No.608 Squadron - WOP on Ops - Logbook

[HughAHalliday]

The logbook of Charles James Down continues. Trained as a Wireless Operator, he describes himself as such until August 1943, when he proceeds to enter his duties as "WAG" (Wireless Air Gunner), although his wireless duties were almost certainly dominant. As noted in an earlier post, it is unclear as to whether the pilot (P/O and then F/O Webb) on most of his operations is the same "Webb" with whom he trained.

NO.608 SQUADRON

6 May 1943 - Hudson AE644 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, local flying (1.30)

9 May 1943 - Hudson AM579 - Pilot F/O Webb - gunner, air-to-ground firing (1.30)

10 May 1943 - HudsonAM735 - Pilot F/O Cronin - Down as WOP, fifth member of crew, convoy escort (40 minutes by day, 5.30 by night)

12 May 1943 - Hudson AM875 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort, sub attacked with with charges (6.35)

19 May 1943 - Hudson FK715 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (5.05 by day, 1.30 by night)

22 May 1943 - Hudson FK680 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (6.25)

25 May 1943 - Hudson FK717 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-Boat strike (6.25 by night)

26 May 1943 - Hudson AM879- Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-P exercise No.2 (1.00)

27 May 1943 - Hudson AM879 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-P exercise No.2 (55 minutes)

28 May 1943 - Hudson AM844 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-Boat strike, recalled (2.05 at night)

30 May 1943 - Hudson FK688 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-P single release (1.05)

1 June 1943 - Hudson FK707 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-P salvo release (1.15)

4 June 1943 - Hudson FK709 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (5.05 at night)

NO.608 SQUADRON, FROM BONE

5 June 1943 - Hudson AE862 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, ferry trip to Bone (2.15)

7 June 1943 - Hudson AE862 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, recco of Sardinia, crash landed “La Calle” (5.40 at night)

11 June 1943 - Hudson FK717 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (1.10 day, 6.30 night)

12 June 1943 - Hudson FK717 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (6.35)

14 June 1943 - Hudson AE862 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (7.00)

18 June 1943 - Hudson AE862 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (3.10 day, 3.00 night)

19 June 1943 - Hudson AM851 “O” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (6.00 day, 45 minutes night)

20 June 1943 - Hudson FK569 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (2.00 day, 3.45 night)

23 June 1943 - Hudson FK569 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (6.05)

25 June 1943 - Hudson FK569 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (2.50 day, 2.50 night)

26 June 1943 - Hudson FK569 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (2.40 day, 3.00 night)

29 June 1943 - Hudson AM870 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt, landed Blida (20 minutes day, 6.30 night)

29 June 1943 - Hudson AM870 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, Blida to Bone (2.15)

1 July 1943 - Hudson FK688 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (1.15 day, 4.45 night)

4 July 1943 - Hudson AM870 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort, sighted Walrus in distress (2.20 day, 4.00 night)

6 July 1943 - Hudson FK688 “W” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort, sighted two single star very cartridges (2.00 day, 3.45 night)

8 July 1943 - Hudson FK688 “W” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (6.45)

10 July 1943 - Hudson AE682 “D” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort, engine trouble (3.35)

10 July 1943 - Hudson AE682 “D” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (6.35)

11 July 1943 - Hudson AM857 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (6.15 at night)

12 July 1943 - Hudson AM857 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (30 minutes day, 5.40 night)

14 July 1943 - Hudson AM857 “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort, landed Blida (6.15)

15 July 1943 - Hudson FK569 “Y” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, Blida to Bone (2.15)

16 July 1943 - Hudson - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (5.30 at night)

18 July 1943 - Hudson FK688 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (5.45, night)

20 July 1943 -Hudson FK688 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-Boat hunt (55 minutes day, 5.00 night)

21 July 1943 - Hudson AM551 - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (3.50 day, 3.10 night)

23 July 1943 - Hudson FK569 “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (2.10 day, 1.10 night)

27 July 1943 - Hudson FK569 “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, convoy escort (6.00 night)

29 July 1943 - Hudson FK569 “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, U-boat hunt (4.20 day, 1.10 night)

30 July 1943 - Hudson - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WOP, Bone to Blida (2.15)

NO.608 SQUADRON, PROTVILLE

6 August 1943 - Hudson FH345 “L” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, Blida to Protville (3.10)

9 August 1943 - Hudson - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, west of Malta (4.35 day, 1.30 night)

11 August 1943 - Hudson FK656 “T”- Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, boat strike west of Sicily, north of Palermo (5.40))

19 August 1943 - Hudson “J” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt, engine trouble, Pantelleria-Malta (3.00)

22 August 1943 - Hudson “B” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, convoy attacked (5.40 night)

30 August 1943 - Hudson - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Pantellaris-Malta (5.45 night)

2 September 1943 - Hudson AM790 “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt north of Palermo (6.05)

4 September 1943 - Hudson “L” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Lampedusa to Malta (1.25 day, 4.00 night)

