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WICKENBY DIARY June 1944
12 and 626
Squadrons
12 Squadron 626 Squadron
Operational
hours 1220.50 1183.03
Bombs dropped 1291.03
tons 1272.55
tons
Position on photo. ladder.
4th
1st
Average landing times. 1st Wickenby 1.58
mins.
8th Ludford 2.21
mins. |
Immediate D.F.M.
Non Immediate D.F.C.
F/L R.B. Leigh.
F/L P.J. Moyes.
W/O J.S. Minogue
S/L J.G. Woolatt.
P/O C. A. Edwards.
P/O H. T. Turner.
P/O P.R. Milton.
P/O D.W.J. Butler.
W/C D.M.H.
Craven.
Non Immediate D.F.C.
P/O P.W. Moore. |
P/O J.S. Henderson. |
F/O W. Bentley. |
P/O T.J. 0'Dea. |
F/O N. Knight. |
P/O S.C. Hodges. |
W/O J. McKean. |
W/O J.E. Atherton. |
W/O E.R. Mounsey. |
F/O R.H. Tredwin. |
P/O F.L. Welford. |
P/O D.J. Henty. |
Non Immediate D.F.M.
Sgt. F.A. Attwood. |
Sgt. C.F. Solly. |
Sgt. W.G. Smith. |
Sgt. J. Ellis. |
Sgt. K.E.MacDonnell. |
F/Sgt J. A. Baker. |
|
Sgt. W.J.H.Edwards. |
|
Sgt. C. Fairbairn |
F/Sgt T.J. McLeod. |
The second Front commenced on the 6th June with
landings on the beaches of Normandy.
The tonnage of bombs dropped by 1 Group this
month exceeds the total weight for the whole of
1941 and 1942.
All Flight Engineers to note that it has been
decided that the Flight Engineer will now
replace the bomb aimer in the capacity of
Pilot’s Assistant in the Lancaster, and will
receive training in the Link Trainer.
On the 15th June Messrs. B. Barr (Evening News)
and James Stuart with photographer (Evening
Standard) flew across country from Binbrook to
Wickenby.
Losses on Lancaster’s.
Taken over the whole operational force, losses
show a higher missing rate on the second six
trips, and a lower missing rate on the last six
trips of a first tour.
|
Technical failures |
Damaged by enemy action |
Short of petrol |
Woodbridge |
25 |
35 |
44 |
Manston |
74 |
64 |
392 |
Manston was
mainly used by the U.S.A.A.F. On
one morning 19 Squadrons of fighters landed
short of fuel.
Fair to cloudy with slight showers.
29 Lancasters were detailed against a flying
bomb launching site at Siracourt. They were part
of a force of 286 Lancaster’s and 19 Mosquitoes
attacking flying bomb launching sites and
stores.
P/O Honour, F/O Landon, P/O Leuty, F/O Vernon,
P/O Underwood, F/O Owens, P/O Pappas, P/O
Trotter, F/S Turner, P/O Pollard, P/O Thompson,
P/O Downing, P/O Hancox, F/S Lowry
P/O Jones, F/O
Hicks, S/L Ravenhill, P/O Wood, P/O Walbank, P/O
Orr, P/O Gauvreau, F/O Hawkes, F/O Spruston, P/O
Hewitt, P/O Smith, P/O Thorpe, W/O Tarbuck, P/O
Bennett, F/O Bennet.
Take off commenced at 11.15hrs,
En route Good
until within a few miles of the target.
Target. 5
to 7/l0ths cloud with tops about 14,000’.
Bomb load. 13,000lbs. Mixed
1,000lb and 500lb H.E.
Fuel load. l,450galls.
Intense and accurate heavy flak from French
coast to the target. No
enemy fighters (Escort - 11 Group Spitfires).
PFF Mosquito Oboe marking red T.I.'s cascading
from 4,000’ on to the Master Bombers yellow
T.I.'s cascading from 3,000’.
The Master Bomber F/L Clarke was shot down
dropping his yellow T.I.’s 3 miles West of the
target. This resulted in scattered bombing in
the early stages of the attack.
Results were difficult to observe due to the
weather, but an explosion was reported at
14.02hrs with smoke rising to 4,000’.
12/A LL91O Crash
site – Troisvaux. The
aircraft was abandoned in the air on fire.
Pilot. P/O
K.A. Underwood Killed
Nav. Sgt.
H.J. Heavener Killed
W. T. Sgt.
D.W. O’Brien
B.A. F/O
L.L. Boyes
Eng. Sgt.
J.F. Marshall
M.U.G. Sgt.
H. Hall
R.G. Sgt.
G.H. Beevers Killed
Fair to fine, becoming showery in the afternoon,
visibility good.
31 Lancasters were detailed against railway
yards at Vierzon. An
important junction for through traffic to the
Germans in Normandy. They
were part of a force of 118 Lancasters
F/L Gray, P/O Lowry, P/O Pappas, P/O Hancox, P/O
Trotter, S/L Corry, F/O Vernon, P/O Thompson,
W/O Dyre-Matthews, F/S Turner, P/O Honor, P/O
Pollard, F/O Owens.
P/O Wood, P/O Wallbank, F/O Hicks, P/O Dawson,
F/L Shanley, P/O Orr, P/O Pocock, F/O Spruston,
P/O Thorpe, F/O Hawkes, W/O Tarbuck, P/O Jones,
S/L Nielson, F/L Breckenridge, F/O Bennet, P/O
Whetton, P/O Gauvreau, P/O Collens.
Take off commenced at 2l.5lhrs.
En route. Cloudy
with 10/10ths cloud on return.
Target. 3/10ths
cloud with base at 10,000’. Slight haze.
Bomb load. 13,000lbs
mixed l,000lb and 500lb H.E.
Fuel load. l,450galls.
Slight light flak with one searchlight which was
shot out by the first marker. Several Gruppen of
fighters had been assembled between Dieppe and
Rouen for 15 minutes but they were given plots
that suggested that the bombers were much
further East. Consequently our aircraft reached
the target without much opposition. After we had
been over enemy territory for 54 mins the
fighters were ordered to Orleans and apparently
identified the target by the flares and fires.
They made contact by moonlight and held the
stream for 80 miles on the return route, when
most of our losses occurred.
The aiming point was illuminated with flares and
marked with impact Yellows backed up by red spot
fires. The T.I.’s fell to the North East of the
yards but the Red Spot fires were accurate and
bombing was concentrated on them. The Master
Bomber instructed the main force to bomb between
two sets of T.I.’s. At 01.19hrs a broadcast was
heard on the R.T., not the Master Bombers voice
but using his call sign, instructed the main
force to cease bombing and go home. No code word
for “Stop Bombing “ was
used so the broadcast was ignored.
Note. A Canadian voice interjected over the
broadcast telling the German what to do in a
most ungentlemanly fashion.
Bombing appeared to be extremely accurate and
results showed that all the through lines were
cut, much of the rolling stock, and two thirds
of the locomotive depot were destroyed..
Residential and business property to the East of
the target was severely damaged.
Abortive
626/U2 P/O
B.A. Collens Electrical
failure.
12/M W/O
I. Dyre-Matthews Starboard
rudder holed by light flak.
626/U2 P/O
J.Y.N. Wailbank
0135 hrs 4752N/0108E Homeward
A ME109 was sighted on the Starboard bow, it
passed astern and attacked from the Starboard
quarter below from 400yds.
The M.U.G. Sgt. G.M. Derrington instructed
corkscrew Port and fired 200 rounds. The enemy
aircraft did not return fire, broke away and was
lost to view.
12/Y P/O
R.S. Hancox
0114 hrs 4712N/0155E 8,000’.
Attacked by a single engine unidentified
aircraft. Trace appeared from dead astern and
the R.G. opened fire in the direction of the
tracer and ordered corkscrew Starboard. There
was an explosion in the vicinity of the enemy
aircraft which was lost in the evasive action.
12/P P/O
L. Pappas
1st Combat. 0121 hrs 4720N/0145E 9,000’.
