The 61 Sqdn left from Skellingthorpe at 1944-01-02 at 23:56. Loc or duty Berlin
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type III, serial LM377, code QR-F).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
3 January 1944 (Eighth Air Force): Special Night Operation: 1 B-17 is dispatched on an Oboe test against Germany but turns back due to an oxygen failure in the tail gun position. HQ 452d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and it's 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrives at Deopham Green, England from the US with B-17's; first mission is 5 Feb.
Campaign report of the RAF:
1/2 January 1944
421 Lancasters despatched to Berlin. Despite a Mosquito 'spoof' raid on Hamburg, German fighters were directed on to the bomber stream at an early stage and were particularly active en-route to Berlin. 28 Lancasters were lost, 6.7 per cent of the force.
15 Mosquitos to Hamburg, 11 to Witten, 7 to Duisburg, 4 to Bristillerie and 1 to Cologne, 6 RCM sorties, 14 OTU sorties. No losses.
2/3 January 1944
383 aircraft - 362 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitos, 9 Halifaxes - return to Berlin. German fighter controllers followed the bombers all the way to the target. Night fighters were sent to a radio beacon between Hannover and Bremen but these fighters missed the bomber stream and did not come into action until they were directed to Berlin. Most of the bomber casualties were in the Berlin area. 27 Lancasters were lost, 10 per cent of the force. The casualties included 10 Pathfinder aircraft; No 156 Squadron, from Warboys, lost 5 of its 14 aircraft taking part in the raid.
8 Mosquitos to Duisburg and 3 to Bristillerie, 2 Beaufighters on Serrate patrols, 26 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians and off French ports, 25 OTU sorties. No losses.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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