80 Years ago from the Archives - January 1945

R.A.F. Harrowbeer  re-opens.

Wing Commander R.I.G. MacDougal assumed command of R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer on it's re-opening as a Self Accounting  Unit.

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

          Squadron Leader R.J. Marks  -  ( Tech. Sigs. )  No.10 Group.

          Flight Lieutenant Andrewartha  _  R.A.F. Exeter.

          Squadron Leader E. F. Pressland  ( M. T. ) Headquarters Fighter Command.

          Wing  Commander  D. I. Smith  _  No.10 Group W.A.A.F. Staff Officer.

          Squadron Leader Revell  _  Flying Control  No.10 Group.  

Weather :-

          9th January     Weather dull with bright periods.

          11th January     Weather fair.

          12th January     Very high winds in the morning which reached gale force in the afternoon.

          13th January     Fine in the morning with a scattering of low cloud about turning to rain later in the day, here was also some fairly strong winds throughout the day.

          14th January     Weather fair in the morning and fine in the afternoon.

          15th January     Snow, fog, bad weather and high winds which prevented any flying from the airfield.

          16th January     Bad weather with low cloud, drizzle and snow.  Visibility has been reduced to under one thousand yards.

          17th January     The weather for Harrowbeer started badly but turning to fair as the day progressed.

          18th January     Northerly gales reaching a velocity of ninety miles per hour to the south west of the airfield.  This was joined by pouring rain with thick fog.

          19th January     Weather today was cold but fine to start turning later on to high winds and snow showers.

          20th January     A very heavy fall of snow during the night causing the closure of the airfield.  Poor visibility.

          21st  January     Fair with occasional showers.

          22nd January     More snow fell creating very icy conditions.

          23rd January     Yet more snow fell today.

          24th January     The snow and icy conditions remain on the airfield with low cloud about.

          25th January     The snow and ice are still present.

          26th January    A very heavy snowfall today with an average depth of about ten inches.

          27th  and  28th January     Snow and ice still remain on the airfield.

          29th January     A south easterly gale followed by more snow falls in the afternoon.

          30th January     Another fall of snow and winds reaching gale force lasting all day with very poor visibility, this was then followed by a thaw in the late afternoon.

          31st January     Low cloud and drizzle.

          8th  January     Wing Commander R.I.G. MacDougal assumed command of R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer on it's re-opening as a Self Accounting Unit.  R.A.F. Harrowbeer was to operate on a two Squadron basis under the control of Fighter Command.

      Total number of establishment including the satellite R.A.F. Station Bolt Head.

          R.A.F. Officers  -  22

          W.A.A.F. Officers  -  5

          R.A.F. Other Ranks  -  230

          W.A.A.F. Other Ranks  -  185

Parent responsibilities for G,C,I, Stations Exminster and Hope Cove transferred from R.A.F. Exeter as was the satellite R.A.F. Bolt Head.

No.10 Group detachment who had arrived here at the end of December 1944 to make the place habitable were still hard at work with their scrubbing and paint brushes.

The Advance Party arrived from R.A.F. Exeter and settled in on the well dispersed and water-less sites.

          9th January    Flying Control was taken over from the United States Navy.       Two Walrus aircraft and a Tiger Moth aircraft of No.275 Air Sea Rescue Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Exeter so that the Squadron could move in on the following day without coming off state.          A limited amount of water arrived on the living sites, some being without mains supply.

          10th January     No.274 Air Sea Rescue Squadron Officer Commanding, Squadron Leader E. W. Seabourne  DFC  moved in from R.A.F. Exeter.  The Squadron took over " Whistley " as their living quarters.  ( Whistley is a house within the perimeter of the airfield close to Crapstone village, between the perimeter track and Crapstone Road.  The area is known as ' Tiffy Corner ' as most of the Typhoon aircraft were dispersed in this area ).

          12th January     The Advance Party of No.26 Squadron and eleven of their aircraft ( Spitfires and Mustangs ) arrived at R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer.

          14th January     Nineteen aircraft of No.26 Squadron along with Squadron Leader J. B. A. Flemming as Officer Commanding arrived from R.A.F. Exeter together with No.6026 Servicing Echelon.          The Sergeant's Mess opened for the sale of drinks and cigarettes, only the ante-room could be used and all food was provided in the Airmen's Mess owing to the shortage of staff.

          16th January     The main Station Party arrived from R.A.F. Exeter and the Station Sick Quarters was opened.          The Airmen's Mess was re-decorated.

