80 Years ago from the Archives - April 1944

Wing Commander J. Butterworth remains the Station Commander for R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer and signed the Station Operation Record Book for the month of April 1944.

Visitors  to  R.A.F. Harrowbeer  included :-

          Brigadier General Wyman  -  84th Tactical Air Force Canadian Headquarters

          Lieutenant Colonel Wallace  -  84th Group TAF Canadian Headquarters

          Captain Gilmour  -  84th TAF  Canadian Headquarters

          Air Vice Marshal Steele  -  Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group

               ?   ?    ?  -  Sector Commander

          Squadron Leader Rodgrove  -  Sector Senior Controller  at  R.A.F. Colerne 

                                                                                                                 ( Ditterlidge )

          Air Chief Marshal Sir T. Leigh-Mallory  -  Commander in Chief

          Wing Commander Stuart  -  Air Ministry

Weather

          1st April      The weather today is very poor with fog, much low cloud and rain.

          2nd April     The weather continues to be rather bad, more low cloud and rain. 

          3rd  and  4th April     The Aerodrome is still surrounded by low cloud and rain showers throughout the day.

          5th April    Misty in the morning turning to 7/10ths cloud at two thousand feet in the afternoon with some sunny periods.

          6th April     The weather remained fine until evening when 10/10th cloud covered the sky.

          7th  and  8th April     Two days of bright but misty weather.

          9th April     The day started with heavy rain until 1000 hours after which it then developed into a warm, sunny almost cloudless day. 

          10th April     A dull and wet outlook for most of the day but gradually clearing up in the evening.

          11th April     There was a mist and low cloud until lunch time when there was a slight improvement, but the rest of the day remained showery.  

          12th April     A war sunny day with little cloud.

          13th April     This morning started with mist, cloud and some light drizzle which cleared to brighter periods around noon.  Towards the late afternoon it started to cloud over resulting in 7/10ths to 9/10ths cloud cover at five thousand feet.

          14th April     Heavy rain and low cloud all day.

          15th April     Again, rain, rain and more rain with low cloud all day.

          16th April     Dull and cloudy in the morning, improving to 5/10ths cloud at two thousand feet followed by some sunny periods later in the day.

          17th April     Slight broken cloud all day.  Visibility is reasonably good although there is some haze about.

          18th April     Today the weather is very unsettled with cloud and mist all day.

          19th April     The morning began dull and cloudy which then turned to rain shortly after lunch time and became quite heavy towards the evening.

          20th April     Cloud cover is 5/10ths with many bright sunny periods during the afternoon which became very misty towards dusk.

          21st April     A fine sunny morning, deteriorating as the day went on with fine rain starting to fall in the afternoon.

          22nd April     A lovely cloudless dawn brought in a brilliant hot sunny day, with little cloud.  Visibility was excellent which remained with us for the rest of the month.

          23rd April     Another warm sunny day with no cloud, but the mist began to roll in towards the evening time.

          24th April     Dull and cloudy all day, but no rain.

          25th April     An almost cloudless sunny day with plenty of flying taking place.

          26th April     The weather continues to be fine and right for flying.

          27th April     Another fine, cloudless and sunny day.

          28th April     There is no break in the spell of good weather, although there is a haze about occasionally.

          29th April     Still no break in the fine weather, however there are patches of thin cloud blowing across the sky from time to time throughout the day.

          30th April     A hot, cloudless day with little wind about.

          2nd April     An evasion exercise " Merrylegs " took place at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          3rd April     No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron Headquarters plus the Servicing Sections moved from R.A.F. Harrowbeer to R.A.F. Portreath.        No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron " B " Flight moved from R.A.F. Harrowbeer to R.A.F. Bolt Head.

          6th April     The Air Officer Commanding ( Air Vice Marshal Steele ) and the Sector Commander visited the Station today.

          11th April     Brigadier General Wyman, Lieutenant Colonel Wallace and Captain Gilmour from the 84th Group Tactical Air Force Canadian Headquarters visited the Station.        Ten Mustang aircraft from No.2 Squadron arrived at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          12th April     The above ten Mustang aircraft left today for R.A.F. Gatwick.  The Commander in Chief ( Air Chief Marshal Sir T. Leigh-Mallory ) and the Sector Controller ( Squadron Leader Rodgrove ) visited the Station.

          17th April    A Hurricane aircraft crash landed on the Airfield ( see Appendix ' B ' ).

          20th  April     No.838 Fleet Air Arm Squadron arrived at R.A.F. Harrowbeer from R.A.F. Macrihanish.

          21st April     Three Fairey Swordfish aircraft from No.838 Fleet Air Arm Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Worthy Down.

          2nd April     A Wellington aircraft of No.173 Squadron arrived on a familiarisation flight.

          23rd April     Token  4B ( No.131 Squadron ) was lost in the sea on a scrambled flight

          24th April     The Sector Commander visited the Station today.

          25th April     A sundry visit of aircraft to R.A.F. Harrowbeer totals thirty five.

          25th / 26th April     No.838 Fleet Air Arm Squadron had their first night experience from this airfield.

          26th April     A sundry visit of aircraft now totals forty eight.

          27th April     Pluto 34  ( No.263 Squadron ) belly landed alongside runway 35.  The aircraft caught fire but the pilot was O.K.  Runway 1 / 35 was U/S for seventeen hours.  An Avenger aircraft of No.849 Squadron came to R.A.F. Harrowbeer on a familiarisation flight. 

          29th April     Wing Commander Baker with Nos.193, 197 and 257 Squadrons came from No.124 Airfield to operate from R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          30th April     No.838 Fleet Air Arm Squadron lost three Fairey Swordfish aircraft in their first practice operation.

           There was a total of thirty four scrambles during the month of April 1944.

