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 (16 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
16 Dec 1943 |
17 Dec 1943 |
N |
Fifteen crews were offered for operations and with aircraft loaned from No.100 Squadron. They briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. Two of the sorties were abortive but the remaining aircraft bombed the targets and returned safely to BASE. |
Operation/Target: Frankfurt (20 Dec 1943 - 20 Dec 1943)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Frankfurt |
20 Dec 1943 |
20 Dec 1943 |
N |
Thirteen aircraft and crews were offered for operations and briefed to attack targets in FRANKFURT. Two aircraft returned early but the remainder successfully attached targets and returned safely to BASE. Air and ground training was carried out during the day and night. |
Operation/Target: Berlin (23 Dec 1943 - 24 Dec 1943)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
23 Dec 1943 |
24 Dec 1943 |
N |
With aircraft loaned from 100 Sqdn, seventeen aircraft and crews were briefed for operations and to attack targets in BERLIN. Two aircraft cancelled at the last moment owing to unserviceability. Shortly after take-off two aircraft collided in mid-air, crashed and were burnt out, the crews of both being killed. One aircraft did not return - no news after take off. Two aircraft returned early, the remainder successfully attacked the targets and in spite of very bad weather conditions over BASE - GRIMSBY landed safely. |
Operation/Target: Berlin (29 Dec 1943 - 30 Dec 1943)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
29 Dec 1943 |
30 Dec 1943 |
N |
Fourteen aircraft with crews were offered and briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. Five aircraft returned early but the remained successfully attached their targets and returned safely to BASE. Orders were received that the Sqdn should remove to RAF Station, NORTH KILLINGHOLME, LINCOLNSHIRE by 3rd January 1944. |
Operation/Target: Brunswick (14 Jan 1944 - 15 Jan 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Brunswick |
14 Jan 1944 |
15 Jan 1944 |
Y |
Twelve aircraft with crews were offered for operations and were briefed to attack targets in BRUNSWICK. One aircraft did not take off owing to unserviceability, two aircraft returned early (abortives) and one aircraft did not return (no news since take-off) and is, with the crew posted as "missing". Eight aircraft successfully bombed the targets and returned safely to base. |
| Station Summary |
11 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed to take part in a heavy attack on BRUNSWICK, Preparations for this first operation went, on the whole, smoothly, although the early take-off called for maximum speed and an all-out effort from still under-established ground-staffs. Bombing-up was duly completed and 11 aircraft took off in 37 minutes. 2 sorties were abortive; 1 aircraft was missing and 1 landed at WOODBRIDGE due to engine failure. The remaining 7 aircraft, which claim to have attacked the primary target, were landed at base all within 18 mins by portable lighting, the Drem lighting system being unfinished.
A timely demonstration of bomb-handling by a special party from 1 Group Headquarters proved of value to the Station Bomb Stores personnel. |
Operation/Target: Berlin (27 Jan 1944 - 28 Jan 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
27 Jan 1944 |
28 Jan 1944 |
N |
Fourteen aircraft with crews were offered and briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. Four aircraft returned early, but the remaining ten successfully bombed the target and returned safely to BASE. |
| Station Summary |
OPERATIONS
Berlin operation again laid on. 14 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed. 10 claimed to atack Berlin. Remaining 4 were abortive sorties. |
Operation/Target: Berlin (28 Jan 1944 - 29 Jan 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
28 Jan 1944 |
29 Jan 1944 |
N |
Thirteen aircraft with crews were offered and briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. Two aircraft returned early, but the remaining eleven dropped their bombs on the target returned safely to BASE. |
| Station Summary |
OPERATIONS
Again Berlin. of 13 aircraft of 550 Squadron detailed, 2 were abortive and 11 claim to have attacked the target.
ORGANIZATION
A Station Post Office was opened on a Class A basis. |
Operation/Target: Berlin (30 Jan 1944 - 31 Jan 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
30 Jan 1944 |
31 Jan 1944 |
N |
Thirteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations and briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. One aircraft did not take off due to unserviceability, one aircraft returned early, and one aircraft did not return - no news since take off. Ten aircraft successfully bombed the target. F/O G.A. Morrison in DV305 was attacked by enemy fighter over BERLIN and the two gunners killed instantaneously. The B/A (F/O Warren) through a misunderstood order, baled out. In spite of severe damage to the aircraft and with no navigational aids, apart from the Moon and Stars, returned safely, landed WOODBRIDGE. |
| Station Summary |
OPERATIONS
12 of the 13 aircraft of 550 Squadron detailed to take part in yet another large assault on BERLIN took off, 1 being cancelled due to hydraulic leak. 10 claim to have atacked the target, 1 sortie was abortive and 1 aircraft is missing. A feature of the raid was the outstanding performance of the crew of O/550. Their story is told in the Station's narrative report No. 1 dated 1/2/44, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix 1. As a result of this mission, the captain of O/550, F/O G.A. MORRISON, was awarded an immediate D.S.O. He thus becomes the only present holder of this award on the Station, as well as the first recipient of a decoration of any kind for work done from this Station.