A JU88 was sighted at 500yds on the Port quarter
down by the R.G. Sgt. B.C. Swanson. The enemy
aircraft opened fire and the R.G. ordered
corkscrew Port opening fire at the same time. The
Port engine of the JU88 caught fire as it broke
away, but it returned to the attack from the
Starboard quarter level opening fire, The M.U.G.
Sgt. R. K. Redmond ordered corkscrew Starboard
and opened fire followed by the R.G. The JU88
was enveloped in flames and was seen to hit the
ground by the Pilot and the Flight Engineer.
12/P P/O
L. Pappas
2nd Combat. 0200 hrs 4925N/0035E 8,000’.
In the vicinity of fighter flares attacked by a
ME110 from astern up which opened fire from
400yds. The M.U.G. Sgt. R. K. Redmond ordered
corkscrew Port at the same time opening fire
with 50 rounds. Our
A/C dived into clouds and the enemy A/C was not
seen again.
12/K ND842 Crash
site - Magny
Pilot P/O L.J.
Honor Killed
Nav. F/S D.J.
Evans Killed
W.T. Sgt.
J.E. Xassey Killed
B.A. F/S
J. Kawucha Killed
Eng. Sgt.
T.W. Willis Killed
M.U.G . Sgt.
J. Gill Killed
R.G. F/S
G. Chaffe Killed
12/S JB462 Crash
site -S.E.Laferte/S.W.Orleans
Pilot P/O
D.H. Pollard Killed
Nav. W/O
N.H. Wettlaufer Killed
W.T. Sgt.
S.O. Reneau Killed
B.A. F/O
F. H. Moxham Killed
Eng. Sgt.
A.R. Alberry Killed
M.U.G . F/S D.
Sebestyen Killed
R.G. Sgt.
J.R. Cowell Killed
626/L2 ME774 Crash
site - Vierzon
Pilot. P/O
W.F. Pocock Killed
Nav. F/O
L.J. Bernaski Killed
W.T. Sgt.
N.D. Bishop Killed
B.A. Sgt.
J.O. Smith Killed
Eng. Sgt.
H.C. Greb Killed
M.U.G. Sgt.
J.N. Gordon Killed
R.G. Sgt.
A.C. Earker Killed
626/E2 ND952 Crash
site - Theillay Loir-Et-Cher
Pilot. P/O
A. Orr Killed
Nav. F/S B.G.J.
Solberg Wounded P.O.W.
W.T . F/S
W.G. Hammond Evaded?
B.A. Sgt.
C.E.P. Fisher Wounded P.O.W.
Eng. Sgt.
T. White Killed
M.U.G. Sgt.
S. Stone Killed
R.G. Sgt.
D.C. Brown Killed
The following report on the loss of 626/E2
(ND952) was made by the W.T. operator on 20th
January 1945, so it is assumed that he evaded.
The night was brilliantly clear with a half
moon on the Starboard beam. A moderate amount of
light flak with no searchlights was observed
ahead as the aircraft flew straight and level at
7,000’ on the last leg into the target.
The W.T. operator was in the astrodome to
keep a watch for other aircraft. No watch was
being kept on “Fishpond”.
As the Lancaster approached the point of
bomb release It was struck by a stream of cannon
shells, raking the underside of the fuselage
from end to end.
The W.T. operator was wounded in the left
thigh by two shell fragments, the bomb aimer was
wounded in the scalp, and the navigator was
wounded In the abdomen. It is not known if the
remainder of the crew were wounded, but they did
not appear to be immobilised, The intercom was
still working, but there was no report of the
origin of the cannon fire. The fragments removed
from the W.T. operators leg were thought to be
30mm or greater, and considering the brightness
of the illumination it was unlikely that a
fighter attack would pass unnoticed. It
was therefore thought that light flak was the
most probable cause.
Immediately after the explosion flames began
to stream into the fuselage through the bomb
release slots in the floor. The covers having
been blown off. The
fuselage was soon full of flame and dense white
smoke from burning hydraulic fluid, and the fire
spread rapidly along the floor both above and in
front of the bomb bay.
A few seconds after the aircraft was struck
the pilot gave the order “Prepare to abandon
aircraft”. It was obvious to the crew that the
fires were beyond hope of being extinguished.
The main turret supply was clearly torn, and the
fire was as far forward as the pilots seat. In
addition the Port undercarriage was hanging
down. Within a short time the order “Abandon
aircraft” was given.
The controls and engines were apparently
undamaged and the pilot was able to hold the
aircraft in a gentle dive while the crew put on
their parachutes. The bomb aimer, so far as
known, made no attempt to jettison the bombs,
but opened and threw out the front escape hatch.
The W.T. operator opened the rear door,
where he was joined by the two gunners and the
navigator, who had been badly burnt on the face
trying to reach the front of the aircraft. The
W.T. operator then removed his helmet and dived
head first from the rear door. He was the first
to leave the aircraft within two or three
minutes of the onset of the trouble.
He made a good landing only a short distance
from the target. He
saw nothing further of the aircraft after
leaving it. As
it was burning furiously he assumed it had
crashed soon after he had left it. He
was told by the French that it was completely
wrecked by the detonation of the bombs on
crashing, and that four bodies had been removed
from the wreckage.
Later he met the navigator and bomb aimer
and they reported that the aircraft was still
under control when they left it, and could not
explain the failure of the rest of the crew to
follow them, The navigator left by the rear door
and the bomb aimer by the front hatch, both
without difficulty despite being wounded.
The bomb aimer had the misfortune to lose
both his boots and his false teeth in the
descent.
Oxford HN371 F/L
Jackson Cranwell
Anson R3340 2nd/O
Haseldina
Magister T6423 W/O
Lampkin West
Raynham
Oxford X729 W/O
Kogan Defford
Spitfire 4E-L F/S
Evans Ingham
July 1944 Diary
12 Squadron 626 Squadron
OperationalHours 1096.05 1183.03Bombs Dropped 970.81 tons 970.97 tons Position on photograph ladder 10th 11th
Average landing times.
Night
1st Elsham 1.48 mins.
2nd Wickenby 1.15 mins.
Day
1st Wickenby 1.11
mins.
Awards Gazetted
Immediate D.F.C.12 Squadron
P/O L. Pappas.
Special Commendation12 Squadron
F/L J.H. Thomas
News from GroupGunnery
Rear Gunners beware. A Rear Gunner from 300 Squadron was blasted from his turret, and hung head downwards for over an hour tied by a rope that was fixed inside the aircraft.The greatest number of rounds expended in one engagement this month was 2,400. The rear gunner fired 2,000 rounds and the mid upper gunner 400 rounds. The enemy aircraft was not damaged.
The average score for gunners in the group against drogues amounted only to 4.9% over the past three months. This being in ideal daylight conditions. Query. What is their shooting like at night?
Publicity F/L Gray of Wickenby broadcast to
America on the 5th of July.
1st July 1944
Weather Cloudy, becoming fair with showers.
Operations 23 Lancasters
were detailed for a night attack. Cancelled at
10.45hrs.
Visiting aircraft Oxford
X729 W/O Kogan Defford
2nd July 1944
Weather Cloudy becoming fair, showers later.
Operations 25 Lancasters
were detailed against a flying bomb site at
Doaleger. They were part of a force of 286
Lancasters and 19 Mosquitoes attacking 2 flying
bomb sites.
12 SquadronF/L Gray, F/O Landon, W/O
Dyre-Matthews, W/O Holbrook, P/O Pappas, W/O
Thompson, P/O Lowry, F/O Vernon, F/O Owens, P/O
Hancox, and P/O Magee.
626 SquadronP/O Whetton, P/O Wood, P/O Bennett,
W/O Tarbuck, P/O Gauvreau, P/O Campbell, P/O
Dawson, P/O Walbank, F/O Spruston, F/L Foote,
P/O Collens, F/L Shanley, P/O Smith, F/O Hicks.
Take off commenced at
12.14 hrs.
