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17/18 August, 1943; PEENEMUNDE:
This was a 'special' raid in which Bomber Command was tasked
to attempt a night time precision raid on the German research
establishment at Peenemunde, on the Baltic coast. It was here
that the V-2 rockets were built and tested.
It was essential that a decisive blow be struck against this
target, and crews were made well aware at briefing that they
would have to return the following evening if sufficient damage
was not incurred. Such was the importance of this raid, that
most of the squadrons operating, were led by their Wing Commanders.
A force of 596 bombers started leaving their home airfields on
a pleasantly warm summer’s evening. Twelve Lancasters had
been detailed from the squadron and at 21.35 the first aircraft
and crew speed down Fiskerton's runway. Five miles beyond the
runway’s end lay the city of Lincoln with its majestic Cathedral
silhouetted against the setting sun. Most of 49 Squadron's aircraft
bombed from about 7,000ft. By this time, the German controllers
had realised the real target and had re-directed the night fighters.
In conjunction with strong flak defences, the fighters took a
heavy toll of bombers, especially the 3rd and final wave. For
the first time the German fighters were using a new weapon, codenamed
'Schrage-Music'. It consisted of two 30mm cannon mounted to point
upwards from the fuselage. So equipped the pilot slipped underneath
an unsuspecting bomber and aimed shells up into the wing fuel
tanks. Once perfected, an experienced crew could bring a bomber
down using very few rounds. Forty aircraft fell, with 5 Group
losing 17 - Fiskerton had 4 Lancasters shot down, one-third of
those dispatched by 49 Squadron.
Lt Meissner picked up F/O Harry Randall's aircraft and in seconds
shot them
down... this aircraft crashed in Denmark with no survivors; they
too
are buried at Aabenraa. The crew’s flight engineer was Sgt
Les Henley. Formerly in the Army, he had joined the RAF in 1940
and managed to get on ops at the age of 43, which was well above
the average.
Lancaster JA691 (EA-L)
F/O H.J. Randall Pilot (Killed)
Sgt L.J. Henley F/E (Killed)
Sgt L.F. Freeman Nav (Killed)
Sgt R.
Fowlston W/AG (Killed)
Sgt
N.W. Buchanan RAAF A/G (Killed)
Sgt W.J.
Stiles B/A (Killed)
Sgt
R.W. Slaughter A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 8th operation
For more details of this loss see www.bomberhistory.co.uk
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