PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - RAF Pathfinder 97 Lancaster Squadron WW2
View Single Post
Old 27th Oct 2022, 09:29
  #5 (permalink)  
NutLoose
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,002
Received 2,893 Likes on 1,238 Posts
OK starting to find the odd snippet, he went to Berlin quite a few times too, you will need to trawl through them all looking for his missions, I was looking at a couple in Jan on 44, BUT NOT ALL.

The numbers at the start will be the aircraft he flew so you might find details or pictures of them as well.

I hope that helps, see the link, it is the aircraft and crew records from the war, snippets of which I have posted below. THERE ARE MANY MANY MORE for him.

LINKS, they open in word

Operations

21/22 January 1944 – Magdeburg
JB356X F/O J.Billing, Sgt T.W.Hope, P/O J.Moriarty, F/L E.E.Olser, F/Sgt J.Campbell, W/O R.D.Curtis, F/Sgt J.D.Findlay. Up 2010 Down 0235. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 5 x 1000lb. Primary target located by green TIs and successfully bombed from 19,000’. Concentration of TIs very good. Many fires observed. Built up area seen in light of bomb flashes.
27.1.44 21 aircraft are detailed for tonight’s operations, the target being Berlin. 20 aircraft attacked the primary, one returned early due to intercom trouble. Weather was 10/10ths cloud tops about 8,000’, visibility good. Attack opened early and the target was kept well marked with flares and effective concentration resulted, with only slight spread. Bombing results were not visible but glows of fires were seen hundred miles from target. There was slight to moderate H/F with continuous L/F below 3,000’. Considerable fighter activity was encountered over the target.



27/28 January 1944 – Berlin
JB356X F/O J.Billing, F/Sgt T.W.Hope, P/O J.Moriarty, F/L E.E.Osler, F/Sgt J.Campbell, W/O R.D.Curtis, F/Sgt J.Findlay. Up 1705 Down 2355. 4 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 4 x 1000lb. Berlin bombed from 18,300 successfully. Target indicated by Wanganui flares and bombs released in centre of cluster of these. No results seen on account of 10/10ths cloud.
28.1.44 21 aircraft detailed to attack Berlin, 2 aircraft were withdrawn, 1 aircraft returned early due to “icing” conditions and one bombed Kiel owing to flak damage. Remaining aircraft attacked primary. Weather again 9/10th to 10/10th cloud with tops about 8,000’. And good visibility. There was continuous marking of the target, bombing was extremely concentrated and two violent explosions were observed. All indications point out to this attack being the most successful yet on the “Big City”. Defences slight H/F focussed on marker flares, within increased fighter activity over target area, S/Ls were ineffective. P/O Van Raalte met considerable flak opposition over Kiel, aircraft sustained severe damage. F/Sgt Laurie, his rear gunner, was killed and aircraft returned to base on 3 engines. F/Lt Wilson and crew, P/O Allison and crew failed to return – nothing heard since.



28/29 January 1944 – Berlin
JB659J F/O J.Billing, F/Sgt T.W.Hope, P/O J.E.Moriarty, F/L E.E.Osler, F/Sgt J.Campbell, W/O R.D.Curtis, F/Sgt J.Findlay – DID NOT TAKE OFF.

Last edited by NutLoose; 27th Oct 2022 at 09:48.
NutLoose is online now