No.263 SQUADRON

THE LION IS KNOWN BY HIS CLAWS

OCTOBER 1939 RAF Filton 2nd No.263 Squadron was formed under S/L John William Donaldson. F/L Randolph Stuart Mills arrived for flying duties from HQ Fighter Command, to command ‘A’ Flight. F/L Tom Rowland arrived for flying duties from HQ No. 11 Group Uxbridge, to command ‘B’ Flight. P/O James Martin Abell, P/O Graham Walter Beech Austin, P/O Michael Alexander Craig-Adams, P/O John Antony Dixon, P/O Dudley Henry Forrest, P/O Harold Bryan Lillie Hillcoat, P/O Joseph Grantley Hughes, P/O Louis Reginald Jacobson DFC, P/O Irving Francis McDermott, P/O John Woffenden McKenzie, P/O Sidney Robert McNamara, P/O Darrell Edward David Milsom, P/O Patrick John Muriel Nettleton, P/O Phillip Hannah Purdy, P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith, Sgt Reginald Thomas Llewellyn Sgt Arthur Edward Makins, Sgt Ernest Frederick William Russell, Sgt Kenneth Primrose Vickery arrived for flying duties from No.3 FTS. P/O George Stanley Milligan arrived for flying duties from No.11 Group HQ.

W/O Alexander Smart arrived as Squadron Disciplinarian. W/O Sanders arrived as Armament Officer. 6th P/O William Edmund Hunt arrived as Adjutant. 10th 6 Gladiators collected from No.605 Sqn, Tangmere; the Squadron's 1st equipment. 11th 4 Gladiators delivered, making 10 in total. P/O James Martin Abell, P/O Graham Walter Beech Austin & P/O Harold Bryan Lillie Hillcoat posted to No.605 Sqn, Tangmere. Sgt Basil Ewart Patrick Whall, Sgt Patrick Ian Watson-Parker & Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener arrived for flying duties from No.605 Sqn, Tangmere. 12th P/O Wyatt-Smith force landed in Gladiator K6145. 19th S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills & F/L Rowland carried out ground attack on AA Defence Positions near Bristol.

21st Sgt Patrick Ian Watson-Parker met with a flying accident in Gladiator K6145, whilst flying in the very near vicinity of the Severn Bridge, near Lydney, Gloucestershire. The wingtip struck the water whilst carrying out a turn. Pilot swam ashore & admitted to Lydney Hospital with facial injuries & exhaustion. Aircraft exploded & sank in 30 feet of water. 26th 6 Gladiators collected from 8 MU, Little Rissington. 27th 5 Gladiators collected from 8 MU, Little Rissington. 28th 5 Gladiators collected from 8 MU, Little Rissington. 31st The Squadron completed 409:30 day & 9:10 night hours. This was only attained by, on average 6 out of 10 aircraft being kept serviceable speaking very highly of the skill shown by the airmen. The standard reached is now very nearly on a par with a fully trained Squadron. Strength of Squadron as at 31st October was 15 Officers, 185 Airmen.

NOVEMBER 1939 RAF Filton 6th 6 new Gladiators collected from No.6 MU, Brize Norton. 11th F/S Bertrum Robert Grant appointed W/O (Eng). 14th Re-equipped with Browning .303 guns. Sgt Dennis William Mason arrived for flying duties from No.11 Group Pool, St. Athan.

24th 16 Pilots now fully trained for Air Fighting. 13 have reached this high standard 8-weeks after passing out of Flying Training School. 25th Sgt Reginald Thomas Llewellyn & Sgt Arthur Edward Makins posted to No.41 Sqn, Catterick. The Squadron, it has been ordered to take over the Air Safety of the Western part of England, which speaks very highly of its standard considering it was formed 7 weeks ago. It is the only Squadron detailed for this. Air Firing at Sand Bay & 50,000 rounds of ammunition were fired in 2 days. Many teething troubles with the guns were experienced but have now been rectified & all guns are now mechanically perfect. The pilots have

confidence in their guns which is perhaps the most important item in air fighting. Great advantage & accuracy was found possible by the fact that the CO & the 2 Flight Commanders with R/T took each pilot individually & made close observations of the aim they took whilst firing. Pilots were checked & rechecked by R/T from the air & it can now be stated that the standard not only improved rapidly with this assistance, but it has become very accurate. 28th S/L Donaldson broadcast to the Royal Navy & AA of Portsmouth Command & District on methods of recognition of British Aircraft as against Hostile Aircraft. P/O Craig-Adams flew a Gladiator in a Demonstration.

DECEMBER 1939

RAF Filton 1st-2nd F/O Rowland, who has proved himself most capable in his duties as Flight Commander, recommended for promotion to F/L. P/O McNamara to Royal Navy as a RAF Liaison Officer. His duties are to sort out friendly & hostile aircraft throughout the voyage of a Convoy which will last approximately 10 days. The following airmen were posted to Ground Training School, Eastchurch. Cpl T.F. Thornber, Cpl W.J. McDonald, Cpl J.G. Boggan, Cpl C.V. Misstear, AC2 T.W. TROW, LAC S. Vincent, AC2 G.R. Angus, LAC J.G. Dumbleton, AC1 G.E. Manley, AC2 J.K. McLean, AC2 G.E. Parry, AC2 R.S. Saunders, LAC A.E. Thorn, AC2 B.H. Williams, AC2 J.H. Wilson, AC2 L.J. Cheeseman, LAC R. Davies, 746561 AC2 E. Evans, AC2 C. Bowyer. 3rd S/L Donaldson to Eastchurch for Broadcast on Recognition Demonstration. P/O Craig-Adams is to assist in a fly past in a Gladiator. 4th The Gloucester Observer Corps reported an aircraft bearing German National Markings. ‘B’ Flight intercepted the aircraft which was found to be an Anson. The Interception was carried out with ease & over a range of 34 miles. Place of Interception was Stroud. T/Sgt W.F. Howells posted to No.1 Balloon Training Unit, RAF Cardington. Sgt Denis William Mason awarded a special assessment from No.13 Training School. 5th 3 Practice Interceptions. 1st led by S/L Donaldson 38 miles from Filton, 2 miles south of Wincanton; 2nd led by F/L Mills, 22 miles from Filton, 3 miles south of Bath; 3rd led by F/L Rowland, 22 miles from Malmesbury. So far, this Squadron has met with 100% success of all Interceptions carried out. 7th The Squadron received presents for the Airmen from Bristol’s Own Fund for which the CO thanked them very warmly. Sgt Dennis William Mason posted to No.141 Sqn, RAF Turnhouse. 8th Re-sighting of guns. Considering the amount of firing & flying that has taken place the gun sighting had to be altered only a very small degree to bring about perfection, which speaks very highly of the gun stabilization properties of the Gladiator Aircraft. 10th Successful Practice Interception of an attack on Avonmouth Docks.

11th During the early hours of the morning the Observer Corps reported the sounds of an explosion in the Bristol Channel & gave sound plots of a single aircraft. These plots were intermittent coming in every 15 minutes. Later it was reported that a ship was making a series of short blasts from its foghorn. 2 aircraft were standing by at Readiness but owing to insufficient detail it was considered unnecessary to employ them. 14th Formation led by P/O Craig-Adams made a forced landing at Handley Swan owing to poor visibility & lack of petrol. P/Os Milsom & McKenzie landed successfully but P/O Craig-Adams broke his aircraft when, after touching down, it passed through a bogged draining run, causing it to turn into a hedge. 15th S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills & W/O Grant proceeded to forced-landing field to make the necessary decision regarding the damage etc. The field was situated 50 miles from Filton. It was found the field was long & narrow, the surface not being considered very suitable for landing, but the party believed it was the best field in the district. The forced-landing field was in upper part of the River Severn, & at present most of the land is under water. S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills flew the 2 serviceable machines out, F/L Mills reached Filton in ½-hour, but S/L Donaldson's aeroplane developed plug trouble & he made a precautionary landing at Gloster's aerodrome. 16th ‘Works & Buildings’ have worked on the aerodrome for the past fortnight & the surface has become much improved, although there are still portions that remain unserviceable. 17th The Station Signal Officer reported that his Wireless Operators had had more practise during the past 3-weeks than they had received over the previous 4 months & the efficiency & smooth running of his section had made astounding improvements. He attributed this to the heavy traffic the Squadron had given this section. 19th Whilst an aircraft was flying in the vicinity of Sand Bay, a Whitley was observed. The aircraft gave the challenge letter of the day & requested his position on his recognition lights. His position was morsed back by the pilot’s recognition lights & this was received. The Whitley had been plotted by the Observer Corps for 2 hours as an unidentified aircraft, therefore a certain amount of assistance was given both to the Whitley & Observer Corps, in clearing up an unanswered question. 20th Search in front of Bristol Harbour for an aircraft that had been seen to dive into the water out of low cloud. It was discovered ½-hour later that the aircraft belonged to Bristol Works & the pilot, F/L Deacon, received fatal injuries.

The Squadron attended a Dinner in honour of W/C O'Neill, Station Commander who has been appointed G/C on taking Command of North Weald. 1 of the Squadrons at North Weald is commanded by S/L Edward Mortlock ‘Teddy’ Donaldson, the brother of the CO of this Squadron. 22nd S/L Donaldson commences leave. F/L Mills takes over command of the Squadron. 26th 5 ‘A’ Flight aircraft formed the ‘Bomber’ formation, & 3 ‘B’ Flight aircraft successfully Intercepted over Yeovil. 28th S/L Donaldson returned from leave. 3 successful Interceptions during the day. It is considered that under the bad visibility conditions, the flying was of the highest possible standard. 3 different Controllers controlled each of the Interceptions and in each case only 2 vectors were given. In one case the Flight Commander of ‘A’ Flight was given the order to orbit at Zero+12 & at that precise moment he was level with the hostile aircraft. The matter was investigated later, & it was considered that the fault lay with the Observer Corps, whose plots were being plotted in the Operations Room some 8-minutes after observation. F/L Mills will carry out trials with the object of bringing a higher degree of efficiency with the posts concerned. With reference to the Forced Landings of the following aircraft – Gladiators N5649, N5632 & N5635. The following is an extract from a letter addressed to The Under-Secretary of State for Commanding. ‘I consider that all 3 pilots concerned showed sound common sense & I agree with the remarks made by the CO No.263 Sqn in his report attached to the above-mentioned letter in that both pilots showed great courage & determination in maintaining their positions in the formations.’ 29th A thick fog broke out approximately ½-hour after Night Flying commenced. Orders were issued by R/T to land & F/L Rowland ordered pyrotechnics to be fired, this enabled the pilots to locate the aerodrome with ease. S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills landed safely but P/O McNamara, owing to his limited flying experience, was not able to cope with the situation so easily. He made 4 attempts to land. The visibility reducing greatly every minute he remained in the air, but his 4th attempt to land was successful & it is considered this Officer displayed a cool sense throughout his adventure. 31st Formation of 9 led by the CO flew over the important towns in the Sector. The object was to bring about a sense of security to the population, at the same time allowing them to see the Squadron for the 1st time. The Squadron has now flown over 1,200 hours day flying & 53 hours night flying since 13th October 1939. All pilots who have remained with the Squadron for this period have completed 60 hours.

JANUARY 1940 RAF Filton 2nd 3 aircraft up on night flying patrol. The Pilot in charge of the formation, P/O Purdy followed a mist bound valley in mistake for the River Severn, & therefore in fact his patrol line was into the middle of Wales & back, instead of up & down the River Severn. The CO asked P/O Purdy on 2 occasions whether everything was all right & if he was certain of his position & his answer was ‘Yes’. After the formation had been in the air for 70-minutes, the Controller ordered the Observer Corps to plot his position & it was found that no trace of the formation could be seen in the vicinity. However, by sheer coincidence at this moment 3 aircraft were being plotted in the district of Brecon which is in the middle of South Wales. The Controller then requested immediate recognition of the aircraft & it was established that they were Gladiators. They were ordered to Pancake Base. It is unfortunate to relate that this was not received clearly. The formation had up to this time been receiving R/T exceptionally well, since communication had been established over 60-miles. Had the R/T been less efficient as is usual the pilot could never have gone as far away from the aerodrome without losing communication. The leader decided to remain airborne until daybreak & to make a precautionary forced landing as soon as light permitted. At 0750 all 3 aircraft landed safely in a field. Later the formation received permission to take-off & refuel at Porthcawl aerodrome which was only 10-miles away. P/O Purdy & P/O Hughes took off from the field safely, but it is assumed that P/O Wyatt-Smith was affected by his ordeal & his air sense whilst taking off had departed somewhat, since he tried to pull his aircraft off the ground too quickly & subsequently stalled & crashed. The aircraft was a write off, & luckily P/O Wyatt-Smith was unhurt. 4th Formation Air-Firing at Sand Bay. It is found that with practice the accuracy of formation firing improves greatly. At the commencement when each Pilot was making his 1st effort the majority when asked if they were able to locate the point of contact of their bullets, would answer that ‘they were paying more attention to maintain their position in formation than the actual effect & result of their aim.’ Most Pilots have now fired 3 times on the ranges & it is considered they are now able to fire in formation without paying too much attention to their position, but the accuracy although much improved is not yet considered to be a high standard. 5th ‘B’ Flight led by F/L Rowland carried out affiliation exercises with No.52 HAA Regiment. 8th Interception practice was spoilt by the Observer Corps. The ‘Hostile’ aircraft was reported to be 3,000 feet but in fact they were at 14,000 feet. No explanation can be given for this mistake, other than inefficiency. 9th The Cine-Camera-Gun Equipment arrived, but no wiring diagram is held. The CO was willing to

compromise & fit up a temporary diagram, but on looking into the matter more closely, it was found that 7 different electrical connections were necessary, therefore Gloster Aircraft were approached for a suggestion. They have kindly consented to submit their recommendations. F/L Rowland carried out an affiliation exercise with No.52 HAA Regiment. It was considered to be a great success & we were warmly thanked by them. 11th W/O Alexander Smart, Squadron Disciplinarian, posted to HQ, British Air Forces B.E.F. 12th Scramble Red section led by S/L Donaldson were detailed to intercept a balloon which had broken adrift from Cardiff. After searching for 40-minutes no trace could be seen. Raid 51 Red Section vectored just south of Gloucester to intercept an enemy raider approaching Bristol at 20,000 feet. The Controller informed them that the enemy aircraft was immediately over Hullavington at 20,000 feet & 30-seconds later the aircraft was observed. After giving the order to load guns the Flight took up a position to attack. When at ¾-mile from the enemy it dived vertically to the ground. At 10,000 feet the Raider was overhauled & was identified as a long-nose Blenheim. It was fortunate for the Blenheim's pilot that he was not fired on, since Operations had informed the Leader that it was a hostile aircraft & it carried out evasive tactics. 13th The following is an extract of a letter forwarded to HQ No.11 Group. ‘Interception Report on Raid 51. Only 8 plots were received from Observer Corps; although sky was clear it was hazy & considerable difficulty was observed in reporting high-flying aircraft. Shortly after orbit had been ordered Red Leader, S/L Donaldson, transmitted enemy sighted. This message was received indistinctly & not confirmed as R/T failed at this point. As stated in Combat Report, aircraft on being approached dived from 18,000-8,000 feet & Red Section followed by diving vertically & at a steeper angle that the enemy. S/L Donaldson noticed black & white wings during the dive & thus was doubtful of its identity. He turned across his section to prevent them opening fire & then identified red & white circles. During the dive the aerials of both Leader & No.2 broke away, this has occurred on several occasions recently. S/L Donaldson showed determination in getting his formation in a position to attack an aircraft very much faster than his own formation & showed presence of mind in withholding the fire of his formation.’ 14th S/L Donaldson with the Station Commander & Air Ministry Contractors decided the future positions for concrete runways, taxying tracts & dispersal points. 16th A Balloon broke adrift from Avonmouth & a Flight was despatched to intercept. The balloon landed a few minutes prior to the arrival of the 3 Gladiators & they returned to Base.

19th With the moon at ½-phase & the similar weather condition that prevailed during the day, & with the aerodrome & the surrounding country covered with a layer of snow, an extensive night flying programme was carried out. Co-operation with the searchlights was successfully completed & a definite conclusion made as to the value of the purple searchlight. It is considered that this type of searchlight is not yet bright enough to aid homing facilities. They are easily discernible when a beam, but when flying up or down the beam very little light can be seen. Since the object of the purple light is to direct pilots either on to a patrol line or for their safe return to base, it is thought necessary to have a beam that is discernible from all angles. 22nd Both Flights practiced Fighter Command Attacks. The Squadron fired 20,000 rounds of ammunition over the course of the last week & all the firing took place in formation. 16 pilots fired 1,200 rounds each, this denotes that each pilot fired 100 rounds per gun on 3 separate occasions. There were no stoppages to any guns throughout the week. A series of lectures have been commenced because it was considered that the knowledge of the armourers was not satisfactory for the standard required by this Squadron. 25th P/O John Michael Vowles Carpenter & P/O Michael Amor Bentley arrived for flying duties from No.11 Group (Fighter) Pool, St. Athan. 29th Rain fell & on impact with the ground froze immediately, wires having some ½-inch radius coating of ice surrounding them. The cloud base in the early part of the morning was 2,000 feet & despite the slight rain, aircraft took off to carry out local flying. It was noticed that every 5 minutes in the air approximately ½-inch covered the leading-edge surfaces on all parts of the aircraft including the engine & propeller, & an emergency call was made recalling all aircraft immediately. There were 9 aircraft airborne & it was odd to note how the 1st aircraft landing with approximately ¼-inch of ice coated evenly on all leading-edge surfaces. The last aircraft to land had been in the air twice as long as the 1st & had approximately double the thickness of ice coating. The pilot reported that the aircraft was manoeuvrable but was very heavy when landing. Total of 5 hours flying was completed under these conditions. The CO took 16 photographs for the Meteorological experts of the Air Ministry on the icing on trees & wires. No photographs were taken however of the icing on the aircraft. There is no photographic apparatus on the station therefore this act was one of courtesy to those who study the weather. The results gave great satisfaction to those personnel. 30th-31st P/O McNamara received injury to his hand & was admitted to RAF Hospital, Locking, where he was successfully operated on. This injury was sustained whilst the Officer was off duty & cause has not yet been investigated. F/L Mills assumed temporary command of the Squadron vice S/L Donaldson, absent on leave.

FEBRUARY 1940 RAF Filton 2nd F/L Rowland led a Flight on Air-Firing at Sand Bay, A heavy snowstorm approached Filton. The Flight landed in 100 yards visibility. 4th After continuous rain for 12 hours, a thaw set in, & most of the snow had disappeared. Low cloud & poor visibility. No flying owing to the unserviceable state of the aerodrome. 5th P/O Walter Phillip Richards arrived for flying duties from No.11 Group Pool. 7th Interception was carried out on the Link Trainer. A special map was built so that it represented an operations table. Suitable wheels were attached to the Link Trainer marker which gave an air speed (cruising) of 240mph. Telephonic communication had been arranged on 3 lines with the Operations room, to represent the plotter, the controller & the pilot. It is considered that this type of Interception practice most beneficial. 8th 6 aircraft took off to intercept a runaway balloon, but before this could be made, it landed. 9th

W/O Diggins to the Air Firing Range with a target 4 feet square. The CO re-sighted his guns, all gun firing on to one point at 300 yards. 2,400 rounds were fired & 70% of the bullets hit the target. The object of this was to carry out measurements of bullet spreads at 300 yards. 10th AVM Walsh, AOC No.11 Group & AVM Gossage, paid a visit to the Squadron. The Secretary of State for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, also visited & met all Pilots & personnel. A section of ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flight demonstrated a quick getaway take-off, & the time taken from the

1st warning to the time the last aircraft left the ground was 3:25 minutes. Considering all 6 aircraft had to taxi 500 yards to get into position for the take-off, the time for the quick getaway was very good. 11th Extensive Air-Firing programme, some 12,000 rounds being fired. Formation firing & individual firing took place & the results were most satisfactory. 12th P/O Bentley, P/O Carpenter & P/O Richards are showing signs of developing their flying qualities, but no opinion can be given as to the standard of the ability. 13th ‘B’ Flight carried out a series of practices of quick rearming & refuelling. ‘A’ Flight on the other hand carried out a continuous 6 hours Patrol at 28,000 feet. One aircraft Patrolling Cardiff & the other pilot patrolling the aerodrome. 14th Air-Firing by both ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights. The Squadron fired 16,500 rounds during the day. The firing was carried out in Flight formation & there were 6 practices on rapid rearming & refuelling. 19th In the early part of the morning, W/O Armament took a ground target to the Air-Firing Range for the purpose of marking each Pilot. S/L Donaldson was the 1st but during his Air-Firing, low-cloud & rain approached & the programme was cancelled. 20th P/O Dixon was reported by the CO as being unsuitable as a Fighter Pilot. The Squadron is being equipped as a Field Force Squadron & arrangements to complete this change over are well in hand. 21st The training of P/O Bentley, P/O Carpenter & P/O Richards continued.

22nd 2 sections led by F/L Mills & F/L Rowland practiced Fighter Command Attacks. S/L Roberts, Staff Officer of Fighter Command visited the Squadron & witnessed 2 Interception practices on the Link Trainer. 23rd F/L Mills gave a lecture on Recognition of Aircraft to No.236 AA Battery at Portishead. 24th During the afternoon S/L Donaldson was sent up to identify an X-Raid. Whilst at 15,000 feet he noticed his oil pressure had dropped to zero & oil temperature had risen to 100°C. A precautionary forced landing was carried out at Wanstrow 5 miles south-west of Frome. The cause of the engine failure was not identified, as it was dark before the maintenance party arrived at the scene. 25th On further investigation as to the cause of engine failure compelling S/L Donaldson to make a forced landing yesterday, it was ascertained that the failure was internal & that repairs could not be affected at the scene of the landing. The aircraft was therefore dismantled & brought back to Filton. 26th F/L Mills assumed command of the Squadron, vice S/L Donaldson who proceeded on 6 days leave. 27th 4 of the 9 aircraft allotted to this Squadron from No.152 Squadron were flown down from Acklington in a formation led by P/O Craig-Adams. 28th P/O Richards now a qualified fighter pilot by day. 29th Detailed to provide 2 sections to fly on set courses to exercise the other sectors of No.11 Group. Bad weather prevented this from being carried out.

MARCH 1940 RAF Filton 1st 2 Sections of 3 aircraft to act as targets to exercise all the other Squadrons in No.11 Group. F/L Mills lead a Section to Biggin Hill, via Newbury, Caterham & Maidstone. The other section led by F/L Rowland went to Hornchurch via St Albans & Colchester. On landing at the destination both Flight Commanders were informed great difficulty was experienced in carry out Interceptions owing to the lack of information from the Observer Corps. This is not understandable as weather conditions were perfect. On landing at Hornchurch, P/O Purdy met with an unfortunate accident. He struck a Chance Floodlight which was standing on the aerodrome. The aircraft & Floodlight were both written off, but P/O Purdy escaped Injury. 2nd F/O Denis Herbert Fowler arrived as Medical Officer. 3rd The SASO No.11 Group requested the Squadron provide 2 Sections to fly as Raids for Operational Exercises for No.11 Group. One Section was led by F/L Rowland & the other by P/O Jacobsen. P/O McNamara was compelled to make a landing at Redhill in order that an adjustment could be made to his aircraft. On return to the Unit the weather conditions deteriorated & P/O McNamara made a precautionary forced landing near Guildford. The aircraft was successfully flown back to Base on the following day. 4th P/O James Beaton arrived as Equipment Officer. 5th F/O R. Rose & F/O S.M. Brown arrived from HQ No.2 CFF, Benson as Code & Cypher Officers. 6th S/L Williams from HQ Fighter Command visited & discussed equipment arrangements on formation to Field Force Unit. 7th Preparation of the Squadron as a Field Force Unit. We are practically at full personnel strength. 8th Final arrangements for the departure of the Recce party completed.

9th P/O James Beaton posted to RAF Halton as F/O. P/O Noel James Fagan arrived as Equipment Officer. The Recce party left for Port “O” today., this consisted of F/L Rowland & 4 Airmen, together with 2 M/T. 10th Preparations for formation of Advanced M.T. Party. 11th Routine work on the re-formation of Squadron. 13th P/O Fagan to No.25 MU, Hartlebury for the purpose of inspecting the pack up of maintenance stores. 14th Packing of Squadron Equipment is being completed for despatch by M/T tomorrow. Signal received from Air Ministry informing Squadron that Movement preparations had to be suspended. 15th In view of the advanced stage of the packing of Squadron equipment it was decided that sections were to complete the packing & for it to be loaded on to the Squadron M/T. When the loading was completed the transport formed a convoy & proceeded a short distance round the camp & returned to the appropriate sections for unloading. The purpose of this rehearsal was to determine the time to be allowed for loading & unloading of each section's equipment. 16th Practice Interception carried out by ‘A’ Flight led by F/L Mills (fighter) & P/O Hughes (bomber). 18th P/O John Antony Dixon posted to No.1 Air Armament School. F/S P. O’Dowd appointed W/O. 20th P/O Alick Gordon Wilson arrived for flying duties from FTS. Searchlight Co-Operation Severn Tunnel-Yate-Bath-Glastonbury-Bridgwater. 21st P/O Alick Gordon Wilson posted to No.3 Base Area, RAF Uxbridge. 22nd Triangular navigational flights were made to Bridport, Wareham & Filton.

23rd Air-Firing at sea markers. 24th Searchlight Co-Operation with Bristol Units. The results, however, were poor, the Searchlight Companies having little idea of finding aircraft not illuminated. 25th P/O William Edmund Hunt posted to No.145 Sqn as Adjutant. P/O John Francis Blick arrived as Adjutant from No.145 Sqn. It can be noted here that No.145 Sqn was formed a 1-2 weeks after this Squadron & therefore the Adjutant brought with him reports of the progress of No.145 Sqn, which were entirely unofficial of course, & an unofficial comparison can be made favourable for No.263 Sqn. 26th Interception practice. P/O Gordon Wilson posted to No.3 Base Area, Uxbridge. 27th Air-firing competition. 1st 3 places were taken by S/L Donaldson, Sgt Milligan & P/O Carpenter. 28th 50-hours flying completed, which included 18-hours night flying. Night flying consisted of affiliated exercise with the searchlight companies of Bristol; their standard was slightly better than the previous week but still left room for improvement. 29th P/O Darrell Edward David Milsom & P/O Patrick John Muriel Nettleton collided in the air at mid-day & both killed. Both, more especially P/O Milsom, were exceptional pilots & exceptional types of Officer, and it is a great loss to the Squadron. Both were extremely popular with all those who met them. 31st Special note must be paid to the Squadron's achievement of carrying out 450 hours flying in 10 days. This not only shows the efficiency of the Squadron but also the good spirit of all the technical staff which compose the clockwork mechanism of the Squadron. They worked hard & have shown at this early stage that No.263 Squadron has placed itself well in the foreground of Fighter Command.

APRIL 1940 The files & records of No.263 Squadron were destroyed, preparatory to the evacuation from Norway. In consequence as from 1st April 1940, until the personnel returned to Scotland on varying dates in the early part of June, the Record does not so much effect to give a day-to-day précis of events as to piece together with due regard to accuracy data obtained from various sources. It will be appreciated that with detachments of the Squadron sometimes widely separated, compliance with instructions laid down for the completion of the Record was a matter of some difficulty. RECONSTRUCTED April 1940 opened quietly; activity being confined to reduction of personnel from Field Force (abortive Finnish expedition) to normal Fighter unit establishment. 1st P/O Richard Malzard Hogg arrived for flying duties from No.145 Sqn. F/O Denis Herbert Fowler posted to RAF Filton for Medical duties. 3rd Section of ‘B’ Flight, P/O Jacobsen, Sgt Kitchener & Sgt Milligan, under the Command of F/L Rowlands, flew to Northolt for Searchlight Co-Operation exercises. Crew of 10 proceeded to Northolt by road. 6th P/O James Beaton posted to ‘D’ Flight, Old Sarum. 7th Sgt Kenneth Primrose Vickery missing presumed killed whilst engaged in formation flying near Portishead. The weather deteriorated during the exercise & he lost touch with his colleagues & failed to return, it was presumed that he had crashed into the sea. The presumption appears to have been correct as some days later portions of the fuselage were washed up, on 1 of which was the number of the machine which he had been flying. 8th P/O McNamara, P/O Craig-Adams & P/O Richards of ‘A’ Flight, under F/L Mills flew to St. Eval, Cornwall, for Searchlight Co-Operation Exercises.

12th F/O Denis Herbert Fowler arrived again as Medical Officer. The process of reduction in the strength of the Squadron ceased the abandonment of the Finnish Expeditionary Force project late in March, & there was an influx of signals posting personnel afresh. From this it was adduced, although there was no official confirmation that the Squadron was again in the process of being reformed to Field Force establishment for service overseas. This proved to be the case & later it became apparent that the destination would be Norway in which country, due to its configuration, the Gladiator aircraft flown by the Squadron would be particularly suitable. The scheme as originally conceived, projected the sending of 18 Gladiators in advance, to a frozen lake at Lesjeskogen near Aandelsnes in Norway; servicing of aircraft to be affected by an independent party under arrangements made by the Air Ministry. If & when events rendered the course practicable the remainder of the Squadron’s personnel were to follow. 13th The Sections attached to Northolt & St. Eval re-joined the Squadron. F/O Harold Edward Vickery arrived for flying duties from No.3 Sqn, Kenley. P/O Arthur Charles Cochrane arrived for flying duties from No.14 FTS, Kinloss. 17th P/O Noel James Fagan arrived as Equipment Officer from RAF Filton. 18th F/O Vickery proceeded to Port of Embarkation Port ‘O’ (Leith) via Air Ministry, London for orders. These appear to have been in general terms that he was to assist & advise in the selection of possible sites for aerodromes & for that purpose was to accompany a Royal Engineer Pioneer Party. 19th Preparations for departure of Air Party to proceed to Norway. 20th Air Party (S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills, P/Os, Bentley, Carpenter, Hughes, Macnamara, McKenzie, Purdy, Jacobsen, Richards, Wyatt-Smith, Hogg, Craig-Adams, Sgts Russell, Kitchener, Milligan, Whall & Forrest) with 18 Gladiator aircraft, left Filton on the 1st stage of their journey to Sealand for refuelling. In the meantime, pilots recently posted to the Squadron

together with Admin Staff & the Airmen under the command of F/L Rowlands, completed arrangements for movement overseas. 21st F/O Harold Anthony Olivier, P/O Allan Walter Naylor Britton, P/O Denis Geach Parnall & P/O George James Drake arrived for flying duties from No.5 OTU. F/O Edwin Walter Cole arrived as Intelligence Officer from RAF Filton. 54 vehicles of varying types appropriate for the requirements of a Field Force Unit, departed from Filton to proceed by road to the Port of Embarkation Port ‘O’ (Leith). The party consisted of P/O Fagan, P/O McDermott, 54 drivers, F/S Young (transport), F/S Robson (Armoury), Sgt Pullen (Equipment), Cpl Watkins (Orderly Room) & AC2 Wilkinson. 22nd P/O William Jones Daniel arrived as Code & Cypher Officer. 25th The Main Party (F/L Rowland, F/O Blick, F/O Fowler, F/O Olivier, F/O Cole, P/O Parnall, P/O Britton, P/O Drake, P/O Daniel, 4 Warrant Officers, 4 Flight Sergeants & 262 Other Ranks) entrained at Filton Junction Station for Port ‘O’ (Leith). On 25th April the remainder of the Squadron entrained at Filton Junction for Edinburgh. 26th Main party arrived at Leith Station & taken in buses to docks, then by Lighter to SS Ulster Monarch lying in the Firth of Forth. 27th Main party at sea – dense fog. 28th Arrived Island of Hoy, Scapa Flow early morning. Stayed overnight in previously unoccupied huts. 29th Embarked on lighters which conveyed the personnel to SS Orion, in which conditions were found to be much more comfortable than those experienced hitherto. F/O Vickery whose adventures since leaving Filton on 18th April he was not able to speak, left on a seaplane for an “unknown” destination. 30th Aboard SS Orion. At anchor in Scapa Flow.

MAY 1940 The procedure adopted for the May record follows that for April. Recourse has been had to an official report compiled by W/C Atcherley which has been incorporated in the body of the record. Unofficial sources have also been tapped. The Operations Record as followed seems to convey all the necessary information without further embellishment. 1st Scapa Flow SS Orion with Main Party sailed for undisclosed destination. MV Delius with Air Party on board arrived. Pilots conveyed by tender to Thurso, then boarded a train for London. 2nd Firth of Forth SS Orion anchored within sight of Forth Bridge. London Air Party arrived in London. 3rd F/O William Riley arrived for flying duties from No.610 Sqn. P/O James Leon Wilkie arrived for flying duties from No.266 Sqn. P/O James Reginald Bryan Meaker arrived for flying duties from No.46 Sqn. Re-equipped with 12 Gladiator aircraft to replace those lost at Åndalsnes, Norway. RAF Turnhouse - Main Party - From SS Orion to Leith Docks by tender then by bus to Turnhouse. Billeted in Town Centre & in Hotels in Edinburgh. London - S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills reported to Air Ministry then Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for Air, at the House of Commons. 4th Main Party - inspection & servicing of new aircraft. 5th Main Party - 5 Officers & 217 other Ranks to embark on SS Chrobry on 17th. Squadron transport vehicles not to be loaded but to remain at Turnhouse to await disposal. 6th Main Party - Preparing for departure of Advance Echelon. HQ Fighter Command, Stanmore - S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills interviewed by ACM Sir Hugh Dowding & G/C Orlebar, later visiting HQ 11 Group. 7th SS Chrobry, Leith Docks, Edinburgh - Advance echelon of Main Party, F/L Rowlands, F/O Fowler, P/O McDermott, P/O Wilkie, P/O Britton & 217 other ranks boarded the Polish steamer, SS Chrobry. 8th RAF Turnhouse - Gladiators arrived. 9th F/L. Caeser Barraud Hull arrived for flying duties from No.43 Sqn. F/L Alvin Thomas Williams arrived for flying duties from No.222 Sqn. F/O Herman Francis Grant Ede arrived for flying duties from No.111 Sqn. P/O Jack Falkson arrived for flying duties from No.152 Sqn. P/O T. Oxspring arrived for flying duties from No.66 Sqn. Sgt Dennis William Mason arrived for flying duties from No.141 Sqn. F/O Frederick William Yate arrived as Code & Cypher Officer. P/O John Woffenden McKenzie posted to No.111 Sqn. P/O Richard Malzard Hogg posted to No.152 Sqn. 10th Air Party - S/L Donaldson & F/L Mills returned from leave.

SS Sobriesti, King George V Dock Glasgow - 2nd Echelon of Main Party to embark on 12th. Echelon to consist of 6 Officers & 58 Other Ranks to include remainder of the ‘drivers - petrol’. 11th Sgt Dudley Henry Forrest posted to No.66 Sqn, RAF Duxford. Norway - Advance Party on SS Chrobry arrived at Harstadt. Conveyed on Norwegian fiord boats, called “puffers”, to Sjoveien. 12th SS Sobriesti, Glasgow - 2nd Echelon, Main Party consisting of F/O Riley, F/O Olivier, F/O Cole, P/O Fagan, P/O Parnall, P/O Daniel, Sgt Watson-Parker, Sgt Mason & 56 Other Ranks embarked in Polish steamer SS Sobiesti. HMS Furious - Air Party - by bus to Greenock & embarked in HMS Furious. S/L Donaldson, F/L Mills, F/L Hull, F/L Williams, F/O Ede, P/O Wyatt-Smith, P/O McNamara, P/O Richards, P/O Craig-Adams, P/O Hughes, P/O Falkson, P/O Purdy, P/O Jacobsen, P/O Bentley, Sgt Milligan, Sgt Kitchener, Sgt Whall & Sgt Russell. 18 Gladiator aircraft flown on to Furious by pilots of the Fleet Air Arm. 13th Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. HMS Furious - Air Party lying off Greenock. RAF Turnhouse - Remainder of personnel as Rear Party. 14th P/O Wyatt-Smith of Air Party to Base Hospital for removal of shrapnel from his leg (received in bombing raid whilst aboard MV Delius returning from the 1st expedition. His place was taken by a Pilot of the Fleet Air Arm, from HMS Furious, Lt. Anthony John Guy Lydekker. Norway - 1st Echelon, Main Party, unloading stores. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. HMS Furious - Air Party sailed from Greenock. 15th Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien - loading transport for Bardufoss. 1st air raid - no damage. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. HMS Furious - Air Party at sea with HMS Glorious & escort of 4 destroyers. RAF Turnhouse - Rear party awaiting instructions. 16th Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien despatching convoys to Bardufoss. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon at sea. HMS Furious - Air Party at sea. RAF Turnhouse - Rear party awaiting instructions. 17th W/O James, Signals Section, who was in charge of convoy to Bardufoss died as a result of a wound received from the accidental discharge of revolver. Norway - 1st Echelon at Sjoveien loading transport. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon nearing Norway. HMS Furious - Air Party nearing Norway. RAF Turnhouse - Rear Party awaiting instructions. 18th Norway - 1st Echelon loading stores. SS Sobriesti - 2nd Echelon disembarked at Harstadt, proceeded to Sorreisa by ‘puffer’ thence to Skole. HMS Furious - Air Party lying off Norway. RAF Turnhouse - Rear Party - F/O Blick, F/O Yate & 34 Other Ranks to proceed to King George V Dock, Glasgow to embark on SS Monarch of Bermuda. P/O George James Drake posted to No.607 Sqn; P/O T. Oxspring & P/O James Reginald Bryan Meaker posted to No.249 Sqn. Surplus airmen personnel posted to RAF Turnhouse. 19th Norway - 1st Echelon - loading stores, convoys to Bardufoss. 2nd Echelon at Skole. HMS Furious - Air Party lying of Norway RAF Turnhouse - Rear Party preparing to move.

20th Norway - 1st Echelon - Main Party moved from Sjoveien to Bardufoss. 2nd Echelon moved from Skole to Bardufoss. HMS Furious - Air Party ready to fly off. 21st F/L Tom Rowlands posted to No.43 Sqn from Norway & left Harstadt by air. Rear Party - F/O Blick, F/O Yate & 24 Airmen embarked on SS Monarch of Bermuda at Glasgow. The précis following is largely extracted from the Report made by W/C Atcherley of the operations undertaken by No.263 Sqn. HMS Furious - F/L Randolph Stuart Mills & P/O Walter Phillip Richards crashed in the mountains north of Sorreisa as a result of the leading Swordfish losing its way. P/O Richards was killed & F/L Mills rendered ineffective. The last 2 sections returned to HMS Furious & awaited better weather. They later flew off & landed at Bardufoss. Norway - Squadron carried out 40 sorties on Standing Patrol over Harstadt-Sorreisa-Salanger. 22nd Rear Party - sailed along River Clyde to Gourock & anchored at rendezvous with many other vessels. Norway - 54 sorties, Harstadt-Sorreisa-Salanger. 3 combats with indecisive results. Pilots reported Gladiators inability to overtake He.111. All attacks attempted were stern chase. P/O Michael Alexander Craig-Adams failed to return & subsequently his body was found in his aircraft a few yards from a crashed He.111 east of Salanger: difficulties of recovery were aggravated by the fact that the crashes had induced an avalanche. Eyewitnesses reported hearing machine-gun fire above clouds & seeing 1 aircraft dive steeply into the hills on fire with a trail of smoke. It is supposed that P/O Craig-Adams collided with his quarry in cloud. He was credited with a victory. His body was recovered & buried by a unit of the Chasseurs Alpins. 23rd Norway - 40 sorties, Harstadt-Sorreisa-Salanger. Sgt Milligan sighted a He.111 & attempted an astern attack. It drew away but did not return fire. Sgt Whall carried out 4 attacks against a Do.17 from 300 yards. It dived steeply away & it was believed to have crashed west of Harstadt. Shortly after this combat, as a result of oil pressure failure, he baled out near Harstadt. 24th Norway - Pilots showing signs of tiring & ground crews experienced heavy maintenance work as the result of damage to aircraft. 4 Me.110s approached Bardufoss at 6,000 feet in tight formation. This was broken up by accurate AA fire. Aircraft drew off to about 8 miles & F/O Ede took off to engage. He made 2 head-on attacks as they circled in defensive line astern formation with No.4 above in the rear prohibiting astern attack. In the 1st attack by the Gladiator, 1 Me.110 broke off & dived away & after the 2nd attack his wing guns ceased firing, so he dived away back to base. The hostile aircraft made no attempt to follow but flew off towards the South. It is considered that 1 Me.110 was damaged, but no confirmation could be found of a crash. F/O Ede & F/O Riley attacked a single He.111 at 500 feet over Bardufoss. F/O Riley put the starboard engine of the He.111 out of action. F/L Hull, who was returning from a standing patrol, followed up F/O Riley's attack, finishing off the port engine. The enemy aircraft was seen to crash in the mountain 5 miles south of Salangen. F/O Ede's aircraft was holed in the petrol tank & engine but he succeeded in returning safely to base. 3 prisoners were recovered from this aircraft & taken to the Norwegian Divisional Headquarters at Setter Moen. 25th Norway - 40 sorties. As a result of previous experience all pilots were given strict orders to stick together in formation & not return individually as had been current practice.

F/O Ede attacked a Ju.90 from astern at 15,000 feet 10-miles north of Harstadt. He got in 2 short bursts at long range & it was later confirmed that this enemy aircraft landed near Dyrøy Island. He then attacked a 2nd Ju.90 at 15,000 feet 10-miles south-east of Harstadt. In 4 successive attacks he put each of the 4 engines out in turn & the aircraft was later found crashed in flames on Finneon Island, South of Narvik. P/O Purdy & Sgt. Kitchener attacked another Ju.90 at 500 feet which was attacking a Destroyer in the vicinity of Harstadt. P/O Purdy made a diving ¼-attack & put the outer port engine out of action. Sgt Kitchener made an astern attack which produced no visible effect. In his 2nd attack P/O Purdy opened fire from dead astern, silencing the rear gunner & setting it on fire. It crashed into the fiord within 5-miles of the Destroyer. 26th RAF Turnhouse - Rear party disembarked from SS Monarch of Bermuda at Gourock & returned to Turnhouse by bus. Norway - More than 50 sorties. F/L Williams & Sgt Milligan encountered a Ju.88 bombing Skaanland at 10,000 feet. Its speed was comparatively high compared with the Gladiators & they were forced to make simultaneous astern attacks from above, having overhauled the quarry by cutting across the turns. The port engine caught fire, the port wing broke away, followed by complete disintegration of the starboard wing. The aircraft fell into the sea & burst into flames. F/L Hull, P/O Falkson & Lt Lydekker were dispatched to Bödö landing ground. On arrival, all aircraft were bogged before refuelling was completed. As soon as the aircraft had been extricated from the mud, 2 He.111s appearred over the landing ground. F/L Hull & P/O Falkson took off in pursuit, the latter crashing as the result of the soggy nature of the aerodrome. Both He.111s escaped. F/L Hull attacked a He.111 at 500 feet 6-miles down the Salte Valley. It turned south at reduced speed with smoke pouring from engines & fuselage. He broke off the attack on sighting another He.111 & a Ju.52 behind & above. The Heinkel evaded pursuit but he engaged the Ju.52 with a beam attack & it crashed in flames. 2 further He.111s were seen but they turned south on sighting the Gladiator. 2 Ju.52s then appeared. He attacked the leader & after 1 burst, it flew into cloud. After several beam attacks at the 2nd Ju.52, it spun into the ground & caught fire. He later engaged a He.111, damaging both engines: as the wing guns had run out of ammunition, his

starboard gun jammed, but with the port gun he caused both engines to emit smoke. P/O Purdy & P/O Bentley attacked a Do.17 at 2,000 feet south-west of Harstadt. P/O Bentley continued to attack until it entered low cloud in a valley 20 miles south of Narvik: it did not re-appear & was later confirmed as having crashed in the hills. P/O Purdy broke off this combat to attack 5 Do.17s which he saw at 12,000 feet on a bombing run over Harstadt. He attacked 1 from astern from 250 yards. The port engine was seen to emit white smoke & it turned off south, losing height. The remainder broke formation & headed south. A Do.17 was later found crashed south-west of Harstadt & was accredited to P/O Purdy. F/O Riley & P/O Parnall attacked 5 He.111s at 10,000 feet over Harstadt, having previously chased a He.111 away from the same area. F/O Riley made a beam attack at No.2 of the formation, during which he sustained wounds in the neck & chest. The speed of the enemy aircraft was considerably reduced & smoke emitted from both engines. It was later confirmed that this aircraft crashed near Harstadt. P/O Parnell made a beam attack against No.4 in the formation, but it disappeared into low cloud over the mountains. It was later found crashed south of the town. 27th 10-14 Ju.87s & Me.110s appeared over the aerodrome & commenced dive-bombing a jetty 300 yards south-west of the landing ground. Lt Lydekker took off followed by F/L Hull who attacked a Ju.87 from above: it appeared badly hit & made off slow & low over the sea. It was later confirmed that 2 Me.110s were circling over a spot on the south of the fiord where the Ju.87 was seen to sink. F/L Hull was hit in the knee & head by the rear gunner of another Ju.87 which pulled up sharply in front of him. His aileron controls were locked & he only just managed to recover from an involuntary spin at 200 feet with enough control of engine to make a crash-landing. He was taken to Bödö Hospital & later to Harstadt after a severe bombing attack on the hospital. Lt Lydekker received the concentrated attention of most of the remaining hostiles. Unable to land back at Bödö because 3 Ju.87s were covering the landing ground, he returned to Bardufoss. He received bullet wounds in the neck & shoulder & his aircraft was a complete write-off. As a result of the actions of these officers, troops at Bödö enjoyed comparative immunity from hostile air attack for a period of 7 hours which enabled them to evacuate successfully.

LAC R.P. Jones was manning a machine gun post on top of the disused concrete hanger at Bardufoss when it received a direct hit. He sustained injuries from which he died. In the same raid, bombs were dropped near a Barrack Block killing LAC S. Hurley. Sgt Milligan attacked 3 He.111s at 6,000 feet between Bardufoss & Narvik. He opened fire at 200 yards. During this attack he was attacked by another He.111 which he had not seen. He carried out 4 attacks on this aircraft & saw black smoke from the starboard engine. It dived into a valley which was enshrouded by a low cloud & was later confirmed crashed by the Norwegians. 28th F/L Williams saw a He.111 attacking a Cruiser in the Ofot Fiord west of Narvik. He attacked from 500 yards astern. After 5-6 bursts, black smoke was seen emitting from the fuselage, trailing several hundred yards & it was in a shallow dive. He was forced to break off owing to a shortage of fuel but was credited with a victory as it was last seen on fire over hostile territory. Sgt Milligan attacked a He.111 from astern at 8,000 feet over Narvik without visible effect. 29th 3 He.111s attacked Bardufoss aerodrome from 2,000 feet. Sgt Milligan caught up with 1 at Narvik. He made an astern attack at 15,000 feet opening fire at 400 yards from slightly below. After 2 3-second bursts & 1 of about 10-15 seconds at 250 yards, pieces of metal were observed to break away from the port engine & fuselage. He was forced to break away & return to Base as a result of engine trouble, but it was later confirmed by the Norwegians that the He.111 had crashed south of Narvik. 29th-30th Several ground strafing raids carried out in the Narvik area. F/O Jacobsen attacked a convoy of 6 German lorries on the road north of Beis Fiord. 2 abandoned lorries were later found on the road. He also attacked German troops embarking from a lorry into a fishing ketch on Beis Fiord. F/O Vickery, P/O McDermott, F/L Williams & F/O Ede between them carried out 22 raids of this nature, attacking motor cars, railway stations, troops & pill boxes as well as what subsequently was found to be the local German Headquarters at Hundalen. F/O Vickery sustained severe damage to his aircraft at Bjornfjell. He returned to Base minus an inter-plane strut, a flying wire & with a badly pierced wing.

JUNE 1940 During early June, the campaign in Norway drew to its close & the evacuation of troops was undertaken with the menace of aerial attack considerably reduced as a result of the cover afforded by our Patrols. These were undertaken both by Nos.263 & 46 Sqns & continued until 7th June on which date successes were secured against heavy odds. The reproaches of the conduct of the campaign in Norway may be justified but is not a matter on which the writer is able to speculate, but for the activities of the Squadron there could be nothing but praise. The conduct of all ranks who participated was of the highest & while distinctions between them are invidious there were some whose efforts were so outstanding as to merit recognition. 1st P/O Robert George Lauder posted to No.607 Sqn. 2nd F/L Williams & Sgt Kitchener encountered 12-15 enemy aircraft at 4,000 feet south of Narvik. They made simultaneous attacks from beam & astern on the rear aircraft of a formation of 4 He.111s which were flying in line astern. Their quarry caught fire & crashed. With similar tactics they dealt with the next aircraft of this formation which also caught fire & was last seen in a steep dive. 7 more similar attacks were made & a 3rd was last seen diving with both engines out of action. Almost immediately after this encounter 6+ Do17s were observed coming up from the south, but these jettisoned their bombs & made off in the opposite direction. Next, they encountered 2 Ju.87s; a simultaneous beam & astern attack was made on 1 from 100 yards; it caught fire in the port long-range tank & crashed into the mountains. Sgt Kitchener then attacked another Ju.87 as it crossed his sights; white smoke came from the engine, but he lost it in cloud. At the same time, F/L Williams attacked a He.111 from 50-yards astern; it dived beyond the vertical & he found it impossible to follow. When their ammunition was almost exhausted these pilots encountered a Do.17 coming up from the south which turned around, flying rapidly in the opposite direction again. All hostile aircraft attacked, except for the Ju.87s, jettisoned their bombs as soon as they were attacked. Confirmation was later received that 3 He.111s & 1 Ju.87 had crashed near Beis Fiord & these were accredited to these 2 pilots. P/O Jacobsen & P/O Wilkie encountered 2 Ju.88s near the Swedish border. The former attacked from the beam & above with 4-second bursts from 500 yards. The enemy drew off into Sweden, P/O Jacobsen followed & gave it a further burst from 400-yards astern, but it evaded by flying into cloud. On breaking off this engagement, he found that P/O James Leon Wilkie had disappeared & it is now considered that he was shot down during his initial astern attack. Whilst over Swedish territory P/O Jacobsen encountered a Ju.88 at 500 feet which he attacked from the beam with a 2-seconds burst from

under 500 yards. It dived vertically into low cloud apparently out of control & in following he only just missed hitting the mountainside which was enshrouded. Returning over the Norwegian border he observed several hostile aircraft circling low over Bjørnfjell. He engaged a He.111 in a diving beam attack at 250 yards & after a comparatively short burst it pulled up & stalled into the ground. Almost immediately he was attacked by a Ju.88 & 3 more He.111s from head-on & above, the former firing cannon; in taking evasive action he managed a 3-seconds burst at an He.111 from below & the beam at about 250 yards. He was attacked again by another He.111 firing cannon & after further evasive manoeuvring managed a 3-second burst into this aircraft from 50 yards from underneath as it broke away; it was last seen diving apparently out of control. He then found himself encircled by 2 Ju.88s & 6 He.111s which attacked him firing cannon from head-on. His oil tank was holed, his windscreen coated & a flying wire was also broken. He dived to avoid a head-on collision & managed a 4-seconds burst from astern at another He.111 which rocked violently & dived with both engines off. He then found himself up against very superior numbers with ammunition exhausted & fuel depleted. By low-flying evasive tactics, he managed to shake them off & make Base. It was later confirmed from Norwegian sources that 3 He.111s were found crashed near the Swedish border & these were accredited to Jacobsen: it is felt that a thorough search would have revealed the remains of more. 3rd-5th Weather clamp. Opportunity taken to rest pilots & carry out maintenance work. 6th-9th Numerous sorties, but no hostile aircraft attacked. It was noticeable that at the sight of British aircraft, enemy aircraft turned around & fled. Ground Party, (all Officers & Other Ranks left Norway on the Arandora Star, Monarch of Bermuda & other transports arriving without mishap in Scotland. 7th-8th Unfortunately, the pilots who flew the remaining 10 aircraft of the Squadron on to HMS Glorious met with disaster when on 8th that ship was intercepted by German battleships of the Hipper class & together with its escort of 2 Destroyers was sunk. Hopes were held out that survivors might have been picked up, but nothing has since been heard that any of the Squadron's Officers are alive - S/L Donaldson DSO, F/L Williams DFC, F/O Vickery, P/O Bentley, P/O Ede DFC, P/O Falkson, P/O Louis Reginald Jacobsen DFC, P/O Sidney Robert McNamara DFC, P/O Phillip Hannah Purdy DFC & Sgt Ernest Frederick William Russell DFM. Awards for the Operations at Bardufoss & Bodø: S/L John William Donaldson D.S.O. awarded the AFC; F/L Caeser Barraud Hull; F/L Alvin Thomas Williams; F/O Herman Francis Grant Ede & P/O Louis Reginald

Jacobsen awarded the DFC. Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener awarded the DFM. A list of airmen whose conduct merited distinction was submitted but without result. In this connection it is well to observe that of its nature their work was invaluable whilst not spectacular. In the absence of many of the aids to which they had been accustomed work of improvisation rarely found them lacking in ingenuity & for this reason the following 4 airmen were considered as especially worthy of recognition: - LAC K. Gilbert; F/S A. Johnson; LAC H.G. Rogers & Cpl F. Goss, Officers Killed or Missing: - P/O James Leon Wilkie (MIA); P/O Michael Alexander Craig-Adams & P/O Walter Phillip Richards. Officers Wounded: - F/L Randolph Stuart Mills, F/O William Riley, P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & F/L Caeser Barraud Hull. Other Ranks Killed: - W/O James, LAC Hurley & LAC Jones. 8th Lt Anthony John Guy Lydekker posted back to HMS Furious. RAF Drem 10th-13th Arrived at Drem from Norway. All personnel granted survivors leave on instructions from No.13 Group. F/L Caeser Barraud Hull awarded the DFC. 11th F/O Frederick William Yate posted to No.15 Group. 13th P/O George James Drake posted to No.607 Sqn. 20th F/O Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith arrived for flying duties from No.1 FTS. 22nd F/L Caeser Barraud Hull DFC arrived for flying duties from No.1 RAF Depot. 23rd P/O William Albert Alexander Read, P/O Ellis Walter Aries, P/O Philip Melville Cardell, P/O Alan Richard Downer arrived for flying duties from No.5 OTU, Aston Down. P/O Patrick Glyn Thornton Brown, P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand, P/O Henry Norman Hunt, P/O Alan Ormerod Moffat arrived for flying duties from No.6 OTU, Sutton Bridge. 26th F/O James Richard Tobin arrived for flying duties from No.6 OTU, Sutton Bridge. 27th P/O Eric Wilfred Bell arrived for flying duties from No.1 ACS, Old Sarum. 28th Move to RAF Grangemouth.

JULY 1940 Considerable progress made in the task of reforming & re-equipping. The task was no light one. Many changes were made in personnel, but by the end of the month the back of the task was broken & under its new CO (S/L Henry Eeles) it was once more a cohesive unit. The most important event was the decision to equip with Whirlwinds, the 1st of which was brought by the CO on 6th when he arrived to take command of the Squadron. Pending complete re-equipment with Whirlwinds the Squadron is also being equipped with Hurricanes & to date by far the greater part of the training has been carried out on them. By the end of the month only 3 Whirlwinds had been delivered & a considerable amount of what the Makers are pleased to call ‘teething troubles’ had been encountered. RAF Grangemouth 1st F/O Thomas Patrick Pugh arrived for flying duties from No.1 RAF Depot. P/O Denis Geach Parnall posted to No.607 Sqn. 3rd P/O Ellis Walter Aires posted to No.602 Sqn. P/O Philip Melville Cardell posted to No.603 Sqn. P/O William Albert Alexander Read posted to RAF Pembrey, for Intelligence Duties. P/O Francis Harold Arthur Hendry arrived as Intelligence Officer from Air Ministry.

