80 Years ago from the Archives - June 1944

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

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

          Wing Commander M. Lipton  -  Empire Central Flying School

          Squadron Leader C. B. Hegy  -  Empire Central Flying School

          Squadron Leader Gregor  -  Empire Central Flying School

          Major Pearce  -  Empire Central Flying School

          Squadron Leader C. P. Chilvers  -  Empire Central Flying School

          Squadron Leader J. R. Johnson  -  Empire Central Flying School

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

          Group Captain Hope  -  Sector Commander R.A.F. Exeter

Weather :-

          1st June     The month of June opened frontally and cool, and in fact the weather continued unsettled until the 17th June.          Today started cold and cloudy and was a complete contrast to the weather of the past week.

          3rd June     Today the weather started by turning warm but eventually clamped down again.

          4th June     Poor Weather.     In the afternoon a high gusty cross-wind made flying from the Aerodrome difficult and in the early evening the weather clamped down with visibility less than one hundred yards.  Late in the evening there was some heavy rain which cleared the atmosphere and by dusk the weather was a bit more pleasant.

          5th June    A low lying cloud base.

          8th June     Bad weather restricted flying.

          9th June     An uneventful day until the evening.  The weather being rather bad, cloud right down to ground level.

          11th June     A dismal dawn.  A real ' dampers ' day with the weather closing right in which made flying impossible for the day.  The day remained obstinately clamped all day but did manage to clear a little during the evening.

          12th June     There was low cloud around during the morning.

          13th June     Another dismal dawn, the type of morning that seems peculiar to this area, cloud right down on the deck level and a drizzling rain.  Another day of clampdown.

          16th June    Very bad weather all day.

          17th June     Today was the first fine day for a month.

          19th June     Another fine weather day.

          25th June     For most of the day there was low cloud and frequent showers lasting into the evening when the weather was supposed to clear up, but if anything it just got worse.

          26th June     The weather clamped down all day making it another ' no flying day '.  It rained almost continuously all day clearing only for a short while later on in the evening.

         27th June     More bad weather today.

          28th June     Again the weather clamped down today, for the greatest part of the day the Station was wrapped in cloud which was combined with torrential rain and a driving wind.  Due to the rain and cloud the hills were hidden in mist.  Another ' no flying day '.

          29th June     Yet another bad weather day that lasted from dawn to dusk.  Today was another day of wind, rain and low cloud with no flying possible.  The weather is so depressing.

          30th June     Still not much improvement in the weather today, it is still wet and windy but maybe not quite as bad as of late.

          2nd June     Wing Commander M. Lipton,  Squadron Leader C. B. Hegy, Squadron Leader Gregor, Major Pearce, Squadron Leader C. P. Chilvers and Squadron Leader J. R. Johnson arrived from the Empire Central Flying School, R.A.F. Hullavington.

          7th June     A pilot from No.263 Squadron is reported as missing from operations.

          9th June     Another pilot from No.263 Squadron is reported as missing from operations.

          10th June     Wing Commander Bird-Wilson DFC and Bar arrived from No.85 Group as Wing Commander Flying.

          12th June     Air Vice Marshal Steele  -  Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group visited the Station.

          14th June     Squadron Leader H. A. C. Gonay ( Belgian ) of No.263 Squadron is reported as missing from operations.

     15th June     A  R.C.A.F. pilot of No.263 Squadron while on local flying as a result of a forced landing crashed and was killed.

          19th June     No.263 Squadron moved to R.A.F. Bolt Head.          No.610 Squadron moved to R.A.F. Station West Malling.

          20th June     No.1 Squadron and No.165 Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Predannack.

          22nd June     No.1 Squadron and No.165 Squadron moved to R.A.F. Station Detling.

          23rd June     No.64 Squadron and No.611 Squadron arrived from R.A.F. Predannack.

          30th June     A new scheme of re-allocation of Station Administrative Duties came into force today.

Station  Sick  Quarters  -  Form  540 :-

          1st June     Strength of Station :-  R.A.F.  =  992      W.A.A.F.  =  279      Army  =  85      Naval  =  264

          This Station ceased medical administration of the medical store accounting for R.A.F. Bolt Head with effect from  30 / 6 / 1944.

          2nd June     Number of patients admitted to the S.S.Q. and Hospital for week-ending today :-  R.A.F.  =  10      W.A.A.F.  =  2      Naval  =  3

         9th June     First Aid Points at all sites and dispersals equipped with stretchers, blankets and First Aid outfits and locations of Stretcher Posts to be marked with a Red Cross and " Stretchers " lettered above symbol for easy recognition.

          9th June     Number of patients admitted to the S.S.Q. and Hospital for week-ending today :-   R.A.F.  =  2      W.A.A.F.  =  1      Army  =  1      Naval  =  2

          12th June     Squadron Leader Constable - Senior Medical Officer for the Station detached for two days on a duty visit to R.A.F. Station Llandarog.

          15th June     A pilot of No.263 Squadron was involved in an aircraft accident - fatal - the aircraft overturned and crushed the pilot in the cockpit - death was due to fracture of the cervical spine and a fracture to the base of the skull.

          16th June     Number of patients admitted to the S.SQ. and Hospital for week-ending today :-   R.A.F.  =  11      W.A.A.F.  =  3      Naval  =  1

          22nd June     A flying accident to a Swordfish aircraft which came down in the sea.  The whole crew were picked up and detained overnight at the Royal Naval Sickbay, Dartmouth.  They all returned to their Unit the next day fit for duty, all members suffered slight shock due to their immersion in the sea.  There were no injuries - the Unit they belonged to was No.838 .A.A.  Squadron.

          23rd June     Number of patients admitted to the S.S.Q. and Hospital for week-ending today :-    R.A.F.  =  12      W.A.A.F.  =  3      Army  =  1      Naval  =  4

          30th June     Number of patients admitted to the S.S.Q.  and Hospital for week-ending today :-   R.A.F.  = 7       W.A.A.F.  =  2      Naval  =  1

           The month of June Form 540 for the Station Sick Quarters was signed by :-

                                                   Flight Lieutenant Birkett.