Appendix  ' A '

                               Evasion  Exercise  " Merrylegs "     1 / 4 / 1944

Seventeen pilots of No.263 Squadron and No.131 Squadron took part in the exercise.  The weather was fine.  The local Home Guard were unable to participate, but forty to fifty troops of the R.A.F. Regiment and the local C.M.P. patrolled the neighbourhood while four armoured cars carried out the constant reconnaissance sweeps.  The Civil Police were also on the alert.

At 1330 hours the pilots were assembled and briefed as to the rules.  They had previously been told that battle-dress trousers were to be worn, but no blouse, collar, tie or hat.  The rest was left to their own discretion.  The result was a fairly motley crew, marvelously arranged.  One in fact had a German N.C.O.'s tunic with swastikas chalked in prominent places, a species of mustard coloured peaked knitted cap and most unusual shoes.

The others not so imaginative all looked peculiar enough to attract the dullest civilians attention.  Each carried a note saying the bearer was taking part in an exercise.  The pilots were told that arrest was by seizure and to stop if challenged by any-one bearing fire-arms and were only allowed to speak a few words of broken English, and that they were to make their way back to this Station, once inside the perimeter wire they were not to be molested.  The pilots were then taken in a blacked out van which stopped at intervals about six miles north west of the Airfield.

The first pair arrived back at 1530 hours after a quick trip on stolen bicycles, having slipped through before the search parties and guards had manned their points of vantage.

From then onwards the others straggled in, the last one reporting at 1800 hours.  Seven were captured, several were chased but managed to get away.  The task of the patrols was a hard one owing to the high banks and hedges, affording excellent cover to the edge of the Airfield, and of course the evaders made good use of it.  One of the Officers stole an LAC's greatcoat and cap from a dispersed sleeping site and returned to the Station with a football crowd, carefully saluting all the Officers he met.

All who took part in the exercise enjoyed it thoroughly.

                                                                                                          Unsigned.

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Appendix  ' B '

                                                              17 / 4 / 1944

At approximately 1910 hours a warning was received from R.A.F. Roborough that one of their Hurricane aircraft was in trouble and could R.A.F. Harrowbeer receive it.  The pilot was only able to half close the throttle.  On coming in to land he overshot the runway and tried to take off for another attempt, but when opening up, his engine cut out and the pilot had to make a wheels down landing on the moor, his undercarriage had buckled up and the aircraft finished up on the road leading from the W.A.A.F.  Site to Horrabridge.  The pilot was unhurt.

                                                                                                    ( Unsigned )

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Appendix  ' C '

                                              Appendix  to  Form  540 

                   Physical  and  Recreational  Training  and  Entertainments.

P.T. :-    Defence  Flight :-     The Defence Flight of this Station continues with weekly periods of P.T.          Attendances are somewhat spasmodic owing to operational commitments.

Aircrew :-     As flying time has increased with longer daylight hours and excellent weather, the aircrew have been unable to do much P.T. this month.

Airfield  Construction  Flight :-     The Flight is at present training on the Station and have put in much valuable time at P.T. and show enthusiasm and keenness.

A.T.C. :-     A course was laid on consisting of P.T., unarmed combat, boxing, minor games ans lectures on P.T. theory for A.T.C. cadets who had volunteered as instructors in their own units.

Games :-     Soccer :-     The Station team continues with it's league fixtures but has suffered the usual disabilities of postings.        No less than fifteen section matches were played during the month of April between aircrew, No.838 F.A.A.  Squadron, Airfield Squadrons, R.A.F. Regiment and the M.T.  Section.

Cricket :-     Net practice has begun ready for the first matches to be held in May.  We look forward to a good season under the Captaincy of Wing Commander J. Butterworth.

Tennis :-     This has proved very popular this month owing to the excellent weather.  Tennis balls are in very short supply but we have still been able to play over thirty games on three courts kindly made available to the Station by local civilians.

Squash :-     The Squash Court is in use several hours each day.  Balls luckily are in good supply and some excellent play has been enjoyed.

Badminton :-     This indoor game is still very popular despite the lighter evenings.  There is a regular attendance of fifteen to twenty players each ' Club ' night ( Tuesdays and Thursdays ) and several newcomers to the game are fat becoming very good players.

Swimming :-     The pool which is available at the Moorland Links Hotel has unfortunately been damaged by enemy action and will not be available for about a month.

Entertainments :-     Live  Shows :-     In addition to the fortnightly visits by E.N.S.A.  Companies we have now had a visit from a local ' dramatic society ' of high standing - The Swathmore Players who gave an excellent production of ' Quiet Wedding ' which was greatly enjoyed by a large audience ( four hundred and forty one people ) in the newly opened Station Theatre.

Cinema :-     The E.N.S.A. visiting cinema has now been cancelled, but the films that are hired by the Station continue to be shown twice weekly.  It is hoped that the delay in completing the 35mm cinema in the Gymnasium will soon be overcome.

Dances :-     The Station Band has suffered a great deal of postings.  In addition to the regular Station Dances the band have played at informal Sunday night concerts ( useful as a means of talent spotting for the newly reconstituted Station Concert Party ) and at the performance of ' Quiet Wedding ' mentioned above.

Music  Circle :-     The support for the weekly series of classical music on records has increased to the extent of creating on Tuesday 25th April a record attendance for this Station of thirty seven people.  The concerts appear to be greatly appreciated by a wide selection of personnel of the camp.

                                                                                                    ( Unsigned )

                                                           ~      ~      ~      ~      ~

                                                                     General     

As at the 1st April 1944, No.2883  R.A.F.  Regiment Squadron while based at R.A.F. Harrowbeer had a scale of defence that comprised :-  four Bofors guns and sixteen twin Browning machine guns.  The Bofors were not deployed.          R.A.F. Bolt Head had a scale of defence which comprised :-  No.2704  R.A.F.  Regiment Squadron with a compliment of four Bofors guns, eight Hispano guns and eight twin Browning machine guns.

