Flt Lt Frede Johannes Florentsen

254 Sqn

Beaufighter X (B)

19.09.44

14:54 - 19:35

1445/1511 A/B North Coates - 7 A/C armed with 4 cannon and 8 A/C armed with cannon and torpedo. F/L Thorburn in J/254 as North Outrider.
W/C Hall in B/236 led the Wing and W/C Cartridge led the Torbeaus in N/254.
Z/254 lost formation over Spurn and was joined by E/254. Very hazy and vis 2 miles.
1600 Z/254 & E/236 saw a large splash in sea 54°27'N 01°20'E and 'E' dropped a sea marker. Borh A/C circled position but sighted nothing except a brown circular patch. No wreckage or dinghy seen.
1617 Captains of E/236 and Z/254 decided to S/C base as they were unable to locate the Wing.
1650 58°35'N 05°22'E J/254 (Outrider) on patrol and pinpointed Obrested.
1652 Z/254 Landed base.
1657 58°21'N 06°13'E J/254 sighted 4 masted wooden bargue close inshore.
1702 J/254 pinpointed Lister and experienced intense H.F. from shore and at
1705 58°N 06°25'E off patrol and informed Wing Leader 'No target'. S/C base. On return led 'J sighted numerous Danish F/V's 50/100 miles from Norwegian Coast. Nothing seen at Lister except small fishing craft.
1900 J/254 landed base.
Remainder of A/C were diverted to Tain by ACHQ on account of weather at base.
Negative report was received from the 'Outriders' over VHF at 1710 hours and Wing S/C Tain.
1905/1935 Wing landed Tain.

AIR 27/1516