W1040 ZA-P from 10 Squadron



On 30th March 1942, the crew of Halifax W1040 ZA-P from 10 Squadron took off at 1850 hrs from RAF Lossiemouth on the North East Coast of Scotland to participate in an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz which was moored at the time in Fættenfjord in Norway.

The crew were unable to locate the target due to 10/10th's low cloud covering the fjords and valleys. Three 1,000 lb mines were jettisoned in Trondheimfjord at 2315 hrs.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to base landing at RAF Lossiemouth at 0344 hrs on 31st March with one mine still onboard.

Rank
Name
 Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
 Fate
P/O MURRAY RNZAF Pilot Returned
Sgt RAUCH 2nd Pilot Returned
Sgt JENKINS Navigator Returned
Sgt HOWELLS W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt KILLINBECK W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt CULVERWELL Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt TOMKINS Flight Engineer Returned

Pilot Officer James C Murray RNZAF
Pilot of Halifax W1040 ZA-P on 30/31 March
Photo: A Murray

On 28th April 1942, the crew of Halifax W1040 ZA-P from 10 Squadron took off at 2052 hrs from RAF Lossiemouth on the North East Coast of Scotland to participate in an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz which was moored at the time in Fættenfjord in Norway.

This crew experienced excellent weather over the sea and the Norwegian Coast. A smoke screen was in operation over Tirpitz and a low level attack was delivered at 1,000 feet on a direct reckoning bombing run from the South at 0029 hrs. The results were not observed. Heavy and accurate flak was encountered from batteries on the sides of the fjord.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to base landing at RAF Lossiemouth at 0625 hrs on 29th April 1942.

Rank
Name
 Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
 Fate
Sgt GRIBBEN Pilot Returned
P/O DRAKE 2nd Pilot Returned
Sgt SIEBERT Navigator Returned
Sgt WINDLE W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt SIMPSON W/Op Air Gunner Returned
F/Sgt ELLISON Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt WOOD Flight Engineer Returned

Back to Top
© Linzee Druce 2001-2012