Weather En
route 8/10ths to 10/10ths cloud
with tops between 7,000’ and
10,000’.Target. A large hole in
the cloud enabled crews to bomb visually.
Bomb
load 13,000lbs. Mixed 1,000lb and
5001b H.E.
Opposition 2 or three
light flak guns in the target
area. Considerable flak in the Abbeville area
on the homeward route. No enemy fighters were
seen. Crews reported favourably on the fighter
cover.
Marking and assessment of
attack. The Master Bomber instructed the force
to bomb blind on D.F. Three minutes before H
hour these instructions were cancelled and crews
were instructed to bomb the T.I.'s. Bombing
appeared concentrated, with smoke rising to
1,500’.
Damaged.626/U2 P/O J.Y.N.
Walbank Hit by flak.
Visiting aircraft.N6345
Oxford S/L Whittet 1
Group H.Q. X729 Oxford W/O
Kogan Defford
3rd July 1944
Weather Cloudy with slight rain and drizzle In
the morning.
Operations 23 Lancasters
were detailed for a night attack on Southern
France. Cancelled at 2045hrs.
4th July 1944
Weather Continuous rain,
moderate visibility.
The crew of 12/R are
coming back from Langford Lodge in Ireland. An
American ferry plane will bring them as far as
Burton Wood.
Operations 22 Lancasters were detailed against railway yards at Les Aubrais near Orleans. They were part of a force of 151 Lancasters plus 6 markers. 1 Group instruction
“These aircraft are to be manned by
the best crews”.
12 Squadron W/O Dyre-Matthews, P/O Thompson, S/L
Corry, F/S Turner, P/O Trotter, F/O Owens, F/O
Vernon, P/O Downing, F/O Landon, P/O Hancox, and
W/O Holbrook.
626 Squadron P/O Thorpe, P/O Jones, F/L Foote,
F/O Bennet, P/O Wood, P/O Gauvreau, F/O Hicks,
P/O Campbell, F/O Hawkes, P/O Dawson, and F/O
Spruston.
Take off commenced at
21.47hrs.
Weather En
route 8/10ths to 10/10ths cloud
over England, dispersing over the Channel and
forming layer cloud with tops at 10,000ft and
base at
8,000ft.Target Conditions the
same as en route, visibility good.
Bomb
load 9,000lbs. 18 X 5001b H.E
Opposition A good deal of
light flak with fighter activity
Marking and assessment of attack. Target
illuminated by flares. Initial marking by green
T.I.'s was considerably East of the aiming
point. Red spot fires were then dropped and
assessed by the Master Bomber to be within
100yds of the aiming point.
P.R.U. assessment. All through lines are cut, and a large quantity of rolling stock destroyed or damaged. Overhead electric cable standards were also destroyed.
Abortive
626/P2 F/O A.C.
Hicks D.R. Compass U/S
Damaged
626/H2 P/O A. P.
Jones Hit by flak
Combat 626/S2 P/O A.H. Wood 02.19hrs 14,000’ 4901N/0131W Homeward.
The rear gunner Sgt. D.A.
Joss spotted a JU88 at 800yds on the Starboard
quarter down. He instructed the pilot to
corkscrew, and opened fire with a burst of 150
rounds when the enemy A/C was at 600yds. The
fighter broke away on the Port quarter down at
400yds and was lost to view. The M.U.G. never
sighted the enemy A/C so could not open fire.
Reported missing
12/U ND627 Crash site - Rue Eaciers. St
Mark, Orleans. Pilot F/S H. S. S. Turner,
Nav. W/O E.E.Vipond Killed
W.T Sgt. H.
Idle Killed
B.A. F/S E.
GettyEng. Sgt. W.
Marshall Wounded P.O.W. See
M.I.9 report.M.U.G. Sgt. J.P.
Ewing KilledR.G. Sgt.
F.A. Forster Killed
M.I.9 report. Sgt.
W. Marshall Flight Engineer
12/U. Dated 26th September 1945.
I was shot down on my
third operation during a night raid on
Orleans. I baled out successfully in the
outskirts of Orleans, although wounded. I never
saw any other member of my crew until
repatriation.
As I walked along the road
I met a party of French people who had been
watching the raid. A Frenchman and his wife
took me to their house where I stayed until the
morning of the 6th July 1044. Whilst there, a
man called claiming to have liaised between the
French and Americans during the last war. He
provided me with an identity card and a bicycle.
A guide provided by the
same man accompanied me to Orgeres on the
Orleans-Chartres road. I stayed with a lady
until the morning of the 10th July 1944. She
had already housed Major Mahurin of the A.A.F.
who subsequently got home.
A car driven by a young
man accompanied by a red haired girl, both about
29, names unknown, took me to Chartres. En route
we picked up two American airmen, Sgt. Horrigan
and Lt. Smith. At Chartres we picked up F/O
Scullion R.C.A.F. and Sgt. Watmough R.A.F. We
were then taken to St. Cloud railway station.
We were then picked up by
another car driven by a fattish man aged 45 to
50, wearing horned rimmed glasses and speaking
good English with a German accent. He said he
came from Pasedena. He drove us to a house in
Paris where we joined six more airmen who moved
out half an hour later. We were told that we
would be moved out the next day.
The following day we were
driven about two miles and placed in a
lorry. The lorry was surrounded by civilians
armed with sub-machine guns. The flaps of the
lorry were let down and the man from Pasedena
told us to keep our heads inside. We were then
taken to Gestapo Headquarters. We were 16 in
the lorry.
I feel that our betrayal
went back as far as the young man and the red
haired girl, but cannot be sure.
After being slapped and
accused of being saboteurs, and warned that we
would be shot, we were taken to Fresnes (Civil
prison) at about 2230hrs on the 11th June. I
was put into solitary confinement until the 15th
August 1944. During this time I was interrogated
three times down in the building.
I was moved to Buchenwald
Concentration Camp from 20th August to 21st
October. Then to Stalag Luft 3 from 21st
October 1944 to 10th April 1945.
On the 27th January 1945
we marched from Sagan to Spremburg, thence by
train to Tarmstedt.
We were rescued on 2nd May
1945 by the 11th Armoured Division.
Details of ill treatment
at Fresnes and Buchenwalde were on separate
reports.
5th July 1944
WeatherFair to
cloudy. Visibility moderate.
Operations22
Lancasters were detailed against marshalling
yards at Dijon. They were part of a force of
154 Lancasters.
12 SquadronP/O Downing, F/O Thompson, P/O
Trotter, W/O Dyre-Matthews, F/O Owens, P/O
Lowry, W/O Holbrook, P/O Pappas, P/O Hancox, F/O
Vernon, F/O Landon, W/C Nelson.
626 Squadron W/O Tarbuck, S/L Neilson, P/O
Walbank, P/O Collens, P/O Wood, P/O Hicks, P/O
Bennett, F/L Shanley, P/O Thorpe, F/O Wilson.
Take off commenced at
20.56hrs.
Weather10/10th cloud with tops at 7,000’ to mid
channel when the cloud broke up, and with
perfect visibility, map reading was possible all
the way to the target.
Bomb
load 9,500lbs. 8 X 1,000lb and 3 X
500lb.
Opposition A good deal of light flak in the
target area, which considerably troubled the
Master Bomber.
Slight night fighter activity over the target,
and as far as Tours on the homeward route.
Marking and assessment of
attack. Initial marking. Flares at H-10 then
impact yellow T.I.’s backed up by red spot
fires. Initial yellow T.I.’s were dropped blind
on H2S and were found to be 1 mile North West of
the target. The Deputy Master Bomber arriving in
the target area before the Master Bomber,
dropped one red and one yellow T. I. within
50yds of the aiming point. The Master Bomber
then backed up with red spot fires 200yds North
West of the aiming point. Bombing appeared to
be accurate, though some crews bombed the
original markers that fell in the town. P.R.U.
assessed that all through railway lines were
cut, and the locomotive roundhouse and wagon
workshops destroyed.
Damaged626/H2 F/O W.D.