No.2  Squadron :-   

                   No.2  Squadron were based at R.A.F. Gatwick, Sussex.

          10th April     A detachment of Mustang aircraft were detailed to proceed to R.A.F. Harrowbeer, but the weather was unsuitable for them to carry out their duty so they were re-called to R.A.F. Gatwick, Sussex.

          11th April     Mustang aircraft proceeded to R.A.F. Harrowbeer in the afternoon o carry out a duty of work and then return to R.A.F. Gatwick, Sussex.

          12th April     Mustang aircraft proceeded to R.A.F. Harrowbeer in the afternoon to carry out a duty of work and then return to R.A.F. Gatwick, Sussex.

          No further details regarding the Squadrons duties are available at this time.

     ( No.2  Squadron's duties normally consisted of photo reconnaissance work.  In this case the Squadron were probably photographing Plymouth Sound, the estuary  and  the  docklands ).

                    The Squadron O.R.B. for the month of April was unsigned.

No.131  ( County  of  Kent )  Squadron :-    

          1st  -  4th April     Due to poor weather conditions the only flying carried out during these four days was a single cannon test on the 2nd April.

          5th April     The Squadron's normal state while at R.A.F. Harrowbeer during periods of when the weather is suitable for operational flying has now been established as :-  one section at stand by,  one section at fifteen minutes readiness and the rest of the Squadron at thirty minutes readiness.          ' A ' Flight carried out formation and cine camera gun exercises.          ' B ' Flight carried out night flying exercises from R.A.F. Exeter.

          6th April     At 1545 hours the stand by section of ' A ' Flight were scrambled and sent to the Torquay area at twenty six thousand feet, on account of a suspicious plot that had appeared five miles north of there.  The section were re-called after forty minutes having seen nothing.          At 2100 hours ' B ' Flight while at stand by were scrambled and sent twenty miles south east of Start Point at fifteen thousand feet, but their trip was also quite uneventful and they landed back at base after thirty minutes.

          7th April     No flying for No.131 Squadron today.          The pilots occupied themselves by cleaning and re-decorating the Dispersal Huts.

          9th April     Operational flying during the day consisted of three sections of two Spitfire VII aircraft relieving each other between 153 hours and 2115 hours in escorting a convoy of twenty four vessels traveling west between Portland Bill and Start Point.          With effect from today, unit censoring is being imposed on all outgoing correspondence.

          12th April     There were two uneventful scrambles during the afternoon.  The first scramble was at 1345 hours but the aircraft were re-called after ten minutes.          The second scramble was from 1535 hours until 1615 hours when two Spitfire VII aircraft were sent to patrol off north west Guernsey at heights which varied between one thousand feet to four thousand feet.          During the morning the Squadron was visited by the Commander in Chief  -  Air Chief Marshal Sir T. Leigh-Mallory to give a pre-invasion prep talk.

          13th April     During the afternoon No.131 Squadron carried out it's first show since the end of March.          At 1615 hours, eight Spitfire VII aircraft led by the Commanding Officer took off on No.10 Group Rodeo No.112.  Two of the aircraft returned almost immediately owing to trouble releasing their long range fuel tanks.  The remainder of the formation flew at sea level to the Brest Peninsular.  When they were about forty miles out from Bolt Head they started to climb with the intention of making landfall over the French Coast at Yffiniac and then sweep the area of Carhaix - Guipavas at twenty four thousand feet.  However when they were about twenty four miles from the French Coast and at fifteen thousand feet the Commanding Officer decided to abandon the operation owing to unfavourable weather, the condition being 9/10ths cloud at five thousand feet and becoming thicker towards Brest, plus there was a layer of mist above the cloud layer.  The formation of six aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing safely at 1755 hours.          Other operational flying during the day consisted of shipping convoy escorts, two sections of Spitfire aircraft kept up patrols over fifteen vessels sailing eastwards from Start Point from 1935 hours until 2130 hours.          During the morning the majority of the pilots attended a lecture by Wing Commander Stuart of the Air Ministry on accident prevention. 

          14th April     There was heavy rain all day making today a ' no flying day '.  Some Link Trainer practice was carried out in the morning by some of the pilots and in the afternoon twenty two pilots assembled in ' A ' Flight Dispersal for a discussion group session.  These discussion groups are in accordance with the new scheme laid down by the Air Council by which everyone in the Air Force must attend, one discussion group per week.  The subject under discussion at the first meeting was ' Newspapers '.

          15th April     Again due to bad weather there was no flying by either Flight apart from one short weather test.

          16th April     Practice flying was carried out during the day and at 1615 hours the stand by section was scrambled.  Two Spitfire VII aircraft were sent up to twenty seven thousand feet south of Plymouth to investigate two suspicious aircraft which turned out to be other Spitfire aircraft.   The section returned to base after thirty minutes landing at 1645 hours.

          17th April     The first operation to be carried out today was No.10 Group Rodeo No.113  which entailed four Spitfire aircraft led by Squadron Leader J. O'Meara taking off at 1120 hours to act as forward cover to four Typhoon aircraft that were sweeping Rennes, Chareau Bougon and Vinnes Airfields.  They Climbed to sixteen thousand feet over the English Channel and swept the area of St. Malo and Rennes to cover the withdrawal of the Typhoon aircraft.  The trip was entirely uneventful, not even any flak being encountered.  The four Spitfires landed safely back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1313 hours.          At 1200 hours another four Spitfire aircraft from No.131 Squadron acted as second forward cover to another group of Typhoon aircraft who were going to Gael, Sty. Nazaire and Vannes Airfields.  The four Spitfires flew over the same area as the previous four Spitfire aircraft but went down to fourteen thousand feet.  The trip was uneventful and the aircraft landed back at base at 1405 hours.          The Squadron with eight Spitfire VII aircraft led by Commanding Officer ( Squadron Leader J. J. O'Meara ) took off at 1520 hours to act as first forward cover in Rodeo No.114 in which our old friends of No.165 Squadron from R.A.F. Predannack in their Spitfire IX aircraft were flying to Kerlin Bastard, Gael and Vannes.  The Squadron crossed the French Coast at Lestin-Les-Greves at twenty four thousand feet at 1555 hours.  They then swept westwards through Carnaix losing height down to twenty two thousand feet before leaving France at Pleneuf.  As in the earlier shows nothing whatsoever of interest occurred and so the aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1700 hours.

