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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2231.PDF
OCTOBER 22ND, 1942 F LI G Hi 455 SERVICE AVIATION \ iX^rds until March, 1942, he was employed on ligation duties and was consequently unable to uke .part in active operations during that period. lie participated in the " thousand bomber raids on Cologne, the Ruhr and Bremen. Act. Sqn. Ldr. R. A. MttES, No. 59 Sqn.—Sqn. Ldr. Miles has completed several bombing attacks un Brest and other heavily defended areas, pressing home his attacks whatever the opposition. On June 19th, 1941, he participated in a sortie against enemy shipping oH Le Touquet. The attack was pressed home in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. Squ. Ldr. Miles dived his air craft to almost sea level whilst taking evasive action, but it was apparently hit. The port engine propeller and nacelle struck the water, but Sqn. Ldr. Miles, displaying great presence of mind and exerting great efforts, succeeded in keeping the aircraft above the water. The propeller had been broken off and the entire reduction gear casing was shed, so hard was the impact with the water, while other damage, including the hydrau lies, was sustained. Sqn. .Ldr. Miles, however, climbed the aircraft slowly to 800 feet and, nurs ing his one good engine, skilfully flew the aircraft hack to an aiffield in this country, where he made a safe landing with the undercarriage retracted * Fit. Lt! P. J. C. HARPER, R.A.F.V.R., No. 101 Sqn.—As a-pilot this officer has a splendid opera tional record. He served in France from the beginning of the war until the middle o! Juim. 1940. No record of his achievements is available. as his log book was destroyed in France. Since his return to this country he has completed many sorties on Battles and Wellingtons. His sortie, have involved bombing attacks on enemy in I dustrial targets and dockyard installations. J Fit. I,t. E. D. LEVIES. R.A.F.V.R., No. 7 Sqn.- JP This officer has completed numerous sorties, two •^ of which were daylight attacks His navigation has at all times been outstanding.. In one attack on the Renault Works Fit. Lt. Levien obtained hits on an important part o! the factory on each of two runs over the target. Oth«r targets attacked include Brest, Kiel, Bremen, Berlin and Essen. Act. Fit. Lt A. H. PAIRP. No. 26 Sqn.—This oticer has invariably carried out his attacks with great determination in spite of heavy concentra tions oi anti-aircraft fire. His team work has been excellent and his keenuess such that he was always ready to take-off whatever the weather. On one occasion, whilst attacking enemy gun positions. Fit. Lt. Baird was wounded in three places in the leg. Despite this, he continued ht3 sortie and later returned safely to base. On being told that the operation to remove the splin ters from his leg would necessitate a lengthy absence from his squadron, be refused to have this done, and. after a short stay in hospital, re turned to duty eagei to continue operational flying. F/O. A. I. McRlTCiiiE. H.A.F.V.R.. No. 151 Sqn.—F/O. McRitchie. in one patrol, at dusk, in October. 1941, attacked (our Ju. 88 s. flying in formation at almost sea-level and about 50 miles from the coast. A running fight ensned and F/O. McRitchie shot down one of the enemy aircralt. Despite difficulties, he fought the others until they reached the Dutch coast. He has destroyed four hostile aircraft at night. Act. Fit. Lt. E. E. BEOWN. NO. 228 Sqn.—This officer has been continuously engaged on flying duties since the war began and has completed many hours' operational flying. He has flown not only over the Atlantic and the North-Westem approaches, but also over the Mediterranean and West Africa. Since the return of his squadron to home waters. Fit. I,t. Brown has been con tinuously engaged on anti-submarine patrols. Flag on Arc de Triomphe Act. Fit. Lt. A K GATWABD. R.AV.V.R.. No. 736 Sqn.