Wilson Starboard
elevator and fin holed. Elevator trim tabs shot
off.
Combats626/S2 P/O A.H.
Wood02.00hrs 6,000’ Target area on bomb run.
The rear gunner Sgt. D.A.
Joss sighted a single engine fighter at 400yds
on the Starboard quarter 400’ below. He opened
fire with a burst of 150 rounds, but as the flak
was bursting close to the rear turret was unable
to ascertain damage to the enemy A/C or see it
break away. The M.U.G. was unsighted and did
not open fire.
626/H2 P/O W.D. Wilson
00.42hrs 8,000’ 4712N/0110E Homeward.
The rear gunner Sgt. W.T. Woodhouse sighted a
JU88 at 800yds on the Port quarter 500’ up. He
instructed the pilot to corkscrew Port when the
enemy A/C approached to 600yds, and opened fire
with a burst of 50 rounds. The fighter broke off
at 400yds on the Starboard quarter down and was
lost to view.
626/H2 F/O W.D. Wilson 00.50hrs
8,000’ 4712N/0030E Homeward.
The rear gunner Sgt. W.T. Woodhouse sighted a
single engine fighter at 800yds approaching on
the Port quarter. He instructed the pilot to
corkscrew Port and opened fire with a burst of
400 rounds. The enemy A/C broke off at 400yds on
the Starboard quarter down and was lost to view.
At the same time that evasive action commenced the M.U.G. P/S F. L. Robertson sighted a JU88 flying parallel on the Starboard beam at 800yds with navigation lights burning. He fired a burst of 50 rounds and the Ju88 broke away and was lost to view.
626/G2 P/O D.R.B. Thorpe
02.47hrs 8,000’ 4658N/0205E Homeward
The rear gunner Sgt. R.H. Cross sighted a ME21O
approaching from the Port bow. The enemy A/C
passed overhead and broke away on the Port
quarter up. It then approached and both gunners
opened fire at 500yds with moderate bursts. The
rear gunner instructed the pilot to corkscrew
Port. The fighter broke away at 300yds without
returning fire.
Various crews reported
that flak was apparently too heavy to maintain
target marking. The Master Bomber requested his
deputy to back up. The deputy replied he could
not get in. The Master Bomber then ordered
“Bomb where you can”.
Route Base-Upper
Heyford-Bridport-4910N/0255W-4819N/0037W-4713N/0005E-4649N/0322E-4727N/
0450E-Target-4712N/0510E-4649N/0322E-4713N/0005E-4819N/0037W-4910N/0255W-Bridport-Upper
Heyford-Base.
Visiting Aircraft Spitfire
4EX W/0
Trinca InghamHurricane
4ER F/O
Jones Ingham
7th July 1944
WeatherCloudy with intermittent rain in the
morning, fair later.
Operations30 Lancasters
were detailed against troops and armour at
Caen. They were part of a force of 283
Lancasters, 164 Halifaxes, and 20 Mosquitoes.
12 SquadronW/O Dyre-Matthews, P/O Pappas, P/O
Hancox, P/O Farfan, P/O Downing, P/O Lowry, F/O
Vernon, F/O Landon, S/L Corry, P/O Trotter, W/O
Watson, P/O Shorney, F/O Thompson.
626 SquadronP/O Jones, P/O Whetton, S/L Neilson,
P/O Gauvreau, P/O Lofthouse, W/O Tarbuck, P/O
Wood, F/O Hawkes, P/O Oram, F/O Wilson, F/O
Hicks, P/O Bennett, P/O Thorpe, F/L Foote, P/O
Walbank, P/O Collens, and F/L Breckenridge.
Take off commenced at
19.10hrs.
WeatherEn
route 7/10ths to 8/10ths cloud
with tops at 12,000’ and base at 5,000’ until
nearing the French
coast.Target Small amounts of
broken cloud with base at 7,000’.
Bomb
load 13,000lbs. Mixed l,000lb and
500lb HE.
Opposition Intense heavy
and light flak was encountered. No enemy
fighters were active.
Marking and assessment of
attackMarking. Mosquitoes will mark with Red
T.I.'s from H-4 to H+12. P.F.F. will drop
Yellow T.I.’s bursting at 5,000’ leaving rails
of white smoke. Marking was on time and
accurate. Bombs straddled the markers, and it
was apparent that a raid of outstanding success
was achieved.
Abortive626/B2 F/O R.C.
Hawkes Port inner engine U/S.
Damaged626/Q2 P/O R.J.
Gauvreau Aircraft holed in several
places by heavy flak in the target area.
626/D2 F/O
A.C. Hicks Mid upper turret
perspex and front windscreen holed by light flak
in the target area.
626/F2 P/O R.S. Bennett Perspex in front of pilot holed by light flak in the target area.
12/Q P/O E.K.
Farfan Nose perspex and
Starboard inner engine cowl holed by light flak
over the target.
12/V P/O A.E. Lowry Holes in front perspex, chunk out of propeller, and holes in fuselage and wings, by light flak over the target.
l2/J P/O H.F.
Shorney Holed in Port side of rear
turret by flak over the target.
Reported missing 626/A2 LM112 Crash site - English Channel.
Pilot P/O J.C.
Oram Rescued from
sea. Nav. Sgt. J.B.
Bright Rescued from
sea. W.R. member
No.354 W.T. F/S O. H.
Just Rescued from
sea. W.R. member
No.456B.A. F/S L.S.
Curtain Rescued from
sea. Eng. Sgt. T.E.Jenkins Rescued from
sea. W.R. member
No.378 M.U.G. Sgt. J.W.
Wood Killed. R.G. Sgt.
F.J. Webb Killed
RouteBase-5130N/0050W-5030N/0020W-4940N/0035W-Target-4908N/0021W-4907N/0035W-4950N/0055W-5030N/0030W-5130N/0110W-Base
S/L J.A. Neilson completed
his 2nd tour.
F/L W. Breckenridge completed his 1st tour.
Message from 2nd Army
Headquarters“The heavy bombing that took place
this evening was a wonderfully impressive
show. The 2nd Army would like appreciation and
thanks passed to all crews”.
Station narrative relating
to the loss of 626 Squadron UM-A2.
Firstly it is interesting
to relate that P/O Oram was evacuated from
Singapore in March 1942 in a Short Empire Flying
Boat. This was shot down by a Zero fighter off
the North West shores of Australia. Fortunately
his swimming prowess enabled him to swim ashore
after the aircraft crash landed in the sea.
The Lancaster reached the
target without incident, and at 21.09hrs the
bombs were released from 6,000’ on an excellent
concentration of Red T.I.'s. This was the first
operational mission that the crew had carried
out together, though they had each had one
previous trip.
Flak appeared to be very
heavy, especially to the South West of
Caen. Immediately the bombs were released the
captain turned off to avoid these heavy flak
defences. Suddenly a sharp crack was felt
underneath the aircraft which tore a hole in the
wireless operator’s seat. The wireless operator
believed he had been hit in the foot, which
became strangely numb. He had in fact stopped a
fragment of shrapnel with his boot, although no
bodily injury was caused.
Despite the unpleasant
thud the performance of the aircraft did not
convey to the captain that any serious damage
had been caused. The bomb aimer however
reported “Bomb doors not closed”. The captain
reselected a couple of times and finally
instructed the bomb aimer to use emergency
air. This method proved abortive.
A few seconds later the
mid upper gunner reported holes in the fin,
rudder, and tail plane. The navigator then
reported that he thought that petrol was
swilling around inside the
aircraft. Simultaneously the wireless operator
reported that hydraulic fluid was emerging from
beneath him. The flight engineer then inspected
the header tank and found it intact.
The captain had by now
levelled out and was heading for the
coast. Below and to Starboard at 22.02hrs a
Lancaster was seen with its Port inner engine on
fire and apparently out of control. Before it
was lost to view it appeared to be once again
under control, and the fire had died away.
