Voices in Flight: The Night Air War by Martin W. Bowman

Author:Martin W. Bowman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Aviation
ISBN: 9781473864252
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2015-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

Endnotes Chapter 8

59 Confounding the Reich by Martin W. Bowman and Tom Cushing (PSL 1996; Pen & Sword 2004).

60 171 Squadron was formed on 7 September 1944 at North Creake in 100 Group, initially with Stirling Mk III aircraft and crews, pending the allocation of twenty Halifax IIIs. In order to get the new unit operational, one flight of 199 Squadron was posted in. 171 Squadron’s first operation took place on 15 September, when two Stirlings took off on a special operation, which was completed successfully. Shortly after, fourteen Halifax crews were posted in from squadrons under the operational control of 4 Group HQ but they were unable to operate as 171’s Halifaxes were held at St. Athan undergoing installation of ‘Mandrel’ and ‘Window’ chute equipment. (Stirlings would continue to be used until 21 November.) Finally, on 21 October 171 Squadron Halifaxes took off on a ‘Windowing’ operation. While en route the operation was cancelled and the aircraft recalled. However, one aircraft failed to receive the signal and pressed on to the target where it was plotted as ‘a force of some thirty heavy bombers’, a successful, if unintentional start for the squadron!

61 Sir Eric Teichman, owner of Honingham Hall near RAF Attlebridge, Norfolk was shot and killed on 3 December 1944 by an American cook called Smith from the 466th Bomb Group base at Attlebridge while poaching. Smith was tried, found guilty of murder and hanged at HMP Shepton Mallet on VE Day 8 May 1945.

62 On 26/27 November Halifax III was abandoned near Paris. On 9/10 December when 70 aircraft of 8 Group attacked Duisburg, Koblenz and Berlin 100 Group dispatched 68 aircraft. Halifax III NA674 on 171 Squadron piloted by Flight Lieutenant John Kirkpatrick DFC failed to return from ‘Windowing’ Koblenz. All the crew were killed.

63 Tony Iveson DFC joined 616 Squadron at Kenley on 2 September 1940 flying Spitfires, transferring to 92 Squadron in October. Commissioned in May 1942, his second operational tour was with Bomber Command. He joined 617 ‘Dam Busters’ Squadron in 1944 and as well as many other arduous operations, he flew three sorties against the Tirpitz, including the final one, on 12 November.

64 RAF Bomber Command Losses, Vol.8 Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947 by W. R. Chorley (Midland Publishing 2003). See also, Wings Over York by Brian Mennell (2002) who described this as ‘the unit’s first and, as events would prove, greatest loss of life.’

65 In fact, Sergeant T. Farnworth was injured and he was admitted to York Military Hospital but his injuries were found to not be too serious. Sergeant Ralph Owen Chester, the other man on board, was uninjured. On completion of his course Gordon Sproat was posted to 102 Squadron at Pocklington. He was shot down and killed over Belgium by a night-fighter on the operation on Nürnburg on 28/29 August 1943. Sergeant Chester went to 77 Squadron at Elvington and was KIA a few nights’ later, on the operation on Berlin on 31 August/1 September. RAF Bomber Command Losses, Vol.

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