- Contributed by听
- gmractiondesk
- People in story:听
- ALAN MORGAN.
- Location of story:听
- GERMANY.
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A4669725
- Contributed on:听
- 02 August 2005
F/O Bill Healey RCAF (JB 679) and crew, flying D-Dog also returned early with a collision report, but this time it was between his kite and that of a German aircraft!
A sudden jar shuddered through D-Dog; looking out along the port main plane, Bill saw the shadowy shape of a Ju88 sitting on his wing tip with the German pilot quite visible. The time was 02.01hrs and they were flying at 21,000ft. Moments later the Junkers fell taking ten foot of Lancaster wing with it. F/O Healey fought for control as the German burst into flames as it crashed on the ground.
They struggled back to Fiskerton on 3 engines landing at 03.30 hrs. A day-light inspection later that morning revealed extensive damage with the port outer engine pushed askew and the airscrew bent beyond redemption. For his excellent display of airmanship, F/O healey RCAF received the DFC.
Meanwhile, over the target P/O Ewens (J8714) and crew were engaged by another Ju88 during their bombing run. The two gunners, Sgt. Lee and Laws managed to drive their attacker off and the bombs were successfully dropped "on the residue of a "Wanganui" flare".
W/O Jupp (ND 533) and crew in M-Mother dropped their bomb load on 20 "Wanganui" flares but on leaving the target they were pounced upon by a night-fighter. Fortunately for crew, but unfortunately for the German, Sgt Allwood in the rear turret was alert to the danger and the night-fighter was soon dispatched in flames.
Sgt. Briars, rear gunner in P/O Sander's (JB473) U-Uncle reported his turret u/s but the crew insisted on continuing to the target and a trouble free trip was completed.
P/O J.Jones (ND473) and crew in O-Ohoe reported beiing chased by "some queer sort of rocket shells believed to be controlled by radio".
The losses suffered by Bomber Command on this night were horrendous--78 aircraft including 44 Lancasters and 34 Halifaxes. This figure represented 9.5% of the force. The Halifax 11s and Vs would never be asked to operate over Germany again following this raid.
The squadron started arriving back over Fiskerton just before breakfast on Sunday morning. U-Uncle was the last to land at 0740hrs, and it soon became clear that two aircraft were missing; P/O McKenzie (ND516), pilot of N-Nan, along with the bomb aimer and navigator survived after being brought down, but sadly the remainder of the crew perished and are buried together in the Berlin War cemetery.
Also reported missing was twenty year-old pilot, F/S Ed White (JB469) and crew were all killed when B.Baker was shot down; they are buried together in Hanover War Cemetery with the exception of Sgt James Ellis the W/OP., who sadly has no known grave but is remembered at Runnymede.
FTR J8467 F/S E. White PILOT (KILLED).
Sgt. J.R.Ward F/E (KILLED).
(EA-8) Sgt.W.W.Stanley NAV (KILLED).
"A" FLT Sgt.J.E.Ellis W/OP (KILLED).
Sgt. D.N.Stevens A/G (KILLED).
Sgt. J.T. Loveland B/A (KILLED).
Sgt.H.Thomas A/B (KILLED).
FTR ND 516 P/O A.J.McKenziePILOT(POW).
Sgt.W.S Purdie F/E (KILLED).
(EA-N) Sgt.C.T.Critchley NAV (POW.
"B Flt" F/S B.Hobby W/AG (KILLED).
Sgt. K.A.Archer A/G (KILLED).
Sgt. T.A. Stevens B/A (POW).
Sgt. A.C.Grems A/G (KILLED).
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.