Abbreviations
|
DCM IO LZ OC RA RAP TCC U/S USAAF |
Distinguished Conduct Medal Intelligence Officer Landing Zone Officer Commanding Regimental Aid Post Troop Carrier Command Unserviceable United States Army Air Force |
Month and year: September 1944
Commanding Officer : Major J. F. Lyne
1st September 1944
Place: Keevil
3. Crews 13. Flight injured in Traffic Accident. Detained in Hospital. 5. Crews from IX T.C.C. Airfields. (Previously Posted 15th. August 1944). No.952832. S/Sgt. White. R. awarded D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry on Operation "NEPTUNE" on 'D'. Day. Major Lyne O/C 'D'. Squadron & Officers & Men of the Squadron acknowledged their pleasure on a special squadron order. Loading commenced.
2nd September 1944
Place: Keevil
1000 - 4. Crews from Depot under Capt. O'Malley attached pending posting. 1. Crew to Capt. Morrison, Blakehill Farm. Main Briefing 16.00hrs - postponed 12 hours.
3rd September 1944
Place: Keevil
0030 - Stand Down.
1700 - Squadron Commander & I.O. to HARWELL.
2230 - Warning order for new operation.
4th September 1944
Place: Keevil
0030 - Operation cancelled. Normal training.
5th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal training.
6th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Squadron Commander & I.O. to HARWELL. Orders for Operation 'COMET'.
7th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1100 - Squadron Briefed for Operation 'COMET'. 90. Crews. Take off 04.05hrs 8th September 1944. 5. Crews from BRIZE NORTON. 1. Remained. 4 sent to TARRANT RUSHTON.
2300 - Take off postponed 24 hours.
8th September 1944
Place: Keevil
2115 - Take off postponed 24 hours.
9th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1800 - Take off postponed 48 hours.
1930 - Unloading commenced.
10th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Stand Down.
11th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal training.
12th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal training.
13th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1600 - Squadron I.O. to HARWELL. Lt/Col. I. A. Murray & Padre visited Squadron.
14th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1200 - Preliminary orders for Operation 'MARKET'. 4. Crews from 5. Flight, BLAKEHILL FARM to form Composite Flight for 3rd. Lift. Loading commenced 1st. Lift.
15th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1100 - 8. Crews from 'A' Squadron under Lieut. Taylor. Composite Flight of 15. Crews for 3rd. Lift. 2nd. Lift Loading commenced.
16th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1300 - Base Camp Sealed. All Crews Briefing 14.30hrs.
17th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1016 - Capt. Ogilvie & Squadron H.Q. with 21 & 13 Flights under Capt. Barclay & Capt. Cairns took-off with 50 Crews on 1st. Lift L.Z. "Z". All landed on L.Z. except Chalk No.389. No.878764. S/Sgt. Gardner & No.953786 Sgt. Fraser. R.A. crashed near RADSTOCK - both killed.
Chalk No.385. S/Sgt. Smith & Sgt. Morgan forced landing at SANDRIDGE took off 2nd. Lift.
Chalk No.399. S/Sgt. Lecce & Sgt. Pinnock forced landed at AMERSHAM.
Chalk No.457. Lieut. Adams & Sgt. Waterman. Did not take-off.
Chalk No.462. S/Sgt. Beard & Sgt. Tapping 'Ditched' off HOLLAND. Crew safe returned to U.K. same day.
Chalk No.468. S/Sgt. Edwards & Sgt. Oram. Forced landed near ANTWERP.
Chalk No.474. S/Sgt. Ramsbottom & Sgt. Harvey forced landed at GOSFIELD AERODROME. Took-off next day.
Chalk No.478. S/Sgt. Cram & Sgt. Whitehead forced landed near ANTWERP.
1600 - Sgt. D'Eath wounded on Operation 'NEPTUNE' returned to Squadron.
18th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1126 - 2nd. Lift 8 & 22 Flights under Capt. Murdoch & Capt. Muir with 40 Crews with 4 Crews residues from 1st. Lift took-off. All landed on L.Z. 'X' with the following exceptions:-
Chalk No.956. S/Sgt. Black & Sgt. Hudson - Cast off over Dutch Islands - Slipstream trouble.