5 September 1943 - Hudson “O” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt north of Palermo (5.50 night)

7 September 1943 - Hudson “W” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Maritimo Island-Maritimo-Ustica Island (2.00 day, 3.30 night)

10 September 1943 - Hudson “X” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, refuelled Borizzo, Sicily (6.00 day, 1.35 night)

11 September 1943 - Hudson - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, ferry, Protville to Borizzo, Sicily (1.15)

NO.608 SQUADRON FROM BORIZZO

14 September 1943 - Hudson “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt (1.35 day, 4.00 night)

16 September 1943 - Hudson “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy recco south of Naples (45 minutes day, 5.00 night)

19 September 1943 - Hudson “W” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy recco (45 minutes day, 4.35 night)

21 September 1943 - Hudson “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat strike (5.20 night)

25 September 1943 - Hudson “Y” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt, Salerno Bay (35 minutes day, 5.20 night)

29 September 1943 - Hudson “F” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt west of Naples (6.00)

2 October 1943 - Hudson “K” - Pilot Sergeant Linklater - Down as WAG, ferry, Borizzo to Grottaglie, Italy (2.40)

8 October 1943 - Hudson “K” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Gulf of Taranto (5.35)

11 October 1943 - Hudson “R” - F/L Stirling - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Gulf of Taranto (6.15)

14 October 1943 - Hudson “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, air test (1.10)

16 October 1943 - Hudson “P” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Gulf of Taranto (6.00)

20 October 1943 - Hudson “W” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, ASR in Adriatic (5.50)

23 October 1943 - Hudson “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, to Catania (1.55)

24 October 1943 - Hudson “E” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, Catania to Grottaglie (2.00)

31 October 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, air test (45 minutes)

2 November 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Adriatic (6.00)

3 November 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Adriatic (5.50 night)

9 November 1943 - Hudson “R” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Adriatic (4.30)

12 November 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt, Adriatic (1.30 day, 30 minutes night)

18 November 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt, Gulf of Taranto (1.00)

20 November 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt (5.00 day, 40 minutes night)

22 November 1943 - Hudson “C” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort, ASR (5.00 day, 30 minutes night)

4 December 1943 - Hudson “Y” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Gulf of Taranto (40 minutes day, 5.00 night)

10 December 1943 - Hudson “Y” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, escort to 2 CC (1.40)

13 December 1943 - Hudson “S” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Brindisi (1.05 night)

14 December 1943 - Hudson “M” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Brindisi (45 minutes night, 5.40 night)

16 December 1943 - Hudson “M” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, U-boat search, Ionian Sea (5.55 night)

18 December 1943 - Hudson “S” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort (2.15 day, 4.15 night)

22 December 1943 - Hudson “Y” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt, Adriatic (2.20 day, 3.00 night)

24 December 1943 - Hudson “Y” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort, Brindisi (1.15 day, 1.20 night)

28 December 1943 - Hudson “A” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, H/F D/F Station Calibration (45 minutes)

29 December 1943 - Hudson “S” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort (5.40 night)

30 December 1943 - Hudson “H” - Pilot F/O Buxton - Down as WAG, convoy escort (5.50 night)

8 January 1944 - Hudson “F” - Pilot Sergeant Lyons -Down as WAG, Grottaglie to Sidi Amor (4.30)

10 January 1944 - Hudson “F” - Pilot Sergeant Lyons -Down as WAG, Sidi Amor to Blida (3.30)

15 January 1944 - Hudson”Y” - Pilot Sergeant Lyons -Down as WAG, Blida to Sidi Amor (3.30)

16 January 1944 - Hudson “Y” - Pilot Sergeant Lyons -Down as WAG, Sidi Amor to Grottaglie (4.35)

16 January 1944 - Hudson “A” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort (5.00 night)

22 January 1944 - Hudson “N” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, U-boat hunt, Adriatic (5.15 night)

24 January 1944 - Hudson “H” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, Grottaglie to Gaudo (2.25)

25 January 1944 - Hudson “K” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, anti-submarine patrol (1.45 day, 3.15 night)

27 January 1944 - Hudson “O” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, anti-submarine patrol (6.35 night)

29 January 1944 - Hudson “A” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, convoy escort (3.50 day, 1.20 night)

30 January 1944 - Hudson “O” - Pilot F/O Webb - Down as WAG, anti-submarine patrol, failed to return. Aircraft was FK733, all RCAF crew was F/O C.J. Down (WAG, buried in Italy), P/O T.W.A. Farrer (WAG, buried in Italy), F/O E.L. Wilheim (navigator and bomb aimer, buried in Italy), F/O H. Webb (pilot, name on Malta Memorial).

[kevin gibbs]

Hugh,
I read your post of the logbook of Charles James Down with great interest. I am tracing the war service of my uncle, Eric Pettitt, who served in No. 608 squadron and it appears at the same time as Charles Down. My uncle and his crew did not return from a night mission on 14 September 1943, having taken off from Bo Rizzo on a U-Boat hunt.
The crew members were Basil Bradley (Pilot - RAAF), Ken Cherer (Navigator - RCAF), Les Sheldon (Gunner - RAAF) and my uncle who was the Radio Operator (also RAAF).
I only have notes from a temporary logbook for August 1943 and it shows similar sorts of missions as those of Charles Down, but none directly coinciding.

