Matrix Games Forums

66 Sqn(Biggin Hill – Spitfire IIA) 11.2.41

16.15 Eleven aircraft took off on an Offensive Patrol over N. France. P.O. Baker and P.O. Milden failed to return, and were reported missing.

ADDENDUM – Both aircraft were shot down by Bf-109’s of LG2 off Boulogne, and both pilots were killed.

Base Changes

401 Sqn RCAF(Hurricane I) moves to Driffield

58 Sqn(Linton-on-Ouse – Whitley V) 12.2.41

Ten aircraft were ordered to attack BREMEN. Six of the aircraft identified and attacked the primary target from heights from 9000 to 14000 feet. Large explosions and fires were observed through gaps in the clouds but results were very difficult to observe owing to 10/10 cloud. One of our aircraft captained by Sgt. Fullerton seven enemy aircraft of which two are claimed as destroyed and one probably destroyed. On the return to this country two of the crews were forced to abandon their aircraft owing to lack of petrol, both crews made successful parachute descents one landing near WISHAW, LANARKSHIRE and the other near FULBECK, LINCOLNSHIRE. Other aircraft landed safely at KINLOSS, DREM, and NORTH COATES, while one returned to LINTON. The other four aircraft attacked targets at GRONINGEN, JERSCHELLING AERODROME, and OLDENBURG at heights from 10000 to 12000 feet. Owing to clouds results could not be observed. All aircraft except the two that were abandoned returned safely to base after being diverted.

Base Changes

274 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Amriya

401 Sqn RCAF(Driffield – Hurricane I) 13.2.41

Squadron pilots attempted to move again today but were held up by weather. Party of 10 Officers arrived Driffield, Flt.Lt. Norris in charge. The station is a great change after Castletown. Good accommodation and food. No difficult problems of transportation.

66 Sqn (Biggin Hill – Spitfire IIA) 14.2.41

11.00 – Ten aircraft took off on an Interception Patrol over Dover at 16,000 ft. They were jumped by 20/30 M.E.109’s. P.O. Pickering managed to damage one, P.O. Olver, Bodie and Sgt. Pearson were shot up, but were uninjured and landed by base. F/Lt. Allen was wounded in arm but managed to land at base, his plane was damaged. P.O. Maxwell failed to return and was reported missing, and posted N/E. Missing to Uxbridge.

ADDENDUM: P.O. Maxwell was shot down by an M.E.109 of JG52 or LG2 over SE England; crashed into the sea.

First and Last Operational Missions

3 Sqn RAAF(Benina) flew its first OM in the Hurricane I

615 Sqn (Kenley – Hurricane I) 15.2.41

Squadron carried out a patrol this morning of 2 hours with No. 1 Squadron. No enemy aircraft seen. Squadron carried out a patrol in the afternoon of 2 hours with No. 1 Squadron. P/O Millard when detached from the Squadron had a short burst at an Me 109 entering a cloud. No result seen. F/O Stewart and Sergt. Fotheringham missing from a Rhubarb operation to Blackenburghe probably shot down over Flushing.

ADDENDUM: F/O Stewart was shot down near Zeebrugge and buried at Agegem Belgium. Sgt. Fotheringham force landed Koksijde Belgium and became a POW.

First and Last Operational Missions

610 Sqn(Westhampnett) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA
615 Sqn(Kenley) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I

401 Sqn RCAF(Driffield – Hurricane I) 16.2.41

Squadron took over from No. 213 Squadron, R.A.F., and were immediately scrambled on an interception. There were a total of six scrambles during the day but no enemy aircraft sighted. One aircraft was damaged on take-off. Flt.Lt. Johnstone arrived from Digby in a Hurricane he was ferrying. Some local practice flying took place. A dance was held in the mess after the Squadron Concert. Some of our officers attended. Flt.Lt. Blaiklock departed on I.O. Course at Harrow Weald Stone.

Base Changes

32 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Ibsley

114 Sqn(Oulton – Blenheim IV) 17.2.41

5902 F/Lt. MARKS, Sgt. TEETON, Sgt. ADKINS took off at 0935 on weather recco A/c failed to return. German radio announced that a Blenheim had been shot down by A.A. fire. Sgt. TEETON has since been announced by GENEVA RED CROSS quoting official German information, to have been killed, but there is no news of the other members of the crew.