5th Sgt Basil Ewart Patrick Whall posted to No.602 Sqn. 6th S/L Henry Eeles arrived to take command of the Squadron & brought 1 Whirlwind with him. F/O Bertrum Robert Grant was re-posted for Engineering Duties. 8th P/O William Jones Danial posted to RAF, Drem. 9th Sgt Stanley Allen Fenemore posted to No.219 Sqn. 10th Sub-Lt. Robert Francis Bryant posted to No.219 Sqn. 11th F/L William Riley posted to No.302 Sqn. P/O Henry Norman Hunt posted to No.504 Sqn. 13th Sgt Patrick Ian Watson-Parker killed in a flying accident at Tatfield, Biggin Hill. A Red warning was given at 0030. F/L Hull & F/L Smith took off to engage the enemy who was heard overhead, but no Interception made. F/L Hull returned successfully. F/L Smith crashed. 4 Hurricanes received from the Maintenance Unit. 15th A 3rd Flight, ‘C’ Flight, was formed under the command of F/L Smith to develop the Whirlwind. S/L John Gray Munro arrived from the Air Ministry, Blackpool & posted to Air Ministry, Harrogate.

19th 2 Whirlwinds were delivered from Westlands. 20th A section of ‘B’ Flight under F/L Hull ordered to RAF Turnhouse for Operations. P/O Alan Richard Downer crashed attempting to make a forced landing. He was taken to the Military Hospital Edinburgh but died of his injuries. 21st F/L Hull & his section returned from Turnhouse. 22nd Whirlwinds demonstrated to the C-in-C Home Fleet. Rosyth. He later sent a telegram of congratulations. P/O Arthur Hereward Ormerod arrived for Intelligence duties from RAF Catterick. P/O Francis Harold Arthur Hendry posted to RAF Catterick as Intelligence Officer. F/O James Richard Tobin & P/O Alan Ormerod Moffat posted to RAE. 23rd Tailwheel of 1 Whirlwind collapsed on landing. 24th P/O Eric Wilfred Bell killed in a flying accident while on a course on Blenheims at No.5 OTU. 28th S/L Disbrey from No.13 Group visited to discuss the Whirlwind’s wing tips

AUGUST 1940 During August, the Squadron continued on Hurricanes, together with the development of the Whirlwinds. The experiment of a 3rd Flight (‘C’ Flight) to develop the Whirlwinds was discontinued, & all pilots were given experience on them. There was a considerable exchange of hospitality between the Squadron & the Officers of H.M. Submarine ‘Sunfish’ which was in dry dock at Grangemouth. Most of the Officers visited the submarine & vice-a-versa. Aerobatics were given, in the main by F/L Hull. RAF Grangemouth 1st P/O Donald Martin Vine, P/O David Stein, & Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland arrived for flying duties. 7th P/O McDermott, in taking off, burst a port tyre & damaged the undercarriage in such a manner that to attempt a landing would have been hazardous.

After circling the aerodrome for some time, he decided to bale out between Grangemouth & Stirling & descended safely north of Stirling. Arrested by the Home Guard, he was later released when the S/L vouched for his bona fides. The Whirlwind buried itself 30-feet deep in the ground & could not be recovered. S/L John Gray Munro arrived for flying duties from Air Ministry. His efforts, with some considerable degree of success, were to persuade the cannon to fire without continual stoppages. F/L Alvin Thomas Williams, F/O Herman Francis Grant Ede & P/O Louis Reginald Jacobsen awarded DFC. Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener received DFM. 14th-15th The occasion of the big raid on Newcastle, the Squadron provided 2 sections at Readiness, but to their disappointment, were not called on. The Secretary of State for the Air, however, was good enough to send a signal congratulating the Squadron.

18th F/L Randolph Stuart Mills DFC posted as OC No.87 Squadron. 20th P/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC arrived for flying duties from No.226 Sqn. 23rd 7 aircraft to RAF Montrose & held at Readiness but were not called upon. RAF Grangemouth 25th P/O Stein was forced to abandon his Hurricane by parachute. While he was over Grangemouth his oil pressure fell to zero, & the aircraft caught fire. He descended safely & landed in Grangemouth Docks. He was taken into custody but was later released. 30th F/L Caeser Barraud Hull DFC posted to Command No.43 Sqn. 31st 1 section at ‘Available’ during daylight hours.

SEPTEMBER 1940 ‘A’ Flight (S/L Munro, F/L Smith, F/O Oliver, P/O Crooks DFC, P/O Hughes & Sgt Morton) developing the Whirlwind & were non-Operational. 2 more Whirlwinds delivered, making 7 in all. The engines have not yet surmounted their ‘teething troubles’. The guns, however, are now firing satisfactorily. On 1 occasion a Whirlwind (S/L Munro), firing off Dunbar, was positively identified by the Observer Corps as a Ju.88 machine-gunning shipping. A section of Spitfires was despatched to intercept. Happily, the encounter did not resolve itself into a trial of arms. ‘B’ Flight (F/L Pugh, F/O Britton, P/O Wyatt-Smith, P/O Ferdinand, P/O Thornton-Brown, P/O Vine, P/O Stein. Sgt Kitchener DFM, Sgt Milligan, Sgt Mason, Sgt Morton & Sgt Rudland) Operational on Hurricanes. Blue section - F/L Pugh, P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & P/O Stein. Green section - F/O Britton, P/O Ferdinand, P/O Vine & P/O Thornton-Brown. Red section - Sgt Kitchener, Sgt Milligan, Sgt Mason & Sgt Rudland. During the month, ‘B’ Flight has carried out 32 Patrols resulting in the Interception of several Sharks, Wabis & Bothas, but so far, no contact has been made with the enemy. For the 1st 3 weeks the pilots were hampered in getting off the ground quickly when Scrambled, as their machines, for reasons of safety, were dispersed on the far side of the aerodrome. An arrangement has now been come to, however, whereby the machines of the section at Readiness are parked outside the rest hut, & on more than 1 occasion a section has been airborne in less than 2 minutes. 2nd Move to RAF Drem. 2 Whirlwinds delivered. RAF Drem 3rd The Right Honourable Sir Archibald Sinclair P.C. M.P., Secretary of State for Air, visited Drem. S/L Munro & P/O Crooks DFC gave a demonstration of the Whirlwinds. 6th Patrol Fifeness. Blue section. Patrol Bell Rock. Green section. Patrol Bell Rock. Blue section.

8th P/O Irving Francis McDermott posted to CFS, Upavon to undergo an Instructor’s course, before proceeding to Canada. 9th Patrol May Island. Blue section. 10th Patrol Dunbar. Blue section. 12th Patrol Bell Rock. Blue section. RAF Dyce 13th ‘B’ Flight ordered to proceed to Dyce, from where a Convoy Patrol was carried out. RAF Drem 14th The Duke of Kent visited & a demonstration of the Whirlwinds was given by ‘A’ Flight. Patrol Bell Rock. Green section. Patrol May Island. Blue section. Patrol Green section Patrolled 20-miles east of May Island. 18th Patrol Drem. Green section. 16th P/O Thomas Patrick Pugh appointed F/L. 17th During the hours of darkness, the Squadron provided 1 pilot at 15-minutes & 2 at 30-minutes Available. Patrol May Island. Blue section. 18th Patrol Dunbar. Blue section. 20th Patrol Bell Rock at 20,000 feet. Green section. Patrol May Island at 15,000 feet. Red section.

Patrol Crail at 10,000 feet. Green section. Patrol May Island at 10,000 feet. Green section. Patrol Dunbar at 10,000 feet. Red section. 21st Patrol St. Abbs Head. Red section. Patrol Bell Rock at 2,000 feet. Red section. Patrol Bell Rock at 10,000 feet. Green section. 23rd P/O Peter Wyatt-Smith to F/O. Patrol Bell Rock at 15,000 feet. Green section. 24th Dusk Patrol North Berwick-May Island-Crail.Red section. 25th Patrol May Island at 5,000 feet. Blue section. 26th Patrol Drem at 20,000 feet. Red section. Dusk Patrol North Berwick-Methil-Crail. Blue section. 27th Patrol May Island. Blue section. 28th Patrol May Island. Blue section. 1 Botha intercepted. Patrol Drem. Green section. Dusk Patrol Blue section. 30th Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Merit’ off North Berwick. Dusk Patrol Red section.

OCTOBER 1940 During October, the Squadron continued much along the same lines as in September. ‘A’ Flight is still non-Operational with the Whirlwinds. 2 more have been delivered to the Squadron, but the prototype has been sent back to the Makers. The Squadron therefore has 8 machines. P/O Hughes & Sgt Morton have spent a week at Yeovil doing 10 hours flying in the Whirlwind. ‘B’ Flight has been Operational with the Hurricanes. During the month 24 Patrols were carried out, but no contact made with the enemy, although on 2 occasions a section was in very close proximity to a ‘bandit’. During the 2nd half of the month weather conditions were bad: very high winds & a considerable weight of rain. RAF Drem 1st Patrol Bell Rock at 8,000 feet. 2nd Patrol May Island at 18,000 feet. A Ju.88 was said by an Observer Corps Post, to have passed over Turnhouse at 3,000 feet. No Interception due to bad visibility. Dusk Patrol Blue section. 4th Blue section (P/O Wyatt-Smith, P/O Stein & Sgt Rudland) & Green section at Readiness. 5th Patrol Drem at 6,000 feet. 6th Patrol Dunbar at 5,000 feet. Dusk Patrol Red section. 7th Patrol

St. Abbs Head at 5,000 feet. 1 Botha intercepted. Patrol May Island at 7,000 feet. 8th 1 Whirlwind delivered. Dusk Patrol Blue section. 11th Dusk Patrol Red section. 12th Dusk Patrol Green section. 13th Patrol Dunbar-St. Abbs Head at 25,000 feet. Green section. 14th P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham arrived for flying duties from 600 Sqn. 15th Dusk Patrol Blue section. 18th Patrol St. Abbs Head at 8,000 feet. F/O Britton, P/O Ferdinand & Sgt Rudland). Patrol Drem. Blue section (F/L Pugh, F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & P/O Stein). A Ju.88 was in the vicinity of the Firth of Forth. The visibility was very bad, 10/10 cloud below 4,500 feet. Before Green section reached St. Abbs Head it was vectored to Dunbar, & then to Crail. The enemy aircraft dropped a bomb off North Berwick & flew across the Forth. Meanwhile Blue section had been vectored to May Island. While he was flying east down the Firth of Forth, F/L Pugh sighted the enemy aircraft a mile ahead of him flying north with Green section 500 yards behind it. There must have been cloud between Green section & the

enemy, as none of them saw it. A few seconds later the Controller gave Green section a vector of 270° & they turned away. A searchlight position reported that it had heard machine gun fire, & so it is assumed that the Ju.88 had opened fire on Green section. The enemy dropped 2 bombs on Crail. Just after it had done so P/O Ferdinand caught a momentary glimpse of it before it disappeared into cloud. 22nd Patrol Dunbar at 8,000 feet. Blue section. They carried out an extensive Patrol in the mouth of the Forth. No contact was made with the enemy. Group sent a message complimenting the section on the way in which it had carried out the Patrol in such bad weather. Patrol May Island at 12,000 feet. Red section. 26th Patrol St. Abbs Head at 10,000 feet. Blue section. Ordered to land after 10 minutes. Dusk Patrol Red section. Patrol Drem-Methil. Blue section. 28th Patrol Red section. 29th Sgt Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM to P/O. Scramble Intercepted & identified as a Wellington. Dusk Patrol Green section. 31st Dusk Patrol Blue section.

NOVEMBER 1940 RAF Drem 1st R/T Call Sign changed to “Cosy”. Considerable enemy activity in the Firth of Forth at night. 3 H.E. bombs were dropped in the field behind the “Parachute” about 250 yards from the Officers’ Mess. No damage or casualties. Patrol Drem. Considerable excitement prevailed as we were informed that 12 Bandits were in the vicinity of Crail. They were recognised as friendly aircraft (Coastal). P3145 F/L Harold Antony Oliver P2857 P/O David Stein P3992 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith P3607 P/O George Stanley Milligan P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason P3381 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P3315 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P2490 P/O Donald Martin Vine P2570 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P3606 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Patrol Bell Rock. Vectored to Montrose, then south over Fife & over Crail where 2 Hudsons were intercepted. P3992 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P3315 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P3881 P/O Donald Martin Vine Dusk Patrol Firth of Forth. P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason 2nd Patrol May Island at 10,000 feet. P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason 3rd Dusk Patrol Firth of Forth. P3145 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P3992 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan 5th Patrol May Island. P2493 Sgt Dennis William Mason P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan

P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Over Bell Rock. P2493 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P2915 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith P3145 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P2915 F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith May Island. 1 Shark intercepted. P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P3312 Sgt Dennis William Mason P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan Dunbar. P3606 P/O George Stanley Milligan P2915 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P2570 P/O Donald Martin Vine 8th 2 Whirlwinds delivered. RAF MacMerry 9th-11th ‘B’ Flight moved to MacMerry, to operate 2 sections from there. This was not a happy arrangement, but it did not last long. 12th ‘B’ Flight (F/L Pugh, F/O Britton, P/O Ferdinand, P/O Stein, P/O Vine, P/O Kitchener DFM, P/O Milligan, & Sgt Rudland) to RAF Prestwick with 8 Hurricanes to cover a ‘special target’ in the Clyde. We suspect that it was the Formidable. At any rate, the Germans made no attempt to attack it, & we led a very uneventful existence. RAF Prestwick 13th Sgt Rudland to Drem. 14th All ‘Night Operational’ pilots called to available. (This was the night of the big raid on Coventry.) 15th Dusk Patrol Over the Clyde. Blue section. P3145 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P2658 P/O George Stanley Milligan P2570 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 18th P/O Milligan to Drem; F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith to Prestwick.

Dusk Patrol Over the Clyde. Blue section. P2570 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P2992 P/O Donald Martin Vine P2857 P/O David Stein 19th ‘B’ Flight at Readiness. 20th F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith at Readiness. P/O Stein & F/L Pugh at ‘Available’. 21st Dusk Patrol Over the Clyde. P3606 F/O Allan Walter Naylor Britton P3658 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P3314 Sgt Dennis William Mason 22nd Sgt Mason at Readiness. Sgt Rudland & P/O Kitchener DFM at ‘Available’. 23rd P/O Stein at Readiness. F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith & F/O Britton at ‘Available’. 24th Convoy Patrol Patrolled an Aircraft Carrier proceeding down the Firth of Clyde. P2992 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P3881 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P3658 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Dusk Patrol Patrolled an Aircraft Carrier proceeding down the Firth of Clyde. P2570 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P2992 P/O Donald Martin Vine P2857 P/O David Stein 25th Sgt Rudland at Readiness. P/O Kitchener DFM & Sgt Mason at ‘Available’. 27th ‘B’ Flight returned to Drem where we learnt that the Squadron was to move to Exeter & operate solely with Whirlwinds. It was with great regret that leave was taken of the Hurricanes. 28th-29th 10 Whirlwinds flown to Exeter & the rest of the Squadron followed within the next few days. The end of the month, therefore, found us still not having contacted the enemy.

DECEMBER 1940 December has been little short of disastrous, & as a result has probably retarded the Squadron’s progress by several weeks. There have been many changes in personnel, due either to deaths or postings, the Squadron has, for the 2nd time, been reduced to a shadow of its former self. We have lost S/L Henry Eeles, who has returned to Drem to command the Station; F/O John Francis Blick, who has gone to Grangemouth to act as Station Adjutant; 2 Flight Commanders, F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith who has been killed & F/L Harold Anthony Olivier who has been posted overseas; F/O Allan Walter Naylor Britton, who has been killed; F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith, who has been posted overseas, & P/O Donald Martin Vine, who has been killed. Added to this, very little flying done by ‘B’ Flight (which up to the end of November was operating solely with Hurricanes & had practically no experience on Whirlwinds) owing to the deplorable condition of the aerodrome which is, in fact, not suitable for Whirlwinds. From 18th to the end of the month the Squadron was hourly expecting orders to move. All aircraft were grounded except for Operational purposes. As the result, the new Commanding Officer, S/L Munro, is faced with the task of substantially forming & training a new Squadron. The Whirlwinds became Operational for the 1st time on 7th, & during the month 30 sorties were made. On 23rd, F/L Smith on Patrol near Start Point sighted a Ju.88. He gave chase & closed to 1,000 yards, but it escaped into clouds. The task of Interception has not been made easier by the absence of “pip-squeak”. RAF Exeter 1st-6th Squadron non-Operational. Several Recce flights resulted in Air Raid warnings, as the Observer Corps were not familiar with the aircraft. On more than 1 occasion the aircraft were shot at, notably over Dartmouth. 7th ‘A’ Flight became Operational with Whirlwinds. Patrol Over Plymouth at 15,000 feet. P6974 S/L Henry Eeles P6975 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith P6976 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes Convoy Patrol Start Point-Dartmouth. P6975 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith P6974 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes

8th Patrol Over Exmouth at 12,000 feet. P6969 S/L John Gray Munro P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Base at 15,000 feet. Plotted as a hostile, sirens sounded in Exeter. P6974 S/L John Gray Munro P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 11th Patrol Torquay at 15,000 feet. Raid 167. P6974 F/L Harold Antony Oliver P6970 Sgt Frank Morton 12th F/O Allan Walter Naylor Britton was killed this afternoon. His section was carrying out firing practice in Sand Bay. They carried out 1 attack, but 1 of them in the words of the Master of a ship who witnessed the affair “seemed to go through his own spray”. F/O Britton then made a 2nd attack: did not fire his guns but dived straight into the sea. 13th Scramble Raid 132. Off Start Point. Plots irregular & R/T poor. P6973 F/L Harold Antony Oliver P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 15th F/O Peter Wyatt-Smith posted Overseas. F/O John Francis Blick posted as Station Adjutant to RAF Grangemouth. 16th S/L Henry Eeles posted to Command RAF Drem. S/L Munro assumed command of the Squadron. 17th P/O Leslie Robert Hiscock arrived as Adjutant from No.55 OTU. Patrol Start Point-Exmouth. P6974 F/L Harold Antony Oliver P6968 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Start Point-Plymouth. P6969 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6972 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 20th Scramble Raid 148. Off Bear Head. P6973 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6974 P/O George Stanley Milligan 21st Scramble Raid 164. Off Start Point. Intercepted & identified as a Martin 167. P6972 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6968 P/O George Stanley Milligan Patrol Exeter-Plymouth. P6973 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith P6976 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 22nd F/L Harold Anthony Olivier went on leave pending posting overseas. 23rd Patrol Start Point. P6973 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6974 P/O George Stanley Milligan Scramble Raid 43. Off Start Point. Intercepted a Ju.88 & closed to 1,000 yards before it disappeared into cloud. P6970 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith 27th Patrol Torquay-Start Point. P6976 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6970 Sgt Frank Morton Scramble Raid 130. Did not approach within 30 miles of land & section ordered to Patrol Start Point instead. P6975 F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith P6974 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 29th Ordered to escort 2 Catalina flying boats arriving from Bermuda, F/L Smith, P/O Vine & P/O Kitchener DFM took off for St. Eval in bad visibility, 10/10 cloud at 200 feet. Apparently, they got lost & came down to 300 feet in near Bovey Tracey, as P/O Kitchener thinks. He reports seeing the ground immediately beneath him & as he pulled up thinks he saw a dull red flash on his right. F/L Wynford Ormonde Leoni Smith & P/O Donald Martin Vine are missing. He returned to Exeter. F/L Pugh, F/O Crooks, P/O Kitchener, P/O Milligan, Sgt Mason & Sgt Morton later proceeded to St. Eval. 30th Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU.

JANUARY 1941 A detached Flight maintained at St. Eval, which carried out a considerable number of Patrols. The remainder of the Squadron was at Exeter. We remain very short of experienced pilots, & it has been a great strain on our resources maintaining the detached Flight. RAF St. Eval 2nd F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC appointed F/L. Scramble Raid 72. Dodman Point. Identified by an aircraft of No.234 Sqn as a Ju.88 & damaged by them. P6992 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6974 Sgt Frank Morton Off the Lizard. P6982 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6974 Sgt Frank Morton 3rd Sweep 40 miles south of the Lizard. Vectored 40 miles east & north to the Coast. P6973 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC RAF Exeter P/O Bernard Howe arrived for flying duties from No.25 Sqn. RAF St. Eval 4th Patrol P6976 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6971 P/O George Stanley Milligan RAF Exeter 9th P/O Leslie Robert Hiscock posted as Adjutant to No.152 Sqn. P/O Geoffrey Hugh Hadley arrived for Adjutant duties from RAF Filton. Sgt Frank Morton was returning in the Blenheim from Warmwell & passed straight over the aerodrome but appeared not to see it. 1 engine was ‘cutting’ & the plane crashed a few miles from the aerodrome. He baled out at 100 feet but was killed. Chameleon Patrol S/L Munro, F/L Pugh & F/L Crooks were detailed to carry out a special Operation, referred to for reasons of security as a “Chameleon Patrol”. Fighter Command had reason to believe that when a night attack was made by the Luftwaffe on South Wales or South-West England, E-Boats used to come up from Cherbourg & lie about 10 miles off the coast in the hopes of picking up the survivors of any aircraft which might be disabled & crash into the sea. It was thought that the E-Boats were in the habit of leaving Cherbourg in the late afternoon, & it was decided to attack them if possible, with Whirlwinds. The plan was to climb to 15,000 feet over Dartmouth & from there fly to a point about 40 miles from the French Coast losing to 3,000 feet. F/L Pugh had engine trouble shortly after take-off & had to turn back. S/L Munro & F/L Crooks carried out the Operation & reported nothing to be seen. P6979 S/L John Gray Munro P6977 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6976 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC RAF St. Eval 10th Scramble Raid 109. Falmouth Bay-The Lizard. P6998 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6974 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland

12th Scramble Sgt Mason lost touch with P/O Stein who went on his way alone. He intercepted a Ju.88 40 miles south-west of the Scillies & delivered a front ¼-full beam attack. The rear gunner opened fire but was immediately silenced. The Ju.88 went into a spiral dive through cloud & was not seen again. RDF plots faded & we understand that during the day signals were intercepted from a German Wireless Station calling for it. It was credited to P/O Stein as a “Probable”. The combat is noteworthy as being the 1st occasion on which the Whirlwinds drew blood. P6972 P/O David Stein P6968 Sgt Dennis William Mason 13th Sgt Walter David Waddington arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Scramble 30 miles south-east of Lizard Point at 21,000 feet. Saw an enemy aircraft 2 miles away at 23,000 feet coming straight for them out of the sun. It spotted our aircraft & turned tail. Our aircraft gave chase but were unable to gain. P6974 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6976 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 20 miles south of Lands End. Sighted a He.111 8-10 miles ahead of them at 21,000 feet. They gave chase, but south of the Scillies found themselves short of petrol. Opened fire at extreme range but no results observed & it escaped into cloud. P6986 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6973 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Raid 72. Turned away 30 miles north-east of Guernsey. P6976 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6988 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM RAF Exeter Chameleon Patrol Section think they approached to within 10-miles of the French coast. They observed a smoke trail at 20,000 feet but otherwise saw nothing. P6985 S/L John Gray Munro P6977 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6981 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

RAF St. Eval 14th Patrol P6972 P/O David Stein P6968 Sgt Dennis William Mason 15th Scramble P6987 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6983 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Sighted an enemy aircraft, but it was too high & too far off to give chase. P6974 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6968 Sgt Dennis William Mason 16th

Patrol

P6987 P/O David Stein P6974 Sgt Dennis William Mason 17th Patrol P6985 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6988 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble Off Manacle Point. P6987 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6988 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM

Patrol P6969 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6974 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown RAF Exeter Chameleon Patrol P6985 S/L John Gray Munro P6977 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh RAF St. Eval 19th Scramble South-east of the Lizard. P6988 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown South-east of the Lizard. P6985 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6974 P/O David Stein Patrol P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 20th Scramble Off Start Point. P6980 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6974 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Off Lands End. Visibility very bad. P6980 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown RAF Exeter 21st P/O John Furnival Hayes DFC, P/O Albert Tooth, P/O Ivor Ashley St. Clair Watson, P/O Hubert Kenneth Smith & P/O John d’Arcy Waechter arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. RAF St. Eval Patrol P6985 P/O David Stein P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 23rd Scramble Off Fowey. Turned away 5 miles of the Coast. P6986 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6989 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham RAF Exeter 25th P/O Ivor Ashley St. Clair Watson, P/O Hubert Kenneth Smith, P/O John d’Arcy Waechter & P/O John Furnival Hayes DFC posted to No.247 Sqn. Sgts Douglas St. John Jowitt, Glynn Barrow Foden, Cecil Percy King & Robert Burton Skellon arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Scramble Off Lands End. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown North of the Scillies. P6990 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6986 P/O David Stein Off Portland Bill. XXXXX P/O Kitchener DFM XXXXX P/O Thornton-Brown 28th Patrol P6986 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6989 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6969 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6990 P/O David Stein

FEBRUARY 1941 RAF St. Eval 1st We continued to maintain a detached flight at St. Eval, an arrangement, it may be said, which does not conduce to the efficient running of a Squadron. Furthermore, several the new pilots were detached to Charmy Down to get experience on the Whirlwind, as Exeter was not thought to be suitable. In the result, what remained of the Squadron at Exeter became little more than a Maintenance Unit. Scramble Raid 119. Faded south of the Lizard. P6986 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6985 P/O David Stein Patrol P6990 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6988 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham 2nd-3rd No Operations. 4th Scramble Raid 141. Faded 60 miles south of the Lizard. P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6985 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham RAF Exeter & RAF St. Eval 8th Scramble Raid 139 12 miles south of Start Point. Blue section up from Exeter on a practice flight was vectored onto an Arado Ar.196. Sgt Rudland saw the aircraft & attacked from astern but seeing British roundels on the fuselage did not fire, & in fact formated on it. The enemy went into cloud & reappeared flying east 1,000 yards to port of F/O Hughes who fired a 5-second burst between 450-200 yards but no results were observed. Meanwhile, Red section, F/L Crooks DFC & P/O Graham, had taken off from St. Eval. At Dodman Point P/O Graham was ordered to patrol below cloud while F/L Crooks patrolled above. F/L Crooks came back down through the clouds, & just as he emerged, passed P/O Graham who was going west. He did a gentle left-hand turn, intending to call P/O Graham who had disappeared. Suddenly, he saw an aircraft come through the clouds in a northwesterly direction on his left going lower & lower until it hit the water. He had difficulty in identifying it but saw floats uppermost in the water & a black cross on the wing & on a piece of wreckage. A Coast Guard reported that 2 aircraft had crashed into the sea 3 miles south of Dodman Point, the 1st in flames. P/O Graham was credited with the destruction of the Arado Ar.196 but did not return & it is assumed that the enemy shot him down. This 1st victory was celebrated by a gift of a case of champagne from the makers of the Whirlwind. P6991 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6979 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6968 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6969 P/O Kenneth Arthur George Graham 10th F/O Walter Pollock Weir arrived as Medical Officer. Patrol P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 11th Patrol P6985 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6988 P/O George Stanley Milligan

14th Raid 124. Faded in the direction of The Smalls. P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 15th Patrol P6958 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

Scramble Raid 110. Faded mid-Channel. P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6990 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Raid 119. Faded 30 miles south-east of the Lizard. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6988 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Patrol P6990 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 17th Lt. Mauiritius Rémy (FFF) & Lt. Jacques Garnier DFC (FFF) arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Patrol P6985 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6996 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6996 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6988 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6987 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 18th S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson arrived for flying duties as CO from No.242 Sqn. 19th Lt. Mauiritius Rémy (FFF) & Lt. Jacques Garnier DFC (FFF) were posted to No.238 Sqn. Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit, Sgt James Edwards Sainsbury & Sgt Carl Arthur Long arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 20th Patrol P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Scramble Raid 134. Off the Lizard. P6992 F/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 21st Scramble Raid 108. 35 miles out to sea at 24,000 feet. P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Patrol P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6990 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 23rd Patrol F/L Crooks had to return as his aircraft became u/s. P6986 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 24th To St. Eval. At the same time, we lost our CO, S/L Munro, who went to AGME for armament duties. It is understood that his job is to test the guns on new fighters. It cannot be said that during his period of command he was given much assistance by the

higher authority in his task of bringing the Squadron to a high state of Operational efficiency. At practically no time during his tenure of office was the whole Squadron allowed to be on 1 station. His place has been taken by S/L Donaldson, the brother of the previous Commanding Officer of the Squadron who was lost in the Glorious. Scramble Raid 127. 30 miles south of Lands End. P6986 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6990 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Raid 140. 50 miles south of Lands End. P6996 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan Raids X112 & X113. 50 miles south of Lands End. P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6990 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Patrol P6985 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6996 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 25th Scramble Raid 118. Dodman Point-Plymouth. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Raid 351. North-west of the Scillies. P6986 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Scramble Raid X126. Off the Lizard. P6994 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6988 P/O David Stein RAF St. Eval 26th Scramble Raid 132. 25 miles south-west of the Lizard. P6988 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

Raid X134. Proved to be a Coastal Command aircraft. P6989 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Raid 138. 40 miles south of the Lizard. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6991 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Patrol P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC XXXXX P/O Albert Tooth P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6991 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 28th Scramble Raid 103. 20 miles south-east of the Lizard. P6986 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan A smoke trail was seen, but no enemy aircraft. P6991 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Patrol P6991 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown

MARCH 1941 Many Convoy Patrols have been carried out, & the usual “will o’ the wisp” chases after lone cloud-hopping “bandits”. We remain very short of experienced pilots, & the average serviceability state of the aircraft has been low. Currently, the Operations Room remains at St. Eval, & this has not made it any easier to operate the Squadron. On more than 1 occasion all telephone lines between Portreath & St. Eval have broken down, & we have had to reply on the W/T. RAF St. Eval 1st Patrol P6993 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6991 P/O Albert Tooth P6996 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6989 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6991 P/O David Stein P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6994 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

Scramble Saw a Ju.88 20 miles south of the Scillies. They had a long stern chase. P/O Kitchener’s guns jammed after a few rounds, but P/O Thornton-Brown fired 156 rounds & damaged it before it escaped into cloud. P6989 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6996 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM South of the Lizard. P6988 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6994 P/O George Stanley Milligan Lands End-the Scillies. P6994 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason 2nd Convoy Patrol Continuous Patrol maintained by No.263, 234 & 247 Sqns over a damaged Battleship sailing from The Scillies to Plymouth. P6991 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6983 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6982 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6989 P/O David Stein P6990 P/O Albert Tooth P6985 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6991 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6983 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6988 P/O David Stein P6985 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6982 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6991 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6982 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6996 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM P6985 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6983 P/O Joseph Grantley Hughes 3rd Scramble West of the Scillies. P6990 P/O David Stein P6988 Sgt Dennis William Mason Faded 60 miles out to sea. P6996 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6994 Sgt Cecil Percy King The Scillies-Lundy Island. P6986 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6985 P/O Albert Tooth Intercepted & identified as a Blenheim. P6991 P/O David Stein P6988 Sgt Dennis William Mason

4th Scramble Over Lands End. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6982 Sgt Cecil Percy King Identified by Observer Corps as a Blenheim. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6982 Sgt Cecil Percy King 5th Scramble South of the Scillies. P/O Thornton-Brown got lost in cloud trying to get into position, but P/O Kitchener closed on the Ju.88, & fired 240 rounds damaging the port wing. When last seen, it was making for home only 20 feet above the water. P6991 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6989 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM West of the Scillies. P6973 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6993 P/O George Stanley Milligan 6th Scramble The Scillies-Lands End. Twin-engine aircraft seen at 25,000 feet but not possible to intercept it. P6996 P/O David Stein P7000 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6994 P/O Bernard Howe P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6993 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown Intercepted & identified as a Hudson. P6993 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King Intercepted & identified as a Beaufort. P6994 P/O George Stanley Milligan 7th Patrol P6996 P/O David Stein P7000 Sgt Dennis William Mason Off the Lizard. P6993 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6986 P/O George Stanley Milligan 8th Scramble Off Lands End. P6990 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM Raid 131. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6991 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Off the Lizard. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6991 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Raid 146. Intercepted & identified as a PRU Spitfire. P6990 P/O David Stein 9th Scramble Raid 105. 15 miles south of the Scillies. P6981 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6996 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Raid 108. Off Newquay. Intercepted & identified as a Hudson. P6993 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6988 P/O Albert Tooth Raid 120. Falmouth Bay. P6988 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6993 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Patrol Lands End-Falmouth. P7000 P/O David Stein P6985 F/O Bernard Howe

Lands End-The Scillies. P7000 P/O David Stein P6983 F/O Bernard Howe Over the Lizard. P6981 Sgt Dennis William Mason Convoy Patrol Over 4 Warships approaching Plymouth. P6988 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6993 P/O David Stein P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6985 Sgt Cecil Percy King 11th P/O Donald William Lintern arrived for flying duties from 56 OTU. Patrol Off Lizard Point. P6987 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Scramble Raid 105. West of the Scillies. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM South of the Lizard. Damaged a Ju.88 but was hit in both engines by the rear gunner. He returned to Predannack but crashed on landing sustaining serious injuries. P6985 P/O Herbert Horatio Kitchener DFM 12th

The aerodrome was bombed during the night & 7 Whirlwinds were damaged. Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Ounce’ - off Falmouth. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6993 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6988 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6991 Sgt Cecil Percy King Scramble Raid X131. Near Convoy ‘Ounce’. P6988 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6983 Sgt Cecil Percy King 13th Scramble 3 doubtful Raids, 2 of which proved to be friendly Coastal aircraft. P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Raid 122. South of the Eddystone Rocks. P6986 P/O David Stein P7000 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown 14th Arodrome bombed during the night & 4 Whirlwinds damaged. Scramble Over the Lizard. P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason Raid 111. Ju.88 which passed over St. Eval at 0950. P6989 P/O David Stein P6979 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Convoy Patrol Off Falmouth P6994 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6987 Sgt Walter David Waddington P/O Thornton-Brown crashed & sustained serious injuries. P6988 P/O Patrick Glynn Thornton-Brown P6973 Sgt Dennis William Mason 15th Aircraft dispersed at night to Portreath. Patrol Over the Lizard. P6989 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland

Scramble Raid 127. Off Falmouth. P6989 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Sentinel’. P6989 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7000 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King 18th Moved to Portreath, a new station, or more accurately, a Station under construction. It could well be ‘without form or void.’ A house in the village acts as the Officers Mess, but the troops are living under very trying conditions: their quarters are very wet: there is no water, no lighting, & no sanitation. The 3 runways are good, but the surfaces at the sides are bad, several accidents have resulted from aircraft going off the runways. The pilots on Readiness sit huddled over oil stoves in the Watch Office. RAF Portreath 19th Scramble Raid 106. North-east of the Scillies. P6989 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6991 F/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 20th

Scramble

Off Portreath. P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6998 Sgt Walter David Waddington Off Lands End. P6989 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King Near the Scillies. P6989 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King South-west of the Lizard. P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6998 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 25 miles north-west of Lands End. P6989 P/O David Stein P6986 P/O Albert Tooth South-west of Plymouth. Intercepted & identified as a Blenheim. P6995 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson Patrol P6989 P/O David Stein P7000 P/O Albert Tooth 21st Scramble P7000 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes

Patrol P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason 23rd Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Sapper’. P7000 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6989 P/O Albert Tooth P6986 P/O Albert Tooth P7000 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Scramble Off the Lizard. P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7002 Sgt Cecil Percy King Lands End-The Scillies. P6998 F/O Bernard Howe P6989 Sgt Dennis William Mason Intercepted & identified as a Coastal Blenheim. P7002 P/O David Stein P6986 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 25th P/O John Charles Garland arrived for Engineering duties from No.92 Sqn. 27th Scramble North of St. Just. P6995 P/O David Stein P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland 28th F/O Bertrum Robert Grant, our Engineering Officer, left to go to West Malling as Station Engineering Officer. He had been with the Squadron since it was formed, & his going was a great loss. His place has been taken by P/O John Charles Garland. Scramble Plymouth-St. Agnes Head. P6989 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Skipper’ off Lands End. P7004 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6995 P/O Albert Tooth P6988 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7004 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6989 P/O Albert Tooth P7004 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6989 P/O Albert Tooth 29th Scramble Raid 133. North of Trevose Head. P6996 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6989 P/O Albert Tooth Off St. Ives. Intercepted the other section of Whirlwinds.

P6990 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6995 Sgt Cecil Percy King South-west of the Scillies. P6990 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Off the Lizard. Identified as a Coastal Blenheim. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Occasion’. P6989 P/O Albert Tooth P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan Over Convoy ‘Robin’ off the Lizard. P6995 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7000 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 30th Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Review’ off Hartland Point. P7004 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason Over Convoy ‘Robin’. P7000 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

P6989 P/O David Stein P6999 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble P6998 Sgt Dennis William Mason P7004 P/O George Stanley Milligan 3 Raids off the coast. P6990 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6989 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 2 doubtful Raids which proved to be Coastal aircraft. P6995 P/O David Stein P7004 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC

2 Raids 60 miles south of Base. P6972 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6989 P/O David Stein 31st Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Robin’ P7004 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC P7000 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6990 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble Raid 145 (probably a He.111), dropped bombs in Falmouth Bay. P7002 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC Off Fowey. Probably a PRU machine. P7000 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland

APRIL 1941 RAF Portreath 1st Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes & Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw arrived for flying duties from No.501 Sqn. Scramble Intercepted a Do.215 north of the Lizard. S/L Donaldson attacked from the starboard ¼ firing a short burst at 250 yards & a 2nd at 100-50 yards. Pieces flew off, then black & white smoke from both engines; it did a ½-roll & dived into cloud. It was not seen again. F/L Crooks crashed in flames near Helston & was killed. From the accounts of people on the ground, it appears that he was shot down by the Dornier. An experienced pilot, his loss is felt very heavily. P6998 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6989 F/O David Alexander Cummins Crooks DFC 2nd Patrol Raid 140. Later identified as a PRU machine. P6998 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7002 P/O David Stein Scramble Raid 143. Faded south of the Lizard. P6998 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7002 P/O David Stein Raid 148. Near the Scillies. P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6995 Sgt Dennis William Mason 3rd Petrol supplies ran out & aircraft had to be refuelled at St. Eval. Convoy Patrol Off the North Cornish Coast. P6996 Sgt Dennis William Mason P7007 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6999 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6999 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6995 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6990 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6999 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7002 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6999 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7004 F/O Bernard Howe P7007 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7002 P/O David Stein P6845 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7002 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6845 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Albert Tooth 4th Convoy Patrol Off the North Cornish Coast. P6999 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 F/O Bernard Howe P6996 P/O Albert Tooth

P6999 P/O David Stein P6996 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 F/O Bernard Howe P6996 P/O Albert Tooth P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6982 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6945 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 5th F/L David Alexander Cummins Crooks buried at Ilogan Churchyard. Convoy Patrol In the Falmouth Estuary. P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Scramble South-west of the Scillies. P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Patrol Over Lands End. P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6996 F/O Bernard Howe P6999 P/O Albert Tooth The Lizard. Raid 120 flying west from Start Point. P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6995 P/O David Stein Over Falmouth Approaches. P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7002 F/O Bernard Howe Sweep 20 miles out to sea from Lands End. P7007 P/O David Stein P6995 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 6th P/O Donald William Lintern & Sgt James Edwards Sainsbury were ordered to report to Uxbridge - Non Possunt. Convoy Patrol Off the North Cornish Coast. P7004 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P6996 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6999 P/O Albert Tooth P7004 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7002 F/O Bernard Howe Raid 118, 15 miles south of the Lizard, 2 He.111 were intercepted at 400 feet. They enemy went down to about 5 feet off the water. Although they saw hits, no damage was seen & they were last seen heading fast for home. P6996 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6974 P/O Albert Tooth P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6999 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble Raid 111. Identified as a Beaufort. P7004 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King 7th P/O Charles Stanley Fleet arrived for Adjutant duties from RAF Exeter.

Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Sapper’. 5 miles south of Falmouth, a Ju.88 was seen attacking a ship, but it escaped as Sgt King’s guns would not fire. P6996 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6999 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6999 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7004 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 F/O Bernard Howe P6982 P/O Albert Tooth 8th Patrol Falmouth Approaches. P6999 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7004 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6970 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Albert Tooth Scramble Raid 105. Intercepted & identified as a Lysander. P6970 P/O David Stein Raid 113. West of The Scillies. P7007 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6982 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 9th F/O Geoffrey Hugh Hadley reported as Adjutant from RAF Exeter. 10th RAF Filton Move to Filton 15th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6999 F/O Bernard Howe P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6982 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6992 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand 17th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 P/O David Stein P7002 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6981 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6994 F/O Bernard Howe P6982 Sgt Dennis William Mason P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6986 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King Scramble P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6995 P/O Albert Tooth Patrol P6995 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6981 Sgt Cecil Percy King

20th F/O Bernard Howe was killed in an accident at Wittering aerodrome. An experienced pilot, his loss is felt very heavily. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6970 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6996 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King 21st Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7006 P/O George Stanley Milligan P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6982 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Scramble P7006 P/O George Stanley Milligan

P7002 Sgt Cecil Percy King 23rd Patrol P7002 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6986 Sgt Cecil Percy King 25th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6971 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6995 P/O Albert Tooth P7006 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 24th S/L Donaldson & F/L Pugh attended F/O Howe’s funeral. 27th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6982 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6981 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6994 P/O Albert Tooth P6982 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6999 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6995 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson

P6994 P/O Albert Tooth P7001 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6995 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 P/O Albert Tooth 29th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6981 P/O Albert Tooth P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6994 P/O Albert Tooth P7001 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7009 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7008 P/O George Stanley Milligan P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O David Stein P6970 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland Scramble P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P7006 P/O David Stein P7007 F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes P6971 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 30th P/O George Stanley Milligan was killed as a result of an accident at Aldermaston. An experienced pilot, his loss is felt very heavily.

MAY 1941 RAF Filton 1st F/O Joseph Grantley Hughes appointed F/L & given command of ‘A’ Flight. 2nd Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6999 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O Albert Tooth P7004 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 3rd Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6999 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6982 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 P/O Albert Tooth P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6971 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7009 P/O David Stein P6996 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7006 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7004 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 4th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7005 P/O David Stein P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7006 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6991 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6970 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7000 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7004 P/O Albert Tooth P7009 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7003 P/O David Stein P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7006 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O Albert Tooth P7009 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6979 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6971 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P7003 Sgt Dennis William Mason P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6979 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6994 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P7005 Sgt Cecil Percy King

5th Convoy Patrol In the Bristol Channel P7003 Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6906 P/O David Stein P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 6th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7006 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7006 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O David Stein P6996 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6994 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6993 P/O David Stein P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P7005 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6994 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6993 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6990 P/O David Stein P6974 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6982 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7005 P/O Albert Tooth 8th Sgt Dennis William Mason & Sgt Clifford Percival Rudland appointed P/O. Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6993 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7009 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Convoy Patrol In the Bristol Channel P7001 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6970 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6983 P/O Albert Tooth P6994 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6996 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O Dennis William Mason P6971 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6996 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O Dennis William Mason P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6971 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 9th Convoy Patrol In the Bristol Channel P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P6970 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland

P6971 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 10th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6983 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P7001 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7013 P/O David Stein P7012 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7005 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6999 P/O Dennis William Mason Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6982 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 11th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6982 P/O Dennis William Mason Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. In connection with a Raid which crossed the coast near Portland. P6999 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6983 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6993 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6982 P/O Albert Tooth P7005 P/O Dennis William Mason P7001 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes 12th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7006 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King 13th P/O Norman James Freeman arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6999 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw

P7003 P/O David Stein P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7113 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6971 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 14th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6993 P/O Albert Tooth P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King 15th Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee arrived for flying duties from No.504 Sqn. 16th P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan arrived for flying duties from No.600 Sqn. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7002 P/O Dennis William Mason P7006 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 17th Sgt Harry Garthwaite & Sgt Reginald Gunn Pascoe arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Sgt Antony Victor Albertini arrived for flying duties from No.600 Sqn. 18th Sgt John James Walker arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7003 P/O David Stein P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit

19th AOC-in-C Sir Sholto Douglas visited the Squadron. Sgt Robert Burton Skellon & Sgt Walter David Waddington posted to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. 22nd Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7011 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6993 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7005 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6979 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 P/O David Stein P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6974 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7003 P/O David Stein P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw 23rd Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6993 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan 24th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7003 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6982 P/O Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 26th Sgt Geoffrey Higson Wylde arrived for flying duties from No.66 Sqn. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6993 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6994 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6979 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7006 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh

P7001 Sgt Harry Garthwaite Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6990 P/O David Stein P6970 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6994 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7005 Sgt Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini 27th Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 28th Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6996 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 P/O David Stein P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7006 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O David Stein P6968 Sgt Cecil Percy King 29th P/O Norman James Freeman posted to No.504 Sqn. Sgt Geoffrey Higson Wylde posted to No.58 OTU, Grangemouth. Sgt Glynn Barrow Foden re-mustered as ACH/GD. 30th Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6990 P/O David Stein P7003 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6996 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt John James Walker

JUNE 1941 RAF Filton 1st P/O Albert Tooth posted to ASR, Warmwell. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6970 Sgt John James Walker P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6994 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7005 P/O Dennis William Mason P7003 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6994 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7013 P/O Dennis William Mason P6990 Sgt Harry Garthwaite 2nd F/S Robert Arthur Brackley arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 3rd Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6974 P/O Dennis William Mason P7009 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7001 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6977 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7005 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7013 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6968 Sgt Harry Garthwaite 7th P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan appointed F/O. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6974 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7000 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7003 P/O David Stein L6845 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6968 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 Sgt John James Walker P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6968 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland L6845 Sgt Cecil Percy King 9th Patrol P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6977 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6974 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel.

P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6977 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6974 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini 10th Sgt Thomas Hunter & Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell arrived for flying duties from No.52 OTU. 11th Sgt Reginald Gunn Pascoe was killed this morning. 1 engine failed & instead of bringing the machine back on 1 engine, he tried to make a crash landing & unhappily killed himself in the attempt. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7000 P/O Dennis William Mason P6977 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P6974 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand P7041 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt John James Walker P7003 P/O David Stein P6968 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt John James Walker Patrol ‘A’ Flight was put on Patrol & after numerous vectors, was informed that there was an enemy aircraft ahead of them, with a fighter on its tail. Almost immediately afterwards, a twin-engine aircraft was sighted with a Defiant on its tail. The Flight gave chase. P/O Stein was just about to open fire when he recognised the machine as a Blenheim. He broke away, but Sgt King gave it a 2-second burst, happily not hitting it. P7003 P/O David Stein P6987 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt John James Walker 12th P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand was killed as he was coming into land, he appeared to be making rather steep turns when his aircraft stalled & crashed, bursting into flames. He had been with us since 23rd June 1940 & had become one of the real ‘characters’ of the Squadron. His death is deeply regretted & mourned by all who knew him. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7003 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7007 Sgt John James Walker P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7045 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6987 Sgt John James Walker P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6974 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7000 P/O Roy Frederick Ferdinand

P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King 13th Sgt Carl Arthur Long & Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit posted to No.10 Group Flight. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6987 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7002 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7000 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6987 Sgt Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 14th Warhead Operation No.1 Information had been received of a large contingent of Me.109s on the Cherbourg Peninsula: I & II JG.2 & part of III JG.26 (about 70 aircraft) at Maupertus & III JG.2 (about 30 aircraft) at Querqueville. It was decided to attack these machines on the ground at 1st light. 6 Whirlwinds proceded to Ibsley on the evening of 13th & the attack was to be made by 2 aircraft on each aerodrome, the other 2 being held in reserve in case of any unforeseen misadventure at the outset. S/L Donaldson & P/O Rudland were to attack Querqueville & F/L Pugh & P/O Mason Maupertus. P/O Stein & Sgt Holmes were chosen as reserves. The 6 aircraft left Filton for Ibsley followed by F/O Ormerod with LAC Matthews & LAC Ellis, fitter & flight mechanic. Ibsley is a new station situated between Fordingbridge & Ringwood in the New Forest. No.118 Sqn was in possession & they did everything they could to make things a success. There had been a slight hitch on the Intelligence side, & photographs of the target had to be fetched by Spitfire from Middle Wallop, while a supply of French Money was sent by despatch rider from Fighter Command. All this kept us up rather late, & we were not in bed until about midnight. We got up around 0315 to find conditions very nearly perfect. There was a certain amount of cloud in the south, with a fairly clear moon. S/L Donaldson & P/O Rudland took off followed a minute later by F/L Pugh & P/O Mason. The former found their target without much difficulty & delivered an attack on the dispersal pens in a shallow dive from 1,300-100 feet. They saw their shells hitting & exploding in the pens, but unfortunately as these were covered with tarpaulins, they could not see whether there were any machines in them or not. S/L Donaldson then put a burst into a barrack block & had a shot at an oil tank. They went out over the Baie du Nacqueville & S/L Donaldson put a burst into a stone structure with a glass top which he saw in the bay. They were met with a considerable amount of flak over the target, & on landing, S/L Donaldson’s machine was found to have been struck under the port engine nacelle. They landed safely at Ibsley having on their way back passed right under No.234 Sqn who had taken off from Warmwell to cover the withdrawal. F/L Pugh & P/O Mason were clean out of luck, their target was covered by a thick morning mist. After cruising around France for 15 minutes they returned. No sooner had they landed than the air-raid alarm went, & we were informed that a Raid of 6+ was coming in. They were Me.109s which had taken off in pursuit, but a short brush with No.234 Sqn dampened their ardour & they returned home. After an early breakfast we returned to Filton & made up for lost sleep. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland

P6995 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7013 P/O Dennis William Mason 15th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7000 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6999 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7000 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6977 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6999 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7003 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7013 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6968 Sgt Cecil Percy King

17th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King 19th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6974 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7046 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6987 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O Dennis William Mason P7002 Sgt John James Walker P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6987 Sgt Cecil Percy King 20th Patrol P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes 23rd Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7046 Sgt Harry Garthwaite P7044 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini

P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6968 Sgt John James Walker P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 24th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7044 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6999 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini 27th Patrol P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6989 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 28th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7042 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter

JULY 1941 RAF Filton 1st S/L Donaldson included in the Birthday Honours List & received the AFC for work in Training Command. Sgt Jack Maddocks & Sgt John Eutychus Meredith arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. RAF Portreath 2nd Convoy Patrol Off the Cornish Coast. P7044 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7051 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7046 P/O Dennis William Mason P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O David Stein Scramble 20 miles south of the Lizard. P6987 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 P/O David Stein P6974 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P6990 P/O David Stein P7003 Sgt Cecil Percy King 4th Sgt Graham Lewis Lawson posted to RAF Yatesbury. 5th 9 aircraft to Portreath to relieve No.152 Sqn who are practising as part of a Wing. Convoy Patrol Off the Cornish Coast. P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt RAF Filton 6th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason 9th Sgt Harry Garthwaite posted to No.54 OTU, Church Fenton. 10th 12 aircraft to Exeter to relieve No.504 Sqn who were taking part in an offensive Operation over France. Convoy Patrol P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6996 Sgt John James Walker P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7039 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P7013 Sgt Cecil Percy King

P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6996 Sgt John James Walker 11th 12 aircraft to Middle Wallop to provide cover during Offensive Operations over France. RAF Filton 12th Owing to the pre-occupation of the enemy with the Russian Front, the state of preparedness was reduced today. The Squadron is now only to provide 8 Operational pilots a day instead of 12. Convoy Patrol In Barry Roads. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6999 Sgt Thomas Hunter Scramble Raid 96. South of Cardiff. The enemy aircraft dropped bombs near Cheltenham, but although within 8 miles dead behind it, they saw nothing. P7046 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes XXXXX Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee 13th 12 aircraft to Exeter. 14th Convoy Patrol P7046 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell Scramble P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley RAF Filton 16th-17th 6 aircraft to Warmwell for experiments on their efficiency against Tanks. Convoy Patrol In the Bristol Channel. P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell 21st 12 aircraft started for Ibsley but were recalled. 22nd 12 aircraft to Ibsley to provide cover during Offensive Operations over France. 23rd 13 aircraft to Ibsley to provide cover during Offensive Operations over France. 24th Scramble Portland Bill at 13,000 feet. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter Portland Bill at 5,000 feet. P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan

RAF Filton 29th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6998 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6974 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6970 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7004 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7007 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7039 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7004 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 P/O David Stein P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6970 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7051 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7004 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell 30th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6974 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6986 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7046 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7044 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7004 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O David Stein P7007 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7039 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P6970 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith

AUGUST 1941 RAF Ibsley 2nd Warhead Operation No.2 Simultaneous attacks on Querqueville & Maupertus aerodromes. S/L Donaldson & F/L Hughes crossed the French Coast 6 miles east of Cap de la Hague at 200 feet. Coming over Querqueville they saw an aircraft being refuelled by the hangers. S/L Donaldson attacked it & then fired a burst into oil tanks, but no fires or explosions resulted. Going out over the Baie de Nacqueville he attacked a dinghy leaving it sinking. F/L Hughes attacked barrack blocks &. 2 camouflaged oil tanks in the woods. F/L Pugh & P/O Mason hit the French Coast east of Cherbourg Harbour. They saw an E-Boat, climbed to 1,500 feet & attacked it. The E-Boat was left smoking fiercely amidships & low in the water. The 2 sections fell in with each other over the Channel & landed at Ibsley. No.118 Sqn covered the withdrawal. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7049 P/O Dennis William Mason RAF Ibsley 5th Warhead Operation No.3 Maupertus aerodrome. Coming over the aerodrome at 100 feet they saw 5 Ju.87s in the south-east corner. S/L Donaldson fired at the 1st & hit it. It became a total loss, being burnt out. He then observed more Me.109s along the southern boundary & in the south-west corner. He fired & hit 2-3. He then did a quick right-handed turn, came back & flew down the line, spraying the machines. Several more were hit. He then turned for home, giving a lorry on the Coast road a short burst which set the canopy on fire. Sgt Holmes fired a 3½-second burst at the Ju.87s & damaged them. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC XXXXX Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes Shipping off Cherbourg. Nothing seen. Sgt Jowitt fired at a Wireless Station near Querqueville. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 6th Warhead Operation No.4 Maupertus aerodrome. Their navigation seems to have left something to be desired &, not to put to fine a point on it, they do not know where they got to. They flew on a course of 184° magnetic, but there is considerable disagreement as to which part of the French Coast they struck. Some say Cap de la Hague, while others say Pointe de Barfleur. At any rate, they did not find the aerodrome & after orbiting for a short time in search of a target, P/O Mason gave the order to return. 5 miles east of Cap de la Hague, P/O Mason saw an E-Boat 1½ miles out to sea. He delivered 3 attacks on it & caused damage but is unable to say whether he sank it. The other 3 got separated from P/O Mason, & for want of a better target, delivered an attack in line astern on a Lighthouse, causing considerable damage. They returned on 257° magnetic & made landfall at Portland, which suggests that they had been in the vicinity of Pointe de Barfleur & not Cap de la Hague. P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P6983 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley Warhead Operation No.5 Warhead No.4 having failed to find Maupertus, a further attack was ordered as soon as possible. This time the 4 Whirlwinds got to Maupertus & had the satisfaction of seeing the wreckage from yesterdays Operation. S/L Donaldson flew along the line & certainly hit the 1st machine & probably several more. He then fired a burst at the Ju.87s & hit 4 of them. 3 minutes after leaving the aerodrome, he looked back & saw 2 columns of black smoke rising from it. 5 miles north-west of Cherbourg he saw 2

3,000-ton Tankers & attacked both from the broadside scoring hits. He then attacked 1 of them head on; smashed the bridge & almost certainly killed the Captain. After this attack he saw smoke rising from amidships. The Tankers returned cannon & machine gun fire. P/O Rudland saw a Me.109 just taking off. It had not left the ground but had got its tail up. He gave it a 2-second burst from 50 yards & it immediately burst into flames. He reported that heavy flak from Cherbourg followed him & the others out to sea. He had also put a burst into the Ju.87s & reported that Maupertus had all the appearance of being a very well pranged aerodrome. F/O Coghlan went down the line of Me.109s giving them 2 good bursts. Sgt Albertini also went down the line, & certainly hit 1 in the starboard wing, & probably several more. He then observed a machine gun post on the eastern side of the aerodrome firing at F/O Coghlan - he attacked & silenced it. Going out he observed 3 Bofors Gun positions on the hill to the north of the aerodrome. One of these was firing at F/O Coghlan. He attacked & silenced it. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini Shipping Strike The presence of the 2 Tankers off Cherbourg seen on Warhead No.5, 4 Whirlwinds were sent to intercept & attack them as soon as they could be re-armed. This time the Hun was on his toes, & 5 miles off the French Coast between Querqueville & Cap de la Hague they were met by 3 Me.109s followed by 12-20 more. A terrific dogfight took place, the 1st in which Whirlwinds have been engaged, between 1,500 feet & sea level. The Whirlwinds were outnumbered 5 to 1 but nevertheless more than held their own. S/L Donaldson saw P/O Mason being chased by 2 Huns. He got on the tail of 1 & fired a ½-second burst at 200 yards. It turned, then did a ½-roll & a dive. On the dive, S/L Donaldson fired another ½-second burst. He saw a panel fly off the wing & also a puff of white smoke. Probably a hit in the radiator. At any rate, it showed no more stomach for the fight & made off in the direction of Querqueville aerodrome. F/S Brackley heard P/O Rudland call out on the R/T ‘there are 2 109s on my tail.’ Immediately, he saw a Whirlwind to starboard with 2 109s on its tail. The 1st broke away across his sights, but too quickly for him to fire. As the 2nd broke away, he fired a 2½-second barrage. It flew right into it & dropped like a stone into the sea. At the same time a 109 had got on F/S Brackley’s tail. P/O Rudland delivered a head on attack closing from 300 yards & breaking away 5 feet above it. He saw his shells strike just behind the cockpit. He then did a steep turn to port: saw F/S Brackley but no 109. S/L Howell of No.118 Sqn, which was arriving on the scene, saw a 109 go straight into the water & it was agreed that this must have been P/O Rudland’s victim, his 2nd of the day. The Whirlwinds then disengaged. F/S Brackley’s machine developed an internal glycol leak in the starboard engine & he had to return across 60 miles of water on 1 engine. As his petrol was running low, he made a forced landing at Hurn, further damaging his machine. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6983 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley The total bag for the 5 Sweeps as follows: - 3 Me.109’s destroyed in air combat; 4 Ju.87’s damaged on the ground; 1 Ju.87 destroyed on the ground; 2 Trawlers damaged; 1 E-Boat sunk; 1 Wireless Station damaged; 1 Dinghy sunk; 1 Lighthouse damaged; 2 Gun Posts silenced; Several Me.109s damaged on the ground; 1 Me.109 damaged in the air. And last but by no means least, 1 fallacy exploded, namely that the Whirlwind is no match for a Me.109.

