Black Thursday 16/17 December 1943
Posted: 13 Feb 2011, 11:04
Further to my research on Lancasters and the family member in 467 sqdn, this story cropped up in conversation yesterday with a mate whose father was an armourer with 97 squadron at Bourn. His father had been sworn to secrecy at the time and didn't mention it until many years later. I've checked the story on Bomber Command's war diary and Chorley's 'Bomber Command Losses' to substantiate it and can understand why it was hushed up during the war.
It was a raid on Berlin involving 483 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes. As there were no diversionary raids, the German nightfighters gave them their full attention and shot down 25 of the Lancs. But on their return to the UK, what had been forecast as a light mist had developed into thick fog, which blanketed the whole of the East Coast with about 300 yards visibility. Aircraft were stacked above their home airfields hoping for an approach but as the night went on one after another crashed on approach or when they ran out of fuel. One or two crews baled out with some survivors but most perished by crashing into the English countryside. There were two reported collisions involving 4 aircraft.
29 Lancasters, 7 of them from 97 squadron alone, and a Stirling were lost whilst attempting to land in the thick fog, more than were lost during the raid. approximately 200 airmen were killed.
It makes me physically sick to think about how they must have felt while waiting their turn to attempt a landing.
http://www.firebynight.co.uk/BlackThurs ... tions.html
Ian
It was a raid on Berlin involving 483 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes. As there were no diversionary raids, the German nightfighters gave them their full attention and shot down 25 of the Lancs. But on their return to the UK, what had been forecast as a light mist had developed into thick fog, which blanketed the whole of the East Coast with about 300 yards visibility. Aircraft were stacked above their home airfields hoping for an approach but as the night went on one after another crashed on approach or when they ran out of fuel. One or two crews baled out with some survivors but most perished by crashing into the English countryside. There were two reported collisions involving 4 aircraft.
29 Lancasters, 7 of them from 97 squadron alone, and a Stirling were lost whilst attempting to land in the thick fog, more than were lost during the raid. approximately 200 airmen were killed.
It makes me physically sick to think about how they must have felt while waiting their turn to attempt a landing.
http://www.firebynight.co.uk/BlackThurs ... tions.html
Ian