Aeroplane September 2017

52 http://www.aeroplanemonthly.com AEROPLANE SEPTEMBER 2017

recorded Dix of this attack on Thiverny, which

was considered successful.

15-16 July 1944: KB700 targeted a V1 site

at Bois de Jardines.

18 July 1944: The target here was “German

forces opposing our own troops at Caen”. Pilot

Fg Off J. A. Anderson wrote in his post-

mission report: “Overshot slightly to make

sure bombs fell east of river, as computer box

unserviceable... The whole target area was

covered with smoke and should be devastated.

Own bombs appeared in area OK. Very

good attack”. According to the main ORB,

“Messages of appreciation were subsequently

received from the Army commanders for the

help rendered by forces of heavy bombers on

this occasion.”

18-19 July 1944: A raid on Wesseling

near Cologne. “The tactics on this attack were

most unusual, the aircraft proceeding to the

target at various levels, some as low as 2,500ft

over enemy territory. The bombing was actually

carried out from a height of 13,000ft and

appeared to be very effective.”

20 July 1944: Target Anderbelck, pilot Fg

Off Kent. “Bombs seen bursting all round and

amongst the TIs. If TIs were on the aiming

point the attack should be successful.”

23 July 1944: A raid on Kiel, with Dix

flying KB700. “No flares visible when aircraft

bombed, heard to say bomb red so bombed

glow on cloud where they had been seen

falling... H2S not very good.”

24-25 July 1944: Dix again at the helm for

a mission to Stuttgart. The ORB states: “The

information regarding tactics and route was late

in coming through... This was the first really

long trip for some crews, and, with the involved

tactics, some difficulty was experienced...”

1 August 1944: This sortie to Acquet was

aborted without attacking; KB700 jettisoned its

bombs.

3 August 1944: A successful strike against

V1 and V2 sites at Bois de Cassan.

8 August 1944: “Excellent attack” on

Chantilly, this time by day, as recorded by Dix.

9-10 August 1944: Targeting V1 sites at

Acquet; “very satisfactory”, Dix wrote.

10-11 August 1944: A mission to hit oil

storage tanks at La Pallice, the main port at La

Rochelle. Results considered good.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited

Middleton St George on 11 August. Several of

419’s officers were invested with awards, including

the DFC and Bar to Wg Cdr Pleasance, the CO.

The squadron was also finally given its official

‘Moose’ emblem.

12-13 August 1944: This sortie to

Braunschweig was successful, but not for

KB700. It was flown by Fg Off J. E. Errington,

who recorded: “Failure of electrical system and

all four engines at times”. He jettisoned the

bombs and returned to base.

16 August 1944: WO2 L. H. McDonald

was at the controls for a raid to Stettin. He

wrote: “Very large fire seen in target area.

Centre of city looked to have been hit”. The

attentions of a Luftwaffe Bf 110 night fighter

proved no match for McDonald’s evasive

manoeuvring abilities.

18-19 August 1944: Errington flew

KB700 on this raid against Bremen. “The

target area seemed to be all in flames”, he wrote.

He diverted on his return due to weather.

29-30 August 1944: Another mission to

Stettin. “Bombing well concentrated”, wrote

pilot Fg Off G. E. Holmes, but: “Damage port

side fuselage below mid-upper turret. Slash

about 18in long, may have damaged stringers”.

Flak was the cause.

10 September 1944: A daylight attack

on gun emplacements at Le Havre “in co-

operation with the Army forces in that area”.

Results were “excellent”, but KB700, piloted

by Flt Lt W. C. Cameron, aborted due to an

unserviceable bomb sight computer. He then

tried to jettison fuel prior to landing, but the

starboard fuel tank valve would not open, “so

went out to sea to jettison bombs”. Ruhr Express

returned to base safely.

12 September 1944: Back to the Ruhr,

this time Dortmund. “The time on target

was 18.30hrs, and the last aircraft took off at

16.00hrs, which meant that the aircraft must

proceed practically directly to the target, cutting

all corners to make it in time”. Nonetheless,

Anderson’s crew reported, “should be a good

attack.”

17 September 1944: Again KB700 was

forced to abort, this time en route to Boulogne.

Fg Off G. R. Duncan recounted: “Primary not

attacked as bomb sight wouldn’t work on run

RUHR EXPRESS

Messages of

appreciation were received

from Army commanders

for the help rendered by

forces of heavy bombers

5 August 1944: “Visibility on take-off

was very bad, the aircraft disappearing from

sight when they were abut 250 yards down the

runway”. The attack on Saint-Leu-d’Esserent

was deemed a success. “On the return from this

operation, aircraft were instructed to practise

formation flying when proceeding up England.

This was successfully carried out from Reading

to Dishforth.”

7-8 August 1944: The objective on this

day was “to assist the Canadian Army to

make a break through the German lines at

Caen... The aiming-point was marked by PFF

markers and artillery star-shells”. KB700’s

crew, headed by Dix, reported: “One large

and one small explosion right on markers.

Unusually concentrated bombing... Trip

altogether good.”

What remained of KB700 after it

was burned out on the ground at

Middleton St George in January

1945. BOMBER COMMAND MUSEUM OF C ANADA

48-57_AM_LANCASTER_Sept17_cc C.indd 52 31/07/2017 10:55