Action This Day

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87 Sqn 27.1.40:

Seclin - "B" Flight 15 minutes available - five aircraft.

Le Touquet - Two patrols by "A" Flight.

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87 Sqn 28.1.40:

Seclin - "B" Flight readiness - five aircraft.

Le Touquet - Three patrols by "A" Flight.

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87 Sqn 29.1.40:

Seclin - "B" Flight 30 minutes available - five aircraft.

Le Touquet - Three patrols.

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87 Sqn 30.1.40:

Seclin - "B" Flight 30 minutes available - five aircraft

Le Touquet - Eight patrols by "A" Flight

Hurricane N2362 & P2568 collected from GLISY by S/Ldr Dewar & F/Lt Jeff.

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87 Sqn 31.1.40:

Seclin - "B" Flight readiness.

Le Touquet - Two patrols.

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87 Sqn 1.2.40:

"A" Flight still detached at Le Touquet. "B" Flight at Seclin.

Flying was restricted by a group Order that no flying other than strictly operational was to be carried out. As both aerodromes were covered with frozen snow and there was a danger of braking tailwheel shock absorbers.

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87 Sqn 2.2.40:

No flying at either aerodrome. Weather foggy.

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87 Sqn 3.2.40

No flying at either aerodrome. Weather foggy.

Flight Lieutenant Jeff decorated by General Vuillemin with the Croix de Guerre.

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87 Sqn 4.2.40

"B" Flight did not fly. At Le Touquet the C.O. flew to test weather conditions.

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87 Sqn 5.2.40

No flying at either aerodrome. Bad weather.

26 Sqn (Lysander I/II/III) having been in France (Abbeville/Drucat) since 8.10.39 flies its first operational mission.

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87 Sqn 6.2.40:

No flying at either aerodrome. Bad weather.

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87 Sqn 7.2.40:

"A" Flight returned to Seclin, aerodrome was in bad condition owing to the beginning of the thaw.

"B" Flight did not fly.

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87 Sqn 8.2.40:

No flying. Aerodrome unserviceable for taxiing.

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87 Sqn 9.2.40:

No flying, but towards evening it began to freeze and by the morning of the tenth it was hard again.

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87 Sqn 10.2.40:

"B" Flight did two patrols without sighting anything.

The C.O. flew to Le Touquet to clear up affairs since the departure of "A" Flight.

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87 Sqn 11.2.40:

No flying. Weather conditions unfavourable.

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87 Sqn 12.2.40:

Four pilots from "B" Flight did tests with 100% octane fuel. "A" Flight did not fly.

Sgt. Thurgar was killed in Hurricane L.1613 which crashed near Nantes, owing to deterioration of visibility.

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87 Sqn 13.2.40:

The four pilots continued these tests, one pilot climbing to 20,000 under 12 lbs. boost (under the low modification) and 100 octane fuel.

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87 Sqn 14.2.40:

This began a week of complete inactivity. The condition of the aerodrome, which was beginning to thaw out again, and the weather with the conspicuous absence of enemy reconnaissance machines kept all pilots and machines on the ground. This state of affairs lasted until 22/2/40 when permission was obtained to return to Le Touquet, as a squadron, for training as well as operational flying.

58 Sqn (Whitley Vs) has moved from Coastal Command to Bomber Command and is now operating out of Linton-on-Ouse.

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9 Sqn 15.2.40:

1045 - Squadron standing by for Fleeting Targets.

1400 - Squadron stood Down

1145-1430 - Air firing over the WASH.

Weather - S.W. wind 5-10 m.p.h. becoming S.E. 10-15. Signs of snow at first. Clouds 10/10 mainly at 2000-4000' with partial clearance towards evening. Visibility 2 miles improving to 6 miles becoming 2000 yds. towards midnight.