Operation OVERCLOUD

P/O Anderle makes the second attempt at OVERCLOUD. He takes off at approximately 2045, according to the Stradishall log. He pilots Whitley Z9125 via Tangmere, Caen and Rennes. Crossing Brittany, he notes a lake north of Ploërmel, and crosses the shallow lake south of Vannes before heading north to pinpoint on Vannes itself before heading to the target.

At the target only two lights are seen, so he returns to Vannes. On the next pass the signal lights of the reception committee (which look like car headlamps) are faint and concealed by ground mist until the Whitley is almost overhead, by which time it is too late to drop the containers. He flies back again to Vannes. The aerodrome lights at Meucon are visible. On the next attempt at 00.40 Anderle gets a good sight of the reception lights and drops the OVERCLOUD containers from 1,000 feet. There’s no mention of the agent accompanying the four containers listed on the Air Transport Form.

On the return leg the Whitley’s port engine gives a flash and oil pressure is immediately lost. Anderle reduces boost and engine revs to nurse the engine, while applying extra boost to the starboard engine to compensate. The port engine’s oil temperature reduces slightly, and Anderle makes his way gingerly back to Newmarket via Tangmere, Abingdon and Stradishall, landing at 04.57.

Shortly after midnight Nesbitt-Dufort at Newmarket has let Stradishall know that Whitley ‘A’ (Anderle’s aircraft) is due to return to base at 01.30 instead of 04.00, though there is no explanation.

Sources

TNA AIR 20/8334, encl. 115A
Stradishall Ops Officers’ log, TNA AIR 14/2529