156 Squadron RAF

156 Squadron Mission Details

Target: Dortmund
Mission Date: 12/03/1945
Mission Comments: The deletion of Dortmund from our future target list was effected today when 5,000 tons of H.E. cascaded on the partially ruined city. This Squadron contributed 12 aircraft. The great raid was directed by S/L P.F. Clayton DSO DFC as Master Bomber, and the analogy is that he generalled over 7,000 front line men in the attack. F/L T.S. Harris was his Deputy. The attack was carried out in 10/10ths cloud, and smoke puff markers were visible continually in good concentration. The raid should be successful as the aircraft came in on right heading in a steady stream. As the Master Bomber left the target there was a huge circle of discoloured cloud over the city.

Rego

Type

Captain

Departed

Over Target

Height

Returned

Flight Time

Comments

ORB Slide

ND929

Lancaster

F/O KEELER

ND348

Lancaster

S/L LETFORD

PB507

Lancaster

S/L CLAYTON

13:39

16.27

16100

18:42

05:03

DSCF0260

PB468

Lancaster III

F/Lt HARRIS

13:39

16.33

18000

18:58

05:19

DSCF0261

NE120

Lancaster

F/Lt NEAL

13:45

16.32

18000

18:09

04:24

DSCF0261

PB611

Lancaster

S/L ROBERTSON

14:11

16.31

18000

18:24

04:13

Task DORTMUND. A/P "Q". Target attacked at 1631.30 hrs from 18,000 ft. On run into target 1st smoke puff blue seen to burst ahead at 1626 hrs fiollowed by a 2nd about 1/2 mile to SW at 1629.hrs. 1 minute later approx smoke puff Green seen to burst in the centre of these and own bombs released with this in sight. As A/C left more blue smoke puffs seen to back up own estimated A/P, in good continuity and well grouped and marking appeared good. Cloud tops appeared to be rising as a result of heat of fires below but no other results seen. One phot attempted.

DSCF0261

PB375

Lancaster

F/Lt TAYLOR

13:34

16.30

17000

18:31

04:57

DSCF0263

ND593

Lancaster