December 1944

The boys’ second op’ came just three days later, another daylight G-H attack, this time on a benzol plant through heavy cloud.

11 December 1944. Daylight attack against Osterfeld.

Bomber Command Diary: 150 Lancasters of No 3 Group on G-H raids through cloud on the railway yards (98 aircraft) and on the benzol plant (52 aircraft). The bombing appeared to be accurate. 1 Lancaster lost.

75 Sq ORB: Seventeen aircraft attacked Osterfeld in daylight as detailed, carrying 4,000 lb H.C, 500 lb G.P, 500 lb M.C, and Monroe bombs. No results were observed owing to 10/10th cloud over the target. Slight flak was the only opposition encountered.

Lancaster I HK563 JN-W, “Paper Doll”
Up 08:43 Down 13:07

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (3)
F/S Pauling, J. NZ422976, Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
Sgt Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
Sgt Sparrow, R. R263518, R/Gnr

Bomb load 1 x 4000 lb H.C, 12 x 500 lb G.P (LD 12 hrs), 2 x 500 lb  M.C.

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Osterfeld. A good concentration.

As usual with these daylight G-H op’s over ten-tenths cloud, the lead-in was anything but uniform. Three of the Mepal crews reported an undershoot by between one and seven miles. One crew reckoned they were led twenty miles off track. Another bombed Essen. Bill thought his Gee fix showed the release point to be accurate. But it was all a puzzle, really. Unless one demanded a transfer to PRU (Photographic Reconnaissance Unit), it was likely to stay that way.

– Luck and a Lancaster, by Harry Yates, DFC

Top photo: Bombing up a 75(NZ) Squadron C Flight Lancaster. 4000 lb ‘cookie’ under the bomb bay, 500 pounders, and incendiaries (nearest).
– NZBCA archives.

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There was no easing into operations – the following day they were back on the Battle Order again, this time a daylight attack on a steelworks, again through heavy cloud.

12 December 1944. Daylight attack against Witten.

Here is the Battle Order, as posted that morning on the Flight noticeboard so crews would know if they were operational that night, or not:

Bomber Command Diary: 140 Lancasters of No 3 Group on a G-H raid to the Ruhrstahl steelworks at Witten. German fighters intercepted the force in the target area and 8 Lancasters were lost. It was the town’s first major raid of the war. The steelworks were not hit and bombs fell all over the town, destroying 126 houses and 5 industrial premises.

75 Sq ORB: Sixteen aircraft were detailed to attack Witten in daylight and again found their target obscured by ten tenths cloud. Moderate flak was encountered and enemy fighters were seen attacking the first wave of aircraft ahead. No results were observed owing to the cloud. The aircraft captained by F/Lt Hannan collided with another aircraft just before reaching the target. However the target was bombed and base reached safely. The aircraft captained by F/S Zinzan was damaged in landing and the Air Bomber, F/O Mesure sustained a broken left leg*.

Lancaster I HK601 JN-D “Snifter”
Up 11:16 Down 16:04

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (4)
F/S Pauling, J. NZ422976, Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
Sgt Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
Sgt Sparrow, R. R263518, R/Gnr

Bomb load 1 x 8000 lb H.C, 8 x 500 cluster 4 lb incendiaries.

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Ruhrstahl Steelworks Witten. Fair concentration.

The next day …  sixteen crews took off to attack the Ruhrstahl works at Witten. The Luftwaffe had obviously been applying some serious thought to these blind-bombing raids. Over Witten they struck at the first wave of vics, downing six kites. Then they raced for the cloud cover and safety as the Spit’s came in. Two other Lancasters collided right before the eyes of F/O Alex Simpson, a 75 pilot and friend of mine. In the resultant explosion one of the Merlins was detached. Still fully-cowled and with the prop milling, it came straight for Simpson’s cockpit. He plunged his kite downward and, somehow, the thing passed clean over.

– Luck and a Lancaster, by Harry Yates, DFC.

* This was F/S Vernon “Taffy” Zinzan’s debut as skipper. Doug Williamson has a vivid memory of another Zinzan landing – Doug says they had heard of Zinzan’s reputation and watched as his Lancaster bounced off the runway and reared up at a dramatic angle. Bombing Leader Alan Russell DFC also writes in his memoirs about a hard landing by Zinzan on 16 January 1945. The loss of Bomb Aimer Ken Mesure due to a broken leg left an opening in Zinzan’s crew that was eventually filled by Simon Sommerville’s Dad, F/O Robert “Jock” Sommerville DFC – more about Jock’s story here.

