RAF Digby Ops Museum

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#OnThisDay #1930 A certain Fg Off Frank #Whittle, then a QFI from 2 FTS, got married in Coventry. He had earlier flown to an airfield near the city escorted by a formation of ten Avro 504 training aircraft in honour of the occasion.

#OnThisDay #1940 Plt Off Ravenhill, 229 Sqn, returned to Digby from France in a Gloster Gladiator. His Hurricane had been wrecked in a forced landing. However, he reported that he had shot down two Henschel aircraft.

#OnThisDay #1945 441 Squadron #RCAF returned to #Digby from #Hunsdon, having flown its last operational mission only five days earlier. The Squadron's Spitfires had provided air cover for naval forces removing German prisoners from #Guernsey.

#OnThisDay #1945 RAF Digby was finally stood down from operational status at 1200 hours. A football match took place between the station and Digby village - the station won 4-2.

The Ops Room Sunday Tours are back for the 2024 Summer Season until October. Bookings not required, but advance notice of groups over 10 people is appreciated. Tour Guide will meet visitors at the RAF Digby Sports Ground carpark at 1100 enquiries@opsroommuseum.co.uk

#OnThisDay #1944 Coleby Grange ceased operations when 307 (Polish) Squadron moved into Fairwood Common (now Swansea Airport).

#OnThisDay #1940 Three 46 Squadron Hurricanes flew to #Prestwick in Scotland, so that Fleet Air Arm pilots could make test landings on an aircraft carrier.

#OnThisDay #1940 Sqn Ldr Cross, 46 Squadron, returned to the unit following his trip to Norway, having visited the Air Ministry on the way back.

#OnThisDay #1938 46 Squadron, equipped with Gauntlet fighters, was attached to No.2 Armament Training School at #Aldergrove for annual training camp firing practice. Accurate marksmanship was displayed and a successful standard was achieved. They returned to Digby on 14 May.

#OnThisDay #1941 Much to the disgust of many, the Station Commander issued an edict that, henceforth, aircrew were not to wear their trousers tucked into their flying boots.

#OnThisDay #1930 Avro 504N J8499, 2 FTS, suffered a collapsed undercarriage on landing after ‘crazy flying’ practice. The aircraft was probably being flown by Fg Off Frank #Whittle.

#OnThisDay #1940 Sqn Ldr Cross, Flt Lt Jameson and Flt Lt Stewart flew to #Reims and #Auberive via #Tangmere to prepare for a possible 46 Sqn move to France. They returned the next day.

#OnThisDay #1920 3 FTS was formed at Digby, and the station was transferred to 23 Group.

#OnThisDay #1940 Plt Off Bank, 46 Squadron, parachuted from his Hurricane after it went into a spiral dive following an aileron failure two miles North of #Leadenham.

#OnThisDay #1942 Unit strengths at Digby were listed as: 411 Squadron RCAF - 199 412 Squadron RCAF - 194 409 Squadron RCAF - 441 288 Squadron - 200 WAAF - 441

#OnThisDay #1942 421 Squadron #RCAF was formed at Digby under Sqn Ldr F W Kelly (an ex 402 Sqn RCAF pilot) with 17 Spitfire Mk.VAs. This was the last RCAF fighter squadron to be formed in the UK during WW2.

#OnThisDay #1941 A raid attacked WC1 (#Wellingore) just as Flt Lt G P Gibson , 29 Squadron, was landing at the end of a patrol in a Beaufighter at 2348 hours. Gibson was unhurt, but Sgt Bell (his AI Operator) was wounded and the aircraft slightly damaged.

#OnThisDay #1942 1426 (Enemy Aircraft Flight), which consisted of captured German #Bf110, #Ju88 and #He111 etc arrived on station to give demonstrations and allow aircrew to examine the aircraft.