Details of operations - Sgt Beckett G, mid-upper gunner
Title
Details of operations - Sgt Beckett G, mid-upper gunner
Description
Gives details of each operations including number and types of aircraft taking part, losses, details of attack and results. Page 1 - gives details of operation to Osnabruck and dairy entry for 6/7 October 1942. Diary comments that it was first trip and gives some details of the sortie. Page 2 - Second mission. Details of operation to Genoa and diary entry. Some details about sortie. Page 3/4 - Third mission. Details of operation to Hamburg and dairy note. Page 5 - newspaper cutting from Manchester Guardian 3 Feb 1943 - a raid on Hamburg. With airborne photograph taken during the raid. Note 'not Geoff's time'. Page 6 - the diary. Two pages of diary with details of first 5 operations, Osnabruck, Genoa, Hamburg, Turin and Stuttgart. Includes photograph of inside of mid upper turret of Lancaster. Page 7 - head on colour photograph of a Lancaster on dispersal with engines running. Quote from skipper with description of take-off. Page 8 - colour photograph of a front of a Lancaster in hanger with covers removed from both starboard engines. Note about trestle and ladder - authors photograph PA 474 BBMF - RAF Coningsby. Page 8 - map showing UK and western Europe with targets attacked and dates. Titled 'Operational flights: W4162 and F/O McNamara's crew 1942, 44 (Rhodesia) Sqdn'. Page 10 - drawing of side view of Lancaster and list of crew for operation to Genoa. Page 11 - fourth mission - details of operation and diary notes with details of sortie. Page 12 - fifth mission. Details of operation and diary notes on sortie. Page 13 - drawing of side on Lancaster and list of crew for operation to Turin. Page 14 - sixth mission. Details of operation and diary notes for operation to Stuttgart. Page 15 - b/w photograph, rear quarter view of a Lancaster parked on grass. Captioned 'Fig 6 pictured here brand new, Lanc W4126 went to 44 Squadron and KM-B, was lost during raid on Neiburg [Nienburg] in December 1942'. Page 16 - diary note - leave in Derby and Wales. List two operations to Turin (8 and 9 Dec). Page 17 - seventh mission. Details of operation and diary note of operation to Turin. Page 18 - eighth mission. Turin again 9/10 December. Details of operation and short diary note. Page 19 - extract from unknown book pages 137, 138. Account of operation to Turin. Page 20 - two pages from handwritten diary covering first 5 operations and photograph of inside of mid-upper turret (repeat of page 6).
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Twenty page document with printed and handwritten text, map, colour and b/w photographs
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SBeckettG622136v10056
Transcription
[inserted] Sgt Beckett. G. MID UPPER GUNNER.
6/7 October 1942
[underlined] OSNABRUCK [/underlined]
237 aircraft – 101 Wellingtons, [underlined] 68 Lancasters, [/underlined] 38 Stirlings, 30 Halifaxes. 6 aircraft – 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings – were lost, 2.5 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinders succeeded in illuminating the Dummer See, a large lake north-east of the target which was used as a run-in point. The town of Osnabruck was then found and marked. The bombing was well concentrated, with most of the attack falling in the centre and the southern parts of the target. Osnabruck’s report shows that 149 houses were destroyed, 530 were seriously damaged and 2,784 lightly damaged. 6 industrial premises were destroyed and 14 damaged. Other places hit were 6 public buildings, 5 churches, 4 schools, 1 hospital and the local gasworks. 65 people were killed – 45 civilians, 16 policemen or servicemen and 4 foreign workers – and 151 were injured.
[underlined] October 6th/7th 1942. [/underlined]
I made my first trip tonight to Osnabruck. I first heard that I was on a night flying test (NFT) at 1515. At 1555 I was told it was an op.
We took off at 1929 – I had given Sgt Bell (924) a few instructions just in case.’
We reached the target early at 9.20 p.m. We stooged around over it and bombed at 9.33.
4000 lb made a mess! We saw other aircraft bombing and nipped back keeping a careful lookout for night fighters.
Nothing seen – landed at 2.20 am Jolly good first trip. Bed at 2.45 am.
[page break]
[inserted] Second Mission [/inserted]
7/8 November 1942
GENOA
175 Aircraft – [underlined] 85 Lancasters, [/underlined] 45 Halifaxes, 39 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons. 6 aircraft – 4 Halifaxes, 1 Lancaster, 1 Wellington – lost, 3.4 per cent of the force.
Returning crews claimed a very successful and concentrated raid and this was confirmed by photographs. No report is available from Genoa.
