December 1943

3th

This night there is no operation planned for William Uyen.

In total of 307 Lancasters and 220 Halifaxes went to Leipzig.  The bomber force took  a direct route towards Berlin before turning south over the area of the city of Brandenburg.

Between 3:50 AM and 4:25 AM, the bombers dropped a total amount of almost 1400 tons  of explosives and fire bombs on the city of Leipzig.

German fighters were in the bomber stream and scoring successes before the turn was made but most of them were then directed to Berlin when the Mosquito diversion opened there.

 No.78 Squadron

19 aircraft detailed for operations, Target Leipzig.

No operation for William Uyen and his fellow crew members.

This afternoon the aircrafts that were made ready by the ground crew were the JP129 (with pilot R. Shard), LW342, LW226, LW295,  LW324, LW300, JP118 (with rear-gunner Sgt. J. Morris) JN874, JP117, LW330, JP120, LW271, HR748, LW313, LW234, LW318 (with Mid-upper Sgt. L. Nuggent), LW237 and LW230.

The first Halifax that started his engines was the LW295 who took off at 23:34 hour.

Within 22 minutes all the plains were airborne and on there way to Leipzig.

1 aircraft of no.78 Squadron was lost in action.

 Returned early

LW234

F/O Hurley's LW234 returned early due to icing problems

Bombs were thrown into the sea, east of Grimsby UK. at 53.46N / 00.48E

Fortunately, LW234 landed safely again at Breighton airfield at 01:24 hour.

Returned early

LW324

W/O Broadhurst returned early due to overheating of the port-inboard engine.      Furthest point was reached after a climb at 01:00, where the bombs were safely thrown into the sea.

LW324 landed safely at Breighton at 02:20.

LW324 was one of two No.10 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on the operation of 19/20 February 1944.

It was initially issued to No.78 Sqdn. Airborne 23.24 hour 19 Feb 1944 from  Melbourne.

Shot down by a Ju88, crashing 03.00 hour at Ehra-Lessien, 19 km NE f the town of Gifhorn.

Returned early

HP748

F/O Melin left Breighton runway at 11:53 PM but returned early, landing at Breighton at 02:44 hour due to poor climb rate.

Cause unknown, bombs were thrown into the sea east of Hull at 54.00N / 01.10E

 Lost in action

LW313 EY-U

F/S Gunningham took to the air from Breighton at 23.48 hour.

Cause of loss not established. Crashed into a bridge spanning the River Nahe at  Bad Munster am Stein, 3 km SSW of Bad Kreuznach on his way back to England.

Those killed are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

At age 18, Sgt. Regan was amongst the youngest airmen to lose his life on bomber operations.

F/S G.R.L.Gunningham KIA.    Sgt K.Hughes PoW F/S H.Hiley PoW. Sgt  H.R.Wright RCAF KIA. Sgt G.A.Kennaby PoW.    Sgt E.Evans KIA.Sgt P.J.Regan KIA.

F/S H.Hiley was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.263685.

Sgt K.Hughes in Camp 4B, PoW No.263683 with Sgt G.A.Kennaby, PoW No.267165.

 In Combat

JN874 EY-N

P/O Crawford's JN874 departed Breighton Airport at 23:56 hour.

Target attacked and bombed on 18.000 feet at 04.08 hour.

Both port engines out over target area just before bombs away.

Aircraft lost hight from 17.000 to 11.000 feet before being onder control again.

Monica unserviceable.

As in Combat report:     At position 52.32N / 10.30E (West of Braunschweig)     on a height of 18.000 feet with a speed of 150 I.A.S.     Fighter flares were dropped near aircraft and J.U.88 was first seen dead astern  at a range of 500 yards.

Enemy aircraft opened fire and rear gunner Sgt.Hayward gave the order to corkscrew  to port.

At the same time rear gunner Sgt. Hayward gave a short burst of fire and enemy aircraft broke off the attack to port quarter at 200 yards range.

Enemy aircraft was lost sight of and own aircraft resumed course.

No damage to own aircraft, and no hits observed on enemy aircraft.

 In Combat

LW237 EY-Y

F/L Bowen took off from Breighton airfield at 23:40 hour in Halifax II, LW237.

Target was attacked and bombed at 04.07 hour on 18.000 feet.

As in Combat report:      Just after attack heading 221 Magnetic with a speed of 168 I.A.S.

On 04.09 hour, a J.U.88 was first seen on starboard quarter up at a range of 400 yards, No warning from Monica. Own aircraft turned and dived to starboard. Rear gunner Sgt. Duff opened fire at 300 yards range with a long burst. Enemy aircraft broken away to port quarter down, own aircraft went into a corkscrew and enemy aircraft was not seen again.

No damage to own aircraft and no damage observed on enemy aircraft.

 December 1943

4th -- 17th

No Operations or standby for No.78 Squadron

Bad weather for two weeks.

18th

22 aircraft detailed for operations, Later cancelled

Weather: General fog persisting with sky obscured most of time.

19th

No Operations or standby for No.78 Squadron