Diary of Flying Officer Clifford Timothy O'Riordan,1943

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2018.785.90
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 13

F/O C. T. O'Riordan

460 Sn

Ralph

The first fragment in this unofficial diary is definitely a human

document. Read it with sympathy as a later Bomber Command type & if

you think it breathes some life to the ordinary reader, please ask Gavin

if it should be included as an appendix (or part of an appendix) to the

second volume. I particularly relish the part where he has to

assure His Majesty that a his broken limb is strictly "non-operational".

All participants could if necessary be made anonymous.

I could find you some similar or contrasting voices for a

symposeum on "We were there!"

J.H. 21/3/53.

 

April 1943

Tuesday 13. Big do on & we're operating. 2250

gals petrol & ammunition cut down to a

minimum. Much speculation as to the

target. Austria? Checko. Slovakia? New

navigator in crew & did xcountry in afternoon

to try him out. Dropped in at Elsham

& saw Blue Freeman whom Im defending

at Ct Martial, since Tom McMel has gone.

Seems to have an outside chance.

Briefing at six. Target Spezia, Italy.

They think there are battleships there.

Uneventful trip out. The alps looked

like a travel poster. We were bang

on course & the first aircraft at the

target. The town lights were all on

& we could see cars & buses going up

& down the streets. Stooged across &

had a look. Height 7000. No ships.

Made a second run. Some of the

town blacked out. made a third

run & dropped em on the docks. Caught

in searchlights & lots of light flak.

Climbed into cloud. Extraordinary

effect of reflections in cloud, with

colored flak & own over aircraft silhouetted

a dozen times. Soon out of trouble

& heading for home. After an hour

or so camp asked if we had crossed

the alps. no one had seen them.

Later we passed over lighted towns

which hastily blacked out. Hopelessly

 

lost & the navigator couldn't take an

astro shot. Later we came over the

sea & kept stooging along. Airborne for

eight hours & lost. Mitch the WOP

finally got a QOM and we set course

due South of Southhampton. After a 

while land appeared & we lost 

height to find where we were.

Flak came up to welcome us

& we were over Lorient. For

good measure our navigator took us

over Brest & a convoy. They all

had a poop at us. Diverted to

Hanwell. Bright sunlight & down

to 1000 ft feeling secure when we

went straight through the Yeovil

balloons. Finally made it, but

well overdue 11 hours 5 minutes in the

air. Found we had set course

wrongly from target & went bang

across Spain & up the bay of

Biscay. Shaky do. Got to Breighton

at 4 PM & left for London at 5.

Caught midnight train.

Thursday 15. Stayed at Golfers Club. Met

Crew & the Winged at the Codgers. did

a pub crawl. Finished up at

the New Yorker. Quite a day.

Friday 16. Went for a steak dinner

with the boys & W/C Martin. Ive

got him blackmailed for life for having

a pee into a flower vase.

Saturday 17. Was going to Frinton on Sea

to visit Brian & Babs Smith, but fate

otherwise decreed. Lanagins & McLaughlan

rolled us & then Jimmy Crabb who didnt

know he'd been given a gong that

morning. Party - finished up at

the old pub in Warling Street. Stan

Ricketts in fine form climbing lamp

posts.

Sunday 18. Got to mass. At 1230

I arrived in the Strand to quench

a great thirst. There wasnt a taxi,

pedestrian or even stray cat in

Fleet St, but when I turned the

corner there must have been 50

Australian airmen waiting outside

Codgers for it to open. Went with

George Peterson for dinner.

Monday 19. Peterson & I met 2 nice

show girls from George Blacks revue. Went

to Star Spangled Rythym.

Tuesday 20. Just about to leave London

when I ran into Pat Creman. Hes

a Sq Ldr & came over with a draft of

airmen. Caught train to Scunthorpe

& met by Blue Freeman who drove

me to the camp.

Wednesday 21. Court Martial. G./C. Edwards

VC DSO DFC the President. They laid it

on thick for Blue, but the country

 

May.

police were just a piece of cake in

cross examination & to my surprise

& delight we got away on every charge.

Celebration later at Scunthorpe with

Blue & Jake Kennard my old Skipper.

Stayed at the Oswald as guest of the

Harrisons.

Thursday 22. Travelled to Leeds & stayed the 

night.

Friday 23. Good Friday, but no stations

at our Church. Incidentally we

use the little Methodist chapel for

mass on Sundays!

