Private Papers of Squadron Leader F A Robinson DFC

Ms diary (32pp), August - November 1943, describing his command of a detachment from No 543 (PR) Squadron RAF flying Spitfire IVs from the Murmansk area, USSR, including: the arrival in Vaenga, September 1943; reconnaissance flights looking for the German battleships LUTZOW, SCHARNHORST, and TIRPITZ, in Norwegian fijords, September - October 1943; handing over and departing to the UK, October - November 1943; and mentioning the conditions; life in Russia; his off-duty entertainment; the weather; operations; and Admiral Sir Ernest Archer, SNO, North Russia. Also included are the Squadron's ms Sortie Record Book (28pp), Vaenga, September - October 1943, in which pilots recorded their flights; reports from Russian intelligence (3pp) on German naval units in Norway, August - October 1943; ts correspondence and 3 maps in Russian (8pp; translation, 2pp) and English (1p) between Major General E A Preobrazhensky, Chief of Staff, Northern Fleet Air Force, and Wing Commander J A S Harpham, SRAFO, North Russia, Grasnaya, about Soviet flight regulations, September 1943; a list (in Russian, 2pp; ts translation, 1p) of the equipment, including 3 Spitfires, handed over by Squadron Leader Robinson to the North Fleet Air Force, October 1943; 2 undated ms lists (2pp) of photographic spares given to the Soviets and the Squadron's activities; and 16 aerial photographs taken by the Squadron, September - October 1943.

Catalogue date 1997-04-24

Cataloguer SNR