—This officer volunteered to undertake a '•"•vsrecial and extremely hazardous mission, the ob ject being to drop a French tricolour flag over the Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris in daylight. On June 12th. 1942, he took off. with out cloud cover, and. flying extremely low. he reached Paris and carried out his task with com plete success. Still without the assistance of clond cover, he flew the aircraft safely over 100 miles of enemy territory and returned to this country. Act. Fit. Lt. A LAMBERT, R.C.A.F., No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn—This officer has completed a tour ol operations which has included attacks on many different types of target, including Hamburg, Stettin, Wilhelmshavcn. Berlin, and raanv others On one flight his aircraft was air borne for 1114 hours. As an observer, bis skill and determination have at all times proved a source of confidence to ?11 with whom he has flown. Art. Fit. Lt. li. .1. LANE. R.C.A.F No. 35 Sqn. —This officer has displayed unshakable determin ation to reach his target. His skill, together with ht» coolness under fire, whatever the weather' has inspired his crew with extreme confidence Some of the targets he has attacked include % Berlin. Brest, Cologne and Bremen, as well as »n attack on the German naval base a' Trond helm. Art. Fit. Lt H L LINDO. R.C.A.F.. No. 103 Sqn.—Fit. Lt Lindo is a most experienced and dependable navigator. During the many opera tional sorties on which he lias been engaged he ban laced bad weather and enemy opposition with an unconquerable sp'rit of determination to com plete his allotted task. Although his later work Grp. Capt. Victor- Laws, Deputy Director of Photography of the Royal Air Force. Grp. Capt. Laws' associa tion with the photo graphic side of the R.A.F. goes back to the last war. has diminished his opportunity to go on sorties, he has con tinually asked to take part and has flown as observer with various pilots, producing ex tremely good results and being involved in many dangerous situations. Fit. Lt. Lindo was once compelled to alight his aircraft on the sea. Whilst afloat in the dinghy with his crew it was bombed by an enemy aircraft before they were rescued. On this occa sion his conduct under most trying conditions was of great benefit to his comrades. On another occasion his aircraft collided with high-tension cables and caught Are. Fit. Lt. Lindo acted with great coolness, helping the rest of the crew. Despite these two unnerving incidents, his enthu siasm for operations remained undiminished. Act Fit. Lt. S. D. JONES. No. 35 Sqn.—Fit. Lt. Jones has been engaged on active operations since February, 1941. Dur ing the peiiod he has completed numerous attacks over Germany and German-occupied terri tory. He took part in two low-level attacks on the naval base at Trondheim. In the face of intense opposition he carried out his attacks from only 150 feet. On three other occasions, whilst over German) his aircraft was attacked by night tighter";. During these encounters the aircralt sustained severe damage, but each time he skil- fu'ly flew it safely back to this country with one engine out of acti n. Dieppe Smoke Screen Act. Fit. Lt. J. E. Scorr, No. 614 Sqn.—On August 19tn. 1942, Fit. Lt. Scott was the pilot of the leading aircraft of a section of three air craft detailed to lay a smoke-screen at Dieppe. When Hearing the target area, his aircraft was hit by shell-fire from an armed ship. The wind screen was shattered and the instrument panel and compass destroyed. Fit. Lt. Scott was wounded in the right 'eg and right arm; his right jaw was also severely lacerated. He tried to tell his formation to continue to the target but was unable to do so; consequently he led them on and then back to the English coast. On arrival there, he prepared to make an emergency landing. The starboard engine was losing power, but although unable to lower the undercarriage or flaps, or to jettison his bombs, lie made a successful landing. Unfortunately, the bombs ex ploded and the aircraft caught fire. In spite of his injuries, Fit. Lt. Scott extricated his observer, who was unconscious, fend escaped himself by rolling down the burning wing. Act. Fit, Lt. H. SWETMAN, R.C.A.F., No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn.—Fit. Lt. Swetman, a bold and resolute captain, has inspired the confidence of all the crews with whom he has flown, He has participated in attacks on the Ruhr area and other targets, both in Germany and German-occu pied territory. F/O. W. R, BUTTERFIELD, R.A.F.V.R., No. 7 Sqn.—F/O. Butterfield has participated in many raids, including attacks on Berlin, Stettin, Ham burg, Essen and Cologne On one occasion when his observe! was wounded F/O Butterfield ?H1- fully rendered first aid, which probably saved hi? life. F/O. O. L. FlNLAYSON. R.A.F.V.R., No. ICf, Sqn.—This officer has displayed navigational skill and accuracy of bombing of a high order; his result' have been most noteworthy. He has taken part in sortief against most of the important targets in the Ruhr and the naval bases of Kiel, Bremen. Wilhelmsbaven and Hamburg. He aiso participate! in the "1,000" raids. In August. 