October 1942

Operations Record Books

All RAF units produced historic records of their activities. They are known as Operations Record Books [ORB] and contain a collection of RAF Forms 540, a monthly record of events that include details of exercises, training, technical matters, sports and entertainment, health and a variety of other day to day activities. These monthly records were signed by the station's Commanding Officer. The ORB also has detailed attachments containing RAF orders relating to exercises and operations and a few photographs. Units completing ORBs include RAF Commands, Groups, Wings, Sections, Stations and Squadrons. The ORB was used to furnish a complete history of the unit and was collected, amongst other things, to be used to improve organisation, equipment and administration. Form 540 was classified 'Secret'. It must be born in mind that the official record was heavily censored, often before it was put into the public archive and so in many instances further research needs to be carried out to 'fill in the gaps'. The ORB for RAF Davidstow Moor is held in the National Archives [ref: Air 28]. Instructions for completing Form 540 were contained in King's Regulations.

The USAAF kept similar records known as 'dailies' some of which survive in a number of different repositories.

Aircrew also maintained a personal flying logbook in which they entered details of all their flying activities. These would be kept by the individual on retirement from the service and often contain information that is not in the official records.

I have used all these sources and more to compile this section of the website.

01-10-1942

Heavy mist and rain.

Station opened by Squadron Leader C F Edwards, 19 Group Headquarters, Mount Wise, Plymouth as Commanding Officer. The following officers reported for duty:

Pilot Officer A C Bryant Air Operations Duty
Pilot Officer C H C Down Equipment Officer
Pilot Officer Jamieson Equipment Officer and
22 airmen various trades during the day. Equipment for opening no.1 and 2 sites [HQ and technical sites] arrived. Squadron Leader Yellowby, Equipment Officer, 19 Group HQ, arrived to assist in equipping the station.

S/Ldr C F C Edwards, RAFVR, promoted Flying Officer [Administration] 31 August 1939.

P/O C H C Down, letter 29 September 1984. C H C Down was the first RAF person to arrive. This is his story.

“I arrived at Otterham Station early one morning [1 October 1942] and asked for the RAF station. I was told that only the W&B personnel [Works and Bricks AMWD] were in charge. The only other personnel on site were the main contractors [Taylor Woodrow] along with a few sundry others. I was eventually picked up by one of the construction vehicles and taken to meet the Chief Engineer. After some discussion I phoned 19 Group at Mount Wise, Plymouth and was informed that a senior officer was on his way.

This officer [S/Ldr Yellowby] and I started to handle all the equipment, vehicles etc which were arriving at all hours of the day and night some of which were detached daily from St Eval. Eventually personnel were posted to the station were [sic] arriving at both Camelford and Otterham stations and things began to take shape. Some priority was being accorded to the installation of fuel storage tanks and we wondered why. Not for long however, for out of the blue USAAF squadrons would arrive needing refuelling before proceeding on their next mission and again on their return.

Additionally the crews had to be fed. Thus adding to the load being placed on a fast growing station moving towards operational status.”

Chris [Ginger] Thomas, Corporal, RAFVR, gave me the following information on 17 January 1983:

“I was amongst the very first to be posted to RAF Davidstow Moor in 1942 from St Eval and apart from a number of detachments to other RAF stations I remained on strength until its ultimate closure in 1946.

I was posted in the first instance to RAF Davidstow Moor for the express purpose of opening the orderly room and central registry and on my arrival there found no means of actually doing so i.e. No writing paper, pens and suchlike. However we soon got cracking and things gradually got licked into shape.

On my first day I push biked from my home at St Minver and found myself getting later and later. When I got to the bottom of Starrapark Hill I turned off to take the under road as a short cut to the aerodrome. Unfortunately just around the first bend there was a picket post and guard with barbed wire obstructing the road. The guard stopped me and asked where I thought I was going. So I explained that I was late. He said he was sorry but the road was now closed and I had to reach the aerodrome from Victoria. So I turned around and started up Starrapark Hill. On reaching the flat at Starrapark I pedalled like mad to try and make up lost time. I wasn't half glad when I got to Victoria as it was down hill to the aerodrome. By this time I was hot and red in the face and sure that I was in for it for being late. I reached the guardroom at the entrance to the airfield puffing and panting. I dropped my bike outside the guardhouse and tried the door which strangely was closed. In fact it was locked! The guardhouse had not been staffed yet. I had hurried for nothing.”

02-10-1942

Weather fair and cold.
44 airmen now arrived, mobile cooker arrived and in operation, all water for the station brought to site in tanks borrowed from Camelford.
F/Lt A T M Roberts arrived for medical duties.
Equipping of sites continues.

