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Digby
Images taken during 609 Squadrons stay at Digby Airfield from 19th November 1941 until their move to Duxford. Digby was a difficult station for 609, as their time was largely taken up with training new pilots - taking in many new Belgian's and over a dozen new NCO's prior to their posting to various other squadrons. However, as the Belgians formed the nucleus of the squadrons pilots and were exempt from overseas service ( Belgium had no interest in either the Mediterranean or Far East Theatres), and the remaining Yorkshire Auxiliary groundcrew could not be posted since they were territorials, 609 Squadron never lost its core or individual personality. Most days were filled with training flights, and patrols shared by 609, 92 and 412 squadrons. In February the squadron did engage the enemy twice, also managing a successful strike over Holland, but regular sweeps were impossible due to the distance from Digby to any of the enemy-occupied coasts. On 22nd January, the Belgian pilot, and 'B' flight commander, Flight Lieutenant Jean "Peike" Offenberg DFC was killed in a mid-air collision, the effect of a mock attack by a pilot of 92 Squadron. Jean was 609's only loss whilst at Digby. The following month George "Sheep" Gilroy, the CO, announced that the squadron would be moving out of the mess, into a nearby mansion called Ashby Hall, due in no small part to the sour faces of the stewards if the pilots were more than a few minutes late for breakfast, irrespective of their having just returned from dawn patrol. The operations room had already moved to a wing of Blankney Hall, the home of the Countess of Londesborough who was the best friend the squadron had during their stay in Lincolnshire. At odds with a station where discipline and 'bull' was still paramount, the real stumbling block as far as the station Adjutant was concerned was William De Goat, whose alleged behaviour did little to foster friendship between the squadron and the station. A house-warming party was planned for the 28th March 1942, to celebrate the acquisition of Ashby Hall, and enough alcohol was obtained for the expected guests. 10 days before the party, 609 received orders posting them to Duxford - due the same day as the party. Fortunately, Gilroy managed to postpone the move by two days, and the invitations to what became their leaving do were re-written to read House-Cooling.
RAF
Scopwick opened on 28 March 1918 with the arrival of 3 Handley Page 0/400
bombers and Station Commander John D'Albiac, having been commissioned three days
prior to the official formation of the Royal Air Force, albeit as a Royal Naval
Air Station. This brought about the rather strange situation whereby a Royal
Naval Air Station was commanded by an Army Major before becoming a Royal Air
Force Station, three days later. In April 1920 RAF Scopwick changed its name to
RAF Digby - the reason being that the Workshops Officer had been ordering spare
parts that kept turning up on the opposite side of the country at RAF Shotwick,
where the Workshops Officer had an abundance of unwanted engine parts. Thus
Scopwick changed its name to RAF Digby and Shotwick became RAF Sealand.
From
1920 - 1937 (except for the two years 1922 - 1924 when it was under 'Care and
Maintenance') Digby was used to train aircrew at 2 and 3 Flying Training
Schools. On 13th August 1937 Digby became a Sector Fighter Airfield as part of
12 Group with the arrival of 46 and 73 Squadrons, covering the Midlands and a
large area of sea. They were joined by 504 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air
Force with the outbreak of hostilities. Digby also had satellites at Coleby
Grange and Wellingore.
In December 1940 112 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron arrived. Soon renamed as 402 Squadron, this was the first Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron to arrive in England. This began a relationship which was to ultimately lead to the station becoming RCAF Digby in September 1942, and involve a total of 13 RCAF Squadrons who would at some point operate from Digby or its satellites. In February 1944, 144 Wing was formed under Wing Commander Johnny Johnson, the highest scoring RAF 'ace', incorporating 441, 442 and 443 Squadrons. With peace returning to Europe in 1945, Digby and its satellites had no need to remain in their current role. With peace restored, it eventually reverted to a Flying Training role until 1953, when it became part of 90 Signals Group. It stills serves in this capacity to this day. |
Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
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