|
|
Abbreviations:
S/Ls = Search Lights. HC = High Capacity. inc =
Incendiary.
Tis = Target Identifier. R/G = Rear
Gunner. MU = Mid Upper Gunner.
A/C = Aircraft. u/s = unserviceable
(unavailable).
Flak = derived from a long German word
describing ‘anti aircraft artillery’.
|
|
30/31
August 1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 23:35, Landed
04:08
Bombing - Munchen, Gladbach
- sortie
completed.
8/10ths thin layer cloud, about
8,000ft. Vis good laterally.
Bombed red TI’s from 17,100 at 02:05
(1 x 4,000lb HC) (6 x 30 lb and 1,560 x 4lb inc).
Very large
explosion 02:04. Fires just beginning to get a hold. Route in and
out very quiet. Flak over target very moderate.
(Tis [flares]
were colour coded to differentiate from German decoys.)
This was
apparently Ernie’s introduction to bombing operations over Germany
as he was acting as ‘second pilot’ with another crew for
familiarisation. The flight time of 4:13 derived from the take-off
and landing times in the de-briefing notes above, indicate the raid
was on Gladbach not Munchen (Munich) - perhaps as a planned
contingency. Five days later he commanded his first bombing
operation.
|
|
5/6
September 1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 20:03,
Landed 03:07
Bombing - Mannheim - sortie
completed. 5/10ths layer at 10,000. Vis good otherwise.
Bombed Target TI from 15,000 at
23:41 (1 x 4,000lb HC, 80 x 30lb and 900 x 4lb Inc.)
Attack seemed to be straying towards
N and becoming more scattered at this later stage.
At 22:10 stbd
inner went u/s. Carried on and bombed at 15,000. Very few S/Ls and
flak very light. Heavy flak on French coast returning.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
5/6-9-1943, Mannheim -
Ludwigshafen:
467 Sq sent 12
a/c to join 605 bombers attacking the twin cities. The raid went
according to plan. German war history records this attack in detail
and declared it a catastrophe for the cities.
|
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22/23
September 1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 19:04,
Landed 00:25
Bombing - Hanover - sortie
completed. Vis good, no cloud.
Bombed centre of concentration of
green Tis from 20,200 at 21:45 (1 x 4,000lb HC, 80 x 30lb and 1,560
x 4lb inc.) Good thick smoke and good red fires seen burning on
leaving target area.
Good trip.
Very little flak over target. Approx. 70 S/Ls over target. Some
light and heavy flak on Dutch coast going in and also coming out.
|
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3/4 October
1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 18:28, Landed 00:35
Bombing
Kassel.
Sortie completed. Clear. Bombed
centre of green Tis from 20,000 at 21:32 (1 x 4,000lb HC,
24 x 30lb and
1440 x 4lb incs). Much smoke obscured target area. At ..... Y on
way in, about a dozen A/C were seen to bomb white Tis. From this
point green TIs on target could be seen plainly. Very quiet trip.
Very little flak and about 40 S/Ls. One fighter followed us out of
target but broke away after a few secs.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
3/4-10-1943, Kassel:
467 Sq
had 9 a/c to join 547 bombers attacking Kassel. Ground haze and poor
marking prevented a good attack but, more by luck than good marking,
three aircraft factories were badly damaged. German war records
claim that not one of the factories were marked. 4.4 per cent were
lost. 467 Sq lost P/O G. Smith and crew: 4 KIA, (Killed in
Action) 3 POW (Prisoner of War). F/L Harty Locke, DSO,
DFC and crew were attacked by two fighters, one from each side.
After a spirited battle and evasive action the gunners fought them
off. Both gunners were wounded, and the Lancaster was badly damaged.
They reached Bottesford after a grueling flight and made a safe
landing.
|
|
7/8 October
1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 20:37, Landed 04:35
Bombing Stuttgart.
Sortie completed. 10/10 cloud, low
S.Cu., tops about 10,000 ft.