As he was now a
satisfactory distance from the Caen area and no
longer receiving the attention of the German
gunners, the captain decided to make a detailed
check of the aircraft. To his dismay he saw
that outboard of the Port outer engine there was
a jagged hole of 8 to 10 inches diameter with a
flicker of flame, and as he believed the petrol
tank to be on fire ordered an emergency
jump. The crew with the exception of the rear
gunner acknowledged the instruction and started
to act upon it. The mid upper gunner asked if
he should jump from the rear hatch to which the
captain replied “Yes go now”. The bomb aimer
immediately donned his chute and jettisoned the
front hatch.
The aircraft was by this
time 2 to 3 miles off the French coast and the
captain remembering that the rear gunner could
not swim, and that the mid upper gunner was a
poor swimmer decided to turn to Port to give the
a chance to bale out over land. Actually his
intention was to put in “George” and head the
aircraft towards the German lines, in the hope
that it would crash there and not endanger
Allied lives. Unfortunately “George” was U/S so
the aircraft continued turning so that it headed
towards the Channel again.
The bomb aimer, flight
engineer, and navigator were now queuing up to
bale out, and the wireless operator intimated
that he was going to the rear door to bale out.
By this time the fire in
the Port wing had the appearance of a blowlamp,
emitting a fierce red jet of flame. To the
captain’s dismay he found a similar fire on the
Starboard wing. Despite the damage, the engines
were still behaving normally and the captain’s
one concern was to abandon the aircraft so that
it would clear the numerous ships off shore, He
therefore left the engines on full power.
As previously stated the
rear gunner had not replied to the order to
abandon aircraft, and in the light of the report
from the mid upper gunner of the damage to fin,
rudder, and tail plane he assumed he had been
hit by shrapnel.
By now the aircraft was
becoming difficult to control, and the captain
realised that it was high time he left. He got
out of his seat, controlling the aircraft with
his left hand, and buckled on his chute with his
right hand. He reports the operation was one of
the most complicated he had ever undertaken. He
repeatedly called the rear gunner on the
intercom. With parachute on he had a good look
round to see the aircraft was untenanted, felt
confident the aircraft would clear the shipping,
centralised the controls and baled out through
the forward hatch at 3,000’.
For reasons of clarity the
crew reports are separate after baling out.
Captain After leaving the
aircraft the parachute opened normally, but
unfortunately his boots fell off. He eventually
landed in the sea just beyond the outer line of
shipping without any violent impact. He was
picked up by a small launch after only 2 mins.
in the briny, and transferred to the Albatross
(A Navy Depot Ship) where he was put to bed in
the sick bay with numerous hot water bottles and
plenty of Navy rum. The Navy fitted him out
with clothes, and he was transferred by Air Sea
Rescue launch to Normandy, where he spent the
night at a Royal Marines establishment. There
was a particularly vicious air attack during the
night, but he had been so liberally supplied
with rum that it hardly mattered. He returned
to England the following day by Anson. The
Lancaster incidentally had performed numerous
evolutions before hitting the sea clear of the
shipping.
Navigator Landed in
the sea about 2 miles off shore and was picked
up by an A.R.L. after 2 mins. Eventually
joining the captain ashore and returning to this
country in the same aircraft.
Bomb Aimer Landed in the
sea 400 to 600yds off shore and was rescued
after 2 mins by a Marine Landing Craft. After
excellent treatment by the Marines he was handed
over to the R.A.F. in Normandy, and spent the
night in a S/L's tent erected in a ditch. He
also returned in the same Anson as the captain
and navigator.
Flight Engineer Baled out
without incident and landed in the sea near the
wireless operator. His experiences thereafter
being the same.
Wireless Operator Upon
receiving orders to bale out, acknowledged them,
took up his logs, and with the assistance of the
oil in the aircraft slithered to the main
door. There he found both gunners (Off the
intercom) with their chutes on and obviously
dazed, and unable to make up their minds to
jump. He shouted at them to get going but they
made no move. He then thought that his good
example might have the desired effect on
them. He therefore jumped, his parachute only
opening after he had clawed off its cover. He
does not remember hitting the water or seeing
any shipping, but his dousing revived him, and
he was picked up within a minute or so by a
landing craft and transferred to the cruiser
Adventure. He spent a very disturbed night on
the cruiser, his sleep being punctuated by a
series of violent explosions. The personnel of
the cruiser did everything they could to make
him comfortable. He was landed at Calshot by an
Air Sea Rescue launch.
For this operation P/O
J.C. Oram was immediately awarded the D.F.C.
Visiting aircraft Lancaster
SR-Y F/O
Macki Ludford Magna
8th July 1944
Weather Fair, good visibility.
20 Lancaster’s were
detailed against Nantes. Cancelled at 12.50hrs.
Visiting aircraft Anson
NK670 F/S
Barber Bognor
This aircraft landed at
1920hrs, carrying P/O J.C. Oram and two of his
crew.
9th July 1944
WeatherFair in morning, cloudy with continuous
rain in afternoon.
10th July 1944
Weather Cloudy with intermittent rain in the
morning, showers in afternoon.
27 Lancaster’s were
detailed against Revigny Marshalling
Yards. Cancelled 21.05hrs.
11th July 1944
Weather Cloudy, fair in the evening.
27 Lancaster’s were
detailed against Revigny Marshalling
Yards. Cancelled 17.50hrs.
12th July 1944
WeatherMainly cloudy, temporary clearance in the
evening.
Operations34 Lancasters
were detailed against marshalling yards at
Tours. They were part of a force of 378
Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes attacking railway
targets.
12 SquadronW/O Dyre-Matthews, P/O Leuty, S/L
Brown, F/O Thompson, P/O Lowry, P/O Thompson,
P/O Farfan, P/O Shorney, F/L Thomas, W/O
Holbrook, P/O Trotter, P/O Magee, W/O Watson,
P/O Pappas, P/O Hancox, and F/O Landon.
626 SquadronP/O Gauvreau, F/L Foote, P/O
Collens, P/O Freeman, P/O Bennett, P/O
Lofthouse, P/O Wood, P/O Smith, F/O Hawkes, P/O
Lone, P/O Jones, F/O Wilson, S/L Ravenhill, P/O
Thorpe, W/O Tarbuck, P/O Whetton, P/O Hewitt,
F/O Hicks.
Take off commenced at
2106hrs.
WeatherEn
route Clear except for broken
patches of medium cloud. When 50 miles from the
target thin cloud was encountered between 4 and
6,000’.Target Nil cloud. Some
haze. Bomb load. 13,000lbs. 11 X i,000lb and 4
X 500lb.
Petrol
load 2,000galls.
Opposition Slight, light
flak, and spasmodic heavy flak. Fighters were
active on homeward route. Many enemy fighters
attended a diversionary raid in the Low
Countries at the expense of attention to the
real raid
Marking and assessment of attack.
The first T.I.'s
undershot by 500yds. The main force were given
instructions by the Master Bomber to overshoot
them. The marshalling yards were clearly visible
and bombing concentrated on the target though
rapidly obscured by smoke which rose to 9,000’.
P. R. U. confirm target
completely covered in craters with all tracks
cut, the bridge collapsed and embankment roads
obliterated. The storage sidings and wagons are
covered with close packed craters, so close that
an estimation of wagons destroyed is impossible.
Damaged.626/B2 F/O R.C.
Hawkes Mid upper turret pipe line
damaged by flak in the target area.
Combat.
l2/E P/O S.E. Shorney02.09hrs 5,000’ 4923N/0259W Homeward.
The rear gunner Sgt. G.W. Merrick
sighted a JU88 about to attack another Lancaster
on the Port beam of our aircraft. The range was
400yds and the enemy aircraft was Port quarter
level. Corkscrew Port was ordered and both
gunners opened fire. The enemy broke away over
our aircraft to Starboard and did not open fire.
The fighter was believed to be hit.
RouteBase-Upper Heyford-Bridport-4915N/0000-4718N/1020E-Target-4724N/0050E-4712N/0050E -4715N/0000-4840N/0220W-4915N/0255W-Bridport-Upper Heyford-Base.
