| Place. |
Date. |
Time. |
Summary of Events. |
Reference to Appendices. |
| Volkel | 2.8.20 | 21.15 | 'A' Flight moved to Asch airfield and mounted an evening sortie to counteract the morning's activity from the enemy. In near blizzard conditions in very dim light and a strong wind Sqn Ldr Merfort lead Red and Yellow sections to the airfield at Wahn southeast of Cologne. After Red section had destroyed the principle FLAK emplacements and strafed parked enemy aircraft, Yellow section carried out the main bombing run on the south side of the airfield. Low level bombing runs were carried out with great coolness and the majority of the E/A parked on that airfield were seen to have been totally destroyed. Six twin-engine bombers and three fighters at least were burnt out. On return Sqn Ldr Merfort had to put his a/c down in a field at Aachen due to his engine suffering FLAK damage and his front windscreen becoming badly oiled. The Squadron totay has reeked some revenge for the damage done to Allied airfields this morning by the Luftwaffe's misjudged attack. | |
| 7.8.20 | 21.15 | 'A' Flight again repositioned to Asch in order to mount a ground attack operation on trains at Venlo. Clear visibility in 2/10ths cloud in mild winds from the west. The Flight was heavily engaged over the target area and over their RV point at Munchen where pilots were lost. On recovering to base and preparing to land the remnants of the Flight were again attacked by enemy fighters. P/O Lamothe distinguished himself with three 109s destroyed and one shared destroyed. Sqn Ldr Merfort also put himeself on the scoreboard with 1 109 destroyed and 1 109 shared destroyed. | |
| | 22.22 | 'A' Flight mounted an early morning offensive sweep at first light from Le Culot to cover a B-25 bombing mission to Kelz airfield and the industrial areas at Zulpich. Clear skies, with light winds from the west. No enemy a/c were sighted, only the Mitchells were seen. Sqn Ldr Merfort who flew as Yellow Section leader was shot down by flak and his status is unknown. Flt Lt Emblin flying as Red One, Mitor Leader, also suffered considerable damage from flak to both his mainplane and engine but was able to coax his a/c to Liege where he put down safely. All other pilots recovered to Le Culot. | |
| 8.8.20 | 10.00 | Fantastic news has just come in from the local Resistance network. Sqn Ldr Merfort who was declared missing on this last mission has been found alive and well. He managed to bail out just in time as his a/c plummetted into the ground due to flak damage, his rudder had been completely removed and he lost all elevator control. He landed almost on top of his burning wreckage but was picked up almost immediately by our local partisan friends and returned hidden in a manure cart to us at Volkel. After a good bath he was treated to breakfast and a pint in the Mess. | |
| | 14.30 | The Squadron has been honoured today in the persons of P/O Lamothe and P/O Cook. P/O Lamothe has been Mentioned in Dispatches for yesterday's success in the air. P/O Cook has been awarded the DFC for his contributions on the 2nd August mission to Cologne-Wahn airfield. A party is being organised in the Officers' Mess for tonight when the Squadron is stood down. | |
| 9.8.20 | 3.00 | 'B' flight pilot's F/O 'Mac' Steele and F/O 'Zach' Z. Lamothe showed the paramount values of the RAF when they together shot down 6 enemy aircraft. During a early afternoon sortie, they engaged and destroyed 1 bandit. Upon return and repair of their aircraft, they went up again to seek out the hun. Using teamwork and cool composure they together destroyed 4 109's. Unfortunately, P/O Z. Lamothe, was shot down but has since safely returned after bailing out over friendly lines. P/O Z. Lamothe was swiftly avenged by, F/O Steele, and was sent in. During F/O Steele's voyage to return to base, F/O 'Mac' Steele spotted a lone 109 attacking Strassfeld airfield where he engaged and destroyed the enemy marking his 4th kill that day. The squadron is immensely proud. | |
| | 8.30 | Early this morning, P/O Z. Lamothe arrived by local allied army transport at our airfield. P/O Lamothe was embraced by his comrades who had since him being shot down earler the previous day, been worried of the well being of P/O Z. Lamothe. | |
