Flight Operations 1

97 SQUADRON - OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK 1941

(THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM THE ORB HELD AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT KEW - REF AIR27/766)

STRENGTH ON RE-FORMATION OF 97 SQUADRON WAS....

OFFICERS

W/C D.F.Balsdon
S/L R.B.Stobbs DFC
F/L G.L.Bird DFC
F/L J.G.Sherwood DFC
FO F.E.Eustace DFC
FO W.J.Lewis DFC
FO M.J.C.Harwood DFC
PO R.S.Ayton DFM
PO H.S.Blakeman DFM
PO W.A.Brown
PO G.F.Reid DFC
PO A.A.Morgan
PO J.Truman

AIRCREW

Sergeant pilots       7
F/Sgt Observer      1
Sgt Observers        5
Sgt Wop/AG         16
Sgt AG                    8
F/Sgt fitter            1
Sgts                        6
Corporals              11
Airmen                  59

AIRCRAFT

Avro Manchesters L7282, L7283, L7290, L7291, L7292, L7294, L7298, L7299

Total flying hours for February 1941 – 18 hours

10.3.41 Main party moved to Coningsby under F/L Bird

15.3.41 Squadron moved to RAF Coningsby

25.3.41 F/O Price posted from 106 Squadron

28.3.41 F/O Smith is Medical Officer

30.3.41 F/O Harris and F/O Sooby attached from 25 OTU

Total flying hours for March – 161 hours

2.4.41 F/L French posted from 207 Squadron, F/O Lewis posted to 207 Squadron.  F/O Harwood and Sgt Canham to Waddington for BATF training

3.4.41 S/L Fothergill posted from 14 OTU

8.4.41 6 aircraft offered for operations.  Operation successfully carried out, the task being to destroy shipbuilding yards at Kiel.  The trip was good and the target was easily identified by the fires.  All 4 aircraft returned safely (2 others had been unserviceable).

8/9 April 1941 – Kiel (Shipbuilding Yards)

L7290  F/L Bird, P/O Brown, Sgts Hall, Harrigan, Nutt, Pyatt.  Up 21.24 Down 03.10. Successful task.  Results difficult to observe owing to fires and gun flashes.  Weather excellent.
L7291  F/L Sherwood, Sgts Fletcher, Williams, Harvey, Robertson, Jones.  Up 21.43 Down 03.08.  Target located from German coast owing to flak and fires seen 60 miles away.  During run-up saw an aircraft crash in flames.  Flak and searchlights concentrated on plane.  Attacked and jettisoned without result, making trip unsuccessful.  No aid from wireless on return.  Bomb gear on return found to be unserviceable.  Weather good.
L7308  F/L French, Sgts Pendrill, Hudson, Stanley, Currie, Williams.  Up 21.09  Down 01.50.  Many fires at target, more on departure.  A successful task and weather good.
L7294  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, Canham, J.Dean, Concannon, Turner.  Up 21.14  Down 02.11.  Numerous fires already burning, target easily identified and attacked from 12,000 feet.  Successful except for incendiaries hanging up.  Weather good visibility.

Bomb load on each of the above aircraft – 3 x 1000lb GP + 210 x 4lb incendiaries.

10/11.4.41  5 aircraft on operations – to attack German battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst at Brest.  Operation successful and heavy load of bombs dropped in target area.  Opposition heavy but aircraft returned safely except that F/L Sherwood’s aircraft was attacked by the enemy whilst coming in to land.  Ground defences opened fire and our aircraft returned later – no damage.  Many cannon shells and machine gun cases picked up in the morning.  F/O Price was diverted to Wittering and returned at midday.
                               
10/11 April 1941 – Battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst – Brest

L7323  Sgt Stubbs, Sgt Mycock, F/Sgt Harrison, Sgt Jones, Sgt Crerar, Sgt Bell.  Up 20.12  Down 01.00.  Two runs made on target at 13,000 feet.  Much anti-aircraft fire below this level and many searchlights.  Weather good and raid successful.
L7294  F/L Sherwood, Sgts Fletcher, Williams, Harvey, Robertson, S.L.Jones.  Up 20.41  Down 02.50.  Flak visible 40 miles before reaching target.  Visibility good but impossible to see the ships.  Task was successful.  On reaching base the aircraft was attacked by an enemy machine as it was about to approach the flare path.  Enemy fired with both cannon and light tracer but luckily inflicted no damage.  Ground defences fired at him but he managed to get away.  We flew away from base for a while and later landed successfully.
L7308  F/O Price, Sgts Hughes, Brewer, Tait, Wilkinson, Shelly.  Up 20.07  Down 01.40.  Trip was successful but uneventful.  With the aid of the searchlight homing procedure we landed at Wittering and returned to base next morning.
L7292  F/L French, Sgts Pendrill, Hudson, Stanley, Currie, Williams.  Up 19.48  Down 01.55.  Weather good and target bombed successfully.  Had some difficulty getting to base due to W/T unserviceable.
L7298  F/O Eustace, Sgt Rowlands, P/O Morgan, Sgt Clinch, Sgt Elkington, P/O Mims.  Ship clearly seen at mole, first stick straddled this and second straddled the dock.  Accurate anti-aircraft fire and searchlight held at 9,000 feet.

Bomb load – each aircraft 12 x 500lb SAP Mk V.

13.4.41 All aircraft grounded on orders from 5 Group – after tests at Waddington many machines found to have faulty main bearings.

14.4.41 Aircraft still grounded.  Air raid warning after lunch – enemy aircraft flew over and our defences had a crack at it without result.

17.4.41 Now have 14 aircraft on strength (still grounded).  Spare time of aircrew spent digging and gardening around offices and hangars.

24.4.41 P/O Little posted from Cottesmore to “B” Flight.

28.4.41Aircraft still grounded but some pilots fly Hampdens during the day.  Aircrews have taken the opportunity of leave.

Total flying hours for April 1941 – 77

1.5.41 Aircraft still grounded – Squadron HQ and Flights moved from hangar to the new offices – great improvement.

5.5.41 A few bombs dropped on aerodrome – no damage beyond small craters.  3 aircraft serviceable.

6/7.5.41   2 aircraft on operation against an enemy shipbuilding yard at Hamburg.  Pilots were S/L  Stubbs and P/O Blakeman – the former being unsuccessful on the target and attacking the alternative target (Bremen).  10/10ths cloud on operation.

6/7 May 1941 Hamburg (alternative Bremen)

L7323  S/L Stubbs, Sgt Mycock, F/Sgt Harrison, Sgts R.E.Jones, Crerar, Bell.  Up 22.30  Down 0520.  Primary target not located owing to 10/10ths cloud most of the way – secondary target attacked from 13,000 feet.  Uneventful.
L7383  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, Canham, Dean, Concannon, Turner.  Up 22.35  Down 05.35.  Successful task.  Flak target bombed.  Home trip uneventful.  10/10ths cloud all the way.

8.5.41 3 aircraft on operation to destroy German shipbuilding yards.  All crews successful.

8/9 May 1941 Hamburg – shipbuilding yards

L7323  F/O Eustace, Sgt Rowlands, P/O Morgan, Sgts Clinch, Elkington, McLaren.  Up 22.42  Down 05.15.  Successful task.  Bombs landed on north bank of Elbe due north of Altona which was burning fiercely and was heavily hit.  Weather good with little cloud.
L7324  F/L Bird, P/O Brown, Sgts Hall, Hannigan, Nutt, Pyatt.  Up 22.31  Down  05.20.  Target area free of cloud.  Flak slight.  Reached target without difficulty.  Successful task.
L7383  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, Canham, Dean, Concannon, Turner.  Up 22.32  Down 05.40.  Flying for one hour over Baltic before due on target which was attacked from south-east and was successfully carried out.  Slight flak over Hamburg and on way home north of Kiel.   Canal.  searchlight appeared to concentrate on aircraft.

Bomb load for each aircraft – 5 x 1000lb GP + 840 x 4lb incs

10.5.41 Great deal of enemy activity over past three nights over this vicinity – some bombs dropped near aerodrome this morning – no damage.

10/11.5.41 4 aircraft on ops – F/L Bird, F/O Eustace, P/O Ayton, P/O Blakeman – task to cause maximum damage in an area in Berlin.  Two crews successfully carried out the op after being attacked by enemy fighters.  Flak was opened up over the target.  F/O Eustace had numerous troubles with the aircraft and was unable to reach Berlin but successfully dropped a stick of bombs across Borkum aerodrome.  P/O Ayton and crew are missing in L7323.  No news heard of him after checking out by W/T.  Weather fit.  Target obscured by cloud.  This morning W/C Balsdon and S/L Stubbs with crews set out on a sweep to see whether they could find any trace – without success.

10/11 May 1941 Berlin

L7383  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, Canham, Dean, Concannon, Turner.  Up 22.10  Down 05.20.  Flew in formation with one other aircraft, attacked by Ju88 about 40 miles from coast – no damage.  Berlin obscured by cloud, bombs dropped successfully when anti-aircraft guns opened up.  Large fires observed at Hamburg and saw an aircraft held in searchlights.  Attacked by a fighter north of Kiel Canal.
L7374  F/O Eustace, Sgt Rowlands, P/O Morgan, Sgts Clinch, Elkington, McLaren.  Up 23.05  Down 05.10.  Owing to various difficulties were unable to reach docks at Hamburg but dropped the stick of bombs across Borkum aerodrome.
L7393  P/O Ayton, Sgts Chantler, Bryce, Sykes, D.J.Harvey, Anderson.  Missing from ops – no signal received after checking out by W/T.
L7324  F/L Bird, P/O Brown, F/S Harrison, Sgts Hannigan, Nutt, Pyatt.  Up 22.03  Down 05.25.  Successfully bombed Berlin.  Weather good but cloud over target.  On way out attacked by Ju88 – returned fire and hits were observed.  Three large convoys observed seen in Terschelling area.

