RAF Tarrant Ruston
Beskrivelse
298 RAF RAF TARRANT RUSHTON HP HALIFAX MkIII 8A- 8T- Flyr sammen
644 RAF RAF TARRANT RUSHTON HP HALIFAX MkIIIa & MkV 2P - 9U – Flyr sammen
History
Building of the airfield commenced in May 1942, the airfield being intended for the use of airborne forces of 38 Wing. On 17 May 1943 the base was handed over while still unfinished. Glider operations finally started in October 1943 and continued until 1945.
Horsa gliders from Tarrant Rushton left for France on the eve of D-Day, to begin Operation Tonga with an action that would later become known as Pegasus Bridge. Among the glider pilots was Jim Wallwork, on a Horsa nicknamed Lady Irene. The Tarrant Rushton gliders landed in occupied France shortly after midnight. Wallwork's aircraft was the first to touch down, but it landed heavily: the force of the impact catapulted both Wallwork and his co-pilot John Ainsworth through the front of the cockpit. Although stunned, this made them the first Allied troops to touch French soil on D-Day.[4]
Hamilcar gliders from Tarrant Rushton arrive on Drop Zone 'N' carrying Tetrarch tanks, 6 June 1944.
As part of Operation Tonga, a few Tetrarch tanks of 6th Airborne's Reconnaissance Regiment were also flown from Tarrant Rushton in Hamilcar gliders, towed by Halifax bombers, to land on the French coast near the mouth of the Orne river.[5]
Other gliders were later flown from the airfield to Arnhem to take part in Operation Market Garden. During the closing stages of World War II, aircraft were used for SOE operations.
In September 1946 the airfield was placed on Care and Maintenance status until abandoned in December 1947. However, 6 months later, in June 1948, Flight Refuelling Ltd arrived to begin 30 years of occupancy. Almost immediately Flight Refuelling became involved in the Berlin Airlift and, between July 1948 and August 1949, carried out nearly 4500 sorties using Lancastrians and Lancasters.
In the following 30 years most activity was centred on conversion of aircraft for in-flight refuelling and drone aircraft development, with FR Aviation refining their "Universal Drone Pack" on aircraft flown from the air field. The system allowed the test pilot to fly the aircraft from take-off to touch-down using only the push-buttons on a console identical to that of the ground operator of the drone, turning the button pushes into control surface and throttle movements. During this time, Tarrant Rushton was the home of 8 Sea Vixens, among them XP924, (now G-CVIX), the only Sea Vixen to remain in flying condition.[6][7]
In the 70s Flight Refuelling left the airfield and flying operations moved to Hurn. After that, it was only used by gliders and occasionally by light aircraft until it was officially closed on 30 September 1980.
A memorial to the men who served at the airfield is located by the roadside next to one of the surviving hangars.
_______________________________________________________________________________
January 1st, 1944.
Weather fair to cloudy.
January 2nd, 1944.
Fair or cloudy.
January 3rd, 1944.
Occasional slight rain or drizzle.
January 4th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Lieutenant Colonel R.L. SHERBROOKE, Major S.R. PAWLEY and Squadron Leader B. WARNER from R.A.F. Netheravon visited the station commander to confer on defence matters.
Weather fine or fair apart from scattered showers.
January 5th, 1944; 12.20 hours.
Brigadier G.C. GOTHARD from Wimborne visited in regard to welfare and Home Guard matters. Mr G.H. ROLSTONE of the War Agricultural Committee called to discuss the ploughing of land.
Weather fair to fine.
January 5th, 1944: 14.55 hours.
U.S.A.A.F. Fortress B-17 G21132 forced landed after a bombing raid on Bordeaux - Merignac. Aircraft shot at in 30 places and one member of crew slightly injured by flak splinters.
‘EXERCISE NOX I’ - night paratroop exercise carried out with two aircraft.
January 6th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE NOX II’ - three aircraft took part in paratroop dropping exercise. Two aircraft participated in Pathfinder ‘competition’ in which aircraft went to find their way to an R.V. without Pundit or Occult aids. The weather was fair.
January 7th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE NOX III’ - exercise similar to previous ones, carried out with three aircraft. The weather was fair or cloudy.
January 8th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Wing Commander HOLLMARK of No. 38 Group visited. The weather was cloudy with occasional slight rain.
January 9th, 1944: 18.00 hours.
Flying Officer C. CHAMBERLAIN and Flying Officer W. BLACK reported for demonstration on defence procedure. Weather mainly cloudy, occasional rain or drizzle.
January 10th, 1944.
Major S.R. PAWLEY (H.Q. No. 38 Group) attended demonstrations which were given for the benefit and guidance of station personnel on matters of airfield defence in the event of attack by enemy troops.
‘EXERCISE NOX VI’ - carried out with three aircraft. Exercise IV and V cancelled owing to weather. Cloudy, slight rain early.
January 11th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE NOX VII’ - carried out with three aircraft. Weather cloudy, slight rain and fog in afternoon.
January 12th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Major A.J. CLEMENT from the War Office visited to enquire into accommodation problems. Weather cloudy, occasional drizzle.
January 13th, 1944.
Weather cloudy, rain and drizzle later.
January 14th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Squadron Leader P. WILLIAMS of M.A.P. and Flight Lieutenant W. BARTLETT, Air Ministry, D.S.M., called to see the C.T.O.
‘EXERCISE SPOOK’ - carried out by No. 298 Squadron. 13 aircraft dropped 115 men on a D.Z. at Winterston. Aircraft height of drop 500 feet. Early fog, fine but hazy.
January 15th, 1944: 14.40 hours.
Squadron Leader E.S. PRESSLAND ADGB called in with regard to M.T. matters.
January 15th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Squadron Leader L. STRANGE of Transport Command visited the commanding officer on liaison duties. Weather fair apart from fog.
January 16th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Wing Commander J.E. HOWELL, S.M.O. HQ 38 Group visited the commanding officer in regard to medical matters. Weather fair to fine, mist and fog in low lying places.
January 17th, 1944.
Weather fog clearing later, continuous drizzle.
January 18th, 1944.
Overcast with drizzle, fog clearing evening.
January 19th, 1944: 11.05 hours.
Flight Lieutenant L.G.W. MALLOWS, HQ 38 Group, called to inspect catering facilities. Weather cloudy with rain or drizzle becoming fine.
January 20th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE MANITOBA’ - eight aircraft from No. 298 Squadron took part in paratroop drops with troops of the 1st Canadian Paratroop Brigade and, later, ten Halifax of the same squadron with Hamilcar gliders loading Mk VII Tetrach tanks. Average height of drop 1,000 feet. One glider over-shot and struck a nissen hut on the airfield and both hut and glider were destroyed. The tank, however, was thrown clear and there were no casualties. Weather fog becoming fair to fine.
January 21st, 1944.
Fine inland apart from local mist and risk of scattered showers.
January 22nd, 1944.
Cloudy, rain or drizzle.
January 23rd, 1944.
Squally showers becoming fair.
January 24th, 1944.
Cloudy, continuous rain becoming fair to fine later.
January 25th, 1944.
Fair periods, squally showers of rain or hail.
January 26th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Station visited by Wing Commander GODFREY, No. 38 Group, regarding staff matters.
January 26th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Group Captain W. WAKE, Overseer G.A.L., visited. Weather cloudy rain or drizzle.
January 27th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with occasional slight rain
January 29th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with occasional slight drizzle near coasts.
January 30th, 1944.
Weather fine inland becoming fair to cloudy
January 31st, 1944.
Weather cloudy, mist patches and local hill fog. Cloudy fair later.
The station strength at January 31st, 1944, is:
Station H.Q. - 31 officers and 373 other ranks.
No. 196 Squadron - 45 officers and 510 other ranks.
No. 298 Squadron - 35 officers and 437 other ranks.
Heavy Glider Squadron - 6 officers and 47 other ranks.
TOTAL: 117 officers and 1,367 other ranks.
W.A.A.F. - 5 officers and 184 other ranks.
February 1st, 1944: 11.15 hours.
Wing Commander L.C. BARTRAM (No. 38 Group) visited regarding staff matters. Weather drizzle with much cloud.
February 2nd, 1944.
Weather cloudy, slight rain.
February 3rd, 1944.
Advance party of No. 2786 Squadron, RAFR, consisting of one officer and 28 other ranks arrived from NETHERAVON for construction of gun pits and accommodation huts. Weather mainly cloudy, occasional light showers.
February 4th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Squadon Leader E.F. PRESSLAND, A.D.G.B., inspected the transport section.
February 4th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Squadron Leader A.R.C. WOOLFREY, No. 38 Group, called on the station equipment officer in connection with equipment matters.
February 4th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Squadron Leader J.F.C. SWAYNE, APM. No. 30 Area, visited to discuss security and other analogous matters. Weather fair or fine except for the early hail showers.
February 5th, 1944: 11.30 hours.
Air Commodore H.E. BATTLE, MAP, called on the station commander.
February 5th, 1944: 17.10 hours.
Lieutenant-Colonel W.B.P. PRADISH, H.Q. 6th Airborne Division, visited the station. Flight Lieutenant E.J.N. BRAMALL is appointed ATC liaison officer by HQ., SW Command, ATC Exeter, in respect of the under mentioned squadrons affiliated to this station. The ATC squadrons were 554 Bryanston School, 1480 Blandford, 1069 Wimborne and 505 Canford School. Weather fair becoming fine.
February 6th, 1944: 14.40 hours.
‘EXERCISE CO-OPERATION’ - divided into three parts. Part I - 11 Halifax aircraft dropped 108 troops of the 3rd Paratroop Brigade, 1st Canadian Paratroop Battalion, and 33 containers on the D.Z. at Winterbourne, Stoke. Part II - two Stirlings detailed to drop 48 containers on two D.Z.s. Part III - ten Halifax and 3 Stirling aircraft took off with Horsa gliders for release at Oatlands Hill. Aircraft took three streams formation. Weather fine becoming cloudy.
February 7th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with rain, improving later.
February 8th, 1944.
German aircraft equipment for two days on view at the station for the instruction and interest of all personnel, particularly flying crews.
February 8th, 1944: 10.55 hours.
Wing Commander L.C. BARTRAM interviewed the station commander on staff matters. Weather cloudy becoming fair.
February 9th, 1944.
Weather fair becoming cloudy with slight rain.
February 10th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Group Captain J.H.C. WAKE, MAP, visited the station commander. Weather fine or fair, almost cloudless skies.
February 11th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Wing Commander C. HOWELLS, H.Q. No,. 38 Group, Wing Commander GIBSON, H.Q.ADGB, called to discuss technical staff matters. Weather fair or fine with slight haze.
February 12th, 1944.
Sir TRAFFORD L. LEIGH-MALLORY, KCB, DSO, AOC-in-C AEAF visited the station to view the operations block and addressed aircrews of No. 196 Squadron, No. 298 Squadron and glider pilots. Weather cloudy to fair, later becoming hazy.
February 13th, 1944.
Weather cloudy.
February 14th, 1944.
Weather cloudy, occasional rain.
February 15th, 1944.
Fair becoming cloudy.
February 16th, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Squadron Leader M. CALVERT, HQ Balloon Command, and assistant L. SUTTON, 12 B.C. Titchfield, visited the station to discuss medical matters. Weather rain early becoming gusty.
February 17th, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Air Vice Marshall C. COWTAN, MRCSORCPKHS(5), AEF, called on the station commander in connection with medical matters. Weather fair becoming cloudy.
February 18th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Squadron Leader G.M. GRANT, RCAF HQ Exeter, visited in connection with chaplain duties.
February 18th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
‘EXERCISE GUNNER I’ - RAF stations HURN and STONEY CROSS also took part in this exercise. 10 Stirling-Horsa combinations were ordered to release gliders at SILT HILL. 20 combinations took part from HURN and STONEY CROSS and two Pathfinders from the latter station. Troops taking part were personnel of the 1st Airborne Division with jeeps, guns and trailers. Slight snow throughout the day.
February 19th, 1944.
Weather cloudy, slight snow.
February 20th, 1944: 23.00 hours.
Stirling aircraft crashed in the vicinity of TARRANT HINTON. Crew of 6 killed.
Weather fair to cloudy.
February 21st, 1944.
Weather cloudy. Visibility deteriorating later.
February 22nd, 1944: 09.36 hours.
‘EXERCISE OBAN’ - 8 Stirling-Horsa combinations released gliders at SILK HILL. HURN and STONEY CROSS also participated in this exercise. Weather cloudy, slight snow with showers later.
February 23rd, 1944.
‘EXERCISE PANK’ - 5 Halifax combinations ordered to cast off gliders at D.Z. near FOXBURY HILL. Troops taking part were those of 13th Paratroop Battalion (5 Paratroop Brigade). Weather cloudy, slight showers later.
February 24th, 1944.
Formation of HQ Servicing Wing and Nos. 3145 and 3146 Servicing Eschelons with the purpose of centralising technical administration. Weather fine but early haze.
February 25th, 1944.
Weather fair.
February 26th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with early haze.
February 27th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Wing Commander PUTT, Air Ministry, interviewed the commanding officer. Weather cloudy, improving later.
February 28th, 1944.
Weather fair.
February 29th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Mr R.H.GUYATT, A.M. Horticulture Adviser, visited the station administrative officer to discuss station cultivations. Weather fine becoming cloudy later.
The station strength at this date is:
Station HQ - 32 officers and 435 other ranks.
No. 196 Squadron - 43 officers and 471 other ranks.
No. 298 Squadron - 67 officers and 565 other ranks.
Heavy Glider Squadron - 21 officers and 211 other ranks.
TOTAL: 163 officers and 1,682 other ranks.
W.A.A.F.- 5 officers and 191 other ranks.
March 1st, 1944.
No. 644 Squadron formed at this station against establishment LWE/SR/1142 dated 23rd February, 1944. Nucleus of personnel transferred from No. 298 Squadron with Squadron Leader A.G. NORMAN, DFC, in temporary command. Weather mainly cloudy becoming fair to fine from 18.00 hours.
March 2nd, 1944.
Advanced party of No. 2733 Anti-Aircraft Squadron, RAFR, arrived from NORTH WEALD. Weather fair, snow showers.
March 3rd, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Wing Commander PUTT, Air Ministry, called for conference with station commander.
‘EXERCISE SAILOR’ (glider exercise) - 10 Stirling-Horsa and 10 Halifax-Horsa combinations took part. 21 gliders were released over the L.Z. at WELLFORD (A/D) between 09.31 and 09.37 3/4 hours from 2,000 feet. The L.Z. was identified by map reading, formation flying and Gee fixes and Eureka, Rebecca.
181 troops of the 101st American Airborne Division were carried together with 17 trucks, 19 trailers, 2 jeeps and 100 gallons of petrol. 1 Stirling released its glider at base when one of the engines of the tug aircraft caught fire in the air. Both tug and glider landed safely at base. Ropes were dropped at ROLLESTONE A/D. The rope-dropping area was pot marked by smoke candle until 10.01 hours as per orders. Weather fine or fair, cloud little or none.
March 4th, 1944: 17.30 hours.
Air Commodore P.E. MAITLAND, MVO, AFC, and Group Captain LEWIS-ROBERTS, visited the station. Weather mainly fair, variable high and medium cloud.
March 5th, 1944: 14.10 hours.
Group Captain J.H.C. WAKE, MAP, visited the station to confer with the station commander and chief technical officer. Weather fair to cloudy.
March 6th, 1944: 12.10 hours.
Squadron Leader A. CROFT, H.Q.ADGB, made a staff visit to discuss M.T. matters.
Weather fair becoming cloudy.
March 7th, 1944.
Squadron Leader A.E.R.GILLIGAN, Welfare Officer Air Ministry, visited the station to discuss welfare matters.
‘EXERCISE BILL I’ - (Guinea-Pigs) 2 Halifax Mk II aircraft took off from base to drop 10 troops each on the Divisional D.Z. 19 troops were dropped on the D.Z. between 21.40 and 23.15. 1 man jumped too early on accidental red and green being given 1 mile north of D.Z. Weather cloudy, fine.
March 8th, 1944.
New station establishment number LWE/SR/1735A dated February 19th, 1944, received.
March 8th, 1944: 13.00 hours.
Wing Commander R.C. HOCKEY, HQ. No. 38 Group, visited the station to confer with the commanding officer and senior operations officer. Squadron Leader P.H. FAURE of the Air Ministry visited the station.
March 8th, 1944: 16.30 hours.
Flying Officer N.NIELD, H.Q. TTCAMADO (Mails) reported to discuss postal arrangements and procedures. Weather fair or fine.
March 9th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Lieutenant-Colonel R.L.S.SHERBROOKE, H.Q. No. 38 Group, visited the station to confer on station defence matters. Squadron Leader A.R.C. WOOLFREY (H.Q. No. 38 Group) called on the station equipment officer No. 273 Squadron RAFR arrived from RAF station NORTH WEALD. Weather cloudy becoming fair.
March 10th, 1944.
Fog becoming mist.
March 11th, 1944: 09.00 hours.
Wing Commander KEPPEL of the Air Ministry called on the station commander.
‘EXERCISE BILL III’ - 3 Halifax Mk V aircraft dropped 29 troops on Divisional D.Z. There was one refusal to enplane. Dropped between 21.55 and 00.41 hours at 500 feet A.G.L. Advanced party of No. 2810 Anti-Aircraft Squadron RAFR arrived from RAF station MARSTON MOOR. Weather cloudy.
March 12th, 1944.
No. 2737 Anti-Aircraft Squadron RAFR completed the movement to this station. Move of No. 196 Squadron to KEEVIL commenced. Weather slight rain, cloudy.
March 13th, 1944.
Squadron Leader WILLIAMS and Flight Lieutenant WEBSDALE, No. 38 Group, made a staff visit. Weather cloudy to fair.
March 14th, 1944: 14.10 hours.
Wing Commander KEPPEL, Wing Commander HUSBAND and Wing Commander GALE, all of the Air Ministry, visited to confer with the station commander.
March 14th, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Squadron Leader MASTERMAN, DAPM, Salisbury, called in connection with the investigations into larceny offences.
March 14th, 1944: 15.10 hours.
Wing Commander V.R. RUDOLD, DPM, visited the station. Weather fair becoming cloudy.
March 15th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Wing Commander W.F. BRYANT, AM, visited to confer on the N.A.F.F.I. liaison. Squadron Leader WALLACE of the Air Ministry visited. A Horsa glider crash landed after being airborne by a Stirling aircraft. It demolished half a nissen hut of the RAFR. The pilots escaped injury.
Main body of No. 2810 Anti-Aircraft Squadron, RAFR, arrived. Weather fine, hazy, fair.
March 16th, 1944: 11.50 hours.
Lieutenant Commander R. ALLEN, Naval Liaison Officer No. 38 Group, visited to discuss administrative disciplinary matters with naval personnel. Flight Lieutenant FINCH, D.A.B.M. of No. 30 Area, visited on station police inspectorate matters.
A Horsa glider towed by a Stirling aircraft foul landed near WESTBURY. A Halifax aircraft belly-landed at 15.22 hours. Crew unhurt. Weather cloudy, light rain.
March 17th, 1944.
Wing Commander POPE arrived and assumed command of No. 644 Squadron. Move of No. 196 Squadron completed. Weather fine to fair - hazy.
March 18th, 1944.
Weather fog later cleared when cloudy.
March 19th, 1944.
Weather cloudy, intermittent slight drizzle or rain.
March 20th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Squadron Leader CROFT, HQ ADGB, visited to discuss Meteorological matters.
March 20th, 1944: 13.30 hours.
Flight Lieutenant N. LANGDALE, No. 2 District, HQ. RCAF Liaison Officer, visited to contact RCAF personnel.
‘EXERCISE BIZZ I’ - Intended to practise co-operation between No. 38 Group and USAAF Troop Carrier Command viz. supply by air. 14 Halifax aircraft combinations took off between 16.00 and 16.09 hours. 12 Horsa gliders were released over the L.Z. at BRIZE NORTON aerodrome between 17.27 1/2 and 17.33 hours. Glider released through a broken tow rope made a successful landing four miles west of SHAFTESBURY. One combination has its tow rope cut by an unidentified Stirling aircraft. The glider landed successfully. There was some difficulty in loading and marshalling owing to shortage of equipment.
March 21st, 1944: 15.30 hours.
Wing Commander NEVILLE, ADGB, paid a staff visit.
14.45 hours.
Flight Lieutenant BANTOFT, H.Q. No. 38 Group, visited the station to discuss aircraft and accidents procedure. Weather fair to cloudy.
March 22nd, 1944: 09.45 hours.
Squadron Leader JOHNSTON and Flight Lieutenant LOWE of No. 38 Group paid staff visits. No. 249 Field Company comprising 2 officers and 56 other ranks arrived. Weather cloudy, occasional slight rain or drizzle.
March 23rd, 1944.
Weather fine to fair.
March 24th, 1944; 14.52 hours.
Air Marshall SIR DOUGLAS C.S. EVILL, KCB, DSC, AFC, accompanied by Air Commodore BLADIN arrived by air and departed at 17.17 hours. They witnessed a "mass take-off" of 4 Halifax-Hamilcar combinations and also saw a loaded Hamilcar on the ground. The take off took 100 seconds.
17.00 hours.
Brigadier H.A.B. MANNING of the 69th Brigade called on the station commander. Weather fine but hazy.
March 25th, 1944; 11.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant L.D.LIGHT, No. 38 Group, visited on staff duties.
‘EXERCISE BIZZ II’ - This exercise was similar to Bizz I. 14 Halifax-Horsa combinations took off between 17.15 hours and 17.23 hours and 33 seconds. 12 Horsas were released at the L.Z., BRIZE NORTON airfield between 18.43 1/4 hours and 18.45 1/2 hours at 2,000 feet A.S.L. The following were landed on the L.Z.: 87 troops, 2 12-500 cwt cars, four motorcycles and 4-20 M/M guns. One Horsa was discovered u/s before take-off and one was airborne when the elevator control failed and the tug and Horsa returned to base. Weather fine, hazy.
March 26th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant A.L. MUIRHEAD, No. 38 Group, visited the photographic section. Weather fine or fair.
March 27th, 1944.
Crews for No. 644 Squadron completed. Weather fine but hazy.
March 28th, 1944.
Weather thick fog after 12.00 hours. Fine, hazy.
March 29th, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Captain J.F.CHAPMAN, Dorset South District, called on liaison duties.
March 29th, 1944: 15.30 hours.
Colonel J.G. McGRAW, USA-AA Blandford Camp, called in on the station commander. Detachment from 8 Parachute Battalion comprising two officers and 52 other ranks arrived. Weather overcast with low stratus and mist.
March 30th, 1944.
Squadron Leader W.H. GOLLINGS, 5351 ACW, visited the station equipment officer and works flight. Weather slight rain becoming slight slight rain, cloudy becoming fair.
March 31st, 1944.
No. 4676 Works Flight arrived from BEAULIEU.
The station strength at this date is:
Station H.Q. - 42 officers and 533 other ranks.
No. 298 Squadron - 47 officers and 300 other ranks.
No. 644 Squadron - 46 officers and 240 other ranks.
No. 3145 Servicing Eschelon - 1 officer and 330 other ranks.
No. 3146 Servicing Eschelon 1 officer and 250 other ranks.
No. 249 Field Company - 2 officers and 56 other ranks.
AEO or ALO - 1 officer and 5 other ranks.
No. 8. Parachute Battalion - 2 officers and 52 other ranks.
Glider Pilot Regiment, ‘C’ Squadron - 10 officers and 100 other ranks.
No. 2810 Anti-Aircraft, RAFR - 6 officers and 237 other ranks.
No. 2733 Anti-Aircraft, RAFR - 6 officers and 175 other ranks.
TOTAL: 164 officers and 2,278 other ranks.
W.A.A.F. - 5 officers and 237 other ranks.
April 1st, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Weather rain later becoming gusty.
April 2nd, 1944.
Weather early fog becoming fair, rain later.
April 3rd, 1944.
Air Vice Marshall EDWARDS visited this station for a special conference with the station commander. Weather rain, visibility poor.
April 4th, 1944: 18.15 hours.
‘EXERCISE DREM’ - Intention to drop 244 troops on L.Z. at BRIZE NORTON and HARWELL. First lift of the 10 Halifax combinations of No. 298 Squadron took off, seven were successfully released over the L.Z. at an average height of 1,450 feet. 3 gliders cast off before reaching the L.Z. Second lift of 8 Halifax combinations of No. 644 Squadron took off at 19.28 hours. 3 were successfully released over the L.Z. but 5 cast off before reaching the objective owing to weather conditions. 208 troops were landed. Weather drizzle, low cloud.
