80 Years ago from the Archives - June 1942

Wing Commander the Hon. E. F. Ward was the Commanding Officer of R.A.F. Harrowbeer and signed the Operation Record Book for the month of June. 

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

Air Commodore H. V. Rowley  -  S.A.S.O.  No.10 Group

Commander in Chief  E. Cleck 

Wing Commander  A. Vasatko

Weather :-

     The beginning of the month was fairly good for flying activities, but deteriorated around the 18th of the month resulting in little flying practice.

The strength of the R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer personnel :-

     R.A.F Units  =  898          W.A.A.F.  =  99          Army  =  256

The Station Medical Officer was Senior Medical Officer Turnbull.

          2nd June     Twelve Spitfire VB aircraft of No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron flew to R.A.F. Warmwell, Dorset to operate with the Middle Wallop and Exeter Wing in a " Rodeo " on the Cherbourg Peninsular.

          2nd June     A.C.1  Lewis I. J.  Service No.1432017 was found dead at Bere Alston, Plymouth.  His injures :- A compound comminated fracture of vertex of scull and abrasions of knuckles.  He was seen by De. Elwell at Bere Alston.  The cause of death  -  under investigation.

                                   Signed  -   Turnbull,  Medical Officer         R.A.F. Harrowbeer    

          3rd June     Eleven Spitfire VB aircraft flew to R.A.F. Ibsley, Hampshire and took part in " Circus " No.6 providing cover to twelve Boston bomber aircraft.

          9th June     Three sections of No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron flew an Army exercise " Pelican ", attacking columns of vehicles going towards Exeter.

          18th June     The crew of six airmen from a Whitley aircraft were picked up two miles off Bude, Devon by a Walrus aircraft from No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron ' B ' Flight.

          19th June   No.492 Search Light Battery were replaced on the Aerodrome by No.313 Search Light Battery. The strength of personnel  =  68.

          22nd June     The arrival of three Mustang aircraft of No.16 ( Army Co-operation ) Squadron from R.A.F. Weston Zoyland.

          23rd June     No.10 Group " Ramrod " No.23 took place with No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron operating from R.A.F. Exeter as cover to six Boston bomber aircraft in an attack on Morlaix.  The Portreath Wing ( No.19, 234 and 130 Squadrons ) took off from R.A.F. Harrowbeer and met the formation on it's return from the French Coast.  Eight to ten miles from Dartmouth several FW190's attacked the formation.  Two enemy aircraft were destroyed and one damaged.

          23rd June     Wing Commander Stansfield of No.16 Squadron, flying a Mustang aircraft crashed near the rear of the Communal Site of R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  He was admitted to the R.A.F. Hospital, Torquay.

        Station  information  from  other  sources     Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          2nd June  1942     Regarding the death of A.C.1.  Lewis  I. J.  -  Service No.1432017, an investigation was carried out by the Tavistock Coroner and reported in the " Exeter  an  Plymouth  Gazette " of June 12th 1942 which is as follows :-

          Ivor J. Lewis, 20 of Reading, who, it is understood, borrowed a bicycle to attend a dance at Bere Alston, was after the dance found dead on the road at the foot of a steep hill at Denham Bridge.  At the inquest Mr. A. K. G. Johnstone, the Tavistock Coroner, said it was quite obvious that the brakes were not in a condition to hold the machine on that hill.  Accidental death was the verdict.  Dr. E. G. Elwell stated that death was due to a fractured skull.

          A.C.1.  Ivor J. Lewis was only twenty years old and is buried at Henley Road Cemetery, Reading.          May he rest in peace.

No.16  ( Army  Co-operation )  Squadron :-

          23rd June     Three Mustang aircraft detached to R.A.F. Harrowbeer for Artillery Range duties - six successful shots.

          23rd June     Wing Commander P. W. Stansfield crashed in a Mustang aircraft ( Serial No.AG573 ) at R.A.F. Harrowbeer, near to the rear of the Station Communal  Site, Crapstone - seriously injured and conveyed to the R.A.F. Hospital, Torquay.

                                   Four modified Mustang aircraft collected from R.A.F. Abbotsinch.

          24th  June     Squadron Leader A. G. Pallet takes command of the Squadron vice Wing Commander P. W. Stansfield.

          28th June     VIII  Corps  R.A. Exercise held in the afternoon, all Squadron personnel took part.