RAF Filton 6th Scramble P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith RAF Charmy Down 7th Moved to Charmy Down - a station now in a very similar state to that in which we found at Portreath. More need not be said. Convoy Patrol In the Bristol Channel P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini P7041 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee 11th 12 Whirlwinds moved to Wattisham. RAF Charmy Down Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel off Porthcawl. P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7013 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7003 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King 12th 12 Whirlwinds to Martlesham Heath. Operation No.77 12 Whirlwinds provided close escort cover as far as Antwerp for 54 Blenheims, carrying out a daylight raid on Power Stations at Cologne. Rendezvous was made over Orford Ness & they flew at 50 feet in 2 boxes. The Whirlwinds flew at the same height, 6 between the boxes & 6 up sun of them. At the Dutch Coast the Whirlwinds climbed to 1,000 feet & weaved above the bombers, then turned for home 4 miles north-west of Antwerp. They followed the course of the Scheldt, 6 aircraft flying at 50-100 feet while the other 6 weaved above them at 500 feet. Near Walcheren they saw 6 barges. Fire was observed from them, & they were almost certainly Flak Barges. These were attacked with cannon fire, the Whirlwinds diving from 500 feet to water level. 1 was sunk & 3 damaged. F/L Pugh also attacked another Barge north-west of Walcheren & damaged it. No enemy fighters were seen but flak was experienced between Vlissingham & Neuzen. On the outward journey, F/O Stein observed some soldiers run out of a house, & shoot at him with rifles. He marked the position on his map saying, “I’ll deal with you later, when I have more time.” On the return journey, he & Sgt King searched diligently for the spot but were unable to find it. On landing, Sgt Jowitt’s machine was found to have been hit by an explosive shell. 2 other machines had machine gun bullets in them. The following message was received from AVM Orelebar, AOC No.10 Group - ‘The following received from the AOC No.2 Group. Begins; Very many thanks for your courageous support today. You will be glad to hear that the 2 great Power Stations of the Rhur, Knapsack & Quadrath with an output totalling nearly a million Kilowatts were completely destroyed & described by one of the bombing leaders as “fucked up” for the rest of the war. Would be glad if you would convey the thanks of leaders & crews of No.2 Group to S/L Donaldson & No.263 Sqn; W/C Herbert Percy, S/L Forbes & No.66 Sqn; S/L Darwin & No.152 Sqn; & S/L Stevens & No.234 Sqn. Ends; Well done - Orlebar.” P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7003 F/O David Stein P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6991 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini

P6999 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King RAF Ibsley 17th Offensive Operation The intention was for the Whirlwinds to fly over Maupertus at 15,000 feet to draw the German fighters into the air, so that the Spitfires & Hurricanes could deal with them. The Hun, however, was not ‘playing’ & no enemy fighters were seen. F/L Pugh saw an Armed Trawler coming out of Cherbourg. He attacked it, seeing his shells exploding all over it. Out of 6 Squadrons employed, he was the only man to fire his guns. P7001 S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan RAF Charmy Down 18th Scramble P6990 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7039 Sgt Cecil Percy King 19th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P6991 Sgt John James Walker P6971 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6998 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7041 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7042 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan 20th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7011 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6998 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7046 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee 21st S/L Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC awarded the DFC, appointed Wing Commander & posted to Portreath. 22nd F/L Pugh given command of the Squadron. P/O Rudland given command of ‘A’ Flight. Scramble P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P7004 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith RAF Predannack 24th Offensive Operation Lannion aerodrome. Escorted by 7 Long Range Spitfires of No.66 Sqn they crossed the Channel at 0 feet & made landfall at Ile Grande. W/C Donaldson saw a Lighthouse, which he took to be the Ploumenach Lighthouse, & turned west crossing the coast near Pointe de Plestin. P/O Rudland saw a Ju.88 1½miles south of Lanmeur but was unable to attract anyones attention. About this moment, W/C Donaldson realised that he was too far west; turned north & went back to Ile Grande. From there he was

just about to deliver the projected attack on Lannion, when someone gave the warning ‘Me.109s Beat It.’ 5 Me.109s was seen: 3 at 1,000 feet & 2 at sea level coming towards the Whirlwinds. They made as if to attack, but then refused combat, either because they saw the Spitfires, or because the Whirlwinds were too fast for them. They did however fire a burst from about 800 yards which took the form of a long line of black puffs, very like a barrage. Possibly they were using shells with a time fuse. They followed the Whirlwinds about 50 miles out to sea, keeping a respectful distance. An RDF station on Ile Grande was attacked & damaged on the way out. P7001 W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DFC AFC P7044 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7009 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P6999 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini RAF Charmy Down 25th Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7011 P/O Dennis William Mason P6970 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6991 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P7007 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6996 Sgt John James Walker 26th Scramble P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6986 Sgt John James Walker RAF Predannack Offensive Operation Lannion & Maupertus aerodromes. As the target was not located on 24th, another attack was ordered against Lannion, while another 4 aircraft made a simultaneous attack on Maupertus. It was intended to send 4 Whirlwinds against Lannion, but only 3 could be got ready in time, owing to some confusion in re-tuning the wireless sets. Crossing the Channel at 0 feet they made landfall at Sept Iles. Flying west, they skirted the Coast, passing outside Ile Grande, where a dummy aerodrome was observed, until they reached Pointe de Sehar. From here they turned up the river Le Leguer, flying in line astern below the level of the banks. F/L Pugh, leading the formation, sighted Lannion Church & at the same moment saw 2 Blister Hangers on the west bank of the river, apparently at Meslar. He turned to port & saw 2 Ju.88s parked closely in line astern between the Hangers. Opening fire at 300 feet, he gave a 3-second burst & saw explosions in both aircraft. Both caught fire with large dark red flames. F/O Coghlan followed, noticing Pugh’s machines in flames & attacked 2 Ju.88s parked nearer to the aerodrome, opening fire at 200 feet. His burst straddled both aircraft & there were many explosions in the fuselage of both machines. Making a left-hand turn, he did a flat dive on a Ju.88 parked in a field still further south of the aerodrome. The machine was straddled but results were not observed. F/L Hughes attacked a Ju.88 parked in the southern dispersal & saw it start to burn. As he went out to the north-east, he attacked a machine gun position without observing results. An admirable escort was provided by No.66 Sqn who damaged 4 Ju.88s on the ground. Not a bad 3 minutes work - 5 Ju.88s destroyed & 4 damaged. It was later reported by German Air Force prisoners that for the attack was substantially accurate. P7004 F/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan

RAF Warmwell Offensive Operation Maupertus. Escorted by No.234 Sqn, they crossed the Channel at 0 feet & made landfall 1½ miles north-west of the aerodrome. There were 12 Ju.87s on the aerodrome, parked closely together in 3 rows of 4. P/O Rudland attacked them from 250 feet. In all 5 aircraft were set on fire. 1 of the crew was seen running like a rabbit between the machines, but this soon stopped, “& another bandit bit the dust.” Going out north, P/O Rudland & F/S Brackley damaged an RDF station on the top of a hill a mile north of the aerodrome. Sgt Meredith attacked a gun position north of the aerodrome. As the formation was approaching the coast, a red rocket was fired & the pilots could see gun crews running to their posts. Intense & accurate flak was experienced & P/O Rudland’s machine had a cannon shell through the starboard aileron. No.234 Sqn provided cover at 500 feet & also destroyed 2 Ju.87s & 1 Ju.88 but lost 1 Spitfire. P6998 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7007 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith RAF Predannack 29th Offensive Operation Lannion aerodrome. Owing to the exaggerated forecast of the surface winds, landfall was made 7- miles south-east of Ile de Batz which were mistaken for the Sept Iles. On reaching the coast they realised their mistake but as cloud cover was very sparse, they decided that it was inadvisable to go for the primary objective. A secondary target was found in an RDF station on the western extremity of Ile de Batz. Both aircraft attacked from 400 feet. F/L Hughes also attacked a blockhouse on the north coast of Ile de Batz where 4 men in white were seen to fire at him. The aircraft had taken off from Predannack in conditions of good visibility, but the weather had “closed down” completely with a sea mist right down onto the landing ground & it was only with the greatest skill & good fortune that they were able to get down safely. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6991 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes RAF Predannack 31st Operating as part of a Wing providing cover for bombers returning from Operation Gudgeon No.4, an attack on Lannion aerodrome. No.263 Sqn was leading the Wing which also comprised Nos.130 & 313 Sqns. 12 Whirlwinds took off, but 1 had to turn back owing to its constant speed gear being u/s. They climbed to 11,000 feet, with No.130 at 14,000 feet & No.313 at 25,000 feet. The formation flew for 23-minutes on 151° magnetic: orbited for 15-minutes, then returned. The bombers were seen to return safely beneath the formation. No enemy fighters seen. P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7003 F/O David Stein P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6999 Sgt Thomas Hunter P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell

SEPTEMBER 1941 RAF Charmy Down 2nd F/O Arthur Hereward Ormerod posted to Sector Intelligence, Colerne. P/O Andrew Sigfrid Wordsworth arrived as Intelligence Officer. 3rd Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7011 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6971 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7044 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7001 Sgt Thomas Hunter P6991 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6996 Sgt John James Walker P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell Scramble P6970 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt P6990 Sgt Cecil Percy King 4th Operation ‘Gudgeon VI’ Close Escort for 6 Blenheims attacking an oil-ship in Cherbourg Harbour. Rendezvous made at 8,000 feet over Warmwell. F/L Hughes returned early owing to 1 engine over-heating. The bombers climbed to 10,000 feet & the Whirlwinds took up station with 4 in line astern 250 yards on each side of the bombers & 500 feet above; 2 to the rear of the bombers & 500 feet above, & 2 weaving 500 feet above the whole formation. The bombers made 1 run over the target & the ship was seen to be ablaze. While they were dropping their bombs, F/O Stein saw a Me.109F diving on the formation. He turned towards it & it fired a short burst from 6-700 yards before diving away. When south of the harbour, Sgt Holmes, one of the weavers, saw 3 Me.109s behind him. They fired 4 bursts, but he took evasive action, doing a barrel roll & managed to shake them off. 2 Me.109Fs then approached the bombers. S/L Pugh & P/O Rudland turned towards them & they made off. Almost immediately afterwards, P/O Mason, the other weaver, was attacked on the starboard quarter & from astern. He fired a ½-second burst at one & it made off. He then took violent evasive action doing tight turns & a very steep dive (ASI 480). He pulled out at sea level & made for home. The 109 followed him 30 miles towards the English Coast, firing several bursts. On landing, his machine was found to have many bullet holes in it. 2 Me.109s attacked Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell just after leaving the harbour. It is thought that he did not see them. His starboard engine was set on fire & he baled out, his machine crashing into the sea 5 miles off Cherbourg. No.302 Sqn immediately attacked these 109s, destroyed 1& probably destroyed the other. A launch was seen putting out from Cherbourg Harbour & it is almost certain that Sgt Buckwell was picked up. P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P6990 F/O David Stein P7011 P/O Dennis William Mason P7005 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6991 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6996 Sgt John James Walker P7042 Sgt Geoffrey Leighton Buckwell P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter RAF Ibsley 8th Shipping Strike Race of Alderney. Escort to 12 Blenheims in an attack on a Convoy north-west of Jersey. Escorted by Nos.234, 118 & 501 Sqns. Rendezvous made with the bombers over Base, & a course of 205° magnetic set. P/O Rudland turned back before crossing the English

Coast with engine trouble, but owing to a misunderstanding, Sgt Holmes & Sgt Hunter followed him. The role of the Whirlwinds was anti-flak. The Channel was crossed at 0 feet, the Whirlwinds flying in echelon to the starboard side of the bombers. 2 small Convoys were found: 1 just south of Guernsey comprising a Tug & 4 Barges (Convoy No.1), the other further south comprising 8 Tugs & some small vessels (Convoy No.2). The Whirlwinds climbed to 500 feet & the bombers turned sharply to port to attack Convoy No.2. The Whirlwinds also attacked. S/L Pugh & F/O Coghlan selecting the largest ship in Convoy No.2, a vessel of 400-tons. Hits & explosions from the HEI ammunition observed along its length. The bombers then attacked, crossing the Convoy from the beam. After this, the Whirlwinds renewed their attacks. F/L Hughes & P/O Mason attacked a Tug in Convoy No.1. As a result, the boiler burst, & it was left enveloped in steam & smoke. They then attacked a ship in front of the Tug, & left it smoking as well. P/O Mason attacked the ship already attacked by S/L Pugh. He saw that it was smoking & burning along the whole length of its deck. Sgt King attacked 2 Tugs in Convoy No.2. He reports that the 2nd was sinking. F/S Brackley, Sgt Blackshaw & Sgt Walker attacked Convoy No.1 doing considerable damage. The Whirlwinds then returned to Base, S/L Pugh & F/O Coghlan in company with the bombers, the remainder singly or in pairs. About 25 miles north of Guernsey, F/S Brackley, returning at sea level, suddenly came on an E-Boat. It did not appear to be moving, & he did not see it until it rose on the swell. He gave it a burst but had no time to see the results. Some miles north of Alderney, Sgt King saw tracer passing his machine. He took evasive action & saw a Me.109 about 500 yards behind. He managed to shake it off. On landing, several bullet holes were found in his aircraft. About 40 miles from Cap de la Hague, F/L Hughes saw cannon fire passing his machine. He could see no enemy aircraft, & no marks were found on his machine on landing. P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7002 P/O Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7009 P/O Dennis William Mason P6990 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7011 Sgt John James Walker P6999 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7001 Sgt Thomas Hunter 9th F/O Clifford Percival Rudland DFC appointed F/L & awarded the DFC, in recognition of his many & varied exploits against the enemy. A member of No.263 Sqn since June 1940, he is at present Flight Commander of ‘A’ Flight. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7003 F/O David Stein P6996 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6999 Sgt Cecil Percy King RAF Warmwell 10th Mandolin Operation Gestapo HQ near Quineville. They crossed the Channel at 20 feet, made landfall 10 miles west of Pointe de Barfleur then flew down the coast 5 miles offshore to the Iles St Marcouf. Here turned in over land. There was a considerable amount of fog on higher ground & visibility was about 1,000 yards. They searched for 20 minutes between Lestre & Montebourg at very low, but although several houses were seen which might have been their target, there was nothing to identify them positively. They turned for St Vaast de la Hogue looking for E-Boats but due east of Lestre a Bofors gun position & a battery of 4 machine guns was seen on the coast. P/O Mason climbed in a left-hand turn to 1,200 feet, which was just in cloud; did a stall turn & attacked the machine gun post in a dive of an angle of about 60°. F/O Stein was following him in the dive waiting for him to pull

out, but P/O Dennis William Mason dived straight into the ground. The tail section came off & the aircraft turned on its back ending in a foot of water & sand. It did not catch fire. F/O Stein pulled away & the Bofors gun started to fire at him. He delivered 3 attacks on it diving from 1,000 feet from sea to land. After the 3rd attack there was no return fire. He then attacked the machine gun battery, exhausting his ammunition. He made 4 circuits of the crashed aircraft then turned for home. P7001 P/O Dennis William Mason P7003 F/O David Stein 12th Convoy Patrol. P7039 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P6983 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley 13th During the month the personnel of the Squadron has been unusually fluid. This has been mainly since No.263 Squadron is being used as a ‘feeder’ to the newly established 137 Sqn. P/O George William Martin, P/O Philip Harvey, P/O John Michael Bryan, P/O John Clifford Lawton, P/O Ormonde John Horace Hoskins arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. F/O Colin Anthony Gordon Clark arrived for flying duties from FIU. Scramble P7003 F/O David Stein P7009 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6996 Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt 15th Sgt Ralph Otto Gustaf Häggberg Sgt John Frederick Luing, Sgt Hugh Leo O’Neill, Sgt Maurice John Peskett, Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior, Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley, Sgt Basil Lionel Robertson, Sgt John Joseph Robinson, Sgt John Anthony William Sandy & Sgt Douglas Francis Small arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Sgt Douglas St. John Jowitt posted to No.137 Sqn. 18th Convoy Patrol. P7044 F/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7041 Sgt Jack Maddocks 19th Mandolin Morlaix aerodrome. Took off from Predannack, but owing to the wind having been incorrectly given, landfall was made a considerable way to the west. The target was not located; instead inconclusive attacks were made on a pill box. No.313 Sqn (Spitfires) provided escort but showed no marked inclination to stick close to the Whirlwinds. P7003 F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes P7007 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P6986 Sgt Thomas Hunter 20th F/L Joseph Grantley Hughes & F/O Colin Anthony Gordon Clark posted to No.137 Sqn. RAF Predannack 28th Mandolin Ju.88s dispersed on Morlaix aerodrome. Escorted by 11 Spitfires of No.313 Sqn. Landfall made at Plouescat at 1,500 feet. From there they flew to Taule, from which the town of Morlaix was visible. Climbing to 500 feet they saw the aerodrome. S/L Pugh studied the dispersal are but no Ju.88s were seen. In fact, just a Me.109 was visible near a blister hanger, on the south side. He fired a 2-second burst at it & saw hits on the wings & fuselage. He then crossed the aerodrome at 20 feet, & ½ way across, was caught in a tremendous & sudden barrage of 20mm fire. His machine was hit in the rear of the fuselage by a 20mm shell. The Actuating gear & rudder bar were rendered useless. Nevertheless, he went on to attack a petrol bowser, observing hits before he flew out north with violent evasive action.

Although he was at 0 feet he was still followed by flak, which must have been fired from raised platforms. Sgt Dimblebee also attacked the Me.109, observing hits; then he attacked a gun post on the northern side of the aerodrome. W/C Donaldson attacked the same Me.109, his Whirlwind was then hit in 3 places by flak. The coupe was shattered & his helmet wrenched off; he was wounded in both arms. However, he managed to retain control & he landed at Predannack where he was detained with concussion. Sgt King also attacked the Me.109. Like Sgt Dimblebee he experienced much less flak than the leaders had, however, a machine gun bullet hole was found in his aircraft after he landed. It seems possible that the preparations which had been made some days before this Operation, may have led to some breech of security, resulting in the barren target described. P7044 W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DFC AFC P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh P7011 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee XXXXX Sgt Cecil Percy King 29th Mandolin 77 Ju.88s on Lannion aerodrome. This Operation was 1st heard of at Charmy Down sometime after 1600. It was not possible to leave Predannack until 1833, & after crossing the Channel at the usual zero feet, F/O Coghlan led the Whirlwinds into attack. The evening was unusually dark & gloomy, & even if the aerodrome had contained dozens of Ju.88s, it would have been hard to find them. Despite the rapidity

with which the Operation had been ordered & executed, it seems that the aerodrome was again barren. F/O Coghlan dived in from 500 feet at the northern end of the aerodrome, noticed a Ju.88 near a hanger on the southern side & claims to have destroyed it with a 9-second burst. He then flew back through the intense barrage which was coming from all around him & attacked the hangers on the northern boundary. He looked for the other Whirlwinds but could see nothing in the murk. His gyro was u/s, thoroughly disturbed by the jinking & the compass too must have been inaccurate, as he made at the Scilly Isles. It was now full night, illuminated by a moon in the 1st quarter. He climbed to 4,000 feet & called up ‘Elver’ (the homing station for the Portreath sector). There was no reply. He flew east, & shortly afterwards picked up ‘Elver’ & received vectors from there. His port engine then failed & his petrol gauges were showing zero, so he told ‘Elver’ that he proposed to bale out. The engine picked up again after some Exactor adjustments but as he was coming into land at 400 feet, both engines failed within 3-seconds of each other. He made a forced landing by moonlight in the fields; his aircraft touched down on one side of a hedge & came to rest on the other, only 200 yards from the end of the runway. It was a complete wreck, but he escaped with a few bruises. P/O Warnes followed F/O Coghlan into the attack. Darkness & tracer made it difficult to see anything, however he was able to get in 2 bursts of 2-seconds on dispersal pens. He made a right-hand climbing turn & dived to attack a gun post. Having exhausted

his ammunition, he returned at 0 feet, experiencing flak all the way to the coast. He could see nothing of Sgt Hunter, so returned on course, making landfall at Predannack. There were no lights, other than the flashing beacon & he was forced to cruise around for 12 minutes. His petrol was extremely low & he had just told ‘Elver’ that he was baling out, when a Chance Light came on. He landed with 3 gallons of petrol left. Sgt Thomas Hunter called up ‘Elver’ to say that he was 5-miles from the coast & that he was going to bale out as his engines were failing. 1 minute later he said he would not bail out until he was over the coast. A message from Exeter Observer Corps said that a pilot had been seen baling out 5-miles south-west of Eddystone Lighthouse. An Air Sea Rescue Search was maintained for 48 hours, & Home Guards searched Dartmoor, but no trace of Sgt Hunter found. It is worth noting that of the 4 pilots taking part in this Operation; 3 informed ‘Elver’ that they proposed to bale out, & 1 was forced to do so, with fatal results. It is reported on hearsay, that many Ju.88s left Lannion ½ hour before No.263 Sqn visited it. Had they been a ½-hour later, the very considerable risks of this dusk Operation would have been more fully justified. Escort was provided by No.313 Sqn Spitfires who refused to cross the coast with the Whirlwinds alleging an Operational Order to that effect. P6998 P/O Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6987 Sgt Jack Maddocks P7009 Sgt Thomas Hunter

OCTOBER 1941 RAF Charmy Down 1st The formation of a new Whirlwind Squadron at Charmy Down - No.137 has meant that many of the more experienced pilots of No.263 were posted away & that many new pilots came into the Squadron from OTUs. In consequence, October has been quiet from an Operational point of view. It should be noted that the code word ‘Mandolin’ to indicate a small-scale unescorted fighter attack upon enemy territory or shipping has been superseded by ‘Rhubarb’. F/L Guy Marsland arrived for flying duties from RAF Sutton Bridge. 2nd Scramble Patrolled Base at 10,000 feet. In conjunction with a hostile Raid in the vicinity, but it faded before anything was seen. P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt John Joseph Robinson P7002 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7007 Sgt Cecil Percy King 8th S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh & F/L Humphrey St. John Coghlan awarded the DFC for their many & varied exploits against the enemy, but especially for their aggressive & daring leadership in low flying attacks against highly defended targets in Occupied France & Netherlands. P/O John Michael Bryan, P/O George William Martin, P/O John Clifford Lawton, Sgt Jack Maddocks, Sgt John Frederick Luing, Sgt John Anthony William Sandy, Sgt Maurice John Peskett, Sgt Douglas Francis Small, Sgt Ralph Otto Gustaf Häggberg, Sgt Basil Lionel Robertson, & Sgt Hugh Leo O’Neill posted to No.137 Sqn. 9th P/O Ormonde John Horace Hoskins was killed in a flying accident. During a formation practice his aircraft collided with that of F/L Coghlan. The latter baled out successfully, but P/O Hoskins attempted to regain control of his machine. After circling down from 7,000 feet he spun in & was killed. He had been with the Squadron only a few weeks but was already well liked for his good humour & cheerful personality. Canadians Sgt John Robert Brennan, Sgt Donald Ross Gill, Sgt John Davidson Mitchner, Sgt Richard Irl Reed (USA), Sgt Edger Brearley, Sgt William Albert Lovell (USA), Sgt James Patrick Coyne, Sgt John Edward McClure, Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU.

15th Scramble Base at 15,000 feet. P6986 Sgt John James Walker P6995 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior Newport at 15,000 feet. P7001 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7039 Sgt Antony Victor Albertini 25th Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes appointed P/O. Convoy Patrol Over the Bristol Channel. P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6970 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7003 Sgt John Joseph Robinson 26th Sgt John Robert Brennan & Sgt John Edward McClure posted to No.137 Sqn. S/L John William Donaldson DSO AFC, F/O Herman Francis Grant Ede, F/O Harold Edward Vickery, F/O Alvin Thomas Williams DFC, P/O Phillip Hannah Purdy DFC, P/O Jack Falkson, P/O Louis Reginald Jacobson DFC, P/O Sidney Robert McNamara DFC & P/O Michael Amor Bentley are all now presumed to have been killed on the date of the sinking of HMS Glorious. RAF Predannack 29th Rhubarb 33 Morlaix aerodrome. They crossed the Channel at 100 feet & the French Coast at Ile Verte. Target approached from the south at 300 feet, F/S Brackley looked carefully at the airfield, but it seemed devoid of aircraft. However, there were 6-8 Ju.88s parked in the western dispersal between the aerodrome & the river. They were carefully camouflaged in dull black. He dived to attack a Ju.88, observing hits on the tail & rear fuselage, & pieces were seen falling off. He fired a short burst at a small hanger whose doors were open but did not observe results. He then flew north along the right bank of the river & set course for home, crossing the Channel at 50 feet after weaving & taking cover in rainclouds. Sgt King followed 200 yards behind F/S Brackley. He could not confirm the number of aircraft on the ground. He fired a burst at a hanger, observing hits, & directed a 2nd burst at a Ju.88 on the ground, but could not see results. During this 2nd attack, he caught his port wing coolant tank on a high white mast in the centre of this dispersal. He fired a short

burst at a built-up gun post near the woods north of the dispersal. On leaving the airfield, his port engine gave signs of a glycol leak. He returned across the Channel on 1 engine. P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7007 Sgt Cecil Percy King RAF Predannack 30th Sgt Irving Farmer Kennedy arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. Rhubarb 35 Morlaix aerodrome. They crossed the Channel at 100 feet & the French Coast at Pointe de Roscoff. Then flew south down the River Dessen but failed to locate the target & made 2 circuits over the town of Morlaix. The town seemed to be defended by heavy flak, bursts of which were seen 8,000 feet above them. Thus, the element of surprise, which would in any case be harder to achieve after the previous days’ activity, was totally lost. F/O Stein dived to attack from 50 feet. A concentration of flak from all around the aerodrome met both aircraft. He was seen to fire by Sgt Ridley but results not observed. Sgt Ridley saw no aircraft on the aerodrome, but describes the area as ‘so well camouflaged, that it would have been easy to miss them!’ He did see 1 unidentified aircraft in a Bessoneau type hanger north-west of the aerodrome. He fired 2 bursts & saw hits on the hanger which was left smoking. While firing at the hanger he heard & felt a ‘woof’ & something struck his starboard main plane. He pulled up & saw F/O Stein with his engine smoking, but not much flame coming from it. He was going north-east & climbing as if preparing to bale out. This is the last information we have of P/O ‘Davey’ Stein, hearsay reports from German wireless news in English are conflicting & it would be interesting to obtain a correct transcript from the Monitor services. There is a good hope that he is now a POW. His loss to the Squadron is inestimably great, whether as pilot, humorist or friend. Sgt Ridley left the French Coast at 50 feet & 7 minutes later noticed oil & glycol streaming from his starboard engine. He was able to climb to 400 feet into cloud before the glycol temperature reached 150° & the oil pressure reached zero. He transmitted a Mayday on all buttons but received no reply for about 10 minutes. He eventually contacted ‘River’ & made landfall at Predannack. He landed without circling, & overshot. His brakes failed to stop him on the runway & he overran the perimeter track & stopped in the barbed wire fence beyond it. This however did very little further damage to the aircraft. P7015 F/O David Stein P6994 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley

NOVEMBER 1941 RAF Charmy Down Sgt Antony Victor Albertini to F/S. 1st Scramble P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley 2nd F/L Humphrey St. John Coghlan posted as S/L, OC No.137 Sqn. He leaves many friends in No.263 Sqn & takes with him the good wishes of all. P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree (USA) RCAF & P/O Vivian Lester Currie arrived for flying duties. Scramble P7061 F/S Antony Victor Albertini P7041 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7060 Sgt John James Walker P6987 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior Tactical Exercise 14 Whirlwinds co-operated in a large-scale Home Guard Tactical Exercise. In the 1st phase, Whitchurch Aerodrome & 3 Avon Bridges south of Bristol were beaten up in low-level attacks. In the 2nd phase the southern approaches of Bristol were attacked by 3 sections of aircraft. Congratulations on the realistic display of low flying attacks received from the Military authorities. P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7110 F/L Humphrey St. John Coghlan P7060 Sgt John James Walker P7061 F/S Antony Victor Albertini P7056 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7004 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7061 F/S Antony Victor Albertini P7060 Sgt John James Walker RAF Warmwell 6th It is hoped today is the culmination of a run of bad luck. F/L Fleet the Adjutant injured his leg in falling from a bus. Sgt Albertini was shot in the eye by a stray pellet discharged during clay-pigeon shooting, & it is feared that he will lose the sight of his right eye, & in any case the services of an able & aggressive pilot are lost to the Squadron for several months. Rhubarb 56 Road & railway west of Maupertus. Landfall 2 miles east of Cap Levy, flew south-east at 0 feet & picked up the main road at the eastern outskirts of St. Pierre-Eglise. Then they flew eastward along this road & pulled up to 200 feet in order to get a long view of it. This disclosed that there was nothing on the road except for 2 farm carts & 2 groups of soldiers, who scattered. After flying to within ½mile of Barfleur, they turned south-east & made the road & railway running south from Barfleur. There was no traffic on either. They made a circuit & flew north towards Barfleur. Near the town, they turned east to the coast, near which 1 machine gun opened fire; neither aircraft appeared to be hit. They then flew on a north-easterly course; as he did so, Sgt Blackshaw saw 2 Me.109s, orbiting about a mile inland, but these did not seem to have observed the Whirlwinds. He called up Sgt Robinson, “Rats to port”, & at the same time confirmed that he was in no trouble & that he had 40 gallons of petrol left for each engine. Sgt Robinson began weaving slightly behind & above Sgt Blackshaw After he called “Rats”, Sgt Robinson began weaving vigorously. He appeared on both sides of Sgt Blackshaw but on crossing from port to starboard for the 2nd time he failed to reappear. Sgt Blackshaw turned slightly to starboard & as he did

not see him, he pulled round into a turn, at the same time calling him. Absolutely no trace could be seen although he completed 2 turns in the area in which he had last been seen - about 10 miles north-east of Barfleur. It is to be stressed that the Me.109s had not followed them & it seems certain that enemy action was not responsible for the disappearance of Sgt Robinson. Sgt Blackshaw flew to Base making landfall in Bournmouth Bay & landed at Warmwell. As no military targets had been seen, neither of the Whirlwinds had fired their guns. No shipping was seen. Air Sea Rescue was maintained in the English south coast area, & in the person of P/O Tooth late of this Squadron, now with Air Sea Rescue Warmwell, as far as Cherbourg, but no trace has been found of Sgt Robinson. It seems likely that, while weaving he dipped his port wing into the sea & went in at very high speed. It was his 1st war flight. He had been with the Squadron since 15th September 1941 & was a quiet unassuming & efficient person, & his loss is recorded with very great regret. P7089 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P6970 Sgt John Joseph Robinson 7th The 2 Whirlwind Squadrons are now separated, No.137 was transferred to Coltishall on 7th November 1941. No.417 Sqn (Spitfires) is now forming at Charmy Down. F/S Antony Victor Albertini posted to No.137 Sqn. RAF Warmwell Rhubarb Distillery targets in the Cherbourg Peninsula. P/O Warnes led Sgt Blackshaw & Sgt King at zero feet, passing 3 miles west of Cap de la Hague. Target 207 Bréhal P/O Warnes easily identified Bréhal by its 5 roads, but the target could not be seen. Then he flew along the road to Coutances & at Hyenville saw a tall wooden building with warehouses, by a rail yard. Subsequently, it has been decided that this was the target correctly identified by Sgt King. He fired at a camouflaged military post near St. Malo de la Lande but could not see results, then Recced the western coast of the Cherbourg Peninsula, but saw only wireless stations. After setting course for Warmwell at zero feet, a conical cloud of black smoke was seen on the water 3 miles west of Cap de la Hague. He went to look at it, expecting to see a ship, but there was nothing except the smoke. He formed the opinion that an aircraft had just gone in there; immediately after this, he saw 2 Me.109Es about 1,000 feet above. He was flying at +6 boost 2,750 revs & held a straight course until 1 dived to attack. He waited until it was in range then turned violently to port at sea level. Its fire went into the sea on his right. The 2nd enemy aircraft attacked, then both repeated their attacks. He shook them off & landed with 3 machine gun bullet holes in his tail. There were 15 & 23 gallons left for port & starboard engines respectively. Target 206, Cerences Sgt Blackshaw flew at 100 feet along the main road between Gronville & Bréhal, turning east at Bréhal along the road & railway towards Cerences. The target was not identified so he flew south as far as Avranches looking for targets but saw none; he then swept back over the same area, again unsuccessfully. He turned west out to sea near Mont Martin. No flak, no fighters & no guns fired. There were 22 gallons of petrol left for each engine. This is remarkable as this aircraft had been airborne for 90 minutes. Target 305 Heugueville Sgt King located the target very close to the little village of Hyenville. He then turned to attack 2 Goods Trains at Orval, but saw 2 Me.109Es on his starboard beam at the same height; he climbed for cloud cover, but after 10 minutes flying it diminished & about 3 miles west of Cap de la Hague he saw 2 Me.109Es on his starboard beam & about 500 feet above him. He was at 3,000 feet; both enemy aircraft turned in for a starboard beam attack, he turned to starboard beneath them, pulled up & fired a burst at 200 yards at 1 as it turned. He expended 14 rounds from each cannon. There was an explosion at the back of the cockpit & it went into a

very steep dive toward the sea, with flames & thick black smoke pouring from it; further results not seen but claimed destroyed. Confirmation is indicated by the cloud of smoke already described as seen by P/O Warnes in the same area about 4 minutes later. The other enemy aircraft turned away towards Cap de la Hague, breaking off the combat. Sgt King landed at Warmwell with 16 & 22 gallons left for port & starboard engines. Target 216 Courseulles After flying for 10 miles, F/S Brackley noticed that his starboard engine oil temperature was at 110° & returned to Warmwell. Sgt Walker flew on at zero feet. He made landfall near Ouistreham & turned west along the railway which seemed further inland than it is marked on his map. Courseulles was seen to have a very small station with a Passenger Train in it. He circled looking for the Distillery but could not find it, then followed the Ryes-Bayeux railway to the Coast. He landed at Warmwell with 11 & 22 gallons of petrol for port & starboard engines respectively. P7110 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7084 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7112 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7003 F/S Robert Arthur Brackley P7006 Sgt John James Walker 8th No.10 Group Rodeo 5 Distillery Targets reconnoitred on the previous day. However, a weather test flight by W/C Boyd of the Middle Wallop Wing showed unsuitable weather & a Rodeo was put on instead. P/O Warnes led the 4 Squadron Sweep over the Channel Islands area. Rendezvous with Nos.501, 234 & 118 Spitfire Sqns at 5,000 feet over Studland & set course climbing to 15,000 feet. The Whirlwinds flew in 2 boxes of 4, escorted by a Flight of No.234 Sqn on either side. Nos.501 & 118 Sqns provided high & low cover respectively. They passed between Alderney & Cap de la Hague & flew toward Jersey, turning west to the north of the Island & north-east to the east of Guernsey, so that they passed directly over Alderney. Flak, accurate for range & height was met with over Alderney & 2 Whirlwinds were damaged. They recrossed the English Coast at Portland & 7 Whirlwinds landed at Warmwell. Sgt Blackshaw had turned back with petrol feed trouble. 2 enemy aircraft were sighted in the distance over Cherbourg on the return flight & No.501 Sqn was involved in several combats in which 1 Me.109E was damaged but P/O Greenaway missing, but in circumstances which should lead to his life being saved. P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw P7112 Sgt Cecil Percy King P7060 Sgt John James Walker P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P6987 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior P7004 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7056 Sgt Joseph William Ernest Holmes 8th Fighter Rodeo in the Channel Islands area. 11th Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 15th Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw appointed P/O. Rhubarb 61 Target 206 Cerences They made landfall at 0 feet at Cap de la Hague. Cloud cover lifted to 1,000 feet, so they climbed to cloud base & hugged the coast increasing height to 1,500 feet. Accurate flak at Lessay, but no hits. At Bréhal they turned east to Cerences, where the target was identified as a tall red brick building with 2 rows of windows & a chimney on the northern edge of the town. There was a large Goods Train waiting outside it. S/L Pugh dived from 1,000 feet & fired a 2-second burst at the top row of windows. Sgt Blackshaw saw an orange- flash on the opposite side of the building, then made a similar attack observing hits. S/L Pugh then fired at the Loco of the Goods Train, observing hits on the

fire box & boiler, which seemed to explode with a red flash followed by smoke & steam. They then turned for home. The weather closed near Warmwell, so they turned west but no contact could be made by either aircraft with any ground station on Button B or C until Crocodile was contacted whilst circling Exeter. They landed with approximately 10 gallons of petrol for each engine. P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC P7003 Sgt Herbert John Blackshaw Target 207 Bréhal They left formation 3 miles east of Coutances & followed the coast north-west to Bréhal. They turned south-east but then lost contact with each other. After calling up P/O Harvey & receiving no answer, P/O Warnes flew to Hyenville, circled the railway station 3 times, hoping to induce the inhabitants to take cover, then made 2 attacks on a stationary Goods Train of 20 covered wagons. Hits observed on the wagons & a thick cloud of steam from the Loco. A 3rd attack was made on a tall square building with many windows, standing over the little river to the east of & adjoining the railway line. He considered this more like a watermill than a Distillery. He orbited again & observed the railway engine still belching steam & the tall building was smoking, then set course for Guernsey at 1,500 feet believing that the Cap de la Hague course had been overdone. 5 miles west of Guernsey he broke into clear sky & saw 9 E-Boats travelling at speed in 3 lines of 3 towards Alderney. Unfortunately, he had no ammunition & after flying a semi-circle around them set course for England & landed at Exeter with only 5 gallons of petrol for each engine. He had independently made the same observations about Button B & C inefficiency, as reported by S/L Pugh. P/O Harvey continued searching over Bréhal then flew to Cerences but failing to contact P/O Warnes followed the railway to 5 miles south of Coutances, turned north-west & re-crossed the coast west of St. Malo de la Lande. He followed the coast for 3 miles & landed at Warmwell. A Ju.88 was sighted on the outward journey south of Cap de la Hague but was not attacked through a misapprehension about the priority of targets. 15-20 soldiers were seen playing on the sand west of St. Malo de la Lande.

P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6991 P/O Philip Harvey Target 205 Hyenville Made landfall off Cap de la Hague & flew along the coast to Heugueville. They followed the river towards the target, but could not locate it, then followed the railway to Cerences, turned west to Salinès & flew north & made the same circuit again, but still could not see the target. Flak experienced on both circuits near Tourneville. P7112 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Target 216 Courseulles Set course from St. Catherines Point. When 15 miles from the French Coast at 0 feet, they saw a Me.109E diving into attack. P/O Holmes turned to starboard & above Sgt Prior to attack the enemy aircraft, who followed into line astern. The enemy aircraft broke off the attack, climbed like a rocket with thick black exhaust & disappeared into cloud. They orbited, then set course again. Landfall was made at the large island north-west of Courseulles. They crossed the coast on which 80-100 people who were gathering something from the beach, stood up & waved. They then found the small railway & followed it to Courseulles, searching diligently. Over Courseulles machine gun fire from a tripod was met. The target was orbited again & the road searched further west, without success. P/O Holmes attacked flak positions & saw a white explosion following hits. The section re-united north of the island, & landfall was made at Bournmouth. They landed at Ibsley. P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior 17th Rhubarb 64 Distillery Targets. Unsuitable weather caused it to be abandoned before the target was reached. Despite the storm of wind & rain & the poor visibility at Warmwell, 3 sections took off at varying intervals only to find a most unsuitable lack of cloud cover over the Cherbourg Peninsula, or to be recalled by R/T. In the storm of wind & rain, Sgt Dimblebee after landing at Warmwell unfortunately came into

collision with a Spitfire of No.118 Sqn & seriously damaged both the Spitfire & his own Whirlwind. In order that fuller information may be available before Offensive Operations, & to facilitate & enhance the display of other Intelligence information, a Briefing Room has been established next to Station HQ at Charmy Down. P7061 P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7041 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC P7089 Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6990 Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee 18th Scramble P7003 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 23rd Beat-up of Home Guard The village of Charlton west of Filton aerodrome was repeatedly attacked from a low level by 3 sections. It is worth noting that on approaching for the 1st attack, S/L Pugh found that, despite the arrangements, balloons were still flying very near to the target. He just avoided hitting a cable & returned immediately without attacking. The exercise was successfully carried out an hour later. P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC P7089 Sgt John James Walker P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7039 Sgt John James Walker P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC P7114 Sgt John James Walker 26th F/L Charles Stanley Fleet posted to No.600 Sqn after 8 months service as Adjutant.

DECEMBER 1941 RAF Charmy Down 1st F/S Robert Arthur Brackley posted to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. Sgt James Patrick Coyne to F/S. 3rd Sgt Frank Oswald Dimblebee posted to the Target Towing Flight, Warmwell. 5th F/L Eugene Charles Owens arrived as Adjutant from RAF Predannack. RAF Filton & RAF Colerne 6th Servicing Echelon to Colerne. A move that ended the Squadron connection to Filton which has existed since the Squadron formed on 2nd October 1939. 8th

Rhubarb against transport in the Cherbourg Peninsula planned, but permission could not be obtained from Group. It is apparent that Fighter

Command is, for the moment, conserving its resources on the Western European Front. 15th Scramble Bogey at 21,000 feet over South Coast. P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7056 Sgt Irving Farmer Kennedy 14th It is with deep regret that we record the death of Sgt Derrick Ellis Prior. Engaged on a Searchlight Co-Operation Flight, at 8-10,000 feet, he was seen to crash near Coleford, Gloucestershire after a vertical dive. It is not known whether he lost control in cloud or was the victim of icing. He had been with the Squadron since 12th September 1941 & was popular for his sense of humour & excellent spirit. 16th F/L Guy Marsland posted to No.137 Sqn. P/O Stuart James Lovell arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 17th Sgt Walter Roylance Wright arrived for flying duties from No.57 OTU.

RAF Warmwell 19th-23rd Squadron was detached to Warmwell for Air Firing Practice. Weather not favourable but some useful work done. Scramble Base at 10,000 feet. P7108 Sgt Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 28th Sgt Robert Alex McFadgen (RCAF) arrived for flying duties from No.51 OTU. RAF Exeter 30th 12 Whirlwinds & pilots to Exeter to stand in for Squadrons covering a bombing Operation on Brest. Scramble South of Exmouth to protect Halifax bombers returning from Brest. P/O Crabtree’s 1st Op. P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree

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

Operational Casualties

3 Whirlwinds shot down in air combat 2 Whirlwinds shot down by flak

2 Whirlwinds missing after Operations

5 Whirlwinds damaged in air combat

15 Whirlwinds damaged by flak 3 Pilots killed in action 2 Pilots killed (missing after Operations)

1 Pilots missing 1 Pilots POW

1 Pilots wounded by flak 1 Pilots injured in crash due to air combat

Air

12 Air Combats 6 Enemy aircraft destroyed in air combat

6 Enemy aircraft damaged in air combat

23 Enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged on the ground. A conservative figure, as a ‘probably damaged ‘category would include about 12 more.

35 Total number of enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged

85

Total number of enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged on the ground or in the air by No.263 Squadron since its formation in October 1939 (including the 50 victories of the 1st & 2nd Norway Expeditions)

61 Total number of enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged in air combat since 1 October 1939

Shipping 4 Sunk - E-Boat, Flak Barge, 1 Tug, Armed Motorboat

13 Severely damaged includes 2 Tankers 17 Total Shipping - sunk or damaged

Other Targets

32

Factories, Gun posts, Lorries, Troops Goods Wagons, Engines, Hangers, Dispersal Pens, Wireless Stations, Military Posts etc. Destroyed or Damaged

JANUARY 1942 RAF Charmy Down F/L Sampson awarded the British Empire Medal. He had been posted from No.263 on 9th June, but the award was conferred for his work with the Squadron in Norway & subsequently. F/S R.C. Brickell of Signals & Sgt N.J. Donald James Stanley Turner of the No.263 H.Q. both with the Squadron during the Norway expeditions were honoured by being Mentioned in Dispatches. 5th Sgt Donald Ross Gill RCAF appointed P/O. It has been ordered that all Fighter Squadrons should become Operational at night. No.263 had done no flying with the Whirlwind other than on Operations on 14th June & 29th September 1941, which respectively started before dawn & ended after dusk. It is planned that the 6 most experienced pilots should start night flying training from Colerne during the moon period at the end of January, but owing to unsuitable weather, only 1 dusk flight was made by S/L Pugh DFC on 25th January. A perusal of the earlier pages of this book read that no records of the Squadrons activity earlier than April 1940 were to be found & that several documents of the North expeditions were missing although reference was made to them on existing forms 540 & 541. Accordingly, a visit was made to Air Ministry Records on 5 January by the I.O. & clerk, & a summery of the history of the Squadron from its formation at Filton on 2nd October 1939 to the end of March 1940 was made & placed in this book. The missing documents were found & Photostats were made of them & all the documents of the Norway

Expeditions were re-ordered, indexed & placed in this book in their correct sequence. 7th Sgt John Eutychus Meredith to RAF Cranage for a Navigation Course. Scramble Base at 15,000 feet. 2 Photo-Reconnaissance Bf.109Fs were patrolling between Plymouth & Ibsley. 1 crashed due to engine failure, the pilot baled out successfully & was captured near Bovey Tracey. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 Sgt William Albert Lovell 8th The 12 pilots with Whirlwinds which had been fog-bound at Exeter returned to Charmy Down. F/O Warnes flew an endurance test for 2:35 hours & had 32 gallons of petrol left (17 & 15 for each engine). 9th W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DFC (W/C Flying) gave a lecture on Offensive Operations. 11th Scramble Off Isle of Wight. P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 13th P/O Stewart Gordon Brannigan RNZAF arrived for flying duties from No.61 OTU.

16th Sgt Cecil Percy King appointed F/S. RAF Colerne 20th Moved to RAF Colerne. The Maintenance Echelon was already there. Undoubtedly there will be a gain in efficiency in rejoining it. All the Officers of the Squadron find themselves comfortably billeted in Ashwick Park. Sgt Peter Alexander Ewing RAAF arrived for flying duties from No.61 OTU. 26th F/O Walter Pollock Weir posted to RAF Goxhill as F/L Medical Officer. F/O Clifford William Douglas Cole arrived as Medical Officer. 27th Sgt Brearley attached to AFDU, Duxford. 28th Sgt Peter Alastair Jardine & Sgt Colin Douglas Bell RAAF arrived for flying duties from No.61 OTU. 30th Tactical Exercise Dummy attacks on troop concentrations & supply columns in the Marlborough-Yatesbury area. P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7108 P/O Philip Harvey P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt William Albert Lovell P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC

FEBRUARY 1942 RAF Colerne 1st P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. Sgt William Albert Lovell, Sgt Edger Brearley & Sgt Irving Farmer Kennedy to F/S. Sgt John James Walker to F/S. 5th F/S Edger Brearley RCAF appointed P/O. 10th Moved by air, train & M/T to Fairwood Common; 16 Whirlwinds, the Hurricane, Magister & Oxford. This is believed to have been the largest number of Whirlwinds airborne at any one time. Fairwood Common is under the command of G/C. Atcherley OBE AFC, who commanded the Wing in which No.263 Sqn operated at Bardufoss in the 2nd Norwegian Expedition. 11th RAF Fairwood Common Intensive instruction in the principles of Convoy Patrol & in the peculiarities of the Fairwood runways & control system. 12th S/L Thomas Patrick Pugh DFC posted as S/L Tactics HQ No.82 Group. He came to the Squadron as a F/O in June 1940; appointed ‘B’ Flight Commander the following November & in August 1941, became S/L. He led the Squadron in many Operational sorties & was a noted protagonist of the Whirlwind low-level attacks. In September 1941, he received the DFC for his exploits with the Squadron. He takes the best wishes of the Officers & men with him to his new appointment. S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC arrived for flying duties from No.137 Sqn to Command. Originally a member of the Oxford University Air Sqn he transferred to the RAFVR. He destroyed 3 enemy aircraft by night with No.600 Sqn & received the DFC in July 1941. Sgt Richard Irl Reed RCAF to F/S. Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7061 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7004 P/O Philip Harvey P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7018 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7007 P/O Philip Harvey The port engine of P7017 cut at 2,000 feet. F/S Lovell returned safely; the 3-way oil union had broken off. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7017 F/S William Albert Lovell P7052 P/O Philip Harvey P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7100 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 13th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7051 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7008 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7061 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O Vivian Lester Currie F/S Coyne landing in the ½-dark, swung off the runway. His Whirlwind turned on its back, but he

walked out with minor head injuries. He flew again next day. P7011 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7018 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF Dusk Patrol Linney Head-The Smalls. P6990 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7016 F/S William Albert Lovell P7100 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7061 F/S John James Walker P6991 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7116 F/S William Albert Lovell P7060 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7114 F/S Irving Farmer Kennedy 14th Scramble P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P6987 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF 15th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P6991 F/S John James Walker P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P6991 F/S John James Walker P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7116 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Scramble P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7043 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 16th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7004 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7039 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7011 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7004 F/S Cecil Percy King P7056 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7039 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7011 F/S William Albert Lovell Scramble Angle at 15,000 feet. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Enemy Patrol P7100 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 18th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7052 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7004 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7060 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 19th Scramble Enemy aircraft out of range off Irish Coast. P7120 P/O Philip Harvey P6987 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7035 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley

P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams The Smalls. Plots faded & section was ordered to Convoy ‘Peroration’. P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Convoy Patrol Sgt Abrams failed to contact his No.1 in the poor visibility. P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7007 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Very bad visibility, but the Convoy was found & Patrolled. P/O Holmes was flying at 100 feet near the Convoy, 25 miles south of St. Govan’s Head. Without any warning from his instruments, his starboard engine exploded, caught fire & disintegrated. He lost height to within inches of the sea but then managed to climb to 400 feet, pulling the fire extinguisher knob, which had a good effect upon the flaming engine. He was unable to gain more height to bale out, & indeed fell 50 feet. He surmounted the cliffs by using full flaps, then he gained 400 feet by using full flap again & after pulling the emergency knob for the landing gear he made a successful landing at Carew Cherton. 2 buckets full of, still smouldering, engine parts, fell out when the cowlings were taken off. Most of the rest of the engine had disappeared. The Peregrine engine had scored again by being twins. P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7060 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 19th-21st Whirlwinds developed serious engine trouble & the Squadron was grounded, only Operational Scrambles. Defect traced to 3-way union which supplies oil to the camshaft & supercharger bearings, & the manufacturers are constructing a series of stronger unions. 20th F/S John James Walker to P/O. Scramble Off the Salters. P7014 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7052 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O John James Walker P7056 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7056 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7110 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7000 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 21st Scramble P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 22nd Escort P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell Scramble P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6987 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7003 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7110 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw

P7051 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7004 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 22nd-28th Squadron grounded due to 3-way union problems. 24th Scramble P7014 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6991 F/S Cecil Percy King 25th Irish Sea Patrol P7035 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6990 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7052 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7014 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7013 F/S James Patrick Coyne RCAF 26th F/S James Patrick Coyne to P/O. Scramble Anglesey-Ireland. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7052 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF

27th Irish Sea Sweep P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P6991 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7035 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7035 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7120 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 28th Scramble 3 sections vectored hard after plots 20-60 miles south-west of Base. Vectored on to each other. P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Saltees. P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 29th Scramble Intercepted & identified as a Liberator.

