RAF Templeton/Haverfordwest

RAF Templeton/Haverfordwest

As noted on Alex’s main biography page, on July 29th, 1943 he was posted as an Instructor to No. 3 (C) O.T.U. (Coastal - Operational Training Unit) located in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Also as mentioned, the Operational Record Books provide a rough overview on where they flew and what kind of training they did, and revealed the training was much broader than focusing on the art of night-time Leigh Light attacks.

During the 65 days Alex served there, the Squadron flew 668 Wellington flights out of Haverfordwest. 513 of these were during the day and 155 were at night. The only exercises they regularly flew at night were the Operational Flying Exercises (OFE’s), but they also flew two Air/Sea Rescue flights at night, out of necessity for the three Wellingtons lost during this time.

The first loss occurred on Alex’s first day there. Five Wellingtons had taken off on an OFE2, but Aircraft 50, which had taken off at 0853 that morning did not return. A dinghy was sighted by Aircraft 73 in position 5057N, 0805W (see map below) at 2305 hours. The survivors were picked up by trawler the following day and returned to station from Swansea. They had spent 41 hours in the water. This appears to have been Wellington VIII HX388 which was forced to ditch due to engine failure. The crew rescued (Listed alphabetically) were:

AUS421581 P/O Clive Stanley DOWNES RAAF

39442 S/L (Pilot) Ronald George KNOTT RAFO (later AV-M*)

1049967 Sgt LITTLE

1430562 Sgt McDONALD

1315798 Sgt W D MOON

1476917 Sgt TROOP

The second loss occurred on August 9th. Noted as Aircraft 41, they were airborne at 2200 hours on an OFE1 exercise, but failed to return. Per the RAF Commands Forum, this was a Wellington Mk VIII (HX512) lost on August 10th, crew consisting of:

J6016 F/O (Pilot) Thomas Reid JONES DFC RCAF + (Missing)

1391683 Sgt (Pilot) Robert William TATTLE RAFVR + (Missing)

AUS421587 P/O (Nav) Colin HUGHES RAAF + (Missing)

1317172 Sgt (WOP/AG) Amos Samuel Maskell GOODE RAFVR + (Missing)

1126976 Sgt (WOP/AG) Robert TERRY RAFVR + (Missing)

1124613 Sgt (WOP/AG) Harold HEWSON RAFVR + (Missing)

All were commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

The third loss occurred on August 21st. Also noted as Aircraft 41, they were airborne at 2146 hours (20th) on an OFE3 exercise, but crashed at Exmoor at 0400 hours, which was odd as the OFE route would have taken them south and west into the Celtic Sea. This would seem to indicate they became hopelessly lost on their return to base. Per the RAF Commands Forum, this was a Wellington Mk VIII (LA986), which flew into high ground 0.5 miles North of ‘Tom's Hill House’ at night in bad visibility near Exford, Somerset. They were already over 30 minutes overdue and the desperate pilot had attempted to dip below the clouds to get a visual reference to navigate home. Miraculously, all six crew members survived.

Overall, the training was comprised of 13 different flying exercises and a further eight sub-categories while Alex was there:

1.       Operational Flying Exercise (OFE)

These were, by far, the largest proportion of the flights; 289 out of the 668, or 43%. 136 of these were flown during the day, but the majority, 153, at night, which would seem to indicate night-time Leigh Light attacks were the priority. They likely would have flown even more at night, but the weather did not cooperate, and night flying was scrubbed 26 days out of 65 (40%) and no flying at all was done an additional nine days (53.8% in total).

At first, I thought they seemed to play it very conservatively compared to 172 squadron over this same time period, but after reviewing I found they were pretty much on par. 172 squadron flew 171 sorties, 35 during the day and 136 at night. Keep in mind they had far fewer crews and aircraft. Night flying was scrubbed 25 days out of 65 (38.5%) and no flying at all was done an additional five days (46.2% in total), so only slightly more aggressive.

For the Wellington crews, there were four different OFE routes (see map below):

a.   OFE1 (Purple) was 380 nautical miles, which took an average of 3.18 hours to complete in the Mk. VIII and 2.49 hours in the Mk. XIV.

b.   OFE2 (Magenta) was 550 nautical miles, which took an average of 3.50 hours to complete in the Mk. VIII and 3.33 hours in the Mk. XIV.

c.   OFE3 (Yellow) was 619 nautical miles, which took an average of 5.38 hours to complete in the Mk. VIII and 4.47 hours in the Mk. XIV.

d.   OFE4 (Green) was 634 nautical miles, which took an average of 5.41 hours to complete in the Mk. VIII and 4.5 hours in the Mk. XIV.

