RAF Spilsby
Station Operation Record Book 1943

Details below in red are added from other sources to complement the official record book.

12/9

S/L H.Sainsbury posted from Framlingham to East Kirkby for admin duty.

13/9

Arr Spilsby as SAO. Accomodation available. No water, messing or rations. No other personnel at staion. Inspection of station. All meals consequently had to be purchased outside station

19/9

Officer and 35 ranks of RAFVR arrived but no bedding; East Kirkby couldn't supply by 1900; one lorry arrived from MU with enough beds! 3 cooks loaned from EK.

20/9

No electricity, no boilers.

7/10

Advance party from Langar.

11/10

13 aircraft arr. from Langar - very foggy till 1600 hrs, visibility 100 yds

16/10

Night cross country flying

18/10

First operational flight by 207.

26/10

Foggy

27/10

Foggy. N/F

28/10

Foggy. N/F

9/11

First copy of station bulletin "The Bull"

11/11

12/11

No ops - bad weather

18/11

16 a/c out; 16 returned 1 damaged in collision, 1 airman missing.

22/11

Ops; all ret.

23/11

Ops, 1 a/c & crew MIA (3 actually lost - LM 373, LM374, DV329)

24/11

Crash at Chapel St Leonards, fire tender sent 0100. Crew safe.

26/11

Ops - all ret.

1/12

Acting S/L Balme D.M., DFC, awarded DSO; London Gazette, 1/12/43

2/12

15 a/c - Berlin; 1 a/c missing - ED601; P/O A. Mann - Pilot, Sgt S.Martin - F/E,
F/O H.F.C.Bonner - Nav; Sgt. A.S. Rushby - WOP/AG; F/O E.V.Hardy - A/B;
Sgt. T.L.Briscoe - A/G; Sgt. N.J.Petty -

3/12

10 a/c - Leipzig, all ret.

7/12

207 Sqdn - SNCO's awarded DFM, London Gazette 7/12
F Sgt Pegram; F Sgt K.Bole; Sgt A.Barfoot; Sgt H.R. Bury; Sgt A.F.McDavitt

8/12

No 5 Group order - Spilsby upgraded from satellite to station status w.e.f. 24/11/43

10/12

207 - DFC's; P/O J.T.Agnew; P/O R Cartwright; P/O J.A.Stephens;
P/O J.N. Love; P/O K.A.King; W/O Fieldhouse

14/12

Snooker match! Sgts (4) vs Cpls (2) Airmen (5) vs Officers (1)
Final: Sgts (3) vs Airmen (0)

16/12

Berlin - 15 a/c. 1 MIA (EE141/P) - Acting F Lt R.J.Allen; Sgt D.J.Pipall;
P/O E.H.Stephenson, (Nav); Sgt W.J.Vowles (WOP); F Sgt J.A.Brindle (B/A); Sgt E.J.Takle; Sgt R.J.Slone

20/12

Frankfurt - 15 a/c. all ret.

22/12

DV 361 (V) Accident on cross country trip, (caught on firs in air; Sgt C.E.Ryall (WOP) Aus.; Sgt G.C.O'Neill A/G; Sgt T.G.Higgins A/G.

24/12

R5669 lost on ops to Berlin

29/12

Berlin - 12 a/c. 1 MIA. ( no details entered)

12/9	S/L H.Sainsbury posted from Framlingham to East Kirkby for admin duty.
13/9	Arr Spilsby as SAO. Accomodation available. No water, messing or rations. No other personnel at staion. Inspection of station. All meals consequently had to be purchased outside station
19/9	Officer and 35 ranks of RAFVR arrived but no bedding; East Kirkby couldn't supply by 1900; one lorry arrived from MU with enough beds! 3 cooks loaned from EK.
20/9	No electricity, no boilers.
7/10	Advance party from Langar.
11/10	13 aircraft arr. from Langar - very foggy till 1600 hrs, visibility 100 yds
16/10	Night cross country flying
18/10	First operational flight by 207.
26/10	Foggy
27/10	Foggy. N/F
28/10	Foggy. N/F
9/11	First copy of station bulletin "The Bull"
11/11
12/11	No ops - bad weather
18/11	16 a/c out; 16 returned 1 damaged in collision, 1 airman missing.
22/11	Ops; all ret.
23/11	Ops, 1 a/c & crew MIA (3 actually lost - LM 373, LM374, DV329)
24/11	Crash at Chapel St Leonards, fire tender sent 0100. Crew safe.
26/11	Ops - all ret.
1/12	Acting S/L Balme D.M., DFC, awarded DSO; London Gazette, 1/12/43
2/12	15 a/c - Berlin; 1 a/c missing - ED601; P/O A. Mann - Pilot, Sgt S.Martin - F/E, F/O H.F.C.Bonner - Nav; Sgt. A.S. Rushby - WOP/AG; F/O E.V.Hardy - A/B; Sgt. T.L.Briscoe - A/G; Sgt. N.J.Petty -
3/12	10 a/c - Leipzig, all ret.
7/12	207 Sqdn - SNCO's awarded DFM, London Gazette 7/12 F Sgt Pegram; F Sgt K.Bole; Sgt A.Barfoot; Sgt H.R. Bury; Sgt A.F.McDavitt
8/12	No 5 Group order - Spilsby upgraded from satellite to station status w.e.f. 24/11/43
10/12	207 - DFC's; P/O J.T.Agnew; P/O R Cartwright; P/O J.A.Stephens; P/O J.N. Love; P/O K.A.King; W/O Fieldhouse
14/12	Snooker match! Sgts (4) vs Cpls (2) Airmen (5) vs Officers (1) Final: Sgts (3) vs Airmen (0)
16/12	Berlin - 15 a/c. 1 MIA (EE141/P) - Acting F Lt R.J.Allen; Sgt D.J.Pipall; P/O E.H.Stephenson, (Nav); Sgt W.J.Vowles (WOP); F Sgt J.A.Brindle (B/A); Sgt E.J.Takle; Sgt R.J.Slone
20/12	Frankfurt - 15 a/c. all ret.
22/12	DV 361 (V) Accident on cross country trip, (caught on firs in air; Sgt C.E.Ryall (WOP) Aus.; Sgt G.C.O'Neill A/G; Sgt T.G.Higgins A/G.
24/12	R5669 lost on ops to Berlin
29/12	Berlin - 12 a/c. 1 MIA. ( no details entered)

RAF SpilsbyStation Operation Record Book 1943

RAF Spilsby
Station Operation Record Book 1943