John Custance Baker’s flight records

The flight records, which are quite long, are those of John Custance Baker who had so much trouble passing his medical examination.

Hilary had sent them in 2013. The notes are from Mike Cox’s research, and I want to give him full credit for his amazing research.

I formatted his notes and edited them on this blog that pays homage to his pilot and a very unlikely hero.

John Custance Baker

Do you remember how John had problems joining the RAF because doctors said he was not fit enough?

This week has been quietly progressive in morse and that floundering around I call dancing. Only I had a spot of bother with my Air Crew Selection Board, which consisted of a Group Captain (who wears a brass hat) a Squadron Leader and a pilot officer. They told me I wasn’t fit enough for Air Crew, so put me in as a Ground Wop: thereby undoing six weeks medical Board waiting. I went straight off to the C.O. (it took 5 days to get straight to him!) and said Wot the ‘ell or maybe I didn’t, and he recommen(?) me to the medical Board. I was receive there like the old friend I am and the cries of fury that went up against the C.S.B. were highly illuminating. The result of it all is that I am to have another medical and – if fit – be shoved up in front of another board. A good game played slowly.

I put in as an Observer, as I don’t think I would make a very good pilot. I doubt if I will make it as observer (navigation) as the maths standard is rather high, still it should be interesting if I can get it. They are in the élite of the bomber crews, as they have to be able to do everything that anyone else does. Anyway I may quite likely fail the 2^nd medical so I am just waiting now.

These flight records put all that John Custance Baker has done in the war in a quite different light of day.

Mosquito Mk IV (Profile Publications)

139 (Jamaica) Squadron

3 July 1943
139 Squadron moves to Wyton

25 August 1943

F/O E. A. F. Jackman and Sgt. J. C. Baker along with F/O J. Patient and Sgt. N. Gilroy posted to this unit from No. 1655 MTU (Mosquito Training Unit)

27 August 1943

Mission to Duisburg, Germany
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
4 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ423
take-off 20h39 – landing 23h59
flight duration: 3h20
– 1 Mosquito had to returned to base
– with Patient/Gilroy, crew reached target by Gee and DR (dead reckoning), both crew attacked, defences very slight

Mosquito Mk IV (Profile Publications)

Information taken from RAF Website

In the summer of 1943 No. 139 Squadron changed over to night raiding and joined the Pathfinder Force, its early work with the PFF consisting mainly of preceding waves of heavy bombers to drop Window (thin strips of metal foil) and so confuse the enemy’s early warning radar, and making “spoof” raids on other targets to divert enemy night fighters from the primary target attacked by the “heavies”. In 1944 it became an H2S-equipped Mosquito marker squadron and during the year visited a long list of the most famous targets in Germany – Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Mannheim, Hanover, Duisburg, Lübeck, and many others. Very many 4,000-lb. “cookies” were dropped on these targets in addition to TIs (target indicators) to guide the main force heavies. Amongst other duties the squadron inaugurated the “Ploughman” raids in which each aircraft dropped a single bomb on each of four different diversionary targets; and it lit the way for minelaying operations in the Kiel Canal.

29 August 1943

Mission to Cologne, Germany
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
4 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ423
take-off 02h20 – landing 05h39
flight duration: 3h19
– all Mosquitos bombed on Gee and DR (dead reckoning), opposition very slight, high cumulo-nimbus was main threat.

Mosquito Mk IV (Profile Publications)

2 September 1943

Mission to Duisburg
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
4 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ423
take-off 21h14 – landing 00h32
flight duration: 3h18
– 2 Mosquitos had to returned to base.
– bombed on Gee and DR from 28000ft with Patient/Gilroy – they returned early with R.D.F trouble (Range and Direction Finding), but bombed a searchlight concentration on Dutch coast before doing so. Overall, routine trip, no particular excitement

Mosquito Mk IV (Profile Publications)

4 September 1943

Mission to Duisburg
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
4 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ423
take-off 20h02 – landing 23h05
flight duration: 3h03
– 1 Mosquito had to returned to base.
– bombed from 28000 ft one aircraf had an encounter with a nightfighter, and one made an unorthodox and exciting departure from a searchlight cone. He regained control at 19000 ft and came home without further trouble.

14 September 1943

Mission to Berlin
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
8 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ476
take-off 19h40 – landing 22h29
flight duration: 2h49
– several aircraft returned to base early due to icing in heavy cloud
– attacked secondary target Emden
– due to heavy cloud with Patient/Gilroy, they attacked Berlin
– searchlights and moderate heavy flak

Note: one aircraft did not return, and one aircraft was hit eight times.

Note: 16 September 1943
Patient / Gilroy
Mission to Berlin  5 aircraft

Hit over target and feathered s/b engine. On stooge home was coned twice and lost a lot of height each time. Over Holland he was attacked by two FW 190s which pumped a good deal of cannon shells and machine gun bullets into his wings and fuselage. Eventually he staggered at low level to Manston where he made a good crash landing five minutes after his fuel had registered zero. Just as he came to a stop, a Typhoon nipped up behind him and removed the whole of his tailplane. Both a/c were written off. Fortunately nobody was hurt.

17 September 1943

Mission to Berlin
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
6 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ478
take-off 23h25 – landing 04h12
flight duration: 4h47
– bombed primary target, searchlights active, little flak – on whole, this was one of our least eventful Berlin raids

20 September 1943

Mission to Berlin
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
8 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ482
take-off 00h15 – landing 04h52
flight duration: 4h37
bombed from 29 – 30000 ft, hazy over target, no bomb bursts seen

22 September 1943 

Mission to Oldenburg
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
8 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ521
take-off 19h17 – landing 22h39
flight duration: 3h22
– Diversionery raid whilst main force was bombing Hanover, was marked for us by a small force of Lancasters, our crews bombed their markers, and dropped ones of their own
– With Patient/Gilroy, trip was almost unopposed

25 September 1943

Mission to Cologne
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
4 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ478
take-off 19h57 – landing 22h48
flight duration: 2h51
– primary attacked, very slight heavy flak, 10/10 cloud

3 October 1943

Mission to Hanover
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
10 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ478
take-off 1916 – landing 22h50
flight duration: 3h34
with Patient / Gilroy – 2 flew first of Mk. IXs flown by Squadron
– Diversionery raid, main force attacked Kassel, all aircraft carried window, TIs and bombs, a good concentration was achieved. A large number of fighters were there. Most successful spoof raid carried out thus far by Squadron.

