85 Years ago from the Archives - November 1941

The Hon. E. F. Ward was the Station Commander at R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer for the month of November.  The Station Operation Record Book for the month of November was signed by Squadron Leader R. W. Langmaid.

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

           General Sikorski  -  The Polish Premier

          Professor Raczkiewic  -  The Polish President

          Air Chief Marshal Joubert de la Ferte

          Air Marshal Shulto Douglas

          Flight Officer Douglas  -  No.10 Group Commander C. C. Section

Weather :-

          15th  -  20th November     For the next five days the weather was so bad that all flying had to be abandoned.  The surrounding area was thick with fog, low cloud and experienced heavy storms.

          21st November     The weather improved enough for flying duties to commence.

                                                 From  the  station  O.R.B.

          3rd November     Flight Lieutenant C. V. Jolleff  ( Adjutant ) who was in command of R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer when it was officially opened on the 15th August 1941 was posted to Air Ministry for overseas duty.

          3rd November     At 0815 hours fifty airmen commenced a seven day intensive training course for ' The Defence Training Scheme '.

          9th November     The first musketry practice was held on the Station Range.

          11th November     At 915 hours the Polish Premier, General Sikorsky visited the Station and reviewed No.302 ( Polish ) Squadron and presented decorations to some of the pilots.

          22nd November     Air Chief Marshal Joubert de la Ferte paid a visit to the Station.

          26th November          Air Chief Marshal Shulto Douglas visited R.A.F. Harrowbeer and inspected No.130 and No.302 ( Polish ) Squadrons and also No.276 Air Sea Rescue Squadron. 

                                From  the  Squadron  O.R.B.s

No.130 Squadron :-

          1st November     The Squadron left for R.A.F. Predannack, Cornwall ( eleven Spitfire VB aircraft ).  No.130 Squadron took off from there along with six Blenheim aircraft to act as lose escort on an operation to Morlaix, France.  No enemy aircraft were seen, slight flak was encountered.  ALL  aircraft returned safely to base.

          5th November    Two more Spitfire V's arrived at R.A.F. Harrowbeer for operational duties with the Squadron.

          15th  -  20th  November     The weather for the next five days was bad and flying duties were abandoned.  The Station and the surrounding area encountered fog, low cloud and heavy storms.

          21st November     The weather finally improved enabling flying practice to continue along with shipping convoy patrols, etc. 

          22nd November     Air Training Corps Cadets  ( ATC ) were entertained on the Aerodrome.

          25th November     Thirteen Spitfire VB aircraft of No.130 Squadron took off at 0930 hours for R.A.F. Portreath, Cornwall and after lunch flew on to R.A.F. Predannack, Cornwall where they were to act as high cover to six Blenheim aircraft and No.402 Squadron Hurri-Bombers ( Hurricane aircraft armed with small bombs ).  The target was Morliaix, France which was successfully bombed.  The encountered slight flak but no enemy aircraft.

          29th November     Today the Squadron was due to fly to R.A.F. Warmwell, Dorset for one weeks gun firing practice.  The weather was again unfit for flying, so they remained at R.A.F. Harrowbeer.

          30th November     Sixteen Spitfire VB aircraft left for R.A.F. Warmwell, Dorset.  On their arrival Flight Lieutenant Barber ( in charge of the gun firing camp at R.A.F. Warmwell ) organised all kinds of firing including air to ground firing, clay pigeon, rifle and revolver shooting.

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

          14th November     Sergeant Carter and Sergeant Barlow took off from R.A.F. Station Roborough in a Lysander aircraft on a rescue search in the Exmouth area.  Five miles out, wreckage was seen in the sea but there was no sign of any airmen.  Rescue boats were also searching the area.

No.302 ( Polish )  Squadron :-

          1st November     The Squadron returned from R.A.F. Ibsley, New Forest, Hampshire after completing a cannon firing course.  The Squadron became operational.

          8th November     No.302 ( Polish ) Squadron were engaged in a sweep over France as bomber escort.  Spitfire ( Serial No.AB985 ) flown by Pilot Officer Gutowski took off at 1100 hours with eleven other Spitfires.  Pilot Officer Gutowski failed to return and is posted as missing.  ( NOTE :-  He was caught by the Germans and sent to a Prisoner of War Camp.  After the war he settled in Canada ).

          11th November     The Polish President, Professor Raczliewicz visited the Squadron and awarded some of the pilots with decorations.

          23rd November     Between 0810 hours and 1725 hours the Squadron aircraft carried out thirty eight operational sorties ( mainly shipping convoy patrols in the English Channel ).

          28th November     Flight Lieutenant Kosinski was posted to the Squadron as Flight Commander of ' A ' Flight.

          The rest of the month was spent on shipping convoy patrols, fighter attack training and formation flying practice.