Air Observation Posts

No. 655 (Air Observation Post) Squadron RAF

APPRECIATION OF AIR O.P. WORKING IN THE BEACH-HEAD BATTLE		SECRET
By Captain W.G. Gordon, Anzio, 3.2.44
FACTORS:
AIR STRENGTH
(a)	We have air supremacy but hostile fighters continually raid the beach-head, originally to bomb and machine gun, but recently only at ground level on anti-Air O.P. sorties by day.
(b)	A.A. is plentiful; we have many Bofors. The Germans have a greater proportion of heavy A.A. The German A.A. shoots at Air O.P.'s if too high and far forward.
(c)	Very many Air O.P.'s are working in a small area; therefore there are always some in the air.
GROUND
(a)	Is very flat and wooded except for a few valleys.
(b)	Bofors cannot shoot at very low hostile aircraft, especially when guns are in woods.
(c)	Radar cannot pick up very low enemy aircraft coming along coast or valleys.
(d)	Air O.P. has to rely on manoeuvrability for evasive actions.
TIME AND SPACE
(a)	Enemy fighters are called up by their forward control in approximately 20 minutes.
(b)	As beach-head is so small, enemy fighters can come from any direction and make a very quick attack, only coming 2000 yards inside our lines.
WEATHER
(a)	Bad weather helps the enemy as he can always see Air O.P.'s, while they cannot see low enemy fighters or targets so well.
(b)	Evasive tactics are very difficult in high wind.
COMMUNICATIONS
…
(b)	Fighter Control must know where and when Air O.P.'s will be flying if they are to help us.
EQUIPMENT
(a)	The Auster has proved safer for evasive action than the Piper Cub, owing to extra speed. A rear observer will help and petrol caps must be improved to prevent windscreen being covered with petrol when stick is pushed forward…
FLYING RESULTS
(a)	Pilots from "A" Flight have been fired on by fighters nine times. One pilot was shot down, and one had a bullet through the tailplane. It therefore seems that we are difficult targets when we see the fighter first. (Americans have had four shot down and three badly damaged)…
(d)	The enemy fighters always attack from ground level, generally 1–4 fighters almost abreast. They have lost at least one fighter shot down within 300 yards of an Auster, by Bofors, and probably two more, (Americans claim eight!)
… we fly at about 2000 ft if visibility allows … we fly well back and over or behind the guns and do not fly straight over in the same place for long … we fly for as short a time as possible … 20/30 minutes … We have not been attacked since flying high and well back but we hope if this occurs to get warning and Bofors and fighter protection. We would like parachutes!

OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK

No. 655's ORB offers nothing on Capt. Dick's encounter with I./JG 2 beyond the terse note "aircraft shot down."

However, the Squadron did preserve two formal reports on its work from the beach head.

SUMMARY OF "A" FLIGHT DIARY FOR FIRST FOUR WEEKS OF OPERATION "SHINGLE"
Date: 28th February 1944

Fighters. Every pilot has been up during the fighter-bomber raids and Capts. Dutton and Standfield were both attacked by low-flying fighters on their way home after ground strafing during the first week. About 10th February anti Air O.P. sorties really started, and Capt. Dutton was shot down by two fighters who attacked abreast at ground level well away from ther main axis. Capt. Gordon was attacked in almost the same place on 16th February, 1944, by a single fighter who had just shot down a Piper Cub.

The next morning he was attacked by two fighters who came in at ground level. These turned for a second attack which took place over the pilot's old troop where one M.E.109F was shot down by a Bofors. Fighters fired on each attack but only hit fabric once.

Capt. Barber was attacked by a single fighter on 19th February, 1944, which came down out of the sun and turned for a second attack after which it was probably shot down by small arms fire.

A.L.G.'s have been shelled three times when occupied, and on 13th February 1944, airmen did a very good job in getting pilots off while being shelled. On the 13th February, 1944, a bomb landed 20 yards from A4 truck and damaged the roof. Splinters also hit aircraft on other nights. every man now sleeps underground. L.A.A. give us warning bursts of tracer as well as the Regiments' air sentries on R/T.

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