Steven K. Dixon 2023
Squadron: 103 Aircraft Name: VAT 69
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
Acton Chamberlain |
F/Lt |
Navigator |
Dickinson Rumble |
F/O |
Bomb Aimer |
Hamilton Lawton |
F/O |
Engineer |
Leonard Beckett |
F/SGT |
Wireless/Gunner |
Ted Crane |
F/SGT |
Mid-Upper |
Christopher Palm |
CPL |
Tail |
Forrest Osmond |
SGT |
1944 Missions (Campaign 3):
Mission No. |
Target |
Result |
16 |
Westrove, Fr. |
On Target 30% |
17 |
Aunay-sur-Odon |
Shot Down |
18 |
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19 |
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20 |
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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 |
16 |
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1 |
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17 |
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18 |
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19 |
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20 |
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Previous plane L-Lucky lost during Ghent mission. Previous plane A Angel lost over Chambly. Previous plane V-Victoria lost on Laon mission. D-Dauntless lost on Trappes mission. C-Charlie lost during Villeneuve - St. Georges mission. A-Able lost on Foret de Montrichard mission.
1944 Mission Notes:
Mission 16 - It was a struggle most of the way to the target, and back again. Vat 69 had just cleared the English Coast when attacked by a Dornier 217. In the enemy fighter’s single pass, he knocked out the auto pilot controls for the bomber. Deeper into France, on approach to the target, a Messerschmidt 110 made a single passing attack. The enemy’s rounds struck the tail plane, and the port wing several times. Upon investigation, after landing, it was discovered those rounds struck and damaged the port wing root. Bomb Aimer F/O Hamilton Lawton was not fazed by the hammering Vat 69 received. He put 30% of our bomb load on target. Approximately mid-way between the target and the French Coast Vat 69 was attacked, with several passes, by a Junkers 88, as well as a barrage of heavy flak. Between the two attacks no notable damage was received by the bomber, but Bomb Aimer Lawton took shrapnel in his Achilles tendon. Over the North Sea, with the Norfolk Coast becoming visible, Vat 69 was attacked by a Messerschmidt 110 and a Dornier 217. The 110 missed in his attack and did not return. The Dornier made two attacking passes. This attack knocked out the bomb sight, aerated the bomber’s skin, and wounded MUG Cpl Palm in the shoulder. On the Dornier’s second pass tail gunner Sgt Osmond’s defensive fire smashed the enemy fighter’s cockpit. No chutes were observed. F/O Lawton and Cpl Palm are expected to return to flight duty in about a fortnight.
Mission 17 - Just past the French coast Vat 69 suffered a Schrage Musik attack. Bomb bay doors were inoperable, autopilot mechanism was knocked out, tail turret guns rendered inoperable, landing gear lost hydraulic power, tail gunner lost suit heat, and the starboard inboard fuel tank was punctured. Pilot Chamberlain elected to abort the mission, and turned to home. The plan was to attempt to drop the bombs once clear of the coast. Vat 69 turned around, and dropped below 9,000 feet. Before re-crossing the coast Vat 69 suffered another Schrage Musik attack. In the Junker's first pass the H2S was knocked out, and tail gunner Osmond was seriously wounded. On the second pass rounds from the Junkers detonated the bomber's bomb load.
1944 Mission Notes:
Mission 16 - It was a struggle most of the way to the target, and back again. Vat 69 had just cleared the English Coast when attacked by a Dornier 217. In the enemy fighter’s single pass, he knocked out the auto pilot controls for the bomber. Deeper into France, on approach to the target, a Messerschmidt 110 made a single passing attack. The enemy’s rounds struck the tail plane, and the port wing several times. Upon investigation, after landing, it was discovered those rounds struck and damaged the port wing root. Bomb Aimer F/O Hamilton Lawton was not fazed by the hammering Vat 69 received. He put 30% of our bomb load on target. Approximately mid-way between the target and the French Coast Vat 69 was attacked, with several passes, by a Junkers 88, as well as a barrage of heavy flak. Between the two attacks no notable damage was received by the bomber, but Bomb Aimer Lawton took shrapnel in his Achilles tendon. Over the North Sea, with the Norfolk Coast becoming visible, Vat 69 was attacked by a Messerschmidt 110 and a Dornier 217. The 110 missed in his attack and did not return. The Dornier made two attacking passes. This attack knocked out the bomb sight, aerated the bomber’s skin, and wounded MUG Cpl Palm in the shoulder. On the Dornier’s second pass tail gunner Sgt Osmond’s defensive fire smashed the enemy fighter’s cockpit. No chutes were observed. F/O Lawton and Cpl Palm are expected to return to flight duty in about a fortnight.
Mission 17 - Just past the French coast Vat 69 suffered a Schrage Musik attack. Bomb bay doors were inoperable, autopilot mechanism was knocked out, tail turret guns rendered inoperable, landing gear lost hydraulic power, tail gunner lost suit heat, and the starboard inboard fuel tank was punctured. Pilot Chamberlain elected to abort the mission, and turned to home. The plan was to attempt to drop the bombs once clear of the coast. Vat 69 turned around, and dropped below 9,000 feet. Before re-crossing the coast Vat 69 suffered another Schrage Musik attack. In the Junker's first pass the H2S was knocked out, and tail gunner Osmond was seriously wounded. On the second pass rounds from the Junkers detonated the bomber's bomb load.
