Extracts from 97 Sqn ORBs Flt lt H A B BAKER 21.6.44 A large formation flying programme this morning and afternoon. Tonight 9 of our aircraft were detailed to attack oil refinery plant at Gelsenkirchen. Intense fighter activity was encountered from the enemy coast to the target. The Oboe markers were not accurate – falling a mile apart. The Controller’s aircraft had developed engine trouble and the Deputy Controller taking over ordered that no flares should be dropped, but that the Flare Force were to back up the Oboe instead. Two concentrations of fire followed which were quickly assessed, and when Main Force arrived, they were ordered to bomb the southern TIs. The attack, however, was scattered and definitely not one of our best. There was a terrific flak barrage and a thin layer of cloud at 4/5,000 ft. S/Ldr McLeod RAAF and crew did not return. No message was received from him. He was flying Lancaster “L”. Two other aircraft “C” and “G” piloted by F/L Benton and F/L Baker were badly shot up but with no casualties. 21/22 June 1944 - Gelsenkirchen PA979G F/L A.B.Baker, F/Sgt W.Hunter, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/Sgt C.R.S.Jeffery, F/L W.G.Rogers (Spec A/B), F/O G.E.Howells, F/Sgt J.B.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2312 Down 0339. 4 x TI red, 1 x Ti yellow No 16, 9 x 7” cluster, 3 reco flares. 10/10ths cloud approx 5000’. Target located by markers. Approached target on box. During run in starboard outer engine hit by cannon shell from fighter (Me210). H2S u/s but continued run visually on Oboe seen ahead, when Bomb Aimer reported bomb sight failure. Without bomb sight we were unable to function as Controller ordered visual backing up. 23.6.44 More formation flying this afternoon with calamitous results. Two of our aircraft piloted by F/Lt Perkins and F/Lt Van Raalte RAAF were flying in formation. Whilst attempting a gentle turn F/Lt Van Raalte’s aircraft sideslipped over F/Lt Perkins’ aircraft and dropped suddenly, removing the entire tail from F/Lt Perkins’ aircraft and smashing the nose of his own. Both planes immediately spun to earth out of control. All of the occupants in both aircraft were killed with the exception of Sgt Coman, who managed to bale out when his aircraft broke in two at 1000 ft. Operations tonight were against the railway yards at Limoges for which 10 of our aircraft were detailed. The flares were dropped accurately over the target area and on time. Mosquito marker aircraft dropped a Red Spot Fire which the Controller assessed as being exactly on the Aiming Point. It was quickly backed up with red and green TIs and RSFs. At 0159 the marking was completed and the Main Force were ordered to commence bombing. Bombing was extremely concentrated and sticks were seen to fall in the “yards”. At 0202 hours an ammunition train exploded with an enormous explosion. Intermittent explosions continued throughout the attack. A very successful raid. There was no fighter opposition, and no flak. All of our planes returned safely. 23/24 June 1944 – Limoges ND867R F/L H.A.Baker, F/Sgt W.Hunter, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/L W.G.Rogers, F/O G.E.Howells, F/Sgt J.B.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2257 Down 0521. 9 x 7” clusters, 8 x 500lb MC, 1 x 500lb MC LD (12 hrs), 3 rec flares. No cloud, vis good. Markers confirmed visually. Flares not required. After dummy run on first bombing run, RSF seen burning well in marshalling yards with green TI either side, also on railway lines. Bomb sight toppled so went round again for third time; by then RSF had been thinned out by explosion leaving a red glow between two green TIs. Intermittent explosions continued, apparently ammunition train blew up. Some explosions from aircraft factory also occurred early in attacks. Good fires. 24.6.44 Many training cross countries this morning. Some practice bombing at Wainfleet. The target for tonight was Prouville – a point from which the Germans had been sending their pilotless aircraft to bomb London. 12 aircraft were detailed. At 00.10 and 00.11 the first Oboe markers were seen. Flares were immediately dropped over them. It was very difficult, however, for the marker aircraft to identify the target, especially as they were hampered by searchlights, light flak and night fighters. The Deputy Controller attempted to mark blindly on his blind bombing equipment, but it is feared that as greater accuracy was needed than was possible that the raid must be considered abortive. F/Lt Walton, flying Lancaster “J”, did not return from this sortie. No message was received from him. The gunners of “Q” – F/O Jones and W/O Clark – distinguished themselves by shooting down in flames two JU88s which attacked them. A third JU88 was claimed as a probable. An exceptionally good effort. 24/25 June 1944 – Prouville ND862R F/L H.A.B.Baker, W/O W.Hunter, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/L W.G.Rogers, P/O G.E.Howells, F/Sgt J.D.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2255 Down 0152. 14 x 500lb MC, 2 x 500lb MC LD (12 hrs), 3 x 4.5” rec flares. Clear, good visibility. Location by illuminating flares and yellow TI. Yellow Oboe marker at 0002 hours. Two waves of flares followed but no RSF or red or green TI. Some red markers seen a long way to south but these may have been concerned with another target. Controller heard to order bombing at 0023 hours; Stop bombing order received 0056 approx. Whole attack very disappointing in absence of any markers. Large area of white lights made identification impossible. 