大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Ian Hayes of the 大象传媒 GMR Action Desk on behalf of Alan Morgan and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The crews returning from Leipzig hadn't even retired for a well earned sleep before Group were requesting 15 Lancas for that night's raid on Stuttgart.Just before midnight that Sunday evening, as sleet showers made conditions miserable and dicey, P/O Tudor Jones(JB701) hauled the first of those 15 Lancasters away from Fiskerton.

"WHAT'S COOKING?"
Twelfth aircraft away that wintery night was piloted by P/O Frank Clarke. As they reached flying speed in ND498 the aircraft began to "swing" off the runway. In an effort to regain control the undercarriage collapsed and R-Roger scraped along the runway.The crew soon evacuated the wreck safely as fire took hold. Despite strenuous efforts by the crash crews, the fire could not be brought under control and the area was cleared. Because of the 4,000lb."cookie" on board personnel and villagers were warned of the danger of explosion. R-Roger's "cookie" was eventually cooked (!) and the resulting explosion scattered bits of Lancaster and concrete runway as far as Sudbrooke Park, well over a mile away. The remaining 3 Lancasters still on the ground had to abort.
The 11 aircraft of the squadron that managed to get airborne, including the new crew piloted by P/O Ball (JB 680) in P-Peter, climbed through 10/10ths cloud to join 587 other aircraft bound for Germany.
Diversion and support operations managed to draw away the fighters for at least two hours with the result that only 9 aircraft failed to return, although a further 5 crashed on return to England. Over the target, the 1st.wave managed to bomb on "Paramatta" ground markers, but as the raid progressed "Wanganui" flares were added.

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