GENERAL
From the Stirling aircraft which crashed yesterday and is now above water 5 bodies have been recovered. Our Medical Officer F/Lt Cunningham and our R & I Engineer F/O Stevens, intervening. Three were identified as Sergeants SPENCE, WALKER and HELSBY. |
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. |
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. |
Operation/Target: Stuttgart (01 Mar 1944 - 02 Mar 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Stuttgart |
01 Mar 1944 |
02 Mar 1944 |
N |
Thirteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations and briefed to attach targets in STUTTGART. One aircraft did not take off owing to insufficient brake pressures. Twelve aircraft successfully bombed their targets and returned safely to base. One aircraft landed at RAF Station, Manston and a second at RAF Station Grimsby. One aircraft and crew completed a night cross country. |
| Station Summary |
OPERTAIONS
13 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed for a large-scale attack on STUTTGART. 1 machine was cancelled prior to take-off due to lack of brake pressure.
ORGANIZATION
|
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! |
Operation/Target: Berlin (24 Mar 1944 - 25 Mar 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Berlin |
24 Mar 1944 |
25 Mar 1944 |
N |
Seventeen aircraft and crews were offered for operations and were briefed to attack targets in BERLIN. Another snappy take-off was achieved, sixteen aircraft being airbourne within 17 minutes, the seventeenth aircraft being delayed for five minutes while a navigation aid indicator was changed. The route was "hot" but 15 aircraft bombed Berlin. The remaining two were forced to bomb last resort targets - "T" LM455 S/Ldr Graham Captain bombing an aerodrome 50 miles SW of Berlin after overshooting and "G" ND403, Captain P/O Bowen-Bravery who, after having his rear turret rendered u/s, bombed a flak emplacement on the West coast of Denmark. Soon afterwards "G" encountered a single engineed aircraft and the mid-upper gunnner gave it a short burst. A short while later a burning aircraft was seen by three members of the crew to be descending, and burning on the ground. It is claimed as destroyed. Defences over Berlin were moderate, but there were a large number of enemy night-fighters around Berlin. Soon after leaving Berlin "D" ME581 Captain F/L R. W. Picton had a combat with a FW. Condor and both the MU gunner (Can.R.110509 Sgt. Keen, W.M.), and rear gunner (Sgt. Porteous, J.W.) received serious injuries from cannon fire. Fortunately, however, both are recovering. The wireless operator (Sgt. Williams, K.T.C.) who was in the astrodome after warning the pilot continued to give advice and evasive instructions to the pilot. After the action Sgt Williams went to the rear gunner whose oxygen was severed, gave him his own mask and assisted him out of the turret. Subsequently Sgt. Williams sent a W/T message giving details of the casualty so that medical aid was waiting when the aircraft landed. Sgt. Williams prompt action combined with the pilots skilled handling of his aircraft undoubtedly prevented the E/A from making a more effective attack. All the aircraft landed safely at Base, except "F" LL747 (Captin F/O Richard, Can.J.23518) which without brake pressure landed safely at Woodbridge. |
Operation/Target: Essen (26 Mar 1944 - 27 Mar 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Essen |
26 Mar 1944 |
27 Mar 1944 |
N |
Seventeen aircraft and crews were offered for operations and were briefed to attack targets in ESSEN. Sixteen aircraft took off in 25 minutes, the seventeenth "C" MD425 (Capt F/S Foster being cancelled due to the rear turret being u/s. Much layer cloud wasencounted at the enemy coast going out, over the target and to the enemy coast on return. Opposition from the ground was light in the early stages of the attack, with a tendency to increase as the attack developed, while fighter activity was on a somewhat reduced scale as compared with recent raids. LL831 "M" (Captin F/O E V Sage) and DV309 "S" (Cpatin F/S Hinde) both had inconclusive combats, in which no damage or casualities were sustained. All our aircraft returned safely to base. |
Operation/Target: Nuremberg (30 Mar 1944 - 31 Mar 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Nuremberg |
30 Mar 1944 |
31 Mar 1944 |
N |