Note: enemy Intruder a/c dropped some bombs on the aerodrome, and rendered one of our Mk. IXs cat. A/C

7 October 1943

Mission to Munich
Pilot: F/O Jackman– Navigator: Sgt Baker
10 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ482
take-off 21h49 – landing 02h30
flight duration: 4h31
– Anti morale raid, coinciding with two others – we drew off most of the enemy nightfighters – bombed primary target from 28000 ft, 10/10 cloud, heavy flak but low searchlights active, but ineffective below cloud

Note: 2 aircraft collided, one had nose smashed in and had to return due to cold, and the other had rudder virtually knocked off, but landed safely.

8 October 1943

Mission to Berlin
Pilot: F/O Jackman – Navigator: Sgt Baker
7 aircraft
Crew flying on Mosquito Mk IV DZ482
take-off 23h10 – landing 03h21
flight duration: 4h11
– TIs and window were dropped, coned for ten minutes, and hit in port engine nacelle, flak moderate, no fighters

No. 1409 Met Flight

Oakington:

22 October 1943         

Sgt. J.C. Baker Nav/Bw arrived on posting from 139 ( Jamaica ) Squadron.

25 October 1943         

Local flying
Pilot: F/O Joe Patient – Navigator: Sgt J.C.Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903
flight duration: 30 mins
15.45

4 November 1943           

Local flying
Pilot: F/Sgt H Addis – Navigator: John Baker
flight duration: 40 mins
15.10

8 November 1943           

Pampa
Pilot: F/O Dodwell – Navigator: John Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903
take-off  – landing 11h00 – 13h30
Hartland Point – Snowdon – Base

9 November 1943     

Monica test
Pilot: F/O Dodwell – Navigator: John Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito LR509
15 mins only
– a/c became u/s (unserviceable)

10 November 1943       

Pampa
Pilot: Dodwell – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903
take-off  – landing 07h15 – 11h15

Orleans – Chalons – Besancon – Amiens – Base

Note:
14 November 1943
Pampa
Pilot: P/O Clayton – Navigator: F/O John
Crew flying on Mosquito ML912

FTR
Mosquito reported to have been shot down in Lille area.
Reported missing
We hope they are alive, and are walking back!

22 November 1943    

Air test
Pilot: F/L V Moore – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903
30 mins

24 November 1943        

North Sea
stooge as Pampa
Pilot: F/L V Moore – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903

26 November 1943     

Pampa
Pilot: F/O Dodwell – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903
take-off  – landing 11h40 – 14h55
Liege – Saarbrucken – Paris – Base

26 November 1943    

F/O J M W Briggs Pilot arrived today on posting from 1655 MTU

F/O Briggs carried out a Monica test on ML918 taking 20 mins for the job

28 November 1943       

Monica test
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML918
take-off  – landing 14h45 – 15h25

29 November 1943         

Group routine order no. 202  dated 27/11/43 rec’d giving following extract from London Gazette no. 36245 of 12/11/43:

F/O to be F/L J M W Briggs DFM ( 47348 ) wef 7/11/43

29 November 1943
Height and Monica test
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML918
take-off  – landing 14h05 – 16h05

Note:
3 December 1943
Pampa to Nurnberg
Pilot: F/Sgt Addis – Navigator: Sgt Sharpe
Transmitted distress signals nr. Dieppe
Poor visibility
– crashed at Exeter just short of runway
– Both killed

Also:
5 December 1943
Pampa
Pilot: F/O Taylor – Navigator: P/O Burgess
radio’d shortly after takeoff
– a/c was damaged u/s, poor visibility, diverted to Marham on one engine,
– on approach he thought he was going to overshoot, went round again, and a/c swung and spun into ground
– Both killed

10 December 1943
Air test
Pilot: F/L V Moore – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML897
1 hour

11 December 1943
Practice Pampa
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML917
take-off  – landing 11h10 – 12h50

11 December 1943
Pilot: Moore / Briggs
Crew flying on Mosquito ML917
flew to Feltwell
15 mins
returned 1630
– had difficulty locking undercarriage down

13 December 1943
Air test
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML897
take-off  – landing 10h50 – 12h00

14 December 1943
Pampa for Pinetrees ( USAAC )
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML897
Egmond – Stendhal – Heligoland – Base
take-off  – landing 00h50 – 04h20

Rudder froze up for a while

16 December 1943
Air test and Pampa
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito LR509
take-off  – landing 11h50 – 13h50

Dungeness – pos 5130N0100E – Dungeness – Base

Landed poor visibility

19 December 1943
Air test
Briggs / F/L Clayes
Crew flying on Mosquito ML903
2 hrs 15 mins

20 December 1943
Pampa
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML897
take-off  – landing 11h05 – 12h55

– pos 5300N0300E – pos 5015N0100E – Base

24 December 1943
Pampa
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML917
0605

they returned 10 mins later – oxygen trouble

Then took ML897

Bruges – Amiens – St. Valery – Base
take-off  – landing 07h00 – 09h05

No flying Christmas Day or Boxing Day too ( hangovers )

28 December 1943         

Briggs / Clayes flew to Tempsford and ret.  LR509

30 December 1943         

1294883 Baker promoted to F/Sgt

31 December 1943         

Pampa ( USAAC )
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML917
take-off  – landing 02h40 – 06h30

Bayeux – Contau – Orleans – Meaux – Base

1944

5 January 1944             

Air test
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: F/Sgt Ashworth
Crew flying on Mosquito ML917
Flight duration: 1 hr

Air test
F/Sgt Roberts – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito XVI ML930
Flight duration: 30 min

6 January 1944             

Pampa ( USAAC )
Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito ML917
take-off  – landing 07h20 – 09h40

Bridport – Jersey – Cayeux – Dover – Base

8 January 1944 

Sqn. Moved to Wyton

8 January 1944             

Pilot: Briggs – Navigator: Baker
Crew flying on Mosquito XVI ML930
to Wyton
Flight duration: 15 mins