Bombed centre
of green Tis from 19,500 at 00:22˝ (1 x 4,000lb HC, 72 x 30lb and
990 x 4lb inc.)
Clouds lit up
with considerable fires. Very quiet trip; no S/Ls, very little
heavy flak. Attack seemed a little scattered. Landed at Tangmere.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
7/8-10-1943, Stuttgart:
467 Sq
had 17 a/c join all groups attacking Stuttgart. This raid is
recorded as an outstanding success. On this raid 101 Sq used the ABC
‘nightfighter communication jamming device’ for the first time. This
device involved carrying a German speaking crewman and broadcasting
false information into the German fighter control system. Losses
were 1.2 per cent. British airfields were fog bound when the
aircraft returned. Most of 467 aircraft landed at Tangmere. F/S
Mallan, rear gunner in S/L Lewis’ crew, was awarded an immediate DFM
on return.
|
|
18/19 October 1943. 467 Squadron,
Bottesford. Take-off 17:21, Landed 22:36
Bombing Hanover.
Sortie completed. 10/10ths cloud,
tops 17,000 ft. Bombed red Tis from 21,000 at 20:20
(1 x 4,000lb
HC, 104 x 30lb and 1260 x 4lb inc.). Incs seen burning very
scattered. Very quiet trip. About 50 S/Ls, moderate heavy flak.
Bombing looked very scattered on run in. Flak and S/Ls on way
home. Bombing was started before zero hour.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
18/19-10-1943, Hanover:
467 Sq
sent 16 a/c to join 360 Lancasters bombing Hanover. The defences
were alert and 5.0 per cent were lost. 467 Sq lost F/O F. Davenport
and crew: 6 KIA, 1 POW. F/S Wallace and crew were attacked by a
fighter and the Lancaster was badly damaged. The gunners fought the
attacker off and the F/E, Sgt Calderhead, and the MU gunner, W/O
Ritchie, were wounded. They managed to reach Cottishall and made an
emergency landing to get assistance for the wounded.
|
|
20/21 October 1943. 467
Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 17:39, Landed 00:27
Bombing Leipzig.
Sortie completed. 9/10ths cloud,
tops approx. 16,000 ft. another layer above “W”.
Bombed red TI with green stars from
18,000 at 21:05˝ (1 x 4,000 lb HC, 80 x 30lb and 900 x 4lb inc.) A
few fires seen through gaps. First difficulties were on reaching
front which was stationed at approx. Hanover. This necessitated
flying in cloud and windscreen was completely iced over from there
until an hour after reaching target. At 20:01, 20 miles S.S.W. of
Bremen, attacked by fighter from starboard quarter which resulted in
R/G opening fire at same time as fighter. Immediately another
fighter from stbd. beam, fired a short burst and passed below nose.
R/G claims hits on first fighter.
Damage caused by fighter to rear turret and tail plane.
At approx. 20 miles north of Leipzig
a Lancaster A/C opened fire (M/U) causing damage to instruments,
burst oil pipe line causing flood of oil in A/C and slightly
wounding bomb aimer.
During this
attack A/C was uncontrollable and rolled over on to its back, but I
gained control at 15,000 ft and continued and bombed target
successfully under great difficulties with instruments u/s and
windscreen covered with ice and A/C flooded with oil.
R/G’s oxygen
was u/s for about ˝ hour on return, which resulted in R/G being a
dead loss for this period. Fortunately he recovered after this
period, none the worse.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
20/21-10-1943, Leipzig:
467 Sq sent 13
a/c in appalling weather conditions to join the attack on Leipzig.
Nearing the target P/O Fayle and crew were attacked by two fighters
working together. The tail plane of their Lancaster was damaged and
the aircraft rolled right over. Control was regained and the crew
pressed on to the target, where they were fired on by another
Lancaster which damaged the instrument panel and hydraulic lines and
wounded the Bomb Aimer. The crew managed to get the damaged aircraft
back to base.
This same
event was recorded in the book “Air War Against Germany and Italy
1939~1943”
by John
Herington and the relevant portion has been re-produced
below.