No.19  Squadron :-

          22nd June     The Squadron flew from R.A.F. Perranporth, Cornwall led by Squadron Leader Davies to R.A.F. Harrowbeer to take part in a Wing Sweep ( on the 23rd June - Archivist - taken from the Form 541 ) acting as cover to six Boston bomber aircraft carrying out an attack on Morlaix.  The Squadron took off at 18.30 hours.  The English Coast was crossed at Start Point at 18.40 hours at a height of 500 feet, this height was maintained until fifty miles from the French Coast when the Wing began to climb, crossing the French Coast at 11,000 feet at Plestin.  After an orbit to starboard the Bostons were seen coming out and the Squadron followed recrossing the French Coast at Tregustil.  The bombers were followed back until six or seven miles East of Berry Head when three splashes were seen in the sea.  The Commanding Officer told Flight Lieutenant Edwards to take over and together with his No.2 Sergeant Ridings went down to investigate.  Pilot Officer Henderson and Flight Sergeant Royer also went down and after orbiting the scene of three crashed aircraft in the sea a F.W.190 which he attacked, claimed as damaged until development of camera film.  The Commanding Officer gave calls at intervals showing position of crash for forty minutes.  Sergeant Ridings who had followed the Commanding Officer was last seen at this time and is missing.  Flight Sergeant Royers aircraft was hit, and he made a forced landing at R.A.F. Roborough, Devon whilst the remainder of the Squadron landed at R.A.F. Perranporth at 20.05 hours.  Sergeant Ridings is reported as missing.

                         No.19  Squadron  information  from  other  sources

                                             Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          Sergeant Alan Lever Ridings  -  Service No. 158734 was twenty years old at the time of his death and is ' Remembered on the Runnymede  Memorial '  ' Panel  No.92 '

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission the date of his death was the 23rd June 1942.          May  he  rest  in  peace.

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

         Most of June was taken up by local flying exercises, familiarisation flights , air tests, sea landing practice and ferry work.  There was a total of thirteen search and rescue operations flown by " B " Flight.

          1st June     A Lysander aircraft was ordered off to search for a mine eight miles south south east of Berry Head.  A square search was carried out, but nothing was seen.

          2nd June     A Walrus aircraft was sent out to search for a ditched aircraft three miles  of  the  Lizard Point, Cornwall.  An extensive search was made during which two Beaufighter aircraft and three Spitfire aircraft were seen also searching the area.  Nothing was seen.

          3rd June     A Lysander aircraft to search for a Hampden aircraft that had ditched in the sea eighteen miles off Eddystone.  A large patch of oil was discovered but no sign of any aircraft, wreckage or airmen were seen.

          7th June     A Lysander aircraft was ordered to search for a Sunderland Flying Boat reported down in the sea five miles south of Wembury Bay.  The Lysander was instructed to return to base as the search turned out to be a false alarm.

          18th June     A Walrus aircraft was ordered off to search for the crew of a Whitley bomber aircraft reported in the sea two miles west of Bude.  The aircraft was secured on the beach overnight and flown away the next morning.  Rescue boats arrived at the scene after the Walrus had been beached.

          27th June     A Walrus aircraft proceeded to a position six miles south of Seaton and a thorough search carried out to an area ten miles south of Seaton and northward of Bridport.  Two rescue launches were seen searching the area.  All that could be found was an oil patch south of Lyme Regis.

          30th June     Although No.276  Air Sea Rescue Squadron is definitely not a fighting unit it was well represented in the "Honours of Awards List "  this month.

               DFC  to  A/F/O  Seabourne  E. W.

               AFM  to  Flight Sergeant  Sainsbury  J.

               BEM  to  LAC  Burke  H

No,312  ( Czech )  Squadron :-

          1st June     The Squadron took off from R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 08.25 hours ( twelve aircraft ) for R.A.F. Warmwell.  At 10.40 hours a Sweep was carried out over the Cherbourg area together with No's.310 ( Czech ) and 154 Squadrons of the Exeter Wing.  No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron escorted as top cover to six Boston bomber aircraft.  No enemy aircraft were encountered.

           3rd June     At 14.39 hours the Squadron took off on No.10 Group Circus No.6.  The Squadron acted as top cover to twelve Boston bomber aircraft over the Cherbourg  Peninsular and dockland.  On the return flight FW190 enemy aircraft were seen and attacked.  Two pilots ( Flight Lieutenant Dvorak and Pilot Officer Tonder )  are reported as missing.  One enemy aircraft was destroyed and four damaged.  The Squadron landed back at R.A.F. Ibsley.

          6th June     At 07.05 hours the Squadron flew to R.A.F. Redhill, Surrey.  At 11.45 hours they took part in a No.11  Group  Circus.

          9th June     Three sections took part in an Army Co-operation exercise carrying out dive attacks on columns of vehicles and troops in the Barnstable area.

          14th June     Flight Sergeant Mares, Flight Sergeant Pipa and Sergeant Kohout were posted to No.312( Czech ) Squadron from No.313 ( Czech ) Squadron.

          19th June     During the day the Squadron took part in three convoy shipping patrols, two Air Sea Rescues and one section on patrol.

          20th June     Five sections sent off on scrambles.  Nothing to report.