Seventeen aircraft and crews were offered for operations and were briefed to attack targets in NUREMBURG. Twelve successfully attacked the main target, three the last resort target and two (F/S Jefferies in LM425 "N" and F/S Foster in ND425 "C") failed to return. The remaining aircraft landed at base with the exception of F/O Sage in "U" who landed at Kelstern owing to fuel shortage. One new crew also carried out night circuits and landings. P/O McCrae in ME556 "F" received injuries to his left arm and the rear gunner Sgt Brown injuries to his left eye in combat with an enemy night fighter. The aircraft also suffered extensive damage. |
Operation/Target: Hasselt (11 May 1944 - 12 May 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Hasselt |
11 May 1944 |
12 May 1944 |
N |
Eighteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations, but only tweleve were accepted and briefed to attack the marshalling yards at HASSELT in north west Belgium. The target lay on the fringe of the small but compact town of Haselt on one of Germany's main lines to the West. Precision bombing of a hight order was necessary to achieve our objective wihout inflicting civilian casualites in occupied territory. The weather over the targe unfortunately was not good enough to permit sufficiently accurate marking for this pinpoint target. Haze prevailed and after investigating possibilities, the aircraft directing operations ordered the main force to bring their bombs home much to the disappointment of the boys. Of the twelve aircraft sent by 550 Squadron, five had released their bombs near the target area, another joined No. 3 Group's attack on the Marshalling Yards at LOUVAIN, 30 miles away - this target being well marked. Of the others F/S Maxwell "V" and Sgt Essex "G" landed with their full bomb load, the remained jettisoned part of their load over the sea. One pilot and his bomb-aimer with the assurance of Ripley himself with "a believe it or not" twinkle on their eyes, claimed to have taxied down the railway line to the right sport but their photograph shows open fields which suggest that thety were derailed. |
Operation/Target: Orleans (19 May 1944 - 20 May 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Orleans |
19 May 1944 |
20 May 1944 |
N |
Eighteen aircraft and crews offered for operations, fifteen of which were accepted and briefed to attack Marshalling Yards immediately north of the City of ORLEANS. The boys in the Squadron were delighted at the thought of being able to take to the air again after a lull of eight days. The take-off was of the usual 550 Squadron standard, the fifteen aircraft taking off in 14 minutes. The preliminary reports of the attack give every sign of it having been highly successful - another feather in the cap of Bomber Command and 550 Squadron. All reports speak of explosions of which the most outstanding one seems to have been at 00.46hrs early in the attack when debris was hurled up to 3000 ft. The explosions turned into a raging fire seen from 40 miles away. Photographs taken show that the Squadron were either on or very near the aiming point. W/Cdr Connellys' pre-bombing photo shows him travelling in the right direcvtion some 550 yards short of the aiming point - a promising preface, but his bombing pictures were unplottable due to the smoke. This was W/Cdr Connelly's first operatiuonl trip with the Squadron since taking command. P/O Marles in "T" (Tommy) made the round trip in spite of the rear turret being unservicebale from a few minutes after take-off. P/O Dukelow put up a creditable show on his maiden trip. All our aircraft returned safely to Base, and the crews satisifed with their nights work. |
Operation/Target: Duisburg (21 May 1944 - 22 May 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Duisburg |
21 May 1944 |
22 May 1944 |
N |
Eighteen aircraft and crews offered for operations and all were accepted and briefed to attach targets in DUISBURG, the steel and coal centre of the Ruhr and Rhine, which has not had the attention of Bomber Command for about twelve months. The weather over the target was cloudy and called for blind bombing by a method which has already paid good dividends in "Happy Valley". Photographs as was to be expected yielded no joy and cannot profitably be commented upon, all showing thick cloud and in some instances fine tracks. Although there were several sightings of the enemy the general impressions of DUISBURG defences confirms the view that they were less active than a year ago. P/O Dukelow, F/S Hinde and Sgt Essex with their crews failed to return to Base.
