JANUARY 1944
1.1.44 20 aircraft Lancaster IIIs are detailed to attack Berlin. Two aircraft were withdrawn owing to engine troubles. The remaining 18 aircraft set out to attack the primary target. Weather was 10/10th cloud at 12,000', vis good. Defences moderate H/F to slight - S/Ls ineffective. Slight fighter activity and many scare crow flares. No results of bombing were seen and some scattered markers were reported. It appears that no good continuous concentration was achieved. One aircraft and crew - Captain F/O Mooney DFM is missing, no news being received since leaving base. Another aircraft, F/Lt Owen and crew landed at Tangmere with a burts tyre and damage by enemy action. The rear gunner has been admitted to hospital suffering from a shell wound in the lower right leg. The remainder of crews returned to base.
2.1.44 17 aircraft are detailed to again attack Berlin. Briefing was in the evening with a very late take off. One aircraft was withdrawn being too late. The remaining 16 aircraft set out to attack the primary target but one had to return after 3 hours owing to trouble. Weather and defences were much the same as the previous raid. Little was seen owing to cloud but the reports show it as a good raid and generally concentrated and successful. F/O Snell claims that his rear gunner, Sgt O.D.Wood, shot down an enemy sircraft believed to be a FW190. The attack was made from astern about 20 miles south of Berlin. All crews returned safely to base.
2.1.44 17 aircraft are detailed to again attack Berlin. Briefing was in the evening with a very late take off. One aircraft was withdrawn being too late. The remaining 16 aircraft set out to attack the primary target but one had to return after 3 hours owing to trouble. Weather and defences were much the same as the previous raid. Little was seen owing to cloud but the reports show it as a good raid and generally concentrated and successful. F/O Snell claims that his rear gunner, Sgt O.D.Wood, shot down an enemy sircraft believed to be a FW190. The attack was made from astern about 20 miles south of Berlin. All crews returned safely to base.
3.1.44 Most crews resting and stand down in the afternoon.
4.1.44 "Y" training bombing at range - air firing, fighter affiliation carried out also night cross country as detailed carried out.
5.1.44 No flying training as detailed due to poor visibility. 20 aircraft have been detailed for tonight's operations. Two aircraft did not take off owing to a burst tyre on perimeter track and gyro instruments u/s. The remainder attacked Stettin in good visibility and clear sky. Defences were moderate H/F to L/F, S/Ls ineffective - some fighter activity. Four engined bombers seen over target laying flares. TIs were concentrated and bombing good. Ground detail could be seen. Fires started early and one crew claim to have seen direct hits on the railway station. Large areas of fire could be seen by crews leaving the target 150 miles en route home. The raid is regarded as being a great success. F/O Anstee and crew and P/O Flack and crew failed to return from this operation. Nothing heard since.
6.1.44 Some ground and flying training carried out.7.1.44 "Y" training and bombing at range also air to sea firing. W/Cdr E.J.Carter assumes command of the Squadron with effect today.
8.1.44 "Y" training and bombing, SBA practice in Oxford aircraft. Fighter affiliation carried out.
9.1.44 "Y" training and bombing at range, also clay pigeon for gunners. 7 crews detailed for night cross countries, cancelled due to weather conditions.
10.1.44 "Y" training and bombing, six crews on night cross countries.
11.1.44 Stand down for all aircrews.
12.1.44 Ground training in morning - some flying training in the afternoon. Weather not good.
13.1.44 "Y" training and bombing on range. Six crews briefed for fighter affiliation. Stand down for all aircrew in the afternoon.
14.1.44 Training programme for today has been cancelled in lieu of tonight's operations for which 21 aircraft have been detailed, the target being Brunswick. The weather was 10/10ths cloud with tops from 5,000/8,000', visibility good. Defences slight H/F inaccurate and below, S/Ls ineffective. Fighters were very active from coast to target and on the return. No bombing results were seen but some scattered fires were reported. Markers were however scattered and no continuous concentration was achieved. F/Lt Steven and crew, P/O Hodgson and crew are missing, nothing heard since.
15.1.44 Some ground training was carried out in the morning. Stand down in the afternoon for all aircrew.16.1.44 All training was cancelled due to weather, all aircrew assisted in moving furniture etc to the new "flight" and section offices.
17.1.44 Weather unfit for flying, extensive ground training carried out, particularly in the night vision section.
18.1.44 Some "Y" training with SBA. Weather deteriorated and ground training programme was maintained.
19.1.44 Weather unfit for all flying. Ground training. Stand down during afternoon for all aircrew apart from those partaking in sports.
20.1.44 21 Lancaster IIIs are detailed to attack Berlin. One aircraft returned early, also one bombed Brunsbuttin, oxygen failure. The remaining nineteen bombed the primary. Weather was 9/10th to 10/10th thin cloud at the commencement of the attack with good visibility. A fair concentration was achieved with early arrivals reporting incendiary bombs in built up area. Cloud thickened and no further results were observed although aircraft reported seeing glow of fires 100 miles from target. P/O Wakley and crew failed to return, no news since leaving base.
