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20 January 1944 Lancaster Mk II - LL650 KO-J |
Crashed near Waltersdorf.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
769 aircraft - 495 Lancasters, 264 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitos - to Berlin.
No 102 Squadron, from Pocklington, lost 5 of its 16 Halifaxes on this raid, 2 more crashed in England
and the squadron would lose 4 more aircraft in the next night's raid.
The bomber approach route took a wide swing to the north but, once again, the German controller managed
to feed his fighters into the bomber stream early and the fighters scored steadily until the force was well on the way home.
The diversions were not large enough to deceive the Germans.
The Berlin area was, as so often, completely cloud-covered and what happened to the bombing is a mystery.
The Pathfinder skymarking appeared to go according to plan and crews who were scanning the ground with their
H2S sets believed that the attack fell on eastern districts of Berlin.
No major navigational problems were experienced. No photographic reconnaissance was possible until after
a further 4 raids on Berlin were carried out but the various sources from which the Berlin reports are normally
drawn all show a complete blank for this night.
35 aircraft - 22 Halifaxes, 13 Lancasters - lost, 4.6 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary January 1944.
ORB. 20th January, 1944.
21 aircraft (6 from "A" Flt., 7 from "B" Flt., and 8 from "C" Flt.)
took off between 16.30 hours & 17.10 hours to attack BERLIN.
1 failed to return from operations. No messages were received.
4 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie due to
(A/C. B.L.L.648 - Captain W/O. ROBBINS, P.) unserviceable of starboard inner rev. counter;
(A/C. A.D.S.682 - Captain F/S. ANDERSON, R.) navigation error;
(A/C. K.D.S.669 - Captain F/S. RODGER, J.) unserviceable of rear turret; and
(A/C. N.L.L.626 - Captain W/O. McCANN, L.) unserviceable of compass,
all returned to base early, two after jettisoning all their bombs & the other two after jettisoning
their 4,000 lb H.C., but bringing back incendiaries.
1 aircraft (A/C. H.L.L.668 - Captain F/O. W. W. RYDER) was unable to reach the target due to rear turret being
unserviceable but dropped his bombs on HAMBURG from a height of 18,000 feet.
The remaining 15 aircraft identified the target by means of sky markers & dropped their bombs on red & green
markers from heights ranging between 19,500 feet & 22,000 feet.
Results were unobserved due to 10/10 cloud but the glow of good fires was reflected on the cloud, a fair attack.
23.55. 20 aircraft had returned safely to base after operations.
Canning Donald - Pilot
P/O - Service No 158021
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of William and Maretta Canning,
of Brockenhurst, Hampshire.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 4. G. 22.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by dfr and Uwe.
Brotherton Robert - FE
F/S - Service No 952410
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - joint grave 4. G. 24-25.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Groves John Denis - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1586410
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of George Patrick and Dorothy May Groves,
of Kenton, Middlesex.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 4. G. 27.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Hill Joseph - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1023531
Age: 33
RAFVR
Son of John Milton Hill and Georgetta Anderson Hill,
of Accrington, Lancashire.
Husband of Alice Hill, of Accrington.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - joint grave 4. G. 24-25.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by dfr and Uwe.
Lobb Benjamin Jack - BA
W/O II - Service No R110978
Age: 20
RCAF
Son of William H. Lobb and Norah E. Lobb,
of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 4. G. 23.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Canadian virtual war memorial. - Find a Grave.
Mickus Anthony - MUG
Sgt - Service No 521064
Age: 27
RAF
Son of Anthony and Eva Mickus.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 4. G. 26.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Hocking W. - RG
F/S - Service No 1601512
Age: - POW No 270043 Stalag 4B.
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.