Bomb load for each aircraft – 6 x 1000lb GP

11/12.5.41 3 aircraft offered for ops – P/O Eustace unable to take off owing to broken oil pipe and other minor troubles.  F/L Sherwood and F/O Price were the other two captains – the former successfully bombed Bremen.  F/O Price released his bombs over Hamburg, being unable to locate his target owing to low cloud.  Both returned safely.  At home base, a troublesome night – several sticks of bombs and incendiaries being dropped in the vicinity – no damage and craters filled in.

11/12 May 1941 Bremen (shipyards)

L7324  F/L Sherwood, Sgts Mycock, Williams, Neil, Robertson, Jones.  Up 23.20  Down 04.31.  Much light and heavy flak encountered but target could be seen and was successfully bombed.  Weather good.
L7383  F/O Price, Sgts Adams, Brewer, Tait, Wilkinson, Shelley.  Up 23.15  Down 05.25.  Unsuccessful – low cloud made pin-pointing on enemy coast impossible.  Target was not found so bombs were released over Hamburg – no bursts seen.

Bomb load for each aircraft – 6 x 1000lb GP, 3 x 500lb GP, 200 x 4lb incendiaries.

14.5.41 Ops cancelled – weather.

15.5.41 4 aircraft on ops – F/L Bird, F/L Sherwood, F/O Price, P/O Blakeman.  Two aircraft had successful trips to Berlin and dropped their bombs, though results could not be seen owing to cloud over target.  F/O Price had difficulty with his starboard engine when 150 miles out and returned to base after jettisoning bombs over sea.  F/L Bird and crew are missing.  Last communication was off the Fresian Islands reporting engine troubles.  Approximate position when last heard of was 20 miles north of Borkum.

15/16 May 1941  Berlin

L7306  F/L Sherwood, Sgts Fletcher, Williams, Neil, Robertson, Jones.  Up 22.00  Down 04.52.  Successfully bombed an area when over Berlin.  Owing to absence of flak and darkness of night it was difficult to find the target except when directly overhead.  W/T rendered u/s by static, no fix or returning signal sent.  Bad static resulted in violent explosion in both gun turrets followed by another in the W/T operator’s position – this caused temporary blindness of the captain and the two gunners, but wore off after about ten minutes.
L7383  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, Canham, Dean, Concannon, Turner.  Up 22.00  Down  05.50.  Climbed to 11000 feet after take off and obtained pin-point on Baltic coast.  Bombed Berlin when flak opened owing to target being obscured by cloud.  Return uneventful.  Weather fit.
L7374  F/O Price, Sgts Adams, Brewer, Tait, Wilkinson, Shelley.  Up 21.55  Down 23.18.  Unsuccessful owing to difficulty with starboard engine when 150 miles out.  Returned to base after jettisoning bombs over sea.
L7324  F/L Bird, P/O Brown, Sgts Hutt, Hannigan, Nutt, Pyatt.  Up 22.00.  Missing from ops.  SOS received 23.00 – starboard engine cut, the other giving trouble – changing to Helston – please tell them.

Bomb load for each aircraft – 6 x 1000 GP

17.5.41 Letter received from the Station Commander (Group Capt Airey) – Manchesters will not again be deployed on operations until the failures of Vulture engines have been investigated and remedied.  Full advantage must be made to push forward training of crews.

26.5.41 Five Manchesters called out by Group late in the evening for operations against Bismarck – orders to stand in readiness.  Op cancelled early in the morning of 27th May – after 1100 Bismarck reported sunk by naval action.

Total flying hours for month – 249
Total operational flying hours – 85

21.6.41 Ops against enemy shipping at Boulogne – S/L Stubbs, F/L Sherwood, F/L French, F/O Eustace, P/O Blakeman – all successful although thick haze made target difficult to locate.  F/L Sherwood’s aircraft attacked by enemy fighter whilst returning to base – holed in several places.

21/22 June 1941 Boulogne

L7308  S/L Stubbs, Sgt Mycock, W/O Harrison, Sgts R.E.Jones, Crerar, Bell.  Up 22.55  Down 02.59.  Primary target not located owing to thick haze.  Three sticks of 5 x 500lb bombs dropped on harbour works at Calais.  Difficulties nil.
L7325  F/L Sherwood, Sgts Fletcher, K.Williams, Neil, Robertson, L.W.Jones & S/L Bailey.  Up 22.59  Down 03.19.  Primary target seen with difficulty through thick haze on first run.  Stick of 6 x 500lb bombs dropped.  Remaining bombs dropped 50 minutes later, difficulty being experienced in locating the target again.  On returning to base, aircraft attacked by fighter and holed in several places.  The colours of the day had the desired effect and the attack was broken off.
L7324  F/L French, S/L Fothergill, Sgts Tewson, Ashmore, Currie, Smith, Linnett.  Up 23.02  Down 02.29.  Primary target obscured by thick haze.  One stick of 5 x 500lb bombs dropped on Boulogne.  2 sticks of 5 x 500lb bombs dropped on DR position of Calais.  One burst seen at Calais, good oil fire seen burning before and after bombing.
L7382  F/O Eustace, Sgt Pemberthy, P/O Morgan, Sgts Clinch, Elkington, McKenzie, McLaren.  Up 23.01  Down 02.52.  Task successfully carried out.  Haze made target location extremely difficult.
L7383  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, J.Canham, Dean, Concannon, F/O Trueman, Sgt J.Turner.  Up 22.54  Down 03.30.  Haze prevented definite identification of target, but a fire which was observed to start was bombed an hour later.

24/25.6.41  Ops – Dusseldorf – F/L French, F/O Eustace, F/O Little.

24/25 June 1941 Dusseldorf

L7382  F/L French, S/L Fothergill, Sgts Wood, Ashmore, Currie, Smith, F/Sgt Williams.  Up 00.07  Down 03.55.  Target area covered with thick haze preventing accurate target location.  Located by layout of AA and searchlight batteries and bombed by 2 sticks of 3 x 1000lb bombs.  Aircraft behaved perfectly.
L7374  F/O Eustace, Sgt Pemberthy, P/O Morgan, Sgts Clinch, Elkington, McKenzie, McLaren.  Task successfully carried out.  Reported that all light AA and some heavy AA and many searchlights have disappeared from the area. No difficulties.
L7375  F/O Little, P/O Geoghegan, Sgts Tiley, Hodkinson, Robinson, R.W.Jones, Scott.  Up 00.10  Down 04.40.  Task successfully carried out.  South about route taken.  Searchlight activity over Dutch islands.  Approaching target numerous flares shot at us only up to 12000 feet.  Searchlight activity and heavy flak pretty accurate at 15000 feet.  Illumination a useful aid to location of Ruhr area.

26/27.6.41  Ops – Kiel – S/L Stubbs, F/L French, F/O Little, F/O Eustace, P/O Blakeman, Sgt Rowlands.  Thick haze made target location difficult.  F/O Eustace and crew missing.  No news heard after leaving base.  Sgt Rowlands was attacked by a fighter – a number of holes made in the aircraft and the mid gunner, Sgt Harvey, received a slight head wound.  Smoke was observed coming from the enemy aircraft as it broke away.  F/O Little – aircraft hit by flak in numerous places but no serious damage.

26/27 June 1941 Kiel

L7245  S/L Stubbs, Sgt Mycock, W/O Harrison, Sgts R.E.Jones, Crerar, Wilson, Bell.  Up 23.26  Down 05.25.  Uneventful op – no difficulties.  Target bombed from 15000 feet.
L7424  F/L French, Sgts Pendrill, Ashmore, Currie, F/Sgt Williams, Sgt Smith.  Up 23.37  Down 04.51.  Target area obscured by thick haze up to 10000 feet.  Area was identified and approached from the east.  Bomb bursts not observed.  Leaflets dropped.  No enemy aircraft encountered.  Artificial horizon u/s – no other difficulties.
L7375  F/O Little, P/O Geoghegan, Sgts Tiley, Hodkinson, Robinson, Scott, R.W.Jones.  Up 23.36  Down 05.00.  Haze and low cloud.  Astro navigation and loop put us south of track and ahead of ETA.  This proved correct and enabled us to identify our position on the Baltic coast.  Flak at Kiel up to 14/15000 feet, very accurate and aircraft hit in many places, but no serious damage.  Bombs seen to burst in area, but no results observed.
L7374  F/O Eustace, Sgt Pemberthy, P/O Morgan, Sgts Clinch, Elkington, McKenzie, McLaren.  Up 23.35 – missing from ops – no news received since aircraft left base.
L7383  P/O Blakeman, Sgts Hartley, J.Canham, Dean, Concannon, F/O Trueman, Sgt J.Turner.  Up 23.35  Down 04.55.  Flight uneventful.  Target identified through thick haze by gun flashes reflected on the water.  Three flashes observed at 16000 feet, apparently released from aircraft.
L7382  Sgt Rowlands, Sgts Aitken, Booth, R.S.Canham, Burton, Harvey, Bale.  Up 23.33  Down 04.41.  Results of bombing not observed due to cloud.  Attack by Me110 of the enemy coast approximately 30 miles west of Tonning.  Aircraft hit in several places.  Sgt Harvey received a very slight head wound.  Behaviour of crew excellent.  Fire control very effective.  Smoke seen coming from enemy aircraft as it broke away.

