A Very Unusual Air War
Page 12
Oxford BG549 Self To Scampton −50
Oxford BG549 Self Cpl Barnes, LACs Watson & Andrioli To Duxford 1–00
Oxford BG549 Self To Scampton −45
Oxford BG549 Self 3 passengers To Duxford −50
12th Spitfire T Self To Kenley and Redhill −45
Spitfire T Self To Duxford −45
18th Spitfire T Self Aerobatics just for fun 1–20
20th Spitfire T Self A local buzz around −30
21st Oxford BG549 Self 3 passengers Test camouflage of the airfield −45
Oxford BG549 Self S/Ldr Haywood To Derby (instructing) −40
Oxford BG549 Self S/Ldr Haywood Return to Duxford (instructing) −40
Spitfire W Self Target aircraft and sight test MOD −50
23rd Spitfire T Self To Feltwell −15
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Wellington 1–00
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Wellington 1–15
Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −15
Spitfire O Self Test hyrdomatic airscrew −30
Spitfire T Self To Oakington −10
Spitfire T Self Co-op Stirlings 1–05
Spitfire T Self Co-op Stirlings 1–00
25th Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −10
26th Spitfire T Self To Wyton −15
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Stirlings and return to Duxford −15
Spitfire T Self Test new type ‘Negative G’ carburettor 1–10
27th Oxford BG549 Self Sgt Kulczyk, F/Sgt Brazendale To Heston −35
Oxford BG549 Self F/Sgt Brazendale To Duxford via Redhill 1–10
28th Spitfire T Self Interception of Typhoons −50
29th Oxford BG549 Self LACs Cuthbert & Rawlings To Heston −40
Oxford BG549 Self LACs Cuthbert & Rawlings and Sgt Kulczyk To Farnborough −20
Oxford BG549 Self As above To Duxford −45
Oxford BG549 Self S/Ldr Dual instruction to S/Ldr −40
GRAND TOTAL TO DATE 497hrs 45 mins 3–30 8–25
58–30 427–20 7–15
4 July: It may seem that on these fighter affiliation trips we had long spells just sitting around doing nothing. This was not the case; I do not remember ever being bored. We were allowed to attend the briefings for the bomber crews and would later watch them taking off, fully loaded with petrol, bombs and ammunition. Some mornings we would get up very early to watch the survivors coming home. Later we sometimes attended the de-briefings by the Intelligence Officers, and talked to the very tired crews. On days when there were no operations we could visit local places of interest; when at Waddington or Scampton, Lincoln was always a popular spot.
11 July: On one of these visits I met a most interesting officer, the station commander at Scampton, Group Captain Augustus Walker, generally known as ‘Gus’ Walker. In the course of operations, a Lancaster crashed on take-off with a full load of bombs on board. Gus led an attempt to rescue the crew. As he reached the stricken machine one of its bombs exploded, and he suffered severe injuries including the loss of an arm. He recovered and resumed his duties, remaining in the RAF after the war, attaining high rank and many decorations.
12 July: A visit to the old squadron (602), back at Kenley after a short rest up north, hardly any of the old lot left; the new boys appeared to be somewhat subdued. I did not repeat the visit.
21 July: Squadron Leader Haywood (always for some reason known as Scruffy) was attached to AFDU as a rest from operations. He was a member of High Society, married to a titled lady who, I believe, was the pre-war ‘Health and Beauty Girl’. During his stay they lived in a caravan, parked in a pleasant meadow near a stream. One evening they invited Estelle and me for a meal, trout freshly caught from the stream. They were two lovely people and made us feel thoroughly at home, treating us, in every way, as equals.
As a rest from operations, officers up to the rank of Wing Commander were often posted to AFDU. Like me, up to the time of joining the unit, many had not flown multi-engined aircraft. As a result I sometimes found myself in the role of instructor and it was my great pleasure to instruct Squadron Leader Haywood, who proved an able pupil.
23 July: On some of the affiliation flights the Spitfires operated singly, either at varying times or over a different area. Usually not more than four bombers would take part in each sortie, taking it in turns to be the target aircraft. The fighter would carry out mock attacks on each in turn. In this way most of the bomber crews got their chance to practise taking evasive action, particularly by ‘corkscrewing’.
