W1057 ZA-X from 10 Squadron



On 30th March 1942, the crew of Halifax W1057 ZA-X from 10 Squadron took off at 1847 hrs from RAF Lossiemounth 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.

On arriving in the target area they found 10/10ths low cloud which obscured the landscape below. Their load of 4 x 1,000 lb mines was jettisoned from the aircraft at a position given as 63.20 N 05.15 E at 0005 hrs before they made their way back over the North Sea.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Lossiemouth landing at 0302 hrs on 31st March 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
F/Sgt WHYTE Pilot Returned
P/O SENIOR 2nd Pilot Returned
P/O DAVIS Navigator Returned
F/Sgt CHARLTON W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt KENT W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt RUANE Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt ROUSE Flight Engineer Returned



On 27th April 1942, the crew of Halifax W1057 ZA-X from 10 Squadron took off at 2056 hrs from RAF Lossiemounth 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 aircraft located Tirpitz and made a low level attack from 800 feet at 0112 hrs. The visibility was reported to have been excellent although the smoke screen over the target hindered observation. One mine hung up and was brought back to Lossiemouth. The crew reported experiencing severe and accurate flak from both sides of the fjord during the bombing run up.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Lossiemouth landing at 0540 hrs on 28th April 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
P/O WHYTE Pilot Returned
Sgt SAUNDERS 2nd Pilot Returned
P/O DAVIS Navigator Returned
F/Sgt CHARLTON W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt KENT W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt REID Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt ROUSE Flight Engineer Returned



On 28th April 1942, the crew of Halifax W1057 ZA-X from 10 Squadron took off at 2054 hrs from RAF Lossiemounth 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 reported that the weather was good on the way out with patches of low cloud over the sea. The Tirpitz was seen and a low level attack delivered at 0105 hrs from 600 feet. The mines were seen to fall between the battleship and the edge of the fjord, and two columns of water shot up. Flak was intense from batteries on the banks of the fjord and small calibre shells struck the bomb doors. The flaps sustained damage and fell into the down position with the result that the aircraft's maximum speed on the return flight was 110 mph.

Due to the extra drag caused by the bomb door flaps being down this aircraft and crew landed at the first landfall on reaching Scotland which was RAF Sumburugh at 0540 hrs on 29th April 1942.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Lossiemouth landing at 0540 hrs on 28th April 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
P/O WHYTE Pilot Returned
Sgt SAUNDERS 2nd Pilot Returned
P/O DAVIS Navigator Returned
F/Sgt CHARLTON W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt KENT W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt REID Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt ROUSE Flight Engineer Returned

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