D-Day Anniversary

5/6th June 1944 -D-Day

Further training took place today.  F/O Perkins and crew paid a visit to the USAAF at Alconbury and were impressed by the high quality of the navigational radar aids.  Today must be recorded as one of the most eventful days in the Squadron’s history.  The target had been given us at about 1pm.  It was a battery of coastal heavy guns on the French coast at a point called St Pierre du Mont, which is situated just on the south eastern base of the Chernourg Peninsula, also La Peanelle.  It seemed quite a normal target until various other things came trickling in – things such as convoys to be avoided – keeping strictly on track, news of impending naval actions to the East, and many other things, until one became aware of the obvious that the invasion of Europe was about to commence.  The Squadron Commander  was heard to say “Thank God I’m still on ops and not at an O.T.U.”  Everyone was delighted and excitement was at fever pitch; 18 of our aircraft were detailed.  The attack started at 4.50am – about 30 minutes before dawn – with a red TI which was accurately dropped by an Oboe Mosquito on the target.  It was instantly backed up by green TI dropped visually by Mosquito aircraft of 627 Squadron.  These TI were not so accurate as those dropped on Oboe.  However by the time Main Force came in to bomb, the target was well marked.  The Main Force bombing was extremely accurate and the whole point was flattened.  Crossing the Channel on the return journey thousands of landing craft were seen proceeding towards the French coast.  Two of our crews failed to return.  One was captained by the Squadron Commander, W/Cdr E.J.Carter DFC who was flying in “Z” and the other was a Norwegian crew captained by Lt. Jespersen.  W/Cdr Carter had with him S/Ldr M.Bryan-Smith DFC, Gunnery Leader and F/L A.Chambers DFC, the Signals Leader.  It is believed that they encountered some JU88s

Extract from Bomber Command Losses – 5/6.6.44

Lancaster III  ND739  OF – Z.  Op St Pierre-du-Mont.  T/O 0256 Coningsby to bomb a coastal defence battery.  Lost without trace.  All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.  P/O Dunning and W/O Watson had their awards published as recently as 2 June, while F/O Jeffery, the second air bomber, had flown with 9 Squadron, details of his DFM being gazetted on 10 September 1943.

W/C E.J.Carter DFC(+), P/O G.E.Dunning DFM(+), F/L R.J.Conley DFC RAAF(+), F/L H.W.Rieger RCAF(+), F/O H.W.G.Jeffery DFM(+), F/L A.Chambers DFC & Bar(+), W/O F.R.Watson DFM(+), S/L M.Bryan-Smith DFC & Bar MID(+).

 Lancaster III  ND815  OF – G.  Op St Pierre-du-Mont.  T/O 0308 Coningsby.  Crashed at Osmanville in the Department of Calvados, 2km NE of Isigny-sur-Mer.  It is likely burials took place at Osmanville (St-Clement) Churchyard, where Sgt Ashpole lies.  P/O McCutcheon RCAF has been taken to Bayeux War Cemetery while the RNAF crew members lie in their home country.

Lt F.V.Jespersen RNAF(+), Sgt G.J.J.Ashpole(+), Sgt C.A.Munster RNAF(+), Sgt K.B.Magnus RNAF(+), Sgt K.Pedersen RNAF(+), P/O W.R.McCutcheon RCAF(+), Sgt J.E.H.Evensen RNAF(+).

5/6 June 1944 – La Peanelle (in conjunction with 83 Sqn)

ME625O  F/L H.S.Van Raalte, Sgt M.Durn, F/Sgt D.G.Williams, W/O A.L.Lambert, F/O A.Arnold (Vis A/B), F/Sgt E.H.Peace, Sgt G.Davis, F/L J.D.Fletcher.  10 x TI green No 16, 4 x 1000lb MC.  7/10ths cloud at two layers at 10,000’ and 5,000’.  Visibility fair.  Located target by red TI.  Oboe marker could not be seen, aircraft orbited and as it was 13 minutes late on run, dropped bombs on green TI, backing up green TI adjacent to two red TIs which had previously given out.  Stood off awaiting instructions from Controller who had stopped bombing just after aircraft had released.  Bombing appeared inaccurate, some sticks a few miles south, some out to sea, possibly due to cloud layer.  Illuminating flares poor.

5/6 June 1944 – St Pierre du Mont

ND739Z  W/C E.J.Carter, P/O G.E.Dunning, F/L R.J.Conley, F/L H.W.Rieger, F/O H.W.E.Jeffery (Vis A/B), F/L A.Chambers, W/O F.R.Watson, S/L M.Bryan-Smith.  Up 0256.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  (Deputy Controller).  Aircraft missing.  Last heard on W/T at 0504 hours, acknowledging message from Controller.

