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22/23 November 1943 Lancaster Mk II - DS764 KO-S |
A/c fitted with IFF (Identification friend or foe), GEE (navigation) and MONICA (radar).
The crew parachuted. The pilot, Sgt. Smith was on his 2nd operation and was found in the wreckage of his a/c.
Bomb Load 1 x 4000lbs, 32 x 30lbs incendiary, 630 x 4lbs incendiary, 90 x 4lbs "X" type.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Berlin attacked by 764 aircraft - 469 Lancasters, 234 Halifaxes, 50 Stirlings, 11 Mosquitos.
This was the greatest force sent to Berlin so far but it was also the last raid in which Stirlings were sent to Germany.
Bad weather again kept most of the German fighters on the ground and the bomber force was able to take a relatively
'straight in, straight out' route to the target without suffering undue loss.
26 aircraft - 11 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes, 5 Stirlings - were lost, 3.4 per cent of the force.
Berlin was again completely cloud-covered and returning crews could only estimate that the marking and
bombing were believed to be accurate,in fact, this was the most effective raid on Berlin of the war.
A vast area of destruction stretched from the central districts westwards across the mainly residential areas
of Tiergarten and Charlottenburg to the separate suburb city of Spandau. Because of the dry weather conditions,
several 'firestorm' areas were reported and a German plane next day measured the height of the smoke cloud
as 6,000 metres (nearly 19,000 ft).
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary November 1943.
ORB. 22/11/43.
14 aircraft took off between 17.24 and 17.55 hours to attack BERLIN.
2 of the aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie due to
(F.D.S.682 - Capt. F/Lt. G. Y. MACKIE - guns ceased firing after three rounds) rear turret gun trouble and
(X.D.S.664. - Capt. P/O. L. J. HALLY) electrical failure in the rear turret respectively, and both returned
to base early after jettisoning their bombs safely.
2 aircraft failed to return from operations. Lancaster Mk II DS782 KO-K, 7 KIA.
The remainder identified the target by means of red and green target indicator markers on which they dropped
their bombs,
from heights ranging between 18,000 feet and 22,000 feet.
A large explosion was seen at 20.21 hours and the glow of the fires could be seen from over HANOVER.
Photographs were attempted. The attack appeared to be successful.
(G.D.S.667 - Capt. F/S. JAMES, C. - was hit by heavy Flak)
00.50. 12 aircraft had returned safely to base.
Smith Hugh - Pilot
Sgt - Service No 1550719
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of William and Jessie Smith, of Armadale, West Lothian.
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - grave 25.G.18.
Source: CWGC - photo via online-begraafplaatsen.nl - Find a Grave.
Miller E. - FE
Sgt. - Service No 2206759
Age: - POW No 263607 Luft 3
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Downs F. C. - Nav
Sgt. - Service No 1585496
Age: - POW No 263668
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Deakin C. - WOP
Sgt. - Service No 1060133
Age: - POW No 1482 Luft 6
RAFVR
Broke both legs on landing afther bailing out.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Strong Robert - BA
Sgt. - Service No 1230157
Age: - POW No 263711
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Ferguson J. - MUG
Sgt. - Service No R176230
Age: - POW No 263581
RCAF
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Scotchmer T. H. - RG
Sgt. - Service No R90034
Age: - POW No 263713
RCAF
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.