No.456 (NF) Squadron Royal Australian Air Force in WW2

A Brief History of de Havilland Mosquito Operations

December 1942 to June 1945

No. 456 Squadron was an Article XV squadron formed under the Empire Aircrew Training Scheme agreement. On 30 June 1941 the first tranche of aircrew assembled at RAF Station Valley on Anglesey Island in northern Wales. Simultaneously, 17,000 kilometers away, several groups of RAAF ground crewmen were being organized into new units at RAAF Base Newcastle, New South Wales, one of which was 456 Squadron. In early September the aircrew and groundcrew amalgamated at Valley and Australia’s only dedicated night fighter squadron of The Second World War was formed. Initially equipped with the unusual Boulton-Paul Defiant single engine heavy fighter, equipped with a four gun turret. Radar equipped, the Defiant was a more satisfactory night fighter than it had been a day fighter, but the turret was far less effective than had been hoped and the Defiant was quickly rendered obsolete.

Mosquito Operations 1943

In September 1941 the Squadron was re-equipped with the far more effective radar-equipped twin engine Bristol Beaufighter aircraft and was deployed in defence of British cities subjected to the German night bombing 'Blitz'. Notably they had the Mk.II Beaufighter, atypically fitted with Rolls Royce Merlin engines; the Beaufighter's more usual power plant was the Bristol Hercules sleeve-valved radial engine. The Squadron scored its first kill in January 1942 and throughout the rest of 1942, flew in defence of the UK against night raids by German bombers. In December 1942, the squadron began to re-equip with the fast and lethal de Havilland Mosquito NF.II night fighter with the first three mounts being delivered to RAF Valley by ATA Ferry pilots on the closing day of the year.

The first two months of 1943 saw the squadron in full training mode as both ground crews and air crews came to grips with their new machines. Not surprisingly the squadron suffered a few minor accidents before the first major accident occurred on 25Jan43 when Mosquito DZ658 was written off after crash landing two miles short of RAF Valley’s westerly runway. By the end of January the squadron had received its full allotment of aircraft and mounted its first Mosquito operational mission on the 22^nd. The poor winter weather of 1943 severely limited the amount of flying conducted from Valley in February with only two operational flights and the minimum number of necessary training flights being completed.

In January 1943 the RAF decided to go on the offensive and this decision, together with the limitations and lack of opportunities afforded the squadron in view of the significant decrease of the German air threat over Britain, saw the squadron moved 450km southeast to RAF Station Middle Wallop near Salisbury in Hampshire on 30 March 1943. At their new base the squadron began conducting offensive long-range day fighter roles "Ranger" missions over Europe attacking a variety of targets ground targets including German rail transport and rolling stock, and also mounted night "Intruder" missions to attack German aircraft close to their airfields, roles it maintained for the rest of the war. Another task was soon added to their new missions that involved providing aircraft detachments to RAF Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire and RAF Predannack, Cornwall. These detachments conduct fighter sweeps in the Bay of Biscay to support Coastal Command aircraft that were coming under increasing attacks by long range Junkers 88 and Me.110 heavy fighters. The Squadron remained in these roles until the end of 1943 and during that period it relocated twice to RAF Colerne in Wiltshire and, to RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea.

Mosquito operations Jan-May 1944

The squadron was one of the first night fighter squadrons to hand back its Mk.II Mosquitos and reequip with the newer Mk.XVII in January 1944. The Mk.XVII was equipped with the more powerful MK.X centimetric AI radar mounted in a bullnose fairing. Fitment of the new fairing required removing the 0.303in machine guns and relocating the 20mm Hispano cannons to a new ventral pack. The arrival of the newer Mosquitos proved timely and they were used effectively to counter a new Luftwaffe offensive.

In December 1943 Adolph Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to mount revenge attacks against Britain in response to the ever increasing tempo of the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive. The outcome of the order was Unternehmen Steinbock (Operation Capricorn) which was a strategic bombing campaign targeting cities and towns in southern England with the aim of destroying British morale. Inexplicably, they were specifically ordered not to attack Allied military targets that were engaged in preparing for the D-Day Invasion. Steinbock ran from late January until the mid-May 1944 and was an unmitigated disaster. The raids were ineffectual at best causing minor damage and a small number of casualties for the loss of numerous aircraft and, importantly, draining the Luftwaffe of irreplaceable aircrew and modern aircraft and thus reducing the potential air response to the D-Day invasion. Respected German researchers Horst Boog, Gerhard Krebs, and Detlef Vogel conducted a thorough review of Luftwaffe losses during Unternehmen Steinbock. The results of their investigations were published in 2001 and show that the Luftwaffe lost more than 75% of the committed forces. The losses accounted for 524 aircraft comprised of: 270 Junkers Ju 88s; 121 Dornier Do 217s; 35 Junkers Ju 188s; 46 Heinkel He 177As; 27 Messerschmitt Me 410s and, 25 Focke-Wulf Fw 190s.

The RAF’s response to the Steinbock raids was swift and effective. Sixteen squadrons of night fighters were available to defend against the Luftwaffe and 456Sqn was part of that force. Initially operating from Fairwood Common the squadron was moved closer to the action at RAF Ford in Sussex and during the period Feb-May44 shot down 15 German bombers, claimed two probables and three damaged. The most successful pilot was the squadron CO Wing Commander Keith Hampshire with four confirmed kills and one probable.

Jun-Dec1944 D-Day and beyond

Following the failed Unternehmen Steinbock the squadron enthusiastically prepared for the upcoming invasion of the Continent while maintaining constant patrols over the Channel and English coastal towns. Apart from a Me410 claimed as a probable by Keith Hampshire on the 29^th the remainder of May and early June were relatively quiet and the Luftwaffe was conspicuous by its absence.

The start of June was met with much expectation and squadron personnel knew the great day was imminent when all the Mosquitos (and every other aircraft at Ford) were painted with the black and white invasion stripes. On the eve of D-Day the standing patrols were ordered not to mention the great armada they would see as they patrolled the invasion beaches. The squadron began its D-Day contribution at 0040hrs when the first patrol was launched followed by another two patrols before dawn. On the evening of 6/7 June the squadron shot down four Heinkel He177 A-5 (Grief) bombers over the invasion area and this initial success was repeated over the next four weeks. From 6 June until 5 July the squadron destroyed 17 enemy aircraft and two probables that were trying to attack the Allied invasion forces in Normandy. By the time the Allies were about to break out of the beachhead a new aerial threat emerged from the Luftwaffe and this was the first of the Vengeance Weapons, the V-1 flying bomb code named ‘diver’.

The first V-1s were launched soon after the D-Day invasion and within a very short time the Germans were launching up to 100 flying bombs per day and, between 13Jun44 and 18Oct44 a total of 9,521 V-1s were launched. To counter this new threat the RAF employed a layered defense of day fighters and night fighters and 456Sqn was one of the night fighter squadrons so employed for the next two months. Indeed, the squadron flew almost exclusive anti-diver patrols during this period. The V-1s were not an easy target to shoot down because their high speed made them difficult to attack and, several instances occurred where aircraft were severely damaged or destroyed when the large 850kg warhead detonated in close proximity to the attacker. The Squadron aircraft were therefore modified to improve their performance against the V-1 threat. The modifications included removal of the exhaust flame shrouds from the engines; 150 octane fuel used to increase power/speed; and, modification of the nose fairing to withstand the effects of cannon fire at high speed.

456Sqn was assigned a specific area during the V-1 campaign and every night for 50 consecutive nights the aircraft plied their trade along a 60 mile (96km) patrol line in southern England from Beachy Head to Bognor Regis. The Squadron managed to shoot down twenty nine V1s between 24Jun44 and 31 August 1944 with Flying Officers Keith Roediger and Bob Dobson in HK297 being the top scorers with nine V-1 victories. The V-1 threat to Britain was finally eliminated when the Allied Armies broke out of Normandy and overran the launching sites in the Pas de Calais area of France and the west coast of Belgium. After this, the Germans directed V-1s at the port of Antwerp and at other valuable targets in Belgium, launching a further 2,448 V-1s. The attacks stopped only a month before the war in Europe ended, when the last launch site in the Low Countries was overrun on 29 March 1945.

The end of the V-1 assault on Britain coincided with the lifting of the ban to employ the Mosquitos potent Mk.X radar over occupied territory. In September 1944 the British launched the doomed Operation Market Garden and all available RAF squadrons were assigned to assist the British Army. 456Sqn was one of several Mosquito units assigned to the task and from mid-September until November 1944 the squadron operated a significant detachment of aircraft from a forward base at RAF Manston, Kent. The patrols flown during this period were, in the main, entirely uneventful such was the air dominance enjoyed by the Allies at this stage of the war. The squadron enjoyed only one victory during this time

At the start of 1945 the Luftwaffe posed little threat to Britain so 456Sqn was moved to RAF Church Fenton in North Yorkshire for a period of refresher training. Following training the squadron moved in mid-March to RAF Bradwell Bay in Essex where it was tasked to provide: (a) patrols in defense of Bomber Command aircraft attacking Germany and (b) conduct Intruder and Ranger patrols against targets such as airfields; communication nodes; logistic centers; and, targets of opportunity. The Squadrons’ activities over the next seven weeks were relatively quiet and culminated with their last operational sorties of the War on 3 May 1945. After the Armistice the Squadron was employed to enforce the surrender of the German garrisons on the Channel Islands and on reconnaissance missions over Germany.

On 15 June 1945 the Squadron disbanded at RAF Bradwell Bay. During the war, the squadron lost 29 personnel killed, including 23 Australians; its crews were credited with shooting down 71 aircraft including 29 V-1 flying bombs. No. 456 Squadron aircrew received the following decorations: one Distinguished Service Order, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and one British Empire Medal. The bulk of 456 Squadron's personnel sailed for home on 19 October 1945.

Table 1 Summary of 456 Sqn Mosquito Sorties Flown

Table 2 Summary of 456 Sqn Mosquito Combat Claims

Table 3 Summary of 456 Sqn Mosquito Losses

456 Squadron is known to have operated at least 101 Mosquitos from December 1942 until June 1945. Of the 101 used seventeen were lost through operational and non-operational causes. The remainder of this document details the history of the aircraft lost and the men who flew them.

DD610 DD614 DD617 DD739 DZ308 DZ658

DZ681 DZ690 HJ701 HK248 HK295 HK312

HK317 HK321 HK357 NT264 NT299

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Bibliography

Air Ministry Form 78, Aircraft Status Cards, RAF Air Historical Branch

Air Ministry Form 1180, Aircraft Status Cards, RAF Air Historical Branch

Casualty Register, RAAF Historical Section, Canberra

Operational Record Book Form 540, No.456 Squadron, National Archives Australia

Operational Record Book Form 541, No.456 Squadron, National Archives Australia

Australian War Memorial 64 1/271 - Operations, No. 456 Squadron, August 1942 - September 1944

RAAF Personnel Records, National Archives Australia

DD610

00Mar42 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DD610 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the11^th of 45 aircraft built in the Serial Range DD600 to DD644.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the nose. An Airborne Intercept radar (Mk.IV) was mounted in the nose with a herring-bone transmitting antenna mounted on the nose and dipole receiving antennae carried on each wing outboard of the engine. The aircraft was painted an overall RDM2 Sooty Black finish with Dull Red code letters and serial numbers.

00Apr42 Test flown by a de Havilland test pilot before delivery to the RAF.

12Apr42 Received for acceptance testing by No.30 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Sealand, Wales.

26Apr42 Aircraft taken on charge with No.151 Sqn at RAF Station Wittering in Cambridgeshire

26Jan43 Sustained Cat.Ac damage and was repaired on site by a CRO contractor.

27Jan43 Returned to operations.

12Jun43 Sustained Cat.Ac damage in a training accident and repaired on site by a CRO contractor.

17Jun43 Returned to operations.

24Aug43 Received for use by No.456 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Colerne. Issued to A Flight as RX-G. There are no records to show the aircraft flew any Operational Flights with 456Sqn. However, it is probable the aircraft was used for non-operational flights.

17Nov43 Aircraft moved to new operating base at RAF Fairwood Common, Glamorgan.

28Feb44 Received for repair by No.13 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Henlow, Bedfordshire.

15May44 Aircraft under repair

16May45 Aircraft reassessed as Cat.E and struck off charge.

