TABLE TURNED

INSTEP MISSIONS

The Mosquito was a potent adversary typically only shot down by flak or, in daylight, by aircraft such as the Fw 190. However, as Chris Goss explains, a series of important missions put Mossie crews at risk

Mosquito Mk.IIs DD636 ‘PS-D’ and DD724 ‘PS-G’ on an Instep. This photograph of two 264 Squadron aircraft flown by Flying Officer Pudsey (top, in ‘PS-G’) and Pilot Officer A Bruce is believed to have been taken on July 21, 1943, DD724’s first Instep sortie

264 SQUADRON RECORDS

In December 1942, Mosquito Mk.II night-fighters of 264 Squadron, led by Wing Commander Hamish Kerr AFC, were detached from RAF Colerne in Wiltshire. Flying in small numbers to Cornwall, they were to complete Ranger or Instep sorties.

On December 10, 1942, the squadron was instructed to remove its airborne interception radar from six aircraft and then on December 28, these were ordered to RAF Trebalzue in Cornwall for New Year’s Eve. They were led by Squadron Leader Mike Constable-Maxwell, a successful pilot who had flown over Dunkirk and during the Battle of Britain.