AIR-27-761-49
Bathurst 1943 MARCH
GAMBIA 3rd Advance party of 5 officers, 12 sergeants and 42 other ranks arrived by air from JUI, FREETOWN
5th Wing Commander P.R. HATFIELD arrived by air form U.K.
5th HALF DIE 1105
CONVOY ESCORT Sunderland H/95 (?) escorted a Northbound Convoy comprising 5 MVs, 1 Battleship and 5 Destroyers. Aircraft returned at 2215 hours. Nothing in report.
8th OFFICIAL DATE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS FROM BATHURST.
WEATHER Fine weather prevailed during the Month of April. Visibility was mainly good.
13th On one occasion, however, an aircraft had to abandon Convoy Escort duties owing to extremely bad conditions over the sea.
5th ATTACK ON U-BOAT
On this date Sunderland J/95 made a damaging attack on a U_BOAT in position 17.15 N. 21.21.W.
7th SPECIAL PATROL
An extensive A/S Patrol of the CAPE VERDE ISLANDS was made by Sunderland J/95
10th AIR SEA RESCUE
Airecraft M/95 made a Search for a United Sstates B17 aircraft which forced landed in the sea whilst in transit. Last know position was given as 10.10 N. 21. 21 W, Nothing sighted.
The Operations details above were carried out without loss of or serious damage to any aircraft.
Of the individual sorties 4 were made from GIBRALTAR, 2 form PORT ETIENNE and 1 from DAKAR, THE REMAINDER FROM BATHURST.
(ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH ARE CONTAINED IN PORT ETIENNE RECORDS)
SERVICEABILITY. Average daily serviceability of aircraft at HALF DIE for the month was - 1 Sunderland. (At PORT ETIENNE an average serviceability of 1 2/3 aircraft was maintained.
BATHURST 1943 April
PROMOTIONS AND POSTINGS OF OFFICERS - ACTING RANKS
Pilot officer J.R. WELTON - Appointed to Rank of Acting Flight
Flying Office R.G. ADAMS – Lieutenant
POSTINGS
Flying Officer W.M. WILKINS – Re-posted to 95 Squadron from Adjutant Duties w.e.f. 12/3/43
Pilot Officer R.A. RUSSELL – Posted from 119 Squadron w.e.f. 2/1/43.
Flying Officer R.M. KERR – Posted to No. 1 P.D.C. WEST KIRBY w.e.f. 22/2/43.
Pilot Officer G.S. FORREST - )
Flight Lieutenant P. PARSONS (Arrived at this Unit on posting from
Flight Officer M.J. SEALES ) Home Establishment w.e.f. 5/4/43
Flying Officer I.R.A. MILLS ) Arrived at this Unit on posting from Home Establishment w.e.f. 3/4/43
Pilot Officer F.P. FIELD )
Flying Officer J. SINCLAIR Posted to NO. 1 P.D.C. WEST KIRBY w.e.f. 29/12/42
Pilot Officer J.M. HENDERSON ) Posted to No. 1 R.A.F. Depot (N/E) UXBRIDGE w.e.f. 11/6/42
Pilot Officer J. PIBUS [sic] )
Flying Officer R. LAWRENCE )
Pilot Officer D.J. WHALLEY )
SQUADRON PERSONNEL – as at 30th April 1943
