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15) Squadron Target No 57: Oisemont - 1st July 1944
Twenty five aircraft were airborne between 15.31 to 16.00 hours. All attacked the target, ten using Gee radar and the rest on the Pathfinder markers. The Master Bomber was heard advising bombing with Gee. Moderate to heavy flak was encountered and one aircraft was hit. No enemy aircraft were seen and no aircraft were shot down in the target area. There was moderate visibility through cloud breaks, 8/10 to 9/10 cloud with tops at 600 to 800 feet were reported in the target area. All 578 aircraft returned safely.

16) Squadron Target No 58: St Martin L'Hortier - 4th July 1944
Twenty one aircraft were detailed, but only twenty finally took off and bombed the target. 5/10 cloud at 14,500 to 15.600 feet disconcerted a number of bomb aimers and only eleven saw the target indicators. Master Bomber was hit during this operation, but carried on and seemed pleased with the bombing even though it was a little scattered. A lot of heavy flak was encountered. All aircraft returned safely. LK B to Farnborough.
Squadron Target No 59: St Martin L'Hortier - 5th/6th July 1944
Twenty three aircraft away on this operation between 01.33 to 12.01 hours. we were in LK S and abandoned due to engine failure. Our outer port engine was unserviceable. We jettisoned our bomb load and returned to Carnaby.

17) Squadron Target No 61: Les Catelliers - 9th July 1944
Twenty six airborne, all attacked the target between 13.30 to 13.41 hours from 11,000 to 15,000 feet. Heavy flak was seen North West and also ten miles south of the target. One fighter and one four engine aircraft were seen to go down. Twenty four aircraft returned to Burn. LK L landed at Little Harwood and LK V landed at Chipping Warden. Most reports were of scattered bombing.

18) Squadron Target No 63: Nucourt - 15th / 16th July 1944
Twenty two aircraft detailed, but two returned early. LK B with navigation equipment unserviceable and LK P with port inner engine failure. The first target indicators went down at 01.37 and green target indicators at 01.45 hours. An aircraft believed to have been shot down by flak was bombed in error by a few other aircraft. Apart from this bombing was well concentrated. No fighters were seen. Slight to heavy flak encountered. All 578 aircraft returned safely to Burn.

19) Squadron Target No 65: Caen - 18th July 1944
Twenty one aircraft were detailed for this operation but LK Q caught fire just before the turning point at Reading and crashed in Carpenters Wood. The only survivor was the rear gunner. The names of the rest of the crew are recorded on the Runnymede Memorial as having no known graves. Twenty aircraft bombed the primary target in perfect bombing conditions. The Master bomber was clearly hears giving his bombing instructions. Fairly heavy light and heavy flak was encountered over and before the target area. Five aircraft were seen to be hit in the target area and go down, although no enemy aircraft were seen. A second operation was in process nearby. 578 aircraft bombed between 06.11 to 06.16 hours and except LK C returned to base. LK A, F, Z, and O all had flak damage.

20) Squadron Target No 67: Bottrop - 20th / 21st July 1944
Twenty six aircraft away between 22.56 and 23.24 hours on the 20th and of these six were lost. Two abandoned the operation and eighteen bombed the primary target. LK Q abandoned with port inner engine unserviceable and LK Z with instrument failure. LK E and LK K collided in the Hull area and all fourteen crew were killed. I witnessed this crash whilst looking out of our astrodome.
LK D was posted as missing, no survivors.
LK M was posted as missing, two survived.
LK P was posted as missing, four survived.
LK C was posted as missing, no survivors.
Weather was good over the target area. Flak defences in barrage form were used 16,000 to 21,000 feet and many ineffective searchlights were seen. Operation was thought to be a success and well concentrated, considering the opposition. LK T suffered a fire in its starboard outer engine.

21) Squadron Target No 68: Kiel - 23rd / 24th July 1944
Nineteen aircraft were engaged on this night raid to Kiel. All were away between 22.9 to 22.56 hours and all attacked the target. The Master Bomber was heard speaking to Master Bomber 2 for a while, but about 01.23 hours the Master Bomber 2 took over. Heavy flak in barrage form was encountered between 12,000 and 22,000 feet. One aircraft was shot down by a flak ship and another three seen shot down in the target area. One Dornier 217 was seen by our aircraft. The operation was considered a success and the flight plan good. All 578 aircraft returned to base between 13.33 to 14.19 hours.

22) Squadron Target No 75: Foret de Nieppe - 2nd August 1944
Only ten aircraft were required from Burn for this operation and they were away between 21.09 to 21.11 hours. Apart from flak over the target no trouble was encountered and enemy aircraft were seen. Majority of crew were able to identify the target visually and no trouble found to bomb.