DD614

00Mar42 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DD614 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 15^th of 45 aircraft built in the Serial Range DD600 to DD644.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the nose. An Airborne Intercept radar (Mk.IV) was mounted in the nose with a herring-bone transmitting antenna mounted on the nose and dipole receiving antennae carried on each wing outboard of the engine. The aircraft was painted an overall RDM2 Sooty Black finish with Dull Red code letters and serial numbers.

00Mar42 Aircraft’s first flight at Hatfield by a de Havilland test pilot.

15Mar42 Received for acceptance testing by No.30 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Sealand, Wales.

23Apr42 Aircraft received for storage by No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire.

14May42 Aircraft taken on charge with No.151 Sqn at RAF Station Wittering, Cambridgeshire

24May42 Aircraft sustained Cat.B damage from a heavy landing.

01Jun42 Aircraft received for repairs by Martin Hearn Ltd at Hooton Park Aerodrome, Liverpool.

21Feb43 Repairs completed and awaiting collection.

28Feb43 Received for storage by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

01May43 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire. For the next three months the aircraft was only used for training, it did not fly any operational missions.

01Aug43 Aircraft loaned to No.140 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Hartfordbridge, Hampshire.

09Aug43 RAFVR PLTOFF 146879 Leslie James Gilbert and navigator RAFVR navigator FSGT G.P Jupp departed Hartfordbridge at 1830hrs for night training flight. At approximately 1900hrs the aircraft crashed when making a forced landing at Crawley Cross, Sussex. The pilot sustained serious injuries but the navigator survived with minor injuries and shock.

25Aug43 Assessed as damaged beyond repair and written off charge. While serving with 456Sqn the aircraft did not make any operational flights but made and unknown number of non-operational flights.

DD617

00Mar42 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DD617 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 18^th of 45 aircraft built in the Serial Range DD600 to DD644.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the nose. An Airborne Intercept radar (Mk.IV) was mounted in the nose with a herring-bone transmitting antenna mounted on the nose and dipole receiving antennae carried on each wing outboard of the engine. The aircraft was painted an overall RDM2 Sooty Black finish with Dull Red code letters and serial numbers.

25Mar42 Received for acceptance testing by No.32 Maintenance Unit at RAF St Athan, Wales.

08Apr42 Aircraft taken on charge with No.151 Sqn at RAF Station Wittering, Cambridgeshire

05Dec42 Cat.AC damage. Repaired on site by a CRO.

17Dec42 Returned to operations.

22Sep43 Delivered by an ATA ferry pilot to RAAF 456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire. Aircraft taken on charge and issued to B Flight.

12Nov43 RAAF 411255 PLTOFF Robert Maxwell Joseph Pahlow was on a solo exercise performing circuits and bumps when he made a forced landing after one engine caught fire. Cat.B damage to stbd wing and engine fairing and propeller.

22Nov43 Aircraft transported to No.13 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Henlow, Bedfordshire.

25Nov43 Aircraft assessed as Cat.E Converted to a ground training aid with the serial 4360M.

01Apr45 Aircraft struck off charge and scrapped.

DD739

00Aug42 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Fighter with RAF Serial DD739 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 28^th of 48 aircraft built in the Serial Range DD712 to DD759

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 22 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490hp (1,111kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the nose. An Airborne Intercept radar (Mk.IV) was mounted in the nose with a herring-bone transmitting antenna mounted on the nose and dipole receiving antennae carried on each wing outboard of the engine. The aircraft was painted an overall RDM2 Sooty Black finish with Dull Red code letters and serial numbers.

DD739 as manufactured in August 1942.

01Sep42 Aircraft’s first flight at Hatfield by a de Havilland test pilot.

03Sep42 Aircraft received for acceptance tests by No.30 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Sealand, Wales.

13Sep42 Aircraft taken on charge with No.85 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Kirton-in-Lindsey

18Jan43 Aircraft sustained Cat.B damage when landing after a night fighter operation. No crew injuries were recorded.

19Jan43 A CRO contractor arrived on site and began repairs.

00Mar43 Aircraft repaired and awaiting collection.

17Mar43 Aircraft taken on charge with No.85 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Kirton-in-Lindsey

17Mar43 Aircraft moved with 85 Sqn to a new base at RAF Station Hunsdon, Hertfordshire.

12Apr43 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 Sqn at RAF Station Middle Wallop, Hampshire. Issued to B Flight as RX-X.

05May43 Aircraft sustained Cat.Ac damage while undergoing maintenance. A CRO contractor arrived on site and repaired the aircraft, returning it to service on 03Jun43.

17Aug43 Moved to the Squadron’s new operating base at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

17Nov43 Moved to the Squadron’s new operating base at RAF Station Fairwood Common, Glamorgan.

DD739 RX-X circa late-1943 following repaint in the new night fighter camouflage.

01Dec43 Ferried by PLTOFF J.L May and FLGOFF L.R Parnell from RAF Fairwood Common to RAF Bradwell Bay to to participate in Operation Mahmoud missions.

02Dec43 1^st Operational Flight. PLTOFF J.L May and FLGOFF L.R Parnell departed Bradwell Bay at 1735hrs for an Operation Mahmoud mission. The pilot aborted after 25min with instrument failures.

04Dec43 2^nd Operational Flight. PLTOFF J.L May and FLGOFF L.R Parnell departed Bradwell Bay at 0049hrs for an Intruder operation as part of Operation Mahmoud 2. The aircraft was tasked to support bombers attacking a target in Leipzig, Germany. DD739’s estimated arrival time at base was 0630 hours but nothing was heard from the aircraft and it failed to return. Post war investigations revealed the aircraft was shot down by a Schiphol Flak unit when flying near Amsterdam.

08Dec43 Aircraft struck off charge. While serving with 456 Sqn the aircraft flew two Operational Flights and made at least seven non-operational flights.

RAAF pilot 412993 Pilot Officer John Leonard May (21) born 14 November 1922 in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, son of Dr Leonard May and Kathleen Elizabeth May was KIA and is buried in Plot 69, Row B, Joint Grave No.7 of the Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is also honoured on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT. He is also remembered on the Honour Board of the Chatswood RSL Club in Sydney.

RAAF navigator 411178 Flying Officer Leslie Rupert Parnell (23) born 05 March 1920 the son of Henry Rupert and Clare Parnell of Concord West in Sydney, New South Wales was KIA and is buried in Plot 69, Row B, Joint Grave No.7 of the Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is also honoured on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT. He is also remembered on the Honour Board of the Concord Pavilion of Honour in Sydney.

DZ308

00Dec42 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DZ308 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 23^rd of 35 aircraft built in the Serial Range DZ286 to DZ320.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 22 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490hp (1,111kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides; prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Dec42 Aircraft’s first flight at Hatfield by a De Havilland test pilot.

24Dec42 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for acceptance testing to No.19 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station St Athans, Wales.

24Jan43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot to RAF Station Valley, Anglesey Island in Wales where the aircraft was taken on charge by RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn and issued to B Flight as RX-V.

30Mar43 Aircraft was unserviceable and remained at Valley when the rest of the squadron moved to the new operating base at RAF Station Middle Wallop in Hampshire.

12Apr43 Aircraft moved to Middle Wallop.

11May43 1^st Operational Flight. WOFF V.P Ratcliffe and FSGT R.C Lowther departed Middle Wallop at 0750hrs for a day Ranger mission to attack trains and railways between Laval and Coutances in Normandy, France. Ten miles off the French coast the pilot aborted as the weather was outside the mission limits. Returned safely to Base at 0914hrs.

12May43 2^nd Operational Flight. WOFF V.P Ratcliffe and FSGT R.C Lowther departed Middle Wallop at 1319hrs for a daylight Ranger Mission to attack railways in the Caen area. The crew successfully attacked three trains, leaving all three on fire with the boilers ruptured. Heavy flak was encountered in the Argentan area and the crew felt a heavy thump in the rear of the aircraft but completed the operation before returning to base. A post flight inspection revealed that a 40mm flak round had burst the tail wheel and inflicted shrapnel damage on the undersides of the tail plane. Also, small calibre rounds punctured the gun bay doors. Aircraft damage assessed as Cat.A

13May43 Aircraft under repair for three days.

17May43 3^rd Operational Flight. FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T. Landy departed Middle Wallop at 2325hrs for a night Intruder mission in northern France. A stationary train was located at St Brice but could not be attacked because the guns would not fire owing to a generator fault. Mission aborted and returned to Base at 0240hrs.

31May43 Aircraft made three Operational Flights and a number of non-operational flights in May 1943.

02Jun43 4^th Operational Flight. WOFF V.P Ratcliffe and FSGT R.C Lowther departed Middle Wallop in very poor weather at 1320hrs for a day Ranger mission to attack targets at the Cape D’Erquy, Lambelle and Alencon areas in Normandy, France. The estimated time of the sortie was 2 hours 40 minutes, but DZ308 had not returned to base by 1920 hours and was reported missing. Another aircraft took off on a similar sortie at 1320 hours, but turned back on reaching the coast of France as the crew considered the weather unsuitable for a day Ranger operation, there being broken cloud at only 2,500 feet

05Jun43 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial with RAF Serial DZ308 served with 456 Sqn from 23Jan43 until 02Jun43, a period of 130 days. During that period the aircraft made four Operational Flights totaling 10 hours and 12 minutes plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated flying hours with 464Sqn is estimated to be between forty and sixty hours.

RAAF Pilot 403373 Warrant Officer Vincent Peter Ratcliffe (22) born 08 October 1920 son of Augustine Horatio and Mary Theresa Ratcliffe of Randwick in Sydney, New South Wales was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 191 of the Runnymede Memorial on Cooper’s Hill in Surrey, UK; and, on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT. He is also honoured on the Randwick War Memorial in Sydney.

Panel 191 Runnymede Portrait in the AWM

RAAF Observer 404179 Flight Sergeant Ronald Charles Lowther (27) born 10 January 1916 son of Charles and Laurel Lowther of Newmarket in Brisbane, Queensland was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 191 of the Runnymede Memorial on Cooper’s Hill in Surrey, UK; and, on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT. He is also remembered on the Memorial Roll of No.1 Wireless Air Gunners School in Ballarat, Victoria

DZ658

00Dec42 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DZ658 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 29^th of 32 aircraft built in the Serial Range DZ630 to DZ661.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 22 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490hp (1,111kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Dec42 Aircraft’s first flight at Hatfield by a De Havilland test pilot.

02Jan43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for acceptance testing to No.30 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Sealand, Wales.

03Jan43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for storage to No.19 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station St Athans, Wales.

14Jan43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot to RAF Station Valley, Anglesey Island in Wales where the aircraft was taken on charge by RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn.

25Jan43 FLGOFF Hitchcock and PLTOFF Parnell departed Valley and completed a night flying exercise in very poor weather before heading back to Base. When approaching the No.2 runway Hitchcock misjudged the landing in strong crosswinds and undershot which caused the aircraft to crash through a [substantial] railway boundary fence. The aircraft broke its back and sustained other severe structural damage. Both crewmen sustained minor abrasions and shock. The aircraft was declared as Cat E and struck off charge.

30Jan43 Aircraft struck off charge and salvaged for spares. While serving with 456Sqn the aircraft flew no Operational Flights and made an unknown number of non-operational flights.

RAAF pilot 407714 Flying Officer Roger Billingsley Hitchcock (25) of Sydney New South Wales survived the crash and returned to active duty. Sadly, Roger Hitchcock was KIA on 23 May 1943. He was performing a post maintenance test flight on the Squadron’s Miles Magister [P2464] with Fitter 1148220 LAC Humphrey Ronald Roberts when the aircraft crashed near Winterslow, Wiltshire.

RAAF navigator 411178 Flying Officer Leslie Rupert Parnell (23) of Concord West in Sydney in New South Wales survived the crash and returned to active duty. Sadly, he was also KIA on 4th December 1943 Mosquito DD739 was shot down by flak near Amsterdam.

DZ681

00Jan43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DZ681 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 2^nd of 48 aircraft built in the Serial Range DZ680 to DZ727.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides; prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Jan4 Aircraft’s first flight at Hatfield by a De Havilland test pilot.

13Jan43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for acceptance testing to No.19 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station St Athans, Wales.

02Feb43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot to RAF Station Valley, Anglesey Island in Wales where the aircraft was taken on charge by RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn. Issued to B Flight as RX-L.

