Operation FRUGAL - 544 Squadron

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good morning or good night to all!
I had read a lot about Operation FRUGAL in books, but actually did not know how many aircrafts of 544 Squadron or how many crews took part on it.
It was flown between 9th and 23rd October 1944 to Russia. I know that S/L Frank Dodd flew on it.
Could someone inform me ALL the crews and planes ( serial ) involved?
There were accidents or losses?
Thanks for all
A. Baumgartner

[Fairlop]

Hello Adriano,

I have these crews and Mosquitos in my database for the period 14th - 18th October 1944:

14/10 MM307, F/O Foster & W/O Moseley, Vnukovo to Benson
14/10 NS502, S/L Saint & F/L Williams, Benson to Vnukovo
15/10 MM303, F/L Harris & F/O Skyngley, Vnukovo to Benson
15/10 NS652, W/C Stevenson & F/O South, Benson to Vnukovo
16/10 NS502, S/L Saint & F/L Williams, Vnukovo to Benson
16/10 NS500, F/O Burfield & F/S Barron, Benson to Vnukovo
17/10 NS652, W/C Stevenson & F/O South, Vnukovo to Benson
17/10 MM273, F/O Olson & F/L Crow, Benson to Vnukovo
18/10 NS500, F/O Burfield & F/S Barron, Vnukovo to Benson

Flight time was between 4.45 - 6 hours. It is interesting two Czechoslovak crews with No.544 Sqn didn´t participated in the flights to Moscow and were grounded ...

Hope this helps,
Michal

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi Michal
Thanks a lot indeed for this DATA. Could you inform from which book you took it? ( I would be glad to acquire one myself )
Did you have on this book or ORB the missions flown by S/L Frank Dodd and F/O Eric Hill? Could you send me the dates and serial of aircraft flown by this particularly crew?
I am actually doing a small account about Eric Hill activities as PRU Navigator and know that they did the first FRUGAL mission ( it seems on the 9th October ) and were actually attacked ( Russian fighters fired a burst of advertissment ) when they flew (un)voluntuntarely some private or secured areas over Moscou!
I would be very pleased if you could send me details of their missions...I do not know if they flew more than one mission or just this one on 9th October...
Thank you a lot!
A. Baumgartner

[Fairlop]

Hi Adriano,

Operations Record Book is the source. I have incomplete copies for period May 44´ - March 45´. This popular duo flew a number of Mark IXs or XVIs. Here are three examples for 25/6 MM272, 9/7 NS504, 6/8 MM246.
I have not copies for 9th October, sorry.

Regards,
Michal