ND589D  S/L J.A.Ingham, P/O J.A.Pearson, P/O K.Swale, F/L J.Peden, P/O A.Tindall, F/O F.P.L.Broome, W/O T.H.Hansen (Aus 415648).  Up 0252  Down 0656.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP (Deputy Controller).  Weather over St Pierre du Mont 10/10ths cloud base 8,500’ – 9,000’.  Broken low cloud below.  Target identified visually and by Oboe markers’ red TIs.  Layer of cloud made it impossible to bomb from any greater height than 9,000’.  Controller gave orders to decrease height by 2000’.  Oboe markers not down on time; first one in sea just off shore.  PFF very good and green TIs were rather scattered at first.  Bombing Oboe seemed to be fairly good.  Sticks seen bursting on target.  Visibility was impeded by ice on the bomb aimer’s Perspex and pilot’s windscreen.  VHF rather noisy on channel B and changed to channel C on Controller’s order.  Still a lot of interference probably due to people transmitting at the same time.

ND961N  S/L C.B.Owen, Sgt D.E.Lacey, S/L Watson (83 Sqn), P/O T.W.L.Leak, F/O W.E.Clayfield, F/Sgt K.Forrest, W/O J.T.Stanton.  Up 0254  Down 0645.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Target located by red and green TI.  Glow of first red TI seen 0446.5 hours when descending through cloud.  As we broke cloud this was backed up very rapidly with three green TIs.  These were followed by more reds.  All markers very good.  After bombing had started, Marker 1 called up to say that the reds were more accurate than the greens and ordered the reds to be bombed.  At the same time, he ordered all aircraft to bomb 2000’ lower at 0447 hours.  Bombing very concentrated.

ND807P  S/L H.B.Locke, F/Sgt C.D.Hooton, F/L T.H.Makepeace, P/O J.M.Nedwich, W/O A.P.Boultbee, P/O C.W.Lacy, P/O M.J.Bridgman.  Up 0310  Down 0641.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Weather clear over target with medium haze.  Visibility moderate.  Located target by red and green TI; obliged to break cloud and ran over target at 6,750’.  Wind vector given at 308/30 at 0451 hours and aircraft bombed red TI surrounded by green TI.  Marking appeared concentrated and bombing accurate.  Cease bombing at 0503 hours.  Own bursts observed well among TI concentration.

ND740F  F/L L.J.Comans, F/Sgt K.Randle, F/L D.Bowes, S/L P.A.Stevens (Aus 415190), F/Sgt R.Woollford, F/Sgt G.Widdis, F/Sgt D.Bolland.  Up 0300  Down 0703.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Layers of cloud at 10,000’ and 7,000’.  Vis moderate.  Target identified by red and green TI.  Descended 2,000’ where red and greens were already down.  Red TIs appeared 600 yards to starboard of two green TIs.  Aircarft bombed latter.  Visibility not good enough to see results and assessment not heard.  API unreliable.

ND981H  F/L C.S.Chatten, P/O J.F.Humphries, F/L T.Campbell, W/O I.G.Stephens, P/O W.A.Reffin, F/Sgt G.E.Lennon, F/Sgt G.Leonard.  Up 0255  Down 0653.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  10/10ths alto-cumulus 9-11,000’.  Layer 4/5,000’ with breaks.  Target clear, identification by red and green TIs.  Marking seemed okay.  One green a few hundred yards east.  Some aircraft bombed before orders, otherwise bombing very concentrated.

NE124J  F/L W.M.Walton, F/Sgt L.G.C.Mayhew, F/Sgt W.Williams, P/O E.Rees, P/O F.D.Roberts, F/Sgt J.D.Hadlington, F/Sgt J.W.McLaren.  Up 0301  Down 0654.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  5/10ths cloud approx 5,000’.  Target identified by markers.  Could not hear very much over VHF but messages received by W/T okay.  At 0450 ordered to reduce height by 2000’.  Wind 308/20 mph at 0452 hours.  Immediately ran in and bombed markers as ordered.  Bombing appeared well concentrated and evenly distributed on TI.

JB683C  F/L W.H.Benton, F/Sgt J.Rimmington, F/L J.Rogerson, F/Sgt L.H.Smith, F/Sgt H.Abernethy, F/Sgt F.Holbrook, F/Sgt P.C.Denness.  Up 0302  Down 0644. 11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Weather hazy, clear below 7,000’.  Located target by green TI.  Only possible to see markers and flashes.  No ground detail except in light of flashes.  Satisfactory trip, more cloud than expected.