30Mar43 Aircraft moved from RAF Valley to the new operating Base at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire.

31May43 Aircraft used for training only between 05 February and 31 May 1943.

01Jun43 One of three aircraft fitted with long range fuel tanks allowing them to fly five hour sorties.

04Jun43 One of three aircraft detached indefinitely to RAF Station Predannack near Mullion in Cornwall, as part of Operation Instep to carry out long range sweeps over the Bay of Biscay to protect Coastal Command aircraft against German JU88/Me210 long range fighters. The aircraft could not land at Predannack because of very poor weather and returned to Middle Wallop.

HJ702 FLTLT P. Panitz and FLGOFF R.S Williams

DZ269 FLGOFF J. Newell and FSGT A.J Keating.

DZ681 FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T.M Landy

05Jun43 Aircraft above departed Middle Wallop at 1330hrs and flew to RAF Predannack.

06Jun43 1^st Operational Flight. FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T.M Landy departed Predannack at 1630hrs accompanied by DZ269 and two Mosquitos from No.25 Sqn to patrol the Bay of Biscay. An enemy trawler was attacked and left adrift and on fire. The crew completed the 4hr 10min patrol and returned to Base at 2040hrs.

11Jun43 2^nd Operational Flight. FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T.M Landy departed Predannack at 1459hrs accompanied by DZ269, HJ702 and three Mosquitos from No.25 Sqn to patrol the Bay of Biscay on Instep Patrol No.147. At 1617hrs, in position 45° 45'N. 07° 45' W, the flight saw five Ju88s at 6000ft above and behind and climbed to attack. As the Mosquitos closed the enemy adopted a line astern formation orbiting to port. The Mosquitos made several passes before fuel forced a withdrawal. One Ju88 was shot down and three others damaged to varying degrees. The crew completed the 3hr 10min patrol when they returned to Base at 1808hrs.

12Jun43 3^rd Operational Flight. FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T.M Landy departed Predannack at 1002hrs accompanied by DZ269, HJ702 and one Mosquitos from No.410 Sqn to patrol the Bay of Biscay on Instep Patrol No.149. No sightings were made and the crew completed the uneventful 4hr 30min patrol when they landed Base at 1432hrs.

30Jun43 FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T.M Landy departed Predannack at 1002hrs accompanied by DZ269, HJ702 at the cessation of the detachment. Arrived Middle Wallop safely at 1145hrs.

30Jun43 Aircraft flew three Operational Flights and made a number of non-operational flights in June 1943.

02Jul43 FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Middle Wallop accompanied by DZ746 for detachment to RAF Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire where the aircraft were prepared for an Intruder patrol to Bergen, Norway.

04Jul43 4^th Operational Flight. FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Castle Camps at 1450hrs accompanied by DZ746 for Instep Patrol No.223. Howard was forced to abort with engine problems and returned safely to Middle Wallop at 2000hrs.

06Jul43 FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Middle Wallop accompanied by DZ746 and DZ299 for detachment to RAF Predannack, Cornwall where the aircraft were prepared for an Instep patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

07Jul43 5^th Operational Flight. FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Predannack at 0850hrs with DZ746 and DZ299 for an Instep patrol but the mission was cancelled because of poor weather conditions. Aircraft recovered to Predannack at 1300hrs.

09Jul43 FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Predannack and returned to Middle Wallop.

12Jul43 FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Middle Wallop for detachment to RAF Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire where the aircraft were prepared for an Intruder patrol to Bergen, Norway.

13Jul43 6^th Operational Flight. FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Castle Camps at 2255hrs for an Intruder Patrol to Norway. The crew reached their assigned area off Bergen at 0251hrs and completed a 40min sweep of the Bergen approaches but could find no indication of the enemy. The crew completed the uneventful 2hr 45min when they landed Castle Camps at 0140hrs.

14Jul43 FLTLT B. Howard and PLTOFF J.R Ross departed Castle Camps and returned to Middle Wallop.

31Jul43 Aircraft flew three Operational Flights and a number of non-operational flights in July 1943.

17Aug43 Aircraft moved from Middle Wallop to the new operating base at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

30Oct43 Aircraft did not fly any Operational Flights from July to October 1943, only used in the training role.

01Nov43 Aircraft re-coded as RX-V

17Nov43 Aircraft moved from Colerne to the new operating base at RAF Station Fairwood Common, Glamorgan.

22Nov43 7^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR P. Panitz and FLGOFF R.S Williams departed Fairwood Common at 0830hrs and flew to RAF Predannack where the aircraft was prepared for a day Ranger mission to the Bordeaux area. Departed Predannack at 1600hrs and crossed the French coast at Lake Biscarosse in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The pilot then decided to abort because the weather conditions further inland were outside the mission parameters. The pilot reversed course and exited France at Cazaux located 90km southwest of Bordeaux then turned north and patrolled three miles offshore as far as the mouth of the Gironde River. The crew completed the 5hr 10min patrol when they landed Predannack at 2110hrs.

24Nov43 SQNLDR P. Panitz and FLGOFF R.S Williams departed Predannack and returned to Fairwood Common.

15Jan44 FLGOFF E.C Radford and PLTOFF W.E Atkinson departed Fairwood Common for a local training flight. The flight was aborted when an engine had to be shut down and during the subsequent emergency landing the aircraft overshot the runway and crashed into a deep valley. The aircraft was totally destroyed and, amazingly, the crew was uninjured.

RAAF pilot 415549 FLGOFF Edward Charles Radford (22) of Mount Lawley in Perth, Western Australia and RAAF navigator 422530 PLTOFF Walter Edward Atkinson survived the crash with shock and minor injuries and returned to active duty. Sadly, both men were KIA on 11July44 when they departed RAF Ford in Mosquito HK312 for an Anti-Diver patrol and failed to return.

00Jan44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial DZ681 served with 456Sqn from 02Feb43 until 15Jan44, a period of 321 days. During that period the aircraft flew seven operational flights plus a number of non-operational flights. Total operational flight time was 27hrs 32min.

DZ690

00Jan43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II Serial DZ690 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 11^th of 48 aircraft built in the Serial Range DZ680 to DZ727.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Jan43 First flight at Hatfield by a De Havilland test pilot.

29Jan43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for acceptance testing to No.30 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Sealand, Wales.

03Feb43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for storage to No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire.

19Feb43 Aircraft taken on charge with RAF No.151 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Wittering, Cambridgeshire

01Apr43 Aircraft sustained Cat.A damage while undergoing servicing. Repaired on site.

00Jul43 Allocated to RAAF No. 456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire.

16Jul43 Received by 456Sqn and issued to A Flight.

17Aug43 Aircraft moved from Middle Wallop to the new operating base at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire. The squadron’s 22 Mosquitos made a formation farewell flight over Middle Wallop

29Sep43 FLTLT E.H Griffith and CPL W.H Blakeley departed Colerne at 1035hrs for a post maintenance air test. At 1100hrs the aircraft was performing a high speed stall test when the aircraft went into a violent spin causing the starboard engine and tubular engine mounting structure to be completely torn away from the aircraft when at an altitude of about 1,000 feet. The aircraft immediately rolled over and crashed into the ground 20m from the 39 Maintenance Unit Hangar at Colerne. Both crewmen were killed and the aircraft destroyed.

00Oct43 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial DZ690 served with 456Sqn from 16Jul43 until 29Sep43, a period of 75 days. During that period the aircraft flew no operational flights but did fly an unknown number of non-operational flights.

RAAF pilot 403334 Flight Lieutenant Ernest Hamilton Griffith (27) born 22 May 1916 son of Charles Hunter and Olive May Griffith, husband of June Margaret (Murray) Griffith of Narrandera New South Wales was KIA. He is buried in Plot 51 of Section H. Row T. Grave 248 of the Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery in Somerset, UK. He is also honoured at Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT; and, on the Narrandera WW2 War Memorial, New South Wales.

Griffith had survived an earlier accident over Abbotts Ripton, Huntingdonshire on 10th April 1943, when flying Spitfire IIa P7677 his machine was involved in a mid-air collision with a Wellington bomber IA N2865 from Central Gunnery School at RAF Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. The entire Wellington crew was killed but Griffith baled out and survived with moderate injuries.

RAAF air mechanic 26160 Corporal William Henry Blakeley (23) born son of Harry Newsome and Ann Agatha Blakeley of Colonel Light Gardens in Adelaide, South Australia; husband of Jessie Blakely of Halifax, England was KIA. He is buried in Plot 51 of Section H. Row V. Grave 248 of the Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery in Somerset, UK. He is also honoured at Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT; and, on the Colonel Light Gardens RSL WW2 Honour Board and on the Stations of the Cross of the Colonel Light Gardens St Therese Catholic Church.

HJ701

00Apr43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HJ701 was manufactured to Contract No.555/C.23 (a) dated 09Feb41 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Hatfield factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 3^rd of 45 aircraft built in the Serial Range HJ699 to HJ743.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce V12 Merlin 21/23 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Apr43 First flight at Hatfield by a De Havilland test pilot.

21Apr43 Delivered by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for acceptance testing by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

04May43 Flown by an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot to RAF Station Middle Wallop, Hampshire where it was taken on charge with No.456 (NF) Sqn RAAF and issued to A Flight as RX-C

14May43 1^st Operational Flight. FSGT J.W Richardson and SGT T. Landy departed Middle Wallop at 2200hrs on a night Ranger patrol tasked primarily to attack rail targets at Pedernec-St Jores in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in north-western France. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 26min patrol when they landed Base at 0216hrs.

15May43 2^nd Operational Flight. WOFF G.F Gatenby and FSGT J.M Fraser departed Middle Wallop at 2245hrs on a night Ranger patrol tasked primarily to attack rail targets in a boxed area bounded by Postrenon-Montauban-Callac-Plourach in central Brittany, France. Two trains were seen but not attacked as they were in built up areas. The crew completed the uneventful 3hr Ranger patrol when they landed Middle Wallop at 0145hrs.

16May43 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.G Oxlade and FLGOFF D.M Shanks departed Middle Wallop at 0125hrs on a night Intruder patrol tasked primarily to interdict enemy aircraft using Gilze en Rijen airfield in southern Holland. No enemy aircraft were seen but the crew experienced some inaccurate heavy flak and machine gun fire while at 2,500ft in vicinity of the airfield. The crew completed the 2hr 40min patrol when they landed Base at 0405hrs.

17May43 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF H. Smith and FLGOFF D.J Wiley departed Middle Wallop at 2315hrs on a night Ranger patrol tasked primarily to attack rail targets in northern Brittany. No trains were seen and the crew completed an uneventful 2hr 55min patrol when they landed Base at 0155hrs.

27May43 5^th Operational Flight. FSGT C.S Samson and FSGT A.M Abbey departed Middle Wallop at 0050hrs on a night Intruder patrol tasked primarily to interdict enemy aircraft using Twente airfield in the Dutch province of Overijssel. No enemy aircraft were seen and the crew completed the 2hr 40min patrol when they landed Base at 0230hrs.

30May43 6^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR M.H Dwyer and FLGOFF D.M Shanks departed Middle Wallop at 0845hrs for a day Ranger mission to southern France. The pilot decided to abort the mission when the aircraft reached the French coast because of the extreme weather conditions. Approaching the village of Lizard, Cornwall the port engine failed and the airscrew would not feather. The pilot diverted to RAF Exeter but the starboard engine started to run rough and the aircraft would not maintain height so the pilot made an emergency belly landing at 1145hrs in a field 3km NW of Morchard Bishop in Devon. The aircraft was seriously damaged and written off then reduced to spares. The pilot and navigator were seriously injured and both admitted to The Royal Devon Hospital in Exeter.

00Jun43 Aircraft struck of charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HJ701 served with 456Sqn from 04May43 until 30May43, a period of just 26 days. During that period the aircraft flew six operational flights plus a number of non-operational flights. Total operational flight time was 17hrs 41min.

RAF pilot 32075 WNGCDR Michael Harington Dwyer (31) was returned to active duty following an eight week recuperation. Dwyer completed his tour as Officer Commanding 456Sqn before moving on to other postings, he survived the war and remained in the RAF until his retirement in 1965 with the rank of Air Vice-Marshall. Following retirement he was Regional (North West) Director of Civil Defence from 1966 until 1968 and became Chairman of Harlington Carpets in 1973. Air Vice-Marshall Michael Harington Dwyer CB CBE died on 15 May 1989 aged 77 years.

