Extracts from the Log Book of

Squadron Leader Geoff Atherton


DATE
AIRCRAFT
DUTY
HRS
REMARKS
AUGUST 1943
10
2156
Local 14 Mile Moresby
1.00
-
11
2156
Local 14 Mile
1.00
-
13
2156
Single engine flying Moresby
1.10
-
15
2117 *
Mission Markham Valley (* See Note 4)
2.50
Missed scrap at Marilinan by 2 min. Saw fires of crashed kites near drome.
16
2156
Moresby - Milne Bay
1.35
-
29
2156
Test
.15
-
30
2156
Photograph Gasmata
3.45
Turnbull-Gasmata-Moresby. Good day but camera not working. Monty turned back
30
2156
Moresby - Milne Bay
1.20
-
31
2156
Moresby Gasmata (illegible)
2.40
(illegible)
31
2156 (?)
(illegible)
1.05
-
31
2156 (?)
(illegible)
1.05
-
SEPTEMBER 1943
2
2156
Photo mission - Gasmata
2.10
Weather crook
3
2156
Photo mission - Gasmata
3.00
Photos from 24000
7
2220
Photo recce Gasmata
2.35
(illegible)
13
2156
Photo recce Garove Is.
.50
(illegible)
14
2156
Photo recce Garove Is.
2.70
Weather no good
16
2156
Photo recce Gasmata (illegible)
.40
No turbo (illegible)
18
2220
Photo recce Kiriwina
2.26
2 strips (illegible)
20
2220
Photo recce Garove Is.
3.55
Job covered 24000 12000
28
2156
Milne - Goodenough
1.0
Monty + self to Ginger
OCTOBER 1943
9
2220
Photo recce (Montague Hbr) (Gasmata Inland)
2.15
Photos taken
10
2220
Photo recce (Gasmata - shore)
2.35
Photos taken
11
2220
Photo recce - Talasea
2.50
Photos taken
12
2220
Photo recce - Rabaul
2.55
Intercepted by 2 Haps 20-25 mls from target. Both had 1 shot but did not hit me. 245 IAS 29000 Ind Alt.
13
2156
Photo recce - Talasea coast
2.35
-
15
2156
Photo recce - Talasea coast
2.40
Photos taken
17
2156
Photo recce - south coast New Brit
3.00
Photos taken
18
2156
Photo recce - Shortland Is. Oro Bay
2.10
Weather no good
19
2156
Photo recce - Shortland Is. Oro Bay
2.50
Photos taken. Formated on W/C Arthur in P-40 to Oro Bay
19
2220
Test
.30
460 mph IAS
20
2220
Photo recce - Talasea - Arawe Hbr
2.45
W/C Arthur took 56. Photos taken
21
2220
Photo recce - New Ireland
3.25
Looking for cruiser hit by 8 Sqn torp. Nil sightings
23
2156
Ginger - Kiriwina
.30
-
23
2156
Kiriwina - Ginger
.30
-
24
2156
Photo recce - Buka
2.30
Nil photos - weather no good
25
2156
Photo recce - Buka 2 strips
4.55
Photos taken 4 Zeros failed to intercept

 

NOTES

1
During the same period, Squadron Leader Atherton was also flying Kittyhawks with No 75 Squadron RAAF. Only Lightning flights are shown in the above extracts.
2
Sqn Ldr Atherton was later promoted to Wing Commander.
3
Logbook extracts courtesy of Neville Rourke.
4
An earlier suspicion that the aircraft serial number (2117) recorded for the mission on 15th August 1943 might be incorrect has been confirmed by the discovery that P-38 41-2117 was written off in the USA one year earlier on 5th August 1942. It is most likely that the mission on 15th August 1943 was flown in 41-2217.

 


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