Summary for August 1944

SUMMARY for AUGUST
TOTAL MOSQUITO DAY	12H15M
TOTAL OXFORD DAY	9H45M
TOTAL WELLINGTON DAY	12H50M
TOTAL DAY FLYING	34H50M
TOTAL MOSQUITO NIGHT	27H45M
TOTAL NIGHT OPERATIONS	27H45M

Training on the new A/I Mk. X system saw an increase in day flying hours for Broody this month – up from 9:10 in July. Night Operational hours were also up by just over 7 hours, which equates to an additional 2 patrols this month.

Again, this month was, the most successful to date for the Squadron, with a total of seventeen enemy aircraft destroyed and four damaged.

The ORB reports that this tally is just one less than the previous best month (July 1944), and put 488(NZ) Squadron on top of the leader board for 85 Group.

Enemy aircraft were destroyed by the following pilots during the month.

F/Lt AE Brown – 4
F/Lt GE Jameson – 2
F/Lt  PFL Hall – 2
W/Cdr RC Haine – 1
W/O TGC Mackay – 1
W/O GS Patrick – 1
F/O AL Shaw – 1
F/Sgt TA Maclean – 1
F/Lt JAS Hall – 1
F/O OJ McCabe – 1
F/O RG Jeffs – 1
F/O DN Robinson – 1

(See entries 37 to 53 on the Squadron Victories page for more detail)

29/viii/44 – NFT in good weather

29^th August 14:40
DH Mosquito XIII MM558 ME-E (A/I Mk.VIII)
Pilot: F/O Scott
Navigator (R): Self
NFT & CINE-GUN
With W/O Hughes in lovely weather. Canary U/S
1:00

28/viii/44 – A/I Mk.X training

28^th August 09:40
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP535 (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/Lt Smith RAAF
Instructor: F/O Keating RAAF
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) F/Lt Carcassson
U/T Navigator (R): F/O Earl
U/T Navigator (R): F/S Wyman
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE V
No trouble this time
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE VI
Target taking full evasive action
A/I U/S later on
1:50

27/viii/44 – More A/I Mk.X training

27^th August 14:40
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP535 (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/O Collier
Instructor:W/O Blackburn
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) F/O Procter
U/T Navigator (R): F/O Prescott
U/T Navigator (R): W/O Follows
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE V
Much argument between pupil (with finger) & pilot (with his) over the correct technique of following a weave.
2:10

14:15
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP525/G (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/Lt Hollowell AFC
Instructor: F/Lt Clemo DFC
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) P/O Earl
U/T Navigator (R): F/O Prescott
U/T Navigator (R): W/O Follows
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE V
A/I U/S
1:30

26/viii/44 – A/I Mk X Exercises III, IV & V

26^th August 14:40
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP535 (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/Lt Smith RAAF
Instructor: F/O Keating RAAF
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) F/Lt Watson DFC
U/T Navigator (R): F/S Brock
U/T Navigator (R): F/O Grant
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE III
A/I U/S. Stalling “demonstration” by pilot
1:10

17:40
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP525/G (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/Lt Hollowell AFC
Instructor: F/O Keating RAAF
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) F/Lt Watson DFC
U/T Navigator (R): F/O Grant
U/T Navigator (R): F/S Brock
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE III
Crossing contacts with elevation difference
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE IV
Target weaving in elevation
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE V
Target weaving in Azimuith
Blip interpretation, commentary, handling of controls & simple interception.
2:05

The table below, replicated from Broody’s journal, lists the content of each A/I Mk.X Exercise

Ex. No.	Mk. X Exercises
I	Blip-Interpretation, Commentary, handling of Controls
II	Setting-up & Simple Interception on various courses
III	Crossing contacts with Target below Fighter
IV	Target weaving in Elevation
V	Target weaving in Azimuth
VI	Target corkscrewing in Azimuth & Elevation

25/viii/44 – Cross-Country taxi service!