RAAF navigator 400839 FLGOFF Donald McKenzie Shanks (33) was admitted to The Royal Devon Hospital in Exeter and placed on the seriously ill list with fractured right thigh and severe abrasions to the left leg. He was hospitalised for more than six months before returning to active duty with No.464Sqn. He was shot down twice more before the end of the war but survived capture on both occasions and ended the war still on active duty with 46Sqn. Shanks was repatriated to Australia where he resigned from the RAAF on 7^th March 1946 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Donald McKenzie Shanks died in Bendigo, Victoria in 1983 aged 73 years.

HK248

00Jun43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK248 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 27^th of 44 aircraft built in the Serial Range HK222 to HK265.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce V12 Merlin 21/23 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Jun43 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

19Jun43 Aircraft received by Marshalls of Cambridge for conversion to NF MK.XVII standard fitted with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar. However, a backlog of conversions meant the aircraft was sent to storage to await modification.

23Jun43 Aircraft received for storage by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

04Jan44 Aircraft returned to Marshalls of Cambridge where the conversion to NF MK.XVII with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar was completed.

02Feb44 Aircraft received by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

16Feb44 Aircraft taken on charge with No. 219 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Woodvale near Southport, UK.

02Aug44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Ford, West Sussex. Performance improvements were made to the aircraft for anti-V1 flying bomb (diver) operations. The Merlins’ exhaust flame shrouds were removed; the engines were boosted to provide extra power; and, 150 octane fuel was used. Additionally, the aircraft cannons were loaded with a mix of one tracer round in every four cannon shells to assist pilots in gauging the range to the small, nimble and elusive V1s and, the nose was strengthened to withstand the effects of cannon fire at high speeds.

07Aug44 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF T.H Everett and FSGT D.H Outhred departed Ford at 0310hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI in Essex and completed an uneventful 1hr 10min Anti-Diver patrol.

09Aug44 2^nd Operational Flight. WOFF J.E Simmons and WOFF H.A Nitschke departed Ford at 2200hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI in Essex. Ten minutes after departure the pilot aborted when the radar would not operate.

10Aug44 3^rd Operational Flight. WOFF J.E Simmons and WOFF H.A Nitschke departed Ford at 0020hrs under Wartling GCI in Essex and completed an uneventful 2hr 10min Anti-Diver patrol.

21Aug44 4^th Operational Flight. FLTLT C.C McLennan and FLGOFF K.W Munro departed Ford at 0135hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Fairlight GCI in Essex. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min and returned to Base.

25Aug44 5^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC departed Ford at 2130hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Fairlight GCI in Essex. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 5min and returned to Base.

28Aug44 6^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC departed Ford at 2140hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Fairlight GCI in Essex. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min and returned to Base.

31Aug44 7^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0350hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Sandwich GCI in Kent. At 0500hrs they investigated a target and saw a V1 coming up the Thames heading due West at 280kts. Gould had just rolled in behind the V1 for an attack when another aircraft intervened and shot down the V1. Crew aborted and returned to Base at 0700hrs.

31Aug44 Aircraft flew seven operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in August 1944

14Sep44 8^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC departed Ford at 0155hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Fairlight GCI in Essex. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 55min and returned to Base.

18Sep44 HQ 11 Group directed the squadron to have eight aircraft at RAF Manston daily by 1700hrs until further notice.

9^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1935hrs tasked to patrol over the Allied Airborne landing site in support of Operation Market Garden. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol and returned to Ford at 2235hrs.

27Sep44 10^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0035hrs tasked to patrol off the Belgian Coast in 25 Sector Area under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 25min patrol then returned to Ford at 0350hrs.

28Sep44 11^th Operational Flight. FLTLT R.B Cowper and FLTLT W. Watson ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1930hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian coastal belt Area under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 2230hrs.

30Sep44 12^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0035hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian coastal belt Area under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 4hr 20min patrol then returned to Ford at 0450hrs.

30Sep44 Aircraft flew five operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in September 1944

03Oct44 13^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2210hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Milkway GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 25min patrol then returned to Ford at 0135hrs.

04Oct44 14^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2040hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 15min patrol then returned to Ford at 2255hrs.

08Oct44 15^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1750hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCI. The crew curtailed the patrol and landed at Le Culot airfield in Belgium at 1955hrs because of the extremely poor weather conditions. Aircraft and crew returned to Ford the next day.

17Oct44 16^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0145hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 4hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0545hrs.

20Oct44 17^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0145hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol then returned to Ford at 0435hrs.

29Oct44 18^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF J. Darling and FLGOFF K.W Longton ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0145hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol then returned to Ford at 0435hrs.

31Oct44 Aircraft flew six operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in October 1944

04Nov44 19^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2155hrs for a three hour Offensive Patrol over the Belgium-Holland Front. However, they were forced to abort immediately after take-off with faulty flight instruments.

05Nov44 20^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine DFC ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0030hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 20min patrol then returned to Ford at 0350hrs.

21Nov44 21^st Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0005hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Trimely GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 40min patrol then returned to Ford at 0345hrs.

24Nov44 22^nd Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2115hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0015hrs.

25Nov44 23^rd Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1850hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 05min patrol then returned to Ford at 2055hrs.

26Nov44 24^th Operational Flight. FLTLT C.L Brooks and WOFF R.J Forbes ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0610hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 45min patrol then returned to Ford at 0755hrs.

30Nov44 25^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0055hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 4hr 20min patrol then returned to Ford at 0415hrs.

30Nov44 Aircraft flew seven operational missions and at least eight non-operational flights in November 1944

02Dec44 24^th Operational Flight. FLTLT C.C McLennan and FLGOFF K.W Munro ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1650hrs for a North Sea anti-Heinkel diver patrol under control of Bawdsey GCI. Pilot aborted at 1950hrs when the radar failed and returned to Ford at 2025hrs.

07Dec44 25^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF D.T Hewson and FSGT J.D Hutchinson ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0605hrs for a North Sea anti-Heinkel diver patrol under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0905hrs.

11Dec44 26^th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0540hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 15min patrol then returned to Ford at 0855hrs.

15Dec44 27th Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC* and FLTLT G.N Irvine ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. On this occasion the aircraft was one of two Mosquitos scrambled at 2020hrs to investigate an inbound bogey. The two crews locates the bogey which turned out to be a damaged Halifax returning from Ops. Crew landed Manston at 2117hrs.

16Dec44 Aircraft returned to Ford to undergo scheduled maintenance.

19Dec44 WOFF Jack Porter and RAFVR Fitter SGT A. Guest departed Manston for a short post maintenance test flight. When landing at Manston the aircraft swung violently causing the undercarriage to collapse. Porter quickly abandoned the downed machine and as he did the wreckage burst into flames. Porter then realised his passenger, RAF air mechanic SGT Albert Guest, was still in the aircraft so he returned to the burning machine and assisted Guest out of his harness then egressed the burning aircraft. Both crewmen suffered slight burns, the aircraft was Cat E and reduced to spares.

RAAF Pilot 422694 WOFF Jack Porter completed his tour with 456Sqn and survived the War. He was repatriated back to Australia in July 1945 and resigned from the RAAF with the rank of Warrant Officer. Jack Porter passed away in Junee, New South Wales on 11 April 1995 aged 78 years.

30Dec44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK248 served with 456Sqn from 02Aug44 until 19Dec44, a period of 139 days. During that period the aircraft flew twenty-seven operational mission and made an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 71hrs 57min.

HK295

00Jul43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK295 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 18^th of 50 aircraft built in the Serial Range HK278 to HK327.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce V12 Merlin 23 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Jul43 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

31Jul43 Aircraft received for storage by No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire.

23Nov43 Aircraft received by Marshalls of Cambridge for conversion to NF MK.XVII standard fitted with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar.

04Jan44 Aircraft received by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

29Jan44 Aircraft taken on charge with No.85 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station West Malling, Kent.

30May44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Ford, Sussex where it was issued to B Flight as RX-X.

31May44 1^st Operational Flight. An all RNVR crew of Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0050hrs for a Defensive Operational Patrol. Ten minutes after departure the pilot aborted the mission because of mechanical problems.

03Jun44 Aircraft withdrawn from Ops to undergo servicing and preparation for the forthcoming D-Day Invasion. The most noticeable preparation was the application of five 24 inch (61 cm) wide alternating black and white stripes placed 24 inches (61 cm) outboard of the engine nacelles on the wings; and, five 18 inch (46 cm) wide stripes forward of the leading edge of the tailplane around the fuselage.

04Jun44 2^nd Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0250hrs tasked for a Defensive Operational Patrol over the Channel under direction of Fairlight GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0330hrs.

05Jun44 3^rd Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0210hrs tasked for a Defensive Operational Patrol over the Channel under direction of Fairlight GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0440hrs.

07Jun44 4^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0105hrs to patrol over the D-Day beachhead and invasion fleet under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0340hrs.

08Jun44 5^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0100hrs to patrol over the Channel and Cherbourg Peninsular area under the control of Rye GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0410hrs.

09Jun44 6^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0330hrs to patrol over the Channel and Cherbourg Peninsular area under the control of Rye GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0615hrs.

12Jun44 7^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0300hrs to patrol over the Channel and invasion beaches area under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0450hrs.

13Jun44 8^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0330hrs to patrol over the Channel and invasion beaches area under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew chased and fired at a target which they believed was a He.177 bomber. The crew broke off the attack because their AI ranges and altimeter were unreliable close to the sea. They completed the 2hr 50min patrol before returning to Base at 0520hrs. A daylight inspection of the aircraft revealed the nose, belly, windscreens and spinners were covered with oil and a damaged claim was submitted.

17Jun44 9^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0125hrs to patrol over the Channel and invasion beaches area under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0400hrs.

19Jun44 10^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0315hrs to patrol over the Channel and Cherbourg Peninsular area under the control of Rye GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr patrol before returning to Base at 0515hrs.

00Jun44 At some time in mid-June, performance improvements were made to the aircraft for anti-V1 flying bomb (diver) operations. The Merlins’ exhaust flame shrouds were removed; the engines were boosted to provide extra power; and, 150 octane fuel was used. Additionally, the aircraft cannons were loaded with a mix of one tracer round in every four cannon shells to assist pilots in gauging the range to the small, nimble and elusive V1s and, the nose was strengthened to withstand the effects of cannon fire at high speeds.

20Jun44 11^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0100hrs to patrol over the Channel and Cherbourg Peninsular area under the control of Rye GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0345hrs.

24Jun44 12^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0140hrs to patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol before returning to Base at 0240hrs.

28Jun44 13^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0125hrs to patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0335hrs.

30Jun44 Aircraft flew twelve operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in June 1944.

06Jul44 14^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0330hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 20min patrol before returning to Base at 0450hrs.

07Jul44 15^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0115hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 25min patrol before returning to Base at 0340hrs.

09Jul44 16^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0305hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0445hrs.

10Jul44 17^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0105hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol before returning to Base at 0355hrs.

11Jul44 18^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0100hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol before returning to Base at 0320hrs.

14Jul44 19^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0100hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol before returning to Base at 0400hrs.

15Jul44 20^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0015hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 15min patrol before returning to Base at 0130hrs.

18Jul44 21^st Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0100hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station. Soon after departure the pilot aborted the mission because of engine problems and returned to Base at 0122hrs.

23Jul44 22^nd Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0030hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 15min patrol before returning to Base at 0345hrs.

25Jul44 23^rd Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 2225hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0100hrs.

30Jul44 24^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0015hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0300hrs.

31Jul44 Aircraft flew eleven operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in July 1944.

04Aug44 25^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0425hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0530hrs.

06Aug44 26^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0305hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0455hrs.

07Aug44 27^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0310hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0550hrs.

08Aug44 28^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0130hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0415hrs.

14Aug44 29^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0100hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0335hrs.

15Aug44 30^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0220hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0455hrs.

16Aug44 31^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF J.R Walters and FLGOFF R.A Woodman departed Ford at 0005hrs for an anti-Diver over the Channel patrol under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol before returning to Base at 0305hrs.

19Aug44 32^nd Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0155hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. At 0310hrs they were vectored to investigate a bogey at a range of eight miles at 7500ft near Cap Gris Nez heading west. The crew dived down to investigate but could not gain on the bogey and aborted the attack. For the next 40min the crew made futile attempts to catch three more Divers all heading in a north westerly direction. The disgruntled crew completed the 2hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0445hrs.

