AVRO LANCASTERS|RCAF RCAF|AVRO LANCASTERS
RIGHT
The Peenemü nde
rocket research
centre in mid-- It was
the target for
426 Squadron’s
first Lancaster
operation.
(RAF BENSON)
BELOW
Bill Swetman
(fourth from the
left) with his 426
Squadron crew at
Linton-on-Ouse.
(RCAF/PAC)50 http://www.britainatwar.com
ominous sign of things to come Sqn
Ldr Alf Hughes’ crew also had three
encounters with night-fighters.
The following night 426 Squadron
contributed eight aircraft for its first
visit to Berlin, known to RAF crews
as ‘the Big City’. Six bombed the
target but when over Güsen, about
40 miles (65km) west of Berlin, Flt
Lt Wilf Shaw and crew were shot
down by a Fw 190 from Stab/JG 300.
Successful trips to Nuremburg and
Mönchengladbach followed before
Berlin was attacked again on the 31st
when Lancaster DS677/OW-W was
lost with its 21-year-old pilot Flt Lt
Don McKay and his crew.
Before the full moon period began
on September 6, Berlin, Mannheim
Munich and Hannover were all
bombed and only two ops were flown
later in the month. On the last ofthese, again over Mannheim, Flt Lt Les
McCaig’s crew in DS714/OW-L was
badly shot up by a Ju 88 and despite
the damage, the gunners fought off a
second attacker. The Lancaster crash-
landed at Thorney Island; later the
mid-upper gunner, Sgt G R Ketcher
received the DFM.October was relatively slack with
the 426 operating on just five nights,
generally sending 14 aircraft on each
raid. Over Leipzig, in awful weather,
on the 20th DS686/OW-D, flown by
Flt Sgt Fred Stuart, was damaged by
a fighter but he continued to bomb
before returning safely in his battered
aircraft. He subsequently received the
rare Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.BATTLE OF BERLIN
November’s work began when the
unit contributed a dozen aircraft for
an assault on the Mannesmannröhren
Werke munitions plant at Düsseldorf.
Five Lancs from No.426 pinpointed
and attacked the target, while others
joined the main force in general
bombing of the industrial city. The
successful raid cost the squadron Fg
Off Don Ditzler and crew, killed when
DS713/OW-G was shot down near
Mönchengladbach.
A few days later, on November 19,
the squadron’s badge, signed by the
King, was presented by the AOC of 6
Group; it depicted a totem pole and
thereafter 426 became known as the
‘Thunderbird squadron’. The previous
night 426 had provided 14 Lancasters
to the 440 sent on the first raid of
what became known as the Battle of
Berlin. The Thunderbirds returned to
the enemy capital three more times
that month. On November 23 LL629/
OW-G, flown by Fg Off David deMönchengladbach.the squadron’s badge, signed by the
King, was presented by the AOC of 6
Group; it depicted a totem pole and
thereafter 426 became known as the
‘Thunderbird squadron’. The previous
night 426 had provided 14 Lancasters
to the 440 sent on the first raid of
what became known as the Battle of
Berlin. The Thunderbirds returned to
the enemy capital three more times
that month. On November 23 LL629/
OW-G, flown by Fg Off David de OW-G, flown by Fg Off David de