Witchford Airfield Operations 18th/19th April 1944

Witchford Airfield Operations 18th/19th April 1944

The document covers an operation on Rouen on the night of 18/19 April 1944. It describes the attack and details the aircraft and pilots that took part.
Two aircraft were shot down by a Me 410 as they were landing. The crews are listed.

1944-04-19

Two typed sheets

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MKilleenKAL184115-170703-020001, MKilleenKAL184115-170703-020002

[underlined]Witchford Airfield[/underlined]
[underlined]Operations night 18th/19th April 1944[/underlined]
Form B 412 received from Headquarters No. 3 Group. Take off 22.27 to 22.55.
27 aircraft were detailed to attack Rouen, 1 aircraft failed to take off. 26 aircraft took off between 22.27 hrs. and 22.55 hrs. In clear weather with some ground haze, the target was identified by Red and Green target indicators of Pathfinder Force.

Some crews were able to identify the target visually by bend in river and lights from streets in built up areas. Pathfinder Force seemed scattered and also had two distinct concentrations. The Master of Ceremonies advised bombing to South East of target indicators and this advice was picked up by many crews and used. Bombs were dropped from heights varying between 12,500 ft and 14,500 ft. Many fires and bomb bursts were seen and generally the raid was considered successful.
[underlined]Aircraft and Pilots that took off on the Rouen Raid [/underlined]


A.LM 510
C.ND 800
LHK 545


W/O. L.Hemmings
S/L. J.R.Grant
P/O. E.Moon



G.ME 718


F/S.


Burdettem



D.LL 880
H.ND 790
J.HK 548
E.HK 545
B.ED 631
N.LL 716
V.DS 620
Q.DS 787
R.LL 667
S.LL 641
U.LL 666
W.DS 781
Y.DS 734


F/S. S.Francis
F/S. H.Taylor
F/L. C.D. Rash
F/S. W.C.Shadforth
Sgt. R.Lemoine
S/L. C.H.Baigent DFC-BAR
F/L. G.C.Hammond AUS 415249 RAAF
P/O. E.Gibson AUS 410049
P/O. J.Birnie
F/L. R.Milgate AUS 409932
F IS. C. Campbell
P/O. G.H.R.Treasure NZ 414699 RNZAF
F/S. R.Gagienard





Z.LL 726 P/O. B.A.Rowe-Evans
E.ND 760 F/S. R.Stewart
J.LL 867 F/L. C.Eddy NZ 23900 RNZAF
G.ME 692 P/O. S.W.Holder NZ 421054 RNZAF
C.ND 803 P/O. D.Cameron
H.LL 864 F/S. R.Maude
K.ND 753 P/O. R.Chantler
D.ND 754 F/O. C.Clarey AUS 426312 RAAF
A.ND 758 Sgt. C.Quinton
The above aircraft carried 72 x 1,000 lb GP x 1,000 lb MC and 208 lb MC bombs.
On returning to Witchford, Aircraft B.EO 631 Capt.Sgt. R.Lemoine undercarriage collapsed three quarters of the way down runway on landing. Aircraft KO-R Ll667 Capt. PlO. J.Birnie and A4-J LL867 Capt. F/Lt. C.Eddy were shot down over the airfield by an enemy ME410 which had followed the
Lancasters home. Both aircraft crashed beyond the airfield in West Fen.
[underlined]The full crew list for the two Lancasters shot down over base are as follows:[/underlined]
Lancaster KO-R LL667 MKII


P/O.
F/Sgt.
P/O.
Sgt.
Sgt.
Sgt.
Sgt.


J.Birnie
D.Jones
L.Feldman
LKirwin
G.Bailey
W.McMillan
J.Ferguson


Capt.
Nav.
A/B. RCAF.
WOP/AG.
R/G.
M/U RCAF.
F/E



Lancaster A4-JLL867 MKI



F/L.
F/O
F/Sgt.
F/Sgt.
W/O.
Sgt.
Sgt.


C.Eddy Capt RNZAF.
A.Smith Nav.
H.Pugh A.B.
J.Maddox WOP/AG.
H.Bennis R/G. RCAF.
A:Langridge M/U.
W.Murphy F/E.