J.E. Lydall Log Book No.2
Lydall joins No. 272 Beaufighter Squadron on Nov. 26 1941 and stays with them until Mar.28 1942. In that 4 months he flies 151 hours of which 104 are Operational. As roving says previously, he was the S/Ldr Commanding No. 272 for the last 2 months (Feb/March). Prior to that he was O/C 'A" Flight for Dec. '41 & Jan. '42. They flew initially from Edcu, but then mainly from L.G. 10.
The following log entries show that his 1st. week with this unit was somewhat trying!
Nov 26 Beaufighter T4702 F/LT Bxxxxxt. Self Passenger for instruction. A/C hit obstruction on take off & damaged u/c. One wheel down, one up. A/C was crash landed. No-one hurt.
Nov 27 Beaufighter T3308 W/CMDR Yaxley. Self Passenger for instruction. 2 landings. Con. rod broke in stb. motor on second approach. A/C landed OK.
Nov 27 Beaufighter T3314 Ist solo on type. 2 landings.
Nov 28 Beaufighter T3314 Cannon firing test. All four cannons failed to fire. Port motor very rough at high revs in fine pitch. Auto u/c lever jammed. Excessive vibration at high speed. Spectacles on c/c out of alignment. Petrol consumption excessive. A/C very slow.
Nov 29 Beaufighter T3314 Cannon firing test. Stb.Outer failed to fire. Excessive vibration on stb. motor at high engine speed. Excessive fuel consumption.
Dec 2 Beaufighter T4700 (SORTIE 4) OP. No. 27 Ground strafing attack on BARCE aerodrome. Destroyed 2 B.R. 20s on the aerodrome. Intense and accurate light AA fire. 3 A/C took part. One shot down on the aerodrome by AA fire. Heavy rain + low cloud on both outward and return journey. Return journey on instruments practically all the time. Picked up Barrani - Matruh road at 50 feet. Landed base with 15 mins. petrol left, 5 mins. before dark. Vis. base 300 yards.
For the rest of December and first half of January '42, their operations (mainly strafing tanks and M.T.) are frustrated by miserable weather and a plethora of unserviceability issues. The desert environment takes its toll as the sand and grit gets into machines and equipment alike.
More excerpts from the January & February log (Lydall now commands 'A Flight).
Jan 15 Beaufighter T4876 (SORTIE No 40) Fleet escort on Alexandria bound convoy. (1 M.V. + 4 Destroyers) off BENGHAZI. Convoy attacked by an Me. 110. Chased and overhauled him about 100 miles out at sea. Had 10 minute dogfight but was unable to bring him down. Me. 110 much more manoeuvrable also able to bring intense return fire from rear gun. Broke off attack due to shortage of petrol and landed BERCA with 12 gallons left.
Jan 18 Beaufighter T4876 (SORTIE No 42) Fleet escort on MALTA bound convoy. Low cloud and heavy rain with clear patches. Fleet shadowed continually by Ju. 88. Was brought on to 88 by vectors from fleet. Saw and attacked Ju. three times, but on every occasion disappeared into thick cloud before I could press home attack at at short range. All firing was at long range and was unable to bring him down. Fleet opened up on one occasion and had to take violent evasive action to avoid being shot down by fleet AA. Returned Base.
Jan 21 Beaufighter T4832 Lydall flies (non-operational) a representative from The Bristol Aeroplane Co., a Mr Hillier, from L.G. 10 to EL ADEM. Then to GAMBUT and return to L.G.10. He notes that the Dust Haze goes up to 6000'.
Feb 6 ME. 108 (TAIFUN) Captured German A/C. Ist Solo on Type.(.25).
Feb 13 Beaufighter T4876 (SORTIE No 47) Fighter escort on convoy of 2 Merchant Vessels, 1 Cruiser + 3 Destroyers. Convoy dive-bombed by Ju. 88. E/A much higher than self when chase started. Ju. 88 was rapidly approaching cloud cover so was forced to open fire at long range. Gave 5 bursts at long range but E/A disappeared into cloud and no results were observed.
As of Feb 21 Lydall begins to log Test Flights or Collection Flights for 53 R.S.U. (Repair & Service/Salvage Unit). in between further Convoy Escort Sorties. There were 5 such flights for 53 R.S.U. in the last week of Feb. in Hurricanes, Kittyhawk & Tomahawk (Curtiss P-40, not the PA-38 Tomahawks that I flew). He records that most of these flights revealed snags, some resulting in emergency landings. So his log is not only signed by himself as O/C No.272 Squadron but his Test Flying is certified correct by the O/C of 53 R.S.U. 12 more of these Test Flights are logged in the first 2 weeks of March.
Lydall flies his final Sortie on March 20 (SORTIE No 55) Fleet Escort on a Malta bound convoy - uneventful. This brings the Operational hours in his log to 224.15 and his grand total to 1318 hours.
There are no more entries in the log for over 3 months until he records "Posted to Parachute Training School. Ringway (Now Manchester International Airport) July 5 1942.
His Record of Service page says - Return UK from M.E. (Ship) Leave etc. 28.3.42 - 4.7.42.
Ian BB