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6.1.40 09.45 In conditions similar to yesterday “B” Flight carried out a Sector Reconnaissance for an hour. Otherwise there was no flying. 8.1.40 Local flying training was carried out by both Flights. 3/10 cloud at 2000 ft., visibility 3 miles, closing down to 1000 yds in extensive fog patches. 10.1.40 The Squadron carried out a patrol between ALNWICK and SEAHAM HARBOUR. 08.05 Green section, 09.55 Yellow section, 10.50 Red section, 11.50 Blue section. Weather, mainly fair, cloud 2000 ft., 3/10, a few fog patches. 11.1.40 10.35 Red section was ordered to patrol ACKLINGTON at 10,000 ft. 13.05 Blue section carried out a patrol between ALNWICK and SEAHAM HARBOUR. 14.20 Yellow section continued this patrol until 15.45. 15.30 Red section ordered to patrol ACKLINGTON at 2000 ft. Weather fine, with visibility 6-12 miles, cloud, nil to 3/10, freezing at surface. F/LT STEWART returning from leave collected an aircraft which had become serviceable, at DIGBY, and flew it up to ACKLINGTON. 16.55 F/O COWLES carried out a patrol over ACKLINGTON for one hour. 12.1.40 09.45 “B” Flight practiced No. 5 attacks, for one hour otherwise no flying training was carried out. Weather, fair to fine, with visibility 3-6 miles, and cloud 3/10. 13.1.40 09.40 Both flights carried out practice attacks on each other, for one hour, in fine conditions with no cloud and visibility 3-4 miles. The weather deteriorated during the day, becoming foggy at dusk. 14.1.40 09.45 “A” Flight put in some formation practice. Otherwise no flying. Rather misty conditions. A signal from Fighter Command to remind the Squadron they were still at short notice to proceed to FRANCE. 15.1.40 No flying was done. Weather, dull, improving to fair; cloud 7/10-10/10, at 5000 ft. 17.1.40 ACKLINGTON and DIGBY The Squadron returned to DIGBY. 13 aircraft returned leaving 3 u/s at ACKLINGTON. Four pilots F/O SCOTT, F/O COWLES, P/O JOHNSON, SGT EARP (the latter three sick) were left behind as well. Most of the personnel were brought to DIGBY by civil transport, though a few came by M/T, and the remainder, except for a small servicing party, by rail. The Squadron had been originally sent up for one week, but had remained for 5½ weeks; with Squadron Headquarters and the Maintenance Flight still at DIGBY, administrative and servicing difficulties were many. 18.1.40 DIGBY 07.40 The Squadron proceeded to the Forward Base, NORTH COATES. 08.30 Working one section at a time, the Squadron patrolled a convoy, 25 miles out to sea, until 16.00 hours, when all aircraft returned to DIGBY. 09.50 F/O SCOTT returned from ACKLIGTON with machine rendered serviceable. 19.1.40 Co-operating with an aircraft from No. 229 Squadron, pilots from “A” Flight carried out ciné-camera gun firing. Cloud was 10/10, at 1500 ft. Visibility 2000 yds. 20.1.40 07.45 “A” Flight was ordered to Forward Base (NORTH COATES). “B” Flight carried out Ciné-Camera Gun training, with an aircraft of No. 229 Squadron co-operating. 16.30 “A” Flight returned from Forward Base to DIGBY. They had not been sent on patrol whilst at NORTH COATES. The weather during the day was fine, with cloud 2/10 at 2,500 ft, and visibility 3 miles. 21.1.40 10.15 In spite of snow which fell intermittently throughout the day, two pilots managed to get in some Ciné-Camera Gun firing. Otherwise there was no flying during the day. 25.1.40 07.50 Red section was ordered on a convoy patrol and returned to NORTH COATES. 08.10 “B” Flight and Yellow section were sent to the Forward Base (NORTH COATES). 09.30 Working in sections, the Squadron patrolled a convoy 20 miles out to sea, until 12.00 hours when bad weather and poor visibility made it impracticable to continue. 14.10 Green section made a further patrol of the convoy and returned to land at DIGBY. “A” Flight and Blue section were unable to return from NORTH COATES. 26.1.40 North Coates 13.05 Red and Yellow sections, being still at the Forward Base, patrolled the convoy until 15.35 hours. Cloud 10/10, occasional slight snow, visibility poor. 15.05 Having made a satisfactory weather test in the morning, F/LT JAMESON led Blue section back to DIGBY in poor weather conditions. Snow falling, Cloud 10/10 very low, visibility less than 1,000 yds. 28.1.40 North Coates 10.10 F/O FROST was ordered on patrol to investigate an unidentified aircraft. He patrolled NORTH COATES at 2,000’ but sighted no enemy aircraft. DIGBY aerodrome was rendered unserviceable by deep drifts of snow. All available men commenced clearing a run-way through the snow. 29.1.40 North Coates 09.05 P/O LEFEVRE and F/O COWLES made individual sorties to investigate the alleged bombing of ships at sea. No enemy aircraft were seen. 13.00 Yellow section went on patrol to SKEGNESS. Two enemy aircraft had been reported off the coast, but they were not sighted. Visibility was poor, an indefinite cloud layer extended from 1,500’, 10/10. Digby 14.00 S/LDR CROSS tested the almost completed run-way at DIGBY. 30.1.40 North Coates 07.30 Red section patrolled MABLETHORPE, following the track of two plots, but no enemy aircraft were seen. Digby 09.15 Since “A” Flight had been stranded at NORTH COATES since 25.1.40, “B” Flight went forward to relieve them. North Coates 10.05 F/LT JAMESON went on patrol to investigate unidentified aircraft. No enemy aircraft were seen. 10.20 “A” Flight returned to DIGBY, having been at NORTH COATES five days. 12.45 “A” Flight were ordered to return to NORTH COATES. 11.50 Three SEA PATROLS were made by sections, 10 miles out to sea. On the first of these Blue section intercepted a HEINKEL aircraft, which, however, escaped into thick clouds. 15.00 F/O PLUMMER flew spare aircraft to forward base (NORTH COATES). 15.15 Red section patrolled the convoy, returning to DIGBY to land but were unable to do so since the run-way was obstructed by a crashed aircraft. Red section was obliged to return and land at NORTH COATES. 15.40 Yellow section, “B” Flight and one spare aircraft returned to DIGBY. It was necessary to land on the run-way singly and in so doing F/O PLUMMER touched a bank of snow and his aircraft nosed over. F/O PLUMMER escaped serious injury. F/O SCOTT (and also Red section) were unable to land, and returned to NORTH COATES.