P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Intercepted & identified as a Liberator. P7014 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7016 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller 30th Scramble Intercepted & identified as a Liberator. P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF F/S Muirhead saw a low-flying aircraft 10 miles north of St. Davids Head, but lost it in fading light. P7035 P/O Philip Harvey P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7089 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Note The remaining Operational hours, which were again the highest in No.10 Group, were devoted to Convoy Patrols. As these were wholly without incident, they have not been recorded. The large number of Scrambles may be accounted for by misplotted friendly aircraft & by the renewed interest shown by the Hun in Shipping in the Western Approaches. German pilots are very aware of our Interception Tactics & 1 dubious visual has been the only contact made by this Squadron. Methods of Interception without the use, or with the minimum use of R/T, have been & will be increasingly tried out

MARCH 1942 RAF Fairwood Common 1st His Majesty the King graciously approved the granting of a Crest & Motto to No.263 Squadron. The Crest, devised by the Chester Herald, consists of the Lion of Scotland rampant, holding in the forepaws the Blue Cross of Norway, commemorating thereby the Squadron’s exploits in the 1st & 2nd North-Western (Norway) Expeditions of 1940 & the period of re-fitting with Whirlwinds which was spent in Scotland. The Motto is ‘Ex Ungue, Leonem’ - The Lion is Known by His Claws. AVM Orlebar visited to present the Crest & Motto. He inspected the Squadron & spoke to F/S Goss BEM who is one of the several veterans of the Norwegian Expedition still serving with the Squadron. He then made a speech in which he commemorated the major events in the Squadrons history. He remarked that the Squadron was chosen to be re-equipped with Whirlwinds, because it was at that time the crack Squadron of Fighter Command; but events showed that height had become a major factor & this the Whirlwind lacked. Nevertheless, Whirlwinds of No.263 Sqn had been markedly successful in the Offensive Operations of 1941. He presented the Crest & Motto to S/L Woodward DFC. G/C R.L.R. Atcherley OBE AFC & W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson AFC DFC were both present at the ceremony. The former was Air Attaché in Norway at the time of the 2nd Norway Expedition & acted as W/C of the Wing; he is now the Station Commander of Fairwood Common. W/C Donaldson’s connections with the Squadron are well known. 1st P/O Stuart James Lovell attached to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. 3rd Several new 3-way unions arrived & 6 Whirlwinds were rendered serviceable. 4th 17 Whirlwinds serviceable. 7th Scramble Section plotted within 4 miles of the Bogies off Lundy P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King Convoy Patrol P7117 P/O Philip Harvey P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7117 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7061 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7041 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7116 P/O John James Walker P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 8th Co-operation in General Invasion Manoeuvres. Beat up of approaches to Oxwich Bay, railway lines, Swansea station & Fairwood. Scramble P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Convoy Patrol P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright

P7061 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7117 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7116 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7051 P/O Philip Harvey P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7003 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7051 P/O Philip Harvey P7116 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7011 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 9th Air-to-Air Firing. F/L Warnes, P/O Currie & P/O Holmes all shot away their drogues. Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7011 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7004 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7060 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6991 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 10th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7003 F/S William Albert Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7003 F/S William Albert Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 11th P/O Stewart Gordon Brannigan attached to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. 14th Convoy Patrol P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7100 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7003 P/O Philip Harvey P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7051 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7052 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Evening Sweep P7051 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7117 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley

Scramble P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7004 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6991 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 15th Convoy Patrol P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7117 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7007 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Scramble Congratulated by Group, on being the only aircraft in the Group to take off in thick weather. Sgt Muirhead landed at Pembrey short of fuel. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7060 P/O John James Walker P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7060 P/O John James Walker 16th Scramble P7116 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7110 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes 18th Convoy Patrol P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 19th Convoy Patrol P7056 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7060 P/O John James Walker P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 20th Sweep P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7117 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw Evening Patrol P6990 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7003 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 20th P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy to P/O. A team of Photographers arrived to photograph the aircraft & personnel of the Squadron, on the ground & in the air. All possible facilities afforded them. 21st Sgt Colin Douglas Bell RAAF & Sgt Peter Alexander Ewing RAAF posted to No.450 Sqn. Convoy Patrol P7052 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7003 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7001 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree

P6991 P/O John James Walker Irish Sea Sweep P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7100 P/O Philip Harvey 22nd P/O Stuart James Lovell transferred from No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne to No.51 OTU. Irish Sea Sweep Saltees. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7051 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7112 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7100 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7116 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7060 P/O John James Walker P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6991 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7051 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 23rd Irish Sea Sweep Saltees. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Convoy Patrol Sgt Abrams’ port engine cut 5 miles from Base. He made a good single engine landing. P6991 P/O John James Walker P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 24th Patrol P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7160 P/O John James Walker P7116 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small

P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6991 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Convoy Patrol P7100 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P6990 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Irish Sea Sweep P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 25th Photos of the Squadron appeared in the newspapers, together with extensive accounts of the Offensive Operations of 1941. Cuttings of these were obtained from Durrant’s Agency & will be found in the Squadron Scrapbook, together with a brief history of the Squadron which was prepared for the AOC before his visit on 1st March. Convoy Patrol P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Scramble P7061 F/L Cecil Percy King P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes 26th No.10 Group Tactical Exercise 28 6 Whirlwinds led by S/L Woodward DFC beat up 8 lorries on Dartmoor. 2 more Squadrons had previously attacked & left 1 lorry blazing. After the Whirlwind attack, there were 3 more ablaze. G/C Edwards-Jones congratulated the Squadron on very good shooting & well-planned attacks. A general message of congratulations was also received from AOC No.10 Group. S/L Jackson, Fighter Command Maintenance Officer visited Fairwood & congratulated the Engineering Officer, P/O Hay BEM, on the high standard of maintenance & serviceability which was evident during the whole of the month, after the 3-way union problem had been cured. Convoy Patrol Over Convoys ‘Steward’ & Supper II’. Thick haze up to 5,000 feet. Balloons were flying from these Convoys at 2,000 feet in accordance with SD158, but nevertheless afforded great danger to the fighter escort, which therefore returned to Base. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Convoy Patrol Over Convoys ‘Steward’ & ‘Supper II’. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree Irish Sea Sweep P7011 F/S William Albert Lovell P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 27th Irish Sea Sweep P7120 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith Convoy Patrol P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes Patrol P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7050 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Linney Head-Smalls-Carnsore-Saltee. Very wide echelon, 2 miles between the sections & aircraft ½-mile apart.

P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 28th Convoy Patrol P6990 F/S William Albert Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7112 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7100 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6990 F/S William Albert Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Patrol P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7116 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7060 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Air Sea Rescue Patrol A pilot of No.402 (Spitfire) Sqn on Convoy Patrol ‘pancaked’ in the sea 12-miles south of Tenby. It was established that this pilot, F/S Elliott, never managed to leave his aircraft, which remained nose down in the sea for a few seconds before sinking. He had been ordered to bale out at 1,000 feet. This sad incident caused much comment on the advantages of 2 engines. The cutting of a Whirlwind engine is a routine occurrence, so much so that only the more spectacular cases have been recorded. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 29th Convoy Patrol P7117 F/S William Albert Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7060 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy Air Sea Rescue Patrol P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Note Despite the presence of 36 Ju.88, He.111, He.115s in the Brest area, there has been little activity by day or night. An analysis of plots by members of the Operations Staff & the Intelligence Officer & is still continuing. 28 Sweeps of the Smalls-Carnsore-Saltee area were flown & 4 Evening Patrols of the area south-west of Linney Head, but the plan has not yet succeeded. No enemy aircraft were contacted during the month. 256 Operational & 284 Non-Operational hours flown. Total 540 hours. 20 flying days. There were 152 Cine-Camera Exercises in which 2,201 feet of film were exposed; 58 Air-Firing Exercises; 14 Air-to-Ground, 31 Air-to-Sea & 13 Air-to-Air. If the Operational commitment of the Squadron is born in mind, these figures become comparable with the work done in the Spring of 1940. The Squadron would like to remark on the unusually extensive co-operation between Fairwood Common Station Officers & the Squadron. This takes many forms but is most evident in flying matters. The Fairwood runways with their multivariate slopes & borders of treacherous ground necessitated a complex system of Flying Control, a system which is not always without friction. But this, too, as well as in other spheres Fairwood Common has been found to be a Station in which keenness on every branch of Flying develops properly to its full extent.

APRIL 1942 The Squadron, in flying 382:05 hours Operational & 276:50 hours Non-Operational, total 658:55 hours, set up a record for any month since its formation. 10,536 rounds of ball ammunition were also fired. RAF Fairwood Common 1st 2 accidents in a 50-mph cross wind. P/O Holmes broke a wing tip, but P/O Harvey swung off the runway, bounced & turned over. He walked out of a sheer disintegration with only a bruised arm, a spectacular escape. 2nd The hydraulic system failed, through slow running (extended taxiing) of the starboard engine which operates the hydraulic pump, so that Sgt Small, in going down one of the Fairwood Hills, ran into a bowser. Patrol Over the Irish Sea. P7060 P/O John James Walker P7041 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7116 F/S Richard Irl Reed Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7056 F/S William Albert Lovell P7120 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S William Albert Lovell P7117 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 5th Scramble 2 Spitfires from Llandow misplotted due to temporary absence of I.F.F. in all Spitfire Mk. V’s. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7117 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 8th 66:20 hours flying, a record with Gladiators or Whirlwinds. 3,285 rounds, the contents of 55 ammunition boxes, fired. Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Skipper’ off the Welsh Coast. P7060 P/O John James Walker P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF Patrol Over the Irish Sea. P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O John James Walker P7114 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Convoy Patrol Over Convoy ‘Steward’ off the Welsh Coast. P7060 P/O John James Walker P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7114 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7035 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC

P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7001 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7100 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7035 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7003 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7117 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7110 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7051 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7117 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Patrol Over the Irish Sea. P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7035 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 10th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7090 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Patrol Over the Irish Sea to the Saltees in very wide echelon. P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 10th P/O Coyne made a good single engine landing after his starboard engine cut in the circuit. 11th Scramble Raid 159. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy Raid 159. It escaped in cloud. P7110 P/O John James Walker P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Raid 159. P7035 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 12th Irish Sea Sweep Vectored towards the ‘Milk Train’ off Carnsore. P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7035 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7116 P/O John James Walker P7061 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 14th Sgt Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF to F/S.

Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7056 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7116 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7056 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7035 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6990 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7052 P/O Philip Harvey P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7060 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 15th Saltees Sweep P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P/O Harvey swung off the runway on landing in a crosswind & damaged starboard wing & engine. P7100 P/O Philip Harvey P6990 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Scramble P7000 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7061 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Saltees Sweep P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7060 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 15th 8 Smalls-Saltee Patrols. 16th Scramble P7116 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7060 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7114 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7061 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7060 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7114 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF

P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7052 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7114 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7061 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7117 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7000 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 17th Scramble P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7000 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7000 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7116 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 18th To RAF Angle, the forward aerodrome in the Fairwood sector. When the train was passing through Llanelli, the wooden truck next to the engine was seen to be burning fiercely. As it contained the contents of ‘A’ Flight Armoury, it was moved to a siding where the Verey lights gave an excellent display, but the fire was extinguished before any of the ammunition, which was packed in drums, exploded. The train went on its way, after a ½-hour. RAF Angle 20th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7035 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7110 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7035 F/S Cecil Percy King P7003 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 21st Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF

P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7060 P/O John James Walker P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7000 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O John James Walker P7061 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7000 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7089 P/O John James Walker P7061 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams Scramble Intercepted & identified as a Liberator. P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 22nd Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7060 P/O John James Walker P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell XXXXX P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7110 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7060 P/O John James Walker P7000 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6990 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7011 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P7000 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 23rd F/S William Albert Lovell to P/O. Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7011 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7000 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7060 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6990 F/S Cecil Percy King P7011 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF

P7110 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7061 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7089 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7013 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P6990 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7011 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P7035 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 24th 10 aircraft to Predannack for a Ramrod, cancelled. Scramble P7110 P/O John James Walker P7056 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 26th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree 27th F/L Rudland DFC shot down an escaped balloon. It burst into flames, though only ball ammunition used. Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7016 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7056 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7090 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7116 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7056 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 29th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7014 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7035 P/O Philip Harvey P7110 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7114 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7013 F/S Cecil Percy King P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7035 P/O Philip Harvey P7114 P/O Vivian Lester Currie

P7114 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7110 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Scramble P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 30th Convoy Patrol Off the Welsh Coast. P7051 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith

P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7114 P/O Philip Harvey P7035 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7011 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7114 P/O Philip Harvey RAF Predannack No.10 Group Ramrod 18 Lannion & Morlaix aerodromes. 4 aircraft of ‘A’ Flight (Red section) & 4 aircraft of ‘B’ Flight (Blue section) escorted by Spitfires of No.310 Sqn. Both

sections made landfall too far west owing to an incorrect forecast wind & neither found its target. The moral seems to be, once again, that more time must be given for briefing, just ½ hour was available at Predannack. P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7114 P/O Philip Harvey P7011 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7089 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams

MAY 1942 May, which was spent at Angle, was uneventful but meritorious. The number of hours flown was easily a record for this Squadron & must be amongst the highest recorded without accidents in Fighter Command. In effect, the Squadron was responsible for the Shipping protection & escort of the Fairwood Common sector, helped out on occasion by a section of No.421, a new Squadron under training at Fairwood Common. Some attempts were made to restart Rhubarb Operations. Targets of considerable importance were selected in the Cherbourg area, but after full briefing, the destruction of them was postponed. This order came from a higher source than Group HQ. Another section took off to attack targets in the Brest area on 26th May, but the weather proved unsuitable. It is in fact, difficult to find, or forecast, days in which the weather is Operational, being here & at an advanced aerodrome 150 miles away & which affords at the same time cloud cover over the target. Convoy commitments in this sector do not permit aircraft being detached for more than 24 hours. It is to be understood that Whirlwind aircraft must be serviced by Whirlwind trained crews, & that a Daily Inspection must be done once every 24 hours. A detachment could not consist of less than 3 aircraft & it would be necessary to send at least 10 ground staff over distances of 200-300 miles. The Squadron Servicing Echelon, No.3055, is still at Fairwood Common & this makes the maintaining of high serviceability more difficult. Besides flying a great many hours, the pilots occupied themselves in ‘binding’, playing poker, shooting rocks & rabbits, dancing & sailing. The last 2 are recorded more fully below. RAF Angle 1st Scramble These Anti-Shipping Recce aircraft, Ju.88s of 1/123 & 3/123 are exceedingly tricky. There seems little doubt they listen to our R/T communications. Their plots often diverge evasively from our vectors & they fly at 200-500 feet to evade detection. P7013 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7116 P/O Philip Harvey Scramble P7060 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 2nd Scramble P7116 P/O Philip Harvey P7013 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7060 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7120 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7116 P/O Philip Harvey P7013 P/O Vivian Lester Currie 3rd Whilst on Convoy Patrol, Sgt Meredith thinks he saw a submarine crash-dive 3-miles south-east of the Smalls. Depth Charges were dropped all day, but ultimately Naval opinion was that only a tidal rock had been dislodged. Scramble P7116 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7120 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Followed a single bogey towards St. Eval. P7052 P/O William Albert Lovell P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 1st Solo P7089 P/O William Albert Lovell 4th Scramble Produced plots coincidental with enemy aircraft off Carnsore.

P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 6991 P/O Philip Harvey 1130-1150 P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7089 Sgt Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 5th Scramble P7052 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7120 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 6th Scramble P7013 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7011 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley Patrol Portreath-Falmouth. ‘B’ Flight had the honour to Patrol that part of Cornwall which was being visited by the King & Queen. It was a hot day, & after flying for 40 minutes, the pilots were exhausted. P7061 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7060 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7089 Sgt Edger Brearley RCAF P7090 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 8th Scramble Vectored far out over the Irish Sea. P7013 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7016 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P6991 P/O Philip Harvey 9th Scramble P7013 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6991 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7116 P/O Philip Harvey P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 10th Sgt Robert Alex McFadgen posted to No.1 Depot, RAF Uxbridge. Scramble P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P6991 P/O Philip Harvey 13th F/O Alfred Arthur Hay posted to RAF Zeals as Engineering Officer. With the Squadron since October 1941, the serviceability figures are some measure of the work he has done. Sweep Irish Sea Sweep in another determined effort to intercept the elusive 1/123. P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7003 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7051 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P6991 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell

P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7051 F/S Cecil Percy King 14th P/O Ash arrived as Engineering Officer. Scramble P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O Stuart James Lovell P6990 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7051 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7061 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree XXXXX F/S Richard Irl Reed 15th Scramble P7061 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O John James Walker P7000 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 16th Scramble P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 19th S/L Woodward, F/O Wordsworth & P/O van Zeller paid a visit to HM Naval Base, Milford Haven, & discussed details of escort. F/O Wordsworth secured a charter on a pair of 12 foot Sailing Dinghies from N. Ward Esq., the secretary of the Pembroke Yacht Club. These were towed across to Angle by the Barge ‘Mary Jane’ & were carpentered, painted, rigged & varnished by members of the Squadron. They were both Operational by 27th May, & thereafter were regularly sailed by 12 members of the Squadron, who formed a Sailing Club. S/L Clover, Station Commander, became Commodore & generously presented £2; 0; 0d to the Club. 20th Scramble P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7011 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7056 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell 21st F/O Eric Comissiong Eadie arrived as Medical Officer. Balbo P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6991 P/O Philip Harvey P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7051 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P7116 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Scramble P7013 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF

22nd F/L Clifford William Douglas Cole posted to RAF Zeals. He had been Medical Officer since January 1942. He showed great interest in all flying matters & was a most popular member of the Squadron. A dance was held in the Officers Mess, a rambling house in a woody garden by the sea known as ‘The Hall’. This was the 1st dance to be held there, & although the great distance from other human habitants prevented there being a superfluity of young ladies, a good time was had by all. Scramble The longest Operational flight ever made by Whirlwinds. The section was vectored to the Smalls & back, then to the Smalls again, where P/O Walker’s R/T failed. Sgt Reed took the lead & they were vectored hotly after an enemy aircraft towards Dublin. They lost R/T touch with Humbry Repeater & near the coast of Ireland, P/O Walker took the lead again in heavy rain & 10/10 low-cloud. A vector to Base was received from Humbry via a Beaufighter of No.125 Sqn. He knew he had not got enough petrol to make Base & continued to fly due east. The weather was foul & he saw the small aerodrome at Hells Mouth near Pwllheli at which they were able to land by the strong westerly wind. He saw 67 gallons of petrol put into his starboard tank - its capacity, 67 gallons. P7060 P/O John James Walker P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Scramble P7090 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7061 P/O John James Walker Air Sea Rescue Patrol 10 miles off St. David’s Head. Nothing seen of the Blenheim supposed to have gone in there.

P7061 P/O John James Walker P7007 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 23rd Scramble P7056 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 24th Scramble P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 25th F/L Rudland DFC, F/O Holmes, P/O Currie & P/O Crabtree USA fetched by the Commanders Gig from the Hall jetty, to dine in HMS Brocklesby commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ash DSO. This Officer was decorated for leading MTBs to attack the Scharnhorst & Gneisenau in March 1942. The Officers returned very late in a thick mist. Sweep The Smalls P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF RAF Predannack 26th Rhubarb 54 Railway objectives near Landiviseau. Abandoned 15 miles off the French Coast due to no cloud cover. P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7090 P/O Vivian Lester Currie

RAF Angle Scramble P7007 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7114 Sgt Douglas Francis Small 30th P/O Bill Lovell & Sgt Yates became Operational on Whirlwinds. 2 photographs, of the many taken by various Press Agencies on 12th March 1942, are attached to the Squadrons copy of this Form as Appendices B & C. ‘B’ shows a group of pilots taking tea outside ‘A’ Flight dispersal hut at Fairwood Common. ‘C’ shows two Whirlwinds taking off behind a foreground of workmen. It is felt that these photographs may have some relevance should any future historian seek to elucidate the charge of idleness which is frequently brought by RAF Personnel against workmen who work on airfields. 31st Sweep Off Carnsore Point. P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P6991 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7090 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P6990 Sgt John Eutychus Meredith 321 Convoy Patrols flown during the month; & as none were marked by incident or interest, they have not been individually recorded here.

JUNE 1942 RAF Angle 1st-4th Convoy Patrols 1st F/S John Davidson Mitchner to W/O. Scramble P7052 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7120 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Patrol Smalls-Carmsore. P7089 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates RAF Predannack 5th No.10 Group Ramrod 19 Lannion aerodrome. Escort by W/C Blake DFC & a Flight of No.234 Sqn Spitfires. S/L Woodward flew over Lannion aerodrome Watch Tower & saw a line of what he took to be 5 Ju.88s parked close together in line abreast. He dived to the attack from 400 feet & fired a 2½-second burst & hit them but was pretty sure after he had passed over them that they were dummies. He was also able to get in a short burst & observed hits on a flak post. P/O Coyne also fired at & hit the dummy aircraft, only recognising them as such when he had passed over them. P/O Blackshaw scored hits on 3 of the 4 Blister Hangers south of the Watch Office. He then saw & recognised the dummies & flew across the south-eastern extension of the airfield to see a Ju.88 being serviced in a hanger. This aircraft was held up by the nose & exposed its dark sea blue underside camouflage. Strikes seen. This suggests that the Squadron has at last seen & partially damaged an aircraft of 3/123 which it has lately so often chased. P/O Blackshaw also fired a short accurate burst at a flak post. F/S Muirhead who was number 4 in the attack flew on to the un-visited northern dispersals & scored hits on 2 Blister Hangers. P7052 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7011 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF No.10 Group Ramrod 19 Morlaix aerodrome. Escorted by a Flight of No.130 Sqn. They flew precisely on a course given by Operations at the last moment. Landfall was made 12 miles too far west, after investigating 3 inlets on

the coast, F/L Warnes decided that the element of surprise had been lost & returned to Base. P7089 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7090 P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy Scramble Off Lundy. Oxford returning from Portreath. P7043 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7007 P/O William Albert Lovell 6th Scramble P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller 7th Sgt John Eutychus Meredith posted to No.175 Sqn. 8th Scramble P7060 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 10th Scramble P7114 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7117 P/O William Albert Lovell 13th Scramble Identified as a Liberator south of the Smalls. P7043 P/O William Albert Lovell P7007 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 14th P/O Irving Farmer Kennedy posted to No.421 Sqn. 15th P/O Walker of ‘B’ Flight, whilst flying the Group Captains Master, was given a green landing safety lamp at Fairwood Common. He landed to find that his undercarriage was retracted. 16th-17th Convoy Patrols. 18th F/L Pierard who is Port Liaison Officer, Milford Haven visited. His objective being to promote more fully the mutual understanding between pilots & merchantmen of their respective tasks. 19th A day of Scrambles. The 1st gave chase to a Bandit who eventually was found to be out of range, too far

west. The 2nd developed into a Liberator whilst the plots of the 3rd faded. The 4th Scramble was eventually chased by aircraft from RAF Station, Valley. Again, the 5th Scramble reiterated the experience of the 1st, for the Bandit was out of range. 21st Home Guard Tactical Exercise ‘B’ Flight ‘beat up’ Camarthen in liaison with the Home Guard. 22nd Convoy Patrols. 23rd F/L Warnes had the misfortune to damage the tail wheel of his Whirlwind on landing. The accident was traced to hydraulic failure. Thus, the longest accident free period in the history of Whirlwinds of No.263 Squadron came to an end. From 30th April until 23rd June, Whirlwinds of No.263 Squadron had flown 1236:50 hours without accident, a record which will probably be difficult to emulate. 24th P/O Norman Latham & Sgt Curtis arrived for flying duties from No.59 OTU. 26th Cdr Hughes-White visited to arrange passage for S/L Woodward in HMS Destroyer ‘Tynwald’. The 3-day trip from Milford Haven to Belfast & back was to report on the system of plotting & vectoring to enable our aircraft to intercept enemy aircraft attacking or threatening our convoys. A ‘Shadow’ exercise took place during the voyage, in which a Beaufighter provided the ‘shadow’ & 2 Whirlwinds provided the interception. Much valuable data was gained & transmitted by S/L Woodward, in his official report. 27th Convoy Patrols. 28th P/O Phillip Harvey appointed F/O. Army Co-operation Exercise ‘Beat up’ RAF Manorbier. 29th W/O John Davidson Mitchner posted to No.55 OTU. 30th Convoy Patrols.

JULY 1942 RAF Angle & RAF Portreath 1st-8th Convoy Patrols. ‘B’ Flight at Angle, ‘A’ Flight at Portreath. We held down the whole of the Operational commitment of both Fairwood Common & Portreath sectors during this week. There were many Convoy Patrols & Scrambles, but these were quite uneventful, although enemy aircraft were plotted with regularity. Sgt Curtis posted. 1st Sgt James Ian Simpson arrived for flying duties from No.175 Sqn. Scramble P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7087 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7020 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7007 P/O Philip Harvey P7052 P/O William Albert Lovell P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7060 P/O John James Walker P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 3rd Whilst taxying at Portreath Sgt Muirhead was violently wind swung into another unoccupied Whirlwind. Both Cat AC. 4th P/O Norman Latham posted. Scramble P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 P/O Vivian Lester Currie Patrol South of Eire. P7089 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7000 F/S Richard Irl Reed 5th Scramble South-east of the Lizard at 8-10,000 feet. Watched in the Operations Room by the Intelligence Officer. The plots came regularly & rapidly. The section received vectors from the Controller but within 3 minutes, the plots faded & did not re-appear. P7014 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P6991 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7052 P/O William Albert Lovell 6th Scramble P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7003 P/O William Albert Lovell P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 P/O Philip Harvey 7th Patrol The Smalls. P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Scramble P7089 P/O John James Walker P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams 7th-14th F/L William Bow Douglas Symington Davie of RAE attached to the Squadron for experimental purposes, & duly reported to Group & Fighter

Command on the result of his experience with the Whirlwind. 8th Scramble P7007 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 P/O Philip Harvey P7090 P/O John James Walker P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7060 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7000 F/S Richard Irl Reed Patrol Carnsore Point. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 10th Patrol Irish Sea. P7060 P/O John James Walker P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes 12th Scramble P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7014 F/L William Bow Douglas Symington Davie 13th The weather proved unsuitable for visit of HRH the Duke of Ken. An escort from ‘B’ Flight took to the air in preparation for his arrival. 13th-20th The usual round of Convoy Patrols seasoned with a dash of unfruitful Scrambles. 14th Patrol South of Eire P7114 P/O William Albert Lovell Modified form of Operation Pigstick, designed to catch unplotted low-flying aircraft of 1/123 & 3/123. P7114 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed Angle-Eire-Lundy. P6995 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7056 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7060 P/O Stuart James Lovell 16th Scramble P7003 P/O William Albert Lovell P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 18th Scramble P6995 F/OGeoffrey Berrington Warnes P7090 P/O Stuart James Lovell Patrol The Smalls. P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7056 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7000 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6995 P/O Stuart James Lovell Similar Operation to that of 14th. A feature of both was R/T silence. Nothing aircraft seen. P7060 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 20th Scramble P7116 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7003 P/O William Albert Lovell

21st Scramble P7057 P/O William Albert Lovell P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie RAF Predannack 23rd Rhubarb Rendezvous with No.234 Sqn Spitfires at the Lizard at 300 feet, dropped to sea-level & crossed the French Coast west of Plouescat at zero feet. Red Section - S/L Woodward DFC & P/O Coyne. flew to Lesnoven then south & at Landiviseau both fired at the Station & trucks. P/O Coyne reported smoke & people running away. They then flew on to Morlaix where S/L Woodward fired at more trucks. They then turned for Base via Taule. P/O Coyne attacked a Lightship Tender & a Trawler, seeing hits. They then joined 4 other aircraft & on the way back saw a Whirlwind followed by 2 Me.109s. They turned in their direction & saw 2 more Me.109s. By now the Whirlwind had hit the sea. Later, about 10 minutes from the English Coast, another Whirlwind was seen with 3 Me.109s on its tail. Again S/L Woodward DFC turned back but could not see owing to a dirty windscreen. They were unable to contact any other section as their R/T was unintelligible. P/O Coyne saw 5 unidentified aircraft, 1 of which went into the sea about mid-Channel. Blue Section - F/S King & P/O Currie. The former fired at a lorry on the Morlaix road, seeing hits on the radiator. P/O Currie was last seen with 4 other aircraft near the French Coast & is missing, believed killed in action. Yellow Section - P/O Walker & Sgt Abrams. The former flew south to Landiviseau, turning left along the railway to St. Tregonnec, he fired at a lorry & a signal box on the line south of Morlaix. His next target was a Train in Belair Station. Hits seen but no smoke. No enemy aircraft seen, but a Convoy of 12 ships spotted 8 miles north-east of Chaises de Prims. P/O Walker did not return & is presumed killed in action. Green Section - F/L Warnes & P/O S. Lovell. They attacked 2 huts near some tall wireless masts north of the Landiviseau-Landernau railway. F/L Warnes also attacked 2 huts by a gun post north of Landiviseau. P/O Lovell attacked a large camouflaged transport on the road south of the railway. Black Section - P/O Holmes & Sgt Wright. Attacked the same huts as Green section. P/O Holmes fired at them & they collapsed. They then attacked a Distillery 1 mile north of Landiviseau (see White section) which was burning before they attacked. White Section - F/L Rudland DFC & P/O Harvey. Attacked 3 tall, black covered railway trucks coming out of St. Pol de Leen. The 1st truck was left glowing red. Then they attacked the Distillery 1 mile north of Landiviseau which was left on fire, referred to under Black section. P/O Currie & P/O Walker were skilled pilots & were held in general high regard. These were the 1st losses suffered by the Squadron since Sgt Prior was killed on 21st December 1941. P6990 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7062 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7057 F/S Cecil Percy King P7035 P/O Vivian Lester Currie P7060 P/O John James Walker P7120 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7007 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7056 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7090 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P6979 P/O Philip Harvey 25th Scramble P7056 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright

26th A/C Gallehawk, Army Liaison Officer to the Welsh Regional Commissioner, visited & a lecture on flak was given by Major King. The considerable hospitality which the Squadron has received from His Majesties Ships was somewhat repaid when Lt Commander Bumphrey DSO DSC & other Officers of HM Destroyer Brocklebank were entertained in the mess. The Squadron Intelligence Officer was absent for 3 weeks, attached to Intelligence Course A at Harrow. F/O Yorath of Sector Intelligence, Fairwood Common ‘stood in’ for part of that time. Scramble The Smalls. P7120 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7110 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P6995 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7056 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates

P7000 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P7007 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7120 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 27th Air Sea Rescue Patrol P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Patrol The Smalls. P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7117 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6995 Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates 28th Scramble P7057 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley

P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7120 P/O Philip Harvey P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P6990 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7052 F/S Cecil Percy King P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 Sgt Douglas Francis Small Patrol The Smalls. P7110 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7007 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 30th Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF arrived for flying duties from No.87 Sqn. Scramble P6990 P/O Philip Harvey P7014 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller

AUGUST 1942 RAF Angle 1st Sgt Jocelyn Ivan Yates to F/S. Convoy Patrol P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7057 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7120 F/S Cecil Percy King Scramble 40 miles west of Lundy. P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7014 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Saltees. P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller 4th Convoy Patrol P7014 P/O Philip Harvey P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Patrol The Smalls. P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 5th Convoy Patrol P7014 F/S Cecil Percy King P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P7092 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7056 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7056 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates Scramble Doubtful plots identified as friendly. P7014 F/S Cecil Percy King P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Patrol P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF Air Sea Rescue Patrol Blenheim believed ditched off St. Davids Head. P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 6th Convoy Patrol P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 9th P/O Gill took a Whirlwind at St. Andries Camp. Convoy Patrol P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7056 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates

P7000 P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7099 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright Sgt Reed hit a lorry near the runway on take-off. P7090 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 F/S Richard Irl Reed 10th Convoy Patrol P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Scramble P7014 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P6991 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 11th Sgt Douglas Francis Small attached to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. Convoy Patrol Convoy Poker. P7059 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7056 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7056 P/O William Albert Lovell P7099 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7000 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7110 F/S Richard Irl Reed 12th Convoy Patrol Convoy Steward. P7120 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7014 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7062 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell Scramble P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell 13th Convoy Patrol P7003 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P6079 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P6990 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Scramble P7059 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7000 P/O Stuart James Lovell 14th Sgt Peter Alastair Jardine arrived for flying duties after a Refresher Course at No.54 OTU. 15th Sgt Hicks attached to A&AEE, Boscombe Down. Move to RAF Colerne. The Squadron had been at Angle since 1st April, & in the Fairwood Sector since 10th February. In that time, the number of Convoy Patrols & the Operational hours flown were consistently the highest in the Group. But, except on 3 Offensive Operations from Predannack, there was no contact with the enemy & although there were compensations in the country sports of shooting, sailing & bathing, the place was too remote for a stay as long as ours to be continuously enjoyable. RAF Colerne 16th-31st No.3055 Echelon fitted bomb racks. The fitting of bombs was suggested by S/L Pugh DFC in September

1941 but was formally rejected. However, on 21st July, a letter was received from HQ No.10 Group stating that the aircraft were to be modified to take 250lb bombs; later it was found that 500lb bombs were practicable. By the end of the month bomb racks had been fitted to 8 aircraft. 17th Convoy Patrol P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7003 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7120 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7003 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller Scramble P6979 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P7090 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF Anti-Rhubarb Patrol P7014 F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC P7062 P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller P7090 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7056 F/S Richard Irl Reed 18th Scramble P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7090 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 22nd Scramble P7014 P/O Philip Harvey P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell 24th Scramble P7057 P/O Herbert John Blackshaw P6991 P/O Stuart James Lovell 28th Scramble 2 aircraft believed He.177s, bombed Bristol, causing many casualties in crowded buses. Plots were good from Cherbourg at 20-30,000 feet but our aircraft saw smoke trails at 35,000 feet. P6991 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7059 F/S Richard Irl Reed Cardiff bombed from 35,000 feet. The Observer Corps made an unlikely identification of a Fw.200. The Whirlwinds struggled to 24,000 feet & saw nothing. P7099 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7057 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7000 P/O Philip Harvey P7043 P/O Stuart James Lovell 21st Sgt David John Williams arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 23rd

F/L Rudland flew a Whirlwind fitted with 500lb practice bombs & submitted the following: I found the performance not greatly impaired by the addition of bombs or racks, except for the maximum speed. With 500lb bombs, from take-off the aircraft climbed to 1,500 feet at +2 Boost, 2,400 revs, in 16½ minutes. When diving at 310 mph indicated, at 15,000 feet, there is a disconcerting aileron flutter. This also becomes apparent at slower speeds nearer the ground on occasions. Take-off appears to be 125 yards greater & landing 100 yards greater. 30th P/O Philip Harvey posted to HQ Fighter Command for Liaison Duties.

SEPTEMBER 1942 RAF Colerne 1st F/L Clifford Percival Rudland DFC posted to No.19 Sqn. He had been with the Squadron since 31st July 1940. Commissioned 10 months later, he took over the command of ‘A’ Flight in September 1941 & was the 2nd pilot to be awarded the DFC for work done with Whirlwind aircraft. P/O Herbert John Blackshaw appointed F/L & ‘A’ Flight Commander. Sgt John Gray Macaulay arrived for flying duties from No.175 Sqn. 3rd Scramble Vectored south at 15,000 feet. P7090 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7057 Sgt John Gray Macaulay Vectored south at 15,000 feet. P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P6995 F/S Richard Irl Reed 4th S/L Woodward DFC & 2 others dropped practice bombs (11½ lbs.) on the Chesil Bank Range. F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC arrived for flying duties as Supernumerary. 7th RAF Warmwell The pilots & 90 of the Ground Staff moved by air & rail to Group Practice Camp, Warmwell. The Pilots dispersal was a tent on the south side of the aerodrome. Fortunately, the weather was fine & warm during the 1st 10 days. As Nos.174 & 175 Hurri-bomber Sqns had been released from Operations, No.263 Squadron was the only fighter-bomber Squadron in No.10 Group which could be brought to Readiness. And so, when enemy shipping was reported in the Channel Islands area during the 1st afternoon at the Practice Camp, S/L Woodward DFC was asked if he could bring 4 Whirlibombers to Readiness. The request was complied with & the CO & 3 other pilots moved to Bolt Head. After a great deal of telephoning, 250lb 3-second delay bombs were brought from Exeter to Bolt Head & the Whirlwinds were bombed up. 8th On this day & every other fine day during the month, practice bombing on the Chesil Bank Range. RAF Bolt Head No.10 Group Roadstead Conducted from Bolt Head, to which the Whirlwinds had been flown the previous evening, it was the 1st in which Whirlwinds were fitted with bombs (2 250lb 3-second delay). Escorted by 2 Spitfire Squadrons of the Exeter Wing, the Channel Islands Shipping Lanes were searched for a Trawler reported there. Nothing was seen of it & the Whirlwinds landed back at Bolt Head, 3 of them safely with bombs on. Bolt Head is a small landing ground & so F/L Warnes dropped his bombs into the sea. P7062 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7042 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6979 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 9th No.10 Group Roadstead A large ship reported by a Shipping Recce near Cap de la Hague. 4 Whirlibombers were bombed up with 250lb 3-second delay bombs & escorted by Spitfires of Nos.118 & 66 Sqns, took off from Warmwell. 4 large Armed Trawlers (1,000-1,200 tons) found steaming west between Cap de la Hague & Alderney. Following immediately behind the anti-flak Spitfires (No.118 Sqn), S/L Woodward DFC & F/L Warnes attacked the 2nd of the ships which were in line astern. S/L Woodward fired all his ammunition from extreme to very short range & his bombs were seen to explode on the waterline against the side of the

ship. F/L Warnes could not fire during the COs attack, & his bombs were not observed, but he believed them to be accurate. F/L Blackshaw & P/O Brearley attacked the 1st ship with cannon & bombs. F/L Blackshaw’s bombs were observed to be near misses, P/O Brearley were unobserved. In fact, both these ships were sunk. When S/L Wootton accompanied by the Warmwell Station Commander, W/C Boyd DSO DFC, arrived with the rear support Spitfires 6 minutes later, only 2 ships were left floating. This was the 1st Operation in which 250lb bombs were dropped by Whirlwinds “in anger”, & in fact the 1st time in which anything but practice bombs were dropped. It was also the 1st Operation whose take off & landing were witnessed by the Squadron personnel, because this was the 1st week in which the Squadron, albeit on Group Practice Camp, was situated at a forward aerodrome. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6979 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF 10th F/S Cecil Percy King appointed P/O. RAF Bolt Head No.10 Group Roadstead Sept Iles-Brehat Shipping Lanes. Escorted by Nos.310 & 312 Sqns. They returned to find 100 feet low cloud at Bolt Head & so flew to Warmwell & landed in the dark, very short of petrol. P7065 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7062 P/O William Albert Lovell P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 11th Telegrams of congratulations upon the successful Operation of 10th September which was fully reported in the newspapers, were received from F/L Eugene Owens, the RAF Colerne Station Adjutant; from Humbug, the call sign of Fairwood Common Sector Operations 1, & from S/L Humphrey St. John Coghlan DFC OC the daughter Whirlwind Squadron, No.137. Letters were also received from the Manager of Westland Aircraft Limited, & Mr. Harold Penrose, the Chief Test Pilot. F/S (now P/O) King awarded the DFM, in recognition of his many & varied exploits against the enemy & of the steady example he had given to the other pilots of the Squadron. 13th RAF Warmwell Move to Warmwell. The Orderly Room Staff, the Groundcrews & No.3055 Servicing Echelon, made the journey by train & transport. 15th-16th Air Sea Rescue Patrol Escort to ASR High Speed Launch. P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF 16th Air Sea Rescue Patrol For a Typhoon pilot who baled out 20 miles west of Cherbourg after engine failure the previous day. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7014 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7062 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Above search was continued 15-25 miles north of Cherbourg, often within sight of the French Coast. P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7000 P/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 17th-20th ‘B’ Flight moved to a dispersal vacated by No.175 Sqn in the wood at the west of the aerodrome. ‘A’ Flight remained in the tent until the 20th, when it blew down. They then moved to a nearby Nissen Hut.

18th P/O Joseph William Ernest Holmes posted as a F/L to our daughter Whirlwind Squadron, No.137. He had been in this Squadron since March 1941. Commissioned a year ago, he became deputy Flight Commander of ‘B’ Flight. Of steady good temper, a fine athlete & a good companion, Joe will be missed. He took part in 9 Offensive Ops. 19th Sgt Douglas Francis Small posted to No.2 Delivery Flight, Colerne. Anti Rhubarb Patrol Swanage-The Needles. P7014 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P7057 F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF P7052 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6991 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 20th-21st Advanced readiness in cockpits. 21st Sgt Peter Alastair Jardine crashed fatally from cloud. After about 40 minutes of Sector Recce, P/O King who was leading, turned to avoid a raincloud, & thereafter saw & heard nothing more of him. He was seen by the occupants of an Army lorry to dive out of cloud between Wool & Wareham. A South African by birth, he had been with the Squadron since 20th January 1942. Of quiet but good-humoured disposition, he was very well liked. Scramble 20 miles south of St. Aldhelms Head. P7099 P/O Norman Vincent Crabtree P7110 Sgt John Gray Macaulay Off Portland. P6987 P/O William Albert Lovell P7000 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7099 Sgt Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 23rd-24th It is hoped to get as many pilots as possible Operational at night, so that night bombing attacks can be carried out. 26th S/L Woodward DFC led a bombing display (250lb. bombs, 11-seconds delay) at West Lulworth A.F.V. Camp. Sgt Jardine was buried at Warmwell Village Church. 27th P/O Edger Brearley RCAF to F/O. 28th F/S Harvey Donald Muirhead RCAF posted to No.286 Sqn, Colerne. F/S Basil Courtney Abrams to P/O. 29th F/O Norman Vincent Crabtree, P/O William Albert Lovell & F/S Richard Irl Reed, all citizens of the United States, who joined the RAF about 2 years ago & who were posted to this Squadron in October 1941, were honourably discharged from the RAF on taking up appointments with the USAAF. It is believed that they will be posted to No.94 Sqn (P-38 Lightning) at Ibsley. Before they left, F/O Crabtree & P/O Lovell entertained the Officers & Sgts of No.263 Squadron to a party at the Somerset Arms, Weymouth. Shipping Recce Channel Island Shipping Lanes. Intending to make use of cloud cover, they found heavy rain squalls 45 miles south of Warmwell & returned to Base. P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF

OCTOBER 1942 RAF Bolt Head 1st Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley to F/S. No.10 Group Roadstead Minesweepers in the Trieux Estuary. Escorted by No.312 Sqn. Unable to pinpoint their position. Returned on 352°, which brought them to Eddystone Lighthouse & thence to Bolt Head. P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7059 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams RAF Warmwell 3rd No.10 Group Roadstead Following a PRU report & a Recce by No.501 Sqn, this Roadstead was laid on to attack a 3,000-ton Merchant Vessel in Alderney Harbour. Escort by 5 Spitfires of No.501 Sqn Anti-Flak & No.118 Sqn, Rear Support. The Anti-Flak aircraft did not catch up with the Whirlibombers & only 1 of them crossed the target area. In order to attack out of the sun, landfall was made at the Casquetes where the Whirlibombers turned east. When they were still more than 2 miles from Alderney, they were engaged by flak from a hill top position & thereafter from flak of all calibres which was accurate & very intense; indeed, it is reckoned that by reason of its concentration round the target this was the most intense barrage through which Whirlwinds of the Squadron have flown. 3 Pilots attacked the large ship which was lying 40 yards off the Mole. Results not seen. No further information has been received by the Squadron about the success or failure of the attack. The COs aircraft was hit by flak just as he bombed. He returned to Base on 1 engine, very closely escorted by No.118 Sqn. P/O King attacked a smaller ship alongside the Mole. Results not seen. His aircraft was holed in the tailplane. & a chunk was torn from F/S Ridley’s propeller. F/L Blackshaw led the other 2 Whirlwinds back to Base. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7062 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7052 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 7th W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit arrived for flying duties after 15 months with No.10 Group Flight & No.286 Sqn. 6th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Guernsey-Sark. Doubtless because of the Sark Commando Raid, a small ship was expected. F/L Warnes set course at 0 feet. Over the South Coast, cloud was at 200 feet, which lowered to 50 feet & visibility fell to zero in heavy rain. Believing this to be an important mission, the Whirlibombers penetrated the Casquetes area, but finding less than 50 yards visibility, returned to Base on instruments. P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF 8th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce F/L Johnstone DFC attempted to take off in course pitch & failed to do so. He throttled back, avoided dispersed aircraft, & piled up his aircraft Cat ‘AC’ in the trees of Knighton. S/L Woodward DFC orbited over the coast & found no cloud cover P7014 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P7057 F/O Philip Harvey P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC Bomb Dropping Test P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC

9th W/O Donald Burton McPhail RCAF & Sgt John McGowan Barclay arrived for flying duties from No.137 Sqn. The CO, F/L Warnes, P/O Lovell, P/O Harvey, P/O Gill, P/O King & F/O Wordsworth attended a dance given by Messrs. Westland, makers of the Whirlwind, at the Boden Social Club, Chard. 1st class organization, plenty to eat & drink & lovely partners. The party was very greatly enjoyed. Armed Shipping Recce Alderney-Barfleur. P7013 F/O Philip Harvey P6979 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM 10th Armed Shipping Recce Alderney-Barfleur. Twice held, even at sea-level, by enemy RDF, heard as a ‘buzz’ on the VHF R/T. P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Alderney-Cotentin-Cap Barfleur, 3 miles offshore. P7043 F/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 12th F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC awarded the Czech Air Force pilots Badge, ‘as a mark of gratitude & appreciation’. Armed Shipping Recce Alderney-Cap de la Hague-Guernsey. Flying at 30 feet they were engaged at 3-5 miles by heavy accurate flak from Alderney. Bursts behind, underneath & between them. Pilots jinked & skidded. P6995 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7059 F/O Stuart James Lovell Bomb Dropping Test P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC 13th P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.59 OTU. Armed Shipping Recce Barfleur-Cherbourg. 2 sections of No.266 Sqn Typhoons provided Rear Cover. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7009 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF 14th P/O Christopher Peter van Zeller posted to No.1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge. Armed Shipping Recce Guernsey-Alderney-Barfleur. P7013 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 15th No.10 Group Exercise 108 P/O Coyne led a section to attack a landing party in a Launch & Jolly Boat off Lulworth Cove. They were eventually found off Ringstead, where attacks were carried out. 17th Convoy Patrol The Needles-Portland. P7052 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7013 Sgt John McGowan Barclay P6979 Sgt David John Williams P7052 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone DFC P7120 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7094 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF

18th Zeals Non-Operational, Readiness at Warmwell. 19th P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant arrived for flying duties from No.137 Sqn. Sgt John McGowan Barclay awarded the 1st G.C. Badge. 20th Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 21st Convoy Patrol Portland-St. Aldhelms Head. P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P6995 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7000 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright 24th Night Operations cancelled owing to the imposition of a restriction upon attacks on surface vessels. 25th The Squadron learned with much pleasure that the Bellows Club has added to its gift of 8 Whirlwinds, another most generous gift to the whole personnel of the Squadron. It appears that this gift reciprocated the autographed Greetings Card, which was sent to the Bellows Club, together with photos of the Squadrons aircraft & pilots. 27th Ratification received from HQ Fighter Command of the claim that 2 ships were sunk on 9th September. The tonnage, however, was reduced from 1,000 to 500-tons. 28th Night Operations cancelled owing to another Surface Vessel restriction. 31st F/S Francis Leslie Hicks RAAF arrived for flying duties from AAEE, Boscombe Down, where he had been on attachment. F/S E. Matthews, Electrician I, who had been with the Squadron since the 21st February 1941, & in charge of the Electrical Section for the past year, posted to RAF Station, Valley. Secretary of State for Air, the Right Honourable Sir Archibald Sinclair visited Warmwell. He spent a few minutes in ‘A’ Flight Dispersal Hut & spoke to S/L Woodward DFC, F/L Johnstone DFC, F/L Blackshaw, F/O Harvey, P/O Coyne & P/O King DFM. He congratulated the Squadron on the Op of 9th September, & on the present days work. P/O Coyne & P/O King DFM escorted his Flamingo to Andover. Rhubarb La Haye du Puits rail triangle. The courses given by Operations took them west of the Casquetes & thence to a correct landfall at Barneville. All bombs in the target area. No flak & no enemy aircraft seen. The Squadron composite report claimed that, ‘The railway line was probably destroyed in 2-3 places.’ According to the BBC News Service of 1st November 1942, ‘Whirlwinds, without seeing any enemy fighters, penetrated the Cherbourg Peninsula & bombed an important railway junction, scoring hits on the tracks & in a cutting, & destroying a Loco. P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7043 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7099 Sgt Walter Roylance Wright

NOVEMBER 1942 RAF Warmwell 1st

Sgt Walter Roylance Wright to F/S.

4th 2 British Movietone News cameramen arrived to photograph Squadrons activities, obstensibly for South American (‘Bellows Club’) comsumption. The Beaufort photographic aircraft did not arrive, so they filmed a line of Whirlwinds & personnel, from the back of the ‘A’ Flight van. S/L Alcott of No.10 Group acted as Liaison Officer, the arrangement for the photographing of the Squadron having been made by the Air Ministry. 7th No.10 Group Rhubarb Valognes-Carentan railway. Good Rhubarb weather off the French Coast, but over land it deteriorated with poor visibility in heavy rain; indeed, pilots could only see properly through their side panels. They were just turning for home when targets were seen in the Valognes-Montebourg triangle. P/O Coyne scored cannon strikes on a Loco. Sgt Cotton thinks his bombs hit the tracks. P/O Gill’s bombs were seen to explode on the track by Sgt Abrams who then lost all contact with him. This was the last that was seen of P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF. He is missing in circumstances which at present, only guesswork can provide any clue. He joined the Squadron in October 1941. Efficient, hard working & of great integrity, he will be greatly missed in the Squadron. P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7043 P/O Donald Ross Gill RCAF P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Convoy Patrol Off Portland. A Hudson was chased & identified. P7089 W/O Donald Burton McPhail P7059 Sgt James Ian Simpson 8th-11th Convoy Patrols over some important units. 8th Convoy Patrol Isle of Wight-Portland, & a Floating Dock from The Needles-Portland. P6986 W/O Donald Burton McPhail P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7059 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7007 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7000 Walter Roylance Wright P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7062 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 9th P/O Geoffrey Berrington Warnes appointed F/L & given command of ‘B’ Flight. 10th Convoy Patrol Escort of Floating Dock westward from The Needles. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7089 W/O Donald Burton McPhail P6995 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7062 Sgt David John Williams P7052 P/O Cecil Percy King P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC

P7094 Sgt John McGowan Barclay P7057 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7062 Sgt David John Williams P6987 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7059 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7089 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6995 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 11th Excellent low attacks & formations flown by F/L Warnes, F/O Lovell, F/S Abrams & Sgt Wright, for Movietone News. Camera Beaufort still not arrived. AVM Dickson CB DSO OBE AFC, who has recently been appointed AOC No.10 Group, paid his 1st official visit to RAF Warmwell, & honoured both ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights with a visit to their dispersals. 14th The camera Beaufort did arrive, but permission to use it had been withdrawn by the Air Ministry. It is regretted that the cine-film programme could not not be completed by the making of air-to-air photos. Convoy Patrol P7105 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 Sgt John McGowan Barclay 16th Rhubarb Valognes-Carentan railway. This was perhaps, the most successful Rhubarb yet carried out by the Squadron. It was F/S Yates’ 1st Offensive Op. Good Rhubarb weather prevailed over the Cotentin Peninsula & they flew down the line from Ecausseville but reserved their bombs for the much-bridged watery area north of Carentan. F/O Brearley destroyed the tracks, & F/S Yates considers that his bombs hit the bridge over the River Madeleine. F/O Brearley then scored cannon strikes on a line of Goods Wagons. F/S Yates saw tracer coming from an E-Boat off Village du Nord & fired a 2-second burst at it, observing strikes. P7094 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7013 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates 17th Eextensive endurance tests carried out. The results, in the present state of Whirlwind experience, were evidently confirming rather than surprising. 18th Convoy Patrol The Needles-Portland. 16-18 ship Convoy. P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7105 Sgt David John Williams P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7013 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6979 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant P7117 P/O Cecil Percy King P7062 F/O Philip Harvey P7105 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes 19th No.10 Group Roadstead 40 1st all Whirlwind Roadstead Operation. 2 enemy Torpedo Boats between Le Havre-Cherbourg. Anti-flak P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7013 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P6094 P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6979 F/O Philip Harvey

Bombers P7113 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P7059 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P6995 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6987 W/O Donald Burton McPhail 20th The Operation of the previous day was repeated at 1st light with the same results. This time ‘B’ Flight were Anti-Flak & ‘A’ Flight were the bombers. No.10 Group Roadstead Anti-flak. P7113 F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7099 F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone P7059 F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates No.10 Group Roadstead Bombers. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P6079 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7013 F/O Philip Harvey Convoy Patrol P7007 W/O Donald Burton McPhail P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson 22nd P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF to F/O. 23rd Convoy Patrol P7105 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7094 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 24th P/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF to F/O. 25th F/S Jocelyn Ivan Yates to P/O. 26th Rhubarb La Haye du Puits. F/O Coyne shot up a pillbox & bombed the harbour installations at Dielette. P/O Samant (his 1st Offensive Op) bombed camouflaged huts 7 miles south-east of Pierreville. P7052 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7013 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant Rail objectives south-west of Isigny. Abandoned due to weather 10 miles south-east of Barfleur. P7105 F/O Philip Harvey P7052 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7113 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P6987 Sgt James Ian Simpson 29th Scramble Vectored after a Ju.88. According to Operations they were ‘right on top of it’ 16 miles north of Cherbourg, but it was concealed in 10/10 cloud. P7113 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7000 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 30th The Squadron has noted with admiration & affection the awards of the DSO & Bar to the DFC which have been gained recently in Malta by W/C Arthur Hay Donaldson DSC DFC AFC. W/C Donaldson was of course the brother of this Squadrons 1st Commanding Officer, S/L ‘Baldy’ Donaldson of Norwegian fame. He was himself Commanding Officer of the Squadron in the summer of 1941 & continued to be closely associated with the Squadron as Wing Commander Flying, Colerne Sector. F/L Arthur Norman William Johnstone posted. Interception Diversion from practice. Airborne north of Base on a Camera Gun dog-fighting practice, they were diverted to chase a Bandit. Recalled 20 miles south of Swanage. P7105 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7094 Sgt David John Williams

DECEMBER 1942 RAF Warmwell 1st Shipping Recce Cap Levy-Casquetes-Jersey. Escorted by 4 Mustangs of No.400 Sqn, & 4 Spitfires of No.118 Sqn, they met 3 x Me.109Fs. The Whirlwinds & Mustangs were ordered home, while W/C Morgan led the Spitfires to damage one of the 109s. P7113 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7000 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6995 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7059 Sgt John McGowan Barclay 3rd Convoy Patrol Convoy approaching the Solent from the Needles. 8 invasion barges which the Navy could not place, but later identified. The pilots returned very hungry for breakfast. P6991 F/O Philip Harvey P7094 P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant 5th Crimson sunset & scarlet dawn led to a fortnights frontal weather in which a mild southerly wind blew at gale or ½ gale force. 12th November to 6th December were an astonishing succession of mild, sunny, grey-blue days. The weather which followed was windy & wet & was either non-operational for flying or rendered the aerodrome waterlogged & so unserviceable. 7th A day of triumph & tragedy for the Squadron. No.10 Group Roadstead 45 1 ship was probably sunk, 2 seriously damaged & 1 probably damaged, but W/O Donald Burton McPhail RCAF is missing presumed killed in action, & S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC is missing in circumstances which lead to the hope that he may be a POW. S/L Woodward was awarded his DFC for his night fighting exploits with No.600 Sqn. He had commanded this Squadron since 10th February 1942. Something of his record may be gleaned from the foregoing pages in this book. The months May to November without accidents. The full & effective programme of Operational training, as well as the intense Convoy activity of the spring of this year. The development of the Whirlibomber, & finally the Offensive activity of the past 3 months. In Operations, S/L Woodward showed his keenness both in persuading Group to lay them on, & in his own leadership. He personally led the Squadron in 11 Offensive Operations & his own exploits were both gallant & successful. W/O McPhail came to us 2 months ago from No.137 Sqn. Of sober habits, he was very well liked. An excellent amateur photographer, his productions were in great demand, & as W/O i/c Squadron Photographic Records he greatly enriched the Squadron scrap book (q.v.). Rendezvous over Warmwell with No.66 Sqn Anti-Flak & No.118 Sqn with W/C Morgan as close escort. After skirting west of Guernsey, an enemy Convoy was sighted lying off Baie de St. Brelade south-west of Jersey. The anti-flak went in, closely followed by the Whirlwinds. S/L Woodward, Sgt Williams, F/O Harvey & P/O King divided left & right to attack an 800 & 500-ton merchant vessel respectively. S/L

Woodward’s bombs overshot, but Sgt William’ scored direct hits on the western & it set well on fire. S/L Woodward’s aircraft was hit by flak & was seen to make what looked like a prepared ditching about 400 yards from the ships. F/Harvey’s bombs scored a very near straddle of the bows. F/O Lovell, P/O Yates, W/O McPhail & F/S Wright attacked a Seiner type vessel. F/O Lovell’s bombs were very near misses. W/O McPhail was seen to fly through a heavy flak burst whilst making his run up. His aircraft disappeared straight into the sea. F/S Wright had to slide away from the Seiner to avoid his leaders bomb bursts. He attacked a Barge. Both P/O King & P/O Yates’ bombs hung up: neither was flying his own aircraft, & the hang ups were due to a differently placed bomb release button & to an unusually stiff one respectively. Other than those of our two casualties, no other Whirlwinds were hit by flak. It is hoped that S/L Woodward may be a POW A point about today’s Operation which may be of future interest. No.66 Sqn led in the line abreast formation which has recently been developed in the defence of Malta. It was today probably used for the 1st time by No.10 Group aircraft. P7105 S/L Robert Sinkler Woodward DFC P7117 Sgt David John Williams P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7057 P/O Cecil Percy King DFC P7113 F/O Stuart James Lovell P6986 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates P6987 W/O Donald Burton McPhail P6995 F/S Walter Roylance Wright 8th Telegrams of congratulations & regrets from AOC 10 Group & No.118 & No.66 Sqns. 9th F/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes appointed S/L & given Command of the Squadron. He learnt to fly with the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club but was rejected by the Air Crew Selection Board for defective eyesight. Commissioned in the RAFVR in April 1940, he served as an Equipment Officer in France. He then managed to make his way into a Flying Refresher Course & so to become a Flying Instructor in Training Command. After serving in Training Command for several months there came a shaky time when the local Medical Officer observed that he always wore glasses. During a fortnight leave he got himself fitted with contact lenses & at a subsequent medical board he came before Group Captain (now Air Commadore) Livingston. With his help, a conversion course at Upavon was arranged, & so to OTU & No.263 Sqn in September 1941. Appointed F/L in Command of ‘B’ Flight in November 1941. The Officers of the Squadron celebrated in a memorable party at Stafford House the double event of his promotion to Command the Squadron & of his forthcoming marriage. Rhubarb Rail triangle north of La Haye du Puits. Good landfall west of the Casquetes but found 6/10 cloud north of Cap de la Hague & returned. P6991 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 Sgt John Gray Macaulay 10th F/L Donald Bruce Ogilvie arrived for flying duties to Command ‘B’ Flight. This is his 2nd Tour, he fought in

the Battle of Britain with No.601 Sqn & has taken part in a great many Offensive Operations. Rhubarb Valognes-Carentan Railway. Recalled by ‘Facta’ from 15 miles south of St. Aldhelms Head, as “the sea was too rough for Air Sea Rescue”. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P6995 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Scramble P7094 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6991 Sgt David John Williams 14th Fighter Readiness while No.266 Sqn were Released. This led to the 1st No.263 Squadron combat, or even visual, from a defensive Patrol since March 1941, the 1st Whirlwind combat with a Focke-Wulf Fw.190 of this war, & the 1st enemy aircraft to be damaged in air combat since P/O King DFM shot down a Me.109 just over a year ago. Portland-St. Aldhelms Head. Vectored to 20 miles north of Barfleur. Returning from there, they met 2 Fw.190s & had a dogfight from 0 feet to 4,000 feet. F/O Coyne twice got on their tails & fired good bursts but at extreme range. Sgt Cotton also got in 2 bursts, 1 head on. 1 Fw.190 damaged by F/O Coyne. Both Whirlwinds were undamaged. They broke off the combat at cloud base & returned to Hurn, very short of petrol. P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7052 Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Anti-Rhubarb Patrol Vectored 40 miles south of Portland. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7059 F/S Walter Roylance Wright 15th The range of the Whirlibombers on Offensive Operations was reduced to 135 miles from 165 miles, at which figure it had stood for the past 4 weeks only. The reason for the temporary increase, which was wholly impracticable, has not been disclosed. Anti-Rhubarb Patrol The Needles-Portland. P6991 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 18th F/L Blackshaw gave a 1-hour lecture, with epidiascope pictures, on of Army Co-Op tactics. 25th Christmas Day. During the morning, a goodwill flight by 4 Whirlwinds was made to Middle Wallop, (Sector HQ & ‘Facta’ Control) & Bath. Thereafter the day was celebrated by all ranks together in traditional unstinted RAF fashion. 29th Sgt Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF to P/O. 31st Air-to Air & practice bombing at the Chesil Bank Range. Also, a beat-up by 2 sections of Bofors Gun positions on the common west of Sturminster Newton. This was the last of about a dozen similar exercises in co-operation with the Army &/or Navy, which were flown during the month.

