1 Mar 1941
Operations: BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST COLOGNE.
Six Wellington aircraft of this Unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above target. Hits were registered in the target area. Many fires were observed in the target area and DLN 881 reports seeing dummy fires North West of the target. DLN 626 reported a stick of bombs seen to burst 15 miles East of Lowestoft. Inaccurate heavy A.A. fire was encountered and searchlights were numerous. One enemy searchlight carrying fighter seen by DLN 931 at 500 yards but no attack made. 10/10ths cloud was experienced over North Sea but clear over target area. Navigation was by astro pin-pointing and map reading.
Training:
11.20 – 12.30 One cross-country carried out by F/O Gill and crew in R.3171.
2 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nothing of importance occurred today.
3 Mar 1941
Operations: BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST TARGETS TOWN 2, AND CC29(a)
Eleven Wellington aircraft of this Unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above targets. Bombs were seen to burst in the target area and many fires were observed. UNL 633 reports seeing ⅖ star cartridges and red traces were observed fired 10 miles North East of Honington at 5,000 ft. A fair amount of heavy accurate A.A. fire was experienced and the searchlights were very accurate and intense over most of the route. Many enemy aircraft carrying lights were seen and UNL 347 reports seeing enemy aircraft bomb FELTWELL from 5000 ft. The weather was fairly good with patches of cloud. Navigation was by D/R map reading and wireless.
Training: Nil
4 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
5 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nothing of importance took place today.
6 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
Postings.
F/O E. Roberts posted from this Unit to R.A.F. Station Feltwell wef 5/3/41. Auth’y: 3 Group Signal P.498 dated 4/3/41.
S/LDR J.W. Southwell posted to this Unit from 12 OTU Benson wef 7/3/41 . Auth’y: 3 Grp.. Pgram. 3C/8918/23/P2 dated 1/3/41
Attachments.
P/O F.A. Andrews attached from this Unit to 11 OTU Bassingbourn wef 4/3/41. Auth’y 3 Grp. Sig. P.475 dated 18/2/41 and T.464 dated 27/2/41.
Appointments and Promotions.
P/O (A/F/L) J.E. Morton and P/O (A/F/L) M.H. Macfarlane both promoted to the substantive rank of Flying Officer wef 17/1/41. Auth’y extract London Gazette Serial No.34898 dated 16/7/40.
7 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
8 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
9 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nothing of importance took place today.
10 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
11.00 – 15.00 Two cross-country flights carried out by captains S/L Southwell and Sgt. Minikin in aircraft No. R.3218.
Circuits and landings carried out by F/LT MacFarlane P/O Ashworth in R.3171.
11 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
12 Mar 1941
Operations: BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST TARGETS GY 4772, TOWN 13a. and CC 29 (a)
Nine Wellington aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above targets, one of these aircraft XDA 283 Captain P/O Hewitt was caught in the searchlights for 30 minutes and the machine was repeatedly hit by AA fire and the hydraulic dear rendered u/s necessitating a crash landing on return. Nobody was hurt. Hits were registered in the target areas. Two dummy aerodromes were observed west of Schiphol. Intense and accurate AA fire was encountered in the target areas and searchlights were very active. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Weather experienced was fine over most of journey. Navigation was by DR, Astro and map reading.
Training: Nil
13 Mar 1941
Operations: BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST HAMBURG.
Eight Wellington aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above target. Hits were registered in the target area and many fires were observed to be burning when last aircraft left. Heavy and light flak was experienced over the target and numerous searchlights were used working in cones. ARU271 observed one ME109 and one ME110 near Dutch coast and ARU250 engaged one JU 88 results not observed. Good weather was experienced and navigation was by DR and map-reading.
Training:
Circuits and landings carried out in R.3218 by F/Lt Macfarlane.
14 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
15 Mar 1941
Operations: BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST LORIENT.
Five Wellington aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks on the above target. Owing to fog being experienced on the return journey three of these aircraft landed at St Eval and two at Boscombe Down. Hits were registered in the target area. The only observation made was that the blackout over France was bad. Moderate, heavy and light flak was encountered and strong concentrations of searchlights were met within the target area. No enemy aircraft were seen. The weather was clear but ground haze was experienced over the target. Navigation was by D/R and Astro.
