by Gill Griffin
Squadron Leader James MacLachlan was one of the real heroes; he was involved in the defence of Malta and won many decorations. He was shot down while flying a Hurricane and badly wounded, losing his left arm just below the elbow. He was fitted with an artificial limb, which had a false hand with various attachments to enable him to grip controls. He recovered from his wounds, overcame the difficulties and was quickly back flying fighters. His story is told in his biography One Armed Mac. In early 1944 he and F/Lt Geoff Page, flying two P51 Mustangs, executed a low-level operation right across France to the German border area, where the Luftwaffe had operational training bases. In a series of completely surprise attacks they shot down, between them, seven enemy aircraft. Six weeks later they attempted to repeat the operation but were intercepted and James was shot down by ground fire and died in a German hospital. He is buried in Pont l’Évêque, Normandy.
29 September: When, in early 1941, the RAF started an offensive in daylight over the enemy-held territories in Western Europe, the Bristol Blenheim was the only light bomber that could be used. It was not really ideal, with a comparatively low speed and small bomb load. As soon as the American Douglas Boston, also called the Havoc, became available it largely took over the daylight role. The Blenheim continued to be used in some theatres and a modified version, the Beaufort, was successful, particularly in the Mediterranean area, as a torpedo bomber. Even more successful was the Beaufighter. Used as a night fighter, with airborne radar, in conjunction with the Mosquito it became the terror of the Luftwaffe. Armed with four 20mm cannon mounted in the nose, its firepower was devastating. Later, in the far eastern theatre, it was used against the Japanese and because of its sudden and relatively quiet approach, it became known as ‘Whispering Death’.
Summary for:- September 1942 1 Spitfire 32–20
Unit:- AFDU Duxford 2 Defiant 1–30
Date:- 1/10/42 3 Hurricane 1–35
Signature:- H.L. Thorne 4 Oxford 1–30
5 Stinson −30
D. Clive F/Lt
O/C Flying AFDU
YEAR 1942 AIRCRAFT Pilot or 1st Pilot 2nd Pilot, Pupil or Pass. DUTY Flying Time (Including Results and Remarks) Flying Time Passenger
MONTH DATE Type No. Dual Solo
October 1st Spitfire X Self To Warboys and return 1–00
2nd Spitfire X Self To Oakington −15
Spitfire X Self Co-op Stirlings 1–30
Spitfire X Self Return to base −15
6th Spitfire T Self To Stradishall −15
Spitfire T Self Co-op Stirlings −50
Spitfire T Self Co-op and return −50
8th Spitfire W Self To Stradishall −15
Spitfire W Self Co-op Stirlings 1–15
Spitfire W Self Return to base −20
9th Spitfire X Self To Warboys −25
Spitfire X Self Co-op Wimpys −45
Spitfire X Self Co-op Wimpys −45
Spitfire X Self Return to base −20
10th Spitfire W Self To Stradishall −15
Spitfire W Self Co-op Stirlings −50
Spitfire W Self Return to base −15
11th Spitfire W Self To Mildenhall −15
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpys 1–00
Spitfire W Self To Stradishall −15
Spitfire W Self Co-op Wimpys and return to base −30
12th Spitfire AD318 Self Speed trials at 20,000 and 25,000 feet −40
Spitfire Y Self Demonstration attacks −25
13th Stinson Reliant ? S/Ldr MacLachlan To Tangmere −50
Stinson Reliant ? S/Ldr MacLachlan To Burtonwood 1–45
Stinson Reliant ? Self 2 passengers Burtonwood to base 1–20
Stinson Reliant ? S/Ldr Haywood Self To Langley −40
15th Spitfire R Self To Syerston −50
Spitfire R Self To Langar −15
Spitfire R Self Co-op Lancaster −45
Spitfire R Self Co-op Lancaster. Landed and refuelled at Lichfield −45
16th Oxford BG549 P/O Walker Self To Syerston −15
17th Oxford BG549 P/O Walker Self To Langar −15
Oxford BG549 P/O Walker Self To Duxford 1–05
Spitfire W Self To Syerston 1–00
Spitfire W Self Return to base −40
18th Spitfire G Self Co-op Wimpy −30
31st Stinson Reliant ? Self AC Sirello To Boscombe Down 1–10
Stinson Reliant ? Self P/O Godefroy, AC Sirello To Farnborough −30
Stinson Reliant ? Self P.O Godefroy, AC Sirello To base 1–00
GRAND TOTAL TO DATE 592 hours 20 minutes 3–30 8–25
60–00 520–25 8–30
6 October: Although only my own flights are recorded in my logbook, our flights to the many Bomber Command airfields would usually be the three Spits in formation, the senior pilot (F/O Walker) leading. Just to show off we usually performed a ‘Fleur de Lys’ breakaway before landing.