12/13 July 1944 – Culmont-ChalingtreyPB133C F/L H.A.B.Baker, F/Sgt W.Hunter, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/L W.G.Rogers, P/O E.H.Moore (Vis A/B), F/O G.E.Howells, F/L C.C.Sherring, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2202 Down 0552. 9 x 7” clusters, 4 x 1000lb MC, 1 x 1000lb MC LD (12 hours), 2 rec flares. Cloudless skies, light haze, vis good. Identified target visually. Well illuminated to start with. Accurate red TI, inaccurately backed up by green. Bombing on the whole well concentrated round RSF. Controller almost inaudible on VHF. Landed at Winthorpe. 19/20 July 1944 – Thivergny ND862G F/L H.A.B.Baker, W/O W.Hunter, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/L W.G.Rogers (A/B), P/O E.H.Moore (Vis A/B), F/O G.E.Howells (W/Op), F/Sgt J.D.Mitchell (MG), Sgt T.Twomey (MG), F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 1932 Down 2324. 4 x TI red No 16, 9 x 1000lb GP, 1 x 1000lb MC LD (72 hrs). Weather clear, no cloud. Target located visually by junction at marshalling yard near L-shaped bend of wood. Yellow marker had not gone down by H-1 so we aimed visually at aiming point. VHF had to be switched off during bombing as nothing could be heard on intercom. As aircraft turned away another 4 red TIs were seen to fall in the same place. Wind broadcast by 97/G was 216/17 mph. Two further sticks of bombs seen to fall accurately across aiming point. Yellow Oboe marker appeared on aiming point among red TI just after aircraft had closed bomb doors. 20/21 July 1944 – Courtrai ND862G F/L H.A.B.Baker, W/O W.Hunter, F/Sgt E.Coe, F/L W.G.Rogers, F/O E.H.Moore (Vis A/B), F/O G.E.Howells, F/Sgt J.D.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2324 Down 0224. 4 x TI green, 10 x 1000lb MC/GP. No cloud below moderate haze. Located target by green TI. Flares good. Red Oboe went down on time. Green TIs down and told to back up these at 0058.5 hours. These down accurately. Attack very good; big concentration, special marking very good. 24/25 July 1944 – Longes ND862G F/L H.A.B.Baker, F/L P.J.Roberts, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/L W.G.Rogers, P/O E.H.Moore (Vis A/B), F/O G.E.Howells, F/Sgt J.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2245 Down 0330. 6 x 7” clusters, 8 x TI green No 16. Weather clear with haze, target identified by 6 TI markers. First flares 0129. Wind received 245/14 at 0132.5. First red Oboe assessed 200 yards out, green TI assessed as accurate and Main Force ordered to bomb the green TIs. Bombing concentrated, fires and two large explosions in target area. Third Flare wave not required. Air pressure for bomb sight nil. Limited accuracy and bomb sight inadequate for TIs. Flares not asked for. 25/26 July 1944 – Stuttgart ND121E F/L H.A.B.Baker, F/L P.J.Roberts, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, F/L W.G.Rogers, P/O E.H.Moore (Vis A/B), F/O G.E.Howells, F/Sgt J.T.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 2200 Down 0545. 4 x TI green LB, 4 x TI green, 1 x 4000lb HC, 3 x 1000lb MC. 10/10ths thin strato cumulus, tops above, vis poor. Located target by TIs red and green on return run. Went over target as H2S u/s and saw attack behind. Returned and bombed on reciprocal. Clusters of red and green TIs down but green were 1000 yards to port of red. Markers still going on at 0209 hours. “Cookie” burst in concentration of red. Master Bomber was instructing aircraft to bomb red TIs. 30.7.44 This morning 6 aircraft were detailed for daylight operations against German positions and troop concentrations in the front line at Cahagnes near Caumont. The role of our aircraft was to lead the formation to the target, where the force would split up and bomb independently. However, on arrival at the target area at 0800 hours, 10/10ths cloud conditions prevailed and the master bomber gave instructions for the force not to bomb but to go back to base. This order was obeyed but by now the force had split up and they returned, some breaking cloud at 2000’ and coming back low level and others above cloud. The weather over the Channel was fine and enormous amounts of shipping could be seen waiting to unload their war cargoes. One of our crews captained by F/L H.A.B.Baker did not return. S/L Stevens DFC, the squadron navigation officer, was flying with this crew on this operation. The opposition was negligible. A large training programme was carried out by the remainder of the Squadron tonight. 30 July 1944 - Cahagnes NE121E F/L H.A.B.Baker, W/O W.Hunter, F/O J.W.H.Oldham, S/L P.A.Stevens, P/O E.H.Moore (Vis A/B), F/O G.E.Howell (W/Op), P/O H.Glasby (W/Op 2), F/Sgt J.D.Mitchell, F/Sgt J.E.Lenox. Up 0545 18 x 500lb GP. Aircraft missing. Spoke to Section Leader on run up to target – passed over target in close company with two aircraft from same Squadron; orbited with others who then descended several thousand feet through cloud. On emerging from cloud formation was then completely broken up and E/97 was neither seen nor heard again. F/L H.A.B.Baker KIA W/O W.H.Hunter PoW S/L P.A.Stevens DFC & Bar RAAF PoW F/O J.W.Oldham DFM KIA P/O E.H.F.Moore DFM Inj P/O H.Glasby DFC RAAF KIA F/O G.E.W.Howells KIA F/S J.S.Mitchell DFM KIA F/S L.A.Lenox DFM KIA S/L Stevens 'B' Flight Commander was flying as P2. W/O W.H.Hunter was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.668. P/O E.H.F.Moore was confined in Hospital due injuries. No PoW No. S/L P.A.Stevens in Camp L3, PoW No.7627