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2/3 January 1944 Lancaster Mk II - DS667 KO-G |
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
383 aircraft - 362 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitos, 9 Halifaxes - return to Berlin.
German fighter controllers followed the bombers all the way to the target.
Night fighters were sent to a radio beacon between Hannover and Bremen but these fighters
missed the bomber stream and did not come into action until they were directed to Berlin.
Most of the bomber casualties were in the Berlin area.
27 Lancasters were lost, 10 per cent of the force.
The casualties included 10 Pathfinder aircraft;
No 156 Squadron, from Warboys, lost 5 of its 14 aircraft taking part in the raid.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary January 1944.
ORB. 2nd Jany. 1944.
21 aircraft were detailed to attack BERLIN, but 5 failed to take off.
16 took off between 00.30 hours & 00.50 hours.
3 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie
(G.L.L.673 - Captain S/L. J. R. GRANT) due to intercom. failure
(S.D.S.833 - Captain F/S. MILGATE, R.) mid upper intercom. failure; and
(H.L.L.668 - Captain F/S. HAYES, R.) unserviceability
of starboard outer engine,
Rear Gunner's oxygen supply & mid upper turret respectively and all returned to Base early
one jettisoning all his bombs and the other two jettisoning their 4,000 H.C., but bringing back their incendiaries.
The remaining 13 identified the target by means of sky markers & green markers on which they
dropped their bombs from heights ranging between 16,000 feet & 21,500 feet.
Results were unobserved due to 10/10 cloud but the glow of fires could be seen under cloud.
Attack appeared to be rather scattered. Photographs were attempted.
One aircraft (E.D.S.796 - Captain F/S. CHANTLER, R.) on return crash landed 2 miles from Base,
all the crew escaping with some minor injuries.
08.30. All the aircraft had returned from Operations.
F/S - Service No 1431388
Age: 22 - died of wounds on 26 January 1944.
RAFVR
Son of Herbert Ridley Hayes and Mabel Catherine Hayes,
of Handsworth, Birmingham.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - 6. K. 20.
Source: CWGC - photo Find a Grave by Uwe.
Weatherston J. - FE
Sgt - Service No 1567742
Age: - POW No Dulag Luft
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Booth M. A. - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1606090
Age: - POW No 269829 Stalag 4B
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Wardale F. - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1337743
Age: - POW No 269890 Luft 3
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Bridgeman E. F. - BA
F/O - Service No J23583
Age: - POW No 2985 Luft 4
RCAF
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Pearson F. - MUG
Sgt - Service No
Age: - POW No - repatriated
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Dodds J. R. - RG
Sgt - Service No
Age: - POW No - repatriated
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.