Steven K. Dixon 2022
103 Squadron (Halifax) Aircraft Name: Rhiannon
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
Maddox Davies |
Flt/SGT |
Nav/Bomb Aimer |
Roy Wilson |
Flt/SGT |
Nose Gunner |
Eric Adams |
SGT |
Engineer |
Steven Gaskill |
SGT |
Wireless/Gunner |
Angus McRae |
SGT |
Mid-Upper |
Francis Duckham |
SGT |
Rear Gunner |
Johnny Hendry |
SGT |
Mission AAR
Yorkshire Rose lost on Mission 12; Sherwood Shirly lost on Mission 19, Maid Marion lost om Mission 5, 1943.
1943
Mission 6 - Tail gunner KIA during attack by Dornier south of Hamburg… mid upper turret disabled and gunner relocated to tail turret. Busy over the target but able to shake off night fighters and release bomb load on target… steady return voyage to land with a bit of a bump, tail wheel missing.
Mission 7 - An uneventful journey over water in both directions but very hectic over the target, swarming night fighters and heavy flak.. mid section AAA hit fatally wounded the wireless operator and another attack from 6o’clock low disabled the rear gun turret. Bombing was on target and scored 30 accuracy… successful raid but a somber atmosphere coming back due to the loss of a valued crew member.
Mission 8 - Picked up some flak around Reims causing an oxygen fire that was successfully extinguished in the front centre section of the aircraft.. however without oxygen for the crew the aircraft was forced to descend and continue at low altitude causing possible concern for adequate fuel levels on the way back home. An added consideration was to plot a viable course through the Alps at low level. Picked up some anti aircraft fire again around Lyon resulting in a serious wound to our tail gunner, smashed Tibia needing immediate first aid to save the leg. Tail gunner moved to centre section and Wireless Operator manned tail gun for the rest of the mission. Entered to Alps and found goo progress through until about half way the had to turn back - mission aborted. No further issues on way back to base.. landed successfully with full bomb load… tail gunner Douglas Stevenson hospitalized and will not be returning, invalided out of service.
Mission 9 - Engine fire on take off - port number one engine. Fire extinguished but engine stopped… aborted mission, circle of airfield and carefully landed with full bomb bay and fuel load.
Mission 10 - Uneventful flight to the target but encountered heavy Flak over the target area… in the process of descending to low altitude due to Oxygen System malfunction when attacked by Dornier 217… two passes without damage but the third approach was in a vertical dive. Cannon fore struck the right wing bomb load causing catastrophoc explosion. Aircraft destroyed and all crew lost.
Yorkshire Rose lost on Mission 12; Sherwood Shirly lost on Mission 19, Maid Marion lost om Mission 5, 1943.
1943
Mission 6 - Tail gunner KIA during attack by Dornier south of Hamburg… mid upper turret disabled and gunner relocated to tail turret. Busy over the target but able to shake off night fighters and release bomb load on target… steady return voyage to land with a bit of a bump, tail wheel missing.
Mission 7 - An uneventful journey over water in both directions but very hectic over the target, swarming night fighters and heavy flak.. mid section AAA hit fatally wounded the wireless operator and another attack from 6o’clock low disabled the rear gun turret. Bombing was on target and scored 30 accuracy… successful raid but a somber atmosphere coming back due to the loss of a valued crew member.
Mission 8 - Picked up some flak around Reims causing an oxygen fire that was successfully extinguished in the front centre section of the aircraft.. however without oxygen for the crew the aircraft was forced to descend and continue at low altitude causing possible concern for adequate fuel levels on the way back home. An added consideration was to plot a viable course through the Alps at low level. Picked up some anti aircraft fire again around Lyon resulting in a serious wound to our tail gunner, smashed Tibia needing immediate first aid to save the leg. Tail gunner moved to centre section and Wireless Operator manned tail gun for the rest of the mission. Entered to Alps and found goo progress through until about half way the had to turn back - mission aborted. No further issues on way back to base.. landed successfully with full bomb load… tail gunner Douglas Stevenson hospitalized and will not be returning, invalided out of service.
Mission 9 - Engine fire on take off - port number one engine. Fire extinguished but engine stopped… aborted mission, circle of airfield and carefully landed with full bomb bay and fuel load.
Mission 10 - Uneventful flight to the target but encountered heavy Flak over the target area… in the process of descending to low altitude due to Oxygen System malfunction when attacked by Dornier 217… two passes without damage but the third approach was in a vertical dive. Cannon fore struck the right wing bomb load causing catastrophoc explosion. Aircraft destroyed and all crew lost.
1943 Missions:
Mission Number/Date |
Target |
Result |
6 |
Berlin |
On Target 30% |
7 |
Bremen |
On Target 30% |
8 |
Genoa, It. |
DNB - Aborted |
9 |
Peenemunde |
DNB - Aborted |
10 |
Leverkusen |
DNB - Shot Down |
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) |
6 |
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7 |
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1 |
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8 |
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9 |
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10 |
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