Sunday, 23 March 1941

RAF Stradishall

F/O Ron Hockey flies with P/O Willson and crew to Abingdon, then on to Ringway, in Whitley T4165. Stradishall learns that he has been given the incorrect colours of the day. The Ops Officers’ log records:

1605: Endeavoured to contact F/O Hockey in 1419 Flight Whitley, flying to Abingdon and thence to Ringway to inform him in possession of wrong colours & letters of day. Unable to do so having left Abingdon. Requested Sigs to contact Whitley but Sigs not in wireless touch.

This could easily have led to a tragic accident if he had been intercepted by a trigger-happy fighter-pilot. (See Oettle’s own experience the previous 5 August.)