          17th January     A twenty four hour watch was established by Flying Control under Flight Lieutenant Venebles.          A.B.C.A.  Films were shown to the air crews owing to the bad weather.

          19th January     The dispersed Sick Quarters at " Foxhams " ( a requisitioned house ) was opened for the reception of patients.          Seven Spitfire aircraft of No.26 Squadron were collected from R.A.F. Harrowbeer by the Delivery Flight.          Squadron Leader A. G. Griffiths arrived from R.A.F. Exeter and took over as Senior Medical Officer.

          20th January     Snow fell today putting the airfield out of use.  A snow clearing party was put in place.

          21st January     Snow was cleared from one of the runways to enable ten aircraft of No.26 Squadron to take off on their move to R.A.F. North Weald with No.6026 Servicing Echelon.

         22nd, 23rd, 24th  and  25th January     The airfield was covered in snow and ice making it available for emergency use only.

          23rd January     The Camp Cinema opened with the 16mm projector in the Gymnasium.  Heating was found to be inadequate and everyone shivered.

          25th January    There was an E,N.S.A.  concert in the Camp Theatre which was warmer than the Gymnasium.

          26th January     A very heavy snowfall with an average depth of ten inches fell on the airfield today.          There was another cinema show in the Camp Theatre which this time was well heated.

          27, 28  and  29th January     Snow clearing parties still operating, although the airfield was classified as u/s.

          29th January     There was a cinema show in the evening which was better patronised, possibly owing to the warmth of the heating.

          30th January     More snow fell which was followed by a thaw, however the airfield was still unfit for use partially due to low cloud.

          31st January     More low cloud plus drizzle.

                     The Station O.R.B. for the month of January was signed by :-         

                                               Wing Commander A. C. Stewart.

Appendix  ' A '

                                     Medical  History  of  the  War  -  Form  540

From :-  Senior Medical Officer

                R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

To :-  Officer Commanding ( F. A. O. Intelligence Officer )

           R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Dated :-  31st January  1945

1 / 1 / 1945     R.A.F. Exeter     Spitfire of No.26 Squadron crash landed.  Pilot Officer Gordon unhurt.

16 / 1 / 1945     R.A.F. Exeter     Station Sick Quarters closed and handed over to Flying Training Command.

                                 R.A.F. Harrowbeer Sick Quarters taken over.

19 / 1 / 1945      R.A.F. Harrowbeer      Dispersed Sick Quarters  " Foxhams "                      ( requisitioned house ) opened for reception of patients.

                     Total number of cases admitted to Station Sick Quarters and Hospital during the month :-     R.A.F. Personnel        =  10

                                        W.A.A.F.  Personnel  =  12  

                                        Cases of  V.D.            =  Nil

The case of ' active pulmonary tuberculosis ' diagnosed at the Royal Naval Hospital.

Hospital patient transferred to R.A.F. Hospital Wroughton, arrangements made for patient to travel in a special compartment and a W.A.A.F.  Nursing Orderly to travel as escort.  All arrangements being made by Movement Control Exeter.

                             Total  number  of  staff  at  Station  Sick  Quarters

                                                        R.A.F. Harrowbeer

          Medical  Officers                R.A.F.  Personnel                W.A.A.F.  Personnel

                         1                            Flight  Sergeants    1                   Corporals    1

                                                             Corporals          1                     LACW's     2

                                                             AC                      1                     ACW's        3

                 Total  =  1                                Total  =  3                              Total  =  6

17 / 1 / 1945     R.A.F. Harrowbeer     Station employed on snow clearing of runways.  One gallon of rum issued to Commanding Officer for issue to personnel.

18 / 1 / 1945     R.A.F. Harrowbeer     As above  -  55 oz's rum issued.

19 / 1 / 1945     R.A.F. Harrowbeer     As above  -  55 oz's issued.

                   ( I think these dates should be for the 27th, 28th  and  29th  January )  

                                           Comment  by  M. Hayes  -  Archivist.

                   This  Appendix  was  signed  by :-  Squadron  Leader  R. G. Griffith

                                                                                            Senior  Medical  Officer.

No.26  Squadron :-

          7th January     Squadron Leader Flemming, Major East - the Engineering Officer and the Adjutant drove over to R.A.F. Harrowbeer from R.A.F. Exeter to look over the accommodation, etc., in preparation for the Squadron move.

          11th January     Seven air tests were flown in Spitfire aircraft at R.A.F. Exeter preparatory to the aircraft being flown to R.A.F. Harrowbeer when the Squadron moves.          Flight Lieutenant Mummery, Officer in Charge of the advance party proceeded to R.A.F. Harrowbeer by road.