33^rd Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 2355hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0235hrs.

20Aug44 34^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF J.R Walters and FLGOFF R.A Woodman departed Ford at 2145hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0015hrs.

23Aug44 35^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 2355hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0205hrs.

27Aug44 36^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0345hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0620hrs.

37^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 2130hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0010hrs.

28Aug44 38^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0500hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0645hrs.

31Aug44 39^th Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0350hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew were vectored onto a Diver at 2000ft speed 340kts heading north-west toward London and dived down to attack, However, the crew were warned by Fairlight when they were about to enter the Dover Defensive AA Box , the pilot quickly broke off the attack and resumed patrol. The crew completed the patrol and returned to Base at 0710hrs.

31Aug44 Aircraft flew fifteen operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in August 1944.

01Sep44 40^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 0330hrs for an anti-Diver patrol under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0615hrs.

05Sep44 41^st Operational Flight. Lt A.J Brown and Sub/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Ford at 0115hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Durrington GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0245hrs.

06Sep44 42^nd Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 2325hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 05min patrol before returning to Base at 0230hrs.

09Sep44 43^rd Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0225hrs for an anti-Diver patrol off the French coast under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 15min patrol before returning to Base at 0530hrs.

11Sep44 44^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 0435hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the North Foreland area under the control of Sandwich GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 15min patrol before returning to Base at 0530hrs.

12Sep44 45^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 2245hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the North Foreland area under the control of Sandwich GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0120hrs.

17Sep44 46^th Operational Flight. FGST C.S Sampson and FLGOFF A.M Abbey departed Ford at 0115hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Wartling GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 5min patrol before returning to Base at 0420hrs.

18Sep44 HQ 11 Group directed the squadron to have eight aircraft at RAF Manston daily by 1700hrs until further notice.

23Sep44 47^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1915hrs tasked to patrol off the Belgian Coast in 25 Sector Area under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 55min patrol then returned to Ford at 2310hrs.

30Sep44 Aircraft flew eight operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in September 1944.

01Oct44 48^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1920hrs tasked to patrol off the Belgian Coast in 25 Sector Area under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 50min patrol then returned to Ford at 2310hrs.

03Oct44 49^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0030hrs tasked to patrol off the Belgian Coast in 25 Sector Area under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 4hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0430hrs.

05Oct44 50^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.J Wilkin and FLGOFF J.M Pearse ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2150hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0050hrs.

10Oct44 51^st Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0120hrs tasked to patrol off the Belgian Coast in 25 Sector Area under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 30min patrol then returned to Ford at 0450hrs.

14Oct44 52^nd Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0115hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 25min patrol then returned to Ford at 0440hrs.

19Oct44 53^rd Operational Flight. WOFF G .B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0115hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCIs. Soon after departure the aircraft suffered a complete radio failure so the captain aborted and returned to Base at 0132hrs.

20Oct44 54^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF I.W Sanderson and PLTOFF C.H Nicholas ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0140hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian fronts under control of Continental GCIs. Soon after departure the aircraft suffered a complete radio failure so the captain aborted and returned to Base at 0132hrs.

22Oct44 WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 1035hrs for a local Training Flight. When performing a single engine landing the pilot misjudged and overshot the runway. The aircraft careened down a gully and was effectively destroyed. Surprisingly, Gould and Fleming only sustained mild shock and minor injuries.

00Oct44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK248 served with 456Sqn from 30May44 until 20Oct44, a period of 145 days. During that period the aircraft flew fifty-four operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 131hrs 17min.

RAAF pilot 415867 WOFF George Bridges Gould survived the crash and soon returned to active duty. Gould survived the war and returned to Australia where he discharged from the RAAF on 09 October 1945 with the rank of Warrant Officer. George Gould died on 24 May 2016 aged 102 years, he is buried in The Western Australian Garden of Remembrance, Nedlands City in Western Australia.

Western Australian Garden of Remembrance

RAAF navigator 426569 FSGT James Groth Fleming survived the crash and soon returned to active duty. Fleming survived the war and returned to Australia where he discharged from the RAAF on 12 December 1945 as O17916 Flying Officer James Fleming. James lived a full life before died on 05 April 2013 aged 98 years, he is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane Queensland.

Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane

HK312

00Aug43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK312 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 35^th of 50 aircraft built in the Serial Range HK278 to HK327.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce V12 Merlin 23 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Aug43 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

18Aug43 Aircraft received for acceptance checks and storage by No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire

08Nov43 Aircraft received by Marshalls of Cambridge for conversion to NF MK.XVII standard fitted with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar.

28Dec43 Aircraft received for storage by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

07Jan44 Aircraft received for storage by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

30Jan44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Fairwood Common, Glamorgan where it was issued to A Flight as RX-G.

12Feb44 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.J Wilkin and PLTOFF R.S Smith were scrambled from Fairwood Common at 2115hrs with four other Mosquitos to intercept a raid of 30+ aircraft heading for London. The raid fizzled out and the Mosquitos were recalled one hour later.

14Feb44 2^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Fairwood Common at 0740hrs along with PLTOFF J.W Richardson and PLTOFF T.M Landy (HK246) tasked to conduct an SAR for a Wellington which had crashed the previous night into the Celtic Sea southwest of the Scilly Islands at Grid:VM7708. The crews searched for two hours without success and diverted to RAF Talbenny, Wales at 1010hrs.

15Feb44 FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Talbenny and returned to Fairwood Common.

23Feb44 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF F.S McEvoy and FLGOFF M.N Austen scrambled from Fairwood Common at 2200hrs under Cricklade GCI tasked to intercept a large enemy raid approaching London. The aircraft was ordered to adopt a holding pattern west of the city and remained there until forced to break off and return to Base at 0010hrs.

24Feb44 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF K.A Roediger and FLGOFF R.J.H Dobson scrambled from Fairwood Common at 2200hrs under Cricklade GCI tasked to intercept a large enemy raid approaching London. The aircraft was ordered to adopt a holding pattern west of the city and remained there until forced to break off and return to Base at 0010hrs.

29Feb44 One of sixteen Mk.XVII Mosquitos that departed Fairwood Common in the early morning led by WNGCDR K.M Hampshire for a formation flight to the Squadron’s new base at RAF Ford in Sussex.

29Feb44 Aircraft made four operational flights plus a number of non-operational flights in February 1944.

02Mar44 5^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 0220hrs for a Defensive Patrol over Sussex and Kent. At 0300hrs the crew were freelancing at 22,000ft when they obtained a contact range two miles ahead and 10° starboard. They carefully closed the distance until could identify the target as a Do.217. However, as Griffin was about to open fire the Dornier jinked hard right and disappeared into a cloud bank. Contact was lost and the crew completed the 2hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0430hrs.

07Mar44 6^th Operational Flight. FSGT C.E Bone and WOFF S.T Durry departed Ford at 2330hrs for a freelance Defensive Patrol over the Channel off the Kent coast. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol then returned to Base at 0210hrs.

14Mar44 7^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2055hrs for a freelance Defensive Patrol over the Channel off the Sussex coast. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol then returned to Base at 2155hrs.

22Mar44 8^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2050hrs tasked to intercept a small raid that crossed the coast near Beachy Head and were operating over Surrey and Kent. The crew flew a defensive line under Black Gang GCI but no contacts were made before the crew completed the 1hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 2210hrs.

24Mar44 9^th Operational Flight. PLTOFF S.J Williams and FLGOFF K.W Havord departed Ford at 2245hrs under Durrington GCI control tasked to intercept an incoming raid. The crew made no contacts and completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol before returning to Base at 1035hrs.

30Mar44 10^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams scrambled from Ford at 0220hrs and placed under Durrington GCI to intercept an incoming raid. The raid did not eventuate and the crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0450hrs.

31Mar44 Aircraft made six operational plus a number of non-operational flights in March 1944.

02Apr44 11^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 0035hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0305hrs.

07Apr44 12^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2115hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 44min patrol before returning to Base at 2359hrs.

10Apr44 13^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2330hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0200hrs.

18Apr44 14^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2250hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol before returning to Base at 0110hrs.

19Apr44 15^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2210hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 25min patrol before returning to Base at 2335hrs.

24Apr44 16^th Operational Flight. Lt D.G Thornley and S/Lt D.E Phillips departed Ford at 0100hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0310hrs.

26Apr44 Aircraft withdrawn from operations to undergo a major servicing with No. 417 Aircraft Repair Flight at RAF Lasham, Hampshire.

30Apr44 Aircraft made six operational plus a number of non-operational flights in April 1944.

04May44 Aircraft maintenance completed and the aircraft returned to 456Sqn.

06May44 17^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 0035hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 37min patrol before returning to Base at 0312hrs.

07May44 18^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 0415hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The captain aborted the flight after 15min with engine problems and returned to Base at 0445hrs.

10May44 19^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 0155hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol before returning to Base at 0415hrs.

12May44 20^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2215hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol before returning to Base at 0115hrs.

21May44 21^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF T. Condon departed Ford at 0055hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0340hrs.

22^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF H.P Williams departed Ford at 2359hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0230hrs.

24May44 23^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and S/Lt D.R.H Phillips departed Ford at 2235hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol before returning to Base at 0135hrs.

28May44 24^th Operational Flight. FLTLT R.B Cowper and FLGOFF W. Watson departed Ford at 0245hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 15min patrol before returning to Base at 0500hrs.

29May44 25^th Operational Flight. FLTLT R.B Cowper and FLGOFF W. Watson departed Ford at 2310hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol before returning to Base at 0210hrs.

31May44 Aircraft made nine operational flights plus a number of non-operational flights in May 1944.

02Jun44 26^th Operational Flight. FLTLT R.B Cowper and FLGOFF W. Watson departed Ford at 2230hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol before returning to Base at 0110hrs.

27^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 2320hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol before returning to Base at 0205hrs.

03Jun44 Aircraft withdrawn from Ops to undergo servicing and preparation for the forthcoming D-Day Invasion. The most noticeable preparation was the application of five 24 inch (61 cm) wide alternating black and white stripes placed 24 inches (61 cm) outboard of the engine nacelles on the wings; and, five 18 inch (46 cm) wide stripes forward of the leading edge of the tailplane around the fuselage.

06Jun44 28^th Operational Flight. FLTLT C.L Brooks and WOFF R.J Forbes departed Ford at 0120hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the D-Day beachhead and invasion fleet. The crew had just reached their patrol area when the radar became unserviceable. The aircraft was recalled and landed Base at 0200hrs.

07Jun44 29^th Operational Flight. FLTLT C.L Brooks and WOFF R.J Forbes departed Ford at 0030hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the D-Day beachhead and invasion fleet. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0300hrs.

10Jun44 30^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0255hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Cherbourg Peninsula. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 05min patrol before returning to Base at 0500hrs.

11Jun44 31^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0250hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Cherbourg Peninsula. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 05min patrol before returning to Base at 0455hrs.

13Jun44 32^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0340hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Normandy. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0510hrs.

14Jun44 33^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0100hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Normandy. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol before returning to Base at 0200hrs.

34thOperational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0345hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Normandy. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol before returning to Base at 0445hrs.

15Jun44 35^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0220hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Normandy. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 10minpatrol before returning to Base at 0430hrs.

17Jun44 36^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0320hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and Normandy. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 15minpatrol before returning to Base at 0435hrs.

18Jun44 37^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Griffin and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0150hrs under the control of Durrington GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and invasion beaches. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0500hrs.

19Jun44 38^th Operational Flight. PLTOFF I.W Sanderson and FSGT C.H Nicholas departed Ford at 0315hrs under the control of Wartling GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and the Cherbourg Peninsula. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr patrol before returning to Base at 0515hrs.

00Jun44 At sometime in mid-June, performance improvements were made to the aircraft for anti-V1 flying bomb (diver) operations. The Merlins’ exhaust flame shrouds were removed; the engines were boosted to provide extra power; and, 150 octane fuel was used. Additionally, the aircraft cannons were loaded with a mix of one tracer round in every four cannon shells to assist pilots in gauging the range to the small, nimble and elusive V1s and, the nose was strengthened to withstand the effects of cannon fire at high speeds.

22Jun44 39^th Operational Flight. FLTLT T.H Everett and FSGT D.H Outhred departed Ford at 0300hrs under the control of Wartling GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel and the Cherbourg Peninsula. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 05min patrol before returning to Base at 0505hrs.