9 January 1944             

Briggs / P/O Izatt
flew to Oakington and returned
ML930
30 mins

Note:   Pampa to Dortmund
P/O Izatt / F/Sgt Baines
ML917

Port engine went u/s – spinner thrown off – damaged prop – lost height – flew through flak from Ruhr – when over North Sea, fire started in Gee equipment – extinguished using maps and charts – at low height now – avoided balloons on convoy – ditched a/c in Channel – crew picked up by two launches

24 January 1944           

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
XVI ML928
0115 – 0450
Texel – Hildesheim – Koblenz – Amiens – Base

25 January 1944           

stooge Pampa
F/Sgt Roberts / Baker
ML928

27 January 1944           

Local flying
Briggs / Baker
XVI ML930
20 mins

29 January 1944           

Briggs / P/O Ashworth
flew to Oakington and ret.
ML906
30 mins

29 January 1944           

Briggs / F/L V Moore
flew to Feltwell and ret.
ML906
45 mins

30 January 1944           

F/Sgt Roberts / Baker
Pampa
XVI ML930

5/2/44             

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML928
0230 – 0600

St. Valery – Noyon – Troyes – Tours – Jersey – Portland – Base

6/2/44            

Briggs / F/L Cowan
IX LR509
flew to Honeybourne and Little Rissington and ret.
1 hour

9/2/44        

Briggs / F/L Garvey
flew to Lulsgate Bottom and ret.
XVI ML928
3 and a quarter hours

12/2/44         

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
XVI ML928
0125 – 0450

Abbeville – Tours – St. Brieux – Base

Note:   16/2/44
F/O A Powell – Wiffen / P/O Ashworth
a/c crashed poor visibility near airfield
– crew dangerously ill
– Both died

17/2/44     

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
IX ML897
1054 – 1314

5430N0330E – 5430N0530E – 5430N0330E – Base

19/2/44    

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
XVI ML936
2345 – 0355

Namur – Koblenz – Kassel – Madgeburg – Hannover – Osnabruck – Rotterdam – Base

21/2/44  

Briggs / Baker
flew to Hatfield and ret.
XV DZ385
30 mins

24/2/44         

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
IX ML897

Nieuport – Koblenz – Mulhausen – Stendhal – Bersenbruck – Groningen – Haarlem – Manston ( to report ) – Base
0750 – 0605 ( Manston )
1105 – 1135

29/2/44    

Briggs / Baker
Mos XV  DZ385
flight to Oakington and return
1 hour

1/3/44       

Pampa
Briggs / Baker            ML930   1650 – 1940
checking cold front over northern England

2/3/44       

Briggs / F/O Oakes
XV DZ 385
flight to Grantham and ret.
1 hour

Note:
8/3/44
one flight – not Briggs and Baker –  fired on by our convoy, then attacked by two FW 190s

13/3/44      

Briggs / Baker   and LAC Sharples
Air Test
XVI  ML930
1 hour  landed at Oakington

15/3/44         

Briggs / Baker
Local flying
IX  LR509
1 hour

15/3/44        

Briggs
ferried
IX LR505
to Upwood
15 mins

18/3/44        

Briggs
ferried
LR509 to Upwood and return with P/O Mattock, – but first to Oakington and then to Base

19/3/44           

Air test
Briggs / Lt Copeland
ML934
30 mins

20/3/44           

Stooge trip to Isle of Man
Briggs / P/O Cash
ML936
looking at prefrontal conditions over the Irish Sea

20/3/44           

The appointment of  F/Sgt Baker to a commission w.e.f  25/2/44

24/3/44           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
0040 – 0420

Zutphen – Cloppenburg – Helinstedt – Nordhausen – Cloppenburg – Zwolie – Egmond – Base

24/3/44           

P/O Baker on grant of a commission w.e.f. 16/3/44

26/3/44           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
1025 – 1355

5515N0200E – 5515N0400E – 5240N0420E – Base

7/4/44             

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930

Alenoon – Laval – Rennes – Guemene – Roscoff – Exeter – Base

Baker became unwell – abandoned after 1 hr 20 mins flying

8/4/44             

Briggs / Cpl Fitt
Camera test
ML897
50 mins

8/4/44 again

Briggs / F/L Smith
to Cranfield and ret.
45 mins

9/4/44             

Local flying
Briggs / Baker
ML934
1 hour

11/4/44           

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
IX ML906
0200 – 0530

West Schouen – Hildesheim – Neuhaus – Ulzburg – Schleswig – Pellworm – Base

13/4/44           

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML897
0220 – 0610

Abbeville – Luxembourg – Kaiserlauten – Freiburg – Meaux – Dieppe – Base

Note:               24/4/44
Patient / F/L Dale
2 Pampas in one day – equalled F/Sgt Clayton’s record

25/4/44           

Air test
Briggs / P/O Cash
ML935
40 mins

26/4/44           

Pampa
Briggs / P/O Cash
ML936
1635 – 1935

27/4/44           

Pampa
Briggs / P/O Cash
ML897
2045 – 2230

28/4/44           

Local flying
Briggs / Cowan
ML934

29/4/44           

Air test
Briggs / Cash
ML936

29/4/44 again  Pampa
Briggs / Cash
ML936
1225 – 1535

1/5/44             

Air test
F/O Mattock / Baker
ML934
1 hour

1/5/44 again

Pampa
Briggs / Cash
ML936
1930 – 2055

4/5/44             

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936

Baker became unwell – returned to Base after 45 mins

Patient / Gilroy completed sortie

5/5/44             

Mattock / Briggs
flight to Henlow to collect an a/c    ML897

Mos VI  NT127
flown by Briggs from Henlow to Upwood

On landing at Upwood, one undercarriage leg collapsed and a/c was damaged  Cat. A/C

6/5/44                         

Briggs and Cowan and P/O Perry took off in an Oxford a/c to collect windshield equipment