P/O G. Smith completed his
first tour of operations.
Visiting aircraftHalifax
LL423 S/L
Woolatt SantoftOxford
X7297 F/O
Christian Defford
13th July 1944
Weather Mainly cloudy, considerable clearance in
the evening.
31 Lancasters were
detailed against a target in France. Cancelled
at 15.30hrs.
Visiting aircraft Hurricane
4EJ F/S
Cooper Ingham
14th July 1944
Weather Cloudy, visibility moderate.
32 Lancasters were detailed against Northern
France.Cancelled at l345hrs.
Visiting aircraftWhitley
LA885 North
LuffenhamOxford
V3398 Caistor
15th July 1944 Weather. Cloudy, becoming fair
Visiting aircraft Anson
MK793 F/O
Storer Sherburn
16th July 1944
Weather Fair, good visibility.
35 Lancasters were
detailed against Northern France. Cancelled at
i700hrs.
Visiting aircraft Lancaster
A-RE W/O
Lloyd North Killingholm
17th July 1944
Weather Fair, cloudy in the afternoon.
Visiting aircraftSpitfire
QGL F/O
Martin Kirton
LindsayHurricane 4EG F/S
Evans Ingham
18th July 1944
WeatherCloudy, good visibility.
Operations38 Lancasters were detailed against troops and armour East of Caen prior to an attack by British Second Army troops. They were part of a force of 667 Lancasters, 260 Halifaxes and 15 Mosquitoes.
12 SquadronP/O Thompson, P/O Munson, P/O Magee,
W/O Dyre-Mattews, Sgt Small, P/O Thompson, P/O
Pappas, P/O Lowry, P/O Farfan, S/L Brown, F/L
Thomas, P/O Hancox, P/O Leuty, P/O Downing, W/C
Nelson, P/O Newman, P/O Trotter, W/O Watson.
626 SquadronP/O Hewitt, P/O Gauvreau, P/O
Collens, P/O Winder, P/O Bennett, P/O Wallbank,
F/O Wood, F/L Foote, G/C Haynes, P/O Green, P/O
Lofthouse, F/O Hicks, P/O Price, P/O Whetton,
W/O Tarbuck, F/O Bennett, P/O Campbell, F/O
Wilson, F/O Spruston, P/O Jones.
Take off commenced at
0322hrs.
Weather.En
route. Much low cloud over
England, with thick haze at English coast,
clearing on Channel
crossing.Target. No cloud,
excellent visibility.
Bomb
load 13,000lbs, 11 X 1,000lb and 4 X
500lb.
OppositionFlak negligible
in the target area, but accurate predicted heavy
flak was encountered leaving the target
area. No enemy fighters were seen. Cover was
supplied by ii Group.
Marking and assessment of attack.
Marking was by low bursting Red T.I.'s
from H-5 to H-1. Then by Yellow T.I.'s bursting
at 4,000’ leaving a trail of white smoke.
Markers were accurate and punctual, except for
one which the Master Bomber identified as being
100 yards South. Bombing commenced 1 min. early
and excellent concentration was achieved. The
aiming point was soon obscured by dust and
smoke, but the T.I.'s were still visible.
Damaged.12/A W/C J.D.
Nelson Hit by heavy flak outside
the Starboard outer engine, in the target area.
12/H P/O J.F.
Murison Hit by heavy flak in the
target area, punctured coolant tank, cockpit
perspex, and rear turret cartridge chute.
12/N Sgt. F.B.
Small Hydraulic system hit by
light flak in target area.
626/A2 F/O
A.C. Hicks Hit by flak.
626/D2 F/O W.D. Wilson A live 1,000lb bomb was found rolling about in the bomb doors after leaving the target. It was jettisoned.
626/E2 P/O
A.P. Jones Hit by flak.
626/S2 F/O A. H.
Wood Hit by flak in bomb doors
and Starboard wing.
20th July 1944
Weather Cloudy, visibility moderate.
Operations35 Lancasters
were detailed against marshalling yards at
Courtrai. They were part of a force of 302
Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes.
12 SquadronP/O Thompson, P/0 Munson, P/O Hagerty, W/O Holbrook, S/L Brown, P/O Downing, P/O Magee, W/O Dyre-Matthews, P/O Pappas, P/O White, F/L Vernon, P/O Thompson, P/O Newman, W/O Watson, P/O Farfan, Sgt Small, P/O Hancox.
626 SquadronP/O Collens,
F/O Bowen, P/O Winder, F/O Bennett, P/O Walbank,
P/O Fitzsimmons, F/O Wood, P/O Walbank, F/O
Hicks, P/O Oram, F/O Wilson, P/O Lone, P/O
Gauvreau, P/O Price, P/O Bennett, W/O Tarbuck,
P/O Cook, P/O Green, P/O Hewitt.
Take off commenced at
23.43hrs.
Weather.En
route 10/10ths cloud over
England, clearing over the
sea.Target No cloud, some
haze, fair visibility.
Bomb
load 13,000lbs mixed 1,000lb and
500lb H.E
Opposition
Flak defences were light, but fighters
were extremely active in the light of our marker
flares, and near Ostend and over the sea on the
homeward route.
At 00.42hrs NJG4 on a course to take them across
the bomber route. It is also possible that NJG5
and IGJ3O1 joined in opposition.
Marking and assessment of attack.P.F.F. marking
was on time and accurate, and resulted in
bombing being well concentrated on the target.
P.R.U. report that reception, forwarding, and
sorting sidings were utterly destroyed. A large
water tank was hurled from the centre of the
track to property outside the yard. The main
loco sheds, repair sheds, passenger station, and
a bridge carrying S tracks across a road were
all virtually destroyed.
Damaged626/G2 P/O G.P.
Price In collision with 12/A
over base on return.
12/A P/O J.F.
Murison In collision with 626/G2
over base.
Combat.12/W Sgt. F.B.
Small02.l7hrs 7,000’ 5126N/0200E Homeward bound
The mid upper gunner Sgt Wilson sighted an enemy aircraft with an amber nose light approaching from the Starboard beam. He opened fire and the fighter broke away and was lost to view.
626/X2 F/O A.H. Wood01.56hrs
10,000’ Target area.
The rear gunner Sgt. D.A. Joss sighted a ME210
approaching from the Port beam level at 600yds
range. He instructed the pilot to corkscrew
Port, opening fire with a burst of 150 rounds.
The enemy aircraft broke away at 400yds on the
Port quarter and was lost to view. The mid upper
gunner did not sight the enemy aircraft at any
time.
626/X2 F/O A.H. Wood02.05hrs
10,500’ Leaving target.
The mid upper gunner Sgt. D. B. Wales sighted a
single engine enemy aircraft approaching from
the Starboard beam down at 500yds range, burning
wing tip lights. He instructed the pilot to
corkscrew Port. At the same time, he and the
rear gunner opened fire with fairly long bursts.
The fighter broke away on the Port quarter up at
200yds. It should be noted that after the
gunners had opened fire the enemy aircraft
switched off his wing tip navigation lights.
626/G2 P/O G.P. Price02.00hrs
10,000’ 5048N/03l3E Homeward bound.
The wireless operator Sgt. B. Walley sighted a
ME11O approaching from the Port quarter up at
600yds. The rear gunner Sgt. J. Lee had by this
time sighted the enemy aircraft, instructed the
pilot to corkscrew Port, and opened fire with a
long burst. The fighter closed to 400yds and
broke away on the Port beam up before the mid
upper gunner could open fire.
626/G2 P/O G.P. Price02.05hrs
10,000’ 5057N/0300E Homeward bound.
The rear gunner Sgt. Lee spotted a twin engine
enemy aircraft on the Port quarter up preparing
to attack another Lancaster. He instructed the
pilot to corkscrew Port and opened fire with a
burst of 250 rounds. The fighter broke away on
the Starboard quarter and was lost to view. The
gunner’s initiative probably saved the other
Lancaster.
