April & May 1944

April 1944

No 18 Group was only able to put in 14 attacks in April.

The month was quite busy for the boys of 404 but they had only one success, which occurred on 7 April. Eight 404 Beaufighters, acting as anti-flak escort to 144 Squadron torpedo and cannon Beaus, struck at a convoy of three large M/Vs protected by seven escort vessels near Stadtlandet. Led by Keefe in NE355, the aircraft concentrated their fire on three of the enemy vessels and left all three smoking. This enabled Torbeaus to close in on the main target and make a torpedo hit on the largest ship, which was likely the 3,290-ton German merchant vessel Cornouaille, which actually was listed as having been damaged by shelling. As well, two escort vessels are listed as having been damaged by shelling; 248-ton German Auxiliary Whaler NK-06 Jager, and 487-ton German Auxiliary Trawler/Sub Chaser UJ-1709 Westpreussen.

Much of the flying for the rest of the month concentrated on training to release airburst bombs, with only two Rover Patrols thrown in. The Beaufighter was not fitted with bombsights and it was frustrating to the crews, who felt they were making significant strides against the enemy, to not participate in operations. Several comments are made in the scrapbook that this operational squadron was starting to feel like an OTU (Operational Training Unit).

Towards the end of April, rumours began to circulate about an upcoming move. Although nobody would say for sure where the Buffaloes were going next, the general feeling was that it would be somewhere to the south. About this time as well, aircrew and ground crew alike were trying to keep away from the squadron’s Medical Officer who was spending his time making sure that the unit was up-to-date with the necessary inoculations. The event was recorded as follows in the Squadron scrapbook; Doc Beacock is in his element these days. Going around with a needle in his hand and a malicious gleam in his eye (the good one) asking ‘have you been vaccinated? Inoculated?’ There’s no evading the man ­ he’s MAD.

May 1944

Early in May, 404 had another run in with the Germans. On the moonlit night of 5 May, Gatward with F/O J Carlin and F/L AA Adams with F/O FE Pickering were on patrol. After arriving at the enemy-held coast, Adams became separated from the leader and was posted as missing, failed to return after the mission. Gatward continued his patrol and when over Egero Harbour sighted a stationary motor vessel of 2,500-tons, which he attacked with RP. A fire immediately broke out on the vessel, indicating that some of the RPs had found their mark .

This was to be the last attack from a base in Scotland by 404 for the next little while. The rumours about an impending move suddenly came true and the long trek south began on 10 May. It was an understatement to say the members of 404, after so many months of the rigorous climate and comparative isolation of the far north of Scotland, looked forward to a move to the Cornish Riviera in the south-west of England. Thus, it was with high spirits that the air party arrived at their new home ­ RAF Davidstow Moor, under the control of No 19 Group. While flying from their new station, the Squadron was to give up on the familiar unit code ‘EE’ on the side of their Beaufighters, for the numeral ‘2’.

Unfortunately, the Buffaloes were somewhat disappointed in their new digs, about the most grim looking effort we have seen yet .

Nissen huts, ablutions outside, and lavatories as well...Some bright person called the site ‘Stalag 404’...at tea, at the mess we saw our first greens (beer) for a long time ­ but when the bar opened at 1800 hours and closed at 1820 hours because it had run out ­ brother!

The Red Cross reported on 18 May; W/C ‘Chuck’ Willis, it is now known, is a prisoner of war ­ Boy, that sure is swell news ­ No news of ‘Snappy’ Kent. Jobs I would not like ­ Being Interrogation Officer at good old Stalag Luft III trying to get something out of Chuck ­ the aspirins, quick! The Red Cross also reported that W/C Willis was able to swim to shore after being shot down.

On 19 May, the squadron carried out its first operation from the new base against enemy naval vessels reported to be off Ushant. The attacking force, led by Gatward, had nine 404 Beaufighters with 144 Squadron cannon-equipped aircraft to act as anti-flak escort. It was a new experience for the Buffaloes to be protected against enemy fighters ­ on this occasion by a strong formation of 28 Spitfires. When the enemy force consisting of one Elbing class destroyer, one torpedo boat and three minesweepers were sighted, the flak suppression aircraft went in first, raking all the ships and setting one of the minesweepers on fire. The Buffaloes followed, concentrating their attention on the destroyer, which received at least six direct hits from rockets. One crew also scored hits on a minesweeper. Intense flak from the target forced the attacking crews to take violent evasive action. Although final results of the attack could not be observed fully, the destroyer was claimed as damaged and one minesweeper as seriously damaged.