April 5th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Group Captain G.E. WOOD and Wing Commander H.B. VERITY of the Air Ministry called with regard to staff matters. Weather early drizzle, later fair, good visibility.
April 5th, 1944.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five of 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France.
April 6th, 1944.
Weather early fog becoming fair.
April 7th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and seven of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France. Weather cloudy becoming fair.
April 8th, 1944: 11.10 hours.
Wing Commander G.G. MEAGER, HQ of No. 41 Group, visited on glider liaison matters. Weather fair to cloudy, hazy but later rain and drizzle.
April 9th, 1944.
One aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 3 of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France.
April 9th, 1944:10.50 hours.
Air Commodore H.F.V. BATTLE, OBE, DFC, of MAP, called on the station commander. Weather early drizzle with showers later. Low cloud, moderate visibility.
April 10th, 1944: 02.12 hours.
‘EXERCISE TOM’ - Navigational exercise to test accurate timing at R.V. and D.Z. 20 aircraft took off and 18 were over the D.Z. at NETHERAVON between 04.30 and 04.46 hours. 2 aircraft did not reach their objective due to weather. Weather fog and drizzle.
April 11th, 1944.
Seven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and nine of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France. Weather intermittent rain becoming fair.
April 12th, 1944.
Weather fair.
April 13th, 1944.
Weather early rain, becoming fair.
April 14th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with rain later.
April 15th, 1944: 14.51 hours.
‘EXERCISE POSH’ - Intention to drop troops of the 1st Polish Paratroop Battalion on D.Z. near WINTERBORNE STOKE. 6 Halifax aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 8 of No. 644 Squadron were involved. No. 298 Squadron dropped 59 troops and 13 containers and No. 644 Squadron dropped 77 troops and 36 containers. There were no hang-ups in container dropping but two were jettisoned. Weather early fog with thundery rain later.
April 16th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Air Vice Marshall L.N. HOLLINGHURST, CBE, OBE, DFC, AOC No. 38 Group, called to interview selected officers for permanent commissions. Weather cloudy, fine later.
April 17th, 1944.
Weather fog, improving visibility.
April 18th, 1944.
Weather fair to fine.
April 19th, 1944.
Weather early fog, rain later.
April 20th, 1944.
Weather fair to fine.
April 21st, 1944: 07.20 hours.
‘EXERCISE MUSH’ - Intention to land 1st Air Landing Brigade and Divisional troops, 1st Airborne Division, in two lifts with 16 and 12 Halifax-Horsa combinations on BRIZE NORTON and HARWELL respectively. S.A.S.O., No. 38 Group, reported he was very pleased with the Tarrant Rushton record of take-offs, viz, 16 in 11 minutes and 12 in 9 minutes. Weather fair to cloudy.
April 22nd, 1944: 10.00 hours.
General D. EISENHOWER, Supreme Commander British and US Armies in Great Britain, arrived by air accompanied by Air Chief Marshall SIR TRAFFORD LEIGH-MALLORY, KCB, DSO, and Air Vice Marshall L.N. HOLLINGHURST, CBE, OBE, DFC. The party visited the station operations room where a conference was held and later all crews were addressed in the briefing room. Weather early fog, becoming fine.
April, 23rd, 1944: 10.45 hours.
Wing Commander A.R. PUTT of the Air Ministry visited the station. Weather fog, early drizzle, becoming fair.
April 24th, 1944.
Weather cloudy to fair.
April 25th, 1944.
Weather fair to fine.
April 26th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Group Captain P.V. PLANT and Wing Commander G.C.BYRON of the Air Ministry called in regard to security matters. Weather fine to fair.
April 27th, 1944, and April 28th, 1944.
Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 4 aircraft of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France. Weather fine to fair.
April 28th, 1944, and April 29th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 5 of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France. Weather fair to cloudy.
April 29th, 1944, and April 30th, 1944.
Six aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 6 of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for operations over France. Weather cloudy, fine later.
April 29th, 1944: 15.20 hours.
Squadron Leader L.M. JOHNSTON and Squadron Leader WEBSDALE of HQ No. 38 Group called on duty matters.
April 30th, 1944.
Weather early fog becoming fine.
The station strength at this date is:
Station HQ - 49 officers and 706 other ranks.
No. 298 Squadron - 54 officers and 268 other ranks.
No. 644 Squadron - 40 officers and 174 other ranks.
No. 6298 and No. 6644 Servicing Eschelons, and No. 14 and No. 15 Glider Servicing Eschelons - 1 officer and 888 other ranks.
A.L.O. - 3 officers and 70 other ranks.
No. 2733 and No. 2810 of the RAFR - 11 officers and 400 other ranks.
DSAF ‘C’ Squadron - 14 officers and 186 other ranks.
TOTAL: 172 officers and 2692 other ranks.
W.A.A.F. - 7 officers and 250 other ranks.
GRAND TOTAL: 179 officers and 2942 other ranks.
May 1st, 1944.
Weather fair to cloudy.
May 2nd, 1944: 10.00 hours.
‘EXERCISE SABU’ - 10 aircraft of No. 644 Squadron and 2 of No. 298 Squadron detailed to drop "guinea pigs" on provisional D.Z. Instructions subsequently received to cancel exercise but not before 4 aircraft were airborne. These aircraft reached the D.Z. and dropped 30 paratroops. Weather cloudy becoming fine.
May 3rd, 1944:
Six aircraft of No. 298 Squadron carried out operations over France. Weather cloudy becoming fair to fine.
May 4th, 1944: 22.00 hours.
‘EXERCISE CONFIRMATION’ - Intention to drop 1 container from each of 30 Halifax aircraft on D.Z. of Sheet 122 508 494 by moonlight without ground aids. 15 aircraft of 298 Squadron dropped 12 containers on the D.Z. 15 aircraft from No. 644 Squadron dropped 13 containers on the D.Z. Weather cloudy with slight rain late morning, becoming fair with showers.
May 5th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Seven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 6 of No. 644 Squadron carried out operations over France. Weather fair with occasional showers afternoon and evening.
May 6th, 1944.
Seven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 7 of No. 644 Squadron carried out operations over France. Weather cloudy becoming fair at night.
May 7th, 1944: 21.30 hours.
‘EXERCISE DEAD STICK II’ - 4 aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and 2 of No. 644 Squadron released gliders loaded with ballast over D.Z. Sheet 122, co-ordinates 618 692 by moonlight. Weather fair to fine.
May 8th, 1944.
Lancaster L57 of EAST KIRBY, No. 5 Group, landed on return from an attack on Tours. Aircraft attacked by JU88 over target and again over Jersey. Damage to aircraft sustained and rear gunner badly hit.
May 8th, 1944: 23.05 hours.
‘EXERCISE DINGO II’ - Intention to land Horsa gliders over NETHERAVON south airfield by moonlight and drop containers on the divisional D.Z. 8 Halifax-Horsa combinations of No. 644 Squadron took off and 6 released their gliders over the D.Z. 3 aircraft dropped one container each over the D.Z. 6 Halifax-Horsa combinations of No. 298 Squadron took off and 4 released their gliders over the D.Z. while 3 dropped their containers. 2 aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 1 of No. 644 Squadron carried out operations over France. Weather fair to fine.
May 9th, 1944.
Six aircraft of No. 298 Squadron carried out operations over France. Weather fine, slight haze.
May 10th, 1944.
Wellington ‘P’ of No. 30 O.T.U. at LEIGHFORD, No. 93 Group, landed on return from Nichel raid over France. Target was Orleans. Navigator taken ill on course. Weather fair to cloudy becoming fine at night.
May 11th, 1944.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 4 from No. 644 Squadron departed on operations over France. Weather fog clearing by 10.00 hours, fine thereafter.
May 12th, 1944.
Weather fine.
May 13th, 1944: 01.15 hours.
While landing, Horsa glider LH 339 collided with Halifax aircraft on the airfield. Glider badly over-shot airfield. Both Halifax and glider sustained damage but no casualties sustained.
May 13th, 1944: 02.15 hours.
Badly over-shooting the airfield, a Horsa glider LH 520 collided with Halifax aircraft QQ. Aircraft sustained damage category B and Horsa glider written off. Glider pilot Sergeant BLACKBURN was killed and Staff Sergeant HAROLD FORD was seriously injured. Weather fine becoming cloudy with intermittent light rain.
May 14th, 1944.
Weather fair to fine.
May 15th, 1944.
Weather fine to fair with slight showers in late afternoon.
May 16th, 1944.
Weather fair in morning then showery.
May 17th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with intermittent rain or showers.
May 18th, 1944: 21.05 hours.
Practise mass glider take-off and landing at dusk. 12 Halifax-Hamilcar combinations of No. 298 Squadron and 12 similar combinations of No. 644 Squadron took part. Weather fair, mainly slight showers towards dusk then becoming fine.
May 19th, 1944: 11.04 hours.
Practise mass glider take-off and landing by day. 18 Halifax-Horsa combinations of No. 298 Squadron and a similar number from No. 644 Squadron took part.
May 19th, 1944: 19.00 hours.
Practise mass glider take-off and landing at dusk. 18 Halifax-Horsa combinations from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part. Weather mainly fine, slight shower late afternoon.
May 20th, 1944.
Weather fine.
May 21st, 1944.
Weather becoming overcast about 03.00 hours. Slight drizzle at dusk, fair later.
May 22nd, 1944: 16.07 hours.
Aircraft ‘H’ of No. 644 Squadron crash landed off runway 01. Aircraft damaged. No casualties.
May 22nd, 1944: 21.31 hours.
Practise mass take-off of Halifax-Hamilcar combinations at dusk, including combinations from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part. One glider ran into a hedge near the Wimborne road on landing. Starboard under carriage collapsed. Weather mainly fine.
May 23rd, 1944.
Weather fair becoming cloudy.
May 24th, 1944: 00.51 hours.
Glider crash landed near the station sick quarters. Glider pilots received minor injuries. Weather mainly fine.
May 25th, 1944.
Weather becoming cloudy during the morning with intermittent light rain or drizzle afternoon onwards.
May 26th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Weather intermittent drizzle becoming fair in afternoon.
May 27th, 1944: 00.19 hours.
Halifax aircraft ‘E’ of No. 644 Squadron crashed on take-off. The pilot and rear gunner were killed. The other members of the crew were uninjured. The pilots of the glider which was being towed escaped without injury. Weather mainly fair to fine.
May 28th, 1944.
One aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out operations over France. Weather fine.
May 29th, 1944: 11.32 hours.
Practise mass take-off of gliders by day. 36 Halifax-Horsa combinations took part. 19 from No. 298 Squadron and 17 from No. 644 Squadron. Two aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in operations over France. Weather fine.
May 30th, 1944: 23.55 hours.
Practise mass take-off of gliders by moonlight. 36 Halifax-Horsa combinations took part, 18 from No. 298 Squadron and 18 from No. 644 Squadron. Three gliders failed to land at base. 1 glider crash-landed at MOOR CRITCHELL and was completely written off, another at SHAPWICK sustained damage and a third at SPETTISBURY. Weather fine to midday, thunderstorms afternoon and evening, becoming fine after dusk.
May 31st, 1944.
Weather fair, hazy and cloud near surface coming in from the Channel at dusk.
The total operational flying time for the month of May, 1944, was 2,159 hours and 40 minutes including 1,097 hours and 25 minutes of night flying.
Administration:
May 1st, 1944: 10.15 hours.
Visit from Flight Lieutenant CAMBRIDGE, H.Q. No. 38 Group, on armament matters.
May 2nd, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader SANDIFORD and Flight Lieutenant LACE of No. 38 Group visited the station to discuss intelligence problems.
May 5th, 1944: 12.99 hours.
Mr GUYALL of the Air Ministry visited the station administrative officer in regard to station horticultural matters.
May 5th, 1944: 14.40 hours.
Group Captain WAKE of MAP visited on liaison duties.
May 6th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Flight Officer C.M. RAWCLIFFE, H.Q. No. 38 Group, visited in connection with WAAF matters.
May 8th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Squadron Leader C.D.PALMER, H.Q. ADGB, visited the station to discuss staff matters.
May 9th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Squadron Leader A.R.G. WOOLFREY, H.Q. No. 38 Group, attended to inspect the equipment section. Flight Lieutenant BANTOFT, No. 38 Group Accidents and Inspection Department, called on the CTO on aircraft safety.
May 11th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Brigadier C.B. BRITTEN and Lieutenant Colonel R.L.SHERBROOKE, No. 38 Group, visited the station to discuss defence matters with Major RYCROFT, L.D.A.
May 16th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader J.VANDY of ADGB visited in regard to M.T. matters. Wing Commander SIR R.PIGOT, RALO, from Reading visited the commanding officer on transport matters.
May 17th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Group Captain ALVEY, H.Q. No. 38 Group, called on the station commander in regard to administration matters.
May 17th, 1944: 13.00 hours.
Group Captain LOWE and Wing Commander HASENDIN of ADGB visited the station to arrange matters in connection with the requisitioning of additional land.
May 18th, 1944: 12.45 hours.
Group Captain G.C. WOOD, Major HARE of the Air Ministry (AL 10) called to discuss with the station commander. Wing Commander C.J.N. HATCHER H.Q. ADGB visited on armament matters.
May 23rd, 1944.
Air Vice Marshall C.B.S. SLACKMAN, DFC, and Wing Commander PAGE, ADGB, called on the station commander.
May 23rd, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant RICKETT of the Air Ministry delivered a lecture on the interrogation of prisoners of war. A similar lecture at 14.00 hours was followed by the showing of a film entitled ‘Information Please’.
May 23rd, 1944: 11.45 hours.
Squadron Leader CAMPBELL and Flight Lieutenant WALTERS, No. 38 Group H.Q. visited to confer on signals matters.
May 24th, 1944: 11.45 hours.
Squadron Leader McAGHTY, H.Q. ADGB, attended to interview the station physical fitness officer.
May 25th, 1944: 12.15 hours.
Squadron Leader WILLIAMSON, Squadron Leader WEBSTER, No. 38 Group H.Q., visited the CTO on engineering and electrical matters.
May 25th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant GULLING and Flight Lieutenant LOWE, H.Q. No. 38 Group, visited to discuss gas, fire and security matters respectively.
May 26th, 1944: 10.40 hours.
Squadron Leader W.W. LEIGH-JONES, H.Q. No. 38 Group, called to discuss matters relating to flying control.
May 26th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant G.BESSEY, H.Q. No. 38 Group, visited the CTO on engineering matters.
May 26th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant R.A. FRANCIS, H.Q. No. 38 Group, called in regard to air information matters.
May 26th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Lecture to aircrew by Sergeant A.J.A. REYNOLDS on escape and evasion subsequent to being shot down over enemy territory.
May 26th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Security lecture to all air crews.
May 29th, 1944: 11.10 hours.
Wing Commander J.E.B. COCHRANE DPM V11 District Bristol visited the station administration officer on security matters.
Squadron Leader WOOLFREY, No. 38 Group, visited the station on equipment matters.
May 31st, 1944.
The officer in medical charge reports that a minor outbreak of infectious disease (German Measles 6 cases, Chicken Pox 2 cases) occurred but which now appears to have subsided.
Personnel note for May, 1944:
May 8th, 1944.
5506 Station Officer J.E. LEWIS posted from MILDENHALL to this station for assistant adjutant duties.
May 9th, 1944.
Pilot Officer R.B. CARTER posted from NETHERAVON for radar duties.
May 11th, 1944.
4565 Station Officer J.M COUZENS posted to KEEVIL for code and cipher duties.
Flight Lieutenant M.D. ALEXANDER posted from GRAVESEND catering duties.
May 18th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant J.M. MacINTYRE posted to this station from HORNCHURCH for flying control duties.
May 27th, 1944.
Flying Officer H. NICHOLSON posted from NETHERAVON for meteorological duties.
May 28th, 1944.
135216 Flying Officer M.R. UPTON posted from GRAVESEND for flying control duties.
May 29th, 1944.
Pilot Officer I.D. RAY posted from SLEAP for flying control duties.
The personnel strength at the end of May, 1944, was:
RAF officers: 141 RAF other ranks: 2,229
RCAF officers: 26 RCAF other ranks: 40
RNZAF officers: 2 RNAF other ranks: 1
RAAF officers: 7 RAAF other ranks: 31
WAAF officers: 8 WAAF other ranks: 246
Total officers: 184. Total other ranks: 2,547.
June, 1944.
June 1st, 1944.
Weather cloudy with drizzle during morning, becoming fair towards dusk.
June 2nd, 1944.
Weather fair visibility.
June 3rd, 1944.
Weather mainly fair visibility but cloud generally more.
June 4th, 1944: 20.00 hours and 21.00 hours.
Film of the area of forthcoming operations was shown to all aircrew and glider pilots in the briefing room and again an hour later.
Weather fair to cloudy with rain in the evening.
June 5th, 1944.
Operation ‘COUP DE MAIN’ - intention to land 171 troops capture intact bridges across the Caen Canal and River Orne north of Caen. 6 Halifax-Horsa combinations were used and to disguise their intention were to drop 12 500 M.G. instantaneous bombs on a powder factory situated south-east of Caen after releasing gliders. All aircraft returned to base. 5 aircraft bombed the target but one failed to locate it.
June 6th, 1944.
Operation ‘TONGA’ - 30 Halifax V aircraft detailed to release Horsa gliders alongside LZ ‘N’ east of Caen Canal and drop 9 containers per aircraft on the DZ to the south of the LZ. 4 Halifax V aircraft detailed to release Hamilcar gliders loaded with 17 lbs guns over LZ ‘N’. One aircraft ‘K’ 288 piloted by Flying Officer ANDERSON failed to return from this operation while 5 aircraft failed to release gliders over the LZ. Weather cloudy with slight showers in the evening.
June 6th, 1944.
Operation ‘MALLARD’ - 30 Halifax V aircraft detailed to release Hamilcar gliders over the LZ ‘N’. 2 Halifax Vs detailed to release Horsa gliders over LZ ‘N’ and drop 18 containers on DZ reference 683766 Sheet 7 F.2. Scale 1: 50,000. One aircraft piloted by Flying Officer CARPENTER failed to return from this operation. Weather fair to cloudy.
June 7th, 1944.
Dakota 326 V of No. 62 Troop Carrier Squadron stationed at SALTLEY, landed on the return from supply-dropping mission over the Cherbourg Peninsula. Starboard engine oil tank shot up. Weather cloudy with slight rain about dawn.
June 8th, 1944.
Two Liberators of No. 787 Bomber Group stationed at NORTH PECKENHAM and 11 Liberators of No. 389 Bomber Group stationed at HETHEL near Norwich landed owing to shortage of fuel after engaged in operations over France. Flying Officer ANDERSON pilot of K 288 on ‘Operation Tonga’ returned to base and reported that his glider released and containers successfully dropped on the DZ but aircraft shot up by heavy flak from Caen. Port wing tank caught fire and the crew bailed out. Weather fair becoming cloudy with slight rain for noon and more continuous rain in the evening.
June 9th, 1944.
Flying Officer CARPENTER from ‘Operation Mallard’ with crew returned to base and reported glider successfully released and aircraft hit by flak while crossing the French coast. Fire broke out and the aircraft ditched at 21.29 hours. Crew rescued by minesweeper. Rear gunner sustained bad injuries on ditching. Captain received minor injuries but rest of crew free from harm. Weather rain throughout the night.
June 10th, 1944.
Operation ‘ROB ROY IV’ - 3 Halifax aircraft combinations from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron released six jeeps, six 6 pounder guns and 36 containers on DZ ‘W’. Fortress crash-landed but crew escaped injury. Lieutenant NICHOLAS flying Thunderbolt P47, 2nd Fighter Bomber Group stationed at KING’S NORTH landed to refuel on return from operations over France. Halifax aircraft ‘O’ of No. 644 Squadron (pilot Flying Officer BRETHERTON) detailed to drop 4 troops, 1 jeep and 6 containers on target ‘Sunflower’. Owing to 10/10ths low cloud, the DZ not located and the aircraft returned to base without completing the mission. Weather cloudy.
June 11th, 1944.
Liberator flown by captain Lieutenant MILLER of No. 701 Squadron from No. 45 Group Station SIBENHAM landed from operation over France owing to shortage of fuel. Bombs not unloaded on account of bad visibility and cloud over beach-head area. Weather fair to cloudy.
June 12th, 1944: 11.50 hours.
A Liberator RE R.E. 2729 flown by captain WYLIE of No. 329 Squadron, No. 93 Group, stationed at HARDWICK, landed.
June 12th, 1944:11.59 hours.
Liberator J.U. 210043 captained by Lieutenant NICHOLSON of No. 707 Squadron,
No. 446 Group, stationed at BENEGAY landed.
Both aircraft attacked target at GUERS. Bombs dropped. On their run-into target, Captain WYLIE’S aircraft was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire and rear gunner wounded. Gunner taken to local hospital. Pilot Officer READER, rear gunner of Flying Officer ANDERSON’S crew on ‘Operation Tonga’, returned to base.
Lord TRENCHARD paid an informal visit and addressed the crews of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron in their respective crew rooms, and the glider pilots in the briefing room.
Weather fair to dawn, then becoming cloudy during the day.
June 13th, 1944.
Flying Officer EVANS, Sergeants ANNON and LEWIS of Flying Officer Anderson’s crew on ‘Operation Tonga’ returned to base.
Operation ‘SUNFLOWER VII’ - 10 Halifax aircraft were detailed to drop No. 1. Parachute Brigade, one cycle, 150 containers and 19 packages on DZ at Dingson. 1 aircraft failed to locate the DZ.
Weather fair becoming cloudy.
June 14th, 1944.
Weather fair to cloudy.
June 15th, 1944.
Weather fair to dawn becoming cloudy in afternoon.
June 16th, 1944.
Weather rain and drizzle before dawn, cloudy for remainder of the day.
June 17th, 1944: 10.58 hours.
Mass take-off by aircraft of No. 644 Squadron - 15 Halifax-Hadrian combinations took part.
‘SUNFLOWER X’ - 2 Halifax aircraft from each of No.298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron dropped 4 jeeps, 12 containers, 12 troops and 4 spare wheels for jeeps on DZ ‘Dingson 9’. Two aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron dropped 4 jeeps, 20 containers, 4 troops, 1 pannier and a bundle of stretchers and blankets on DZ ‘Bullbasket 6’. Weather cloudy to dawn, later fair to fine.
June 18th, 1944: 12.55 hours.
Horsa glider crash-landed into hedge at end of 01 runway and damaged two gliders parked on dispersal. Also damaged was No. 20 gun site. Pilots Staff Sergeant NUTTON and Lieutenant MILLS. Weather mainly fine with cloudy periods in afternoon.
June 19th, 1944.
Weather fair to fine.
June 20th, 1944.
Weather fine.
June 21st, 1944.
Weather cloudy to mid-afternoon then fine.
June 22nd, 1944.
Three Stirlings of No. 190 Squadron stationed at FAIRFORD were diverted to TARRANT RUSHTON on return from specialist dropping operations on ‘HOUNDSWORTH 9A’. 2 Stirlings of No. 190 Squadron on separate expedition diverted to this airfield, target ‘HOUNDSWORTH 9B’. Weather fair to cloudy.
June 23rd, 1944.
Weather cloudy.
June 24th, 1944.
Weather fair.
June 25th, 1944.
Weather fair becoming cloudy afternoon onwards.
June 26th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with rain almost continuous from before dawn to midnight.
June 27th, 1944.
Special operation ‘GAIN VII’ 1 Halifax piloted by Squadron Leader NORMAN of No. 644 Squadron dropped two SAS troops, 1 jeep, six containers and one pannier containing W/T sets on DZ. Weather cloudy with light showers afternoon and early evening.
June 28th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Major VERNEY, H.Q. SAS Troops, lectured to aircrews of No. 644 Squadron and No. 298 Squadron in the station briefing room on the activities of SAS troops in France. Weather cloudy with intermittent rain or drizzle.
June 29th, 1944.
Weather intermittent rain or drizzle throughout.
June 30th, 1944.
