2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 3: From the Rhine to Victory, January to July 1945

"""------I

o

TACTICAL AIR FORCE Volume Three

From the Rhine to Victory January to May 1945

o TACTICAL AIR FORCE ----

Volume Three

o

From the Rhine to Victory January to May 1945

Christopher Shores & Chris Thomas

CLASSIC An imprint of Ian Allan Publishing

Christopher Shores served in the ATC and RAF during the 1950s and produced his first book, Aces High, in 1966. This was followed by Fighters over the Desert in 1969, and then by the original 2nd Tactical Air Force the following year. Since then he has produced an average of one book a year on aviation subjects, including a completely rewritten Aces High in 1994, plus many articles, aircraft monographs and similar works. He and Chris Thomas have worked together before to produce The Typhoon and Tempest Story in 1988. By profession a chartered surveyor, Christopher Shores worked in the commercial property market for more than 40 years. Retired in mid-2000, he continues to be a consultant, but is now able to devote much more of his time and energy to aviation research and writing. He is married with three grown-up children and lives in Dorset, England.

Chris Thomas worked for more than 30 years as a civilian Air Traffic Controller (at Manchester, Northern Radar, Heathrow, West Drayton and Swanwick). Retirement has given him the time to collaborate again with Christopher Shores in assembling this work - a long held ambition. He is the son of a 2nd TAF pilot, and is married with two adult children, a grandson and a granddaughter. He co-authored The Typhoon and Tempest Story with Christopher Shores following a long-running series in Ie Fanatique de I'Aviation. An Air-Britain specialist on the two Hawker fighters for more than 20 years, he has also written The Typhoon File, Warpaint No.5 Typhoon and Typhoon and Tempest Aces. Despite this specialisation, he has a wider interest in military aviation and has provided illustrations for a number of books and periodicals, including The JG 26 Album and Under the Guns of the Red Baron, as well as cover paintings for more than twenty publications.

Acknowledgements

The authors again acknowledge the continued support from those individuals named on Volumes One and Two and are also grateful to the following who provided photographs and or information for this Volume, some of whom, we regret to say, are no longer with us; Wg Cdr H.Ambrose, The Baldwin family, L.Bastin, A.Bayly, Sqn Ldr C.D.Bricker, Steve Brooking, Wg Cdr A.F.Carlisle, Steve Coates, J.Dick, Chris Ehrengardt, C.Ellement, R.H.Finlayson, Air Cdre J.W.Frost, Jerzy Glowczewski, Martin Goodman, Chris Goss, H.J.Hardy, D.H.G.Ince, Sqn Ldr W.J.Hibbert, J.Levesley and FONFA, G.Lord, Derek Lovell, C.J.McDonald, A.F.McIntosh, Bill McKerrow, L.D.Mellor, the Polish Institute, LPonsford, Greg Rushton, ZF-P, M.Robinson, Sqn Ldr A.Sager, F.Salter, Sqn Ldr R.E.G.Sheward, Graham Skillen, K.Sleep, Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer, Wg Cdr W.N.Stowe, G.Trayhurn, P.Truren, Wg Cdr R.Watts, F.Wheeler, Charles and Chris Woodcock. We are greatly indebted to the Malcom Scott, whose "Let's get it right this time!" provides such an evocative description of a 2 Group medium bomber operation. Particular mention must be made of the splendid support from Robert Bracken and John Melson, without whose enthusiastic assistance the RCAF would have been undeservedly underrepresented in the illustrations. We would also like to reiterate our thanks to our good friends and fellow enthusiasts, who have rallied to the cause as the deadline for each successive volume approached, especially Peter Arnold, Peter Celis, Eddie Creek, Russell Guest, Ashley Lamb, Wojtek Matusiak, Paul Sortehaugh and Andy Thomas. Finally, we would like to express our appreciation of the flexibility of the team at Chevron Publishing, which allowed the inclusion of late-arriving material, and their dedication to achieving the best possible result. First published 2006 ISB

(10) I 903223 60 I

ISBN (13) 978 I 903223 60 4 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission from the Publisher in writing. © Christopher Shores and Chris Thomas © Aircraft profiles: Chris Thomas, 2006

Produced by Chevron Publishing Limited Project Editor: Robert Forsyth Book and Jacket design by Colin Woodman Design Published by Classic Publications an imprint of Ian Allan Publishing Ltd, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4RG Printed in England by Ian Allan Printing Ltd, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4RG Visit the Ian Allan Publishing at www.ianallanpublishing.com

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2

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rn

2

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• • •

Glossary

391

·VERITABLE'

A New Year Dawns January-February 1945

392

·PLUNDER'

Crossing the Rhine March-14 April 1945

438

VICTORY

Hunting down the Luftwaffe 15 April-5 May 1945

488

Appendices

544

Air Stores Parks Group Support Units Operational Control RAF Regiment Repair Units Groups Wings

545 545 548 549 550 554 555

Errata and Addenda relating to Volumes One and Two

566

Index

567

en

2nd TAF Losses and Claims

Q) Co..)

A Note from the Authors

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F

aced with a requirement to produce comprehensive loss and claim tables for the complete operational period of the 2nd TAF it was necessary to find a starting point. Fortunately such a document exists - compiled by 2nd TAF HQ at the time and titled "2nd TAP Log of Casualty Claims, Assessment and Losses"; it gives much of the required information so the process would involve simply finding the missing details - times, aircraft serial numbers, initials of the crew and sometimes a location, and we would have what we needed ... wouldn't we? Well, no actually. It soon became apparent, by comparing the claims compiled from combat reports and squadron records, that the listing of combat claims (the good news!) was comprehensive and included a final assessment of each claim. However, it was also evident that the listing of losses (the bad news!) was certainly not complete, either in terms of aircrew casualties or aircraft losses, especially the latter. And yet this document would have been a major source for any statistics produced for the Air Staff at the time. Is it a coincidence that the good news was fully presented, but the bad news was not? It does not appear that the losses were filtered by the compiler rather that the losses were not accurately reported by the units which incurred them, either through ignorance of the procedure (a significant proportion of unrecorded losses were from non-British units) or perhaps political or even financial motivation. What indeed comprises an operational loss? For our purposes we decided that operational losses were any which took place during operational sorties, whether caused by enemy action or not; we wished to include accidental losses from any cause - technical failure, mishandling, bad weather or 'friendly fire'. Most losses due to enemy action were logged but there were some omissions, notably the disastrous day for 443 Squadron, RCAF, on 16 June 1944, when four of its Spitfires were shot down with the loss of their pilots (although one evaded). Losses not due to enemy action were recorded, but the criteria for these is difficult to discern. Sometimes, for example, crashes on take-off were recorded, yet other similar and equally lethal crashes were not. The missing accidents should be among the 'accident cards' which were compiled for statistical purposes; at first sight these appear comprehensive, but many losses due to "engine failure" as recorded in the unit records have not been included (perhaps as Flak may have been judged to have played a part) and many 'friendly fire' records are also missing. It is possible that some of the latter were removed for some purpose but a number still remain among the existing cards so it is difficult to see what was going here. Some of the missing accidents could be found in the Squadron records - the Operational Record Books which comprised two Forms, the 540 (narrative) and the 541 (details of all operational sorties). However, these records vary hugely in their accuracy and comprehensiveness. Some record aircraft aerial numbers (which were required), others record codes, a handful both and a distressing number neither! Other common errors include sorties mentioned in

the 540, but not recorded in the 541 and incorrect serial numbers. The latter seem to have originated in the way that the 541s were compiledfrom the squadron flight authorisation book which recorded code letters - where the serials were substituted or added by reference to a master list of the codes and corresponding serials; if this was not kept up to date the wrong serial would appear in the log. The correct serial numbers can often be found by searching through the 'movement cards' (Forms 78) which were a record of moves between units, damage dates and categories and ultimately the fate of the airframe. These were compiled by hand from signals and regular returns from units but errors and omissions are rife. In the avalanche of information at the time it is evident that details were often recorded on the wrong card, sometimes the adjacent one but frequently on that with a similar number (there were, for example, Spitfires with the same numbers in the MH, MJ, MK, ML series and Typhoons in the JPIJR and MM/MN blocks). So once again we are left with many problems to solve. There is however one source which proves to be consistently accurate: Forms OR101 - part of monthly statistical returns which squadrons were required to submit, they recorded aircraft movements on and off the unit and categorised the cause. Alas they were only in use for about six months (the second half of 1944) and seem only to have survived for a small number of units. Should all these sources fail to provide the missing detail, or disagree, then the only reasonably reliable source left is the MoD's casualty records. However, these are not available to the public and written requests may take a long time to be answered. When all this detail has been cross-checked and collated we have a much more accurate picture of losses - but it is unlikely to be completely correct as all the sources have been shown to be fallible to a greater or lesser degree; even the Common Wealth War Grave and the MoD casualty records have errors. We have one more 'can of worms' to open. The 2nd TAF log included among the losses some aircraft (by no means all) that were 'Category B' damaged. Such a categorisation meant that an airframe was beyond repair by the unit or local repair units; this could be due either to the extent of the damage or the lack of capacity of the local units. Take for instance a Spitfire which makes a wheels-up landing at base: the unit decides repair is beyond the 'R & l' section and so it is recorded in unit records as 'Cat B' and passed on to the local Repair and Salvage Unit. If the R&SU can effect a repair the airframe is now 'Cat Ac' and can be back with the parent unit in a matter of days, but if it is beyond the R&SU's capacity it goes to a major RAF or Civilian repair unit. Once there it may be repaired or, perhaps due to changing circumstances, ego shortage of spares or type obsolescence, it could be recategorised again as 'Cat E' and scrapped. So, in our loss tables we have attempted to record the true fate of those aircraft listed in the 2nd TAF log as 'Cat B'. It must be said however, that, the surviving records are not good enough to satisfactorily resolve every query in this category.

Glossary A&AEE ADGB AFDU ALG APC ARF ELS FAA

FPU Geschwader

HDT Jabo Jagdflieger Jagdwaffe MET MT Nickel ORB Popular

PSP Ramrod

Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment Air Defence of Great Britain Air Fighting Development Unit Advanced Landing Ground Armament Practice Camp Aircraft Reception Flight Emergency Landing Strip Fleet Air Arm Film Production Unit Basic Luftwaffe operational unit Horse-Drawn Transport fighter-bomber fighter pilot Luftwaffe fighter force Mechanised Enemy Transport Motor Transport Air-dropped propaganda leaflet Operations Record Book short range low-level photographic reconnaissance sortie Pierced Steel Planking Bombing operation with fighter escort designed primarily to destroy a specified target

G)

Ranger

Fighter/fighter-bomber deep penetration sortie to attack targets of opportunity Rhubarb Short range low-level offensive operation by two or four fighters in cloudy weather to attack targets of opportunity fighter sweep Rodeo Royal Australian Air Force RAAF ReAF Royal Canadian Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force RNZAF Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve RNVR RP Rocket Projectile Senior Air Staff Officer SASO Specialised Low Attack Instructors' School SLAIS Square Mesh Track SMT headquarters flight of Luftwaffe Geschwader Stab Staffel Luftwaffe unit roughly equivalent in strength between an RAF flight and a Squadron; usually three or four Staffeln in a Gruppe, and three or four Gruppen in a Geschwader Staffelkapitan Commanding Officer of a Staffel (a position, not a rank) TacR Tactical Reconnaissance

Abbreviations (used in the Loss and Claims tables)

Symbols used in the tables mean the following. } after a name = shared kill; IAI

a/... Adj

alf Af am Asp

AIT bel bfo bhu ble b/a blu eatAe catS eatnk edl Chnl ell eld enk esd cst esu eta db d/b dbef

picked up by air-sea rescue service or shipping attacking / ... (shipping, MET, tanks etc) Adjutant airfield Airfield before midday Aspirant Allied territory believed bomb fell off bomb hung up balloon cable baled out blew up category Ac repair category B repair (damagel category not known crashed during landing Channel crash-landed collided cause not known crashed coast constant speed unit crashed on take-off damaged by dive bombing destroyed by enemy fire

dbf dbr d/f dla dog Dol dpd dtd E e/a elf efto E/T e/tr exp f/I F/L Fit Off F/O F/S Fr ftr G/C g/Ik hbAf hbd hbf hbsaf hdt hte

destroyed by fire damaged beyond repair dogfight damaged in landing accident destroyed on the ground died of injuries destroyed, probably destroyed, damaged ditched escaped/evaded and safe enemy aircraft engine failure engine failure on take-off enemy territory engine trouble exploded force-landed Flight Lieutenant Flight Officer Flying Officer Flight Sergeant French/France failed to return Group Ca ptain glycol leak hit by Allied anti-aircraft fire hit by debris hit by flak hit by small arms fire horse-drawn transport high tension cables

hyd/f

{before Cause/Location = 'ditto'

hydraulic failure injured IK) killed lost contact I/e LCdr Lieutenant Commander last known I/k long-range tank Irt I/s last seen 2/Lt 2nd Lieutenant nautical mile(s) m MET mechanised enemy transport not confirmed n/e not due enemy action ndea NFW Naval Fighter Wing nk not known nr near obs obstruction on the ground OG overshot o/s OW on water (PI prisoner of war pfto parachute failed to open P/O Pilot Officer PR photo reconnaissance psdbea presumed shot down by enemy aircraft rof ran out of fuel rpa rocket attack rtb returned to base runway r/w S/Ch Sgt Chef (I)

sdb sdbea sdbf sdbsaf S/E s/e Sgt S/L SILt Sr stbea tbl tbto T/E

tlo tpw u/e u/i u/s vis (W) W/C W/O

w/u wx 1/M

shot down by shot down by enemy aircraft shot down by flak shot down by small arms fire single-engined (unidentified enemy aircraft) single-engined Sergeant Squadron Leader Sub Lieutenant or Sous Lieutenant Sector strafed by enemy aircraft tyre burst on landing tyre burst on take-off twin-engined lunidentified enemy aircraft) take-off telephone wires undercarriage unidentified unserviceable visibility wounded Wing Commander Warrant Officer wheels-up landing weather 1st Maitre

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1 January (from

10.45 hours) -

February 1945

T

ABOVE: Pit Off Steve Butte of 403 Squadron who claimed three Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed (two Bf 109s and an Fw 190) near Evere on the morning of 1January 1945 while flying RR256 'KH-D'. He was awarded a DFC for this action.

here is little doubt that the Luftwaffe's dawn attack had caught the Allied tactical air forces more than somewhat unawares. Regrettable as this may have been, how much did it actually matter in the circumstances then pertaining? In practice the German offensive in the Ardennes was already at an end, the vital need for air support for the hard-pressed US armies having been considerably reduced by the turn of the year. The unexpectedly severe losses suffered by the Jagdwaffe, particularly in regard to the numbers of leaders and experienced pilots so involved, had been a considerable setback which would reduce substantially the effective presence of the German fighters in the immediate future. On the ground the front lines were in the grip of winter, and it would be some time before supplies and reinforcements could be brought forward in sufficient quantities to allow a renewal of the offensive following the losses so recently suffered, particularly by the US Army. As has already been mentioned (see Volume Two of this work), the supply of well-trained Allied fighter and fighter-bomber pilots had been running at such a level that there was no shortage of candidates eager to join an operational squadron. Indeed, training of new pilots was now being cut back due to the surplus that had arisen. Production of new aircraft was now also flowing at an unprecedented level, particularly for the established types such as the Spitfire IX/XVI range and the US P-47 and P-51. The manufacturers of the Typhoon and Tempest, however, were struggling to keep pace with demand but there were sufficient aircraft in immediate reserve to cover the Bodenplatte losses. Consequently the bringing back to strength of those units which had suffered the most severely - generally in aircraft rather than in pilots - would be a quite rapid affair, little adverse effect being felt in the interim until this had been achieved. No sooner had the raiders disappeared from the skies, and those Allied aircraft which had been in the air at the time of their attack had landed to refuel and re-arm, than operations were resumed much as before. At Eindhoven where the Typhoons had been badly hit, the squadrons which did manage to fly operations utilised the callsigns of all the squadrons of their Wing - for the benefit of the Luftwaffe 'listening service'. One of the first units in the air was 80 Squadron, its Tempests departing for the front to undertake an armed reconnaissance over the Paderborn- Bielefeld area at 1035. Slightly under an hour later two Fw 190s 'on the deck' had the misfortune' to be spotted by the Tempest pilots, flying some 8,000 feet above, as they crossed a patch of snow to the north-west of Munster. FIg Off J.W. 'Judy' Garland dived down with his No.2 to attack; Garland's fire caused both to blow up. Coincidentally, another Garland, Flt Lt P.J. of 2 Squadron, would be killed a little later in the day when his Spitfire FR XIV crashed while he was landing at B.?? His was a particularly tragic loss, being the last of four sons of Canadians Patrick and Winifred Garland to be killed flying for the RCAF; the eldest brother, Donald had won the Victoria Cross. In the meantime 412 Squadron had also undertaken an armed reconnaissance, close behind the Tempests. At midday a lone Ju 88 was encountered over the Dortmund area and was shot down by Flt Lt W,J.Banks. Early in the afternoon 183 Squadron's Typhoons were ordered to A.84, Chievres,

I....;J::....a_n_u_a_rY,--I_9_4_5

BELOW Armed with 1OOOlb bombs, Typhoons of 143 Wing form up at the end of Eindhoven's runway. It was in such a position that the Luftwaffe had caught 438 Squadron's Typhoons on New Year's morning.

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« Mitchell FWZ06 'VO-C' was damaged in the Bodenplatte raid and although 'category B', was 'struck off at the end of March 1945. Note extra machine guns have been fitted in the starboard nose glazing. (IWM CL4351)

but whilst in the circuit at nearby Y.29, Fig Off D.Webber was shot down and killed by a US P-51 pilot, despite the wheels of his aircraft being down. Evidently the Americans were still "twitchy" from the morning's events! This latest example of what is now termed 'blue-on-blue', helped no doubt further to justify the oft-repeated comment: "When the Germans opened fire, we ducked; when we opened fire, the Germans ducked; when the Americans opened fire, EVERYONE ducked!" Even as this unfortunate event was taking place, the Canadian Spitfires were out again, 401 Squadron being followed by 412. A section of aircraft from the former unit attacked Rheine airfield at about 1525 on a 'Rat Hunt' after the ever-elusive Me 262s. On this occasion they caught Bf 109s, three pilots each claiming one shot down, while one of them managed to inflict damage on a fourth. Another section operating to the south of this airfield did spot one of the jets, and damage to this was claimed by Fit Lt John MacKay and his wingman. Half an hour later two more Bf 109s were seen near Osnabrtick by the 412 Squadron pilots, Sqn Ldr Dean Dover and Fit Lt J.A.Swan each claiming one of these shot down. Nightfall brought considerable' activity for the Mosquitoes - both night fighters and intruders - 604 Squadron's crews being much to the fore. Between 2019-2109 Fit Lt R.J.'Jack' Foster and his radar operator, Fit Lt M.ENewton, were able to claim three Ju 88s shot down, while at 2057 Sqn Ldr D.C.Furse/FIt Lt J.H.Downes accounted for an He 219 night fighter. Intruder crews from 21 Squadron also enjoyed an unusual success when they intercepted and shot down two V-Is heading towards targets in Belgium. Into the early hours the mantle was taken up by 219 Squadron's new Mosquito XXXs, Fit Lt ET.Reynolds/Flg OffEA.van den Heuvel claiming another night fighter despatched, this time a Bf 110 at 18,000 feet. TIME

SON

TYPE

!DENT

11:30 e1250 15:00 e1500

80 412 2 3

Tempest V Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV Tempest V

EJ774 ML277 RM803 EJ827 EJ719 EJ765 EJ719 EJ765 EJ719 EK497 MK791 MJ671 MK888

15:10 e1525

183 401

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX

e1525

401

Spitfire IX

B

R T R T R E

Y

e1555

412

e1615 20:19

193 604

EN569 B ML141 E Spitfire IX PV234 MJ275 Typhoon IB RB218 Mosquito XIII HK526

20:40

604

Mosquito XIII HK526

20:57

604

Mosquito XIII HK529

21:09

604

Mosquito XIII HK526

e2210

219

Mosquito

MM790

PILOT/CREW FlO JW.Garland F/L W.J.Banks F/L P.J.Garland (K) F/S M.J.A.Rose FlO O.J.Butcher} WID O.R.Worley} FlO O.J.Butcher} WID O.RWorley} P/O RWPottinger(PI FlO OWebber IKI F/L J.MacKay} F/S A.KWoodill} FlO OJ.Church

P/O O.M.Horsburgh F/L J.C.Lee SIL O.H.Oover F/L JASwan F/L A.S.Smith (K) F/L R.J.Foster F/L M.FNewton F/L R.J.Foster F/L MJ.Newton SIL O.C.Furse F/L J.H.Oownes F/L R.J.Foster F/L M.FNewton F/L FT.Reynolds FlO FA.van den Heuvel

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Fw190 Ju88

2 -1--

Bll09 Bll09

1-1--

15m NW Munster Dortmund csd landing B.77 N Helmond N Helmond

Fw190

2 --

6m E Gernert

Me262

1--

hbl b/o nr Oulmen sdb P.51 nr Y.29 NE Rheine

Bl109 Fw190 BI109 Bll09 BI109 BI109

1---1 1-111-1--

Ju88

1--

{Rheine { { { 6m W Gutersloh EDortmund sdbl W Zuilichem A.59

Ju88

1--

E.9931

He219

1--

F.1580

Ju88

1--

E.65

Blll0

1--

F0721

The day began with further ill fortune for the Typhoon squadrons at Eindhoven. As --~-----'--247 Squadron's six available Typhoons taxied along the perimeter track for a long-range 'armed recce', Fit Lt Joe Stubbs, an Australian flight commander of 168 Squadron, was taking off for an air test. The cannon access panels on one wing flew open and the Typhoon swung off the runway and cartwheeled across the airfield straight into one of 247's aircraft. The unfortunate Stubbs perished in the ensuing inferno which was fed by the ruptured long-range tanks; the 247 Squadron pilot escaped with burns which kept him off operations for a month. Following the recent loss of Sqn Ldr Everard, the pilots of 401 Squadron were delighted to welcome their new commanding officer in the person of Sqn Ldr W.T.Klersy, DFC & Bar, about to commence his second tour. TIME

SUN

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

08:45

168 247

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

RB209 MP201 0

F/L J.B.Stubbs (K) W/O S.G.Jones

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION cto cld MP201 B.78 hit by RB209 tlo B.78

440 Squadron received eight Typhoons drawn from the other three units of the Wing (438, 439 and 168 Squadrons), which would allow it to continue to operate whilst awaiting new deliveries from 83 GSu. 443 Squadron, newly-returned from APC, now began exchanging its Spitfire IXs for Mark XVls. The day also saw, at last, the arrival of the all-Dutch 322 Squadron to join 132 Wing. The unit had been allocated to 132 Wing at the beginning of December, changing to 135 Wing and then back to 132 Wing; the Squadron had remained at Biggin Hill whilst ground elements had sought to secure a Continental base. Having given up its Spitfire XIVs for Mark IXEs during the summer, this unit too had recently replaced these latter machines with Mark XVIEs, flying in these aircraft to B.79, Woensdrecht.

3 January 1945

-_--:._-----'-------'-------'--

The day brought a resumption of activity in the air during a series of engagements which have 4 January 1945 ----'--------'----proved somewhat confusing to place in context During the morning no combats were reported, but 332 Squadron lost two Spitfires to Flak while attacking trains. At 1315411 Squadron commenced an armed reconnaissance over the Hengelo area, while a quarter of an hour later 442 Squadron undertook a similar operation towards Lingen and Munster, also finding itself near Hengelo. At about 1350 the first formation encountered seven or more Fw 190s, six of which were claimed shot down, two by Fig Off Malcolm Graham, one each by Fit Lts Dick Audet and John Boyle, this latter pair also sharing one more, while Fit Lt H.D.Carr added the sixth. FIg Off K.J.Thomson reported that he was going to crash-land, and failed to return. Meanwhile, a few minutes later the 442 Squadron formation reported 15 plus Bf 109s and Fw 190s to the north, pilots claiming one Messerschmitt as a probable and one damaged. During the early afternoon period I./JG 26 had despatched 23 of its new Fw 190D-9s on an exercise, but aircraft of the Gruppe's 4. Staffel, the last to take off, had lost the rest of the formation in haze, and had headed for the Osnabruck area, where one aircraft suffered an engine fire, the pilot baling out. The remainder changed course to Rheine, where eight Typhoons were spotted below. These however, seemed to be escorted by 10-15 Spitfires which intercepted the Dora-9s as the German pilots dived to attack. Three of the German fighters were shot down at once, and two more were caused to crash-land at Furstenau; of the three pilots in the former aircraft, all were badly wounded, one dying two weeks later. II./JG 26 was then ordered to despatch a small formation, drawn from 7. and 8. Staffel. As these were forming up near the unit's airfield at Nordhorn, they were attacked by Spitfires. Lt Wilhelm Mayer, a 5. Staffel pilot flying in an 8. Staffel aircraft, was shot down and killed, while a second Focke-Wulf was badly hit and crash-landed near the airfield. Mayer, victor of 27 combats, would be awarded a posthumous Ritterkreuz during the following March. In his history of JG 26, Don Caldwell has presented an apparently convincing account of these events, suggesting that 411 Squadron accounted for the I. Gruppe aircraft, and 442 Squadron for those ofII. Gruppe. This, however, overlooks a number of important points. ......_ Firstly, the times given for the German losses appear to indicate that it was the II Gruppe losses which occurred first at around 1400, whilst those of I. Gruppe were at 1600, or thereabouts. Lt Wilhelm Mayer of 5/JG 26 was shot down Further, the Tempests of 122 Wing were also extremely active during the day. Fit Lt D.c.'Foob' and killed near Nordhorn Fairbanks, who had just moved from 274 Squadron to 3 Squadron, claimed an Fw 190 shot down airfield during the eight miles north-west of Hengelo airfield at 1405, while Pit Off N.J.Rankin and Fit Sgt L.B.Cook afternoon of 4 January of 80 Squadron claimed another Focke-Wulf north-east of Rheine at 1430, two more being 1945. Mayer had scored claimed damaged. 27 victories, including a Finally, at 1445, Fit Lt J.H.Ryan and FIg Off David Ness of 56 Squadron claimed a pair of Mosquito, and was awarded the Ritterkreuz fighters identified as Bf 109s five miles south of Osnabruck. posthumously in March The final anomaly is the fact that I./JG 1 was also operating in the area, and lost four 1945 Fw 190A-8s to aircraft identified as British fighters around Oldenzaal, while two of the unit's pilots I.".~,.~

I

claimed Spitfires shot down at about 1345. Since the only Allied fighter to be lost in such circumstances was a 411 Squadron Spitfire, and the times were closely similar, it would seem more likely that it was this Luftwaffe unit with which the Canadian squadron had actually clashed. What is clear however, is that on this date 2nd TAF fighter pilots claimed ten German fighters shot down plus one probable and three damaged, while II./JG 26 and I./JG 1 suffered the loss of eight aircraft crashed and three more crash-landed, matching nearly exactly the claims made. The day was, however, rendered easier to check by the absence of any US claims by either the Eighth or Ninth Air Forces.

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TIME

SllN

TYPE

IDENT

el020 e1110 e1350

332 332 411

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

TA838 NH544 PV347 PV347 PL430 PL430 MK788 PL433 RK810 EJ777 RR196 MH456 EJ633 EJ830 EJ691 EJ705 EJ780 EJ544

14:05 e1415

3 442

Tempest V Spitfire IX

14:30

80

Tempest V

14:45

56

Tempest V

PILOT/CREW M A

Q

R

X D J

Lt K.Herfjord Sgt O-P.FChristopherson (K) F/L R.J.Audet F/L R.J.Audet} F/L J.J.Boyle} F/L J.J.Boyle FlO M.G.Graham F/L H.D.Carr FlO K.J.Thomson IPI F/L D.C.Fairbanks F/L M.Johnston F/L R.C.Smith P/O N.J .Rankin} F/S L.B.Crook} FlO G.A.Bush W/O G.W.Dopson F/L J.H.Ryan FlO D.E.Ness

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

hbl III AfT N Rijssen sdbl b/o SE Tilburg NW Hengelo all NE Hengelo all

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-2 -1--

Fw190 BI109 Bl109 Fw190

1--1--1 I--

NE Hengelo all Hengelo Twente psdbea nr Hengelo 13m NE Hengelo all {N Hengelo { 12m NE Rheine

Fw190 Fw190 BI109 BI109

--1 --1 1-1--

{12m NERheine { {5m S Osnabruck {

_5....<:J_an_u_a_r--,y,---19,---4_5_ _ The night brought a further success for 604 Squadron, three Mosquitoes undertaking patrols between 1900 on 4th and 0350 on 5th. At 0235 FIg Off P.W.Nicholas/Flg Off M.G.Irvine claimed a Ju 88 shot down west of Horstmar. 193 Squadron had a notable success in destroying an important bridge at Vianen. Bridges were difficult targets and often survived any number of near misses; on this occasion however Plt Off Ben Lenson achieved two direct hits and the massive structure sagged into the river. The fighter-bombers suffered some losses during the day - three Spitfires to Flak and two Typhoons to that type's problem of old - engine failure. 02:35

604

Mosquito XIII MM563 D

10:30 e1430 1500

257 257 226

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Mitchell II

PD454 T MN868 W FWlll

FlO PW.Nicholas FlO W.M.C.lrvine FlO B.J.Spragg P/O G.B.Jones (KI F/S J.H. Brodie FlO J.B,Stewart Sgt Uitzgerald Sgt R.C.Ashton FlO FR.Bartlett IE) FlO TC.Gamey IK) F/L H.S.Glascoe (KI FlO lWood (K)

Ju88

1--

WHorstmar

ell III nr B.58 ell III NE Brecht hbl St Vith cll nr Charleroi catB

e1540 e1620 e2020

414 443 418

Spitfire IX MJ732 Spitfire IX NH157 Mosquito VI NS830 G

e1500

485

Spitfire IX

PL394 NH514

F/L A.B.Stead IK) P/O FC.Mathews (Dol)

sdbl a/train NE Utrecht hbd a/train b/o too low

07:45

305

Mosquito VI

NS927 C

FlO E.Nuttall Sgt W.RWilis

III Florennes cnk

hbl b/o EIT 5m SW Venlo hbl csd NW Coesleld ftr intruder (Ardennes)

6 January 1945

8 January 1945

---"---'------

13 January 1945

Sqn Ldr John Mitchener, OFC & Bar, became Commanding Officer of 416 Squadron during November 1944, following distinguished service with other RCAF Spitfire units. His final claim on 8 December, for aBf 109, raised his personal total to ten and one shared destroyed, half of them since September

I

American lines. Umbers stormed into an American command post and had to be physically restrained by MPs. Plt Off W,A,Kalka was even fired on during his parachute descent, while FIt Lt LJ,Appleton was not located by the Squadron until 30 January, when he was found in a US Army hospital and was at once transferred to a British one, suffering from a broken collarbone and shrapnel wounds. Another Tempest from 80 Squadron and a 438 Squadron Typhoon also force-landed during the day as a result of Flak damage, the pilot of the former aircraft being captured, while in 274 Squadron, Flt Lt J.A.'Doc' Malloy, an RCAF pilot, failed to pull out of his dive when attacking ground transport, and was killed. During a raid on Monderfeld by Mitchells of 98 and 320 Squadrons, two Me 262s were seen over the target area. Here one of the Dutch bombers suddenly blew up, apparently its bombs detonating as soon as they were dropped; a second Mitchell nearby caught fire and went down out of control to crash. Although the cause of the premature detonation was not ascertained, there do not seem to have been any claims of a relevant nature by Luftwaffe pilots on this date, Sadly, Wg Cdr Walter Dring, Wing Leader of 123 Wing, one of the most experienced Typhoon pilots with some 750 hours on type at this time, was killed when his Typhoon hit a bank of snow while landing, and overturned; his place was taken by 'Zip' Button, previously commanding officer of 193 Squadron, TIME

SON

TYPE

06:50

409

Mosquito XIII HK481

e0445

464

Mosquito VI

PZ350

e1225 e1420 e1330 13:50 14:00

443 416 80 486 486

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V

14:27

320

Mitchell II

MJ444 SM279 EJ774 EJ606 EJ577 EJ752 FR181

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

8 U F H

FW227 P

15:15

41

Spitfire XIV

RM799 RM770 15:30 123Wg Typhoon 18 MN598 e1540 438 Typhoon 18 PD569 S e1550 274 Tempest V EJ639 e2220 464 Mosquito VI HR341

F/L WH.McPhail (KI FlO J.E.Donoghue (KI P/O J.R.Mulligan (KI WID WAKinloch (KI F/L E.H.Fairlield FlO WESridgman IK) FlO AWD.McLachlan (PI P/O WA.Kalka S/L A,E.Umbers F/L L.J.Appleton II) Lt CA8astiaenen (KI Lt L.T.Lindosch Sgt E.C.van Harselaar IK) Cpl J,van Oriel IKI Silt J,H.Muntinga IK) Fig Off G,EMehrtens (K) Cpl P.M.Peetorn (KI Cpl F.J.E.van Dam (KI WID A,D.Miller Sgt AVillien W/C WDring (KI WID J.P.Dewar F/L J,A.Malloy (KI FlO N.G,Gilmour (KI F/S L.T.Dwyer IK)

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION csd in s/e landing 8.51 ttr IE Ardennesl hbl nr St Vith blo A/f nr Liege sdbAI? ttr (St Vithl hbl III S Stave lot hbAI blo nr Euskirchen hbAI III nr Euskirchen hbAI III nr Euskirchen bombs exp on dropping Manderfeld

db FR181 bombs Manderleld

cld RM770 on r/w Y.32 cat8 hit by RM799 on r/w Y.32 cat8 csd Idg A.84 catS ell 1/1 3m W Maastricht cat8 csd a/MET W Ludinghausen dtd 20m off Newhaven cnk

Soon after midnight a night fighter success occurred when Wg Cdr Desmond Hughes and his radar operator, Laurie Dixon, claimed a Ju 188 to the south of Rotterdam. Daylight, however, brought a day of critical action, and the 14th was to go down as 'Black Sunday' for the Jagdwaffe as Allied formations spread across the skies of Western Europe, Heavy bombing raids by the Eighth Air Force on oil targets throughout central Germany by 911 bombers and 860 escorting fighters, brought up the Luftwaffe's fighters in strength - but to little avail. The two main home defence Jagdgeschwader of L Jagdkorps, JG 300 and JG 301, suffered devastating casualties to the far-ranging fighters of 8th Fighter Command, the pilots of the P-51s and P-47s claiming 155 victories. Additionally, gunners in the bombers claimed 31 more, plus nine probables (although on past performance most of such claims can probably be discounted). RAF Bomber Command despatched 134 Lancasters by day to bomb railyards at Saarbrucken, escorting Mustangs of 64 Squadron adding claims for a further seven destroyed and one probable, The vast majority of these claims were identified as Fw 190s and Bf 109s, but included two Me 262s - 9./JG 7, indeed, losing three such aircraft to fighters. JG 300 lost 51 aircraft, with 39 pilots killed or wounded - most of them whilst flying Messerschmitts; JG 301, mounted entirely in FockeWulfs, lost 30 more pilots, the total of aircraft lost not being known to the authors. Amongst the

14 January 1945

CJ.)

U

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o

LL

units operating in the west, the 8th Air Force's fighters also caught the Bf 109s of ry./JG 54 over the Miinsterland area and shot down 14 of them, ten of the pilots becoming casualties. The rest of those German units in the air during the day seem also to have fallen foul frequently of the bomber escorts, for JG 1, JG 2, JG 3, JG 4, JG 11, JG 26, JG 27, JG 53 and JG 77 lost a further 92 aircraft, at least 35-40 of which would appear to have been lost to these opponents. The tactical air forces played their part as well, but to a somewhat lesser degree. Ninth Air Force fighter-bomber and tactical reconnaissance pilots claimed 23 (three of which were not confirmed), while as will be recounted, 2nd TAF added 22 more. Thus total Allied claims against the Jagdwaffe amounted to 238, 207 of them by fighters. Against these claims, Luftwaffe losses are known to have amounted to at least 176 aircraft, plus any from JG 301 from which the pilots extricated themselves unharmed. This represents an extremely high degree of accuracy in claiming in the circumstances pertaining. For 2nd TAF, first off on this momentous morning were a pair of Tempests of 274 Squadron on a weather reconnaissance over the Paderborn area at 0900. Here Fit Lt H.A.Crafts attacked a locomotive on the railway running towards Hamm. As he pulled up from his attack he saw an aircraft heading west; rapidly closing, he identified it as an He 219 night fighter, which was swiftly despatched. Lt Reinhold Lehr of I./NJG 1 and his radar operator were killed. The Spitfires of 126 Wing were next off, 411 Squadron leading at 0935, followed by 442 Squadron, and then by 401 Squadron. At about 1020,411 Squadron's pilots spotted at least 11 Fw 190s over the general Cosfeld/Rheine/Hengelo area, and three of these were claimed shot down, one each by Fit Lts Dick Audet and John Boyle, and FIg Off J.A.Doran. At much the same time 442 Squadron arrived over the Twente area, attacking and claiming shot down three more Fw 190s; one of these fell to FIg Off A.J.Urquhart who was then obliged to bale out when his own Spitfire was hit. At approximately 1035, 401 Squadron's pilots, who had been accompanying 442 Squadron on the sweep, spotted Fw 190s landing and taking off from Twente airfield, and dived down to claim five of these, three of them by Fit Lt Johnnie MacKay personally. However, one of this unit's Spitfires was also hit, and FIt Lt R.J.Land failed to return. There is little doubt that the Canadians had inflicted grievous losses on I./JG 1, this unit losing ten Fw 190A-8s and A-9s to the Spitfires, plus a single 'Langnasen Dora'. The latter was

RIGHT: RCAWadde11. DSa, DFC Wg Cdr Operations 39 (Reconnaisance) Wing, RCAF, acquired Spitfire FR XIV RN114 in January 1945 and flew it on operations until the end of the war

ABOVE: Newly received Spitfire XVls of 421 and 416 Squadrons dispersed on a snowcovered 856, Evere

flown by Uffz Gunther Sill, who was credited with having shot down one of the attacking fighters before he too was shot down and killed while still completing his take-off. Of the 11 pilots shot down, only one survived, but he too had been hit and was wounded. Even as the 126 Wing pilots were so engaged, FIt Lt D.C.Fairbanks was leading a flight of Tempests of 3 Squadron, during which operation he was personally to claim a Bf 109 north-west of Paderborn and an Fw 190 south-west of Gutersloh. Eight more Tempests from 486 Squadron undertook a sweep to the Paderborn area, commencing at 1125, and some 30 minutes later their pilots spotted a Bf 109 and an Fw 190 to the north of Munster. It seems that at least the former was an aircraft of III./JG 26, heading north at low-level following a heavy engagement with Eighth Air Force P-51s near Koblenz. FIg Off Colin McDonald closed to 200 yards and opened fire, seeing hits. He was then attacked by the Fw 190 and was forced to take evasive action, but his wingman saw the Messerschmitt - a Bf 109K - turn and crash near a small wood; 10. Staffel's Lt Walter Kopp was killed. At very much the same time, and to the south-west of Munster, six Typhoons from 184 Squadron had been strafing MET when four Bf 109s were seen, three of these being pursued. One broke away and was 'bounced' by Wt Off A.J.Cosgrove, whose fire caused the aircraft to blow up - the Squadron's first ever victory of the war; a second was claimed damaged. Fifteen minutes later the New Zealand Tempest pilots spotted five more German fighters, one Fw 190 being claimed damaged by Wt Off Johnny Wood. 56 Squadron's Tempests were also out during the middle part of the day, and their pilots intercepted Fw 190s to the south-west of Gutersloh, FIg Off J.J.Payton claiming one shot down, a second being shared by Flt Lt J.H.Ryan and Plt Off J.E.Hughes. It has not proved possible to identify the opponents of the various Tempest squadrons, nor of 184 Squadron, with any degree of confidence, for so many Luftwaffe units were operating in the area, and suffered so many losses during the day. It is possible that 56 Squadron's victims were Fw 190A-8s of JG 11, which reported the loss in combat of a number of these aircraft. There is much greater clarity regarding the rest of the day's activities, however. With their enthusiasm for combat heightened by the numbers of German aircraft in the air, some of the Ninth Air Force P-47 pilots appear to have allowed this to run away with them, and they were responsible for shooting down two Typhoons. One of these fell to the east of Haltern where 174 Squadron's FIg Off G.B.Chapman became a prisoner; Flt Sgt nC.Horn's 247 Squadron Typhoon was hit in the engine, but he managed to stretch his glide into Allied territory, only to be killed when his aircraft came down three miles south-west of Ewijk, struck the bank of a dyke and burst into flames. In the mid-afternoon 132 Wing's two Norwegian squadrons swept over the Rheine/Achmer area, setting off at 1440. Three of 331 Squadron's Spitfires returned early, leaving 21 fighters to complete the sweep. The pilots of these reported meeting large formations of Bf 109s and Fw 190s, and at least five Me 262s, to the west of Rheine. 332 Squadron dived to attack, Capt K.Bolstad shooting down Me 262 9K+LP of 6./KG 51 at 1520, in which Uffz Friedrich Christoph was killed. The Dora-9s of LjJG 26 then joined the combat, apparently together with some Bf 109s. Maj Martin Gran and 2/Lt O.K.Roald of 331 Squadron each claimed a Messerschmitt, while Capt Helmer Grundt-Spang of this unit and 2/Lt O.Wagtskjold of 332 Squadron each claimed a Focke-WuIf. A third German fighter was seen to be shot down by 2/Lt J.P.Ditlev-Simonsen, but he failed to recover from his attack and his Spitfire was observed to fly into the ground. A fourth Fw 190 was claimed damaged by Capt Ola Aanjesen of 332 Squadron, but two of this unit's Spitfires were lost, Lt Hassel and FIt Sgt Syversen both apparently having fallen to the enemy fighters. Three of I./JG 26's Dora-9s were indeed lost, with two of the pilots killed and the third wounded; Uffz Karl Russ's 'White 6' was seen to collide with a Spitfire - probably one of the 332 Squadron aircraft - and both were reported to have crashed in flames. Two claims for

A Spitfire XIV of 41

Squadron receives assistance from a 'hotair van' before its Griffon engine is started at Y.32, Ophoven,

Spitfires were made, one by Maj Karl Borris, the Gruppenkommandeur, as his 43rd, and one by Lt Karl-Heinz Ossenkopf, who shot his victim down as it was on the tail of one of the unit's other pilots. He was subsequently told that his victim had been a 'Polish Major'. Several units undertook strafing attacks on airfields during the day, 3 Squadron's Flt Lt K.F.Thiele claiming two Ju 52/3m transports destroyed at Detmold early in the afternoon, while Flt Sgt Rose claimed damage to two Fw 190s here. 74 Squadron's Spitfires made a similar attack on Rheine, where three more Focke-Wulfs were also claimed damaged. Employing its Spitfire XIVs against ground targets, and led by its new Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer, who had been posted in from 41 Squadron earlier in the month, 350 Squadron achieved 125 Wing's best results of the day, claiming 4 MET destroyed and 20 damaged, two staff cars, two motorcycles and 25 SS personnel. These results were typical of those achieved on many of the sorties now being flown by both the Tempest and Griffon-Spitfire units. Two of 16 Squadron's PR Spitfires were intercepted on this date, one of them by what appeared to be a pair of Me 163s in the Dusseldorf area. FIg Off W.F.Barker took such violent evasive action that he blacked out, and upon recovering the use of his eyes, saw a column of smoke from the ground which he thought had been caused by one of his attackers crashing; he was credited with having caused the destruction of this aircraft. A second of the unit's aircraft, flown by Flt Lt J.M.Campbell-Horsfall, failed to return from the same area, and it was surmised that he may have fallen to another Me 163. However, Lt Kaiser- Dieckhoff of I./JG 77 claimed two victories in the Dusseldorf area on this date, one of them a Spitfire, and it is possible that it was he who brought down the 16 Squadron machine. His second claim was for a twin-engined aircraft which may have been a Ninth Air Force B-26. The results of this catastrophic day for the Luftwaffe had been very severe. Apart from the appalling losses sustained by JG 300 and JG 301, and by IV./JG 54, JG 26 had suffered its worst pilot losses of the war (worse even than 1 January), with 12 pilots killed and three more wounded. Adolf Hitler was by now very disillusioned with the ability of the Jagdwaffe to achieve cost-effective results in the West, feeling that there was probably more that they could do in the East against the Soviets. Next day, 15 January, JG 1 and JG 11 were transferred to the Eastern Front, where a big Soviet offensive had commenced. More units were to follow, and by the end of January all four Gruppen of JG 3, and three of JG 77 had been transferred there, as had the remains of JG 6 and elements of JG 4. Despite these departures, Luftflotte 3 in the West was numerically far stronger than it had been through much of 1944, although this was to prove oflittle value in practice. During the next few days, weather and the absence of the Luftwaffe reduced activities considerably, but the period was marked by some movements and changes of command. In 127 Wing a well-known fighter pilot of the early war years, Grp Capt P.S. 'Stan' Turner, DFC & Bar, arrived to take over command from Grp Capt W.R.MacBrien. The Wing welcomed 403 Squadron back from APC, but on 15th 402 Squadron left to take its place at 17 APC, Warmwell, with its Spitfire XIVs. Next day Sqn Ldr 'Spud'Spurdle, DFC, departed 80 Squadron to become Wg Cdr Administration at 83 Group, handing the unit over to Sqn Ldr E.D.Mackie, who had been gaining experience as a supernumary with 274 Squadron. On 19th Sqn Ldr Dean Dover, DFC & Bar, would leave 412 Squadron, being replaced by Sqn Ldr M.D.Boyd. On this same date 164 and 183 Squadrons returned to B.77 following their short detachment at A.84 at Chievres. TIME

SON

TYPE

02:00

604

Mosquito XIII MM459 0

09:25 09:45 el020

274 184 411

Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire IX

el020

442

Spitfire IX

el035

401

Spitfire IX

el035 e1055 11:05 11:10 11:55 el155

401 174 3 3 486 184

Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB

IDENT

EJ762 RB200 RR201 MK950 PL430 PT883 PV154 PL370 MJ980 MJ671 NH240 MH761 RB331 EJ690 EJ690 EJ755 'JR525' JP511

K

A

M Z

A M

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

W/C F.D.Hughes F/L L.Dixon F/L HACrafts F/L I.G.Handyside (PI F/L R.J.Audet F/L J.J.Boyle F/O J.A.Doran F/L J.E.Reade F/L J.N.G.Dick F/O A.J.Urquhart (PI F/L J.MacKay F/L F.T.Murray F/O D.B.Dack F/L R.J.Land (KI F/O G.B.Chapman (PI F/L D.C.Fairbanks F/L D.C.Fairbanks F/O C.J.McDonald W/O A.J.Cosgrove W/O J.S.Marshall

Ju188

1--

3m S Rotterdam

He219

1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1-1-1-1-3 -1-1--

4m E Hamm hbll/I N Bocholt Enschede 4m E Enschede 2m NE Losser {10m SE Enschede { t e/I b/o 5m SE Enschede {Twente a/I circuit {

Bl109 Fw190 Bl109 Bl109 Bl109

1-1-1-1---1

{

psdbea Twente? sdb PA7 b/o EHaltern 6m SW Paderborn 2m NNE Gutersloh 3m N Munster {SW Munster/A.7071 {

Although on operations since January 1943, Fit Lt F.T.Murray, DFC, did not have a chance to claim an aerial victory until 26 November 1944. He was to add four more by the middle of January 1945; he served with 412 and 401 Squadrons during this period

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

12:10 e1245 13:20 13:30

486 16 16 56

Tempest V Spitfire XI Spitfire XI Tempest V

EJ748 PL853 nk EJ544 EJ772 EJ548 R8688 RB204 EJ700 EJ700 EJ827 NV656 H0328

e1330 13:55 e1450

247 439 3

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V

15:15

180

Mitchell II

15:20 15:30

332 331

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

15:30

332

e1630

74

0055

418

Spitfire IX

Spitfire IX

PV213 nk nk nk PT945 NH516 PU61 PV302 PV208 RK906 MH488

Mosquito VI RS571

I E J T G X

W H P C X 0 G F 0

G

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

W/O J.EWood F/L J.M.C.Horslall (P) F/O WEBarker F/L J.H.Ryan} P/O J.E.Hughes} F/O J.J.Payton F/S O.C.Horn (K) F/L M.J.A.Cote (E) F/L K.FAThiele F/L K.EA.Thiele} P/O R.Hassall} F/S M.J.Rose P/O R.J.Carpenter Fit Sgt H.J.Harries (Wj Sgt WBWhite Sgt G.Bishop Cpt K.Bolstad Maj M.Y.Gran Cpt H.Grundt-Spang 2Lt O.K. Roald 2Lt J.P.Oitlev- Simonsen (KI Cpt O.G.Aajesen 2Lt OWagtskjold Lt R.G.S.Hassel (KI Sgt T.l.Syversen (K) P/O K.Butler} F/O J.Oaizell}

Fw190

--1

Me163 Fw190

1-1--

3mW Munster sdb Fw190 nr Rheine 7m SE Dusseldorf 12m SW Gutersloh

Fw190

1--

Ju52 Ju52

1-1--

Fw190

--2

OG Oetmold a/I hbl c/I Eindhoven cat nk

Me262 Bll09 Fw190 Bll09 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1-1 1-1---1 1--

Rheine a/I }10m W Osnabruck

56 350 130 130 130 610 3 41

Tempest V Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Tempest V Spitfire XIV

EJ548 G RM619 D RM655 RM762 RM815 NH688 EJ700 RM767

-"'I

r-+

ill

Fw190

--3

F/O L.J.Berry (K) F/O WBrown (KI

P/O H.Shaw (P) F/L H.J.Smets (P) F/O G.Jones (I) S/L P.V.K.Tripe F/O K.M.Lowe (II F/L F.A.O.Gaze F/O A.DXing F/O N.P.Gibbs

<

CD

--1

CD

{

} }

}hit ground in d/I }5m W Osnabruck }

sdbea nr Rheine sdbea nr Rheine OG Rheine a/I

e/I csd SW Bracknell

Fw190

rr -

12m SW Gutersloh sdb PA7s 3m SW Ewijk hbll/IOeventer lOG Oetmold a/I

The day proved to be a bad one for the Spitfire XIV units, no fewer than six of these fighters falling victim to Flak during the day, as well as one Tempest. Three of the Spitfire pilots baled out, the rest force-landing, as did the Tempest pilot, who then became a PoW. el135 15:00 1510 1510 15:10 e1530 e1540 e1550

I

15 January 1945 16 January 1945

hbd a/train 1/1 3m SE Doetinchem hbl b/o (Aachen) hbl a/MET nr Malmedy 1/1 AfT hbl a/MET b/o nr Y.32 hbl a/MET nr Malmedy 1/1 AfT hbAI St Vith catAc/B OG Plantlunne a/I hbl b/o AfT (Vogelsang)

During a TacR sortie in the early afternoon, a pair of Mustang Is of 268 Squadron were attacked 17 January 1945 -----=------'---by 83 Group Spitfires, Fit Lt K.O.Jenkins being shot down into enemy-held territory. At just about the same time FIt Lt L.W.Woods of 401 Squadron claimed a Bf 109 shot down, but this was disallowed by 2nd TAF, indicating that in all probability the unfortunate Woods had been responsible for the Mustang's demise. The onset of darkness brought a rather bad night for Mosquito squadrons, with the first such aircraft being lost before midnight, when a 613 Squadron intruder crashed on take-off, killing both the crew. e1400 e1600 e1610 20:45

268 3 127 613

Mustang II Tempest V Spitfire XVI Mosquito VI

FR930 K EJ690 RK896 LR302

F/L K.O.Jenkins (K) F/O D.J.Butcher F/L C.R.Birbeck IS) F/L P.P.Dodson IK) F/S IH.Summers (K)

Bfl09

--1

sdb Spits EArnhem 5m NE Rheine hbl b/o Overflakee cto A.75

In the early hours, 219 Squadron's FIt Lt P.G.K.Williamson/Flg Off EC.Forrest were successful in shooting down a Ju 88 east of Aachen, but the misfortunes for the 'wooden-wonders' continued. One fighter-bomber failed to return, a second was lost through engine-failure, and two nightfighters were damaged beyond repair in landing accidents. 00:19

604

Mosquito XIII MM461

02:05

219

Mosquito XXX MM696

02:15

409

Mosquito XIII HK415

e0330

464

Mosquito VI

MM403 V

e0645

605

Mosquito VI

PZ390

13:00

412

Spitfire IX

PT992

F/L C.J.Cross F/S H.Dales F/L P.G.KWilliamson F/O EE.Forrest F/O L.M.Jones W/O C.M.Thrugood F/L R.Trites (KI F/L D.M.Shanks F/O G.M.Lumsden (KI F/O C.G.G ibson (KI F/L C.WFox

o/s Idg B.51 Ju88

1--

10m EAachen u/c lault o/s landing B.51 e/I csd nr Marville ftr Erkelenz-Galdbach hbl f/I Turnhout-Antwerp catB

January

18 1945 _ _----=._ _--L._ _

LEFT AND BELOW A Mustang II, FD535 'X', of 268 Squadron undergoes de-icing at B.77, Gilze-Rijen, in January 1945; with the re-equipment of 2 Squadron with Spitfire FR XIVs, the former unit became the last flying Mustangs in 2nd TAF. (IWM CL1841&2)

CJ.)

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North American Mustang II, FD535 'X', Fig Off A.T.Lord, 268 Squadron, B.77, Gilze-Rijen

19 January 1945 TIME --.:..----'-------19:30 20 January 1945

SON 107

TYPE IOENT Mosquito VI HR249 C

PILOT/CREW W/C w.J.Seott P/O MABarry

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION hbf e/I A.75

83 Group suffered a further bad day on 20th, again unconnected with Luftwaffe activities. 411 Squadron lost FIg Off C.A.Ellement on his first operational sortie, although he managed to evade capture and returned to his unit - only to have to go through the same series of events again during April. At 1020 four Blue section Spitfires from 412 Squadron, set off on an armed reconnaissance, but none of these aircraft returned. Flt Lt H.F.Richards was heard to report that his aircraft had been hit by Flak, and that he was crash-landing. In fact all four Spitfires fell to Flak Flt Lt B.E.MacPherson, FIg OffW,J.Walkom and Plt Off B.S.McPhee were subsequently reported to be PoWs - but Richards managed to evade capture. A key factor in this loss appears to have been that the section was forced down to low level (500 ft) by the poor weather conditions, making the aircraft more vulnerable than usual. Two ReAF Typhoons from 143 Wing were also brought down by Flak, both force-landing; one of the pilots was captured. 257 Squadron lost three more Typhoons in bad weather, Flt Lt M.Y.Lao and Wt Off K.E.Button being killed, while the third pilot escaped capture and returned on foot. Lao was the second of the four Burmese pilots, who had joined 257 (Burma) Squadron in 1943, to die. It seems the three Typhoon pilots fell victim to icing. A Tempest pilot from 56 Squadron was also killed when his aircraft was shot down west of Enschede.

TIME

SON

TYPE

07:57

613

Mosquito VI HJ666

e1025 e1030 e1030

302 56 257

Spitfire IX Tempest V Typhoon IB

10:35 e1045 e1055

438 411 412

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

11:00 11:40

266 439

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

MK177 EJ741 RB319 MN696 P0598 P0446 NH380 PU86 ML277 MJ312 PV352 RB260 RB317

13:10

440

Typhoon IB

P0601 X

0 V R T Z

F/O R.Oickins Sgt Nicholls F/S J.Hajduk (KI P/O J.S.Ferguson IKI F/L M.Y.Lao (KI W/O K.E.Button IKI P/O W.EWhitmore IE) F/L E.J.O.McKay F/O CAE.Ellement (E) F/L B.E.MacPhersonIP) F/L FH.Richards IE) P/O W.JWalkom IP) F/O B.B.McPhee (PI F/O NVBorland F/O J.O.Sweeney (P)

F/O P.H.Kearse IKI

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION hbl u/c collapsed landing A.75 ftr a/MET nr Lochem sdbl a/MET 10m W Enschede {csd in bad wx SW Utrecht { missing in bad wx SW Utrecht hbll/I N B.78 sdbl nr Zutphen {sdbl Nijmegan { { {

dila B.70 dbl hbl 1/1 Arnhem

sdbl Monloort

At 1020 Spitfires of 421 Squadron undertook an armed reconnaissance over the MtinsterRheine-Enschede area, the pilots reporting the presence of 25 German fighters to the east of Rheine. They had met the 'Langnasen-Doras' of I./JG 26, 24 of which had just taken off to hunt for fighter-bombers. In short order three of them were shot down with all the pilots being killed, the Canadians making four claims by Fit Lts E.S.Smith, G.E.Stephenson, M.J.Gordon and Fig Off F.W.Evans. The Luftwaffe pilots were able to make only one claim in return, Obgefr Helmut Stange shooting down the Spitfire flown by Wt Off C.D.Beck. A few minutes later a further Fw 190 was claimed in the same area by Fit Lt T.H.Hoare. Out flying escort to 143 Wing's bomb-carrying Typhoons, 168 Squadron's pilots swept over the Dorsten-Dulmen area where locomotives and trucks were strafed. A lone Bf 109 was then spotted and this was claimed shot down by Fit Lt E.H.C.Vernon-Jarvis. However, one of the unit's aircraft failed to return, Fig Off W.G.Huddart last being seen to the north-east of Haltern. The Canadian units also lost three Typhoons, one to engine failure and two to Flak. The commanding officer of 439 Squadron, Sqn Ldr R.G. 'Bing' Crosby, evaded capture and returned, but 438 Squadron's FIg Off F.R.F.Skelly was killed. Crosby's aircraft had blown up from a direct hit, but he was thrown clear with a dislocated right shoulder. He finally managed to get his parachute open at 1,000 feet, landing in woodland where he lay wrapped in his 'chute and in great pain while German troops passed close by, searching for him. He was badly shaken next day when the same area was bombed again, but as he was only four miles from Allied lines, he nevertheless made his way past sentries and patrols to reach the lines of the 43rd Division. Removed to hospital, he would be awarded a DFC in March. His place at the head of 439 Squadron was taken by Sqn Ldr J.H.Beatty.

---~-~

......

~-:.

---....:"""--

--

21 January 1945 22 January 1945

The undercarriage of Fig Off RM.Gray's 440 Squadron Typhoon, MN659 '18-E', came down during a divebombing attack on ZZ January 1945. Despite 'three greens' the undercarriage collapsed on landing at Eindhoven. (IWM CL3810)

Q)

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LL LEFT: Mosquito XXXs of 488 Squadron at BA8 Amiens/Glisy, with covers over the engines and kept as warm as possible by paraffin heaters with canvas chimneys.

RIGHT A Mosquito XIII of 409 Squadron touches down at BA8

MM820 'ME-B' of 488 Squadron gathers pace on one of BA8's newly cleared runways.

De Havilland Mosquito XXX, MM820 'ME-B', Pit Off T.A.Maclean and Fig Off B.C.Grant, 488 Squadron, B.48, Amiens/Glisy

I LEFT: 604 Squadron crews digging out one of their Mosquito Xilis at B51, LilieNendeville, after an 18-inch snowfall in January 1945.

LEFT: Snow banks brought a new hazard to all-weather operations and Mosquito XIII HK477 'PS-C' is seen here after hitting such an obstacle having overshot the runway at B.51, following a 'night flying test' on 22 January 1945.

De Havilland Mosquito XIII, HK477 'PS-C', Fig Off J.Munro and Fig Off P.W.Bolton, 264 Squadron, B.51, Lille/Vendeville

A further claim was made by 56 Squadron during a sweep over the Oldenburg area around midday. Here four Fw 190s were seen initially, and then ten more which were involved in combat with P-51s over Neede. Joining the fracas, FIg Off W.R.MacLaren claimed one shot down; four trains were also claimed strafed by this unit during the day. More airfield strafing took place, Sqn Ldr Art Sager of 443 Squadron claiming damage to a twin-engined aircraft on one strip, whilst at another west of Dulmen, 80 Squadron claimed damage to three gliders. During the early evening Fit Lt 'Sailor' Parker and his radar operator, Wt Off Godfrey, of 219 Squadron intercepted approximately five Ju 87s, two of which they were able to shoot down.

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23 January 1945

TIME

SQN

TYPE

IDENT

PILOTICREW

e0600

487

Mosquito VI

PZ173 K

06:10

107

Mosquito VI

PZ258

e1010

80

Tempest V

F/L L.E.H.Graham (K) Sgt R.F8atch IK) FlO FD.Hawkins P/O E.PWaring S/L E.D.Mackie P/O FALang F/L A.G.Richardson IKI F/L E.S.Smith F/L G.E.Stephenson F/L M.J.Gordon FlO FWEvans P/D C.D.8eck IK) S/L A.H.Sager F/L TH.Hoare FlO W.G.Huddart (K) FlO W.RMacLaren WID D.Hutchinson F/S J.LJ.G.Leroy (P) FlO F.R.FSkelly IKI F/S L.Pranders S/Ch J.Angibeaud F/Lt A. Wegrzyn II) F/L E.C.HVernon-Jarvis S/L RG.Crosby IE) FlO WKubicki F/L G.RI.Parker WID D.LGodlrey F/L G.RJParker W/O D.L.Godfrey Cpt WR.Roberts IKI FlO EWebb IK)

10:45 11:00

127 421

e1100 11:30 e1200 12:15

443 421 168 56

e1250 e1335 13:48 14:15 14:20 16:15 16:45 16:50 18:28

349 438 349 329 302 168 439 439 219

NV657 EJ705 X Spitfire XVI RR236 Spitfire XVI SM284 8 SM239 SM289 SM252 L SM201 Spitfire IX SM467 Spitfire XVI SM242 Typhoon 18 R8361 Tempest V EJ721 C NV640 H Spitfire IX PL246 Typhoon 18 MP128 X Spitfire IX PT851 Spitfire IX PV289 W Spitfire IX NH546 Typhoon 18 JP920 Typhoon 18 MP134 Typhoon 18 MN424 Mosquito XXX MM703

18:50

219

Mosquito XXX MM703

e2215

21

Mosquito VI

PZ316

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr "Blackcock" hbl w/u 8.58

Glider Glider

--1 --2

1-Fw190 I-Fw190 Fw1901 -I-Fw190 EtA Fw190

--1 1--

81109 81109

1---1

lOG 8m W Dulmen (

ftr I/s Alblasserdam E Rheine 20m E Rheine E Rheine 20m E Rheine sdb Fw190 E Rheine OG N 8entheim E Rheine ftr lIs NE Haltern {Neede area (

8f109

1--

Ju87

1--

ell III E/TIRheine-OsnabrUck) sdbl NW Montfoort rol III SW Euryk e/I 1/1 Zon dla 8.61 cat 8/E 4m E Dulmen sdbf Uetterath elf tIl NW Eersel catAc/8/E K7358

Ju87

1--

K7258 ftr 181ackcock area)

The 23rd proved to be another day when 2nd TAF would become involved in heavy fighting with the Jagdwaffe, claims exceeding those made on 14th. However, on this occasion the Eighth Air Force was not involved, and Ninth Air Force claims totalled just a single Bf 109 in the Dusseldorf area. First off at 0835 were the Tempests of 274 Squadron, followed five minutes later by eight Spitfire XIVs of 41 Squadron, and then at 0845 by more Tempests of 80 Squadron, all heading for the Munster area. Behind them at 0915 came Spitfire IXs of 411 Squadron. On the other side of the lines I./JG 26 at Furstenau and III./JG 54 at Varrelbusch launched Dora-9s at around 0900, the former to cover Bf 109s of JG 27 to the Munchen-Gladbach area, while the latter were to patrol over Munster-Handorf airfield. The JG 26 aircraft were operating at fairly low altitude, and were spotted by the 41 Squadron pilots who dived to engage in the Spitfire XIV's first serious combat. Sqn Ldr Douglas Benham claimed one Fw 190D shot down, then pulled away sharply, causing a second which had got on his tail and gained hits on his starboard wing, to spin in and crash. FIg Off EM.Hegarty claimed a third Dora-9 shot down, while three more were claimed damaged by other pilots. However, Fit Lt M.A.L.Balasse, a Belgian pilot, failed to return and is believed to have been shot down by a pilot of III./JG 54, as this unit was operating nearby. I./JG 26 did indeed lose three aircraft and Lt Xavier Ellenreider was severely wounded in the head, although he managed to bale out. Meanwhile the Tempests of 274 Squadron had strafed five locomotives and 25 trucks, and were becoming low on fuel when some 20 German fighters were seen in the Gutersloh area, 1,000 feet above the British fighters, which were flying at 5,000 feet. The RAF pilots climbed at once to attack, FIt Lt L.A.Wood, who was leading, claiming an Fw 190 shot down, while Flt Lt G. 'Acehole' Mann claimed a Bf 109 and a probable. FIg Off C.G.Scriven's aircraft was hit in one aileron, and he spun out, recovered, and then shot down a Focke-Wulf from which the pilot baled out. Two more pilots each claimed an Fw 190 damaged. At 0920 Fit Lt R.G.Smith of 80 Squadron had seen a lone Bf 109 flying at 'zero' feet five miles south of Lengerick, and this he at once shot down. It seems likely that this was an aircraft of IY./JG 27, shot down in precisely this area, although reportedly by a P-51.

Five minutes later an Fw 190 was spotted seven miles north-west of Herford and was shot down, the pilot baling out. In another three minutes two more Fw 190s were seen five miles east of Bohmte, one being claimed destroyed and one probable, while a further Bf 109 was also claimed ten miles south-west of Gutersloh by Flt Sgt L.B.Crook, who was also credited with one of the Focke-Wulfs. The other, and the probable, were claimed by Flt Lt A.Seager. The opponents of the two Tempest units were undoubtedly from III./JG 54 and other Gruppen of JG 27. The former unit, led by Obit Dortenmann, had become split up when Tempests were first seen, Lt Crump and Ofw Ludwig Goos finding themselves alone against eight to ten British fighters in the Warendorf-Gutersloh area. Crump escaped in a violent and uncontrolled dive, but Goos was shot down and killed. Meanwhile the rest of the formation encountered 41 Squadron's Spitfires, Fw Hegener claiming one of these shot down (probably Balasse). However, during these combats Uffz Hermann Rathje was shot down but he baled out, as did Fw Arnfield Kohler. Ofw Johann Spickers was killed, and Lt Rolf Sundermeyer, whose aircraft had been damaged, then ran out of fuel and crash-landed near Delmenhorst. Rathje also claimed a Spitfire shot down at 0930, the same time as Hegener recorded his claim, so they may well have double-claimed on the same aircraft. To complete these early morning engagements, 411 Squadron then appeared on the scene in the Lingen-Munster area, Fit Lt R.M.Cook also claiming an Fw 190 shot down. During this period 2nd TAF claims for eight Fw 190s had been matched by an actual loss of seven of these aircraft. Next off at 0950 were Spitfire IXs of 401 Squadron to undertake an armed reconnaissance. They were joined by Tempests of 3 Squadron and followed by three more of these aircraft from 56 Squadron at 1005. North of Osnabruck a number of jets were seen taking off and landing at Bramsche by the Canadian pilots. Initially these were identified as Me 262s, but after a subsequent study of aircraft recognition manuals, the pilots concluded that they were Ar 234s. Broadcasting the news of this bonanza to any nearby squadrons, they dived to attack, Fig Offs D.EChurch and G.A.Hardy claiming one each shot down, while a third was shared by Flt Lt W.e. 'Bud' Connell and Pit Off M.Thomas. Damage was claimed to five more, one by the Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr Klersy, and two by Fit Lt ET.Murray. Soon after, the 3 Squadron formation, led by Fit Lt Fairbanks, reported encountering Fw 190s, two of these, plus a third damaged, being claimed by Fig Off Basilios Vassiliades, one and one damaged by Fit Lt J.S.B.Wright, and one by Fig Off H.W.Longley. Their opponents have not been identified. An Me 262 was encountered in the air by FIt Lt EL.McLeod and Fig Off Ron Dennis of 56 Squadron, and this they claimed to have shot down between them. This is believed to have been an aircraft of 12./KG 51 in which Obit Hans Holzwarth was killed when it crashed near Hopsten. The two Tempest pilots also strafed three trains before returning to base. Another Me 262 was to be claimed shot down soon afterwards, when 411 Squadron despatched an armed reconnaissance over Lingen-Munster. At Rheine Fit Lt Dick Audet went down to strafe, claiming one of the jets destroyed on the ground at 1215. Five minutes later he claimed a second shot down as it attempted to land at an airfield some six miles to the north-east of Rheine. Two Bf 109s were then seen and Fig Off Gordon Harrison gave chase to these, but was not seen again and was reported missing. Soon after midday a new series of armed reconnaissances began as Tempests of 80 Squadron and Spitfires of 421 Squadron headed east. Beyond Hamm, in the Lippstadt area, the Canadians spotted five aircraft at low level at 1310, Sqn Ldr J.D.Browne claiming one Fw 190D shot down, while Fit Lt M.J.Gordon and Fig Off EW.Evans added a second; Flt Lt E.S.Smith suffered an engine failure as he was changing from drop tank to main tanks and he crash-landed in a field near Hamm. Following 30 minutes later, the 80 Squadron Tempest pilots encountered Bf 109s near Bramsche, Sqn Ldr Evan Mackie claiming one shot down, while a second was credited to Fit Lt D.Price and PIt Off EA.Lang, Fig Off R.H.Anders and Fit Lt R.J.Holland claiming a third as a probable, the latter near Achmer. At the airfield at this latter location, a Ju 188 was then claimed destroyed on the ground. Shortly thereafter more Tempests from 486 Squadron arrived in the Minden area where two Fw 190s were claimed damaged at 1330. Yet more Tempests were about during the midday period when Fit Lt Fairbanks and Pit Off Torpy of 3 Squadron undertook a cannon test which took them to Gutersloh airfield. Here they shot down a Ju 52/3m as it was taking off, then strafing Ju 88s on the ground, claiming one probably destroyed and one damaged. I./JG 26 and III./JG 54 were ordered off on a further operation early in the afternoon, to provide cover at Miinster-Handorf airfield for 9./KG 76's Ar 234s which were to undertake a bombing attack on a concentration of Allied armour in the Julich area. A small JG 54 formation was again led by Obit Dortenmann, taking off at 1515 to meet the JG 26 aircraft over Furstenau.

I

Sqn Ldr J.Danny Browne, DFC, was a US citizen in the RCAF. He commanded 441 Squadron from AprilJuly 1944, returning for a second tour in November, this time at the head of 421 Squadron.

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LL

They were then to patrol over the designated area from 1600-1630. As they approached, the bombing raid was cancelled and their flight was altered to 'Freie Jagd' (free chase). Both units then reported encountering Spitfires and Tempests. Their opponents included Tempests from both 56 and 486 Squadrons, these units making a number of claims after encountering' ... 20+ 109s' near Rheine. Sqn Ldr Umbers of 486 claimed a Bf 109, as did FIg Off J.H.Stafford and Wt Off A.H.Bailey jointly. FIg OffV.L.Turner of 56 Squadron also claimed one such aircraft, this unit's FIg Offs W.R.MacLaren and nPayton each claiming Fw 190s. Despite the identification of three of their victims as Messerschmitts, these all seem, in fact, to have been Fw 190Ds, the type's long nose no doubt contributing to the error. One l./JG 26 aircraft was shot down, the pilot baling out, while a second was damaged, and subsequently somersaulted whilst the pilot was trying to force-land after running out of fuel. III./JG 54 meanwhile lost three aircraft, Obit Heinz Seiffert, an ex-bomber pilot and Staffelkapitan of 11. Staffel, baled out, but was too low for his parachute to deploy and he hit the ground very hard, subsequently dying of the internal injuries he had suffered. Obit Willi Heilmann, the 9. Staffelkapitan, crash-landed near Lingen, while Uffz Gunther Lange was shot down and killed. Uffz Renatus Spitz of 10. Staffel claimed one Tempest shot down, but no 2nd TAF losses were actually incurred. Perhaps his 'victim' was Sqn Ldr Umbers who reported; "I got on the tail ofa 109 and gave a very short full deflection burst

a

which hit the E/A in the cockpit and wings. The LlR tank blew up and the E/A spun down out ofcontrol. I saw it crash and burst into flames just north of Rheine A/D. The leader of the formation was turning inside me by this time and I was unable to shake him off in two turns so I pulled the stick back, put on full top rudder and flicked out then aileroned down until I has 400 LA.S. straightened out diving to 500 LA.S. and then pulled up again to about 10,000 feet. I was hit in the starboard ammo containers which jammed my ailerons so I reformed the Squadron and returned to base."

There was one further victory logged during the day when Sqn Ldr L.H.Lambert, FIg Off J.B.C.Catterns and FIg OffP.B.Noble of 168 Squadron caught a Ju 188 as it was landing at Twente, claiming this shot down to bring 2nd TAF's confirmed claims for the day to 32 in the air and two on the ground. 0 fewer than 26 of the aerial victories had been claimed by pilots of 122 Wing, which when added to 56 trains strafed during the day made this not just the best day so far, but ultimately the Wing's best day of the war. Undoubtedly there had been some overclaiming, and a degree of misidentification seems clearly to have occurred. Sixteen Fw 190Ds had been claimed against a Luftwaffe loss of 11 of these aircraft, while claims for Bf 109s totalled seven. Apart from the IV.fJG 27 aircraft already mentioned, the Geschwader lost four more, one each by I. and II. Gruppe, and two by III.Gruppe. The ratio of claims to losses was nonetheless still quite within acceptable bounds. Losses in achieving these results had been extremely low. No Tempests had been lost in combat, and only one Spitfire XIV and its pilot. The Spitfire IXs had lost one pilot killed, and one down to fuel shortage. Flak had brought down three more Spitfire XIVs, with one of their pilots killed, and three Typhoons, with two pilots killed. In 3 Squadron the unit's New Zealand commanding officer, Sqn Ldr Harvey Sweetman, ended his second tour. The strong New Zealand 'flavour' of the Tempest Wing was maintained when his replacement turned out to be Sqn Ldr K.F. 'Jimmy' Thiele, DSO, DFC & Bar, who had flown two tours on bombers, and then Griffon-Spitfires with 41 Squadron. During the hours of darkness the night fighters of 409 Squadron were again active, FIg Off M.G.KentfPIt Off J.Simpson claiming a Ju 88 at 1914 to the west of the ScheIdt Estuary, while a little over an hour later, Wg Cdr J.D.SomervillefPIt Off A.C.Hardy intercepted Ju 188 A3+DQ of KG 200, which they shot down three miles west of Diest. TIME

SON

09:20 e0920

80 41

TYPE

IDENT

Tempest V Spitfire XIV

EJ705 RM791 RM698 RM696 RM863 RM765 EJ740 EJ713

09:28

80

Tempest V

09:40

274

Tempest V

el000 e1005 e1030

411 403 401

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX

PILOT/CREW

ClAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

EJ762 EJ814 EJ771 NV722 M EJ610 MK950 SM203 ML141 NH240 MK791 y

F/L G.Mann F/L LAWood F/O C.G.Scriven F/L R.B.Cole W/O N.Lush F/L R.M.Cook P/O R.C.Shannon (WI F/O D.FChureh F/O G.A.Hardy F/L w.CConnell}

Bll09 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 BI109 Fw190 Bl109 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

I-2 -1---1 --1 --1 111-1-2 -1-1---1 --1 I--

1m NE Lengerieh {E Hamm {

G K

F/L L.R.G.Smith S/L D.I.Benham F/O FM.Hegarty F/L D.JVHenry F/L W.N.Stowe F/L M.A.L.Balasse (K) F/L A.Seager F/S L.B.Crook

Ar234 Ar234 Ar234

1-1-1--

X V

L

{

Dortmund ftr d/I W MOnster; n/e SW Gutersloh {16m NE OsnabrOck {

{Gutersloh area {

{ { {

10m NE Munster hbl a/MET catAc Bramsehe a/I 1.5m EBramsehe Bramsehe a/I

TIME

SON

TYPE

e1030

401

Spitfire IX

10:40 e1040 10:45

11:00 11:50

e1215 e1220 e1225 12:50 13:10

13:15 13:20

13:30

e1355 15:00 e1510 e1520 16:05

e1620 16:35

16:45 e1650 nk 17:10

19:14

IDENT

MJ980 M MJ671 MJ851 411 Spitfire IX ML273 401 MH847 H Spitfire IX MK795 Tempest V EJ654 N EJ660 E EJ700 0 Tempest V 56 EJ663 S EJ778 M Tempest V EJ643 3 nk EJ643 nk RR201 411 Spitfire IX 411 Spitfire IX RR201 PL433 411 .Spitfire IX 184 Typhoon IB MN485 G 421 Spitlire XVI SM284 B SM359 0 SM293 Q SM393 80 Tempest V EJ740 G Tempest V EJ663 80 EJ705 X EJ665 J EJ640 E EJ713 K EJ667 NV715 F 486 Tempest V EJ750 B NV719 E 442 Spitfire IX MH728 440 Typhoon IB RB325 X 438 Typhoon IB RB333 R 610 Spitfire XIV RM731 486 Tempest V NV715 F EJ706 M EJ750 B EJ784 G 350 Spitfire XIV NH711 Tempest V EJ778 M 56 EJ708 W EJ804 I 245 Typhoon IB MN571 M 125Wg Spitfire XIV nk 130 Spitfire XIV RM756 168 Typhoon IB MN265 L EK140 K RB376 Mosquito XIII MM466 G 409

e1940

69

Wellington XIIINC607

20:23

409

Mosquito XIII MM456 M

PILOT/CREW Plo M.Thomas}

CLAIM

dpd CAUSE/LOCATION

FlO FE.Thayer F/L FT.Murray FlO o.F.Campbeli S/L WT.Klersy F/L WR.Tew F/L J.S.BWright FlO B.MVassiliades FlO HW.Longley F/L F.L.MacLeod} FlO R.V.oennis} F/L D.C. Fairbanks} WID J.L.R.Torpy} F/L D.C. Fairbanks WID J.L.R.Torpy F/L R.J.Audet FIL R.J.Audet Plo G.G.Harrison IS) Cpt A.FGreen S/L J.o.Browne FIL M.J.Gordon} FlO FWEvans} F/L E.S.Smith lSI S/L E.o.Mackie F/L o.Price} Plo FA. Lang} F/L R.J.Holiand} FlO R.H.Anders} F/S L.B.Crook} FlO JWGarland} FlO R.J.Danzey F/L WL.Miller FlO R.D.Bremner FlO J.PW.Francis F/L H.Byers IKI FlO I.J.V.Waliace IKI WID G.Tate (K) S/L A.E.Umbers FlO J.H.Stafford} WID A.H.Bailey} WID WJ.Campbell F/S R.Huens IKI FlO V.L.Turner FlO W.R.MacLaren FlO J.J.Payton FlO P.H.C.Brain W/C G.C.Keefer FlO Woobbs S/L L.H.Lambert} FlO J.B.C.Catterns} FlO P.B.Noble} FlO M.G.Kent Plo J.Simpson FlO K.G.Booth IPI FlO J.K.Turner (Kl FlO G.HiIlIKI F/S C.G.Broad IPI Sgt WE. Ranger (K) FlO J'w.Lowrie (K) W/C J.o.Somerville Plo A.C.Hardy

Ar234 Ar234

--1 --2

I

~

< CD

{Bramsche all catAc/B {

-"'I

ell c/l B.80 catEiB Ar234 Ar234 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Me262

--1 {NW osnabruck -1- { 1-1 {10m W Gutersloh a/f 2- 1 { 1-- { 1-- Achmer

Ju52

1--

Ju88 Ju88 Me262 Me262

-11 --1 1-1--

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

{

Bfl09 Bfl09

1-1--

Irt trouble III Lippstadt area 1m EHesepe Bramsche

BI109

-1-

10m NE Achmer

Ju188

1--

oG; Achmer all

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

-1--1 --1 --1

{ {

Bf109 Bl109

1-1--

BI109

--1

Bl109 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1--

{ {

Ju188

1--

hbl III SW Roermond catE/B III nr Liege cnk; possibly RB 159 CatAc hbl c/l Y.32 landing Twente

Ju88

1--

W Scheidt Est

r-+

OJ

rr -

CD

tlo Gutersloh lOG Gutersloh {

oG Rheine all all 6m NE Rheine lis chasing e/a nr osnabruck hbl III N Baexen catB/E {Lippstadt area

{Minden area

nr Rheine sdbf oremmen sdbf S Geldern hbl a/MET b/o AIT {Rheine {

Rheine sdbl nr Prum {10m NW Rheine

ftr IMaasniel-Krutchenl

Ju188

1--

3m W oiest

80 Squadron sent another armed reconnaissance over the Paderborn-Hamm-MunsterOsnabruck area at 0815. Over Rheine three Bf 109s of I./JG 77 were seen in the circuit and two of these were both shot down, one by Fit Lt R,J.Holland, the other by FIt Lt D.L.Price; both Messerschmitts blew up on crashing on the edge of the airfield, one of the Luftwaffe pilots being killed and the other wounded. These victories brought the Squadron's total to 235, 12 of which had been claimed since the start of the New Year. 3 Squadron Tempests undertook a strafing attack in the Gutersloh area, where FIg Off Vassiliades, DFM, claimed a Ju 52/3m destroyed on the ground, and two twin-engined aircraft damaged; these claims were not subsequently confirmed by 2nd TAP. Vassiliades, it may be recalled, had been a successful Mustang pilot with 19 Squadron until shot down on 18 June 1944. Having evaded capture and returned, he had been decorated, commissioned, rested, converted to Tempests, and then returned to his old Wing. The day also saw the loss of three Typhoons and a Spitfire to Flak, while Fit Lt Dick Audet of 411 Squadron claimed damage to an Me 262 over Munster during the morning. A further

24 January 1945

Typhoon was lost when 193 Squadron returned to Deurne critically short of fuel after a lengthy operation with 1,000 lb bombs. All landed safely with the exception ofWt Off A.G.Randali who ran out of fuel on short finals, coaxing his aircraft over some houses by use of the cylinder priming pump, to crash land on the perimeter by 'R&I' - Repair and Inspection. The latter Inspection revealed the Typhoon was beyond the former!

CD U

~

0

L.L ~

«

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

08:45

80

Tempest V

09:00 e0905 e0930 e0930 13:10 13:50

440 247 411 442 184 3

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Tempest V

e1530 e1540 16:20

257 183 193

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

JN870 EJ669 MN626 PD495 RR201 PV154 MN985 EJ812 EJ803 EJ653 PD464 MN452 PD509

25 January 1945

14:45

245

Typhoon IB

JP596

F/D P.H.C.Brain

ell III E Helmond catB

26 January 1945

09:55 e1145

439 610

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV

RB499 RB167

PIO D.G.Elsey F/D W.HWilson (I/SI

ell til NW Horst catB

CO

U

+-'

U

~ -0

c:

N

27 January 1945

28 January 1945

RIGHT 130 Squad ron had moved into B.78, Eindhoven, on 27 January 1945, and one of the unit's Spitfire XIVs, 'AP-T' is seen here taxiing into its dispersal.

B B

U

V W R

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

F/L R.J.Holiand F/L D.L.Price PIO I.L.Gunnarson FlO M.J.Cheyney (P) F/L R.J.Audet FlO N.A.Burns (PI FlO AWA.Scott PIO R.S.Adcock F/S M.JARose} PIO J.L.R.Torpy} FlO J.D.Lunn (K) F/D PWD'AlbenaclEI WID A.G.Randall

Bl109 Bl109

1-1--

Me262

--1

Ju52 E/A * E/A *

1---1 --1

{2m S Rheine { ell III nr Venlo hbl? til 8m SE Borken Munster hbl? b/o W Munster ell III 2m W Sittard catB OG 10m E Hamm lOG Gutersloh {* twin·engined sdbl SW Utrecht hbl? I/s nr Meppel rol w/u B.70 catB/E

sdbl (Munster)

The Griffon Spitfire units were on the move again on 27th, 130,350 and 610 Squadrons all making for B.78, Eindhoven, while 41 Squadron flew to B.80, Volkel, to operate alongside the 122 Wing Tempests. 0 sooner had 130 Squadron reached its new airfield than it departed for 17 APC for two weeks' instruction in gunnery and bombing. With 126 Wing, Wg Cdr Dal Russel ended his third operational tour of the war, handing over the Wing Leader job to G.W.Northcott. There had been other command changes during the month. In 145 Wing Bill CrawfordCompton had completed his tour as Wing Leader, being replaced by Wg Cdr R.W.F. 'SammY' Sampson, promoted from commanding 127 Squadron. 22:26

107

Mosquito VI

23:00

107

Mosquito VI NS836 A

PZ225 B

F/L L.Gasson F/S L.J.Etheridge WID G.R.Coe IKI F/S W.F.Taylor (KI

hbl c/l A.75 csd Marquion in bad wx

The single loss of the day occurred during an attack by 322 Squadron on a saboteur 'school' at Doorn. Fit Sgt C.Kooy's Spitfire crashed during the attack - possibly a victim of bomb blast from the preceding aircraft. e1555

29 January 1945

F

322

Spitfire XVI

RK840 M

F/S C.Kooy (K)

db bomb blast csd Doorn

Tempests of 274 and 486 Squadrons undertook strafing attacks on 29th, Fit Lt Woolfries from the former unit claiming one Bf 109 destroyed on Hesepe airfield, with four more damaged, while FIt Sgt A.E. 'Ben' Gunn claimed a further three damaged. III./JG 27 recorded that two of its Bf 109Ks were actually destroyed during this attack, but it seems that pilots from this Gruppe

ABOVE: Sqn Ldr JH.Beatty DFC had been a flight commander with 440 Squadron before taking over 439 Squadron in the same Wing on 25 January 1945.

I

RIGHr Mosquito XXX

<

MM767 'RA-O' served with 410 Squadron throughout the autumn of 1944 and on until March 1945. In 1944 it had been crewed usua Ily by Lt AA Harrington, DFC, USAAF, and Fig Off D.GJongue, DFC and had been their aircraft on 25 November when they were credited with three Ju BBGs destroyed In 1945 MM767 was flown by a variety of crews.

CD

-...

r-+ OJ

0CD

De Havilland Mosquito XXX, MM767 'RA-O', Lt A,A.Harrington, USAAF, and Fig Off D.G.Tongue, 410 Squadron, 8.51, Lille/Vendeville

may have attempted to intercept the raiders. Obfhr Hans Lieb of 11. Staffel claimed an aircraft identified as a Typhoon over Wallenbruck at 1620, Oblt Emil Clade, a very experienced pilot of 12. Staffel, adding a second such claim two minutes later as his 25th victory. No 2nd TAF losses were in fact suffered on this date, either by Typhoon or Tempest units. TIME

SaN

TYPE

IDENT

13:00

274

Tempest V

15:10

486

Tempest V

EJ783 EJ801 EJ706

N M

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION

F/L JWWoollries F/S A.E.Gunn P/O G.J.Hooper

BI109 Bf109 E/A*

1- 4 --3 --1

lOG Hesepe a/I { OG NW Quackenbruck ( *S/E)

Ten pilots of274 Squadron flew an afternoon armed reconnaissance to the Rheine area, where a 1 February 1945 -------'---lone Fw 190 was seen at 1715. This was claimed shot down by Flt Lt 'Jesse' Hibbert who latched onto the yellow-cowled enemy fighter and, despite being unable to jettison one of his long-range tanks, "sprayed him until there was an explosion in the rear fuselage." The pressure on the German command structure was maintained when an attack was made by 329 Squadron on a villa to the north-east of Amersfoort, in use as a German Army HQ. Two direct hits and two near misses with 500-pounders were obtained. Early in the evening Wg Cdr Peter Green and his radar operator, Flt Lt Douggie Oxby, were successful again, claiming a Ju 88 shot down. 14:05 15:45 e1710 17:15 19:10

182 3 274 274 219

Typhoon IB RB276 Tempest V NV681 Tempest V EJ762 Tempest V NV722 M Mosquito XXX MM792

F/L WJ.LS.Lowes (K) F/O D.J.Butcher (P) F/L G.J.Bruce (P) F/L WJ.Hibbert W/C WP.Green F/L D.Oxby

Fw190 Ju88

1-1--

e/I 1/1 7m N Hasselt e/I 1/1 nr Winterswijk hbl? 1/1 nr Kreleld Rheine area 2m SW Rheydt

During a Tempest operation which had begun at 0930, 3 Squadron's FIt Lt J.S.B.Wright claimed a Bf 109 shot down and two more damaged in the Soltau area, while pilots of 127 Squadron submitted a joint claim for a Ju 188 destroyed on the ground during a strafing attack on Soesterburg airfield in the early afternoon. Out on an armed reconnaissance in the Paderborn area soon after midday, Tempest pilots of 486 Squadron spotted what they took to be a Do 217 in the landing pattern at an airfield, and this was attacked and shot down by FIg Offs R.D.Bremer and J.H.Stafford, and

2 February 1945

I

+-'

Pit Off C.J.Sheddan. It seems that their victim was in fact a Bf 110 night fighter of 8./NJG 1, which was brought down in just such circumstances at St6rmede, an airfield to the south-west of Paderborn. The pilot, Uffz Gunther Stieghan, and his radar operator both survived with injuries, while the rear gunner was unhurt. The day saw two Tempests, two Typhoons and two Spitfires brought down by Flak, while 21 Squadron lost a Mosquito flown by the unit's Commanding Officer, Wg Cdr LG.E.Dale. Two further Mosquito intruders also failed to return. Another Spitfire and pilot was lost Flt Lt J.B.Gordon of 1401 Flight (which had joined 34 (Reece) Wing at B.58 on 14 January 1945), who was flying a meteorological instrument-equipped Spitfire IX, was probably a victim of bad weather conditions on the morning flight to Munchen Gladbach.

~

TIME

SON

TYPE

-0

e0300

613

Mosquito VI LR356

Q)

U

l0.-

a

LL

« co u u

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

C

N

3 February 1945

e0625 464 Mosquito VI e0900 1401Flt Spitfire IX e0915 486 Tempest V 10:00 74 Spitfire IX 10:00 98 Mitchell II

NS890 B MJ735 EJ787 PV291 P FW224 V

10:30 10:30 e1045 11:20 el120 12:25

3 440 168 80 56 486

Tempest V Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V

EJ654 P0493 MN265 NV657 JN808 NV719 EJ523 NV652

e1415 e1415 e1715 e2300

127 127 175 21

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI RK859 Typhoon IB MN358 U Mosquito VI PZ314

N F L G E 0 K

F/L DASheppard (K) FlO A.G.Martin IK) Plo J.H.Carter (KI F/L J.B.Gordon (K) Plo G.J.Hooper (P/EI F/L F.Hardman (K) Plo B.J.H.Hicks (K) WID GAWinter (K) WID E.A.Bogan (K) F/S A.Barker (KI F/L J.S.BWright FlO G.L.Passmore (K) F/L Howe lEI S/L E.D.Mackie Sgt J.K.Holden (K) FlO R.D.Bremner} FlO J.H.Stafford} Plo C.J.Sheddan} Squadron Sgt W.Van Heiden II) FlO B.S.Lyons (K) W/C I.G.E.oale IK) FlO K.A.Hacknett (K)

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION csd nr Braunlage cnk ftr (Rheydt - osnabruckl250 csd Wenib Brockerlol cnk hbl III S Kirchdorl sdbl IHQ E.25591 ell csd Hopstade

Bl109

1- 2

00217

1--

Ju188

1--

Soltau sdbl nr Legden I? ell III N Paderborn ell III 2m N St Antonis sdbl a/train SE Hildesheim S Pad erborn

oG; Soesterburg satellite hbl III E.569517 sdbl a/MET NE Venlo csd W Aachen

Flak was again the greatest enemy on 3rd, 132 Wing losing its illustrious Norwegian Wing Leader when Wg Cdr Rolf Berg was shot down / and killed. Several Typhoons were also hit, 168 Squadron's Sqn Ldr E.C.H.Vernon-Jarvis, who had just taken command of the unit having earlier flown with 193 and 175 Squadrons, being shot down and killed near Doreuthe. The Tempests were out in force again, 274 Squadron undertaking a strafing attack on Vechta airfield mid-morning, where an aircraft identified as an Me 210 was destroyed, three more being damaged, along with a Ju 88. 486 Squadron, undertaking a squadron-strength armed reconnaissance over the Hildesheim area, led by Wg Cdr Peter Brooker, spotted a considerable number of Ju 52/3ms parked in a clearing in a wood south of Hannover at 1420, Flg Off 'Jack' Stafford and Pit Off 'Ginger' Eagleson each claiming two of these destroyed. A V-I was also intercepted and shot down during the day by Fit Lt 'Duke' Warren in a 66 Squadron Spitfire. That evening at 2100 Fig Off M.G.Kent/PIt Off Simpson of 409 Squadron shot down a Ju 88 over Nievenheim, this proving to be a night fighter version of the aircraft from 3./NJG 2, in which Lt Ernst-August Boving and his crew were killed. Exactly an hour later, 410 Squadron's Fit Lt Ben Plumer, with Fit Lt E.H.Collis as his radar operator, caught another night fighter, this time an He 219 of I./NJG 1, and this was brought down over Garzweiler with the loss of Hptm Alex Graf Ressignier and his crew. 09:50 11:30

e1135 e1140

440 274

168 247

Typhoon IB Tempest V

P0497 K NV722 M

FlO J.TWarreli (K) F/L W.J.Hibbert

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

EJ783 N EJ781 X RB270 MN471 G

S/L A.H.Baird FlO R.E.Mooney S/L E.C.H.Vernon-Jarvis (KI F/L E.A.Magee (P)

Ju88 Me210 Me210 Me210

--1 --1 -- 2 1--

spun in alguns NW Bocholt lOG; Vechta all { {

{ sdbl nr oorenthe ell III 15m SE Munster

On 3 February 1945 Typhoon JP515 of 168 Squadron ran off the runway while landing and flipped over in the soft ground adjoining the strip; the pilot survived although many Typhoon pilots did not in similar circumstances. The aircraft was repaired by Taylorcraft but saw no further active service.

TIME el140 12:10 e1220 e1355 14:45 15:05 16:15 21:00 22:00

SUN

TYPE

IDENT

MJ342 0 JP515 PT549 T RB252 T SM483 EJ523 0 EJ711 Q 132Wg Spitfire IX PV181 RAB Mosquito XIII MM466 G 409 308 168 349 137 403 486

410

Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Tempest V

Mosquito XXX MT281

PILOT/CREW F/L W.Stanski F/L R.J.Harrison (I) F/S LAVan den Werve (K) F/S AVCrory IKI F/O R.M.Tegerdine F/O J.H.Stafford P/O O.D.Eagleson W/C R.A.Berg IK) F/O M.G.Kent P/O J.Simpson F/L B.E.Plumer F/L E.H.Collis

CLAIM

dpd

Ju52 Ju52

--2 --2

Ju88

1--

He2191 --

CAUSE/LOCATION

464

22:15

69

e2230

418

Mosquito VI

PZ452 Y

Wellington XIII NC743

Mosquito VI

PZ235 M

P/O E.GWicky (K) P/O O.Mountford (K) F/S D.E.Smith (I) Sgt EW.Hamilton (K) Sgt V.J.Brookson (K) F/O B.Kelly (I) P/O C.L.Twinn II) F/O M..Ewaschuk (K) F/O R.M.M.Strattan (K)

56 3 181 98

Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB Mitchell II

NV659 E EJ654 N PD561 HD380 Y

el010 e1225 e1450

66 349 66

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI

SM210 TA837 SM236

F/L J.D.Ross (EI F/L J.S.B.Wright (P) S/L D.R.Crawford (K) Wt Off E.S.Richards IKI Sgt J.A.Quick IKI Sgt H.C.Locke IK) Sgt JWard IK) S/L W.M.Foster (S) F/S D.Blair (P) F/L C.Brown

--.. r-+

ill

rr -

CD

4 February 1945

csd Hordean in poor vis swung on tlo hit B.17 B.58

ftr (Zwolle·OsnabrOckl

Flak once again played some havoc with 2nd TAF operational command structures during 6th, Sqn Ldr D.R.Crawford of 181 Squadron being shot down in flames and killed near Wietzen, while 66 Squadron's Sqn Ldr W.M.Foster was obliged to .force-land in hostile territory near Gorinchen (although he returned safely). 181 Squadron was taken over by Sqn Ldr H. 'Poppa' Ambrose, DFC, who had been a flight commander in 175 Squadron. Tempests of 3 Squadron had set off at 0805, but during their patrol two aircraft were hit. Flt Lt J.S.B.Wright was comprehensively 'shot up' by Flak while attacking a train and he was forced to bale out, while FIg Off M.J.A.Rose managed to get back despite his aircraft having been badly damaged. Moves were also afoot, 145 Wing going to B.85 at Schijndel during the day, while the Mosquito VIs of 140 Wing moved to B.87, Rosieres-en-Santerre. While so involved, two Dakotas carrying the ground crews of the Wing's squadrons crashed, and while in one case only one member of the unit was aboard, the other was carrying 23 men of 6487 Servicing Echelon, including the adjutant, who were all killed. Mitchells from 98 and 226 Squadrons bombed a bridge at Deventer during the day, but encountered heavy Flak. One aircraft from the former unit failed to return, while five from the latter were badly hit and damaged, two crash-landing and the other three all force-landing away from base. e0855 e0900 e0930 e0955

CD

Garzweiler /F.1574

This otherwise unremarkable day saw the arrival at B.58, Melsbroek, of a detachment from 616 Squadron, newly-equipped with Gloster Meteor III jets. At this time still the only such squadron in the RAF, the unit had been operating the Mk.I Meteor against V-Is since summer 1944. The unit was commanded by a distinguished Battle of Britain pilot, Wg Cdr Andy McDowell, DFM and he also led over the detachment of four early-production Meteor IIIs. It was hoped that the newer, higher-performance aircraft might offer an answer to the constant fighter-bomber attacks of the Me 262s of KG 51. However, these Welland-engined early Mk.IIIs were not intended to operate over hostile territory but, painted white overall, would be demonstrated to Allied units on the Continent in an effort to prevent unfortunate misidentifications. e0045

<

hbf nr Oeventer catB/E o/s turned over B.78 catB hit trees a/MET nr Gorinchem psdbf ERoermond efto B.56 csd Brussels lOG; in wood S Hanover { sdbf a/airfield Nieve nheim/Fo rS .3080'

hbf b/o IPaderbornl hbf a/train b/o SW Seesen sdbf nr Wietzen sdbf Deventer

hbf a/tr V.2696 S Gorinchen hbf a/train c/I nr Zwolle hbd f/ll0m N B.79 catB/E

6 February 1945

When 181 Squadron lost its commanding officer, Sqn Ldr o RCrawford, on 6 February 1945, he was replaced by Sqn Ldr H.'Poppa'Ambrose DFC (above!. previously a flight commander with 175 Squadron

"'----

Q)

u

The 'Pulverizers'

l0.-

a

LL

«

Hawker Typhoon IB, MP149 '18-P', Fig Off H.J.Hardy, 440 Squadron, B.78, Eindhoven

RIGHT AND INSET:

The replacement '18-P' was MP149, duly named 'Pulverizer II' and it was flown regularly by Hardy throughout the autumn and winter of 1944 until hit by Flak on Christmas Day 1944, during a strafing attack on MET south of Euskirchen. With vital controls damaged Hardy was forced to bale out near base. The close-up shows many more mission symbols (bombs and brooms - for sweeps) and nose-art had been added after the wellknown official shot of MP149 was taken at Eindhoven on 18 October 1944.

LEFT: Early in July 1944, 440 Squadron received a 'new' Typhoon, MN311 (it had been used for acceptance trials of the four-bladed propeller and 'Tempest tailplane'). It was coded 'IB-P' and named 'Pu Iverizer' by its groundcrew, Vic Bell and Pete Peterson; its usual pilot was Fit Lt CWHicks. After he was shot down and killed in another Typhoon, on BAugust 1944, 'Pulverizer' was eventually adopted by Fig Off HJ.Hardy and was flown by him on the ferry flight (from BA8 to B.58) which ended in the forced landing of nine Typhoons on 6 September 1944. Hardy recalled: 'It was late in the evening and raining and we were flying low as visibility was poor. We were so low I could see the 2 ft by 4 ft red patches the Army laid on the ground to mark their forward locations. Hal Gooding (Red 1) called Denny Wright (Blue 1) and asked him if he knew where we were. Denny answered "negative". Then Hal said we'd fly 270 degrees until we were almost out of fuel, then each of us were to pick a field and go down. I put 'Pulverizer' down on her belly without any problems (see photograph). The farm family came running out to see me; they took me home and I slept in the daughter's bed that night (minus the daughter of course)." MN311 was retrieved and repaired by Taylorcraft, later seeing service with 181 Squadron.

Hawker Typhoon IB, RB389 '18-P', Fit Lt H.J.Hardy, 440 Squadron, B.78, Eindhoven

ABOVE: Fit Lt Harry Hardy in the cockpit of 'Pulverizer IV'. ABOVE LEFT AND LEFr The next '18-P',

RB342 'Pulverizer III', was flown from 16 January to 24 February 1945, when it was damaged and duly despatched to 403 R&SU for repair. 'Pulverizer IV', RB389 appeared on the scene the next day and saw Hardy, now '1'\ Flight commander, through to the end of his tour on 24 March, after 96 operations. RB389 survived the war and appears to have been scrapped at 83 Group Disbandment Centre where it was last reported on 22 August 1945 'Pulverizer IV' is seen here with 1,000 Ib bombs on the runway at B.l00 Goch on 2 April 1945 and being armed with 520 Ib segmented antipersonnel bombs.

Operation 'Veritable' (J)

It is important, as always, to understand what the Allied armies were seeking to achieve in order to make sense of the air forces' involvement. By early February 1945 the losses of territory caused by the German Ardennes offensive of the previous December, had been made good, and the American armies in the area had been appropriately reinforced and reorganised. In the far north of the front, the line ran north-south along the German frontier as far as Trier, and then swung south-east along the edge of the Saar to the area west of the Rhine at Karlsruhe. Here it turned south again until it reached the Swiss frontier at Basle. At the northern end of the line a salient bulged around Nijmegen - the residual gain of Operation 'Market Garden' - and then swung a little south of west, along the line of the River Waal to the Dutch North Sea coast. This area to the west of a line drawn south-west from Nijmegen to Eindhoven was the domain of Canadian First Army, and of 84 Group, 2nd TAP. From Nijmegen the northern sector of the German frontier from the Kleve-Emmerich area, through Goch to Venlo, was the area of operations of British Second Army (supported by 83 Group, 2nd TAF), while the area to the immediate south, stretching from Venlo, through Roermond and then eastern Belgium almost to Aachen, was held by the US Ninth Army - the third element of Montgomery's British 21st Army Group. At this point occurred the dividing line between 21st Army Group and General Omar Bradley's US 12th Army Group. From below Roermond to the area south of the Hurtgen Forest, the US front line was by this time to the east of the German West Wall (Siegfried Line) defences, and ran along the west bank of the Roer river. This area had been taken by the US First Army following several weeks of bitter and costly winter fighting. Thereafter the line south still faced the West Wall. Along Luxembourg's eastern border with Germany was the US Third Army, while in eastern France were the US Sixth and Seventh Armies, and the French 1st Army, which was located at the southern end of the front. For 21st Army Group the first priority would be to clear the Reichswald Forest which lay immediately in front of Kleve and Goch, and through the middle of which ran the northernmost section of the West Wall. To the immediate north, the area between Kleve and Emmerich, where the rivers Rhine and Waal met, had been flooded over a wide area, while to the south of Nijmegen the Maas had also been allowed to flood by the defenders. At this stage therefore, the only clear way through was directly onto the strongly defended Reichswald, where a forward line' of defences preceded the forest and the main West Wall fortifications. XXX Corps of Second Army was given the job of clearing the Reichswald, codenamed Operation 'Veritable', scheduled to commence in the early hours of 8 February. In conjunction with this offensive, US Ninth Army was to advance into the area of the Roer Valley.

U

l.-

o

LL

«

8 February 1945

The Kommodore of NJG 2, Major Paul Semrau. He was shot down and killed by Fit Lt KS Sleep of 402 Squadron on 8 February 1945. He had 46 night victories to his credit.

'Veritable' started with what XXX Corps described as "the biggest artillery barrage in history." For five hours machine guns, Bofors, tank guns, 17 pounder anti-tank guns, heavy AA guns, 25 pounders, 4.5in and 5.5in artillery, and the super-heavy guns further back, pounded the area. 500,000 rounds were fired by over 1,200 guns, raining down 11,000 tons of explosives onto the stricken defenders. Fire ceased at 0740 hours and the advance began. In support of this 'big push', 257 Squadron undertook a day of 'Cab Rank' operations, landing at strips close to the front to refuel and re-arm between sorties. Other units of the Wing, 193,197 and 266 Squadrons, moved to B.89 at Mill in Holland, led by their Wing Leader, Wg Cdr J.C.Wells. On an early armed reconnaissance by the Spitfire XIVs of 402 Squadron, Fit Lt K.S.Sleep spotted a Ju 88 north of Coesfeld, which he at once shot down. This aircraft had been flown by the Kommodore of NJG 2, Maj Paul Semrau, who was undertaking a daylight test flight when intercepted. This recipient of the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub (posthumously), and victor of 46 nocturnal combats, was killed with his crew. Close behind 402 Squadron had come other Spitfires from 442 Squadron which reached the Wesel area to encounter five Ju 87s. Hardly able to believe their luck, the Canadian pilots rapidly disposed of the lot, Fit Lt D.C.Gordon claiming two and sharing a third with Fit Lt J.G.Doyle, who accounted personally for a fourth; the fifth fell to Fit Lt R.B.Barker. At 0840 nine Tempests from 274 Squadron set course for the Celle-Rheine-Minden area, followed ten minutes later by aircraft from 80 Squadron, which headed for DiepholzNienburg. Over Minden at 0916 the 274 Squadron pilots, who were flying at 8,000 feet, saw about 12 Bf 109s above them at 15,000 feet. As the unit headed for the enemy, six more dived from the north to attack, following which the main Messerschmitt formation turned on the Tempests and Sqn Ldr A.H.Baird's aircraft was shot down. The rest of the pilots got rather the better of their attackers, Fig Offs W.F.Mossing, W.SlStark and T.R.Sutherland each claiming one Messerschmitt shot down to the north-west of Rheine, while Fit Lt Hibbert claimed one damaged. Their opponents were aircraft of III./JG 27, pilots from this unit claiming three Tempests shot down in this engagement for the loss of two of their Bf 109s.

I LEFT AND BELOW

The squadrons of 146 Wing landed at their newly created base. B.89, Mill, on 8 February 1945. Built on sandy soil for good drainage the weather soon turned it into a quagmire. The control tower can be seen, bottom left. with the signals square in front proclaimimg the airfield identity. Between the square and the runway are parked two communications Austers and on the other side of the runway, Typhoon dispersals. One of 197 Squadron's Typhoons, Pit Off Derek Lovell's PD620 'OV-S', occupies one of the PSP Dispersals, with accommodation huts in the background. A little later at 0950 Pit Off R.S.E.Verran, one of those in the 80 Squadron formation, spotted a lone Fw 190 flying east at 800 feet some 20 miles south-east of Bremen, and this he claimed shot down. During the day, however, 411 Squadron's Fit Lt Dick Audet was obliged to bale out when his Spitfire was hit by Flak; luckily, he landed in friendly territory, and was quickly back with the squadron. Nonetheless, Flak again took its toll, two French-flown Spitfires of 345 Squadron, a Spitfire FRXIV of2 Squadron, a 268 Squadron Mustang, Tempests from 3 and 486 Squadrons, and several Typhoons all being lost during the day. One of the latter, a 609 Squadron aircraft, suffered engine failure and was down to ground level when the engine picked up, enabling the pilot to climb away; unfortunately he was unable to avoid the surrounding trees entirely and was eventually obliged to bale out of his crippled aircraft into Allied territory. One of 3 Squadron's Tempests had been piloted by FIt Lt 'Judy' Garland - newly posted in from 80 Squadron as a flight commander: yet another successful and experienced pilot falling victim to Flak while attacking trains. 349 Squadron was fortunate not to lose its Commanding Officer when Sqn Ldr A.Van der Velde was hit by Flak and survived a seven-minute flight back to Allied territory and a forced-landing in a petrol-soaked cockpit. On the ground, although there had been some fierce resistance in places, by next day Kleve had been taken. At this stage the Germans broke the Roer dams in the Duren area, flooding the valley and putting a stop to any immediate advance by Ninth Army. However, by 21 February Goch too would have fallen, and on 23rd the floods would have subsided sufficiently to allow Ninth Army to begin an offensive across the river. These successes allowed 21st Army Group to close up to the Rhine itself during March.

