Place

Date

Time

Summary of events

Ratmalana

1/4/43

Liberator FL911 (W/O C. R, Hall, ??????? P/O P.W.M. White-Gaze GD 112?274 P/O J. Sager (Obs) and crew proceeded ??????? for aerodrome testing under instructions HQ 225 Group.

2/4/43

109448 P/O S. Poole (Equip) posted ????? Ratmalana

3/4/43

122385 P/O A. M. Call (GD) detached ???????

4/4/43

Visit of Group Nav. Officer S/L ???????state he was not satisfied with standard of Squadron Nav. ??????? arrangements are made for daily visit by P/O Pavitt, Assistant Group ??????? to assist in improving standard.

5/4/43

50901 P/O Pavitt attached from?????

6/4/43

Liberator 'H' bogged on aerodrome ???compass swinging (Captain, F/S Cohen).

F/Sgt. Ross force landed Lysander ????failure on aerodrome.

7/4/43

A.O.C. visited Ratmalana and C.???????

8/4/43

Liberator FK227 allocated by signal ????squadron has now been reallotted. This is disappointing as this aircraft ?????by the Squadron in England to form part of the Unit overseas.

Liberator FK239 took off 07.30 ????? to collect spares. 78753 F/L (A/S/L) E.G. Paisey, GD, Captain 122399 ?????BD, 43870 F/Lt. W. M. Homes, Tech (E) and 49710 P/O L. F. Campton (Tech????

9/4/43

88666 F/O(A/S/L) R. H. Hanson, GD ??????? Schoo, Andheri.

Exercise "Owl" carried out with ??????? Pilots J15180 F/O W. A. Wallace, GD, R81360 F/Sgt. J. L. Ross, Pilot ??????? F/Sgt. J. Cohen, Pilot.

10/4/43

Message received formS.A.SO., ????? that Deputy A.O.C. in C. required details of our most experienced ???????? operation in two to three days time.

115497 F/O S. E. Chandler, GD. Detached ???School, Andheri for Course.

Liberator FL911 Captain A40????????, Pilot returned from Bangalore, having visited Yelalanka and Kal?????? By Air Commodore P. H. Mackworth?. A.O.C. 225 Group Arkamas?? (damaged ?????test), St. Thomas's Mount, Shelavarum, Ulunderpet? Chetimar?????Tamjore, Madura, Kasattar, Bulmr??and Bangalore. Reported to 225 Group Comodore Mackworth, Group Captain Howard (S.A.O.) and W/C Ford. ?????report. Proceeded to Vimagapatam? Stayed night owing to bad weather ????? Bangalore and thence to Ratmalana, arriving 18.15 hours, ????????auxiliary landing strips, dispersals, taxying tracks and approaches.

12/4/43

Liberator "V" carried out camera test????W/C G. A. Butler (37711) GD.
Installation satisfactory; holes ??????bers. Navigators need practice before serious operations can be ?????

One senior N.C.O and 35 airmen, ??????ff, arrived at Ratmalana from Kanchraparn, India.

14/4/43

Visit of S/L Loams?, A.H.Q. Photo ?????er. Gave him full particulars of practical difficulties anticipated.

123507 P/O D. S. Flett, GD, engaged ???? necessary equipment for temporary was at Sigiriya for night operations ???????tor aircraft.

Three senior N.C.O.'s and 71 airmen ??????? arrived at Ratmalana from Kanchrapara, India.

15/4/43

123507 P/O D. S. Flett, GD, left for ?????make arrangements for P.R.U. Liberators to operate at night from ???(arrangements for refueling etc.)

18/4/43

121427 F/O (A/F/Lt) H. M. Carson, ??????to G. R. School, Andhari.

21/4/43

Liberator FK239 (78753 F/L (A/S/L) ?????? GD, Captain, and crew) landed 0830 hours, having visited Agra, Pan??????, Delhi, and Karachi. Brought tweleve .5 machine guns, but no fittings ???? Also two large self-sealing overload tanks (he has arranged for ?????be collected from Omdal?). several other essentials were obtained ???? are still required. RAF Liaison officer visited by S/L ?????who had not been informed that the aircraft was arriving, neigh?????? Engineer Officer been informed. The Americans were helpful but w?????????? prior warning. It seems that arrangements should be made through ???????Officer at Delhi.

964?872 Sgt. W. E. Burns, Pilot; 2nd. ????? P/O J. Thomas, GD, and 119705 F/O K. F. B. Balsen?, GD(Nav) returned ????aircraft. Their own is still n/s at Drigh Road, where it arrived ??????? 1943. W/C C. A. Butler reported the above in a visit to 222 Group ????????for the aircraft to go to Omdal? For remaining self-sealing overload tanks.

22/4/43

Liberator FL911. 120438? F/O J. W. ??????Captain, 1208000 P/O W. A. Calder, second pilot and crew left for ???????

23/4/43

W/C C. A. Butler, GD, Commanding Officer ????sigiriya by road ????increasing ??Liberator aircraft taken to 15,000 ???camouflage test. Aircraft visible most of the time and it was decidet to ?????? with a light blue camouflage on one aircraft.

24/4/43

W/C C.A. Butler returned from Sigiriya ???

25/4/43

104525 F/O S. Davie (A7SD(I)) posted ????? Station Ratmalana.

26/4/43

One Liberator crew A401104 F/Sgt. ???? Pilot, Captain, 120793 P/O T. R. Pallett, GD, 2nd Pilot, 1268999 P/O R. F. S?????, and crew left first light in Hudson aircraft for Karachi on sp?????? ordered by A.O.C.

Liberator FL929, 37711 S/L(A/W/C??????, GD, Commanding Officer, and other specialist officers proceeded to ?????ded Liberator at Sigiriya for first time and make arrangements for as?????

28/4/43

J16555 P/O J. W. Strachan, GD(Nav) ????? Squadron on commissioning.

29/4/43

Liberator FL929, W/C C. A. Butler ???W/C Paul, Staion Commander, W/C Martin (222 Group), W/O O'Callaghan (S.M.O. HQ 222 Group) visited Sigiriya. It was decided that trees needed removing from both ends of the runway. The Dispersal area needed enlarging and trees removing for some 200 yards.

Liberator FL929 (F/Sgt Hill, Captain) and Fl945 (W/O hall, Captain) carried out camouflage test. A/c FL945 has had one coat of "sky" dope (no more paint received). Both aircraft flew in line astern over aerodrome at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15,000 feet. P/O Brooks, A.H.Q. Camouflage Expert, was present. Five observers ?iming on the aerodrome. Results - generally "sky" seemed better than "white", but this varies according to cloud reflection etc.