The total operational flying times for the month of June, 1944, was 959 hours and 50 minutes including 314 hours and 50 minutes night flying. Weather fair periods in afternoon otherwise cloudy with rain or drizzle.
Administration notes for June, 1944:
June 2nd, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Instructions received from HQ No. 38 Group that this station was to be sealed as from this day until further notice. Detailed directions circulated by the station commander giving effect to this order. See Appendix 1.
June 3rd, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Squadron Leader GOLLINS, 4676 Flight, ACS. visited the station for inspection duties.
June 3rd, 1944: 15.30 hours.
Squadron Leader G.J.WEBSDALE, HQ No. 38 Group, visited on electrical matters.
June 4th, 1944: 13.10 hours.
Group Captain J.H.C. WAKE, MAP, called on the station commander.
June 7th, 1944: 19.00 hours.
Sealing restrictions lifted.
June 7th, 1944: 20.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant L.B.LIGHT, No. 38 Group, visited on gunnery inspection.
June 13th, 1944: 19.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant R.A. CAMBRIDGE, No. 38 Group, attended at this station on armament matters.
June 13th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Sealing restrictions re-imposed on the instructions of Wing Commander V.A. POPE. Confirmed by station commander.
June 15th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader F.W.CAMPBELL, No. 38 Group, visited in connection with radar matters.
June 15th, 1944: 15.40 hours.
Squadron Leader W. LEIGH-JONES, No. 38 Group, called on the flying control section.
June 15th, 1944: 15.40 hours.
Flight Lieutenant R.E.R. WALTERS, No. 38 Group, visited in regard to signals security matters.
June 15th, 1944: 15.40 hours.
Flight Lieutenant A.V. CUMMINGS, No. 38 Group, called on staff matters.
June 16th, 1944: 16.45 hours.
Squadron Leader WEBSDALE and Squadron Leader E.S. WILLIAMS, No. 38 Group, visited in connection with engineering matters.
June 16th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Sealing restrictions lifted.
June 17th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Flight Lieutenant MANISON, HQ, ADGB, visited to inspect catering section.
June 18th, 1944: 12.15 hours.
Squadron Leader A.R.G.WOOLFREY visited the station on equipment matters.
June 19th, 1944: 13.30 hours.
Squadron Leader J.W. EBBUTT visited the station commander on organisation matters.
June 19th, 1944: 15.45 hours.
Flight Lieutenant J. MacADAM called on matters relating to public relations.
June 19th, 1944: 16.35 hours.
Wing Commander R.A.ANGIER and Flight Lieutenant O.P.W.LECKY of the Air Ministry visited in connection with liaison duties.
June 20th, 1944: 10.45 hours.
Squadron Officer C.M. RAWCLIFFE, HQ No. 38 Group, visited the station to inspect the WAAF section. Flight Lieutenant J.F.M. BRIGHT, No. 38 Group, visited the chief technical officer on engineering matters.
June 28th, 1944: 16.15 hours.
Squadron Leader A.R.C. WOOLFREY, No. 38 Group, visited the equipment section on staff matters.
June 28th, 1944: 16.30 hours.
Squadron Leader WILLIAMS, No. 38 Group, called in regard to engineering inspection.
June 29th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Mr GUYATT of the Air Ministry visited the station administrative officer on matters relating to station horticulture.
June 29th, 1944: 12.50 hours.
Group Captain WAKE of MAP called on the station commander.
June 28th, 1944: 08.00 hours.
Leave of No. 2733 Squadron, RAF Regiment, from this station to a location near RYE. Advance party consisting of 1 officer and 17 other ranks moved off by road.
June 29th, 1944: 15.15 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LOWE, No. 38 Group, visited this station to enquire into security matters.
June 29th, 1944: 04.30 hours.
Main party of No. 2733 Squadron, RAF Regiment, moved off.
June 30th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant HOOD of No. 38 Group, called in with regard to aircraft accidents. The officer in medical charge reports that the health of the station is very good. 5 operational and flying casualties were dealt with during the month.
A brief summary of the chief events of the servicing wing is attached.
Personnel news for June, 1944:
June 1st, 1944.
Station Officer WALLER, WAAF ‘G’, proceeded on attachment to No. 38 Group.
June 6th, 1944.
Flying Officer JONES, catering officer, returned to duties from hospital.
June 7th, 1944.
Assistant Section Officer J. WADDINGTON posted to this station from WINDERMERE for code and cipher duties.
June 8th, 1944.
Squadron Leader A.W.C.BUTLER of No. 2 810 Squadron RAFR posted to WEST MALLING.
June 10th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant J.M. MACINTYRE of flying control posted to NETHERAVON.
June 13th, 1944.
Pilot Officer J.W. WILTSHIRE posted to this station from TILSTOCK for flying control duties.
June 18th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant H.G. PRESCOTT (Equipment) attached from temporary duty from TILSTOCK.
June 23rd, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant S.N. WEIGHT proceeded on attachment to NETHERAVOPN for equipment duties.
June 27th, 1944.
Pilot Officer W.G. NEEP posted to this station from BICESTER for armament duties.
June 30th, 1944.
The personnel strength as of June 30th, 1944, is:
RAF officers: 154 RAF other ranks: 2379
RCAF officers: 27 RCAF other ranks: 40
RNZAF officers: 4 RNZAF other ranks: 1
RAAF officers: 7 RAAF other ranks: 10
WAAF officers: 8 WAAF other ranks: 263
TOTAL OFFICERS: 200 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,693.
Signed: H. QUINLAN, (Flight Lieutenant)
FOR GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
Appendix No. 1: June 30th, 1944; Ref. TR/1580/ENG/J100.
A History of the Servicing Wing, June, 1944:
(i) Prior to the commencement of operations, the Servicing Wing made unrelenting efforts to produce the maximum possible serviceability, reaching a peak of 97.5 per cent of all operational aircraft on June 5th, 1944.
(ii) Meanwhile, much colourful activity was in progress, giving both aircraft and gliders their operational stripes for which purpose something like 30,000 lbs of black and white distemper was supplied.
(iii) The Servicing Wing personnel were assisted in the final preparations and in loading the gliders by a No. 1. HGSU Heavy Glider Servicing Unit detachment and by an expert party from General Aircraft Ltd whose whole- hearted co-operation proved a valuable asset.
(iv) During the initial operations, 70 combinations comprising 36 Halifax-Hors and 34 Halifax-Hamilcar combinations were despatched from the airfield without one technical failure.
(v) Although a considerable number of aircraft returning from operations were damaged by enemy action, only 5 were sufficiently bad to be categorised ‘A’ and of these the last was completed and air tested in three days. Much good work in this direction was effected by a small ‘quick repair’ party led by the Technical Air Force.
(vi) During this period, 8 USAAF aircraft found refuge on the airfield with varying degrees of infirmity following enemy action. With the exception of one Fortress which belly-landed, the remainder were soon cleared and returned to base; one Liberator caused some consternation by despatching a bomb on the runway in use but this was rapidly disposed of by the station armament officer.
(vii) On the heels of the combination on operations came the fitting in the Halifax fuselage bomb bay of a car and six pounder gun. Some difficulty was experienced in the initial fitting of the 8,000 lbs bomb beam which carries the load and load attachments but the two main drops on the 10th and 17th June of six and eight pairs respectively was successfully accomplished. Since then, a number of drops with a car and six pounder gun alone have been made.
(viii) The Servicing Wing was honoured by visits and the attendant congratulatory speeches from the Air Officer commanding the No. 38 Group on June 9th, the Secretary of State for Air on the 10th and the Marshall of the Royal Air Force, LORD TRENCHARD, on the June 12th.
(ix) The glider dispersal was not allowed to assume a bear appearance for very long. Numbers of new gliders soon arrived, including 34 WACO / HADRIAN gliders which made their first en-mass appearance on the station.
(x) A number of experiments and tests have been made during the month including initial trials of a new Hamilcar towbar, experimental Hamilcar loads, experimental container drops and the repositioning of the Gee aerial. The last operation being carried out by a visiting No. 32 M.U. fitting party.
Statistics:
During the month of June, of a cumulative total of 2,234 aircraft on charge, 2,040 were serviceable giving a cumulative average serviceability of 91 per cent. A total of 20 minor inspections were made, 6 engine changes effected, 3 acceptance checks completed and 13 airframe repairs carried out.
Since the beginning of the month, the station has been self-supporting in the field of compressed air supply, a total of 170 1,500 litre and 37 smaller type bottles being charged by the Fullerton air compressor plant operated by the station workshops.
Summary of events:
Ref: TR/S.253/7/AIR.
June 2nd, 1944.
With effect from 14.00 hours on June 2nd, 1944, the station is sealed. This will mean:
(i) All officers and airmen must live at the camp.
(ii) No-one will be allowed outside the camp bounds. These extend in all directions up to the first house or village, i.e., personnel may walk in the country around provided they do not go as far as any civilian dwelling.
(iii) All leave of any kind is stopped.
(iv) It’s absolutely prohibited for any officer or airmen to enter into conversation with any civilian or member of other forces who are not confined to this station.
(v) Civilians who have volunteered to remain ‘sealed’ in the camp are confined to camp in the same way as service personnel. Those who have not volunteered to be confined to the camp are excluded. All civilian passes are to be withdrawn immediately.
(vi) All postings out to stations other than operational stations are ‘frozen’.
(vii) Attached personnel may not leave unless they are proceeding to another No. 38 Group station.
(viii) Anyone who must make a journey outside the station must obtain written permission from the station commanders, CTO, Station Administration Officer or Station Adjutant. The Station Administration Officer to arrange the form these passes take. Anyone authorised to make a journey outside the station must proceed directly to his destination. Under no circumstances is he to make any intermediate stop or depart from the authorised route.
(1) Routine runs for stores, mail etc. will be escorted by a reliable senior N.C.O. Civilian contractors or service personnel delivering loads to this station must report to the guard room and will then be escorted. They must not enter into conversation with personnel on this station.
(2) Any other visitors to the station will be interviewed by the Adjutant or CTO responsible for necessary security measures to prevent them obtaining information they should not have.
(3) The above regulations are for the purpose of security, the importance of which cannot be over emphasised. They must be intelligently applied in spirit as well as in the letter. It is hoped these restrictions will not be in force for too long and on all occasions when aircrews are not briefed, the sealing will be relaxed.
July, 1944.
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant H. Quinlan.
July 1st, 1944.
Weather rain and drizzle throughout 24 hours.
July 2nd, 1944.
Weather rain and drizzle throughout 24 hours.
July 3rd, 1944.
Weather rain and drizzle to mid-afternoon, improving to fair later with moderate North Westerly winds.
July 3rd / July 4th, 1944.
4 aircraft of No. 298 Squadron were detailed for special operations (SOE) and were airborne from 23.10 hours on July 3rd, 1944, to 04.54 hours on July 4th. Two were successful. For aircraft from No. 644 Squadron were detailed for the same operations and were airborne from 23.26 hours to 05.07 hours. 3 were successful. In addition, 2 Stirlings from No. 299 Squadron and 2 Stirlings from No. 196 Squadron operated from Tarrant Rushton on similar missions, one from each squadron being successful.
July 4th, 1944.
Two Hamilcar gliders loaded with Spitfire mainplanes were towed to a landing strip in Normandy. Weather fair to midday becoming cloudy later.
July 4th/July 5th, 1944.
Three aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron were detailed for special operations (SAS). All were successful and only two landed back at base, the remainder being diverted owing to bad weather conditions. 5 aircraft from No. 644 Squadron and 4 aircraft from No. 298 Squadron were detailed for special operations (SOE). 3 from each squadron were successful. 4 landed at base, the remainder being diverted. 6 aircraft from No. 196 Squadron, 5 of No. 295 Squadron, 7 of No. 299 Squadron and four of No. 570 Squadron operated on similar missions from Tarrant Rushton.
July 5th, 1944.
Weather drizzle and low cloud to midday, cloudy during afternoon and later towards midnight drizzle and low cloud again.
July 6th, 1944: 10.20 hours.
One aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took off to retrieve the Hamilcars ferried to Normandy on July 4th. The aircraft returned with the gliders at 14.28 hours and 14.44 hours. Weather foggy to dawn then becoming fair.
July 6th/July 7th, 1944.
Seven aircraft of each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE operations over France. Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft of No 644 Squadron completed their missions. Six aircraft of No. 196 Squadron, seven of No. 298 Squadron, one of No. 296 Squadron and one of No. 297 Squadron took part from Tarrant Rushton on similar operations. Five of these aircraft failed to complete their mission.
July 7th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with showers late afternoon and evening.
July 7th/July 8th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five aircraft of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for special operations (SOE). All of No. 298 Squadron and three of No. 644 Squadron were successful. The navigator of one of the No. 644 Squadron aircraft injured his head shortly after take-off and the aircraft returned to base without having crossed the English coast. In addition, five aircraft of No. 196 Squadron (four successful), five aircraft of No. 296 Squadron (one successful), five aircraft of No. 297 Squadron (two successful), six aircraft from No. 299 Squadron (four successful) operated from Tarrant Rushton on similar missions.
July 8th, 1944: 10.02 and a 1/2 hours.
Halifax ‘N’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Squadron Leader NORMAN and rear gunner Flight Sergeant GRANT encountered enemy aircraft identified as FW 190 at 49 degrees, 21 minutes North and 00 degrees, 5 minutes East at 6,500 feet A.S.L. ‘N’ corkscrewed to port, enemy aircraft chased to 400 feet and rear gunner opened fire with a two second burst. Enemy aircraft did not open fire and broke away in a violent dive.
A Boston aircraft of No.342 Squadron, No 2 Group, piloted by Lieutenant ROUSSELOF landed at Tarrant Rushton on return from patrolling a bombing mission over MAZENNE, ALENCON , LE MANS and LAVAL areas. Weather fair with light drizzle during morning, cloudy later.
July 8th/July 9th, 1944.
Three aircraft from No. 196 Squadron, three aircraft from No. 296 Squadron and one aircraft of No. 299 Squadron operated from Tarrant Rushton on SOE missions. Two aircraft failed to complete their missions and returned to Tarrant Rushton.
July 9th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with rain and drizzle from midday onwards. Wind becoming fresh in evening, visibility good except in rain.
July 10th, 1944.
Weather rain and drizzle for 24 hours, wind fresh, cloudbase 1,000 feet or lower. Visibility below cloud very good except in rain.
July 10th/July 11th, 1944.
One aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE operations over France. The aircraft of No. 298 Squadron was unsuccessful. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Wing Commander POPE on SAS operations dropped supplies successfully on DZ.
July 11th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 644 Squadron took part in a "Guinea Pig" drop on the Divisional DZ. Weather cloudy with fair intervals, winds moderate, visibility very good.
July 11th/July 12th, 1944.
One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron successfully took supplies on SAS operations. Six aircraft of No. 644 Squadron and seven of No. 298 Squadron took part in SIOE missions over France. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron and four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron were unsuccessful and brought their loads back.
July 12th, 1944.
One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron and three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron took part in a "Guinea Pig" drop on the Divisional DZ, each aircraft dropping 10 troops. Weather cloudy with fair intervals. Visibility very good but less than 2 miles towards midnight in slight drizzle.
July 13th, 1944.
"Guinea Pig" drop - 4 aircraft of No. 298 Squadron dropped 10 troops each on the Divisional DZ. Weather cloudy with rain and drizzle mid-afternoon, visibility moderate except in showers.
July 13th/July 14th, 1944.
Nine aircraft each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Two aircraft from, each squadron were unsuccessful and one aircraft of No. 298 Squadron was only partially successful due to container hang-up. Aircraft ‘H’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Flight Sergeant MacKrill, rear gunner Sergeant Bridge encountered a JU88 in the drop zone area. Enemy aircraft approached to within 50 yards range and the rear gunner fired two bursts (300 rounds). Flight engineer observed strikes on enemy aircraft before it turned away. The JU88 did not open fire.
July 14th, 1944.
Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three of No. 644 Squadron took part in the "Guinea Pig" drop on the Divisional DZ. Weather cloudy with occasional drizzle in the evening, visibility very good except in drizzle. Winds moderate.
July 14th/July 15th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and six aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. One aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft from No. 644 Squadron failed to complete their missions.
Five Stirlings of No. 196 Squadron and five Stirlings of No. 299 Squadron operated from Tarrant Rushton on the same missions. One aircraft from No. 196 Squadron was unsuccessful. All visiting aircraft returned to their base at KEEVIL.
July 15th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with occasional drizzle about dawn, improving to fair in the afternoon. Winds moderate south-west before becoming fresher in the afternoon. Visibility good.
July 15th/July 16th, 1944.
Eight aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and seven aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. On return, all aircraft were diverted - landing at HARWELL, METHWOOLD, BOSCOMBE DOWN, FAIRFORD, BOVINGTON and DUNFORD.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and one aircraft of No. 644 Squadron failed to complete their mission. Halifax ‘N’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Warrant Officer CROSSLEY failed to return from operations.
July 16th, 1944.
Weather foggy about dawn becoming cloudy about 09.00 hours, improving to fair in afternoon. Fine in the evening. Winds light, visibility poor about dawn becoming good later.
July 17th, 1944.
Weather fair to fine, winds light and variable becoming moderate. Visibility moderate to good.
July 17th/July 18th, 1944.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. One aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three aircraft from No. 644 Squadron were unsuccessful. Halifax ‘Q’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer NICKEL with rear gunner Sergeant EBBELS when eight miles west of LISIEUX opened fire on a twin engined aircraft which came in from the starboard quarter. The unidentified aircraft dived away to port but from general observation, the gunner believed it to be a Mosquito.
Weather mainly fair with light showers in the evening, visibility moderate to good.
July 18th/July 19th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and six aircraft of No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE missions. Five aircraft of No. 644 Squadron were unsuccessful and returned to base with their loads.
July 19th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with fair intervals. Winds light and variable. Visibility moderate, deteriorating about dusk - 2 miles hazy.
July 20th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with fair intervals, hazy. Winds easterly light to moderate. Visibility three to five miles.
July 20th/July 21st, 1944.
Eleven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and nine aircraft from No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Only three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron completed their tasks. The other aircraft
operating on this night were unsuccessful, mainly due to very unfavourable weather conditions in the target area and en route. Halifax ‘R’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Flight Lieutenant HOBBS and rear gunner Flying Officer MILLER claimed two single-engined fighters shot down, one at 48 degrees and 6 minutes North and two degrees and 14 minutes East at 01.02 hours, and the other at the DR position, 48 degrees and six minutes North and three degrees and 48 minutes East at 01.45 hours. The rear gunner fired about 800 rounds at the two enemy aircraft, neither of which returned fire.
July 21st, 1944.
Weather intermittent rain and drizzle throughout period with winds North-Easterly moderate to fresh. Visibility moderate to good except in rain. Cloud base falling to 1,000 feet at dusk.
July 22nd, 1944.
Weather rain to mid-morning then cloudy with fair intervals. Winds moderate to light, visibility moderate to good.
July 22nd/July 23rd, 1944.
Nine aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and ten aircraft of No. 644 Squadron flew on SOE missions over France. Seven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three aircraft of No. 644 Squadron failed to carry out their missions. Halifax ‘R’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Flight Sergeant REID and rear gunner Sergeant JONES when at 44 degrees and 38 minutes North and one degree and five minutes East saw two fighter aircraft on the starboard bow. A twin-engined aircraft was then seen making a run-in from dead astern. The rear gunner opened fire and the enemy aircraft dived into cloud. One aircraft of each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SAS missions. Both aircraft failed to complete their missions owing to low cloud over the DZ area.
July 23rd, 1944.
Weather cloudy with fair intervals, winds moderate to light variable. Visibility moderate.
July 23rd/July 24th, 1944.
Two aircraft of No. 298 squadron and three aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Two aircraft from No. 298 Squadron were unsuccessful. One aircraft of each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron successfully dropped supplies on an SAS mission.
July 24th, 1944.
Weather cloudy becoming fair in the afternoon and fine in the evening. Visibility moderate, hazy. Winds light, variable but moderate in the afternoon.
July 24th/July 25th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE ARCHIMEDES II’ - Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five aircraft of No. 644 Squadron took part in this exercise dropping one container each on DZ, Sheet 122 CASTLE MOUNDS 474608. There was a Eureka beacon set up at the DZ and all aircraft homed on Rebecca. One aircraft of each squadron was late taking off owing to technical failures and curtailed the route.
July 25th, 1944.
"Guinea Pig" drop - two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and one aircraft of No. 644 Squadron dropped 29 troops on the Divisional DZ between 08.25 hours and 08.33 hours. Weather fair to cloudy with intermittent rain after midday. Winds moderate East to South-East, visibility moderate.
July 25th/July 26th, 1944.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft of No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE missions over France. Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three aircraft of No. 644 Squadron did not complete their missions.
July 26th, 1944: 01.30 hours.
Horsa glider RJ 262 when coming into land over-shot and collided with Halifax A-G of No. 298 Squadron on the airfield. No-one sustained injures. The Horsa glider was completely written off and the Halifax damaged Category ‘B’.
July 26th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with drizzle in the morning and occasionally in the afternoon and evening. Wind moderate veering to the South-West, fresh. Visibility moderate becoming good.
July 27th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with rain or light showers in morning and becoming fair in the evening. South-West winds moderate to fresh in afternoon, visibility moderate improving to good.
July 27th/July 28th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and seven aircraft of No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE missions over France. Halifax ‘K’ of No. 298 Squadron returned to base at 23.50 hours due to the failure of one engine. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron did not complete its mission. Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two of No. 644 Squadron dropped supplies over France to SAS troops. One aircraft of No. 298 Squadron failed to carry out its task and one aircraft of No. 644 Squadron was only partially successful due to the hang-up of the six pounder gun it was carrying.
July 28th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant FURNISS-ROWE lectured on evasion to aircrews of both squadrons and glider pilots in the station briefing room. Weather cloudy with fair intervals, winds South-West moderate, visibility very good.
July 28th/July 29th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. One aircraft from each squadron was unsuccessful. One aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron dropped supplies for SAS troops. Only three aircraft landed at base on the return from these operations, the remainder being diverted to BRIZE NORTON.
July, 29th, 1944.
Weather rain before dawn, occasional showers in afternoon becoming fair later. Winds South-Westerly moderate to fresh, visibility moderate to good except in rain.
July 30th, 1944.
Weather cloudy with fair periods, visibility moderate improving to very good. Winds North-West moderate.
July 30th/July 31st, 1944.
Two aircraft each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron were detailed to carry out SOE missions. Halifax ‘L’ of No. 644 Squadron returned to base at 01.08 hours owing to the failure of radar equipment. One aircraft of each squadron dropped supplies to SAS troops in France. Three aircraft were diverted to BRIZE NORTON on return from operations.
July 31st, 1944.
Weather cloudy with fair periods in the afternoon, visibility moderate to hazy once light.
Total flying hours for the month of July, 1944, were 18.9 hours and ten minutes including 11.85 hours and 55 minutes night flying.
Administration Notes:
July 2nd, 1944: 17.40 hours.
Flight Lieutenant MACADAM visited on staff matters.
July 3rd, 1944: 16.30 hours.
Group Captain DISBREY of TAF visited on staff matters.
July 5th, 1944: 13.45 hours.
Group Captain WAKE of MAP called on the station commander.
July 6th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Wing Commander GODREY and Squadron Leader CAMPBELL called in connection with signals and radar.
July 6th, 1944: 15.30 hours.
Flight Lieutenant BERREY, No. 38 Group, visited the station on staff matters.
July 7th, 1944: 09.20 hours.
Group Captain SCOTT and Squadron Leader LUNAN of RCAF HQ Exeter called in on liaison duties.
July 8th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Group Captain LEWIS ROBERTS from the Air Ministry visited the station.
July 12th, 1944: 11.30 hours.
Lieutenant Commander (A) R. ALLEN, No. 38 Group, called on liaison duties.
July 12th, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LIGHT, Flight Lieutenant CAMBRIDGE and Flight Lieutenant WRIGHT of No. 38 Group called on staff duties.
July 12th, 1944: 15.40 hours
Flight Lieutenant MACADAM, No. 38 Group, called on staff duties.
July 15th, 1944.
Squadron Leader PALM, HQ, ADGB, called on staff duties.
July 18th, 1944: 10.20 hours.
Squadron Leader EBBUTT, No. 38 Group, paid a staff visit to the station.
