Action This Day

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87 Sqn 20.11.39:

"A" Flight readiness, "B" Flight 15 minutes available.

Three machines from "B" Flight detached from 0820 - 1620 hrs at St. Inglevery.

Pilot Officers Beamont and Saunders arrived on posting to Squadron from Fighter Pool.

"A" Flight released, "B" Flight 30 minutes available.

"B" Flight on Patrol Seclin to coast and Calais to Dunkerque.

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9 Sqn 21.11.39:

0800-1430 Squadron stood-by at one hour's notice Form B.51.

Headquarters 3 Group Form B/WX.1. received.

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87 Sqn 22.11.39:

"A" Flight released, "B" B Flight 30 minutes available.

Three machines at St. Inglevere from 0900-1500 hrs.

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87 Sqn 23.11.39

"A" Flight 30 minutes available, "B" Flight released.

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87 Sqn 24.11.39:

"A" Flight readiness, "B" Flight released.

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87 Sqn 25.11.39:

"A" Flight released, "B" Flight 30 minutes.

Patrols over Calais and Dunkerque.

Five machines from "A" Flight ordered to Le Touquet for patrol purposes. One machine returned to Seclin after patrol, remains staying at Le Touquet due to bad weather. Sgt. Hull turned machine on its nose after striking soft ground while taking off from Le Touquet.

"B" Flight at readiness.

No Flying - thick cloud and haze.

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9 Sqn 26.11.39:

Squadron stand-by for exercise B/WX.4, cancelled at 0815 hrs.

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The Great Escape! 87 Sqn 27.11.39:

Four machines of "A" Flight detached. "B" Flight 30 minutes available.

Squadron Leader Coope, Flying Officer Glyde and Pilot Officer Dunn escaped from interment camp near Brussels in Belgium, crossed frontier individually and rejoined Squadron prior to returning to England to report to Air Ministry.

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87 Sqn 28.11.39:

Four machines of "A" Flight detached to Le Touquet. "B" Flight at readiness.

Patrols from Lille and Calais to Dunkerque.

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87 Sqn 29.11.39:

Four machines of "A" Flight detached. "B" Flight 15 minutes available.

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87 Sqn 30.11.39:

Four machines of "A" Flight detached. "B" Flight at readiness.

87 Sqn 1.12.39:

Four machines of "A" Flight returned from La Touquet. "B" Flight 15 minutes available.

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87 Sqn 2.12.39:

"A" Flight 15 minutes available. "B" Flight 30 minutes available.

Squadron Leader J.S. Dewar posted to command the Squadron from R.A.F. Thorney Island.

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87 Sqn 3.12.39:

"A" Flight 30 minutes available. "B" Flight 15 minutes available.

Three machines from "B" Flight on patrol CALAIS - DUNKERQUE refuelling at ST.INGLEVERT.

Two of "A" Flight on patrol over CALAIS.

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87 Sqn 4.12.39:

"A"Flight released. "B" Flight readiness.

No operational flying - thick haze.

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87 Sqn 5.12.39:

"A" Flight readiness. "B" Flight 15 mins. available.

Rehearsal for visit of H.M. King.

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87 Sqn 6.12.39:

"A" Flight 30 mins. available. "B" Flight released.

Visit of H.M. King. Hurricanes L1613, L1614 and L1628 lined up on tarmac and Squadron Leader Dewar and Flight Lieutenants Colmore and Jeff and Sergeant Thurgar presented to the King. The King arrived at 1120 accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester and Viscount Gort. The Royal Party alighted at the Guard Room and walked past contingents of British troops towards the hangars. Stopping at "B" Flight, His Majesty spoke to Pilot Officer David who wasn't at readiness with his Flight. On arrival at the tarmac Squadron Leader Dewar was first presented to the King, then Flight Lieutenant Colmore, Sergeant Thurgar and Flight Lieutenant Jeff in each case, after shaking hands, His Majesty stopped and said a few words. After presentations the King visited the Operations Room and ordered one of the readiness flights in to the air, eventually leaving the camp at 1205.

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87 Sqn 7.12.39:

"A" Flight 15 mins. available. "B" Flight 30 mins. available.

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87 Sqn 8.12.39:

"A" Flight released. "B" Flight at readiness.

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Run Forest, run! 87 Sqn 9.12.39:

"A" Flight readiness. "B" Flight 15 minutes available.

Six machines of "B" flight detached to Le Touquet and three at St. Inglevert.

Sgt. Howell while collecting a new machine from GLISY force landed near CAMPAUN some 300 yards over the Belgian Frontier. When he landed, owing to haze and failing light, he was uncertain of his position, on being told of his whereabouts by a peasant, he collected his maps and parachute and ran back over the frontier to France.

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87 Sqn 10.12.39:

Six machines of "B" Flight returned from Le Touquet. "A" Flight at 30 minutes.