Abbreviations
|
AB A/C AG FE N P WA |
Air Bomber Aircraft Flight Engineer Navigator Pilot Wireless Operator |
Month and year: March 1945
23rd March 1945
Place: Shepherds Grove
Briefing before operation VARSITY.
24th March 1945
Place: Shepherds Grove
Operation VARSITY Airborne Rhine Crossing. 30 crews from Squadron took part. 27 successful. F/Lt Campbell set course on three engines and completed operation, but forced landed near Brussels. F/Lt Vanrenen (completed mission) forced landed Overloon. 3 of crew injured.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV PW.392. Crew: W/C RT.F. TURNER (P), W/O J. PRICE (N), F/O G.H. ELSEY (AB), F/S W. MOSS (WA), P/O B.M. HARVEY (FE), F/O A.E. PETERS (AG). Time Up: 06.52. Time Down: 12.26. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.205. Crew: MAJ A.C. ROWE (P), F/O A.J. THOMPSON (N), F/S A.F. LYLE (AB), W/O K.W. KIRKHAM (WA), F/S R. MARPLES (FE), F/S A.B. MACEFIELD (AG). Time Up: 06.52. Time Down: 12.50. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.835. Crew: F/L B.F. ARNOLD (P), F/O D.L. ARTHY (N), F/O J.D. HIGGS (AB), F/L K.W. NUTTALL (WA), F/S J.F. HAYWOOD (FE), F/O K. NICHOLSON (AG). Time Up: 06.54. Time Down: 08.20. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Not successful. Tug rope broke slipstream at 5237-0029E at 0743.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.838. Crew: F/L D.R. CAMPBELL (P), W/O W.E. JONES (N), F/L A.L. CAPES (AB), F/S J.A. METCALFE (WA), F/S E. DODDS (FE), F/O G.P. TALBOT (AG). Time Up: 06.55. Time Down: 11.40. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Mission completed on 3 engines. Landed at Brussels.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.931. Crew: F/L C.T. BROWN (P), F/O S.J. STEEL (N), W/O D.H. BOWEN (AB), P/O A. NORMAN (WA), SGT G.R. SOUTHGATE (FE), W/O W.F. THOMPSON (AG). Time Up: 06.56. Time Down: 12.12. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Not successful. Glider broke loose 5036 0306E.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.345. Crew: F/L A. SPRUELL (P), SGT J.C. SMITH (N), F/S A.K. BAKER (AB), F/S G.H. SMITH (WA), SGT A.C. DUNFORD (FE), F/S G. McBEAN (AG). Time Up: 06.57. Time Down: 10.02. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Not successful. Slipstream Glider off at 5051N 0154E.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.923. Crew: F/O H. HOYSTED (P), F/S J.C. BARKER (N), F/S R.A. OWEN (AB), F/S N.D. STIMSON (WA), SGT W. GARRETTS (FE), F/S J.H. HOOKER (AG). Time Up: 06.57. Time Down: 12.32. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.256. Crew: P/O C. CAMPBELL (P), F/S K.W. LINNEY (N), F/S F.W. MATTHEWS (AB), W/O G.G. ALLMAN (WA), F/S F.C. BRENNER (FE), F/S E.S. LLOYD (AG). Time Up: 06.59. Time Down: 12.46. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.146. Crew: F/O A.G. JONES (P), F/S J.H. WHITE (N), F/O J. GIBSON (AB), F/O G.A. HAYES (WA), SGT E.M. CROSSLEY (FE), W/O W.P. HAMILTON (AG). Time Up: 07.00. Time Down: 12.38. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.389. Crew: F/O D.R. TORRENS (P), F/S E.G. BUCKWELL (N), F/O A.R. PRICE (AB), F/S L.C. MORTIMER (WA), SGT G.H. AMMISHAW (FE), W/O A.D PYM (AG). Time Up: 07.01. Time Down: 12.30. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.302. Crew: F/O K. PULVER-MACHER (P), SGT C.D. BARR (N), F/S L. POWELL (AB), F/S C.S. DAY (WA), SGT G.E. REID (FE), F/S J. TURNER (AG). Time Up: 07.01. Time Down: 12.40. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.197. Crew: F/O I.A. DOWNIE (P), SGT E. BRYSON (N), F/L L.C. SCHAVERIEN (AB), SGT G.H. BOWDEN (WA), SGT A.E. FORREST (FE), SGT C. CAIRNS (AG). Time Up: 07.02. Time Down: 12.52. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.926. Crew: F/S P. AVERILL (P), F/S D.B. STEVENS (N), F/S J.H. DOWSETT (AB), W/O A.E. YELLAND (WA), F/S E.F. CHANDLER (FE), F/S L.N. HAYWARD (AG). Time Up: 07.03. Time Down: 12.35. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV EF.392. Crew: F/S F. VERNON (P), W/O K. ATKINSON (N), F/O J.W. WHITEHEAD (AB), SGT R. BARNES (WA), SGT P.R. TOMLINSON (FE), SGT P.R. JONES (AG). Time Up: 07.05. Time Down: 12.31. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.362. Crew: S/L P. TAPLIN (P), F/O R.W. BENT (N), F/S J.C. FORD (AB), F/S E. JENKINSON (WA), SGT V.S. WATTS (FE), F/S R. PHILLIPS (AG). Time Up: 07.33. Time Down: 12.37. