1-7 October 1943

Posted on by propatria27

Overview

A busy week for 12 Sqn, taking part in attacks on 5 targets in Germany; Hagen, Munich, Kassel, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, but only losing one aircraft and crew, with another lost on landing but with no casualties.

It is interesting that a number of aircraft had to abandon their missions due to rear turret failure, mostly caused by issues with either the hydraulic operating system freezing due to the low temperatures at the heights flown or by issues with the ammunition supply. Another observation in the extract from the Station Diary below is the mention of aircraft returning with either bomb or incendiary damage from aircraft flying above them – this time both managed to return safely, but this wasn’t always the case. My final observation is that a number of aircraft were “coned” by searchlight when flying over London – not what you wanted having successfully returned from a mission over enemy territory!

Extract from Station Diary

In 2003, German and Canadian researchers found the remains of Pilot Officer Butterfield’s aircraft, lost during the attack on Munich, in the Walchensee lake, about an hour’s drive from Munich. They photographed what remained of the aircraft and also discovered the remains of Sgt Labelle, the bomb aimer. The site is now a designated war grave.

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book

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