626/C2 P/O G.A. Green02.05hrs
9,000’ 5209N/0245E Homeward bound.
The pilot sighted a D0217 on the Port bow. He
informed the rear gunner F/S G.C. Newton who
sighted the enemy aircraft approaching from the
Starboard quarter up at 450yds. He instructed
the pilot to corkscrew Starboard and he, and the
mid upper gunner Sgt. W. Norman opened fire with
short bursts. The fighter broke away on the Port
quarter level at 350yds and was lost to view.
12/F W/O C.H.
Watson02.10hrs 11,000’ 5149N/O211E Homeward
bound.
The wireless operator Sgt.
R. J. Curnew received warning on “Fishpond” of
an approaching fighter on the Starboard beam.
The M.U.G. Sgt. Murison saw the enemy aircraft
with an amber light in the nose at 800yds,
closing from the Starboard beam level. The
pilot was instructed to corkscrew Starboard and
both gunners opened fire at 600yds. Strikes
were seen on the enemy aircraft and the amber
light was extinguished.
Reported
missing12/H LM106 Crash
site - unknown. Pilot.P/O N.
B.Hagerty Killed. Nav. Sgt.
B.H.
Armitage KilledW.T. Sgt.
K.R.
Shepstone Killed B.A. Sgt.
E.J.
Humber Killed. Eng. Sgt.
G.Perry KilledM.U.G. F/S
W.E.
Edwards KilledR.G. P/O
J.R. MacKinnon Killed
626/D2 LM136 Crash
site - at sea.Pilot. F/O
W.D.
Wilson KilledNav. Sgt.
H.L.
Stevens KilledW.T . Sgt.
D.J.S.
Clarke KilledB.A. F/O.
K.C. Binnie
(Aus) KilledEng. Sgt.
J.
Meaney KilledM.U.G. F/S
F.L. Robertson
(Aus) KilledR.G. Sgt.
W.T. Woodhouse Killed
626/T2 LM633 Crash
site - Courtrai.Pilot. F/O
J. BowenNav. F/S J. Clarke
(Aus) EvadedW.T. F/S
W. A. Purnell
(Aus)B.A. F/S K.D.
Ferguson
(Aus) EvadedEng. Sgt.
J.S.M.
Fyfe Evaded M.I.9
Report follows.M.U.G . F/S C.M.
Beattie
(Aus) Evaded M.I.9
Report follows.R.G. F/S
J.W. Houseman (Aus)
M.I.9 Report.F/S C.M.
Beattie. Mid Upper Gunner.
626/T2 Dated 14th Sept.1944.
Homeward bound about
O300hrs we were attacked by a fighter and set on
fire. The pilot gave the order to bale out.
I baled out successfully,
landing in the vicinity of Oostkerk, and after
hiding my equipment made my way across
country. When it got light I approached a farm
where the farmer aged about 45 gave me civilian
clothes and directions how to cross the
Belgian-French border.
A woman who spoke English and lived in a cafe at
Leysele showed me how to cross the frontier
through a farm. I walked straight through this
farm which was situated on the frontier.I then
made my way to Hondschoote, and about 18.00hrs
went a farm just outside the village to get food
and information. Here I was put up for the night
in a barn.
On the 22nd July I went to
Warhem. Here I was aided by Maurice Coudville
who belonged to the F.F.I. and was later
captured about 6th September.
I was then taken to a
woodworkers shop at Rosendael by another F.F.I.
member. From there I went to the house of
Marcel De Bel, Rue Paul Bert, Ecolenarcelin,
Bertheloot, Rosendael. Here I stayed until 4th
September 1944.
At about this time the
Allies were mopping up the pocket at Falaise. De
Bel sent a courier to the front lines with a
packet of information and reports, together with
aerial photographs (German) of the
fortifications at Dunkerque.
On 4th Sept. I move to the
Marie at Rosendael because some F.F.I. had been
captured. Here I was fed by Mme. De Eel who
worked as an interpreter at the local German
Headquarters. She used to bring back to her
husband advance information of all German
movements and proposed house searches.
On 6th Sept. I move to the
boot shop of another F.F.I. member, which was
run by two French girls named Elise and Denise.
There were also two Belgians here hiding from
the Germans.
Men were ordered to
evacuate the village on 10th Sept., so De Bel, a
party of F.F.I., and myself went to a refugee
camp at Teteghem posing as Red Cross, and
staying there until 12th September.
On the 12th Sept. we left this camp to cross the
lines as the Germans were conscripting labour to
dig trenches etc.Ye stayed the night at Ghyvelde
and contacted a Canadian unit on the morning of
the 13th September 1944.
M.I.9. ReportSgt. J.S.M.
Fyfe. Flight Engineer.
626/T2 Dated. 8th February
1945.
After the pilot had given
the order to abandon the aircraft, I baled out
and landed safely on the outskirts of
Lampernisse.
I hid my parachute,
harness, and mae west in a ditch and began to
walk towards Dixmude. About half an hour later I
met F/S K. D. Ferguson my bomb aimer, who had
lost his flying boots when he baled out.
We walked to Oudecappelle
where we met a Belgian. The remainder of my
journey was then arranged for me.
I made contact with
British forces in Armentiers on 9th Sept. I was
sent to Lille where I was interrogated by a
French officer. I was then sent by lorry to
Paris where I was interrogated by I.S.9.
On the 13th September
1944, I was sent by air to the U.K.
RouteBase-Orfordness-5120N/0230E-Target-5046N/0320E-5044N/0312E-5120N/0230E-Orfordness-Base.
Visiting aircraftTiger
Moth P/O
Brown BroughSpitfire
4E-L Lt.
Stickdale Ingham
21st July 1944
Weather Cloudy - low stratus, visibility
moderate.
28 Lancasters were
detailed against Dortmund. Cancelled at
15.00hrs.
Visiting aircraft Lancaster
BH-O? Faldingworth 300Sqdn.
Mistook drome.
22nd July 1944
Weather Cloudy with occasional drizzle, good
visibility.
36 Lancasters were
detailed for a daylight operation. Cancelled at
18.15hrs.
23rd July 1944
Weather Cloudy, good visibility.
Operations
33 Lancasters
were detailed against Kiel Naval Base. They
were part of a force of 519 Lancasters, 100
Halifaxes, and 10 Mosquitoes.
12 SquadronP/O Pappas, W/O Holbrook, P/O Leuty,
P/O Thompson, P/O Murison, P/O Downing, S/L
Corry, F/O Watt, P/O Lowry, P/O White, P/O
Thompson, P/O Farfan, F/O Crabb, W/O
Dyre-Matthews, P/O Buchan, P/O Newman, P/O
Hancox, P/O Shorney.
626 SquadronP/O Green, F/O
Collens, F/O Wood, F/O Hicks, F/O Hawkes, W/C
Rodney, P/O Price, F/O Jones, F/O Lofthouse, P/O
Oram, F/O Campbell, F/O Gauvreau, F/O Bennett,
P/O Cook, F/L Foote.
Take off commenced at
22.24hrs.
WeatherThere was 10/10ths thin cloud over the
whole route, this persisted over the target with
a base about 2,000’ and tops at 5,000’. Good
visibility above cloud.
Bomb
load 9,000lbs 18 X 500lbs.
OppositionIntense heavy
flak and some light flak in the target area,
some of which appeared to come from ships in the
harbour. Few searchlights.
Some fighter activity over
target and on homeward route. The first plot of
the Main Force was passed to the night fighters
at 23.20hrs and NJG1 became active at 00.11hrs.
The first reference to Kiel was at 01.34hrs when
fighters were ordered to the target area. Plots
were then passed to the fighters at 01.34hrs
when the Main Force was North West of the target
on the way home.
Marking and assessment of attack.P.F.F. marking was punctual but as the markers were only visible by glowing through the clouds it was impossible to assess accuracy of marking or bombing. The glow of fires was visible reflecting on the clouds for 100 miles. PRO. state that severe damage was caused to the North East of shipyards of the Deutsche Werke Keil. Buildings and hangars of the Kiel Holterau Airfield and seaplane base were partially destroyed. Considerable damage was caused to large barracks in the Wik area, and to 16 buildings in the Marine Artileria Depot.