03-10-1942

Weather fine.
S/Ldr B Martin ,HQ 19 Group, visited on organisation duties.
55 airmen arrived.

04-10-1942

Weather heavy mist and rain.
W/Cdr Asburns, 19 Group HQ, visited the station.
S/Ldr Clark, equipment officer, 19 Group arrives.
S/Ldr Yellowby returned to HQ.

05-10-1942

Weather mist and rain.
P/O H D Parbrook reported from Islay for signals duty.
Equipment arriving daily.
77 airmen now arrived.

06-10-1942

Weather finer than of late.
G/Cpt Brockley, SASO HQ 19 Group, visited the station to inspect the runways.
Temporary NAAFI opened.
P/O Parbrook and P/O de Vries appointed salvage officer and officer in charge of ration cards.

07-10-1942

Weather occasional rain.
P/O Bryant, station fire officer.
Authority received to operate on War Establishment WAR/CC/263. RAF Beauleigh.
Guards mounted at picket post no.1 site.
104 airmen arrived.

Sgt Freddie Kay:

Freddie was one of the early arrivals. He was in charge of one of the two fire fighting/crash crews.

On his arrival there was no fire fighting equipment, not even a fire tender. Not having a job to do he was given the job of washing up after meal times. This was not as easy as it sounds because there was no hot water to start with. He was a much relieved man when the fire tender was delivered and he was able to start getting his men together doing what they were trained for.

08-10-1942

Weather heavy mist and rain.
Bath arrangements made for airmen in Camelford. W/Cdr Tuke, SOA 19 Group, and S/Ldr B Martin visited.
W/Cdr G T Gilbert reported on posting from HQCC to command the station.
Brigadier Kimmonds BGS Southern Command visited the station.

W/Cdr Gradon Title Gilbert, 34208, promoted Squadron Leader 1 June 1940.

09-10-1942

Majors H S See and C C Bye, USAAF, visited the station.
P/O A G Connell for flying control duties.

10-10-1942

Weather mist and rain.
Station Commander to 19 Group HQ to attend conference.

11-10-1942

Five aircraft landed and took off later in the day.

Cpl Chris Thomas suggested to me that these five aircraft were Lightnings. They were P38 Lightnings of the USAAF which were refuelled and then took off for North Africa.

12-10-1942

A convoy of 98 vehicles carrying six officers and 193 other ranks, USAAF, arrived carrying bombs and ammunition stores. Personnel accommodated at no.2 site [Technical].

These members of an American Bomber Lodger Unit were to carry out the support duties needed to service American heavy bomber aircraft. They brought with them bombs and ammunition stores.

When giving a talk to the ladies of Lewannick WI one of them approached me to say that she had attended Tremail school during the war. She remembered well the coming of the 'Yanks'. After school the children had grabbed their bikes and set off for the airfield, up the lane past Higher Tremail Farm. They entered the airfield behind the control tower. She said that the American convoy was lined up from the control tower all the way back to the Technical site. The Americans were very pleased to see the children and gave them chocolate and chewing gum. She actually got to sit in a Jeep!

13-10-1942

Weather occasional showers.
AVM [Air Vice Marshall] G R Bromet CBE, DSO, AOC 19 Group, and W/Cdr Tuke, SOC, inspected the station.
F/O Jamieson to St Eval for equipment duties.

AVM Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE, CBE, OBE, CB, DSO. Attended the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. On 12 May 1914 was on No 6 Course Central Flying School. He became SASO Headquarters Coastal Command on 30 June 1936 and AOC 19 Group Coastal Command on 12 September 1941. He retired on 10 October 1945. In 1965 following the death of his wife he married his second wife, Commandant Dame Jean Conan Doyle, the daughter of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Citation for award DSO in the London Gazette 12 May 1917:

This officer commanded a squadron of the RNAS, attached to the Flying Corps, with conspicuous ability and success. Under his command the squadron developed into an efficient and formidable fighting force which has brought great credit to the Royal Naval Air Service.

14-10-1942

Weather fine.
F/O Jamieson returned from St Eval.

15-10-1942

C47 aircraft landed, Captain Briggs from Hendon, carrying 1 officer and 17 other ranks USAAF for guard duties.

RAF Hendon advised me that this aircraft was American.

16-10-1942

Weather fine.
AVM Maynard, AOA HQCC, inspected station.

17-10-1942

Lieutenant General Grassett, 8th Corps Commander, visited with Commander Brigadier Cazenove on defence matters.

18-10-1942

Weather showery.
S/Ldr R T Raw reported on posting from Wick, 18 Group, for administration duties.