25^th August 13:45
DH Mosquito XIII MM558 ME-E (A/I Mk.VIII)
Pilot: F/O Scott
Navigator (R): Self
NFT & CINE-GUN
Camera on a dakota & a shoot-up at Zeals
0:45

15:10
AIRSPEED OXFORD II X7293
Pilot: F/O Scott
Navigator: Self
Passenger: W/O Addison DFC DFM
BASE ~ NORTHOLT
To drop W/O Addison
0:40

15:55
Less W/O Addison
NORTHOLT ~ HORSHAM ~ NEWCHURCH
For F/Lt Carcasson
0:40

17:50
Passenger: F/Lt Carcasson
NEWCHURCH ~ HORSHAM ~ BASE
Navigator driving & map reading – nearly through the Anti-Diver balloon barrage
1:10

This wonderful photo of a barrage balloon of Balloon Command floating just above the ground, near Biggin Hill, Kent is just too good not to share! In the background a number of airborne balloons are visible.

A barrage balloon of Balloon Command floating just above the ground, near Biggin Hill, Kent
© IWM (TR 2161)

 

A mass of barrage balloons seen from above – maybe something like Broody faced today!
© IWM (CH 13806)

 

 

24/viii/44 – More A/I Mk.X training and a patrol off Le Havre

24^th August 14:20
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP535 (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/O Collier
Instructor: F/Lt Clemo DFC
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) F/O Skudder
U/T Navigator (R): F/S Brock
U/T Navigator (R): Sgt Tuffill
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE II
Crossing flights – target straight & level
2:00

19:50
DH Mosquito XIII MM558 ME-E (A/I Mk.VIII)
Pilot: F/O Scott
Navigator (R): Self
NFT & A/C TEST
All Ok.
0:35

23:45
PATROL – GCI 15121 (Legion)
On North & South line, South East of Le Havre at 8000ft. Lively sea activity, but nothing in the air.
2:40

23/viii/44 – Start of training on A/I Mk.X

23^rd August 14:20
VICKERS ARMSTRONG WELLINGTON XI MP525/G (A/I Mk X)
Pilot: F/Lt Hollowell AFC
Instructor: F/Lt Clemo DFC
2^nd Pilot: F/O Scott
U/T Navigator (R): Self
U/T Navigator (R) F/Lt Watson DFC
U/T Navigator (R): F/Lt Bowman
U/T Navigator (R): F/O Prescott
A/I Mk X – EXERCISE I
Blip interpretation, commentary, handling of controls & simple interception.
2:05

Today saw the start of conversion training in A/I Mk X for the Navigators of 488(NZ) Squadron. The Mk X was based on the American SCR-720 Radar System, and bulkier than the Mk VIII system previously in use. Development of the Mosquito to accept the Mk X lead to the roll out of the Mosquito NF Mk30s that the squadron would soon convert to.

The training was carried out in a Wellington – presumably due to its size which allowed a number of trainee navigators to be instructed at the same time

Vickers Armstrong Wellington
(This is a Mark III example)

 

21/viii/44 – Patrol in very bad weather

21^st August 03:20
DH Mosquito XIII MM558 ME-E (A/I Mk.VIII)
Pilot: F/O Scott
Navigator (R): Self
PATROL – GCI 15121 (Legion)
Le Havre & Liseaux area. Mostly at 7000ft, but between 5 & 12,000ft trying unsuccessfully to get out of Cu & Cu Nimb clouds. Very bumpy & severe electrical storm. Two bogies – both discounted on IFF before contact. Down to 500ft over Isle of Wight & rest of the way home. Bumpier still!
3:50

20:00
NFT
With W/O Moore, in poor weather.
0:30

20/viii/44 – NFT

20^th August 15:20 
DH Mosquito XIII MM558 ME-E (A/I Mk.VIII)
Pilot: F/O Scott
Navigator (R): Self
NFT
Generator U/S
0:05

16:30
NFT & GENERATOR TEST
At 7,000ft with F/Lt Cook. OK now.
0:30