No.1  Squadron :-

          20th June     All went according to plan, the " Wing " together with No.6001 Echelon aided by many Dakota aircraft and sundry road vehicles pulled out from R.A.F. Predannack en route to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  The pilots of No.1 Squadron and their Spitfire IXLF aircraft arrived at R.A.F. Harrowbeer before lunch and in the afternoon were introduced to the new Wing Commander Bird-Wilson.  Apart from two operations later in the day the Squadron spent it's time sorting out their goods and chattles and finding a bed to rest their weary heads.          At 1645 hours four Spitfire IXLF aircraft took off to act as spotters for eight Spitfire IXLF aircraft which took off at 1655 hours ( all from No.1 Squadron ) along with Spitfire IXB aircraft from No.165 Squadron led by Wing Commander Bird-Wilson to bomb a Radar Station at Lannion / Ploumanach.  Our eight Spitfire IXLF aircraft were carrying 8 x 500 lb. M.C. bombs, when these were dropped most undershot the target but there were two near misses.  There was a supposed gun position just south west of the target.  The attack was carried out from ten thousand feet down to four thousand feet over the target.  At 1730 hours meagre light and medium inaccurate flak was experienced in the target area.  The four spotter Spitfire IXLF aircraft returned to base landing at 1820 hours, the other eight Spitfire IXLF's had already landed safely at 1810 hours.          Eight of No.1 Squadron's Spitfire IXLF aircraft were again airborne at 2150 hours on an armed shipping reconnaissance.  Each Spitfire IXLF aircraft was armed with 1 X 500 lb  M.C.  instantaneous bomb.  Also on this operation there were eight Spitfire IXB aircraft of No.165 Squadron.  The sixteen aircraft were to patrol in the Cherbourg area, but no shipping was sighted.  All the Spitfires jettisoned their bombs before proceeding back to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  One large fire was seen in the Cetville area, two smaller fires were spotted four to five miles south of Maupertus and one fire was seen three to four miles inland west of Cherbourg.  Gun flashes were observed parallel to the north coast six miles inland.  No.1 Squadron's Spitfire IXLF aircraft returned to base after the operation landing at 2305 hours without incident.

          21st June     Today proved uneventful apart from several convoy patrols.  This break gave the Squadron the opportunity of getting straightened out in their new home.  It is a small airfield and we are not the only occupants.  The Fleet Air Arm ( No.838 Squadron ) have one corner for a Squadron of Fairey Swordfish aircraft, the Yanks another for a mixed selection of aircraft the function of which has not yet been discovered, but we have learnt that they are very co-operative if one is intending to pay a flying visit to town.  Incredible things happen in the R.A.F.           We are now told that we are on the move again, this time to good old No.11 Group - R.A.F. Detling to be precise and that we are to move at once.  Much of the equipment has just been unloaded from the transport, only to be re-loaded again.  We leave R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1900 hours tomorrow for R.A.F. Detling, our role there will be ' anti-diver ' patrols, in other words to shoot down the enemy's secret weapon, the one thousand kilogram flying bomb or robot aircraft ( doodle bug ) just as fast as they send them over.  Given suitable flying conditions this is exactly what the Squadron intends to do.          Four patrols of two Spitfire IXLF aircraft were scrambled throughout the day on patrols to escort shipping convoys of large ships south of Plymouth, all the duties were carried out uneventfully.     The patrols were :- ( 1 )  0810  -  0940  hours      ( 2 )  1020  -  1145  hours      ( 3 )  1225  -  1235  hours and ( 4 )  1250  -  1435  hours.          Another patrol was organised for two Squadron Spitfire IXLF aircraft from 1530  -  1715 hours to patrol off the French Coast.  The Spitfires were given various vectors but nothing was sighted, again another uneventful patrol.

          22nd June     Once again all kit was packed up and sent off.  Several pilots went by road and the remainder flew their Spitfire IXLF aircraft to R.A.F. Detling according to plan after saying farewell to Wing Commander Bird-Wilson and not feeling too happy with leaving him behind.

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

No.41  Squadron :-

          7th June     At 0530 hours two pilots took off from R.A.F. Bolt Head on a shipping reconnaissance to St. Peters Port. Granville and St. Malo. The two Spitfire aircraft landed at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 0625 hours on their return to report twelve plus Tank Landing Craft ( T.L.C.'s ) in St. Peters Port and five medium class minesweepers and torpedo boats going at fifteen knots towards St. Malo from the north of Cap Frehal.  Intense flak was encountered from St. Peters Port and the south east of Guernsey.

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

                                          Squadron Leader R. H. Chapman.

                          No.41 Squadron  Information  from  other  sources :-  

                                            Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          7th June     As a result from the above results of the shipping reconnaissance  to  St. Peters Port and St. Malo  No.41 Squadron followed up by further operations in those areas.  On one of these sorties Flying Officer Kenneth Basil Robinson encountered some enemy aircraft and was shot down by flak off Guernsey.  He was flying a Spitfire aircraft Code letters  EB - S  and Serial No. MB881.  Flying Officer Robinson took to his dinghy and awaited a hopeful rescue operation by the Air Sea Rescue Squadrons.  No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron ( R.A.F. Harrowbeer ) was detailed to carry out the search and Flying Officer Robinson was located in his dinghy, sadly he was already dead presumably from his wounds.  His body was brought back to R.A.F. Bolt Head ( his operating Station at the time ) and later buried in the Buckland Monachorum Cemetery, Yelverton,  Section R I     Grave No.9.

Flying Officer Kenneth Robinson  R.A.F.V.R.     Service No.139816 was only twenty two years old and was living with his family in Monkston, Dublin, Irish Republic.

                                                May  he  rest  in  peace

No.64  Squadron :-

          22nd June     No.64 Squadron at present is Stationed at R.A.F. Deanland, but today news has arrived that the Squadron is to move early next morning to R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer in No.10 Group.  Everybody was very busy packing today.  Eventually everything was settled and ready to move off the next morning.  We then all settled down to enjoy our last night under canvas for a short while.

          23rd June     A day of great movement.  At about eight o'clock ( 0800 hours ) fifteen Dakota aircraft arrived to help move No.64 Squadron and No.611 Squadron to a different sphere of operations.  Everything that possibly could be was loaded into the Dakota aircraft and then they took off in a continual stream.  The first one leaving at about nine o'clock ( 0900 hours ).  A train party set out ;later in the day and vanished for some time.  The Squadron transport was allowed a little more time to get ready and they started out at noon.  The only arrivals on the 23rd June at R.A.F. Harrowbeer were the Dakota aircraft and the Squadron Spitfire aircraft, both of which arrived before lunch.  On arrival the Squadron was released for the rest of the day, which was spent settling in to their new quarters.

          24th June     The Squadron began work very early.  Convoy patrols were laid on from 0910 hours right through to the early evening, twenty eight sorties were carried out in total.          All the patrols were uneventful apart from one incident when one of our pilots burst a tyre on landing back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer which damaged his Spitfire aircraft.  Two other pilots reported seeing four large minesweepers which were sweeping just off the French Coast.  Group did not know who they were at first, but it was eventually established that they were friendly not hostile.  Our shipping obviously is not at all afraid of getting really close to the enemy coast.          In the evening two pilots carried out a ' Jim Crow ' along the French Coast from St. Malo to Lezardrieux.  They reported seeing four M.T.B.'s ( Motor Torpedo Boats )ten miles west of Guernsey.  These turned out to be friendly vessels.