“Air War
Against Germany and Italy 1939~1943” - by John Herington
“Leipzig, one of the chief commercial and manufacturing cities of
Germany especially important to the aircraft and chemical industry,
came within effective striking range of Bomber Command and suffered
three attacks during the winter months.
The
first attack was spoiled by appalling weather and did little
damage. Although twenty-eight of the Australian Lancasters are
credited with attacking, in fact seven ran into difficulties in
heavy cloud losing one, two or even three engines temporarily due to
ice accretion,
[1] and were forced to jettison their bombs over enemy
held territory. One of these Lancasters was so badly affected that
the crew were ordered to abandon the aircraft, but the pilot
regained control when the aircraft broke cloud at 3,000 ft. Several
of the bombers which did reach Leipzig were forced to jettison part
of their loads in order to maintain height and incendiaries were
seen burning throughout the route. Only seven out of twenty-three
Pathfinders dropped flares or target indicators so that the bomber
stream had practically no aid. One Lancaster of No. 460 squadron
piloted by Warrant Officer Goulevitch (414019) circled the target
for ten minutes and saw only one target indicator and then bombed
the approximate centre of existing fires, but most Australians
unashamedly bombed on ‘estimated time of arrival’.
It was a
night to test the fortitude of all crews and Pilot Officer Fayle
(412936) of No. 467 squadron, after shaking off two fighters near
Bremen with only minor damage, was then attacked near the target by
an over-anxious mid-upper gunner of another Lancaster who obviously
mistook Fayle’s aircraft for a fighter approaching from above and
astern. Fayle’s bomb aimer was wounded and the Lancaster was
heavily damaged and plunged down to 15,000 feet before it came under
control once more. Then with oil flooding the aircraft, the
windscreen covered in ice and the flying instruments out of action,
Fayle bombed and returned under great difficulties.”
This
was the first of 3 raids on Leipzig
during the winter of 1943/1944.
This first raid comprised a total
of 285 Bombers, 13 from 467 squadron.
Ernie and his crew were lost
on the third Leipzig raid on 19th February 1944.
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|
22/23
October 1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 18:06, Landed
00:05
Bombing Kassel.
Sortie
completed. Vis. Clear. Bombed centre of green Tis from 18,400 at
21:08 (1 x 4,000lb HC, 92 x 30lb and 1200 x 4lb inc.) Many large
and concentrated fires seen leaving target area. Also heavy black
smoke. Very good trip except for bad weather on trip out and coming
home very bad over sea and in England. Very little flak, about 40
S/Ls. Very large amount of fighter flares on way in and out of
target. Target looked very well bombed as it was very clear.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
22/23-10-1943, Kassel:
467 Sq
had 15 Lancasters join 569 bombers attacking Kassel. The raid was a
success, putting most of the aircraft industry of the city out of
action. German war records list this attack as killing 5,599 people
and injuring 3,587. The list of factories is 381 and dwellings not
less than 3,000, some of which were already partly damaged. Losses
were 7.6 per cent. 467 Sq lost P/O G.P. Goodwin and crew on their
27th operation: 7 KIA. P/O Buck Jones and crew were attacked by two
fighters in their now classic attack, one on each side. Fast evasive
action and good gunnery fought them off. October finished with 467
Sq flying 121 sorties and attacking 9 enemy targets for the loss of
4 crews: 25 men KIA, 5 POW, 4 wounded and 3 in hospital with frost
bite.
Temperature lapse rates vary a lot but average around 2 degrees C
with each 1000 ft. altitude increase. The temperature at 20,000 ft
in these latitudes could often be as low as -40 C. Electrically
heated gloves, slippers and flying suits were used by some
air-crew. Gun Turret placements were remote from the main cabin
area heating system and required special consideration.
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3/4
November 1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 17:18,
Landed 21:38
Bombing
Dusseldorf.
Sortie
completed. No cloud, some haze. Bombed centre of five green
TIs from 18,000 at 19:53
(1 x
4,000lb HC, 108 x 30lb and 1290 x 4lb inc.). Bombing
concentrated and good fires seen, but tendency to creep back.
