Action This Day

[warshipbuilder]

87 Sqn 26.3.40:

"A" Flight through out the day sent several aircraft to attack the Blenheims. It was instructive work for both. "A" Flight took off twice after unidentified aircraft but no interceptions were made.

F/Lt Robertson force landed near Seclin with engine trouble. Machine undamaged and was later flown out of the field.

S/Ldr Dewar returned from leave.

In the evening there was night flying. When the last machine was still flying, a sudden storm arose and the wind changed through 180 degrees. The pilot was unable to stop at the end of the flare path and went up on its nose in a ploughed field. There was almost no damage to the machine.

[warshipbuilder]

87 Sqn 27.3.40:

Considerable activity on the ground. Rumours of attacks caused more orders concerning trench digging and-gas routine. Practice flying was indulged in, in good weather conditions.

32 Sqn (HUrricane I) was now at Biggin HIll.

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87 Sqn 28.3.40:

Another Blenheim squadron arrived for affiliation. Nothing of interest occurred.

65 Sqn (Spitfire I) was now at Hornchurch.

[warshipbuilder]

87 Sqn 29.30.40:

The first news of a big exercise was announced - including a rapid move from an aerodrome assumed to be unserviceable through bombardment. A little practice flying but the weather was unfavourable for affiliation. Practice gas attack in the afternoon.

87 Sqn 30.3.40:

A section from "A" Flight flew to Vitry to give a demonstration of formation flying and aerobatics for the benefit of the Press. Preparations continued for the exercise.

57 Sqn (Rosieres-en-Santerre) flew its last mission in the Blenheim I.

[warshipbuilder]

87 Sqn 31.3.40:

On the last day of the month during which it had been believed the Blitzkrieg would almost certainly begin. IN fact no enemy aircraft had been seen by any member of the Squadron in spite of the large number of patrols carried out.

Several N.A.A.F.I. parties had visited the station and there was an increasingly cheerful feeling among the men, as the warmer weather arrived to mark the end of many months of appalling cold described rather aptly by the 'Paris Soir' as "unbelievable as Nazi-ism."

18 Sqn (Meharicourt) flew its last mission in the Blenheim I.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 1.4.40:

Vassincourt France - Patrols were maintained on METZ front THIONVILLE-BOULAY from 0630 hours. At 1140 hours while patrolling THIONVILLE-BOULAY at 23,000 feet, F/Lt. HANKS with Flying Officer CLISBY and Pilot Officer MORLD saw anit-aircraft fire near THIONVILLE and on investigation found 8 M.E. 110s, 4000 feet above, flying West. As our section climbed to attack the enemy sighted them and broke formation and turned to attack. In the "Dog Fight" that followed each of our pilots scored a victory. F/Lt. HANKS in a head on engagement received a cannon shot in the port main plane which when it exploded penetrated the oil tank, the main spar, and petrol tank, shrapnel pierced the perspex hood but HANKS did not break off combat, and later landed safely at ROUVRES.

The M.E.110 proved to be exceptionally maneuverable for a twin engined aircraft and very fast. (For further details see combat report attached). Further patrols throughout the day did not result in any enemy being encountered.

26 Sqn (Lysanders) was now at Dieppe.

[mark dolby]

Sure you have seen it but have found a photo with all 3 of the above in it.
Interesting they credit the 110 as maneuverable. Soon to change!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/ ... y_04.shtml

[warshipbuilder]

Thanks Mark, always nice to be able to put faces to a name.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 2.4.40:

Although the weather was rather cloudy and it rained intermittently our aircraft again had successes against the enemy. When at 15,000 feet patrolling METZ P/O's CLISBY, LORIMER, PALMER, KILMARTYN and RICHEY gave chase after seeing A/A fire to a twin engined aircraft which out-climbed and out-distanced them; before breaking off this chase PALMER sighted enemy aircraft above as he reported these aircraft to his Flt Commander he was attacked by these. One of these, by a good deflection shot set PALMER's reserve tank alight so PALMER left his aircraft and landed safely after a delayed drop of 4 or 5,000 feet. He came down about 500 yards from German outposts inside his own territory. In the battle that followed both CLISBY and KILMARTYN claimed and M.E. 109 each. It would appear that the twin-engined aircraft which the patrol first chased was a decoy with M.E. 109s waiting above to pounce. When our pilots became concentrated on it, but PALMER was doing criss-crossing turns even while our aircraft chased the enemy, so he easily saw above and to the rear and spoil what would have been a surprise attack by the enemy fighters. During afternoon it was very cloudy and it settled down to continuous rain, so there were no more flights made.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 3.4.40:

