115 Squadron

29/30 December 1943

Lancaster Mk II - DS834 KO-F

T/O Witchford 1728 - target Berlin, Germany.
Attacked by a night fighter, Lt Otto Fries 5./NJG1.
A/c wing caught fire and exploded. The three survivors were blown out by the force of the explosion.
Crashed at 2230 hours at Nelehof Farm, Tungelroy, Netherlands.
Equipment: GEE, Mk XIV BOMB SIGHT, MONICA.

Bomb Load: 1 x 4000lbs, 32 x 30lbs incendiaries, 720 x 4 lbs incendiaries.

Route: CROMER - 5320N 0400E - 5320N 0820E - 5137N 1220E - BERLIN -
5320N 1327E - 5245N 0830E - 5320N 0400E - CROMER - BASE.

Story of the attack by Brett Munro. findagrave.com

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

712 aircraft - 457 Lancasters, 252 Halifaxes, 3 Mosquitos - returned to Berlin.

A long approach route from the south, passing south of the Ruhr and then within 20 miles of Leipzig,
together with Mosquito diversions at Düsseldorf, Leipzig and Magdeburg, caused the German controller
great difficulties and there were few fighters over Berlin.
Bad weather on the outward route also kept down the number of German fighters finding the bomber stream.

20 aircraft - 11 Lancasters, 9 Halifaxes - were lost, 2.8 per cent of the force.

Berlin was again cloud-covered. The Bomber Command report claiming a concentrated attack on
skymarkers is not confirmed by the local report.
The heaviest bombing was in the southern and south-eastern districts but many bombs also fell to the east of the city.

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

ORB. 29th Dec. 1943.
19 aircraft took off between the hours of 17.20 hours and 17.35 hours to attack BERLIN,
and 18 identified the target by means of red and green target markers on which they
dropped their bombs from heights ranging from 18,500 feet and 22,000 feet.
A terrific glow of fires and many explosions were seen trough cloud. Fires appeared to cover a large area.
A good attack. Photographs were attempted.
On return one of these aircraft (J.D.S.678 - Captain F/S. McCANN, L.) landed at WARBOYS for fear of petrol shortage.
One aircraft failed to return from operations.

(E.D.S.796 - Captain W/O. ROBBINS, P. - a/c. was hit by heavy Flak over target)

00.25. 18 aircraft had returned safely after operations.

DS834 Photo via Erfgoed Tungelroy