Daily Operations

January 26/27, 1943

59 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, and 429 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Lorient. The crews were over the target at between 9,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 70,000 lbs of high explosives and 79,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered.

Sgt D. Sanderson from 420 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing. They landed safely at Exeter.
Sgt W. Horborenko landed at Moreton Vallance on return.
F/Lt L. Anderson landed at Waddington on return.

P/O C. Amies from 424 squadron was hit by flak damaging the hydraulics. They crash landed at Boscombe Down with no injuries to the crew.
S/Ldr W. Allison was hit by flak, there was 32 square feet of fabric striped from the fuselage. They landed safely at Boscombe Down.
Sgt P. Heden landed at Dishforth on return.
P/O L. Brown landed at Warmwell on return.
Sgt L. Wilson landed at Topcliffe on return.
Sgt G. Bain landed at Hinton in the Hedges on return.
F/Lt W. Klassen, Sgt R. Buie, Sgt L. Forbes, and W/Cdr H. Carscallen landed at Boscombe Down on return.
F/Sgt V. McHarg RCAF and crew, flying Wellington III BJ-714 coded QB-F, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt. A. Jackson from 425 Squadron returned early as they were attacked by 2 enemy aircraft. They landed at Middle Wallop.
Sgt J. Gauthier landed at Colerne due to a fuel shortage.
P/O R. Stutt landed at Warmwell as the generators were u/s.
F/Sgt C. Spooner landed at Colerne on return.
Sgt D. Turenne landed at Wymeswold on return.
Sgt J. Rivard landed at Middle Wallop on return.
Sgt R. Lacerte landed Lindholme on return.

S/Ldr C. Dowie from 426 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing. They landed safely at Chipping Warden due to a fuel shortage.
W/O2 P. Maries and F/Sgt A. Collins landed at Chipping Warden due to a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt H. Patch landed at Gaydon due to a fuel shortage. On landing the propellers and bomb doors were damaged, but the crew was unharmed.

Sgt W. Hartney from 427 Squadron returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
Sgt E. Williams landed at Harwell on return.
F/Sgt A. Fellner force landed at Exeter and the crew was unharmed.
P/O C. Taylor RAF and crew, flying Wellington III X-3348 coded ZL-Z, crashed into a hill near Edale on return.

Sgt G. Debussac from 429 Squadron returned early as the intercom was u/s.
Sgt S. Bruce returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
P/O B. Rawson returned early as they were shot up by a convoy on the way out.
F/Lt G. Pentony landed at Middle Wallop on return.
Sgt R. Ellison landed at Lindholme on return.
Sgt D. Smith landed Harwell on return.
Sgt L. Rogers RAAF and crew, flying Wellington III BK-163 coded AL-H, failed to return from this operation.