8/5/44             

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
2 hours

Moll – Mons – St. Pol – Dieppe – Base

Near St. Pol an enemy plane tried to intercept but to no avail

9/5/44             

Briggs / F/L Cocheme
flew Oxford a/c to Docking and ret.
1 hour

10/5/44           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1800 – 1955

5020N0120E – Hazebrouck – Valenciennes – Zeebrugge – Base

11/5/44           

S.B.A Gee and temp gauge calibration test
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1.5 hours

12/5/44           

Air test
Briggs / Cpl Harrison
ML936

13/5/44           

Spoof raid on Brunsbuttel
3 a/c
Briggs / Baker in ML936
dropping 4 x 3 white reconnaissance flares at 0350
Briggs / Baker released at 10 sec intervals at 27000 to 29000 ft

14/5/44           

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML936
0830 – 1130

5500N0500E – Ameland – 5240N0730E – Egmond – Base

15/5/44           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
0425 – 0755

Zeebrugge – Zell – Koblenz – Warburg – Minden – 5320N0940E – Bremerhaven – Base

Light flak observed near Bonn

17/5/44           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
0045 – 0350

5420N0600E – Westerhever – Schwerin – Celie – Egmond – Base

Gee became u/s

20/5/44           

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML934
0020 – 0420

Dunkirk – Maubeuge – Mainz – Annweilen – Beauvais – Cayeux – Base

Had trouble locking undercarriage down

21/5/44           

Stooge Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1635 – 1935

5600N0500E – 5500N0100E – Base

to investigate a weak frontal system

24/5/44           

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML935
2340 – 0340

Le Treport – Dijon – Stuttgart – Verdun – Dunkirk – Base

10 June 1944           

Air test
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1 hour

10/6/44 again  Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML930
2245 – 0235

Hastings – Beauvais – Chartres – St. Nazaire – 4700N0500W – Ile D’owessant – Bridport – Base

12 June 1944           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
2238 – 0238

Den Helder – Werden – Gifhorn – Neustadt – Neuhausen – Heligoland – Base

13 June 1944           

Air test after engine change
Briggs / Baker
ML936
30 mins

14 June 1944     

Monica test
Briggs / F/L Hedgeland
ML897

15 June 1944           

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1145 – 1445

Reading – Taunton – 5000N0600W – 5100N0800W – Hereford – Base

17 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1530 – 1840

Egmond – Enkhuizen – Vlieland – 5400N0520E – 5500N0700E – 5500N0200E – Base

Note: F/O J Patient posted to RAF Upwood. P/O N Gilroy to 1655 MTU for temporary instructor duties pending posting.

18 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1030 – 1515

North Foreland – Calais – North Foreland – Dunkirk – North Foreland – Gravelines – North Foreland

Note: six Pampas carried out in one day

19 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
0535 – 0720

Orfordness – St. Annaland – Bruges – Orfordness – Base

19 June 1944

again   Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1830 – 2010

to 5400N0030E – 5300N0030E – Base

21 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1030 – 1400

to 5600N0000 – 5500N0500E – 5330N0400E – Base

22 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1055 – 1420

North Foreland – Dunkirk – Bruay – Cayeux – Base

24 June 1944

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML930
0220 – 0615

Cuxhaven – Celie – Dahmoshoved – Nordburg – Romo – Base

24 June 1944

Briggs / LAC N Cooke took off for Wormingfold and ret.
ML906
30 mins

25 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1140 – 1430

Caen – Montauban – Lannion – Base

27 June 1944

Pampa patrol of the Buzzbomb area
Briggs / Baker
0800 – 1140

Bacqueville – Conteville – Le Touquet – Base

Note:   27 June 1944

Message received from Bomber Harris about the vital work the Flight is carrying out, and keep it up!

29 June 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML934
0550 – 1750??

Fecamp – Formeric – Cayeux – Base

referred to by John Baker as a pleasant “ beachcomber “

29 June 1944

again  Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML934
2359 – 0214

Cayeux – Beauvais – Fecamp – Base

Located frontal system in Channel, not without awe – inspiring static in cumulus cloud, and reported on return

Note: record month – seventy six sorties!

1 July 1944

Stooge Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1000 – 1310

Reading – 5030N0600W – 4830N0700W – 5000N0300W – Base

2 July 44

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
1625 – 2000

Lyme Regis – Lannion – Le Sel – Antrain – Cande – Argeuil – Dieppe – Orfordness – Base

Crossing out near Dieppe at low level, an enemy m.g ( machine gun? ) put a bullet through the starboard tyre and wing petrol tank. This fact was not discovered until the a/c swung off the runway on landing, due to the burst tyre.

3 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML934
1225 – 1525

Lannion – Quintin – Alderney – 5110N0150E – Orfordness – Base

4 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1640 – 1950

Lyme Regis – 4850N0500W – Morlaix –Vihiers – Tours – Laigle – Argeuil – Dieppe – Hastings – Base

5 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1730 – 1940

Caen – Exreux – Cayeux – Base

6 July 1944

Pampa patrol
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1215 – 1415

Gravelines – Aubigny – Formerie area – Orfordness – Base

8 July 1944

Pampa

Briggs / Baker
0255 – 0700

5000N0600W – 4800N0600W – 4600N0520W – Bridport – Base

John Baker declares “ a night stooge is a wearisome thing! “

8 July 1944

Local flying
Briggs / F/L Mattock  in DH Dominie NF892
1 hour

8 July 1944

Local flying
same crew
30 mins

8 July 1944

Three flights in DH Dominie NF892 were made by Briggs co-operating on exercise “ Splinter “ ?  all 30 mins, with 1 Cpl, 5 LACs, 8 ACs as passengers
2300 – 0035

9 July 1944

Briggs with S/L Sibley, F/Os Willis and Baker as passengers, took off in DH Dominie NF892 for 1 hour flying time

10 July 1944

Pampa patrol
Briggs / Baker
ML897
0050 – 0405

Brionne – Rouen – Boulogne – Aubigny area

11 July 1944

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML930
0015 – 0425

Coxyde – Charleroi – Stenay – Freiburg – Landsburg – Luxembourg – Charleroi – Douai – Coxyde – Base

11 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
1555 – 1810

Orfordness – North Foreland – Calais – Arras – Gournay – St. Valery – 5020N0000 – 5050N0120E – Orfordness – Base

12 July 1944

Air test
P/O V Miles / Briggs
ML906

landed at Stanton Harcourt at 1145 hours – brakes failed – a/c sustained damage to tail plane

Note: “ Snooper “ operations being carried out to photograph raids, and the results of raids

21 July 1944

Air test
Briggs / ACW1 J Powel and Cpl Chaplin     NS536
50 mins

22 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1115 – 1305

Pas de Calais area:  Orfordness – Dunkirk – Abbeville – Cayeux – Littlehampton – Base

23 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
1630 – 1940

Cromer – 5400N0500E – 5430N0730E – 5540N0750E – 5630N0710E – 5630N0400E – Cromer – Base

Note: Kiel afterwards received 3000 tons of bombs during a visit from Bomber Command.

