Ludford Magna Sergeants Mess, Christmas Dinner 1943, Written on the card 'To navigators, Best wishes, Good Luck, good health, good going. From Dicks Mother & Dad'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Nine b/w photographs, a card and a telegram on an album page
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PThompsonKG15010042, PThompsonKG15010043, PThompsonKG15010044, PThompsonKG15010045
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. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland
England--Leicestershire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
aircrew
mess
navigator
Operational Training Unit
RAF Castle Donington
RAF Ludford Magna
RAF West Freugh
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1236/16928/YThompsonKG1238603v3.1.pdf
93dd67028b9b1a1f9a334c0a19b93220
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
Thompson, Keith G
K G Thompson
Description
An account of the resource
95 items. The collection concerns Flight Lieutenant Keith Thompson DFC (1238603 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, photographs and training material as well as his navigation logs. He flew operations as a navigator with 101 and 199 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Mark S Thompson and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
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
2015-09-07
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
Thompson, KG
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
[Front Cover]
16 JULY 1943
CASTLE DONINGTON
[underlined] to. [/underlined]
8 JANUARY 1944
LUDFORD MAGNA
{page break]
[inside front cover]
1238603 THOMPSON K.G.SGT.
28 O T U. CASTLE DONINGTON, 10.20
WYMESWOLD; BOSTON PARK;
BLYTON.
[symbol] CASTLE D.9.
WYMESWOLD [/symbol] to 20/8/43.
BOSTON PARK to 18/9/43
BLYTON 1662 CON. UNIT to 7/11/43
LUDFORD MAGNA, 10 SQDN.to 1944
[blank space]
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] JULY [/inserted] [/underlined] [underlined] CASTLE DONINGTON [/underlined]
[underlined] FRI 16/43. [/underlined]
Porr; bacon & fried bread X. [one indecipherable word]!!! But NO CHUTES & NO KITE. Took several sun shots & did a bit of [two indecipherable words]. Soup; beef, spuds, cab & beans; rhubarb & cust. Bombing trip!!! Took more sun shots. Went into Hanwell [indecipherable word with Charlie. Went to Dispersal then came back & had tea. Cold meat and fritters, marmalade & tea. Returned to Dispersal. KITEE [underlined] U.S.[/underlined]!!!! Spuds & minced liver; 1/3 pint& cocoa. {underlined] NO MAIL [/underlined]. [underlined] Letter to Dad[/underlined]. Started one to Ma.
[page break]
[inserted] JULY 17. [/inserted]
[underlined] SAT. 43 [/underlined]. Kellogs [sic]; bacon & fried bread. Think grand mist lifting slowly. Briefed AGAIN for route 10. Got net gen. [underlined] Letter from Ma [/underlined]. Soup; beef’ spuds, cab, peas; rice pud. Set out about 14.30. 2 x 250 lb. bombs & air to sea. Tom returned from Kirkbride. Got back about 21.30. Sos [sic] & York pud (?) tea. Bed about 23.59
[underlined] JULY 18. [/underlined]
[underlined] SUN. 43 [/underlined]. Kellogs; egg on fried bread; tea. DR trainer (field). Soup; beef, spuds, cab & peas. Bread pud. Looked over log. A/C recco. Signed log
[page break]
after going over it with P/O Simpson. Scram, veg salad; tea; cake & jam. Wrote letter to Ma.
Lecture log C.O on food & mess situation. [underlined] Posted letter to Ma in C.D. [/underlined]. [one undecipherable word] & cocoa for supper. [underlined] biscuits & one undecipherable word]. Had one in rear turret. Not bad. [/underlined]. Toast in billet! Bed about 3-0 am.
[underlined] July 19 [/underlined]
[underlined] MON 43 [/underlined]. Up at 12-0 pm. Letter from Ma. Pea soup; minced meat spuds, cauliflower and beans; lemon tart & cust. Tried to change shoes but they
[page break]
hadn’t size required, sewed buttons on & shortened belt for 2nd tunic. Slept. Tommy & crew bailed out. BA & WOP missing. Corned beef &chips; jam, tea. Standing by for night lap. Did two circuits, cloud closing down. Joe not feeling too well so [one undecipherable word] rode in rear turret. [underlined] Letter to Ma [/underlined]
[underlined] JULY 20 [/underlined]
[underlined] TUES. 43 [/underlined]. Up at 12.30. soup; cold mutton, spuds, salad, trifle (?) Cleared my closet up. [underlined] Letter to Violet [/underlined] [underlined] Wrote & posted one to Norah. [/underlined] Pilchards on toast, cake, jam. Flying,
{page break]
washed, shaved & changed & in taxi in 20 to 25 mins. 4/- taxi 1/- coffee. 3/- dance. 3/- beers. 4/- taxi. Hilda & Hilda. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] JULY 21. [/underlined]
[underlined] WED. 43. [/underlined] Up at 8-5. [one indecipherable] word & “dogs”. NAVI. Line shoot as per usual. [underlined] Letter from Mary [/underlined]. Soup; beef, spuds, beans; tart & cust. Collected Reg. Parcel unpacked it & took out clean laundry. Booked out. Got to Loughboro [sic] in 1/2 hr. train at 3-0. 7/4 & 2/2d 4d extra to [one undecipherable word] DW, 5-15. Went to Joe Ross with Ma. Pa & PoP. walked home went on trackless. Had bath 2.0am
[page break]
[underlined] JULY 22 [/underlined]
[underlined] THURS. 43. [/underlined] Didn’t wake till 12.15. went to O & D about 2-0 PM. Managed to get Dad eventually. Got [one indecipherable word] for bike. Returned home & got busy stripping bike, got crank & pedals back also changed tyres & put back wheel in before I packed up. [deleted] Had bath about [/deleted]
[underlined] JULY 23 [/underlined]
[underlined] FRI. 43 [/underlined]. Up at 10-0. Finished bike. Went into town & got 2 bulbs & lamp bracket (1/6d & 1/5d.) Walked into town with Ma, PoP. 2/10d for [undecipherable word], called in office saw Lt Edgar. (Grumpy.) Went to stn [station] about trains(s)
[page break]
[Inserted] Walked up to NFS with Elsie [/inserted]
Traped down to baths to see when they close. We all walked down but café closed. So Dennis and I went in. Had about 1/2 or 3/4 hr. Went down to “West End” & had ½ pint. Walked back. [underlined] Took Elsie’s B.D card to General [/underlined] supper with Dad & Dennis. Bed 12-30 (00.30 hrs)
[underlined] JULY 24 [/underlined] [underlined] ELSIE’S B.D. [/underlined]
[underlined] SAT. 43. [/underlined] Up at 7-45. Packed walked as far as Co-op. Ma, Pa & Pop went up on trackless. 4 deep on station. Rode into Chesterfield in Gds [Guards] Van & just managed to get bike & self in train at Chesterfield. Am at Derby at 11-0. Got to Castle D. at 12. after traveling 12 miles. Soup; meat pie, spuds & beans & a sweet. Made more columns in “Signing on book”. Pilchards on toast; jam & cake; tea. Flight washed about 10 or 11. Took 8 star shots & made up flying times. Bed about 1-0 AM after supper of meat pie, spuds & cocoa.
[underlined] JULY 25 [/underlined]
[underlined] SUN. 43. [/underlined] SP’a checked on £1 note. Egg on toast & Kellogs, worked star shots out. Church Parade. Soup, mutton, mash spuds & butter, [underlined] fresh [/underlined] green peas; rice pud. Lecture on loading of A/C. Plotter
[page break]
& entered [one indecipherable word]. Spam & salad with eggs; jam & tea. Whist Drive and Dance in Mess. We on NIGHT FLIGHT/ first kite U/S & second U/S. Cheese & spuds
[underlined] JULY 26 [/underlined]
[underlined] MON.43. [/underlined] Up at 12.30. Soup; minced beef, spuds & beans; lemon tart. Air test. [indecipherable word] U/S. [underlined] Letter from MA. [/underlined] Welsh rarebit, jam & tea. Bombed Baggots Pike & Ragdale till 10.0 PM. Then on C&L’s with Casper’s crew. Cheese & spuds & Cocoa. Waited 2 hrs for Ken. Went up for 1 hrs. Radio U/S Down at 4.0. More Cheese & Spuds & coffee. Bed.
[page break]
At 6-0 AM.
[underlined] JULY 27 [/underlined]
[double underlined] TUES. 43 [/underlined] Up at 1-15. Soup; {double underlined] minced [/underlined] meat, spuds & BEANS; plum pud. [indecipherable word] tried to get £ S D. Gave cycle frame number & type into SWO.
CAN’T GO INTO LOUGHBORO but have Nowt to Do. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[double underlined] BEANS [/underlined] on toast; cake; no jam. [underlined] Letter from Elsie & Violet [/underlined] Rations (choc & fags) glass ginger beer. Reading novel. Pilchards; tea. In [indecipherable word] mess. More reading 1/2pt beer & cider. Flying washed.
[page break]
[underlined] JULY 28 [/underlined]
[underlined] WED. 43. Up at 8.0am [/underlined] Porr & [indecipherable word] for bfast. [breakfast] Lecture on [two indecipherable words] etc. [one indecipherable word] [underlined] Letter from no one. [/underlined]. Soup; rotten meat, spuds & [underlined] BEANS [/underlined]; 10 sun shots. Cycled into Lough [Loughborough]; after missing bus. 1/9d picture “Count of Monte Cristo”. Welsh rarebit, lettuce [one indecipherable word] lemonade; at O>D church. 1 pint beer & cider. Finished book [indecipherable word] [underlined] Letter to Marg. [/underlined] Booze up in Sgts Mess. Had another 1/2 pint cider. Eventually went flying.
[underlined] JULY 29 [/underlined]
[underlined] Thurs. 43. [/underlined] 2-0 AM to 5-0 AM flying. [underlined] Wrote to Elsie
[page break]
& Violet “upstairs” [/underlined] Bacon & EGG!! Tea. Bed about 6-0 AM. Up at 1-15 PM. Soup; liver, spuds & Cab; rice pud. Tried to get paid no go. NO MAIL. Worked out & [one indecipherable word] 10 sun shots also mucked about with [one indecipherable word] (U/S) Fish & chips; cake & jam; tea. [underlined] Letter to David R [/underlined] 1/2 pt. cyder[sic]
[underlined] JULY 30 [/underlined]
[underlined] Fri. 43. [/underlined] flew from 2.00 till 5.00. Brake pressure. [double underlined] Egg [/underlined] on toast. Bed at 7-0. Up at 1-0 PM soup; beef, spuds, cabbage; rhubarb WITHOUT SUGAR. Tried to get paid again. Went in decompression
[page break]
chamber to 30,000 ft. [double underlined] Letter from Ma [/underlined] Cheese [one indecipherable word] cake, jam, & tea. Mode flight plan out & got results put on chart. Took off at 11.20. Radar on U/S. Most of pundits not on flimsy. Went round [sic] on flight plan got back at 2-30 AM.
[underlined] JULY 31 [/underlined]
[underlined] SAT. 43 [/underlined]
Bed at 4-15 after sos & egg, cocoa & coffee; bfast. Up at 12.15 PM. Soup; beef, spuds, cab; sponge (?) pud. Checked over log. Made chart up ready for tonight. Salmon; jam; tea. Flight washed at 10.30 PM. 2 pints.
[page break]
[underlined] BIKE PINCHED FROM MESS. [/underlined] Reported it to guard room. Finished making log book out for end of route.
[underlined] AUG.1st [/underlined] [underlined] BIKE RETND [/underlined]
[underlined] Sun. 43. [/underlined] Up at 8.10. Porr; egg [inserted] [underlined] DMTO [/underlined] [/inserted] on toast; tea. Swept NAV office out. Made log (flying & sight) books up to date. Stripped Browning & reassembled it after reversing the feed. Soup: beef, spuds, cab, apricots & white sauce. Intel. library. [underlined] Letter to Ma [/underlined]. M.U.G. arrived Leslie. Salad, corned beef & a bit of tom. Flight plan & all gen. rations. Started up IFF yelling! Detail cancelled
[page break]
Stew; prunes & peaches; cocoa. [indecipherable word] about 12.30.
[underlined] AUG. 2ND. MON [/underlined]
Over slept. Up at 12.30. soup; minced meat, spuds; rice pud & rhubarb. Tried to change [one indecipherable word]. Sent tom puncture outfit. [underlined] Letter from Violet [/underlined] D.I.? on P (Peter) Looked for 2nd. Mon, table in after [underlined] 2 [/underlined] kites. Had cake & tea from NAAFI. “Simona” rang to see if we’d got route. Cheese [one indecipherable word] & toast, jam & tea. Flight Plan. [underlined] Letter to Violet [/underlined]. Set out 10.45PM. Rations
[underlined] AUG 3rd TUES [/underlined]
Bed about 5.30. up at 1.15
[page break]
Soup; beef, spuds, peas; prunes & apricots stewed. Signed log. Compass swing. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Haircut. Sos; jam; tea. Flight on. Rations. Took off at 22.20.
[underlined] AUG. 4th. Wed. [/underlined]
Landed 04.45. Bacon & egg. Bed 7.0AM. up at 13.20. Soup (pea); beef, spuds & cab (LOUSY!!!!) sponge pud & treacle. Log not marked. I R & Ragdale tonight. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] took front fork out & cleaned it. Fish: jam & cake; tea. 3 bars choc (ration) didn’t get fags. Meat pie & cocoa. RAIN. Flying
[page break]
Scrubbed. Had a short run on bike. (760 mile on the clock) Bought Les, Ken & myself 1/2 a pint. Ken bought packets of crisps.
[underlined] AUG. 5th Thurs. [/underlined]
Porr. & egg on toast; tea. Signed log; astrograph. NAW tables and gen on “Y”. Meat & spud pie; spuds, cab; rice pud & prunes. CGI’s lecture – short and “SWEET” (P Y F O.) Flying times. Met gen (bod) Sat in crew bus talking to driver. Beans on toast; biscuits & jam. [underlined] Letter from Mary & to Ma. [/underlined]
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] AUG. 6TH Fri. [/underlined] [underlined] £5.10 PAY [/underlined] [/inserted]
Kellogs; bacon & fried bread. A/C recco; PT. [underlined] Letters from Elsie, Doris R & C [/underlined] Soup; spuds beans, cab, beef. Air test (OK.) Sardines on toast eto. NAV Briefing (La Bleche) Shower; changed socks, sos & pie & cocoa. Rain brief 9.30pm Ran around for torch eto. Put another suit on. Off at 23.50. returned Back 3.35.
[underlined] AUG. 7th. Sat [/underlined]
Charlie dug out at 11.0 Got up about 12-12.3. Shower & clean clothes. Soup; minced meat, spuds peas; rhubarb pie
[page break]
Log & mucking about. [underlined] Letter from Ma & Dennis [/underlined] Cheese savoury & toast jam, tea. Rain. Parcelled Laundry. Shep. Pie & tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Short cycle run 2 to 3 miles. Bed. 9.30!!!!!!
[underlined] AUG. 8TH. SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8.30. Porr; egg on toast tea. Air test of “Y”. Went up in rear turret. Charlie WOP. Ken and first F/Lt. Smith capt. A nice ship. Put SBA’s & D/F beacons onto new chart. QC & [one indecipherable word] card in “Y”. spare A/graph bulb U/S. Soup; spuds, cab, beef; prunes & apricots. Nickel cancelled. RAIN. Mucked about
[page break]
with A/graph bulbs & s sat bulbs & batteries. Made night log book up to date, was asked “What are Laurence & Thompson like?” More RAIN, Bags of [one indecipherable word] all own chart. Corned beef & salad; biscuits; jam & tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Toast eto. in Billet.
[underlined] AUG. 9TH. MON. [/underlined]
Didn’t have Bfast. Gee Room blanged shave, Soup; spuds, cab & beef; rice pud. [underlined] Letters from MA & Violet [/underlined]. Afternoon off. “San Francisco” Clark Gable & Jeanette Macdonald. Cheese on toast
[page break]
Jam sandwich, cake tea 3/- taxi back. IR & Ragdale. Back at 1-0PM. Bed about 3-0.
[underlined] AUG. 10TH TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 12-00 1-0. Soup; COFFEE spuds, cab, beef; rice pud. Hung around NAV section. Went out to Y. Changed. Sos & fried spuds, jam, biscuits & tea. 3/- taxi. 1pint. 1/9d at Victory George Brent “You don’t escape forever” also “Hi neighbour” 6d chips, 3/- taxi. Tea & biscuits in Chapel canteen. Bed about 12-15 or 12-30.
[underlined] AUG. 11TH. WED> [/underlined]
Up at 7-15 porr, beans
[page break]
& bacon: tea. Crew bus to Loughboro’ [one indecipherable word] for [one indecipherable word] dull. Coffee & toasted tea cake. Bulbs. 2 x 4 volts; 1x8V. 12 drawing ins. Bus back. Soup; beef, spuds, cab, currant pud. Air test in Y. Nav briefing. Routed to 40 miles from St. Nagaire. Pork pie; biscuits & tea. [underlined] Letter to MA & £10. [/underlined] Main briefing 9-0 PM Route swapped with Saltau. Made flight plan out for new route. Got away OK. Got across & back. Found by air searchlight. Fired Very cartridge off & they left us. Landed at 800 mls on cyclometer
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] 2/6d for “ripping” chute. [/underlined] [/inserted]
5-45 AM. Interogation[sic] etc. Unloaded front [one indecipherable word].
[underlined] AUG. 12TH THURS [/underlined]
Bed about 8-30 AM. Bacon & egg & tea. Got up 1-45 PM. Soup; spuds, cab [one indecipherable word]; currant pud. Shave. Log analysis. Potato cheese; cake & jam; tea. [underlined] No Mail. [/underlined] [underlined] Letter to Mary & Doris L [/underlined]. 1 pint in mess. Letter to Dad, started one to Ma.
[underlined] AUG. 13TH. Fri. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30 AM Mo chart log finished. Did a shot of Gee. Soup; stew, spuds & cake; [deleted] currant pie [/deleted] raisin tart. ([underlined] Ken & Charlie up at 12-30. [/underlined]) Compass swing on T.
[page break]
Swapped cyclometer over to “right” side of bike. [underlined] Letter to Ma & Pa. [/underlined] Mince meat & spuds; jam & tea. Bus into Loughboro, [one indecipherable word] taxi back. 1/9d at Odeon “House of Mystery” & Leslie Howard in “Escape to Happiness”. 4/- taxi back after Dance (2/6d)
[underlined] AUG. 14TH. SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30. Fetched out by “Yannay” fighter affiliation stbd engine went wonky. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] (£10 arrived.) Soup, beef, spuds. Cab; rice pud. No flight & route [sic] to do. Got permit for bike, & reg. parcel from home. Had tea then went on bus [inserted] Beans on toast [/inserted]
[page break]
Into Loughboro. Beans on toast; sandwiches; cakes & tea at Chapel Canteen. Had pint of beer. 2/- dance. Had a pretty good time. 2/6d taxi back at 23.59 hrs.
[underlined] AUG. 15TH SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8-30. Kellogs; beans & bacon & tea & [underlined] MARMALADE!!! [/underlined] Compass swing. Air to sea & self tow off Skegness. Managed to get dinner. Soup; beef, spuds, tomato; prunes & carnation milk. Did sweet FA in afternoon. “Grape” in AM”. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Eclipse of moon. Salad & meat roll; cocoa. Parceld [sic]
[page break]
Laundry.
[underlined] AUG. 16TH MON. [/underlined]
Up at 7-30 PM. Porr. Bacon & tomatoe; [sic] tea. Bus to Wymeswold. Frape!! To Rotterdam. Dinner at Wymeswold. Soup; stew, spuds, peas; rasein [sic] pud. Dinghy drill. Bus back. [underlined] 9d parcel to Ma. [/underlined] Put on a night flight to get astro shots. Cheese paste on toast; jam; tea. On grape so cancelled night flight. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] AUG. 17TH TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 7-20 AM. Porr; dried egg on toast. Bus to Wymeswold. Endex Grape. Stake,[sic] spuds, carrot; rice pud (1/2 done) Bus
[page break]
back. 1/- tea & cakes. in L’boro. Cheese on toast. Flight plan & gen. cocoa. 12 astro shots. Bombed Ragdale. Bacon & fried bread & egg: - cocoa.
[underlined] AUG. 18TH. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 9-45 (went to bed 5-30). Cleaned buttons, had shave, made log book up to date (30 astro AIR) Soup; beef, spuds, cab; stewed apricots. — ¬Party! In the mess P- [one indecipherable word] Peter beer cleaned up. Bed about 12-30 AM
[underlined] AUG. 19TH. [deleted WED[/deleted] [inserted THURS [/inserted] [/underlined]
Porr; fish; tea. Waited for transport. Went for mail. Bus arrived about 11-0 AM. Drafted
[page break]
kit at LNE stn. Meat pie, spuds, beans; choc pus. Clearence [sic] not finished. Potatoes & spam; jam & cake x 2. Bus into town. Kit at stn. 1/9d “The body disappeared” & Deanna Durbin in “The amazing Mrs Holliday “Bourn Vita. [sic] Bus back.
[underlined] AUG. 20TH. [deleted THURS[/deleted] [inserted FRI. [/inserted] [/underlined]
Up at 7-30. Poo; spuds & sos mashed. £11.15 [one indecipherable word] Clearance fully signed. Filled out at 295. Posted to Stradishal [sic] cancelled !! soup; beef, spuds, marrow; date & apple pie x2. Posted to Lindholme. [underlined] Ordly REFUSED to make passes eto out for us. [/underlined] Beans
[page break]
on toast; cake & jam. Bus in. 1/ and picture. “Went to Day Well” Humphrey Bogart & “Sweethearts of the Fleet”. Fish & Chips. Bus back Pt of Bass in the mess. Bed about 12-01 AM.