36 Wellingtons of 1 Group minelaying in many areas from St-Nazaire to Denmark. 1 aircraft lost.
Nov. [inserted] 7/8 SAT [/inserted] [underlined] Genoa [/underlined] again. Much the same as before though this time landed Tangmere due to weather. Bombs burst right on target. Re-landed next day at Yankee ‘drome back by transport
[page break]
[inserted] Third mission. [/inserted]
9/10 November 1942
HAMBURG
2134 aircraft – 74 Wellingtons, [underlined] 72 Lancasters, [/underlined] 48 Halifaxes, 19 Stirlings. 15 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes – lost, 7.0 per cent of the force.
The bombers encountered cloud and icing and winds which had not been forecast. No clear identification or marking of Hamburg was made. 150 crews reported bombing, 133 believing themselves to be in the Hamburg area, 17 claiming attacks in other places. Hamburg reports thick cloud and heavy rain and says that many bombs fell in the Elbe or in open country. There were, however, 26 fires in Hamburg of which 3 were large ones. Casualties were 3 people killed and 16 injured. 1 bomber crashed in the city’s main cemetery, in the Ohlsdorf district; this is where many R.A.F. men who died while raiding this part of Germany are buried in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission section.
15 Stirlings carried more leaflets to France without loss.
November 9th/10th 1942.
[underlined] Hamburg. [/underlined] Did we quake. Quite eventful though not too successful due to 10/10 cloud. Short 5 hour trip.
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] Geoff told Jean they felt very lonely and [/underlined] vulnerable over the city, not seeing any other aircraft over the target area [inserted]
9/10 November 1942
HAMBURG
213 aircraft – 74 Wellingtons, [underlined] 72 Lancasters, [/underlined] 48 Halifaxes, 19 Stirlings. 15 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes – lost, 7.0 per cent of the force.
The bombers encountered cloud and icing and winds which had not been forecast. No clear identification or marking of Hamburg was made. 150 crews reported bombing. 133 believing themselves to be in the Hamburg area, 17 claiming attacks in other places. Hamburg reports thick cloud and heavy rain and says that many bombs fell in the Elbe or in open country. There were, however, 26 fires in Hamburg of which 3 were large ones. Casualties were 3 people killed and 16 injured. 1 bomber crashed in the city’s main cemetery, in the Ohlsdorf district; this is where many R.A.F. men who died while raiding this part of Germany are buried in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission section.
[page break]
[inserted] Christopher – Not Geoffs time. – But still at it. [/inserted]
THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1943
A RAID ON HAMBURG
[black and white photograph of a Lancaster in the air in the midst of flak and fire]
A photograph taken during the raid on Hamburg last Saturday night. A Lancaster is silhouetted against a background of fire and flak.
A Newspaper cutting from ‘THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN’ of February 3rd 1943, entitled ‘A Raid on Hamburg’, carried out the previous Saturday night.
Geoff Beckett’s sister Jean, passed the cutting on to the author, having annotated it, ‘Not Geoff’s time – but still at it’…
[page break]
The Diary.
SGT. BECKETT. G.
MID-UPPER GUNNER.
[underlined] OCTOBER. 6TH/7TH. [/underlined]
Made my first trip tonight to [underlined] Osnabruck. [/underlined] I first heard that I was on a night flying test (N.F.T.) at 1515 & at 1555 was told it was an op. We took off at 19.29 – I had given Sgt. Bell (924) a few instructions just in case - & we reached the target early on [inserted] 9.20 pm. [/inserted] We stooged around over it and bombed at 9.33. 4000 lb made a mess! We saw other a/c bombing and nipped back. Keeping careful lookout for night fighters. Nothing seen & landed 12.20 a.m. Jolly good first trip. Bed at 2.45 a.m.
[underlined] November. Genoa [/underlined] [inserted] 6/7 [/underlined] First trip as a crew. Easy trip. We certainly helped flatten it out. Nearly lost on return. wireless U/S. Circled for 1 1/2 hrs. round Swindon & finally managed
[page break]
to land at Harwell at [deleted] 6 [/deleted] 7.50 am. 10 hrs. 20 mins. in the air! Left there 11.45 & landed base 2 pm. Dead tired.
Nov. [inserted] 7/8 SAT [/inserted] [underlined] Genoa [/underlined] again. Much the same as before though this time landed Tangmere due to weather. Bombs burst right on target. Re-landed next day at Yankee ‘drome back by transport.