23Jun44 40^th Operational Flight. FLTLT T.H Everett and FSGT D.H Outhred departed Ford at 0120hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew aborted 10min after departure with electrical problems and returned to Base at 0145hrs.

28Jun44 41^st Operational Flight. FLTLT T.H Everett and FSGT D.H Outhred departed Ford at 0245hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 15min patrol before returning to Base at 0500hrs.

30Jun44 Aircraft made sixteen operational flights plus a number of non-operational flights in June 1944.

04Jul44 42^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF E.C Radford and PLTOFF W.E Atkinson departed Ford at 0230hrs under the control of Durrington GCI on an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0400hrs.

05Jul44 43^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF E.C Radford and PLTOFF W.E Atkinson departed Ford at 0030hrs under the control of Durrington GCI on an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel. At 0055hrs they were vectored onto a target near Cherbourg which they quickly identified as a He177 carrying two PC 1400 FX bombs, one outboard of each engine. After three passes the He177’s port engine exploded and the aircraft dived into the sea near Cherbourg. The exact identity of the He177 will never be known but it is known that KG40 lost several He177A aircraft in that vicinity on that night. In particular He177A-5195 F8+FP100 was lost to the north of Cherbourg.

08Jul44 44^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF E.C Radford and PLTOFF W.E Atkinson departed Ford at 0110hrs under the control of Durrington GCI on an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0345hrs.

10Jul44 45^th Operational Flight. FLTLT T.H Everett and FSGT D.H Outhred departed Ford at 0315hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 25min patrol before returning to Base at 0540hrs.

11Jul44 46^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF E.C Radford and PLTOFF W.E Atkinson departed Ford at 2255hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for an Anti-Diver patrol along the English south coast. At 0030hrs they were instructed to turn to a vector of 190° and investigate a possible diver. Nothing more was heard from the aircraft and it was declared Missing.

The following morning a Walrus SAR aircraft of 277Sqn found an oil patch and a quantity of wreckage five miles southeast of Littlehampton, a body was then seen and High Speed Launch 126 of ASR Littlehampton was directed to the scene. The launch retrieved the body of PLTOFF Atkinson and some wreckage. There was no sign of the pilot and no trace has ever been found. A crash investigation report thought the aircraft was probably hit by debris from the V1 rocket or caught in the blast when the V1’s warhead detonated.

15Jul44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK312 served with 456Sqn from 30Jan44 until 12Jul44, a period of 164days. During that period the aircraft flew forty-six operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 95hrs 47min.

RAAF pilot 415549 Flying Officer Edward Charles Radford (21) born 26 October 1922 son of Horne and Dorothy Margaret Radford of Mt Lawley, Western Australia was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 257 of the Runnymede Memorial on Coopers Hill in Surrey, UK. He is also commemorated on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT; and, on the Eight Plaque in the Cenotaph Undercroft of the State War Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia.

RAAF navigator 422530 Pilot Officer Walter Edward Atkinson (24) of Bathurst New South Wales was KIA and his body recovered from the sea. He was buried with full military honours in Plot 4, Row O. Grave 4 of the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, UK. He is also honoured on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT; and, on the Role of Honour in Bathurst, New South Wales.

HK317

00Aug43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK317 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 40^th of 50 aircraft built in the Serial Range HK278 to HK327.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce V12 Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Aug43 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

22Aug43 Aircraft received for acceptance checks and storage by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

12Nov43 Aircraft received by Marshalls of Cambridge for conversion to NF MK.XVII standard fitted with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar.

20Dec43 Aircraft received for storage by No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire

04Jan44 Aircraft received for storage by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

06Feb44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Fairwood Common, Glamorgan where it was issued to B Flight as RX-Y.

20Feb44 1^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Samson and FLGOFF A.W Abbey were scrambled from Fairwood Common at 2215hrs under the control of Cricklade GCI to intercept incoming raiders. The raiders did not reach the patrol area and the crew completed the 2hr 10min patrol and returned to Base at 0135hrs.

22Feb44 2^nd Operational Flight. Lt A.J.Y Brown and S/Lt Milton-Hine departed Fairwood Common at 0920hrs with HX313 for an ASR Patrol in the Bristol Channel in response to a distress call the previous night. No sightings were made in the suspect area and the crews completed a 1hr 20min Box Search before returning to Base at 1050 and 1135hrs respectively.

23Feb44 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Samson and FLGOFF A.W Abbey were scrambled from Fairwood Common at 2230hrs under the control of Cricklade GCI to intercept incoming raiders. The raiders did not reach the patrol area and the crew completed the 1hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0010hrs.

24Feb44 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF G.R Houston and FLGOFF L.G Engberg scrambled from Fairwood Common at 2025hrs under Cricklade GCI tasked to intercept a large enemy raid approaching London. The aircraft was ordered to adopt a holding pattern west of the city and remained there until forced to break off and return to Base at 2355hrs.

29Feb44 One of 16 Mk.XVII aircraft that departed Fairwood Common in the early morning led by WNGCDR K.M Hampshire for the relocation flight to the Squadron’s new base at RAF Ford, West Sussex.

29Feb44 Aircraft flew four operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in February 1944.

02Mar44 5^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0220hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over Sussex and Kent. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0410hrs.

03Mar44 6^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2110hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 50min (shortened) patrol and returned to Base at 2200hrs.

13Mar44 7^th Operational Flight. FLTLT E.G Radford and FSGT W. Atkinson departed Ford at 0015hrs for a under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr patrol and returned to Base at 0215hrs.

14Mar44 8^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2230hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the southeast coast. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 55min patrol and returned to Base at 0025hrs.

21Mar44 9^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF I.W Sanderson and SGT C.H Nicholas departed Ford at 0035hrs under Black Gang GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the southeast coast. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0255hrs.

27Mar44 10^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2250hrs under Black Gang GCI to intercept a group of 100+ enemy bombers bound for Bristol. Although the Sqn shot down three of the attackers Lewis and Wilmoth had no contacts and completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol before returning to Base at 0120hrs.

31Mar44 Aircraft flew seven operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in March 1944.

03Apr44 11^th Operational Flight. FLTLT E.G Radford and FSGT W. Atkinson departed Ford at 0035hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 15min patrol and returned to Base at 0250hrs.

08Apr44 12^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2135hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. Enemy activity was negligible so the crew was used to perform a series of manoeuvres to assist calibration of the Beachy Head Radar Sector control system. The crew completed the 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0010hrs.

19Apr44 13^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0225hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over Sussex and Kent. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0410hrs.

20Apr44 14^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2300hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol and returned to Base at 02000hrs.

24Apr44 15^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2145hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 10min patrol and returned to Base at 2355hrs.

25Apr44 16^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and PLTOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0445hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew aborted the flight ten minutes after departure with mechanical problems. Returned to Base at 0505hrs.

25Apr44 17^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth scrambled from Ford at 2145hrs and were vectored onto an incoming raider at 2000ft heading for Portsmouth. At 2254hrs they made a contact approaching Portsmouth from the SE at 17000ft. Closing in slightly below the raider, now identified as a Ju88, Lewis fired a short burst and the Ju88’s port engine exploded sending metallic fragments into the air, one of which crashed into and shattered the Mosquito’s armoured windscreen.

As Lewis recovered the aircraft they saw the flaming enemy aircraft enter a steep dive and disappear into the low cloud cover. Because they did not see the enemy aircraft crash the crew claimed a Probable but this was later upgraded to Destroyed based on reports from The Coast Watchers. The aircraft and crew returned to Base without major problems but were very cold by the time they landed at 0115hrs.

26Apr44 Aircraft assessed as Cat.A damage. Repairs were completed over the following two days and the aircraft returned to service on the 27^th.

27Apr44 18^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2210hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0100hrs.

28Apr44 19^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0225hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0415hrs.

30Apr44 Aircraft flew nine operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in April 1944.

02May44 20^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2150hrs tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew was recalled after ten minutes because of gale force winds and low cloud.

04May44 21^st Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0145hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol and returned to Base at 0420hrs.

05May44 22^nd Operational Flight. FSGT J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 0330hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0600hrs.

23^rd Operational Flight. FSGT J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 2310hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 35min patrol and returned to Base at 0045hrs.

06May44 24^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2210hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 0030hrs.

10May44 25^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2210hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0100hrs.

11May44 26^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2220hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol and returned to Base at 0120hrs.

14May44 27^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2255hrs under Black Gang GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol and returned to Base at 2355hrs.

15May44 28^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0115hrs under Black Gang GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 45min patrol and returned to Base at 0300hrs.

29^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2325hrs under Black Gang GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0115hrs.

19May44 30^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0200hrs under Black Gang GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 10min patrol and returned to Base at 0310hrs.

31^st Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2240hrs under Black Gang GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0120hrs.

22May44 32^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.S McEvoy and FLGOFF M.H Austin departed Ford at 2240hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Isle of Wight and Southampton. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0120hrs.

23May44 33^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.S McEvoy and FLGOFF M.H Austin departed Ford at 2235hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 05min patrol and returned to Base at 0140hrs.

28May44 34^th Operational Flight. FSGT J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 2355hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Isle of Wight and Southampton. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 25min patrol and returned to Base at 0220hrs.

31May44 35^th Operational Flight. FSGT J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 0325hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol and returned to Base at 0425hrs.

31May44 Aircraft flew sixteen operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in May 1944.

03Jun44 Aircraft withdrawn from Ops to undergo servicing and preparation for the forthcoming D-Day Invasion. The most noticeable preparation was the application of five 24 inch (61 cm) wide alternating black and white stripes placed 24 inches (61 cm) outboard of the engine nacelles on the wings; and, five 18 inch (46 cm) wide stripes forward of the leading edge of the tailplane around the fuselage.

04Jun44 36^th Operational Flight. FSGT J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 0325hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol and returned to Base at 0425hrs.

06Jun44 37^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0120hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the D-Day beachhead and invasion fleet. The crew aborted the flight after 10min with mechanical issues and returned to Base at 0155hrs.

38^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0325hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the D-Day beachhead and invasion fleet. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0445hrs.

08Jun44 39^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0100hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI radar station tasked for a Defensive Patrol over the D-Day beachhead and invasion fleet. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0325hrs.

08Jun44 Aircraft sustained Cat.Ac damage when the pilot made a heavy landing at the end of a training flight.

09Jun44 Aircraft struck off charge and issued for repair to 43 Group, where the machine was repaired by a CRO contractor.

30Jun44 Aircraft flew four operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in June 1944.

00Jul44 While undergoing repairs with the CRO, performance improvements were made to the aircraft for anti-V1 flying bomb (diver) operations. The Merlins’ exhaust flame shrouds were removed; the engines were boosted to provide extra power; and, 150 octane fuel was used. Additionally, the aircraft cannons were loaded with a mix of one tracer round in every four cannon shells to assist pilots in gauging the range to the small, nimble and elusive V1s and, the nose was strengthened to withstand the effects of cannon fire at high speeds.

18Jul44 Aircraft returned for service to No.456 Sqn.

22Jul44 40^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2245hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel. The crew aborted with mechanical issues and returned to Base at 2315hrs.

25Jul44 41^st Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2225hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI for an anti-Diver patrol to the south of the Isle of Wight. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol and returned to Base at 0100hrs.

26Jul44 42^nd Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2330hrs under the control of Black Gang GCI for an anti-Diver patrol to the south of the Isle of Wight. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr patrol and returned to Base at 0130hrs.

27Jul44 43^rd Operational Flight. SQNLDR G.L Howitt DFC ⁺ and FLTLT G.N Irving DFC departed Ford at 2215hrs under the control of Wartling GCI for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 35min patrol and returned to Base at 2350hrs.

29Jul44 44^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2225hrs under the control of Wartling GCI for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr patrol and returned to Base at 2325hrs.

30Jul44 45^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2220hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. At 2344hrs they intercepted a flying bomb on a course of 340 degrees, height 1,500 feet, speed 300 IAS, range of attack 1,500 feet slightly above and astern. After a short burst from astern the V1 dived into the ground and exploded. The crew completed the 3hr 10min patrol and returned to Base at 0130hrs.

31Jul44 Aircraft flew six operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in July 1944.

03Aug44 46^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2215hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol and returned to Base at 0100hrs.