[underlined] AUG. 21ST Sat. [/underlined]
No bfast. In bed till 8-45. Shave. Went up to GIS. Passes ready [one indecipherable word] for 12.50 No’7 log books still to be signed. Signed by 11-0 AM. RAIN! Cycled into Loboro. Peas chips & sos (9d) Train out at 12-37 PM. Arr. Shot 2-15. Train out at 2-50. Carried kit across the wheeled bike
[page break]
{one indecipherable word]. Got kit bags in one g’ds van, put bike in the other. {2 indecipherable words] about 3-15. Carried one kit bag on bike other carried by a young chap outside stn. I gave him 1/-, Dad 2/6d. unpacked & [underlined] found oxygen tube missing! [/underlined] sorted a bit of kit out. [underlined] Wrote letter to Tom. [/underlined]
[underlined] AUG. 22ND SUN. [/underlined]
Woke up at 9-30. Got up at 10-30. [underlined] Posted letter to Tom. [/underlined] Saw Joyce Richardson. A lot of rain. Sorted & stuck in a few photos. Had tea then stuck in rest of the photos. Entered star shots in flight log book.
[page break]
[underlined] AUG. 23RD MON. [/underlined]
Up at 10.30. shave clean shirt & collar. Took suit & battle vest & cap to be cleaned (Ready Fri or Sat) P & P gone back to school. Fetched spuds for dinner. Read cowboy book. Went to town with Ma & Sallie. Saw Gran. Went in to see Grandpa. Bought B. D. cards for Dad. P & P came to meet us. RAIN. Went to Ross on trackless. Got back at 9.45. showed Dennis my stamps. Bed after bath about 12-30.
[underlined] AUG. 24TH TUES. [/underlined] DAD’s BD
Up at 11-0 AM. Washed bike & chalked cape. Looked
[page break]
Around for something for Dad & found a small strong – box. Found neither. Took Sallie into town with Ma. No plums or 1/2 pint. [underlined] 3 LETTERS from Dorus & one from Violet. [/underlined] (Letter to Ma from Doris too.) Went to Dance (1/6d) with Dad. 1/2 pint of bitter. Started “Red Gold” Bed 1-0 AM
[underlined] AUG. 25TH. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 10-0. Rain stopped me going to work. Shave. Finished “Red Gold”. Got to work at 3-30. £2:15d allowance. Reg & Jock Wright on afters. Went to Jack Trackers.
Emptied most of books out of trunk. Emptied small
[page break]
Toffee tin(s).
[underlined] AUG. 26TH. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 10 AM. Cashed money order for Ma & posted Dennis’ parcel. Fetched meat ration. Changed to brown suit. RAIN. Went to Elsie’. No one in. went across to Dennis. Went again to Elsie’s after tea. Only George in; E. gone to Wales for a holiday. Got “Modern Wonders” out & sorted them out.
[underlined] AUG. 27TH FRI [/underlined]
Up at 10-30. [underlined] Letters from Doris C & Mary. [/underlined] (Tom writing.) [one indecipherable word] eto from Mrs Wrights. 12/6d for seats at regent. 4d for cap being changed. Shaved. Went run around then went
[page break]
With P & Ma into town. Regent: - Jules Adrian & Grace Spero (Violin [inserted] BBC [/inserted] & Piano) Tubby Turner & Florence (H if its H okay with you H its H okay with me.) Dorothy Livesey ( ventriloquist) 4 Rich Sisters, Henry D Evans (Juggler.) Stanley Carter ([one indecipherable word] vocal) Jackie Raymond (impers. & Comedian.) Ben Blatt (SILENT comedian.)
[underlined] AUG. 28TH. SAT. [/underlined]
[underlined] Up at 12-0!! [/underlined] Slept till 11-0. Dad got day off. Read Tingo (Peter Orgil & Percy Pattle) 5/- for suit being cleaned. Took best suit in & fetched [one indecipherable word]. Calm. Showers!!! Went run up to Stagg & round. Chased back
[page break]
By shower. Went across to Dunn’s had supper there (spam)
[underlined] AUG. 29. SUN [/underlined]
Got up at 11-0. Had dinner & read book. Went run at 3-45 PM round Stagg & Dalton Magna & Parkgate & Grasbro (10 miles) Sweaty after it so put clean shirt on. Went to Gran’s for tea (plums etc.) Gave P & P. 2/- each for bank & YMCA.
[underlined] AUG. 30. MON. [/underlined]
Dad at home. Went to Gran [one indecipherable word] & to Mace’s. Went to [one indecipherable word]
[page break]
“arabian nights”
[underlined] AUG. 31st. TUES. [/underlined]
Up about 10 to 10-30. Went to Mrs Wrights for spuds. Went to Elsie’s. Went to OTD’s after dinner for bar to put on saddle bag. Went in to sce Reg & bus over at S P & T. Finished camera film. put bar on saddle bag. Packed. Finished library book.
[underlined] SEPT. 1. Wed. [/underlined]
[underlined] Letter from Doris [/underlined] (Corad) Up at 9-30. More packing. Ordered taxi. Hair cut. Put roll film
[page break]
Into Coop. taxi 2-15. Went down on bike after it. Train pulled out at 3-5, arr. Don 3-30. Transport out at 5-15. Unloaded & put in billet. Spam & jam & cake & tea. Went for a run down road for 2mls. 1/2 pint of beer in mess.
[underlined] Sept. 2nd, THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 7-40. Kellogs & sos. For breakfast. Form filling & F F I. Started letter to Violet. Cab, spuds, beef; sponge pud & treacle. 6646 for oxygen tube and a bit of gen. 3-0 PM S/C for home. 22mls
[page break]
Went to LNE stn. To get times of trains. Got home at 5-30. Went with M; D; & P & P to see “Beauty on Duty” at the regent. Bed at 12-00 AM
[underlined] Wrote & posted letter to Violet. [/underlined]
[underlined] Sept. 3rd FRI. [/underlined] [underlined] LANDING ON ITALY. [/underlined]
Up at 6-15 am. Bacon sandwich & tea. Train at 6-55. Arr. Don 7- 40. Had to go down & up steps & hand ticket in. 1/7d for bike. 11mls to camp. Did it in 40 mins (16.5 MPH) (Did 9 mls in 30 mins as part of run) Walked round wood behind barracks.
[page break]
Cup of tea & sandwich. Blackberrying in wood. Stew, cab & spuds; rice pud with raisins. Short session of drill. [underlined] Wrote letter to Doris C., Mary & Elsie. [/underlined] Sos. & bacon, jam & bread for tea. Tool letters to YM. Went thro’ [sic]wood with Charlie, Joe & Bob. Went nearly as far as Racecourse Doncaster. A nice short cut. Should be a total of 8-9 mls altogether. 2 oranges from mess.
[underlined] Sept. 4th. SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 7.45. porr & fish. Swept hut out. Tea &
[page break]
sandwich. Flying clothing. 2prs. Gloves; a full up oxygen tube (14/1d); mike & earphones; whistle floating torch & batteries. Beef, spuds, cab & beans; bread pud; tea. Berlin last night & France 22 lost ( lowest for quite a while.) 1.000 tons in 20 mins. Went into wood with the lads. Set off home 2-55. Via Bawtry. 23ml. W 4-45 Tool George films & 2 Letters for Dick & Les. Walked down to stn with Ma, Pa, P. P & Sal. No train in AM. Bill Tull, new RAF lad billeted at home. Dennis gone on leave.
[page break]
[underlined] Sept. 5TH, SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 6-30. Set out 7-13 ar 8-50 via Bawtry (22.7 mmls) walk around to the wood after sweeping up hut. Beef, spuds, cab & Carrot; apricot pie & butter cream: cheese & tea. RAIN Set off 3-10 thru’ woods Don. Ar 4-55 (19.7mls) Went to Gran’s & collated books.
[underlined] Sept. 5TH MON. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30. Set off 10-35 saw Annie. Followed oil lorry from [one indecipherable word] arr. 11.50 ( 19.7mls = 16 MPH.) Soup: beef, spuds, cab; choc. Pud. Route March & rough & tumble.
[page break]
Meat roll & spuds; jam & cake. Marlene Deitrich [sic] in “Pittsburg” [sic] 1/2 pt. in mess.
[underlined] Sept. 7th. Tues. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Bacon & spuds. Short march after roll call. Tea & scone from hut. Walk in wood. Beef, spuds, cab, stewed apricots & rice. Shave. Letters for Dods “Lecture” on rifle! Changed & set off for home 3.25. arr. 5.05. Sorted a few work books out. 1/6d for Dance at Oddfellows.
[underlined] Sept. 8th Wed. [/underlined]
Up at 6.15. Set off 7-5
[page break]
Arr. 8-25 Went for short walk, read in field, walked back. Tea & cake off YMCA truck. Finished “Paper Wedding” Cold meat, onion, lettuce, beet, spuds; apple pies Tea. Potato picking. Cheese savoury & toast, Jam & cake; tea [triple underlined ITALY SURRENDED [sic] [/underlined] Choc & sweet ration. [underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined] meat & spud mashed & minced, & coffee. Finished letter to Doris. Took it to Gd. Room. Bed at 11.0 PM.
[underlined] Sept. 9th. THURS. [/underlined]
Porr; sos & mash. Spud
[page break]
Digging found two baby bones, soup; beef, spuds, carrot; currant pud. [one indecipherable word] to feed [one indecipherable word] Set off at 2-0 PM. Arr. 3-30. Ma gone to Sheff. To see A. Edie. Went & posted letter for Les met Ma on the way. Went with her to Mrs Wrights (apples etc) Ma; P & P as pleased as punch with the hares. Managed to feed them with fountain pen filler. Shave. Mended Dyna (?) Bath.
[underlined] Sept. 10th. TUES. MA’S BD.[/underlined]
Up at 6.30. set off 7-7 arr 8-50 or 55. Head wind & soaked with rain,
[page break]
[underlined] Bob got scarlet fever! [/underlined] Gas lecture in billet. Still pouring. Kidney, spuds, beans & cabbage; choc pud. Playing cards in Billet. Still raining. Spuds & egg; jam & swiss roll. More card playing. (Knockout, 7’s eto.) Meat & beans. [double underlined [ Letter to Doris Ryall. [/underlined] milk & biscuits from YMCA. Bed at 9-30.
[underlined] Sept. 11th. SAT. [/underlined]
More rain. Up at 7-45. Porr. Egg (real) & bacon. Duty crew. Finished “The Dollar Chasers”. Soup; beef, spuds, car, cab; rice pud. [underlined] Wrote
[page break]
letter to Doris. Sos & mash; cake & tea. air officer commanding (A/Cd) been on visit with W/Cdr. Got ready for F/Es coming in. arr just before supper. Sent them to supper first. Beef & cabbage & Cocoa. Set all lads up with huts. Made cocoa & toast on fire (?) Cpl. came in chat & had a cup. Left Ken in charge & went to bed 11.0 PM
[underlined] Sept. 12. SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 7.30. Porr & first shave; boot button cleaning. Then got passes signed. I got ‘em stamped in SHQ. Ken got ‘em entered
[page break]
[inserted] SAW MONTY from work [/inserted]
& away we went. Left at 10.30 AM. No train it 4-15 PM. Arr home 12.05 PM. Dod, P & P gone to O & D’s Ma at home. Hares still alive & feeding ok on pen filler. Went short run on bike. Took Sallie for walk. Dod on fire watch.
[underlined] Sept. 13th MON. [/underlined]
Up at 12-30. Went to Coop & took Sallie with me, Saw Alwyn & Princes Royal. Went to work. Drizzle.
[underlined] Letter from Doris (R) & Violet. [/underlined] Storm; rain & hail. Took a couple of shots of [one indecipherable word] on table. Bed 12.15
{page break]
[underlined] Sept. 14th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 9.30. Shaved. Alwyn came 10.30. showed me photos he’d taken. Went up to school. Went for haircut to Stacey’s. More rain. [underlined] Letter from Morag. [/underlined] More rain. Went to ATC. Intended going to dance but went home instead. Dennis writing letters. Bed 12.AM.
[underlined] Sept. 15th. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 6-AM. Set off 6-40. 3/- train for self & bike to Doncaster. Arr. Donc. 7-45. Set off for camp 7-40. Arr. 8-10 to 15. Joe arrived, Ken followed. Nearly left bike on R’ham stn. Guard put
[page break]
emergency brake on. Went for walk in Wood. Tough beef, spuds & turnip; kinda sorta trifle; tea, went for another walk in the wood. Tea; dripping & tart from hut. Les arrived. Cheese & spuds 7 Beet; jam & tea. Dick just arrived. [underlined] Letter to Violet & Mary. [/underlined] Charlie rolled in for supper. [underlined] Started letter to Doris [/underlined]
[underlined] Sept. 16th. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 7-45. Corn flakes & sos, tea. PT & walk in wood. Beef spuds. Beans: Bannana [sic] sponge pud & tea. Route March towards
[page break]
Finningley. Tea in mess. Sos roll & chips; jam. Payed £5. (two indecipherable words] Set off home at 7-0 PM. No train so had to cycle all the way. Arr home 8-40. Ma & family gone to No. 8. Les & H there so they came back after supper.
[underlined] Sept. 17th FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 6-35. Set off for stn 6-45. 1/4d ticket to Don. Arr. 7.40. set off from Don at 7-50. Arr camp 8-25. Ate teacake Ma had packed & had piece of parkin. Billet orderly. Coffee &
[page break]
[inserted] Boston Park to Blyton. [/inserted]
Scone from little hut. Soup; beef, spuds, [double underlined] turnip [/underlined] cream & apricot pie. Took clearance chit round. FFI. Rain ! Tea & cake from hut. Sos & tomato; jam & biscuit: apricot & cream pie. [underlined] Letter to Doris [/underlined] . Sos & tomato & coffee. 2 raw tomatoes as well. Packed kit after posting letters for lads.
[underlined] Sept. 18th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 7-45. Kellogs & sos; tea. Finished kit. Bikes not put on lorry. Bus to Blyton. Roll call & talk by C.G.I. Stew spuds & carrots; currant pud. CGI in intel library. MD on VO first aid kit & oxygen.
[page break]
Gen talk by SWO. Filled form in regarding “valuables” Pay accounts. Spuds & sos; treacle & tea. 6d on bus into Gainsboro’[Gainsborough] 1/9d picts [sic] Ritz Bros. also Boris Karloff. 1/4d chips & fish. 1/- bus Charlie & self. Had pint of beer on Charlie.
[underlined] Sept. 19th SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8-15. 8-45 parade. Tool shoes in for repair. Beef, spuds, cab, rice pud. Oxygen mask check. Swept hut out. Sorted flying kit and marked it. Read. Shave. Egg [inserted] DRY [/inserted] on fried bread; jam& jam roll; tea. Glourious sun
[page break]
Made bed. Stew & spuds; tea. “Silver Queen Geog [sic] Brent. Pretty Good
[underlined] Sept. 20th MON. [/underlined]
Up at 7-15. Beans on toast, marmalade & tea. BBE. Went round plane fuselage. Stew, spuds, carrot currant pud. R’ from WAAF in mess recognises me. [underlined] Letters from Ma & Doris. [/underlined] One kipper fried, tea. Bus in 1/9d [underlined] one indecipherable word [/underlined] Ronald Coleman & Greer Garson in “ Random harvest” Donald Duck. Pint of beer. Fish & chips. Bus back.
[underlined] Sept. 21st TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 8-AM. thus No bfst. D.R. Compass &
[page break]
Gec Box. Nice bit of beef, baked spuds, carrots; apricot pie. Went in Halifax. Plot to Stuttgart. Cheese & spuds; marmalade, tea. [underlined] Wrote letter to Ma. [/underlined] spuds & minced beef (?) Hedy Lamarr & Walt [sic] Pidgeon in “ White Cargo”
[underlined] Sept. 22nd WED. [/underlined]
Up at 7-15. Bacon & fried bread; porr & tea. C&L. duel & solo 4 hrs Skeg & back. [circled G.] Fish & chips & peas; ginger pud; tea. Did plot from 3-45 to 4-45. [underlined] Onion!!! [/underlined] meat pie & beet; tea. Bus in. 1/2 pint. 1.9d picts “ Bumsteads” & “ My Son {one indecipherable word]” Bus back again. Cook loves
[page break]
going in billet.
[underlined] Letter from Violet.} {/underlined]
[underlined] Sept. 23. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 8-15. NO Bfst. Plotting. Beef, spuds, carrots; jam roll, water. Lecture with Ken & Orly on nar etc. finished plot. Went to see S W O Not in! so went to see C G I’s cpl re F/Sgt. May get it after 1 years NOT burnt the cheese on toast; jam; jam roll & tea. Natter in hut. Sos & spuds & tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma (?) [/underlined] bags of washing in the hut.
[underlined] Sept. 24th FRI.[/underlined]
Up at 7-15. Bacon & tomato; tea. C&L & G stooge. Filey, York, Shef. [Sheffield] P’boro [Peterborough], Skeg, Filey, Lincoln, Castle D. Base. Spuds, cab, [one indecipherable word] mutton, nice cup of “Gen” tea& talk with WAAF’s Drizzle. [underlined] Letter 7 photos from Ma. [/underlined] Shave & wash. RAIN, Cottage pie; cake & jam; tea. Asked h/lom girl to go to dance with me. Already has an AIRMAN on camp so she said NO. RAIN. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Cottage pie again & tea. Talked to [deleted] Brenda [/deleted] Edna Schofield in mess. Chopped firewood up.
[underlined] Sept. 25th SAT. [/underlined]
#up at 8-15. Made bed & swept up. [one indecipherable word]
[page break]
New plot to Neuremburg. [sic] Beef. Spuds, peas; sponge pud. Bomb lecture & [circled G]. Fish; cake & jam; tea. Went to cinema but no show till [sic] 8-0 PM. Went to see “Bambi” 2/- for 4 seats. Toast eto. Over stove.
[underlined] Sept. 26th SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8-15. Washed only G & more G. drew chart & maps for PM. Beef, spuds, carrot; rice pud & apricot. C&L’s with S/Ldr. Landed at another drome. [underlined] GEE stooge became a “dual” cross country for ME [/underlined]. [underlined] Letter to Violet [/underlined] spam & spuds; treacle
[page break]
swiss roll; tea. Went short run. Chips & toast in billet.
[underlined] Sept. 27th MON. [/underlined]
Porr & kipper; tea. Cont. plot. Beef, spuds, carrots; currant pud; tea. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] . Bombing lecture. astro compass, finished plot. Cheese & spuds; lemon curd; tea. “Nine Men” film in camp. Toast eto in hut
[underlined] Sept. 28th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 10-0. Shave! Drew G chart & maps. Beef, spuds, carrots; currant pud. Plotting to Pilsonburg when flying was cancelled. Spuds & MEAT 9??) tea, jam &
[page break]
jam roll. Went to picts. No power, No show. Sos roll & spuds; cocoa, [underlined] Reg parcel from Ma. [/underlined] Sorted laundry out. Toast eto in hut.
[underlined] Sept. 29th WED. [/underlined]
Up 8-15. Wash. Plotting all AM. Stew, spuds, carrots; apricots & [deleted] rice [/deleted] sauce. Gee; W/T aids eto. [underlined] Letters from Ma, Doris & Elsie. [/underlined] Fish & fried spuds, jam & tea. Bus in. “ Tomorrow we Live” Occupied France & escape eto. Fish & chips; 1/2pt. to wash ‘em down.
[underlined] Sept. 30th THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 9-0 AM. plotting
[page break]
flying washed. Almost finished plot. Beef, spuds, cab, peas; ginger pud; tea. G all afternoon. Looked over logs done. Fried egg on fried bread; treacle & tea. £5. 4s pay. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Talent contest in Mess. [underlined] Very [/underlined] good. Brenda back.
[underlined]Oct, 1st. FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 7-45. Porr; & bacon & spuds; tea. Shave!! Finished plot then did [one indecipherable word]. G ( total 13hrs) Supposed to take [underlined] OFF [/underlined] 11-00. Took off 12-25. Did 1:55 [two indecipherable words] Grimsby, Scunthorpe etc. Mutton, spuds & cab; stewed apple & sauce.
[page break]
No mail. Plotted route to Berlin ready to start tomorrow. Sardines on toast & beetroot; jam & tea. “Pride of the Yankees” Gary Cooper Very good. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 2nd. SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 8-15. No bfst. Plotting to Berlin. Beef & spuds, cab; ginger pud. More plotting. [underlined] Cleaned Bike!!![/underlined] ([underlined] (1.300) [/underlined] not quite finished plot. Meat pie & spuds; jam & tea. No mail. Date ? with Amie! [underlined] Letter to Ma & Doris. [/underlined] Meat pie & spuds; cocoa. Sing song in the Mess. Amie!!
[underlined] Oct. 3rd, Sun. [/underlined]
Up at 8-30. Wash only. Gee
[page break]
& speed test. ( 65?) Beef, spuds, carrots; stewed apple & cake with Carnation milk. Finished plot. Showed Charlie how to use computor {sic] again. Cottage pie & jam roll, jam & tea. Shave. Bob Hope in “The Ghost Breakers” again!! Then went to dance ended up cutting bread on bread machine. Had a couple of dances with Pat. Parcelled laundry (?) 12-0 mid night [sic]
[underlined] Oct. 4th MON. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45. Lectures in Intel library. Stew, spuds, cab; raisin pud. More lectures (ASD as well) Welsh rarebit;
[page break]
treacle , jam roll & tea. 2/ 6d stamps; 9d parcel home. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Sos roll& fried spuds; {deleted] tea [/deleted] jam roll; cocoa. Short ride on bike, but short by rain. [underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 5th. TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 7-40. Porr; bacon & spuds. Lectures again. Beef, spuds, carrot & cab, rice pud & prunes. [underlined] Letter from Violet. [/underlined] More lectures. Had plots retaken! Had look at [one indecipherable word] & generator. Meat roll & spuds: jam & tea. Cleaned bike & altered brakes.
[page break]
cheese & spuds; cocoa. Short run on bike. Messing about with lamp.
[underlined] Oct. 6th WED. [/underlined]
Up at 8-40 AM, lectures, posted Joe’s & Stewith’s parcels. 2/6d book of stamps (5/-). Stew., spuds, carrots; sponge pud. More lectures. Rain . sardines on toast; treacle, tea. Stores, got new shirt & pr. Socks and a piece to patch pants. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Stew, sos roll & spuds.[deleted] tea [/deleted] cocoa. “ China Girl” très bon.