Training: Nil
Postings:
F/Lt. M.H. Macfarlane posted from this Unit to 18 OTU wef 15.3.41. Auth’y: 3 Gp.Sig.P.820 dated 14.3.41. Appendix F.2
Aircraft:
One Wellington Mk 1C R.1518 received from 24 M.U. Auth’y: 41G/3240.
16 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nothing of importance occurred today.
Postings:
F/O C.M. Hill and F/O G.N. Parker posted to this Unit from 18 OTU, Bramcote. Auth’y: 6 Gp.Sig. P.477 dated 14.3.41. Appendix F.3
17 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
20.05 – 20.55 Dual circuits and landings carried out in Wellington R.3218.
Postings:
F/Lt. P.G.F. Fletcher posted to this Unit from 115 Squadron, Marham. Auth’y: 3 Gp..P.825 dated 14.3.41. Appendix F.4
P/O C.W. Scott and P/O O.J.W. Thomson posted to this Unit from 15 OTU, Harwell wef 12..3.41. Auth’y: 6 Gp.P’Gram. 6G/1706/26/P.2. dated 3.3.41. Appendix F.2
P/O D.S. Florence posted to this Unit from 11 OTU, Bassingbourn, wef 14.3.41 Auth’y: 6 Gp.P’Gram. 6G/1706/26/P.2. dated 7.3.41 Appendix F.2
P/O O.C. Evans posted to this Unit from 10 OTU, Abingdon, wef 7.3.41. Auth’y: 3 Gp.Pgram.3G/8918/23/P.2 dated 4.3.41. Appendix F.2
P/O A.H. Burton, posted to this Unit from to 3 Gp. Training Flight, Stradishall wef 13.3.41. Auth’y: 3 Gp.Pgram.3G/Sig.P.796 dated 8.3.41. Appendix F.3
F/Lt. J.E.S. Morton posted to this Unit from to 18 OTU Bramcote, wef 7.3.41 Auth’y: 3 Gp.Sig. P.762 dated 5.3.41. Appendix F.3
P/O N.D. Greenaway posted from this Unit to 21 OTU Moreton-in-the-Marsh wef 8.3.41. Auth’y: 3 Gp.P.764 dated 7.3.41 Appendix F.3
P/O A.S. Anderson posted from this Unit to 11 OTU Bassingbourn wef 9.3.41 Auth’y: 3 Gp.Sig.P.767 dated 7.3.41 Appendix F.3
P/O N.J. Edwards posted from this Unit to 3 Gp. Training Flight, Stradishall wef 12.3.41. Auth’y: 3 Gp.Pgram.3G/6601/P.4 dated 5.3.41. Appendix F.3
Attachments:
P/O F.A. Andrews ceased to be attached to 11 OTU Bassingbourn wef 14.3.41. Appendix F.4
Appointments and Promotions:
P/O (A/F/L) W.J. Mitchell appointed to the War Substantive rank of Flying Officer wef 23.10.40. Auth’y: London Gazette Serial No.35042 dated 14.1.41. Appendix F.4
18 Mar 1941
Operations:
BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST KIEL AND ROTTERDAM.
Eleven Wellington aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above targets. One of these aircraft, GKN 542 ran short of petrol and crashed at Ryhill, Yorkshire. The crew bailed out but one member Sgt Gilmore (wireless operator) was killed owing to his parachute failing to open. Direct hits were scored and fire started. Two photographs of town and docks were taken by GKN 465. Intense and accurate heavy and light flak was encountered at various parts of route, and there was intense searchlight activity over target area. No enemy aircraft were observed. The weather over the target was fair, but fog was experienced over English coast on return. Navigation was by DR, pin-points, and Astro.
Training: Nil
Postings:
P/O C.F. Page posted to this Unit from 12 OTU Benson wef 18.5.41. Auth’y: 6 Gp.P’Gram. 6G/1706/26/P.2. dated 14.3.41. Appendix F.5
Aircraft:
One Wellington 1C R.1589 received from 48 M.U. Auth’y: 41G/3275.
