Action This Day

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87 Sqn 5.3.40:

"B" Flight did affiliation exercises and returned in the evening. "A" Flight continued training.

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87 Sqn 6.3.40:

A signal was received stating that two replacements had been posted from Fighter Pool, namely P/O's Jay and Darwin.

18 Sqn (Meharicourt) flew their first mission in the Blenheim IV.

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87 Squadron 7.3.40:

Weather extremely good all day.

Group Captain Fullard arrived and expressed satisfaction of the work and efficiency of the Unit.

Although the Le Touquet Mess was run by the French, Cptn. Lecoq had granted us every facility from the very first.

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87 Sqn 8.3.40:

This saw the end of our stay at Le Touquet.

After an uneventful patrol in the morning, orders were received from Wing that "A" Flight immediately return to Seclin. "B" Flight and spare pilots got to work packing up and on the morning of 9.3.40 both Flights again were back at Seclin. Training immediately suspended and operational routine was resumed.

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87 Sqn 10.3.40:

60 Wing had moved to Seclin in the absence of the Squadron. There was a new and very comfortable Mess and great activity on the administrative side.

Both Flights did patrols round the Belgian border and South as far as Arras.

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87 Sqn 11.3.40:

"B" Flight did one patrol but nothing was seen.

Nine M.T. drivers were posted from the Squadron to 14 Group.

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87 Sqn 12.3.40:

More patrols along the border continuing nearly all day; nothing was seen.

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87 Sqn 13.3.40:

No flying. The aerodrome in quite good shape and the not infrequent rain did not affect it much.

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87 Squadron 14.3.40:

No Flying, no pilots and the weather no good either. Leave had, by now nearly come round again. S/Ldr Dewar proceeded on leave - F/L Jeff assumed command of the Squadron.

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87 Sqn 15.3.40:

Three aircraft from "A" Flight flew to Vitry to operate from there, but there were no plots or patrols.

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87 Sqn 16.3.40:

"B" Flight carried out patrols most of the day.

57 Sqn(Rosieres-en-Santerre) flew their first mission in the Blenheim IV.

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1 Sqn 17.3.40:

Local flying only, low cloud.

P/O Shepherd was admitted to N0. 2 M.R.S. suffering from YELLOW JAUNDICE.

Fl/Lt. Salmon R.A.F.O. reported for duty with this squadron.

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87 Squadron 18.3.40:

"A" and "B" Flights carried out several patrols along Belgium border.

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1 Sqn 19.3.40:

Weather clear in early morning and one patrol went off to Metz front; weather deteriorated about 0900 hours.

F/O LORIMER, P/O MATHEWS and P/O Keys returned to VASSINCOURT from MOURMELON at 1230 hours.

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87 Sqn 20.3.40:

One patrol.

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87 Squadron 21.3.40:

"B" Flight practiced Air to Ground Firing at Merville where some 5' targets had been rigged up.

"A" Flight were prevented by some bad weather, which, though rather stormy had been consistently warm for some time.

A patrol was carried out at 0500 hours by "B" Flight, aircraft landed in daylight.

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87 Sqn 22.3.40:

F/Lt Lister-Robinson arrived at Seclin to take over "A" Flight.

More patrols - the early morning patrol was cancelled due to bad weather.

32 Sqn (Hurricane I) had moved to Gravesend.

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87 Sqn 23.3.40:

The usual routine continued - a few patrols and plots but these were all unidentified aircraft and there was no certainty of them being hostile.

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87 Sqn 24.3.40:

Weather remained good and several patrols were carried out.

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87 Sqn 25.3.40:

Six Blenheims from No. 18 Squadron arrived for affiliation exercises.

There was nothing of importance to report.