156 Squadron RAF

156 Squadron Mission Details

Target: Munster
Mission Date: 11/06/1943
Mission Comments: 21 aircraft detailed for operations. All took off and one failed to return. (F/S LAY and crew).

Rego

Type

Captain

Departed

Over Target

Height

Returned

Flight Time

Comments

ORB Slide

ED926

Lancaster III

W/C DONALDSON

23:24

02.00

14,500

04:31

Special equipment went U/S on crossing the DUTCH COAST but identified target visually by the DORTMUND-ELS canal, the AA SEE, the outline of the town and the star shape garden.

On route in to target S/E E/A was evaded without action 11 miles South of BREDA at 0112 hrs, and at 0141 hrs an aircraft 3 miles on the port bow was seen to be hit by tracer and fall to the ground.

154

ED829

Lancaster III

S/L MANDENO

23:26

2.02

13500

03:56

ED: ORB has this A/C as ED929.

The pilot's ASI was U/S from takeoff, but Captain decided to press on, aided by the Navigator calling out the ASI at regular intervals - this however prevented full evasive action and at 51.57 N 06.40 E at 0148 hr, height 18500 ft an ME110 was seen approaching from the starboard quarter, slightly below 6/700 yds away.
The E/A closed to 300 yds very quickly and opened fire with cannon, hitting our A/C in the tail. The Rear Gunner fired 2 two second bursts and appeared to score hits on the E/A.
During this engagement, the Mid Upper Gunner had his helmet blown off and fell from his turret injuring himself.
The E/A came in again from dead astern, and slightly below at 3/400 yds and again opened fire which was returned by our rear gunner, with a further two short bursts and the E/A is claimed as damaged.
In spite of damage from the 2nd attack, the Captain found that the aircraft could still be controlled with the aid of the Flight Engineer, and as the MUNSTER S/Ls were in sight, the attack was pressed home.
Although the special equipment had been rendered U/S by the fire of the E/A On arrival in the target area the Canal, the AA See and the built up area were seen clearly in the light of flares in good visibility without cloud.
We bombed at 0202 hrs from 13500 ft. The TI's and Flares were jettisoned near CLEVE at 0220 hrs to lighten the A/C and the Captain found he could maintain control of the A/C at 140 knots alone.

[ED]- See DFM citation for F/Sgt Chapman regarding this mission, and DFM Citation for F/Sgt Forbes.

154

ED958

Lancaster

F/O SMITH

23:18

2.00

19000

03:42

155

ED969

Lancaster III

S/L WHITE

23:29

2.04

17000

03:54

155

ED599

Lancaster III

F/Lt SULLIVAN

23:32

2.01

19000

03:26

155

ED990

Lancaster III

S/L GRANT

23:34

2.04

19000

04:37

155

ED863

Lancaster III

W/O BUSBY

23:35

02.02

14,000

04:34

155

ED935

Lancaster III

F/Sgt LAY

23:38

T/o 2338 Warboys. Crashed in the Ijsselmeer, Four are buried in Ditch Cemeteries; four have no known graves. Their average age was 23. F/O Cowley had previously flown Wellingtons with 70 Squadron in the Middle East, his award was promulgated on 26 June 1942.

155

ED474

Lancaster III

F/O SHANAHAN

00:01

2.05

20000

04:27

156

ED841

Lancaster

F/O PRICHARD