In the early weeks of 1940, the situation in Europe was almost static with forces on both sides poised, the “Phoney War” or “Sitzkrieg” had begun.

With No.139 Squadron deployed to Bethienville in France as part of the AASF, February saw Alconbury being used for practice bombing sorties by the Bristol Blenheim twin-engined bombers of XV Squadron who had returned from AASF in the preceding December.

In March, the United States expanded its Attache team in London to include on temporary duty additional Air Corps officers and to start a programme of gathering information on matters such as the British aviation industry and aircrew training. From these humble beginnings emerged long lasting exchange programmes on scientific, technical and intelligence matters.

No. XV Sqn Blenheims

The British action in Norway was not going well and reprisal raids against the RAF were anticipated, but in the event were not forthcoming. On the late afternoon of the 14th of April XV Squadron completed an almost no notice redeployment to Alconbury in just two hours.

Nevertheless on the 10th of May the Wehrmacht, aided by the Luftwaffe, rolled their mechanized Blitzkrieg “lightning war”, out across Europe and on that morning Alconbury based aircraft were sent to undertook reconnaissance missions along the Dutch and Belgium borders. On the same morning No 40 Squadron Aircraft undertook two mission, from which 4 aircraft failed to return. Flight Lieutenant Smeddle safely landed a damaged Blenheim back at Wyton and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his skill. Later on the same day 9 XV Squadron aircraft were dispatched to attack Waalhaven airfield near Rotterdam which had been ceased by German parachutists. While all arrived back safely, it was a different outcome two days later when six out 12 aircraft participating in attacks on the bridges over the Albert Canal near Maastricht were shot down. Those aircraft that returned were severely damaged and XV Squadron was left with just two serviceable aircraft. During the same attack, Flying Officer Garland of No 12 Squadron received the first RAF Victoria Cross of the war. Following further limited forays into the skies over the BENELUX area XV Squadron was left with no serviceable aircraft at Alconbury and the ground crew recovered to Wyton to begin the reconstitution of the squadron. No 114 Squadron suffered a similar fate in France when on the 11th of May all its aircraft were destroyed or rendered unserviceable by a dawn raid conducted by 12 Dorniers.

Spitfire Reconnaissance Image Of AASF Bombing Of A German Vehicle Convoy

At the end of May, the British Expeditionary Force, including elements of the its Air Component, were evacuated from Dunkirk. On the 10th of June Italy entered the war and the RAF commenced the recovered of its aircraft from the Brittany peninsula and further south. In the same month, Col “Tooey” Spaatz arrived in the UK as an assistant Air Attache. Spaatz went on to become the commanding General of the 8th US Army Air Force in the UK in May 1942. One of the early agreements in principle to emerge from Spaatz's period in London was that on entering the war the United States would send 50 heavy bombers to Britain for missions against German oil and aviation production facilities.

In July 1940 Alconbury was closed for W & C French Limited to commence runway construction work. As was almost standard at the time three intersecting asphalt covered concrete runways of a foot thickness were put down of lengths of 1375 (00-18), 1240 (06-24) and 1100 yards (12-30). The runways were encircled by a perimeter taxiway and some 30 hard-standings were positioned along it. In addition, the first watch tower was built and an air gunnery butt installed in the north-west corner of the airfield close to the western threshold.

While Alconbury was closed, the first bombs fell on London on the night of 24/25 August, and by the 15th of September the “Battle of Britain”, while not over, had been won. However, the following day, the 16th, saw the Luftwaffe conduct their first attack on Alconbury when 8 high explosive bombs fell on the landing ground.

In October 1940, the Battle was withdrawn from operational service and the Blenheim squadrons began to be reequipped with the more capable and heavier Vickers Wellington B.Ic which was affectionately known to its crews as the “Wimpey”.

The following month control of Alconbury passed to No 3 Gp and “B” Flight of No 40 Squadron equipped with Wellingtons, coded BL, deployed to it the following day. On the 21st of December four Wellingtons mounted their first night operation from the station attacking an oil plant at Antwerp and landing back at Wyton.

No. XV Sqn Wellington