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16 December 1944. Daylight attack against Siegen.

The boys were on the Battle Order again, a daylight G-H attack on railway yards:

Bomber Command Diary: 108 Lancasters of No 3 Group in a G-H raid on the railway yards at Siegen. 1 Lancaster lost. The bombing was accurate enough to hit Siegen and the neighbouring town of Weidenau but not to destroy the railway yards which were hit by only a few bombs. Many public buildings and houses were destroyed in Siegen, which had not been bombed seriously before.

75 Sq ORB: Eighteen aircraft took off to attack Siegen in rather poor weather conditions. Three aircraft returned early with icing trouble. The main body experienced dense cloud and were unable to formate until they reached 30E. All crews bombed the target, several being able to see a built up area through occasional gaps in the dense cloud cover. It is concluded that the attack was successful. Some fighter and flak opposition was noticed on route but our aircraft experienced no difficulty.

Lancaster I HK601 JN-D “Snifter”
Up 11:16 Down 16:01

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (5)
F/S Pauling, J. NZ422976, Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
Sgt Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
Sgt Sparrow, R. R263518, R/Gnr

Bomb Load 1 x 8,000 lb H.C, 2 x 1,000 lb M.C, 4 x 500 lb ANM.

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Siegen. Abortive, all bombs jettisioned. Starboard inner engine failed and was feathered. 10/10th cloud up to 14,000 feet, as far as about 04.00E. Some icing.

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On the 19th of December the crew flew a 50 minute Fighter Affiliation and then on the 20th they were briefed by W/C Newton for an attack on Trier, but fog caused the op’ to be cancelled.

The following day it dawned foggy again, but cleared later in the day allowing a force of 20 Lancasters to take off from Mepal.

21 December 1944. Daylight attack against Trier.

Bomber Command Diary: 113 Lancasters of No 3 Group again attempted to bomb the railway yards at Trier in 2 waves. No Lancasters lost. The bomber crews were unable to observe results because of the cloud, although a large column of smoke eventually appeared.

75 Sq ORB: Twenty aircraft were again detailed to attack Trier and all took off. Fourteen aircraft attacked the target, the rest being obliged to jettison part of their loads on the return journey as the leader of their formation was unable to release his bombs over the target. Those crews attacking reported a good concentration with smoke rising above the cloud tops at the close of the attack.

Lancaster I HK601 JN-D “Snifter”
Up 12:23 Down 17:37

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (6)
F/S Pauling, J. NZ422976, Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
Sgt Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
Sgt Grout, W. R109214, R/Gnr

Bomb Load 1 x 4,000 lb H.C, 7 x 500 lb ANM, 2 x 500 lb M.C, 6 x 250lb G.P, 1 x 350 Monroe

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Trier. Followed G-H Leader JN-Y on to target, but he did not bomb, appeared to orbit but still did not bomb, so came away and jettisoned. Saw smoke as leaving target.

In his logbook, Gerry wrote: Light flak, 10/10 cloud. Jettisoned Cookie.

For some reason, Ralph missed this and the following op’, replaced by a Sgt Grout.

Flak is the name of a series of anti-aircaft guns developed originally by Krupp, and is a contraction of the German word Flugzeugabwehrkanone, meaning “aircraft-defensive cannon”. In English, “flak” became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire. Heavy flak referred to the common 88mm Flak guns, and larger calibers up to 128mm. Light flak referred to smaller calibre anti-aircraft guns, 27mm and 37mm. Predicted Flak refers to radar-controlled Flak guns which tracked aircraft on their bombing run-ins. Cookie – 4000 lb and 8000lb impact-fused H.C. (High Capacity) bombs were known as “Cookies”. They were used to blow out roofs, walls and windows to make subsequent incendiary bombing more effective. G.P. = General Purpose bombs.

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On the 22nd, 21 crews, including the Wood crew, were detailed to attack Trier. Eighteen were cancelled and the three ‘special equipment’ aircraft put on stand by, but they were also cancelled before take off due to fog. The original 21 crews were told to be prepared for a take-off as soon as the weather improved.