          14th January     Fourteen pilots flew across to R.A.F. Harrowbeer mostly in pairs as the weather was not very good and the airfield facilities at R.A.F. Harrowbeer were restricted.  Six pilots then returned to R.A.F. Exeter by car and flew another six aircraft over to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          5th January     Snow, fog and bad weather prevented all flying.

          16th January     Another day of no flying, more fog and snow.

          17th January     The Squadron settle down to a flying programme as the weather has improved.  ' A ' Flight sent up four pilots on cross country flights and other pilots carried out ' pairs flying '.  Aerobatics were carried out later in the day.          ' B ' Flight carried out formation and pairs flying.

          18th January     Thick fog and drizzle prevented any flying at all from the airfield.

          19th January     The Spitfire aircraft of No.26 Squadron have been allocated away and have been collected by the Delivery Flight.          The Mustang aircraft is now in full use by the Squadron.          Two Mustang aircraft took off at 1230 hours to photograph " Big Ben " targets.  They flew across to the Hague at nine thousand five hundred feet under escort by Spitfire XVI aircraft of No.453 Squadron.  Over the area the cloud was 10/10 at seven thousand feet.  The section then continued flying inland and found a break through which the section dived and came to a cloud base at two thousand feet over one of the targets.  One of the Mustang aircraft was hit by flak in the main-plane but managed to return to base.  The Mustang aircraft was classified as damage category AC.  The section landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1400 hours.  The photographs that were taken proved successful.          ' B ' Flight carried out practice formation flying.

          2th January     No flying was carried out owing to snow storms and poor visibility.

          21st January     Squadron Leader Flemming decided to utilize a break in the weather and make certain of some of the Squadron getting away on it's move to R.A.F. North Weald.           Flight Lieutenant Pope and Flight Lieutenant Musgrove each led five pilots of their Flights in formation to their new Station.

          22nd January     The remaining members of No.26 Squadron left R.A.F. Harrowbeer for R.A.F. North Weald by car.

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

                                              Squadron Leader J. F. Roberts.

No.275  Air  Sea  Rescue  Squadron :-

          10th January     The Squadron Headquarters and ' A ' Flight moved today from R.A.F. Exeter to R.A.F. Harrowbeer. The Flight now at R.A.F. Harrowbeer took over readiness duties at 1000 hours.

          12th January     A sortie in an Anson aircraft was carried out.

          13th January     A Walrus aircraft took off at 1510 hours on a sector reconnaissance but found the visibility inland poor and conditions very bumpy.  They landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1600 hours.

          14th January     Practice and routine flights carried out in an Anson aircraft and a Tiger Moth aircraft.

          15th  and  16th January     No flying due to poor conditions.

          17th January     Weather tests and reconnaissance flights carried out.

          18th  to  23rd  January     The airfield at R.A.F. Harrowbeer was unserviceable due to snow and ice.

          24th January     Airfield to be used for emergency cases only.

          25th January     Airfield still unserviceable due to snow.

          26th January     Over a foot of snow fell this afternoon.

          27th, 28th  and  29th  January     The runways and perimeter tracks are still unserviceable for the Walrus aircraft during the morning.  In the afternoon there were gales and more snow.

          30th January     Airfield still unserviceable.

                                                                      General

Flying  Times

                               Operational                                 Non - operational

Spitfire  VB                 1.50                                                    39.20

Walrus                         2.35                                                   36.15

Anson  I                         0                                                       3.45

Tiger  Moth                  0                                                        1.30       

                      Total  =  4.25                                                   80 50

                     Operational  sorties  =  4

This month is noted for it's very bad flying weather at ' A ' Flight.  No flying could take place on nineteen days mainly due to heavy snow which made the runways unserviceable.  Flying also had to be curtailed for a few more days owing to high winds and bad visibility.

                                                   Movement  of  Squadron

During the first week of the new year orders were received for the Squadron Headquarters and ' A ' Flight to move from R.A.F. Exeter to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  R.A.F. Exeter airfield was to be taken over by Transport Command.  The date set was 10th January  1945.  On the 9th January two Walrus aircraft and a Tiger Moth aircraft were despatched to R.A.F. Harrowbeer so that the Squadron could move on the 10th January without coming off state.  The move was carried out without a hitch.  The Squadron have had so many moves during the last nine months that they consider themselves a very mobile Squadron.

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

                        Squadron Leader E. W. Seabourne, Commanding Officer, 

                                                No.275  ( A.S.R. )  Squadron,  R.A.F. Harrowbeer