10th May 1940

At dawn the war in France began in earnest as the Germans launched a massive assault with armoured units through the Ardennes and Luxembourg towards Sedan with other attacks on The Netherlands and Belgium. The Luftwaffe mounted a series of heavy raids on airfields in the region and Betheniville was attacked at dawn, fortunately without damage or casualties. That morning all AASF Squadrons were ordered to put 50% of their aircraft on 30 minutes notice but their was total confusion in the French High Command and no orders to attack were received. Air Marshall Barratt finally lost patience and, on his own initiative, ordered the AASF squadrons to commence operations and attack advancing German columns.

In the afternoon four Battles led by Flight Lieutenant M C Wells of 103 Squadron were tasked to bomb German troop columns in Luxembourg. The aircraft flew at low level and found that the Germans had advanced much further than expected. Opposition from German light flak was fierce and the Battle of Sergeant C H Lowne was badly hit, bursting into flames and crashing to the ground. Sergeant Lowne survived and was taken prisoner but his 2 crewmen were both killed. Flight Lieutenant Wells flew on and carried out a low-level attack on a convoy of vehicles on the main road with his 4 x 250lb bombs straddling the road. His engine was hit by flak and caught fire and the Battle's coolant tank was punctured. He managed to coax the aircraft up to 200 feet and tried to tell his crew to bale out but was unable to make contact as the intercom was damaged. He waited until his legs started to burn and was then forced to bale out at about 150 feet. Amazingly he survived when his parachute opened and he landed heavily near his crashed aircraft. He was soon to be taken prisoner when the Germans surrounded the wood in which he was hiding. His 2 crewmen had baled out shortly before their pilot and spent 4 days on the run before they too were captured and made prisoners of war.

The other 2 Battles made low-level attacks in the same area and Pilot Officer K J Drabble and crew were shot down in flames near Hotton killing all on board. The Battle of Flight Lieutenant J A Ingram was severely damaged but fortunately he was able to make it back to Betheniville. In his debriefing report he stated that low level attacks of this type were extremely dangerous and observed that most enemy vehicles were armed with machine guns for anti aircraft defence. He suggested that a higher level of approach was advisable to minimise the dangers of the small arms fire and flak although he accepted that this would risk attack by enemy fighters. It had been a bad day for the Squadron but the other Battle units had fared no better with a total of 15 lost out of the 32 that operated. The same day 501 Squadron with their Hawker Hurricanes landed at Betheniville from Tangmere in England and were operational within an hour of arrival.

11th May 1940

The Squadron flew no operations on this day. A Bristol Bombay transport of 271 Squadron bringing reinforcements and spares for 501 Squadron stalled on approach to the airfield and crashed killing four and injuring 12.

12th May 1940

A dawn attack by three Battles was mounted on enemy columns and fortunately all returned and at 1240 hours three more Battles took off and successfully attacked a pontoon bridge at Bouillon. Enemy fighters were encountered but all the aircraft returned safely. At 16:30 another three Battles took off to bomb a mechanised column near Bouillon. For this operation and other day operations that followed the Squadron Battles usually flew with only a pilot and air gunner, the pilot undertaking the navigational duties and dropping the bombs. The column was sighted just over a mile South of Bouillon and Pilot Officer V A Cunningham made a shallow dive attack from 3000 feet to 1000 feet during which his Battle was subjected to small arms and machine gun fire. He was unable to observe the effects of his bombing but managed to make a quick escape and return to Betheniville. The Battles of Flying Officer G B Morgan-Dean and Pilot Officer E E Morton were both shot down by ground fire with no survivors.

During the day He 111s bombed Betheniville. No damage was done but there were several craters around the airfield which were quickly filled in. One of the bombers was shot down by airfield defences which had been recently strengthened with the arrival of 4 x 40mm Bofors guns which augmented the several Lewis machine guns and the odd Vickers K machine gun mounted around the airfield. Fighters shot down another bomber near the airfield.

13th May 1940

No operations were mounted. Large formations of German bombers were seen flying high above the airfield but it was not attacked. Four of the bombers were seen to be shot down. Three of those were claimed shot down by anti aircraft fire from the airfield.

Later in the day the village of Betheniville was bombed causing considerable damage and killing 12 civilians. The dead were buried by Squadron personnel and the roads were cleared and the craters filled in. The local villagers were angry that the had not received any warning of the attack from the airfield which was unjustified because the base had not received any warning either. Relations between the villagers and the personnel at the base became rather strained as a result.

14th May 1940

Eight Battles, led by Flying Officer J R Havers, took off shortly after 05:00 to attack three pontoon bridges over the Meuse between Neuvion and Douzy. The aircraft were subjected to heavy flak over the target but 1 bridge was claimed as hit. The Battle of Sergeant C D Parry was hit by flak and badly damaged. The pilot was severely wounded in the thigh and stomach but he was able to fly the aircraft back to the vicinity of the airfield and crash land when he felt he was about to pass out. Sergeant Parry immediately evacuated to England but sadly died hospital in June 1940. He was awarded a DFM for his bravery.