Very quiet trip except coned on run in to target for two
minutes by about 12 S/Ls. Very little flak and very few
flares put down by fighters. Target clear and bombing looked
very good.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
3
/4-11-1943, Dusseldorf
467 Sq sent
18 Lancasters to join 589 bombers attacking Dusseldorf. The
operation was successful, although German war history does not
give full details. 3.1 per cent were lost. 467 Sq lost S/L
W.T. Lewis, DFC and crew: 3 KIA, 3 POW, 1 Evaded. Sgt Morley
evaded capture and returned to the UK, reaching Waddington on
31 December 1943. F/O Patkin and crew were involved in a very
determined attack by an ME 101 fighter. The gunners put up a
spirited battle, finally shooting the fighter down in flames,
confirmed by the other crew members. Both gunners were
wounded but, rather than leave their guns, they had not
informed the pilot of their injuries. |
|
10/11
November 1943. 467 Squadron, Bottesford. Take-off 21:02,
Landed 04:29
Bombing
Modane.
Sortie
completed. Clear sky. Slight haze in valleys. Bombed red TI
from 15,000 at 01:05
(1 x
4,000lb HC, 44 x 30lb and 840 x 4lb inc.). Results of attack
obscured by smoke from bursts.
Very
quiet trip. Moderate heavy flak over target. Very cloudy on
return trip.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
10/11-11-1943, Modane:
467 Sq sent
17 Lancasters to join 313 a/c attacking Modane. The operation
was successful, but no German report has come to light. No
loss from 467 Sq. This was the last operation from Bottesford
for 467 Sq. They were in the process of shifting to RAF
Waddington, Lincolnshire. The advance party had reached
Waddington, then the aircraft flew over and were ready for
operations by 17 November.
Extract from
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c4.html
(Official
History of New Zealand during the second world war 1939 ~ 1945
by H.L. Thompson)
“Several
attempts were made by Bomber Command to hinder the flow of
German supplies and reinforcements to Italy by cutting the
railways on the Brenner and Riviera routes. However, the most
successful attack was that delivered by a force of 313
Lancasters in full moonlight on the night of 10/11 November
1943 against the rail marshalling yards at Modane near the
French/Italian border. Tracks were torn up, buildings,
including the engine shed were destroyed, and a German goods
train standing at the station was wrecked.”
This raid on Modane was Ernie’s last sortie with 467 RAAF
Bomber Squadron stationed at
Bottesford before transferring to 463 RAAF Bomber Squadron at
Waddington
where he resumed combat operations 7 weeks later on 29th
December 1943. |
The Squadron’s “Operations Record
Book”, in addition to recording the pilot’s de-briefing also carried
a summary of events written up by the Squadron Commander and his
Adjutant following each raid. The following such entry (photograph
of page) refers to the occasion that Ernie’s aircraft experienced an
engine failure on the way to the target but was able to continue
with 1 engine inoperative. The pilot’s handling notes for the Mark
1 Lancaster stated that with one engine inoperative, height could be
maintained, at maximum weight, at or below 10,000 ft. Ernie’s
de-briefing notes (see page 4) indicate that he was able to deliver
his bomb load at 15,000 ft. following the engine failure.
I have noted the bomb release height
for other No. 467 Squadron aircraft on this raid, and the indication
is that 15,000 ft. was below the planned release height, but above
the ‘engine-out’ ceiling of 10,000 ft. The ability to limit his
descent to 15,000 ft. may have been possible because the fuel load
would have been substantially reduced after being airborne for some
hours. He may also have been relatively close to the target at the
time of the engine failure and was thus able to limit the descent to
15,000 ft. during this period before bomb release. Being designed
as a heavy load lifter, the Lancaster had a substantial surplus of
power when unladen and even with any 2 engines inoperative could maintain 10,000 ft. providing the fuel weight did not
exceed half. (See
extract from the Squadron Commanders summary,
below)
|
Waddington,
Licolnshire (29th
December 1943 to 20th
February 1944).