JANUARY 1943 RAF Warmwell 2nd F/O Brearley RCAF, F/S Ridley, P/O Lee-White & Sgt Cotton detached to Predannack to harass enemy minesweepers expected off Ile Vierge. RAF Predannack 6th 11 Airmen detached to Predannack to maintain the Whirlwinds there. The hard & efficient work of these Airmen, under Sgt Taylor, was commended both by the authorities at Predannack & by the 2 Officers in command of the detachment. 7th No.10 Group Roadstead 46 Minesweepers off Ile Vierge Escorted by Nos.130 & 234 Sqns. Only thing of interest was a floating mine. P7099 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7013 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley RAF Warmwell 8th Convoy Patrol South of St. Aldhelms Head. P6971 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson RAF Predannack 10th No.10 Group Roadstead 49 Ile Vierge Minesweepers. Escorted by Nos.19 & 130 Sqns. 6 x Fishing vessels found but not molested. P7013 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7057 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7099 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 14th F/O Stuart Lovell, P/O King DFM, P/O Yates & Sgt Williams replaced the 4 pilots at Predannack. S/L Warnes experimented with the dropping of 2 parachute containers, such as might contain food supplies or arms. 2 Containers were loaded up with 120lbs sandbags. No difficulty was found in attaching them to the bomb racks & the container

did not interfere with the flap. A rather longer run than usual was necessary for the take off, but the machine handled as usual in the air & the stalling speed was the same as when carrying 250lb bombs. The containers were dropped from 500 feet, the parachute opening practically instantaneously, & there will be no difficulty in dropping these containers in a very small space. 15th 1st No.263 Squadron Night Operations. Air Sea Rescue Patrol Escort to a Defiant of No.276 Sqn. Sighted the missing pilot in his dinghy 20 miles south of Portland, but owing to failure of R/T communication, which is normal & well known within this area he was not picked up. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P6991 Sgt John Gray Macaulay Unsuccessful. P7007 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7059 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P6991 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P6986 F/O Philip Harvey P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7054 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Night Recce Channel Islands. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Night Rhubarb Penetrated the Cotentin as far as Baupte. Released starboard bomb on a Train, reserving port bomb for the track about a mile ahead. After orbiting he found the Train stopped & obscured by bomb smoke. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF 17th-26th On most of these, & nearly all the other similar days during the month, the aerodrome was counted as

serviceable for emergency flying & the Squadron maintained its normal state of 30-minutes Available. On the 17th, a Roadstead with 8 Whirlibombers was only cancelled when the Ibsley Wing had become airborne. The large ships reported by the Tangmere Recce off Cap Levy were recognised by a 10 Group Recce as rocks. Night Operations were fully laid on for 3-4 nights, but weather caused them to be cancelled. There were several excellent flying days during the month in which the waterlogged aerodrome caused the Squadron to be grounded while the air hummed with aircraft for more fortunate Bases. S/L Warnes attached to RAF Old Sarum for No.12 Senior Officers Course. 18th P/O Dattatraya Anant Samant posted to No.118 Sqn. No.10 Group Roadstead Ile de Batz. Search for the promised but entirely elusive, if not illusionary, Minesweepers. Returning from Ushant, the formation was attacked by 4 Fw.190s. No Whirlibomber combats or casualties, but 1 enemy aircraft damaged by F/L Bell of No.19 Sqn. Unfortunately, Sgt Sloan of the same Squadron is missing & Sgt Glover was seriously wounded. P6995 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7099 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7097 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates 19th F/O Cyril Brooking Thornton arrived for flying duties from No.535 Sqn. RAF Predannack 21st No.10 Group Roadstead 51 Escorted by No.19 Sqn. Recalled 7 minutes out from the English Coast. P6995 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7099 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7097 Sgt David John Williams 26th F/O John Peyto Shrubb Slatter arrived for flying duties.

FEBRUARY 1943 RAF Warmwell 2nd F/O John Peyto Shrubb Slatter posted to No.2 Delivery Flight. 5th A Rhubarb returned from Ile St. Marcouf due to lack of cloud cover. A Squadron dance held in the NAFFI was greatly enjoyed by all ranks. 7th Practice dive-bombing attack from 15,000 feet to 9,000 feet. 8th Beat-up Exercise with a Sunderland off Bournmouth. Army Co-Op Exercise Equipment Containers dropped on Netheravon. Good timing & accurate placing were warmly commended. F/O Brearley containers hung up. P7094 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7095 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7052 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 9th P/O Arthur Lee-White posted to HQ Fighter Command for Liaison with the USAAF at Goxhill. Sgt MacAulay’s starboard engine cut out during take off. He managed to maintain a few feet of height for nearly 2 miles, just avoiding high tension cables, & made a good crash-landing in a field west of the aerodrome. The accident was categorized as a technical failure. A letter from AVM Dickson CB DFC OBE AFC, AOC No.10 Group reads: “The AOC directs that the above-named pilot be commended for putting up a creditable performance when his starboard engine cut when taking off.” 10th ‘B’ Flight moved by rail & air to Fairwood Common. Arrival of Movietone News Photographers escorted by S/L Allcott, PAO No.10 Group, also an Air Ministry Photographic Beaufort from PRU Benson. However, cloud was too low for flying. 11th Overcast morning, too dark for Air-to-Air filming, but more Ground-to-Air film was taken. The extensive photographic efforts at last came to a successful culmination. Air-to-Air film was taken off Lyme Bay of formation bomb dropping & fighter attacks. We have learned since, that the filming was altogether successful. 12th No.10 Group Rhubarb 164 La Haye du Puits rail triangle. 2 trains were attacked with cannon & a siding at Pont Bail was bombed. Sgt David John Williams was hit by flak from a train & ditched 4 miles off Cap de Carteret. He was last seen organising his dinghy. F/O Harvey followed up in a gallant attempt to rescue by acting as navigator for the Air Sea Rescue Walrus which had to be abandoned owing to the roughness of the sea. P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7052 Sgt David John Williams 13th Air-to-Air Firing. The new Martinet Target Tug aircraft was found to have a useful turn of speed, which improves the resemblance of Operational conditions. 2 Army Officers from the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School, Lulworth were given flights in the Magister in order to test the possibilities of AFV Air-to-Ground recognition. It is understood that they concurred with the Squadrons view that this is extremely difficult.

14th No.10 Group Rhubarb Carentan-Valognes railway. Abandoned off Cherbourg, no cloud cover. P7117 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay 15th Sgt Max Cotton flew as a ‘hostile bomber’ in an Interception Exercise with Spitfires of the Ibsley Wing. HE was congratulated by G/C Hardy on contributing to the success of the Exercise by his accurate courses. No.10 Group Rhubarb Carentan-Valognes railway. Abandoned off Cherbourg, no cloud cover. P7057 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7117 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF No.10 Group Night Rhubarb Railway line south of Carentan bombed. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Channel Islands. P7057 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC 16th Sgt John McGowan Barclay posted to No.137 Sqn. Night Rhubarb S/L Warnes bombed a train north of Carentan by, which stopped in clouds of steam. F/L Blackshaw bombed a bridge south-east of Carentan. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Returned to the above locality, but too dark for accurate observations. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC 17th S/L Warnes & F/L Blackshaw awarded the DFC. F/L Donald Bruce Ogilvie posted to RAF Milfield. F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes arrived for flying duties from No.137 Sqn to command ‘B’ Flight. 18th No.10 Group Rhubarb Bombed the railway junction at La Haye du Puits. P7094 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7013 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Lock Gates at Ouistreham. P7094 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay 19th ‘Exercise Longford’ An otherwise an interesting & useful exercise in full co-operation between ‘A’ Flight at Warmwell & the Armoured Brigade of Guards, attacking Reading from the south-west, was sadly marred by the fatal crash of F/S Francis Leslie Hicks. 4 aircraft led by F/O Harvey were briefed to beat up mechanized transport. The actual target selected in the concentration, which was found 2 miles south of Chiselden, on the Wroughton-Swindon road, proved to be the large wagons of Divisional HQ. The attack & the accident were seen by SASO No.10 Group who characterized the 1st as excellent & the 2nd as due to a slight but fatal error of judgement. F/L Francis Leslie Hicks’ wing struck a tree, the aircraft was thrown into a violent horizontal spin from which it never recovered. P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P6971 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7062 F/S Francis Leslie Hicks RAAF 20th ‘A’ Flight, the Squadron Orderly Room, Intelligence & Medical sections to Harrowbeer near Yelverton, South Devon. No.3055 Echelon remained at Warmwell & ‘B’ Flight at Fairwood Common.

21st RAF Harrowbeer Settling in at Harrowbeer in conditions which, whilst no doubt not unreasonably described as “on Active Service” are very much less comfortable than the particularly good facilities of dispersal & messing which the Squadron enjoyed at Warmwell. 22nd F/O Cyril Brooking Thornton posted to No.141 Sqn. 24th Sgt George Albert Wood, Sgt John Thould & Sgt William Edwin Watkins arrived for flying duties from No.61 OTU. 25th P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer, Sgt Norman Peter Blacklock, Sgt Harold Medd Proctor & Sgt John Barrie Purkis arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 26th-28th ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights employed 3 times in a form of bombing which this Squadron at any rate had not used before. Soon after he took over command of the Squadron, S/L Warnes DFC suggested to Group authorities that the Squadron might practice & use a form of dive-bombing, so that it might take part in Circus Operations. Practices were carried out, & the Operations of these 3 days were laid on. Judgement about their absolute success, whether in the form of damage to aerodrome installations & or morale at Maupertus, or in the bringing to battle of enemy fighters, must evidently be the concern of higher authorities & of complete information. However, let it be recorded here that these Operations were intensively enjoyed by all who took part in them. 26th No.10 Group Circus 16 Landfall at Cherbourg avoiding intense & accurate flak. The Flight dived from 12,000 to 7,000 feet at 45°. Hits on aerodrome, dispersals & buildings. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7010 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P6971 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 27th Diversion to No.10 Group Ramrod 54 Landfall at Pointe du Barfleur. Dived vertically from 15,000. Hits observed on the aerodrome, dispersals & buildings. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6971 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 28th No.10 Group Circus 17 1st Wave ‘B’ Flight took off from Warmwell. This was their 1st dive-bombing attack. It was successful, buildings were seen to “open up like flowers.” P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7110 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7095 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7086 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7108 F/S Walter Roylance Wright No.10 Group Circus 17 2nd Wave The veterans of dive-bombing - ‘A’ Flight - went in for the 3rd time. A Fw.190 which was about to get a bead on Sgt Cotton as he began his dive, was shot down by F/O Andrieux of No.130 Sqn. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6971 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7010 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7115 Sgt James Ian Simpson

MARCH 1943 1st-13th ‘A’ Flight & SHQ at Harrowbeer, ‘B’ Flight at Fairwood Common & No.3055 Echelon at Warmwell. Convoy Patrol Off Angle P7099 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7110 F/S Walter Roylance Wright 5th Convoy Patrol Off St. Davids P7099 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7089 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P7110 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7117 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates 6th Sgt Hoare arrived for flying duties from No.195 Sqn. 7th Convoy Patrol Off St. Davids P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson 12th Convoy Patrol Convoy ‘Dinner’ P7089 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates P6995 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Dusk Patrol P7099 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7117 Sgt James Ian Simpson 13th Scramble Over Cardiff at 25,000 feet. P7099 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7110 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 14th RAF Warmwell No.10 Group Circus 18 1st wave Both Flights returned to Warmwell. Escorted from Warmwell by No.312 Sqn, they made landfall at Barfleur at 15,000 feet & dive-bombed Maupertus aerodrome from 15,000-9,000 feet. P6971 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7117 P/O Stuart James Lovell P7059 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates P7089 F/S Walter Roylance Wright RAF Ibsley No.10 Group Circus 18 2nd. Wave Escorted by Nos.616, No.504 & 139 Sqns. Led by W/C O’Brien, they crossed the French Coast at Barfleur at 16,000 feet. Dive-bombed from 15,000-8,000 feet & saw bursts on the centre of the aerodrome. P7094 F/O Philip Harvey P7013 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7113 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7010 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 15th RAF Bolt Head SHQ to Warmwell. 8 aircraft moved to Bolt Head; they stayed for 3 days, but the weather was too hazy for the Operation which had been planned. They were serviced by 4 Ground Staff who were transported in the Oxford. They worked manfully. 16th Sgt O. Ramamoorthy arrived for flying duties from No.58 OTU. 19th 47 Ground Crew to Predannack. 6 aircraft to Bolt Head for a last bid for 10 Group Ramrod 59.

No.10 Group Roadstead 53 Convoy south of Guernsey. Escorted by Nos.504 & 616 Squadrons led by W/C Morgan. Thick black haze forced them back. These 12 Whirlibombers were the greatest number ever to become airborne for an Operation. It was a pity therefore that the convoy could not be located. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7089 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P6971 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7013 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7010 F/O Philip Harvey P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6974 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7108 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates 20th F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley detached to No.1 S.L.A.I.S., Millfield. RAF Predannack 21st No.10 Group Night Rhubarb 23 Morlaix viaduct bombed again, with even greater success. A feature of these 3 Operations was that the same 9 pilots took part in the same order in each. A telegram of congratulations received from AOC No.10 Group. Held by searchlights & accurate flak from 2,000-200 feet. Bombs jettisoned. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Bombed from 1,200 feet through accurate flak. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Gyro, Artificial Horizon u/s. Returned to Base. P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes Bombed 4,000-1,000 feet. Heavy flak. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Bombed from 3,000-1,500 feet. Direct hit on Viaduct. P7057 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Bombed 4,000-1,500 feet. No flak no searchlights. Saw P/O Abrams’ results. P7010 F/O Philip Harvey Target not found. Jettisoned bombs over the sea. P7108 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Target not found. Jettisoned bombs over the sea. P7013 F/S Walter Roylance Wright Bombed 4,000-2,000 feet. No flak. No results seen. P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 22nd No.10 Group Night Rhubarb 24 Ponthou viaduct. Only 3 aircraft located it in haze. Bombed from 300 feet after a dummy run. P7112 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Bombed from 3,000-1,000 feet. Accurate flak. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Bombed from 1,000 feet & scored a direct hit. P7108 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes Bombed from 3,000 feet after a dummy run. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Landfall at Ile Vierge & bombed the Penze Bridge. P7057 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Bombed from 3,000-1,200 feet. Accurate flak. P7010 F/O Philip Harvey Port engine u/s. P7040 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Unable to evade searchlights, jettisoned bombs. P7013 F/S Walter Roylance Wright

Flaps would not lift. Jettisoned bombs & landed. P6974 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 23rd No.10 Group Night Rhubarb 25 Ponthou Viaduct. All 10 aircraft returned safely (serviceable) to Warmwell. Bombed target after dummy runs in thick haze. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Target not found. Bombs jettisoned in sea. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Target not found. Bombed unknown rail target. P7108 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes Target not found. Bombed unknown cutting. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Found target but unfortunately mis-fused bombs. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Target not found. Bombed main line cutting. P7010 F/O Philip Harvey ? P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Artificial horizon etc u/s returned to Base. P7040 F/S Walter Roylance Wright Bombed after 2 dummy runs. No results seen. P6974 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM 24th Cpl Loughlin arrived as Orderly Room Corporal from No.537 Sqn. No.10 Group Rhubarb Railway objectives at La Haye du Puits. Abandoned at the Casquetes, no cloud cover. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 26th 4 Rhubarbs. 1 found no cloud cover, 1 found no useful target, 1 was successful, & 1 brilliantly successful. No.10 Group Rhubarb Rail objectives at La Haye du Puits. They mistook Cap Flamanville for Cap Carteret & searched too far north. P7007 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P6971 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Landfall at Langrunesm they bombed Ouistreham Lock Gates through light flak, which tore a large hole in P7108. Lock Gates damaged. P7108 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6974 P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates Transformer Station at St. Lo. Landfall east of Isigny, they located the target. P/O Abrams’ bombs disintegrated the Transformer unit. F/O Lee-White’s exploded amongst the complex of huts. Perhaps the Squadrons most successful Rhubarb Operation. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7089 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Carentan. Abandoned 20-miles north of Carentan, no cloud cover. P7059 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson 27th-31st The mobility of the Squadron during the past 6 weeks is accounted for by the fact that this has been the only fighter-bomber Squadron in No.10 Group. 31st Sgt N. Turner posted to RAF Colerne. He was posted to the Squadron on 16th March 1940 & was thus 1 of its oldest members. As Orderly Room Sergeant he came as near as absolute perfection as is given to human beings in the RAF. He will be very greatly missed by all ranks, as a friend & councillor.

APRIL 1943 April was to prove the most dramatic month in the history of the Squadron since its return from Norway, nearly 3 years ago. 1st Combined Church Parade in commemoration of the 25th. Anniversary of the RAF.

1st-3rd RAF Warmwell Influenza struck down 5 members of the Squadron, but most recovered rapidly. 4th No.10 Group Roadstead Alderney-Cap de la Hague. Escorted by No.129 Sqn Spitfires. Swept the area at zero feet, in a quest for several E-Boats reported there, but none found. P7113 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson P6695 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P6971 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 5th P/O Jocelyn Ivan Yates posted to No.286 Sqn. 6th RAF Tangmere No.10 Group Circus 20 Caen-Capiquet aerodrome. Escorted by Nos. 616 & 129 Sqns. Intended to form a 2nd bombing wave to the Typhoon bombers which had bombed an hour before. However, they found 9/10 cloud at Ouistreham at 8,000 feet & the Operation was abandoned, P7059 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7113 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7007 F/S Walter Roylance Wright P7090 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P6974 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P6971 F/O Stuart James Lovell P6995 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7010 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams 9th RAF Harrowbeer No.10 Group Roadstead 55 Sept Iles-Ile de Batz. Escorted by Nos.312 & 313 Spitfire Sqns at 0 feet. As often, ship like rocks were found. A Spitfire chased a Ju.88, but it escaped into cloud. P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7099 F/O Stuart James Lovell P6979 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7094 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7010 P/O Cecil Percy King DFM 10th Squadron Readiness all day: it seems that considerable shipping movements have been observed off Brest & Cherbourg. RAF Exeter & RAF Predannack 11th 6 aircraft taxied out to fly from Exeter but were recalled by Verey signals & told to fly to Predannack. Called down (in error) at Exeter they got to Predannack in the evening. RAF Exeter 13th Walter Roylance Wright posted Overseas. The rest of the Squadron’s aircraft were summoned to Predannack, in quest of the shipping reported off Brest. These were again called down at Exeter & flew an uneventful Roadstead from there.

RAF Perranporth & RAF Predannack No.10 Group Roadstead A 3000-ton Merchant Vessel escorted by E-Boats had been reported off Bréhat, but this sweeping Operation failed to locate them. Corporal Matthews & 12 Ground Crew worked extremely hard & long & effectively to keep these aircraft serviceable. P6974 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6879 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P7013 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7099 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell No.10 Group Circus 22 Brest-Guipavas aerodrome. After a hasty but adequate briefing & a good deal of a ‘rush’, the 1st time the Squadron has attacked Guipavas, though Morlaix, Lannion & Maupertus are ancient enemies. Taking off from Predannack, the Squadron made rendezvous with the Portreath Wing over Predannack & flew at zero feet for 12 minutes then climbed to cross the French Coast correctly at Pontusval at 14,000 feet. The target was easily identified, being indifferently camouflaged & outlined by a newly made perimeter track. Dive-bombing was in echelon port from 15,000-6,000 feet. Bursts seen in the dispersals, on the Watch Office & a hanger near it. Flak followed our aircraft back to the coast. Fortunately, no enemy aircraft were seen since F/O Arthur Lee-White only got his aircraft started 5 minutes after the formation left. He joined up over Guipavas; & F/O Lovell got detached after bombing & returned alone from the Ushant area. P6971 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7099 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7010 F/O Philip Harvey P7089 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P6979 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7013 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7090 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7094 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell RAF Warmwell & RAF Predannack 14th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce These 1st light Reconnaissances from Predannack & Warmwell respectively, were to search for E-Boats which, after mauling a Convoy off Falmouth, were believed to be returning towards Cherbourg. The Warmwell Recce found nothing, but that from Predannack found a Lancaster floating & its crew in a dinghy near to it, 20 miles south of Start Point. (They had attacked Spezia, Italy). Their R/T had been u/s, & their forced landing unknown. Our aircraft orbited them & obtained fixes, waiting until ASR Beaufighters appeared. The crew of 7 were rescued, but the attempt to tow in the Lancaster was unsuccessful. P7090 F/O Philip Harvey P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P6971 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7040 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM RAF Predannack No.10 Group Roadstead 57 The most successful Operation of the month. Shipping was reported in the Lannilis Estuary, & escorted by No.65 Sqn they searched for it at 0 feet. By chance, landfall was made too far south & F/O Harvey inadvertently led them into the area off Baie de Brest & thereby found 3 ships: one of which was reported as an 800-ton Dredger & was left “well on fire.” It was shown in cine-gun film as a large Trawler type with a heavy crane in the bows. The cannon attacks were extremely good. The other 2 were also Trawler types. They were claimed Cat 4, but this claim is under revision, since these cannon attacks were also clearly effective. Sgt MacAulay alone attacked a small 4th ship. Nothing definite was seen of him after his attack, but the CO of No.65 Sqn heard him say, “I’m going down now, I am going to land.”, so that we hope he may have force landed safely in the Brest Peninsula. F/O Harvey fired

without seeing results at a Ju. W34, another of which was destroyed by No.65 Sqn. The aircraft then returned to Warmwell from Predannack, F/O Arthur Lee-White later than the others, in full darkness. The Ground Crews also returned to Warmwell. P7090 F/O Philip Harvey P7094 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P7010 Sgt John Gray Macaulay P7089 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams P7059 Sgt James Ian Simpson RAF Warmwell 15th No.10 Group Roadstead 58 Channel Islands. Rendezvous with No.616 Sqn over Warmwell & searched Guernsey-Jersey. The reported ships were not found. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7110 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF P7094 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM P6979 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 16th Armed Dusk Recce Channel Islands. Search for E-Boats leaving Cherbourg for their Channel Islands bases, & thence towards the Cornish Coast. However, Recce did not find them. Our aircraft landed in the dark. P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6874 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7007 F/O Stuart James Lovell P6979 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan No.10 Group Night Rhubarb Mondeville Industries. Compass jammed then west u/s. His point of entry should have been at Cap de la Hague, but he recce’d Isigny-Carentan for ships & trains instead. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC Nothing heard after he left Warmwell. A Vichy radio report suggests that his ‘Canadian aircraft’ (he carried Maple leaves crest) was shot down whilst attacking a train at St.Lo. He had been with the Squadron for 19 months & was so competent a pilot & so likeable a person, that to write briefly of him here would scarcely do him justice. P6995 F/O Edger Brearley RCAF Mistaking the Isigny for Caen canal, he pin-pointed too late. Disintegrated the line north of Carentan. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Attacked from 2,000 feet in a 30° dive. Saw bursts in the target area. Moderate flak. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Made a dummy run through the flak & then attacked the target from 800 feet, seeing bursts. He was shot up by ships on the way out. P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Found a heavily defended Armed Trawler north of Ouistreham. He bombed it but thinks that in evading the flak, he missed. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Bombed from 100 feet but saw no results. P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM Making landfall near Courseulles, he flew east but missed the Caen canal so returned to disintegrate the main line west of Bayeux. P7090 F/O Philip Harvey 17th At night, 9 aircraft sought out targets in almost the whole seaward & landward area which is within the Squadron’s range from Warmwell. F/O Phillip Harvey, F/O ‘Percy’ King DFM & F/O Basil Courtney Abrams did not return. F/O King was very much the oldest member of the Squadron, having been in it for 25 months (a rather long single tour of Operations). F/O Abrams & F/O Harvey, like Brearley, had been with us for 19

months. These 4 seemed to be the backbone of the Squadron. F/O Harvey & F/O Brearley were the deputy Flight Commanders of ‘A’ & ‘B’ Flights respectively. Nothing more is known of the 3. It is not possible to set down here what we felt about them. Harvey, son of the Bishop of Cashel, was a person of rare charm & goodness. He had been married for 5 weeks. King & Abrams were close friends of each other but were equally good companions of the rest of the Squadron. The 4 were typical of the varied origins of our pilots. They came from Canada, Eire, British Guiana & South Africa respectively. No.10 Group Night Armed Shipping Recce Channel Islands. He returned from the Casquetes with port engine trouble. P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Houlgate-St. Marcouf. Nothing heard after he left Warmwell & it is surmised he attacked an Armed Trawler off Ouistreham. P7099 P/O Basil Courtney Abrams Alderney-Marcouf. Bombed Fort St. Marcouf. P7089 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF No.10 Group Night Rhubarb Good, visibility brilliant moonlight, nothing definite is known about our 3 casualties. It is guessed that flak from land or sea was the cause. Bayeux-Airel. Disintegrated track near Carentan. P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Granville-Folligny. Returned from the Casquetes with Exactor trouble. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Trains in the Bayeux-Caen. Nothing heard after he left Warmwell. P7090 F/O Philip Harvey La Haye du Puits. No targets found. P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson Trains between Isigny & St.Lo. It is likely that he was shot down by the Airel flak, see below. P7117 F/O Cecil Percy King DFM Trains on the Carentan-Valognes line. He saw an intense barrage of flak over Airel at 2348. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC 18th No.10 Group Armed Dusk Recce Channel Islands-Ile Marcouf. Escorted by No.616 Sqn. P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6974 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6971 F/O Stuart James Lovell P7007 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson

No.10 Group Night Recce Channel Islands-Barfleur. P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC Southern Channel Islands. P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF No.10 Group Night Roadstead Jersey-Cap de la Hague. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7007 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson 19th No.10 Group Night Armed Recce It is difficult to see the damage at night & the ships could only be claimed Cat 4 or 3. Both these attacks were carried out from below mast height. 2 Dutch Coasters, a small Merchant Vessel & 2 Motor Barges north-east of Guernsey. He bombed the Merchant Vessel & doesn’t think he missed. P7108 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF 2 Armed Trawlers 2 miles south-east of St. Marcouf. He made a beam attack on 1 & doesn’t think he missed. Moderate flak. P7007 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF No.10 Group Night Roadstead The Channel Island Convoy attacked by F/O Coyne was sought for, but not found. It had probably berthed in Alderney. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7089 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF RAF Warmwell 27th No.10 Group Roadstead 59 Without doubt the most successful Operations to date. Rendezvous with the Ibsley Wing led by W/C Morgan, at Anvil Point. They flew west at sea-level to the south of Jersey where they found a Convoy of 9 ships. S/L Warnes, F/L Blackshaw & P/O Cotton left a 1,500-ton Merchant Vessel in flames & an Armed Trawler seriously damaged. Sgt Simpson probably sank a 100-ton converted Yacht & then went on to damage an E-Boat with cannon fire. W/O Tebbit probably sunk a Motor Barge. F/O Lee-White’s tail plane was damaged, probably by debris P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7007 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 28th A congratulatory signal from AOC No.10 Group on Roadsteads 59 & 60 read, “Hearty congratulations on your shows of yesterday & today. I realise full well your present difficulties over aircraft & pilots.” No.10 Group Roadstead 60 The same 6, who were the only pilots Operational for shipping attacks, flew to Exeter & from there were

detailed to search for a large Convoy which had already been mauled (5 ships sunk) by H.M. Destroyers Goathland & Albrighton, not without casualties to themselves, south of Jersey. S/L Warnes’ aircraft would not start, & he therefore got into W/O Tebbit’s, & F/O Lee-White’s aircraft had Exactor trouble. Escorted by the Exeter Wing led by W/C Dolezal, they found a Convoy of 8 ships north of the Sept Iles. After some good anti-flak attacks (so too on the previous day), S/L Warnes & F/L Blackshaw scored direct hits on an ‘M’ Class Minesweeper, & probably sunk it. Sgt Simpson scored many cannon strikes & direct hits on a 2nd Minesweeper (also claimed Cat 3). Flak was very intense throughout, & accurate. P/O Cotton returned with an 18” hole in his starboard wing. 1 of the Spitfires was shot down. P7089 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7059 Sgt James Ian Simpson P6981 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF No.10 Group Roadstead 62 Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. Convoy not found. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7059 P/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7057 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 29th F/S Ridley re-joined the Squadron just in time to make the 6th Pilot Operational for shipping attacks, & to take the place of F/O Lee-White who was collecting a Whirlwind from Exeter. Perhaps this is the place to mention the frequent journeys taken by small parties of our ground crews in the Squadron Oxford. Whirlwinds can only be serviced by Whirlwind trained crews. During this month, our ground crews have serviced Whirlwinds at Warmwell, Exeter, Harrowbeer, Predannack, Middle Wallop & Ibsley. No.10 Group Roadstead 63 Ships off Isigny. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, found the ships (reported as 1,000 tons) near Isigny, & S/L Warnes, closely following the anti-flak Spitfires, exploded a vessel with his bombs. Attacks were then called off, as the remaining ships were identified as fishing vessels. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7089 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6079 Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7110 Sgt James Ian Simpson P7057 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 30th No.10 Group Roadstead 63 From Predannack escorted by the Portreath Wing to attack shipping off Ushant. Nothing sighted & the aircraft returned to Predannack. P7040 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7110 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF

MAY 1943

It had been evident since the middle of April, that it was no longer possible to obtain from Westlands or the Maintenance Units, replacements for more than 1 or 2 of the several Whirlwinds which were written off in Operations, or which were u/s during major inspections. Further, the number of pilots Operational at night & by day for Anti-Shipping attacks had fallen rather low. Accordingly, the CO obtained a directive from Group that the Squadron was to maintain at the normal ‘30 minutes available’ by day (& by night in the moon period) as many pilots & aircraft as was possible in the circumstances. RAF Warmwell 1st P/O Patrick Harvey who was missing from Night Rhubarb Operations on the night of 17th-18th April, awarded the DFC. Sgt James Ian Simpson to F/S. 2nd F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. No.10 Group Roadstead 64 Channel Islands. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. It seems that the Casquetes had again been reported as a Trawler. P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P6979 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P6989 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7023 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7113 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 3rd No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Guernsey-Sept Iles-Ile de Batz. Escorted by the Exeter Wing. W/C Dozel & No.310 Sqn involved in combats with 6 Fw.190s. These resulted in the W/C damaging 1, 1 Czech pilot being killed & another wounded. They effectively protected the Whirlibombers, who were not engaged. The Minesweepers being searched for were not found. P7074 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7079 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6989 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit 5th No.10 Group Roadstead Bréhat-Sept Iles. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, they searched for a Minelayer reported east of Brehat. The French Fishing Fleet was found again. Returned via Bolt Head in case anyone was short of petrol, but our formation all got back to Warmwell, though Sgt Thyagarajan had let one of his fuel tanks fall unreasonably low. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6974 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6989 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7074 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 6th No.10 Group Roadstead 65 Channel Islands. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing at 0 feet (as in all these Operations) to attack a Tanker with 5 Escorts north-west of Alderney. The Casquetes were found. Intense & accurate flak from Alderney. P7013 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7048 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7069 Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P7059 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6994 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7008 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7110 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7057 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF

7th Sgt John Thould, coming into land, held off at 30 feet, & wrote off a Whirlwind near the Watch Office. This was the 1st accident ascribed to carelessness for 10 months. He was detached forthwith to the Air Crew Refresher Course, Brighton. 10th Mr S. Rostron of Westland’s & Mr H. Penrose, the Chief Test Pilot, came from Yeovil to present the Squadron with a large & handsome silver cigarette box. The box was inscribed: -

WHIRLWIND

No.263(F) SQUADRON FROM

WESTLAND AIRCRAFT AS AN APPRECIATION OF

GALLANT WORK DONE 1943

11th No.10 Group Shipping Recce Channel Islands. Escorted by 16 Spitfires of Nos.504 & 129 Sqns. Sgt Proctor nearly put his wing down landing in a strong crosswind. P7057 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7110 F/S James Ian Simpson P6971 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor 14th No.10 Group Roadstead 67 2 Destroyers alongside the Quai Maritime in Cherbourg. Alternatively, a medium Merchant Vessel, probably our old enemy the Solmglint, in the Basin Napoleon in Cherbourg Docks. The method of attack was left to the Squadron, & S/L Warnes decided on a dive-bombing attack from 12,000-5,000 feet. Escort was by W/C Morgan, Nos.504, 129 & 610 Sqns (the Ibsley Wing) as cover & top cover. They formed up below 200 feet at Warmwell; flew just above sea-level for 7 minutes; climbed to 12,000 feet where the escorting Squadrons took their appropriate positions. S/L Warnes led the Whirlibombers in over Querqueville, gliding down to 11,000 feet, & then turned left in the base of a valuable cloudbank. Thus, he was able to position the Squadron to dive-bomb out of cloud, & out of the glaring yellow sunset. This manoeuvre seems to have surprised & abated the Cherbourg flak - it merely attempted a curtain barrage, & only 3 Whirlwinds were dented by it. The Destroyers were not there, but the Merchant Vessel was in Basin Napoleon, & the Whirlibombers secured a good pattern of bombing without seeing a direct hit. This it was felt would have been a remarkably lucky shot. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7089 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 F/S James Ian Simpson P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P6979 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF XXXXX Sgt Kenneth Charles Ridley 15th Night Shipping Recce Alderney to Isigny. Found an 8 ship Convoy off Cap Barfleur, he kept out of range & sound of it & bombed the rearmost ship, a 2,500-ton Merchant Vessel, up moon from mast height. He heard a tremendous explosion as he passed over it. It is claimed as Cat 2. P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Channel Islands. Chased after E-Boats that eluded his bombing run. P7972 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF No.10 Group Night Roadstead 2 Convoy off Barfleur. S/L Warnes & Sgt Simpson could not find it. F/L Holmes bombed 1 ship but did not see results (Cat 4). F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC, who set out late, returned to crash fatally in mysterious circumstances, near Exeter. He had orbited Exeter, Harrowbeer, then Exeter again without lights & without R/T, & finally seems to have left his aircraft a few seconds before it crashed, after

being airborne for 2 hours 12 minutes, 12 minutes longer than the accepted maximum Operational flight time of a Whirlwind. It is probable that he had dropped his bombs & was concussed by flak from the Convoy. The loss of ‘Blackie’ as a friend, leader & councillor in every matter concerned with the Squadron’s activities was extremely severe. He came to the Squadron as a Sergeant in March 1941. Commissioned in November 1941, he took over the command of ‘A’ Flight in September 1942 & completed 43 Offensive Operations in Whirlwinds & Whirlibombers. A careful & clever pilot, he was shrewd, witty & gentle as a person. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7094 F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7110 F/S James Ian Simpson 16th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Recalled due to failure of R/T reception at Middle Wallop. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7059 F/S James Ian Simpson P7013 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 2 Destroyers & a Merchant Vessel near the Channel Islands. Escorted by No.504 Sqn. 7 miles west of the Casquetes the formation, which was in loose line abreast at 0 feet was attacked by 2 Fw.190s, which fired rather wildly then foolishly turned south back over the Whirlibombers. F/O Lee-White & F/O Coyne who had turned to port, were able to get in bursts of 76 & 56 rounds respectively, using full deflection. Both saw strikes, & the 2 aircraft were claimed damaged. Spitfires of No.504 Sqn were detached to chase, but made no further contact, while the Whirlibombers returned to Base. This was the 2nd Fw.190 damaged by F/O Coyne, & the 3rd by Whirlibombers. Bombs were not jettisoned. P7040 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P7110 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 17th No.10 Group Night Reconnaissance Channel Islands-Isigny Shipping Lanes. P7040 F/S James Ian Simpson Channel Islands. P7008 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF Alderney-Pointe de la Percee. P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF Barfleur-Isigny. P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 18th No.10 Group Roadstead Jersey-Ile Brehat. Escorted by Nos.504 & 616. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7089 F/S James Ian Simpson P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley XXXXX F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF XXXXX P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF Night Reconnaissance Channel Islands-Isigny Shipping Lanes. P7059 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 19th No.10 Group Roadstead 69 Jersey-Ile Brehat Escorted by Nos.504 & 616 Sqns. Minesweepers not found. Sgt Watkins’ 1st Operation. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7050 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7089 Sgt William Edwin Watkins P6974 F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF P6979 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley

20th F/O James Patrick Coyne RCAF to F/L & given command of ‘A’ Flight. The funeral of F/L Herbert John Blackshaw DFC took place at RAF Warmwell, & Warmwell Village Church. In the evening it was learned that the body of F/O Edger Brearley RCAF, who had been missing since Night Intruder Operations of 16th-17th April, had been washed ashore near Swanage. His body was brought to Warmwell but gave no evidence of what had happened. It is likely that he too was shot down by flak from a ship. 21st No.10 Group Night Roadstead 2 Cap de la Hague-Cherbourg. S/L Warnes found the Convoy 3 miles north-west of Cherbourg. He bombed a 3500-ton Merchant Vessel escorted by 4 Armed Trawlers, then Patrolled 3 miles north of the Convoy broadcasting directions & a commentary & observing the next 3 attacks. This broadcast was relayed to the Squadron Intelligence Office by Middle Wallop Operations. F/L Holmes & P/O Cotton finished off the Merchant vessel. F/L Coyne sank 1 of the Armed Trawlers. When F/O Lee-White arrived, there were only 3 Armed Trawlers left. His starboard engine was set on fire by flak 400 yards from the Convoy, but he went in to bomb 1 of the Trawlers from mast height in a port beam up moon attack (this was used throughout). Then he called that he was baling out over Querqueville. However, the slipstream abated the engine fire, & he was able to struggle back to Warmwell & land, where the engine now in full flame was extinguished by the fire tender. P/O Cotton’s aircraft was also Cat B - flak, with a fuselage like a pepper box. He made a good landing after 4 attempts without ASI & with his rudder partly jammed, neither aircraft had hydraulics; wheels & flaps answered to the emergency air bottle. Thus, this Operation was the most successful, exciting & spectacular of our Night Operations to date. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7108 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7007 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7059 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF 22nd Only 5 Whirlibombers serviceable. 4 were being dismantled to be returned to Westlands (Cat B -

flak), 2 were under repair for minor flak damage & 2 more at normal inspections with No.3055 Echelon. 23rd No.10 Group Roadstead 70 Guernsey-Herm. The 4 available Whirlibombers were enough for an effective Roadstead. A Convoy had shot down 1 of the Reconnaissance Spitfires which found it. Accordingly, the Whirlibombers, escorted by the Ibsley Wing flew through the Russell Strait (Guernsey-Herm) where, “The sea seemed to boil with flak” & found a 7 ship Convoy in line astern near St. Peter Port neatly disposed for immediate north to south beam attacks. F/L Holmes probably sank a Dutch Coaster (its centre section was disintegrated on the water line). The others damaged an Armed Trawler (Cat 3). P/O Cotton’s starboard petrol tank was holed by a 20mm shell & lost 30 gallons before it sealed itself & he got back to Warmwell with his 3rd aircraft Cat B for Westland’s. P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes P7000 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7089 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF 24th The funeral of F/O Edger Brearley RCAF took place in the afternoon. Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan posted to No.286 Sqn. 25th-26th Only 5 Whirlwinds serviceable. 26th F/S James Ian Simpson was dangerously wounded by a revolver bullet discharged accidentally by Sgt John Thould. He was taken to Bovington Hospital, where he underwent a complete & successful operation. 27th Sgt John Thould posted to RAF Warmwell. 28th A cipher message was received, which ordered the immediate re-equipment of the Squadron with an unexpected type of aircraft. It was received with more feigned than real enthusiasm. 29th Sgt Hoare posted to Target Towing Duties.

The cipher message of the previous day was cancelled by a teleprinted signal. Plans then emerged for obtaining Whirlibombers - 14 it is believed - now on charge with No.137 Sqn, our daughter unit now to be re-equipped with another type of aircraft. Thus, to the great satisfaction of this unit, No.263 Squadron which flew the 1st Whirlwinds in July 1940, & 1st used Whirlwinds in Defensive & Offensive Operations in 1941, & flew the 1st Whirlibomber Operations in September 1942, will also have the privilege of using, as profitably as we may reasonably hope, the last two dozen Whirlwinds that remain. No.10 Group Roadstead 71 15 ship Convoy off Barfleur. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, they found the French Fishing Fleet again - they were not attacked. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7007 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6972 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7013 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley Scramble Protection for 36 Spitfire IX’s of the Hornchurch Wing. The airfield was photographed by an enemy aircraft when abnormally crowded with aircraft, & these were now refuelling after Ramrod 67. P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P7013 Sgt William Edwin Watkins P6974 Sgt Norman Peter Blacklock P7113 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P7040 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7007 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer 30th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Jersey. Initially laid on for 1st light, then for 1100, it was flown uneventfully at 1845. This Operation completed 400 sorties with Whirlibombers. Escorted by Nos.616 & 504 Sqns, they saw nothing. P7113 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DFC P7040 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P6972 F/L James Patrick Coyne RCAF P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF

JUNE 1943 June brought 19 days of frontal weather. Rain, wind, low cloud & sea fog followed each other with only a few bright & not very sunny intervals. The same 19 days also brought high honours & far reaching changes to the Squadron. RAF Warmwell 1st Sgt Leonard Scott Gray arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 2nd F/L Holmes & F/L Coyne awarded DFC in recognition of gallant & successful work accomplished with Whirlibombers. 6th No.10 Group Roadstead 72 Cherbourg Docks. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. Abandoned due to 10/10 cloud over the target. P7040 F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes DFC P6997 F/O Arthur Lee-White RCAF P6990 P/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton RAAF P6974 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley P6981 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor 8th Sgt Leonard James Knott arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 13th F/O Lee-White & P/O Cotton awarded the DFC. S/L Warnes DFC awarded the DSO. It is the 2nd to be awarded for work accomplished entirely with No.263 Squadron. The 1st was awarded postumously to S/L ‘Baldy’ Donaldson in July 1940. The DFCs bring the number awarded to the Squadron, during the past 9 months, to 7. F/S R.A. Hollamby who has been for nearly a year i/c ‘A’ Flight ground crews, & F/S H.O.J. Watts who is i/c the Armament section, have been honoured & the Squadron with them, by being Mentioned in Despatches. In the evening, the Squadron Oxford, T1064, an old & useful chariot which has hitherto proved inviolable, was rendered Cat B at Ibsley by a Spitfire which taxied into it while it was stationary before taking off. The fuselage was severed behind the cockpit. F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC & his pupil uninjured. T1064 was replaced by a newer & faster Oxford, T1058. A party was held at the Golden Lion at Weymouth. It was given by the 4 Officers who have recently been decorated, to all Officers & Aircrew of the Squadron, & 3 members of the Warmwell SHQ, who have been especially friendly & helpful to the Squadron, S/L Marshal - SMO, F/L Ken Baker - Equipment Officer, & F/O Buchanan - Sports Officer. A magnificent party magnificently enjoyed. 15th Sgt Norman Peter Blacklock appointed P/O. S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC posted to No.10 Group. He had commanded the Squadron since December 1942. During that time the work of

the Squadron at Warmwell was largely of his creation. Briefly, he was a strict disciplinarian who imbued a fierce & forthright manner with personnel kindness; a commander who never left the least doubt about what he wanted & who consistently obtained these qualities because he himself consistently displayed them: He himself did more than he required of others. As a tactician, S/L Warnes may have some place in the history of the War, as the creator of medium-level dive bombing by fighter-bombers. His notes on shipping attacks, have been adopted as a Fighter Command Tactical Memorandum. S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC arrived for flying duties from No.182 Sqn to Command. He comes to the Squadron on his 3rd Tour. He has fought & flown in aircraft of many designations in almost every theatre of the war, other than the Far East. It is felt that the Squadron has again been most fortunate in his appointment. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce North-east of Sark. Escorted by 8 Anti-flak Spitfires of No.616 Sqn, & 8 Close Escort Spitfires of No.504 Sqn. Rendezvous over Warmwell below 200 feet. No.616 Sqn Spitfires made excellent attacks on 2 ‘M’-Class Minesweepers abeam of 2 2-Funnel Warships, presumably small Destroyers or ‘Geleitboote’. 1 of their pilots was shot down by flak & is missing. Our sections each bombed an ‘M’-Class Minesweeper from below mast height coming in the classical manner fully abeam to the ships. As they jumped over the minesweepers, they presented an unpleasantly good target to the ‘Geleitboote’. F/O Lee-White & Sgt Wood feel sure that they did not miss, but they saw no explosion because of the 11-second delay bombs which were used for the 1st time on this Operation. F/S Ridley also does not think he missed. P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton’s bomb splashes were seen, as usual, amidships. His aircraft then received a direct hit from a 40mm shell & there was an explosion in the cockpit. The aircraft disintegrated when it hit the sea & it is not thought possible that he would have survived. Our aircraft reformed with the escort & returned to Base, having probably seriously damaged or sunk 2 Minesweepers, but at severe cost to the Squadron. F/S Ridley’s aircraft was rendered Cat B by a glancing hit by flak in the fin & rudder. P/O ‘Max’ Cotton came to the Squadron in July 1942. From the 1st, he proved himself to have an extraordinary flare for accurate bombing. Both in practice & in action, he rarely missed his direct hit. As a pilot & leader, his matter of fact calmness before, during & after Operations made him invaluable to the Squadron. As a person, his courtesy & frank & open nature & constant good humour endeared him to all who knew him. P7097 F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC RCAF P7110 Sgt George Albert Wood P7000 P/O Maxwell Tylney Cotton DFC RAAF P6974 F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley 17th The British Woman’s Patriotic Committee in the Argentine Republic have sent a large consignment of Woollen Comforts for the Squadron, doubtless a Corollary of Bellows Affairs.

19th Move to RAF Zeals. Accomplished in 24 3-Ton Lorries brought by Zeals RAF Commando Units. 10 Whirlwinds & the Magister by air. 1 Whirlwind left at Warmwell with u/s radiator. 20th RAF Zeals A place in very beautiful country. A Station which has been without a flying Squadron since 1942, & overall determined to be co-operative. It is understood that the Squadron will remain for 3 weeks at Zeals for intensive training. It will be Non-Operational. The Squadron now consists very largely of new pilots. F/L John Edward McClure arrived vice F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes DFC who is at the end of his tour of Operations. It is understood that F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC & F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley are in the same position. After making a successful landing on his 1st Whirlwind solo, Sgt R.S. Hughes selected ‘wheels up’ instead of ‘flaps up’ - aircraft Cat.B. 21st F/L Teeling of Air Ministry arrived to discuss Belows Affairs. Political considerations make it necessary for the Squadron to continue & to increase the publicity given to the Bellows Club activities on behalf of the RAF. During an Army Co-Operation Exercise, Sgt Watkins hit a tree. He managed to land at Stoney Cross aerodrome, Cat B. 22nd F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF arrived for flying duties No.59 OTU. 22nd-25th Collection of 5 Whirlwinds from No.137 Sqn which is now re-equipped with Hurricane IV’s. Unfortunately, they are all overdue for inspection. No.263 is thus again the only Whirlwind Squadron. 26th F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC & F/L John Edward McClure dropped live 250lb bombs at an Army Demonstration at Lulworth. 28th-29th Few aircraft serviceable during intensive 40-hour inspections. Intelligence Lectures on Ship Recognition, S.D. 158, Offensive Operations & Dinghy drill in the lakes at Stourton Park. 29th F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC proceeded to the Air Ministry for an audition for a broadcast in Spanish to South America. F/L Joseph William Ernest Holmes DFC posted to No.29 Pilots Gunnery Instructors Course, Sutton Bridge F/O Arthur Lee-White DFC & F/S Kenneth Charles Ridley posted to AFDU, Wittering. 30th F/O Wordsworth proceeded to AFV School, Lulworth for Recognition Instruction Course.

JULY 1943 RAF Zeals 1st F/O Lamont Maroy Parsons RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.3 PRC. F/O Vincent Kenneth Moody RCAF & F/O Stanley Joseph Shewell RCAF arrived for flying duties from AFDU. Sgt C.B. Foes arrived for flying duties. F/O Peter Roland Green arrived as Medical Officer. 2nd F/O Lamont Maroy Parsons RCAF posted to No.610 Sqn. 4th F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg arrived for flying duties from No.53 OTU. 6th F/L John Edward McClure RCAF awarded the DFC in recognition of his gallant & successful Offensive Operations with No.137 Sqn. 7th-8th Exercise Driver Sgt Wood made dummy attacks on a Destroyer off the Needles without being intercepted by Spitfires. 10th F/O Vincent Kenneth Moody RCAF, F/O Stanley Joseph Shewell & Sgt C.B. Foes posted to No.610 Sqn. 12th Move to Warmwell. 13th Sgt Leonard James Knott in coming into land, stalled from 80 feet & crashed north of the Watch Office. The aircraft disintegrated completely & caught fire, but

as has happened before, the cockpit remained in one piece, & was not telescoped. He was rather badly burned but is well on the road to complete recovery. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Channel Islands-Ile Bréhat. Escorted by 12 Spitfires of the Ibsley Wing. Flown below 70 feet. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF P7111 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P7097 ???? 14th P/O Kenneth Charles Ridley awarded the DFC for his many gallant & successful Offensive Operations with this Squadron. He had been posted to AFDU last June. 16th F/L David George Ross, P/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon, P/O Robert Charles Hunter, P/O Kenneth James Forrester Funnell arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU 18th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Channel Islands. Flak from Alderney. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7097 Sgt George Albert Wood P6990 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF 20th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Flak burst shook Sgt Beaumont’s aircraft. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7111 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF P7056 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont P7055 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray 23rd No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Abandoned near the Casquetes in thick sea haze.