          18th April     No flying today apart from weather test and cannon tests.

          19th April     Again no flying today.          The day was spent on aircraft recognition tests, etc.  During the afternoon the second of the weekly discussion groups was held, twenty five pilots in total assembled in ' B ' Flight Dispersal and held a spirited discussion.

          20th April     No.131 Squadron took part in Rodeo No.116 at 1700 hours acting as first forward cover to Spitfire IX aircraft of No.165 Squadron.  They climbed from Bolt Head to cross the French Coast near St. Malo at twenty three thousand feet.  The formation swept the area of Gael - Vinnes - St. Michel-En-Greve losing height gradually down to seventeen thousand feet.  There was no enemy reaction, either fighting or flak so the formation returned to base eventually landing at 1912 hours.     There is less and less enemy action in north west France, and we learned today that Lannion Airfield - one of the Squadrons old hunting grounds has now been obstructed.

          21st April     The stand by section of ' A ' Flight was scrambled at 1250 hours and sent to eight thousand feet over Brixham, but were soon re-called.          Similarly ' B ' Flight section were scrambled at 1445 hours and sent to Bolt Head from where they were vectored twenty eight miles south before being re-called.

          22nd April     Convoy escort patrols were carried out south east of Torquay by two sections of Spitfire VII aircraft.         The first was between 1510 hours and 1615 hours and the second patrol between 1715 hours and 1845 hours.          The Squadron were scrambled three timed during the day which were all uneventful.     ( 1 )  From 1530 hours - 1545 hours, a section of Spitfire aircraft were sent south to investigate an air-raid, but they were soon re-called.     ( 2 )  From 1740 hours - 1830 hours, a section of Spitfire aircraft were sent to Bolt Head at thirty two thousand feet then vectored off towards Cherbourg at thirty thousand feet on account of vapour trails being seen there.  The section were then brought back to patrol for thirty minutes over a shipping convoy in Lyme Bay.     ( 3 )  From 2110 hours - 2120 hours, a section of Spitfire aircraft were sent off but were then re-called as soon as they were airborne.

          23rd April     There were three scrambles during the day :-  ( 1 )  From 1540 hours - 1625 hours, a section of Spitfire aircraft were sent to patrol east to west in mid-channel between Bolt Head and Cherbourg..     ( 2 ) From 1700 - 1820 hours, a section of Spitfire aircraft were sent to patrol off Bolt Head.  The section were given various vectors and heights until finally at 1800 hours when approximately twenty five miles south south eat off Bolt Head they were told there was something for them on the deck five miles ahead.  Pilot No.1 instructed his No.2 to continue on the same course while he went down to investigate.  This entailed flying down through 10/10ths cloud from sixteen thousand feet, at three thousand feet he indicated and found himself still in cloud so he pulled up above it.  He expected to find his No.2 waiting for him, but there was no sign of him.  It can only be surmised that his No.2 did not receive or understand No.1's orders and went through the cloud and straight into the sea.  Pilot No.2 is reported as missing. 

                    No.131  Squadron  Information  from  other  sources :-

                                    The  Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes    

          23rd April     The missing pilot was Warrant Officer Douglas Frederick Phillips  Royal  Australian  Air  Force.     Service No. AUS.401394.     He was twenty five years old.

Warrant Officer D. F. Phillips is ' Remembered  with  Honour ' on the Runnymede  Memorial, Surrey  -  Panel  No.259.                       May  he  Rest  in  Peace.

( 3 )  This scramble was quite uneventful.  The section was scrambled at 1640 hours and sent to patrol from east to west - Start Point to Guernsey at various heights between ten thousand feet and twenty six thousand feet.  They were on patrol for about forty minutes before being re-called.  The weather by now was bad on the hills around R.A.F. Harrowbeer, so the section were homed to R.A.F. Exeter where they landed at 1955 hours.          At 1900 hours two pilots from each Flight took off to fly to R.A.F. Culmhead where eight pilots with four aircraft and a maintenance party from No.6131 Echelon are to be attached for a week while No.610 Squadron go on a course to the Armament Practice Camp at R.A.F. Fairwood Common.

          24th April     At 1515 hours a section of Spitfire VII aircraft were sent south of Portland Bill and then vectored ten miles north of Cherbourg before returning to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1605 hours.          There were two scrambles of the stand by section today.  The first was at 1525 hours and probably a mistake as they were re-called before they were out of sight of the Airfield, they landed within ten minutes of take off.          The second scramble was at 1635 hours when a section of Spitfire VII aircraft were sent to twenty five thousand feet and vectored over the following triangular course  -  thirty miles south of Portland Bill, thirty - forty miles north of Guernsey, Alderney and back to Portland Bill.  From there they were sent due east for seven minutes before being re-called to base where they landed at 1730 hours.

          25th April     In the morning No.131 Squadron received a visit by Squadron Leader Rodgrove  -  Senior Controller at R.A.F. Colerne ( Ditterlidge ) who came to discuss the new Squadron Control Interception of high flying enemy aircraft.          One section of Spitfire VII aircraft of ' A ' Flight were airborne between 1030 hours and 1230 hours over a large convoy of motor vessels, tankers, landing craft, corvettes and two destroyers going east, ten miles south west of Portland Bill.  This section was relieved at 1240 hours by another section of Spitfires which carried on the convoy patrol until 1420 hours.          In the late afternoon the Squadron carried out three scrambles between 1615 hours and 2115 hours to the south of Bolt Head, these were all uneventful.