[underlined] Nov. [/underlined] [inserted] 9/10 [/inserted] [underlined] HAMBURG! [/underlined] Did we quake. Quite eventful though not too successful. 10/10 Cloud. Short 5 hrs trip.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 20/21 [/inserted] [underlined] TURIN. [/underlined] Quite hot reception. Low attack & seen by machine gunner up on mountain sides, firing [underlined] DOWN [/underlined] on us! Damned hot while it lasted. Very successful attack.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 22/23 [/inserted] [underlined] STUTTGART. [/underlined] Quite a long trip & successful attack made. Saw bags of other kites. No night fighters seen.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of inside of turret of Lancaster with the back of the gunner’s head at the rear]
[page break]
[colour photograph of a Lancaster on the ground]
“The Skipper would say to all the crew, “Standby for take off” He would then apply the brakes, open up to ‘O’ on the boost, release the brakes and 65,000 lbs of Lancaster would roll forward” …
Authors Photograph. NX 611. East Kirby.
[page break]
[colour photograph of the front of a Lancaster inside hangar with covers removed from two engines]
“they borrowed a trestle and ladder. Over the next few days they corrected a few small snags”
Author’s photograph. PA 474 – BBMF – R.A.F Coningsby.
[page break]
[map of Europe detailing targets attacked and dates]
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a Lancaster in the air]
GENOA
13/14TH. NOV. 1942
P/O McNAMARA SGT. READ P/O McLEARY
P/O. LOREE SGT. McLEOD SGT. BECKETT SGT. JONES.
44 SQUADRON
[page break]
[inserted] Fourth Mission [/inserted]
13/14 November 1942
GENOA
[underlined] 67 Lancasters [/underlined] and 9 Stirlings of the Pathfinder Force and 5 Group. More successful bombing was carried out but no details are available. No aircraft lost.
12 Wellingtons minelaying off Lorient and St-Nazaire without loss.
November 13th/14th. 1942.
Genoa again. Much the same as before, though this time landed at Tangmere due to weather.
Bombs burst right on target.
We re landed next day at a Yankee ‘drome.
Back to base by transport.
[page break]
[inserted] Fifth mission. [/inserted]
20/21 November 1942
TURIN
232 aircraft – [underlined] 86 Lancasters, [/underlined] 54 Wellingtons, 47 Halifaxes, 45 Stirlings – on the largest raid to Italy during this period. 3 aircraft – 1 Halifax, 1 Stirling, 1 Wellington – lost.
This was another successful attack, with large fires being started. Dense smoke prevented further observations of the effects of the bombing but the casualty roll in Turin, 117 dead and 120 injured, confirms that many bombs fell in the city.
Minor Operations: 4 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
November 20th/21st 1942
[underlined] Turin [/underlined] Quite a hot reception. A low attack and seen by machine gunners up on mountain sides, firing [underlined] down [/underlined] on us! Damned hot while it lasted.
A very successful attack.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a Lancaster in the air]
TURIN 20/21 NOV 1942
F/O McNAMARA SGT READ P/O McCLEARY P/O LOREE
SGT McLEOD SGT BECKETT SGT JONES
44 SQUADRON
[page break]
[inserted] Sixth mission. [/inserted]
22/23 November 1942
STUTTGART
222 aircraft – [underlined] 97 Lancasters, [/underlined] 59 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 27 Stirlings. 10 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 3 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes – lost, 4.5 per cent of the force.
A thin layer of cloud and some ground haze concealed Stuttgart and the Pathfinders were not able to identify the centre of the city. Heavy bombing developed to the south-west and south and the outlying residential districts of Vaihingen, Rohr, Mohringen and Plieningen, all about 5 miles from the centre, were hit. 88 houses were destroyed and 334 seriously damaged; 28 people were killed and 71 injured. The Stuttgart report says that 2 bombers attacked the centre of the city at low level and dropped bombs on to the main railway station which caused severe damage to the wooden platforms and some trains in the station.
There was 1 O.T.U. leaflet sortie to France which returned safely.
November 22ND/23RD 1942.
[underlined] Stuttgart [/underlined] Quite a long trip and a successful attack made.
Saw bags of other kites.
No night fighters seen.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a Lancaster]
Fig. 6 Pictured here brand new, Lanc B1 W4126 went to 44 Squadron and, as KM-B, was lost during a raid on [deleted] Nuremburg [/deleted] [inserted] NEINBURG [/inserted] in December 1942.
