Daily Operations

November 18/19, 1943

29 Lancasters from 408 and 426 squadrons were ordered on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 20,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 100,000 lbs of high explosives and 30,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered.

P/O J. White from 408 squadron returned early as the turrets were u/s.
F/O R. Clark was hit by flak, there were holes in the bomb doors. They landed at Wittering on return due to a fuel shortage.
P/O W. Smith was hit by flak, there was a large hole in the stbd wing.
F/Lt. W. Wilton was hit by flak, there were holes in the flaps, gear doors, and mid-upper turret.
F/Sgt. J. Harvey landed at Tangmere due to a fuel shortage.

S/Ldr. R. Epps from 426 squadron returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
1st/Lt. J. Smith returned early as one engine was u/s.
P/O F. Stuart returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
F/Sgt. A. Davies returned early due to severe icing.
P/O C. Griffiths returned early as they were hit by flak. There were holes in the fuel tanks. They landed at Hardwick due to a fuel shortage.
P/O D. De Bloeme landed at Waterbeach due to a fuel shortage.
S/Ldr. A. Hughes landed at Shipdam due to a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt. J. Coulombe landed at Ford due to a fuel shortage.

While the attack on Berlin was going on, 94 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 were ordered on an attack at Mannheim. The crew were over the target at between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 164,000 lbs of high explosives and 242,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered, but severe damage was caused to some industrial complexes. This attack was ordered to split the fighter defenses. Most of the fighters followed this attack and 7 crews were lost.

P/O J. Hamilton from 419 squadron returned early as there was some confusion of the call signs.
F/Lt. H. Shackleton returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
F/O R. Boe returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
Sgt. S. Clarke returned early as they were hit by flak. There were many holes in the fuselage.
Sgt. R. Thompson had the port outer go u/s on return. They landed safely at Ford on 3 engines.
F/O D. Laidlaw landed at Woolfax Lodge on return.
F/Sgt. H. Eyjolfsson had his Flt/engineer, Sgt. F. Davidson RAF, go unconscious. The wireless operator, Sgt. J. Pattle RAF, looked after his job to complete this operation.
F/O E. Fogg, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II LW-239 VR-K, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt. A. Sedgewick, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II LW-328 coded VR-L, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt. W. Patrick from 427 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Cribb returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. A. McQuade was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Snaith on return.
Sgt A. Darlow was attacked by an ME-109 and DO-217, they claimed the DO-217 as damaged.
P/O R. Lacerte landed at Blyton on return.
P/O R. Deegan landed at Holme on Spalding Moor on return.
F/O P. Kennedy, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-976 coded ZL-Z, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt. H. Pattinson from 428 squadron returned early as the oxygen system was u/s.
F/O F. Lord was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuel tanks. They landed at Ford.
F/Sgt. E. O’Connor was hit by flak, there were holes in the windscreen.
F/O G. Sutherland was hit by flak, the stbd inner was damaged.
F/O F. Watkins was hit by flak, the rear gunner, Sgt. P. Pereminski RCAF, was injured. They landed at Woodbridge for medical attention.

F/Sgt. A. Merkley and F/Sgt. E. Giles from 429 squadron returned early due to technical problems.
F/Lt. J. Bowen returned to base ,they didn’t see any T.I.s as they were late over the target.
P/O J. Hollingworth had the port outer u/s on return. They landed safely at Tangmere on 3 engines.
F/O B. Jackson was hit by flak, the port inner was damaged and tail wheel was flat. The mid-upper gunner also had frozen feet. They landed at Ford on return due to a fuel shortage.
F/Sgt. M. Fernandez landed at Acklington on return.
F/Sgt. S. Smith, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-275 coded AL-T, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt. J. Valentine from 431 squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Bishop returned early as the compasses were u/s.
P/O F. Guillevin returned early as the Flt/engineer, Sgt. P. Howe RAF, was sick.
F/O B. Passant landed at Abington on return.
F/Sgt. J. King landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/O R. Christison landed at Stanton Harcourt on return.
F/Sgt. W. Burge, RAAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-632 coded SE-M, failed to return from this operation.

Halifax V LK-640

F/Sgt. E. Devaney from 434 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd rudder and wing.
P/O C. Brest was hit by flak and attacked by a enemy aircraft. The stbd outer was u/s and elevators damaged. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
P/O J. Clinkskill landed at Stanton Harcourt on return.
W/O2 K. Smith, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-693 coded WL-A, failed to return from this operation

P/O. E. Ells, RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LK-893 coded WL-U, failed to return from this operation.

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