Lots of training shown during month of June.  P/O Rodwell mentioned on 29.6.41.

Combat Report (AIR50/200)

On the night of 26.27th June 1941 by a Manchester aircraft piloted by Sgt Rowlands of 97 Squadron –

“At 0300 hours, 40 miles due west of Tonning while flying at 10,500 feet we were attacked by an Me110.  At the time of the attack there were no searchlights, no moon, no flak but the northern part of the sky was quite light.

The enemy aircraft was first seen by the front gunner ahead and level, flashing an amber lgith approximately 5 times with a 2 second interval.  When at a range of 100 yards and below our aircraft, the front gunner did not fire as the enemy aircraft may not have seen us, but he informed the rear gunner that the enemy was passing underneath us.  The enemy aircraft was next seen coming from astern and below, opening fire at approximately 500 yards, using one cannon and tracer from machine guns.  The rear gunner gave him a long burst and the enemy aircraft broke away at 100 yards above our aircraft and to starboard.

The second attack came from green quarter slightly above and opened fire at about 600 yards.  The rear and top turrets were put out of action, the enemy aircraft again broke away over our machine.  I evaded this attack by instructions from the rear gunner to turn right, I did a steep diving turn to starboard.

The third attack came from red quarter level, the enemy aircraft flew across our machine and the front gunner gave him four bursts.  The enemy was believed hit as black smoke came from it.  I again evaded enemy aircraft by instructions from the rear gunner to turn to port.

During the first and second attacks the rear gunner of the enemy aircraft fired two guns, but did not fire again during later attacks.  The only casualty in the crew was the upper gunner who had a graze on top of the head from a bullet”. 

Pilot – Sgt Rowlands  Front Gunner – Sgt Burton  Mid Gunner – Sgt Harvey  Rear Gunner – Sgt Bale.

1.7.41 All Manchesters grounded from ops under instruction from HQ Bomber Command pending enquiry into engine troubles.  F/L Nunn and P/O Fox posted to squadron.  P/O Maltby, P/O Campbell, P/O Wright, P/O Rodwell and P/O Dench posted from 106 Squadron.

3.7.41 Manchester L7427 crash landed at Spalding – crew uninjured.

4.7.41 All aircraft absolutely grounded until further notice.  F/L French and F/L Sherwood posted to Swinderby.  On 3rd July P/O Bruce Campbell (Canadian), observer and Sgt Henderson, pilot, volunteered for ops with Hampdens, 106 Squadron, Coningsby – both reported missing operating against Duisberg.

6.7.41 One of our crews tonight operated with 106 Squadron in Hampden aircraft, objective Lorient.  On returning, the aircraft struck balloon barrage at Plymouth Sound and crashed into the sea.  Sgt Field (pilot) and Sgt Bedell baled out and are rescued from dinghy.  F/Sgt McCormack and Sgt Wright are missing, although the latter managed to cling on to the dinghy for a while before disappearing.

6/7 July 1941 Brest (operating for 106 Squadron)

Hampden  AD861  Sgt Field, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt McCormack, Sgt Wright – F/Sgt McCormack and Sgt Wright are missing – aircraft hit barrage balloon at Plymouth Sound and crashed.  Pilot and navigator only slightly injured.

7/8.7.41 Three crews operate with 106 Squadron – Munchen Gladbach.  One crew failed to return – no news after leaving base – crew was Sgt Wotherspoon, pilot, F/Sgt Hudson, Sgt Botsford, Sgt H.Tait.

7/8 July 1941  Munchen Gladbach (operating for 106 squadron)

Hampden AE232  Sgt Tilbury, P/O Dench, Sgt Sugar, Sgt Goodwin.  Up 2240  Down 0320.  Bombed from 10,000 feet but bursts not observed owing to flak.
Hampden AD861 Sgts Bannister, Hall, Watkin, Kerr.  Up 2240  Down 0410.  Bombs across centre of city (Dusseldorf) starting two large fires.
Hampden AD735 Sgt Wotherspoon, F/Sgt Hudson, Sgt H.Tait, Sgt Botsford.  Up 2245 – missing from ops – no news after leaving base.

9.7.41 Two crews with 106 Squadron – ops successful – all returned to base.

9/10 July 1941 – Aachen (operating for 106 Squadron) 

Hampden AE232  Sgt Tilbury, P/O Dench, Sgt Sugar, Sgt Goodwin.  Up 2310  Down 0455.  Dropped bombs from 11,000 feet.  Bursts observed in north part of town.  Only slight opposition.
Hampden AE749  Sgts Bannister, Hall, Watkin, Kerr.  Up 2320  Down 0635.  Aimed for centre of town but result not observed owing to be held in searchlights.
Sgt Rees (AG) with P/O Herd in AD984 (2315 – 0450) and Sgt Shelley (AG) with P/O Paramore (2330 – 0515.

12.7.41 P/O Dench posted to 408 Squadron, Lindholme.

14.7.41 Signal received on 9th July reporting P/O Morgan killed, no mention from the Red Cross of the remainder of the crew.

15.7.41 Signal from Air Ministry – German broadcast states P/O C.D.Campbell is prisoner of war.  Several of our aircrew operating for 106 Squadron tonight.

14/15 July 1941 – Hanover (operating for 106 Squadron)

Hampden AD855   Sgts Davies, Hartley, F/S Ashmore, Sgt Dudley.  Up 2315  Down 0045.  Mission abandoned owing to excessive oil pressure.
Hampden AD749   Sgts Ratcliffe, Fletcher, Edge, Robinson.  Up 2330  Down 0520.  Bombs dropped in stick across centre of town.  Fires started.  Considerable flak and searchlight activity.
Hampden AD802   Sgts Purnell (106 sqn), Rowlands, Eames (106 Sqn), Holland (106 sqn).  Up 2300  Down 0520.  Target easily identified and bombed on a run from the south-east.  Three bursts observed.
Hampden AE144  S/L Boylan (106 Sqn), Sgt Mycock, F/S Hammett (106 Sqn), P/O Randall (106 Sqn).  Up 2315  Down 0530.  Held by searchlights for short while and fired at persistently.  Bombs dropped on time.  Results not observed.
Sgt Rees (AG) with P/O Herd in AD984 (2300 – 0505).

21.7.41 12 aircrew temporarily detached to 106 Squadron for operational duties.

22.7.41 Five Hampden crews operated for 106 Squadron – all returned safely.

22/23 July 1941 – Frankfurt (operating for 106 Squadron)

Hampden AD932  S/L Sherwood, Sgt Williams, F/S Neil, Sgt Ferguson.  Up 2245  Down 0310.  Weather was very bad and aircraft forced to return before reaching target.  Bombs dropped in Bonn.
Hampden AD749   Sgts Bannister, Hall, Watkins, F/S Williams.  Up 2240  Down 0515.  9/10ths cloud over continent, identification of target impossible.  Bombs dropped in flak concentration.
Hampden AE255   Sgts Altree, Booth, Lumley, Bale.  Up 2255  Down 0350.  Task abandoned owing to violent electrical storms.  Bombs brought back.
Hampden AD746   Sgt Tilbury, P/O Watts, Sgts Sugar, Goodwin.  Up 2245  Down 2400.  Abandoned due to defective wireless receiver.  Bombs brought back.
Hampden AD768   P/O Rodwell, Sgts Imison, Harvey, F/S Bell.  Up 2240  Down 0645.  Bombed from 12,000 but unable to observe results owing to cloud.
Hampden AD355   F/O Harwood (106 Sqn), Sgt Wood, F/S Ashmore, Sgt Smith.  Up 2245  Down 0405.  Mission abandoned and bombs jettisoned due to 10/10ths cloud and colossal electric storms.

27.7.41 Hampdens AE300, AE301, AE302 ferried to us by 41 Group.

28.7.41 “A” Flight is now a Hampden flight, “B” Flight is a Manchester flight.

31.7.41 All Manchesters grounded pending further instructions.

Total Manchester flying hours for month – 180  Total Hampden flying hours for month - 4  

Total operational hours for Manchesters and Hampdens – nil.   

1.8.41 P/O Campbell is reported prisoner of war at Dulag Luft, also Sgt Henderson.  Sgt Wotherspoon reported prisoner of war, slightly wounded – Sgt Tait, Sgt Botsford and F/Sgt Hudson reported killed – information from International Red Cross.

2.8.41 Five Hampdens serviceable.  Manchesters now to be used for operational training – instructions from 5 Group.  Hampdens AE301, AE302, AE300 piloted by Sgt Bannister, P/O Maltby and P/O Rodwell are operating against Kiel tonight.