10 October: Carrying out fighter affiliation day after day when the weather permitted may sound boring but I do not remember ever feeling that way. The joy we felt when flying a Spitfire was a sensation that has never faded. The same is true when flying those other wonderful machines such as the Mustang, and even, later on, the Focke Wulf FW 190.
11 October: This would have been a special treat for anyone interested in horse racing as the airfield was in the centre of what is now the racecourse.
12 October: It may seem strange to be carrying out speed runs on a Spitfire Mk Vb as the type had been in operational service for about two years. But most aircraft were constantly improved and modified during their service life to keep abreast – or if possible – get a step ahead of the enemy. In the case of the Spitfire the most notable improvements were to the cockpit canopy, clipped wings, more powerful engines and different propellers. All had to be tested under operational conditions and approved before being generally introduced.
13 October: It was always a pleasure to fly with S/Ldr MacLachlan and he could usually be relied upon to produce something out of the ordinary. On the flight, a P51 Mustang with American markings decided to ‘beat up’ our little Stinson by a series of dummy attacks. Having had his fun the pilot dropped his flaps and undercarriage to slow down and flew too close on our port side. Mac unscrewed his false arm and waved first the stump, then the false arm out of the cabin window. A very shaken Mustang pilot peeled off and we saw him no more.
On the final flight of the day ‘Scruffy’ Haywood acted as my taxi driver and dropped me off at Langley, the home of the Hawker Aircraft production factory and the nearest airfield to Slough. This enabled me to spend a night with Estelle and the Climer family. Estelle, all 5 feet of her, was very popular with the detectives of the CID department who had nicknamed her ‘Tiny’. We were always invited to social occasions such as dances at the local pubs.
Summary for:- October 1942 1 Spitfire 18–10
Unit:- AFDU Duxford 2 Stinson 7–15
Date:- 4/11/42 3 Oxford (2nd pilot) 1–35
Signature:- H.L. Thorne
E. Smith S/Ldr
O/C. Flying AFDU Duxford
1 November: Promoted to Flying Officer.
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
November 4th Spitfire P Self Camera trial −35
6th Spitfire X Self To Dishforth 1–00
7th Spitfire X Self Weather test −20
Spitfire X Self Co-op Wimpy 1–00
Spitfire X Self Co-op Wimpy −35
8th Spitfire X Self Co-op Wimpy −30
Spitfire X Self To Leeming Bar −10
Spitfire X Self Co-op Halifax 1–10
Spitfire X Self Co-op Halifax 1–15
Spitfire X Self Return to Dishforth −10
9th Spitfire X Self To Catterick −15
Spitfire X Self To Walsingham −20
Spitfire X Self To Leeming −30
Spitfire X Self
Co-op Halifax 1–10
Spitfire X Self Co-op Halifax −40
Spitfire X Self Return to Dishforth −10
10th Spitfire Y Self Return to Dishforth 1–00
Spitfire B Self Air test −30
Spitfire B Self Aborted flight −50
11th Oxford BG549 Self P/O Walker Crashed taking off
11th Spitfire R Self Delivery to Cranfield −20
11th Stinson Reliant ? F/Lt Clive Self To Duxford −20
13th Stinson Reliant ? Wingco Campbell-Orde Self To Henlow −20
Stinson Reliant ? F/Lt Clive Self To Duxford −20
Stinson Reliant ? F/Lt Clive Self Air test −20
17th Stinson Reliant ? Self P/O Walker To Dishforth 1–30
Stinson Reliant ? Self To Catterick −20
Stinson Reliant ? Self To Dishforth −20