NE121E  F/L R.N.Higgs, Sgt J.E.Cowan, W/O T.H.Gibson, P/O T.W.Black, P/O V.G.Williams, F/Sgt H.Tiller, F/Sgt D.Chambers.  Up 0248  Down 0648.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Layer of cloud at 9,000’.  Clear below.  Identified target by three green TIs.  TIs and bombing around them were well concentrated.  Winds received 0451 hours 308/30.  Run made above the cloud then descended to bomb.

ND501Q  F/L G.F.Baker, F/Sgt H.Townsley, P/O J.Muller, F/Sgt E.J.Watson, F/O J.F.Thomson, P/O A.H.Jones, W/O R.M.Clark.  Up 0321  Down 0651.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Weather over St Pierre du Mont, 3/10ths thin stratus cloud at 5,000’.  Heavier at 9,000’.  Target located by red green TI.  Attacked 5 minutes before we bombed and before markers were clear.  TI very concentrated.  Attack promised well.

ND452S  F/O R.L.C.Lasham, Sgt W.Yates, F/Sgt C.Bosley, F/Sgt H.Wilson, Sgts D.S.Nicholls, R.F.Powell, F/Sgt E.W.Cope.  Up 0318  Down 0655.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  10/10ths cloud at 9,000’.  Clear below.  Red and green TI indicated target.  Wind received 310/31 at 0452 hours.  Bombing already started.  Markers rather scattered.  Order received to “Carry on bombing” 0453 hours.  Bombs fell across green TI.  Other bombing concentrated markers.

ND495M  F/O H.W.J.Edwards, F/O W.Hannah, F/L E.C.Burt, F/L J.Skingley, F/Sgt A.W.A.Burnell, F/O R.Underhill, Sgt J.Rumney.  Up 0304  Down 0658.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  10/10ths cloud but clear below.  Located target by markers, confirmed visually.  Arrived rather early and stood off; ran in on markers on time.  Interference from slipstream may have spoilt photograph (day camera).

ND451L  P/O W.T.Gee, Sgts P.R.Turner, S/Osborne, W/O J.H.Maxwell, Sgts R.H.Utting, R.Moore, M.D.Inglis.  Up 0305  Down 0652.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Target St Pierre du Mont located by red and green TI.  Broken cloud in two layers – 10,000’ and 8,000’.  Visibility moderate.  At 0449 hours two red TIs cascaded followed by one green TI.  Bombing started on time at 0452 hours.  Red TI was heard assessed by Mosquito leader as accurate.  Wind vector was given and aircraft went in to bomb red TI surrounded by green TIs.  Two green TIs seen well to port; they did not attract any bombing.  Bombing seemed okay.  Flashes seen amongst markers.

PA973A  P/O D.H.Shorter, Sgt E.J.Betts, P/O A.A.Aveline, P/O C.A.P.Thomson, F/Sgt P.Withers, Sgts G.Batho, D.E.Broughton.  Up 0306  Down 0659.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  10/10ths cloud 9,000’ base, tops 11,000’.  Vis good above, poor below.  Identification by special equipment and red and green TI.  Icing prevented accurate vision.  Bombing seemed concentrated on the greens.  Slight icing in cloud on the whole route.  Satisfactory trip and attack appeared successful.

ND815G  Lt F.V.Jespersen, Sgt G.J.J.Ashpole, Sgts C.A.Munster, K.B.Magnus, K.Pedersen, P/O W.R.McCutcheon, Sgts H.J.E.Evensen.  Up 0308.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Aircraft missing  -  nothing heard of this aircraft after take-off.

ND764B  P/O B.W.Giddings, Sgt A.Pritchard, W/O W.B.Webb, F/Sgt C.Clement, W/O R.A.Bethell, F/O J.A.D.McGill, F/Sgt W.J.Scale.  Up 0309  Down 0702.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  10/10ths cloud, base 9,000’.  Red and green markers visible through cloud an broken spaces;  impossible to see any ground detail, only markers visible.  Met forecast a little inaccurate, cloud being more than briefed which must have affected the result of attack.

ND346T  F/Sgt C.J.Woolnough, Sgt P.J.Gould, F/Sgt H.W.Haggerston, P/O I.E.Ravenscroft, Sgts R.Smith, H.J.Silzer, E.G.Smith.  Up 0307  Down 0700.  11 x 1000lb MC, 4 x 500lb GP.  Vis good to poor.  10/10ths cloud at 10,000’.  7/10ths cloud below.  Target located by red and green TI.  Aircraft had to break cloud over target.  A red TI surrounded by green TI was seen; another red TI was seen 6-700 yards straight ahead evidently overshot and had not been backed up.  Aircraft bombed the concentration.  Our bursts seen right across.  Some bombs seen to overshoot by 500 yards on run up.  Order to cease bombing given at 0456 hours approx.

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