At 15:30 eight Battles took off to bomb bridges in the Sedan area where they encountered fierce flak and fighter opposition and three aircraft were lost. The Battle of Pilot Officer V A Cunningham received a direct flak hit and exploded in mid air killing pilot and gunner instantly. Flying Officer T B Fitzgerald was also brought down but not before pressing home his attack in spite of sustaining a wound. He was able to make a forced landing and, with his gunner Corporal Madkins, returned to Betheniville the next day. Sergeant G Beardsley was shot down by a Bf 109 fighter but crash landed and he also made it back to the Squadron several days later with his gunner, Leading Aircraftsman G F Lewis.

During the day the AASF Battle squadrons had flown 63 sorties with 36 Battles shot down and in the first 5 days of the campaign had flown a total of 133 sorties. The squadron lost 64 aircraft not including those that had force landed or returned to base in a damaged condition. Air Marshall Barratt and the High Command were deeply concerned by these appalling losses which were obviously totally unacceptable and, if continued at this rate, would have wiped out the AASF in another week. The Bristol Blenheim bombers in France were faring no better, which made the situation even more alarming.

With the rapid and seemingly unstoppable advance by the Germans the roads near the airfield were choked with refugees and retreating Belgian and French troops. Unfortunately there was some looting in the village by the French soldiers. German aircraft again bombed the village during the day.

15th May 1940

No operations were undertaken this day. The airfield was bombed at 07:30 and bombs fell nearby at 11:00 and 12:00 as the German air raids continued. At 15:00 orders were received by the Squadron to withdraw to Rheges, about 20 miles North of Troyes, and urgent preparations were made. That night the officers' mess was barricaded as a precaution against looting or other action by retreating French soldiers. The situation became increasingly ugly and a French soldier shot a Squadron Officer in the arm.

Shortage of transport and the uncertainty of the rapid enemy advance made it necessary for all personnel who could not be evacuated to be held in readiness to withdraw across country on foot.

16th May 1940

Withdrawal started at 01:30 and the main party and all serviceable aircraft left at dawn but one Battle crashed on take off. More vehicles arrived at 11:00 and a final evacuation got underway.

Warrant Officer Cunningham asked for 8 volunteers to tow the 16 bomb trailers with a total of 40 x 250lb bombs to the new base at Rheges some 60 miles away. Four Fordson tractors were used to tow four trailers each with a driver and a relief. This extremely hazardous undertaking took four days to complete. The convoy encountered many delays on the roads, which were choked with refugees, cars, lorries, carts and the like and was in great danger of strafing and bombing attacks.

A rear party of 10 men was left under the command of Pilot Officers Price and Terry. This party removed all useful equipment from the many damaged aircraft on the airfield and destroyed what could not be removed. They also repaired several Hurricane fighters, which were flown out by 103 Squadron pilots. These were returned to 501 Squadron with the exception of one aircraft which was retained for several days by 103 for use as the Squadron's own escort until 501 got to know about it and asked for it back.

The rear party remained at the airfield until the 20th May and suffered almost continuous bombing by the Germans. Their performance in the most difficult circumstances was outstanding.

17th May 1940

The main party arrived at Rheges at 14:00 after travelling through the night on dimmed headlights and narrowly missed an enemy strafing and bombing attack. Some of the Squadron's vehicles then returned to Betheniville to collect equipment and spares.

The airfield at Rheges was extremely good and extensive and was well camouflaged with thinly sown crops so proved very difficult to spot from the air. The German reconnaissance aircraft never found the site and it was not bombed during 103 Squadron's stay. The airfield was shared with 218 Squadron who also operated Battles and the accommodation and food were very good and the local people proved most hospitable.

18th May 1940

On this day Squadron had only 4 Battles serviceable but 11 crews were available for operations. The ground crews worked flat out under great pressure to repair the damaged aircraft and service and prepare others for operations. They continued to do so throughout the campaign.

Operations restarted with Squadron aircraft tasked to attack German armour in the area of St Quentin. A number of Battles were damaged by flak in low level attacks but all returned to base.

19th May 1940

Six Battles attacked troop concentrations in the Conde-sur-Aisne area and all returned safely in spite of heavy flak in the target area. Orders were received by the Squadron to abandon low level attacks on daylight sorties at this point and to fly in to the target area at about 8000 feet and making a diving attack down to 4000 feet. It was also decided that aircraft were to operate alone instead of in formations of 3 to increase manoeuvrability. Night operations would also be flown and a special flare path was rigged up. This was an electrically controlled series of glim lamps wired through a rheostat and working off the Chance light generator. This system worked very well and the lights could be dimmed or extinguished immediately if required in the event of enemy aircraft being in the vicinity. In general the night operations were never a great success but the Battles were now considered too vulnerable to fly regularly by day without fighter escort and the few RAF fighter squadrons in France were too busy intercepting Luftwaffe raids to undertake more escort duties.

