NOVEMBER 1943
Opening Raid 18/19th November 1943
On the Lancasters' return to Bourn, all the surviving crews gave their observations on what had happened on the raid, which were then summarised in 97 Squadrons ORB as follows: "17 Lancasters detailed for tonight's operation. BERLIN was attacked in 10/10 cloud [total cloud cover] ... viz. good-hazy. Explosions were reported but raid was scattered and no good concentration achieved. Owing to cloud crews saw little or nothing. Defences weak to moderate ... 16 photos attempted. One a/c failed to return-F/S JOHNSON and crew. No news received at base, all other aircraft returned safely with little damage."
From the ORB
19.11.43 No operations detailed - stand down for all aircrews.
20.11.43 No flying today - very foggy. Ground training as detailed.
21.11.43 Information from IRC states that J18137 P/O G.D.Nicoll has been captured (reported missing 8/9 Oct 43). Weather unfit for flying.
22/23 November 1943 - Berlin
24.11.43 Some air training for u/t crews, all other crews stood down for rest.
25/26 November 1943 - Frankfurt
From the ORB: "Out of the 19 aircraft detailed for operations, which were to attack Frankfurt, three aircraft were withdrawn. Remainder bombed in 9/10ths cloud top about 1,800' in thin layer - vis good. Defence - H/F moderate - barrage bursting 16-18,000'. S/Ls ineffective, some enemy aircraft fighter activity. First TIs were fairly well concentrated, later flares were seen wide of target and scattered bombing followed. Fires were scattered over an area of some 8 miles radius. Fires were seen reflected in the clouds from 40 miles away but a good concentrated attack was not achieved. F/L BROWN (Can/USA) and crew failed to return. This crew was operating for the first time with this Squadron."
26th/27th November 1943 - Frankfurt/Stuttgart
No casualties
The ORB reads: "19 aircraft detailed for operations. 9 of them to attack a target in Berlin and 10 to the secondary target at Stuttgart. 8 aircraft attacked Berlin, 1 aircraft having been withdrawn due to bomb trouble. Weather clear and vis good. Defences - moderate H/F, inaccurate, S/L cones. Some 150 S/L to south-east in outskirts. Much fighter activity. Attack opened up well on time, but for some scattered markers, a good concentration was maintained. Glow of large fires seen 100 miles away on homeward route. Attack considered to have been very scattered. All crews returned safely to base. 9 aircraft attacked Stuttgart, one aircraft returned early, the mid upper gunner being sick. Vis good but 7/10ths cloud up to 10,000'. Defences slight, H/F inaccurate owing to cloud - fighters not conspicuous. Fires were seen to glow beneath clouds which were visible 60 miles on route home. Crews report much activity at Frankfurt of flak and fighter flares. The attack is considered successful, all returned safely to base."
From the ORB
27.11.43 Stand down after resting for operational crews weather unfit.
28.11.43 Weather unfit for flying. Ground training only.
29.11.43 Fighter affiliation, bombing and air tests, also some "Y" training cross countries.
30.11.43 NFTs, fighter affiliation and bombing. 16 aircraft detailed for night operations - cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions.
Operational flying hours for Nov 1943 - 872.55
Non operational hours - 319.00
Opening Raid 18/19th November 1943
On the Lancasters' return to Bourn, all the surviving crews gave their observations on what had happened on the raid, which were then summarised in 97 Squadrons ORB as follows: "17 Lancasters detailed for tonight's operation. BERLIN was attacked in 10/10 cloud [total cloud cover] ... viz. good-hazy. Explosions were reported but raid was scattered and no good concentration achieved. Owing to cloud crews saw little or nothing. Defences weak to moderate ... 16 photos attempted. One a/c failed to return-F/S JOHNSON and crew. No news received at base, all other aircraft returned safely with little damage."
From the ORB
19.11.43 No operations detailed - stand down for all aircrews.
20.11.43 No flying today - very foggy. Ground training as detailed.
21.11.43 Information from IRC states that J18137 P/O G.D.Nicoll has been captured (reported missing 8/9 Oct 43). Weather unfit for flying.