P6986 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P6990 Sgt William Whittaker Heato P6997 Sgt Fred Green 26th-31st Practice bombing against a target towed by an MTB. 30th F/O Lee-White DFC, until recently a member of this Squadron, broadcast to the South American station in Spanish, on the recent exploits of the Squadron, & in the Squadron’s attacks on enemy shipping. F/O Wordsworth attended a course on Tank recognition at Lulworth School (AFVU) & passed the tests in Tank recognition. F/S James Ian Simpson to P/O. Thus, July ended without any contact with the enemy other than 4 reviews of the Channel Islands & rocks & the occasional & not inaccurate bursts of flak which are commonplace on these Recces. It seems that the enemy now very seldom moves shipping between Brest & Le Havre by day. No.164 Sqn have been at Warmwell since June & have not yet had even 1 Strike. Moreover, the presence of a new Squadron of Typhoon bombers in the Portreath sector removes the possibility of Offensive work in the far south-west which formerly fell to this Squadron. The work of No.263 Squadron therefore tended to become a kind of anti-Convoy Patrol whose success is measurable by the absence of enemy shipping in the Channel Island area & off the coasts of the Cotentin. It is possible that the historian of the future will observe that air mastery together with a negative control of shipping movements by day over those areas of enemy occupied waters which are, so to say, in the Middle Wallop sector was established & strengthened during 1942 & 1943 by Spitfire’s of the Ibsley Wing with the co-operation successively of the Hurribombers of No.175 Sqn & the Whirlibombers of No.263 Squadron.

AUGUST 1943 August proved that the ‘new Squadron’ led by S/L Baker DFC is in no way less in stature than the Squadron was under S/L Warnes DSO DFC before the period of retraining at Zeals. During the month the Squadron has twice been honoured by a visit from the AOC No.10 Group - AVM Steele DFC. It was a curious error of judgement which caused the statement in the July record that Typhoon Bombers in the Portreath Sector “removed the possibility of Offensive work in the far south-west.” During August, the Squadron operated 5 times from Predannack & it was from these that the extremely successful battle at Aber Wrac’h took place & that Guipavas was dive-bombed. RAF Warmwell 1st Strong crosswinds. Sgt Cooper bounced on landing, dipped a wing, cartwheeled twice on the wings, shedding both engines & finally stopped upright & on fire. Sgt Cooper got out unbruised & the remains of the aircraft were foam extinguished. RAF Predannack 3rd No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Channel Isles Shipping Lanes. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, which now consists of only 2 Squadrons, Nos.616 & 453. P7055 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF P6971 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis No.10 Group Circus 49 Dive-bomb of Brest-Guipavas. The “new Squadron’s” 1st blow at the enemy. Escorted by the Ibsley & Portreath Wings, they dive-bombed from 13,000-7,000 feet. 6 bursts seen within the aerodrome, 4 of these among the buildings. A Fw.190 attacked but missed our aircraft during the dive. P7055 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6979 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P7040 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7111 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P6997 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7012 P/O James Ian Simpson P6974 F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC RCAF 4th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Profiting from the presence of the Whirlibombers at Predannack & remembering perhaps the successful Operation of 14th April 1943, No.10 Group laid on this Recce west of Ushant & as far as Cap Chievre, 10 miles south of Brest. No ships found. The Squadron returned from Predannack through low cloud. P7055 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis P6974 F/L David George Ross P6990 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7012 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7098 W/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7111 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock 5th It was reported that ‘Solmglint’ was about to quit Cherbourg. S/L Baker DFC obtained leave to bomb it in the harbour from low-level. The whole Squadron volunteered to accompany him, he briefed 3 pilots, but the Operation was cancelled at the last minute by the Air Ministry. 11th F/L David George Ross, supernumerary to the Squadron was posted to Fighter Command. W/O Donald Frank Jelicoe Tebbit appointed P/O.

RAF Predannack No.10 Group Roadstead 74 - “The Massacre at the Aber Wrac’h” Aber Wrac’h estuary. 10 aircraft flew to Predannack & from there 8 accomplished the Squadron’s most uniformly successful Operation. Escorted by the Polish Portreath Wing. They flew at sea level. The leader of the Anti-Flak Squadron, No.302, recognised the coast, & turning 10° to port enabled the attack to be made straight into the mouth of the Estuary. Thus, a notable surprise was affected. 7 E-Boats & an Armed Trawler were lying off the pier at Landéda. The Anti-Flak shied in from 800 feet & the Whirlibombers followed as the last cannon shells exploded & bombed 6 ships. An Armed Trawler & 4 E-Boats were blown to pieces by direct hits, it seems likely that High Explosive of German origin helped in the remarkable explosions which were seen. 1 E-Boat was left in flames. Flak was slight from the ships but intense from the shore batteries. 1 machine gun bullet pierced the nacelle of 1 Whirlibomber. The crews of the boats were seen trying to wrench the canvas covers from the guns, others diving overboard in panic, others rushing up & down the deck with doubtful purpose. Congratulatory signals on the Aber Wrac’h Operation were received from the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, from the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair & from the Board of the Admiralty. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7111 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P6974 F/L David George Ross P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7097 Sgt George Albert Wood P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis 12th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Pointe Barfleur-Marcouf, investigated Isigny Bay & as far as Grand Camp, returning past Barfleur to Cap de la Hague with an extension to Alderney & Cap Flamanville thrown in for good measure. Channel Islands Shipping Lanes-Bréhat. Thus, the whole area within the range of Warmwell was covered 2-3 times nightly. Heights were at the pilots’ discretion, but they were briefed to cross the Channel at 100-200 feet & to search at 200-1,500 feet, changing height continuously. Flak from the Islands, if the pilot approached to within 2 miles, was a commonplace, so too were the lighthouses at each of the Channel Islands, Cap de la Hague & Point Barfleur. P7012 P/O James Ian Simpson P7096 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF 13th The 8 pilots who took part in the Wrac’h Operation, together with the Adjutant & Intelligence Officer, were filmed by British Movietone News. S/L Baker described the Operation for sound recording. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Channel Islands Shipping Lanes. Escorted by a Squadron of the Ibsley Wing. P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7056 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont P6074 F/L David George Ross P7111 Sgt John Barrie Purkis 14th In the afternoon an Evasion Exercise was held. Pilots in “mufti” were dropped from M/T some 5 miles from the aerodrome & had to make their way into it without being captured by the Police, Home Guard or RAF Regiment. This was very successful as 12 of the 20 pilots returned without being apprehended. Night Recce S/L Baker returned from his Recce having destroyed a He.111 & sunk an E-Boat. This was quite simply the most remarkable individual achievement up to the present time by any member of the Squadron. He found an E-Boat running at high speed from Jersey towards St. Peter’s Port & bombed it. There was a

double explosion & he saw 2 sailors swimming among debris. Then he continued towards Bréhat & was returning north of Guernsey at 300 feet when he saw a He.111 1,000 yards ahead at 200 feet above him, flying on a parallel course. He climbed & closed slowly from below & 10° off (to avoid being seen) & then fired a short burst from 200 yards dead astern. The port engine caught fire. Another burst sent it crashing into the sea. S/L Baker DFC nearly followed, but instead pulled out & returned to Base. F/L McClure saw nothing on the Barfleur routes. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC 15th Scramble Swanage-Portland. 10-15,000 feet. P7097 P/O James Ian Simpson P6990 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF No.10 Group Circus This Operation was planned after the manner of that of 3rd August. S/L Baker had Exactor trouble & returned to Base. F/L McClure led, but found 10/10 cloud in the Brest area, & no attack could be made. P7111 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P6997 Sgt William Edwin Watkins P7098 Sgt Fred Green P7012 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton P7013 F/L David George Ross P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P6971 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Sgt Beaumont mistook Cherbourg Forts for ships. Investigating them, he found a Coaster & 3 Barges in the entrance to the harbour. He bombed the Coaster (Cat 4) but very properly did not wait to see results as the harbour flak had opened with full intensity. This was the 1st time that a Whirlwind had bearded the Cherbourg flak at low level. G/C Hardy sent a message of congratulations. P7092 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont Channel Islands. Uneventful. P7013 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF 16th An extensive night flying programme was severely cut in order to obtain 14 aircraft to fly to Predannack at 1st light. The ground crews worked all night: the complete repainting at night of a Whirlwind is worth a special mention. Channel Islands. F/O Mercer found nothing remarkable. Sgt Heaton had a long chase of a doubtful aircraft. Each attempted to silhouette the other against the moon & each foiled the others attempts. He thinks the aircraft may have been a Wellington. He landed at Exeter, refuelled & returned to Warmwell. P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7047 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton 17th 20 pilots now Operational by both day & night. No.10 Group Ramrod 74 Guipavas aerodrome. At 1st light 12 aircraft flew to Predannack. They were a fine sight in formation with their navigation lights burning in the still clear twilight before dawn. From Predannack they provided the bombing element of the 5-Squadron Operation - No.10 Group Ramrod 74 with the usual escort & cover of the Ibsley & Portreath Wing. The target was again Guipavas aerodrome, but for the 2nd time in succession it was covered with 10/10 cloud, & on this occasion it was evident from 5 miles from the French Coast that no part of the Operation could be successful. The Squadrons returned to their Bases with some irritation The Oxford carried a spare wheel to Predannack & the 12th aircraft came back later. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7040 Sgt Fred Green P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit

P7096 Sgt William Edwin Watkins P7097 Sgt George Albert Wood P6974 F/L David George Ross P6971 Sgt John Barrie Purkis P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7046 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P7047 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P6990 F/O Eric John Holman No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce The 1st 3 pilots found nothing remarkable other than more mysterious flares north of Barfleur - these appear to come up from a totally empty sea. Sgt Beaumont had an uneventful Patrol but a thrilling landing. His hydraulic system was u/s. However, the emergency bottle procured wheels & flaps down. Then his port engine cut with a loud report. He dropped his bombs ‘safe’ in a field west of Knighton Wood & made a very creditable landing. P7113 P/O James Ian Simpson P7047 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton P7098 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7096 Sgt Robert Charles Beaumont 19th 4 aircraft ‘beat up’ 20 MTBs in Weymouth Bay. The Navy expressed themselves as “alarmed & satisfied.” 21st F/L James Patrick Coyne DFC, who joined the Squadron as Sergeant & rose to F/L ‘A’ Flight Commander, left for a well-earned rest via Warrington en route for some leave in Canada. He took part in nearly all the Squadrons Operational work & by his gallantry & leadership earned the award of the DFC on 2nd June 1943. No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce S/L Baker was flying down moon along the north coast of the Cotentin when he saw flak coming from port & astern. He turned to investigate & saw a Trawler lying a mile off Cherbourg & firing vigorously. He turned inside Cherbourg Harbour, positioning for the attack meeting 2 searchlights & flak from shore batteries. He bombed it from 50 feet

& saw a large explosion on the stern. After orbiting, he saw it well down by the stern & sinking. Its guns were silent. F/L Ross found no trace of the ship an hour later. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7096 F/L David George Ross 23rd Convoy Patrol Swanage-The Needles. P7098 P/O James Ian Simpson P6990 Sgt Fred Green P7047 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7040 Sgt William Anthony Handley 24th Captain Meade of the Royal Irish Fusiliers attached to the Squadron for 2 days as Instructor in Combined Operations. His lecture & conversations were both interesting & informative. 25th Convoy Patrol Swanage-Portland. P7047 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7040 Sgt Fred Green P7086 Sgt George Albert Wood P6997 Sgt William Anthony Handley 26th F/S William Whittaker Heaton appointed P/O. Balbo. It should be noted that correct formation flying is of absolute importance in dive-bombing Operations, & that rapid & precise changes of formation are an important factor in low-level bombing of ships. 29th Convoy Patrol Needles-Portland. A curious Convoy, it consisted of 2 Merchant Vessels of 3-4,000 tons escorted by 2 Destroyers & 2 Corvettes.

P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor XXXXX Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P6986 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7040 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P6979 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P6971 Sgt George Williams P6977 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7097 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton P6979 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P6971 Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 31st Convoy Patrol West of Portland. F/O Sturgeon & F/O Holman received warnings from Ops & the Convoy that a Bogey was approaching, & indeed a visual was obtained on a distant aircraft, probably a Ju.88. It turned south & our pilots were not seduced from their task. P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P6979 Sgt George Williams P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P7098 F/O Eric John Holman P6990 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7047 Sgt George Albert Wood P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis P6990 Sgt George Albert Wood P7047 Sgt William Edwin Watkins P6974 Sgt Harold Medd Proctor P6979 Sgt John Barrie Purkis P7047 Sgt Fred Green P6990 Sgt William Whittaker Heaton P7119 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7056 Sgt Peter Frederick Cooper

SEPTEMBER 1943 September was remarkable for the variety of the Operations conducted in it & for the peregrinations of the Squadron between Manston & Predannack, the most south-easterly & the most south-westerly aerodromes of England. 1st RAF Warmwell Sgt Alton James Ryan (RCAF) arrived for flying duties from No.56 OTU. 2nd CO & FCO Warmwell to Bolt Head to investigate possibilities of Night Operations based there. 5th Considerable activity to arrange a Squadron detachment to Manston. Pilots recalled from leave. 6th 44 Ground Crew & F/O Mercer by train to Manston. 7th 14 Whirlwinds & the Oxford with the Intelligence Officer to Manston. This is the Squadron’s 1st detachment to No.11 Group since the famous “escort of bombers to Doel” on the Knapsack Raid of 12th August 1941. 8th RAF Manston 2 more Whirlwinds arrived at Manston making 16. No.10 Group Operation Starkey Naval & heavy Flak guns at Hardelot. Designed to safeguard the ships of the Amphibious Exercise (Exercise Menagerie) which were to make a feint at Boulogne the next day. At the last-minute it was changed by No.11 Group to a standard dive-bombing attack which was carried out by 7 aircraft as unfortunately 5 had returned early - 3 with technical trouble & 2 with finger trouble. P7096 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7056 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P6983 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6979 F/S John Barrie Purkis P6974 F/L David George Ross P7055 Sgt Denis Charles Todd P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P6997 F/S William Whittaker Heaton P7040 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7013 Sgt George Williams P7097 F/S George Albert Wood P7092 Sgt Peter Frederick Cooper 9th No.10 Group Operation Starkey Repetition of the dive-bombing of the Hardelot Gun positions. It went well from start to finish. Dives from 14,000-3,500 feet & all bursts in target area, within a circle of 150 yards radius. In both Operations, the coast was crossed at Hastings at 4,000 feet, after which they climbed to 14,000 feet, dive-bombed in echelon starboard & returned in formation at 1,000 feet. Target cover provided by a Typhoon Squadron. The aircraft were quickly re-fuelled & re-armed for a dive-bombing attack of St. Omer aerodrome. They taxied out but it was cancelled in gathering haze. P7096 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P6974 F/L David George Ross P7055 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P6947 F/O William Whittaker Heaton P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7012 Sgt William Anthony Handley P7097 F/S George Albert Wood P7056 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P6979 F/S John Barrie Purkis P7013 Sgt Denis Charles Todd These 3 days at Manston under the auspices of “Operation Starkey” were very greatly enjoyed by all who took part in the detachment. It may be that the results of the Operation were not those which were

hoped for by higher commands. Nevertheless, the sense of having an important part to play in a very large Operation lent a dramatic excitement to Squadron sorties which were in themselves less eventful than our normal dive-bombing Operations in No.10 Group. What it is desired to say here, that, whatever the other results of the Operation may have been, there should also be added on the credit side the roaring good spirits (“excellent morale” is the official phrase) which were engendered in the pilots of this Squadron by the privilege of playing a part in the drama of the preparation & execution of this Operation. 10th Detachment returned to Warmwell by air & railway. 12th Convoy Patrol From 1st light to the afternoon, Patrols flown over a large Convoy forming off the Needles & moving west. P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7013 F/O Eric John Holman P6986 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7097 Sgt William Anthony Handley P7047 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7040 F/S Fred Green P6979 Sgt Leonard Scott Gray P6971 Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P6799 F/S John Barrie Purkis P7056 Sgt Denis Charles Todd P6986 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7040 Sgt Fred Green RAF Predannack 13th Sgt Leonard Scott Gray to F/S. 10 aircraft to Predannack. 14th Operation cancelled at Predannack. Intelligence, Medical & Flying Control Officers returned by car. RAF Bolt Head 15th 25 Ground crew arrived at Bolt Head; their lorry had broken down near Exeter. The Air Party returned from Predannack to Bolt Head but did not land as they ordered to Warmwell. Intelligence, Medical & Flying Control Officers returned by car. 16th 13 Whirlwinds to Bolt Head, but again ordered back to Warmwell without landing. Intelligence, Medical & Flying Control Officers in the Oxford landed at Bolt Head & later returned. No.10 Group Night Armed Shipping Recce Cap de la Hague-Isigny & Channel Island Shipping Lanes. S/L Baker DFC bombed an E-Boat north-west of Marcouf (Cat 4) & cannoned a 2nd (Cat 4). F/L McClure found 2 E-Boats 1-mile south-west of Guernsey’s Pleinmont Point. He bombed rearward ship in an 800-200 feet up. They burst very close to the stern (Cat 4). He was then held by searchlights from Guernsey. Remaining Recces uneventful. P7096 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7098 P/O James Ian Simpson P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7046 F/O Eric John Holman P6983 F/L David George Ross P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock RAF Warmwell 17th No.10 Group Night Ranger ChatanoogaChoo-Choo Devised by S/L Baker in co-operation with No.10 Group Intelligence, the aim was to sever the main Rennes-Brest railway line between Lamballe & Morlaix so that: - a) trains were ‘bottled up’ & b) trains should be diverted to the southern loop line

single track & become ‘Ranger’ targets for Mosquitoes on the following night. 14 Whirlwinds moved to Bolt Head. The Intelligence, Medical & Flying Control Officers moved there in the Oxford. As Met. had foretold, this time correctly, the weather cleared & the Operation which had been carefully planned & briefed for, was carried out. This was the largest Night Operation ever undertaken by the Squadron. Pilots were carefully & extensively briefed at Warmwell during the previous days. They were to make landfall at 2,500 feet at the point nearest to their target where no flak was to be expected & to bomb their allocated targets as an absolute priority. 11 aircraft were to bomb the target at approximately the same time. These orders were nicely carried out. Our aircraft met neither searchlights of flak, though these were seen out of range at Morlaix. Bombing carried out from 2,000 feet to 700 feet. No pilot ‘lost his way’. All aircraft took off from Bolt Head & after material assistance from F/L Connolly (FCO Warmwell) who had established night flying & homing facilities at Bolt Head landed back at Exeter, most of them after a flight of 2 hours duration, 1 after a remarkably long 2 hours 10 minutes. Bursts in cutting near Lamballe. P7056 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont Bursts on or near a bridge north of Lamballe. P6983 F/L David George Ross Bursts on or very close to line east of Plouvara. P7040 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer Bursts on or very close to line in Bois de Manlany. He then fired at & secured hits on a loco (Cat B). P7097 F/S William Whittaker Heaton Returned with u/s constant speed unit. P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC Bombed line west of Plouaret. P7098 P/O James Ian Simpson Ponthou Viaduct. F/S Purkis bombed the line south-west of Morlaix (bursts on or near). The others attacked the target but think they hit the cuttings to the south & north of the viaduct. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6990 F/S John Barrie Purkis P6971 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock Bombs on or near the line east of Morlaix. P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF These 2 ‘Rangers’ went out an hour later. The 1st bombed a train (Cat C) east of Plouaret. The other secured bursts on or very close to the line west of Plouaret. Unfortunately, weather u/s the following night so that Part 2 of this Operation, ‘Ranging’ by Mosquitoes, could not be carried out. P6990 F/O Eric John Holman P6997 F/S William Edwin Watkins 18th Air Party to Bolt Head for a Circus Operation, but weather prevented this & the detachment returned to Warmwell by air & lorry. F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin (RCAF) arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Cap de la Hague-Channel Islands. Lightening vied with flak in 10/10 cloud. F/S Green’s 1st night Operation. P7113 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7040 F/S Fred Green 19th News that the bombing of the Hardelot guns (shared with other Squadrons) was remarkably successful. 20th F/L Frederick Donald Snalam arrived for flying duties as Supernumerary from No.616 Sqn & attached to ‘B’ Flight.

P/O Alexander Barr (RCAF) arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. F/S Richard John Hughes was posted to No.616 Sqn. 21st 9 aircraft to Predannack for an Operation which was cancelled in thick weather. 22nd 9 aircraft to Bolt Head for a Shipping Strike, but it was too late & too dark to take off. RAF Bolt Head 23rd No.10 Group Ramrod 85 Dive-bomb of Morlaix aerodrome. The Squadron operated from Bolt Head escorted by No.610 Sqn. Bombing from 14,000-6,000 feet, results were good. Bursts seen across the airfield & among buildings. A German R/T message instructing their aircraft not to return to Morlaix was intercepted by our Listening Service. Accurate heavy flak. F/S Wood’s aircraft received a direct hit at about 5,000 feet during the dive. He was not seen to bale out & is believed to have been killed instantly. F/S George Albert Wood was posted to the Squadron on 24th February 1943. He was a skilful & gallant pilot who had taken part in 7 Offensive Operations. He had recently been accepted for a Commissioned rank. Gay & light-hearted in his manner, handsome, he was very like the popular notion of a typical pilot. His age was 21.

P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P6990 F/S William Whittaker Heaton P7113 F/S George Albert Wood P7040 F/S Fred Green P6983 F/L David George Ross P6971 Sgt Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7055 F/S Leonard Scott Gray 24th Scramble Over Portland at 10,000 feet. P7040 F/S Fred Green P7047 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF Over Isle of Wight. Recalled. P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7047 F/S William Whittaker Heaton South of Base.Various vectors at 10,000 feet. P7046 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6971 Sgt Denis Charles Todd 25th No.10 Group Ramrod Lannion aerodrome. F/L McClure led through patches of cloud to the French Coast (from where the escort of the Perranporth Wing simply disappeared) & to within 5 miles of the target but 10/10 cloud over the target prevented dive-bombing. F/S Green, like the others, jettisoned his bombs ‘safe’ north of the

French Coast from 100 feet. An explosion in the water, perhaps from an acoustic mine, made a hole in his starboard engine. He flew back on the port engine to a good single engine landing at Warmwell. P7047 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7040 F/S Fred Green P6997 F/S George Williams P6977 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6983 F/S Leonard Scott Gray P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6974 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock 26th P/O James Ian Simpson received the DFM. 27th S/L Baker received a Bar to his DFC. 29th 9 aircraft to Predannack at 1st light. Op abandoned due to weather. 30th Establishment The Squadron converted to the new establishment under Fighter Command’s reorganization scheme. Total establishment 32 including 11 Officers & 7 airmen pilots. Surplus transferred to 3055 Echelon.

OCTOBER 1943 RAF Warmwell 4th No.10 Group Armed Recce Lezardrieux Estuary. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing, they searched for 2 Destroyers reported lurking there. Discontent felt as nothing was found. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7097 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P7098 F/L John Edward McClure DFC P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P6974 F/L David George Ross P7111 F/S John Barrie Purkis P6983 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P7046 F/S Leonard Scott Gray 5th-6th Briefing for “Chuffa-Prang” took place. 7th No.10 Group Armed Recce Channel Islands. Escorted by the Ibsley Wing. P7012 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6974 F/L David George Ross P6983 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper P7046 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit No.10 Group Night Recce Cherbourg. Abandoned in thick haze to 1,000 feet. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 F/S/ Fred Green 8th No.10 Group Night Recce Channel Islands. S/L Baker damaged an E-Boat off Varreville. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7055 F/O Eric John Holman No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Channel Islands. P/O Heaton was shot up by a 2,500-ton Flak Ship off Cap de la Hague. P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7097 P/O William Whittaker Heaton No.10 Group Night Shipping Strike S/L Baker found P/O Heaton’s ship off Cap de la Hague & bombed it from mast height without seeing more than indistinct explosions (Cat 4). He was forced to orbit in heavy flak from Alderney & Cap de la Hague, as well as light flak from the ship which was judged to be a small Speerbrecher. As the visibility was very poor in sea haze the C.O. decided that the ship should not be further attacked & ordered the 6 aircraft which were following, to return to Base. Meanwhile, fog had come in rapidly at Warmwell & all aircraft were ordered to return to Tangmere. It seems that P/O James Ian Simpson DFM who was, next to S/L Baker, the Squadron’s most experienced pilot, had engine failure not due to enemy action, & then his other engine failed during his run in at Tangmere. He crashed into an anti-landing post a hundred yards from the runway & was killed instantly. This accident had many features in common with that in which F/L Blackshaw was killed. He had been with the Squadron for 15 months & was an experienced Whirlwind pilot. He had recently been awarded the DFM. ‘Simmy’ was well liked by all the Squadron & is a great loss to the Squadron, as a pilot & a friend. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7055 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P6983 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7047 P/O James Ian Simpson DFM P7012 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P6974 F/L David George Ross 9th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Landed at Middle Wallop due to fog. P6983 F/L David George Ross 13th F/L John Edward McClure DFC posted.

No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Warmwell-Sept Iles-Iles de Batz-Predannack. The 1st of many night searches (without bombs so that the distance could be covered) for a 6,000-ton M/V. P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer 14th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Repetition of the long searches of the previous night. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7092 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7012 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P6979 F/S John Barrie Purkis RAF Predannack 15th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P6974 F/L David George Ross 16th Shipping Recce Predannack-Porspode-Sept Iles-Predannack. Recces for the blockade runner M/V ‘Münsterland’ inbound from Japan. P6974 F/L David George Ross P7111 F/O Eric John Holman P6971 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7040 F/S Fred Green RAF Predannack 18th No.10 Group Night Ranger - “Chuffa Prang” This Operation was planned to disorganize railway communications in & near the Cherbourg Peninsula, & thereafter to take advantage of the tactical situation. It was a great success. Each pilot arrived at his target after a route which had correctly avoided the intense flak which is to be met with by the unwary. S/L Baker blew up an ammunition train south-east of Valognes, then damaged a Loco near Bricquebec; P/O Blacklock damaged 2 trains (with 1 bomb planted between them as they lurked alongside each other) in Airel Station; F/O Mercer damaged a Loco on the bridge over the River Seulles near Bayeux. 4 pilots disintegrated the rail track at selected places & 3 pilots damaged the bridge over the River Vire south of Isigny. On the way back, P/O Blacklock sank a motor launch off Ile St. Marcouf. However, we reckon the chief success of the Operation was in the remarkably large number of trains which were attacked in the same area in daylight Rhubarbs of the next 5 days. Our neighbours No.257 Sqn (Typhoons) showed 17 successful attacks on Locos & Goods Wagons in the Cherbourg Peninsula & on the main line between Caen & Airel. P6974 F/L David George Ross P6986 F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer P7046 F/S Denis Charles Todd P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper P6997 F/S George Williams XXXXX F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 19th No.10 Group Rhubarb Badly damaged 2 Locos with cannon & bombs at a junction. F/S Dunlop got back with starboard wing damage & only 1/10 aileron movement to make a good landing in a stormy crosswind with no landing gear after jettisoning bombs. P6979 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7055 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Flying through very heavy rain, they arrived to find good Rhubarb conditions. They bombed & cannoned a Goods Train north of Airel. Their attacks severely damaged the Loco, disintegrated several trucks, set others on fire, & tore up the track. Meanwhile, the weather had deteriorated at Warmwell to 1,000 yards visibility in heavy rain with a 45-mph crosswind. They were ordered to land into wind & did so from the Watch Office to the Battle HQ, just 500 yards. P/O Blacklock overshot & did not have enough petrol for another circuit. He therefore stopped by pulling up his undercarriage. F/S Beaumont struggled in safely. Watching this landing

was vicariously the shakiest thing the writer has ever seen. P6971 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock P7046 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont 21st Whirlwinds on Rhubarb Operations are forbidden to carry bombs, & this order is now enforced. No.10 Group Rhubarb Locomotive damaged with cannon fire 3 miles south-east of Barneville. P6974 F/L David George Ross P7092 F/O Eric John Holman Insufficient cloud-cover off Barfleur. P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6979 F/S Leonard Scott Gray 22nd No.10 Group Rhubarb Insufficient cloud-cover off Alderney. P6974 F/L David George Ross P7092 P/O Eric John Holman No.10 Group Rhubarb Having obtained special permission to carry bombs, they attacked the large railway bridge over the River Vire south of Isigny at 20 feet. 1 bomb burst in the concrete eastern end of the bridge, 1 in the water under the bridge, 1 in the railway embankment & 1 dislodged a girder which was seen hanging down. Good bombing. P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6979 F/S Leonard Scott Gray 23rd All Officers & Aircrew of the Squadron have been made (for mutual services to the Bellows Club) honorary members of the Argentine Club in London. Despite moonless darkness, the Squadron was brought to Readiness to attack the Münsterland which was being searched for by Albacores. 24th No.10 Group Shipping Recce Cherbourg Shipping Lanes. After a fine dawn, we were informed by No.10 Group that Warmwell weather was non-Operational. After an hour spent explaining that it wasn’t, the Squadron took off, 6 Whirlwinds & for the 1st time - 6 Whirlwinds anti-flak as had often been mooted & suggested in the past. The Münsterland was not found. It is thought that this will be found to be the last time in the history of the world in which 12 Whirlwinds were airborne together. Soon after this, the Münsterland was photographed in the Digue Du Homme T, Cherbourg. Anti-Flak P6974 F/L David George Ross P7108 P/O Alexander Barr P7046 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin P7098 F/O Eric John Holman P7040 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P6990 F/O Kenneth James Forrester Funnell Bombers P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6979 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6997 F/S John Barrie Purkis P6998 F/S William Edwin Watkins P6986 F/S William Anthony Handley P7012 F/S Leonard Scott Gray No.10 Group Roadstead 79 This was the 1st time that the Squadron (& we think any Squadron) has made a low-level attack on Cherbourg Harbour. Flew at sea level between the Outer Moles & straight to the Münsterland alongside the Digue du Homet. 4 aircraft bombed the & 2 of these attacked with cannons, leaving her on fire in 2 places - she was well ablaze 11 minutes later, but the fire had been extinguished 90 minutes later. The other 4 aircraft bombed 2 ships aft of the Münsterland & saw cannon strikes. 2 pilots scored strikes on 2 of the 6 M-Class Minesweepers in the Trans-Atlantic Dock. Flak was fired from more than 100 guns within range, from harbour & ships “it was like a horizontal hail-storm, painted red”, (F/S Beaumont). All our aircraft were hit, seriously. The

formation broke ½ to port to the south-east over the Peninsula. F/S Leonard Scott Gray’s starboard engine was smoking & he glided down from 150 feet, 3 miles south-east of Cherbourg in the manner of a controlled forced landing. F/O Mercer’s aircraft was hit over the target & it may have been for this reason that he was flying considerably above the formation when it re-crossed the coast 3 miles south of St. Vaast. Here his aircraft received a direct hit from a coastal flak battery & dived into the sea, disintegrating on impact. It is not thought that he could have survived. Paul Thomas Richard Mercer has been with the Squadron for 8 months & was a skilful & gallant pilot & very well liked as a person. He had recently married S/O Anderson of No.10 Group. F/L Ross’s aircraft was severely hit in the starboard wing, which juddered & stalled at 180 mph, as well as at the wing root. He made a perfect belly landing at Warmwell at this speed. F/S Cooper’s aircraft was damaged by flak & collapsed on landing. S/L Baker was bruised on the shoulder by Perspex dislodged by 30mm bullets. 90 minutes later, No.183 Sqn Typhoon’s attacked the Münsterland & lost S/L Gowers DFC a veteran of the Battle of Britain & 2 other pilots. This Operation reduced the number of immediately available Whirlwinds to 4 or 5. Thus the re-equipment of the Squadron with some other type of aircraft, which has been expected consistently to be more or less immediate during the past 2 or perhaps 3 years - has become truly inevitable in the not to distant future. It is felt that these 2 low level attacks on shipping in Cherbourg’s Inner Harbour by No.263 & 183 Sqns, deserves to be remembered among the many exploits of true gallantry in this bloody war. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC XXXXX F/S Harold Medd Proctor XXXXX F/O Paul Thomas Richard Mercer XXXXX F/S George Williams

XXXXX F/L David George Ross XXXXX F/S Leonard Scott Gray XXXXX F/S Robert Charles Beaumont XXXXX F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 25th Our 4 aircraft were brought to Fighter Readiness. 26th S/L Baker talked to all pilots on the tactical lessons of Roadstead 79. 28th F/O Gerald Geoffrey Racine RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.1 TEU. No.10 Group Ramrod 96 The Münsterland, now in Dry Dock No.5, brought a 3rd ‘1st time’ to the Squadron, the use of 500lb bombs in dive-bombing. In fact, she brought 4 ‘1st times’ if the Shipping Reconnaissances of 13th-20th October are added in. These 8 aircraft dive-bombed from 12,000-7,000 feet. All bombs fell within 500 yards of the target. Warehouses were hit & what looked like an oil fire was started, possibly in our old antagonist the Solnglint. This time the Mitchells drew the flak (1 was shot down). None of our aircraft were damaged. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7037 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P6977 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7092 F/S William Anthony Handley P6983 F/L David George Ross P7046 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7111 F/S John Barrie Purkis P7108 F/S Harold Medd Proctor 29th Dive-bombing of Münsterland cancelled due to unsuitable weather. 6 aircraft beat-up MTBs commanded of Lt. Cdr Dickinson DSO MBE DSC with whom the Squadron

has been liaising in several social & service ways, at Warmwell & Weymouth. Security lectures by the I.(S) O. to all members of the Squadron & No.3055 Echelon. 30th No.10 Group Ramrod 99 7 aircraft - there are no more serviceable - took off to dive-bomb the Münsterland & 6 did so. F/L Snalam lost a 500lb bomb 10 miles south of Lulworth & was ordered back to Base. The CO started the dives too early, & pulled back again to 12,000 feet, then dived almost vertically. A cluster of bombs hit warehouses west of the target, 2 in the Dry Dock area. The Hun now has dive-bombing weighed up. His heavy flak was intense & accurate at 12,000 feet & during the dive from 9,000-7,000 feet. The CO therefore led on down to 5,000 feet. This & the change of the early dive seems to have led to only 1 Whirlwind being slightly damaged by flak (F/S Dunlop). The 6 aircraft returned over Warmwell in excellent formation, 2 vics, vics line astern. Quite good results - good in the sense that it would be a truly lucky shot if the vessel received a direct hit. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6997 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P7037 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7012 F/S Fred Green P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7108 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7092 F/O Eric John Holman 31st P/O Dugald Andrew Carmichael arrived for flying duties from RAF Uxbridge. He got in a 1st solo, & there were Camera-Gun attacks. It is interesting to record that in this the 5th year of total war, it is impossible to use the Chesil Bank Range for practice bombing on a Sunday. F/O John Thomas Lilleystone arrived for flying duties from No.1 TEU.

NOVEMBER 1943 RAF Warmwell November proved to be a fitting climax to the work of the Squadron with Whirlibombers, in the sense that Operations were intensive, successful & entirely typical of what had gone before. The month was, in fact, an epitome of the Squadrons history during the last 15 months. 88 Offensive sorties were flown which included typical low-level shipping attacks by day & night. There were several Shipping Recces, uneventful except for the routine flak from the Channel Islands & Cap de la Hague. But the uneventful Shipping Recces must not be thought of as strategically abortive. The function of the Squadron at Warmwell has been primarily that of a central Channel Stop. Its work has been to prevent as far as possible the enemy from making use of the coastal waters from Ile Bréhat to Isigny. Consequently, it is arguable that the presence, at varying hours of light & darkness of armed Whirlibombers, & the absence of enemy shipping in these waters is as complete a strategical victory as it is a tactical blank. Furthermore, there were more dive-bombing Operations conducted in the now classical manner invented by this Squadron. The SS Münsterland, which replaced the SS Solmglint as No.1 Static Seabourne Enemy, was twice dive-bombed in Cherbourg Docks, & a new secret target was also attacked. No Operational casualties during the month, but extremely good news about 2 pilots who had been missing. 1st F/S George Albert Wood, who was reported missing believed killed when his aircraft was disintegrated by flak during the dive on Morlaix aerodrome on 23rd September 1943, arrived in good health at Plymouth yesterday. He is the Squadrons 1st evader. 2nd No.10 Group Rhubarb Rail targets near Carentan. Returned from 20 miles north of Cherbourg due to weather. P7037 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P7012 F/S William Edwin Watkins 5th No.10 Group Ramrod 100 part 3 Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, Cherbourg. Abandoned due to weather. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7108 F/L David George Ross P7046 F/O Eric John Holman P7098 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7037 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7092 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper P7111 F/S Denis Charles Todd 6th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Channel Islands-Cap de la Hague-Marcouf Shipping Lanes. Uneventful. P7108 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont P7111 F/S Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Channel Islands. P/O Heaton flew alongside the Cherbourg Mole at 50 feet. He encountered no flak, as at the time the defences were concentrating on an aircraft with navigation lights on at 2,500 feet east of Maupertus. F/S Green’s Recce uneventful. P7037 P/O William Whittaker Heaton P7102 F/S Fred Green 7th Air Sea Rescue Patrol Search for F/O Coombe of No.257 Sqn in a radius of 10 miles from the reported position of the dinghy. P7037 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7098 F/L David George Ross P7012 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P6990 F/S Fred Green P7046 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P6979 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7100 F/S Robert Charles Beaumont

No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce F/S Dunlop abandoned his Recce over Base owing to Exactor trouble. F/S Proctor’s recce uneventful. P7098 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7108 F/S Harold Medd Proctor Both sorties abandoned 40 miles north of Cap de la Hague due to weather. P7037 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6783 F/L David George Ross 9th RAF Warmwell No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Cap de la Hague-Marcouf. Abandoned due to weather north of Cap de la Hague. P7098 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P6997 F/S William Anthony William RAF Predannack No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7092 F/O Eric John Holman P7108 F/S John Barrie Purkis 10th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Cap de la Hague-Marcouf. F/O Mogg thought he saw 6 ships 3 miles west of Corbierè Point, Jersey. Owing to intense heavy flak he did not attack, & not being quite sure that they were ships, returned to Base without transmitting. F/S Williams saw nothing. P7012 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P7037 F/S George Williams Cap de la Hague-Marcouf. F/O Sturgeon sighted 4-5 Armed Trawlers, 4 miles south of Sark. He asked for an emergency homing, then attacked 1 of them from 300 feet. No results seen. F/S Watkins saw nothing. P7012 F/O Douglas Wallis Sturgeon P6997 F/S William Edwin Watkins No.10 Group Roadstead 78 Escorted by Nos.312 & 313(Czech) Spitfires Sqns, attacked 3 ships 2-3 miles off the north-west coast of Guernsey. 2 Armed Tugs claimed & 1 250-ton Merchant Vessel damaged. P7098 F/L David George Ross P7037 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7046 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7097 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper No.10 Group Night Shipping Strike 4 Whirlibombers took off to attack the ships seen by F/O Sturgeon. The convoy was not located but S/L Baker attacked a small Trawler of 75-tons south-east of Hurn. His bombs burst alongside & a search after the attack found no sign of it. 1 Trawler Cat 3. The other aircraft jettisoned their bombs. F/S Cooper landed at Warmwell, the others at Hurn. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6997 F/S John Barrie Purkis P7037 F/S Fred Green P7097 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 11th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P7111 F/S Harold Medd Proctor P7097 F/S Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce F/O Holman was west of Guernsey when he was called by F/O Tuff, who had sighted 2 Tugs ½-mile from Cherbourg about to enter the harbour. He attacked the Tug furthest out from mast height, scoring a near miss. F/O Holman arrived after the Tugs had entered the harbour & did not attack. P6997 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7012 F/O Eric John Holman No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Channel Islands. P7100 F/L David George Ross 13th-14th Army Co-Operation Exercise, beat-up of tanks at Lulworth.

15th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Returned from 10 miles north of Ushant due to weather. P7097 F/S Fred Green 16th No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce P6997 F/S William Edwin Watkins P7097 F/S Fred Green 19th F/O Holman took the M.O. F/O Green & Cpl Hamer to Biggin Hill in the Oxford. On touch down it swung violently in a strong crosswind & F/O Holman attempted to take off again. Unfortunately, he hit the prop of a Typhoon which tore the port flap off. The Oxford then flew into the top of a building, crashed outside the M/T Store & caught fire. The 3 occupants were removed immediately, unburnt but severely injured. All 3 are recovering satisfactorily. 24th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce Channel Islands. Abandoned due to weather. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7100 F/L David George Ross P7108 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7088 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6983 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P7097 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P6997 F/S George Williams 25th No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce 10 miles north of St. Malo. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6997 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7108 F/O Kenneth James Forrester Funnell P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF No.10 Group Ramrod 106 Part 1 Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, Cherbourg. 10/10 cloud over Cherbourg. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P6997 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin P7097 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P6997 F/S George Williams P7108 F/L David George Ross P7111 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop No.10 Group Ramrod 106 Part 2 Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, Cherbourg. Escorted by the Ibsley Spitfire Wing they dive-bombed 12,500 to 7,000 feet through gaps in the cloud. 4 bombs burst close to the target & 2 hit in the Dry Dock of the Basin Napoleon. Flak, as usual, very heavy but the aircraft escaped with a few dents. F/S Todd turned back mid-Channel with 1 engine u/s. P7102 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7040 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7097 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P7108 F/L David George Ross P7111 P/O Alexander Barr P7098 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6983 F/S Denis Charles Todd 26th No.10 Group Ramrod 108 Dive-bomb of M/V Münsterland in No.5 Dry Dock, Cherbourg. 8 bombs burst within 300 yards of the target. Intense & accurate flak, even though the dive was continued to 4,000 feet. P7040 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7108 F/L David George Ross P7111 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin P7100 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 F/S Denis Charles Todd XXXXX P/O Alexander Barr XXXXX F/L Frederick Donald Snalam XXXXX F/S George Williams

No.10 Group Ramrod 109 Secret target south-west of Cherbourg. Protected by at least 8 heavy flak positions. All our aircraft were hit, but no serious damage done, except to F/O Mogg’s aircraft, which flew back on one engine to a successful landing. Bombing results good. P6983 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7097 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P6997 F/L David George Ross P7046 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg

P7012 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF P7100 P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit P6971 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P6983 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF 29th Operation Hanwich Intercept minesweepers or mine destroying Ju.52s off Cherbourg. Nothing seen in violent rainstorms & 10/10 cloud from 1,000 feet to sea-level.

P7040 S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC P7012 F/O Douglas Edwin George Mogg P7046 F/L Frederick Donald Snalam P7102 P/O Norman Peter Blacklock 30th F/S Leonard Scott Gray, who was missing after the low-level attack on the Münsterland in Cherbourg Docks, is a POW.

DECEMBER 1943 RAF Warmwell 1st A dozen Whirlibombers serviceable at Warmwell. 2nd There was some local flying with Whirlwinds. 6 Typhoon 1b’s were delivered. 3rd In the evening Messer’s. Westlands gave a party to members of the Squadron & a number of faithful adherents of No.3055 Echelon. The party consisted of an excellent dinner at the Manor Hotel, Yeovil, followed by a dance in the Assembly Rooms. This marked the end of the Squadrons relations with Messer’s. Westlands of Yeovil, a liaison which has constantly been maintained with good will & personal friendship. In one of the speeches at the dinner, S/L Baker DFC paid tribute to the Whirlwind drawing on the material which may be found in these pages. The writer would like here to state plainly that all the pilots who flew Whirlwinds in Operations against the enemy had absolute confidence in & affection for their aircraft. It is worth noting that all the 114 Whirlwinds built were known to the Squadron & the Echelon by their individual numbers, & the idiosyncrasies & excellences of each were noted & respected. 4th 12 Whirlwinds flew in formation over Yeovil. 5th Move to RAF Ibsley.

S/L Ernest Reginald Baker DFC posted to W/C Flying, RAF Colerne. S/L Geoffrey Beddington Warnes DSO DFC arrived for flying duties to Command. The Oxford took S/L Baker to Fighter Leaders Course, Ashton Down. Returning in haze & poor light, F/O Unwin lost his way near Poole & made a successful forced landing in gathering darkness near North Maltravers. 4th-10th RAF Ibsley Settling in at Ibsley. The Typhoons were flown over by No.257 Sqn from Warmwell. 11th 6 Typhoons arrived in a snowstorm from Warmwell. 12th F/L Ross & others flew a 1st solo in a Typhoon. 14th F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF to P/O. 14th-15th Living conditions at Ibsley for both Officers & Sgts very much less comfortable than at Warmwell. However, it has been possible to get in a great many hours of flying time here on days in which Warmwell has been winter waterlogged. Liberty runs to Bournmouth & to the St. Leonards Hotel have compensated for the poor state of the messes. 19th 7 Typhoons were delivered by women pilots of the ATA making 19 on charge. The 6 Whirlwinds which were brought to Ibsley to maintain night readiness during the moon period

were put up for disposal. The Squadron is now non-operational during training. 23rd Distribution of 10lb parcels & 55,000 cigarettes to the Squadron & No.3055 Echelon by the River Plate Committee, sent as suggested no doubt, by the Bellows Club. 24th Unfortunately, while dogfighting at 12,000 feet, F/O Funnell went into a spiral dive, then into a spin & crashed fatally. He baled out at about 100 feet but was killed. Smoke & flames came from the engine in the air, but not known what the cause of them was. 25th A traditional RAF Christmas Day. 26th 4 aircraft on a formation practice. The sections split into 2. Then F/S Handley led F/O Mogg, who was following at about 400 yards, into conditions of low cloud & high ground. F/S Handley pulled up into cloud & received vectors back to Base. Nothing more was seen or heard of F/O Mogg until midday of the 27th, when his body was found still in the cockpit of the crashed aircraft near Melbray Abbas, South of Shaftesbury. 31st The funerals of F/O Mogg & F/O Funnell were held at Parkstone & Ilford respectfully & were attended by representatives of the Squadron. In the evening, all Officers & Sgt Pilots went to a New Years Party at the Officers & Sergeants messes at Warmwell, where the hospitality was unstinted & very much enjoyed.

JANUARY 1944 RAF Ibsley 1st Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan arrived for flying duties from No.286 Sqn. Continued training on Typhoons. It is more difficult to maintain serviceability than onWhirlwinds. 2nd-4th Air-to-Sea firing in Christchurch Bay. RAF Fairwood Common 5th To Fairwood Common for Armament Practice Camp. The rest of the Squadron & 80 members of No.3055 Servicing Echelon moved by train. The remainder of No.3055 Echelon stayed at Ibsley.

6th Weather during the Practice Camp unfavourable. 10th The remainder of No.3055 Echelon moved to RAF Beaulieu. F/O Clifford Sydney Hames & F/O Leon Parent RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 17th

P/O Donald Frank Jellicoe Tebbit Rested. 23rd Ground-crews from Fairwood Common to Beaulieu. Aircrew were weather-bound at Fairwood. 24th 12 aircraft to Beaulieu at midday.

F/S Sheppard arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. RAF Beaulieu 25th F/S John Thould had engine failure near Dinton (west of Salisbury) & force-landed successfully. 29th-30th Fitting of long-range tanks. 31st F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. The Squadron looks forward to becoming Operational on 1st February. Our neighbours at Warmwell, No.257 Sqn, left to join TAF at Tangmere & are replaced by No.486 Sqn.

FEBRUARY 1944 1st RAF Beaulieu Operational with Typhoon aircraft. F/L David Patrick Murray Bell arrived for flying duties as a Supernummary from No.84 GSU. F/L Frederick Donald Snalam posted. 2nd 1st Typhoon Operation Shipping Recce Channel Islands. Abandoned near Cherbourg in 10/10 cloud at 200 feet. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR531 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock XXXXX F/L David George Ross JR330 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF 3rd No.10 Group Ramrod 128 Dive-bomb of No-ball site. Target covered by 7/10 cloud at 2,000 feet. Bombs jettisoned over the sea (except for 1 which hung up & fell off ‘safe’ in a field near Christchurch). JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR251 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock JR531 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR382 F/L David George Ross JR304 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont JR196 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR253 P/O William Edwin Watkins No.10 Group Ramrod 128 No-ball site. Impossible to reach the target through thick cloud so Maupertus airfield was dive-bombed as an alternative & 5 bursts were seen in the south-east dispersal. 1st bombs dropped ‘in anger’ by Bombphoons of the Squadron. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC

JR251 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock JR253 P/O Fred Green JR382 F/L David George Ross JR196 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR129 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR330 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin 4th No.10 Group Ramrod 124 No-ball site. Unsuitable weather, bombs jettisoned & a Shipping Recce of the Ile Marcouf area flown. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR351 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR304 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR434 P/O William Edwin Watkins JR496 F/L David George Ross JR330 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR353 F/O Alexander Barr Weather Recce JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR304 F/S George Williams 5th No.10 Group Ramrod 129 Part 1 Repeat of previous days Operations. Cloud prevented dive-bombing. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR253 F/S William Anthony Handley JR251 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper JR382 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR330 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF JR300 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont JR129 P/O John Barrie Purkis Weather Test/Recce Recce’d to 5-miles south of Querqueville at 8,000 feet. JR129 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR304 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont No.10 Group Ramrod 129 Part 2 Dive-bombing of alternative target 9,000-5,000 feet. Somewhat hampered by cloud & results not seen. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC

JR330 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR129 F/O Alexander Barr JR434 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock JR251 F/S Alton James Ryan JR253 F/S Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR304 F/S George Williams No.10 Group Ramrod 129 Part 3 No-ball target. Bombs straddled the target & it is likely that some damage was done. Flak was accurate & holed F/O Tuff’s aircraft. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR434 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR253 P/O William Edwin Watkins JR196 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR441 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop JR330 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF JR129 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin No.10 Group Night Shipping Recce Alderney-Barfleur. He reported enemy shipping off Cap de la Hague at 2134 & it was evident from his message ‘Apples are red’ that he was going into attack. Nothing more heard of him other than an uncertain ‘I am going into....’. JR251 F/O Norman Peter Blacklock Cap de la Hague. He found 6 E-Boats & reported them to control who ordered him to 10,000 feet for a fix & then to return to Base. Before returning he dive-bombed the E-Boats but thinks he missed. JR309 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper Cap de la Hague. The next 4 aircraft took off immediately for a strike, but did not find the E-Boats, either because of sea haze below 1,000 feet or because the ships had reached Alderney Harbour. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR253 F/S George Williams JR441 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont JR330 P/O John Barrie Purkis 6th Army Co-Operation Exercise S/L Warnes & P/O Heaton beat-up gun posts & M/T near Yaunbury Castle. Air Sea Rescue Patrol Cherbourg-Casquetes. In search of F/O Blacklock. Nothing found. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR129 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF JR253 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF 7th Exercise Bulls Eye 13 sorties as targets. Each aircraft made 2 runs between 6,000-10,000 feet from 20 miles north of Cherbourg to 30 miles north of Weymouth. They were constantly held by searchlights & intercepted by Mosquitoes & Beaufighters. 8th In the afternoon, F/S Todd had his engine cut out whilst on his downwind leg in the circuit & made a commendable crash-landing near the perimeter track receiving only a slight cut on his nose. Exercise Bulls Eye Repeat with 11 aircraft as targets. 9th F/L David George Ross posted as S/L & CO No.193 Sqn. This Squadron has now provided all the CO’s of the Harrowbeer Wing. W/C Baker DFC* is the W/C Flying & S/L Joe Holmes DFC is OC 266 Sqn. 10th No.10 Group Rodeo 79 The 1st long-range Operation but no enemy aircraft encountered. Crossed the Channel at zero feet climbed to 8,000 feet to cross the French Coast (too far west). Dived to zero feet to Carentan then swept Vire-Rennes-Gael. Long Range tanks were dropped near Vire. Flak at Gael holed F/S Dunlop’s aircraft & he was escorted safely to Warmwell. The others landed at Beaulieu. JR389 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC

JR441 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop JR196 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR330 F/S Denis Charles Todd JR382 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR353 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR309 P/O William Edwin Watkins JR215 F/S William Anthony Handley 11th Scramble South of Portland to investigate a K Plot. JR938 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper JR309 F/S William Anthony Handley 12th No.10 Group Rodeo 81 Force C Beaulieu-Portland-Sillon de Talbert in line abreast at zero feet. South of Gael the CO saw a Do.217 to port. He turned, chased & fired while the enemy aircraft evaded among trees. Return fire damaged his tail plane before the enemy aircraft pulled up to 1,000 feet & the crew of 6 baled out. It then crashed with a remarkable explosion. This was the 1st aircraft to be encountered by the Squadron flying Typhoon aircraft & it was the 40th to be destroyed by the Squadron. P/O Smith & F/S Ryan also got in bursts as the enemy aircraft pulled up but considered it was then ‘finished’ & make no claim. JR440 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR309 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR330 F/S Denis Charles Todd JR249 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR389 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin JR365 F/S George Williams JR253 F/S Alton James Ryan 13th No.10 Group Rodeo 82 Sweep of Chartres-Mondesir. At Chartres airfield the CO shot down a Me.109F while F/L Racine strafed 5 Me.109Fs which were refuelling. He destroyed 3 of them in a remarkable conflagration. P/O Purkis attacked covered shelters. Flak was surprised & late, but at Etampes-Mondesir it was intense & accurate. F/S George Williams was seen to go in from zero feet & was killed instantly. P/O William Edwin Watkins streamed glycol & baled out. His parachute opened at 1,500 feet. JR389 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR196 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR215 F/S George Williams JR249 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR309 P/O William Edwin Watkins JR365 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 14th The pilots went to Bournemouth for dinghy drill in the swimming baths before an evening of various pleasures. 15th Long-range Operation laid on & cancelled. 17th Long-Range Operations cancelled after 8 aircraft had taken off for Exeter in increasing mist. 18th F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark arrived for flying duties from No.609 Sqn to command ‘A’ Flight. F/L Stark is highly experienced in long-range Typhoon Operations. He has destroyed 5½ enemy aircraft besides a commensurate score against ground targets. 22nd No.10 Group Rodeo 88 Kerlin Bastard-Vannes. This Sweep proved to be disastrous to the Squadron. Finding 10/10 snow cloud off the French Coast S/L Warnes abandoned the primary task & began a Shipping Recce west of the Channel Isles. When at zero feet 10 miles west of Guernsey S/L Warnes said he was going to ditch (not due to enemy action) & was seen to do so. Our other aircraft orbited & obtained a reasonably good fix from Middle Wallop & Exeter. Only F/L Racine & F/O Tuff saw the CO apparently swimming towards something that looked like a dinghy pack. F/O

Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF then said he thought the CO was hurt & was going to bale out. F/L Racine told him not to, but it seems certain that he did. Visibility was not good, but they continued to orbit for 30 minutes until they were ordered back to Base. F/O Robert Charles Hunter was simply not seen or heard of after the CO went in. Extensive Air Sea Rescue searches using every available resource were laid on & continued, but nothing has been seen of these 3 Officers who are missing in circumstances which give little hope. Weather was bitterly cold. F/L Racine had difficulties with his petrol feed in changing tanks, & ultimately force landed wheels down at Roborough. It is possible that the CO had the same sort of technical trouble. Our other aircraft landed back at Beaulieu. S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC came to the Squadron as a P/O in September 1941. He took command of ‘B’ Flight in October 1941 & of the Squadron in December 1942. The development of dive-bombing & the successes obtained by the Squadron as an Anti-Shipping unit owes much to his leadership & tactical brilliance. Awarded the DFC early in 1943 & the DSO at the conclusion of his 1st Operational tour in June 1943. After 5 months rest as Ops2 at No.10 Group he returned to the Squadron in December 1943 & supervised its re-equipment with Typhoons & then the Operations of the last 3 weeks. As a leader he was absolutely trusted. F/O Tuff’s

tribute to him leaves no more to be said. He was regarded & admired, as a friend of all ranks throughout No.10 Group. In the hearts of many intimate friends he leaves a place which cannot possibly be filled. MN249 S/L Geoffrey Berrington Warnes DSO DFC JR446 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR129 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin JR432 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont XXXXX F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR304 F/O Robert Charles Hunter MN129 P/O Fred Green JR307 F/O Robert Bruce Tuff RAAF Air-Sea-Rescue Search West of Guernsey. Nothing found. JR440 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR250 F/S Alton James Ryan JR382 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop JR446 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF JR253 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper JR129 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont MN129 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin 23rd Air-Sea-Rescue Search West of Guernsey. JR129 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR253 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper

MN432 F/S Denis Charles Todd JR432 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR187 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop JR440 P/O William Whittaker Heaton JR446 F/S William Anthony Handley 24th F/O William Lister Miller RNZAF arrived for flying duties from No.486 Sqn. 27th

S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay (Belgium) arrived to Command the Squadron. He has a long & distinguished career of Operational flying both in France & this country. 28th Exercise ‘Rush’ Protection of Albermarles & gliders over the coast. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark awarded the DFC in recognition of gallant work accomplished with No.609 Sqn. 29th It is to be noted that these days & probably the next week, are being used for the maximum of flying practice, in order to get all pilots of the Squadron operational on Typhoons. The Squadron is not therefore used for Offensive Operations.

