Leonard William "Bluey" Beales (RAAF Service No. 434137) was one of 3 Squadron's Mustang pilots at the end of World War II. This extract from his logbook, covering his tour of operations up until the German surrender in Italy (a few days before "VE" Day was celebrated elsewhere) shows the unrelenting nature of the Squadron's dangerous work, and the typical load on one individual pilot.
This valuable record was typed-up by Bluey's daughter Donna and we would like to express our sincere thanks to her.
Further detailed description of the objectives, manning and results of each of these missions can be found in the Squadron's online Operations Record Book (from p586). Also Arthur Pardey's photo collection and Al Clark's memoirs will add further insight.
|
Year |
Aircraft |
Pilot or 1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot, Pupil or Passenger |
DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) |
Single-Engine Aircraft |
Multi-Engine Aircraft |
Pas-sen-ger |
Instr/Cloud Flying [Incl. In cols. (1) to (10) |
|||||||||||
|
1945 |
DAY |
NIGHT |
DAY |
NIGHT |
|||||||||||||||
|
Type |
No. |
NON.OP
|
Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
||||||
|
Month |
Date |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- Totals Brought Forward
|
|
200.210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb |
6 |
Mustang III |
FB 290 |
Self |
- |
Conversion |
.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
7 |
“ |
FB 283 |
“ |
- |
“ |
.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
12 |
“ |
KH 573 |
“ |
- |
Bomb Fuel Plant-Adria- |
|
1.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
12 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
- |
Rimini – Fano |
.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
19 |
“ IV |
KH 677 |
“ |
- |
Bomb Rail Diversion |
|
1.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casara |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
20 |
“ III |
FB 262 |
“ |
- |
Bomb Rail Bridge-Dogna |
|
2.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
22 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
- |
Recce. Villarch-Gorizia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
22 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
- |
Armed Recce. Gemona-Villach |
|
2.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
23 |
“ IV |
KH 677 |
“ |
- |
Rail cut-Dogna-Pontebba |
|
2.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
25 |
“ IV |
KH 806 |
“ |
- |
Armed Recce. Belluno-Tolmezzo |
|
2.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.65 |
12.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND TOTAL [Cols. (1) to (10)] 398 - Hrs 40 - Mins. |
|
213.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||||
|
Year |
Aircraft |
Pilot or 1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot, Pupil or Passenger |
DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) |
Single-Engine Aircraft |
Multi-Engine Aircraft |
Pas-sen-ger |
Instr/Cloud Flying [Incl. In cols. (1) to (10) |
|||||||||||
|
1945 |
DAY |
NIGHT |
DAY |
NIGHT |
|||||||||||||||
|
Type |
No. |
Dual |
Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
||||||
|
Month |
Date |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- Totals Brought Forward
|
|
213.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar |
4 |
Mustang IV |
KH 677 |
Self |
|
Bomb A/M Positions - |
|
1.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
4 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
- Casara Rail Diversion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
4 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Bomb M/Y at Dobrava |
|
2.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
5 |
Mustang III |
FB 290 |
“ |
|
Bomb A/A Positions |
|
.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavenella Rail Bridge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
6 |
Mustang IV |
KH 677 |
“ |
|
Bomb T.R.G. Conegliano |
|
1.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
7 |
Mustang III |
KH 631 |
“ |
|
Anti-Flak – Padua |
|
1.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
9 |
“ |
KH 624 |
“ |
|
Armed Recce N.E Italy |
|
1.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
10 |
Mustang IV |
KH 677 |
“ |
|
Bomb Ammo Dump-Bresega |
|
1.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
11 |
Mustang III |
FB 290 |
“ |
|
Bomb Rail Bridge Cismon |
|
1.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
12 |
Mustang IV |
KH 677 |
“ |
|
Bomb Rail Diversion Neruesa |
|
1.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
16 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Bomb Road Bridge-Brod UGO |
|
3.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
19 |
Mustang III |
KH 632 |
“ |
|
“ “ “ “ “ |
|
2.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
20 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Bomb Viaduct Borovnica UGO |
|
2.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
22 |
“ |
KH 631 |
“ |
|
Escort B26’s |
|
1.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
23 |
Mustang IV |
KH 830 |
“ |
|
Armed Recce-UGO-Austria |
|
2.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
24 |
Mustang III |
FB 290 |
“ |
|
“ “ “ “ |
|
3.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
25 |
“ |
KH 631 |
“ |
|
Armed Recce N. Italy |
|
2.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
29 |
Mustang IV |
KH 851 |
“ |
|
Bomb Barges S.E of Dona |
|
1.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
31 |
Mustang III |
FB 252 |
“ |
|
Weather Recce. UGO |
|