          26th April     Today's flying started with a scramble of the stand by section at 0830 hours until 0905 hours.  Two Spitfire VII aircraft were detailed to intercept a DO217 enemy aircraft which was reported near Start Point.  The section proceeded up to twenty two thousand feet but due to the time lag in passing the plot over which was obviously too great, the enemy aircraft had returned home by the time our aircraft arrived at the spot despite a very quick take off ( twenty seconds ), the section returned to base.          There were four more scrambles throughout the day south and south east of Bolt Head.  All four scrambles were uneventful.

          27th April     No.131 Squadron carried out two scrambles today.  The first was undertaken by a section of Spitfire VII aircraft from 1415 hours until 1600 hours  The section flew fifty miles from the coast between Portland Bill and Start Point.          The second scramble was by a section of Spitfire aircraft from 1530 hours until 1645 hours.  This section flew south of Bolt Head to mid-channel and then to east Guernsey at various heights up to a height of twenty four thousand feet before being re-called.          The days operational flying commenced at 1100 hours when six readiness Spitfire VII aircraft of ' A ' Flight were ordered up to patrol twenty miles south of Guernsey.  Their mission was aborted through engine trouble to one of the Spitfires, so the section returned to base after only five minutes.          At 1120 hours, eight Spitfire VII aircraft from  ' B ' Flight were put up om a precautionary Air Sea Rescue patrol at one thousand feet on an east to west patrol south of Start Point.  This proved uneventful and the section returned to base landing at 1250 hours.          At 1815 hours, four Spitfire VII aircraft of ' B ' Flight were ordered off on an Air Sea Rescue patrol but after forty uneventful minutes of flying they had to return to base owing to R/T trouble in three of the aircraft.          At 1915 hours, a section of two Spitfire VII aircraft from ' A ' Flight were sent off on an Air Sea Rescue patrol to the mid-channel south of Bolt Head at a height of four thousand feet to escort back to the English Coast a Walrus aircraft which was being towed by a launch.

          28th April     No.131 Squadron carried out thirteen patrols in the Portland area over an exercise that was taking place in the area.  The first patrol started at 0630 hours and the last one finished at 2110 hours.          There was a total of seven scrambles carried out by the Squadron.     ( 1 )   From 0850 hours - 0900 hours, one section of ' A ' Flight was scrambled but were immediately brought back after one circuit of the Airfield.     ( 2 )   From 0915 hours - 1015 hours, a section of Spitfire VII aircraft from  ' B ' Flight were sent up ti fifteen thousand feet over Plymouth, they were then sent up to a height of thirty thousand feet and told that there was a bandit below them ten miles ahead.  The section went ' homer ' for ten - twenty minutes, reaching a speed of four hundred and forty miles per hour and then dived away to the south, but there was no sign of any enemy aircraft.  On spotting the French Coast the section were detailed to return to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.     ( 3 )   From 1115 hours - 1240 hours, the ' B ' Flight stand by section were again scrambled and sent to the south east towards Bolt Head at a height of fourteen thousand feet.  Later this height was reduced to ten thousand feet and the section were given vectors which took them to Jersey where they were told that there were twenty bandits.  These turned out to be friendly American aircraft.  The section were then ordered to patrol up and down the west coast of the Cherbourg Peninsular to the south of the Channel Islands.     ( 4 )   From 1110 hours - 1200 hours, the standby section of ' B ' Flight were ordered to orbit south of Bolt Head at a height of twenty two thousand feet, which was later reduced to ten thousand feet.  This scramble was uneventful.     ( 5 )   From 1225 hours - 1240 hours, a section of Spitfire VII aircraft were scrambled and sent up to ten thousand feet over Plymouth, but were ordered to return to base as soon as they had reached there.     ( 6 )   From 1425 hours - 1430 hours, the stand by section of ' A ' Flight were scrambled and immediately re-called as soon as they had become airborne.     ( 7 )   From 1930 hours - 2035 hours, a section of Spitfire VII aircraft of ' B ' Flight were scrambled and sent up to twenty thousand feet.  They were then given vectors that took them towards the Channel Islands.  When about eight miles out the section were re-called to base, on the way back they were then re-directed and told to return to the neighbourhood of Guernsey at a reduced height of five thousand feet and to search for a dinghy in the sea.  After five minutes of an unsuccessful search the section were re-called to base.

          29th April     Today's operational flying started with four shipping patrols between 0645 hours and 1330 hours to cover friendly shipping between Start Point and the Lizard, Cornwall.  There was a scramble at 0940 hours of a section of Spitfire VII aircraft by the Area Controller to twenty thousand feet over base and then to south east over the Channel.  The section were then told to orbit to port and investigate bogeys at fourteen thousand feet over Portland.  Before reaching Portland the bogeys were identified as friendly aircraft so the section were re-called to R.A.F. Harrowbeer where they landed at 1050 hours.          At 1545 hours the Squadron took part in No.10 Group Roadstead No.95.  Eight Spitfire VII aircraft led by the Commanding Officer ( Squadron Leader J. O'Meara ) made a rendezvous with aircraft of No.165 Squadron over the Lizard, Cornwall.  Our aircraft were to fly as first target cover to a point slightly east of Ile Vierge where three waves of Typhoon aircraft were bombing a beached Elbing destroyer.  The Squadron patrolled from north to south over the ship at twelve thousand feet ( No.165 Squadron were below them ) while the Typhoons went in to bomb.  Two direct hits were observed, one of which started a fire amid-ships.  The patrol was kept up from approximately 1620 hours until 1650 hours, but no enemy aircraft were seen and only a moderate amount of inaccurate flak from the destroyer was experienced.   Our eight aircraft landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1750 hours.