          25th June     The only flying today owing to the weather conditions was a ' Jim Crow ' that was carried out by two pilots in the evening at 1850 hours from Cap De La Hague along the coast to Lezardrieux and then across to St. Peters Port and finally back home intending to land back at base.  On this operation the further they flew the more the weather deteriorated and when they were over St. Malo the only shipping that could be seen was in a harbour, but it was impossible to get any accurate information.  By the time the operation had been completed the pilots had to land at R.A.F. Exeter at 2135 hours as the weather at R.A.F. Harrowbeer was so bad.  Later in the evening the weather cleared sufficiently for the pilots to fly back to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          26th June     No flying today due to poor weather conditions.  One of our pilots collected some furniture from the Barrack Warden for the Dispersals which now look very attractive.

          27th June     There was only one operation today and that was carried out by twelve Spitfire aircraft of No.64 Squadron who escorted Typhoon aircraft of No.263 Squadron that were to attack electrical installations at Pontivy with rocket projectiles ( R/P's ).  The operation was to take place from 1250 hours until 1440 hours.  Inspite of bad cloud conditions the mission was completed and the results seemed satisfactory.  On the way home the Squadron attacked a locomotive and two trucks about half a mile north of St. Quay Portrieux, it was well and truly hit but the only result seen was steam escaping from the locomotive.          There was no other activity during the day apart from six shipping patrols which were all uneventful.

          28th June     A no flying day either operational or non-operational.

          29th June     Another day of no flying.  The usual monthly aircraft recognition tests were held at the Station Intelligence during the afternoon, but on a more elaborate scale than the ones that the Squadron had been used to at R.A.F. Deanland.  These tests helped to pass the time, but time still tended to drag, possibly due to the depressing weather.

          30th June     Five or six air-tests were carried out by pilots in their Spitfire VBLFIR aircraft.          The Squadron has just received a signal saying that they were to be re-equipped with the Spitfire IXLF aircraft.          At 1530 hours eight Spitfire VBLFIR aircraft were to take part with the "Harrowbeer Wing " on a Rhubarb.  The weather turned out to be hopeless and after the " Wing " had a quick look around No.64 Squadron returned to base, having been airborne for only thirty minutes.  Just after they had landed at 1600 hours the first batch of Spitfire IX's arrived.

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

                                               Squadron Leader Mackenzie.

No.165  ( Ceylon )  Squadron :-

          18th June     The Squadron at present is based at R.A.F. Predannack, Cornwall flying Spitfire IXB aircraft.  During the day it was learnt that the Squadron is to move to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          20th June     The Squadron moved to R.A.F. Harrowbeer and the nineteen non-operational sorties flown were mostly made in that connection          In addition eight pilots including Wing Commander Bird-Wilson bombed a Radar Station at Lannion Ploumanach and eight pilots again including Wing Commander Bird-Wilson carried out an uneventful armed shipping reconnaissance in the Cherbourg area.          At 1655 hours four Spitfire IXB aircraft took off on a bombing strike, the target being a Radar Station at Lannion / Ploumanach which was bombed from west to east from a height of six thousand feet and diving down to three thousand five hundred feet.  Most of the bombs undershot the target, but two were near misses which scored on a supposed gun-position a short distance to the south of the target.  The four Spitfire IXB aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer after the attack landing at 1805 hours.          Another four Spitfire IXB aircraft took off at 1700 hours to the same target and being slightly behind the first four aircraft they experienced meagre light and medium inaccurate flak.  These four aircraft landed back at base at 1810 hours.         Eight Spitfire IXB aircraft were airborne on an armed shipping reconnaissance at 2150 hours as it was suspected that the enemy would commence evacuation from Cherbourg.  No enemy shipping was sighted, so the Spitfires jettisoned their bombs in the sea before their return flight.  A large fire was observed in the Octeville area, two smaller fires about four to six miles to the south of Maupertus and other fires three to four miles inland to the west of Cherbourg.  Gun flashes could be seen parallel to the north coast of the Cherbourg Peninsular about six miles inland.  Approximately six to eight bursts of heavy inaccurate flak was fired from Cherbourg.  Two of our Spitfires returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 2245 hours.  The remaining six Spitfires followed landing safely at 2300 hours.

          21st June     Nine operational flights were made today by No.165 Squadron.  The Squadron flew to R.A.F. Tangmere, Sussex and returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer without operating.          Two sections of two Spitfire IXB aircraft made operational sorties from R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  The first section was airborne on a convoy patrol at 1400 hours on a course to the east of Start Point at a height of three thousand feet to cover shipping in the area.  The patrol was uneventful, resulting in the Spitfires returning to base where they landed at 1515 hours.          The second section took off at 1625 hours on a standing patrol in mid-channel which was also uneventful.  The object of the patrol as to fly thirty miles off the north coast of the Brest Peninsular at a height of six thousand feet.  Nothing was seen on the patrol so the aircraft returned to base landing at 1810 hours.

          22nd June    The Squadron moved to R.A.F. Detling.

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

                                          Squadron Leader M. E. Blackstone.

No.263 Squadron :-

          1st June     June like May, opened frontally and cool, and in fact the weather continued unsettled until the 17th June.          The Squadron carried out practice bombing at Bolt Head, Hamstone during the afternoon.

          2nd June     A day of flaps, the first was to Dol Marshaling Yards and the second to the Goulet U-Boats, but unfortunately both operations never happened, a complete waste of a day.

          3rd June     Much rocket projectile work at Hamstone until a warm front clamped down.

          4th June     Some rocket projectile work in poor weather, somebody is in a hurry for something ?

          5th June     The Squadron Typhoon aircraft flew to R.A.F. Bolt Head to carry out rocket projectile practice, but owing to low cloud this was not possible to do, but the pilots did see a noble pride of warships steaming slowly east along the English Channel.          One of our pilots who had to fly to R.A.F. Manston, Kent to collect rocket projectiles spares was lucky enough to fly below the cloud along the south coast and saw " so many ships in the Solent you could walk from the Isle of Wight to Southampton across their decks ".

          6th June     " D - Day "     After a mid-night flap of twelve Typhoon aircraft, an early morning shipping reconnaissance to Goulet in duff weather was carried out.  This operation was flown by eight Typhoon aircraft from 0625 hours until 0800 hours on a course from R.A.F. Harrowbeer - Batz - Ushant and landing at R.A.F. Predannack.  On their return journey they found out that this was " D - Day ".  Thus what had been demanded for three years, expected for two years and hourly waited for three months had arrived more or less unheralded in No.10 Group while the Squadron were carrying out an armed shipping reconnaissance and continued while they did rocket projectile practice at Bolt Head - and bound to Dispersal.  The next hours and days turned out to be some of the Squadrons busiest yet.          The evening of the 6th June saw No.263 Squadron carry out their first rocket projectile operation.  Eight Typhoon aircraft armed with rocket projectiles took off at 2015 hours, this was a damaging attack on a five hundred to motor vessel off Granville.  After the attack the Typhoon aircraft returned to base landing at 2150 hours.  This was the start of one hundred and twenty one offensive sorties in five days.

