Steven K. Dixon 2022
Squadron: 102 Aircraft Name: Hotspur II
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
Hector Chard |
FO |
Navigator |
Frank Blissett |
PO |
Bomb Aimer |
Wallace Allenby |
F/SGT |
Wireless/Gunner |
Alec Childs |
F/SGT |
Engineer |
Arne Storm |
F/SGT |
Mid-Upper |
Rowland Cummins |
SGT |
Tail |
Patrick Weeks |
SGT |
1943 Missions:
Mission Number |
Target |
Result |
1 |
Hamburg |
DNB - Mission Recall |
2 |
Essen |
On Target 50% |
3 |
Hamburg |
On Target 40% |
4 |
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5 |
Ludwingshafen |
DNB |
6 |
Berlin |
On Target 30% |
7 |
Bremen |
On Target 30% |
8 |
Genoa, Italy |
On Target - 50% |
9 |
Peenemunde |
On Target 30% |
10 |
Leverkusen |
On Target 50% |
11 |
Hagen |
On Target 40% |
12 |
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13 |
Bristillerie, Fr. |
On Target 50% |
14 |
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15 |
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16 |
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17 |
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18 |
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19 |
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20 |
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1943 Credited Kills:
Mission No. |
ME 110 F-4 |
ME 110 G-4 |
JU 88 C-6 |
JU 88 G-7 |
DO 217 J-1 |
DO 217 N-2 |
HE 219 A-0 |
FW 190 A-5UZ |
ME 109 G-6U4N |
ME 262 B-1AU1 |
TA 154 A-0 |
DO 217 J-1 (Italy) |
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14 |
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1943 Mission AAR
Previous Plane - Hotspur - lost on Rostock raid (Mission 7 - 1942)
Mission 1 - Takeoff OK, proceeded over the North Sea at low altitude. As soon as the English coast passed astern the ship was jumped by a very determined enemy night fighter. The pilot was wounded by shrapnel, the brakes knocked out, the dinghy holed, and the tail gunner was trapped in his turret after the dead man handle was hit. The bomb bay also took several rounds but thankfully the cookies did not go off. After finally shaking him off, the wireless operator reported a message received – a recall to base due to weather over the target. By this time, Hotspur II was halfway to the target, but came about and proceeded back to England. Had several close encounters with enemy night fighters on the way home, but thankfully FO Chard was able shake them with his corkscrewing. There was no intruder activity noted over the airfield. Landing was OK with FO Chard taken off to see the squadron medic. Result: A/c moderate damage, pilot LW, mission aborted due to weather recall.
Mission 2 - Takeoff OK, proceeded over the North Sea at low altitude. This op was, in Yankee parlance, a milk run – helped no doubt in part by the liberal sprinkling of window over the length and breadth of the enemy countryside. The first sign of action was over the target, when a single-seat fighter (one of their Wild Boars) made a pass at Hotspur II before disappearing. Essen was mostly obscured, but guided by the Pathfinders the bomb drop was good. There was no flak in the immediate vicinity, either to or from the target. Window must have been having some sort of effect. The return leg was equally uneventful and pleasant. Landing was OK, with no intruders encountered over the airfield. Result: A/c undamaged, bombs on target (50% accuracy).
Mission 3 - An operation much like the last one. Window had the enemy mostly befuddled, and there was almost no night fighter activity detected, either on the way out or on the return leg. Hotspur II was in the first wave and there was no flak or searchlight activity in the immediate target vicinity. Target was completely obscured, but guided by the pathfinders the drop went well. The radio stopped working but otherwise the return to base went OK, with no intruders encountered over the airfield. Result: A/c undamaged, bombs on target (40% accuracy).
Mission 5 - Mission aborted due to technical malfunction. Over Belgium a fire broke out in the #2 engine. Thankfully it was soon extinguished; however, the engine was out for the duration of the operation. Pilot elected to abort the op and head for home. As the ship came about she was coned by searchlights, but corkscrewing managed to evade the beams, and thankfully there was no AA or night fighters observed. The bombs were jettisoned and Hotspur II returned to England at low altitude. No intruder activity noted over the airfield, and the landing was good. On the plus side, one Lady Luck token was acquired this op. Result: Mission aborted due to engine fire.
