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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0457.PDF
FLIGHT, 8 April 1955 No.47 SQUADRON . . . 457 fforth ) cout; D.H.9 I No. 47 Squadron Aircraft B.E.12 and 12a; Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8; D.H.2; Bristol Scout; Vickers Scout; Bristol Monoplane; B.E.2e; S.E.5a; D.f ~ De Havillond 9a Fairey 3F Vickers Vincent and Fairey Gordon Vickers Wellesley Bristol Beaufort Bristol Beaufighter De Havilland Mosquito 6 (one flight) Oe Havilland Mosquito 6 Handley Page Halifax 9 Handley Page Hastings 1 1916-1919 February 1920 December 1927 July 1936 August 1939 October 1942 June 1943February 1945 April 1945 September 1946 September 1948 fleet was harassed by torpedo and cannon and, despite the con-siderable escorts of MelO9s and Arl96s which the Germans used for air cover, a number of ships were sunk and several damaged.After the Germans had landed the squadron's task was to harass the enemy forces on the beaches and intercept the Ju87sand 88s. Enemy fighters were constantly on patrol and the squadron's losses at the time were particularly heavy. Working with No. 47 at that time was No. 603 (City of Edin-burgh) Squadron, of which the Queen is now the Honorary Air Commodore, and on November 16th eight Beaufighters—sevenfrom 47 and one from 603—were briefed to attack a Siebel ferry carrying German reinforcements. The ferry was located as itwas nearing the island, its air cover consisting of MelO9s, Ju88s, and Arl96s, numbering 17 in all. Four of the Beaufightersattacked the target in line-abreast formation while the remaining four acted as cover. The four attacking aircraft opened firesimultaneously at approximately eight or nine hundred yards' range in the face of intense heavy and light flak. The ferrycaught fire and almost immediately blew up. Their object achieved, the Beaufighters made for base, but in die ensuing fightwith MelO9s three of the squadron's aircraft were shot down. For the gallantry displayed and the excellent results achievedfive immediate awards were made: S/L. G. A. Powell, D.S.O.; F/O. G. G. Adams, D.F.C.; F/Sgt. H. A. Milne, D.F.M.; F/Sgt.V. Borrowdale, D.F.M.; and F/Sgt. G. T. Craven, D.F.M. For the remainder of 1943 and the early part of 1944 thesquadron continued its offensive sweeps over the Aegean, attack- ing harbours and shipping and causing much damage to portinstallations. On February 22nd the squadron formed part of the force whichattacked the Livenzia, at that time the largest merchant vessel left in the Aegean. Led by the Squadron Commander, W/C. W. D. L.Filson-Young, D.F.C., the attack proved most successful and the Livenzia was sunk without any losses to No. 47. For the excellentresults of this operation an immediate award of a bar to his D.F.C. was made to W/C. Filson-Young. During the early part of March 1944 some night intruderoperations were flown over Heraklion and Maritza, but few targets were sighted. On March 12th the squadron made its lastoperational sortie—an anti-shipping sweep—with Middle East Command, notification having been received of an impendingmove to South-East Asia. The squadron arrived at Cholavaram in Madras in the latterpart of April and, after a period of training, moved to Yelahanka on October 10th, beginning a conversion course to Mosquitoes;this was completed by November 5th, and the squadron then moved up to Ranchi. On arrival it was found that the aircraftwere unsuitable for the job in hand and, after a period of inactivity, the squadron was re-equipped once again with rocket-projectileBeaufighters. • On January 13th, 1945, the squadron arrived at Kumbhirgram,Assam, from where it began, a week later, the first of many successful operations against the Japanese in Burma. The taskswere day and night offensive patrols on Japanese lines of com- munications, road, rail and river transport, Army support opsand attacks on enemy airfields. A successful R.P. operation was flown on January 26th, when four aircraft attacked a buildingon die Mandalay water-front believed to be an enemy supply centre; direct hits were obtained by all 32 rockets, resulting in thecomplete destruction of the building. Night patrols were con- tinued as well as daylight armed reconnaissances and the monthended with two attacks on enemy guns that were threatening an Army division on the east bank of die Irrawaddy at Singu. Theguns were successfully silenced. During February a number of Army support operations were The rescued Hastings crew after their arrival at Thule, Greenland. A 47 Sqn. Hastings aircrew. Left to right: F/Sgt. W. Cash (engineer); Sgt. 5. W. Deane (air quartermaster); F/O. H. M. Dixon (navigator); F/L W. Howell (captain); F/Sgt. R. Pierce (signaller); F/O. J. D. Wilson (co-pilot). flown in connection with the 14th Army's crossing of theIrrawaddy in the area Myingyan-Jennangyaung. These entailed dropping "Pigtails"—one of a number of "canned battle" deviceswhich automatically fired Very lights from the ground on impact —or afterwards, according to the delay setting—and were designedto produce the effect of troop attacks, thus compelling the enemy to disperse his forces. The crossing was made and a bridgeheadconsolidated with minimum interference and fewer casualties than would otherwise have occurred. At the end of the month one flight convened to Mosquitofighter-bombers, and day and night operations continued. A detachment of eight Beaufighters was sent to Thazi on February19di in order that more and longer night patrols could be made, pilots experiencing difficulty in crossing the Chin Hills on returnto base after night patrols. In support of the Army's assault on Mandalay during March,operations were stepped up, over 230 sorties were flown, totalling more dian 963 hr. The following list gives some idea of thedestruction and damage caused to enemy transport and holdings: — Destroyed Damaged Locomotives ... ... ... ... 1 3 Rolling stock 3 91Motor transport 22 224 River craft 1 11Bullock carts 0 28 Tanks — 1Store buildings 144 109 Petrol dumps ... ... ... ... 6 —Billets 39 17 Oil pipeline set on fire ... ... ... 3 times, broken 5 times Many attacks were made on Toungoo by bodi Beaufighters and (Continued on page 468) Three of the squadron's Hastings flying in formation through snow over Oxfordshire.
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