MARCH 1944 1st RAF Beaulieu S/L Gonay spoke to the assembled Squadron & No.3055 Echelon. He promised much Operational work in the not too distant future & stressed the security aspect of what would soon be seen & heard. F/L David Frederick Evans & F/L Richard Ulick Williams arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. F/S John James Morgan arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Sgt Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan to F/S. 2nd Patrol South of Ringstead to protect calibrating Blenheim. MN136 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR 382 F/S John Thould No.10 Group Rodeo 85 Harrowbeer-Mont St Michel-Rennes-Gael-Cap de Erquy-Guernsey-Beaulieu. The 1st Op with the Squadron for S/L Gonay & F/L Stark. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF MN187 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC JR531 F/O William Whittaker Heaton 3rd Scramble South of the Isle of Wight. Intercepted a Wellington. JR432 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop JR382 F/O John Barrie Purkis 4th Scramble South of Portland-Needles. JR432 F/O John Barrie Purkis MN196 P/O Alexander Barr JR365 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan JR253 F/S John Thould 5th Scramble Bogey became friendly. JR365 P/O Fred Green MN129 F/S John Thould Enemy turned south after feint from Cherbourg. JR389 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin MN990 F/O Alexander Barr MN136 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin JR382 F/O Alexander Barr 6th-8th RAF Warmwell The Echelon moved to Warmwell where it is a lodged unit upon the USAAF. We have the commodious dispersals & billets which we occupied for 12 months. 6th F/O William Lister Miller RNZAF posted to No.486 Sqn. Scramble 20 miles north of Cherbourg. JR389 P/O Harold Medd Proctor JR441 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin

Needles-Portland. Much shipping seen. JR365 F/O William Whittaker Heaton MN139 P/O Fred Green 7th Scramble MN187 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC MN196 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop MN170 P/O Fred Green MN129 P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF 8th Scramble MN250 F/L Alton James Ryan MN989 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 11th 4 sections at Standby & Readiness for Exercise ‘Fox’. 12th At 1500, P/O Graham Natt Smith RAAF, in beating-up Warmwell, attempted a slow upward roll at low height. His engine cut when he was inverted & he was unable to right his aircraft before he crashed fatally south-west of Knighton Wood. P/O Smith or ‘Smudger’ was a person of quiet voice & genial ways. He was very well liked by all who knew him. Exercise Fox A large-scale amphibious exercise off Slapton Sands. JR389 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont JR382 F/S John Thould MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF MN989 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper JR389 P/O John Barrie Purkis JR382 P/O Harold Medd Proctor Scramble MN989 P/O Fred Green MN139 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 14th 10 aircraft to Predannack; took off for a Rodeo but recalled & landed at Warmwell in thick weather. 15th Shipping Recce Lezardrieux-Treguieu Estuaries. Fishing vessels. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay MN139 F/O William Whittaker Heaton JR389 P/O Harold Medd Proctor MN250 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 16th Shipping Recce Guernsey-Jersey-St. Malo-Lezardrieux. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay JR253 F/S John Thould MN250 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC MN139 F/S Alton James Ryan 17th No.10 Group Rodeo 98 Vire-Fougeres-Rennes-St. Malo-Channel Isles. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay MN990 F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin MN120 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR369 ?

19th Move to RAF Harrowbeer. 16 Typhoons (out of 18 on charge) flew in 4 boxes of 4, also the Hurricane. 20th Settling in at Harrowbeer. Conditions remarkably improved since the Squadron was here a year ago. 21st Shipping Recce Brought to bomber availability for ships in Morlaix Estuary-Goulet de Brest, but weather unsuitable. Evening Recce Cherbourg Harbour. Flew over the outer moles at 3,000 feet & surprised the flak but no ships seen. MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR389 P/O Fred Green MN136 F/O William Whittaker Heaton MN989 F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 24th No.10 Group Rodeo 103 Kerlin Bastard-Vannes-Morlaix. Crossed the French Coast in & out at 10,000 feet, but nothing seen. JR440 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay JR441 F/S William Anthony Handley JR389 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC MN136 P/O Robert Charles Beaumont 26th No.10 Group Rodeo 104 Mont St. Michel-Rennes-Gael-Pleubian.Hoping to catch the Hun airborne early in the morning. F/S Ryan had engine trouble & F/O Heaton returned with him from east of Rennes. MN990 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay JR389 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop MN250 F/O William Whittaker Heaton MN989 F/S Alton James Ryan 31st F/S Sheppard posted. No.10 Group Rodeo 109 Kerlin Bastard-Vannes. F/O Purkis & P/O Green fired at soldiers & a Barge near Auray & Hennebart. F/O Purkis hit a tree near Loudeac, his throttle jammed at +5 boost & on landing at Harrowbeer he cut his switches too early & made a wheels-up landing. MN136 F/O John Barrie Purkis JR446 P/O Fred Green MN449 F/S Peter Frederick Cooper No.10 Group Rodeo 108 Ile de Groix. To catch Ju.88s at Vannes & Kerlin Bastard at last light as they approached or left their Bases to & from the Bay of Biscay. Our aircraft patrolled near Ile Groix, but poor visibility & dusk caused F/L Racine to lead our aircraft at 5,000 feet over the Lorient flak area. They evaded to seaward, but F/L Racine went back into the area & was caught in a concentration of flak. The others made their way back & ctively. There is evidence that F/L Racine straggled after them, crossed out near Morlaix & then turned back to the coast where his plot failed. A search next morning found no trace of him. F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF came to the Squadron in October 1943 & took command of ‘B’ Flight in February 1944. We very much hope to hear that he is safe. MN170 F/L Gerry Geoffrey Racine RCAF JR531 F/O William Whittaker Heaton JR432 P/O Rober Charles Beaumont JR389 F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop

APRIL 1944 RAF Harrowbeer 1st F/L Robert Durham Rutter arrived for flying duties from No.195 Sqn. F/S Jack Donnelly Pringle arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. Air Sea Rescue Patrol For F/L Racine off Batz - but he was footing it ashore. P/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S John Thould F/S William Anthony Handley F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 2nd Evasion Exercise across Tavy Valley profitably enjoyed. 5th Shipping Recce Aberwra'ch-Lezardrieux. F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S Denis Charles Todd 6th F/S Cooper collided with F/L Stark on the Predannack runway & wrote off 2 Typhoons. S/L Gonay to Milfield for Fighter Leaders Course. 11th F/S Todd returning from Exeter in bad weather, lost his formation & landed at Roborough, overshot & pulled up undercarriage. 12th Marshall of the RAF, Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory visited Harrowbeer. He spoke of his confidence in the plan & forces designed for the Invasion of Europe & recalled the splendid record of No.263 Squadron which he thought would be well enhanced in the next 6 months. 13th Shipping Recce Channel Islands. Flak from Guernsey & Little Russell Strait. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Leon Parent RCAF F/O William Whittaker Heaton P/O Harold Medd Proctor Channel Islands. P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O Fred Green P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Thould F/S John James Morgan 16th F/L ‘Gerry’ Racine returned after being shot down near Morlaix on the night of 31st March. Later we learnt from him that he had been attacked by a Me.410 had then got on its tail & destroyed it but his controls then jammed & he had to bale out. The rest is, or must be, silence but we believe that Gerry had some extremely remarkable adventures. 17th No.10 Group Rodeo 113 Crossed in St. Malo 8,000 feet & attempted to sweep Breton airfields but abandoned owing to 10/10 at 2,000 feet. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Alton James Ryan

No.10 Group Rodeo 115 St. Malo-Gael-Rennes. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Charlton 18th RAF Tangmere No.10 Group Rodeo 117 The Squadrons 1st Sweep around Paris was rewarded with 2 enemy aircraft. F/S Thould destroyed a Me.410 at 5,000 feet near Bretigny whilst F/L Rutter, F/O Purkis, F/S Handley & P/O Green shared the destruction of a Do.217 near Villaroche. Both exploded on hitting the ground. F/S Handley damaged a He.111 at an airfield south-west of Paris & F/L Stark DFC, damaged a Tank, trailer & Staff Car. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Charlton F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S William Anthony Handley P/O Fred Green F/S John Thould 21st No.10 Group Rodeo 118 Breton airfields. Spoilt by technical failures. Leaders compass 20° out & No.2 R/T u/s so returned from French Coast. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Rodeo 119 Cap Carteret-Vire-Rennes-Gael. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S William Anthony Handley The 2 spare aircraft returned as planned. P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O Clifford Sydney Hames 25th Shipping Recce Brehat-Batz. In search of E-Boats in Lezardrieux. F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S John Thould F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan No.10 Group Rodeo 122 From Tangmere. Trouville-Chartres-Chatenudum-Flers-Pointe Perceé. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Alton James Ryan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Shipping Recce Brehat-Batz. In search of E-Boats in Lezardrieux. F/O William Whittaker Heaton P/O Fred Green F/O Clifford Sydney Hames ? No.10 Group Roadstead 87 Dive-bomb of 3 Destroyers lying in River Rance between St. Malo & Dinard. Near misses of central Destroyer. P/O Beaumont then cannoned 2 Armed Trawlers (both Cat 3). The AOC No.10 Group congratulated the Squadron on the short time in which this Operation was organised, planned & airborne. The tactics of crossing the Channel at 0 feet climb to 1,000 feet & dive-bomb with a pair of 500lb MC bombs fused .025-seconds out of the sun from

10,000 feet to 4,000-2,000 feet were repeated in the 7 subsequent Operations & in each, accurate light flak of great intensity was encountered. F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O Robert Charles Beaumont P/O Fred Green F/S Peter Frederick Cooper 26th-27th 4 dive-bombing attacks on shipping in Morlaix Estuary. Consistently improving results. The last Operation through the good observation of P/O Beaumont secured a successful Air Sea Rescue of a Seafire pilot who had baled out during the 2nd of them. 26th Roadstead 88 Dive-bombing of 3,500t M/V or Sperrbrecher with 5 other ships including 2 Destroyers in Morlaix Estuary. Bombs fell wide. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Robert Durham Rutter P/O Fred Green F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Thould F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Roadstead 90 Dive-bombing of previous targets with 2 aircraft as close escort. 2 bombs near miss of the large M/V & F/O Heaton continued his dive to cannon it (Cat 3). He also fired at an Island flak post. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Whittaker Heaton P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan W/O Alton James Ryan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 27th Roadstead 91 Dive-bombing of previous days targets still in Morlaix Estuary. One very near miss of large M/V (S/L Gonay) with smoke & flame from an ‘M’-Class Minesweeper from direct hits (both Cat 4). F/O Heaton scored hits on a flak position. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O William Whittaker Heaton P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Roadstead 92 Dive-bomb of Morlaix ships. 2 very near misses of large M/V (S/L Gonay). Smoke & flame from an ‘M’-Class Minesweeper. Seafire escorts consider this was certainly damaged. Both ships claimed (Cat 4). P/O Beaumont who led the 2 aircraft fighter-escort thought he saw a dinghy on the way to the target but continued his task. By careful computation & navigation, he found the dinghy 45 miles south of Start Point orbited it & obtained a successful ASR of the Seafire pilot - Lt. Briggs RN - who had baled out during Roadstead 90 the previous day. Previous searches had been too far south. Good work ‘Beau’. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O William Whittaker Heaton W/O Alton James Ryan F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Cooper F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 28th Roadstead 93 Elbig Destroyer forced to beach by Naval action in Aberwra'ch Estuary. Found another Destroyer with 7 escorting Armed Trawlers off Pontusval. Our best

group of bombs in this series was entirely among the enemy formation & 4 near misses off the Destroyers stern should have damaged it. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Harold Medd Proctor P/O Fred Green F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 29th Roadstead 94 Wrecked Elbig Destroyer. 2 near misses. F/L Stark DFC went around again to get a pair of direct hits. A smoke screen was in action but did not hinder.

S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O William Whittaker Heaton P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Thould Shipping Recce Batz-Lezardrieux. More ships than have been reported at any 1 time in this area within the memory of this Squadron (3 years). Their accurate reporting provided good targets for W/C Reg Baker DFC who arrived at Harrowbeer with his TAF Wing. F/O Harold Medd Proctor P/O Fred Green

30th P/O William Edwin Watkins who baled out near Rambouillet on 13th February back in London, the Squadrons 3rd Evader. Shipping Recce Lezardrieux-Aberwrach Shipping Lanes & Harbours. The shipping of the previous day seems to have evaporated. The dive-bombing was carried out with 2 near misses on the rusty, blackened, waterlogged wreck of the Elbig Destroyer in Aberwrach Estuary. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Whittaker Heaton W/O Alton James Ryan

MAY 1944 RAF Harrowbeer 1st F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF, F/O John Alfred Hodgson & F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor arrived for flying duties from No.55 OTU. 2nd No.10 Group Roadstead 101 Shipping in Lezardrieux Estuary. 7 small ships & 3 M/V 2,000-tons dive-bombed from out of the sun. F/O Heaton’s camera gun film shows cannon damage to 1 M/V & an M-Class Minesweeper. The standard approach used for all dive-bombing Operations during the month - Rendezvous with the Spitfire escort at Bolt Head or Predannack; Cross the Channel at sea-level; Rapid climb to 10,000 feet 20 miles off French Coast; Dive-bombing of targets from 10,000-3,000 feet out of sun, or from astern of ships; Orbit offshore at 3,000 feet for reform & return to Base. 16 Offensive Operations involving 120 sorties were flown in the course of which considerable damage was done to enemy shipping. A great improvement in the accuracy of dive bombing which has been made as a result of constant practice, has been noticeable. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Fred Green F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC P/O George Albert Wood No.10 Group Roadstead 102 Part 1 Abandoned due to 10/10 cloud. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/S Denis Charles Todd W/O Alton James Ryan F/S John James Morgan F/L David Frederick Evans F/L David Patrick Murray Bell No.10 Group Roadstead 102 Part 2 Beached Elbig Destroyer off Kerlouak. PRU of target confirms our observations & claims - 4 near misses & 1 direct hit amidships. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Clifford Sydney Hames F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan Patrol Start Point-Lizard at 6,000 feet. P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O Fred Green 3rd PRU has at last established that there are 2 beached ships opposite 1 in Aberwrach & the Destroyer near Kerlouan. 4th-5th AOC No.10 Group AVM Steele visited & met the pilots at dispersal. He did not mention the 2nd Front. Patrol Start Point-Lizard at 6,000 feet. F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/L Richard Ulick Williams Start Point-Lizard at 6,000 feet. P/O George Albert Wood F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 6th S/L Gonay, F/O Heaton & F/S Thould (who have practised at SLAIS, Milfield) demonstrated R/P against tanks at Bolt Head. Unfortunately, the Typhoons which demonstrated showed marked signs

of strain in their wings - rivets pulled etc - & R/P was removed from the other aircraft pending an investigation. 8th No.10 Group Circus 61 Dinard-Plourtait airfield & Shipping Recce. Flak surprised & did not fire. 2 pilots strafed a flak post on a hulk in the Rance Estuary. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S John James Morgan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Clifford Sydney Hames P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/O John Barrie Purkis Shipping Recce Concentrations of shipping in Morlaix & Aberwrach Estuaries. F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O George Albert Wood F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 10th Exercise Driver With HMS Glasgow & Plymouth guns. Patrol The Lizard-Start Point at 10,000 feet. F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L David Patrick Murray Bell P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/S John Charlton F/O Leon Parent RCAF F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM The Lizard-Bolt Head. F/S John Thould F/S John James Morgan The Lizard-Bolt Head. P/O George Albert Wood F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Dusk Patrol The Lizard-Bolt Head. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Clifford Sydney Hames F/S William Anthony Handley Scramble Mid-Channel for Dinard-Alderney plots. F/L David Patrick Murray Bell F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM 11th Exercise Driver With HMS Glasgow & Plymouth guns. 12th No.10 Group Roadstead 105 St. Malo. 1 pair of direct hits on a medium M/V. Damage to Harbour installations & Town. P/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Clifford Sydney Hames F/O Leon Parent RCAF P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John Thould No.10 Group Roadstead 106 CO’s aircraft u/s ½-way across but his whole section of 4 returned to Base with him. F/L Rutter led the other 4 & personally scored direct hits on the M/V M.65, a Ship of 1,564-tons (Cat 3) S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Peter Frederick Cooper

F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/S William Anthony Handley 14th RAF Tangmere No.10 Group Rodeo 135 Around Paris. Uneventful, except for the damaging of 2-3 Barges on the Seine & near Compiegne. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L David Patrick Murray Bell P/O Robert Charles Beaumont F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 15th P/O Robert Charles Beaumont posted to RAF Harrowbeer en-route to marriage & some Non-Operational flying after a gallant & successful Tour of Ops. We hope to have him back with us soon. No.10 Group Roadstead 107 Dive-bombing of ships in Aberwrach. Poor results. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Fred Green F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 18th Our normal state has now been established at the aristocratic state we enjoyed with Whirlibombers. 8 aircraft & pilots at 60 minutes availability for bombs or R/P. 19th F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers, who has flown Whirlwinds with No.137 Sqn, arrived for flying duties from No.198 Sqn. Pilots & the IO to Mountbatten. Pleasant & useful cruise in pinnace around Plymouth Harbour & Devonport for ship recognition. Patrol Predannack-Start Point-Predannack. F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Leon Parent RCAF Predannack-Start Point-Harrowbeer. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Richard Ulick Williams Start Point-Lizard. Dusk landing. F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Leon Parent RCAF Start Point-Lizard. Dusk landing. F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O George Albert Wood 20th Patrol Start Point-Lizard. Dusk landing. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S William Anthony Handley 21st No.10 Group Roadstead 110 For reasons not disclosed, it was necessary to prevent a convoy of 8 ‘M’-Class Minesweepers, which were leaving St. Malo, from continuing their Operation & since there was cloud at 2,000 feet this strike was laid on at low-level. The convoy was met head on 10 miles north-west of Cap Frehel & after very good anti-flak attacks by No.610 Sqn which left 1 ship on fire, our aircraft cannoned & bombed from mast height. Results difficult to observe but 1 ship claimed Cat 3 by F/O Proctor. The ships were deterred from their proposed Operation. F/L David Patrick Murray Bell who has been Supernumerary for 3 months is missing in not very hopeful circumstances. ‘Tinkle’ Bell was very well liked by us all. He was one of those who had served steadily & well in Training Command without ever loosing sight of his ambition to fly on Operations.

S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay W/O Alton James Ryan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/L David Patrick Murray Bell RAF Predannack 23rd The Squadron has completed 60 Offensive Operations & 354 Offensive sorties with Typhoon aircraft (since 2nd February 1944). No.10 Group Roadstead 111 3 Minesweepers & 2 Destroyers off St. Mathew Point. Direct hit on 1 of the Destroyers, Cat 3. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O Fred Green No.10 Group Roadstead 112 Lezardrieux Estuary. Dive-bomb of 3,000-tons & 1,000-tons M/Vs in Lezardrieux. Both Cat 4. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Denis Charles Todd

No.10 Group Roadstead 113 Lezardrieux Estuary. Cloud at 6,000 feet prevented a proper dive & bombs undershot or went wide. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S Peter Frederick Cooper F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Alton James Ryan 28th While taking off, F/S Jack Donnelly Pringle hit the top of Yelverton Church & crashed fatally. ‘Paddy’ was a keen & able pilot & an excellent friend. Armed Shipping Recce Brehat-Aber Wrach. Nothing seen so dive-bombed 6 Barges in Aberwrach with poor results. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM W/O Alton James Ryan F/S John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 29th Squadron party in the NAFFI. Beer drinking & dancing enjoyed by all. F/O Sandy Barr, the Master of Ceremonies, achieved perfect timing in an unrehearsed act. He concluded a display of aerobatics on a crossbar by falling head 1st into a brimming fire bucket.

30th No.10 Group Roadstead 116 Approaches to Brest. Found a 3,500-ton M/V off the Goulet towed by a Tug. Dive-bombing secured the neatest results to date. 12 bombs (500lb MC .025) near the stern of the ship, 1 direct hit & another produced debris. Believed sunk. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John Thould F/S John Walter Shellard F/S John James Morgan No.10 Group Roadstead 117 South of Ushant. Repeat of the morning Operation. 5 Trawler Type Auxiliary & a Barge attacked. Bombing poor, due to an early dive. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S John Thould F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/S John James Morgan F/S John Walter Shellard 31st F/L Eugene Charles Owens who has been the Adjutant since November 1941, was posted as S/L to Predannack. ‘Bish’ always seemed to be the immemorial figurehead of the Squadron. Despite his years, which trebled those of most members of the Squadron, he was an excellent companion & inimitable raconteur. It goes without saying that he was an adept, able to penetrate & control all the mysteries of the Squadrons ‘bumph’. As a man of the law & an inveterate weigher up of sporting chances he was particularly helpful to anyone involved in any sort of sticky or delicate situation. He will be greatly missed by us all & we wish him the best of luck. F/O Clifford Sydney Hames posted

JUNE 1944 RAF Harrowbeer 1st F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF, F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF, F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF & P/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAFarrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. R/P firing at Ham Stone. 2nd A day of flaps. 1st for Dol Marshalling Yards, then for Goulet U-Boats but both evaporated. 3rd R/P firing at Ham Stone. 4th R/P practice in poor weather. Somebody is in a hurry for something? 5th Cloud too low for R/P. Those who did fly to Bolt Head saw a noble pride of Warships steaming slowly east & F/L Stark DFC, who visited Manston to collect R/P spares, was lucky enough to have to fly below cloud along the south coast & thus to see “so many ships in the Solent you could walk from the Isle of Wight to Southampton across their decks.” 6th After a midnight flap for 12 aircraft, 8 flew a Goulet Recce in duff weather & returned to find it is ‘D-Day’. Thus, what had been demanded for 3 years, expected for 2 years & hourly awaited for 3 months arrived more or less unheralded in No.10 Group while the Squadron was doing an Armed Shipping Recce, & continued while we did R/P practice at Bolt Head - & bound in the dispersal. However, as so often, things were far better than they seemed & the next hours & days were very much our busiest since Norway. That evening saw the Squadrons 1st R/P Operation, a damaging attack on a 500-ton M/V off Granville, & the start of 121 Offensive sorties in 5 days. Armed Shipping Recce Harrowbeer-Batz-Ushant-Predannack. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S John James Morgan F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan W/O Ryan Armed Shipping Recce Channel Isles-Granville. Led by S/L Gonay & escorted by Spitfires of No.610 Sqn, the only target found was a 400-ton M/V of the central-island type, described as having an unusual number of portholes for so small a ship ‘like the ship which ferries between Lymington & the Isle of Wight.’ It was lying 3 cables south-west of Gravelines. The Typhoons attacked in 2 sections from 8,000-3,000 feet in 45-30° dives. All R/P (60lb HE Inst.) in target area. Many near misses caused the ship to be enveloped in smoke. F/O Green, No.4 in the 1st section, saw his salvo enter the port side of the ship & No.610 Sqn orbiting at 9,000 feet also saw direct hits from 1 salvo. Black smoke was seen to emanate from the ship which is claimed Cat 3 damaged. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/S Peter Frederick F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Fred Green 7th A ‘double’ Squadron of 8 Typhoon bombers & 8 Typhoon R/P (60lb HE) was created; a state which was “phenomenally maintained” (the AOC’s words). Thus ‘2 Squadron’ Operations possible, either 2 waves with the same objective or different targets.

No.10 Group Roadstead 127 A 1st light Recce by No.41 Sqn reported a concentration of enemy shipping in St. Peter Port & 5 M-Class Minesweepers steaming towards St. Malo. 8 aircraft (500lb MC .025) found a ship, identified by F/L Rutter as a 1500-ton M/V but thought by F/O Heaton to be a 2-funnel Torpedo boat in the River Rance. Dive-bombed from 9,000-3,000 feet in 60° dive. 8 bombs exploded within 70 yards of the Ship. 1 probably close enough to have done some damage. W/O Ryan shot up a light flak post on the west side of the estuary mouth & F/O Heaton an island flak post in the estuary. Both saw a good concentration of strikes. F/L Robert Durham Rutter P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/S John Charlton F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S William Anthony Handley W/O Alton James Ryan F/S John Walter Shellard No.10 Group Roadstead 129 Shipping in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Briefed to avoid damage to St. Peter Port town, they approached from the south over St. Martin Point at 8,000 feet & fired 56 R/P (60lb HE) in ripples & salvoes in a 30° dive to 3,000 feet. All burst in target area but produced so much smoke results not seen. 2 aircraft returned early - oil leak, & a seagull in the radiator. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John James Morgan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Roadstead 128 Ship near Sark. Not found in thick cloud. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/O Fred Green F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/S John James Morgan F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Denis Charles Todd No.10 Group Roadstead 128 Ship near Sark. Not found so dive-bombed a 1,200-ton M/V alongside the north side of the Basin Duguay Trouin & a 1,000-ton M/V in the Bassin Interieur in St. Malo. 4 very near misses. F/O Leon Parent RCAF was seen to bale out at 2,000 feet a few seconds after bombing. He was fired at while airborne in his chute but was last seen alive & kicking in the sea 500 yards north of St. Malo old town. We much hope to see Joe again - but the Huns shooting at him in his parachute will not be forgotten. F/O Leon Parent RCAF F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S William Anthony Handley F/O William Whittaker Heaton W/O Alton James Ryan F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 8th Despite yesterdays activity all 19 aircraft on charge to the Squadron were serviceable by 1000 hours. F/L Wannop & the ground crews of No.6263 (ex-No.3055) & of the Squadron had worked all night on them, as they did not infrequently. No.10 Group Roadstead 130 Shipping in St. Malo Harbour. A Recce by No.41 Sqn reported a 2,000-ton motor vessel in the Bassin Interieur, St. Malo. Accordingly, 6 Tybombers went to attack it but found only the 1,000-ton M/V which had been attacked the previous day. 8 bombs seen to be within 50 yards of the ship, 1 a close near miss to starboard which is thought likely to have damaged it, another a near miss to port.

P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Fred Green F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 9th F/O William James Windelar RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Close Army Support Gun positions near St.Lo. Our aircraft were believed to be the 1st over the Hun lines but impossible to get through 10/10 cloud at 100 feet at French Coast. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S John James Morgan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis Close Army Support Gun positions near St.Lo. F/O Heaton last seen climbing & turning in cloud & F/O Bill Heaton is missing in circumstances which offer nothing but guesswork. We hope to see him again, but.... F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John Charlton F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O William Whittaker Heaton F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Alton James Ryan F/S William Anthony Handley Close Army Support Gun positions near St. Lo. Recalled 5-miles from target. Section landed at Hurn & Tangmere. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O John Thould 10th 40 Offensive sorties & 51 Operational hours most certainly an all time Squadron record for 1 day. No.10 Group Roadstead 133 Channel Islands-St. Malo. Escorted by 8 Spitfire XIVs of No.610 Sqn. They climbed to 8,000 feet in the Channel Islands area & flew down the west coast of Jersey. 3 ‘M’-Class Minesweepers seen off Noirmont Point approaching St. Helier in line astern. The Typhoons turned to port & fired their rockets (60lb HE Inst.) in ripples & salvoes in 7,000-2,000 feet dives. All 3 ships received direct hits. F/L Stark DFC attacked the rearmost ship but was hampered by a patch of cloud & only had time to ripple 2 rockets from 1,000 feet. These hit the starboard bow, confirmed by No.610 leader orbiting at 4,000 feet. The other 2 ships were hit by salvoes & black smoke came from each, again confirmed by No.610 Sqn. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop P/O John Thould F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O John Alfred Hodgson No.10 Group Roadstead 134 Rouge Nez Radar, Jersey pranged by 8 R/P (60lb). S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John James Morgan P/O John Thould W/O Alton James Ryan

No.10 Group Roadstead 135 F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard F/S John Charlton No.10 Group Ramrod 136 Yffiniac bridge. Abandoned in 10/10 cloud. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/L Richard Ulick Williams P/O John Thould F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Fred Green F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S William Anthony Handley 11th Weather clamp. Everyone got up as usual at 0345 but went back to bed & slept till lunchtime (except the CO, F/L Wannop & all groundcrews). Much work was done on aircraft, but there was no need to re-establish serviceability. We had it already. 12th Soon after 1st light the Bomber Command dive-bombed 4 TAAs off Jersey. Then 32 sorties in which 128 (60lb HE) R/P & 32 (500lb MC .025) were hurled into the railway viaduct south of Yffiniac. Excellent concentration, but it is a bloody awful target. No.10 Group Armed Shipping Recce 4 TTAs bombed in St. Aubin Bay – no claims. F/L David Frederick Evans F/S John James Morgan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L Richard Ulick Williams W/O Alton James Ryan No.10 Group Ramrod 137 Yffiniac viaduct over the Brest-Rennes railway. The Squadron twice put up 8 Typhoons R/P & 8 Bombphoons simultaneously (32 sorties). Bombing & R/P concentration excellent in the 1st attack (a 500lb crater & 3 60lb R/P craters) & good in the 2nd. However, the girder construction mentioned in the target information (but not visible in the only photograph available, a vertical) was never identified & the railway line appeared to be carried across a ‘dried up river bed’ (which was very clearly pinpointed by its position 2,000 yards south-west of the Yffiniac bite), on a continuous embankment of masonry with small drainage arches at its base. The target was thought to be an unsatisfactory one. Observation of results by W/C Bird-Wilson & 610 Sqn Spitfire XIV close escort. It should be added that 64 R/P create a dusty mess of ‘smoke & corruption.’ F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L Richard Ulick Williams P/O John Thould F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S John James Morgan F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Alton James Ryan S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Robert Durham Rutter P/O Peter Frederick Cooper

F/O Fred Green F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin W/O Alton James Ryan S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay F/S John Charlton F/O Fred Green F/S William Anthony Handley F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor 13th At 1500 hours the Bomber Command of the Squadron was released & (perhaps only for the time being) wound up. Groundcrews set to work to convert all of them to R/P. 14th Shipping Recce St. Helier-Granville-St. Malo. Escorted by 8 Spitfire XIVs of No.610 Sqn at 8,000 feet. As our aircraft were leaving St. Malo, which was partly obscured by 3/10 cloud at 1,000 feet, shipping was sighted below. They orbited to port, rousing the rather dormant flak & attacked a large Schooner. Thought to have 3 masts & to be of 800-tons or more. Diving from 8,000-2,500 feet, they fired 48 R/P (60lb) & saw at least 3 explode amidships leaving it smoking heavily. 1 pilot fired 8 R/P at 6 Barges moored 2 cables north-west of the Schooner & saw explosions among them. After reforming & setting course for Base, they saw a TTA towing a Barge. They attacked in echelon with 1207 x 20mm HEI & SAPI. Good concentration of strikes on the Trawler & consider that considerable damage was done to it. 1 pilot attacked the Barge with 94 rounds & saw strikes. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S John Walter Shellard F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Charlton Armed Shipping Recce 3 TTAs in line astern off the south coast of Jersey. The leading ship was entering St. Helier harbour while the 3rd ship was still off Corbière Point. The last 2 ships were attacked out of the sun in starboard fashion. S/L Gonay’s salvo of 8 R/P were direct hits amidships in the rearmost ship, which was left burning, stopped & drifting in a spreading oil patch with much black smoke. The middle ship turned towards it. All other R/P undershot or went wide. S/L Gonay then called, “I’ve had it boys, I’m going to crash land” & he was seen to make a rather fast but apparently controlled crash-landing in the north-east of Jersey. His aircraft began to burn about 2-seconds after the crash. It is hoped that he may possibly have got free of it. The loss of S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay is a sad blow. Arriving 3 months ago, & never before flown a Typhoon, he very quickly proved himself master of every situation. As a leader he was absolutely trusted; admired & loved as a friend. S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay P/O John Thould F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Barrie Purkis No.10 Group Roadstead 140 U-Boat in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. The Squadrons 1st such attack (& prang too we believe) of a U-Boat. 64

R/P (60lb) fired in the presumed position of a 500-ton U-Boat. Strikes also seen on 1-2 small unidentified ships between 400 & 1,200-tons in the north-east basin. Intense flak damaged 3 Typhoons. F/L Stark flew back from St. Peter Port with several control wires cut by flak & others shredded whilst W/O Ryan’s petrol system ‘fell to pieces’ when he landed. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John Charlton F/S William Anthony Handley W/O Alton James Ryan F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S John Walter Shellard F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Richard Ulick Williams F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 15th F/L Robert Durham Rutter, ‘B’ Flight Commander promoted to Command the Squadron. At 1220 hours F/O William James Windelar RCAF crashed fatally near Launceston. It is believed that he had engine trouble & attempted a forced landing. No.10 Group Roadstead 142 U-Boat in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Attacked in standard dive the presumed position of the U-Boat indicated above. Hampered by a wisp of cloud at 1,500 feet, the results were hard to see, but all R/P (60lb) in the target area & hits were seen on the Mole. Flak damaged its 3rd Typhoon Cat B. F/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O John Barrie Purkis F/L David Frederick Evans 16th Secret sources indicate that the attacks in St. Peter Port damaged a 500-ton U-Boat & sank a Trawler Type Auxiliary. We were told that the Squadrons job of harrying the ships between Cherbourg & Brest is of great importance to the Normandy Beach Head, since our parachute troops have succeeded in destroying nearly all road & rail communications between Cotentin & North-west France. Letter from the C-in-C AOC ADGB AM Sir Roderic Hill was received today, alas not by S/L Gonay. ‘Please accept my congratulations in the fine work you & your Squadron did yesterday & last Saturday. Your attacks have been splendid & show both skill & magnificent spirit. If you would convey my appreciation to your pilots. 17th Shipping Recce St. Malo. The 975-ton L.97 M/V Passenger Packet sunk & a TLC was seen sinking by the escort. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Denis Charles Todd F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans Shipping Recce Shipping in St. Malo harbour & in the entrance to River Rance. 64 R/P (25lb). 1 section attacked a 1,600-ton M/V, direct hits amidships. The other section attacked 2 TLC in the entrance to the River Rance. Direct hits on 1 & a pilot of No.610 Sqn saw 1 of them sinking, with bows awash. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O John Thould F/S John Charlton F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/L David Frederick Evans

F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin 18th Afternoon flap for an immediate move to Bolt Head - all 10 Group Squadrons are being re-sorted mainly to release advanced marques of Spitfires for Anti-Diver activities in ‘Southern England.’ Note: - The Huns have sunk the old Whirlwind target ship Solmglint, Whale Oil Ship, 10,000-tons as a Blockship in Cherbourg. She has not left port for 3 years - but she won’t lie quiet for long now. No.10 Group Shipping Recce Channel Islands-St. Malo. 2 M-Class Minesweepers & 2 TLC off Jersey Corbiere Point attacked with 64 R/P (60lb & 25lb). No results seen. Intense flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan W/O Alton James Ryan F/S William Anthony Handley Shipping Strike Channel Islands. Same 8 Typhoons returned to harass the convoy attacked 2 hours earlier. Found it off the west coast of Jersey, heading towards St. Helier. It now consisted of a TLC & a TTA close alongside each other in the centre surrounded & proceeded by 5 TTAs & followed by a 2,000-ton escort vessel, thought to be a small Sperrbrecher. 2 minutes after the attack Spitfires of No.610 Sqn, close escort, observed that the 2,000-ton escort vessel was smoking heavily with an oil patch developing around it. An oil patch also surrounded the TLC. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Somerville Proctor F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan W/O Alton James Ryan F/S William Anthony Handley 19th Aircraft moved to Bolt Head. The rest of the Squadron & No.6263 Echelon followed at intervals during the next 4 days, in an insufficient number of M/T vehicles which regularly broke down - & then it was too windy to erect tents for those of No.6263 for whom no other billets were available. Bolt Head has often been visited by the Squadron as a forward Base. As a permanent Base it suffices from its establishment as an Advanced Landing Ground & its actual use as a 2 Squadron Station (No.263 with ½ of No.406 & ½ of No.276) & also as an ALG for the departure & arrival of many Operations by other Squadrons for which, as a further point of fact, the day fighter Squadron has to provide re-fuelling. But these things sort themselves out. As a Base from which this Squadron can conveniently get at the enemy between Cherbourg & Brest at sea or inland, it could not be bettered. And from the Offensive point of view, the Mess at the Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove with its attendant mess pleasures is a remarkably good thing. 20th No.10 Group Ramrod Radar at Ploumanach. All R/P in target area but hut, radar aerial & base apparatus not hit. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/L David Frederick Evans P/O John Thould No.10 Group Shipping Recce Alderney-Cap de la Hague-Cap Levy-Ludden. This was the 1st of many Recces & continuous flaps in

quest of supposed intention of the Hun to evacuate troops (but more especially technicians & other High Ups) from Cherbourg by sea. If he ever did, this Squadron did not catch him. The burning of Cherbourg was an awful sight, producing a pall of black smoke cloud visible for miles to seaward. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Alton James Ryan F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 21st Shipping Recce Cherbourg. Abandoned due to weather. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Allan Somerville Proctor No.10 Group Ramrod Cherbourg. Abandoned due to weather. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Allan Somerville Proctor F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S John Walter Shellard 22nd The evening & night were enlivened by a most remarkable flow of contradictory orders. It is believed that these originated from very high up & were caused by contradictory reports from different sources about what the Hun was doing or was going to do in Cherbourg - but all evaporated. No.10 Group Ramrod 142 Radar at Ploumanack. A great success. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd F/O Fred Green F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S John James Morgan 23rd No.10 Group Ramrod 144 Radar at Peugarnam. The Wurtzburg apparatus was damaged by F/L Stark. F/S Dunlop had some light flak in oil system which brought him down 60 miles off the French Coast & 35-miles from Bolt Head. He took 2 minutes to get into his dinghy where he had to wait 30 minutes for a Walrus. “Dauntless Dunlop” is the 1st pilot of No.263 Squadron to be rescued by ASR which was smartly done. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/S John James Morgan F/L David Frederick Evans F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/O Fred Green No.10 Group Ramrod 145 Radar at Lannion. Thoroughly pranged. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Shipping Recce Only smoke from the destruction of Cherbourg. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC

F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S John Charlton P/O John Thould W/O Alton James Ryan F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 24th Roadstead 146 St. Malo. A Recce by No.126 Sqn reported a remarkable concentration of ships in Basin Bouret St. Malo. M.70 M/V 270 feet 1,500-tons (ship 1); M.65 M/V 200 feet 1,590-tons (ship 2); Sailing Schooner 200 feet 800-tons (ship 3); M/V 200 feet (ship 4) & M.69 Huxter Hospital ship 1,000-tons (ship 5). 1st attack 8 60lb salvo (S/L Rutter) hit Ship 1 amidships. W/O Alton James Ryan RCAF was the last to attack & was simply not seen or heard of after. A black smoke cloud rising from south-east of the basins may possibly point to his fate. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/S John James Morgan F/S John Charlton F/S William Anthony Handley W/O Alton James Ryan F/O John Barrie Purkis F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 2nd attack St. Malo. The same ships disposed as above. This time salvoes were seen to enter Ships 1,2 & 3. The last, the Schooner, which was claimed damaged by this Squadron on 14th June, was now seen to have its central mast broken off & hanging awry & was on fire. More by luck than management, damaged the Huxton Hospital Ship. F/S John Charlton made a good R/P attack, his R/P striking the side of the mole to the left of Ship 1. Then his aircraft rolled twice & dived into the sea north of St. Malo old town. S/L Rutter’s aircraft was hit by 37mm flak in the port mainplane. 2 other aircraft also hit by flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/S John Charlton F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/S John Walter Shellard 26th W/C Reggie Baker DFC & S/L Dave Ross DFC are both missing believed killed in TAF in France. 27th Recce St. Ivy College, Pontry. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC No.10 Group Ramrod 146 Camouflaged building (telephone exchange for Paris) in the St. Ivy College courtyard. 1st time with 4 R/P & 2 Long-Range Tanks (combination suggested by F/L Stark), used in No.10 Group. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Fred Green F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O John Thould No.10 Group Ramrod 146 Long-Range Tanks fitted too tight, wouldn’t drop off. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Fred Green F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O John Thould 30th F/O Gordon Stanley Chalmers posted.

JULY 1944 1st F/O William James Fowler RCAF & F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF, F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF & W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. 2nd P/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF to F/O. 3rd No.10 Group Ramrod 151 Murde Bretagne Transformer Station. R/P hits on buildings & the electrical complex produced a bright flash. F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark hit by flak & streamed glycol. After a few typically ‘Pinkian’ words of R/T talk, he baled out & waved to P/O Thould from a field near Kerpert. His loss would be a serious blow if we did not hope to see him again. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Fred Green P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 4th The AOC No.10 Group AVM Steele DSO DFC visited & congratulated the Squadron on the accuracy of their attacks. Also, AM Conningham & AM Sir Roderic Hill had commented at a conference on the excellence of this Squadrons attacks. These remarkable strawberries were received by the Squadron with pleasure but with certain diffidence. “Well....Well” as F/L ‘Pinkie’ Stark would say if he could hear them. No.10 Group Rhubarb 304 Oil dump in the Bois de Maulanay. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/O Fred Green F/O John Alfred Hodgson P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 5th No.10 Group Rhubarb 306 Oil dump in the Bois de Maulanay. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Fred Green P/O John Thould

F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S William Anthony Handley 6th No.10 Group Ramrod 152 Despite the change of name, this Op was for the same target, the oil dump in the Bois de Maulanay. R/P burst on huts, no results. S/L Robert Durham Rutter F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Harold Medd Proctor F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 7th No.10 Group Roadstead 148 Convoy north of Lanneur. A TTA & 2 small ships attacked after a too steep a dive. No claims. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis P/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF P/O Green F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop No.10 Group Roadstead 149 The Squadrons last Operation in No.10 Group. Returned to attack the Convoy near Lanneur. F/O John Alfred Hodgson’s R/P hit the bridge, but he did not recover from his dive & hit the sea in what might have been an attempted ditching. It bounced 4 times than disappeared. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O John Barrie Purkis F/O John Alfred Hodgson F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan 8th Squadron to move to Hurn & 2nd TAF on 10th. It is the 1st time it has been posted away from No.10 Group since it arrived at Exeter on 29th November 1940. 9th Packing & Picking for move - the latter because No.6263 Echelon must be reduced to TAF strength. 10th Squadron move by air (3 Dakotas) & rail to Hurn.

11th RAF Hurn F/S Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan appointed P/O. No.20 Sector of No.84 Group & No.136 Airfield are in a state of being reorganised. 12th

Joined No.136 Airfield TAF. Personnel introduced to W/C Dring DFC (W/C Flying) & several ALO’s, one of whom gave a lecture, after which the Squadron carried out some practice R/P firing. 13th F/L Richard Ulick Williams posted to No.183 Sqn. F/L Edward William Foott Hewett AFC DFM arrived for flying duties from No.164 Sqn to Command ‘B’ Flight. 15th P/O William Edwin Watkins arrived from Typhoon refresher course. Visited stores for field service kit e.g. Camp kit etc. 17th F/L John Barrie Purkis appointed ‘A’ Flight Commander. F/O Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM to F/L. 18th Welcome news, the return of F/L Stark from enemy territory in 16 days (record for Squadron). F/O Ralph Arthur Bowden Stephens arrived as Adjutant. 23rd RAF Eastchurch Move to RAF Eastchurch for a course in R/P firing. The range is still occupied by No.183 Sqn & will not be available until Wednesday, so 2 days occupied in resting. 26th Lectures & start of R/P course in the afternoon with 30° dives. 27th Everyone gets in 2-3 trips of mostly low-level & 15° attacks. Rather more difficult than 30° dives. 28th F/O Fowler overshoots but gets away with slight damage to aircraft. 29th Signal received announcing award of DFC to S/L Rutter, F/L Purkis & F/O Harold Proctor. A very good day indeed for the Squadron. 31st F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark Rested

AUGUST 1944 RAF Eastchurch 1st The Squadron officially celebrates the award of the DFC to S/L Rutter, F/L Purkis & F/O Proctor. 6th F/L John Norman Payne Arkle arrived for flying duties as Supernumerary from No.84 GSU. Move to France to join No.146 Airfield at B.3 in Normandy. Day spent settling in & making us as comfortable as living under canvas will permit. 7th B.3, Normandy, France 1st Operation from France, in fact the 1st Operation after a lapse of 1 month almost to the day. Rather different to the type of Operation than in ADGB, but the last few weeks practice have not been wasted. Close Army Support Defence Post. All R/P in target area, plenty of smoke. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green P/O John Thould P/O Peter Frederick Cooper Tanks & M/T near Montain. 3 flamers. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Armed Recce Fleurs-Briene-Falaise. 3 M/T damaged. Heavy flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins 8th Close Support Guns at a crossroads near Potigny. Well plastered but no results seen. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard Infantry & mortar positions near Brettenville. Red smoke seen & all R/P in target area. F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O George Albert Wood P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard Lisieux-Argentan-Fleurs. No M/T seen. 64 R/P fired into wood covering enemy concentrations. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Alexander Barr F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan F/S Denis Charles Todd 9th Close Army Support Tanks south-east of Potigny. Attacked 10+ M/T with R/P. Moderate results.

S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Denis Charles Todd Armed Recce Falaise-Villy. 2 M/T flamers & 2 probables. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Close Army Support Tanks & M/T in Rouvres village. All R/P in target area. Large fire, smoke & a big explosion. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Thould F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Denis Charles Todd Armed Recce All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 10th Armed Recce Falaise-Putanges-Argentan-Trun. 1 Tank damaged; 2 M/T destroyed & 2 AFV damaged. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Alexander Barr P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Close Army Support Chateau HQ at Sommant-St. Quentin. Main building destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood A return, 2 hours later, to just east of the Chateau (still burning) to attack hutments & flak positions. All R/P in target area & a large oil fire seen. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 11th Close Army Support Guns west of Potigny. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S John Walter Shellard

F/S William Anthony Handley Wing Attack Radar station at Beauvais. Wing attack - Nos.193, 197 & 266 Sqns. No.263 were the 2nd Squadron in & all R/P in target area. Direct hits on main building. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC P/O John Thould F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 12th Armed Recce Marteaux-Crevecocur. 2 M/T damaged, Armoured troop carrier destroyed; 1 lorry flamer. F/S Todd hit by flak but returned OK. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Alexander Barr P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Denis Charles Todd 1 tank transporter, 1 large lorry with trailer & 3 M/T damaged. Intense flak north of Falaise. 1 aircraft damaged. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Fred Green P/O George Albert Wood F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S John Walter Shellard 2 M/T destroyed & 1 damaged near Trouville. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Alexander Barr F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 13th Armed Recce Falaise. 3 Tank flamers & 1 M/T flamer. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O George Albert Wood F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S William Anthony Handley F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC 14th Armed Recce Falaise-Vimoutiers-Lisieux. 1 AFV damaged. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard Close Army Support Guns & defence posts. W/C Baldwin led, flying 1 of the Squadron aircraft. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Alexander Barr F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Thould Troops & guns. All R/P in target area. Direct hits on houses & 88mm guns. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle

F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard 15th Armed Recce Lisieux-Vimoutiers. Staff Car damaged, 3 M/T flamers & 1 M/T exploded, suggesting it was loaded with ammunition. 4 Ambulances south-east of Livarot not attacked. Heavy flak. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan Tanks east of Fleurs. Smoke made attack impossible. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Alexander Barr P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O John Thould F/S John James Morgan Wing Attack 4-Squadron attack on roads east of Falaise. Army reported later that the attack was very successful. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan Close Army Support All R/P in target area. Smoke & flames from target. F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Alexander Barr F/O Fred Green F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O George Albert Wood F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper 16th F/O Edwin Robert Bickerstaff arrived from RAF Filey as Medical Officer. Armed Recce Bernay-Lisieux-Falaise-Trun. 1 small car damaged. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S William Anthony Handley Livarot-Vimoutiers-Orbec. 4 Tanks, 8 M/T & a bridge attacked. No definite results. The Squadron had its 1st loss when F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC was reported missing. There is a good chance he will return as he called over the R/T that he had been hit & was returning home. He probably baled out & it is hoped he made friendly territory before doing so. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC F/O Alexander Barr F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/S John James Morgan F/L David Frederick Evans Wing Attack Chateau HQ. Led by W/C Baldwin with Nos.193 & 197 Sqns. Direct hits & building left burning. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper

F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley 17th Armed Recce Barges on the Seine Les Audelys-Quille Boeuf. 1 Barge flamer; 1 Dredger flamer; 2 Barges smokers; 1 M/T damaged; 2 Barges damaged; Cannon strikes on 2 locks. Intense flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop M/T south-west of Vimoutiers. 4 flamers, 2 damaged. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Fred Green F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins Vimoutiers-Orbec-Livarot. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S John Walter Shellard 18th Armed Recce Bernay. 2 M/T destroyed & the road cratered by R/P. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S William Anthony Handley M/T south-west of Orbec. 1 tank destroyed, 5 M/T destroyed, 1 M/T damaged. Suspicious ambulance convoy of 22 M/T under a hedge. Not attacked. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Alexander Barr F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley Trun. 1 tank flamer; 4 M/T flamer; 6 M/T probable & 5 M/T damaged. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor was hit & force-land in friendly territory behind our lines. Seen to get out of the aircraft. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O William Edwin Watkins F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Lisieux-Corneilles-Bernay. 3 M/T destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF South-west of Trun. 12 M/T flamers. 15-20 HDT & troops strafed; 4 M/T damaged. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM

F/O Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley 19th F/O Harold Medd Proctor appointed F/L & given command of ‘A’ Flight. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor calmly walked in after a night wandering in no mans land, none the worse for his experience. Armed Recce Orbec-Brungle-Baumesnil-Beaumont. Many burnt out M/T, few new targets but 1 M/T flamer & 2 damaged. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Alexander Barr F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop M/T & HDT east of Vimoutiers. 1 aircraft returned with mechanical trouble. 3 M/T destroyed; 2 probable & 2 damaged. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O Fred Green F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/L Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan, P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S William Anthony Handley 20th Armed Recce Trouville-Thiberville. Abandoned due to weather. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins F/L Harold Medd Proctor DFC P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S William Anthony Handley Orbec. 1 M/T destroyed & 1 Staff Car damaged. 1 Tank seen but not attacked as the pilot who sighted it was out of ammunition. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd 22nd Armed Recce No M/T seen. F/L Edward William Foote Hewett AFC DFM F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 23rd S/L Rutter, F/L Edward William Foott Hewett AFC DFM & F/L Proctor paid a visit by road to the battle area & in the vicinity of Cabourg ran over a land-mine with the result that F/L Hewett received multiple injuries & was taken to a Military Hospital. He sustained a fractured leg as well as other very bad wounds. S/L Rutter & F/L Proctor sustained slight cuts & abrasions. The jeep was a complete write off. 24th Armed Recce M/T & tanks. Only 4 aircraft able to attack. 2 M/T damaged & 1 flamer. Intense flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC

F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd North end of the Seine. No M/T seen. 2 aircraft attacked a paddle ferry proceeding towards the west bank of the Seine with R/P. It was left on fire, but F/L Harold Medd Proctor was hit by flak & ‘went straight in’ on the far bank of the river. This meant a very grave loss to the Squadron as Proc I was a grand fellow, very popular with all the No.263 pilots & was an excellent Flight Commander. No further news was heard of him. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Harold Medd Proctor DFC F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan 25th The days losses were offset in part by the return, bright & cheery, of F/L John Barrie Purkis DFC. He had baled out, but as soon as he landed, he was pounced upon by SS troops & after interrogation was thrust into a civil prison in Bernay. A few days later the Germans hurriedly left & must have overlooked him in all the panic as he was later discovered & released by the advancing British troops. He is now off for a 10 day well earned rest in the UK & it is hoped he will return to carry on his good work with the Squadron. Operations carried out along the Seine, primarily with the aim of keeping a constant Patrol to prevent enemy troops & transport from crossing. Each Patrol consisted of 2 R/P carrying aircraft supported by 2 bombers of No.193 Sqn. Seine Patrol Crossings on River Seine. 2 M/T destroyed. 2 Barges damaged. No M/T & no attempts at Seine crossings. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF P/O John Thould F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Paddle steamer on the south bank of the Seine hit by R/P & left smoking. A Barge crossing east-west also left a smoking. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan

P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley 1 Barge sunk, 2 damaged. 1 Staff Car damaged & 2 M/T smokers. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Alexander Barr P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan hit by flak & announced over the R/T that he intended to make a forced landing in a nearby large field. Unfortunately, he overshot, crashed into a wood & immediately burst into flames leaving very little chance of his getting out alive. P/O Sayana Puram Duraiswamy Thyagarajan F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Allan William Campbell was hit by flak at 7,000 feet. He flew south & was followed by his No.1 down to 4,000 feet but was seen to start a steep dive & from then on, his No.1 lost sight of him so it can only be hoped that he managed to bale out in time. F/O Allan William Campbell RCAF P/O John Thould 26th F/L Arkle took over Command of ‘B’ Flight. Sweep North-east of Rouen. 3 HDT damaged; 1 M/T damaged & 1 motorcycle destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Thould F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Denis Charles Todd Armed Recce M/T. Thick haze made search impossible. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard F/S William Anthony Handley 27th Shipping Strike Ships off Etretat The Squadrons records would have been greatly enhanced by this day’s work but for the fact that someone not connected with the Squadron, Wing or in fact the RAF, gravely blundered with the result that a convoy of ships including 4 Destroyers & 2 motor vessels belonging to the Royal Navy were attacked. 2 Destroyers were sunk & the others badly damaged.