OJ

U

TIME SON

TYPE

00:21

Wellington XIII NC573

69

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

l..-

a

LL... l..-

«

e0835 e0840

402 442

Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX

CO U +-' U

09:10

~

274

Tempest V

-0 C N

09:25 174 09:30 198 09:50 80 e0950 345 10:10 485 e1010 2 10:15 609 e1215 35Wg e1350 3 e1455 345 15:15 411 e1540 183 16:45 174 e1705 486 e1720 3 17:35 349

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Mustang I Tempest V Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V Spitfire IX

RM862 PV148 MJ464 MK898 PV148 MJ464 EJ784 EJ751 EJ764 EJ688 EJ783 MN570 MN344 EJ691 PL202 MK529 RM805 MN360 FD546 EJ895 PV143 PL430 RB280 RB385 EJ750 NV676 NH456

CLAIM

d Pd

FlO WRTlnker (K) PIO WWalker (KI F/S J.Thompson (K)

K

N P Q

D A

W K B

Sgt WFowler (K) F/S L.Wiliiams (I) F/L K.S.Sleep F/L D.C.Gordon F/L G.J.Ooyle F/L RB.Barker F/L D.C.Gordonl F/L J.G.Doyle ) FlO WFMossing FlO WS.J.Stark FlO T.RSutherland F/L WJ.Hibbert S/L A.H.Baird (K) FlO J.M.Harbidge F/L G.S.Chalmers PIO R.S.E.Verran Cpt A.Kerourio (K) FlO D.G.L.Taylor (KI F/L G.K.Maleolmson (K) PIO J.De Bruyn F/L FR.Normoyle IKI F/L RWJones (PI F/S J.Oulman (K) F/L RJ.Audet F/L A.R.Coeks IPI F/L R.FSweeting F/L WL.Miller (EI F/L J.w.Garland (PI S/L A.Van der Velde

CAUSElLOCATION hdbAf? esd 4 m E B.58

Ju88 Ju87 Ju87 Ju87 Ju87

1 .. 2 .. 1·1 .. 1- -

Bl109 BI109 BI109 Bll09

1·· 1·· 1 _. --1

Fw190

1·-

Coesleld {A.3734/SE Wesel {

{ {

{Rheine { { {

sdb Bl109s nr Rheine efta til Volkel village eatB hbl Ilion lire B.86 20m SE Bremen sdbl (E Geldernl hbl a/train in Groningen station rol ell Hunbergen hit tree b/o nr Handel psdbl (Arnheml 268Sq ale ell 1/1 SW Apeldoorn sdbl a/MET ne Duisberg hbl (Twentel b/o nr B.88 hbl b/o 2m N Boxmeer ell w/u B.80 hbl 1/1 nr Verden hbl b/o SE Rheine hbl ell AfT (Goeh) eatB

9 February 1945

15:15

320

Mitchell II

FW212 J

FR165

10 February 1945

K

17:30 e1930

610 605

Spitfire XIV Mosquito VI HR152 S

e2220

418

Mosquito VI

HR151

Lt A.Mansehot (K) S/LtTh Emous (K) Wt 011 R.M.wilson (K) Sgt A.L.Diets (K) Silt A.K.Knapp (KI SILt J.H.Maas SILt G.Glaassen Sgt D.H.J.Born IKI Sgt H.Harsevoort (K) F/L J.Lee (S) FlO R.P.Bulman (K) FlO D.FWarren (KI F/L WC.Charde IK) Sgt S.Rosenthal (KI

It was 3 Squadron which lost its Commanding

Officer on lOth when Sqn Ldr K.F.Thiele, DSO, DFC & 2 Bars, the very notable ex-bomber pilot, was brought down by Flak whilst attacking a train east of Dorsten. He baled out and survived as a PoW (but escaped at the end of March). One of his pilots, Ph Off M.J.A.Rose, also had his Tempest hit by Flak, but managed to force-land west of Paderborn from where he made his way back to Allied lines on foot. The Squadron claimed to have damaged 11 trains during the day. Another Tempest pilot, Fh Lt J.Woolfries of 274 Squadron, was also obliged to force-land north-east of Arnhem, and like Thiele, went "into the bag". From this latter unit, Fh Lt R.B.Cole, DFC, was promoted and posted to take Thiele's place at the head of 3 Squadron.

{eld in cloud en route Geldern { esd T1rlemont {

{ {

{

hbl III Brussels ftr Intruder (Geldern) ftr Intruder (N Rhurl

Sqn Ldr R.Bruce Cole had served in the Western Desert as a Tomahawk pilot earlier in the war Late in 1944 he joined 274 Squadron as a flight commander on Tempests and when 3 Squadron's Sqn Ldr Keith Theile. DSa, DFC & Bar, become a PoW on 10 February 1945 Cole was promoted to take his place.

David Charles Fairbanks DFC & Two Bars avid Charles Fairbanks, a US citizen born in New York State, and son of a Cornell University professor, lived and breathed aviation from an early age and in his fmal years at high school followed the progress of the European air war avidly. In February 1941 he enlisted in the RCAP and on completion of his flying training he was posted to the 13 SFTS as an instructor. At last a posting to the ABOVE: "The Terror of Rheine" UK came his way and after advanced and operational training he joined 501 Squadron at Hawkinge to fly Spitfire Vs. It was with this unit that he achieved his first victories, on 'D+2', a Bf 109 destroyed and a second damaged, near Le Havre. Later in the summer, during anti-Diver sorties, Fairbanks destroyed two flying bombs. By now an experienced flight commander, he was posted to 274 Squadron as it prepared to join 2nd TAF on the Continent, equipped with Tempests. Few enemy aircraft were encountered during 274 Squadron's first weeks at Volkel but the chance he had been waiting for came at last on 17 December. On a sweep near Rheine he aggressively pursued a single Bf 109 until the pilot baled out; he then tackled three more - one of which he fired at until it was seen to explode when attempting a forced landing. A possible third victim escaped when he ran out of ammunition, but he left the pilot in no doubt of his good fortune, rolling over the top of the' 109 and giving the alarmed occupant a twofingered salute! A posting to 3 Squadron followed at the end of December, and the New Year saw Fairbanks' run of success continue throughout January with claims for a Fw 190 on 4 January, another, plus a Bf 109, on 14 January, and a share in Ju 52/3m on the 23rd. On 9 February 1945 Fairbanks was posted back to 274 Squadron to replace Sqn Ldr Baird, who had been shot down and killed by Bf 109s of JG 27 the previous day. 'Foob Fairbanks, the 'terror of Rheine' is to return to us!' enthused the Squadron diarist and indeed,

D

with his own command, Fairbanks was able to exercise his talents to the full, claiming six more enemy aircraft destroyed, (and possibly a seventh), in the next three weeks. On 24 February Fairbanks made his final confirmed kill, his thirteenth (including one shared), all but one while flying the Tempest. Then on the last day of the month, Squadron Leader Fairbanks led six of his Tempests to Hamm, Munster and Osnabrtick early in the morning. A locomotive was attacked but, shortly after 0800 hours, '40+ FW190s and Me.109s' were seen north of Osnabrtick. In typical fashion, Fairbanks led his flight into the attack and a hard fight began, with little chance for the RAF pilots to do more than get the odd shot at the multitude of opponents (see page 435/6). Four Tempests returned, their pilots claiming damage to five Fw 190s, but two Tempests were missing, one of them flown by Fairbanks. While Fairbanks was in the PoW camp, a Bar to his DFC was gazetted, followed by a second one just after the war when he was repatriated to Canada. He flew Vampires and T-33s with the RCAP Auxiliary, and later Meteors with 504 Squadron, RAuxAF, when working in England. In 1955 he was employed by De Havilland of Canada as a test pilot, flying Beavers, Otters and Caribou aircraft, becoming an expert on STOL operations. He died of natural causes, at the early age of 52.

ABOVE: On 19 November 1944, Fairbanks' Tempest, EJ627

Hawker Tempest V, EJ762 'JJ-F', Fit Lt D.C.Fairbanks, 274 Squadron, 8.80, Volkel

'JJ-F', received a hit in the leading edge of the port wing, setting the fuel tank on fire. Flames streamed from the ruptured wing, stripping the tail surfaces of paint and the rudder of fabric. Despite the damage he was able to return to Volkel and land safely, this exploit playing a significant part in the award of a DFC.

Q)

U

l0..-

a

LL

«

At 1618 a pair of 2 Squadron's Spitfire FR XIVs took off on a TacR, during which enemy aircraft were seen flying south-westwards at low level. Flt Lt J.R.MacElwain and his wingman intercepted, MacElwain claiming one Bf 109 shot down while FIg Off Jeffries believed he had damaged a second.

11 February 1945

TIME

SUN

e0130

21

TYPE

IDENT

e1520 e1605 e1605

302 3 98

Spitfire IX Tempest V Mitchell II

TB132 H NV644 H0365 C

e1630 e1630 16:40

3 274 2

Tempest V Tempest V Spitfire XIV

e1645 e1700

197 41

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV

NV656 EJ751 RM921 RM802 P0447 F RM842

Mosquito VI HR345

PILOT/CREW F/O E.O.Brown (KI F/S A.G.Grieve (KI F/L AWegrzyn S/L K.FThiele (PI Fig Off O.E.GWiliiams IK) Fit Sgt C.J.Bridgett (K) Wt Off J.A.T.Oick (K) Wt Off J.E.Galiop (K) P/O M.J.A.Rose IE) F/L JWoollries IP) F/L J.R.MacElwain FlO EW.A.Jefferies PIO O.E.Tapson IP) F/L O.JVHenry (P)

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr Intruder hbl c/I (Calcarl catB/E hbl b/o E Oorsten sdbl Xanten

BI109 Bl109

1---1

hbl III W Paderborn hbl III 9m NE Arnhem {Lochem (

I/s S Kalkar hbf a/train 1/1 ERheine

Sqn Ldr Fairbanks celebrated his promotion and return to 274 Squadron by setting off at the head of eight Tempests for the Drakenburg-Hanover-Paderborn area. Taking off at 1030, the formation had claimed two locomotives and five MET strafed when a lone jet was seen flying west at 7,000 feet. A pursuit began which lasted for 20 miles through broken cloud. Finally Fairbanks caught the aircraft which he identified as an Me 262, as it was about to land at Rheine, and shot it down with one quick burst. Subsequent research has indicated that his victim was almost certainly a reconnaissance Arado Ar 234 of 1.(F)/123, flown by Hptm Hans Felden. In 183 Squadron the Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr H.M.Mason, was promoted to become Wing Leader of 135 Wing, his place being taken by J.R.Cullen, DFC, from 164 Squadron. He was replacingWg Cdr R.H.Harries, DSO, DFC & Bar, who was 'tour-expired' and posted to 84 Group HQ as Wing Commander Training; subsequently he was awarded a Bar to his DSO. e0900

350

Spitfire XIV

NH695

WID JWL.Laloux (S)

09:10

402

Spitfire XIV

RNl18

F/L W.G.Hodges (K)

e1035 11:05 12:20 e1400 e1430 16:50

332 274 610 412 181 308

Spitfire IX Tempest V Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire IX

PT848 NV645 RN120 PT535 RB364 MH451 E

2Lt B.Knudsen IK) S/L O.C.Fairbanks W/O M.FHarding (K) FlO A.T.Gibb IS) FlO K.H.Goddard IP) FIS S.Breyner IDol'"

12 February 1945

e1045

402

Spitfire XIV

RM846 Z

F/O W.OWittaker

13 February 1945

The day brought the loss of five more Typhoons, two each from 164 and 181 Squadrons, and five Spitfire IXs, including once again two from 345 Squadron. 145 Wing had now been rejoined by 340 Squadron, which now began converting to Spitfire XVIs.

Me262

1--

hbl a/train c/I nr QuackenbrOck catAc/B hit ground on cloud break 1m NE 8.80 ftr wx recce (SW Zwolle) Rheine a/I ftr (MOnsterl e/I b/o 4m SW Cleve hbf b/o SW Soest c/I cnk catAc/E "17Feb45

hit htc a/train catAc/E

A Bofors gun crew struggles to keep its weapon serviceable in the ice and snow although the field of fire does not look too good with 308 Squadron's Spitfire IXs (soon to be exchanged for MkXVls) lined up behind.

I

A rather regrettable loss occurred during the late morning when six of 41 Squadron's Spitfire XIVs on an armed reconnaissance over the Ahlhorn-Paderborn area encountered a lone Bf 110, G9+FY of 11.1NJG 1, south of Lippstadt. FIt Lt R.P.Harding and Flg Offs E.Gray and EM.Hegarty jointly shot this down, but as they did so the rear gunner obtained some vital hits on Harding's aircraft, and he did not return; only one member of the German crew survived. Somewhat earlier in the morning 180 Squadron's Mitchells had received a hot reception over Weeze. Four aircraft were damaged by Flak and the pilot of the worst hit was obliged to make a wheels-up landing at base; the pilot of one of the others was wounded but managed a crashlanding in which the crew survived, if not the aircraft. Two Mitchells were unable to release their full bombloads and the crews were eventually ordered to bale out over friendly territory.

RIGHT Sqn Ldr 'Digger' Cotes-Preedy, Commanding Officer of 56 Squadron, in Tempest VEJ721 US-C, waits for landing traffic prior to taking off from B.80, Volkel, on 13 February 1945. (FLM1494)

Hawker Tempest V, EJ721 'US-C, Sqn Ldr D.V.C.Cotes-Preedy, 56 Squadron, 8.80, Volkel

LEFT Filmed on the same day, another 56 Squadron Tempest, EJ777 'US-F' seems to have found a pothole. (IWM FLM3114)

I

Q) Co-) ~

0

I..L ~

<:(

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e0905 e0955 e1005 e1015 10:20 10:41

345 322 274 181 302 180

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Mitchell II

NH218 RK892 EJ764 JP672 SM412 H0386

10:50

180

Mitchell II

H0360

11:45

180

Mitchell II

H0391

12:10 e1205

485 41

Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV

el225 e1235 e1240 12:50

66 164 164 180

Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Mitchell II

PT856 RM819 NH712 RM863 SM283 JR141 EJ967 C FW248

13:05 e1310 e1425

439 322 181

Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB

MP182 RK921 RB392

Lt M.de Longeville (K) FlO E.Oitmarsch IKI FlO R.E.Mooney (II FlO OWO.Guest (K) F/L AWegrzyn (P) SILt P.Van Hessen (W) Fig Off P.J.Triest PIO P.Jacques PIO WJ.J. Hogendoorn Fig Off WM.Huggard Fig Off K.Scholes Fig Off L.Thomas Fig Off A.G.Bailey F/L E.WBateson F/O C.E.Lovelock PIO V.C.Davis FIS A.J.Ballantine PIO M.A.Collett (S) F/L R.P.Harding (Pll FlO E.Gray) FlO EM.Hegarty} PIO J.Ounk WID A.M.Elston (PI FIS C.L.Mouzon Fit Lt G.M.Howard-Jones Fig Off H.E. Lovelock Fig Off V.C.Davis Fit Sgt A.J.Ballantine F/O JWBullock FIS A.J.Bary IW/PI WID WA.J.Graham (P)

A E U A

CO Co-)

+-'

Co-)

~ ""0

c:

N

14 February 1945

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSEILOCATION sdbl nr Vynen a/MET ftr (Geldern) hbl a/train (Soltau-Verden) catB/E hit htc csd W Meschede sdbf d/b Sonsbeck hbl Weeze cat nk

hbl Weeze w/u B.58

bhu b/o AfT

Bl1101 --

elf b/o AfT 10m S Lippstadt; sdb return fire

hbf a/MET (Area V) catAc/E sdbf nr Kleve hbf nr Kleve b/o AfT bhu b/o AfT

elf III E B.78 catB hbf IGeldernll/s Kevelaer lIs nr Werl

The morning of 14th began badly when during an early armed reconnaissance in the Munster area, a 610 Squadron Spitfire XIV was shot down in flames over Boxmeer by Flak with the loss of Flt Lt W.M.Lightbourn. Things improved radically thereafter. At 0730 four Typhoons of 439 Squadron set off on a similar operation, while at 0745 Spitfire XIVs of 41 Squadron took off, seven of the Griffon-engined aircraft heading for the Osnabruck area. On the other side of the lines I./JG 26 and III./JG 54 had been ordered off to patrol over Rheine where Me 262s were due to take off to attack a number of targets. Maj Borris led 24 1. Gruppe aircraft to meet the JG 54 formation, which was led by Lt Peter Crump. They began orbiting over KG 51's airfield at somewhat low altitude, shortly before 41 Squadron arrived in the area. The Spitfire pilots spotted 12 Fw 190Ds over Rheine, seeing these circling above a number of Me 262s which were in the circuit. Flt Lt EG.Woolley claimed one Focke-Wulf probably destroyed, Flt Sgt C.M.Moyle adding one shot down, while Wt Off LT.Stevenson claimed one probable and one damaged. Two pilots managed to dive through the Dora-9s onto the jets, claiming damage to two of these. On this occasion it seems that the RAF pilots had considerably underestimated the results of their attack, for III./JG 54 lost three aircraft with two of its pilots killed and one wounded. A fighter of I./JG 26 also went down to the British aircraft, its pilot also wounded. JG 26's Lt Waldemar Soffing claimed one of the Spitfires shot down for his 24th victory at 0815, but no loss or damage was actually suffered by the British unit. The Dora-9s had achieved the desired objective, however, for no fewer than 53 Me 262 sorties were made to bomb Nijmegen, Kleve and Gennep. The jets were not to escape scot-free however, for at about 0830 439 Squadron's quartet of Typhoons were forming up after strafing a train when two of the jets were spotted flying at 3,000 feet, about 4,000 feet lower than the Canadian fighter-bombers, and proceeding in the same direction. Given such a rare opportunity, the RCAF pilots dived to attack, Flt Lt Lyal Shaver hitting one which blew up, while Fig Off Hugh Fraser sent the other down through cloud, a column of smoke then appearing. They had succeeded in destroying two aircraft of 5./KG 51 in which both their pilots, Lt Hans-George Richter and Fw Werner Witzmann, were killed; both fell some 20 miles north of Coesfeld. More Typhoons from 184 Squadron were also in the area. Their pilots also spotted two Me 262s near Arnhem. Capt A.EGreen, DFC, a SAAF pilot, managed to hit one at 0840, claiming to have inflicted damage. The Squadron proudly recorded that their man had been the first Typhoon pilot to hit a jet, but in fact he had just been "pipped" in the most decisive manner by the two Canadians. Thereafter Flak began to take its usual steady toll. A 609 Squadron Typhoon was shot down south of Kleve, and Flt Lt R.K.Gibson killed at around 1000 hours, while soon after midday a 164 Squadron aircraft disappeared in the same area, Plt Off LA.S.Moore later being reported to have been killed also.

Fit Lt Lyle Shaver and Fig Off Hugh Fraser examine debris from one of the Me 262s they had shot down on 14 February 1945 IIWM CL1958)

Pit Off R.P.Townsend of 175 Squadron became a PoW after baling out south of Goch, while 198 Squadron's Pit Off L.W.Sellman crashed to his death nearby. A 263 Squadron aircraft was also lost with its pilot, Wt Off e.G.Points, over Wetten, and a 438 Squadron Typhoon came down south-east of Geldern. Some of the Spitfire units also suffered, 322 Squadron losing Flg Off EJ.H.Van Eijk from a midday armed reconnaissance, his aircraft being seen to crash and blow up. On a similar sortie Lt M.Fleischel of 345 Squadron was killed when his aircraft was hit over Duisberg, while two Polish-flown Spitfires of 302 Squadron suffered such severe damage during an afternoon armed reconnaissance that they were written off. On a strafing sortie during the morning one of 486 Squadron's Tempests was hit and Fit Lt W.A.L.Trott was badly wounded, though he managed to fly more than 100 miles back to base, after which he fainted from loss of blood; he was awarded a DFe. Worse was to come for the New Zealand unit, for during an armed reconnaissance in the Meppen area later in the day, intense rocket fire from the ground struck the Commanding Officer's aircraft, which crashed in flames. Sqn Ldr Umbers was killed instantly, the third Tempest leader to be lost in a week; his place was taken by Sqn Ldr K.G.Taylor-Cannon - known to all as 'Hyphen'. On another sortie commencing at 1330, Sqn Ldr Fairbanks of 274 Squadron headed three Tempests on an armed reconnaissance during which two locomotives and 15 trucks were strafed. He then headed for Rheine again and dived through the Flak defences when he saw eight Me 262s taking off; he managed to claim damage to one of these. Returning from strafing a railway station at 1310, Typhoon pilots of 193 Squadron encountered a lone Bf 109 north of Grave which was claimed shot down by three pilots jointly. More Messerschmitts were seen by 80 Squadron Tempest pilots near Celle at much the same time, FIg Off N.J.Rankin gaining hits on one with which FIg OffY.F.Boyds then collided as it started to fall. He managed to bale out, but lost his life nonetheless, as did FIg Off D.S.Angier, whose aircraft was shot down by Flak south of Brunswick during the same operation. Throughout the day squadrons undertook a number of airfield strafes, achieving some success. 411 Squadron Spitfire pilots hit Handorf where Flt Lt John Boyle claimed two He 177 bombers destroyed and a third damaged, while FIt Sgt Watt claimed damage to two more. 174 Squadron's Typhoons hit another airfield where one unidentified aircraft was claimed destroyed and two damaged, while at Quackenbruck 3 Squadron Tempest pilots claimed damage to four twin-engined types. The final engagement occurred at evening, during 610 Squadron's second armed reconnaissance of the day. Some Ar 234s were spotted near Rheine, Fit Lt Tony Gaze climbing through a heavy overcast in the hope of catching these. As he broke into sunlight above, he spotted a trio of Me 262s, the pilots of which failed to see him as he dropped back into cloud. Keeping just the cockpit and tail unit of his Spitfire XIV clear of the murk, he stalked them until he was within range, then shot down 9K+NL ofI./KG 51 piloted by Fw Richard Hoffmann who was killed; the other two pilots at once opened their throttles and sped away. Apart from the three losses of Me 262s recorded above, a fourth I./KG 51 aircraft was reported to have been lost in combat during the day, the pilot baling out. This may well have been one of the four aircraft of this type claimed damaged by 2nd TAF pilots. TIME

SaN

TYPE

IDENT

PILDT/CREW

e0400

613

Mosquito VI

RS614

e0810 08:15 08:15

610 198 439

Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

RM677 JP669 MN144 RB281 RM799 RM791 RM789 RM696 RM885 RB226 MN485 NH594 RB311 EJ645 EJ812 PD467

F/L R.Fossett IKI FlO W.P.Fryer (K) F/L W.M.Lightbourn (K) P/O LWSeliman (K) F/L L.C.Shaver F/O A.H.Fraser F/S C.M.Moyle F/L FGWoolley WID I.T.Stevenson WID V.J.Rossow FlO E.Grey FlO F.A.Nixon lSI Cpt A.F.Green Lt M.Fleischel (K) F/L R.K.Gibson (K) S/L R.B.Cole P/O R.S.Adcock (EI WID C.G.Points IK)

e0830

41

Spitfire XIV

e0835 08:40 e0900 elDOO 10:20

438 184 345 609 3

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Tempest V

el125

263

Typhoon IB

S X V

H G

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr intruder

Me262 Me262 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Me262 Me262

1-1-1---1 -11 --1 --1

Me262

--1

TEE/A

2 --

hbf csd SE Boxmeer hbf csd SE Goch {20m N Coesfeld { {Rheine a/f { { { { psdbf csd SE Geldern N Emmerich sdbf nr Duisberg sdbf NE Goch {OG; Ouackenbruck (hbf b/o sdbf Wetten

I

I

ill U

~

0

LL ~

« CO U

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

el155 e1200 e1230 e1315 e1325 13:33

322 486 164 302 302 193

Spitfire XVI Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB

13:36 e1450

198 174

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

15:00

80

Tempest V

e1510 15:15 e1520 14:15 e1655

80 345 486 263 411

Tempest V Spitfire IX Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire IX

17:00 17:10 17:45

274 610 175

Tempest V Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB

RK895 EJ711 MN794 SM648 SM488 nk nk nk EJ958 nk nk EJ705 EJ776 EJ695 PT548 NV715 PD550 PV230 PV347 NV645 nk MN308

+-'

U

~ -0 C

N

15 February 1945

"Any crash is a good one - if you walk away from it" which is what Fig Off Louis Bastin (Belgian) of 198 Squadron did (with some bruises) after the engine failed on Typhoon MN467 which he was delivering to B77, GilzeRijen, on 16 February 1945. Badly positioned for a landing he hit the strip fast and hard, bouncing into trees adjoining the airfield. The bottom of his seat can be seen in the centre of the picture.

Q

E E

PILOT/CREW FlO F.J.H.Van Eijk (K) FlO WA.L.Trott (W) P/O I.A.S.Moore (K)

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Bl109

1--

hbl exp in III (Nickel nr Straelen) hbl nr Dummer See catAc ftr I/s SEKleve hbl catB/E hbl Xanten catB/E 3m N Grave

ElA ElA BI109

1---2 1--

{

He177 Hel77 Me262 Me262

2-1 - -2 --1

{

FIL J.Szymankiewicz (W)

SZ-GP/O WGretkierewicz (WI

U

X

F H

FIL J.H.Hilton ) FlO RW.G.Austinl W/O K.R.Goodhew ) F/S A,WBritton FlO J.S.Kennon P/O R.B.Adams P/O N.J.Rankin FlO C.F.Royds (KI FlO D.S.Angier (KI Sgt G.R.Juventin S/L A.E.Umbers IKI FlO G.F.Giliman FIL J.J.Boyle F/S J.D.AWatt S/L D.C.Fairbanks FIL F.A.O.Gaze PID R.P.Townsend (PI

1--

efto III nr B.77 {DG; unidentified all 10m E Celie cld Bl109 b/o 10m E Celie hbl I/s S Brunswic k wing wrinkled d/b catB/Ac sdbl nr Meppen dila B.89 {DG; Handorf a/f Rheine-Plantliinne S Emmerich hbf b/o 5m S Goch

Poor weather conditions curtailed operations and the only loss was a Typhoon which had attempted a 'weather recce'. 09:15

16 February 1945

E

184

Typhoon IB

MN924 X

W/O J.S.Marshall

b/o in bad wx ELouvain

274 Squadron was involved in combat with a number of Bf 109s north-east of Hildesheim on this date. Eight of the unit's aircraft had set off at 1615, the pilots spotting an equal number of Bf 109s at 1730, flying at 7,000 feet. These were at once attacked, Sqn Ldr Fairbanks claiming two shot down while FIg OffW.F. 'Freddie' Mossing claimed one more and a second damaged. 146 Wing continued in its support of the Siegfried Line offensive, 66 Typhoons in seven waves dropping more than 80,000 pounds of high explosive, encouraging 170 Germans to surrender. In 135 Wing, 349 Squadron was now ordered to Predannack in England to commence reequipment with Tempests. The unit would arrive there on 21st, having handed in its Spitfire IXs en route. Weather conditions over the Continent closed in on 17th, preventing anything much in the way of flying for four days.

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

14:30 16:10 16:50 e1655 17:25 17:30

332 302 485 340 198 274

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Tempest V

nk

320

Mitchell II

PV213 W SM195 PT873 TB285 P MN487 R NV645 EJ801 FR145

2Lt H.H.Lorentzen (K) F/o T.Kosyrczyk F/L E.T.Bennett Cpt A.osmanville W/O J.o.CampbeIIIKI S/L o.C.Fairbanks F/o W.F.Mossing Pit Off H.Moore IWI H.Perlmutter R.L.Jennings Wt Off G.H.Milier IK) K.Marston o.H.Van oijk L.N.Kelzer Charnley F.Voogt Sgt A.J.A.Kooren IW)

FR202 G

CLAIM

Bf109 Bf109

d Pd

2- 1- -

I

CAUSE/LOCATION sdbf? nr Gladbeck hbf csd landing B.60 catB/E u/c fault w/u B.77 catB hbf nr Krefeld catB/E lis a/flak nr Goch {NE Hildesheim { hbf Weeze catB/Ac

hbf Weeze

ABOVE AND RIGHf Due to a shortage of aircraft and weather problems at Predannack,

33 and 222 Squadrons took more than two months to convert from Spitfires to Tempests. Eventually both units returned to B77, Gilze-Rijen, 21 February 1945. EJ880 '5R-R' was allocated to 33 Squadron on 25 January, and in the same month 222 Squadron changed commanding officers, with Sqn Ldr EB.Lyons, DFC, (right) taking over from Sqn Ldr H.C.Rigby DFC & Bar.

Following the departure of 349 Squadron from 135 Wing, 485 Squadron was now ordered to follow suit. Consequently the unit would undertake its last sorties on 22nd, and depart. Meanwhile however, during 21st 33 and 222 Squadrons rejoined the Wing with their new Tempests, resuming operations at once. The day was to see several other movements. As the squadrons of 132 Wing shifted to B.85, Schijndel, 127 Squadron which had just returned from APC at Fairwood Common, was replaced by 66 Squadron which departed for its session there. On the same day 610 Squadron flew home to attend 17 APC at Warmwell, from where 130 Squadron was to return to 125 Wing on 22nd. The Typhoon units of 124 Wing were similarly involved, 182 Squadron returning from Warmwell's 14 APC on 21st, while 247 Squadron moved there for its turn. Although the breaks from the front line were to give the squadrons a chance to hone their weapon skills, there was a strong element of what would later be known as 'R & R', with the emphasis on the second 'R'! After the last named unit visited Dorset the authorities in Dorchester requested that the RAF ensure this squadron was not allowed to return to Warmwell! Yet again Flak took its malevolent toll during the day. On one armed reconnaissance, during which a number of trains were strafed, two of 402 Squadron's Spitfire XIVs were hit; Flt Lt L.G.Barnes baled out safely, landing just inside German-held territory, but making good his escape. FIg Off J.C.McAllister managed to get back, but crashed while landing at B.88 and died of the injuries he received in doing so. A 274 Squadron Tempest force-landed near Halle after being hit, Flg Off C.J.Day becoming a prisoner, as did Flt Lt K.A.Creamer of 184 Squadron, whose Typhoon went down neat Soest. Flg OffW.D.Ross from this latter unit was less fortunate, being killed when brought down south-west of Bocholt. Two more Typhoons were lost by 164 and 438 Squadrons, the pilot of the former baling out safely, while Wt Off G.R.Errington of the latter unit also baled out, but became yet another PoW. Flt Lt G.J.Hussey of 168 Squadron force-landed his Typhoon, surviving unhurt, but the pilot of a sixth aircraft of this type, Flg Off H.S.Young, RNZAF, of 245 Squadron, met an unfortunate end. Hit by Flak during an attack on a V-I site at Vreden, he made a successful forced landing and was promptly captured. Some hours later, however, he was shot 'attempting to escape', a crime for which a German Army quartermaster would later be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Towards evening several successful encounters took place, however. At 1615 Flt Lt 'Jesse' Hibbert of 274 Squadron led six Tempests on a reconnaissance over the Hannover-Minden area. Once more the formation was able to put in some good strafing, claiming hits on five

21 February 1945

I

locomotives, seven trucks and two MET. However, at 1720 a lone Ju 88 was seen south of the Steinhuder See, and this was seen to crash in flames after a three-second burst from Hibbert. Around 1700 hours Flt Lt L.A.Stewart of 412 Squadron claimed damage to an Me 262 east of Emmerich, while a few minutes later FIt it S.J.Perkins, flying a 268 Squadron Mustang II, made a similar claim a few miles to the south. One or both of these pilots may have hit an aircraft of II./KG 51, Othr Gerhard Rohde of this unit reported missing on this date, possibly shot down in combat. At 1700 the Belgian pilots of 350 Squadron undertook an armed reconnaissance to Rheine, arriving there at 1730 to meet 20 German fighters. Flt Lt J.Lavigne and Fig Off A.Vanwersch each claimed a Bf 109 shot down, while Plt Off L.Lambrechts added a probable and a damaged. A Spitfire was claimed shot down by Fw Hermann Muller of 7./JG 27 in this area at 1745, but no losses were suffered by the Belgian unit. The German Gruppe recorded the loss of one aircraft and its pilot. After dark Flt Lt K.W.Stewart/Flg Off H.E.Brumby of 488 Squadron intercepted and shot down a Ju 88 night fighter of 2./NJG 2 in the Groenlo-Laren area.

«

TIME SON e1315 e1320 e1325 13:55 14:15 e1420 15:50 e1555 16:00

438 274 402 402 245 340 317 164 184

17:00 17:00 e1700 17:15 17:30

168 274 412 268 350

20:58

22 February 1945

488

TYPE Typhoon IB Tempest V Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

IDENT

P0476 EJ687 RM839 RM758 MN536 TB360 NH158 P0511 MN749 JP535 Typhoon IB RB403 Tempest V EJ771 Spitfire IX 'PT535' Mustang II FR921 Spitfire XIV RM729 RM648 RM618 RB159 Mosquito XXX NT263

PILOT/CREW E T M G C W

E M R P

W/O G.R.Errington (PI F/O C.J.Oay F/L L.G.Barnes (S) F/O J.C.McAliister (Dol) F/O H.S.Young (P/K) Cpt O.Massart F/L B.Muth F/L WK.Merret F/O WO.Ross (KI F/L K.A.Creamer (PI F/L G.J.Hussey F/L WJ.Hibbert F/L LA Stewart F/L S.J. Perkins F/L J.Lavigne F/O AVanwersch P/O L.Lambrechts F/S C.Brahy F/L K,WStewart F/O H.E.Brumby

CLAIM

d Pd

Ju88 Me262 Me262 Bll09 BI109 Bll09 Bl109 Ju88

1 ---1 --1 1 -1·-11 -- 1 1- -

CAUSE/LOCATION hbl b/o NE Piershil hbll/I nr Halle hbl b/a EfT nr Haltern hbl c/I B.88 hbll/I 10m SSE Vreden hbl a/railway NE Utrecht catB/E csd landing B.60 catB hbl b/a W Kalkar phbl csd SW Bochalt phbl g/Ik 1/1 NE Soest hbll/I E.7050 catBrep S Steinhuder Lake 6m E Emmerich 10m S Emmerich IRheine area

I I I Groenlo

During an early train-strafing sortie by four Typhoons of 182 Squadron, a Ju 88G night fighter was spotted as the pilots were on their way home. Low on ammunition after their strafing, all four attacked this I./NJG 4 aircraft, which eventually flew into the ground in a shallow dive and exploded; Uffz Alexander Pankow and his crew were all killed. . At 1300 eight Tempests of 274 Squadron took off on a sweep over the Wenzedar-SoltauNweinburg area. They were followed at 1315 by aircraft from 56 Squadron, and then at 1320 by seven Tempests of 3 Squadron, which were led by Wg Cdr Peter Brooker to reconnoitre the Nieuburg-Plene area. Here this latter formation experienced most unwelcome attention from Eighth Air Force P-51s, Four pilots then broke away to escort a lone B-24 found in the Steinhuder Lake area, while the other three continued on their way, undertaking some strafing. Over Rheine, two Bf 109s were seen below and were at once attacked, Wg Cdr Brooker claiming one destroyed and Plt Off J.K.Foster one damaged: it appears that Brooker's claim was later reduced to a damaged by the Claims Board. As they were reforming, ten Fw 190s attacked and shot down Pit Off E.J,Bailey who was flying some 500 yards behind the rest of the formation. Meanwhile the 56 Squadron pilots had also become engaged in the Cloppenburg area, Sqn Ldr Perry St Quintin claiming one Fw 190 shot down here, although Fit Lt W.J.Green was attacked by P-51s, and then his aircraft was hit by Flak, causing him to bale out into captivity. The 274 Squadron formation had spotted Bf 109s on the ground at Hildesheim, claiming damage to two of these. A claim for a Tempest near Rheine was submitted by Lt Waldemar Soffing of 2./JG 26 at 1500 hours. This seems likely to have been Bailey's 3 Squadron aircraft, although a second claim at this time was made by Obfw Paul Wittke of 13./JG 27, but for a Spitfire south-west of Munster. During this first engagement the P-51s of the 383rd Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, of the Eighth Air Force did indeed become involved, claiming a single Fw 190 south-west of Quackenbruck and one south-west of Bremen. Seven 486 Squadron Tempests were off next at 1450, their pilots spotting seven Bf 109s orbiting above some P-47s south of Munster at 1510. Two of the Messerschmitts were claimed shot down by FIt Lt Jack Stafford and Fig Off A.R.Evans. At 1523 a pair of Fw 190s were seen in the Hamm area, but as the Tempests attacked, they were 'bounced' by 20 or more P-47s, which pursued the New Zealanders all the way back to Nijmegen, firing at them without effect. The disgruntled Tempest pilots noted that the pilots of the two Focke-Wulfs followed, watching (it was assumed with some satisfaction) the action from several thousand feet above!

An hour or so later P-47 pilots of the Ninth Air Force's 512th, 513th and 514th Fighter Squadrons, 406th Fighter Group, claimed 11 Bf 109s in the Munster area, plus a number of others damaged. Finally, 274 Squadron aircraft undertook a further sortie at 1700 when Sqn Ldr Fairbanks led a section on another strafe, then heading as always for Rheine. Here ten Fw 190Ds were seen five miles to the east of the airfield, Sqn Ldr Fairbanks claiming two of these shot down. Thus during the day the RAF and USAAF between them claimed five Fw 190s and about 13 Bf 109s shot down, plus numerous others damaged. Against these claims, I./JG 26 lost one Fw 190D at about 1450, while !ILlJG 26 had two more shot down at circa 1745-1750, probably the victims of David Fairbanks of 274 Squadron; all three JG 26 pilots were wounded. !ILlJG 54 meanwhile had two pilots shot down and killed, two aircraft damaged with the pilots wounded, and one more damaged with the pilot unhurt; two of these latter aircraft force-landed. Amongst JG 27's Bf 109 Gruppen, 1. Gruppe lost two aircraft with one pilot killed. II. Gruppe lost one aircraft with the pilot wounded, while IV. Gruppe lost six, one of which crash-landed; two pilots were killed, one missing and one wounded. There were therefore about 16 or 17 German losses in combat to set against the total Allied claims in the area for about 18 fighter aircraft. 22 February was to see much other aerial action however, for on this date Operation 'Clarion' was launched. This was a 24 hour maximum effort to attempt to wipe out all means of transport still available to the Germans. Nearly 9,000 Allied aircraft were committed to attacks from bases in the UK, France, Holland, Belgium and Italy. Targets included signal boxes and marshalling yards on the railways, canal locks, bridges, level crossings, vehicles of all kinds on the roads, and any related depots, garages etc. 7,000 of those aircraft taking part were provided by the RAF (including 2nd TAF) and by the Eighth, Ninth and Fifteenth Air Forces, and the 1st (TAF) Provisional Air Force, which was based on the southern part of the Western Front. Eighth Air Force alone would send out all of its three Air Divisions, totalling 1,372 heavy bombers and 817 escorts. 2nd TAF's main contribution to this effort was 2 Group, the day proving to be little less than a catastrophe for that command's Mosquito intruder squadrons (See pages 428/9). Among the single-engined units, Flak also brought down an 80 Squadron Tempest and a 41 Squadron Spitfire XIV during the day, plus four Typhoons and a Spitfire IX; one more of the latter and a Mark XVI were lost due to their engines failing whilst engaged in active sorties. Perhaps a more bizarre loss however, was that of Sqn Ldr Milton Jowsey, DFC, Commanding Officer of 442 Squadron, whose Spitfire was hit by ricochets from his own cannon whilst strafing MT near Emmerich. Fortunately, he was able to bale out and make a safe return at the start of ApriL Amongst the pilots of the other various aircraft mentioned above, four were killed and one reported missing. TIME

SON TYPE

IDENT

10:20

182

Typhoon IB

e1040 el150 el220 e1250

412 174 183 613

nk nk M nk nk Spitfire IX PL252 Typhoon IB nk Typhoon IB JR296 V Mosquito VI LR338

e1250

613

Mosquito VI

e1250

613

Mosquito VI NS899

e1300

107

Mosquito VI

HR188 0

e1300

305

Mosquito VI

PZ380

e1310

605

Mosquito VI HR355 K

e1310

605

Mosquito VI

PZ406 0

e1310

605

Mosquito VI

PZ409 Q

e1310

605

Mosquito VI

PZ416 H

e1315

21

e1315

418

Mosquito VI

PZ397 X

e1315

418

Mosquito VI

RS569 V

e1315

418

Mosquito VI

PZ388 R

e1315

418

Mosquito VI

RS604 M

RS563

Mosquito VI HR150

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

F/L lEntwhistle} F/L O.Murray} FlO WJ.Boots} FlO I.Ladley} PIO WCowan (K) F/L H.R.H.F.lrwin Lt A.G.Hill (KI F/L OWT Stealey (K) FlO A.J.Backshell (K) F/L A.E.Arnold (K) FlO A.WHigginson (KI FlO H.M.Oean (SI FlO WJ.O.Muir (SI Maj T.A.Hunt (PI PIO MVCollins (P) WIO E.Smith (K) F/S A.M.Robertson (PI S/L I.F.McCall (W/PI PIO TCaullield (P) F/L E.l.Jones (KI FlO G.Phillips (K) F/L J.G.Enticott (K) F/S O.C.Hinton (PI FlO R.J.R.Owen (K) PIO G.Thirlwell (KI F/L H.H.Fielding-Johnson (K) FlO L.G.Harbord (K) WIC J.CWickett (PI FlO W.Jessop (P) F/L H.E.Miller (K) F/S WHooper (K) F/L H.M.Hope (K) FlO L.A.Thorpe (K) F/L G.Hackett (S) FlO WS.Brittain (S)

Ju88

d Pd 1--

EtA

--1

CAUSE/LOCATION NNE Hamm

ell blo too low 6m E B.88 OG PlantlOnne all sdbl nr Marienbaum ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion psdbl III 8m SW Bremen Clarion sdbl Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion hbl Clarion csd nr Eeld e ftr Clarion ftr Clarion (OsnabrOck) ftr Clarion (OsnabrOckl ftr Clarion (OsnabrOck) ftr Clarion (OsnabrOck)

Operation Clarion - disaster for 2 Group

« P

lans for the launch of Operation 'Clarion' on 22 February 1945 brought very specific instructions to the medium bomber and intruder Wings of 2 Group from that organisation's Headquarters:

"Operation 'Clarion'is to take place today. Mosquitoes, Mitchells and Bostons are to attack transportation and communications targets in Holland and Germany. Aircraft of 83 and 84 Groups, RAF Bomber Command, 8th, 9th and 15th USAAF and 1 TAF will also operate over Germany. Fighters of 84 Group will support the Mitchell and Boston attacks. To cause maximum disruption to the enemy communications system." Each Wing was provided with a set of specific targets, and the desired number of aircraft to attack each, insofar as the 'mediums' were concerned:137 Wing

139 Wing

Meppen rail station Furstenau rail station Lonningen rail station Bersenbruck rail station Holdorf rail station Damme rail station

6 Mitchells 6 Mitchells 6 Bostons 6 Bostons 6 Bostons 6 Bostons

Meppel road/rail crossing Coevorden rail/canal crossing Lothen road/river crossing Mallerbrug road/rail/canal Xing Assen rail junction Pappenburg Aqueduct

6 Mitchells 6 Mitchells 6 Mitchells 6 Mitchells 6 Mitchells 6 Mitchells

The Mosquito Wings, 136, 138 and 140, were to attack transportation targets throughout the area. Zones of operation for each were to be as follows:136 Wing

(418 and 605 Squadrons) Groningen, Leer, Neuenburg, Oldenburg, Diepholz, Furstenau, Lingen, Coevorden, Meppel, Assen and back to Groningen.

138 Wing 140 Wing

(107,305 and 613 Squadrons) and (21,464 and 487 Squadrons) Wilhelmshaven, Flensburg, Kiel, Hamburg, Hannover, Neinburg, the River to Bremen, Oldenburg and back to Wilhelmshaven.

Of this latter area, 138 Wing was to cover the zone north of a line Wilhelmshaven-Hamburg, while 140 Wing dealt with the zone to the south of this. A maximum effort by the Mosquito units was required, and aircraft were to be timed on departure so that all bombs would go down at 'H' Hour. A maximum number of cameras were to be carried to record results, the two latter Wings being accompanied by PR Mark IV aircraft for this purpose. Notably, compared with most operations flown by these units, the raids were to be made by day. Mitchell and Boston crews were instructed to bomb from between 6,000-10,000 feet if possible. If conditions prevented accurate target identification, the Mitchells could go down to 4,500 feet, but should conditions still be unsuitable, they were to return to base. Crews operating over Holland were instructed to restrict attacks to transportation targets specifically identified as military. "No, repeat No attacks which might endanger civilian population." The authorities appear to have been under no misapprehensions regarding the fact that the Mosquitoes were

potentially being sent on a hazardous undertaking. Their crews were ordered to proceed to individual target area to deliver their attacks and then to withdraw having remained in these areas for the minimum possible length of time: "They are NOT, repeat NOT to prolong attacks or search at random for additional targets. In the event of failure to identify primary targets, targets of opportunity may be attacked subject to provision above. " The raids went off at 1300 hours into some of the best weather to be experienced since the previous summer. The mediums completed their allotted tasks successfully under an umbrella of Spitfires and without loss. The 191 2 Group aircraft involved dropped 696 bombs, fired 38,730 cannon shells and 74,190 machine gun bullets. Of the targets bombed by the 71 Mitchells and Bostons which actually took part, those damaged to the greatest extent were Coevorden, Lathen, Meppen and Dedensvaart. The 120 Mosquitoes, which operated significantly further east than was their normal practice, were able to claim: MET Trains Googs wagons Locomotives Passenger coaches HDT Barges Tugs Signal Boxes Bridges Small Vessels Motor Vehicles Rail Cuts Gas Meters

2 destroyed 41 destroyed 7 destroyed 14 destroyed 1 destroyed 4 sunk 3 destroyed 4 destroyed

31 damaged 20 damaged 629 damaged 47 damaged 60 damaged 6 damaged 24 damaged 5 damaged 14 damaged 7 damaged

2 shot-up 3 1 damaged

Other targets were attacked without obvious results being seen but the cost had been desperately high. 21 Mosquitoes - nearly 20 per cent of the force - failed to return and 40 more suffered varying degrees of damage. Not one ofthe missing aircraft appears to have been shot down by Luftwaffe aircraft; no claims for Mosquitoes in the area seem to have been submitted, so it is assumed that all (bar one) fell to Flak, other forms of ground fire, debris thrown up by attacks, or collision with some obstacle.

107 Squadron crews with a Mosquito VI in one of the elaborately camouflaged exLuftwaffe dispersals at A75, Cambrai/Epinoy. This unit suffered the least losses among the Mosquito squadrons - one aircraft missing, with its crew taken prisoner.

Oddly enough, one pilot (Fig Off Rankin, 464 Squadron) was heard to report that his aircraft was being shot down by a Mustang, while reports were received from three others before they were lost. Wg Cdr J.C.Wickett of 418 Squadron was heard to say he was feathering an engine in the target area, Sqn Ldr I.F.McCall, DFC of 605 Squadron was heard to say he was crash-landing in target area, while Fig Off L.D.Gilbertson of 487 Squadron reported baling out. Overall, losses (details of which may be found in the daily table in the main text and include two crashes on return to base) were: 136 Wing 418 Squadron 605 Squadron

4 Mosquitoes Cat E Aircrew 4 killed, 2 PoW, 2 safe 6 Mosquitoes Cat E Aircrew 5 killed, 3 PoW, 2 safe

138 Wing 107 Squadron 305 Squadron 613 Squadron

1 Mosquito Cat E Aircrew 2 PoW 1 Mosquito Cat E Aircrew 1 killed, 1 PoW 3 Mosquitoes Cat E Aircrew 4 killed, 2 safe

140 Wing 21 Squadron 464 Squadron 487 Squadron

2 Mosquitoes Cat E Aircrew 2 killed, 2 safe 2 Mosquitoes Cat E Aircrew 3 killed, 1 PoW 5 Mosquitoes Cat E Aircrew 8 killed, 2 safe

ABOVE Photographed at Thorney Island on 15 January 1945. Wg Cdr RWBaker,

DFC (second from right!. Commanding Officer of 487 Squadron, was killed during Operation Clarion; five Mosquitoes from this unit failed to return.

De Havilland Mosquito VI, PZ306 'YH-Y', Sqn Ldr A.F.Carlisle and Fit Lt N.J.lngram, 21 Squadron, 8.87, Rosieres-en-Santerre

The efforts of 2nd TAF as a whole were summed up as comprising 1,735 sorties by all three main operational Groups, resulting in claims for 200 locomotives, wagons, trucks and barges destroyed and 1,200 damaged, plus over 100 rail cuts, for a cost of 33 aircraft (the further 12 losses represented by Typhoons, Spitfires and Tempests lost during the day's general operations). What had been done by the other air forces involved? Certainly, 2nd TAF's European-based 'partners' in US Ninth Air Force had been extremely active, 503 medium and light bombers attacking 50 separate targets, while fighter-bombers flew 1,082 sorties (thus a similar level of effort to 2nd TAF). A huge number of claims for a wide variety of targets destroyed or damaged were claimed, the cost including 13 fighter-bombers but only three bombers, although three more were damaged beyond repair, and 43 more to a lesser extent. As a percentage of sorties flown these figures were far less serious than were those of the Mosquitoes. US Eighth Air Force sent out all three Air Divisions, totalling 1,428 heavy bombers of which 1,372 bombed, most of the targets for the 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions being marshalling yards. Losses amounted to just seven bombers and 13 of the 862 escorting fighters. RAF Bomber Command undertook an 'area' attack on Worms during the night of 21/22 February, while by day on the 22nd it raided oil refineries. Its main contribution to 'Clarion' seems to have been an attack by 165 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitoes of 12 Group on the Mittelland Canal, which was repeatedly hit and rendered "100% unserviceable"; the cost was nine Lancasters missing and four more crashed in France and Holland. Had it all been worthwhile? The official verdict stated: "Evidence of a limited number of photographs was only illustrative of more widespread interference with the railway system but, even if damage was only temporary, the extensive range and ubiquitous nature of 'Clarion' was an impressive demonstration of the Allies' air superiority and their far-reaching air power. " A demonstration, therefore, to impress the Germans with something about which by this time they can have had little doubt. But only of a temporary nature. That does not really sound like a convincing appreciation of a really significant and effective operation and would not seem to represent a satisfying response to the great sacrifices made by the 2 Group Mosquitoes. What is certain is that they were never again ordered to put on a repeat performance!

LEFr Among the 21 Squadron aircraft that took part in 'Clarion' and returned safely was PZ306 'YH-Y', crewed by Sqn Ldr AJ.Carlisle. DFC, and Fit Lt N.J.lngram, RNZAF.

Q)

U

TIME

SON

TYPE

e1315

464

Mosquito VI NT177 0

IOENT

e1315

487

Mosquito VI HP933 N

1.-

0

LL. e1315

487

Mosquito VI

e1315

487

Mosquito VI HR356 H

m

e1315

487

Mosquito VI NS981 B

+-'

e1315

487

Mosquito VI

~

e1320

464

Mosquito VI HX920 M

401 442 403 56

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Tempest V

1.-

«

HR177 U

U

PZ395

U

MJ851 PT725 SM338 14:10 14:20 EJ544 EJ708 e1420 183 Typhoon IB MN941 274 Tempest V EJ784 14:30 nk 14:45 122Wg Tempest V Tempest V EJ765 3 14:50 EJ653 3 Tempest V 14:55 439 Typhoon IB MP151 15:00 605 Mosquito VI HR205

e1350 e1355

-0 C N

15:20

486

15:30

21

e1645 e1715

41 80 274 174

17:40 17:45

23 February 1945

J W

T R K

NV791 L EJ714 W Mosquito VI PZ305

Tempest V

Spitfire XIV Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB

RM789 NV921 EJ648 R7620 P

PILOT/CREW FlO RW.A.Rankin (K) PIO O.S.Judd (P) FlO P.H.Burne (KI F/L A.JVickers (K) F/L D.Potts (KI F/S FValentine (K) F/L P.C.w.Sage (K) FlO J.Cockburn (KI FlO L.D.Gilbertson (S) FlO S.A.J.Askew (S) W/C R.WBaker (K) F/L A.J .Fowler (K) FlO A.J.McMahon (K) F/S K.Gowlett (K) F/L F.T.Murray (S) SIL M.E.Jowsey (E) FlO R.M.Tegerdine (lIS) F/L WJ.Green (P) S/L P.R.St.Quintin Cpt A.Lens FlO FWMossing W/C R.E.P.Brooker PIO J.K.Foster PID E.J.Bailey (P) F/L B.P.Swingler (K) F/L A.V.Rex FlO R.Burrows F/L J.H.Stafford FlO A.R.Evans PIO A.C.Adams F/S L.Nicholas FlO D.FTebbit (P) F/S L.B.Crook (K) SIL D.C.Fairbanks PIO F.EWheeler

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSEILOCATION ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion ftr Clarion

Fw190

1--

Bl109 Bl109 BI109

--2 --1 --1

Bl109 Bl109

1-1--

Fw190

2- -

hbl fli 4m N Hengelo hb ricochet? b/o SW Ahaus ell b/o EfT NW Wesel hb1/P.51 I/s Cloppenburg Cloppenburg area sdbl E Udem OG Hildesheim all {S Rheine { sdb Fw190s nr Rheine sdbl SW Bocholt hbl Clarion w/u Blackbushe {S MUnster { Clarion w/u B.58 cnk hbl III 10m W Dulmen hbl III S Ruthen NE Rheine all hbl N Wesel ell B.80

Fog limited activity on this date, but at B.77, Gilze-Rijen, one of 222 Squadron's newly-arrived Tempests was destroyed by a V-I crashing on or near the airfield. A similar loss would occur three days later on 26th, on this occasion a Typhoon falling victim to one of these robot missiles. e1135 e2230

182 418

Typhoon IB JP922 Mosquito VI HR342 N

PIO J.A.Howard (K) F/L WMcLeod (K) FlO WMorrison (KI

sdbl 3m N Moers ftr intruder (Gravenbroch)

A member of the ground crew slides off the wing of 181 Squadron Typhoon MN875 'EL-B', as it nears the runway at B.80 Helmond on 23 February 1945. MN875 was usually flown by Fit Lt R.J.E.M.van Zinnicq Bergmann - known to all as 'Bergv' - who later moved to 182 Squadron as a flight commander. IIWM FLM1461l

24 February 1945

2nd TAF units were in the air early on 24th, Tempests of 3 Squadron, which had taken off at 0750, attacking Plantliinne, a satellite airfield to Rheine, where FIg Off Vassiliades claimed a Ju 88 probably destroyed on the ground. At 0820 the recently-arrived 222 Squadron commenced a sweep over the Hengelo-Rheine-Osnabriick-Miinster area, led by Wg Cdr H.M.Mason, the 135 Wing Leader, and by the Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr E.B.Lyons. Over Plantliinne three Fw 190Ds were seen below in the process of landing, and these were strafed. Fit Lt McIntyre claimed two probably destroyed and one damaged, while Mason, Lyons and three other pilots each claimed damage to one Focke-Wulf. There seems little doubt but that these were aircraft of III./JG 26, Fw Wolfgang Polster of 11. Staffel, who had claimed five victories to date, being shot down and wounded whilst landing at this airfield at 0805.

Nine 274 Squadron Tempests undertook a reconnaissance over Morphausen-KasselWarburg at 0955, during which at 1040 a lone Fw 190 was seen north-west of Rheine at 3,000 feet and was left burning on the ground after Sqn Ldr Fairbanks had attacked it. This was probably the aircraft flown by Fw Erich Lange of 10.lJG 54, reported shot down by a Tempest near Salzbergen, to the west of Emsburen, which is close to the area reported by Fairbanks. Half an hour earlier another Dora-9 of JG 26 had been lost when Ogfr Manfred Niessen force-landed south-west of Munster after his aircraft had been damaged in combat. The identity of his opponents has not definitely been ascertained. However, much other activity had been taking place at this time. Typhoons of 137 Squadron on an armed reconnaissance encountered Bf 109s, Pit Off J.A.Forrest claiming damage to one of these at about 0830. A little later Spitfires of 442 Squadron were engaged on a similar sortie when German aircraft were spotted at low level in the Rhine river area, FIg Offs J.G.Doyle and J.A.T.E.Cousineau and their wingmen, diving down in pursuit. In doing so the two formation leaders lost contact with the latter, both then failing to return from the Enschede area where they were believed to have been shot down by Bf 109s - although Cousineau was credited with having brought down one of their attackers before he fell. More Spitfires appeared in the area at around this time, these being aircraft of the Norwegian 332 Squadron. At 1000 Fit Sgt B.Storaas claimed an Fw 190 shot down, and it is almost certain that his victim was Lt Joachim Gunther of 3.1JG 26, who fell at Zutphen, which was the location of Storaas' claim; Gunther had claimed 11 victories since D-Day. However 2/Lt L.O.Godo, one of the Norwegians, failed to return, and may have been shot down by Uffz Helmut Brisch of 9.1JG 54, who claimed a Spitfire in the Rheine area at 1030. The German unit responsible for shooting down the two Canadian Spitfires has not been established. At 0830 Uffz Fritz Kruger and Obgefr Horst Rippert of 13.1JG 27 had each claimed a Typhoon north of Dusseldorf, Rippert's claim being his 22nd, but although 137 Squadron had encountered Bf 109s at this time, no Typhoons are believed to have been lost in combat on this date. Did the Luftwaffe pilots encounter this squadron and then become involved with the Canadians, misidentifying their aircraft ? Into the area at 1010 meanwhile, came the Tempests of 486 Squadron, led by their new commanding officer, 'Hyphen' Taylor-Cannon. Scrambled to the area of intense activity, the New Zealanders spotted a trio of Bf 109s heading south at an altitude of only 300 feet to the north of Bramsche. Two were at once shot down by Taylor-Cannon and FIt Lt N.J. 'Pip' Powell. Both were probably aircraft of 14.1JG 27 which lost two of its Messerschmitts near Achmer, one pilot being killed and one wounded; a third aircraft from this unit was also lost in combat near Osnabruck during the day, the pilot of this aircraft surviving unhurt. Another Bf 109 was also lost in the Julich area by 12.1JG 27, Fw Ernst Duhme losing his life. Was one of the two latter the victim of Cousineau of 442 Squadron, or had he damaged Niessen's JG 26 Dora-9? Certainly on this date there seem to have been more Jagdwaffe losses in 2nd TAF's area than claims to account for them. No USAAF fighter activity was recorded on this date. On a later armed reconnaissance to Rheine at 1715, three Tempest pilots of 274 Squadron Fit Lt R.C.Kennedy attacked an Me 262, but was driven off by Flak after seeing some strikes on his target. A Ju 88 was then seen heading east from Plantlunne, and this was hit by fire from FIg Off Mossing's Tempest which set one engine on fire. At this point three members of the crew baled out of this I./NJG 4 night fighter, although the pilot remained at the controls. Kennedy then finished the Junkers off which rolled onto its back and crashed. The Me 262 that he had attacked was probably an aircraft of II.lKG 51, which was reported to have been destroyed by strafing as it was landing at Rheine. On a subsequent operation, Pit Off L.A.Wood, flying Tempest EJ801 (the same aircraft that Mossing had been flying when accounting for the Ju 88) suffered an engine failure and forcelanded east of Enschede, where he was captured. Eight Typhoons were lost during the day, two of them from 174 Squadron, but despite the claims made by the pilots of JG 27, all are believed to have fallen to Flak, or to debris thrown up during their attacks. Pilot casualties were proportionately heavy this time, with four personnel killed and three captured. Three more Spitfires were also lost, including that flown by the commanding officer of 302 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Z.Bienkowski, who crash-landed and became a Pow. During this night Wg Cdr Peter Green and Fit Lt Douggie Oxby of 219 Squadron claimed their final success together, when a Ju 87 was shot down. The pair had claimed nine victories since late September 1944, making them 2nd TAF's most successful night fighting team. Before joining 85 Group, Green had already accounted for five German bombers and 13 V-Is, making him one of the RAF's top-scoring night fighter pilots; while Oxby had assisted another pilot in achieving 13 victories within the Mediterranean area, making him the most successful RAF radar operator of the war. However, within the week Green was dead, killed on 1 March when he crashed near Amiens while air-testing a Mosquito by day.

Q)

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

08:30 3 08:50 137 e0900 135Wg 222

Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V

B L

e0940 10:00 e1010

193 332 442

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

~

10:10

486

Tempest V

-0 C

10:30 10:35

274 342

Tempest V Boston Ilia

EJ669 MN198 NV933 NV750 EJ889 NV674 NV942 NV680 EK236 PT995 NH489 MJ464 NV706 NV763 NV943 BZ374

e1040

342

Boston IV

BZ424 P

e1100 11:10 el120 e1130

181 440 174 342

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Boston lila

JR438 P0592 RB362 BZ374

el140 e1315 13:25 e1400 e1425 14:40 e1505 e1510 15:15 15:30 e1610 e1615 16:25 16:45 17:40 17:45

302 183 198 443 421 175 302 332 302 274 174 308 322 41 274 274

Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Tempest V Tempest V

e2310

219

Mosquito

SM667 L JP682 0 JR528 Z SM478 SM238 S MN534 W TB246 B PT936 L TB341 B NV705 MN977 MJ458 TB339 RM790 NV639 NV639 EJ801 MM792

e2210

69

U

l.-

0

I..J..-. l.-

« CO U +-' U

P V

Y

F U C

N

25 February 1945

Wellington XIII NC604

W L R C

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

F/O B.M.vassiliades P/O J.A.Forrest W/C H.M.Mason F/O H.E.Turney F/L G.WVarley S/L E.B.Lyons F/L R.P.Oashwood F/L A.A.Mclntyre W/O J.A.Merryshaw F/S B.Storaas F/O J.A.T.E.Cousineau IK) F/O J.G.Ooyle IKI S/L K.G.Taylor-Cannon F/L N.J. Powell S/L O.C.Fairbanks SILt L. Vannier Lt CTroupel Sgt M.Thomas Sgt R.Thiaumond Cpt FRozoy (W) Lt M.Boileau Sgt P.Bisgambiglia SCh H.Ardouin Sgt A.P.Mann (K) F/L J.D.Flintoft (P) F/L B.FProddow (PI SILt L.Vannier Lt C.Troupel Sgt M.Thomas Sgt R.Thiaumond S/L Z.Bienkowski F/L G.H.Borham (K) WID J.M.Roberts (KI F/L D.M.Walz (E) F/L WFWiltshire (S) P/O G.B.Swift (P) P/O A.Mackiewicz 2Lt L.O.Godo (K) S/L Z.Bienkowski IP) F/L L.AWood IPI P/O R.B.T.Adams (K) F/L D.Mickiewicz F/L van Daalen Welters F/L lR.Burne (W) F/L R.C.Kennedy F/L R.C.Kennedy} FlO WFMossing} W/C WP.Green F/L D.Oxby Sgt WH.Marshall (K) Sgt J.C.Monaghan (K) Sgt WE. Davies (K) Sgt L.Larkin Sgt WE.Reading

TEE/A BI109 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1---1 --1 --1 --1 --1 --1 - 21

OG PlantlUnne a/I A6350 lOG PlantlUnne a/I { { { {

Fw190 BI109

1-1--

Bl109 Bll09 Fw190

1-1-1--

(

hbl b/o nr Breda NE Zutphen psdb BI109s nr Rheine; claim n/c psdb Bl109 nr Rheine {4m NE Bramsche { PlantlUnne c/l 6m E Lille cnk cat nk

hbl Kevelaer/Weeze catAc

hbl csd NE Lengerich hbl til nr Enschede hbl? g/lk III nr Emmerich c/l 6m E Lille cnk catnk

Me262 --1 Ju881 - -

hbl (Stenden! catB/E lis Geldern ·sdbl EWeeze hbl S Munster b/o SE Dulmen g/lk b/o N Dulmen hbd? a/rail yards b/o nr Dulmen hbl catB/E sdbl a/MET nr Amersloort hbl til nr Alpen e/I III E Enschede sdbl a/train 6m N Osnabruck hbl catB wrinkled wings d/b cat Ac/E hbl catB . PlantlUnne area 5m E PlantlUnne

Ju87

EJulich

1--

sdbAI NE Hasselt

Further considerable combat ensued on 25th, a day on which the US fighters also appeared over Germany in some force. First off from 2nd TAF's airfields were the Tempests of 33 Squadron, eight of which headed for the familiar Rheine area at 0705. One turned back early, but the other seven arrived over the target area at 8,000 feet to see some 15 Bf 109s of JG 27. Four were claimed shot down, one by Sqn Ldr LG.S.Matthew, two by Flt Lt L.c. 'Lucky' Luckhoff, and one by Flt Lt A.W.Bower of 222 Squadron (who was flying with 33 on this date), four more being claimed damaged. The Tempest flown by Flg Off A.Harmon was shot down, and its pilot taken prisoner, while two more were damaged. Their opponents appear to have been aircraft of II. Gruppe, Uffz Hans Stenglein claiming one British fighter identified as a Spitfire at 0750. This unit was to suffer heavy casualties during the day, with two pilots killed and four wounded in the six Bf 109s which would be lost before the morning was over. The 135 Wing Tempests were followed by others from 122 Wing, aircraft of 56 Squadron also heading for the Rheine area at 0740. Here Bf 109s were seen - probably more JG 27 aircraft - one of these being claimed shot down at once by Flt Lt F.L.MacLeod. The rest then fled, leaving one intrepid pilot to fight five Tempests. He put up a strong fight until Fig Off R.Y.Dennis managed to get hits on the Messerschmitt's tail, upon which it turned over, stalled and crashed in a spin west of Munster. The pilot was seen to bale out, but it was noted that three panels in his parachute appeared to have been ripped, and he hit the ground very hard.

lady Luck V', a Spitfire IX of 443 Squadron, is refuelled at 856, Evere, in front of the pre-war civil air terminal, early in 1945.

Behind the Tempests came Spitfires of 412 Squadron, which put up patrols of four aircraft each over the Enschede area. On one of these the pilots spotted two groups each of eight or so Bf 109s, FIg Off H.W.McLeod getting on the tail of one which he claimed as probably destroyed; he then sent a second down in flames, seeing it crash. I./JG 26 had been ordered off at 0735 to intercept Allied fighter-bombers supporting a US Ninth Army offensive in the Roer Valley. Two pilots suffered technical problems and broke away, both being shot down by Allied fighters at about 0745. By now only 16 Dora-9s remained of the original formation, and these became involved with a strong force of P-47s from the 36th Fighter Group, losing four more Focke-Wulfs to the USAAF fighters. Spitfire XIVs of 41 Squadron now appeared on the scene, and these disrupted the take-off of II./JG 26. Eight of the British squadron's pilots were undertaking an armed reconnaissance in the Rheine-Dummer Lake area when many German aircraft were seen in the Gronau area. At 1053 442 Squadron took off for a sweep over the Lingen-Wesel area, meeting 40 plus Bf 109s and Fw 190s west of Rheine. Seven were claimed destroyed without loss, FIt Lt R.K.Trumley, Flt Lt R.B.Barker and Plt Off E.C.Baker each claiming two, and FIt Lt Don Gordon the seventh. It seems that aircraft of both II. and IV./JG 27 were involved, pilots from these Gruppen claiming three Spitfires shot down between 1123-1145, but like II. Gruppe, IV. Gruppe also suffered heavy losses during the day. 2nd TAF claims for the day were for 14 Bf 109s and a single Fw 1900. 1., II. and IV./JG 27 lost at least 16 Bf 109s to opposing fighters. Ten of the pilots were killed and five wounded, the only one to bale out unhurt being Oblt Ernst-Georg Altnorthhoff, Staffelkapitan of 13. Staffel, who was shot down near Bramsche. III. Gruppe also lost a Messerschmitt on this date, but in combat with US P-38s. While losses in these actions had cost 2nd TAF no more than a single Tempest, the toll to Flak was as heavy as ever, although on this date losses due to engine failures were uncomfortably high. Five Spitfires, one of them a Mark XIV, a Tempest and at least one Typhoon were victims of ground fire, but two Spitfire, two Tempests and possibly two Typhoons came to grief for other reasons of a technical nature. 2 Group Mitchells set out to attack the fortified town of Xanten, but after the raid was abandoned, it was found that one 98 Squadron aircraft was missing. As the end of February approached there were reorganisations and postings on both sides of the lines. The hard-hit III./JG 54 now ceased to exist, its remaining assets forming a new IV./JG 26 on 25th. Next day 168 Squadron, the pure fighter element of 143 Wing, was disbanded - to be followed by 257 and 610 Squadrons in the first week of March and 174 Squadron in April. The Typhoon unit closures were brought about by a shortage of pilots; although this had been anticipated with the re-opening of 56 OTU as a Typhoon and Tempest unit in December 1944, replacement pilots were not arriving in sufficient numbers. The disbanding of the front line units allowed pilots approaching the end of their 'tours' to be posted as instructors at 59 OTU (formed at the end of February) and others to keep the remaining operational units up to strength. Quite considerable changes took place in the leadership of most of the command's Typhoon Wings. In 83 Group Wg Cdr Johnny Keep, DFC, arrived as Wing Leader of 121 Wing following the departure of Mike Judd, who had departed at the end of January to a staff job with promotion to Grp Capt. 84 Group's 123 Wing saw the departure of Grp Capt Desmond Scott, DSO,DFC & Bar, his place in command of the unit being taken by newly-promoted Johnny Baldwin, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, following his rest from operations. Grp Capt Denys Gillam,

DSO & two Bars, DFC & Bar, AFC, also ended his second tour since D-Day, and Johnny Wells, DFC & two Bars, CdeG, was promoted from Wing Leader to command. His place leading the Wing was taken by John Deal!, DFC, himself promoted from command of 266 Squadron. The Typhoon leadership was certainly enjoying a plethora of Johns!

OJ

U

l0.-

0 LL lo.-

«

TIME

SON

07:30

33

TYPE

IDENT

Tempest V

NV678 EJ880 EJ866 NV653 EJ886 EJ868 RK900 EJ579 EJ526 RM885 MN178 PK992 MN549 RM862 RM726 SM191 SM227 RM906 PV294 PV311 MN972 HD390

m

U

........ U

~ -0

c:

N

e0800 08:10

412 56

Spitfire IX Tempest V

e0815 e0815 e0835 08:45 e0845

41 609 411 609 402

Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV

09:00 e0900 e0905 e0910

416 416 402 74

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX

09:25 e0945

184 98

Typhoon IB Mitchell II

e0950 el000 el005 elll0 11:30 el140

274 174 80 340 332 442

Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitlire IX

el150 12:40 e1240 e1345 e2200

26 February 1945

322 317 486 322 305

EJ775 RB282 NV646 TB138 PT951 PV148 PL423 PT883 MK844 Spitfire XVI nk Spitfire IX NH342 Tempest V EJ523 Spitfire XVI nk Mosquito VI PZ374

M R

N

Z N V

K A

S

0 U

N X K V A X 0 0 C H

dpd

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

S/L I.G.S.Matthew F/L L.C.Luckhoff Lt E.D.Thompson F/S J.E.Fraser F/L AW.Bower F/O A.Harmon IP) F/O H.w.McLeod F/L F.L.MacLeod F/D RVDennis F/L D.J.Reid F/O J.D.FWathieu (S) P/O RVWatson IS) F/O R.A.C.Dupre F/L K.s.Sleep} F/L B.E.lnnes} P/O L.E.Spurr F/O J.J.M.Menard (PI F/L WS.Harvey (P/E) F/O WCortis (W/P) W/O I.WButler (001**) F/L N.Snelson (PI P/O D.H.Fenner (K) F/L L.J.Trapp IK) W/O K.J.Clarke IKI Fit Sgt RB.Goldsmith IS) F/L R.G.Deleuze IKI F/L H.Knight IP) F/L D.L.Price IP) S/Ch F.Legarde III Lt F.O.Bakke IKI F/L D.C.Gordon F/L RK.Trumley P/O E.C.Baker F/L RB.Barker F/O PACramerus F/S K.Hubert W/O R.C.Macpherson IP) Sgt L.D.Knappert F/O J.Lech IKI P/O H.T.Kaczan IK)

Bll091 -Bll09 2 -81109 - - 2 Bl109 - - 1 Bll091 - 1

CAUSE/LOCATION 10m SW Rheine

Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Fw190

111--

sdb Bll09 S Rheine 5m E Enschede {15m W MUnster

1--

{

1--

Me262

--1

Rheine circuit sdbl nr Weeze e/I b/o S Rees e/I o/s Idg B.77 catB rep SW Twente

Me262

--1

BI109 Bll09 Bll09 Bll09

1-2- 2- 2- 1

NE MUnster e/I c/I NE Dorsten hbl b/o nr Enschede ftr (Zutphenl sdbl a/train nr Zutphen** died 26 Feb hbl? e/I b/o 4m N Rees ftr IXanten)

e/I I/s nr Hamm hbl? g/Ik b/o N Ahaus sdbl NW Bieleleld hbl c/I 3m NW Veghel sdbl a/MET }Rheine area } n/c } }

hbl catB/E TB331 or TB494 hbl c/I B.56 e/I til nr Wennigsen hbl catB/E 1B331 or TB494 ftr (Germany)

The day marked the extension to 2 Group's 'mediums' of a new bombing method, known as 'MRCP'. The technique involved guidance from a Mobile Radar Control Post, which allowed targets to be bombed 'blind' ie. from above cloud, and with impressive accuracy; it had been tested by Typhoons from 257 Squadron in January 1945 and used operationally the following month. Now boxes of six Mitchells or Bostons from 2 Group were guided onto gun positions at Udem. The method proved very successful but was limited by the range of the radar equipment to use on targets not far beyond the front lines.

BELOW LEFT AND BELOW

Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer was an ex-Army Cooperation Mustang pilot who began flying fighters on operations early in 1944 In September it had probably been he who had shot down the Luftwaffe 'Experte', Hptm Emil Lang of II./JG 26 (see Volume Two, page 280) Moving to 2nd TAF in December with 41 Squadron, he then commanded 350 Squadron. With this unit he would twice be shot down during the final months of the war, surviving to return safely on each occasion. He was photographed (said to bring misfortune l ) in the cockpit of RM739 'MN-K', just before taking off on the first of these fateful sorties, this one on 26 February 1945 Spencer normally flew NH6S9 'MN-B', seen here with some of his Belgian pilots.

,

< CD -...

~

ill 0CD

Supermarine Spitfire XIV, NH689 'MN-B', Sqn Ldr T.Spencer, 350 Squadron, Y.32 Ophoven During the day Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer, Commanding Officer of 350 Squadron, was obliged to bale out over Rhede when the engine of his Spitfire XlV caught fire. Taken PoW, he would make a successful escape (with Sqn Ldr Keith Thiele) during the following month and return to his unit. TIME

SON TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1425

350

RM739 K

S/L T.Spencer IP/EI

Spitfire XIV

CLAIM

dPd

CAUSE/LOCATION elf ct fire b/o N Rhede

Bad weather again curtailed operations and is believed to have caused the loss of a 175 Squadron Typhoon and its pilot. Four 2 Group Mosquitoes were lost on operations at either end of the day - one crashing on take-off, the others failing to return from Intruder sorties. eOl00

305

Mosquito VI

PZ371

09:45 am el155 e1620 e1730 e2100

340 130 175 414 2 464

Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV Mosquito VI

TB290 RM865 JR376 MK343 RM708 PZ309 Z

e2200

21

Mosquito VI NS990

S

P/O L.P.Etheridge (K) F/S A.J.Joyce (K) F/S C.Chapman IP) F/O W.Oobbs (I) W/O RWAshman IKI F/O G.M.Macdonald F/L L.HWWoodbridge F/L J.F.Filteau IK) F/O H.I.Storen (I) P/O A.C.Adams (K) F/S L.L.Nicholas (K)

27 February 1945

ftr (Rhur) hbf b/o NE Arcen hbf Oulmen b/o nr Venia csd in bad wx N Altenhagen hbf Viersen b/o AfT nr Horst g/Ik b/o 10m EHelmond csd nr Namur cnk ftr (Germany)

Following all the successes of the month, the last day brought an unpleasant shock for 2nd TAP. At 0720 six Tempests of274 Squadron set off on a reconnaissance over the Hamm-Miinster-Osnabriick area, where at 0800 a large formation of Fw 190s were spotted. This was III./JG 26, newly-equipped with Dora-9s, on the unit's first operational sortie with the new aircraft. The Tempest pilots, led by the indefatigable Sqn Ldr David Fairbanks, attacked at once, but found themselves hard-pressed, and although Fairbanks was seen to shoot down one Focke-Wulf, neither he nor FIg Off J.B.Spence returned. The remaining pilots, somewhat shaken, reported the losses, claimed Fairbanks' victory for him, and also claimed five more Focke-Wulfs damaged, three of them by FIt Sgt 'Ben' Gunn. Fairbanks and Spence had been shot down by Obit Theobald Kraus and Uffz Karl-Georg Gerth, and both survived to become PoWs. After the war Fairbanks described the combat as follows: "I called out a head-on attack and for the formation to drop long-range tanks. Time was so short it was difficult to select a suitable target and lay-off deflection. I don't remember any return fire from the enemy aircraft. I think they were just as surprised as we were and also didn't have enough time to line up a burst. ''As soon as we passed the last man I called a left 180 degree break back toward the formation. As we turned around there were few aircraft to be seen. They must have scattered in all directions. I started to chase one that went into a cloud and I lost him. Shortly after this I pushed my aircraft down into cloud and came out underneath and saw a '190. By this time my No.2 had lost me. "I closed the range on this aircraft and before I was ready to fire I noticed some tracers coming my way. I was near the ground and thought it was flak tracer. A few more tracers went by me and I was ready to fire at the enemy aircraft. I fired and hit the '190 who burst into flames. The next instant I was hit hard. "It was not ground tracer I had seen but shells from the aircraft behind that hit me. I can remember seeing wing ribs and torn skin on the left and right upper wing surfaces and I was having

28 February 1945

difficulty keeping the aircraft level. The engine was missing and puffs of glycol were shooting by. No doubt my rad had been punctured. I held the stick hard over right to keep level and applied right rudder. With the controls in these positions I knew I wasn't going home. I decided it was time to baled out. Holding the controls with my right hand I tried to jettison the canopy with my left, but it wouldn't budge. I tried several times but didn't have enough strength in my left hand alone. I let go of the controls and pulled the jettison handle with both hands and away she went. "I can only remember that the canopy was gone and that I leaned my head to the left into the slipstream. The next thing I remember I was on the ground."

CD

u

~

o

LL

«

As his 12th individual success with the Tempest it seems that Fairbanks had been successful in shooting down Uffz Franz Schmidt of 9./JG 26, who was killed. To this must be added one shared victory, and an earlier victory while flying Spitfires (see Volume One). There is some doubt as to whether this final victory was actually credited to him, but even his existing total rendered him the most successful Tempest pilot of the war in terms of aerial victories. Two more III. Gruppe Dora-9s crash-landed as a result of this engagement (one of them Kraus' aircraft), although the pilots were unharmed. However, as the unit returned to land a further two aircraft collided and both pilots were killed. There also seems to have been some doubt initially within JG 26 that more than one Tempest had been shot down, or that Kraus had played an effective part. Apparently he had been flying operationally for some time but had never before been able to keep his sights on an opposing aircraft for long enough to bring it down. 2nd TAP's 'star' Tempest pilot had not, therefore, fallen to any great Luftwaffe 'ace'! Following the loss of its Commanding Officer, 274 Squadron would be taken over next day by one of the flight commanders, 'Jesse' Hibbert, who was promoted Sqn Ldr. 'B' Flight then became commanded by Flt Lt 'Freddie' Mossing, and 'N. Flight by Flt Lt Stark. While this high drama was being played out the orwegian 332 Squadron lost two pilots to Flak, both killed, and the Free French unit, 329 Squadron, also lost two aircraft although both pilots survived. The commanding officer of the latter unit was hit by flak while dive-bombing an aqueduct south-east of Xanten and seriously wounded in the stomach; he was just able to reach base and land before passing out. The other French pilot survived what seems to have been a familiar routine for many Spitfire crash landings - both wings ripped off and the fuselage rolling over. On a later sortie by Tempests of 3 Squadron to the Hildesheim area at 0900, a single Bf 109 was claimed as a probable and a Siebel Si 204 liaison aircraft as shot down by Flt Lts H.K.Hughes and J.A.McCairns, DFC & 2 Bars, MM. Jim McCairns had gained all his decorations whilst flying clandestine operations, taking agents in and out of Occupied France. ABOVE AND RIGHT:

Sqn Ldr WJ"Jesse· Hibbert took command of 274 Squadron following Sqn Ldr Fairbanks' loss on 28 February 1945. Hibbert often flew Tempest NV7Z2 'JJ-M' and had shot down an Fw 190 in this aircraft on 1 February 1945

At 1212 a pair of Mustang IIs of 268 Squadron took off on a TacR, one of these aircraft flown by Fit Lt S.J.Perkins being attacked by an Fw 190 at 1246 north of Krefeld. Perkins turned on his assailant and obtained hits on the starboard wing root, following which it disappeared trailing smoke; he was credited with this as a 'damaged'. The ever-present Flak shot down two of 332 Squadron's Spitfire IXs in the Enschede area, the unit recording that two of its best pilots, Lt B.C.B.Aarflot and 2/Lt O.R.Wagtskjold, were both killed. A 222 Squadron Tempest was also shot down with the loss of its pilot, 'X Flight commander Fit Lt A.A.McIntyre; it was the unit's first loss since converting to Tempests. However Fit Lt G.EJ.Jongbloed of 222 Squadron intercepted a V-lover Gilze-Rijen during the day, shooting this down with the expenditure of just 20 rounds; it crashed very close to the airfield, somewhat to the consternation of other members of 135 Wing. This Dutch pilot had earlier been involved in shooting down seven more flying bombs over England during the previous summer. Five Typhoons went down, with three pilots killed and the other two taken prisoner. Two of those killed, Fit Lt J.H.Taylor and Wt Off EW.Cuthbertson, both of 182 Squadron, did in fact survive crash-landings after being caught by a Flak trap while attacking a train, but were executed by Volkssturm carrying out Hitler's order to mete such punishment to 'Terror Flieger' captured deep in German territory. The perpetrators of this war crime were hunted down after the war and paid the full penalty. TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

08:00

274

Tempest V

EJ784 NV645 NV733 NV943 EJ771 EK498 PT906 TB375 PL214 TB385 MK265 SW415 R7771 TB284 RB338 NV923 NV703 NV923 NV703 NV776 FR896 NV680 RB253

F/D FW.Mossing F/S A.E.Gunn F/S A.C.lnglis S/L D.C.Fairbanks (PI F/O J.B.Spence (PI W/O J.H.P.W.Crowther (P) Lt B.L.B.Aarflot (K) Cmdt J.Marchelidon (WI 2Lt O.RWagtskjold (K) SILt R.Lambaert F/L O.I.Hall F/L J.H.Taylor (K) W/O FW.Cuthbertson (K) Lt J.Daussac F/O W.R.Gibbs IK) F/L H.K.Hughes} F/L JAMcCairns} F/L H.K.Hughes} F/L J.A.McCairnsl F/L R.F.Humphries (KI F/L S.J.Perkins F/L A.A.Mclntyre (K) P/O D.Shepherd (PI

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

--1 --3 --1 1--

{9m NE Osnabruck {db Fw190 catAc { {claim n/c;sdb Fw190

e0810 08:15 08:30 e0830 e0910 09:30 e0935 e0940 e0950 10:25 10:45

12:46 e1400 17:45

183 332 329 332 329 414 182 182 340 440 3

268 222 266

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Tempest V

Mustang II Tempest V Typhoon IB

M

N U C A L

B K F

W

{

Bfl09

-1-

sdbf W Xanten sdbf 10m W Apeldoorn hbf d/b aqueduct catB/E sdbf 10m W Apeldoorn hbf c/I nr Nijmegan hbf c/I B.78 catB/E hbf f/I nr Lohne hbf til nr Lohne hbf NW Arnhem catB/E sdbf EGoch {SE Brunswick

Si204

1--

{

Fw190

--1

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hbf I/s Hildesheim 2m N Kreffeld sdbf 10m NE Nijmegan hbf b/o SW Xanten

The winter of 1944/45 was long and hard, especially for the ground crews, most of whose duties were carried out in the open. Here airmen are at work on a long-range Typhoon (four RP rails and longrange tanks), close to the remnants of a hangar, wrecked by the Germans before they left (or possibly by earlier Allied bombing!).

•... = LU C

2

~ --I

D.. ...

March

14 April 1945

M

arch found the Allied armies ready to cross the Rhine all along its entire length. However, the river remained a mighty barrier, and the capture of a bridge would greatly ease the problems of getting across. On 2 March elements of the US Ninth Army discovered that a bridge was intact near Dusseldorf. A column was rushed to the area, sweeping aside all opposition, but as the leading troops neared their objective, it was blown up virtually in their faces. Next day another division from this army almost reached the Adolf Hitler Brucke, 15 miles north of Dusseldorf, but again at the last moment it was blown. Few bridges now remained intact, and of those that did, the least-favoured was the Ludendorff railway bridge at Remagen, below Bonn. Here the terrain did not greatly favour an assault, and for this reason the Germans did not destroy the structure, nor did they leave a strong body of troops to defend it. US First Army was advancing rapidly into the area, aiming to link with US Third Army, approaching up the left bank of the Moselle. The American commanders had little hope that the bridge here would survive until they had reached it, but in fact it did. As 1st Army forces approached, the few German defenders in the area attempted to blow the charges that were ftxed to the bridge, but smoke from phosphorous bombs ftred by the attackers blinded them and they failed to do so. A special team managed to set off 300 kg of explosives, but the damage was not decisive, and by the afternoon of 7 March, US troops were over the river and established on the east bank. Remagen was still not an ideal location from which to prosecute the advance into the Reich, but it was at least a crossing. However, the main assault across the river was planned to take place on 21st Army Group's front, where extensive preparations were already underway for a crossing due to take place on 24 March. Meanwhile Brigadier General Courtney Hodges continued to build up First Army forces on the east bank at Remagen. The Germans responded desperately with long-range artillery, air attack, floating mines, rockets, and frogmen with explosives, and ftnally under the weight of these sustained attacks, the Remagen bridge would collapse into the river on 17 March. Despite this setback, the ambitious General George Patton, eager to try to get across the Rhine ahead of Montgomery's forces, managed to put an infantry division across on 22 March, then ordered his VIII Corps of US Third Army to cross between Boppard and St Goar on 24th. Here the river is fast-flowing in a canyon, between nearly sheer cliffs, and the first attempt failed. On 25th, however, troops were over near Boppard, and were able to begin an advance inland. During January and February the Spitfire and Typhoon ftghter-bomber squadrons had flown whenever allowed by the weather. With improving conditions the tempo picked up, with regular 'armed recces' into German territory in search of transport targets, interspersed with close support under FCP. The latter sorties attacked strongpoints, troop concentrations, observation posts, AFVs - indeed any targets which threatened the Allied line or held up the advance. Many a small town or village, temporarily fortified or acting as a marshalling point for German forces, was (in the grim RAF slang of the day) 'liberated' - pounded with bombs and/or rockets. Whenever they were identifted, German Army HQs were remorsely attacked, together with other pinpoint targets, which included communications centres, factories and especially any V-2 related transport, storage or firing facilities. These were the 'headlines' however, the majority of the effort being made against transport in an effort to cripple the movement of enemy forces and supplies. The 83 Group Typhoon squadrons, for example, regularly flew into Germany (with their most frequent route known as 'the Munster milk run') in search of MET or railway targets; the bombers of 143 Wing concentrated on 'rail cuts' while the RP-armed aircraft of 121 and 124 Wings concentrated on locomotives and rolling stock. 2 Group's medium bombers and Mosquito intruders were also routinely targetting transport and communications by day and by night. Although little mention of these myriad, multiple, and fairly mundane regular activities is made among the 'highlights' of air combat described, other than the losses incurred during their execution, it is pertinent to remember that they took place day after day, week in, week out, and constituted the major part of the 2nd TAP's effort and focus.

1 March 1945 Following the loss of its brilliant Commanding Officer, 274 Squadron was now ordered to lay -------off ground-attack activities, and also not to penetrate enemy territory less than 16-strong. This instruction, which soon proved to be of short-lived duration, applied initially to all the units of 122 Wing. Spitfires of 401 and 412 Squadrons undertook an armed reconnaissance during which they were 'bounced' soon after 0900 by about 40 Bf 109s and Fw 190s in the Dorsten area. Sqn Ldr Klersy called 401 Squadron into a break and claimed personally two Bf 109s shot down, while Fit Lt MacKay claimed another, and also believed that he had damaged two Fw 190s, FIg Off Sawyer claimed another Messerschmittt as a probable. After the unit had reformed, Klersy saw some Fw 190s, claimed one of these shot down and saw it explode on the ground. However, during this engagement FIt Lt H.P.M.Furniss was shot down to become a prisoner, and

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a second Spitfire was badly damaged, forcing Fit Lt O.E. 'Dusty' Thorpe (on his last operational sortie of his tour) to crash-land at Volkel, at 195 mph! Two pilots of JG 27 claimed Spitfires shot down at this time in the Bocholt-CoesfeldMunchen-Gladbach area, while shortly afterwards Uffz Gunther Rey of 14.1JG 26 claimed another, also in the Munchen-Gladbach area. A pilot from this same Staffel, Uffz Otto Friedrich, was reported shot down and killed in the Dortmund area in this engagement, and appears to have been Klersy's third victim. I and II./JG 27 were heavily engaged throughout the day, losing a total of nine Messerschmitts. Ninth Air Force fighter pilots claimed 15 Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs during the day, including eight Dora-9s of I./JG 26, so some of the JG 27 aircraft are likely also to have succumbed to the US aircraft. Again however, Allied claims for the day closely match actual Jagdwaffe losses.

2 March 1945

TIME

SON

TYPE

nk

613

Mosquito VI NS859

e0745 09:10

332 401

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

MK720 0 MH847 N

F/L G.ECoward (K) WID ESWilsher (K) F/L P.Henriehsen (K) SIL W.T.Klersy

e0910

401

Spitfire IX

MJ854 A

F/L J.MaeKay

'MJ671' EN569 B nk nk MJ448 TB363 Z

FlO A.E.Sawyer F/L H.P.M.Furniss (PI F/S J.E.Adam} PIO R.N.M.Brown} F/L O.E.Thorpe S/Ch Girardeau

09:18

245

Typhoon IB

10:00 el7l0

401 340

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr (Hannover/Hildesheim)

Bf109 Fw190 Fw190 Bf109 Bf109

2 -1-1-1 --1 -1-

Bfl09

-1-

sdbf AIR {Dorsten area { {Dorsten area { { sdb Bf109 nr Dorsten NE Dulmen dbea ell B.80 eatB hbf (Hoehwald Forest) cat AelE

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Mosquito VI TA118 'OM-F' joined 107 Squadron at the beginning of March 1945 and was usually crewed by Fit Lt JWBond and Fig Off Urench. Targets in the last two months of the war were mostly railway installations; sometimes bombing was carried out with the aid of 'Gee' or MRCP control.

engaged with 80 Squadron. However it appears that unidentified pilots of III./JG 26 may also have claimed two aircraft identified as P-47s with a third probably shot down. There do not appear to have been any claims by US Ninth Air Force units in this area at the time, and it seems very likely that all the Luftwaffe claims actually related to 2nd TAP aircraft. The JG 26 unit lost only one aircraft during this combat, but JG 27's losses were fairly heavy. II. Gruppe lost ObIt Wolfgang Herkner of 6. Staffel, killed in a BE 109G, while in III. Gruppe three CO pilots were shot down and killed in Bf 109Ks. IV. Gruppe lost four aircraft - all K versions - with two pilots killed and two wounded. On this occasion therefore 2nd TAP's claims for eight Messerschmitts are matched by eight losses, but the claims for five Focke-Wulfs only by one; 9.1KG 76 did indeed lose two Ar 234s on this date. 222 Squadron undertook a further sweep at 1330, during which the unit was again lucky in seeing jets, claims being submitted for another of the Arados and an Fw 190 damaged. The day also saw the loss of four Typhoons to hostile action, three of them to Flak. The fourth, an aircraft of 198 Squadron flown by Wt Off W.A.Livesey, who was killed, was reportedly shot down in error by P-51s north-west of Neuss. No other claims appear to have been made by US pilots in this area, but a Typhoon was claimed shot down near Achmer by Lt Manfred Steckbarth of 13.1JG 27 during the day, and it may well be that Livesey was actually his victim. TIME

SON

TYPE

e0740 41 Spitfire XIV 07:45 125Wg Spitfire XIV 08:00 130 Spitfire XIV

08:00

e0800

350

222

Spitfire XIV

Tempest V

08:35 08:40 08:50

416 198 80

Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Tempest V

10:20 e1130 11:40 17:15 17:25 17:25

41 438 439 439 137 182

Spitlire XIV Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

IDENT RM885 RM809 RM750 nk nk nk RM914 RM618 RB183 RM648 RB154 EJ882 EJ882 NV760 NV695 NV670 EJ873 NV674 SM389 MN354 EJ739 EJ691 RN123 RB285 MN144 RB281 MN863 nk

PILOT/CREW F/L D.J.Reid GGK WIG G.Keeler F/L G.G.Earp (PI F/S P.HTGlay WID J.A.Boulton F/L G.J.Samouelle FlO NWHeale (W,P) P PIO L.Lambreehts Z FlO R. Hoornaert R F/S J.Groensteen N F/S E.Pauwels E F/L GWVarley

X R V K

Z X S

F/L GWVarley} FlO R.A.Ga rson} W/O T.B.Hannam F/L L.MeAuliffe F/L V.WBerg FlO H.E.Turney FlO WG.D.Roddie WID WA.Livesley IKI F/L R.J.Holland Gpt O.Ullestadt IE) FlO G.H.Mottershead (K) F/L D.J.Heard (PI F/L L.G.Shaver (KI FlO A.H,Fraser WID JAGunningham FlO P.J,Spellman

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Ar234 Bll09 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Ar234 Ar234

1-1---1 1--

nr Ensehede NE Rheine NE Rheine n/e;psdb Fw190 INE Rheine I I {;psdb Fw190 INE Rheine I I I 15m ELingen I I

Ar234 Bll09 Bll09 BI109

--1 1-1-1--

Bll09

--1

Bll09 Bll09

--1 --1

1-1-1-1-1

1--

1--

--1

Rheine area? 15m ELingen I I rol ell B.78eatB/E sdb P.51s NW Neuss Rheine all sdb Bll09 SW Rheine sdbea Hemer sdbl nr Appelhulsen hbl (Buldern) esd W Goeh ell III N B.78 eatB Dulmen W Dulmen

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"Let's get it right this time"

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A typical 2 Group Mitchell operation described by Malcolm Scott DFC n November 1944 we joined 180 Squadron of 139 Wing, 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, at Melsbroek, an airfield which the Wing shared with No.34 (Reconnaissance) Wing. In view of our lack of operational experience in 2 Group (apart from Ted Gill) we were inevitably regarded as a 'sprog' crew until we'd flown some ops behind the box leader in the new environment. Late in December, after we had a few sorties under our belt and Wg Cdr Cox had been earmarked as the next squadron CO, we were elevated to the No.1 spot and thereafter we always flew as Wave or Wing Leader. Usually, the squadron flew two 'ops' a day, weather permitting, but during January it was appalling. However, the Germans' abortive attack in the Ardennes was contained and subsequently the enemy was always in retreat, but fighting all the way. It was not until March 45 that we had some UK leave and retu rned to Melsbroek on the 11th. A few days earlier, the rail yards at Haltern on the line running between Munster and Dortmund had been attacked by 25 Mitchells of 98 and 180 Squadrons. The Flak over the target was intense and accurate, several bombers being peppered with shrapnel. Although some bombs fell on the railway lines, they were insufficient to cause major disruption and the raid was not considered a success. The 2nd TAF bombers were equipped with the gyrostabilised Mk XIVa bombsight, ideal for medium day bombers operating between 10,000 and 15,000 feet, since it retained its ability to sight the target even when the bomber was taking evasive action. Most of the factors entered into the bombsight were automatically transmitted from the computer box wired up to the aircraft's controls. One essential it could not provide was the wind speed and direction, which had to be calculated by the navigator. This was then fed manually into the computer together with a few other items such as the target's height above sea level, the terminal velocity of the bombload and the spacing of the stick of bombs. With this information the computer could finalise its calculations for accurate bomb aiming. As the Allied Armies advanced, the 2nd TAF's targets became. more distant and a new role was introduced in the form of a 'reece' mission. 139 Wing would despatch a single Mitchell ten minutes before the main force set course. It was the task of the navigator in the 'reece' aircraft to ascertain the correct wind vector in the target area by using the drift sight in conjunction with the bombsight. He then broadcast this 'three drift wind velocity', together with abbreviated details of weather and cloud conditions, to the main force following some 40 miles behind. The task completed, the pilot of the 'reece' aircraft swung round and hurriedly sought the protection provided by the guns of the other bombers and their Spitfire escort by joining up with one of the Mitchell boxes and bombing with them. Only seasoned crews flew 'reece' duties and from experience I can say we felt very vulnerable on those lone forays, stooging around miles inside enemy territory to find a three drift wind! The second day after our return from leave we got into our stride again leading an attack on the marshalling yards at Lengerich. The bombing was excellent; it included the fortuitous blowing up of an ammunition train which drew into the yards just as the bombs exploded, leading to even greater devastation. On the return journey, however, we became separated from the main force flying between two layers of cloud and were jumped by four Bf 109s. Despite the Wingco's frequent exhortations to "Close up No.5!" the inexperienced young pilot, Pit Off Jock Mair, RAAF, who had not yet mastered the art of close formation flying which our type of operations demanded, remained at a distance and unfortunately he and his crew paid the price. A slogan drummed into us frequently at OTU from the early days

I

Malcolm Scott was a Flying Officer with a tour of operations (as a navigator on Blenheims in the Far East) behind him, when he arrived at 13 OTU, Bicester, in July 1944, to prepare for a second tour, hopefully on Mosquitoes. However, he discovered his old 34 Squadron pilot was now the CFI of the Mitchell element of 13 OTU at the satellite airfield, Finmere. Wg Cdr T.A.Cox was anxious to get back on ops and was looking for a seasoned NavigatorlBomb-aimer (NavIB). Joined by an ex-Burma WopIAG, Flt Lt R.Stuart Needham, and an Air Gunner, Flt Lt H.Edward Gil! who had already notched up a tour of ops in 2 Group on Bostons and Mitchells of 226 Squadron, they were duly posted to final training as a crew at 2 Group Support Unit at Swanton Morley. Following Scott's second tour he was awarded the DFC which he himself modestly described as "a sort of consolation prize for surviving two operational tours': Wg Cdr Cox who had 95 ops to his credit (he had begun operating from Malaya when the Japanese started the war in the Far East) was made Wg Cdr Flying of 139 Wing and awarded the DSo. Later he received a belated DFC for his exploits in the Far East but, sadly, was killed in December 1950 whilst flying a Halifax on a meteorological flight out of AIde/grove. Malcolm Scott continued flying in the RAFVR until 1953; he died as the first volume ofthis series was published, in 2004.

was "Stragglers die!" and this was a classic example. The 109s pounced and in a few seconds the stricken bomber was plunging earthwards in flames and the bandits had disappeared, hotly pursued by the Spitfires. To have lost an aircraft to enemy fighters at this stage was a sobering thought. Most of our casualties were as a result of enemy Flak but this incident left us wondering if the Luftwaffe had recovered sufficiently to put up an effective fighter defence to our tactical raids instead of their going after the massive American daylight attacks. The next day, the 14th, after an early call and hurried breakfast we reported for briefing. Almost one hundred aircrew were involved and on entering the Briefing Room all eyes turned naturally to the large target map but as usual it was screened off with a grey cloth which would only be removed when the briefing was about to begin. Only those aircrew on the Battle Order and the other officers involved in the actual briefing were allowed in the room at this time: an S.P sergeant was stationed outside to ensure security. Already the room was beginning to fill with the fug of tobacco smoke. The buzz of conversation was suddenly silenced when the order "Attention" was given. The Station Commander accompanied by his entourage of Briefing Officers passed down between the tables. Aircrew never had a reputation for their military bearing or alacrity in obeying commands but by the time the briefing party had mounted the stage at the far end of the room all were standing to attention. "Good Morning, Gentlemen" said Group Captain Dunlap. "Sit down!" Another great scraping and clattering of chairs followed as the aircrews resumed their seats at the tables and the Intelligence Officer threw back the grey cloth shrouding the map to reveal the target. Although the name could not be read, the red ribbon which stretched from base indicating the route ended on a railway line - another marshalling yard -the fourth in three days! The target was some way beyond the Bomb Line but not as far as yesterday's. The Bomb Line, shown by a thick blue ribbon marked the boundary beyond which our bombs could be dropped live.

"This morning's target is the important rail centre at Haltern," announced the Wing Commander Flying. "We attacked it last week when the bombing was only partially successful. It is still in use and must be well and truly pranged!" It was an endorsement of the old bomber adage - "If you get it wrong the first time, you'll only have to go back and do it again!" The Wingco Flying continued, "137 Wing will be heading the show with 36 Mitchells and Bostons. 139 Wing will form the second wave led by 180 Squadron with 12 aircraft followed by six from 320 and six from 98 Squadron. Fighter escort will be provided by Spitfires of 83 Group. Pilots will be briefed separately on times, etc." Next came the senior Navigation Officer who began "Unlike last week there will be no 'recce' flight today - checking the Met wind will be the leader's responsibility!" I made an appropriate note in my log. "You will hear from the Met Officer that there's little cloud about today so Gee-H will not be involved and as the target is well beyond the range of MRCP, it will be up to the box leaders to do their stuff." Gee-H was an airborne technique which enabled blind bombing on a medium sized target. Bombing by MRCP was a method of attack on small targets controlled from the ground. Its range was limited but extremely accurate. The operator sitting in the Master Radar Control Point caravan close to the Bomb Line, broadcast his instructions to the box under his control who bombed on his command. The average error was only 40 yards! The briefing continued with the routes to be followed to and from the target to avoid as much Flak as possible. "The main Flak areas are - Xanten, Wesel, Bocholt and Dorsten" he said pointing out each area outlined in red hatching on the map. "After bombing, turn left off the target," we were instructed. Knowing which way to turn was most important; with boxes of aircraft following one another so closely on to the target, all had to turn in the same direction to avoid the risk of collision. The Signals Officer gave the general information on call signs, the emergency wavelengths and radio beacons. The Armaments Officer came next and described the bombload, eight x 500 Ibs and the type of fuses fitted and the bomb spacing figures to be fed into the bombsight computer. The Intelligence Officer talked on the importance of the target and emphasised the known concentrations of Flak batteries. He spoke of the likelihood of our meeting enemy fighters again but he really had no more idea than we had. The Met Officer happily advised us of little cloud, excellent visibility and constant winds. Finally, the Group Captain cautioned all pilots on the need to fly in tight

formation and the importance of good station keeping to obtain a concentrated bomb pattern. He also underlined how important it was for all crews to stay alert from take-off to landing particularly in view of yesterday's encounter with enemy fighters. He concluded by wishing us all good luck and added the final admonition "Let's get it right this time!" before leaving the room with his entourage. The crews then broke up to attend their own specific briefing. The pilots were briefed on times, on formation numbers and order of taxiing, emergency airfields and their callsigns, the order of turn off after bombing was repeated. Meanwhile the Nav/Bs were briefed by their Squadron Navigation Officer, preparing their flight plans using the forecast Met winds, noting weather conditions, icing level, height of target above sea level, bombing height and procedure and the times and colours of the day. The latter would be repeated to the WOP/AGs and the Airgunners during their briefings from the Signals Officer and the Gunnery Leader. These individual briefings being concluded, the crews went to the locker rooms to collect their flying gear. They handed over all articles of value and any item which might be thought to be of use to the enemy (in the event of being shot down) to the Intelligence Officer. The two tarpaulin covered crew lorries with their open backs were drawn up outside the squadron Admin Buildings as the airmen emerged carrying their flying helmets and parachutes, wearing their harnesses and in some cases, 'Mae Wests'. The navigators with their bulky green 'nav bags' had to be given a hand-up by those already in as they scrambled aboard. With the Flight locker rooms empty, the lorries set off across the airfield to the waiting Mitchells lined up in rows, squadron by squadron. Each aircraft engaged on the raid had its bomb doors open for the pilot's inspection with the attendant groundcrew standing by. The lorry drew up at the first carrying the letters 'EV' on its rear fuselage. The driver yelled out the Identification Letter on the bomber's nose and if there was no shouted response from inside he moved on to the next aircraft. Eventually the lorries returned empty to the MT Section and while the pilots were inspecting the bombload and fuses and looking round their aircraft, the other crew members were already inside going over their own equipment. Although the Mitchell was fitted with the navigator's compartment behind the pilot, this section was only used by the Gee H operator if one was being carried. Normally, on RAF Mitchells, the Navigator/Bomb-aimer sat in the nose and balanced his map and log on his knees, with his Dalton Computor in his 'nav bag' along with his other navigational instruments by his side. There was no desk top for maps or a chart but when the time came for bombing the bombsight and computer box were conveniently placed for the navigator simply to lean forward and concentrate on the bombing run. At 1029 each pilot pressed the starter button of the port engine and the winding-up whine of the Wright Cyclone gradually increased both in pitch and volume as the propeller spun faster until the engine burst into life and flame and smoke appeared momentarily from the exhaust outlets before it settled down into a noisy hum; the other engine was soon started and the pilot then carried out his cockpit check. With the engines running, the navigator could ensure that the bombsight and those instruments needing the power derived from the engines were in good working order. Meanwhile the air gunner was able to 180 Squadron crews make their wayan foot or by lorry to their waiting Mitchells before an operation revolve his turret and manipulate his from 8.58. Melbroek.