23) Squadron Target No 77: Foret de Nieppe - 3rd August 1944
Once again ten aircraft were detailed but LK R crashed in UK whilst outbound, all nine crew escaped. The other nine attacked the target from 20.07 to 20.10 hours from 14,700 to 16,000 feet. Master Bomber was heard quite well eventually ordering 'Bomb centre of smoke'. One aircraft was seen to go down in the sea. LK E was damaged by flak. The bombing was well concentrated and the remaining nine aircraft returned safely.

24) Squadron Target No 79: Hazebrouck - 6th August 1944
Twenty four on this operation, all attacked the target. It was very hazy over the target area, but all crews identified the target visually as well as by the concentrated marking. All reported that the timing and execution of this attack was excellent. Coastal defences were active but not unduly worrying. LK Q received flak damage to rear of aircraft.

25) Squadron Target No 80: 'Totalizer 3' - 7th / 8th August 1944
The attacks in support of the Army continued with twenty aircraft which were away between 20.45 to 21.21 hours. Immediately bombing commenced the master Bomber gave the 'Abandon' order. 578 aircraft carried 2 x 1000 and 5 x 500 lb. bombs. Bombing seemed to go on after the 'Abandon' order had been transmitted. No aircraft were seen in trouble and all 578 aircraft returned safely.

26) Squadron Target No 81: Foret de Mormal - 9th August 1944
Twenty four aircraft detailed to attack a fuel dump in Mormal Forest. LK H had to abandon with starboard inner engine unserviceable. Large oil explosion was noted at about 13.05 hours becoming a large fire with smoke up to 10,000 feet. Four exceptionaly large flak bursts were observed near the target and a six gun coastal batteries was pinpointed. All aircraft returned safely and all crews were enthusiastic about the results.

27) Squadron Target No 82: Somain - 11th August 1944
Twenty eight aircraft were away on this operation. This was the largest number of aircraft from 578 on a single target. One early return LK V - port outer engine unserviceable. Twenty seven attacked the target. Bombing conditions were good in 5/10 cloud. Master Bomber was heard clearly, defences were negligible. Some flak was seen on the way to the target. One Halifax was hit by bombs from another aircraft over the target and only three parachutes were seen. One aircraft LK U received flak damage to mid upper turret. It was reported that the Halifax bombed from above lost its tail unit and went into a spin. All 578 aircraft returned safely.

28) Squadron Target No 83: Russelsheim - 12th / 13th August 1944
Twenty four aircraft for this target. The attack was launched at 00.14 hours from heights of 12,500 to 18,000 feet. Route marking flares were used towards the target. The Pathfinder target indicators were a little scattered and one or two lone reds were seen, probably dummies. Some crews unused to this type of display found it a little confusing. Defences were searchlights working with heavy flak in barrage form and fighter aircraft.
LK L was attacked by an ME 110 from starboard beam, enemy aircraft opened fire and Halifax dived. A second attack came from astern. LK L gunners opened fire. LK Q was also attacked by an FW 190 from above and by a twin engine aircraft from port quarter. LK X was hit by flak. The Master Bomber was pleased with the attack. A large number of aircraft were reported shot down, so it was thought that 'Scarecrows' were used. 578 aircraft returned 13.00 to 14.00 hours except LK K and LK T. Nothing was heard of these aircraft after take off. LK C abandoned with Gee radar unserviceable.

29) Squadron Target No 84: 'Tractable' - 14th August 1944
The ten crews concerned were enthusiastic about the success of this operation when they attacked between 14.06 to 14.09 hours. The target was clearly seen, no cloud, but a little hazy. The bombing was well concentrated. A small amount of heavy flak was noted to the South West of the target, but none near the target area. No enemy aircraft were seen and no aircraft reported in distress. All returned to base between 15.41 to 16.16 hours.

30) Squadron Target No 85: Tirlemont - 15th August 1944
Twenty five aircraft were detailed for this attack, all airborne 09.46 to 10.17 and all returned to Burn between 13.34 to 14.29 hours. The attack was carried out in perfect bombing conditions - no cloud and good visibility. the target indicators were well placed and received a good pounding. Defences were nil and one of our Squadron aircraft descended to 5,000 feet to describe the damage to the North West portion of the airfield. No enemy aircraft were seen but LK S reported parachutes in the Oxford area on the way home.
I flew with Maxi Baer on this his last operation before being screened on our return. We beat up the airfield and flew below the control tower roof level up the main runway and were surprised to see that some other aircrew had hoisted Maxi's Austin Seven onto the roof of the tower.

