Action This Day

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401 Sqn RCAF (Catterick – Spitfire VB) 23.2.43
Weather: 8/10 cloud at 2,500’, visibility 5 miles, wind 15 m.p.h. from W. At 0726 hours Red section 30 minutes available At 0841 hours Red section released. At 1758 hours Red section at readiness. At 1809 hours Red section at 30 minutes available. At 1858 hours Red section released. Formation flying, tail chases, circuits and bumps in formation and low flying occupied the day. There was no night flying.

Serviceability: “A” Flight: 8 a/c and 8 pilots; “B” Flight: 1 a/c and 2 pilots.

USAAF
MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-25s attacking Axis shipping at sea north of Cap Bon claim one ship sunk.

SICILY: IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the ferry installation at Messina.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-17s attack Kairouan; NASAF B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, and NATAF A-20s and fighters attack German Army units retreating through Kasserine Pass; and IX Bomber Command B-25s attack Arram, a position along the German Army’s new Mareth Line, in southern Tunisia.

NAAF fighter pilots down two Axis aircraft during the day.

RAF
First and Last Operational Missions
57 Sqn (Holmsley South) flies its first OM in the Halifax II
114 Sqn (Canrobert) flies its last OM in the Blenheim V
422 Sqn RCAF (Oban) flies its first OM in the Sunderland III

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424 Sqn RCAF (Topcliffe – Wellington III/X) 24.2.43
Twelve aircraft were detailed for bombing operation on HAMBURG, the target was later changed to WILHELMSHAVEN. Briefings were held at 13.30 and 14.30 hrs. Five of our aircraft 1 x 500lb. G.P., 270 4 lb. incendiaries, and 8 x 30 lb. incendiaries. Five carried 3 x 500 lb. G.P., 360 x 4 lb. incendiaries, 16 x 30 lb. incendiaries. The remaining carried 1 x 4000 pounders each. Take-off commenced at 18.19 and all aircraft were airborne six minutes later. Two of the aircraft returned before reaching the target due to instrument difficulty. The remainder reached the target and identified it. Visibility was poor with 10/10 cloud. Bombs were released from an average height of 15,000 ft. on P.F.F. marker flares which were plainly visible. Due to cloudy conditions actual results could not be observed. Moderate heavy flak was encountered but it was scattered and inaccurate. Light flak prevailed up to 14,000 ft. Several crews reported large red glows from fires, as many as seven being counted. On returning to base, Wellington X, H.E.369, “P”, crashed on the perimeter and burnt. Three of the crew being injured and four killed. Five of the aircraft returned to base undamaged, the remainder landed at other Stations undamaged.

ADDENDUM – This was the first Wellington X loss by 424 Squadron.

BOMBER COMMAND
24/25 February 1943
WILHELMSHAVEN
115 aircraft of 6 and 8 Groups – 71 Wellingtons, 27 Halifaxes, 9 Stirlings, 8 Lancasters. Bomber Command documents make no comment on the outcome of this raid. Wilhelmshaven’s report calls it a ‘small raid’ with ‘a little damage in the town’ and makes no mention of casualties. Once again, the bomber force returned without losing any aircraft.

This was the last raid on the much-bombed town of Wilhelmshaven until October 1944.

4 Mosquitoes bombed Brauweiler and Düsseldorf without loss.

USAAF
ENGLAND: In an advisory message from the U.S. War Department, MajGen Ira C. Eaker is informed that, henceforth, VIII Fighter Command fighters will be employed offensively in the direct escort of VIII Bomber Command bombers.

ITALY: During the night of February 24–25, IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Naples harbor and Crotone.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-17s attack Kairouan Airdrome; NASAF B-25s attack and sink several Axis supply barges at sea near Cap Bon; NASAF B-17s and B-26s attack the town of Kasserine and German Army troop and motor columns in and around the Kasserine Pass; NASAF B-25s attack road traffic on the highway near Sbeitla; and NATAF A-20s and fighters attack German Army motor vehicles in a wide area around Sbeitla and the Kasserine Pass.

52d Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down three Bf-109s during a running noontime engagement near Tunis.

RAF
Base Changes
1 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire VC) moves to Hazbub Main
2 Sqn SAAF (Kittyhawk I) moves to Nefatia Main
4 Sqn SAAF(Kittyhawk I) moves to Nefatia Main
5 Sqn SAAF (Kittyhawk III) moves to Nefatia Main
92 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Hazbub Main
601 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Hazbub Main

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467 Sqn RAAF (Bottesford – Lancaster III) 25.2.43
Eight aircraft were detailed to attack NURNBERG. The target has not been bombed since August last year and all crews were glad to have a good long trip. Unfortunately, the P.F.F. were 20 minutes late, which meant the aircraft had to orbit the target – no pleasant task, but not bomb was dropped until the marker flares were released. Good show! Was a very concentrated effort and from reports was highly successful. S/L PAAPE’s crew were due for leave at 2359 so they had their best leg forward. Most of the crew had not been on leave for over six months, but sad to relate the oxygen system failed and S/L PAAPE “passed out” – the first time on record, I should think, had to return. Dash bad luck on one hand and good on the other. Most of us kept out of the way – we know what his feelings were. We lost F/SGT Stewart, no news at all, also F/L ROWCROFT, Sqadron Navigation Officer, who stepped into the breach last month.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III ED526 PO-J. Crew: F/S Stewart RAAF KIA, Sgt R McK Wylie KIA, F/L OG Rowcroft RAAF KIA, Sgt E. O’Kane KIA, Sgt RS Wooley RCAF KIA, Sgt R Wiggins KIA, F/S JLB Larin RCAF. T/o 1946 Bottesford, hit by Flak Rgt. z.b.V. 53 and 3./schw. Flak Abt. 634, impacted at Weissendorf near Herzogenaurach 23.35 hours. All are buried at Durnbach War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
NUREMBERG
337 aircraft – 169 Lancasters, 104 Halifaxes, 64 Stirlings. 9 aircraft – 6 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax – lost, 2.7 percent of the force.

Weather conditions were poor and the Pathfinders were late with their marking. Nuremberg’s report shows that the bombing fell on the northern edges of Nuremberg and on the neighbouring town of Fürth and in the countryside up to 12 km further north. However, more than 300 buildings were damaged in Nuremberg, including a historic military chapel which was burnt out. 12 civilians, 1 soldier on leave and 1 prisoner of war were killed in Nuremberg; 26 people were killed in Fürth and there may have been further casualties in the villages to the north.

Minor Operations: 6 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr (13 people were killed in Cologne), 54 aircraft minelaying off Brittany and in the Frisians, 20 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

Total effort for the night: 417 sorties, 9 aircraft (2.2 percent) lost.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The final element of the 2d Bombardment Wing’s 93d Heavy Bombardment Group returns from nearly three months’ service in North Africa.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-17s attack Tunis/El Aouina Airdrome; NATAF A-20s and fighters attack German Army road traffic in the Thala-Kasserine-Sbeitla region and along the Gafsa-Feriana road; and IX Bomber Command B-25s attack German Army motor traffic along the roads around Arram.

Elements of the British First Army and the U.S. II Corps reoccupy Kasserine Pass.