The following day the weather cleared, and this time the op’ was declared a huge success:

23 December 1944. Daylight attack against Trier.

Bomber Command Diary: 153 Lancasters of No 3 Group attempted to attack the Trier railway yards through cloud. The bombing appeared to be accurate and concentrated but Trier could only report that it was the town’s worst raid of the war. 1 Lancaster lost.

75 Sq ORB: The 21 aircraft detailed on the 22nd December took off to attack Trier in improved weather conditions. The target could be identified visually and T.I.’s were aimed at by most crews. The attack was reported as being good with very few scattered bombs. Several explosions were seen as our aircraft left the target.

Lancaster I HK600 JN-K“Kiwi”
Up 11:57 Down 16:31

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (7)
F/S Pauling, J. NZ422976, Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
Sgt Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
Sgt Grout, W. R109214, R/Gnr

Bomb Load 1 x 4,000 lb H.C, 8 x 500 lb ANM, 2 x 500 lb M.C, 6 x 250 lb G.P

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Trier. Very good concentration of bombing – whole town in smoke. Saw very large explosion just east of the target and large cloud of white smoke after leaving the target.

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Thick fog reduced visibility to no more than a hundred yards on the 25^th, meaning that, once the day’s planned operation had been cancelled during morning briefing, the final wartime Christmas could be celebrated in traditional style at Mepal. Christmas on Base was obviously a happy event, and a chance to forget the daily grind of op’s, testing and training.

The Airmen’s Christmas Dinner began at 12.30, followed by a film show at 15.00 and All Ranks Dance at 20.00.

This autographed Christmas Dinner menu is one of three surviving menus that we have from that day.

Two others were kept by individuals from C Flight ground crews who have also signed the one below – Tom “Mac” McGibbon (the second-to-bottom signature), and Colin Penfold, third-to-bottom.

Dennis Jones’ copy is signed by F/Sgt “Shorty” Pettet, rear gunner in the Sam Wilson crew, the previous ‘owners’ of JN-D “Snifter”, since tour-expired. It also includes autographs of two C Flight pilots (Doug St Clement and Ron Flamank) and the C Flight Commander, S/L Jack “Paddy” Bailey, evidence of a great spirit amongst aircrew and ground crew, Kiwis and Brit’s, officers and ‘erks’.

– More about the Christmas Menus and the ground crew who signed them here.

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27 December 1944. Daylight attack against Rheydt.

Bomber Command Diary: 200 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5 and 8 Groups attacked the railway yards at Rheydt. 1 Lancaster was lost and 1 Mosquito crashed behind the Allied lines in Holland.

75 Sq ORB: As many crews as possible were required for an attack on Cologne. The target was cancelled and an attack on Rheydt substituted. Inexperienced and special equipment leaders not being required, the offer of 26 a/c was reduced to 20. Visibility over the target was excellent and crews were able to identify the target, the flares being accurately placed. Clouds of smoke were seen to rise from the target. One aircraft captained by NZ421746 F/O H. Miles failed to return. This aircraft was seen to be hit by bombs from above, and to spiral down.

Lancaster I HK600 JN-K “Kiwi”
Up 12:16 Down 16:53

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (8)
F/S Pauling, J., NZ422976 Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
F/S Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
F/S Sparrow, R. R263518, R/Gnr

Bomb load 6 x 1,000 lb ANM, 4 x 500 lb ANM, 2 x 500 lb M.C, 4 x 250 lb G.P.

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Rheydt. Good concentration over target. Saw 15/20 aircraft 2/3,000 feet above on way to target. Had to take evasive action when aircraft ahead had tail cut off, so had to bomb North end of target.

Doug remembers:

”There was one daylight raid, where for some reason we were to fly below the usual twenty thousand feet. One squadron, apparently with different instructions, was flying above us at the usual height. Jack the navigator was cursing the silly bastards, when he let out a cry of dismay on seeing one of our kites have its wing torn off by a bomb from above.”

– The Nazi & The Luftgangster, by D. B. Williamson and Lutz Dille.

With their focus on the target below, flak, and the aircraft immediately around them, crews were often caught out by aircraft bombing from higher altitudes. This problem is mentioned numerous times in the 75 ORB’s.

Another Kiwi crew had a hairy trip that day – F/O “Stan” Davies had suffered a starboard outer engine fire in HK573 AA-H not long after take off, but feathered it and carried on to bomb, unable to climb above 11,000 ft on three engines. A hung-up bomb had to be manually released and then a FW190 approached, forcing evasive action and the firing of a red Verey distress flare. Luckily for them, two USAAF P38 Lightnings arrived on the scene and were happy to escort Stan and the boys back to friendly territory.

