The Spring and Summer of 1942

• The second full year begins at Moreton-in-Marsh, January 1st, see's the awaited departure date for the Middle East crews, all land safely in Malta.

• Good weather was noted during the first two weeks of January.

• During January 12 more aircraft were received and high oil consumption rates were giving concern on the Pegasus XVIII engines. Station defences and camouflaging work were a high priority.

• 9th January, a Sterling arrives, piloted by Jim Mollison the well known aviator, he stays for a while before going on his way.

• 13th January, Wellington T2911 crash lands at dusk in bad visibility and burns out, the crew all escape.

• The second batch of crews leave for the Middle East on 15th January, following this, the plan was to send 15 crews per month, rising to 18 in April and 20 from then on.

• No Flying possible during week 3 of January due to frost and snow, the thaw began on 23rd of January.

• 26th January, a record 104hrs flying is achieved in one day, and a Wellington force-lands on the 'Q' (decoy) site at Harwell and was badly damaged, no casualties being suffered.

• 27th January, a visit to the station by the New Zealand High Commissioner (W. J. Jordan) and the NZ Associated Press.

• From the end of January through February the accident rate rises alarmingly!

• 28th January, two Wellingtons on a night exercise over Radwell bombing range collide, the crews of R1165 ('C' flight) and Z1157 ('E' flight) bail out except Sgt Rice who lost his life.

• 4th February, No19 course students crash their Wellington on take off half a mile beyond the runway, 3 die at the scene and one more two days later.

• 5th February, the remaining members of 19 course finish their training and leave to join 57 Sqn at Feltwell.

• 8th February, T2608 hits a tree while low flying at Brize Norton, only one crew member survives.

• 13th February, four more crew loose their lives when R1082 crashes at Wellesbourne Mountford after an engine failure.

• 9th March, Z8774 crashes at Edgehill with fatal consequences.

• 27th March, another Wellington, N2800, comes down at Aston Magna.

• 29th March, the Air Ministry decrees, second pilots would be deleted from bomber command crews forthwith and bomb aiming and navigation would become separate trades in place of the comprehensive task of the observer.

• Toward the end of April 'E' flight move to join 'B' flight at Edgehill, to create a balance between the two airfields.

• The syllabus now consisted of 6 weeks training at Moreton (pilots on Wellingtons and navigators on Ansons), then to Edgehill for 'crew-up' and 4 weeks of day and night flying, practice bombing, fighter affiliation and cross country exercises.

• April saw the formation of 4027 Special Flight to take over Moreton's defence from 2740 Defence Squadron, which was posted elsewhere.

• 6th May, T2824 crashes 2 miles from Edgehill and burns out, the entire crew being lost.

• 8th May, Wellington Z1161 came down at Beckenham, Lincolnshire, when the port engine failed.

• 11th May, 6 Group (training) was disbanded and 91 Group (Operational Training) took over control of RAF Moreton-in-Marsh.

• 18th May, 1446 (ferry Training) flight arrives at Moreton from Bassingbourne where it was attached to 11 OTU, and immediately started work training crews for the ferry flights to the Middle East. Wellingtons were flown into Moreton by ATA pilots and trained crews then flew them to Gibraltar via Portreath in Cornwall, on route to Squadron's in Egypt and elsewhere.

• 19th May, Wellington DV811 taxies into the rear of Anson AX430, writing off the smaller aircraft.

• 21st May, another Anson, N5259, hits HT power lines near Kingham, killing two and injuring three and Wellington R1142 Stalled while practicing an overshoot at Edgehill, four more loose their lives.

• 26th May, one of 1446 flight's Wellingtons (DV657) suffer's a burst tyre on take off, swerves into the dispersal area and collides with X9934 of 21 OTU. Both aircraft were destroyed by fire and the bombs aboard X9934 explode, injuring 3 ground crew, the only casualties.

  Experienced WOp/AG crews fly operations over the North sea in Ansons, sending messages and giving the impression normal training flights were taking place, whereas the Wellingtons were being bombed and fueled up.

• Many aircraft are drawn in to boost numbers for the first 1000 bomber raid, 10 aircraft take off for Snaith in Yorkshire on 27th May and another 12 leave from Moreton bound for Cologne. 19 of the 22 aircraft reached their target. DV598 hit a tree on take off, N2736 abandoned the mission due to unserviceable rear guns and X9918 diverted to Hamsteede at a lower level due to lack of oxygen equipment.

• 29th May, 12 aircraft from Moreton and 11 from Edgehill take off bound for Essen. Three returned for technical reasons, one landed at Oakington and W5618 was never herd of after 04.16 hrs, when it should have been well on the way home.