March 1943

279 Squadron continue Air Sea Rescue [ASR] operations and Davidstow sees the return of the US 8th AAF on operations to the west coast of France again. Amongst the aircraft of the 91st Bomb Group, 324th Bomb Squadron was the Memphis Belle. The building of the airfield's dispersed sites continues and an advance party of the airfield defence squadron arrive and are accommodated in site 2. Personnel arrive to add to the ever increasing numbers on station. Davidstow sees it's first fatalities when aircraft S/279 crashes in St Ives bay due to bad weather.

01-03-1943

Weather dull, 10/10ths cloud.
AOC and SOA 19 Group inspected the station.
Air Vice Marshall Mills visited station in connection with savings stamps scheme.
F/O King posted to Ireland supernumerary for MT duties.
F/O Ross reported for duties.
S/Ldr Breen attached to HQCC for accounts duties.

02-03-1943

Weather dull 10/10ths cloud.

03-03-1943

Weather dull early, slight rain am, strong winds.
Four American Staff Officers visited the station and conferred with Station Commander on aerodrome facilities.
S/279 airborne 1050 on search for parachutes. Nothing seen. Returned to base at 1615.

04-03-1943

Weather dull slight ground mist.
F/O Broadbent attached for SMO duty.
S/Ldr Roberts, SMO, proceeded on leave.
P/O Mitchell reported for equipment duties.

05-03-1943

Weather bright sunshine all day, warmer.

06-03-1943

Weather ground frost overnight, bright sunshine.
S/Ldr Magrath, Intelligence Officer, HQCC and S/Ldr Lapham, Intelligence, 19 Group visited station.
13 Liberators, 44th BG landed from operations.

The number of aircraft arriving at Davidstow is somewhat different to that shown in the ORB. B24 Liberators of the 44th and 93rd Bomb Group and B17 Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group all came in for the night.

44th Bomb Group, 66th Bomb Squadron

44th Bomb Group, 67th Bomb Squadron

Log Book Capt Gideon Warne: March 6 1943. Same. 5Hr 15min Brest again. Spitfire cover good. Lots of flak. Bombs missed target badly. No fighter attacks.

The following Mission Report although dated 6 March 1943 almost certainly refers to 8 March 1943 when Sgt Kreissig [sic] was killed in action.

Mission Report: UMS 3/6/43 The target today was once again the dock area at Brest, France. Of the ten ships put up by the 44th, three were from the 67th. Enemy aircraft attacked the formation prior to bombing but these attacks were ineffective although causing some damage and killing Sgt Kressig [sic] of the 66th Squadron who was flying in one 67th planes. Bombing results included the hits on the Naval storehouses and various buildings and installations.

44th Bomb Group, 68th Bomb Squadron

93rd Bomb Group

5 aircraft of the 93rd Bomb Group came into Davidstow. No definite details of which Bomb Squadrons or which aircraft. Work in progress.

91st Bomb Group, 322nd Bomb Squadron

91st Bomb Group, 324th Bomb Squadron

Daily report 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron: Target was u-boat pens at Lorient, France and was attacked by 16 x B17 A/C of 91st BG with 5 from 322nd Squadron. Lt Robert Campbell #549, Capt Kenneth K Wallick #453, Lt Wm D Beasley #545, Lt James D Baird #511, Capt Bruce D Barton #139. Take off was at 1010 and the target was hit successfully at 1441-1445hrs and ships all landed safely without casualty at Davidstow Moor at 1709hrs. 19 E/A sighted and one shot down. Flak was moderate but accurate.

Daily report 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron: Remarks – Lorient 6 March 1943. #485 Capt Morgan, #970 Lt Jackson, #480 Lt Cliburn. Target submarine pens. Squadron losses none. Group losses none. Successful bombing. A/C landed at Davidstow to refuel and for interrogation.

07-03-1943

Weather dull early, bright sunshine later.
Liberators returned.
H/279 airborne 1315 to intercept Halifax in distress. H recalled at 1420 and landed at 1545.

08-03-1943

Weather dull early, sunny later, rain pm.

