1944
The Second Phase!
It's Goodbye to the Stirling Boys and Welcome to No. 8 Group Pathfinder Force.
You can explore the second Phase and delve into this significant period in RAF Downham Market's aviation history.
As we say goodbye to the Stirling Boys
Summary Of Events
January 1944
01/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
01/02/01/44*
Operations: Gardening.: 1 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron see battle order.
02/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
03/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
04/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
04/05/01/44*
Operations: Pas de Calais - France : 11 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron and 7 A/C of 214 Federated Malay States Squadron.
05/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
06/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
06/07/01/44*
Operations: Gardening: 4 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron and 2 A/C of 214 Federated Malay States Squadron.
07/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
08/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
09/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
10/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
11/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
12/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
13/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
14/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
14/15/01/44*
Operations: Pas de Calais - France : 8 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron and 6 A/C of 214 Federated Malay States Squadron.
15/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
16/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
17/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
18/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
19/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
20/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
20/21/01/44*
Operations: Gardening: 3 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron and 2 A/C of 214 Federated Malay States Squadron.
21/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
21/22/01/44*
Operations: Pas de Calais - France : 12 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron and 4 A/C of 214 Federated Malay States Squadron.
22/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
23/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
23/24/01/44*
Operations: Gardening: 1 A/C of 214 Federated Malay State Squadron.
24/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
25/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
25/26/01/44*
Operations: Pas de Calais - France : 7 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
26/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
27/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
27/28/01/44*
Operations: Gardening: 14 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
28/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
28/29/01/44*
Operations: Gardening: 12 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
29/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
30/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
31/01/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
Summary Of Events
February 1944
01/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
02/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
03/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
04/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
04/05/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 2 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
05/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
06/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
07/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
08/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
08/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
10/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
10/11/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 4 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
11/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
11/12/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 3 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
12/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
12/13/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 8 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
13/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
14/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
15/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
15/16/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 13 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
16/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
17/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
18/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
18/19/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 8 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
19/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
20/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
20/21/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 6 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
21/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
21/22/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 5 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
22/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
22/23/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 10 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
23/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
24/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
24/25/02/44*
Operations: Gardening: 10 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
25/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
26/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
27/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
28/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
29/02/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
Summary of Events
March 1944
01/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
02/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
03/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
04/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
04/05/03/44*
Operations: Gardening: 2 A/C of 218 Gold Coast Squadron.
05/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
06/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
07/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: 2 A/C completed bombing practice at 1430 and 1 aircraft completed Attitude flying by 1315 hours. No Operations.
Movement of 218 Gold Coast Squadron to RAF Woolfox Lodge by Road and By Air
08/03/44. Weather: Cloudy at first. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet.
Station Commander of Marham Group Captain Wallace Hart Kyle met with Pathfinder Chief, Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett, who had flown in to Downham Market in his Proctor known as 'Gipsy Queen' with one PFF Staff Officer. From Bennett's private diary entry, "Great Meeting with Digger & Pluto at RAF Downham Market, " both men are ready for the new challenge. I am confident that both men are more than capable of getting the new squadron up and running. Flying Control Officer Squadron Leader Skan drove us around the station as we explored the airfield. I was most pleased to discuss the FIDO System's expansion. Neither Digger nor Pluto has had to land at an airfield with FIDO. I have discussed Fido's expansion plan and various technical buildings needed for a PFF Station with Skan and Digger. Mr. Redfern Foreman of French Ltd is aware of what's required for construction, and I will delay the Formation of 635 until the 20th of the month only.
The Staff Officer Bennett had brought with him was his Navigation Officer, Wing Commander Alan George Seymour Cousins, known to him as (Pluto), to take up the position of Squadron Commander for the soon-to-be 635 Squadron, equipped with Lancaster bombers.
Other Business: After the 218 Coast Coast squadron left, there was much focus on getting every building in good order for the PFF. AOC instructed the Contractors to French with a list of technical drawings of the structures required by the 20th of the month, a tall order but one that had to be done.
09/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Rain forecast later. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. No aircraft are currently stationed here; however, visitors to the station were the senior Staff Officers, Doc Mac Gowan, MO and Gunnery Leader Rathbone with 8 Group PFF
10/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Training: At 1100 hours, Several Mosquitoes from RAF Marham used the Main Runway to practice Stannard Approach. At 1400 hours, one Avro York Transport landed with vital Material for the French contractor. The Ministry of Petroleum arrived by Car with a survey team and a working party responsible for reference matters concerning FIDO. Air Vice Marshal Bennett arrived shortly after, also by car, with Charles Samuel French, Chairman of W. & C. French Ltd.
11/03/44
Weather: It rained in the morning and stopped midday. Visibility was good. Flight Line was 6-7000 feet.
Heavy construction equipment arrived at 1000 hours, and 500 labourers of all trades were hired by W. & C. French to carry out maintenance, building, drainage, and aircraft T2 hangar assembly.
12/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Visitors to the station were the senior Staff Officers, Doc McGowan, MO and Gunnery Leader Rathbone from 8 Group PFF HQ.
13/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Flight Control Test: Drem Lights and Station intercom tested.
Visitors to the station are from the PFF HQ, the Intelligence Office, Squadron Leader Shepheard, and Signal Officer Squadron Leader Harrison, who arrived by Car.
14/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Visitors to the station from PFF HQ were Group Photographic Officer Squadron Howard Lees and Group Met Officer Mr Thomas. The Met Officer set up with weather equipment and a general office.
15/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. T2 Hangar Construction is on the north-western side of the airfield next to an already installed T2 hangar.
16/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Briefing room refurbished. Blister Hangar was installed, and with the updated Bombing Tower, several new fusing huts were added to the Lough Covert area. Extension to Sick Quarter completed.
17/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. Extension to the security of the airfield defence completed. New Officers Mess completed. New General Stores building completed. Wing Commander Cousins and Group Captain Kyle inspect the airfield Technical Site/
18/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet.
19/03/44
Weather: Cloudy. Visibility: Good. Flight Line: 6-7000 feet. T
Captain
P/O.