ADDENDUM – F/Lt. Marks and Sgt. Adkins were also killed.

Base Changes

247 Sqn(Non-Op) moved to Roborough

401 Sqn RCAF(Driffield – Hurricane I) 18.2.41

M.T. Convoy arrived from Castletown with Flt.Lt. Ivermee i/c at 1500 hours without incident. A section of two was scrambled. Flt.Lt. Reynolds failed to return. Later advice confirmed his death at Bridlington, Yorks, due to a flying accident. There was one more scramble during the day. Both aircraft returned safely.

Base Changes

213 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Castletown

First and Last Operational Missions

26 Sqn(Gatwick) flew its last OM in its Lysanders (I/II/III)
80 Sqn(Iannina) flew its first OM in the Hurricane I
249 Sqn(North Weald) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I

401 Sqn RCAF(Driffield – Hurricane I) 19.2.41

An E/A sprayed two bursts at the aerodrome and then disappeared in cloud. Ceiling about 500 feet. Weather was non-operational except for Station-Defence.

Base Changes

33 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Eleusis

First and Last Operational Missions

249 Sqn(North Weald) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIA

41 Sqn (Hornchurch – Spitfire IIA) 20.2.41

1510 – Five aircraft left Hornchurch to patrol Canterbury line. At 1554 hours ordered to intercept Raid 36. Patrol intercepted by 6 M.E.109’s and promptly separated. 1 Spitfire was seen by F/O Brown in flames and the pilot descending by parachute, he followed and saw the pilot (Sgt. McAdam) burst into flames. The pilot was later found by a patrol boat to have been shot in the back. Whilst searching for Sgt. McAdam F/O Brown was attacked by 4 M.E.109’s, he returned fire without effect. During initial attack Blue 2 attacked a pair of M.E.109’s but was himself attacked by two more M.E.109s and was forced to evade. Enemy aircraft then turned for home and Blue 2 was unable to keep pace with them. A second pilot (Sgt. Angus) was reported to have baled out over the sea, but could not be found during search. 3 aircraft landed Hornchurch 1705 hours.

ADDENDUM – Both pilots shot down by Oberst Werner Mölders of JG51


Base Changes

74 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Manston
92 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Biggin Hill

75 Sqn (Feltwell – Wellington IC) 21.2.41

Operations. BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST WILHELMSHAVEN

Seven Wellington aircraft of this Unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against this target. One of these aircraft JAH 214, piloted by P/O. Falconer, failed to return. Hits are reported in the target area but the results could not be easily observed owing to ground haze. The A.A. fire encountered was mostly medium and not very accurate. Searchlights were not very active. No enemy aircraft was seen.

ADDENDUM – Presumed lost over the sea. Two bodies were recovered, one buried in Kiel(S/L EUG Solbe) and the other in Sage(Sgt AM Brodie RNZAF).

First and Last Operational Missions

54 Sqn(Catterick) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA
615 Sqn(Kenley) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIA

605 Sqn (Croydon – Hurricane IIA) 22.2.41

We hear we are very shortly to move to Martlesham to join the experimental flight and that 17 Squadron will be coming to Croydon. From the point of view of getting on with the job and finishing experimental work, this is excellent and, in fact, what we suggested and recommended two months ago. But, having been here so long, and having made ourselves thoroughly comfortable, it will be a bit of an upheaval. A standing patrol was flown this morning no enemy aircraft being encountered. P/O. Rothwell was killed as a result of the patrol, spinning down from 30,000’. No one knows the cause of the accident.

ADDENDUM – Believed oxygen failure, crashed near Littlehampton.

Base Changes

113 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Kabrit

First and Last Operational Missions

145 Sqn(Tangmere) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
609 Sqn(Warmwell) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA

64 Sqn (Southend – Spitfire IA) 23.2.41

0800 – Three aircraft left ground on patrol.
0850 – One aircraft landed. No contact made. P/O. Hawkins and P/O. Pippet failed to return
0815 – Two aircraft left ground on patrol.
0930 – Two aircraft landed. No contact made.