1941. he was seriously injured. Following his recovery some three months later, he returned to his operational duties, which he undertook with •undiminished enthusiasm. As squadron naviga tional officer he has ~ontributed materially in raising and maintaining the high standard 1 f navigation tliroucicut the squadron. Fit. Lt D B BARNARD. NO. 142 Sqn.—This officer is a sound captain with a long record of good operational work. He invariahly presses home his attacks in a determined and fearless mannet His skilful airmanship has on manv occasions resulted in the target being attacked successfully, despite the heaviest defences. He has made manv flights to the Ruhr areas Ant. Fit Lt W. E. BWNCT! U.A F V.R., No 57 Sqn.—As a wireless operator air gunner. Ft It Blench has always displayed courage and re sourcetulneas whilst engaged on active operations, and has proved himself to be a most valnaMe <r. m member of aircraft crew. He has participated in raids on many of the most heavily defended tar gets, involving long flights over enemy and eneotv- occupied territory. These include such targets as Berlin, Kiel, Hanover and Genoa On more than one occasion he has been largely instrumental in the safe return of his aircraft F/O. J. G. MCDONALD. R.C.A.F., No 63 Sqn. - This officer has carried out many sorties on heavily defended targets in the Ruhr. Germany and occupied territory in France. On May 30th. 1942, he participated in the strong attack on Cologne, whilst over the target area his aircraft was caught in a cone of searchlights and heavily engaged by the defences. Violent evasive action was taken, but he was unable to evade the search lights and shell fire until he had descended ficm 16,000 feet to only 50 feet. The aircraft was extensively damaged; the hydraulic system was rendered unserviceable, the perspex of the (rout turret shot away, the port engine holed, and othtr minor damage sustained Despite this, F/O McDonald continued to the target, and, obtaining height, he bombed Cologne from less than 5.000 feet. Skilfully flying his damaged aircraft back to base, he executed a crash landing with the minimum damage to the aircraft. F/O. A C. B. MOUOAN, R.A.F.V R . No iSO Squ.—This officer has completed very many sorties over Germany and German occupied territory, in eluding several attacks on Brest. Bremen and Emdcn. On one occasion, in January, 1942, his aircraft was badly damaged whilst running up to the target; his front gunner was wounded at the same time Although the hydraulic system was rendered unserviceable, causing the wheels and bomb doors to hang down. F/O. Morgan reso lutely carried out his attack and bombed his F/O. J. D. WATERMAN, R.C.A.F , No 207 Sqn- This officer is employed as air observer'navigator. He has completed numerous sorties, a large* pro portion of which hsve been against heavily de fended targets, such as Cologne. Essen Wilhelms- haven, Brest, BTemen and Hamburg. On one occasion, whilst over Bremen his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and F/O. Waterman was struck by fragments of shell just above both eyes. Despite this, he continued his work and navi gated the aircraft safely back to base without even mentioning that he had been slightly wounded. The fact became known when he arrived in the operations room with his face covered with blood On July 11th. 1942. on a daylight raid against Danzig he skilfully navi gated his aircraft to and from the target in very bad weather Ground Strafing Lancaster F/O. R E S. SMITH, RAF.V.R, NO 61 8qn. —This officer has participated in successful bomb ing operations both as second pilot-navigator ol Hampdens and as captain of Manchester an! Lancaster aircraft He has participated in sorties against most of the main targets in Germs oy and German-occupied territory including Berlin, Hamburg. Rostock. Bremen and the Renault Works, PariB. Throughout, he has achieve 1 much success. On no less than six occasions he has descended to very low levels, whilst return ing from successful bombing attacks, in order to machine-gun trains, searchlights, and other ground targets Act. F/O. A. B GREIG RA.F.V.R,. No. I<19 Sqn—This officer has proved himself to be one of the most successful navigators of the squadron During an attack on Poissv on April 2nd. 1942 his aircraft was badiy damaged by light anti aircraft fire. F/O. Greig requested his captain
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