Action This Day

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303 Sqn (Northolt – Spitfire IIA) 12.4.41

Rhubarb Operation. F/Lt. Lapkowsi and P/O. Waszkiwicz attacked and aerodrome and erection works. F/Lt. Arentowicz and F/O. Feric failed to locate aerodrome, but attacked buildings and F/O. Feric produced sparks from various overhead power lines. S/Ldr. Henneberg and F/Lt. Kustrzynski evidently silenced a gun position on this building, but S/Ldr’s Henneberg’s aircraft was damaged. He came down in the sea thirteen miles from the English coast. However he was not picked up and is reported missing.

ADDENDUM – S/Ldr. Z.K. Henneberg was shot down by flak from Berck-sur-Mere airfield. He was not found.

Base Changes

14 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Heliopolis
38 Sqn(Wellingon IC) moved to Shallufa
3 Sqn RAAF(Hurricane I) moved to Mersa Matruh then to Sollum

First and Last Operational Missions

118 Sqn(Warmwell) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA

303 Sqn(Northolt – Spitfire IIA) 13.4.41

P/O. Strzembosz and F/Lt. Lapkowski whilst searching for S/Ldr. Henneberg were attacked by 10 Me.109’s and landed at Hawkinge. Both aircraft were damaged, and F/Lt. Lapkowski was wounded and admitted to hospital. F/Lt. Lapkowski normally would have assumed command of the Squadron on S/Ldr. Henneberg being posted as missing. However while he was recovering from wounds, F/Lt. Arentowicz acted temporarily as Officer Commanding Squadron.

Base Changes

223 Sqn(Non-Op) moved to Shandur
3 Sqn RAAF(Hurricane I) moved to Sidi Haneish

[fluidwill]

Nice AAR, thanks

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401 Sqn RCAF(Digby – Hurricane I) 14.4.41

Squadron (12 A/C) left at first light for Duxford to form part of a Duty Wing. Squadron returned in evening without incident as weather considered non-operational and aircraft grounded on that account at Duxford. F/O Fumerton and Flt.Lt. Blaiklock accompanied squadron in Harvard to Duxford and returned. “B” Flight came to readiness at 1720 hours and remained at that state until release time. One section carried out a Dusk Patrol. During early afternoon a German A/C approached aerodrome from south and dropped four bombs, one of which landed on Government property. 2 casualties resulted.

Base Changes

264 Sqn(Defiant NF) moved to West Malling

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266 Sqn(Wittering – Spitfire IIA) 15.4.41

Ten aircraft took part in Wing Sweep with twelve Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron and Twelve Hurricanes of No. 402 Squadron over the channel between DUNGENESS and Boulogne. During this operation P.7544, P.7901 and P.6014 piloted by Sgt. BARRACLOUGH, W/Cdr. COOPE and Sgt. WHEWELL were shot down, the pilots escaped injury.

ADDENDUM – W/C W.E. Coope was shot down and crash-landed at Manston after combat with Adolph Galland of JG26. Sgt. H. Whewell was wounded and his aircraft damaged by fire from Galland; crash-landed at Hawkinge. Sgt. R.G.V. Barraclough was wounded and crash-landed at Hornchurch following attack by Me.109 of JG26.

Base Changes

84 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Heraklion
112 Sqn(Gladiator I) moved to Agrinion
224 Sqn(Hudson I) moved to Limavady
241 Sqn(Lysander I/II) moved to Bury St. Edmonds
602 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Ayr

First and Last Operational Missions

85 Sqn(Debden) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
142 Sqn(Binbrook) flew its first OM in the Wellington II
258 Sqn(Jurby) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
308 Sqn(Bagiinton) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IA

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CIRCUS 9 – Bercheswiten Airfield

Close Escort – Northolt Wing (601, 303, 306 Sqns)

21 Sqn(Watton – Blenheim IV) 16.4.41

Six aircraft were orderd to attack aerodrome at Bercheswiten in accordance with 2 Group signal Ops/942. All successfully completed their tasks. Bombs seen to burst around hangars. Fighter escort of Spitfires and Hurricanes were attacked by ME.109’s.

