Category: Bomber Command

Overview

The battle of Berlin was in full swing and, although only 2 missions were flown this week, both to Berlin, 12 and 626 Sqn’s lost 10 aircraft with 36 aircrew killed and 6 becoming POW’s.

On returning from the attack on 26/27 November, 4 aircraft crashed on landing, 3 at Wickenby and one at RAF Binbrook – this was almost certainly due to fog over the airfields, as mentioned in the Station Diary below.

During the 3 Berlin raids at the end of November, 4.330 people were killed on the ground and 417,665 lost their homes for more than a month and 36,391 for up to a month.

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendices to Squadron Operational Record Books

Overview

Aircraft from Wickenby took part in 2 raids to Berlin on consecutive nights during this week with 2 aircraft lost and 7 aircrew killed. One of these aircraft crashed on takeoff but there were no casualties.

The raid on 22/23 November was the largest so far on Berlin with 764 aircraft taking part and it was the last that Stirling’s were sent to Germany. Over 2,000 people were killed on the ground and over 175,000 were bombed out, 500 being killed in one shelter alone after a direct hit.

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendix to Operational Record Book

Overview

This week is considered to be the beginning of the Battle of Berlin, with the first raid being on 18/19 November, which both 12 and 626 Sqn’s took part in – fortunately with no casualties. This battle will be a common part of our reports until the end of March 1944.

I think it would also be useful for people to have a view of what the airfield looked like when both squadron’s were operating – this map was compiled using blueprints from the RAF Museum in Hendon, high level photographs of the time and local knowledge of the area around the airfield.

Many of the buildings, especially those to the east of the airfield marked “Main Communal Site” are still standing and accessible, although it is on private farm land. The whole airfield was over 650 acres in size and was built from the end of 1941 to September 1942 when 12 Sqn arrived.

Extract from Station Diary

Overview

626 Sqn were formed on 7th November, to consist of two flights of eight aircraft, with four spares. The initial ‘A’ flight was formed by taking ‘C’ flight aircraft, aircrews and groundcrews from 12 Sqn with the remainder comprising crews straight from training and a few more experienced crews from other squadrons. A list of the first crews is in the Station Diary extract below. The commanding officer was Wing Commander P Haynes. Their first mission was to Modane in the French Alps on 10th November, which was a successful attack on the railway line and tunnels of the main line from France to Italy. There were no casualties.

I’ve included an account from Flying Officer Bill Newman about how the 626 Sqn badge and motto was developed and designed.

Extract from Station Diary

Overview

Only one operation this week, to Dusseldorf, but 2 aircraft were lost, with 12 aircrew killed and 2 becoming prisoners of war – both crews were on their first mission.

You will also notice, in the summary of November in the Station Diary, that 626 Sqn was formed on 7th November – this will be covered in more detail in the next post.

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book

Overview

Just one target attacked this week – Kassel – but it was a very successful raid for Bomber Command, with over 100,000 people displaced and a conservative estimate of dead at 5,599, although more than 3000 more were missing. One 12 Sqn aircraft and it’s crew, including a “second dicky” pilot, were all killed. Another danger for aircrews is illustrated in the damage to Fg Off Illingworth’s aircraft, which was hit by a 30lb incendiary released from above, damaging the starboard mainplane and aileron (see Station Diary below).

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book

Overview

12 Sqn were part of 2 operations this week, to Hannover and Leipzig – no aircraft were lost and there were no fatal casualties, however, 3 crew members were wounded by fire from a night fighter during the Hannover raid and the pilot, Flt Lt Rowland, was awarded an immediate DFC for his conduct. Neither attack was successful, mostly due to weather conditions, and the Pathfinder marking was poor, resulting in some pithy comments in the Station Diary below.

One of the Lancasters lost on the Hannover raid was the 5000th Bomber Command aircraft lost on operations since the start of the war, 4,365 by night and 639 by day, over enemy territory, crashed in the sea or shot down over England by German Intruders or “friendly” defences.

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book

Overview

Only one mission flown this week, to Hannover, however it resulted in the loss of 2 aircraft, with 13 crew members being killed, and one aircraft crash landing with a dead rear gunner. The Station Diary also mentions the death of Leading Aircraftman R.G. Outlaw, who was on guard duty when a Lancaster taking off sheared left and decapitated him. The crew were unaware this had happened until they landed. The Lancaster had a tendency to pull left on take off and the pilot had to apply right rudder to counteract it, not always successfully.

Flight Sergeant Ronald Collins, the pilot of one of the aircraft lost attacking Hannover had previously survived a crash near Wickenby during a training flight on 17th June 1943 and had only recently returned to duty following his serious injuries.

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book

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

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book

Overview

12 Sqn took part in 2 operations this week, Hannover and Bochum in Germany – no aircraft were lost, but one crew member was killed by flak in the attack on Hannover. Although flak was a danger to RAF bombers, only 25% of aircraft losses over enemy territory were caused by flak – the other 75% were the result of either night fighters or mechanical problems.

Extract from Station Diary

Extract from Appendix to 12 Sqn Operational Record Book