          7th June     A double mixed Squadron of eight Typhoon bomber aircraft and eight Typhoon rocket projectile aircraft carrying 8 X 600 lb HE ( high explosive ) rockets was now bricked up.  This was a state that was to be ' phenomenally ' maintained - these words are those of the Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group.  Therefore ' two Squadron operations ' became possible simultaneously either in two waves with the same objective or with different targets.          At 0815 hours eight Typhoon aircraft armed with bombs carried out dive-bombing attacks on shipping in St. Malo.  The results were four near misses which straddled the stern of a motor vessel and also two gun posts were shot at with many strikes being observed.  After the attack all the Typhoon aircraft returned to base where they landed safely at 0955 hours.          At 0830 hours another eight Typhoon aircraft armed with rocket projectiles flew to St. Peters Port but this operation proved uneventful as no claims were made.  These eight Typhoons landed back at base at 1000 hours.          Roadstead No.128 was laid on from 1225 hours until 1410 hours and carried out by eight Typhoon aircraft but had to be abandoned as cloud prevented the target from being found.          A shipping strike was carried out between 1630 hours and 1800 hours by eight Typhoon aircraft.  The area to be swept was in the area of Sark, Channel Islands, but no claims were made.  Flying Officer L. Parent is missing from this operation, but we hope to see him again one day - the fact that the Germans were shooting at him while on his parachute descent will not be forgotten.

                           No.263  Squadron  Information  from  other  sources :-

                                               Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          7th June     Flying Officer Leon Parent  R.C.A.F.     Service No.J20227  was only twenty one years old when he was killed.  He was born in the Provence of Quebec, Canada where he lived with his patents.  Flying Officer L. Parent parachuted into the sea but his body was never found so therefore has no known grave.  He is " Remembered with Honour " on the Runnymeade  Memorial, Surrey,  Panel  No.247.

                                                    May  he  rest  in  peace.

          8th June     Despite yesterday's heavy activity all nineteen Typhoon aircraft on charge to the Squadron were serviceable at 1000 hours.  Flight Lieutenant Wannuop  and the ground crews of No.6263 Servicing Echelon ( ex No.3055 ) and the Squadron had worked hard all night on them, as they did frequently during this and other months.            Seven Typhoon aircraft took off at 1330 hours on a dive-bombing shipping operation in the St. Malo area.  One motor vessel is claimed as category A from the attack and all the Typhoon aircraft returned to base safely landing at 1445 hours.

          9th June     A night time and first light German destroyer flap ended in a clamp, which also affected the beach-head.          The Squadron ( eight Typhoon bomber aircraft and eight rocket projectile aircraft ) were briefed to attack gun positions south of St. Lo, but they failed to get through due to 10/10ths cloud at zero feet on the Cotentin Coast.  The Typhoon aircraft took off at 1850 hours and landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 2010 hours.          Another pilot is reported missing in circumstances which offer nothing but guess work.  We hope to see him again one day.          A second double attack with ten Typhoon aircraft was laid on between 2130 hours and 2300 hours to attack the gun posts at St. Lo.  As the formation got to within five miles of the target they were re-called.  On the return journey home due to bad weather conditions some of our Typhoons landed at R.A.F. Hearne and some at R.A.F. Tangmere.  On this operation Flying Officer Heaton was flying with the first section and was last seen climbing and turning his Typhoon aircraft in cloud and is reported as missing.          It is believed that our Typhoon aircraft were the first over the German lines that day.  

                         No.263  Squadron  Information  from  other  sources :- 

                                                 Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          9th June     Flying Officer William Whitaker Heaton  R.A.F.V.R.     Service  No.156653.  His age is unknown.  Flying Officer  W. Heaton lost his life while on an operation in the St. Lo area of France.  He is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France  -  Memorial  No. I I I    F4.

                                                     May  he  rest  in  peace.

          10th June     A first light shipping reconnaissance with eight rocket projectile Typhoon aircraft was carried out between 0530 hours and 0603 hours. This was a most successful operation as strikes were observed and damage caused to three M class merchant ships off St. Helier.         Later in the day two double Squadron shows took place ( four sections ).          Roadstead No.134 was a rocket projectile attack by eight Typhoon aircraft which took off at 0930 hours.  The formation flew to the area of the Channel Islands but unfortunately found no shipping so they decided to fly to Jersey where they attacked a Radar Station.  The section managed to prang the huts of the Radar Station at Jersey Rouge Nez with eight sixty four pound rocket projectiles with fair results.  After the attack the Typhoon aircraft returned to base landing at 1100 hours.          Roadstead No.135 was to be a dive-bombing attack from 0930 hours until 1100 hours by eight Typhoon aircraft which was aborted due to 10/10ths cloud at three thousand feet off St. Malo.          At 1430 hours until 1530 hours Ramrod No.136 was in progress which required eight rocket projectile Typhoon aircraft and eight Typhoon bombers. They were to attack the Yffiniac bridge , but again the operation was abandoned due to 10/10ths cloud at one thousand feet.          A total of forty offensive sorties and fifty one hours of operational flying was an all time record for the Squadron for one day's work.

          11th June     Sunday - the weather remained clamped all day.  Everybody was up as usual at 0345 hours, but went straight back to bed and slept until lunchtime.  That is all except the Commanding Officer and Flight Lieutenant Wannuop and the ground crew.  Much work was carried out on the Typhoon aircraft, but there was no need to re-establlish serviceability as we had it already.

          12th June     Another forty sorties and fifty hours and forty five minutes of operational flying was carried out today.          Soon after first light between 0542 hours and 0702 hours eight Typhoon aircraft took part in a shipping reconnaissance.  Bomber Command dive-bombed four T.T.A.'s off Jersey, Channel Islands n St. Aubins Bay but no claims were made.          Then thirty two sorties in which 128 X 60 lb rocket projectile high explosive rockets and 31 X 500 lb multi-cluster .025 second fuse bombs were hurled into the railway viaduct to the south of Yffiniac with excellent concentration.  This is a most terrible target.          Sixteen Typhoon aircraft were airborne from 0955 hours until 1135 hours and again from 1455 hours until 1630 hours on Ramrod No.137.  This was an important operational attack against the railway viaduct to the south west of Yffiniac which took place in two waves of sixteen Typhoon aircraft.  The operation was to disrupt the main Brest to Rennes railway line by the destruction of the viaduct.  The bombing and the rocket projectile concentration was excellent, in both attacks bomb craters and rocket projectile craters were observed to have disintegrated the double track of the railway.