Stinson Reliant ? Self To Duxford 1–20
20th Spitfire B Self To Bourne −15
Spitfire B Self Co-op Stirling 1–00
Spitfire B Self Return to base −15
26th Spitfire B Self To Fullbeck (landed at Wellingor) −40
Oxford BG549 S/Ldr Swales Self To base −50
27th Spitfire U Self Air test −15
Spitfire IX BS 552 Self Speed runs at 1,000 feet −40
28th Spitifre IX BS 543 Self Speed trials at 1,000 feet −55
30th Spitfire P Self Range judging and dog fight −40
Spitfire P Self ‘Speedy bomber’ trial −40
Stinson ? Self AC McCormick To Molesworth −20
Stinson ? Self S/Ldr Hobhouse Return to base −20
GRAND TOTAL TO DATE 616 hours 15 minutes 3–30 8–25
60.00 544–20 8–50
8 November: When carrying out fighter affiliation at distant airfields we became temporary members of the Officers’ Mess, in this case Dishforth in North Yorkshire, a pre-war permanent station. Financially this was good for us, as when on temporary detachment we paid no mess bills other than for drinks.
9 November: Catterick was still the home base of 41 Squadron so this would have been a quick visit to see old friends.
The Halifax was the third of the new breed of four-engined bombers, similar to the Lancaster in appearance, apart from the square tails and Bristol radial engines. It never quite reached the achievements of the Lancaster in bomb-carrying capacity and performance, although some Halifax crews would disagree. Losses in action were also heavier than those of the Lanc. Nevertheless, the Halifax made a useful contribution to the bombing campaign. Later in the war they were used as glider tugs.
10 November: The final flight was aborted after we set out for Dishforth. As we flew farther north, the weather conditions worsened and we were forced back to base. As the bad weather persisted, fighter affiliation exercises were discontinued, apart from one sortie against some Stirlings.
16 November: I have no recollections of this crash; it must have been a very minor one as I continued flying as usual. I also note that BG549 was flying again ten days later, on November 26th. After a pilot was proficient on a type he was always credited with pilot time even if he was not actually flying the aircraft. It is more than possible that in this instance P/O Walker was the pilot.
26 November: Squadron Leader Swales (always known as Blondie) courted and married one of the Duxford WAAF officers. Blondie remained at AFDU for some months after taking over from Jock Murray. I never knew either of those officers by their actual Christian names, always Jock or Blondie. After the war Blondie flew helicopters as a civilian and was kidnapped by members of the IRA and forced, at knife point, to land in the courtyard of the Maze Prison in Ireland. Three of the prisoners boarded the helicopter and made a successful escape but were later recaptured.
28 November: The Spitfire Mk 1X went into service in the late summer of 1942 in the HF (high flying) version. This type’s 2-speed, 2-stage, supercharger was set to give best performance at heights up to 40,000 feet. The LF (low flying) version followed to give its best performance at 18 and 25,000 feet. These two types covered the performance with speeds superior to the Focke Wulf FW 190 at almost every altitude.
30 November: The Germans had started to use ME 109s and FW 190s for hit and run bombing raids, initially on towns in the coastal areas. These came to be known as the Baedeker raids. This was the first trial of the Spit for use as a fighter-bomber.