July 19th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Squadron Leader LEIGH JONES, Flight Lieutenant LOWE and Squadron Leader WALLACE of No. 38 Group visited the station on staff matters.
July 19th, 1944: 14.45 hours.
Flight Lieutenant BENEY, No. 38 Group, called on staff duties.
Flight Lieutenant ORR of the Air Ministry (DSM) and Mr STARR of MAP (RDI) called on staff duties.
July 22nd, 1944: 15.10 hours.
Squadron Leader LUNAN, No. 20 HQ RCAF, called on liaison duties.
July 25th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant WALTERS, No. 38 Group, called on staff duties.
July 25th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Squadron Leader WOOLFREY, No. 38 Group, called in on staff duties.
July 26th, 1944: 16.10 hours.
Wing Commander ELSE, Squadron Officer SHALLARD and Squadron Leader JOHNSON called in on staff duties.
July 27th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader LEIGH JONES and Flight Lieutenant HOWE of No. 38 Group, called in on staff duties.
July 27th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant FURNESS-ROWE, HQ TAF, called on intelligence matters.
July 28th, 1944: 11.40 hours.
Wing Commander COOMBS, DDASR, visited the station in connection with ASR.
July 28th, 1944: 12.10 hours.
Flight Lieutenant WRIGHT of No. 38 Group called on staff duties.
July 28th, 1944: 12.15 hours.
Flight Lieutenants WRIGHT, BRAMWELL and SARGENT of MAP visited the CTO.
July 31st, 1944: 14.50 hours.
Squadron Leader SMITH of No. 38 Group visited the station to lecture aircrews. The officer in medical charge reports that the general health of the camp is excellent. During the month, six performances of the film ‘Sex Hygiene’ were given in the camp cinema. The film was seen by all male personnel. A short lecture was given at each performance by a medical officer.
A summary of the chief events in the Servicing Wing is attached.
Personnel Notes for July, 1944.
July 1st, 1944.
Flying Officer MADILL, Technical, proceeded on attachment to HAMSTOCK NORRIS.
July 5th, 1944.
Squadron Leader PEARCE proceeded on attachment to the School of Discussion at HIGHGATE.
July 11th, 1944.
Squadron Leader PEARCE returned from attachment.
July 13th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant McLAREN, Meteorologist, proceeded to No. 38 Group on attachment.
July 23rd, 1944.
Flight Officer GABBOT, WAAF ‘G’, proceeded on a posting to GATWICK.
Flight Lieutenant McLAREN returned from attachment.
July 28th, 1944.
Station Officer HERBERT-SMITH, A.& S.D. (Intelligence) proceeded on posting to No. 38 Group.
July 29th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant AYLEN of the Dental Branch attached to this station from HURN.
Personnel strength as of the end of July, 1944, is:
RAF officers: 151 RAF other ranks: 2,336
RCAF officers: 26 RCAF other ranks: 25
RNZAF officers: 4 RNZAF other ranks: 0
RAAF officers: 8 RAAF other ranks: 7
WAAF officers: 7 WAAF other ranks: 254
TOTAL OFFICERS: 196 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,622
Signed: T.H.W PEARCE, (Squadron Leader)
FOR GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
Station Commander’s resume:
During the month, the station operated on 18 nights, 129/212 successful sorties were flown on SAS and SOE missions over France. The squadrons also took part in Group station exercises on the night of 24th/25th July, 10 aircraft from the station were detailed for ‘EXERCISE ARCHIMEDES II’, a container drop. A station container dropping exercise was staged on 3rd/4th July in which 25 crews took part. ‘Guinea Pig’ drops by day were carried out by day on the 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 25th July. The station lost one aircraft of No. 298 Squadron during the month, the pilot was Warrant Officer CROSSLEY.
Signed: T.B. COOPER, DFC,
GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
July, 1944 - History of the Servicing Wing:
Despite the fact that no major operations took place during the month, it has been a busy one for the ground crews of the Servicing Wing, the speed due to the fact that a total, including gliders, of approximately 2,100 flying hours have been flown. A considerable amount of experimental work with Hamilcar loads has been done. A request for four Spitfire mainplanes to be landed in Normandy led to a rapid design and fitment of special lashings and the delivery was made on July 4th. The initial fitment of lashings for the following Hamilcar loads has also been made: angledozer, bulldozer, scraper and a T9 tank.
Statistics:
Over a cumulative total of 2,234 Halifax aircraft held on charge during the month, 2,040 were serviceable, giving a cumulative average serviceability of 87 per cent. In addition, 56 minor inspections were made, seven engine changes were effected and 24 airframe repairs carried out. The total glider lifts for the month were 674.
August 1st, 1944.
Three Halifax aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and four from No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE operations over France. Enemy aircraft encountered at 46 degrees and 25 minutes North and 0 degrees and 53 minutes East. Believed to be a JU88 burning navigational lights. Fire opened by aircraft of No. 644 Squadron but not returned. Hits claimed on main fuselage. Weather fog during morning becoming fair in the evening.
August 2nd, 1944.
Six aircraft each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Weather cloudy becoming fair to fine during the evening.
August 3rd, 1944.
One aircraft of each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SAS missions. Both aircraft failed to drop their supplies. Weather cloudy with slight drizzle early, becoming fair during the afternoon.
August 4th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE MOTH’ - Five aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in this map-reading and container dropping exercise under simulated operational conditions. All save one aircraft successfully located and dropped their containers on their allocated DZ. Four aircraft each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE missions over France. Two aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron dropped supplies to SAS troops in France. Weather fine to fair.
August 5th, 1944: 05.27 hours.
A Stirling aircraft EC of No. 295 Squadron piloted by F.L. STEWART landed on airfield on return from SOE mission over France. Five Halifax-WACO combinations from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in an SAS mission over Brittany. All gliders successfully released over the LZ. Five aircraft of No. 644 Squadron and four of No. 298 Squadron carried out SOE operations over France. Aircraft A-’Q’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer ANDERSON failed to return. Four Stirlings of No. 620 Squadron based at FAIRFORD were diverted to Tarrant Rushton on return from SOE operations over France. Lancaster aircraft ‘B’ of No. 622 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer ROBBINS landed at Tarrant Rushton on return from a bombing mission over France due to leaking petrol and failure of outer-port engine. Weather fair.
August 6th, 1944.
Three aircraft each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE missions over France. Weather fine at first, fair to cloudy.
August 7th, 1944.
Two aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and one from No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE operations over France. Weather fine.
August 8th, 1944.
Three aircraft each from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE operations over France. Weather cloudy at first becoming fair to fine.
August 9th, 1944.
Nine aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and seven from No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE operations over France. Weather slight drizzle early becoming fair to fine.
August 10th, 1944: 02.30 hours.
Wellington aircraft ‘C’ of No. 30. OTU, 19 Group, based at LEIGHFORD piloted by Flight Sergeant CRONE landed at Tarrant Rushton owing to port engine failure on return from bombing raid over CHATEAUDURE. Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four from No. 644 Squadron operated on SOE missions over France. Weather fine.
August 11th, 1944.
Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and one from No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE tasks over France. Weather fog during morning with drizzle at 10.00 hours then clearing.
August 12th, 1944.
Three aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Stirling aircraft ‘M’ of No. 570 Squadron based at HARWELL piloted by Pilot Officer HOURGATE landed at Tarrant Rushton on return from unsuccessful SOE mission over France. Weather fog at first with slight rain and drizzle.
August 13th, 1944.
One aircraft from No. 644 Squadron dropped supplies to SAS troops in France. Two aircraft of No. 299 Squadron based at KEEVIL (pilots Flight Lieutenant TAYLOR and Flight Officer BEESFORD) were diverted to Tarrant Rushton on return from SAS missions over France due to unserviceability of airfield lighting at base. Weather fine.
August 14th, 1944.
One aircraft each from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on supply-dropping missions to SAS troops. Weather fine. Two aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on supply-dropping missions to SAS troops. Weather fine.
August 16th, 1944.
One aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and two from No. 644 Squadron carried out supplying-dropping missions to SAS troops in France. Weather fine.
August 17th, 1944.
Weather slight drizzle with very low cloud until 10.00 hours then fair.
August 18th, 1944.
One aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron dropped supplies to SAS troops in France. Seven aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions.
August 18th, 1944: 02.08 hours.
One Halifax aircraft ‘C’ of No. 425 Squadron, No. 6 Group, piloted by Flying Officer GALLIPEAU landed at Tarrant Rushton on return from bombing raid on the CONNANTRE marshalling yards. Weather fair.
August 19th, 1944.
Weather intermittent rain.
August 20th, 1944.
Six aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five from No. 644 Squadron operated over France on supply-dropping missions to SAS troops. Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and one from No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE missions over France. Weather cloudy with thunder at 07.10 hours and almost continuous rain.
August 21st, 1944.
Weather almost continuous rain or drizzle.
August 22nd, 1944.
Weather slight drizzle until 10.00 hours then fair to cloudy.
August 23rd, 1944.
Three aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and six from No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE missions over France. Owing to weather conditions over the DZ, the operation was not too successful. Four aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron also operated over France on SOE supply-dropping missions. Weather continuous rain with cloud then fine.
August 24th, 1944.
One aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and two from No. 644 Squadron dropped supplies to SAS troops in France. 19 aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and 18 from No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Aircraft A-’T’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Warrant Officer BAIN was missing from this operation. Weather fog forming rapidly at dawn, clearing about 08.00 hours.
August 24th, 1944.
Aircraft U-’Z’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer NICKELL and rear gunner Sergeant EBBELS encountered unidentified aircraft burning a red light at
48 degrees and 15 minutes North and 0 degrees and 47 minutes East. The aircraft closed to 400 feet range and the rear gunner opened fire with a one second burst. He immediately afterwards recognised the aircraft as a Halifax and the red light appeared to be coming from the Astrodome. The aircraft passed overhead and broke away to port. Hits claimed on the front of the machine by the rear gunner.
August 24th, 1944.
Weather fog forming rapidly at dawn and clearing about 08.00 hours.
August 25th, 1944.
Nine aircraft each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Aircraft P-’O’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Flight Sergeant USSEL made heavy landing owing to thin low stratus cloud. Undercarriage collapsed at the end of the run on runway but no member of crew was injured. Weather light drizzle with cloud.
August 26th, 1944: 01.30 hours.
Halifax III pilot Flying Officer AINSLEY of No. 51 Squadron, No. 4 Group, landed at Tarrant Rushton on the return from a bombing raid over BREST owing to suspected damage to fuel system.
August 26th, 1944: 01.00 hours.
Halifax III pilot Flying Officer ROBINSON of No. 176 Squadron, No. 4 Group, landed at Tarrant Rushton on return from a bombing raid over BREST. Bombs were not dropped owing to cancellation of attack my master bomber. Five aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and four from No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE operations over France. Weather fair.
August 27th, 1944.
Halifax U-’U’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Flying Officer FLACK landed with three engines running. Swung off runway to starboard and proceed downhill and finally came to rest near PRESTON FARM near TARRANT RUSHTON village. The crew escaped injury but the aircraft was completely written off. News received that
Warrant officer BAIN reported missing from operations on August 24th/25th, 1944, was in WROUGHTON HOSPITAL. Condition not serious. From information received, it appears that the aircraft was shot down by friendly anti-aircraft fire killing the flight engineer, Flight Sergeant BENSLEY. Rest of crew were believed to be safe but whereabouts unknown.
Eight aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and seven of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron detailed to drop supplies for SAS troops in France. Weather fine with visibility good.
August 28th, 1944: 22.17 hours.
Halifax III piloted by Pilot Officer RYAN of No. 425 Squadron, No. 6 Group, landed at Tarrant Rushton owing to shortage of fuel on return from bombing attack on coastal battery on LES SAVATES island in SAINT MALO Harbour. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over Belgium on SAS mission which was not successful owing to very hazy conditions in the DZ area. Weather drizzle and moderate rain.
August 29th, 1944.
Weather intermittent rain or drizzle.
August 30th, 1944.
Seven aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and eight from No. 644 Squadron carried out supply dropping to SAS troops in France. Weather fair or fine.
August 31st, 1944.
Halifax IV pilot Flying Officer CONNOR of No. 431 Squadron, No. 6 Group, landed at Tarrant Rushton on return from a bombing raid on the ISLE DE CEZEBEMBRE off SAINT MALO owing to oil leak in the starboard inner engine. Weather showers.
Total flying hours for the month of August, 1944, were 2,226 hours and 15 minutes including 1,626 hours and 35 minutes night flying.
Administration news for August, 1944:
August 3rd, 1944.
Group Captain J. HEBER-PERCY of the Air Ministry visited the station commander.
August 4th, 1944.
Squadron Leader E.F. CROSSLAND, Liaison Officer No. 2 HQ RCAF at Exeter visited Canadian personnel on this station. Squadron Leader J.W. EBBUTT, HQ No. 38 Group, called on the station administration officer with regard to works services.
August 7th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant H. COLLINS, DAPM No. 25 Area, called to see the station signals officer. Squadron Leader FENDER, ATDU, visited in regard to operations.
August 8th, 1944.
Colonel PETER, Army School of Chemical Warfare, called on the station commander.
August 15th, 1944.
Lieutenant Colonel SINCLAIR, CAE, visited the station commander. Squadron Leader R. SAUNDERS, Education Officer, visited in regard to educational and other matters.
August 16th, 1944: 12.10 hours.
Station sealed pending operations. Fifty per cent censorship of mail imposed.
August 17th, 1944: 19.30 hours.
Sealing of station raised but censorship remains in force. Squadron Leader WILLIAMS and Flight Lieutenant WALTERS of HQ No. 38 Group, and Flight Lieutenant WRIGHT of MAP visited on engineering matters.
August 23rd, 1944.
Lieutenant A. PORTEOUS, of the RNVR of HQ No. 38 Group, called on liaison duties. Wing Commander EYRES and Major R.L. GOERDER of HQ No. 38 Group called on the station commander. Major T. HALL of REME visited the station on duty.
August 26th, 1944.
Squadron Leader D.M. LUNAN, RCAF Liaison Officer Exeter, called to interview Canadian personnel.
August 31st, 1944.
Squadron Leader D.M. LUNAN, RCAF Liaison Officer Exeter, called again to liaison duties.
A summary of the chief events of the Servicing Wing is attached.
The officer in medical charge reports that the general health of the camp is excellent. Units under medical are:
Station HQ
No. 298 Squadron
No. 644 Squadron
No. 6298 Servicing Echelon
No. 6644 Servicing Echelon
No. 4676 Works Flight
No. 14 and No. 15 Glider Servicing Echelons
Naval Detachment
‘C’ Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment
W.A.A.F.
Squadron Officer C.M. SHALLARD, HQ No. 38 Group, visited the station commander in regard to WAAF matters following an inspection.
Personnel news for August, 1944:
August 1st, 1944.
(F/O) Flight Officer P.G. PLAYFORD posted as WAAF (G) officer to this station from OBAN.
August 3rd, 1944.
Flying Officer P.A. KENNING, Meteorological Officer, posted from No. 38 Group for duty.
August 4th, 1944.
Flying Officer D.G. MADILL returned from attachment to No. 38 Group.
August 17th, 1944.
Flying Officer D. BEECH posted from KELSTERN as PFO.
August 19th, 1944.
Pilot Officer K.R. PERRY posted from ESHOTT, No. 57 O.T.U., for flying control duties.
August 21st, 1944.
Flying Officer S. CHESTER posted to KILSTERN for physical training duties.
The personnel strength as of the end of August, 1944, at RAF Tarrant Rushton was:
RAF officers: 155 RAF other ranks: 2,365
RCAF officers: 28 RCAF other ranks: 36
RNZAF officers: 2 RNZAF other ranks: 5
RAAF officers: 8 RAAF other ranks: 7
WAAF officers: 7 WAAF other ranks: 257
TOTAL OFFICERS: 200 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,670
Signed: T.H.W PEARCE (Squadron Leader),
FOR GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
Station Commander’s resume for August, 1944:
The squadrons have put up their highest operational effort during the month of August, 1944, flying on 27 nights a total of 307 sorties, 68 per cent of which were successful. Five crews from each squadron also took part in ‘EXERCISE MOTH’ on August 4th/5th.
Their losses during August were heavy in comparison with those of previous months but not considering the number of sorties flown. The following four crews were missing from operations: Flying Officer ANDERSON and crew of No. 298 Squadron, Warrant Officer BAIN and crew of No. 298 Squadron, Flying Officer CALVERLY and crew from No. 644 Squadron, and Flying Officer BROWN and crew from No. 644 Squadron.
Flying Officer’s ANDERSON’S crew have returned to this country and report that their pilot was killed. Warrant Officer BAIN and two members of his crew - Sergeant HOLDER and Flight Sergeant MANSEL - have also returned to England. The other three members of the crew died in France.
Signed: T.B. COOPER, DFC,
GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
Appendix No. 4:
History of the Servicing Wing during August, 1944:
August has proved another busy month for the ground crews of the Servicing Wing, the increased number of operations forcing the total number of flying hours, including gliders, above the 2,400 mark. During the month, two Halifax III aircraft have arrived for test but progress has been held back due to other commitments. A record for speedy engine change has been set up, an engine change on a Halifax V aircraft took eight hours and 30 minutes from the time of the commencement of work to when the aircraft was ready for air test.
Statistics:
Of a cumulative total of 2,161 Halifax V aircraft held on charge, 1,839 were serviceable - giving a cumulative average serviceability of 85 per cent. In addition, 48 minor inspections were made, nine engine changes effected, five acceptance checks completed and 24 airframe repairs carried out. Total glider lifts for the month were 666.
Compiled by Squadron Leader T.H.W. Pearce.
September, 1944.
September 1st, 1944.
Two aircraft each from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out supply dropping missions to SAS troops in France. Weather fine, rain after 23.00 hours, visibility moderate or good.
September 2nd, 1944.
Weather rain until 02.30 hours, showers during the day, visibility moderate.
September 3rd, 1944.
Weather continuous rain or drizzle from 15.00 hours onwards, visibility moderate.
September 4th, 1944.
Weather frequent rain until 18.00 hours, visibility moderate.
September 5th, 1944.
Ten aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and nine of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Three aircraft from each of the squadrons dropped supplies to SAS troops. Weather fair, visibility good.
September 6th, 1944.
News received of the fate of Flying Officer ANDERSON and crew on the night of August 5th/6th, 1944:
Flight Sergeant MUSKIN (flight engineer) who returned to Tarrant Rushton stated that about half an hour after crossing the French coast, the starboard inner engine began to over-heat. The captain decided to feather it and continue the trip. Within the drop zone area, the aircraft was attacked by an ME110. The port inner engine fuel tanks were set alight and the inner port engine put out of action. The aircraft was unable to maintain height at 400 feet. The captain ordered the crew to crash positions, the rear gunner remaining in his turret. It is believed that the captain had been wounded in the action. The aircraft crashed in a wood owing to flames in the forward part of the aircraft. The other two members of the crew were unable to render assistance to the captain. Pilot Officer ANNON (navigator), Flight Sergeant THRELHELD (bomb aimer) and Flight Sergeant DAVIS (wireless operator), Flight Sergeant MUSKIN (flight engineer) made their way to the village of ESSOYES where they contacted members of the Maquis. Pilot Officer ANNON and Flight Sergeant THRELHELD left the village a few hours later with the intention of making their way to Spain. Flight Sergeant LEWIS and Sergeant MUSKIN remained and eventually reached the American lines 16 days later. Sergeant MUSKIN stated that Flying Officer REID (rear gunner) had been picked up by friendly partisans and later betrayed by collaborators to the enemy. Confirmation of Flying Officer ANDERSON’S death was received from the Maquis.
Seven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five of No. 644 Squadron operated over France and Belgium on SOE missions. Two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron were detailed for SAS missions over France. Six aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE missions over France.
Weather fair, visibility good.
September 7th, 1944.
Weather rain 02.30 hours to 12.30 hours, visibility good.
September 8th, 1944.
Weather occasional showers, visibility good.
September 9th, 1944.
Six aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and six aircraft from No. 644 Squadron carried out SAS missions over France. Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft from No. 644 Squadron took supplies to SAS troops in France. Weather fair, visibility good.
September 10th, 1944.
Eleven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and ten aircraft from No. 644 Squadron operated over France and Belgium on SOE missions. Aircraft T-’Y’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by OWEN K. SMITH was missing from this operation. Weather fair to fine.
September 11th, 1944.
Signal received from United States sources concerning the fate of two of the crew of Warrant Officer BAIN’s aircraft which was shot down in France on the night of August 24th/25th, 1944. Flight Sergeant WEEKES (air gunner) died on August 27th, 1944, from cerebral concussion in No. 19 General Hospital A.E.A.F. and Flight Lieutenant ROWALL (navigator) was also a patient in the same hospital after suffering from a fractured skull.
Two aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and three from No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. Weather fair or fine.
September 12th, 1944.
No operations - ‘stand down’. Weather fine.
September 13th, 1944.
Eight aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and seven aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SOE missions. The majority failed to complete their task owing to unfavourable conditions. Weather fair.
September 14th, 1944.
Weather cloudy, slight drizzle during the morning.
September 15th, 1944.
Three aircraft each from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in supply-dropping missions to SAS troops in France. Only one aircraft, however, successfully completed its mission. Weather rain to 15.30 hours, visibility moderate becoming poor in rain.
September 16th, 1944.
Weather fair, visibility good.
September 17th, 1944: 10.20 hours.
‘OPERATION MARKET’ - first lift. Seven Halifax-Hamilcar combinations of No. 298 Squadron and six of No. 644 Squadron took off for LZ ‘Z’ south-west of Arnhem, Holland. All Hamilcars were successfully released except two, the tug of one developing port-inner engine failure returned to base but two crash-landed.
Thirteen Halifax-Horsa combinations of No. 298 Squadron and fourteen from No. 644 Squadron were also detailed to release their gliders over LZ ‘Z’. All gliders were successfully released except two, the tug of one developing port-inner engine failure and returned to base. The other tug returned after the tow-rope had broken and the glider landed in a field north-east of ANDOVER.
Weather conditions over the LZ were good with visibility at six miles. No enemy aircraft were seen or encountered and opposition from ground troops was negligible.
One aircraft from No. 644 Squadron operated over France on an SAS mission but was not successful owing to unfavourable weather conditions.
Weather fair, visibility good.
September 18th, 1944: 11.21 hours.
‘OPERATION MARKET’ - second lift. Eight Halifax-Hamilcar combinations of No. 298 Squadron and seven from No. 644 Squadron were detailed to release gliders over LZ ‘X’. All were successfully released except two from No. 644 Squadron, one tug U-’F’ piloted by Warrant Officer SHAPLEY developed port-outer engine failure and cast off its glider one mile east of CHILBOLTON airfield at 11.59 hours. The other tug, U-’O’ piloted by Wing Commander POPE owing to port-inner engine failure cast off its glider over the sea at 52 degrees and five minutes North and one degree 53 minutes East. The glider pilot Captain McNEIL and second pilot returned to base the following day and reported that the gun crew were safe but that Lieutenant McLAREN and Sergeant CRAWFORD were drowned.
Eight Halifax-Horsa combinations from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron were also detailed to proceed to the same LZ. All gliders were successfully released, except that attached to aircraft P-’C’ of No. 644 Squadron whose tow rope was severed by flak five miles south-west of the LZ. Increased enemy opposition was mainly encountered in the target RV area. Aircraft A-’J’ of No. 298 Squadron and aircraft P-’F’ of No. 644 Squadron sustained damage from light flak which generally was inaccurate. Weather fair, hazy. Visibility moderate.
September 19th, 1944: 12.06 hours.
‘OPERATION MARKET’ - third lift. Ten aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and eleven from No. 644 Squadron were detailed to release 20 Horsa and 1 Hamilcar gliders on LZ ‘L’. The tow rope of aircraft T-’N’ of No. 298 Squadron broke and glider landed approximately three miles south-east of OSTEND. The tail of the glider towed by Halifax P-’A’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer McCONVILLE was shot away by flak at the target RV and went out of control. Aircraft P-’P’ of No. 644 Squadron piloted by Flight Lieutenant TOMKINS lost its glider at position 51 degrees and 17 minutes North and five degrees and three minutes East when a tow rope was severed by flak. Considerably more enemy opposition was met on this lift than on the two previous ones. Three aircraft were damaged by flak. Moderate to accurate light flak was mainly encountered in the REUSEL target RV area and from woods to the north and east of the LZ.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four of No. 644 Squadron operated over France on supply dropping missions to SAS troops. Aircraft T-’S’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Pilot Officer BERRY crashed in a wood beside MIDDLE WALLOP airfield at 02.50 hours on return owing to shortage of fuel. Sergeant O’KEEFE (u/t wireless operator) was killed and Pilot Officer AUSTIN (flight engineer) slightly injured and three second SAS troops injured. Aircraft was completely written off.
