Can anyone point me in the direction of a book or website with good information on fighter operations after the Battle of Britain? The reason I want to know about this is I have an interest in a chap from 613 Squadron who went missing in May 1943, flying a Mustang. I'm not expecting specific references to him, just details on the type of operation he would have taken part in. Cheers, Carole.
Carole, Any chance of posting the chaps name, might help in finding out what he was up to at the time of his loss. No. 613 Squadron RAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Royal Air Force - History Section 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron
Hi Peter, He was Flying Officer Thomas Henry Jordan Sackville RAFVR, and he was lost (missing) on 14 May 1943. Cheers, Carole.
These were the type of fighter ops used by Fighter Command. Mustang Is were seconded to the RAF for recon. Ramrod - Attack by bombers (or fighter-bombers) escorted by fighters. The primary object of the operation was the destruction of the target. Rodeo - Fighter sweep over enemy territory with no bombers. Roadstead - Attack on enemy ships at sea by bombers (or fighter-bombers) escorted by fighters. Rhubarb - Small scale attack by fighters using cloud cover and surprise, with the object of destroying enemy aircraft in the air and/or striking at ground targets. Circus - Attack by a small force of bombers with powerful fighter escort, intended to lure enemy fighters into the air.
Carole, I have enquired on another forum and have come up with the following. At the time of Sackville's loss 613 Squadron were based at Wellingore in Lincolnshire, about 10 miles NW of RAF Cranwell. they were flying Mustang I, single fighters and were probably engaged in fighter sweeps over North Europe or escort for strikes against shipping. (Dick) Fighter Command War Diaries records that two Mustangs of 613 Squadron were missing following an operation to Ijmuiden on this day. (DaveW) Air Britain Serials AA100 to AZ999 records that on 14 May 1943 Mustang I AG646. 613 Squadron was missing from shipping reconnaissance. No details of pilot. The other Mustang lost to 613 Squadron on this day was AP207 flown by F/L. W J. Dooley. Missing from from shipping reconnaissance. (Amrit) Hope this is a help Regards Peter
According to the Web Site dedicated to No 613 Squadron,Tim Dooley was shotdown over the North Sea and rescued by the Germans to be a POW. Harry Sackville who was Dooley's No 2 on this sortie was killed. (Information from Tim Dooley's daughter in New Zealand) Wellingore remained a grass airfield throughtout the war and was the first posting of Guy Gibson to No 29 Squadron flying the Beaufighter nightfighter when he was posted from No 83 Squadron, BC, then at Scampton. One of those nice airfields which sat on the Lincolnshire Ridge, south of RAF Waddington on the back road to Grantham.