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"Let's get it right this time" Continued guns whilst the Wop/AG checked his radio and the twin Browning .5 machine guns in the tail housing. The pilot, having run up the engines and being satisfied that all his controls and instruments were working correctly, signed the Form 700 and awaited the appointed time to begin taxiing. At 1039 the Wingco began to move out followed by Fig Off 'Butch' O'Halioran, RAAF, and his all Australian crew and then No 3, Pit Off W.Anderson; Fit Sgt 'Paddy' Walsh, Pit Off Dick Levy, both RAAF and Pit Off A.Smith were Nos 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Behind them came the 'ft: Flight Mitchells led by Sqn Ldr E.Sall, his No 2 being Fit Lt O.J. Clipsham and No 3 Bobby Kennard, RAAF (both KIA 21 March 1945 over Bocholt); with the aircraft of Fig Off's Lee, Carpenter and Wild following as the last three. As they slowly ambled along the taxi tracks, the lines of bombers reminded me of a herd of elephants in line astern, ducking and bobbing as their pilots applied and released the brakes causing the nose of the Mitchell to dip and rise on its leggy tricycle undercarriage. Gradually the bombers converged to form long waiting lines at the end of runway 30. Time for the first take-off was scheduled for 1049 and we moved out on to the left side of the runway while our No 2 took up position to our right and slightly behind us. The Wingco slammed on the brakes and pushed the throttles wide open until the Mitchell was straining at the leash. Releasing the brakes we hurtled forward and before we were halfway along the runway, 'Butch' O'Halioran was following in hot pursuit. I noted in my log that we were airborne at 1050. By the time No 2 was in the air, Nos 3 and 4 were in position on the runway and had begun their takeoff, to be quickly followed by Nos 5 and 6. Within five minutes all twelve 180 Squadron aircraft were airborne and the six Mitchells of 320 Squadron led by Lt W.L.Steyn followed as quickly. The last six bombers to complete 139 Wing's attacking force that morning were 98 Squadron's contingent led by Fit Lt. J.Taplin. The o'ther pilots accompanying him were Fig Off Hall, Fit Lt Monaghan and in the last vic, Fig Off Johnson, Wt Off Bradley and Sgt T.Bennett who, in the event, had to return early with engine trouble. Each of the 24 aircraft was carrying a bombload of 4,000 Ibs, a total of approximately 43 tons. The same tonnage was being carried by 137 Wing's 24 Bostons (2,000 Ibs each) of Nos 88 and 342 (Free French) Squadron and the 12 Mitchells of 226 Squadron. The next stage always proved the most boring. We slowly climbed above base in large circles while the other aircraft got into position in their own boxes of six before taking up station behind the leading box. After thirty minutes the Wing was correctly formed up and flying at 12,000 ft. At 1130 we set course over base for the Rendezvous Point at Goch with our fighter escort and in the meantime I found a Track and Ground Speed wind which differed only slightly from the forecast met wind. Above Valkenswaard we joined forces with the bombers of 137 Wing headed by 226's Mitchells led by their CO Wg Cdr H.F 'Timber'

Two of 180 Squadron's Mitchell Ills, KJ649 and lV-S' line up for departure on a Melsbroek runway on 12 April 1945. (IWM HU91065)

Wood with the Bostons of Nos 88 and 342 Squadrons in tow. Having met up with our Spitfire escort over Goch at 1204 we set course for Rees on the Rhine. Crossing the Bomb Line, I 'armed' the bombload and advised the pilot. At Rees we encountered Flak as we altered course to port for Groenlo in a more northerly direction to avoid the notorious Flak area of Bocholt. In six minutes we reached Groenlo and swung on to an easterly course for Ahaus a village inside the German border. More Flak greeted us as we wheeled starboard over Ahaus through nearly 90 degrees heading for the target, the marshalling yards at Haltern. Drifts taken on the three previous short legs had enabled me to calculate a 'three drift wind' to set into the bombsight computer as we began our run-in. Cloud was negligible and visibility excellent -ideal for bombing - and of course, ideal for the enemy Flak gunners! Each pilot switched his R/T to the bombing channel 'B' and began following the evasive action of the box leader as the Flak batteries opened up. The red centres in the black puffs of smoke together with the distinct crack of the shells exploding nearby and the sound of shrapnel piercing aluminium vouched for the accuracy of the defenders' shooting. On the bombing run, the lead navigator concentrated so much on getting the target squarely in his sights he was unaware of the noise and confusion outside. On one occasion when I was leading a bombing run, 'Stewy' in the rear gunner's position was giving a commentary on the Flak bursts as they drew nearer on the starboard side. Fearful of losing my concentration, I lost my temper instead and when he said "It's at 3 o'clock and getting bloody close, Scotty", I testily retorted "Then look out the other bloody side!" Even the Wingco, not known for his sense of humour, especially during an 'op', chortled at that response and frequently recounted the story at various bars afterwards. To the bomb aimer, the most important part ofthe sighting head of the bombsight was the small glass panel on to which an illuminated inverted cross was projected. This graticule took the form of a dagger with the 'hilt' nearest to the bomb aimer. The object when sighting was to get the target to run down the "blade" until it reached the 'cross guard' - at which point the bombs were released. If the target was allowed to run under the 'hilt' of the dagger, the bombs would overshoot being released too late. When a box of six Mitchells was attacking a comparatively small target and dropping sticks of bombs totalling say, 48 x 500 pounders or 24 x 1,000 pounders the Navigator/Bomb Aimer in the leading aircraft set his aiming point to undershoot slightly to ensure the bombs straddled the target. On this occasion there was practically no cloud to make visual bombing difficult and as we weaved up to the target, I recalled the words of the Group Captain "Let's get it right this time!" when wishing us good luck. I expected a good result as my checks on the wind velocity had shown little variation from the Met wind and the weather conditions were as good as forecast. We were at 14,000 feet approximately, heading almost due south when the bombs from 137 Wing fell smack across the 'bottle neck' of the yards which I had originally intended as my aiming point. I decided to make the middle section of the rail centre my target and adjusted my aim accordingly. With a minor correction to the pilot to alter course to port -"Left, left... Steady" - all my concentration was now centred on the glass panel and soon the widest mass of rail tracks was running down the blade of the illuminated dagger. By now, the Wingco's thumb was on the transmit button and any instruction I gave him was heard in the other five aircraft so that the formation moved as one. However, with an accurate wind installed in the bombsight computer the corrections were minimal and the rail yards continued moving smoothly along the glass panel towards the bombsight's release point. "Grey Box, open bomb doors!" This command was to my own box, 'B' Flight Mitchells. The call sign for 180's 'A' flight was 'Brown Box'. The Nav/B in the leading aircraft of each six was responsible

'Bombs away' from a 98 Squadron Mitchell I!, FW102 'VO-M'. (IWM CL4352) for the bombing accuracy of his box as the other five would bomb on his say-so, Sometimes the whole squadron would bomb on the leader and, on rare occasions, the whole wave of maybe 36 or more but usually it was limited to a single box. Oblivious to the Flak bursts and the occasional loud crump of the close ones, I brought Grey Box into position. I checked the bomb fuses were still switched to 'Live' - they had been since we crossed the Bomb Line - and that I had set the bomb release to 'On'. As we neared the aiming point I was repeating the word "Steady" and the pilot held the aircraft in straight and level flight This was the worst part of the bombing run for the rest of the crews who felt most vulnerable with no evasive action being taken. I always tried to keep it to no more than 12 seconds. Once, on another raid, I was recorded over the RfT back at base, as completing the straight and level part of a bombing run in six seconds but it only happened once!! It was always with great relief that the gunners and pilots heard me broadcast the initial warning "Bombing" which meant the weaving would begin again promptly on the release of our cargoes. As the marshalling yards moved inexorably closer to the illuminated intersecting cross lines - the release point I broadcast "Grey Box ... Bombing ... Bombing ... Bombing ... Go!" All six navigators pressed their bomb release tits and 48 x 500-pounders dropped away from the bombers. As they fell the bombs appeared - it was an optical illusion- to fall almost vertically at first, then levelled out as they dropped further away seemingly racing the bomber to the target before disappearing from sight In those few seconds, I could see the aim was good and my only concern was that the bombs would not overshoot Out of the corner of my eye I could see Brown Box's 'eggs' falling towards the target but to the right of ours. The next second our bombs

struck home and the middle section of the marshalling yards disappeared under a perfect concentration as the exploding bombs 'marched' across the rail tracks. Almost immediately afterwards Brown Box's bombs exploded on the yards and as the Mitchells swung left off the target after the attack, the bombs from 320 and 98 Squadrons completed the devastation and huge palls of smoke, dust and debris rose above the yards completely obscuring them from view. We did not think a further visit would be necessary. Having noted details of the attack in my log: Time - 1225; Height - 13,800 feet; lAS - 260 knots; Course -170 deg magnetic, I became aware of the heavy and intense Flak still being thrown up at us. We were now some six miles north-east of the target as the pilot turned on to the north-westerly course I had given him prior to the bombing. It was hoped that this route would avoid the known Flak area of Bocholt but three miles south of the town we again experienced the high standard oftheir 88 mm batteries. (A week later, when the rail centre at Bocholt itself was the target, it was their accurate Flak guns that would be the cause of five out of 12 Mitchells of 180 Sqdn failing to return to base and those that did received varying degrees of Flak damage including some wounded). We reached the next turning point, Gaaderen, soon after and set course for Eindhoven where our Spitfire escort left us and the Mitchells and Bostons of 137 Wing headed for their own base at Vitry-en-Artois. 139 Wing's Mitchells swung to port and reached Melsbroek some 25 minutes later. Some were riddled with shell splinters but thankfully there were no wounded. We were immediately debriefed and all involved confirmed it had been dicey but a "wizard prang." On this particular op we had carried an extra crew member, Wt Off D.Parkinson, a cameraman from the RAF Film Production Unit Having used his cine camera to good effect, he was elated with his day's work. Not only had he filmed some accurate bombing, he said, but he'd got plenty of shots of the intense Flak as well as some tight formation flying. The results are shown in the Imperial War Museum's No.2 Group Operational Film No.247 (14 March 1945). A small section of this same film showing the bombs exploding across the marshalling yards at Haltern with such accuracy is included in the DD Video 'Royal Air Force Offensive'. For most of us we were just pleased to be stood down for the rest of the day. I recorded Operation No.57 in my log book. My 74th and last operation to be flown out of Melsbroek and indeed the one which proved to be the swan song of the second tour came on 25 April when we led an attack on a battery of 88 mm guns just north of Bremen. It was my 51st op as navigator! bombing leader. Targets were becoming increasingly more distant and orders came that we were to move to Achmer (B.110) near Osnabruck and we spent the next few days ferrying bombs up to our new base. However, only two further raids were carried out from Achmer before we were stood down when the European conflict came to an end.

BELOW "As they slowly ambled along the taxi tracks, the lines of bombers reminded me of a herd of elephants in line astern, ducking and bobbing as their pilots applied and released the brakes causing the nose of the Mitchell to dip and rise on its leggy tricycle undercarriage. Gradually the bombers converged to form long waiting lines at the end of runway 30." (IWM C5014)

Q)

3 March 1945

u

~

o

I...l-

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

13:00

302

Spitfire XVI

15:50 e1635 e1710 e1800

442 411 340 609

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB

TB283 SM398 J SM305 N NH369 MK950 TB131 EK380

P/O TPyzik (KI F/S J.Oksiak F/L B.Semmerling F/O V.F.MeClung F/L R.J.Audet (KI Lt V.Beraudo P/O lH.R.Goblet (P)

Supermarine Spitfire XVI, TB634 'AU-S', Pit Off A.F.Mclntosh, 421 Squadron, B.90, Petit Brogel

Pit Off AJ 'Tank' Mcintosh's 421 Squadron Spitfire XVIE, TB634 'AU-S' which, in addition to the Indian Head squadron badge, carried the pilot's nickname just below the windscreen. It was not unusual to see 2nd TAF fighters in 1945 with upperwing roundels mismatched, as in this case, with a large one on the port wing and a small (underwing size) example on the starboard wing.

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/lOCATION sdbf nr Wesel phbf 1/1 (Dorsten-Wesell eatB/E hbf eatB/E elf e/I 2m N B.88 sdbf a/train S Coesfeld hbf ell E B.89 sdbf Xanten

5 March 1945 On the previous day 274 Squadron had been joined by the Free French pilot, Flt Lt Pierre --------Clostermann, who during the previous summer had flown Spitfires with 602 Squadron (see profile in Volume 2, page 203). On this, his first full day with his new unit, he took off at 1640 to undertake a cannon test near Hengelo. He returned to report that he had seen four Bf 109s in cloud, and diving on these, had managed to shoot one down, which he saw burning on the ground. The loss of a single Bf 109K was reported by III./JG 27; Uffz Max Ritzi of 9. Staffel was shot down over Barrel, north of Neuss, reportedly by AA fire. In the murky conditions prevailing he may well actually have been Clostermann's victim. Clostermann, recorded the squadron ORB, was "... a little worried lest this action should be considered irregular, and vindicated his matters by putting his cannons u/s as 'only two of them had fired.'" With 257 Squadron disbanding on this day, some of its aircraft were transferred to 183 Squadron, to strengthen the latter's stock of Typhoons fitted with four-bladed propellers, since it was now relinquishing its RP role in favour of dive-bombing; most of the Squadron's remaining pilots were posted to 263 Squadron. TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

e1505 17:15

322 274

Spitfire XVI Tempest V

RR240 N EJ893 W

PILOT/CREW FlO J.Vlug (KI

CLAIM

F/L P.H.Clostermann

Bl109

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION

1- -

hbl ell W Xanten Hengelo area

6 March 1945 74 Squadron now commenced re-equipment with Spitfire XVIs, but far away in Cornwall 485 --------Squadron reported that the Tempests with which it was supposed to be re-equipping had been taken away, and that the unit retained only a single Typhoon. However, a few more of these would arrive during the month. 349 Squadron was to experience similar problems, undertaking some test flights with Typhoons and Tempests, but receiving no re-equipment. At this time the unit welcomed as commanding officer Sqn Ldr 'Cheval' Lallemand, the former Typhoon pilot and commanding officer of 609 Squadron. 01 :40 22:52

107 410

Mosquito VI Mosquito

RS533 MM788

FlO V.R.Bell (K) F/S C.G.Davidson WIO A.G.Cole IKI FlO S.I.Lees IK)

esd in bad wx S Marquette Nord

IKI efto esd B.77

Eight 3 Squadron Tempests took off for the Rheine area at 1400, as did others of 7 March 1945 -------56· Squadron, followed half an hour later by 80,274 and 486 Squadrons, all led by Sqn Ldr Evan Mackie, this Wing formation heading for the NienbergHanover-Hamm area. Over Rheine, 3 and 56 Squadrons had encountered 12 Luftwaffe fighters, which although identified as Bf 109s and Fw 190s, were actually the Dora-9s of IIIJJG 26, the only Gruppe operating on this date.

ABOVE AND RIGHT

Sqn Ldr C.D.'Cal' Bricker DFC, who took over 430 Squadron on 3 March 1945, straps in and starts up his Spitfire FR XIV T at B90, Petit-Brogel. In the background is another of the unit's Spitfire FR XIVs, RM881 'E'.

Passing nearby at this moment, the other units spotted the German aircraft as well and joined in, four victories being claimed without loss. These victories were not easily won. FIg Off Vassiliades of 3 Squadron latched onto a Focke-Wulf; after ten minutes of hard combat Vassiliades baled out, following cannon strikes in the cockpit area. Another was claimed by Mackie in a long, tight turning fight which left him dripping with sweat, and one by Fit Lt Joe Payton of 56 Squadron, who having avoided two Fw 190s 'on his tail', shot down his victim with a 30 degree deflection shot in a climbing turn. FIg OffV.L.Turner of this unit, who identified his victim as a Bf 109, despatched it following a dive fom 12,000 feet and a low-level chase. III./JG 26 did indeed lose four aircraft during this engagement, two of the pilots being killed and two wounded. Departing Volkel shortly after the Tempests, 245 Squadron's Typhoons found a train to attack near Soest but in doing so lost one of its flight commanders, FIt Lt H.T. 'Moose' Mossip, RCAF; he had been an inveterate train-buster on his earlier tour with 1 Squadron. He fell victim to an ever-present hazard for ground-attack pilots - high tension cables - one of which his aircraft struck during his attack, losing its starboard wing and inevitably spinning into the ground. During the day news came of General Patton's US Third Army's drive towards Koblenz, and the crossing of the Rhine at Remagen by units of General Hodges' US First Army. Meanwhile, the RCAF squadrons of 39 (Reconnaissance) Wing moved to join 127 Wing at B.90, Petit Brogel, while 41 and 137 Squadrons departed to attend the two APCs at Warmwell. Next day the other reconnaissance Wing, 35, moved to B.89, Mill.

CD

U

l0-

a

LJ..

«

8 March 1945 9 March 1945

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1505 15:40 15:45

245 3 56

Typhoon 18 Tempest V Tempest V

80

Tempest V

JP936 EJ755 EJ780 EJ761 NV700

F/L H.T.Mossip (K) F/O 8.M.Vassiliades F/L J.J.Payton F/O V.L.Turner S/L EO.Mackie

464

Mosquito VI

PZ259 X

e2110

E 0 P A

F/L A.C.Stark (KI Sgt S.A.AnceIIIKI

CLAIM Fw190 Fw190 81109 Fw190

d Pd 1-1-1-1--

CAUSE/LOCATION hit htc a/train csd SW Soest Enschede area ) SE Rheine )

I ftr intruder

A Mosquito XIII. HK475 'PS-D' of 264 Squadron receives attention while parked with 609 Squadron's Typhoons at B.77 Gilze-Rijen The Mosquito was at GilzeRijen for 'Operation Blackmail' which involved flying Dutch resistance agents (including one female) over occupied territory to communicate with their colleagues on the ground.

I LEFT. SM392 'AU-T', a Mk.XVI of 421 Squadron carried the name lady Joan'.

BELOW Repainting of camouflage over the 'Sky' rear fuselage band has prevented positive identification of this 317 Squadron, 'JH-S', but it is believed to be TB635, one of the unit's Mk XVls. THIS PAGE: A number of 2nd TAF Spitfire IX squadrons had been been re-equipping with the similar, but Packard-engined, Spitfire LFXIVE since November 1944, when 66 and 127 Squadrons were the first to receive them. By March 1945 all four squadrons of 127 Wing, RCAF, had Mk.XVls (but the other 83 Group RCAF Spitfire fighter-bomber Wing, 126, retained Mk.IXs). In 84 Group the situation was less well defined, with 66 and 127 Squadrons of 132 Wing having been joined by a third MkXVIequipped unit. 322 Squadron, but the two Norwegian units of the Wing retaining their Mk.IXs. In the Polish 131 Wing, one squadron had re-equipped and one was in the process of doing so but the third unit, 317 Squadron, would not receive MkXVls until May. 145 Wing squadrons all received MkXVls between February and April 1945.

BELOW A TD-serialled MkXVl, '3W-J' of 322 Squadron - the sole Dutch fighter unit in 2nd TAF - is seen undergoing servicing.

Two Typhoon squadron commanders were lost during the day. 609's Sqn Ldr E.R.A.Roberts fell to ground fire whilst attacking barges at Over Flakke, but survived as a PoW. 193's Sqn Ldr 'Rastus' Erasmus was, however, killed; he was seen to dive into the ground shortly after dropping his bombs in a low-level attack on a bridge at Raalte, but the cause remains obscure. Debris damage was a possible culprit. During the evening an aircraft of the 2nd TAF's most unlikely operational unit went missing. A Swordfish of 119 Squadron, which had operated anti-submarine detachments from Belgian bases since the previous October and which had been based at B.83, Knocke since 21 February 1945, disappeared with its two crew on a patrol offWalcheren. ASR searches during the night and the following day were unsuccessful.


_1-,-O_M_a_r_ch_l-,-9_4_5

TIME

SON

TYPE

IOENT

PILOT/CREW

el125 15:05 15:40

193 414 340

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI

RB381 MK127 K SM212 Z

S/L C.D.Erasmus (KI F/L R.J.Cutting S/Ch J.Guichard

e1655 e1700 e2130

609 416 119

Typhoon IB SW447 Spitfire XVI SM229 Swordlish III NF407 G

e2330

418

Mosquito VI RS561

S/L E.R.A.Roberts (P) P/O E.D.Downer (SI F/L F.G.Sutton (KI F/D P.Radlord (KI FlO G.I.Sheldrick (KI FlO F.J.Klapkew (K)

CLAIM Fw190

dpd

CAUSE/lOCATION

1-1

hbd? csd Raalte Coesleld area hbl c/l B.85 hbf III SW Achthuizen ell III EWesel Ilk off Walcheren csd 12m NE Amersloort cnk

A Mosquito intruder was lost either in the last hour of the 9th or early on the 10th, soon followed by a second; a third would fail to return late in the following evening. A nightfighter of 409 Squadron also went missing, its demise being tracked by an American Mobile Early Warning unit: "Random 39 (the Mosquito) was taken over by Nuthouse (the US MEW unit) at 2125 hours, east of Remagen. At 2145 hours an unidentified plot appeared F.8585 (about 20 miles east of Bonn) travelling 260 degrees, 6,000 feet, approx. 220 mph. Random 39 was reduced to 6,000 feet and told he was just crossing the front line. He made contact at 21/2 miles but lost it twice, regaining it each time with ground help. RlT traffic was thus almost continuous. At 2203 hours, when on 210 degrees at 4,500 feet, he lost contact a third time, asked for help and was given 260 degrees. He acknowledged this. Immediately after he was told to continue to 330 degrees, this was not acknowledged. At the same moment the blip, having continued on to 210 degrees, came up for one sweep rather brighter and longer on the tube, and then it disappeared at F.3424. As the tracing had been unbroken and the target continued plain, there can be no doubt that the fighter, whatever the reason, suddenly lost height. Nothing more was seen or heard of it."

Bad weather curtailed operations throughout the day and for the next two days.

11 March 1945

e0130

605

Mosquito VI

PZ349

02:04

410

Mosquito XXX MM787

e2030

107

Mosquito VI HR254

P

FlO W.G.Oldham (K) Sgt J.Fry (KI F/L D.T.Steele (K) FlO C.Horne (K) F/L R.J.O'Sullivan (K) P/D E.T.G.Harris (K)

ftr intruder Ilk chasing e/a S Euskirchen ftr intruder (OsnabrOck-Hamm)

Swordfish Ills of 119 Squadron in their all-black scheme for night operations. All the unit's Swordfish had been transferred from Admiralty charge; the nearest aircraft is NF374 'NH-M'. (IWM CL2284)

TIME

SUN

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1500

421

Spitfire XVI

RK910

F/O O.A.Fawthrop (K)

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION e/I csd nr Gutersloh

-0 C

During the last patrol of the day, Fit Lt L.H.Watt of 401 Squadron spotted an Me 262 west of Wesel which he claimed shot down, its crash apparently being observed by a large number of ground troops. That night the Commanding Officer of 21 Squadron, Wg Cdr v.R.Oats, took off for an intruder sortie at 2205 but failed to return; his place was taken by Wg Cdr P.A.Kleboe, DSO, DFC, AFC, who was posted in from 464 Squadron. 04:28

488

Mosquito

e1700 e2330

401 21

Spitfire IX MK203 C Mosquito VI SZ963

MT484

P/O lA.Malion (K) P/O G.H.Brock (K) F/L L.NWatl W/C V.R.Oats (K) F/S F.C.Gubbings (K)

12 March 1945 ::::l 0CD ~

efta csd 8.77 Me262

1--

5m SSWWesel ftr intruder

In the early hours of 13th Fit Lt J.W.Welford/Flg Off R.H.Phillips of 604 Squadron intercepted a 13 March 1945 --------Ju 88 over the Dunkirk area, claiming this probably destroyed at 0210 over the North Sea. Around midday a formation of Mitchells from 98, 180 and 226 Squadrons, accompanied by Bostons from 137 Wing, set off to bomb Lenghrich marshalling yards, escorted by Spitfires from 74 and 340 Squadrons, led by W g Cdr Sampson, the 145 Wing Leader. East of Wesel Bf 109s of 14.1JG 27 attacked, Fw Otto Kienle shooting down one of the 180 Squadron Mitchells, while Uffz Sepperl shot down Capt Olivier Massart of 340 Squadron, who managed to force-land and became a prisoner. Wg Cdr Sampson claimed one of the Messerschmitts shot down, Fit Sgt M.de Reynal adding a claim for a probable, while three more were claimed damaged, one of them by Massart. On this occasion however, JG 27 seem to have got away without loss. Following this engagement the pilots of 145 Wing complained fairly bitterly that the Mark XVI Spitfire did not seem to have the performance of the well-loved Mark IX, particularly being some 10-15 mph slower. The 2 Group mediums were out again a little after 1600, being escorted over Rheine by eight Spitfire XIVs of 130 Squadron, while ten more of these fighters with others from 350 Squadron swept over the area. Here nine Fw 190s were encountered, FIt Lt Harry Walmsley, Fit Lt Ian Ponsford and Fit Sgt Phillip Clay of 130 Squadron each claiming one shot down, Ponsford adding a second damaged. Sqn Ldr Frank Woolley of 350 Squadron had also claimed one such aircraft in the same area, but at 1425 whilst leading a sweep. JG 26 lost three Fw 190Ds during the afternoon, one an aircraft of II. Gruppe, definitely shot down by Spitfires, and one more each from III. and IV. Gruppe. One II. Gruppe pilot claimed a Spitfire in the Dortmund area at this time, and there are reports that a pilot baled out, injured, but confirmation of this has not been found. At around the same time Spitfire XIVs of 402 Squadron were on a sweep over the Munster-Bielefeld-Hamm-Dorsten area when a jet aircraft was seen near Munster. FIg Off H.C.Nicholson gave chase, pursuing it to the Dortmund area where he claimed to have shot it down. He identified it as an Me 262, and indeed I./KG 51 did lose two such aircraft When Fit Lt W.E.'Smokey· Schrader to fighters in the Xanten area during the day but, after study of the camera-gun film the 2nd TAF DFC. joined 486 authorities decided that his victory was in fact an Ar 234, and it was with such an aircraft that he Squadron on 11 March was credited. 02:10

604

Mosquito XIII MM529

e1215 12:24

401 180

Spitfire IX Mitchell II

MK888 H0307 V

Mitchell III

KJ565

12:50

145Wg Spitfire IX 340 Spitfire XVI

14:25 e1530 16:55

350 331 130

Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV

16:55 19:10

402 302

Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX

RK853 SS TB335 L TB286 C TB297 F NH686 V PL162 S nk nk V nk RM875 H MK623 M

F/L J.WWellord F/O R.H.Phillips F/O A.R.W.McKay (S) Pit Off MWMair (KI Sgt JAChambers (K) Sgt R.J.Oickson (K) Sgt L.King (K) P/O J.T.Caple F/S F.Ouinn Sgt A.TWinchester F/S J.R.Freeman (WI W/C RW.F.Sampson Lt J.Carre F/S O.Boudard Cpt O.Massart (PI S/L FWoolley Lt J.W.Garben (K) F/L HWalmsley F/S P.H.T.Clay F/L I.R.Ponslord F/OH.C.Nicholson F/O L.Swietlikowski

Ju8B

-1-

N Sea off The Hague

ell b/o N Borken sdb Bll 09s 5m EWesel

hbl (Wesel) catA

Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Fw190

1---1 --1 --1 1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Ar234

1-1-1-1 1--

IBocholt area I I I; sdb BI109 nr Bocholt 10m NE Hamm sdbl nr Rodenkirchen 110m EHamm I I Gladback csd landing B.77 catB

1945. he had already two and one shared Bf 109s destroyed to his name from service with 1435 Squadron in the Mediterranean theatre. On 21 April he would be promoted to command 486 Squadron and just ten days after that, he would again be promoted - to command 616 Squadron - a Wing Commander post. During his seven weeks with 486 Squadron he would be credited with a further nine German fighters destroyed and one shared.

ABOVE Wg Cdr 'Sammy' Sampson of 145 Wing landing his Spitfire IX RK853 'SS' at B85, Schjindel; it was in this aircraft that he claimed a Bf 109 on 13 March 1945, while flying with 340 Squadron RK853 survived the hostilities and was later transferred to the French Air Force. [ABOVE RIGHT} Sampson is seen seated in a replacement 'Iowback' Spitfire also coded 'SS' but of unknown serial.

Supermarine Spitfire IX, RK853 'SS', Wg Cdr R.W.F.Sampson DFC and Bar, 145 Wing, B.85, Schjindel

14 March 1945

TIME 14:30 16:15 17:15 e1715

15 March 1945

SON 302 274 302 222

TYPE Spitfire XVI Tempest V Spitfire XVI Tempest V

IDENT TB250 EJ876 TB395 NV774 NV670

L R B X

PILOT/CREW S/L 1.0lszewski IE) FlO G.E.Trayhurn PIO W.Gretkierewicz F/L L.McAuliffe} FlO O.G.C.McCleland}

CLAIM

d Pd

Ar234

1--

CAUSE/LOCATION sdbf a/railway SW Zwolle e/fire b/o 3m W Emmerich hbf nr Zwolle catB/E N QuackenbrUck

2 Group mediums attacked Dorsten marshalling yards during the morning of 15th, one 180 Squadron bomber being shot down by Flak. During the return flight two Me 262s were seen, but they did not attempt to attack. At 1100 Sqn Ldr Mackie led a sweep over the Rheine-Dummer See-Munster area by his own 80 Squadron, joined by 56 and 486 Squadrons. During this operation an Ar 234 was seen and was claimed damaged by FIg Off F.A.Lang after he had pursued it for about 20 minutes. e1155

180

Mitchell III

HD397

12:00 12:00

80 403

Tempest V Spitfire XVI

JN868 N SM313

FlO HWBWiley (K) FlO JWalmsley IKI Sgt G.Rough IKI Sgt A.MacNair IKI FlO F.A.Lang W/O G.v.Boudreau (PI

hbf csd NE Wesel (Haltern)

Ar234

--1

5m N Rheine elf c/l SW Bocholt

TIME 13:20 15:05 15:55 23:08

SON 440 16 308 488

TYPE IDENT Typhoon IB SW405 Spitfire XI PL922 Spitfire IX MJ787 Mosquito XXX MT461

PILOT/CREW F/L K.R.Smith F/O W.T.Moody (I) FlO A.Oromlewiez (P) FIL A.L.Gabites FlO P.R.P.Bryers

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION efto B.78 eatB dla B.58 eatB/E hbl albarges ell N Edam ell in log on Q site nr 8.48 eatB

Returning from APC to reJom 132 Wing, the pilots of 127 16 March 1945 -------Squadron (now led by Sqn Ldr Freddie Lister), found a new Wing Leader in place - Lt Col Jon Ryg, who had previously been 332 Squadron's commanding officer during an earlier tour. In 123 Wing 609 Squadron was taken over by Sqn Ldr LW,F. 'Pinky' Stark, DFC & Bar, a very successful veteran Typhoon pilot.

ABOVE Wt Off J.F.Alexander of 56 Squadron examines wreckage from a Bf 109 lodged in the wing of his Tempest. Alexander was killed on 15 March 1945, in a non-operational accident. when the undercarriage of his Tempest failed to lower and the aircraft turned over and burst into flames during the subsequent wheels-up landing at Volkel. (IWM CL1747)

With the non-availability of Tempests for 349 and 485 Squadrons, 274 Squadron was now withdrawn from 83 Group's 122 Wing and moved to 135 Wing in 84 Group to join the other Tempest units there - 33 and 222 Squadrons thus bringing a rather more even distribution of these fighters between the two Groups. The unit's pilots found methods here very different to those to which they had been used; they were advised that they would now be involved mainly in sweeping the northern Reich. The day was not to be a good one for this Wing however, for two aircraft of 222 Squadron failed to return from a sortie in bad weather, and both pilots were killed. 412 Squadron undertook a dive-bombing operation during the late afternoon. While returning from this, four Fw 190Ds were seen. Sqn Ldr M.D.Boyd and FIg Off V.Smith claimed one of these shot down between them, while Pit Off H.W.Grant claimed a second. III./JG 26 had been scrambled to intercept medium bombers, but one aircraft had crashed due to engine failure and three others had been forced to turn back early. The remaining five were reported to have been surprised by Spitfires which attacked out of cloud over Coesfeld. The German pilots had no opportunity to claim, but equally suffered only damage to one Dora-9 on this occasion. During a sortie by Spitfires of 416 Squadron, Fit Lt Neil· Russell was on the final sortie of his second tour when he was shot down by US AA. Luckily he was able to bale out successfully, albeit from only 1500 ft, and was soon back safely, ready for his return home to Canada. Another RCAF squadron, 442, flew its last sorties with 2nd TAF on this date, then withdrawing across the Channel to Hunsdon, where the unit was to convert to Mustang IVs and rejoin Fighter Command for bomber escort duties. During the night a 2 Group Mosquito squadron again lost its Commanding Officer, Wg Cdr R.A.Mitchell, DFC & Bar, failing to return from a sortie. Richard Mitchell had been a successful Spitfire pilot on Malta during 1942; his place at the head of 605 Squadron was taken on a temporary basis by Sqn Ldr A.G.Woods, DFC, one of the flight commanders.

17 March 1945

---------

LEFT: Pilots and groundcrew of 274 Squadron enjoy the spring sunshine outside their dispersal, shortly before leaving B.80 Volkel; left to right. Fig Off Don Boyd (shot down 28 March 1945, safe), Fit Lt Jock Pierce, Fit Lt Fred Massing, Fit Lt Buck Feldman, Fig Off Gerry Trayhurn, Fit Lt Sutherland (sunglasses) and Fig Off Pete Halliwell (against the door, killed 4 April 19451, the rest are unidentified.

Q)

U

!..-

o

L..L

«

TIME

saN

TYPE

08:00 10:25 e1045 e1210 e1705

416 332 222 222 412

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Tempest V Tempest V Spitfire [X

IDENT

18:40 e2130

3 605

SM404 PV141 NV710 EJ873 PV234 PV253 PV202 Tempest V NV929 Mosquito VI PZ343

TIME

SaN

TYPE

IDENT

12:20

302

Spitfire XVI

PILOT/CREW X R

T B

F/l N.G.Russell F/S WSpry (I) F/ll.McAu[ile (KI WID G.S.Catford (K) S/l M.D. Boyd} FlO V.Smith} PIO H.WGrant PIO l.G.Everson W/C R.A.Mitchell (K) F/l S.H.Hatsell (Kf

CLAIM

dpd

Fw190

1--

Fw190

1--

CAUSE/LOCATION hbAf b/o Moers csd landing B.85 ftr in bad wx (Zutphenl ftr in bad wx (Bramschel {5m SW Coesfe[d { {

elf f/l1m NW Goch ftr intruder

18 March 1945

14:00 e1500 e1520 e1640 e1805

416 2 317 66 193

Spitfire XVI Mustang I Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Typhoon IB

TB370 TB525 SM399 RM812 MJ589 RK913 MP193

e0355

605

Mosquito

RS603

I E

T K

PILOT/CREW F/S 1. Pliszka

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION hbl nr Utrecht catB/E hbl catB ell c/I nr B.90 hbl I/s nr Ze[hem hbl catB hbl III EIT S Otterloo hbl a/HO I/[ NE Arnhem

Sgt M.Krysakowski FlO G.RWeber S/L C.E.Maitland (KI Sgt J.Pretkowski F/l O.Stanford-Smith (S) WID N.D.Samuels (P)

19 March 1945

09:30

09:45 e0945 e0955 el135 e1110 e1110 e1415 18:00 20:15

125Wg Spitfire XIV 130 Spitfire XIV

414 247 175 302 263 609 403 421 140

nk nk nk nk nk nk nk nk Spitfire IX MJ351 S Typhoon IB RB480 C Typhoon IB RB214 B Spitfire XVI TB140 Typhoon [S JR362 Typhoon [S JP858 Spitfire [X SM208 Spitfire IX SM474 Mosquito XVI MM298

PIO Z.A.J.Dunin-Rzuchowski (K) Fill. A.W.Smith (KI W/C G.Keeler Bll09 FlO G.lord Bll09 F/S GW.Hudson Bl109 FlO WH.Carter BI109 WID A.D.Miller BI109 F/S P.H.T.C[ay Bl109 F/L C.J.Samouel[e Bl109 Squadron Bl109 FlO WA.Glaister (PIE) F/l T.H.McGovern (P) S/l M.Savage (KI S/l B.Kaczmarek WID RARichardson (P) WID F.S.Hammond (P) PIO H.C.Byrd (K) WID G.D.Clark F/l S.Thompson (K) F/S A.Ashton (K)

ftr intruder 1-1-1 1-1 --1 --1 --1 - -2 --1

{Rheine { { { { (

OG; Rheine OG; Rheine; nc 2TAF ell hbf? b/o 4m NE Dorsten hbll/I nr Appelhulsen spun in a/rail yards Drensteinfurt cnk hbl catB/E hbl blo NE Deventer elf fll NE Deventer elf csd nr [sselburg elf fll nr Weert catB/E hit vehicle on tlo csd nr B.58

During a raid on Bocholt marshalling yards a 98 Squadron Mitchell was shot down by Flak, 20 March 1945 -------crashing near Hochwald. A section of 276 (ASR) Squadron's Spitfires spotted a dinghy, with occupant, after a fighter had c :::) been reported ditched 12 miles north-west of The Hague, and a Walrus attempted a rescue. However, D... despite landing within 20 yards, rough seas prevented the Walrus crew from reaching the dinghy and CD when shore batteries opened up they were obliged to taxi the amphibian out to sea. Unable to take off, ~ the RAP crew were eventually rescued by a USAAF Catalina, which subsequently destroyed the Walrus; an International Distress broadcast brought a German light naval craft out to rescue the pilot from the dinghy. The Catalina in turn was unable to take off and spent the whole night taxiing across the North Sea, before managing a take-off in the morning, after transferring the Walrus crew to a Naval launch.

u

A 21 Squadron formation of Mosquito VI aircraft in practice for the Shellhaus raid.

TIME

SON

e0915 e0945

74 98

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

Spitfire XVI Mitchell II

TB353 HD376 Z

276

Walrus

L2220

308

Spitfire IX

TB734

F/L WWPeet Fig Dff L.S.Ketcher Fig Dff S.J.Poole Sgt J.S.Barlow Sgt RWilkinson WID B.Bowe (AI WID G.Durose (AI WID N.Cameron (A) F/L EWardzinski lEI

11 :45

e1550

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION hbf (Area 'Y'I catB/E hbf b/o S Hochwald

abandoned 6m off Hague

hbf nr Dehtrup ell SE Terborg

More moves now took place, notably by the Typhoon 21 March 1945 -------units of 121 Wing which began moving to RI00 at Goch - the first 2nd TAF airfield on German soil. At the same time 84 Group's 123 Wing was led by Wg Cdr Button to B.91, Kluis, in the Nijmegen area. Preparations were now underway for the forthcoming Rhine crossing, and during the day units from 83 and 84 Groups cut rail lines in Germany in 41 places. Five Typhoon and three Spitfire squadrons from the latter Group also attacked a camouflaged village near Zwolle which was being utilised as a depot for German paratroop forces. 2 Group was much in evidence during the day, the Mosquitoes of 140 Wing undertaking another 'set piece' attack. At the request of the Danish Resistance an attack was planned on the Gestapo and Sicherheitspolizei headquarters in Shellhaus, the former headquarters of Shell Oil Co, a five storey building in the centre of the Danish capital, Copenhagen; the raid was codenamed Operation 'Carthage'. All three units of the Wing were to be represented in the attack, which was also to be accompanied by two Mosquito IVs of the Film Production Unit. Due to the range there was no question of fighter escort being provided by other 2nd TAF units, but a force of 31 Mustangs drawn from 64,126 and 234 Squadrons, was laid on by Fighter Command. The raid was led by Grp Capt Bateson, the Wing Commanding Officer, who headed the first wave of seven aircraft. One of these was flown by the 2 Group commander, AVM Basil Embry, posing as "Wg Cdr Smith". Four of the other aircraft were 21 Squadron machines, including one flown by the commanding officer of that unit, Wg Cdr P.A.Kleboe. One of the FPU Mosquitoes made up the balance of the formation, flown by Fit Lt K.G.Greenwood, a member of 487 Squadron.

Robert Norman Bateson DSO,DFC

ob Bateson, a career RAF officer, was commanding 113 Squadron

in the Western Desert, flying Blenheim Ns during the early B fighting there in 1940. He was awarded a DFC in November for leading extensive bombing operations, and personally undertaking a number of long reconnaissance sorties. He was promoted Acting Wing Commander, and posted to 270 (Bomber) Wing as Wing Commander Flying and SASO. Early in January 1942 he was given command of 211 Squadron, but stepped on a small Italian anti-personnel bomb, and was temporarily rendered blind. Nonetheless, within the month he had led his unit out to the Far East, where war with Japan had broken out, engaging in numerous bombing raids from Sumatra and Java during February and early March. He was flown out to Australia

before the final surrender, and returned to the UK. Reverting to Squadron Leader, he joined 613 Squadron to fly Mosquito Vis as a flight commander, but became commanding officer during February 1944. On 11 April he led a precision attack on the Dutch Population Central Registry in Scheveningsche Wegg, The Hague, where the German occupation forces were maintaining records of the Dutch Resistance. This successful raid (see Volume One) gained him a DSO. Rested in July, he served with the Staff of 2 Group where he was promoted Grp Capt. He was to lead two more special low level daylight attacks by aircraft of 140 Wing on Shell House, Copenhagen, on 21 March 1945 and on another Gestapo headquarters on Odense Island on 17 April.

The second wave of six were all drawn from 464 Squadron, led by Wg Cdr R.W.Iredale, while the third wave of seven, headed by Wg Cdr EH.Denton, included six 487 Squadron aircraft and the second FPU Mosquito, this one flown by a 21 Squadron pilot, Flg Off R.E.Kirkpatrick. The Mosquitoes started taking off at 0830, all aircraft carrying 100 gallon drop tanks and two 500lb bombs. They made course over the North Sea to rendezvous with their Mustang escort, and then headed for the target at very low altitude. Unfortunately, as the first wave began its attack, Wg Cdr Kleboe's aircraft collided with a pylon and crashed in Sonder Boulevard, in the Frederiksberg area, bursting into flames. Consequently, some of the second wave crews gained the impression that this was the burning target, and added their bombs to it. The whole attack was over in less than five minutes, and the rest of the Mosquitoes headed out to sea again, but several had been hit by Flak. Two aircraft from 464 Squadron and one from 487 Squadron came down in the sea, the two former respectively off Zeeland and near the Sanso Belt, while the latter ditched near Hveen Island. All three crews were lost however. Two more third wave Mosquitoes were also hit, one 487 Squadron machine returning on one engine, while the FPU Mark IV made it to England, force-landing at Rackheath. The Mustangs meanwhile had sought to suppress any active Flak positions, but in the event the only guns to open fire were those on ships in the harbour, where the cruiser 'Nurnberg' happened to be present. Two of 64 Squadron's fighters were hit, Fit Lt David Drew, DFC, being shot down in the target area and killed, while a second pilot, Pit Off R.C.Hamilton, RCAF, force-landed on the west coast of Jutland, becoming a PoW. A total of 22 bombs had struck Shellhaus, where it was estimated that between 50-150 Germans had lost their lives. 18 Resistance prisoners were able to escape, including the organisation's leader and two of the five members of the Danish Freedom Council. Nearly all Gestapo flies were destroyed, and two full filing cabinets were spirited away by Resistance workers, these containing much evidence identifying local collaborators. Thereafter the Gestapo was to be severely handicapped during the remaining weeks of the war. The Danes generously forgave the RAF the damaging effects of the attack on their own population as one of the misfortunes of war. Next day a PR Mosquito from 34 Wing undertook a reconnaissance sortie over the area to record the damage. The unfortunate events surrounding Kleboe's crash marred an otherwise very successful operation. Apart from the two bombs in Kleboe's Mosquito, which exploded in Sonder Boulevard, two more hit a school where 86 children were killed and many others injured, while 12 hit the Frederiksberg area, and another six were jettisoned in the sea after the attack. The cost in Danish lives reached almost 140. 2 Group remained active over Germany meanwhile with 139 Wing's Mitchells returning to the Bocholt marshalling yards during the day, but here two of 180 Squadron's bombers was hit by Flak, as it dropped its bombs, and exploded; another was seen to fall in flames apparently having been damaged in the explosion. In a third aircraft the pilot, Pit Off R.M.Perkins was badly wounded, one of the air gunners, Fit Sgt J.M.Hall partially taking over the controls to bring the aircraft back for an emergency landing at B.90, Petit Brogel. For their courage, Perkins was awarded an immediate DFC and Hall, the CGM. A fourth Mitchell, seriously damaged, force-landed at B.70, Deurne. Several more aircraft were badly damaged, but managed to regain their home airfield. The Group's medium bomber units also hit 17 towns close to the Rhine. This increased tempo was maintained over the next two days in preparation for the forthcoming Rhine crossings, targeting enemy encampments and barracks. Another German HQ received a visit from 146 Wing; this time it was that of 25 Armee. Grp Capt Wells and Wg Cdr Deallied 25 Typhoons to inflict severe damage on the HQ which was located in a hotel at Bussum, near Hilversum. It later transpired that the General had left the previous day but other officers and all the unit's documentation were still present.

« co u

+-'

u

~ -0 C

N

Desmond James Scott DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar, C de G avec Palme, C de G avec Palme (BeIge), Cdr, Order of Orange Nassau

es Scott, a New Zealander, joined the RNZAF at the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, volunteering for service in the UK on completing his training as a pilot. Initially he flew sweeps and night intruder sorties over western Europe with 3 Squadron as a Sgt during 1941/42. His early successes brought a commission, decorations and early promotion, having become a Sqn Ldr with a DFC & Bar when he completed his first tour of operations in September 1942. Converting from Hurricanes to Typhoons, he began a second tour in Spring 1943, quickly becoming commanding

D

officer of 486 (NZ) Squadron. Awarded a DSO in August 1943, he became Wing Leader of the Tangmere Typhoon Wing until rested for a second time in November. In March 1944 he formed and commanded 123 Wing, becoming the youngest Group Captain in the RNZAF, while also receiving an aBE for rescuing a pilot from a crashed aircraft which was on fire. He led 123 Wing throughout the invasion and across Europe, finally handing over to Grp Capt Johnny Baldwin in February 1945. He was also decorated by the French, Belgians and Dutch.

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e0745 e1015

341 180

Spitfire XVI Mitchell II

TB388 FW236

Mitchell III

KJ563

SLt R.Etlin (K) F/L D.J.Clipsham (K) FlO AWShearer (K) FlO lJ.Hedley IKI WIO E.R.P.Adams(K) FlO S.J.Smith (KI FlO R.M.Kennard (KI FlO H.S.Chatto (KI

10:40

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION lIs a/hdt S Apeldoorn sdbl Bocholt

hbl or debris and csd (Bocholt I

F/D LAEilis (K) FW200

HD356

HD386

AMosquito XXX. MT457 'ME-S' of 488 Squadron takes off at sunset, for an evening patrol from B.48 Amiens/Glisy

11:00 e1115

247 21

Typhoon IB RB459 F Mosquito VI SZ977 T

el130

464

Mosquito VI RS609 V

e1140

464

Mosquito VI SZ999

e1140

487

Mosquito VI

NT123 Z

14:15

487

Mosquito VI

PZ402 A

14:50

340

Spitfire XVI

TB289 N TB618 T

F/S J.M.Farr lSI F/S FJWaish F/S R.Dowling Sgt R.A.Kerr Sgt E.Radburn P/O Lettinga IW) S/L E.FSall F/L FJ.Brooks F/L H.O.Stephens F/L R.G.Simmons FlO L.E.Lovelock FlO WJ.A.Collard IW) P/D R.M.Perkins (WI F/S J.M.Hall FlO R.J.Robertson FlO E.WButler WID D.M.Freeman FlO G.M.Hill WIC P.A.Kleboe (K) FlO K.Hall (K) FlO J.H.Palmer (K) SLt H.H.Becker (KI FlO R.G.Dawson (K) FlO F.lMurray IKI F/L OVPattison IK) F/S FPygram (K) WIC FH.Denton FlO A.J.Coe Lt V.Beraudo IK) Lt P.Blanc

hbl or debris Bocholt

hbl Bocholt III B.70 catB/E

hbl or debris Bocholt c/l B.90

hbl MOnster c/l 2m W Rhine catB hit pole csd Copenhagen hbl Copenhagen dtd Samso Belt hbl dtd 56.02N 11.42E hbl Copenhagen dtd nr Hveen Island hit building w/u Swanton Morley bomb exp on I/o 8.85 cto B.85 cat B/E

The early hours of 22nd proved to be active for the 85 Group 22 March 1945 --------night fighters. Just before 0400 hours FIt Lt R.LE.Britten and FIt Lt L.E.Fownes of 409 Squadron were able to claim a Bf 110 over Dhum, while at 0522 FIg Off K.Fleming/Flg Off K.L.Nagle of 488 Squadron claimed another of these night fighters in the Dortmund area. However, during these operations one Mosquito of 219 Squadron was lost. In the afternoon Tempests from 56 and 80 Squadrons swept over Rheine and the Minden-Dummer See area from about 1530. As they approached Rheine, the pilots spotted about 12 Fw 190Ds of II./JG 26 which had been scrambled to intercept a Ninth Air Force formation of B-26 Marauder bombers. The German fighters were attacked by the RAF escorts, Fit Lt J.T.Hodges, FIt Lt G.B.Milne, FIg OffV.L.Turner and Sgt PC.Brown of 56 Squadron, and Fit Lt R.C.Cooper and FIg Off G.A.Bush of 80 Squadron claiming one each for a total of six, while other 80 Squadron pilots claimed two more damaged. The 5. and 6. Staffel of JG 26 actually lost five Dora-9s, with four pilots killed and one wounded. One pilot from each Staffel managed to claim a Tempest shot down, both claim times at 1603, but in fact the British formation suffered no losses at all. 03:59

409

Mosquito XIII MM466 G

05:22

488

Mosquito XXX MM816 N

05:45

219

Mosquito XXX MM792

15:00 16:12

412 56

Spitfire IX Tempest V

80

Tempest V

439

Typhoon IB

16:35

PV253 EJ804 NV786 NV728 NV970 NV983 NV938 SN130 NV960 PD451

M E X 0

A

FIL R.I.E.Britten FIL L.E.Fownes FlO K.Fleming FlO K.L.Nagle F/L WJ.H enri (K) FlO H.P.FHuymen IKI WID J.M.Sutherland F/L J.T.Hodges F/L G.B.Milne FlO V.L.Turner Sgt P.C.Brown F/L R.C.Cooper FlO G.A.Bush F/L A.Seager F/D N.J.Rankin FlO AW.Saunders

Blll0

1--

SE Rhemscheid

Blll0

1--

Dortmund area csd N Viersen

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-I-I-1-1-1---1 --1

efta csd N B.88 cat B/E IHesepe area I I I I I I I tbl csd B.78 catB/E

CJ.)

U

23 March 1945

With nightfall, Mosquito night fighters of219 Squadron were on patrol, Flt LtAtkins/Flt Lt Mayo

- - - - - - - - - claimed an aircraft shot down at 2115 which they reported as an Fw 189.

~

o LL

The Rhine Crossing 21st Army Group's crossing of the Rhine, codenamed Operation 'Plunder', was to be made by British Second Army and US Ninth Army together, between Emmerich in the north, and the Xanten-Wesel area to the south. Again massive artillery support was prepared, including 17 Field Regiments, ten Medium Regiments, two Heavy Regiments, two Super-Heavy Batteries, plus AA and anti-tank guns. Sections of prefabricated bridge were ready to be winched across as soon as bridgeheads had been established on the far bank, and an ambitious airborne assault was also included, known as Operation 'Varsity'. On 23rd Typhoon squadrons from 121 Wing and Spitfires of 126 Wing attacked Flak positions beyond the range of Second Army's artillery, following which at 1530 77 Bomber Command Lancasters raided Wesel. As evening approached, medium bombers attacked other targets directly across the river between 1700-1800 hours. The artillery then opened up until 2100, when Buffalo armoured amphibious troop-carriers entered the water, reaching the east bank in four minutes. At 2235 Wesel was bombed again, this time by 212 Lancasters and Mosquitoes from 5 and 8 Groups, which unloaded 1,100 tons of explosives on the town. With daylight on 24th German forces counter-attacked and fierce fighting began. Meanwhile at 0600 on 24th, the British 6th Airborne Division, aboard the transports and gliders of 38 and 46 Groups, began taking off. Over Brussels the formation joined another carrying the US 17th Airborne Division from bases on the Continent to complete XVIII Airborne Corps. The two formations then headed for the drop zones side-by-side, forming a massive armada of 4,000 aircraft and gliders, escorted by 1,200 fighters. 2 Group and Ninth Air Force medium bombers unloaded 550 tons of bombs on Flak sites in the area of the drop zones, but aiming was not good, and none of the batteries were seriously damaged. Typhoons then swept in to attack these at low level, but had not completed this task when the transports arrived seven minutes ahead of schedule. As a result they were met by some fairly intense Flak, and ten gliders were shot down, another 30 or so being damaged. Despite this, the landing of both the gliders and the paratroopers was very accurate on this occasion. The task set for this Corps was to seize and hold intact bridges across the River Ijssl, and then to link with Second Army, approaching from the west. Three bridges were duly captured, and by 1800 the link-up had occurred - there was no disastrous replay of 'Market Garden' this time, in what proved to be one of the most successful and well-executed airborne operations of the war. As the engineers struggled to get the bridges across the Rhine with all speed, tanks were ferried across on rafts. 2nd Army alone was putting four full Corps into the assault - VIII, XII and XXX, plus II Canadian. Fighting was bitter on 25th, but the town of Rees had been cleared by nightfall. The first bridge was ready for use by the early hours of 26th, and more were completed that day. A bridgehead 35 miles wide and 20 miles deep had been established. Despite 3,968 British and 2,813 US casualties, the operation could still be viewed as a strategic success. The designated task of 21st Army Group now was to drive with all speed to the River Elbe. There its units were to join the Red Army which was advancing from the east, and together begin an all-out attack on Berlin. Eisenhower had designated this capital city as the main objective, the fall of which was likely to bring the war to an immediate close. The Ruhr, Germany's industrial heartland, was to be bypassed to the north by 21st Army Group, and to the south by US 12th Army Group. The latter was to head across central Germany, through Cologne and Frankfurt, towards Leipzig and Dresden, spearheaded by the US First and Third Armies, and by a new Fifteenth Army. The Ruhr was to be left to 'wither on the vine'. Meanwhile, Canadian First Army would protect the left flank of British Second Army, and then advance into northern Holland, heading through Arnhem towards Groningen in the far north. Thus 21st Army Group's two other armies now began a rapid advance through the area over which so much of 2nd TAF's aerial operations had so recently taken place. In quick succession Emmerich, Wesel, Bocholt, Coesfeld, Dulmen, Vreden, Hengelo, Enschede and other locations were taken. On the south of the advance US Ninth Army was into Munster by the end of the month, as the whole front swept on to the River Ems, where the airfield complex at Rheine would fall into British hands. TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1000 e1540 17:00 21:15

317 66 302 219

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Mosquito

MH505 K RK918 TB136 D nk

F/O L.Szczerbinski F/O W.Barker F/S lPliszka F/L J.C.E.Atkins F/L D.R.Mayo

CLAIM

Fw189

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

1--

hbf catB hbfTwente b/o 10m N B.85 efto csd B.77 Duisberg area

Wt Off WKarasinski was fortunate to escape from his crippled Spitfire XVI. T8733, when, having been hit by Flak at Deventer, it burst into flames in a crash-landing at 8.77, Gilze-Rijen on 24 March 1945.

As Operation 'Plunder' began, the Luftwaffe's fighters were now operating from airfields further 24 March 1945 --------back from the Rhine. Following the Allied approach to the river, 1. and II./JG 27 had left the Rheine area, I Gruppe moving to Stormede on 19th, and II. Gruppe to Bad Lippspringe two days later, while III Gruppe had moved to Gutersloh from Hesepe on 18th. Only IV Gruppe remained at its base at Achmer, but on 21 March this unit was disbanded. Stab and I./JG 26 were still at Furstenau, II. Gruppe at Nordhorn, III. Gruppe at Delmenhorst and IV. Gruppe at Varrelbusch, but all were getting ready to go. The bombing of the Luftwaffe airfields which formed part of the preparations for 'Plunder', would destroy three of IV.lJG 26's Dora-9s on the ground at Varrelbusch during the day. 83 Group's fighter-bombers were now ready to respond immediately to calls for assistance from the 'control cars' accompanying Second Army's units, but during the initial crossings little was seen of the opposing fighters. As Second TAP's units sought to provide all possible air support, Flak was, as so often, the main danger to pilots. It was, not surprisingly perhaps, the Typhoon Wings of this Group which took the main brunt of the punishment on this opening day. 124 Wing's Wing Leader, 'Kit' North-Lewis, crash-landed after his aircraft was hit, but he was back next day. He had been captured and held overnight, but feeling that they had no hope of escape from the advancing Allies, his German captors then gave themselves up, ensuring his release (see pA60). In this Wing 137 Squadron also suffered one loss, when Fig Off R.A.Edgley baled out and was killed. 247 Squadron was one of the units endeavouring to keep down the heads of the German INSET AND BELOW Flak gunners as the Dakotas arrived overhead carrying the airborne forces. In doing so, however, Armed with a the unit lost two aircraft, both pilots surviving crash-landings, one near Kleve and the other near combination of HE/SAP Wesel. 121 and 143 Wings lost another four Typhoons, but only Fig Off W. Anderson of and anti-personnel 439 Squadron failed to survive. rockets, Typhoons of In 84 Group, 146 Wing's units carried out attacks on enemy headquarters at Zelham, Halle and 175 Squadron await the call to action at their Kreidenberg but also lost two Typhoons, one to engine failure. The other pilot, Flt Lt J.Harrison, first German base, RAAF, baled out among the gliders scattered in their landing'zone; being tall and fair, (and wearing 8.100, Goch, on the day a German belt!) he was at first taken to be a German. He did, however, eventually persuade his of the Rhine crossings. American hosts that he was an Allied officer, was given a rifle and joined in the battle. When British In the background of the armour broke through he hitched rides, arriving back with his unit on the 26th. According to the wider view, 8.24 146 Wing history, the USAAF used 1,112 para-dropping and glider-towing aircraft and lost 45 of Liberators can be seen them to Flak, whereas the RAF lost only six on their way to drop supplies to airborne out of 440. The relatively low RAF losses troops on the German were put down to the anti-Flak fighterside of the Rhine. bombers and the artillery barrage. Typhoon 'HH-H' JP614in The Tempest and Spitfire units were the foreground (BELDVV) heavily involved in escorting the troop would be badly damaged transports, but one 80 Squadron aircraft the next day and not was brought down south-east of Helmond repaired.

-...,.

CJ.)

U

Christopher 'Kit' North-Lewis

l..-

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«

DSO, DFC & Bar

hristopher 'Kit' North-Lewis was a regular Army officer who volunteered for flying duties and was transferred to Army-Cooperation Command. After flying Blenheims in 13 Squadron (and taking part in the first 1,000-bomber raid on Germany) he converted to tactical reconnaissance Mustang Is and was operational on this type from August 1942 to January 1944, being awarded the DFC. In March 1943, when Exercise 'Spartan' (see Vol. 1 p.13) took place, he was a flight commander in 26 Squadron and thus was present at what was effectively the birth of the 2nd TAP. In January 1944 231 Squadron, which NorthLewis had been due to take over, was disbanded and he volunteered to join the Typhoon force which was in the midst of expansion and reorganisation. Initially he was posted to 175 Squadron as a supernumary Flight Lieutenant, taking part in a number of dive-bombing attacks on 'Noball' sites, but at the end of February was posted to Mustang I, AL966 'H', was often flown by North-Lewis during his service with 26 Squadron. Refurbished by 511 FRU, it later flew with 430 squadron as T, and was destroyed on the ground at 182 Squadron as a flight commander. When Sqn Ldr B.78 Eindhoven during the Bodenplatte operation. 'Jimmy' Keep was shot down and injured on 23 May 1944, North-Lewis moved across the airfield (Hum) to take command of 181 Squadron. He led this unit through the "... I immediately set off for the Rhine to try and make the British invasion and Normandy campaign until Wg Cdr Erik· Haabjorn lines. Unfortunately, when I was over Wesel, my engine stopped and I completed his operational tour, on 9 August 1944, when North-Lewis had to crash-land on the first open space I could see. I made an almost was promoted to Wg Cdr Operations, 124 Wing. He had by this time perfect crash-landing and came to rest on Gravel Isle just to the northwest ofWesel. Climbing out of my aircraft I found I had landed within completed almost 100 operational sorties on Typhoons - a total that would normally signal the imminent end of a tour of operational duty a few hundred yards of a German Parachute Regiment manning - but he would continue on operations for a further eight months. trenches on the banks of the Rhine. A German paratrooper shouted After leading 124 Wing through from France to Belgium, something at me and without more ado I put my hands up." North-Lewis' Wing provided support to the Guards Armoured Division as it fought its way along the exposed road to Eindhoven. After an uncomfortable night when the Germans debated on their future actions (and North-Lewis' fate!) he was able the next Shortly afterwards he led the Wing into the nearby Dutch base which would be their winter home. He was awarded the Bronze morning to signal his plight, and possession of what now were his prisoners, to a spotter plane, using strips of torn towel to spell out Lion - the Dutch equivalent of the DSO - in recognition of his leadership. He continued to lead formations from each of the four his message. However, he had spotted a canoe in the German squadrons of his Wing, attacking tanks, guns, HQs, troop positions and decided to cross the Rhine to seek more immediate concentrations and every kind of enemy transport throughout the help. winter, often in difficult weather conditions. "I then set offacross the river, hoping the Germans would not shoot me Perhaps the most significant sortie was that on Boxing Day 1944 when he led seven 181 Squadron Typhoons down to Dinant from the back nor the British from the front. Nearing the British side I in the Ardennes. Guided in by smoke laid under the direction of could see troops in a firing position and shouted "Don't shoot I'm a one of his own pilots on the ground with the forward troops, he British Officer': The troops were a Highland Regiment whose main flew in at low level to locate and attack the enemy armour, just interest was in the prospect of loot! Had the Germans any watches I 500 yards ahead of the British tanks near Celles. He was then joined was asked!" by the rest of the formation which made repeated attacks; later inspection showed they had destroyed four tanks (and killed the Returning to Helmond he was greeted by AVM Harry Broadhurst commander of the leading tank) and four half-tracks. The German and promptly informed that he would not be flying on operations attack was thwarted and marked the furthest point of their again for some time and that he had been awarded the DSO. A armoured advance in the Ardennes. posting to command 83 GSU soon followed. By 24 March, the day of the Rhine crossings, North-Lewis had After the war North-Lewis stayed in the RAF, eventually completed some 175 operational sorties, but early on that day his commanding 7 Squadron when equipped with Valiant V-bombers, luck ran out when he was leading seven 137 Squadron Typhoons followed by RAF stations Akrotiri and Wyton. He retired as an Air on an attack on a strongpoint at Krudenberg, east ofWesel and was Commodore in 1971. hit by Flak.

C

I ABOVE: North-Lewis with 124 Wing's Army Liaison Officer. LEFT AND BELOW Wg Cdr 'Kit' North-Lewis with his last 'KNL', RB208, which he flew on operations from December 1944 until their joint arrival at Gravel Island during the crossing of the Rhine operations. RB208 was photographed there by US Army T4 Sergeant Eugene F Rushton, of the 345th Harborcraft Company, during operations following the Rhine crossing. Thanks to the diligence of his nephew, Greg Rushton, and the Internet, the image was recently united with the aircraft's 'owner'.

Hawker Typhoon IB, RB208 'KN-L', Wg Cdr C.D.North-Lewis, 124 Wing, B.86, Helmond

by Flak, the pilot carrying out a forced-landing. He was Sqn Ldr J.A.A.Gibson, DSO, DFC, a New Zealander who had been very successful during 1940 and who had just returned from a tour of operations with the RNZAF in the Solomon Islands. He had recently joined 80 Squadron as a supernumary to gain current experience. The broken shoulder he sustained led to his evacuation to the UK and put an end to any further operational flying before the war ended. No pilot losses were suffered by the Spitfire units on this date, but three Canadian and three Polish aircraft were damaged by Flak or were written off in accidents. From its new base in 84 Group, 274 Squadron sent out three Tempests to strafe Plantliinne airfield at 0600, but here Fit Lt R.C.Kennedy was shot down by Flak and killed when his aircraft crashed as he was trying to bale out. Fit Lt J.B.Stark also failed to return, later being reported to have lost his life. By night the Luftwaffe was in evidence again, and at 2035 Fit Lt L.J.Leppard/FIt Lt P.J.Houghton in a Mosquito XIII of 604 Squadron intercepted a Bf 109 of III.lNJG 11 which was claimed shot down in the Haltern area. There would be more successes in the early hours of the next day.

OJ U

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TIME SON

TYPE

07:00 e0710

Spitfire XVI Tempest V

416 274

IDENT

SM248 NV920 NV942 e0735 124Wg Typhoon IB RB208 08:55 308 Spitfire XVI TB733 10:15 247 Typhoon IB MP120 A el025 137 Typhoon IB RB376 C 10:50 184 Typhoon IB MN359 11:05 80 Tempest V NV966 11 :15 439 Typhoon IB MN936 el145 266 Typhoon 18 SW465 Z 12:00 182 Typhoon 18 RB202 K 12:50 302 Spitfire XVI TB751 0 e1250 193 Typhoon IB PD597 13:00 174 Typhoon 18 MN917 0 14:48 411 Spitfire IX NH438 e1500 245 Typhoon 18 SW456 17:15 302 Spitfire XVI TB275 U 17:35 403 Spitfire XVI SM300 17:50 247 Typhoon 18 RB378 J 18:10 443 Spitfire IX T8481 20:35 604 Mosquito XIII MM437 22:20

25 March 1945

69

Wellington XIII NC555

CLAIM

Bll09

d Pd

1--

CAUSE/LOCATION rol c/l B.90 sdbl PlantlUnne all sdbl PlantlUnne all hbl III Gravel Island, Wesel hbl Deventer c/l B.77 hbl III 6m NW Wesel hbl b/o S Brunen hbl III 3m SE Haldern hbl 1/1 6m SE Helmond hbl I/s Dingden ell III NE Udem hbl III 8.78 catB/E e/lire taxying catB/E hbl blo nr Wesel d/l Ajftrs rol III N Venlo catB/E efto c/l B.88 e/lire III N Kalkar hbl cat8 hbl? c/l NW Eindhoven catB/E hbl III 4m NW Kleve ell c/l in circuit B.90 Haltern area ftr recce (Deventer-Meppelj

439 Squadron receives some help from two 'volunteers' for an RCAF publicity photograph taken at Eindhoven in March 1945. The Typhoon, RB326 '5V-V', has been armed with two 520 Ib segmented antipersonnel bombs.

I

RIGHT: Barely airborne

but with main-wheels almost tucked away, a Typhoon IB of 247 Squadron, RB483 'ZY-W' sets out on an 'armed reece' from B86, Helmond, on 25 March 1945.

seven Bf 109s, one of which he at once shot down. FIg Off G.W.Marshall claimed a second, while Turney then joined with FIt Lt W.G.Mart and FIg Off R.H.Reid to claim a third, Fit Lt R.P.Dashwood adding a fourth. Spitfire XVIs of 127 Squadron were in the same area, Fit Lt A.T.Willis and PIt Off E.A.W.Smith claiming a Bf 109 between them at about 0640, south-west of Bocholt, while FIg Off W.R.Sheaf, one of the 80 Squadron pilots, claimed another Bf 109 north-east ofWesel. It would appear that 222 Squadron had clashed with aircraft of II.lJG 27, which reported the loss of four Bf 109Gs around this time, one of the pilots being killed and the other three reported missing; the losses included Obit Peter Hauer, Kapitan of 5. Staffel. Lt Erwin Baumgarten claimed two Tempests over the Bocholt-Dinslaken area between 0640-0643, his fourth and fifth LEFT: Sqn Ldr JH.'Jimmy' Bryant DFC, flanked by his ground crew, in front of his Typhoon IB, RB225 'ZY-V' On 25 March 1945, while attacking gun positions, Flak removed the port wingtip (outboard of the roundel) from this aircraft, and Bryant described the subsequent events as follows: "This immediately threw the aircraft on its back, at 200 ft heading straight for a forest It took all my strength using both hands on the stick to right the aircraft. I was travelling south at the time with an airspeed of about 350 mph. Unable at this speed to make a right turn onto a westerly course, I throttled back and was obliged to make a 270 degree climbing turn to port to head back towards the Rhine. All the guns in the area were now firing at me and I could feel the odd thud as bullets hit the fuselage behind me. I crossed the Rhine at about 2,000 feet and found that at 210 mph the port wing stalled in an incipient flick roll. At 220 mph a jagged piece of metal skin, on the edge of the missing part of the wing, curled back and threatened to foul the aileron, the far end of which was sticking out on its own Flying in this restricted speed range still required both hands to prevent the aircraft from rolling; landing was clearly out of the question. On approaching base (Helmond), and then at 5,000 feet, I advised Control of my intention to bale out south of the airfield. Heading for open country, I pulled out the R/T plug, undid safety straps, jettisoned the hood and held back pressure on the stick as I set elevator trim fully forward. On releasing the stick I flew out of the cockpit as the aircraft plunged down and to port, to bury itself in swamp"

Hawker Typhoon IB, SW422 'ZV-V', Sqn Ldr J.H.Bryant, 247 Squadron, 8.86, Helmond

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Advance of 2nd Tactical Air Force North-West Europe January-May 1945 Cuxhaven

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ABOVE: B89, Mill with Typhoons of 197 Squadron.

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ABOVE: B.l09, Ouackenbruck, with a victory flypast of 222 Squadron Tempests.

January-May 1945

B.77 B78

B.8o B.82 B85 B.86 B88 B.89 B90 B.91 B.lOo B101 B.lo3 Bl05 B.lo6 B.108

Gilze-Rijen Eindhoven Volkel Grave Schjindel Helmond Heesch Mill Petit Brogel Kluis Goch Nordhorn Plantlunne Drope Twente Rheine

B.l09 Bl10 B.l11 B.112 Bl13 B.114 B116 B.118 B.12o B150 B.151 B152 B.154 B.155 B.156 B.158

Ouackenbruck Achmer Ahlhorn Hopsten Varrelbusch Diepholz Wunstorf Celie Langenhagen Hustedt Buckeberg Fassberg Reinshalen Dedelsdorf Luneburg Lubeck

BELOW B.118, Celie, just after the ceasefire. with visiting Auster, Ansons, Dakotas and, on the left, Typhoons of 137 Squadron

victories, while FhjFw Hermann Muller claimed another at 0645 in the same area as his tenth success, In practice, no Tempests were actually lost or seriously damaged. (Baumgarten's claims were initially recorded as P-47s - a frequent misidentification at this time). Whether the 80 and 127 Squadron pilots had claimed aircraft from this German unit, or had encountered lone tactical reconnaissance machines is not certain, 80 Squadron's Tempests were off again at 1215 on an armed reconnaissance over the Bocholt-Borken area, while those of 222 Squadron commenced another sweep at 1250, this time over Quackenbriick-Miinster. Over Bocholt FIg OffW.H.Long of 80 Squadron was lost; his Tempest was seen to be hit by Flak and to crash in flames, 222 Squadron however, spotted 11 Fw 190Ds near Quackenbriick and at once attacked, Flt Lts G,W,Varley and G.F.Jongbloed, and FIg OffW.Donald each claiming one shot down, They had met I./JG 26 which had been ordered off to hunt Allied fighterbombers just after noon, the unit's 11 airborne Dora-9s being in the process of forming up north-east of Drope at 6,500 feet when the Tempests attacked, Two Dora-9s were actually lost in this quick clash, one pilot baling out, the other losing his life. Towards evening II. and IV./JG 26 commenced taking offfrom Bissel at 1740 for a 'Freie Jagd', putting 15 aircraft into the air. Over Bocholt the German pilots were 'jumped' by Allied fighters which they thought initially were Tempests, They had in fact been caught by Spitfire IXs of 412 Squadron, the pilots of which also made a misidentification of the Dora-9s, which they took to be Bf 109s! The Canadian pilots had spotted a reported 12-plus fighters five miles south of Winterswijk while patrolling between that town and Zutphen. The Germans reported that their opponents were initially below the level of the JG 26 aircraft, but climbed rapidly and engaged. Sqn Ldr M.D.Boyd claimed one which shed pieces and went down in flames. Flt Lt D.M.Pieri added a second which crashed and burst into flames, while FIg OffY-Smith, after initial difficulty in getting rid of his drop tank, claimed a third. Fw Gerhard Kroll, wingman to Oblt Willi Heilmann, who was leading, lost his leader and found himself up against three Allied fighters; he baled out, badly burned. Fw Gerhard MiillerBerneck crash-landed, wounded, and four other Focke-Wulfs were destroyed or damaged. During the fight Uffz Pfeiffer claimed a Spitfire shot down at 1823 south of Stadtlohn, while Lt Prager claimed a 'P-47' north-west of Bocholt (his 18th victory), No losses were suffered by 412 Squadron, however. Despite these successes, 25 March was a hard day for 122 Wing, although as so often, Flak was the culprit rather than the Luftwaffe, 3 Squadron lost two Tempests, one of these blowing up in the air from a direct hit, which killed FIg Off Basilios Vassiliades, DFC, DFM, who had just become a flight commander. Plt Off T.H.McCulloch went down near Bocholt to become a prisoner. 486 Squadron pilots had just shot down a German balloon when they spotted eight Fi 156s on a grass strip near Grave. As they went down to strafe, Wt OffW.A.Kalka's Tempest was hit and the ailerons were jammed, causing him to bale out. Unfortunately, he fell into the River Maas three miles north-west of Grave and was drowned, despite the heroic efforts of a young Dutch girl to save him. The damaged claims to four of the Storch seemed poor compensation for the loss of this long-serving pilot. At least six Typhoons were also lost, although in this case, while two of the pilots were captured (one later escaping), the other four all survived unharmed. Another hard loss however,

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RIGHT: Dutch civilians examine Wt Off A.M.Rollo's SO Squadron Tempest, JNS70 'W2-F', after he had run out of fuel and force-landed just three miles short of the airfield, on 25 March 1945.

Greek-born Vasilios Vassiliades flew Mustangs with 19 Squadron during 1944, unti I shot down by Flak on 11 August. He evaded capture and returned to 122 Wing in October with a DFM. He then converted to Tempests and joined 3 Squadron, where he was commissioned and awarded a DFC With five and two shared victories on Mustangs, followed by three on Tempests, he was shot down and killed by Flak on 25 March 1945.

was that of Sqn Ldr L.A.Moore, DFC, AFC, Commanding Officer of 402 Squadron, when his Spitfire XIV fell victim either to ground fire or ricochets while attacking a train in the HammMunster area. Leslie Moore had been victor over three German aircraft, and had shared in the destruction of three more. Nightfall once more brought out the Luftwaffe over the bridgehead area, giving 85 Group night fighters some very good opportunities. At 2050 FIg Off A.Recina/Flt Sgt R.A.W.Smith of 264 Squadron claimed a Ju 88 probably shot down near Leerdam, north of Nijmegen; they were credited with this as damaged. Twenty-three minutes later Flt Lt Ruffley/Flg Off Fazan of 219 Squadron claimed a Bf 110 shot down, adding a second of these at 2150. 264 Squadron's Sqn Ldr C.M.Ramsey, DFC, with Flt Lt D.J.Donnet, DFC, then claimed a Ju 88 north-east of Wesel at 2235, while ten minutes after this engagement, Flt Lt R.LE.Britten, DFC/Flt Lt L.E.Fownes, DFC of 409 Squadron claimed another such aircraft near Dortmund - the fourth successful claim of the night. TIME SUN

TYPE

02:35

410

Mosquito XXX MT485

03:10

410

Mosquito XXX NT320

e0640

127

Spitfire XVI

e0640 06:41 e0705

245 80 222

IDENT

07:30 e0730 09:50 10:40 11:10 11:10

414 402 247 80 403 3

11:20 e1230 13:00 e1300 13:35 e1350

274 182 421 80 247 222

e1430 15:40

41 486

16:00 e1655 e1810

486 332 412

e1845 nk nk 20:50

182 245 175 264

TB635 SM179 Typhoon IB EJ971 Tempest V EJ649 Y Tempest V NV939 H NV972 NV984 NV984 SN187 NV760 Spitfire IX MK563 Spitfire XIV MV258 Typhoon IB RB225 V Tempest V JN870 F Spitfire IX SM312 Tempest V EJ755 A EJ757 Tempest V EJ541 Typhoon IB RB289 Spitfire XVI SM239 Tempest V SN138 Typhoon IB RB344 B Tempest V NV972 NV757 NV756 MV264 Q Spitfire XIV Tempest V NV967 Z NV651 R Tempest V NV981 A Spitfire XVI RK884 J Spitfire IX PV202 NH471 'PV253' Typhoon IB MP172 Typhoon IB MN470 Typhoon IB JP614 H Mosquito XIII HK403

21:15

219

Mosquito XXX nk

21:50

219

Mosquito XXX nk

22:35

264

Mosquito XII I HK409

22:45

409

Mosquito XIII MM513 J

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION

S/L I.E.MacTavish F/O A.M.Grant F/L G.R.Leask F/L JWRoff F/L A.TWillis} P/O E.AWSmith} F/O GAClissold (P/E) F/O WR.Sheal F/L RP.Dashwood F/O G.WMarshall F/L H.E.Turney F/L H.E.Turney} F/L WG.Mart} F/O R.H.Reid} F/L R.J.Cutting S/L L.A.Moore (KI S/L J.H.Bryant W/O A.M.Rollo F/O FB.Giliis F/O B.MVassiliades (K) P/O T.H.McCulioch (P) F/O C.FPearce F/L H.G.Kinsey IPI F/L J.D.Cunningham II) F/O WH.Long (K) F/L J.D.Compton F/L G.FJongbloed F/L GWVarley F/O WDonald F/L D.J.Reid (W) F/O A.I.Ross F/L FP.Kendall F/O WA.Kalka (K) W/O FN.Leamon (K) S/L M.D.Boyd F/L D.M.Pieri F/O V.Smith F/L D.K.Lovell nk nk F/O A.Recina F/S RAWSmith F/L WL.Ruffley F/O N.G.Fazan F/L WL.Ruffley F/O N.G.Fazan S/L C.M.Ramsey F/L D.J.Donnet F/L RI.E.Britten F/L L.E.Fownes

Ju88

1--

A.0569/ Etten area

Blll0

1--

Greffelkamp area

Bll091 --

Bll091 Bll091 Bll091 Bll091 BI1091

SW Bocholt hbl a/MET b/o E Dingden NE Wesel {Beckum/ B.2252

------

{

3m E Beckum Beckum

Fw1901 -Fw1901 -Fw1901 --

u/c lault c/I B.90 psdbl a/train csd N Hamm hbl b/o B.86 rol c/I 3m E B.80 catB hbl c/I E Rees hbl. blew up Rees-Wesel hbl, 1/1 nr Bocholt u/c call B.77 catAc hbll/I nr Mechelen e/I c/IB.90 sdbl a/MET SE Bocholt hbl b/o nr B.86 2m NE Haselunne {SW lluackenbruck {

Ju88 - - 1

hbl catA lOG 3m NW Dorsten { believed to be Fi156 hbl b/o 3m NW Grave, landed in RWaal ftr lluackenbruck {5m S Winterswijk { { hbll/I 10m E B.86 damaged in action catB/E damaged in action catB/E nr Leerdam

BlllO 1 --

SW Munster

Bl110 1 --

EDulmen

Ju881 - - 25m

NE Wesel

Ju88 1 - -

N Dortmund

E/A E/A

--2 --2

Bll09 Bll09 Bll09

1-1-1--

26 March 1945 Flak again accounted for about eight aircraft on 26th, two of these Tempests and three Typhoons. ---------Both Tempest pilots were killed, one of them being 56 Squadron's successful FIg Off W,R,MacLaren - known as 'Little Mac' - whose aircraft was hit whilst he was in a strafing dive north-east of Dorsten. It went straight into the ground. The other, Plt Off A.H. 'Bill' Bailey of 486 Squadron, was badly injured in a heavy crash-landing in Allied territory and died on the way to hospital. Dutch-flown Spitfires of 322 Squadron undertook another strafing attack on Plantlunne airfield, where an Me 410 was claimed probably destroyed on the ground.

-0

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At 1440 nine of 33 Squadron's Tempests provided cover to US B-26 Marauders over Vlotho, on the US Ninth Army axis of the advance. South-east of Munster eight Fw 190Ds of 1. and II./JG 26 'bounced' these fighters and Wt Off C.A.Ligtenstein was shot down by Obit Wilhelm Hofmann of 5. Staffel (his 44th victory), baling out to become a prisoner. The RAF pilots turned on their attackers, Sqn Ldr A.W.Bower and Fit Sgt C.B.Nisbet claiming one shot down between them, while Fig Off R.H.Brown claimed a second shot down and a third damaged. They actually shot down all three, all aircraft of 1. Gruppe, two of the German pilots being killed and the third baling out, suffering from burns. However, Hofmann also failed to return and when Ofhr Erich Schneider returned claiming his first victory, he was arrested for shooting him down, although he was acquitted next day. It seems nonetheless that Schneider had indeed shot down Hofmann, whose body was not found until 2 April. He had baled out of his aircraft, but without his parachute opening. 616 Squadron's Meteor detachment now moved from Melsbroek to B.n, Gilze-Rijen, where they would soon be joined by the remainder of the unit, which was just completing its re-equipment with Derwent-engined Meteor Ills at Andrews Field. As evening approached 2nd TAF fighter-bombers had undertaken 671 sorties during the day, claiming 139 vehicles of various types, put out of action. The night fighters were again to enjoy success that night, beginning at 2230 when Fit Lt Ben Plumer/Fit Lt N.W.Bradford of 410 Squadron claimed a Bf 110 north ofWesel. Half an hour later Fit Lt John Hall/Pit OffT.F.Taylor of 488 Squadron claimed a Ju 88 north-west of Bocholt. Debris from their victim struck their Mosquito XXX and they returned to B.n on one engine. Fig Off Reed/Fig Off Bricker of 219 Squadron claimed another Ju 88 north of the bridgehead.

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_2_7_M_a_r_c_h_I_9_4_5

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e0030

418

Mosquito VI

RS531

07:08 07:15 08:30 e0925 el000 12:15 e1310 13:20 e1425 e1520

411 175 41 322 56 414 412 308 2 33

Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XVI Tempest V Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Tempest V

MJ463 RB440 MV255 nk NV647 MK924 MJ660 TB583 RN125 EJ886 SN163 NV682 NV720 RR248 RR213

F/O A.NicollWI F/O J.H.Wicken (WI F/O RC.McCracken (S) W/O PWyper 2LT C.S.Bodker III nk F/L F/L J.J.Payton F/L WSawers F/L J.G.BurchiIIIE) Sgt JWitkowski F/L A.Krakowski S/L A.WBower} F/S C.P.Nisbet} F/O R.H.Brown W/O C.A.Ligtenstein (P) F/O G.M.James SgtTM.Biallosterski III

R

I

V N

15:25 e1600 18:15

33 127 322

Tempest V Spifire XVI Spitfire XVI

e1830 e1840 e1900

486 56 137

Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB

22:30

410

NV932 U EJ708 W JP736 RB454 Mosquito XXX NT377

23:00

488

Mosquito XXX NT370

23:25

219

Mosquito XXX nk

P/O A.H.Bailey IKI F/L WRMacLaren (KI P/O J'wC.Collins F/S J.A.Pennant F/L B.E.Plumer F/L NW.Bradford F/L J.A.S.Hall P/O T.F.Taylor F/O G.F.Reed F/O RBricker

CLAIM

dpd CAUSE/LOCATION hbf (Zwolle-OsnabrOckl catAc/E

Fw1901 --

hbf a/train b/o E/T W Hamm hbf b/o AfT IIsselburgl elf c/I B.80 OG; PlantlOnne a/f hbf a/train f/I A/T (Rheine-Hamml catB elf b/o AfT 3m NE Geldern hbf b/o 6m NW Dorsten csd landing B.77 catAc/B/E hbf? (Zelham) elf b/o A/T NW Goch }10m SE MOnster

Fw1901 -1

} }

Me410

-l-

sdb Fw 190 b/o S MOnster hbf a/train (Nord horn) catB/E elf f/I N Kleve dbf

Bf1101 --

hbf csd 3m S Xanten sdbf W Haltern hbf f/I nr Brunen hbf b/o AfT IBrunenl SWWalsum

Ju881 - -

20m N Emmerich; hbd catB

Ju881 - -

Zwolle

Five minutes after midnight, at 0005 on 27th, Fit Lt K.W.Stewart/Flg Off H.E.Brumby, another 488 Squadron crew, claimed a Bf 110 north of Bocholt, and 25 minutes later added an He III hit over Haltern; the latter was claimed as a probable but awarded as a damaged. At 0210 a 604 Squadron crew, Fig Off T.R.Wood/Flg Off R.Leafe, claimed another Ju 88 near Duislaken, bringing this night's total to five confirmed. There were no aerial engagements during the day, but with nightfall on 27th the night fighters were again active. Fig Offs Reed and Bricker of 219 Squadron were able to claim an He In south of Nijmegen at 2220, while Fig Off M.G.Kent and his radar operator from 409 Squadron, shot down two V-Is.

Cautionary signs greeted 2nd TAF convoys as they moved into Germany.

TIME SON

TYPE

00:05

488

Mosquito XXX NT263

IDENT

00:30

488

Mosquito XXX NT263

02:10

604

Mosquito XIII MM497

22:20

219

Mosquito XXX nk

e2220

605

Mosquito VI

HR206 M

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

F/L K.W.Stewart F/O H.E.Brumby F/L K.W.Stewart FlO H.E.Brumby FlO lRWood FlO R.Leafe FlO G.F.Reed FlO R.Bricker F/O R.Wilsom IKI F/O F.Thompson IK)

BI1101 - -

8m N Bocholt

He111--1

Haltern

Ju881 - -

4m SE Wesel

Hel771 --

5m S Nijmegan

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION

ftr ICoesfeld/Dulmenl

LEFr Daylight on the morning of 27 March 1945 revealed the outcome of Fit Lt J.Hall's single-engined, wheelsup landing made shortly before midnight. Mosquito XXX NT370 of 488 Squadron had caught fire when the remaining engine was shut down.

During a late morning armed reconnaissance by Tempests of 56 Squadron, Ht Lt Pierre 28 March 1945 -------Clostermann claimed the destruction of a Fi 156 Storch on the ground, but Sgt S.A.Sheppard failed to return from the Hannover-Osnabnlck area. He was the victim ofIV.lJG 26,12 Fw 190Ds of this Gruppe having been led off by Oblt Hans Dortenmann at 1105. The pilots of these aircraft were able to 'bounce' the 56 Squadron formation south-west of Munster at 1134, where Dortenmann claimed one Tempest shot down, a similar claim by Uffz Kurt Hein at the same time and location not being filed. It is assumed that this was because it was realized that he had fired at the same aircraft as that which his formation leader had attacked. In the early afternoon Flt Lt T.E.Lawrence of 41 Squadron claimed damage to a single Fw 190 west of Rheine, but during the mid-afternoon period a number of engagements occurred. At 1550 Flt Lt J.W.E.Harten of 416 Squadron claimed two Fw 190s shot down when these were encountered north-east of Emmerich. At precisely the same time Tempests of 80 Squadron became engaged with Bf 109s near Osnabruck. Six of the unit's aircraft were covering PR Spitfires over the Lingen-Rhine-Dummer See area when ten of the Messerschmitts suddenly 'popped out' of a bank of cloud, initial claims for three damaged being raised later to two probables and one damaged. Five minutes later a pilot of 443 Squadron claimed damage to another Bf 109 south of Borken, while shortly after this Flt Lt John MacKay of 401 Squadron met six Messerschmitts and claimed two shot down, one in the Dulmen-Coesfeld area, and one near Munster. The pilots of these three latter units all seem to have become engaged with aircraft of II./JG 27, which lost three Bf 109s in combat on this date. At 1545 Fw Stefan Kanzler of 5. Staffel claimed a Typhoon shot down to the south of Coesfeld - possibly a claim made whilst the unit

R,GHT: Tempest V NV937 'SA-C' taxies out on a fine late March day at Volkel; it served just 15 days with the unit before being damaged on 28 March, repaired and re-issued to 3 Squadron as 'JF-J'.

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was engaged with 80 Squadron. Much earlier in the day at 1052, another claim for a Typhoon had been made by 6. Staffel's Fw Hans Stenglein, but no aircraft of this type appears to have been lost or damaged by hostile aircraft on this date. A little later than these events, eight Spitfire XIVs of 130 Squadron commenced an armed reconnaissance to Gutersloh, meeting 15 Fw 190Ds over Warendorf at 1645. These were attacked, apparently with great enthusiasm, seven being claimed shot down, one probably so, and two damaged. Flt Us Harry Walmsley and P.E.Sibeth, Flt Sgts P.H.T.Clay and B.W.Woodman, Wt Off J.A.Bolton and Sgt G.D.Warren claimed one each, FIg Off D.A.Stott and Wt Off R.E.Coverdale sharing the seventh claim. The Spitfires had been engaged with aircraft of IV./JG 26, but on this occasion there must have been a fair degree of double claiming as the British pilots rushed in to attack, for the German unit's losses were restricted to just three aircraft, all the pilots being killed. Despite the intensity of operations on the ground, the toll to Flak had been rather less severe on this date. Two more Tempests, one each from 3 and 274 Squadrons, had gone down, but both pilots survived safely, while one Spitfire of 403 Squadron and a Typhoon of 182 Squadron were also lost. FIg Off McKenzie Reeves, one of the more successful RCAF pilots, was killed in the Spitfire.

An Unwelcome Change of Emphasis for 21st Army Group It was at this point that an event occurred which changed the whole course of the remaining weeks of the war, and potentially had a significant effect upon events and borders in Europe thereafter. Eisenhower had suddenly changed his aims and plans for the Allied armies, and that evening Montgomery received a letter which he found of shattering impact, as indeed did Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister. Berlin was no longer the primary objective; indeed, its capture was to be left entirely to the Russians. Instead of advancing on the right of 21st Army Group to take Magdeburg, US Ninth Army was to revert to US 12th Army Group command as soon as the Kassel-Paderborn area had been reached, and was then to swing right to encircle the northern side of the Ruhr, and to meet Third Army coming up from the south. Then the three northern US Armies, First, Ninth and Fifteenth, were to occupy and mop-up the Ruhr. The new inter-Army group boundary was to be along the right flank of British Second Army, 12th Army Group taking over the Munster-Hannover area. Suddenly, instead of spearheading the main Allied thrust from the west, 21st Army Group was to do little more than undertake a flanking operation in support of 12th Army Group for the rest of the war. The reason for this sudden change in plans and priorities has never been adequately explained. It is possible that Stalin had secretly put pressure on Roosevelt and Churchill to allow the Russians full sway with Berlin as a 'reward' for the massive sufferings of that nation, and its major role in the land war. However, many historians are now of the opinion that it had more to do with US Army politics and ambitions. Omar Bradley had taken it as a considerable rebuff to his reputation when Montgomery had been given direct command of much of 12th Army Group during the Ardennes fiasco. Further, the US Army now made up the greater preponderance of the ground forces in Western Europe. To allow the British Field Marshal and his 21st Army Group to play so major a part in the conclusion of the war had become increasingly unacceptable to many US generals, who saw this as a slight upon the honour and prestige of their nation's forces. Montgomery had done little to endear himself to many of his ally's commanders by his arrogant manner and outspoken comments and criticisms, and his enemies now extended well beyond the aggressive and opinionated George Patton. Be that as it may, deprived of the US Ninth Army and its supporting XXIX Tactical Air Command of Ninth Air Force, both of which had been operating so closely and for so long alongside Second Army and 2nd TAF, virtually half his available strength for the northern advance would disappear. There was little that Second Army could do on its own but press on with its northern advance. This would continue to progress well during April, and before the month was out the Elbe would be crossed at Lauenberg. Two days earlier on 27 April the great port of Bremen had been captured, while on 3 May Hamburg, at the mouth of the Elbe, had also surrendered, and Lubeck - the most easterly point of the advance, was reached by 2 May. Despite these successes however, it certainly appears that Montgomery's ambitions had been compromised. TIME

SON

TYPE

IOENT

PILOT/CREW

e1025 11:00 el130 12:20 12:40 e1320 13:45

56 182 3 403 245 41 56 180

Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Tempest V Mitchell III

NV973 B SW418 SN143 SM302 JR246 MV260 P NV979 0 KJ961

Sgt SASheppard (KI W/O A.H.Lethaby P/O O.RWorley FlO M.Reeves (K) WID w.George III F/L T.E.Lawrence F/L P.H.Clostermann FlO AWSmith 1 (WI

CLAIM

Fw190 Fi156

dpd

--1 1--

CAUSE/LOCATION sdb Fw190 SW Munster hbf fli B.78 catB/E hbf (Embeck-Mindenl catB/E sdbf a/MET W Dulmen rof f/l SE Kempen W Rheinel E Osnabruck OG; NW Greven hbf m/y catA

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1540

320

Mitchell III

HD392

A.C.Heers E.MVerhulsel A.Slater Sgt H.Swinnerton (K) F/L J.WE.Harten F/L A.Seager FlO o.L.Boyd (S) FlO WB.oalton FlO AWSmith FlO SAStokl (W) F/S J.E.Fairhurst F/S P.L.Morrison Plo GWoopson Plo H.FRoss F/L J.MacKay F/L HWalmsley F/L P.E.Sibeth Sgt G.oWarren F/S P.H.T.Clay F/S BWWoodman WID J.A. Boulton FlO oAStott} WIO R.E.Coverdale}

15:50 15:50 e1550 16:00 e1605

416 80 274 443 180

Spitfire XVI Tempest V Tempest V Spitfire XVI Mitchell III

SM397 V SN130 EJ887 SM189 KJ610

16:10

80

Tempest V

EJ663 EJ714 MJ854 A nk nk nk nk nk nk nk nk

e1615 16:45

401 130

Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION hbl Engekekirchen m/y catA

C ::::J Fw190 Bl109

2- -1-

Bll09

--1

Bl109 Bl109 Bl109 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

-1--1

2 -1-1-1-1-1 1-1 111--

NE Emmerich Coesleld area hbl b/o EfT (Munsterl S Borken hbl Engelskirchen m/y catA

{osnabruck {

oulmen-Coesleld, Munster area {S Warendorl { { { { {

{

The Flak defences were back on deadly form on 30th, five Typhoons, two Spitfire IXs and a Tempest 30 March 1945 ---------being shot down with the loss of four pilots killed, one wounded and two taken prisoner. The dangers of operational flying caused the fate of three more pilots and their aircraft. Fit Lt C.A.B.Slack, one of 175 Squadron's flight commanders, crashed to his death while in the midst of undertaking a rocket attack on a target north-west of Telgte, and Wt Off F.Roberts of 341 Squadron was obliged to crash-land when his Spitfire XVI was caught in the explosion caused by the bombs released by the aircraft in front of him when dive-bombing. Injured in the landing, he was later liberated by advancing Canadian troops. On another sortie Fit Lt T.L.Trevorrow of 130 Squadron hit a tree, having to bale out, although he was able to return safely. Sixteen Fw 190Ds of 1. and IV.I]G 26 had undertaken a strafing mission during the later afternoon/early evening period, but as they completed this, Fit Lt H.A.Cowan of 402 Squadron in a Spitfire XIV managed to 'bounce' the formation, and shot down Fw Hans Eisenberg. The latter baled out, but struck the tail of his Dora-9 and was killed. The day also saw further moves, as 143 Wing became the first RCAF Wing on German soil when its units joined 121 Wing at B.lOO, Goch. 127 Wing meanwhile went to B.78, Eindhoven. At 2024, after darkness had fallen, Wg Cdr E.S.Smith of 264 Squadron with Fit Lt P.C.O'NeilDunne manning the radar, claimed an Fw 190 shot down 12 miles north-west of Dulmen. e1150

412

Spitfire IX

MJ275 PT357 RM713 SW495 TB750 MM979 0 RB505 0 NV766 RK891 T RB435 RM727 P EK382 T JP752

13:00 e1410 e1415 e1425 e1500 e1510 e1510 15:15 e1600 e1640 e1810 e1820 20:24

130 174 341 247 182 80 322 439 402 175 182 127 264

Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Mosquito XIII HK532

F/L WJ.Anderson (KI F/L WR.James (PI F/L T.L Trevorrow PIO FC.Johnson (P) WID F.Roberts (lIP) Sgt B.V.Clinton IKI FlO P.J.Spellman (WI FlO N.J.Rankin (K) WIO H.C.Cramm (K) F/L WG.Davies IK) F/L H.Cowan F/L CAB.Slack (K) F/S L.S.Phillips Squadron W/C E.S.Smith F/L P.C.O·Neil-Dunne

~

U

Fw190

1--

Ju88 Fw190

--1 1--

sdbf S Zelhem hbl Zelhem b/o nr Rees hit trees nr Munster b/o AfT hbl a/MET III nr Gronau dbb a/railway S Rijssen c/l EfT hbl lis Zutphen hbl III NW Wettringen sdbl a/MET EVechta sdbl a/HQ nr Zutphen sdbl 4m S Lengerich SW Oldenburg csd in rpa NW Telgte hbl III SE oingden oG; Rheine all 12m NW oulmen

From their new base at Eindhoven the squadrons of 127 Wing were very active during the last 31 March 1945 ---------day of the month. On an early operation, 12 Spitfires of 421 Squadron patrolled over the RheineEnschede area, FIg Off O.H.Levere claiming an Fw 190 shot down east of Nordhorn airfield. At around the same time Spitfire XIVs of 402 Squadron from 126 Wing were undertaking the first of four armed reconnaissances over the front, and during this sortie FIg Off R.W.Lawson dived on two Fw 190s south of Oldenburg, claiming both shot down. Fit Lt Bruce Innes then spotted another attempting to get away in cloud, and claimed this shot down also. I./JG 26 had been out on an early strafing attack, but fell foul of Allied AA, one Dora-9 being shot down and one damaged; whilst returning to base, one more was shot down in error by German Flak. II. Gruppe at Bissel had its aircraft fitted with bomb racks for the first time on this morning, eight aircraft taking off to bomb the Ludinghausen-Olfen road. While looking for their target in ground haze, they were attacked by Spitfires, jettisoning their bombs in the Dummer See

0... CD

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CJ.)

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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Scenes of 127 Wing at B90, Petit Brogel, photographed in late March or early April 1945. (TOP! 443 Squadron's dispersal with Spitfire XVls SM329 '21-1' and SM512 '21-W' 'Klondike'(ABOVE AND RIGHn Sqn Ldr Art Sager beats up Flying Control for the benefit of an official photographer Sager was in the clipped wing TB476 '21-0' 'Ladykiller' on the right; Fl Lt 'Chuck' Charlesworth in the standardwinged '21-N' on the left (OPPOSITE BOTTOM LEFl) Charlesworth's '21-N' is also seen in the dispersal. (OPPOSITE TOp) 'ON-B of 416 squadron waits for a departing Spitfire before entering the runway in front of Flying Control's mobile control room. On the far side of the runway are dispersals protected by bulldozed blast walls. (OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHn '21-S' taxies in with empty bomb racks - like many of 443 Squadron's aircraft it has been named - in this case 'Ginger'

I

An 88 Squadron crew leaves its Boston IV, BZ405, at B.50, Vitry-en-Artois, after the unit's last operation on 31 March 1945; the unit was formally disbanded on 6 April 1945. This was also the last 2nd TAF Boston operation as the other Boston unit, 342 Squadron, was in the process of reequipping with Mitchells.

CD Co.) l0.-

a

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and trying to escape. However, two 5. Staffel pilots were shot down and killed. It would appear that it was 402 Squadron's pilots who had attacked these aircraft; possibly one of those which Lawson had claimed actually survived, and was finished off by Innes. 127 Wing's operations continued, and during the day 403 Squadron was able to achieve six 'rail cuts', damaging ten wagons and some passenger coaches. The cost was Fh Lt E.G.Aitchison, who was seen to bale out, but who did not survive. On this unit's third operation of the day, Fh Lt T.S.Todd was also shot down by Flak, baling out over Keppel to become a PoW. 416 Squadron meanwhile, was attacked by a lone USAAF P-51, which shot down two Spitfires, Flg Offs S.A.R.Round and V.W.Mullens both baling out, although Round was wounded. Both were later learned to be safe in England, having been picked up by Allied ground troops. Incensed by the hostile actions of this supposedly 'friendly' pilot, and in accordance with 2nd TAF orders which allowed such a response in these circumstances, Fh Lt F.G.Picard attacked the Mustang and reported strikes on the starboard wing before it escaped into cloud. In the mid-afternoon period two Typhoons of 181 Squadron were brought down by Flak in the Enschede area, one pilot being killed, while a 3 Squadron Tempest was reported to have been shot down by fighters north-east of Damme. During an early evening 'armed reece' of the Hanover-Bremen area Tempests of 80 Squadron intercepted a Ju 188 'on the deck' to the northeast of Osnabruck. The four pilots of Pink section attacked in turn and the 188 (probably a night-fighter) was seen to crash in flames to the north-west of the Dummer See. The day had also seen the arrival of the rest of 616 Squadron's Meteor Ills, flying into B.77 from Andrews Field; these were the latest version and would see action in the coming weeks. TIME

SON

TYPE

06:35 06:40 e0700 e0700 e0825 10:45 el130

403 421 402 402 175 443 416

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI

12:05 e1550 15:30 16:00 e1635 18:00

403 181 340 181 3 80

e1800 18:55 e2240

247 412 418

IOENT

TB737 SM476 RM804 MV302 RB287 SM314 SM386 SM232 Spitfire XVI TB831 Typhoon IB MN875 Spitfire XVI TB597 Typhoon IB MN775 Tempest V NV979 Tempest V EJ549 NV982 SN139 NV945 Typhoon IB JP443 Spitfire IX MJ636 Mosquito VI PZ394

PILOT/CREW J E A

B B N S N

C

F/L E.G.Aitchison (Kj FlO O.H.Levere FlO R.W.Lawson F/L B.E.lnnes Sgt A.G.Mitchell (K) FlO GAMcOonald (E) FlO VW Mullens (S) FIS S.A.R.Round (W) F/L T.S.Todd IP) FIS D.D.J.Carter IK) Lt F.C.Fuchs (PI WID S.Ainsley Sgt H.R.Butt (K) FlO K.Burton ) FlO GABush ) F/L R.C.Cooper) PIO GW.Dopson I F/L D.H.Rutter FlO E.D.Kelly F/L G.K.Graham (K) FlO R.S.Styles (K)

CLAIM

dpd

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-2-1 ..

Ju188

1 ..

CAUSE/LOCATION hbl a/train rol blo nr Oberhausen 12m E Nordhorn all 8m W Oldenburg 8m W Oldenburg lis in cloud csd S Wuppertal cnk ell? blo 8m NE Deventer sdb P.51 blo nr Rheine db P.51 nr Rheine blo AfT hbl blo 2m NW Doetinchem sdbl4m SSW Enschede sdbl E Deventer hbl III S Enschede sdbea NE Damme 5m W Dummer See

hbl III AfT (Holten-Loch em) ell III nr Volkel catE/B ftr (Zwolle-OsnabrOck)

What was to become one of the busiest months of the war for 2nd TAF began quietly enough, 1 April 1945 -----"---with a further succession of moves, but also with more casualties to Flak. The moves, of course, were occasioned by the increasingly rapid advances on the ground by what was left of 21st Army Group, as its units pushed ever-more swiftly across northern Germany. But All Fools' Day was to prove particularly costly to the Flak. 84 Group's Spitfire units were the worst sufferers on this occasion, and particularly the squadrons of 132 Wing. No fewer than 13 Merlin-engined Spitfires went down, eight of them from this single unit, in which 322 Squadron alone suffered three losses and one damaged. Three of the Dutch pilots managed to return however, two from behind the enemy lines; Plt Off M.J.Janssen achieved this feat despite burns suffered during his crash-landing. 145 Wing also paid a high price, five of its French pilots being shot down. Half of the personnel from these various squadrons were killed, two wounded and two captured. The root cause of these losses seems to have been the poor weather conditions, which forced the fighter-bombers down to lower and more vulnerable speeds and altitudes. Amongst the Typhoons, the balance between the Groups was nearly equal, with 84 Group units losing four aircraft and 83 Group six. Three pilots were killed, three captured, and two came down in enemy lines, but managed to evade capture. Two Spitfire XIVs were also lost, one an aircraft of 130 Squadron, and one an FR version from 2 Squadron - one aircraft from each Group. In 2 Group, 88 Squadron was disbanded; this was effectively the last Boston unit in 2nd TAF, as the Free-French 342 Squadron would shortly re-equip with Mitchell aircraft. CLAIM

dpd

I

CAUSE/LOCATION

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1000 e1010 e1125 11:45 e1150 e1200 12:15 12:15 e1215 e1220 e1230 e1240 e1240 e1245

137 137 341 317 322 341 322 340 322 322 174 183 266 247

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

12:55 e1255 e1300 e1300 e1330 e1330 e1330

341 193 66 183 66 183 181

Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

EK128 RB193 U TB497 MJ998 V RK897 L TB343 RK883 B TB335 L TB907 E RR249 Y RB396 W SW476 PD473 E SW425 SW408 TB864 RB373 TB714 MN419 G TB884 DN248 K MN819

Sgt P.A.Langley Sgt F.A.Edwards (K) Lt B.de Larminat (PI FlO T.Soeha PID M.J.Janssen IW/EI Sgt GWolloshin (KI FlO L.WM.Hendriks IWI Sgt G.Graillot IWI FlO J.C.van Roosendaal (P/EI FlO A.A.Homburg (K) F/L C.WHouse WID S.B.Lang (PI FlO E.H.Donne (KI FlO T.R.Jaekson IP) PID EW.P.Thomas (E) Sgt G.Crintinaeee FlO A.C.Smith (P) PID R.J.Edwards (WI FIS TPWard WID J.Brydson IKI WID D.P.Drummond (KI FIS H.WM.Desmond (E)

hbll/I NW Rheine sdbl E MOnster sdbl a/MET Coevarden esd landing B.77 eatB/E hbl III EfT (Zutphen) sdbl NW Almelo hbf (Zutphen) eatAe sdbf ell in minefield nr Groesbeek III EfT enk (Zutphen) sdbf (Zutphen) I/h in MOnster area hbf f/l NE Denekamp hbf lis E Zutphen sdbf Lonneker hbf III nr Meppen hbf b/o 4m NW Ensberen hbl nr Zutphen ell B.78 eatAe/E sdbf a/MET NE Almelo hbf ell W Rijsen damaged in action eatB/E hbf esd EArnhem sdbf Hardenburg hbf? elf f/I ENordhorn

13:50 e1350

340 127

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI

e1410 e1510 e1540

341 2 130

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

TB496 T SM246 SM273 SM422 RM871 RN196

Lt A.P.E.Cavet (K) Sgt A.G.Baeeke (K) WID S.Jones (K) SILt L.Foissae (K) F/L C.J.Blundell·Hill IKI WID A.D.Milier (E)

sdbf a/train nr Deventer {sdbf a/hdt nr Holten { hbf 10m EZutphen Irt et fire esd ftr PR (Barnevelo) hbf or elf fli nr Groenlo

2 April 1945 Losses were much reduced on 2nd, although 80 Squadron suffered the loss of two of its Tempests -------"'----and their pilots, both believed to have been the victims of Flak. During an evening sortie, Flt Lt Clostermann of 56 Squadron reported spotting two Fw 190s taking off from Vechta airfield at Ahlhorn, claiming one of these shot down; he went on to claim damage to a pair of Ju 88s on the ground here. 16:00 e1755 18:40 e1855

127 332 439 80

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Tempest V

19:10

56

Tempest V

SM280 PT723 E MN581 NV982 SN139 N NV968 G

WID R.J.Polioek 2/Lt HW.Rohde lSI FlO D.G.Cleghorn (PI FlO R.J.H.Holiand (K) PID H.A.Horsey (P/KI F/L P.H.Clostermann

Fw190 Ju88

1---2

elf u/s r/w B.81 eatB/E hbf a/MET f/l (Appeldoorn·Nordhorn) hbf? f/l 9m N Nordhorn hbl ftr Rheine-Hanover hbf? elf III EFriesoythe nr Veehta a/f DG Veehta a/f

By 3rd 21st Army Group's advance had reached Lingen in the north and Osnabriick in the south. In 143 Wing, 438 Squadron returned from 14 APC to the Wing's new base at B.lOO, while 439 Squadron now departed for Warmwell. 122 Wing's 3 Squadron had left for this airfield at the start of the month, while with 145 Wing, 345 Squadron also returned from its instructional/training session in England.

3_A-"'p~r_il_19_4_5_

I

The day was marked by the loss of three Tempests due to engine failures, although fortunately all the pilots survived. However, 332 Squadron again suffered grievous loss when the Commanding Officer, Maj Kaare Bolstad, and the experienced 2/Lt B.Storaas both failed to return from a strafing sortie over the Deventer-Meppel area.

ill U

~

0

u... ~

TIME

SON

e1430

56

u

e1440

332

+-'

el800 18:15 e2300

174 274 613


u

~ -0 C 4 April 1945

N

---"--------

TYPE Tempest V

IDENT

EJ526 NV728 PT834 Spitfire IX PT956 Typhoon IB RB487 Tempest V NV990 Mosquito VI HJ771

N X T R

PILOT/CREW WID WM.O.Tuck (PIE) Sgt P.C.Brown (IfP) Maj K.O.H.Bolstad (K) 2/Lt B.Storaas (K) Lt L.F.Higgins (K) F/L J. CWa rd F/L J.A.Lukey (KI P/O V.J.Koen (S)

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION hbsal? csd S Oiepholz hbsal? III EFriesoythe {ftr (Emden) { csd in bad wx 6m W Rheine ell III 2m SW Hengelo catB/E ftr (Hannover-Meppen)

The Luftwaffe again appeared on 4th, when 16 Dora-9s from I./JG 26 took off on a fighterbomber hunt. Seven were obliged to return early, but the other nine spotted the newly-returned 438 Squadron undertaking a late evening armed reconnaissance in the Diepholz area, and 'bounced' the unit, Lts Soffing and Ramthun shooting down the two top cover Typhoons in which Flt Lt E.J.McAlpine and Wt Off W.J.Kinsella were killed; a third Typhoon was claimed damaged by Uffz Frob, the German pilots then departing without loss. The Canadians thought that their attackers had been Bf 109s. Flak also accounted for at least two Tempests, and probably a third, the latter an aircraft of 222 Squadron last seen over Oldenburg. One more crashed while attacking a train near Bremen; FIg Off P.A.Halliwell was killed when he failed to pull out of his dive and flew right into the locomotive, knocking it off the rails. Two Typhoons and a 350 Squadron Spitfire XIV were also lost. 414 Squadron noted that on this date it received the first example of a Spitfire FR XIV with a 'teardrop' cockpit hood, several more arriving next day. e0955 e1345 e1415 e1650 e1700 e1730 e1740 e1805 e1945

222 175 274 137 350 56 181 80 438

Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V Typhoon IB

NV698 MN773 C NV660 MN863 S RB183 Z EJ546 B MM990 EJ649 Y MP181 F RB217 J

FlO WOonald (K) WID A.G.T.Muttock (KI FlO P.A.Halliwell (KI FlO J.R.Nixon F/L'R.C.Hoornaert (S) WID R.R.Hales (KI F/S J.O.Jones (K) FlO K.Burton WID WJ.Kinselia (K) F/L E.J.McAlpine (K)

I/s Oldenburg hbl b/o too low SW Varenrode csd a/train (Bremenl hbl til 2m N Kleve hbll/I NE Lingen hbf? I/s S Bremen csd NE Ibbenburen cnk hbll/I SW Bramsche catB {sdb Fw190s W Oiepholz {

Fig Off ROASmith had triple misfortune on 5 April 1945 when his Spitfire XIV, RM759 'EB-S', ran out of fuel on approach to land at Eindhoven - despite the gauge indicating 40 gallons left I Baulked as he tried to Iine up with the runway, he was obliged to make a wheels-up landing that finished in one of the many bomb craters which peppered the airfield.

latter down north-east of Meppen, Cresswell-Taylor becoming a PoW, Two of the other Spitfire pilots, Flg Off R.Muls and Flt Sgt S.H.Neulinger, then shot down Rohrmann's aircraft, and he baled out, suffering injuries. Behind II. Gruppe came five IV. Gruppe aircraft, led by Lt Prager, but these were attacked in the Lingen-Rheine area by six of 402 Squadron's aircraft, FIt Lt W.F.Peck and Flg Off A.G.Ratcliffe shooting down Vffz Kurt Soder and Ofw Gunter Shitkowsky, both of whom were killed. The Canadian pilots identified their opponents as 20 Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmitts, further claims being made for one probable and four damaged, two of the latter identified by Peck as Bf 109s. Lt Prager and Fw Sinz each claimed one Spitfire shot down, but no loss or damage was actually suffered by the RCAF unit. Six Tempests were launched by 56 Squadron at 1115 to the OsnabrQck-Dummer See area. Here FIt Lt Clostermann spotted seven Fw 190Ds among heavy cloud and gave chase, the rest of the formation losing him in the clouds; he pursued the Focke-Wulfs for seven minutes before achieving a firing position, claiming to have inflicted damage on two of the Doras before he was forced to break off and retreat into the cloud. Flak probably cost five aircraft, three of them Typhoons, with two of the pilots killed and one captured. Amongst other losses on this date was an unusual one - one of 276 Squadron's air-sea rescue Spitfires. While orbiting two dinghies which were roped together and which contained five survivors from a Fortress crew, FIg Off N.MacDonald's elderly Spitfire VB (which had seen earlier service with four fighter squadrons) was seen to emit black smoke and dive into the sea. No trace of pilot or aircraft was found.

Following most distinguished service in the Western Desert, Tunisia and Italy, Wg Cdr J.F.Edwards, DFC & Bar, DFM, arrived in Western Europe late in the war, becoming Wg Cdr Ops of 127 Wing on 6 April 1945, replacing Wg Cdr J.E.Johnson. The war ended before he had much chance of adding to his earlier successes, however. He is seen here with his Spitfire XVI, T0147 'JF-E'.