2/3 August 1941  Kiel

Hampden AE302  P/O Maltby, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt L.W.Jones.  Up 22.10  Down 06.10.  Cloud over North Sea.  Low cloud over target and bombed through cloud.  Four bursts observed east side of docks opposite canal.  Cloud all way back to base.  Successful.
Hampden AE301  Sgts Bannister, Hall, Watkins, F/Sgt Williams.  Up 22.45  Down 05.20.  Cloudy, approximate pin-point was obtained in Kiel bay and a run was made up east to west across the town.  Bombs seen to burst in north-west area of the town.  No enemy aircraft seen.  Successful.
Hampden AE300  P/O Rodwell, Sgts Imison, Cook, Davies.  Up 22.40  Down 22.56.  Unsuccessful – found intercom u/s so returned to base with bombs.  The W/Op and rear gunner were from 106 Squadron – our W/Op having gone sick at last moment.

3.8.41 Ops successfully carried out by P/O Maltby and Sgt Bannister, bombing target with nothing unusual to report.  Weather good at start but clouds all the way on return.  Signal from Bomber Command that Manchesters are operationally fit from today with Vulture engine life of 120 hours.

5.8.41 Five Hampdens operating tonight against Karlsruhe.  All successfully carried out except S/L Sherwood who had to abandon op owing to defective intercom and distorted recall signal.  P/O Rodwell did not reach primary target but bombed the docks at Dunkerque.

5/6 August 1941  Karlsruhe (Railway workshops)

Hampden AE300  S/L Sherwood, Sgt Williams, F/Sgt Neil, Sgt Ferguson.  Up 22.19  Down 00.42.  Task abandoned due to defective intercom and distorted recall signal.
Hampden AE301  Sgts Bannister, Hall, Watkins, F/Sgt P.Williams.  Up 22.23  Down 05.10.  Successful op.  Target area clear.  Bombs seen to explode on west edge of target area, fires seen.  Severe static, icing and turbulence was experienced on return – an uncomfortable trip.
Hampden AE302  P/O Maltby, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt L.W.Jones.  Up 22.20  Down 06.22.  Target found clear, only time for one run owing to large bank of cloud moving in.  Bombs fell in west of town.  Numerous storms, snow and lightning on return.
Hampden AE303  P/O Rodwell, Sgt Imison, Sgt Harvey, F/Sgt Bell.  Up 22.17  Down 03.27.  Not successful on target, valve blown and wireless u/s.  Attacked docks at Dunkerque, much cloud but saw part of town.  Bomb Aimer allowed for overshoot in hope of hitting docks.  Me109 on red quarter just before attacking, took cover in cloud and it did not attack.
Hampden AE292  Sgts Tilbury, Tewson, Sugar, Goodwin.  Up 22.25  Down  04.50.  Successful task.  Set off and climbed to 12000 feet.  Dropped bombs and incendiaries on target.  Bursts observed, incendiaries straddle trucks in siding.  Light and heavy flak at other aircraft. 

7/8.8.41 Ops successfully carried out against Krupps factory, Essen by three crews captained by S/L Sherwood, P/O Maltby and Sgt Tilbury.  Bombs were dropped on target and bursts observed, also many fires.  Sgt Bannister and crew dropped their bombs but do not claim to have hit primary target.  P/O Rodwell and crew failed to return – no news after leaving base.

7/8 August 1941  Essen (Krupps Factory)

Hampden AE300  S/L Sherwood, Sgt Williams, F/Sgt Neil, Sgt Ferguson.  Up 00.06  Down 04.40.  No flak until near target, fires were seen and also scattered generally over the Ruhr.  Successful.
Hampden AE301  Sgts Bannister, Hall, Watkins, F/Sgt P.Williams.  Up 23.55 Down 05.20.  Practical certainty that bombs fell in Essen, although no claim to have hit primary target.  Nothing unusual seen either way on trip.
Hampden AE302  P/O Maltby, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt L.W.Jones.  Up 00.13  Down 05.45.   Made one run due north over target.  Bursts observed and fires started with incendiaries.  No trouble with flak or searchlights.  Successful.
Hampden AE292  Sgts Tilbury, Tewson, Sugar, Goodwin.  Up 00.10  Down 01.02.  Unsuccessful – landed soon after take off with engine trouble.
Hampden AE303  P/O Rodwell, Sgt Imison, Sgt Harvey, F/Sgt Bell.  Up 00.01.  Missing from ops – no news after leaving base.

9.8.41 Operations cancelled.

10.8.41 Operations cancelled – bad weather over Germany.   

12/13.8.41 Three Hampdens operating to Magdeburg, three Manchesters to Berlin.  Of the Hampdens, P/O Maltby returned owing to failure to maintain height.  S/L Sherwood could not identify town so bombed aerodrome south of the town.  Sgt Bannister estimated that his bombs fell on the north of the town.  Of the Manchesters, F/O Blakeman observed bursts and incendiaries near a large fire in the city.  Sgt Rowlands was caught in searchlights and intercepted by an unidentified aircraft and therefore released bombs on Hanover to facilitate avoiding action.  F/O Little and crew missing – signal received asking for a fix, also at 02.28 signalled that they were preparing to bale out.  This was on return journey and the approximate position would have been on the German/Dutch border.

12/13 August 1941 Magdeburg

Hampden AE301  Sgt Bannister, F/Sgt Hall, Sgt Watkins, Sgt Newall.  Up 21.21  Down 05.45.  Unintentionally flew over Hanover on outward journey which made it lively.  Reached target and bombs fell in north part of town.
Hampden AE292  S/L Sherwood, Sgt Williams, F/Sgt Neil, Sgt Ferguson.  Up 21.15  Down 03.55.  Owing to bad weather and navigational error, target was not located.  Aerodrome was bombed, obstruction lights were burning and a red cartridge was fired but dowsed as soon as  bombs released.
Hampden AE302  P/O Maltby, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt L.W.Jones.  Up 21.24  Down 01.46.  Unsuccessful trip – unable to maintain height so released bombs over sea.  Saw an aircraft burst into flames and explode – two fighters observed round the aircraft as it was falling.  Base reached without further trouble.

12/13 August 1941  Berlin

L7306  Sgts Rowlands, Altree, Booth, R.S.Canham, Burton, Hall.  Up 21.11  Down 02.40.  Bombed alternative target, Hanover.  Intercepted by unidentified aircraft over Holland.  Evasive action taken and released bombs on town to facilitate avoiding action.
L7383  F/O Blakeman, P/O Fox, Sgts Canham, Dean, Concannon, F/O Trueman, Sgt Turner.  Up 21.03  Down 03.50.  Successful task. First pin-point was Bremen.  AA and searchlights very good but street lighting rather obvious.  Descended to bomb a fire where we believed Berlin to be.  Home trip uneventful.
L7424  F/O Little, F/O Geoghegan, Sgt Tiley, F/Sgt Hodkinson, Sgts Robinson, L.W.Jones, Scott.  Up 21.02.  Missing from ops -  signals received at 01.35 and 02.22 requesting fixes.  Last signal received at 02.28 preparing to bale out.  Approximate position on German – Holland border between Nordhorn and Schuthorf on the return journey.

14/15.8.41 Ops to Magdeburg – 3 aircraft – S/L Fothergill, F/L Nunn, F/L Price.  All successfully carried out.  Bombs released over town, no bursts observed due to thick cloud.

14/15 August 1941  Magdeburg

L7384  F/L Nunn, Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Wood, F/Sgt Ashmore, Sgt Currie, F/Sgt Williams, Sgt Smith.  Up 21.03  Down 03.35.  No results observed.  Dropped bombs where flak was coming through the clouds.  Base Lorenz beam picked up 100 miles away.  Me109 observed south of Hanover.
L7383  S/L Fothergill, Sgt Fletcher, F/Sgt Turner, Sgts Eades, Linnett, Richardson.  Up 21.05  Down 03.47.  No fighter aircraft observed but flak encountered four times on way out after passing the Ruhr.  Course home was set direct from Magdeburg as petrol was causing some concern.  Drem lighting on aerodrome very satisfactory.
L7306  F/L Price, Sgts Altree, Brain, Stanley, Burton, Robertson, F/O Mims.  Up 21.04  Down 04.15.  No searchlights or gunfire experienced on route.  Light AA over target accurate and numerous searchlights.  One hole in front turret.  Intercepted by fighter who fired a six star green cartridge and all searchlights and guns stopped at once.  Return uneventful.

16/17.8.41 Ops – 3 Hampdens, 4 Manchesters – to Dusseldorf.  All bombed town successfully except Sgt Davies who bombed the alternative target, Essen.  F/L Nunn and crew are missing.  No news received after leaving base at 22.50.

