RAF PATHFINDERS ARCHIVE

Pathfinder Aircrew, their Friends, their Families, and the World they Knew

Category: 97 Squadron Personnel

Charles Owen Diary Entry, D-Day

Posted by on in 97 Squadron Personnel, Aircrew Losses, RAF Station Coningsby

Charles Owen‘s diary records of this day:

6 June 1944

Target: St Pierre du Mont – Coastal battery A/C Lancaster ND961 N-NAN

Time: 3.50

We thought the briefing sounded a little odd for this trip, and sure enough when we broke cloud over the French coast the Channel was full of ships. The army had pulled its finger out at last and D-Day was on. We bombed at 05.00 just as it was getting light, and had a grandstand view of the Americans running in on the beach. First-class prang on the battery, but saw Jimmy Carter shot down by a Ju88 over the target. Marvellous sight coming back as the sun came up, we on the way back and the Americans on the way out.

Landed back in time for breakfast, but very disappointed that there was nothing on the 8 o’clock news.

D-Day – The Loss of the Carter Crew

 

Jespersen Crew, D-Day

Jespersen Condolence Letter

The End of the War Approaches: Operation Exodus

Posted by on in 97 Squadron Personnel, End of the War, Other Wartime Topics, RAF Station Coningsby

As the end of the war approached, Bomber Command Lancasters began flying to Brussels and other Continental airfields to collect the liberated prisoners of war. Pathfinder squadrons’ ORBs contain many entries for what was known as Operation Exodus.

One of the most famous photographs of Operation Exodus shows a 97 Squadron aircraft, Lancaster PB422, after it has landed safely in England. Jack Beesley of the Fletcher crew is shaking hands with the pilot and everyone is making V-Victory signs and grinning their heads off. The aircraft has many joking messages chalked around the fuselage door, including ‘This is the only free thing you will get’. Repatriation

Not only liberated POWs were on board the Exodus Lancasters. See this heart-warming story in two parts:

frank2
Frank Smith, celebrating. Margaret and Jeffrey Bossons.

Frank Smith & Patch the Dog

Update on Frank Smith & Patch the Dog