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Post by Andy Wright on Jan 15, 2014 14:37:42 GMT 12
Hi all
I have this man's modern-day classic Black Lysander on my shelf. It was first published in the 1970s so perhaps not that modern. A paperback was self-published, I believe, in the early 2000s. That's the edition I have. Anyway, as you can guess from the title, JN-D flew Lysanders on SOE ops. The blurb on the back of the book refers to a much more active war but the book only includes what the author thought might of most interest to readers. I don't have the book at hand but I'm sure it mentioned command of a Mossie night fighter unit and something to do with the Atlantic convoys.
I stumbled across his name while doing some double-checking of squadron numbers on Wikipedia. Apparently he was CO of 488 from Feb '43 but relinquished ommand before year's end. Has anyone come across further reference to him in books featuring 488? For some reason he is one of those chaps that I always seem to be fascinated by and keeps popping up from time to time. Serendipity, I suppose.
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Post by lifeboatadam on Jan 16, 2014 2:38:29 GMT 12
Andy The ORB for 488(NZ) Squadron shows Nesbitt-Dufort joining the Squadron on 9/11/42 with his navigator (F/Lt H Jacobs). He assumed command of the Squadron, replacing W/Cdr Trousdale on 15/02/42, and was replaced by S/Ldr Rabone 15 days later on 1/3/43 to assume command of RAF Ayr. I hope that is of some help to you. Adam broodyswar.wordpress.com |
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Post by lifeboatadam on Jan 16, 2014 2:51:50 GMT 12
Andy - Sorry, I didn't read enough of the ORB to give you a full picture! There was a lot of short-term attachment in and out of 488 Squadron at this time, so... On 26/3/42 he re-assumed command of 488 Squadron from Rabone. He then remained as CO until a posting to HQ 13 Group on 22/5/43 and was replaced by W/Cdr Burton-Gyles. Adam broodyswar.wordpress.com |
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Post by davidd on Jan 16, 2014 10:29:22 GMT 12
lifeboatadam,
I presume that the date Nesbitt-Dufort assumed command of 488 Sqdn the first time was 15/3/43 (your first post), departed 1/3/43, and re-assumed command on 26/3/43 (second post). I was confused at first, but think this is what you meant.
David D
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Post by lifeboatadam on Jan 16, 2014 19:01:20 GMT 12
David - I really should check what I have written before I post.
Took command of 488 15/02/43
Relieved to take command of RAF Ayr 01/03/43
Re-assumed command 26/03/43
Relieved for posting to HQ 13 Group 22/05/43
Should be on the money this time...!
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Post by Andy Wright on Jan 20, 2014 14:14:07 GMT 12
Thanks Adam and David. Good of you to fill in some holes for me. I wonder where I'll next stumble upon JN-D?!
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Post by graham488 on Mar 12, 2014 22:03:51 GMT 12
Probably coming in a bit late on this thread but J N-D had a short rather unsatisfactory tour of duty with 488. Morale of the squadron was at an all time low when he was posted to 488 on 14/02/1943 initially as a Flight Commander. He was in fact replaced as C.O. together with the two Flight Commanders on 22 May 1943. The Station Commander at Ayr where they were based at the time recommended thier replacement in an attempt to get the squadron back into a good "space" following a number of accidents and using obsolete & unservicable Beaufighters. The squadron was in a bit of a backwater in Ayr and was desparate to see more of the action happening elsewhere.
An official memo I picked up in the archives detailed the situation. Although his contact with 488 was an unhappy one he went on to to a very long and illustrious career in the RAF.
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 13, 2014 9:18:16 GMT 12
Great stuff, thanks, Graham. Good to know the background to his postings. I'll piece together his flying career eventually.
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 13, 2014 10:45:32 GMT 12
NESBITT-DUFORT, J. - D.S.O. LG: 25 Nov. 1941 Squadron Leader (29164), No. 138 Squadron "This officer
has carried out 16 operational sorties over enemy territory, involving attacks on aerodromes, as well as other
flights of extreme importance. His skill, determination and courage have been of the highest order."
John NESBITT-DUFORT. Born 17 Feb. 1912; (29164) P/O (P), Reserve of Air Force Offrs., 10 Oct. 1930; No.
25 (F) Sqn., Hawkinge; P/O, 10 Oct. 1931; F/O, 10 Jul. 1932; Instr., De Havilland Sch. of Flying, 1935; Instr.,
No. 2 S.F.T.S.; F/Lt., 3 Sep. 1939; No. 54 O.T.U., 1940; No. 2 (Army Co-op) Sqn.; No. 1419 FIt.; T/S/Ldr., 1
Sep. 1941; No. 138 Special Duties Sqn.; Lysander pilot serving on special ops (D.S.O.); Evaded captured and
rtn'd. to U.K. after he crashed landed Lysander (T1508-MA) while inserting agents near Issoudon due to low
fuel and icing, 28/29 Jan. 1942; Test Pilot, Airborne Forces Experimental Estab., Ringway, Mar. 1942; CO, No.
488 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqn., Feb. 1943-Jul. 1943; Served on night fighter ops; War Subs. S/Ldr. (A/W/C), 15 May
1943; CO, R.A.F. Stn. West Kirby, 1943; T/W/C, 1 Jan. 1944; CO No. 128 Wing; Served on fighter bomber ops
over Norway; Relinquished the rank T/W/C, 1 Nov. 1947; Svc. in R.A.F.O. extended by four years in Cl. "A"
followed by one year in Cl. "C" and granted S/Ldr. (subs.), 7 Jul. 1949 (Sen. 1 Jan. 1941); Over 10,000 hours of
flying; Publications: Scramble: flying the aircraft of World War II (1970); Open cockpit: flying pre-war fighting
and training aircraft (1970); Black Lysander (1973); Died in 1975.
(Companions of The Distinguished Service Order 1920-2006, Air Awards by Doug V. P. Hearns, C.D.)
Errol
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 13, 2014 10:53:59 GMT 12
Brilliant. Thanks very much, Errol.
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