[page break]
[underlined] A.D. 30/11/42 – 7/12/42 [/underlined] & Leave in Derby [underlined] Wales – Glorious [/underlined]
[deleted] NOV. [/deleted] DEC 8th [underlined] TURIN. [/underlined] PLASTERED IT VERY WELL. SHOOK ‘EM ROTTEN. OUR OWN KITE [underlined] ‘B’. [/underlined]
DEC 9th [underlined] TURIN [/underlined] again. Haze on arrival not too successful. Lit it up tho’.
[page break]
[inserted] Seventh mission. [/inserted]
8/9 December 1942
TURIN
133 aircraft of 5 Group and the Pathfinder Force – [underlined] 108 Lancasters, [/underlined] 9 Halifaxes, 9 Wellingtons, 7 Stirlings; 1 Lancaster lost.
The Pathfinders illuminated the target well and bombing was very accurate. Residential and industrial areas were both extensively damaged. Turin reports 213 dead and 111 injures; this was the largest number of dead in all of the 1942 raids on this city, even though much larger forces of bombers were dispatched on 3 other raids. Fires from this raid were still burning the following night.
MINELAYING
[underlined] 80 aircraft [/underlined] of 1, 3 and 4 Groups to the German and Danish coasts; 5 aircraft – 3 Stirlings, 1 Halifax, [underlined] 1 Lancaster [/underlined] – lost.
Total effort for the night: 213 sorties, 6 aircraft (2.8 per cent) lost.
December 8th/9th 1942.
[underlined] Turin [/underlined] PLASTERED IT VERY WELL.
SHOOK ‘EM ROTTEN.
OUR OWN KITE [underlined] ‘B’ [/underlined]
[page break]
[inserted] 8th MISSION [/inserted]
9/10 December 1942
TURIN
227 aircraft – [underlined] 115 Lancasters, [/underlined] 47 Halifaxes, 40 Wellingtons, 25 Stirlings. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Lancaster lost.
This was a disappointing raid with the Pathfinders not able to perform as efficiently as on the previous night. Smoke from old fires partially obscured the target area. Turin, however, records 73 more people killed and 99 injured.
Minor Operations: 2 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. 1 O.T.U. Whitley
December 9th/10th. 1942.
[underlined] Turin [/underlined] again. Haze on arrival so not too successful. Lit it up tho’.
[inserted] TURIN RAID 8-12-1942
TURIN RAID 9-12-1942.
Pages 137, 138 [/inserted]
“On December 8, (5 Group (ours)) was detailed to attack Turin (with 138 aircraft). Bad weather over England, flak and cloud over France, the Alps the same as usual. (Diary: “Low cloud over France and great concentration of searchlights on French coast, but slipped through. Someone flashed ‘V for Victory’ in Morse at us as we crossed the Alps. All towns in mountains well lit by street and house lights.”) And there was Turin – brilliantly lit by flares on the plain far below. Red and blue streams of tracers coming up to 10,000 feet, heavy flak bursts above it, a few searchlights, and our aircraft everywhere in the sky.
“It was the shortest, most concentrated, and accurate blitz I have seen. The loads were incendiaries and 4,000-pounders. We bombed among the first, then flew around for twenty minutes watching the fireworks. The incendiaries were laid down in mile-long strips that looked as though someone had flung down a bucketful of glittering jewelry. [sic] Their brilliant glow outlined the buildings sharply, and the patterns, from our height, made Xs, Ns, Ts, and so forth, on the town. The 4,000-pounders made terrific geysers and gaping black holes among the bands of incendiaries. A very pretty sight, scientifically, of course. Even when I see buildings blowing up and in flames, I can’t imagine people in them. It’s like looking at a picture on a screen. And so back to base. Photos showed first blazing merrily.
[page break]
[inserted] THE DIARY [/inserted]
SGT. BECKETT. G.
MID-UPPER GUNNER.
[underlined] OCTOBER. 6TH/7TH. [/underlined]
Made my first trip tonight to [underlined] Osnabruck. [/underlined] I first heard that I was on a night flying test (N.F.T.) at 1515 & at 1555 was told it was an op. We took off at 19.29 – I had given Sgt. Bell (924) a few instructions just in case - & we reached the target early on [inserted] (9.20 pm.) [/inserted] We stooged around over it and bombed at 9.33, 4000 lb made a mess! We saw other a/c bombing and nipped back, keeping careful lookout for night fighters. Nothing seen & landed 12.20 a.m. Jolly good first trip. Bed at 2.45 a.m.