Each photographed page
(white) has a easy-to-read transcription following.
|
|
abbreviations:
S/Ls = Search Lights. HC = High Capacity. inc = Incendiary.
Tis = Target Identifier. R/G = Rear
Gunner. MU = Mid Upper Gunner.
A/C = Aircraft. u/s = unserviceable
(unavailable).
Flak = derived from a long German word
describing ‘anti aircraft artillery’.
|
|
29/30
December 1943. 463 Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 16:56,
Landed 23:53
Bombing Berlin.
Sortie
completed. Vis. Good, 10/10ths cloud about 12,000 ft.
Wanganui flare in sight at time of bombing 20,000 ft. 20:17
hrs. 1 x 4,000 HC, 900 x 4, 150 x 4 XIB, 56 x 30. Cloud
prevented assessment of bombing. PFF flares well
concentrated. Very little glow could be seen on cloud.
Very quiet trip. Moderate flak over target. 10/10ths cloud.
Bombs on marker flares from 20,000 ft.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
29/30-12-1943, Berlin:
467 Sq sent
13 a/c and 463 Sq 11 a/c to join 712 bombers attacking Berlin.
Using a long approach route to the target the Halifaxes
rejoined the attack. German reports say the raid killed 182,
injured 600 and left 10,000 homeless in freezing weather. 2.8
per cent were lost. 467 Sq lost P/O B. Tait and crew: 7 KIA,
F/O C. Reynolds and crew reported that they were hit by flak
200 miles before reaching the target, then on their bombing
run they were hit again, and the incendiaries set on fire.
They jettisoned the burning incendiaries and carried on to
drop the 4,000 lb. ‘cookie’ on the markers although the
aircraft was still on fire. The fire was put out by diving
away from the target.
December
finished with 467 Sqdrn flying 70 sorties to 6 enemy targets,
for the loss of 2 crews: 14 men KIA. 463 Sq flew 51 sorties to
6 enemy targets without loss.
1943 was a
long rough year for Bomber Command. November and December had
presented some of the worst flying weather experienced in
Britain for years. Almost half the days listed were fog bound
and misty, with visibility bad to impossible.
(This was Ernie’s first
Bombing Raid after transferring to 463 Squadron)
|
|
01/02
January 1944. 463 Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 23:37,
Landed 07:42
Bombing
Berlin.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
1/2-1-1944,
Berlin:
467 Sq sent
10 a/c and 463 Sq 10 a/c to start the new year for Berlin,
joining 421 Lancasters in a very effective raid. The raid is
simply listed as very effective. 6.7 per cent were lost. 467
Sq lost F/O L.B. Patkin and crew, with F/S Mudie flying as 2nd
pilot: 8 KIA. 463 Sq lost F/S Lawson and crew: 7 KIA. |
|
14/15
January 1944. 463 Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 16:38,
Landed 22:07
Bombing
Brunswick.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
14/15-1-1944, Brunswick:
467 Sq sent 16 a/c and 463 13
a/c to join 496 Lancasters attacking Brunswick. The German
running commentary was heard following the progress of the
bomber force from a position only 40 miles from the English
coast and many night-fighters entered the bomber stream. 38
Lancasters
were lost, 7.6 per cent. No loss from 467/463 Squadrons. |
|
20/21 January 1944.
463 Squadron, Waddington. Take-off
16:32, Landed 23:59
Bombing Berlin.
Sortie
completed. 9/10 cloud up to about 12,000ft. Vis. Fair above.
Centre of
concentration of about 6 R/P flares. 21,000ft. 19:42 hrs.
1x4000HC. 900x4. 60x30 lb.
Red glow on
cloud after leaving Target. R/P flares were very well
concentrated. Very quiet trip.