S/Ldr Richard Trotter Raw, 74215, RAFVR, commissioned Pilot Officer [Special Duties] 4 November 1939.

19-10-1942

Weather fair and warm bright sunshine all day.
Brigadier Bush, AA Command, visited the station.

20-10-1942

Weather heavy mist and rain all day.
F/Lt Barclay, 19 group Gas officer, visited the station.

21-10-1942

Major H Sherwood, 450 Searchlight Company, visited for the siting of canopy lights.
Flying Officer M G Campbell reported for flying control duties.

22-10-1942

P/O R W M Powley reported for flying control duties.

23-10-1942

Weather rain and mist all day.
S/Ldr Watson, 19 Group Defence Officer, visited.
F/Lt Hefferen, HQCC Catering Officer, visited.

24-10-1942

Weather slight showers with long periods of sunshine.
Brigadier Bush, AA Command, visited.

25-10-1942

Weather showers all day cloud 2-10/10ths.
P/O C F Whitehouse, Electrical Officer, arrived.

26-10-1942

Weather heavy rain all day.
1 officer and 207 other ranks, Works Flights, arrived on special duties in the station.
Anti-aircraft Battery arrived [2758 Defence Squadron].
S/Ldr Smith attached for C&C duties.
S/Ldr Yellowby and S/Ldr B Martin, 19 Group, visited.

Bombadier Tom Grant of the 364th Light A/A Battery, 112th Light A/A Regiment and the 106th Brigade Durham Light Infantry recalled his time at RAF Davidstow Moor to me. He said they arrived with six 40mm Bofors guns. Three were situated on the aerodrome and three outside the perimeter. Tom's gun was sited off the eastern end of the main runway at the bottom of the incline to the control tower. The Troop Commander was Captain Marriott under Colonel Johnson. Tom recalled the weather being so cold that a rum ration was issued during his stay. He also remembers the arrival of the American Liberator aircraft and told me their wings overhung the edge of the perimeter track and passed over the gun emplacement. The NFE store had not yet been built and bombs were stored on trailers north of the perimeter track behind the control tower. The aerodrome was wet and muddy and aircraft that ran off the hard surface sank into the soft ground. Tom left RAF Davidstow Moor just before Christmas.

27-10-1942

Weather fine and sunny am cold with heavy showers early pm.
F/Lt Sewell from Talbenny for administration duties.
Station Adjutant P/O Higlett reported for flying control duties.

28-10-1942

Weather heavy ground frost overnight, fine and sunny 2-10/10ths cloud. Rain pm.
P/O Gordon arrived C&C duties.

29-10-1942

Weather continuous strong winds reaching gale force at times.
G/Cpt Wincer, Command Accountant, visited.
F/O Smellie AO duties.

30-10-1942

Weather occasional showers. 10/10th cloud. Cold.
DAPM [Department of the Army, Provost Marshall] and Security Officer, 44 Group, visited station. 5 officers and 135 other ranks, RAF Regiment. Approx 600 personnel on camp.

Including the Americans there were now 800 personnel on the base.

31-10-1942

Weather dull, overcast all day. 10/10th cloud.
F/Lt H E Grollis, Armament Officer, arrived.

Summary

RAF Davidstow Moor was built to bolster 19 Group Coastal Command's operations in the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic searching for and destroying U-boats. Its intended opening was to be for the spring anti U-boat offensive in the Bay starting in March 1943. However with the opening of a second front in North Africa planned for November 1942 the aerodrome was brought into use much earlier, opening as it did on 1 October 1942 in an incomplete state. The reason for this was that the main aerodromes in the south west [St Eval, Chivenor, Portreath] were to be used for despatching aircraft from the UK to North Africa. But to carry out bombing operations to the U-boat pens the US 8th Air Force needed a large forward operating base for bombing up, refuelling and repairing it's bombers. As Davidstow was then the largest base nearing completion in the south west it's opening was brought forward to coincide with operation Torch which started on 8 November 1942. Whilst the runways, perimeter track and some dispersals had been constructed much still needed to be done. The buildings on the technical and administration sites were mainly complete but they were not equipped. So the early arrivals found themselves living and working under difficult conditions and as certain construction work was rescheduled parts of the aerodrome were left incomplete until a later period when work could restart. This in itself delayed the airfield's construction for many months afterwards.

Throughout the month airmen and units arrived and settled in. They included No:364 light anti aircraft battery with Bofors guns for aerodrome defence, 450 Searchlight Company to set up the canopy lights [searchlights], RAF Regiment for guard duties, a salvage and recovery unit and those involved with flying control, motor transport, crash [fire fighting] crews and administration.

  
 
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