TNA file swaps - free AIR27 squadron logs and other files

Discussion in 'Research Material' started by WATU, Apr 16, 2021.

  1. WATU

    WATU Member

    Anyone collecting Coastal Command squadron logs for WW2 using the free TNA AIR27 downloads? I guess these might end soon and at £3.50 a pop they are expensive for a trawl.
    I am mainly interested in the longer range ASW aircraft so Liberators, Sunderlands and Catalinas in that order starting with 1943-45. However any squadrons with ASW as the primary role are of interest - such as FAA Avengers.
    Within that I am particularly interested in instances of use of sonobuoys, Mark 24 FIDO torpedoes and the two of them in combination. It is possible with the extreme secrecy around FIDO that their use would not be in normal reports - not confirmed that yet but it seems credible.

    So far I have 120 Squadron 1943-45 and part-way through 59 Squadron.

    Other squadrons of initial interest to me are 86, 53, 206, 24, 311, 422, 423, 330, 201, 228, 461, 10, 210.
    Anyone with a similar topic and ability to do a few swaps?

    Others with quite separate subjects welcome to use the thread of course.
     
    CL1 and Tom OBrien like this.
  2. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi WATU,

    Interesting subject. I've only got a couple of ASW squadron files and they are only from early 1942 (202, 204, 321 and 413 (Cdn) Sqns).

    I'm up for joining in a team effort though. Seeing as I've already started with the 200's - I'll start with 201 Sqn (Sunderland flying boats) from 1 Jan 43.

    Regards

    Tom
     
    CL1 likes this.
  3. WATU

    WATU Member

    Hi Tom

    Nice on.

    I am interested in 1939-42 files as well but decided to start with a later time bracket.

    Paul
     
  4. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi WATU,

    My 201 Sqn downloading is proceeding steadily. The monthly ORBs are strangely addictive as well as they provide the highlights for what must have been very long and mostly very dull missions. Now up to August 1944 and that includes the sinking of a U-Boat on 18 August 1944. So far though all aircraft appear to only be equipped with depth charges - no mention of FIDO or other special equipment.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  5. WATU

    WATU Member

    Hi Tom
    I am now stalled part way through 59 Sqn as I reached the 100 files pm limit.
    Regards

    Paul
     
  6. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi WATU,

    Yes, unfortunately I'm approaching my 100 file pm limit too. However, I do have some snippets hopefully of interest.

    In the 201 Sqn Summary of events for February 1945 under training there is a reference to "special attention being paid to 'Sono Buoy' technique".

    Then in the April 1945 summary, there is a reference under training to:

    "In addition to normal training H/T [I think!] dropping and procedure was carried out in earnest with the result that 9 crews out of the strength of 16 are fully qualified. The first buoy was dropped on operations by O/201 - F/L/ Foster - on the 24th and the following day P/201 - F/L/ Thomas - obtained contact on a pattern dropped by another A/c, and this produced definite clangings and propellor beats. On the 30ty H/201 obtained contact on a blue buoy which gave voices in German and also a speech on a radio, presumably inside a U/boat."

    The other interesting factor is the number of contacts made during spring 1945 on the smoke from U boat snorkels and the evidence of air and naval forces working together. There is also a mention of Mosquito aircraft attacking U boats on the surface and snorkelling in the last few days of the war.

    I've now got Jan 43 - May 45 complete (both summary and records for each month) and have gone back to the start of 1941 and will copy up to Dec 42 now.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  7. WATU

    WATU Member

    Hi Tom
    I have sent you a PM. Definitely of interest.
    H/T stands for High Tea which was the Coastal Command code word for sonobuoys. Mosquitoes with rockets would have been effective against schnorkelling and surfaced U-boats. Does it mention what weapons were used? The 6pdr Testse fly version was used but I am not sure to what extent.
    Regards
    Paul
     
  8. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Paul,

    Thanks for the reply. "High Tea" - I wonder who thought that up!

    No mention of weapons in the ORB other than Depth Charges.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  9. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Paul,

    I noted today in John Terraine's "The Right of the Line" that Liberator's of both 120 and 86 Squadrons were equipped with homing torpedoes as early as May 1943 (with first kill on 12 May 1943). I hadn't realised that they were being used so early.

    Is that why 86 Sqn is so early on your list?

    Regards

    Tom
     
  10. WATU

    WATU Member

    Hi Tom
    It was developed incredibly quickly and, as you say, deployed in May 1943.
    I chose 120 Sqn to start with as lead by Terry Bulloch they were the rock and roll stars of Coastal. Guaranteed to be equipped with anything new and interesting. After that my squadron list is just random. I don't have any specific information on the order of sqn deployment although there will be snippets in my library no doubt.

    Regards

    Paul
     

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