A Canada Goose volant. The Canada goose is at home in Canada, England and
Scotland; its speed and power of flight are indicative of the operational function of the squadron.
COMMANDING OFFICERS | |
W/CDR W. Ferris | Jan. 1, 1943-Oct. 27, 1943 |
A. Mair | Oct. 28, 1943-Nov. 26, 1943 (KIA) |
D. Jacobs | Nov 27, 1943-May 22, 1944 KIA) |
R. McLernon | May 24, 1943-Oct. 13, 1944 (Gibb’s) |
J. Easton | Oct. 14, 1944-Nov. 25, 1944 |
F. Sharp | Nov. 26, 144-Sept 5, 1945 |
AIRFIELDS FLOWN FROM Leeming
Jan. 1, 1943-Aug. 26, 1943
Linton on Ouse Aug 27, 1943-June 13, 1945 AIRCRAFT TYPE FLOWN ON OPERATIONS
Halifax II, III, VII
Lancaster II
SQUADRON NICKNAME: "Goose"
AIRCRAFT CODE: EQ
Halifax II, III, VII
They also learned how to fly
Wellington (Wimples). Doing diversion raids flying with planes that were carrying big loads of bombs. Distracting the enemy away from these planes and finally return home while the main aircraft would drop their load over designated areas.
Gibb’s role was in a turret on the
top of the plane. It would turn so that he
could scan the sky east and west and
above. He had four guns to manage, two
303 shell guns on each side. Burke had the same on the rear of the plane only he could see below.
September, 4, 1944
Starting the day at 10:33, Gibb is checked out by F/L Chekaluck for half an
hour, then later that day at 2:40 goes up with Patzer and crew to check out air to air
bombing.
September 5, 8, 9,10, 1944
This week was mostly training, Bombing at Xcty.
Halifax IIIs from 424 Squadron lined up on perimeter track ready to take off on
an Operation.
Halifax III from 420 Squadron is caught in a strike photo over over Le Havre on
Sept 10,1944 taken by F/Lt F. Lynch from 428 Squadron
In 1942, British and American bomb crews might not have been able to hit a target smaller than a city, but in 1944, thanks to hard experience and hard science, no
target seemed too small. Railway marshaling yards, highway intersections, dikes, docks, refineries, railway tunnels, submarine factories, and V-1 and V-2 missile launching sites
— all came under allied bombsights, and were destroyed almost at will.
September 12, 1944 (Mission 1)
Taking off at 11:42 a.m. flying a Halifax J.
Any member of aircrew could at any time
go to his commanding officer and decline to fly on further operations, but the concept of "operational fatigue" popularly, "flak happy" was not officially
recognized. Those who broke under the strain were rapidly branded "LMF: Lack of Moral Fibre"; de-ranked, de-breveted
(sometimes publicly), and whisked away to menial tasks. Usually, a man asking to be withdrawn from flying duties was instantly removed from the squadron.
While some of the group were attacking Dortmund, 122 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 431, 432, and 434 Squadrons attacked the synthetic oil plant at Wanne Eickel. The attack was carried out from 16,000 to 19,000 feet with the crew releasing 960,000 lbs of ordinance. No observations were made due to a smoke screen over the target. A great number of aircraft were damaged by flak. F/O J. Mills of 432 Squadron was hit by flak. There were holes put in the port wing and instrument panel. F/O A. Porter was hit by flak. There were holes put in the port wing, stbd wing, and stbd inner nacelle. F/O J. Gault was hit by flak.
Holes put in the port wing tip. Gibb receiving a flak wound over Wanneickel. When he returned to base he got off the plane and was walking down to the de-briefing room where he ran into Howard Hicken from Raymond. He said "Scoss (nick name for Howard Skousen Hicken) look I've been wounded. He showed him a 2 inch hole in his tunic made from a piece of shrapnel. It seemed to please Gibb that he had evidence of his brush with death.
September 15, 1944 (Mission 2)
September 17, 1944 ( Mission 3)
Taking off at 10:31 a.m. flying a Halifax J.
173 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433,
and 434 Squadrons were joined by 36 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack of troop positions at Boulogne. The crews were over the target at between 2,000 and 10,000 feet, releasing 2,280,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and these troops surrendered soon after. Sgt A. Stedman from 432 Squadron landed at Manston on return.
4 hours in the air.
September 28, 1944 (Mission 4)
September 30, 1944 (Mission 5)
Taking off at 10:24 am. Flying a Halifax N.
107 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were ordered
to attack the oil plant at Sterkrade. The crews were over the target at between
16,000
and 18,000 feet, releasing 847,000 lbs of high explosives. The target was cloud
covered so the attack was scattered.
4 hours and 40 minutes in the air.
October 2,3, 1944
Back to training, doing cross country and bombing.
October 6, 1944 (Mission 6)
Taking off at 4:05 a.m. flying Halifax F.
248 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433,
and 434 squadrons were joined by 45 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack at Dortmund. This was the greatest effort that the 6 group would send out during the war. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 20,500 feet releasing 1,510,000 lbs of high explosives and 383,000 lbs of incendiaries.
According to reports, bombing was accurate and the transportation and industrial sections were well hit.
F/O J. Mills from 432 Squadron landed at Downham Market on return due to poor
weather at base. F/O D. Best, F/Lt W. Tobias, F/O G. Stunden, F/Sgt N. Franko,
P/O L. McGuire, F/O A. Craig, P/O H. Britton, F/O J. Gault, F/O M. Krakowsky, F/O R.
Diamond, F/O S. Dean, and S/Ldr G. Larson landed at Sudbury on return due to poor weather at base. F/O A. Bews and F/O A. Potter landed at Methwold on return due to poor weather at base. F/O G. McNicoll landed at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather at base.
P/O J. Hamilton and F/O C. Hemming landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return due to poor weather at base. F/O W. Saye landed at Tuddenham on return due to poor weather at base. W/Cdr J. MacDonald landed at Wratting Common on return due to poor weather at base.
6 hours and 15 minutes in the air. Landing at Chedburch on return trip.
October 7, 1944
Flying from Chedburch to base.