I would be really interested to find out whether it is possible to trace any further details of the crew's activities, especially in September 1943 and wonder whether you may have any suggestions for that?

Thank you in anticipation of your response.

Kevin Gibbs

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Kevin,

I can recommend you to visit (or order) Opeartions Record Book of No. 608 Sq RAF for period you want.
They are held in the National Archives, Kew, London, UK

You can check their website where is online catalogue - your particular interest is here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=3201379&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2C608%2CSQUADRON&accessmethod=0

Piece reference AIR 27/2100
No 608 Squadron: Operations Record Book 1943 Jan. -Dec

Hope this helps a little

Pavel

[David Duxbury]

I have some notes I gathered about 35-40 years ago from the logbook of NZ414675 Vernon C Pockson, RNZAF (pilot), wo carried out his advanced training in Canada (3 SFTS, Calgary on Cranes 6/1 - 4/5/42), to 31 GRS, Charlottetown, PEI 29/5 - 18/7/42, 31 OTU Debert, NS 11/8 - 21/10/42, then to UK November. In Britain he was posted to 1 (C) OTU, Silloth, Cumberland 4/2 - 29/3/43 (at Thornaby from 12/3/43 but no flying from here), to 301 FTU 7 - 27/5/43 (including ferry flight of Hudson VI FK709 from Lyneham to Port Reith [Cornwall] to Ras-el-Mar [French Morroco] to Blida [Algeria] 17 - 21/5), to Tafouroui [also Algeria] 27/5, arrived at 500 Squadron on latter date. On operations from 6/6/43, till lost on operations 1/4/44. However the part which might intersst followers of this thread is that this crew (unfortunately names not noted by me! Sorry!) was attached to 608 Squadron at Grottaglie from 1/12/43 till 8/1/44 when they returned to 500 Squadron, and subsequently converted to the Ventura GR.V. (with "FP" serials). First flight in such a/c on 22/1/44 (FP611 "F1", circuits only), and first operation on type was on 4/2/44 from La Senia in a/c "S" (serial not noted in log). Unlike his expereince on Hudsons, RPs (Rocket Projectiles) do not figure in details of operations with the Venturas. With 608 Squadron this crew flew some 13 operations, including "U-boat hunts" on 7/12, 15/12, 19/12 (off Italy), 2/1/44, 3/1/44 (in co-op with Navy); convoy escorts on 9/12/43 (x 2), 13/12 (20 M/V, 7 E/V), 22/12 (8 transports), 28/12 (6 M/V, 4 E/V), 29/12 (1 transport, 2 E/Vs), although no actual contact with any U-boats. Most interesting op was probably one on 18/12/43 when they escorted a British cruiser (BELFAST class) into Taranto (Operation 56, a/c FK789 "D"). Operations were also flown en route to and from this detachment. He seems to have been lost on his 84th Op sortie, although I have no record of his first two ops (presume at 31 OTU in Canada or 1 (C) OTU in UK.) His 3rd, 4th and 5th were on the ferry flight from UK to North Africa, and all the rest with 500 and (attached to) 608 Squadrons.
If anybody else wants any further information on specific topics, please ask on this thread, and I will do my best. This logbook (which I had on loan from his elderly survivng sisters) could ne anywhere now. I regret not photocoppying it while I had it, although they were crude and quite expensive all those years ago!
David D

[kevin gibbs]

Hi Pavel,
Thanks for your suggestion, I'll follow it up.
Kevin.

[QUOTE=CZ_RAF;64400]Hi Kevin,

I can recommend you to visit (or order) Opeartions Record Book of No. 608 Sq RAF for period you want.
They are held in the National Archives, Kew, London, UK

You can check their website where is online catalogue - your particular interest is here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=3201379&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2C608%2CSQUADRON&accessmethod=0

Piece reference AIR 27/2100
No 608 Squadron: Operations Record Book 1943 Jan. -Dec

Hope this helps a little

Pavel[/QUOTE]

[kevin gibbs]

Hi David,

A lot of what you have provided is very similar to what was contained in my uncle's diary of 1943, which I transcribed by hand, mainly because it was quite small and somewhat fragile. His diary is not as specific as the log quoted for Charles Down. The other info I quoted originally came from a separate notebook he had.

I knew that 500 and 608 squadrons worked closely together across North Africa and through to Sicily and beyond.
My uncle was also engaged in 1 ferry flight from Portreath in Cornwall back to Gibraltar. The Hudson he had been crewing had significant engine trouble and was finally retired from service. He went back to England in a Lancaster, as a spare crew member, then came back to Gibraltar, then to Blida.

The Hudsons my uncle flew in were rocket equipped, and I know that from having spoken directly to a fellow squadron member by the name of Clive Moore about 3 years ago.

I am grateful for the information you have provided and I will add it to my stock of improtant information about my uncle's former squadron.

Many Thanks,
Kevin.