Because of the nature of the operations the squadron was engaged in, very little specific information is in the public domain. The Operational Record Books (ORBs) are available, but even these give few clues as to what the actual work involved, with a typical entry being as vague as ‘Special Duties over Corsica’.

The work of the Special Duties Squadrons was exceedingly dangerous. The aircraft generally flew alone and unescorted. Radio transmissions were kept to an absolute minimum, especially when they flew out of the normal routes for conventional bombing operations, to prevent the enemy being able to locate aircraft by the strength and direction of their transmissions. Flying over the sea is always dangerous, and navigational errors, no matter how minor could spell doom for a crew. Because of the mobile nature of agents and operations the squadrons supported, the crews often found themselves flying over unfamiliar terrain, and even when they were returning to a previous drop location, they would fly in and out on new routes to prevent the enemy from recognising any patterns of behaviour.

Missions flown by these squadrons failed for all manner of reasons in addition to the usual weather-related problems, and aircraft failures. The main reason for mission failures was that signals which should have come from the ground rendezvous were not received.

Sgt Eric Hudson was flying on a mission in support of Operation Pettytoes into southern France on the night of 26^th/27^th April. His role on the aircraft is not given but judging from where he sits in the crew listing, he is likely to have been the Navigator for Halifax JN960, captained by 22-year-old pilot, Flight Sergeant William Houghton from Warrington.

The aircraft left Blida at 10:15pm and headed north for France. Because of the secrecy that surrounded every mission the squadron flew, there was no alarm raised due to there being no radio communications. The alarm was only raised after the predicted time for the aircraft’s return had passed.