Monday 26. Duff weather. Ops scrubbed.

Wednesday 28. Still the same. Brassed off.

Saturday 1st. Detailed to make a speech

at a Wings for Victory rally at Allerton.

Got there & no crowd. Only 24 hours

late.

Sunday 2. Ops scrubbed when the

aircraft were running up. Went to

the 7 sisters with Winflo & Speare.

Monday 3. Another scrub. Party in

the mess.

Tuesday 4. Ops Dortmund. Good show.

19 Kites on from Breighton. Jackels crew

missing & 5 Kites from Boline. Jackels

observers Russ used to be a bullock drover

& timber fetter in Queensland. Quite a 

character.

Thursday 6. Ops on again but scrubbed at 5.30.

Friday 7. Another scrub. F/O Anderson & F/S

Furnham have been given immediate f on p

for their last show. They are still in 

hospital.

Saturday 8. The stationary front is still

about & another scrub.

Sunday 9. Im O/C advance party to Binbrook.

Leaving to-morrow. Another scrub & had

a farewell party at the Ferry.

Monday 10. Travelled to Binbrook with 5

Fl/Sgts & 20 erks. Getting things in order

for the squadron. Lot of G.H.Q. deadheads

here.

Tuesday. Run off my feet. Have signed

for 3 hangars & four living blocks.

Every detail needs my signature. Why?

Wednesday 12. My birthday, but no chance

to celebrate. The boys went to Dursbry

to-night & it was Laurie Simpsons last

trip. Got through on 3 engines Had

a beer in the village before turning in.

Thursday 13. Still cracking on amidst

glorious confusion. The boys bashed

Balhim. That sounds like 'Truth'.

Friday 14. The Squadron started arriving

by glider at 830. By midday most of

the ground crew & equipment were here.

In the afternoon the Lancaster Party 

arrived with the ground crew of each kite.

Hell of a flap getting them all settled in.

 

Went back to Farewell to Breighton by

glider. Party started with shoot up

of mess by Grant in a Lanc.

sent them a pyrotechnic display by

Camp which grounded aircraft for miles

around. Two motor bikes in the

mess & G./C. Crummy got a black eye

when thrown through a screen.

I slept in the mess from 5 AM after

playing accompaniment to Mochetty on

the violin.

Saturday 15. Party resumed at 10 AM. Dale

with a Véry pistol made everyone drink

a 400 special. Quite a bright party.

Tried to ride a horse in the field

& fell off. Was going back in

Bruce Bennets Car (4D a pound peas)

till I found he had no clutch or

brakes. Bought Phil Wards car

on the spot & drove myself to

Binbrook. Arrived at 1 AM.

Sunday 16. Arm a bit sore. Saw

the Doc & he put it in splints.

Says its fractured.

Monday 17. Into Grimsby for xray.

The Doc was right. Communated

fracture of the lower radius. Felt

a fraud when an old lady offered

me a seat in the bus coming 

back. Look like a red cross poster.

Tuesday 18. Five fresher crews on a timing

stooge to the Girome. all back

safely.

Wednesday 19. Have to make an official

statement of my 'wound' to Air Ministry.

Wouldnt it!

Thursday 20. No ops. Cross Country

practice for six crews.

Friday 21. No ops. Drove to Trelby with

Frank Arthur, Cappi and Eddie Huldon.

Lovely spot with Tennysons "Brook"

running past the pub.

Saturday 22. Still no ops. Liberty bus

to Grimsby. Went to the Officers Club

& danced a while. Bennet sold his

"Granny Smiths a bob a dozen. They're nice!"

Sunday 23. Ops. Dortmund. Biggest effort

yet by Bomber Command.

Monday 24. Turnhams Kite. 'B Beer' an

awful mess. 150 holes by fighters & no one

hurt. Gongs have been given to

Ted McKinnon, Geoff Heath, Moore &

St Smith. Hadley won

the 'picture pool' for last night on

Dortmund. Skippy Horne is very proud.

Thursday ^Tuesday 25. Ops. Dusseldorf. 26 on

Thursday 27. Five aircrew were told to

parade outside the mess at 11.00.

Didnt know what it was all about, but

camp told me to be there. At 11. their

 

Majesties arrived. I tried to hide

behind ands, but the King asked me

what happened to my arm. The A.O.C.

was there, but I told him the 

truth. He laughed like Hell &

said "Did you borrow the horse or

scrounge it?" Told him I scrounged

it. The Queen was grand.