          22nd June     Five aircraft were sent to R.A.F. Bolt Head to take over readiness there.  The ground staff proceeded there by road. The remainder of the Squadron at R.A.F. Harrowbeer carried out six scrambles, one convoy patrol and battle formation practice.

                                 Wing Commander the Hon. E. F. Ward made visits to " B " Flight Dispersal where he talked to the pilots about flying discipline, economy in the use of petrol and security.

          23rd June     The Squadron took off with nine aircraft from R.A.F. Harrowbeer and two from R.A.F. Bolt Head for R.A.F. Exeter.  At 10.05 hours they took off in the Exeter Wing acting as rear escort for Boston bomber aircraft with Morlaix Aerodrome as their target.  On the return flight Flying Officer Perina crash landed at R.A.F. Bolt Head and Flight Lieutenant Kasal's aircraft landed at R.A.F. Exeter being damaged by enemy fire..  When landing at R.A.F. Bolt Head Flight Sergeant Mares collided with a Spitfire aircraft of No.310 ( Czech ) Squadron.

                                     Air Sea Rescue Searches went on for several hours in a vain search for Wing Commander A. Vasatko.  A pilot was discovered in a dinghy but turned out to be a German Pilot.

          28th June     There were three scrambles, two shipping reconnaissance sorties, one dawn patrol and several sorties for gun tests carried out today.

          29th June     An order was received from Headquarters Fighter Command to move part of the Squadron and all aircraft to R.A.F. Redhill on 1st July 1942.  According to the movement order the rail party would proceed on 30th June 1942 in the evening with the road party and air party in Spitfire aircraft and two transport planes on 1st July 1942.

                   No.312  ( Czech )  Squadron  information  from  other  sources

                                             Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          3rd June     Flight Lieutenant Dvorak was flying Spitfire VB aircraft ( Serial No.BL340 ) on bomber escort duty to Cherbourg.  The aircraft caught fire after being attacked by a FW190 enemy aircraft of JG2 and spun into the sea off the French Coast.  Flight Lieutenant Dvorak was reported as missing.               Flight Lieutenant Dvorak was taken prisoner by the Germans and sent to a Prisoner of War Camp - Stalag Luft III at Sagen.  Later during the war he was transferred to Prisoner of War Camp - Colditz until his liberation in 1945.

          3rd June     Pilot Officer Ivor Tonder was flying Spitfire VB aircraft ( Serial No.BL626 ) on an operational sweep over Cherbourg as top cover.  Enemy aircraft were sighted and a ' dog fight ' per sued.  Pilot Officer Tonder's aircraft was hit by enemy fire and sent into a spin ending up in the sea two miles off the French Coast.  He was reported as missing on the Squadron's return to base.               On the 29th July 1942, No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron received a signal stating that Pilot Officer Tonder was a Prisoner of War in Germany.  After interrogation he was taken to Prisoner of War Camp - Stalag Luft III at Sagen.  He was later taken to Prisoner of War Camp - Colditz until his liberation in 1945.

           23rd June     Flying Officer Perina of No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron force landed ( belly landing ) his Spitfire MKV aircraft ( Serial No.AD572 ) at R.A.F. Bolt Head.  The pilot was uninjured, the aircraft was classified as Category B.

          23rd  June     Flight Sergeant F. Mares of No.312 ( Czech ) Squadron was in his Spitfire VB aircraft ( Serial No.BL512 ) and collided with another Spitfire VB aircraft ( Serial No.BL265   Code NN-L ) of No.310 ( Czech ) Squadron ( Pilot Officer Jaromir Strihavka ) at R.A.F. Bolt Head on taking off.  There were no injuries but Flight Sergeant F. Mares aircraft was classified as Category AC.

          23rd June     Sergeant Ruprecht flying Spitfire VB aircraft ( Serial No.AA970 ) was attacked from astern by a FW190 enemy aircraft, ten miles off Start Point. The enemy gun-fire burst one of the Spitfire's tyres and jammed the wheel.  On landing Sergeant Ruprecht's aircraft swung violently to the left and came to a stop.  The pilot was uninjured but the aircraft was classified as Category A.

     29th June     Flight Lieutenant Liska of No. 312 ( Czech ) Squadron while flying Spitfire VB ( Serial No.AB 172 ) on a scramble lost consciousness at 30,000 feet owing to a shortage of oxygen.  He regained semi-consciousness in an excessive dive, just before the aircraft broke up in the air approximately four miles north of Exmouth.  Flight Lieutenant Liska was thrown clear of the wreckage and only had enough height for his parachute to open sufficiently to save his life.  He was badly injured and unconscious when picked up and admitted to Budleigh Salterton Cottage Hospital.  His aircraft was classified as Category E.  The time of contact was 17.10 hours.