Base Changes

112 Sqn(Gladiator I) moved to Hassani
113 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Menidi
203 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Kabreit
238 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Chilbolton
274 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Sidi Haneish
607 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Skitten
1 Sqn SAAF(Hurricane IIB) moved to Amriya

First and Last Operational Missions

258 Sqn(Jurby) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIA

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9 Sqn(Honington – Wellington IC) 17.4.41

Nine aircraft took off for operations in accordance with Headquarters No. 3 Group operations order form B.471 dated 17.4.41.
Seven aircraft returned safely. Two aircraft, N.2745 (SGT. HEAYSMAN and Crew) and T.2900 (SGT. STARK and Crew) failed to return.

N.2745 took off for COLOGNE and was routed via NAMUR. Nothing was heard of the aircraft at the time the routine signal was expected from the area, but at 2343 the signal was received indicating the aircraft was suffering from engine trouble and that the crew was abandoning the aircraft by parachute. No indication of the nature of the engine trouble or its cause were given. TANGMERE and its associated stations took a snap bearing while the message was being sent but it gave only a very approximate position some 10 or 15 miles off the Dutch coast. A telegram later received from the International Red Cross stated that three of the crew (Sgt. WHITLOCK, LANCASTER and BALCH) are prisoners of war. No mention is made of the remainder of the crew.

T.2900 made its way to its target in BERLIN where it was due about 0100 hours. At 2357 hours, the letters “NAP” were sent, indicating for some reason the Captain was unable to proceed to its main target and had bombed a last resort target. Nothing more was heard from the aircraft until 0014 hours when they requested a fix, which put them in the neighbourhood of TEXEL. A further fix was requested at 0030 hours which showed they were proceeding from their original position to base and were not quite half way across the North Sea, finally a S.O.S. message was sent by the aircraft at 0058 hours, a fix which was some 30 miles off the English coast.

A search was organized and commenced in the early hours of the following morning, in the course of which a parachute was seen in the water a few miles off LOWESTOFT and a dinghy was seen to be floating in the water within two or three miles of the estimated position where the aircraft went down. It is difficult to connect the parachute with this particular event however. The attention of some destroyers on convoy duty was directed to alter course towards the parachute to investigate, but there was nobody attached to the parachute harness. With regard to the dinghy, a ladder was hanging over the side, and there seems every reason to believe that this dinghy belonged to the missing aircraft. There were no signs, however, of wreckage near this position. It is possible that the Aircraft hit the water and in breaking up the dingy was released, especially in view of the fact the night was very dark and 10/10ths cloud was reported over this area.

ADDENDUM – N.2745 – Sgt. B. Hanlon also became a POW. The two missing crew, Sgt. G.E. Heaysman and Sgt. C.J. Mavor RCAF are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. No trace of T.2900 or its crew Sgt. R.D.C. Stark, Sgt. F.W. Baker, Sgt. J.W. Nightingarl, Sgt. G. Gibb, Sgt. J.E. Johnson and Sgt. H.F. Hurt, was ever found.

Base Changes

30 Sqn(Blenheim I/IF) moved to Maleme
32 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Pembrey
208 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Eleusis
211 Sqn(Blenheim I) moved to Agrinion
274 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Gerawla

First and Last Operational Missions

308 Sqn(Baginton) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I

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21 Sqn(Watton – Blenheim IV) 18.4.41

Eight aircraft detailed to attack Heligoland intercepted a convoy 54° 05’ N. 07° 40’ E. Consisting of a 5/6000 ton M/c, a 4,000 ton M/c and 3 M/U of 2,000 tons, escorted by 3 “flak” ships. The two largest ships, and one “flak” ship were sunk, and two of the 2,000 ton M/U’s were also attacked, but two aircraft were shot doing this. P/O MARSHALL’s aircraft was last seen on fire, and Sgt. DUNNINGS aircraft dived into the sea. A further four aircraft were detailed for a cloud cover attack on shipping and docks at Le Havre, but ran out of cloud half way across the sea. One aircraft attacked a group of four barges and three escort vessels 10 miles N.W. of Cap D’Antifer. No results observed. One aircraft attacked a groupof 6 E.boats in pairs. Intense flak experienced.

