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15/16 February 1944 Lancaster Mk II - LL651 A4-A |
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
After a rest of more than 2 weeks for the regular bomber squadrons,
891 aircraft - 561 Lancasters, 314 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - were dispatched to Berlin.
This was the largest force sent to Berlin and the largest non-1,000 bomber force sent to any target,
exceeding the previous record of 826 aircraft (which included Stirlings and Wellingtons) sent to Dortmund
on the night of 23/24 May 1943.
It was also the first time that more than 500 Lancasters and more than 300 Halifaxes were dispatched.
The German controllers were able to plot the bomber stream soon after it left the English coast but the
swing north over Denmark for the approach flight proved too far distant for many of the German fighters.
The German controller ordered the fighters not to fly over Berlin, leaving the target area free for the flak,
but many fighters ignored him and attacked bombers over the city.
The diversion to Frankfurt-on-Oder failed to draw any fighters.
Berlin was covered by cloud for most of the raid.
Heavy bombing fell on the centre and south-western districts and some of Berlin's most important
war industries were hit,
including the large Siemensstadt area.
This was really the end of the true 'Battle of Berlin'; only one more raid took place on the city in
not for more than a month.
43 aircraft - 26 Lancasters, 17 Halifaxes -were lost, 4.8 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary February 1944.
ORB. 15th Feby. 1944.
19 aircraft (7 from 'A' Flight, 8 from 'B' Flight and 4 from 'C' Flight)
took off between 17.20 and 17.37 hours to attack BERLIN.
2 aircraft failed to return from operation - no messages were received.
Lancaster Mk II - LL689 KO-P, 5 KIA, 2 POW.
1 aircraft (A/C. A.D.S.682 - Captain W/O. ROBBINS, P.) was forced to abandon the sortie
by reason of the starboard inner engine becoming unserviceable and returned
to base at 19.23 hours after jettisoning his bombs.
The remaining 16 aircraft identified the target by means of red and green markers on which
they dropped their bombs from heights ranging between 19,000 and 22,000 feet.
Results of bombing were obscured due to 10/10ths cloud.
PFF appeared rather scattered but a number of good results were obtained.
Photographs were attempted.
00.56. 17 aircraft had returned safely after operations.
Whyte Alan Charles - Pilot
P/O - Service No 171587
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 7.A.11.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Rogers Arthur Mervyn - FE
Sgt - Service No 937101
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of John Albert and Sarah Rogers,
of Meole Brace, Shropshire.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 7.A.14.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Uwe
Ellis J. - Nav
F/S - Service No
Age: - POW No
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Landles John - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1082729
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of John Robert and Florence Landles,
of Wallsend, Northumberland.
Husband of Martha Walker Landles, of Wallsend.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 7.A.9.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Lidbetter Cecil John - BA
F/O - Service No 151640
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Victor Lane Lidbetter and Eva Elsie Ernestine Lidbetter,
of Belvedere, Kent.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 7.A.8.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Jones Inigo Malcolm - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1317668
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of William and Mary Jane Jones, of Barry, Glamorgan.
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 7.A.10.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Adams Jack - RG
Sgt - Service No 1890680
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery - grave 7.A.12.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.