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Flight Operations carried out by Sgt. J.J. Johnson who arrived at 97 Squadron August 1943, from 467 squadron with the Crew of P/O. E.F.McEgan RAAF:

JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, Sgt F.A.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 1905 Down 0008. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 6 x 1000lb. Target Hagen attacked. 20,000. Dark. 10/10ths cloud. Green TI marker in bomb sight at time of bombing. Own TIs seen to cascade reflecting glow of fires in cloud.

October 2nd / 3rd 1943 Target : Munich
JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, Sgt F.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/Sgt J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 1900 Down 0303. 1 x 4000lb, 5 x 1000lb. Primary target Munich. 19,000’. Industrial haze, no cloud. Target located by H2S and seen visually. Bombed concentration of red and yellow TI’s. Several fires burning well in marked area.

October 4th / 5th 1943 Target : Ludwigshaven
JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, Sgt F.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 1842 Down 0024. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 4 x 1000lb. Ludwigshaven bombed. 20,000’. No moon, no cloud, visibility good. Bombed on centre of cluster of green TI markers. Target well illuminated. TI’s were scattered. Good fires were going 10 minutes after leaving target.

October 7th / 8th Target : Stuttgart
JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, Sgt F.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 2105 Down 0406. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 3 x 1000lb. Target Stuttgart attacked. 18,500’. 10/10ths cloud. Cluster of green TI markers in bomb sight at time of bombing. Good glow of fires in both north and south of target area. TI’s very scattered.

October 8th / 9th 1943 Target : Hanover
JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, Sgt F.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, P/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 2249 Down 0345. 1 x 4000lb, 6 x 1000lb. Primary objective attacked. 19,000’. No moon, no cloud, visibility hazy. Target located by H2S and bombs dropped blind. Bombs seen to explode in built up area. Big blue explosion seen at 0130 hours.

November 10th / 11th 1943 Target : Modane
JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, P/O V.S.Flack (wnd Pilot), F/Sgt F.A.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibbs, W.G.Duncan. Up 2115 Down 0426. 8 x 1000lb. Target Modane. Moon, clear sky, visibility good. 15,000’. Good show of TI’s and flares. Marshalling yards observed visually. Bombed on cluster of red TI’s - in bomb sight. Many bomb bursts seen but not own.

November 11th / 12th 1943 Target : Cannes
JB176K P/O E.F.McEgan, F/Sgt F.A.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibbs, W.G.Duncan. Up 1840 Down 0238. 5 x TI, 6 x 1000lb. Target Cannes. 14,500’. Full moon, clear sky, visibility good. Target identified visually and good concentration of TI’s over east end of marshalling yards. Aiming point in sight at time of bombing. Own TI’s seen to cascade. Many bomb bursts seen on railway track. Explosions and fires seen.

November 17th / 18th 1943 Target : Mannheim
JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, F/Sgt F.A.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 1716 Down 2300. 5 x 2000lb. Target Modane attacked. 12,000. Layer cloud, visibility very hazy. H2S bombs dropped blind. Cloud and haze made observation impossible. Aircraft also one of first on target. Large explosion. November 18/19th. Target‹berlin JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, Sgt F.A.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts JJJohnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 1730. Down 0055. 4 x 2000lb. Berlin bombed from 19,000. Target located by precision device. Visibility poor, 10/10ths top. No results observed.

November 22nd / 23rd 1943
22nd November 1943
20 Lancasters detailed to attack targets in Berlin. Weather 9/10 10/10ths cloud at 7,000’ visibility good. Bombs were released from approximately 10,000’. All TI’s were reported as fairly well concentrated and a good and continuous marking was kept up during the attack. Some fires were reported but bomb bursts could not generally be seen. Observation was hampered by clouds but the attack is considered scattered. Defences heavy and light barrage over target with box barrage at 16,000’. No fighter flares. Two aircraft and crews have failed to return from this operation they are JB227J F/L Munro DFC (Can) and crew and JB238A P/O McEgan (Aus) and crew. All remaining aircraft returned to base, a few of them with minor flak damage.

JB238A P/O E.F.McEgan, F/Sgt F.A.Williams, P/O P.A.Spencer, F/O J.V.Tyler, Sgts J.J.Johnson, W.S.Gibb, W.G.Duncan. Up 1730 missing.

Extract from Bomber Command Losses 22nd / 23rd November 1943
Lancaster III JB227 OF J. Op Berlin. T/O 1705 Bourn. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The three DFM holders had their awards gazetted on 13 July, 16 and 12 November 1943 respectively. F/L J.F.Munro DFC RCAF(+), F/S W.G.Waller(+), F/L A.J.W.Silk DFM(+), F/L F.P.Burbridge DFC(+), F/S J.N.Underwood(+), F/S R.S.Bennett DFM(+), WO1 W.Hill DFM RCAF(+).

Lancaster III JB238 OF A. Op Berlin. T/O 1730 Bourn. Crashed at Achmer, 4km WSW of Bramsche. Those who died were buried at Achmer, though their graves are now in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Details of the DFM won by WO1 Burke RCAF had appeared in the London Gazette on 15 June 1943. P/O E.F.McEgan RAAF(+), F/S F.A.Williams RAAF(+), P/O P.A.Spencer(pow), F/O J.V.Tyler(+), Sgt J.J.Johnson(pow), Sgt W.S.Gibb(pow), WO1 J.R.A.Burke DFM
RCAF(pow)

Extract from ‘Bombers over Berlin’:

‘An aircraft from 97 Squadron (JB238A) flown by Pilot Officer MacEgan, was hit by flak over Berlin and the return was made on two engines. They were hit again over Osnabruck and MacEgan gave the order to bale out when they were at 18,000 feet. Pilot Officer Adrian Spencer made his way towards the front of the aircraft and found the pilot’s seat empty. He and the bomb aimer, Flying Officer Tyler, tried to keep the aircraft on a reasonable straight and level flight-path, and found that the W/Op and mid-upper had baled out.

MacEgan had in fact collapsed over the front hatch and Tyler tried to help him but by this time the aircraft was down to 200 feet. Seconds later it struck the ground, ploughing into a farmyard six miles from Osnabruck aerodrome. Spencer, Sergeant Johnson, Sergeant Gibb and wireless operator, Warrant Officer Burke, all survived. Spencer was dazed by the crash and as he crawled out of the wreckage was captured by men of the German Home Guard. He was later taken to Frankfurt for interrogation and later to Stalag Luft 1 at Barth. He remained a prisoner until liberated by Russian troops in May 1945.’

by Alan Cooper

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ 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’s stories:

• Bale out!
• Missions from Woodhall Spa
• Tracers coming through the thatch
• I didn’t quite get the chop
• Little humour in adversity
• Ted Porters Crew
• The ‘Augsburg Raid’
• S/L Sherwood’s recommendation for the Victoria Cross
• The worst night of the War…
• 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) — Extract from ‘the Berlin’ Raids’
• The worst night of the War (Part 6) — Bombers over Berlin
• The worst night of the War (Part 7) — Combat Report
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter - Pause for Thought
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter — A Navigators View of the Route to Heaven
• Did you know?
• Flight Operations carried out with Sgt. D.C Plaunt
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ after baling out on 9th — 10th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ after baling out on the 9th - 10th June 1944 - Continued
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 11th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 12th — 15th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 16th - 18th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 19th — 23rd June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ — 24th August 1044
• ‘Our Heroes’

For further stories read ‘ACHIEVE YOUR AIM’ by Kevin Bending

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