29 July:
Summary for:- July 1942 Spitfire 26–30
Unit:- AFDU Duxford Defiant 2–50
Date:- 3/8/42 Oxford 9–40
Signature:- H.L. Thorne
H.S. Sewell Flt Lt
For O/C Flying AFDU
During this month Wing Commander Campbell-Orde and Squadron Leader Ted Smith were sent over to the US on a flag-waving publicity tour, to help the war effort. During their temporary absence, F/Lt H.S. (Bert) Sewell took over as acting O/C Flying, and in that capacity signed my logbook. F/Lt Sewell, known to us all as Susie, became my closest friend during our time together. He was the perfect example of a fighter pilot: young, handsome, debonair, popular. He played a mean game of snooker and had an inexhaustible store of songs and stories. Before the war I understood that he was a car salesman in Darlington and would certainly have fitted the bill. After the war I got in touch with him and found him settled down with his wife in a lovely village in the Darlington area. He was by then the headmaster of a junior school, very changed, not the Susie I remembered.
YEAR 1942 AIRCRAFT Pilot or 1st Pilot 2nd Pilot, Pupil or Pass. DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) Flying Time Passenger
MONTH DATE Type No. Dual Solo
August 4th Spitfire T Self To Dishforth 1–25
5th Spitfire T Self To Middleton-St.-George −20
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Halifaxes −25
Boston AFZ S/Ldr Swales Self To Dishforth −20
6th Boston AFZ S/Ldr Swales Self To Middleton-St.-George −25
Spitfire T Self Air test −20
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Halifaxes −40
Spitfire T Self To Dishforth −25
7th Spitfire T Self To Middleton-St.-George −25
Spitfire T Self To Dishforth −25
9th Spitfire T Self To Duxford 1–00
19th Magister R1915 Self S/Ldr Watkins Ferrying to Hucknall 1–00
Magister R1915 Self S/Ldr Watkins Return to Duxford 1–00
20th Spitfire T Self To Mildenhall −20
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Wimpies (Wellingtons) 1–00
Spitfire T Self Co-op with Wimpies −50
Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −15
21st Spitfire T Self To Upwood −15
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims 1–00
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims −45
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims −40
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims −45
Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −20
22nd Spitfire W Self To Oakington −10
Spitfire W Self Co-op Stirlings and return 1–00
23rd Spitfire T Self Weather test −10
Spitfire T Self To Lakenheath −20
Spitfire T Self Co-op Stirlings −50
Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −20
24th Spitfire T Self To Lakenheath −20
Spitfire T Self Co-op Stirlings −40
Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −20
Spitfire T Self To Colerne −50
Spitfire Mk V Q Self Return to Duxford −50
26th Spitfire Mk IX BF273 Self Air test to 25,000ft −50
Spitfire V Self Co-op with ‘Wimpies’ 1–05
27th Spitfire BF273 Self To Cranfield −20
Stinson Reliant ? P/O Walker Self & P/O Mause To Duxford −25
28th Spitfire S Self To Lakenheath −40
Spitfire S Self Co-op Stirlings. Landed back at Duxford −40
29th Wellington ? F/Sgt ? Self & crew Co-op by ‘Teddy and Scotty’ 1–30
Airacobra AH574 Self Air test −35
30th Spitfire AD318 Self Air and engine test −50
31st Spitfire T Self To Upwood −20
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims −45
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims −45
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims 1–15
Spitfire T Self Return to Duxford −20
GRAND TOTAL TO DATE 527 hours 55 minutes 3–30 8–25
58–30 457–30 9–30
6 August: First flight. Flying as a passenger in a Douglas Boston was an interesting experience. Our machine was the light bomber/night fighter version, with a crew of three, each isolated from the others: the pilot, who also did the navigation, a mid upper gun position and a bomb aimer position in the nose. By choice I usually flew in the latter position, lying prone and watching the runway hurtling past on take-off and landing; the ground looked very close at these times.
19 August: Hucknall was an airfield near Nottingham, the headquarters and production unit of Rolls-Royce Aero Engine division.