RAF
Base Changes
40 Sqn SAAF TR (Spitfire VB) moves to Nefatia South
37 Sqn (Wellington IC) moves to Gardarbia West
70 Sqn (Wellington III) moves to Gardarbia West

First and Last Operational Missions
43 Sqn (Maison Blanche) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VC

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426 Sqn RCAF (Dishforth – Wellington III) 26.2.43
Eleven crews were detailed for bombing operations and were briefed as usual at 1500 hours. The target was COLOGNE the route by way of NOORWIJK on the Dutch coast and JULICH. As it was thought that 10/10 cloud would be discovered over the target an elaborate method of marking the target was devised by P.F.F. a/c. All but one of our a/c took off. Three a/c returned from different points over the NORTH SEA, one with engine u/s and two with rear turret trouble. Those that went on had no difficulty reaching the target area and dropped their loads into the concentration of T.I. markers. Six a/c returned to BASE and reported a successful trip with considerable flak, but no fighter opposition. One a/c Z.1599 has not been heard of since it took off.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III Z1599 OW-B. Crew: Sgt H Hands RCAF KIA, F/O JP Monckton RCAF KIA, F/S HE VERY RCAF POW, Sgt WW CAMERON RCAF KIA, Sgt R Williams KIA, Sgt RE Dean KIA. T/o 1850 Dishforth. Shot down by Oblt. Manfred Meurer (15th victory) 3./NJG1 at Erp 4 km west Gemert at 2135 hours. F/O Monckton lies in the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek, the others in Eindhoven General Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
COLOGNE
427 aircraft – 145 Lancasters, 126 Wellingtons, 106 Halifaxes, 46 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitoes. 10 aircraft – 4 Wellingtons, 3 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes, 1 Stirling – lost, 2.3 percent of the force.

Most of the bombs from this large raid fell to the south-west of Cologne. Figures from Cologne itself suggest that only a quarter of the force hit the city. An increasingly familiar list of destroyed and damaged buildings was provided – much housing, minor industry, churches, historic buildings, public utilities and offices. The worst incident was when 40 to 50 people were trapped in several blocks of flats hit by a 4,000-lb bomb in the Einhardstrasse. The wreckage began to burn before the rescue workers could free the trapped people and most of them died. The total casualty list in Cologne was 109 people dead, more than 150 injured and 6,322 bombed out.

Minor Operations: 2 Mosquitoes to Aachen, 21 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

Total effort for the night: 454 sorties, 10 aircraft (2.2 percent) lost.

USAAF
GERMANY: When the primary target, Bremen, is found to be obscured by cloud cover, 59 VIII Bomber Command B-17s and six B-24s (of 76 B-17s and 17 B-24s dispatched) attack the Wilhelmshaven submarine yard at about 1125 hours with 164 tons of bombs. Seven heavy bombers are lost, and a B-24 that crash-lands at a base in the U.K. is written off. Crew losses are 73 missing and 14 injured. In addition to USAAF crewmen, one of the missing is Robert B. Post, a correspondent for the New York Times who goes down in a 44th Heavy Bombardment Group B-24. Post is the first American war correspondent to be lost in the air over Europe. Bomber gunners claim 21 GAF fighters downed and nine probably downed.

SARDINIA: Nineteen XII Bomber Command B-17s attack the docks and rail lines at Cagliari.

TUNISIA: Thirty-two NASAF B-17s attack the port facilities and shipping at Bizerte, and escorting 1st Fighter Group P-38 pilots down four Bf-109s over Bizerte at 1215 hours.

IX Fighter Command P-40s attack German Army positions along the Mareth Line. One Bf-109 is downed in southern Tunisia by a 57th Fighter Group P-40 pilot at 1545 hours.

During the night of February 26–27, as a first step to supporting the British Eighth Army’s plan to attack the Mareth Line on March 20, IX Bomber Command B-25s attempt to damage the road system around Arram.

RAF
Base Changes
145 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Hazbub
237 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to LG.106

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180 Sqn (Foulsham – Mitchell II) 27.2.43
11 Aircraft on Air Sea Rescue as detailed. (1 Aircraft did not return from this operation.) 1 Aircraft Air Firing. 5 Aircraft bombing (Redgrave). 1 Aircraft on Air Test. 1 Aircraft dual C. & B. 1 Aircraft C. & B.

ADDENDUM – Mitchell II FL672 EV-B. Crew: Sgt PMD Marx KIA, Sgt JA Whte KIA, Sgt R McB Boswell KIA, F/S LGH Hingley KIA. T/o 1605 Foulsham. Shot down by fighters and crashed 1708 in the sea 100 km W. of Ijmuiden. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt Marx was an American from New York City.

BOMBER COMMAND
24 Venturas attacked ships at Dunkirk without loss.

MINELAYING
91 aircraft to the Frisian Islands and Texel. 1 Halifax was lost.

Minor Operations: 6 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr, 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

USAAF
ALGERIA: The 319th Medium Bombardment Group, a XII Bomber Command B-26 unit that has conducted almost daily attacks on targets in Tunisia and the Mediterranean, is withdrawn from combat to rest and refit. (The unit will not be returned to operational status until May 1943.)

FRANCE: Sixty VIII Bomber Command heavy bombers attack the Brest U-boat base with 155 tons of bombs. Opposition is negligible and only two B-24s are damaged, without crew loss. It is discovered after the mission that the 305th Heavy Bombardment Group, represented by 12 B-17s, aborted the mission within sight of Brest after receiving a bogus recall message, presumably from a German station on the ground.

SARDINIA: NASAF B-17s attack Cagliari and ships at sea north of Cape d’Orlando.

TUNISIA: NATAF fighters attack German Army forces mounting an unsuccessful ground attack near Medjezel-Bab, and IX Fighter Command P-40s strafe German Army positions along the Mareth Line.

RAF
Base Changes
26 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Stoney Cross

First and Last Operational Missions
72 Sqn (Souk elKhemis) flies its first OM in the Spitfire IX
243 Sqn (Souk elKhemis) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VC

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35 Sqn (Gravely – Halifax II) 28.2.43
Eight aircraft were detailed to attack ST. NAZAIRE which was performed with precision and success. Aircraft ‘Q’ Captained by S/L D.F.E.C. Dean suffered an engine failure on the outward journey and yet another after the target had been bombed. Slowly losing height the aircraft finally landed with difficulty at HARROWBEER, both legs of the undercarriage collapsing after overshooting. Fortunately, none of the crew was injured.

ADDENDUM – Halifax II W7906 TL-Q. T/o 1849 Gravely. Outbound at 13,000 feet it became necessary to feather the port outer, due to engine overheating. Course for the target was maintained and a successful attack made at 2112 from 9,000 feet. Soon after setting course for base, the starboard inner failed and as height was reduced to 3,000 feet, the crew prepared to ditch. Searchlights, however, were sighted and following further difficulties the Halifax landed at 2315 half-way along the 1,100 foot runway at Harrowbeer. Unable to stop within the confines of the airfield, the Halifax overshot onto rough ground and was wrecked.

BOMBER COMMAND
ST-NAZAIRE
Having destroyed Lorient, Bomber Command was now ready to start on the second target on the list of French U-boat base ports which the directive of 14 January had ordered to be destroyed. 437 aircraft – 152 Lancasters, 119 Wellingtons, 100 Halifaxes, 62 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitoes – were dispatched. 5 aircraft – 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling – were lost, 1.1 percent of the force.

This initial raid caused widespread destruction. Local reports say that many bombs fell into the port area and that 60 percent of the town was destroyed. 29 people are reported as being killed and 12 injured; it is presumed that most of the local population had left the town.

Minor Operations: 3 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr, 5 Wellingtons minelaying off St-Nazaire, 2 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

USAAF
TUNISIA: NATAF fighters and fighter-bombers attack German Army tanks, troops, and motor vehicles in the battle areas southwest of Mateur, at Sidi Nsir, near Bedja, and around Goubellat

RAF
Base Changes
129 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Tangmere
158 Sqn (Halifax II) moves to Lissett
170 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Ford
409 Sqn RCAF (Beaufighter VIF) moves to Acklington
417 Sqn (Spitfire VBT) moves to Mellaha

First and Last Operational Missions
149 Sqn (Lakenheath) flies its first OM in the Stirling III
238 Sqn (Gamil) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VC
407 Sqn RCAF (Skitten) flies its first OM in the Wellington XI
542 Sqn (Benson) flies its last OM in the Spitfire PRIV

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408 Sqn RCAF (Gravely – Halifax II) 1.3.43
Nine aircraft were prepared for operations and all were off on time. The target was BERLIN. Five aircraft were successful in bombing the primary target. Two returned early owing to the guns going u/s on one, and the intercom going u/s on the other. One aircraft failed to return from this operation. One aircraft dropped bombs on what is believed to be the KIEL area. The reports of aircraft that reached the target area indicate that this was a successful raid. Eight aircraft reached home base safely.

