List of operations

List of operations

List of 33 operations between 7 December 1941 and 16 November 1942. For each operation states target, crew, and some detailed comments.

Four page printed document

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MSawKC55612-151102-01, MSawKC55612-151102-04

7 Nov 41 97 Squadron attacked Cologne. Neither P/O Keir or Sgt Saw listed as flying.

7/8 Dec 41 Aachen.
L7475 B P/O Keir, P/O Whammond, P/O Hallam, Sgts Shepherd, Jenkins, Wharton, Saw.
Up 02:52 Down 06:07. Unable to reach target. Bombed Ostend docks. Bursts observed. Bomb load 1 x 4,000lb, 2 x 500lb.

18 Dec 41 Brest Harbour
L7425 G F/O Rodlev. P/O Colauhoun. Sgts Henley, Murralls, Cumming, Saw, Crisp
No times given. Successfully bombed target near the "Eugene". Unable to warn "W" when attacked by fighter as T.R.9 was u/s. Diverted to Mildenhall.

10/11 Jan 42 Wilhemshaven
L7475 B P/O Keir, P/O Hallam, Sgts Bond, Shepherd, Jenkins, Saw, Wharton. No times given.
Port generator switch had been knocked off and this aircraft returned a considerable distance before this was discovered. Owing to time limit for time over target, Emden was bombed instead.

8/9 May 42 Warnemunde Bomb load: 6 x 1,000lb G.P.
L7569 A P/O Keir, Sgt Bond, P/O Hallam, Sgts Shepherd, Jenkins, Saw, Wharton. Up 22:10 Down 04:47.
Proceeded to target and saw many searchlights and considerable light flak. Rear gunner saw an aircraft in flames and Wireless Operator picked up an SOS. Bombed target position on estimated pin points. Gunners observed three bombs burst in town believed to be Kelding (Denmark).

19/20 May 42 Mannheim. Bomb load 1 x 4,000lb. 6 x SBC
R5569 D P/O Keir, Sgt Bond, P/O Hallam, Sgts Shepherd, Jenkins, Saw, Wharton. Up 22:46 Down 01:41
After climbing to 16,00ft [sic] gunners reported lack of oxygen, so docks were bombed at Ostend. 6 SBCs were brought back as they might have dropped in town.

22/23 May 42 Gardening. "Willow" area Bomb load: 5 x Mines
R5512 C P/O Keir, Sgt Bond, P/O Hallam, Sgts Shepherd, Jenkins, Saw, Wharton. Up 22:02 Down 05:00
Vegs planted in primary "Willows" area from 600ft. All 5 parachutes seen to open. Pinpointed Rangow and made timed run from there. Light flak at south end of viaduct at Middlefort. Otherwise uneventful.

29/30 May 42 Gennevilliers Bomb load: 6 x 1,000lb
R5669 D P/O Keir, Sgts Bond, M.R. Smith, Shepherd, Jenkins, Saw, Wharton. Up 00:25 Down 05:27.
Impossible to identify target owing to searchlights and heavy concentrations of flak. Made four attempts to identify target and then outboard starboard engine was hit and failed. Sgt Bond (2nd Pilot) was hit in thigh and died on return journey. Bombs were dropped safe owing to aircraft rapidly losing height.

1/2 June 42 Essen Bomb load: 1 x 4,000lb. 8 x SBC 4lb
R5609 S P/O C.Keir, F/S N. Croppi, P/O M.R. Smith, Sgts C. Shepherd, K. Saw, H. Jenkins, E. Wharton. Up 00:11 Down 03:50. 6/10ths cloud over target. Bombs released on TR fix from 15,000ft. Three distinct fires observed. A good trip – no trouble anywhere.

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25/26 Jun 42 Bremen
R5572F F/O C.D. Weir, Sgt V.J. Butler (Flt Eng), P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, A.T. Grossmith, Saw, E. Wharton. Up 0006 Down 0540. Bombs released on primary target on TR fix. Unable to identify target. Observed an aircraft in flames and saw five parachutes coming down. Over Heligoland saw a fighter attack a Wellington which burst into flames and crashed. A very disappointing trip.

11/12 Jul 42 Danzig
R5572F F/O C.D. Keir, F/Sgt J.M. Smith, P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts L.V. Hellyer, H.H. Jenkins, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1651 Down 0230. Bomb load 1 x 4000lb.
Set course on formation at 1718 hours. Formation lost on climbing into cloud on Danish coast. Ran in from the west, having previously pin-pointed Mele and the river was clearly indicated. On approach to target caught and held by searchlights, evaded them and made second run up, greeted by heavy flak. Bombs aimed at buildings in dock area and bursts seen.

23/24 Jul 42 Duisburg
R5502M F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod, P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, L.M. Fleming, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 0041 Down 0503. Approximately 20 flares lighting target area. 10/10ths cloud with breaks over the target whixh [sic] was bombed from 13,000’. Bursts seen by Rear Gunner in built up area. No fires seen.

25/26 Jul 42 Duisburg
R5634L F/O C.D. Keir, Sht [sic] W. McLeod, P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, L.M. Fleming, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 0025 Down 0348. Bombs dropped in target area. Fix confirmed by visual and ETA. A good trip but horribly clear.

29/30 Jul 42 Saarbrucken
R5548A F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod, P/O R.B. Murphy, F/Sgt C. Donahue, Sgts C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2354 Down 0412. Visibility moderate. Bombed primary target from 7,000’ on TR fix confirmed visually. Enemy aircraft met near Luxembourg but dived from 12,000’ to 7,000’ and lost fighter. Very little opposition over target but trailing aerial shot away by heavy flak.