09-03-1943

Weather dull early, slight showers and sunshine later.

10-03-1943

Weather dull early, slight drizzle. Visibility nil.
A/PO Jackson reported for PRO duties.

11-03-1943

Weather heavy drizzle early, visibility nil. Cleared by noon.
S/Ldr Watson, 19 Group Defence Officer, and S/Ldr Delahaye, Catering Officer HQCC, visited the station.

12-03-1943

Weather frost early sunny all day.
Advanced party of 2738 [Defence Squadron] arrived.

13-03-1943

Weather bright sunshine all day.
Main party 2738 [Defence Squadron] arrived and was accommodated at site no. 2.

14-03-1943

Weather bright sunshine.

15-03-1943

Weather bright sunshine.
H/279 airborne at 1832 on ASR, recalled to base 1946, landed 2046, nothing.

16-3-1945

Weather heavy drizzle and mist, visibility nil.
S/Ldr Martin, S/Ldr Barton and Sq/O Blain inspected WAAF accommodation in station.

17-03-1943

Weather bright sunshine.

18-03-1943

Weather frost overnight, sunny all day.
F/Lt Squier posted for ops room duties.
F/Lt Robinson attached for SFCO duty.

19-03-1943

Weather sunny all day.
F/Lt Barclay, 19 Group Gas Officer, visited the station.

20-03-1943

Weather early morning frost, sunny later.
A & H/279 airborne on ASR for 5 LCIs. A/279 returned with engine trouble. H/279 nothing seen.

21-03-1943

Weather sunny early, slight haze later.
F/O Wellington posted in for C & C duties.
A/279 airborne for missing Wellington at 2045, landed at 0119/22, nothing sighted of missing Wellington.

22-03-1943

Weather sunny slight haze.
S/Ldr Roberts, SMO, returned from leave.
F/O Broadbent, MO, returned to unit.
F/Lt Gorst reported for intelligence duties.
H/279 airborne 1330 ASR for missing Wellington. Landed 1559. Nothing sighted.

23-03-1943

Weather sunny with slight haze, strong wind. Rain later.
H/279 airborne 0932, ASR for missing Halifax, landed 1555. Nothing of importance seen.
S/279 airborne 1225 ASR for missing Halifax, landed base 1628. Nothing sighted.

24-03-1943

Weather rain am, dull later.
Lt Col Clarke, 19 Group DO, visited the station.
F/Lt RG Spillane reported for duty, SEqO.

25-03-1943

Weather Rain and drizzle, visibility nil at times.

26-03-1943

Weather dull early sunshine later.

27-03-1943

Weather rain and mist early, visibility nil. Sunny from mid day onwards.

28-03-1943

Weather dull intermittent sunshine later. Warmer.

29-03-1943

Weather rain and drizzle early.
H & Z/279 on ASR in Bay for missing Wellington. Sighted enemy force at 1650hrs in position MWVA 5038, five destroyers and one M/V 10,000 tons on course 260. Enemy force opened fire on Z/279, aircraft hit in the bomb panel and astrodome and took evasive action. Exeter intervened and both aircraft diverted to Exeter.
S/279 took off D/M 1302hrs to search for missing dinghy off Guernsey but returned to base at 1339hrs on account of trouble with boat dinghy. Airborne again at 1435 hrs. Owing to deteriorating weather at base HQ 19 Group sent diversion signal to S to land at Exeter at 1912hrs. Aircraft S crashed in St Ives bay at 1900 approx. Only one survivor F/O Gibbs, pilot, who was taken to Trewassa hospital.

Trewassa hospital was RAF Davidstow Moor's on station facility.

Devon and Cornwall Police report no.427/30-3-43: 1840hrs Lockheed Hudson RAF Davidstow Moor crashed in sea 1 mile east St Ives. A/C submerged, 5 occupants, 1 dead and 4 missing.

30-03-1943

Weather sunny periods.
F/O Gibbs [115145] died at Davidstow Moor hospital as a result of his injuries.

31-03-1943

Weather heavy fog and mist all day. Visibility nil.

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