大象传媒

This raid known as the 鈥楢ugsburg Raid鈥� was probably one of the most daring raids in the early part of the War. It probably ranks with the Dambuster Raid as one of the greats. I think it was a more audacious one, for it was done in daylight with no Fighter Escort, with Gerry knowing they were on their way. They flew nearly 1500 miles at around 100 feet to dodge radar. Only 12 Lancaster took part. 6 from 97 and 6 from 44 Squadron. 44 Squadron lost 4 Lancasters on the way and the other two pressed on. The story will unfold as you read their brave account. 6 never came back.

I add a detail which I don鈥檛 think is made here. S/Ldr. Sherwood鈥檚 wife lived at the Station (Woodhall Spa) and when crews confirmed to her they saw his Lancaster explode when crashing and he was dead, she refused to believe it. Consequently a couple of months later it was established he was a POW. When the plane crashed, he was thrown out from the burning Lancaster, still stuck in his seat, but doesn鈥檛 remember it. All the rest of his crew were killed. Sherwood was awarded his DSO and Penman was awarded VC

The Target was Augsburg.

Date 17th April 1942:

Six aircraft detailed for daylight ops in formation with two reserve aircraft and crews. Seven took-off in five minutes commencing 1455 hours. W/O Harrison in aircraft 鈥楬鈥� went u/s. W/O Rowlands flew as far as Selsey Bill as reserve, not being required, returned to base. The raid being in daylight, flew in formation of 6 aircraft, the captains being S/L Sherwood DFC, F/L Hallows, F/O Rodley, F/L Penman DFC, F/O Deverill DFM, W/O Mycock DFC. The attack was of very great importance on the MAIN Diesel works Augsburg, South Germany, being a total of 1500 miles.

All six aircraft flew over France and low over Germany and successfully reached the target, all dropped their bombs. S/L Sherwood and W/O Mycock were seen to be hit by flak over the target, caught fire and crashed near the target area. F/L Hallows aircraft was badly damaged and all the other aircraft received a certain amount of damage, but the all managed to reach base safely without any casualties.

The op was highly successful, the press giving excellent reports, also the 大象传媒 broadcast an account mentioning that this raid was the finest of its type during the war. The names of the formation leaders S/L Sherwood and F/L Penman were also broadcast. Definite from the reports of the captains of the aircraft that large amount of damage was caused to the essential parts of the factory.

The following signals of congratulation have been received from 5 Group. The following has been received from AOC-in-C Bomber Command.

The following message has been received by the AOC from the Prime Minister:
鈥淲e must plainly regard the attack of the Lancasters on the U-boat engine factory at Augsburg as an outstanding achievement of the Royal Air Force. Undeterred by heavy losses at the outset, 44 and 97 Squadrons pierced and struck a vital point with deadly precision in broad daylight. Pray convey the thanks of His Majesty鈥檚 Government to the officers and men who accomplished this memorial feat of arms in which no life was lost in vain鈥�.

Message from Chief of the Air Staff:
鈥淚 would like 44 and 97 Squadrons to know the great importance I attach to this gallant and successful attack on the diesel engine factory at Augsburg. Please give my warmest congratulations and thanks.鈥�

From Air Marshall A.T. Harris:
鈥淐onvey to the crews of 44 and 97 Squadrons who took part in the Augsburg raid, the following: the resounding blow which has been struck at the enemy鈥檚 submarine and tank building programme will echo round the world. The full effects of his submarine campaigns cannot be immediately apparent, but nevertheless they will be enormous. The gallant adventure penetrating deep into the heart of Germany in daylight and pressed home with outstanding determination in the face of bitter and unforeseen opposition takes its place amongst the most courageous operations of the war. It is moreover yet another fine example of effective cooperation with the other services by striking at the very sources of the enemy effort. The officers and men who took part, those who returned and those who fell, have indeed served their country well鈥�

17 April 1942:
Augsburg L7573 K S/L Sherwood DFC, P/O Webb, F/O Hepburn, Sgts Page, Cox, F/Sgt Harrington, F/Sgt Wilding. Up 1455. Leader of the formation. Shot down over the target by flak. Seen by other aircraft to be in flames and crash. Missing. R5537 B F/O Hallows, P/O Friend, P/O Cutting, F/Sgt Louch, Sgts L.G.Jones, Broomfield, Goacher. Up 1456 Down 2312. Nothing of note until 2 miles from target when everything started to shoot, including heavy flak. Visibility 20 miles and bombed from 400 feet on target, possibly overshooting owing to aim being upset by shell in starboard wing. Leader was shot down so continued with remaining number of formation. Successful. R5488 F F/O Rodley, P/O Colquhoun, Sgts Henley, Merralls, Cummings, Ratcliffe, Crisp. Up 1457 Down 2325. Approached enemy coast at 100 feet and from there kept just above ground to target. No. of flak encountered on way.

