War Diary: 25 Airfield Construction Group

Month and year: July 1944

The 25 Airfield Construction Group’s July 1944 war diary covers ongoing airfield and road work near Plumetot, including the inspection and development of sites. Work focused on Advanced Landing Grounds B.10 and B.4. and glider strips.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1409

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WO 171/1409 25th Airfield Construction Group

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Page 1 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	1		Uneventful day.
		1900	Some men of HQ to Cinema in LUC SUR MER
		2000	4 shells landed on runway among DAKOTA transport
			aircraft - none damaged and no casualties SHELREP
			to I Corps
			Dull weather in morning - rained practically all afternoon
			and evening
	2	0845	Two HQ defence subsecs were returned to respective
			Coys and new subsecs arrived
		1000	CRE to I Corps
		1100	CRE to BENY and to visit 217 Coy
		1900	CRE to dinner with Airfield Comd PLUMETOT
			Weather fair in morning but rain in afternoon and
			evening
	3	0900	FEI and S/Ldr to visit 16 Airfld Const Gp

Page 2 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	3	1000	CRE and Adjt to BAYEUX to see Mines Museum
			- most instructive
			Weather : Heavy rain all morning and early
			afternoon, Brighter and some funshine later.
	4	1000	S/Ldr to BENY SUR MER
		1345	Brig Stone CE 2 Army visited Group
		1730	CRE A/Q and Adjt visited 217 Coy Pnr Corps
			Weather fair one heavy shower in late afternoon.
	5	1030	Maj Morris and Capt Humphries??? RCE arrived on
			attachment to advise in laying of PBS on PLUMETOT
			arifield.
		1215	Group Capt FOSTER 2TAF visited HQ
		1530	Comd 12 AGRE visited HQ
			Weather very much better : Plenty of sun and little rain
			Noisy night

Page 3 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLOMETOT	6	0830	CRE FEI and S/L to ELLON to watch 16 Gp laying
			SMT by winch straining method
		1100	3 Sqns of Typhoon flown in
			Weather : fine until late evening with strong East wind
			Thundery showers late
	7	0030	Some air activity followed by a number of shells
			falling in vicinity HQ
		0310	Shelling recommenced . Approx 40 HE (150 Mm?) Ammunition
			lorry on other side of wood from HQ caught fire and
			ammunition exploded. No damage or casualties in HQ.
		1330	In view of shelling during the night all ranks dug
			sleeping trenches to a minimum depth 3'
		1700	CRE and FEI to MOULINEAU
		2215	Very strong force of LANCASTERS passed overhead
			and bombed CAEN area Large fires and dense fall

Page 4 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	7		of smoke seen in direction of CAEN. One Lancaster hit
			by flak belly - landed on strip. Crew unhurt and
			runway not badly damaged
	8	0500	Very heavy ??? barrage opened up-by 5.5" Guns
			in vicinity of camp.
		1000	Adjt to HQ 11 L of C re residues. No sign of
			them yet.
		1100	Several visitors to ALG to watch PBS laying
		1730	CRE to BENY and I Corps
			Weather : Changeable - fair periods and some rain
	9	1200	Lt Col McDowell and Col Peterson Us Army visited
			ALG to see PBS laying and had lunch at HQ
		1230	Shell landed on ALG - 1 Pioneer wounded
		1800	Service held by SCF I Corps in 681 Coy lines
			Weather : fine periods - some rain

Page 5 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	10	1000	CRE and Adjt to HQRE 51st (H) Div Then to ALG
			at BENY SUR MER.
			Laying of PBS at ALG PLUMETOT held of owing to
			strong cross-wind which blew PBS about making it
			impossible to lay. PBS already laid had been winkled
			in some places by the wind.
			Weather: Drizzling most of day strong wind
	11	1000	A/Q at conference with DDL 2 Army
		1430	CRE to 5357 Wing RAF and BENY- fruitless chase
		1800	CRE to 5357 Wing again with better results. Handover
			of maintenance B4 arranged
			Weather Cloudy and cold but little rain
	12	0800	H.Q. Residues arrived All well. faily easy trip
		0900	CRE to ST AUBIN
		1430	CRE to B4 (BENY) for O i/c maintenance party to indicate

Page 6 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	12	1430	work on hand to representative of 5357 Wing
		1800	CRE A/Q and Adjt toured scene of recent battles
			AUTHIE, CARPIQUET, LA CONTEST, EPRON. Mostly
			ruins and nauseating smells
			Weather : Much better and considerable sunshine
	13	0930	225 Bomb Disposal Section arrived to come under
			command this Group. Lieut Wilson O i/c Established
			bivouac on other side of road from HQ
			Work on PBS on B10 proceeded. Trouble with newly
			formed soft spots.
			Weather: fair with sunny periods
	14	0930	Adjt and A/Q to -EFI and HQ 11 LofC
		0945	CRE to new preposed glider strip on east side of
			R ORNE
		1400	Several enemy aircraft over PLUMETOT. 6 shot down