Bombed centre of
red flares with green stars. Mod. Flak over Target. 9/10
cloud over Target North of Track on way home. D.R. Compass
[2]
and GEE
[3] u/s.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
20/21-1-1944, Berlin:
467Sq sent 15 a/c and 463 Sq sent 11 a/c
to join 769 bombers attacking Berlin. In this raid the 264
Halifaxes rejoined the force. 22 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters
were lost: 4.6 per cent of the force. Berlin was cloud-covered
and what happened in this raid is a mystery. The H2S markers
[4] claim to have accurately marked the city
but PRU
[5]
evidence was impossible
because of cloud. German reports deliberately dismiss the
raid, probably to conceal the extent of the damage. Neither
467 Sq or 463 Sq lost aircraft, but F/L F. Merrill’s crew had
oxygen trouble and the mid-upper gunner’s oxy valve failed and
he, Sgt B. Turner, died from oxygen starvation.
|
|
27/28
January 1944. 463 Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 17:24,
Landed 02:34
Bombing
Berlin.
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
27/28-1-1944, Berlin:
467 Sq sent
15 a/c and 463 Sq 11 a/c to join 515 Lancasters attacking
Berlin. Elaborate diversion raids were sent out to confuse the
fighters, with some success, but 6.4 per cent were lost.
German fighters who were not called away to the diversions met
the bombers up to 70 miles out over the North Sea. 467 Sq
lost F/O C. O’Brien and crew: 7 KIA. 463 Sq lost F/O E. Leslie
and crew: 7 KIA. |
|
28/29
January 1944. 463 Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 00:20,
Landed 07:38
Bombing
Berlin.
Sortie
completed. 10/10ths. One layer. Visibility Good.
Flares in
bombsights - Red with Green Stars. Good concentration.
20,200 feet. 03:21 hours. 1 x 4,000 HC. 750 x 4. 150 x 4
‘X’. 48 x 30. Numerous fires. Glow could be seen over one
hundred miles away. Quiet trip. 10/10 ths. Over Target very
thin. Bombed centre of Red flares with green stars, moderate
flak over Target, and over Denmark on way IN and OUT.
Extract from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
28/29-1-1944, Berlin:
467 Sq sent 13 a/c and 463 Sq 19 a/c to
join 677 bombers attacking Berlin. 6.8 per cent were lost. The
German report of Technischen Nothilfe Gau III - Berlin and
Brandenburg, Berlin city archives, admits that this was the
most concentrated attack of the period. A vast amount of
damage was listed to technical buildings and 180,000 people
made homeless, the casualties unknown. 467 Sq lost F/L I
Durstan and crew: 7 KIA
[6]
463 Sq lost F/L N. Cooper and crew: 7 KIA. Icing was
severe and several aircraft had to jettison their loads and
return.
|
|
30/31 January 1944. 463
Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 16:58, Landed 23:19
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
30/31-1-1944, Berlin:
467 Sq sent 10 a/c and 463 Sq 14 a/c to join 534 bombers
attacking Berlin. No diversion raids and a direct route to the
city fooled the German controller for some time, but the
fighters joined them over the target and 6.2 per cent were
lost. Damage was effective, although the German efficiency in
reporting was becoming strained and the listing started to
lump areas together. Special mention is made that Goebbels’
Propaganda Ministry and the transport system were damaged.
467 Sq lost P/O A.D. Riley and crew: 7 KIA. 463 Sq lost P/O P.
Hanson and crew: 7 KIA (View the true tales page ‘A Diving
Find’); P/O G.L. Messenger and crew: 5 KIA, 2 POW; and P/O. D.
Dunn and crew: 7 KIA. F/O A.B. Simpson and crew of 467 Sq were
attacked by a fighter. After a lively exchange of rounds the
gunners claimed it was probably destroyed.
January 1944 ended with heavy snow. 467 Sq had flown 113
sorties, attacking 9 enemy targets for the loss of 8 crews: 56
men KIA, 1 POW. 463 Sq had flown 102 sorties, attacking 9
enemy targets for the loss of 8 crews: 53 men KIA, 4 POW. This
was costly, but there was no respite. The German army was
winning on all fronts, and the winter in Russia was just
beginning to hold them up. In North Africa they were looking
at Montgomery but still had to feel his teeth. The battle of
the Atlantic was grim and food supplies to the UK were
becoming a problem. Bomber Command was the only means of
showing the Germans that war really hurt.
