Spitfire P9550

[Observer1940]

Hello Brian

Regarding the additional Met Flights, may I refer you to:-

"Royal Air Force Meteorological Policy Committee. Minutes of the 9th Meeting held at the Air Ministry on Friday, 8th November, 1940."

"Item 8. Weather Reconnaissances Flights."
[Paragraph] "55. D.M.O. stated that it had been agreed that three Meteorological Flights should be established for carrying out daily flights:-
(a) over the North Sea,
(b) some 500 miles N.W. of the British Isles,
(c) some 500 miles S.W. of the British Isles."
...

[Paragraph] 56. goes on to propose that flights should be provided for this purpose at Bircham Newton, Aldergrove and St Eval.

I have AIR 20.4031 listed for the above.

According to other documents in the various TNA Series and other official records (in private hands) it is apparent that some Commands and Units had been attempting to get their own Met information before an operation. As they were being admonished to speak to Met first before attempting their own weather reconnaissance flights, in order to look out for certain weather characteristics etc.

Until I go through all my information to set out my forthcoming book, I don't think I will be able to find the Bomber Command reference quickly.

Regarding references to poor Meteorological records about the weather during WW2, the Meteorological Office was heavily criticised in a censored draft around 1950 for the wholesale destruction of a wealth of data, which had led to a greater understanding and effects of the weather during the war. The accusation was that RAF flights were authorised on Met. Office information, which should either not have been authorised, or should have been shorter flights, in order to get the RAF aircraft safely back on the ground, before the weather worsened here.

Regards Mark