          30th April     In the early hours of the morning from 0315 hours until 0400 hours there was a sharp air-raid on Plymouth, but beyond the manning of the Airfield defences there was no other activity in the immediate vicinity.          Except a few air tests and cannon tests the days flying consisted of thirteen standing patrols and one scramble.  The patrols were in an area five miles south of Portland Bill over exercises taking place in the Portland area between 0630 hours and 2210 hours.          At 1920 hours two Spitfire VII aircraft were scrambled and vectored thirty miles to the south east of Bolt Head towards the Ile-De-Batz to investigate suspicious p;lots that faded before a section arrived at the French Coast.  The section were told that the bandits were approaching thirty five miles south east of Bolt Head at ten thousand feet.  This was later altered by six thousand feet.  The ' bandits turned for home ', our section were flying faster all the time but the enemy aircraft obviously dived away for home well ahead of them.  On their way home our section were put onto the Portland patrol lone at two thousand feet for thirty minutes and they finally returned to base at 2035 hours.

General :-     Monthly total of operational hours  =  253.00  hours

               Monthly totals of non-operational hours  =  178.00  hours

               Total number of sorties for the month  =  136  sorties

               Movement :-     The whole Squadron with No.6131  Servicing Echelon posted to R.A.F. Harrowbeer  w.e.f.  1 / 4 / 1944

               Casualties  :-     One Australian pilot missing  23 / 4 / 1944

                     The Squadron O.R.B. for the month of April was signed by :-

                                             Squadron Leader J. J. O'Meara.

No.197  Squadron :-

          29th April     No.197 Squadron is stationed at R.A.F. Needs Oar Point, Hampshire at this moment in time and during the morning they carried out three operations from there.  Wing Commander Baker  DFC flew with the Squadron all day.  In the afternoon the Wing flew down to R.A.F. Harrowbeer which included ten Typhoon IB aircraft for a dive bombing show on shipping in the St. Malo area.  They took off from R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1630 hours to dive bomb a ship at Morlaix which produced favourable results including one direct hit.  All the aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1750 hours.          Another show was laid on for later in the day but had to be cancelled owing to the Typhoon aircraft not being quite ready at zero hour.  The Wing spent the night at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          30th April     The Wing left R.A.F. Harrowbeer early in the morning to return to R.A.F. Needs Oar Point, Hampshire where they landed at 1015 hours.

                     The Squadron O.R.B. for the month of April was signed by :-

                                     Flying Officer G. G. Mahalty  ( Adjutant ).

No.257  ( Burma )  Squadron :-

          29th April     Two Typhoon Squadron aircraft operating from No.146 Wing, Headquarters were out on an early morning ' Ranger ' at 0655 hours with four other aircraft.  During this operation they saw an enemy aircraft ( Leo 45 ) a twin engined transport aeroplane, they closed in and shot it down in flames.  The action took part in the Tours area of France.  The two Typhoon aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 0855 hours.          Later in the day more Typhoon aircraft of No.257 ( Burma ) Squadron proceeded to R.A.F. Harrowbeer where they took part in seven dive bombing operations on shipping in St. Malo Harbour from 0910 hours until 2100 hours.  Several near misses were observed during the action.  All our aircraft returned safely to base.

          30th April     All the Typhoon aircraft of No.257 ( Burma ) Squadron returned to No.146 Wing, Headquarters from R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

                      The  Squadron  O.R.B.  for the month of April was signed by :-

                                                         Pilot Officer L. Warren.

No.263  Squadron :-

The month of April was one of the luckiest in the Squadron's history.  We flew twenty one offensive operations involving one hundred and seventeen offensive sorties including the destruction of two enemy aircraft and the damaging of enemy shipping, as well as many ground targets without serious casualties.  But more than that, two missing pilots returned to us, one only after a fortnight's absence, the other on the 30th April after more than two and a half months.

          1st April     An Air Sea Rescue search was carried out by four Squadron Typhoon aircraft at 0645 hours for the Squadron pilot ( Flight Lieutenant Racine R.C.A.F. ) who was reported as missing on 31 / 3 / 1944 after being hit by flak in the area of Batz.  The search was evidently unsuccessful, but in fact he was footing it ashore at the time.

          2nd April     An evasion exercise was undertaken in the Tavy Valley ( " Merrylegs " ) which was profitably enjoyed.

          5th April     Once the weather had cleared the Squadron carried out an enemy shipping reconnaissance.

          6th April     Typhoon aircraft of No.263 Squadron were detailed to R.A.F. Predannack for an operation which was eventually cancelled.  On landing at R.A.F. Predannack two Typhoon aircraft collided on the runway resulting in them both being written off.          Four Typhoon aircraft took off at 1944 hours on an uneventful shipping reconnaissance in the Abervrach - Lezardrieux areas.  All the aircraft returned safely landing at 2114 hours.

          7th April     Due to poor weather conditions there was no operational flying, on;ly some practice flying and night exercises from R.A.F. Exeter.

          11th April     A pilot of No.263 Squadron returning to R.A.F. Harrowbeer from night exercises at R.A.F. Exeter in bad weather lost his formation and landed at R.A.F. Roborough.  He overshot the runway and pulled up his under-carriage.  The aircraft was reported as damaged category C.

          12th April     Marshal of the R.A.F. - Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory  -  Commander in Chief  AEAF, spoke to all the Officer pilots at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  He spoke of his confidence in the plan and forces designed for the invasion of Europe and re-called the splendid record of No.263 Squadron which he thought would be well enhanced in the next six months.

          12th April     Six Typhoon aircraft were airborne at 1239 hours on a shipping reconnaissance in the Channel Islands which proved to be uneventful.  All aircraft landed back at base at 1345 hours.          Another shipping reconnaissance was carried out at 1903 hours by eight Typhoon aircraft again in the Channel Islands which was also uneventful apart from flak from Guernsey and the Little Russel Strait.  The eight Typhoons returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 2033 hours.

          14th and 15th April     Little flying carried out due to poor weather conditions.

