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.
From the Station O.R.B.
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.
From the Squadron O.R.B.'s
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