A successful raid such as that on 29/30 January on Berlin
showed that at least 1,000 people were killed, 2,000 injured,
12,000 homeless from fire damage, 15 major factories gutted,
and the transport system put out of action for weeks.
|
|
15/16 February 1944. 463
Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 17:08, Landed 23:54
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
Winter flying conditions from England and over the continent
were extremely difficult, and in early February 1944 only
minor operations could be undertaken.
15/16-2-1944, Berlin:
467 Sq sent 18 a/c and 463 Sq
17 a/c to join the 891 bombers attacking Berlin, dropping
2,642 tons of bombs on the city. This was the largest attack
to date and the first time more than 500 Lancasters had
attacked a target. 4.8 per cent were lost, none from 467 or
463 Squadrons. 5 Group was now a major force under Air
Vice-Marshal Ralph Cochrane, and was to remain so throughout
the war.
|
|
19/20 February 1944. 463
Squadron, Waddington. Take-off 23:20, Landed .....
Extract
from:
http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/L02Pgs/diary02.htm
19/20-2-1944, Leipzig:
467 Sq sent 17 a/c and 463 Sq
18 a/c in the 823 bombers attacking Leipzig. The German
controller correctly estimated the target and massed his
fighters en route. The bombers were under attack all the way.
9.5 per cent were lost. No damage report is available from
Germany, and cloud prevented PRU assessment.
463 Sq lost F/O
Fayle and crew: 7 KIA.
|
|
Squadron
Commander's Diary page
February 1944
|
|
The following is a
transcription of above:
|
1.2.44
2.2.44
3.2.44
4.2.44
5.2.44
6.2.44
7.2.44
8.2.44
9.2.44
10.2.44
11.2.44
12.2.44
13.4.44
14.2.44
15.2.44
16.2.44
17.2.44
18.2.44
19.2.44
20.2.44
21.2.44
22.2.44
23.2.44
24.2.44
25.2.44
26.2.44
27.2.44
28.2.44
29.2.44 |
|
Overcast.
No Ops. Lecture and Films on Oxygen.
P/O
Saunders and crew proceeded on posting to 83 Squadron
(P.F.F.)
Good morning. No Ops.
Lecture on Americans and America given during morning.
Aircrew attended.
Four
crew attended “Wet Dinghy Drill. Visual Monica
[8]
Training and Security Film during afternoon.
Fairly clear to-day. Air to Sea Gunnery Practice. No
Ops. Sport during afternoon.
Low-lying cloud during
morning. Very little flying. Visit from S/Ldr Vincent,
RAAF Liaison Officer at
Bomber
Command, and F/Lt Cartwright of No.5 Group H.Q.
Overcast. Cleared during
afternoon training. Flying 11 Aircraft carried out
Exercise, 14 taking off at
1930
hrs and landing at 23:30 hrs.
Bright sunny day. Commanding
Officer and party of 20 visited A.W. Howes Ltd., Woodford.
Routine training.
Slightly overcast. Swimming in afternoon.
Cold
and windy. No flying during morning. Routine training.
Swimming.
No
Ops. Routine Training.
Lecture by Group Naval liaison officer. Training.
Ops
ON. 14 crews - SCRUBBED at 1600 hours. Kodak House
Football Team visited Station.
No Ops
to-day. Routine training carried out.
OPS ON
- 17 crews. One early return - P/O Shouberg: Engines
overheating.
OPS ON
- Dismal morning - cleared up in the afternoon. OPS
CANCELLED. Stand down at 14:30 hrs
OPS ON
- Again cancelled.
OPS ON
- Cancelled.
OPS
ON. 18 aircraft. Target: LEIPZIG. F/O Fayle and Crew
missing.
OPS ON
again. 14 aircraft. Successful attack on STUTTGART. No
losses.