Ops were on to Essen. Nothing for

me to do so drove to market Rasen

with Frank Arthur.

Friday 26. Stand down. Mac & I went

to a 'musical evening' in Grimsby

& came back in time for the Sergeants

dance.

Saturday 29. Ops again. 2 crews missing.

Monday 31. Standown. Into Grimsby

for another xray. A chap in the

Guardroom tried to commit suicide

by cutting his throat.

Ivan Galbraith & Tom Osborn have

got their commissions.

Tuesday 1st. June. One leave. Got

to London at 6 PM. No trouble with

seats or porters with arm in sling.

Booked in at Waldorf & went to

Codgers.

Wednesday 2. The whole crew arrived

& I took a room with Camp at

the Strand Palace.

Thursday 3. Struck Hilde Marchant of the

Daily Mirror at 'El Vinos' and did a

club crawl with her.

Friday 4. Fine watching at the Temple

with Camp & Spud Murphy. Met

Ann Matheson for a beer.

Saturday 5. Quiet day at the pictures

Sunday 6. Another quiet day with lots

of walks & food & picture shows.

Monday 7. Met Hilde again with

Alec Abbey. Did a crawl. Late in

evening an air alert & had great fun

with the people coming down to the

lounge in pyjamas.

Tuesday 8. Went to press pre-view

of 'Col Blimp'. Darn good. Hilde got

a terrific hangover. Stayed with

Abbey till train time at 11.15.

Wednesday 9. Back at 8.30. Two new

crews as raw as carrots. Ops scrubbed

at 10.PM.

Thursday 10. Stand. Down. Formation flying

in afternoon. Went by bus to Grimsby

& struck 'Count' Doleman, now a P/O

& doing an A.G.I. course at Mamby.

He has a guards moustache & takes

snuff, but all in fun.

Friday 11. Ops. again 21 on and one missing

Saturday 12. Ops on. Two crews missing

Hadley & Skippy Horne & Bennet from

the mess. No more "4p a pound peas?"

 

Copes crew got an incendary from

one of our own Kites & Hugh Gordon

put the fire out.

Monday 14. Went in for another

xray. Grimsby was raided last

night. very lightly. The people look

very tired. Wonder how they feel in

the Ruhr. Ops again. 23 on and

3 crews missing. Not so good.

Thursday 13. Bulls eye exercise. A

bus ran to Cleethorpes. Man Keddie &

Man friend have been given DFC's.

Thursday 17. It was announced to-day

 that 9 gongs had been given to 1060

this week. Good show. The boys earn them.

Friday 18. Frank Arthur, Ern Coppin, Tommy

Liddle, & self drove in "F for Frippet"

to Holbeck Manor. Lovely place with

an artificial lake full of fat trout.

Mrs Green turned on eggs & strawberries

& cream & we had a fine time.

Ran out of gas on way home. A

farmer fixed us up with more than 

we had when we started.

Saturday 19. Went thru Stalinborough

with Gwynne Thomas to the Green

man's. Got on well with opera

singer Joyce Ash.

Sunday 20. Ops. running in Gromel.

Giles finishes his tour.

MacLaughlan has been posted to Lindholme

& MacWilliams is taking his place.

Monday 21. Ops. Kreffelt. 1 crew missing.

To. date we have dropped (on this squadron)

3000 tons of bombs, made 1477 sorties

and lost 61 aircraft.

Tuesday 22. Camp has been posted to

Lindholme. Have to get another

skipper. Had another Ct. martial to-day

for AC11 Lee. I defended him on a similar

charge at Breighton & since he only got

26 days detention that time thought he

would go AWL again. Think theyll throw

the book at him this time.

Wednesday 23. Stand down. Drove with

Arthur to Louth & got some tomatoes

& mushrooms.

Thursday 24. Fighter affiliation in morning.

Baron Keys came over in the afternoon

and seemed quite happy at Lichfield.

Ops were on and Wuppertal the target.

Stookes crew did not return.

Friday 25. Ops again. P/O Naylor shot

the following line. when asking

what was doing was told that he

was on another Ruhr bash. He

said "Im sick of that bloody place.'

He made his first trip there

last night.