[underlined] November. Genoa. [/underlined] [inserted] 6/7 [/inserted] First trip as a crew. Easy trip we certainly helped flatten it out. Nearly lost on return, wireless U/S. Circled for 1 1/2 hrs. round Swindon & finally managed
[page break]
to land at Harwell at [deleted] 6 [/deleted] 7.50 am. 10 hrs. 20 mins. in the air! Left there 11.45 & landed base 2 pm. Dead tired.
NOV. [inserted] 7/8 SAT [/inserted] [underlined] Genoa [/underlined] again. Much the same as before though this time landed Tangmere due to weather. Bombs burst right on target. Re-landed next day at Yankee ‘drome back by transport.
[underlined] Nov. [/underlined] [inserted] 9/10 [/inserted] [underlined] HAMBURG! [/underlined] Did we quake. Quite eventful though not too successful. 10/10 Cloud. Short 5 hrs trip.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 20/21 [/inserted] [underlined] TURIN. [/underlined] Quite hot reception. Low attack & seen by machine gunner up on mountain sides, firing [underlined] DOWN [/underlined] on us! Damned hot while it lasted. Very successful attack.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 22/23 [/inserted] [underlined] STUTTGART. [/underlined] Quite a long trip & successful attack made. Saw bags of other kites. No night fighters seen.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of mid-upper turret]
6/7 October 1942
[underlined] OSNABRUCK [/underlined]
237 aircraft – 101 Wellingtons, [underlined] 68 Lancasters, [/underlined] 38 Stirlings, 30 Halifaxes. 6 aircraft – 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings – were lost, 2.5 per cent of the force.
The Pathfinders succeeded in illuminating the Dummer See, a large lake north-east of the target which was used as a run-in point. The town of Osnabruck was then found and marked. The bombing was well concentrated, with most of the attack falling in the centre and the southern parts of the target. Osnabruck’s report shows that 149 houses were destroyed, 530 were seriously damaged and 2,784 lightly damaged. 6 industrial premises were destroyed and 14 damaged. Other places hit were 6 public buildings, 5 churches, 4 schools, 1 hospital and the local gasworks. 65 people were killed – 45 civilians, 16 policemen or servicemen and 4 foreign workers – and 151 were injured.
[underlined] October 6th/7th 1942. [/underlined]
I made my first trip tonight to Osnabruck. I first heard that I was on a night flying test (NFT) at 1515. At 1555 I was told it was an op.
We took off at 1929 – I had given Sgt Bell (924) a few instructions just in case.’
We reached the target early at 9.20 p.m. We stooged around over it and bombed at 9.33.
4000 lb made a mess! We saw other aircraft bombing and nipped back keeping a careful lookout for night fighters.
Nothing seen – landed at 2.20 am Jolly good first trip. Bed at 2.45 am.
[page break]
[inserted] Second Mission [/inserted]
7/8 November 1942
GENOA
175 Aircraft – [underlined] 85 Lancasters, [/underlined] 45 Halifaxes, 39 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons. 6 aircraft – 4 Halifaxes, 1 Lancaster, 1 Wellington – lost, 3.4 per cent of the force.
Returning crews claimed a very successful and concentrated raid and this was confirmed by photographs. No report is available from Genoa.
36 Wellingtons of 1 Group minelaying in many areas from St-Nazaire to Denmark. 1 aircraft lost.
Nov. [inserted] 7/8 SAT [/inserted] [underlined] Genoa [/underlined] again. Much the same as before though this time landed Tangmere due to weather. Bombs burst right on target. Re-landed next day at Yankee ‘drome back by transport
[page break]
[inserted] Third mission. [/inserted]
9/10 November 1942
HAMBURG
2134 aircraft – 74 Wellingtons, [underlined] 72 Lancasters, [/underlined] 48 Halifaxes, 19 Stirlings. 15 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes – lost, 7.0 per cent of the force.
The bombers encountered cloud and icing and winds which had not been forecast. No clear identification or marking of Hamburg was made. 150 crews reported bombing, 133 believing themselves to be in the Hamburg area, 17 claiming attacks in other places. Hamburg reports thick cloud and heavy rain and says that many bombs fell in the Elbe or in open country. There were, however, 26 fires in Hamburg of which 3 were large ones. Casualties were 3 people killed and 16 injured. 1 bomber crashed in the city’s main cemetery, in the Ohlsdorf district; this is where many R.A.F. men who died while raiding this part of Germany are buried in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission section.
15 Stirlings carried more leaflets to France without loss.
November 9th/10th 1942.
[underlined] Hamburg. [/underlined] Did we quake. Quite eventful though not too successful due to 10/10 cloud. Short 5 hour trip.