ADDENDUM – Of the six crew, lost Sgt. J. Dunning was the only one recovered and he is buried at the Sage War Cemetery

Base Changes

82 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Lossiemouth
118 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Ibsley
258 Sqn(Hurricane IIA) moved to Valley

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401 Sqn RCAF(Digby – Hurricane I) 19.4.41

The Squadron proceeded to Wittering in the early morning and returned to Digby early the dame evening without incident. The weather was not very suitable for flying. No operational flights being carried out. A few practice flights were carried out here.

Base Changes

211 Sqn(Blenheim I) moved to Menidi

First and Last Operational Missions

210 Sqn(Oban) flew its first OM in the Catalina I

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303 Sqn(Northolt – Spitfire IIA) 20.4.41

10.25 Sphere operation at 27,000 feet in Le Touquet area. Several Me.109’s attacked at various times. P/O Lokociewski shot down one Me.109 in flames and P/O Daszewski gained a “probable” after a head on attack. Sgt. Palak saw and chased back a Ju.88 flying to England; he was not able to see more than that his bullets entered the enemy aircraft. Sgt. Pavlovic /a Czech/ was missing after this operation.
12.50 Hatfield patrol at 5,000 feet.

ADDENDUM – Sgt. M. Pavloc was shot down by Hpt Joppien of I/JG51 over Le Touquet and was a PoW.

First and Last Operational Missions

71 Sqn(Martlesham Heath) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIB
210 Sqn(Oban) flew its last OM in the Sunderland I

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616 Sqn(Tangmere – Spitfire IIA) 21.4.41

The Squadron of twelve aircraft took-off at 0747 to escort Blenheims on a bombing operation over Le Havre. Unfortunately the bombers did not find their target and flew west of it. As our fighters were running short of petrol they had to leave bombers and on the return journey Sergeant R.L. Sellars was shot down by a Me. 109 and baled out over the Sea. One aircraft remained over him and transmitted in order to obtain a ‘fix’. Eight aircraft took-off later on, in order to escort a Lysander and make a further search, but no trace was found.

Base Changes

80Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Argos
258 Sqn(Hurricane IIA) moved to Kenley
485 Sqn RNZAF(Spitfire IA) moved to Leconfield
615 Sqn(Hurricane IIA) moved to Valley

First and Last Operational Missions

615 Sqn(Valley) flew its last OM in the Hurricane IIA

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401 Sqn RCAF(Digby – Hurricane I) 22.4.41

The Squadron took over readiness today. Today’s exercises were test, aerobatics, cine camera gun, local reconnaissance and dusk landing flights. “B” Flight did the dusk patrol. During the day there were six scrambles, five without incident. “Blue Section” spotted and E/A about a mile’s distance near “The Wash”. The bandit jettisoned his bombs on the shore, flying out to sea in a south-easterly direction hotly pursued by our two aircraft a few miles off the East Anglian coast. Two Spitfires from Coltishall prevented our aircraft from intercepting the enemy, diving out of the sun and forcing our blue section to break.

Base Changes

112 Sqn(Gladiator I) moved to Heraklion
113 Sqn(Non-Op) evacuated to Egypt
208 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Argos
211 Sqn(Blenheim I) moved to Heraklion

First and Last Operational Missions

1 Sqn(Croydon) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIB
615 Sqn(Valley) started flying the Hurricane I again.