NO
OPS. Routine training.
Overcast. OPS ON. 17 Aircraft. Rain and Snow during
afternoon. OPS CANCELLED at 1730 hours.
Overcast. Slight rain. NO
OPS. Flying Training. Visit by Overseas H.Q. Public
Relations Officer
S.Ldr
Tart and S/L Jenison. F/Sgt Graham and Crew arrived on
posting.
Bright Sunny Day. OPS ON. 17
Aircraft. P/O Mustard and Crew arrived on posting. F/O
Kirkpatrick
departed on posting to East
Kirby. Two waves take-off at 18:45 and 20:30 hours.
Target: SCHWEINFURT. F/Lt Martin and F/Lt Mortimer and
Crews missing.
Slight Low Cloud. OPS ON. 13
Aircraft. Target: AUGSBURG. Successful attack. P/O
McKnight and
Crew
missing. P/O Smiths a/c damaged by enemy a/c. Enemy a/c
(FW190) destroyed (confirmed).
Dull
and slightly misty. No OPS. P/O Dechastel and crew arrived
on posting.
Heavy fall of snow. NO OPS.
Dinghy lectures during morning. Lantern lectures at 1400
hours on
P.F.F.
Snow fatigues working all night.
Bright Sunny Morning. Snow
lying about 12” to 18” thick. All ground crew on snow
clearing. OPS ON.
OPS
cancelled at 1845 hours.
Bright morning. All hands to
snow clearing. NO OPS. Ground staff worked all night on
snow clearing -
Three shifts: 2000-23:59hrs,
0001-0400hrs, 0401-0800hrs.
P/O
Cassell and Crew, and F/Sgt Giddings and Crew arrived on
posting. |
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|
RAAF
467 Squadron Bottesford, Leicestershire
(30th
August 1943 to 11th
November 1943)
|
|
30/31
05/06
22/23
03/04
07/08
18/19
20/21
22/23
03/04
10/11 |
Aug ’43
Sep ’43
Sep ’43
Oct ’43
Oct ’43
Oct ’43
Oct ’43
Oct ’43
Nov ’43
Nov ’43 |
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford
Bottesford |
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~ |
Munchen (Munich) -Gladbach
Mannheim
Hanover
Kassel
Stuttgart
Hanover
Leipzig
Kassel
Dusseldorf
Modane |
Return
1,244 Km
1,500 Km
1,428 Km
1,428 Km
1,678 Km
1,428 Km
1,830 Km
1,428 Km
1,104 Km
2,040 Km |
|
Flight Time
4:13
7:04
5:21
6:07
7:58
5:15
6:48
5:59
4:20
7:27 |
RAAF
463 Squadron Waddington, Lincolnshire
(29th
December 1943 to 20th
February 1944)
|
|
29/30
01/02
14/15
20/21
27/28
28/29
30/31
15/16
19/20
|
Dec ’43
Jan ’44
Jan ’44
Jan ’44
Jan ’44
Jan ’44
Jan ’44
Feb ’44
Feb ’44
|
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington
Waddington |
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~ |
Berlin
Berlin
Brunswick
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin
Leipzig
|
Return
1,882 Km
1,882 Km
1,506 Km
1,882 Km
1,882 Km
1,882 Km
1,882 Km
1,882 Km
1,806 Km
|
Flight Time
6:57
8:05
5:29
7:27
9:10
7:18
6:21
6:46
....... |
The page reproduced below is representative of the
standard pages in the RAF 'Operations Record Book'.
The preceding extracts were drawn from such
pages. This particular page, below,
contains the official "failed to return" entry for Ernie
and his 6 crew members.
(Departed Waddington RAF Base 23:20 19th
February 1944)
Transcription of
one line entry in reproduced page below;
"Aircraft
failed to return. No messages or signals received."
The adjutant has
misquoted Ernies rank when typing up the last 5 de-briefing
notes as
Ernie was promoted from
Pilot Officer to Flight Officer on 25/7/1944 |
|
