Sorties (ORB):

AR NEILSON -14 Apr’42 posted in to 59 Sqn
11 May’42 North Coates – First sortie
Aircraft: TRN (Hudson), Crew: P/O Neilson, Sgts Menzies, Whitney, Tuckwood.

Duty: Rover:

Time Up: 1152 Down 1614.

Details: Sighted c/v of 8 ships including 1 x 10,000 ton m/v and 2 DRS 20mi. NNE of BORKUM RIFF. Attacked DR with 2 x 250 A/S 3TD and 6 x 100 A/S 3TD in stick, diving from 300 to 50ft port to starboard forward of bridge. Results not observed owing to evasive action. A/c hit by flak. Hydraulics went u/s – but made excellent belly landing at base. None of crew hurt. References: NC/01/11/5, NC/04/11/5 - On the same sortie both TRF, crewed by P/O Moss, Sgt Baker, F/S Coombs, Sgt Davis and in TRV Sgts Scouller, Doughy (Donaghy), Neggaton (Heggaton), Kermode respectively failed to return. I’m not 100% on spellings as the ORB is hand written at this point.

19 May’42 North Coates – Second sortie
Aircraft: TRS, Crew: P/O Neilson, Sgts Menzies, Whitney, Tuckwood, Duty: Reefer, Time Up: 0410 Down 1015, Details: Patrol completed – S/E used – Danish f/v and Rescue Buoy No. 62 sighted. References: NC/01/19/5

21 Jun’42 North Coates – Third sortie
Aircraft: Hudson AM524’V’, Crew: P/O Neilson A.R., Sgts Menzies G.I., Whitney E.H., Tuckwood H.F, Duty: Rover, Time Up: 2302 Down 0415, Details: Patrol completed – No shipping sighted except 2 fishing vessels. S/E used. References: CH/G10/21/6, NC/02/22/6

25 Jun’42 North Coates – Fourth sortie
Aircraft: Hudson AM568’T’, Crew: P/O Neilson A.R., Sgts Menzies G.I., Whitney E.H., Tuckwood H.F, Duty: Millenium II, Time Up: 2306 Down 0525, Details: Target Deschimag Works Bremen area. Bombs dropped in target area. 11 large fires on North bank of River Weser seen through gap in clouds. Heavy flak experienced. References: 16G4/1942, NC/027/26/6
On the same sortie it is noted that there were another 11 aircraft from 59 Sqn and also accompanied by 12 aircraft from 206 Sqn and 11 from 224 Sqn.

NEILSON -
26 Jul’42 North Coates
Aircraft: Hudson AM527’R’, Crew: F/O A.R. Neilson, Sgt A.W. Sinclair??, Sgt E.H. Whitney, Sgt H.F. Tuckwood, Duty: Strile, Time Up: 2126 Down 0226, Details: Target Convoy off Frisian Islands in formation with S & M/59. Convoy located on S/E and later visually 4 m/vs. 1 5000 tons. 1 2/3000 tons in line astern balloon on second m/v. Speed 8/10 knots co. east. Four runs made over c/v and m/v 2/3000 tons attacked with 2 x 250 & 6 x 100 lbs AS 025 Sec TD. R/G saw bomb burst on port side of target followed by heavy cloud of black smoke. Heavy and light flak. References: CH/G4/26/7, NC/014/27/7

Aircraft: Liberator III FK237’R’, Crew: F/O A.R. Neilson, Sgt J.R. Dyer, F/Sgt R. McCartney, Sgt H.F. Tuckwood, Sgt E.H. Whitney, Sgt H.B. Clarke, Sgt L.G. Woods, Duty: Anti-Shipping Patrol, Time Up: 0724 Down 1600, Details: 1015, No.4 engine caught fire. Engine fully feathered, fire went out. Re-started No.4 leaving out all superchargers. Sighted several small trawlers during patrol along Spanish Coast. Investigated Corunna Harbour. Unable to land St. Eval owing to weather. Diverted to Chivenor. References: PL/G3/8/DEC, CHI/05/8/DEC

Neilson flew from Thorney Island to Chivenor on 21 Mar’43, then flew the first op on 23 Mar from Chivenor in Fortress IIA FK205’B’ :

ORB reads B/59 FK205, time up 0452 down 1452, A/S patrol and on 23 JAN'43 NOT Mar'43 - crew is as follows; Capt. F/O A.R.NEILSON, NAV. F/SGT A.W.SINCLAIR, SGR J.DYER, P/O J.TUCKWOOD, SGT H.B.CLARKE, SGT E.H.WHITNEY & F/SGT L.C.MARRIOTT