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105 Sqn (Swanton Morley – Blenheim IV) 23.4.41

TARGET:- Convoy off HAARLEM
Five crews were detailed for this task
One aircraft – SQUADRON LEADER HENNET – iced up and returned with bombs. Another aircraft – FLIGHT LIEUTENANT BOOTH – returned after jettisoning bombs owing to air speed indicator becoming unserviceable. One aircraft – SGT. JACKSON – abandoned task due to lack of cloud cover.
Two aircraft – FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GOODE and SGT. TOLMAN – attacked 2 X 1000 and 1 X 8000 ton MERCHANT VESSELS. Three hits were observed on No. 1 hatch of the 8000 Ton VESSEL.

TARGET:- Shipping Sweep on Beat 10.
Six crews were detailed for this task.
One aircraft – SQUADRON LEADER DUNLEVIE – abandoned the task and returned with bombs owing to insufficient cloud cover.
Three aircraft – PILOT OFFICER NEEDHAM, SGT. BRUCE, and SGT. SCOTT – attacked merchant vessels of 10000, 5000, and 2000 tons respectively. One burst was observed on the stern of the 2000 ton vessel.
One aircraft – SGT. PIERS – attacked a 300/500 tons Coast Vessel, but results were unobserved.
One aircraft – SGT. LISTER failed to return and was observed by SGT. BRUCE to catch fire and crash.

ADDENDUM – Blenheim IV V6318, crew Sgt. A.H. Lister, Sgt. W.T. Heaney and Sgt. K.W. Porter was shot down by the Minesweeper 4104. Sgt. Lister is buried at Vissingen Holland and Sgt. Porter at Wenduine Communal Cemetery Belgium. Sgt. Heaney has no known grave.

First and Last Operational Missions

23 Sqn(Ford) flew its last OM in the Blenheim IF

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616 Sqn (Tangmere – Spitfire IIA) 24.4.41

Local formation and cloud flying practice carried out. There were also two offensive patrols made by two pairs of aircraft. In the first Pilot Officer Dundas and Sergeant Mabbett (Red Section) took off at 1425 and flew over the French Coast, crossing it between Dieppe and Le Tresport and then turned North East to Abbeville. No enemy aircraft were seen. Landed at 1546. In the second, Flight Lieutenant Macfie and Sergeant McDevitte (Blue Section) took off at 1435 and proceeded to the Cherbourg area, Blue1 dived on the Maupetus aerodrome and machine-gunned at least seven Me. 109 on the ground and two which were taking off. He returned at 1541. Blue 2 was not seen again by Blue 1 after they had reached the French Coast. He was probably shot down by A.A. or another fighter, but every hope is entertained that he is still alive.

ADDENDUM – Sgt. T.F. McDevette was shot down and killed while strafing the airfield.

Base Changes

203 Sqn (Blenheim IV) moved to Heraklion
208 Sqn (Hurricane I) moved to Maleme

First and Last Operational Missions

69 Sqn (Luqa) flew its first OM in the Hurricane I
72 Sqn (Acklington) flew its first OM’s in the Spitfire IIA and Spitfire IIB

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105 Sqn (Swanton Morley – Blenheim IV) 25.4.41

0505 TASK:- Shipping sweep (Beat 10)
Six crews were detailed for this task.
Five aircraft successfully attacked shipping, but results were unobserved. One of these aircraft – SGT. WILLSHER – machine-gunned a military camp.
One aircraft – PILOT OFFICER NEEDHAM – failed to return from this operation.

0925 TARGET:- IJMUIDEN
Four crews were detailed for this task and took off at 0925 hours.
Three aircraft – SQUADRON LEADER BENNETT, SERGEANT BRUCE and SERGEANT TOLMAN – bombed the IRON and STEEL WORKS with 12x250 lb. Bombs and machine-gunned positions, plant and German soldiers.
One aircraft – SERGEANT PIERS – attacked small barges and buildings on the quay, machine-gunned positions and was forced to crash land on return.

