Jan 1943 Sorties
date (dd/mon/yr) target ac id pilot 2nd pilot navigator bomb aimer W/AG/OP RG time up time down status dispatched er bombed primary bombed alternate failed to bomb tgt failed to return landed away Time attacked primary Alt attacked primary bomb load Intelligence debriefing (Some_letters_are_difficult_to_read_from_the_microfiche_dispite_being_typed)
21-Jan-43 Gardening:Tershelling BK432 Johnson
Risingham Stirton Dymick Stuart 16.56
ftr Yes No No No No Yes No

2X1500lb sea mines No report was received of this aircraft after it left base. It was carrying two 1500 lb. "vegetables" Assembly B200 and A408 and 9000 rounds of .303 ammunition
21-Jan-43 Gardening:Tershelling BK499 Hanan
Brown Wood Litchfield Lane 16.55 21.11 dnco Yes No No No Yes No No

2x1500lb sea mines This aircraft was attacked by a Flak Ship on approaching the target. On the second attempt Tershellin was not found and the two 1500lb. vegetables were brought back to base.
21-Jan-43 ASR Search Z1696 Rawson
Kerr McIntosh Brandley Jakeman 1147 1618 dco Yes No No No No No No


No results
21-Jan-43 Gardening:Tershelling BK162 Pentony
Messenger Thompson Craig Fitzgerald 16.57 20.57 dco Yes No Yes No No No No

2X1500lb sea mines This was a successful sortie. Weather conditions were good and the vegetables were planted as ordered. The coastline was plainly discernible. This aircraft was carrying two 1500 lb. "vegetables" Assembly B200 and B202. Parachutes were seen to open and a red verey pistol was fired at 19.53 hours.
21-Jan-43 ASR Search BK163 deBussac
Spence Follows Coe Palmetier 1141 1630 dco Yes No No No No No No


No results
21-Jan-43 ASR Search HE172 Ellison
Bailey Horton Nicholson Anglin 1143 1156 dnco Yes Yes No No No No No


Returned early
21-Jan-43 ASR Search BJ908 Conroy
Bell Densmore Nelson Burns 1145 1556 dco Yes No No No No No No


No results
21-Jan-43 ASR Search BJ799 Bruce
Lagesse Cawthorn Godden Strachan 1146 1557 dco Yes No No No No No No


No results
26-Jan-43 L'Orient Z1760 Smith
Tennis Nelson Nicol Crimmons 1753 2253 dco Yes No Yes No No No Yes

2 x 1000 lb bombs and 3 x 500 lb bombs Weather conditions were good with a slight ground haze. This sortie was successfully carried out, and several large bomb bursts were observed over the target. This aircraft landed at Harwell after completin the operation
26-Jan-43 L'Orient BJ799 Bruce
Lagesse Cawthorn Godden Strachan 1713 2126 er Yes Yes No No No No No


This aircraft was forced to return early due to unserviceability of rear turret (My note: bomb load not stated)
26-Jan-43 L'Orient BK162 Pentony
Messenger Thompson Craig Fitzgerald 1714 2225 dco Yes No Yes No No No Yes 2031 11,500 ft 6 SBC of 90x4lb. Incendiaries Successful sortie. Incendiaries were dropped according to schedule. Several fires were seen to have taken hold. Landed at Middle Wallop
26-Jan-43 L'Orient BK163 Rodgers
Davies Lewis Allen Amos 1717
ftr Yes No No No No Yes No

2x1000lb bombs and 3x500lb bombs No report was received of this aircraft after leaving base. (My note: first operational loss on bombing op, 2nd operational loss for sqn)
26-Jan-43 L'Orient DF625 Hanan
Brown Wood Litchfield Lane 1718 2223 dco Yes No Yes No No No Yes 2044 11,800 ft 1 x 4,000 lb bomb Successful sortie. Target was identified visually by the estuary and bringe. Landed at Boscombe Down
26-Jan-43 L'Orient HE172 Ellison
Bailey Horton Nicholson Elliott 1719 2319 dco Yes No Yes No No No Yes

6 SBC of 90x4lb. Incendiaries Successful sortie. Incendiaries were dropped according to schedule. On arrival target was found well illuminated by fires. One large explosion was seen in centre of target area. Landed at Lindholme. (My note: time and altitude over target not stated)
26-Jan-43 L'Orient BK540 Lancaster
Hale Boyes Thom Rabinovitch 1714 2325 dco Yes No Yes No Yes No No 2039 9,500 ft 2x1000lb bombs and 3x500lb bombs Weather good. Ground haze and heavy darkness. Primary load dropped from altitude of 9500 feet at 2039 hours. Bomb load dropped was seen to burst in centre of town. Successful sortie
26-Jan-43 L'Orient BJ908 Conroy
Bell Densmore Burns Nelson 1719 2339 dco Yes No Yes No No No No 2014 8,000 ft 1 x 4,000 lb bomb Successful sortie
26-Jan-43 L'Orient BJ715 DeBussac
Spence Follows Coe Palmetier 1716 1918 er Yes Yes No No No No No


This aircraft returned early without completing the sortie, due to unserviceability of the intercommunications system
26-Jan-43 L'Orient Z1696 Rawson
Kerr McIntosh Smith Jakeman 1718 2230 dco Yes Yes No No No No No


This aircraft was shot up by a believed enemy convoy. Due to evasive action it was impossible to be on the target on time, so a return was made to base with the bomb load.