Mission 6 - The crew’s longest op to date – bringing the war home to the Nazi capitol. The outbound flight went relatively smoothly, although Monica broke down shortly after crossing the German border. The FE, Flt. Sgt. Storm, was kept busy dispensing window at regular intervals. Over Berlin the ship was coned by searchlights, but some vigorous corkscrewing by FO Chard evaded them, and the enemy flak went wide. Bombed the target at low altitude. There was night fighter activity over the capitol, but after evading the searchlights was not spotted. Shortly after turning for home the TGs heat malfunctioned, so remained at low alt. Shortly afterwards, an enemy night fighter suddenly latched on to the tail and peppered the ship, luckily missing the TG but damaging the tail wheel. Luckily, he did not reacquire contact after the first pass. The rest of the flight home passed uneventfully, and the landing was OK. The crew feel ever more confident with each successful op under their belts (another Lady Luck token was acquired this op, for seven unused tokens in total).
Result: A/c light damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 7 - A fairly short op to Bremen, across the North Sea. Soon after leaving the English coast behind, the H2S radar failed. Hotspur II also did not have window for this op. Pressing on, a Ju 88 night fighter latched onto the tail and his fire hit the wing root, casing some damage before FO Chard’s corkscrewing gave him the slip. PO Blissett got a good navigation fix upon making landfall, and Hotspur II avoided flak over Bremen to put the bombs on target. Night fighters were active over the city. The return leg was fairly uneventful, aside from a sneaky Dornier who tried to come in from below. His rounds buzzed by the ship but violent corkscrewing thankfully lost him. There was substantial intruder activity over England, but managed to give them the slip as well. Landing was OK and another op is on the books. Result: A/c light damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 8 - AAR
Mission 9 - A rather harrowing op. Nearly crashed on takeoff, but managed to get airborne (one Lady Luck token was expended). Outbound over the North Sea at low altitude, the undercarriage motors failed, putting an eventual safe landing in doubt. Night fighters were known to be in the area, but Hotspur II was not spotted. However, as the ship approached Peenemunde it became clear that the defenses were fully alerted. The ship was coned by searchlights, but FO Chard elected not to corkscrew in the hope of getting the bombs on target, knowing full well the rumors that the Germans were constructing a secret weapon there. Heavy flak over the target, and Hotspur was struck several times by shrapnel. One burst sent shrapnel into the bottom of the wings and fuselage, and likely further damaged the undercarriage. The searchlights also attracted German Wild Boars like moths to flame, and in they came, two in succession – an Fw190 and a Bf109. The 190 peppered the ship, holing the dinghy and knocking out the port wing flap. Thankfully, the bomb run was good, with the target only slightly obscured. Coming about, Hotspur II shook off the Wild Boars, but still coned, was hit again by flak, which knocked out the Bomb Aimer’s O2. Then an Me110 snuck up from behind and before disappearing hit both the No. 1 and No. 2 engine – luckily the oil tanks self-sealed and both engines continued running, if a bit rough. Things finally began to quiet down on the return leg. Coming in for landing the big question was if the undercarriage would deploy, and the crew breathed a collective sigh of relief as the familiar sound of rubber on the runway was heard. The crew climbed warily out of their aircraft, thankful to have survived another op. Result: A/c moderate and repairable damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 10 - The outbound leg was uneventful, and only after bombing the target did things begin to get a bit dodgy. The bomb run was uninterrupted and went well, but during the return flight over the Netherlands the ship was coned by searchlights, and no amount of corkscrewing could shake them. Thankfully the flak was fairly light, although the port wing outboard fuel tank was hit. To the crew’s eminent relief, the tank self-sealed. A pesky Do217 snuck up from below, and Hotspur II was riddled with a walking hit, but by some minor miracle the damage was almost entirely superficial, without any major systems knocked out. After losing jerry the remainder of the flight home went by without incident. There was intruder activity reported around the airfield, but the landing was OK. Result: A/c moderate damage, bombs on target (50% accuracy).
Mission 11 - Takeoff OK and proceeded to the target at low altitude. A persistent Me110 kept attacking over the Netherlands, but a vigilant crew and violent maneuvering kept Jerry from doing any damage. On approach to the target the H2S stopped working. Hagen was mostly obscured, and on final approach an Me110 jumped the ship and the BA was hit by shrapnel and seriously wounded. Nonetheless, he managed to keep his composure and the bomb drop was good. The short return leg was uneventful—the crew trying to make PO Shane as comfortable as possible. Landing was good and the wounded crewman was bundled off into the ambulance. One Lady Luck token was acquired this op. Result: A/c superficial damage, Bomb Aimer SW—recovered but replaced by new crewmember (F/SGT Wallace Allenby), bombs on target (40% accuracy).
