MET Flight Bay of Biscay 30 June 1944

[andy bird]

Does anyone know if there was a MET flight flown on 30 June 1944 as I'd like to get an as fuller description of the weather as possible in relation to a later Mosquito shipping strike.


With thanks in advance.

Andy Bird

[Roundway]

Yes, Andy, there were two Epicure "B" sorties on the 30th.

The first, by LL394 (W/O McPhee) left Brawdy at 0140 DBST and returned at 1145 DBST. For simplification the track was basically direct from Brawdy to 43.7N 17.1 W (reached at about 0700 DBST) and return.

The second aircraft, LK962 (F/O Organ) took off at 1347 DBST, but diverted to Gibraltar, where it landed at 0230 DBST on the 1st July. I don't have any information to hand as to the reason for the diversion.

An Epicure "B" track was standard, no variation would have been made to support an operation over Biscay. Can you provide a position for the Mosquito operation.

Brian

[Roundway]

I should add, Andy, that observations recorded during the first sortie would not necessarily reflect the weather experienced later over 'Biscay'. The situation was very mobile, with a depression tracking ENE from near 49N 20W at 0300 DBST on the 30th, to about 52N 09W 24 hours later; during the same period a ridge over Biscay collapsed as a frontal system tracked east.

Low-level (1800 ft) observations were only recorded from take-off until the turning point (43.7N 17.1W); at this location an ascent was made to 18000 ft. A reciprocal track was then flown at this level to about 48.5N 12W, at which point a descent was made to near sea-level, before completing the sortie at 1800 ft.

I can expand on this but, as suggested in my first post, a location/time for your operation would be helpful (Biscay being a rather large area.)

Brian

[andy bird]

Originally Posted by Roundway

I should add, Andy, that observations recorded during the first sortie would not necessarily reflect the weather experienced later over 'Biscay'. The situation was very mobile, with a depression tracking ENE from near 49N 20W at 0300 DBST on the 30th, to about 52N 09W 24 hours later; during the same period a ridge over Biscay collapsed as a frontal system tracked east.

Low-level (1800 ft) observations were only recorded from take-off until the turning point (43.7N 17.1W); at this location an ascent was made to 18000 ft. A reciprocal track was then flown at this level to about 48.5N 12W, at which point a descent was made to near sea-level, before completing the sortie at 1800 ft.

I can expand on this but, as suggested in my first post, a location/time for your operation would be helpful (Biscay being a rather large area.)

Brian

Hi Brian,
Thanks for the info, the strike took place at Concarneau on the Brittany coast. Attack took place at 14:45.

Andy

[Roundway]

Hi Andy,

I have access to some German charts and observations; the quality is not brilliant, but this is my interpretation for Brest at 1400 CET - which I believe equates to 1500 DBST.

At that time a depression was lying to the west-southwest of southwest Ireland, and a warm front from the centre curved through 50N 10W - 47N 8.5W - 45N 8W. A weak ridge extended southwest - northeast across central France. The wind flow across north Biscay is best described as southwestly. The depression and front were moving in a general easterly direction.

The Brest observation reported a gusty S'ly Force 5 surface wind, with 12 miles visibility. Cloud was 4-6/10 Cumulus, base 2000-3000 ft, with altocumulus/altostratus above.

The British analysis would be different in its positioning of the main features, but the idea of early ridge conditions giving way to poorer weather would hold good.

The early morning reconnaissance sortie by 517 Squadron from Brawdy would not have been a great deal of use in determing conditions over the Brest peninsula some 9-12 hours later.

Brian

[andy bird]

Originally Posted by Roundway

Hi Andy,

I have access to some German charts and observations; the quality is not brilliant, but this is my interpretation for Brest at 1400 CET - which I believe equates to 1500 DBST.

At that time a depression was lying to the west-southwest of southwest Ireland, and a warm front from the centre curved through 50N 10W - 47N 8.5W - 45N 8W. A weak ridge extended southwest - northeast across central France. The wind flow across north Biscay is best described as southwestly. The depression and front were moving in a general easterly direction.

The Brest observation reported a gusty S'ly Force 5 surface wind, with 12 miles visibility. Cloud was 4-6/10 Cumulus, base 2000-3000 ft, with altocumulus/altostratus above.

The British analysis would be different in its positioning of the main features, but the idea of early ridge conditions giving way to poorer weather would hold good.

The early morning reconnaissance sortie by 517 Squadron from Brawdy would not have been a great deal of use in determing conditions over the Brest peninsula some 9-12 hours later.

Brian

Brian,

Superb info, this is one piece not covered in a war crimes report.

Andy

[Bruce Dennis]

Andy, you refer to 'war crime report': can you elaborate please?
Regards,
Bruce

[Roundway]

Just to complete the picture for 1500 DBST, Andy, outbreaks of rain accompanied by stratus at 600-700 ft were being reported by the observing stations on the Scillies at at the Lizard, whilst Plymouth was reporting a few spots of rain. Other than in the extreme west, the cloud along the south coast was generally CuSc base 1500-2500 ft.

Was no indication of conditions over the target recorded in the ORB?

Brian

[Roundway]

Were you aware of these links, Andy:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...s-June-30-1944

http://warsailors.com/forum/read.php?1,60139,60139

http://404squadron.com/June1944.html

Bruce,

I think this might be relevant

http://scarletboy44.tumblr.com/page/32 (need to scroll down to 5th entry).

Brian

[andy bird]

Originally Posted by Roundway

Were you aware of these links, Andy:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...s-June-30-1944

http://warsailors.com/forum/read.php?1,60139,60139

http://404squadron.com/June1944.html

Bruce,

I think this might be relevant

http://scarletboy44.tumblr.com/page/32 (need to scroll down to 5th entry).

Brian

Brian
Many Thanks, as you've seen from warsailors.com my trail started in 2014 all this info was lost inc. notes during a house breaking so thanks for re-introducing it to me.
Andy