Crew of Lancaster KB754
Arrival at 419
Cohen's Crew arrived from Base 61, CU No. 1659 to 419 squadron on August 10th 1944. spent the first few weeks in standard squadron training exercises while waiting for the then F/S Cohen to complete his 2nd. pilot operations. With his two operations as 2nd pilot complete on August 26th the crew were waiting for their first operation.
The wait proved to be a short one and they flew on the August 27th sortie to Mimoyecques.
McQueen and O'Hara Drive Off an Attacker
The night of August 29/30 found the crew on a bombing run on Stettin when Sgt. McQueen spotted an ME109 on the port quarter up at about 500 yards off. He gave the corkscrew to port order, as the enemy came in closer for the attack Cohen decided to release the bombs before going into the corkscrew. By 350 yards the Me109 was opening fire, both McQueen and Sgt. O'Hara opened up with long bursts of 200 rounds each. The enemy fighter broke away to the starboard side heading below the bomber. The resume course order was given.
The Me109 or another one next appeared up on their starboard quarter above them, this time it was spotted by O'Hara who them gave corkscrew to starboard order. The fighter gained on them and both Sgt. McQueen and Sgt. O'Hara opened fire on him at about 300 yards. The fighter broke away from his attack to the port side without firing at the Lancaster. In total the two gunners had fired off 400 rounds each in defence of their crew.
Flak Damage
Their third operation was one in which the Moose squadron provided the major part of the bomber force. Eighteen Lancasters of the squadron made up 80% of the Group 6 force. It was an operation which ended with half of the squadrons participating aircraft hit by flak, most were just light damage not effecting the safe return of the crews. P/O Cohen's aircraft was the worst one damaged, with one engine knocked out and a hit to the "port fin " as it was recorded. The damage was not enough to impede the crew's return to safety.
The crew flew on to other three operations without incident until September 27th when flak again hit their aircraft damaging the Main Plane.
October 9th -Bochum
The crew had just completed their bombing run when they were attacked by a Ju88, McQueen had spotted the enemy fighter and gave the orders to corkscrew to try and evade the guns of the Ju88. The fighter's attack proved successful and VR-C was hit and on fire. Shortly after that an explosion shock the bomber, throwing McQueen out of his rear turret. The rest of the crew were lost in the explosion.
McQueen's Story
After his release from prison camp, F/S McQueen made this report.
"We had passed the target and I spotted an E/A (Ju88) on the port side quarter down. I gave evasive action to corkscrew to port. While I gave this we were hit and it seemed to come from the starboard side. It made the intercom and gun mechanism U/S The flames from the port engine were coming back past me. We were in a dive to port and fuselage was on fire. An explosion blew the rear turret doors off and blew me out after them with the exception of my right leg, which was caught in the turret. After a few seconds, when the flames started to scorch my clothing, I pulled my chute ring and the chute pulled me right out of my turret."
The crew had taken part in thirteen sorties and P/O Cohen was on his fiftieth when they were lost on the mission to Bochum.