ADDENDUM – Halifax II DT797 EQ-H. Crew: Sgt AW Cochrane RCAF KIA, Sgt F MacDonald KIA, F/S HK McCreery RCAF KIA, F/S JH Higgins RCAF KIA, F/S R Weiss RCAF KIA, Sgt JQ Ashmore RCAF POW, Sgt IC Grice RCAF KIA. T/o 1844 Leeming. Shot down by Hptm. Herbert Lütje (16th victory) 8./NJG1 at Zuidloo, 20 km E. Deventer at 0008 hours. Those who died are buried in Bathman General Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
BERLIN
302 aircraft – 156 Lancasters, 86 Halifaxes, 60 Stirlings. 17 aircraft – 7 Lancasters, 6 Halifaxes, 4 Stirlings – lost, 5.6 percent of the force.

The Pathfinders experienced difficulty in producing concentrated marking because individual parts of the extensive built-up city area of Berlin could not be distinguished on the H2S screens. Bombing photographs showed that the attack was spread over more than 100 square miles with the main emphasis in the south-west of the city. However, because larger numbers of aircraft were now being used and because those aircraft were now carrying a greater average bomb load, the proportion of the force which did hit Berlin caused more damage than any previous raid to this target. This type of result – with significant damage still being caused by only partially successful attacks – was becoming a regular feature of Bomber Command raids.

Much damage was caused in the south and west of Berlin. 22 acres of workshops were burnt out at the railway repair works at Tempelhof and 20 factories were badly damaged and 875 buildings – mostly houses – were destroyed. 191 people were killed.

Some bombs hit the Telefunken works at which the H2S set taken from the Stirling shot down near Rotterdam was being reassembled. The set was completely destroyed in the bombing but a Halifax of 35 Squadron with an almost intact set crashed in Holland on this night and the Germans were able to resume their research into H2S immediately.

Minor Operations: 6 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr, 49 Wellingtons and Halifaxes minelaying off French and German coasts, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 2 Wellington minelayers lost.

Total effort for the night: 361 sorties, 19 aircraft (5.3 percent) lost.

USAAF
ITALY: IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Naples harbor and several targets of opportunity in southwestern Italy.

MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-26s attack an Axis freighter at sea north of Bizerte.

SARDINIA: Forty-six NASAF B-17s attack the docks, town, and rail lines at Cagliari. 1st and 82d Fighter group P-38 escort pilots down five GAF and Italian fighters in several running battles over the island between 1400 and 1415 hours.

TUNISIA: Nine 17th Medium Bombardment Group B-26s, escorted by 82d Fighter Group P-38s, are dispatched to bomb the La Hencha bridge, on the road between Gabes and Sfax. When the P-38s are engaged by Bf-109s, the B-26s turn back for their base. In the fighter action, 2dLt Thomas A. White, a P-38 pilot with the 82d Fighter Group’s 97th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 at 1430 hours.

NATAF B-25s attack German Army positions near Mateur, and NATAF fighters provide direct support for Allied ground forces around Bedja and Sidi Nsir.

RAF
Base Changes
4 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Barford St. John
19 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Middle Wallop
38 Sqn (Wellington VIII) moves to Berka III
82 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Ben Gardane
124 Sqn (Spitfire VI) moves to Croughton
132 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Zeal
168 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Weston Zoyland
169 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Barford St. John
174 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Chilbolton
175 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Stoney Cross
181 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Cranfield
182 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Middle Wallop
227 Sqn (Beaufighter VIC) moves to Idku
247 Sqn (N0n-Op) moves to Middle Wallop
268 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Wing
350 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Heston
405 Sqn RCAF (Halifax II) moves to Topcliffe
453 Sqn RAAF (Spitfire VB) moves to Westcott

First and Last Operational Missions
37 Sqn (Gardabia West) flies its first OM’s in the Wellington III and X
75 Sqn (Newmarket) flies its first OM in the Stirling III
81 Sqn (Bone/Tingley) flies its first OM in the Spitfire IX
134 Sqn (LG.121) flies its first OM’s in the Hurricane IIB and IIC
172 Sqn (Chivenor) flies its first OM in the Wellington XII
237 Sqn (LG.106) flies its first OM in the Hurricane IIC
488 Sqn RNZAF (Ayr) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter IIF and its first OM in the Beaufighter VIF

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427 Sqn RCAF (Croft – Wellington III) 2.3.43
Three aircraft were detailed for MINE-LAYING again this date. Two aircraft successfully completed this operation, but Sgt. Lymburner and his crew did not return from this operation.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III X3390 ZL-W. Crew: Sgt L McC Lymburner RCAF KIA, Sgt HR Millson RCAF KIA, Sgt HS McPherson RCAF KIA, Sgt R Clark KIA, Sgt WB Drake RCAF KIA, Sgt TA Dutton RCAF KIA. T/o 1802 for mine-laying in the Nectarine region. Presumed crashed in the target area. Sgt Millson lies in the Becklingen War Cemetery, the others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINELAYING
60 aircraft to coastal areas between Texel and the River Gironde. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Lancaster lost.

6 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr without loss. The aircraft which bombed Essen scored direct hits in the middle of the main Krupps factory.

USAAF
SICILY: Thirty-eight NASAF B-17s attack the port facilities at Palermo during the afternoon, destroying drydocks and ship-building facilities and setting five ships on fire. A 1st Fighter Group P-38 escort pilot downs an Italian Air Force Mc.200 over Palermo.

TUNISIA: Having failed to attack the La Hencha bridge from medium altitude on March 1, nine 17th Medium Bombardment Group B-26s, escorted by 82d Fighter Group P-38s, conduct a bombing attack on the link at a mere 60 feet through heavy flak and despite determined opposition by GAF fighters. Although two B-26s are shot down and two are damaged beyond repair, the bridge is utterly demolished. In fending off GAF fighters, P-38 escort pilots of the 82d Fighter Group’s 96th Fighter Squadron down five Bf-109s.

As German Army forces renew their ground attack along the Mateur-Taberka road near Jefna, NATAF fighters attack German Army tanks, troops, and motor vehicles northeast of Bedja and south of Mateur.

RAF
Base Changes
1 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire VC) moves to Ben Gardane
14 Sqn (Marauder I) moves to Talergma
145 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Ben Gardane
260 Sqn (Kittyhawk II/III) moves to Ben Gardane
502 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Holmsley South

First and Last Operational Missions
420 Sqn RCAF (Middleton St. George) flies its first OM in the Wellington X
431 Sqn (Burn – Wellington X) flies its first OM of the war

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425 Sqn RCAF (Dishforth – Wellington III) 3.3.43
This Squadron was ordered to detail 9 aircraft for bombing over Hamburg. All aircraft carried 500lb. bombs and incendiaries. The first a/c was airborne at 18.08 hours and the last at 18.20. Once a/c failed to return, nothing was heard from this crew after take-off. The eight other aircraft attacked Hamburg successfully and reported many large fires and explosions. Fires could be seen for 100 miles after leaving target. Heavy flak co-operating with S/L’s was encountered over the target. All eight of the aircraft returned safely to base and undamaged.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III BK334 KW-B. Crew: Sgt JVL Gauthier RCAF KIA, F/S J Glassberg RCAF KIA, F/S JJBA Dugal RCAF KIA, Sgt WC Forbes RCAF KIA, S/S JWME Lanctin RCAF KIA, Sgt JE Audy RCAF KIA. T/o 1818 Dishforth. Coned by 4/Scheinw. Abt. 368 (Werfer Wendlof), hit by 1-3/Schw. Flak Abt. 267 and crashed near Schenefeld at 2116 hours. All were buried 10 March in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohldorf.

BOMBER COMMAND
10 Mosquitoes of 139 Squadron carried out a long-range raid on the important molybdenum mine at Knaben in Norway. The target was successfully bombed but 1 Mosquito was shot down by FW 190s.

HAMBURG
417 aircraft – 149 Lancasters, 123 Wellingtons, 83 Halifaxes, 62 Stirlings. 10 aircraft – 4 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings – lost, 2.4 percent of the force.

