550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association

Squadron Operations: Summary Information

Overview

There follows below a list of the all of the operations flown by 550 Squadron and the aircraft involved on each. The information used to build this page was taken in the first instance from the lists provided on the original Squadron Association web-site, but has been augmented by new information gathered since that time (squadron operations logs, individual aircrew log books, and other sources).

This information is not yet complete: it has been build from the a number of sources (documentary and people) and compilation of complete lists is an ongoing task that is expected to take quite some time to complete. So please don't shout just yet if you spot an omission - work continues to build a more complete, and accurate, list.
Do however shout if you spot an error! Please email any corrections or information to the contact details in the link at the bottom of the page.

Operation Summary: The column headers should be fairly self-explanatory. The term "aborted" as used here covers a number of possibilities:

the operation was cancelled before crews were briefed
the crews have been briefed as to the target, and in some cases the planes may even have been bombed up and the crews on-board at their stations awaiting take-off, before the op has been stood-down
finally a number of cases where the op was already under way and the planes en-route but for whatever reason the operation was aborted (e.g. the master bomber orders the attack cancelled due to weather conditions at target adversely affecting targeting).

Aircraft Deployed: When a link to a particular aircraft is given, this indicates aircraft known to have taken part in this raid (in the records currently available to the web-site author). A record of whether the aircraft returned or failed to return (FTR) is also logged.

Servicemen Deployed: Names of the crew in the operation.

Station Summary: This section is the information from the RAF North Killingholme Station Record Book for the operational date (if available).

Definitions of the abbreviations used are available: here.

Manageable Lists

The amount of data in the database is growing and this is resulting in the "all operations/targets" list getting rapidly bigger and thus slower to generate. There are options to display shorter, more quickly generated, reports if you want to home in on something specific. For example, there are options to generate reports on operations to a single target, or by single aircraft (to all targets) or by single aircraft to a single target. There is, on the database-reports summary page, a short user guide (PDF format) on how to do this.

Operation/Target: Berlin (15 Feb 1944 - 16 Feb 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Berlin	15 Feb 1944	16 Feb 1944	N	Fifteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations and accepted. Crews were briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. Two aircraft did not take-off owing to technical trouble. One aircraft failed to return from the operations - no news since take-off. One aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned on three engines, landing at RAF Station LISSETT, YORKSHIRE. The remaining ten aircraft successfully attacked the targets and returned safely to BASE - NORTH KILLINGHOLME. Two of the new aircraft Pilots flew on the operations as second Pilot.

Station Summary
OPERATIONS Following a cancellation for the same target two days ago, a large scale Berlin raid was again laid on for tonight, to take part in the largest air operations so far undertaken by Bomber Command against Germany (878 heavy aircraft detailed by Command). 15 aircraft from 550 Squadron were briefed, 14 took off, and one was missing. 3 aircraft stationed at ELSHAM WOLDS found themselves on this airfield's circuit on return in mistake for their own, a mistake they did not discover until they landed here having gone through the motions of calling up ELSHAM WOLDS and touching down here instead of there. ORGANIZATION Weekly wearing of gas respirators was instituted, the established period being 0930 to 1000 hours each Tuesday. Instrument Section took over the responsibility of maintaining oxygen mask adaptor tubes for portable oxygen bottles, under new policy that these be fitted in aircraft at all times instead of being on charge to individual members of aircrew.

Station Summary

OPERATIONS
Following a cancellation for the same target two days ago, a large scale Berlin raid was again laid on for tonight, to take part in the largest air operations so far undertaken by Bomber Command against Germany (878 heavy aircraft detailed by Command). 15 aircraft from 550 Squadron were briefed, 14 took off, and one was missing. 3 aircraft stationed at ELSHAM WOLDS found themselves on this airfield's circuit on return in mistake for their own, a mistake they did not discover until they landed here having gone through the motions of calling up ELSHAM WOLDS and touching down here instead of there.
ORGANIZATION
Weekly wearing of gas respirators was instituted, the established period being 0930 to 1000 hours each Tuesday. Instrument Section took over the responsibility of maintaining oxygen mask adaptor tubes for portable oxygen bottles, under new policy that these be fitted in aircraft at all times instead of being on charge to individual members of aircrew.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LM392	Returned	Primary 22,000 ft at 21.45 hrs. Bombed fires, quite trip except for shadowing by enemy aircraft in target area. Mid upper and rear gunner fired and claimed strikes.	P/O D McCrae (P) Sgt R A Drury (F/Eng) F/O M Shapiro (Nav) F/Sgt F G Lebano (A/B) Sgt A G Hall (W/Op) Sgt C A Bonner (MU/AG) Sgt A H Brown (R/AG)

Operation/Target: Leipzig (19 Feb 1944 - 20 Feb 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Leipzig	19 Feb 1944	20 Feb 1944	N	Sixteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations and briefed to attack targets in LEIPZIG. Two aircraft did not take-off due to technical failures, two aircraft returned early with engine trouble. One aircraft failed to return - no news since take-off. Eleven aircraft successfully bombed the target nine of whom returned safely and landed at BASE - NORTH KILLINGHOLME. One aircraft landed at RAF Station MANSTON and the second at RAF Station COLTISHALL. One enemy fighter (ME109) was shot down by the gunners in LM392 F/L J. S. G. CRAWFORD, PILOT.