[underlined] Oct. 7th THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 7-40. Porr; liver & fried spuds. Lecture &
[page break]
Kite flying. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Beef, spuds, carrot & turnip; currant pud. Lecture on bombing [one indecipherable word]. Eggs? On toast, jam & tea. Bus in . 4/9d at State Ritz Broom. Not too bad. 1/2pt. fish & chips. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Bus back. Given mouse cat by then.
[underlined] Oct. 8th Fri. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45. Toast & honey! in hut. A.S.R lecture. Shave [underlined] Reg. Parcel from Ma [/underlined] Stew, spuds, carrot; choc sponge pud. Dinghy & parachute drill in lane out at dispersal. Sos & mash; jam; tea 3 ORANGES from NAAFI. Unwrapped parcel
[page break]
“Squadron Leader X” at stn cinema. 2 sos rolls; gravy, tea. 4 to 5 miles run towards [one indecipherable word]. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 9th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 8.45. made bed up. PT? at 9-15. 2 cups milk at farm. [underlined] Letters from Ma, Doris & Tommy Wilcox. [/underlined] Brian Donbarord been Billet! Beef, spuds, carrots, sponge pud. Football match. LOST. Sos, tomato, toast; jam roll & goosgab jam; tea. Bike saddle. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Sos & mash, tea. Run inti Gainsbro on bike. 6 mls each way.
[page break]
Took 1hr [inserted] for [/inserted] bath [one indecipherable word]. Couldn’t be bothered writing letters so sat on bed, after making same, and read papers & comics.
[underlined] Oct. 10th Sun. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45. Didn’t wake till 8-0. Ditch filling from 10-30 till din. Beef, spuds, carrots; rice pud & apple; tea. “ Brains Trust” a waste of time! Cheese & spag on toast; jam roll & Jam. [underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined] Sos rolls & cocoa, shaved. Parcelled laundry. Cocoa & toast in hut.
[page break]
[underlined] Oct. 11 MON . [/underlined] {deleted] GRAN M’S B.D [/deleted]
Up at 8-45. Wash. Took laundry into Blyton (10d) Ditch filling. [underlined] Letter from Ma enclosing D’s letter & B.D. card for Gran. [/underlined] Soup; stew, spuds, peas; ginger pud. Laid on bed & read some comics. [underlined] Posted B D card to Gran. [/underlined] Egg on toast ; jam & tea. “ Star Spangled Rhythm” [sic] an all star film. Minced meat & spuds & cocoa for supper. [underlined] Letter to Violet. [/underlined] 1400 miles on bike.
[inserted] GRAN M’s B.D [/inserted] [underlined] Oct. 12 TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45 or 9-0. Lecture by MD on [one indecipherable word]. Beef, spuds, cab & turnip; Currant
[page break]
sponge pud; coffee. Reading in Billet. Rough house. Cheese & potatoes; jam roll; jam. Tea. Shave. Bill Camper & crew arrived. Bus into Gainsboro. “ life & Death of Col. Blimp.” Very good. Fish & chips. Cpl. WAAF on my [one indecipherable word] in [one indecipherable word]. Toast in hut
[underlined] Oct. 13th. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 7-30. Porr; bacon & toast; tea. C&L in [one indecipherable word] . NO GEE for short x country. Beef, spuds, carrots; stewed apple. Cleaned bike. Took crank out & adjusted pedal. Fish & spuds; tea. Took
[page break]
Doreen & cpl to bus stop. Readjusted crank, short run to check. [underlined] Letter to Ma. Letter from Ma.[/underlined] Sonja Heini in “ Katina” with John Wayne [sic].
[underlined] Oct. 14th. THURS [/underlined]
Up at 9-45. Putting border around roadway. Stew, spuds, carrot & turnip; choc (?) pud. [underlined] Letter from Doris Collins. Letter to Doris. [/underlined] Went to E – bay to find out if anything was wrong with engines. Fish cake & fried spuds; biscuits & jam; tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Pay [one indecipherable word] £5.4s. Minced meat, spuds; tea & cocoa. Started letter to Doris (Canada).
[page break]
[underlined] Oct. 15. FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 9-15. Went to do dinghy drill. NO kites. Beef, spuds & swede; stewed apple, tart & Cust. NO flight but made edging round roads. [underlined] NO MAIL. [/underlined] Meat pie & spuds, tea. [underlined] Finished letter to Doris. [/underlined] sos & spuds cocoa. “ Priorities on Parade” très bon. Popeye {one indecipherable word] & the Gun”!!
[underlined] Oct. 16th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 9-15. Made bed up & swept up. Flew from 12-0 till 2.0 PM. Stew, spuds, carrots; sponge pud & tea. [underlined] Letter from M. [/underlined] Cleaning up buttons eto. Meat pie & spuds, jam eto.
[page break]
Bus into Gainsboro. 4 pints altogether, lads had lot of whiskey too. Bus back after fish & chip supper
[underlined] Oct. 17th Sun. [/underlined]
Up at 7-25. Porr; bacon & beans. Bus in rain [one indecipherable word] not’ham. Lunch at TVSC. Dinghy, raining & yachting on Trent. {one indecipherable word]. Bus back. Beef, peas, fried spuds; cocoa. “Story of Stalingrad & “Lucky Jordan”.
[underlined] Oct. 18th MON. [/underlined]
Up at 10-0 AM. sorted out trunk & swept round bed. SHAVE in COLD water. Stew , spuds, cab, beans; raisin roll& cust.; coffee. [underlined] New [/underlined]
[page break]
[underlined] Mess. [/underlined] Bombing up. SBC’s & 4,000 lb’r . meat & spuds, minced! Jam & tea. [underlined] Letter from & too[sic] Ma £11 [/underlined] Beet & cheese; cocoa. Sorted out flying kit.
[underlined] Oct. 19th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 7-20. Porr; bacon & beans. Flying. X country. Took off 11-30: landed 16-15. (4.45 hrs.) Fish & mashed spuds; tea. [underlined] Letter from Violet. [/underlined] Veronica Lake in “ I Married a Witch” also American Army film. Rain Storm. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 29th WED.[/underlined]
Up at 7-20. Kellogs; [one indecipherable word] tea. Went back to bed till 10-15. Shave. Took
[page break]
new kit & log book to NAV. Section. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Stew, spuds, cab; beans; choc. Pud; coffee. Bus in Shops shut!! Coffee & sandwiches & bar choc, Snooker. “Man in Grey” Very Good. Similar to the [one indecipherable word]. Went to the State to DANCE!! Fish & chips & bus back. [underlined] Letter to Ma.[/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 21st THURS.[/underlined].
Up at
7-45. Kellogs; sos & mash. Dinghy drill (Made it in 20 secs) Parcelled laundry. Beef, spuds, swede, carrots; currant pud. [underlined] Letter from Ma.[/underlined] [deleted] [underlined] Letter to Ma.[/underlined [/deleted] Geog’s photos included
[page break]
Took laundry in to post office. Night C&L. Meat pie & potted meat hotted up.
[underlined] Oct. 22nd Fri.[/underlined]
Up at 8-45. Went to Binbrook to pick up Martinet. Air to air firing. Stew, spuds, peas; jam roll & carnation. Briefing for Bullseye. Cheese & spuds; treacle. Reg parcel from home. Took off 19-00. Recalled after 1hr. but didn’t get it till 22.00 (approx) Homed on GEE & descended on it through cloud. Bacon & egg; tea (good!!) RAIN!!! Photos included in parcel.
[page break]
[underlined] Oct. 23rd. SAT.[/underlined]
Up at 1-0 PM. Rain. Stew, spuds & carrots; sponge pud (didn’t eat.) Went with Ken to see about X. Country & last nights Bullseye ( not too bad) X. C wasted. Ken did link exercise & then I did a bit. [underlined] 2 Letters from Ma. [/underlined] Liver & onion; marmalade & tea. 2/6d choc ration & cigs. [underlined] Letter to Ma.[/underlined] Cocoa for supper. “ No time for love” Fred MacMurray & [one indecipherable word] Claudette Colberg. One big laugh.
[underlined] Oct. 24th SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 9-10. Kellogs; bacon & fried bread. [underlined] Finished letter to Ma. [/underlined] ( 18 PC of each negative)
[page break]
[underlined] Mas Card & shirt letter to Doris. [/underlined] Making logs up to date. Shave & cleaned bike. Beef, spuds, peas, prunes & cust; coffee. Finished “The Great Refusal” Maxwell Grey. Got nearly everything ready for Bullseye. WASHED. Salmon & spuds, mixed jam : tea. Pulled Pop’s 3 speed to kite & got it to go. [underlined] Xmas Card to Mr & Mrs & Misses Ryall.[/underlined] Bacon for Supper. Picts [underlined] FULL HOUSE!!![/underlined] [underlined] Xmas Card, photo & short letter to Norah.[/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 25th MON.[/underlined]
Up at 11-45. Meat & spud pie
[page break]
spuds;; carrots; rice pud & raisins; coffee. Reg parcel from Ma. X Country scrubbed, readjusted Pop’s 3 speed. Cheese & spuds, cake & jam; tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma.[/underlined] Dumplin [sic] ( of sort) & stew; coffee. “Spring time in the Rockies ”Betty Grable & John Wayne, Carmen Miranda & Cesar Romero also Harry James. Pint of Beer with Pop. Rough & tumble in hut.
[underlined] Oct. 26th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 7-30 AM. All Bran; bacon & fried spuds; tea. Went back to bed. Up again at 10-45. [one indecipherable word] in Crew room. [underlined] Letter from Doris.[/underlined]
[page break]
Beef. Spuds, cab, turnip; jam roll & coffee. Flight wasted again. Wash, shave & clean up. Had tea then caught bus into town. “Hello Frisco!” Alice Faye, John Wayne & Jackie Oakie. 2 pints & a whiskey to celebrate [underlined] Fred’s B.D.[/underlined] [underlined] Posted letter to Doris. [/underlined] Went to dance 6d of chips. WALKED home.
[underlined] Oct. 27th WED. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Porr. & fish; tea. Went back to bed till 11- AM. Pestered by KEN, Les & Pop till I got up. Stew, spuds, carrot & cab; stewed apple & cream; coffee. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined]
[page break]
Made flight plan out [one indecipherable word] for Co & W/V. Cheese , beet, carrots; jam & tea. Went on link trainer 55 mins. 2 beam figure 8 ts. Made TAS table out for RAS 160 & 170
[underlined] Oct. 28th THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 12-55 PM. Beef, spuds, (baked) peas; sponge pud. Flight washed for tonight. Fried spam & spuds, jam & tea. Pay parade & BULL lecture by CGI. Meat & spud mixed & cocoa. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Oct. 29th FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 8-o AM. Kellogs; sos & spuds; tea. SHAVE! Went to crew room then went
[page break]
to NAV section with Charlie. Started plot with him. Minced meat, spuds, carrot, rice pud & prunes. [underlined] Letter from Home. [/underlined] Went back to nav section, started Stuttgart plot. CGI disbelieved Ken when he said we were in NAV section. Sos roll & spuds; treacle; tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] {one indecipherable word] doing links. Sos roll, spuds, & [one indecipherable word] egg; cocoa. Pulled CGI to bits again,
[underlined] Oct. 30th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 8-15 AM. Continued Stuttgart plot. Packed up at 12-25 hrs. meat & spud pie, spuds, turnip; custard; tea
[page break]
Charlie & I finished plot. X Country scrubbed. Link engaged. Sos & spuds; marmalade & tea. finished plot. X Country finished plot. [underlined] Letter from Ma. Letter to Ma & Dod. [/underlined] “Severn days leave” Victor Mature eto
[underlined] Oct. 31st Sun. [/underlined]
Up at 7-0 AM.
Porr: fried egg & fried bread; tea. [underlined] Letters to Tommy, Dennis, Violet & Elsie. [/underlined] Beef, spuds, cab; cust & plum pud; coffee. Cinema show “Forest Rangers” Paulette Goddard + Fred MacMurray. Seen it before, but its [sic] good. Ham & spam, beet & raw carrot; marmalade & tea. Made parcel up
[page break]
to send home. Spam [one indecipherable word] beet; cocoa. An hours link. ( beam & rough air IF.) RAIN
[underlined] NOVEMBER 1st. MON. [/underlined]
Up at 2-15 AM. Kellogs; bacon & fried bread; tea. Parade again & perimiter [sic] track. Drew DR comp diagram in rate book. Minced meat, spuds, carrots, stewed apples & cust; tea. [underlined] 1/1d Parcel Too [sic] Ma. Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Cleaned bike AGAIN. 4 oranges & 3 Jam rolls, writing pad. Welsh rarebit without toast; jam roll; tea. Washed & changed but bus to Lea changed so that
[page break]
there wasn’t room for Ken & I. more spuds & cheese; cocoa. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Nov. 2nd. TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 7-20 AM. Porr; bacon fried bread; tea. Parade again at 7-45. [underlined] Wrote letter to Doris & Tommy. [/underlined] Enclosing photo with both. [underlined] Letter from Ma. Parcel from Doris [/underlined] Stew spuds, carrots, beans; currant roll & cust, tea. Started letter to Ma. Played whist with Ken, Dick & Les. Minced meat; spuds; jam, tea. Bus in & back. Had Pat on my knee on way back. “ for ever & a day” all star film. Paderewski short.
[page break]
[underlined] Mon 3rd WED. [/underlined]
Up at 9-0 AM. Shave in mess. [underlined] Letter from Doris & Norah. [/underlined] Sunshine. Beef, spuds, beans, onion; rice pud & raisins; coffee. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] X Country improbable. 10 sun shots. Charlie, Dick & myself. Worked ‘em out as well. X Country cancelled. Celery, spuds & meat pie; [two indecipherable words] & tea. Link trainer for 1/2 hr. “T” test. Supposed to meet Pat at 9.30 pint of beer in Mess. Xmas cake that Doris sent. Put almond icing on it and cut it into even pieces.
[underlined] Nov. 4th. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 7-45!!! Porr; egg on fried bread; tea. [underlined] Letter to Mary. [/underlined] Watched lads play whist. Meat pie, spuds, cab, jam roll & custard; coffee. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Flight Plan X Count. Cancelled at 4-15 PM. Salmon, carrot [one indecipherable word] celery, jam; tea. Bus into town FREE!! “ Flying Tigers” Fair to Middlin [sic]. 1 1/2 pints. Good sing song in bus
[underlined] Nov. 5th. Fri. [/underlined]
Up about 9 to 9.30. [underlined] Shave! Letter to Ma. [/underlined]Bovril 3/9d. Beef, spuds, carrot; suet pud: coffee. [underlined] Letter from Ma
[page break]
& Violet; P.C. from Gran. 2 Reg parcels from Ma.[/underlined] Flight plan. Tea at 3-30. Sos & spuds; treacle; tea. Got back 9-0 PM Bacon & egg; toast & tea,
[underlined] Nov. 6th SAT. [/underlined]
Up for Bfst. Kellogs; bacon & fried bread. Back to bed till 11-0 AM. Being cleared. Took sextant in & gave particulars. Beef, spuds & beans; currant pud; coffee. [underlined] Parcel from home 1/1d. [/underlined] Fetched flying kit [one indecipherable word] harness it in. Got stores & [one indecipherable word] signature. Sight log book signed also flying log & link! Beans on toast; tea
[page break]
Peach jam; cake. Quick change (battle dress trousers.) Bus in. ( 2/6d) Theatre (8/9) 1/2 pt. bitter. NO chips & NO SINGSONG on bus back. Packing till 12-15 AM
[underlined] Nov. 7th SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0 AM. Kellogs; bacon, tea. Finished “cleaning” . Blank etc, [one indecipherable word] SWO, mess adj. accounts. Completed packing. Beef. Spuds. Carrot; stewed apple & “PINK” sauce; tea. Transport to Binbrook then back to Ludford Magna. Billeted in hut. Sardines, celery, spuds; Jam, tea. Mess very cold. Made bed up & [inserted] made [/inserted] fire. [underlined] Nov. 4th. THURS. [/underlined]
Fish, celery & beet; tea.
[page break]
Unpacking.
[underlined] Nov. 8th MON. [/underlined]
Up at about 8-30. No bfst. Went to Sqdn office then to disap office. Gone in [one indecipherable word] Went into see Wing Co; M.D.; Pay accounts. Din:- pea soup; stew, spuds, peas, jam tart, tea. Saw Asst Flight Commander. Tea:- cheese savourie [sic] treacle; cake & tea. Bus into Louth. “ Dead Men Tell No Tales” & “ Enemys Agent” Cider. Bus back. Glass Port.
[underlined] Nov. 9th TUES. [/underlined]
Porr; fish cake; tea. Thermos & torch. Read Nav order book. Soup; beef, spuds
[page break]
Carrot; sweet, Nav equip, new flying boots. Harness, Mae West. A.P.I. gen from Cpl. Shep pie & peas; biscuits, jam roll; tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma. Pop & Violet. [/underlined] Chips & peas, cocoa. 2 route telephone line gen on X Country.
[underlined] Nov. 10th WED. [/underlined]
Up at 7-0 AM. Kellogs; bacon & beans. Got maps & G Charts. Saw S/Ldr Moody then started flight plan. Took off in the end at 11-15. GEE went US at end of long leg. API. Wizard. Kept pretty near to track from pin points. Back at 3-30 PM. Had to loose [sic] height over
[page break]
Louth because cloud obscured base. Spuds, beet, fried spam; jam & jam roll, tea. [underlined] SHOWER.[/underlined] Stew & spuds; cocoa
[underlined] Nov. 11th THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 8-30. Swung K – King with comp. adjuster. Flight plan to WEST COTT. Dinner. Flight washed. NO kite. Flight plan for X Count. Had tea. Got out to T only to find it in bits. Finaly [sic] went in. I. NO LOOP & GEE U/S. & NO ASTRO TIME. Egg on fried bread & chips; tea.
[underlined] Nov. 12TH Friday. [/underlined]
Up 7-30. Kellogs; bacon & fried spuds. Gave gen to
[page break]
NAV Officer, went to special sigs. NO gen. went to GEE dept. regarding I – ITE. Started F. Plan for X count. Bullseye cancelled some soup; fish, spuds, peas, carrots; stewed apricots. [underlined] Letter from Ma, Doris & air letter. [/underlined] Filled “valuables” list in. Flight plan for Bullseye. Egg on toast 7 CHIPS; JAM; CAKE. TOOK OFF 17-35. Mission. [underlined] NO - 1196 [/underlined] landed 22.40 (5.05 hrs)
[underlined] Nov. 13TH SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 9-45 AM. Shave. Took log & chart in. soup; steak, spuds, carrot & cab; rice pud & prunes. No mail & nothing doing. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Rain. Sardines
[page break]
toast, beet & spuds; jam & tea. [underlined] Letter to Doris.[/underlined] Std. one to Norah. Rice pud & prunes, cocoa. Watch repairing. 2/6d Xmas cards.
[underlined] Nov. 14TH SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 10-0 AM. Cocoa [one indecipherable word] Went up to NAV. Naut doing. Soup ; beef, spuds, Cab, carrot ; jam tart; milk. Locker insp. [underlined] SNOW rain & WIND. [/underlined] Got pencil clip. Registered bike. Started queries about pay book. NAV officer tomorrow. Spam, celery, beet, carrot; treacle; tea. [underlined] Finished letter to Norah. [/underlined]Stew, spuds, water cress; cocoa. Howling wind
[page break]
Wrote on Xmas cards & envelopes.
[underlined] Nov. 15TH MON. [/underlined]
Up at 7-30. Ham (cold) & bubble & squeak; tea. Fighter affil in I. (g. belter) Went up with Rowe & his A G’s (1-10 mins.) [underlined] Letter from Ma & Violet. [/underlined] Soup: minced beef & onion, beans, cab & spuds; plum pud & cust; milk & coffee. Gen off [sic] the Wing/Co. Went to see the NAV Officer before din. Welsh rarebit; jam & cake; tea. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Dug around in trunk. Beans on toast, spuds, beet; cocoa. Shave
[underlined] Nov. 16TH TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 7.30. Porr. Fried spam, fried spuds; tea. 8-15 parade
[page break]
air to air & bombing. Took over while Ken went for a “Jimmy Riddle” flew from Skeg to Louth then to Gainsbra {sic] ( 1.45 hrs) [underlined] On battle order [/underlined] No mail. Soup; meat, spuds, cab & Carrot; coffee & milk. Natter with Nav officer. Swing X – Xray. Spuds & peas; jam & tea. Sat & read in mess till b. No Xmas Cards. Got rations. Making log book up to date.
[underlined] Nov 17th WED. [/underlined]
Kellogs & tea. Garda & crew Room. O I on I – ITEM. X Country & bombing. Stew, spuds & cab; Bullseye! Egg on toast & fried spuds, jam & roll.
[page break]
[underlined] Letter from Ma & Doris. [/underlined] Final briefing, bus out to I. NO GEE & NO Loop. Took several star shots. Took off 17.50 ( 6.45 hrs) Got [underlined] LOST. [/underlined] Finaly got back at 00.15 hrs
[underlined] Nov. 18th THURS. [/underlined]
Chips, beans & bacon; tea. Bed at 3-0 AM. up at 11-15. [underlined] Shave! Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Soup; liver, onion bacon., spuds & cab. Window operations. [one indecipherable word]logged. Spam, cheese, spuds, beet; tea. 6 Xmas Cards; double port (4/2d) Wrote Xmas Cards. [underlined] Sent one to Mr Grange. [/underlined] Liver, spud, beet; cocoa. Another port ( 10d)
[underlined] Nov. 19TH. FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45. W/V 050/ 120 MPH. when
[page break]
We got lost and there I was using 360/40 !!! Sextant U/S. so got new one from stores. X Count. (F) Soup; mutton, spuds, parsnip; sponge pud; milk & coffee. Reg parcel from home. Bullseye route eto. Taken to mess in time for egg & chips & tea & cake. Out to kite where trip was cancelled. Sos & mash & tea. Started letter to Ma. Cocoa & corned beef. [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Nov. 20th. SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 8-50. Roll call & little gen talk by Mr Cooper. Looked over logs with Cooper. Mutton, spuds, cab, beans;
[page break]
trifle; milk & coffee. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Parade at 2 PM. Had wash & caught 3-40 bus with Dick. Bottle of oil; post cards of kites; 6V. bulbs; pencils 2/8d. Salmon & tomatoe [sic], cake & tea. Walked around Wooleys again with Dick. Met Joe & Charlie on bus. Ken, Fred & Parksey in the local. Sabu in “Elephant Boy” also a “ Sgt Doubleday” film. Bus back, Bit of Mum’s cake.