Page 7 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	14		Col SHORTT, Comd of new AGRE being formed,
			visited HQ
		1645	Lt Col HAVERS CRE 23 Airfd Constr Gp. visited HQ
			Weather : Cloudy but fair
	15	1400	CRE to 12 AGRE
			Uneventful day
			Weather : Cloudy - sprinkling of rain
	16	1100	CRE A/Q and FEI to ELLON to attend memoral
			service for late Lt Col LF HANCOCK CRE 16 Airfd Constr
			Gp
		1330	Adjt to Les PLANCHES to collect NAAFI supplies
			Weather : cloudy in morning Bright and Sunny in afternoon
			thick mist in evening.
		2300	Some enemy air activity . Heavy flak from surrounding
			guns

Page 8 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	17		Deuse mist in morning
		0930	CRE to HQRE 51st (H) Dw and glider strip at St AUBIN
		1430	CRE at conference at 12 AGRE
			Considerable movement of AFVs both North and South during
			course of day
			Weather: Morning mist cleared early. Hot and sunny
			during remainder of day
	18	0530	Very heavy barrage opened up by own guns. Some
			retaliatory shelling by enemy of conc of our tanks
			approx 1 mile down road to CAEN
			Sounds of heavy fighting all day
		1700	CRE to CE I Corps
		2300	Very heavy anti aircraft fire against enemy aircraft
			214 Coy Pur Corps bombed - 1 OR killed 3 wounded
			Weather: Hot + sunny all day

Page 9 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLOMETOT	19	1000	CRE to glider strip at ST AUBIN
		1015	CE I Corps visited HQ Stated that projected sites at
			DEMOUVILLE and FRENOUVILLE not sufficiently firmly
			held for work to be started.
		1500	Visit by Comd 12 AGRE and SORE Airfds Second Army
			Weather: Cloudy in morning fine and sunny in afternoon
	20	1100	Orders received for recce parties to proceed to recce
			possible sites at DEMOUVILLE
		1300	CRE briefed recce parties for above sites
		1400	CRE with CRAFR and FEI to DEMOUVILLE
		1900	CRE held works conference with O.C 64 and 681 Coys
		2100	Preliminary refort on gleder strip at RANVILLE
			received
			Group Came under Comd 14 AGRE Comd Col. SHORTT
			Weather : Fine a.m Thunderstorm and heavy rain pm.

Page 10 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	21	1200	CRE 16 Air Con Gp visited HQ and stayed to lunch
		1500	Comd 14 AGRE and staff visited HQ and went with
			CRE on to strip
		2330	Considerable enemy air activity and one parachute mine
			dropped on edge of ALE Area - no damage
			Weather : Almost undescribable. Torrential rain the
			whole day. Several O.Rs bivouac flooded. Rum issue
			authorised. Life pretty miserable.
	22	0930	O.C. 225 BD Sec reported finding parts of parachute mine
			dropped during night
		1430	CRE + AQ set off to visit 217 Coy but were unable to
			get through traffic and gave up
		1815	Flying bomb passed over camp 1000 ft flying south. Reported
			to I Corps
		1930	O.C. B.D. Sec reported discovery of unexploded.

Page 11 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	22		Parachute mine within aiffield area. Reported to
			I Corps
			Weather : Cloudy and drizzling all day
		2310	Para mine reported above was destroyed in situ by
			225 B.D. Sec
	23	0845	CRE left to visit ALGS in U.S. Army sector
		0930	A/Q and Adjt to Second Army Rear to see DADL
			Nothing further to report.
			Weather : Dull but no rain. Warmer
	24	1045	CRE visited CE I Corps
		1700	Posting order for Adjt to 204 Fd Coy received
			Some enemy air activity during evening
			CRE and FEI carried out recce of projected site at
			DEMOUVILLE during afternoon.
			Weather : Dull : bright periods.

Page 12 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	25	0845	CRE + A/Q to visit 217 Coy Pur Corps and see road work
			being done by 681 Road Constr Coy
		1430	Comd 14 AGRE visited CRE
		1700	SORE (Airfields) with party of U.S. Army officers paid
			visit to ALG B10 and stayed to tea
		1800	CE I Corps visited CRE
			Weather : Cloudy but bright periods
	26	0900	Posting in of new Adj ex Coy officer 23 ACGP
		1100	CRE with A/Q to I Corps. Adj with relieves???
			Adj to Camp??? less 217 Coy
		1400	CRE to B10
		1500	DAAG W.E. 3rd Div called to see CRE re 217 Coy
			Bivouac Area at Ranville
	27	10000	CRE A/Q to arrange new Bivouac area at
			Ranville area is established for 217 Coy, 81 Coy.

Page 13 of 14

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
PLUMETOT	27	1000	at 109738
		1100	Col Pool CRE I CorpsTps to see CRE re 681 Coys
			road work
		1400	CRE to B4
			Weather Cloudy with bright intervals Cool
	28	0100	Some artillery activity and planes overhead
		0900	CRE to B4. A/Q to Field??? Eastlines???
			Weather: dull
	29	1430	CRE & A/Q to B4
		1500	FEI & S/L to Benouville to recce airfield site.
			shelling uncomfortably near on this site.
			Weather dull. Some rain in the evening.
	30	0900	CRF A/Q FEI to Ranville to inspect road
			works.
		1000	FEI the to Beounville ti continue recce of site

Page 14 of 14