16/17 August 1941  Dusseldorf

L7423  Sgts Rowlands, Altree, Booth, Canham, Burton, C.A.Jones.  Up 22.56  Down 04.15.  Successful task.  Saw aircraft shot down in flames north of target at approximately 0035, it was held in searchlights and appeared to be attacked by fighters at 12000 feet.  Dropped bombs on estimated position of target in Dusseldorf.
L7306  F/L Price, Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Brain, F/Sgt Stanley, Sgt Williams, Sgt Robertson.  Up 22.49  Down 02.35.  Owing to concentration of searchlights it was impossible to locate aiming point and the bombs were dropped across the town.
L7383  F/O Blakeman, P/O Fox, Sgts Canham, Dean, Concannon, F/O Trueman, Sgt Turner.  Up 22.47  Down 0240.  Passed through searchlight belts three minutes after ETA.  Flak was accurate and aircraft was hit repeatedly.  Bombs observed to start fires.  Uneventful return.
L7384  F/L Nunn, Sgts Ratcliffe, Woods, F/Sgt Ashmore, Sgt Currie, F/Sgt Williams, Sgt Smith.  Up 22.50.  Missing from ops – no news after leaving base.
Hampden AE301  Sgt Bannister, F/Sgt Hall, Sgts Watkins, Newell.  Up 22.54  Down 03.45.  Weather deteriorated towards target area.  The Rhine was identified at Dusseldorf, a run was made from the north, using centre of town as aiming point.  Results not observed owing to evasive action.  Searchlight belt to west of town adopted “Stationary Berries” tactics.  Forced to fly through as the adjusted to height of aircraft.  No flak was fired at it was evident that fighters were about.  A machine was observed to burst into flames and crash, flak accurate and heavy at target.
Hampden AE300  P/O Maltby, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt Rees.  Up 22.55  Down 03.45.  Saw aircraft falling in flames at 0030 several miles to port of track.  Climbed to 20,000 feet at searchlight belt.  Ran up towards Dusseldorf from the south, bombs aimed at centre of town.  Three bursts observed, impossible to see damage owing to low clouds.
Hampden AE293  Sgts Davies, Berridge, Robertson, Ferguson.  Up 22.58  Down 04.50.  Encountered severe icing rendering instrument panel u/s.  Negotiated searchlight belt and bombed Essen and fires observed. On return two planes were seen falling in flames on the searchlights belts.  Cloud on return.  

18.8.41 Ops by three Hampdens to Cologne (main railway station) – captained by P/O Maltby, Sgt Bannister, Sgt Davies.  All three successfully bombed the town, bursts not observed owing to flak and searchlights.  Return trip uneventful.

18/19 August 1941 – Cologne

Hampden AE300  P/O Maltby, Sgt Bedell, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt Ferguson.   Up 23.10  Down 04.50.  Unable to locate primary target, bombed town.  Two bursts observed, fires started.  No difficulties.
Hampden AE301  Sgt Bannister, F/Sgt Hall, Sgts Watkins, Newell.  Up 23.10  Down 05.10.  Although no moon, visibility was excellent and river immediately south of Cologne located.  Unable to aim bombs with care as defences were concentrating on other aircraft over target.  Bombs were released and we encountered the full force of the defences and violent evasive action was necessary.  Bomb bursts were not definitely identified.  Entering and leaving the enemy coast, the navigation proved to be dead accurate.

Hampden AE293  Sgts Davies, Berridge, B.S.Robertson, Rees.  Up 23.20  Down 05.20.  Glided into 12,000 feet and dropped bombs.  Large concentration of searchlights and AA fire over target.  Fires observed in the target area.  Uneventful return.

25.8.41 Crews have been reformed – no Hampden crews exist now in this squadron – “A” Flight will in due course be a training flight for Manchesters.

25/26.8.41 Two Manchester ops to Mannheim – F/L Price and F/Sgt Mycock.  F/Sgt Mycock returned after crossing the enemy coast owing to failure of the hydraulic system.  Other aircraft bombed objective.  Much cloud over target.  F/L Price reports the aircraft behaved perfectly.

25/26 August 1941 – Mannheim (General Post Office)

L7308  F/L Price, Sgts Adams, Bedell, F/Sgt Stanley, Sgts Wilkinson, Robertson.  Up 20.10  Down 01.40.  Task impossible owing to 10/10th  cloud over target.  Bombs dropped in southern sector of town.  Aircraft behaved perfectly.
L7306  Sgts Mycock, Worton, W/O Harrison, Sgts R.E.Jones, Crerar, Shelley.  Up 20.09  Down 23.50.  Task abandoned owing to hydraulic failure.  Engines were running well.

26/27.8.41  F/O Blakeman ops to Cologne.  Primary target abandoned owing to three bombs coming off over North Sea and oil leak in the port engine.  Bombed Calais docks on return – other two Manchesters for op were u/s.

26/27 August 1941 – Cologne (Railway Communications)

L7306  F/O Blakeman, P/O Fox, Sgts J.Canham, Dean, Concannon, F/O Trueman.  Up 23.21  Down 03.05.  Before crossing enemy coast three bombs fell through the bomb doors.  Rear gunner reported oil in the front tailplane, also generators burnt out.  Task was abandoned and remaining three 1000lb bombs were aimed at Calais docks.

31.8.41 Remaining Hampdens transferred to 106 Squadron.  Manchesters on charge are now six aircraft.

Total Manchester flying hours – 223   Total Hampden flying hours - 235
Total operational Manchester hours – 59  Total Hampden operational hours – 154

1.9.41 Local flying by Manchesters and a cross-country.  Telegram received from International Red Cross quoting Berlin.  Information that F/O Little, F/O Geoghegan and their crew are prisoners of war, Sgt Scott being wounded.

2.9.41 Local flying and tests.  All Manchester 2nd Pilots are to be trained as first pilots.  B Flight is under training so as to be fully operational as soon as possible.  All crews will have daily operational flying and ground training.  Personnel of A Flight are transferred to B Flight – only S/L Sherwood, F/L Price and F/O Blakeman remaining in A Flight.

10.9.41    News from International Red Cross that Sgt Ratcliffe, F/Sgt Ashmore, Sgt Wood and Sgt Smith are prisoners of war.  Sgt Smith is wounded.

13/14.9.41 Two Manchesters crashed.  During dusk and dark training L7306 captained by Sgt Hartley, with crew No 15, at approximately 20.20 on taking off again, the starboard front wheel burst when travelling at 60mph, after skidding the undercarriage collapsed.  One of the engines caught alight and after all the crew got out uninjured the used fire extinguishers fairly successfully until the Station fire crew turned up.  The local apparatus failed to work correctly and the fire soon spread.  Eventually the whole aircraft was in a terrific blaze, verey cartridges fired and the small gun cartridges exploded.  The aircraft was burnt out after about an hour.  The other aircraft L7383F was on a six hour cross-country to the north of Scotland captained by P/O Fox.  The weather was not good later, slight rain and low cloud.  Apparently all wireless communication went u/s and the returned down the south coast and lost themselves near the Wash.  Eventually searchlights were ordered by Group to try to direct the aircraft to Coltishall, and from a statement from F/Sgt Hall, who escaped the aircraft uninjured, the circled the aerodrome for some while.  Petrol had not been showing on the gauge for about half an hour.  The first attempted landing was overshot and the tried again.  This time the again touch down and for reason unknown took off again.  During the third attempt the aircraft crashed into an orchard and was wrecked, but did not burn.  P/O Fox, Sgt Tewson and Sgt Goldie were admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.  Sgt Worton was killed.  Sgt Robertson admitted to Coltishall SSQ.

15.9.41  Now 8 aircraft on charge

18.9.41 W/C Balsdon, F/O Blakeman, P/O Wright, Sgt Berridge, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgt Cowern returned from an East coast convoy – the trip was to show aircrews the difficulties the Navy have to overcome in identifying aircraft.

28.9.41    F/O Blakeman crash landed L7375 at Sibsey with a crew of two.  Feathering training was being given and the feathering device failed to operate.  The starboard airscrew fixed in fine pitch after feathering.  No crew injured.  Aircraft damaged beyond repair.

30.9.41 Training by both flights.  A Flight now being filled with aircrews.  S/L Sherwood DFC, F/L Price DFC, F/O Blakeman DFM are acting as instructors.

Total non-operational hours for the month – 219.  Various training all month.

4.10.41 S/L Fothergill assumes command  - W/C Balsdon away on leave.

10.10.41 F/O Hill crashed in L7387 on landing this afternoon.  No-one injured.  Caused by an error of judgement, making a heavy     landing, causing the port undercarriage to fracture and collapse.

11.10.41 F/O Blakeman was giving a preliminary demonstration circuit and landing and the starboard engine caught fire.  The aircraft was safely landed and ground crew were successful in extinguishing the blaze.  W/C Balsdon returned from leave.

14.10.41 More aircrews posted today and five crews posted back to 61 Sqn.

17.10.41 B Flight operational from today.  Seven aircraft detailed for ops – cancelled after briefing owing to bad weather.

20.10.41 Eight aircraft of B Flight for ops – briefing early afternoon and early take-off – target railway junction at Bremen.  Captains are S/L Dugdale, F/Sgt Pendrill, F/Sgt Hartley, W/O Rowlands, W/O Mycock, P/O Noble, F/Sgt Fletcher, Sgt Haynes.  Weather was good except for low cloud and haze over target area.  Three aircraft carried 4,000lb bombs and 4 x 500lb, the remainder carried 6 x 1000lb.  All bombed the area successfully.  No news heard of P/O Noble and crew after a message received at 0030 reporting receiver u/s. F/Sgt Hartley ran out of petrol and crash landed at Friskney near Wainfleet.  None of the crew are injured.  Aircraft being salvaged by 58MU.

