The 218 Sqdn left from Downham Market at 1943-09-15 at 10:35. Loc or duty Air Test

On Wednesday 15 September 1943, a member of the 218 Sqdn, Flying Officer W Hunter, took off from Downham Market 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 10:35.

He flew with a Short Stirling (type III, serial EF425, code HA-C).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

(Eighth Air Force):: VIII Bomber Command Mission 95: Aviation facilities in France are targeted: 1. 87 of 93 B-17's dispatched attack the Romilly-sur-Seine air depot at 1848-1850 hours; 2 B-17's are damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged; casualties are 3 WIA. 2. 139 of 152 B-17's dispatched attack three targets; 40 hit the Caudron- Renault industrial area in Paris at 1855 hours, 21 hit the Billancourt- Renault works at 1854 hours, and 78 hit the Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine works in Paris; they claim 12-2-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's are lost and 33 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 51 MIA. 3. 47 of 63 B-24's hit Chartres Airfield at 1904-1911 hours; they claim 3-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost; casualties are 10 MIA. VIII Bomber Command Mission 96: 5 B-17's of the 422d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), join the RAF in a night attack on the Dunlop factory at Montlucon, France; there are no losses or casualties.

VIII Air Support Command Mission 58; 2 airfields in France are targeted: 1. 72 B-26's are dispatched to Lille/Nord Airfield but the mission is aborted due to weather. 2. 68 of 72 B-26's hit Merville Airfield at 1745 and 1748 hours; 27 B-26's are damaged; casualties are 2 WIA. The 325th, 326th, 327th and 407th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 92d Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Alconbury to Podington, England with B-17's.

Campaign report of the RAF:

14/15 September 1943

8 Lancasters of 617 Squadron set out with the new 12,000lb bomb (not the 12,000lb Tallboy 'earthquake' bomb developed later) to attack the banks of the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Ladbergen. While the force was over the North Sea, however, a weather reconnaissance Mosquito reported that there was fog in the target area and the Lancasters were recalled. The aircraft of Flight Lieutenant DIH Maltby, one of the original members of the squadron that had attacked the Ruhr dams, crashed into the sea and the crew were all killed. Maltby's body was washed ashore and is buried at Wickhambreux, near Canterbury in Kent; the names of the other 6 crew members are on the Runnymede Memorial for the Missing.

8 Mosquitos made a nuisance raid on Berlin. 1 aircraft lost.

15/16 September 1943

Montluçon: 369 aircraft of Nos 3, 4, 6 and No 8 Groups - 209 Halifaxes, 120 Stirlings, 40 Lancasters. 5 American B-17s also took part. 2 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling lost. This was a moonlit raid on the Dunlop rubber factory at Montluçon in Central France. The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and the Master Bomber, Wing Commander DFEC Deane, brought the Main Force in well to carry out some accurate bombing. Every building in the factory was hit and a large fire was started.

8 Lancasters of 617 Squadron took off to carry out the postponed raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal but the area was misty and 5 aircraft were lost, including those of Pilot Officer LG Knight, another of the Dams Raid survivors, and the new squadron commander, Squadron Leader G Holden. These heavy losses, and the losses of the Dams Raid, confirmed that low-level attacks on German targets, even when away from major defended areas, were not viable with heavy bombers and this type of operation was not repeated. 617 Squadron now started retraining as a specialist high-altitude-bombing unit.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

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