| 156 Squadron Mission Details
|
Target: Mannheim
Mission Date: 1/03/1945
Mission Comments: 11 aircraft detailed for a daylight attack on MANNHEIM. 1 aircraft returned early (S/L J. A. Robertson). The whole attack was late as the Main Force were behind time. The Squadron orbited until the Main Force arrived. A good concentration of blue smoke puffs was kept up. Owing to weather 10/10ths tops 10/12,000 feet, the bombing could not be assessed, but the aircraft concentration seemed good. Engine in F/O Keeler's aircraft cut out 50 minutes from the target, but he arrived on time and returned to base on three engines. He believes his aircraft was hit by pieces of an aircraft which blew up. An engine also failed in F/O Boggiano's aircraft two hours from the target. He pressed on and bombed late. He was picked up by our fighters as a straggler, and again escorted from the target. He sucessfully crept back and landed at base 1 hour 20 mins after the others had landed.
|
| Rego
|
Type
|
Captain
|
Departed
|
Over Target
|
Height
|
Returned
|
Flight Time
|
Comments
|
ORB Slide
|
|
PA966 |
Lancaster |
S/L ROBERTSON |
12:20 |
|
|
15:07 |
02:47 |
Task MANNHEIM. Abortive. Starboard engine oil pressure failure. 6 x 1000 MC 5021N 0000E 1350 hrs 11,000 ft safe. To lighten aircraft for landing. |
DSCF0238 |
|
PB517 |
Lancaster III |
F/Lt POPE |
12:29 |
15:05 |
18000 |
17:40 |
05:11 |
|
DSCF0238 |
|
PB560 |
Lancaster |
F/Lt JACKSON |
12:32 |
15.07 |
17500 |
17:49 |
05:17 |
|
DSCF0238 |
|
PB403 |
Lancaster III |
F/O KEELER |
12:36 |
15:10 |
16000 |
18:11 |
05:35 |
Extract - One engine U/S and also H2S U/S. Believed aircraft hit by pieces of an aircraft which blew up. |
DSCF0238 |
|
ND591 |
Lancaster |
F/O BOGGIANO |
12:25 |
15.14 |
18.50 |
18:50 |
06:25 |
Task MANNHEIM. Target attacked at 1514 hrs from 6,800 ft. Aircraft ran in on three engines. Height could not be maintained which accounts for bombing at 6,800 feet. Own fighters picked up aircraft as a straggler before target and also again after bombing.
[ED] - See DFC award for Boggiano related to this mission |
DSCF0239 |
|
PB611 |
Lancaster |
F/Lt JAMES |
12:31 |
15.05 |
17600 |
17:38 |
05:07 |
|
DSCF0239 |
|
ME368 |
Lancaster |
F/Lt NEAL |
12:33 |
15.08 |
18400 |
17:30 |
04:57 |
|
DSCF0239 |
|
PB593 |
Lancaster |
F/Lt MASON |
12:34 |
15:15 |
18000 |
17:51 |
05:17 |
|
DSCF0239 |
|
ND875 |
Lancaster |
F/Lt PAULL |
12:27 |
15:09 |
18400 |
17:42 |
05:15 |
|
DSCF0240 |
|
PB468 |
Lancaster III |
F/Lt DOWNES |
12:32 |
15:11 |
18400 |
17:54 |
05:22 |
|
DSCF0240 |
|
ND438 |
Lancaster |
F/Lt GRANT |
12:35 |
15.09 |
18000 |
17:57 |
05:22 |
|
DSCF0240 |