Weather slight drizzle, visibility moderate becoming poor.
September 20th, 1944.
Weather fog from 02.00 hours, improving after 08.00 hours. Visibility very poor.
September 21st, 1944: 14.06 hours.
Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three from No. 644 Squadron operated over France on SAS supply dropping missions. Four aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out supply-dropping missions to SAS troops in France. Eleven aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE missions over France and Holland. Aircraft A-’M’ of No. 298 Squadron piloted by Flight Sergeant GOLDSMITH reported missing from this operation. Weather fog 02.30 hours to 06.30 hours, otherwise visibility moderate to good.
September 22nd, 1944.
One aircraft of No.644 Squadron carried out supply dropping mission to SAS troops in France. Eight aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated over France and Holland on SOE missions. Weather fog from 03.00 hours to 09.30 hours, occasional rain during evening, visibility very poor.
September 23rd, 1944.
Squadron Leader IMBER piloting aircraft T-’G’ took off towing a Hamilcar glider piloted by Captain McNEIL for BRIZE NORTON to take part in glider exercise and demonstration. Viewed by Her Majesty Queen Mary. Flying Officer READER, rear gunner in Flying Officer ANDERSON’S crew of No. 298 Squadron reported missing on August 5th/6th, 1944, is now back in hospital in this country. One aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE missions over the Netherlands. Weather slight drizzle 03.00 hours with continuous rain from 19.30 hours onwards.
September 24th, 1944.
Four aircraft from No. 644 Squadron and three aircraft from No. 298 Squadron operated over Holland on SOE missions. Two aircraft each from No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron carried out supply dropping missions to SAS troops. Weather intermittent rain to 05.00 hours, visibility moderate to good in pouring rain.
September 25th, 1944.
One aircraft from No. 298 Squadron operated on SAS mission. Two aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and one of No. 644 Squadron operated over Holland on SAS missions. Weather drizzle during evening, visibility good falling to moderate in drizzle.
September 26th, 1944.
Two aircraft from each of No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated on SAS missions over France. One aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft from No. 644 Squadron took part in SOE missions over Holland. Weather slight rain, visibility good.
September 27th, 1944.
One aircraft from No. 644 Squadron operated on SAS mission over Holland. Weather slight rain 05.00 hours, visibility good.
September 28th, 1944.
Weather fair to cloudy, visibility good.
September 29th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron took part in SOE missions over Holland. Weather slight drizzle, visibility poor in drizzle otherwise good.
September 30th, 1944.
Sergeant A.C. BATEY (rear gunner) from Pilot Officer OWEN K. SMITH’S crew returned to base. This crew was missing from operations over France on September 10th/11th, 1944. Sergeant BATEY reported that their aircraft struck the crest of MONT LES VAUX, burst into flames and segregated into three parts. He escaped from the rear turret and found Sergeant ROYAL (flight engineer) severely burned. The remainder of the crew were dead and were later taken by the French to EPINAC where on September 13th, 1944, a requiem mass was held in the church. They were buried in one grave, Sergeants BATEY and ROYAL were driven to WIGON on September 24th, 1944, by F.F.I. Commandant and proceeded by air to HESTON airfield. Weather cloudy, rain from 17.00 hours onwards, visibility good.
Total flying hours for the month of September, 1944, were 1,980 hours and 45 minutes, including 1,136 hours and 30 minutes night flying.
Compiled by Squadron Leader T.H.W. PEARCE:
Personnel details for September, 1944:
September 12th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant WEATHERLAKE, V.G., General Duties Branch, posted to this station from SQUIRE’S GATE.
September 14th, 1944.
Flying Officer HARRADINE, L., posted to CLEAVE for flying control duties.
September 19th, 1944.
Flying Officer B.F. KNIGHTLEY posted from TILSTOCK for armament duties.
September 21st, 1944.
Pilot Officer W.J. NEEP posted to TILSTOCK for armament duties.
September 23rd, 1944.
Flying Officer W.J. DOULEY, G.D. Branch, posted from BRIGHTON.
Personnel strength as of the end of September, 1944:
RAF officers: 152 RAF other ranks: 2,040
RCAF officers: 30 RCAF other ranks: 37
RNZAF officers: 2 RNZAF other ranks: 8
RAAF officers: 7 RAAF other ranks: 6
WAAF officers: 7 WAAF other ranks: 265
TOTAL OFFICERS: 198 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,356
Administration for September, 1944:
September 2nd, 1944: 10.45 hours.
Station officially sealed.
September 3rd, 1944: 16.20 hours.
Station sealing lifted.
September 3rd, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Squadron Leader B.E. LE SEUR visited the station on P.M. duties.
September 5th, 1944.
No. 4820 Flight and 5026 A.C. Squadron moved to WEST MALLING.
September 6th, 1944: 14.50 hours.
Group Captain WAKE, MAP, visited the station commander in regard to technical modifications.
September 6th, 1944: 15.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LOWE of No. 38 Group visited in connection with security matters.
September 6th, 1944: 15.30 hours.
Squadron Leader WOOLFREY, No. 38 Group, called on the equipment officer.
September 6th, 1944: 11.20 hours.
Wing Commander J.E. HOWELL, No. 38 Group, visited the station commander.
September 7th, 1944.
Station reverted from Field Service U.K. rationing to normal RAF rationing.
September 9th, 1944: 17.00 hours.
Reverend R.N. SHAPLEY, Assistant Chaplain-In-Chief, called on the station padre and stayed to dedicate St Michael’s Chapel in the station gymnasium on Sunday September 10th, 1944.
September 10th, 1944: 09.30 hours.
St Michael’s Chapel in the station gymnasium was dedicated by the Assistant Chaplain-in-Chief, Reverend R.N. SHAPLEY. The station commander inspected the church parade prior to going into the church. Several civilians were present who generally assisted by gifts and donations the furnishing of the church.
September 11th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Reverend R.N. SHAPLEY, Assistant Chaplain-In-Chief, left the station.
September 11th, 1944: 11.15 hours.
Lieutenant R. ALLEN and Lieutenant A. PORTEOUS, R.N.V.R., No. 38 Group, visited the station on liaison duties.
September 13th, 1944.
No. 4757 Flight and 5026 A.C. Squadron moved to this station from RAF GRAVESEND.
September 16th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Station officially sealed.
September 17th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Flight Officer STEELE of No. 38 Group Intelligence visited the station.
September 18th, 1944: 18.15 hours.
Captain C.L. NAIVOC, No. 38 Group, called at the station on liaison duties.
September 19th, 1944: 18.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant L.P. LIGHT, No. 38 Group, visited the station.
September 20th, 1944: 18.00 hours.
Sealing of station listed.
September 21st, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Captain C.L. NAIVOC, No. 38 Group, called again in connection with liaison matters.
September 22nd, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Squadron Leader WOOLFREY, No. 38 Group Equipment, called on staff matters.
September 29th, 1944: 18.00 hours.
Captain C.L. NAIVOC, No. 38 Group, called on liaison duties.
September 30th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Squadron Leader EVERETT and Flight Lieutenant THOMAS of No. 44 Group conferred with station commander and obtained major particulars concerning the station.
September 30th, 1944.
The Station Medical Officer reports that the general health of the station personnel remains very good.
A summary of the outstanding features of the Servicing Wing is given as an appendix.
Commanding Officer’s resume:
During the month of September, 1944, No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated on 18 nights, flying 188 SOE and SAS sorties over France, Belgium and Holland, 106 of which were successful. On September 21st/22nd, 1944, the squadrons also took part in supply-dropping missions to SAS troops in France by day, flying nine sorties all of which were successful. These were the first daylight operations undertaken by the squadrons. The chief operation of the month was ‘Operation Market’ which was operated in three lifts, each on succeeding days. A total of 92 aircraft were detailed by the squadrons for the towing of Horsa and Hamilcar gliders to the LZs south-west of Arnhem. Only two aircraft were lost during the month.
Signed: T.B. COOPER, D.F.C.,
GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
Appendix V: September 18th, 1944.
Medical History of RAF Station Tarrant Rushton, September, 1944:
The general health of the camp remains very good. One aircrew officer was admitted to the Station Sick Quarters with multiple small wounds received while on an operational flight.
Units under medical care are:
Station HQ
No. 298 Squadron
No. 644 Squadron
No. 6298 Servicing Echelon
No. 6644 Servicing Echelon
No. 14 and No. 15 Glider Servicing Echelons
‘C’ Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment
Naval Detachment
No. 4757 Works Flight
W.A.A.F.
Signed by: Squadron Leader R. MACMAHON,
Station Medical Officer,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Appendix VI:
History of the Servicing Wing, September, 1944:
September proved a busy month for the ground crews of the Servicing Wing, a large majority of 2,400 flying hours made by powered aircraft and gliders being operational. More than 90 Hamilcar and Horsa gliders were despatched from this station on operations and of the three that failed to reach their objectives, not one was due to a preventable technical failure. With the all-up weight of a Halifax V aircraft increased to 63,000 lbs, it was evidenced that with a full petrol and container load, the aircraft still had carrying capacity to spare.
It was, of course, decided to experiment with the means of carrying an additional nine containers and a successful practise drop of two containers strapped together on one bomb station was made early in the month. Further slight alterations in design led to a mass drop of 24 containers from a Halifax V aircraft on September 20th, 1944. This was again completely successful in that all containers were in good condition after landing but an excessively short stick of approximately 100 yards led to the danger of container parachutes fouling in rough weather. The final drop on September 25th, 1944, after a three hour petrol consumption test, of 24 containers was completely successful in every way and the mass production of the necessary parts has begun in the station workshops.
Statistics:
Of a cumulative total of 2,007 aircraft held on charge, 1,775 were serviceable, giving a cumulative average serviceability of 89 per cent. In addition, 41 minor inspections were made, 24 engine changes were effected, four acceptance checks were completed and 29 airframe repairs carried out.
Signed: Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY,
Chief Technical Officer,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Compiled by Flying Officer P.M. LAMDAUER.
October, 1944:
October 1st, 1944.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE operations. One aircraft from No. 298 Squadron failed to drop (no reception). Both of No. 644 Squadron’s aircraft were hit by flak. Flying Officer BLAKE crash-landed at WOODBRIDGE. All the targets were in Holland. Weather fair, visibility 12 to 20 miles, 5/10ths Cumulus clouds at 2,000 feet dispersing at dusk. Wind North West 5 - 10 mph.
October 2nd, 1944.
Weather visibility 20 miles, little or no cloud in the day, wind North-West 4 - 8 mph.
October 3rd, 1944.
Weather continuous drizzle 01.35 hours to 06.30 hours, wind North-West gusting 15 - 25 mph, showers during the day.
October 4th, 1944.
Weather showers of rain, cloud 4/10ths cover increasing to 7/10ths to 9/10ths in showers. Visibility poor, wind gusty North North East 19 - 24 mph.
October 5th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft from No. 644 Squadron operated over Holland on SOE missions. Flying Officer BAIRD’s aircraft failed to return and two others were unsuccessful, there being no reception. Weather: (day) poor, visibility falling to 4 miles, cloud lowering to 800 feet but lifted in the afternoon. Winds North North East 19 - 24 mph.
October 6th, 1944.
Weather a better day, visibility 5 miles improving to 10 miles later, wind North North East gusting to 25 mph. Cloud: 3/10ths at 700 feet but later dispersing to nil.
October 7th, 1944.
No. 298 Squadron sent one aircraft and No. 644 Squadron two aircraft on SOE operations over Holland. Only one aircraft from No. 644 Squadron failed to drop - again, no reception. 30 containers and 6 packages were dropped. Weather intermittent slight rain during the day, cloud 0 - 4/10ths 800 feet to 1,200 feet. Visibility 6 - 10 miles, falling to 3 miles in the afternoon. Wind North East and East North East 25 - 30 mph gusty.
October 8th, 1944.
Weather poor visibility, no more than 2,200 yards improving 4 - 7 miles. Wind North East North 5 - 10 mph. Cloud 10/10ths cover in evening, broke to 6/10ths around midnight.
October 9th, 1944.
Three aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and three from No. 644 Squadron took off on SOE operations over Holland. Three aircraft - one of No. 298 Squadron and two of No. 644 Squadron were successful. Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron were damaged by flak: Flying Officer EDICK from friendly flak aimed at a flying bomb which crossed below his aircraft. He was forced to land at WOODBRIDGE. Weather fair, dry, visibility 5 miles improving to 20 miles then dropped again. Small amount of high cloud, later 10/10ths cloud cover at 4,000 - 5,000 feet. Winds North East 11 - 12 mph.
October 10th, 1944.
Weather heavy Cumulus cloud and stratus patches, visibility poor, winds light and variable.
October 11th, 1944.
Weather intermittent rain until early afternoon then heavy showers. Visibility 3 to 6 miles, cloud 8/10ths to 10/10ths 500 feet to 1,000 feet. Winds South 25 - 35 mph in gusts.
October 12th, 1944.
Weather another showery day with continual rain from lunchtime to 17.00 hours. Cloud 10/10ths cover at times, winds South West 10 - 15 mph, visibility 8 - 15 miles in early evening.
October 13th, 1944.
Weather rain from 13.25 hours to 17.00 hours, cloud 8/10ths to 10/10ths with rain, visibility 10 - 20 miles, falling in intermittent showers from 3 - 4 miles. Winds light and variable.
October 14th, 1944.
No. 298 Squadron sent five aircraft and No. 644 Squadron six aircraft on SOE operations over Holland. Only three aircraft were successful as the others had no reception. One aircraft piloted by Flying Officer W.B. TAYLOR of No. 298 Squadron is missing. Weather showers, visibility 25 miles, very little cloud, winds West then North South West 15 - 25 mph. Calm in the evening.
October 15th, 1944.
Weather visibility 100 yards, improving by 10.00 hours. Light rain, winds South East 3 - 5 mph.
October 16th, 1944.
One aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and one aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operating from TAIN successfully carried out an operation over Norway. Opposition was negligible and limited to small arms fire. Weather poor, continuous rain in early morning, showers in afternoon, visibility moderate to good, winds South South West to South West 20 - 25 mph.
October 17th, 1944.
Weather continuous rain all day, visibility 6 - 12 miles, winds West South West gusting to 20 mph.
October 18th, 1944.
Weather heavy thunderstorm at 04.00 hours, visibility 1 - 3 miles, storm cleared later but in thundery showers. Winds West South West to West gusting to 20 mph.
October 19th, 1944.
Weather visibility 15 - 25 miles, more upper cloud, winds West South West to West gusty. Fair day.
October 20th, 1944.
Weather rain, 10/10ths cloud until early morning, winds West South West freshened to 15 - 20 mph East South East. Showers in the afternoon. Visibility 3,000 to 4,000 yards.
October 21st, 1944.
Three aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and two from No. 644 Squadron carried out SOE operations over Holland but only one aircraft successfully completed its task. One of No. 298 Squadron’s aircraft took off from here and successfully dropped supplies over two DZs in Dutch territory. Weather fair in the morning, drizzly after 17.00 hours. Cloud 8/10ths to 10/10ths lifting at 12.00 hours. Visibility 3 - 6 miles, winds North 5 - 10 mph.
October 22nd, 1944.
Three aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft from No. 644 Squadron all successfully completed their SOE operations over Holland. Weather 8/10ths to 10/10ths cloud with light wind. Visibility 4 - 7 miles.
October 23rd, 1944.
Weather continuous rain in morning, showers to 17.00 hours. Visibility improved to 7 miles. Winds North West 12 - 18 mph.
October 24th, 1944.
Weather visibility 2 - 4 miles, winds North to North East 10 - 5 mph, little or no cloud.
October 25th, 1944.
Weather drizzle in early morning, winds North North East 5 - 10 mph, visibility 3 miles.
October 26th, 1944.
Weather poor day, visibility very bad - 1,110 yards. Winds calm and light.
October 27th, 1944.
Weather light South East winds, visibility in 200 yards in early morning rain. Improved to 6 - 8 miles in the afternoon between showers.
October 28th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four from No. 644 Squadron took off on SOE operations over Holland. Two aircraft from each squadron were unsuccessful, no reception. Owing to ground mist, four aircraft were diverted to SAINT MAWGAN and one to CHEDDINGTON. The others landed safely here at base. Weather frequent showers in the morning. This day cleared later and visibility 15 - 25 miles, winds West, West-North-West 10 - 20 mph.
October 29th, 1944.
Weather slight showers in early morning. Fog also causing the above mentioned aircraft diversions. Visibility 3 to 6 miles in late morning, dropping to 1,200 feet in drizzle. Wind North East 6 to 12 mph.
October 30th, 1944.
Weather a better day, visibility 5 - 10 miles. Cloud 3/10ths to nil later. Wing North East, North North East 12 - 18 mph, slightly gusty.
October 31st, 1944.
Weather visibility 5 - 7 miles, winds North 15 - 20 mph, gusty, no rain.
Total flying hours for the month of October, 1944, were 998 hours and 10 minutes, including 315 hours and 10 minutes night flying.
Administration notes for October, 1944:
October 3rd, 1944: 15.10 hours.
Squadron Leader LEIGH-JONES of No. 38 Group visited the station on staff duties.
October 3rd, 1944: 15.10 hours.
Flight Lieutenant GULLING of No. 38 Group visited the station on staff duties.
October 4th, 1944: 15.40 hours.
Squadron Leader CAMPBELL of No. 38 Group visited the station on staff duties.
October 8th, 1944: 11.05 hours.
Squadron Leader MITCHELL from No. 38 Group visited the station on intelligence duties.
October 8th, 1944: 11.05 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LACE from No. 38 Group visited the station on intelligence duties with Squadron Leader MITCHELL.
October 9th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Sup. (Flight Lieutenant) COLOMBO of No. 2. R.C.A.F. HQ, Welfare Officer, is on the station.
October 10th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader WOOLFREY of No. 38 Group visited the station for equipment reasons.
October 10th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LOWE of No. 38 Group visited the station for security reasons.
October 12th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Wing Commander COCHRAN DPM is on the station.
October 12th, 1944: 15.55 hours.
The following - Mr MONTGOMERY and Mr BROWN, the British war correspondents - paid Tarrant Rushton a visit courtesy of the Air Ministry which provided an Air Ministry facility.
October 13th, 1944: 13.50 hours.
Squadron Leader LUNAN, DM, RCAF Liaison Officer, visited Tarrant Rushton.
October 14th, 1944: 13.50 hours.
Squadron Leader RADGAR from No. 2. DHQ, RCAF, called on chaplain duties.
October 16th, 1944: 12.30 hours.
Flying Officer ODELL from HQ ADGB paid this station a visit to visit armament staff.
October 17th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant WALTERS paid us a staff visit from No. 38 Group.
October 19th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Wing Commander ANGIER called on this station for liaison duties on welfare work for the Air Ministry.
October 20th, 1944: 11.30 hours.
Lieutenant Commander ALLEN from NERTHERAVON visited on liaison duties.
October 23rd, 1944: 15.50 hours.
Squadron Leader FROST from AME. LO. or 10. was here on supply liaison duties.
October 27th, 1944.
The Reverend Group Captain APPLEYARD, APC. No. 3 Area, visited the station.
October 29th, 1944: 20.50 hours.
Squadron Leader BELL of No. 1661 HCU called in regarding an investigation. With him was Flight Lieutenant McFARLANE.
October 31st, 1944: 11.40 hours.
Lieutenant Commander ALLEN called in again.
October 31st, 1944: 15.40 hours.
Squadron Leader LESUEUR APM paid a routine visit to the station.
Personnel news for October, 1944:
October 3rd, 1944.
S/O MILLETT was posted to RAF Station RINGWAY.
October 6th, 1944.
S/O WALLER CTG was posted to the station for operations room duties.
October 9th, 1944.
S/O FAIRBURN FK was posted DUNLHOLME LODGE.
October 17th, 1944.
Flying Officer AIRD GS posted to No. 5 PDC.
October 23rd, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant SLIPPER (Nav B) was posted to this station from No. 38 Group.
October 23rd, 1944.
Squadron Leader COLLINS FT (Nav B) posted to No. 38 Group.
October 24th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant OLDACRE GD posted to this station from PHU at MORECAMBE for operations room duties.
The personnel strength at the end of October, 1944, is:
RAF officers: 171 RAF other ranks: 1,984
RCAF officers: 32 RCAF other ranks: 23
RNZAF officers: 2 RNZAF other ranks: 10
RAAF officers: 10 RAAF other ranks: 5
WAAF officers: 6 WAAF other ranks: 257
TOTAL OFFICERS: 221 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,279
Commanding Officer’s resume:
During the month of October, No. 298 Squadron and No. 644 Squadron operated on seven nights, flying 47 SOE sorties over Holland. 26 of these sorties were successful. 376 containers, 56 packages or panniers and 4 troops were dropped. There were six hang-ups, four containers were hung-up due to flak damaging in the bomb bays. A special operation ‘QUAVER’ was successfully carried out, one aircraft from each squadron flew to TAIN and from there dropped a total of 12 containers, 12 panniers and four troops on October 16th, 1944, at a DZ in Northern Norway, co-ordinates 66 degrees and 43 and a half minutes North, 15 degrees and 22 minutes East. Two of our aircraft were lost during the month. The pilots were Flying Officer BAIRD of No. 644 Squadron and Flying Officer TAYLOR of No. 298 Squadron. Flying Officer BAIRD and crew have since been reported safe by ‘REGAN’.
Signed: T.B. COOPER, D.F.C.,
GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
Medical history of Tarrant Rushton for October, 1944.
Compiled by Flying Officer P.M. LANDAUER.
The general health of the camp remains very good. The following flying casualties occurred:
October 14th, 1944.
Halifax crash at TARRANT KEYNESTON. Two slightly injured and were treated at the Station Sick Quarters. One was admitted to No. 106 United States Army General Hospital for observation.
October 28th, 1944.
A Stirling crashed at SUTTON WALDRON. Four members of the crew were killed and three injured. One admitted to SHAFTESBURY Military Hospital.
Units under medical care are:
Station HQ
No. 298 Squadron
No. 644 Squadron
No. 6298 Servicing Echelon
No. 6644 Servicing Echelon
No. 14 and No. 15 Glider Servicing Echelons
‘C’ Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment
Naval Detachment
No. 4757 Works Flight
W.A.A.F.
Signed by: Squadron Leader R. MCMAHON,
Station Medical Officer,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
History of the Servicing Wing, October, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer P.M. LAUNDERER.
October with its four operational sorties produced a total of approximately 1,100 flying hours by gliders and powered aircraft. Ground crews of the servicing Wing have, however, been busily employed in the change over from Halifax V to Halifax III aircraft, 20 of the latter having arrived during the month. The unfamiliarity of the Hercules XVI sleeve-valved two row radial engine to the majority of ground crews has been considerably lessened by the showing of a series of specialist films and by lectures and demonstrations of an A.S.T.B. NCO loaned by the Air Ministry.
A request at short notice to modify three Halifax V aircraft with long range fuselage tanks for a special mission met with enthusiasm and the aircraft were delivered ahead of schedule. Mass production of parts required for 24 container drops has continued in the station workshops. A number of successful operational drops have been made but production has considerably out-paced demand and a stock has been built up. Practise mass lifts and loading of 17 pounder guns in addition to trial loading of jeep and porte in the Hamilcar has kept the Glider Servicing Echelon busy. The month saw the last of the original flock of Hadrians, the remaining nine migrating to HAMPSTEAD NORRIS on October 6th, 1944.
Total lifts for the month were 496.
Statistics:
Of a cumulative total of 1,880 aircraft held on charge, 1,564 were serviceable, giving a cumulative average serviceability of 85 per cent. In addition, 26 minor inspections were made, 8 engine changes were effected, 12 Halifax Mk III modified to airborne forces standard for paratrooping and tugging, 14 acceptance checks were completed and 18 airframe repairs carried out.
November, 1944:
Compiled by Squadron Leader N.H. De V. HEATHCOTE.
November 1st, 1944: 09.52 hours.