21 October 1941 - Bremen          

L7490 U  W/O Rowlands, Sgt Altree, F/Sgt Booth, Sgts Canham, Burton, Donoghue, C.A.Jones.  Up 18.23  Down 23.25.  Me110 sighted during run-up the river.  Bombs dropped on the city of Bremen.  Successful task.
L7463 P  F/Sgt Fletcher, Sgts Berridge, Blair, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgts Warren, Bale, Sugar.  Up 18.28  Down  23.35.  Flew up the Weser Estuary towards Bremen.  Three bombs seen to burst in the target area.  Numerous searchlights – IFF proved effective against them.  Flak around target area.  Successful.
L7461 R  F/Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Ommanney, F/O Wright, Sgts Kerr, Brummitt, L.W.Jones, Bray.  Up 18.21  Down 23.52.  Definitely identified Bremen and dropped bombs, height 15000 feet.  Lost height after leaving target to 1000 feet and passed over enemy convoy of 5 ships at Cuxhaven.  Enemy warship also opened fire in the area.  Rear gunner returned fire.  Successful.
L7453 X  S/L Dugdale, P/O Stokes, Sgt Gibson, F/Sgt Turner, Sgts Concannon, Richardson.  Up 18.18  Down 00.04.  Thick haze cut down visibility of ground at Bremen.  Encountered severe searchlight cones of about 19-20 lights each and encountered intense and accurate heavy flak.  Load was dropped on flak concentration and searchlights.  The 4000lb bomb was seen to burst.  Aircraft was hit in several places.  IFF effective against searchlights.  Nickels dropped over target.  Crew behaved excellently throughout and co-operation was of a very high order.
L7489 T  W/O Mycock, Sgt Dimond, W/O Harrison, Sgts R.E.Jones, Crerar, Shelley, F/Sgt Pattison.  Up 18.26  Down 01.50.  Target difficult to identify due to low cloud and haze.  IFF flick procedure found to be effective.  Successful.
L7466 N  Sgts Hughes, Davies, Williams, Gibson, Goodwin, Ferguson, Overton.  Up 18.25  Down  00.37.  Tremendous number of searchlights on approaches to Bremen, widespread light flak up to 14000 feet.  IFF effective in a number of cases.  Successful.
R5783 V  F/Sgt Hartley, Sgts Appleyard, J.Canham, Dean, Baker, Mayland, Gross.  Up 18.22  Down 00.30.  Target area identified by rivers and flak.  Elevator trimming wheel jammed on return and petrol shortage caused crash landing on coast marshland at Friskney, Lincs.  None of the crew injured.
L7462 Z  P/O Noble, Sgts Harrison(NZ), Redwood, Hunt, Kolar, Worthington, F/O Mills.  Up 18.30.  Missing from ops.  Message received at 0030 stating receiver u/s.

23.10.41 Seven aircraft required for ops.  W/O Rowlands in L7459Y had trouble during the NFT which leaves only six aircraft for ops.  Early briefing – objective to destroy a ship building yard.

23/24.10.41  Kiel.  Take-off was near midnight.  Three aircraft carried 4000 pounders and the task was successfully carried out by all six crews and returned safely.  Sgt Hughes’ aircraft received numerous flak holes.

23/24 October 1941 – Kiel (Ship building yards)

L7453 X  F/Sgt Hartley, Sgts Appleyard, Canham, Dean, Baker, Mayland, Cross.  Up 00.22  Down 05.53.  Lights were sighted amongst Danish islands and course altered for Kile and Eckernforde.  Target bombed and bursts observed.

L7489 T  F/L Coton, P/O Maltby, P/O Boddinton, Sgts Watkins, Grimwood, Newell, McMahon.  Up 0058.  Down  0550.  Target covered by 10/10th low cloud.  Bombed on position estimated by heavy flak.

L7490 U  F/Sgt Adams, Sgts Carter, Bedell, Stafford, Wilkinson, Roberts, F/O Mims.  Up 0115  Down 0710.  Uneventful trip.  Unable to see target, bombed flak concentration, one burst observed.
L7463 P  F/Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Ommanney, F/O Wright, Sgts Kerr, Brummitt, L.W.Jones, Bray.  Up  0015   Down 0630.  Weather clear and target seen and aimed at, no bursts observed from 15000 feet.  Intense gunfire.
L7466 N  Sgts Hughes, Davies, Williams, Gibson, Goodwin, Ferguson, Overton.  Up 0030  Down 0730.  Me109 attacked – Mid and Rear gunners opened fire and probably damaged the fighter which had to break off.  Shrapnel damaged aircraft – no casualties.  Bombs dropped and fires started following bursts.
L7423 S  W/O Mycock, Sgt Dimond, W/O Harrison, Sgts R.E.Jones, Crerar, Shelley, F/Sgt Pattison.  Up 0025  Down 0725.  Bombed town – cloud made it impossible to identify primary target.  Flak almost negligible until bombs dropped, then quite heavy.  Successful. 

Warships at Kiel when the above ops took place included Admiral Hipper class – Lutzow and 24 submarnes.  

26.10.41 Six aircraft required for ops (B Flight).  Early briefing and take-off – target Hamburg.  Only four aircraft took off to bomb target, dropping 2 x 4000lbs and 4 x 500lbs on the main railway station.  One bombed Blohm and Voss, dropping 1 x 4000lb and 2 x 500lbs causing a large fire, the other aircraft brought bombs back – hydraulic failure.  Weather over target varied from clear to drifting cloud.

26/27 October 1941 – Hamburg (Main railway station)

L7453 X  S/L Dugdale, P/O Stokes, Sgt Gibson, F/Sgt Turner, Sgts Conn, Linnett, Richardson.  Bombs fell on target or very close. Load being 1 x 4000lb and 2 x 500lb from 12000 feet.
L7489 T  F/L Coton, P/O Maltby, P/O Boddington, Sgts Watkins, Grimwood, Newell, McMahon.  Bombs seen in buildings south of the Elbe.  1 x 4000lb and 2 x 500lb from 12000 feet.
L7490 U  F/Sgt Adams, Sgts Carter, Bedell, Stafford, Wilkinson, Robertson, F/O Mims.  Bombs fell approximately one mile SW of aiming point, causing large fires, presumed Blohm and Voss. 1 x 4000lb, 2 x 500lb from 14000 feet.
L7457 Y  W/O Rowlands & crew 16 – returned early owing to hydraulic trouble.
L7461 R  F/Sgt Pendrill & crew 13 – returned early owing to hydraulic trouble.
 

28.10.41 F/O Blakeman crash-landed L7308.  The aircraft was to be transferred to 83 Sqn.  The port engine feathered itself just after take off and crashed near the satellite causing the tail to be torn away and straining the undercarriage.  Both airscrews damaged, none injured.

29.10.41 Ops by B Flight – 6 Manchesters are attacking an enemy aerodrome in occupied territory where 84 long range bombers, approximately half the available strength for the west, believed to be for probable attack on this country, are concentrating.  The operation was not successful, only Sgt Hughes and crew having located and bombed the landing field.  Three aircraft jettisoned their bomb load and one aircraft brought bombs back.  W/O Mycock landed at Martlesham Heath.  F/Sgt Fletcher was shot up by a fighter but all uninjured.  Weather was poor with gales.

29/30 October 1941 – Enemy Aerodrome

L7453 X  Sgts Hughes, Davies, Williams, Gibson, Goodwin, Ferguson, Overton.  Bombed NW corner of landing field, bursts observed.  Height 2,300 feet.
L7457 Y  W/O Rowlands & crew 16 – failed to locate target.
L7461 R  F/Sgt Fletcher & crew 20 – failed to locate target.  Aircraft damaged by flak and returned with bombs.
L7490 U  F/Sgt Adams & crew 13 – attacked by enemy fighter and jettisoned bombs.
L7423 S  W/O Mycock & crew 17 – failed to locate target.  Jettisoned bombs in sea and landed at Martlesham Heath with little damage.

The above op was unsuccessful due to bad visibility.  Heavy bomb load of 500’s carried.

31.10.41 Five Manchesters required tonight for ops against Hamburg.

31 October/1 November 1941 – Hamburg (Blohm & Voss Ship Yards)

L7489 T  F/L Coton, P/O Maltby, P/O Boddington, Sgts Watkins, Grimwood, Newell, McMahon.  Bombs dropped in target area.  Fires seen.  Height 16000 feet.
L7522 V  F/Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Ommanney, F/O Wright, Sgts Kerr, Brummitt, L.W.Jones, Donoghue.  Bombs should have fallen in target area, bursts not seen.  Height 10000 feet.
L7453 X  Sgts Hughes, Davies, Williams, Gibson, Goodwin, Ferguson, Overton.  Bombs dropped in dock area, fires started.  Height 15000 feet.
L7490 U  F/Sgt Adams. Sgts Carter, Bedell, Stafford, Wilkinson, Robertson, F/O Mims.  Bombs dropped in southern part of town, bursts seen.  Height 15000 feet.
L7457 Y  F/Sgt Fletcher & crew 20 – returned early owing to rudder trouble.

Total non-operational flying hours – 391
Total operational flying hours - 142 

2.11.41 Four aircraft required for planting vegetables in German shipping routes beyond Denmark.  Aircraft flown down to Horsham St Faith for take off.  Op cancelled – weather unfit.

4.11.41 Signal received from Coltishall – Sgt Hunt’s body recovered from the sea.  Six aircraft required for ops – 4 on gardening, 2 on bombing.  Bombing ops off, 4 aircraft carried out the gardening in the “Forget me not” area.  16 vegetables dropping in all.  Two aircraft landed at Horsham St Faith and one at Coltishall owing to ground mist.