Note that these training flights were substantially shorter than those they will spend on U-Boat patrols once they join their operational squadrons.

All of them began with them flying west over St. Brides Bay and using South Bishop Lighthouse on Emsger Rock as their first navigational waypoint, and then flying southwest over the Celtic Sea. OFE2 & 3’s routes took them more south on the first leg where they may have crossed paths with 172 Squadron routes down the Cornish coast. OFE2 also differed from the other routes because of instead a flying a pre-assigned route, they flew to the Scillies then a radius of action of 290 degrees before returning, which provided more variation. 

You can zoom in an explore the interactive map below.

For the Anson crews, there were four different OFE routes as well (see map above):

a.   OFE7 (Light Gray) was 306 nautical miles, which took an average of 2.47 hours to complete.

b.   OFE8 (Dark Blue) was 250 nautical miles, which took an average of 2.16 hours to complete.

c.   OFE9 (Black) was 326 nautical miles, which took an average of 2.57 hours to complete.

d.   OFE11 (Teal) was 314 nautical miles, which took an average of 2.51 hours to complete.

Similar to the Wellington routes, all of them began with them flying west over St. Brides Bay and using South Bishop Lighthouse on Emsger Rock as their first navigational waypoint, but from their the similarities ended. OFE8 headed west in a figure eight pattern toward the Irish coast and back. OFE7, OFE9 and OFE11 all headed north into the Irish Sea. 

You can zoom in an explore the interactive map above.

2.       Decent Through Clouds (DTC) – These exercises comprised 53 daytime flights (8%) of the exercises and involved flying through clouds, which they often had to do and could be very dangerous and disorienting if not done properly. It required an instrument rating and the pilots had to learn to trust their instruments rather than what they could see or feel. Judging by the sub-categories, they also learned how to use clouds as an advantage or tool to help them escape or even find a target. I’m reminded of Alex’s former Wing Commander, Musson, who skillfully used cloud cover during a daylight patrol to find and sink U-614 on July 29th, 1943.

a.   DTC & Radar

b.   DTC & Photo

c.   DTC, Radar & Photo

d.   DTC & Fighter Affiliation

3.       Bombing Exercise – Self-explanatory, the whole purpose of finding U-Boats was to destroy them and they needed plenty of practice to hit the target. This was the second most common type of flight, comprising 127 daytime flights (19%). The squadron records don’t specify where this occurred, but possibly in St. Brides Bay. 

a.   Bombing & Photo

b.   Bombing & Fighter Affiliation

4.       Submarine Exercise – This was where some crews had the opportunity to locate and make a practice attack run on one of the Royal Navy’s submarines. There were only 4 of these (comprising 1%) during this time and all during the day, oddly. It was a simulated nighttime Leigh Light attack on the Royal Navy submarine that proved the concept, and led to the formation of 172 Squadron.

5.       Radar Exercise – Self-explanatory. Comprising 17 daytime flights (2%).

a.   Radar & Photo Exercise

6.       Special Equip. "BABS" Exercise – “BABS” stood for Beam Approach Beacon System, which was a homing device used to help pilots land in poor visibility. It was a newer, more advance system that the BAT training Alex had when he first joined 172 Squadron. Radio beacons on the airfield transmitted signals, which were picked up by the aircraft on their approach, which guided them in. 14 daytime flights (2%).

7.       Wireless Transmission Exercise – Self-explanatory. Comprised of only 1 daytime flight (<1%).

8.       Fighter Affiliation (F/AFF) – As described in Alex’s time with 172 Squadron relating to Dixon’s encounter with enemy aircraft. 36 daytime flights (5%).

9.       Air Firing Exercise – Giving the air gunners some practice. 52 daytime flights (8%)

10.   Photo Exercise – Self-explanatory. Comprising 1 daytime flights (1%).

11.   Air/Sea Rescue – Not part of the standard curriculum. As noted, three Wellington’s were lost during this period, necessitating the Air/Sea Rescue patrols. Comprised of 3 daytime flights and 2 at night, totaling 1%. We know from 172 Squadron’s records, that they too would perform Air/Sea Rescue patrols from time to time as needed.

12.   Creeping Line Ahead Search – A type of convoy protection where they would search ahead of the convoy for threats. 11 daytime flights (2%).

13.   Loop Shadowing – Another type of convoy protection. 52 daytime flights (8%).

a.   Loop Shadowing & Photo       

Below is a list of Pilots and crews that were transferred to 172 Squadron from No. 3 (C) O.T.U from the beginning of August to the end of September when Alex was one of the instructors there.

You can jump back to the RAF Templeton/Haverfordwest section of Alex's biography here.