Place

Date

Time

Summary of events

Ratmalana

July 1.

F/O P. White-Gaze and P/O C. Pinnell given dual on Liberator aircraft by S/L Paisey and S/L Brady.

2.

Ditto.

3.

F/O P. White-Gaze; P/O C. Pinell: Solo in Liberator "M"

3.

14.55 to 16.30

"W" Captain F/O Wallace and Crew. Practice low level bombing.

5.

14.30

"B" FK239 Captain S/L Brady; Navigator. F/Lt. M. Carson left for Sigiriya.

6.

04.15 to 16.50

Ops. Target. Andamans, Port Blair, Port Cambell, Chatham Islands, Navy Bay.

6.

F/O P. White-Gaxe; P/O C. Pinnell. Dual low flying practice.

7.

F/O P. White-Gaxe; P/O c. Pinnell. Practice bombing, low level.

8.

09.35 to 14.35

Captain P/O White-Gaze; Navigator P/O J. Segar. Training Flight. Navig. Exercises No. 1.

9.

08.00 to 12.15

Capt. F/O Pinnell. Navigator Sgt. Woodcock. Training Flight. Navig. Exercise No. 1.

10.

10.35 to 12.05

Photographic Exercise to test effectiveness of Liberator aircraft camouflage.

14.15

"F" Capt. F/O C. Brodigan and Crew. Exercise for air gunners, instruction in firing control. Co-operation exercise with Hurricanes (30 Squadron).

16.00

Visit of Air Marshal Garred: Deputy A.O.C. in C. India. Visit of Air Vice Marshal A. Lees, A.O.C. 22 Group. Visited Liberator aircraft, discussed future policy with C.O. 160 Squadron.

12.

08.0 to 12.00

FL991 Cap. P/O C. Pinnell. Nvig. P/O J. Seagar. Training Flight, Navig. Exercise No.2.

14.

P/O (A/F/Lt) f. Gilbert posted from Sqdn. to 1572 Gunnery Flight, Madras.
P/O sutcliffe posted from Sqdn to 681 Sqdn (Mitchells) Bengal.

15.

08.30

"M" F/O D. Flett, F/O H. Williams: Dual on Liberator given by S/L F. Paisey and S/L G. B. Brady.

10.15 to 11.30

FL911 Capt. P/O G. Hill & crew. Fighter Affiliation.

14.35 to 16.05

FL911 Capt. S/L F. Paisey & Crew Fighter Affiliation.

Fl991 Capt. F/O P. white-Gaze. Navig. P/O J. Segar. Training Flight, navig. Exercise No. 3.

FL969 Capt. Sgt. Landick
BZ752 Capt. F/S Rowley
Landed Ratmalana from Karachi, ex U.K. F/O Mullins (2nd Pilot) F/o Davis (Wop/AG) among crews.

16.

08.15 to 12.30

"F" FL991 Capt. W/O B. Hall: Navig. F/o J. Segar, Training Flight, Navig. Exercise No. 2.

10.00 to 11.15

"K" FL911 Capt. P/O Ross: Navig. P/O J. Strachan, Fighter Affiliation (30 Squadron Hurricanes)

14.20 to 16.00

"K" Capt F/O C Moody: Navg. P/O R. Spelling - Fighter Affiliation.

10.00 to 11.15

"M" F/O Flett; F/O Willson. Dual in Liberator.

17.

09.00 to 11.15

"H" Capt P/O J. Ross
"V" Capt. P/O L. Hill
Formation Flying Practice.

10.00 to 11.15

"F" Capt. P/O C. Brodigan: Navig. F/S Follis - Fighter Affiliation. Aircraft was involved in air collision with Hurricane, which subsequently crashed. Minor damage to port wing of Liberator.

09.30

"M" F/O Flett: F/O Willson: Dual in Liberator by S/Ldr. Brady

18

08.15

"W" Capt. W/Cdr. C. Butler, C. O. Flight Commander and Officers i/c Sections visited Sigiriya. Inspected Camp, buildings, dispersals, etc. Allocated building for Squadron. Decided that Advance Party of approx. 100 would move on July 26th.

07.50 to 11.15

"M" Capt. F/O C. Moody; Navig. F/O R. Spelling. Training Flight Navigation Exercise No.1.

19.