31) Squadron Target No 99: Kiel - 15th / 16th September 1944
Twenty four aircraft airborne between 22.05 to 22.40 hours and twenty one attacked on the 16th between 01.13 to 01.19 hours. LK C returned with navigator sick, LK V with W/T unserviceable and LK B with port inner engine unserviceable. Good conditions prevailed over the target area, markers showed up well and seven crews bombed visually. Defences were not heavy, none of our aircraft were hit. No combats were reported though two single engine aircraft were seen near Sylt and a single engine and twin engine aircraft were seen in the target area. One aircraft was shot down, LK P returned to Carnaby with unserviceable hydraulics. The remainder landed at Burn between 03.33 to 04.25 hours.

32) Squadron Target No 90: Homberg - 27th August 1944
This operation opened the day attacks on Germany and twenty four aircraft were detailed, eventually twenty two bombed between 14.03 to 14.12. LK U abandoned with port outer engine as did LK B. Three aircraft received flak damage - LK A, LK H and LK Q. Bombing took place in difficult cloud conditions 7 to 9/10 over target. The Master Bomber was clearly heard and seemed pleased with the result. Moderate flak defences in barrage form were encountered. Unfortunately only nine aircraft saw and bombed the target indicators in spite of orbiting the target. The plant was definitely not identified visually by any crew. All our aircraft returned between 15.13 to 16.25 hours and no aircraft were seen in distress.

33) Squadron Target No 100: Boulogne - 17th September 1944
Twenty two aircraft airborne between 09.08 to 09.32 hours. The attack was eventually abandoned by the Master Bomber, but not before twenty one of our aircraft released their bombs. LK O was the only Burn aircraft to hear the abandon order. Aircraft feet bombed between 11.08 to 11.14 hours but Master Bomber was not heard until 11.08 hours and the Deputy Master Bomber took over. The river and marshalling yards were visible, but smoke obscured the aiming point. Defences were slight and no enemy aircraft were seen. LK V reported a dinghy sighting (over W/T) at 11.25 hours which was confirmed by other crews. All returned to base 12.31 to 13.25 hours.

34) Squadron Target No 101: Calais - 24th September 1944
Twenty one aircraft were engaged in this attack but at 18.08 hours in the run in to the target the 'Abandon' order was received from the Master Bomber. Twenty aircraft returned to Burn between 19.23 to 21.09 hours. LK X landed at Manston with the mid upper gunner wounded in the leg.

35) Squadron Target No 112: Essen - 23rd October 1944
Ten aircraft bombed the target out of the twenty four which were airborne between 16.33 to 17.08 hours. Bombing was carried out on Sky markers through 10/10 cloud. The Master Bomber was heard and the bombing was carried out from 18,000 to 20,000 feet. One aircraft bombed the alternate target Solingen and one due to navigational error bombed a red marker 60 miles from the target. Defences were remarkably light, no enemy aircraft reported.
LK F abandoned, intercom unserviceable
LK L abandoned, two motors giving trouble.
LK V abandoned, one motor giving trouble
LK Z early return due to engine trouble and landed at Stanton Harcourt
LK T landed at Carnaby
LK E landed at Woodbridge
LK M Landed at Manston
LK U returned to base but on landing the aircraft swung to starboard, the undercarriage collapsed and port outer engine caught fire. The crew escaped unhurt. The remaining aircraft landed at Burn between 21.58 to 22.59 hours.

36) Squadron Target No 113: Essen - 25th October 1944
Twenty aircraft were away between 12.27 to 12.49 hours. Eighteen bombed the primary target in fairly good conditions - 9/10 cloud with tops to 8,000 feet with haze below. Bombing was timed between 15.33 to 15.38 hours. A few Bomb aimers had visual sight of the target when cloud cleared over the target area. Moderate heavy flak barrage was encountered up to 20,000 feet.
Several crews reported three Lancasters disintegrating over the target area. Three twin engine enemy aircraft were seen about 30,000 feet, travelling South West over the target area.
LK K had hydraulic trouble after taking off and landed at Carnaby.
LK S returned to Carnaby with engine trouble
LK N returned to Carnaby with hydraulic trouble and bomb doors open
LK D sustained flak damage to the tail plane, the rear landing wheel dropped off and the starboard inner engine had to be feathered.
LK B was hit by flak in the starboard wing on leaving the target area.
LK L abandoned the operation with starboard outer engine trouble.
Several crew reported various pyrotechnic displays, red and green shells fired into the air, also seen were white flares, red scarecrow bursts and large puffs of smoke with red flashes lasting two to three seconds, which all added interest to what was my last operation.

I was flying in LK F when we sustained flak damage (35 holes) and a burst port tyre. We landed at Carnaby. After this operation I requested an interview with the Squadron Leader to request that I be screened. I carried out thirty six bombing operations, mostly as a spare engineer. My request was granted. I was posted to Transport Command.

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