Nothing to report, cloudy in early morning with intermittent rain and continuous rain during the afternoon. There was a Cinema show for the troops at BAR-LE-DUC

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1 Sqn 4.4.40:

No flying, weather cloudy with intermittent rain.

29 Sqn (Blenheim IF) is now at Drem.
87 Sqn (Hurricane I) is now at Le Touquet

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 5.4.40:

Training flights for new pilots. F/O KILMARTYN led F/O SALMON and P/O BOOT in practice attacks and formation flying. Two new aircraft were ferried from Reims. No operational flying.

77 Sqn (Whitley V) is now at Driffield.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 6.4.40:

Air tests were the only flight made. Gun tests on new aircraft. One new aircraft was delivered. In the evening a concert was given by the ALHAMBRA CONCERT PARTY. Weather was cloudy all day horizontal visibility 6-8 miles.

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1 Sqn 7.4.40:

Squadron "rest" day with "B" Flight at 30 mins available, only training flights carried out. There was blue sky all day with exceptionally good visibility, but the Squadron was not brought to an operational state.

115 Sqn (Marham) flies their last mission in the Wellington IA and their first mission in the Wellington IC.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 8.4.40:

One patrol by aircraft was made over METZ. Frost in early morning and no more flights after 0700 as it became closely followed by intermittent rain.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 9.4.40:

No flying, cloudy all day with intermittent rain. A cross-country run was held during the afternoon. During the evening a cinema was given in BAR-LE-DUC.

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 10.4.40:

No flying other than training and test flights. Weather cloudy in morning, a snow shower at 1000 hours and hail showers at 1300 hours.

85 Sqn (Hurricane I) is now at Mons-en-Chausee

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 11.4.40

Marshall of the Royal Air Force the Viscount TRENCHARD was expected to visit the Squadron at 11.00 hours. While the Squadron was standing by for this visit, orders came through for the Squadron to be prepared to BERRY-AU-BAC at a moment's notice; unfortunately this order was not definite enough to warrant the packing up of equipment. But at 15.00 hours the order came for the Squadron to vacate the village of NEUVILLE and leave the aerodrome with all equipment and personnel before 24.00 hours. The aircraft took off at 17.00 hours from VASSINCOURT and were at readiness at BERRY-AU-BAC at 17.45 hours. All transport complete with personnel and equipment left NEUVILLE before the hour ordered and arrived at BERRY-AU-BAC at 03.00 hours the following morning. En route, one transport, a 32 seater bus, over-turned when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Fortunately there was only one passenger, the coach was filled with kit. The one passenger was unhurt, but the driver has lacerations of the face. The officers of the squadron were accommodated on arrival, at a large chateau in GUINCOURT with the officers of 142(B) Squadron. The men as they arrived were accommodated in VILLE-AIX-BOIS and JUVINCOURT, where their billets were not to comfortable. The Station Warrant Officer had a very busy time and stayed up the whole night directing lorries and was still on the job at noon the next day.

73 Sqn(Hurricane I) moves to Reims

[warshipbuilder]

1 Sqn 12.4.40:

Many of the men were hard at work before dawn, some with only two or three hours sleep.All the men to be highly commended for their part on the way they worked such long hours and under the conditions which they carried on. By noon, the Squadron was quite settled in with Maintenance and Night tents erected. The pilots took over a windowless concrete hutment normally used for ammunition stores and with the aid of a stove and gramaphone and a few petrol boxes, made it quite comfortable. On the whole the Squadron being very versatile, settled down to its normal routine and took advantage of what little there was to offer in the way of comforts. There was no flying at all, weather cloudy with rain occasionally.

[mark dolby]

How come you have moved from recounting 87 Sqn to 1 Sqn?