Visibility was clear over the target but the Pathfinders made a mistake, possibly thinking that the H2S indications of mudbanks in the Elbe which had been uncovered by the low tides were sections of the Hamburg docks. Most of the Main Force bombing thus fell 13 miles downstream from the centre of Hamburg, around the small town of Wedel. Even so, a proportion of the bombing force did hit Hamburg which suffered 27 people killed and 95 injured and whose fire brigade had to put out 100 fires before devoting all its energies to helping the town of Wedel, which suffered so heavily. The damage at Wedel included a large naval-clothing store burnt out as well as several important industrial concerns destroyed in Wedel’s harbour area and this illustrated another Bomber Command view: that bombing could usually be useful even if the wrong target was hit.

Minor Operations: 5 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr, with more direct hits on Krupps, 14 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians, 5 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.

Total effort for the night: 441 sorties, 11 aircraft (2.5 percent) lost.

USAAF
ITALY: IX Bomber Command B-24s attack bridges at Bianco and Siderno Marina.

SICILY: IX Bomber Command B-24s dispatched to attack Naples divert to Messina.

TUNISIA: Thirty-six NASAF B-17s attack port facilities at Tunis and La Goulette; NATAF medium bombers and fighters attack German Army ground forces around Bedja, Bou Arada, and Mateur, but enemy forces capture Sedjenane; and IX Fighter Command P-40s attack German Army units engaged in probing attacks along the Mareth Line.

1stLt Jack M. Ilfrey, a P-38 pilot with the 1st Fighter Group’s 94th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs one of two Bf-109s credited to his unit in an engagement over Tunis/El Aouina Airdrome at 1545 hours.

RAF
Base Changes
47 Sqn (Beaufort I) moves to Misurata West
601 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Ben Gardane South

First and Last Operational Missions
608 Sqn (Coltishall) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter VIF
427 Sqn RCAF (Croft) flies its first OM in the Wellington X

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419 Sqn RCAF (Middleton St. George – Halifax II) 5.3.43
10 aircraft set out to attack ESSEN. One failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Halifax II DT646 VR-C. Crew: Sgt L Bakewell POW, Sgt AC Turner RCAF POW, F/S DD Cowen RCAF POW, F/S JE Marvel RCAF POW, Sgt JA Bennett RCAF POW, F/S WJ Clark RCAF POW, F/S JR Couper KIA. T/o 1857 Middleton St. George. Shot down by Lt. Walter Schönn (1st victory) 3./NJG1 at Elst, N. Nijmegen at 2137. F/S Couper has no known grave; it is thought he may have fallen into the Waal.

BOMBER COMMAND
ESSEN
42 aircraft – 157 Lancasters, 131 Wellingtons, 94 Halifaxes, 52 Stirlings, 8 Mosquitoes. It was on this night that Bomber Command’s 100,000th sortie of the war was flown. 14 aircraft – 4 Lancasters, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings – lost, 3.2 percent of the force.

The only tactical setback to this raid was that 56 aircraft – nearly 13 percent of the force – turned back early because of technical defects and other causes. 3 of the ‘early returns’ were from the 8 Oboe Mosquito marker aircraft upon which the success of the raid depended but the 5 Mosquitoes which did reach the target area opened the attack on time and marked the centre of Essen perfectly. The Pathfinder backers-up also arrived in good time and carried out their part of the plan. The whole of the marking was ‘blind’, so that the ground haze which normally concealed Essen did not affect the outcome of the raid. The Main Force bombed in 3 waves – Halifaxes in the first wave, Wellingtons and Stirlings in the second, Lancasters in the third. Two thirds of the bomb tonnage was incendiary; one third of the high-explosive bombs were fuzed for long delay. The attack lasted for 40 minutes and 362 aircraft claimed to have bombed the main target. These tactics would be typical of many other raids on the Ruhr area in the next 4 months.

Reconnaissance photographs showed 160 acres of destruction with 53 separate buildings within the Krupps works hit by bombs. A map from Essen shows the main area of damage to have been between the Krupps works and the city centre. The local report states that 3,018 houses were destroyed and 2,166 were seriously damaged. The number of people killed is given in various reports as between 457 and 482; at least 10 of these were firemen. If the higher figure is correct, the previous record number of people killed in an air raid on Germany – 469 in the 1000-bomber raid on Cologne in May 1942 – was exceeded.

Small numbers of bombs fell in 6 other Ruhr cities.

7 aircraft of 4 Group were sent minelaying in the Frisian Islands without loss.

USAAF
LIBYA: Because of the recent replacement of many veteran crews with fresh crews, all IX Bomber Command aircraft and personnel are temporarily withdrawn from combat to begin a seven-day training program in night operations, rendezvous techniques, and precision bombing.

RAF
Base Changes
4 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Cranford
4 Sqn SAAF(Kittyhawk II) moves to Nefatia West
124 Sqn (Spitfire VI) moves to Duxford
169 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Gransden Lodge
185 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Qrendi
303 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Debden

First and Last Operational Missions
426 Sqn RCAF (Dishforth) flies its first OM in the Wellington X

[warshipbuilder]

313 Sqn (Czechoslavakia) (Churchstanton – Spitfire VB) 6.3.43
Fair morning, the Squadron (12 aircraft) took off from Churchstanton at 10.30 hours for R.A.F. Portreath. Operation was carried out from there between 13.25 and 15.30 hours, the Squadron acting as medium cover to 15 Liberators over Brest at 24,000 feet. From this operation F/O J. Prihoda D.F.C. (787541) (G.D) did not return and was posted to R.A.F., Chirstanton Non-Effective (missing). During the operation the pilot was flying at the rear of the centre section of the Squadron and there being a number of enemy aircraft in the vicinity, it is considered possible he broke away to engage the enemy. Until the Squadron was returning to base it was not observed that the Pilot was missing. No other Pilot saw him leave formation or could throw any light on his fate.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire VB BP682. Pilot F/O J Prihoda DFC KIA. Shot down by FW.190’s of JG2.

USAAF
FRANCE: Sixty-five VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Lorient U-boat base with more than 162 tons of bombs. Losses are three B-17s missing and eight damaged, plus 30 crewmen missing. Also, 15 B-24s conduct a diversionary attack against the Brest U-boat base, in which three B-24s are damaged.

TUNISIA: German Army forces attacking the British Eighth Army along the Mareth Line, in southern Tunisia, are turned back. Thirty-five IX Fighter Command fighters take part in the defense by strafing and bombing German Army positions along the Mareth Line.

RAF
Base Changes
268 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Bottisham
405 Sqn RCAF (Halifax II) moves to Leeming
453 Sqn RAAF (Spitfire VB) moves to Newmarket
613 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Bottisham

[warshipbuilder]

431 Sqn RCAF (Burn – Wellington X) 7.3.43
Weather and visibility were quite good in the morning. Night flying tests for aircraft going on operations in the evening, were carried out in the morning. Pre-briefing for Navigators and Bomb Aimers was carried out at 1400 hrs. Target was given as ‘Gardening’ in Nectarine 2, each aircraft to carry 2 x 1500 G.P. mines. Main briefing at 1530 hours was attended by G/Capt. Gray. Seven aircraft took off at 1830 hours but SGT. BRYANT and crew in ‘F’ (Freddy) returned immediately. SGT. ASPDEN in ‘D’ (Donald) returned before reaching the target owing to defective artificial horizon. F/O HINE in ‘Q’ (Queenie) returned and made a successful landing with mines still on as they had not been able to find a pin point over the target. SGT. PITTS and crew in ‘Z’ (Zebra) did not return from this sortie. No one saw them over the target area but one crew reported seeing a concentration of searchlights with considerable flak at the apex. Flak was moderate over the target area, which was fairly free from cloud. SGT. SMITH and crew in ‘J’ (Johnny) were attacked by two JU 88’s. The rear gunner SGT. BUXTON first saw the enemy aircraft at 600 yards on STARBOARD quarter. The e/a switched on lights and attacked, opening fire immediately, SGT. BUXTON, opened fire at 400 yards firing two bursts, but glare prohibited results being observed. Meanwhile the W.Op. in astrodome had reported e/a with similar lights attacking from PORT beam, and ordered evasive action – a diving turn to port. E/A did not open fire and disappeared beneath aircraft. Rear gunner did not have time to bring his guns to bear. No e/a were seen after this short attack.