1.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.30 |
|
“ |
31 |
Mustang III |
KN 624 |
“ |
|
Bomb Stores Dump |
|
.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. of Medicina |
|
35.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND TOTAL [Cols. (1) to (10)] 434 - Hrs 20 - Mins. |
|
249.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||||
|
Year |
Aircraft |
Pilot or 1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot, Pupil or Passenger |
DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) |
Single-Engine Aircraft |
Multi-Engine Aircraft |
Pas-sen-ger |
Instr/Cloud Flying [Incl. In cols. (1) to (10) |
|||||||||||
|
1945 |
DAY |
NIGHT |
DAY |
NIGHT |
|||||||||||||||
|
Type |
No. |
NON.OP
|
Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
||||||
|
Month |
Date |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||
|
- Apr |
- 1 |
- Mustang |
- KH 624 |
- Self |
- |
- Totals Brought Forward Armed Recce UGO |
|
249.20 2.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
2 |
“ |
KH 593 |
“ |
|
“ “ “ |
|
2.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
3 |
“ |
FB 290 |
“ |
|
“ “ “ |
|
2.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
5 |
“ |
KH 677 |
“ |
|
Bomb RLY Bridge – Lasko |
|
2.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
6 |
“ |
KH 638 |
“ |
|
Armed Recce |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bomb RLY Bridge - Pordenone |
|
1.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
8 |
“ |
KH 677 |
“ |
|
“ RLY Diversion - Latasana |
|
1.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
9 |
“ |
FB 244 |
“ |
|
“ Occupied House - Cotignola |
|
.45 |
|
|
Close Support |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
“ |
9 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
“ Occupied House – Lugo |
|
1.15 |
|
|
“ |
|
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
10 |
“ |
KH 677 |
“ |
|
Rover Tom |
|
.40 |
|
|
“ |
|
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
11 |
“ |
FB 244 |
“ |
|
“ “ |
|
1.10 |
|
|
“ |
|
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
12 |
“ |
KH 624 |
“ |
|
Armed Recce N. Italy |
|
1.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
13 |
“ |
FB 299 |
“ |
|
Rover Paddy |
|
1.20 |
|
|
C.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
14 |
“ |
KH 632 |
“ |
|
“ “ |
|
1.20 |
|
|
“ |
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
15 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
“ “ |
|
2.05 |
|
|
“ |
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
15 |
“ |
FB 955 |
“ |
|
“ Jack |
|
1.05 |
|
|
“ |
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
16 |
“ |
FB 244 |
“ |
|
M/T Head qrts. Cavriaco |
|
1.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
17 |
“ |
FB 128 |
“ |
|
Armed Recce. N.Italy |
|
1.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
17 |
“ |
FB 341 |
“ |
|
Rover David |
|
.55 |
|
|
C.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
18 |
“ |
FB 244 |
“ |
|
Rd. Junc. Portomaggiore |
|
.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
18 |
“ |
FB 128 |
“ |
|
Rover Paddy |
|
.45 |
|
|
C.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
18 |
“ |
KM 104 |
“ |
|
Air Test |
.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
19 |
“ T |
KH 830 |
“ |
|
Rover Jack Timothy. |
|
1.10 |
|
|
C.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Bombs |
|
34.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND TOTAL [Cols. (1) to (10)] 470 -Hrs 00 - Mins. |
|
284.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||||
|
Year |
Aircraft |
Pilot or 1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot, Pupil or Passenger |
DUTY (Including Results and Remarks) |
Single-Engine Aircraft |
Multi-Engine Aircraft |
Pas-sen-ger |
Instr/Cloud Flying [Incl. In cols. (1) to (10) |
|||||||||||
|
1945 |
DAY |
NIGHT |
DAY |
NIGHT |
|||||||||||||||
|
Type |
No. |
NON.OP
|
Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
1st Pilot |
2nd Pilot |
Dual |
Pilot |
||||||
|
Month |
Date |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
|||||
|
- |
- |
- |
- T |
- |
- |
- Totals Brought Forward
|
|
284.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr |
19 |
Mustang |
KH 830 |
Self |
|
Rover Paddy |
|
1.00 |
|
|
C.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
20 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Bomb Ammo Dump Budrio |
|
.40 |
|
|
C.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
21 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Rd. Brde. Cento |
|
1.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
22 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Bomb PO Crossing - Poleselia |
|
1.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
22 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
“ “ “ W. Of Berra |
|
1.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
23 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Armed Rec. Battle Area |
|
1.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
22 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Ravenna – Cervia |
.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
23 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Arm. Rec. N. Of Bomb Line |
|
1.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
24 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Bomb Rd. Brg. N. of Pincara |
|
.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
25 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
Lock Gates E. of Caorli |
|
1.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“ |
25 |
“ |
“ |
“ |
|
| |||||||||||||
