Opening up, and the Spring and Summer of 1941

• With the close of 1940 came 55 OTU to Moreton-in-Marsh, and, as with many training squadrons of inexperienced pilots at a new airfield (especially with the unfinished landing area), inevitably accidents happened. The first the day after the Sqn arrived at Moreton (29th November). Plt Off J Komenski crash landed his Hurricane, injuring himself.

• On December 5th, Hurricane L2124 was written off and within hours two more Hurricanes (L1698 and P2887) had crash landed. None of the pilots being hurt.

• On the 8th December two more came to grief (P3458 and P2948), again no injuries being sustained by the pilots.

• January saw another 3 aircraft crash land without injury.

• During January construction work was far from finished and the site was a sea of mud several inches thick, even along the roads, the NAAFI was finished and the barracks became occupied by construction workers.

• A party arrived, on 20th January comprising, 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, 15 other ranks and commanded by Plt Off Turner and next day formed Moreton's resident unit 21 OTU. Over the next few weeks more personnel arrived, many from 15 OTU at Harwell, including Flt Lt Harrison who was now overseeing the opening up.
  40 soldiers of the 5th Gloucester Rgt and 46 airmen arrived at around this time to guard the airfield.

• 21st of February saw the first station commander, Wg Cdr Cole take over from Flt Lt Harrison and the same day the first visit by the "brass" (Air Comm MacNeeece Foster) flew in, the first aircraft to do so other than 55 OTU. He remarked on the fitness and happiness of the men, a fact far from the truth as the Officers, unhappy with their accommodation in the NAFFI had moved into the Sergeants Mess.

• 22nd of February (most likely date) saw the airmen of 55 OTU depart for Aston Down, no doubt pleased to return to civilization and dry ground!

• On the 24th February, 3 Wellington Mk Ic's and 2 Anson Mk I's arrived, (by the end of the month 5 more Wellingtons were on the station strength).

• By 28th of February, station strength was:- 27 Officers, 48 NCO's and 666 other ranks.

• No 1 Flying course arrived at 21 OTU on 1st March, after receiving two weeks of initial crewing up at Harwell.

• 10.30, 3rd of March, Flying began with 'C' Flight, and continued until 18th when No 2 Course took over and No1 Course moved onto Operational flight training.

• By the end of March there were 16 Wellingtons and 4 Ansons, though many Wellingtons were not fitted with dual controls.

• "In view of the still prevalent mud pilots are ordered not to leave any paved areas, as the aircraft will become bogged down." March 1941.

• Airfield receives its first visit from the Luftwaffe on 3rd April at around 23.40. With a Wellington on the runway and others in the pattern, a blanket of incendiary bombs fell. Two landed under the wing of the aircraft on the ground and one of the crew climbed down to deal with them, sadly walking into a propeller in doing so. He was rushed to Sick Quarters with an amputated arm, but after being moved to the local hospital and then to RAF Little Rissington, succumbed to his injury. Two 500lb H/E bombs fell on the N/W side of the airfield, though only damaging telephone wires and two drums of cabling.

• 14th April, students of No1 training course leave Moreton, their training complete, to join their squadrons.

• 25th April, while on night exercises, two Wellingtons land away, one with a seized engine and the other with radio failure. One of the Ansons also crashes near Tredegar, the aircraft being destroyed, one of the crew sustained a broken leg. Apart from one man, all returned to Moreton by road.

• 28th April, No 2 course complete their training and leave. 9 fully equipped Wellingtons, 2 Ansons and 2 ground instructional Wellingtons arrived.

• 7th May, More incendiaries fall on the dispersal area but no damage is caused.

• 11th May, No 3 course leave, one crew to Marham, one to Feltwell and the rest to Stradishall.

• 27th May, a record total of almost 91 flying hours achieved in one day.

• By the end of May, station strength was:- 94 Officers, 156 aircrew and 1538 other ranks.

• 9th June saw a new training syllabus come into force and 'E' Flight was formed as a second Wellington conversion Flight.

• 12th June, No 5 course leave after a delay caused by bad weather meant they had not finished their solo night cross country's.

• 15th June, Wellington T2910 crashed while attempting to overshoot, and burnt out, luckily the crew escaped with only the pilot (Sgt Smiles) receiving head injuries.

• 27th/28th June, the first "Nickel" raid (leaflet dropping) was mounted from Moreton in perfect weather, by four Wellingtons , leaving at between 23.08 and 23.17 with Paris their target.

• 30th June, after an appeal from 3 Group, 2 crews on No7 course and one on No 8 course were posted to their operational squadrons ahead of time.

• End of June, aircraft strength was:- 37 Wellington's, 6 Anson's and a Magister.