Operations ‘EXERCISE BEAR’ - seven Halifax combinations from this station joined in exercise to release gliders and paratroops near CHILBOLTON Aerodrome. Some 34 aircraft were engaged, the remainder being provided by No. 190 Squadron and No. 620 Squadron based at GREAT DUNMOW.
November 10th, 1944: 23.16 hours.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged in SOE operations over Holland. No enemy opposition was encountered.
November 15th, 1944: 12.14 hours.
Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over western France (CHATEAU BERNARD AERODROME) on SOE operations.
November 16th, 1944: 00.24 hours.
Eleven Stirling aircraft from GREAT DUNMOW were diverted to this airfield after operating on SOE operations over Holland.
November 19th, 1944: 11.30 hours.
Flight Lieutenant DURNFORD (M.I.9.) delivered an M.I.9. lecture to all available aircrew of both squadrons.
November 24th, 1944: 17.21 hours.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged in container and package dropping on seven Norwegian and one Dutch DZs. The success of the operation was largely the fault of bad weather and only one aircraft - from No. 644 Squadron - dropped its containers and packages on the DZ (‘Necking Four’).
November 29th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft from No. 644 Squadron were detailed to drop containers and packages on six D.Z.s in Norway. None of these aircraft completed the task owing to cloud over the DZ areas. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron landed at HAMPSTEAD NORRIS on the return owing to fuel shortage.
Summary of SOE and SAS operations for November, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer W.L. DONLEY:
SAS : Nil.
SOE : Tarrant Rushton operated on five occasions during the month - on the nights of 4th/5th, 10th/11th, 24th/25th and 29th/30th, and one daylight operation on the day of November 15th, 1944.
In all, 35 sorties were flown, of which 14 were completed. Of the remainder, 20 did not drop due to unfavourable weather conditions in the DZ areas or no reception, and one failed due to the unserviceability of the aircraft.
Of the above sorties, 15 were carried out on Norwegian targets but, in all cases, weather conditions prevented crews from completing.
November, 1944:
Glider Pilot Regiment Report:
Compiled by Lieutenant J. CUTHBERTSON.
Three mass lifts of six Halifax-Horsa combinations plus one mass lift of 12 Halifax-Horsa combinations took place at the beginning of the month. ‘EXERCISE BEAR’ for which this station provided seven Halifax-Hamilcar combinations and 24 Horsas for Stirlings from DOWN AMPNEY. On November 13th, 1944, one Hamilcar
(17 pounder A/T gun and Porte) was flown to NETHERAVON as part of an airborne demonstration. Twelve pilots successfully completed the Horsa first pilot’s conversion course. Flying this month was concentrated in the training of Hamilcar and Horsa pilots who have joined this squadron as re-enforcements.
Station Navigation Report:
Compiled by Squadron A.W. SLIPPER.
Concentrating on the new methods of navigation, both squadrons carried out extensive training programmes, viz. drift taking, DR navigation on drifts, astro-navigation and medium level bombing.
Operations:
Not many carried out. Those over the Norway area were very successful from a navigation view although reception not obtained. This was due to bad weather conditions experienced on these operations. Aircraft equipment now includes astrographs, Marganine bomb sights, drift recorders, Mark II astro-compasses and flame floats.
Intelligence Report:
Compiled by S/O HERBERT-SMITH.
November 19th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant H. DURNFORD, MC, from M.I.9, visited the station and gave a lecture to all available aircrews from both squadrons and glider pilots.
November 27th, 1944.
Wing Commander H. TUDOR (GIO) visited the station and stayed until November 28th, 1944.
Meteorological Report for November, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant CANNING.
The daytime weather during November was poor, only one fine day being recorded. Seven fair ones, ten rainy and two with fog, the remaining ten being showery or drizzly. The prevailing winds were South Westerly or North Westerly direction. East and North ones reported on six days. The winds varied from strong to moderate on the majority of days. Night weather was generally better than daytime, there being eleven fair to fine nights, ten rainy, six drizzle and showery ones and one foggy. Winds were fresh to strong on eleven nights and light on nine and one Southerly gale was reported. The prevailing winds were again from the North West or South West. There were nine nights when owing to bad weather no local flying was possible.
Squadron Note: See Appendix ‘A’.
Appendix ‘A’: Weather summary for November, 1944.
November 1st, 1944.
DAY: Cloudy in morning, fair in afternoon. Moderate North North East to East North East winds. Moderate visibility becoming good in afternoon.
NIGHT: Fine becoming cloudy after 04.00 hours. Moderate to poor visibility. Light North to North North East winds.
November 2nd, 1944.
DAY: Cloudy in morning, fair in afternoon. Cloud base 2,000 - 3,000 feet. Visibility poor at first, moderate in afternoon. Light North North East winds.
NIGHT: Fair or fine. Moderate to poor visibility. Light North Westerly winds.
November 3rd, 1944.
DAY: Occasional rain or drizzle during the morning and evening. Cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Moderate visibility. High to moderate Westerly winds.
NIGHT: Slight rain at first, becoming fine by 22.00 hours. Good visibility. Light to moderate West to West South West winds.
November 4th, 1944.
DAY: Slight showers. Moderate to good visibility. Moderate West South West wind becoming fresh to strong during the afternoon.
NIGHT: Slight drizzle before midnight, moderate to good visibility. Fresh to strong wind West South West to South West.
November 5th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain from 13.30 hours. Cloud base below 1,000 feet. Moderate to fresh South West to West South West gale, veering light to moderate North West wind at 16.05 hours.
NIGHT: Rain at first becoming fair from 19.40 hours. Good visibility, moderate North West wind backing light West.
November 6th, 1944.
DAY: Fair to cloudy, cloud base 1,500 feet or above. Good visibility, fresh West South West to South West wind.
NIGHT: Almost continuous rain 21.00 hours to 04.40 hours. Good visibility, cloud base 1,200 - 2,000 feet. Moderate to fresh West South West gale veering West to West North West strong from 01.50 hours.
November 7th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain 12.00 hours to 18.45 hours, cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Good visibility. Moderate to fresh West wind.
NIGHT: Slight rain until 19.40 hours. Cloud base 3,000 feet or above. Good visibility. Moderate to light West to North West winds.
November 8th, 1944.
DAY: Almost continuous rain 09.20 hours to 16.15 hours. Cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Patches at 300 feet. Moderate to good visibility. Moderate East North East to North winds.
NIGHT: Fair to cloudy, good visibility, light to moderate South West to West North West winds veering North West fresh to strong. End of period.
November 9th, 1944:
DAY: Fair, good visibility. Fresh North West winds falling light during the evening.
NIGHT: Fair or fine, good visibility, moderate to light North West winds.
November 10th, 1944.
DAY: Fair or fine, good visibility, moderate North West winds.
NIGHT: Continuous rain and drizzle from 01.20 hours. Cloud base lowering to 900 feet by 05.00 hours. Good to moderate visibility. Light North West winds backing South to South East after 04.00 hours.
November 11th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous drizzle for the day with fog at times. Winds light East or calm.
NIGHT: Drizzle and fog until 01.00 hours. Light variable winds.
November 12th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain and drizzle from 09.00 hours with fog. Visibility poor to very poor. Calm or light South West winds.
NIGHT: Occasional drizzle until 02.00 hours. Cloud base 200 - 800 feet lifting 3,000 - 4,000 feet after 04.00 hours. Winds North West moderate to fresh.
November 13th, 1944.
DAY: Slight showers 16.00 hours. Patches of cloud 800 - 1,200 feet. Visibility good, moderate to fresh North West to West winds.
NIGHT: Slight rain 22.00 hours to 00.30 hours. Cloud base 1,500 to 2,500 feet. Visibility good. Light West North West winds.
November 14th, 1944.
DAY: Fair, visibility good, moderate West North West winds becoming light North
to North East after 16.00 hours.
NIGHT: Slight drizzle 23.30 hours. Cloud base 800 - 1,500 feet. Good to moderate visibility. Moderate North to North North East wind.
November 15th, 1944.
DAY: Fair to cloudy, moderate visibility. Moderate North to North East winds.
NIGHT: Moderate to poor visibility, fine. Light North West wind.
November 16th, 1944.
DAY: Fog 08.00 hours to 11.00 hours. Visibility poor becoming moderate in afternoon. Light West to North West wind becoming East light in evening.
NIGHT: Rain from 22.20 hours, cloud base 800 feet or below after 01.00 hours. Visibility moderate to poor. Moderate East to South East winds becoming fresh to strong South to South South East after midnight.
November 17th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain, cloud base 300 - 500 feet. Strong South West to South South West wind.
NIGHT: Continuous rain until 02.00 hours then intermittent. Cloud base 600 feet or below. Visibility poor, winds South West strong and gusty.
November 18th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent rain after 12.00 hours, cloud base 600 - 1,000 feet. Visibility moderate to good. Strong to fresh South Westwinds.
NIGHT: Intermittent rain, cloud base 500 - 800 feet. Moderate to poor visibility. Moderate to fresh South wind freshening to gale force from 02.00 hours.
November 19th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous drizzle to 14.45 hours. Cloud base 400 - 800 feet, visibility moderate to good. Strong South South West wind veering West South West to South West fresh to strong from 15.00 hours.
NIGHT: Continuous slight rain or drizzle to 04.45 hours. Cloud base 500 - 800 feet, lifting to 1,000 feet after 04.45 hours. Visibility moderate to good. Fresh to strong South South West to South West winds.
November 20th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent rain or drizzle, cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Moderate to good visibility. Moderate South West wind becoming West North West fresh to strong after 12.00 hours.
NIGHT: Fair or fine. Good visibility. Fresh West North West to North West wind.
November 21st, 1944.
DAY: Fair or fine. Good visibility. Moderate West to North West wind backing South West to South 4 - 8 mph from 16.00 hours.
NIGHT: Continuous rain 21.30 - 04.00 hours then drizzle. Cloud base lowering 400 - 600 feet after 23.00 hours. Visibility good to moderate, wind light South backing South South East fresh to strong around midnight veering South West after 04.00 hours.
November 22nd, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent drizzle from 10.30 to 14.30 hours. Continuous rain from 17.00 hours. Good visibility. Cloud base 600 - 1,000 feet or below. Winds West South West moderate to fresh.
NIGHT: Continuous most of night. Cloud base 200 - 600 feet rising to 900 feet. Visibility moderate to good. Moderate South West to West South West wind.
November 23rd, 1944.
DAY: Slight drizzle. Cloud base 600 - 1,000 feet or below. Visibility moderate to good, wind West to West South West moderate.
NIGHT: Slight drizzle. Cloud base 500 - 1,000 feet. Visibility moderate to good. Wind West South West to South West fresh.
November 24th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent rain 15.00 - 17.00 hours. Cloud base 1,000 - 1,500 feet. Visibility good. West South West to West North West wind moderate.
NIGHT: Occasional showers, visibility good. Wind West to North West moderate.
November 25th, 1944.
DAY: Occasional showers. Visibility good. Wind West to North West moderate.
NIGHT: Slight shower 21.00 hours. Visibility good. Light to moderate North West winds.
November 26th, 1944.
DAY: Slight rain in morning, showers in afternoon and evening. Visibility good. Moderate South West to West South West wind.
NIGHT: Occasional showers, good visibility, cloud base lowered to 800 feet at 07.00 hours. Light West South West to North West winds.
November 27th, 1944.
DAY: Cloudy to fair, cloud base 800 feet lifting to 1,000 - 2,000 feet from 10.00 hours. Moderate visibility. Light variable North West winds.
NIGHT: Continuous rain or drizzle after 23.30 hours. Cloud base lowering to 400 - 600 feet after midnight. Visibility moderate to poor. Wind light at first becoming South to South South West moderate, increasing after midnight and becoming fresh to strong.
November 28th, 1944.
DAY: Rain and drizzle until 12.30 hours. Cloud base 200 - 500 feet rising to 800 - 1,000 feet after 14.00 hours. Visibility moderate to good, wind West South West to South West strong becoming moderate after midday.
NIGHT: Fair, good visibility, light West wind.
November 29th, 1944.
DAY: Fair to good visibility, light West to West South West wind.
NIGHT: Fair visibility but light West wind.
November 30th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent slight rain after 15.50 hours. Visibility good, wind West South West, light.
NIGHT: Intermittent slight rain to 22.00 hours. Good visibility. Light to moderate South West wind.
Station Armament Officer’s Report for November, 1944.
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant GATFORD.
Double banking containers on fuselage stations of Halifax aircraft at Tarrant Rushton.
With the increase of all-up weight to 63,000 lbs, 4,207 lbs extra carrying capacity was available when the normal load of 15 containers with full petrol was carried. Tests were made to find a satisfactory method of carrying extra containers to make up this extra weight. This was done by double banking containers on all fuselage stations. Double containers were attached together with two long straps with positioning blocks between the containers. Static lines tied the bomb rack were fitted to quick release pins on the straps which operated and separated the containers on release from the aircraft. A delayed action device was fitted to the bottom container parachutes to avoid the pranging of containers together in mid-air. Webbing straps were fitted to secure the bottom containers to take the place of cradles and straps normally used. The bomb doors had to remain open whilst double banked containers were carried but pilots are not perturbed about this in any way.
History of Servicing Wing, November, 1944:
Compiled by Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY.
The month of November has seen the completion of the change over from Halifax V to Halifax III aircraft. On November 1st, 1944, Halifax V and 22 Halifax III aircraft were held but by the 28th of the month the last Halifax V slid off the runway in use for its new happy hunting ground and by the end of the month the 50th new Halifax III had arrived. Despite a month of atrocious weather and a considerable reduction in operational targets, a total for aircraft and gliders of over 1,300 flying hours was accomplished, the majority of which were credited to training. The average serviceability of aircraft was lower this month than normally but this was largely due to acceptance checks and modifications as necessary to bring the new aircraft up to fully operational standard. A scheme to overcome the difficulty of retrieving Hamilcar gliders after operations has been devised and put forward to higher authority. At present, the necessary ballast box is too cumbersome to move by air and would have to be transported by sea whereas under the new scheme, ferro-concrete cylinders cast and adapted to fit on a normal container station can be carried by the retrieving aircraft and used to ballast the glider for the return flight.
Statistics:
Of a cumulative total of 1,655 Halifax aircraft held on charge, 1,223 were serviceable, giving a cumulative average serviceability of 75 per cent. During the month, 13 minor inspections were carried out, four engine changes effected, 30 acceptance checks completed and 45 airframe repairs and major carried out.
Glider lifts for the month totalled 729.
Signed: Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY,
Commanding Servicing Wing HQ,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Visits to RAF Station Tarrant Rushton, November, 1944:
Compiled by S/O HERBERT-SMITH:
November 2nd, 1944: 18.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant HOLMES from HQ Fighter Command visited the station on staff duties.
November 3rd, 1944: 09.15 hours.
Flying Officer GREEN was here regarding the Court of Enquiry.
November 3rd, 1944: 09.15 hours.
Flight Officer SLESSOR and Squadron Leader STEWART were also here in connection with the Court of Enquiry.
November 5th, 1944: 21.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LOWE from No. 38 Group visited us on staff duties.
November 6th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader SHIELDS from No. 38 Group was here on staff duties.
November 7th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Mr GOWLLAND paid us a welfare visit.
November 7th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Lieutenant Colonel PASS accompanied by Mr GOWLLAND.
November 6th, 1944: 13.10 hours.
Air Vice Marshall J.R. SCARLETT-STREATFIELD, CBE, the Air Officer Commanding, was on this station. He came by air.
November 10th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant CUNNING from HQ No. 38 Group was here.
November 11th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Squadron Leader DUNCAN from HQ Fighter Command visited this station.
November 12th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Squadron Officer SHALLARD of No. 38 Group was here regarding WAAF administration.
November 13th, 1944: 13.20 hours.
Squadron Leader LEIGH-JONES paid us a staff visit.
November 14th, 1944: 09.05 hours.
Wing Commander BIDDLE, Inspector of Accounts, came here from HQ Fighter Command.
November 20th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Group Captain VICKERS paid a personal call on the commanding officer.
November 24th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant REEVELY of No. 38 Group was here today.
November 24th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Wing Commander J.E. HOWE, Senior Group Medical Officer, was here on staff duties.
Station Headquarters News for November, 1944:
Wing Commander V.A. POPE relinquished command of No. 644 Squadron on November 10th, 1944, and left the station to take over the command of RAF Station RIVENHALL as Group Captain. Wing commander E.L. ARCHER, AFC, took over command of No. 644 Squadron on November 10th, 1944. Squadron Leader G.H. BRIGGS, DFC, was posted on November 16th, 1944, as an instructor to the SCHOOL OF AIR SUPPORT. Squadron Leader M. BARREN took over in his place.
Personnel News for November, 1944:
Compiled by Station Officer HERBERT-SMITH.
November 6th, 1944.
Flying Officer CASHMAN and Flying Officer SAUNDERS posted to this station for fighter affiliation duties.
November 10th, 1944.
Squadron Leader (now Wing Commander) ARCHER was posted here today to command No. 644 Squadron and replace Wing Commander POPE.
November 12th, 1944.
Station Officer BRITTEN was posted to GREAT DUNMOW today.
November 22nd, 1944.
Flying Officer BROWN (Meteorological Section) posted to NETHERAVON.
November 22nd, 1944.
Flying Officer J.W. THOMAS posted here from HAMPSTEAD NORRIS to take over Flying Officer BROWN’s place.
The personnel strength at the end of November, 1944, is: *
RAF officers: 217 RAF other ranks: 2,150
( * See Appendix ‘B’)
Appendix ‘B’:
RAF officers: 151 RAF other ranks: 1,840
RCAF officers: 38 RCAF other ranks: 31
RNZAF officers: 2 RNZAF other ranks: 17
RAAF officers: 20 RAAF other ranks: 10
WAAF officers: 6 WAAF other ranks: 252
TOTAL OFFICERS: 217 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,150
WAAF Section report:
Compiled By Flight Officer P.G. PLAYFORD.
November 10th/28th, 1944:
Section Officer REEVES (C & G) attached from HQ Fighter Command to replace Assistant Section Officer WADDINGTON.
November 18th/25th, 1944.
Two WAAF officers and two WAAF NCOs attended a No. 38 Group course on ‘citizenship’ in Manchester.
Medical history of RAF Station Tarrant Rushton for November, 1944.
Compiled by Squadron Leader R. McMAHON.
(See Appendix ‘C’)
The general health of the camp is excellent.
Appendix ‘C’:
Units under medical care are:
Station HQ
No. 298 Squadron
No. 644 Squadron
No. 6298 Servicing Echelon
No. 6644 Servicing Echelon
No. 4676 Works Flight
No. 14 and No. 15 Glider Servicing Echelons
‘C’ Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment
Naval Detachment
W.A.A.F.
Signed by: Squadron Leader R. McMAHON,
Station Medical Officer,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Station Entertainments for November, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer WYNDHAM-LEWIS.
No. 2 Airman’s Dining Hall is being converted into a concert hall and cinema for which suitable chairs have been purchased from BSI funds. Three different cinema programmes are played weekly: Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Sunday, with Red Circuit ENSA shows presented weekly on Saturday nights. Station dances are held in the gymnasium each Wednesday and a whist drive is held in the corporals’ room of the NAFFI, also on Wednesday nights. Special grants are made from PSI funds to all sections wishing to hold invitation dances. Special events such as fancy dress dances are held from time to time, and the WAAF section hold an invitation evening in their NAFFI once a week. A gramophone circle meets weekly in the WAAF officers’ mess.
Summary of sports during November, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer D. BEECH.
Soccer: football field close to the officers’ mess, most popular game on camp. A number of inter-section matches and station matches have been played. Matches arranged one per day. Five station matches against the following opponents:
November 2nd, 1944: aircrew personnel.
November 7th, 1944: Winton.
November 14th, 1944: Shaftesbury Military Hospital.
November 20th, 1944: Queen’s Regiment.
November 27th, 1944: Queen’s Regiment
Badminton: Becoming increasingly popular. Played by all ranks. Gymnasium open three nights per week for use, average attendance each night 10.
Squash: Played by senior NCOs and officers. Shortage of balls has cut down attendances.
Basket Ball: Glider pilots are regular attenders, average three times per week.
P.T. (Physical Training): Regular attendance from defence course, glider pilots and airmen.
Rehabilitation: Two airmen attend for remedial exercises.
Signed: C.C. Marshall.
For T.B. COOPER, D.F.C.,
GROUP CAPTAIN (COMMANDING),
RAF STATION TARRANT RUSHTON.
R.A.F. Form 540.
See instructions for use of this form in K.R. and A.C.I., para 2349 and War Manual. Pt. II., chapter XX. and notes in R.A.F. Pocket Book.
OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK
R.A.F. Station Tarrant Rushton
Summary of Events - SECRET.
November, 1944:
Compiled by Squadron Leader N.H. De V. HEATHCOTE.
November 1st, 1944: 09.52 hours.
Operations ‘EXERCISE BEAR’ - seven Halifax combinations from this station joined in exercise to release gliders and paratroops near CHILBOLTON Aerodrome. Some 34 aircraft were engaged, the remainder being provided by No. 190 Squadron and No. 620 Squadron based at GREAT DUNMOW.
November 10th, 1944: 23.16 hours.
Three aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and three aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged in SOE operations over Holland. No enemy opposition was encountered.
November 15th, 1944: 12.14 hours.
Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and two aircraft of No. 644 Squadron operated over western France (CHATEAU BERNARD AERODROME) on SOE operations.
November 16th, 1944: 00.24 hours.
Eleven Stirling aircraft from GREAT DUNMOW were diverted to this airfield after operating on SOE operations over Holland.
November 19th, 1944: 11.30 hours.
Flight Lieutenant DURNFORD (M.I.9.) delivered an M.I.9. lecture to all available aircrew of both squadrons.
November 24th, 1944: 17.21 hours.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged in container and package dropping on seven Norwegian and one Dutch DZs. The success of the operation was largely the fault of bad weather and only one aircraft - from No. 644 Squadron - dropped its containers and packages on the DZ (‘Necking Four’).
November 29th, 1944.
Four aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and four aircraft from No. 644 Squadron were detailed to drop containers and packages on six D.Z.s in Norway. None of these aircraft completed the task owing to cloud over the DZ areas. One aircraft of No. 644 Squadron landed at HAMPSTEAD NORRIS on the return owing to fuel shortage.
Summary of SOE and SAS operations for November, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer W.L. DONLEY.
SAS : Nil.
SOE : Tarrant Rushton operated on five occasions during the month - on the nights of 4th/5th, 10th/11th, 24th/25th and 29th/30th, and one daylight operation on the day of November 15th, 1944.
In all, 35 sorties were flown, of which 14 were completed. Of the remainder, 20 did not drop due to unfavourable weather conditions in the DZ areas or no reception, and one failed due to the unserviceability of the aircraft.
Of the above sorties, 15 were carried out on Norwegian targets but, in all cases, weather conditions prevented crews from completing.
November, 1944:
Glider Pilot Regiment Report:
Compiled by Lieutenant J. CUTHBERTSON.
Three mass lifts of six Halifax-Horsa combinations plus one mass lift of 12 Halifax-Horsa combinations took place at the beginning of the month. ‘EXERCISE BEAR’ for which this station provided seven Halifax-Hamilcar combinations and 24 Horsas for Stirlings from DOWN AMPNEY. On November 13th, 1944, one Hamilcar
(17 pounder A/T gun and Porte) was flown to NETHERAVON as part of an airborne demonstration. Twelve pilots successfully completed the Horsa first pilot’s conversion course. Flying this month was concentrated in the training of Hamilcar and Horsa pilots who have joined this squadron as re-enforcements.
Station Navigation Report:
Compiled by Squadron A.W. SLIPPER.
Concentrating on the new methods of navigation, both squadrons carried out extensive training programmes, viz. drift taking, DR navigation on drifts, astro-navigation and medium level bombing.
Operations:
Not many carried out. Those over the Norway area were very successful from a navigation view although reception not obtained. This was due to bad weather conditions experienced on these operations. Aircraft equipment now includes astrographs, Marganine bomb sights, drift recorders, Mark II astro-compasses and flame floats.
Intelligence Report:
Compiled by S/O HERBERT-SMITH.
November 19th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant H. DURNFORD, MC, from M.I.9, visited the station and gave a lecture to all available aircrews from both squadrons and glider pilots.