4/5 November 1941 – Gardening (Forget Me Not Area)

L7490 U  F/Sgt Adams, Sgts Carter, Bedell, Wilkinson, Conn, Robertson, F/O Mims.  Primary area abandoned owing to hydraulic failure.  4 vegetables planted at Nectarine from 600’.
L7522 V  F/Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Ommanney, F/O Wright, Sgts Kerr, Brummitt, Bray, Donoghue.  Up 0020  Down 0645.  4 vegetables successfully planted but parachutes not seen to open.  Convoy seen in target area.  Crew behaved very well under intense fire.  All gunners opened fire.  Aircraft holed in places.  Landed Horsham St Faith.
L7457 Y  W/O Rowlands, Sgt Altree, F/Sgt Booth Sgts Canham, Burton, Concannon, C.A.Jones.  4 vegetables planted west of Borkum.  Due to weather landed at Coltishall.
L7463 P  F/Sgt Fletcher, Sgts Berridge, Blair, F/Sgt Elcoat, Sgts Warren, Bale, Sugar.  Up 0042  Down 0503.  4 vegetables planted at Nectarine.  Me110 encountered near Danish coast but disappeared when gunner opened fire.  Landed at Horsham St Faith owing to weather.

6.11.41 Six aircraft required for ops – cancelled due to weather.

7/8.11.41  5 aircraft required from B Flight and three from A Flight (Freshmen).  B Flight operated successfully against railway communications at Cologne.  A Flight attacked dock installations at Boulogne.  All returned safely.  P/O Rodley jettisoned bombs off Harwich in the sea after failing to locate target. F/Sgt Pendrill was encountered by a Me110 and claims by rear gunner to have shot it down.

7/8 November 1941 – Cologne (Railway Communications)

L 7453 X  S/L Dugdale, P/O Stokes, Sgt Gibson, F/Sgt Turner, Sgts Conn, Richardson, Linnett.  Up 1907  Down 0013.  Successfully bombed the target from 10500 feet.  Only the 4000lb bomb burst observed.  Subjected to intense and accurate heavy flak, one shell bursting underneath aircraft which holed the port fuel tank – losing 200 gallons of petrol.  Bomb load 1 x 4000, 4 x 500.
L7489 T  F/L Coton, P/O Maltby, P/O Boddington, Sgts Watkins, Grimwood, Newell, McMahon.  Up 1855  Down 0040.  Bombs released on E bank of river in region of the target.  Large red flames shot up to above 15000 feet at Ostend on return.  Bright moon, thick haze, but occasional gaps.  Bomb load 1 x 4000, 4 x 500.
L7522 V  F/Sgt Pendrill, Sgt Ommanney, F/L Wright, Sgts Kerr, Brummitt, Jones, Bray.  Up 1852  Down 0019. Bombed either on or near the town of Cologne.  Hits not observed owing to low cloud.  Attacked by a Me110 which was seen and kept in sight 10 minutes before attack.  When about 50 feet away the fighter opened fire, his shells passing above the aircraft.  The rear gunner, Sgt L.W.Jones, opened fire and saw his bullets entering the pilot’s cockpit.  Shortly after a jet of flames shot up from the ground.
L7463 P  F/Sgt Adams, Sgts Carter, Bedell, Wilkinson, Bale, Robertson, F/O Mims.  Up 1903  Down 0048.  Bombs dropped in the midst of flak, home route uneventful save for being fired at by ships off the English coast.  Bomb load 6 x 1000.
L7423 S  F/Sgt Hartley, Sgts Appleyard, Canham, Dean, Bale, Mayland, Gross.  Up 1909  Down 2349.  Heavy and accurate flak encountered in target area, aircraft holed.  Dropped bombs.  No results seen owing to cloud.  Bomb load 6 x 1000.  
(No entries in ORB relating to attack on Boulogne Docks)

7/8 November 1941 – Boulogne (To destroy Docks)

L7491C  F/O Mackid, P/O Friend, P/O Tree, Sgts Marshall, McDermott, Day, Bennett.  Up 1830  Down 2232.  10 x 500lb.  Boulogne bombed – no bursts observed owing to haze.  One bomb hung up, the other fell out when doors were opened on landing.
L7492A  P/O E.E.Rodley, P/O Hodge, Sgts Hawley, Merralls, Cummings, Crisp, Simpson.  Up 1746  Down 2340.  Jettisoned bomb load east of Harwich in order to conserve fuel.  Target not located owing to thick haze and cloud later.
L7382D  F/Sgt Harrison, Sgts Crouch, Platten, Preston, Farara, Saw, Townsley.  Up 1740  Down 2131.  Performance of aircraft good.  Two sticks of five bombs dropped along dock no 6.  Second stick burst on buildings to south-east of dock.

8.11.41    Three aircraft detailed by A Flight for ops against docks at Dunkirk.  Two dropped bombs successfully and one brought them back, failing to locate the target.  P/O Hodge (Rhodesia), 2nd pilot in P/O Deverill’s crew was hit by flak and died at 2300 hours at the Station SQ.  Much flak and searchlights at Dunkirk.  F/L Price DFC and crew and F/O Blakeman and crew took off from base at 1320 for sea rescue work over North Sea in the hope of crews of numerous aircraft from other units which may have made forced landings in the sea.  No trace.  F/L Price and crew are missing from this operation.  F/L Trueman, gunnery leader, of the other aircraft, last saw the aircraft L7466 N at 1600.  The missing crew are the Captain and P/O Pickering, Sgt Weston (Aus), F/Sgt Stanley DFM, Sgts Dexter, Manners and Bronson(Can).

8 November 1941 - Dunkirk

L7491 C  S/L Sherwood, P/O Shahi, Sgts Grossmith, Page, Cox, Wilding, F/Sgt Harrison.  Up 1835  Down 2127.  Could not locate docks owing to searchlights.  After crossing the town at 9.500’ and seeing nothing, returned to base with 10 x 500lbs.
L7476  K  P/O Deverill, P/O Hodge, P/O Hepburn, Sgts Irons, Hildersley, Canning, Benbow.  Up 1745  Down 2038.  Target attacked but bombs released due to flak during run up.  P/O Hodge badly wounded.  Jettisoned 4 x 500lb in North Sea.  2nd Pilot admitted to SSQ on return – where he died of his wounds at 2300 hours.
L7476 B  P/O Rodley, P/O Colquhoun, Sgts Henley, Merralls, Cummings, Crisp, Simpson.  Up 1801  Down 2043.  Target area bombed.  Two enemy fighters seen.  Orange fighters seen following as aircraft approached the English coast, but aircraft did not cross coastline – no cloud – bomb load 10 x 500lb.

8 November 1941 – Sea Rescue – North Sea

L7466 N  F/L Price DFC, P/O Pickering, Sgt Weston, F/Sgt Stanley DFM, Sgts Dexter, Manners, Bronson.  Up 1320.  Missing.  Last seen by F/L Trueman of the other crew at 1600 hours.
L7488 F  F/O Blakeman DFM, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, F/L Trueman, Sgt McKensie.  Up 1320  Down 1800.  Took off from base at 1320 hours.  Searched all afternoon at about 200 feet.  No results.  Saw the other aircraft six times. Last seen at 1600 hours.  Return to base 1800 hours.

8.11.41 HM King inspected the station and the squadrons at 1420 hours.

15.11.41  Four freshmen required from A Flight, seven from B Flight for ops.

15/16.11.41 Ops cancelled except the four aircraft from A Flight which operated against the docks at Emden.  Three successfully bombed target, the other brought bombs back, being unable to locate the target.  F/O Hallows landed at Coltishall.  Weather fair, broken cloud and no flying during day.

15/16 November 1941 - Emden

L7488 F  F/O Blakeman, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, McKensie, F/L Trueman.  Brought back full load of 5 x 1000lb, target not being located.
L7474 Z  F/O Hallows, Sgts J.N.Smith, Cutting, Louch, Jones(74), Goacher, Broomfield.  Up 1808  Down 2342.  No pinpoint obtained in target area.  Area circled and flare dropped.  Fire observed and bombed after circling for 15 minutes.  Bomb load 5 x 1000lb.
L7492 A  P/O Hill, F/Sgt Smith, Sgts Bewton, Martin, Holt, Few, Hutton.  Up 1830 – successfully bombed target, saw 5 bursts.  Overcast with medium cloud.  Bomb load 5 x 1000lb.
R5792 L  P/O Keir, P/O Whamond, P/O Hallam, Sgts Shepherd, Jenkins, Wharton, Canning.  Up 1804 – weather clear over target, very little opposition.  Target bombed. 5 x 1000lb.

24.11.41  F/O Hill and crew crashed in R5792 near Sutton Bridge after a collision with a Hurricane fighter.  The crew consisted of Sgt A.C.Smith, 2nd Pilot and Sgts J.Newton, F.Holt, F.E.Martin, J.Few, E.C.Hutton.  All were killed.

26.11.41 Ops cancelled.

30.11.41  Ops tonight and NFT’s.

Total operational flying hours for November 1941 – 190

1.12.41 On night of 30 November/1 December four aircraft detailed for ops – gardening in the “Willows” area.  Four more detailed for attack on Hamburg Blohm and Voss ship yards.  F/Sgt Harrison jettisoned his bombs owing to weather conditions hindering pinpointing. All crews returned safely and seven successfully carried out the task.

