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December 1942 After the activities in November 1942 in support of Operation Torch December sees RAF Davidstow Moor return to the job of building and equipping the aerodrome for it's intended opening in 1943. Officers and men continued to arrive on postings and regular visitors were received to help set up and train the units already there. At the end of the month the men of 53 Squadron started to arrive for the squadron's stay. They had left St Eval on 5 July 1942 for America arriving at Quonset Point, Rhode Island on the 9 July 1942. The eastern seaboard of the United States had not been attacked until this period. 53 Squadron was sent to the States to pass on their experience in U-boat hunting. As the Americans took over responsibility for their own area 53 Squadron moved south. From August 1942 they began hunting and attacking U-boats from airfields in Trinidad in the British West Indies. After a successful three months of action the squadron began returning to the UK in November 1942 to continue their U-boat hunting activities in the UK. They reformed at RAF Davidstow Moor. 01-12-1942 Weather heavy showers all day. 02-12-1942 Weather heavy showers am sunny periods later. 03-12-1942 Weather sunny periods. RAF St Eval, like Davidstow was part of 19 Group Coastal Command and part of it's duties was to provide anti U-boat and anti shipping patrols. 04-12-1942 Weather occasional showers. W/Cdr Gilbert had been Station CO since his arrival on 8 October 1942. 05-12-1942 Weather showers all day. 06-12-1942 Weather continuous rain and mist. 07-12-1942 Weather dry and cold low cloud am drizzle later. 08-12-1942 Weather dull with mist and low cloud visibility 50 yds. PDC – Post Departure Centre. 09-12-1942 Weather slight drizzle low clouds strong winds. 10-12-1942 Weather heavy rain wind gale force all day. S/Ldr James Patrick Cafferkey. 11-12-1942 Weather heavy rain am strong winds sunny periods later. 12-12-1942 Weather bright sunshine cooler deteriorating to rain later. 13-12-1942 Weather dull low clouds strong winds. 14-12-1942 Weather fine strong winds with 10/10 ths low cloud heavy rain pm. 15-12-1942 Weather fine sunny periods rain later. RAF Cleave, Bude, Cornwall was home to 1602, 1603 and 1604 Anti Aircraft Cooperation Flights [AAC] and 1618 AAC Flight all of which towed targets behind the Henley aircraft for aerodrome defence ground to air firing practice. 1618 AAC Flight also used pilotless Queen Bee targets. 16-12-1942 Weather heavy rain and gales short sunny periods. 17-12-1942 Weather dull low cloud showers and sunny periods later. 18-12-1942 Weather slight frost am sunny periods warmer. Brigadier W A M Stawell, MC, DDMI(O). 19-12-1942 Weather continuous rain with strong winds fair periods later. The duty pilot carried out flying control duties. He worked and had his rest room in the control tower. He was the first authority on all aircraft movements. 20-12-1942 Weather dull and drizzle early bright sunny periods later. 21-12-1942 Weather dull low cloud and drizzle. 22-12-1942 Weather showery am sunny periods later. 23-12-1942 Weather slight frost am bright sunshine and strong winds. 24-12-1942 Weather fine bright sunny periods with strong winds. 25-12-1942 Weather heavy drizzle and mist. 26-12-1942 Weather dull am short sunny periods dull later. F/O Campbell, Flying Control and F/O Bryant, Accts, promoted to A/rank of F/Lts. 27-12-1942 Weather dull some bright periods. 28 12 1942 Weather heavy mist and drizzle all day visibility 50 yds. 29-12-1942 Weather heavy rain early short sunny periods showers of sleet and hail snow warning received. 30-12-1942 Weather heavy frost overnight bright sunshine all day rain pm. These men arrived from Greenock at Camelford Station and marched all the way to the aerodrome. 31-12-1942 Weather fine and sunny am overcast later. The Airacobras were from the USAAF 1st Fighter Group on their way to North Africa. |
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