November 27th, 1944.
Wing Commander H. TUDOR (GIO) visited the station and stayed until November 28th, 1944.
Meteorological Report for November, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant CANNING.
The daytime weather during November was poor, only one fine day being recorded. Seven fair ones, ten rainy and two with fog, the remaining ten being showery or drizzly. The prevailing winds were South Westerly or North Westerly direction. East and North ones reported on six days. The winds varied from strong to moderate on the majority of days. Night weather was generally better than daytime, there being eleven fair to fine nights, ten rainy, six drizzle and showery ones and one foggy. Winds were fresh to strong on eleven nights and light on nine and one Southerly gale was reported. The prevailing winds were again from the North West or South West. There were nine nights when owing to bad weather no local flying was possible.
Squadron Note: See Appendix ‘A’.
Appendix ‘A’: Weather summary for November, 1944.
November 1st, 1944.
DAY: Cloudy in morning, fair in afternoon. Moderate North North East to East North East winds. Moderate visibility becoming good in afternoon.
NIGHT: Fine becoming cloudy after 04.00 hours. Moderate to poor visibility. Light North to North North East winds.
November 2nd, 1944.
DAY: Cloudy in morning, fair in afternoon. Cloud base 2,000 - 3,000 feet. Visibility poor at first, moderate in afternoon. Light North North East winds.
NIGHT: Fair or fine. Moderate to poor visibility. Light North Westerly winds.
November 3rd, 1944.
DAY: Occasional rain or drizzle during the morning and evening. Cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Moderate visibility. High to moderate Westerly winds.
NIGHT: Slight rain at first, becoming fine by 22.00 hours. Good visibility. Light to moderate West to West South West winds.
November 4th, 1944.
DAY: Slight showers. Moderate to good visibility. Moderate West South West wind becoming fresh to strong during the afternoon.
NIGHT: Slight drizzle before midnight, moderate to good visibility. Fresh to strong wind West South West to South West.
November 5th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain from 13.30 hours. Cloud base below 1,000 feet. Moderate to fresh South West to West South West gale, veering light to moderate North West wind at 16.05 hours.
NIGHT: Rain at first becoming fair from 19.40 hours. Good visibility, moderate North West wind backing light West.
November 6th, 1944.
DAY: Fair to cloudy, cloud base 1,500 feet or above. Good visibility, fresh West South West to South West wind.
NIGHT: Almost continuous rain 21.00 hours to 04.40 hours. Good visibility, cloud base 1,200 - 2,000 feet. Moderate to fresh West South West gale veering West to West North West strong from 01.50 hours.
November 7th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain 12.00 hours to 18.45 hours, cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Good visibility. Moderate to fresh West wind.
NIGHT: Slight rain until 19.40 hours. Cloud base 3,000 feet or above. Good visibility. Moderate to light West to North West winds.
November 8th, 1944.
DAY: Almost continuous rain 09.20 hours to 16.15 hours. Cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Patches at 300 feet. Moderate to good visibility. Moderate East North East to North winds.
NIGHT: Fair to cloudy, good visibility, light to moderate South West to West North West winds veering North West fresh to strong. End of period.
November 9th, 1944:
DAY: Fair, good visibility. Fresh North West winds falling light during the evening.
NIGHT: Fair or fine, good visibility, moderate to light North West winds.
November 10th, 1944.
DAY: Fair or fine, good visibility, moderate North West winds.
NIGHT: Continuous rain and drizzle from 01.20 hours. Cloud base lowering to 900 feet by 05.00 hours. Good to moderate visibility. Light North West winds backing South to South East after 04.00 hours.
November 11th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous drizzle for the day with fog at times. Winds light East or calm.
NIGHT: Drizzle and fog until 01.00 hours. Light variable winds.
November 12th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain and drizzle from 09.00 hours with fog. Visibility poor to very poor. Calm or light South West winds.
NIGHT: Occasional drizzle until 02.00 hours. Cloud base 200 - 800 feet lifting 3,000 - 4,000 feet after 04.00 hours. Winds North West moderate to fresh.
November 13th, 1944.
DAY: Slight showers 16.00 hours. Patches of cloud 800 - 1,200 feet. Visibility good, moderate to fresh North West to West winds.
NIGHT: Slight rain 22.00 hours to 00.30 hours. Cloud base 1,500 to 2,500 feet. Visibility good. Light West North West winds.
November 14th, 1944.
DAY: Fair, visibility good, moderate West North West winds becoming light North
to North East after 16.00 hours.
NIGHT: Slight drizzle 23.30 hours. Cloud base 800 - 1,500 feet. Good to moderate visibility. Moderate North to North North East wind.
November 15th, 1944.
DAY: Fair to cloudy, moderate visibility. Moderate North to North East winds.
NIGHT: Moderate to poor visibility, fine. Light North West wind.
November 16th, 1944.
DAY: Fog 08.00 hours to 11.00 hours. Visibility poor becoming moderate in afternoon. Light West to North West wind becoming East light in evening.
NIGHT: Rain from 22.20 hours, cloud base 800 feet or below after 01.00 hours. Visibility moderate to poor. Moderate East to South East winds becoming fresh to strong South to South South East after midnight.
November 17th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous rain, cloud base 300 - 500 feet. Strong South West to South South West wind.
NIGHT: Continuous rain until 02.00 hours then intermittent. Cloud base 600 feet or below. Visibility poor, winds South West strong and gusty.
November 18th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent rain after 12.00 hours, cloud base 600 - 1,000 feet. Visibility moderate to good. Strong to fresh South West winds.
NIGHT: Intermittent rain, cloud base 500 - 800 feet. Moderate to poor visibility. Moderate to fresh South wind freshening to gale force from 02.00 hours.
November 19th, 1944.
DAY: Continuous drizzle to 14.45 hours. Cloud base 400 - 800 feet, visibility moderate to good. Strong South South West wind veering West South West to South West fresh to strong from 15.00 hours.
NIGHT: Continuous slight rain or drizzle to 04.45 hours. Cloud base 500 - 800 feet, lifting to 1,000 feet after 04.45 hours. Visibility moderate to good. Fresh to strong South South West to South West winds.
November 20th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent rain or drizzle, cloud base 1,000 - 2,000 feet. Moderate to good visibility. Moderate South West wind becoming West North West fresh to strong after 12.00 hours.
NIGHT: Fair or fine. Good visibility. Fresh West North West to North West wind.
November 21st, 1944.
DAY: Fair or fine. Good visibility. Moderate West to North West wind backing South West to South 4 - 8 mph from 16.00 hours.
NIGHT: Continuous rain 21.30 - 04.00 hours then drizzle. Cloud base lowering 400 - 600 feet after 23.00 hours. Visibility good to moderate, wind light South backing South South East fresh to strong around midnight veering South West after 04.00 hours.
November 22nd, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent drizzle from 10.30 to 14.30 hours. Continuous rain from 17.00 hours. Good visibility. Cloud base 600 - 1,000 feet or below. Winds West South West moderate to fresh.
NIGHT: Continuous most of night. Cloud base 200 - 600 feet rising to 900 feet. Visibility moderate to good. Moderate South West to West South West wind.
November 23rd, 1944.
DAY: Slight drizzle. Cloud base 600 - 1,000 feet or below. Visibility moderate to good, wind West to West South West moderate.
NIGHT: Slight drizzle. Cloud base 500 - 1,000 feet. Visibility moderate to good. Wind West South West to South West fresh.
November 24th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent rain 15.00 - 17.00 hours. Cloud base 1,000 - 1,500 feet. Visibility good. West South West to West North West wind moderate.
NIGHT: Occasional showers, visibility good. Wind West to North West moderate.
November 25th, 1944.
DAY: Occasional showers. Visibility good. Wind West to North West moderate.
NIGHT: Slight shower 21.00 hours. Visibility good. Light to moderate North West winds.
November 26th, 1944.
DAY: Slight rain in morning, showers in afternoon and evening. Visibility good. Moderate South West to West South West wind.
NIGHT: Occasional showers, good visibility, cloud base lowered to 800 feet at 07.00 hours. Light West South West to North West winds.
November 27th, 1944.
DAY: Cloudy to fair, cloud base 800 feet lifting to 1,000 - 2,000 feet from 10.00 hours. Moderate visibility. Light variable North West winds.
NIGHT: Continuous rain or drizzle after 23.30 hours. Cloud base lowering to 400 - 600 feet after midnight. Visibility moderate to poor. Wind light at first becoming South to South South West moderate, increasing after midnight and becoming fresh to strong.
November 28th, 1944.
DAY: Rain and drizzle until 12.30 hours. Cloud base 200 - 500 feet rising to 800 - 1,000 feet after 14.00 hours. Visibility moderate to good, wind West South West to South West strong becoming moderate after midday.
NIGHT: Fair, good visibility, light West wind.
November 29th, 1944.
DAY: Fair to good visibility, light West to West South West wind.
NIGHT: Fair visibility but light West wind.
November 30th, 1944.
DAY: Intermittent slight rain after 15.50 hours. Visibility good, wind West South West, light.
NIGHT: Intermittent slight rain to 22.00 hours. Good visibility. Light to moderate South West wind.
Station Armament Officer’s Report for November, 1944.
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant GATFORD.
Double banking containers on fuselage stations of Halifax aircraft at Tarrant Rushton.
With the increase of all-up weight to 63,000 lbs, 4,207 lbs extra carrying capacity was available when the normal load of 15 containers with full petrol was carried. Tests were made to find a satisfactory method of carrying extra containers to make up this extra weight. This was done by double banking containers on all fuselage stations. Double containers were attached together with two long straps with positioning blocks between the containers. Static lines tied the bomb rack were fitted to quick release pins on the straps which operated and separated the containers on release from the aircraft. A delayed action device was fitted to the bottom container parachutes to avoid the pranging of containers together in mid-air. Webbing straps were fitted to secure the bottom containers to take the place of cradles and straps normally used. The bomb doors had to repain open whilst double banked containers were carried but pilots are not perturbed about this in any way.
History of Servicing Wing, November, 1944:
Compiled by Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY.
The month of November has seen the completion of the change over from Halifax V to Halifax III aircraft. On November 1st, 1944, Halifax V and 22 Halifax III aircraft were held but by the 28th of the month the last Halifax V slid off the runway in use for its new happy hunting ground and by the end of the month the 50th new Halifax III had arrived. Despite a month of atrocious weather and a considerable reduction in operational targets, a total for aircraft and gliders of over 1,300 flying hours was accomplished, the majority of which were credited to training. The average serviceability of aircraft was lower this month than normally but this was largely due to acceptance checks and modifications as necessary to bring the new aircraft up to fully operational standard. A scheme to overcome the difficulty of retrieving Hamilcar gliders after operations has been devised and put forward to higher authority. At present, the necessary ballast box is too cumbersome to move by air and would have to be transported by sea whereas under the new scheme, ferro-concrete cylinders cast and adapted to fit on a normal container station can be carried by the retrieving aircraft and used to ballast the glider for the return flight.
Statistics:
Of a cumulative total of 1,655 Halifax aircraft held on charge, 1,223 were serviceable, giving a cumulative average serviceability of 75 per cent. During the month, 13 minor inspections were carried out, four engine changes effected, 30 acceptance checks completed and 45 airframe repairs and major modifications carried out.
Glider lifts for the month totalled 729.
Signed: Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY,
Commanding Servicing Wing HQ,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Visits to RAF Station Tarrant Rushton, November, 1944:
Compiled by S/O HERBERT-SMITH:
November 2nd, 1944: 18.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant HOLMES from HQ Fighter Command visited the station on staff duties.
November 3rd, 1944: 09.15 hours.
Flying Officer GREEN was here regarding the Court of Enquiry.
November 3rd, 1944: 09.15 hours.
Flight Officer SLESSOR and Squadron Leader STEWART were also here in connection with the Court of Enquiry.
November 5th, 1944: 21.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant LOWE from No. 38 Group visited us on staff duties.
November 6th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Squadron Leader SHIELDS from No. 38 Group was here on staff duties.
November 7th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Mr GOWLLAND paid us a welfare visit.
November 7th, 1944: 12.00 hours.
Lieutenant Colonel PASS accompanied by Mr GOWLLAND.
November 6th, 1944: 13.10 hours.
Air Vice Marshall J.R. SCARLETT-STREATFIELD, CBE, the Air Officer Commanding, was on this station. He came by air.
November 10th, 1944: 11.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant CUNNING from HQ No. 38 Group was here.
November 11th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Squadron Leader DUNCAN from HQ Fighter Command visited this station.
November 12th, 1944: 14.00 hours.
Squadron Officer SHALLARD of No. 38 Group was here regarding WAAF administration.
November 13th, 1944: 13.20 hours.
Squadron Leader LEIGH-JONES paid us a staff visit.
November 14th, 1944: 09.05 hours.
Wing Commander BIDDLE, Inspector of Accounts, came here from HQ Fighter Command.
November 20th, 1944: 10.00 hours.
Group Captain VICKERS paid a personal call on the commanding officer.
November 24th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Flight Lieutenant REEVELY of No. 38 Group was here today.
November 24th, 1944: 16.00 hours.
Wing Commander J.E. HOWE, Senior Group Medical Officer, was here on staff duties.
Station Headquarters News for November, 1944:
Wing Commander V.A. POPE relinquished command of No. 644 Squadron on November 10th, 1944, and left the station to take over the command of RAF Station RIVENHALL as Group Captain. Wing commander E.L. ARCHER, AFC, took over command of No. 644 Squadron on November 10th, 1944. Squadron Leader G.H. BRIGGS, DFC, was posted on November 16th, 1944, as an instructor to the SCHOOL OF AIR SUPPORT. Squadron Leader M. BARREN took over in his place.
Personnel News for November, 1944:
Compiled by Station Officer HERBERT-SMITH.
November 6th, 1944.
Flying Officer CASHMAN and Flying Officer SAUNDERS posted to this station for fighter affiliation duties.
November 10th, 1944.
Squadron Leader (now Wing Commander) ARCHER was posted here today to command No. 644 Squadron and replace Wing Commander POPE.
November 12th, 1944.
Station Officer BRITTEN was posted to GREAT DUNMOW today.
November 22nd, 1944.
Flying Officer BROWN (Meteorological Section) posted to NETHERAVON.
November 22nd, 1944.
Flying Officer J.W. THOMAS posted here from HAMPSTEAD NORRIS to take over Flying Officer BROWN’s place.
The personnel strength at the end of November, 1944, is:
* RAF officers: 217 RAF other ranks: 2,150
( * See Appendix ‘B’)
Appendix ‘B’:
RAF officers: 151 RAF other ranks: 1,840
RCAF officers: 38 RCAF other ranks: 31
RNZAF officers: 2 RNZAF other ranks: 17
RAAF officers: 20 RAAF other ranks: 10
WAAF officers: 6 WAAF other ranks: 252
TOTAL OFFICERS: 217 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,150
WAAF Section report:
Compiled By Flight Officer P.G. PLAYFORD.
November 10th/28th, 1944:
Section Officer REEVES (C & G) attached from HQ Fighter Command to replace Assistant Section Officer WADDINGTON.
November 18th/25th, 1944.
Two WAAF officers and two WAAF NCOs attended a No. 38 Group course on ‘citizenship’ in Manchester.
Medical history of RAF Station Tarrant Rushton for November, 1944.
Compiled by Squadron Leader R. McMAHON.
(See Appendix ‘C’)
The general health of the camp is excellent.
Appendix ‘C’:
Units under medical care are:
Station HQ
No. 298 Squadron
No. 644 Squadron
No. 6298 Servicing Echelon
No. 6644 Servicing Echelon
No. 4676 Works Flight
No. 14 and No. 15 Glider Servicing Echelons
‘C’ Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment
Naval Detachment
W.A.A.F.
Signed by: Squadron Leader R. McMAHON,
Station Medical Officer,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Station Entertainments for November, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer WYNDHAM-LEWIS.
No. 2 Airman’s Dining Hall is being converted into a concert hall and cinema for which suitable chairs have been purchased from BSI funds. Three different cinema programmes are played weekly: Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Sunday, with Red Circuit ENSA shows presented weekly on Saturday nights. Station dances are held in the gymnasium each Wednesday and a whist drive is held in the corporals’ room of the NAAFI, also on Wednesday nights. Special grants are made from PSI funds to all sections wishing to hold invitation dances. Special events such as fancy dress dances are held from time to time, and the WAAF section hold an invitation evening in their NAFFI once a week. A gramophone circle meets weekly in the WAAF officers’ mess.
Summary of sports during November, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer D. BEECH.
Soccer: football field close to the officers’ mess, most popular game on camp. A number of inter-section matches and station matches have been played. Matches arranged one per day. Five station matches against the following opponents:
November 2nd, 1944: aircrew personnel.
November 7th, 1944: Winton.
November 14th, 1944: Shaftesbury Military Hospital.
November 20th, 1944: Queen’s Regiment.
November 27th, 1944: Queen’s Regiment
Badminton: Becoming increasingly popular. Played by all ranks. Gymnasium open three nights per week for use, average attendance each night 10.
Squash: Played by senior NCOs and officers. Shortage of balls has cut down attendances.
Basket Ball: Glider pilots are regular attenders, average three times per week.
P.T. (Physical Training): Regular attendance from defence course, glider pilots and airmen.
Rehabilitation: Two airmen attend for remedial exercises.
December, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer SHIPPAM.
December 7th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE RECURRENT II’ - 20 Halifax-Hamilcar combinations from this station took part in this exercise, making a concentrated glider landing on Tarrant Rushton Airfield. Some 100 aircraft were engaged, 80 of these being Stirlings and Halifaxes from other stations in No. 38 Group, which released their gliders at GREAT SAMPFORD Airfield. Fighter aircraft of No. 11 Group were co-operating in making dummy interceptions on the tug and glider combinations.
December 8th, 1944: 13.30 hours.
26 Lancaster aircraft (13 of No. 57 Squadron and 12 of No. 630 Squadron from EAST KIRKBY and one of No. 196 Squadron at STRUBBY, all of No. 5 Group) landed at Tarrant Rushton after taking part in an attack on the Ruhr.
December 17th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE BUZZ’ - 30 Halifax and Horsa combinations and one Halifax and Hadrian combination took part in this exercise, the object being to lift a Headquarters Airborne Corps from Tarrant Rushton and release over the Divisional DZ. Of the aircraft participating, 15 were detailed from No. 644 Squadron and 16 from No. 298 Squadron. No. 12. Group day fighters co-operated in making dummy interceptions on the Halifax and gliders combinations.
December 24th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged on SOE operations over Norway. One aircraft on ‘Tail 8’ completed its mission and one failed to take off. The remainder were unsuccessful owing to weather conditions and no reception in the DZ areas.
December 26th/27th, 1944.
Five aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and five aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged on SOE operations over Norway. Two aircraft of No. 298 Squadron were cancelled. Of the remainder, six aircraft were successful and two unsuccessful owing to no reception in the DZ area.
December 30th/31st, 1944.
Seven aircraft of No. 298 Squadron and six aircraft of No. 644 Squadron engaged on SOE operations over Norway. Four aircraft were successful, the remainder having no reception on being unable to locate the DZ. All aircraft were diverted to EARLS COLNE but one landed at WOODBRIDGE and one at THORP ABBOTTS.
Summary of SOE and SAS operations for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer SHIPPHAM.
SAS : Nil.
SOE : Tarrant Rushton operated on three occasions during the month - on the nights of 23/24th, 26th/27th and 30th/31st December, 1944. In all, 31 sorties were flown of which were completed. Of the remainder, 19 aircraft failed to complete their mission owing to unfavourable weather conditions in the DZ area or no reception. One aircraft was delayed in take-off and weather conditions made later take-off impossible. All the above sorties were carried out on Norwegian targets.
Glider Pilot Regiment report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Lieutenant T.H. GROVES.
December 7th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE RECURRENT’ - 20 Halifax and Hamilcar combinations (12 heavy, 8 light) took off. One returned to base after one hour at the tug’s request. The remainder completed the exercise.
December 17th, 1944.
‘EXERCISE BUZZ’ - 29 Halifax and Horsa combinations, and one Halifax Hadrian took off. 25 gliders landed at LZ, two combinations returned due to u/s tugs, two combinations returned due to glider faults and one force-landed due to tow row breakage following simulated fighter interception.
December 18th, 1944.
No. 3 Flight of ‘B’ Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment, arrived from EARLS COLNE to convert to Hamilcars.
December 29th, 1944.
One Sergeant force-landed a Hamilcar during training. Rest of month was occupied by normal flying.
Navigation Report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Squadron Leader SLIPPER.
Training in the new methods of navigation are principally completed and this is shown by the fact that on operations on the night of 26th/27th December, 1944, 75 per cent of this station’s aircraft successfully dropped. This is the highest percentage obtained by any station in this Group so far. Trouble was experienced over the Northern Chain during the month and experiments are now in hand to rectify this. Apart from this, navigation on the operations was of a high standard. Bomb aimers have not yet reached the standard of proficiency required by No. 38 Group but are progressing slowly.
Intelligence Report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Station Officer C.M. HERBERT-SMITH.
December 4th, 1944.
A film on Pressure, Wind and Temperature was shown by Flight Lieutenant P.A. CANNING to aircrews.
December 8th, 1944.
A lecture on Pressure, Wind and the Altimeter was given by Flight Lieutenant P.A. CANNING to aircrews.
December 11th, 1944.
A lecture on Depressions and Frosts by Flight Lieutenant P.A. CANNING was given to aircrews.
December 15th, 1944.
Squadron Leader HERVEY, M.C., of M.I.9. assisted by Lieutenant FOUGMER (Norwegian Air Force) visited the station and gave a lecture on Norway to all available aircrews and glider pilots.
December 16th, 1944.
From December 16th - 30th, 1944, Flight Lieutenant J.F. MOFFATT gave ten lectures on security, POW and escape to crews of No. 644 Squadron and the Glider Pilot Regiment.
December 21st, 1944.
A film on Fog was shown by Flight Lieutenant P.A. CANNING to aircrews.
Armament activities during December, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant R.GATFORD.
Operations were on a smaller scale than of late, 39 sorties being flown during the month. Of these, 12 only were successful, the small percentage being due to the more difficult and longer range targets our squadrons were given this month. A total of 153 containers were dropped and there three hang-ups, two due to electrical faults and one suspected poor manipulation. The latter was excusable owing to the aircraft having a rough passage over the target. Next to operations, the chief job of the month has been the commencement of practise bombing. Several snags arose over bombing ranges but with the MANNINGTON DOWN now available six days a week, we hope to get really ‘cracking’ in this direction during the next few weeks. We had the use of two Martinets for a week’s air to air firing but the weather interfered considerably and only a very few sorties were flown. Air firing stoppages on operations worked out at one for every 750 rounds fired. It was hoped this would be considerably improved upon in the future.
History of the Servicing Wing, December, 1944:
Compiled by Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY.
The month of December has seen the completion of re-equipment with Halifax III aircraft to new establishment figures, the 54th new Halifax being received on December 22nd, 1944. This month has shown a gradual but well defined increase in serviceability as both pilots and ground crews have gained experienced on the new type, this despite the fact that 82 Naval Fleet Air Arm personnel who have been loaned to this station since the formation of the No. 6644 Servicing Echelon have been withdrawn to the Navy. It might be set on record at this junction that the Servicing Wing could not have reached its high level of achievement had it not been for the whole-hearted co-operation afforded by these members of the Royal Navy. The work this month which has included a limited number of operations has been mainly devoted to training which, considering the difficult flying weather, is reflected in the number of glider lifts made, namely 607 and the total flying hours for all types including gliders which is nearly 1,500.
During the month, a brace of the new Mark II Horsa gliders made their debut, and a couple of Hadrians reappeared to take part in an exercise. Army load trials were made with the former. Clearance trials were made with the heavy Hamilcars and Horsas towed by the Halifax Mark III and the clearance was subsequently raised to 55,000 lbs.
Glider crashes resulted in four category ‘A’ and two category ‘AC’ repairs. On the tenth day of the month, the Servicing Wing was honoured by a visit from Colonel DUMAS of the French Air Force who was greatly interested in the possibilities of the Hamilcar as a strategic weapon.