          13th June     Everybody was up and about at 0345 hours only to find another clamp which was to hinder operations.          At 1500 hours the Bomber Command of the Squadron was released and perhaps only for the time being wound up.  The ground crews set to work to convert all the Typhoon aircraft to rocket projectile firing aircraft.

          14th June     Today was a day of four rocket projectile shipping strikes which were mainly successful.          The first sortie was an early morning one from 0530hours until 0650 hours by eight Typhoon aircraft.  The attack by the Squadron ( and a prang we believe ) was of a German U - Boat.          Another shipping reconnaissance was laid on from 0815 hours until 0945 hours by eight Typhoon aircraft to the Channel Islands.  Squadron Leader Gonay got a direct hit on  T.T.A. off Corbier Point, unfortunately his Typhoon aircraft was hit by flak and he made an apparently controlled forced landing on Jersey.          The loss today of the Squadron's Commanding Officer ( Squadron Leader H. Gonay ) who is missing from an earlier attack off Jersey, Corbier Point in not too hopeful circumstances is a sad blow to the Squadron.  He was quite new to the Squadron only arriving three months ago and never before flown a Typhoon aircraft.  Squadron Leader Gonay very quickly proved himself master of every situation.  As a leader he was absolutely trusted by everyone and was admired and loved as a friend.          Nine Typhoon aircraft took off on Roadstead No.140 which lasted from 1845 hours until 2015 hours.  This was an attack on a German U - Boat.  Two pilots returning from Roadstead No.140 were very lucky to make it back to base.  One of the pilots flying back from St. Peters Port managed to land safely despite having several of his control wires cut by flak and others shredded.  The other pilot's petrol system ' fell to pieces ' when he landed on the runway.  This operation and the next days attack certainly sunk a T.T.A. and the U - Boat is believed to be damaged.

                          No.263  Squadron  Information  from  other  sources :-

                                             Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          14th June     Squadron Leader Henri Alphonse Gonay ( Belgium ) R.A.F.V.R.     Service No.81635 was thirty one years old when he flew on an operation to the Channel Islands as detailed above.  His Typhoon aircraft crashed into a house on Jersey and demolished it, Squadron Leader H. Gonay was killed, his body was laid to rest in the " Allied War Cemetery ", Howard Davis Park, St. Saviour, Jersey and after the war was repatriated to Belgium.

The house he destroyed was eventually rebuilt and is now known as " Grantez Villa ".  In 2015 a road was named after Squadron Leader H. Gonay in the Parish of St. Ouen, Jersey.                                     May  he  rest  in  peace.

          15th June     Eight Typhoon aircraft were airborne on Roadstead No.142 from 0856 hours until 1000 hours.          Flight Lieutenant R. D. Rutter ( Flight Commander of ' B ' Flight ) is posted as Squadron Leader to command the Squadron on an operation to St. Peters Port.  The flak here struck it's third victim as category B, but fortunately everyone managed to get back home safely landing at 1220 hours.          A  R.C.A.F. pilot who had only been with the Squadron for six days crashed fatally near Launceston, Cornwall.  It is thought that his Typhoon aircraft had developed engine trouble and that he had attempted to make a force landing.

                          No.263  Squadron  Information  from  other  sources :-

                                               Archivist  -  Michael  Hayes

          15th June     Flying Officer William James Windeler  R.C.A.F.     Service  No.J12065 was only twenty five years old when he was killed in a flying accident near Launceston, Cornwall.  The reason for the forced landing has never been disclosed.  

Flying Officer W. Windeler was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where he lived with his family.            He is buried in the "Brookwood Military Cemetery ", Surrey  -  Grave  No.49     J. 3.                            May  he  rest  in  peace.

          16th June     Secret sources indicate that the Squadron's attack on St. Peters Port damaged a five hundred ton U - Boat and sank a trawler type auxiliary vessel.  We were also told that the Squadron's job of harrying the ships between Cherbourg and Brest is of great importance in the Normandy Beach-head.

          17th June     A shipping reconnaissance was laid on at mid-day from 1226 hours until 1403 hours involving eight Typhoon aircraft.  The formation were unable to reach Granville owing to thick cloud, so they returned to base.          This operation was followed by a very successful rocket projectile attack on St. Malo between 1940 hours and 2110 hours.  Twelve Typhoon aircraft armed with twenty five pound rocket projectiles sunk the L97 M/M passenger packet of nine hundred and seventy five tons was confirmed as sunk, category 3 and a tank landing craft was seen sinking by the escort section.

          18th June     This morning there were two shipping reconnaissance operations to the Channel Islands ( 1 ) from 0538 hours until 0716 hours which attacked a convoy off Grosnez Point, but no claims were made.  ( 2 )  from 0824 hours until 0937 hours, this was flown by the same pilots as previously who returned to the Channel Islands to harass the convoy with good success.  A one thousand two hundred ton motor vessel and a tank landing craft were damaged by rocket projectiles.          In the afternoon there was a flap for an immediate move of all No.10 Group Squadrons to R.A.F. Bolt Head as they are being re-sorted mainly to release the advanced Marks of Spitfire aircraft for anti-diver activities in " Southern England ".          The Germans have sunk the old Whirlwind aircraft target ship ' Solmglint ', a whale oil ship of ten thousand tons which was being used as a block-ship in Cherbourg, she had not left port for three years.

          19th June     No.263 Squadron Typhoon aircraft moved to R.A.F. Bolt Head with No.6263 Servicing Echelon and the rest of the Squadron following over the next four days in an insufficient number of motor vehicles which kept breaking down fairly regularly.  No.6263 Servicing Echelon on arrival at R.A.F. Bolt Head found it was too windy to erect their tents to be used as accommodation as there were no other billets available.  No.263 Squadron have often visited R.A.F. Bolt Head which was used as a forward base airfield.          As a permanent base R.A.F. Bolt Head suffers from it's establishment as an ' Advanced Landing Ground ' ( ALG ) and it's use as a two Squadron Station ( No.263 Squadron and half of No.406 Squadron and half of No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron ).  R.A.F. Bolt Head as an ALG is greatly used for the departure and arrival of other Squadrons for operations for which, as a further point of fact, the day fighter  Squadrons have to provide re-fueling facilities.

                      The Squadron O.R.B. for the month of June was signed by :=

                                                 Squadron Leader R. D. Rutter.

