January 1st, 1944. Weather fair to cloudy. January 2nd, 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)