24 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1545 – 1845

to 5410N0500E – 5350N0730E – Flensburg – Sylt – 5510N0720E – Base

25 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1515 – 1830

Happisboro – 5430N0640E – Olgod – Kolding – Pellworm – 5430N0640E – Base

26 July 1944

Air test of Gee
Briggs / LAC W J Taylor
ML936

26 July 1944

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
NS536   2235 – 0255

Bruges – Mauberge – Freiburg – Mindelheim – Stuttgart – Nancy – Charleroi – Base

Had an accompaniment of almost continuous lightning at one point, and very turbulent with continuous lightning at another. The A.S.I iced up and the P.4 compass was later found to have a deviation of over 20 degrees.

27 July 1944

S/L Bicknell and Briggs and Baker took off for Stanton Harcourt and ret.           ML930
One and a quarter hours flying

28 July 1944

Pampa patrol
Briggs / Baker
ML934
0345 – 0615

Boulogne – Aire – Le Touquet area

Performed the hazardous task of measuring the stratus between 1100 feet and 1700 feet in the Pas de Calais area. Fortunately without incident, the enemy either being asleep, or unwilling to show their hand.

30 July 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML934
0125 – 0345

Littlehampton – Fecamp – Pont Audener – Argentan – Avranches – 4915N0300W – Base

On leaving the Cherbourg peninsular, the port engine cylinder head temperatures became very high. The engine although throttled back, caught fire. It was at once feathered and the fire subsided. A landing was made at Exeter at 0345 where a glycol leak was found to be the cause. The crew were ferried back by the USAAC in a C-47

30 July 1944

Pampa ( USAAC )
Briggs / Baker
ML935
2345 – 0025

returned with bad engine surging – took off 10 minutes later in ML897 to complete the sortie.

Orfordness – Bruges – Saarbrucken – Landsberg – Freiburg – Metz – Abbeville – Ford (where they landed to report), base and elsewhere being covered with low stratus or fog 0035 – return from Ford at 0930

Note: end of month – Sqn. undertook 100 sorties

1 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1325 – 1555

Orfordness – Calais – then a patrol of Douliens – Aumale – Le Treport area – Orfordness – Base

Remarks – “ the D.P compass turned rapidly in a clockwise direction throughout, the Gee was u/s, and the Bomber Command fixer service were paralytic! “

2 August 1944

Air test
Briggs
Oxford DF347
30 mins

3 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1435 – 1615

Orfordness – Dunkirk – St. Omer – Le Touquet – Orfordness – Base

a VHF report being made

6 August 1944

Air test
Briggs / Cpl J Harrison
NS536
40 mins

6 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1620 – 1840

Lyme Regis – Alderney – Mortain – Boissy – Havre – Littlehampton – Base

8 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1655 – 1915

Fecamp – Bernay – Elbeuf – Peronne – Boulogne – Base

9 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1600 – 1930

Cromer – 5430N0400E – 5410N0600E – Rendsberg –  Nienberg – Meppen – Vlieland – Cromer – Base

Successful photos were taken of a jet aircraft base, not yet in operation; a fact that the navigator considers “ a good thing! “

10 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
0445 – 0730

Fecamp – Châteaudun – Fontainebleau – Soissons – Amiens – Dunkirk – Base

10 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
0930 – 0945

Recalled after 15 mins

10 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
1515 – 1830

3^rd time in air
Bridport – Ile de Batz – Quimper – 4700N0400W – 4600N0300W – Quimper – Ile de Batz – Bridport – Base

11 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
1225 – 1505

5350N0300W – 5420N0550W – 5350N0300W – Base                                         to investigate cold frontal system – Irish Sea

14 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
0255 – 0505

Selsey Bill – Barfleur – Granville – Couterie – Caudebec – St. Valery – Base

16 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
0325 – 0715

Bridport – Ile D’ouessant – 4700N0500W – 4614N0215W – Vibraye – Sainte Gauburge – Coutances – Barfleur – Base

16 August 1944

Briggs / P/O Youngman and F/O Southall took off in Oxford V4280 for Exeter and ret. 1030 – 1415

Youngman and Southall collected ML934 which had been repaired after the fire of 30/7/44

17 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1045 – 1440

Bridport – Lannion – Quimperie – 4500N0150W – Mortagne – Le Mans – Bayeux – Base

18 August 1944

Briggs / Baker
ML897
2335 – 0240

A special trip to bomb and photograph Bremen after an attack by the heavies.The route was to 5410N0545E – Rutenbrock – Bremen – 5400N0800E – 5410N0545E – Base. Bombing was well concentrated, fires were found burning, with smoke up to 25000 ft, and the 4 x 500 lb G.P bombs were dropped at 0105, the photographs being taken at the same time, from 20000 ft.

21 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / F/O E Southall
ML897
1100 – 1455

Note above. Long stooge to Bridport – 4920N0440W – 4820N0500W – 4700N0400W – 4600N0200W – Mortagne – Coutances – Selsey Bill – Base

21 August 1944

Pampa
P/O R Youngman / Baker
ML906
1445 – 1720

Note above. Bridport – 4910N0440W – Bourbriac – Ile de Bas – Bridport – Base

24 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1340 – 1845

5400N0600E – Westerhever – 5500N1030E – 5510N1700E – Peenemunde – Schwerin – Brunsbuttel – Heligoland – Base

25 August 1944

A.V.M DTC Bennett (Head of 8 Group Pathfinders) Pilot / S/L L.R Hastings Nav took off in ML936 for S W England 1202 – return 1817

27 August 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1200 – 1450

Bridport – 4900N0400W – Brest  4800N0400W – 4800N0600W – Bridport – Base.