[underlined] Nov. 21st. SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Kellogs; bacon, fried spuds; tea. Went in NAV section. Naut [sic] doing. Sat & read in crew room. Soup,
[page break]
[inserted] shave [/inserted]
Mutton, baked spuds cabbage & beans; treacle tart; coffee. Parade 14-15 for issue of 1939/43 star. Took Charlie on GEE. Fish cake & spuds, jam roll & tea. MENDED? Agna & Dick’s pencilight. Fish cakes & cocoa.
[underlined] Nov. 22nd. MON. [/underlined]
Porr; bacon etc. tea. Roll call. Supposed to be on F/A. put on as Reserve Crew. Went for “O” at Fisherton. Air tested it & re-set DR Comp. Draw tracks in & T I’s. Dinner, chop, spuds etc. stewed apricots & cust. Flight Plan . Dick on
[page break]
then cancelled. None of us went (air crew) Rest of ‘em got away except Wallace. Grabbed runway & didn’t get off another “abortive”! Beans, mashed spuds; cocoa, [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] Nov. 23rd. TUES. [/underlined]
Porr; bacon & spuds; tea. Reported sick. Bathed hand in hot water. Got to get Bafin tablets. Air test crew but nowt to test. Soup; stew, spuds, beans; apricots & cust. Still no flying. Had tea. No mail so didn’t send any. Packed things into packs ready to go.
[page break]
Wind & rain. Cauliflower & cheese; cocoa. Jossa turned back.
[underlined] Nov. 24th. WED. [/underlined]
Up about 8-30 to 9. Shave. Pay parade £8! Finished packing. Had dinner. [underlined] Letter & snaps from Ma. [/underlined]. Got changed ready to go. Passes at 5 to 4. Had tea. Spam, spuds, water cress eto. Cycled into Mkt. Rasen. Train at 6-0. 2/9d for bike. Sat in train & read. Drizzle. Just caught train in Lincoln. A SLOW! SLOW!! Train. Found Hen on board, no train from Shef.( arr. 9-20) Hen’s train 10-40
[page break]
Rain stopped. Got home just before 10-0. Paultice [sic] on hand. Blacked out with shock. Bed 1-30.
[underlined] Nov. 25th. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 12-30. Spot of rain. Cleaned saddle bag. Had a look at Jackie. Had blow on new [one indecipherable word]. Took saddle bag to bits, had look at [one indecipherable word]. Had tea at home. Changed & went to dance.
[underlined] Nov. 26th. FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30 to 10. Ham & egg for bfast. Painted saddle bag & cleaned bike. Went to SPT & collected 14 weeks allowance ( 70/-) Went to Empire Flanagan & Allen
[page break]
in “ Theatre Royal” also a submarine film. Fish for supper.
[underlined] Nov 27th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30. Shave. In town by 10-5. £11 for radio. Got receipt. Went to O & D afterwards. Came home with Dod. Took Pat to Miss Sharpes. Went to town with Ma & Pa. 5/- book stamps. 1/3d battery from Wooleys. No collar studs stuck photos in albums. Talk with Bill. Dod at dance
[underlined] Nov. 28th SUN. [/underlined]
Up in time for 1 o clock news. Went with Dod to
[page break]
Mr Thackers. Home on bus for tea. Had a look thru’ stamps. Stuck a few in albums.
[underlined] Nov. 29TH. MON. [/underlined]
Up at 10-15. Made box for battery to put on bike. Sorted straps out for saddle bag, Drizzle! Went with P & P to go to No. 8 with Gupa. Had tea there. Reading home journals eto. Had 2 x 1/2 pt shandies with Dod & Gupa. Walked home.
[underlined] Nov. 30TH. TUES. [/underlined]
[underlined] Letter from Doris. [/underlined] Put box on bike also knocked saddle bag together. Went
[page break]
& had hair cut. Went to Regent, Pretty good,
[underlined] DEC 1st. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 10 to 10-30. Went to o & D’s. din at home. Put saddle bag on bike & packed kit. Train 5-30. Arr Sheff. 6-0. S/C 6-45 9 15 late) Retford 7-30. 7.47 arr & S/C at 8.15. Arr Linc. 9.30 instead of 8-30 then went on to Mkt Rasen arr about 10 to 10-30. Comp 1 L O P M. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 2nd. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 9-0. Battle order!! Went in to see Mr Cooper. Pu us on with Heade WOP. Dinner & aft meal briefing. Finished flight plan
[page break]
all ok. S/C. 1 min late met W/V U/S!! Didn’t get to the Big City. NO speed & petrol going like water (7hrs 35 [inserted] [one indecipherable word] [/inserted])
[underlined] DEC 3rd. FRI. [/underlined]
Landed at 00.30 AM. at Bradwell Bay inter. Supper egg & spam, tea. Bed with sheets about 3 AM. Up again at 9.15 [underlined] Crew bus to Mess!!! [/underlined] Went out to kite. Brought a lot of incendiaries back also flak holes, one in fin & rudder & one through both outer spinners. Soup, chips & fish; pear & semolina; cup of milk. Reading in Mess. Went
[page break]
out & put all our kit together. RAIN. AID inspected tail fin & plane. Meat & tater pie jam & tea. 2 The Black Swan” Pirate story. Très bon! [underlined] Letter home. [/underlined] pint beer. Supper in mess.
[underlined] DEC 4th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 8-30. Porr & finnie. Went on further insp of kite. Found an odd incendiary. Fred & I got it out. Had dinner. Lanc. Coming for ma. Got kit out ready for him. Turned up at tea time, brakes U/S. couldn’t fix em in dark. “Moon &
[page break]
Sixpence” Supper & read in Mess.
[underlined] Sun, Dec. 5th. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45. Lorry to Mess. Sat reading in Mess. Kite ok at 11-30. S/C 12-00. Arr 13.00 in Y-yoke. Interrogation by Intel. & Nav officer. Dinner. Mended brake & switch on bike. Mr Cooper not in. [underlined] F/Sgt come through. [/underlined]Tea, spam celery eto. Sgt Duff’s [underlined] rude [/underlined] remarks made. Shave. Wrote this up to date. [underlined] Letter from Ma. Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Supper in Mess.
[underlined] DEC 6th. MON. [/underlined]
Up at 9-0. Made bed up & swept
[page break]
up. Went in to see Mr Cooper. Log book up to date. Plotting with Dick. [underlined] Letter from Ma & X-mas card from Doris.[/underlined] Dinner in Mess. New Shirt. Had astro watch mended puncture. Started letter to Doris. Tea in Mess. [underlined] Telegram HOME. [/underlined] Bus into Louth. “ They Came to Destroy America” George Sanders also “Criminal Investigations” Supper in TOC H. [underlined] Finished Letter to Doris. [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 7th. TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 9-0. Stood down. Plotting with Dick. Din. [underlined] No Mail. [/underlined] Wet with Ken to see S/L Finch.
[page break]
Kicked football around for 1/2 hr or so. Still no mail. Tea in mess. [underlined] Letter to Violet, Mum, Dod, P & P. Novels to Millie.[/underlined] Supper in Mess. Ken returned from dance at 12-15 or so.
[underlined] DEC. 8TH WED. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Bfst & up at crew room by 8-45. No Parade just because [underlined] we [underlined] were there. Put flak & [one indecipherable word]on new chart. No mail. Dinner pretty fair. Got choc ration. [underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined] Tea not too bad. Cleaned bike a little. [underlined] Letter to Annie. [/underlined] ENSA concert pretty good. [underlined] Letter to MARY. [/underlined].
[page break]
[underlined] DEC 9TH. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 8-5. Porr & tea. P.T!!!! tried to find out where we got too [sic] on Berlin trip. Early dinner. Not too bad. Fighter affil & bomb sight leveling. [sic] Cleaned up & got changed. Liver & chips; jam & tea. Bus into Louth with Les. Had a go at picts. George Formby in L.O.V. film. Had shandy. Went to dance. Had 2 or 3 with a couple of Waafs. Bus back. Sherry in Mess. [underlined] Air letter from Norah. Telegram from Ma. [/underlined] radio)
[underlined] DEC. 10TH. FRI [/underlined]
Up at 8-30. X-Country to
[page break]
Bullseye back to X-Country. Din. Milk. [underlined] Letter from Ma & Pa. [/underlined] Flight plan & briefing. Early tea. Take off 17.15. Bombed. Back at 22.30. Bacon, chips & egg; tea.
[underlined] DEC 11TH. SAT. [/underlined]
Up at [underlined] 10-30!! [/underlined] Worked out air miles ( 1083 speed 1000 gals) Shore. Din. Dick & Ken bombing. Key Safe!! Fred & I went to Wickenby NO RADIO. Cementation. Co closed. Spuds & spam in Mess. Bus back to Ledford got back at 6-45. [underlined] Letter & Radio Times from Ma. [circled 8/- Mess] [underlined] Letter to MA. [/underlined] Got changed & went to dance & [one indecipherable word] Took Dental
[page break]
girl back to [inserted] her [/inserted] billet. Bed at 2-0 AM
[underlined] DEC. 12th. SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 10-30. Naut doing. Parade 1-30. Reg [underlined] Parcel from Doris ( choc, cake, gloves etc.) [/underlined] Short talk about party for Jan 2nd ’44. Started cleaning bike. Took 3 speed down so far but when put together again something burnds [sic] Tried to run it off but no go. Bed about 12-0
[underlined] DEC. 13th. MON[/underlined]
Up at 10-0 AM. Washed made bed up & swept up. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Bus to Wickenby. Picked radio
[page break]
up. Sat in M T. Crew Room 6/- for P.O.W. fund. Salmon & spuds, treacle & cake. Bus back. Fitted wireless up with aerial. Not too bad. Had bit of supper. [underlined] finished letter to Doris. Letter from Mary! Letter to Mum. [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 14th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Bfst. No parade so returned to Mess & had a shave. Computed W/V chart for B/St. log cover. Wood collecting & chopping. Din. NO MAIL. Had teeth filled almost passed out. £14 money order (Radio & Pay) [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined] Clean sheets washed & changed. Dance in
[page break]
the NAAFI. Walked home with Avice. No good night kiss.
[underlined] DEC 15. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 9-15. Naut doing, gave gen for Raid Report. Got a few more Xmas cards addressed [underlined] Sent one to Mack & S.P.T. Letter & Xmas card to Mary. Letter & parcel from Ma. [/underlined] Iron enclosed in parcel. P. Office shut. Sorting things out in trunk. [underlined] Letter to Ma & Mr. Eskholme. [/underlined] Played cards tIll 10-0.
[underlined] DEC 16 THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Bfst & shave. PT for 1/2 hr. Battle order! D.Ion X briefing at 11-45. THE BIG CITY [one indecipherable word] MEAL. EGG & CHIPS 15/- p.o.
[page break]
from S.P&T. Started flight plan then was told we were scrubbed. Helped Buln with fire kit. Went in to see Avice. Working late so no date. Book by W.W. Jacobs & F.A.A & 2/6d from Mss French. Mum sent her photo of me. [underlined] Receipt to S P&T. Short letter to ma & Auntie Florrie. [/underlined] 3 Oranges. RATION!! [underlined] Parcel to Ma. [/underlined] ( 4 oranges & chewing gum.) [underlined] Letter to Norah. [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 17th FRI [/underlined]
Up at 9-15. [underlined] Charlie returned. [/underlined] Stood down. No mail!!! Dinner, milk. Phoned Avice (date for tonight) [underlined] Letter to Doris. [/underlined] [one indecipherable word] & 10 Players. Met Avice 5-30. Bus in arr 6-30. Playhouse Briane [sic] Aherne
[page break]
“Adventures Night” or some such title. Very funny. Tea & toast In TOC H. Bus back at 10-00.” One Kiss”.
[underlined] DEC. 18th SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Porr & coffee only! OPPs! in Z. Did D.I. All ok ? I hope. Got route & F/plan made out. Went & had din. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Opps meal & aps SCRUBBED. Went to P.O. to see if any mail. Avice & Betty there. Went with them into Mkt. Rasen with mail van. RAIN & RAIN. No mail for me. Had tea. THROWING IT DOWN!!! Went to ENSA show. Not TOO bad [inserted] 5 girls in it only.[/inserted]
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] HOLLY PICKING.[/underlined] [/inserted]
[underlined] DEC 12th. SUN. [/underlined]
Up at 8-35, consequently no bfst, stand down. Went to Intel with Maps & went out to J-Jig. Went to P.O. invited to go holly gathering. Rang Avice up. Dragged her from her dinner. Had dinner. Not too bad. Went with mail van to Mkt Rasen. Coffee & tarts in Canteen. [underlined] Holly picking [/underlined] Got some nice pieces. Unloaded parcels sorted some. HAM for tea. Stamps for mess. (£3.) [underlined] Letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 20th. MON. [/underlined]
Up at 8-45. 1/2 hrs P.T. Battle order. D I on J- Jig. Nav briefing. [ three indecipherable words]
[page break.
Nipped in to see Betty & Sylvia in P/O. NO parcel. Finished flight plan. Out to kite about 4-30 airborne 5-29. [underlined] FRANKFURT [/underlined] nice change. Home 23.03 landed 23.50. ( 6hr 20m) [one indecipherable word]. Cornflakes & beans & bacon eto. [underlined] Letter Violet. Paper Ma [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 21st. TUES. [/underlined]
Bed at 2-45. Up again at 9-30. Plotting positions for 21.05 hrs. Din. Went into Mkt Rasen with Mail again. RAIN. Met Avice & Betty in WVS. Went to concert in NAAFI. Won! Shaves & tooth paste for 2 bus tickets. “ A Kiss in the Dark” [underlined] Letter from Ma. Card G. THOMPSON[/underlined]
[underlined] DEC 22nd. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 9-15 or so. Flights by 10-0
[page break]
[one indecipherable word]to take S/Ldr. Marshall to ACKLINGTON (not Newcastle) Late din. (meat like rubber.) Phoned P/O then Alice ( not in) so went & cleaned up & changed. Went to P/O. Collected [underlined] 2 Reg parcels from Mum. Letter from Doris & card from Doris Collins. [/underlined] Alice phoned Mess just as I got there! Bus in. Dinner at Kings Head. ( chicken etc trifle & coffee) 9/6d Picts “Dr Syn” 4/6d. Cup tea at T.H. Bus back 2 Crosses. Pint in Mess. Unwrapped parcels. Mince pies & cake. OXO with Ken in hut.
[underlined] DEC 23rd. THURS. [/underlined]
Up at 8-30. New lattice charts. Opd!! Flight plan
[page break]
Started. Din [inserted] Phoned Avice from P/O [/inserted]& ap. Meal. [underlined] Letter from A Flamie [/underlined] went to main building for briefing. Finished flight plan. Scrubbed!!! Went to P/O. Avice there. She & Betty going into Louth. Had tea. NO MAIL!! [underlined] Letter to Ma. [one indecipherable word] to Avlce, Betty & “Silva” [/underlined] Op meal (Ginger bear “dragged” me off bus out to Louth!!!)
[underlined] DEC, 24th. FRI. [/underlined]
00.15 take off. BERLIN 4:15 landed. 8.10 hrs. Bfst. Phoned Alice. Bed 11-0 Up again 4-15, Mince pies. Tea. Hurried shave & change. Bus in. DIN at Kings head. Jack Benny at Playhouse. Cup tea & bun in Girls Toc H, Bus back letter from Allan, X cards Mary, Gran
[page break]
Went to dance in NAAFI. Took Alice to WAAF Guard Room after Dance. Bed 2-0 AM.
[underlined] DEC 25th. SAT. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30. Ground crews TANOYED [sic] for !!!! ALL TANNOY MESSAGES CANCELLED!!!! Waited till 11-15 then called 116. Dental Officer answered. Avice at P.O. Called P.O. just as they were calling Mess. Meeting Avice at dance. 4 for Dick & one for Joe. Got changed & went to Mess. Had din with the lads. Drank port & gin with the lads. Autographs & payments!! Boiled ham & beet. Parlsy on the offensive “12th night” Shakespeare play
[page break]
Très Bon! Dance. Avice arrived about 10.30. feeling pretty browned off. Took her HOME??
[underlined] DEC. 26th. SUN[/underlined]
Up at 10-0. NO BATTLE ORDER. Rang Avice up. Xmas dinner as per menu. Washed, shaved & changed went short run towards Louth. ( 3/4 hr for 8 mile) Tea ( salmon, cake & biscuits). Zaifs milk in Mess. Sat on bed for an hour or so. Went to “Get Together” party. DEAD! Betty & Jack eventually got it going. Musical chairs etc. Bill went back to billet. Danced with
[page break]
Silva, Vera & Avice. Slight improvement but still pretty rough & cheesed’ Had talk with Avice on way down “Lovers Lane”
[underlined] DEC. 27th. MON. [/underlined]
Up at 9-30. No battle order DI. Run up. Visited P.O. no parcels. [underlined] 3 letters from Ma one from D Dunn. [/underlined] Dinner pretty good. Called Avice. Bar closed before I realised I was short of fags. Had a good clean out of trunk. Changed underclothes. Parceled [sic] Laundry. Had tea. Bus into Louth. Cup tea & toast. Eric Portermon in “ They Dive at Dawn” Very good. Bus back to WAAF Guard Room.
[page break]
[underlined] DEC. 28th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 9-10. On fighter affil in PM. Went to P.O. but nout for me. Parcel for Dick. Had din, not too bad! Went to P.O. & gave Silva £1 to get a [one indecipherable word]. Got out to kite ( I ) F.A. cancelled. Went over Berlin plot. Notice in mess. Shaved & changed. Silva not got [one indecipherable word]. None in M. Rasen. Pay Parade. Went & had tea then went back.(£6.6s) Left pay book to be amended!! “Tons of Money” in NAAFI. WIZARD. Mince pies gone. [Underlined] Avice my “wing’s parade”[/underlined] [double underlined] “0”. [/underlined]!!
[page break]
[underlined] DEC. 29th. WED. [/underlined]
Up at 8-0. Kellogs, sos & mash, tea. Natter on NAV in general & DRC. In Brief Room. OPS!! Nav briefing. Dinner. Kite charged to “D” more gen. NO OI! [underlined] Start letter home! [/underlined] The Big City!!! ORC had to be synchronised. Rear turret U/S. GEE invent U/S & turret went U/S again, so dropped the cookie & a few incendiaries & turned back. [underlined] Letters from Ma; Violet; air letter from Mr. Ryall. Wrote letter to Ma. [/underlined]
[underlined] DEC. 30th. TUES. [/underlined]
Up at 10.15!! stand down. Buzzed around getting chits
[page break]
for trousers [inserted] Wash & shave[/inserted] [underlined] Reg. parcel from Ma. [/underlined] C.O’s parade. 17/6d for BINGE on Jan 2nd. Phoned Avice. HAIRCUT!! Tea in mess. Bus in 7/- fish & chip dinner. 2/- to see ”Convoy” Bus back Avice paid fare in
[underlined] DEC. 31st FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 8 or 8.15. Made bed up & swept up. Changed battle dress trousers, D I on J- JIG. Battle order. Trocka & distances. Din. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Op meal. Briefed. SCRUBBED. Date with Avice. Started letter to Ma. Rain. Changed. Tea. Bus in, picts “Secrets of the Underworld” Toast & tea in
[page break]
TOC H. went to PARTY in NAAFI had a dance or two “Auld langsyne [sic]?
[underlined] JAN. 1st SAT. 1944. [/underlined]
First dance with Avice (quick step) nat. kiss too! Forestalled Jock! Bed 1- to 1-15. U at 10.15. Battle order. No gen. Had din. [underlined] Finished letter to Ma. [/underlined] Mail van into Mkt. Rasen. 2/4d pd. 4 crowns for coffee & cakes in Church Army. Bought kettle in Mkt Rasen Dropped Avice at WAAF site. No mail for me! Had tea, Nav Briefing! [underlined] Op meal. Crew briefing. [/underlined] Take off 00.15 hrs. S/C 01-! Arr Berlin 3-30! Back on deck at 8-30 [underlined] JAN. 2nd. 1944. [/underlined] Inter rum & coffee. Ham, bacon
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] Jan 2nd. SUN. [/underlined]
& egg; Kellogs. Rang Avice up. Bed 11-0. Up at 4-15. Rang Avice up again to ask her about party & found out there were more ops on!! So, we’ve had party. Tea Nav Brief. Ops meal. Flt. Plan. Airborne 23.55
[underlined] JAN. 3rd. 1944 MON [/underlined]
Berlin! 03.00. Diverted to B.S. Eds. Landed 7.30. Meal. Bed. Meal at 5-0. bfst & beer (3gal barrel x2) Bed at 12-0. RAIN & cold.
[underlined] JAN. 4th TUES. [/underlined]
Up at about 9-0 Transport to kite. Airborne 11.55. Landed Ludford 12.40. Avice went on leave this AM.
[page break]
Shave. Tea. Changed brake blocks on rear brake. [underlined] Letter to Ma; Violet. [/underlined] Pressed trousers & tunic. Xmas Cake.
[underlined] JAN. 5th WED [/underlined]
Up at 10-0 Ops. Made charts out. No gen. Had dinner. [underlined] Letter from Ma & Tommy. [/underlined] Swung I & D I’d it. Visited P.O. Had lay down. Tea. Nav briefing. Op meal. Briefed. Ft Plan. Airborne 23.50 [inserted] or 0-00hrs [/inserted] MOONLIGHT!!!
