A Lancaster Bomber Crew's Tale

A Lancaster Bomber Crew's Tale

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Missions 

Gordon Drimmie's missions prior to joining 428 Squadron

1 November 1942 - St.Omer (1.50)
6 December 1942 - Eindoven (2.30)
15 January 1943 - Cherbourg (1.30)
22 January 1943 - St.Omer (2.15)
26 January 1943 - St.Omer (2.40))
13 February 1943 - St.Malo (4.55)
15 February 1943 - Dunkirk (1.50))
30 July 1943 - Remscheld (6.10)

Missions 428 Squadron with extracts from Dennis Smith's Flying Log Book.

2 August 1943 - Hamburg (6.35) Halifax DK-230 'Encountered an electrical storm. Turret temporarily U/S. Damaged by flak. Landed Swanton Morley. 'Shakey do'. Bomb load 6,000 lbs.'

9 August 1943 - Mannheim (8.15) Halifax DK-230 'Good conditions, accurate bombing. Bomb load 6,000 lbs.'

10 August 1943 - Nuremburg (8.55) Halifax DK-252 'Bad weather, diverted to Linton on the Ouse. Bomb load 4,623 lbs. Overload tank.'

12 August 1943 - Milan (9.45) Halifax EB-206 'Perfect conditions, accurate bombing. Bomb load 4,623 lbs. Overload tank. Route over the Alps.'

17 August 1943 - Peenemunde (7.35) Halifax DK-252 'Light flak and accurate searchlights, very persistent, accurate and intense. Bomb load 4,500 lbs incendiary. Overload tank. Dived to 50 feet to avoid searchlight cone. Small flak holes.'

22 August 1943 - Leverkusen (6.45) Halifax DK-271 'Bad visibility, accurate bombing doubtful. Bomb load 6,500 lbs.'

23 August 1943 - Berlin (8.10) Halifax DK-271 'Searchlights and night fighters very persistent and active. Overload tank. Bombload 4,500 lbs.'

27 August 1943 - Nuremburg (8.45) Halifax DK-271 'Searchlights very active and extensive night fighter activity. Overload tank. Bomb load 4,500 lbs.'

Missions 405 Squadron with extracts from Dennis Smith's Flying Log Book.

15 September 1943 - Montlucon (5.57) Halifax HR-841 'Dunlop Rubber Factory. Easy target. Easy trip. No opposition. Bombed from 4,500 ft. Bomb load 7,500 lbs.'

22 September 1943 - Hanover (5.45) Lancaster JB-280 'Searchlights and fighters stepped Up. Scattered bombing. Good fires. Bomb load 12,000 lbs.'

23 September 1943 - Mannheim (6.00) Lancaster JB-280 'Target well pranged. Huge fires. Bomb load 10,000 lbs. Turret u/s on leaving target (EDP failure). Concentrated searchlights. Monica 'Y' and 'G' failed during return route.'

4 October 1943 - Frankfurt (5.45) Lancaster JB-280 'Monica u/s. Searchlights very accurate. Thick light flak. Good fires burning. Bomb load 10,000 lbs.'

8 October 1943 - Hanover (5.25) Lancaster JB-280 'Concentrated searches and many fighters. M/U turret hit by flak. Good bombing. Bomb load 10,000 lbs.'

18 October 1943 - Hanover (4.55) Lancaster JB-280 'Very heavy flak. Concentrated searchlights. Predicted duff weather. Bad visibility over Munster. Accurate bombing doubtful. Bomb load 9,000 lbs.'

20 October 1943 - Leipzig (6.50) Lancaster JB-280 'Very bad weather conditions making accurate bombing impossible. Scattered flares. Poor show. Heavy flak on route. Bomb load 9,000 lbs.'

22 October 1943 - Kassel (4.55) Lancaster JB-280 'Active searchlights and flak. Very concentrated raid. Clear over target but heavy icing and thunderstorms on return. Bomb load 10,000 lbs.'

3 November 1943 - Cologne (4.35) Lancaster JB-280 'Spoof target for Dusseldorf. Large numbers of searchlights but no activity. Ground haze. Bomb load 12,000 lbs. Off track over Thames estuary, intercepted by Mosquito.'

10 November 1943 - Modane (7.10) Lancaster JB-280 'Full moon. Easy trip. No defence. Mission to seal tunnel and blast marshalling yards. Route over Alps. Bomb load 8,000 lbs.'

22 November 1943 - Berlin (6.20) Lancaster JB-280 'Very good show. Bombed through 10/10 cloud 'Wanganui'. Defences swamped and beaten by thick cloud. Predicted heavy flak over Wilhelmshaven. Bomb load 8,000 lbs.'

23 November 1943 - Berlin (6.00) Lancaster JB-280 'Another good show. Bombed through 10/10 cloud. Heavy barrage flak and concentrated light AA (trace). Bomb load 9,000 lbs. 'X' caused taxying accident on landing.'

26 November 1943 - Berlin (7.05) Lancaster JB-280 'Many night-fighters, concentrated accurate heavy flak. Wizard fires still burning from previous raids. Good bombing. Bomb load 9,000 lbs. 'Mike' froze up, changed helmet resulting in frost bitten ears.'

3 December 1943 - Leipzig (6.32) Lancaster JB-280 (Dennis Smith did not fly on this mission).

16 December 1943 - Berlin (7.11) Lancaster JB-280 (Dennis Smith did not fly on this mission).

14 January 1944 - Brunswick (0.00) Lancaster ND-423 'Missing'. (Entry by Squadron Leader J B Millward, Officer in Charge, 'A' Flight, 405 Sqn).

Phil Dent
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