November 1943

19^th

Again this night William was detailed to Leverkusen for his second
operation over Germany.

266 aircraft,- 170 Halifaxes, 86 Sterlings and 10 Mosquitoes – of 3, 4, 6 and 8 groups.
Only 4 Halifaxes and 1 Sterling were lost.
Very few German fighters were operating, probably because of bad weather at their airfields.
Failures of the equipment prevented most of the Oboe marking being carried out and other Pathfinder aircraft were unable to mark the target properly in difficult weather conditions, leading to bombs being scattered over a wide area.
At least 27 towns, mostly well to the north of Leverkusen, recorded bombs. Leverkusens own records show only one high-explosive bomb in the town.

It was mend to destroy the Chemical industry of the Bayer plant, the same as on August 22, 1943 and again on December 10/11, 1943.

Many of the aircraft returning from operations encountered fog conditions on reaching England and 2 Halifaxes and 1 Sterling crashed,but 4 Halifaxes of 35 Squadron landed safely at Graveley when the first operational use was made of the oil-burning fog-dispersal equipment called FIDO (Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation), which was installed at Graveley airfield. Several other airfields where soon fitted with this useful device.

Before the introduction of FIDO, fog had been responsible for losses of a number of aircraft returning from operations. Often large areas of the UK would be simultaneously fog-bound and it was recommended procedure in these situations for the pilot to point the aircraft towards the sea and then, while still over land, for the crew to bail-out by parachute, leaving the aircraft to subsequently crash in the sea. With raids often consisting of several hundred aircraft, this could amount to a large loss of bombers.

FIDO used huge quantities of fuel, as much as 100,000 gallons [125,000 US gallons, 450,000 litres per hour. Over twice this amount was used by airfields with longer runways such as RAF Carnaby. Large fuel storage tanks filled with low-grade petrol and possibly kerosene and other fuel were connected by pumps to provide this fuel to the runway pipes. Although extravagant in the use of fuel consumed, the device more than made up for the costs involved in the reduction in aircraft losses.

Squadron 78

16 aircraft detailed for operations, Target: Leverkusen.
November 19^th 1943
This time the LW173, LW313, LW331, LW319, JP117, LW235,
LW330, LW338, LW318, HR748, LW234, LW237,
LW320, LW223, JD11 and, JD376 were made ready for operation
in the late afternoon to Leverkusen.

November 19^th ,1943

Handley Page Halifax II

JP117 EY-Y

November 19, 1943

Target Leverkusen

Airborn:

16:28 hour, Breighton Yorkshire

Bombing on

19.000 ft at 19:23 hour

Landed:

23:20 hour, Breighton Yorkshire

Crew JP117:

F/O Hudson, H.

(capt.)

F/O Robertson, W.

(Nav)

P/O Uyen, William

(B.A.)

Sgt. Monks, H.

(W.Op)

Sgt. Hillis, J.

(F.Eng)

P/O Lane, Jack

(R.G.)

Sgt. Moris, J.

(M.U.)

JP117 EY-Y was the 14th aircraft that took of from Breighton airfield this afternoon at 16:28 hour and the second mission for William Uyen in two nights.. After a flight of almost 3 hours he made his turn for a fix on the target which was identified by green T.I which were widely scattered. Target located on Estimated Time of Arrival (E.T.A.) based on D.R. From Gee fix. and from a height of 19000 ft. at 19:23 hour the target was bombed. Red glow reflected on cloud in a number of places. No other results seen.

Lost in Action

JD118 EY-U

Airborne 16:16 hour from breighton. returned after bombing owing to Seriously damaged by Flak over the target.

On return went out of control and crashed at North cave 10 miles South-West Beverley Yorkshire,
Navigator Sgt. Valley is buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. F/S W. Hrynkiw RCAF Sgt. S. Littler Sgt. W.A.Valley RCAF KIA F/S L.G.Preece RCAF Sgt. W. Jones Sgt. G. Creer Inj. Sgt. T. Stump

Damaged

LW223 EY-P

It had taken off at 16:24 hours and after carrying out his bomb
run, it was hit by a shell and returned damaged by heavy Flak,
on returning to base it overshot the runway and finished up
astride the railway line south of the village Bubwith.
Luckily only Pilot F/O F.R. Harris and B/A Sgt. C. Watt were
injured, but safe. The rest of the crew escaped uninjured.

Dameged

JD376

Flak damage prior to bombing, wounded the navigator
and bomb aimer. Landed at woodbridge.

Handley Page Halifax GR Mark II, JD376, on the ground. Originally a B Mark II, JD376
served with No. 78 Squadron RAF
Photograph taken April 1945

November 1943

20^th

No Operations or standby for Squadon 78

21^st

No Operations or standby for Squadon 78