ADDENDUM – Wellington X HE202 SE-Z. Crew: Sgt DC Pitts RNZAF POW, Sgt R McHugh POW, P/O KD Tutton POW, Sgt BG Peart POW, Sgt DEH Dyer POW. T/o Burn 1813. Shot down by Oblt. Paul Zorner (4th victory) 2./NJG3 15 km W Esens, NW Jever at 2030 hours.

‘F’ (Freddy) returned early owing to the Navigator being sick.

BOMBER COMMAND
14 Wellingtons and 6 Halifaxes of 4 Group minelaying in the Frisians, 2 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Halifax and 1 Wellington of the minelaying force lost.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The first air echelon of the 322d Medium Bombardment Group, in B-26s, arrives from the United States via the southern ferry route for service with the VIII Bomber Command. Subsequent echelons will arrive as aircraft become available in the United States.

MEDITERRANEAN: Between 0930 and 0945 hours, at a position about 75 miles northeast of Tunisia’s Cap Bon, P-38s of the 82d Fighter Group’s 97th Fighter Squadron down two Ju-88s, an Italian fighter, and an Italian tri-motor floatplane.

NASAF B-25s attack Axis shipping at sea between Sicily and Tunisia, and NASAF B-17s attack a convoy in the Gulf of Tunis.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-17s attack the marshalling yard and shipping at Sousse.

RAF
Base Changes
6 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Sorman
18 Sqn (Blenheim V) moves to Oulmene
55 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Sirtan
223 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Sirtan West

First and Last Operational Missions
190 Sqn (Sullom Voe – Catalina IB) flies its first OM of the war
306 Sqn (Spitfire VB) begins its third tour of duty in the Spitfire VB.

[warshipbuilder]

7 Sqn (Oakington – Stirling I) 8.3.43
Nuremberg attacked in force. This was the beginning of a bad week for the Squadron, as five crews were lost in as many days. Sgt TOUPIN and crew went missing from this raid and F/L TRENCH and crew, the latter loss was particularly unfortunate, as this was one of our most experienced crews, and F/L TRENCH was a splendid Captain. Sgt TOUPIN and crew baled out, the aircraft coming down onto a sandbank in the English Channel, but with the exception of Sgt. SPANTON, who landed in a field, and Sgt. KILVINGTON, whose body was taken from the sea near NEWHAVEN, no more was heard. This being a fresh crew, the loss was hard. Of the actual raid, some crews said it was very scattered while others reported it a success. Only F/S SENGER and crew abandoned; a navigational aid became unserviceable.

ADDENDUM – Stirling I R9270 MG-T. Crew: F/L JP Trench DSO KIA, F/S FWR Cole DFM KIA, F/L CJ Selmon DFC KIA, P/O LG Gosper DFC RAAF KIA, P/O H Harwood DFM KIA, F/S WP Hudson DFM KIA, Sgt ET Beney KIA. T/o 1908 Oakington. Shot down by Oblt. Hans Autenrieth (9th victory) 6./NJG4 at Les Souhesmes, 16 km SW of Verdun at 2145. All are buried in Les Souhesmes Communal Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
NUREMBERG
Stirlings, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters – lost, 2.4 percent of the force.

This distant raid had to be marked by a combination of H2S and visual means. The Pathfinders had no moon to help them and, although there was no cloud, they found that haze prevented accurate visual identification of the target area. The result was that both marking and bombing spread over more than 10 miles along the line of the attack, with more than half of the bombs falling outside the city boundaries. This result would be typical of raids carried out beyond the range of Oboe during this period. Nuremberg reports that more than 600 buildings were destroyed and nearly 1,400 were damaged, including the M.A.N. and Siemens factories. Railway installations were also hit. Figures given for the dead vary from 284 to 343.

Sergeant D. R. Spanton, a mid-upper gunner in a 7 Squadron Stirling, had a fortunate escape on this night. After his aircraft crossed the English coast on the return flight, Spanton realized that he was the only man still in the plane. The remainder of the crew, a new crew in this Pathfinder squadron, had baled out earlier, possibly because of suspected fuel shortage, and the pilot left the plane flying on automatic pilot. Spanton had not heard the order. He parachuted safely over Kent and the empty Stirling later crashed into the Thames estuary. The remainder of the crew, presumably thinking they were parachuting over France, had actually come down in the sea and were all drowned. Sergeant Spanton went on to fly a further 12 operations but his plane was lost on the night of 24/25 June 1943 in a raid on Wuppertal and the presence of his name on the Runnymede Memorial probably indicates that he died in the sea on that occasion.
Minor Operations: 4 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr, 16 Wellingtons minelaying in the Frisians. No losses.

USAAF
FRANCE: Fifty-four VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack marshalling yards at Rennes with more than 135 tons of bombs, and 13 B-24s attack marshalling yards at Rouen with 39 tons of bombs. Two B-17s and two B-24s are downed, one each is damaged beyond repair in crash-landings in the U.K., and nine B-17s and three B-24s are damaged. Crew losses are five killed, 37 missing, and 11 wounded or injured. It is noted that GAF fighters attack in two waves, the first to engage the escort fighters and the second to directly attack the bombers.

MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-17s and B-25s attacking a variety of Axis ships between Sicily and Tunisia claim hits on and the possible sinking of several vessels.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-17s attack the marshalling yard and port at Sousse, and USAAF P-40s and RAF Spitfires attached to the WDAF attack the rear of German Army units moving through Medenine.

One FW-190 is downed in the morning by a 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilot and, between 1200 and 1220 hours, 1st Fighter Group P-38 pilots down seven GAF fighters in a melee near Bizerte.

UNITED STATES: The Committee of Operations Analysts, a group of civilian and military experts, submits a report to Gen Henry H. Arnold setting forth the German aircraft industry as the top-most objective of the Allied strategic-bombing campaign and listing other German industries in order of priority. This document is the basis for the eventual Combined Bomber Offensive.

RAF
Base Changes
3 Sqn RAAF (Kittyhawk II) moves to Neafaitia
4 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Duxford
12 Sqn SAAF (Boston III) moves to EL Assa
21 Sqn SAAF (Baltimore III/IV) moves to El Assa
40 Sqn SAAF TR (Hurricane IIB/Spitfire VB) moves to Nefatia
89 Sqn (Beaufighter IF) moves to Castel Benito
112 Sqn (Kittyhawk III) moves to Nefatia
181 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Snailwell
250 Sqn (Kittyhawk III) moves to Nefatia
269 Sqn (Hudson II/III) moves to Reykjavik
309 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Kirknewton
450 Sqn RAAF (Kittyhawk III) moves to Neffatia

First and Last Operational Missions
41 Sqn (Lianbedr) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB
544 Sqn (Benson) flies its last OM in the Wellington IV

[warshipbuilder]

426 Sqn RCAF (Dishforth – Wellington III) 9.3.43
Group required 12 A/C for mining operations and crews were detailed and briefed. Two crews were to make a hazardous trip to lay their mines in the Kiel Fiord, and the other two plant their vegetables at the estuary of the Elbe. Only 10 aircraft were able to take-off and one of these was obliged to return early. The eight A/C detailed for the Rosemary Area completed their mission and all returned to base and reported a successful trip. A/C X.3284 detailed for the Wallflower area, captained by P/O G. Baker is missing and nothing has been heard from it since take-off.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III X3284 OW-X. Crew P/O GR Baker RCAF KIA, Sgt DB Coons RCAF KIA, Sgt M Zeaven RCAF KIA, Sgt L Murphy RCAF KIA, F/S DP McLachlan RCAF KIA, Sgt LJ Baribeau RCAF KIA. T/o 1832 Dishforth. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
15 Mosquitoes bombed the Renault works at Le Mans and scored direct hits. 1 Mosquito lost.