Station Summary
OPERATIONS 16 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed to participate in a large-scale attack on LEIPZIG. 14 took off and 1 was missing. Several sorties to other airfields from this operation, one of which, Lancaster 550/J (Captain F/Lt Crawford) touched down at MANSTON after a more than eventful trip, which is recounted in the Station Narrative Report attached as appensidx "B". The Base Commander of 13 Base, Air Commodore IVELAW-CHAPMAN OBE, DFC, AFC, attended briefing. ORGANISATION It has been considered advisable that bomb aimers should attend main briefing in preference to the simultaneous navigators briefing for operations as hitherto. This change has been brought into force forthwith. Difficulties in catering for increased oxygen charge pressure (see 14 Feb.) mitigated by obtaining extra transport cylinders. Pending installation of illuminated letters "NK" for airfield identification, 3 gooseneck flares formaing a triangle at port downwind end of runway is use have been introduced.

Station Summary

OPERATIONS
16 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed to participate in a large-scale attack on LEIPZIG. 14 took off and 1 was missing. Several sorties to other airfields from this operation, one of which, Lancaster 550/J (Captain F/Lt Crawford) touched down at MANSTON after a more than eventful trip, which is recounted in the Station Narrative Report attached as appensidx "B".
The Base Commander of 13 Base, Air Commodore IVELAW-CHAPMAN OBE, DFC, AFC, attended briefing.
ORGANISATION
It has been considered advisable that bomb aimers should attend main briefing in preference to the simultaneous navigators briefing for operations as hitherto. This change has been brought into force forthwith.
Difficulties in catering for increased oxygen charge pressure (see 14 Feb.) mitigated by obtaining extra transport cylinders.
Pending installation of illuminated letters "NK" for airfield identification, 3 gooseneck flares formaing a triangle at port downwind end of runway is use have been introduced.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LM392	Returned	Primary 19,000 ft at 0410 hrs and landed at MANSTON.	F/L J S G Crawford (P) Sgt J R Powell (F/Eng) F/O P A Lockton (Nav) Sgt J N Andrew (A/B) Sgt W J Green (W/Op) Sgt W V Moss (MU/AG) Sgt W B Robertson (R/AG)

Operation/Target: Stuttgart (15 Mar 1944 - 16 Mar 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Stuttgart	15 Mar 1944	16 Mar 1944	N	Seventeen aircraft with crew were offered for operations and briefed to attach targets in STUTTGART. One aircraft did not take off owing to unserviceability. Two aircraft (Captains F/Lt S G Crawford LM392 "J" and F/Lt J F Craig LL852 "X") failed to return to base (no news since take off) and are with the crews posted as "missing". Fourteen aircraft successfully the target and returned safely to Base.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LM392	FTR	Missing. No news since take-off.	F/L J S G Crawford (P) Sgt J R Powell (F/Eng) F/O P A Lockton (Nav) Sgt J N Andrew (A/B) Sgt W J Green (W/Op) Sgt W V Moss (MU/AG) Sgt W B Robertson (R/AG)

Operation/Target: Frankfurt (18 Mar 1944 - 19 Mar 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Frankfurt	18 Mar 1944	19 Mar 1944	N	Seventeen aircraft with crew were offered for operations and briefed to attack targets in FRANKFURT. All returning safely after a very successfuly attack. The speedy take-off was a very fine show indeed the seventeen aircraft all being airbourne in 16 mins. Three aircraft ("J" NB733, Captain Sgt Lloyd, "K" LL834 Captain P/O Bouchard and "X" ME687, W/O Romber) were subseuqently abortive, due to electrical failure, Gee u/a and rear and mid-upper turrets u/s respectively. Few fighters were seen and only the French coastal batteries gave any trouble. The only combat reported was a short burst from the mid-upper gunner of "F" ME556 (Captain W/O McCrae). No hits are claimed and the E/A did not return the fire. A special message of congratulations to all concerned for aircrew and ground staff was received from the Base Commander. Good show 550!

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LM392	Returned	Abandoned at 20.48 hrs (21,000 ft). Electrical failure affecting rear gunners clothing, MU turret and artifical horizon. Luminous paint u/s	Sgt T P Burke (F/Eng) W/O T A Lloyd (P) Sgt R L G Moore (W/Op) F/Sgt D M Stephen (Nav) F/O E Yaternick (A/B) Sgt J G Pearce (MU/AG) Sgt A C Crilley (R/AG)

Operation/Target: Aachen (11 Apr 1944 - 12 Apr 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Aachen	11 Apr 1944	12 Apr 1944	N	Fifteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations, eleven being accepted and were briefed to attack targets in AACHEN. Another smart takoff resulted in all eleven aircraft being airborne in 10 3/4 mins. The weather en route was fair and on arrival at the target some patchy thin cloud and haze was apparant. All our aircraft bombed within the space of five minutes and although the haze prevented detailed observation most crews considered that the attack had been successful. Defences throughout were seen and they were not aggressive. All our aircraft returned safely to base.

Station Summary
Station conducts its first District Court Martial. An airman was tried on various counts of thefts from the Officers Mess and found guilty on all charges.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LM392	Returned	Primary 20,000 ft at 22.43 hrs.	S/L P A Nicholas (P) P/O S M Clarke (MU/AG) Sgt J E Legg (F/Eng) P/O W Dinney (Nav) Sgt F C Wilkinson (A/B) F/Sgt B G Todd (W/Op) Sgt N S Smart (R/AG)

Summary Statistics

Based on the data in the lists displayed above, and keeping in mind that data is still being updated and thus not yet complete, the following statistics are generated:

Aircraft Deployment Statistics

Aircraft deployments	5
MAX Aircraft deployed in single operation	1 (Berlin, 15 Feb 1944)

These details were last updated: 21 November 2024

Note

this list is still being built and will take some time to complete
what is currently displayed is believed accurate but much more is still to be added

This note describes the options currently available to produce a smaller, more manageable list and also describes planned future enhancements to the reporting facility.

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