Summary for:- November 1942 1 Spitfire 17–55
Unit:- AFDU Duxford 2 Stinson 5–10
Date:- 1/12/42 3 Oxford −55
Signature:- H.L. Thorne
E. Smith Sqdn Ldr
O/C Flying AFDU Duxford
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
December 1st Spitfire S Self Delivery to Cranfield −15
Oxford BG549 F/Lt Sewell Self To Hucknall −45
Oxford BG549 F/Lt Sewell Self To base −45
4th Spitfire K Self Air test and dog fight −40
Spitfire P Self Home guard beat up −45
Spitfire K Self Air test with modified ailerons −50
Stinson ? Self 3 passengers To Foulsham −35
7th Stinson ? Self 2 passengers To Martlesham Heath −35
Stinson ? Self 2 passengers To base −40
8th Spitfire P Self Circuit and landing −15
Mustang 618 Self Sliding hood test
9th Spitfire BS543 Self Speed trials −45
Spitfire P Self Camera gun trials, air to ground −45
11th Spitfire P Self Air test −25
12th Spitfire P Self Camera air to air −40
Spitfire P Self Camera and gun fire into the sea −45
16th Spitfire L Self Aileron air test −20
28th Spitfire A Self Aileron air test to 30,000ft 1–00
Spitfire P Self Aileron air test to 30,000ft −55
30th Spitfire XII EN223 Self Air test climbs to 10,000ft −35
31st Stinson ? Self To Snailwell −2-
Stinson ? Self To base −2-
GRAND TOTAL TO DATE 629 hours 50 minute s 3–30 8–25
60–00 557–55 8–50
1 December: Hucknall was the Rolls-Royce engine production factory and development department with an airfield nearby. Following the trials in June of the P51 Mustang Mk 1 and its unfavourable reception due to poor performance at altitude, Mr. Ronnie Harker, the Rolls-Royce chief test pilot, was invited to Duxford to add his opinion to that of AFDU. The story we believed at that time was that Wing Commander Campbell-Orde had said, ‘Take the Mustang back to Hucknall and fit a Merlin 60 series engine similar to that installed in the Mk1X Spitfire.’ Whoever had the idea, it was tried out, the Mustang was transformed and the war-winning fighter aircraft was born. The Americans graciously accepted the change and agreed to fit future Mustangs with the Merlin power plant. As Rolls-Royce could not meet the additional demands for Merlins, two American companies were licensed to produce Merlins, not only for the Mustang but also for one version of the Spitfire, the Mk XV1, which also had US .5mm. machine guns.
4 December: The Foulsham trip was probably air experience for members of Cambridge Home Guard following the ‘beat up’ the previous day. I wonder whether one of them fell out, as there were only two of them on the next flight!
LAC Leslie Thorne.
Christmas card received by Len Thorne from his elder brother, Leslie, serving in India.
Air-to-air filming. Spitfire Mk VI, as a Mk Vb but with experimental pressurised cabin and cabin blower fitted.
8 December: The original Mustang had an ‘up and over’ canopy (like the ME 109); it had to be closed for take-off and could not be opened in flight. Its framing also interfered with visibility. Mustang 618 was probably a Mk111 powered by a Merlin 61 and was intended for service with both the RAF and the USAAF. To improve all-round visibility an experimental Spitfire (and Hurricane) type sliding hood was fitted. The new type of canopy was an
immediate success and proved to be very popular with the pilots. In the next two years there were several variations to the shape of the canopy, mainly the teardrop and the bubble.
Summary of flying and assessment, June–December 1942.
11 December: Every RAF aircraft had to be given a daily inspection (DI0) and the results recorded on Form 700. The various members of the Ground Fitter E (engines) and Fitter A (airframes, electrician, instruments and armaments) signed their appropriate section, countersigned by the NCO in charge and finally by the pilot before flight. Any work between flights, such as repair, correction or maintenance was always the subject of an air test.
30 December: The Mk XII was the first Spitfire to be powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine of 2050 HP to become operational. It was a basic Mk VIII, strengthened for the Griffon engine. Two major differences to earlier Spits were factory-made square wingtips to improve the rate of roll and the engine revolved anti-clockwise. The greatly increased power resulted in much more torque, which had to be carefully controlled on take-off and landing. At heights below 10,000 feet the Mk XII was much faster and almost the complete answer to the FW 190. The exception was the rate of roll which was, even with clipped wings, not quite as good as the Focke Wulf.
31 December: On this page of my logbook there is a printed form showing the summary for the second half of this year, commencing June 1942, similar in layout to that appearing on an earlier page. It confirms that my grand total of all service flying hours to date is 631 hours 50 minutes, dated Dec.14th and signed by Campbell-Orde, Wing Commander, Officer Commanding AFDU Duxford.
Summary for:- December 1942 1 Spitfire 8–55
Unit:- AFDU Duxford 2 Mustang −40