[Ed: but can only find 17 aircraft listed in the battle-order (after multiple cross-checking of the ORB) of which 3 aircraft and crews FTR.] |
Operation/Target: Dortmund (22 May 1944 - 23 May 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Dortmund |
22 May 1944 |
23 May 1944 |
N |
Sixteen aircraft and crews offered for operations all being accepted and were briefed to attack DORTMUND. |
Operation/Target: Aachen (24 May 1944 - 25 May 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Aachen |
24 May 1944 |
25 May 1944 |
N |
Seventeen aircraft and crews offered and accepted for operations. The crews were briefed to attack the Marshalling yards at AACHEN. With their mission successfully completed all aircraft and crews returned safely and unscathed. The take-off was good, as is usual, and the weather good. Two of the Squadrons aircraft were engaged in combat F/Sgt Barton ("T") and P/O Newman ("C") both proved inconclusive, the enemy breaking off the engeagement in both cases. Bombing photographs taken were of exceptional interest to the Intelligence, and confirm that the Squadon has assisted in adding some aches to AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. |
Operation/Target: Aachen (27 May 1944 - 28 May 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Aachen |
27 May 1944 |
28 May 1944 |
N |
Eighteen aircraft with crews offered for operations, fifteen of which were accepted and briefed to attack the Marshalling yards ROTHE-ERDE of AACHEN, east of the city. The fifteen aircraft took off in typical 550 Squadron style. Two aircraft "K" (P/O McCrea and "H" (P/O Purney) failed to return, but the majority of the others claim to have bombed the primary target, which despite a light haze, was clearly marked and in some cases visually identified. Information from crews and photographs taken suggests that the attack was successfully carried out. Poor visibility at Base made it necessary for ten aircraft to land at other airfields on their return, and were accommodated at Binbrook, Kelstern, Ludford-Magna and Waltham. The only three which made Base were "J" (W/Cdr Connolly), "S" (P/O Maxwell) and "P" (F/Lt Richard). With this trip the last named with his crew completed their tour.
Higher authority have officially recognised the destruction of a JU 88 by Sgt Campbell the rear gunner in "F" (Sgt White) on 22/23rd May 1944, as a result of supporting evidence having been recorded by five other bombers in the Command.
S/Ldr Graham (Australian) "B" Flight Commander affectionately know to the boys as "Bluey" completed his second tour of operations, rendered his Swan Song prior to his departure from the Squadron on posting to No. 1 Lancasters Finishing School, RAF Station Hemswell. "Bluey" was always keen and conscientious and extremely popular with the boys and it often needed a firm hand to keep him on the ground. Had he succeeded in getting his own way, he would have simply whistled through his second tour of operations.
Information received from HQ Bomber Command that the King, on the recommendation of the Air Officer Commanding, had approved the Immediate Award of the Distinguished Flying Medals to F/Sgt LLOYD and Sgt. MOORE for their magnificient show on the night of 3/4th May after attacking their target at MAILLY. [As narrated earlier on page 1.] |
Operation/Target: Calais (02 Jun 1944 - 03 Jun 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Calais |
02 Jun 1944 |
03 Jun 1944 |
N |
16 aircraft offered for operations, but only 14 accepted, to attack defended areas on a coastal battery at CALAIS. |
Operation/Target: Crisbecq (05 Jun 1944 - 06 Jun 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Crisbecq |
05 Jun 1944 |
06 Jun 1944 |
N |
The crews of the 18 aircraft which had been accepted for operations were briefed to attack a coastal battery commanding a strategic position on the Cherburg peninsula at CRISBECQ. All aircraft took off promptly and without incident. Although some cloud was encountered across England on the outward journey enough was seen to realise that the whole of southern England was on the move. Whilst flying across the Channel a vast armada, of ships was seen making their way towards France. At the target 10/10th cloud was encountered but the glow from the markers was seen quite distinctly beneath. All crews agreed that the bomb flashes, as far as could be judged were well centred around the marker. The Flak around the target was negligable and very few incidents were reported by our crews who all returned safely after participating in the opening phase of the invasion of Europe.
The A.O.C No. 1 Group has received a message from the A.O.C in C in which he states that a recent return showed 100% servicability of all first line aircraft throughout Bomber Command. This extraordinary degree of serviceability not only reflects the utmost credit upon the devoted efforts of all maintainance personnel during the intensive operations but is, and will be a major contribution towards winning the War. The Squadron personnel can justly, and with pride claim that they have and will continue to contribute towards the destruction of the Hun.
Since recording the above S.H.A.E.F. have issued a communique to the effect that surprisingly little resistance was offered by coastal defences which is very gratifying to the boys of the Squadron. The Squadron striking force of eigtheen aircraft who beat the spearhead by a matter of hours know now, like all the world that the spear was driven straight and true, leaving 550 Squadron to create more chaos behind the Hun's lines. |
Operation/Target: Achères (06 Jun 1944 - 07 Jun 1944)
| Operation Summary |
| Target |
Out |
Back |
Aborted
(Y / N) |
Comments |
| Achères |
06 Jun 1944 |
07 Jun 1944 |
N |
Nineteen aircraft and crews offered for operations and briefed to attack the rail junction at ACHÈRES, near Paris. The weather was cloudy and quite a few of the aircraft brought their bombs back on orders from the Master Bomber. The evidence of those who saw and bombed the markers together with the tale told by their photographs, gave every indication that this particular junction no longer exists. Two of our newer crews returned with very fine bombing prints. From this operation "F" (P/O Shervington and crew) failed to return. |
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 |
24 |
MAX Aircraft deployed
in single operation |
1
(Berlin, 16 Dec 1943) |
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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