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

e0735 08:00 08:20 08:45 09:40 10:55

181 130 247 74 41 350

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

10:55 e1210 12:15 e1220

350 247 56 402

Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Tempest V Spitfire XIV

SW552 SM818 SW526 TB593 RM759 RB189 RB181 RB185 SW445 EJ536 RNl19 MV302 MV252 RM843

14:15 16:15

80 276

Tempest V Spilire V

EJ643 BM414

S G H L W J A 0 C

PILOT/CREW F/L R.F.Galbraith (K) FlO H.C.Finbow (W) F/L O.H.Rutter (KI F/S R.F.Racey (E) FlO R.D.A.Smith FlO R.MulsJ F/S S.H.NeulingerJ FlO A.Cresswell Turner (I,S) F/S G.E.Morgans (P) F/L P.H.Clostermann FlO A.G.Ratcliffe F/L E.R.Burrows F/L H.Cowan F/L W.F.Peck F/O L.Smith FlO N.MacDonald (KI

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Fw190

1--

Fw190 BI109 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Bl109

--2 1---1 -11 1---2

sdbl N Furstenau hbl III nr Ahaus lis NE Cloppenburg ell III nr Zwolle ell III B.78 catB NE Meppen NE Meppen hbl III nr Cloppenburg hbl III S Hopsten OsnabrOck-Hamelin {Ling en

CLAIM

{ { { { hbl III ETilburg catB e/tr dived in sea 5m off Dunkirk

The day brought several more successes for 2nd TAF fighters, while losses amongst the fighter6 April 1945 -----""'---bomber units were somewhat lower than of late. Six Tempests of 80 Squadron undertook a standing patrol over the Vechta-OsnabrQck area from 1620. In the Dummer See-Steinhuder Meer area five Fw 190s were sighted and attacked; two were pursued and claimed shot down by FIt Lt R.C.Cooper and Flg Off L.Smith over Hoya. During a sweep up the Rhine by Tempests in bad weather an hour later, pilots of 56 Squadron spotted Fw 190s bombing army units in the bridgehead area near Stolzenau. These were duly 'bounced' before the German pilots had even realised the Tempests were there, and braving the 'friendly' AA fire, Sqn Ldr R.A.MacKichan was credited with two shot down, and FIt Lt 'Joe' Payton a third. Two of this unit's Tempests forcelanded, Wt Off D.C.H.Rex coming down at B.I02, while Wt Off L.W.Freeman had the indignity of falling to the Allied AA fire, putting his aircraft down near Helmond. IV.lJG 26 undertook two operations to the Dedelsdorf area, losing one Dora-9 to ground fire and two to fighters. The latter pair fell to the west of Stolzenau and would therefore appear to have been the victims of 56 Squadron. Both pilots, young Vnteroffizier, became PoWs. Towards evening four Tempests from 486 Squadron flew a patrol in the Dummer SeeSteinhuder Meer area, when at 2000 hours they were advised by'Scalwag' (a forward contact car) that Ju 87s were attacking the bridge over the Weser at Stolzenau. Guided by AA fire, FIg Off 'Jimmy' Sheddan latched

I

Q)

U

l0-

a

LL

«

BELOW AND BOTTOM LEFT Fit Lt W.Stanski of

30B Squadron examines the damage to his Spitfire IX, MJ342 'ZF-O' on 3 February 1945. It was declared 'category B' but later scrapped. ABOVE AND BELOW Fit Lt Bill Stowe's RM797 'EB-E' (seen also in its Eindhoven dispersal) was fortunate to survive this hit on 5 April 1945, passing through 409 R&SU to Air Service Training at Hamble for its repair. The airframe survives today.

I

ABOVE: NV981 'SA-!'\ was soon repaired after this 'nick' on

19 March 1945 but was lost with Fig Off Kalka just 6 days later. RIGHf It is difficult to see how the propeller kept turning to allow the pilot of this Ternpest to return to base.

BELOW RB386 of 197 Squadron was one of many Typhoons hit by Flak during support operations for the Rhine crossings.

I

CJ.)

U

l.-

o

L.J...

«

onto two of the dive-bombers in quick succession and claimed both shot down, two parachutes being seen descending from each of the German aircraft. More moves were now occurring as more territory east of the Rhine was secured by the Allies. First to change bases were the units of 125 Wing, 130 Squadron moving to B.106 at Twente in north Holland near Enschede, only five miles from the German border; it was followed next day by 350 Squadron, while 135 Wing started going up to B.91, Kluis, south of Nijmegen, still on Dutch territory but some 30 miles nearer the front than their previous base. Night fighters were also coming up closer to the front line areas, 410 and 488 Squadrons with 149 Wing arriving at B.77 during 4 and 5 April. TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e0230

305

Mosq uito VI

HR191 T

05:47

613

Mosquito VI

PZ289

e0710 15:05

222 56

Tempest V Tempest V

e1550 16:10 17:30

56 443 80

e1830 e1840 e1945 20:00 22:03

56 332 175 486 487

FIL G.A.Barker (K) Sgt G.E.Arthur (K) FlO G.EHanson F/S ES.Kohar FlO R.H.Oavidson (K) S/L RWA.MacKichan FIL J.J.Payton WID LW.Freeman FlO S.E.Messum (KI FIL R.C.Cooper FlO L.Smith WID O.C.H.Rex Sgt A.E.Aarflot (K) W/O KWPatrick (II F/O C.J.Sheddan S/L I.G.Medwin IKI F/O A.J.Coe (K)

NV750 NV974 NV987 Tempest V EJ761 Spitfire XVI SM670 Tempest V NV983 NV991 Tempest V NV667 Spitfire IX NH531 Typhoon IB JR517 EJ711 Tempest V Mosquito VI SZ990

P K R V

A L U Q

H

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr (Deventer) e/f c/I A.75

Fw190 Fw190

2- 1--

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

Ju87

2--

spun in cloud csd NW Niimegen {Stolzenau area {

hbAf 1/1 nr Helmond hbl nr Rheine b/o E Messingen {Hoya { hbll/I nr B.102 missing in cloud csd EZelhem hbl? e/I III SE Greven Stolzenau cto B.87

Intensive operations brought many runway and taxying accidents, none more dramatically illustrated than by this scene of the aftermath of the call ision between two Typhoons on Goch's runway on 7 April 1945 The 175 Squadron Typhoon, JP753 'HH-B', was travelling too fast to avoid the preceding aircraft, JR194 'BR-N' of 184 Squadron, as it slowed to clear the runway, the former's 14 ft diameter propeller made short work of the rear fuselage of 'BR-N'. Both pilots survived. The aircraft were despatched to 419 R&SU for repair and, amazingly, JR194 was back in service, as 'BR-1', just five days later. JP753 was deemed beyond the R&SU repair capacity, declared 'category B' and returned to the UK for repair by Taylorcraft at Rearsby, but was scrapped after VE-Day rendered the repair unnecessary.

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e0030

305

Mosquito VI

SZ998 J

02:30

107

Mosquito VI

SZ986

e1540 16:00 16:45 19:00 20:35 e2230

263 340 345 345 56 69

Typhoon IB RB438 Spitlire XVI TB359 A Spitfire IX MK369 Spitfire XVI PT991 Tempest V NV987 R Wellington XIII MF397

S/L P.H.C.Hanbury (K) F/L J.P.Hart (K) F/L O.B.Graeme FlO K.J.Spargo WID RWAinsley 11M F.Delery IKI Lt d'Aligny IKI Lt P.M Decroo Sgt G.J.Swindelis Sgt M.A.Hunt IK) Sgt W.J.H.Clarke (K) Sgt GWH arper (K) Sgt G.Peace IK) Sgt F.T.Hare IKI F/L KW.Stewart F/O H.E.Brumby

23:20

488

Mosquito XXX MT263

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr IBremen) hbl c/l A.75 catAc/E

BI109

--1

hbl b/o NW Naarden hbl? csd Spakenburg sdbl II N Meppel hbd III 5m NE Deventer catB 10m EOummersee ftr IApeldoorn-Amersloort)

0018 Apr 45 EtA.

1--

20m SE Osnabriick

In 121 Wing, 174 Squadron became the third Typhoon unit to be disbanded, its pilots mainly 8 April 1945 -----~---posted as instructors or to other squadrons in the Wing. Having gained recent experience of current operations with 56 Squadron, FIt Lt Pierre Clostermann was now posted to 3 Squadron as '/\ Flight commander. In 274 Squadron Sqn Ldr 'Jesse' Hibbert and FIt Lt Fred Mossing completed their tours and departed for the UK. 12:00 12:20 e1535 e1725 e1850

130 80 332 340 263

Spitfire XIV Tempest V Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB

RM808 NV700 A NH597 T TB280 Y RB479

Sgt GWarren (S) F/L R.H.Anders 2/Lt E.Hagen IE) l/M Kerlan F/L E.JWhitfield

hbl? 1/1 nr Nienburg III NW Nienburg ndea CatAc hbl b/o 15m N Oldenburg hbl catAc/E hbl b/o AfT (Deventer)

2 Group's Mosquito VI intruders had continued to suffer regular losses during their nocturnal 9 April 1945 -----~---sorties, but usually it was to ground fire of one sort or another that they fell. At 0215 on 9th however, Wt Off RW.Everson and Sgt RA.W.Rudd of 305 Squadron were intercepted and shot down by a night fighter near Olpe in the Cologne 'pocket'. Everson was captured but liberated from Stalag 6G, by American troops, just four days later; Rudd evaded, returning to report their fate. On a standing patrol over the Weser bridgehead which commenced at 1830, Sqn Ldr Mackie and Wt Off W.RSheaf of 80 Squadron encountered three Luftwaffe training aircraft over Fassberg airfield which they at once attacked, Mackie claiming two shot down and Sheaf the third. They identified their victims as Bf 108s, but study of Mackie's gun camera film indicates that these were in fact Arado Ar 96s.

Few Typhoons flew with the same unit from D-Day to the end of the war but 164 Squadron's MN631 'FJ-G' was one such aircraft, seen here with a heated engine cover in its dispersal at 877, Gilze-Rijen

-0 C

::::i

0.. CD "-'I

~

Q)

U

TIME

SON

TYPE

02:15

305

Mosquito VI NT187 V

IOENT

PILOT/CREW

e1425 14:50 15:13 e1630 16:50 18:15 19:35

266 340 302 274 308 164 80

Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Tempest V Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Tempest V

~

0

L.L ~

«

CO

U +-' U

RB267 TA809 TB378 SN142 TB749 SW523 'NV700' NV938

U

G A A

WID R.WEverson (P) Sgt R.AWRudd (E) WID N.V.Phillips (EI Sgt P.Lavergne (P) WID G.Schmidt WI P/O WBWeir (K) F/S S.Toloczko S/L P.Bateman-Jones S/L E.O.Mackie FlO WR.Sheal

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION sdbea nr Olpe

Ar96 Ar96

2 -1--

ell III SW Eemshaven cll nr Aurich cnk hbl cll nr Zwolle sdbl a/train (Emden-Oldenburg I hbl (Utrecht-Zwollel b/o nr Antwerp hbl c/I 8.88 {Fassberg {

~ ""D C N On 9 April 1945 Sqn Ldr PL.Bateman-Jones of 164 Squadron was hit by Flak on an 'armed reece' to Amersfoort and was forced to crashland at B.88, Heesch, wrecking his new (that day) late-production Typhoon SW523 'FJ-A'

Hawker Typhoon IB, SW523 'FJ-A', Sqn ldr P.l.Bateman-Jones, 164 Squadron, B.91, Kluis

\J C ::::l 0CD

-...

219 Squadron's MM813 'FK-H' served with the unit from September 1944 through to the end of the war

Moves had really got underway on this date, the reconnaissance squadrons of 39 Wing moving to B.108 at Rheine - so long one of 2nd TAP's priority targets. 486 Squadron had also come to this area, to B.112, Rheine-Hopsten, where it would soon be joined by the rest of 122 Wing, and by the Typhoons of 124 Wing. Next day Typhoon units from 121 and 143 Wings began the move to B.110 at Achmer, north of Osnabriick, while on 12th 126 Wing's Spitfires would also arrive at B.108.

Mosquito NT506 'RA-U' of 410 Squadron illustrates one on of the many accidents which do not figure in the loss tables as they occurred during non-operational duties - in this case a crash followed a tyre burst during landing following an 'air test' at B.77, Gilze-Rijen, on 11 April 1945.

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

01:07

464

Mosquito VI

NS943

03:45

219

Mosquito XXX nk

10:00 e1135 e1550 e1655 e1810 e1830 19:35 19:35 20:15 e2220

317 345 193 341 412 164 130 197 486 107

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Tempest V Mosquito VI

22:37

410

Mosquito XXX MM744

F/L WH.Clarke F/O WB.Searl FlO R.L.Young FlO N.G.Fazan F/S Z.Slawski (W) Cpt Lemaire III WIO A.G.RandaIIIK) Lt A.de Saxce (K) FlO V.Smith (SI WIO OW McCulloch IK) S/L M.R.O.Hume F/L K.Bowman F/L WE.Schrader PIO WH.Mitton (K) PIO E.JWilby IKI F/L R.O.Schultz FlO J.S.Christie

ML314 S PL153 RB274 TB381 MK844 MN853 J RB228 B SN129 M RS550 K

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION u/c fault w/u Manston catB

Hel77

Ju188 Ju88 Fw190

1--

I-1-1--

Ju1881 - -

E Rhur/ B.31 hbf c/l nr Assen hbf alstaff car Zwolle c/l AfT hit htc csd 3m EArnhem hbf a/MET nr Oosterwolde ct fire b/o Almelo hbAf csd NE Lingen landing Stade AlF OG Broekletzel Nienburg Ilr (Muritz Lake-Soltau)

W31/Damme/l0m N OsnabrUck

The 11 th proved to be the day upon which the strafing of Luftwaffe airfields became a major occupation for 2nd TAP. During an early sortie Typhoons of 197 Squadron attacked Marx airfield where two Tu 88s were claimed destroyed on the ground. Three 74 Squadron Spitfires then hit Rotenburg, 20 miles east of Bremen, where some 12 fighters were seen parked. Three passes were (somewhat inadvisedly) made, during which four Bf 109s and a single Fw 190 were claimed destroyed and two more of each damaged. On this occasion the gamble of making more than one pass paid off, no casualties being suffered. Next it was the turn of 266 Squadron, this unit's Typhoons striking Varrelbusch, north-east of Cloppenburg, where a Tu 88, an Fw 190 and a Bf 109 were claimed. 197 Squadron undertook a second such operation, this time to Handorf. Here Sqn Ldr K.T.Harding, Fit Lt G.R.Gibbings and two other pilots claimed two Tu 188s, an He III and two unidentified aircraft destroyed, four more claims for aircraft damaged also being submitted. The Tempest pilots also had their turn when Wg Cdr H.M.Mason, 135 Wing Leader, led five 222 Squadron aircraft to Fassburg, one aircraft being claimed destroyed here and one damaged. The only claim in the air on this date occurred during an early morning patrol over the BremenNienburg area by Spitfire XIVs of 41 Squadron, when Fit Lt Tony Gaze intercepted and shot down a Tu 52/3m transport. While ground strafing is normally a fairly hazardous enterprise, and the strafing of airfields

1_1_A....p~r_il_l_94_5_

particularly so, not one aircraft was lost during any of the attacks detailed above. Elsewhere during the day one Spitfire of 66 Squadron failed to return from a bombing sortie, and one Typhoon force-landed due to Flak. Two Spitfire XIVs were also lost, FIg Off G.F.Peterson of 402 Squadron being shot down and killed by Flak, while Fit Lt Sibeth of 130 Squadron had to bale out when his aircraft was hit by debris as he was strafing.

Q.)

U

~

0

LL ~

« CO

TIME

SON

TYPE

e0140

487

Mosquito VI TAl13

IDENT

e0250

605

Mosquito VI PZ464 Z

e0935 el010 10:35 el150

41 130 198 197

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

14:20

74

Spitfire XVI

e1445 15:05

266 197

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

15:20 e1550 e1640 17:35 e1740 18:35

197 245 66 197 402 197

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB

SM823 RN212 ON341 nk nk nk TB865 TB741 SM292 P0528 PD621 nk nk R8230 TB521 RB474 RM904 PD468

e1840

197

Typhoon IB

RB230

e1915

266

Typhoon IB

RB478 RB426 RB423 PD576 nk SN165 EJ889 NV765 NV788 NV757

0

U

+-'

U

~ -0 C N

e1930

An airman sits amidst parts of the shattered cockpit of Tempest SN165 'ZD-V' of 222 Squadron at B.9, Kluis. Flown by Sqn Ldr E.B.Lyons in an attack on Fassberg airfield on 11 April 1945, the Tempest was hit by Flak in the rear of the cockpit, the armour plating breaking off and striking Lyons a severe blow on the back of the head. Semiconscious he managed to pull up straight away and fly the 200 miles back to base. Note also damage to the tailplane, fresh paint on a repaired or replacement rudder, and the letter 'V' painted over an earlier identity, 'H'. The aircraft had been with the unit less than two weeks.

222

Tempest V

F X H F

S F F

K S W

PILOT/CREW FlO G.L.Peet (K) FlO L.A.Graham (K) F/L J.R.Tracey (K) F/L FBereslord (K) F/L FA.O.Gaze F/L P.E.Sibeth FlO F.GWilliams (S) F/L E.Jolleys) F/L S.J.Khin} F/L K.FC.Bowman} F/L G.M.Braidwood} F/L J.S.Bennett} FlO w.J.J.Warwick} FlO O.Dodd (PI F/L G.Hartley) F/S R.Farmiloe} F/S R.Farmiloe F/L I.G.Campbell (S) P/O D.Hugo (K) FlO W.O.Ellis FlO G.FPeterson (K) S/L K.J.Harding F/L G.R.Gibbings

Q

S E V

y

S/L R.E.G.Sheward} P/D J.Luhnenschloss} F/S HWheeler} F/S R.Clack} W/C H.M.Mason} S/L E.B.Lyons} P/O G.Sharrett} WID T.B.Hannam} FlO R.H.Reid} F/L J.L.Lawson}

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr (Brunswick) ftr (Brunswick)

Ju52

1--

Ju88

2 --

Nahndor! - Achim a/MET hbd b/o AfT hbl III SE Zwolle OG Marx all

Bl109 Fw190

4- 2 1- 2

{OG Rotenburg all {

Ju188

1-1

hbl? III EfT (Groningenl OG Marx

Ju188

1-1

Ju88

--1

Ju188 Ju188 E/A He111 Ju88 Fw190 Bl109

1---1 1-1-1-1-1--

EtA EtA

1---1

OG Broekzetal hbl III NE Loningen sdbl Peheim OG Ardor! hbl csd 5m N Arnhem OG Marx OG Jever {OG Jever { lOG Varrelbusch all

I I I/o Fassburg all OG Fassburg all

I

Typhoons of 124 Wing shortly after their arrival on 11 April 1945 at B.1 06, Twente, north of Enschede, close to the German border. In the foreground are 181 Squadron aircraft RB395 'EL-P', MN311 U-N' and SW494 'EL-F', with 137 Squadron Typhoons beyond them.

There was more airfield strafing on 12th, though results were rather more sparse than on the 12 April 1945 --------"'----previous day. Typhoons of 197, 198 and 266 Squadrons all undertook such attacks, but claims were limited to a single Ju 88 destroyed and four Ju 188s damaged. One of 197 Squadron's aircraft was hit by debris and Flt Lt G.R.Gibbings, one of the 'stars' of the previous day, baled out into captivity. On other operations five Typhoons and three Spitfires were brought down by Flak. Eight of 274 Squadron's Tempests set off on an early armed reconnaissance at 0655 during which a Ju 88 was intercepted south of Huby and was shot down by Flt Lts J.D.Morrison and D.M.Nichols to the north-east of Fassburg. 33 Squadron despatched 12 more Tempests on a sweep at 1145, during which one section descended to strafe targets on the ground, being rather badly 'bounced' while doing so. They had been caught, despite a cloudless sky, by 12 I./JG 26 D-9s led by ObIt Dortenmann, and a violent turning combat. commenced. Between 1253-1312, the German pilots claimed six victories, two of them by Dortenmann and one by Lt Soffing, while in the RAF unit Capt E.D.Thompson, SAAF, and Flg OffD.J.ter Beek each claimed one Focke-Wulf shot down, the latter claiming two more damaged. However, Thompson's aircraft was so badly damaged that it was subsequently written off. There is little doubt that on this occasion the Tempests had come off worst, for although six were not lost, as well as the damage to Thompson's aircraft, Flt Sgt Pw.C.Watton and Sgt J.Staines were both shot down, the former surviving and evading capture, but the latter was killed. Watton apparently also claimed one of the attackers shot down but this was never confirmed by 2nd TAF HQ. In fact the only loss suffered by I./JG 26 was Lt Erich Asmus. A more successful engagement featured 56 Squadron, when FIg Off David Ness intercepted a lone Fw 190 at 500 feet in the Fassburg area. The Canadian closed from Fit Lt Bob Gibbings of 197 Squadron who flew 250 to 50 yards while firing and the German pilot, who took no evasive action, was seen to crash through the debris of an and blow up. Towards the end of the afternoon Spitfire XlVs of 41 Squadron patrolling in the exploding ammunition Bremen area, gave chase to an Ar 234. This was shot down by FIt Lts Tony Gaze and D.M.V.Rake dump on Broeksketel as it was attempting to force-land, and it blew up. A final claim was made at 1935 by Flt Lt Jack airfield on 12 April 1945 Stafford of 486 Squadron, who broke off from an attack on MET to turn in behind a lone Dora; Heading for Allied lines his cannon strikes caused a fire in the engine and cockpit area and he pulled to one side to watch in a blackened and ailing Typhoon, he prepared to the Fw 190D roll over and crash in a field east of Ludwigslust. bale out using the 'stick forward' technique, but a TIME SON TYPE IDENT PILOT/CREW CLAIM dpd CAUSE/LOCATION premature 'twitch' found --1 198 Typhoon IB PD508 T F/L F.B.Lawless} Ju87 e0830 OG Hoperhoven a/I him outside his aircraft JP849 H F/S PWMiliard} PD466 S F/L A.G.Taylor} on the wrong side of the MN844 R F/O L.F.Bastin} lines I He was fortunate e0850 137 Typhoon IB JR444 W/O R.S.Knight-Clarke (K) hbl csd nr Kampe to survive an encounter 09:20 SN159 F/L J.D.Morrison} 1-274 Tempest V Ju88 5m NE Fassberg a/I with an SS 'welcoming EJ876 R F/L D.M.Nichols} party' and spent the rest el010 266 Typhoon IB RB423 S F/L D.Borland} Ju188 --2 OG Ardorl all of the war as a Pow. MP142 G F/O R.McAdam} (IWM HU223321 MN739 U F/S J.MolI}

I

Q)

U

~

0 LL ~

«

CO

TIME

SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1035 e1105 11:30

181 317 197

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Typhoon IB

e1140 e1235 e1300 e1305 13:50

197 197 182 486 33

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V

14:20 e1420 el435

609 331 416

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI

14:45 e1650

247 41

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV

e1830

266

Typhoon IB

19:30 19:35

56 486

Tempest V Tempest V

MP203 ML421 V nk F nk V RB251 G RB228 B SW391 EJ711 Q SN180 V NV754 B NV783 NV919 PD593 PL393 TB327 TB273 DN588 G SM823 MV267 RB248 B MN739 U NV963 C SN129 M

F/L R.A.Done IK) Sgt J.Pretkowski (K) F/L G.Hartley} F/S R.Farmiloe} F/L G.R.Gibbings (P) F/L T.CIilt (P) F/L E.G.Hutehin (KI W/O J.R.Dunean Cpt E.D.Thompson F/O D.J.ter Beek F/S PW.CWatton IE) Sgt J.Staines (KI F/L J.D.lnehes Sgt J.E.Holweeh (K) F/O TP.Doliery IK) F/O K.F.Seott F/O D.C.Drriss F/L FA.O.Gaze) F/L D.M.V.Rakel F/O R.Grayl F/S I.Antonl F/O D.E.Ness F/L J.H.Stafford

ell00 16:20 e1630 e1630

486 486 175 609

Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

e1900 19:15

198 486

Typhoon IB Tempest V

SN184 F EJ864 0 SW475 MN434 K RB250 A PD508 T EJ717 P nk EJ711 Q

S/L K.G.Taylor-Cannon (K) F/S W.J.K.Hart F/L L.H.Parker (K) P/O M.H.G.Rendall (K) F/S H.E.de Blommaert (K) F/D L.FBastin F/L C.J.Sheddan} WID G.Maddalord} F/L FP.Kendall

NV753 J RB279

F/O C.J.MeDonald WID K.R.Goodhew

U

+-'

U

~ -0 C

N

e2000

_1_4_A--,p....r_il_I_9_4_S

193

Typhoon IB

CLAIM

Ju88

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

1--

sdbl NW Dtersen hbl e/I N Hoorn DG Broekzetel a/I

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

--1 1-1- 2 1--

Ar234

1--

hbd b/o SE Barssel e/II/I NE Hesei/Q9323 hbll/I EWalle OG hbl 1/1 Salzvedel a/I W Uelzen; db Fw190 eatAe/E W Uelzen sdb Fw190s W Uelzen; elaim n/e sdb Fw190s W Uelzen hbl b/o W Friesoythe hbl N Rodenkirehen Itr hbl nr Oldenburg e/I AIT N Meppen hbl nr Dldenburg eatAe/E hbl 1/1 nr Bawinkel W Bremen

Ju188

--2

DG Wittmundhaven ?a/I

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

5m EFassberg E Ludwigslust

Ju88

- -3

Ju88 He111 He111

--1 --3 --2

hbl b/o NW Domitz roll/I NE Horstel hbl? esd N Langwedel IcJd esd Grave I elf b/o Beers lOG SE Parehim I I I I hbl Kampen b/o AIT

486 Squadron was involved in two engagements during the day, on the first of which Fit Lt 'Timmy' Sheddan saw a lone silver-coloured aircraft when he and his companions were strafing railway rolling stock during a mid afternoon weather reconnaissance. Identifying the machine as an Fw 190, he caught up with it when north of Ludwigslust, opening fire, upon which it shed pieces from the wings and fuselage, rolled onto its back, dived into the ground and exploded. In the same area that evening Wg Cdr Brooker and three of the unit's pilots were again after rail targets, but were split up. At 1930 Wt OffW.T.Shaw, who was flying with Brooker, saw a lone fighter - apparently an Fw 190 again, and shot this down in flames after a brief combat. Meanwhile the other pair had been caught by three more fighters whilst concentrating on strafing, and Wt Off O.T.Mitchell, a new pilot with the unit, was shot down and killed. It was reported that his opponent may have been a Bf 109E - an obsolete type. Fig Off S.T.Short fought with one of the others, which he also identified as a Messerschmitt, claimed to have inflicted some damage on this. Their opponents were certainly not flying Bf 109Es, but fighters of a much more 'exotic' nature. The New Zealanders had been engaged by three members of Stab/TG 301, a unit which had recently been equipped with the initial examples of the Focke-Wulf Ta 152, the ultimate development of the Focke-Wulf 190 line to see operational service. In one of these, Ofw Willi Reschke had shot down Mitchell's Tempest over Ludwigslust at 1920, for his 25th victory, but in another of these fighters, Ofw Sepp Sattler had been shot down and killed - almost certainly by Shaw. In the time-slot between these two engagements Typhoons of 182 Squadron had flown an armed reconnaissance to the Liineberg area, where the pilots had spotted ten bomber aircraft in a clearing in a wood, diving down to claim six Tu 88s and an He III destroyed, and the other three damaged.

I

AMosquito XIII, HK528 'PS-B' of 264 Squadron, shares a dispersal with an elderly Spitfire V possibly from 276 (ASR) Squadron, The two units never shared a base and the photograph may have been taken at a repair or servicing unit.

Sqn Ldr Don Laubman, DFC & Bar, who had just taken command of 402 Squadron at the start of his second tour just eight days earlier, attacked a pair of half-tracks near Rethem. Having shot up the nearest vehicle he lined up on the second - just as the first blew up, engulfing his newly-delivered Spitfire XIV in a fireball. With engine temperature rising, he climbed to 7,000 feet and set course for Allied territory. Before such safety was reached the engine burst into flames and he was forced to bale out into captivity; 2nd TAF had lost its top-scoring pilot of 1944-45, but he would be back with the unit by 5 May. Four of 41 Squadron's Mark XIVs undertook another armed reconnaissance to the Bremen area from 1845, and here about an hour later, aircraft were spotted over Nordholz airfield. Sqn Ldr J.B.Shepherd attacked a Bf 110 which was towing an Me 163, shooting down the former in flames. Thereupon, the little rocket interceptor, piloted by Ofw Werner Nelte, formerly of I./JG 400, appeared to dive straight into the ground alongside its erstwhile tug. In fact Nelte was able to pull it out of its dive at the last minute and achieved a crash-landing. TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

16:50 e1710

Tempest V Typhoon IB

SN129 M

F/L C.J.Sheddan Squadron

Fw190 Ju188 Hel11 Bf110

1-6-2 1---1

N Ludwigslust lOG Luneberg a/f

486 182

e1730 e1810 e1810 19:20 19:30

137 402 402 486 486

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Tempest V Tempest V

e1935

41

Spitfire XIV

20:00 22:40

438 264

MP154 NH744 RM843 SN141 NV753 NV651 SM826

Z C U J R B

Typhoon IB MM989 R Mosquito XIII HK469

F/S JAH.G.Pennant (KI S/L D.C.Laubman (PI F/L J.E.Maurice WID D.J.Mitchell (KI WID WJ.Shaw F/D S.J.Short S/L J.B.Shepherd F/S G.S.Livingstone (KI W/D A.S.Davies F/S Fisher

Ju88

.-2

Fw190* Bfl09 Bfll0 Me163

1---1 1-1--

{ {

hbf csd nr Verden hbd a/MET b/o nr Rethem DG (Celie) sdb Ta152 E Ludwigslust {Ludwigslust {

Nordholz a/f spun in nr B.ll 0 cnk o/s Idg B.77 catB

* This claim appears notto have been confirmed by 2nd TAF HO is however believed to have been a Ta152 of JG 301 (see textl. The times given for this combat are from German sources for W/D Mitchell's loss and the 486 Sqn combat report for Shaw's claim. Accounts of the combat, however, suggestthatthe Ta152 was shot down before the Tempest.

Donald Currie Laubman DFC & Bar

anadian Don Laubman qualified as a pilot with the RCAF in 1941, then served at home both as an instructor and a fighter pilot, until August 1943, when he arrived in the UK to fly with 412 Squadron. Becoming a flight commander in July 1944, he was 2nd TAF's most successful pilot in terms of aerial victories between 6 June 1944 and the end of the war, claiming 14 and two shared victories, all but one of the latter after D-Day. Awarded a DFC & Bar, he was rested from November until April 1945, when he returned to

C

the front to command 402 Squadron on Spitfire XIVs. Here he was shot down by Flak just three weeks before the end of the war, baling out to become a PoW. He remained in the Canadian services until 1972, retiring as a Lieutenant General. His success was closely matched by fellow Canadian, Sqn Ldr William 'Grissle' Klersy, DSO, DFC & Bar, who claimed 14 and one shared, all but one of them during the same June 1944-May 1945 period.

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I-

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>

----.::....:15::........:A:....:::pril - 5

May 1945

T

he 15th was to see a resumption of aerial activity, particularly during the morning period. First, however, following night duty, 604 Squadron was stood down at 0600 hours, and would be disbanded on 18th - another victim of the deletion of the old Auxiliary units. At 0830 nine Tempests of 486 Squadron, led by F/L W.E.'Smokey'Schrader, were airborne on an armed reconnaissance to the Miiritz See area. At about 0915 they were notified of an enemy formation on a reciprocal course. Turning onto a heading to intercept, the New Zealanders came up behind a formation of nine Fw 190s and were not spotted by the Luftwaffe pilots until having closed to 1,000 yards. The Focke-Wulf formation broke and the Tempest pilots each sought individual targets. The New Zealanders quickly gained the upper hand as, one after another, the German fighters were seen to go down. However, FIg Off A.R.Evans, having seen a wing break off his victim, rejoined the dogfight to seek a fresh target and immediately found himself at a disadvantage against a well-flown Fw 190:

1_5_A---"'p_r_il_I_9_4_5

"I was forced to try and out-turn him but as my LRTs would not jettison I could not do this, so tried to outclimb him. But here again the 190 beat me and I stalled and spun out of the turn. When I recovered from the spin I saw three Fw 190s in line astern following me down. As I tried to pull up to port my engine cut and the last of the Fw 190s had a 90 degree deflection shot at me and hit me on the port wing and fuselage. The control column jammed hard and I slowly went over on my back. I jettisoned my hood, undid my straps and was drawn out of the cockpit. Prior to leaving my aircraft and whilst on my back I saw the three Fw 190s pull up and rejoin the fight."

Evans was picked up by British airborne troops south of Uelzen. Meanwhile, an 80 Squadron formation, which had taken off an hour earlier than 486, led by Sqn Ldr Evan Mackie, heard his fellow New Zealanders reporting their combat and headed for the area. Sighting the fight still in progress Mackie selected a target which he followed through a series of manoeuvres, eventually seeing strikes in the cockpit area; as the Focke-Wulf dived vertically from 5,500 feet Mackie's No.2 scored further hits on the tail, with pieces flying off before it crashed in woods south-west ofUelzen. On return 486 Squadron filed claims for eight Fw 190s destroyed and one damaged, while Mackie claimed one destroyed shared with Sgt W.F.Turner. However 2nd TAF HQ's final assessment was that FIg Off B.J.O'Connor's 'damaged' was the same aircraft attacked by Mackie - which was then shared between the three pilots. This was the first occasion for some time in which it has not been possible to identify the units engaged in a major combat. By now 2nd TAF aircraft were operating over an area of Germany where Luftwaffe units were to be found which had been part of the home defence (Luftflotte Reich), or had been withdrawing in the face of the Soviet advance from the east. Increasingly, aircraft from such units, including Fw 190 Schlacht (ground-attack) Gruppen, were to be encountered by the Western Allies. It is considered probable that the 15th marked the start of such encounters. FIt Lts N.D. Cox and J.A.McCairns of 56 Squadron, who had taken off at 0930, claimed an 'Me 262' destroyed just after it had taken off from Kaltenkirchen airfield, seeing it crash in flames. From gun camera film it was later identified as an AI' 234.

412 Squadron Spitfire IXs Iine up for take-off at 8.108 Rheine, its base for just three days, from 13-16 April 1945.

I

I

There were to be several more encounters during the day, the first also occurring at 0930 when Flt Lt W.M.Middleton of 430 Squadron, flying a TacR sortie to Velmen in his Spitfire FR XIV, also claimed an Fw 190 near Uelzen. At 1805 FIt Lt A.Seeger from 80 Squadron led a weather reconnaissance during which three Fw 190s were seen north-west of Celle. Seeger dived to attack, hitting one and closing to 150 yards. Black and white smoke poured from the stricken aircraft which rolled over, the pilot baling out at an altitude of 3,000 feet. During the day however, Wt Off A.M.Rollo of this unit was lost either to Flak or to a Focke-Wulf - or both coming down north of Ludwigslust to become a PoW. Later in the day at 2045, two pilots of 416 Squadron claimed damage to another Fw 190 to the north-east of Rethem.

CD

u

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o

L...L


16 April 1945

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

e0030

613

Mosquito VI

TA370

e0100

613

Mosquito VI

e0830 09:15

80 486

Tempest V Tempest V

80

Tempest V

09:30 10:10

430 56

Spitfire XIV Tempest V

13:55 18:25 20:45

401 80 421

Spitfire IX Tempest V Spitfire XVI

PILOT/CREW

F/L PVWood (K) P/O R.E.Farrow (K) F/O E.G.R.Thatcher (K) HR220 P/O H.A.MitcheIlIK) NV719 E W/O A.M. Rollo (P) NV969 A F/L WE.Schrader SN176 N F/L A.I.Ross EJ888 X W/O G.Maddalord NV753 J F/S R.A.Melies EJ739 W W/O R.J.Atkinson NV988 Y F/O A.R.Evans SN129 M F/O B.J.O·Connor SN129 M F/O B.J.O·Connor} SN189 S/L E.O.Mackie} Sgt WF.Turner} NV700 RM824 Z F/L WM.Middleton NV968 G F/L N.O.Cox} NV768 E F/L J.A.McCairns} PL278 W/O O.WCampbell SNl72 F/L A.Seager TB300 PST F/O A.G.Scott} SM392 T F/O JVMarsden}

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION ftr Luneberg·Wismar ftr Luneberg-Wismar

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

2- 1-1-1-1-1-1-1--

hbl/Fw190 1/1 N Ludwigslust {10m SE Uelzen { { { { {; e/I b/o AfT { {10m SE Uelzen

Fw190 Ar234

1-1--

tlo Kaltenkirchen a/I

Fw190 Fw190

1---1

e/I 1/1 w/u B.116 catB/E 8m NW Celie 10m NE Rethem

nr Uelzen/ X.8695

Another day of intense operations was heralded at 0745 by a solo attack on Ludwigslust airfield by Flt Lt J.MacKay of 401 Squadron; he was forced to break off by heavy defensive fire, but not before he was able to claim damage to three Ar 234s. This was followed at 0905 by a 486 Squadron strike on Neustadt airfield when Flt Lt Sheddan and Wt Off Shaw claimed an Fw 190 as it was taking off; this was probably the aircraft flown by Lt Ettmuller of JG 301, this unit losing up to six aircraft during the day_ Towards the end of the afternoon, at 1745,Wg Cdr R.E.P.Brooker, the 122 Wing Leader, led off 80 Squadron aircraft on an armed reconnaissance over the Pritzwalk-Neuruppin area. Here three Fw 190s were encountered, and the six Tempests gave chase, but as they did so, they were 'bounced' by four or five more Focke-Wulfs. Flt Lt M.P. 'Slim' Kilburn went after one, closing to 50 yards; oil from this spread all over his windscreen, but he was able to see the pilot bale out. Flt Lt R.B.Prickett hit the port wingroot of another and it dived vertically, exploding in a wood as it hit the ground. However, only four Tempests returned

Groundcrew at work on Spitfire XI. PM151 of 400 Squadron at B.90. Petit Brogel in early April 1945.

I

Spitfire XIV NH745 'EB-V' flown by Sqn Ldr D.l.Benham DFC, AFC of 41 Squadron, which was received on or about 23 March 1945 and was one of the first with the 'bubble' canopy. Shortly aherwards Benham became 'tour expired' and was replaced by Sqn Ldr JBSheperd DFC & Bar. Most unusually for this stage of the war, it carries a simplified version of the squadron badge on the nose. The aircrah was damaged in a take-off accident on 16 April 1945 and was apparently not repaired.

Supermarine Spitfire XIV, NH745 'EB-V', Sqn Ldr D.I.Benham, 41 Squadron, B.78, Eindhoven

to B.112 - Brooker and Sgt W.E Turner were missing and nothing was known of their movements or fate other than an RlT call from Turner who reported his engine was cutting and that he was returning to base. Turner's crash site was found after the war but Brooker's fate and resting place remain unknown. A veteran pilot since the days of 1940, and a survivor of the debacle in Singapore and the East Indies early in 1942, Peter Brooker was a sad loss. His place at the head of 122 Wing was taken at once by 80 Squadron's Evan Mackie, who was promoted Wg Cdr. At around 1400 hours, FIg Off C.D.W.Wilson of 411 Squadron claimed an He III shot down in the Grabow area, while nearly an hour later, this unit's Fh Lt D,C.Gordon and FIg Off D.J.Bazett, having spent some time hunting for 'MET', came upon a more tempting target - a Mistel composite. Their target was one of four such aircraft that had taken off from Parchim to bomb bridges at Kustrin, in order to impede the Russian advance, and it was caught at low level awaiting the arrival of a Ju 188 pathfinder, As Gordon opened fire from 500 yards, the upper component, an Fw 190, separated from the Ju 88, which burst into flames and crashed in a huge explosion. Bazett pursued and despatched the Focke-Wulf. 486 Squadron was in the air again at 1900 hours, and this unit's pilots also arrived over Ludwigslust where Fit Lt Schrader and FIg Off J.W.Reid each claimed an Fw 190 shot down. About an hour or so later 41 Squadron, which had just arrived at B.1l8, Celie, sent five Spitfire XIVs to sweep over the Borchum-Schwerin area. Here three Fw 190As were seen and attacked. Two of these broke towards the Spitfires and were at once claimed shot down by Wg Cdr George Keefer, the 125 Wing Leader, and Fig Off J.F.Wilkinson, while Sqn Ldr Shepherd gave chase to the third, following it down to ground level where he was able to bring it down. The day had not been free of the usual Flak-related losses, five Typhoons having succumbed, most of them by making force-

A 616 Squadron Meteor III, EE275 'YO-P' starts up with a flurry of dust, while operating with 135 Wing at B.91, Kluis, mid-April 1945.

I

landings from which the pilots escaped unscathed, only one of whom was captured. Five Spitfires were lost through various causes but all their pilots would survive. More units were also on the move, 14S and 146 Wings arriving at B.I0S, Drope, while next day 39 (Reconnaissance) Wing joined 126 Wing at B.116, Wunstorf. The 16th was also marked by the first offensive sorties over territory still in German hands by the Meteors of 616 Squadron.

Q)

u

~

o

LL

« CD

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

+-'

e0745 e0745 09:05

401 401 486

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Tempest V

e1230 10:00 10:00 e1040 11:40 e1250 13:45

332 317 41 402 184 193 56

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V

e1400 e1420 15:35 e1755

411 438 609 411

Spitfire IX Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire IX

18:35

80

Tempest V

MJ854 MJ390 SN129 NV753 NH425 ML304 RN208 RM843 MN232 RB346 NV927 EJ804 RR201 MP192 JR294 NH251 MK686 NV991 NV790 NV641 NV983 MN988 NV969 EJ651 MV263 MV267 MV249

U

U

~ -0 C

N

e1840 122Wg Tempest V e1840 Tempest V 80 e1845 245 Typhoon IB 19:00 486 Tempest V e2025 125Wg Spitfire XIV 41 Spitfire XIV

17 April 1945

PILOT/CREW A

F/L J.MacKay F/L LWWoods IS I M F/L C.J.Sheddan) J WID WJ.Shawl S Sgt B.Aasberg (S) Q F/S K.Becher WID JAChalmers C F/L J.E.Maurice (S) A F/L D.L.Stevenson F/S O.L.Pratt IE) Z F/L F.L.MacLeod) M FlO WM.wallis) R FlO C.DWWilson J FlO J.K.Brown (P) K Sgt A.R.A.Deschamps F/L D.C.Gordon FlO D.J.Bazett F/L M.P.Kilburn F/L R.B.Prickett B W/C R.E.P.Brooker IKI Sgt WF.Turner IK) WID G.A.Lomas A F/L WE.Schrader FlO JWReid GCK W/C G.C.Keeler F/L J.F.wilkinson S/L J.B.Shepherd

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Ar234

--3

Fw190

1--

OG Ludwigslust a/f elf c/l nr Wunstorf tlo Neustadt a/f

He111

--1

ell? ftr (Zuider Zee) hbl f/\ W Friesoythe rol f/l Nijmegen ftr (Salzwedel) hbl III w/u B.80 catB/E hbl III SW Apeldoorn orbitting Neustadt all

He111

1--

Ju88 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1-1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1---1 1-1--

Grabow area hbl? ell b/o nr Wumme hbl III SE Kampe catB/E {Mistel composite, {5m SW Parchim {Pritzwalk area { psdb Fw190 nr Wittenberge psdb Fw190 nr Neuruppin hbl a/lactory III nr Minden {Ludwigslust { {W Schwerin {

{

Wg Cdr REP.Brooker DSa & Bar, DFC & Bar, had been a fighter pilot with 56 Squadron in 1938 and fought with that unit during the Battle of Britain. After a spell as a Central Gunnery School instructor he had commanded 232, 242 and 77 (RAAFl Squadrons in the Far East before returning to the UK and the Fighter Leaders' School, later leading 123 Wing during the Invasion. Following a rest from operations, he had returned for a second tour in the 2nd TAF, as Wing Commander Flying 122 Wing, during which he failed to return from a sortie on 16 April 1945, and was presumed to have been shot down by enemy fighters. His last resting place has not been found.

I Wing Commander George Keefer DSO, DFC & Bar eorge Clinton Keefer emerged from the Second World War as one of Canada's greatest fighter aces. However, he remains one of the less-well publicised, probably because so much of his operational career was spent with RAP, rather than RCAF units. Born in New York City to Canadian parents, he was a graduate of Yale before enlisting in the RCAF in October 1940. Qualifying as a fighter pilot, he first served with 274 Squadron in North Africa, where he claimed four victories, plus several probables and damaged, while flying Hurricanes. For this he was awarded a DFC. In the UK in summer 1943 he ABOVE: George Keefer with his dog ·Rommel'. became commanding officer of 412 Squadron, RCAF, remaining with this unit until April 1944, by which time it formed a part of 126 Wing, 83 Group, 2nd TAP. He was then awarded a Bar to his DFC and promoted to lead 126 Wing, which he did until July. With four more victories to his credit, he returned to Canada for a rest. Back in Europe in September, he received a DSO, and in ovember became Wing Leader of 125 Wing, flying Spitfire XIVs. At the head of this

G

ABOVE: Fit Lt Peter Cowell of 41 Squadron watches the aerial action with Wg Cdr George Keefer's personal Spitfire XIV MV263 'GCK' in the background. No photographs of the front half of this aircraft have come to light so the accompanying side view is provisional.

unit until the end of the war, he again claimed four victories to bring his total to 12, also destroying five on the ground. Leaving the service in 1947, he later became Vice-President of Canadair, Ultimately, he owned a plastics factory which he ran until his death.

Supermarine Spitfire XIV, MV263 'GCK', Wg Cdr G.C.Keefer, 125 Wing, B.152, Fassberg

FIt Sgt Andre Kicq claimed to have shot down an Fw 190 and indeed Fw Hans Marischka did crash in his 5. Staffel Dora-9 here. German sources, however, indicate that he was in fact shot down by one of their own Flak units; Marischka's body would not be found until 1989. A further special operation was launched by 140 Wing, another attack being made on a Gestapo office in Denmark. The target on this occasion was the 'Husmandsskolen', a former agricultural school building in Tarup village, north-west of Odense on the island of Fym. Known locally as the 'Torture Castle', its selection was again a special request from the Danish Resistance. Only a relatively small formation was necessary on this occasion, six Mosquitoes (including one FPU Mark IV) taking part. The raid was again led by Grp Capt Bateson with the Wing Tactical Navigation Leader, Sqn Ldr Ted Sismore, at his side. Once more Basil Embrey in his 'wg Cdr Smith' guise, flew the no.2 aircraft, while one crew each from 21,464 and 487 Squadrons flew the three other aircraft, the 21 Squadron member being the unit's Commanding Officer, Wg Cdr A.G.Wilson.

The six aircraft left Melsbroek at 1400 hours, the five Mark VIs each carrying 2,000 Ibs of bombs. Once again they picked up a Mustang escort, eight such aircraft being provided by 129 Squadron from England. The attack proved very successful, and photographic evidence collected two days later by a 16 Squadron Spitfire, showed that two-thirds of the main building had been demolished, together with some outlying structures. Overshoots destroyed 20 nearby houses and damaged 150 others, nine civilians being killed and 20 injured. However, all the prisoners survived and escaped, and one Gestapo official was killed. It was classified as a very satisfactory raid, and there were no RAF casualties.

CJ.)

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18 April 1945

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

e0640 e0725 07:35

41 401 274

Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX Tempest V

e0815 e0935 09:45

341 41 226

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Mitchell II

SM826 B ML342 SN179 P EJ893 W TD139 MV254 FW271

e1045 ell00 11:45

263 401 80

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Tempest V

11:45 12:30 14:00 14:05 14:50 e1450 e1720 18:35

401 322 130 350 403 245 403 464

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Mosquito VI

MN706 MH479 NV964 EJ691 SN186 NV991 MH847 TB997 nk RB155 SM295 MN633 TD114 PZ463

18:40 e1940

308 332

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX

TB715 P NH516

H H F C

PILOT/CREW FlO FM.Hegarty FlO L.A.Dunn (K) F/L R.C.Stockburn} Sgt JWilson} S/Ch RPottier (PI P/O P.T.Coleman F/L O.O.Mason F/O D.Finlayson F/S Allen F/S T.Arnold F/L N.P.CWoodward (K) F/O J.P.WFrancis Cpt R.A.Henwick F/O RS.E.verran F/L WB.Galloway FlO L.Smith (KI S/L WT.Klersy F/S M.Rachwitz (S) F/L HWalmsley F/S A.Kicq FlO WV.J.Burdis (Doll F/O F.J.Pearson F/L J.D.Lindsay F/L WRMcCleliand Sgt J.RBarr FlO E.Haeberle 2Li I.Kleppa (S)

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Ju88

1--

Ju88

I--

Lubeck a/I hbd csd a/train NE Hagenow 20m SW Hamburg

Ju188

--1

Bf109 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1 1-1 --1

Ju252 Fw190

1-1--

Fw190

--1

hbl a/train csd nr Varel OG NW Schwerin u/c collapsed landing B.50 catB/E

sdbl a/barges off Harderwijk Ludwigslust a/I Lubeck area 4m S LUbeck Lubeck area sdb Fw190 S Lubeck ell III B.116 dbl e/I c/l SE Leerdam Vechlin SW Hamburg rol after d/I c/18m N B.114 hbl? a/tanks III AfT(Uelzenl 20m S Hamburg dbbb (Emden) III B.78 catAc/E hbl alguns Oldenberg f/I SE Groningen c/I NW Nijmegan cnk catE/B

The 18th was to be a day of airfield attacks once again. The Poles of 317 Squadron undertook a number of general bombing attacks, but twice raided Marx airfield. During the first such attack two Ju 188s were claimed destroyed and a Bf 109 damaged. Returning to the target later, a Bf 109 was claimed destroyed with another Messerschmitt and a Ju 188 damaged. Other pilots from 74 Squadron claimed two more aircraft damaged during the day - all these claims being for aircraft on the ground. 125 Wing Spitfire XIV pilots enjoyed a very good day. Mid afternoon five Fi 156s were seen on the ground in the Wustrow area, FIt Lt Walmsley claiming two, while Flt Lts Samouelle and Sibeth added one apiece. In the evening Wg Cdr Keefer led the unit to Parchim airfield, where Bf 109s were seen preparing to take off. Keefer personally claimed five of these destroyed, while Fig Off T.L.Trevarrow claimed six, pressing his attack so close that his own aircraft was hit by debris. Near Hamburg meanwhile, 350 Squadron pilots claimed four Ju 88s destroyed and an Fw 190 damaged. During all these attacks no losses to ground fire were suffered.

A pair of 274 Squadron's Tempest Vs 'scramble' from 891, Kluis, 135 Wing's base from 17 March-3D April 1945.

With evening five Tempests from 274 Squadron which had taken off with others of 33 Squadron at 1800, hit Stade airfield where an Fw 190 and two Do 217s were claimed destroyed and others damaged. Half an hour behind them pilots of 56 Squadron observed a Ju 88 taking off from Ludwigslust; Fig OffW.M.Wallis and his no.2 were detailed to carry out the attack and claimed damage to the bomber before having to break off due to intense Flak from the airfield defences. 33 Squadron also hit Utersen airfield during the early evening bringing their total claims for aircraft destroyed on the ground during the day to 4-0-7. TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

14:25 402 e1435 193 15:00 74 15:15 130

Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV

e1525 317

Spitfire IX

RN126 RB482 TB716 nk nk nk MJ138 nk MJ138 nk nk MJ138 MJ293 RM915

e1530 41 nk 33 e1810 317

Spitfire XIV Tempest V Spitfire IX

18:20

412

Spitfire IX

19:00 19:25

56 74

Tempest V Spitfire XVI

19:30 125Wg 130 nk 350 nk 350

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

MJ138 nk MJ684 MJ138 MK898

PILOT/CREW M F/L O.R.Orummond FlO B.Lenson FlO G.A.Piearce F/L G.O.Samouelle F/L HWalmsley F/L P.E.Sibeth U F/L L.Szczerbinski W Sgt J.Kierski} U F/L L.Szczerbinski} Y FlO TSocha W Sgt J.Kierski} U F/L L.Szczerbinski} P Sgt L.Jankowski} P/O P.T.Goleman Squadron U F/L L.Szczerbinski Y FlO TSocha} X Sgt S.zochowski} U F/L L.Szczerbinski} F/L R.B.Barker (S)

SN137 B TB739 T0262 MV263 GGK nk

Hawker Typhoon IB, RB478 'ZH-Q', Sqn Ldr R.E.G.Sheward, 266 Squadron, B.105, Drope

FlO W.MWallis F/L G.M.Braidwood} F/L J.S.Bennett} WIG G.G.Keeler FlO T.L.Trevarrow Squadron Squadron

CLAIM

dpd

Fi156 Fi156 Fi156 Ju188 Ju188

1-2 -1-1-1--

BI109

--1

Ju88

--1 4-7 1-1 --1

Ju88 BI109

--1 --1

rol c/l no-man's land (LObeckGoldbergl Ludwigslust all OG Varel a/I

BI109 BI109 Ju88 Fw190

5-6-4---1

lOG Parchim all I lOG all nr Hamburg I

BI109 Ju188

a -... -<

CAUSEILOCATION e/ll/16m NE B.116 catB/E

hbl b/o AfT nr Friesoythe hit by Typhoon on runway B.105 lOG Wustrow I I lOG Marx all I I I I I I OG LObeck OG Stade & Utersen ails lOG Marx all I

EtA

<

CJ r-+

Sqn Ldr R.E.G.Sheward, DFC, who had flown some of the last Hurricane sorties in north-west Europe with 164 Squadron, then Typhoons with 137 Squadron (in ADGB) and 263 Squadron as a flight commander, took Johnny Deall's place as Commanding Officer of 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron when the latter was promoted to lead 146 Wing. Sheward's Typhoon was RB478 'ZH-Q' seen here in its dispersal at B.89 Mill, early in Apri I 1945

I

A Wholesale Redistribution of Bases

CJ.)

This period also saw another sustained forward movement by 2nd TAF units. By this date the army's spearheads had reached Delmenhorst in the north and Uelzen in the south. During April therefore almost every 2nd TAF unit became involved in one or more changes of airfield. This can best be described by Group.

U

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«

83 Group In 122 Wing, 56, 80 and 486 Squadrons had at last departed B.80, Volkel, and had been at Rl12, Hopsten, since 10-12 April. They were joined there by 3 Squadron on 17th after this unit had completed APC at Warmwell. On 19th, 80 Squadron would depart for this latter destination. All seven squadrons of fighter and TacR aircraft in 126 and 39 (Reece) Wings had reached B.I08, Rheine, but within a few days moved on to B.1l6, Wunstorf, arriving here between 15th17th. Meanwhile 127 Wing's Spitfire units had moved from B.78, Eindhoven, to B.I00, Goch, during 11th-12th. Over the next two days 416, 421 and 443 Squadrons moved on to B.1l4, Diepholz, leaving 403 Squadron at Goch. The Typhoons of 124 Wing had been at B.112, Hopsten, alongside 122 Wing since 13th-14th, but during 17th-18th moved on to B.120, Langenhagen. 121 Wing's three squadrons departed RllO, Achmer, for R150, Hustedt, during 18th-19th, where they were joined by 143 Wing's three squadrons during 20th-22nd, these latter units also departing Achmer at this time. Meanwhile, 125 Wing's Spitfire XIVs moved to B.1l8, CelIe, from B.I06, Twente, during 16th-17th. 84 Group The Polish pilots of 131 Wing had left B.n, Gilze-Rijen, for RI0l, Nordhorn, on 13th, becoming the first in the Group to operate from an airfield in Germany. Following the departure of 125 Wing from Twente, the five Spitfire squadrons of 132 Wing and the TacR units of 35 Wing now moved to this airfield from B.85, Schjindel and B.89, Mill, on 18th. 145 Wing had already departed Schjindel on 16th, flying in to B.I05, Drope. At the same time 146 Wing's Typhoons moved to this airfield from Mill. Next day 123 Wing's four Typhoon squadrons left B.91, Kluis, for B.I03, Plantlunne. Finally, 135 Wing's Tempests also departed B.91 on 20th, arriving at B.I09, Quackenbruck. All 83 and 84 Group squadrons would thus be based on German soil by that latter date.

Denys Edgar Gillam DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar, AFC

pre-war pilot in the RAF, Denys 'Killer' Gillam received an early AFC for flying food to cut-off Rathin Island during fierce gales off Northern Ireland in 1938. He saw service with 616 Squadron during 1940, claiming seven victories with this unit whilst flying Spitfires, for which he was awarded a DFC. Subsequently he became a flight commander in the new 312 (Czech) Squadron, then taking command of 306 (Polish) Squadron. After a spell off operations, he commanded 615 Squadron on Hurricanes, specialising in attacks on shipping. During one such sortie he was shot down into the sea by Flak and was wounded, but survived and was rescued. With a Bar to his DFC and a DSO, he was rested at the end of 1941, undertaking a lecture tour in the USA. In March 1942 he formed and led the first Typhoon Wing, but this was followed by spells at staff college and in the US again. These activities kept him off operations until December 1943, when he became Wing Leader of 146 Wing. The start of 1944 saw him promoted to command Tangmere, and then 20 Sector of 2nd TAF, while in July he returned to command 146 Wing, which had been enlarged. Here he led the Wing's Typhoons during the attack on the 15 Armee headquarters at Dordrecht. By January 1945 he had added two Bars to his DSO - equivalent, he was advised by 84 Group's AOC, to a Victoria Cross in the First World War. He was finally rested in February 1945, becoming Group Captain, Operations, with 84 Group. He left the RAF to become a successful businessman and farmer in Yorkshire, where he remained until his death in September 1991.

A

AVM L.O.Brown, AOC 84 Group, presents Grp Capt Denys Gillam to His Majesty King George VI during the latter's inspection of 146 Wing at B70, Deurne, 13 October 1944

2 Group, 85 Group, and 2nd TAF Headquarters The clearance of the Dutch and Belgian airfields by 83 and 84 Group units provided scope for the remainder of 2nd TAF's squadrons also to move nearer to the areas where fighting continued. 219,410 and 488 Squadrons had already been operating their Mosquito night fighters from B.77, Gilze-Rijen, since earlier in the month. Here they would be joined by 264 Squadron on 26th, while 409 Squadron, which had shared B.51, Lille-Vendeville, with 264, moved further forward to B.108, Rheine, on 19th. With 34 Wing, 16 Squadron's PR Spitfires had reached B.78, Eindhoven, on 10th, and were followed there by 69 and 140 Squadrons on 15th from B.58, Melsbroek. Their place at B.58 was then taken by 140 Wing's three squadrons of intruder Mosquitoes, which they shared with 139 Wing's Mitchells. On 22nd 137 Wing's two Mitchell squadrons left B.50, Vitry-en-Artois, to join the night fighters at Gilze-Rijen. At the end of the month 139 Wing's three squadrons moved into Germany, preparing to operate from B.11 0, Achmer. Amongst the other Mosquito VI units, 136 Wing moved from B.71, Coxyde, to B.80, Volkel, on 25th-26th, only 138 Wing remaining at A.75, Cambrai-Epinoy. Following the non-availability of Tempests at Predannack, 349 and 485 Squadrons now returned to 135 Wing, but they would be sent on to join 132 Wing at B.106, Drope. Here over the next few days the pilots of these units would take over the Spitfire IXs of 331 and 332 Squadrons, the Norwegians then leaving 2nd TAF's control and being flown back to England to join Fighter Command on 22nd.

Fig Offs Douglas Coxhead (left) and Geoffrey Walkington (right) of 222 Squadron. Walkington shot down an unidentified German aircraft (now believed to have been an He 162 see text) on 19 April 1945. Coxhead spent several weeks as a forward observer in a 'contact car' with the Army.

On an armed reconnaissance which commenced at 0900 hours, pilots of 412 Squadron 19 April 1945 -----""---encountered at least six Fw 190s over Hagenow airfield just over an hour later, and four of these were claimed shot down. Fit Lt D.M.Pieri claimed one and shared a second with Fit Lt R.A.Stewart, while Fit Lt D.T.Dewan and Fig Off G.M. Horter claimed one each. Ten minutes later 402 Squadron Spitfire XIV pilots on a similar operation over this area claimed one more destroyed (by FIg Off H.C.Dutton), with another three damaged. The identity of the unit concerned (possibly a Schlachtgruppe) has not been ascertained. 402 Squadron undertook a second armed reconnaissance in the early afternoon, during which Fig Off C.B.MacConnell caught a Tu 88 north of the Schweriner See, claiming this shot down, but Fit Lt H.Cowan was shot down by Flak over Parchim airfield during this sortie. The day saw much more airfield strafing, particularly by the Tempest Wings of both Groups. Pilots of 33 Squadron claimed five Tu 88s, an He III and a Tu 87 damaged at ordholz, but lost one pilot to Flak during the day. Eight 222 Squadron pilots attacked Schlisburg and Husum during the morning, claiming one destroyed and eight damaged. Later at 1805 Fit Lt Turney led six Tempests from this unit to Neumunster where an He III and an Me 410 were claimed destroyed, and two Tu 188s damaged. Here however, Fit Lt C.G.F.Deck, a British-Argentinian, was shot down and killed another Flak victim. His brother had been the first pilot killed in a Typhoon, on 1 November 1941. Over Husum, during the operation, one of the 222 Squadron pilots, Fit Lt G.Walkington, had sighted an aircraft (which he was not able to identify) flying away from the aerodrome. In view of the significance of this encounter it is worth quoting directly from his subsequent combat report. The time of the attack was given as 1220 and 500 feet the height of the enemy aircraft when first sighted: "[ immediately broke off my attack on the airfield and chased this aircraft which was camouflaged mottled green with a yellow underside and appeared to have twin fins and rudders and one engine. The nose of the aircraft had a drooping appearance and the wings (plan view) resembled those of an Me 109. Due to my loss ofspeed on turning the enemy aircraft pulled away to about 1500 yards. Having recognised this aircraft as hostile by its camouflage, [ gave chase, but was unable to close, my [AS being 360 mph. The enemy aircraft did a 360 degrees turn to starboard which [followed, turning inside. During my turn [ managed to close to 1,000 yards. Being unable to gain further [ trimmed my aircraft carefully and allowing about three quarters of a ring above enemy aircraft [ fired short bursts. Enemy aircraft then pulled up through cloud which was 8/lOths at 3,000 feet; [ followed through a gap and passed enemy aircraft spinning down out of control from approx 3,500 feet. [ then watched enemy aircraft explode on the ground near Husum aerodrome."

I

I

CJ.)

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Hawker Tempest V, EJ883 'ZD-Y', Fit Lt C.G.F.Deck, 222 Squadron, B.91, Kluis

l0.-

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A personal account from Lt Gerhard Stiemer of 3./JG 1 appeared in 'JG 1 'Oseau' 1944-1945' by Marek J.Murawski as follows: "We took offfrom the concrete runway in Leek, Kirchener (Fhj.Fw Gunther Kirchener) stayed 30 metres behind me on my right hand side as usual; ... We climbed up to about 200 metres, when suddenly two Thunderbolts appeared behind us and instantly shot down Gunther Kirchener's plane. I saw him jettison canopy and catapult but his parachute did not deploy. I was very lucky that the Thunderbolts did not press on with another attack ... "

The time of take-off was given as 1222. In combat it was not unknown for the Tempest, with its blunt nose and semi-elliptical wings, to be misidentified as a Thunderbolt and there can be little doubt that Walkington's victim was an He 162 (especially when it is considered that the twin-finned aircraft was able to keep its distance from a Tempest at low level). The times and heights of initial contact closely match in both accounts. The evidence is persuasive but for the fact that the accounts refer to different airfields; Husum and Leek, though both in Schleswig-Holstein, are about 15 miles apart. Even so the authors, in the absence of any other matching claims or losses, feel that these two accounts refer to the same incident - the first loss of Heinkel's diminutive jet fighter in combat.

ABOVE: Tempest Vs of 222 Squadron in their dispersal at 891 Kluis, mid-April 1945.

LEFr. 349 Squadron personnel seem pleased to see Spitfires again after eight wasted weeks at Predannack attempting to convert to Tempests. IIWM CL4344)

I Spitfire IX, MJ684 JH-X of 317 Squadron being recovered after it had stalled on approach, crashed and turned over at B.l 01, Nordhorn, on 19 April 1945; the pilot. Fit Sgt KBecher, was injured.

Meanwhile seven pilots from 274 Squadron claimed an He III destroyed and four other bombers damaged during an attack on Stade airfield soon after 1130. 486 Squadron pilots from 122 Wing carried out an attack during which FIt Lt Schrader claimed damage to six Ju 88s, and FIg Off Reid to three He Ills. 350 Squadron's Belgian Spitfire XlV pilots claimed a Ju 87 and an Fw 190 destroyed on the ground, while their newly returned Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer claimed a Ju 88. He had only rejoined the unit on 30 March after escaping from captivity following his earlier capture after being shot down on 26 February. He had then resumed command of the unit from Sqn Ldr Frank Woolley, who was posted instead to command 130 Squadron. On this day however, his Spitfire was hit by a rocket fired from a small ship in the Bay of Wismar, and fell in flames. He was blown out of his aircraft, but at such low altitude that he actually hit the water (parachute opening fractionally in advance) before his blazing aircraft! He was able to wade ashore, suffering from burns, and again became a PoW, only to be released two weeks later by advancing troops of the 7th Armoured Division. 84 Group Spitfires also strafed aircraft on Ardorf airfield, claiming five damaged here, but losing FIg Off L.Barnes of 74 Squadron in the process, who crashed in flames near Oldendorf, and was killed. Two 83 Group Spitfire XVIs were also lost to Flak on this date, both pilots being killed. One of these was Flt Lt J.W.E.Harten of 416 Squadron, who had claimed three victories individually and two shared. At 1540 Maj Borris of I./JG 26 had led off 11 Fw 190Ds for-a fighter-bombing operation to Liineburg, but as the German aircraft were forming up near Sulte, 401 Squadron Spitfires attacked the airfield. Borris led his pilots back to intercept, reporting about 12 Allied aircraft. Lt Soffing and Fhr Gerhard von Plazer each claimed Spitfires shot down here at 1600, although the latter was at once shot down and killed himself by Sqn Ldr Klersy. Towards evening 130 Squadron Spitfire XIVs undertook a reconnaissance over the Hamburg area where three pilots were engaged by a reported 20-plus fighters. These were identified as Fw 190s, but seem actually to have been Bf 109Ks of I./JG 27. Flt Lt Ian Ponsford returned alone, claiming one of the attackers shot down, but Wt Off P.H.T.Clay and FIg OffY.Murphy were both shot down in the Wismar area, and were captured. They had fallen, it seems, to Uffz Kurt Hackl and Uffz Walter Neumann in the Schalsee area. Clay would return on 3 May after release by US forces, reporting that he too had shot down one aircraft before he fell. Indeed, the Luftwaffe unit did lose two of its aircraft during this engagement. During the afternoon II./JG 4 suffered the loss of three Fw 190s to Spitfires in the Neuruppin area, which is well to the south of 130 Squadron's engagement. In the absence of any 2nd TAF claims which appear to tie up with these losses, it would appear that they may have fallen foul of Soviet-flown aircraft. IDENT

TIME SllN

TYPE

01:30

219

Mosquito XXX MM733 Z

01:30

219

Mosquito XXX NT380

03:20

264

Mosquito XIII HK502

PILOT/CREW FlO A.J.C.Patrisse IKI FlO M.H.J.Laloux (KI FlO R.L.Young (K) FlO N.G.Fazan (SI F/L F.Haigh F/L Palmer

CLAIM

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION sdbf W Soltau ftr (Scheidt Estuary) csd on s/e ols nr B.77

I

Q)

U

l0-

TIME SQN

TYPE

!DENT

PILOT/CREW

e0900 e0955

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

SM827 SM814 A NH659 F SM825 M MJ795 PL448 NH471 NH471 MJ504 RM651 Y 'RM727'P RM902 V TB739 MJ684 X SN190 B SW412 SN185

F/O W.H.Carter (I) S/L TSpencer F/O l.Siroux F/S H.Boels F/L O.J.Oewan F/O G.M.Horter F/L O.M.Pieri F/L O.M.Pieri} F/L LAStewart} F/O O.B.Riddell F/O H.R.Robertson F/O H.C.Outton F/L G.M.Braidwood} F/S K.Becher III F/L R.A.McPhie (P) F/O l.K.Jackson (K) F/O GWalkington Squadron

NV674 NV940 U SN185 NV760 N NV765 NV788 RN119 RN204 SM242

F/L H.E.Turney F/O S.J.Roberts F/O GWalkington F/L V.W.Berg F/O J.O.Thorogood F/L J.H.EWellord F/O C.B.MacConnell F/L HACowan IKI F/O A.G.Scott (K) Squadron F/L W.E.Schrader F/O JWReid S/L W.TKlersy F/L JWE.Harten (K) Squadron

130 350

a

LL 10:05

412

Spitfire IX

10:15

402

Spitfire XIV

11:00 11:00 11:30 e1l50 12:20 e1230

74 317 33 182 222 274

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V

e1235

222

Tempest V

« m u

+..J

U

~ ""Cl C

N

e1410 e1415 e1420 e1430 15:00

402 402 421 33 486

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XVI Tempest V Tempest V

e1545 e1610 el720

401 416 33

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Tempest V

e1855 e1905

74 222

Spitfire XVI Tempest V

18:50 18:55 e1855 e1925

130 130 130 350

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

NV651 R EJ651 E PL344 H RR256

TB739 NV933 EJ883 SN187 SN178 SN185 NV696 RM766 nk RN203 SM814

W Y R K J V A

F/O l.Barnes (K) F/L J.l.Lawson} F/L C.G.F.Oeck (K)} F/O R.H.Reid } F/L J.Jamieson} F/L A.P.BWatson} W/O TB.Hannam} W/O P.H.T.Clay (PI F/LI.R.Ponslord F/O V.Murphy IPI S/L lSpencer (W/P)

CLAIM

dpd

Ju88 Ju87 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1-1-1-1-1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Ju188

--1 --1 1-1 --2

E/A Hell1 Ju88 Ju52 Hel77 Ju88 BlllO Ju52 He 111

1-1- 2 --2 --1 --1 --1 --1 --1 1- 5

Ju88

1--

Ju88 Ju88 He111 Fw190

--3 --6 --3 1--

Ju88 He111 Ju87

--2 --1 --1

He1ll Me410 Ju188

1-1---2

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

CAUSE/LOCATION e/I 1/1 AfT lOG nr Buchen { {

Hagenow Hagenow Hagenow Hagenow Hagenow Hagenow nr Hagenow lOG Ardorl a/I csd landing B.101 hbl 1/1 N Freetz sdbl 12m W Soltau Husum lOG Stade a/I; nc { { lOG Schleswig a/I;nc { {

{ {

N Schweriner See bsdbl Parchim a/I hbl or debris 1/1 nr Schwarzeebek OG Nordholz a/I lOG Neuburg {

Hagenow a/I sdbf (Hagenow) lOG Nordholz a/I; nc { { hbl c/I nr Oldendorf lOG Neumunster a/I;nc {

{;sdbl

Hagenow; sdbl after d/I Wismar sdb Fw190 nr Wismar sdbf a/ship Wismar Bay

once, they claimed 11 Messerchmitts shot down and three damaged for the loss of a single Spitfire, and its pilot, Fig Off R.WAnderson, who was shot down by the airfield defences as he pursued enemy fighters. Sqn Ldr Klersy claimed one and shared a second with Flt Lt L.WWoods, who personally claimed a third. Two more claims each were made by Flt Lt W.R.Tew and Fig Off J.A.Ballantine, while Flt Lts John MacKay and R.H.Cull, Fig Offs J.H.Ashton and J,P.WFrancis all claimed one victory. Two hours later three Tempests of 3 Squadron took off for the unit's third operation of the day, a dusk patrol to the Hamburg area. In very poor weather the trio became split up in cloud; Fit Lt Clostermann then happened upon approximately six Fw 190s conducting ground strafing. Engaging these, the fight was then joined by six more Fw 190s, but, despite the odds, Clostermann returned claiming two of the Focke-Wulfs shot down. Soon after 1900 the skies really erupted as 125 Wing's Spitfire XIVs and a mixed 126 Wing formation of Mark IXs and Mark XIVs arrived over the front line areas. The latter, 14 aircraft drawn equally from 401 and 402 Squadrons, spotted many Luftwaffe fighters taking off from Hagenow, and once again the Canadians pulled off a successful 'bounce'. 401 Squadron claimed seven Fw 190s plus three more damaged, Sqn Ldr Klersy rounding out a remarkable day with two claims, while Flt Lt Cull and FIg Off Francis also gained further successes. So too did Flt Lt L.N.Watt and FIg Off G.D.A.T.Cameron, these two latter pilots also each claiming a second damaged, as did John Francis; the final claim was submitted by Fig Off D.B.Dack. 402 Squadron's Mark XIV pilots, providing high cover, had less chance to get to grips with the Luftwaffe aircraft, but Flt Lt R,J.Taggart and Fig Off T.B.Lee were each able to claim a Focke-Wulf, to bring the Wing's claims for the day to a remarkable 20 confirmed. 125 Wing's pilots spread out over the same area, led by the Wing Leader, George Keefer. In the Wittstock-Hagenow area seven 41 Squadron pilots spotted some eight or more Fw 190Ds near Oranienburg. Sqn Ldr Shepherd claimed one and shared a second with Flt Lt Wilkinson, the latter then sharing another with Fit Sgt P.F.Scott. Others were claimed by Fig Off Eric Gray and Wt Off LT.Stevenson. The Squadron then departed the area, but returned a few minutes later when Wt OffV,J.Rossow was able to force an Me 262 to make a wheels-up landing on the airfield (for which he was granted a 'probable'), while FIt Lt R.R.Fisher claimed one more FockeWulf shot down. Meanwhile Wg Cdr Keefer had been able to claim a Bf 109 shot down over Wittstock, where 130 Squadron's Flt Lt Samouelle also claimed a Messerschmitt, one of two that had been seen. Close behind 41 and 130 Squadrons came 350 Squadron, this unit's pilots sweeping over Berlin. North-west of the capital city 15 Fw 190s were spotted, and once again some considerable success was achieved. Flt Lt D.R.Howarth, FIg Off M.Doncq, Plt Off D.J,Watkins and Flt Sgt A.Kicq each claimed one Focke-Wulf, Kicq adding a claim for one more probable, although this was down-graded to a damaged. However, Wt Off J.Groensteen failed to return, the unit's second loss of the day. On an earlier patrol one of the flight commanders, Flt Lt K.Smith, had forcelanded near Schwerin after his aircraft was hit by Flak, becoming a PoW. Groensteen however, was killed. It appears that the Belgian unit had encountered Focke-Wulfs of IY./JG 3, which had been operating against the Russians since the unit's move to the East. During fighting over the Berlin area, Fw Bruno Neumann of this unit's 14. Staffel was reported to have been shot down by Spitfires, while Fw Reinhold Hoffmann of 15. Staffel claimed one Spitfire shot down as his 11th victory. Three 14. Staffel pilots were also lost, all being reported missing, and one of these was Fw Willi Maximowitz, a recipient of the German Cross in Gold, who had claimed 27 victories, 15 of them four-engined bombers. It seems likely that all three were victims of 350 Squadron. This extremely successful day for 2nd TAF was rounded off that evening when FIg Off P.N. Lee of 264 Squadron with Fig Off R.Thomas as radar operator, pursued and shot down a Ju 88 at rooftop height, 20 miles west of Berlin. A note for the enthusiast - when returning from an evening sortie, Fit Lt B.B.Mossing of 401 Squadron was forced to crash-land following an engine fire on approach and collision with a telegraph pole. Although the pilot escaped, albeit with serious injuries, this was the end of the line for his Spitfire IX, MK392, which had been Wg Cdr 'Johnnie' Johnson's 'JEJ' for the year preceding his recent promotion to Group Captain; it had been the victor in 13 combats but was now destroyed by fire. TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

el025 10:45 ell00 el105 e1120 el140 e1305 e1350

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Mustang IA Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

TB996 MJ334 TB371 RM875 H F0560 F RM744 L RB233

Cpt M.A.M.Guerin F/D FR.Dennison Lt R.Borne IKI WID V.E.Barber IE) F/L B.Thirtle (S) F/L K.Smith (PIE) WID B.J.Calnan IW/P) Squadron

345 411 341 402 268 350 181 182

CLAIM

Ar234 Ju188

d Pd

CAUSE/LOCATION

1-1-1

hbf IBremem) catAc/E efto ell B.116 sdbf nr Wiesede hbf or debris altrain IKiel) hbf b/o Delfzijl harbour hbf f/l nr Schwerin hbf b/o S Schwarzenbeck IDG Munde-Nordholz a/f I

Q)

John Robert Baldwin

Co.) ......

D

DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar

LL

«

ollowing service as ground crew in the Battle of France and on bomb disposal duties during the Blitz, 'Johnny' Baldwin was selected for aircrew training and was one of the first RAF trainees to take advantage of the Arnold Scheme (in which RAF pilots were trained up to 'wings' standard at USAAF flying training schools). On return to the UK, following advanced and operational training at 59 OTU, he was posted in November 1942 to fly Typhoons with 609 Squadron at Manston. On the 15th of the following month with less than ten hours on type, he opened his score when, after some long-range shooting, he saw strikes on the Fw 190 he was chasing but was only able to claim it 'damaged'. On 20 January 1943, however, Baldwin was among those scrambled to intercept an ambitious Luftwaffe fighter-bomber operation against London, attacking a formation of eight Bf 109s; he was credited with the destruction of three and was awarded the DFC. Baldwin's score began to mount quickly when the Typhoon was fitted with long-range tanks. He was in the forefront of developing the art of 'Rangers', first as a flight commander in 609, then as CO of 198 Squadron, also based at Manston. In February Baldwin attended No 1 course of the newly formed Fighter Leader School at Milfield, returning to 198 Squadron briefly before the end of his operational tour in March, by which time he was credited with 12 enemy aircraft destroyed and one shared. He had already been awarded a Bar to his DFC for his work with 198 Squadron and this was now followed by the award of a DSO, and a spell on 'rest' as Sqn Ldr (Tactics), 2 Group, 2nd TAP. The Invasion was just ten days old when the loss of Wg Cdr E.R.Baker brought Baldwin back to operations with promotion as Wing Commander Flying, 146 Wing. Posted in on 19 June, he was in action the next day, leading 257 Squadron on a low level bombing operation to seal the mouth of a railway tunnel. This was the first of at least 110 operational sorties in less than four months. During this period two more opportunities to add to his total of aerial victories presented themselves. The first occurred on 29 June when Baldwin, leading nine Typhoons of 193 Squadron, ran into formations of Bf 109s near Conches; the second, two weeks later on 13 July, happened when he was leading three pilots of 197 Squadron, the quartet encountering '15+' Bf 109Gs. These were the last chances that Baldwin would have to bring his guns to bear on the Luftwaffe

F

ABOVE: Baldwin in the cockpit of Typhoon SW470 'JB', marked with his scoreboard.

ABOVE: Both 'JB's awaiting action; note the 'JRB' monogram on the inside of the

undercarriage door In the background is Typhoon JP362 'FJ-J' of 164 Squadron which dates the photograph between mid-April and 24 May 1945

in the air and his final score was 15 and 1 shared destroyed, plus four damaged. In November 1944, Baldwin went 'on rest' again, this time as Wing Commander Planning at 84 Group Control Centre. However, in February 1945 he managed to return to action, promoted again (to Grp Capt) and with a Bar to his DSO, as Officer Commanding 123 Wing, which by happy chance numbered two of his old Squadrons, 198 and 609, among its four resident Typhoon units. As a Grp Capt, he was not expected to fly on 'ops', but undertook at least another 16 before the war ended. Commanding 123 Wing for the rest of the year, he opted to remain in the RAF post-war and in 1946 was posted to command the Fighter Test Squadron at Boscombe Down. Detachment to the Egyptian Air Force followed in 1948 and then command of 249 Squadron in Iraq flying Tempests (he was a Squadron Leader by now, shedding temporary wartime promotions, like many of his comrades). Early in 1952 he was a Wg Cdr once again and was attached to the 16th Squadron of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing flying F-86 Sabres in Korea. On 15 March 1952, after flying eight sorties on Sabres, he was reported missing from a weather reconnaissance in the Sariwon area. It seems that Baldwin's Sabre was not seen again after an attempted cloud break in mountainous country; the most successful Typhoon fighter pilot and youthful leader of elite Typhoon Wings, remains 'missing in action'.

I RIGHT AND BELOW The 'JB' bomber, SW496 and the RP-armed 'JB', SW470. Both aircraft were adopted by Baldwin when he took command of 123 Wing in February 1945.

Hawker Typhoon IB, SW470 'JB', Grp Capt J.R.Baldwin, 123 Wing, B.103, Plantlunne

I

OJ

U

TIME SON

TYPE

e1320

274

Tempest V

15:10

130

Spitfire XIV

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

Squadron

Me410 00217 Ju88 He111 Ju52 Fw190 BI109 Fw190 Fw190 Ju52 Hel77 Me410 Hell1 Fw190 Bl109 Bl109

~

o

LL

F/L H.Walmsley F/L I.R.Ponslord e1510 33 Tempest V FlO J.Linzel Sgt A.CWalker F/L R.J.Oall FlO J.A.Schiff e1530 41 Spitfire XIV P/O P.T.Coleman 16:00 401 Spitfire IX H S/L WTKlersy H S/L WTKlersy} E F/L LWWoods} E F/L L.WWoods V FlO J.H.Ashton G F/L J.MacKay F/O J.A.Baliantine Z F/L WR.Tew R F/L R.H.Cull FlO J.PW.Francis y FlO R.C.Gudgeon FlO OWOavis M FlO R.W.Anderson (Kl e1610 222 Tempest V Squadron e1620 66 Spitfire XVI TB836 F/L F.Lewis 19:10 401 Spitfire IX MK392 F/L B.B.Mossing (II 19:30 130 Spitfire XIV nk F/L C.O.Samouelle e1930 41 Spitfire XIV MV266 J S/L J.B.Shepherd e1930 41 Spitfire XIV MV266 J S/L J.B.Shepherd} RM931 F/L J.FWilkinson} e1930 41 Spitfire XIV RM693 FlO E.G ray RM931 F/L J.FWilkinson} SM817 FIS P.F.Scott} RM928 W/O I.TStevenson MV260 P F/L R.R.Fisher NH692 W/O V.J.Rossow e1935 402 Spitfire XIV RM651 Y FlO TB.Lee e1935 402 Spitfire XIV RM752 R F/L R.J.Taggart 19:40 125Wg Spitfire XIV MV263 GCK W/C G.C.Keeler 19:40 350 Spitfire XIV RM618 P F/L O.R.Howarth RB155 C P/O O.JWatkins NH693 J FlO M.Ooncq SM825 M F/L R.Muls RM733 H FIS A.Kicq NH686 V W/O J.Groensteen (KI 19:40 401 Spitfire IX PL402 FlO J.PW.Francis MK791 Y F/L R.H.Cull PL344 H S/L W.TKlersy NH152 V FlO O.B.Oack MK203 C F/L L.N.Watt MJ794 G FlO G.O.A.T.Cameron 20:30 3 Tempest V nk F/L PH.Clostermann 21:45 264 Mosquito XIII MM521 FlO P.N.Lee FlO R.Thomas

ro u

+--'

u

~ -0 C

N

21 April 1945

nk nk SN164 NV775 NV754 NV764 MV254 PL344 PL344 ML141 ML141 NH152 MJ794 MH479 MH456 MJ340 PL402 MK791 MH450 MJ980

F 0 A L

d Pd 2 -1-1-1-1 --1 --5 --2 1-111 --1 --1 --1 --1 1-1-1--

CAUSE/LOCATION OG Flensburg a/I

{nr Oranienburg {

lOG Rechlin & Wittstock all; nc { { {

nr Neuruppin {T3456/ SW Schwerin { { { { { { { { { {

Bl109 Bll09 BI109 Bl109 BI109 Bl109 Bll09 BI109 Bl109

1-1-1-2 -2 -1-1-1 --1 --1

E/A

--5

Bl109 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-1--

sdbl a/enemy lighters S Schwerin OG Nordholz all; nc hbl a/train b/o AJT W Burger ellire on approach c/l B.116 dbl nr Wittstock {nr Oranienburg all {

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

{nr Oranienburg a/I {

Fw190 Fw190 Me262 Fw190 Fw190 BI109 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1--11-1-1-1-1-1---1 1-1

{nr Oranienburg all

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Ju88

1-1 1-2 -1-1-1 1-1 2 -1--

{

{

{ NW Hagenow all Hagenow all Wittstock NW Berlin {nr Neuruppin { {NW Berlin { psdbea Berlin {Hagenow all { {

{ {

{ 10m SW Hamburg 20m W Berlin

The day was to prove somewhat less successful for 2nd TAF than had the previous one - but nonetheless not as costly as the Luftwaffe believed its pilots had made it. Early in the morning 143 Wing's new base at Hustedt was strafed by jets and Fw 190s, but these inflicted no significant damage, and the ground defences claimed one of the latter shot down. Early in the afternoon I./JG 26, led by Oblt Dortenmann, sent off nine Fw 190Ds on a highway patrol, but finding nothing of note on the roads, the German pilots began a hunt for Allied fighter-bombers. They reported sighting such over Buchholz, south of Hamburg, at about 1515-1520, claiming three Spitfires shot down here, one of them by Dortenmann. No losses of Spitfires at this time have been identified however. About half an hour later a pilot of 9./JG 27 claimed another Spitfire to the north-west of Salzwedel, but II. Gruppe lost two Bf 109s in combat in the Hagenow area, with one pilot killed and one wounded. Six Spitfires of 403 Squadron were out over the Schnackenburg area during the early afternoon, where two Bf 109s were seen attacking ground targets, and these were claimed shot down by Sqn Ldr H.P.M.Zary (his seventh victory) and FIg Off D.Leslie. At much the same time 402 Squadron, operating over the same area as on the previous day, claimed one more

Fig Officer Carl Ellement leaves the cockpit of his 411 Squadron Spitfire XVI after a sortie; he had been brought down behind enemy lines on 20 January and 21 April 1945 but had managed to return to Allied lines on both occasions.

Messerschmitt shot down by Flt Lt E.R.Burrows, plus damage to two more. A little later, towards the end of the afternoon, 411 Squadron undertook an armed reconnaissance during which a train was attacked. Flt Lt S.M.McClarty then spotted a Bf 109 north of Putlitz and claimed this shot down, but FIg Off C.A.E.Ellement's Spitfire was hit by Flak and he baled out near Kiel. He evaded capture, returning to his unit on 3 May, the second time he had achieved this feat. About an hour later more Spitfire XVIs from 443 Squadron on an armed reconnaissance over the Parchim-Schwerin area were 'bounced' by four Fw 190s and FIg Off H.R.Hanscom was shot down. At this time 486 Squadron's Tempests were operating in this area, Sqn Ldr W.E.Schrader claiming a Bf 109 shot down west of Schwerin airfield, while Flg Off A.R.Evans claimed an Fw 190 northeast of Wismar. The latter was probably the aircraft of Uffz Georg Kreth of 6.1JG 26, who was engaged in an evening patrol north-west of Perleberg when shot down. Two Tempests were claimed shot down by Hpt Paul Schauder of Stab II./JG 26 and Lt Werner Schramm, but the New Zealanders actually suffered no loss. Another Tempest was also claimed on this date by Lt Rudolf Wurff of 6.1JG 301 in the Dummer See area. It is possible that it was he who had despatched the 443 Squadron Spitfire. However, other 122 Wing squadrons were also operating over the area during the day, Flt Lt B.C.McKenzie of 3 Squadron last being seen to the east of Hamburg after his Tempest had been hit by Flak. 56 Squadron aircraft strafed in the Liibeck-Wismar area, where Sgt Swindells claimed the destruction of a Ju 88 on the ground. Various German personnel were now attempting to escape from Berlin, and indeed next day Admiral Karl Donitz, the OKW Staff and the OKH Staff managed to get out of the capital to Murvik in Schleswig-Holstein. It was thought better to control the remaining resistance from here rather than from insde the stricken city. Aircraft flying in and out of Berlin now presented 85 Group's night fighters with some tempting targets, and as soon as night fell on 21st, the hunt was on. Two of 264 Squadron's Mosquito XIIIs were first 01'1 the scene, and at 2120 Sqn Ldr C.M.Ramsay/Flt Lt DlDonnet claimed a Ju 88 probably shot down 35 miles north-west of Berlin, while ten minutes later Wt Off A.S.Davis/Flt Sgt C.T.Fisher claimed a Ju 188 to the west of the city. An hour later Flt Lt R.D.Schultz/Flg Off J.S.Christie in a 410 Squadron Mosquito XXX, claimed a Ju 88 over the Fehrbellen area, adding a second here 30 minutes later. TIME saN

TYPE

13:30 e1600

443 402

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV

IDENT

16:30

403

e1745 e1810 e1815 18:20

3 411 411 486

18:45 e1900 21:20

56 443 264

SM383 RM651 RM845 RM752 Spitfire XVI TB752 TD130 Tempest V EJ610 Spitfire IX PL283 Spitfire IX RR201 NV969 Tempest V SN136 Tempest V EJ536 Spitfire XVI SM664 Mosquito XIII HK534

21:30

264

Mosquito XIII MM523

22:30

410

Mosquito XXX MV527

23:00

410

Mosquito XXX MV527

PILOT/CREW Y X R Z

R A V W

F/L R.D.March IE) F/L E.R.Burrows F/O H.C.Dutton F/O W.O.Young S/L H.P.M.Zary F/O D.Leslie F/L B.C.McKenzie (K) F/O C.A.E.Ellement lEI F/L S.M.McClarty S/L W.E.Schrader F/O A.R.Evans Sgt G.J.Swindelis F/O H.R.Hanscom (K) S/L C.M.Ramsay F/L D.J.Donnet W/O A.S.Davis F/S C.T.Fisher F/L R.D.Schultz FlO J.S.Christie F/L R.D.Schultz F/O J.S.Christie

CLAIM

dpd

<

n r-+ a ~

-<

CAUSE/LOCATION

BI109 Bll09 Bll09 Bll09 Bll09

1---1 --1 1-1--

Bll09 BI109 Fw190 Ju88

1-1-1-1--

Ju88

-1-

hbl a/train b/o EfT nr Barkow NE Uelzen nr Witzaker/Hitzaker 10m S W/Hitzaker {SE Perle berg { hbl a/MET lis E Hamburg hbl b/o 10m SE Hagenow NW Parchim 2m W Schwerin a/I NEWismar OG 2m N Bad Kleinen psdbea nr Parchim 35m NW Berlin

Ju188

1--

12m W Berlin

Ju88

1--

Ferrbellen area

Ju88

1--

Ferrbellen area

There followed a gap until the early morning of 22nd, when between 0420-0440 FIg Off J.Daber/Wt Off J.W.Heathcote of 264 Squadron caught two Ju 290 transports north-west of Berlin, despatching both in flames. An hour later FIg Off W.A.Craig/Flg Off A.L.Tauwhare of 488 Squadron claimed an He III damaged, while at 0530 this unit's Plt Off G.S.Patrick/Wt Off J.J.Concannon claimed a Ju 52/3m south of Rhinow. Some 12 hours later patrolling Spitfires of 411 Squadron encountered a single hostile fighter near Salzwedel, Flt Lt E.T.Gardner and FIg Off M.F.Doyle claiming an Fw 190 shot down. Their

2_2_A_p,,---ril_l_9_4_5

I Supermarine Spitfire XVI, TB702 'GW-Y', Cpt P.G.J.Aubertin, 340 Squadron, B.105, Drape

«

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE:

From late March onwards bubblecanopied Spitfire XVls were among those delivered to 2nd TAF squadrons and were much appreciated by the pilots for the improved view afforded by the new canopy. Examples shown here are TB675 '40-V' of 74 Squadron (below), TB702 'GW-Y of 340 Squadron (left). 10239 '21-C' of 443 Squadron (opposite centre) and T0317 'ZF-P' of 308 Squadron (opposite top). Although 18702 joined 340 Squadron at the end of April 1945, it may be that the French roundels and fin flash were not added until mid-May, as was the case on the sister unit, 341 Squadron

I

Supermarine Spitfire XVI, TD317 'ZF-P', Sqn Ldr K.Pniak, 308 Squadron, 8.101, Nordhorn

victim may have been a Bf l09K of II./JG 27, which was shot down by Allied fighters, the pilot becoming a PoW. TIME SON TYPE

«

IDENT

04:20

264

Mosquito XIII MM500

04:40

264

Mosquito XIII MM500

05:25

488

Mosquito XXX MM822

05:30

488

Mosquito XXX MM809

e1510 17:40

443 411

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX

e2340

107

Mosquito VI

TD154 PV230 MK788 HR296 G

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/lOCATION

FlO J.oaber WID J,W.Heathcote FlO J.oaber

Ju290

1--

35m NW Berlin

Ju290

1--

35m NW Berlin

Helll

--1

Butzer area

Ju52

1--

S Rhinow

Fw190

1--

hbf catB/E 15m ESalzwedel

W/O J,W.Heathcote FlO WACraig FlO A,L.Tauwhare P/O G,S,Patrick WID J,J,Concannon P/o P.C,Gomm FIL E.T.Gardner) FlO M.F.ooyle} FIL L.Whiteside (K) FlO BWSmith (K)

ftr (Pritzwalkl

Newly-commissioned Allan Inglis of the RAAF failed to return from a sortie to strafe Luftwaffe airfields on 23 April 1943. He returned to 274 Squadron at the close of hostilities with an incredible story to tell. He claimed to have shot down three German aircraft and destroyed a fourth on the ground before being shot down by Flak and obliged to bale out. He was to receive a DFC for this exploit.

"While on a weather recce and cannon test I found a break in cloud just south of Schleswig town and went through it to a cloud base of approx 1,500 feet. Flying NW I sighted an uncamouflaged aircraft ahead and slightly to port flying very low. I closed in line astern and slightly above and identified it as a Ju 188 and opened fire at 400 yards with a two-second burst which set the port engine alight and knocked pieces off the wing. The ela started a slight turn port and I got in a one-second burst at the cockpit before I pulled over him. I started a climb port and looked back to see the aircraft crash into the edge of what appeared to be a planted forest. I was about 800 feet and had turned 90 degrees when I saw an Fw 190 pull up to port in the vicinity of the burning aircraft. This Fw 190 was, as I soon saw, accompanied by two on his port side and three on his starboard side. I straightened out and dived behind the starboard aircraft and noticed as I did so that those on the port had all followed the leader's port turn. I gave this last 190 a two-second burst and got good strikes on his engine and cockpit. EIA poured smoke and then flame as it dived steeply into the ground to port. This Fw was carrying what appeared to be a bomb under the fuselage. I pulled hard up to port in a steep climb as by this time the first Fw 190 was almost on my tail. I got a short burst from 30 degrees at the tail end e/a and saw strikes on the port wingroot. He straightened out as he entered cloud and I was about to fire from about 50 yards line astern when it rolled slightly and the pilot baled out. I remained in the cloud at approx 2,500 feet for about three minutes then started to fly north in and out of the low cumulus cloud but couldn't see the other aircraft again. ''After remaining about ten minutes in the Flensburg area and west, I headed south along the railway to Eggebek airfield where I made three attacks at e/a on the ground at the north-west corner of the 'drome, resulting in one Ju 88 burning and one Ju 52 damaged. As I crossed the alfon the third attack, glycol poured out of the exhaust tubes and I pulled up to about 2,500 feet where the engine

'packed up' and a few minutes later seized. I switched on the distress switch and called Longbow on A, Band C but received no reply. At about 1,500 feet spurts of flame came from the engine and I decided to bale out. I claim one]u 188 and two Fw 190s destroyed in the air, one Ju 88 destroyed and one Ju 52 damaged on the ground."

It was a day of quite heavy losses to Flak generally, four Typhoon pilots and two Spitfire pilots being killed, one of each captured and two Spitfire pilots injured in crash-landings. One of the Typhoon pilots who perished was Rhodesian FIg Off N.V. Borland who, with his identical twin brother, had flown two tours with 266 Squadron. At 1745 130 Squadron's Spitfire XIVs commenced an evening patrol by six aircraft over the Neustadt-Pritzwalk area, where rail traffic was strafed. Two Bf 108 liaison aircraft were then spotted orbitting over Parchim airfield, and both were claimed shot down by FIt Lt Harry Walmsley. Earlier in the day Grp Capt 'Johnnie' Johnson had led this unit, accompanied by 41 Squadron with Wg Cdr George Keefer in the lead, over the Elbe to join the Red Air Force in attacking the German retreat before the Soviet forces. This was the first contact for RAF fighters with their Russian counterparts. Again the dark provided good hunting for the night fighters. At 2140 FIg Off 'Jack'Foster/ FIg Off EH.Dagger of 264 Squadron claimed an He 111 40 miles north-west of Berlin, while at 2215 another of these elderly bombers fell to FIg Off E.E.Hermanson/Flt Lt D.J.T.Hamm of 409 Squadron over Ludwigslust. This pair would claim a Ju 87 in the same area at 2245. Meanwhile, at 2235 FIg Off J.H.Skelly/Flg Off P.J.Lim - also a 409 Squadron team - claimed a Ju 52/3m over Wittenberg, adding another of these transports here at 2255. Hermanson and Hamm made it three for the night with another Ju 87 just after 2300. But the night was still young ... TIME SON

TYPE

03:35

264

Mosquito XIII MM525

IDENT

e0415

21

Mosquito VI

RS532

06:15

403

Spitfire XVI

06:20 e0700 07:10

403 340 274

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Tempest V

TD141 TB340 TB754 TD233 D

e0710 e0835 e0900

322 340 33

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI Tempest V

PILOTICREW

CLAIM

S/L C.M.Ramsay F/L D.J.Donnet F/D G.R.NoweIIIKI WID J.Haugh (K) FIL H.R.Finley FIL W.N.Dove F/D A.J.McLaren (P) Lt J.J.M.Carre IKI Squadron

Ju88

TB627 U TB917 C NV731

F/D K.Norman (Doll Lt Rigaud II) F/L L.C.Luckhoff

NV682

F/L R.J.Dall

NV754

F/D JASchiff

NV775 L SN164 A

WID B.G.Leigh W/O J.B.JWansink F/S C.P.Nisbet Sgt D.H.Simpson Sgt A.C.Walker FIS C.Peters IPI P/O R.T.Casey (K) P/O T.Hartnett (K) F/S A.C.lnglis

09:05 10:40 ell00 12:15

33 198 438 274

Tempest V Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V

nk NV972 SN160 SN173 SW472 K RB342 Q EJ781

12:35

274

Tempest V

EJ781

F/S A.C.lnglis (EI

e1255 e1515 18:20 18:30 21:10 21:40

266 609 439 130 322 264

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XVI Mosquito XIII

RB423 S PD572 D SW525 nk F TD157 MM497

22:15

409

Mosquito XIII HK429 D

22:35

409

Mosquito XIII HK506 H

22:45

409

Mosquito XIII HK429 D

FlO N.V.Borland (K) WID S.E.Smith IK) F/L J.H.McCuliough (P) F/L HWalmsley F/S S.K.Aertsen F/O W.H.Foster FlO F.H.Dagger FlO E.E.Hermanson F/L D.J.T.Hamm F/D J.H.Skelly FlO P.J.Lim F/D E.E.Hermanson F/L D.J.T.Ham

dpd 1--

CAUSEILOCATION Havelberg ftr

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

Ju88 Hell1 Ju188 Ju52 Bll10 E/A

8- 6 2- 1 1-1 --2 --1 --1

Ju88 Ju52 Ju88 He111 Ju52 Hel11 Ju88 Ju88 Ju88 Hel11 Ju52 Ju88 Ju52

1- 2 --1 1-1 --1 1---1 --1 1-1---1 --1 --1 --1

Ju188 Fw190 Ju88 Ju52

1-2- 1---1

{leven area { III after d/I SE Bremen sdbf a/tra in 25m N Bremen lOG Eggebek all { { { { { ell c/I nr Lindern hbl N Bremen ell EQuackenbriick lOG Schleswigl Husum { { {

{ { {

{ { { { { {

hbl III 8m SW Schleswig sdbl N Bremen ftr I/s SW Luneberg {Jubeck area { lOG Eggebek a/I;sdbl {

Bf108

2 --

He 111

1--

hbf csd NE Leer hbl b/o nr Nieuwolde hblf/l12m SE Ratzeburg Pare him alf elf on approach III w/u B.106 cat Ac/E 40m NW Berlin

He111

1--

nr Ludwigslust

Ju52

1--

Wittenberge area

Ju87

1--

nr Ludwigslust

I

Q)

U

TIME SON

TYPE

22:55

409

Mosquito XIII HK506 H

IOENT

23:03

409

Mosquito XIII HK429 0

e2310

464

Mosquito VI

NS943 0

e2340

464

Mosquito VI

TA372 y

l.-

o

LL

« m u

24 April 1945

+-'

U

~ -0 C N

Fit Lt R.J.Hetherington's 33 Squadron Tempest NV678 '5R-M' at 127 Wing's base where it apparently arrived following an attack on Tarnewitz airfield, on 24 April 1945, in which Hetherington was wounded.

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/lOCATION

F/O J.H.skelly F/O P.J.Lim FlO E.E.Hermanson FIL D.J.T.Hamm FlO P.J.Baker (KI FlO CALee (K) WID D.R.Rutter (EI F/S A.A.Taylor (PI

Ju52

1--

Wittenberge area

Ju87

1--

Wittenberge ftr Bremen ftr hbf a/train csd NNE Bremen

At 0205 Flg Off I.C.E.Atkins/Flg Off D.R.Mayo of 219 Squadron claimed a Ju 88 east of Stendal, while at 0325 409 Squadron's Pit Offs I.Leslie/C.M.Thurgood added a Ju 52/3m in the Wittenberge-Karow area, to bring the night's total to eight. 409 Squadron had now claimed 56 victories since D-Day, making it 2nd TAP's top-scoring night fighter unit. At 0625 six 130 Squadron Spitfire XIVs set off on an armed reconnaissance. 25 minutes later an Fw 190 was seen and pursued to Neustadt airfield, where others were seen orbitting; three were quickly claimed shot down by Fit Us C,J.Samouelle and Bruce, and Fit Sgt Woodman. Six more of the unit's aircraft then flew a reconnaissance to Wismar, where at 0715 a Bf 108 was spotted and was shot down by Sqn Ldr Woolley. Twenty minutes later Wt Off R.E.Coverdale claimed another Focke-Wulf near Hagenow. The victims of the first section may have been from JG 11 which lost two pilots killed by Spitfires in the Lutz area, one more being shot down and killed over Gatow. Many attacks were made on Luftwaffe airfields during the day, and once again 135 Wing's Tempests played a major part. 33 Squadron hit Tarnewitz airfield, claiming one Ju 52/3m destroyed and four Heinkel bombers damaged, but three of the unit's aircraft were hit by Flak. Fit Sgt I.E.Fraser crashed to his death at Konigsmoor, while FIg Off D.J.ter Beek baled out near Schonberg, becoming a prisoner; the third pilot who failed to return was Fit Lt R.J.Hetherington who was thought to have crashed on the airfield. However, Hetherington was eventually located, on 1 May, in a hospital in Brussels and his aircraft was flown back to the squadron six weeks after the war; the circumstances of his escape remain obscure (to the authors at least!). At Flensburg soon after midday 274 Squadron pilots claimed three Fw 190s and a Ju 52/3m destroyed, plus six Focke-Wulfs and five Ju 188s damaged. One Tempest was hit and damaged by Flak. 222 Squadron meanwhile attacked Skydstrup airfield in Denmark, claiming one He 177 destroyed and 11 other assorted aircraft damaged. Two Tempests were damaged during this attack. Typhoons were also out after similar targets. At about 1430 four 439 Squadron pilots who had been after the usual rail targets spotted rather different prey; hidden under camouflage netting at the edge of a lake, a six-engined BV 222 flying boat, which they duly strafed to destruction. Pilots from 247 Squadron found Hagenow airstrip crowded with bombers, claiming four He Ills and a Ju 88 destroyed, and three more Heinkels damaged. About an hour later 41 Squadron Spitfire XIV pilots spotted a number of Ar 196 floatplanes alongside the Ratzeburg See, Fit Lts Peter Cowell and R.R.Fisher, and two other pilots each claiming four of these damaged. 33 and 222 Squadrons then attacked this same target, claiming one floatplane destroyed and nine damaged. However, Flg Off J. G.Wilson's 222 Squadron aircraft was hit by Flak and he force-landed, wounded. 616 Squadron's Meteors were also involved on this date, the unit's first claim for an enemy aircraft being made against a Ju 88 damaged on Nordholz airfield. During the day however, 122 Wing suffered the loss of three Tempests, all falling to Flak. 486 Squadron's FIt Lt W.W.May and 56 Squadron's Fit Lt J.J.Payton both became PoWs, the former baling out near Hamburg, the latter force-landing near Pritzwalk. Pit Off D.C.H.Rex of 56 Squadron also force-landed in the Pritzwalk area, but evaded capture. A plea for caution from the strafers was noted by a 34 Wing reconnaissance aircraft - carved in the turf at Hammerge, near Lubeck, were the words 'RAP POWS - FINGER OUT'! Indeed there were a number of incidents where columns of 'troops' which were attacked turned out to be PoWs, and consequently Allied casualties resulted. 130 Squadron's Flt Lt Harry Walmsley was promoted on this date and posted to command 350 Squadron following the loss of Terry Spencer. During the afternoon he and the 125 Wing commanding officer, Grp Capt I.E.Johnson, led a sweep during which Pit Off D.J.Watkins and FIg Off A.Vaneckhoudt claimed an He III shot down. With evening Spitfire XIVs of 130 and 350 Squadrons swept over the Kyritz-Malchow area. Near Rechlin at 1920 Fit Lt P.E.Sibeth claimed an Fw 190 shot down, while five

I

Long-range Typhoons of 263 Squadron, each carrying two 45-gallon drop tanks and four RP, were filmed by the FPU on 24 April 1945. (IWM FLM1586)

minutes I~ter near Neuendorf Fit Lts W.N.Stowe and Bruce added a Bf 109 shot down, Sibeth contributing a damaged; Stowe's and Bruce's victim was probably an aircraft of III.I]G 27, the pilot of which was killed. Returning to the RecWin area, Stowe then claimed an Fw 190 shot down, Fit Lt C.E.Mertens adding one damaged. Stowe's victim seems ot have been Obit Paul Spangenberg of LIJG 11, who baled out, while Fw Paul Bendt's aircraft was damaged by Mertens' fire. I./JG 11 was at this time based at Rechlin-Larz airfield. Meanwhile at 1930 the 350 Squadron pilots had also met Fw 190s over Kleinen airfield, Sqn Ldr Walmsley claiming one of these shot down, a second being credited as a probable to Fit Lt G.R.J. de Patou!, who failed to return, although he was later reported to be safe. Two hours later, after darkness had fallen, 264 Squadron's Fit Lts S.J.Moss/P.C.O'Neil-Dunne intercepted and shot down an Fw 19040 miles north-west of Berlin. Then just before 2300 hours Sqn Ldr F.W.Davison/FIt Lt E.S.Hickmore of 488 Squadron claimed a Ju 52/3m north of Brandenburg. TIME SON

TYPE

02:05

219

Mosquito XXX nk

03:25

409

Mosquito XIII MM502 A

06:50

130

Spitfire XIV

07:15 07:35 10:45 elll0 el130

el140 12:00

130 130 414 66 222

616 33

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Spitfire XVI Tempest V

Meteor III Tempest V

IDENT

nk nk nk nk nk nk NH813 RK868 SN187 NV933 EJ889 SN178 NV760 NV757 EJ874 SN188 SN171 NV695 EE252

T

F R W K N y A D B G

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

F/O J.C.E.Atkins F/O D.R.Mayo P/O J.Leslie P/O C.M.Thurgood F/L W.Bruce F/S BWWoodman F/L C.J.Samouelle F/L G.M.Corbett S/L FGWoolley W/O R.E.Coverdale F/O FR.Loveless IS) W/O W.Anderson F/L H.E.Turney} F/L G.FJongbloed} F/L R.P.Dashwood} F/O HVRichbel1} F/L VWBerg} F/O D.G.C.McCleland} F/O J.O.Thorogood} F/L A.P.BWatson} W/O T.B.Hannam} W/O J.A.Lamirande} W/C A.McDowell Squadron

Ju88

1--

30m EStendal

Ju52

1--

Wittenberge/Karowarea

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Bll08 Fw190

1-1-1-1

}

}

--1

}

1-1--

WWismar nr Hagenow hbl? e/I b/o 12m N Hamburg hbl (WSW Oldenburg) III AIT lOG Skydstrupt a/I I I;hbl catB/Ac I I;hbl catB/Ac I;hbl catB/Ac I

He111 Hel77 Bll09 Ju88 D0217 Ju52 E/A

Ju88 - - 1 1-Fw200 1-Ju52 --3 He111 Ar96 Hel77

NV731 X NV754 B NV678 M 13:00

247

Typhoon IB

274 Tempest V

1- 2 1- 2 --3 --3 --1 --1 --1

--1 --1

F/S J.E.Fraser IK) F/O D.J.ter Beek (P) F/L R.J.Hetherington (W) Squadron Squadron

Ju88 Hel11 Fw190 Ju188 Ju52

1-4-3 3-6 --5 1--

}Neustadt

OG Nordholz a/I }OG Tarnewitz a/I } } } }

hbl csd Konigsmoor hbl b/o nr Schonberg hbl Tarnewitz ftr; a/c later recovered }OG Hagenow a/I 113:00 }OG Flensburg a/I } }

C1.)