February 1940
1.2.40 North Coates 10.45 Red section were at NORTH COATES, having been there seven days. S/LDR. CROSS made a weather test and an aerodrome test for landing, the ground being covered with drifts of snow. Cloud 10/10 at 600-1,000 ft., freezing at all levels. Digby No flights were made from DIGBY. The aerodrome was still snow-bound and it was necessary for all available men to work on the clearing of the runway, which was, however, serviceable if required. Poor weather conditions prevailed, with visibility 800 yds. or less, some haze and temperature below zero. 2.2.40 North Coates 07:30 The weather improved slightly, cloud 10/10 at 1,500 ft., visibility 2 miles. Red section patrolled a convoy at sea for an hour, and from 09.20 for an hour and a half were on a lightship patrol. Digby 11.35 “B” Flight proceeded to Forward Base (NORTH COATES) and patrolled, by Sections, on a line from DONNA NOOK to SPURN HEAD until 15.30. North Coates 15.30 Red Section returned to DIGBY. P/O BUNKER in L.1796 skidded into a snowdrift when landing on the runway and nosed over, but he sustained no serious injury. “B” Flight were thus prevented from returning to DIGBY. 3.2.40 North Coates 07.25 With cloud 10/10 at 2,000 ft. and visibility 2,000 yds., “B” Flight, working in Sections, patrolled over the sea until 13.00 hours, when the weather had deteriorated so badly that flying became impracticable. Digby There was no flying from DIGBY owing to the bad weather conditions prevailing. 4.2.40 North Coates 07.30 F/O MEE did a weather test at NORTH COATES. Cloud 10/10 at 800 ft., visibility ½ mile, wind S.E. 30 mph, raining. No flying was carried out. 9.2.40 North Coates 07.20 Having carried out lightship patrols for two hours, “B” Flight returned to DIGBY. Digby Four aircraft of “A” Flight made practice attacks on a Blenheim of 229 Squadron in the morning. In the afternoon, Blue Section made similar attacks. Acklington F/SGT SHACKLEY returned to DIGBY with spare aircraft. It had been held up for some time through unfavourable weather. 10.2.40 Digby 11.45 In fine weather, with small amounts of clouds and excellent visibility, eleven aircraft were engaged in aerobatics. 14.00 Two aircraft, flown by S/LDR CROSS and SGT ANDREW, made practice climbs to 25,000 ft., 50 miles. 14.50 Two aircraft, flown by F/LT STEWART and P/O LEFEVRE, did aerobatics at 25,000 ft. 11.2.40 07.15 With cloud 9/10 at 3,000 ft. and visibility 1,500 yds., “B” Flight went to Forward Base (NORTH COATES) and were followed by “A” Flight at 08.10 hours. The Squadron patrolled a convoy out at sea, one section at a time, until 16.00 hours, returning to DIGBY in fine, but very cold, weather at 16.45 hours. 12.2.40 11.10 Blue and Yellow Sections did an hour’s Cine Camera Gun Practice. The weather was fine, cloud 5/10 at 2,000 ft., visibility 4-6 miles. 14.00 In very fine weather, twelve aircraft flew in formation for forty minutes in honour of the visit of the former C.O., WING COMMANDER BARWELL. 13.2.40 07.35 Yellow Section commenced a Sea patrol, but after an hour were recalled owing to bad visibility and falling snow. Throughout the day, weather was unfavourable and weather tests were made on three occasions. At 14.30 hours, Yellow Section were able to patrol over the sea, while the remaining three sections moved (15.40) to Forward Base (NORTH COATES). Blue Section took over the sea patrol from Yellow and at 17.00 the Squadron returned to DIGBY. 14.2.40 10.10 F/LT STEWART did a weather test. Cloud 10/10 at 1,000 ft., visibility 6 miles, intermittent light snow, freezing. 11.00 Yellow, Green and Blue Sections did practice attacks with Cine Camera Guns. 15.00 Six aircraft of “B” Flight did an hour’s Cine Camera Gun practice. Several fine periods of some duration were experienced with bright sunshine, 7/10 light cloud at 5,000 ft. and visibility 10 miles. 15.2.40 07.00 Blue Section went on a Convoy Patrol. The weather was fair, surface wind N.N.E., 5 mph. Cloud 10/10 at 1,000 ft., visibility 1,200 yds. The Section landed at Forward Base (NORTH COATES). “A” Flight and Green Section proceeded to NORTH COATES. The Squadron patrolled two Convoys by sections until 15.20, one leaving the HUMBER eastward bound, one 20 miles off MABLETHORPE, moving North. There were frequent fine periods with sunshine, light North Westerly wind, 5/10 cloud at 2,000 ft., visibility 3 miles. 