Steven K. Dixon 2024
Squadron: 102 Aircraft Name: Hotspur III
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 |
Hugh Tancock |
F/SGT |
Mid-Upper |
Patrick Gibbs |
SGT |
Tail |
Patrick Weeks |
SGT |
1942 Missions Click Here
1943 Missions Click Here
1944 Missions Click Here
1943 Missions Click Here
1944 Missions Click Here
Mission # |
Target |
Result |
1 |
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2 |
Sterkrade |
On Target 30% |
3 |
Bingen |
On Target 20% |
4 |
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5 |
Wanne-Eickel |
On Target 40% |
6 |
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7 |
Stettin |
On Target 30% |
8 |
Neuss |
On Target 30% |
9 |
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10 |
Hanover |
On Target 30% |
1944/45 Missions Campaign 4
1944 Missions Campaign 3 AARs
Previous Plane - Hotspur - lost on Rostock raid (Mission 7 - 1942) - Previous plane Hostspur II lost on Bristillerie, Fr. (Mission 13 1943)
Mission 1 - DNF
Mission 2 - Takeoff was OK as course was set for another city in the Reich. Inbound over the Netherlands the ship evaded enemy searchlights while flak bursts lit up the night sky. Two night fighters then attacked in succession, but thanks to a vigilant crew and vigorous corkscrewing neither scored hits before disappearing into the murk. Even at low altitude it was extremely cold, however, and this jammed the nose turret guns for the rest of the op. Sterkrade was mostly obscured (possibly from smoke machines), but the drop was on target after having to evade the searchlights and flak. As Hotspur III turned for home, two more night fighters attacked, but as luck would have it the ship only suffered superficial damage. The tail gunner was nearly decapitated by a 20mm shell but emerged unscathed, if a bit shaken. One of the jerry fighters was damaged by return fire. The return leg was without incident, and the landing was good. The Germans appear to have recovered from their heavy losses of the summer, and with the failure of Market Garden, it looks like the war will go on well into 1945. Result: A/c superficial damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy), 1 x NF damaged.
Mission 3 - Takeoff was OK and course set for Bingen in Germany. With most of Belgium liberated and the German night fighter defenses on the back foot, the outbound leg was without incident. The ship was not targeted by flak in the run-in to or over the target—however, the enemy night fighters gave Hotspur III a warm reception as she came about after dropping her cookies. An undetected Me 110 hit the ship hard, and before disappearing succeeded in holing the port wing inboard fuel tank, left rudder, dinghy, tailwheel, and tail turret. The tail gunner was lightly wounded by shrapnel. Luckily the leaking fuel did not ignite. However, it soon became clear that the crew would not be able to coax the damaged plane all the way back to England. Hotspur III was diverted to an emergency field in liberated Belgium, touching down to be warmly received by the RAF personnel there. The following day, with the fuel tank, tailwheel, and tail gunner patched up, Hotspur III made the short return flight to Norwich. Result: A/c landed in Belgium w/moderate damage, tail gunner (ace) LW, bombs on target (20% accuracy).
Mission 5 - Takeoff was OK, and Hotspur III and her veterans were on the wing yet again. The outbound leg went by without incident, but over the target the ship was coned by searchlights which no amount of corkscrewing could shake. Leveling out amidst heavy flak (luckily none of which hit), the bombs were dropped, but soon after a jerry night fighter snuck up from below and riddled the ship – holing the port inboard and starboard outboard wing fuel tanks. Thankfully, the plane did not burst into flames. Leaving the target area and the enemy night fighter behind, the crew took stock of the situation. It soon became clear that Hotspur III, leaking like a sieve, would never make it to England. However, there was still ample fuel left to make it to Allied-liberated Belgium. Once again, the crew were diverted to an emergency field. As returning visitors to said field, the crew were obligated to buy drinks for the base personnel who patched up the ship the following day. Bidding their friends goodbye until next time, Hotspur III and crew returned to Norwich. Result: A/c landed in Belgium w/moderate damage, bombs on target (40% accuracy).