[underlined] JAN. 6th. THURS. [/underlined]
STETTIN in the MOONLIGHT. Landed 9-10. Inter. Visited adj for pay & ident. Card (£9.20) Went to P.O. Nout doing. Dinner. [underlined] Letter from Ma. [/underlined] Washed & changed P.O. van inti Rasen. Train at 3-45. Lincoln 6-50 (sos & chips) [inserted] LEAVE [/inserted] Sheff. 9-20. Home 10-10
[underlined] JAN. 7th FRI. [/underlined]
Up at 12.15. Took back wheel out of bike & went with P & P & [one indecipherable word]to O & D’s: Brought fish back with me. Went to Empire “Something to shout about” fish for supper. [underlined] Letter to Doris [/underlined]
[underlined] JAN. 8th. SAT. [/underlined]
Up again at 12.15. Dod home. Had shave!! Flitted beds & carpet. Went into town with family. Dod gone to dance. Ma & I went to Grangetowers too invite WAAFS to party. Filled rest of photos in album.
[page break]
[ picture card of soldier with Bayonet & NEUVE CHAPELLE coat of arms]
[page break]
Blank page
[page break]
1/-
1389901 FLOWERS K.W.
“B” FLIGHT NO 3 SQUADRON
NO. 3 WING. R.A.F
ST VINCENT HOTEL
TORQUAY
blank space
[page break]
Blank page
[page break]
Back 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
Keith Thompson's diary from July 1943 to January 1944
Description
An account of the resource
Keith Thompson was a sergeant navigator under training at the start of this period at 28 OTU at RAF Castle Donington, then on to a holding unit for a month. After that on to 1662 CU at RAF Blyton flying the Lancaster, until 7 November when he was posted to 101 Squadron at RAF Ludford Magna flying the Lancaster on operations.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Keith Thompson
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Large notebook used as diary
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
YThompsonKG1238603v3
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. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Leicestershire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-06
1943-07
1943-08
1943-09
1943-10
1943-11
1943-12
1944-12
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.
101 Squadron
28 OTU
aircrew
entertainment
Gee
Lancaster
military living conditions
military service conditions
navigator
Operational Training Unit
RAF Blyton
RAF Castle Donington
RAF Ludford Magna
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16829/PCheshireGL18100032.2.jpg
417153e1e10b6c28ba2bbf5ae34e595d
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1252/16829/PCheshireGL18100033.2.jpg
98d00d64450e35fe3dc746259bd71b25
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
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
Waitresses and Woman's Auxiliary Air Force personnel
Description
An account of the resource
Four women sitting on a lawn. The middle two are in air force uniform and the end two in waitress dress. In the background a two story Tudor period building with many windows. On the reverse 'Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, officers' mess 617 squadron, Dec 43/44'.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12
1944
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCheshireGL18100032, PCheshireGL18100033
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Woodhall Spa
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
1944
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Cheshire, Leonard. Aircrew, people, decorations and bomb damage
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.
617 Squadron
ground personnel
mess
military living conditions
RAF Woodhall Spa
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1235/16321/MReynoldsWT[Ser -DoB]-150731-02.pdf
87b99f3e2eeb105daa86fa9d087b15be
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
Reynolds, William
W T Reynolds
Bill Reynolds
Description
An account of the resource
Seven items. The collection concerns William Reynolds who was stationed at Branston Mere Y Station, a wireless intercept and direction finding station. the collection consists of three photographs and four copies of 'Mere Gen', the stations unofficial newsletter.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Linda Smith and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
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
2015-07-31
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
Reynolds, WT
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Royal air force crest]
[Underlined] Mere Gen [/Underlined]
Christmas 1943
Holly leaf
[page break]
[Underlined] DON’T [/Underlined] LET YOUR PAL GO FOR A BURTON OVER A BASS.
[Page Break]
[Editorial insignia] 70
[Underlined] XMAS GREETINGS [/Underlined]
Now then, registered customers! About this Christmas business. As we’re all hoping this is going to be the last Christmas of the war, it looks as if this is going to be the last Christmas “Mere Gen”! So, in wishing you “All the best”, let me thank you for your support (and your shillings!) during the past year. We do appreciate the interest you have shown in our efforts during 1943 and trust you will be subscribing regularly in 1944. And so, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, one and all!
Fred Bolt.
As a newcomer to the Station I would like to thank you all for the way you have helped me settle so quickly and also to wish you a very happy Xmas and prosperous New Year. [Underlined] Here’s to lots more “ops” [/underlined].! [sic]
Frank Potts.
In wishing everybody the proverbial Merry Xmas and Happy New Year may I express my appreciation of your interest in my recent sickness.
G.R. Batley.
May I, on behalf of the WAAF personnel at East Mere House and myself, extent to our fellow comrades and all concerned, our very best wishes for a jolly Xmas and Good New Year.
Morag Morrison.. [sic]
May I wish you all a very Merry Xmas (including the Evening Watch- poor souls!) and that the New Year will bring for you an abundance of Health and Happiness.
Harold Speak.
On behalf of the perpetrators of “Mere Gen” I thank you for your interest and support of the Mag. and hasten to wish you all a Merry Xmas and may the New Year bring “goodwill” and the all-important peace.
Ted Liddell.
[Page break]
S. O. Scott sends seasonal greetings to all for the Xmas “festivities” and good wishes for the New Year.
The Officer i/c wishes to extend greetings to all ranks and wishes all a very Happy Xmas and a prosperous New Year!
It is with great pleasure that I accept F/Lt. Irving’s invitation to me to use the medium of your excellent “Mere Gen” to pass to all Ranks my Best Wishes for a Jolly Christmas and a successful New Year.
Congratulations to you all on your worthy achievements during 1943.
W.G. Swanborough.
Wing Commander.
[Page break]
[Underlined] Reproduced from Twenty-six Group Monthly Newsletter [/Underlined]
(by kind permission of the Author)
[Underlined] THE ROAD TO PROMOTION [/underlined]
Our Signals personnel have always been keen on their job and willing to co-operate on all phases of their work, from long hours of employment at a stretch to being called out in the middle of the night to repair an aerial which has blown down or become damaged in a gale.
They have also been at the front in social matters, whether it be arranging a Dance or putting up a show at Christmas. Many “Old Hands” will remember the famous “boat” dinners with their attendant displays when drafts abroad were preparing for home after a monotonous two year in Iraq, Transjordan or some other isolated place, but which were now beginning to appear on the horizon again.
Their work was carried out efficiently and cheerfully (this was the days of peace) and their training had been long and facilities for such, ample. Those peace-time men had themselves chosen the Service for their career; they expected to be sent abroad and accepted all the discomforts, the inconveniences and the partings as well as the pleasure of service life.
The very great majority of these men, who had to wait years for promotion, are now Officers or Warrant Officers and their places have been filled by others, many of whom would probably have placed a Service career very low down on a list of their inclinations. How are they re-acting to this compulsory service life and training? What kind of a show are they putting up? This opinion is entirely personnel but the answer to the first is, I think, “that whatever our inclination, there is a war on, and we have just got to win it”. Secondly, “they are doing splendidly”. Both these answers apply equally to the woman.
The reason they are doing splendidly is not so much because they are highly efficient, but because they are doing their best after a short period of training which is unsatisfactory but unavoidable.
But what of their faults?
In peace-time if a man lost a tool or damaged an instrument,
[Page break]
he had to pay for it. He was highly trained and if a thing did not work he was capable of and took a pride in repairing it. Every item of equipment was registered and had to be accounted for. The Air Force was allowed a certain sum of money annually and this could not – expect in exceptional circumstance – be exceeded. To-day, however, all that is changed, equipment is now in abundant supply and in many cases no accoint [sic] is kept, but that is no reason why it should be wasted, and perhaps the greatest fault one now finds amongst our tradesmen is the tendency to throw aside a faulty item and get a new one rather than to repair the old one and save the new.
One other fault is, that whilst the majority are keen to obtain advancement, there is a tendency to expect promotion without a great deal of exertion to gain the additional knowledge and ability which warrants it. This is probably due to long hours of work and lack of easy opportunity, but it should be remembered the greater the knowledge absorbed now the greater the benefit to be gained after the war, not only for those remaining in the service, but also for those returning to civil life, when in both spheres there will be no easy road to promotion but intensive competition for the better jobs.
G.H.F.H.
[Underlined] ACKNOWLEDGEMENT [/Underlined]
We are extremely grateful to L.A.C. Field and Mrs. Chas. Stear who respectively raffled on behalf of the Mag. two fountain pens and a superb doll. The pens were won by L.A.C. s Gaffney and Jones (Davey) and the doll by Cpl. Jean Grantham, and some £4. 9. 6 went into the Mag funds, to make possible this extra large Xmas number.
The Editor.
[Underlined] “MERE GEN” XMAS FREE GIFT SCHEME [/Underlined}
Please note the serial number of your Mag. It may mean you are one of the lucky people to profit by our free Gift Scheme. After the Mags. have been sold we are drawing 15 lucky numbers and the holder of these Mag. numbers are entitled to a prize on application to the Editorial Board. The list of numbers will be published on the official notice board.
The Editor.
[Page Break]
[Picture]
[Page Break]
“BARGAIN “BASE”MENT
[6 Pictures]
[Page Break]
[underlined] Items received too late for classification [/underlined]
Cpl. Burbury’s hut colleagues insist that she is in dire need of new pair pf pyjamas – preferably complete with cord – “trousers for the keeping up of! (See Xmas Gift Cartoon)
For what it is worth we reproduce a recent “Steve Hendry-ism”
“When I was in civvy street, I never went out with more than one boy at a time- now I don’t care.” Safety in numbers?
[Underlined] Situations Vacant. [/Underlined]
Editor required for this Mag.
The position calls for someone prepared to accept the colossal salary now offered, a flair for persistently pestering people, an acceptance of a social unpopularity, a reluctance to hurt people’s feelings, an ability to spell and a willingness to dedicate “days off” etc. to the pursuit of contributions, “copy”, printers, raffles, cartoonists, complaints, etc. etc.
[Page break]
[Underlined] OF MICE AND MEN [/Underlined]
A light still burned in the dispensary, and on the bench a bunsen was still burning, its spluttering flame seeming to fill the atmosphere with a subdued roar. Over its blue ghostly flame the analyser, white overalled and rubber gloved, was holding a pasty-looking solid, balanced on the end of a metal spatula.
This mysterious substance crackled and spat, sending out a pungent vapour which made its torturer hold his face away with obvious distaste and horror.
Beside the bunsen burner stood a strange piece of apparatus. There was a gleaming copper coil mounted on an oblong piece of light-coloured wood, somewhat like a miniature platform; attached to each end of the coil and forming an oblong grid was more copper. There were also at each end of the platform more metal fittings, at one end a metal claw loosely secured by a staple.
After a while the queer-looking mass on the spatula changed colour, but still sent out its horrible odour. The analyser then laid it gently on the bench and, after a moment or two, he transferred the substance very carefully to the metal claws of the machine.
Starting to manipulate the copper grid he had some difficulty in getting it in the position he desired; he also appeared to be apprehensive and in great fear, for after a short time he sighed and stood back and started wiping beads of perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief.
He now lifted the entire apparatus and walked very cautiously from the dispensary towards the door which opened on to the corridor where he placed it very gingerly in the cabinet that had been left open.
Returning to the dispensary, he turned off the bunsen and very carefully wiped away all traces of his recent operations.
He then switched out all the lights, and a few moments later was gone, quickly and silently.
Lighting a cigarette with hands that slightly trembled he disappeared into the darkness muttering “I wonder if I shall catch that damn mouse to-night”.
A.P.
[Page break]
“THEY” say
A woman is as old as she looks.
And a man is old when he stops looking!
[Underlined] STATION QUIZ COMPETITION [/underlined]
Here is a competition – without prizes – about yourselves and the Station. See if you can answer the following questions correctly and remember the Editor’s decision is binding!
1. Which is the “dim watch”?
2. Which is the “glam’rous [sic] watch”?
3. Which is the “binding watch”?
4. (a) Who are the T.W.s, and (b) how did this sobriquet arise?
5. Who are the “Darlings”?
6. Whose christian names are John Archibald Gerald Fitzroy?
7. Who is “Plug”? (Steady, boys, Steady! Ed.)
8. Who is a very able member of the S.L.G.A?
9. Who frequently says with feeling, “Why, my little son could have done better”?
10. How man A.M. Constables’ names do you know? (Their real names please, not your own epithets – Ed.)
11. Is F/Sgt. Pitman older than L.A.C. Greenhalgh?
12. Who are the “Geordies” on the Station?
13. Who is the only university graduate on the Station?
The following is a pungent, yet poetic postscript to our platitude on platonic friendship, in October’s Mere Gen.
It really is very ironic
To believe that a friendship platonic,
No matter the basis,
“The just going places”
Can live without “Love” as a “tonic”
L.A.C. J. W. Moore (Fitting Party)
[Page break]
[Underlined] XMAS MERE GEN HONOURS LIST [/underlined]
We have decided that certain personalities on the Station deserve honourable mention on account of public or official activities or other attributes as set out below.
If you have been omitted we claim your indulgence, as doubtless “Mere Gen Records” are holding up the publication!
Sgt. Barnes for her very tolerant acceptance of some rather deadly “Mere Gen Quiz Flak”!
L.A.C. Porter for his constant consideration for L.A.C. Porter.
Messrs. William Reynolds and George Creasey for devotion to duty which has seldom been surpassed!
The Orderly Room for their efficient handling of the weekly rations.
L.A.C.W. Fitzpatrick inasmuch [sic] as she brought the romantic freshness of youth into the life of at least one L.A.C.
Cpl. Rolls for her prodigious gastronomic feats; on the occasion which has won for this special mention she disposed of three dinners, four bars of chocolate, 3 apples (the property of Cpl. Morrison), four sulphur tablets and a bottle of Sal Volatile! Nice going Betty – in fact “Hips Hips” Hooray!
Pat Buckingham for her invariable charm, docile nature, her reluctance to exercise sarcasm and her aversion for the opposite sex!
Jack Tones for his gallant plunge into matrimony!
Jack Gaffney who is now reputed to have a liquid capacity of 15 pints per session!
Cpl. Liddell on his patriotism in joining the Home Guard!
Dot Barton for a slimness which is really baffling!
Steve Hendry for a frankness which is at times staggering!
Cpl. Johnson for his efforts as a chemical warfare worker! [Inserted] Fire [/Inserted] Fighter – remember those ghastly Tuesdays?
Cpl. Skipworth for her efforts as the protagonist of Cheadle! Awarded the distinguished insignia of the order of Gorgeous Garrulous Guffers!
[Page break]
L.A.C.W. Bassford for her unfavourable comparison of “Mere Gen” with some provincial rag – the Dunstable Gazette! We sincerely and honestly appreciated your criticism. (But it hasn’t done us a scrap of good. Ed!)
Phyl Carr for her capture of Sgt. Norman and the materialisation of our first station wedding!
F/Lt. Irving for his venture into the business of rearing pigs!
Baffling Berry as the enigma of the year.
“Hutch” for the proudest parent of the year.
“Pud Rice” for outstanding cheerfulness and sheer “joie de vivre”
Dot Wallace for sheer “oomphemininity” [sic]!
Cpl. Royle for his incomparable “spit and polish boots”!
Sheila Edwards – one of the few nice girls left.
Sher Cooper as the ideal husband of the year!
Kasher Langley as the ideal wife!
Kath Fenn for her invariable politeness.
Helen Kerr as one who has proved the reality of platonic friendship.! [sic]
Many years ago, Christmas 19 – something-or-other – the many Christmas grottoes had been open in the large stores, shop windows were dressed in true Christmassy [sic] fashion. The spirit of Christmas was in the air, and since Christmas is not complete without ghosts, ghosts there had to be. Our rival gang – the “Red Hand Gang”, who could only sport the top of an Allsop beer bottle as badge of membership to be worn on jersey or jacket, were first in the field with a ghost. A poor ghost, made from a swede turnip from which the centre had been removed, eyes, nose and mouth out, to show through the light of a candle placed inside before the top had been replaced. The ghost head was placed in a hedge
[Page break]
and packed underneath with newspaper to very good effect.
Though, as I say, a poor ghost, it caused much annoyance to our Gang, the “White Horse Gang” – a much superior organisation who adorned themselves with silver-plated white horses taken from the centre of a King’s regiment badge – steps had therefore to be taken to counter this affront to our dignity. A real live ghost was the solution, so a real live ghost it had to be.
It was about this time that a notice appeared in the window of a very large residence stating “House to Let”. Fate was being kind, for before one could have a haunted house, even though one had a ghost, it was essential to have the house. Here was the house, and at the next meeting of the “W.H.G.” a scheme was drawn up to use our ghost and the empty house.
The Gang, hereinafter called “the ghosts”, reported at the appointed time and place complete with bedsheet and chain, the latter having been removed, without detection, from an outside lavatory, the former smuggled from the beds of “the ghosts”, under jersey or jacket.
Just after dark entrance was gained by removing a grating and forcing the scullery window. Candles were lit and “the ghosts” proceeded to their haunts, the first storey bedroom. Sheets were thrown over the heads and with chains trailing on the floor, “the ghosts” moved across the window.
Down in the street old ladies screamed, men quickened their step, younger people actually ran, the ghosts were real – dozens of people had seen them – the neighbourhood buzzed with various tales which lost none of their vigour by being re-told.
On later escapades “the ghosts” emitted blood-curdling howls when disinterested passers-by failed to look up at the windows when they came within range.
After a week or so the boldest of the local residents,
[Page break]
backed up by the corpulent, flat-footed representative of the law set out to lay “the ghosts”. Unfortunately their entrance was the same as ours, and we were caught.... white sheeted. Only the appeals of many mothers saved “the ghosts” from a visit to the Juvenile Court.
Strange – that part of a ghost’s anatomy commonly known as the posterior is very material, and particularly sensitive to a leather strap!
Gulp.
[Underlined] TERSE VERSE [/Underlined]
Why, I say old boy, that girl’s got bunions!
Quite so, old man, - but she knows her onions!
Twinkle, twinkle little Hollywood star,
Went for a ride in her boy friend’s car.
What she committed is not freely admitted,
But now that she’s knittin’ [sic]-
It’s not “Bundles for Britain”!
(For W.A.A.F. who are partial to Army Lts.)
We freely extend these tips-
After sweetly surrendering the lips
Be sure to spit out the pips!
[Page Break]
The most remarkable occurrence in a year of remarkable occurrences was the publication in the bi-century issue of the “Mere, Branston and Potterhanworth Recorder and Blankney Chronicle” of the following letter.
The University,
Branston.
Sugar-Beet Friday.
Sir,
In your last issue dated 25th July, 1814, you make much of the invention of a contraption which you refer to as a steam engine, by some upstart named Stephenson. Seeing that you devoted so much space to such a crude, noisy and dirty creation, I am hoping that you will have the good taste to bring the attention of your readers to a far more important invention. I refer, of course, to the “Seeoveroscope” which has been devised by Prof. Ivan Isobarovitch, the distinguished Balonian scientist who is at present a refugee in this country. By means of the “Seeoveroscope” it is possible to see into the future day by day; to see what your neighbours will be doing to-morrow, or to predict the time of the rent-man’s visit. Indeed there is no limit to its usefulness and in view of the great benefits which it will confer on mankind, the University has decided to confer on the inventor the Hon. Degree of D.Sc. (Br) as a mark of appreciation of this great work.
Yours etc.
Nathaniel Gumboil.
Chancellor.
The letter, which was printed in TATISH [sic], the original language of the district, caused such a sensation that a number of A.M. constables completely forgot their strenuous duties for a whole week, and congregated daily in the “Waggon” to discuss the phenomenon. Foreign spies descended on Branston in shoals disguised either as compatriots of Prof. Isobarovitch, complete with outsize face fungus, or, joy of joys, in the role of the glamourous blonde from the “Careless Talk” poster. To add to this confusion, unscrupulous business interests sent their agents to try and gain possession of the “Seeoveroscope”. The locals were not inactive. The local “Gestapo H.Q.” at the
[Page Break]
village grocer’s store strove might and main for possession, in order to maintain their supremacy as “gen” merchants which for half a century has attracted more custom than the quality of all their wares combined. In fact, fantastic as it may seem, it has been reported that for eighteen hours twelve and a half minutes, no mention was made in this establishment of the ”goings on” of the airmen and W.A.A.F., so engrossed were the populace in this invention.
Prof. Isobarovitch dare not move a handstir [sic] without escort, and a well known special constable was called on night and day to protect with the result that the “Special” had to neglect his allotment and the price of cabbage rose steeply as the market was cornered by an unscrupulous Air Raid Warden.
The Editor of the “M.B & P. Gazette and Blankley Chronicle” one Gabriel Van Twinkle , surveyed the situation with unholy joy, then withdrew to Potterhanworth Woods, changed into a hedgehog and hibernated until such time as some world-shaking event merits another edition of his august periodical.
Alas, the editors of “Mere Gen” were denied such a means of escape and as the only responsible (ahem!) newspaper in the district we decided to uphold the magnificent tradition of the Press and obtain possession of all the good things we could get hold of – purely in the national interest of course. After prolonged negotiations we have at last obtained possession of the “Seeoveroscope” in exchange for the C.O’s sugar ration and two tame Gremlins, and in this and future issues we hope to make use of this truly astonishing device for the edification and amusement of our admiring public.
Foot – unfortunately Gabriel Van Twinkle was the only living person who understood “TATISH” [sic] the language in which the “Chronical” was written and the other articles are therefore lost to the world to the unquestioned impoverishment of Art and Science for generations to come. H.S.
With the aid of our newly acquired Seeoveroscope we took a look into the pages of “Who’s Who” for 1973. Here is one
[Page break]
page in which we were especially interested: -
[Underlined] “Who will be Who in 1973.” [/Underlined]
[Underlined] IRVING. [/Underlined] Born at the age of 0 this celebrated personage laid an early claim to fame by being champion lollypop eater of Birkenhead at the age of five. Between that date and his retirement last year he has held many important official appointments, some of which are tabulated below.
1910. Champion runner of Black Street School.
1911. Head Boy, Blank Street School.
1911 1/2 Ex-head boy, Blank Street School.