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The boys were back on the Battle Order the next day, and again wayward bombs disrupted the attack:

28 December 1945. Daylight attack against Grenberg Marshalling Yards at Cologne.

Bomber Command Diary: 167 Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the marshalling yards at Cologne/Gremberg with accurate bombing. No aircraft lost.

75 Sq ORB: Twenty one aircraft were detailed to attack the Grenberg Marshalling Yards at Cologne. Nineteen aircraft bombed the target and one bombed short due to technical failure. One aircraft captained by F/Off Sadgrove returned early owing to engine trouble. Crews were satisfied that the attack was successful, many reporting smoke rising well above the cloud tops. Slight Heavy Flak was experienced but no fighter opposition.

Lancaster I HK600 JN-K “Kiwi”
Up 12:06 Down 17:18

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (9)
F/S Pauling, J., NZ422976 Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
F/S Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
F/S Sparrow, R. R263518, R/Gnr

Bomb load 1 x 4,000 lb H.C, 8 x 500 lb ANM, 2 x 500 lb M.C, 4 x 250 lb G.P.

” Again, heavy flak opposition was slight but the greater danger was bombs from aircraft flying between 500 ft and 2,000 ft above. Several of the Squadron’s kites had to take evasive action but this time everyone escaped harm.”

– Luck and a Lancaster, by Harry Yates, DFC.

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Cologne – Grenberg M/Yards. Seemed a good concentration confirmed by Gee fix.

Comments from some of the other crews:

F/O McMillan in LM740, AA-B: A good concentration but too much unavoidable jockeying for position, some a/c much too high; still a/c releasing Window without tearing string.

F/O Davies, PB418, AA-C: Formated with AA-A but had to release 15 seconds before when the formation above released and bombs fell around.

F/O Pearson, HK576, AA-G: Aircraft well over 21,000 ft, and had to dodge falling bombs.

F/O Osborne, HK562, AA-L: Wedged in by aircraft 500 ft to 2000 ft above and had to watch falling bombs which were dropping very close.

F/O Blewitt, PB761,  AA-Y: Two boxes of 4 aircraft bombed 500/1000 ft above and starboard of this aircraft.

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On the 29th, nine of the squadron’s aircraft flew out to Koblenz, but the crew weren’t on the list, instead carrying out a 1hr 15min G-H training flight, probably concentrating on formation flying.

The system required discipline from all aircraft to maximise safety and achieve results. The tighter the formations, the more accurate the bombing, and the less time the stream spent in the danger zone over the target.

Several forces worked to disrupt the formations – turbulence from the slipstreams of a/c ahead, contrails from a/c ahead, poor visibility through cloud, fighter attacks, flak, near-collisions, bombs from above, engine problems, winds, confused orders, malfunctioning equipment and wayward navigation could all lead to planes breaking formation and creating problems for the aircraft around them.

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The final operation of the year launched from Mepal was against the railway yards at Vohwinkel, situated on the south-eastern edge of the Ruhr between Düsseldorf and Wuppertal.

31 December 1944. Daylight attack against Vohwinkel.

Bomber Command Diary: 155 Lancasters of No 3 Group carried out a G-H raid on the railway yards at Vohwinkel, near Solingen. A strong wind carried much of the bombing south of the target. 2 Lancasters lost.

75 Sq ORB: Seventeen aircraft were detailed to attack Vohwinkel in daylight. Moderate accurate heavy flak was met over the target, but all aircraft returned safely. A scattered raid was reported.

Lancaster I HK601 JN-D “Snifter”

Up 11:39 Down 16:26

F/S Wood, J. NZ426235, Captain (10)
F/S Pauling, J., NZ422976 Nav
F/S Hooper, N., A/B
F/S Newey, G. NZ425285, WO/Air
Sgt Williamson, D., F/Eng
F/S Cash, A. R147817, MU/Gnr
F/S Sparrow, R. R263518, R/Gnr

Bomb load 1 x 4,000 lb H. C, 13 x 500 lb ANM, 1 x Monroe T 256.

Captain’s remarks: Primary target Vohwinkel. At head of stream so little was seen, but some bombs burst at SE end of yard. Could not keep down to climbing speed of JN-Y and passed him.

(Presumably JN-Y (NF981) was a G-H leader on this op’).