10.00

"M" F/O Flett; F/O Willson. Dual Instruction by S/L Brady.

10.20 to 12.00

"V(or N)" Capt. P/O Boyle; Navig. Sgt. Allen. Practice P.R.U of Ratmalana aerodrome at 20,000 ft.

14.30 to 16.15

"W" Capt. F/S Cohen; Navig. Sgt. Sommerville. Practice P.R.U of Ratmalana aerodrome at 20,000 ft.

14.45 to 18.45

"K" Capt. F/O Brodigan; Navig. P/O Namann?? Navigation Exercise No. 2.

22.

06.45 to 19.25

"K" FL911 Capt. F/O Brodigan; Navig. F/S Follis. Ops trip - Andamans.

07.15 to 13.15

"D" FL969 Capt Sgt. Landick; Navig. Sgt. Pratt. Met Flight, but abandoned owing to engine cowling coming loose.

06.30

"P" Capt P/O Hill; Navig. F/Lt. M. Carson. Took off for Agra for turbo engine repairs, and collection of spares.

10.00

"M" F/O D. Flett; F/O N. Wilson. Dual instruction by S/L G. Brady. F/O Flett went solo.

23

09.00

"W?" Capt. W/Cdr. C. Butler; Navig Sgt. Allen Took off for Addu Atoll. A/Cdr Churchinan???passinger.

06.50 to 18.35

FL969 Capt. Sgt. Landick; Navig. Sgt. Pratt. Met Flight.

14.00

FL939 Capt. P/O Ross; Navig. P/O Strachan. Practice dropping depth charges on barge.

08.35

"M" F/O Flett; F/O Wilson. Dual instruction given by S/L Brady and S/L Paisey. F/O N. Willson went solo.

24

14.30
02.35 to 16.10

Fl945 Capt. S/L F. Paisey: Navig. F/S Sommerville left for Sigiriya
Ops trip. Sabang; Lone??; Lhokeemave????
Landed Ratmalana

11.40 to 16.40

FL969 Captain F/S Rowley; Navig. F/S Strutton. D.F. Calibration of Ceylon at 20,000 feet.

17.05

"W" Captain W/Cdr Butler Landed from Addu Atoll.

25.

14.40 to 16.30

BZ752 Captain F/O White-Gaze Low Flying Practice

26.

14.15
02.00 to 12.50

FL936 Capt. F/O Wallace: Navig. P/O Hamann - left for Sigiriya
Ops trip to Panghanbradam???? And Pangkalansoe???
Unsuccessful; bad weather conditions.

07.40 to 12.50

BZ752 Captn. P/O Burns; Navig. F/O Balcon. Navig. Exercise No. 3.

14.20 to 15.40

FL991 F/O Campbell; F/O Wilson - Low level flying dual.

14.50 to 16.50

BZ752 P/O Moody; F/O Flett. Low flying dual.

08.00

Advance party of 3 Officers 13 N.C.O's 70 Airmen, left by road for Sigiriya.

27.

F/Lt. C. Craig (Photo) returned to A.H.Q. India, ceasing attachment to 100 Sqdn.

29.

07.00 to 09.00

FL939 Capt. W/Cdr. Butler & crew
FL991 Capt. P/O Ross & crew
BZ752 Capt. Sgt. Landick & crew
Exercise. Formation high level attack on H.M. Cruiser. Beauforts and Vengeance a/c also took part.

06.30 to 17.40

FL911 Capt. F/O Moody; Navig. Sgt. Somerville - Meteorological Flight.

11.10

"M" Dual instruction given by S/L P. Paisey to P/O W. A. Calder and Sgt. Manon.

30.

Advance move to Sigiriya. Heavy engineering gear and equipment moved by road.

06.40 to 08.05

FL939 F/O Campbell and Crew
FL911 P/O Ross and crew
Exercise, as for previous day.

07.00 to 19.15

FL991 Capt. F/S Rowley; Navig. F/S Strutton - Met. Flight.

18.35

"P" P/O Hill & crew arrived back from Agra, after collecting spares.

31.

14.15
02.45
16.30

FL945 "H" Capt. P/O Burns; Navig. F/O Balcon. Took off for Sigiriya.
Took off from Sigiriya - Ops trip Sabang, Lhonga, Biruen, Lhokseumawe
Landed Ratmalana.