After the big supply-operation of September 1944 it was quiet for some time at B.82 Grave. In the beginning of October 125 Wing RAF and 127 Wing RCAF arrived, each with 4 squadrons. Each wing used one side of the airstrip and they flew with Spitfires IX/XIV and Tempests V. SPITFIRES AND TEMPESTS OVER GRAVE Although the Advance party of 125 Wing had been there earlier, it wasn't until 2 October that the remainder of 125 Wing (Royal Air Force) came with 4 squadrons from B.70 Deurne (near Antwerp Belgium). The last few days at Deurne were very chaotic. Everything happened at once. They suffered unpleasant shelling; their Spitfires were exchanged with 126 Wing RCAF Spitfires - (126 Wing was given the 125 Wing Spitfire IXe's and their older Spitfire IXb's were flown back to England as they were in need of major overhauls). The squadrons had to return to England and were replaced by two Tempest V and two Spitfire XIV squadrons. On top of it all they were ordered to B.82 Grave. While the moving of the Wing was started, they still flew missions and only a few hours before the planes left for Grave, they had the pleasure of damaging a new jet-propelled Messerschmitt Me-262 from the Boche. The "A"-party travelled apprehensively but uneventfully up to the new strip and there sat down to await the arrival of the squadrons and the "B"-party - or the enemy. They were never sure who would come first. Meanwhile Dakotas did a ferry service between Deurne and Grave to remove the last of the bodies who were Blighty-bound. The "B"-party, at half strength, had major troubles, because they had lived with Spits since the Wing was formed. They had to learn about the Tempest V the hard way - by experience. And by some odd coincidence during those two or three days they had more visiting aircraft to cope with than ever before. Dakota's, Tempests, Typhoons and Mustangs, all added to the motley array they already had. Eventually, however, everything was accomplished. They said farewell at Deurne to 132, 602, 453 and 441 squadrons. They reassembled at Grave with 80 and 274 Tempest V squadrons and 130 (Punjab) RAF and 402 (Winnipeg Bear) RCAF Spitfire XIV squadrons. By ten o'clock on the 2nd October the Wing was operational. Patrols were taken on and were uneventfully carried through. The only out-of-the-ordinary happening being the sighting occasionally of Me-262's. At 14.50 hours on the 2nd October A.P. bombs were dropped on the Wing by a lone Me-262 from about 10.000 ft. Two men were killed and some wounded. After only a few days stay with 125 Wing the two Tempest squadrons, 80 and 274, left to join the other three Tempest squadrons at 122 Wing at B.80 Volkel. 125 Wing was to have three Spitfire XIV squadrons, but for now they stayed behind with the remaining two squadrons. However, because of the appalling weather conditions, and the poor state of the landing grounds, it was not until early December that 41 Squadron joined them at B.64 Schaffen/Diest. Two further Spitfire XIV Squadrons - 610 (County of Chester) Squadron and 350 (Belgian) Squadron - joined them in late December at Y.32 Ophoven - with 402 (Winnipeg Bear) Squadron RCAF moving to 126 RCAF Wing at B.88 Heesch on 29 December 1944. 125 ORB 26/12/44: "At the dinner in the Officers' Mess on Christmas night it was officially revealed that we are losing 402 Squadron from the Wing...The Squadron moved over into the Wing in September, when with 130, they, as newcomers were able to sample the joys of Grave." On the other side of the airstrip were the quarters of 127 Wing (Royal Canadian Air Force) with four squadrons: 403 (Wolf), 416 (City of Oshawa), 421 (Red Indian) and 443 (Hornet). They flew with the Spitfire IX. Of their stay at B.82 Grave little is yet known. They left B.82 on 21 October, after they had the choice to be re-equiped with Sunderland's (Flying Boats) or return to Brussels. Inexplicably they chose to return to Brussels. In their turn the squadrons of 125 Wing left B.82 Grave on October 29 to go to B.64 Diest (Belgium). Compared to Grave, the circumstances on Diest were almost ideal. The Grave airstrip was in a miserable state, probably because the Dutch that had to work for the Germans on the airstrip had sabotaged the drainagesystem. The continued raining and the coming winter did the rest. Just before 125 Wing left Grave, the Dutch interpreter and liaison arrived, nearly a month to late, but just in time to say goodbye to the men of 125 Wing. For details of the daily activities of 125 Wing during their stay at Airstrip B.82 Grave, I refer you to the ORB (Operational Record Book) of 125 Wing. Click here to view. It is not known to me if, after the departure of 125 Wing, there was a continuation of activity on B.82. Please e-mail me, if anyone has information on this? info@bommeltje.nl. Wing Squadron Air Force Squadron name Aircraft Code 125 80 RAF - Tempest V W2 125 130 RAF Punjab Spitfire XIV AP 125 274 RAF - Tempest V JJ 125 402 RCAF Winnipeg Bear Spitfire XIV AE 127 403 RCAF Wolf Spitfire IX KH 127 416 RCAF City of Oshawa Spitfire IX DN 127 421 RCAF Red Indian Spitfire IX AU 127 443 RCAF Hornet Spitfire IX 2I A Spitfire IX of 421 squadron (notice the Red Indian badge) A Tempest V (W2-X) of 80 squadron at Volkel Tempest V's (JJ-N and JJ-G) of 274 squadron at Volkel A Spitfire (AP-D) of 130 Squadron in full flight A Spitfire XVI of 416 Squadron 127 Wing (DN code) Click here for photographs of daily life at B.82 Click here for the Operational Record Book of 125 Wing Anyone who can provide information about "B-82 Grave" is requested to contact me at info@bommeltje.nl. Anything you know about the wings, squadrons and planes that used the airstrip will be very appreciated. Many thanks to Allan Hillman for his research, help and translation.