Chalk No.964. S/Sgt. Coombs & Sgt. Knowles - landed on U.S.A.A.F. L.Z. Tug Hit.
Chalk No.1011. S/Sgt. Stevenson & Lieut. Moorwood - Rope broke 10 miles from L.Z. - Glider seen to land O.K.
Chalk No.1026. S/Sgt. Stocker & Sgt. Allen - forced landed MARTLESHAM HEATH crew took-off on 3rd. Lift.
5. Flight took-off from BLAKEHILL FARM under Capt. Morrison - 22 Crews all landed on L.Z. with the following exception:-
Chalk No.773. S/Sgt. Browne & Sgt. Auty - took-off 2nd lift reached L.Z. O.K.
Residues landed on L.Z. 'X' excepting:-
Chalk No.457. Lieut. Adams & Sgt. Waterman - landed in sea - all saved excepting Lieut. Adams - Missing - presumed drowned.
19th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1210 - 3rd. Lift. Composite Flight under Lieut. Taylor 'A'. Squadron - 15 Crews & 1. Crew residue from 2nd. Lift. All reached L.Z. 'L' excepting:-
Chalk No.144 S/Sgt. Blake & Sgt. Lee 'A'. Squadron - cast off near OSTEND - rope broke.
Chalk No.149 S/Sgt. Baake & Sgt. Garratt ('B'. Squadron & 'E'. Squadron) down in sea - returned to U.K. next day.
Chalk No.152 S/Sgt. Aldridge & Sgt. Wright - forced landed at LITTLE MARLOW. S/Sgt. Aldridge in TAPLOW HOSPITAL - broken leg and ankle.
Chalk No.154 S/Sgt. Howard ('B'. Squadron) & Sgt. Davy ('D'. Squadron) returned to Base - Tug U/S.
Chalk No.1026. S/Sgt. Stocker & Sgt. Allen - forced landed at MANSTON - crew O.K.
20th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal routine.
21st September 1944
Place: Keevil
1000 - Camp unsealed. S/Sgt. Coombs & Sgt. Knowles returned to U.K. from HOLLAND - de-briefed at MOOR PARK.
22nd September 1944
Place: Keevil
Leave for Admin started. S/Sgt. Baake & Sgt. Davy returned to Squadron. 1. Crew returned to 'B'. Squadron. 1. Crew to 'A'. Squadron - residues from 'MARKET'. Warning order for move to WETHERSFIELD.
23rd September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal routine. Funeral of S/Sgt. Gardner & Sgt. Fraser at WESTON-super-MARE. Regiment Represented.
24th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Lieut. Moorwood & Sgt. Stephenson returned from BRUSSELS.
25th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal routine.
26th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Normal routine. 4. Stand-by Crews to TARRANT RUSHTON.
27th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Advance Party to WETHERSFIELD under Lieut. Moorwood.
2100 - Capt. Murdoch - S/Sgt. Bridgewater - Robertson - Neilson returned from Operation 'MARKET' as advance party.
28th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Reception prepared for Crews from Operation 'MARKET'.
29th September 1944
Place: Keevil
1800 - Capt's Barclay - Cairns - Lieuts. Strathern - Smith. E.J.A. - Steedman.
2130 - 'D'. Squadron Crews returned from 'MARKET'. Fed - Housed - Bathed by 23.30hrs.
30th September 1944
Place: Keevil
Operational Crews de-briefed - clothed - paid & sent on leave (14 days) by 17.00 hrs.
Total returned safe - 115 Officer - S/Sgt's - Sgt's - Tprs.
Evacuated wounded - 2. Sgts (believed in BRUSSELS).
Wounded - believed P.O.W. in R.A.P. ARNHEM - 31 (including Lieut. Scott. P.T.).
Missing - 75. (including Capt. Ogilvie Squadron Commander, - Capt. Muir. - Capt. Morrison - Capt. O'Malley - Lieut. Kershaw - Lieut. Mills - Lieut. Taylor ('A'. Squadron)
Killed - 9. (including Lieut. Adams - Lieut. Chittleburgh - Lieut. Smith. S.R.).
Hospital - 1 S/Sgt.
