Squadron Operational Record Books (ORBs)​

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Please see below for transcripts from the Operational Record Books for 622 and XV squadrons for the operations that Jim participated in. These therefore provide the “official” squadron record for each operation or attack.

Each squadron filled these in slightly differently, but broadly these will contain a summary of the Battle Order(s) and a summary of the outcome.

They also detail all aircraft, all crews taking part, the take-off and landing times for each aircraft and the summary from each crew as to their observations of the operation.

The crew’s observations would have been collated at the debriefing of the crew on arriving back after each raid by the intelligence officers, usually accompanied by tea and rum.

The transcripts below therefore only include the detail for Jim and his crew for their own operations. The Operational Record Books were completed for each month of the year and at the end of each month also usually also detail any awards presented, personnel changes and (sometimes) flying hours for the squadron and tonnage of bombs dropped; these general end of month details have not been included below.

I have (mostly) kept to a faithful transcript, including errors as typed at the time. Operational Record Books are held at the National Archives and the majority of them can be ordered and viewed online. Additionally, the transcripts below currently do not include information contained in the Appendices to the Operational Record Books (since these don’t currently appear to be available online). Where I have added a note these are prefaced by "NB". The material featured on this page is subject to Crown copyright protection and is licensed for use under the Open Government Licence. Viewing is best done on a computer; if on a mobile device you will need to swipe left to see all the columns.

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