          16th April     In the evening we heard that Flight Lieutenant Racine ( Gerry ) R.C.A.F. had returned to London after being shot down near Morlaix on the night of the 31st March 1944.  We later learnt from him that he had been attacked by a ME410 enemy aircraft.  He had got onto the tail of the ME410 and destroyed it with one long burst, then he found that his controls had jammed and he had to bail out.

          17th April     Four Typhoon aircraft took off at 1100 hours on Rodeo No.113 and crossed the French Coast at St. Malo at eight thousand feet.  They then attempted to sweep the Breton Airfields at zero feet but this proved impossible due to there being 10/10ths cloud at two thousand feet so the formation returned to base where they landed at 1313 hours.          The Squadron took part in Rodeo No.115 where eight Typhoon aircraft were airborne at 1833 hours and swept St. Malo, Gael and Rennes which proved to be uneventful.  The height of the sweep was carried out as usual at zero feet after climbing in and out of France over the coast at ten thousand feet however a successful sweep round Paris was achieved.  Eight Typhoon aircraft returned safely to base landing at 2030 hours.

          18th April     Today was the Squadron's first sweep round Paris ( from R.A.F. Tangmere ) which was rewarded with two enemy aircraft - Rodeo No.117 was laid on using six Typhoon aircraft in the operation.  They took off at 1515 hours on a very successful flight.  One of our Squadron pilots destroyed a ME410 enemy aircraft at five thousand feet near Bretigny.  Four other Squadron pilots shared the destruction of a DO217 enemy aircraft near Vilaroche - both enemy aircraft exploded on hitting the ground.  Our pilots also damaged a HEI I I enemy aircraft on the ground at a Airfield south west of Paris.  An Army truck and trailer plus staff car were also seriously damaged in the operation.  All the aircraft returned safely to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1715 hours.

          21st April     Four Typhoon aircraft took off at 0857 hours on Rodeo No.118 to sweep Breton Airfields, but the leader's compass was reading thirty degrees out so it was u/s, his No.2 had a u/s radio transmitter.  As a result of these technical failures the operation was abandoned on reaching the French Coast resulting in the aircraft returning to base where they landed at 1010 hours.          Six Typhoon aircraft took off at 1158 hours on Rodeo No.119 and swept Cao Carteret, Vire, Rennes and Gael.  Two of the six aircraft were classed as spare aircraft and on reaching the French Coast as planned as they were not required they returned to base landing back at 1310 hours.  The remaining four Typhoons encountered flak at Dompout, otherwise the operation was uneventful.  These four aircraft landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1410 hours.

          22nd April     A night and first light ship flap with bomber aircraft readiness was organised, but the operation was cancelled when the pilots were in their aircraft.  Squadron Typhoon aircraft were despatched to R.A.F. Tangmere to carry out a sweep, but as the weather over France was u/s they returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          23rd and 24th April     Practice firing and bombing carried out by the Squadron.

          25th April     There was a total of four operations today including eighteen offensive sorties carried out :-  two shipping reconnaissance, a successful shipping strike and from R.A.F. Tangmere an eventful sweep of Chateaudun.          The first operation was flown by four Typhoon aircraft which were airborne at 0644 hours on a shipping reconnaissance in the Brehat - Batz area.  There were possible E-boats sighted in Lezardrieux and a little flak was experienced.  The Typhoons returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 0806 hours.          The second operation was at 1600 hours when six Typhoon aircraft took off on Rodeo No.122 which was a lengthy sweep carried out from R.A.F. Tangmere.  The area covered was Trouville Chartres, Chateaudrum, Flers and Point Percee Entirey.  The operation was completely uneventful and the aircraft returned landing at 1800 hours.          At 1656 hours three Typhoon aircraft carried out the third operation of the day which was a repeat shipping reconnaissance of the morning trip.  Again this proved uneventful so the Typhoons returned to base landing at 1819 hours.          The fourth operation was Roadstead No.87, and was undertaken by four Typhoon aircraft taking off at 2035 hours.  This was a dive bombing operation on three enemy destroyers lying in the River Range between St. Malo and Dinard.  The bombing results were three near misses of the central destroyer which was classified as category 4.  One of the No.263 Squadron pilots then cannoned two armed trawlers ( both claimed as category 3 ).  The Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group and the Sector Commander both congratulated the Squadron on the short time in which the operation was organised, planned and airborne.  The tactics of crossing the Channel at zero feet, climbing to ten thousand feet and then to dive down with 2 X 500 lb M.C. bombs fuzzed at 025 seconds out of the sun from ten thousand feet down to four thousand feet and finally down to two thousand feet were repeated in the seven subsequent operations and in each operation accurate light flak of great intensity was encountered.  All the Typhoons returned safely landing at 2145 hours.

          26th April     At 0925 hours six Typhoon aircraft took off on Roadstead No.88 to dive bomb a three thousand five hundred ton motor vessel or Spenbrecher with five other ships  including two probable destroyers in the Morlaix Estuary.  The dive bombing commenced resulting in bombs falling wide from fifty to three hundred yards.  After the attack the Typhoon aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1036 hours.  Ten Typhoon aircraft were airborne at 1428 hours on Roadstead No.90 again to dive bomb the previous targets but using two aircraft as close escort.  During the attack one pair of bombs were a near miss on the three thousand five hundred ton motor vessel.  One of our pilots continued to dive and fired his cannon at the ship, the motor vessel is classified as category 3.  This pilot then flew on and fired at an Island flak post.  After the dive bombing attack the formation then formed up and flew back to base where they landed at 1540 hours.