U

l0.-

a

Ulo.-

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1335 14:20

486 41

Tempest V Spitfire XIV

e1430 14:40

443 439

Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB

e1540

41

Spitfire XIV

e1635

56

Tempest V

NV651 R RM696 MV249 SM294 SW534 RB456 H RB477 'RB329' MV266 J SM820 SM817 RM915 P SN131 P

F/S WWMay (PI F/S L.H.Smart F/O R.OASmith F/L H.C.Charlesworth (WI F/L V.H.S.LeGear F/O J.S.Brook F/O WKubicki F/O EM.Hallord F/L P.Cowell F/L R.R.Fisher F/O WJ.Jallands F/S H.EKelley F/L J.J.Payton IPI

NV980 J e1640 e1640 17:00

33 222 222 350

Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V Spitfire XIV

e1710 e1800 19:20

127 349 130

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV

P/O D.C.H.Rex lSI Squadron} Squadron} F/O J.G.wilson (WI F/O A.Vaneckhoudt) P/O D.J.Watkins} F/L J.Ross F/L H.F.wieck lSI F/L P.E.Sibeth

19:25

130

Spitfire XIV

19:25 19:30

130 350

19:35 21:20

130 264

nk nk Spitfire XIV nk Spitfire XIV SM825 M RM618 P Spitfire XIV nk Mosquito XIII MM525

22:58

488

Mosquito XXX NT512

« CD

U

+-'

U

~ -0 C N

25 April 1945

EJ874 nk nk T0125 PV185 nk

F/L WN.Stowel F/L WBruce) F/L C.E.Mertens S/L H.E.walmsley F/L G.R.J.de Patoul (S) F/L WN.Stowe F/L S.J.Moss F/L P.C.O'Neil-Dunne S/L EWDavison F/L E.S.Hickmore

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

Bv222

1--

hbl b/o nr Hamburg e/I on r/w hit by MV249 B.118 cld RM696 on r/w B.116 catB/E hbl (Lubeck) catAc/E OW Schaalsee Lake

Ar196 Ar196 Ar196 Ar196

-

CLAIM

-4 -4 -4 -4

lOG Ratzeburger See { { {

hbsall/I W Pritzwalk

Ar196

1- 9

hbsall/I NEMayenburg OG Ratzeburger a/I

Helll

1--

hbl Ratzeburger 1/1 nr Soltau N Pritzwalk

Fw190 Bll09 Bll09

1---1 1--

e/I 1/1 E.7060 sdbl Brunsbuttel area {Rechlin a/I { NW Neuruppin

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

--1 1--11-1--

Rechlin a/I {Kleinen a/I {ftr after d/I Rechlin a/I 40m NW Berlin

Ju52

1--

N Brandenburg

Forty-five minutes into 25th 409 Squadron gained a further success when Ph Offs L.E.Fitchett/ A.C. Hardy claimed another Ju 52/3m over Konigsberg. However, their Mosquito was shot-up by return fire and they crash-landed on return to B.5l. An Fw 190 was then claimed destroyed at an enemy airfield (believed to have been Wittstock) by Sqn Ldr Ben Plumer/Ph Off H.G.Beynon of 409 Squadron; this was their fifth claim for an aircraft destroyed, all the others having been made in aerial combat. Finally, at 0408 409's Wg Cdr R.F.Hatton/Fh Lt R.N.Rivers claimed a Ju 290.

Fig Off 'Hank' Nixon, RCAF, of 137 Squadron gets the 'OK' from one of his colleagues after his Typhoon starts up and prepares to taxi at B.80, Helmond.

Supermarine Spitfire XVI, SM204 '21-J', Fig Off H.A.Greene, 443 Squadron, B.114, Diepholz

Spitfire XVI SM204 '21-J' 'Jinx' was one of the 443 Squadron aircraft involved in airfield strafi ng attacks by 443 Squadron

Around 0730 83 Group fighters began a series of armed reconnaissances. One group of 130 Squadron Spitfire XIV pilots spotted a Ju 87 taking off from Schwerin at 0810. Wt Off J.A.Bouhon attacked this, forcing it to land again; he was credited with its possible destruction. Another section from this unit encountered a Bf 109 over Rechlin and this was claimed shot down by Fh Lt Ponsford, who then claimed damage to an Fw 190 over the Muritz See. Two more fighters were damaged by other 130 Squadron pilots, one of them by Wt Off M.Ockendon. He and Fh Lt Bill Stowe then attacked an Me 262 as it was landing at Lubeck. The pilot of this jet baled out of his aircraft halfway down the runway, this pair also being credited with a 'probable'. A few minutes earlier, 41 and 486 Squadrons also attacked Me 262s at Lubeck. FIg Off K.A.Smith of the New Zealand unit attacked one of the jets as it was landing, claiming this destroyed, while 41 Squadron's Fh Lt Peter Cowell claimed another Me 262 as a probable, plus one damaged here. 403 Squadron was active against various ground targets during the day. On an early raid eight pilots strafed locomotives, then attacked Hagenow and Schwerin airfields. At the latter FIg Off R.C.Shannon fired at an Fw 190 as it was taxiing and claimed this destroyed. 125 Wing's pilots were next engaged between 1230-1250. Four of 130 Squadron's aircraft were over Pritzwalk when their pilots saw 16 Fw 190s taking off, Ph Off EE.EEdwards claiming one, while the Wing Leader, George Keefer, claimed a second 20 minutes later. 350 Squadron engaged 20 more Focke-Wulfs over Rechlin airfield, three of these being claimed shot down, one by Sqn Ldr Walmsley and two by Ph Off E.Pauwels. 41 Squadron made for Pritzwalk around 1400, and here Ph Off P.T.Coleman and Wt Off J.A.Chalmers intercepted and shot down a Ju 88. They then went down to strafe, claiming an Fw 190 and an Fi 156 damaged. At much the same time Sqn Ldr Woolley of 130 Squadron claimed a Siebel Si 204 in the same area - apparently a 'hack' aircraft of l./JG 11. This Geschwader also lost one or two Fw 190s in combat during this day. At 1430 443 Squadron flew an armed reconnaissance to the Stade-Bremen area where 60 Ju 87s, Fw 190s and Ju 88s were attacked on Schwerin airfield. Only a single Ju 88 could be claimed destroyed, but many others were thought to have been damaged. Probably they would

Q)

U

~

0

U-. ~

<J: CO

U

+--"

U

~ -0 C N

not burn because their fuel tanks had been drained. A little over an hour later 403 Squadron sent eight Spitfires to attack this same airfield, three Me 262s being claimed damaged. 443 Squadron was back in the area later in the afternoon, this time hitting Neustadt airfield where three Fw 190s were claimed destroyed and two more damaged. Then 403 Squadron attacked Travemtinde early in the evening, an He III and an aircraft tentatively identified as an Fw 189 being claimed destroyed here. Other strafing attacks during the day included one by 56 Squadron Tempests at 1050, the pilots of which claimed a Bf 109, and by Spitfires of 322 Squadron, whose Dutch pilots claimed a Ju 188 destroyed at Wittmundhafen, plus another and two Bf 109s damaged. Typhoon pilots of 182 Squadron claimed three damaged at Ludwigslust, one more such claim being made here by one of 137 Squadron's SAAF pilots, Capt J.I.A.Watt. These various attacks cost 403 and 443 Squadrons one aircraft each. Other Flak casualties during the day included at least two more Spitfires, a Tempest and four Typhoons, two of them aircraft of 164 Squadron. Again 264 Squadron Mosquitoes were out as soon as darkness had fallen, and at 2150 Plt Off J.Hutton/Plt OffE.Burraston claimed an Fw 190 west of Berlin. The Fw 190s which had been met recently at night were probably from Nachtschlachtgruppe 20 which was operating in the north German area at this time, as were the Ju 87-equipped NSGr 1 and 2. Sightings of Fw 189s undoubtedly related to aircraft of Nachtaufklarungsgruppe 14, which were also active by night. TIME SaN

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

00:45

409

Mosquito XIII

MM588T

Ju52

1--

SWittstock; dam by Mosquito c/I B.51

02:20

488

Mosquito XXX NT327

Ju88

--1

Bremen area

e0320

409

Mosquito XIII MM459

Fw190

1--

OG Wittstock?

04:08

409

Mosquito XIII MM517 S

Ju290

1--

Piau

08:10

130

Spitfire XIV

P/O l.E.Fitchett P/O A.C.Hardy F/L RO.Bergemann F/O K.R.Bishop S/L 8.E.Plumer P/O H.G.Beynon W/C R.F.Hatton F/L R.N.Rivers W/O J.A.Boulton

Ju87

-1-

tlo Schwerin; lorced down

08:22 08:25

130 130

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

P/O F.EJ.Edwards F/L I. R. Ponsford

Fw190 BI109 Fw190 BI109 Me262 Me262 Fw190 Me262

--1

-,-

Bll09

--1

08:30 e0840 08:40 08:45

130 41 486 130

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV Tempest V Spitfire XIV

e0930

322

Spitfire XVI

e0955 10:15 10:30 10:45 11 :45

401 184 137 403 56

Spitlire IX Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Tempest V

12:30 125Wg Spitfire XIV 12:30 130 Spitfire XIV 12:50 350 Spitfire XIV 12:55 350 Spitfire XIV e1310 14:00 e1400

438 130 41

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

e1400

41

Spitfire XIV

e1420 14:25 e1430 14:35 15:15

16:50

164 341 164 341 443

130

Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XVI

Spitfire XIV

nk

nk F/L G.M.Corbett MV266 J F/L P.Cowell EJ711 Q F/O K.A.Smith nk W/O M.Ockendon W/O M.Ockendon} nk nk F/L WN.Stowe} nk F/L G.M.8raidwood} J nk C F/L D.J.Hunter} nk F/L G.M.8raidwood J ML141 E F/L LWWoods MN294 V P/O WH.Gilham (K) SW551 Cpt J.IAWatt TD130 F/O RC.Shannon SN140 N W/O A.J.Brocklehurst} SN128 V Sgt G.J.Swindells} MV263 GCK W/C G.C.Keefer nk P/O F.E.F.Edwards NH654 X P/O E.Pauwels SM825 M S/L H.EWalmsley SM814 A F/O P.Oelorme RB323 V F/O T.M.Jones (K) nk T S/L F.GWoolley SM826 B P/O P.T.Coleman} RM915 P W/O JAChalmers} SM826 B P/O P.T.Coleman RM915 W/O JAChalmers JR363 F/L M.E.Jones (S) T8358 Silt R.Maynard MN896 U F/L RJ.MWilson T8372 ASP l.Le Flecher (PI 'TB383' F/L H.RJinley TD282 SM408 'SM383' SM204 TA741

F/O F/O F/O F/O F/O

'TB723'

S/L T.J.De Courcey

SM343 RM675

F/O A.J.Dilworth F/L WBruce III

M.C.Tucker G.S.Taylor O.A.Dodson WG.Conway HAGreene

,--

-·1 --1 -11 1---1

and attacked OG nr LUbeck Rechlin a/I Muritz see Rechlin a/I Idg LUbeck a/I LUbeck a/I nr LUbeck a/I Idg LUbeck a/I lOG NE Aurich {

Ju188

1-1

E/A Fw190 BI109

--1 1-1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-2 -1---1

{

Si204 Ju88

1-1--

hbl csd SE Bovenau Pritzwalk nr Pritzwalk

Fw190 Fi156

--,

Ju87 E/A E/A Fw190 Ju87 Ju87 Ju87 E/A E/A Ju87 Ju88

--1

--2 --1 --1 1---1 --1 --1 --1 --1 --1 1--

OG Wittmundhaven hbl a/train b/o A/TiHamburgl hbf csd NW Schwarzenbeck OG S Ludwigslust Hagenow a/I OG Mayenburg area nr Pritzwalk Pritzwalk Rechlin a/I {nr Rechlin a/I

lOG LG nr Pritzwalk {

hbd? f/I S Neumunster hbl a/guns nr Leer catB/E hbd? 1/1 AfT (N~umunsterl hbl b/o nr Leer lOG Schwerin { {

{hbl catAc {

{ { { { { {

efta w/u B.118 catAc/E

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

e1640

Spitfire XVI

SM671

S/l H.P.M.lary

Ju88 Me262 Me262 Me262

--1 --1 --1 --1

{ { {

17:15 18:05 18:10

e1910 e1910 e1925

403

349 33 443

33 182 403

Spitfire IX Tempest V Spitfire XVI

Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI

T0141 T0114 NH488 SN163 A 'TB383' T0282 SM512 TA739 NV764

21:50

264

SM190 TB752 Z T0286 T0289 SM291 Mosquito XIII HK466

e2320

487

Mosquito VI

PZ332

F/l RNorris F/l E.O.Ooyle F/l A.R.LClaesen IKI W/O H.M.Thomas IW/P) F/l H.R.Finley F/O M.C.Tucker F/O G.S.Taylor F/O A.J.Oilworth (K) J.B.JWansink Squadron F/L A.E.Fleming F/O O.leslie F/O J.RBaker} F/l FW.Town} F/l J.C.Pickeringl P/O J.Hutton P/O E.Burraston F/L J.O.Evans (K) F/O I.C.Jenkins (K)

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-2 ---2

E/A Helll Fw189 0026

--3 1-1---1

Fw190

1--

lOG Hagenow a/f

I/s a/MET S Bremerhaven hbf f/I nr Krautsand lOG Neustadt { {

sdbf Neustadt hbf (Rheinsburg) catB/Ac OG ludwigslust lOG Travemunde { {

W Berlin ftr (Emden)

RIGHT Wing Commander Ron Watts of 488 Squadron, RNZAF, with his flight commanders, Sqn Ldrs Frank Davison (left) and John Gardner (right) shortly before the unit disbanded on 26 Apri I 1945

BELOW Mosquito XIII MM552 'NG-N' flew with 604 Squadron for a year until transferred to 264 Squadron on 26 April 1945. It had been flown to victory three times in 1944; on 22 June (Ju 188), 6 July (Me 410), and 3 August 100 217).

Following the nocturnal activities late on 25th, there was then a gap of several hours before at 0435 26 April 1945 -----""---on 26th FIg Offs J,W,Marshall/P,F.Prescott of 488 Squadron claimed an Fw 189 north of Wittenberg, That, however, was to be it for the night fighters, for the arrival of the advancing Russians on the other side of the Elbe caused opportunities for any further interceptions to diminish sharply. Next day, indeed, 488 Squadron was disbanded, although 264 Squadron moved up to B.n. As 21st Army Group closed up to the Elbe, and as Bremen fell into British hands, the final round of airfield moves commenced. During 26th 122 Wing moved to B.150 and B.152 at Fassberg, where the Tempests were joined by 616 Squadron which now became a part of this Wing with its Meteors. At the same time 127 Wing's squadrons moved to B.154, Reinsehlen (also known as Soltau), where they were followed by 39 (Reece) Wing on 28th. In 84 Group, 131 Wing, now comprising 302, 308, 317, 322 and 349 Squadrons, commanded by Grp Capt Alexander Gabszewicz, DSO, DFC, moved to B.1l3, Varrelbusch, near Cloppenburg. The number of airfields still worthy of strafing attacks was now shrinking rapidly, but during the day 66 Squadron was able to claim three damaged at Hagenow, while 274 Squadron claimed a Ju 88 destroyed and an He 177 damaged at Eggebek. 402 Squadron's Spitfire XIV pilots found some He 115 floatplanes at Ribnitz, claiming one destroyed and one damaged also. During the morning 263 Squadron's Typhoons were returning from an armed reconnaissance when two Me 262s attempted to 'bounce' one section as it was landing. The jets were seen in time and were attacked by the

I <

CJ

...-+

a

-.... --<

rest of the formation, three pilots joining to shoot one down in flames whereupon the other broke away and escaped at high speed. Soon after midday 350 Squadron undertook a sweep during which Sqn Ldr Walmsley and three other pilots gave chase to an Fw 190 which crashed before they could fire a shot at it. Others were then pursued and one was claimed by FIt Sgt G.Gigot.

Q.)

U

!...-

a

LL

«

During April 1945 193 Squadron carried out operational trials of napalm - delivered in 90-gallon overload tanks as seen here on Typhoon 18 SW558, photographed shortly aher the hostilities. Fit Lt David Ince recalled "We were pretty apprehensive about the napalm - the containers were large, barrel-shaped and painted bright red with very visible external pistols. Their aerodynamics were nil, the aircraft handling was very notably affected much more so than with 1,000 Ib bombs - and they tumbled immediately on release.

TIME SON

TYPE

04:35

488

Mosquito XXX NT308

e0650 e0700 08:00

164 438 274

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V

el050

443

Spitfire XVI

10:05

263

Typhoon IB

e1120 11:30

430 66

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XVI

e1240 13:10

486 350

Tempest V Spitfire XIV

e1330

402

Spitfire XIV

16:45 17:05 18:45

274 198 247

Tempest V Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

eOl00

69

e0750 e0800 08:20

349 127 130

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV

e0905 e0930

486 402

Tempest V Spitfire XIV

IDENT

RB264 RB429 NV977 EJ865 NV922 NV772 SM364 TB923 nk nk nk RB215 RM821 TB898 TB735 NV967 RM733 RN198 NH693 nk RM733 MV302 RNl19 NV697 SW520 SW513

C X

A

H

B

Z H T J H A J K F

Wellington XIII NC539

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

F/O J.WMarshall F/O P.F.Preseott F/O WUawston (PI F/O E.D.Brydon (K) W/O N.LushJ F/O J.T.James} F/L C.F.PeareeJ F/S E.TRobinsonJ F/L TRWatl III F/L WG.Conway (SI F/L WJ.Fowler J P/O JWShellard} W/O H.BarrieJ P/O D.E.Morgan IPI F/O L.P.Hedley IKI F/L G.Roberts F/L LM.Ralph F/O KASmith (P/E) F/S G.Gigot S/L H.EWalmsley) F/O M.OoneqJ P/O P.LevaJ F/S G.GigotJ F/L B.E.lnnes F/L R.H.Roberts W/O E.Twigg F/O D.GJord W/O G.E.Uawley (I)

Fw189

1--

N Wittenberg

Ju88 Hel77

1---1

Me2621--

hbl b/o Wilhelmshaven hit trees a/MET esd SW Gnissau lOG Eggebek a/I; { u/e lault w/u 8.10909:20 eatB hbf Eggebek eatB/Ae hbf a/MET esd NE Bad Segeberg hit pole a/MET INeumunsterl f/I 2m E Niebull

Ju88 E/A

--2 --1

Fw190 Fw190

1-1--

hbf III Niebull elf reported b/o esd 15m EVerdon JOG Hagenau J hbll/I N Uithiele W Plauer Lake W Plauer Lake

He115 He115

1---1

{

{OW Putnitz hbl w/u B.l09 eatB!? hbl e/I B.l03 e/I III 5m W Boizenburg

ftr (Pinneberg-Itzehoe)

MK830 TB623 NH691

F/O P.lWansbrough IKI F/O J.HVines (K) Sgt R.K.Kelsey IKI Sgt FWPriest (K) Sgt G.N.Grant IKI F/L JWood IKI F/L A.HWillis (P) W/O AD. Miller IKI

Ju188

--1

EJ584 MV256 K NH835 B RM933 Z

F/S R.A.Melies (P/El S/L D.C.Gordon F/O A.G.Rateliffe F/O H.R.Robertson

Hel15 Hel15 He115

1--

hbl a/MET esd 5m S Varel hbl e/I EfT INE Bremerhaven) 15m ELudwigslust; hit by ret fire esd nearby hbf b/o N Hamburg lOW Putnitz

1---1

) )

RIGHr 414 Squadron finally replaced its 'stopgap' Spitfire FR IXs, after some eight months of operations, with Spitfire FR XIVs, some of which had bubble canopies, as seen here on 'K'.

ABOVE: Just visible beneath the fuselage of Fit Lt Ken Sleep's 402 Squadron Spitfire XIV, RM862 'AE-K', is a 500 Ib bomb. This weapon was first used in action on this mark of Spitfire on 22 February 1945, but was not regularly employed. The last use appears to have been on 17 and 18 March 1945.

Luftwaffe aircraft continued to appear, and on 28th several were engaged during the afternoon 28 April 1945 -----'"'----period. First, at 1655 Fit Lt L.Foster of 403 Squadron caught a Do 217 as it was flying south-eastwards at 6,000 feet; he attacked from astern and sent it down in flames. With three and one shared victories to his credit as well as several vehicles destroyed on the ground, he was awarded a DFC. At about 1745 four 41 Squadron pilots intercepted an He III which crash-landed in flames near Niendorf. About an hour later Fit Lt J.W.Reid and FIg Off'Ginger' Eagleson of 486 Squadron claimed an aircraft west of PIon which they identified as a Ju 352 transport; their claim was confirmed, but Intelligence altered the identification to a Ju 52/3m after viewing the gun camera films. However, both pilots remained convinced that the aircraft they had attacked had been a much larger one than the old 'Tante Ju'. Four more 41 Squadron Spitfire XIVs set off on patrol at 2005, soon spotting ten or more Fw 190s orbiting over Schwerin airfield. Fit Lt J.F.Wilkinson claimed one shot down, he and FIt Lt Gaze then pursuing another, which spun into the ground without a shot being fired by either of them. This, and the similar occurrence two days earlier, was a fair indication of the level of training and experience of many of the Luftwaffe pilots now being encountered. During an evening patrol FIg Off G.M.Horter of 412 Squadron tested his guns with a burst at a factory; his aircraft appeared to have been hit by ricochets, as he was forced to make an immediate wheels-up landing, with no time to jettison his belly tank. On hitting the ground the tank exploded, leaving a trail of flame, following which the Spitfire blew apart. His horrified

LEFT 268 Squadron continued as the sole Mustang user in the 2nd TAF to the end of hostilities. Many of its aircraft were fitted with Malcolm hoods, as seen on this example, possibly FR908 'S', photographed shortly before the end of the war.

comrades felt there was little chance that Horter had survived. However, when the wreckage was located two days later, the 412 Squadron pilot was found alive, trapped in the cockpit and suffering from a broken arm and exposure. TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

e1625 16:55 e1745

Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV

MJ795 TB922 SM826 MV264 RM931 RM928 EJ697 SN136 MJ504

F/L LAStewart (SI F/L L.Foster PIO P.T.Coleman) W/O J.A.Chalmers) WID P.H.Hale} WID C.M.Moyle} F/L JWReid FlO O.O.Eagleson FlO G.M.Horter III

412 403 41

18:50

486

Tempest V

e1950

412

Spitfire IX

e2010

41

Spitfire XIV

B Q

H V

MV264 Q MV264 Q SM826 B

F/L J.FWilkinson F/L J.FWilkinson} F/L FAO.Gaze}

CLAIM

dpd

00217 Helll

1-1--

CAUSE/LOCATION ell b/o 4m NE Fassberg S.3020; bel Si204 nr Niendorf (1.78631

Ju52

1--

W Plan; claimed as Ju352

1-1--

hb ricochet III blew up 8m N Luneburg {Schwerin all {

Fw190 Fw190

29 April 1945

,..., \.

LEFT AND BELOW LEFT

Sqn Ldr CF.Bradley, DSO, seen here in the cockpit of his 127 Squadron Spitfire IX, 'Joan Too' in 1944, led this unit from October 1943 to October 1944, by which time it was part of 132 Wing. Bradley returned to 132 Wing late in April 1945, as Wing Commander Operations, shortly before the Wing was disbanded. His personal Spitfire IX at this time was PT959 'CFB' which also carried the name 'Joan Too'.

The day was marred however, by the loss of two Meteors and their pilots when Sqn Ldr L.W.Watts, DFC, a Malta veteran, and Fit Sgt B.Cartmel collided in cloud. From 135 Wing, 485 Squadron was now posted to join 145 Wing at B.I05, where pilots reported the weather to be "lou5Y'~ TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

12:00 3 e1250 412

Tempest V Spitfire IX

NV663 S 'MH492 . PT553 PV202 NV969 A NV969 A EJ659 I SN176 N JN802 y SN136 V NV969 A EJ659 MK303 EJ659 I SN176 N JN802 Y EKl14 EE252 G EE273 K SN136 V

W/O A.Crowe (S) F/L R.L.Hazel FlO A.T.Gibb FlO J.H.MacLean S/L WE.Schrader S/L WE.Schrader WID N.D. Howard FlO O.D.Eagleson FlO C.S.Kennedy FlO A.R.Evans S/L WE.Schrader) WID N.D.Howard I FlO C.DWWilson F/L JWReid FlO C.J.McDonald WID J.R.Duncan Sgt I.Cameron S/L LWWatts (K) F/S B.Cartmel (K) FlO A.R.Evans

13:30 13:40

ABOVE: Yorkshire-born

Geoff Lord joined 130 Squadron late in 1943. After the unit converted to Spitfire XIVs and joined 2nd TAF. he enjoyed several successes during the closing weeks of the war. He claimed five and one shared aircraft shot down. for which he was awarded a DFC.

486 486

Tempest V Tempest V

e1445 412 16:45 486

Spitfire IX Tempest V

e1700 182 19:45 616

Typhoon IB Meteor III

20:45

Tempest V

486

CLAIM

dpd

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Bll09 Bll09 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Bll09

1-2-1-1-2---1 1-1

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

--1 1-1-1--

Bll09

CAUSE/LOCATION hbl? III NGresse

IWinsen area ) )

Lauenberg area

1--

-1-

1--

1--

Lauenberg area S Ratzeburg hbl? III NRehrhol Icld csd SW Fassberg I 2m S Bergerdorf

The final day of April was to be one of slaughter for the remaining Luftwaffe units 30 April 1945 --------"---still attempting to operate over the rapidly-converging Eastern and Western Fronts. It was to be a particularly successful day for the Spitfire XIV units, and began with claims by pilots of 3 Squadron whilst engaged in early Elbe bridgehead patrols. FIg Off J.T. 'Bay' Adams claimed an Fw 190 south-west of Lauenberg, while Sqn Ldr Bob Cole claimed a Bf 109 probable and PIt Off Jones an Fw 190 damaged. For 130 Squadron it was to prove to be "the best day 50 far" as 30 sorties were made between 0700-1800. On the first operation at 0945 four pilots engaged nine Fw 190s over Banzkow, FIt Lt Bill Stowe, FIg Off Geoff Lord and FIg Off T.L.Trevarrow accounting for three of these between them. An hour or so later three pilots from 350 Squadron saw 20 Fw 190s trying to land on a strip south of the Schweriner See. Pit Off D.J.Watkins claimed two shot down, as did FIt Lt P.M.Bangerter, while Fit Sgt G.Gigot claimed a fifth; one more was then shot down by these three pilots jointly, while Watkins attacked another which was taxiing, claiming damage to this also. It seems very likely that they had caught the Fw 190Fs of I(Pz)./SG 9 returning from a rocket attack on Allied armoured vehicles, and as they were going in to land, they lost six of their number. Amongst those shot down and killed were Ritterkreuztrager Hptm Andreas Kuffner, the Kommandeur of the Gruppe, who had also recently received the Eichenlaube after claiming 60 tanks destroyed, and the 3. Staffelkapitan, Obit Rainer Nossek. A third holder of this decoration, Obit Wilhelm Bromen, Kapitan of l.Staffel, was seriously wounded, but claimed to have shot down one of the attacking Spitfires. Fw Gottfried Wagner and Obfr Wilhelm Morsch also lost their lives. Into the same area at 1125 came 130 Squadron on the unit's second patrol of the day, four more Fw 190s being seen, one of these being claimed by FIt Lt Ian Ponsford and PIt Off The apocalyptic level of EE.EEdwards. Just five minutes later 12 more were spotted in the circuit of a landing ground at losses suffered by the Luftwaffe in April 1945 is illustrated by the events of the 30th near Schwerin when no fewer than three Ritterkreuztrager suffered at the hands of 350 Squadron From left to ri ght: Hptm Andreas Kuffner, Kommandeur of I(PzIJSG 9, Obit Rainer Nossek, Staffelkapitan of 3(pz)JSG 9 and Obit Wilhelm Bromen, Kapitan of l.Staffel

I <

('"')

r-+

a---... -<

Q)

U

!o-

o

LI....

Banzkow and four more were claimed in quick succession, two by Ponsford, one by Edwards, and the last (just as both pilots ran out of ammunition) jointly. Whilst this engagement was underway more Griffon-Spitfires, this time from 402 Squadron, arrived in the same area, Flt Lts S.M.Knight, D.R.Drummond, W.O.Young and F.E.W.Hanton each claiming one Fw 190 shot down, and Hanton and Young each adding a claim for one damaged also. Two more were claimed destroyed on the ground by Flt Lts RJ.Taggart and B.Innes, the flight as a whole adding damage to another two. At the same time Fh Lt Knight spotted a Ju 188 to the east, and despatched this as well. On 130 Squadron's third patrol, Sqn Ldr Frank Woolley claimed yet another Fw 190 shot down over Winsen at 1350, while at precisely this time Wt Off G.Maddaford of 486 Squadron claimed damage to a Bf 109 on the ground at Ludwigslust airfield. It was again the turn of 402 Squadron mid-afternoon when Fh Lt Knight and Flt Lt E.RBurrows encountered another Ju 188 two miles east of Lubeck, flying at 1,500 feet. They attacked at once and sent it down in flames to crash in the middle of the village of Kalkorst. Eight more bombers were then seen on an airfield ten miles south-east of Lubeck, damage to two of these being claimed. At 1325 Tempests of 56 Squadron set off to strafe Parchim airfield, where a Bf 109 was claimed destroyed, and an He 177 and a Ju 88 were added as damaged. During a further patrol by this unit about an hour later, Fh Sgts A.M.L.Kennaugh and N.Willis happened upon a trimotor transport which they shot down five miles west ofWismar; this was claimed as a Ju 352, but credited as a Ju 52/3m. As the afternoon drew on six Spitfire IXs of 403 Squadron were despatched towards Schwerin, Fh Lt A.E.Fleming catching and shooting down a Bf 108 liaison aircraft over the KirchGrambow area at 1715. Fifteen minutes later, during 130 Squadron's last patrol of the day, Fh Sgt B.W.Woodman claimed an Si 204 over the Schweriner See. With evening several units were out strafmg again. Typhoon pilots of 438 Squadron claimed a single unidentified aircraft damaged on the ground in some woods, while four pilots of 3 Squadron attacked Schwerin in the evening, claiming seven Bf 109s, two Fw 190s and a Ju 87 damaged here. However, two Tempests were hit by Flak, with Flg Off S.T.Worbey and Ph Off D.R.Worley both killed. More Tempests, this time from 56 Squadron, attacked Parchim airfield where an Fw 190 was claimed destroyed and two bombers damaged. Again it was the Spitfires which were providing covering patrols, and which met the Luftwaffe in the air. Nine of 412 Squadron's Mark IXs undertook an armed reconnaissance to the Hagenow-Schwerin-Wismar area, where German fighters were engaged north-east of Lauenberg. Here Sqn Ldr M.D.Boyd claimed two Bf 109s, Flt Lts RB.Baker and L.A.Stewart adding one more apiece. Fh Lt D.M.Pieri had taken off as 'spare' for this formation, but when no aircraft turned back he prepared to return to base. In doing so he spotted an Fw 190 15 miles east of Hamburg, claiming this shot down also. In the same general area as 412 Squadron was operating, others of 411 Squadron on a bridgehead patrol also achieved success when Flg Off M.F.Doyle spotted a lone Fw 190 which had just bombed in the Lauenburg area, and shot this down in flames. Also heading for the Schweriner See again were pilots of 41 Squadron, who spotted the very well-camouflaged strip from which so many of the Focke-Wulfs engaged during recent days, had been operating. Over the nearby bridgehead area Sqn Ldr I.B.Shepherd and Fh Lt Tony Gaze claimed an Fw 190 each, Shepherd then adding a Bf 109, which he shot down to the north-west of Ratzeburger See. It would seem that one of the aircraft claimed during the day - possibly one of those encountered by 412 Squadron - was actually an He 162 jet, for on this date Lt Hans Rechenberg of II./JG 1 was reported to have been shot down in such an aircraft by Spitfires in the Wismar area. Apart from the claim by Obh Bromen of l(Pz).lSG 9, two Spitfires were also claimed shot down by Fw Horst Rippert of II./JG 27 as his 27th and 28th victories. Nevertheless, there were no Spitfire losses at all on this date, the only casualties being the two Tempests of 3 Squadron. Administratively, the day saw the disbandment of 66 Squadron, a further sign of the imminent run-down of unit numbers as the war neared its conclusion. It was during this evening that in Berlin hope was finally extinguished. All attempts to relieve the besieged city were now at an end, and encirclement was complete. Now the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, finally accepted that the end had come, and he and his new wife, Eva Braun, committed suicide, as did Josef Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister, and his family. A delegation went out in the early hours of the next morning under a white flag to advise the Soviets of this, although for the moment the war continued. The seat of government now became the OKW and OKH headquarters in SchleswigHolstein, where Admiral Donitz assumed the position of Head of State.

Ian Ponsford relaxes with a 'pint' in May 1945, after a very active final two months of the war as a flight commander in 130 Squadron. His final score totalled six and two shared destroyed, one probable and three damaged, aII Fw 190s with the exception of a single Sf 109. His final scores came on 30 April 1945, when he was credited with two and two shared destroyed.

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

09:45

Tempest V

SN212 T EJ588 NV749 nk nk nk nk SM825 M 'SM814'A NH689 B SM825 M 'SM814'A NH689 B 'SM814'A nk B nk nk B nk B nk nk MV252 Q

F/O J.T.Adams P/O Jones S/L R.B.Cole F/L WN.Stowe F/L WN.Stowe} F/O U.Trevarrow} F/O G.Lord F/L P.M.Bangerter F/O D.JWatkins F/S G.Gigot F/L P.M.Bangerter} F/O D.JWatkins} F/S G.Gigot} F/O D.JWatkins F/L LR.Ponsford} P/O FE.FEdwards} F/L LR.Ponsford P/O FE.FEdwards F/L LR.Ponsford} P/O FE.FEdwards} F/L S.M.Knight

Fw190 Fw190 Bfl09 Fw190 Fw190

1---1 -11-1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-2 -2 -1-1--

Fw190 Fw190

--1 1--

OG 7m SE Schwerin Schwerin Lake

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

2 -1-1--

{

RM858 RM902 NH905 NH835 RM845

NV965 NV974 NV963 NH905 RM651 RM651 MV252 SM285 nk NV749 NV994 NV657

W/O J.Etchells F/S A.M.L.Kennaugh Sgt NWiliis F/L FE.WHanton F/L E.R.Burrows F/L E.R.Burrows} F/L S.M.Knight} F/L A.E.Fleming F/S BWWoodman F/L H.K.Hughes P/O J.L.R.Torpy F/O A.D. King

1-1-1-1-1 1-1 1-2 ---2 --1 1-1---1 --1 1--

{ {

EJ717 nk T EJ804 M

F/L D.R.Drummond F/L WO.Young F/L FE.WHanton F/L B.E.lnnes F/L R.J.Taggart Squadron W/O G.Maddaford S/L FGWoolley F/L J.T.Hodges

Fw190 Ju188 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Bfl09 Fw190 Fw190 He177 Ju88 Ju52 Ju88 Ju88 Ju188

--1 --1 1--

{

Bfl08 Si204 Fw190 BI109 Bfl09 Ju87

1-1---2 --1 - -6 --1

09:45

10:45

3

130

350

Spitfire XIV

Spitfire XIV

10:45 11:25

350 130

Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

11:30

130

Spitfire XIV

11:35

130

Spitfire XIV

el130

402

Spitfire XIV

13:50 13:50 14:00

486 130 56

Tempest V Spitfire XIV Tempest V

14:45

56

Tempest V

e1525

402

Spitfire XIV

17:15 17:30 18:45

403 130 3

Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Tempest V

H V N B X

S K A N Y Y Q

E

EJ598 W NV936 e1925 e1930 e1940

438 412 412

Typhoon IB Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

e1940

41

Spitfire XIV

e1945 e2000 20:45

41 411 411

Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

MK827 PT553 PV234 ML362 MV266 J SM823 MV266 J MJ425 RR201 R

F/O S.TWorbey (KI P/O D.RWorley (KI Squadron F/L D.M.Pieri F/L LAStewart S/L M.D.Boyd F/L R.B.Barker S/L J.B.Shepherd F/L FA.O.Gaze S/L J.B.Shepherd F/O M.F.Doyle F/L S.M.McClarty

E/A Fw190 Bll09? Bfl09 Bfl09 Fw190 Fw190 Bll09 Fw190

--1 1-1-2- 1 1-1 1-1-1-1--

I

CAUSE/LOCATION

<

{SW Lauenburg {

CJ

{

a......

....-+

m Banskow

-< {Schwerin Lake area { { {

{Schwerin Lake m Schweiner Schwerin ESchwerin Lake 6m S Schwerin Lake Schwerin Lake 5m SE Schwerin Lake lOG S Schwerin

Ludwigslust a/f Winsen lOG Parchim a/f { { 5m W Wismar; claimed as Ju352

lOG N Ratzeburg Kalkorst Kirch/Grambow Schwerin Lake lOG Schwerin a/f { { {

psdbf Schwerin a/f sdbl Schwerin a/I OG woods 7m SE Schwerin 15m E Hamburg 4m NE Lauenberg; Fw? 4m NE Lauenberg E Lauenberg {bridgehead area { NW Ratzeburger Lake Lauenberg area e/I c/I 2m NE Scharesbeck catB/E

At 0945 403 Squadron despatched a bridgehead patrol, during which 20 or more Fw 190Ds carrying bombs were spotted over Berged at around 1040. The Canadians appear to have encountered 1. and lI./JG 26, which had just taken off, the latter Gruppe indeed carrying bombs. These were jettisoned when the Spitfires were met, and in the engagement which followed Fit Lt RYoung claimed one shot down, as did Wt Off RC.Neitz, Flg Off RC.Shannon claiming a probable and three damaged, while another five were also believed to have been damaged, two of them by Neitz. It seems that on this occasion only Fw Walter Napierski's aircraft was hit badly, and this turned over on landing, injuring the pilot. 2. Staffel's Lt Guhl claimed one Spitfire probably shot down in return_ Another bridgehead patrol was undertaken by six Spitfire XIVs of 41 Squadron, which took off at 1125_ Around 1300 these encountered six Fw 190s, a sharp dogfight ensuing. Reported Peter Cowell: "1 was leading Kudos Red Section of six aircraft on a sweep around the Schwerin Lake and aerodrome in search of enemy aircraft. We had done one orbit at about 4,000 feet when Kudos Red 4 reported an enemy aircraft flying in the opposite direction on the deck. Kudos Red 3 and 4 then broke away to attack it and Red 5 and 6 chased another aircraft, also flying on the deck. 1 turned back over the lake with my No 2, having climbed through a thick patch ofcumulus cloud to 6,000 feet, and

1 May 1945

spotted two long-nosed Fw 190s flying east at zero feet over the lake. 1 told Red 2 to follow me down and 1 attacked the enemy aircraft flying on the starboard side, openingfire at about 300 yards. Strikes were observed and the aircraft streamed smoke and pulled up almost vertically. 1 closed to about 50 yards and gave it another burst, observing strikes on the cockpit and port wing. The aircraft flicked over onto its back and went straight in near the south-east corner of the lake." "1 then observed the other '190 orbiting to the north of me so 1 attacked him, opening fire at 300 yards. A large piece flew off his port wing and the pilot baled out, the aircraft crashing near the first one. Red 1 and 2 then returned to base. 1 claim two Fw 190s destroyed."

ill Co.) I.-

a

L..L

«

The British pilots had encountered new opponents from the Eastern Front - a section of Dora-9s from 15.1JG 51, led by Ritterkreuztrager FahnenjunkerObfw Heinz Marquardt, victor of 121 victories against the Russians. This Staffel was part of IV.lJG 51, which had moved to Eggersdorf, near Berlin, in mid-April. Marquardt had been flying the first aircraft to be attacked by Cowell, and had been thrown forward into the gunsight when Cowell's 20 mm shells struck his back armour, rendering him unconscious. He recovered to find himself hanging from his parachute harness, which was caught on a chimney near a nurse's home; he had no memory of getting out of his aircraft. The No.3 in his section had been Cowell's second victim, and was flown by Fw Heinz Radlauer (15 victories), who survived unhurt. During the combat a third Fw 190 was claimed by 2/Lt C.S.Bodtker, SAAF, and would seem to have been the aircraft flown by Ofw Otto Buss of 14. Staffel, who was reported missing, while FIt Sgt P.F.Scott claimed damage to two more. IV.lJG 51 may have been involved in some of the other recent combats with 2nd TAF aircraft, for during April the unit had suffered the loss of at least three pilots on unspecified dates. (In 1995 Marquardt was to contact Peter Cowell, having discovered the identity of his victor and the pair subsequently became good friends.) Shortly after this engagement, Sqn Ldr Schrader of 486 Squadron claimed a Bf 109 destroyed over Bad Segeberg, while three hours later at 1615, FIg Off Geoff Lord of 130 Squadron claimed another to the south-west of Holzendorf. Meanwhile at 1400 FIt Lt H.K.Hughes had led eight 3 Squadron Tempests to the Schwerin area where FIt Lt H.L.Longley shot down a Ju 88 in flames. The unit was followed by 56 Squadron, FIt Sgts Kennaugh and Willis gaining further joint success when they claimed an He III shot down north of Tarnewitz. About three hours later 3 Squadron was back in the Schwerin area, Hughes once again leading, when Fw 190s were seen. FIg Off King chased one of these but was fired on by another and his aircraft was badly damaged. Just before 1800 350 Squadron's Belgian pilots arrived to the east of Schwerin whilst undertaking an offensive patrol, and here 20 Fw 190s were spotted. Four of these were claimed shot down, two by FIt Sgt H.Boels and one each by FIt Lt R.Muls and FIg Off P.Leva. It seems likely that their opponents were aircraft of l./JG 11, which lost five Focke-Wulfs to Spitfires in this area during the day; two more were lost by IV./JG 3, and another two by l./JG 1. Evening brought more patrols by 125 Wing squadrons, and at 1900 FIt Sgt B.W.Woodman of 130 Squadron claimed an He III over Lubeck. About half an hour later six 41 Squadron pilots caught more Fw 190s south-east of Witteburg; nine of these were chased in and out of the clouds, Wt Off I.T.Stevenson and PIt Off P.T.Coleman each claiming one shot down. Two more Focke-Wulfs were then seen low over the Schwerin Lake, Coleman attacking and shooting down both of these.

RIGHT Fig Off EGray with MV264 'EB-Q' the 41 Squadron Spitfire XIV in which he shared (with his commanding officer) in the destruction of an Fw 190 on 1 May 1945

Ritterkreuztrager FahnenjunkerObfw Heinz Marquardt of 15/JG 51 who had 121 victories registered against the Russians, was shot down by Peter Cowell of 41 Squadron on 1 May 1945

I ABOVE: The commanding officer of 127 Wing from January 1945 onwards was Grp Capt P.S.'Stan' Turner DSO, DFC & Bar A 421 Squadron pilot, Fit Lt A.Bayly is seen here beside Turner's personally marked Spitfire XVI, TB300, which also carries a 421 Squadron 'Indian head' badge

41 Squadron was followed into the area by Spitfire IXs of 401 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Klersy claiming damage to another Fw 190 over Lubeck airfield. A final sweep to the Schwerin area by 41 Squadron found more of these aircraft, Sqn Ldr J.B.Shepherd and FIg Off Eric Gray sharing in shooting one down. On their fourth operation of the day, eight Spitfire IXs from 421 Squadron left at 2000 for the Schwerin area, where a lone Fw 190 was seen, and was claimed shot down by three of the Canadian pilots jointly. TIME SON e0855 e1020 10:40

411 222 403

TYPE

IDENT

Spitfire IX Tempest V Spitfire XVI

TA839 SN205 TB752 SM203 TD141 TB630 TD289 NH832 RM928 SN136 SW534 NV970 EJ804 RM850 nk nk NV974 nk nk nk

e1200

41

Spitfire XIV

13:15 13:45 15:35

486 439 56

Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V

e1545 430 Spitfire XIV e1600 126Wg Spitfire IX 16:15 130 Spitfire XIV e1735 56 Tempest V 17:50 350 Spitfire XIV 17:55 350 Spitfire XIV 17:55 350 Spitfire XIV 19:00 130 Spitfire XIV e1930 41 Spitfire XIV e1940 41 Spitfire XIV e2015 e2015 20:30

401 401 421

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire XVI

e2030

41

Spitfire XIV

21:00

Tempest V

PILOT/CREW

F/O D.BYoung IK) F/L J.L.Lawson (P) Z F/L RYoung F/L C.L.Rispler W/O RC.Neitz FlO RC.Shannon P/O D.Leslie 2Lt C.S.Bodtker Sgt P.F.Scott V S/L W.E.Schrader S/L J.H.Beatty 0 F/S A.M.L.Kennaugh} M Sgt N.willis} D F/O GWBouck (K) JEFFW/C GWNorthcott F/O G.Lord K F/L J.T.Hodges lSI R FlO P.Leva M F/L RMuis E F/S H.Boels F/S B.w.woodman RM915 P W/O I.T.Stevenson SM823 P/O P.T.Coleman

PL344 MJ854 SM284 SM411 SM392 MV266 MV264 SN189

H B E T J Q C

S/L W.T.Klersy F/L D.G.Cameron (II F/L K.M.Langmuir) FlO E.H.Mann} WID P.S.Murphy} S/L J.B.Shepherd} FlO E.Gray} F/L H.L.Longley

CLAIM

dpd

ABOVE Sqn Ld r Danny

Browne, Commanding Officer of 421 Squadron straps into his Spitfire XVIE, TD126 'AU-C', for a trip back to England

CAUSE/LOCATION I/s in cloud 10m N Hagenow e/II/I 6m N Stade }Bergedl area

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Bll09

1---2 1- 2 -13 --1 1---2 1--

He111

1--

Fw190 Bll09

--1 1--

Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Hel11 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

1-1-2 -1-1-1-2 ---1

Fw190

1--

last seen in cloud 5m N Hamburg Schwerin SW Holzendorl I? 1/1 3m W Schwerin; catB Schwerin Lake area {Schwerin Lake area { Lubeck {SE Witteburg { Schwerin Lake Lubeck all hbl Schwerin b/o EfT N Schwerin

Fw190

1--

5m SE Schwerin Lake

Ju88

1--

20m NE Hamburg

}

} } } Schwerin Lake Schwerin Lake Bad Segeberg hbll/I B.152 catE/Ac Schwerin

With the net closing inexorably on the areas of north Germany still in the defenders' hands, the 2 May 1945 -------'---variety of aircraft now to be met became almost kaleidoscopic as the German evacuation from airfield to airfield, and towards Denmark and Norway gathered momentum. 2 May was to bring a rich harvest to the gunsights of 2nd TAF pilots - although what was achieved by this continuing slaughter towards the ending of the war at this late stage must be open to question. On a very early sortie, commencing at 0510, Sqn Ldr John Derry and Fh Lt R.E.M.Z.Bergmann of 182 Squadron spotted a German airfield from which a Ju 88 was taking off. Derry at once attacked this and shot it down, then causing an He III to crash from 50 feet (which was credited to him only as a 'damaged'), while Bergmann claimed damage to two more Junkers. Even at this late stage, the game could still be deadly dangerous however, and during the day the Wing Leader of 124 Wing, Wg Cdr G.F.H.Webb, DFC and Bar, a very experienced reconnaissance pilot but who was relatively new to the fighter-bomber world, would be shot down by Flak while strafing a train north of Gleschendorf, crashing to his death in flames. Just after 0600 five Spitfire XIV pilots of 130 Squadron caught five Bu 131 biplane trainers near the Schwerin Lake - possibly returning from a night 'nuisance' raid. In moments four of the

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ABOVE 124 Wing Typhoons moved out of LUneberg (to 8.158, LUbeck) on 6/7 May 1945 and were immediately replaced by 39 Reconnaissance Wing, one of whose 414 Squadron Spitfire FR XIVs, NH757 '0' is seen being serviced on the spot occupied by the Typhoons a few days earlier.

five were shot down, two by Fig Off Geoff Lord, one by Flt Sgt B.W.Woodman, and one shared between them. Also in the air early were Tempests of 486 Squadron, and five minutes after the slaughter of the Bli 131s, Fig Off 'Ginger' Eagleson shot down an Fw 44 Stieglitz trainer; he then claimed an Fi 156 Storch on the ground. 41 Squadron pilots were also 'early birds', and were already undertaking a third bridgehead patrol at around 0700 when several Storches were seen in the air near Schwerin. Wt Off J.A.Chalmers claimed two shot down and Fig Off R.D.A.Smith one, the latter also claiming a fourth on the ground. A few minutes later two Typhoon pilots from 181 Squadron, Flt Lt B.N.E.Ford-Coates and Sgt C.J.Boon, caught and shot down a Ju 188 near Eutin. It was still little more than breakfast time when Fig Off C.E.Mertens and Plt Off F.E.F.Edwards of 130 Squadron spotted a Bf 109 in the circuit over the Schweriner See airfield, and this too was added to the morning's 'bag'. Their victim was probably a K version from III./JG 4, which was reported lost at 0745 near Parchim. Around midday, a patrol by Spitfires of 411 Squadron intercepted a pair of tactical reconnaissance Bf 109s from 1.1 AGr 3 near Lubeck. Fig Off C.D.W.Wilson claimed one shot down, which appears to have been the aircraft flown by Oblt Burghard, who baled out safely. However, his wingman, Uffz Krinner, was reported missing. Meanwhile, Fig Off G.N.Smith, another of 411's pilots, claimed damage to an Me 262 seen five miles south-west of this city. At 1145 other Canadian pilots, this time flying 439 Squadron Typhoons, encountered more small aircraft, Fit Lt J.O.Gray claiming a Storch near Schonberg, whilst Fit Lt J,H.Clark claimed another Fw 44 in the same area. 56 Squadron's Tempest pilots enjoyed an outstanding day, claiming seven Luftwaffe aircraft shot down. On a 1225 sortie to the Lubeck-Eutin area Fit Lt R.v.Garton claimed both a Storch and an Fw 190 north-east of Eutin, while Flt Lts J.Sowerbutts and F.L.MacLeod claimed Fw 190s in the same area, the latter sharing his victory with Sgt N.Wiliis. One of these was probably the aircraft of Ogfr Ernst of 7(Sturm).IJG 4, lost over Lubeck, while the other may have been an aircraft of

ABOVE: Armourers at work assembling rockets for 124 Wing whose Typhoons (at least 20 are visible dispersed in front of the hangars) had arrived at 8.156 LOneberg on 2 May 1945. The 247 Squadron Typhoon 'ZV-N' on the right was EK538 - an elderly airfame which, like many Typhoons reaching the rocket squadrons at this time, had been stored since new and recently rebuilt to the latest standard (excluding Tempest tailplanes and fourbladed propellers which had been standard on the production line for a yearl (IWM CL2514)

IV.lJG 51 from which Ofw Helmut Schonfelder, a 56 victory veteran 'Experte', and recent recipient of the Ritterkreuz, baled out near Schwerin, becoming a prisoner. Back over Eutin that evening, Willis shared a BV 138 flying boat with Wt Off A.J.Brocklehurst. Sgt G.J.Swindells claimed another Storch five miles west of Gruber during the final evening sortie, while Fit Sgt P.Tullie added a Ju 52/3mW floatplane north of Neustadt, also claiming damage to a second of these aircraft. Some of the TacR pilots in their new FR XIV Spitfires also got in on the act whilst undertaking reconnaissance sorties over the shrinking area. Fit Lt D.I.Hall of 414 Squadron, who had already exhibited a certain propensity as a fighter pilot, achieved the day's outstanding performance, claiming three Fw 190s and a Bf 108 liaison aircraft, plus one of each damaged over Neustadt Glewe at around 1300. He would be awarded a Bar to the DFC he had received during the previous month. Within the hour this unit's commanding officer, Sqn Ldr J.B.Prendergast, claimed two more Fw 190s over Wismar harbour. Just before 1300 hours I./JG 26 had sent off nine Dora-9s, led by Obit Peter Crump, now Kapitan of 1. Staffel. The German pilots reported meeting eight Typhoons over KleinKummersfeld, Crump claiming damage to one of these, although his own aircraft was hit in the engine. It has not proved possible to identify this engagement directly with 2nd TAF records. However, during this flight Lt Konrad lost the formation and was caught and shot down by Allied fighters, baling out. It is likely that he had fallen foul of 486 Squadron, this unit's Tempests being in the air at this time when Pit OffW.J.Shaw and Wt Off N.D.Howard claimed an Fw 190 south of Neumunster; this pair also claimed yet another Storch west of Pion. However, FIg Off'Ginger' Eagleson's aircraft was hit by Flak and he crash-landed in hostile territory near Lubeck. He was captured, but escaped shortly afterwards, and was soon back with the unit. Canadian Spitfire XVIs from 127 Wing were undertaking bridgehead patrols during the mid afternoon period when more interceptions took place. Over Bad Segeberg Fit Lt H.R.Finley and Fig Off M.T.Clow intercepted and shot.down a Ju 88. However, fire from the rear gunner struck Finley's Spitfire and he was obliged to bale out, although he survived unhurt. Clow and two other pilots then strafed an airfield in this area, claiming an Fi 156 and an He III destroyed on the ground and two of the latter damaged. Half an hour later Fig Off EW.Town of 403 Squadron shot down an He III three miles west of Lubeck. 125 Wing Spitfire XIVs were in the area again from 1700, but Fit Lt Bill Stowe's 130 Squadron aircraft was hit by debris whilst he was strafing, and he was obliged to force-land. However, four 350 Squadron pilots led by Fit Lt Patrick Bangerter, were able to claim an Ar 234 jet bomber 4U+EH, flown by Obit Worzech - shot down over Hohn airfield at 1710. Shortly after came evidence that elements of the Luftwaffe apparently felt that further resistance was pointless. At around 1715 a Tu 88 circled B.113, Varrelbusch, home of 131 (Polish) Wing, seemingly intent on landing. Ground defences were, however, taking no chances and opened fire; the Ju 88 fled and later landed at another Allied airfield, the aggrieved pilot complaining about his reception! The aggressive reaction had, however, cost the Poles two Spitfires - damaged on the ground by their own AA defences. 3 Squadron also gained some success during the early morning, Fit Lt Walker and Wt Off Wright claiming a Ju 34W floatplane shot down, while Pit Off 'Bay' Adams damaged an Me 262 and then claimed a Ju 88 destroyed on the ground. Typhoon units undertook much general strafing, 184 Squadron for instance undertaking 45 sorties during the day, claiming many vehicles and a locomotive destroyed, while also managing to damage a BV 138 and an He Ill, and probably to shoot down an unidentified single-engined type. 438 Squadron made repeated attacks on motor vehicles, reportedly retreating in masses, and also attacked shipping, raining down 1,000 Ib bombs on these various targets. Other pilots of 175 Squadron attacked flying boats on the water north of Lubeck, claiming a BV 139 and a BV 222 destroyed here, plus two BV 138s damaged.

Alan Ford Anderson DSO & Bar, DFC, Order of Orange

lan Anderson transferred to the RAP from the Army in 1939, and at the start of the war was flying Lysander army cooperation aircraft with 2 Squadron, based in France with the Air Component. In May 1940, back in England, he was given command of 613 Squadron, at that time flying elderly Hawker Hector biplanes. On 26 May he led six of these to attack German ground forces besieging Calais. Awarded a DFC in November, the following month he took over 268 Squadron. He remained with this unit for almost

A

two years, flying Tomahawks, and then some of the first Mustang Is with this unit, seeing action over Dieppe during the landings there on 19 August 1942. Rested and awarded a DSO, he joined 2nd TAF during the early autumn of 1944 when he took command of 35 (Reconnaissance) Wing, a post which he held until the end of the war, which brought him a Bar to his DSO. He remained in the RAF until 1957, for a time commanding a Tempest fighter-bomber wing in the Middle East. Retiring as a Grp Capt, he then became a hotelier.

I

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Evan Dall Mackie

U

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o

DSO, DFC & Bar, DFC (US)

L..L

ne of the least-known of the really high-scoring Commonwealth fighter pilots, 'Rosie' Mackie, a New Zealander, saw initial service with 485 (NZ) Squadron in the UK in 1942. He was then posted to North Africa, where he flew with 243 Squadron, claiming 12 112 victories with this unit between April-October 1943. He then commanded 92 Squadron in Italy, where by February 1944 his personal tally had grown to 15 and two shared when his tour ended. Posted back to the UK with a DFC & Bar, he converted from Spitfires to Tempests, joining 122 Wing in December. After a brief spell with 274 Squadron he took command of 80 Squadron in January 1945, whilst near the end of the war he was promoted to lead the Wing. Awarded a DSO and a US DFC after the end of the war, he was, with 20 and three shared aerial victories, the RNZAF's top-scorer (although not the highest-scoring New Zealander - that was Colin Gray, who was a member of the RAF).

O

Wg Cdr Evan Mackie by the rear fuselage of his personally marked Tempest V, SN228 'EOM'.

Hawker Tempest V, NV700 'W2-A', Sqn Ldr E.D.Mackie, 80 Squadron, 8.80, Volkel

LEFT AND ABOVE: When commanding 80 Squadron Mackie usually flew 'W2-fY., seen here peeling off for the benefit of a Film Production Unit cameraman on 21 March 1945. 'W2-!'\ was NV700 at this time. (IWM FLM3116 & 3118)

I

ABOVE LEFT ANO RIGHf When Mackie became the Wg Cdr Ops of 122 Wing he acquired a new Tempest V, SN228, which was marked with his initials and his scoreboard - 24 Swastikas and a single Italian marking.

Hawker Tempest V, SN228 'EDM', Wg Cdr E.D.Mackie, 122 Wing, 8.152, Fassberg

BELOW AND LEFT: At some time in the summer of 1945 a 122 Wing badge was added to the fin of SN228 - note the badge bears the original title of the unit - '122 Airfield Headquarters'.

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The final claim of the day occurred just before nightfall when 'Jimmy' Sheddan and FIg Off D.J.Thomson of 486 Squadron shot down an unidentified aircraft (described in their combat report as a muIti-engined flying boat, and in the 2nd TAF claims log as a '4 engine twin-boom flying boar) over Heiligenhafen. Sheddan had just received promotion to Sqn Ldr during the day, taking over command of the Squadron from 'Smokey' Schrader. Evan Mackie, who had recently been promoted to lead 122 Wing following the loss ofWg Cdr Brooker, had been offered command of 616 Squadron (also a Wg Cdr post), but had preferred to stay with the Tempest. Schrader had therefore been given the jet unit with commensurate promotion to Wg Cdr rank, joining the unit with Tony Gaze from 41 Squadron. The latter had become a Sqn Ldr (for the second time during the war), and took over the flight which had been led by Sqn Ldr Watts until his recent death. The Meteor unit was now undertaking many ground-strafing sorties, and during the day had chalked up its first claim for the destruction of an enemy aircraft - albeit on the ground - when FIg Off Stodhart claimed a Storch. With the arrival of darkness, 605 Squadron launched its only sortie to be flown in May during which Fit Lt Brian Williams strafed three aircraft which he had spotted on the ground at Leck in southern Denmark, claiming an Fw 190 destroyed and a second damaged. This extraordinary day had been achieved with the loss of only one 2nd TAF pilot 124 Wing's Wg Cdr Webb. TIME SON e0550

06:15

182

130

TYPE

IDENT

Typhoon IB

nk nk

Spitlire XIV

W

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

F/L R.E.M.Z.Bergmann S/L J.Oerry

Ju88 Ju88 Hell1 B0131 B0131 B0131

--2 1---1 2 -1-1--

Fw44 Fi156 Fi156 Fi156 Ju188

1-1---1 2 -1--

7m S Schwerin Schwerin a/I OG Schwerin a/I Schwerin a/I nr Eutin

BI109

1--

Schwerin a/I

Me262 BI109 Fi156 Fw44 Fi156 Fw190 Bll08 Fi156 Fi156 Fw190 Fw190 Fw190

--1 1-1-1---1 3-1 1-1 1-1-1-1-1--

5m SW LObeck nr LObeck {nr Schonberg

Fi156 {Fw190 {Fi156 Fw190 S/E Fi156 He111

1-1-1-2 --11-1--

{

{Ju88 {He111 Bv138

I 1---2 --1

Bad Segeberg;sdb Ju88 b/o {OG SW Bad Segeberg OW Travemunde

Hell1 Helll

--1 1--

Ar234

1--

Travemunde 3m W Lubeck hbd 1/1 E/T IOdenburgl in circuit Hohn a/I

Bv222

1--

OW N LObeck

Bv139 Bv138 Bv138 Ju34W

1---1 --1 1--

sdbl N Gleschendorl OW 1/0 N LObeck {OW N LObeck { NW Elmshorn

nk nk nk nk SN176 N NH915

F/O F/S F/O F/S F/O F/O

G.Lord BWWoodman G.Lord} B.WWoodman} O.O.Eagleson R.OASmith

W/O J AChalmers F/L B.N.E.Ford-Coates} Sgt C.J.Boon} F/O·C.E.Mertens} P/O F.E.F.Edwards) F/O G.N.Smith F/O C.OWWilson F/L J.O.Gray F/L J.H.Cook W/O R.E.Coverdale F/L O.I.Hall

06:20 e0700

486 41

Tempest V Spitfire XIV

e0715

181

Typhoon IB

08:50

130

Spitfire XIV

el130

411

Spitfire IX

11:45 11:50 12:50 e1300

439 439 130 414

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

RM915 nk nk nk nk MK788 ML396 SW524 RB477 nk NH640

e1300 13:10

616 56

Meteor III Tempest V

EE243 F NV987 R

F/O A.Stodhart F/L RVGarton

NV965 S NV927 Z SN137 B EJ717 P NV753 J EJ739 W NH896 RB408 0 'SM20S' TB352 TD282 TD293 TD282 MN997 Z MP133 A MN425 J T0289 SM833 NH661 Y NH697 K nk A RB155 C SW464 0 RB492 J SW530 RB216 Y

F/L J.Sowerbutts F/L F.L.MacLeod} Sgt NWillis} F/O O.O.Eagleson P/O WJ.Shaw} W/O N.D.Howard} S/L J.B.Prendergast P/O J.HWhaley P/O C.G.Stevenson F/O H.F.Packard F/O M.J.Clow F/L H.R.Finley lSI} F/O M.J.Clow} F/O J.H.Vane} W/O C.B.Newcomb} Sgt AAV.Maxwell F/O FW.Town F/L WN.Stowe (S) F/L P.M.Bangerter} F/O A.Vaneckhoudt} P/O O.J.Watkins} F/S A.Kicq} W/O PWyper} F/S L.E.Slay} W/C G.F.HWebb (K) F/L H.Pears

RB492 J NV650 R NV948 P

F/S L.E.Slay F/L NWWalker} W/O EWright}

13:10 13:30

486 486

Tempest V Tempest V

13:50 e1455 16:00

414 184 443

Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI

16:10

443

Spitfire XVI

e1640

184

Typhoon IB

e1640 16:45 e1700 17:10

184 403 130 350

Typhoon IB Spitfire XVI Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

17:30

175

Typhoon IB

e1730 124Wg Typhoon IB 17:40 175 Typhoon IB

18:00

Tempest V

CAUSE/LOCATION OG LObeck

1/0 LO beck Idg LObeck {nr Schwerin Lake { {

{

N Schwerin Lake {Neustadt Glewe a/I {

OG E LObeck {NE Eutin { { { OG SW Grevesmunlen S Neumunster W Pion Wismar harbour N Selmsdorl {

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

18:15 e1950 20:25

56 486 56

Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V

20:28 20:30

56 486

Tempest V Tempest V

EJ601 NV722 SN140 SN137 NV987 SN129 EJ659 SN189

20:50

Tempest V

T Q

N B R M I C

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

F/S P.Tullie F/O O.D.Eagleson lEI W/O A.J.Brocklehurst} Sgt NWillis} Sgt G.J.Swindells S/L C.J.Sheddan} F/O D.J.Thomson} PIO J.I.Adams

Ju52W

d Pd 1-1

I

CAUSE/lOCATION

Bv138

1--

N Neustadt hbf SE Eutin III nr Ahrensbok Eutin area

Fi156 E/A

1-1--

5m W Gruber Heiligenhafen

Me262 Ju88

--1 1--

E Kiel OG strip nr Lutienburg

<

CJ

r-+

a--;

-<

Despite the fact that the war was so obviously lost to them, the Germans continued to resist, 3 May 1945 -------'--mainly to stave off the Red Army for as long as possible. Clearly, however, these final days added many further casualties to the 'Butcher's Bill' of the war, on the Allied side as well. Despite the very low loss levels during the first two days of May so far as 2nd TAF was concerned, these began to rise again on 3rd as the fighter and fighter-bomber pilots hunted down the myriad rich targets offered by the increasingly chaotic retreat of the Wehrmacht forces in the area. Increasingly desperate also, were the efforts being made to get away across the Baltic by sea or air. Indeed, some 500 vessels of many sorts were now at sea, and these would come under particularly sustained attack during 3rd, 83 Group pilots claiming 13 sunk and 101 damaged, while 84 Group claimed four sunk and six damaged. But herein occurred a tragedy of monumental proportions. Three vessels in Schleswig Bay had recently been filled with concentration camp prisoners, and all were unwittingly sunk by Typhoons with considerable loss of life. In the final five days of the war claims would total 150 ships sunk or damaged, including a number of U- Boats. Claims for vehicles of all types exceeded even those at Falaise the previous August, some 4,500 being claimed destroyed. 3 May would also see Second Army troops enter Hamburg, while remorseless attacks on the remaining Luftwaffe airfields - and on any aircraft to be found in the air - continued unabated. 3 Squadron undertook four operations during the day, the first at 0545 when FIt Lt H.K.Hughes led an attack on PIon. There Hughes and Flt Lt H.W.Longley each shot down an Fi 156 Storch, while Flt Lt Pierre Clostermann claimed an Fw 190 destroyed on the ground and two more damaged. Around 0700 FIg Off J.H.Vane of 184 Squadron sighted a Storch on the ground alongside a road near PIon; it was swiftly despatched with a burst of cannon fire. An hour later FIg OffT.L.Trevarrow and Plt OffF.E.F.Edwards of 130 Squadron shot down a Ju 188 near Grossenbrode. At much the same time pilots of 41 Squadron on an armed reconnaissance over the Lubeck area spotted another Ju 188, and this was brought down over Husum airfield by FIt Lt D.F.V.Rake for the squadron's 200th and last victory of the war. During the mid-morning period Flt Lts B.E.Innes and W.F.Peck of 402 Squadron spotted three Storches on the ground north of Neumunster, claiming damage to all of these. Shortly after this, at around 1040, the commanding officer, Sqn Ldr D.C.Gordon, saw another Storch flying at low level, and shot this down in flames in the same area as 41 Squadron's Ju 188 had fallen. However the Canadian unit's Flt Lt J.A.O'Brian had to bale out south-east of Hamburg when his Spitfire XIV was struck by ricochets from its own guns. Fifteen minutes later Typhoons of 181 Squadron strafed Neustadt airfield where some 30 aircraft were seen on the ground. Two Ju 88s and an Me 410 were claimed to have been destroyed, and five more aircraft were believed to have been damaged.

LEFT Sqn Ldr Frank Woolley DFC (beneath the spinner) and pilots of 130 Squadron grouped in front of one of their Spitfires at B.118, Celie, late in April 1945. Included are Fig Off T.L.Trevorrow (third from left), Fit Lt WBruce (fourth from left), Pit Off FEHdwards (fourth from right) and Fit Lt WN.Stowe RCAF (first from right).

«

ABOVE: Sqn Ldr IJ De

Courcy, DFC, who had been a fl ight commander with 421 Squadron before taking command of 443 Squadron on 5 April 1945, shared in the destruction of a Ju 188, with two other pilots, on 3 May 1945 Unfortunately he was killed in a road traffic accident in Germany just a month aher hostilities ceased.

At 1155 Flt Lt J.A.Houlton, the New Zealand pilot who had claimed the first victory for 2nd TAF over the Normandy beaches on D-Day, and who had recently commenced a further operational tour as a flight commander in 274 Squadron, intercepted and shot down a Do 217 which was heading in the direction of Norway. Just after 1300 Eggebek airfield was on the receiving end of an attack by six Tempests of 222 Squadron and, although the unit diary reports several destroyed and many (of various types) damaged, it appears that only Fit J.Jamieson's claim for two damaged seems to have been submitted and confirmed by 2nd TAFHQ. 181 Squadron's Typhoons were out strafing again in the early afternoon, when Sqn Ldr H. 'Poppa' Ambrose claimed an He IlIon the ground, sharing a second with Flt Lt Lockyer-Marsh. Twelve more Typhoons from 193 Squadron undertook a shipping sweep over Lubeck, claiming hits on two vessels, one of an estimated 10,000 tons, the other of 8,000 tons. The pilots then strafed some MTBs, and jointly shot down a BV 138 flying boat as it was trying to land. Another big strafmg attack was made by 401 Squadron on a grass strip north-east of Kiel, and here 12 Ju 52/3ms, two He Ills and a Ju 87 were claimed to have been destroyed. Fig Off D.B.Dack and Fig Off R.C.Gudgeon claimed three apiece, Sqn Ldr Bill Klersy, Flt Lt L.H.Watt, Fig OffV.E.Cottreli and Fig Off J.P.WFrancis each claimed two, while Plt Off A.K.Woodhill claimed the 15th. At 1745 Flt Lt C,J.McDonald and Wt Off J.R.Duncan of 486 Squadron each claimed a Ju 88 shot down north-west of Jagel, but during the day two of this unit's Tempests were brought down by Flak, both pilots force-landing, one of them suffering injuries. Towards the end of a successful day's strafing, 443 Squadron encountered a Ju 88 which was brought down by Sqn Ldr T.J.DeCourcy, Flt Lt R.G.Sim and Fig OffWA.Marshali jointly, falling to the west of Kappeln. 122 Wing's Tempests enjoyed further success at 1450 when Wt Off A.J.Brocklehurst of 56 Squadron saw an Fw 190 flying south-west 12 miles north-east of Lubeck at 3,000 feet. He attacked and the pilot was seen to bale out. 3 Squadron then attacked Grossenbrode airfield, where great execution was achieved. In short order 13 aircraft were claimed destroyed and five more damaged. Included were two Fw 190s, two Fw 44s, two Do 24s, a Ju 87, Ju 52/3m, Ju 352 and four unidentified types destroyed, plus two BV 138s, two Ar 232 gliders and one unidentified type damaged. The Do 24s, Ju 352, BV 138s and Ar 232s were all claimed personally by Flt Lt Clostermann. Wg Cdr Schrader and Flt Lt A.G.P.Jennings undertook a similar attack on a landing ground at Schonberg in two of 616 Squadron's Meteors, where they were able to claim a Storch, a Ju 87, an He III and a Bf 109 destroyed, plus another Ju 87 and a Ju 52/3m damaged. The Storch had been in the process of landing when the attack began, and came very close to being the Meteor's first aerial victory - but it was not to be, and its wheels were on the ground by the time it was struck by 20 mm shells. 416 Squadron had enjoyed a fairly uneventful day when at 1845 Fig Off Rex WTapley and Plt Off Larry E.Spurr intercepted and shot down a Do 217 west of Schwarzenbek. The final attack of the day again had Grossenbrode as its target as W g Cdr Evan Mackie led Tempests of 3 Squadron back to the area of the unit's earlier triumph. Here Mackie personally claimed an He Ill, a Storch and an unidentified type destroyed, while Plt Off Torpy claimed damage to three He Ills and two other aircraft. One Tempest had failed to return from the days operations, Flt Lt J.Bone crashing near Kiel- the only Tempest pilot to be killed on operations during the early days of May (despite what might have been published elsewhere). The only act of defiance encountered in the air had been experienced by 421 Squadron, this unit's Spitfires being 'bounced' by a lone Fw 190D without effect. Nonetheless, the day had not been without its cost, for 13 aircraft had been shot down with at least five more damaged. The former included five Typhoons, five Spitfires and three Tempests, while another Typhoon had succumbed to engine failure. However, only four pilots had lost their lives, all but one of them in Typhoons. The last of these casualties was particularly poignant, Fit Sgt J.A.Brown, newly arrived on 181 Squadron, having begged to be included in what could have been his only chance to fly an operational mission; he paid for his enthusiasm with his life.

402 Squadron received this bubble-canopied Spitfire XIV, MV310 'AE-C' two days before the German surrender.

TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

dpd

CAUSE/LOCATION

06:30

Tempest V

SN221 NV937 SN166 nk MN934 NH915

F/L H.K.Hughes F/L HW.Longley} W/O D.G.Saunders} F/L P.H.Clostermann F/O J.H.Vane F/L D.F.V.Rake F/O 1 L.Treva rrow} P/O F.E.F.Edwards} F/L S.M.McClarty (K)

Fi156 Fi156

1-1--

{Pion {

Fw190 Fi156 Ju88 Ju188

1- 2 1-1-1--

OG 5m E Oldenburg OG nr Pion nr Husum a/I nr Grossenbrode

1---3

hbl 20m S Kiel csd en route LUneberg hbl csd Esingen nr Husum a/I OG N Neumunster

3

06:30 e0700 08:00 08:00

3 184 41 130

Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

e0805

411

Spitfire IX

NH263

08:40 el040 e1045

439 402 402

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

el050 e1055

486 181

Tempest V Typhoon IB

SW443 RM933 MV302 RM814 NH835 NV791

el135 e1250 e1300 13:05

412 274 3 222

Spitfire IX Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V

MK827 SN210 SN189 C SN178 K

F/L D.M.Pieri (K) F/L R.C.Stockburn F/L J.Bone (K) F/L J.Jamieson

e1315

181

Typhoon IB

nk nk nk SN181 DN551 PL344 H

S/L H.Ambrose S/L H.Ambrose} F/L Locker-Marsh} F/L J.A.Houlton Sgt AWBrooks (KI S/L W1KIersey

13:20 e1325 e1340

274 247 401

Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire IX

nk

14:00

14:10 14:30 14:55 15:10 15:30

Tempest V

33 56 198 198 3

Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V

M T A 0 B L

F/O G.F.Burden IKI S/L D.C.Gordon F/L B.E.lnnes} F/L W.F.Peck} F/L JAO'Brien lSI P/O J.EWood Squadron

JEFFF/L L.HWatt

PT582 MJ340 MJ283 T PL402 MH432 S SN221 NV650 R

F/O D.B.Dack F/O RC.Gudgeon F/O J.E.Cottrell F/O J.PW.Francis P/O A.KWoodill F/L H.K.Hughes F/L N.WWalker

NV937 SN212 SN212 SN221 SN210 SN140 PD618 PD466 NV944 SN222

W/O E.Wright F/O PWest F/O PWest} F/L H.K.Hughes} F/L R.J.Dall W/O A.J.Brocklehurst F/S PWWMiliard lEI P/O J.E.N.C.Scoon lSI F/L HW.Longley F/L P.H.Clostermann

T T V N U S

e1555 e1640 16:53

197 268 3

Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Tempest V

MP190 J MV313 SN221

P/O L.S.Brookes lSI F/O RB.Mumlord P/O J.L.R.Torpy

el720 e1735 17:45

181 486 486

Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V

18:05

443

Spitfire XVI

e1815

184

Typhoon IB

18:45

416

Spitfire XVI

e1855

616

Meteor III

JP838 EJ550 SN176 JN802 TD239 SM345 TB522 RB400 JR194 TB616 TB981 EE243 nk

F/S J.A.Brown (K) F/O C.E.Blee (II F/L C.J.McDonald W/O J.R.Duncan S/L lJ.DeCourcy} F/L R.G.Sim} F/O WA.Marshalll F/L B.N.Byrne W/O J.Rlsherwood F/O RWTapley} P/O L.E.Spurr} W/C WE.Schrader} F/L A.G.P.Jennings}

e1925 193 Typhoon IB 20:00 122Wg Tempest V

20:15

Tempest V

nk

nk SN221

N y

F T

F S

Squadron W/C E.D.Mackie

W/O D.G.Saunders F/L.H.K.Hughes

I <

n

r-+

Fi156 Fi156

Ju88 Me410

2- 4 1-1

Ju52 Ju88 Hell1 He 111

--1 --1 1-1--

00217

1--

Helll Ju52 Ju52 Ju87 Ju52 Ju52 Ju52 Ju52 He 111 E/A Fw44 Fw190 E/A • Fw190 Ju87

1-1-1-1-3 -3 -2 -2 -1-2 -1-1-2- 1 1-1--

Fw190

1--

1-Ju52 0024 2 -1-Ju352 --2 Bv138 Ar232 - - 2

sdb richochet b/o SE Hamburg hbll/I SW Kiel lOG Neustadt a/I {

sdbl or ricochet b/o IKiel-Hamb'gl hbl catB/Ac hbl? csd nr Kiel lOG Eggebek {

lOG a/110m NE Kiel {

40m SW Kiel sdbl a/destroyer NE Kiel lOG Schonberg { {

{ {

{ { {

{ lOG NW Elmsh9rn { { { { {

hbl Varel w/u B.l09 catAc 12m NE LUbeck e/II/I SW Neustadt e/II/I S Eimke lOG Grossenbrode {

{ { {

hbl 1/1 nr Neustadt hbl b/o AfT IBremerhavenl lOG Grossenbrode

--3 --2

{

Ju88 Ju88 Ju88

1-1-1--

hbl I/s NE Kiel hbll/I Stade {NW Jagel { W Kappeln

0026 0026 00217

--1 --1 1--

{OW nr Grossenbrode { W Schwarzenbek

Fi156 Hel11 Ju87 Ju52 Bv138 He 111 Fi156 E/A Ju87 Fw44

1-1-1-1 --1 1-1-1-1-1-1--

Hell1 E/A

lOG Schonberg { { {

off Fehmarn lOG 12m NE Kiel {

{ {

Itzehoe area

a....... -<

OJ U

'Super-Fighters'

l0-

a

LL


A

sset out in Volume Two of this work, the first two squadrons Still at this stage the Spitfire XIVs were trailing behind the of 'super-fighters', the Tempests of 3 and 486 Squadrons, had Tempests, February bringing only eight victories. March was a seen service very briefly as part of 85 Group's 150 Wing during the different matter altogether, as the tally for the units of 125 Wing Invasion of Normandy in June 1944, when the first three victories leapt to 21, the Canadians of 402 Squadron adding a further five. had been claimed by pilots of these aircraft. Following the ending Front runner during March was without question 130 Squadron, of the V-l campaign with the Allied occupation of the Pas de which contributed 14 of the successes. Indeed, the Mark XIV tally Calais, 3, 56, 80, 274 and 486 Squadrons had all arrived at 2nd TAF was only a little behind the 29 claimed by the Tempest units. On airfields in Belgium and Holland during 26/29 September, followed the debit side the month also saw the disbandment of 610 on the 30th by the Griffon-engined Spitfire XIVs of 130 and 402 Squadron and the dispersal of its pilots, some into other Squadrons. These units took the place of Mustang III units in 122 squadrons of the Wing. Wing, and of Spitfire IXs in 125 Wing at a time when the new It was April 1945 which was to be quite extraordinary for the threat of the Me 262 jet fighter-bombers was making itself felt. pilots of both types as the remnants of the Luftwaffe were Initially, the bad weather of the autumn months of 1944, hunted down. In 122 Wing 56 Squadron had continued to coupled with the relatively rare appearances of the Luftwaffe, maintain its unchallenged lead as top-scoring Tempest unit, the resulted in the newly-arrived units enjoying little opportunity for unit's total standing at 37 at the end of March. The next three air combat - although the Tempest pilots did manage to claim units were 80 Squadron with 26, 274 Squadron (now in 135 damage to a number of Me 262s at this time. The result was that Wing) with 23, and 3 Squadron with 22. Bringing up the rear was by the start of December only 13 victories had been claimed for 486 Squadron with 16. During April however, these positions the Tempests, and only three for the Spitfire XIVs. At this stage 56 changed completely. 56 Squadron claimed eight more, while 80 Squadron carried the laurels, having claimed eight of this total. Squadron ran up 11 to bring its total to 37 before departing for At the start of December 41,350 and 610 Squadrons arrived with Armament Practice Camp at Warmwell. From here it would not more Spitfire XIVs, while 430 Squadron, already in Holland, was rehave returned to Europe when the fighting ended. equipped with the fighter-reconnaissance version of this aircraft. 486 Squadron however, now turned in an incredible The Wehrmacht's Ardennes offensive brought a considerable performance, culminating on 29 April when 12 victories were increase in aerial action, particularly on those days when the skies claimed to bring the month's total to 31, and an overall tally of 47 cleared of rain, snow, cloud and fog. By the end ofthe month the five - two ahead of 56 Squadron! Altogether, Tempest claims during Tempest units of 122 Wing had added 35 more victories to their total. April amounted to 62. No less than 16 of these were claimed by pilots of 56 Squadron, The opening days of May saw 56 Squadron almost snatch bringing the score of this leading unit to 24 victories. back the lead with nine new victories, bringing its Tempest total The Spitfire XIVs were able at this time to add only four more to 54. But the New Zealanders managed a further eight claims, claims to the three already recorded during October. However, all just 'pipping' their rivals to bring the Squadron total to 55. 22 'super-fighter' units were now also heavily involved in armed victories had been claimed during the first few days of the reconnaissance operations, seeking out and strafing al most any month, and behind the absent 80 Squadron's 37, 3 and 274 form of movement behind the German lines. This, however, was Squadrons tied for fourth place. proving to be a fairly expensive business in terms of losses, which The Spitfire XIV units had also enjoyed an extraordinary final far exceeded those inflicted from time to time by the Luftwaffe. five weeks of the war, during which period 414 Squadron had January 1945 saw continued opportunities for air superiority become the second tactical reconnaissance unit to receive its work whenever the weather allowed. While so far such Spitfire special version of the aircraft. Now at last the Spitfire pilots XIV victories as there had been, had accrued to 130 and 402 excelled beyond the Tempests. April had resulted in 87 Squadrons, during this month 41 Squadron became involved in confirmed victories, 130 Squadron claiming 30 of these, 350 its first serious engagement, while 610 Squadron was also able Squadron 22 and 41 Squadron 21. May brought another 32. to make its first claim. The Tempests were by now surging ahead, and had begun to find their form against the latest Luftwaffe Fw 190Ds and Bf 109Ks. January brought 38 more claims, with 80 Squadron in 'pole position' with 12 of them by its pilots, closely followed by 3 Squadron with 11. 122 Wing continued to do well during February, a further 30 victories taking the Wing's total to well over 100. This month saw 274 Squadron claim an outstanding 13 victories, many of these falling to the unit's commanding officer, Sqn Ldr D.C.Fairbanks. This officer had established himself as the pre-eminent Tempest fighter pilot by the end of the month, when he was shot down and became a PoW. The latter part of the month also saw the arrival of 33 and 222 Squadrons to provide a Tempest element for 84 Group, and these two units achieved immediate successes which were included in the February total. Shortly after their arrival 274 Squadron left 122 Wing and 83 Group to bolster the presence of these new arrivals in 135 Wing. This was, however, greatly to restrict this unit's 130 Squadron pilots with one of their Spitfire XIVBs, left to right, on wing Fit Lt KJMatheson, Pit Off opportunities to add further to its air-to-air tally. oAStott, on nose Pit Off KRiordan, standing Fig Off GLord, not known, Wt Off O.HWhite, Fig Off W.Oobbs.

I RNZAF, but New Zealanders made up a preponderance of topscorers - six out of 11 (over 50%). The most successful, 'Foob' Fairbanks, was, of course, a US citizen in the RCAF. Spitfire XIVs

Victories

Sqn Ldr H.EWalmsley

10 & 1 shared

Previous Successes (+ 1 victory)

Units

Fit Lt I.R.Ponsford

6 & 2 shared

Sqn Ldr J.B.Shepherd

6 & 2 shared

(+ 2 and 3 shared)

610 & 41 Squadrons

Sqn Ldr F.A.O.Gaze, RAAF

5 & 2 shared

(+6 & 1 shared)

610 & 41 Squadrons

130 Squadron

Fig Off G.Lord

5 & 1 shared

130 Squadron

Fig Off P.T.Coleman

4 & 2 shared

(+ 1 victory)

Wt Off B.w.Woodman, RNZAF 4 & 1 shared Wt Off PH.T.Clay, Rhodesian

ABOVE: Belgian pilots of 350 Squadron at Y32 Ophoven; left to right, standing, Fig Off PDelorme, Fit Lt J.Lavigne, Fit Lt R. Duchateau, Fig Off RBladt, Fig Off R. Vanderveken and at the front Wt Off H.Boels and Fit Lt R.Hoornaert. Hendrik Boels claimed three victories - a Ju 87 on 19 April 1945, and two Fw 190s on 1 May The results for the two super-fighter types, including 150 Wing's brief foray in June 1944, were as follows:Spitfire XIVs 130 Squadron 41 Squadron 350 Squadron 402 Squadron 414 Squadron 430 Squadron 610 Squadron Wing Leaders

Tempest Vs 55 40 34 23 6 3 2 4 167

486 Squadron 56 Squadron 80 Squadron 3 Squadron 274 Squadron 222 Squadron 33 Squadron Wing Leaders

55 54 37 29 29 15 8 3*

230

The Wing Leaders may have added a further one or two to this total, dependent upon the conclusions of the 2nd TAF Claims Board. Who then were the 'stars' of these 'super-fighters'? Tempest Vs Sqn Ldr D.C.Fairbanks, RCAF

Victories

Previous Successes 11 or 12 & 1 shared 1+ 1 victory)

Wg Cdr W.E.Schrader, RNZAF 9 & 1 shared Fit Lt J.J.Payton

6

Wg Cdr E.D.Mackie, RNZAF

5 & 1 shared

(+2 & 1 shared)

Units 3 & 274 Squadrons

130 & 350 Squadrons

130 Squadron

4

Fit Lt D.I.Hall, RCAF

41 Squadron 130 Squadron

4 (+ 3 victories)

414 Squadron

Wg Cdr G.C.Keefer, RCAF

4 (+ 8 victories)

125 Wing

Sqn Ldr F.GWoolley

4

41,350 & 130 Squadrons

It may be seen that most of the high-scoring Spitfire pilots were of British extraction, unlike those flying the Tempests, and most were of considerable experience prior to flying the Mark XIV, six of them (more than 50 per cent) having achieved prior victories when flying earlier Marks of the aircraft. Much the same level of prior experience related to the Tempest pilots as well. However, three of the squadrons involved were RCAF formations (albeit two of them were tactical reconnaissance, rather than fighter units, while a third was at least nominally Belgian). The most successful Belgian pilots were Pit Off H.A.Boels with three victories and Fit Lt R.Muls with two and one shared. (It is mentioned here that in the book Those Other Eagles, Boels is incorrectly listed with only two victories, and Muls is not included. The information provided herein may be taken to be additional to what is provided in that volume). Of very considerable importance is the fact that not one of the 22 pilots listed here lost their lives during the war. Amongst the Tempest pilots, three (Fairbanks, Payton and Garland) were shot down and became PoWs, but this did not happen to a single Spitfire XIV pilot amongst this company. Amongst the Wing Leaders, Beamont of 122 Wing became a PoW, while Brooker, who later led this Wing, was eventually shot

486 Squadron 56 Squadron

(+16 & 1 shared)

80 Squadron

& 122 Wing

5 & 1 shared 56 Squadron

Fig Off D.E.Ness, RCAF Sqn Ldr C.J.Sheddan, RNZAF 4 &3 shared

486 Squadron

Fit Lt P.H.Clostermann, French 4 (+ 7 victories)

274,56 & 3 Squadrons

Fit Lt A.R.Evans, RNZAF

4

486 Squadron

Fit Lt JW.Garland, RCAF

4

80 & 3 Squadrons

Sqn Ldr A.R.Moore

4

56 Squadron

Fig Off V.L.J.Turner, RAAF

4

56 Squadron

The successful Tempest pilots were drawn to a considerable extent from the Commonwealth. Only one unit was specifically

ABOVE: 41 Squadron pilots at Twente in April 1945; left to right, Fit Sgt Smart, Fit Lt D.J.Reid, Fig Off EM.Hegarty, Fit Lt PCowel1, Fig Off E.Gray, not known, Fit Lt o MVRake. Fig Off WJ.Jallands, Fit Lt WN.Stowe, Fig Off Healy.

Q)

u

'Super-Fighters' Continued

~

a u-

down and killed. Squadron commanders suffered a somewhat higher attrition rate. 'Amongst the Tempest units, 486 Squadron suffered the loss of two commanders, Sqn Ldrs AE.Umbers and K.G.Taylor-Cannon, both victims of Flak, as was their fellow New Zealander Sqn Ldr K.F.Thiele of 3 Squadron. Unlike the other two, he survived as a PoW. 274 Squadron was unfortunate in losing two commanders to German fighters, firstly Sqn Ldr AH.Baird, who was killed, and then Fairbanks. Of the Spitfire XIV commanders, the Canadians of 402 Squadron lost Sqn Ldr L.AMoore, killed by Flak, while 350 Squadron had Sqn Ldr TSpencer shot down and captured - twice!

BELOW LEFT AND BELOW F.A.O'Tony· Gaze,an Australian in the RAF, first saw action in 1940. By August 1942 he was commanding 64 Squadron, but was leading a formation which became lost in cloud during the following month. This resulted in the loss of almost a complete US 'Eagle' Squadron and its new Spitfire IXs. Held responsible, he was demoted, and although he was to continue flying operations with conspicuous success during much of the rest of the war, he never again rose above flight commander. Awarded a DFC and two Bars, he flew Spitfire XIVs with 610 and 41 Squadrons in 125 Wing, claiming five and two shared of his 11 and three shared victories with these units. He was promoted Sqn Ldr during the closing days of the war - but as a flight commander in 616 Squadron on Meteor jets i He is seen here celebrating after apparently discovering the German pyrotechnics store on a captured airfield. During his latter days with 41 Squadron Gaze flew Spitfire XIV MV260 'EB-P'.

Supermarine Spitfire XIV, RM727 'AE-P', Fig Off H.R.Robertson, 402 Squadron, B.88 Heesch

BELOW Spitfire XIV RM727, 'AE-P'of 402 Sqn, was flown by F/L H.Cowan when he shot down a Fw 190 on 30 March 1945

I < n

r-+

o---. -<

RIGHT New Zealanders of 486 Squadron just

after an operation from Volkel; left to right, Fig Off O.D.Eagleson, Fig Off D.JThompson (Australian), Sqn Ldr K.GTaylor-Cannon (missing 13 April 19451, Fig Off R.J Danzey, Pit Off WJShaw, Fit Lt JH.Stafford, Fig Off KASmith, Fig Off RDBremner, Fit Lt CJMcDonald and Fit Lt A.R.Evans .

.------'"l:""............--"'l!!'!mI~_ ..... . - -.............·......··=.wlF="='"

--

LEFT Sqn Ldr C.JSheddan,DFC, (centre) with his two 486 Squadron flight commanders, Fit Lt C.JMcDonald, DFC, (left) and Fit Lt AJRoss, and Sheddan's Tempest SN129 'SA-M', which carries his scoreboard and pennant. Sheddan made his last thre8'claims while flying this aircraft on 14, 16 April and 2 May 1945

Hawker Tempest V, SN129 'SA-M', Sqn Ldr C.J.Sheddan, 486 Squadron, 8.152, Fassberg

LEFT Sqn Ldr John Shepherd, DFC & two Bars, leaves his 41 Squadron Spitfire XIV after a sortie. Shepherd flew Spitfires throughout the war - he joined 610 Squadron as a flight commander in June 1944, shooting down seven V-1 s before the unit moved to 2nd TAF. Here he became commanding officer until the unit disbanded, when he moved to lead 41 Squadron. The final month of the war brought this experienced Scot claims for six and two shared German aircraft, raising his total for the war to eight and five shared.

CIJ

4 May 1945

U

~

o

LL.

« co u u

+-'

~

The only Tempest unit to employ external stores, other than 45-gallon tanks, was 33 Squadron which, after a few days practice, carried out two dive-bombing operations on 3 and 4 May 1945. 500 Ib bombs were dropped on railway yards at Varel and buildings at Ardorf. Tempest V SN205 '5R-B', photographed shortly after the events, was flown on both operations, by Fig Oils GARens (Belgian) and JAStables respectively.

-0 C N

Hawker Tempest V, SN206 '5R-B', Fig Off G.A.Rens, 33 Squadron, 8.109, Quackenbruck

I

plus two more Do 24s and two He 115s damaged. The two Do 18s were claimed by Clostermann for his final successes of the war. That evening all German forces in north-west Germany and northern Holland laid down their arms unconditionally in a separately arranged cessation of hostilities with 21st Army Group, although fighting continued elsewhere, particularly in the East. TIME SON

TYPE

IDENT

PILOT/CREW

CLAIM

e0640

411

Spitfire IX

486 486 175 274

Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB Tempest V

F/L O.F.Campbell} F/O 1L.O'Brien} F/O 1M.Austin IPl F/L J.w.Reid W/O.C.E.Swales F/O J.T.James} F/S E.T.Robertson} W/O N.Lush} F/L lS.Haynes}

He111

e0710 07:15 08:45 08:45

PV148 MK686 JN877 SN129 RB492 NV976 EJ813 NV989 EJ595

Y M J

0 G F

09:25 e0930 e0945

175 245 33

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Tempest V

SW464 0 nk

F/S A.w.Shead F/S M.A.McMahon Squadron

e0945

317

Spitfire IX

MJ138 U MK266 L

e0950 09:55 10:55

222 421 274

Tempest V Spitfire XVI Tempest V

ell00 el150

183 222

Typhoon IB Tempest V

F/L L.Szczerbinski (Kl F/L 1 Owczarski Squadron F/S WE.Nelson F/O 1R.Sutherland) Sgt G.WWatson} F/L J.A.Houlton} F/S O.Ramamoorthy} S/L J.R.Cullen IPI Squadron F/O J.FWalker P/O WJ.Shaw W/C E.O.Mackie} W/O J.R.Ouncan} F/O PWest F/L N.w.Walker F/O PWest F/L NWWalker F/L H.L.Longley

e1225

486 122Wg 486 14:40 3

Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V

e1450 15:30

Tempest V

SM293 Q SN181 E NV977 'EJ876' R EJ555 W SW454 V SN171 SN176 'EJ550' JN867 nk NV650 nk NV650 nk

nk nk e1550

182

Typhoon IB

0 N K R R

W/O WMalia F/L P.H.Clostermann Squadron

Fi156 00217 Me410 Ju52 0024 He111 Bf110 E/A Ju88 T/E Bl109 Bf109 Ju88

E/A Ju88 00217 Hell1

dpd 1--

CAUSE/LOCATION

INW Flensberg I;db ret fire?catB or PV148? f? f/I nr Satrup 1-OG Rends u/c fault w/u B.150 1-1 lOG Grossenbrode 2- 1 I 1-I 1-1 I --2 I --1 I 1- 4 I { 1-1 --1 OG Grossenbrode a/f 1-OG Grossenbrode a/I --1 lOG Aurich a/I --1 I hbd a/ship N Wilhelshaven csd in sea hbf nr Varrelbusch catB/Ac -·4** OG Husum efto csd B.154 1-lOG Leck 2 -I 1-I

Fi156 Fi156

hbl/d 1/1 Fehmarn Is 4 -12**OG Grossenbrode hbd catB 1-lOG a/f nr Wedemark 1-I

Ju352 Ju352 0024 0024 Bl110 He115 0024 Bv138 0018 He177 BI109

2 -1-1 2 -1-1 1---2 1-1 1-2 -3-7 --3

E/A

lOG Eggebek a/I I lOG Schleswig seaplane base { OG Schleswig seaplane base

lOG Flensburg a/I I

** 222 Sqn's claims for attacks on Husum le0950) and Grossenbrode le1150) on 4 May 1945 resulted in combined claims as lollows:Ju52 3- 2 BI110 1- 3 BI109 --5 Ju88 --3 He111 --1 Fw190 --2

Despite the ending of operations which were supposed to include a complete ban on further flights by Luftwaffe aircraft, attempts to escape still continued initially. Consequently, when 130 Squadron despatched three Spitfire XIVs to patrol over Hamburg at 0545, the pilots encountered an Si 204 over the sea west of the city at 0630, This was at once shot down in flames by FIt Lt D.G,Gibbins and Wt OffY.J,Seymour - 2nd TAF's last engagement and victory of the war, 06:30

130

Spitfire XIV

nk nk

F/L O.G.Gibbins} W/O V.J.Seymour}

Si204

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in sea W Hamburg

The close of hostilities rendered unnecessary a drive into Denmark which Montgomery had been planning, and consequently during the day 3 Squadron provided escorts to Dakotas flying in troops to take over control of that country from the Germans, 125 Wing was rapidly re-organised into a composite unit by the addition of the TacR Spitfire XIVs of 414 Squadron and 137 Squadron with its Typhoons. In the event it was to be only 41 and 137 Squadrons that flew into B,160 at Kastrup on the 9th. Thus with the close of hostilities 2nd TAP's Order of Battle as at 5 May 1945 was:

5 May 1945

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HEADQUARTERS (Suchteln) 34(PR) Wing

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16 Squadron 140 Squadron 1401 (Met) Flight 69 Squadron

Spitfire XIX} Mosquito XVI} Spitfire LF IX} Wellington XIII

8.78, Eindhoven

8.58, Melsbroek

2 GROUP (Brussels) 136 137 138 139 140

Wing Wing Wing Wing Wing

418 and 605 Squadrons 226 and 342 Squadrons 107,305 and 613 Squadrons 98,180 and 320 Squadrons 21,464 and 487 Squadrons

Mosquito Vis Mitchell II/III Mosquito VI Mitchell II/III Mosquito VI

8.80, Volkel 8.77, Gilze-Rijen A.75, Epinoy 8.110, Achmer 8.58, Melsbroek

83 GROUP (Schneverdingen) 39(Recce) Wing

400 Squadron 414 and 430 Squadrons 175, 184 and 245 Squadrons 3 and 56 Squadrons 486 Squadron 80 Squadron 137, 181, 182 and 247 Squadrons 41, 130 and 350 Squadrons 401,411 and 412 Squadrons 402 Squadron

Spitfire XI Spitfire XIV Typhoon IB Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V Typhoon IB Spitfire XIV Spitfire IX Spitfire XIV

127 Wing 143 Wing

403,416,421 and 443 Squadrons 438 and 439 Squadrons 440 Squadron

Spitfire XVI Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

8.154, Reinsehlen 8.154, Reinsehlen 8.150, Hustedt 8.152, Fassburg 8.118, Celie APC, Warmwell 8.156, Luneburg 8.118, Celie 8.116, Wunstorf 8.118, Celie - on attachment 125 Wing 8.154, Reinsehlen 8.150, Hustedt APC, Warm well

XII Corps VIII Corps

653 658 659 662

Auster Auster Auster Auster

Harburg Dorfmark LUbeck Elm

121 Wing 122 Wing

124 Wing 125 Wing 126 Wing

xxx Corps

Squadron Squadron • Squadron Squadron

IV/V IV/V IV/V IV/V

84 GROUP (Delden) 35(Recce) Wing

2 Squadron 4 Squadron 268 Squadron

Spitfire XIV 8.106, Twente Spitfire XI 8.106, Twente Mustang II} 8.106, Twente Spitfire XIV} 123 Wing 164,183,198 and 609 Squadrons Typhoon IB 8.103, Plantlilnne 131 Wing 302,317,322 and 349 Squadrons Spitfire XVI 8.113, Varrelbusch 317 Squadron Spitfire XVI APC Fairwood Cmn.) 132 Wing Headquarters non-operational and awaiting posting to Fighter Command 135 Wing 33,222 and 274 Squadrons Tempest V 8.109,Ouackenbrilck 616 Squadron Meteor III 156, LUneburg, under temporary operational command of 122 Wing, 83 Group 145 Wing 74,340,341,345 and 485 Squadrons Spitfire XVI 8.105, Drape 146 Wing 193, 197 and 263 Squadrons Typhoon IB 8.111, Ahlhorn 266 Squadron Typhoon IB APC, Fairwood Cmn. XII Corps 652 Squadron Auster IV Rhede II Canadian Corps 660 Squadron Auster IV Vermeppen 1st Canadian Army661 Squadron Auster IV 80rne I Canadian Corps 657 Squadron(*) Auster IV/V Teuge 664 (RCAF) Squadron(*) Auster IV/V Rostrup 665 (RCAF) Squadron(*) Auster IV/V Gilze-Rijen

276 ASR Squadron 290 AAC Squadron

Walrus I} Spitfire V} Spitfire V} Martinet} Vengeance

657 Squadron had transferred from the Italian front, arriving at Gilze-Rijen on 11 April. 664 and 665 Squadrons were recentlyformed RCAF units; 664 Squadron arrived in Europe on 23 March and 665 Squadron on 21 April. A third such unit, 666 Squadron, had been formed on 5 March 1945, but would not arrive until late in May, when hostilities had ceased.

(**1 219 Squadron was maintaining a detachment at 8.51, Lille/Vendeville.

(***)

85 GROUP (Ghent) 142 Wing

1*1

8.83, Knocke Ie Zout

1591Balloonl Wing controlled two LX Balloon Squadrons, seven Port Type Balloon

8.83, Knocke Ie Zout

Squadrons and one "M" Balloon Unit.

148 Wing

264 Squadron 409 Squadron 219(**) and 410 Squadrons 119 Squadron

Mosquito XIII Mosquito XIII Mosquito XXX Albacore

149 Wing 157 (GR) Wing 159 (Balloon)Wing (***)

B.77, Gilze-Rijen B.708, Rheine B.77, Gilze-Rijen B.83, Knocke Ie Zout St Nicholas

Thus had the 2nd Tactical Air Force been formed, based upon the experience of earlier campaigns, and had carried out its duties with exemplary skill and vigour. There can be little doubt but that it had greatly enhanced the abilities and performance of 21st Army Group from D-Day onwards, and had frequently made the difference between success and failure when the Armies on the ground found themselves faced by superior weapons and combat experience, particularly amongst the Wehrmacht's Panzer Divisions and the fanatical units of the Waffen-SS. Some figures are available regarding the claims, losses and expenditure of various ammunitions reported by the two main support Groups. To these must, of course, be added the very substantial weight of bombs and quantities of 20mm rounds added by the aircraft of 2 Group.

6 June 1944 - 5 May 1945 Sorties flown Enemy aircraft claimed Aircraft destroyed on the ground Flying bombs destroyed MET AFVs and Tanks Lo comotives Rail trucks Ships Barges

83 Group 84 Group 143,327 90,089 1,256:74:724* Included in above Not known 9,744:17,475 404:584 217:340 715:2,510 93:502 3,854:9,761753:1,873 56:316 53:283 287:1,143 210:786

Bombs dropped 1,0001bs 500lbs 250lbs 60lb rockets launched 20 mm cannon ammunition expended

Not known 36,381 27,992 Not known 143,327 79,188 Not known

Aircraft Losses Pilots lost

989* 770

1981/2:9:113 81:203 14 3,819:4,690

2,204 12)79 5,137,948

628* 407

The enemy aircraft claimed by 83 Group, and the losses suffered include 60 1/2 claims and 33 aircraft losses of 35, 123, 131 and 146 Wings of 84 Group which operated under 83 Group command from arrival in France in June/July until the arrival of 84 Group Headquarters in August. The 84 Group losses included 415 to Flak, 56 in combat, 61 to unidentified causes, and 96 in accidents. This averaged out at 143 sorties per loss. The figures quoted above relating to enemy aircraft claimed are arranged destroyed:probables:damaged. All other figures, including aircraft destroyed on the ground are arranged - destroyed:damaged. 2 Group Figures specifically for the period 6 June 1944-5 May 1945 have not been identified by the authors. However as a comparison with the figures for 83 and 84 Groups quoted above, the following statistics may be of interest:Mitchells and Bostons undertook 14,148 sorties by day and 988 by night during 1944, adding a further 5,293 sorties by day during the period 1 January-5 May 1945. In doing so they dropped 25,133 bombs of various weights, losing 90 aircraft with 1,613 more damaged (mainly by Flak). Mosquitoes of this Group undertook 1,723 sorties by day and 8,877 by night during 1944, followed by 146 by day and 5,561 by night during the 1945 period. During these operations 25,139 bombs were dropped, 1,284,602 rounds of 20 mm cannon ammunition and 1,597,386 .303 in machine gun bullets were fired. Four V-I flying bombs were shot down during the period June-December 1944, and nine more in 1945 for a total of 13. The cost of these operations was 184 aircraft lost and 271 damaged.

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LL n late July and August 1944 616 Squadron (in ADGB) had exchanged its Spitfire VIIs for the RAF's first jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor I, and had flown them with some success against the dwindling numbers of V-1 flying bombs menacing the south of England (12 and one shared claims). With the V-1 threat largely removed by the captu re of their launch sites by Allied forces, 616 Squadron spent the rest of the year training and demonstrating its new fighters to diverse units so that their aircrew would become familiar with the new shape in the skies. The performance of these early Meteors was not startling, indeed its top speed of 410 mph at 30,000ft (and 385mph at sea level) could be exceeded by the latest piston-engined fighters entering service about the same time. However, in December 616 began receiving the first of the Meteor Ills that would soon totally replace their Mk.ls. Initial deliveries were powered by the same Weiland engines that were fitted to the Mk.ls, so there was little improvement in the performance over the earlier version; even so it was decided that a detachment of four aircraft would be sent to the Continent to operate. On 4 February, Meteor Mk.llis EE235 'YQ-P' (Wg Cdr A.McDowall), EE239'YQ-Q'( Sqn Ldr DABarry), EE240 'YQ-R'(Flt Lt M.M.Mulienders) and EE241'YQ-S'(Flg Off J.K.Rodgers) flew from Colerne to B.58, Melsbroek, landing en route to refuel at Manston. An advance party had arrived at Melbroek a week earlier to prepare the accommodation - which consisted of two hangars (still under repair), a caravan for the Squadron HQ and a tent for equipment. Before departure the Meteors had been painted white overall - a precaution to aid quick identitication in skies more usually frequented by enemy jets. The squadron was, rather inappropriately, temporarily attached to the resident medium bomber Wing, No.139. Bad weather and the pace of 139 Wing operations meant that Meteor operations were restricted, but training runs for the benefit of ground observers and antiaircraft gunners were flown on prescribed routes, usually at 3,000 feet. On the last day of February a BBC news bulletin, which announced that British jet fighters were in action against the Luftwaffe, was just a little premature. Meanwhile, on the 13 February the first of the Rolls-Royce Derwent-engined Meteor Ills had been collected by 616

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Squadron pilots, from Gloster Aircraft's Moreton Valence airfield. This variant, with the thrust from each engine increased from 1,7001bs to 2,000Ibs, brought a significant boost to the Meteor's performance. Speed at 30,000 feet was now 493 mph and 453 mph at sea level. These figures were still somewhat short of those offered by the potential opposition - the Me262A could attain 536 mph at 23,000 feet. On the 27 February, the servicing echelon of the 616 Squadron had sailed to Ostende to join the Belgian detachment. However, on arrival, they were not allowed to disembark, returning to the UK and proceeding to Andrews Field in Essex, where they where joined by the rest of the Meteor aircraft and pilots from Colerne. The squadron was there to counter the threat of 'Divers' again, this time air-launched from He111 s over the North Sea. Despite a number of 'Scrambles' and patrols, only one would be sighted during 616's stay and the intercepting Meteors were unable to engage. Back at Melsbroek the 'training' programme continued, hampered by more bad weather and serviceability problems; however, on the 19 March came the first taste of action - albeit on the receiving end! Two Arado Ar234s were seen to streak across the airfield at 6,000 feet, dropping fragmentation bombs just outside 616's hangar; one Meteor suffered minor damage but fortunately no personnel were injured. However, it is now known that the raid was carried out by three Ar 234s of 6./KG 76, each dropping two AB500 containers with SD15 fragmentation bombs. On return their pilots reported the presence of "ten experimental fighters" at Melsbroek. Was this a deliberate 'welcome' from the Luftwaffe's rival jets? Ten days later the detachment moved from B.58 to B.77, Gilze Rijen, to join 135 Wing. There they would be joined by the BELOW Meteor Is and Weiland-powered Mk.llls of 616 Squadron photographed at their Manston dispersal in January 1945, shortly before the Melsbroek detachment aircraft were painted white. Two of the latter are in the photograph EE235 'YQ-P' in the foreground and EE239 'YQ-Q' partly obscured by the Mkl, EE229 'YQ-W' A further MkllI, EE234 'YQ-O' can be seen facing in the opposite direction to the other Meteors. Beyond the jets are the Spitfire HF IXs of 124 Squadron. (IWM CL2923)

I Gloster Meteor III (Weiland), EE239, 'YO-a', 616 Squadron detachment, B.58, Melbroek

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and another 'MET'. The following day another move was in order, to keep up with the rapidly advancing front; the new base was in Germany - B.l09, Quackenbruck. At first more bad weather restricted flying but on 24 April Wg Cdr McDowall led four Meteors on an 'armed recce' of 'Area Z' during which an attack on Nordholz airfield resulting in the first damage to an enemy aircraft (albeit on the ground) - a Ju 88 - and to a variety of other targets in the vicinity. In the afternoon the Meteors paid another visit to the same airfield, damaging various installations, but two of the jets received damage from the ferocious Flak barrage put up Groundcrew manhandle an all-white Meteor III, EE239' YQ-Q', from the 616 Squadron detachment's hangar at by the defenders. 8.58. Melsbroek, on 6 February 1945. just two days after the arrival of the jets. (lWM CL2933j . On 25 April the ground elements of 616 Squadron moved to B.152, rest of the squadron; ground elements arrived on 30 March with Fassberg, on attachment to 122 Wing, with the aircraft being the Meteors following the next day. No less than 17 Meteors flown in to the new base the next day. It was hoped that the move made the trip (one, EE270, was unserviceable); all were to 83 Group's area would bring the sought-after Luftwaffe Derwent-powered Mk.llls, the Mk.ls and Welland-engined Mk.llls targets. Again, bad weather restricted flying, but uneventful all having been passed on to second-line units, primarily 1335 'recces' were flown on 18th. The next day brought a bitter loss for Conversion Unit. The four white Weiland Meteor Ills from the the unit - Sqn Ldr L.W.Watts DFC and Fit Sgt B.Cartmel failing to Melsbroek detachment were flown back to the UK on 9 April return from a sortie; Spitfire pilots had heard the Sqn Ldr calling 1945 and also passed on to the conversion unit. his no.2 in closer as they were entering cloud and this was On 3 April 1945, now fully-equipped with the best available followed shortly after by a large explosion - the two Meteors had version of the Meteor, 616 Squadron took over the apparently collided, with the loss of both pilots. Sqn Ldr Les responsibilities of 'Pink Section' - two aircraft at readiness on the Watts had been a successful fighter pilot in Malta and had runway throughout the day. At 1650 hours two 'reds' were fired commanded 616 Squadron for a year before the unit converted from Flying Control and pair were 'scrambled'. Although the to the Meteor and the CO post was upgraded to Wg Cdr. subsequent patrol over the Brussels area at 15,000 feet proved If airborne targets still proved elusive (which they did) at uneventful, the suspect 'plots' proving friendly, Fit Lt M.Cooper least ground targets were more plentiful and on 1 May 616 and Fig Off T.D.Dean had logged the first operational flights for Squadron was able to claim 13 MET destroyed and a further 25 the Meteor in the ETO (European Theatre of Operations). When damaged. The next day a new commanding officer, Wg Cdr W.E. 135 Wing moved to B.91, 616 Squadron remained at Gilze-Rijen 'Smokey' Schrader, DFC, and a replacement for Watts, Sqn Ldr for a few days and on 9th missed their best chance of F.A.O.Gaze, DFC and Bar, arrived from other 83 Group units. interception when their 'scramble' was baulked by 149 Wing Both had recent experience of fighter operations (with 486 and aircraft on the runway. Thus delayed, the Meteors were unable 41 Squadrons respectively) and each was credited with a dozen to close on a trail at 30,000 feet - presumed to be an enemy jet. enemy aircraft destroyed. Sections of four Meteors operated The Squadron followed 135 Wing to B.91 on 13 April and throughout the day; the scoreboard was rapidly filling now with after initial bad weather, flew its first (uneventful) sorties in its 22 more MET destroyed and 83 damaged, plus a locomotive new operational area on 16th. On the next day the Meteor's first destroyed with four of its wagons damaged and an Fi 156 damage to the enemy was recorded when Fit Lt Cooper strafed destroyed on the ground. a large motor transport which was seen to swerve off the road, Yet another move took place on 3rd May - to B.156 Luneberg but other targets proved elusive. On 18th another 'MET' and two - temporary home of 124 Wing, but operations continued staff cars were added to the tally, and on 19th an armoured car through th~ day - now being flown by pairs of Meteors -

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bringing in a MET score of six destroyed and 34 damaged. Wg Cdr Schrader and Fit Lt A.G.P.Jennings swooped on Schonberg airfield and claimed six aircraft destroyed although later assessment reduced this to three and two damaged. One of these, an Fi 156 Storch, had nearly provided the first airborne kill but landed just before it was caught by the cannon-fire from Jennings' Meteor. The final 14 wartime sorties were flown on 4 May with modest claims of one locomotive destroyed and one damaged, together with ten wagons, plus one MET destroyed and two damaged. Wg Cdr Schrader had some interesting moments when both engines failed (apparently a fuel problem) at 8,000 feet not long after take-off; he managed a 'dead-stick' landing at base - a splendid effort on just his third day flying on the type! Shortly after the cessation of hostilities, on 7 May 1945,616 Squadron made its last move in Germany, to 8.158, Lubeck, again with 124 Wing. There followed a summer of practice

formation flights, aerobatics and cross-countries, with highlights including participation in the flypast for Marshal Zhukov, the Soviet Commander-in-Chief, (for which 12 Meteors flew to Y80, Frankfurt), an air display at Copenhagen (1 July) and an interception exercise against Lancasters escorted by Mustangs (20 July). However, on 30 August 1945, after carving a niche in aviation history as the first and only Allied jet unit to see operational service, 616 Squadron was disbanded, The same day, a 146 Wing Typhoon unit, 263 Squadron was also disbanded and its numberplate went to the Meteor Squadron which, with its new identity, flew back to the UK on 1 September 1945. 616 Squadron would not be reformed until the following year, when it resumed its role with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in its native Yorkshire, at first with Mosquito night-fighters but re-equipping with Meteor F.3s (as they were now known) in 1949!