Combats
626/U2 P/O G.A.
Green02.10hrs 16,000’ 5420N/0710E
The rear gunner F/S G. C. Newton sighted a ME110
astern level at 500yds. He instructed the pilot
to corkscrew Port and opened fire with a burst
of 400 rounds. The enemy aircraft broke away on
the Starboard quarter up before the mid upper
gunner could bring his guns to bear.
626/U2 P/O G.A. Green02.12hrs
16,000’ 5428N/0700E
The mid upper gunner Sgt. W. Norman sighted a
ME110 approaching from the Starboard quarter
down. He instructed the pilot to corkscrew
Starboard and opened fire with a burst of 300
rounds. Before the rear gunner could bring his
guns to bear the enemy aircraft had broken away
on the Port quarter up.
12/T P/O W.L. White
02.08hrs 10,000’ 5440N/0700E Homeward bound.
The mid upper gunner Sgt. Jones spotted a JU88 at 250yds on the Starboard quarter level. He ordered the pilot to corkscrew Starboard and opened fire with a burst of 300 rounds. The rear gunner Sgt. Dagg opened fire with a burst of 100 rounds. The fighter broke away on the Starboard quarter up at 100yds.
12/A S/L N.H. Oorry
01.10hrs 20,000’ 5430N/0835E Outward bound.
The rear gunner Sgt. F.B.
Faulkner spotted a JU88 on the Port quarter
level at 500yds. He instructed the pilot to
corkscrew Port. Both gunners opened fire at
600yds with long bursts, and the enemy aircraft
broke away on the Starboard quarter down at
400yds.
RouteBase-Mablethorpe-5405N/0400E--5440N/O700E-5437N/0950E-Target-5410N/1005E-5440N/0700E-5405N/0400E-Mablethorpe-Base.
Visiting aircraft. Oxford
N5345 S/L
Boore Bircotes.
25th July 1944
Weather
Operations25 Lancasters
were detailed against Stuttgart. They were part
of a force of 412 Lancasters and 138 Halifaxes.
12 Squadron
P/O Murison, F/L Thomas,
F/O Thompson, W/O Dyne-Matthews, P/O Magee, F/L
Vernon, S/L Corry, P/O White, P/O Hancox, F/O
Owens, P/O Shorney, P/O Trotter, P/O Newman.
626 SquadronF/O
Fitzsimmons, F/L Foote, P/O Hewitt, P/O Collens,
P/O Wood, P/O Freeman, F/L Hicks, F/L Spruston,
P/O Bennett, P/O Thorpe, P/O Price, P/O Oram.
Take off commenced at
20.58hrs.
Bomb load 1 X
2,000lb HC, 12 X J Clusters.
Weather.En route Cloudy.Target 10/10ths thin cloud with base about 16,000’.
Opposition
Flak was slight
to moderate over the target. Fighters were
active, with numerous combats. The enemy
guessed that Stuttgart was the target 30mins
before H hour. The raid was plotted from
23.06hrs South of Beachy Head all the way to
the target and elements of 14 night fighter
Gruppen were deployed against it. Luckily cloud
hampered the fighters.
Marking and assessment of attack.PFF marking was early, tending to scatter at the later stages of the attack. Many fires were observed taking hold well. Glow from fires was visible for 150 miles on homeward route.
Abortive
626/O2 P/O A.H.
Wood Navigator sick.
626/C2 F/O G. P. Price Damaged by flak and attacked by ME109 (see combat report). Bomb doors would not open. Forced to bring bombs back. Landed safely despite a flat tyre caused by enemy action.
Damaged
626/V2 P/O B.A. Collens Damaged by flak.
626/H2 F/L L. Spruston - Damaged by flak.
12/F F/O J.F. Murison Damaged by flak.
12/J P/O T. F.
Magee Damaged by flak.
Combats.
12/T F/O A.J.
Thompson 02.07hrs 17,000’ 4848N/0907E
The rear gunner Sgt. E. Jones sighted a JU88 on
the Port quarter up at 200yds. He immediately
ordered corkscrew Port and opened fire on the
enemy A/C. Meanwhile the M.U.G. Sgt. E.D. Martin
sighted a DO217 coming in from the Starboard
beam lower passing to the Port beam. He opened
fire at 200yds and continued to fire until the
fighter dived out of range. The JU88 had by this
time broken away on the Starboard quarter down
without pressing home an attack.
12/E P/O S. F.
Shorney.00.17hrs 15,000’ 4739N/0211E Outward
The rear gunner Sgt. G.W. Merrick spotted a
DO217 on the Port quarter up at 200yds. He
ordered corkscrew Port. The enemy A/C broke on
Port up without opening fire.
12/E P/O S. F.
Shorney. 00.20hrs 15,000’ 4740N/0220E Outward.
The M.U.G. Sgt. H. Mark spotted a D0217 on the
Port quarter up at 300yds and ordered corkscrew
Port. He opened fire at 200yds and the enemy A/C
broke on the Port parallel without opening fire.
626/H2 F/L L. Spruston 04.06hrs
12,000’ 4807N/0406E Homeward.
The mid upper gunner Sgt. G.E. Menifee sighted a
single engine unidentified aircraft approaching
from the Starboard quarter level at 550yds. He
instructed the pilot to corkscrew Starboard, and
he and the rear gunner Sgt. A. Daniels opened
fire with short bursts. The enemy fighter broke
off at 350yds on the Starboard beam without
firing.
626/C2 P/O G. P. Price 00.41hrs
16,000’ 4736N/0320E Outward
The rear gunner Sgt. J. Lee sighted a ME109
approaching from the Starboard quarter level at
250yds range. He instructed the pilot to
corkscrew Starboard, at the same time be and the
M.U.G. Sgt. V.A. Lane opened fire with short
bursts. The enemy aircraft immediately returned
fire with a fairly long burst, hitting our
bomber on the Port side of the fuselage and
rendering the hydraulic system, the undercart,
and the bomb doors unserviceable. The fighter
broke at 200yds on the Port quarter down and was
lost to view.
626/C2 P/O G. P. Price 02.55hrs
14,000’ 4830N/0600E Homeward
The rear gunner Sgt. J.
Lee sighted a D0217 approaching from the Port
quarter up at 350yds range. He instructed the
pilot to corkscrew Port at the same time opening
up with a long burst. The enemy aircraft broke
away on the Starboard quarter down at 150yds,
and a few seconds later reappeared on the Port
quarter. For approximately 20 mins (50 miles)
it continued to make a succession of attacks on
our bomber. The rear gunner on each occasion
opened fire with short bursts. The fighter at
no time returned fire. When we reached
4825N/0525E the enemy aircraft from the
Starboard quarter level at 250yds and again the
rear gunner opened fire with a long burst. The
fighter burst in to flames, which came from the
Starboard wing and engine. It then plunged
through the clouds and was lost to view. The
enemy aircraft is claimed as destroyed.
Route Reading-4900N/0000-4738N/0145E-4750N/0600E-4910N/0825E-Target-4840N/0922E-4883N/09l9E-4850N/0730E-4803N/0344E-4815N/0120E-4920N/0000-Reading-Base.
26th July 1944
Weather Cloudy with fair
periods in the afternoon.
Visiting aircraft.Oxford
V3398 W/C
Vivian CaistorHurricane
4EK F/S
Blake InghamHurricane
4EP F/S
Evans InghamLancaster
ARS2 F/L
Stewart Binbrook
27th July 1944
Weather Fair in the
morning, cloudy in the afternoon.
31 Lancasters on standby
for operations. Cancelled at 13.32hrs.
Visiting aircraft.Oxford
V4126. Little
Snoring
We are always pleased to hear from anyone who can add to our knowledge about 626 Squadron. If you have memories, corrections, photographs or just plain observations, your input will be gratefully accepted. tom.bint2@gmail.com