No.610  ( County  of  Chester )  Squadron :-

          1st June    Throughout the morning the pilots went to the Photographic Section to watch recent combat films that they had previously taken.  They were also shown a film titled " Interrogation of P. of W. "          At 1115 hours four Spitfire XIV aircraft took off to take part in Rhubarb No.268.  The Spitfire aircraft crossed the coast at Pleneve to Lamballe, Montfort Redon - Vannes Railway, north of Yffiniac.  The formation attacked a train on the Rennes - Redon line heading south and consisting of eight to ten wagons.  The train stopped, strikes were seen along the length of the train,  A single lorry was also attacked by one of our aircraft to the west of Ploerael without visible results.  Some light flak was experienced north of Vannes with machine gun fire and a little heavy flak north of Redon.  All the Spitfire XIV aircraft returned to base landing at 1305 hours.  One of our pilots returned with a hole through his starboard wing caused by flak in the Vannes area.         Two sections of two Spitfire XIV aircraft were detailed to carry out a shipping reconnaissance between St. Peters Port - Lezardrieux - and back to St. Peters Port before returning to base.  The first section took off at 1800 hours in Spitfire XIV aircraft but there were no sightings or incidents and all aircraft landed back at base at 1930 hours.  The second section took off at 1800 hours but were re-called and landed at R.A.F. Bolt Head at 1815 hours after a report was received that an object one foot square had dropped off No.2's aircraft on take off.  On finding that there was nothing wrong the section took off again at 1845 hours but this time No.1 had developed engine trouble so the operation was abandoned, both Spitfires returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1935 hours.

          2nd June     Eight Spitfire XIV aircraft took off at 1510 hours and flew together to Lamballe and then split into two groups of four Spitfire XIV aircraft.  The first four flew on Rhubarb No.269 ( first sweep ) and flew to the west and attacked a train of eighteen wagons near Plouaret.  The train stopped when turning north near Landerneau.  Twelve lorries were spotted but not attacked.  Heavy flak of about six rounds was experienced.  After the attack three of the Spitfire aircraft flew back to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1655 hours, the fourth Spitfire aircraft landed at R.A.F. Bolt Head with an excessively overheated engine due to a hole in his Spitfire port coolant radiator.  The cause of the hole is not certain but was possibly due to a .303 bullet.  Whatever made the hole must have lodged in it until the Spitfire was nearly back at base therefore saving some of the glycol from leaking out.          The second four Spitfire XIV aircraft flew south east from Lamballe on Rhubarb No.269 ( second sweep ) and made a successful attack on a train near Broons.  This train consisted of twenty to thirty trucks and coaches.  Many strikes were noticed.  Fire was concentrated mainly on the engine, there was a lot of black smoke and some steam being emitted, the train came to a standstill.  There was some light flak from the train and a few rounds of heavy flak south of Rennes.  All the Spitfire XIV aircraft landed safely back at base at 1655 hours.          In the afternoon the Squadron was visited by Wing Commander Lipton, Squadron Leader C. B. Hegy, Squadron Leader Gregor, Major Pearce, Squadron Leader C. P. Chilvers and Squadron Leader J. R. Johnson who were members of the Navigation Committee from the Empire Central Flying School, R.A.F. Hullavington.

          3rd June     A shipping reconnaissance was carried out by four Spitfire XIV aircraft at 0545 hours which flew to the Morlaix area at zero feet.  They then climbed to carry out the reconnaissance.  There was a one hundred foot layer of 10/10 cloud at five hundred feet.  The formation then flew to a estimated area which they thought should be Abervrach, but there was no break in the cloud so they returned to base landing at 0705 hours.          Four more Spitfire XIV aircraft carried out a shipping reconnaissance from 1025 hours until 1220 hours in the Sept Isles - Quessant areas, but nothing was planned.  This operation involved four Spitfire XIV aircraft taking off at 1800 hours and flew to Pleneuf.  No railway traffic was seen but what they did see appeared to be a military bus with a large amount of kit on top of it.  The bus was attacked after being circled three times near St. Baradec on the Loudec to Mur De Bretagne Road.  Strikes were seen on the bus which brought it to a halt.  The section of four Spitfire aircraft then returned to base landing at 1955 hours.          Group Captain Hope  -  Sector Commander of R.A.F. Exeter made a visit to the Squadron.

          5th June     Again the Squadron spent most of the day flying a total of twenty two shipping convoy patrols from dawn to dusk at three thousand feet over a special patrol line.  These patrols were flown without incident..          Instructions were received this morning to paint special markings on the aircraft, black and white stripes across the wings, parallel with the chord and vertically round the fuselage.  This task was completed by the evening.          Special restrictions have been placed on all personnel today.  Everybody is confined to camp, all shops, houses, public houses, post offices, etc are out of bounds.          This evening there was a Station Dance to which no civilians were admitted.

          6th June     Today is  ' D - Day ',  the invasion of  Europe  has begun with airborne landings, and also coastal landings.  General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander sent a special message to all forces under his command which was broadcast over the airfield ' tannoy ' system by the Station Commander.          No.610 Squadron's part in this big event consisted of dull, though important shipping convoy patrols from 0930 hours until 1800 hours.       In the evening at 2015 hours a special strike by eight Typhoon aircraft with eight of our Spitfire XIV aircraft as escort was laid on.  A small ship had been reported carrying " brasshats ", arriving at Granville from the Channel Islands had to be attacked.  The ship was found just off Granville and the Typhoon aircraft carried out rocket projectile attacks.  The sixteen aircraft came back in great style in a tight formation sweeping low across the airfield at 2150 hours, a great sight for the ground staff.  Moderate heavy flak and intense light flak was experienced in the Granville area.  The weather was reasonable with 5/10ths cloud and good visibility.          The restrictions of local movements of personnel were removed today.

          7th June     At 0815 hours eight Squadron Spitfire XIV aircraft took off as escort to Typhoon aircraft attacking shipping at St. Malo which they bombed, otherwise the operation was uneventful.  The eight No.610 Squadron Spitfire aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer, landing at 0955 hours.          At 1225 hours another eight Spitfire XIV aircraft were airborne to escort Typhoon aircraft to Goulet De Brest where they were to look for shipping, this also proved uneventful with no attacks being made.  However four mystery aircraft were investigated on this sortie which turned out to be Thunderbolt aircraft.  Our Spitfires then returned to base where they landed at 14109 hours.          A total of four shipping convoy patrols were flown between 1035 hours and 2250 hours all without incident.

          8th June     The only activity today was two shipping convoy patrols early in the morning.          In the late afternoon nine Spitfire XIV aircraft flew to R.A.F. Bolt Head where they were to operate from when required.  Unfortunately the operation was cancelled due to bad weather which resulted in the aircraft being stranded at R.A.F. Bolt Head.

