Log From 1940 of Retreat Through France - Part 2

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RHEGES
23.5.40
At noon German reconnaissance aircraft flew low over the village to ascertain location of Squadron. Transport dispersal and co-operation of squadron personnel, who laid low, achieved object, as no subsequent attack delivered.
Night Operations, four aircraft successfully completed.

24.5.40
Night Operations by 4 aircraft again successful. FUMAY? Area.
The Servicing flight which had been attached to the squadron for several months and commanded by P/O. Rhys Price was withdrawn for service in the ROUEN area.

25.4.40
Sergeant Beardsley and L.A.C. Lewis in one Battle aircraft shot down in day operations. This N.C.O. for the second time walked back through the forward area, and travelling by motor cycle and sidecar regained his unit on 27.5.40.
Night Operations carried out successfully by squadron.

26.5.40
By day.
Six aircraft led by P/O. Havers attacked the German Air Force Headquarters, 4 miles N.W. of LIBRAMONT. This was a difficult target heavily defended and within 3 miles of an enemy fighter aerodrome. One aircraft lost with crew :-
P/O. Leyden. Sergt. Hayward. A.C. Hubbard. (All since reported prisoners of War).
Night Operations by six aircraft.

27.5.40
Night Operations carried out against the enemy. (FUMAY area).

28.5.40
Day operations in the Abbeville area. One aircraft piloted by F/O. Max caught in a valley commanded by flak, the damage sustained by the engine and aircraft was considerable and precluded any possibility of climbing. This aircraft therefore ran through heavy close range fire and was considerably damaged. The air gunner, L.A.C. Dubois was wounded. The aircraft landed at CHALONS.
Squadron stood down from 1200 hours and lorries conveyed majority of personnel to Troyes. A very pleasant break in routine.

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29.5.40
L.A.C. Dubois visited in hospital at Chalons by Medical Officer. Arrangements made for his return to unit.
Visit to Mourmellon where among many French aircraft abandoned, nine were counted as with no more apparent damage than flat tyres.
Night Operations against the enemy. (Frier area).

30.5.40
The a.O.C. in C. (A.V.M. Barratt) visited the squadron and was introduced to all flying crews. Squadron informed that three French decorations were allotted to the squadron. Certain pilots, observers and air gunners were selected and the final choice made by tossing a coin. The following recommendations were forwarded.
Pilot. F/O. Max.
Observer. Sergt. McCudden.
A/Gunner. Corpl. Madirins.?
Six aircraft successfully completed night operations.

31.5.40
Squadron stood down from 1200 hours. Personnel transported to Troyes in squadron transport.

1.6.40
Six Air Gunner Officers posted. P/O’s Whitehead, Webber, Ridley, Jones, Gerrard and Howgill.
No record of Operations on this date.

2.6.40
Orders received to move to new location at Norbouville? (Ousouer le Doyen).
F/Lt. Tait awarded D.F.C. for constant devotion to duty. This officer in commanding “B” Flight of this squadron had set a fine example in leadership.
Confirmation received of awards of D.F.C. to P/O. Fitzgerald and D.F.M. to Sergt. Perry.
Five night sorties carried out against enemy rail communications, Sout of Frier.

Night 2/3rd/6/40.
At 04.15 hours the squadron main convoy left Rheges consisting of 22 vehicles plus trailers to each prime mover. The Route was South of Paris, Orleans, Chateaudun, Norbouville, a distance of 150 miles. Tankers and bomb trollies were again towed by tractors.
The air party left at approximately 0800 hours.
A rear party remained to pay all billotting charges and to supervise the collection of all stores in anticipation of the arrival of salvage units.

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The Squadron regretted leaving Rheges where the excellent camouflage had provided immunity from bombing. In addition, the inhabitants had been hospitable and the food and accommodation excellent. An ideal location.

Osoure-le-Doyen
4.6.40
The Squadron Air and ground parties arrived at new location of OZOUER-le-DOYEN. This aerodrome was shared with No.88 Squadron who operated separately.

The aerodrome surface was uncompleted and so presented unknown surface which showed up by day and night as similar to a mud flat situated in extensive green cultivation. There was no camouflage for the aircraft.

The Squadron was billeted in the 3 villages of Herbouville, Ozouer-le-Doyen and Osour-le-Petit. Facilities were poor and the domestic complications involved by the billeting in and area of two miles were considerable, but were eventually overcome by siting the cookhouse in the centrally placed village and running lorries with hay boxes to the personnel billeted in adjacent centres. The water supply was poor and containers were brought into use. The Officers Mess, Squadron Headquarters, M.T. and Equipment Sections were housed in Osouer-le-Doyen. The Officers Mess comprised a disused school room; and Squadron Headquarters, the more recently erected school attached to the Town Hall.

The aerodrome surface was extremely dry and clouds of dust made work uncomfortable and affected engine maintenance.

No personnel reported sick in spite of the long road journey, all ranking living on iron rations. The pipes of the water trailer were unable to reach the level in the deep wells and all water was man handled by milk churns into tankers and chlorinated. Difficulty in organising

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Sanitary arrangements which were most primative in all three villages.