24 August: The flight to Colerne made a change; after weeks going north and east I enjoyed the trip to Colerne near Bath, on a lovely day, over familiar territory. The co-op too, was a new one with Mosquitos. The Mosquito had an all-wooden fuselage and wings, two Merlin engines, and was very fast. It became known as ‘the Wooden Wonder’. The PRU (Photographic Reconnaissance Unit) version was faster than most contemporary fighters and needed no armament, relying on its speed for protection. On arrival at Colerne, the Mossies were already airborne so we completed the exercise before landing, then enjoyed a very pleasant lunch before returning to Duxford.
26 August: This was my first flight in a Spitfire Mk IX. After nearly a year of domination by the Focke Wulf FW190s, the RAF was able to re-establish its superiority. Strangely, the Spitfire Mk IX was intended as a temporary measure, being a Mk V modified to take the larger and more powerful Merlin 60 series engine. With its 2-speed, 2-stage supercharger it was faster and could operate at greater heights than its predecessor. Its handling was superb and most pilots agreed that it was the best of all the Spitfires.
The Mk VIII was still on the drawing board, with a completely redesigned airframe to take the bigger engine and would not be ready for action until many Mk IXs were already in action. By the end of 1942, two American companies, Packard and Ford, were manufacturing Merlin 60 series engines, mainly for their own needs in the Mustang (P51) aircraft but also for the increasing British demands for the Spitfire and Lancaster. Spitfires powered by the American engine were known as Mk XVIs; this version also had American .5mm machine guns instead of the Hispano 20mm cannons.
27 August: The first Mk IXs, like the Mk Vs, had the original flat-sided sliding cockpit canopy. I believe that the flight to Cranfield was to have a blister hood with bulging sides fitted to improve visibility, especially to the rear.
29 August: To assist the Wellington crew I took over the controls soon after take-off to demonstrate the action of ‘corkscrewing’. This constituted my first solo in that type of aircraft.
That day also saw my first solo in a Bell Airacobra and my first experience of a tricycle undercarriage (i.e. a nose instead of a tail wheel). The Airacobra was a unique aircraft in that the power plant was installed in the rear fuselage behind the pilot and drove a propeller by a shaft that passed through the cockpit under the pilot’s seat.
I always had visions of the potential damage to one’s private undercarriage if the shaft fractured, although I never heard that such an accident ever occurred. The installation allowed a cannon to fire through the propeller boss, which would add considerably to its accuracy. This machine, the Mk I version, was powered by an American Allison engine and was turned down by the RAF because of poor performance at altitude. Some were used in the North Africa and Italian campaigns and others to very good effect in Russia.
31 August:
Summary for:- August 1942 1 Spitfire 24–55
Unit:- AFDU Duxford 2 Boston −45
Date:- 1/9/42 3 Magister 2–00
Signature:- H.L. Thorne 4 Stinson −25
5 Wellington 1–30
6 Airacobra −35
Signed: D. Clive Fl Lt
O/C Flying AFDU
F/Lt H.S. Sewell (Susie) was posted back to his squadron round about this date and newly promoted. F/Lt Denis Clive took over as flight commander. Denis was a fine figure of a man, over six feet tall and broad with it; he had a real fighter pilot’s moustache. He told us of his pre-war career as a film star and, when Estelle and I went to a cinema in Cambridge to see a film, we were amused to spot him in a minor part, the stars being Jessie Matthews and Alistair Sim. He and his wife Jane also had rooms in Duxford village and Estelle sometimes joined Jane and the other wives for morning coffee.