Mission 7 - Summary: Takeoff OK, and course was set for Stettin in Germany. Once Hotspur III crossed onto the shrinking Reich from Belgium the troubles began. A Dornier night fighter riddled the ship with a walking hit. Tragically, the veteran Norwegian flight engineer, Flt. Sgt. Arne Storm, was killed instantly by shrapnel from a 20mm shell. The bomb aimer was also lightly wounded. The H2S also took a direct hit, as did the DR compass. Corkscrewing finally gave jerry the slip, but over the target another night fighter (a Ju 88) pounced and knocked out the tail gun, although the gunner luckily escaped unharmed. Stettin was mostly obscured, but the bomb drop was good. Thankfully, the return flight to Norwich was uneventful, and the crew touched down at dawn with heavy hearts. Result: A/c moderate damage, bomb aimer LW, flight engineer KIA and replaced by Sgt. Hugh Tancock, bombs on target (30% accuracy), 1 x NF damaged.
Mission 8 - Not much to report—a milk run in Yankee parlance. Takeoff was OK and the outbound leg was without incident. No flak was observed over the target and the bomb drop was good. The return leg was equally uneventful. Flying during a new moon no doubt helped. Result: A/c undamaged, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 10 - Nazi Germany’s last-gasp offensive in the Ardennes has come and gone, but the war in the air continues. Takeoff was OK and the course was set for Hanover. Over the Netherlands, a He219 snuck up undetected from below, and riddled Hotspur III with a walking hit. Luckily, the ship did not burst into flames, however the TG was seriously wounded and a number of onboard systems were damaged, including the autopilot bomb release mechanism. After this unnerving incident, the rest of the outbound leg was uneventful. Hanover was completely obscured, but despite the aircraft damage the bomb drop was on target. While the flak was avoided a Ju88 was not, and jerry knocked out the MU gun turret before nearly colliding and then disappearing into the darkness. Thankfully, the return leg was without incident and the landing was OK. Ace TG Sgt. Weeks was taken off to see the medic, and much to everyone’s relief his recovery is expected to rapid and he may continue on ops.Result: A/c moderate damage, TG SW (recovered and may continue ops), bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 12 - Takeoff was OK and course set for Osnabruck. The outbound leg was quiet, but over the target the ship was coned and held by searchlights. Heavy and accurate flak ensued, but luckily the damage was superficial aside from the autopilot bomb release mechanism which was knocked out. Once through the flak, a German Me262 jet night fighter came in from six o’clock low, and made one pass before disappearing. The TG claimed to have hit him, but jerry appeared unaffected, while also failing to hit Hotspur III. The bomb run was on target, but accuracy suffered from the corkscrewing and equipment failure. The ship remained unmolested during the turn for home, and the return leg was without incident. Landing was OK. Hopefully this wretched war will end soon. Result: A/c superficial damage, bombs on target (20% accuracy).
Previous Plane - Hotspur - lost on Rostock raid (Mission 7 - 1942) - Previous plane Hostspur II lost on Bristillerie, Fr. (Mission 13 1943)
Mission 1 - DNF
Mission 2 - Takeoff was OK as course was set for another city in the Reich. Inbound over the Netherlands the ship evaded enemy searchlights while flak bursts lit up the night sky. Two night fighters then attacked in succession, but thanks to a vigilant crew and vigorous corkscrewing neither scored hits before disappearing into the murk. Even at low altitude it was extremely cold, however, and this jammed the nose turret guns for the rest of the op. Sterkrade was mostly obscured (possibly from smoke machines), but the drop was on target after having to evade the searchlights and flak. As Hotspur III turned for home, two more night fighters attacked, but as luck would have it the ship only suffered superficial damage. The tail gunner was nearly decapitated by a 20mm shell but emerged unscathed, if a bit shaken. One of the jerry fighters was damaged by return fire. The return leg was without incident, and the landing was good. The Germans appear to have recovered from their heavy losses of the summer, and with the failure of Market Garden, it looks like the war will go on well into 1945. Result: A/c superficial damage, bombs on target (30% accuracy), 1 x NF damaged.
Mission 3 - Takeoff was OK and course set for Bingen in Germany. With most of Belgium liberated and the German night fighter defenses on the back foot, the outbound leg was without incident. The ship was not targeted by flak in the run-in to or over the target—however, the enemy night fighters gave Hotspur III a warm reception as she came about after dropping her cookies. An undetected Me 110 hit the ship hard, and before disappearing succeeded in holing the port wing inboard fuel tank, left rudder, dinghy, tailwheel, and tail turret. The tail gunner was lightly wounded by shrapnel. Luckily the leaking fuel did not ignite. However, it soon became clear that the crew would not be able to coax the damaged plane all the way back to England. Hotspur III was diverted to an emergency field in liberated Belgium, touching down to be warmly received by the RAF personnel there. The following day, with the fuel tank, tailwheel, and tail gunner patched up, Hotspur III made the short return flight to Norwich. Result: A/c landed in Belgium w/moderate damage, tail gunner (ace) LW, bombs on target (20% accuracy).
