Three Second World War Diaries belonging to a Royal Air Force casualty, the details of the owner are a little vague giving only name and rank but by cross referencing entries in the diaries with 'Commonwealth War Graves Commission' and marriage records we were able to ascertain that they belonged to Pilot Officer Eric Moore, of 59 Squadron, the diaries cover 14th - 29th January 1940, 5th December - 16th December 1940, and 3rd January - 30th January 1941, there must have been other diaries written by Eric Moore but these three give a fascinating insight into the feelings of an RAF Bomber crew member in the dark days after Dunkirk, the hand written detailed daily entries reveal his fears, hopes and aspirations for the future, obvious dedication to his wife, and reflections on how the war will develop, there are entries on raids on French ports (a long way from the 1000 bomber raids of the later years) detailing the routes out and back, anti aircraft fire and results, not always positive, relief at raids being cancelled, and frustration when, due to weather conditions, they can't make any at all, aircraft accidents, and deaths of friends and colleagues, he details his thoughts and regrets on the prospect of his own death in action, he describes everyday life in between operations, lectures, training, drinks in the mess, some riotous!, he mentions many other air crew by name and his interactions with them, critical of some, periods of leave with Elsie, his wife, visits to the local town, Emsworth, from R.A.F. Thorney Island where he was based, he is clearly very enthusiastic about cars and describes in detail his own experience buying and, unfortunately, repairing his own, the third diary, covering January, is where he is at his most reflective, possibly because the weather is so bad he is able to take part in only one raid, the reading of the diaries is a poignant experience because 79752 Pilot Officer Eric Moore, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was Killed in Action on the 22nd March 1941 with P/O Date (pilot) and Sgt. Watkins (Air Gunner), when his Bleheim IV Bomber aircraft, T2433, squadron code TR-X, was shot down off Katwijk by a Me109 Fighter of JG1 flown by Oberleutnant Paul Stolte, the beginning of each of the three diary's states that it should be given to his wife Elsie, gives the address where his last Will and Testament is held and that 'In it I leave everything that I possess to my wife', photos of Eric Moore can be seen on the number 59 Squadron website which also mentions his relationship with other aircrew which is detailed in the diaries, some entries are detailed below to give an indication of contents. Monday 14th October 1940: '..again detailed for L'Orient this evening, I don't feel half so jittery now when I hear such news, I think we had the worst we're likely to get on our last show..', 17/10/40: raid on Brest, describes take off, flight to target, weather condition, FLAK and bomb run, '..then, after a few seconds I let the two incendiaries off too. I was relieved to get rid of them and anxious to get out to sea..' , debrief in ops room, describes attack on 'enemy' destroyers earlier in the day by aircraft operating out of St Eval, '..the lads came back and found they had been attacking the British Navy!..', 20/10/40:description of drunken antics in Mess, '..throwing glasses, ash trays etc at the inoffensive wireless set at the end of the room..heaving arm chairs and tables in the centre of the room and executing a war dance around the pile with lamp shades on their heads..', 22/10/40: description of raid on L'Orient, '..sensation of impending disaster..' armourer hadn't plugged in the 'Mickey Mouse' (bomb release button) so bombs not released!, 24/10/40: '..also that the Coastal Command has done so well in smashing the invasion threat that we are to get ten days leave every 40 days in future..', 26/10/40: on standby for raid on Brest, Ops room for briefing, one aircraft has to drop out so required to take place, '..when Mac called through, 'I am landing, the air speed indicator is not registering, I gave a cheer and went and sat beside him for landing..', 27/10/40 raid on L'Orient, '..we came in at 4,500 feet for our attack. Running South over the town I caught a glimpse of the river which I recognised, had Mac turn 180 degrees and picking up a series of long roofs let go my stick of bombs. Beams promptly picked us up and evasive tactics prevented us seeing the results of our bombs..Mac twisted and turned making his manoeuvres more violent..he over shot the angle and and looking through the cabin roof I saw the searchlights pointed up at us, we were upside down!..I shall never understand how we failed to get hit..', 29/10/40: description of new bomb designed to set alight oil which had flowed onto water from tanks burst by Bomber Command, very crude and amateurish, deployed by hand!, 5/12/40 continued description of raid on L'Orient, disagreement with pilot over prospective factory targets, '..Mac replies 'We are sent to bomb L'Orient not a French factory making tits for babies milk bottles' quoth he..', thoughts on being killed in action, on return discovers that the 'Mickey Mouse' was unconnected to the circuit (again) so bombs still on board!, '..attended funeral of Heinman who crashed last Sunday morning..' description of funeral and grief of relatives, description of Dining in night in Officers Mess, 7/12/40: depression at thought of another week of flights, missing Elsie, description of aircraft from 53 Sqn crashing into trees on landing in poor weather, pilot, Weatherby, and Observer killed, 8/12/40: told by Flight Commander Ropy Palmer he is flying with him on raid as he is testing the Observers, Moore concerned he is under specific observation (correct), description of raid on L'Orient, gunner reports guns jammed and belly gun firing only single shots and front gun not working!, requests change of pilot and finds out he had already been complained about hence the 'test' by Palmer who declares his confidence in Moore, promises to see what he can do, 12/12/40: description of raid on Brest, heavy Flak, HMS Queen Elizabeth with destroyer screen leaves Portsmouth, no radio contact only signal lights to avoid discovery by enemy, 16/12/40: photo recce mission with Wing Commander to German aerodrome on Guernsey, spot two Dornier 18 Flying boats and a convoy of 5 ships, 4/1/41: '..a day full of tension and excitement..', description of scene at Thorney Island as Blenheims from 53 & 59 Squadrons are detailed to bomb a Hipper Class cruiser (actually the Hipper herself) in a raid on Brest, Moore not detailed as on standby but describes excitement, apprehension, and in some, depression, at having to attack in daylight, describes damage to one of returned aircraft '..completely riddled yet none of the crew touched!..', 5/4/41: description of aircraft from 'A' and 'B' Flights 59 Sqn sent on another daylight raid on Brest, as given by colleagues, 10/12/40: description of loss of aircraft and crew when their TR91 radio packed up and they couldn't receive bearings to get back from a raid, believed to have crashed into Atlantic, '..another crew joined the limbo of those whose bones strew the floor of the sea bottom around these shores..', 16/1/41: 24 hrs leave with Elsie, '..hopes for our Junior were unfounded this time..have decided to wait until May before trying again. By that time the invasion attempt should be made &, I hope, frustrated. In effect, the war should be well on the way to victory for us by mid summer..', 17/1/41: description of attack on a German convoy by 6 aircraft of 59 Sqn, McCurdy's aircraft hit by a shell, '..he was damned lucky to get away with it..', 19/1/41: fed up with continuous grounding due to wet weather, criticism of some for 'wrong spirit', 21/1/40: walks into Emsworth and discovers church down side road, goes in and sits alone, very reflective, very sombre