19 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
19.50 – 20.20 Circuits and landings carried out in Wellington R.3218.
20 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
15.20 – 18.20 Cross country flight carried out by F/O Hill and crew in Wellington T.2835.
21 Mar 1941
Operations:
BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST OSTEND AND L’ORIENT.
Three aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above targets. All bombs were dropped but results could not be observed owing to heavy cloud over the target. Light AA fire activity was slight. Navigation was by D/R map-reading and Astro.
Training:
One cross country flight carried out by F/O Parker and crew in Wellington R.3169.
22 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
Postings:
S/Ldr. R.P. Widdowson posted to this Unit from 11 OTU Bassingbourn wef 22.3.41 Auth’y: 6 Gp.Sig.P528. dated 21.3.41. Appendix F.5
Attachments:
P/O A. Ashworth attached to No.3 B.A.F.T. Mildenhall wef 16.3.41. Auth’y: 3 Gp.Sig.P.829 dated 15.3.41. Appendix F.6
P/O A. Ashworth ceased to be attached to No.3 B.A.F.T. Mildenhall wef 22.3.41. Appendix F.6
23 Mar 1941
Operations: BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST BERLIN.
Aircraft of this unit carried out individual bombing attacks against the above target. Fires were started, but owing to heavy clouds the result of HE bombs were not observed. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Heavy cloud was experienced over target area and most of route. Navigation was by D/R map-reading Astro and W/T.
Training: Nothing of importance occurred today.
24 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training: Nil
Postings:
A/S/L G.C. Kain posted from this Unit to 21 OTU Moreton-in-the-Marsh wef 24.3.41.Auth’y: 3 Gp.Sig.P.552 dated 19.3.41. Appendix F.5
Attachments:
P/O T.J.D. Baber ceased to be attached to C.G.S. Farewell wef 24.3.41. Appendix F.6
Aircraft:
One Wellington 1C R.3297 despatched to No. 57 Squadron, Feltwell. Auth’y: awaited.
25 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
Two cross country flights were carried out in aircraft R.1589 (F/O Hill) and aircraft R.3169 (F/O Parker)
Circuits and landings carried out in aircraft R.3218.
26 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
S.C.I. training carried out by P/O Simich and crew in R.3218.
Cross country flight carried out in aircraft R.1 37 by S/L Widdowson and crew.
27 Mar 1941
Operations:
BOMBING ATTACKS AGAINST COLOGNE AND DUNKIRK.
Nine aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above targets. Bombs were dropped but owing to haze over target areas bursts were not observed. Five photographs were taken by GKN 832. Searchlights and heavy and light flak were fairly accurate. The weather was fair over route but haze was experienced in target areas. Navigation was by D/R map-reading, Astro, W/T.
Training:
SGT. Nola and crew carried out cross-country flight in aircraft L.7818.
28 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
P/O Kimberley and crew carried out air firing in aircraft R.1161.
29 Mar 1941
Operations: Nil
Training:
Air firing carried out by two crews (Captains – P/O Simich and Sgt. Sargent).
30 Mar 1941
Operations:
BOMBING ATTACK AGAINST CALAIS.
One Wellington aircraft of this unit carried out an attack against the above target. Bombs were dropped in target area. AA fire was fairly heavy but inaccurate. Searchlights were medium but not concentrated. The weather was fine. Navigation was by D/R, map-reading, W/T.
Training:
Two crew carried out bombing practice (Captains – P/O Hill and P/O parker)
Circuits and landings were carried out in R.3218.
31 Mar 1941
Operations:
BOMBING ATTACK AGAINST ROTTERDAM.
Two Wellington aircraft of this unit were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the above targets. One of these aircraft failed to locate the target and bombs were dropped in the sea. No results were observed by the other. AA fire was slight and there was little searchlight activity. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Fairly heavy cloud was experienced. Navigation was by D/R, Astro, W/T, and map-reading.
Training: Nothing of importance occurred today.
Postings:
P/O J.A. Breckell posted to this Unit from 77 (Signals) Wing, Liverpool wef 9.3.41 Auth’y: 3 Gp.Sig.P.811 dated 12.3.41. Appendix F.5
Continue these records – April 1941
75(nz)squadron 