[page break]
[inserted] [underlined] Geoff told Jean they felt very lonely and [/underlined] vulnerable over the city, not seeing any other aircraft over the target area [inserted]
9/10 November 1942
HAMBURG
213 aircraft – 74 Wellingtons, [underlined] 72 Lancasters, [/underlined] 48 Halifaxes, 19 Stirlings. 15 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes – lost, 7.0 per cent of the force.
The bombers encountered cloud and icing and winds which had not been forecast. No clear identification or marking of Hamburg was made. 150 crews reported bombing. 133 believing themselves to be in the Hamburg area, 17 claiming attacks in other places. Hamburg reports thick cloud and heavy rain and says that many bombs fell in the Elbe or in open country. There were, however, 26 fires in Hamburg of which 3 were large ones. Casualties were 3 people killed and 16 injured. 1 bomber crashed in the city’s main cemetery, in the Ohlsdorf district; this is where many R.A.F. men who died while raiding this part of Germany are buried in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission section.
[page break]
[inserted] Christopher – Not Geoffs time. – But still at it. [/inserted]
THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1943
A RAID ON HAMBURG
[black and white photograph of a Lancaster in the air in the midst of flak and fire]
A photograph taken during the raid on Hamburg last Saturday night. A Lancaster is silhouetted against a background of fire and flak.
A Newspaper cutting from ‘THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN’ of February 3rd 1943, entitled ‘A Raid on Hamburg’, carried out the previous Saturday night.
Geoff Beckett’s sister Jean, passed the cutting on to the author, having annotated it, ‘Not Geoff’s time – but still at it’…
[page break]
The Diary.
SGT. BECKETT. G.
MID-UPPER GUNNER.
[underlined] OCTOBER. 6TH/7TH. [/underlined]
Made my first trip tonight to [underlined] Osnabruck. [/underlined] I first heard that I was on a night flying test (N.F.T.) at 1515 & at 1555 was told it was an op. We took off at 19.29 – I had given Sgt. Bell (924) a few instructions just in case - & we reached the target early on [inserted] 9.20 pm. [/inserted] We stooged around over it and bombed at 9.33. 4000 lb made a mess! We saw other a/c bombing and nipped back. Keeping careful lookout for night fighters. Nothing seen & landed 12.20 a.m. Jolly good first trip. Bed at 2.45 a.m.
[underlined] November. Genoa [/underlined] [inserted] 6/7 [/underlined] First trip as a crew. Easy trip. We certainly helped flatten it out. Nearly lost on return. wireless U/S. Circled for 1 1/2 hrs. round Swindon & finally managed
[page break]
to land at Harwell at [deleted] 6 [/deleted] 7.50 am. 10 hrs. 20 mins. in the air! Left there 11.45 & landed base 2 pm. Dead tired.
Nov. [inserted] 7/8 SAT [/inserted] [underlined] Genoa [/underlined] again. Much the same as before though this time landed Tangmere due to weather. Bombs burst right on target. Re-landed next day at Yankee ‘drome back by transport.
[underlined] Nov. [/underlined] [inserted] 9/10 [/inserted] [underlined] HAMBURG! [/underlined] Did we quake. Quite eventful though not too successful. 10/10 Cloud. Short 5 hrs trip.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 20/21 [/inserted] [underlined] TURIN. [/underlined] Quite hot reception. Low attack & seen by machine gunner up on mountain sides, firing [underlined] DOWN [/underlined] on us! Damned hot while it lasted. Very successful attack.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 22/23 [/inserted] [underlined] STUTTGART. [/underlined] Quite a long trip & successful attack made. Saw bags of other kites. No night fighters seen.
[page break]
[black and white photograph of inside of turret of Lancaster with the back of the gunner’s head at the rear]
[page break]
[colour photograph of a Lancaster on the ground]
“The Skipper would say to all the crew, “Standby for take off” He would then apply the brakes, open up to ‘O’ on the boost, release the brakes and 65,000 lbs of Lancaster would roll forward” …
Authors Photograph. NX 611. East Kirby.
[page break]
[colour photograph of the front of a Lancaster inside hangar with covers removed from two engines]
“they borrowed a trestle and ladder. Over the next few days they corrected a few small snags”
Author’s photograph. PA 474 – BBMF – R.A.F Coningsby.
[page break]
[map of Europe detailing targets attacked and dates]
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a Lancaster in the air]
GENOA
13/14TH. NOV. 1942
P/O McNAMARA SGT. READ P/O McLEARY
P/O. LOREE SGT. McLEOD SGT. BECKETT SGT. JONES.