Gloster Meteor III, EE247, 'YO-B', 616 Squadron, B.152, Fassberg

BELOW AND LEFT Meteor III, EE247 'YQ-B' photographed at B.158 Lubeck shortly before 616 Squadron was renumbered. Ex-350 Squadron commanding officer, Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer was attached to 616 Squadron at this time and is seen in the cockpit of EE247, which carries the name 'Angela' below the windscreen.

Meteor III, EE249 'YO-N', which served with 616 Squadron from 7 February 1945 until the unit was renumbered 263 Squadron at the end of August 1945.

ABOVE: The first Derwent-engined Meteor in service, EE245 'YO-H', photographed while attached to 124 Wing shortly after hostilities had ceased. The Derwentengined Mk.llis can be distinguished from the Weiland Mk.llis by their lack of jet pipe protruding from the rear of the engine nacelle and the presence of two fa ired vents on the top starboard side of each nacelle.

RIGHT Wg Cdr 'Smokey' Schrader got his hands on 'the enemy' eventually, flying Me262A, 'yellow 7' from Fassberg to 616 Squadron's base at LUbeck on 29 May 1945. Unfortunately he found himself faced with a flap less landing - and a nosewheel that failed to come down - and during the resulting high-speed touch-down the nose caught fire. However, Schrader escaped without injury and 'yellow 7' was soon repaired and flown to RAE Farnborough for trials.

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Air Stores Parks and Air Ammunition Parks ike Repair & Service Units, all Air Stores Parks and the only Air Ammunition Park formed for service with 2nd TAF were numbered in the 400 range. As its name indicates, the ASP was formed to stock and issue equipment and spares for front line squadrons. For this reason, those for 2nd TAF were formed on a mobile basis. Initial formation of such units for 83 Group occurred quite early in the life of the Tactical Air Force, the first being 401 ASP formed by the redesignation of 229 Maintenance Unit at Harrowbeer on 19 April 1943. By contrast, 402, 404 and 406 ASPs were all formed from nuclei provided by 7 Maintenance Unit at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, without the parent unit actually facing disbandment. The dates of formation of these three units were 21 May, 3 June and 17 July 1943 respectively. Thereafter all four units moved frequently to various south of England airfields during a series of practice exercises, until the advent of D-Day. 84 Group's first such unit initially came into being as the Polish Air Force Mobile Equipment Park at Swanton Morley on 26 June 1943, being redesignated 206 Maintenance Unit at Hillingdon on 21 August. A few days later on 8 September 1943 it was again renamed, this time as 408 (Polish) ASP. On 29 November 1943 414 ASP was formed at Dunsfold with the disbandment there of 228 MU to create the second such unit for 84 Group. On the same date and at the same airfield, 416 ASP was formed for 2 Group. A second such unit was formed for 2 Group on 6 December 1943 at Odiham as 418 ASP. This, however, rendered 416 ASP redundant, and it was absorbed by 414 ASP. On 20 January 1944 402 ASP was transferred to 84 Group from 83 Group.

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Thus at the beginning of June 194483 and 84 Groups each had three ASPs, and 2 Group one. One other unit formed for 83 Group had been 401 Air Ammunition Park at Burrswood, which was renamed 401 Fuel and Ammunition Park on 6 April 1944. It was, however, to be the only one of its type. 83 Group's three units soon followed the Group's squadrons to France, 401 ASP moving to Arromanches on 19 June 1944, followed by 406 on 28 June (to the west of Mosles) and 404 on 6 July, the latter initially 'setting up shop' on 'Juno' Beach. 84 Group's ASPs followed that unit's squadrons to the Continent somewhat later, 402 ASP reaching Thaon on 9 August, while 408 (Polish) settled at Anguerny on 21st; 2 Group's 418 ASP made a relatively early move to Cairon on 16th of that month. 414 ASP remained at Dunsfold, where it carried out its function for the rest of the war. With the rapid advance through Belgium and into Holland, the ASPs soon followed. 401 and 404 had reached the Eindhoven area by the end of September, 406 following a few days later. Meanwhile 402 and 408 arrived at bases in Belgium during the same period, followed closely by 418. All remained at these locations until after the Rhine crossings, when they were soon on the move again, closely behind the squadrons they were serving. All three 83 Group units moved to new bases in Germany during mid-April 1945,408 ASP going to Lingen at the same time, while 402 shifted into north-east Holland. 2 Group's 418 ASP had moved to Tilburg in Holland at the start of February, and as the war came to an end, transferred to Ahlhorn on German soil on 5 May 1945.

Group Support Units nitially each R&SU incorporated an Aircraft Reception Flight (with the same number as the parent R&SUl, responsible for maintaining a reserve of 36 (later reduced to 12) aircraft prepared for immediate issue to operational units. In early spring 1944, however, ten ARFs were combined into two new units, 83 and 84 Group Support Units (GSU) which then became responsible for maintaining a pool of aircraft prepared to operational standard and ready for issue to units of the parent group. This entailed final modifications and adjustments (eg. cannon and RP harmonisation, radio set-up) and test flights. In addition each GSU would operate a conversion flight to provide refresher, conversion and continuation training to ensure that pilots joining 2nd TAF units via the GSUs were up to date with the latest types, techniques and tactics. A third unit, to support 2 Group in a similar way, was formed in April 1944 from 1482 Flight. A further similar unit, 34 Wing Support Unit, was formed at Northolt in July 1944 to satisfy the varied and specialised requirements of 34 (Reconnaissance) Wing.

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83 and 84 GSUs were particularly large units. They were tasked with maintaining a pool of reserve aircraft - with three prepared for service for each squadron in the Group - a total approaching 90 Spitfires, Mustangs, Typhoons, Austers and (later) Tempests. In addition up to 20 aircraft were utilised by the Training Flight to allow type conversion and continuation training for the pool of pilots awaiting postings to operational units. Pilots 'on rest' between operational tours provided the instructors for these flights or acted as test and delivery pilots for aircraft which had been prepared for service'. The GSUs also had Ansons (probably from the 20 prepared for passenger carrying by 511 FRU) for shuttling aircrew between their base and the operational stations. In August 1945 2, 83 and 84 GSUs were renamed 2, 83 and 84 Group Disbandment Centres, effectively reversing their previous roles, allocating the pilots and aircraft of the operational squadrons as they returned home from Germany. Many aircraft, particularly Typhoons (for which no post-war role was envisaged), were scrapped in situ, while less war-worn examples were flown off to Maintenance Units for storage. 2 GSU

34 WSU

83 GSU

84 GSU

Pilots of the 83 GSU delivery flight pose on a Tempest V in April 1945; they include Fig Off Frank Wheeler (standing first left) who had completed a tour with 174 Squadron and Fit Lt Harry Hardy, RCAF, (second from the right) who had just completed his tour with 440 Squadron

Formed 1 April 1944 at Swanton Morley, moving to Fersfield by 17 December 1944. In addition to 2 Group's operational types the unit also utilised Anson, Oxford, Martinet, Hurricane and Mosquito 1.111 aircraft. Formed at Northolt on 24 July 1944 with an establishment of 16 training and 12 reserve aircraft, moving to Blackbushe on 16 October 1944. Formed at Redhill on 1 March 1944, moving to Bognor on 25 June 1944 in order to escape the V-1 threat. Further moves took place to Thorney Island (25 September 1944), Westhampnett (3 November 1944) and Dunsfold (22 February 1945). In addition to 83 Group types, Anson, Oxford, Martinet and Tiger Moth aircraft were operated. Formed at Aston Down on 14 February 1944, moving to Thruxton on 10 July 1944 and Lasham on 21 November 1944. In addition to 84 Group types the unit also operated Anson, Oxford, Vigilant and Messenger aircraft.

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ABOVE LEFT AND BELOW 83 Group Support Unit's training flight operated all the types

ABOVE: Tempest V NV994 which was delivered to 3 Squadron by 15 April 1945,

used by the Group operationally including the Mustang III (photographed in September 1944). Spitfire XIV, (all at Dunsfold in April 1945) Spitfire XIV RM764 '7S-BB' has a double letter individual identification, indicative of the large number of aircraft operated by the unit.

becoming 'JF-E', the first 1e Grand Charles' for Pierre Clostermann. Seen at Dunsfold awaiting delivery to operational units on the Continent.

Supermarine Spitfire XIV, RM764 '7S-88', 83 GSU Training Flight, Dunsfold

Operational Control ith the formation of 83 and 84 Groups came the requirement to provide operational control of the aircraft under their direction in the battle area. This was accomplished by the formation of a corresponding Group Control Centre (GCC) for each Group, much like the familiar Fighter Command Sector Operations Centres. In the GCC operations room the positions and directions of aircraft or formations within the area of operations were marked on a large horizontal map table, with plaques detailing numbers, height, and identification of each 'track'. The GCCs were fed by information from mobile radar units via landline or WfT links and communicated with the aircraft under their control by RfT (radio-telephone); callsigns for 483 and 484 GCCs (as they were formally numbered) were 'Kenway' and 'Longbow' respectively. Officers responsible for the planning and tasking of operations to be carried out by the Airfields (later Wings) within the Group were accommodated in cabins alongside the operations room. A large number of mobile signal units provided the RfT, WfT and telephone communications to facilitate the above organisation and the numerous links required to the Wings and other units under the control of the Group. Initially it was felt that communications between the mobile Airfields and the GCCs would be inadequate and therefore a number of 'Wings' were formed to provide the missing link and to control two or more Airfields each. In the reorganisation that took place in May 1944 these Wings were renamed 'Sectors' and the mobile Airfields were renamed 'Wings'. Within two months it was realised that the Sectors could be dispensed with entirely and the Wings could then communicate directly with the GCCs (it should be noted, however, that Sectors were retained in 85 Group). Using 483 GCC as an example, four mobile radar units were positioned to provide the best coverage relevant to the task. Three were designated Fighter Director Posts (FDP) responsible for surveillance of the area forward of the lines, reporting and control (when the latter task was delegated by the GCC), the other was a Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) unit with the task of base defence by day (night defence was the responsibility of the 85 Group GCI units which operated under 83 Group in the initial stages of the Normandy campaign). In addition there were four Light Warning Set units with short-range radar which were deployed to cover blind spots in the main radar coverage and which reported to their parent FDP. All these units were of course mobile, and followed hard on the heels of the initial assault on D-Day. Incredibly one of the 85 Group radar units, 15083 GCI, landed on a 'Jig beach' late in the afternoon of D-Day and was operating by 2300 hours! During the Normandy campaign 483 GCC was soon established near Bazenville while 484 GCC remained at Goodwood; following a number of brief locations during 'the Pursuit' they were again settled into more permanent homes in the Low Countries, at Erp (east of Eindhoven) and Turnhout respectively.

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was modified to supplement their low level coverage. These performance characteristics led to problems siting the FDPs. ~ To optimise performance, sites with suitable topography had to be 0found; too far from the front and the useful range suffered, too near the C""). front and the sites were vulnerable to enemy fire or advance. CD A late addition to the GCC radar set-up was the introduction of the C/) Mobile Radar Control Post (MRCP) which employed SCR584 radar originally used for gun-laying. It was extremely accurate and had a range of about 30 miles; it would be successfully used for directing aircraft, usually formations, in blind attacks (i.e. from above solid cloud cover) on larger targets such as troop concentrations or defended villages. The 85 Group GCI units used the same major types as 483 and 484 GCCs but with the addition of the Type 14 which when paired with the Type 13 height-finder, proved to be the most successful equipment. It was capable of detecting a single Mosquito at 5,000 feet at a range of between 60 and 70 miles. Identification of aircraft was always a problem, for although IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) was fitted to the Type 15 and carried by many aircraft, the large number of non-equipped Bomber Command aircraft reduced its value; the equipment was also unreliable. In the Tactical Groups the lack of radar coverage was offset by use of 'Y' Service information - intercepts of Luftwaffe RfT transmissions as their sorties took off and set course for their targets. Allied to intelligence from Ultra (signals to German Flak units warned them of Luftwaffe sorties planned for the next day) the Intelligence sections at the GCCs were able to take appropriate action before the Luftwaffe aircraft entered Allied radar cover. The 'Y' Service also had DfF (direction finding) facilities which could provide a bearing on the enemy formations to help identification when they appeared on radar. Despite the availability of radar coverage, it does not seem to have been employed to maximum effect, certainly not where direct control of fighters or fighter-bombers by a radar controller was concerned. Even when, early in 1945,483 GCC received its own radar in the shape of the Type 70, which offered better cover than that provided by the FDPs, it seems that there was no attempt to employ it directly - it was used to supply information for the General Situation Map. There was also some reluctance to delegate direct control to an FDP - whose prime function was seen to be reporting 'tracks' to the GCC. This was due to a variety of reasons - lack of qualified controllers at the FDPs, predominance of Allied air superiority meant that tight control of the infrequent Luftwaffe incursions was unnecessary; and, one suspects, a certain amount of 'we

Use of Radar The FDPs were equipped with three different radars, Types 11, 13, and 15, each of which had different characteristics or roles. The Type 15 was the main search radar and had an inbuilt (but somewhat limited) height-finding ability; its major drawback was that, despite a maximum range of 120 miles, at the height band most frequently used by tactical air forces (5-10,000 feet) its range was poor - only 20 miles at 5,000 feet. The Type 11 had slightly better cover - about 30 miles at 5,000 feet, but was less reliable than the Type 15. The Type 13 was a height-finding radar with an excellent low-level performance - it was capable of picking up targets at 5,000 feet at 75 miles - but was intrinsically unsuitable for surveillance work; nevertheless in 84 Group it

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'Kenway' operations 'al fresco' in Normandy; on the board are listed the states of 121 and 124 Wing Typhoon squadrons - while at the top appear times the ADLS (Air Dispatch Letter Service) flights are scheduled.

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have always done it this way'! However the FDPs did on occasion get their chances at direct control and performed very well (notably during the September air battles around Nijmegen); the way this was achieved was described by Sqn Ldr John Kemp in his excellent and unique book Off to War with '054' (15054 FDP), Merlin Books Ltd, 1989:

"The controf/er sat immediately in front of the PPI (Plan Position Indicator) display with his R/T headset on watching constantly the radar trace, rotating four times every minute. An NCO operator or senior airman manned the Type 13 height-finder display alongside, sitting in front of it watching the trace nodding up and down. Between the two and close behind sat the raid tef/er who normaf/y manned the plotting line to the GCe. The watch NCO kept the log of events and the dead reckoning tracker listened in on the plotting line and used the plots for his records and raid speed and direction calculations. The position of the fighters was followed on the radar but it became difficult or impossible when the fighters were patrolling near to the radar site because of the ground clutter or responses from nearby high ground. "The time between picking up the incoming enemy formations and their interception probably took no more than ten minutes. The first indication of a raid would be the brightening of the trace at some distant point. Was it an aircraft or just noise or interference? A slight mark with chinagraph pencil on the PPI and an even more careful watch as the trace came round to that direction on its next sweep. A pointed finger and a remark "New track" to inform the height-finder operator and the tef/er. Quite unnecessary of course as they were equaf/y observant. A call to the fighter leader on the R/T. "Station * Leader I have bandits to the south-east at range 70" "Roger, Bazar." The height-finder meanwhile will have turned his aerial round to nod in the direction of the incoming raid. The aerial direction showed as a white trace on the PPI that turned to coincide with the direction in which the Type 13 pointed. I passed the range of the raid from the station so that the operator could concentrate on that section of his display to look for a response. It was time to pass further information to the fighters. "Station Leader twenty plus bandits estimated at Angels twenty. " Ranges and heights would continue to be passed until the fighter leader had visual contact with the enemy formation - then it was down to the skill of the pilots. Little attempt seems to have been made to assist the fighter-bombers (barring the use of MRCPs), either in locating their targets or when a pilot

was suffering an emergency. During the latter part of the Ardennes offensive Sqn Ldr Kemp was detached to an American USAAF MEW unit to control RAF aircraft operating in their area. He was taken aback to see the American controllers vectoring P-47s onto their targets and found that radar surveillance of such sorties was mandatory. It appeared that during the Normandy campaign a slow moving line of targets had been seen on the radar, close to the station; when an aircraft was sent to investigate they proved to be German tanks! After that there was no problem in 'selling' the service to the fighter-bomber pilots!

* Squadrons were af/ocated a caf/sign (e.g. 'Sifta' 65 Squadron, 'Spinner' 130 Squadron, 'Truman' 247 Squadron) and individual pilots in the squadron were permanently af/ocated a number (e.g. 'Spinner 26'). The squadron callsigns were periodically changed.

VCP to FCP Direction of fighter-bombers in the front line area was facilitated by the use of Visual Control Posts (VCP), later replaced by Forward Control Posts (FCP). The VCP was a unit equipped with VHF R/T for communications with aircraft, W/T for contact with the GCC and other radio sets for liaison with the Army. Demands for air support accepted by the VCP were sent to the GCC which allocated the task to available units, final briefing of the pilots being given by the VCP controller as the fighter-bombers were on their way to the target. The VCP crew and equipment were carried in two M.14 White Scout Cars which would be positioned at a vantage point from which targets could be viewed, allowing visual control of attacking aircraft. There were however two major drawbacks to the VCP system. From the average viewpoint it was impossible to cover a large enough area and the positions of forward troops flanking the Brigade (which the VCP was supporting) were by no means certain. Accordingly, the VCP was replaced by the FCP, with similar equipment by now operating from Divisional Headquarters; the requirement for visual control was covered by the installation of duplicate equipment in converted Canadian-built Ram tanks. Experience soon showed that the location of the FCP was not important, provided the information it received was accurate and up to date. The visual control element was developed to cover, in particular, the breakthrough and advance situations, by providing 'contact cars, specially modified 15cwt armoured vehicles. In addition, other vehicles, e.g. DUKWs and amphibious jeeps, were employed when required, and each armoured Brigade had a Sherman 'contact tank'.

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT

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ue to a manpower crisis which affected the United Kingdom early in 1944 as forces were built-up for the invasion, the RAF Regiment was forced to accept a reduction in strength of about 40,000 trained men who were transferred to the army. During the planning of Operation 'Overlord', a representative from the Regiment was included in the planning staff and a Ground Defence branch was formed at Supreme Headquarters of the AEAF. For the invasion the Regiment was to provide two squadrons for each airfield, one field and one light AA; an additional strength representing 20 per cent of this total was to be held in reserve. Wing headquarters were to be formed to control groups of two or more squadrons with the result that 19 such Wings were formed, each controlling two squadrons. Shortly after D-Day the decision was taken to convert the field squadrons into rifle squadrons by removing their armoured car flights. The latter were then to be formed into separate armoured car squadrons. 83 Group's senior Regiment staff officer and two Wings - 1304 and 1305 - sailed with the assault force on D-Day, landing on 'Juno' Beach early on 7 June. By 18 June ten Wings had been established in Normandy, while by the end of August this number had grown to 18 Wings with 18 LAA squadrons, eight rifle squadrons and four armoured car squadrons. During the build-up period, the Regiment undertook airfield defence, mine-clearing, airstrip construction and escort duties. Whilst escorting an air technical intelligence team following close on the German retreat, 2728 Squadron became one of the first Allied units to enter Paris on 25 August 1944.

Once the pursuit through northern France and Belgium commenced 16 Wings went forward with the advancing squadrons. This force now included 19 LAA squadrons, 20 rifle squadrons and six armoured car squadrons. The main duty during this period was that of securing and defending forward airfields, although at times Regiment units found themselves holding sectors of the front line. Such sectors typically included the lines of rivers or canals, and during such occasions the units came under temporary army command. Of particular note was the Regiment's achievement in becoming the first unit to shoot down a Luftwaffe jet aircraft with anti-aircraft fire. This occurred on 28 November 1944 over Helmond airfield when 2875 Squadron brought down an Me 262 with the fire of the 40 mm Bofors gun of B11 crew. (this event did not occur on 30 November as incorrectly indicated in the caption to the photograph on page 347 in Volume Two). That evening the squadron commander received a personal message of congratulations from Air Vice-Marshal Broadhurst, AOC 83 Group. On 16 December 1944 the German Ardennes offensive commenced at a time when 2742, 2804 and 2811 Squadrons were screening the forward observation and radar units of 72 Wing, upon which the defending fighters relied for warning of incoming aerial attacks. During the confused and often chaotic conditions in which Allied units were forced to retreat, these three squadrons formed a very effective rearguard which allowed the 2nd TAF units to reach safety with their vital equipment secure.

During the 'Bodenplatte' attack on Allied airfields on 1 January 1945, Regiment LAA gunners claimed to have shot down 43 of the aircraft attacking 2nd TAF bases, with 28 more claimed damaged. When the crossings of the Rhine commenced the final advance into north-west Germany, Regiment strength with 2nd TAF had grown to 65 squadrons. During April Regiment units entered Bad Eilsen, capturing both the Focke-Wulf design offices and Professor Kurt Tank, the company's chief designer. Following this coup, it was agreed that whenever possible Regiment squadrons would advance ahead of the army to secure Luftwaffe installations, ensuring that they and any aircraft or other equipment would not be damaged needlessly. During the first week of May nine squadrons moved through the forward positions and advanced into Schleswig-Holstein, occupying 15 airfields up to the Danish border. In doing so they also took the surrender of more than 50,000 German troops including a number of very senior officers. When the RAF contingent flew into Copenhagen on 5 May, a detachment of 2819 Squadron accompanied this and occupied the airfield there.

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During these closing weeks the number of squadrons present continued to grow, and by the time of the German surrender had grown to 74. These included 28 LAA squadrons, 40 rifle squadrons and six -0 -0 armoured car squadrons, as follows:-

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Light Anti-Aircraft Squadrons 2701, 2703, 2715, 2734, 2736, 2760, 2768, 2773, 2791, 2794, 2800, 2809, 2812, 2817,2819, 2823, 2824, 2826, 2834, 2838, 2845, 2872, 2873,2874,2875,2876,2880,2881. Rifle Squadrons 2710,2713,2717,2719,2714,2726,2729,2731,2738,2740,2742, 2749,2750,2765,2768,2770,2798,2805,2807,2811, 2814, 2816, 2822, 2827, 2829, 2831, 2843, 2844, 2848, 2853, 2856, 2858, 2863, 2865,2868,2871,2878,2879,2883,2897. Armoured Car Squadrons 2742,2757,2777,2781,2804,2806.

Repair Units hroughout the campaign in north-west Europe a significant factor was the efficiency of the aircraft repair organisation, without which the manufacturers would have been hard pressed, even unable at times, to meet the requirements of the frontline squadrons. This was particularly so in the Normandy campaign when high risks were taken (and casualties suffered) in order to retrieve repairable aircraft which had landed close to the frontline. When aircraft suffered minor damage in action or in an accident and were still able to reach base, repairs would be carried out by the Repair and Inspection section of the appropriate Squadron Servicing Echelon. These units had been formed from the servicing sections of 2nd TAF squadrons in the spring of 1944, as independent units, numbered with their old squadron number prefixed with '6' ('600' or '60' for squadrons with only 1 or 2 digits). It was expected that in the turmoil of the invasion such units would be required to attach themselves to whatever flying unit needed their services, however, in the event most Servicing Echelons remained with their parent units throughout the campaign. If the required repair was beyond the capacity of the Servicing Echelon they would be dealt with by a Repair and Salvage Unit (R&SU).

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Repair and Salvage Units Twelve of these units were formed within 2nd TAF between April 1943 and February 1944. Two were disbanded during the reorganisation of July 1944, leaving four in each of 83 and 84 Groups and two in 2 Group. Each R&SU specialised in certain types, although they were sometimes called on to handle other types (such as USAAF P-47s in Normandy or captured Luftwaffe types). The R&SUs were located close to, or on the bases of units for whose types they were responsible - the locations in late October 1944 are shown in brackets below

83 Group 403 R&SU 405 R&SU 409 R&SU 410 R&SU 419 R&SU

Typhoon (B.78) Spitfire, Hurricane, Mustang (disbanded 21 July 44) Mustang, Spitfire, Mosquito, Typhoon, Hurricane, Auster (B.64) Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon (B.64) Mustang, Spitfire, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Auster (B.64)

84 Group 411 412 413 420 421

R&SU (Polish) R&SU R&SU R&SU R&SU

Spitfire, Mustang (B.55) ? (B.70) Typhoon, Auster (B.70) Spitfire, Tempest (B.60) Spitfire (disbanded 21 July 44)

2 Group 416 R&SU 417 R&SU

Boston, Mitchell (B.50/B.56) Mosquito (A.75)

The R&SUs were responsible for the collection of all 2nd TAF aircraft which crashed within the areas of their parent Groups. Collection was carried out by Salvage sections whose armourers were responsible for removing explosives and making armament equipment safe for transport. As noted above, the R&SUs were also tasked with carrying out repairs beyond the capacity of Servicing Echelons, provided the repairs could be completed within 28 days. Aircraft outside this timeframe, or 'category B' repairs would be dealt with by 151 Repair Unit (see below) or transported back to the manufacturers or one ofthe civilian contractors in the Civilian Repair Organisation (eg. major Typhoon repairs were handled by Taylorcraft or Marshall, Spitfires by Air Service Training, De Havilland and Westland, Mitchells by Reid and Sigrist). Typical output for an R&SU was one repaired aircraft per day.

511 Forward Repair Unit (later 151 Repair Unit) This unit was formed on September 1943 at Henlow, for the repair of aircraft beyond the capacity of the R&SUs and also for motor transport. In mid-November it relocated to Odiham, which would be its home until the following November when it was split into a number of smaller units. Allocated to the AEAF it eventually came under the control of 85 Group. The unit grew steadily in size and by the end of the Normandy campaign, now known as the Forward Repair Unit, employed nearly 4000 personnel. In August 1944 it turned out no less than 74 Spitfires, 14 Typhoons, 15 Mustangs, 9 Mitchells, a Boston, a Mosquito and a Dakota, not to mention 121 engines and 268 propellers. The unit carried out modification programmes, including the preparation of Wellington Xilis for night reconnaissance, air cleaners for all Typhoons passing through, antiglare shields for Mustangs and the conversion of Spitfire IXs for fighter-reconnaissance. The unit also fitted out a Dakota for Air Marshall Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory and created a number of specialised vehicles such as mobile photographic laboratories and dental surgeries. By the end of the summer sub-units had been formed, including the Base Aircraft Repair Unit (BARU) and the Base Aircraft Salvage Unit (BASU) which were operating on the Continent. At the end of November, the parent unit disbanded with many of the personnel relocating to BARU which, based at Courtrai, was renamed 151 Repair Unit. At the same time BASU became 3 Base Recovery Unit and the motor transport responsibilities were handled by 5 MT Base Depot. 151 Repair Unit could handle around 50 'Category B' and 50 'fly-in' repairs per month.

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ABOVE: A selection of 2nd TAF types on the Forward Repair Unit (FRU)

apron at Odiham in autumn 1944. DN341 had been modified by Cunliffe Owen in April 1944 and issued to 83 GSU but by 22 August was with the FRU. It eventually reached 198 Squadron at the end of November, becoming TP-E. The four-bladed Typhoon seems to be a new PD-serialled aircraft while 'XP-W' from 174 Squadron is probably MN141 which had started its service as Grp Cpt 'Paddy' Woodhouse's 'PW' and eventually would serve with all four squadrons of 121 Wing.

ABOVE: Inside one of the FRU hangars at

Odiham - a Spitfire VII 'ON-G' ex-124 Squadron, while Mk IXs 'FN-S' and an AU-coded example may be seen behind the Mk VII. Top left, a repair line of Allison-Mustangs receive attention.

RIGHT Further inside the same hangar, new or refurbished Typhoon fuselage components await assembly; behind them repairs are underway on two Mustang Is, 'K' and 'N', and at the rear Spitfire IX MH758 'FF-W' ex-132 Squadron,and a Mk.VII "YQ-V' ex-616 Squadron.

BELOW An FRU carpenter at work on Mosquito VI NS899 of 613 Squadron; it would return to see

further service with that unit.

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ABOVE: A Typhoon fuselage is hoisted onto its transport at the start of its journey back to England. Close examination of this print reveals the serial number 'MN185' chalked on the spinner base plate this was 'HH-H of 175 Squadron, shot down by Flak on 17 July 1944, force-landing in enemy territory. The pilot, Fig Off FMBotting, was captured but Allied forces advanced and the airframe was recovered intact. It was repaired by Marshall at Cambridge and saw further service with 55 OTU.

RIGHT A 320 Squadron Mitchell II awaits attention on Odiham's apron with an ex-65 Squadron Mustang III, 'YT-K' ready for repainting in the background.

BELOW Muscle power helps to relocate a 403 Squadron Spitfire IX's wing at an R&SU in Normandy. (Cl186)

ABOVE: Typhoon IB, MN413 '18-T' is recovered from B.9 by an R&SU team (see also Volume Two, page 239) (Cl651)

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RIGHf 74 and 340 Squadron Spitfire IXs receive attention at 145 Wing's repair section - the former ('4D-G') appears to have been landed wheels-up.

LEFf A Seafire - probably from 3 Naval Fighter Wing taxies out after attention from an R&SU in Normandy.

BELOW An engine fitter at work on a Mosquito XIII. MM510, of 409 Squadron, shortly before it was lost in an encounter with a Ju 88 on 27 July 1944.

ABOVE An ex-412 Squadron Spitfire IX, PV233 'VZ-A, at FRU Odiham in October 1944; after repair it would be shipped out to the Mediterranean.

RIGHf Spares retrieval under way on the wreck of Typhoon IB JR338, which had just arrived with 198 Squadron as 'TP-W' when it was victim of a hangar collapse at B77, Gilze-Rijen on 7 December 1944 (IWM FLM 3595)

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GROUPS

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ssentially the 2nd TAF comprised four operational Groups during all, or part of, its World War II existence. One of these, 2 Group, was inherited from Bomber Command, encompassing the light and medium day bombers of that Command, which were by 1943 operating in an entirely different manner to the rest of the Command. The equipment, supply, training and logistics of the wings and squadrons differed considerably, and in consequence the transfer to 2nd TAF made sense in many ways. 83 and 84 Groups, which were to become the main close support organisations, providing cover and direct aid to the armies on the ground, were formed soon after the Tactical Air Force (subsequently 2nd TAF) came in to being. These units benefited from the experience gained during the initial major exercises which had been undertaken. The fourth Group, 85, was formed to defend 2nd TAF base areas, and initially therefore came under the control and direction of ADGB, as Fighter Command had become. Formed from the start eventually to become a part of 2nd TAF, this Group only passed to the control of the parent unit once that organisation had become based in the main in mainland Europe. One further Group, 87, was to be formed later in the war to administer various elements of 2nd TAF in France; however, it never became an operational unit as such.

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Bases Gatton Park, Reigate Gaye-sur-Mar/Banville Cruelly Le Tronquay Tracy-Bocage Grandvillers Axel Eindhoven Mettingen Wunstorf Bispingen Luneberg

23 April 1943 - 6 June 1944 6 June 1944 - 7 June 1944 7 June 1944 - 3 August 1944 3 August 1944 - 11 August 1944 11 August 1944 - 2 September 1944 2 September 1944 - 7 September 1944 7 September 1944 - 1 October 1944 1 October 1944 - 10 April 1945 10 April 1945 - 22 April 1945 22 April 1945 - 28 April 1945 28 April 1945 - 6 May 1945 6 May 1945-

84 Group Formed on 15 July 1943 as 84 (Composite) Group with Headquarters at Cowley Barracks, Oxford, the Group subsequently made moves to Leatherhead, and then to Goodwood. Transfer to France did not occur until 5 September 1944, after all 83 Group's units had become established on the mainland. At the start of December a move was made into Holland, to Gilze-Rijen, while in March 1945 Grave became the new location. A final move was made on 18 April 1945 to Delden.

2 Group Headquartered at Bylaugh Hall, East Dereham, in Norfolk, the Group transferred to the Tactical Air Force on 1 June 1943. It moved HQ to Mongewell Park, Wallingford, Berkshire, on 16 January 1944, but not until November of that year did it complete a transfer to Brussels, where it was to remain for the rest of the war. Airfields/Wings 137 Airfield/Wing 138 Airfield/Wing 139 Airfield/Wing 140 Airfield/Wing 136 Wing

14 November 1943 10 November 1943 17 November 1943 1 December 1943 21 November 1944

- May 1945 - May 1945 - May 1945 May 1945 - May 1945

(NB: Due to an administrative error 141 Wing was reformed in 2 Group on 25 November 1944, but controlling the same squadrons as 136 Wing. See note in Wings) Bases Bylaugh Hall, Dereham Mongewell Park, Wallingford Brussels

1 June 1943 - 16 January 1944 16 January 1944 - November 1944 November 1944 - May 1945

Airfield/Wings 123 Airfield/Wing 35 (Recce) Wing 130 Airfield/Wing 131 Airfield/Wing 132 Wing 133 Wing 134 Wing 135 Wing 136 Wing 145 Wing 146 Wing

1 April 1943 - 7 May 1945 1 June 1943 - 7 May 1945 10 July 1943 - 7 July 1944 (merged into 35 Wing) 4 October 1943 - 7 May 1945 1 November 1943 - 7 May 1945 1 November 1943 - 9 July 1944 (to ADGB) 8 November 1943 - 7 May 1945 15 November 1943 - 7 May 1945 22 November 1943 - 6 August 1944 (disbanded into 123 Wing) 1 December 1943 - 7 May 1945 31 January 1944 - 7 May 1945

Bases Cowley Barracks, Oxford Leatherhead Goodwood By River Bresle, France Grave, Belgium Delden, Holland

15 July 1943 - ?

?-?

? - 5 September 1944 5 September 1944 - 17 March 1945 17 March 1945 - 18 April 1945 18 April 1945 - 7 May 1945

83 Group Formed on 1 April 1943 as 83 (Composite) Group from 'Z' Group which had itself been formed for Exercise 'Spartan'. The Group was initially headquartered at Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey. Immediately following the Invasion of Normandy, Group HQ moved across the Channel, passing through Graye-sur-Mer and Banville to set up base at Cruelly on 8 June 1944. Several rapid moves were made during August and September as the breakout gathered pace, finally settling at Eindhoven at the start of October. Following the Rhine crossings in March 1945, moves to locations on German soil followed, culminating at Luneberg on 6 May. Airfields/Wings 121 Airfield/Wing 122 Airfield/Wing 124 Airfield/Wing 125 Airfield/Wing 39 (Recce) Wing 126 Airfield/Wing 127 Airfield/Wing 128 Airfield/Wing 129 Airfield/Wing 143 Airfield/Wing 144 Airfield/Wing

1 April 1943 - May 1945 1 April 1943 - May 1945 1 April 1943 - May 1945 24 June 1943 - May 1945 June 1943 - May 1945 4 July 1943 - May 1945 4 July 1943 - May 1943 4 July 1943 - May 1945 June 1943 - 15 July 1944 (Disbanded) 10 January 1944 - May 1945 1 February 1944 - 14 July 1944 (Disbanded)

85 Group The Group began forming on 2 December 1943 in the Sports Pavilion at RAF Uxbridge. On 16 January 1944 it moved to nearby Hillingdon, Middlesex, where on 14 February 1944 it became 85 (Base) Group. Operating under ADGB control, providing base defence services, the Group initially operated high-performance Spitfires XIV and Tempest V day fighters alongside night fighters. With the advent of the V-1 flying bomb attacks on southern England during June 1944, all of the day and some of the night operations became directed against this threat. In consequence the day fighters ultimately left 85 Group control, and it became involved entirely in the operation and control of night fighters, eventually within the whole western Europe area, including some sectors in the US areas of operation. In October 1944 the Group became a Maintenance and Training organisation, although it continued to control the night fighter force in 2nd TAF until the end of the war. Airfields/Wings 141 Airfield/Wing 142 Airfield/Wing 147 Airfield/Wing 148 Airfield/Wing 149 Airfield/Wing 150 Airfield/Wing

1 January 1944 - 5 November 1944 (disbanded) 1 January 1944 - 7 May 1945 16 February 1944 - 24 March 1945 (disbanded) 23 February 1944 - 7 May 1945 1 March 1944 - 26 April 1945 (disbanded) 8 March 1944 - 16 June 1944 (to ADGB)

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Willingdon St Croix, France Ghent, Belgium

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87 Group 2 December 1943 16 January 1944 16 January 1944 17 August 1944 17 August 194428 September 1944 28 September 19447 May 1945

Formed on 17 February 1945 at the Hotel Monsigny, Rue Monsigny, Paris, to control 2nd TAF units in the Paris area from HQ, RAF Unit Paris, and units in southern France. The Group remained non-operational until the end of the war.

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isted and detailed below are the Sectors, Wings, and Airfields that comprised the operational structure and provided support for the squadrons ofthe 2nd TAF between the formation of the TAF in June 1943 and VE-Day, 8 May 1945. Some units which were formed in 85 Group did not appear on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until after the Invasion and some not at all; where this is so, appropriate notes have been made. The 'Wings' described below, with numbers between 15 and 24 were, due to limited communications between the Group Control Centres and the Airfields, formed to provide operational control for (initially) two 'Airfields'. Their titles were changed to 'Sector' on 12 May 1944; however, the Sectors in 83 and 84 Group proved unwieldy and were disbanded 12 July 1944. The Airfields/Wings numbered between 121 and 150 were formally titled 'Airfield Headquarters', changing to 'Wing Headquarters', when the original 2nd TAF Wings became Sectors. Also included in some of the titles were role designations (eg. 'Fighter, 'Rocket Projectile', 'Bomber') but these in time tended to be omitted and indeed some of the units changed roles. Dates in brackets indicate the presence of a unit or individual on formation or, in the case of '(May 45)' continuation after VE day. By late 1944 the title 'Wing Commander Flying' had been replaced. by 'Wing Commander Operations'. Dates of absence from to the Wing due to attendance at Armament practice Camps refer to the air element of the unit only.

Headcorn Kenley In transit Old Sarum In transit B.2

14 Oct 43 4 Jun 44 6 Jun 44 14 Jun 44 15 Jun 44

Commanding Officer G/C W.R.MacBrien

Jul 43 - Jul 44

18 (Polish) (Fighter) WING/SECTOR Formed within 84 Group in November 1943, at Northolt, to administer and control 131 and 133 Airfields. Took over 135 Airfield on 10 April 1944. Disbanded 12 July 1944. Northolt Chailey

c. Apr 44

Commanding Officer G/C T.Rolski G/C A.Gabszewicz DSO, DFC

Nov 43 - Feb 44 Feb 44 - Jul 44

19 (Fighter) WING/SECTOR

15 (Fighter) WING/SECTOR

Formed within 84 Group in November 1943, at North Weald, to administer and control 132 and 134 Airfields. Took over 145 Airfield on 20 April 1944. Disbanded 12 July 1944.

Formed within 83 Group, on 15 August 1943, at Kingsnorth, to administer and control 122 and 125 Airfields. Took over 129 Airfield from 39 Wing on 20 April 1944. Disbanded 12 July 1944.

North Weald Appledram

Kingsnorth Newchurch Detling Ford Old Sarum In transit B.7

Commanding Officer G/C A.G.Malan DSO*, DFC*

5 Oct 43 12 Oct 43 15 Apr 44 13 Jun 44 21 Jun 44 22 Jun 44

Commanding Officer G/C J.Rankin DSO*, DFC

c. Apr 44

20 (Fighter) WING/SECTOR Formed within 84 Group in November 1943, at Hornchurch, to administer and control 135 and 136 Airfields. Took over 123 Airfield on 10 March 1944 and 146 Airfield on 20 April 1944. Disbanded 12 July 1944. Aug 43 - Jul 44

Hornchurch Thorney Island

9 Apr 44

16 (Mobile) WING/SECTOR Formed within 83 Group, on 5 July 1943, at New Romney, to administer and control 121 and 124 Airfields. Disbanded 20 April 1944. New Romney Lydd Westhampnett Hurn

Nov 43 - Feb 44 Mar 44 - Jul 44

21 (Base Defence) WING/SECTOR

18 Aug 43 9 Oct 43 1 Apr 44

Commanding Officers W/C D.E.Gillam DSO, DFC**, AFC W/C T.Morice MC G/C H de CAWoodhouse DFC, AFC

Commanding Officers G/C C.J.StJ.Beamish DFC G/C D.E.Giliam DSO, DFC*, AFC

Jul 43 - Jul 43 Jul 43 - Aug 43 Aug 43 - Apr 44

Formed in 85 Group on 1 January 1944, at Church Fenton, to control 141 Airfield' night fighters, but did not appear on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until mid-August 1944, when it was located at Ibsley controlling 142 Wing. Prior to that it had a short stay in Normandy (US Sector) operating Signal Units, GCI and COL (Chain Overseas Low) stations). It was disbanded 10 November 1944. Ibsley

28 Jul 44

17 (Fighter) WING/SECTOR Formed within 83 Group, on 4 July 1943, at Headcorn, to administer and control 126 and 127 Airfields. Took over 144 Wing on formation on 14 February 1944. Disbanded 12 July 1944.

Commanding Officer G/C WG.Moseby DSO, DFC

Jan 44 - Nov 44

22 (RCAF) (Fighter) WING/SECTOR Formed within 83 Group, on 9 January 1944, at Ayr, to administer and control 143 Airfield. Took over 144 Airfield at Digby on 14 February 1944, moving to that location a week later. Relinquished 144 Airfield on moving to Hurn but took over 121 and 124 Airfields on 16 April 1944. Disbanded 12 July 1944. Ayr Digby Hurn Westhampnett Hurn In transit B.5

W/C J.G.Cole DFC G/C R.I.M.Bowen DFC

Dec 44 Dec 44 - (May 45)

I

Wing Commanders Flying/Operations W/C G.F.HWebb DFC by Aug 43 - Mar 44 Mar 44 - (May 45) W/C G.Hughes DSO, DFC Squadrons 16 Mustang I, (Jun 43) - (May 45) Spitfire XI, IX, XIX 140 Spitfire IV, VII, Ventura I (Jun 43) - (May 45) Mosquito IX, XVI 69 Wellington XIII 5 May 44 - (May 45)

21 Feb 44 17 Mar 44 26 Mar 44 16Apr44 6 Jun 44 16 Jun 44

35 (Reconnaissance) WING Commanding Officer G/C P.Y.Davoud DSO, DFC

9 Jul 44

23 (Fighter) WING/SECTOR Formed 20 January 1944 in 84 Group, at Tangmere, to administer and control 145 and 146 Airfields. Took over 135 Airfield 1 March 1944. Disbanded 20 April 1944. Tangmere Commanding Officer G/C F.Rosier

24 (Base Defence) WING/SECTOR Formed in 85 Group on 16 February 1944, at Acklington, to control 147 and 148 Airfields, not appearing on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until mid-August 1944 by which time it was located at Meuvaines. Took over control of 149 Wing at the end of September 1944. Disbanded 16 March 1945.

Commanding Officer nk

25 (Base Defence) WING/SECTOR Formed 1 March 1944 within 85 Group at Castle Camps, to control 149 and 150 Airfields. Did not appear on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until late August 1944 by which time it was based at Vannes in Southern Brittany for the defence of French ports in that area, controlling 148 Wing. Moved to Belgium the following month. Disbanded 16 March 1945.

11 Sept 44

Commanding Officer Wg Cdr later Grp Capt V.R.Moon AFC

34 (Reconnaissance) WING Transferred from Army Co-operation Command to TAF HQ on 1 June 1943 while located at Luton. Moved to Hartford Bridge and Northolt (still proving reconnaissance information direct to 2nd TAF HQ) and eventually, in the autumn of 1944, Continental bases. Luton Hartford Bridge 30 Jun 43 Northolt 8 Apr 44 1 Sep 44 A.12 8 Sep44 B.48 27 Sep 44 B.58 15 Apr 45 B.78 Commanding Officers G/C C.R.Lousada G/C P.B.B.Ogilvie DSO, DFC

Reigate Odiham B.4 B.27 B.31 B.43 B.61 B.70 B.77 B.89 B.106

28 Jun 43 15Aug44 1 Sep 44 5 Sep 44 10 Sep 44 27 Sep 44 11 Oct 44 22 Nov 44 8 Mar 45 18 Apr 45

Commanding Officers G/C P.L.Donkin DSO G/C A.F.Anderson DSO, DFC G/C P.L.Donkin DSO G/C A.F.Anderson DSO, DFC

Meuvaines Boves 18 Sep 44 St Denis Westrem 15 Jan 45

Vannes Everburg

Transferred from Army Co-operation Command HQ at Reigate to 11 Group on 1 June 1943, moving to Odiham at the end of June. Took control of 123 Airfield there, and 130 Airfield (which would form at Gravesend the following month) and transferred to 84 Group. Relinquished 123 Airfield 27 Feb 44. Absorbed 130 Wing 7 July 1944 and continued to provide reconnaissance for 84 Group until the end of hostilities.

(Jun 43) - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Dec 44

(Jun 43) - Apr 44 Apr 44 - May 44 May 44 - Aug 44 Aug 44 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying/Operations W/C M.M.Kaye (Jun 43) - Jul 43 W/C G.F.Watson-Smythe Jul 43 - Dec 43 W/C H.P.McClean Dec 43 - Aug 44 Aug 44 - Mar 45 W/C W.E.V.Malins DFC Mar 45 - (May 45) W/C H.P.McClean Squadrons (after disbandment of 130 Wing) 2 Mustang II 7 July 44 - (May 45) 4 Spitfire PR XI 7 July 44 - (May 45) 268 Mustang lA, II, 7 July 44 - (May 45) Typhoon FR IB Spitfire FR XIV 400 Spitfire PR XI 30 Jun 44 - 15 Aug 44 (half unit det. 39 Wing) 414 Mustang I, 30 Jun 44 - 15 Aug 44 (det. 39 Wing) Spitfire FR IX

39 (Reconnaissance) WING RCAF Transferred from Army Co-operation Command to 83 Group on 12 June 1943, at Dunsfold, to administer and control 128 and 129 Airfields which would be formed there the following month. 129 Airfield transferred to 15 Wing on 20 April 1944. Absorbed 128 Wing 1 July 1944 and continued to provide reconnaissance for 83 Group until the end of hostilities. Dunsfold Redhill Odiham Old Sarum In transit B.8

1 Aug 43 1 Apr 44 20 Jun 44 25 Jun 44 1 Jul 44

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B.21 B.34 B.64 B.78 B.90 B.l04 B.l08 B.116 B.154 B.156

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(Jun 43) - Feb 44 Feb 44 - Feb 45 Feb 45 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C J.H.Godfrey W/C R.CWaddell DSO, DFC

Jul44 Jul 44 - (May 45)

Squadrons 168 Mustang I 400 Spitfire PR IX 430 Mustang I, Spitfire XIV 414 Mustang I, Spitfire FR IX, XIV

1 Jul 44 - 4 Oct 44 (to 143 Wing) 1 Jul 44 - (May 45) see 35 Wing above 1 Jul 44 - (May 45) 15 Aug 44 - (May 45)

The following units were originally formed with the title 'Airfield' but this was changed to 'Wing' on 12 May 1944.

121 AIRFIELD/WING Formed 22 Feb 43 at Wrexham to take part in Exercise Spartan during which it was based at Middle Wallop and Membury. After a spell at Fairlop the Airfield moved to Selsey at the end of May and was based there when the TAF was formed. Initially the three Typhoon squadrons operated as bombers but converted to RP in the spring of 1944 and were joined by a fourth RP squadron in July 1944. Selsey Lydd Westhampnett Holmsley South B.5 B.24 B.42 B.50 B.70 B.80 B.l00 B.ll0 B.150

(Jun 43) 1 Jul 43 10 Oct 43 1 Apr 44 17 Jun 44 27 Aug 44 1 Sep 44 3 Sep 44 16 Sep 44 28 Sep 44 21 Mar 45 11 Apr 45 16 Apr 45

Formed 15 Feb 43 at Zeals to take part in Exercise Spartan, during which it was based at Chilbolton. In April it moved to Eastchurch and at the end of May, to Bognor, where it was still based in June when the TAF was formed. Came under the control of 15 Wing on 15 August 1943. Early in 1944 the resident Spitfire squadrons exchanged Spitfires for Mustangs, which were operated throughout the N,ormandy campaign. In September 1944 the three Mustang Squadrons changed places with three UK-based Tempest Squadrons which were joined by two further Tempest units the following month. A Spitfire XIV squadron and the sole Meteor unit were also attached for shorter periods. Bognar Kingsnorth In transit Gravesend Ford Funtington In transit B.7 B.12 B.24 B.40 B.60 B.80 B.112 B.152

(Jun 43) - Dec 44 Dec 44 - Apr 45 Apr 45 - (May 45)

Aug 43 - Sep 43 Sep 43 - Jan 44 Jan 44 - Aug 44 Aug 44 - Nov 44 Nov 44 - Feb 45 Feb 45 - (May 45)

175

Typhoon IB

(Jun 43) - 1 Jul 43 (to 122 Airfield) (Jun 43 ) - (May 45) 1 Jul 43 - 21 Jan 44 (to APC Eastchurch) 4 Feb 44 - 10 Nov 44 (to APC Warmwell) 21 Nov 44 - 8 Apr 45 (disbanded) 1 Jul 43 - 24 Feb 44 (to APC Eastchurch) 8 Mar 44 - 21 Nov 44 (to APC Warmwell)

(Jun 43) - Nov 43 Nov 43 - Jan 44 Jan 44 - Feb 44 (killed in flying accident 28 Feb 1944) G.R.A.M.Johnston DSO DFC Mar 44 - Sep 44 Sep 44 WWJ.Loud DFC Sep 44 - Oct 44 R.P.Beamont DSO DFC* Oct 44 - Jan 45 J.BWray DFC R.E.P.Brooker DSO DFC Jan 45 - Apr 45 (killed in action 16 April 1945) E.D.Mackie DSO DFC Apr 45 - (May 45)

Squadrons 184 Hurricane liD, IV

122

Spitfire VB, IX, Mustang III

602 19

Spitfire VB Spitfire IX, Mustang III

65

Spitfire VB, IX, Mustang III Tempest V

3 Squadrons 65 Spitfire VB 245 Typhoon IB 174 Typhoon IB

(Jun 43) - Jul 44 Jul 44 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C H.A.C.Bird-Wilson DFC* W/C P.RWWickham DFC* W/C R.J.C.Grant DFC* DFM

W/C

Grp Capt Tim Morice, DSO, MC, commanding officer of 121 Airfield/ Wing for 18 months.

(Jun 43) 1 Jul 43 8 Oct 43 20 Oct 43 15 Apr 44 13 May 44 12 Jun 44 26 Jun 44 16 Jul 44 2 Sep 44 3 Sep 44 8 Sep 44 1 Oct 44 10 Apr 45 26 Apr 45

Commanding Officers W/C C.F.Currant DSO DFC G/C P.G.Jameson DSO DFC

W/C W/C W/C W/C W/C

Commanding Officers W/C later G/C C.s.Morice DSO,MC G/C G.Jones DSO DFC G/C R.P.R.Powell DFC* Wing Commanders Flying W/C D.Crowley Milling DFC* W/C R.T.P.Davidson DFC W/C C.L.Green DFC W/C WPitt-Brown DFC W/C M.T.Judd AFC DFC W/C J.G.Keep DFC

4 Dec 44 - (May 45) 14 Jul 44 - 4 Dec 44 (to APe Warmwell) 18 Dec 44 - 7 May 45 (to APC Warmwell)

122 AIRFIELD/WING

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56 486 80

Tempest V Tempest V Tempest V

274 41 616

Tempest V Spitfire XIV Meteor III

(Det Merston 31 May 43 - 12 Jun 43) (Det Manston 12 Jun 43 - 14 Aug 43) 14 Aug 43 - 18 Aug 43 (to 125 Airfield) (Jun 43) - 15 Oct 43 (to APC Weston Zoyland) 3 Nov 44 - 21 May 44 (to APC Southend) 28 May 44 - 28 Sep 44 (to 150 Wing) 1 Jun 43 - 13 Aug 43 (to 125 Airfield) 18 Aug 43 - 29 Sep 43 (to APC Weston Zoyland) 15 Oct 43 - 12 May 44 (to APC Southend) 20 May 44 - 28 Sep 44 (to 150 Wing) 1 Jul 43 - 28 May 44 (to APe Southend) 4 Jun 44 - 28 Sep 44 (to 150 Wing) 28 Sep 44 - 1 Apr 45 (to APC Warmwell) 17 Apr 45 - (May 45) 28 Sep 44 - (May 45) 28 Sep 44 - (May 45) 7 Oct 44 - 19 April 45 (to APC Warmwell) 7 May 45 - (May 45) 7 Oct 44 - 17 Mar 45 (to 135 Wing) 27 Jan 45 - 7 Mar 45 (to APC Warmwell) 26 Apr 45 - 3 May 45 (to 124 Wing)

123 AIRFIELD/WING Formed in 35 Wing in April 1943 and transferred to the TAF with that Wing (but based at Gatwick) on 1 June 1943, to support Mustang fighter reconnaissance units. Transferred to 20 Wing, 84 Group, at Manston on 27 February 1944, taking on a new role with, eventually four Typhoon squadrons, all of which converted from bombs to RP. Gatwick Odiham Hutton Cranswick Huggate Thruxton Sawbridgeworth Manston Thorney Island Funtington B.10 B.7 B.23 B.35 B.53 B.67 B.77 A.84 B.77 B.91 B.103

(Jun 43) 23 Jun 43 20 Sep 43 10 Oct 43 15 Oct 43 12 Nov 43 27 Feb 44 1 Apr 44 17 Jun 44 1 Jul 44 18 Jul 44 3 Sep 44 6 Sep 44 13 Sep 44 30 Oct 44 24 Nov 44 31 Dec 44 26Jan 45 22 Mar 45 18 Apr 45

Commanding Officers W/C J.RDavenport W/C R.Noel Smith W/C later G/C D.J.Scott DSO,OBE,DFC* G/C J.R.Baldwin DSO, DFC*

W/C J.C.Button DSO, DFC Squadrons 26 Mustang 239 Mustang 168 Mustang 268 Mustang

170 2 63 4

198

I I IA IA

Mustang I, IA Mustang I Mustang IA Mustang

Typhoon IB

609

Typhoon IB

183

Typhoon IB

197 164

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

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(Jun 43) - Nov 43 Nov 43Mar 44 - Feb 45 Feb 45 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C R.E.P.Brooker DFC* W/C W.Dring DSO, DFC

three Typhoon Squadrons. 175 Squadron was replaced by 247 Squadron the following month and the three resident Typhoon squadrons would then remain with the parent unit until the end of the war, joined by a fourth squadron in August 1944. The Airfield came under the control of 16 Wing in July 1943 and converted from bombs to RP in the spring of 1944, utilised this weapon for the rest of the war. When 16 Sector was disbanded control was transferred to 22 Sector.

May 44 - July 44 July 44 - Jan 45 (killed in flying accident 13 January 1944) Jan 45 - (May 45)

(Jun 43) - 22 Jun 43 (to 11 Group) (Jun 43) - 21 Jun 43 (to 11 Group) 12 Jul 43 - 30 Nov 43 (to 130 Airfield) 13 Jul 43 - 15 Sep 43 (to 130 Airfield) 15 Oct 43 - 7 Nov 43 (to 13 Group) 14 Jul 43 - 15 Jan 44 (disbanded) 30 Nov 43 - 22 Jan 43 (to 130 Airfield) 8 Nov 43 -30 Nov 43(to 130 Airfield) 30 Nov 43 - 3 Mar 44 (to 130 Airfield) (at Aston Down for conversion to Mosquito XVI/Spitfire XI from 3 Jan 44 - 3 Mar 44) 4 Mar 44 - 17 Mar 44 (to 146 Airfield) 6 Apr 44 - 22 Apr 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 30 Apr 44 - 6 Nov 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 21 Nov 44 - (May 45) 4 Mar 44 - 16 Mar 44 (to 146 Airfield) 1 Apr 44 - 22 Apr 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 30 Apr 44 - (May 45) 15 Mar 44 - 11 Apr 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 22 Apr 44 - 29 Apr 44 (to 136 Airfield) 26 Jul 44 - (May 45) 15 Mar 44 - 1 Apr 44 (to 146 Airfield) 3 Apr 44 - 29 Apr 44 (to 136 Airfield) 26 Jul 44 - (May 45)

(Jun 43) 2 Jun 43 2 Jul 43 9 Oct 43 31 Dec 43 13 Jan 44 1 Apr 44 16 Jun 44 30 Aug 44 3 Sep 44 6 Sep 44 23 Sep 44 9 Jan 45 10 Apr 45 13 Apr 45 17 Apr 45 30 Apr 45 7 May 45

Commanding Officers W/C L.A. Lynn DFC W/C V.E.Maxwell W/C B.G.Carroll G/C C.H.Appleton CBE, DSO, DFC

G/C C.L.Green DSO, DFC G/C E.R.Bitmead DFC Wing Commanders Flying W/C D.E.Giliam DSO, DFC*, AFC W/C A.lngle DFC, AFC W/C D.R.Walker DFC W/C E.Haabjorn DFC W/C CD.North-Lewis DSO, DFC* W/C G.F.HWebb DFC*

W/C M.R.lngle-Finch DFC, AFC Squadrons 175 Typhoon IB 181 TyphoonlB

182

Typhoon IB

247

Typhoon IB

137

Typhoon IB

616

Meteor III

Jul 43 - Aug 43 Aug 43 - Sep 43 Oct 43 - Jan 44 Jan 44 - Aug 44 Aug 44 - Apr 45 Apr 45 - May 45 (killed in action 2 May 1944) (May 45)

(Jun 43) (Jun 43) - 6 Feb 44 (to APC Eastchurch) 21 Feb 44 - 12 Jan 45 3 Feb 45 - (May 45) (Jun 43) - 5 Jan 44 (to APC Eastchurch) 23 Jan 44 - 3 Feb 45 (to APC Warmwell) 21 Feb 45 - (May 45) 10 Jul 43 - 1 Apr 44 (to APC Eastchurch) 24 Apr 44 - 21 Feb 45 (to APC Warmwell) 7 Mar 45 - (May 45) 13 Aug 44 - 7 Mar 45 (to APC Warmwell) 19 Mar 45 - (May 45) 3 May 45 - (May 45)

125 AIRFIELD/WING Formed on 24 June 1943 in 83 Group at Gravesend, coming under the control of 15 Wing at the beginning of August 1943. The resident Spitfire fighter squadrons converted to the fighter-bomber role in April 1944 which they undertook throughout the Normandy campaign. By the beginning of October the Wing was host to two Tempest and two Spitfire XIV squadrons, soon specialising on the latter type and supporting three or four such units until the end of hostilities.

124 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Lasham in 83 Group in April 1943 the Airfield moved to Appledram the day after the TAF came into existence, along with its

Jun 43 Jun 43 - Aug 43 Sep 43 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Aug 44 (killed in action 12 August 1944) Aug 44 - Dec 44 Jan 45 - (May 45)

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(Jun 43) 2 Jul43

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126 (RCAF) AIRFIELD/WING

12 Oct 43 4 May 44 17 Jun 44 23 Jun 44 13 Aug 44 2 Sep 44 17 Sep 44 28 Sep 44 3 Nov 44 31 Dec 44 27 Jan 45 8 Apr 45 16 Apr 45

Formed at Hedhill in 83 Group on 4 July 1943 to support three Spitfire fighter squadrons under the control of 17 Wing. The resident squadrons converted to the fighter-bomber role in April 1944 and were joined by a fourth squadron in the reorganisation of the Wings in July 1944.

Commanding Officers W/C J.N.Lapsley OBE, DFC G/C J.Rankin DSO, DFC* G/C D.Scott-Malden DSO, DFC* G/C J.E.Johnson DSO, DFC Wing Commanders Flying W/C R.D.Yule DSO, DFC W/C AC.Stewart W/C AG.Page W/C J'wray DFC W/C G.C.Keefer DSO, DFC Squadrons 19 Spitfire VB, IX 132 Spitfire LFVB, IX 602

Spitfire IX

184

Hurricane IV, Spitfire VB Spitfire IX

453

118 441 80 130

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Tempest V Spitfire XIV

274 402 350

Tempest V Spitfire XIV Spitfire XIV

610

Spitfire XIV

41

Spitfire XIV

137

Typhoon IB

Jun 43 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Aug 44 Aug 44 - Mar 45 Mar 45 - (May 45)

Jun 43 - Mar 44 Mar 44 - Jul 44 Oct 44 - Oct 44 Nov 44 - (May 45)

(Jun 43) - 18 Aug 43 (to 122 Airfield) (Jun 43) - 13 Mar 44 (to APC Eastchurch) 19 Mar 44 - 29 Sep 44 (to ADGB) 13 Aug 43 - 17 Jan 44 20 Mar 44 - 29 Sep 44 (to ADGB) 18 Aug 43 - 6 Mar 44 (to Odiham, conversion to Typhoons) 19 Jan 44 - 21 Jan 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 4 Feb 44 - 13 Mar 44 (to 13 Group) 19 Mar 44 - 29 Sep 44 (to ADGS) 5 Feb 44 - 9 Mar 44 (to 13 Group) 14 Jul 44 - 30 Sep 44 (to ADGB) 1 Oct 44 - 7 Oct 44 (to 122 Wing) 1 Oct 44 - 3 Feb 45 (to APC Warmwell) 21 Feb 45 -7 May 45 (to B.152 for Spitfire IXs & return to ADGB) 1 Oct 44 - 7 Oct 44 (to 122 Wing) 1 Oct 44 - 27 Dec 44 (attached to 126 Wing) 31 Dec 44 - 18 Mar 45 (to APC Warmwell) 2 Apr 45 - 6 May 45 (to 122 Wing) 31 Dec 44 - 21 Feb 45 (to APC Warmwell, disbanded 3 Mar 45) 5 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45 (to 127 Wing) 21 Mar 45 - (May 45) 7 May 45 - (May 45)

Redhill Staplehurst Biggin Hill Tangmere In transit B.3 B.4 B.18 B.44 B.56 B.68 B.84 B.80 B.88 B.l08 B.116

6 Aug 43 13 Oct 43 15 Apr 44 9 Jun 44 16 Jun 44 18 Jun 44 8 Aug 44 2 Sep 44 6 Sep 44 21 Sep 44 3 Oct 44 14 Oct 44 6 Dec 44 12 Apr 45 14 Apr 45

Commanding Officers W/C J.E.Walker DFC** W/C K.L.S.Hodson DFC* G/C G.R.McGregor OBE, DFC

Jul 43 - Aug 43 Aug 43 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C.B.D.Russel DFC W/C R.W.McNair DSO, DFC W/C G.C.Keefer DFC* W/C.B.D.Russel DSO, DFC* W/C G.W.Northcott DSO, DFC*

Jul 43 - Oct 43 Oct 43 - Apr 44 Apr 44 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Jan 45 Jan 45 - (May 45)

Squadrons 401 Spitfire V, IXB

(Jul 43) - 8 Apr 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 18 Apr 44 - 24 Oct 44 (to APC Warmwell) 4 Nov 44 - (May 45) 411 Spitfire V, IXB, IXE (Jul 43) - 17 Apr 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 22 Apr 44 - 15 Oct 44 (to APC Warmwell) 23 Oct 44 - (May 45) 412 Spitfire V, IXB, IXE (Jul 43) - 5 Jan 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 20 Jan 44 - 30 Mar 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 7 Apr 44 - (May 45) 442 Spitfire IXB, IXE 14 Jul 44 - 14 Nov 44 (to APC Warmwell) 25 Nov 44 - 23 Mar 45 (to ADGB) 402 Spitfire XIV 27 Dec 44 - 14 Jan 45 (to APC Warmwell) (Detached from 125 Wing) 2 Feb 45 - (May 45)

RIGHr Grp Capt David Scott-Malden. DSO. DFC & Bar (right!. himself a notable fighter pilot earlier in the war, commanded 125 Wing fom August 1944 to March 1945. He is seen here with Sqn Ldr Terry Spencer. CO of 350 Squadron.

ABOVE: This camouflaged German Flak tower at B.1 06 Twente was a grim reminder for 125 Wing pilots of the perils of attacking Luftwaffe airfields.

127 (RCAF) AirfieldlWing Formed at Kenley in 83 Group on 4 July 1943, to support two Spitfire fighter squadrons under the control of 17 Wing; joined by a third squadron in February 1944. The resident squadrons converted to the fighter-bomber role in April 1944 and were joined by a fourth squadron in the reorganisation of the Wings in July 1944.

421

416 443

Spitfire IXB, XVI Spitfire IXB, XVI

Lashenden Headcorn Kenley Tangmere In transit B.2 B.26 B.68 B.82 B.58 B.56 B.90 B.78 B.100 B.114 B.154

414 350

Spitfire FR IX Spitfire XIV

610

Spitfire XIV

6 Aug 43 20 Aug 43 14 Oct 43 17 Apr 44 8 Jun 44 16 Jun 44 28 Aug 44 16 Sep 44 28 Sep 44 22 Oct 44 4 Nov 44 2 Mar 45 31 Mar 45 8 Apr 45 13 Apr 45 28 Apr 45

Spitfire IXB, XVI

(Jul 43) - 2 Mar 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 8 Mar 44 - 6 Dec 44 (to APC Warmwell) 18 Dec 44 - (May 45) 12 Feb 44 - (May 45) 12 Jul 44 - 18 Dec 44 (to APC Warmwell) 3 Jan 45 - (May 45) 28 Aug 44 - 20 Sep 44 3 Dec 44 - 31 Dec 44 (detached from 125 Wing) 4 Dec 44 - 31 Dec 44 (detached from 125 Wing)

128 AIRFIELDIWING Formed 4 July 1943 at Dunsfold, under the control of 39 (R) Wing to support Mustang tactical reconnaissance units; eventually absorbed by the latter unit on 1 July 1944. Dunsfold Woodchurch Redhill Odiham In transit B.8

24 Jul43 15 Oct 43 18 Feb 44 1 Jul 44 2 Jul44

Commanding Officers S/L J.M.Hall W/C J.M.Godfrey

Jul43 Aug 43 - Jul 44

Squadrons 231 Mustang I 400 168 184 414 430

(Jul 43) - 11 Jul 43 (to APC Weston Zoyland) 21 Jul 43 - 15 Jan 44 (disbanded) (Jul 43) - 1 Jul 44 Mustang I, Mosquito XVI, Spitfire XI Mustang 21 Feb 44 - 6 Mar 44 (to 129 Airfield) 18 Apr 44 - 1Jul 44 Typhoon IB 6 Mar 44 - 3 Apr 44 (to 129 Airfield) 1 Apr 44 - 1 Jul 44 Mustang I Mustang I 1 Apr 44 - 1 Jul 44

129 AIRFIELDIWING Formed at Gatwick on 4 July 1943 under the control of 39 (R) Wing to support tactical reconnaissance Mustang units. In April 1944 changed role to support Typhoon fighter-bomber operations but disbanded on 14 July 1944. This photograph of Wg Cdr J.E.Johnson with Headquarters Staff of 127 Wing, at B.2 in Normandy on 9 August 1944, gives some idea of the seldom seen support necessary for the smooth operation of a Wing. From left to right, Dennison (Army Liaison Officer - ALO). Johnson (Wg Cdr Ops). FMinton (Intelligence). Thorne (Operations). Harry Martin (Intelligence), Kurt Johnston (Signals). John Sankton (Operations). Roy Compton (ALOl, Beveridge (Intelligence). Eric (ALO). Commanding Officers W/C C.M.Brown G/C W.R.MacBrien OBE G/C P.S.Turner DSO, DFC*

Jul 43 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Jan 45 Jan 45 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C J.E.Johnson DSO*, DFC* W/C H.C.Godefroy DSO, DFC* W/C L.v.Chadburn DSO*, DFC

Jul 43 - Sep 43 Sep 43 - Apr 44 Apr 44 - Jun 44 (killed in action 12 June 1944) Jun 44 - Jul 44 W/C RABuckham DFC* W/C J.E.Johnson DSO**, DFC* Jul 44 - Mar 45 Apr 45 - (May 45) W/C J.F.Edwards DFC*, DFM Squadrons 403 Spitfire IXB, XVI

(J ul 43) - 24 Feb 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 29 Feb 44 - 23 Sep 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 3 Oct 44 - 4 Jan 45 (to APC Warmwell) 14 Jan 45 - (May 45)

Gatwick Ashford Gatwick Odiham Westhampnett In transit B.10

13 Aug 43 15 Oct 43 2 Apr 44 22 Apr 44 13 Jun 44 28 Jun 44

Commanding Officers Wg Cdr E.H.G.Moncrief AFC W/C D.S.C.Macdonald DFC Squadrons 414 Mustang I 430 168 184

Mustang I Mustang I TyphoonlB

Jul 43 - Feb 44 Feb 44 - Jul 44

(Jul 43) - 31 Jul 44 (to APC Weston Zoyland) 10 Aug 43 - 1 Apr 44 (to 128 Airfield) (Jul 43) - 1 Apr 44 (to 128 Airfield) 6 Mar 44 - 18 Apr 44 (to 128 Airfield) 3 Apr 44 - 14 Jul 44 (to 121 Wing)

130 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Gravesend on 10 July 1943 under the control of 35 (R) Wing to support tactical reconnaissance Mustang units. Absorbed by 35 (R) Wing on 7 July 1944. Gravesend Odiham Funtington

7 Aug 43 15 Sep 43

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132 (Norwegian) AIRFIELD/WING

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Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX, XVI

Formed at North Weald on 1 November 1943 under the control of 19 Wing to support Norwegian Spitfire squadrons. Joined by two British squadrons in the spring of 1944, when all the units converted to the fighter-bomber role. A fifth Spitfire unit (Dutch) was added to the Wing in 1945.

Commanding Officers W/C AF.Anderson DSO, DFC W/C R.Noel-Smith

U Squadrons 2 Mustang I, lA, II

268

Mustang I Mosquito XVI, Spitfire XI Mustang IA

63 168

Mustang IA Mustang IA

4

(JuI43) -15 Sep 43 6 Oct 43 - 30 Nov 43 (to 123 Airfield) 22 Jan 44 - 11 Mar 44 (to Dundonald, spotting course) 24 Mar 44 - 7 Jul 44 (Jul 43) - 30 Nov 43 (to 123 Airfield) 3 Mar 44 - 7 Jul 44 15 Sep 43 - 15 Oct 43 (to 123 Airfield) 17 Jan 44 - 7 Feb 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 30 Nov 43 - 22 Jan 44 (to 13 Group) 30 Nov 43 - 21 Jan 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 4 Feb 44 - 21 Feb44 (to 128 Airfield)

131 (Polish) AIRFIELD/WING Formed 14 October 1943 at Northolt to support Spitfire fighter squadrons, under the control of 18 (Polish) Wing. The three resident squadrons converted to the fighter-bomber role shortly before the invasion. Northolt Deanland Chailey Appledram Ford B.12 B.10 B.31 B.51 B.70 B.61 B.60 B.77 B.l0l B.113

Nov 43 - Feb 44 Feb 44 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C S.F.Skalski KW***, DFC** W/C AGabszewicz DSO, DFC W/C S.F.Skalski KW***, DFC** W/C J.Kowalski KW*, DFC W/C T.Sawicz KW**, DFC

Oct 43 Nov 43 - Feb 44 Feb 44 - Apr 44 Apr 44 - Oct 44 Oct 44 - (May 45)

308

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX, XVI

Spitfire IX, XVI

Commanding Officers Lt Col H.Mehre DSO, DFC Lt Col WMohr Lt Col H.Mehre DSO, DFC Wing Commanders Flying Lt Col K.Birkstead DSO, DFC Lt Col R.A.Berg DFC

Squadrons 331 Spitfire IX

Commanding Officers W/C Z.Krasnodebski W/C Z.Czaykowski G/C AGabszewicz DSO, DFC

303 317

31 Mar 44 21 Jun 44 6 Aug 44 13 Aug 44 20 Aug 44 6 Sep 44 11Sep44 6 Oct 44 22 Dec 44 18 Feb 45 18 Apr 45

Lt Col F.Ryg DFC

1 Apr 44 26 Apr 44 28 Jun 44 16 July 44 22 Jul44 1 Aug 44 8 Sep 44 11 Sep 44 30 Sep 44 10 Oct 44 13 Jan 45 7 Mar 45 13 Apr 45 28 Apr 45

Squadrons 302 Spitfire IX, XVI

North Weald Bognor Tangmere Funtington Ford B.16 B.33 B.57 B.60 B.79 B.85 B.l06

(Oct 43) - 2 Dec 43 (to APC Fairwood Common) 19 Dec 43 - 1 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 7 Mar 44 - 12 Apr 44 (to APC Southend) 14 Apr 44 - 30 Aug 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 16 Sep 44 - (May 45) (Oct 43) - 12 Nov 43 (to Ballyhalbert) (Oct 43) - 2 Dec 43 (to APC Southend) 18 Dec 43 - 22 Nov 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 11 Dec 44 - (May 45) 11 Nov 43 - 2 Dec 43 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 18 Dec 43 - 8 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr)

332

Spitfire IX

66

Spitfire IX, XVI

127

Spitfire IX, XVI

322 349 485

Spitfire XVI Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

(Nov 43) - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Feb 45 Feb 45 - (May 45)

(Nov 43) - Mar 44 Mar 44 - Feb 45 (killed in action 3 February 1945) Feb 45 - (May 45)

(Nov 43) - 5 Jan 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 21 Jan 44 - 5 Mar 44 (to APC Southend) 13 Mar 44 - 19 Sep 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 6 Oct 44 - 14 Mar 45 (to APC Fairwood Common) 2 Apr 45 - 22 Apr 45 (to 13 Group) (Nov 43) - 5 Jan 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 21 Jan 44 - 21 Mar 44 (to APC Southend) 27 Mar 44 - 11 Dec 44 (to APC Fairwood Commonl 31 Dec 44 - 22 Apr 45 (to 13 Group) 1 Mar 44 - 22 Apr 44 (to APC Southend) 25 Apr 44 - 8 May 44 (to Castletown) 14 May 44 - 20 Feb 45 (to APC Fairwood Common) 16 Mar 45- 30 Apr 45 (disbanded) 23 Jul 44 - 20 Feb 45 (to APC Fairwood Common) 17 Mar 45 - 30 Apr 45 (disbanded) 3 Jan 45 - 30 Apr 45 (to 131 Wing) 19 Apr 45 - 30 Apr 45 (to 131 Wing) 19 Apr 45 - 30 Apr 45 (to 145 Wing)

133 (Polish) AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Heston on 1 Nov 43 to support two Polish Spitfire squadrons, a third (British) squadron arriving in Mar 1944. All three squadrons converted to Mustang III fighter-bombers in March and April 1944. On 8 July 1944 the Wing was transferred to ADGB and relocated at Brenzett to fly anti-Diver patrols. Heston Coolham Holmsley South Ford

1 Nov 43 1 Apr 44 22 Jun 44 26 Jun 44

Commanding Officer W/C T.Nowierski

Nov 43 - (Jul 44)

Wing Commander Flying W/C WZak KW*, DFC W/C J.Kowalski KW*, DFC W/C S.F.Skalski KW***, DFC**

Nov 43 - Feb 44 Feb 44 - Apr 44 Apr 44 - (Jul 44)

Squadrons 306 Spitfire VB, Mustang III 308 Spitfire VB 315 Spitfire VB, Mustang III 129 Spitfire IX, Mustang III

(Nov 43) - 15 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 20 Mar 44 - (Jul 44) (Nov 43) - 11 Nov 43 (to 131 Airfield) 13 Nov 43 - 24 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 29 Mar 44 - (Jul 44) 16 Mar 44 - 30 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 3 Apr 44 - (Jul 44)

134 (Czech) AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Ibsley on 8 November 1943 to support Czech fighter squadrons under the control of 19 Wing. The Czech squadrons were transferred to ADGB 29 June 1944 due to a shortage of Czech pilots and inability to maintain strength with projected 2nd TAF casualty rates; the Wing was also transferred to 11 Group, ADGB, but on a temporary basis at first, receiving new squadrons at Tangmere. These squadrons were transferred to 2nd TAF Wings in July 1944 and 134 Wing remained in ADGB. Ibsley Mendlesham Appledram Tangmere

18 Feb 44 1 Apr 44 22 Jun 44

Commanding Officers W/C F.weber W/C F.Dolezal W/C GD.Blackwood

Nov 43 - Dec 43 Dec 43 - Mar 44 Apr 44 - Jun 44

Wing Commanders Flying W/C T.Vybral

Nov 43 - Jun 44

Squadrons 310 Spitfire V, IX

312

Spitfire V, IX

313

Spitfire V, IX

33 74 127

Spitfire IX Spitfire IX Spitfire IX

(Nov 43) - 2 Dec 43 (to APC L1anbedr) 15 Dec 43 - 21 Feb 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 25 Feb 44 - 28 Mar 44 (to APC Southend) 3 Apr 44 - 29 Jun 44 (to 11 Group) Nov 43) - 2 Dec 43 (to APC L1anbedr) 8 Dec 43 - 23 Feb 44 (to APC Southend) 3 Mar 44 - 29 Jun 44 (to 11 Group) Nov 43) - 6 Jan 44 (to Woodvale/Ayr) 20 Jan 44 - 14 Mar 44 (to APC Southend) 20 Mar 44 - 29 Jun 44 (to 11 Group) 3 Jul 44 - 17 Jul 44 (to 135 Wing) 3 Jul 44 - 17 Jul 44 (to 145 Wing) 3 Jul 44 - 12 Jul 44 (to APC Southend and 132 Wing)

135 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Hornchurch on 15 November 1943 to support Spitfire squadrons, under the control of 20 Wing, 84 Group. Transferred to 23 Wing on 1 March 1944 and 18 Wing 20 April 1944. Intended as the second Tempest Wing, two squadrons converting to Tempest V in early 1945, but conversion of the other two was abandoned in April 1945. Hornchurch Selsey Coolham Funtington Selsey Tangmere B.17 B.35 B.53 B.65 B.77 B.91 B.109

11 Apr 44 30 Jun 44 4 Jul44 6 Aug 44 19 Aug 44 23 Aug 44 10 Sep 44 12 Sep 44 2 Nov 44 14 Jan 45 7 Apr 45 19 Apr 45

Commanding Officers W/C A.S.Linney OBE G/C P.R.walker DSO, DFC

Wing Commanders Flying W/C W.V.Crawford-Compton DSO, DFC Nov 43 - Dec 43 W/C P.J.Simpson DFC Dec 43 - Jul 44 W/C R.H.Harries DSO, DFC* Jul 44 - Feb 45 W/C H.M.Mason Feb 45 - (May 45) Squadrons 15 Nov 43 - 16 Nov 43 (to APC Southend) 66 Spitfire IX 1 Dec 43 - 22 Feb 44 (to APC L1anbedr and 132 Airfield)) 15 Nov 43 - 17 Jan 44 (to 13 Group) 129 Spitfire IX 222 Spitfire IX, 15 Nov 43 - 30 Dec 43 (to 12 Group) 10 Mar 44 - 15 Dec 44 (to Predannack for Tempest V Tempest conversion) 21 Feb 45 - (May 45) 504 Spitfire IX 17 Jan 44 - 28 Jan 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 4 Feb 44 - 9 Mar 44 (to 13 Group) 30 Dec 43 - 8 Feb 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 350 Spitfire IX 19 Feb 44 - 11 Mar 44 (to ADGB) 11 Mar 44 - 21 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 485 Spitfire IX 27 Mar 44 - 5 Nov 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 24 Nov 44 - 25 Feb 45 (to Predannack for Tempest conversion) 19 Apr 45 - 29 Apr 45 (to 145 Wing) 11 Mar 44 - 6 Apr 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 349 Spitfire IX 11 Apr 44 - 16 Feb 45 (to Predannack for Tempest conversion) 19 Apr 45 - (May 45) Spitfire IX, 17 Jul 44 - 10 Aug 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 33 Tempest V 18 Aug 44 - 15 Dec 44 (to Predannack for Tempest conversion) 21 Feb 45 - (May 45)

NB: 349 and 485 Squadrons' conversion to Tempests was abandoned due to insufficient numbers of the type available

136 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Fairlop on 22 Nov 43 to support Hurricane and Typhoon Squadrons under the control of 20 Wing, 84 Group. In April 1944 the Airfield moved to L1anbedr to support the 20 Wing squadrons which undertook armament training at the APC. Disbanded on 30 Jul 44 during reorganisation of 2nd TAF. Reformed on 5 Nov 44 at Hartford Bridge (renamed Blackbushe the following month) from 141 Wing personnel, with Mosquito intruder squadrons resident, moving to the Continent the following March. (See also note below 141 Wing) Fairlop Thorney Island L1anbedr Thorney Island Old Sarum Thorney Island Funtington Hurn Blackbushe B.71 B.80

15 Mar 44 9 Apr 44 29 Apr 44 2 May 44 6 May 44 17 Jun 44 22 Jun 44 5 Nov 44 17 Mar 45 28 Apr 45

Commanding Officers W/C J.I.Kilmartin DFC G/C T.M.Horgan DSO DFC

Nov 43 - Jul 44 Nov 44 - (May45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C B.Drake DSO, DFC* W/C J.M.Bryan DFC* W/C R.N.Bateson DSO DFC

Nov 43 - Apr 44 May 44 - Jun 44 Nov 44 - (May 45)

Squadrons 164 Hurricane IV, Typhoon IB Nov 43 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - (May 45) 195

Typhoon IB

22 Nov 43 - 4 Jan 44 (to Twinwood Farm) 14 Jan 44 - 11 Feb 44 (to Twinwood Farm/Acklington) 15 Mar 44 - 22 Apr 44 (to 123 Airfield) 28 Apr 44 - 17 Jul 44 (to 123 Wing) 22 Nov 43 - 15 Feb 44 (disbanded)

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193 183

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

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Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Typhoon IB Mosquito VI Mosquito VI

20 Feb 44 - 6 Apr 44 (to APC Llanbedr/146 Airfield) 11 Apr 44 - 22 Apr 44 (at APC Llanbedr, to 123 Airfield) 29 Apr 44 - 14 Jul 44 (to APC Eastchurch/ 123 Wing) 22 Apr 44 - 28 Apr 44 (at APC Llanbedr) 22 Apr 44 - 28 Apr 44 (at APC Llanbedr) 13 Jul 44 - 20 Jul 44 (to 146 Wing) 17 Jul44 - 23 Jul 44 (to APC & 146 Wing) 21 Nov 44 - (May 45) 21 Nov 44 - (May 45)

137 AIRFIELDIWING

Wing Commanders Flying W/C A.D.Mitchell Squadrons 98 Mitchell II, III 180 Mitchell II, III 320 Mitchell II, III

(Nov 43) - (May 45) (Nov 43) - (May 45) 18 Feb 44 - (May 45)

140 AIRFIELDIWING Formed at Sculthorpe on 15 October 1943 to support Mosquito fighterbomber squadrons in 2 Group.

Formed at Hartford Bridge on 15 November 1943 to support Boston medium bomber squadrons. Joined by a single Mitchell squadron in February 1944 it remained a mixed Wing until one of the remaining Boston squadrons converted to Mitchells in March 1945 and the other disbanded the following month.

Sculthorpe Hunsdon Gravesend Thorney Island B.87 B.58

Hartford Bridge B.50

Commanding Officers G/C PC.Pickard DSO, DFC

17 Oct 44 22 Apr 45

B.77

Commanding Officers G/C W.L.M.MacDonald DFC G/C R.L.Kippenberger Squadrons 88 Boston 107 Boston 342 226

Boston, Mitchell II, III Mitchell II, III

Nov 43 - Nov 44 Nov 44 - (May 45)

(Nov 43) - 6 Apr 45 (disbanded) (Nov 43) - 3 Feb 44 (to 138 Airfield/ Mosquito conversion) (Nov 43)13 Feb 44 - (May 45)

138 AIRFIELDIWING Formed at Lasham on 1 November 1943 to support the already resident intruder and medium bomber squadrons. By February 1944 all resident squadrons were Mosquito-equipped and undertaking intruder sorties. In November 1944 the Wing moved to northern France and operated from there for the remainder of hostilities. Lasham Hartford Bridge A.75

30 Oct 44 19 Nov 44

Commanding Officers G/C L.W.Cannon G/C L.W.C.Bower DSO DFC Squadrons 320 Mitchell II 613 Mosquito VI 305 Mitchell II, Mosquito VI 107 Mosquito VI

(Nov 43) - Dec 43 Dec 43 - (May 45)

1 Nov 43 - 18 Feb 44 (to 139 Airfield) 1 Nov 43 - (May 45) 18 Nov 43 - (May 45) 3 Feb 44 - (May 45)

Feb 45 - (May 45)

26 Dec 43 17 Apr 44 17 Jun 44 5 Feb 45 17 Apr 45

G/C P.GWykeham-Barnes DSO, DFC G/C R.N.Bateson DSO, DFC

Oct 43 - Feb 44 (killed in action 18 February 1944) Feb 44 - Dec 44 Dec 44 - (May 45)

Squadrons 21 Mosquito VI 464 Ventura I, II, Mosquito VI 487 Mosquito VI

(Oct 43) - (May 45) (Oct 43) - (May 45) (Oct 43) - (May 45)

141 AIRFIELDIWING Formed at Church Fenton on 1 January 1944 to support 85 Group units, initially night-fighters and later Spitfire fighter squadrons. However, it remained under ADGB control, eventually appearing on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle from 14 August 1944 (still controlled by 11 Group) until 5 October 1944 when it was formally transferred to ADGB. It was disbanded a month later. Apparently reformed in 2 Group but see note below. Deanland

(Aug 44)

Commanding Officers W/C H.J.L.Haliowes DFC, DFM Squadrons 91 Spitfire 124 Spitfire 322 Spitfire 345 Spitfire

IX IX IX V, IX

(Aug44)

(Aug 44) - (Oct 44) (Aug 44) - 16 Aug 44 (at Westhampnett) (Aug 44) - (Oct 44) 16 Aug 44 - (Oct 44)

NB: Some confusion has existed regarding the identity of the Wing Headquarters which came into existence to control the activities of418 and 605 Squadrons when these units were posted into 2 Group to increase that body's force of Mosquito VI fighter-bombers from six squadrons to eight during November 1944. At first glance it can appear that two different wing formations each claimed such a role at the same time. 136 Wing had controlled four squadrons of Typhoons in 84 Group until early in August 1944, but had then been disbanded when the latter

139 AIRFIELDIWING Formed at Dunsfold on 1 November 1943 to support two Mitchell medium bomber squadrons. A third (Dutch) Mitchell unit joined the Airfield in February 1944. Dunsfold B.58 B.110

16 Oct 44 1 May 45

Commanding Officers W/C H.J.Burden DSO, DFC G/C L.W.Cannon G/C C.R.Dunlap CBE G/C E.L.Colbeck-Welch DFC

(Nov 43) Nov 43 Nov 43 - Jan 45

135 Wing's final wartime base was B.109, QuackenbrOck, where 222 Squadron's Tempests can be identified among the dispersed aircraft.

were posted away to enhance the strength of 123 and 146 Wings. 141 Wing had served in 85 Group, was transferred to ADGB in October and disbanded at the start of November. Meanwhile, on 21 August 1944 a new 136 Wing formed from personnel released by 229 Squadron and 7229 Servicing Echelon, when these ADGB units were themselves disbanded. Before any duties for this reborn unit could be instituted, its formation was cancelled on 7 September. However, on 20 October 136 Wing once again had life breathed into its identity when reformed (on paper only, it seems) as 136 (Fighter Bomber) Wing in 2 Group to support 418 and 605 Squadrons. At much the same time 141 (Fighter Bomber) Wing was also reformed for the same purposes. Nonetheless, no sooner had this occurred than this latter wing was again disbanded and its personnel used instead in the reformation of 136 Wing. Reading the records of 141 Wing can give the impression that this unit did indeed continue to serve within 2 Group, its duties apparently encompassing the control and administration of 418 and 605 Squadrons, but this was not in fact the case. The latter quite unequivocally formed the operational elements of 136 Wing for the rest of the war.

Commanding Officers W/C FW.Hiliock Jan 44 - Jul 44 G/C P.Y.Davoud OBE, DSO, DFC Jul 44 - Dec 44 Jan 45 - (May 45) G/C AD.Nesbitt DFC Wing Commanders Flying W/C R.Marples DFC W/C R.T.P.Davidson DFC W/C M.T.Judd DFC, AFC W/C F.G.Grant DSO, DFC Squadrons 438 Typhoon IB

Jan 44 - Jan 44 Jan 44 - May 44 May 44 - Oct 44 Oct 44 - (May 45)

10 Jan 44 - 22 May 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 29 May 44 -19 Mar 45 (to Warmwell APC) 3 Apr 45 - (May 45) 10 Jan 44 - 11 May 44 (to Hutton Cranswick APC) 20 May 44 - 3 Apr 45 22 Apr 45 - (May 45) 8 Feb 44 - 22 Apr 45 (to Warmwell APC) 8 May 45 - (May 45) 2 Oct 44 - 26 Feb 45 (disbanded)

Typhoon IB

440

Typhoon IB

142 AIRFIELD/WING

168

Typhoon IB

Formed at Scorton on 7 January 1944 to support fighter units in 85 Group. However, it remained under ADGB control and did not appear on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until 5 August 1944 when the Wing (now supporting Mosquito night fighters) moved, to A.8, Picauville in the US Sector. After leaving Normandy for Belgian bases its resident Mosquito units were replaced by an ASR squadron, detached flights of antishipping units and an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron.

NB 438, 439 and 440 Squadrons were initially equipped with Hurricane IVs to facilitate their conversion to Typhoons, which began arriving at the end of January. The Hurricanes remained in use until May 1944 but were never used operationally. Although 168 Squadron was formally disbanded on 26 February 1945, it appears to have flown its last sorties two days later.

144 (RCAF) AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Digby on 1 February 1944 to support fighter squadrons under the control of 22 Wing. Disbanded 15 July 1944 during reorganisation of the 2nd TAF.

24 Sep 44 21 Oct 44 31 Jan 45

Commanding Officers W/C I.E.Chalmers-Watson AFC W/C N.J.Starr DFC* W/C J.I.Kilmartin aBE, DFC W/C D.Mawhood aBE Squadrons 264 Mosquito XIII 604 Mosquito XIII 276 Walrus, Spitfire V 119 Albacore, Swordfish III 819 Swordfish II, III 290 Spitfire V. Martinet, Vengeance

(Aug 44) - Oct 44 Oct 44 - Jan 45 Jan 45 - ? ?

Digby Holmsley South Westhampnett Funtington Ford In transit B.4 B.3

Commanding Officers W/C J.EWalker DFC**

25 Oct 44 - (May 45)

W/C AD. Nesbitt DFC

Mar 44 - Apr 44 (killed in flying accident 25 April 1944) Apr 44 - Jul 44

25 Oct 44 - 26 Feb 45 (to Bircham Newton) 1 Feb 45 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C J.E.Johnson DSO, DFC

Mar 44 - Jul 44

143 (RCAF) AIRFIELD/WING Formed 10 January 1944 at Ayr to control three RCAF Typhoon RP squadrons (but role changed to bombers before training started) under the control of 22 Sector. A fourth (RAF) unit operated fighter Typhoons with the Wing in the winter of 1944/45. Ayr Hum Funtington Hum In transit B.9 B.24 B.48 B.58 B.78 B.l00 B.l08 B.ll0 B.150

14 Mar 44 1 Apr 44 21 Apr 44 14 May 44 4 Jun 44 13 Jun 44 14 Jun 44

(Aug 44) - 5 Sep 44 (to 148 Wing) (Aug 44) - 9 Sep 44 (to 148 Wing) 24 Sep 44 - (May 45)

Squadrons 441 Spitfire IX 442

Spitfire IX

443

Spitfire IX

8 Feb 44 - 12 Apr 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 23 Apr 44 - 15 Jul 44 (to 125 Wing) 8 Feb 44 - 25 Apr 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 1 May 44 - 15 Jul 44 (to 126 Wing) 8 Feb 44 - 27 Mar 44 (to APC Hutton Cranswick) 8 Apr 44 - 15 Jul 44 (to 127 Wing)

145 AIRFIELD/WING 18 Mar 44 2 Apr 44 20 Apr 44 18 Jun 44 26 Jun 44 30 Aug 44 3 Sep 44 6 Sep 44 21 Sep 44 29 Mar 45 9 Apr 45 12 Apr 45 19 Apr 45

Formed 1 February 1944 at Perranporth to support fighter squadrons under the control of 23 Wing in 10 Group. Transferred to 2nd TAF, 84 Group, at Merston on 14 April 1944, under the control of 19 Wing, with three resident Free French Spitfire squadrons. These squadrons converted to the fighter-bomber role in time for the invasion and shortly before moving to a French base were joined by a fourth ~RAF) squadron. Merston Funtington Selsey Tangmere B.8 B.29

22 Jun 44 30 Jun 44 6 Aug 44 19 Aug 44 2 Sep 44

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The 2nd TAF's mobility spawned many ingenious vehicles but the prize must surely go to 145 Wing's mobile church constructed from a Dakota fuselage I It is decorated with the badges of the constituent units - left to right, 74,345,341,340, and 329 Squadrons

B.51 B.55 B.70 B.85 B.l05

11 Sep 44 17 Sep 44 24 Nov 44 6 Feb 44 16Apr44

Commanding Officers W/C C.E.Malfroy OFC W/C A.C.Deere DSO, DFC* G/C A.G.Malan DSO*, OFC* G/C TL.B.Guiness OBE

(April 44) May 44 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Nov 44 Nov 44 - (May 45)

Wing Commanders Flying W/C R.Marples OFC

Tangmere Needs Oar Point Hum B.15 B.3 B.23 B.37 B.51 B.70 B.89 B.l05 B.lll

10 Apr 44 3 Jul44 8 Jul44 19 Jul 44 5 Sep 44 7 Sep 44 11 Sep 44 1 Oct 44 14 Feb 45 17 Apr 45 30 Apr 45

(Apr 44) - killed in flying accident 26 Apr 44 W/C W.v.Crawford-Compton OSO, OFC Apr 44 - Jan 45 Jan 45 - (May 45) W/C R.W.F.Sampson DFC*

Commanding Officers W/C E.W.W.Ellis G/C D.E.Giliam OSO**, DFC*, AFC G/C J.C.Wells DFC**

Squadrons 329 Spitfire IX, XVI

Wing Commanders Flying W/C D.E.Giliam OSO, DFC*, AFC W/C E.R.Baker OFC

340

Spitfire IX, XVI

341

Spitfire IX, XVI

74

Spitfire IX, XVI

345

Spitfire IX, XVI

485

Spitfire IX

(Apr 44) - 19 May 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 23 May 44 - 9 Mar 45 (to 13 Group) (Apr 44) - 15 May 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 19 May 44 - 2 Nov 44 (11 Group) 8 Feb 45 - (May 45) (Apr 44) - 11 May 44 (to APC L1anbedr) 16 May 44 - 1 Feb 45 (to 13 Group) 9 Feb 45 - (May 45) 17 Jul 44 - 26 Jul 44 (to APC Southend) 6 Aug 44 - (May 45) 1 Nov 44 - 16 Mar 45 (to APC Fairvvood Common) 2 Apr 45 - (May 45) 29 Apr 45 - (May 45)

W/C J.R.Baldwin OFC W/C J.C.welis DFC* W/C J.H.Deali DSO, DFC Squadrons 183 Typhoon IB 197 Typhoon IB

257

Typhoon IB

609 198

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

266

Typhoon IB

146 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Tangmere on 31 January 1944 to support Typhoon fighterbomber squadrons under the control of 20 Wing, in 11 Group, ADGB. Transferred to 84 Group, 2nd TAF, on 10 March 1944. Initially all the squadrons operated as bombers but one unit converted to RP and a further RP squadron joined the Wing in August 1944. The Wing would retain this flexibility in armament options, which was particularly useful in its 'cloak and dagger' operations (see Vol.2 p.344).

Feb 44 - Jul 44 Jul 44 - Feb 45 Feb 45 - (May 45)

Feb 44 -Mar 44 Apr 44 - Jun 44 (killed in action 16 Jun 44) Jun 44 - Nov 44 Nov 44 - Feb 45 Feb 45 - (May 45)

(Mar 44) - 15 Mar 44 (Mar 44) - 15 Mar 44 (to 123 Airfield) 1 Apr 44 - 25 Nov 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 12 Dec 44 - (May 45) (Mar 44) - 11 Apr 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 12 Apr 44 - 11 Aug 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 30 Aug 44 - 5 Mar 45 (disbanded) 16 Mar 44 - 1 Apr 44 (to 123 Airfield) 16 Mar 44 - 30 Mar 44 (to APC L1anbedr and 123 Airfield) 22 Mar 44 - 27 Apr 44 (to Snaith for smokelaying exercise) 6 May 44 - 29 Jun 44 (to APC Eastchurch and 136 Wing)

193 263

20 Jul 44 - 25 Apr 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 11 Apr 44 - 18 Sep 44 (to APC Fairwood Common) 6 Oct 44 - (May 45) 5 Aug 44 - 13 Jan 45 (to APC Fairwood Common) 10 Feb 45 - (May 45)

Typhoon IB Typhoon IB

147 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Acklington on 16 February 1944 in ADGB to support a day and a night fighter unit. Transferred to 85 Group 10 March 1944 but it remained under ADGB control and did not appear on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until mid August 1944, eventually being transferred to ADGB on 5 October 1944. It remained on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle however, awaiting transfer to the Continent but this did not occur until early March 1945 and the unit was disbanded on 23 Mar 1945. Hunsdon Odiham Ibsley B.61

148 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Drem on 23 February 1944 to support one day and one night fighter squadron in 85 Group. It remained under ADGB control and did not appear on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle until 14 August 1944, by which time it was in transit from Hunsdon via Ibsley to B.17. Its (by now) single resident night fighter squadron (409) was joined briefly by two more from 142 Wing; these two units returned to ADGB before rejoining the Wing on a more permanent basis at the beginning of 1945.

19 Aug 44 11 Sep 44 27 Sep 44 4 Oct 44 12 Oct 44 19 Apr 45

604

Mosquito XIII

410

Mosquito XXX

»

(Aug 44) - Dec 44 Dec 44 - Mar 45 Mar 45 - (May 45)

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(Aug 44) - (May 45) 5 Sep 44 - 25 Sep 44 (to ADGB) 9 Jan 45 - 26 Apr 45 (to 149 Wing) 9 Sep 44 - 24 Sep 44 (to ADGB) 31 Dec 44 - 11 Apr 45 (disbanded) 3 Nov 44 - 6 Jan 45 (to 149 Wing)

149 AIRFIELD/WING

Mar 44 - Dec 44

Squadrons 29 Mosquito XIII (Aug 44) - by Sep 44 (to ADGB at Hunsdon) 219 Mosquito XVII, XXX29 Aug 44 - 10 Oct 44 (to 149 Wing) 410 Mosquito XXX 9 Sep 44 - 22 Sep 44 (to 149 Wing) 488 Mosquito XIII, XXX by 24 Sep 44* - 15 Nov 44 (to 149 Wing) * At Co/erne until 9 Oct 44

In transit B.17 B.24 B.48 B.68 B.51 B.108

Squadrons 409 Mosquito XIII 264 Mosquito XII, XIII

I

Formed at Castle Camps on 1 March 1944 to support a single day and a single night fighter squadron in 25 Wing, 85 Group. In April 1944 the original units were replaced by three Spitfire squadrons (64, 234, and 611) to form a Long Range Fighter Wing at Deanland. These units were in turn replaced by night fighter squadrons at Zeals, moving to Colerne, where the Wing appeared on the 2nd TAF Order of Battle for the first time in mid-August 1944.

(Aug 44) Jan 45 Mar 45 5 Mar 45

Commanding Officers W/C B.Barthold

Commanding Officers W/C D.F.B.Sheen DFC W/C B.Barthold G/C JALeathart DSO

Colerne In transit B.48 B.77

7 Sep 44 17 Sep 44 3 Apr 45

Commanding Officers G/C V.R.Moon AFC

??? - May 45

Squadrons 410 Mosquito 488 Mosquito 409 Mosquito 219 Mosquito

(Aug 44) - 9 Sep 44 (to 147 Wing) (Aug 44) - 24 Sep 44 (to 147 Wing) 25 Aug 44 - (May 45) 10 Oct 44 -

XXX XIII XIII XVII, XXX

150 AIRFIELD/WING Formed at Bradwell Bay on 8 March 1944 to support a single day and a single night fighter squadron in 25 Wing, 85 Group, and under the command of Wg Cdr R.F.Aitken AFC. On 28 April 1944 it was located at Newchurch to support the first Tempest Wing, comprising 3, 56 and 486 Squadrons; the Wg Cdr Flying was Wg Cdr R.P.Beamont DSO, DFC and Bar. 56 Squadron however had yet to receive Tempests, initially operating Typhoons while converting to Spitfire IX pending delivery of Tempests. Retained in ADGB, the Wing played a major role in the defence against the V-1 flying bomb. When the latter threat dwindled the Wing moved to Matlask, on 19 September 1944, and nine days later the Tempest squadrons changed places with the Mustang squadrons of 122 Wing. 150 Wing remained in ADGB as a Mustang Wing until disbanded on 8 March 1945.

A Mosquito XIII of 409 Squadron 'beats up' B.24, St Andre-de-I'Eure, home of 148 Wing in September 1944.

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Errata and Addenda relating to 2nd TAF Volumes One and Two One of the benefits which arise from the division of a subject into several volumes, is that it does allow any mistakes, omissions, etc, in the initial volumes to be corrected in those which follow. Here then is Errata and Addenda relating to Volumes One and Two.

Volume One Page 15 - third page of Operation 'Spartan' box; the final line of the main text in the right hand column is missing, and should read ... 'they would at least have a clear idea of what the Tactical Air Force would look like.' Page 24 19 July 1943. - On this date the names of six claiming pilots are listed, followed by two casualties. The last of the claims (P/O J.L.Lush) and the casualties actually relate to 25 July 1943, and are listed again under this date. The last three items in the column under 19 July should therefore be deleted.

Page 266 - In the listing Fig Off P.J.Lumsden of 442 Squadron should read J.P.Lumsden. Similarly, G.J.Doyle should read J.G.Doyle. This error is repeated on Page 376, again in the listing. Page 267 Last paragraph - Fig Off C.R.Syman of 181 Squadroun should be spelt Symons. Page 268 2nd paragraph- Sqn Ldr I.G.S.Matthew has no's' on the end of his name. Page 269 2nd paragraph - Sgt ELegars of 340 Squadron should be spelt Legarde as in the list below. In this listing, Fig Off B.M.McKenzie of 441 Squadron should be spelt MacKenzie. Page 272 25 August 1944, 4th paragraph - Fit Sgt RAL.White should be RAE.White, as in the listing on Page 274.

Page 124 - the photos of 129 Squadron Mustangs were taken at Holmsley South, not Coolham.

Page 274 In the listing for 25 August 1944 - Fit Lt AJ.Rippon of 107 Squadron should read AH.Rippon. There is also an error in the text on this page. On 26 August 1944, 2nd paragraph, Fig Offs D.E.Libbey (not Libby) and J.McVFlood are recorded as being shot down and taken prisoner, although this is listed above as having occurred on 25 August. The latter date, 25th, appears to be the correct one.

Page 15410 June 1944 - 421 Squadron Spitfire IX hit by Flak at 'e1635' was MI954 not MK954.

Page 276 28 August 1944, 3rd paragraph - Fit Lt P.VG.Sanderson of 604 Squadron should be spelt Sandeman, as on the listing on Page 277.

Page 163 15 June 1944 - In the claimsllosses column at e2000 hours FlO L.ECurry of 421 Squadron is recorded as having been shot down and killed in Spitfire IX MK941. In Volume Two this same aircraft is shown as being shot down and lost to Flak whilst being flown by FlO T.RWheeler of 411 Squadron (page 251). The serial numbers originated in the ORBs and had not been adequately checked.

Page 279 1 September 1944 - last paragraph includes Fit Lt I.E.McTavish of 410 Squadron; this name should be spelt MacTavish, as on the listing below.

Page 7624 February 1944 - 464 Squadron Mosquito VI MM405 'SB-R' crashed at Croixdalle, 20 miles south-east of Dieppe.

Page 167 17 June 1944 - 197 Squadron Typhoon MN269 'OV-W' was apparently brought down by bomb-blast not Flak. Page 168 - colour side view of Spitfire IXB MJ966 flown by Sgt Chef D.Boudard (not Sous Chef). Page 169 18 June 1944 - Typhoon MN314 'TP-Z' of 198 Squadron was not shot down by Flak but suffered engine failure. Fig Off R.Armstrong (who ~upplied the correction) force-landed near Thury Harcourt. Page 169 colour side view ofMosquito VI NS898. 613 Squadron is repeated twice and the full caption should read: - Mosquito VI NS898 'SY-Z' Fig Off J.L.Watts and Fit Sgt J.WVick 613 Squadron, Lasham, June 1944

Volume Two Page 206 4th paragraph - Fig OffWRChown should be spelt Chowen, as in the listing on Page 207. Page 22016 July 1944, 3rd paragraph- Fit Sgt WH.Evans of257 Squadron should be spelt Ewans, as in the daily listing. Page 225 1st paragraph - the two night fighter crews, Kirkwood/Matheson and McPhail/Smith are identified as being members of 488 Squadron; they were infact members of 409 Squadron. Page 228 24 July 1944, 5th paragraph - Fit Sgt J.H.Lynd of 453 Squadron should be spelt Lynch as on the daily list on Page 229. Pages 231 & 236 - In the listings for 25 IJuly (page 231 and 29 July, page 236), Fig Off T.E,Jonsson has been misspelt as Jonnson. Page 233 27 July 1944, 1st paragraph on page- Pit OffWS.Curtin should be spelt Curtis. Page 238 - The second line should read 'Fig Off WA.Ward', not 'Dig Off'. Page 251 - In the listing for 174 Squadron, Pit Off G.J.Steele should be spelt Steel. Page 252 - In the listing at 2200 hrs, 2/Lt E.Gunderson of 331 Squadron should be spelt Gundersen. Page 255 last line of claimsllosses column - F/L J.K.Haselden of 2 Squadron was not killed as stated (despite appearing on a published 2 Squadron Roll of Honour) but survived as a PoW. Pge 255 - In the second line 2/Lt RLepang of 340 Squadron should be spelt Leplang as in the listing below this entry. Page 262 16 August 1944. Third item listed in claimsllosses column at top of page. - WIO D.C.Burman of 74 Squadron did not evade capture after baling out. He had been wounded and surrendered but was shot by an officer of the SS. Page 263 - In the third paragraph Fig Off Boyle of 403 Squadron has initials H.D., while in the list below these are given as H.V The latter is correct.

