401 SQUADRON OPERATIONS RECORD 19 AUGUST, 1942
(The following is the Squadron Operations Record for the Dieppe Air Battle of 19 August, 1942 in which 401 squadron participated. I'll be doing one of my RCAF Group Build projects based on one of these pilots, most likely P/O Morrison who I met in Toronto. I've copied the Record out and posted it for your enlightenment and enjoyment, so, enjoy. Poppie)
R.A.F. Form 540 OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK SECRET
Unit or Formation: No. 401 Squadron, R.C.A.F.
Lympne, Kent 18-8-42
..........G/C Potts and W/C Thom briefed all pilots of 133 and 401 Squadron for big commando raid by Canadians to "Jubilee" giving maps and detailed instructions. Utmost secrecy to be maintained, everybody all keyed up and raring to go.
Lympne, Kent 19-8-42
Weather: clear until 04:00 at 07:00 high cloud drifting in from South, heavy haze over channel during morning, no wind. Looks like ideal weather for big show. 04:54 Squadron at readiness.
Weather: Dawn broke clear with heavy ground haze, clouding over a 0800 hrs. 7/10 cumulus 700 feet Dieppe, clear over Target at Abbeville, wind 5-10 M.P.H. from South.
Briefing: 24 B.17E to rendezvous over Beachy Head at 23,000 feet, 64 and 401 Squadrons escort 25,000 feet 402 Squadron at 27,000 feet and 611 Squadron at 28,000 Feet. Route and timing: Over Beachy Head at 10:00 hours, cross French Coast at Cayeux at 10:12 hours, and over target (Abbeville Aerodrome) at 10:18 hours.
The Squadron to have freedom of action after escorting bombers out of French Coast, 64 Squadron to escort B.17E's home.
Action: S/L K. Hodson reports: Left Lympne at 09:35 hours with 14 a/c (two spares) made rendezvous Beachy Head at 10:00 hours., orbited for 12 minutes awaiting bombers. Joined up with bombers between Dungeness and Beachy Head at 10:12 hrs., crossed French Coast at Cayuex. Medium heavy flak was encountered from French Coast to Abbeville, and intense heavy flak over target, accurate for height, bursting close to bombers. Bombers turned left after bombing and left French Coast over Berchs Ner. Very accurate bombing results wsere observed on target, many direct hits on administrative area and echelon at N.E. corner of aerodrome, and some scattered hits to South on runways. No. 401 Squadron turned left when bombers reached coast having met no opposition from enemy fighters on the run in over target or coming out with bombers. All bombers returned safely. S/L Hodson took squadron south inside the coast towards Dieppe, maintaining height at 25,000 feet, then turned and dove toward Dieppe. Yellow Section lost contact with Red Section. Over Dieppe at 10,000 feet S/L saw FW190 and closed to 50 yards on E/A starboard quarter astern, coming in from below and gave a 3 second burst cannon and M/G from range of 200 yards but observed no results, E/A continued on dive to right - S/L broke off and Red 2 F/S Zobell followed E/A down to 6,000 feet and gave a 3 second burst cannon and M/G from range of 200 yards but observed no results, E/A continued on dive as Red 2 broke off and rejoined Red 1. One F.W.190 claimed as damaged by S/L Hodson. After this encounter with F.W.190 S/L Hodson setting course for base, saw 4 Twin-Engine bombers coming in from North, 10 miles from Dieppe, and 2 miles off the coast. These were unescorted and were thought to be friendly. S/L turned to investigate and identified them as Do.217's and closed to 50 yards dead astern on nearest Dornier and gave 4 second burst cannon and M/G, saw cannon shell explode with flash in tail assembly, and many strikes along fuselange as S/L broke away. This Do.217 claimed as damaged by S/L Hodson. Red 2 F/S Zobell reports after encounter with F.W.190 S/L said over R/T "Okay, we are going out" when I saw 4 plus Do.17's. The C.O. picked one, I picked another one, coming in from above and behind, starting firing at 300 yards, giving short burst then closed to 20 yards giving a long burst of cannon and M/G, observed strikes in fuselage and wings. E/A did steep right turn and leveled out. I broke away and came around and made another attack, closing in to 100 yards and fired a 4 second burst cannon and M/G from above at E/A starboard quarter astern, saw many hits on S/B tail assembly and fuselage. This Do.217 claimed as damaged by F/S Zobell. Zobell had to break off attack as was fired on my unknown aircraft and was hit by M/G through rudder, wings, and through Perspex and in reflector sight, receiving eye injury and he brought his a/c back to the base. Red 3 F/S S. Coburn reports: I saw 4 plus D0.217 coming in from N.E. We were at about 5,000 feet. I azattacked one from range of 200 yards from port quarter astern, closing to astern, gave a 3 second burst cannon and M/G saw red flashes and strikes along S/B fulelage and tail. I came in again from port side on this D0.217 giving a 2 second burst from port quarter astern from range of 200 yards but observed no strkes on this last burst. I saw fighter aircraft closing in, headed into them when I noticed they were Spits so broke off and returned to base. Two Do.217 claimed as damaged by F/S Coburn.