07Aug44 47^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF D.W Arnold and FLGOFF J.B Sticklet departed Ford at 0300hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0540hrs.

08Aug44 48^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF D.W Arnold and FLGOFF J.B Sticklet departed Ford at 0300hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 55min patrol and returned to Base at 0555hrs.

09Aug44 49^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0300hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 15min patrol and returned to Base at 0515hrs.

10Aug44 50^th Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2215hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 55min patrol and returned to Base at 0110hrs.

11Aug44 51^st Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2200hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0030hrs.

14Aug44 52^nd Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 2200hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0050hrs.

16Aug44 53^rd Operational Flight. FLTLT W.R.V Lewis and FLGOFF R.S Wilmoth departed Ford at 0405hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Wartling GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 0525hrs.

19Aug44 54^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.J Wilkie and FLGOFF J.M Fraser departed Ford at 0405hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Durrington GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 0625hrs.

20Aug44 55^th Operational Flight. WOFF G.B Gould and FSGT J.G Fleming departed Ford at 2340hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Durrington GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0225hrs.

28Aug44 56^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF G.P.C Rees and FSGT R.J Letten departed Ford at 0400hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol under Durrington GCI control. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol and returned to Base at 0645hrs.

31Aug44 Aircraft flew eleven operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in August 1944.

06Sep44 57^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF R.A Woodman departed Ford at 0135hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0445hrs.

58^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF R.A Woodman departed Ford at 2325hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the Channel under the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 05min patrol before returning to Base at 0230hrs.

09Sep44 59^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF G.P.C Rees and FSGT R.J Letten departed Ford at 0225hrs for an Anti-Diver patrol the control of Fairlight GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 45min patrol and returned to Base at 0525hrs.

11Sep44 60^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 0435hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the North Foreland area under the control of Sandwich GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 25min patrol before returning to Base at 0700hrs.

12Sep44 61^st Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 2245hrs for an anti-Diver patrol over the North Foreland area under the control of Sandwich GCI radar station. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 55min patrol before returning to Base at 0140hrs.

18Sep44 HQ 11 Group directed the squadron to have eight aircraft at RAF Manston daily by 1700hrs until further notice.

24Sep44 62^nd Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0045hrs tasked to patrol off the Belgian Coast in 25 Sector Area under control of Continental GCIs. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0345hrs.

30Sep44 Aircraft flew six operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in September 1944.

02Oct44 63^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.J Wilkie and FLGOFF J.M Fraser ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0340hrs tasked to patrol over the Dutch and Belgian coastal belt Area under control of Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0640hrs.

05Oct44 64^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2045hrs tasked to patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of Rejoice GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 45min patrol that was called off because of the weather then returned to Ford at 2130hrs.

06Oct44 65^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0300hrs for a patrol under Rejoice GCI over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 40min patrol then returned to Ford at 0640hrs.

06Oct44 66^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2010hrs for a patrol under Rejoice GCI over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland. The crew were given several vectors and eventually obtained a contact at 4000ft, 2 ½ miles range on course 340 degrees. Mulhall closed in and obtained a visual at 2305hrs on a Ju188, 20 miles west of Nijmegen. After a 1-second burst from dead astern the Ju188’s starboard engine burst into flames and began to lose height before eventually hitting the ground and exploding. Aircraft returned to Ford at 0010hrs

07Oct44 67^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF C.S Sampson and FLGOFF A.M Abbey ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1850hrs for a patrol under Rejoice GCI over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 40min patrol then returned to Ford at 2230hrs.

14Oct44 68^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0150hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol then returned to Ford at 0410hrs.

15Oct44 69^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0415hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 20min patrol then returned to Ford at 0735hrs.

17Oct44 70^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0435hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol then returned to Ford at 0710hrs.

18Oct44 71^st Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0510hrs for a patrol under Milkway GCI over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland. The crew aborted the flight at 0540hs with electrical issues returned to Ford at 0610hrs.

19Oct44 72^nd Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0210hrs for a patrol under Milkway GCI over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 20min patrol then returned to Ford at 0530hrs.

30Oct44 73^rd Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0430hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 05min patrol then returned to Ford at 0735hrs.

30Oct44 Aircraft flew twelve operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in October 1944.

02Nov44 74^th Operational Flight. FLTLT R.B Cowper DFC and FLTLT W. Watson ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0020hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 35min patrol then returned to Ford at 0355hrs.

03Nov44 75^th Operational Flight. FLTLT H. Smith and FLTLT D.J Wiley ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0030hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 40min patrol then returned to Ford at 0410hrs.

06Nov44 76^th Operational Flight. FLTLT H. Smith and FLTLT D.J Wiley ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2200hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 55min patrol then returned to Ford at 0055hrs.

08Nov44 77^th Operational Flight. FLTLT K.A Roediger and FLTLTR.J.H Dobson ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0040hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 50min patrol then returned to Ford at 0430hrs.

10Nov44 78^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2230hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 45min patrol then returned to Ford at 0215hrs.

12Nov44 79^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0030hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 40min patrol then returned to Ford at 0410hrs.

18Nov44 80^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1640hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Trimely GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 45min patrol then returned to Ford at 2025hrs.

20Nov44 81^st Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1640hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Trimely GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 45min patrol then returned to Ford at 2025hrs.

22Nov44 82^nd Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2400hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. Fifty miles NE of Manston they were handed off to the Dunwich GCI and vectored northerly. Eight flying bombs were seen approaching the UK but at that moment all external communications failed so the crew decided to continue as a freelance mission. A short while later they made a radar contact with a V1 then a visual contact with the He.111 which had just launched the V1. As the crew rolled in behind the He.111 a second V1 was launched from under the port wing and the Heinkel immediately dived into thick cloud. Radar contact was regained as the Mosquito followed the Heinkel down to approx. 100ft above the sea and a hard chase ensued for 55min before the Heinkel crossed the Dutch coast and the crew was forced to break off and return to Manston at 0220hrs/23Nov.

23Nov44 83^rd Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Manston at 0930hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol then returned to Manston at 1200hrs.

24Nov44 84^th Operational Flight. WOFF J.L Mulhall and FLGOFF J.D Jones departed Ford at 0300hrs for a standing patrol under Bawdsey GCI. At 0557hrs Mulhall reported to control they had a contact at 6,500ft heading 360° and were investigating. The contact report placed the enemy in position off the Dorset town of Swanage. Nothing further was heard from the crew and they were listed as MIA when they failed to return. An Air Sea Rescue search was laid on and continued until 1500hrs with nil sightings.

A crash investigation assumed the crew probably engaged and shot down a Ju88 that crashed into the sea near Swanage, Dorset at that time. The investigators surmised the Mosquito could have crashed because of return fire from the Heinkel or the aircraft was struck by debris from the Heinkel.

30Nov44 Aircraft flew eleven operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in November 1944.

00Dec44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK317 served with 456Sqn from 06Feb44 until 24Nov44, a period of 292 days. During that period the aircraft flew eighty-four operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 190hrs 05min.

RAAF pilot 410361 Warrant Officer John Leonard Mulhall (21) born 19 July1923 son of Harold Bruno and Ada Mildred Mulhall of Caulfield in Melbourne, Victoria was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 259 of the Runnymede Memorial on Coopers Hill in Surrey, UK. He is also honoured on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT; and, on the Roll of Honour in Caulfield, Melbourne.

RAFVR navigator 53112 Flying Officer James Douglas Jones (22) born 22 June 1922 son of Thomas and Margaret Jones of Ystalyfera, Glamorgan was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 259 of the Runnymede Memorial on Coopers Hill in Surrey, UK; and, on the Ystalyfera War Memorial in Glamorgan.

HK321

00Aug43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK321 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 44^th of 50 aircraft built in the Serial Range HK278 to HK327.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Aug43 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

22Aug43 Aircraft received for acceptance checks and storage by No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire

16Oct43 Aircraft received by Marshalls of Cambridge for conversion to NF MK.XVII standard fitted with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar.

25Nov43 Aircraft received for storage by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

20Jan44 Aircraft received for storage by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

08Feb44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Fairwood Common, Glamorgan where it was issued to B Flight as RX-T.

23Feb44 1^st Operational Flight. SQNLDR B. Howard and FLGOFF J. Ross departed Fairwood Common at 2130hrs under Cricklade GCI tasked to intercept a large enemy raid approaching London. The aircraft was ordered to adopt a holding pattern west of the city and remained there and completed the 2hr 35min patrol before returning to Base at 0005hrs.

24Feb44 2^nd Operational Flight. A RNVR crew consisting of Lt A.J.T Brown and S/Lt E.R Milton-Hine departed Fairwood Common at 2200hrs under Cricklade GCI tasked to intercept a large enemy raid approaching London. The aircraft was ordered to adopt a holding pattern west of the city and remained there and completed the 2hr 10min patrol before returning to Base at 0010hrs.

29Feb44 One of sixteen Mk.XVII Mosquitos that departed Fairwood Common in the early morning led by WNGCDR K.M Hampshire for a formation flight to the Squadron’s new base at RAF Ford in Sussex.

29Feb44 Aircraft flew two operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in February 1944.

02Mar44 3^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 0300hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over Sussex and Kent. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 25min patrol and returned to Base at 0425hrs.

08Mar44 4^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 0300hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew saw a brilliant white searchlight at 16,000ft, apparently mounted in a German aircraft, being switched on and off intermittently. The crew closed and could see the navigation lights of two smaller aircraft (fighters?) alongside the larger machine. As the enemy approached the French coast the crew was ordered to abandon the pursuit and return to their patrol area. The crew completed the 3hr 05min patrol and returned to Base at 2250hrs.

12Mar44 5^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2047hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew once again saw their searchlight aircraft at 20,000ft off Beachy Head but were told to ignore the target. The crew completed their 2hr 05min patrol and returned to Base at 2240hrs.

14Mar44 6^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2230hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the southeast coast. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 05min patrol and returned to Base at 0035hrs.

19Mar44 7^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2050hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the southeast coast. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 2320hrs.

22Mar44 8^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.W Richardson and FLGOFF T.M Landy Ford at 2100hrs tasked to intercept a small raid that crossed the coast near Beachy Head and were operating over Surrey and Kent. The crew flew a defensive line under Black Gang GCI but no contacts were made before the crew completed the 2hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 2350hrs.

9^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 0015hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the southeast coast. The crew completed an uneventful 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0105hrs.

31Mar44 Aircraft flew seven operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in March 1944.

01Apr44 10^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 0130hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 0410hrs.

05Apr44 11^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2100hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 40min patrol and returned to Base at 2340hrs.

08Apr44 12^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2330hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 15min patrol and returned to Base at 0245hrs.

09Apr44 13^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2310hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 0140hrs.

12Apr44 14^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2240hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 25min patrol and returned to Base at 0005hrs.

13Apr44 15^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2300hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 15min patrol and returned to Base at 0215hrs.

19Apr44 16^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF E.C. Radford and FSGT W. Atkinson departed Ford at 2215hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 35min patrol and returned to Base at 2350hrs.

20Apr44 17^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF E.C. Radford and FSGT W. Atkinson departed Ford at 2300hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 05min patrol and returned to Base at 0105hrs.

24Apr44 18^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF A.E McEvoy and FLGOFF M.M Austen departed Ford at 0110hrs under Wartling GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0240hrs.

19^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2310hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0140hrs.

25Apr44 20^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2145hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0115hrs.

26Apr44 21^st Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 0345hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 1hr 50min patrol and returned to Base at 0535hrs.

27Apr44 22^nd Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2220hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew had two fleeting high-speed contacts but could not close the targets. The crew completed the 1hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 0100hrs.

28Apr44 23^rd Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 0225hrs under Durrington GCI for a Defensive Patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol and returned to Base at 0525hrs.

28Apr44 24^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF R.M Pahlow and FLGOFF F.M Silva departed Ford at 2335hrs to investigate probable mine laying aircraft south of Beachy Head. At 0034hrs Blackgang GCI on the Isle of Wight received a transmission from Pahlow stating he was investigating a contact. Nothing was heard from the crew again. Come daylight an Air Sea Rescue Spitfire from 277Sqn located wreckage on the ocean where HK321 was last known to be. The crew was declared as MIA which was later amended to KIA.

30Apr44 Aircraft flew sixteen operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in April 1944.

00May44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK321 served with 456Sqn from 08Feb44 until 28Apr44, a period of 90 days. During that period the aircraft flew twenty-four operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 48hrs 25min.