YEAR 1942 AIRCRAFT Pilot or 1st Pilot 2nd Pilot, Pupil or Pass. DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) Flying Time Passenger
MONTH DATE Type No. Dual Solo
September 2nd Defiant V1121 Self P/O Ireland To Nottingham −45
Defiant V1121 Self To Duxford −45
3rd Spitfire W Self To Tempsford −15
Spitfire W Self To Chelveston −15
Spitfire W Self To Duxford −20
6th Spitfire W Self To Dishforth 1–00
Spitfire W Self To Topcliffe −15
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wellingtons 1–20
Spitfire W Self To Dishforth −15
7th Spitfire W Self To Topcliffe −15
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy 1–15
Spitfire W Self To Dishforth −15
8th Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy 1–20
GRAND TOTAL TO DATE 536 hours 10 minutes 3–30 8–25
58–30 465–45 8–00
Spitfire V Self Co-op Wimpy 1–00
9th Spitfire V Self Co-op Wimpy 1–10
Spitfire V Self Co-op Wimpy 1–00
10th Spitfire V Self To Skipton −15
Spitfire V Self Co-op Wimpy 1–30
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy −40
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy −40
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy. Landed at Dishforth −35
11th Spitfire W Self To Skipton −10
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy 1–10
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy −40
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy −45
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy −30
Spitfire W Self To Dishforth −10
Spitfire W Self To Duxford 1–00
12th Spitfire O Self Sighting test then on to Lakenheath −20
Spitfire O Self Co-op Stirlings 1–00
Spitfire O Self To Duxford −20
13th Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy 1–05
14th Spitfire AD318 Self Speed trial −20
15th Spitfire S Self Co-op Wimpy 1–05
16th Hurricane AFU Self To White Waltham −40
Hurricane AFU Self White Waltham to Northolt −15
Hurricane AFU Self To Duxford −40
17th Oxford BG549 Self Messrs Hall, Lovelock & Austin A fun flight for members of the Observer Corps 1–30
20th Spitfire Y Self Air test −20
21st Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpy 1–05
22nd Spitfire R Self To Waterbeach −15
Spitfire R Self Co-op Stirlings −40
Spitfire R Self To Duxford −15
23rd Spitfire W Self To Thurleigh for co-op with B-17s (Flying Fortresses) 1–15
24th Spitfire T Self Co-op Fortresses −55
Stinson Reliant ? S/Ldr J.A.F. MacLachlan Self & P/O Godefroy To Langley −30
Stinson Reliant ? P/O Godefroy Self To Duxford −30
27th Spitfire T Self To Bourne −10
Spitfire T Self Co-op Stirlings 1–00
Spitfire T Self To Duxford −10
29th Spitfire T Self To Upwood −15
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims −50
Spitfire T
Self Co-op Blenheims −45
Spitfire T Self Co-op Blenheims and return to Duxford 1–05
2 September: I had hoped that I had seen the last of the Defiant (known as the Daffy) but had to fly it back to base. Luckily, it was my final flight in one. It was not my favourite aeroplane and my sympathies went out to those brave chaps who had to fly one during its brief operational career.
11 September: From the 5th to the 11th was a week of detachment and the commanding officers of the Wellington Squadrons made us really earn our corn. Remembering that there were three of us in the affiliation flight, all of whom would have taken part at all times, this was a week of intensive activity. I was very relieved to get back to Duxford, as the 11th was Estelle’s birthday and she would have been very fed up if I had not returned in time to celebrate it.
13 September: We must have missed this one up at Skipton and he followed us home.
15 September: Another one we missed at Skipton!
16 September: This was our first wedding anniversary. I was not given the day off but some easy cross-country and some fun flying in an old Hurricane, including a ‘show off’ to White Waltham and a very quick visit to the Climer family at Slough. I made sure that I got back to Duxford in good time and was let off duty early. Assuming that I needed rest, the CO gave me light duties the next day.
17 September: I gave them a trip over the Thames valley. Actually it was a very gentle cross-country at only 2,000 feet, taking in Marlow on the Thames, Bicester and Banbury, then back to base. My three passengers varied in age but no one was airsick and all assured me that it was a very pleasant experience.
23 September: My logbook does not say but I assume that the Fortresses were the early arrivals of the USAAC (United States Army Air Corps), getting ready for their daylight raids on Germany. This was not my first meeting with a ‘Fort’; earlier in the year a single machine landed at Duxford. The pilot was completely lost and asking for directions back to his base, apparently having no idea of how to call up on radar.
24 September: These exercises were interceptions followed by mock attacks on the American machines to get the crews used to seeing fighters come in and, hopefully, let them know what a Spitfire looked like.