Yellow 4 F/S R.D. Reesor reports our section lost Red in dive towards Dieppe, over thi town we saw at 11,000 feet several single F.W.190. Yellow 3 P/O D.R. Morrison went into attack, made quick half roll. Il followed, he ended up 150 yards behind a F.W,190, strikes from dead astern hitting tail plane and fuselage. E/A went straight up, a piece about 10 feet long, and smaller pieces fell off starboard side, and a great stream of black smoke came off enemy a/c. Yellow 3 and I went into cloud at 7,000 feet. I ended up below cloud, lost Yellow 3. I then climbed up through cloud found Yellow 3 going slow for home and could not make R/T contact, he appeared to be hit, came down to 1500 feet and ran into Dearie 1 and 2. Yellow 3 caught on fire, saw him bale out and gave "mayday" several times from 500 feet, saw rescue boats within ½ mile, P/O Morrison got into his dinghy and hoisted flag, as I was running short of fuel, I returned to base. I consider this E/A destroyed by P/O Morrison. Yellow 3 P/O Morrison has since been picked up but has not yet returned to squadron . Pilots returning to base from Dieppe reported town was covered by smoke. Blue Sectionlost contact with squadron and F/S E. Gimbell leading section accompanied by 6 B.17E's back to English Coast. He gave a very accurate description of flak and bombing results over target, which coincided with S/L report.
Those taking part in this action were:
Blue
- 1. F/S E. Gimbell
- 2. P/O H.Westhawer
- 3. F/S Sinclair
- 4. P/O T. Ibbotson
Red
- S/L K. Hodson
- F/S M. Zobell
- F/S L. Armstrong
- S/P L. Armstrong
Yellow
- 1. J. Whitham
- 2. S/P J. Chapin
- 3. P/O D. Morrison
- 4. F/S R. Reesor
Enemy Casualties:
1 Do.217 Damaged S/L K.Hodson
1 F.W.190 Damaged S/L Hodson
1 Do.217 Damaged F/S Zobell
2 Do.217 Damaged F/S Cosburn
1 F.W.190 Destroyed P/O Morrison, D.F.M.
Our Casualties:
1 Spitfire IX - P/O Morrison - baled out - safe
1 Spitfire IX - Category "B" - F/S Zobell - slightly wounded
Second Sortie 13:25 hrs
Weather: Heavy ground haze and smoke over Dieppe. & 7/10 cloud at 10,000 feet.
Briefing: Patrol over Dieppe at 23,000 feet with freedom of action.
Action: S/L Hodson reports: Squadron airborne from Lympne at 13:25 hours, set course for Dieppe, orbited over Dieppe for 30 minutes, then returned to base. Ground troops had withdrawn when we arrived over Dieppe and convoy had traveled some 40 miles away from the French Coast. During patrol the following combats ensued:
Red Section: Red 1 S/L Hodson Red 2 P/O T. Ibbotson saw 2 F.W.190 ahead. They turned right and dove, we followed. I fot in a short burst from range of 300 yards astern. E/A did quick flip, followed and gave another short burst. E/A did another quick flip and dived away. No claim made.