Obliques and a line overlap (photos) were taken at Brest where smoke from bombing attacks on the Garrison was mixed with 1/10 of cumulus

29 August 1944

Another Bennett flight in ML906 S W England with W/C Dunnicliffe as nav.

9 September 1944

Briggs / P/O E Perry took off for West Raynham and ret. in Oxford a/c AB959              1 hour

10 September 1944

Bennett and S/L Hastings flight
ML934

11 September 1944

Air test and photography tests
Briggs / Cpl Chaplin
ML934
two and a quarter hours

12 September 1944

Air test
Briggs / Cpl Palmer
ML935
15 mins

12 September 1944

2 a/c including Briggs / F/O J Fawcett of 128 sqn. dropped window, 4 x 500 lb G.P bombs, and took photos of a Bomber Command target at Dortmund
1655 – 1945

13 September 1944

Briggs / Cpl Swain
ML936
camera test and some photography
40 mins

15 September 1944

Air test
Briggs / Cpl Harrison
ML936 fitted with paddle blade airscrews
30 mins

16 September 1944

P/O J C Baker promoted to rank of Flying Officer w.e.f. 25/8/44

16 September 1944

Briggs / S/O Maclean took off for Lyneham and ret. to deliver special photographs
50 mins

17 September 1944

A Snooper mission to photograph a Bomber Command attack on three aiming points at Boulogne
Briggs / Baker
0805 – 1035

The marking and bombing were well concentrated, and good photos were obtained.

17 September 1944

Bennett and G/C Collings
Local flying
ML897
2 hours

17 September 1944

Briggs / S/L Bicknell took off for Berrow and ret. in Oxford V 4280
1.40 hours

19 September 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
0915 – 1215

Katwijk – Arnheim – Duren – Ahrweiler – Wiltz – Namub – Ostend – Base

Photos were taken of a very suspicious contrail nr. Cologne. This was almost vertical with its base at about 30000 ft.

21 September 1944

S.B.A practice
Briggs / Baker
ML936
40 mins

23 September 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1130 – 1700

Long stooge to 5100N1000W – 5300N1600W – 5430N1000W – 5430N0500W – 5300N0300W – Base

26 September 1944

Bennett
Local flying
ML897

27 September 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
0425 – 0730

5430N0800E – 5400N0820E – 5340N0800E – 5450N0730E – 5400N0600E – Base

28 September 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1730 – 2000

Cap Gris Nez – runs were made below cloud at 2,800 ft.

30 September 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML936
0105 – 0310

Cromer – Texel – Sneek – Breda – 5140N0320E – Southwold – Base

30 September 1944

S/L Bicknell / Baker had one hours dual? in Master? FT360
1010 – 1110

4 October 1944

AVM Bennett / Baker took off for Chartres and ret. in ML934
1155 – 1700

Note: How about that!  Baker flew with, and navigated for, the head of                            8 Group (Pathfinders)!

4 October 1944

Air test
Briggs / LAC Sharples
ML935
1555 – 1630

5 October 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML936
2130 – 0035

Saarbrucken   3 x 500 lb G.P bombs were carried with a green TI flash

6 October 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML936
1910 – 2245

Dortmund       carried same as above

7 October 1944

Long Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML906
1250 – 2020 ( Base )

Littlehampton – Toulouse – Sete – Avignon – Bourges – Orleans – Fecamp – Tangmere

( landed – reported ) – Base

Note: over Switzerland! and France.  Flying time 6.05 hours!

9 October 1944

Air test
Briggs / Cpl Chaplin
ML897

10 October 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1025 – 1300

Ijmuiden – Mepped – Haus – Asch – Ghent – WestKapelle –        Base

Some low level photos were taken of “ radar “ installations at WestKapelle, some light flak was experienced at Walcheren

10 October 1944

Air test
Briggs / LAC Sharples
ML934
30 mins

11 October 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1035 – 1255

Orfordness – Overflakkee – Wesel – Aachen – Liege – Louvain – Bruges – Base

14 October 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
0035 – 0315

Rotterdam – Huy – Ypres – Le Touquet – Base

15 October 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML897
0325 – 0550

Duisberg        H + 60            two large concentrations of fires were seen, and nav reported two rather wobbly searchlights!     4 x 500 lb bombs were carried

15 October 1944

F/L J M W Briggs was awarded the DFC, – London Gazette No 36745, dated 13/10/44

15 October 1944

Briggs / S/L Bicknell took off for ST. Athan and ret. in Oxford AB754
2 hours

21 October 1944

F/O J C Baker was awarded the DFC, – London Gazette No 36750,

dated 17/10/44

26 October 1944

Air test
Briggs / Baker
ML934
1 hour

27 October 1944

Air test
Briggs / Cpl Bradley
ML934
30 mins

27 October 1944

2^nd Air test of ML934
Briggs / Cpl Chaplin

28 October 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML897
0245 – 0445

Overflakkee – Woensdiecht? – Ghent – Base

28 October 1944

Air test
Briggs
ML930
15 mins

29 October 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
1600 – 1955

Coxyde – Bar le Duc – Freiburg – Augsburg – Frankfurt – Liege – Antwerp – Base

30 October 1944

Air test and practice photography
Briggs / Cpl Sharples
ML897
45 mins

31 October 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
NS536
1210 – 1530

Texel – Warburg – Marburg – Fulda – Koblenz – Ostend – Base

2 November 1944

Briggs / S/L G Turner took off for St. Athan and ret.
ML934
1.30 hours

Also Air test NS536   same crew

3 November 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML935
1115 – 1300

5200N0300E – 5300N0300E – 5300N0100W – Base

4 November 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML934
1910 – 2155

Bochum
3 runs over target were made, – H + 45, H + 50, H + 70 – fires were visible 200 miles away at Orfordness

6 November 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML930
0400 – 0755

Lannion – Rennes – Le Mans – Amiens – Brussels – Liege – Ijmuiden – Base

10 November 1944

Briggs / Baker in ML934 took to the air to photograph ML897 – has completed over 150 sorties – S/L Bicknell / F/O Saunders in ML897

They were foiled as ML897 developed engine trouble

11 November 1944

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
ML934
1140 – 1500

Westerhever – Itzroe? – Verden – Hengelo – Venraij – The Hague – Base

Note: Pampa from Sumburgh by McLaren and Lymburner enabled the Tirpitz attack which sunk her

13 November 1944

Success!!
Briggs / Baker in ML934 and S/L Bicknell / Cpl Harrison in ML897  – Photos!!