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.979. Crew: F/L H.P. VANRENEN (P), W/O R.B. TAMMAS (N), W/O D. HANDLEY (AB), W/O J.E. CHALK (WA), F/S J. HOLMES (FE), P/O J.L. JONES (AG). Time Up: 07.35. Time Down: . OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. O.K. at D.Z. Shot up on turn. Forced landed near Overloon. 3 of crew injured.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.643. Crew: F/L J.D. MEREDITH (P), F/S D. CRAMPTON (N), F/O T.E. WELSH (AB), F/S F.B. SAVAGE (WA), F/S S.H. TARRANT (FE), F/S G.P. LEGG (AG). Time Up: 07.06. Time Down: 12.30. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.998. Crew: F/L F.T. POWELL (P), F/L C.R. HOLMES (N), W/O L.C. PENN (AB), F/S W.T. POWELL (WA), F/S J. GILLESPIE (FE), F/S F.B. KINGSLEY (AG). Time Up: 07.06. Time Down: 12.37. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV EF.309. Crew: F/L T. PRYDE (P), S/L A. WITHERS (N), F/O N. LIDDLE (AB), F/O S.P. WATTON (WA), SGT B. SWALES (FE), SGT R.H. DIGGONS (AG). Time Up: 07.09. Time Down: 12.41. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.201. Crew: F/O W.L. MARSHAL (P), P/O L.A. BEESON (N), F/S E. DANZIGER (AB), P/O J.F. McCARTHY (WA), F/S W. PYATT (FE), F/S F.L. HATCHETT (AG). Time Up: 07.09. Time Down: 12.46. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.583. Crew: F/O N. CARROLL (P), W/O G. HUGHES (N), W/O S.J. PHILO (AB), W/O J. GRAIN (WA), F/S A.O. BENNETT (FE), F/S R.E. MARSHAL (AG). Time Up: 07.10. Time Down: 12.45. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.876. Crew: F/O C.W. KING (P), W/O J. CORCORAN (N), W/O H.G. McLAREN (AB), F/O D.G. HUNT (WA), SGT R.E. SMITH (FE), F/S J. HESLOP (AG). Time Up: 07.12. Time Down: 12.44. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.147. Crew: F/O J.L. BREED (P), W/O R.C. IMPETT (N), W/O H.J. KILDAY (AB), F/S D. WELCH (WA), F/S L.J. GILYEAD (FE), F/S H.A. BELL (AG). Time Up: 07.13. Time Down: 08.23. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Not successful. Glider air pressure Nil. Requested return at 0724.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.320. Crew: P/O W.A. SPARKES (P), F/S L.R. GOODWIN (N), W/O R.N. WILTON (AB), F/S J.E. HERRING (WA), SGT P.G. WATSON (FE), F/O D.S. LEECH (AG). Time Up: 07.17. Time Down: 12.24. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LJ.888. Crew: F/O G.R. GODDEN (P), F/L E. LEVITAN (N), F/S B. STEVENS (AB), F/S S.W. SPILLER (WA), SGT W.W. WINTERS (FE), F/S B.A. MASON (AG). Time Up: 07.15. Time Down: 12.49. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.152. Crew: W/O I.J. PYVIS (P), F/S E.J. GALLAWAY (N), F/S B.O. BURGESS (AB), F/S L.C. BALDERANDS (WA), F/S J.R. MACKAY (FE), F/S D.W. POLLARD (AG). Time Up: 07.16. Time Down: 12.37. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.193. Crew: W/O D.P. FORDHAM (P), F/S R.H. BINGHAM (N), F/S H.T. GLADWYN (AB), F/S D. ROBSON (WA), F/S E.R. SMITH (FE), F/S E.J. PARTLETON (AG). Time Up: 07.19. Time Down: 12.40. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Not successful. Glider pulled off over Rhine. No apparent reason.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV EF.276. Crew: F/S J. GRAF (P), W/O A. WOODS (N), W/O P.R. BROOKS (AB), F/S S. MITCHELL (WA), SGT G.H. O'RYAN ROEDER (FE), SGT G. HAGUE (AG). Time Up: 07.17. Time Down: 12.51. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.320. Crew: F/S J.W. JEFFARES (P), P/O H.G. CASS (N), SGT A.J. CROWE (AB), SGT T. JORDAN (WA), SGT D.S. TAYLOR (FE), SGT T.B. HALSALL (AG). Time Up: 08.00. Time Down: 13.22. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV EF.318. Crew: F/S D.B. CATTERALL (P), F/S G.S. REID (N), F/S R.S. KLIMANEK (AB), F/S T.L. BRUNTON (WA), SGT M. MYERS (FE), F/S J.R. CROSS (AG). Time Up: 08.01. Time Down: 12.25. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Not successful. Glider cast off 5123 0542. No apparent reason.
Aircraft Type & Number: Stirling IV LK.128. Crew: F/S A. COWAN (P), W/O W. WALTON (N), F/S P.H. HIGGS (AB), SGT A. MILLER (WA), SGT H. PEPPER (FE), W/O J.B. FORD (AG). Time Up: 08.03. Time Down: 13.11. OP. VARSITY RHINE CROSSING WESSEL AREA HORSA GLIDER TOW. Successful. Good trip.
25th March 1945
Place: Shepherds Grove
Crews standing-by for re-supply if necessary (Not carried out).