          9th June     The nine stranded Spitfire aircraft and pilots at R.A.F. Bolt Head managed to return to R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1700 hours once the weather had improved.          Ramrod No.134 was laid on at 1850 hours in which eight of No.610 Squadron Spitfire XIV aircraft were to act as escort to sixteen Typhoon aircraft which were to bomb an enemy railway gun battery at St. Lo.  This operation was ordered very quickly and the aircraft all away in a very short space of time making the aerodrome a scene of intense activity.  This operation had to be aborted due to 10/10th cloud with a one hundred foot base up to eleven thousand feet over the French Coast.  Seven of our Spitfire aircraft returned to base landing at 2015 hours.  The eighth Spitfire aircraft had to return earlier landing at 1910 hours owing to the undercarriage becoming  U/S.       A repeat operation of Ramrod No.134 was organised for 2130 hours.  The Typhoon aircraft had to be bombed up, which was completed in record time.  This second attempt was to attack the 88mm enemy gun battery at St. Lo, but again the operation was aborted.  Although the cloud had cleared from the French Coast it was still down to three hundred feet in the target area.  It was decided to re-call the aircraft to base where they landed at 2310 hours.

          10th June     At first light our Spitfire XIV aircraft were to escort Typhoon aircraft on an operation to attack three minesweepers off Jersey, Channel Islands.     A second attempt was made later in the morning from 0940 hours until 1100 hours, but again the duty was uneventful.          At 1230 hours a third operation was laid on when seven Spitfire XIV aircraft were to escort Typhoon aircraft to attack a viaduct at Yffiniac in the St. Malo area.  This operation had to be abandoned on account of cloud cover over the French Coast.          All these operations were in support of No.263 Squadron lying Typhoon aircraft with rocket projectiles and bombs, usually the escort aircraft staying with the rocket projectile armed aircraft.  Our escort duties have so far proved uneventful, but a useful purpose is served as our pilots are able to observe the results of the Typhoon attacks.         The Air Officer Commanding No.10 Group  -  Air Vice Marshal Steele visited the Station today.  The Station Commander later gave a message from him over the ' tannoy ' system congratulating the ground crews on their work and also the pilots.          Wing Commander Bird-Wilson arrived as Wing Commander Flying for the ' Wing ' formed of No.610, 41 and 263 Squadrons.

          11th June     A no flying day today owing to the weather conditions.         The pilots spent most of the day playing " pool ".          The ground crews made the most of the lack of flying by " breaching " up the aircraft.

          12th June     What promised to be a good ' show ' was spoiled by low cloud this morning.          Twelve Spitfire XIV aircraft ( the first time twelve aircraft had been called for a long time ) led by the new Wing Commander Flying  -  Wing Commander Bird-Wilson set out to escort twelve Spitfire aircraft of No.41 Squadron on Rodeo No.168 to attack enemy aircraft reported to have been brought up by the Germans to Gael Airfield, to operate over the battle areas.  The sortie was aborted on account of cloud cover.  The operation took place between 0520 hours and 0710 hours.          Twelve Spitfire XIV aircraft took off at 0955 hours on Ramrod No.137 led by Wing Commander Bird-Wilson to escort Typhoon aircraft on an attack on what was supposed to be a viaduct south of Yffiniac.  The rocket projectiles and bombs were successfully concentrated on the target, but on going down to have a look after the dust had cleared our pilots reported that the ' viaduct ' was an embankment.  One of our Spitfires was a late starter on take off and finished up landing at 1015 hours back at base.  The remaining eleven Spitfire aircraft returned from the sortie safely landing back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1130 hours.          A repeat of Ramrod No.137 was undertaken at 1455 hours by twelve Spitfire XIV aircraft with much the same results.  On this operation eight of our Spitfire aircraft were detached to sweep against road and rail targets to the east of Lamballe, but made no attacks.  All our aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1630 hours.

         13th June      The weather this morning was really bad making flying impossible.  Flying commenced in the afternoon when eight of our Spitfire XIV aircraft took off at 1700 hours to carry out sweeps over northern Brittany.  The aircraft returned on account of cloud over the French Coast.  The eight Spitfire aircraft landed back at base at1810 hours          There were three uneventful patrols flown in the evening between 2135 hours and 1210 hours.

          14th June     Four Spitfire XIV aircraft took off at 0535 hours led by Wing Commander Bird-Wilson to act as escort to eight Typhoon aircraft on a shipping strike.  Wing Commander Bird-Wilson developed R/T trouble and returned to base at 0545 hours, the remaining three Spitfire aircraft also returned to base as the Wing Commander was unable to catch them up after his aircraft's R/T had been fixed.          Immediately at 0535 hours another four Spitfire XIV aircraft were airborne to carry out the escort duty covering the Typhoon aircraft on their shipping strike in the St. Malo area.  The sortie was uneventful but on the return journey three trawler type auxiliaries were sighted off Guernsey and were successfully attacked and left smoking.  Intense light flak was experienced from the three ships.  The four escort Spitfire XIV aircraft landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 0725 hours.         A strike on the same three vessels by Typhoon aircraft armed with rocket projectiles was laid on and was quite successful, except that Squadron Leader Gonay ( Henry ) - Commanding Officer of No.263 Squadron was lost on the operation.          A further escort duty by eight Spitfire XIV aircraft was an attack on a submarine which was reported at St. Peters Port, Guernsey, this duty was organised quickly, carried out and was quite successful.  Ten Typhoon aircraft making the attack were escorted uneventfully, except for intense flak from the Island.  Two of the Typhoon aircraft were seriously damaged and a third was also hit.          Sixteen Spitfire XIV aircraft took off at 1845 hours on an uneventful escort of Typhoon aircraft attacking a submarine off Guernsey.  All aircraft returned at 2000 hours.          Five patrols were carried out between 1505 hours and 1920 hours.          The Squadron is now operating as part of a ' Wing ' which is formed of No.610 Squadron and No.41 Squadron flying Spitfire XIV and XII aircraft and No.263 Squadron flying Typhoon aircraft.  This is a very useful operational formation, equipped with some of the best aircraft of their types in operation.

          15th June  A shipping reconnaissance was laid on from 0535 hours until 0710 hours by three Spitfire XIV aircraft between Morlaix and Abervrach.  Four vessels were sighted in Morlaix, but no action was taken.  On the return flight our Spitfire aircraft landed at R.A.F. Predannack before returning back to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.          In the afternoon at 1600 hours eight Spitfire XIV aircraft took off on an armed shipping reconnaissance in the Channel Island area.  No sightings were made on this sweep, although visibility was so good " you could see the individual leaves on the palm trees " on the Channel Islands.  All our Spitfire aircraft returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1730 hours.          A total of eight patrols involving sixteen Spitfire XIV aircraft were carried out between 0620 hours and 1545 hours and all proved uneventful.