1915. Principal chief office boy – Ex P.C. Office boy.
1916. Labourer, “CollosoConstruction [sic] Co. Ltd.”
1916 2/3 Managing Director, “Colloso Construction Co.Ltd.”
[Underlined] 1927. [/Underlined] A.C.2. Royal Air Force.
1929. AC.1 Royal Air Force.
1943. O.C., R.A.F. Station.
1945. Viceroy of India.
1946. Station Master at Potterhanworth.
1947. H.M Ambassador to Branston.
1949. Sanitary Inspector, Upper Tooting.
1954. Governor-General of Canada.
1961. Insurance Agent.
1962. Governor of Bank of England.
1964. Coffee Stall Keeper.
1967. Manager “Splendiferous” Hotel.
1969. Guest, H.M. Prison, Dartmoor.
1970. Governor, H.M. Prison, Dartmoor.
1971. i/c Shove-halfpenny, Lincoln Fair.
1972. Member of the Stock Exchange.
1972 1/2. Retired.
Another glance into the future with the aid of the Seeoveroscope.
“The Daily Wail”. 22nd December 19--.
At Blankton Borough Police Court yesterday Mr. Murray Alcorn was prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit in a mechanically driven bath chair. Defendant, who is 101 not
[Page break]
out, appeared in court in the vehicle in question, to which was fitted a morse key and loud speaker, and insisted that the entire proceedings should be conducted in morse code. The Inspector of Police made objection to this, but withdrew the objection after being chased round the court room ten times by the infuriated defendant complete with bath chair.
The presiding magistrate Mr. George Fensom J.P., was heard to remark to his fellow beaks that no matter what language they spoke he would salt defendant as he had waited sixty years for a chance such as this. After a heated exchange of morse signals the court pronounced sentence that Alcorn should have the spring taken from his morse key and be fined the sum of £891. 10. 11 3/4. He left the court gibbering incoherently in morse. The other magistrates were Mrs Doreen Hett, J. P., and Miss Bunty Standford, J.P.
H.S
[Underlined] NEWS FROM THE M.E [/Underlined]
From out of the blue comes news of a former prominent Waddite – Cpl. Jack Pyne – who together with his colleagues “over there” have been eagerly reading Mere Gen. They send us Xmas Greetings and our thought are most surely with those fellows we knew and served with, this Christmastide! May we soon be all together again! In the meantime, Jack has sent us what he describes as “one or two pieces of doggerel or mongrel which he has knocked out while chewing sand” Thanks a lot, 651572 Cpl. J. H. Pyne.
1. They take off – land – take off again,
They cross, recross in the skies,
What’s on? Well, we never get that “gen”
Not M.E’s, Spits- just Flies.
[Page break]
What am I?
I dance the sky,
I’m rather shy
A little sly,
And often lie
But never try
My eggs to fry
Tho’ bye and bye,
I heave a sigh,
Cause soon I die,
You’re right first time old boy – a fly!
3. [Underlined] The Officers, the N.C.Os, the Men. [/Underlined]
Now there, the Officers, the N.C.O.s, the Men,
We all belong to this or that of them,
Our own rank it may be low
But we’re all needed for this Show
We have the Officers, the N.C.O.s, the Men.
Now the Officer he’s a decent fellow when
He goes to tap the Sergeant for some ‘gen’
And the Sergeant he will smirk,
As he goes to ask the Erk,
We have the Officers, the N.C.O. s, the Men.
Now the Sergeant he’s a decent fellow, but
He’s rather apt at times to lose his nut.
For when the C.O’s on the ‘phone,
He stands up – though he’s alone,
We have the Officers, the N.C.O’s, the Men.
Now the Erk’s a decent fellow though,
At times he’s apt to be a little slow,
For when he’s put upon fatigues,
He always say he’s “on his knees”
We have the Officers, the N.C.O’s, the Men.
Now the Officer drinks his whisky in the Mess,
And the sergeant likes the same, or more, or less,
But the Erk if he is able,
Likes his beer upon the table,
We have the Officers, the N.C.O’s, the Men.
[Page break]
In his cups the Officer tells his tales of woe,
And the Sergeant tells of service life pre-war,
But when the Erk his beer has gone,
He’ll take anybody on,
We have the Officers, the N.C.O’s, the Men.
Now the Officer likes his songs a trifle witty,
And the Sergeant likes a sentimental ditty,
But the Erk right from his throat,
Shouts “Roll on the blinking Boat”
We have the Officers, the N.C.O’s, the men.
But they all work together pretty well,
And when this war is over, who can tell?
When we’re back in civvy street,
How the different ones we’ll meet
Who’ve been the Officers, the N.C.O’s, the Men.
4. After being bitten by, and then reading Havelock Ellis’s “Essay on the Mosquito”
Should you start twitching and turning
Your neck – and you utter a curse:
As you feel such as small pinpricks burning,
When uncovered portions they pierce:
Remember! You’re swearing at Nature,
Quintessence of all that should be,
I’m sure that she can’t mean to hurt you,
For the “Mossie’s” a lady you see.
Cpl. J.H.P. 651572.
276 Wing. R.A.F. M.E.F.
??? [Sic} {underlined] QUIZ [/Underlined] ??? [sic]
A newly promoted Waaf (Guff) Corporal (no longer with us) taking an unnatural interest in a visiting Flight Lt., who seemed equally disposed to “cater” for her tastes!
Blondie Barnes admits that her first love is in the Navy and that her attachment to a Canadian Corporal is not to be interpreted as unfaithfulness, as it is merely to prevent her from “becoming morbid”
[Page break]
[underlined] QUIZ [/Underliend] (continued)
Who are the Waafs with more than a passing interest in a certain prominent Cinema Organist?
Cpl. Akenhead – very self conscious with a ravishing pair of fur-lined gloves and a brand new 2nd. Lt. – both looking rather bewildered in the “Local”!
We note with no little interest that Daisy Wiles and Steve Hendry who in their day had one very common “interest” have since “his” departure found ample consolation with the Artillery!
Bernard Wynn is nursing a not-so-secret passion for Cowgirl Standford!
Cpl. Burbury is to be congratulated on bringing the Waaf “would be gold diggers” into the social lives of the neighbouring Yankee “oil diggers”! In this connection is it true that Vera Lee is studying basic Americanese in order to further her conquest of A.J.?
Joan Carruthers baling out of her civilian “affaire [sic]”?
While we offer our congratulations to “Bunny” Ryan on her engagement to a “Sky Pilot”, we must deplore her very sudden change of attitude to matrimony!
On the very vexed question of marriage,
Our Bunny gave a negative barrage!
[inserted] Not for her to be wed, but a career instead [/inserted]
To go thro’ life as a wife was – well – ‘ill-bred”!
Our doubts she dismissed – conceit of mere Men,
So now let us give you the Gen,
She had heard spinster tales of being left in the lurch,
And that, fellowmen, is why she’s embracing the Church!
We send greetings to L.A.C. Black who has had a protracted sick leave. May we assure this laddie from Glasgie [sic], that his financial future is assured, as the C.O. has authorised payment of 8d. in respect of a bus fare he claimed!
The official splitting of the inevitable, inseparable, Gledhill-Beard combine is understood to have had far-reaching effects on the Social “Ops” of aircrew as far distant as Syston! For days the current catchword was “What’s a B without a G? [sic]
[Page break]
Sergt. Barnes hastily relinquishing her American “interests” to welcome a “Rafite” from India.
Sudbrooke’s “Signal” Social Set are doing much to brighten the lives of Mesdames Brentley, Buckingham, Morris, Akenhead! Let’s hope they won’t feel the [underlined] ‘draft’ [/underlined]!”
The inimitable Pere Shemilt doing a social round since his evacuation to Branston.
Why did Sgt. Ripley spend the initial part of her leave in a neighbouring Waaf Sgt’s Mess?
Has Jeannie with the “two stripes air” experience a change of heart? Hence her trips to Martin and references to John?
May we anticipate the cementing of a romantic friendship between the inimitable “Morag” and that self-effacing L.A.C. Fred Palin?
A victim of “Commissionism” – diminutive Pixie Bentley! And isn’t “Royston” a duckie name for a Lieutenant?
Can it be that Phyl Goddard has done little to “ward” off the attentions of a certain L.A.C?
Did Brian Tighe enjoy his 2 a.m. patrol to Wragby Road in such charming company?
Jack Bellerby denies the rumour that he has been offered a directorship of the Astoria Ltd., but admits that he is i/c blackouts – at the Astoria!
At least one dashing R.A. 2nd. Lt. has captured the attentions, presumably temporarily, of a Waaf hitherto partial to a civilian!
“Lucky Laycock” doing more “Billing” then “Cooing “with a sweet natured honeyed L.A.C.W.?
L.A.C. Fensom gathering up the threads of a previous “heavy romance”?
[Page break]
It was Christmas 1954 – the world war of ’39 was but dimly effacing itself from our minds and the over-vaunted post-war planning had done much to destroy the spirit of Xmas we had known in those pre-war days. However, Charles Dickens and his immortal Christmas Carol went on, serenely capturing the fancy of schoolboys from year to year and conjuring up in their youthful minds the rather frightening but irresistible topic of Ghosts!
My boy Clive, a precocious youth some 10 years old and invariably termed by his mother as a block off the old chip, came home for the Xmas hols. Full of this Ghost doctrine! I had been assured that a public school education fosters an independence of thought and by gad they had made a good job of Clive! In some strange distorted fashion he had decided that a neighbour of ours, a Mr. Spouge, was the living incarnation of the Dickensian Mr. Scrooge. Admittedly, Mr. Spouge looked the part – a wizened face that shrunk into the depths of a weird bowler hat and a lanky ungainly figure, coupled with an unpleasant manner and a disinclination to spend readily (if at all) had first attracted my prodigy. Then when Clive struck up an acquaintance with some black faced butcher’s by named Twitchit, who proved to be the son of some wretchedly paid clerk employed by Spouge- here was a ready-made Cratchit family!
I was compelled to listen to the whole story frequently and gradually I realised in my parental folly, that a plot was being hatched, to which I was to be invited (in a manner Clive had inherited from his mother!) to be an accessory before and after the fact! I gathered that even Clive had some doubts about a real ghost materialising on Xmas Eve and “gulling” old Spouge into seeing the error of his ways, and inducing him to subsidise the Twitchits! However, to allow for such an unpardonable lapse of memory by Ghosts Associated Ltd., [underlined] I [/underlined] was to play the role and out-dracula the efforts of the Ghosts of Xmas past, present and future! Well, we discussed the plot man to man fashion and I eventually admitted I was yellow! He was visibly disappointed – what was he going to tell the fellows in the 3rd form next term, etc. etc. However it was left at that and Xmas Eve found me celebrating at the club in no uncertain fashion. As the evening proceeded, I begun to think more and more of Spouge and
[Page break]
the idea of my being a ghost seemed less absurd with each toast we drank. In a sudden fit of muddled decisiveness I snatched up a large white table cloth and staggering out of the Club I headed for the Spouge mansion. I went round to the tradesman’s entrance, clumsily opened a small window and eventually made a rather noisy entry. I struggled to my feet, draped myself in the table cloth and turned to find my intended victim glaring at me, not as a terrified Scrooge, but as an outraged householder. He thumped me on the head with some object and then oblivion for the Ghost of Xmas present.
Oh yes, there was a sequel. I spent Xmas day in the local jail until my solicitor could square the matter up – but what is more important – I held pride of place with Clive’s 3rd form contemporaries for months to come.
[Underlined] STATIONALITIES [sic] [/underlined]
[underlined] Arrivals, [/underlined] – we welcome to our station the following newcomers.
S/O Scott. Cpl. Jewell.
Cpls. Gordon, Pickersgill, Howlett and Cpl William Walker Pickles, A.C Simmons and Spouse, L.A.C.W. Pickup, L.A.C.W. Jump and A.C.W. Crawley
[Underlined] Departures [/underlined] – Our good wishes go with those who left us since our last issue:-
S/O. Mitchell, Sgt. Freeman, L.A.C.W.s Pyle, Petch, Wisdom, Paul, Stafford and Wilson.
L.A.C.s Bill Inches and G.Hickman (who have since been made Corporals)
It is a pleasing feature of our Xmas number that we have much congratulating to do – here it is
W.A.A.F. Sgts. Ripley and Davies.
Cpls. Morrison, Wallace, Burbury, Rollo, Skipworth, Taylorson and Cole.
R.A.F. Cpls. Dale, Batley, Speak, Hutchinson, Linke, Freeman, Adams M.R.J., Taylor, Buchanan and Connor.
[Underlined] Awarded G.C’s. [/Underlined]
L.A.C.W. Rice, L.A.C’s Fensom, Gaffney, Woodfine, Maher, Rylance, Greenhalgh, Field.
[Page break}
[Underlined] Marriages. [/Underlined] – We extend hearty congratulations to Cpl. Jack Tones and to A.C.W. Carmen S. Barche on the occasion of their marriage which took place at St. Cuthberts, Heaton, Bradford, on 8th November, 1943.
[Underlined] Engagements. [/Underlined] – L.A.C.W. Brenda (Bunny) O’Ryan to Captain John Galbraith (Sky-Pilot)
L.A.C.W. Vera Lee to Cpl. David Davidson, RECCE.
[Underlined] 21st Birthdays [Underlined] – L.A.C.W. Rene Newport on 17th November, 1943.
Cpl. “Blondie” Barnes on 27th November, 1943.
[Underlined] Sick. [/Underlined] We are pleased to have Cpl. Batley with us again after his recent illness.
L.A.C. Black is progressing favourably and we hope that he will soon be back at Branston.
L.A.C.W. Beasley is now well again.
[Underlined] PROMOTION TALK [/Underlined]
Some priceless examples of what is being said by those lucky enough to be promoted and what is being left unsaid by those not so lucky.
1. Two newly promoted Corporals scanning D.R.O’s for announcement of their Corporal’s stripes – One says to the other “I say, shall we put in to see the “old man” for our third?”
2. (a) I don’t want the tapes – it’s the money that interests me.
(b) I’m not bothered about the money, but I should like my tapes.
3. My “bruvver Sid” has been in the Army three months and he is a Sergeant.
4. Corporals! I’ve shot ‘em!
5. A brand new WAAF Corporal, rather bewildered, makes a statement to the press on her elevation – Quote – It seems rather silly because we can’t do much after all, can we? (This is not Guff. Ed.)
6. Now inpeace [sic] time it took an L.A.C. 35 years to become a Cpl!
7. It’s so difficult to explain to the folks at home why I don’t get on!
[Page break]
8. Fancy him/her getting his/her tapes. I taught them the job, and look at me!
9. From a WAAF Cpl. “I shall try to do my best for the girls” (I know a R.A.F. Cpl. who echoes these sentiments- Ed.)
10. (a) I [Underlined] think [/underlined] I’ll remuster!
(b) I [Underlined] think [/underlined] I’ll apply for posting!
(c) I [Underlined] think [/underlined] I’ll see the C.O.!
(d) I [Underlined] think [/underlined] mine must be through on records!
(e) I [Underlined] think [/underlined] the war will soon be over – so what do tapes matter!
11. Is it true that those who haven’t got their tapes are getting Xmas/New Year leave?
And so it goes on!
[Underlined] LEST WE FORGET [/underlined]
Cpls. Royle and Laycock ask us to point out that the first three years are the worst in the life of any Corporal.
[Underlined] XMAS PRESENTS [/underlined]
Xmas has once again brought with it the very vexed problem of shopping, and we fear that few of us will either receive or be able to give presents we would desire. However, Mere Gen with its usual magnanimity – although unable to hold out any hope of any materialisation of these gifts – has set out below what is considered to be a list of ideal gifts for certain of our contemporaries.
We can well imagine the glee with which Madelin Gledhill would unwrap an affluent P.O. from his celluloid wrapping, or W.O. Noble’s grin of satisfaction as he tugged a new “Scooter” out of his Service sock. For Bill Reynolds we recommend (not without ulterior motive) a new pair of hair clippers and for K.A.B.E. Jones (alias AVO) we have in mind a learned treatise on “psychology of the unconscious mind”. Bunty Standford pleads for a performing cow, Jack Bellerby gets a season ticket at the Astoria, Playboy Howard a Bill Reynold’s haircut, and Flight Sgt. Thomson an embossed voucher book and a carton of “C” stores.
[Page break]
Mesdames Beard, Barton, Wallace, would appreciate Clive Jive’s book on how to “Jitter without Bugging” and perhaps we might offer to Sgt. Norman and Cpl. Tones that best seller “Wise Wedlock”! To Harold Speak goes a comprehensive policy insuring against discharge under para 65 something, Tom Vasey merits his dozen platform tickets and Tubby Unsworth deserves one more goose! We will content ourselves by giving Austerity Allman mere advice – an offer which Cpl. Robertson spurned – saying he preferred a dove-tailed joint (to quote Potterhanworth woodwork academy) and pass on to F/Sgt. Pitman a forage cap. Jack Tweedie has a priority for a repatriated haggis and to all lonely Waaf we offer a series of heavy dates with our neighbouring Yankees from “Boom-Town”! We hope to secure the option on a neighbouring farm horse for Joan Carruthers’ riding exploits, while to L.A.C.W. Billington goes a riding crop and George Fensom will surely welcome two Van Heusen new service pattern collars fitted with an anti S.P. device! Mickie Beard gets a giant package of chewing gum and I think we really ought to provide “Luscious Laura” with a suitable husband, while a priority order for an alarm clock for Cpl. Jewel would relieve the anxiety of N.C.O’s i/c midnight to 0800 watch. Well there you are – that’s all – Oh yes, – we nearly forgot F/Lt. Irving. We think W.O. Noble’s “Second front” Scooter should fall to his lot and solve his transport problem!
T.L.
[Page break]
“SQUANDERBUG ALLEY!”
[4 Pictures]
[Page Break]
[Underlined] HAYSTACK HUMOUR [/underlined]
[4 Pictures]
[Page Break]
[Underlined] “IT’S MOIDER [sic]”! She says. [/Underlined]
I had been married for three years and had no children to my adorable husband whom I cherished with undying devotion. On our third anniversary he arrived home from the House of Commons earlier than usual. He kissed me and straightway said “Don’t remind me, Dear, I’ve got it here in my pocket”, and saying this he deposited his hand into his pocket and withdrew a flat box which he at once handed to me. It was my anniversary present. As he extracted the small object from his pocket a photograph also fluttered out and came to rest on the carpet at my feet, face downwards. My husband tried hard not to look concerned but as I stooped to pick it up he also followed suit and the result was that we both got a nasty crack on the head. My husband, being a terribly stout man, could not retrieve his balance in time and rolled on to his back, giving me full access to the photograph. I picked it up, trying to show as little haste as possible, and when I turned it over I recognised the features portrayed there as belonging to one of my pals when I was in the Air Force. In a secluded corner was written the words “To my one and only darling Andrew. With all my love” and on the back was written “Remember June 3rd?”
My husband had managed to scramble to his feet by this time holding his head. Needless to say his head was as bald as a billiard ball and therefore offered not the least protection for the abuse it had just received. He held out his hand for the picture which I handed him without any hesitation. I proceeded to unwrap my present, but without the slightest interest as to what was inside. The actual present itself was diamond bracelet for which I thanked him and showed my appreciation by planting a kiss upon his dear bald pate.
The silence was broken by the luncheon gong. I took his arm and as we walked to the dining hall my numbed brain kept repeating “the 3rd of June”. “The 3rd of June”. But I could not connect anything with that date.
Not a word was exchanged throughout the mean [sic] and then I remember. On the 3rd of June Andrew had gone away for a weekend on business. Could he possibly have been making an excuse? Had he really attended an important meeting in Newcastle or had he really been to see Pat? If my presumption about the visit to
[Page break]
Pat was correct, whatever could she, a charming girl, see in Andrew. I often wondered what I saw in him myself. Surely she wasn’t attracted to his position as an M.P., or could she? Pat always was one for men who could provide minks etc. No! That was my jealous subconscious mind providing excuses.
Not another word was passed that night with relation to the photograph. My husband I presume was under the impression that I had not seen it. I could not bear to sleep in his room that night so I excused myself by saying I had a headache and so slept in o [sic] one of the guest rooms.
The next day, when he had gone to business, I searched his room and found, not only letters from Pat but also romantic letters referring to similar weekends spent with Eva, another of my friends in the WAAF.
That was too much for me. I sent the garedner [sic] home early and borrowed some of his weed killer and prepared tea in the usual way, but remembering to add a terrific amount of this strong poison. I brewed myself a special cup free from weed killer. Andrew had not returned home at half past nine that evening but I had wisely kept the tea in the oven. (I had dispensed with the maid’s services for a week). Suddenly a loud tattoo was beat upon the front door. I opened it to find four, no six, men in deep black. They had brought Andrew’s body home after he had been knocked down by a buss
I pretended to be distressed, but how could I be genuinely sorry after what had happened. They took his body upstairs and I asked them if they would care for some tea, to which they replied “yes.”. [sic]
Forgetting about the “special tea” I had prepared for my husband, I poured them each a cup of tea, and before half an hour had elapsed, there was not one corpse in the house, but seven.
Having such a terrible memory, I could not understand them doing such a ridiculous thing as sliding silently to the ground without a word so I begun [sic]to kick them and hit them with anything I could lay my hands on. But still they wouldn’t move
Well! I didn’t want them in my house in such a speechless state so I rang up a policeman to hand [sic] them thrown out. That did it!
(Contd. On page 36)
[Page break]
Present for you
[Picture]
[Page Break}
I am writing this from the State Penitentiary. I should be hanged to-morrow at twelve for wilful murder. But, instead, I’m being transferred to the asylum.
I’m Mad!!! [sic]
D. Cole.
[Underlined] DIVINE NIGHT. [/Underlined]
No moon, no stars – only the flower-scented dark:
A night bird calling and my heart at peace,
My yesterdays are all forgot and my tomorrows are a thousand moons away,
Lo, I can see more clear than day the perfect damask rose, dew wet and sweet,
The night-stock opening wide its heart to fling its scent upon the glamoured [sic] air,
My giant trees that wait in holiness, in prayer and dreams,
Lo, can I hear the voice of dying flowers, faded and fallen to the dust,
Giving their praise for their brief hour of joy;
Can I hear the drowsy twitter of the nested birds,
Night! I would sing to thee, so tender are thy gifts,
Pale sleep that bears us on its wistful barque unto our land of heart’s desire,
Thy boon of darkness end of quiet, so that our souls can catch the message of God,
Did we but lean to Him through thy slow hours,
Then would the world forget its follies and its woes,
Ah! shower thy tenderness tonight upon a world wounded by bloodshed and by war,
Cool Night! Thou hast he ear of God; He walks with thee
Entreat Him to be kind!
