Look-up Request: 54 Sqn ORB, 23 Feb 1941

[Steve Brew]

Does anyone have the 54 Sqn ORB for February 1941, please? 54 flew from rest at Catterick to Hornchurch on 23 February 1941, and 41 Sqn did the opposite that same day, flying from Hornchurch to Catterick for rest.

At some stage, 41 Sqn swapped their Spitfire II's with 54 Sqn's Spit I's, but what I cannot establish is if 41 Sqn flew to Catterick with their Spit II's and 54 Sqn flew them back, or vice versa.

Not an overly important fact in the scheme of things, but I was wondering if the 54 Sqn ORB might explain the order of things, as it did when 41 Sqn took over 54 Sqn's Spitfire II's the previous October?

The 41 Sqn, RAF Hornchurch, and RAF Catterick ORBs are of no assistance in this regard.

Thanks
Steve

[AndyL]

Steve,

If nobody replies, I'll have a look for you when I'm at Kew next Tuesday.

Regards

Andy

[angelsonefive]

Steve,

It would have been logical for 54 Sqn to go to Hornchurch and relieve 41 Sqn there.

For 41 to go to Catterick, and exchange the Spitfires there, would mean that the fighter strength of a front line station
would be reduced by one squadron, if only for a few hours.

Ray.

[Steve Brew]

Thanks Andy; I'll contact you off-board.

Thanks for your thoughts, Ray; that's a good point.

Regards
Steve