          16th June     Two Spitfire XIV aircraft were scrambled at 0748 hours but were re-called after just five minutes.          At 1526 hours a shipping reconnaissance was carried out by two Spitfire XIV aircraft from St. Peters Port to St. Helier.  Three trawler type auxiliaries were seen at St. Peters Port.  There was no action taken and the Spitfire aircraft returned to base landing at 1633 hours.          Rhubarb No.285 was laid on with four Spitfire XIV aircraft taking off at 1530 hours which was to be a sweep off Gring Camp to Goulet De Brest.  There was no attacks made and no flak from the Brest area.  Our Spitfire aircraft returned to base where they landed at 1715 hours.         A shipping reconnaissance was carried out by two Spitfire XIV aircraft between 2125 hours and 2250 hours.  The area covered was from Granville - Jersey - Guernsey.  There were no sightings made of any shipping on this operation.

          17th June     A first light shipping reconnaissance was carried out from 0520 hours until 0656 hours by eight Squadron Spitfire XIV aircraft to Guernsey - Jersey - Granville - St. Malo.  There was no flak experienced but the Channel Islands had 8 - 9/10ths cloud at one thousand five hundred feet increasing in the St. Malo area.  Two Spitfire aircraft of this section were diverted to carry out Air Sea Rescue proceedings over a light which was seen in the sea, this was believed to be a distress signal but nothing could be found.          Eight Spitfire XIV aircraft were detailed to act as escort to Typhoon aircraft flying to the Guernsey and Jersey area, which turned out to be uneventful.  The times for this operation were from 1225 hours until 1350 hours.          Two shipping reconnaissance operations were planned for 179=00 hours.  The first was from Morlaix to Abervrach when small trawler type vessels were seen at Morlaix.  No attack was made and there was no sign of any flak.          The second operation was from St. Malo to Brehat.  Two medium motor vessels were seen at St. Malo along with other smaller vessels.  Both sorties returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 1825 hours.        The last operation for the day was an escort duty by eight Spitfire XIV aircraft to Typhoon aircraft on a shipping strike to St. Malo which was uneventful.  The Squadron's Spitfires returned to base after the operation landing at 2115 hours.

          18th June     Eight Spitfire XIV aircraft of No.610 Squadron took off at 0540 hours to escort Typhoon aircraft to St. Malo where they attacked a small convoy off Jersey.  Intense flak was experienced from the ships being attacked, there was also moderate light flak in the St. Malo area.  The Spitfire aircraft all returned to base landing at 0720 hours.          Another six Spitfire XIV aircraft were airborne from 0825 hours until 0945 hours on escorting Typhoon aircraft that were to attack the same small convoy off Jersey.  More light flak from the ships was encountered.          In the afternoon No.610 Squadron received orders that they were to move to R.A.F. West Malling, Kent.  The news was joyfully received and in the evening parties developed in the Messes.          During the night the ground crews loaded twelve vehicles with the heavy equipment of the Servicing Echelon and the Squadron's effects.

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

                                       Squadron Leader R. A. Newbury.

No.611  Squadron :-

          22nd June     At the moment No.611 Squadron is Stationed at R.A.F. Deanland.     Today news was received that the Squadron was to move first thing tomorrow morning to R.A.F. Harrowbeer, so the rest of the day was spent in packing ready for the move.          R.A.F. Harrowbeer was a blow to leave R.A.F. Deanland and Headquarters No.11 Group as a very happy time had been spent there and the Squadron had been very successful.

          23rd June     At 0800 hours fifteen Dakota aircraft arrived to take the equipment and ground crew to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  The Squadron were airborne at 1000 hours for R.A.F. Harrowbeer and landed at 1100 hours.  It was an uneventful journey apart from the Squadron Tiger Moth which crashed at R.A.F. Tangmere, Sussex, fortunately the pilot and passenger were O.K. but the aircraft was a write off.  Nothing else happened today as the Squadron were busy settling in.

          24th June     Today was our first operating day at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  Thirteen shipping convoy patrols were carried out all of which turned out to be uneventful.  These patrols were carried out between 0605 hours and 2300 hours.

          25th June     Eight Spitfire LFVB aircraft of No.611 Squadron carried out a Rhubarb.  Taking off at 0527 hours.  The formation attacked a line of passenger coaches in Jugar Railway Station  leaving them on fire and smoking.  Nothing else was seen on land so the formation returned to R.A.F. Harrowbeer landing at 0724 hours.

          26th June     The weather clamped down all day, there was no operational or practice flying.

          27th June     At 0920 hours ten Spitfire LFVB aircraft took off carrying five hundred pound bombs to attack hipping in the Channel Islands.  The mission was aborted on account of no shipping being sighted.  The bombs were jettisoned in the sea before they returned home landing at 1100 hours.          Ramrod No.148 was laid on using nine Spitfire LFVB aircraft to escort six long range Typhoon aircraft attacking a transformer station at Mur De Bretangne.  The operation was aborted as the Typhoons had trouble with their fuel tanks and they turned back when they were south of Guincamp.  The Squadron landed back at R.A.F. Harrowbeer at 1920 hours.

          28th June     A no flying day due to bad weather.

          29th June     Another bad weather day.  A Rhubarb that was laid on for the afternoon had to be cancelled.

          30th June     A briefing was made by Wing Commander Bird-Wilson prior to eight Spitfire LFVB aircraft of No.611 Squadron taking off on a Rhubarb at 1530 hours.     Unfortunately s the formation was reaching the English Coast they were ordered to return to base owing to bad weather.  The eight Spitfire aircraft landed at 1545 hours.     News has been received that the Squadron is to move on the 3rd July to R.A.F. Predannack, Cornwall.  The Squadron is hoping to be re-equipped.

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

                                             Squadron Leader W. A. Douglas.

No.691  Squadron :-  

          3rd June     A Warrant Officer of No.691 Squadron flew solo in a Barracuda aircraft from R.A.F. Roborough to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          7th June     A Pilot Officer flew some spare parts from R.A.F. Harwell to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

No.1697  ( ADLS )  Flight :-     Advanced Despatch Letter Service

          5th June     Instructions have been received from Group to commence painting all aircraft with black and white stripes.

          15th June     Three flights from R.A,F. Hendon to the continent involving six aircraft and two flights to R.A.F. Harrowbeer via R.A.F. Thorney Island are successfully completed.

          16th June     A motto is adopted by No.1697 Flight  ' The Mail Goes Through '.

          21st June     A mail flight by a Hurricane aircraft is made to R.A.F. Harrowbeer.  The times given are 1340 hours until 1650 hours.

          23rd June     With the cancellation of the mail run to R.A.F. Harrowbeer via R.A.F. Thorney Island all internal mail runs cease.

             The No.1697  ( ADLS )  Flight O.R.B. for the month of June was signed by :-

                                                Squadron Leader J. E. Storrar.