80 Years ago from the Archives - February 1945

The Station Commander at R.A.F. Harrowbeer for the start of February was Wing Commander R. I. G. MacDougall.  He handed over the Command of the Station to Wing Commander A. C. Stewart on the 11th February 1945 who signed the Station Operation Record Book for the month of February.

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

          Flight Lieutenant Blair  -  Air Ministry

          Flight Lieutenant Quane  -  Signals,  Headquarters No.10 Group

          Air Commodore A. V. Harvey  CBE.  -  Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group

          Squadron Leader Longrigg  -  No.10 Group Intelligence Officer

          Group Captain Bolland  -  R.A.F. Station Pembroke Dock

          Group Captain G. Hamlyn  AFC.  -  S.A.S.O.  No.10 Group

          Squadron Leader Marks  -  Chief Signals Officer No.10 Group

          Air Commodore A. B. R. Russell  DFC, AFC.  -  Air Officer Commanding No.70 Group

          Flying Officer McLaughlin  -  W.A.A.F.  Physical Fitness  Inspector

          Mr. Martin Roberts  -  Lecturer

          Flight Lieutenant Archibald  -  Sector Intelligence Officer

          Wing Commander Jewell  -  ( Tech. Eng. ) Headquarters Fighter Command

          Wing Commander Haywood  -  S.A.S.O.  No.10 Group

          Squadron Leader Cudden  -  Physical Instructor  No.10 Group

          Air Commodore Bowen  -  National Savings

          Warrant Officer Chambers  -  No.70 Group Signals Officer

Weather

          1st February     Bad weather with high winds reaching gale force.  Low level cloud down to fifty feet in the afternoon.

          2nd February     High winds in the morning.  The weather deteriorated during the afternoon resulting in low cloud over the hills and poor visibility.

          32rd February     Fair with good visibility

          4th February     Poor weather at first, improving towards mid-day then deteriorating in the early afternoon with bad visibility and drizzle which then turned to heavy rain.

          5th February     Poor with 10/10ths cloud covering the Aerodrome.

          6th February     Low cloud covering the entire Aerodrome with hill fog and visibility approximately two hundred yards.

          7th and 8th February     High winds, rain and low cloud with bad visibility lasting several days.

          9th February     Low cloud over the high ground with patches of bad visibility.  In the afternoon the wind increased to gale force.

          10th February     Strong gusting winds.  Mid-afternoon brought heavy snow storms with bad visibility.

          11th and 12th February     High winds to gale force standards with bad visibility.

          12th February     Misty in the morning becoming fair to fine.

          No other weather conditions are mentioned in the Station O.R.B. for the month of February.

          1st February     At 2000 hours there was an E.N.S.A.  Show in the Station Theatre  -  " Twelfth Night ".

          2nd February     Six Defiant aircraft of No.691  A.A.C.  ( Army Air Co-operation ) Squadron landed from R.A.F. Roborough. Plymouth.  A ' TR9 ' radio transmitter was fitted in Flying Control for use with the No.691  A.A.C.  Squadron aircraft.  The transmitter was set to be manned and worked on No.70 Group R/T frequency 4780 kl/s.

          3rd February     Flight Lieutenant Blair from the Air Ministry arrived at 1400 hours to give a lecture to all ranks on " Japan and the Far East ".  The lecture was repeated at 1600 hours to all Officers in the Officer's Mess.

          5th February     A Blenheim MKIV aircraft from R.A.F. Station Digby arrived and was re-crystallised to Harrowbeer's Flying Control - Treleaver - World Guard.  No.10 Group Guard I was to carry out calibration tests with G.C.I. Stations Sopley and Treleaver.

          7th February     Flight Lieutenant Quane from Signals I. Headquarters  No.10 Group made a visit to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  The reason for his visit was regarding the question of re-siting the V.H.F. Homer Station on Roborough Down.  This matter was discussed with the Senior Flying Control Officer.          The W.A.A.F.  -  N.A.A.F.I. was re-opened on the W.A.A.F.  Site, this will be of great benefit to the W.A.A.F. personnel as their Site is almost two miles from the main Communal Site  N.A.A.F.I.

          8th February     A film " The Battle of Britain " was shown to the air crew personnel.

          9th February     At 1510 hours the Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group - Air Commodore A. V. Harvey  CBE. landed at R.A.F. Harrowbeer in an Airspeed Oxford aircraft.  He was unable to reach R.A.F. Portreath owing to the poor weather conditions, so he continued his journey by road.         Information has been received from the Station Commander - Wing Commander R. I. G. MacDougall is to be posted to R.A.F. Andover.

          10th February    A  Walrus aircraft of No.275 Air Sea Rescue Squadron was scrambled at1258 hours and later re-called to base where it landed at 1410 hours.  An aircraft which had given out a " Mayday " call eventually landed safely at R.A.F. Exeter.

          11th February     Wing Commander R. I. G. MacDouall handed over Command of the Station to Wing Commander A. C. Stewart  DFC.

          12th February     A recreational library was opened at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.               A film " Battle of Russia " was shown to air crew personnel.

          14th February     A reference and textbook library opened on the Station.          E.N.S.A. gave a variety show in the Station Theatre.          No.275 Air Sea Rescue Squadron was taken off readiness duties and a farewell dance was held for them in the Officer's Mess.

          15th February     Five Spitfire aircraft detached to R.A.F. Bolt Head from No.275 A.S.R.  Squadron landed at R.A.F. Harrowbeer for disposal on the disbandment of the Squadron.

          16th February     The film " Desert Victory " was shown to air crew personnel.

          19th February     At 1600 hours the Lecture / Discussion  Group were given a lecture on " Democracy " by Mr. Martin Roberts.

          20th February     The remainder of No.691  A.A.C.  Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Roborough, Plymouth.          Squadron Leader Marks - Chief Signals Officer  No.10 Group visited R.A.F. Harrowbeer to review No.135 Force signals equipment.

          21st February     No.691  A.A.C.  Squadron have now moved from R.A.F. Roborough, Plymouth to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  The Squadron Commanding Officer is Squadron Leader Stansell and he has a compliment of one hundred and thirty nine personnel and twenty three various aircraft.          The Air Officer Commanding  No.70 Group - Air Commodore  A. B. R. Russell  DFC, AFC, visited the Station to inspect No.691  A.A.C. Squadron.

          22nd February     135 Force left R.A.F. Harrowbeer to carry out an exercise.          Flight Lieutenant Archibald - Sector Intelligence Officer made a visit to the Station.          Flying Officer McLaughlin - Command  W.A.A.F.  Physical Fitness Inspector visited the Station.

          23rd February     The Cookhouse on the W.A.A.F.  Site was opened for breakfasts and suppers.          135 Force returned from their exercise.          Wing Commander Jewell - ( Tech. Eng. ) visited the Station on behalf of Headquarters Fighter Command.

          25th February     The Station Commander A. C. Stewart  DFC. visited the Dawlish Warren Gunnery Range.  Due to the dangerous layout of the targets, he gave instructions for the range to be closed for one week.

          26th February     At 1600 hours the Lecture / Discussion Group were given a lecture on " Parliament " by Mr. Martin Roberts.

          27th February

               More  to  follow  shortly.         Many  thanks  -  Michal  the  Archivist