Daily Operations

February 15/16, 1944

32 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were joined by 118 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 squadron on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 124,000 lbs of high explosives and 515,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was partially cloud covered but many important industrial buildings were hit in the Siemensstadt area.

W/O2 J. Harvey from 408 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O R. Lloyd, F/O E. Franklin, F/Lt F. Hales, F/Sgt N. Sutherland, P/O W. Phillips, F/O J. White, and F/O W. Fulton landed at Horham on return.
W/Cdr D. Jacobs, 2nd/Lt M. Humphery, and F/Lt W. Stewart landed at Burn on return.
F/Sgt B. Griep landed at Wendling on return.
F/Lt E. Winn landed at Breighton on return.
P/O H. Sherlock landed at Wittering on return.

F/O A. Byford and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Halifax II JP-204 coded VR-E, was in combat with an enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return.
F/O A. Warren, F/Lt H. Hewitt, W/O2 H. Eyjolfsson, F/O L. Lucas, F/Sgt R. McIvor, F/Sgt G. Marjoram, P/O G. Scade, F/O H. Brown, F/O B. Betcher, F/Sgt C. Patterson, P/O R. Boe, S/Ldr E. Hamber, and F/Sgt I. Johnson reported intense flak over the target and all crews landed away at Bury St. Edmonds on return.
P/O J. Parker, RCAF and crew flying Halifax II JD-456, coded VR-B, failed to return from this operation.

F/O A. Plummer from 420 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt R. McKay landed at Hethel on return.
F/O H. Damgaard RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III LW-396, coded PT-T overshot 3 landing attempts due to bad weather. On the 4th attempt they overshot and crashed into a field.

P/O H. Wilton from 424 squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at Colby Grange on 3 engines.
F/Sgt H. Kirkby returned early as they were attacked by a enemy aircraft. They landed safely at Hethel.
F/Lt R. Lawlor, F/Sgt D. MacKenzie, F/O P. Hamilton, F/Sgt J. Dalgleish, and F/Lt J. Turnbull landed at Hethel due to poor weather at base.
S/Ldr A. Reilander, RCAFand crew flying Halifax III HX-311, coded QB-A, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt G. Newton from 426 squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at base.
P/O R. Jarman landed at Horham on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O R. Brittain landed at Molesworth on return due to poor weather at base.
F/O S. McDonald, and W/Cdr W. Swetman landed at Breighton on return due to poor weather at base.
P/O D. Berry landed at Leconfield on return due to poor weather at base.
P/O J. Brown landed at Metheringham on return due to poor weather at base.
P/O B. Pattle, RCAF and crew flying Lancaster II DS-794, coded OW-W, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt G. Cribb from 427 squadron landed at West Raynham on return.
P/O D. Olsvik landed at Shipdam on return.

F/O N. Brown from 428 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the astrodome
F/Sgt K. Hawthorn, W/O2 H. Pattinson, and F/Sgt S. Side, all returned early with leaking overload tanks.

F/Sgt W. Stewart from 429 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O H. Mitchell was attacked by 2 enemy aircraft. One was claimed damaged.
F/Lt R. Hunt and crew flying Halifax V LL-178 coded AL-V was in combat with an unidentified twin engine aircraft, some strikes were seen.
F/O J. Wilson and crew flying Halifax LL168 coded AL-M was in a combat with a JU-88 and a FW-190, some strikes were seen on the JU-88.
F/Sgt W. Byers and crew flying Halifax V LK-974 coded AL-Z was in combat with a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.

F/Sgt J. Howell from 431 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt J. Hill returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt E. Haliwell, P/O P. Davis, P/O R. Rubie, F/Sgt M. McMillan, P/O J. King, F/O F. Guillevan, S/Ldr H. Dow, and P/O W. Woodrow landed at Wendling on return.
P/O P. Davis and crew, flying Halifax V LK-905 coded SE-D, was involved in a combat with a JU-88. Hits were observed on the enemy aircraft’s port wing and engine, both gunners claim this enemy aircraft was destroyed. The damage to our aircraft was bullet holes in the starboard wing.
F/Sgt A. Tinmouth and crew flying Halifax V LL-180 coded SE-F were in a combat with a JU-88, the Halifax was severely damaged. The stbd tire was flat, navigation aids u/s, stbd flap shot off, stbd fin and rudder damaged, intercom damaged, and Flt/engineer, Sgt R. Warren RAF, injured. The rear gunner, Sgt W. Walton RCAF, had his hands, feet, and ears severely blistered by frostbite.

F/Sgt J. Smith of 433 Squadron landed at Gransden Lodge due to a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt J. Mitchell landed at Little Snoring on return.
F/Sgt R. Reinelt landed at Bassingbourne on return.
W/O2 J. Major landed at Framlingham on return.
W/O2 C. Neilson and crew, flying Halifax III HX-272 coded BM-N, was in combat with an FW-190, no claim or damage. They were also hit by flak, not serious.
F/Sgt W. Wright and crew, flying Halifax III HX-352 coded BM-C, were attacked by a FW-190, an ME-109, and an unidentified single engine fighter. Slight damage was claimed on the first ME-109, no damage to the Halifax.
F/Sgt F. Edmondson, F/Lt G. Edmonds, W/O2 D. James, F/Sgt J. James, F/Lt G. Wolton, P/O K. White, F/Sgt R. Porter, and P/O D. Brown landed at Foulsham on return.

F/O J. Hammond from 434 Squadron returned early as their Halifax was burning too much fuel. They landed safely at Holme on Spalding Moor.
F/Sgt W. McQueen returned early as the Halifax would not climb. They landed at Thurleigh.
F/Lt L. Cameron were hit by flak and bombs over the target. They landed safely at Shipdam.
P/O H. Beames landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/O C. Murray landed at Swinderby on return.
F/Sgt R. Saltzberry, P/O D. Morrison, F/O D. Evans, and P/O P. Escaravage landed at Bungay on return.
S/Ldr F. Carter, RCAF and crew flying Halifax V LK-971, coded WL-Y, failed to return from this operation.