612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

A month before WW2, a Zeppelin flew a mission up the East Coast of the UK.

It was reported by the Germans that 2 Spitfires circles the zeppelin, but local press put it down as a Miles Magister flown by Finlay Crerar and Officer Robinson, and also an Avro Anson

Anybody have any logs , details or otherwise on what aircraft circled the Zeppelin, and who was flying them?

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

Alan,

Too bad no report in Summary of Events of 612 Squadron for early August 1939. It skips from 31 July to end of August.

Officer Robinson may be identified as Flying Officer ?.E. Robinson, posted as Adjutant to Dyce on 1 July 1939. First initial unfortunately not visible.


Regards,


Leendert

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

Being a pre-war incident (should be in the pre-war board) this was not on operations hence unlikely in the Operations Record Book. Perhaps due to the political sensitivity this is why it was not mentioned in the narrative?

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LZ_130_Graf_Zeppelin_II

Wikipedia

"two RAF planes dispatched from Dyce Airport, a Miles Magister carrying 612 Squadron Leader Finlay Crerar and Officer Robinson, and an Avro Anson."

Graf Zeppelin II LZ 130


Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Friday 04 August 1939

Identified by 2 Planes from 612 Sqn AAF at Dyce states (yesterday ie, 3rd August 1939)

Aberdeen Evening Express - Thursday 03 August 1939

"Flying Officer Davie took of in a Moth aeroplane to get a closer view. He flew within 30 miles of it"

This is Norman Scott Ferguson Davie (90373). I think Moth more likely than Magister at this time ? The Magister was only in service a few years, a Moth could have been allocated to station flight ?

Maybe even Tiger Moth

"Two Anson aeroplanes appeared from Black Dog to be in the vicinity of airship"

Sqd-Ldr Findlay Crerar (90368) went up in an aeroplane from Aberdeen and got quite close to her"

Another machine went up from Dyce afterwards and followed her


Clear Photo in Aberdeen Press and Journal - Saturday 05 August 1939

With name Graf Zeppelin and Registration D-LZ130

612 Sqn were flying Anson's at the time (equipped from July 1939)


Officer Robinson may be identified as Flying Officer ?.E. Robinson, posted as Adjutant to Dyce on 1 July 1939. First initial unfortunately not visible.


I think he may be this person

Anthony Edward Robinson #39472

The rank matches and I can't see another ? E Robinson on AFL at the time with the correct rank

Geoffrey Everard ROBINSON ( 31164) was Equipment Branch and anyway was in Iraq March 1939

If you read

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...nson&styleid=3

Says

Also served with 619, 238 & 66 Squadrons.

I wonder if 619 should be 612 ??

Many Thanks


So I thin 612 Sqn sent up at least 3 Aircraft
2 * Ansons
1 * Light Aircraft "Moth"


No Spitfires!

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

Hello,

"Also served with 619, 238 & 66 Squadrons."

Probably No.610 Squadron, rather than 619 Squadron.

Col.

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

All

Malcolm on RAFCommands confirms that A E Robinson was Adjutant 612 Sqn July 1939 to Oct 1939

i.e. Anthony Edward Robinson #39472

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

Brilliant guys, thanks!

The press photo, I contacted the paper a few weeks back for some images and the Zeppelin one isn't one of their copyrighted photos.

I am a bit sceptical that the photo of the LZ130 is actually off of Aberdeen (in the Evening Express and P&J pics on BNI). It was supposed to be 25 miles offshore (30 also being mentioned). The distance out would be difficult to get a good shot of with cameras generally available at the time. So I think it is (1) possibly an RAF supplied picture - unofficial, (2) A photo from earlier flight of the LZ130 elsewhere.

The big problem with the internet is, about every version of the account is copied for an account elsewhere - so they all have the same info!

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

I think the photo was taken by someone in RAF and then either officially or Unofficially provided to press

Note it was published 3 days later

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

Gents,

Thanks, Stand corrected on F/O Anthony Edward Robinson (Posts #'s 4,5 & 6).

I completely missed this posting from my compilation of Robinson's service record!

Col.

Re: 612 Squadron 2/3rd August 1939
 

Thanks again guys!

On the Thursday "forenoon" a Postmaster on a road saw a Zeppelin Inland (given the location he was, that was bout 3-4 miles inland, with the Zeppelin about a further 10 Miles inland.

The weather was overcast (contradicts those on coast seeing it 10-30 Miles out)

Nobody else saw it inland! I did wonder if the road he was on, perhaps gave him wrong bearings on direction as saw out to sea rather than inland