HughAHalliday
14th November 2020, 11:31
Recently transcribed during a clean-up, for anyone interested:
MENAUL, Stewart William Blacker, S/L (33272, Royal Air Force) - 15 Squadron - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 22 August 1941. Recommendation dated 22 June 1941 found in Public Record Office Air 2/102865. He had flown 28 sorties (138 hours 25 minutes) and was a Flight Commander.
Squadron Leader Menaul, at present commanding “A” Flight, joined this squadron in September 1940 and has now completed 28 successful operational flights as captain, six of which were on Blenheim aircraft, fourteen on Wellingtons and eight on Stirling type aircraft.
On the 20th June 1941, Squadron Leader Menaul was detailed to attack the docks and submarines at Kiel. On the outward journey his aircraft was attacked by a Ju.88. After a running fight lasting ten minutes, the enemy aircraft broke off the engagement and was last seen diving vertically with one engine on fire, and was claimed as probably destroyed. Although his aircraft had suffered damage during the engagement, Squadron Leader Menaul carried on and successfully bombed his target. On a previous occasion he brought his aircraft back safely after having had one engine completely disabled and another partly disabled.
By his persistent determination and outstanding skills as captain of aircraft, this officer at all times sets an example of the highest order.
During the time Squadron Leader Menaul has been a Flight Commander in 15 Squadron, his unit has been re-equipped twice, and in bringing his flight to the earliest possible operational readiness, he has contributed largely to the success of the squadron.
Endorsed by G/C R.N. (or R.M.) Foster (Commanding Station Wyton) as follows:
This officer has done admirable work; as an operational pilot he is in the first rank, and as a Flight Commander his example and leadership have been outstanding, His eagerness to undertake any operational project has at all times been most marked, and I consider that he amply deserves the recognition for which he is now recommended.
Approved by A/V/M Baldwin [?}, No.3 Group, as follows:
I concur in the Station Commander’s remarks and consider that this officer’s war effort both in operational sorties and general Squadron organization fully entitle him to special consideration.
The sortie list was as follows:
On Blenheims:
23 September 1940 - docks and shipping, Ostend
25 September 1940 - docks and shipping, Le Havre
27 September 1940 - docks and shipping, Boulogne
7 October 1940 - docks and shipping, Boulogne
10 October 1940 - coastal defences, Cherbourg, in cooperation with Navy.\
24 October 1940 - oil plants, Homburg.
On Wellingtons
27 December 1940 - docks and shipping, Le Havre
1 January 1941 - docks and shipping, Bremen
16 January 1941 - main railway junction, Wilhelmshaven
7 February 1941 - lock gates, Boulogne
10 February 1941 - centre of defences, Hanover
15 February 1941 - oil plants, Holton
24 February 1941 - Hipper class cruiser, Brest
1 March 1941 - industrial centre, Cologne
11 March 1941 - submarine works, Kiel
13 March 1941 - marshalling yard, Hamburg
15 March 1941 - submarine works, Lorient
31 March 1941 - docks and shipping, Bremen
8 April 1941 - railway station, Kiel
16 April 1941 - submarine docks, Kiel
On Stirlings
30 April 1941 - task to Berlin abandoned over Borkum, two engines failed.
6 May 1941 - ship building yards, Hamburg
23 May 1941 - to intercept German cruiser, Atlantic
11 June 1942 - docks, Duisburg
13 June 1942 - cruisers in dock, Brest
13 June 1942 - to intercept cruiser Lutzow off Norway, task abandoned.
17 June 1942 - railway station, Hanover
20 June 1942 - docks and submarines, Kiel.
MENAUL, Stewart William Blacker, W/C, DFC (33272, Royal Air Force) - No.1651 Conversion Unit - Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1943. Citation in Public Record Office Air 2/8871 (courtesy of Steve Brew).
As officer commanding No.1651 Conversion Unit, Wing Commander Menaul has shown exceptional ability and enterprise in organizing and testing flying training procedure. He is a first class pilot of Stirling aircraft and has at all times shown the greatest keenness to fly and takes every opportunity of testing air crews under training both by day and night. Wing Commander Menaul is an outstanding instructor who on many occasions has brought a doubtful pilot up to standard by his sympathetic tuition. It is entirely due to his energy and initiative that the training on Stirling aircraft has reached a highly satisfactory basis.