MUNICH
264 aircraft – 142 Lancasters, 81 Halifaxes, 41 Stirlings. 8 aircraft – 5 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes, 1 Stirling – lost, 3.0 percent of the force.

The wind caused this raid to be concentrated on the western half of Munich rather than on the centre of the city, but much damage was caused. 291 buildings were destroyed, 660 severely damaged and 2,134 less seriously damaged; these included many public buildings – 11 hospitals, the cathedral, 4 churches and 14 ‘cultural’ buildings for example – but also 3 wholesale and 22 retail business premises were completely destroyed and no less than 294 military buildings were hit, including the headquarters of the local Flak brigade, which was burnt out. The most serious industrial damage was at the B.M.W. factory where the aero-engine assembly shop was put out of action for 6 weeks. Many other industrial concerns were hit, including 141 small, back-street-type workshops which were destroyed.

The detailed Munich reports show that 208 people were killed and 425 injured. The dead included: 2 party officials on duty, 10 soldiers, 1 Hitler Youth boy serving at a Flak site, 2 policemen and 4 foreigners. The local Flak fired 14,234 rounds of ammunition – 2,314 of 105 mm, 8,328 of 88 mm, 3,592 of 20 mm – and 7 night fighters were reported as being on duty in the Munich area but only 1 bomber, unidentified because of its explosion in the air, was shot down over the city.

Minor Operations: 8 Mosquitoes to the Ruhr, 62 aircraft minelaying off Kiel and in the Frisians, 4 O.T.U. sorties. 3 Wellington minelayers lost.

Total effort for the night: 338 sorties, 11 aircraft (3.3 percent) lost.

USAAF
TUNISIA: All USAAF flight operations are suspended in the face of bad weather.

RAF
Base Changes
601 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Hazbub North

First and Last Operational Missions
6 Sqn (Sorman) flies its first OM in the Hurricane IID
43 Sqn (Maison Blanche) flies its last OM in the Hurricane IIC
320 Sqn (Bircham Newton) flies its last OM in the Hudson VI

[warshipbuilder]

44 Sqn (Waddington – Lancaster I) 10.3.43
Five aircraft were detailed for mining operations in the GERANIUM, SWEET PEA II, and WILLOWS areas. (P/O. Pilgrim, F/Sgt. Baldwin, Sgt. Pennington, Sgt. Smith(504), Sgt. Gayton). Two aircraft failed to return from this operation, and no signals or messages were received. (Sgt. Smith(504) ‘WILLOWS’ and Sgt. Gayton ‘GERANIUM’). The remaining three aircraft satisfactorily planted their vegetables in the allotted positions, and returned safely to ‘Base’. F/Sgt. Baldwin’s aircraft was damaged by flak (Starboard wheel, mainplane, tailplane fin and elevator) and was categorized A.C.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster I W4841 KM-W. Crew: Sgt JD Gayton KIA, Sgt RD Kirkup KIA, Sgt WC Burgess KIA, Sgt LA Quick KIA, Sgt DH Miller RCAF KIA, Sgt AJ Taylor KIA, Sgt G Allen KIA. Crashed at Sassnitz. All lie in the 1939-1945 Berlin War Cemetery.

Lancaster I ED305 KM-S. Crew: Sgt BTC Smith KIA, Sgt GR Black RCAF KIA, Sgt RH Carr KIA, Sgt CHD Cook KIA, Sgt GS Love KIA, Sgt CV Brown KIA, Sgt A Healey KIA. Shot down by Oblt. Gerhard Raht (3rd victory) into the sea near Strib, Fyn Island at 2212 hour. The Runnymede Memorial perpetuates the names of this crew.

BOMBER COMMAND
2 Mosquitoes to Essen and Mulheim, 20 Lancasters and 15 Stirlings minelaying over a wide area from Biscay to Swinemünde in the Baltic, 5 O.T.U. sorties. 2 Lancaster minelayers lost.

USAAF
EGYPT: The flight echelon of the 340th Medium Bombardment Group, in B-25s, reaches El Kabrit Airdrome.

FRANCE: USAAF P-47 fighters make their combat debut in an unchallenged and uneventful fighter sweep over the French coast. Included in this mission are 14 P-47s of the newly committed 56th Fighter Group and 12 P-47s from the 4th Fighter Group, which is in the process of transitioning to the new fighter type from Spitfires. Also in the process of transitioning to the P-47 is the 78th Fighter Group, which has been headquartered in the U.K. but without airplanes since its original complement of P-38s and most of its junior pilots were transferred to other units in October 1942 to take part in Operation TORCH.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-17s attack Tunis/El Aouina Airdrome. Three Bf-109s are downed by 1st Fighter Group P-38 pilots in an action over the target between 1515 and 1530 hours.

GAF Ju-52 transports parked at the La Marsa Airdrome are attacked by NASAF B-17s, but results are not determined.

The rested and reequipped 33d Fighter Group, in brand-new P-40s, is shifted forward from Algeria to begin operations from several new rudimentary fighter strips around Sbeitla.

RAF
Base Changes
1 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire VC) moves to Bu Grara
19 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Membury
21 Sqn SAAF (Baltimore III/IV) moves to Zuara
26 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to East Manton
40 Sqn SAAF TR (Hurricane IIB/Spitfire VB) moves to Bu Grara
92 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Bu Grara
169 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Boltisham
223 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Sirtan North
268 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Snailwell
601 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Bu Grara

First and Last Operational Missions
306 Sqn (Northolt) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX
420 Sqn RCAF (Middleton St. George) flies its last OM in the Wellington III

[warshipbuilder]

405 Sqn RCAF (Topcliffe – Halifax II) 11.3.43
OPERATIONAL ORDER No. 2 – ATTACK ON STUTTGART. 15 A/C DETAILED.
Pre-briefing was held at 1400 hours, and the Main Briefing at 1500 hours. Take-off commenced at 1900 hours and all aircraft were airborne by 1914 hours. Two a/c returned early, one due to u/s wireless, the other to severe icing conditions. Nine of the a/c reached the target and bombed on P.F.F. markers. The attack appeared to be very successful and large fires were left burning in the town. Opposition over the target was moderate but fairly accurate, and pursuing Night Fighters were active over the whole route. The Squadron suffered a severe loss, 4 a/c failing to return. The four crews reported missing are among the most experienced in the Squadron, and this severe loss is deeply regretted by all members of the Squadron.

COMBAT REPORT: Halifax ‘M’, Captain Sgt. Symes, was engaged in combat with an ME.110 which approached from astern and below six or seven times but no fire was exchanged due to our violent evasive action. Finally, enemy a/c came in as before and the Rear Gunner, Sgt. Dotson, was able to get in point blank burst at 200 yards which was seen to enter the enemy a/c. The enemy a/c returned fire before breaking away, and damaged the port wing of our a/c. This attack lasted 30 minutes and the enemy a/c is claimed as damaged. Our Halifax ‘X’, Captain P/O. Daggett, sighted and ME.109, which approached from port quarter to 100 yards and fired short burst which missed. Our Rear Gunner, Sgt. Thomas (American), simultaneously opened fire on enemy a/c which did violent bank to port and spiralled down, trailing smoke and burst into flame before diving through 5/10 cloud. The explosion was observed below cloud. This enemy a/c is claimed destroyed.

ADDENDUM – Halifax II W7803 LQ-B. Crew: F/L HG Shockley RCAF KIA, P/O BH Labarge RCAF KIA, Sgt CO Henderson RCAF KIA, P/O WW Kirkpatrick KIA, P/O F Holland KIA, F/O W McL Palmer RCAF KIA, Sgt MW MacKenzie KIA, P/O J Henderson KIA. T/o 1901 Topcliffe. Shot down by Ofw. Reinhard Kollack (15th victory) 7./NJG4 1 km W Malmaison at 2200 hours. All are buried in la Malmaison Communal Cemetery.