          27th April     Seven Typhoon aircraft took off on Roadstead No.91 at 1025 hours to again dive bomb the previous days targets which were still in the Morlaix Estuary.  The result of the dive bombing attack was one very near miss of the large three thousand five hundred ton motor vessel and brown / black smoke and flames being seen from an M class minesweeper, both vessels are classified as category 4.  A flak position on an Island was attacked by cannon fire with strikes being observed.  The seven Typhoon aircraft returned after the attack to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1140 hours.  Roadstead No.92 was soon underway with ten Typhoon aircraft being airborne at 1630 hours.  This was to be the fourth and last dive bombing attack on the Morlaix Estuary ships.  The results of this attack were two very near misses on the three thousand five hundred ton motor vessel and again smoke and flames were observed from the M class minesweeper.  An escort of Seafire aircraft also observed the attack and consider that both ships were certainly damaged and are classified as category 4.  While the ten Typhoon aircraft were on their way to their objective one of the No.263 Squadron pilots thought he saw a dinghy in the sea, but continued on his task.  After he had completed his duty he retraced his flight and by careful navigation he found the dinghy forty five miles south of Start Point.  The pilot orbited the dinghy and obtained a successful fix for the Air Sea Rescue of a Seafire aircraft pilot who had baled out of his aircraft during Roadstead No.90 on the previous day.   Previous searches for a dinghy had been too far south.  Good work to No.263 Squadron.  In the meantime the formation returned to base from their operation and landed at 1750 hours.          A Typhoon aircraft ' Pluto 34 ' belly-landed alongside runway 35.  The Typhoon caught fire but the pilot was O.K.  Runway 17 / 35 was put out of use for seventeen hours.

          28th April     At 0757 hours Roadstead No.93 was carried out by seven Typhoon aircraft.  The intention of this operation was to dive bomb an Elbing destroyer which was forced to beach by Naval action in the Abervrack Estuary.  Our formation found another destroyer and seven armed trawlers off Pontusual.  Our best group of bombs of this series was entirely among the enemy formation and four near misses of the destroyers stern which should have damaged it, this vessel is claimed as category 4.  After this attack all our aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer where they landed at 0910 hours.  At 1210 hours, seven Typhoon aircraft were airborne on Roadstead No.94.  This time the wrecked Elbing destroyer was the target for the dive bombers.  There was at least two near misses by our Squadron, but one of our pilots flew around for a second attempt to bomb the target which resulted in two direct hits rendering the vessel classified as category 3.  A smoke screen had been laid but fortunately did not hinder the attack.  The seven Typhoon aircraft proceeded back to R.A.F. Harrowbeer after the attack and landed at 1325 hours.          Two Typhoon aircraft took off at 1505 hours to carry out a shipping reconnaissance on which they saw more ships than had ever been reported at any other time in the Batz - Lezardrieux area.  This was even more shipping than had been seen in the three years memory of the Squadron in this area.  The accurate reporting of the sighting provided good targets all day for Wing Commander Baker  DFC who had arrived at R.A.F. Harrowbeer with his Tactical Air Force Wing ( TAF ).  Both Typhoon aircraft returned to base landing at 1625 hours.

          29th April     Two more dive bombing operations on enemy warships.

          30th April     A shipping reconnaissance and final dive bombing of a beached Elbing destroyer at Aberrach was carried out today.  This operation was undertaken by four Typhoon aircraft that took off at 1125 hours on a shipping reconnaissance of shipping lanes and harbours from Lezardrieux to Aberrach.  They were then to dive bomb the wrecked Elbing destroyer if no other suitable targets were found.  The shipping from the previous day seems to have evaporated.  The dive bombing of the Elbing destroyer was therefore carried out resulting in two near misses on the rusty, blackened, waterlogged wreck in the Aberrach Estuary.  All our aircraft returned safely to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1300 hours.          We learnt today that a pilot who baled out near Aanbouillet on 13 / 2 / 1944 is now back in London, this is the Squadron's third evader.

                       The Squadron O.R.B. for the month of April was signed by :-

                                              Squadron Leader H. A. C. Gonay.

No.276  Air  Sea  Rescue  Squadron     ' B ' Flight :-

          1st April     Headquarters No.10 Group signal 0.77 dated 31st March 1944 received detailing Squadron and Servicing Section to move to R.A.F. Portreath on 3rd April 1944 and ' B ' Flight ( aircrew and ground crews ) to move from R.A.F. Harrowbeer to R.A.F. Bolt Head.          No flying from any of the Flights due to bad weather.

          2nd April     No operational flying from R.A.F. Harrowbeer as the weather is still not suitable.  Everyone at R.A.F. Harrowbeer is finishing off packing and getting ready to move tomorrow.

          3rd April     The Squadron Headquarters and Servicing Section today moved from R.A.F. Harrowbeer by road to R.A.F. Portreath, arriving at approximately 1400 hours without a hitch.          Most of ' B ' Flight ground crew moved by road to R.A.F. Bolt Head, but bad weather prevented the aircraft from flying down there.

          5th April     The aircraft of ' B ' Flight completed the move of No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron Flight to R.A.F. Bolt Head.

                      The Squadron O.R.B. for the month of April was signed by :-

                                                Squadron Leader J. M. Littler.

No.838   Fleet  Air  Arm  Squadron :-

          20th April     No.838  Fleet Air Arm Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Macrihanish.

          21st April     Three Fairey Swordfish aircraft of No.838  F.A.A.  Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Worthy Down.

          30th April     The Squadron lost three Fairey Swordfish aircraft in it's first practice operation.          ( There are no details given in the R.A.F. Station Operation Record Book ).          ( No Operation Record Book for No.838  Fleet Air Arm Squadron, Royal Naval Day Book, Flying Log Book or equivalent can be found at The National Archives, Kew, London or the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset ).

No.1697  ( ADLS )  Flight :-

          20th April     No.1697  ( ADLS )  Air Despatch Letter Service was established as a Lodger Unit at R.A.F. Station Hendon.

The function of the Unit will be the delivery of important documents, mail, instructions, etc. for the Allied Expeditionary Air Force.

                        The Unit O.R.B. for the month of April was signed by :-

                                           Squadron Leader J. E. Storrar.