 

Saturday 26. Stand-down. Bulls eye

exercise. 3 on. Sgts mess party.

Cappi got tangled up with Sparrier

& was in good voice.

Sunday 27. 3 crews on gardening

all returned safely.

Monday 28. Ops again. 17 crews on.

All came back. The country

round Tielby is very beautiful.

Tennysons brook runs thru the

village.

Tuesday 29. Dr Evatt visited the Squadron

with A.V.M. Wrigley.

 

[*19th July*] 24 aircraft from Squadron attacked Hamburg, and from

reports raid was very concentrated. More searchlights were

reported than before and these appeared to line the route

in leaving the actual path itself in darkness, flak was being

pumped up in the searchlight zones. Pilots stated they saw

many fighters milling in the dark areas.

Unfortunately the Squadron lost two aircraft on this do

Fl/Sgt Huberman DFM and F/O Johnson being the captains.

Fl/Sgt Huberman & his crew had been through many shaky does

together as they almost invariably seemed to be shot up

and he & his navigator F/O Anderson had both received

decorations for bringing their aircraft back under difficulties

on a previous occasion.

F/O Johnson's crew contained a number of old identities

of the Squadron including Cliff ORiordan. Cliff had

been in the Squadron since August 1942. doing his first tour

and had been regarded as one of the Squadron fixtures. He

had acted as defending officer to most of the Court Martials

in the Group and had the record at of getting the majority

of his clients off. He was a K.C. from Sydney and had

defended many cases there. He gave his age as 34 but

most people placed him as being some ten years older and

were probably right. As one of the oldest members of

the Squadron he had been compiling the Squadron history.

He will be sadly missed by everyone in the group and

it is hoped that he will be found to be a prisoner of war.

[*30th July*] 24 aircraft detailed for operations but this was finally cut

down to six. It must have been the Squadron's unlucky

night for of the six three returned early. The remaining

three attacked Remschield and reported good results

As the weather had been so fine, quite a lot of tennis

had been played during the last week. The chaps We had been

going after tea down to a little place called Swinhope about half

a mile from the camp in particularly beautiful surroundings there

are trees almost entirely enclosing the lawn court making an excellent

buttress against the wind, and on one t side the lawns slope gently

down to a little stream. It is a wonderfully peaceful spot and

an evenings tennis there with supper of tomato sandwiches and

something to drink completely takes our minds off the rush and

worry of the station. The tennis was all of good standard

but Geoffry Lane, Ern Cappi, and Rob Henderson shone out.

[*31 July*] Only local flying during the day as the 23 aircraft

detailed for operations were cancelled before takeoff.

Wing Commander Martin YFC was awarded the DSO

and Flight Sergeant Lawrence also received an immediate award

of the DFM.

 

[*1st August*] As the Squadron had been on standby the night before

it was stood down on the Sunday. It was a good day so

in the afternoon a cricket match was played between the

Officers and the Sergeants, which the Sergeants were able to win

More tennis was played again that evening.

[*2nd August*] Another perfect day and the Squadron put 25 ^24 aircraft

on for another go at Hamburg. However by night the

weather had changed to thundery and stormy. One

[*(F/Sgt Magnus)*] aircraft took off with one aircraft ^engine giving engine trouble and

caused some consternation by f flying low over the mess

with one engine spluttering and a full low load of bombs

on board. They managed to get some height and went

out to sea to jettison their bombs. This they did off

Mablethorpe and were very surprised to find flak coming up at

them after the bombs had gone. It appeared that they had

misjudged their distance from the coast and so dropped their

bombs in the middle of a coastal convoy. They finally

convinced the convoy that they were friendly, but it is

understood that a Halifax was shot down during the mix up.

It is not known if any ships were damaged. Conditions

on way to target were bad, however all 23 of our aircraft

bombed target. The best in group as most of the other

squadrons struck trouble with the electrical storm and a lot

never got there. Understand this Base, consisting

of the three Squadrons, Binbrook, Grimsby & Wichenby

have dropped one tenth of the total weight of bombs on

Hamburg. We must be pretty high in the Base as we

usually have more aircraft on than the other two Squadrons.

[*3rd August*] the Squadron had another standdown. More tennis

played that evening.

[*4th August*] Weather rather poor. Eleven aircraft detailed for

operations with maximum petrol load and to be experienced

crews. Must be an important long stooge. However the

operation was cancelled due to bad weather.

