115 Squadron

4 December 1943

Lancaster Mk II - DS765 KO-A

T/O Witchford 0039 - target Leipzig, Germany.

Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

527 aircraft - 307 Lancasters, 220 Halifaxes - to Leipzig.

The bomber force took another direct route towards Berlin before turning off to bomb Leipzig.
German fighters were in the bomber stream and scoring successes before the turn was made but
most of them were then directed to Berlin when the Mosquito diversion opened there.
There were few fighters over Leipzig and only 3 bombers are believed to have been lost in the target area,
2 of them being shot down by flak.
A relatively successful raid, from the point of view of bomber casualties, was spoiled when many aircraft flew
by mistake into the Frankfurt defended area on the long southern withdrawal route and more than half of the
bombers shot down on this night were lost there.

The Pathfinders found and marked this distant inland target accurately and the bombing was very effective;
this was the most successful raid on Leipzig during the war. A large area of housing and many industrial
premises were severely damaged.
One place which was hit by a large number of bombs was the former World Fair exhibition site,
whose spacious buildings had been converted to become war factories, the largest buildings being taken over
by the Junkers aircraft company.

24 aircraft - 15 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters - were lost, 4.6 per cent of the force.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary December 1943.

ORB. 4th Dec. 1943.
10 aircraft were detailed to attack LEIPSIG - 2 of them were cancelled.
(Took off between 00.30 hours and 00.40 hours)
1 aircraft failed to return from operations, but the remainder identified the target by means of target
indicator markers on which they dropped their bombs from heights ranging between 20,500 feet and 23,000 feet.
Glow of fires with black smoke rising above the clouds was seen.
A big explosion was observed. Photographs were attempted and leaflets dropped.
On the return trip, the port inner engine of one aircraft (Q.D.S.766 - Captain F/L. R. L. BARNES) seized up and
the aircraft landed at DUXFORD, causing damage to aircraft but no injuries to crew.
(W.D.S.781 - Captain F/S. LEE, J. - Starboard Nacelle was holed by heavy Flak over target)

07.35. 7 aircraft had returned from operations.

Lancaster DS765 D.F.M. FOR TWO MEMBERS OF SAME CREW :
FLIGHT SERGEANT STANLEY PERCY CLARK, AND
SERGEANT WILLIAM DOWSETT.