Mission 5 - Takeoff was OK, and Hotspur III and her veterans were on the wing yet again. The outbound leg went by without incident, but over the target the ship was coned by searchlights which no amount of corkscrewing could shake. Leveling out amidst heavy flak (luckily none of which hit), the bombs were dropped, but soon after a jerry night fighter snuck up from below and riddled the ship – holing the port inboard and starboard outboard wing fuel tanks. Thankfully, the plane did not burst into flames. Leaving the target area and the enemy night fighter behind, the crew took stock of the situation. It soon became clear that Hotspur III, leaking like a sieve, would never make it to England. However, there was still ample fuel left to make it to Allied-liberated Belgium. Once again, the crew were diverted to an emergency field. As returning visitors to said field, the crew were obligated to buy drinks for the base personnel who patched up the ship the following day. Bidding their friends goodbye until next time, Hotspur III and crew returned to Norwich. Result: A/c landed in Belgium w/moderate damage, bombs on target (40% accuracy).
Mission 7 - Summary: Takeoff OK, and course was set for Stettin in Germany. Once Hotspur III crossed onto the shrinking Reich from Belgium the troubles began. A Dornier night fighter riddled the ship with a walking hit. Tragically, the veteran Norwegian flight engineer, Flt. Sgt. Arne Storm, was killed instantly by shrapnel from a 20mm shell. The bomb aimer was also lightly wounded. The H2S also took a direct hit, as did the DR compass. Corkscrewing finally gave jerry the slip, but over the target another night fighter (a Ju 88) pounced and knocked out the tail gun, although the gunner luckily escaped unharmed. Stettin was mostly obscured, but the bomb drop was good. Thankfully, the return flight to Norwich was uneventful, and the crew touched down at dawn with heavy hearts. Result: A/c moderate damage, bomb aimer LW, flight engineer KIA and replaced by Sgt. Hugh Tancock, bombs on target (30% accuracy), 1 x NF damaged.
Mission 8 - Not much to report—a milk run in Yankee parlance. Takeoff was OK and the outbound leg was without incident. No flak was observed over the target and the bomb drop was good. The return leg was equally uneventful. Flying during a new moon no doubt helped. Result: A/c undamaged, bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 10 - Nazi Germany’s last-gasp offensive in the Ardennes has come and gone, but the war in the air continues. Takeoff was OK and the course was set for Hanover. Over the Netherlands, a He219 snuck up undetected from below, and riddled Hotspur III with a walking hit. Luckily, the ship did not burst into flames, however the TG was seriously wounded and a number of onboard systems were damaged, including the autopilot bomb release mechanism. After this unnerving incident, the rest of the outbound leg was uneventful. Hanover was completely obscured, but despite the aircraft damage the bomb drop was on target. While the flak was avoided a Ju88 was not, and jerry knocked out the MU gun turret before nearly colliding and then disappearing into the darkness. Thankfully, the return leg was without incident and the landing was OK. Ace TG Sgt. Weeks was taken off to see the medic, and much to everyone’s relief his recovery is expected to rapid and he may continue on ops.Result: A/c moderate damage, TG SW (recovered and may continue ops), bombs on target (30% accuracy).
Mission 12 - Takeoff was OK and course set for Osnabruck. The outbound leg was quiet, but over the target the ship was coned and held by searchlights. Heavy and accurate flak ensued, but luckily the damage was superficial aside from the autopilot bomb release mechanism which was knocked out. Once through the flak, a German Me262 jet night fighter came in from six o’clock low, and made one pass before disappearing. The TG claimed to have hit him, but jerry appeared unaffected, while also failing to hit Hotspur III. The bomb run was on target, but accuracy suffered from the corkscrewing and equipment failure. The ship remained unmolested during the turn for home, and the return leg was without incident. Landing was OK. Hopefully this wretched war will end soon. Result: A/c superficial damage, bombs on target (20% accuracy).
1944/45 Credited Kills Campaign 4
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 |
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Mission # |
Target |
Result |
11 |
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12 |
Osnabruck |
On Target 20% |
13 |
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14 |
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15 |
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16 |
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