The Autumn and Winter of 1942

• June, 1446 flight dispatched its first group of Wellingtons, destined for Ambala in India and 458 Sqn at Fayid, Egypt.

• 25th/26th June, another raid, this time, on Bremen. 11 from Moreton and 10 from Edgehill. X3179 failed to return, DV811 landed at Horsham St Faith, N2847 at Foulsham, R1028 at Tempsford, T2974 and N2846 at Honnington and X9695 landed at Stradishall.

• June/July 42', Sports facilities were now developed and all the usual games were played, rowing was included at Evesham Rowing club practice sessions taking place on Wednesday nights. About 5 miles NW of Moreton stood a large country house where a small lake and diving board was enjoyed by those who liked swimming, weather permitting.
  By now 400 WAAF personnel were billeted at their own site off the Evesham road about 1.25 miles from the station, the officers eating in their own mess as the Station Commander would not allow WAAF's into the main Officers Mess.

• July 1st, Wellington X9637 crashes into the sea off Fowey, Cornwall with the loss of all seven men.

• 7th July, T2962 crashes Llangrove killing three and injuring four.

• 28th July, another visit by the Lufwaffe succeeded in destroying Anson N5022 and severely damaging five more:- N4945, N5369, N9734, AX294 and AX295.

• 31st July / 1st August, 11 aircraft (8 from Moreton and 3 from Edgehill) take part in a raid on Dusseldorf, Two aborted due to malfunctions and X9983 posted as 'missing'.

• August, the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair MP, paid a visit to Moreton.

• 18th August, R1345 failed to return from a night cross country. The crew posted as 'missing'.

• 31st August, a Wellington (R1232) from 1443 flight crashed after overshooting the runway, caught fire, and burnt out. The accident claimed three more lives.

• 10th /11th September, 6 Wellingtons from Moreton and 8 from Edgehill took part in a raid on Dusseldorf, of the 12 aircraft that reached the target, 7 consisted of complete student crews. Thrown in at the deep end!

• 13th /14th September, this time Bremen was the target of the 4 aircraft from Moreton and 6 from Edgehill. HE116 failed to return, DV429 landed at Snailwell near Newmarket with flak damage and T2974 returned to crash land at Laxford in Suffolk after encountering an enemy night fighter, The pilot (Sgt H. David) being awarded an immediate DFM.

• 16th /17th September, 6 aircraft from each base returned to Essen. The attack being recorded in Air Ministry war diaries as 'one of the most successful operations' though, of a force of 369 aircraft losses were 11%, a totally unsustainable rate! HE110 was posted as 'missing', two returned with problems and one landed back at Stradishall, all the other aircraft returned safely.

• 5th October, the wedding of Flg Off Stuart Parkeshouse Parkes and Miss Patricia Dee takes place at Moreton Church.

  With winter approaching and the long nights drawing in, extra activities were laid on, lectures, music evenings and 'brains trusts' all helped pass the time. Dances took place and Moreton boasted its own band. Sport and PT played a vital part of life and became an option to morning parade and inspection. Many of the WAAF's took advantage of this to have a late breakfast!

• 21st/ 22nd /23rd October, nickelling raids were scrubbed due to bad weather.

• 24th /25th October, the first mission takes place, all crews successfully dropping their leaflets in the Paris area and encountering no opposition.

• November, the concert hall stage is rebuilt and Miss Wynch's canteen (a favourite place for the WAAF's) becomes 'staffed' by a team of customers due to a shortage of personnel. Delicacies such as jam tarts, buns and cocoa were enjoyed by many at this little 'home from home'.

• 18th /19th November, more leaflet dropping in the Nantes area after a late afternoon takeoff. 640 bundles are scattered from 13,000', not one aircraft makes it back to base! 4 aircraft landed away (Hampstead Norris- Berkshire, Fairwood Common-Swansea, Harwell and Boscombe Down on Salisbury Plain) the other T2574 had engine trouble over the coast and returned, only to crash at Longmoor, Hampshire, with only one crew member surviving.

• A return trip to Nantes on 17th December by 5 Wellingtons from Moreton, leaving at tea time and returning at around midnight, one aircraft landed away at Chivenor, North Devon.

• Mid November, after polishing their skills in their 12 Wellingtons, Oxfords and Ansons 1446 flight, dispatch newly trained crews in 13 Wellington MkVIII's to the Middle East.

• 28th November, with the stage rebuilt an inspection of it, together with the airmen's dinning room and kitchens takes place by Air Commodore Walmesley.

• End of November, four crew perish after their Wellington of 1446 flight crashes at the edge of the airfield.

• 20th December, a photo flash explodes in the flare chute of R1344 killing the WOp/AG, all others except the pilot bail out leaving Sgt Muir to try to save the aircraft. He escapes after crash landing in a field near Compton Wynates, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

• 22nd December, a crash on the slopes of Mt. Snowdon in North Wales wipes out an entire crew.

• 25th December, it is a credit to all the no charges of drunkenness had to be brought during the celebrations. The stations second Christmas saw the usual traditional formalities and the concert party entertained a large and enthusiastic crowd.