ADDENDUM – Blenheim V6370, crew P/O R. Needham, P/O T. Keightley-Smith and Sgt. F.H. Bridgman, was shot down by fighters and came down in the North Sea, 5km W of Westkapelle (Zeeland) Holland. P/O Keightley-Smith is buried in Westduin General Cemetery. Other crew not recovered.

Base Changes

80 Sqn (Non-Op) left for the MTO
312 Sqn (Hurricane I) moved to Jurby

First and Last Operational Missions

304 Sqn (Syerston - Wellington IC) flew its first OM of the war
305 Sqn (Syerston – Wellington IC) flew its first OM of the war

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91 Sqn (Hawkinge – Spitfire IIA) 26.4.41

SGT. A. DARLING was shot down and killed by Me.109’s just west of base today. He was weaving behind his Flight Commander F/Lt. HOLLAND D.F.C. at about 12000 feet and F/Lt Holland heard him call out “Look out for your tail.” over the R/T. F/Lt Holland looked round & saw two Me.109’s diving upon him from astern. He took evasive action. When he pulled round the enemy aircraft had gone and Sgt. Darling’s machine was diving down with smoke coming from it. Sgt. Darlings’ body was found in the cockpit of his burnt our aircraft, which crashed at <unreadable> near Hawkinge. It had been struck by cannon shells.

ADDENDUM – Sgt. A.S. Darling was shot down by a Me.109 from II/JG52

Base Changes

84 Sqn (Blenheim IV) moves to Aqir
307 Sqn (Defiant I) moved to Exeter

First and Last Operational Missions

240 Sqn (Killadeas) flew its first OM in the Catalina I
601 Sqn (Northolt) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIB

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401 Sqn RCAF (Digby – Hurricane I) 27.4.41

There was cloud flying today, local reconnaissance and test flights as well as a six aircraft wing formation practice. Each of this training flying being done by the pilots recently attached to the Squadron.

Base Changes

29 Sqn (Beaufighter IF) moved to West Malling
33 Sqn (Hurricane I) moved to Maleme
66 Sqn (Spitfire IIA) moved to Perranporth
73 Sqn (Hurricane I) moved to Sidi Haneish
211 Sqn (Blenheim I) moved to Ramleh
600 Sqn (Blenheim IF/Beaufighter I) moved to Colerne

First and Last Operational Missions

302 Sqn (Kenley) flew its last OM in the Hurricane IIA
600 Sqn (Colerne) flew its last OM in the Blenheim IF

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401 Sqn RCAF (Digby – Hurricane I) 28.4.41

Readiness state all day with three scrambles. These were without incident. “A” Flight did the dusk patrol. Practice flights of cloud flying, local reconnaissance and test flights were performed throughout the day. There was also air to air firing at Sutton Bridge. In the evening dusk landings were practiced until 2230 hours.

First and Last Operational Missions

232 Sqn (Elgin) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I

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72 Sqn (Acklington – Spitfire IIA) 29.4.41

Green Section (3 a/c) (P/O Bocock, Sgt. Collyer, Sgt. Perkins) was doing practice flying when Control reported a bogey five miles seaward of Blyth and the section intercepted and got within range about 4 miles N.E. of Blyth. Green 3 (Bocock) got in a four second burst 200 to 50 yards and Green 1 a very short burst as the e/a was going through a gap in the cloud, but neither could claim to have damaged it. Green 2 (Sgt. Collyer) was last seen following the e/a into cloud and was heard to say over the R/T that his engine had failed and he was going into the sea. The two other a/c could find no trace of him, but his body was recovered later in the day.

