Just before 17.25hrs on the evening of
3rd November 1943 Lancaster W4833 of 625 Squadron lined
up for take-off on a sortie to Dusseldorf. The crew were setting out
on their second operation together, their first had been to Kassel on
the 22nd October when they had had a close call with an
enemy night-fighter. Rear gunner Frank Sutton's log book recorded –
'ops Kassel. Expended 150 rounds. Damaged Fw190 in combat (1
attack).'
Pilot
F/Sgt Reg Price had previously flown as 'second-dickie' with P/O
Edgar Pickles and crew on 20th
October op to Berlin (and on the same night M/u Harry Powter had
filled in for the absent F/Sgt Bill Allan in Jimmie Ives's crew on
their abortive sortie). The other members of Price's crew were f/e
Les Knowles, navigator Dudley Ball, b/a Jack Conley and w/op Jim
Harris. Their bomb-load on this occasion included a 4,000lb 'cookie'
fused to explode on impact and 12 SBCs (small bomb containers), canisters containing 2,800 incendiaries.
Fuel-load for Dusseldorf and back was 1200 gallons. Take-off was
renowned to be potentially the most 'dicey' part of any flight.
Sgt
Sutton's log-book records the following entry 'inner engines u/s
(Dusseldorf)' – for the trip which turned out to be short and
eventful. Many thanks to Iain Sutton for allowing me to reproduce
his father's account of what happened. I defy anyone not to be
gripped by the following narrative, written soon after returning to
base:-
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| ('height 60ft Reg') |
 | |||||
| (for 'Doug' read 'Dud') |
The
squadron ORB records this version of events:- Lancaster W4833 -
Target Dusseldorf – 'Aircraft 'J'. Up 17.25 dn 18.40hrs. 'Task
abandoned. Both engines cut just after take-off. Course set out to
sea but difficult to maintain height. Incendiaries and guns
jettisoned to enable sufficient height to be gained to jettison
4,000lb bomb. Landed at base at 18.40.'
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| back row :- Les Knowles, Jack Conley, Harry Powter, front row:- Frank Sutton, Reg Price, Dud Ball (Jim Harris absent) |
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