22/23 November 1943 - Berlin
There was a second huge raid on Berlin on the night of 22nd/23rd-97 Squadron sent 19 planes - 2 planes did not return, those of Flight Lieutenant MUNRO and Pilot Office McEGAN. The Lancaster of Jimmy Munro, a 20 year old Canadian pilot, was lost without trace on his 57th operation, and none of the crew, who had three DFMs and two DFCs between them, was ever seen again. Pilot Officer McEgan's plane, lost the same night, resulted in his death and that of two other crew members, and the four survivors becoming PoWs. The remaining Lancasters all returned safely, though some had suffered minor flak damage.
23/24th November 1943 - BerlinOn the 23rd/24th Berlin was bombed again-Bourn sent 16 planes, Flight Sergeant Penny's did not return. Very unusually, the pilot survived to become a PoW but all his crew were killed.
The ORB notes: "Weather was better although 10/10ths cloud, there were patches of visibility. Markers reported to be well concentrated-owing to cloud no details were possible, but the attack is considered very successful. Some incendiaries were seen through clouds. A good red glow could be seen for 20 minutes on route home. Fires were still believed to be burning from the previous raids ... Many fighter flares and fighter activity. F/S PENNY and crew failed to return. All other a/c returned safely to base encountering bad weather and gales. Minor damage was sustained by some aircraft - F/L Riches had two engines shot up over the target, but the aircraft was brought back to base safely on the two remaining engines, the third cutting while still on the runway."
From the ORBThe ORB notes: "Weather was better although 10/10ths cloud, there were patches of visibility. Markers reported to be well concentrated-owing to cloud no details were possible, but the attack is considered very successful. Some incendiaries were seen through clouds. A good red glow could be seen for 20 minutes on route home. Fires were still believed to be burning from the previous raids ... Many fighter flares and fighter activity. F/S PENNY and crew failed to return. All other a/c returned safely to base encountering bad weather and gales. Minor damage was sustained by some aircraft - F/L Riches had two engines shot up over the target, but the aircraft was brought back to base safely on the two remaining engines, the third cutting while still on the runway."
24.11.43 Some air training for u/t crews, all other crews stood down for rest.
25/26 November 1943 - Frankfurt
From the ORB: "Out of the 19 aircraft detailed for operations, which were to attack Frankfurt, three aircraft were withdrawn. Remainder bombed in 9/10ths cloud top about 1,800' in thin layer - vis good. Defence - H/F moderate - barrage bursting 16-18,000'. S/Ls ineffective, some enemy aircraft fighter activity. First TIs were fairly well concentrated, later flares were seen wide of target and scattered bombing followed. Fires were scattered over an area of some 8 miles radius. Fires were seen reflected in the clouds from 40 miles away but a good concentrated attack was not achieved. F/L BROWN (Can/USA) and crew failed to return. This crew was operating for the first time with this Squadron."
26th/27th November 1943 - Frankfurt/Stuttgart
No casualties
The ORB reads: "19 aircraft detailed for operations. 9 of them to attack a target in Berlin and 10 to the secondary target at Stuttgart. 8 aircraft attacked Berlin, 1 aircraft having been withdrawn due to bomb trouble. Weather clear and vis good. Defences - moderate H/F, inaccurate, S/L cones. Some 150 S/L to south-east in outskirts. Much fighter activity. Attack opened up well on time, but for some scattered markers, a good concentration was maintained. Glow of large fires seen 100 miles away on homeward route. Attack considered to have been very scattered. All crews returned safely to base. 9 aircraft attacked Stuttgart, one aircraft returned early, the mid upper gunner being sick. Vis good but 7/10ths cloud up to 10,000'. Defences slight, H/F inaccurate owing to cloud - fighters not conspicuous. Fires were seen to glow beneath clouds which were visible 60 miles on route home. Crews report much activity at Frankfurt of flak and fighter flares. The attack is considered successful, all returned safely to base."
From the ORB
27.11.43 Stand down after resting for operational crews weather unfit.
28.11.43 Weather unfit for flying. Ground training only.
29.11.43 Fighter affiliation, bombing and air tests, also some "Y" training cross countries.
30.11.43 NFTs, fighter affiliation and bombing. 16 aircraft detailed for night operations - cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions.
Operational flying hours for Nov 1943 - 872.55
Non operational hours - 319.00
Battle of Berlin - November 1943-March 1944