44 SQUADRON
[page break]
[inserted] Fourth Mission [/inserted]
13/14 November 1942
GENOA
[underlined] 67 Lancasters [/underlined] and 9 Stirlings of the Pathfinder Force and 5 Group. More successful bombing was carried out but no details are available. No aircraft lost.
12 Wellingtons minelaying off Lorient and St-Nazaire without loss.
November 13th/14th. 1942.
Genoa again. Much the same as before, though this time landed at Tangmere due to weather.
Bombs burst right on target.
We re landed next day at a Yankee ‘drome.
Back to base by transport.
[page break]
[inserted] Fifth mission. [/inserted]
20/21 November 1942
TURIN
232 aircraft – [underlined] 86 Lancasters, [/underlined] 54 Wellingtons, 47 Halifaxes, 45 Stirlings – on the largest raid to Italy during this period. 3 aircraft – 1 Halifax, 1 Stirling, 1 Wellington – lost.
This was another successful attack, with large fires being started. Dense smoke prevented further observations of the effects of the bombing but the casualty roll in Turin, 117 dead and 120 injured, confirms that many bombs fell in the city.
Minor Operations: 4 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.
November 20th/21st 1942
[underlined] Turin [/underlined] Quite a hot reception. A low attack and seen by machine gunners up on mountain sides, firing [underlined] down [/underlined] on us! Damned hot while it lasted.
A very successful attack.
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[black and white photograph of a Lancaster in the air]
TURIN 20/21 NOV 1942
F/O McNAMARA SGT READ P/O McCLEARY P/O LOREE
SGT McLEOD SGT BECKETT SGT JONES
44 SQUADRON
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[inserted] Sixth mission. [/inserted]
22/23 November 1942
STUTTGART
222 aircraft – [underlined] 97 Lancasters, [/underlined] 59 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 27 Stirlings. 10 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 3 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes – lost, 4.5 per cent of the force.
A thin layer of cloud and some ground haze concealed Stuttgart and the Pathfinders were not able to identify the centre of the city. Heavy bombing developed to the south-west and south and the outlying residential districts of Vaihingen, Rohr, Mohringen and Plieningen, all about 5 miles from the centre, were hit. 88 houses were destroyed and 334 seriously damaged; 28 people were killed and 71 injured. The Stuttgart report says that 2 bombers attacked the centre of the city at low level and dropped bombs on to the main railway station which caused severe damage to the wooden platforms and some trains in the station.
There was 1 O.T.U. leaflet sortie to France which returned safely.
November 22ND/23RD 1942.
[underlined] Stuttgart [/underlined] Quite a long trip and a successful attack made.
Saw bags of other kites.
No night fighters seen.
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[black and white photograph of a Lancaster]
Fig. 6 Pictured here brand new, Lanc B1 W4126 went to 44 Squadron and, as KM-B, was lost during a raid on [deleted] Nuremburg [/deleted] [inserted] NEINBURG [/inserted] in December 1942.
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[underlined] A.D. 30/11/42 – 7/12/42 [/underlined] & Leave in Derby [underlined] Wales – Glorious [/underlined]
[deleted] NOV. [/deleted] DEC 8th [underlined] TURIN. [/underlined] PLASTERED IT VERY WELL. SHOOK ‘EM ROTTEN. OUR OWN KITE [underlined] ‘B’. [/underlined]
DEC 9th [underlined] TURIN [/underlined] again. Haze on arrival not too successful. Lit it up tho’.
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[inserted] Seventh mission. [/inserted]
8/9 December 1942
TURIN
133 aircraft of 5 Group and the Pathfinder Force – [underlined] 108 Lancasters, [/underlined] 9 Halifaxes, 9 Wellingtons, 7 Stirlings; 1 Lancaster lost.
The Pathfinders illuminated the target well and bombing was very accurate. Residential and industrial areas were both extensively damaged. Turin reports 213 dead and 111 injures; this was the largest number of dead in all of the 1942 raids on this city, even though much larger forces of bombers were dispatched on 3 other raids. Fires from this raid were still burning the following night.
MINELAYING
[underlined] 80 aircraft [/underlined] of 1, 3 and 4 Groups to the German and Danish coasts; 5 aircraft – 3 Stirlings, 1 Halifax, [underlined] 1 Lancaster [/underlined] – lost.
Total effort for the night: 213 sorties, 6 aircraft (2.8 per cent) lost.
December 8th/9th 1942.