On approach saw huge red flames leap up from the target, on entering target area much light and some heavy flak was shot up. Visibility good, slight haze, bombed from 200 feet. Bombs burst on part of works west of canal, saw other bombs hit the main buildings. Saw leader smoking and then a fire grew from his inner petrol tank and crash north of town in ball of flames. Damaged slightly by flak. Continued home low until crossing French coast at 11000 feet amidst further flak. Landed at base. Successful raid. R5496 U F/L Penman DFC, P/O Hooey, P/O Ifould, F/Sgt Elwood, Sgts Tales, Overton, Hebdon. Outward journey no opposition. Navigation was perfect. Approaching target, guns opened up on all sides and all the aircraft in the formation were hit, no鈥檚 2 and 3 catching fire. Bombs were dropped in two sticks in centre of chimney clusters from 400. No 2 pocked up position leaving target. Continued flying low until dark enough to climb to 18000 feet and home. Damage, light flak holes. Successful. L7575 Y F/O Deverill DFM, Sgt Cooper, P/O Butler, Sgts Irons, Mackay, Devine, F/Sgt Keane. Up 1459 Down 2315. Target attacked in formation. No cloud, from 400 feet bombs were dropped on target area. No 3 鈥楶鈥� was seen to catch fire in the air and crash. Very heavy flak and light predicted flak and S.A tracer. Aircraft caught fire on starboard side of fuselage and bomb bay but was extinguished by the efforts of the Wireless Operator and Mid gunner. Both mid and rear turrets u/s from target. Port outer engine was u/s and feathered on leaving but was restarted before reaching coast. Formated again on No 1 鈥楿鈥� for protection and landed base. R5513 P W/O Mycock DFC, Sgt Hayes, W/O Harrison, Sgts Eades, Macdonald, Shelley, Donoghue. Up 1500. Entered target area, was seen to drop bombs. Hit by flak, caught fire in the air and was seen to crash near target. Missing. The Augsburg operation

Crew:
L7573 OF-K S/L Sherwood DFC & bar, P/O Webb, F/O Hepburn, Sgt Page, Sgt Cox, F/Sgt Harrington, F/Sgt Wilding. R5537 OF-B F/L Hallows, P/O Friend, P/O Cutting, F/Sgt Louch, Sgt Jones, Sgt Broomfield, Sgt Goacher. R5488 OF-F F/O Rodley, P/O Colquhoun, Sgts Henley, Merrals, Cummings, Ratcliffe, Crisp. R5496 OF-U F/L Penman DFC, P/O Hooey (USA), P/O Ifould RAAF, F/Sgt Elwood, Sgts Tales, Overton, Hebdon. L7575 OF-Y F/O Deverill DFM, Sgt Cooper, P/O Butler, Sgts Irons, Mackay, Devine, F/Sgt Keane. R5513 OF-P W/O Mycock DFC, Sgt Hayes, W/O Harrison, Sgts Eades, Macdonald, Shelly, Donoghue.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Becky Barugh of the 大象传媒 Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Des Evans and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Des鈥檚 stories:

• Bale out!
• Missions from Woodhall Spa
• Tracers coming through the thatch
• I didn鈥檛 quite get the chop
• Little humour in adversity
• Ted Porters Crew
• S/L Sherwood鈥檚 recommendation for the Victoria Cross
• The worst night of the War鈥�
• The worst night of the War (Part 2)
• The worst night of the War (Part 3) - Crew
• The worst night of the War (Part 4) - Losses
• The worst night of the War (Part 5) 鈥� Extract from 鈥榯he Berlin鈥� Raids鈥�
• The worst night of the War (Part 6) 鈥� Bombers over Berlin
• The worst night of the War (Part 7) 鈥� Combat Report
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter - Pause for Thought
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter 鈥� A Navigators View of the Route to Heaven
• Did you know?
• Flight Operations carried out with Sgt. D.C Plaunt
• Flight Operations carried out by Sgt. J.J Johnson
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� after baling out on 9th 鈥� 10th June 1944
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� after baling out on the 9th - 10th June 1944 - Continued
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� - 11th June 1944
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� - 12th 鈥� 15th June 1944
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� - 16th - 18th June 1944
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� - 19th 鈥� 23rd June 1944
• The experiences of 鈥楾affy鈥� 鈥� 24th August 1044
• 鈥極ur Heroes鈥�

For further stories read 鈥楢CHIEVE YOUR AIM鈥� by Kevin Bending

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