Mission 13 - Takeoff OK and proceeded to target via planned route over Southern England and the Channel. The H2S stopped working shortly after crossing the coast. The V-1 sites were obscured, but navigation was dead on and the drop was good. No flak or night fighters over France, but once back out over the channel the ship was targeted by several in succession. One Me110 was claimed damaged by the TG. In return took several hits, including one in the (thankfully) empty bomb bay. However, on approach to the airfield, it was evident that the undercarriage motors were inoperable, and upon touching down the landing gear collapsed. Hotspur II skidded to the end of the runway without any crew injuries, but had to be written off.
Result: Landing gear collapse, a/c written off, bombs on target (50% accuracy), crew transferred to “Hotspur III”.
Previous Plane - Hotspur - lost on Rostock raid (Mission 7 - 1942)
Mission 1 - Takeoff OK, proceeded over the North Sea at low altitude. As soon as the English coast passed astern the ship was jumped by a very determined enemy night fighter. The pilot was wounded by shrapnel, the brakes knocked out, the dinghy holed, and the tail gunner was trapped in his turret after the dead man handle was hit. The bomb bay also took several rounds but thankfully the cookies did not go off. After finally shaking him off, the wireless operator reported a message received – a recall to base due to weather over the target. By this time, Hotspur II was halfway to the target, but came about and proceeded back to England. Had several close encounters with enemy night fighters on the way home, but thankfully FO Chard was able shake them with his corkscrewing. There was no intruder activity noted over the airfield. Landing was OK with FO Chard taken off to see the squadron medic. Result: A/c moderate damage, pilot LW, mission aborted due to weather recall.
Mission 2 - Takeoff OK, proceeded over the North Sea at low altitude. This op was, in Yankee parlance, a milk run – helped no doubt in part by the liberal sprinkling of window over the length and breadth of the enemy countryside. The first sign of action was over the target, when a single-seat fighter (one of their Wild Boars) made a pass at Hotspur II before disappearing. Essen was mostly obscured, but guided by the Pathfinders the bomb drop was good. There was no flak in the immediate vicinity, either to or from the target. Window must have been having some sort of effect. The return leg was equally uneventful and pleasant. Landing was OK, with no intruders encountered over the airfield. Result: A/c undamaged, bombs on target (50% accuracy).
Mission 3 - An operation much like the last one. Window had the enemy mostly befuddled, and there was almost no night fighter activity detected, either on the way out or on the return leg. Hotspur II was in the first wave and there was no flak or searchlight activity in the immediate target vicinity. Target was completely obscured, but guided by the pathfinders the drop went well. The radio stopped working but otherwise the return to base went OK, with no intruders encountered over the airfield. Result: A/c undamaged, bombs on target (40% accuracy).
Mission 5 - Mission aborted due to technical malfunction. Over Belgium a fire broke out in the #2 engine. Thankfully it was soon extinguished; however, the engine was out for the duration of the operation. Pilot elected to abort the op and head for home. As the ship came about she was coned by searchlights, but corkscrewing managed to evade the beams, and thankfully there was no AA or night fighters observed. The bombs were jettisoned and Hotspur II returned to England at low altitude. No intruder activity noted over the airfield, and the landing was good. On the plus side, one Lady Luck token was acquired this op. Result: Mission aborted due to engine fire.
Mission 6 - The crew’s longest op to date – bringing the war home to the Nazi capitol. The outbound flight went relatively smoothly, although Monica broke down shortly after crossing the German border. The FE, Flt. Sgt. Storm, was kept busy dispensing window at regular intervals. Over Berlin the ship was coned by searchlights, but some vigorous corkscrewing by FO Chard evaded them, and the enemy flak went wide. Bombed the target at low altitude. There was night fighter activity over the capitol, but after evading the searchlights was not spotted. Shortly after turning for home the TGs heat malfunctioned, so remained at low alt. Shortly afterwards, an enemy night fighter suddenly latched on to the tail and peppered the ship, luckily missing the TG but damaging the tail wheel. Luckily, he did not reacquire contact after the first pass. The rest of the flight home passed uneventfully, and the landing was OK. The crew feel ever more confident with each successful op under their belts (another Lady Luck token was acquired this op, for seven unused tokens in total).