20th May 1940

Five Battles undertook the Squadron's first night attack on German communications and storage facilities at Fumay in Belgium and all returned to base. The aircraft operated singly and the operation was made difficult because of mist in the target area.

21st May 1940

103 Squadron took over all the aircraft and equipment of 218 Squadron and now had 31 Battles on strength in various states of repair. Orders for night operations were cancelled because of the daylight operations to be undertaken the next day.

22nd May 1940

Four Battles took off at dawn to make low-level attacks on German armour in the Amiens/Bernaville area. Air Marshall Barratt had made strong protests about his Battles again being used at low level against tanks as he now considered them totally unsuitable for this purpose and the whole thing a pointless sacrifice. But he was over ruled by a higher authority due to the desperate situation on the ground. The weather was bad with low cloud, which made it very difficult to find the tanks, and the operation was not a success. The Battle flown by Sergeant W R Critch was damaged by flak and he force landed. Next day he returned to the Squadron with his gunner.

That night five aircraft took part in night attacks in the Trier area. Two aircraft force landed but the crews later made it back to the Squadron.

23rd May 1940

A German reconnaissance aircraft flew over the airfield but did not appear to see it as all aircraft, equipment and vehicles were well camouflaged and the airfield defences held fire. During the day some Squadron aircraft flew operations in the battle area and that night four Battles made similar attacks.

24th May 1940

Four Battles attacked targets in the Fumay area during the night.

25th May 1940

Three Battles took off before noon to attack a German column near Abbeville. It was not found but the aircraft of Sergeant Beardsley was damaged and he crash-landed in a forward area. He rejoined the Squadron with his gunner, Leading Aircraftman G F Lewis, 2 days later having walked 27 miles and then hitched a lift on a motor cycle and side car. This was the second time in 11 days these two airmen had been shot down and managed to get back to the Squadron.

That night five Battles attacked German held positions in Luxembourg.

26th May 1940

Four Battles led by Flying Officer J R Havers took off at 1000 to attack Chateau Roumont near Oschamps airfield with fighter escort. Intelligence had discovered that there was to be a meeting of 20 senior Luftwaffe officers at the Chateau that day. Hits were claimed on the target and again heavy flak was encountered. The Battle flown by Flight Lieutenant J N Leydon was shot down. The pilot survived and was taken prisoner but his 2 crewmen were killed. Another Battle was written off in a crash landing on return to base and another Battle force landed at Verdun.

27th May 1940

Squadron aircraft took part in night operations.

28th May 1940

Six Battles were detailed to attack an enemy column on the road to Amiens One returned early due to an unserviceable air speed indicator and a glycol coolant leak. The remaining 5 reached the target but all that could be found were small groups of vehicles and isolated detachments of troops, which were attacked. The Battle of Flying Officer R D Max was damaged by intense flak during his attack. He dropped his bombs and came out low and under heavy fire and observed a particular gun on a hill that seemed to be doing most of the damage, giving it a good burst with his forward firing machine gun. Hits on the aircraft's engine caused it to backfire and as the engine temperature started to rise, it was clear that glycol coolant was leaking. He flew back as far as he could and fortunately saw an airfield with French aircraft on it so landed there. Flying Officer Max received a slight wound to his right knee and his gunner was also wounded.

29th May 1940

103 Squadron were informed that the French authorities had allocated 3 decorations, the Croix de Guerre, to the Squadron. It was decided that certain pilots, observers and air gunners should be chosen. The final recipients were selected by the drawing of lots. The 3 recommendations forwarded were Flying Officer R D Max, Sergeant J A McCudden and Corporal Madkins. The airmen never did receive their medals presumably because of the loss of paperwork in the collapse of France. Air Marshall Barratt and Air Vice Marshall Playfair visited 103 Squadron during the day. Night Operations were undertaken by 3 Battles on targets in the Trier area. One returned because of bad weather but the other two bombed communication targets and a Battle landed at Sens because of a faulty D/F bearing.

Although much of the BEF was now in the process of evacuating from Dunkirk and the Germans poised to attack South across the Somme it was hoped that the French and the remaining BEF units South of the Somme could hold the German advance.

30th May 1940

Four Battles took off for a night attack on the airfield at Conz.Two aircraft returned early because of bad weather and one force landed. The remaining aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Hayter made a dive bombing attack dropping a flare and 4 x 250lb bombs. Many searchlights and flak were encountered. Pilot Officer Hayter radioed base to report the bad weather conditions in the target area and further operations planned for that night were cancelled.

31st May 1940

No operations were undertaken and the Squadron was stood down. Transport was laid on and many personnel took the opportunity to visit the town of Troye for some well-earned rest and recreation.

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