Page 30120 September 1944, 2nd paragraph - the reference to 6 Squadron should read 16 Squadron, as listed below. Page 304 2nd paragraph - H.G.Russeli should read N.G.Russeli. Page 308 4th main paragraph - Fit Sgt E.Sargeant should be spelt Sergeant. Page 315 3rd paragraph - Fit Lt W.B.Short of 137 Squadron should read WH/B.Short, as on the listing on Page 316. 2nd paragraph - Fig Off J.E.Cornelius of 438 Squadron should read Cornelison as on the listing on Page 316. Page 316 On the listing for 56 Squadron, Sqn Ldr D.VC.Coates-Preedy should be spelt Cotes-Preedy. Page 317 Last line of text - Wg Cdr I.G.Dole should read Dale. Page 319 2 October 1944, 4th paragraph - Sqn Ldr C.D.N.Langley of 107 Squadron should be spelt Longley, as on the listing on Page 320. Page 325 1st paragraph - Fit Sgt C.Jackson of 56 Squadron should read L.Jackson as on the listing below. Final paragraph of text, PIt Off E.E.Haley of 410 Squadron should read EE.Haley as on the listing below. On the listing for 182 Squadron, Pit Off N.G.Seivwright should be spelt Sievwright. Page 331 extended captions to 107 Squadron Mosquito VI and crew. - The right hand column is comprised of Fig Off L.D.Mellor's first-hand comments. The final line of this is missing, and should read '... luckily he was a superb pilot and recovered in time.' Page 333 In both the text (first main paragraph) and listing for 442 Squadron, Sqn Ldr WA.Olmstead should be spelt Olmsted. Page 336 6 November 1944, final paragraph - FIg Off D.Copperace should read Coppervane, as in the listing on Page 337. Page 341 25 November 1944, final paragraph - Sgt Z.J.Parzyel shoukd be spelt Parzych, as on the listing below. Page 342 Final text paragraph - WIO RABowman should read Boorman, as on the listing on Page 343. Page 347 photograph of wrecked Me 262 shot down by RAF Regiment gunners. The caption is incorrect, both as to date and identity of the Luftwaffe pilot - we have repeated previously-published information which was wrong. We are indebted to Herr Jaap Wortman of the Netherlands for bringing this to our attention. The correct information regarding this photograph will be found in this volume, in the Appendix dealing with the RAF Regiment. Additionally, we are aware from another Dutch source that during a raid by 2 Group's medium bombers on the town of Beveland, a considerable number of civilian casualties were suffered. We did not find reference to this in any of the documents which we employed during our research and therefore did not mention the event or the circumstances. This same source also indicated that there were some discrepancies in the spelling employed for several Dutch locations, for which we apologise. We have also noted a number of comments regarding the failure to include certain items of very detailed information on a daily basis, and that the books have

dealt in insufficient detail with the ground-based units supporting the operational squadrons and wings. We hope that the appendices we have included in this volume will go far to satisfy the latter comments. As to the former, we have included the matters which in our judgement were likely to be of the greater interest to most readers. The commercial constraints placed upon the amount of text to be included must always be kept in mind - indeed, it is a matter over which authors have little control, and is very much at the discretion of publishers. Other sources which we might have consulted have also been pointed out to us - but they were unknown to us at the time of our research.

Page 3493 December 1944, 3rd paragraph - Fit Lt W.L.Sanders of 439 Squadron should read Saunders, as on the listing below.

2: C Page 361 2nd paragraph - W/O Milnes of 219 Squadron should read Mills as on m the listing below. 24 December 1944, first line - Fit P.G.Jeffs of 488 Squadron

Page 35917 December 1944 listing- Fit Lt B.C.Mackenzie of 56 Squadron should read McKenzie. Lt

should read R.G.Jeffs as on the listing on Page 364. Page 367 On the listing for 25 December 1944 for 486 Squadron, Pit Off R.D.Bremne should read Bremner.

Unit Index for Volume Three 495,499,500,501,504,509,51O,51l, 512,513,514,516,519,520,520,521, 522,523,524,525,528,529,529,531, 533,533,523,536,547 132 Squadron 549 137 Squadron 413, 431, 432, 441, 448, ROYAL AIR FORCE ANO COMMONWEALTH AIR FORCES 459,460,462,468,475,476,485,485, Squadrons 487,512,514,536 Order Of Battle 537 140 Squadron 454, 497 I Squadron 448 164 Squadron 400, 420, 422, 424, 425, 426,481,482,482,483,502,514,516 2 Squadron 394, 417, 418, 420, 435, 525 Commands 3 Squadron 394, 395, 396, 399,400, 401, 168 Squadron 395, 403, 406, 408, 409, 407,408,409,410,411,412,413,417, 412,412,413,425,426,433, Bomber Command 397, 428, 429, 458 418, 418, 420, 423, 426,430, 174 Squadron 399, 400, 413, 418, 423, Fighter Command 497 432,436,437,440,447,448,454,456, 424,427,430,431,432,433,434,462, 466,466,467,469,470,474,475,481, 471,475,476,481,549,550 Groups 496,501,504,505,519,520,521,522, 175 Squadron 412, 413, 423, 424, 432, 2 (Bomber) Group 418, 427, 428, 429, 523,525,529,530,531,532,533,534, 435,454,459,460,467,468,471,474, 433,434,435,439,442,445,451,452, 535, 536, 545 476,480,480,486,500,525,528,536 180 Squadron 401,421,422,442,443, 453,454,458, 481,482, 497, 508, 538 13 Squadron 460 443,444,444,445,451,452,456,457, 5 (Bomber) Group 458 16 Squadron 400, 401, 453, 454, 494, 497 19 Squadron 409, 471 8 (Pathfinder) Group 458 12 (Bomber) Group 429 21 Squadron 406, 412, 420, 427,428, 181 Squadron 413, 413,420,422,430, 432,460,474,475,476,477,485,486, 429, 429, 430, 435, 451, 455, 455, 456, 38 (Airborne Forces) Group 458 501,524,528,529,530,531 457,493,509 46 (Transport) Group 458 182 Squadron 411, 425, 426, 427, 430, 83 (Mobile) Group 400, 401, 402, 415, 26 Squadron 460,460 437,441,460,462,467,470,471,486, 4 I 6,428,433, 439, 443, 449,453, 455, 33 Squadron 425, 425, 432, 434, 440, 453, 462,468, 485, 486, 495, 500, 504, 508, 487,500,501,514,515,519,523,528, 459,475,496,497,499,502,513,529, 532, 533, 538, 541 509,510,510,511,512,515,531,532, 532,536 84 (Mobile) Group 416, 420, 428, 433, 533,534 183 Squadron 393, 394, 400, 410, 418, 420,427,430,432,437,447,475,516, 449,453,455,459,462,475,496,496, 41 Squadron 397, 399, 400, 401,406,407, 408,420,421,422,423,427,430,432, 497,499,515,529,532,533,539 536 85 (Base Defence) Group 457,467,497, 433,434,434,440,441,446, 184 Squadron 399, 400, 409, 410, 422, 448,454,467,468,469,471,476,477, 423,424,425,426,434,462,480,492, 505,533 478, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487,491, 491, 514,525,528,531 492,493,494,495, SOD, 501, 504, 509, 193 Squadron 394, 396, 397, 410, 412, Wings (Operationall 510,511,512,513,514,517,518,520, 416,423,424,432,450,454,462,475, 521,522,522,523,524,528,529,531, 483,492,495,502,530,531 20 Sector 496 34 (Photo-Reconnaissance) Wing 412, 533, 534, 534, 535, 536, 541 197 Squadron 416, 417, 420, 479,482, 456,497,510 56 Squadron 395, 396, 399, 401, 402, 483, 484, 485, 485, 486, 502, 531 35 (Reconnaissance) Wing 418, 496, 525, 403,406,407,408,409,412,413,421, 198 Squadron 418, 423, 424, 424,425, 432,441,484,485,486,502,509,516, 426,430,432,434,447,448,452,453, 538 531,549,551 39 (Reconnaissance) Wing 398, 448, 483, 457,467,468,469,469,470,471,475, 476,477,480,481,485,486,489,490, 211 Squadron 455 496, 515, 524 121 Wing 433, 439, 455, 458, 459, 471, 492,495,496,505,510,512,514,520, 219 Squadron 394, 401, 406, 41l, 431, 521,522,523,524,528,529,530,531, 432,457,458,467,468,469,482,483, 481,483,496 533,534 483,497,499, 510, 51l 122 Wing 395, 408, 410, 430, 432, 453, 222 Squadron 425, 425,430,432,437, 466,466,475,483,490,491,492,492, 64 Squadron 397,455,456,535 440,441,452,453,454,462,463,466, 496,499, 505, 510, 515, 526, 527, 528, 65 Squadron 547, 550 530,531,533,534,535,536,540 467,476,480,483,484,484,497,497, 66 Squadron 412, 413, 422,449,454,458, 123 Wing 397, 433, 453,455,456,496, 475,484,504,511,515,516,520 498, 500, 504, 510, 511, 512, 523, 530, 69 Squadron 409, 413, 418, 432, 462, 531,532,533,534,536 502, 502, 538 480,481,497,516 226 Squadron 396, 413, 442, 444, 451, 124 Wing 425, 439, 460, 461,462,483, 74 Squadron 400, 401, 412, 434, 447, 494,516 485,496, 523, 524, 528, 541, 541 451,455,477,483,484,494,495,499, 234 Squadron 455 125 Wing 409, 425, 441, 446, 454, 459, 480,491,492,493,494,495,496,501, SOD, 506, 551 243 Squadron 526 504,510,513,514,522,525, 80 Squadron 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 245 Squadron 409,410,425,426,440, 400,406,407,408,409,410,412,416, 448,462,467,470,484,492,494,532, 533, 534, 536 417, 418, 423, 424, 427,430, 434, 440, 126 (RCAF) Wing 398, 399, 410, 449, 536 441,447,448,452,457,459,462,463, 247 Squadron 395, 399, 40 I, 410,412, 458,471,483,486,492,493,496,501, 425,454,457,459,462,463,467,471, 523,532 466,466,467,469,470,471,474,475, 474,475,477,486,510,511,516,524, 476,477,481,482,489,490,491,492, 127 (RCA F) Wing 400, 440, 448, 449, 471,472,473,474,477,486,496,515, 494,496, 526, 526, 533, 534, 535 531,547 88 Squadron 444, 475, 475 249 Squadron 502 523,525 257 Squadron 396,402,403,410,416, 92 Squadron 526 131 Wing 449,486,496, 515, 525, 438 98 Squadron 397,406,412,413,420, 433,434,446,447,462,502 132 Wing 395, 399,412, 413, 425, 449, 263 Squadron 423,424,447,454,481, 453,475,496,497,518 433,434,442,443,444,445,451,455 494,511,515,516,541,541 135 Wing 395, 420, 424, 425, 430, 432, 107 Squadron 402, 410, 427, 428,428, 429,447,450,481,483,508 264 Squadron 405,448,467,471,487, 437,453, 480, 483, 496, 497, 500, 508, 487,497,499,501,504,505,508,509, 113 Squadron 455 510, 519, 532, 533, 540 511,512,514, SIS, 515 119 Squadron 450, 450 136 Wing 428, 429, 497 266 Squadron 403, 416, 434, 437, 462, 124 Squadron 549 137 Wing 443, 444, 451, 497 475,482,483,484,485,486,495,509 126 Squadron 455 138 Wing 428, 429, 428, 497 268 Squadron 40 1,402,417,426,437, 127 Squadron 401, 406, 410, 411, 412, 139 Wing 428, 441,443,444,456,497, 425,449,453,463,466,467,468,471, 500,501,517,525,531 539 475,512,516,518 274 Squadron 395, 397, 398, 400, 406, 140 Wing 413, 428, 429, 428, 429, 455, 408,410, 41l, 416, 418, 418,419,419, 129 Squadron 494 493,497, 420,422,423,424,425.426,427,430, 130 Squadron 401, 409, 410,410,425, 143 (RCAF) Wing 393, 402, 403, 433, 435,440,441,451,454,470,471,475, 431,432,434,435,436,436,437,439, 439,459,471,475,483,496,504 477,480,481,482,483,484,492,494, 447,452,453,453,462,467,470,471, 145 Wing 410, 413, 420, 448, 449, 451,

(N.B. Units detailed in the Appendices have not been indexed as these are considered easily to be referenced without the need for such listing.)

452,475,492,496,519,551 146 Wing 417, 454, 456, 459, 492, 496, 496, 502, 538 149 Wing 480, 540 150 Wing 533 270 Wing 455

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476,481,482,485,492,493,494,494, 495, 499, 500, 504, 508, 509, 510, 512, 515, 516, 526, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535,535,536 276 Squadron 455, 477 302(Po1ish) Squadron 403, 406, 420, 422, 423, 424, 425, 431, 432, 446, 451, 452, 454, 458, 462, 482, 515 305(Polish) Squadron 396, 427, 428, 429, 434, 435, 480, 481, 482 306(Polish) Squadron 496 308(Polish) Squadron 413, 420, 420, 432, 448,453,455,462, 478, 482, 494, 507, 515 317(Polish) Squadron 426, 434, 448, 449, 454,458,475,483,486,492,494,495, 500,515,532,536 320(Dutch) Squadron 397,418,425, 443,444,471,550 322(Dutch) Squadron 395, 401, 410, 422,423,424,432,434,447,449467, 468,471,475,494,509,514,515 329(French) Squadron 406, 411, 436, 437,448 331 (Norwegian) Squadron 399, 401, 451,486,497 332(Norwegian) Squadron 395,396, 399,401,420,425,431,432,434,437, 440,453,454,467,475,476,480,481, 492, 494, 497 340(French) Squadron 420,425, 426, 434,435,437,440,446,450,451,452, 457,474,475,481,482,506,509,551 341(French) Squadron 448, 457, 471, 475,482,483,494,501,514 342(French) Squadron 432, 444, 474, 475 345(French) Squadron 417, 418, 422, 423,424,475,481,483,50 I 349(Belgian) Squadron 396, 406, 413, 417,418,424,425,447,453,497,498, 512,515,516 350(Belgian) Squadron 400, 401, 409, 410,420,426,434,435,435,440,441, 446,451,454,476,477,480,482,492, 494,500, SOl, 504, 510, 51 I, 512, 513, 514,516,519,521,522,523,525,528, 533, 534, 534, 535 400(RCAF) Squadron 490 401(RCAF) Squadron 394, 395, 398, 400, 401,407,408,409,430,439,440,451, 469,471,490,492,494,499, SOD, 501, 504,514,523,530,531,545 402(RCAF) Squadron 416, 418, 420, 425, 426,434,451,467,471,474,476,477, 484, 487, 492, 497, 500, 50 I, 504, 515, 516,517,520,521,529,530,531,533, 534,535 403(RCAF) Squadron 393,400, 408, 413, 430,452,454,462,467,470,474,494, 496,504,508,513,514,515,517,518, 520,521,523,525,528,550 409(RCAF) Squadron 397,401,404,408, 409,412,413,450,457,467,497,509, 510,511,512,514,551 410(RCAF) Squadron 411,412,413,447, 450, 462, 467,468, 480, 482, 483, 483, 497,505 41 I (RCAF) Squadron 395, 396, 398, 400, 402, 403, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 417, 418,423,424,434,446,462,468,491, 492, 501, 505, 508, 520, 521, 523, 524, 528,531.532,536 412(RCAF) Squadron 393, 394, 400, 401, 402,403,420,426,427,432,434,439, 453,454,457,466,467,468,471, 474, 483,487,489,493,495,497,500,517, 518,519,520,521,531,551 414(RCAF) Squadron 396,435,437,448, 450,454,467,468,476,511,517,524,

525, 528, 534, 536 416(RCAF) Squadron 397, 397, 398, 434, 441, 450, 453, 454, 462, 469, 471, 472, 474,486,490,496,499, 500,530,531 418(RCAF) Squadron 396,401,413,418, 427,428,429,430,450,468,474 421(RCAF) Squadron 403, 406, 407,407, 409,432,446,449,451,454,467,471, 474,490,496, SOD, 523, 523,530,530, 536 430(RCAF) Squadron 447, 460, 490, 516, 523, 533, 534 438(RCAF) Squadron 393, 397,403, 406, 409,423,425,426,441,475,476,487, 492, 509, 514, 516, 520, 521, 525 439(RCAF) Squadron 401,403, 406, 410, 410,422,423,423,430,441,457,459, 462,462,471,475,509,510,512,523, 524, 528, 531 440(RCAF) Squadron 395, 403, 409, 410, 412,415,415,437,453 441 (RCAF) Squadron 407, 442(RCAF) Squadron 395, 396, 398, 400, 403,409,410,410,416,418,427,430, 431,432,433,446,453 443(RCAF) Squadron 395, 396, 397, 406, 432,434,462,469,471,472,474,480, 496,505,507,508,512,513,513,514, 515,516,528,530,531 464(RAAF) Squadron 397,401,412,413, 428,429,430,435,448,451,456,457, 483,493, 494, 510 485(RNZAF) Squadron 396,418, 422, 425,447,453,497,519,526 486(RNZAF) Squadron 396, 397, 399, 400,401,407,408,409,410,411,412, 413,417,418,423,424,426,430,431, 432,434,447,450,451,452,456,466, 467,468,477,479,480,482,483,485, 486,487,489,490,491,492,496,499, 500,505, 510,512,513,514,516,517, 518,519,520,521,522,523,524,525, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 535, 536, 541 487(RNZAF) Squadron 406, 428, 429, 429,430,455,456,457,480,484,493, 515 488(RNZAF) Squadron 404,426,451, 453,457,468,469,480,481,497,505, 508,511,512,514,515, 515,516 501 Squadron 419, 602 Squadron 447 604 Squadron 394, 396, 400, 405,451, 462,468,469,489,515 605 Squadron 401, 418, 427, 428, 429, 430450,453.454,469,484,528, 609 Squadron 417, 418, 422, 423, 434, 446,447,448,450,453,454,486,492, 502,509 610 Squadron 401, 409, 410, 418, 420, 422,423,424,425,433,446,454,533, 534,535 613 Squadron 401,403,412,423,427, 428,429440,455,476,480,490,525, 550 615 Squadron 496 616 Squadron 413, 451, 454, 468, 474, 491,492,496,510,511,515,519,528, 530,531,535,539,539,540,540,541, 541,549

OTHER UNITS Flights 1401 Flight 412, Armament Practice Camps 14 Ape 425, 448, 475 17 Ape 400, 425, 448

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Operational Training Units 55 OTU 550 56 OTU 433, 59 OTU 433, 502 Group Support Units 2 GSU543 83 GSU395, 446, 450, 460, 543, 543, 544 84 GSU543 Repair & Service Units 403 R & SU 415, Servicing Units 6487 Servicing Echelon 413, Support Units Film Production Unit 51 I Fighter Leaders School 502 UNITEO STATES ARMY AIR FORCE US Ninth Air Force 396, 398, 400, 406, 427,428,441,457,458,470 XXIX Tactical Air Command 470 406,h Fighter Group 427, 512'h Fighter Squadron 427, 513'h Fighter Squadron 427, 514'h Fighter Squadron 427, 36'h Fighter Group 433, US Eighth Air Force 396, 397, 398, 406, 426,427,428,429, 2nd Air Division 429, 3ed Air Division 429, Eighth Fighter Command 397, 364'h Fighter Group 426, 383'd Fighter Squadron 426, US Fifteenth Air Force 427, 428, 1st (TAF) Provisional Air Force 427, 428,

LUFTWAFFE LuftfJotle Reich 489 L lagdkorps 397, lagdgeschwader I 397, 398, 400, LIJG I 395,398,522,532 11./ JG 1520 3.IJG I 498 lagdgeschwader 2 398, Jagdgeschwader 3 398,400, IV./JG 3 501, 522 14.IJG 3501 15./IG 3501 lagdgeschwader 4 398, 400, 500 ILIJG 4 499, 500 III./IG 4 524 7(Sturm)./IG 4 524 lagdgeschwader 6 400 9./IG 7 397, lagdgeschwader 11398,400,510 LIJG1I5JI,513,522 lagdgeschwader 26 395, 398, 400, 406, 407,422,427,431,436,441,451,462, 466,492 Stab./IG 26 459 I.IIG 26 395, 399, 403, 406,407,408,422, 327,433,440,459,462,466,468,471, 476,485,492,499,504,518,525 ILliG 26395,434,451,457,459,462, 466,468,471,476,477,492,505,518, 521 III.IIG 26 399,427,430,435,436,440, 441,447,448,451,453,459,462 IV.IJG 26 433, 448, 451,459,462,466, 469,471,476,477,492 I.IIG 26 518, 525 2.IJG 26 426, 518, 521 3./JG 26 431, 4./IG 26 395, 5.IJG 26 395,457,468,474,493 6./IG 26 457, 505, 508, 518

7./JG 26 395, 8./JG 26 395, 9./IG 26 436, 10./JG 26 399, Il./JG 26430, 14./JG26440 Jagdgeschwader 27 398,406,407,419, 427,431,432,440,441,451,518 I./JG 27 408, 427, 433, 440, 454, 459, 499 II./JG 27 427, 432, 433, 440, 441, 459, 463,469, 508, 520 III./JG 27 408, 410, 416, 433, 440, 441, 447,511 IV./IG 27 406, 408, 427, 433, 440, 441, 459 5./JG 27 463, 470 6./IG 27 470 7./IG 27 426, 9.IJG 27 447, 504 II./IG 27 411, 12./IG 27 431, 13.IJG 27 426, 431, 433, 441 14.IJG 27 431, 451 IV.IIG 51522,525 14.IJG 51522 15./IG 51522,522 lagdgeschwader 53 398, lagdgeschwader 54 407, IILIJG 54 406, 407, 408, 422, 427, 433, 492 IV./JG 54 398,400, 9./IG 54 408, 431, 10, IJG 54 408, 431, Il./IG54 14./IG54 lagdgeschwader 77 398,400, LIJG 77 400, 409, Iagdgeschwader 300 397, 400, lagdgeschwader 301 397,398,400,487, 490 Stab./JG 30 I 486

ILliG 301 492 6./JG 301505 I./JG 400 487 Kampfgeschwader 51413,422, I./KG 51423,451 II./KG 51 426,431. 5./KG51422, 6./KG 51399, Kampfgeschwader 76 454 6.IKG 76 452 9./KG 76 407, 440, 441 Kampfgeschwader 200 408, I.INAGr 3 524 NAGr 14 514 I./NIG I 398,412, 8./NIG 1412, Il./NIG I 421, NIG 2 416, 416, 2./NIG 2 426, 3./NIG 2 412, I./NIG 4 426, 431, IIL/NIG II 462 7./NIG II 518 I(Pz)./SG9 519, 519 I(Pz)./SG 9 519, 519, 520 3(Pz)./SG 9 519, 519 12./SG 151 518 NSGr I 514 NSGr 2 514 NSGr 20 514 I(F)./123420, E4 Erprobungsstelle Rechlin 492 ARMY UNITS

II Canadian Corps 458 VIII British Corps 458 XII British Corps 458 XVIII Airborne Corps 458 XXX British Corps 416, 458 6th Airborne Division 458 7th Armoured Division 499 4yd Division 403 United States l2'h Army Group 416,458,470 US First Army 396, 439, 448, 458, 470 US Third Army 439, 448, 458, 470 US Sixth Army 416 US Seventh Army 416 US Ninth Army 416, 417, 433, 458, 468, 470 US Fifteenth Army 458, 470 US VIII Corps, Third Army 439 US 17th Airborne Division 458 French French First Army 416 German Armee Gruppe H 454 25. Armee 456 ALLIED OPERATIONS Operation 'Clarion' 427,428,429 Operation 'Market Garden' 416, 458 Operation 'Plunder' 438, 458, 459 Operation 'Varsity' 458 Operation 'Veritable' 416

British Commonwealth 21" Army Group 416, 417, 439, 458, 470, 475,515,518,536 First Canadian Army 416, 458 Second British Army 416, 458, 459, 470, 529

Personnel Index for Volumes One to Three ALLIED PERSONNEL During the course of the preparation of these volumes, we have received a constant stream of additional information, and particularly of photographs of high quality and interest. This has led to frequent re-planning of content, the expansion from the planned two volumes to the actual three being but the most obvious manifestation of this. Restrictions on space led us early to a decision to install the personnel index for all three volumes at the end of Volume Three in order to allm\' the maximum amount of information and illustration to be crammed into the first two. In the event this has rather backfired on us in that the index prepared became so vast that it would no longer fit unless we cut photographs and appendices, and/or reduced photograph sizes. This, we decided, would prove to be less acceptable to the majority of our readers than some form of "culling" of the index. We have, therefore, taken the latter course. The route taken has been to delete the majority of those names from the Allied section which appear only on a single page. We took the view that most readers would be more concerned to follow through the activities, etc, of those who appear more frequently, rather than simply to check whether some particular individual appeared at all. This is a less than ideal solution, but does have the great advantage of cutting the size of this major element of the index by some 50 per cent.

Aanjesen, O.G. OFC & Bar AH Capt 332 Sqn 171, 182, 182,373,399,401 Aarflot, B.CB. Lt 332 Sqn 437, 480 Abbott, W.G. Fit Sgt 19 Sqn 269, 284 Adam, R.K. Fit Sgt 609 Sqn lOS, 238 Adams, A.C. Pit Off21 Sqn 430,435 Adams, l.r. Fig Off 3 Sqn 521, 525, 529 Adams, R.B.T. Pit Off 174 Sqn 171,424, 432 Adcock, R.S. Pit Off 3 Sqn 410, 423 Ahrens, W.C Sqn Ldr 257 Sqn 85, 217, 220 Aitchison, A.S. Fig Off 247 Sqn 40,61, 69,71 Aitchison, E.G. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 340,474 Alexander, J.E Wt Off 56 Sqn 359, 453 Allan, I.L. DFC Fig Off 198 Sqn 345 Allen, R.N.G. Fit Lt 266 Sqn 230, 231 Alliger, A. Sgt Chef 329 Sqn 97, 333 Ambrose, H. DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 175, 181 Sqns 307, 413, 413, 531, 557 Anders, R.H. Fig Off 80 Sqn 407,409, 481 Anderson, A.E DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 35 Wg 46, 525, 525, 554, 560 Anderson, R.W. Fig Off 401 Sqn 501, 504 Anderson, T.R.B. Fig Off 231 Sqn 64, 154 Anderson, W. Fig Off 439 Sqn459, 462 Anderson, W.E Fig Off 247 Sqn 166, 167 Andrews, P.A. Fit Lt 226 Sqn 516 AndriellX, I. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 341 Sqn 187

Angier, 0.5. Fig Off 80 Sqn 368,369, 423,424 Appleton, A.S. Wt Off 41 Sqn 359, 360 Appleton, CH. DFC & Bar TOE Grp Capt 124 Wg 224, 255, 557 Ardouin, H. Sgt 342 Sqn 64,432 Armstrong, R.A. Fig Off 198 Sqn 78, 168,169 Arriens, J.w. DFC Silt 320 Sqn 157 Ashford, D.M. DFC Fig Off 268 Sqn 114, 115 Ashleigh, D.O. Fig Off 401 Sqn 80, 95, 175,187 Ashton, J.H. OFC Fig Off 401 Sqn SOl, 504 Ashworth, CP. TOE Fig Off 65 Sqn 159, 161,166,167,236,241 Atcherley, D.F.W. DFC AH Grp Capt 2 Grp 39 Atkins, I.CE. OFC TOE FIt Lt 219 Sqn 326,339,458,510,511 Attwool, P.R. Fit Sgt 127 Sqn 352, 373 Aubertin, P.G.J. DFC Capt 602, 340 Sqns 58,201,506 Audet, R.I. OFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 411 Sqn 371, 372, 373, 381, 395, 396, 398, 400,407, 409,410,417,418,446 Austin, C.E. Fig Off 245 Sqn 80, 81, 83 Ayerst, P.V. DFC AH Fit Lt 124 Sqn 156 Ayton, A.R Fig Off 409 Sqn 321, 324 Aziz, W.A. Fig Off 412 Sqn 316, 349 Bache, K. OFC AH Lt 331 Sqn 103

Not every once-mentioned name has been removed however. We have left in all those who received decorations during the war to indicate the high number of such individuals in 2nd TAF. We have also left in all those whose names are followed by the small letters AH, AH2, TOE or ATI. A word of explanation is required here. These letters indicate that biographical notes and claims listings for these individuals can be found in Christopher Shores's other relevant works, where further details of them can be accessed with relative ease. The letters indicate the following titles in which the particular biographies are located:·AH . Aces Hig"; AH2 - Aces High, Volume 2; TOE - Those Other Eagles; ATT - Above the Trellches The suggestion has been made to us several times that it would be helpful if we could identify the nationality of each of those included in the index. This would have been an interesting exercise, but the constraints of time and space militated against our being able to do this with a sufficient degree of accuracy. However, it may be said that the majority of personnel in the various national squadrons - i.e. Canadian, Czech, Polish, etc - were of that particular nationality (though not always so). Those serving in the 'standard' RAF squadrons were of a very mixed composition, however. We have continued to receive quantities of material which we were unable to fit into the three volumes presented. It is possible that a fourth addendum volume may follow in the future. If this occurs, readers may rest assured that the deleted elements of this index, together with more information regarding nationalities. is likely to be one of the matters included.

Bailey, A.H. Pit Off 486 Sqn 313 408, 409,467,468 Bailey, E.J. Pit Off 3 Sqn 426, 430 Bailey, H.G. AH2 Fit Sgt 3 Sqn 115 Baird, A.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 274 Sqn 333, 340,340,353,412,416,418,419,535 Baker, A.G. Fit Sgt 487 Sqn 21, 55 Baker, A.S. Fit Lt 34 Wg 176, 177 Baker, E.C. TOE Pit Off 442 Sqn 433, 434 Baker, E.R. OFC & Bar TOEWg Cdr 146 Wg 165, 166, 166,565 Baker, EE. Fit Sgt 140 Sqn 119 Baker, I. Fig Off 487 Sqn 55, 69 Baker, N.K. Fig Off 453 Sqn 76,208 Baker, R.W. Wg Cdr 487 Sqn 429,430 Bakker, E. Cdr 320 Sqn 42,43 Balasse, M.A.L. AH2 FIt Lt 41 Sqn 406, 407,408 Baldwin, I.R 050 & Bar, DFC & Bar AHGrp Capt 198 Sqn, 146, 123 Wgs 60,168,181,181,185,186,217,222, 257,265,267,275,314,331,338,433, 502, 502, 503, 556, 565 Ballance, H.C. DFC FIg Off 266 Sqn 145, 146 Ballantine, I.A. TOE Fig Off 401 Sqn 501,504 Ballantyne, I.H. Dfm AH Fig Off 403 Sqn 77, 77 Bamford, J.N. DFC TOE Fig Off 421 Sqn 182

Bangerter, P.M. TOE Fit Lt 350 Sqn 519, 521,525,428 Banks, CI. Sgt 320 Sqn 42,43 Banks, W.I. DFC & Bar AH Fig Off 412 Sqn 182, 184,210,215,216,228,229, 305,307, 309, 350, 350, 351, 393, 394 Barbour, RL.I. DFC TOE Fig Off 264 Sqn 84, 200, 216 Bargielowski, I. DFM AH Fit Sgt 315 Sqn 155,157,179 Barker, R.B. DFC TOE Fit Lt 442, 412 Sqns 335, 418, 433, 434, 495, 521 Barker, W.E Fig Off 16 Sqn 400, 401 Barlier, I. PIt Off 342 Sqn 39 Barlow, D.H. Maj 182 Sqn 161,224,229, 231 Barlow, O.w. DFC Sqn Ldr 168 Sqn 257 Barnard, S.H. Fig Off 168 Sqn 131, 133 Barnes, L.G. DFC Fit Lt 402 Sqn 425, 426 Barnes, S. Wt Off 198 Sqn 319, 320 Barr, I.R. Sgt 464 Sqn 494 Barradough, D.W. Sub Lt 897 Sqn 140, 143 Barrett, R Fit Lt 65 Sqn 93, 98,107,108, 108, 109 Barribal, M.E.P. Fig Off 487 Sqn 78, 79 Barry, I.E. TOE Fit Lt 29 Sqn 142 Barry, M.A. DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 402 Barwise, E Fit Sgt 247 Sqn 305, 307 Bary, A.J. FIt Sgt 322 Sqn 307, 422 Bass, R.E Fit Lt 222 Sqn 146, 185, 186

Bastin, L.E Fig Off 198 Sqn 424,485,486 Bateman-Jones, P. DFC Sqn Ldr 164 Sqn 482,482 Bateson, E.W. OFC Fit Lt 180 Sqn 422 Bateson, R.N. 050, DFC Grp Capt 613 Sqn, 140 Wg 76, 89, 212, 455, 455, 493, 562, 563 Bathurst, H.W. DFC Fit Lt 174,245 Sqns 128 Bauer, I. Sgt 310 Sqn 184, 186 Bazetl, D.J. Fig Off 411 Sqn 491, 492 Beake, P.H. DFC TOESqn Ldr 168 Sqn 132, 133 Beamish, CE. Stj. DFC Grp Capt 20 Wg 20,553 Beamont, R.P. 050 & Bar, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr ISO Wg 116, 144,314, 319,320,327,357,535,555 Beasley, I.R Fig Off 416 Sqn 363, 364 Beatty, I.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 439 Sqn 403, 4/0,523 Beaumont, R.G.A. Fig Off 604 Sqn 154, 277,376 Beazer, RC Fit Lt 487 Sqn 59,84,207 Becher, K. Sgt 317 Sqn 492, 499, 500 Beck, CD. Wt Off 412 Sqn 403,406 Becker, H.H. DFC Sub Lt 464 Sqn 457 Bednarczyk, S. Wt Off 308 Sqn 337, 382 Beek, D.J. Ter Fig Off 33 Sqn 485, 486, 510,511 Bell, BooE. Fig Off 439 Sqn Bell, C.H.P. DFC Fit Lt 226 Sqn 46 Bell, G.A. Fig Off 401 Sqn 234,238,316

Bell, M.H. DFC AH Wt Off 19 Sqn 111, 159,161,179,230,231,267,268,284 Bellingham, W.H. Fig Off 412 Sqn 307, 339 Bengaerts, j.M.P.H. 320 Sqn 43 Benham, D.1. DFC & Bar, AFC AH Wg Cdr 41 Sqn 299406, 408, 454, 491 Benn, e.E. Pit Off 182 Sqn 247, 248, 251, 284 Benn, M.j.W. DFC TOE Fit Lt 21 Sqn 175 Bennet, W.R Fit Lt 453 Sqn 307,309 Bennett, j.S. Fit Lt 74 Sqn 484,495 Benoit, R Fig Off 122 Sqn 229, 231 Bentley, W.j. Fig Off 443 Sqn 236,255 Beraudo, V. Lt 340 Sqn 446,457 Berg, R.A. DFC & Bar AH Lt Col 132 Wg 89, 97, 161, 178, 179,208,412, 413m560 Berg, V.W. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 440, 441, 500, 511 Bergmann, RI.E.M.Z. Van DFC Fit Lt 182 Sqn 336, 430, 523, 528 Berryman, L.E DFC TOE Fig Off 412 Sqn 219, 220, 307, 308, 309 Beurling, G.E DSO, DFC, Dfm & Bar AH Fit Lt 412 Sqn 38, 58, 59, 59, 89 Beverley, R.L. DFC Fit Lt 264 Sqn 156, 242 Beyer, A. TOE Fig Off 306 Sqn 110, 142, 167 Beynon, H.G. Pit Off 409,410 Sqns 512, 514 Beynon, R. TOE Fit Sgt 29 Sqn 172 Beytagh, M.L.Ff. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 602 Sqn 28 Bibby, C.O. Fig Off 19 Sqn 294, 295 Bicknell, I.C. DFC Fig Off21 Sqn 213 Bienkowski, Z. Sqn Ldr 302 Sqn 431, 432 Billings, G.D. Fig Off 401 Sqn 142,200 Bines, e.A. DFC Pit Off 264 Sqn ISS, 160 Birbeck, e.R. TOE Fit Lt 127 Sqn 401 Bird-Wilson, H.A.e. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 121 Wg, 122 Wg 50, 55 Birksted, K. DSO, DFC AH Lt Col 132 Wg 51,57,60,65,68,77,560 Bitmead, E.R. DFC Grp Capt 124 Wg 557 Bjornstad, B.E DFC & Bar AH Capt 331 Sqn 102,103 Black, I.R.K. Fit Sgt ]64 Sqn 267, 353 Black, L.S. DFC Fit Lt 485 Sqn 106,143 Black, W.A. Fit Lt 2 Sqn 181, 182 Blair, D. Sgt 349 Sqn 133, 413 Blair, G.R Fig Off 442 Sqn 226, 257 Blair, K.H. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 613 Sqn 76 Blair, R.R Fit Sgt 257 Sqn 207, 208 Bloomfield, Bl S.T. DFC Fig Off 29 Sqn 145 Blow, KL.O. DFC Wt Off 487 Sqn 56 Bodard, G.P.A. DFC Pit Off 410 Sqn 236,331, 348, 361,364 Bodtker, C.S. 2/Lt 41 Sqn 468, 522.523 Boels, H.A. TOE Fit Sgt 350 Sqn 500, 522,523, 534, 534 Boiset, M. Lt 329 Sqn 223, 288 Bolstad, K.D.H. DFC TOE Maj 332 Sqn 399,401,476 Bolton, E Fit Lt 168 Sqn 306,307 Bone, I. Fit Lt 3 Sqn 530, 531 Boon, C/. Sgt 181 Sqn 524, 528 Boon, P.C. Fit Sgt 65 Sqn 108,180, ]82 Boorman, RA. Wt Off 409 Sqn 342, 343 Borland, A.G. Fig Off 416 Sqn 218, 352, 365, 367,403 Borland, D.e. DFC Fit Lt 266 Sqn 485 Born, D.H.j. Sgt 320 Sqn 29,418 Borne, R. Lt 341 Sqn 501 Borudy, P. Lt 340 Sqn 171, 263, 294 Botting, EM. Fig Off 175 Sqn 224, 225 Boucher, E.G. Pit Off 174 Sqn 40, 75, 171,243 Boucher, L.P. DFC FIt Lt 181 Sqn 293, 367 Boudard, D. Sgt Chef 340 Sqn 168, 45] Boudier, M. DFC AH Capt 341 Sqn 2]3 Boulton, I.A. Wt Off 453 Sqn 213, 234 Boulton, I.A. DFC TOE Wt Off 130 Sqn 295,440,441, 471, 513, 514 Bourne, D.A.M. Fit Lt 268 Sqn 81 Bouskill, R.R. DFC AH FIg Off 40] Sqn 116,143,161,234,241,263,304,316, 320

Bower, A.W. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 222, 33 Sqns 432,434,468 Bowker, H.W. TOE Fit Sgt 412 Sqn, 410 RSU 24, 39, 47,112,113,201 Bowman, A.P. Fit Lt 488 Sqn 243, 279 Bowman, KEe. Fit Lt 197 Sqn 483, 484 Boyd, D.L. FIg Off 274 Sqn 453,471 Boyd, M.D. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 412 Sqn 363,364,400,453,454,466,467, 520, 521 Boyds, V.E Fig Off 80 Sqn 423 Boyle, H.V. TOE FIg Off 403 Sqn 220, 263 Boyle, j.j. DFC AH Fit Lt 411 Sqn 255, 360,365,367,373, 395, 396, 400, 423, 424 Bradford, N.W Fit Lt 410 Sqn lIS, 156, 468 Bradley, e.E DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 127 Sqn, 132 Wg 272,274,328,518 Bradley, cmar Gen US 1sl Army, US 12 th Army Group 159,416,470 Braham, I.RD. DSO & Bar, DFC & 2 Bars AH Wg Cdr 2 Grp 78, 85, 87, 89, 91,99,102,103,105,106,164,179, 180 Braidwood, G.M. DFC Fit Lt 74, 322 Sqns 484, 495, 500, 514 Brain, K.G. DFC FIg Off 137 Sqn 358 Brain, P.H.C. FIg Off245 Sqn 409, 410 Branch, W.K DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 27 Brandon, A.e. Fig Off 421 Sqn 177, 184 Brandreth, D.G. DFC Fit Lt 137, 181 Sqns 43 Brannagan, T.A. DFC AH Fig Off 403 Sqn 28, 86, 98, 207, 217, 260, 261 Brant, K. Fit Sgt 349 Sqn 154.325 Brayshaw, e.E. DFC Fit Lt 247 Sqn 38, 40,67,76 Bremner, A. FIg Off 2 Sqn 308, 309 Bremner, R.D. DFC AH2 FIg Off 486 Sqn 366, 367,409,411, 412, 535 Breyner, S. TOE Sgt 308 Sqn 337, 380, 381,420 Bricker, R DFC Fig Off 219 Sqn 468, 469 Bridgett, C.I. Fit Sgt 98 Sqn 338,420 Brigden, D.A. Fig Off 442 Sqn 379, 382 Brinn, W.G. DFC, Dfm Fit Lt 88 Sqn 27 Briscoe, I.M. Fig Off 182 Sqn 80, 98 Britten, RI.E. DFC Fit Lt 409 Sqn 341, 368,369,457,467 Broadhurst, Sir H. DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar AH AVM 83 Grp 49,15], lSI, 227, 241, 264, 334, 460 Broadley, I.A. DFC Fit Lt ]40 Wg 72,74, 75 Brock, G.H. Fit Sgt 488 Sqn 366, 451 Brocklehurst, A.I. Wt Off 56 Sqn 514, 529, 530, 531 Bromley, R.A. Fig Off 414 Sqn 138, 142, ]69 Brooke, P.Del. DFC TOE Fig Off 264 Sqn 167 Brooker, R.E.P. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 122, 123 Wgs, Fls 60, 61,113, 137,232,412,426,430,486,490,491, 492, 492, 528, 555 Brough, E.T. DFC Sqn Ldr 182, 137 Sqns 167,304,305,557 Brown, CD.S. Fit Lt 66 Sqn 163,328 Brown, j.A. Fit Sgt 181 Sqn 530, 531 Brown, j.M. DFC Fig Off 69 Sqn 325 Brown, L.a. Am 84 Grp 48, 204, 222, 496 Brown, P.e. Sgt 56 Sqn 457, 476 Brown, RA. Fig Off 439 Sqn 176, 177 Brown, Re. Fig Off 430 Sqn ]59, 161 Brown, RN.M. DFC Fig Off 245 Sqn 440 Brown, RO. Fig Off 414 Sqn 45, 68, 69 Brown, W.W.L. Toe Fig Off 441 Sqn 175, 221,223,257 Browne, A.E. DFC AH Fit Lt 488 Sqn 240,244 Browne, I.D. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 403 Sqn, 441 Sqn 42, 65, 96,186,187,367, 407,407,409,523 Bruce, H.C, Fit Sgt 226 Sqn 76, 205 Bruce, W. Fit Lt 130 Sqn 510, 51],512, 514,529 Brumby, H.E. DFC Fig Off 488 Sqn 36], 369,426,468,469,480,481 Brunelle, I.P.H.A. DFC Fit Lt 414 Sqn 310,337 Bryan, A.I.A, DFC Fig Off 403 Sqn 107, III

Bryan, I.M. DFC& Bar AHWgCdr 198 Sqn, 136 Wg 89,100,107,110,144, 146, ISO, ISO, 154, 164,562 Bryant, I.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 181, 247 Sqns 15,162,247,463,467,557 Bryant, W.I. Pit Off 409 Sqn 342, 343 Brydson, I. Wt Off 66 Sqn 353, 475 Buchanan, I.D. Wt Off 609 Sqn 177,234 Bnclcham, R.A. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 403,421 Sqns, 127 Wg 38,157,217, 217,559 Budrewicz, R Fit Lt 306 Sqn 142, ]46, 176,177 Bndzik, K Fit Lt 317 Sqn 263, 333, 337, 337 Bugg, T.A. Fit Lt 438 Sqn ISS, 157,255 Bulleid, W.M.I. TOE Fig Off 193 Sqn 186, 365, 366 Bnnting, E.N. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 488 Sqn 156, 165,236 Burden, H.I. DSO, DFC ATTWg Cdr 131 Wg563 Burge, A.W. DFC Fig Off 222 Sqn 146 Burke, D.L. Fit Sgt 247 Sqn 76, 169,220 Burke, T.A. DFC TOE Fit Lt 602 Sqn 176,177,201,205,223 Burn, E. Sgt 180 Sqn 251,253 Burra-Robinson, L.A.P. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 122 Sqn, 65 Sqn 94, 95, 95, ]02, 214,269 Bnrroughs, G.W. DFC TOE Fit Lt 414 Sqn 69, 138, 142 Burrows, E.R TOE Fit Lt 402 Sqn 477, 50S, 520, 521 Burrows, L.A.V. Fit Sgl 137 Sqn 321,278, 381 Burt, L.W DFC Fig Off2 Sqn 168, 169 Burton, K.B. Fig Off 80 Sqn 474, 476 Busby, We. Pit Off 442, 412 Sqns 316, 332 Bush, G.A. DFC FIg Off 80 Sqn 297,457, 474 Butchart, C.E. Pit Off 430 Sqn 171,172 Butcher, D.I. Fig Off 3 Sqn 335, 381,382, 394,401,411 Butler, j.j. Sgt 107 Sqn 22, 27 Butt, CT. DFC Fit Lt 140 Squ 288 Butte, S. DFC TOE Pit Off 403 Sqn 379, 382,393 Button, D.D. Lt, Usaaf 107 Sqn 330,331 Button, I.e. DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 193, 197 Sqns, 123 Wg 81, 85, 200, 200, 250, 397,455,556 Button, KE. Wt Off 257 Sqn 213, 402, 403 Byrne, D.e. Fit Lt 129 Sqn 159, 161 Byron, EH. Fig Off 430 Sqn 183, 184 Bzowski, I. Pit Off 306 Sqn 152, 177 Cain, I.W. Wt Off 175 Sqn 325 Cairns, I.P.W. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 488 Sqn 107,259,361,369 Caldwell, Don Author 280, 395 Calvert, I.M. Fig Off 421 Sqn 215, 216, 307,309,319,320 Cameron, G.A. Fig Off 416 Sqn 275,309 Cameron, G.D.A.T. DFC AH Fit Lt 401 Sqn 323,353,371,373,378,381, SOl, 504 Cameron, L.M. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 401 Sqn 55, 57, 78,102,114,115,138,142, 202,202 Cammock, R.I. DFC AH2 Fig Off 486 Sqn 313, 325 Campbell, D.E Fit Lt 411 Sqn 409, 532, 536 Campbell, E.A. TOE Fit Lt 219 Sqn 366, 367 Campbell, E Dfm AH Fig Off 132 Sqn 210,306,307 Campbell, G. DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 226 Sqn 277, 340 Campbell, I.e. Fit Lt 416 Sqn 184,215, 216 Campbell, WR. Fig Off 442 Sqn 209, 239 Campbell-Brown, G.C. Fit Lt 183 Sqn 262,263 Campbell-Horsfall, e.P. Lt Cdr 808 Sqn 140,143 Carbutts, P. Fit Sgt 132 Sqn Ill, 266 Carcopino, I.B.L.M. Lt 329 Sqn 223, 236 Carlisle, A.E DFC Sqn Ldr 21 Sqn 429 Carlson, A.T. DFC TOE Fig Off 400 Sqn 37,42 Carpenter, R.I. Pit Off 180 Sqn 401, 444 Carr, H.D. Fit Lt 411 Sqn 395, 396 Carragher, W.A.I. Wt Off 183 Sqn 262, 263 Carre, J.J.M. Lt 340 Sqn 451, 509

Carroll, P. Sgt 342 Sqn 306, 335 Carson, R.A. Fig Off 222 Sqn 316,441 Carson, T.A. DFC TOE Fit Sgt 19 Sqn 150,154,171,216,230,231,269 Carter, C.B. DFC, Dfm Fit Lt 107,98 Sqns 305 Carter, W.H. Fig Off 453 Sqn 275, 500 Cartmel, B. Fit Sgt B. 616 Sqn 519, 541 Casburn, R FIg Off 66 Sqn 163,205 Cashion, G.A.S. FIg Off 421 Sqn 229, 231 Castellan, Fig Off 409 Sqn 154, 254 Castle, j.E DFC Wg Cdr 226 Sqn 100 Castleton, CR Wt Off 122 Sqn 232, 259, 261,261,305 Catchpole, P. DFC Pit Off 604 Sqn 156, 254 Catterns, I.B.C. Fig Off 168 Sqn 241, 408,409 Caulton, 1.1. FIg Off 132 Sqn 26, 64, 99, 99 Celak, S. Sgt 302 Sqn 338, 379 Cermak, I. Wg Cdr 134 Wg 144, 146 Cermalacce, M. Sgt Chef 341 Sqn 258, 259 Chadburn, L.V. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 127 Wg 157,157,158, 559 Chalmers,I.A. TOE Wt Off 41 Sqn 492, 518,524 Chambers, I.A. Sgt 180 Sqn 451, 514, 528 Chambers, RE. Fit Sgt 416 Sqn 218,234, 316 Chapman, G.B. FIg Off 174 Sqn 399, 400 Chapman, e. Sgt 340 Sqn 161,435 Charlesworth, H.e. Fit Lt 443 Sqn 462.512 Charney, KL. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 602,132 Sqns 64,177,201,212,216, 217,218 Charron, P.M. AH Fig Off 412 Sqn 142, 169,305,306,307,332,339,340 Chase, F.I.A. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 264 Sqn 170.214,236,241 Checketts, I. M. DSO, DFC AH Wg Cdr 142 Wg 143,304 Chelmecki, M. TOE Sqn Ldr 317 Sqn 382 Chevers, N.V. PIt Off 132 Sqn 202, 210, 233,238 Chojnacki, W Fit Lt 308 Sqn 336, 381 Chowen, W.R TOE Fig Off 441 Sqn 175, 206,207 Christie, I.S. DFC Fig Off 410 Sqn 92, 210,211,482,483,505 Christie, W.H. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Maj 332 Sqn 68, 163, 170 Church, D.F. TOE Fig Off 401 Sqn 323, 352,353,354,394,407,408 Church, S.A. Wt Off 439 Sqn 370, 373 Churchard, G. Sgt 98 Sqn 252, 284 Churchill, W.S. The Hon Prime Minister 72,227,470 Clapin, B.P.W. DFC Fit Lt 65 Sqn 178, 179,180 Clapperton, RH. DFC AH2 Fig Off 3 Sqn 316 Clark, D. Fit Lt 168 Sqn 268, 269 Clark, EI. Fit Lt 421 Sqn 157, 158 Clark, L.S. DFC Pit Off 197 Sqn 206, 207 Clarke, A.E. PIt Off 132 Sqn 57, 58 Clarke, D.W DFC Fit Lt 170, 268 Sqns 46,162 Clarke, D. Wt Off 349 Sqn 143,146 Clarke, R.W. Fig Off 175 Sqn 305,307, 330 Clasper, R Fig Off 412 Sqn 308, 309 Clay, P.H.T. DFC TOE Wt Off 130 Sqn 440,441,451,454,470,471, 499, 500, 534 Clayton, E. Fig Off 19 Sqn 253,267,268, 275 Clenard, A.B. Wt Off 403 Sqn 166, 167 Clipsham, 0.1. DFC Fit Lt 180 Sqn 444, 457 Closterman, P.H. DFC & Bar AH FIt Lt 3, 56, 274, 602 Sqns 62, 162,163,180,181,185,186,187,201, 203,203,447,469,471,475,477,481, 501,504,429,530,531, 532, 534, 536, 545 Clow, M.I. Fig Off 403 Sqn 525, 528 Clubley, G. DFC FIt Lt 181, 137 Sqns 382 Coates, W.H.R.A. Fig Off 604 Sqn 172, 276,277,277 Cobley, P.C. DFC AH Fit Lt 613 Sqn 64 Cocks, A.R Fit Lt 183 Sqn 315, 316 Coe, A.j. Fig Off 487 Sqn 334,457,480

I-

Colbeck-Welch, E.L. DFCTOE Grp Capt 139 Wg563 Colbourne, L.M. WI Off 409 Sqn 242, 261,262 Cole, E.E DFC TOEWt Off 409 Sqn 348 Cole, I.G. DFC Wg Cdr 34 Wg 554 Cole, M.I.B. DFC Fig Off 137 Sqn 340 Cole, R.B. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 274, 3 Sqns 351,408, 418, 418, 423, 440, 521 Cole, R.C. FIt Sgt 274 Sqn 337, 351 Cole, R.W. DFC AH2 Fig Off 3 Sqn 327, 328, 342, 351 Colebrook, H.E DFC Fig Off 29 Sqn 165 Coleman, P.T. DFC AH Fig Off 41 Sqn 280,492,494,495,500,504, 513, 518, 522,523, 534 Coles, A.C. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 28, 39, 54, 55 Coles, H.W. Fig Off 197 Sqn 85, 115 Collet, A.E. Lt 184 Sqn 368, 369 Collier, I.E. DFC TOE FIt Lt 403 Sqn 220, 341, 366, 367 Collignon, L. Sqn Ldr 350 Sqn 363, 364 Collings, B.E FIg Off 132 Sqn 168, 210, 233 Collins, A.S. Fit Lt 400 Sqn 58, 75 Collins, EK TOE Fig Off 409 Sqn 254, 259,348 Collins, I.R DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 245 Sqn 81, 82, 83, 166, 225, 245, 246, 254, 258 Collins, M.V. Pit Off 107 Sqn Collis, E.H. Fit Lt 410 Sqn 364,366,412 Colloredo-Mansfield, F.E DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 132 Sqn 40, 56, 64 Collyns, B.G. DFC AH Fit Lt 65 Sqn 93, 107,108,150,154,171,172,175,252, 253, 259, 261, 269 Colquhoun, RS. Pit Off 247 Sqn 69, 76 Comeau, I.A. Wt Off 412 Sqn 339, 340 Commerford, L.P. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 221, 223 Compton, I.D. Fit Lt 247 Sqn 462, 467 Concannon, j.l. Wt Off 488 Sqn 241, 505,508 Coningham, Sir A. DSO, MC, DFC ATT AM 2nd TAF 49, 246, 251, 264, 379 Connell, W.C TOE Fit Lt 401 Sqn 340, 367,407,408 Connor, D.W. DFC Fit Lt 19 Sqn 267 Conrad, W.A.G. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 403,421 Sqns 20, 27, 28, 59, 161, 207, 234 Constable-Maxwell, M.H. DSO, DFC AH WgCdr 604 Sqn 107,161,202,212, 242 Conway, I.W.H. DFC FIg Off 268 Sqn 202,205 Conway, W.G. Fit 11 443 Sqn 514, 516 Cook, R. FIt Lt 168 Sqn 33, 61 Cook, R.M. Fig Off 411 Sqn 218, 277, 308,309,314,368,369,371,373,407, 408 Cook, W.E DFC TOE FIg Off 421 Sqn 29,39,163,231,320 Cooke, P.T. Fig Off 414 Sqn 185, 186 Coombs, R.j. DFC Fit Lt 487 Sqn 244 Cooper, E. Fit Lt 65 Sqn 180,215,216 Cooper, E FIg Off 19 Sqn 214 Cooper, N.S. Fig Off 4 Sqn 220,223 Cooper, R.e. TOE Fit Lt 2, 80 Sqns 45, 46,457,474,477,480 Copeland, I.C. TOE Fit Lt 441 Sqn 217, 225,307,309 Coppervane, D. Fig Off 140 Sqn 336, 337 Corbett, G.M. Fit Lt 130 Sqn 511, 514 Cornelison, j.E. Fig Off 438 Sqn 315,316 Corre, H.I. DFC TOE Fit Lt 264 Sqn 94, 155,160 Cosby, I.H. DFC AH FIt Lt 264 Sqn 158, 167,202,242 Cosgrove, A.j. DFC Wt Off 184 Sqn 399, 400 Cossar, e.S. DFC Fig Off 247 Sqn 67, 70 Costello, G.A. FIg Off 442 Sqn 103,187, 326,332 Costello,I.G. Pit Off 410 Sqn 156 Cote, I.A. FIt Lt 439 Sqn 314, 343 Cotes-Preedy, D.V.e. Sqn Ldr 56 Sqn 316,368,421 Cottrell, V.E. FIg Off 401 Sqn 530, 531 Coucheron, P.P.M. 2/Lt 331 Sqn 170, 171 Coull, I. Fit Sgt 247 Sqn 352, 375 Cousineau, I.A.T.E. FIg Off 442 Sqn 322, 431,432 Coverdale, R.E. Wt Off 130 Sqn 470, 471, 510,511,528

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Cowan, H.A. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 471, 477, 497,500 Cowan, W. Pit Off 412 Sqn 340, 427 Cowell, P. DFC TOE Fit I.t41 Sqn 493, 510,512,513,514,521,522,535 Cowell, R.M. FIt Lt 4 Sqn 172, 338, 339 Cowpe, F.F. Wt Off 453 Sqn 77,91,215, 216,229,231,261,262 Cowper, RB. DFC AH FIt Lt456 Sqn 147 Cox, D.G.S.R DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 222 Sqn 145, 146 Cox, N.D. DFC & Bar AH2 Fit Lt 56 Sqn 489,490 Cox, T.A. DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 180 Sqn 442 Coxhead, D.J. Pit Off 182, 222 Sqns 69, 497 Crabtree, G. DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 96 Crafts, H.A. TOE Fit Lt 274 Sqn 398, 400 Craig, W.A. Fig Off 488 Sqn 505, 508 Crawford, D.R. Sqn Ldr 247, 181 Sqns 368,375,413,413 Crawford, H.A. DFC AH Fig Off 411 Sqn 255, 340 Crawford-Compton, W.V. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr Hornchurch Wg, 145 Wg 138, 142, 185, 186,213,410, 561,564 Crawley, B.E. Fit Lt 4 Sqn 172 Creamer, K.A. Fit Lt 184 Sqn 425, 426 Crellin, A.E. Fig Off 464 Sqn 242, 243 Cresswell, A.R DFC Wt Off29 Sqn Cresswell-Taylor, A. Fig Off 350 Sqn 476,477 Croll, LB. FIg Off21 Sqn 161,163 Crone, RA. DFC TOE Fig Off 29 Sqn 165 Crook. L.B. TOE Fit Sgt 80 Sqn 396, 407, 408, 409, 430 Crookes, A.N. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 488 Sqn 179,184,242,242,244,266,267,361, 364 Crosby, R.G. DFC Sqn Ldr 438, 439 Sqns 337,403,406 Crosley, R.M. Lt 886 Sqn 140,143,145, 146 Cross, e.J. Fit Lt604 Sqn 376,401 Cross, ).R. TOE Fit Lt 604 Sqn 251 Cross, W. Pit Off 175 Sqn 80, 81, 82, 83 Cross, W. Sgt 98 Sqn 33, 62 Crossland,). TOE Pit Off 122 Sqn 18,62, 95,95,99 Crossley, J.L. Fit Lt 137 Sqn 373, 375 Crouch, Re.A. Pit Off 198 Sqn 159, 161 Crowe, A. Wt Off3 Sqn 518, 519 Crowley, F.J. FIg Off 440 Sqn 113,285, 338 Crowley-Milling, D. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Sqn 1dr 181 Sqn 15,50 Crowfoot, D.A.S. Sgt 464 Sqn 22, 104 Cudlipp, K.L.B. DFC Fit Sgt 98 Sqn 21 Cull, R.H. DFC TOE Fit Lt401 Sqn 132, 200,221,223,238,241,263,501,504 Cullen, J.R. DFC AH2 Sqn Ldr 164, 183 Sqns 420, 536 Cullen, M.H. Fig Off 268 Sqn 159, 161 Cummings, D.H. Fig Off 440 Sqn 363, 364 Cummings, W.E. Fig Off 401 Sqn 78,98 Currant, e.F. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 122 Wg 555 Currie, R.M.G. TOE Fig Off 410 Sqn 251,375,376 Curtis, W.S. Pit Off 442 Sqn 233, 234, 337 Cush, H.H. TOE Fig Off 122 Sqn 110, 231, 233, 308, 309 Cuthbertson, D.R. TOE Fit Lt 416 Sqn 184, 263, 309 Cuthbertson, F.W. Wt Off 182 Sqn 327, 437 CUlling, R.J. DFC Fit Lt 414 Sqn 448, 450,467 Cwynar, M. DFC AH Fit 1t315 Sqn 146 Czarnecki, S. Fit 1t 308 Sqn 111,231 Czezowski, J. TOE Fit Sgt 306 Sqn 142, 177 Daber, ). DFC TOE Fig Off 264 Sqn 505, 508 Dabos, DFC Sgt341 Sqn 169,313,314 Dack, D.B. TOE Fig Off 401 Sqn 323, 400,501, 504,531 Daele, J.M.C.H.J.Van Fit Lt 609 Sqn 313, 213,231,314 Dale, I.G.E. DFC Wg Cdr 21 Sqn 72, 72, 317,334,412

DalI, R.J. DFC TOE Fit Lt 198, 33 Sqns 504, 509, 531 Daniels, P.S.W. Wt Off 247 Sqn 32, 77 Danzey, R.). FIg Off 486 Sqn 332, 409, 535 Dashwood, R.P. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 432, 463, 467 Davenport, RM. DFC AH Fig Off 401 Sqn 63, 206, 207, 221.223.267.269.204.295. 321, 322.324 Davidge, R.W. Fig Off 193 Sqn 77, 266 Davidson, R.T.P. DSO, DFC AHWg Cdr 121,143 Wgs 60, 62, 63,103,145,281, 555 Davies, A.S. Wt Off 264 Sqn 487 Davies, E.R. Pit Off 19 Sqn 171,216,254 Davies, H. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 175 Sqn 80, 81,82 Davies, I.J. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 198 Sqn 118,174,175 Davison, F.W. Sqn Ldr 488 Sqn 511, 5]5 Davison, M.M. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 264Sqn 156,165,167,251 Davoud, P.Y. OBE, DSO, DFC TOE Grp Capt 143 Wg 565 Dawber, N.E. Fig Off 438 Sqn 338, 339 Day, e.). Fig Off 274 Sqn 425, 426 Day, R.L.F. DFC TOE Fit Lt 132 Sqn 168 Deall, ).H. DSO, DFC AHWg Cdr 266 Sqn, 146 Wg 86, 434, 454, 456, 495, 565 Deck, C.G.F. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 497, 500 De Courcey, T.). DFC AH Sqn Ldr 421, 443 Sqns 57, 309, 367, 530, 530, 531 Deere, A.e. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 145 Wg 564 Deleuze, R.G. AH2 Fit Lt274 Sqn 434 Delorme, P. Fig Off 350 Sqn 514, 534 Demers, M.e. Fig Off 180 Sqn 163, 186 Demoulin, e.J.G. Sqn Ldr 609 Sqn 337, 338, 350, 351 Dempsey, M.S. Gen British Second Army 223 Dench, R.L.H. Fig Off 182 Sqn 28,167 Dennis, D.E DSO, DFC & Bar Wg Cdr 21Sqn236,317 Dennis, RV. Fig Off 56 Sqn 407, 409, 432,434 Dennison, J. Sgt 69 Sqn 207, 226, 235 Denton, F.H. DFC & Bar Wg Cdr 487 Sqn 334, 456, 457 Derraugh, H.E. FIg Off 441 Sqn 303, 304 Derry, J.D. DFC Sqn Ldr 182 Sqn 367, 523,528 De Vere, A. Fit Lt 66 Sqn 335, 339 Devonald, S.L. DFC Lt Cdr 885 Sqn 140, 143 Dewan, D.J. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 39, 497, 500 Dewar, ).P. Wt Off 438 Sqn 397 Dexter, W.A. TOE FIg Off 410 Sqn 376 Dick, J.A.T. Wt Off 98 Sqn 338, 420 Dick, J.N.G. Fit Lt 442 Sqn 302, 400 Dickie, K.J.A. FIt Sgt 245 Sqn 29, 63,83, 142,145 Dickson, D.G. Fit Lt 168 Sqn 172,363, 364 Diggins, A.E. Pit Off 247 Sqn 46,267 Dijk, T. Van Sgt 320 Sqn 157,425 Dinsdale, G.C. Wt Off 65 Sqn 108, 166, 167, ]80,201,231 Dinsdale, W.G. DFC Fit Lt 410 Sqn 160, 242, 243, 368, 369 Dilworth, A.J. Fig Off 443 Sqn 514, 515 Ditlev-Simonsen, J.P. TOE 2ILt 331 Sqn 399,401 Dixon, L. Fit Lt 604 Sqn 244, 397, 400 Doak, J.B. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 308, 309, 382 Dobbs, W Fig Off 130 Sqn 409, 435, 533 Dobell, F.O.S. Wg Cdr 69, 140 Sqns 234, 236,336,337 Docherty, J. Sgt 69 Sqn 236, 272 Dodd, D.H. Fig Off 266 Sqn 92, 484 Dogger, R. DFC AH2/1t 331 Sqn 68, ]47,163,371,353 Doidge, R.W. FIg Off 440 Sqn 142,328 Dolezal, F. DFCAHWg Cdr 134 Wg 51, 65,561 Donald, W. Fig Off 222 Sqn 466, 476 Doncq, M. FIg Off 350 Sqn 501, 504, 516 Doniger, N.A. DFC Fit Lt 63 Sqn 165 Donkin, P.L. Grp Capt 35 Wg 91, 554 Donnet, D.J. DFC Fit Lt 264 Sqn 207, 467,505,508,509 Donnet, M.G.L.H. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr Fls 60 Donoghue, ).E. Pit Off 410 Sqn 242, 343, 361,397

Dopson, G.W. DFC Wt Off 80 Sqn 368.369,396,471,474 Doran, J.A. Fig Off 411 Sqn 398, 400 Dover, D.H. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 403,442,412 Sqns 28,187,239,254, 363, 364, 382, 394, 400 Dowbiggin, T.W. Pit Off 401 Sqn 95, 103 Dowding, A.W. Fit Sgt 453 Sqn 202, 213, 230,231 Dowding, H.J. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 403,443,442 Sqns 33, 37,181, ]8], 182, 184,210 Dowding, Fit Sgt Downer, A.J. Wt Off 485 Sqn 106, 360 Downes, J.H. DFC Fit Lt 604 Sqn 292, 277394 Downing, R.S. Wt Off 184 Sqn 56, 262, 263 Doyle, J.G. TOE Fig Off 442 Sqn 266, 376.416,418,431,432 Doyle, M.E Fig Off 411 Sqn 505, 508, 521 Doyle, W.A. Fig Off 132 Sqn 207, 210.215,217,259 Drake, B. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 136 Wg, Fls 51, 60, 68, 100,562 Dring, W. DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 183 Sqn, 123 Wg 224, 232, 350, 397, 556 Drinkwater, T.H.D. DFC Fit Lt19, 122 Sqns 40,47,62,7],99,110 Driscoll, P.T. Fig Off 65 Sqn 150, 154 Driver, RG. Fig Off 421 Sqn 42, 177, 180 Dromlewicz, A. Fig Off 308 Sqn 382, 453 Drummond, D.R. Fit LI 402 Sqn 495, 521 Drummond, J.M.L. DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 80 Drybanski, Z. TOE Fit Lt 306 Sqn 65 Dryland, R. DFC AH2 FIg Off 3 Sqn 340, 342, 363, 364 Dubois, H. Pit Off 342 Sqn 46, 243 Dubois, S. Sgt Chef 340 Sqn 326, 327 Duff, G.R. FIg Off 63 Sqn 127,133, 180 Dumbrell, B.J. Fig Off 602 Sqn 64, 202 Dumonceau De Bergendael, Y. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 350 Sqn 79,226 Duncan, J.R TOE Pit Off 486 Sqn 4486, 518,519,530,536 Dunkeld, W.T. Fig Off 440 Sqn 363, 364 Dunkley, E.H. DFC Fig Off 464 Sqn 96, 207 Dunn, E.S. DFC Fit Lt430 Sqn 210 Dunn, J.E. DFC Pit Off 410 Sqn 160, 242,243,368,369 Dunn, L.A. Fig Off 411,401 Sqns 57, 171,494 Dunn, R.).C. Fig Off 66 Sqn 360 Dunn, R.W. Fig Off 443 Sqn 271, 272 Durling, R.D. Pit Off 98 Sqn 252, 284 Duryasz, M. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 302 Sqn 302 Dullon, H.e. Fig Off 402 Sqn 497, 500, 505 Eadie, D.S. Fig Off 266 Sqn 365, 366 Eager, K.RW. DFC Sqn Ldr 98 Sqn 93, 149 Eagleson, O.D. DFC TOE Fig Off 486 Sqn 339,412,413,517,518,519,524, 525, 528, 529, 535 Eames, J. DFC Fit Lt 409 Sqn 216, 254, 265,267 Earle, R.N. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 254.364.376 Earpe, G.G. Fit Lt 130 Sqn 440, 441 Eastwood, G.M.R. DFC Pit Off 266 Sqn 89 Eaton, E.W. DFC Fig Off 29 Sqn 142, 233 Eaton, J. Fit Lt 257 Sqn 345, 345 Eckel, e.E.B. Fit Sgt 247 Sqn 25, 67, 71 Edgar, A.J. DFC Fig Off 264 Sqn 107 Edgley, R.A. FIg Off 137 Sqn 459, 462 Edinger, C.E. DFC AH Fit Lt 410 Sqn 158,202,293,294,325,359,360,364 Edwards, EA. Sgt 137 Sqn 475 Edwards, EE.F. DFC FIg Off 130 Sqn 513,514,519,521,524,528,529,529, 531 Edwards, J.F. DFC & Bar, DFM AHWg Cdr 127 Wg 477, 559 Edwards, M.E AH2 Fit Lt 3 Sqn 370, 373 Edwards, R.). Pit Off 66 Sqn 475 Edwards, W.B. DFC Fit Lt 245, 174 Sqns 268 Egely, R.A. Pit Off 137 Sqn 374, 376 Eijk, F.J.H. Van FIg Off 322 Sqn 423.424 Ekins, V.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 19 Sqn 23 Ekon, R.H. (Also Listed As Exon) Sgt 180 Sqn 70, 187

Ellement, C.A.E. Fig Off 411 Sqn 402, 403, 505, 505 Ellioll, S.H.J. Fit Lt 604 Sqn 160.251 Ellis, F.e. TOE FIt Lt 604 Sqn 161,239, 277 Ellis, W.D. FIg Off 197 Sqn 266, 484 Ellison, H.G. Wt Off 602 Sqn 274,275 Elston, G. Sgt 69 Sqn 361, 364 Elvin, R.G. DFC Fit Lt 613 Sqn 361 Elwell, P.B. TOE Sqn Ldr 264 Sqn 107, 177 Embry, B. Cb, DSO & 2 Bars, DFC, AFC AVM 2 Grp 17,49,265,455,493 Emery, R Fit Sgt 66 Sqn III, 204, 205 England, RG. DFC TOE Wg Cdr 107 Sqn41 Entwistle, T. DFC Fit Lt 182, 181 Sqns 376,427 Erasmus, e.D. DFC Sqn Ldr 266, 193 Sqns 70, 450 Errington, G.R. Wt Off 438 Sqn 425, 426 Eskil, O.J. Fit Lt 132 Sqn 58,207,239, 240 Ester, J. Fig Off 349 Sqn 116, 233 Ethridge, L.J. Fit Sgtl07 Sqn 251, 410 Evans, A.R DFC TOE Fit Lt 486 Sqn 426, 430, 489, 490, 505, 518, 519, 534, 535 Evans, C.J. Sgt 464 Sqn 22, 85 Evans, F.W. DFC Fig Off 412,421 Sqns 403,406,407,409 Evans, R.W. Fit Ltl83 Sqn 131, 133 Everard, H.J. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 401 Sqn 316,321,322,323,323,324,365,367, 395 Everson, RW. Wt Off 305 Sqn 481, 482 Ewan, WH. FIt Sgt 257 Sqn 220.353 Eyolfson, K.M. DFC Fit Lt 410 Sqn 158, 167,210 Fairbanks, D.e. DFC & 2 Bars AH Sqn Ldr 501, 274, 3 Sqns 143,339,358, 359,395,396,399,400,407,409,418, 419,419,420,423,424,425,435,436, 437,534,535 Fairfield, C.E. Fig Off 40 I Sqn 96, 266, 397 Fairweather, S.J. Pit Off 409 Sqn 242, 325 Fajks, W. Fit Sgt 317 Sqn 263, 330, 364 Falconer-Taylor, J.R. Fit Lt 122 Sqn 259, 261 Farfan, EW. FIg Off 602 Sqn 274, 275 Farmiloe, R Fit Sgt 197 Sqn 484, 486 Farquhar, D.G. DFC Fig Off 226 Sqn 340 Farquharson, G.H.T. DFC TOE Fig Off 416 Sqn 184 Fazan, N.G. DFC Fig Off 219 Sqn 364, 467,482,483,499 Fearnley, F.A.S. DFC AH Lt 331 Sqn 70, 76 Feldman, S.B. DFC AH2 Fit Lt 274 Sqn 453 Fell, RL. DFC Fit Lt 29 Sqn 147,242 Fellows, A.J. Fit Sgt 19 Sqn 98, 341 Fenwick, H.E. DFC AH Fig Off 401 Sqn 172 Ferguson, F. Fig Off 264 Sqn 107, 177 Ferguson, J.H. Fig Off 453 Sqn 239, 240 Ferguson, J.S. Pit Off 56 Sqn 347, 403 Fielding-Johnson, H.H. DFC Fit LI 21 Sqn 427 Fielding-Johnson, WS. DFC Sqn Ldr 180 Sqn 333 Finlayson, R.H. TOE Fig Off 409 Sqn 325,360 Finlayson, 5.5. Pit Off 175 Sqn 1]4, 115 Finley, H.R. DFC TOE Fit Lt 403 Sqn 59, 65,187,508,509,514,515,525,528 Fisher, A.N. Lt 184 Sqn 368, 369 Fisher, G.M. Sgt 164 Sqn 207, 208 Fisher, K. DFC, AFC Fit Lt 180 Sqn 103 Fisher, R.R. Fit Lt 41 Sqn 50 I, 504, 510, 512 Fitchett, L.E. TOE Pit Off 409 Sqn 301, 303, 304, 512, 514 Fleming, A.E. Fit Lt 421, 403 Sqns 28, 45,341,515,520,521 Fleming, J.J. Pit Off 464 Sqn 81 Fleming, J.W. Fig Off 441 Sqn 96, 172, 175, 186, 187 Flight, R.S. DFC Fig Off 140 Sqn 302 Flinterman, J.L. TOE FIg Off 126 Sqn 258 Flintoft, J.O. Fit Lt 440 Sqn 253,432 Fokes, R.H. DFC, Dfm AH Sqn Ldr 257 Sqn 155, 157 Foley, B.L.J. Pit Off 175 Sqn ]62,276

Forbes-Roberts, R.D. TOE Fit Lt 416 Sqn 113,218 Ford, J.E. Wt Off 132 Sqn 97, 97 Ford, P.R.A. DFC Sqn Ldr 180 Sqn 171 Ford-Coates, B.N.E. Fit Lt 181 Sqn 524, 528 Forknall, D.A. Fig Off 168 Sqn 174, 175 Forrest, EE. DFC FIg Off219 Sqn 401 Forrest, J.A. PIt Off 137 Sqn 431, 432 Forrester, I.H. Pit Off 266 Sqn 225, 234, 235 Forsyth, C.L.M. DFC Fig Off 98 Sqn 103 Forwell, E.W. DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 34 Wg 143 Foster, J.K. AH2 Pit Off 3 Sqn 426,430 Foster, J.W. DFC TOE Fit Lt65 Sqn 294 Foster, L. DFC TOE Fit Lt 403, 421 Sqns 28,69,304,316,352,517,518 Foster, R.J. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 604 Sqn 242,364,394 Foster, W.M. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 66 Sqn 208, 255, 413 Fowell, G.e. Fit Sgt 164 Sqn 207, 208 Fowlow, N.R DFC AH Sqn Ldr 411 Sqn III

Fownes, L.E. DFC FIt Lt409 Sqn 341, 369,457,467 Fox, e.W. DFC TOE Fit Lt412 Sqn 184, 269,308,309,363,364,368,369,373, 401 Fox, R.G. Fit Sgt 438 Sqn 315.316 Francis, J.P.W. DFC TOE Fig Off 401 Sqn 334, 335, 409, 492, 494, 501, 504, 530,531 Fraser, A.H. TOE Fig Off 439 Sqn 378, 382,422,423,423,441 Fraser, A.J. FIg Off 416 Sqn 218, 235, 304,305 Fraser, J.E. Fit Sgt 33 Sqn 434, 510, 511 Fraser, J.G. Fig Off 439 Sqn 338 Fraser-Petherbridge, ).5. Pit Off 198 Sqn 137,171 Freakley, N.!. Pit Off 193 Sqn 363,364 Freeman, H. TOE Fig Off 198 Sqn 115 Freeman, J.R. Fit Sgt 180 Sqn 251,253, 451 Freeman, L.W. Wt Off 56 Sqn 477,480 Fritchley, N.A. Wt Off 488 Sqn 369, 369 Frost, J.W. Fit LI175 Sqn 247, 279 Fullerton, J.W. TOE Fig Off 410 Sqn 268, 269,326 Fullerton, RL. Fig Off 409 Sqn 154, 254 Fulton, S.J. Sqn Ldr 409 Sqn 321.324 Furniss, H.P.M. Fit Lt 40 I Sqn 439, 440 Furse, D.e. D FC TOE Sqn Ldr 604 Sqn 202,394 Gabszewicz, A.K. DSO, DFC AH Grp Capt 18, 131, 133 Wgs 51, 515, 553, 560 Gale, W.A. Lt 245 Sqn 262, 263 Gall, C.N. DFC Fig Off 63 Sqn 145, 146 Gallantree, A.L. DFC Fit Sgt 107 Sqn 348 Gallagher, B.E. FIg Off 410 Sqn 268,269, 326 Gallay, P. DFC Sous Lt 341 Sqn 313, 314 Gallop, J.E. Wt Off 98 Sqn 338, 420 Galloway, K.A. Pit Off 122 Sqn 133,232, 233 Galloway, W Fit Lt 80 Sqn 492,494 Gamey, T.e. Pit Off 441 Sqn 10 I, 396 Gans, F. 320 Sqn 81, 82, 83 Garben, J.W. TOE2ILt331 Sqn 70, 178, 179,451 Gardiner, RE. Wt Off 181 Sqn 253,328 Gardner, E.T. Fit Lt401, 411 Sqns 210, 349, 505, 508 Gard'ner, F.W. Sqn Ldr 488 Sqn 369, 515 Garland, D. Vc 393 Garland, J.W. DFC TOE FIt Lt 80, 3Sqns 349,368,369,393,409, 417, 418, 534, 535 Garland, M.L. Fig Off 403 Sqn 220, 263 Garland, P.J. Fit Lt 2 Sqn 271, 393 Garland, W. 393 Garton, R.V. TOE Fit Lt 56 Sqn 524, 528 Garvey, R.EC. DFC Fit Lt 170 Sqn 53 Garwood, H.G. Fit Lt412 Sqn ]30, 155 Gasson, L. DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 251,410 Gaze, EA.O. DFC & 2 Bars AH Fit Lt 610,41,616 Sqns 379, 381, 401, 423, 424,454,483,484,485,486,492,517, 518,520,521,534,535,541 Gear, K.E DFC Fit Ltl81 Sqn 225 Geddes, E.J. DFC Fig Off 430 Sqn 78 Geerts, L.E.).M. DFC Fit Lt 609 Sqn 130, ]36 Getty, R.C. Fig Off 438 Sqn 164, 165

Gheyssens, I.L.M.P. Fit Sgt 349 Sqn 143, 145 Gibb, A.T. TOE Fig Off 412 Sqn 420, 518, 519 Gibbings, G.R. Fit Lt 197 Sqn 483, 484, 485, 485, 486 Gibbons, E. Fit Lt 168 Sqn 369, 373 Gibson, D.I.N. DFC Pit Off 88 Sqn 54 Gibson, I.A.A. DSO, DFC AH Sqn Ldr 80 Sqn 462 Gibson, R Fit Sgt 183 Sqn 262, 263 Gibson, R.K. Fit Lt 609 Sqn 177,422, 423 Gigot, G.E TOE FIg Off 350 Sqn 516, 519,521 Gilberstad, RA. Fig Off 411 Sqn 370, 373 Gilbert, V.O. Fig Off 168 Sqn 367 Gilbert, WAe. Fig Off 443 Sqn 184, 309 Gilbertson, L.D. DFC Fig Off 487 Sqn 429,430 Gilhans, I.B. Lt 80 Sqn 297, 359 Gill, R.E FIt Lt 430 Sqn 252, 253 Gillam, D.E. DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar, AFC AH Grp Capt 16, 146 Wgs 50, 60,61,97,140,341,344,344,345,346, 360,433,496,496,553,557,565 Gillet, H.E.H. Fit Lt 122 Sqn 102, 103 Gilmour, B.T. DFC Fit Lt 421 Sqn 271, 316,320 Gilmour, W.M. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 19 Sqn 163,171,215,216,241 Gimbel, E.L. DFC AH FIt Lt 421 Sqn 57 Girardon, L. DFC Capt 341 Sqn 187 Givens, D.I. Fit Lt 411 Sqn 57, 184 Glanville, P.T. FIg Off 19 Sqn 252, 261, 267 Glowczewski, I. Sgt 308 Sqn 320, 337, 381 Godefroy, H.e. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 127 Wg 38, 51, 92, 559 Godfrey, D.L. DFC, Dfm Wt Off 219 Sqn 314,326,366,406 Godfrey, I.M. Wg Cdr 128 Airfield, 39 Wg 131, 555, 559 Godo, L.a. 2/Lt 332 Sqn 431, 432 Gohl, I.G. Fit Lt 440 Sqn 155, 157 Goldberg, D. DFC Fit Lt 403 Sqn 78 Goldberg, I.N. FIg Off 412 Sqn 38, 201 Goldsmit, H.M. Fig Off 349 Sqn 240, 335 Golley, I. Fig Off 245 Sqn 63, 245 Goodhew, K.R. Wt Off 193 Sqn 424, 486 Gooding, H.O. DFC Sqn Ldr 440 Sqn 414 Goodwin, D.W. DFC TOE Fig Off 442 Sqn 143, 184,325 Gordon, D.C. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 442,411,402 Sqns 379, 382, 416, 418, 433,434,491,492,516,529,531 Gordon, M.I. DFC AH Fit Lt 403, 421 Sqns 176, 177,200,201,403,406,407, 409 Gordon, N.L. Fit Sgt 440 Sqn 232, 233, 284 Gorri, M.M. Wg Cdr 342 Sqn 329 Gosling, D. DFC Wt Off 604 Sqn 221 Gough, G.A. Fit Sgt 193 Sqn 154, 186 Graham, M. DFC AH FIt Lt 132 Sqn 207, 215,216,306,307 Graham, M.G. DFC AHFlg Off 411 Sqn 314,368,369,373,376,395,396 Gran, M.Y. DFC & 2 Bars AH Maj 331 Sqn 208, 370, 371, 373, 399, 401 Grant, A.M. FIg Off 410 Sqn 279, 364, 462,467 Grant, B.e. FIg Off 488 Sqn 243, 404 Grant, e.D. Fit Lt 421 Sqn 163, 180 Grant, D.M. DFC TOE Fit Lt 400 Sqn 23, 27,38 Grant, EG. DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 438,440 Sqns, 143 Wg 235, 328, 363, 364, 365 Grant, H.W. Pit Off 412 Sqn 453, 454 Grant, R.D. Pit Off 609 Sqn 258, 259 Grant, R.I.e. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 65 Sqn, 122 Wg 53, 60, 65, 76, 77, 555 Grantham, EA. DFC Fit Lt 174 Sqn 63, 81,82,171,258,259 Gray, E. TOE Fig Off 41 Sqn 421, 422, 423,501,504,522,523,535 Gray, G.G.K. Sgt 88 Sqn 25, 39 Gray, G.I. Sqn Ldr 182 Sqn 350, 351, 368, 369,557 Gray, 1.0. FIt Lt 439 Sqn 524, 528 Gray, T.H. Fit Sgt 245 Sqn 25, 245, 246 Gray, W.A. Wt Off 439 Sqn 306, 307, 309 Greehalgh, R. Sgt 226 Sqn Green, A.E DFC Capt 184 Sqn 409, 422, 423

Green, C.L. DSO, DFC TOE Grp Capt 121 Airfield, 80,139,139,162, 227.245,276,367,555,557 Green, EE. DFC TOE Wg Cdr 416 Sqn 185,186 Green, G.e.D. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 101, 146, 161 Green, N.S. Fit Lt 129 Sqn 166, 167 Green, P.C. Fit Sgt 266 Sqn 253, 253, 365, 366 Green, P.T. Fig Off 107 Sqn 205, 207 Green, W.I. FIt Lt 56 Sqn 347,426,430 Green, W.P. DSO, DFC AHWg Cdr 219 Sqn 302, 303, 320, 361, 367, 411, 431, 432 Greene, H.A. FIg Off 443 Sqn 513, 514 Greenhalgh, L.A. Fit Lt 245 Sqn 142, 142 Gregory, W.I. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 2 Grp 78,89,91,99,105,106 Gretkierewicz, W. DFC PIt Off 302 Sqn 424,452 Griffith, L.P. DFC Fit Lt 501 Sqn 143 Griffiths, A. FIg Off 26 Sqn 158, 176, 177 Groensteen, I. Wt Off 350 Sqn 440, 441, 501,504 Gross, D.H. Fit Lt 184 Sqn 99,213,246, 267 Grundt-Spang, H.G.E. DFC & Bar AH Capt 332 Sqn 371, 373, 399, 401 Gudgeon, R.e. FIg Off 401 Sqn 504, 530, 531 Guerin, M.A.M. DFC Capt 345 Sqn 501 Guignard, I. Lt 340 Sqn 185, 186,315, 316 Gundersen, E.A. TOE 2/Lt 331 Sqn 76, 103,208,244,252,271 Gunn, A.E. Fit Sgt 274 Sqn 410,435,437 Gnnn, Ee.H. Fig Off 21 Sqn 179, 180 Gunnarson, 1.L. Pit Off 440 Sqn 410, 411 Gunning, R.S. DFe. Dfro Sqn Ldr 98 Sqn 27 Guthrie, R DFC Fit Lt 181, 247 Sqns 267 Gutteridge, D.W. Fig Off 137 Sqn 313, 314 Haabjoern, E. DFC TOEWg Cdr 124 Wg 60, 65, 66, 66, 67, 67, 69, 104, 112, 113,162 253,255,378,557 Haanes, KE TOE Fit Sgt 331 Sqn 370, 373 Haddock, E.A. Pit Off 181 Sqn 15,24 Haddon, I.A.M. DFC AH FIt Lt 604 Sqn 242, 242, 277 Haddow, C.G. FIg Off 175 Sqn 100, 349 Haine, R.C. DFC AHWg Cdr 488 Sqn 243,279 Halcrow, A.E DFC TOE Fit Lt 401,411 Sqns 80,116,138,142,183,184,226, 234, 265, 266 Hales, R. Sub Lt 885 Sqn 164, 165 Haley, EE. TOE PIt Off 409 Sqn 242, 325,360 Hall, A.R. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr Fls 60 Hall, B.M. AH2 Fig Off 486 Sqn 368, 369 Hall, e.E. FIg Off 193 Sqn 186,222 Hall, D.l. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 414 Sqn 302,363,364,437,525,528,534 Hall, G.A. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 219 Sqn 288, 350, 364, 366 Hall, I.A.S. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 488 Sqn 107,259,361,369,468,469 Hall, I.M. Cgm Fit Sgt 180 Sqn 456, 457 Hall, P.F.L. DFC & Bar AHFIt Lt 488 Sqn 161, 167,235,239,243 Hall, T. Fig Off 175 Sqn 245, 303 Hallet,A.R. Wt Off 198 Sqn 100, 115 Halliday, A. DFC Fit Sgt 21 Sqn 207 Halliwell, P.A. Fig Off 80,274 Sqns 453, 476 Hallowes, H.I.L. DFC, Dfm AHWg Cdr 141 Wg 563 Hamelink, A. Sgt 320 Sqn 43, 348 Hamer, L.G. Wg Cdr 98 Sqn 347, 348 Hamilton, H.K. Fig Off 401 Sqn 61, 62, 104 Hamm, D.I.T. DFC FIt Lt 409 Sqn 509, 510 Hammond, ES. Wt Off 609 Sqn 333, 454 Hanbury, P.H.e. DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 305 Sqn 481 Hancock, A.I. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 129 Sqn 132, 133, 174, 174, 175 Handyside, I.G. DFC Fit Lt 184 Sqn 400 Hanna, K.e. DFC Fit Sgt 181 Sqn 55 Hannam, T.B. Wt Off 222 Sqn 440, 441, 484, 500, 511

Hanton, EE.W. DFC TOE Fit Lt 400, 402 Sqns 23, 27, 28, 70, 223, 520, 521 Harbidge, I.M. Fig Off 174 Sqn 369,418 Harboard, Mbe Fit Lt 247 Sqn 208 Harbutt, E.W. DFC Fit Lt 183 Sqn 202 Harden, R.e. Pit Off 132 Sqn 97, 21 0, 259,261 Harding, K.I. DFC Sqn Ldr 197, 198 Sqns 483,484 Harding, RP. Fit Lt 41 Sqn 421, 422 Hardy, A.C. PIt Off 409 Sqn 301, 303, 304,408,409,512,514 Hardy, G.A. FIg Off 401 Sqn 263, 407, 408 Hardy, H.I.H. DFC Fit Lt 440 Sqn 324, 366 Hargreaves, A.V. Fig Off 122 Sqn 167, 219,220,230,231 Hargrove, W.W. DFC Fit Lt 410,418 Sqns 325 Harkness, RD. DFC Fig Off 609 Sqn 132 Harling, D.W.A. DFC AHFlt Lt 416 Sqn 274,275,309,316,317,379,382 Harmon, A. Fig Off 33 Sqn 432.434 Harries, R.H. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr Lympne Wg, 125, 135 Wgs 188, 221,230, 231,367,420,561 Harrington, A.A. DFC AH I" Lt, VSAAF 410 Sqn 170,306,307,333,341,411 Harris, A.H.I. Wt Off 453 Sqn 231, 234 Harris, I.W. DFC Fit Lt 2 Sqn 116 Harrison, G.G FIg Off 411 Sqn 407, 409 Harrison, I. DFC Fit Lt 193 Sqn 459, 462 Harselaar, E.e.Van Sgt 320 Sqn 348, 397 Harseveert, H. Sgt 320 Sqn 366, 418 Hart, I.P. DFC Fit Lt 613, 305 Sqns 481 Harten, I.W.E. Fit Lt 421, 416 Sqns 29, 469,471,499 Hartley, G. Fit Lt 197 Sqn 484, 486 Harvey, T.S.W. DFC Fig Off 226 Sqn 275 Harwood, e.E Fig Off 440 Sqn 363, 364 Haselden, I.K DFC Fit Lt 2, 168 Sqns 56,255 Hassel, R.G.S. Lt 332 Sqn 399, 401 Hatch, I.A. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 409 Sqn 216, 265, 267 Hatsell, S.H. DFC Fit Lt 605 Sqn 454 Hattie, RG. Fig Off 440 Sqn 177,221, 223 Hatton, R.E DFC TOEWg Cdr 409 Sqn 268,269,373,376,512,514 Hawkins, D.I. DFC Fit Lt 132 Sqn 97, 142,201,207,226,239,305 Hawkins, ED. DFC Fig Off 197 Sqn 406 Hay, A.I. DFC Fit Lt 182 Sqn 267 Hayter, 1.e.E DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 74 Sqn 268, 373, 374 Hayward, R.K. DFC Fit Lt 401, 411 Sqns 24,71,80,95,183,184,200,204,205, 317 Hazel, RL. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 518, 519 Heale, N.W. Fig Off 130 Sqn 440, 441 Heap, I.R DFC TOE Fit Lt 65 Sqn 28, 297, 334, 335, 340 Hearne, P.I. DFC AH Fit Lt 65 Sqn 26, 37 Heaseman, G.E. PIt Off 441 Sqn 242, 295 Heath, W.e. DFC FIg Off 16 Sqn 338, 339 Heathcote, I.A. DFC Wt Off 264 Sqn 254,505,508 Hedley, T.I. Fig Off 88, 180 Sqns 27,457 Hegarty, EM. TOE Fig Off 41 Sqn 406, 408,421, 422, 492, 494, 535 Hemmings, R.B. Fig Off 247 Sqn 69, 252 Henke, RE TOE Wt Off 409 Sqn 251 Henman, e.W.C. Fit Lt 175 Sqn 258, 259 Henry, D.I.V. DFC TOE Fit Lt 41 Sqn 408,420 Henwick, R.A. DFC TOE Maj 80 Sqn 492,494 Herfjord, K.M. DFC Lt 332 Sqn 294, 396 Hermanson, E.E. DFC TOE FIg Off 409 Sqn 509, 510 Herreman, A.M.L. TOE Fig Off 350 Sqn 68,145 Herrick, M.I. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 305 Sqn 89, 164, 165 Hester, V.A. DFC FIg Off 613 Sqn 63 Hetherington, R.I. Fit Lt 33 Sqn 510, 510,511 Heywood, E.K. Fit Lt 26 Sqn 176, 177 Hibbert, W.I. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 124, 274 Sqns 156,358,359,411,412,416,418, 426,436,436,481, Hickmore, E.S. Fit Lt 488 Sqn 511, 512 Hicks, e.W. Fit Lt 440 Sqn 252, 414 Higgott, T.S. Sgt 69 Sqn 210, 212, 231

Hill, G.V. DFC & 2 Bars AH Sqn Ldr 441 Sqn 60, 96, 96 Hill, W.I. TOE Fit Lt 403 Sqn 65, 201, 333,341 Hillman, NJ. FIt Lt 65 Sqn 108, 180,266 Hillock, EW. Wg Cdr 143 Airfield 59, 563 Hilton, I.H, Fit Lt 193 Sqn 347, 424 Hiltz, R.A. FIg Off 439 Sqn 339, 340 Hoare, T.H. DFC TOE Fit Lt 421, 412 Sqns 271, 403, 406 Hodges, I.T. Fit Lt 56 Sqn 457, 521, 523 Hodges, W.I. DFC Wt Off 174 Sqn 171 Hodgins, RA. DFC FIg Off 443 Sqn 159, 161,236,309,315,316 Hodgson, I.D. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 57, Ill, 118 Hodson, KL.B. D FC & Bar W g Cdr 126 Wg 226, 558 Holland, EE. FIt Lt 184 Sqn 140, 143 Holland, G.E. Sgt 65 Sqn 235, 236 Holland, R.I.H. Fit Lt 80 Sqn 407,409, 410,441,475 Holmes, H. Wt Off 19 Sqn 150, 154 Holmes, I.W.E. DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 263, 266 Sqns 108 Holmes, R.H. Fig Off 609 Sqn) 181,182 Holmes, R.K Fig Off 609 Sqn ) The Same? 177 Holness, R.E. Fig Off 421 Sqn 271,307, 309 Homolle, I. Lt 340 Sqn 182, 205 Hooper, G.I.M. DFC AH2 Fig Off 486 Sqn 382, 411, 412 Hooper, I.e.l. DFC TOE Fit Lt 604 Sqn 145, 156, 244 Hoornaert, R. Fit Lt 350 Sqn 360, 440, 441,476,534 Horbaczewski, E. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 315 Sqn 71,157,173,173, 265 Horgan, T.M. DSO, DFC Grp Capt 136 Wg562 Horn, D.C. Fit Sgt 274 Sqn 399, 401 Horrell, A.I. TOE Fig Off 443 Sqn 163, 252,272,316 Horsburgh, D.M. Fit Sgt 401 Sqn 268, 373 Horsfall, I.M.e. Fit Lt 16 Sqn 367,401 Horsey, H.A. PIt Off 80 Sqn 297,475 Horsley, B.P. FIt Lt 21 Sqn 179, 180 Horter, G.M. Fig Off 412 Sqn 497, 517, 518 Hoskins, W.A. Wt Off 485 Sqn 106, 500 Houghton, P.I. DFC Fit Lt 604 Sqn 462 Houlton, I.A. DFC AH Fit Lt 485, 274 Sqns 131, 133, 146, 155, 157, 186,276, 530, 531, 536 House, C.RA. Fit Lt 613 Sqn 265,267 House, e.W. TOE Fit Lt 174 Sqn 475 Howard, G.I. FIt Sgt 181 Sqn 131,133 Howard, N.D. TOE FIg Off 486 Sqn 519, 525,528 Howard-lones, G.M. DFC Fit Lt 180 Sqn 422 Howarth, D.R. Fit Lt 350 Sqn 501, 504 Howe, N.e.R DFC FIg Off 175 Sqn 37, 70 Hrabacek, H. DFC Sqn Ldr 310 Sqn III Hubbard, S.e. Dfm FIg Off 604 Sqn 145, 156,244 Hubert, K. Sgt 317 Sqn 382, 434 Huddart, W.G. Fig Off 168 Sqn 373, 403, 406 Hudson, G.W. Fit Sgt 130 Sqn 352, 454 Hughes, E.S. TOE Fit Lt 19 Sqn 180,276, 294 Hughes, ED. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 604 Sqn 212, 244, 244, 397, 400 Hughes, G. DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 34 Wg 554 Hughes, H.K. DFC TOE Fit Lt 3 Sqn 436,437,521,522,529,531 Hnghes,I.C. TOE FIg Off 401 Sqn 314.316 Hughes, I.E. PIt Off 56 Sqn 399, 401 Huin, R.I. Adj Chef 340 Sqn 171.274,275 Hume, M.R.D. DFC Toe Sqn Ldr 130 Sqn 483 Humphrey, G.E Wt Off 183 Sqn 262, 263 Humphrey-Baker, P.R. DFC Fit Lt 487 Sqn 334 Humphries, A. Fit Sgt 613 Sqn 71 Hunt, T.A. DFC Maj 107 Sqn 107,427 Huppert, S.B. TOE Fig Off 410 Sqn 92, 210,211 Hurrell, W.E.S. Fit Sgt 175 Sqn 305, 307 Hurtuboise, P.E. Fig Off 412 Sqn 305, 307,308,309

Husband, D.E DFC AH FIg Off 401 Sqn 142,269,314,316,323 Hussey, G.I. Fit Lt 168 Sqn 425,426 Hutchin, E.G. Fit Lt 182 Sqn 335, 486 Hutchings, C.G. Fig Off 401 Sqn 303, 314,316 Hutchinson, RA. Fit Sgt 19 Sqn 61, 62 Hutchinson, RT. DFC Fit Lt 414 Sqn 32 Hutton, I. TOE Pit Off 264 Sqn 514, 515 Hyndman, 1.1. Fit Sgt 487 Sqn 69, 305 Idrjan, R TOE Fit Sgt 315 Sqn Ince, D.H.G. DFC Fit Lt 193 Sqn 247, 250, 345, 345 Inches, I.D. DFC Fit Lt 609 Sqn 486 Ingle, A. DFC, AFC AHWg Cdr 124 Wg 37,557 Ingle-Finch, M.R DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 175 Sqn 162,246,557 Inglis, A.e. DFC TOE Fig Off 274 Sqn 437,508,508,509 Innes, B.E. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 434, 471, 474, 516,520,521,529,531 Innes, I.L.W. DFC Fit Lt 122 Sqn 33 Iredale, R.W. Wg Cdr 464 Sqn 61,172, 456 Ireland, E.G. DFC TOE Fit Lt 41 I Sqn 309,367,368,369,373 lremonger, I.H. DFC Wg Cdr 486 Sqn 313 Irish, E.E.O. DFC Fit Lt 80 Sqn 297 Irwin, H.R.H.E DFC Fit Lt 174 Sqn 279, 427 Irwins, I.R Fit Lt 443 Sqn 315, 316 Isachsen, H.R. Capt 332 Sqn 163,352, 374,376 Isherwood, I.R. DFC Wt Off 184 Sqn 5316 Jackson, JAG. DFC Toe Fit Lt 66 Sqn 163,205 Jackson, L. Fit Sgt 56 Sqn 325, 353, 359, 373 Jackson, R.T. Fig Off 74 Sqn 275, 316 Jackson, T.R. Fig Off 247 Sqn 374, 375, 376,475 Jallands, w.J. FIg Off 41 Sqn 512, 535 Jameson, G.E. DFC AH Fit Lt 488 Sqn 179, 184,236,242,242,244 Jameson, P.G. DFC & Bar AH Grp Capt 122 Wg 241, 555 Jamieson, D.RC. DFC AH PIt Off 412 Sqn 151, 154,201,210,226,228,229, 308,309,316 Jamieson, J. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 500, 530, 531 Jankowski, T. TOE Fit Sgt 315 Sqn 115, 495 lanssen, M.J. AH2 Pit Off 322 Sqn 475 larvis, E.e. DFC Pit Off 181 Sqn 336 Jarvis, T.P. Fit Lt 401 Sqn 218, 234, 238 Jaspis, G.L.C.E DFC TOE Fig Off 609 Sqn 78 Jeffreys, D.P. Fit Lt 245 Sqn 244, 245 Jeffs, R.G. TOE FIg Off 488 Sqn 107,266, 267,361,364 Jeka, J. Dfro AH Fit Lt 308 Sqn 111 Jelinski, Z. Fit Lt 306 Sqn 143, 167 Jenkins, D.P. DFC Sqn Ldr 257 Sqn 344 Jenkins, KO. Fit Lt 268 Sqn 236, 401 Jennings, A.G.P. Fit Lt 616 Sqn 530, 531, 541 Jensen, EW.M. DFC, AFC Sqn Ldr 181 Sqn 43, 43 Jenvey, D.E. DFC Fit Lt 440 Sqn 368, 369,373 Jephson, R.S. Sqn Ldr 409 Sqn 147,233 Johns, D.e. FIg Off 453 Sqn 308, 309 Johns, RA. FIg Off 439 Sqn 219, 324 Johnsen, T. DFC TOE Capt 122, 602 Sqns 23, 37,47,205,223,239 Johnson, G.W. Fit Lt 411,401 Sqns 141, 143,182,183,184,210,234,241,268, 303,304 Johnson, J.E. DSO & 2 Bars, Grp Capt 127,144 Wgs 27, 28, 29, 30, 30, 31, 33, 60,86,92, DFC & Bar AH96, 101, 164, 165, 172, 175,183,184,186,187,206,207,217, 226,271,308,309,323,501,509,510, 559, 559, 564 Johnson, P.G. DFC AH Pit Off 421 Sqn 27,41,103,154,177,186,187,201, 224,225 Johnson, S.C. FIt Lt 21 Sqn 212, 278 Johnson, W.S. Fit Lt 401 Sqn 221, 223 Johnson, W.J. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 197,257 Sqns 226

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lohnston, G.R.A.Mcg. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 65 Sqn, 122 Wg 62, 62, 92, 93,94,107,108,178,179,182,185, 186,229,231,241,269,293,555 Johnston, H.A.S. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 66 Sqn liS, 161,163,281 lohnston, I.W. Fig Off 412 Sqn 339, 340 lohnstone, A. TOE Fit Lt 441 Sqn 186, 187,225,295 lolleys, E. DFC FIt Lt 197 Sqn 484 lolly, A.W. TOE Fit Lt 610, 41 Sqns 454, lones, E.G. DSO, DFC AHGrp Capt 121 Wg555 lones, G.I. Fit Lt 181 Sqn 164, 165 lones, G.S. Fig Off 602 Sqn 57, 58 lones, H.K FIg Off 430 Sqn 171, 172 lones, RH. Pit Off 197 Sqn 85, 179, 330, 376 lones, S.G. Wt Off 247 Sqn 375, 395 longbloed, G.EI. AH2 Fit Lt 222 Sqn 437,466,467,511 lonsson, T.E. Dfm AH Fig Off 65 Sqn 93, 178,178,179,180,231,236

lorstad, N.K. DFC AH Capt 331 Sqn 170,171,218 loseph, e.A. Fit Sgt 132 Sqn 40, 376 loss, N. Wt Off 409 Sqn 243, 252, 262, 326 louniaux, I. Sgt 342 Sqn 39, 336 lowsey, M.E. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 442 Sqn 325, 334, 335, 354, 430 loyce, E.L. AH Sqn Ldr 122 Sqn 107, 116, 166,167 ludd, M.T. DSO, DFC AH Grp Capt 143, 121 Wgs 103,328,433,555,564 ludson, w.G. DFC Pit Off 487 Sqn 244 Kairton, D.B. FIt Sgt 19 Sqn 159,161 Kalka, W.A. Ag2 Fig Off 486 Sqn 397, 466, 467, 479 Kaniok, R Fit Sgt 308 Sqn 165,337 Karasek, I.R. FIt Sgt 602 Sqn 274, 275, 294 Karasinski, W. Wt Off 308 Sqn 337, 459, 462 Kaufman, G.H. DFC TOE Capt 182 Sqn 224,225 Kearney, L.I. TOE Pit Off 410 Sqn 115 Keefer, G.e. DSO & Bar, DFC& Bar AH Wg Cdr 412 Sqn, 126, 125 Wgs 25, 31,89,138,140,142,143,179,180, 181, 182, 209,210,321,440,441,454, 491,492,493,493,494,495, SOl, 504, 509,513,514,534,557,558 Keene, N.A. DFC Fit Lt 411, 442 Sqns 379,381, 409 Keene-Miller, E, H. Cdr 3 Naval FIr Wg 140,143 Keep, I.G. DFC Wg Cdr 181 Sqn, 121 Wg 113,113433,460,555 Keller, RW. Fig Off 438 Sqn 377, 381 Kelly, E.D. Fig Off 403 Sqn 102,103, 147, 382,474 Kelly, G.W. DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 29 Kelly, W.P. TOE Fit Sgt 65 Sqn 98, 107, 108,108,109, lSI, 154, 180, 182,201, 231,236 Kelsick, O.R. DFC Fig Off 175 Sqn 22 Keltie, I.G. DFC Fit Lt 402, 442 Sqns 91 Kendall, EP. FIt Lt 486 Sqn 467, 486 Kennaugh, A.M.L. Fit Sgt 56 Sqn 347, 520,521,522,523 Kennard, P.E DFC Capt 340 Sqn 277 Kennard, R.M. FIg Off 180 Sqn 101, 444, 457 Kennedy, e.S. Fit Lt 486 Sqn 518, 519 Kennedy, I.E DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 401 Sqn 183,184,201,206,232,233 Kennedy, Re. Fit Lt 274 Sqn 431, 432, 462 Kennet, R.G. Sub Lt 3 Naval FlrWg lSI, 154 Kenny, I.EH. Fig Off 181 Sqn 90,239 Kent, M.G. Toe Fig Off 409 Sqn 269, 408, 409,412,413 Kerr, I.A. DFC Wt Off 411 Sqn 182 Kicq, A. TOE Fit Sgt 350 Sqn 493, 494, 501,504,525 Kilburn, M.P. DFC AH Fit Lt 80 Sqn 490,492 Kilmartin, 1.1. DFC AHWgCdr 136 Wg 562 Kilpatrick, A.W. Fig Off 193 Sqn 250, 251 Kimball, D.H. DFC AH Fig Off 441 Sqn 86,207,217,223,234,303,304 King, A.D. Fig OffJ Sqn 401, 521, 522 King, I.R. FIt Sgt 409 Sqn 228, 252 King, W.R Fig Off 181 Sqn 25, 43, 44

