MN989

MN869

MN969

PD448

MP152

JR500

MN796

F/L Burton

F/O Rassenti

F/O Hogg

F/O Smith R.

F/L Scharff

F/O Laurence

F/O Johns

F/O Smith I.

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

08:55

'

'

'

Details of Sortie or Flight

The first show today was airborne at 07:45 hours and headed for the "HAPPY HUNTING GROUND" with the hope of duplicating yesterday's effort. The armed recce was carried out over the triangle Bernay-Orbec-Broglic and while most of the MET sighted was already knocked out, enough fresh MET was found to give the boys  some good targets. That found, was well scattered and some of it fairly well hidden, but the Squadron bag for the show was 8 flamers, 7 smokers and 12 damaged - effectively reducing the enemy serviceability total of 27 MT. No flak was seen throughout the mission and all aircraft returned unharmed.

MP136

JR500

MP134

MN379

MN401

MN969

MN665

W/C Judd

F/O Burgess

F/O Hewson ⁽¹⁾

F/O Bernhart

W/O Gray

F/O Porritt

F/O Fraser

F/O Stelter

'

'

11:45

'

11:40

'

'

Details of Sortie or Flight

This second show of the day for the Squadron was led by W/C Judd, DFC, AFC, and carried out an armed recce over the Orbec-Bernay-Broglic area again. Once again the Hun transport yielded clear targets for our cannons and the Squadron managed a fair score. As on the previous show, the MET were was well scattered but interrogation, carried out by F/L Massey and Capt. Cleveland at Dispersal, revealed a score of5 flamers (one a tank) 3 smokers and 3 damaged MET. As has been the custom on shows of this type, the Squadron broke into pairs for straffing. As one pair was returning, it encountered some light but fortunately inaccurate flak from Pont L'Eveque. All aircraft returned safely to base undamaged.

Webmaster's Notes:

(1) On his only mission of the day in Typhoon X,  F/O GW Hewson records in his log book that this was a rether boring flight, the monotony of which was only releived by his flaming a tank and damaging 2 MET.  He noted that there was no flak this time around.

MN352

MN989

MN969

JR500

MP136

MN796

MP151

MP448

MP134

MN401

MN691

S/L Norsworthy

F/O Roberts

F/O Henderson

F/O Smith R.

F/O Johns

F/O Burgess

F/O Smith I.

F/O Laurence

F/L Scharff

F/O Bernhart

F/O Porritt

F/O Rassenti

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14:05

'

'

Details of Sortie or Flight

This, the third show of the day, was airborne at 13:35 hours to carry out an armed recce over the now familiar area of Orbec-Le Sap-Vimoutiers-Fervaques. Twelve aircraft took off in three sections led by S/L Norsworthy, F/O Johns and F/L Scharff. The three sections proceeded to the "range" independently to pick off their own "sitting ducks". This time the Hun set up some flak posts and gave his transport some protection. The bulk of the MET attacked was found in this area just to the east of Vimoutiers and once again the keen marksmanship of the pilots built up a considerable bag. F/O Bernhart watched F/L Scharff pull up dust after a successful attack, saw his starboard wing become damaged by flak and saw the aircraft dive into the ground exploding on impact. F/L Scharff was presumed killed instantly. 

Claims were made at interrogation amounted to 12 flamers and 5 damaged MET. One pilot failed to return however, and his Squadron mates watched the clock until the endurance of F/O Porritt's Typhoon was up. Then they realised that something must have happened  to "Porky". His aircraft was last seen  flying in a normal manner over the target area but no further trace  of him was seen or heard. "Porky" is reported as missing. 

The net bag for the day was: 25 Flamers; 10 Smokers; and 28 Damaged. Against these, on the debit side of the ledger we had: One pilot missing believed killed, One pilot and aircraft missing.