Halifax II BB212 LQ-U. Crew: F/S GT Chretien RCAF DFM POW, Sgt AC Collin RCAF POW, F/S TE Carlton RCAF DFM POW, P/O JS Probert RCAF POW, Sgt HG Reynolds RCAF POW, Sgt AE Danes RCAF, Sgt R Moore KIA. T/o 1903 Topcliffe. Shot down by Lt. Johannes Engel (1st victory) 10./NJG4 Alt-Neudorf, 10 km NE Heidelberg at 2246 hours. Sgt Moore lies in Durbach War Cemetery.

Halifax II BB250 LQ-E. Crew: P/O BC Dennison RCAF EVD, Sgt LE Logan RCAF EVD, Sgt EG Lacina RCAF KIA, F/S EL Bulman RCAF EVD, F/S GL Spencer RCAF EVD, F/S HJ Jennings RCAF EVD, Sgt RG MacDonald RCAF KIA, F/S RF Kennett RCAF POW. T/o 1900 Topcliffe. Shot down by Oblt. Heinz-Wilhem Kornacher (2nd victory) Stab III/NJG4 Mondrepuis near Hirson at 0045 hours. The two airmen who died lie in London Cemetery and Extension, High Wood, Longueval.

Halifax II DT475 LQ-V. Crew: P/O HD Rea RCAF POW, Sgt HJ Mason POW, Sgt KW Elt EVD, P/O KPC Money POW, F/S WA MacDonald RCAF POW, F/S P Johnston POW, F/S JJ Maguire RAAF POW, Sgt P Demytruk RCAF EVD. T/o 1906 Topcliffe. Shot down by Lt. Jakob Schaus (2nd victory) 4./NJG4 18 km SE Charleville at 0006 hours. It is reported that Sgt Demytruk joined forces with the Maquis and died in combat 9 December 1943. He is buried in les Martres-de-Veyre Communal Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
STUTTGART
314 aircraft – 152 Lancasters, 109 Halifaxes, 53 Stirlings. 11 aircraft – 6 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters – lost, 3.5 percent of the force.

This raid was not successful. The Pathfinders claimed to have marked Stuttgart accurately but the Main Force is reported to have been late arriving. The first use by the Germans of dummy target indicators is also reported. Most of the bombing fell in open country but the south-western suburbs of Vaihingen and Kaltental were hit. 118 buildings – nearly all houses – were destroyed, 112 people were killed and 386 were injured. The only industrial damage reported was to a small packing store at the Bosch factory.

11 Stirlings and 3 Lancasters laid mines in the Frisians and the River Gironde without loss.

USAAF
MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-26s attack an Axis convoy at sea between Sicily and Tunisia, but B-25s on anti-shipping sweeps in the area are not able to locate any targets.

Two Me-210s are downed by 82d Fighter Group P-38 pilots during a fighter sweep to Sicily.

TUNISIA: NAAF medium bombers and fighters attack German Army tanks and vehicles in the Bedja, Jefna, and Sedjenane areas.

RAF
Base Changes
26 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Red Barn
145 Sqn (Spitfire VC) moves to Bu Grara
174 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Grove
175 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Lasham

First and Last Operational Missions
241 Sqn (Sou-el-Khemis) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB
407 Sqn RCAF (Skitten) flies its last OM in the Hudson V

[warshipbuilder]

424 Sqn RCAF (Topcliffe – Wellington III) 12.3.43
Fifteen A/C were detailed for BOMBING Operations on ESSEN. Briefings were held at 14.00 and 15.00 hours. Take off commenced at 19.29 hours and was completed by 19.37 hours. Four A/C returned early, three to base and one to another Station due to mechanical or instrument difficulties. It is regretted that one of the A/C, “J” Wellington III, B.K. 348, was unreported since take off. The remaining ten reached the target area in good visibility obscured somewhat by haze and smoke. P.F.F. marker flares were in seen in bomb sight and loads were released from an average height of 15,500 ft. Actual results of our bombing could not be observed but several crews report numerous bursts of bombs from other A/C. The resulting fires were seen to spread growing into one terrific red blaze. Two large explosions were observed by several crews. An effective smoke screen two miles N.W. of town gave off volumes of smoke over the target area but the P.F.F. appeared to be correctly laid. Two of the ten A/C that reached the target area reported minor flak damage but all ten returned to base reporting a successful undertaking.

ADDENDUM – Wellington III BK348 QB-J. Crew: P/O RG Caldwell RCAF KIA, F/O GJ Cory RCAF KIA, F/S WF Topping RCAF, Sgt AP Larson RCAF KIA, Sgt LA Parker RCAF KIA. T/o 1936 Topcliffe. Shot down by Oblt. Manfred Meurer (22nd victory) 3./NJG1 at 2300 with the entire crew buried underneath the wreckage of their aircraft, when it crashed at Echteld, on the N bank of the Waal, 4 km ENE of Tiel, Holland. All now lie in Uden War Cemetery. Their average age was 23.

BOMBER COMMAND
ESSEN
457 aircraft – 158 Wellingtons, 156 Lancasters, 91 Halifaxes, 42 Stirlings, 10 Mosquitoes. 23 aircraft – 8 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes, 6 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings lost, 5.0 percent of the force.

This was another very successful Oboe-marked raid. The centre of the bombing area was right across the giant Krupps factory, just west of the city centre, with later bombing drifting back to the north-western outskirts. Photographic interpretation assessed that Krupps received 30 percent more damage on this night than on the earlier successful raid of 5/6 March. Nearly 500 houses were also destroyed in the raid. The number of people killed is variously reported between 169 and 322, with 198 probably being the most accurate figure, made up of 64 men, 45 women, 19 children, 4 soldiers, 61 foreign workers and 5 prisoners of war.

German records say that one third of the bombs dropped on this night did not hit Essen and that 39 people were killed in other towns with Bottrop, just north of Essen, being the worst hit, but these towns were all close to Essen and there was often no clear division between overlapping built-up areas.

Minor Operations: 9 Stirlings minelaying in the Frisians, 7 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

USAAF
FRANCE: Sixty-three VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Rouen/Sotteville marshalling yard against little or no opposition.

One of 41 4th Fighter Group Spitfires on a fighter sweep over France is downed by a GAF fighter over St.-Omer. The pilot, who is seen to bail out, is listed as missing. One FW-190 is downed by a 4th Fighter Group Spitfire pilot, the first and only claim of any sort in the theater since January 22 (and the last until April 15). Many people associated with USAAF operations in northwestern Europe are beginning to question in private the efficacy of the fighter-sweep philosophy of the VIII Fighter Command chief, MajGen Frank O’D. Hunter.

MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-25s attack Axis ships at sea between Sicily and Tunisia, and two Italian flying boats are downed by 82d Fighter Group P-38 pilots near the Egadi Islands at 1345 hours.

TUNISIA: Thirty-eight NASAF B-17s attack the port facilities and marshalling yard at Sousse, and a 1st Fighter Group escort P-38 pilot downs a Bf-109 over Sousse at 1405 hours.

NASAF B-26s attack supply dumps and bridges at Enfidaville. Fighters escorting the B-26s attack various ground targets of opportunity around Pichon and Pont-du-Fahs. One Bf-109 is downed by the commanding officer of the newly recommitted 33d Fighter Group.

A 31st Fighter Groups Spitfire pilot downs a Bf-109 near Thelepte Airdrome during an early-afternoon sweep.

RAF
Base Changes
4 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Clifton
12 Sqn SAAF (Boston III) moves to Zuara
96 Sqn (Beaufighter VIF) moves to Tangmere
124 Sqn (Spitfire VI) moves to North Weald
169 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Duxford
174 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Zeal
303 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Heston
316 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Northolt

First and Last Operational Missions
115 Sqn (East Wretham) flies its last OM in the Wellington III
425 Sqn RCAF (Dishforth) flies its first OM in the Wellington X
427 Sqn (Croft) flies its last OM in the Wellington III
502 Sqn (Holmsley South) flies its first OM in the Halifax II
608 Sqn (Blida) flies its first OM in the Hudson VI

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420 SqnRCAF(Middleton St. George – Wellington III) 13.3.43
Nine aircraft took off on a gardening exercise. Six can be assumed to have successfully dropped their mines in the designated area. One aircraft failed to return.