Statistics:
Strength of aircraft:
Halifax III 54
Oxford II 3
Spitfire VB 2
Tiger Moth II 2
Strength of gliders:
Hamilcar I 70
Horsa I 31
Horsa II 2
Hadrian 2
Of a cumulative total of 1,597 Halifax aircraft on charge, 1,282 were serviceable, giving a cumulative average serviceability of 80 per cent. During the month, 20 minor inspections were carried out, three engine changes effected, seven acceptance checks completed and 24 airframe repairs and major modifications carried out.
Glider lifts for the month totalled 729.
Signed: Wing Commander W.J. HENDLEY,
Commanding Servicing Wing HQ,
R.A.F. Tarrant Rushton.
Meteorological Report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant CANNING.
December 1st - 6th, 1944.
Mainly cloudy, occasional rain or drizzle.
December 7th - 12th, 1944.
Fair to fine, occasional showers, slight frost on the 9th December, 1944.
December 13th, 1944.
Fine but foggy during the morning.
December 14th - 17th, 1944.
Overcast, intermittent rain or drizzle.
December 18th, 1944.
Fair, occasional showers.
December 19th - 31st, 1944.
Considerable mist and fog, some slight rain on December 21st/22nd, 1944, otherwise mainly clear skies. Slight to hard frost.
Strong winds were experienced on December 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th, 1944.
( See Appendix ‘A’)
Equipment Activities Report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant PRESCOTT.
The rearming of aircraft from Halifax V to Halifax III has been completed during the month and the section has now a considerable range of Bristol spares.
History of the M.T. Section for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Lieutenant C.N. TAYLOR.
The month of December has been, from the MT point of view, been normal, although owing to poor flying weather, the Servicing Wing requirements have not been so heavy. MT maintenance has been very difficult owing to the weather and the very limited accommodation provided for working on vehicles under cover. In spite of the working conditions and having to wait for spares, the under noted maintenance has been carried out:
68 500 mile inspections.
18 2,000 mile inspections.
4 10,000 mile inspections.
2 engine changes.
1 gearbox change.
1 rear axle change.
In addition to the above, four vehicles have been overhauled under the G.R.O.V.E.R. Repair Scheme, and four vehicles have been replaced on F523 action. Mileage covered during the month is 45,196 miles with four accidents of a minor nature.
Visits to RAF Station Tarrant Rushton during December, 1944:
Compiled by Section Officer J.E. LEWIS.
December 6th, 1944: 10.30 hours.
Squadron Leader LANE, Squadron Leader BESSEY and Squadron Leader WEBSDALE from HQ No. 38 Group visited the engineering staff.
December 6th, 1944: 12.15 hours.
Flight Officer CUNNINGHAM-WATKINSON from RAF TILSTOCK came to lecture the WAAF.
December 7th, 1944: 10.55 hours.
Flight Lieutenant WHITBREAD, Mr CHAMBERS and Mr WRIGHT from the Air Ministry paid us a visit regarding the MT establishment.
December 10th, 1944: 14.50 hours.
Group Captain UBEE (A.F.E.E.) paid us a visit regarding Halifax trials.
December 11th, 1944: 11.25 hours.
Squadron Leader LEIGH-JONES from No. 38 Group came in connection with Flying Control.
December 14th, 1944: 16.30 hours.
Squadron Leader HERVEY (M.L.G.W.O.) came here on an intelligence lecture tour as did Lieutenant FONGNEN (R.N.A.F.).
December 19th, 1944: 11.15 hours.
Squadron Leader CROSSLAND from No.2 DHQ RCAF Exeter came to visit RCAF personnel.
December 30th, 1944: 14.30 hours.
Squadron Leader WOOLFREY from No. 38 Group visited the Equipment Section.
Station Headquarters personnel for December, 1944:
Compiled by Section Officer J.E. LEWIS.
December 1st, 1944.
Squadron Leader FREEBORN was posted here from RAF HAWARDEN as Station Administrative Officer.
December 1st, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant HARDACRE was posted to No. 9 Squadron.
December 5th, 1944.
Flight Officer HUNT was posted here from RAF EARLS COLNE. Pilot Officer RIDGEWELL was posted here from Fighter Command HQ.
December 6th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant TATTERSALL was posted here from RAF HAMPSTEAD NORRIS.
December 8th, 1944.
Squadron Leader FREEBORN was posted to Station HQ at NETHERAVON.
December 11th, 1944.
Squadron Leader ENTWISTLE was posted here from RAF HORNCHURCH as Senior Accountant Officer. Squadron Leader MARSH-ALLEN was posted here from RAF NETHERAVON as Station Administrative officer.
December 13th, 1944.
Squadron Leader ENTWISTLE was posted to No. 1 CMP for disposal following medical appointment.
December 16th, 1944.
Flying Officer SHIPPAM was posted here from GREAT DUNMOW.
December 18th, 1944.
Squadron Leader McBRIDE was posted here from RAF CRANWELL as Senior Accountant Officer.
December 28th, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant BENNIE was posted here from RAF OLD SARUM as Station Adjutant.
Personnel strength for December, 1944:
Officers: 222 Other Ranks: 2,085.
(See Appendix ‘B’)
Personnel strength at RAF Tarrant Rushton for December, 1944:
RAF officers: 167 RAF other ranks: 1,787
RCAF officers: 34 RCAF other ranks: 21
RNZAF officers: 2 RNZAF other ranks: 9
RAAF officers: 13 RAAF other ranks: 5
WAAF officers: 16 WAAF other ranks: 263
TOTAL OFFICERS: 222 TOTAL OTHER RANKS: 2,085
Local Defence Adviser’s Report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer YOUNG.
December 12th, 1944: 21.00 hours.
Civil Defence Lecture at Wimborne. Attendance 50, duration one hour, questions 30 minutes.
Remarks:
Great interest and well received enthusiasm by all in release from harness. A number practised the operation without loss of time.
Medical History of RAF Station Tarrant Rushton for December, 1944:
Compiled by Squadron Leader R. McMAHON.
General health of the camp is excellent. See Appendix ‘C’.
WAAF Section report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flight Officer P.G. PLAYFORD.
December 6th, 1944.
Visit by Flight Officer CUNNINGHAM-WATKINSON to speak on moral welfare to WAAF section. Two meetings held, both very well attended.
December 22nd, 1944.
Visit of Section Officer GEORGE from DAPM Regional Office, Salisbury.
December 25th, 1944.
Christmas dinner and tea in airman’s mess for WAAFs and RAF personnel.
Summary of sports during December, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer D. BEECH.
Soccer: 23 inter-section matches have been played this month, Glider Pilot Regiment being regular attenders. The station team have played four matches against the local teams. A five-a-side tournament was arranged for Christmas Day but Christmas fayre and ‘spirits’ were responsible for a poor turnout and eventual cancellation of the tournament.
Squash: Played regularly by officers.
Badminton: Still the most popular indoor game with WAAF and WAAF personnel attend regularly in afternoons and evenings.
Netball: Played by WAAF and Glider Pilot Regiment regularly in gymnasium.
Minor Games: Darts, billiards etc. well used in messes and station institutes.
Night Vision Training: Regular attendance of four crews each day, four and a half to two hours becoming increasingly popular with crews.
Rehabilitation: One airmen attended for medical exercises.
Station Entertainments Report for December, 1944:
Compiled by Flying Officer WYNDHAM-LEWIS.
Cinema shows were given five nights a week with an ENSA show every Saturday evening. During this month, we also had three USO Camp shows. Special dances were held during Christmas week and admission was free during the whole of the Christmas period, all entertainment expenses being met by the PSI.
Signed: C.C. MARSHALL (Squadron Leader)
For: T.B. COOPER (Group Captain)
Commanding RAF Station Tarrant Rushton.
Weather Diary for December, 1944:
December 1st, 1944.
Frequent drizzle morning and later afternoon, much cloud at 800 - 1,500 feet. Moderate to good visibility, winds South West to West South West 10 mph becoming 20 - 25 mph, gusty in the evening.
December 2nd, 1944.
Drizzle to 04.20 hours, much cloud 800 - 1,200 feet until 05.15 hours then broken cloud at 2,500 - 3,000 feet. Visibility moderate in drizzle becoming good afterwards. Winds South West 20 - 25 mph, moderating during the day to 5 - 15 mph.
December 3rd, 1944.
Cloudy with rain mid-morning and late evening, 9/10ths to 10/10ths low cloud at 800 feet after 07.00 hours breaking in the afternoon but increasing again in the evening at 1,500 feet. Visibility good except in rain. Wind West South West 5 mph at first becoming West North West 25 - 30 mph gusty after 11.30 hours.
December 4th, 1944.
Showers 01.00 hours, 05.00 hours and 11.00 - 12.00 hours. Broken cloud at 2,000 - 2,500 feet. Visibility good, wind West North West 15 - 20 mph gusty.
December 5th, 1944.
Showers 04.00 - 14.00 hours. Broken cloud at 2,000 - 2,500 feet. Visibility good, wind West 15 mph becoming calm by evening.
December 6th, 1944.
Showers at 12.20 to 12.30 hours, 14.50 hours, 16.10 hours, 19.20 hours. Almost continuous rain after 20.00 hours. Broken cloud at 2,500 feet falling to 1,500 feet in rain. Visibility good becoming moderate in rain. Wind West light increasing after 11.00 hours to 10 - 15 mph.
December 7th, 1944.
Light rain from 04.00 to 07.00 hours. Showers 09.00, 13.00, 14.00 and 18.00 hours. Much multi-layered cloud base mainly above 2,000 feet dispersing during the evening. Visibility good, wind West 15 mph moderating.
December 8th, 1944.
Showers 09.00 to 11.30 hours, visibility good, well broken cloud at 2,000 feet, wind West South West 5 - 10 mph until dawn and then North West 20 - 25 mph gusty moderating 5 - 10 mph again after dusk.
December 9th, 1944.
Fair or fine, small amounts of cloud at 2,000 - 4,000 feet, visibility good. Wind North to West North West 10 - 15 mph becoming 15 mph - 20 mph gusty late morning and afternoon.
December 10th, 1944.
Continuous rain 10.00 - 15.00 hours, much upper cloud falling 600 - 800 feet in rain, becoming little or none after 16.30 visibility good becoming moderate in rain. Wind light West becoming South 25 - 35 mph gusty 12.00 - 16.00 hours then West South West 10 - 15 mph.
December 11th, 1944.
Shower 19.00 to 19.30 hours. Little cloud during darkness otherwise well broken cloud at 2,500 feet. Visibility good, winds West South West to West North West 10 - 20 mph.
December 12th, 1944.
Fine evening apart from showers at 07.00 hours and 11.00 hours. Broken cloud above 2,000 feet dispersing in the evening. Good visibility, winds strong at first decreasing in the evening.
December 13th, 1944.
Fog after 07.00 hours until 14.00 hours visibility then becoming 2 miles. Little cloud until 22.00 hours when large amounts at 3,500 feet. Winds light and variable.
December 14th, 1944.
Cloudy, hazy. Considerable cloud above 8,000 feet with well broken cloud at 1,500 - 2,000 feet during daylight. Visibility 2 - 5 miles, winds South South East 10 - 20 mph.
December 15th, 1944.
Frequent rain and drizzle until 19.30 hours. Visibility moderate at first then poor. Cloud 8/10th - 10/10ths at 800 - 1,000 feet falling to 200 feet 07.00 hours to 12.00 hours and 23.00 to 24.00 hours. Winds South West to East South East 2 - 7 mph.
December 16th, 1944.
Light rain 08.00 hours to 12.45 hours continuous rain heavy at times after 18.45 hours. Visibility moderate to poor. Much cloud at 300 - 700 feet, breaking temporarily and lifting to 1,500 feet 13.00 hours to 17.00 hours then falling steadily in rain to 500 feet. Wind East South East to South East 8 - 15 mph until 08.00 hours then South South West 15 - 25 mph until 21.00 hours South 30 - 35 mph.
December 17th, 1944.
Continuous rain until 09.30 hours, shower 21.00 to 21.30 hours. Gales to 07.00 hours, visibility poor until 09.30 hours then moderate. Cloud 8/10ths to 10/10ths at 500 feet in rain until 09.30 hours then 4/10ths to 8/10ths cloud at 800 - 1,000 feet until dusk and then breaking and lifting to 2,500 feet. Wind South South West 40 mph until 07.00 hours, 25 - 30 mph until dusk and then 15 - 20 mph.
December 18th, 1944.
Showers rather frequent after 15.00 hours. Well broken cloud at 2,000 feet, visibility good. Wind South South West 25 mph moderating slowly during the day and becoming calm after 18.00 hours.
December 19th, 1944.
Fog just before dawn and after dusk. Visibility 1 - 3 miles, falling to 300 yards just before dawn and 100 - 300 yards after dusk. Cloud small amounts at 2,500 feet. Wind light and variable.
December 20th, 1944.
Fog all day, visibility 50 - 200 yards. Wind calm or light South East, sky obscured by fog.
December 21st, 1944.
Fog until 07.00 hours. Slight drizzle 10.30 hours to 13.30 hours. Visibility 100 - 400 yards, improving 3 - 6 miles during daylight then falling 2,000 - 3,000 yards. Cloud surface in fog lifting slowly after day-break and becoming well broken at 1,500 feet by 16.00 hours. Wind calm becoming light North to North West.
December 22nd, 1944.
Drizzle 02.00 hours to 04.30 hours, 09.00 to 09.30 and then after dusk. Visibility 1 to 3 miles falling temporarily to 100 yards at dawn and to 1,000 yards after dusk. Considerable cloud forming to surface near dawn and to 700 - 1,000 feet after dusk. Wind North 5 - 10 mph but becoming light East North East after dusk.
December 23rd, 1944.
Fog and mist until 12.00 hours. Visibility 700 - 2,000 yards until 12.00 hours then 2 - 4 miles. Considerable cloud falling to surface from dawn to 12.00 hours then lifting and dispersing. Wind light East becoming North North east 5 - 10 mph.
December 24th, 1944.
Mist and haze, visibility 3,000 - 6,000 yards. Little or no cloud, wind North East to North North East 8 - 15 mph.
December 25th, 1944.
Hazy fog 19.00 - 21.00 hours. Visibility 200 - 500 yards 19.00 to 21.00 hours otherwise 1 - 3 miles. Cloud patches, lifted fog 200 - 300 feet 09.00 hours to 11.00 hours otherwise little or none. Wind North East 6 - 12 mph.
December 26th, 1944.
Hazy, fog after 22.00 hours. Visibility 1,200 yards to dawn, then 2 - 3 miles until dusk then falling 60 - 100 yards. No cloud except for fog on surface after 22.00 hours. Wind East North East 5 - 10 mph until dusk then calm.
December 27th, 1944.
Thick fog all day. Visibility 60 - 100 yards improving late to 1,000 - 1,500 yards. Cloud sky obscured by fog lifting to 800 to 1,500 feet late. Wind calm, light and variable becoming North West 10 mph after 22.00 hours.
December 28th, 1944.
Fair, visibility 1.5 - 3 miles. Little cloud, wind North North East 8 - 12 mph.
December 29th, 1944.
Fine, visibility 2,000 yards at first becoming 3 miles by 14.00 hours, deteriorating to 2,000 yards after 21.30 hours. Winds light North.
December 30th, 1944.
Mainly cloudy with poor visibility and drizzle 13.00 - 16.00 hours. Visibility 1,000 yards at first improving 3,000 - 4,000 yards then becoming less than 100 yards temporarily about 16.00 hours to 18.00 hours. Cloud generally above 6,000 feet, wind North West 12 mph.
December 31st, 1944.
Mainly fine, small amounts of cloud above 2,000 feet, visibility 5 miles, wind North 5 - 10 mph.
Hendelser som skjedde her
| Navn | Dato | Lenke |
|---|---|---|
| AM 095 SOE Operation THUSH RED II 04 Thrush Red | 1944-11-24 | Se mer |
| AM 288 SOE Operation TAIL VIII 1 Tern | 1944-11-24 | Se mer |
| AM 163 SOE Operation TAIL III 2 Tern | 1944-11-24 | Se mer |
| AM 292 SOE Operation TAIL X 1 Tern | 1944-11-24 | Se mer |
| AM 164 SOE Operation HALTER I 4 Hawfinch | 1944-11-29 | Se mer |
| AM 168 SOE Operation POMMEL IV 2 Pipit | 1944-11-29 | Se mer |
| AM 269 SOE Operation POMMEL VII 2 Pipit | 1944-11-29 | Se mer |
| Am 166 SOE Operation BIT X 4 Goldcrest | 1944-11-29 | Se mer |
| AM 171 SOE Operation BIT XIII 3 Goldcrest | 1944-11-29 | Se mer |
| AM 244 SOE Operation BIT IV 2 Goldcrest | 1944-11-29 | Se mer |
| AM 288 SOE Operation TAIL VIII 3 Tern | 1944-12-23 | Se mer |
| AM 095 SOE Operation THUSH RED II 06 Thrush Red | 1944-12-23 | Se mer |
| AM 163 SOE Operation TAIL III 5 Tern | 1944-12-23 | Se mer |
| AM 127 SOE Operation TAIL II 3 Tern | 1944-12-23 | Se mer |
| AM 208 SOE Operation REINS III 2 Rosy Bullfinch Red | 1944-12-26 | Se mer |
| AM 335 SOE Operation REINS VIII 1 Rosy Bullfinch Red | 1944-12-26 | Se mer |
| AM 332 SOE Operation CRUPPER XXXIII 1 Firecrest - Golden Eagle | 1944-12-26 | Se mer |
| AM 306 SOE Operation CROP XIV 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 220 SOE Operation CURB III 1 Cormorant | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 204 SOE Operation CROP VIII 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| Am 252 SOE Operation SNAFFLE III 3 Starlight | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 273 SOE Operation CURB V Cormorant | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 234 SOE Operation CROP XII Chiffchaff Red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 301 SOE Operation CROP XIII 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 328 SOE Operation CROP XVII 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 311 SOE Operation CROP XV Chiffchaff Red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 227 SOE Operation CROP IX 1 Chiffchaff red | 1944-12-30 | Se mer |
| AM 369 SOE Operation HOCK V 1 Osprey | 1945-01-23 | Se mer |
| AM 369 SOE Operation HOCK V 2 Osprey | 1945-01-28 | Se mer |
| AM 413 SOE Operatioen CURB VII Cormorant | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 415 SOE Operation CURB X Cormorant | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 190 SOE Operation CURB I 3 Cormorant | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 204 SOE Operation CROP VIII 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 220 SOE Operation CURB III 2 Cormorant | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 231 Soe Operation CRUPPER XVI 1 Golden Eagle | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 364 Soe Operation CRUPPER XXXX 1 Greenfinch | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 366 SOE Operation CROP XIX 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 319 SOE Operation PELHAM VIII 2 Pheasant | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 306 SOE Operation CROP XIV 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 216 SOE Operation CRUPPER XI 4 Golden Eagle | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 269 SOE Operation POMMEL VII 4 Pipit | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 399 SOE Operation CROP XXi 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 320 SOE Operation PELHAM VII 2 Pheasant | 1945-02-20 | Se mer |
| AM 416 SOE Operation CURB VIII Cormorant | 1945-02-21 | Se mer |
| AM 301 SOE Operation CROP XIII 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 306 SOE Operation CROP XIV 3 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 328 SOE Operation CROP XVII 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 366 SOE Operation CROP XIX 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 410 SOE Operation CROP XXIII Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 220 SOE Operation CURB III 3 Cormorant | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 190 SOE Operation CURB I 4 Cormorant | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 400 SOE Operation CROP XXII Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 461 SOE Operation CROP XXVI Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-22 | Se mer |
| AM 414 SOE Operation CURB IX Cormorant | 1945-02-23 | Se mer |
| AM 399 SOE Operation CROP XXi 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-23 | Se mer |
| AM 412 SOE Operation CRUPPER XXXXIV 1 Golden eagle | 1945-02-23 | Se mer |
| AM 227 SOE Operation CROP IX 2 Chiffchaff red | 1945-02-23 | Se mer |
| AM 363 SOE Operation CRUPPER XXXXI 1 Greenfinch | 1945-02-23 | Se mer |
| AM 428 SOE Operation CURB XI 1 Cormorant | 1945-02-24 | Se mer |
| AM 431 SOE Operation CURB XII Cormorant | 1945-02-24 | Se mer |
| AM 412 SOE Operation CRUPPER XXXXIV 2 Golden eagle | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 151 SOE Operation Crupper IV 3 Greenfinch | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 206 SOE Operation CROP VI 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 216 SOE Operation CRUPPER XI 5 Golden Eagle | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 231 Soe Operation CRUPPER XVI 2 Golden Eagle | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 428 SOE Operation CURB XI 2 Cormorant | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 437 SOE Operation CURB XIV Cormorant | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 411 SOE Operation CROP XXIV 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-02-25 | Se mer |
| AM 364 Soe Operation CRUPPER XXXX 2 Greenfinch | 1945-02-26 | Se mer |
| AM 319 SOE Operation PELHAM VIII 3 Pheasant | 1945-03-02 | Se mer |
| AM 350 SOE Operation CROP XVIII Chiffchaff Red | 1945-03-02 | Se mer |
| AM 320 SOE Operation PELHAM VII 3 Pheasant | 1945-03-02 | Se mer |
| AM 190 SOE Operation CURB I 5 Cormorant | 1945-03-02 | Se mer |
| AM 216 SOE Operation CRUPPER XI 6 Golden Eagle | 1945-03-02 | Se mer |
| AM 428 SOE Operation CURB XI 3 Cormorant | 1945-03-03 | Se mer |
| AM 336 SOE Operation PELHAM IX 5 Pheasant | 1945-03-30 | Se mer |
| AM 320 SOE Operation PELHAM VII 4 Pheasant | 1945-03-30 | Se mer |
| AM 319 SOE Operation PELHAM VIII 4 Pheasant | 1945-03-30 | Se mer |
| AM 485 SOE Operation REINS XVII 1 Rosy Bullfinch Red | 1945-03-30 | Se mer |
| AM 405 SOE Operation BIT XXXI 6 Goldcrest | 1945-03-30 | Se mer |
| AM 477 SOE Operation REINS XV1 1 Rosy Bullfinch Blue | 1945-04-17 | Se mer |
| AM 355 SOE Operation CRUPPER XXXVII 4 Elg | 1945-04-17 | Se mer |
| AM 296 SOE Operation REINS VII 6 Rosy Bullfinch Blue | 1945-04-17 | Se mer |
| AM 148 SOE Operation REINS II 5 Rosy Bullfinch Blue | 1945-04-17 | Se mer |
| AM 351 SOE Operation CRUPPER XXXIV 5 Golden Eagle | 1945-04-18 | Se mer |
| AM 519 SOE Operation CROP XXXII Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-19 | Se mer |
| AM 204 SOE Operation CROP VIII 4 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-20 | Se mer |
| Am 264 SOE Operation SNAFFLE I 6 Starlight | 1945-04-20 | Se mer |
| AM 300 SOE Operation CURB VI Cormorant | 1945-04-21 | Se mer |
| AM 328 SOE Operation CROP XVII 3 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-21 | Se mer |
| AM 583 SOE Operation CROP XXXIII 1 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-21 | Se mer |
| AM 399 SOE Operation CROP XXi 3 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-21 | Se mer |
| AM 533 SOE Operation HOCK VII Osprey | 1945-04-22 | Se mer |
| AM 564 SOE Operation BLINKERS V 3 Bjørn | 1945-04-22 | Se mer |
| AM 399 SOE Operation CROP XXi 4 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-22 | Se mer |
| AM 575 SOE Operation HOCK X Avocet Red | 1945-04-22 | Se mer |
| AM 369 SOE Operation HOCK V 5 Osprey | 1945-04-22 | Se mer |
| AM 306 SOE Operation CROP XIV 5 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
| AM 467 SOE Operation CROP XXVII 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
| Am 502 SOE Operation SNAFFLE VI 3 Starlight | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
| AM 328 SOE Operation CROP XVII 4 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
| AM 391 SOE Operation CROP XX Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
| AM 494 SOE Operation CROP XXIX Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
| AM 583 SOE Operation CROP XXXIII 2 Chiffchaff Red | 1945-04-23 | Se mer |
Galleri
Nyttige lenker
| Tittel | Lenke |
|---|---|
| RAF Tarrant Rushton | Se mer |
| TARRANT RUSHTON Code:MAZT, later EGWT. | Se mer |
| Dorset Life - Tarranet Ruston Airfield | Se mer |
| Atlantic Wall - Tarrant Ruston Airfield | Se mer |