Blue Section: Blue 1 P/O G. Murray reports: saw 6 plus F.W.190 and overshopo, I then made a left hand turn and got on the tail of another F.W.190 and closed within 25 yards and opened fire from 10 degrees port above astern with a 2 second burst cannon and M/G from 50 yards dead astern and saw strikes on fuselage and wings. E/A took no evasive action and continued down. I had to break off attack as a F.W.190 opened fire on me from astern. I did climbing turn having followed E/A down from 18,000 to 12,000 feet. This E/A is claimed as probably destroyed by P/O G.Murray. I called section together at 15,000 feet when 4 F.W.190 bounced us, did steep turn and E/A broke off and got on tail of one from range of 300 yards dead astern closing to 200 yards and gave long, continuous burst of M/G only as cannons failed, saw strikes on wings. E/A dived into cloud. I broke and returned to base. This F.W.190 claimed as damaged by P/O G. Murray. Blue 2 P/O H Westhaver reports: Followed Blue 1 and observed F.W.190 over Dipeep at 22,000 feet. Dove down out of sun. I opened fire from range of 150 yards with a 2 second cannon and M/G from dead astern, cannon ceased to function. E/A started to climb, caught him at 24,000 feet, and gave a 3 second burst with M/G only as cannon ceased to function, from range of 100 yards dead astern, saw strikes in tail and trailing edge of wing on port side. E/A flipped over and spun away. This F.W.190 claimed as damaged by P/O Westhaver. Blue 4 F/S A.L. Sinclair reports: saw 4 F.W.190's at 18,000 feet dove with section and picked out a F.W.190 below which was trailing section, opened fire from range of 300 yards, closing to 250 yards giving a 5 second burst cannon and M/G from dead astern. E/A slide off to right and down. No claim made. Yellow 1 F/L J Whitham reports: 5 miles off coast over Dieppe we were at 15,000 feet. Saw 2 F.W.190 below, took section down. Yellow 3 and 4 out corner, I overshot and climbed into sun, followed by Yellow 2. Yellow 3 and 4 continued after F.W.190. Yellow 2 Sgt M. Buckley failed to climb steeply enough and I saw 2 F.W.190's attack him. I called him to break, he did a gentle weave and F.F. overshot him. I circled above waiting for him to catch up and saw 2 more F.W.190's attack him and warned him to break again. He did not take violent enough evasive action. I dove on rear F.F.190 attacking Yellow 2 but E/A had fired on Yellow 2. He went down and crashed into sea without bailing out. We were then at 4,000 feet. I went into a steep right turn using full top rudder and throttle, and the two F.W.190's turned as tightly as I did and then they broke and I pounced on the tail of one F.W.190 and opened fire from range of 50 yards cannon and M/G from port quarter to dead astern giving E/A a 7 second burst, saw strikes all down port side and wings, and into engine, also cannon flashes, pieces came off fuselage and engine poured black smoke. E/A went into shallow dive towards sea, two miles off shore. This E/A claimed as probably destroyed by F/L Whitham. I then climbed up sun to 25,000 feet and met Blue Section reporting 6 E/A below at 12 o'clock, led them into attack. In my dive I ran past a F.W>190 and gave 3 second burst with cannon and M./G from closing to within 10 yards, almost colliding with E/A. Saw many strikes along fuselage. This F.W.190 claimed as damaged by F/L J Whitham. Yellow 3 F/S Reesor reports: In combat with F.W.190 over Dieppe, Yellow 2 and 4 attacked 2 F.W.190's. Yellow 3 gave several bursts cannon and M/G from astern at range 500 yards but makes no claim. He saw Yellow 4 S/P L. Armstrong get hit and go into spin. Pilot baled out and was seen to get into dinghy. Yellow 3 came down 1os and circled S/P Armstrong when he appeared to be uninjured as he waved. He was in the water about 8 miles off the coast at Dieppel
Sauadron returned to base at 24:50 hours. Those who took part in this action were:
Blue
- 1. P/O G. Murray
- 2. P/O H Westhaver
- 3. F/S E Gimbel
- 4. F/S A Sinclair
Red
- S/L Hodson
- P/O T. Ibbotson
Yellow
F/L J Whitham
F/S M.Buckley
F/S R. Reesor
S/P L Armstrong
Enemy Casualties:
1 F.W.190 Probably destroyed - F/L J.Whitham
1 F.W.190 Damaged - F/L J Whitham
2 F.W.190 Probably destroyed - P/O G. Murray
3 F.W.190 Damaged - P/O G. Murray
1 F.W. 190 Damaged - P/O H. Westhaver
Our Casualties:
1 Spitfire IX - S/P M. Buckley - Missing
1 Spitfire IX - S/P L. Armstrong - Missing
3rd Sortie 16:50 hours
Action: S/L Hodson reports squadron was airborne at 16:50 hours with 10 a/c set course for Beachy Head and patrolled over convoy for 30 minutes. No E/A were encountered. We saw first ships of convoy nearing English Coast and last ships about 30 miles off. All our aircraft landed undamaged at 18"05 hours.
Aircraft Type and Number
SPITFIRE BR628 F/O J. Whitham
" BR981 S/P J. A. Chapin
" BS119 P/O D.R. Morrison
" BS177 F/S R.D. Reesor
" BR986 F/S S.C. Cosburn
" BS107 S/P L.J. Armstrong
" BS172 S/L K.L.B. Hodson
" BS120 F/S B.M. Zobell
" BR982 F/L H.J. Merritt
" BR623 P/O M.A. Westhaver
" BS157 P/O G.B. Murray
" BS176 F/S E.L. Gimbel
" BS180 F/S A.L. Sinclair
" BS104 P/O T.M. Ibbotson
" BR981 S/P J.A. Chapin
" BS157 S/P M.H. Buckley
" BS177 F/S R.D. Reesor