ADDENDUM Wellington III BK296 PT-? Crew: Sgt CH Tidy RCAF KIA, P/O JD McFarlane RCAF KIA, Sgt GRD Hall RCAF KIA, Sgt H Reddy KIA, Sgt JA Corbett RCAF KIA. Shot down by Oblt. Paul Zorner (5th victory) 2./NJG3 into the sea 8 km N Nordeney at 0351 hours. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINELAYING
51 Wellingtons and 17 Lancasters to areas between Lorient and the Kattegat. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Lancaster lost.

USAAF
EGYPT: LtGen Lewis H. Brereton renames Headquarters, Desert Air Task Force, as Advanced Headquarters, Ninth Air Force, but he also designates all tactical units assigned to the advanced headquarters as the Desert Air Task Force.

FRANCE: Forty-four VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Amiens/Longeau marshalling yard, as assigned, but 31 B-17s fail to find the primary and therefore attack four targets of opportunity, including the rail line at Romescamps (21 B-17s) and the Abbeville/Drucat Airdrome (eight B-17s). Also, adding to the day’s inept showing, 27 4th Fighter Group Spitfires that, for once, are assigned to bomber escort, fail to make the rendezvous. A total of 11 B-17s are damaged by enemy fire (including GAF fighter attacks), and six crewmen are wounded.

ITALY: IX Bomber Command B-24s attack Naples harbor through heavy cloud cover.

MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-25s dispatched on anti-shipping sweeps between Sicily and Tunisia fail to locate any targets.

TUNISIA: NATAF and IX Fighter Command fighters attack German Army positions along the Mareth Line.

In a long, running engagement centered on Gabes, 57th Fighter Group P-40 pilots down four Bf-109s and damage five or six others between 1405 and 1505 hours. And a Bf-109 downed over La Fauconnerie Airdrome at 1755 hours by an 81st Fighter Group P-39 fighter-bomber pilot is that unit’s first victory of the war.

Following an exceptionally long break-in period (and de facto status as a manpower pool), IX Fighter Command’s 79th Fighter Group is certified for combat duty, and it moves to a landing ground directly behind the British Eighth Army battle zone.

RAF
Base Changes
19 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Middle Wallop
26 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Stoney Cross
40 Sqn (Wellington IC) moves to Gardabia South
43 Sqn (spitfire VC) moves to Jemappes
55 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Marsa Gardane
129 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Ibsley
13 Sqn (Spitfire PRIV) moves to Hartfordbridge
170 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Andover
175 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Odiham
220 Sqn (Fortress II) moves to Benbecula
223 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Ben Gardane
253 Sqn (Hurricane IIC) moves to Maison Blanche
306 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Hutton Cranswick

First and Last Operational Missions
166 Sqn (Kirmington) flies its first OM in the Wellington X
316 Sqn (Northolt) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX

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340 Sqn (FF) (Biggin Hill – Spitfire IX) 14.3.43
Rodeo 188 – The Squadron including W/Cdr Slater as Red 2, flew with 611 squadron led W/Cdr Milne to sweep Hardelot under Appledore Control. They climbed to 34,000 feet over the channel then dived through cloud to 22/25,000 feet near Hardelot. Two sections of each squadron went down to attack enemy aircraft seen below and became involved with 30/40 F.W.190’s between le Touquet and Boulogne. As a result of these engagements 1 F.W.190 was destroyed and another damaged by S/Lt Gouby, and 1 F.W.190 was destroyed by S/Lt Kennard in a long chase inland.

It was a bad day for the Squadron, and Biggin Hill, however, as Capt. Reilhac, W/Cdr Milne, and W/Cdr Slater, and a pilot from 611 squadron did not return from the operation. The C.O. was last seen with W/Cdr Slater climbing after eight Huns. The squadron returned in small formations at various heights over Dungeness, and were down at base by 1835 hours.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire IX EM175. Cmdt E Reibac KIA. Attacked by FW190’s of JG 26.

Spitfire IX EN133 W/C JH Slater AFC KIA.

Spitfire IX BS240 W/C RM Milne DFC POW.

BOMBER COMMAND
13 Wellingtons minelaying in the Frisians without loss.

USAAF
TUNISIA: In their unit’s first official combat operation of the war, 12 79th Fighter Group P-40s escort 11 IX Bomber Command B-25s on an attack against gun emplacements on the Mareth Line. Otherwise, except for a few reconnaissance flights over eastern Tunisia and along shipping routes from Sicily, NAAF operations are canceled because of bad weather.

RAF
Base Changes
6 Sqn (Hurricane IID) moves to Senem
60 Sqn SAAF R (Maryland I/Baltimore II/III/Mosquito IV) moves to Senem
312 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC moves to Churchstanton
453 Sqn RAAF (Spitfire VB) moves to Southend

First and Last Operational Missions
143 Sqn (North Coates) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter IIC
172 Sqn (Chivenor) flies its last OM in the Wellington VIII
316 Sqn (Northolt) flies its first OM in the Spitfire IX

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401 Sqn RCAF (Catterick – Spitfire VB) 15.3.43
At 0638 hours Blue section at readiness. 0737 hours Blue section 30 minutes available. 0751 hours Blue section released. At 1840 hours Blue section at readiness. At 1941 hours Blue section released. No flying took place until the afternoon, when the weather improved sufficiently to permit some section low flying.
Serviceability: “A” Flight 4 a/c, 5 pilots; “B” Flight 6 a/c, 6 pilots.

BOMBER COMMAND
11 Venturas bombed La Pleine airfield in Brittany. 1 Ventura lost in the sea.

USAAF
ALGERIA: BriGen Delmar H. Dunton is named to command the new Northwest African Air Service Command (NAASC), which will incorporate the XII Air Force Service Command and all USAAF and RAF organizations servicing NAAF’s various operational commands.

MEDITERRANEAN: NASAF B-17s attack Axis shipping off northern Tunisia.

TUNISIA: NASAF B-26s attack the Italian Air Force airdrome Mezzouna. Later, in the afternoon, in their unit’s combat debut, 25 321st Medium Bombardment Group B-25s, escorted by 33d Fighter Group P-40s, also attack Mezzouna. The B-25s complete their bomb run without encountering Axis fighters, but the escort is attacked by fighters, of which two Bf-109s and an Italian Air Force Mc.202 are downed. By downing the Mc.202, Maj Levi R. Chase, the commanding officer of the 33d Fighter Group’s 60th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status.

IX Bomber Command B-25s, escorted by 79th Fighter Group P-40s, attack Axis troop positions at Zarat, and IX Fighter Command fighters strafe and bomb various ground targets.

In two separate fighter actions in southern Tunisia, an 82d Fighter Group P-38 pilot downs a Bf-109 near Maknassy at 1455 hours, and a 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilot downs a Bf-109 over Sbeitla at about 1500 hours.

UNITED STATES: The 37th Fighter Squadron is formally transferred to the Twelfth Air Force’s 14th Fighter Group from the 55th Fighter Group, a P-38 unit in training in Washington State. The 37th Squadron will replace the 50th Fighter Squadron, which was permanently detached from the 14th Fighter Group for service in Iceland.

RAF
Base Changes
1 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Lympne
64 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Hornchurch
157 Sqn (Mosquito NFII) moves to Bradwell Bay
232 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Souk-el-Khemis
263 Sqn (Whirlwind I) moves to Warmwell
320 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Methwold
350 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Fairlop
418 Sqn RCAF (Boston III) moves to Ford
616 Sqn (Spitfire VI) moves to Harrowbeer

First and Last Operational Missions
143 Sqn (North Coates) flies its first OM in the Beaufigther IXC
252 Sqn (Magrun) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter IF
340 Sqn (Biggin Hill) flies its last OM in the Spitfire IX