ADDENDUM – Understood that P/O. Hawkins and P/O. Pippet collided. Both killed.

Base Changes

41 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Catterick
53 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to St. Eval
106 Sqn(Hampden I) moved to Coningsby

First and Last Operational Missions

54 Sqn(Hornchurch) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA
221 Sqn(Bircham Newton – Wellington IC) flew its first OM of the war

257 Sqn(Coltishall – Hurricane I) 24.2.41

The first of eight patrols carried out during the day was at 0850 hours when Red section took off. They landed. Yellow section were next to go off and at 0950 hours they took off to patrol base. After receiving several vectors, they found themselves at 15,000 feet, 16 miles out to sea off HARPISBURGH, where they saw an e/a believed to be a JU 88 behind and below at 1035 hours. P/O ATKINS attacked from the port and rear and then was hid from view of P/O JOHNSTON as both the enemy aircraft and P/O ATKINS disappeared into thick cloud that was 10/10th. P/O JOHNSTON followed in the direction they had taken, but could not contact. A few minutes later he was informed over the R/T that P/O ATKINS had probably baled out, as he had said over the R/T “I think I am hit and will have to bale out”. After threequarters hour search, P/O JOHNSTON had to return to base owing to petrol shortage. Trawlers, Motor Boats and aircraft as well as the CROMER lifeboat were unable to find any trace of the aircraft or the pilot, P/O ATKINS posted as missing.
ADDENDUM – He was never found.

Base Changes

6 Sqn(Lysander II) moved to Barce
66 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Exeter
234 Sqn(Spitfire IIA) moved to Warmwell
263 Sqn(Whirlwind I) moved to St. Eval
609 Sqn(Non-Op) moved to Biggin Hill

First and Last Operational Missions

56 Sqn(North Weald) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
207 Sqn(Waddington – Manchester I) flew its first OM of the war
616 Sqn(Kirton-in-Lindsey) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA

611 Sqn(Hornchurch – Spitfire IIA) 25.2.41

“B” Flight on MAIDSTONE patrol during the morning, and after lunch the whole Squadron mopping up after a Circus escorting bombers in the Calais district. The Station Commander leading, a gaggle of 109s was encountered over the French coast at GRAVELINES, during ensuing melee, the Wing Commander bagged one for certain and a probable second, at that time the C.O. also promptly dispatched a third which was last seen making a flaming descent from the arena. Not to be outdone F/Lt. Watkins did the dirty on still another – in this instance a modicum of lead coupled with an urge to escape further attention, caused the E/A to go into a vertical dive which took it straight into the “ditch”. Two other pilots (P/O. Williams and Sgt. TOWNSEND) also fired, but without claim. 11 of our aircraft returned undamaged, but P/O. D.A. STANLEY in Spitfire X4592 failed to return and is listed as missing. Sgt. TOWNSEND saw a Spitfire being attacked by two ME 109s, but saw no definite result and did not identify the Spitfire
ADDENDUM – The Circus referred to did not actually take place as the bombers (114 Sqn) turned back due to weather. P/O. Stanley was shot down and killed by Oberst Werner Mölders of JG51.

First and Last Operational Missions

145 Sqn(Tangmere) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA
611 Sqn(Hornchurch) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA

CIRCUS 6 – Calais Harbour

Close escort – 1,303 and 601 Sqns
High escort – 74, 92 and 609 Sqns
Two fighter sweeps were flown in the Cap Griz Nez area in support of this operation.

139 Sqn(Horsham St. Faith – Blenheim IV) 26.2.41

Target: CALAIS. (CC37) Bomb Load: 4 x 250 lbs. 4 x 40 lbs. Box Formation with Fighter Escort.
P.4860, T.1796, R.3905, and R.3627 bombed target.
V.5460 and L.9386 bombs not dropped. Hang up.