30 November/1 December 1941 – Gardening (“Willows Area)

L7489 T  F/L Coton, Sgts Thomas, Gibson, Watkins, Newell, Middleton, McMahon.  Up 1650. “Willows” area totally undefended.  4 vegetables planted successfully.  Slight haze, no cloud.
L7522 V  F/Sgt Pendrill, Sgts Bischlager, Kerr, Brummitt, F/L Wright, Sgts Jones, Bray.  Up 1648  Down 0059.  Vegetables planted correctly in “Willows” area.  Parachutes seen to open.  Convoy sighted on return.
L7457 Y  W/O Rowlands, P/O Briant, F/Sgt Booth, Sgts Canham, Hildersley, Jones, Concannon.  Up 1644  Down 0001.  Primary target not located.  Dropped vegetables in Goldburgh Sound alternative.  Crossed the sae at 1000 hours.  Visibility good.  No cloud.
L7423 S  W/O Mycock, Sgts Dimond, Jones, Crerar, Shelley, Donoghue, W/O Harrison.  Up 1653  Down 0208.  Vegetables planted in the required position.  Light flak encountered on the way.  Light good.

30 November/1 December 1941 – Hamburg (Blohm & Voss)
 
L7382 D  F/Sgt Harrison, Sgts Grouch, Platten, Preston, Ferara, Oates, Townley.  Up 1651  Down 2245.  Unsuccessful trip.  Jettisoned 5 x 1000lb safe, 1 x 1000lb brought back.  Fired on by British ship.
R5795 P  F/Sgt Adams, Sgts Carter, Bedell, Stafford, Wilkinson, Robertson, F/O Mims.  Up 1728 Down  0012.  6 x 1000lb dropped SE of target, believed to be on town, no bursts observed.  Visibility hazy, light good.
L7459 N  F/Sgt Hartley, Sgts Lancey, Canham, Dean, Baker, Mayland, Gross.  Up 1705  Down 2340.  3 x 1000lb jettisoned over sea, 3 x 1000lb dropped on town – railway yards in sights.  Intense icing outwards.

L7474 Z  Sgts Hughes, Davies, Williams, Gibson, Goodwin, Ferguson, Overton. Up 1707  Down 2259.  Target bombed. 6 x 1000lb bombs.  Three fires seen to start in docks.  Target difficult to find. Hazy.

7.12.41 Six aircraft required by A Flight for ops – to destroy the Nazi Party HQ in a German town.  Five aircraft to carry 1 x 4000 and 4 x 500 and one aircraft to carry 6 x 1000.  Op was not very satisfactory owing to cloud cover over enemy territory and some alternative targets were bombed, but few bursts observed.

7/8 December 1941 – Aachen (Nazi Party HQ)

L7491 C  F/L Mackid, P/O Underwood, P/O Tree, Sgts Marshall, McDermott, Day, Bennett.  Up 0302  Down 0740.  Owing to much cloud unable to bomb primary target.  Blackenburg attacked as last resort.  Bursts observed through clouds.  Load 1 x 4000, 2 x 500.
L7488 F  F/O Blakeman, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, McKenzie, P/O Weir.  Up 0320  Down 0727.  Unable to locate target owing to deep clouds.  Brought back bombs.
L7473 H  F/O Deverill, P/O Miller, F/O Hepbrun, Sgts Irons, McKay, Benbow, Canning.  Up 0250  Down 0454.  When testing guns over the North Sea, found failure of front and rear turrets and returned to base.
L7475 B  P/O Keir, P/O Whammond, P/O Hallam, Sgts Sheppherd, Jenkins, Wharton, Saw.  Up 0255 Down 0607.  Unable to reach target.  Bombed Ostend docks.  Bursts observed.  Bomb load 1 x 4000, 2 x 500.
L7492 A  P/O Rodley, P/O Colquhoun, Sgts Henley, Merralls, Cumming, Crisp, Simpson.  Up 0252  Down 0805.  Unable to bomb Aachen due to cloud.  Bombed Hayst.  Visibility bad at Calais and Dunquerque.  Bomb load 1 x 4000, 2 x 500.
L7476 K  F/Sgt Harrison, Sgts Crouch, Platten, Burton, Ferara, Oates, Townley.  Up 0332  Down 0830.  Primary not attacked owing to cloud.  Bombed Calais docks.  4000lb bomb observed to burst on the beach.

8.12.41 Ops cancelled after briefing.

10.12.41 F/L Coton was testing L7461 before taking over from the flight.  On permission from Regional Control to land, it was found that the hydraulics had failed, the hand pumps produced no results, the emergency gear also failed, except that the starboard wheel unlocked and dangled in the slipstream.  The crew were instructed to strap themselves in and a very successful crash landing was made at approximately 1610 hours.  No one was injured.  Bottom fuselage and airscrews damaged and salvage informed.  Instructions received from 5 Group that Manchester aircraft are not to operate until improved exhaust manifolds have been supplied.  Training to continue.

18.12.41 Daylight ops attacking the battleships at Brest.  Very successful op.  Believed some direct hits.  Took off in formation at 0930 escorted by fighters near Lands End.  Stirlings and Halifaxes also on the target.  P/O Stokes and crew reported missing.  The aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter and five of the crew were shortly afterwards seen to bale out about 4 miles off the French coast.  Weather was good but on return foggy conditions set in.  F/O Rodley landed at Mildenhall.   W/O Rowlands landed at Waterbeach.  F/O Blakeman DFM had been hit by flak causing holes in oil tanks and starboard engine to seize, however, he managed a good landing at Colerne with no casualties.  A tragic end came to W/C Balsdon (Formation Leader) and F/Sgt Pendrill (Captain) and crew.  On reaching home base, the visibility being bad, overshot the aerodrome and on opening up the engines to apparently circle round again, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all the crew.  The aircraft was completely burnt.  The aircraft had been seen to be hit by flak over the target, smashing the tailplane and elevator, the rear turret also being put out of action.  The rear gunner was a casualty.  W/C Balsdon having signalled for the ambulance to be ready on landing.  W/C Balsdon led the formation to the target and back to the English coast and then gave over command to S/L Sherwood DFC owing to damage caused by flak.

18 December 1941 – Brest Harbour (attack against battleships – Gneisenau, Scharnhorst & Eugene)

L7490 U  W/C Balsdon, F/Sgt Pendrill DFM, Sgts Bischlager, Gibson, Kerr, Bray, L.W.Jones, F/L Wright.  Up 0930.  Formation was led by W/C Balsdon.  Dropped the bombs over the target.  Heavy flak burst under the tail and badly damaged the tailplane and rear turret.  Rear gunner a casualty.  Crashed on landing at base due to damage.  All members of crew killed.
L7453 X  W/O Rowlands, P/O Briant, F/Sgt Booth, Sgts Canham, Desmond, C.Jones, Concannon.  Bombed target.  Weather good.  Diverted to Waterbeach and returned to base next day.
L7489 K  F/L Coton, P/O Boddington, Sgts Baines, Watkins, Newall, Middleton, McMahon.  Up 0928  Down 1545.  Attacked at 15000 feet.  Bombs were jettisoned over target – fused.  No bursts observed.  Intense flak encountered.  Weather fine, visibility good.
L7463 P  F/Sgt Fletcher, Sgts McKenna, Canham, Warren, Bale, Sugar, F/Sgt Elcoat.  Returned after leaving base – aircraft u/s.
L7492 A  S/L Sherwood DFC, P/O Shahi, Sgts Cox, Williams, Page, Wilding, F/Sgt Harrington, F/L Trueman.  Up 0931  Down 1539.  Bombed at 15000 feet, bursts observed on jetty alongside ships and bursts at end of jetty.  Formation handed over from L7490 on returning English coast.
R5795 W  P/O Stokes, Sgts Thomas, Wade, Conn, Heinish, Hewitt, Fell.  Up 0934 – shot down by enemy fighter – 5 of the crew seen to bale out.
L7460  J  F/O Blakeman, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, McKenzie, P/O Weir.  Bombed target.  Hit by flak – starboard oil tanks holed.  Made successful landing at Colerne.
L7525 D  F/O Hallows, Sgts J.M.Smith, Cutting, Louch, Jones, Goacher, Broomfield.  Up 0931  Down 1542.  Bombs released over target, bursts not seen.  Navigator was hit on the head a few seconds before pilot released bombs.  Clear weather.
L7491 C  F/L Mackid, P/O Underwood, P/O Tree, Sgts Marshall, McDermott, Day, Bennett.  Up 0933  Down 1550. Several bursts observed alongside parallel dry docks.  Saw R5795 shot down by Me109.  Successful trip especially the bombing.
L7425 G  F/O Rodley, P/O Colquhoun, Sgts Henley, Murralls, Cumming, Saw, Crisp.  Successfully bombed target near the “Eugene”.  Unable to warn “W” when attacked by fighter as T.R.9 was u/s.  Diverted to Mildenhall.
L7488 F  F/O Deverill, Sgts Worswick, Irons, McKay, Benbow, Canning, F/O Hepburn.  Returned after leaving base – aircraft u/s.

23.12.41 W/C J.H.Kynoch assumes command of 97 Squadron w.e.f 19.12.41

24.12.41 standby for daylight ops tomorrow.

25.12.41 Ops cancelled, standby for tomorrow (ops).

26.12.41 Ops cancelled, weather unfit.

27.12.41 S/L Sherwood DFC awarded Bar to his DFC and F/L Mackid awarded DFC for ops against Brest on 18.12.41

29.12.41 Daylight ops required – cancelled due to bad weather.

Total non-operational hours for December 1941 – 229
Total operational hours – 75.