21.1.44 Heard definite news of the safe arrival in the UK of F/Lt Covington, F/Sgt Billows, F/Sgt Hesselden who were reported missing August 1943. Some ground training was carried out. Weather unfit for flying, no NFTs carried out for tonight's operations for 21 aircraft are detailed. 16 aircraft attacked the primary target Magdeburg with three bombing last resorts. One aircraft bogged on aerodrome and failed to take off. Weather was 1/10th to 7/10th cloud with good visibility but a little haze. Attack opened well and the target was kept well marked during the attack. Some aircraft identified town features and the main concentration appeared in built up area. The attack was considered to be very successful. Defences were slight to moderate barrage H/F and a few ineffective S/Ls, greater fighter activity was observed with fighter flares from coast in and out. One aircraft, F/Lt Roberts and crew failed to return.
22.1.44 Stand down during afternoon for all aircrew.
21.1.44 Heard definite news of the safe arrival in the UK of F/Lt Covington, F/Sgt Billows, F/Sgt Hesselden who were reported missing August 1943. Some ground training was carried out. Weather unfit for flying, no NFTs carried out for tonight's operations for 21 aircraft are detailed. 16 aircraft attacked the primary target Magdeburg with three bombing last resorts. One aircraft bogged on aerodrome and failed to take off. Weather was 1/10th to 7/10th cloud with good visibility but a little haze. Attack opened well and the target was kept well marked during the attack. Some aircraft identified town features and the main concentration appeared in built up area. The attack was considered to be very successful. Defences were slight to moderate barrage H/F and a few ineffective S/Ls, greater fighter activity was observed with fighter flares from coast in and out. One aircraft, F/Lt Roberts and crew failed to return.
22.1.44 Stand down during afternoon for all aircrew.
23.1.44 Some training was carried out, bombing on the range and fighter affiliation.
24.1.44 Air firing exercises maintained with "Y" training.
25.1.44 Training cancelled in lieu of tonight's operations for which 21 aircraft are detailed. Operations were cancelled after briefing.
26.1.44 Weather continued to be unfavourable, yet a good flying training programme was carried out, with some ground instruction. Night vision section being well to the fore.
27.1.44 21 aircraft are detailed for tonight's operations, the target being Berlin. 20 aircraft attacked the primary, one returned early due to intercom trouble. Weather was 10/10ths cloud tops about 8,000', visibility good. Attack opened early and the target was kept well marked with flares and effective concentration resulted, with only slight spread. Bombing results were not visible but glows of fires were seen hundred miles from target. There was slight to moderate H/F with continuous L/F below 3,000'. Considerable fighter activity was encountered over the target.
28.1.44 21 aircraft detailed to attack Berlin, 2 aircraft were withdrawn, 1 aircraft returned early due to "icing" conditions and one bombed Kiel owing to flak damage. Remaining aircraft attacked primary. Weather again 9/10th to 10/10th cloud with tops about 8,000'. And good visibility. There was continuous marking of the target, bombing was extremely concentrated and two violent explosions were observed. All indications point out to this attack being the most successful yet on the "Big City". Defences slight H/F focussed on marker flares, within increased fighter activity over target area, S/Ls were ineffective. P/O Van Raalte met considerable flak opposition over Kiel, aircraft sustained severe damage. F/Sgt Laurie, his rear gunner, was killed and aircraft returned to base on 3 engines. F/Lt Wilson and crew, P/O Allison and crew failed to return - nothing heard since.
28.1.44 21 aircraft detailed to attack Berlin, 2 aircraft were withdrawn, 1 aircraft returned early due to "icing" conditions and one bombed Kiel owing to flak damage. Remaining aircraft attacked primary. Weather again 9/10th to 10/10th cloud with tops about 8,000'. And good visibility. There was continuous marking of the target, bombing was extremely concentrated and two violent explosions were observed. All indications point out to this attack being the most successful yet on the "Big City". Defences slight H/F focussed on marker flares, within increased fighter activity over target area, S/Ls were ineffective. P/O Van Raalte met considerable flak opposition over Kiel, aircraft sustained severe damage. F/Sgt Laurie, his rear gunner, was killed and aircraft returned to base on 3 engines. F/Lt Wilson and crew, P/O Allison and crew failed to return - nothing heard since.
29.1.44 Crews resting during afternoon.
30.1.44 Heard definite news of safe arrival in UK of P/O Williams, navigator of F/Sgt Johnson's crew, missing since November 1943. 21 Lancasters detailed for operations. All aircraft set out to attack target at Berlin with an early take off. Weather was 10/10ths cloud at 6-8,000', vis good. Defences reported slight H/F and L/F mostly directed at Wanganui flares. Fighter activity very pronounced over target area and two combats were reported. The first Wanganui flares were seen at 2013 hours and at zero hour many had been dropped in a good cluster which was well maintained until 2024 hours when it tended to fall back and scatter. TIs dropped were mostly lost in cloud. No results of bombing were seen and clouds were too thick generally to reflect any glow for crews to get any indication of results. Two crews, F/Lt Clarke and P/O Hart failed to return, no news has since been heard.
31.1.44 No flying
31.1.44 No flying
Total operational hours flying - 1123 hours 45 minutes
Total non-operational hours - 303 hours 15 minutes.
Total non-operational hours - 303 hours 15 minutes.
Battle of Berlin - November 1943-March 1944