MENAUL, Stewart William Blacker, S/L (33272, Royal Air Force) - 15 Squadron - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 22 August 1941. Recommendation dated 22 June 1941 found in Public Record Office Air 2/102865. He had flown 28 sorties (138 hours 25 minutes) and was a Flight Commander.
Squadron Leader Menaul, at present commanding “A” Flight, joined this squadron in September 1940 and has now completed 28 successful operational flights as captain, six of which were on Blenheim aircraft, fourteen on Wellingtons and eight on Stirling type aircraft.
On the 20th June 1941, Squadron Leader Menaul was detailed to attack the docks and submarines at Kiel. On the outward journey his aircraft was attacked by a Ju.88. After a running fight lasting ten minutes, the enemy aircraft broke off the engagement and was last seen diving vertically with one engine on fire, and was claimed as probably destroyed. Although his aircraft had suffered damage during the engagement, Squadron Leader Menaul carried on and successfully bombed his target. On a previous occasion he brought his aircraft back safely after having had one engine completely disabled and another partly disabled.
By his persistent determination and outstanding skills as captain of aircraft, this officer at all times sets an example of the highest order.
During the time Squadron Leader Menaul has been a Flight Commander in 15 Squadron, his unit has been re-equipped twice, and in bringing his flight to the earliest possible operational readiness, he has contributed largely to the success of the squadron.
Endorsed by G/C R.N. (or R.M.) Foster (Commanding Station Wyton) as follows:
This officer has done admirable work; as an operational pilot he is in the first rank, and as a Flight Commander his example and leadership have been outstanding, His eagerness to undertake any operational project has at all times been most marked, and I consider that he amply deserves the recognition for which he is now recommended.
Approved by A/V/M Baldwin [?}, No.3 Group, as follows:
I concur in the Station Commander’s remarks and consider that this officer’s war effort both in operational sorties and general Squadron organization fully entitle him to special consideration.
The sortie list was as follows:
On Blenheims:
23 September 1940 - docks and shipping, Ostend
25 September 1940 - docks and shipping, Le Havre
27 September 1940 - docks and shipping, Boulogne
7 October 1940 - docks and shipping, Boulogne
10 October 1940 - coastal defences, Cherbourg, in cooperation with Navy.\
24 October 1940 - oil plants, Homburg.
On Wellingtons
27 December 1940 - docks and shipping, Le Havre
1 January 1941 - docks and shipping, Bremen
16 January 1941 - main railway junction, Wilhelmshaven
7 February 1941 - lock gates, Boulogne
10 February 1941 - centre of defences, Hanover
15 February 1941 - oil plants, Holton
24 February 1941 - Hipper class cruiser, Brest
1 March 1941 - industrial centre, Cologne
11 March 1941 - submarine works, Kiel
13 March 1941 - marshalling yard, Hamburg
15 March 1941 - submarine works, Lorient
31 March 1941 - docks and shipping, Bremen
8 April 1941 - railway station, Kiel
16 April 1941 - submarine docks, Kiel
On Stirlings
30 April 1941 - task to Berlin abandoned over Borkum, two engines failed.
6 May 1941 - ship building yards, Hamburg
23 May 1941 - to intercept German cruiser, Atlantic
11 June 1942 - docks, Duisburg
13 June 1942 - cruisers in dock, Brest
13 June 1942 - to intercept cruiser Lutzow off Norway, task abandoned.
17 June 1942 - railway station, Hanover
20 June 1942 - docks and submarines, Kiel.
MENAUL, Stewart William Blacker, W/C, DFC (33272, Royal Air Force) - No.1651 Conversion Unit - Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1943. Citation in Public Record Office Air 2/8871 (courtesy of Steve Brew).
As officer commanding No.1651 Conversion Unit, Wing Commander Menaul has shown exceptional ability and enterprise in organizing and testing flying training procedure. He is a first class pilot of Stirling aircraft and has at all times shown the greatest keenness to fly and takes every opportunity of testing air crews under training both by day and night. Wing Commander Menaul is an outstanding instructor who on many occasions has brought a doubtful pilot up to standard by his sympathetic tuition. It is entirely due to his energy and initiative that the training on Stirling aircraft has reached a highly satisfactory basis.