17.00 The Squadron returned to DIGBY. 16.2.40 11.15 Ten aircraft were engaged in formation flying for fifteen minutes. A Quick re-arm was made on their return. Weather was fair, cloud 10/10 at 2,000 ft., vis. 2,000 yds. 13.00 In the afternoon, the weather being fair, with cloud 6/10 at 2,000 ft., nine aircraft went air firing at SUTTON BRIDGE. Later (15.00), three aircraft were engaged in Cine Camera Gun firing. 18.2.40 07.00 In calm weather, with cloud 10/10 at 4,000 ft and visibility 1 mile, the Squadron went to the Forward Base and patrolled a convoy until 14.00 hours. The Squadron returned to DIGBY, where snow was falling and visibility less than 900 yds. 19.2.00 07.15 F/LT JAMESON did a weather test. Clouds were 10/10 at 200-500 ft., visibility 200-300 yds. Snow was falling intermittently throughout the day and visibility was always less than 1,000 yds. 20.2.40 There was no flying. The sky was overcast with thick clouds 10/10 at 600 ft. Visibility was less than 500 yds. Considerable drizzle and thick fog patches persisted all day. 21.2.40 06.35 The weather was fine at first, with good visibility and Blue Section set off on a convoy patrol of duration 1 hr. 20 mins. The remaining Sections were intended to proceed to Forward Base but thick mist and 10/10 low cloud prevented this. During the morning F/LT STEWART made two weather tests, the mist gradually cleared and visibility slowly improved to 1,500 yrds. 12.40 Red, Yellow and Green Sections proceeded to the Forward Base. No further patrols were carried out. The weather rapidly deteriorated and the Squadron were unable to return to DIGBY. 22.2.40 N. Coates & Digby In the morning, thick fog prevailed over the whole of the area. Visibility was 200 yds. and it was impossible for the Squadron to return to DIGBY for the A.O.C.’s inspection. 11.10 North Coates. Later in the day the weather improved slightly and Blue Section were able to patrol the convoy for 90 mins. Conditions were so poor that pilots had great difficulty in finding the aerodrome and P/O JOHNSON force landed at DONNA NOOK. 16.40 Digby. S/LDR CROSS made a weather test in the following weather conditions:- Surface wind Southerly 10 mph., cloud 8/10 10,000 ft; Visibility 2 miles; sunshine. 23.2.40 North Coates 08.30 The morning was fine with bright sunshine, little cloud and good visibility. Wind South Westerly. The Squadron maintained a standing patrol over the Convoy until 13.15 hrs., working by Sections. Mid-afternoon brought fair but cloudy weather and both Flights returned to DIGBY separately. 24.2.40 The weather was cloudy with occasional light rain in the early morning. Later there were considerable fair periods and sunshine at frequent intervals. The wind was Westerly, 15-20 mph and gusty; visibility 2-6 miles. A Squadron photograph of all personnel was taken in the morning. There was no operational flying, but 13.30 F/L JAMESON and F/O LYDALL flew to ACKLINGTON via CATTERICK in a Magister. 15.00 F/O PLUMMER tested an aircraft after periodical inspection. 25.2.40 07.30 There was thick fog at DIGBY and poor visibility. At NORTH COATES it was raining, with cloud 10/10 at 1,000 ft. and visibility ½ mile. 08.40 S/LDR CROSS made a weather test in thick clouds and found that visibility to BLANKNEY was nil. A further report from NORTH COATES indicated that the clouds were lowering to 800 ft. and that mist was closing in. In view of the unfavourable conditions prevailing, it was decided not to go forward unless the clouds lifted or a raid imminent. The weather did not improve throughout the day until almost dusk and no flying was done. 18.25 F/L JAMESON arrived from ACKLINGTON in a Magister. SGT. TAYLOR brought a HURRICANE from NORTH WEALD in poor weather conditions. 27.2.40 The dawn was very dull with cloud 700 ft. 10/10 and visibility 1 mile. At NORTH COATES clouds were 300 ft. 10/10, visibility 600 yds. and haze out at sea. |
