Royal Air Force Station Operations Record Book (ORB) for Middle Wallop (February 1942 - August 1945 and June 1946 - September 1948)
containing RAF Form 540 Summary of Events, approximately 241 predominantly carbon-copy individual sheets, the vast majority filled out double-sided, with over half covering the Second World War. Housed in blue cloth boards marked 'Royal Air Force - Form 4003'. A fascinating record that is ripe for research, documenting many missions alongside daily life on the base and accounts from the Station's Sick Quarters.

The earliest entry is for Middle Wallop Sector Station on 2nd February 1942 and reads, 'Two a/c of 118 Squadron set off to attack the distillery at Erondurlle. They were jumped by M.E.109's near the French coast and P/O Ames, Canadian, was shot down. F/Lt. Howard Williams destroyed 1 M.E. 109 and damaged two, his own aircraft was considerably battered.' An entry on the same page, 12th February, reads, 'Soon after dawn Warmwell was attacked by a Dornier, which aircraft scrambled from Warmwell and Ibsley were unable to intercept. There were simultaneous attacks further West which proved in the end to have been a smoke screen to cover the departure of three German battle ships from Brest. The Ibsley Wing was hurried over to West Malling to join the general fray in the Straits. Reports of the operation were confused by in the general upshot we lost three pilots from the Ibsley Wing.'

Further entries include:
1st April 1942 (Station Sick Quarters, Middle Wallop) 'This Unit has been in operation just under two years. Strength. Officers: 1 Squadron Leader (Station), 2 Flying Officers (1 Per Squadron), Flight Sergeants 1 (Station), Corporals 2 (1 per Squadron), Nursing Orderlies 3 for the Station and two for each squadron .... Housing: 1 type design. Sick quarters on the station used for sick, emergency recovery station(?) and two dental centres. The sick annexe is the latest type, air conditioned and protected... The sick annexe functions as a small department of active therapy' etc.
8th April 1942, 'Shipping Reconnaissances and another attack was made by three M.E 109's on the R.A.F Station at Worth Matravers. There were 2 airmen killed, three airmen and three civilians injured. The Station was unserviceable for 35 minutes. Very rough day.'
26th April 1942, 'P/O Duckett 604. Sqdn. Sgt. Atkinson and Sgt. Sanders 604 Sqdn damaged a D.O 217 during the first Baedeker raid on Bath.'
3rd May 1942 'First Operational co-operational flight between Hurricane of 245 Sqdn. and Havoc, of 1458 Flight piloted by P/O Powell and F/O Poulton respectively. They had one chase but without result.'
4th June 1942 - The Ibsley Wing in co-operation with the Exeter Wing escorted 6 bombers of No. 2 Group in an attack on the docks at Cherbourg. During the night of the 3rd-4th two intruder patrols to Caen carried out by 245 Squadron. P/O Reading flew to Caen but found no target to attack. P/O Powell did not return to Middle Wallop'. (later confirmed KIA)
20th June 1942 - Ibsley Wing led by Wing Commander I.R. Gleed, D.S.O, D.F.C., took part in 11 Group circus operation from Redhill. Five aircraft and pilots of the wing were lost and one F.W. 190 was claimed as destroyed and another as damaged. Hurricane bombers of 175 Squadron attacked shipping off Casquettes, damaging two trawlers. The W.A.A.F Section held a Guest Night and there was a dance in the gymnasium.
27th June 1942 - '2 Aircraft 501 Sqdn up from Middle Wallop at 0747 hours to intercept raid. Both dispersed when proceeding out to see and it is believed both machines were struck by lightning. F/Sgt. McDonald and F/Sgt. Shadbolt the pilots were both killed'.
1st August 1942 - ... The Ibsley Wing (66, 118 and 501 Squadrons) lead by W/Cdr. Gibbs escorted 12 Bostons to attack St. Melo. Bombs fell in dock area, straddled shipping and docks, direct hit on stern of ship which burst into flames; 3 on railway station.'
19th August 1942 'Dieppe. S/L. Mould 245 Sqdn had remarkable experience. Aircraft hit over Dieppe and he flew back just above sea level with no oil and eventually crashed into the shore defences near the vicinity of Little Hempton beach'.

Other entries record the weather, visits, and daily events such as court-martials, reports on the ground situation, sports matches and dances. The ground situation reports appear to be mostly 1944 onwards and are particularly illuminating.

Sample such entries from 1942 include 31st March, 'Fatal accident at Wallop House. A.C Bayly acting as door policeman 'B' camp accidentally shot by A.C. Jordan, fatally.' 9th May, 'Visit from Chief of Air Staff. General Officer's Mess Meeting'. 2nd May 'General Godrey arrived at 0900 hours. No operational activity during day'. 25th May 'Whitsun Monday. Very wet after lunch. F/L Crew awarded Bar to D.F.C. Operational patrols and shipping recces'. 2nd June 1942, 'Performance by 'The Wallops' at Middle Wallop Station Concert Party, which was thoroughly enjoyable, though somewhat long. Tap dancing by W.A.A.F personnel was most applauded item, though it was noticed some of the Senior Admin officers were somewhat startled. The Station Adjutant is progressing as well can be expected after the shock. Group Captain Stephen Hardy arrived to take over command over the Station'. 8th August, 'Visit of Inspector General of the R.A.F (Air Chief Marshal Sir Edgar R. Ludlow Hewitt)

Notes: At the end of each calendar month, these records were completed and sent to the headquarters of the command or force. That headquarters would then forward the original and any relevant appendices to the Air Ministry. A duplicate was then kept in safe custody, which, when no longer required, may be sent for custody of the Base Personnel Staff Officer.

Provenance: Private collection.

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