ADDENDUM – The Ju 88 was from 1(F)120

Base Changes

141 Sqn (Defiant I) moved to Ayr
232 Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Montrose
317 Sqn (Hurricane I) moved to Ouston

First and Last Operational Missions

71 Sqn (Martlesham Heath) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
209 Sqn (Castle Archdale) flew its last OM in the Lerwick I
225 Sqn (Tilshead) flew its first OM in the Lysander IIIA
249 Sqn (Northolt) flew its last OM in the Hurricane IIA
600 Sqn (Colerne) flew its first OM in the Beaufighter IIF

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21 Sqn (Watton – Blenheim IV) 30.4.41

Six aircraft detailed to search for shipping between The Hague and Flushing. Sgt Fitzgerald and crew failed to start owing to engine trouble. Three aircraft came upon a convoy seven miles W. Of The Hague, consisting of 8,000 ton tanker, 8 flak ships and two E-boats. Sgt Dewing and crew was shot down, but made landing on sea near convoy. Other aircraft were attacked by two Me-110’s, but attacked the tanker and escorts. No results observed. One aircraft was hit on run-in.

ADDENDUM – Sgt. M.S. Dewing, Sgt. W.H.R. Smale and Sgt. H. Nathan were killed in the crash of their aircraft and are buried in the General Cemetery at Hoek van Holland.

Base Changes

3 Sqn RAAF (Non-Op) moved to Aboukir
46 Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Hal Far
203 Sqn (Blenheim IV) moved to Kabrit
211 Sqn (Blenheim I) moved to Lydda


First and Last Operational Missions

15 Sqn (Wyton) flew its first OM in the Stirling I
43 Sqn (Drem) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
46 Sqn (Sherburn-in-Elmet) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
72 Sqn (Acklington) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA
92 Sqn (Biggin Hill) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA
209 Sqn (Castle Archdale) flew its first OM in the Catalina I
238 Sqn (Chilbolton) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
401 Sqn RCAF (Digby) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I

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105 Sqn (Swanton Morley – Blenheim IV) 1.5.41

0950 Orders from Group :- 3 aircraft to attack largest ship possible between HOOK OF HOLLAND and ROTTERDAM.
3 aircraft to attack largest ship possible between SEA and ANTWERP.

1250 Orders from Group :- 6 aircraft to sweep on beat 15.

1215 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GOODE, PILOT OFFICER HOGAN, SGT. ROWLING did not discover any shipping in the ROTTERDAM waterway, so bombed oil storage tanks at ROTTERDAM. With a good run up at low altitude, hits were certain but were unobserved due to evasive action owing to flank and E/A. These latter, 5 Me.109’s pressed home an attack in absence of cloud cover, but by exceptional flying this was repulsed for 20 minutes, and the badly damaged aircraft, one airscrew dropped off was brought back to ENGLAND. On crossing the coast, the remaining airscrew was lost, but aircraft was successfully force landed in a field. All crew were wounded in the action, and recognition has since been accorded by the award of the D.F.C. to FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GOODE and to PILOT OFFICER HOGAN and the D.F.M. to SGT. ROWLING at BUCKINGHAM PALACE on 18th. JULY by H.M. the KING.
One crew SGT. WOOD, SGT. TURTON, SGT. WILCOCK secured a near miss on a 5000 ton tanker in the Waterway, returning safely evading light and heavy flak.
Remaining crew FLYING OFFICER DORE, SGT. MARTIN, SGT. PALMER, abandoned task owing to lack of cloud cover.

1235 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT BOOTH, SGT. SCOTT, SGT. PALMER attacked 5/7000 ton M/V in FLUSHING HARBOUR, results also not being observed due to smoke from FLAK bursts in turret. This flak so damaging aircraft that a force landing was necessary at base.
Remaining aircraft abandoned owing to lack of cloud cover.

1500 Five aircraft completed shipping beat without encountering the enemy and returned safely. One aircraft turned back with instrument trouble.



Base Changes

1 Sqn (Hurricane IIA/B) moved to Redhill
14 Sqn (Blenheim IV) moved to LG. 21
74 Sqn (Spitfire IIA) move to Redhill
80 Sqn (Hurricane I) moved to Aqir
94 Sqn (Gladiator II) moved to Ismailia
208 Sqn (Non-Op) moved to Gaza
601 Sqn (Hurricane IIA/B) moved to Manston

First and Last Operational Missions

111 Sqn (Dyce) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IA