31 Jul/1 Aug 42 Dusseldorf
R5758D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod, P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts S. Brans, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. . Up 0018 Down 0141. Returned early as rear turret was u/s. Jettisoned incendiaries in sea off Wainfleet but brought 4000lb back.

12/13 Aug 42 Mainz
R5738D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgts W. McLeod, P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2244 Down 0459. Built up area in primary target bombed after 10 minutes search, on ETA. Visibility good below 7,000’. Flares were of some assistance but we were not able to pin-point.

17/18 Aug 42 Osnabruck
R5738D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (F/Eng), P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2203 Down 0154. Bombed primary from 15,000’ on DR navigation. Bomb bursts seen but exact location not known. Flares dropped by other aircraft no help but 2 flares dropped by our own aircraft were of great help.

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24/25 Aug 42 Frankfurt
R5738D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod, P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton, Up 2146 Down 0321. Bombed primary from 15,000’ by ETA and visual pin-points prior to arriving at target. Very scattered fires burning in area, some very large. Target covered by smoke. Left the target and came down to 3,000’ and bombed all the villages we saw with nickels.

27/28 Aug 42 Gydnia Port
R5572F F/O C.D. Keir, Sgts W. McLeod, H.H. Jenkins, P/O R.B. Murphy, Sgts C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1952 Down 0413. Primary objective believed bombed. Pin-point obtained on Hole and docks seen through break in clouds. Bombs caused an enormous flash and smoke seen to about 8,000’.
Returned without incident.

1/2 Sept 42 Saarbrucken
R5738D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2343 Down 0536. Bomb load 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. Primary bombed from 7,000’. Visibility good and target was identified visually and Pathfinder flares observed dropping over target. Very heavy accurate flak. Fires observed in target area 90 miles away.

4/5 Sept 42 Bremen
R5738D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins. C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2356 Down 0459. 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. Primary target bombed from 11,000’. 4000lb bomb seen to fall and burst on buildings believed to be Focke Wulf factory, Bremen. 4000lb bomb started large fire giving forth while smoke. Successful trip.

6/7 Sept 42 Duisburg
R5548A F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 0106 Down 0444. 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. Duisburg bombed from 17,000’ visually and by pin-point on river. Visibility good with slight haze. Bomb bursts seen. Considerable activity over target. Very quiet trip on way out and back. One engine failed on return over sea.

8/9 Sept 42 Frankfurt
R5609S F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2056 Down 0323. 1 x 8000lb. Bombed Frankfurt from 16,000’. River seen after bombing. 6/10ths cloud in target area. Terrific flash seen in target area. Numerous searchlights and some flak. 16 bundles of G49 dropped over target.

10/11 Sept 42 Dusseldorf
R5614G F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2045 Down 0116. 1 x 4000lb. Dusseldorf town successfully bombed from 16,000’. Definite pin-point obtained from bend in river and bridge. Marker flares seen over town and large fires observed in centre of town.

14/15 Sept 42 Wilhelmshaven
L7577T F/L E.A. Deverill, Sgt R. Kay, P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C. H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E.Wharton. Up 2043 Down 0031. 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. West dock area bombed from 16,000’. Visibility clear, slight haze and about 8/10ths cloud at target. No results seen but glow observed to south of target. Uneventful trip.

16/17 Sept 42 Essen
R5572F F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt W. McLeod (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 2047 Down 2310. (no bomb load shown). From take off CEG [symbol] and loops were u/s so abandoned mission. Bombs dropped safe in North Sea off coast of Holland.

2/3 Oct 42 Krefeld
R5569B F/O C.D. Keir, P/O J. McCarthy (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts Westwell, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1920 Down 2322. 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. Primary target bombed on ETA, Pathfinder Force flares and built up area. Visibility hazy. Bombs seen to explode.

13/14 Oct 42 Kiel
R5738D F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt A.V. Airy (shown as Airey), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1835 Down 0015. Mission abandoned owing to failure of aileron controls.

15/16 Oct 42 Cologne

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W4175U F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt I. Whittaker, P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E.Wharton. Up 1933 Down 2346. 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. Primary target bombed from 17,000’. Visibility hazy. Small lake three [missing letter]iles from town pin-pointed. Bomb burst observed by Rear Gunner. Many good fires burning.

17 Oct 42 Le Creusot
R5538H F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt I. Whittaker, P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1209 Down 2212. 4 x 1000. Schneider and ???? works bombed from 6,000’. Bombs fell in primary area. Transformer station was observed to be getting a ‘beat up’, large blue flashes were seen. Fires were burning and whole area covered by smoke.

22/23 Oct 42 Genoa
R5609S F/O C.D. Keir, P/O R.A. Moyle (2nd Pilot), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1720 Down 1840. Mission abandoned owing to W/T failure.

9/10 Nov 42 Hamburg
R5569B F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt K.P. Mercer (F/Eng), P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts C.H. Shepherd, H.H. Jenkins, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Bomb load 1 x 4000lb 12 SBC. Up 1809 Down 1915. On becoming airborne found artificial horizon to be u/s so flew out from Skegness and jettisoned bombs in sea before making immediate return.

10/11 Nov 42 Gardening
R5917K F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt Pearce, F/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1753 Down 0153. Cloud in Deodars area. Veg laid in position. One veg exploded on hitting water.

15/16 Nov 42 Genoa
R5548A F/O C.D. Keir, Sgt S. Colbert, P/O R.B.G. Murphy, Sgts H.H. Jenkins, C.H. Shepherd, K.C. Saw, E. Wharton. Up 1757 Down 0240. Good moonlight visibility. Built up area clearly seen illuminated by flares. Bursts seen over target. Two very large fires see burning in southern part of town, east of Genoa bay.