| Lympne | | 15.00 | Another course running at the OTU for the new intake. Good standard from this bunch with some promising skills developing. | |
| Volkel | | 21.14 | Two sections repositioned to Y-29 at Asch in preparation for an airfield attack on Kelz. Blue Section led by Sqn Ldr Merfort headed out first to suppress the flak known to be in the area. Red Section led by Flt Lt Emblin loaded with 1000 lbs bombs and followed. Sqn Ldr Merfort experienced engine trouble again and had to return to base leaving P/O Steele to fly on alone. This Officer attacked the flak emplacements at Kelz with great determination and did considerable damage but was shot down and killed. Red Section was attacked by several Me 262s above the airfield and were not successful in destroying the enemy a/c parked there. Some were seen to be damaged only. Flt Lt Emblin attacked one of these JP a/c after dropping his bombs and destroyed it in the air. Red Section recovered back to Asch without further interference from the enemy. | |
| Volkel | 11.8.20 | | Early this morning, two ground attack sorties were conducted by 'B' flight with P/O A. Lamothe having gone MIA. The commitment P/O Lamothe had shown during his attacks was quintessential in the destruction of a locomotive and carriages. F/O Steele and P/O A. Lamothe's own brother, P/O Z. Lamothe, spoke highly of their wingman's indefatigable determination to getting the job done. The squadron's thoughts and prayer's lay with him in the chance that he may return to the squadron soon. | |
| Volkel | 14.8.20 | 5.15 | Earlier this evening, Blue flight with F/O 'Zach' Z. Lamothe and F/O 'Mac' Steele leading went on an offensive sweep over the bomb line between cities Rotterdam and Nijmegen. Northeast of Hertogenbosch, P/O ‘Z’ Lamothe had spotted what he believed to be the hun. He was correct, and blasted Jerry before he knew what hit him. Blue flight continued their sweep and probed over enemy positions to bring out the hun. No enemy a/c were were spotted aside from a flight of mustangs engaging a 109 which they had shot down. Blue flight returned without a scratch. | |
| 15.8.20 | 19.30 | To the delight of the squadron, P/O 'Al' A. Lamothe has returned to the squadron after day's behind enemy line's, evading enemy patrols and with some help from those in the resistance. His stories will be shared tonight in the messhall once the squadron is stood down later this evening by S/Ldr 'Skipper' Merfort in celebration of our comrades return. | |
| Koeln-Ostheim | 24.8.20 | 13.00 | Squadron transferred to Koeln-Ostheim in preparation for the afternoon flight in coordination with the No. 401 RCAF Squadron. F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards has returned from London after two weeks training additional recruits with the soon to be received Spitfire Mk. XIVs. | |
| | 21.00 | Unit operated under the command of F/O 'Mac' Steele in coordination with the 401 squadron and was tasked with attacking enemy fortified positions in the vicinity of Plettenberg. The chosen loadout included 500 lbs bomb. Although assesesment of the damage is yet to be received, F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards shot down 02 enemy aircraft over target area; both witnessed by P/O 'Al' A. Lamothe . All pilots returned safely back to base. | |
| Volkel | 28.8.20 | 13.00 | Flight transferred from Volkel to Ophoven in preparation for an operation to be conducted with the 150 Wing later on today. | |
| Ophoven | | 17.00 | Flight operated under the callsign BUMPER to provide air cover and a fighter sweep around the area of Venlo where an American supply column was moving to. BUMPER conducted a total of 03 sorties, commanded by F/Lt 'Riksen' Richards, and was quick to locate and identify the supply column along the northwestern road. The flight, however, encountered several enemies over the area and registered a total of 05 aerial victories during the operation but sustained heavy loses with 02 Spitfires being heavily damaged and 02 totally destroyed. 02 pilots, F/O 'Mac' Steele and F/O 'Zach' Z. Lamothe were KIA during the operation. Flight returned to Volkel at the end of operations. | |
