February  1944

3th

This night became the Eight operation for William Uyen.

7 Mosquitoes to Rheinhausen and 6 to Elberfeld, 2 RCM sorties, 5 Serrate patrols, 50 Halifaxes

mine-laying in Kiel Bay. The Kiel Bay mining operation was a ploy to draw up German fighters,

even though no major bombing raid was planned. No aircraft were lost from these operations.

No.78 Squadron

4 aircraft LW367, LV788, LV817 and LV814 detailed for operations, February 2 1944 gardening,

2 aircraft planted vegetables on the night of 2/3 February 1944 as ordered after making a

timed run of five minutes from H2S fix.

All the Halifax’s returned safely to Breighton during this run.

Handley Page Halifax BII

 LW367 EY-L

 February 3th 1944

 Target Kiel Bay

 Airborn:

 02:09 hour, Breighton Yorkshire.

             Frisians

 No Bombing,

 Failure of H2S.

 Landed:

 05:43 hour, Breighton Yorkshire.

 Crew LW367 EY-L

W/O Lawrence, G.K.

(Capt.)

 F/O Robertson, W.J.

 (Nav.)

 P/O Uyen, William

 (B.A.)

 Sub Lt. Mauchlan, J.

 (W.Op)

 Sgt. Hillas, J.

 (Bombs.)

 F/L Pietrie, D.

 (F.Eng.)

 P/O Lane, Jack

(M.U.)

 Sgt. Morris, J.

(R.G.)

Returned early

LW367 EY-L

W/O Lawrence took off from Breighton Air Base on LW367 at 02:09. However, turned back after 1.5 hours of flying due to failure of H.2.S.  Farthest point reached was 54.50N/05.27E. in the middle of the North Sea between England and Denmark, directly above the Netherlands.

Took both sea mines back to Breighton. Landing there at 05:42.

(the LW367 later crashed on 19/20 February 1944)

Returned early

LV788

It was F/L Watson's turn to take off from Breighton Air Base at 02:08 after LV814. However, he didn't get very far and had to turn back due to the failure of H.2.S.

The furthest point reached was at Flamboro's head lighthouse. and the plane still had to make rounds near the airport for quite some time to reduce fuel weight before landing.   Both 'Vegs' (sea mines) brought back.    Landing at Breighton at 05:42.

 Lost on Landing

LV817

On February 3, 1944 at 02:03 from Breighton, F/L Donman departed to lay mines in Kiel Bay (Quinces Region). Naval mines were dropped at 15,000 ft at 04:29 hours on 54.36N/10.22E as scheduled for H2S backup.

4/10 visibility

Landed 07.43 hour, but swung off the the runway and hit a parked Halifax which was only slightly damaged to his fin and rudder, and then s truck a bank, which removed the undercarriage.

All escaped injury. This was the first Mk.III to be written off by 78 Sqdn.

F/L B.Denman,     Sgt .Hampson,     Sgt E.Glibbery,     F/O B.M.Wells

F/O T.Cowley,     F/L T.J.Fudge,     F/S H.Kelter,     Sgt A.Sinden.

February 1944

3th -- 11th

No Operations or standby for No.78 Squadron.

6th -- 14th

William Uyen is on Leave.

12th

20 aircraft detailed for operations. Later cancelled.

Weather: Fair becoming cloudy with moderate visibility.

13th

7 aircraft detailed for operations. Later cancelled.

Weather: Cloudy becoming overcast with fog developing in the late afternoon.

14th

No Operations or standby for No.78 Squadron.