[underlined] Turin [/underlined] PLASTERED IT VERY WELL.
SHOOK ‘EM ROTTEN.
OUR OWN KITE [underlined] ‘B’ [/underlined]
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[inserted] 8th MISSION [/inserted]
9/10 December 1942
TURIN
227 aircraft – [underlined] 115 Lancasters, [/underlined] 47 Halifaxes, 40 Wellingtons, 25 Stirlings. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Lancaster lost.
This was a disappointing raid with the Pathfinders not able to perform as efficiently as on the previous night. Smoke from old fires partially obscured the target area. Turin, however, records 73 more people killed and 99 injured.
Minor Operations: 2 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, 12 O.T.U. sorties. 1 O.T.U. Whitley
December 9th/10th. 1942.
[underlined] Turin [/underlined] again. Haze on arrival so not too successful. Lit it up tho’.
[inserted] TURIN RAID 8-12-1942
TURIN RAID 9-12-1942.
Pages 137, 138 [/inserted]
“On December 8, (5 Group (ours)) was detailed to attack Turin (with 138 aircraft). Bad weather over England, flak and cloud over France, the Alps the same as usual. (Diary: “Low cloud over France and great concentration of searchlights on French coast, but slipped through. Someone flashed ‘V for Victory’ in Morse at us as we crossed the Alps. All towns in mountains well lit by street and house lights.”) And there was Turin – brilliantly lit by flares on the plain far below. Red and blue streams of tracers coming up to 10,000 feet, heavy flak bursts above it, a few searchlights, and our aircraft everywhere in the sky.
“It was the shortest, most concentrated, and accurate blitz I have seen. The loads were incendiaries and 4,000-pounders. We bombed among the first, then flew around for twenty minutes watching the fireworks. The incendiaries were laid down in mile-long strips that looked as though someone had flung down a bucketful of glittering jewelry. [sic] Their brilliant glow outlined the buildings sharply, and the patterns, from our height, made Xs, Ns, Ts, and so forth, on the town. The 4,000-pounders made terrific geysers and gaping black holes among the bands of incendiaries. A very pretty sight, scientifically, of course. Even when I see buildings blowing up and in flames, I can’t imagine people in them. It’s like looking at a picture on a screen. And so back to base. Photos showed first blazing merrily.
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[inserted] THE DIARY [/inserted]
SGT. BECKETT. G.
MID-UPPER GUNNER.
[underlined] OCTOBER. 6TH/7TH. [/underlined]
Made my first trip tonight to [underlined] Osnabruck. [/underlined] I first heard that I was on a night flying test (N.F.T.) at 1515 & at 1555 was told it was an op. We took off at 19.29 – I had given Sgt. Bell (924) a few instructions just in case - & we reached the target early on [inserted] (9.20 pm.) [/inserted] We stooged around over it and bombed at 9.33, 4000 lb made a mess! We saw other a/c bombing and nipped back, keeping careful lookout for night fighters. Nothing seen & landed 12.20 a.m. Jolly good first trip. Bed at 2.45 a.m.
[underlined] November. Genoa. [/underlined] [inserted] 6/7 [/inserted] First trip as a crew. Easy trip we certainly helped flatten it out. Nearly lost on return, wireless U/S. Circled for 1 1/2 hrs. round Swindon & finally managed
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to land at Harwell at [deleted] 6 [/deleted] 7.50 am. 10 hrs. 20 mins. in the air! Left there 11.45 & landed base 2 pm. Dead tired.
NOV. [inserted] 7/8 SAT [/inserted] [underlined] Genoa [/underlined] again. Much the same as before though this time landed Tangmere due to weather. Bombs burst right on target. Re-landed next day at Yankee ‘drome back by transport.
[underlined] Nov. [/underlined] [inserted] 9/10 [/inserted] [underlined] HAMBURG! [/underlined] Did we quake. Quite eventful though not too successful. 10/10 Cloud. Short 5 hrs trip.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 20/21 [/inserted] [underlined] TURIN. [/underlined] Quite hot reception. Low attack & seen by machine gunner up on mountain sides, firing [underlined] DOWN [/underlined] on us! Damned hot while it lasted. Very successful attack.
[underlined] NOV. [/underlined] [inserted] 22/23 [/inserted] [underlined] STUTTGART. [/underlined] Quite a long trip & successful attack made. Saw bags of other kites. No night fighters seen.
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[black and white photograph of mid-upper turret]
Collection
Citation
“Details of operations - Sgt Beckett G, mid-upper gunner,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 27, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/41369.
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