Kingaby, D.E. DSO, DFM & 2 Bars AH Wg Cdr ADGB 151, 186 Kinross, KG. Pit Off 453 Sqn 76, 213, 228,229 Kinsey, H.G. FIt Lt 182 Sqn 333,467 Kirk, A.e. Pit Off 180 Sqn 251, 253 Kirk,W. FIg Off 180 Sqn 101, 171 Kirkwood, W.G. DFC AH Wt Off 409 Sqn 179, 184,225,238 Kirste, M. Fig Off 315 Sqn 115, 142, 155, 157,179,182 Kistler, W.W. Fit Lt 257 Sqn 166,167 Kitchen, Re. DFC TOE Fit Lt 65 Sqn 37 Kleboe, P.A. DSO, DFC, AFC Wg Cdr 464,21 Sqns 451, 455, 456, 457 Klersy, W.T. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 401 Sqn 78,143,183,184,201, 206,216,217, 221, 223, 238, 238, 288, 317, 365, 395, 407, 409, 440,494,499, 500, 50 I, 504, 523, 531 Knapik, H. Fit Lt 317 Sqn 61, 170, 171 Knight, S.M. TOE Fit Lt 400, 402 Sqns 24,520,521 Koch, T. FIt Lt 401 Sqn 54, 100 Kolling, R. 2/Lt 332 Sqn 161, 163 Kolubinski, A.M. DFC FIt Lt 66 Sqn 205 Konvicka, I. Fit Sgt 312 Sqn 148, 151, 154 Kopperud, KM. DFC Capt 331 Sqn 170, 171,328 Korwel, W. Wt Off 308 Sqn 64 254, 257 Kowalski, I. DFC TOE Wg Cdr 131 Wg 170,171,560,561 L'abbe-I.und, K Lt 331 Sqn 208,244, 258,259 Lagarde, E Sgt 340 Sqn 94, 205 Lailey, P.e. Wt Off 409 Sqn 262, 326 Lake, RG. DFC AH Fig Off 441 Sqn 86, 201,294,295,307,309,317 Lallemant, RA. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 609 Sqn 260, 288, 447 Lamb, D.P. DFC AH Fit Lt 65 Sqn 150, 154,171,172,211,212,214,236,254, 269,284 Lambert, B.A. Fig Off 107 Sqn 205, 207 Lambert, L.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 168 Sqn 408,409 Lambrechts, L. Pit Off 350 Sqn 426, 440, 441 Lancaster, V.A. DFC TOE Fit Lt 453 Sqn 165,182 Land, R.I. Fit Lt 401 Sqn 398, 400 Lanfcanchi, I.L. Fig Off 403 Sqn 183, 184 Lang, EA. Pit Off 80 Sqn 362, 406, 407, 409,452 Lang, H. Lt 886 Sqn 145, 146 Langille, G.E. FIg Off 193 Sqn 222, 341 Langmuir, K.M. Fit Lt 421 Sqn 316, 523 Langton, A. AFC Wg Cdr 464 Sqn 334 Lao, M.Y. Fit Lt 257 Sqn 402, 403 Lapka, S.H. TOE Sqn Ldr 306 Sqn 129, 138,142 Lapp, E.G. DFC AH Fit Lt 411 Sqn 201, 255,307,308,309,349,354 Lapsley, I.H. OBE, DFC AH Wg Cdr 125 Wg 217, 557 Laubman, D.e. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 412,402 Sqns 59, 84, 85, 200, 201, 206,207,254, 305,306,307,308,309,314,331, 332, 487,487 Laurant, P.L. DFC Lt 341 Sqn 327 Laurence, RH. DFC TOE FIg Off 439 Sqn 370, 373, 378, 382 Lavigne, I. Fit Lt 350 Sqn 426, 534 Lawless, EB. DFC AH2 Fit Lt 486, 164, 183,198 Sqns 381, 485 Lawrence, G. Wt Off219 Sqn 366, 367 Lawrence, I.B. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 324, 325, 373 Lawrence, T.E. FIt Lt 41 Sqn 469, 471 Lawson, I.L. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 484, 500, 523 Lawson, R.W. TOE FIg Off 402 Sqn 471, 474 Lawson, Pit Off 401 Sqn (v'M. Or 1.5.) 54 Lazenby, e.H. FIt Lt 222 Sqn 128, 148, 148,154 Leafe, R. Fig Off 604 Sqn 252,469 Leamon, EN. Wt Off 332 Sqn 467 Leask, G.R. Fit Lt 410 Sqn 462, 467 Leathart, I.A. DSO AHWg Cdr 84 Grp, Saso, AEAF 566 Lee, A.E. FIt Lt 231,122 Sqns 47, 233 Lee, I.e. TOE FIt Lt 401 Sqn 267, 268, 323,394 Lee, P.N. Fig Off 264 Sqn 252, SOl, 504

Lee, P.S. Fig Off 409 Sqn 254, 259, 348 Lee, R.G.E DFC Fit Lt 245 Sqn 63, 245, 246, 250, 251 Lee, T.B. Fig Off 402 Sqn 501,504 Le Garde, E Sgt 342 Sqn 269, 434 Legear, V.H.S. DFC Fit Lt 439 Sqn 512 Leger, R. Sgt Chef 342 Sqn 309, 336 Leigh, A.e. DFC TOE Fit Lt 129 Sqn 174,175 Leigh, B.G. DFC Wt Off 33 Sqn 509 Leigh, e.e. FIg Off 182 Sqn 267,268 Leigh-Mallory, Sir T. ACM Aeaf 34,49, 105,228 Leith, C.R. DFC FIg Off 453 Sqn 231, 309 Lenson, B. DFC FIg Off 193 Sqn J IS, 222, 222, 495 Le Page, H.EV. Sqn Ldr 340 Sqn Ill, 259 Lethaby, A.H. DFC Wt Off 182 Sqn 470 Lettinga, Pit Off 180 Sqn 457 Le Roux, 1.1. DFC & 2 Bars AH Sqn Ldr 602 Sqn 212, 219, 220, 222, 222, 223, 238,278 Leslie, D. Fig Off 403 Sqn 504, 505, 515, 523 Leslie, G. Pit Off 409 Sqn 301, 510, 511 Leva, P. Fig Off 350 Sqn 516, 522, 523 Levere, O.H. TOE Fig Off 421 Sqn 231, 471,474 Levi, I.A. Fig Off 414 Sqn 231,233 Lewis, K Wt Off 182 Sqn 331, 332 Lewis, V.E. Fit Lt 168 Sqn 174, 175 Lewis, W.K Fig Off 122 Sqn 272, 274 Lightbody, W.M. Fit Lt 610 Sqn ) Lightbourn, W.M. Fit Lt 610 Sqn ) Tile Same? 422, 423 Lim, P.I. FIg Off 409 Sqn 509, 510 Limet, H.I.R. FIt Sgt 349 Sqn 96, 98 Lindsay, I.D. DFC AH Fit Lt 403 Sqn 102,103, Ill, 181, 185, 186,200,201, 207,240,241,494

Lindsey, T. FIt Sgt 132 Sqn 20 I, 305 Linney, A.S. OBE Wg Cdr 135 Wg 561 Linton, K.R. DFC AH Pit Off 421 Sqn 39,40,41,57 Linton, O.M. DFC TOE Fit Lt 412 Sqn 229,269 Lischke, E..I. Fit Lt 4 Sqn 260, 335, 336 Lister, F.W. DSO, DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 127 Sqn 328, 333 Lloyd, I.M.W. DFC TOE Fig Off 65 Sqn 108, 161, 182,307 Lockyer, R. Fit Sgt 182 Sqn 350, 351 Lockyer-Marsh, Fit Lt 181 Sqn 530, 531 Lofts, K.T. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 66 Sqn 111 Logan, P. FIt Lt 403 Sqn 176, 177 Logan, R. Fig Off 257 Sqn 217, 353 Logie, R.E Fit Lt 98 Sqn 252, 284 Long, W.H. Fig Off 80 Sqn 466, 467 Longley, e.D.N. DFC Sqn Ldr 140 Sqn 319,320 Longley, H.W. DFC AH Fit Lt 3 Sqn 407, 409,522,534,529,531,536 Lonnen, V.N. DFC Wt Off 66 Sqn 116, 163 Lord, G. DFC AH FIg Off 130 Sqn 454, 519,519,521,522,523,524,528,533, 534 Loud, W.W.I. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 602,19 Sqns 23, 24, 241, 252, 259, 259,261,293,555 Love, L.W. Wt Off 412 Sqn 165, 167 Lovelock, H.E. Fig Off 180 Sqn 422, 457 Loveridge, D.L. Fig Off 98 Sqn 252, 284 Low, I.e. Fig Off 168 Sqn 145, 146 Lowe, K.M. Fig Off 130 Sqn 352, 401 Lowes, W.I.L.S. DFC Pit Off 247 Sqn 133,157,411 Lucas, P.B. DSO & Bar, DFC AH Wg Cdr 613 Sqn 360 Luckboff, L.e. DFC TOE Fit Lt 33 Sqn 432,434, 509 LuhnenenscWoss, I. Pit Off 266 Sqn 262, 484 Lumsden, G.M. FIg Off 605 Sqn 40 I Lumsden, I.P. DFC Fig Off 442 Sqn 266, 326,382 Lundberg, S.T. Fit Sgt 416 Sqn 111, 112 Lundsten, L. DFC AH Maj 331 Sqn 146, 147 Lunn, I.D. Fig Off 257, 195 Sqns 63, 410 Lush, D.I. Sgt 245 Sqn 116, 118 Lush, N. Wt Off 274 Sqn 408, 516, 536 Lyall, R Wt Off 453 Sqn 216, 307, 309 Lye, W.H.A. Wt Off 247 Sqn 375, 375, 376

Lyke I.B. Fit Lt 268 Sqn 379, 381,382 Lynch, I.H. Fit Sgt 453 Sqn 228, 229, 242 Lynn, L.A. DFC Wg Cdr 124 Wg 557 Lyons, E.B. DFC Sqn Ldr 222 Sqn 425, 430, 432, 484, 484 Maas, I.H. Sub Lt 320 Sqn 366,418 MacBrien, W.R. Grp Capt 15, 127 Wgs 51,174,400,553,558 MacConnell, e.B. Fig Off 402 Sqn 360, 497,500 MacDonald, e.1. DFC TOE Fit Lt 486 Sqn 367,399,400,486,518,519,530, 531,535 MacDonald, D.I. TOE Wt Off 409 Sqn 228,242,261,262,333 MacDonald, D.S.e. DFC Wg Cdr 129 Wg559 MacDonald, H.D. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 401 Sqn 55 MacDonald, I.R. DFC Fig Off 98 Sqn 33 MacDonald, K.I. DFC FIt Lt 485 Sqn 133 MacDonald, N. DFC Fig Off 276 Sqn 477 MacDonald, R.M.T.M.B. TOE Fig Off 604 Sqn 107,244 MacDonald, W.L.M. Grp Capt 137 Wg 117,562 Macelwain, I.R. DFC Fit Lt 2 Sqn 420 Macey, M.E.E Sgt 127 Sqn 258, 259 Mach, B. DFC TOE Fit Lt 308 Sqn 380, 382 Mackay, I. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 401 Sqn 321,322,324,365,367,382,394,398, 400,439,440,469,471,490,492,501, 504 Mackay, T.G.C. Wt Off 488 Sqn 202, 241 Mackenzie, A.R. DFC AH Fig Off 421 Sqn 29,41,57,57, 183, 184,201,220 Mackenzie, B.M. Fig Off 441 Sqn 207, 269 Mackenzie, D.M. DFC Pit Off 410 Sqn 236,348,361,364 Mackenzie, RM. DFC Fig Off 168 Sqn 33 Mackichan, R W. A. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 56 Sqn 349, 368, 369, 477,480 Mackie, E.D. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 274, 80 Sqns, 122 Wg 353, 363, 364,368,369,400,406,407,409,412, 446,448,481,482,489,490,491,526, 526,527,528,530,531,532,534,536, 555 Maclachlan, I.A.E DFC & 2 Bars AH Sqn Ldr 39 Maclaren, W.R TOE Fig Off 56 Sqn371, 373,406,408,409,467,468 Maclean, I.H. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 518, 519 Maclean, T.A. FIt Sgt 488 Sqn 243, 404 Maclean, W.M. FIt Lt 442 Sqn 225, 325 Maclennan, I.R. AH FIt Lt 443 Sqn 140, 143 Macleod, EL. Toe Fit I.t 56 Sqn 407, 409, 432,434,492, 524, 528 Macpherson, B.E. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 382, 402,403 Mactavish, I.E. TOESqn Ldr 410 Sqn 279:364,462, 467 Maddaford, G. Wt Off 130 Sqn 486,490, 520,521 Madden, I.B. Fit Lt 610 Sqn 359, 360 Magwood, e.M. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 421 Sqn 42, 45 Maitland, e.E. DFC Sqn Ldr 2 Sqn 45, 46,454 Maitland-Thompson, B. Sqn Ldr 604 Sqn 236, 241 Majchrzk, W. DFC Wt OffJOS Sqn 337 Malan, A.G. DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar AH Grp Capt 132 Airfield 77, 553, 564 Malfroy, e.E. DFC AHWg Cdr 145 Airfield 564 Malinowsky, E, Fit Sgt 317 Sqn 155, 157, 252 Mallon, T.A. Pit Off 488 Sqn 366,451 Malloy, I.A. Fit Lt 274 Sqn 337, 368, 369, 397 Malone, W.I. Fig Off 127 Sqn 272, 274 Mann, A.S. Sqn Ldr 268 Sqn 114, 312 Mann, G.N. DFC TOE Fit Lt 274 Sqn 334,335,351 Manson, D.A.W. Fig Off 602 Sqn 202, 221,223 March, LA. DFC Sqn Ldr 410 Sqn 158, 167,210 Marchelidon, I. Cmdt 329 Sqn 360, 437 Marciniak, J.P. TOESqn Ldr 315, 306 Sqns 115, 129, 142, 176, 177

Markby, H.Y. DFC Fig Off 174 Sqn 73 Marples, R DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 145 Wg 70, 78, 97, 564 Marriot, M.E. Fit Sgt 182 Sqn 216,217 Marriott, I.T. Fit Lt 442 Sqn 107,172, 175 Marriott, RD'a. DFC & Bar Fig Off 488 Sqn 140, 143,235,239,243 Marshall, G.W. Fig Off 222 Sqn 463, 467 Marshall, I.S. Wt Off 184 Sqn 368, 369, 400,424 Marshall,I.W. TOE FIg Off 488 Sqn 335, 336, SIS, 516 Marshall, W. Fig Off 98 Sqn 65 Marshall, W.A. Fig Off 443 Sqn 530, 531 Mart, W.G. DFC Fit Lt 222 Sqn 463, 467 Martin, I.K.E. Wt Off 609 Sqn 132, 133 Martin, I.L. Fit Lt 464 Sqn 172, 175 Martin, W.S. DFC Fig Off 409 Sqn 347, 348 Martini, E DFC Fit I.t 317 Sqn III Mason, D.W. Pit Off 198 Sqn 168, 168 Mason, H.M. DFC AH2 Wg Cdr 183 Sqn, 135 Wg 319, 420, 430, 432, 483, 484,561 Mason, L.G. DFC TOE Fit Lt 33 Sqn 231, 233 Mason, W.E Fit Lt 416 Sqn 113,218,309 Massart, O. DFC TOE Capt 340 Sqn ISS, 157,426,451 Matheson, e.N. Wt Off 409 Sqn 179, 184,225 Matheson, D.R. TOE Fit Lt 411 Sqn 55 Matthew, I.G.S. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 33 Sqn 268,432,434 Maurice, I.E. FIt Lt 402 Sqn 487, 492 Maxwell, D. DFC Fig Off 245 Sqn 76 May, L.E DFC Fig Off 414 Sqn 29.45, 165, 204, 353

Maynard, I.M. FIg Off 19 Sqn 179, 211, 212,216,294 Mayo, D.R. Fit Lt 219 Sqn 326, 339, 458, 510,511 Mayston, M.G. Fig Off 485 Sqn 106, 133 Mazurkiewicz, I. Fig Off 308 Sqn 287, 337 Mcallister, I.e. Fig Off 402 Sqn 425,426 Mcauliffe, L. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 440,441, 452,454 McBean, W.I. Pit Off 182 Sqn 104, 146, 215 McCabe, 0.). TOE Pit Off 488 Sqn 175, 261 McCainlS, I.A. DFC & Bar, Mm Fit Lt 3, 56 Sqns 436, 437, 489, 490 McCall, I.E DFC Sqn I.dr 605 Sqn 427 McClarty, S.M. DFC TOE Fit Lt 442, 411 Sqns 181, 182,216,217,314,505,521, 531 McCleland, D.G.e. Fig Off 222 Sqn 452, 511 McColl, I.B. TOE Fit Lt 416 Sqn 305, 307,313,314,316 McConnell, W.W. DFC Sqn Ldr 174 Sqn 71,85 McCracken, R.e. Fig Off 411 Sqn 371, 373,468 McCulloch, D.W. Wt Off 164 Sqn 482, 483 McCulloch, T.H. Pit Off 3 Sqn 466,467 McDade, P.V. DFC TOE FIt Lt 453 Sqn 165,202,217,229,231,233 McDonald, A.I. Fig Off 441 Sqn 200, 201 McDonald, W.L. Pit Off 421 Sqn 307, 309 McDowall, A. Dfm, AFC AH Wg Cdr 616 Sqn 413, 511 McDuff, D.M. Fit Lt 442 Sqn 267,268 McElroy, I.E DFC & Bar AH FIg Off 421, 416 Sqns 163, 177, 183, 184, 185,234, 317,334 McFarlane, V.I. Dfm FIg Off 33 Sqn 237 McFee, D.I. Pit Off 197 Sqn 363, 364 McGibbon, D. DFC Fit Lt 266 Sqn 328 McGilligan, M. Fit Lt 16 Sqn 145,146 McGregor, G.R OBE, DFC AH Grp Capt 126 Wg 226 McGregor, R.G. Fit Lt 247 Sqn 374, 375, 376 McGuire, P.I. Fit Lt 182 Sqn 45, 76 Mcilvenny, A.J. Fig Off 604 Sqn 235, 242, 242,277 Mcintee, I.D.M. Sub Lt 885 Sqn 164,165 Mcintosh, I.A. Fig Off 441 Sqn 305, 307 Mcintyre, A.A. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 146,430, 432,437 McKay, A.RW. Fit Lt 401 Sqn 373,451 McKenzie, B.e. Fit Lt 3 Sqn 359,505

McKenzie, R.M. Fit Lt 438 Sqn 224.225 Mclachlan, A.W.D. Fig Off 80 Sqn 362, 397 Mclachlan, P.A. FIg Off 421,441 Sqns 29,86, 101 Mclaren, A.C. Fit Lt 180 Sqn 163, 186 Mclaren, A.I. Fig Off 403 Sqn 508, 509 Mcleod, D.C. Fig Off 414 Sqn 84, 231, 233 McLeod, H.W. DSO, DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 443 Sqn 60,92,93,101,161,164, 165, 177,226,236,263,308,309 McLeod, H.W. TOE Fig Off 412 Sqn 303, 305.432,434 Mcleod, I.D. Wt Off 66 Sqn 365, 366 Mcleod, I.N. Fig Off 430 Sqn 375, 375, 376 McMillan, O. Fit Sgt 441 Sqn 303, 305 McNair, R). DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 245, 247 Sqns 63,65,81,169,208,224,225, 255 McNair, R.W. DSO, DFC & 2 Bars AH Wg Cdr 421 Sqn 32, 33, 39, 51, 89, 159,558 McNee, I. Sgt 33 Sqn 325,328 McPhail, W.H. Fit Lt 409 Sqn 361, 397 McPhee, B.S. Pit Off 412 Sqn 402, 403 McRae, W.R. TOE Fit Lt 401 Sqn 58,208, 210,234 McRitchie, A.I. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 464 Sqn 74,75 McRoberts, RC. DFC TOE Fig Off 421 Sqn 187,206,207,215,216 McWhirter, A.L. Fig Off 247 Sqn Meadows, I.P. DFC TOE Fit Lt 604, 219 Sqns 235, 376 Meechan, ).A.D. DFC Fit Sgt 247 Sqn 149,246,247,302,375 Mehre, H.O. DSO, DFC AH Lt Col 132 Wg 560 Melles, RA. Fit Sgt 486 Sqn 490, 516 Mellor, L.D. Fig Off 107 Sqn 330, 331 Menzies, L.T. Fit Sgt 602 Sqn 274, 275 Mercer, G.E DFC Fig Off 411 Sqn 255, 307,309, 338 Merlin, H.E.R Wt Off 175 Sqn 27, 367 Merlin, Wt Off 98 Sqn 103,288 Merret, W.K. Fit Lt 164 Sqn 350,426 Merrett, N.L. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 609, 164 Sqns 353 Merrill, c.L. Fig Off 69 Sqn 161,163 Mertens, C.E. Fig Off 130 Sqn 511, 512, 524,528 Metzler, D.G. Fit Lt 65 Sqn 293, 294 Michalkiewicz, M.K. Fit Sgt 306 Sqn 152,176,177 Mickiewicz, D. DFC Fit Lt 302, 308 Sqns 432 Middlemiss, R.G. DFC TOE Fig Off 403 Sqn 29 Middleton, B.E. DFC Fig Off 442 Sqn 184 Middleton, W.M. DFC Fit Lt 430 Sqn 490 Milich, M.A. DFC Fig Off 198 Sqn 352 Miejneclcy, E Pit Off312 Sqn 85,146 Millar, G.G. Fig Off 442 Sqn 187, 313 Millard, P.W.W. Fit Sgt 198 Sqn 485, 531 Millecamps, L. Sg! 342 Sqn 309, 336 Miller, A.D. Wt Off 41,130 Sqns 397, 454,475,516 Miller, A.S. PIt Off 56 Sqn 325, 336 Miller, H.E. TOE Fit Lt 418 Sqn 427 Miller, I.S. Fig Off 4,2 Sqns 29, 69 Miller, RA. DFC & Bar AH Fig Off 604 Sqn 202, 236, 254 Miller, W.L. DFC AH2 Fit Lt 486 Sqn 409,418 Mills, S.A. Fit Lt 411 Sqn 55, 107 Milne, G.B. DFC Fit Lt 80, 56 Sqns 297, 457 Milne, I. Fit Sgt 198 Sqn 145, 146 Milne, R.H. Fig Off 245,440 Sqns 63, 268 Milton, R.A.E. Fit Lt 65 Sqn \43, 146, 150,154 Minchin, A.W. FIg Off 122 Sqn 93, 207 Miron, A.E. Fit Lt 245 Sqn 179,245,262, 263 Mitchell, D. Wg Cdr 226 Sqn 117, 148 Mitchell, 0.1. Wt Off 486 Sqn 486, 487 Mitchell, RA. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 605 Sqn 453,454 Mitchner, I.D. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 402,421,416 Sqns 303, 305, 307, 309, 316,334, 352,397 Mitton, W.H. Wt Off 107 Sqn 336, 483

Mizener, ).L. Fig Off 65 Sqn 108, 269 Monaghan, K.L. DFC, Dfm Fig Off 464, 487 Sqns 72 Monson, E.A. DFC Sqn Ldr 439, 44Q Sqns 306, 333 Montgomery, B. Fld Msh121" Army Grp 135, 278, 291,439, 470 Montgomery, W.D.C. DFC Fit Lt 174 Sqn 95, 96,171 Moon, V.R. AFC Grp Capt 21 Wg 554 Mooney, R.E. Fig Off 274 Sqn 412, 422 Moore, A.R DFC & Bar TOE FIt Lt 3,56 Sqns 144,316,347,358,359,534 Moore, I.A.S. Pit Off 164 Sqn 422, 424 Moore, L.A. DFC, AFC AH Sqn Ldr 442, 402 Sqns 86,98, 20 1,467, 535 Moore, R.B. Fit Lt 430 Sqn 166.167 Moore, W.A. DFC Fig Off 487 Sqn 54 Moore, W.). DFC Fit Lt 174, 175 Sqns 287 Moran, P.S.G. FIg Off 175 Sqn 256, 257 Moreau, ). FIg Off 349 Sqn 94, 133 Morgau, A.H. Sgt 602 Sqn 57, 58 Morgan, H.L. Sgt 464 Sqn 172, 175 Morgan, ).L.B. Fit Sgt 247 Sqn 230, 231 Morice, C.S. DSO, MC Grp Capt 121 Wg 555,555 Morham, H.L. Fit Lt 400 Sqn 42, 47 Morris, N.P. Fit Sgt 16 Sqn 226, 227 Morrison, W.H. Fig Off 438 Sqn 260, 261 Morse, H.E DFC Fig Off 442 Sqn 234 Morton, I.A. DFC Fig Off 400 Sqn 27 Moseby, W.G. DSO, DFC Grp Capt 21 Wg553 Mosley, G.w.S. Fit Lt 305 Sqn 341, 342 Moss, S.). TOE Fit Lt 264 Sqn 5\2 Mossing, B.B. Fit Lt 414, 401 Sqns 151, 154, SOl, 504 Mossing, F.W. DFC TOE Fig Off 274 Sqn 416,418,425,430,432,436,437,453, 481 Mossip, H.T. DFC Fit Lt 245 Sqn 448 Mott, G.E. DFC AH Fit Lt 441 Sqn 86, 163,186,187,206,207,217,225,234, 244 Moulds, S.W. DFC Pit Off 21 Sqn 54 Mountford, O. DFC Pit Off 464 Sqn 413 Moureau, I. Fit Sgt 349 Sqn 133 Moyle, S.M. Wt Off 41 Sqn 422, 518 Mroczyk, C. DFC Fit Lt 317 Sqn 337, 382 Muir, H.I. FIg Off 65 Sqn 293, 294 Muir, R.M. DFC Fit Lt 613 Squ 111 Muls, R. Fit Lt 350 Sqn 477, 504, 522, 523 MOmler, M. AH Grp Capt 84 Grp Munday, I.M. Fig Off 19 Sqn 272, 274 Muntigne, I.H. Sub Lt 320 Sqn (Or Mutltillga) Murawski, M.J. Author Murphy, E.R. DFC Fig Off 264 Sqn 158, 167,202,242 Murphy, V. Fig Off 130 Sqn 499, 500 Murray, D.S. Fig Off 453 Sqn Murray, ET. DFC AH Fit Lt 401 Sqn 342, 343, 351, 373, 400, 400, 407,409, 430 Murray, G.B. DFC TOE Fit Lt 401 Sqn 89, 93, 142, \83, 184 Murray, R.W. Fig Off 421 Sqn \57,158 Musgrove, A.C. TOE Fit Lt 29 Sqn 228 Muth, B. DFC Fit Lt 317, 302 Sqns 426 Mutter, N.E.S. Fig Off 65 Sqn 38, 86, 94, 99 Muttock, A.G.T. Wt Off 175 Sqn 352, 476 Myers, W.I. DFC TOE Fig Off 403,441 Sqns 57, 217 Napier, A.E. DFC Fit Lt 164 Sqn 259 Neal, C. Wt Off 66 Sqn 174, 175 Neal. I.E Fig Off 69 Sqn 251,252,348 Neclden, E.K. Fit Lt 197 Sqn 34\ Neil, ).W. DFC AH Fig Off 441,421 Sqns 207,271 Neitz, RC. Wt Off 403 Sqn 521, 523 Nelson, D.H. Pit Off 129 Sqn 96, 97 Nesbitt, A.D. DFC TOE Grp Capt 143, 144 Wgs 565, 564 Ness, D.E. DFC AH Fig Off 56 Sqn 316, 354,381,382,395,396,486,534 Newcomb, C.B. Wt Off 184 Sqn 528 Newenham, W.A. DFC Fit Lt 485 Sqn 155,157 Newman, I.E Wt Off 488 Sqn 261, 262 Newsome, A.B. Fig Off 438 Sqn 226, 326 Newton, M.E DFC & Bar Fit Lt 604 Sqn 242, 364, 394

Niblett, I. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 609, 198 Sqns 100, 116, 118 Nichol, EO. Sgt 69 Sqn 360, 367 Nicholas, L.L. Fit Sgt 21 Sqn 430, 435 Nicholls, H.T. Pit Off 137 Sqn 313, 314 Nicol, W.G. DFC Wt Off 29 Sqn 251 Nicolaysen, W. Sgt 331 Sqn 370, 373 Nienhuish, Capt 320 Sqn isbet, c.P. FIt Sgt 33 Sqn 468, 509 Niven, I.B. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 485 Sqn 106,146 Nixon, H.I. DFC Fit Lt 411 Sqn lSI, 154, 182, 210, 234 Nixon, ).R Fig Off 137 Sqn 476, 512 Noel-Smith, R. Wg Cdr 123, 130 Wgs 556,560 Noouan, D.E. DFC AH Fit Lt 416 Sqn 184,185,218,234,240 Normoyle, E 35 Wg 263, 418 Norris, R. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 515 Norsworthy, H.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 439 Sqn 115,288 North, RM. DFC & Bar Wg Cdr 21 Sqn 58 Northcott, G.W. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 402 Sqn, 126 Wg 410, 523, 558 North-Lewis, C.D. DFC & Bar Wg Cdr 181 Sqn, 124 Wg 113,115,162.284, 302,302,336,459,460,460,461,462, 557,557 Nottle, H..M. Sgt 98 Sqn 65, 305 Nowierski, T. DFC AH Wg Cdr 133 Wg 561 Nowoczyn, W. Fit Sgt 315 Sqn 143,179 Nugent, K.O.G. Fit Sgt 305 Sqn 341, 342 Nyerrod, K. Capt 122,65 Sqns 102, 107, 108,180 O'Brian, I.A. TOE Fit Lt 402 Sqn 529, 531 O'Brien, T.L. FIg Off 411 Sqn 532, 536 Ockenden, G.E DFC AH Fig Off 443 Sqn 140,271,272,315,316 Ockendon, M. Wt Off 130 Sqn 513, 514 O'Connor, B.I. DFC AH2 Fig Off 486 Sqn 367, 489, 490 O'Connor) R. Gen British VIII Corps Ogilvie, D.G. DFC Sqn Ldr 180 Sqn 22 Ogilvie, P.B. DSO, DFC Grp Capt 34 Wg 353 Oliver, B.I. DFC Fig Off 602 Sqn 223, 226 Oliver, B.K. Pit Off 403 Sqn 176, 177, 225 Olmsted, W.A. DSO, DFC & Bar TOE Sqn Ldr 442 Sqn 226, 234, 333, 354 Olson, ).O.W. Fit Sgt 453 Sqn 111, 112 Olszewski, I. DFC Sqn Ldr 302, 308 Sqns 382,452 Olver, I.E Fig Off 453 Sqn 182,202,231 O'Neil-Dunne, P.c. Fit Lt 264 Squ 471, 512 Ormston, I.C. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 401, 411 Sqns 24, 38 Orr, A.A.W. TOE Fit Lt 411 Sqn 462 Orr, ).D. DFC TOE Fig Off 403 Sqn 107, 181,187,207,275.277 Orr, R W. DFC TOE Fit Lt 411 Sqn 61, 62,102,103,1\8 Orr, T.A. Fit Sgt 464 Sqn 242, 243 Orriss, D.C. Fig Off 247 Sqn 337, 486 Osmanville, A. DFC Capt 340 Sqn 425 Osmond, W.E. Pit Off 226 Sqn 245, 340 Oxby, D.A. DFC, Dfm & Bar Fit Lt 219 Sqn 302, 303, 320, 360, 361, 367, 411, 431,432 Oxlade, A.G. Sqn Ldr 464 Sqn 76, 127, 133 Oxspring, R.W. DFC & 2 Bars AHWg Cdr 24, 141 Wgs Packard, H.F. Pit Off 421 Sqn 39, 528 Packwood, L.I. Fit Lt 2 Sqn 377, 381 Page, A.G. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 132 Sqn, 125 Wg 97, 97, 89, 99, \68, 169, 176,177,200,209,210,215.216,218, 226,297,306,307,321,324,557 Paine, G. DFC Fig Off 264 Sqn 84, 200, 216 Palak, ). DFC Wt Off 302 Sqn 276 Palmer, W.H. TOE Pit Off 416 Sqn 113, 304, 305, 316 Panitz, G.H. DFC TOE Wg Cdr 464 Sqn 172,271 Parent, P. Sous Lt 341 Sqn 274, 275 Pargeter, R.C. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 29 Sqn 147,242 Parker, A.M. Fig Off 74 Sqn 272, 274 Parker, G.R.I. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 219 Sqn 314, 326, 364, 366, 406

Parker, L.H. DFC Fit Lt 184,175 Sqns 246,251,258,349,486 Parker, V.C. Wt Off 132 Sqn 200,210, 239,240 Parsons, W.D. DFC Fig Off 464 Sqn 22 Paterson, I.N. Toe Fit Lt 421 Sqn 163, 220 Paton, I. TOE Fig Off 19 Sqn 172, 215, 216,309 Patoul, G.R.I. De Fit Lt 130 Sqn 511, 512 Patrick, G.S. TOE Pit Off 488 Sqn 241, 505,508 Patterson, G.R. DFC TOE Fit Lt 416 Sqn 113,183,184,218,305,307 Patterson, H.W.B. Pit Off 485 Sqn J06, 146 Patterson, I.A. Fig Off 182 Sqn 354, 376 Pattison, H.G. DFC Fig Off 182 Sqn 231, 462 Pattison, I.G. DFC FIt Lt 66, 485 Sqns 206, 255, 288 Patton, George C. Gen US Third Army 244,439,448,470 Patus, I.G.M. Sgt 416 Sqn 363,364 Pauwels, E. TOE Fit Sgt 350 Sqn 440, 441,513,514 Pavey, A.E DFC AH FIg Off 122 Sqn 38, 93,95,95,182,207,231,232,233,234 Payne, S. FIg Off 129 Sqn 166, 167 Paynter, H. Sqn Ldr 98 Sqn 227, 228 Payton, I.). DFC AH Fig Off 56 Sqn 316, 371,373,401,408,409,448,468,480, 510,512,534,535 Peacock, I.W. Fit Lt 409 Sqn 158,231, 244 Peacock, W.O. FIg Off 181 Sqn 26, 47 Pearce, C.E DFC Fig Off 274 Sqn 467, 516 Pearce, H.E TOE FIg Off 409 Sqn 210 Pears, H. DFC FIt Lt 175 Sqn 528 Pease, G.E.C. Fig Off 268 Sqn 24, 38 Peck, W.E FIt Lt 402 Sqn 477, 529, 531 Peet, W.W. DFC Fit Lt 122, 74 Sqns 24, 455 Peglar, W.E. DFC TOE Fit Lt 274 Sqn 339 Pennant, I.A.H.G. Fit Sgt 137 Sqn 468, 487 Pennington-Leigh, I.R. DFC & Bar Sqn Ldr Fls 60 Pentland, W.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 440 Sqn 231, 233, 326 Percival, G.A. DFC Fit Lt 2 Sqn 308,309 Perfect, R. DFC Fit Lt 219, 488 Sqns 320, 369 Perkins, M.A. FIg Off 442 Sqn 368, 369, 376 Perkins, R.M. DFC Pit Off 180 Sqn 456, 457 Perkins, S.). FIt Lt 268 Sqn 426, 437 Peters, C. Fit Sgt 33 Sqn 508, 509 Peters, H.P. DFC Sqn Ldr 414 Sqn 45 Peters, R.G. Fit Sgt 453 Sqn 182, 186, 187 Philip, R.D. DFC TOE Fit Lt 421 Sqn 27, 29,32, 33, 364 Phillips, B.S. Fig Off 132 Sqn 157,210 Phillips, H.L. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 142,201 Phillips, R.H. Fig Off 604 Sqn 277, 396, 451 Phipps, L.I. Wt Off 132 Sqn 303, 304 Picard, EG. Fit Lt 416 Sqn 364,474 Pickard, P.c. DFC Grp Capt 140 Wg 39, 72-3,72,74,75,563 Pieri, D.M. DFC AH Fit Lt 412 Sqn 376, 379,382,467,497,500,520,531 Pietrasiak, A. AH Pit Off 308 Sqn 46, 55 Pietrzak, H.I. DFC AH Fig Off 306 Sqn ll1,143 Piltingsrud, G. DFC Sqn Ldr 137 Sqn 303 Pinches, M.H. DFC & Bar AH Fig Off 122 Sqn 99, 107, 108, 166, 167,216, 217,219,220, 230,231,234,254 Pitt-Brown, W. DFC & Bar TOEWg Cdr Slais, FLS, 174 Sqn. 121 Wg 21, 60, 61,162,171,246,276,285,293,334, 555 Plamondon, G. DFC & Bar TOE Fit Lt 198 Sqn 215, 332, 344 Plant, RE Fit Lt 168 Sqn 369, 373 Pliszka, T. Fit Sgt 302 Sqn 454, 458 Plows, L. DFC Fit Sgt 164 Sqn 110 Plumer, B.E. DFC TOE Fit Lt 410, 409 Sqns 241, 325, 412, 468, 512, 514 Plummer, L.A. DFC TOE Fig Off 441 Sqn 96, 217, 277 Plumridge, P.B. FIg Off 19 Sqn 171, 253

I-

Pniak, K. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 308 Sqn 507 Polak, I. TOE FIg Off 315 Sqn 115, 179 Pole, C. Fit Sgt 181 Sqn 242,267,268 Pollock, EH. Fit Lt 183 Sqn 110,140,143 Pomietlarz, I. TOE Fit Sgt 306 Sqn 54, llO, 142, 167, 177 Ponsford, I.R. DFC AH Fit Lt 130 Sqn 499, SOD, 504, 513,514, 519, 520, 520, 521,534 Pont, L.R DFC Lt 342 Sqn 354 Porteous, I.K. DFC Sqn Ldr 122 Sqn 285 Porteous, RC. Wg Cdr 487 Sqn 279, 334 Porter, D.A. Fig Off 257 Sqn 98, 99 Porter, Sqn Ldr 29 Sqn 238 Portz, ).M. DFC TOE Fit Lt 411 Sqn 307, 309,314 Potocki, W.I. DFC AH Fit Lt 306 Sqn 42, 110,143,167,177 Potter, D.E.E Fig Off 197 Sqn 85,142 Pottinger, RW. AH2 FIg Off 3 Sqn 381, 394 Pow, L.G.D. Fig Off 411 Sqn 309, 341 Powell, K.I. DFC Wg Cdr 180 Sqn 349 Powell, N.I. FIg Off 486 Sqn 313,431, 432 Powell, R.P.R. DFC & Bar AH Grp Capt 121 Wg 555 Powierza, T. Fit Lt 317 Sqn 380, 382 Prendergast, ).B. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 414 Sqn 333, 528 Prentice, I.S. FIg Off 132 Sqn 260, 261 Prescott, P.E FIg Off 488 Sqn 335, 336, 515,516 Prest, W.A. Fit Lt 443 Sqn 143,181,216, 217,304,305 Preston, I. FIg Off 403 Sqn 28,78 Prerkowski, I. Sgt 317 Sqn 454, 486 Price, D.I.A.W. Fit Sgt 197 Sqn 262, 263 Price, D.L. FIt Lt 80 Sqn 407, 409, 410, 434 Price, D.RO. TOE Lt 29, 264 Sqns 147 Prickett, RB. Fit Lt 80 Sqn 490,492 Priddle, T.A. Fig Off 4 Sqn 172,363,364 Pringle, F.E. DFC TOE Fig Off29 Sqn 142,233 Pritchard, A.). Pit Off 613 Sqn 275, 276 Proctor, H.M. DFC Fit Lt 263 Sqn 272 Proddow, B.E Fig Off 174 Sqn 71,432 Provan, W.W. DFC AH Fig Off 29 Sqn 251 Pugh, T.P. DFC Sqn Ldr 182 Sqn 24, 25, 26, Pullin, R.B. Fit Sgt 132 Sqn 45, 99 Pullman, A.O. Fit Lt 602 Sqn 275, 294 Purkis, I.B. DFC Fit Lt 263 Sqn 261, 262 Pushman, G.R DFC Sqn Ldr 88 Sqn 256 Pye, N.C. DFC FIt Lt 198 Sqn 257, 261 Pyle, G.E PIt Off 129 Sqn 150,154 Quick, D. Lt 184 Sqn 349, 462 Rachinger, B.EN. DFC Fig Off 268 Sqn 241,311 Raeder, I.K.B. Capt 331 Sqn 370, 373 Rainville,I.B.B. TOE Fit Lt 416 Sqn 184, 309 Rake, D.M.V. Fit Lt 41 Sqn 485,486,529, 531,535 Ralph, L.M. DFC Fit Lt 66 Sqn 516 Ramsay, C.M. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 264 Sqn 107,467,505,508,509 Ramsey, E. DFC Fig Off 464 Sqn 22 Randall, A.G. Wt Off 193 Sqn 410,483 Randall, W.B. Fit Lt 412, 442 Sqns 210, 257,332 Rankin, I.E. DSO & Bar AH Grp Capt IS Wg, Fls, 125 W 28, 33, 50, 60, 61, 127, 557 Rankin, I.M. DFC Fig Off 107 Sqn 29 Rankin, N.I. Fig Off 80 Sqn 297,395, 396,423,424,457,471 Rankin, RW.A. Fig Off 464 Sqn 429,430 Raoul-Duval, C. DFC Capt 341 Sqn 154 Ratcliffe, A.G. Fig Off 402 Sqn 477, 516 Raw, P.E. DFC Fit Lt 183 Sqn 84 Rayment, K.G. DFC AH Fit Lt 264 Sqn 215 Rayner, E. DFC Fit Lt 613 Sqn 361 Read, EA. Fit Sgt 487 Sqn 78, 207 Read, H.W. Wt Off 197 Sqn 363, 364 Reahil, EI. DFC FIt Lt 2 Sqn, 268 Sqn 70,169 Reed, c.P. DFC & Bar Fit Lt 488 Sqn 156,165 Reed, EG.E DFC Fig Off219 Sqn 335 Reed, G.E DFC FIg Off 219 Sqn 468, 469 Reeve, RH. Fig Off 168 Sqn 163,240 Reeves, I.H. Wt Off 132 Sqn 217, 218 Reeves. Mck. AH Fig Off 403 Sqn 324, 333,341,379,382,470

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Reid, D.J. DFC TOE Fit Lt 41 Sqn 434, 440,441,467,535 Reid, J.W. TOEWg Cdr 409 Sqn 158, 231,491,492 Reid, J.W. TOE Fit Lt 486 Sqn 499, 500, 517,518,519,536 Reid, R.H. FIg Off 222 Sqn 463, 467, 484, 500 Remlinger, J.J. DFC Asp 602 Sqn 64, 162, 163,220 Rettie, N.E Fit Lt 414 Sqn 154, 176, 177 Rex, D.G.H. DFC Wt Off 56 Sqn 352, 371,373,477,480,512 Reynolds, R. W. DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar Wg Cdr 140 Wg 334 Reynolds, W.E. Fit Lt 245 Sqn 119,216, 217 Rhodes, W.H. Fig Off 403 Sqn 103,166, 167,181,183,184 Rice, G.A. Pit Off 453 Sqn 165, 182,235 Richards, EH. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 354,402, 403 Ridley-Martin, M.G. DFC FIt Lt 2 Sqn 327 Rigby, H.G. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 222 Sqn 221,425 Rigby, W.E. Wt Off 129 Sqn 132, 133, 159,161 Riley, EG. Fig Off 130 Sqn 352, 360 Ringdal, N. DFC Capt 331 Sqn 244 Rippon, A.J. DFC AH Fit Lt 107 Sqn 274 Riseley, E.A. TOE Fig Off 126 Sqn 258 Riung, N.M. 2/Lt 332 Sqn 68, 205 Rivers, R.N. DFC Fit Lt 409 Sqn 268, 269,373,376,512,514 Rivett, D.J.E Fit Sgt 129 Sqn 185, 186 Roald, O.K. 2/Lt 331 Sqn 399,401 Robb, J.M. DFC Toe Fig Off 400,414 Sqns 23, 29,47 Roberts, A.E. Fig Off 164 Sqn 132, 133 Roberts, E.R.A. DFC Sqn Ldr 609 Sqn 176, 177, 450 Roberts, G. Fig Off 453 Sqn 202, 213, 229,231 Roberts, L. Fig Off 604 Sqn 175, 251 Robertson, G.D. OFC AH Sqn Ldr 411 Sqn Ill, 141, 143, 181, 182, 187,200, 205,221, 223,243 Robertson, H.R Fig Off 402 Sqn 500, 516 Robillard, J.G.L. Dfm AH Fig Off 442, 443 Sqns 184,226,272 Robinson, B.C.G. Sgt107 Sqn 146, 149 Robinson, D.N. DFC AH Fig Off 488 Sqn 167,235,269 Robinson, G.G. Fit Lt 247 Sqn 219, 220 Robinson, G.D. DFC Fig Off 410,409 Sqns 239, 240, 244, 259, 360 Robson, A.P. Fig Off 602 Sqn 23, 24 Roddie, W.G.O. Fig Off 416 Sqn 316, 441 Roe, W.A. DFC Fig Off 21 Sqn 58, 175, 252 Roemmele, L.A. Pit Off 122 Sqn 61,95, 95,182 Roff, J.W. Fit Lt410 Sqn 462,467 Roggencamp, N. Wt Off 129 Sqn 138, 142 Rolfe, R.G. Sgt 88 Sqn 54 Rollo, A.A. Fit Lt 464 Sqn 172 Rollo, A.M. Wt Off 80 Sqn 466,467,490 Roosenburg, J.G. DFC Fit Lt 320 Sqn 43, 348 Roper, P.D.L. Fit Lt 20 Sector 140, 143 Rosa, G.c. DFC Sous Lt 340 Sqn 205 Rose, A.H. Fig Off 410 Sqn 251, 375, 376 Rose, J. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 184 Sqn 246, 246,249,394,400,401,410,413,418, 420 Rose, M.J.A. DFC TOE Fig Off 3 Sqn 145,358,359,381,382 Roseland, A.W. TOE Fit Lt442 Sqn 187, 200,201,216,217 Rosier, EE. DSO TOE Grp Capt 22 Wg 554 Ross, A.!. Fig Off 486 Sqn 467,490,535 Ross, A.S. DFC TOE Fit Lt 193,253 Sqns 98,99,155 Ross, D.G. DFC Sqn Ldr 193 Sqn ll9 Ross, H.E Pit Off 80 Sqn 297, 335, 336, 471 Ross, H.S.K. Fit Sgt 107 Sqn Ross, J.D. TOE Fit Lt 56 Sqn 354,358, 359,413 Ross, W.O. Fig Off 184 Sqn 425,426 Rosser, T.E DFC Fit Lt 181, 175 Sqns 316 Rosser, W.J. DFC TOE Fit Lt 66 Sqn 307

Rossow, V.J. Wt Off 41 Sqn 423, 501, 504 Rowley, A.H. Fit Sgt 164 Sqn 232, 233 Royston, RS. Fig Off 609 Sqn 136, 177 Rozoy, E DFC Capt 342 Sqn 64, 432 Rudd, R.A.W. Sgt 305 Sqn 481,482 Rudowslei, S. TOE Fit Sgt 306 Sqn 143 Ruffley, W.L. TOE Fit Lt 219 Sqn 467 Rushton, P.E. Pit Off 69 Sqn 229, 231 Russel, B.D. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 126 Wg, 442 Sqn 96,175,210,254,323, 410,558 Russel, H. Fit Lt 443 Sqn 96, 143, 165 Russell, H.A'b. TOE Sqn Ldr 164 Sqn 116 Russell, N.G. OFC TOE Fit Lt 416 Sqn 234,235,304,305,309,316,453,454 Rutter, D.H. Fit Lt 247 Sqn 474, 477 Rutter, R.D. DFC Sqn Ldr 263 Sqn 345 Ryalls, D.L. TOE Sqn Ldr 219 Sqn 368 Ryan, J.H. Fit Lt 56 Sqn 395, 396, 399, 401 Ryen, R. Sgt 247 Sqn 67, 225 Ryg, J. DFC & Bar TOE Lt Col 332 Sqn, 132 Wg453 Sage, K.E Fit Lt 439 Sqn 362, 364 Sage, P.C.W. DFC AH Fit Lt 487 Sqn 430 Sager, A.H. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 416, 443 Sqns 307, 308, 309, 406 St. Quintin, P. AH Sqn Ldr 56 Sqn 353, 426,430 Sail, E.E DFC Sqn Ldr 180 Sqn 444, 457 Samouelle, G.J. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 130 Sqn 440, 441, 454, 495, 501, 504, 510,511 Sampson, R.W. Fit Lt 464 Sqn 74, 75 Sampson, R.W.E DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 131, 127 Sqns, 145 Wg 347, 352, 410,451,452,564 Sandeman, P.V.G. Fit Lt 604 Sqn 172, 276,276 Sanders, A.V. DFC Fit Lt 266 Sqn 92 Sandvig, K. Lt 331 Sqn 161, 163 Sanlys, M. DFC Lt 340 Sqn 330 Sans, M.J. Lt 349 Sqn III, 133, 143 Saunders, W.L. Fit Lt 439 Sqn 305, 330, 349 Saunderson, T.M. Fig Off 412 Sqn 81, 240, 254, 255 Savill, S.E. Fig Off 613 Sqn 265, 267 Sawers, W. OFC TOE Fit Lt414 Sqn 363, 364,468 Sawicz, T. OFC TOEWg Cdr 131 Wg 330,560 Saxre, A. De Lt 341 Sqn 482, 483 Scambler, J.w. Fit Lt 183 Sqn 159, 161 Scarlett, The Hon EH.L. DFC Sqn Ldr 183 Sqn 101, 131,215,216 Schiff, J.A. Fig Off 33 Sqn 504, 509 Schloesing, J.H. DFC Cdt 341 Sqn 274, 275 Schmidt, G. Wt Off 302 Sqn 462, 482 Schmidt, J. TOE Fit Lt 315 Sqn 179 Schofield, ED. Pit Off 19 Sqn 161, 171 Schrader, W.E. OFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 486,616 Sqns 450, 451, 482, 483, 489, 490,491, 492,499, 500, 505, 518, 519, 522, 523, 528,530,531,534,541,541 Schultz, RD. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 410 Sqn 482, 483, 505 Schwalm, G.T. Fig Off 412 Sqn 201, 209, 210,255 Scott, A.G. Fig Off 421 Sqn 490, 500 Scott, A.W.A. Fig Off 184 Sqn 410 Scott, P.E Fit Sgt 41 Sqn 501, 504, 523 Scott-Malden, ED.S. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr Hornchurch Wg, 145 Wg 77, 151,154,557,558 Scriven, e.G. Fig Off 274 Sqn 406, 408 Seager, A. OFC Toe Fit Lt 80 Sqn 328, 407,408,457,471,490 Scott, D.J. OSO, DFC & Bar AH Grp Capt 123 Wg 287, 350, 433, 456, 456, 556 Scott, E.P. OFC Wt Off 183 Sqn 286 Scott, J.A. Fig Off 19 Sqn 252,294 Scott, N.J. OFC Fig Off 175 Sqn 70, 81, 82,308,309 Seeney, C.A. Wt Off 453 Sqn 165, 180, 213, 229, 231 Sellar, A.E. (Or Seller) Wt Off 412 Sqn 183,184 Sellman, L.W. Pit Off 198 Sqn 225, 423 Sellick, K.B. DFC Fig Off 247 Sqn 69 Sellors, J.E Pit Off 184 Sqn 62,285 Semmerling, B. Fit Lt 302 Sqn 446 Semple, G.G. DFC Sqn Ldr 411 Sqn 24 Sergeant, E. Fit Sgt 132 Sqn 308, 309

Seydel, G.M.H. DFC TOE Fit Lt 349 Sqn 133, 138, 142, 143, 146,233 Shanks, O.M. Fit Lt 464 Sqn 127, 133, 401 Shannon, A. Fit Sgt 257 Sqn 216, 217 Shannon, R.C.A. Fig Off 403 Sqn 185, 186,321,324,408,513,514,522,523 Sharon, M.R DFC TOE Fig Off 416 Sqn 217,218,235,275 Shaver, G.L. TOE Fit Lt 439 Sqn 422, 423, 423, 441 Shaw, H. DFC Fig Off 56 Sqn 347, 353, 353, 354, 358, 359, 382, 401 Shaw, J.T. DFC AHSqn Ldr 122 Sqn 168 Shaw, W.J. TOE Fit Lt 486 Sqn 486, 487, 490,492, 525, 528, 535, 536 Sheaf, W.R. TOE Fig Off 80 Sqn 463, 467,481,482 Shearer, A.W. OFC Fig Off 180 Sqn 457 Sheddan, G.J. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 486 Sqn 382,412,477,480,486,487,490,492, 528, 529, 534, 535 Sheehy, E.B. Fit Lt 401 Sqn 316, 323, 340, 371,373 Sheen, D.EB. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 148 Wg 566 Shemeld, J.A.M. DFC Pit Off 137 Sqn 374,376 Shenk, W.V. Fit Lt 443 Sqn 177, 184 Shepherd, o. Sgt 266 Sqn 89, 437 Shepherd, J.B. DFC & 2 Bars AH Sqn Ldr 610, 41 Sqns 454, 487, 491, 491504,520,521,523, 534,534 Sheppard, G. Fit Lt 198 Sqn 230, 231 Sheppard, J.E. Sqn I.dr 412, 401 Sqns 54, 68,78,80,89,104,201,239,240 Sheppard, S.A. Sgt 56 Sqn 469, 470 Sherk, D. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 366, 367 Sherk, R.J.E TOE Fig Off 401 Sqn 80 Sherlock, EJ. DFC Fit Lt 421 Sqn 45 Sherwood, L.D. Fig Off 443 Sqn 305, 306,307 Shevlin, C.B.M. DFC Fig Off 107, 88 Sqns 27 Sheward, R.E.G. OFC Sqn Ldr 266 Sqn 345, 345, 484, 495 Short, S.J. AH2 Fig Off 486 Sqn 313, 368, 369,486,487 Short, W.H.B. DFC Fig Off 181,137 Sqns 184,315,316,348,368,369 Shouldice, G.M. TOE Fit Sgt 403 Sqn 20, 28 Sibeth, P.E. TOE Fit Lt 130 Sqn 470, 471, 484,495,510,512 Sievwright, N.G. DFC Pit Off 182 Sqn 325,376 Sillevis, J.G. DFC Lt Cdr 320 Sqn 158 Silva, G.D. DFC Lt 33 Sqn 272 Sim, R.G. TOE Fit Lt 441 Sqn 288, 530, 531 Sima, A. Pit Off 19 Sqn 150,154,161, 172,261 Simonsen, J.P.D. 2/Lt331 Sqn 371, 373 Simpson, J. Fit Sgt 409 Sqn 269, 409, 412,413 Simpson, P.J. DFC AHWg Cdr 135 Wg 51,78,561 Simson, H.N. OFC Fig Off 88 Sqn 175 Sinclair, A.L. DFC TOE Fig Off 401 Sqn 209,210,320,321,322,324 Siroux, P.A.J.D. DFC TOE Fit Lt 349 Sqn 233 Sismore, E.B. DSO, DFC & 2 Bars Sqn Ldr 140 Wg 334, 493 Skalski, S.E DSO, DFC & 2 Bars AHWg Cdr 131, 133 Wgs 51, 60,101,178, 178, 179,560,561 Skelly, ER.F. Fig Off 438 Sqn 403, 406 Skelly, J.H. TOE Fig Off 409 Sqn 509, 510 Slack, C.A.B. FltLt4, 175 Sqns 172,471 Slack, J. Fit Sgt 226 Sqn 41, 76 Slade-Betts, K.G. DFC AH2 Fig Off 3 Sqn 370, 373 Slaney, J.S. DFC Fig Off 247, 245 Sqns 40,81,163 Slee, R.A.B. Fig Off 19 Sqn 293, 294 Sleep, K.S. Fit Lt402 Sqn 324,416,418, 434,517 Smart, L.H. Fit Sgt 41 Sqn 511, 535 Smik, O. DFCAHFlg Off310, 127 Sqns 144,146,166,167,338,347 Smith, A.H. OFC & Bar Sqn Ldr 197 Sqn 265, 266.344, 374, 376 Smith, A.S. Fit Lt 193 Sqn 186,365,366 Smith, G.S.H. Sgt 180 Sqn 155,228

Smith, D.H. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 453 Sqn 164,165,213,275 Smith, OJ. Fig Off 65 Sqn 22, 108, 180 Smith, E.A.W. Fig Off 127 Sqn 463, 467 Smith, E.S. DFC Wg Cdr 264 Sqn 471 Smith, E.S. Toe Fit Lt421 Sqn 271, 403, 406,407,409 Smith, G.M. DFC TOE Fig Off 421 Sqn 216,231,315,316,320 Smith, G.N. Fig Off 411 Sqn 524, 528 Smith, G.V. Sgt 180 Sqn 251, 253 Smith, H.St J. Fig Off 122 Sqn 215,216 Smith, l.S. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 487 Sqn 74,86,279 Smith, J.S. OFC TOE Fig Off 604 Sqn 175,251 Smith, K.A. TOE Fig Off 486 Sqn 368, 369,513,514,516,535 Smith, K.M. Fit Sgt 226 Sqn ) 46, 76 Smith, K. Mcl. Wt Off 226 Sqn ) The Same?

Smith, L.A. DFC AH Fig Off 80 Sqn 477, 480,492,494 Smith, P.J. DFC Pit Off 409 Sqn 210, 225 Smith, R.C. Fit Lt 442 Sqn 376, 379, 396 Smith, R.D.A. Fig Off 41 Sqn 477, 511, 524,528 Smith, R.I.A. DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 412, 401 Sqns 161,209,210,305,307,309, 314,316,320-321,322,322,323,323, 324,348 Smith, V. TOE Fig Off 412 Sqn 382, 453, 454,466,467,483 Smith, W. Fig Off 245 Sqn 119, 151, 151 Snowdon, R.L. TOE Fig Off 410 Sqn 147 Socha, T. Fig Off 317 Sqn 475, 495 Sologub, G. DFC AH Fig Off 306 Sqn 46, 142,177 Somerville, J.D. DFC AHWg Cdr 410, 409 Sqns 239, 240, 244, 259, 326, 360, 408,409 Sorge, ES. DFC TOE Pit Off 602 Sqn 33, 42,54 Soszynski, Z. Fit Sgt 308 Sqn 337, 381 Soufflet, J.L. OFC Cdt 342 Sqn 354 Soules, M.E. Wt Off 403 Sqn 263, 277 Southwood, H.J. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 33,42 Sowerbults, J. Fit Lt 56 Sqn 524, 528 Sparrow, E.M. DFC Fit Lt 3 Sqn 348 Speare, A.R. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 324, 325 Spedding, E. Fig Off 488 Sqn 107,236 Spellman, P.J. DFC Fig Off 182 Sqn 287, 441,471 Spence, J.B. Fig Off 274 Sqn 435, 437 Spencer, l.J. Sqn Ldr 107 Sqn 27, 256 Spencer, T. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 41, 350 Sqns 280, 370, 400, 434, 435, 435,446, 499,500,539, 558 Sporny, K. DFC AHFlt Lt 315 Sqn 179 Spragg, B.J. DFC Fig Off 257 Sqn 336, 396 Spurdle, R.L. OFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 80 Sqn, 83grp 293, 352, 400, 435 Spurr, L.E. Pit Off 416 Sqn 364,434,530, 531 Stack, P.J. DFC FIg Off 226 Sqn 277 Stafford, J.H. OFC AH Fit Lt 486 Sqn 313,366,367,408,409,411,412,413, 426,430,485,486,535 Staines, J. Sgt 33 Sqn 485, 486 Stainton, R.G. Fig Off 29 Sqn 132, 207 Stanowslei, J. TOE Fit Sgt 308 Sqn 380, 382 Stanslei, W. DFC Pit Off 308 Sqn 337, 413,478 Stapleton, B.G. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 247 Sqn 360, 361, 375 Staples, J.E. TOE Pit Off 19 Sqn 179, 215,216,269,204 Stark, J.B. Fit Lt 274 Sqn 436, 462 Stark, L.W.E OFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 609 Sqn 453 Stark, W.S.J. Fig Off 274 Sqn 416, 418 Starr, N.J. OFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 142 Wg563 Statters, E. Fig Off 193 Sqn 161,186 Stayner, R.M. DFC TOE Fit Lt 401 Sqn 183,184,186,187,226 Stead, A.B. DFC TOE Fit Lt 485 Sqn 146, 396 Steedman, J. Pit Off 486 Sqn 339, 342.382 Steel, G.J. DFC Pit Off 174 Sqn) 63, 248, 251 Steel, J.G. Pit Off 174 Sqn ) The Same? 81 Stefanlciewicz, H. Fit Lt 315 Sqn 78,129, 158,173,173,175

Steib, P.E DFC TOE Fit Lt 122 Sqn 99, 102, III SteUin, J.K. Pit Off 609 Sqn 267.268 Stephen, G.R. TOE Fig Off 443 Sqn 184, 232,233 Stephens, D.R. OFC TOE FIg Off 122 Sqn 61, 62 Stephenson, G.E. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 403, 406 Stephenson, L. DFC AH Fit Lt 219 Sqn 288,350,364,366 Stevens, G.EB. DFC Fit Lt 430 Sqn 349 Stevens, D.R Fit Lt 122 Sqn 304, 305 Stevens, R.M. Fit Lt 168 Sqn 373,378 Stevenson, O.L. OFC Fit Lt 184 Sqn 240, 246,492 Stevenson, H. Fig Off 247 Sqn 362,364, 375 Stevenson, l.T. OFC TOEWt Off41 Sqn 422, 423, 50 I, 504, 522, 523 Stewart, A.R. Fit Lt 602 Sqn 202, 261, 278,284 Stewart, K.W. DFC AH Fit Lt 488 Sqn 361,369.426,468,469,480,481 Stewart, L.A. TOE Fit Lt 412 Sqn 426, 500, 518, 520, 521 Stiffen, W.H. Wt Off 66 Sqn 163, 186 Stigant, RE FIg Off 180 Sqn 163, 186 Stiles, Fit Lt 421 Sqn 103 Stillwell, R.L. OFC TOE Sqn Ldr 65 Sqn 108,150,154,159,161,180,214,233, 234 Stitt, J.H. Fig Off 439 Sqn 306, 307 Stockburn, RG. DFC Fit Lt 501, 274 Sqns 186,492,494,531 Storaas, B. 21Lt 332 Sqn 432,476 Storrar, J.E. OFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 65 Sqn 22, 28, 32, 37, 37 Storrs, Fig Off 409 Sqn 180 Stott, D.A. OFC Fig Off 130 Sqn 470, 471,533 Stousland, C.). TOE 2/Lt 331 Sqn 370, 373 Stover, C.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 411 Sqn 45, 176, 177 Stowe, W.N. DFC TOE Fit Lt 41 Sqn 299, 408,478,511,512,513,514,521,525, 528, 529, 535 Stratford, G.E. Wt Off 198 Sqn) 27\ Stratford, G.S. Fit Sgt 198 Sqn ) Tile Same? 161 Strong, P.H. DFC Fig Off 182 Sqn 146, 248,335 Stronach, W.N. Fit Lt 421 Sqn 163,271 Strudwick, A.S.R. OFC Fit Lt 602 Sqn 24 Struthers, G.A.M. OFC Fig Off 180 Sqn 70,187 Stuart, J.G. DFC Fig Off 69 Sqn 235, 286 Stubbs, J.O. DFC Fit Lt 168 Sqn 33, 45, 236,373,378,382,395 Stults, D.C. Fit Lt 440 Sqn 232, 233 Sturling, P.C. Fig Off 264 Sqn 156,242 Sugden, A.E. Pit Off 440 Sqn 349, 349 Sumner, W.A. Fit Sgt 65 Sqn 178, 179, 180 Sunde, E.S. 21Lt 332 Sqn 163,335 Surman, J.G. DFC AH Fit Lt 604 Sqn 107,244 Sutherland, R.A. DFC & Bar TOE Sqn Ldr 602 Sqn 40, 58, 104 Sutherland, R.L. Fit Lt 65 Sqn 108, 143, 146,180,185,186 Sutherland, T.R. Fig Off 274 Sqn 416, 418,536 Sutton, EG. Fit Lt 119 Sqn 450 Svetlik, L. Fig Off 312 Sqn 85,129 Swan, J.A. Fit Lt 412 Sqn 267, 268, 351, 394 Sweeting, R.E DFC Fit Lt 174 Sqn 418 Swift, G.B. PIt Off 175 Sqn 245,352,432 Swift, N.E Pit Off 137 Sqn 321,369 Sweetman, H.N. OFC AH Sqn Ldr 3 Sqn 313,342,408 Swindells, G.J. Sgt 56 Sqn 480, 481, 505, 514, 525, 529 Switzer, W.A. Fit Lt193 Sqn 163,222, 247,250,260,261 Swornioski, A.S. Fit Lt 315 Sqn 138,142, 154 Symons, G.R Fig Off 412 Sqn 76, 254, 259,268 Syversen, T.l. Fit Sgt 332 Sqn 399, 401 Szczerbinski, L. Fit Lt 317 Sqn 458, 495, 536 Szlenlcier, T.Z. Fig Off 308 Sqn 337,380, 382 Taggart, R.J. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 50 I, 504, 520,521 Tait, G.E.R. DFC Wg Cdr 226 Sqn 46

Talalla, e.L.E DFC & Bar AH FIg Off 122 Sqn 178, 179,207,230,261.261, 304,305 Talalla, H.C.B. Wt Off 182 Sqn 178,230, 231 Tamowiecz, T. Wt Off315 Sqn 173, 173, 175 Tan, Tai-Hai Fit Lt 2 Sqn 185, 186 Tanner, E.W. AH2 Fit Lt 486 Sqn 313, 327,368,369 Tapley, RW. Fig Off 416 Sqn 376, 530, 531 Tapson, D.E. Fit Sgt 197 Sqn 85,420 Tasker, B.T. Fig Off 2 Sqn 164, 165 Tatham, B.T. Fit Lt 247 Sqn 169,375 Tauwhare, A.L. FIg Off 488 Sqn 505, 506 Taylor, A.R. TOE Fig Off 183 Sqn 116, 133,286 Taylor, C.A.M. Wt Off 453 Sqn 307, 309 Taylor, D.A. FIt Lt 21 Sqn 212, 279 Taylor, EL. Wt Off 609 Sqn 259, 261 Taylor, G.S. Fig Off 443 Sqn 514, 515 Taylor, j.T. FIt Sgt 140 Sqn 252, 320 Taylor, P.S. Fig Off 65 Sqn 108, 179, 180 Taylor, T.E DFC Pit Off 488 Sqn 240, 244,468 Taylor-Cannon, KG. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 486 Sqn 339, 341, 342,368,369,423,431,432,486,535, 535 Tebbit, D.F. Fig Off 41 Sqn 298, 430 Tegerdine, R.M. Fig Off 403 Sqn 413, 430 Temple, R.E. Fig Off 245 Sqn 63, 169, 245, 246, 251 Ter Beek, D.j. See Beek Tew, W.R. DFC TOE Fit Lt 401 Sqn 55, 184,210,228,229,409,501,504 Thiele, KF. DSO, DFC & 2 Bars TOE Sqn Ldr 41, 3 Sqns 363, 364, 370, 373,400,401,408,418,420 Thirtle, B. FIt Lt 268 Sqn 500, 501 Thorn, W.G. Fit Sgt 132 Sqn 118, 200, 233 Thomas, D.D. Lt 602 Sqn 259, 259, 261 Thomas, E.j.V. DFC FIt Lt604 Sqn 373, 376 Thomas, EMcd. Fig Off 439 Sqn 211, 212 Thomas, M. Pit Off 401 Sqn 319, 320, 407,409 Thomas, R. Pit Off 264 Sqn 252, 501, 504 Thomas, S.R Wt Off 247 Sqn 327, 330, 375 Thompson, E.D. DFC Capt 33 Sqn 287, 434,485,486 Thomson, D.j. FIg Off 486 Sqn 529, 535 Thomson, EW. Fig Off 403 Sqn 147, 201,225,324 Thomson, Kj. Fig Off 411 Sqn 395, 396 Thorne, j.N. DFC AH Pit Off 122 Sqn 166,167,216,217,232,233,261,285 Thornton, e.P. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 69, 103, 107 Thorogood, j.D. Fig Off 609, 222 Sqns 104,116,500.511 Thorpe, L. DFC Pit Off 184 Sqn 213 Thorpe, L.A. FIg Off 418 Sqn 427 Thorpe, O.E. Fit Lt401 Sqn 440 Thulin, P.A. DFC Lt 331 Sqn 76 Thurgood, C.M. Pit Off 409 Sqn 301, 401,510,511 Tickner, P.E. FIt Lt 181 Sqn 162,230, 231,302,358

Tickner, R.E. TOE Fig Off 122 Sqn 167, 219, 220, 234 Tidbury, E Pit Off 184 Sqn 115, 143 Tidemand, O. G. DFC 21Lt 332 Sqn 57, 89,161 Tidemand-johannssen, B. TOE21Lt331 Sqn Tilset, O. 2/Lt 331 Sqn 370, 373 Tjensvoll, E. Sgt 331 Sqn 76, 244, 252 Todd, A.G. DFC TOE FIt Lt 164 Sqn 110,144,146 Toman, E.K Fit Lt 306 Sqn 154, 176, 177 Tomblin, A.E. DFC Fit Lt 132 Sqn 57 Tongue, D.G. DFC & Bar Sgt410 Sqn 170,306,307,333,341,376,411 Tooley, A.M. Fit Lt 411 Sqn 218, 255 Torpy, j.L.R Pit Off 3 Sqn 407, 409, 410, 521,530,531 Tosh, S.A. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 225, 324 Town, EW. Fig Off 403 Sqn 515, 525, 528 Townsend, RP. Pit Off 175 Sqn 423, 424 Tozer, G.G. DFC Fit Lt 4 Sqn 172

Trafford, G.R. Fig Off 164 Sqn 272, 274 Trainor, H.C. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 411,401 Sqns 184, 185, 186, 187,200, 204, 205, 232, 232, 234, 238, 266, 301 Trask, K.j. FIg Off 231 Sqn 46, 47 Trayhum, G.E. Fig Off 274 Sqn 452, 453 Treleaven, E.H. Fit Lt 416 Sqn 304, 305 Trenchard, Lord H. Marshal OfRaf 147, 241 Trent, L.H. DFC Sqn Ldr 487 Sqn 17 Trevarrow, T.L. Fit Lt 130 Sqn 471, 494, 495,519,521,529,529,531 Trigg, j.e. TOE FIg Off 264 Sqn 207 Tripe, P.V.K. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 130 Sqn 401 Troke, G.W. DFC AH FIt Lt443 Sqn 252,315,316 Tronczynski, S. TOE Fig Off 306 Sqn 68, 110 Troll, D.E. Fit Lt 442 Sqn 100, 103, 187 Troll, K.A.j. FIg Off 197 Sqn 216, 217 Troll, W.A.L. DFC AH2 FIt Lt 486 Sqn 313,382,423,424 Trouillet, L. Sgt 340 Sqn 255, 263 Trumley, R.K. TOE Fit Lt 442 Sqn 433, 434 Tuck, W.H. Fig Off 464 Sqn 78, 104 Tucker, M.e. Fig Off 443 Sqn 514, 515 Tuele, W.N. Fit Lt 268 Sqn 168, 169 Tullie, P. Fit Sgt 56 Sqn 525, 529 Turley-George, D.R. DFC Fit Lt 231 Sqn 46 Turnbull, j.W. Wt Off 130 Sqn 352, 440 Turner, P.S. DFC & Bar AH Grp Capt 84 Grp, 127 Wg 400, 523,559 Turner, S.G. DFC Fit Lt 88 Sqn 257 Turner, V.L.j. DFC & Bar TOE Fig Off 56 Sqn 371, 373, 409, 448, 457, 534 Turner, W.E Sgt 80 Sqn 489, 490, 491, 492 Turney, H.E. DFC TOE Fig Off 222 Sqn 432,440,441,467,497,500,511 Turl, C.E. Fit Sgt 107 Sqn 22, 27 Turton, G. FIt Sgt 257 Sqn 174, 175 Tvedte, j. DFC Capt 332 Sqn 208 Twigg, E. Wt Off 274 Sqn 368, 369, 516 Twinn, e.L. Pit Off 69 Sqn 413 Twomey, M. Fig Off 129 Sqn 138, 142 Ullestadt, O. Capt 80 Sqn 440, 441 Umbers, A.E. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 486 Sqn 300, 330, 353, 381, 382,397, 408, 409, 424, 535 Upham, H.G. Fig Off 438 Sqn 308, 309 Urquhart, A.j. Fig Off 442Sqn 398, 400 Usher, D.e. DFC, Dfm AH Sqn Ldr 74, 274 Sqns 500 Uydens, A. FIg Off 349 Sqn 233, 337 Vaessen, e.L. DFC Fig Off 410 Sqn 158, 167,202,293,294,325,359,360,364 Van Der Velde, A. See Velde Vane, j.H. Fig Off 184 Sqn 528, 529, 531 Vaneckhoudt, A. FIg Off 350 Sqn 512, 528 Van Eijk, Ej.H. See Eijk Van Harselaar, E.C. See Harselaar Van Lierde, R. See Lierde Varey, A. Dfm AH Fig Off 66 Sqn 70 Varley, G.W. DFC TOE FIt Lt 222 Sqn 150, 154,432,440,441,466,467 Vassiliades, B.M. DFC, Dfm AH Fig Off 122, 3 Sqns 94, 98, 172, 178, 179,211, 212,252,254,407,409,430, 432.448.466, 466, 467 Vatcher, W.e. DFC FIg Off 174 Sqn 231, 233 Veiersted, E. Sgt332 Sqn 170, 186, 187 Veldte, A. A. Van Der DFC Sqn Ldr 349 Sqn 133,226,292.328,417,418 Venn, A.j. Pit Off 180 Sqn 271.348 Vernon-jarvis, E.H.C. DFC Sqn Ldr 175, 168 Sqns 82, 403, 406, 412 Verran, RS.E. DFC TOE Fig Off 80 Sqn 365,366,417,418,492,493 Vickers, A.H. Fig Off 438 Sqn 313, 314 Vickers, G.P. DFC Sqn Ldr 88 Sqn 257 Villien, A. Sgt 41 Sqn 397 Vines, j.H. Fig Off 69 Sqn 516 Vink, j. 320 Sqn 61, 348 Vipond, R DFC Capt 652 Sqn 177 Vlotman, C.j. DFC TOE Pit Off 488 Sqn 170 Vybiral, T. DFC Wg Cdr 134 Airfield 69, 87,156,561 Waddell, R.C..A. DSO, DFC Wg Cdr 39 Wg 398, 555 Waddy, l.D. DFC Sqn Ldr 164 Sqn 272, 274

Wagtskjold, W.j. FIg Off 412 Sqn 399, 401,437 Wakefield, KG.j. Sqn Ldr 69 Sqn 251, 252 Waleeman, H.E FIg Off 197 Sqn 278, 324 Walleer, A.e. Sgt 33 Sqn 504, 509 Walker, B.R. DFC Sqn Ldr 442 Sqn 60 Walker, D.R. DFC AH Wg Cdr 124 Wg 50,557 Walleer, j.E. DFC & 2 Bars AHWg Cdr 144 Wg 60,558,564 Walleer, j.E Fig Off 222 Sqn 532, 536 Walker, j.W. FIg Off 168 Sqn 176, 177 Walker, N.W. DFC TOE Fit Lt 3 Sqn 525, 528, 531, 536 Walleer, P.R. DFC AHWg Cdr 136 Wg 60,561 Walker, RH. Sqn Ldr 441 Sqn 260, 295, 304 Walleer, S.K FIg Off 122 Sqn 230, 231, 261 Walleer-Lutz, R.W. Fig Off 247 Sqn 69, 169,283,302 Walkington, G. Fit Lt 222 Sqn 497, 497, 500 Wall, V. DFC Fig Off 226 Sqn 46 Wallace, A.e. TOE Lt Cdr All. 401 Sqn 294,295,302 Wallace, P. Fig Off 411 Sqn 181, 182 Wallace, T.Y. Dfm AH Sqn Ldr 609 Sqn 337,338 Walley, RA. Fig Off 65 Sqn 108, 180, 206,207,269 Wallington, W.F. DFC Sqn Ldr 107, 487 Sqns 40 Wallis, W.M. FIg Off 56 Sqn 492, 495 Walmsley, H.E. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 132, 130,350 Sqns 40, 57, 62, 352, 360,451,470,471,492,494,495,500, 504,509,510,511,512,514,516,534 Walsh, D. Fit Lt 21 Sqn 103, 179, 180 Walsh, j.R FIg Off 410 Sqn 156,238, 254 Walz, D.M. TOE Fit Lt 443 Sqn 96, 164, 165,309,432 Wandzilale, S. DFC TOE Fit Lt 308 Sqn 274,275 Wansink, j.B.j. Wt Off 33 Sqn 509, 515 Ward, B. Wt Off 487 Sqn 78, 207 Warfield, W. TOE Fig Off 421 Sqn 163, 274,275,349 Warhurst, W. Fig Off 66 Sqn 359, 360 Waring, E.P. DFC Pit Off 107 Sqn 238, 406 Warnes, G.B. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 263 Sqn 70 Warren, D. DFC TOE Fit Lt 66 Sqn 360 Warren, G.D. Sgt 130 Sqn 470, 471, 481 Warren, W.T. Fit Sgt 19 Sqn 98,111 Wathieu, j.D.E Fig Off 609 Sqn 343, 434 Watkins, A.A. DFC Fig Off 440 Sqn 113 Watkins, D.j. DFC Pit Off 132, 350 Sqns 97,97,200,501,504,510,512,519, 521,528 Watson, A.E Fig Off 264 Sqn 170, 214, 236,241,254 Watson, A.P.B. FIt Lt 222 Sqn 500, 511 Watson, l. DFC Fit Lt 488 Sqn 368 Watson, j. DFC FIg Off 197 Sqn 85, 166, 167 Watson, R.A. Pit Off 440 Sqn 225, 377, 377 Wall, j.A. Fig Off 410 Sqn 364, 366 Wall, j.l.A. DFC Capt 182, 137 Sqns 368,369,514 Watt, j.O.A. Fit Sgt 411 Sqn 423, 424 Watt, L.N. TOE FIt Lt 401 Sqn 451, 504, 530,531 Wallon, P.W.e. Fit Sgt 33 Sqn 485.486 Walls, K Fig Off 56 Sqn 316, 352, 358, 359,371,373 Walls, L.W. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 616 Sqn 519,541 Walls, R.G. TOE Wg Cdr 488 Sqn 361, 515 Walvedt, RA. 21Lt 331 Sqn 371, 373 Waudby, W.N. DFC Fit Sgt 245 Sqn 62, 63 Wangh, G.W. Fig Off 247 Sqn 25, 47 Weaver, e.1li DFC, Dfm AH Pit Off 403 Sqn 58, 59, 65, 69 Webb, D.e. Sgt 65 Sqn 178, 179, 180 Webb, G.EH. DFC & Bar Wg Cdr 124 Wg 523, 528, 554, 557 Weber, G.R. Fig Off 403 Sqn 263, 454 Webster, j.A. FIg Off 409 Sqn 325, 360 Webster, RO. FIg Off 132 Sqn 97, 97

Wedzik, M. DFC TOE Fit Lt 306 Sqn 111 Weeks, W.R DFC Fig Off 442 Sqn 172, 175,234,325 Wegg, D.W.j. Pit Off 443 Sqn 252, 316, 349 Wegrzyn, A. Fit Lt 302 Sqn 406, 420, 422 Welford, j.W. Fit Lt604 Sqn 396, 451 Wellings, D.M. DFC Sqn Ldr 613 Sqn 326 Wells, C.R. Fit Sgt 19 Sqn 161,269 Wells, E.P. DSO, DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr All. 144 Wg 86 Wells, j.e. DFC & Bar AH Grp Capt 609 Sqn, 146 Wg 338, 341, 345, 434, 454, 565 West, P. FIg Off 3 Sqn 531, 536 Westenra, D.E DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 65 Sqn 76, 107, 108, 108, 143, 146, 180,214

Westly, E. DFC TOE Capt 332 Sqn 163 Weston, e.E. DFC Pit Off 604 Sqn 107 Weston, j.M. Fit Lt 80 Sqn 297, 352, 359 Wheeler, A.E.C. DFC FIt Lt 2 Sqn 95 Wheeler, EE. DFC Pit Off 174 Sqn 430, 543 Wheeler, H. Fit Sgt 266 Sqn 251, 261, 484 Wheler, T.R. DFC TOE Pit Off 411 Sqn 56,217,218,251 Whitamore, j.A. DFC FIg Off 182 Sqn 348 Whitby, M.j. DFC Wt Off 137 Sqn 317 White, e.D.B. DFC Fig Off 487 Sqn 85 White, L.S.M. DFC Fit Lt 485 Sqn 106 White, R.A.E. Fit Sgtl64 Sqn 272, 274 White, R.j. Fig Off 69 Sqn 154, 155 Whittaker, W.D. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 324, 325 Wicken, j.H. DFC FIg Off 418 Sqn 468 Wickell, j.e. Wg Cdr 418 Sqn 427, 429 Wickham, P.R.W. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 122 Sqn, 122 Wg 24, 55, 60, 62, 555 Wicky, E.G. DFC Pit Off 464 Sqn 413 Wiersnm, EK. FIg Off 247 Sqn 339, 351, 375 Wigley, P. DFC Fit Ltl9 Sqn 38,85 Wilby, E.j. Pit Off 107 Sqn 336,483 Wilcocks, j.A.L. Wt Off 403 Sqn 201, 243 Wilcox, R.E(?Wilcock) FIg Off 26 Sqn 140,143 Wilde, L.A. Lt410 Sqn 147, 156 Wiley, B.K. Fig Off 613 Sqn 275, 276 Wilkinson, H. FIg Off 132 Sqn 305, 307 Wilkinson, j.E AHFlg Off 41 Sqn 491, 492,501,504,517,518 Wilkinson, R. Sgt 98 Sqn 455 Will, D.P. Fit Lt 65 Sqn 180, 244 Williams, A. Fig Off 65 Sqn 108, 280 Williams, A.A. Fit Lt 401 Sqn 151, 154, 223 Williams, B. DFC AH2 Fit Lt 605 Sqn 528 Williams, D.E.G. FIg Off 98 Sqn 338, 420 Williams, E.C. Fit Lt 403 Sqn 107, 146, 147 Williams, E.T. FIt Sgt 65 Sqn 178, 179 Williams, G.W. DFC Fig Off 613 Sqn 64 Williams, H. Sgt 613 Sqn 64 Williams, j.EH. TOEFltLtl98, 193, 257 Sqns 232, 233 Williams, j.H. Pit Off 132 Sqn 40, 57 Williams, R.C. DFC FIg Off 2 Sqn 277, 280 Williams, RT. Fit Sgt 65 Sqn 107, 108, 108,109,109,180

Williams, R U. Fit Lt 183 Sqn 305, 307 Williams, S.L. Wt Off 247 Sqn 333, 375 Williams, S.S. AH2 Fit Lt 486 Sqn 317, 360 Williamson, P.G.K DFC & Bar AH Fit Lt 219 Sqn 401 Willis, A.T. Fit Ltl27 Sqn 463, 467 Willis, N. Fit Sgt 56 Sqn 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 528, 529 Willmoll, A.e. DFC & Bar FIg Off 264 Sqn 156, 165, 167,251 Wilson, A.G. DFC Wg Cdr 487, 21 Sqns 40,493 Wilson, e.D.W. TOE Fig Off 411 Sqn 491, 492, 519, 524, 528 Wilson, EA.W.j. DFC AH Pit Off 441 Sqn 101, 132, 133, 140 Wilson, j.G. Fig Off 222 Sqn 510, 512 Wilson, j.W.H. DFC Fit Lt 245 Sqn 76, 161,245

Wilson, L.H. FIg Off 442 Sqn 225, 326 Wilson, P. Fit Lt438 Sqn 157,377,381 Wilson, P.G. Fig Off 2 Sqn 174, 175 Wilson, RC. Fit Lt 421 Sqn 177, 186, 186 Wilson, Rj.M. DFC Fit Sgt 164 Sqn 144, 146 Winski,L.FltSgt317Sqn 170,171 Winslow, T.B. Fit Lt268 Sqn 96, 114, 115 Winter, G.A. Fit Sgt 98 Sqn 103,412 Wojciechowski, T. Fit Sgt 317 Sqn 170, 171 Woloschuk, L. Fig Off 414 Sqn 338, 379, 382 Wonnacoll, G. DFC & Bar AH Sqn Ldr 414 Sqn 45, 68, 69, 364, 379, 381 Wood, E.P. DFC TOE Sqn Ldr 403 Sqn 157,201,321,324,325,341 Wood, j.B. Pit Off 257 Sqn 80, 81 Wood, j.E. Pit Off 486 Sqn 401, 531 Wood, L.A. FIt Lt 274 Sqn 334, 335, 406, 408,431,432 Wood, N.W. Fit Lt 19 Sqn 267, 268 Wood, T.R. FIg Off 604 Sqn 252, 468, 469 Woodill, A.K. PIt Off 401 Sqn 365, 366, 394,531 Woodhouse, E.H. Fit Sgt 66 Sqn 274, 275,335 Woodhouse, H Dec.A. DFC AH Grp Capt 16 Wg 37, 93, 549, 553 Woodhouse, K.B. Sgt 401 Sqn 24, 81 Woodman, B.W. DFC AH Wt Off 130 Sqn 470, 471, 510, 511, 521, 522, 523, 524, 528, 534 Woods, L.W. TOE Fit Lt 401 Sqn 354, 401,492,501,504,514 Woodward, E.D. FIt Lt 268 Sqn 127, 133 Woodward, H.P. FIg Off 464 Sqn 96, 207 Woodward, L.T. Wt Off 19 Sqn 75, Ill, 243 Woolfries, j. Fit Lt274 Sqn 410,411, 418,420 Woolley, EG. DFC & Bar TOE Sqn Ldr 602,41,350,130 Sqns 201, 422, 423, 446,451, 482,499,510,511,513,514,520,521, 529,534 Worbey, S.T. Fig Off 3 Sqn 520, 521 Worley, D.R. Pit Off 3 Sqn 381, 382, 394, 470,520,521 Worrall, EO. Fit Sgt 180 Sqn 228 Woxen, T. DFC Lt 331 Sqn 371, 373 Wray, j.B. DFC TOEWg Cdr 122 Wg 327,335,357,358,359,365,366,555, 557 Wright, E. Wt Off 3 Sqn 525, 528, 531 Wright, j.D. Sqn Ldr 266 Sqn 253,320 Wright, j.S. FIg Off 63,168 Sqns 55, 81 Wright, j.S.B. FIt Lt 3 Sqn 407, 409, 411, 412,413 Wright, M.j. Fit Lt 65,122 Sqns 38,108, 233, 234, 304, 305 Wright, R.B. Fig Off 226 Sqn 41, 76 Wright, W.A. Fit Sgt 439 Sqn 362, 364 Wykeham-Barnes, P.G. DSO & Bar, DFC AH Grp Capt 140 Wg 218, 563 Wyman, e.P.B. Fig Off 401 Sqn 218, 234 Wyper, P. Wt Off 175 Sqn 468, 528 Yeatman, j.EP. FIg Off 485 Sqn 144, 146 Young, EB. FIg Off 442 Sqn 172, 175, 187,320,326,336 Young, R Fit Lt 403 Sqn 521, 523 Young, RL. TOE Fig Off219 Sqn 364, 482,483,499 Young, W.O. Fit Lt 402 Sqn 366, 367, 505, 520, 521 Younge, j.e. Fig Off 414 Sqn 202, 205, 228,281 Yule, R.D. DFC & Bar AH Wg Cdr 125 Wg 50, 62, 64, 557 Zak, W. DFC TOEWg Cdr 18 Wg 51, 561 Zary, H.P.M. DFC AH Sqn Ldr 421, 403 Sqns 38, 100, 103, 183, 184,229,229, 231, 373,504,505,515 Zumbach, j. DFC & Bar AHWg Cdr 135 Wg 212

I-

GERMAN PERSONNEL Adolf, Rainer Uffz 12.1jG 278 Abrens, Peter Fw 3.1jG 2624,46 Alf, Rudolf Fw jG 2 29 Altnorthoff, Ernst-Georg Obit 13.1jG 27 433

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Arnold, Walter Fw 9.fJG 27 371 Asmus, Erich Lt l./JG 26 485 Aue, Lothar Uffz 6.fJG 2 112 Banzhaff, Willi Obfw 3.fKdo Nowotny 335 Bilr, Heinz Maj JG 3 377 Barann, Leo Obfw III.fJG I 225,230,243 Bartl, Uffz JG lOS 70 Bachmann, Lt l./JG 2 275 Barschen, Obfw 8.fZG I 26 Baudach, Helmut Fw JG 2 29 Baumann, Lothar Hptm l./JG 77 295 Baumgarten, Erwin Lt IL/jG 27 463, 466 Becker, Paul Lt IV.fJG 27 144 Beese, Arlur Obit l./JG 26 24 Bellaire, Obit lll./JG 54 370 Benz, Ofhr Il./JG 26 319 Bittrich, Willi Obergrfhr II. SS Panzer Korps 293 Blaskowitz, Johannes Genoberst Armeegruppe G, Armee Gruppe H

134,454 Blickle, Wilhelm Lt 3.fJG 26 492 Bocker, Ogfr l./JG 26 492 Boehm, Fw 7.fJG 26 80 Boer, Lt ll./JG 4 316 Bo1z, Helmut-Felix Maj l./JG 226 Borreck, Hans-Joachim Uffz ll./JG 26 280 Borris, Karl Hptm l./JG 26 24, 78, 93, 274,400,422,499 Boving, Ernst-August Lt 3.fNJG 2 412 Braendle, Kurt Maj II./JG 3 45 Braun, Eva Adolf Hitler's Mistress/Wife

520 Breger, Paul Obit lll./JG 54 368 Brendel, Martin Fw l./JG 2 22 Brisch, Helmut Uffz 9.fJG 54 431 Bromen, Wilhelm Obit I(Pz)./SG 9519, 519,520 Buhligen, Kurt Hptm Il./JG 2 23, 23, 24, 26,33 Bulowius, Gen Luftflt 3 247

Burghard, ObIt l./Nagr 3 524 Busch, Wlademar Uffz II./JG 26 200 Buscherz, Maximilian II.fJG 2 24 Buss, Otto Ofw 14./JG 51 522 Buttmann, Hans-ChristoI' Hptm, I./KG 51320,321,323 Butzmann, Hermann Uffz 5./JG 26 57 Christmann, Herbert Obit 2.fJG II 269 Christoph, Friedrich Uffz 6.fKG 51 399 Clade, Emil Obit 12.fJG 27 411 Corall, Heinrich Fw 5.fJG 2 112 Corinth, Uffz 4.fJG 26 304 Crump, Peter Lt 6.fJG 26, III./JG 54, IV.fJG 2637,39,45,54,201,230,233, 368,407,422,448,525 Culemann, Hans-Gunnar Lt IV./jG 27 166,183 Czerny, Engelbert Uffz L/jG 27 163 Dahne, Paul-Heinrich Obit 12.fJG 11 308 Dawans, von Gen Cis, 21.PzDiv 147, 149 Dehmer, Johaones Gefr Alarmst./JG 11

109 Deicke, Joachim Hptm Il./JG 77 30 I Delatowski, Edmund Uffz l./KG 51 327 Dessoy, Lorenz Obfw JG 2 39 Diekert, Klaus Uffz l./jG 2 33, 38 Dietrich, Sepp SS Obergrfhr I SS PzKps 147,149 Dohlmann, Genlt 181, 344 Donitz, Karl Grossadmiral German

Naval Chief/Head Of State 505, 520 Dortenmann, Hans Obit III.fJG 54, IV./jG 26 178,205,230,370,407,467, 485, 492, 504 Diillberg, Ernst Maj IILI)G 27 263 Duhme, Ernst Fw 12.fJG 27 431 Ebener, Kurt Lt ll.fJG II 258,267 Eberbach, Gen 2l.PzDiv 149 Ebersberger, Kurt Hptm 7.fJG 26 42 Eder, Georg-Peter Obit Il./JG 26 263 Ehret, Karl Fw 7.fJG 26 41 Eisenberg, Hans Fw 13.fjG 26 471 Ellenrieder, Xavier Lt l./JG 26, 4.fJG 26 159,232,303,406 Elsner, Lt III.fJG 2 208 Enenkel, Emil Obgefr 2./JG 3 47 Engelbrecht, Fw III.fJG 2147,159 Enser, Uffz III.fJG 54 176 Ernst, Ogfr 7(Sturm).fJG 4524 Esser, Heinrich Uffz Alarmst./JG II 109 Esser, Uffz Ill. /jG I 230 Ettmuller, Lt JG 30 I 490 Felden, Hans Hpt I(F).f123 420

Fischer, E Lt 6.fJG 26 304 Fischer, Kurt Lt L/NJG I 347 Flecks, Reinhard Obfw II./JG I 226,238 Focke, Wulf Lt LI)G 77 295 Frank, Alfred Lt III./KG 76 365 Frese, Hans FjFw JG 3 39 Frey, Erich Hptm II.fNJG 1 325 Freytag, Siegfried Maj lI.fJG 77 307 Friedrich, Olto Uffz 14.fJG 26 440 Frob, Karl Uffz L/jG 26 476.492 Galland, Adolf GenJt lnspekteur der Jagdflieger 356 Galland, Wilhelm-Ferdinand Maj II./JG 2623 Gallbach, Uffz II.fJG I 228 Gehrke, Jeinz Uffz III.fJG 26 354 Georgi, RudolfUffz 7.fJG 26 80 Gerth, Karl-Georg Uffz III./JG 26 435 Glunz, AdolfObfw JG 55, 55,169,319 Goebbels, Josef Reich Propaganda Minister 520

Goltzsch, Kurt Obfw Il./JG 2 23, 26 Goos, Ludwig Ofw lIl.fJG 54 407 Goring, Hermann Reichsmschl C-In-C,

Luftwaffe 189 Grislawski, Alfred Hptm lll./JG I, Il./JG 53 216, 225, 225, 233, 255 Grobe, Uffz III.fJG 54230 Gromotka, Fritz Obfw III.fJG 27 262 Gross, Alfred Lt III.fJG 54, ll_/jG 26 176, 206,213,280 Griinlinger, Walter Obfw Stab.fJG 26 33 Gunther, Joachim Lt L/jG 26 349, 431 Guhl, Hermann Lt 2./JG 26 521 Gunther, Joachim Lt 3.fJG 26 275, 319 Hackl, Anton Maj II.fJG 26 331 Hackl, Kurt Uffz L/jG 27 499 Hartigs, Hans Obit l./JG 26 231 Hasenberg, Hptm IL/jG 4 316 Hauer, Peter Obit 5.fJG 27 463 Heckmann, Alfred Lt L/JG 26 259, 294, 301 Heckmann, Hubert Lt lIl.fJG I 363 Hegener, Hans Fw III.fJG 54 407 Heilmann, Willi Obit 9.fJG 54 371, 408, 466 Hein, Kurt Uffz IV.fJG 26 469 Heinemann, Ernst Lt 4.fJG 26 28 Heitemann, Hans Obfw 8.fJG 26 28 Hendrix, Ludwig Uffz Alarmst./JG 11 109 Hemming, Ernst Fw l./jG 233 Herkner, Wolfgang Obit 6.fJG 27 441 Heumann, Wolfgang Uffz IV.fJG 27 363 Hiebl, Georg Obit L/jG II 181,359 Hitler, Adolf German Fuhrer 134, 135, 159, 189,244,400,437,520 Hoehme, Johannes Uffz 5./JG 26 54 Hoffmann, Johannes Uffz Il./JG 26 331 Hoffmann, Reinhold Fw 15.fJG 3501 Hoffmann, Richard Fw l./KG 51 423 Hofmann, Wilhelm Obit 8./jG 26, 5.fJG 2640,68,176,178,185,214,265,271, 276,301,319,468 Hohagen, Erich Hptm L/jG 2 159, 159, 162,179 Hollain, Erich Uffz 5.fJG 2 107 Holzwarth, Hans ObIt 12.fKG 51407 Hoppe, Helmut Lt 4.fJG 26 28, 37, 55 Hornig, Gerhard Lt 1./jG 77 295 Holt, Karl Fw 6.fJG 26 508 Hrdlicka, Franz Hptm Il./JG 77 307 Hueb1, Rudolf Obfw l./JG I 176 Hufferer, Albert Uffz JG 26 492 Humburg, Heinrich Obfw III./JG 26308 Huppertz, Herbert Hptm 8.fJG 232,39, 131,131,132 Ihlefeld, Herbert Obstlt JG I 215,218, 230,233 Ilk, lro Maj IL/jG 300 303 Jabs, Hans-Joachim Maj Stab.fNjG I 98, 99 Jacobs, Ludwig Obfw 5.fJG 2 23 Jentzsch, Paul Fw I./JG 26 326 Just, Werner FhjUffz II.fJG 27 316 Kaiser, Herbert Obfw lIJ.fJG I 215,216 Kaiser-Dieckhoff, Lt I./JG 77 400 Kamsties, Hptm ll.fNjG 2 368 Kanzler, Stefan Fw 5./JG 27 469 Karbeum, Otto Uffz 4.fJG 2 111 Kehl, Dietrich Lt 4.fJG 26 33 Kemethmuller, Heinz Obfw III.fJG 26 64,64, 185,275,294 Kempf, Karl-Heinz Lt 1II./jG 2627, 172 Kiefner, George Lt L/jG 26 85 Kienle, Olto Fw 14.fJG 27 451 Kietzkop, Uffz 12.fNJG 1321 Kirchener, Gunther Fhjfw 3.fJG I 498

Kirchmayr, Rudiger von Obit II.fJG 1 155, 174,226 Kirschner, Joachim Hptm JG 3 39 Klein, Erich Uffz Il./JG 26 308 Kluge, Hans-Gunther von GenFmCdr,

Armeegr 189,227,248,262,267 Knobeloch, Karl-Hein Obfw II. /jG 26 331 Knoke, Heinz Hptm III.fJG I 261 Koepf, Thomas Lt l./JG 2 159, 162 Kohler, Arnfield Fw III.fJG 54 407 Konrad, Lt l./jG 26 492, 525 Kopp, Walter Lt IO.fJG 26 399 Kosse, Wolfgang Hptm 13./jG 3 363, 382(N) Kraft, Gerhard Uffz ll.fJG 26 200 Krakowitzer, Friedrich Lt 7.fJG 51 186 Kraus, Theobald Obit III.fJG 26 435, 436 Kraus, Wolfgang Gefr III.fJG 26 354 Kreisel, Karl Fw III.fJG 54 370 Kreth, Georg Uffz 6.fJG 26 505 Krinner, Uffz l./Nagr 3524 Kroll, Gerhard Fw IV.fJG 26 466 Kruppke, Fritz Fw 9.fJG 2 42 Kruger, Fritz Uffz 13.fJG 27 431 Krupinski, Walter Hptm III./JG 26 308 Kuffner, Andreas Hptm I(Pz)./SG 9 519, 5]9 Kutscha, Herbert Hptm Il./JG 3 220 Lammmle, Hans-Georg Obit Il./KG 51 365 Lampferhoff, Uffz Il./JG 26 339 Lang, Emil Hptm IlI./jG 54, II./JG 26 145,155,171,178,181,213,213,271, 274,275,280 Lange, Erich Fw 10./JG 54 431 Lange, Gunther Uffz I1I./JG 54 408 Lau, Fw IlLIIG I 230 Laub, Karl Obfw IlI./JG 26 40, 64, 354 Leder, Ogfhr I./JG 26 319 Lederer, Uffz I1I./JG 3 210 Lehner, Alfred Lt I./JG 5 225 Lehr, Reinhold Lt L/NJG I 398 Lemke, Siegfried Obit I./JG 2, III./JG 2 33,38,39, ISS, 155, 159, 162, 164,267 Leonhardt, Karl Hptm Il./JG 11 258 Leuschell, Rudolf Obit 10.IIG 26 23 Lieb, Hans Obfhr I l./JG 27 411 Lissack, Gerhard Uffz 7./JG 2657 Lockmiiller, Heinz Obfw 2./KG 101 160 Lubke, Wolfgang Lt IL/KG 51 358 Lucas, Werner Hptm II./JG 3 42 Ludwig, Eugen Fw III./JG 54 24 Luckenbach, Uffz J O./JG 1I 102 Maetzke, Eberhardt Hptm I1I./J G 1 229 Maletz, Gerhard Uffz 6./JG 26 64 Marischka, Hans Fw 5./JG 26 493 Marquardt, Heinz Fhnj IV./JG 51522, 522 Matoni, Walter Hptm Il./JG 26, I./JG II 57,64,178,201,201,213,313 Matte, Helmut Lt Stab./JG 4 301, 304 Maximowitz, Willi Fw IV./JG 3501 May, Fritz Obfw JG 2 22 Mayer, Hans Lt 7./JG 26 80 Mayer, WtlheIm Lt 7./JG 26, 5./JG 26 74, 265,308, 326, 339, 395, 395 Meimberg, Julius Hptm II./JG 53272 Meyer, Hans Fw I./KG 51 366 Meyer, Kurt Genmaj 12'h SS PzDiv 256 Michalski, Gerhard Maj JG 4 30 I, 308, 308 Mietusch, Klaus Hptm IlI./JG 26 38, 39, 64,64,221,294 Model, Walther Fm Cdr, Armee Gruppe B 293 Moller, Uffz 7./JG 2304 Moritze, Walter Lt 5./JG 3143 Mors, August Lt I./JG 5 216, 225, 229 Morsch, Wilhelm Ofw I(Pz)./SG 9 519 Moser, Hans Fw 9./JG 27 185 Moser, Werner Uffz III./JG I 233 Mullieise, Eduard Lt Stab.Il./JG 77 301 Muller, Hermann Fhjfw 7./JG 27 426, 466 Muller-Berneck, Gerhard Fw 15./JG 26 466 Munsche, Karl-Heinz Obfw III./JG 2 204,217 Napierski, Walter Fw I./JG 26 521 Naumann, Johannes Hptm 6./JG 26 24, 37,38,57 Nelte, Werner Ofw I./JG 400487 Neu, Wolfgang Obit 4./JG 26 93 Neumann, Arlur Uffz I./JG 26 294 Neumann) Bruno Fw 14./JG 3

Neumann, Walter Uffz LIIG 27 499 Neummeyer, Hans Hptm LIIG 27 353

ey, Robert Uffz 6./JG 26 45 Niedereichholz, Kurt Fw IL/jG 1 21 Niessen, Manfred Ogfr 3.IIG 26 431 Nitz, Horst Lt III./JG 2159,164,185,181 Nossek, Rainer ObIt I(Pz)./SG 9519,5]9 Oeckel, Hans Lt III./JG 26 181 Ossenkopf, Karl-Heinz Lt I./JG 26 400, 498 Pankow, Alexander Uffz I./JG 26 426 Pape, Lt 9./JG 26 303 Peltz, Dietrich GenLt Inspekteur der

Kampfflieger 356 Pentzlen, Hans Uffz 12./JG 2 78 Pfeiffer, Gunter Uffz 5./JG 26 466 Philipp, Wtlhelm Obfw IV./JG 54, Il./JG 54370 Piffer, Anton Rudolf I.t l./jG I 165 Plazer, Gerhard von Fw I./JG 26 499 Poeltgen, Rainer Obfw 3./JG 27 23 Polster, Wolfgang Fw Il.IIG 26 430 Prager, Hans Lt II./JG 26, 15./JG 26 38, 131,205,209,271,371,466,477 Priller, Josef Obstlt)G 26 131 Puckrun, Lt IV./JG 54 352 Quaet-Faslem, Klaus Maj JG 3 42 Quandel, Walter Uffz Il./JG 77 307 Radener, Waldemar Lt 7./JG 26 74 Radlauer, Heinz Fw IV./JG 51 522 Ramthun, Friedrich Lt LIIG 26 476 Rathje, Hermann Uffz I1I./JG 54 407 Rechenberg, Hans Lt Il./JG 1 520 Reinert, Ernst-Wilhelm Lt IV./JG 27166, 204 Reis, H. Fw 2./KG 100 92 Reischer, Peter Obit II./JG 26 349 Reschke, Willi Ofw Stab./JG 301 486 Ressignier, Alex Graf Hptm I./NJG 1 412 Rey, Gunther Uffz 14./JG 26 440 Rey, Uffz IlI./JG 54370 Rheker, Albert ObIt 2./KG 101 160 Richter, Ernst Obfw II./JG II 258 Richter, Hans-Georg Lt 5./KG 51 422 Rippert, Horst Fw 13./JG 27, IL/JG 27 431,520 Ritzi, Max Uffz 9./JG 27 447 Rodel, Gustav Obstlt JG 27 185 Roesinger, Uffz 15./JG 27 351 Rohde, Gerhard Ofw Il./KG 51 426 Rohrmann, Fritz Uffz II./JG 26476 Roller, Robert Obfw 6./JG 3 40 Rommel, Erwin GenFmCdr, Armeegr B

134,135,148,220,222,222,223,248 Rudschinat, Siegfried Uffz 10./JG II III Rueffler, Helmut Obfw IL/jG 3 220 Rundstedt, Gerd von GenFmCdr,

Armeegr West 134, 135, 148, 149, 189, 293 Rupp, Uffz III./JG 54 370 Russ, Karl Uffz I./JG 26 399 Russ, Otto Lt ILliG 53 200 Saar, Oskar Obit IV./JG 27 140 Sander, Friedrich Uffz JG 2 102 Sanio, Horst Uffz 2./KG 51 347 Sattler, Sepp Ofw Stab./JG 30 I 486 Schauder, Paul Hptm IO./JG 26, Stab ILliG 26 164,217,221,505 Shenk, Herbert Lt 7./NJG 11 518 Scheyda, Erich Ofhr 3./JG 26 102 SchleeI', Erwin Uffz IlLIIG 54 143, 176, 178

Semrau, Paul Maj NJG 2416,416 Sepperl, Uffz 14./JG 27 451 Seyss-Inquart, Reischkomm Governor-

General, Holland 336 Shitkowsky, Gunther Ofw IV./JG 26 477 Sill, Gunther Uffz I./JG I 399 Simsch, Siegfried Hptm 10./JG II 109 Sinz, Hermann Fw IV./JG 26 477 Soder, Kurt Uffz IV./JG 26 477 Soeffing, Waldemar I.t 2./JG 26 422, 426, 476,485,492,499,518 Sonntag, Gerhard Fw 12./JG 27 144 Spangenberg, Paul Obit L/jG 1 511 Spate, Wolfgang Maj IV./JG 54 304 Specht, Gunther Maj JG 11 305 Speidel, Gen COS to Rommel & von Kluge 248 Sperde, Hugo von GenFm Luftflotte 3

134 Spickers, Johann Ofw III./jG 54 407 Spiegel, Arthur Uffz 3./JG 26 46 Spitz, Renatus Uffz 10./JG 54 408 Spreckels, Robert Fw Aalborgst/JG 11 164,179 Stahnke, Kurt Uffz 7./JG 2680 Staiger, Hermann Hptm 10./JG 2, IL/jG I 39, 176, 254 Steckbarth, Manfred Lt 13./JG 27 441 Stenglein, Hans Uffz II./JG 27 432,440, 470 Steinkamp, Joachim Fw III./JG 54 370 Sterr, Hwinrich Lt IV./JG 54 304 Stieghan, Gunther Uffz 8./ JG 1 412 Stiegler, Franz Obit IlI./JG 27 261 Stiemer, Gerhard Lt 3.fJG 1 498 Stoll, Werner Obit I1I./JG 26 178 Student, Kurt Gen I.Airborne Armee

293 Sturm, Gustav Fw I./JG 27155,163,164 Sundermeyer, Rolf Lt IlI./JG 54 407 Swoboda, Fritz Lt 12./JG 2379 Talkennberg, Manfred Uffz 8./JG 26101 Taubert, Helmut Fw 8./JG 26325 Tauchen, Alfred Lt III./JG 54 144 Todt, Ernst Lt IlI./JG 26 38 Toerpisch, Bernhard Lt 4./JG 26 57 Treuberg, Eberhard Graf von Obit I1I./JG 3 233 Ullmann, Peter Ofhr 4./JG 2 III Umlauft, Max Uffz II./JG 2 23 Ungar, Fw III./JG 54 370 Utz, Hans FhjUffz II. /JG 27 315 Venjakob, Otto Uffz III./JG 54 140 Verhoven, Werner Fw IL/jG 26 326 Vogt, Gerhard Lt ll./JG 26 54,69, 176, 274,277,294,331,339 Wachowiak, Friedrich Lt 7./JG 52 220 Wagner, Gottfried Fw I(Pz)./SG 9 519 Walter, Helmut Fw l./JG 26 518 Weck, Guenther Uffz IL/JG 3 42 Weiss, Robert Hptm III./JG 54 140,166, 166,174,181,205,369,369,370 Weissenberger, Theodor Hptm I./JG 5 216,218,225,229 Weyrich, Rudolf Fw 5./JG 26 55 Wiegand, Gerd Uffz 8./JG 26 32, 33, 38, 57 Wieland, Edmund Fw JG 27 213 Wiese, Johannes Maj JG 77 365 Wiese, Fw LI)G 27 230 Wilck, Otto Fw 6./JG 26 508 Winkel, Eberhard Hptm 5./KG 51 334 Winkler, Max Ofhr I./JG 27163,230 Wittke, Paul Ofw 13./JG 27 426

Schlimper, Johannes Uffz 6./jG 26 518 Schmid, Rudolf Lt I./JG 11 226, 269 Schmidt, Franz Uffz 9./JG 26 436 Witzmann, Werner Fw 5./KG 51 422 Schmidt, Gottfried Lt II./JG 26 27 Schmidt, Gunther Hptm 4./NJG I 302 Woelke, Burghardt Fhr Il./JG 26 40 Schmidt, Heinz Uffz 5./JG 3 143 Woffen, Anton Lt lI./JG 27 440 Schmidt, Jacob Obit 3./JG 2 24 Woitke, Erich Hptm III./JG I 225,363 Schmitt, R. Lt I./JG I 532 Wolf, Hermann 1.1 IL/jG 11 258 Schneider, Erich Ofhr 3./JG 26 468 WoIl, Uffz JG 105 70 Worzech, Obit KG 76 525 Schnell, Siegfried Maj III./JG 54 24 Schuoell, Alois Fw JG 2 22 Wurff, Rudolf Lt 6./JG 301 505 Schoegl, Leopold Uffz I./JG 26 104 Wurmheller, Josef Hptm III./JG 2 184, Schoehl, Horst-Gunther Uffz 8./JG 26 33 173 Schoeppler, Anton Gefr I./JG 5 232, 239 Wyrich, Heinz Uffz 5./JG 26 58 Schramm, Werner Lt 6./JG 26 505, 518 Zander, Fritz Obfw III./JG I 254 Schroeder-Barkhausen, Wolfgang Uffz Zessin, Gunter Uffz IlI./JG 54 371 Zimmermann, Oskar Lt II./JG 3 229 10./)G 11 III Schonfelder, Helmut Ofw IV./JG 51 525 Zink, Dieter Lt III./JG 3210 Schwanecke, Gunther Obit ILliG 4 500 Zirngib1, Josef Fw 8./JG 2668 Zubaiko, Edwin Gefr L/jG 26 159 Schwarz, Erich Fw 4./jG 26 107 Schwentick, Horst Fw 5./JG 26 10 1 Zweigart, Eugen-Ludwig Obit III./JG 54 Schweppenherg) Geyr von Geo Cdr, 144 pzGr West 147, 148, 149 Schwertl, Thomas Ogfr 3.IIG 26 102 Seeger, Guenther ObIt II./JG 53 20 I, 213 Seibert, Uffz IlI./JG 54 368 Seiffert, Heinz Obit III./JG 54 408

ISBN 1-903223-60-1

55495