[*5th August*] Aircraft still standing by for long stooge, numbers cut down

to nine. They seem determined to give it a bash. Again

cancelled due to weather.

[*6th August*] Same aircraft still on and again cancelled. The chaps

are getting restless at not being able to get away.

[*7th August*] Seventeen aircraft now on and the target is Turin. They

had been waiting for days to have a go at it. Reported

as a very good do. All aircraft bombed the target and

returned safely. Very little flak and the searchlights

were hopeless. P.F.F. Mosquito dropped its flares

then stood outside calling up the aircraft on R/T and 

telling them where to bomb. The rest of the Squadron

are all hoping that Italy wont give in before they have

had a chance to go there too.

[*8th August*] A well earned standdown and in the afternoon most of

the Squadron went to Grimsby to see a cricket match

on the town oval between a representative Australian

team from the Squadron and a Grimsby district

eleven. As it was an afternoon match each side was

limited to two hours batting each and Grimsby

batted first. They were very slow against our bowling

and in the first hour and a half had put on only eighty

runs. Rain set in then and at five the game had to

stop partly because of the rain and partly for tea.

After tea they continued for several overs but the rain finally

 

stopped the play. Grimsby were then 120. If possible

the match will be played at a later date.

Our team consisted of Fl/Lt Henderson Fl/Lt Morey

Fl/o Cameron (Captain). Sgt English. Sgt Owen. Sgt Rodda

Cpl Yeates, Cpl Duggan Cpl Dorrian, wtc Coop, wtc Newburn

Everyone then went into Grimsby and it either went to the

pictures or did a pub crawl.

[*9th August*] All the would be bashers of Italy were rather disappointed

when they found that today's target was Mannheim. It

was another large effort as we put 24 aircraft on. All

our aircraft successfully bombed the target and reported that

it had been a good show.

[*10th August*] This time it was a large scale effort against Nuremburg and 

we had 25 aircraft on. It was Cappy Lane's final

trip of his second tour and he is now permanent (?)

Officer in Charge Night flying until his posting comes 

through. He has done a particularly good tour and well

deserves a rest. S/W Kelaher gave a the Squadron

rather a worrying time by landing at Tangmere on his return

and he was reported as missing for some hours. When he

returned late in the day he found that the parachute

section had written his crew off.

[*11th August*] Today was a standdown, but everyone was so done

up after the previous two ops that it was mainly spent

laying around and most of the chaps stayed home for

a session in the mess. Ken Baird (S/W) D.C A Feb)

Stan Morey (Nav Leader) and Tommy Liddle have all

got the DFC. They were all well earned and both

Ken Baird and Tommy Liddle had done a tour in

the Middle East. Dickie Speare who was

O.C. C Flight and is now a Wing Commander

[*14M.

15M.

24 Peenemunde 17

9 Eave 26.

22. 21 Leverkusen*]

and Eddie Hudson both got Bars to their DFC's.

[*12th August*] Everyone has their wish and we are again on Italy

tonight. This time it is Milan and we have 25 aircraft

on. Tonight we cebe celebrate our thousandth successful

operational sortie in Lancasters. We did our first sortie

in Lancasters on the 22nd November 1942. against Stuttgart

and in the period of operating have lost only 38 39.

Lancasters on operations. During that time we have been

through the Battles of the Ruhr, Hamburg, Berlin and

have done many raids on Italy. Our thousand successful

sorties a include only those which we know to have bombed

their objective. Up until the 18th August 1943 we

have now dropped 4017 tons of bombs on enemy territory

It has been estimated that each crew which completes a

tour of 30 operations will have dropped 100 tons of

bombs in that time.

[*13th August*] 

Fl/Sgt Ries struck trouble this night. On the outward journey

when near Lisieux the midupper turret became unserviceable

but they decided to carry on despite bright moon conditions.

Then when over Berneuil the Starboard outer engine

began to emit sparks and became overheated. The engine

was feathered and they carried on. However when over

Bourg the Starboard Inner Engine began messing then

picked up again. As this engine lacked power it was

decided to use both starboard engines and by careful nursing

the Alps were crossed through St Bernard's Pass with

Mont Blanc towering on the port side. The target was

successfully reached, bombed and photographed and

the aircraft returned by the same route. The starboard

motors shook the aircraft badly and the outer motor

finally had to be feathered when crossing the French coast.

