The RAF's Ill Fated Turbinlite Nightfighting Operation
79 years ago tonight RAF Stirling R9313 took off from Marham for a "Nickel" operation involving the dropping of 654000 leaflets over Vichy France. On the way back the Stirling was mistaken for a FW Condor by the new RAF night fighting operation (codenamed Turbinlite) and was promptly shot down.
The operation consisted of a modified Havoc (with a big searchlight in the nose) and a night fighting Hurricane both of which were based at Tangmere. The idea was that the Havoc would identify and then illuminate the target which the Hurricane would shoot down. It appears that the Stirling, which crashed near Lurgashall in Sussex, was this operation's only "success" and it was soon abandoned thereafter.
Thankfully, all the Stirling crew survived and were taken to Tangmere (rather foolishly as it turned out) as "there was a near riot" when the two crews met in the mess!
Virtually the same Stirling crew was shot down again (in another Stirling W7530)on 20/21st June 1942 over Holland on the way back from Emden - this time by a German night fighter. Sadly, on this occasion, 3 of the crew (of 8) were killed - the youngest only 19. My father was the navigator on both Stirlings and he ended up in Stalag Luft 3 with the second pilot Des Plunkett who had a big role in the Great Escape. Tonight the local Dutch would have been commemorating the loss of W7530 as part of Dutch Remembrance, but the ceremony has been cancelled for the second year running due to COVID. I hope to make the 80th Anniversary.