大象传媒

No.23. 4.12.44. Target KARLSRUHE. Night operation.
"C" Charlie. Bomb load 1 x 40001b Cookie plus incendiaries.

The railway marshalling yards were attacked by 535 aircraft. Marking and bombing were accurate and severe damage was caused. A machine tool factory was also destroyed. 1 Lancaster and 1 Mosquito were lost.

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No.24. 6.12.44. Target Synthetic Oil Plants "MERSEBERG LEUNA" Nr.Leipzig.

"C" Charlie. Bomb load 1 x 4000 Ib Cookie 6000 Ibs mixed HE. 475 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitoes were called upon to try to destroy Germany's largest synthetic oil plant following numerous ineffective raids by the U.S Air Force. This was the first major attack on an oil target in Eastern Germany and was some 500 miles from the bomber bases in England. "C" Charlie and crew were detailed to support pathfinder force (We were now considered to be an experienced crew). This meant we were to attack six minutes before main force. Weather conditions were
very poor and marking was scarce and it was thought the attack was not very effective.
However, post raid photographs showed that considerable damage had been caused to the synthetic oil plant and it was later revealed that the plant manager reported that the attack put the plant out of action and the second attack on 14.1.45 was not really necessary. 5 Lancasters were lost.

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No.25. 12.12.44. Target ESSEN. Night attack.

"C" Charlie. Bomb load 1 x 40001b Cookie 10000 Ibs HE bombs.
This was the last heavy night raid on Essen by 540 aircraft of Bomber Command.
Even the Germans paid tribute to the accuracy of the bomb pattern on this raid which was thanks to "OBOE" marking by pathfinder Mosquitoes.
6 Lancasters were lost.

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No.26. 13.12.44. Target Seamining KATTEGAT. Night operation. "C" Charlie. Bomb load. 6 x 1800 Ibs mines.

6 aircraft from 166 Squadron and 6 from 103 Squadron were detailed to lay mines in the Kattegat. This force took off in poor visibility but over the dropping zone the weather was good. On this occasion the mines were to be dropped using the blind bombing technique. I was to use the H2S radar which was a ground mapping radar. The dropping point was a bearing and distance from an identifiable point on the coast which gave a good return on the radar.
On reaching the dropping point the pilot had to steer a pre-determined course and I had to release the mines at say, one minute intervals. The H2S screen was photographed so that the intelligence bods back at base could check that the mines had been put down in the right place. In this case -spot on!! We then received a signal from base informing that the weather had clamped and we were diverted to Lossiemouth.
We landed at Lossie having been airborne for 5 hrs 45 mins. At Lossie we were given beds and of course food, with the intention of returning to Kirmington the following morning. The next morning we were given the OK to return to Kirmington and went out to the aircraft. One engine failed to start and a faulty starter motor was diagnosed A replacement was to be flown up from Kirmington.
There we were dressed in flying kit with no money or toilet requisites and not knowing when the aircraft would be serviceable It certainly would not be today. We managed to secure a bit of cash from accounts and towels, etc from stores. That night Jock and I decided to go out on the town breaking all the rules about being out in public improperly dressed. However we got away with it.
On the 17th. "C" Charlie was serviceable and we were permitted to return to Kirmington. When we joined the circuit we could see Flying Fortresses on our dispersals having been diverted in the day before. The weather was certainly bad in the winter of 44/45.. The Americans crews allowed us to look over their Fortresses and we in turn invited them to look at our Lancaster. Their main interest centred on the Lancaster's enormous bomb bay compared with their own.

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