Result: A/c light damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 7 - A fairly short op to Bremen, across the North Sea. Soon after leaving the English coast behind, the H2S radar failed. Hotspur II also did not have window for this op. Pressing on, a Ju 88 night fighter latched onto the tail and his fire hit the wing root, casing some damage before FO Chard’s corkscrewing gave him the slip. PO Blissett got a good navigation fix upon making landfall, and Hotspur II avoided flak over Bremen to put the bombs on target. Night fighters were active over the city. The return leg was fairly uneventful, aside from a sneaky Dornier who tried to come in from below. His rounds buzzed by the ship but violent corkscrewing thankfully lost him. There was substantial intruder activity over England, but managed to give them the slip as well. Landing was OK and another op is on the books. Result: A/c light damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 8 - AAR
Mission 9 - A rather harrowing op. Nearly crashed on takeoff, but managed to get airborne (one Lady Luck token was expended). Outbound over the North Sea at low altitude, the undercarriage motors failed, putting an eventual safe landing in doubt. Night fighters were known to be in the area, but Hotspur II was not spotted. However, as the ship approached Peenemunde it became clear that the defenses were fully alerted. The ship was coned by searchlights, but FO Chard elected not to corkscrew in the hope of getting the bombs on target, knowing full well the rumors that the Germans were constructing a secret weapon there. Heavy flak over the target, and Hotspur was struck several times by shrapnel. One burst sent shrapnel into the bottom of the wings and fuselage, and likely further damaged the undercarriage. The searchlights also attracted German Wild Boars like moths to flame, and in they came, two in succession – an Fw190 and a Bf109. The 190 peppered the ship, holing the dinghy and knocking out the port wing flap. Thankfully, the bomb run was good, with the target only slightly obscured. Coming about, Hotspur II shook off the Wild Boars, but still coned, was hit again by flak, which knocked out the Bomb Aimer’s O2. Then an Me110 snuck up from behind and before disappearing hit both the No. 1 and No. 2 engine – luckily the oil tanks self-sealed and both engines continued running, if a bit rough. Things finally began to quiet down on the return leg. Coming in for landing the big question was if the undercarriage would deploy, and the crew breathed a collective sigh of relief as the familiar sound of rubber on the runway was heard. The crew climbed warily out of their aircraft, thankful to have survived another op. Result: A/c moderate and repairable damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 10 - The outbound leg was uneventful, and only after bombing the target did things begin to get a bit dodgy. The bomb run was uninterrupted and went well, but during the return flight over the Netherlands the ship was coned by searchlights, and no amount of corkscrewing could shake them. Thankfully the flak was fairly light, although the port wing outboard fuel tank was hit. To the crew’s eminent relief, the tank self-sealed. A pesky Do217 snuck up from below, and Hotspur II was riddled with a walking hit, but by some minor miracle the damage was almost entirely superficial, without any major systems knocked out. After losing jerry the remainder of the flight home went by without incident. There was intruder activity reported around the airfield, but the landing was OK. Result: A/c moderate damage, bombs on target (50% accuracy).
Mission 11 - Takeoff OK and proceeded to the target at low altitude. A persistent Me110 kept attacking over the Netherlands, but a vigilant crew and violent maneuvering kept Jerry from doing any damage. On approach to the target the H2S stopped working. Hagen was mostly obscured, and on final approach an Me110 jumped the ship and the BA was hit by shrapnel and seriously wounded. Nonetheless, he managed to keep his composure and the bomb drop was good. The short return leg was uneventful—the crew trying to make PO Shane as comfortable as possible. Landing was good and the wounded crewman was bundled off into the ambulance. One Lady Luck token was acquired this op. Result: A/c superficial damage, Bomb Aimer SW—recovered but replaced by new crewmember (F/SGT Wallace Allenby), bombs on target (40% accuracy).
Mission 13 - Takeoff OK and proceeded to target via planned route over Southern England and the Channel. The H2S stopped working shortly after crossing the coast. The V-1 sites were obscured, but navigation was dead on and the drop was good. No flak or night fighters over France, but once back out over the channel the ship was targeted by several in succession. One Me110 was claimed damaged by the TG. In return took several hits, including one in the (thankfully) empty bomb bay. However, on approach to the airfield, it was evident that the undercarriage motors were inoperable, and upon touching down the landing gear collapsed. Hotspur II skidded to the end of the runway without any crew injuries, but had to be written off.
Result: Landing gear collapse, a/c written off, bombs on target (50% accuracy), crew transferred to “Hotspur III”.
1942 Missions Click here.