17 November 1944

Briggs / Baker departed for Watton in ML935 to cooperate with USAAC on question of Monica

18/11/44

Briggs landed in ML934 having left Watton to go to Manston to collect crew

19 November 1944

Air test and SBA test
Briggs / Sgt Cowing
ML934
30 mins

20 November 1944         

Briggs / Baker and F/O Higgings to Watton in ML935, but returned after 10 mins due to engine trouble

21 November 1944

Air test
Briggs / Baker
MM229
35 mins

21 November 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
2030 – 2340

Sterkrade       3 x 500 lb G.P bombs and one TI flash were dropped         –  4 runs over target

23/11/44

Stooge Pampa
Note: S/L Bicknell / Baker
ML897
0130 – 0345

Birmingham – Pembroke – Lizard – Base

24/11/44

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
NS536
1120 – 1450

Bruges – Namur – Koblenz – Kassel – Celle – Tekel – Base

26 November 1944

Stooge Pampa
Briggs / Baker
1035 – 1340

5530N0700W – Pembroke – Base

27 November 1944         

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML930

Neuss 3 runs, H+60, H +88, no bombs carried – on return a/c did not respond to controls properly at low speeds on approach, and after several attempts a landing was made. The a/c swung and crashed at 23.05. No damage or hurt to crew. Baker observes: “this does not create a precedent for this type of landing! “

28 November 1944         

Pampa
Briggs / Baker
NS536
2120 – 0005

Happisborough – Arnhem – Mons – Cayeux – Beachy Head – Reading – Base

29 November 1944

Briggs / Baker took ML897 to Little Snoring and ret.         30 mins

30 November 1944

Snooper
Briggs / Baker
ML897
1105 – 1355

Duisburg        Oboe led attack          4 x 500 lb G.P bombs dropped

4 December 1944

Briggs took Oxford to Hatfield and ret.       3 passengers
40 mins

4 December 1944

Briggs took NS734 to Upwood and ret.
30 mins

6 December 1944

Air test and radio altimeter calibration check
A–Able  NS747
30 mins

7 December 1944

Pampa

Briggs / Baker
H-How  NS536
0950 – 0240?

Orfordness – Ostend – Sedan – Aachen – Tilburg – Hook of Holland – Haisborough – Base

7 December 1944         
Air test and altitude calibration test  Briggs / Baker
A-Able NS747

Note: 14/12/44
F/O N Gilroy, Joe Patient’s nav started his second tour with the Flight

4 January 1945             
F/L JMW Briggs (47348 ) Pilot, and F/O JC Baker (172487 ) Nav / Bw proceeded on a posting to HQ Training Command

17 April 1945       
1445
Briggs / Baker set out for Prestwick in “C” NS733, but returned after 15 mins. They left again in “F” NS734 at 1555. Including return journey they were in the air for 2 hours 25 mins

4 July 1945
The Flight moved to Upwood

10 October 1945   
The Flight moved to Lyneham

RAF Pathfinders

https://rafpathfinders.com/

Excerpt

In The Right of the Line, the historian John Terraine wrote that Bomber Command’s ‘first and everlasting enemy’ was the weather. Throughout the Second World War, guessing what the weather would do was a central preoccupation of the Command, and considerable effort was devoted to making forecasts as accurate as possible.

The Path Finder Force was a small but vital facet of Bomber Command. Created in August 1942 to improve bombing accuracy, it led the other squadrons of Bomber Command, collectively known as Main Force, by marking the routes and bombing targets. So vital was the Pathfinders’ job that on 1 April 1943, after some months of campaigning by their Air Officer Commanding, Donald Bennett, the PFF acquired its own meteorological flight.

The Tragedy

https://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/chronicles/f-for-freddie-calgarys-ve-day-tragedy/amp/

1409 Met Flight

1409 Met Flight

de Havilland Mosquito B Mk.IV

A model kit by a master modeler

Plane Dave

A famous and well regarded type both during the War and after, the Mosquito filled a wide variety of roles.

Let’s take a look at a pure bomber variant.

View original post 749 more words

75 years ago on April 2nd, 1943

Updated 19 February 2021

See comment section

---

Courtesy Raymond Haffner via Sheila Spencer

Maurice Briggs was being presented with his pilot wings at No. 37 Service Flying Training School in Calgary.

Maurice Briggs

 

Courtesy Raymond Haffner via Sheila Spencer

Maurice is being presented with his pilot wings at No. 37 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, on April 2 1943.

Courtesy Raymond Haffner via Sheila Spencer

The Lancaster Guardian and Observer – Friday, 18 May, 1945

Courtesy Sheila Spencer

Sheila’s Contribution to Honouring Maurice Briggs

The photo of Maurice Briggs in his RAF uniform is a really nice one isnt it. He looks quite young there, I wonder if he had just got his wings ?

In the photo of him with the Haffner brothers – Raymond Haffner is the young boy at the left, George Haffner is in the middle and Maurice Briggs is on the right. It was taken on the doorstep of Maurice’s home, Bank House, Holme in Cliviger. The date is shown as circa 1936 on the back of the photo.

Sheila

I have so often sat and looked at his memorial and wondered who he was…

THEY FLY IN SEARCH OF WEATHER

By Squadron Leader WILLIAM SIMPSON, D.F.C.

BEFORE Mr. Churchill flew to Yalta for the Crimea Conference, a Mosquito took off from an airfield near the centre of England. It flew over a part of the Premier’s route, and brought back a detailed report.