Base Changes

65 Sqn(Spitfire IA) moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey
605 Sqn(Hurricane IIA) moved to Martlesham Heath
616 Sqn(Non-Op) moved to Tangmere

First and Last Operational Missions

56 Sqn(North Weald) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIA
601 Sqn(Northolt) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
609 Sqn(Biggin Hill) flew its first OM in the Spitfire IIA

401 Sqn(Driffield – Hurricane I) 27.2.41

Squadron preparing to move to R.A.F. Station, Digby. Advance party proceeded by bus, Flt.Lt. Ivermee in charge. Squadron maintaining operational status awaiting to be relieved by No. 46 Squadron. Extremely bad weather curtailed practice flying. Local Flying together with test flights, preparatory to the Squadron move occupied most of the day.

139 Sqn(Horsham St. Faith – Blenheim IV) 28.2.41

T.1795 – Target: OSTERMOOR – Bombs not dropped owing to lack of cloud cover
T.1922 – Target: HOTEL AT QUIBERON (CC99) – Bombed target from 50 feet. Direct hits observed from three bombs. Load: 4 x 250 lbs. Landed at SWANTON MORLEY.
V.5498 - Target: HOTEL AT QUIBERON (CC99) – Bombed from 1500 feet. Load: 4 x 250lbs and 40 x 40lbs. Landed at SWANTON MORLEY.
R.2791 - Target: HOTEL AT QUIBERON (CC99) – Bombed from 1500 feet. Load: 4 x 250lbs and 40 x 40lbs.
R.3907 – Target: FLUSHING (Z8) – Bombed primary target. Landed at SWANTON MORLEY.
T.1799 - Target: FLUSHING (Z8) – Low level attack on primary target and bombed with 4 x250lbs. Aircraft bogged on landing and involved in crash with L.9402. SGT. VIVIAN seriously injured. SGT. SEVERN Died of Injuries. SGT. Handley slightly injured.
R.3903 – Target: DEN HELDER (CC1) – Bombed target. Crashed on landing.
L.9402 – Target: DEN HELDER (CC1) – Bombed target. Crashed into aircraft T.1799 on landing. SGT. BENNETT slightly injured. SGT. MILLS seriously injured. SGT. LABAN uninjured.

Base Changes

17 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Croydon
46 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Church Fenton
603 Sqn(Non-Op) moved to Turnhouse

First and Last Operational Missions

1 Sqn(Kenley) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
64 Sqn(Southend) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA
208 Sqn(Barce) flew its last OM in the Lysander I)
502 Sqn(Limavady) flew its last OM’s in the Blenheim IV and Hudson I

234 Sqn(Warmwell – SpitfireIA) 1.3.41

The Squadron went to St. Eval in the morning & from there A & B Flight in turn patrolled a convoy (H.M.S. Resolution) escorting it from 13 miles S. of Scillies to 30 miles E. Of Plymouth. The Squadron returned in the evening. Sgt. Bell was reported missing from these operations.

ADDENDUM – Sgt. C.H. Bell was never found, his loss a complete mystery.

Base Changes

42 Sqn(Non-Op) moved to Leuchars
43 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Drem
46 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Sherburn-in-Elmet
401 Sqn RCAF(Hurricane I) moved to Digby

First and Last Operational Missions

1 Sqn(Kenley) flew its first OM in the Hurricane IIA
17 Sqn(Croydon) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I and its first OM in the Hurricane IIA
30 Sqn(Eleusis) flew its last OM’s in the Blenheim I and IF
402 Sqn RCAF(Digby – Hurricane I) flew its first OM of the war

21 Sqn(Watton – Blenheim IV) 2.3.41

Two aircraft flew to St. Eval to operate from there against aerodromes in Brittany, but the operation was canceled. Six aircraft were detailed to attack aerodromes in N.E. France, the objective being changed at the last minute to aerodromes in Dutch territory. Two aircraft were detailed to attack oil storage tanks near Rotterdam. Owing to bad weather only four aircraft dropped their bombs. One crew, Sgts. Warcup, Ferguson, and Courtman failed to return.

ADDENDUM – The above-named crew was lost without a trace.

Base Changes

114 Sqn(Blenheim IV) moved to Thornaby and transferred to Coastal Command
607 Sqn(Hurricane I) moved to Drem

First and Last Operational Missions

152 Sqn(Warmwell) flew its last OM in the Spitfire IA