The British news received and Winston Churchills speech listened to by air crews in operations tent. This was first news for several days.

No operational flying by the squadron.

5.6.40
Weather conditions were very hot, but the health of squadron remained excellent. One airman reported sick on this day.

Decision reached to operate at night from advanced landing ground at Eschiminne ? and 7 aircraft left at 1600 hours with load of 4 x 250 lbs for the advanced landing ground for night operation. During night operations Sergeant Stead and L.A.C. Ramsey landed successfully by parachute when ordered to abandon aircraft. P/O. Harper, the pilot, forced landed, using a parachute flare. Relatively little damage sustained by aircraft, which landed with wheels up. Remainder of night operations successful.

F/O. Vipan detached to advanced landing ground at Eschiminne ? . The work of this officer was most favourably reported upon by the officer i/c this advanced Headquarters.

6.6.40
6 aircraft again sent to Eschiminnes ? for night operations.

Enemy aircraft were active over the flare path, waiting for the return of the Squadron machines. The first intimation of the presence of the enemy aircraft was a burst of tracer some 3 yards away from the Commanding Officer’s car as he proceeded to the flare path in company with the squadron Medical Officer.

Fifty three bombs were dropped in the area and twenty three fell on the aerodrome surface. One stick of bombs straddled the chance ? light, squadron commander and Medical Officer. Two aircraft sustained major damage, no injuries to squadron personnel.

The flashing beacon was extinguished in error by the attendant maintenance crew and restarted and manned by the Commanding Officer and S/Ldr. Tait. All Squadron aircraft returned to base from night operations.

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7.6.40
German reconnaissance aircraft flew over the aerodrome at 0700 hours.

Day operations carried out in which Sergt. Drams with P/O. Roberts forced landed, later returning to base. P/O Roberts claims a ME 109 on this operation.

P/O Barratt successfully evaded the attack of nine Me 109 aircraft.

Night operations carried out successfully, and for the first time four 25lb incendiary bombs carried loose in the cockpit for use over target area.

8.6.40
Day operations in the Poix area by six aircraft during which operations P/O. Througood with over crew of Sergt. Asson and P/O. Webber returning from the raid saw approximately 50 enemy dive bombers at a lower altitude attacking a village. P/O. Thorougood dived through the enemy and shot down one Ju 87 possible, he was then attacked himself by enemy fighters of which one definite was shot down by P/O. Webber who received 3 bullet wounds. This was P/O Webbers first operational flight. The aircraft was extensively damaged and force landed South of Paris. P/O/ Webber was evacuated direct to U.K. Night operations by 6 aircraft.

9.6.40
Squadron stood down with the exception of night operations. Bathing parade organised, but existing facilities were poor.

Night operations by six aircraft. S/Ldr. Lee, Sergt. Norrington and L.A.C. Werner landed by parachute owing to engine failure. S/Ldr Lee who sustained compound fracture of the right leg was evacuated to Le Mans.

10.6.40
Day operations by Squadron from Eschiminnes ?. One aircraft lost with crew as follows:-
P/O. Thomas. L.A.C. Bligh.

Aircraft flown by F/O. Kelly on operations severely damaged by Hurricane aircraft who attacked without challenge when aircraft en route to target. F/O. Kelly compelled to return to base. Aircraft flown by Sergeant Critch extensively damaged by enemy light flak. This N.C.O. recommended for D.F.M. fir consistent bravery in pressing home attacks from low altitude.

Pilot Officers’ Jones and Gerrard, Air Gunners, posted to No.88 Squadron.

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11.6.40
Day and Night Operations by squadron. All aircraft returned safely to base. Refugee traffic accumulating and necessary to post guards at the village entrances to prevent civilians in search of shelter, petrol and food, from interrupting domestic arrangements of squadron. Local Mayor most helpful in this and in all other co-operation.

12.6.40
Two daylight raids of six aircraft in each despatched against undemolished bridges across the Seine. Targets hit and operations most successful. Great benefit found form plotting reported light flak and routing squadron over wood and areas where squadron pilots had experienced little opposition.

No. night Operations dye to low cloud and rain storms.

Large numbers of refugees still passing the aerodrome.

The A.F.M from Paris with Lady Moore of soldiers welfare centre Paris, entertained for lunch, a tin of pine apples duly opened in celebration. During lunch the award of D.F.C. to F/Lt. Ingram received by telegram. This officer having commanded “A” Flight since the outbreak of war.

13.6.40
Two daylight raids. Seine area. Number of aircraft unknown. No casualties.

Orders received at 1500 hours to evacuate to Nantes area. All equipment packed and convoy lined up to leave as from 2000 hours.

Orders received to pass starting points at 2245 hours and convoy drew out in excellent order at 2215 hours. Officers in the mess, prior to and after the departure of the convoy held a sing song in which the most appropriate song of “Anchors Away” was adopted as the units “signature tune”.

The Squadron air party due to leave at dawn on 14.6.40 for SOUGE to cover retreat of H.Q. A.A.S.F.

Period 13.6.40 to 16.6.40
The period 13.6.40 to 16.6.40 was one of final evacuation during which the squadron air and ground parties became separated and the diary of both parties is therefore treated separately.

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