Its pilot and navigator did not know the importance of their flight until Mr. Churchill reached his destination.

For they were aircrew of Bomber Command’s Mosquito Met. Flight, which has often made eye-witness weather reports for Very Important Persons. When the King visited the Mediterranean he was preceded by a weather-observing Mosquito.

I have just returned from a visit to the Mosquito Met. Flight. I talked to its commander and his pilots and navigators. They told me some of their secrets, and gave their impressions.

Picked men

These men are young in years, but old in flying experience. Most of them have done a tour of operations. Many of the pilots have 2,000 or more flying hours to their credit. Both they and the navigators are picked men.

Ranging from Norway to the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic to beyond Berlin, they have accumulated weather lore vital to the success of a wide variety of operations. They visited fiords and reported favourable conditions for Lancasters to attack —and sink—the Tirpitz. They were very busy before D Day, confirming the weather data worked out by exports on the ground.

Their reports are dovetailed into a complete and complicated plan, involving ships at sea, met. stations at home and abroad, and aircraft of other R,A.F. commands. The result is an assessment of weather second to none in range and accuracy.

Over the target

Perhaps the most important of the Met. Flight’s many services is its last-minute report of conditions over the target before large-bombing attacks are made against Germany. And this is how a crew operates.

At least one complete crew—pilot and navigator—is always standing by at readiness. The telephone rings, A Mosquito is ordered to reconnoitre the route to the ” Target for Tonight,” and check the height of clouds, visibility and other details.
The chosen crew do not wait to work out their courses. The first is prepared for them by another navigator, who, at the last minute, hands it into the aircraft with a log and maps.

Only a few minutes elapse between the telephone call and the take-off. It is still daylight, and as the Mosquito climbs on its way to Germany the crew are noting weather conditions and completing navigational details.

They climb high. A pressurised cabin and oxygen sustain them at great heights. Above the clouds they make notes of cloud type and intensity. And sometimes they come down to look for layers of clear air between the clouds through which the bomber force might fly unseen from below or above.

Icing can be a greater danger than enemy fighters and flak, so they fly through clouds in which icing conditions are expected. They court ice, for the speed of a Mosquito is a safety factor in ice conditions that will menace the heavy bombers of the attacking force.

May be recalled

They may have to climb to 30,000 feet through cloud before reaching clear air ; only to descend later almost to the ground, still in the cloud, in the vain search of clear air over the target. Bombing operations will be cancelled on the strength of unfavourable Mosquito met. reports.

It may be dark when they land at base. The navigator makes straight for the telephone and reports to met. officers concerned who are linked with his line.
This will take at least 15 minutes. Sometimes it lasts for an hour. If the attacking force is already in the air and the report tells of unsuitable weather, a recall order will be sent out to the bombers by radio. So the Met. Flight cannot afford to make mistakes. Their work, so thorough has won them the congratulations of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris.

Each crew writes a short report of its own for the flight record. This is done in a light vein, full of dry humour and understatement. Flying most of the time in, broad daylight, very high above enemy territory, they are relatively safe from flak and fighters. Anyway, they can outstrip normal German fighters and out-manoeuvre the jets.

Sometimes they watch Fortresses attacking., below them, or, on their way home, meet the Lancasters flying out at sunset. They carry cameras, and a fine collection of photographs of typical—and some freak cloud formations decorate the flight walls.

Reasons of security prevent me from recording names of aircrew still on met. ops. But I can state briefly the record of one past crew as an example of the general spirit.

The pilot, Flight-Lieutenant Maurice Briggs, D.F.C., D.F.M.; of Silverdale, Westmorland, completed a tour of bomber ops. as a rear gunner before joining the Met. Flight, His navigator, Flying-Officer John Baker, D.F.C., was born of British parents in Malaya.

Perfect team

They flew together on over 100 met. ops. Their Mosquito, D-Dog, has 170 ops. to its credit— a striking testimonial to the fine maintenance work of ground crew of all trades. Throughout their long tour they worked as a perfect team. Their flights were often eventful and dangerous, their reports terse and confined to fact.

When all other aircraft of Bomber Command were grounded during the recent heavy snows, the met. boys continued to operate. For they must fly in all kinds of weather in the interests of accuracy and safety of the bombers they serve.

To keep them in the air means hard and conscientious work for the ground crew. The commanding officer told me that hours of work are determined only by the time it takes to keep each Mosquito perpetually on the top line.
.
General Eisenhower paid a tribute recently to the importance of accurate weather forecasting and reporting to combined operations. Weather is an even more important consideration to airmen. Wind speeds and directions must be known for navigation icing means danger to air crews and control surfaces; and electrical storms and fog at base are further menaces.

In all weathers

The R.A.F. Meteorological Service imposes many tasks on flying men, Climbs must be made in all weathers to record height of cloud tops, temperatures and pressure. Coastal Command send aircraft out to report the weather from the Arctic and the Atlantic, Norway and points far south.

And when you hear—as you did last week—that 6,000 aircraft had attacked Germany, remember the Mosquito met. boys who go out ahead, deep into the heart of enemy territory, to make sure that the attack will be a success.

And if by chance – Redux

This is the first post on this blog that pays homage to mostly unsung heroes. I don’t have many followers, and I did not write much about unsung heroes since 2015. And if by chance was written in 2013, and this is the original post.

---

And if by chance I am killed, then you must just take a little more concern in your own lives and those of Barton & Alan & their offsprings. Mourning is of no use & there could be no better thing to die for. […]
Very Best Love from John.

This is an excerpt of an article written by Hilary Custance Green. At first I wanted to post it on my blog about RAF 23 Squadron.
But then I changed my mind.
This very unlikely hero deserves more than just a post on a blog paying homage to 23 Squadron in WWII which already has more than 200 articles.
Much more.

A Very Unlikely Hero

Flying Officer John Custance Baker DFC & Bar,
3 May 1921
10 May 1945

And if by chance I am killed, then you must just take a little more concern in your own lives and those of Barton & Alan & their offsprings. Mourning is of no use & there could be no better thing to die for. […]
Very Best Love from John.