The 9 Sqdn left from Bardney at 1943-11-24 at 16:57. Loc or duty Berlin

On Wednesday 24 November 1943, a member of the 9 Sqdn, Pilot Officer G Ward, took off from Bardney in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on Back to Normandy. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at 16:57.

He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, serial DV327, code WS-N).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission 136: 7 B-17's dropped 2.4 million leaflets over Lille, France; and Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi/Gosselies and Ghent, Belgium between 2026-2111 hours. No losses or casualties.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS

(Ninth Air Force): HQ 100th Fighter Wing is activated at Boxted, England.

Campaign report of the RAF:

23/24 November 1943

383 aircraft - 365 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes, 8 Mosquitos - to continue the attack on Berlin. The bombing force used the same direct route as had been employed on the previous night. The German controllers made an early identification of Berlin as the probable target; their single-engined fighters were gathered over the city before the arrival of the bombers and other fighters arrived a few minutes later. Fake instructions broadcast from England caused much annoyance to the German who was giving the 'running commentary'; the Germans started using a female commentator but this was promptly countered by a female voice from England ordering the German pilots to land because of fog at their bases. 'Spoof' fighter flares dropped by Mosquitos north of the bomber stream also caused some diversion of German effort. Bomber crews noticed that flak over the target was unusually restrained, with the German fighters obviously being given priority. 20 aircraft - all Lancasters - were lost, 5.2 per cent of the bomber force. The target was again cloud-covered and the Pathfinders carried out skymarking, but many of the Main Force crews aimed their bombs through the cloud at the glow of 11 major fires still burning from the previous night. Much further destruction was caused in Berlin.

6 Oboe Mosquitos attacked the Knapsack power-station near Cologne without loss.

24/25 November 1943

6 Mosquitos bombed Berlin through cloud and 9 OTU Wellingtons took leaflets to France. 1 Mosquito lost.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

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