6 ships were located at the given pinpoint sailing south-west, 4 Destroyers & 2 Motor Vessels. Owing to doubt as to the identity, Controller was asked 4 times whether to attack as the ships had fired coloured smoke. Light flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF P/O John Thould Armed Recce Pontoon bridge over the Seine. Destroyed. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S John Walter Shellard 28th F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF & F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF return to the Squadron after their ‘refresher’ & conversion courses, now fully Operational we hope. Armed Recce Abandoned due to weather. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF R/P attacks on 2 Barges, both claimed as flamers. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard F/S Denis Charles Todd 31st The enemy has been driven back so far that long-range tanks must be fitted but there are not enough immediately available. Armed Recce Abbeville-Amiens-Dieppe. 3 M/T flamers, 1 M/T damaged, 4 ammunition truck flamers. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Alexander Barr F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould

SEPTEMBER 1944 B.3, France 1st Armed Recce Abbeville-Amiens. Saw M/T column with white stars north-west of Doullens-Auxi le Chateau. 1 Tank smoker, 2 M/T destroyed & several damaged in a village 5 miles north-east of Montreuil. On return, W/O McNinley ran short of petrol & landed on a new aerodrome at Bernay. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Auxi, 15m north-east of Abbeville. Several M/T flamers & damaged near Foret de Crécy & Auxi. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould F/S Denis Charles Todd 2nd No Operations partly due to bad weather & partly owing to the long distance to the bomb line. 3rd F/S Denis Charles Todd, F/S William Anthony Handley & F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop appointed W/O. Hearty congratulations. 4th The battle is now well out of range so again no Operations. 6th 16 aircraft to Manston to be nearer the front line. RAF Manston 8th Remaining aircraft & pilots left in France join the Squadron at Manston. 9th Shipping Strike Minesweepers between Jersey & Guernsey. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O John Thould P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard 10th Shipping Recce Dutch Islands. M/V in a channel between 2 Islands attacked. F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear was seen to attack & break away but did not re-join the formation. He was No.2 to W/C Baldwin DSO DFC. It is hoped that he may have force landed on Dutch soil although it is strange, he did not call over the R/T. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Frederick Stanley LeGear RCAF P/O George Albert Wood W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 11th B.51 Vendreville, France Back to France, to Vendeville aerodrome near Lille. Close Army Support On the way from Manston, ‘A’ Flight attacked a strongpoint near Boulogne. Target left burning. Landed at Vendeville. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle

F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 12th Shipping Strike Dutch Islands. Direct hits on 1 Dredger & 4 barges. 1 Barge sunk. No flak & attacks pressed home. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard 13th Close Army Support Strong point near Boulogne. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O George Albert Wood W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 14th Shipping Strike Shipping at Flushing. 5 large power-driven Barges attacked but only near misses. Intense flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Alexander Barr P/O John Thould F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 16th Record day for the Wing with 170 sorties to its credit. No.263 did its fair share with 4 Operations involving 35 sorties. Close Army Support 155mm guns near Dunkirk. 32 R/P fired & the ammunition dump in the centre detonated. From the force of the explosion, considerable damage done. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood W/O William Anthony Handley Observation Post in a Church at Zeebrugge. Body of the Church destroyed but tower left standing. Later destroyed by another Squadron. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Alexander Barr F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O John Thould W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd Shipping in Ternougan harbour. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Alexander Barr F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard Cap Gris Nez Lighthouse. Several direct R/P hits but still standing.

S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Thould P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd 17th A Church Parade was in commemoration of the Battle of Britain. Armed Recce V-2 activity on Schouen Island. Took off in pairs at 30-minute intervals. 2 direct hits on trucks on narrow gauge railway; direct hit on 1 of 3 concrete buildings west of Hammstade; 1 direct hit on 1 of 5 M/T in a quarry; camouflaged huts in dunes left smoking; 1 Barge damaged. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard W/O William Anthony Handley 20th Close Army Support Guns south of Calais. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop HQ at Walcheren. Abandoned due to weather. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O George Albert Wood W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley 22nd Interdiction Power plant at Dunkirk. Attack made through a hole in the cloud. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Alexander Barr F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd Close Suport Gun positions. Recalled, already capyutred by Army. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood W/O William Anthony Handley 26th Close Army Support Guns north of Antwerp. Led by W/C Baldwin flying one of the Squadron aircraft. All R/P in target area. W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood W/O William Anthony Handley

Guns & farm buildings south-west of Noouzen. All R/P in target area. Ammunition explosion seen. F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 27th Army Close Support Guns. Led by W/C Baldwin flying a Squadron aircraft. Red smoke seen, all R/P in target area. W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Railway-road bridge. No red smoke, no attack. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Medium guns. No red smoke, no attack. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF Petrol Dump. All R/P in target area. F/L David Frederick Evans

F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 28th Army Close Support Gun battery. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley ????? Gun battery. R/P attack, no results seen. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins Mortars & Guns in a wood. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Guns. Not seen, but 6 metal huts left burning. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O William Anthony Handley F/S John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Guns & troops in a wood. Red smoke seen. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC

F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 29th Brussels The Service Echelon worked full tilt all night until the early hours of the morning tearing off R/P rails as the Squadron was reverting to bombs. At dawn, 10 aircraft took off to operate from Brussels. Army Close Support The 1st Operation to be carried out with bombs. Abandoned due to weather. All bombs brought back. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Walter Shellard 30th Operating from Brussels again but weather poor. The Wing is moving to a new location, rumours point to Antwerp as our next stopping place. Army Close Support Bombed causeway at Arnemuide. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF

OCTOBER 1944 1st B.51, Vendeville Wing moving to new quarters at Antwerp tomorrow. F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies & F/O Donald James Stanley Turner arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Armed Recce Barges near Yerseken-Dam. 50 barges found in the harbour moored closely together. 10/10 cloud made attack difficult, but 3 pairs of bombs fell among them. 2nd attack with cannon. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Thould 2nd We rise at 0600 to pack kit & strike tents in order to move off for Antwerp by 0900. Only 14 of the 18 aircraft got away on time owing to difficulties in starting 1-2 aircraft. They followed later. B.70, Antwerp We are billeted in houses, a welcome change from tents. In between shows, the day is spent in making them habitable & comfortable. Armed Recce Rail junction south of Amersfoort. 4 direct hits. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard Railway junction south of Amersfoort. 3 direct hits scored & both tracks cut. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertrum McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Thould W/O Denis Charles Todd 3rd W/O Charles Archibald Bury & F/S Richard Walton Ainsley arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. 4th Interdiction Railway lines near Amersfoort. 8 aircraft attacked a factory alongside railway, which would probably have obstructed the line. The other 4 could not locate the target in poor visibility, so attacked the railway line near Utrecht. 1 wagon’flamer & 2‘smokers. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L David Frederick Evans F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O John Thould P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O George Albert Wood F/S John Walter Shellard F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin 5th F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC arrived for flying duties from No.197 Sqn to take over ‘A’ Flight. Armed Recce Level-crossing. 2 direct hits on the road. 10 large barges also attacked.

S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Thould W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Railway bridge. 1 direct hit online. Moderate flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard P/O John Thould Interdiction Bombs dropped but results not seen. W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 6th Close Army Support Buildings. 2 direct hits. Several trains also strafed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC Close Army Support German HQ in a Chateau 5 miles north of Antwerp. Led by W/C Baldwin flying 1 of the Squadrons aircraft. Building destroyed. W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O George Albert Wood P/O Peter Frederick Cooper F/S John Walter Shellard Interdiction Railway targets. A train was strafed & many strikes observed despite intense flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O George Albert Wood F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins F/S John Walter Shellard Rail/river bridge at Zwolle. Bombs well concentrated, but no direct hits. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Alexander Barr P/O John Thould W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 7th The day marked quite an event in the Squadrons history, for the 1st time in this war an Operation was carried out over German soil. Armed Recce Railway targets. Direct hits on rail bridge & lines cut. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC

F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L David Frederick Evans W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Railway bridge at Nijverdal, Netherlands. 2 direct hits cut the line west of the bridge. Results not seen due to thick haze. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O William Anthony Handley Abandoned due to weather. W/C John Robert Baldwin DSO DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Thould W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 11th 4 Operations against the village of Oostburg, an inoffensive looking place on the western side of the Scheldt. Apparently enemy troops were firmly ensconced in the village & the Army were having difficulty in dislodging them, so naturally the Typhies are called in to remove the obstacle. This the Squadron carried out with great enthusiasm & with excellent results. A record day for the Wing with just under 200 sorties, 41 of which were flown by No.263 Squadron. Armed Recce Oostburg. 6 direct hits on road going north-east out of the village, 2 M/T destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM P/O John Thould W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O William Anthony Handley Bombs dropped on the east side of the village. Many fires observed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard Bombs dropped on the north-east edge of the village. 2 M/T strafed. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Alexander Barr F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF P/O John Thould W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Bombs dropped in south-west & east of village. No results observed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC

F/O Fred Green F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O William Anthony Handley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard 12th Armed Recce AA guns west of Breskens. 2 aircraft carried 1,000lb bombs. 2 of which fell in the centre of 6 guns. 15 500lb bombs also fell in target area. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Alexander Barr F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Thould W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Army Close Support Mortars & Artillery. No red smoke; no attack made. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd Interdiction Rai targets near Roermond. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Alexander Barr F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John Thould W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 13th The Wing was honoured by a visit of HM the King accompanied by Field Marshall Montgomery, ACM Conningham & several other high-ranking Officers. Pilots were paraded & His Majesty inspected them. Army Close Support Guns & Infantry in a wood south of Bergen-Op-Zoom, 20 miles north-east of Base. The Squadron lost 1 of its oldest & most stalwart members - John Thould. He was flying No.2 to S/L Rutter & was hit by flak whilst in the dive. His aircraft burst into flames & spiralled straight in. Johnny had very little chance of baling out. A great loss to the Squadron. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O John Thould F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 4 Guns. All bombs in target area, but no direct hits. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard 14th Army Close Support

F/L David Frederick Evans & F/O Alexander Barr collided on re-forming after the attack & were last seen spinning down. A tragic loss to the Squadron. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L David Frederick Evans F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Alexander Barr F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 15th Weather Recce Venlo-Wesel. 3 M/T damaged & 1 HDT destroyed. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF Armed Recce Bridge in the Rhine Valley. 4 bombs overshot & considered worth a repeat attack. A train was strafed & strikes seen. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Walter Shellard Railway targets. 3 direct hits on rails & 1 on trucks in a siding. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 16th Army Close Support The Army still having trouble with Oostburg, so we step in again to give a hand. All bombs in target area 1-2 failed to explode. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O William Anthony Handley W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S John Walter Shellard Strong point. 4 1,000lb & 12 500lb bombs dropped. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop 18th Armed Recce Railway line cut & 1 direct hit on 3 trucks in a siding. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O William Anthony Handley Bombs dropped on 12 pontoons, 3 left sinking. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 3 gun-positions south of Bergen-Op-Zoom.

S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O William Anthony Handley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF All bombs in target area, but no results seen. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 20th Close support for the Army who were making an advance up the Antwerp-Esschen road. Close Army Support Strong points. The northern end of a village was attacked & many buildings blown up. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O William Anthony Handley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury Railway south-west of Zutphen. 2 lines cut. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Strongpoints. White smoke seen. Bombing was good. Message received from Army HQ to say attack was very successful & they had been able to advance to within 1 mile of Esschen. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O John Walter Shellard W/O William Anthony Handley 21st Armed Recce Railway bridge between Lochtenburg & Breda. Bombed to such effect that it can be considered a complete write-off. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop Barges in Yerseke harbour. 10 bombs fell amongst them but failing light made observation difficult. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O George Albert Wood W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O William Anthony Handley F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Close Army Support Enemy HQ at a crossroads south of Breskens. All bombs in target area. Plenty of smoke & fire. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle

F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O John Walter Shellard

24th Wing Show German 15th Army HQ in Dordrecht. No.263 led by carrying out a feint attack on a railway bridge thus drawing flak away from following Squadrons carrying out attacks on the HQ. The target was in a small park in the centre of the town. After 1 orbit No.263 went into attack the real target. An Intelligence report received later proved this Operation as having been highly successful in that casualties alone sustained by the enemy included 2 Generals, 15 Staff Officers, 50 other Officers & 200 other ranks. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O William Anthony Handley Armed Recce Railway junction. F/L Stooke Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC, AFM missing. He baled out over enemy territory after stating his engine was cutting. It is hoped he got down safely, but Germans were shooting at him on way down. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC

F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 28th W/O Hugh Barrie & F/S John Quigley RAAF arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Army Close Support 10 aircraft in three sections (4-3-3). 1st section attacked a railway station south of Kapelle. Buildings damaged & line cut. Road running west from Kapelle also strafed. The 2nd section was under the control of VCP over the battle area & the target was a road junction. This was missed with bombs, but well strafed & 1 M/T ‘smoker’ claimed. The 3rd section attacked the railway in the same area as the 1st & a direct hit was scored on buildings. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Denis Charles Todd

W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 29th Armed Recce Rail line at Harderwijk. 2 direct hits on Station. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O George Albert Wood W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Goss-Thelen-Steenbergen. 2 Barges & 1 launch damaged with cannon. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Radar installation at Walcheren. Attacked with cannon. Strikes observed. Intense flak. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Donald James Stanley Turner W/O William Anthony Handley W/O Denis Charles Todd 30th W/O Iain David Macdonald Dunlop to UK on rest

.

NOVEMBER 1944 B.70 Antwerp 1st Army Close Support Guns on seawall at Westkapelle, north of Flushing. All bombs in target area. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury 2nd S/L Rutter DFC went off on a well-earned leave. Army Close Support Road from Breda to the River Mark. Low-level attack made & direct hits scored on several buildings. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Strongpoints near Steenbergen. Intense flak. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O William Gordon Kemp Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF 3rd Army Close Support Strong-point in an orchard on Zevenbergen-Breda road. Low cloud kept aircraft at 4,000 feet. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury 4th Army Close Support Ammunition dump in Sugar factory at Zevenbergen. 1 direct hit, the remainder near misses. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Ammunition dump in Sugar factory at Zevenbergen. 4 1000lb & 12 500lb bombs dropped. Debris thrown up to a height of 3,000 feet. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor

Gestapo HQ on the edge of Rotterdam. With 4 aircraft from No.266 Sqn. Our aircraft were to attack gun positions while No.266 attacked the HQ buildings with R/P. Several near misses. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF Armed Recce Veere-Middleburg. Attacked 4 heavy guns in a small village south of Veere. The area was flooded but this strongpoint stood out on high ground. All bombs in target area with 3 direct hits. F/L Arkle hit by flak. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie 5th Weather Recce Utrecht-Zwolle. P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Interdiction Rail targets south of Zwolle. Line cut. A suspected V2 site was discovered near the line between Wexep & the River Ijssel. A heavily defended train was not attacked due to low cloud. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Fred Green W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie 6th Weather Recce Zwolle-Deventer. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Interdiction Rail line north of Deventer. Successfully despite a heavy rainstorm. All bombs in target area & line cut. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF Zwolle-Utrecht railway. Line cut. Found burning train being attacked by Spitfires. We helped to spread the conflagration. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Fred Green F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Hugh Barrie 7th F/O John Francis Reilly RCAF Rested. Interdiction Rail/Road crossing north of Nijkerk. 1 direct hit cut the line. Several trucks left smoking. Intense flak hit F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies. He force-landed south of Zwolle & called over the R/T that he was all right. Sseen to leave his aircraft & run for cover. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie

W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 8th Interdiction Railway at Amersfoort. Line cut in several places. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 9th W/O Morris Luck RNZAF & F/S John Irvine arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Weather Recce F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 10th W/O Rupert Alan Richardson arrived for flying duties from No.84Sqn. Interdiction Goch-Xanten rail line in the Rhur Valley. Direct hits on buildings near to the line & wagons in a siding. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Hugh Barrie W/O William Anthony Handley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 11th W/O William Anthony Handley appointed P/O. Interdiction 8 aircraft attempted to off but only 5 did, the other 3 failed due to mechanical trouble. The 5 gave a good account of themselves by blowing up an ammunition train. F/O Kemp hit by debris from target. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd P/O William Anthony Handley Amersfoort-Zwolle Railway. Line cut in 3 places & 3 trucks destroyed. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O George Albert Wood W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O John Walter Shellard Rail lines cut 3 times, including 1 in a cutting. There was a cloud of white smoke from a direct hit on a Station. Train attacked on the 1st Op still burning. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Donald James Stanley Turner W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Denis Charles Todd P/O William Anthony Handley F/S John Irvine 13th Weather Recce P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Rupert Aaan Richardson 14th-15th Moved dispersal nearer the taxiing track. 16th Weather Recce/Interdiction Railway east of Amersfoort. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF

F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S John Irvine 18th Interdiction Road bridge north-east of Heineberg. Hits around the bridge, but it was left intact. Moderate flak. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine Road bridge north-east of Heineberg. 1 direct hit making a fair-sized hole. F/L John Norman Payne Arkle ‘B’ Flight Commander was hit by flak & force landed in or near our lines, so it is hoped he will get back safe & soon. (Killed). S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L John Norman Payne Arkle F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Morris Luck 19th Interdiction Marshalling yards at Maarne. Low-level attack & the line cut in 2 places. Flak from Hertogenbosch. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Fred Green P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O John Walter Shellard Wireless station in a Chateau east of Lachem. 8 1000lb bombs & 8 incendiaries. Destroyed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley

Wing Show Gestapo HQ in Amsterdam. Concentrated effort by Nos.266, 193, 197 & us. We were assigned the HQ building & 4 direct hits with 1,000lb bombs were scored. Operation was very successful. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF 20th F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward arrived for flying duties from No.266 Sqn. 21st Interdiction Arnhem-Utrecht line cut at Klemp west of Arnhem. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC P/O William Edwin Watkins P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 25th F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward arrived for flying duties from No.266 Sqn & given command of ‘B’ Flight, as there is still no news of F/L Arkle. Weather Recce/Interdiction Recce-Waal. P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Interdiction Abandoned due to weather. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O Donald James Stanley Turner P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Irvine Railway near Amersfoort. Line cut in 2 places. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O Fred Green F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Morris Luck W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward

26th Interdiction Rail line east of Lachen. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Irvine Cancelled by GCC after the aircraft were airborne. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Morris Luck 29th Wing Show Gestapo HQ in Rotterdam. Nos.193, 266 & 257 Sqns also took place. Led by W/C Wells. We were assigned the job of silencing flak guns & a direct hit was scored on 1-gun position. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury Interdiction Rail bridge near Raalte. 3 direct hits & 1 near miss. Line also cut in 3 places. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC W/O Denis Charles Todd F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O William Anthony Handley F/S John Irvine F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF 30th Interdiction Utrecht-Zwolle. Several direct hits cut line near Hardwerijk. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O Fred Green P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF

DECEMBER 1944 B.70 Antwerp 1st

F/L Alan Leslie Stooke Hallett AFC DFM, missing on 24th October is a POW. Weather Recce/Interdiction Nijmegen-Zwolle. W/O Denis Charles Todd F/S John James Morgan 2nd Whilst on an Air Test they saw a V-1 at 5,000 feet. Both attacked & F/S Morgan scored a direct hit. It fell in an open field & exploded. This is the 1st V-1 to be shot down by the Squadron. W/O Morris Luck F/S John James Morgan 3rd Interdiction Railway lines near Zwolle. Signal box damaged. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF 4th F/O Green & F/O Hamilton visit the Polish Army to give talks on air support for the Army. Weather Recce/Interdiction Zwolle-Hengels. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury Interdiction Utrecht-Amersfoort-Zwolle. Bombs dropped on a railway/road crossing near Naarne, 1 direct hit & 2 near misses. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward P/O George Albert Wood P/O William Edwin Watkins 5th Interdiction Utrecht-Alphen rail line. 1 section attacked a railway bridge & claimed 4 direct hits on the embankment. 2nd section bombed a railway bridge, 2 near misses. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O William Anthony Handley F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Irvine F/S John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF Bridge over the Utrecht-Gonda canal. The bridge was swung open. 1 near miss. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie 7th Weather Recce/Interdiction Amersfoort-Apeldoorn. Loco & 6 wagons attacked with cannon. Yellow flash from the Loco. P/O William Anthony Handley F/S John Irvine Amersfoort-Apeldoorn. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S John James Morgan

8th Interdiction Railway lines near Zutphen. Rail cut & 1 very near miss on a road/rail bridge. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Denis Charles Todd 10th Weather Recce/Interdiction Zwolle. P/O William Anthony Handley F/S John Irvine F/O Fred Green P/O William Edwin Watkins 11th Wing Op V2 storage depot, Leiden. Nos.193 & 257 also took part. This Squadron claims 1 hit which produced an orange flash & much debris. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O George Albert Wood F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O Peter Frederick Cooper W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Morris Luck W/O John Walter Shellard 12th A V-1 fell close to the dispersal, very little damage. 13th-22nd Compass swinging. 15th F/O Rheon Thomas Parry the Engineering Officer appointed F/L & posted to No.145 Wing. 22nd F/O Fred Green & F/O Peter Frederick Cooper proceed to UK on Rest. We will miss them a lot. F/O William James Fowler to Sheffield for a course. 23rd Armed Recce Barracks & airfield, Saesterberg near Amersfoort. Hits claimed on the barracks. No aircraft on airfield. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin P/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley 24th Long-range Fighter Sweep Rhur area with No.257 Sqn. 30+ Me.262s seen attacking Lancasters of which 3 were seen to go down in flames. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/S John James Morgan F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Utrecht. With No.197 Sqn. 3 M/T damaged. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin hit by flak & blew up. He had been with the Squadron since 18th September 1943. A very sad loss to the Squadron. F/L Leonard Arthur Unwin + 4 more 25th Interdiction North-east of Arnhem. Attack on a Loco & 25 wagons. 3 direct bomb hits on wagons. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC

F/L Donald James Stanley Turner F/O W. Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/S John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley Marshalling yards at Amersfoort. 4 hits on sheds. F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Edwin Watkins P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O John Walter Shellard 26th Armed Recce & Interdiction Zwolle-Deventer railway. 8 carried bombs, 4 carried Long-Range Tanks as fighter escort. 2 near misses with 1,000lb & 3 with 500lb bombs. Line cut. We lost F/L Donald James Stanley Turner when his aircraft exploded at 500 feet over the target. He had only been with us a short while & will be sadly missed. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Donald James Stanley Turner F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Denis Charles Todd W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Irvine F/S John James Morgan 27th-28th Reverting to R/P & all aircraft fitted with rails. 29th Shipping Strike Off Overflakke Island. Large Barge sunk. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Edwin Watkins P/O William Anthony Handley W/O John Walter Shellard 31st Saw the Old Year out & welcomed the New Year in at the Wing dance in Antwerp & the Officers Club. Armed Recce Gouda-Zutphen-Zwolle. 10 Trucks destroyed with R/P & cannon. Line also cut. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O John Walter Shellard F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John James Morgan Army Close Support Observation Post in a tower east of Nijmegen. Attacked with R/P & cannon. Confirmed by the Army that it had been eliminated by our attack. F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Edwin Watkins W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Irvine Meeuwen village. All R/P in target area. S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S John James Morgan F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor

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

The Squadron having been equipped with Typhoon aircraft in December 194,3 the 1st month of 1944 was spent entirely on training of pilots & groundcrews on this type of aircraft with the help of the Armament Practice Camp at Fairwood Common. It was not until 1st February 1944 that the Squadron 1st became Operational with Typhoons & the 1st actual Operation was carried out on 2nd February. From that date until they joined TAF on July 10th, it was employed attacking shipping in the English Channel, harbours particularly on the Cherbourg & Brest Peninsulas, & airfields in France, also radar stations & V1 launching sites in France. For the 1st few weeks a pair of 250lb bombs HE & AP were carried on each aircraft, but later this was increased to a pair of 500lb, & then in May, 50% of the Squadron aircraft were fitted with R/P. On 6th June the 1st Operation with R/P was carried out. As only 50% of the Squadron aircraft had been fitted with rails, attacks were often made with a mixed Squadron of bombers & R/P with considerable success. 2 Flights were thus employed of 10 simultaneously either in 2 waves with the same objective or with different targets. On July 10th, the Squadron was transferred to TAF after being in No.10 Group for nearly 4 years. The Squadron 1st joined No.136 Wing at RAF Hurn, but only for a few days, as under a reorganisation scheme this Wing is disbanded & the Squadron wass transferred to No.146 Wing also at Hurn. All the aircraft were now fitted with R/P & from July 23rd to August 6th the Squadron was stationed at RAF Eastchurch with the Armament Practice Camp there, & the next 14 days were well spent practising Air-to-Air & Air-to-Ground with cannon & R/P. In the meantime, No.146 Wing had moved to France. August 6th was a memorable day, as on this day the Squadron set foot in France & joined No.146 Wing at B.3 in Normandy. On August 7th, the 1st Operation from France was carried out, & from that date the Squadron took part in attacks of every kind of fighter bomber tar gets with bombs & R/P, but mainly with the latter. The targets included many close supports of the Army, Interdictions, enemy Headquarters housed in large buildings, enemy strong-points, V1 & V2 launching sites. October 7th was marked by an event in the history of the Squadron, as on this day for the 1st time in this war an Operation was carried out over German soil. On October 12th for the 1st time a proportion of the aircraft carried a pair of 1000lb bombs & from this date to the end of the year, 70 such bombs had been used on a variety of targets.

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

05 January 1944 RAF Ibsley to APC Fairwood Common

24 January 1944 APC Fairwood Common to TAF Beaulieu

06 March 1944 TAF Beaulieu to RAF Warmwell

19 March 1944 RAF Warmwell to RAF Harrowbeer

19 June 1944 RAF Harrowbeer to RAF Bolt Head

10 July 1944 RAF Bolt Head to RAF Hurn & TAF

23 July 1944 RAF Hurn to APC Eastchurch

06 August 1944 APC Eastchurch to B.3 Normandy, France

06 September 1944 B.3 Normandy, France to RAF Manston

11 September 1944 RAF Manston to B.51 Lille, France

02 October 1944 B.51 Lille, France to B.70 Antwerp to end of the year

Offensive Operations 1st January 1944- 31st December 1944

334 Offensive Operations 2202 Offensive sorties 4496 Rocket Projectiles - mainly 60lb HE heads 55 250lb bombs HE 2543 500lb bombs HE 14 500lb bombs AP 8 500lb bombs Incendiaries 70 1000lb bombs HE Total weight of bombs 1,366,250lbs approx. 609 tons 18 cwts Total weight of R/P 26,976lbs approx. 12 tons 1 cwts Approx ¾ of the above total weight of bombs & R/P were expended from August 6th, the day the Squadron arrived in France to December 31st, 1944. Approx (all types), 117,780 rounds of 20mm cannon shells, of which 7/8 of these were expended from ‘D-Day’ to December 31st. HONOURS & AWARDS 142445 F/L Lawrence William Fraser Stark awarded DFC 81635 S/L Henry Alphonse Clement Gonay awarded DFC 42574 S/L Robert Durham Rutter awarded DFC 158700 F/L John Barrie Purkis awarded DFC 159873 F/O Harold Medd Proctor awarded DFC

JANUARY 1945 B.70 Antwerp 1st The New Year opened with an attack on the aerodrome by 20+ 109s & 190s, but very little damage was inflicted although all Squadrons were grounded owing to ice on the runway. We heard later that many of the TAF airfields had been attacked & several had suffered considerable damage to aircraft on the ground. Out of 300 enemy aircraft that took part, 193 were destroyed. Hearty congratulations to F/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC who today takes over command of the Squadron. The late CO - S/L Robert Durham Rutter DFC - having been sent on a much deserved & well-earned rest. S/L Rumbold DFC has already proved himself a capable leader as ‘A’ Flight Commander, & the whole Squadron welcomes his appointment to command the Squadron. F/O Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF to F/L. F/S Richard Walton Ainsley to W/O. Armed Recce Barges east of Dordrecht. 56 direct R/P hits were scored on 20+ barges which were left smoking. 2 flamers believed oil fires. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Edwin Watkins P/O William Anthony Handley W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Morris Luck

Army Close Support Observation Post in a Church at Hedal. It was causing considerable embarrassment to the Army. 16 direct hits with R/P at the base of the church & 8 on the steeple. Many hits with cannon also claimed. Smoke & debris hindered observation, but it is believed that the church is now useless as an O.P. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O John Walter Shellard F/S John Irvine W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF 2nd-3rd Weather Recce/Interdiction Schouwen Island. F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley 4th P/O David Edward Morgan & W/O Charles George Points arrived for flying duties from No.266 Sqn. Armed Recce Factory near Sliedrecht. Attacked with R/P, many direct hits. Accurate observation not possible as area obscured by explosions early in the attack. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward P/O David Edward Morgan F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Morris Luck

Army HQ post on Schouwen Island. 3 salvoes of R/P direct hits on building in target area & left burning. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Charles George Points Interdiction Gouda-Schoonhoven railway near Stolwijk. 2 direct hits & 2 near misses claimed with salvoes of R/P, the line was cut. Originally intended as an 8 aircraft show, but only 4 were airborne when just as 4 aircraft were taxiing out to the runway, an aircraft of No.257 Sqn, jettisoned a 1,000lb bomb near to them which exploded & the 4 were hit by shrapnel. Luckily, there were no casualties; although there were several near misses. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O William Anthony Handley W/O John Walter Shellard 6th F/O George Albert Wood & F/O William Edwin Watkins posted on a much-deserved rest. 9th F/L Edward Alan Tennant arrived for flying duties from No.257 Sqn to Command ‘A’ Flight. 13th RAF Fairwood Common The Squadron flew to Fairwood Common for an R/P Course, the pilots with their Typhoons, the ground staff in 2 Dakotas. F/O George Felix Gillman arrived for flying duties from No.257 Sqn.

FEBRUARY 1945 No.18 APC Fairwood Common 1st-8th F/O Connel Joseph Devey arrived for flying duties from No.257 Sqn. R/P & cannon practice. Weather bad, results very good & equalled the best of any previous Squadrons. A higher average than any other Squadron on the Wing recorded, which reflects well on the keenness & efficiency of the Squadron as a whole. 9th Fairwood to Manston en-route to the Continent. 10th Manston to B.77. Interdiction Recce’d north of Arnhem-Apeldoorn-Zutphen. Aircraft landed at B.89 Mill in Netherlands (the new Base) to join up with the Wing, which had meantime moved from B.70. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodwar F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Rupert Alan Richardson B.89 Mill, Netherlands 11th Interdiction Abandoned due to 10/10 cloud at 1,000 feet. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles George Points W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Irvine 13th Winkle Winkle along the northern edge of a small forest east of Reichwald Forest by 4 aircraft. 8 aircraft attacked houses with R/P & destroyed several. 2nd strafing attack by all 12 aircraft. Despite poor visibility & cloud base at 2,000 feet the attack was pressed home. The Operation was watched by the Corps Commander, & he sent a signal congratulating the Squadron on its fine work. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O Davy W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Irvine F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles George Points Armed Recce Abandoned before crossing the bomb-line. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O George Felix Gillman F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan 14th Army Close Support Target Wood located & attacked with R/P & heavily strafed with cannon. No results observed. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC

F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O George Felix Gillman F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles George Points W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph NcNinley German Divisional HQ, Wetten. Target reached 10 minutes late owing to approach being above cloud, 2nd approach necessary. Red smoke seen & R/P attack along edge of wood. W/O Charles George Points was hit by flak & called on the R/T to say that he was baling out, he was not seen to leave the aircraft & his body was found close to the wreckage of his aircraft. He was buried by soldiers of the 156/156 Brigade. W/O Points came to us from No.266 Sqn & had only been with the Squadron for a short time but was popular & well-liked. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O George Felix Gillman F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles George Points W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph NcNinley Armed Recce Canal east of Zutphen. 15+ laden Barges. Dusk was falling & visibility was poor so results not seen, but 1 salvo direct hit on 1 barge & 6 damaged by cannon. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF 16th Army Close Support Asperden Village. All R/P in target area. The Army captured the village soon after with little trouble. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Quigley RAAF 21st F/O Adrian Godfrey Davies, missing on 7th November 1944, returned., We were unable to see him as he had to return to England for interrogation. Army Close Support Fragmentation R/P rippled along the edge of a wood. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Morris Luck W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Rupert Alan Richardson P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury Strongpoints in buildings. 1 destroyed & several damaged. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward

F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF Guns, mortars & strong points. All R/P in target area & 3 fires started. W/C Wells S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S John Quigley RAAF 22nd Army Close Support Strongpoints in 2 houses near Calcar. All R/P burst in target area. Both were left smoking & damaged. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Morris Luck F/S John Irvine Armed Recce 10 aircraft in pairs. 1st pair - 3 signal box & station buildings destroyed; 2nd pair - 2 Barges left smoking & 1 M/T damaged; 3rd pair - 1 Barge damaged; 4th pair - 1 signal box destroyed; 1 M/T damaged; 5th pair - railway line cut. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O John Walter Shellard W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Irvine Kepellin village. Target indicated by red smoke. Poor visibility prevented results being observed. Heavy flak. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF Winkle Houses along a road. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF 24th Record day for the Squadron. 6 Operations with a total of 50 sorties - very successful. Close Army Support Guns & infantry. All R/P in target area & area well strafed. Infantry positions in houses also attacked with R/P & cannon. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward

F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Charles Archibald Bury Strongpoints in buildings. Destroyed with R/P. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Charles Archibald Bury Strongpoints in buildings. 1 destroyed & 1 left burning. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF Observation Post & HQ in a Seminary. 9 R/P salvoes direct hits. Northern ½ of target destroyed. No flak. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O David Edward Morgan F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF Observation post in a Church. Attacked with R/P & demolished. The seminary previously attacked was seen to be on fire from end-to-end. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine

Recalled by Longbow. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine 25th Close Army Support Observation post, mortars & infantry in a church at Wesel. The church appeared to already be in ruins, but several direct hits were made. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine F/S John Quigley RAAF HQ & Infantry. Red smoke seen. Eastern ½ of building destroyed. Smoke & flames from remainder. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine Troops & M/T in a wood. All R/P in target area. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine Primary target not attacked as no red smoke seen. Alternate at Sonsbeck attacked. All R/P in target area. 2 aircraft hit by flak. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O John James Morgan

W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine 28th Armed Recce Ferry crossings, Rees-Wesel. 5 barges near Rees & 8 near Wesel. Train north of Millingen seen being attacked by Spitfires. P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury Ferry crossing at Wesel. Jetty attacked but no hits. 4-5 barges seen on the river near this point. Intense flak which hit 1 aircraft. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward W/O Morris Luck Large Barge. Not hit with R/P but received many cannon strikes. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O John Walter Shellard 15+ Barges attacked with R/P; no claims made. Cannon strikes on 3. F/O William James Fowler RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley Loco & trucks. Cloud obscured target but 4 large Barges attacked with direct hits on at least 3. Flames & grey smoke seen. F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine 2 Barges sunk & 1 damaged. F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Rupert Alan Richardson Heavily defended buildings near Uden. Many hits left smoking & badly damaged. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine Weather Recce/Interdiction Venlo. P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury

MARCH 1945 B.89 Mill, Netherlands 1st W/O Leslie J. Miller arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Weather Recce/Interdiction F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey Ferry Patrol Barges south of Rees. 2 hit by cannon fire but no results observed owing to haze. F/O William Gordon Kemp W/O Richard Walton Ainsley Close Army Support Enemy battery. Abandoned due to weather. F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine 3rd Armed Recce Rhine-Rees-Wesel. 2 Barges hit by R/P; no results seen. 1 aircraft hit by flak & landed at B.80, pilot uninjured. Intense flak from Xanten. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp F/O Connel Joseph Devey 4 Barges damaged. F/S John Quigley RAAF F/S John Irvine Wesel-Dorsten & Wesel-Raesfeld. W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley 5th No.257 Sqn disbanded & 5 of their pilots, F/O Robert Logan, F/O Edwin John Whitfield, F/O James Arthur Smith, F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey & W/O Arthur Bales arrived for flying duties. We also receive 5 of their aircraft, making our total strength 26 pilots & 19 aircraft. Armed Recce Rhine crossings. 5 pairs took off on Armed Recces during the day, but weather again was not helpful. 10 stationary railway trucks attacked with R/P; no results seen. 4+ stationary M/T seen in a village. F/L Edward Alan Tennant W/O Rupert Alan Richardson F/O Kemp had mechanical problem. Operation abandoned. F/O William Gordon Kemp W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey Barge damaged with R/P. F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Barges near Wesel. Not attacked due to heavy flak. F/O William James Fowler RCAF P/O David Edward Morgan 6th-11th

F/L George Edward Cassie arrived for flying duties from No.193 Sqn to take over ‘B’ Flight. 12th F/L Ronald Edward Goodman Sheward posted to Command No.266 Sqn. Our loss is their gain, a well-earned promotion.

Shipping Recce 4 submarines south of Schouwen Island. A 200-ton vessel but marked with a Red Cross so not attacked. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Robert Logan P/O David Edward Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury 14th P/O David Edward Morgan appointed F/O. Shipping Strike 500-ton ship at Nijerk. Vessel not located but 5 Drifter type vessels in a nearby lock attacked. The lead aircraft scored a direct hit among the vessels causing smoke & flames. The remaining aircraft fired into the smoke & flames, results not seen. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF 15th-17th Pilots briefed for an attack on a Generals’ HQ at Deventer. 18th Weather Recce/Interdiction Deventer. F/O Robert Logan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Wing Show As a result of the above an attack was made on a Generals’ HQ just south of Deventer in which all Squadrons took part. There were 5 distinct targets & No.263 Squadron was assigned Nos.3 & 4. 2 aircraft attacked No.3 & a cloud of red brick dust was seen. The remaining 6 aircraft attacked No.4 target, a church, & scored direct hits with 2 salvoes of R/P. The church was left burning. The HQs were of General Student & General Blaskowitz & the results were highly satisfactory. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O John James Morgan 19th Wing Show Repair factory north of Emmerich containing armoured vehicles. 8 aircraft attacked a rectangular building at the eastern end of the target. At least 4 direct hits with R/P. Target area covered with smoke & haze. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF Armed Recce 80+ barges & 3-4 small boats attacked with claims of 2 direct hits on the barges. It is regretted that W/O Rupert Alan Richardson is missing. His aircraft was hit by flak, but he baled out so there is every hope that he landed safely & will get back eventually. F/L George Edward Cassie F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Rupert Alan Richardson W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan F/S John Quigley RAAF

21st Wing Show 25th German Army HQ at Bussum. 193, 197 & 266 Sqns also took part, led by W/C Deall. This Squadron attacked with R/P & at least 6 salvoes were seen to be direct hits causing much smoke & fire. The target was destroyed. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey Kemp RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley P.O.L. depot near Deventer. 1salvo direct hit on a school, 2 salvoes direct hits on a garage. The guard room was attacked but no results observed. An office attacked with cannon, strikes seen. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Arthur Bales W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 23rd Close Army Support All pilots briefed for a big push over the Rhine to take place this night. No.146 Wing are to carry out anti-flak attacks in support of the airborne troops. This Operation was against a HQ in Halle but was abandoned due to failing light & thick haze. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Robert Logan W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Arthur Bales W/O John Walter Shellard 24th Towards the evening the whole battle area was covered with a haze & dust so thick that Operations were brought to a minimum. The battle, according to unofficial reports is going very well & a good foothold on the east bank of the Rhine. Close Army Support HQ at Halle. 4 aircraft attacked this Priority 1 target. A large white building appeared undamaged, but buildings nearby largely destroyed. There was 1 explosion. 5 aircraft attacked priority 2 target & all R/P in target area. A large rectangular building was burning & 3 smaller fires in buildings. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Robert Logan W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Arthur Bales W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury Anti-flak Patrol 1 M/T destroyed near Dorsten. Flak position attacked with R/P & cannon & direct hit claimed. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Edwin John Whitfield F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan Road east of Wesel rippled with R/P & cannon. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC

F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Robert Logan F/O Edwin John Whitfield W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John Walter Shellard 25th F/O Austin Bertram McCully RCAF posted to No.401 Sqn. Close Army Support HQ in a house at Driel west of Arnhem. Many hits & a huge mushroom of flame as the last R/P were fired. Target destroyed. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan Armed Recce The aircraft took off in 4s. The 1st section found 10+ M/T including at least 1 well camouflaged tank along the edge of a road north of Raalte. An attack was made but no results observed. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O John Walter Shellard Doesburg-Zelhem-Ruurle-Greenle. Barge damaged east of Deventer. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Edwin John Whitfield W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Arthur Bales

Zutphen-Lochem canal. 4 barges damaged. 3 M/T & 1 tracked vehicle also. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Robert Logan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 26th Close Army Support Billets & defence position south-west of Arnhem. With 12 aircraft of No.197 Sqn, many direct R/P hits, target covered in smoke. Southern part of the building destroyed; north-west portion badly damaged but still standing. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O Edwin John Whitfield F/O Robert Logan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O John James Morgan W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Armed Recce Zwolle-Deventer-Ryssen. Took off in 4’s. F/L Tennant’s section damaged 2 Barges; a Paddle Steamer or Dredger damaged & 2 M/T destroyed, F/L Fowler’s section claimed 4 Barges damaged, 1 smoker, 1 Tug destroyed & 3 M/T damaged. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF

F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/O Robert Logan F/O Edwin John Whitfield W/O Charles Archibald Bury Tanks at Zutphen-Isselburg. 2 R/P fired at 2 M/T on the Keppel road junction, near misses claimed. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey 9 Barges on Zutphen-Raalte canal damaged. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley 31st F/O Edwin John Whitfield to F/L. Armed Recce Zutphen. Ordered by Longbow to attack M/T on the road east of Zutphen. Approximately 10 well scattered M/T attacked, 4 damaged. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF Oldenzall. Scattered M/T found, but no attack made. Saw fires on Enschede aerodrome also 1 Me.109. F/S John Quigley RAAF W/O John James Morgan Deventer. Returned to Base owing to R/T trouble. F/L Edwin John Whitfield W/O Arthur Bales Goor-Hengele. Attacked 5 mixed M/T damaged. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Morris Luck

APRIL 1945 B.89 Mill, Netherlands 1st Armed Recce Enschede-Almelo-Koeverden. Barge damaged near Lingen. F/L George Edward Cassie W/O Morris Luck Enschede-Almelo-Koeverden. 2 M/T destroyed, 1 damaged. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF 2nd W/O Leslie Saunders, F/S William Rees Williams & Sgt George Thomas Carter arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. Army Close Support Telephone exchange south-east of Utrecht. No. 197 Sqn also took part, the formation was led by W/C Deall. Target consisted of several buildings, 2 being allocated to us. Direct R/P hits on both buildings. F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Edwin John Whitfield F/O Robert Logan F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Morris Luck 4th F/S John Quigley RAAF appointed P/O. Close Army Support Under FCP Control. Abandoned due to weather. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/O Robert Logan W/O Arthur Bales 7th Armed Recce Train previously attacked by No.266 Sqn. 40 R/P hits scored, also well strafed. There was an explosion & the train was left burning but 5 of the 8 aircraft were hit & damaged by debris. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Edwin John Whitfield F/O David Edward Morgan P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S William Rees Williams Army Close Support Strong-points, guns & troops south-east of Amsterdam. Camouflaged positions in a wood & gun pits along a road strafed. W/O Ainsley hit by flak & baled out inside our lines. He returned in the evening. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley 8th Army Close Support Factory near Deventer. F/L Whitfield hit by flak over the target & baled out in our lines. F/L George Edward Cassie F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L Edwin John Whitfield F/O Robert Logan F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Arthur Bales W/O Charles Archibald Bury 9th 4 aircraft carried out a R/P attack on a dummy Japanese type pillbox, a pit approximately 10 x 3 feet. The shooting was good despite poor visibility, but as no direct hits the demonstration was not a success.

10th Armed Recce Water transport near Texel. Near misses with R/P on a 400-ton Barge, also strafed & it was last seen smoking heavily, bows out of the water. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O James Arthur Smith F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF W/O Leslie J. Miller Army Close Support Battalion HQ, Arnhem. Led by W/C Deall. 6 R/P salvoes on target which was obscured by smoke & brick dust. Whole building gutted by fire. F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John Walter Shellard F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O Arthur Bales F/S William Rees Williams 4 guns south-west of Deventer. All R/P in target area. F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L William James Fowler RCAF P/O John Walter Shellard F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S William Rees Williams 11th Shipping Strike Tanker north of Nuld. 2 small Tanks damaged south of Zwolle. 1 HDT & 6 dug-in M/T destroyed. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/S John Irvine Sgt George Thomas Carter Armed Recce Trains north of Assen. Poor results in poor visibility. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O James Arthur Smith W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Leslie J. Miller Train near Assen. 1 aircraft returned with mechanical trouble. 40 trucks in Assen attacked with R/P, no direct hits. 2nd attack was called off when Red Crosses seen. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Leslie Saunders Railway targets. 1 aircraft returned due to mechanical trouble. 2-3 trains in sidings. Intense flak. Lead aircraft fired R/P, results not seen. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O James Arthur Smith 12th Armed Recce Railway targets. 6+ trucks destroyed; others damaged. A Loco with 20+ trucks also attacked. Loco destroyed & many tracks damaged. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Connel Joseph Devey W/O Leslie J. Miller F/S John Irvine Sgt George Thomas Carter Train between Emden-Aurich. Found north of Leer, probably loaded with wood. It was already burning in the middle. Whole train destroyed.

F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/S John Irvine Shipping Strike Midget submarine off Knocke. Landed at B.83 & later returned to B.89. F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S John Irvine 16th B.105 Drope, Germany A memorable day, the Squadron for the 1st time in its history moved into Germany, an airfield near Lingen. Close Army Support Mortars near Apeldoorn. F/L George Edward Cassie F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF P/O John Walter Shellard F/O David Edward Morgan 500-ton Barge towed by a small Tug south-east of Vlieland. Barge sunk & Tug severely damaged. F/L George Edward Cassie W/O Morris Luck W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF F/S John Irvine Observation Post in a church tower in the village of Edewecht west of Oldenburg. All R/P in target area. Results not seen due to smoke & dust. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Morris Luck W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 17th Shipping Strike Shipping off Texel-Borkum. A convoy of 9 vessels seen south of Borkum led by a 1,500-ton flak ship, the remaining vessels 500-tons. Attack pressed home through intense flak & a 500-ton Steamer received a direct hit with R/P. Several strikes with cannon on others. Intense flak from Terschilling & Borkum. F/L George Edward Cassie P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Morris Luck W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Shipping Strike Same Convoy as above. 1 salvo direct hit amidships on the largest vessel which was left smoking F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury Barges at Harderwijk. 8 damaged. Direct R/P hit on a shed at the south end of the Harbour. Intense 20mm & 40mm flak. F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF crashed into the sea ½ mile from the harbour. It is believed he was hit by flak. There is very little hope of his having escaped & the Squadron has lost 1 of its most popular & skilful pilots. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Norman Paulle Courtney Woodward RCAF F/L George Edward Cassie P/O John Walter Shellard F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF Shipping north-east of Delfzijl. 4,000-ton Red Cross ship & 8 sea going Barges & Coasters off Borkum. 2 destroyed & a flak ship silenced. F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Connel Joseph Devey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine

Army Close Support Guns on causeway north of Oldenburg. As the 1st aircraft was taking off the port tyre burst. It swung to the left & rolled onto its back. F/O Devey was rescued from the wreck suffering with lacerations of the scalp & arms. It is feared it will be a few months before he will be able to fly again which means the Squadron loses another very popular member. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Leslie Saunders W/O John James Morgan W/O Leslie J. Miller 18th F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey admitted to Sick Quarters with injuries sustained in a motor accident when he was proceeding to the 25th British Hospital to visit F/O Devey. The extent of his injuries, although not serious, will entail his absence for 2-3 months. Shipping Strike 2 3,000-tons Coasters off Borkum received direct R/P hits; 1 giving off greyish smoke, the other sinking. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF F/O James Arthur Smith W/O John James Morgan W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Leslie J. Miller P/O John Quigley RAAF Shipping off Borkum. 20+ ships up to 1,500-tons found but were well inshore & protected by shore batteries. Not suitable for R/P attack. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L George Edward Cassie P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie F/S William Rees Williams Close Army Support 80mm guns near Amersfoort. All R/P in target area. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L George Edward Cassie P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Hugh Barrie F/S William Rees Williams 19th Close Army Support Dug in positions south of Pappenburg. ‘Winkled’ the Dewecht-Zwischenaher Lake road. F/L George Edward Cassie F/O David Edward Morgan P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie F/S William Rees Williams Winkle. Hits on 7-8 buildings & a windmill. F/L George Edward Cassie P/O John James Morgan P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie F/S William Rees Williams P/O John Walter Shellard Strong Point near Pappenburg. Several buildings received direct R/P hits. Area also strafed.

S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O James Arthur Smith F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Leslie Saunders F/S John Irvine Sgt George Thomas Carter Shipping Strike Shipping south-east of Wangerooge. 17+ vessels of 200-4,000-tons, found north-west of Wilhelmshaven. 5 were flak ships. Attacked with R/P & cannon, 1 ship of 1,500-tons left sinking. Another left smoking. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O James Arthur Smith F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Richard Walton Ainsley P/O John James Morgan F/S John Irvine Sgt George Thomas Carter 2 Ships off Terschilling. R/P hits scored on both, 1 exploded throwing debris to 2,000 feet, damaging 1 aircraft. The other hit on the waterline & left sinking. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Richard Walton Ainsley P/O John James Morgan 20th W/O John Morgan appointed P/O. W/O Dennis Coles arrived for flying duties from No.195 Sqn. Shipping Strike Shipping near Cuxhaven. 2,000-ton cargo ship left burning from 1 salvo direct hit. 1 Minesweeper damaged by 2 R/P & another damaged by cannon fire. Oil tanker received 2 direct R/P hits & well strafed. 1 motor launch also damaged. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O James Arthur Smith F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF P/O John James Morgan W/O Richard Walton Ainsley F/S John Irvine 22nd W/O Rupert Alan Richardson, missing on 19th March, returned to the UK. He was rather badly burned & the Germans had placed him in Zwolle hospital which was later overrun by our troops & he was evacuated to the UK. We wish him a speedy recovery. 23rd Armed Recce North-west of Hamburg. Abandoned due to weather. F/L George Edward Cassie F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Hugh Barrie W/O Morris Luck W/O Charles Archibald Bury 24th Armed Recce Trucks at Jever, 2 Red Cross trains at Wittmund & 2 Ju.88s on the ground at Ardorf. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O William Gordon Kemp RCAF P/O John Quigley RAAF F/O David Edward Morgan W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Richard Walton Ainsley W/O Dennis Coles Sgt George Thomas Carter 25th Armed Recce Cannon strikes on a Loco & 12 trucks at Heide.

F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/O Robert Logan W/O Arthur Bales F/S William Rees Williams A train which was already on fire attacked with R/P & cannon & was wrecked in the centre & well alight. F/L George Edward Cassie P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF W/O Charles Archibald Bury 3 Locos & 18 wagons destroyed near Bokel. F/L William James Fowler RCAF W/O Morris Luck W/O Hugh Barrie F/S William Rees Williams A train at Brake. R/P hits & 4 wagons destroyed. F/L George Edward Cassie F/O Robert Logan W/O Arthur Bales W/O Patrick Joseph McNinley RCAF 26th Armed Recce Train at Nielbull Station. Loco & 20 trucks damaged. F/L George Edward Cassie F/O Robert Logan W/O Morris Luck Train at Nielbull Station. Cannon strikes seen. During the attack F/O David Edward Morgan was hit by flak & pulled up smoking. He called over the R/T to say he was going to force-land. W/O Barrie followed him down to 300 feet & he made a good landing. While he was making his landing, 2 Me.262s attempted to bounce the section but were seen in time & engaged. 1 crashed in flames & the other quickly broke away & was last seen climbing very fast & outstripping the Typhoons in hot pursuit. This is the 1st enemy jet aircraft shot down by this Wing. F/L William James Fowler RCAF F/O David Edward Morgan P/O John Walter Shellard W/O Hugh Barrie 1 aircraft returned with engine trouble & another could not jettison tanks. 4 hits on E-Boat near Kiel. F/L George Edward Cassie W/O Arthur Bales W/O Charles Archibald Bury F/S William Rees Williams Transport near Wessermunde. F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF P/O John James Morgan P/O John Quigley RAAF W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Dennis Coles F/S John Irvine Sgt George Thomas Carter 27th F/L Ian Archibald McLean Thomson arrived as MO. Armed Recce Transport near Wessermunde. Loco & 30 trucks attacked with R/P. The train jumped the points & collided with 15 more trucks, causing much damage. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor F/O Robert Logan P/O John Quigley RAAF 29th W/O Eric James Harold Rogers arrived for flying duties from No.84 GSU. 30th Move to B.111, Ahlhorn, Germany.

MAY 1945 B.111 Ahlhorn, Germany News came through that Hitler is dead, resulting in much celebrating. 3rd Shipping Strike Lubeck Bay. Abandoned due to weather. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/L Edward Alan Tennant F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John James Morgan W/O Leslie Saunders W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Dennis Coles Neustadt Bay. 10,000-ton motor vessel hit amidships & left smoking. Motor vessel of 12,000-tons seen on fire from stem to stern. S/L Marten Trevor Scott Rumbold DFC F/O James Arthur Smith F/O Malcolm Smith Mercer Hamilton RCAF F/O Allan Ronald Sommerville Proctor P/O John James Morgan W/O Dennis Coles W/O Morris Luck W/O Leslie J. Miller W/O Leslie Saunders 4th A Bücker Bü.181 containing 2 Jerry pilots, landed to give themselves up. 5th The Hun in North-West Germany, Netherlands & Denmark surrendered unconditionally to Field

Marshall Montgomery & the cease-fire was given at 0800 this morning. F/S John Irvine appointed Warrant Officer. 6th P/O Morgan (Dave) returned after having spent a few days as a POW. He was plied with questions regarding his ‘lot’ & had quite a lot of interesting information to divulge which was ‘lapped up’ by the boys. 7th 12 aircraft sent out over the old front line to display our ‘might’ to a General who was reluctant to surrender. Desired effect was obtained. F/O David Edward Morgan went home on leave - good show. 8th

VE-DAY

The war for all practical purposes is over. Cessation of hostilities with effect from 2359 tonight. The Officers waited on the Airmen at lunch & wound up the day with a champagne dinner in their own mess. A good time was had by all. ‘Archie’ Bury picked the proper day to get married. 10th We led the Wing in a practice flypast to prepare for the Victory Fly-Past. F/O Walter Hugill Ramsey & F/O Connel Joseph Devey posted non-effective sick - we hope they return. 11th The NCO’s held a party in their Mess in the evening & several Officers were invited. The celebrations were long & cheery. 12th

P/O Quigley appointed Sports Officer & already proving very keen. 15th 12 aircraft assisted in the display by the Group. The gaggle flew over Lingen-Utrecht-Amsterdam-The Hague-Rotterdam-Zwolle. 16th Repeat of formation, over Hanover-Bremen-Wilhelmshaven-Emden. 17th Pilots started doing Orderly Office duty today. The 1st lucky gentleman, P/O Morgan, kicks off for ‘A’ Flight. 19th F/L Fowler fell into the water when the yacht he was sailing capsized on Drummer Lake. He swam for his life until he found that he was thrashing madly in 3 feet of water! 22nd The NCO’s think we may be staying here as hot water has been ‘laid on’ in the Officers quarters! 25th F/O Robert Logan to F/L. 27th We flew over Celle to herald the arrival of No.84 Group HQ. 29th W/O Morris Luck posted to PRC for boat to New Zealand. ‘Good Luck Lucky.’ 30th A few pilots went to Amsterdam to study bombing of the 88 Corps HQ.

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

120 Offensive Operations 546 Offensive Sorties

4242 Rocket Projectiles 112 Fragmentation R/P

19 Incendiary R/P Total weight of R/P 267,960lbs - approximately 117 tons.