RAAF pilot 411255 FLGOFF Robert Maxwell Joseph Pahlow (27) born 01 February 1917 the son of Mr and Mrs Maxwell Pahlow of Homebush in Sydney, New South Wales; husband of 458275 ACW Edna Hamilton Parlow of RAF Station Winfield, Berwick. Robert was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 257 of the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, UK. He is also honoured at Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT; and, on the Roll of Honour in Homebush, Sydney.

FLGOFF Pahlow portrait photo taken in London on 15Dec44

RAAF navigator 413267 FLGOFF Francis Matthew Silva (21) born 26 June 1922 in Liverpool UK the son of Francis John and Mary Julie Silva of Bellevue Hill in Sydney New South Wales was KIA and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Panel 258 of the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, UK. He is also honoured at Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT; and, on the Roll of Honour in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.

FLGOFF Silva enlistment photo taken
No.2 Recruit Centre at RAAF Williamtown on 16Aug41

HK357

00Aug43 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK357 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 14^th of 39 aircraft built in the Serial Range HK344 to HK382.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 23 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Aug43 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

03Sep43 Aircraft received for acceptance checks and storage by No.27 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Shawbury, Shropshire

10Nov43 Aircraft received by Marshalls of Cambridge for conversion to NF MK.XVII standard fitted with a SCR 720 MK.X AI Radar.

22Dec43 Aircraft received for storage by No.10 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire

25Dec43 Aircraft received for storage by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

23Jan44 Aircraft taken on charge with No.25 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Acklington, Northumberland.

27Oct44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Ford, West Sussex where it was issued to B Flight as RX-T.

02Nov44 1^st Operational Flight. USN exchange crewmen Lt E.M Woodward and Ensign W.G Madden ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0450hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 20min patrol then returned to Ford at 0810hrs.

03Nov44 2^nd Operational Flight. USN exchange crewmen Lt E.M Woodward and Ensign W.G Madden ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 0030hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol then returned to Manston at 0320hrs.

3^rd Operational Flight. USN exchange crewmen Lt E.M Woodward and Ensign W.G Madden departed Manston at 2145hrs tasked for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 4hr 30min patrol then returned to Manston at 0115hrs.

06Nov44 4^th Operational Flight. USN exchange crewmen Lt E.M Woodward and Ensign W.G Madden ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 2200hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. After making routine contact with Durrington GCI in West Sussex as per usual; 25Sector Control picked up a faint R/T message that may have come from the crew, but after this nothing was heard from the crew again. No trace of the crew or aircraft has ever been found and the crash investigation concluded that, in all probability, the aircraft crashed into the Channel near the French Coast.

10Nov44 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial HK357 served with 456Sqn from 27Oct44 until 07Nov44, a period of just twelve days. During that period the aircraft flew four operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 11hrs 22min.

United States Navy Reserve pilot O-106263 Lieutenant Everett Merton Woodward Jr (22) was born on 13Aug1915 in Princeton, Worcester County in Massachusetts, USA the son of Mr and Mrs Everett Merton Woodward Sr of Leominster, Massachusetts. Everett was KIA and has no known grave. He is honoured on The Tablets of the Missing in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial at Coton, Cambridgeshire UK.

Lieutenant Everett Merton Woodward Jr

United States Navy Reserve navigator 0-373781 Ensign Walter Gerald Madden (20) of Rhode Island, USA was KIA and has no known grave. He is honoured on The Tablets of the Missing in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial at Coton, Cambridgeshire UK.

NT264

00Nov44 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF.30 Serial NT264 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 24^th of 43 aircraft built in the Serial Range NT241 to NT283.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Nov44 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

18Nov44 Aircraft received for acceptance checks and storage by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

04Dec44 Aircraft taken on charge with No.96 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Odiham, Hampshire.

07Dec44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Ford, West Sussex where it was issued to B Flight as RX-R.

12Dec44 1^st Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross flew the first NF.30 mission when they ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1825hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 2125hrs.

16Dec44 2^nd Operational Flight. FLTLT K.A Roediger and FLTLTR.J.H Dobson ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1815hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 30min patrol then returned to Ford at 2145hrs.

18Dec44 3^rd Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Ford at 0300hrs tasked for an anti-Heinkel diver patrol off the English east coast under control of Bawdsey GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr patrol then returned to Ford at 0600hrs.

25Dec44 4^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross ferried the aircraft to RAF Manston where the aircraft was refuelled and placed on readiness. The crew departed Manston at 1900hrs for a patrol over the battle areas of Belgium and Holland under control of a Continental GCI. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 35min patrol then returned to Ford at 2135hrs.

30Dec44 Aircraft moved from RAF Ford to new operating Base at RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire.

31Dec44 Aircraft flew four operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in Dec44

31Jan45 Aircraft made no flights in January 1945.

02Feb45 5^th Operational Flight. FLGOFF D.W Arnold and PLTOFF J.G Fleming departed Church Fenton at 2350hrs under the control of Patrington GCI tasked for an Anti-Intruder patrol 30km NE of Cromer, Norfolk. The crew completed an uneventful 3hr 10min patrol then returned to Church Fenton at 0300hrs.

03Feb45 6^th Operational Flight. WOFF B.F Moore and FLGOFF R.H Darke departed Church Fenton at 1930hrs under the control of Patrington GCI tasked for an Anti-Intruder patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 50min patrol then returned to Church Fenton at 2220hrs.

07Feb45 7^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Church Fenton at 2220hrs under the control of Patrington GCI tasked for an Anti-Intruder patrol over the Channel. The crew completed an uneventful 2hr 20min patrol then returned to Church Fenton at 0030hrs.

28Feb45 Aircraft flew three operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in Feb45.

16Mar45 Aircraft moved from Church Fenton to the Squadron’s’ new operating base at RASF Bradwell Bay on the Essex coast. The Squadron joined 151Sqn RAF and were known as the Bradwell Wing and were part of No.100 Group.

27Mar45 8^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Bradwell Bay at 1900hrs for a night ranger patrol to the Ingoldstaft region of Bavaria, Germany. Aircraft was fitted with two long range fuel tanks and armed with 4 x 20mm cannons. At 2045hrs the pilot aborted and returned to base when the starboard engine failed, landing Base at 2245hrs.

30Mar45 9^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Bradwell Bay at 1900hrs for a night ranger patrol to the Ingoldstaft region of Bavaria in Germany. Aircraft was fitted with two long range fuel tanks and armed with 4 x 20mm cannons. At 2300hrs the crew located and destroyed a truck on the Nördlingen to Donauwörth road; at 2305hrs they destroyed another truck near Donauwörth; at 2315hrs a third vehicle was destroyed near the village of Burgheim; finally, a fourth truck was destroyed near Dietersheim at 2326hrs. The crew completed the successful 5hr 10min patrol and returned to Base at 0210hrs.

31Mar45 Aircraft flew two operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in March 1945.

09Apr45 10^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Bradwell Bay at 2000hrs for a night ranger patrol in support of Bomber Command operations in northern Germany. Aircraft was fitted with two long range fuel tanks and armed with 4 x 20mm cannons. The crew were specifically tasked to interdict night fighter activity on airfields at Egestof in Lower Saxony and Schleswig in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The crew found both airfields blacked out and no other targets on the ground before completing the 5hr 20min patrol and returning to Base at 1120hrs.

13Apr45 11^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Bradwell Bay at 2025hrs for a night ranger patrol in support of 377 Lancasters and 105 Halifaxes of Bomber Command for a raid on Kiel, Germany. Aircraft was fitted with two long range fuel tanks and armed with 4 x 20mm cannons. The crew completed an uneventful 5hr 30min patrol and returned to Base at 0155hrs.

15Apr45 12^th Operational Flight. WNGCDR B. Howard and FLTLT J.R Ross departed Bradwell Bay at 2010hrs for a night ranger patrol in support of four Mosquito bombers of Bomber Command for a raid on Lechfeld aerodrome, Germany. Aircraft was fitted with two long range fuel tanks and armed with 4 x 20mm cannons. The crew completed an uneventful 5hr 20min patrol and returned to Base at 0130hrs.

26Apr45 13^th Operational Flight. WOFF B.F Moore and FLGOFF R.F Darke departed Bradwell Bay at 0015hrs as one of four 456Sqn Mosquitos tasked for a low level Ranger Patrol in the Munich area. Aircraft was fitted with two long range fuel tanks and armed with 4 x 20mm cannons. The crew completed an uneventful 5hr patrol and returned to Base at 0505hrs.

30Apr45 Aircraft flew four operational missions plus a number of non-operational flights in April 1945.

09May45 WNGCDR Basil Howard and FLTLT Jack Ross led a formation of twelve Bradwell Wing Mosquitos to the occupied Channel Islands as a show of force. The Bradwell formation then formatted with twenty-four additional Mosquitos from other Mosquito Wings. And the 36-strong aerial armada flew up the Thames Estuary to London then returned to Base.

10May45 WNGCDR Basil Howard and FLTLT Jack Ross departed Bradwell Bay leading six 456Sqn Mosquitos then formed up with another six from 151Sqn plus the Station Commander to overfly the Ruhr and inspect the bomb damage inflicted by the Allied bombing campaign.

29May45 WNGCDR B. Howard departed Bradwell Bay on a solo sortie to the Central Gunnery School at RAF Catfoss in Essex. Soon after take-off he lost an engine and returned to base. However, his undercarriage would not lock down forcing him to abort and go around. Approaching for his second attempt the other engine failed and he was forced to ditch in Blackwater River. Despite a textbook ditching the tail section broke off and the nose plunged under the water. Howard was evidently knocked unconscious and drowned in the wreckage. The aircraft and Howard’s body were recovered from the river three days later.

00Jun45 Aircraft struck off charge. De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito F.II Serial NT264 served with 456Sqn from 07Dec44 until 29May45, a period of just 173 days. During that period the aircraft flew thirteen operational flights plus an unknown number of non-operational flights. Total accumulated operational flight time was 48hrs 32min.

RAAF pilot 404787 Wing Commander Basil Howard DFC (30) born 06 July 1915 son of Mr and Mrs A. Howard of Seven Hills, Sydney NSW was KIA. He is buried in Section 4, Grave No. K 22 of the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright in Surrey UK. He is commemorated on Panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT; and, on the Roll of Honour in Seven Hills, Sydney.

Two portraits of 404787 Wing Commander Basil Howard DFC (L) and Squadron Leader Howard DFC (R).
Written on the reverse of the left photograph is
'Taken just after the landing the night we shot down the first Hun - note the thinning hair'.

NT299

00Nov44 De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF.30 Serial NT299 was manufactured to Contract No.1576/SAS/C.23 (a) dated 00Jul43 by the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd at their Leavesden factory in Hertfordshire, UK. The aircraft was the 5^th of 42 aircraft built in the Serial Range NT295 to NT336.

Powered by two 27-litre Rolls Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled two-stage supercharged V-12 piston aero engines fitted with exhaust flame dampers each developing 1,490 hp (1,111 kW) driving three-bladed De Havilland hydromatic propellers.

Armament was four 20-mm Mk.II Hispano-Suiza cannons mounted in the fuselage belly and four Browning .303 (7.7mm) machine guns mounted in the nose. Camouflaged overall Ocean Grey with disruptive Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on upper surfaces and sides, prop spinners were painted Medium Sea Grey.

00Nov44 First flight at Leavesden by a de Havilland test pilot.

27Nov44 Aircraft received for acceptance checks and storage by No.218 Maintenance Unit at RAF Station Colerne, Wiltshire.

16Dec44 Aircraft taken on charge with RAAF No.456 (NF) Sqn at RAF Station Ford, West Sussex where it was issued to A Flight as RX-D.

14Feb45 SQNLDR R.B Cowper DFC and FLTLT W. Watson DFC were on a night navigation exercise at 15,000ft when the starboard engine failed. They were directed to land at RAF Woodvale just south of Blackpool. The aircraft touched down successfully but then overran the short runway and ran onto the local golf course where the aircraft entered a bunker and ripped off the undercarriage then broke the spine of the machine. Both crewmen were uninjured but the aircraft was assessed as Cat.E/FA.

18Feb45 Aircraft struck off charge. While serving with 456 Sqn the aircraft did not fly any operational missions and flew an unknown number of training flights.

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PMcG 2025-03-10

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon