419 squadron had been selected to take part in a number of operations aiding in the softening of the defences in preparation for the invasion of Europe.
This had included the bombing of the large guns near Calais which had been lobbbing shells on Dover for four years. The results of the effort were hidden
beneath the overcast rainy weather which also hindered the bombing runs. Prior to "D" Day the date of which was not undisclosed to anyone but
a very few in Eisnehowers Staff , bombing raids on Aufewre and the gun emplacements at Boulogne were the squadron’s priority. Again the weather which was to also postpone
the actual invasion by one day, was so bad that the two targets operations were cancelled.
Ground crews meet the Challange
Bomber Command’s plans for “D-Day” softening of enemy ground defenses required for every squadron to be at full strength, 419 squadron was no exception.
To keep the twenty Lancasters of the squadron airworthy the ground crews needed to work every available hour the aircraft was not in the air.
Ground crews did not follow any set hours, they only stopped when the repair was complete and the aircraft was ready to go on it’s mission. They worked outside
in any kind of weather, there were no hangers to keep them dry. Hangers were used for major repairs . During the period of bad weather that led up to the June 6th
invasion date the LACs , Corporals and Sargeants worked outside on the guns, engines, airframe and anything else that came under there tools.
And if they managed to complete work on your own aircraft there were always other crews who needed help.
The aircraft were dispersed around the base parked in two or three clusters and there was usually a hut made out of what ever was available to store tools, parts and maybe
a work bench. They all worked together when it came time for co-operation between the crews of each aircraft at the dispersal the competitive nature of each crew disappeared.
Accidents due to lack of sleep and falls from rain slick aircraft metals were all too common. And sometimes lack of thinking things through could lead to disaster
as this short story from my father a Sergeant of a crew on VR-D recalled to me.
They had needed some large heavy part from the stores after a marathon repair session to get “D” ready for the night’s mission. With everyone wet and tired he
decided to go himself. And as he said it was always better to send a Sergeant then an a LAC, stripes can help you get you what you want..
The Stores unit was at the far end of the base from his dispersal hut. So he bicycled the long way round to the Storage building following the strict orders about
not crossing the runways. The part was heavier then the bicycle would hold so he ordered a corporal with a truck to take him back to the dispersal hut. He says he
must have dosed off in the truck the next thing he remembered was the roar of four large engines passing very very close and a big black shadow passing right
over them. The squeal of the truck’s brakes and the scream of a B-17 tires landing just ahead of them. “The crazy bugger driving the truck had gone straight down
the middle of the runway to save time” is putting it mildly how he explained to me the circumstances.
June 5-6th 1944 D-Day minus one
Of the twenty aircraft available for operations thirteen were assigned to Merville and seven were assigned to Longues. Both targets when the Lancasters
arrived were hidden by cloud cover. The Pathfinder group had dropped flares but through the clouds only a faint glow could be seen by the bomber group coming
in over the target. Some bombs were dropped amongst the faint glow of the flares and there were two explosions. With no visible way to confirm the damage
if any to the targets the operation was not a successful one. Four of the bombers returned with their loads as been ordered if the targets were not accessible.
VR-G KB733
F/O L WA Frame Pilot
F/O W C Watson Navigator
F/O W B Reynolds Bomb Aimer
Sgt. D High Wireless Op.
Sgt. P P Barclay F/E
Sgt. K J Branston Upper Gunner
Sgt. H B Hayes Rear Gunner
F/O Frame's VR-G was the target of two passes. One attack was made by a FW 190 which never opened fire on KB733, but VR-Gs Upper gunner Sgt. Branston
spotted the attacker and called for evasive action then Branston fired off a long burst at the Focke Wulf which then took off. Shortly later a Ju-88 was the second
attacker, again spotted by Sgt. Branston. But this time it was the tail gunner, Sgt. Hayes turn to fire of his guns. A claim was made for damages on the Ju-88.
The crew remained unharmed during the action.
Lancaster KB728 VR-V piloted by F/O R N Wilson had an attack by enemy aircraft. Who fortunately fired too high and missed the whole aircraft. The fighter tailed
the Lancaster for a period of time after this incident. Two other enemy fighters were sighted along with six allied bombers. The bombers were spotted near the
English coast all had on their Nav lights which was what made them so noticable by the crew of KB728.
KB728 VR-V
F/O R N Wilson Pilot
F/O R N Pole Navigator
P/O C R McOrmond Bomb Aimer
F/O D J MCMullen W/O
Sgt. C C White F/E
Sgt. M E Gates U/G
Sgt. R W Francis R/G