T.N./M.Morrison.
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
Mere Gen Christmas 1943
Description
An account of the resource
A duplicated magazine produced by the personnel at Branston Mere Y station. It contains 'in' jokes, stories, a quiz, poems and cartoons.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
34 page duplicated magazine
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Poetry
Artwork
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MReynoldsWT[Ser#-DoB]-150731-02
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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
Bradley Froggatt
Steve Baldwin
arts and crafts
entertainment
ground personnel
love and romance
military living conditions
military service conditions
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1211/15771/EStottAEBlandfordJVarious-0001.1.jpg
65f04fc15b366f25038cdf1a94c878ce
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1211/15771/EStottAEBlandfordJVarious-0003.1.jpg
d3dbeb216b0679a7febe5e494a6998eb
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1211/15771/EStottAEBlandfordJVarious.2.pdf
9b8ab774343edb9a8f8c4b861f0263a8
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
Stott, Robert
Stott, R
Description
An account of the resource
13 items. The collection concerns Pilot Officer Robert Stott (162588) DFM and contains photographs, letters and correspondence relating to his award of the Distinguished Flying Medal and his subsequent death in action on 26/27 November 1943. He flew operatoins as an air gunner with 101 Squadron from RAF Ludford Magna. <br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Jim Yule and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle. <br />Additional information on Robert Stott is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/122514/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IBCC Losses Database</a>
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
2015-10-01
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
Yule, J
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
EStottAEBlandfordJVarious
This letter is a repeat of EStottAEBlandfordJ440504.
194 High Street
Musselburgh
Mid. Lothian
4:5:44
Dear Mr. Blandford,
Im [sic] thanking you for your letter received here 25/4/44 and I am more than delighted that your prayers have been answered and your son returned to you. Two days later I received word that my husband was killed on the 26th Nov. 1943 and three days later buried in grave No.355 in the cemetery of St. Frond, Belgium.
Four other members of the crew are buried in neighbouring graves.
This news reached me unawares as I always believed my husband would return to my son and I. However we must carry on in the best way we can. Thanking you again for writing me. Trusting you and your son are reunited very soon.
Yours most sincerely,
Agnes E. Stott
The second is a letter of sympathy for Mr Blandford from Agnes Stott.
194 High Street
Musselburgh
Mid. Lothian
Scotland
11:2:44
Dear Mr. Blandford,
Im thanking you for your kind letter received here on the 3rd[?] Feb. 1944. I did not know how to take the news of my husbands [sic] death as the Air Ministry had not by then confirmed their letter arrived the following morning & they did tell me is that Bob is a “missing believed [inserted] killed [/inserted] Casualty” and that any further news received they will let me know.
The wireless operators [sic] wife & the bomb aimer’s father sent me the same news as you did.
And [?] I can say at this awful [?] time of waiting is God to give you strength to carry on. I know he will not let us suffer unnecessary[sic]. My Baby is my great comfort in this time.
I wonder if you would let me know/what [sic]
2)
news you received of your loss. I will let you know if I receive any more news.
I am
Yours very sincerely
Agnes. E. Stott
The third letter is from P/O Whittle to Mr Blandford trying to reassure him about his missing son.
[Ends of some words missing from right hand side of letter due to incorrect scanning]
P/O. G.G. Whittle D.F.M.,
Officer’s [sic] Ward
R.A.F. Hospital
Rauceby
Lincs.
14-1-44
Dear Mr. Blandford,
Many thanks for your letter received yesterday. I can appreciate how Mrs Bland [letters missing]
and yourself feel under the circumstances. So far I have not written to any of the relat [letters missing] of the crew. I do not think that I ought to until we get information as to their where abouts [sic].
At the time the crew were reported missing I was in hospital with a perforated ear-drum. I am once again in hospital with [letters missing]
[page break]
EWhittleGGBlandfordJ[Date]
same trouble.
When I arrived back a [missing letter]
the squadron I made enquiries but I am afraid I wasn’t very lucky. It seems that except for one spot – Frankfu [missing letters]
the trip was very quite [sic].
I am sorry that I can’t help you very much, [missing letters]
am right thinking one never can [missing letters?]
recognising the other aircraft. Any day now we should get some news though. I am confident that it will be good news - Bill Wallace was one of the be [letters missing]
pilots on the squadron. From my own experience I can assure [letters missing?]
that there would not be any panic – a big factor when a crew is baling out. If I should [letters missing]
hear anything. I have connections at the Red Cross – I will telegr [letters missing]
you straight away.
Yours sincerely
G.G.Whittle
P.S. My station address is on the envelope.
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
Letters between Robert Stott's wife, Agnes and Mr Blandford
Description
An account of the resource
Five letters from Agnes Stott to Mr Blandford, a fellow crew member's father, and one to Mr Blandford from a fellow crew member (Pilot Officer G G Whittle) who did not fly with them on their last operation.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Agnes Stott
Pilot Officer G G Whittle
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-01-14
1944-02-11
1944-05-04
1943-12-19
1944-01-07
1944-01-28
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Photocopies of six handwritten letters
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Correspondence
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EStottAEBlandfordJVarious-0001
EStottAEBlandfordJVarious-0003
EStottAEBlandfordJVarious
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. Bomber Command
Royal Air Force
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11
1943-12
1944-01
1944-02
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.
aircrew
final resting place
killed in action
Lancaster
missing in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/14922/EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDW431216-0002.2.jpg
438c226351088540a81198f1964f80bd
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/14922/EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDW431216-0003.2.jpg
6f8caa63f64bff2d7c3897a91cb43308
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/14922/EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDW431216-0001.2.jpg
c439815ceac3e18ff5bc97ca35effc67
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1213/14922/EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDW431216-0004.2.jpg
f70dcf5b3d0a072e49bd91748d967af9
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
Donaldson, David
David Donaldson
D Donaldson
Description
An account of the resource
309 Items and a sub-collection of 51 items. Concerns Royal Air Force career of Wing Commander David Donaldson DSO and bar, DFC. A pilot, he joined the Royal Air Force Reserve in 1934. Mobilized in 1939. he undertook tours on 149, 57 and 156 and 192 Squadrons. He was photographed by Cecil Beaton at RAF Mildenhall in 1941. Collection contains a large number of letters to and from family members, friends as well as Royal Air Force personnel. Also included are personal and service documents, and his logbooks. In addition, there are photographs of family, service personnel and aircraft. After the war he became a solicitor. The collection also contains an oral history interview with Frances Grundy, his daughter.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Anna Frances Grundy 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
2015-06-02
2022-10-17
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
Donaldson, D
Grundy, AF
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
XMAS CARD
[Stamps]
WING/COM D.W.DONALDSON D.S.O. D F C .
[deleted] R.A.F FALDINGWORTH
LINCOLN[\deleted]
DANESHILL FARMHOUSE
OXSHOTT
SURREY
ENGLAND
[page break]
Written in ….. ENGLISH
(No......15/032
Sender's(Rank...F/O
(Name...DONALDSON
[page break]
Dear Willy
This is to wish you, Joyce and Anna a happy Christmas and all the rest of it. I hope you manage to get some leave for the occasion. You can tell your wife that this [pointer to drawing of Indian couple in bottom left hand corner of document] is just like India except that the poor woman usually has her family hung all round her as well & there are usually at least four
[printed] CHRISTMAS 1943 /printed] P.T.O.
[page break]
women to each Indian, - so she had better not come out here. But I was forgetting that she is much travelled & knows all these things.
We continue to live a peculiar life and have recently become expert in ceremonial drill, our chief diversion in life being the time honoured sport [character deleted] of driving the permanent staff mad. We have only scored one complete success so far but several more have every appearance of being on the verge.
How is your distinguished daughter. Let me know sometime, what are her latest accomplishments; I'm sure Joyce can invent some, even if she hasn't any new ones. Also what are you doing yourself. I'm afraid Lincolnshire must be a cheerless place by now?
The prospects here are very obscure and range from asst adj down to WOP/AG as far as I can see, in fact almost anything that I know nothing about. Still the shines [?] & bananas are cheap, even if nothing else is, so I don't lose much sleep, (except when wakened by drunken Canadians trying to bathe in the water tank, or Indians gargling in the small hours, or other tropical noises.
Have a nice Christmas
Love and kisses
Ian
I am eagerly awaiting the day when Norman appears in Bombay in a topee. But I suppose it's too much to hope for.
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
Letter to David Donaldson from his brother Ian
Description
An account of the resource
Christmas card with seasons greetings and writes of life in India including sports and drill. Catches up with family news.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ian Donaldson
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-12-16
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page handwritten letter with cartoon decoration and envelope
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Artwork
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EDonaldsonIDonaldsonDW431216
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
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
India
Great Britain
England--Surrey
England--Oxshott
England--Lincolnshire
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-12
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.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Frances Grundy
RAF Faldingworth
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/753/10751/ACotterJDP180828.2.mp3
e9a1567a26e03578b2f197371ed79bd9
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
Cotter, John David Pennington
J D P Cotter
Description
An account of the resource
Three items. The collection concerns Wing Commander John Cotter DFC (b. 1923, Royal Canadian Air Force) and contains an oral history interview, his log book and a memoir. He flew operations as a pilot with 158 and 640 Squadrons.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by John Cotter 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
2018-08-28
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
Cotter, JDP
Transcribed audio recording
A resource consisting primarily of recorded human voice.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
JC: Yes, here we are.
PS: This interview is being conducted for the International Bomber Command Centre. The interviewer is Patricia Selby and the interview is John Cotter and the interview is taking place at his home. Can you give me your address [tone] and the time is 2.25. Where, when were you born John?
JC: They came over to England.
PS: No, when were you born?
PS: Yes, when we came over to England. Apparently I was, my mother was pregnant with me on the voyage over and when we got here they put me in to St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, where I was born.
PS: So Paddington. So how did your childhood go on from there?
JC: They bought a house in Hendon, just by Hendon Central tube station, a brand new house, on a mortgage and they were surviving on my mother’s money really. My father decided he’d leave the sea, big mistake of his, and he had a little tobacconist by the station and things went downhill from there. And eventually the Halifax Building Society foreclosed on the mortgage in about 1928, by which time I was five, and they repossessed the house and so they moved to a, the family to a flat in Finchley Road, near Swiss Cottage, and I remember that clearly because we were there about a year and things hadn’t got any better and my father had had to take commercial jobs going round selling things and in 1930 we had to, my parents were Christian Scientists and they got help from the Christian Science Church. When they were completely broke, had no money at all, all my mother’s money had gone, we had to go down to a place called Roe Green in, near Colindale and people, Christian Scientists, in council houses for example, were putting us up and the family was split up a couple of times with my brother and my mother in one house and my father and myself in another house. Eventually my father must have got a loan and he purchased a car in 1932, a little Swift, 1923 Swift, and he paid five pounds for it, I remember that. And he started selling eggs from this car. He’d go round the villages, selling eggs. And from that he progressed to a dirty garage, in Baker Street, where he was fitting tyres. We had the car at home and he would be spending his days fitting tyres on car wheels, motor cars, and eventually he got his own business and he bought it at Neasden, in Blackbird Cross at Neasden, he had a shop called the Boat House Tyre Service I think. And he had about three employees there, including one of my uncles, who’d also fallen on hard times, and things were going very well and so we moved into a very large flat in Edgware, with four huge bedrooms and three living rooms and it was up on the third floor of a block and we were over a block of shops, and we were over a shop called Gilbert Reeves in Edgware, Station Road, Edgware and we were now living very well. I passed my scholarship to a grammar school and in 1935 I went to the Kingsbury County School, grammar school. I’d done very well at ordinary school, elementary school, I’d always been top of the class. I now, for some reason, became almost the bottom of the class in the grammar school. I found that the competition was very heavy and I wasn’t doing very well. However, I hung on and I started in, there in August ’35 and August ’39 came along and war was declared in September the 3rd, by which time I’d decided I was going to join the Junior League of Oswald Mosley’s Fascist movement. Outside Edgware Station, which was a big station, the end of the Northern Line, so a big station, and one side of the station would be the Communist Party, workers selling the Daily Worker, and the other side would be the Fascists, Oswald Mosley’s man and I always liked him better, Oswald Mosley’s men, always looked better, smarter. And civil war in Spain had been going on for some time and we, my parents had a great friend called Mr Auty, who was a Spaniard and an olive oil importer and he said that the Fascist Party were the only hope for Spain and so I supported General Franco and led to numerous fights with me at school as nobody else seemed to support General Franco, except me. By the time the war broke out I was coming up to sixteen and that year I was supposed to take my School Certificate and I knew I’d do badly at it, so the war was a sort of relief for me. But I decided I’d better not join the Fascist Party as they’d now declared war on Hitler and my parents might be upset about that, me joining Oswald Mosely. Anyway the schools were closed, no sign of opening, so I said to my mother I’m not doing very well at school, I’d better get a job, and she said yes you should get a job and then you support the household by giving some rent. So I didn’t get a job, cause I didn’t know how to get a job, so she got a job for me. Mummy got me my job in a paper firm in Upper Thames Street, just off Blackfriars in London, at twelve and six a week and I went up there and worked there. And then mummy was always saying to me, John, you must get a job with a pension, you must have a pension. So she decided that the job in Upper Thames Street wasn’t paying, going to pay a pension so she’d get me a job in the Civil Service, which she did! She produced this job for me in the Clothing Office, in Whitehall and she said you start there in I think it was June 1940, which I did. And it was quite nice job, with a pension [chuckle] and I had my own responsibilities there, I was doing something all day. I was dealing with, the war was on, so I was dealing with requests from all the colonies when we had a big Empire then, for permission to export goods to certain countries were banned from receiving any goods, anything from Germany, so they had to apply to London. They come down through me, a little sixteen year old in the clothing office, and I was then circulating them to the correct department. I was quite happy doing that and the bombing started. I used to walk down Whitehall in the evenings, six o’clock in the evening, when we finished work, and the bombing had started, mainly in the East End, but some in the centre of London, and I’d get on the tube at The Strand, to go home, and I’d come out at the end of the tunnel which was at Golders Green, and you’d immediately be into the bombing again, because you’d been safe while you were in the underground but now the bombing had started. You’d see the searchlights and it was all going on, and I got fed up of this and then they started rationing as well. Whereas rationing hadn’t been very severe and I’d had plenty of chocolate and things like that to carry on with, you could get them in all the shops, now things started disappearing and you couldn’t get them any longer. I used to attend parties where a lot of, this is in Edgware, where a lot of the people, the youngsters, were joining the services. I saw these advertisements which said: ‘You too can bomb Berlin” and advertising for pilots and I got interested in this and I noticed that the qualification to be a pilot, to be in training as a pilot, if you were selected, you had to have an education up to School Certificate standard. Didn’t say you had to have the School Certificate, you had to be educated to the standard. So, mind [indecipherable], look around and thought jolly good, I could join the Air Force and I decided I would join and take the invitation to go and bomb Berlin. ”You too can bomb Berlin” and it showed you a man in pilot’s uniform, officer’s uniform, standing and leaning on a post in a nice building in Berlin and the building was crumbling from the bombing, and so I said to my younger brother who was about eighteen months younger than me, I said to Paul I’m going off to bomb Berlin, join the Air Force and he said right, I’ll come as well. I said you can’t, because you’re too young, you’re fifteen and the minimum age is seventeen, which I was, and he said I know, but what about if I put on my age to seventeen and you put, I said I’d have to put my age up and he said yes. So eventually we decided yes, he could join with me and I said you haven’t got to school certificate standard and you won’t have it. He said doesn’t matter I’ll join as well, I’ll try and join. So in February 1941, the two of us went down to the Air Force Recruiting Office in Deansbrook Road, Edgware. And we went in and I went in first and the recruiting sergeant asked me what I wanted to be and I said I wanted to be a pilot, and he said where were you educated, and I said Kingsbury County School, just about to take the school certificate and of course the schools were closed and so I left. He said that’s good enough, he said yes, we’ll send you up to Uxbridge and you’ll be interviewed there and if you’re satisfactory, you’ll be a pilot, you’ll be training for a pilot, I was nineteen according to my reckoning, and out I went and my brother went in after me. He was accepted as well, but not as a pilot, they said he could be a rear gunner, or a gunner, or a wireless operator. So he said he’d be a wireless operator do they said you’re going to Uxbridge as well. Funnily enough, a friend of his who was the correct age completely, went in after him, was sent back to his mother to get his birth certificate. They hadn’t looked for my birth certificate, or Paul’s. So we both went to Uxbridge the following day and there we were assessed and I was accepted for training as a pilot and Paul was accepted for training as a wireless operator and we were told to go home, carry on with our jobs and they’d call us up when they had room for us. That was in February, and I waited, carried on at the Clothes Office and I waited and waited and couple of chaps at the Clothing Office had, friends of mine, who’d also joined the Air Force, they were called up and I was still waiting. Anyway, the time came: July 7th 1941. I was told to report to Lords Cricket Ground, St Johns Wood, and I did, and there I was taken into the Air Force and I’d been a great cricket fan. Am I going on too long?
PS: No, it’s fine. It’s really good.
JC: Great cricket fan and I’d been to Lords many times and in those days only the poshest amateurs, proper amateurs were allowed to use the main pavilion at Lords. The professionals, the really top class cricketers, the p[professionals, had to use the side gate and this pavilion at Lords was a place that only MCC members were allowed in and I met some cricketers. And we were all marched in on the second day there at Lords, into this temple, where only amateur players were allowed in. Told to drop our trousers round to our ankles and lift our shirts up to our necks while a Medical Officer walked down the line inspecting us. [Chuckle] Then we were passed fit, obviously, and we used to go down to, you got, billeted in flats, blocks of flats that had obviously been commandeered and the tenant told to leave, and we were billeted in these flats and we used to march down to the zoo for our meals and march back again. So you’d march down for breakfast, and back to wherever you were working, march down for lunch and dinner. And then we were sent on an Initial Training Wing course and I went across to a proper RAF station at Brize Norton, which is still going, for my initial training course and when I came back from that, I was sent down to Brighton here, into the Hotel Metropole to await further instructions And obviously the further instructions were going to be to train, start flying training. We were obviously going overseas for that because most of the flying training was in Canada or South Africa. And I was down here for about four weeks in the Metropole Hotel and then I was shipped off to Manchester for a while, and from Manchester I was taken up to the docks at Glasgow, and put on a little old ship that had been carrying cargo obviously and we now had about twelve hundred chaps on board, and we were setting sail for North America and we were in a convoy, and it took us twelve days to get across the Atlantic. And the first four days I was so sick, I used to lie upstairs on the deck, near the lifeboats, and hope that the submarines would come and torpedo us, so put me out of my misery. After four days I perked up and I’ve never been sick since. We were billeted down in the holds with a lot of rough men who swore most of the time. I’d never heard much swearing in my life, certainly not at school, and swearing and cursing, these rough chaps were. They weren’t aircrew, they were going out to do other jobs, whatever they were. Some in the Navy and a lot in the Air Force obviously to man RAF stations in Canada or North America and I finished up in Saskatchewan, Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, for my initial flying course on Tiger Moths. You had to be capable of going solo on the aircraft after six hours training and the maximum you could do was twelve hours, and if you hadn’t gone solo after twelve hours, you’d, you weren’t considered good enough to be pilot and you’d be sent off for training as a navigator possibly, or something else, and after twelve hours I hadn’t gone solo. All the other people, all my friends had failed, as pilots, and I had no friends left there, they had all failed and gone off, sent off somewhere, and so it was only me and the people who’d gone solo, going flying away on little Tiger Moths and me, not allowed to go solo cause I wasn’t good enough. My instructor must have had faith in me because he asked the CO if I could have another two hours and the CO said yes, but after two hours, if I hadn’t gone solo I would be off, off the course, and after fourteen hours I still hadn’t gone solo so he asked to CO again for a further extension, he must have had great faith in me, and the CO said I’ve got to go to Calgary, get a message through to Calgary ask permission from the C in C, and got that permission and I had one last flight and he sent me solo. And I went solo and on my third landing I landed on top of my friend, who was in another plane and smashed the planes up. But they’d had such a time getting me through so far, they let me carry on. None of us, neither of us were injured, but we’d done considerable damage to the planes. I landed on top of him, I hadn’t seen him, on the runway, he was beneath me and I was landing my Tiger Moth, I thought I was clear on the runway, there was a big crunch and I hit his plane. However they had spent so much time getting me there to this stage they thought I’d carry on, so I carried on and finished the course and passed out, quite well, and I was sent up to another base at Saskatoon and, North Battleford actually, and did an Oxford course where I had no trouble whatsoever. I went solo in about four hours and finished the course quite well and at the end of the course, because they needed pilots in Canada and North America because there was training in, over in the States as well though the war hadn’t started in, America wasn’t in the war yet, most of the pilots who passed out were, thought they were going to stay in Canada or North America as instructors or staff pilots, except for the bottom sixteen of us, who were to go home, and I was sixteenth from the bottom of course, so I was one of the ones that came home. And this time instead of going across the Atlantic on an old steamer, we were sent down to New York by train and we arrived in New York one evening at about six o’clock and we were marched from Pennsylvania Station to the other station in New York, erm, not to the other station, to the docks, and we marched down to the docks and on board, and marched on board the Queen Mary, which was empty except for us, which was about sixty of us and nobody on board. And twelve of us were sent to this cabin, one large cabin, and said we were in this cabin and we said well the place is empty why can’t we have some, a cabin each? They said no you’re twelve of you in here. There are only six bunks and so the arrangement is you will have a bunk every other night and the rest of the time you sleep on the floor. And this is the Air Force so you had to be, do as you were told. And then on the first night we were there, just started to sleep and we heard this marching and boots coming on, and the Queen Mary was filling up with American troops: war had broken out and they were one of the first detachments to come to England. They filled up the plane, the ship completely, so much so that we realised why we were all in this one cabin, cause everywhere else were American troops. The Queen Mary set sail, in four days and we were across the Atlantic. Didn’t come in a convoy, just set sail by itself, and it went so fast that it crossed the Atlantic in four days and discharged all its troops and then came whistling back. Did this all throughout the rest of the war and neither the Queen Mary nor the Queen Elizabeth were sunk. So they got all the troops across. So we were back in England now and after many tribulations I got up to [pause] Wymeswold to start my training and that’s where I start that, in February 1943.