 

[*13th August*] today was a standdown after the long trip the night before

and everyone relaxed.

[*14th August*] On the job again and once more to Milan. This time only

eleven aircraft detailed so some of the more experienced

crews went.

[*15th August*] Milan again with another small force f of      but this

time the pilots who were not on the night before were sent.

If they were to operate us at half strength like this we

could go on indefinitely until the ground crew cracked

[*16th August*] It appears we are not to go on indefinitely as we have a

standdown today much to the relief of the groundcrew.

We are all hoping that we can get a standdown for

tomorrow night for the party to celebrate our thousandth

raid with Lancasters. Fl/Lt Les Tait and F/O Tommy

Liddle are flat out with their preparations for it and it

should be a good do.

[*17th August*] To everyone's dismay we learnt today that we are on tonight

so the party will be off. It is a major effort against

Peenemunde and we have 24 aircraft on. There was

great disappointment at the party being cancelled as

a number of old members of the Squadron came over

from neighboring units to attend only to find it was all

off. However the raid on Peenemunde turned out to

be a very good show and everyone was happy.

[*18th August*] A Group standdown and our party at Cleethorpes

is on. Unfortunately the BBC. couldnt attend as was 

originally arranged but we had quite a number of

reporters to write it x up. It was held on the Pier

at Cleethorpes and buses were run from the aerodrome

to Cleethorpes. Almost a thousand must have attended

and it seemed to have been a very good show. It

[*23 Berlin 25 1 miss

27 Nuren 21   31 Berlin 22 1 miss

30 Munich 23*]

t was paid for almost entirely by the aircrew and was

given as a gesture to the ground crew. F F/O Vic Watts

did some very good decorations for it and it went with

quite a swing.

[*19th August*] A case of the morning after the night before. However

everyone seemed to be up bright and early possibly because

they hadn't been to bed. Warrant Officer Mackie stayed

at Cleethorpes to clean up after the party and was met by

quite a deputation of pub owners complaining bitterly that

our chaps had removed the glasses from their hotels for

our party F He managed to quieten them down, but

I think it will be a while before we can have another

party there. S/Ldr Ken Baird, F/LT Cappy Lane

and F/O Tommy Liddle with Section Officer Plunkett

all went over on leave to visit her wild Ireland.

It was "end of tour" leave for them and Section Officer

Plunkett showed them the sights. They were all

complaining that as they would have to wear civvies

they wouldn't be able to shoot a line horrible line of

"when I was on ops."

Whe We had nineteen 26 aircraft on but it was

cancelled t due to weather.

[*20th August*]. Standdown again today with rather bad weather

still around.

[*21st August*] Yet another standdown. Cpl Yeates our star

cricketer has been chosen to play for the Dominions in

a two day match against the RAF at Blackpool.

This is the second big match he has had lately as

last weekend he played for the RAAF against New

Zealand in London. We are hoping he will get

a game at Lords.

 

[*22nd August*] We have a target for tonight. It is Leverkusen

and we have 21 aircraft on. It is a chemical town

and from all reports we wont have to visit it again.

We continued our good run ha and so far havent

lost an aircraft this month.

Unfortunately the cricket match against Grimsby ^was continued today but

with Cpl Yeates away and the majority of the chaps

on duty because of operations we were only able to

field a weak team and were rather easily beaten. 

[*23rd August*] We have switched the attack back to Berlin for the first

time since March. We put a full 25 on and we had

our first loss for the month tonight. P/O Hocking who 

had only just been commissioned was the captain.

There appeared to be hundreds of fighters on the job and we

were indeed lucky to only lose one out of a total of 58.

Everyone reported it as a good show but unfortunately

later information has shown that the raid was concentrated

south of the target.

[*24th August*] A stand down after last nights show. Everyone just

resting up.

[*25th August*] The weather has been bad so we a have another standdown.

but because of the weather we haven't been able to do much

more than local flying.

[*26th August*] Another standdown. Fl/Lt Greenacre went in a Lancaster

to Holyhead to pick up S/L Baird and party and bogged

on arrival.

[*27th August*] A Wellington had to go and pick S/L Baird up and 

take tools to extricate the Lancaster from the mud.

[*27th August*] We are on again with 21 aircraft to Nuremburg.

F/LT Greenacre just got back from Holyhead too late

for operation.

[*28th August*]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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