May 28th 1940

Half day fit for flying only - Belgium surrendered to Nazis - pretty disturbing news. Heard last week that Wally Blom got a D.F.C. - first ex 63 Squadron to be awarded. Scheme brought out to use screened crews for Home Defence purposes. Looks as though we might get something to do any day now. Some people were posted to No.18 O.T.U. Hucknall for instrumental staff there to help teach the Poles. Further talk of our being re-equipped with Blenheims though nothing definite a yet.

Had to land a Battle on its belly last week for the first time. Giving advanced dual when the u/c refused to come down manually or hydraulically. Later the manual winding cable was found to be broken. Two days after mine there were three belly landings in one day !!

We are low flying everyday at Benson and are supposed to take days off individually. But we kicked against that and got a flight day off - one flight wing all the aircraft for the day - I think it will work alright.

Peter Corbishley was posted to P.D.U: Photographic Development Unit a "hush hush" high speed photography job which is done at maximum height and speed. Now hear that Martins' wangled a posting to the same job!

May 27th 1940

S.D.O. tonight had a panic because a civilian was wandering around the camp being fired at by the gaurds and was hit.

May 26th 1940

Flght day-off, Knocker also had the day off and Swain and Henderson came round to spend the day. Had drinks with the Fell. Clarkes after tea.

March 24th 1940

Got a half day off to take Jana to Reading to see dentist. Bloggs had two a/c crash complete crews killed.

May 17th 1940

Left Bucklands Hotel and moved into "Ladyholm" Winterbrook, Wallingford with the Knockers, their nurse and two children.

May 16th 1940

Heard definitely today that I am not going to Penthos as a S/Ldr armament specialist will be posted there. A.O.C. No.6 Group came over to-day to test the boys they had been doing their stuff all night. Five more pupil pilots arrived in the flights; rumour has it that the new establishment cuts down the flight to flight commander, one pilot or flying officer and one Sergeant pilot. Sgt Nancarrow had been posted on the last batch to France despite all grumbles.

May 13th 1940

P/O Watts came back to see us from No.50 Squadron at Waddington. He was flying Hampdens operationally and had been over 5 times already, said it was pretty dreadful but I think he really enjoyed it. Jana went to London to spend a couple of days with her mother.

May 11th 1940

Suddenly quantities of pupils posted away to France as action seems to be starting in earnest now. The next day more still were posted, chiefly pilots. Flew up to Sealand and had a word or two with Oliver.

Slack period at the moment one p.pilot only and observers who have slightly finished. Many rumours around of going to France, transferring to Wellingtons etc.

May 4th 1940

No.3 Squadron week-end off. Jana and I drove up to Huntingdon to collect some of our luggage from store. Spent the next day being lazy and playing tennis. Wizard weather.

Now heard a rumour that I may be derailed to go to Penthos as Peter Corbishley is posted to P.D.U. at Heston. Nothing certain as they are waiting for a new establishment.

May 1st 1940

Worst blow of all we hear that for the sake of 207 Squadron 5 other flights have to completely revise the training syllabus - this is the last straw as we only did it a fortnight ago! Only concession W/C Anderson would apparently make to S/Ldr Southwell was that we might finish the pupils we had on the old chart. We were fed up. The flight got 477 hrs. flying last month, Henderson 75 hrs. I got 40hrs.

During the last week Jana and I found a house after months' of searching - but it was too big although a delightful place with a grand garden. At the last moment when we were about to go and tell the owners we could not afford £3-17-6 (fully furnished) we heard that S/Ldr Knocker was looking for a house and wanted to share it. We went along with them and things were more or less fixed up then and there - we had neither of us met his wife or children (2) however it looks as though it will be a saving (or more spending!) of money.
On Monday the 29th Jana started to have driving lessons from Jenkins garage in Wallingford -at last.!

Henderson and I went to Farnbrough to collect a Battle and spent some time looking round particularly at the Westland Whirlwind two engined fighter, about the ugliest thing I have ever seen, and the Bristol Beaufout G.P. aircraft which is already in use in several squadrons.