[markjsheppard]

Hi Paul,

Repaired and coded 'D' and flown back on the 18th by McGraw.

18 June The last day for 73 squadron in France and the most hectic. On this day, the Germans were literally up the road. P/O Carter’s diary indicates the Squadron posted a look out 10 miles north of the airfield. P/O Carter had undertaken two of the three patrols (Sgt JJ Brimble the other) this morning in P3351/’K’ and he was having problems. He indicates P3351 was using unusually high amounts of Glycol–a gallon an hour. At 13-15 a section of the squadron was ordered to patrol but P3351 stayed on the ground as he wished to keep it serviceable if they had to fly home. About half an hour later the look out said the German were coming up the road and he was off. The pilots still on base were in the mess and were ordered off. The pilots in the air had just enough time to land and refuel before they to took off for England.

At 14-00 P/O Carter took off in Hurricane P3351/‘K’ and headed back to UK with approximately 18 other Hurricanes, possibly more. After refuelling at Tangmere, the Hurricanes headed for there new base at Church Fenton, Yorkshire, landing at 17-20.

The Hurricanes that are known to have flown home are listed below.

'A' Flight: P2815/'A'–P/O Rutter, P2984/'B'-P/O Scott, P3034/'C'-Sgt Griffin, P2542/'D'-P/O McGaw, N2386/'E'-Sgt Webster, L2047/'F'-Sgt Corfe, P3647/'G'-P/O Smith, L1968/'H'-Sgt Marshall, P3456/'J'-O/C 'A' Flight F/Lt Nicholls, P3351/'K'-P/O Carter, P2953/'L'-Sgt Scott

'B' Flight: P3785/'P'-Sgt Plenderleith, P2975/'Q'-Sgt Garton, P2869/'S'- C/O S/Ldr More, L1965/'V'-Sgt Leng, P2962/'W'-P/O Langham-Hobart, P2875/'X'-P/O Eliot, P3398/'Z'-P/O Drake. There were also six other pilots and possibly three Hurricanes that returned although the identity letter of the Hurricanes is not known at present.

regards

Mark

PS They were at Nantes.