Extracts from the Log
Book of
Squadron Leader Geoff Atherton
|
DATE
|
AIRCRAFT
|
DUTY
|
HRS
|
REMARKS
|
| AUGUST 1943 | ||||
|
10
|
2156
|
Local 14 Mile Moresby |
1.00
|
- |
|
11
|
2156
|
Local 14 Mile |
1.00
|
- |
|
13
|
2156
|
Single engine flying Moresby |
1.10
|
- |
|
15
|
2117
*
|
Mission Markham Valley (* See Note 4) |
2.50
|
Missed scrap at Marilinan by 2 min. Saw fires of crashed kites near drome. |
|
16
|
2156
|
Moresby - Milne Bay |
1.35
|
- |
|
29
|
2156
|
Test |
.15
|
- |
|
30
|
2156
|
Photograph Gasmata |
3.45
|
Turnbull-Gasmata-Moresby. Good day but camera not working. Monty turned back |
|
30
|
2156
|
Moresby - Milne Bay |
1.20
|
- |
|
31
|
2156
|
Moresby Gasmata (illegible) |
2.40
|
(illegible) |
|
31
|
2156
(?)
|
(illegible) |
1.05
|
- |
|
31
|
2156
(?)
|
(illegible) |
1.05
|
- |
| SEPTEMBER 1943 | ||||
|
2
|
2156
|
Photo mission - Gasmata |
2.10
|
Weather crook |
|
3
|
2156
|
Photo mission - Gasmata |
3.00
|
Photos from 24000 |
|
7
|
2220
|
Photo recce Gasmata |
2.35
|
(illegible) |
|
13
|
2156
|
Photo recce Garove Is. |
.50
|
(illegible) |
|
14
|
2156
|
Photo recce Garove Is. |
2.70
|
Weather no good |
|
16
|
2156
|
Photo recce Gasmata (illegible) |
.40
|
No turbo (illegible) |
|
18
|
2220
|
Photo recce Kiriwina |
2.26
|
2 strips (illegible) |
|
20
|
2220
|
Photo recce Garove Is. |
3.55
|
Job covered 24000 12000 |
|
28
|
2156
|
Milne - Goodenough |
1.0
|
Monty + self to Ginger |
| OCTOBER 1943 | ||||
|
9
|
2220
|
Photo recce (Montague Hbr) (Gasmata Inland) |
2.15
|
Photos taken |
|
10
|
2220
|
Photo recce (Gasmata - shore) |
2.35
|
Photos taken |
|
11
|
2220
|
Photo recce - Talasea |
2.50
|
Photos taken |
|
12
|
2220
|
Photo recce - Rabaul |
2.55
|
Intercepted by 2 Haps 20-25 mls from target. Both had 1 shot but did not hit me. 245 IAS 29000 Ind Alt. |
|
13
|
2156
|
Photo recce - Talasea coast |
2.35
|
- |
|
15
|
2156
|
Photo recce - Talasea coast |
2.40
|
Photos taken |
|
17
|
2156
|
Photo recce - south coast New Brit |
3.00
|
Photos taken |
|
18
|
2156
|
Photo recce - Shortland Is. Oro Bay |
2.10
|
Weather no good |
|
19
|
2156
|
Photo recce - Shortland Is. Oro Bay |
2.50
|
Photos taken. Formated on W/C Arthur in P-40 to Oro Bay |
|
19
|
2220
|
Test |
.30
|
460 mph IAS |
|
20
|
2220
|
Photo recce - Talasea - Arawe Hbr |
2.45
|
W/C Arthur took 56. Photos taken |
|
21
|
2220
|
Photo recce - New Ireland |
3.25
|
Looking for cruiser hit by 8 Sqn torp. Nil sightings |
|
23
|
2156
|
Ginger - Kiriwina |
.30
|
- |
|
23
|
2156
|
Kiriwina - Ginger |
.30
|
- |
|
24
|
2156
|
Photo recce - Buka |
2.30
|
Nil photos - weather no good |
|
25
|
2156
|
Photo recce - Buka 2 strips |
4.55
|
Photos taken 4 Zeros failed to intercept |
|
1
|
During the same period, Squadron Leader Atherton was also flying Kittyhawks with No 75 Squadron RAAF. Only Lightning flights are shown in the above extracts. |
|
2
|
Sqn Ldr Atherton was later promoted to Wing Commander. |
|
3
|
Logbook extracts courtesy of Neville Rourke. |
|
4
|
An
earlier suspicion that the aircraft serial number (2117) recorded for the
mission on 15th August 1943 might be incorrect has been confirmed by the
discovery that P-38 |
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