PS: So you did more training again, when you got back to England.
JC: Oh yes. Yes. You’d only done enough training on small aircraft. So now they were deciding where you were going and it was pretty obvious that most of us would be going into Bomber Command because it was a big command now. They’d had the Battle of Britain. The fighter boys had defeated the Germans in the Battle of Britain, by air, and now Bomber Command was getting all the impetus, raids started on Germany and German cities. And I never had any trouble at all, after all that trouble with my first solo, I never had any trouble at all from then on, in training, and I eventually found myself on a squadron, after. I’d come back in August 1942 and I arrived on the squadron a year later, nearly a year later. So I’d done a lot of training, obviously.
PS: That was 158 Squadron.
JC: 158 Squadron, yes. And I joined a crew, and, a very good crew, there’s a photograph of them out there in the hall, very good crew. Seven of us and certainly myself, I never [emphasis] worried about not coming back from an operation or anything like that. There were people who were worried but I never had any trouble with, at all with my crew, they were all marvellous chaps. We used to go out on our operations and come back, and, as you’ll see in there, we were, we got ourselves, because the accommodation at Lissett was tin sheds, huts, we got ourselves accepted in to an Army Sergeant’s Mess in Bridlington where we lived in a nice house with proper fires and a brick built building on the sea front, at Bridlington which was an Army Sergeant’s Mess and we were adopted, our crew were adopted there and the Army provided, it was a Company Sergeant Major who arranged it, the Army Company Sergeant Major who arranged it, and he said anything you want, and if you’re called back to base, you’ve got to go back to base quickly, we’ll give you the transport back. So they fed us and beered us, gave us beer and we had a marvellous time, our crew. There were, I remember once, we used to go out, say seven thirty in the evening, and we’d all be taking off for a target and there’d be a queue waiting for take off on the runway, and once, just in front of us, something happened. We couldn’t get past this aircraft, it wasn’t moving. It was a great friend of mine, Doug Robinson who I knew was the captain of it, and eventually the Flight Commander came out from Operations and spoke to them on board and then a closed van came out as well, followed I think, and this closed van was there about five minutes and then off it went and the plane then turned round, oh, the plane then turned round and taxied off the tarmac, on to the grass, to allow us to pass. We just passed it and he was sitting there on the grass. And the reason that it had happened, one of his crew came up and said he couldn’t carry on, described he was too much.
PS: Too frightened.
JC: Too much, too frightening, yeah. I learned that the closed van that had come up, he was put in the van and whisked off and taken off basically, and that was what happened in the war, if you, it was known as Lack of Moral Fibre. Wouldn’t happen now of course, but, wouldn’t call it Lack of Moral Fibre, but in those days, LMF we called it. They were taken off the base immediately because they didn’t’ want him mixing with anybody else. Fortunately nobody in my crew were like that and you see there, we went through the war with no problems whatsoever. Whereas most of our friends were having trouble, you know, getting very damaged aircraft, [pause] horrific experiences and we had nothing like that.
JS: How did that make you feel?
JC: Hm?
JS: How did you feel about that?
JC: We were very callous, in the war. When you came back from a trip and you found that three or four aircraft were, hadn’t come back, and it’s friend of yours on one, friends on another aircraft and you would say they’d gone for a Burton, which meant they’d been shot down and killed possibly. Very callous, you’d say: “Well you shouldn’t have joined if you can’t stand a joke.” When shot down, things like that. Horrible really.
JS: I was going to say, how did you, now, looking back how did you?
JC: Horrible.
PS: It was your way of coping, presumably.
JC: Yeah. But you see, you see there every six weeks we got leave; a weeks’ leave. We lived like kings really. We got petrol, there was no petrol for other people, we had petrol, we had cars, or motorbikes. You had a petrol allowance. So you’d have enough petrol from Bridlington to go down to London for the weekend. I never did because none of my crew had cars, but other crews had somebody had a motor car and they’d do that, so. We had meals which were eggs and bacon and sausages and goodness knows what, but you couldn’t get in civilian life, you were rationed to all that. And after every trip we had this before we left and when we came back.
JS: But you were out for a long time, you must have been hungry when you got back.
JC: Oh, we were hungry, yes.
PS: You said every six weeks you had a break, in the weeks that you, those six weeks, how many raids would you do? Roughly.
JC: I depended, it depends I suppose. I would say when you, you’d go back and you’d do about five raids and then six weeks had gone by, or maybe, or sometimes, we started off our time at the squadron on the Battle of Hamburg. Hamburg, the main port, we did four raids on the city, in about four weeks. Gave them a very heavy raid every week and we reckoned we’d demolished the major part of the city by the end of that time and then we, Bomber Command switched, possibly I think Berlin, or Frankfurt, mainly Berlin after Hamburg, in my time. You’ll see there that I did raids on a lot of German cities, Kassel, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, all over the place. And you did, I did my way, it was all very exciting, all very exciting. And at the end of my tour I was, I remember the last trip I did was to Dusseldorf, and I got back from Dusseldorf and at the briefing, debriefing, you walk into this hut and the Station Commander, whose name was Group Captain Waterhouse, would be standing at the entrance to greet you as you came in, and that last trip he said to me, well young Cotter, that’s you finished. I said I’d like to carry on, sir. He said we’ll see about that. I hadn’t asked my crew, I was so exuberant, hadn’t asked my crew. I think my crew would have followed me on, I hadn’t asked them, I just assumed they would. Anyway we didn’t get it, I didn’t get my request, because within four days I was shipped up, sent on leave for a week then shopped up to the north of Scotland to a place called Lossiemouth, which I had never heard of before. I’d never been to Scotland apart from when I’d gone to Glasgow to board the ship. I was sent up to this place Lossiemouth, to train the, where they were training the French Air Force who, to be in Bomber Command. These were Frenchmen who were from Algeria, French officers and men from Algeria, which hadn’t been conquered of course by the Germans, and they’d had the Free French Air Force there, and now they wanted to operate in Bomber Command and that was my job to help train them, which I liked. Couldn’t speak a word of French cause I’d been a duffer at school where I learned French, but I got on well with them. And I was there till the end of the war. I kept saying to the Wing Commander Flying, I’d like to get back on operations and they used to tell me to get out of the office and not waste their time. And the last one was a nice Wing Commander O’Dwyer and he obviously thought well of me because he commanded a station later and when I wanted to stay in the Air Force when the war ended, he arranged that I got a good job, and I stayed in the Air Force. I’d been married, to my first wife, in July 1945 I got married, and I went for an interview with BOAC and I was accepted by BOAC, and I met my wife who was working in King’s Road, Chelsea. We met in a pub at, in Chelsea, and said, in her lunchtime, and I said I’ve got this job with BOAC and Margaret said how much are they paying you? And I said well initially they’re paying me, I think it was, three hundred and eighty pounds a year as a trainee. She said you’re getting more than that in the Air Force and I said well I am, yes and she said well it’s no contest is it, you stay in the Air Force. I took her advice, because she was older than me, and sensible I thought, so I stayed in the Air Force, and for another twenty years and did quite well there and finished as a Squadron leader and twenty years later, I got a chance to go into civil flying, to retire from the Air Force with a small pension and go into civil flying and that’s what I did. So I went to a firm called Dan Air and I was there for the, till I was sixty, when I, you had to retire as captain of aircraft in those days so that.
PS: So you really enjoyed your flying.
JC: I did enjoy my flying.
PS: You were awarded the DFC. Would you like to tell me how that came about?
JC: Yes. In 640 Squadron, oh, 158 Squadron at Lissett, we were C Flight. There were three, two, three flights in the squadron: A, B and C, and we were C Flight and in December 1943 they decided that we would convert onto a more efficient mark of Halifax with new engines, better engines, and C Flight would go across to Leconfield, permanent station, near Beverley, about twenty miles or so from the city, and form a new squadron. And we formed the new squadron called 640, the number 640 and the Squadron Commander was a chap called Ruby Ayres who was very nice, a very good fellow and he’d been sent to Australia in the war, at the beginning of the war, to get the training scheme over there sorted out. So he’d now come back and taken command of 640 Squadron. Brand new squadron and after about six months or so, no about four months, he decided that they’d been through all these operations and nobody had been, got a decoration. So unbeknown to me, I was suddenly called up into the Wing Commander’s office, Wing Commander Ayres, Squadron Commander, and he said now Cotter, you had a difficult time the other night, a difficult time this night, is that right, I said yes, but nothing serious sir, he said no, but it’s very difficult, you carried on, all of this. I didn’t know what he was talking about but anyway, what he was doing was deciding that I would have the DFC, first one in the squadron. And about three weeks later, or four weeks later, I was asleep in the mess after lunch which I normally did, cause they had chairs like this and used to go to sleep, and I was woken by Alan Smart one of the other, my colleagues, who’d had a terrible time in the war, he’d been shot up to pieces and managed to get back each time, and he came in and shook my shoulder and said you’ve got the DFC, John. I said what, he said you’ve got the DFC. I said oh, thanks and went back to sleep as far as I remember. [Laugh] And then, and then I was eventually called to Holyrood House. This is when I was at Lossiemouth, I’d gone to Lossiemouth and I was called to Holyrood House in Edinburgh and I was given the DFC by King George Sixth, think it was the sixth.
[Other]: What had you done to get it? What have they said that you’d done?
JC: Where’s the book, which I got out, big one there, you see, that one
PS: Because I don’t think they just give them out for, sweeties. I’ll, ‘John Cotter. This officer has proved himself to be a most capable and resolute captain of aircraft. He has participated on a large number of attacks on well defended targets, including several against Berlin and Hamburg. One night in February 1944, Pilot Officer Cotter took part in an attack on Schweinfurt?
JC: Schweinfurt.
PS: On the outward flight, engine trouble developed, but despite this Pilot Officer Cotter continued to target and bomb it and afterwards flew the aircraft back to this country where he made a safe landing at an airfield near the coast. His determination to complete this mission successfully was highly commendable.’ So you did it on three engines. Out and back. That must have made you very tired.
JC: Well it was, yes. I remember that, one you were talking about there. I landed at Tangmere, along the coast here. Used to be an airfield there.
PS: So what did, after the war when you stayed in the Air Force, what sort of things did you do then?
JC: [Laugh] Now, the, they’d just decided, after the war, to have exchange postings with the Americans. Some Americans would come over here and serve with us and some of us would go over there and the first stage postings took place in February 1940, [pause] 7, 1947, and I was on it. They selected me, to go out there and on to an American base. I was a married man of course by this time. The first year they said you can’t take your wife, cause you’re only going to go for a year, you don’t know where you’ll be in America, and they sent us down to, there were four Flight Lieutenants and five Wing Commanders going. Wing commander being about three steps higher than a Flight Lieutenant. Four junior offices and five senior officers. And I remember the four junior officers got together and went down to Air Ministry for a briefing. We got to this briefing at Air Ministry in Kingsway, London and it consisted of this Group Captain coming in and saying now, the best paper for football, English football results, is the New York Times so get that while you’re over there and you’ll get all the results, and that was about it: that was the briefing. So the next thing we knew we were on this liner about to go, going to America. We landed in New York, we landed in Halifax actually, Halifax, Nova Scotia and we were trained down to New York. We got there and they put us up in hotels there, called the Lexington. Lexington Hotel, on Lexington Avenue, known as the Sexy Lexy in the Air Force, the Air Force always used it, and we were there, and of course back home things were, as the war had finished things were even worse than they were during the war. The rationing was more severe and we were really, those post, immediate post war years were a bit thin for food and things and we’re now going to America, the land of plenty, and so we enjoyed ourselves in New York. We were there about four days and then we were bussed down then, down to Washington, Washington DC, and to the Pentagon Building, which is the big military, American Military Headquarters where we had an RAF delegation there. And the things we noticed, I noticed, straight away, was all WAAFs, the Women’s Air Force, were very, very smart, and chic. Where the WAAFs at home had woollen stockings because of rationing of course they couldn’t get silk stockings, all the WAAFs in Washington had silk stockings, or nylon stockings I suppose they were, certainly much smarter and looked a lot cleaner and more with it than our malnourished crowd back home. And so I was sent in to see this Air Marshal, and the first thing he said to me, he said when you come in to see me you are dressed correctly, you don’t have the hat on the back of your head. Go out and dress correctly and come, wait for [indecipherable] to back again. So out I went with my tail between my legs and looked at this very smart WAAF that I’d been admiring, I no longer admired her, cause I thought she should have warned me about that and I did have, my hat on the back of my head, as I had in there.
PS: Yeah.
JC: Yeah. And it’s not smart, that’s wartime stuff, and I was still on wartime stuff and I quite deserved what I got. Anyway, he decided I wasn’t, I wasn’t suitable material for Washington, for the American Air Force so I was sent home, in disgrace, basically, tail between my legs. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one, there was one of the Wing Commanders as well sent back, some reason. [laughter] So I came back, quite miserable feeling, on the same boat, almost. But again, we were, like the Queen Mary during the war, we had to share cabins, everybody was cooped up. I mean in the cabin on the return journey I remember there was a chap from Preston and his wife. Preston in Lancashire they came from. They’d been in America twenty two years and he was coming home, he and his wife, they’d had enough, you know, of America, after twenty two years. They’d gone out there just after the First World War and he’d been working as a painter and decorator and now he was coming home, he and his wife. Don’t know what they did when they got home, but anyway. We got home and it was the making of me.
PS: Pardon?
JC: It was the making of me, because I got to Air Ministry and I said [pouring of tea] I’d like to have a good postings, overseas. And they said not a chance! I said why not, and they said, I haven’t been overseas yet on a posting and they said we need people like you. I said why, said you’re a good instructor and we need, and it was just when we were building up the Air Force again, thank you darling.
[Other]: Let me give you that.
JC: After the war Stalin, er, Churchill had said there’s an Iron Curtain coming down over Europe. Churchill had been out in Washington and he announced it quite, quite strongly there: there’s an Iron Curtain coming down, and so we had started to rearm against the Russian Menace. They needed instructors because they were recruiting people who had just been discharged from the Air Force, and had been working and hadn’t liked it and were coming back in the Air Force and so I obviously was thought of as a good instructor, which I think I was, because I never lost my temper with anybody; I explained things calmly. So I was given this instruction job up in, flying, flying, up in Yorkshire, back in Yorkshire again, in a place near Ripon, Yorkshire, and I progressed from there and I did very well in the Air Force. And when I asked for a permanent commission, a General List Commission as a permanent officer, I got what I wanted and I had no reason to want to leave the Air Force except that I’d been sent to Birmingham, University, to take charge of the University Air Squadron and I was flying light aircraft there, Chipmunks, and I realised that that was, I wouldn’t progress any further getting back on to heavy aircraft again in the Air Force. And so the chance came up for a, after 1962, when I could retire on a small pension and so I arranged with Dan Air to join them. I had friends in Dan Air and so I left the Air Force and retired and became a civil pilot and did that for the rest of, stayed with Dan Air.
PS: Do you think staying on in the Air Force made it easier to sort of drift back into normal life after the war?
JC: Yes, yeah. I had a very good, very good career. Never out of work, so, never at the Employment Exchange. [Laughter]
[Other]: But you lost your brother, didn’t you, sadly, in the war.
JC: Hmm?
[Other]: You lost your brother, sadly.
JC: I lost my brother.
PS: So wasn’t without, was some sadness. Was that at the beginning or had he done?
JC: No, he’d been sent out to Canada. He’d been, hadn’t been taken into the Air Force. We’d joined together if you remember, but I’d been called up July ’41, he wasn’t called up till ’42, early ’42 and he was a wireless operator, wireless operator/air gunner and he was sent to Canada to join a squadron there, nearing the end of the war and they realised that when Germany collapsed they’d still have Japan to fight. So they’d build up the squadrons in the facing, in the areas facing Japan Vancouver and places like that and my brother was at Vancouver. And one night the aircraft they were in taxied back in again cause it had a fault, and my brother and another chap got out, to have a fag, you weren’t allowed to smoke in RAF aircraft then, in those days, and as happened many times actually, it happened up at Lossiemouth this type of thing as well, the aircraft taxied into them, accidentally [gasp] and they were cut to pieces by the propeller, unfortunately.
PS: That must be even harder to cope with.
[Other]: He was very young. Where were you dad when this happened, dad? Were you in Scotland, at Lossie?
JC: I was in Scotland. I was flying actually, was about two in the morning and I was flying with a French crew and I was called into Control Tower, so I brought the aircraft in, shut it down and I got out, went into the Control Tower and it was my sister on the phone to me from London, saying they knew that Paul had been killed, in Canada, and would I come home, if possible, to support my mother? And I said I will do what I can and I went and saw the CO and he said, “I can’t let you go for very long,” he said, “you can go for the weekend.” So I had to come down for, just to London for the weekend from Scotland, so it was a case of coming down one day and going back the next day basically. But I came down and supported my mother because my father was in the Navy so, in the war, so.
PS: She needed someone.
JC: Yeah. And my sister was only about seven, no, she was about twelve, twelve.
PS: A lot for her to cope with.
[Other]: You also told us, do you remember, stories before you joined up when everyone was going down the air raid shelters, when London was being bombed, and you didn’t, did you, your family, you’d drive out to the countryside.
JC: No. Oh yes. My father insisted that when the air raids started, in earnest, September 1940, we must [emphasis] go out to St Albans, somewhere clear of London completely. And he used to drive the car out to St Albans and park in a field there and my mother and sister would go and I refused to go and my brother refused to go, and my mother had a Great Aunt, a sister, known as my Great Aunt Nellie, who was mentally deficient, and my mother had brought her back from Australia with her and she looked after all the, I suppose it was a condition of the, her parents’ will that she look after Nellie. So Nellie used to be there with us. She was a nurse maid for us as kids and she was still with us at Edgware and I remember nanny, when the bombs used to start Nellie used to go out on the veranda, look up at the sky and shout: “Bugger you Mr Hitler!” [Laughter] Then she’d come back in again. Well my father and mother used to go to the field at St Albans, and we were admittedly on the fourth and fifth floor of the buildings and nothing happened to us, and there used to be a saying in the war: the bomb won’t hit you unless your name’s put on it or your number’s on it. And I didn’t go into air raid shelters cause it was very smelly.
[Other]: What happened to the field where your dad used to drive?
JC: Oh. Bomb dropped in the next field!
PS: Oh no!
JC: Yes! Yes!
[Other]: So they all stopped going as well!
JC: So they stopped going, yes. [Laughter] So they all came back to the flat.
PS: So you’ve enjoyed your life, on the whole.
JC: Oh yes. Yes, had no employment problems. I was, I spent half my life in the Air Force. You see the Air Force was the making of me; it educated me really. I was sent on numerous courses in the Air Force: on how to write properly and how to do this, that and the other. I enjoyed my time in the Air Force and again I enjoyed my time in civil flying, flying all over the world.
PS: You have been such a pleasure to interview. I’ve really enjoyed interviewing, well I haven’t interviewed you, I have let you talk, [Laughter] it’s been really informative. Thank you very much indeed. Is there anything else you want to talk about, or need a break?
JC: Not really, you’ll see in there -
[Other]: Would you like to show Pat your medals?
PS: Yes.
JC: Oh. In there. Fijians, who were in the Army, and taking them up to Malaya to fight in the jungle with us. Because we were fighting communists, Chinese communists in the jungle.
PS: Was that after the war?
JC: This was after the war, this was 1950 ish. So when you would have been about five, this was going on.
PS: Yes. Do you mind if I do this? Now, I’ve got you and your medals. That’s lovely, thank you very much. It doesn’t hurt for me to have them as well.
[Other]: Exactly.
PS: They are lovely. Did they give you this think to put them?
JC: No, no.
[Other]: They were hanging off dad.
JC: Yeah. I often used to go to my reunions and they medals would be hanging half way down.
[Other]: With a nappy pin. [Laughter]
JC: This allows you to put, this goes in your pocket.
PS: Oh I see!
[Other]: Had it redone recently, haven’t you dad.
JC: This is a chap over in East Sussex somewhere, just past Eastbourne.
[Other]: Eastbourne.
PS: He’s very clever.
JC: Yes. He’s ex-Army.
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
Interview with John David Pennington Cotter
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Patricia Selby
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
2018-08-28
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.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ACotterJDP180828
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
Pending revision of OH transcription
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
01:16:47 audio recording
Language
A language of the resource
eng
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
Free French Air Force
Description
An account of the resource
John was born in London, Hendon. His family fell on hard times in his early years. John and his brother, Paul, joined the RAF in 1941 as a pilot and wireless operator respectively. After initial training at RAF Brize Norton, John was trained in Canada, returning to Britain on the Queen Mary with the first detachments of American troops. In 1943 he did more training at RAF Wymeswold, then joined 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett. They carried out several operations to German cities. As part of a new 640 Squadron, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. John then trained the Free French Air Force at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. He stayed in the RAF for 20 years, finishing as squadron leader. He later became a civil pilot at Dan Air. John’s brother was killed in a propeller incident in Vancouver.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1941-02
1941-07-07
1942-08
1943-02
1943-12
1944-02
1945-07
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Germany
Great Britain
United States
Atlantic Ocean
England--London
England--Yorkshire
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Hamburg
Saskatchewan--Saskatoon
Scotland--Moray
Saskatchewan
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anne-Marie Watson
Sally Coulter
158 Squadron
640 Squadron
aircrew
Distinguished Flying Cross
ground personnel
lack of moral fibre
Oxford
pilot
RAF Bridlington
RAF Lissett
RAF Lossiemouth
training
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force