27 August 1940 was recognised in hindsight as one that
month’s quietest days. Other than one
interception scramble by three aircraft and three security patrols, Pat Hughes and 234 Squadron had
little to distract themselves from preparations for Lord Trenchard’s visit on
the 31st.
Ken Holland of 152 Squadron was up at 5.00 a.m. and
down to the flights for a long wait until Green Section scrambled late in the
morning. Pilot Officer Beaumont and Flying Officer O’Brien shared a destroyed. Ken
may not have had anything to do with the victory but headed into Weymouth to
have a celebratory drink anyway.
Meanwhile, it was all ago at Biggin Hill and Acklington. 32 Squadron at
Biggin Hill had had more than their fair share of the action so far. They badly
needed a rest. But you can’t rest without a ready replacement. Bill
Millington’s 79 Squadron had had a quiet few weeks of it at Acklington and so,
they were ordered south and 32 Squadron were ordered north.
John Crossman, who had only arrived back at Biggin Hill the night before
from his operational training, had barely enough time to ‘pack enough stuff for
three weeks and put it in a big troop carrying plane to be taken up north’. He
managed to dash off a note to his family to let them know he was leaving Biggin
Hill but expected to be back in three weeks. It was only a brief missive, though,
as ‘we have to crack off soon’.
The irony of it was that he was well rested, or at least had had no
chance to be battle weary. He desperately wanted to get into combat and yet his
squadron had just been retired from the immediate aerial arena for the time
being.
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