156 Squadron Mission Details
Target: Battle Area - Normandy
Mission Date: 30/07/1944
Mission Comments: 13 aircraft detailed for daylight operations in the BATTLE AREA on A/P "E" S/L T.E. Ison was Master Bomber and F/L K.P.C. Doyle Deputy. All proceeded and returned. NORMANDY BATTLE AREA. 692 aircraft - 462 Lancasters, 200 Halifaxes, 30 Mosquitoes were sent to bomb 6 German positions in front of a mainly American ground attack in the Villers Bocage-Caumont Area. The presence of cloud caused many difficulties and only 377 aircraft were able to bomb, on to OBOE markers, and only 2 of the 6 targets were effectively hit. 4 Lancasters lost.
Rego Type Captain Departed Over Target Height Returned Flight Time Comments ORB Slide
ND978  Lancaster III  W/C ISON  06:38  08.00  2000  10:06  03:28    DSCF0281 
PB209  Lancaster III  W/C BURROUGH  06:37  08.14  2800  10:00  03:23    DSCF0282 
PB177  Lancaster III  S/L WISEMAN  06:40  08.18  1500  09:45  03:05  BATTLE AREA A/P 'E'. Target attacked at 08.18 hrs from 1,500 ft. Aircraft arrived at 08.13 hrs, did a run across target at 2,500 ft. 0815hrs Master Bomber told aircraft to come down to 2,000 ft and bomb red TI, but cloud at 2,000 ft so came down to 1,500 ft, Several Red TI seen which appeared in middle of wood believed the correct wood as GEE check and also bearing and distance from the more Northerly attack and othe bombing on TI. Master Bomber at 0819 hrs told aircraft to abandon mission, but own aircraft had already dropped.  DSCF0282 
NE132  Lancaster  W/C GODFREY  06:41  08.03  2500  09:54  03:13    DSCF0282 
ND618  Lancaster III  S/L ROBERTSON  06:42  08.16  2000  09:59  03:17  Task BATTLE AREA A/P 'E'. Target attacked at 0816.18 hrs from 2,000 ft. On approach to target 'Basement 3,000' heard 0803 hrs. Later 'Basement 2000ft'. Two TI Red Groups went down 0815 hrs as aircraft was running in. A wood was visible and bomb burst were concentrated around it. Later obscured by smoke and broken cloud. TI's were well placed. After Bombing 0818 hrs 'Abandon Mission' was heard. One photo attempted. Bomb load 18 x 500 MC N. Inst.  DSCF0282 
ND591  Lancaster  S/L LAWSON  06:43  08.15  2800  09:49  03:06    DSCF0282 
ND444  Lancaster III  P/O BRADSHAW  06:39  08.16  2000  09:58  03:19    DSCF0283 
ND477  Lancaster  S/L DWEN  06:44  08.18  1200  10:03  03:19    DSCF0283 
ND534  Lancaster III  P/O L'ESTRANGE  06:45  08.16  2800  09:55  03:10    DSCF0283 
PA966  Lancaster  P/O DOYLE  06:49  08.16  1100  10:11  03:22    DSCF0283 
ND882  Lancaster  S/L HEMMINGS  06:46  08.18  3000  10:04  03:18    DSCF0284 
PB186  Lancaster III  F/Lt WILSON  06:47  08.19  2000  10:02  03:15    DSCF0284 
ND808  Lancaster  F/Lt NEAL  06:48  08.18  2000  09:50  03:02    DSCF0284