Steven K. Dixon 2023
103 Squadron (Halifax) Aircraft Name: C-Cucumber
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
Chris |
F/SGT |
Nav/Bomb Aimer |
General |
SGT |
Nose Gunner |
Horty |
SGT |
Engineer |
Bricks |
Flt/SGT |
Wireless/Gunner |
Vargi |
SGT |
Mid-Upper |
Backwards |
SGT |
Rear Gunner |
Griffin |
SGT |
Woof, Woof, Woof lost during Mission 5, 1943. Mystery Machine lost during Mission 9, 1943; Thunder Tank lost on Brunswick mission. Thunder Tank II lost on Berlin mission. Tally Ho lost on Trappes mission; Tally Ho II lost of St. Medard mission.
Mission AARs - 1944 Campaign 3
Mission 12 - The chaps were keen to get their first opp under their belt. There was also a buzz that something big might happen soon. Bit of rough weather there and back with only some search lights seen. Managed 30% on target. Quite a few fires to aim at and struck it lucky! Landed back at base for tea and stickies!
Mission 13 - This was an uneventful little jaunt over France, Gerry’s night fighters left us alone and the Flak was sporadic. Lined up and hit the fires from the first wave. Landed back safely for a tot of rum and bed!
Mission 14 - C for Cucumber reporting in, Flying in the first third of the formation, we seemed to have caught Jerry with his pants down! Didn’t see a sausage until we saw the flares over the target. 30% of our eggs hit the target, we believe the other 70% hit a mobile German laundry unit. (Put a few extra holes in their socks!) It was a nice little trip and we made it back without a scratch.
Mission 16 - This was a short little hop to the French coast. Managed to land 30% on the smoke and flares! Back in time for closing time at the Red Lion (we hope).
Mission 17 - This was another good little trip, dropped our bombs on the flares and managed 40% on target. We were in molested by Flack and Fighters and made it back with another mission chalked up!
Mission 18 - It seemed ominous, being tail end Charlie of the stream on a full moon. We were bounced by a ME219 just before the French coast, seemed to have attacked from below, on the second pass the tail gunner shot him down. No chutes were seen. We were hit with Flak to and from the target which damaged the bomb release Mechanism. Looks like we flattened the local farmers herd of cattle! Heat was out and our tail guns were U/S after another NF attack. We dropped it down on the deck. Light AA was accurate as were were racing for home. We just left the French coast when a JU 88 latched onto us at wave top height. Numerous damage all over the old girl was taken but she kept going and Fritz must have been on empty as he broke off his attack! We could all do with a double and a clean flying kit! Safe landing back at base for the Chief to give us a what for!
Mission 19 - All was going well, until we had an oxygen malfunction in the nose. We dropped down to 10,000ft and were bounced by fighters over Germany, Vargi my WO was pretty much torn in two by cannon fire that raked the old Kite from nose to tail. After loosing old Gerry, we cracked on to the target which was lit up like a Christmas tree. We took the chance to go in. The General smacked 40% of our eggs on target. Then I heard a large thump and I the pilot was sucked out of the aircraft. I managed to look up as I was falling and good old C Cucumber was chopped up for salad! None of the chaps got out of her. We were hit by the chaps up above! After drifting in my chute for what seemed like an age, I managed to escape and evade back towards Belgium. Fritz retreated back and I met up with our forward units who got me back to Blighty! Gonna need a couple of large ones, a new Kite and some chaps to finish the job!
Mission AARs - 1944 Campaign 3
Mission 12 - The chaps were keen to get their first opp under their belt. There was also a buzz that something big might happen soon. Bit of rough weather there and back with only some search lights seen. Managed 30% on target. Quite a few fires to aim at and struck it lucky! Landed back at base for tea and stickies!
Mission 13 - This was an uneventful little jaunt over France, Gerry’s night fighters left us alone and the Flak was sporadic. Lined up and hit the fires from the first wave. Landed back safely for a tot of rum and bed!
Mission 14 - C for Cucumber reporting in, Flying in the first third of the formation, we seemed to have caught Jerry with his pants down! Didn’t see a sausage until we saw the flares over the target. 30% of our eggs hit the target, we believe the other 70% hit a mobile German laundry unit. (Put a few extra holes in their socks!) It was a nice little trip and we made it back without a scratch.
Mission 16 - This was a short little hop to the French coast. Managed to land 30% on the smoke and flares! Back in time for closing time at the Red Lion (we hope).
Mission 17 - This was another good little trip, dropped our bombs on the flares and managed 40% on target. We were in molested by Flack and Fighters and made it back with another mission chalked up!
Mission 18 - It seemed ominous, being tail end Charlie of the stream on a full moon. We were bounced by a ME219 just before the French coast, seemed to have attacked from below, on the second pass the tail gunner shot him down. No chutes were seen. We were hit with Flak to and from the target which damaged the bomb release Mechanism. Looks like we flattened the local farmers herd of cattle! Heat was out and our tail guns were U/S after another NF attack. We dropped it down on the deck. Light AA was accurate as were were racing for home. We just left the French coast when a JU 88 latched onto us at wave top height. Numerous damage all over the old girl was taken but she kept going and Fritz must have been on empty as he broke off his attack! We could all do with a double and a clean flying kit! Safe landing back at base for the Chief to give us a what for!
Mission 19 - All was going well, until we had an oxygen malfunction in the nose. We dropped down to 10,000ft and were bounced by fighters over Germany, Vargi my WO was pretty much torn in two by cannon fire that raked the old Kite from nose to tail. After loosing old Gerry, we cracked on to the target which was lit up like a Christmas tree. We took the chance to go in. The General smacked 40% of our eggs on target. Then I heard a large thump and I the pilot was sucked out of the aircraft. I managed to look up as I was falling and good old C Cucumber was chopped up for salad! None of the chaps got out of her. We were hit by the chaps up above! After drifting in my chute for what seemed like an age, I managed to escape and evade back towards Belgium. Fritz retreated back and I met up with our forward units who got me back to Blighty! Gonna need a couple of large ones, a new Kite and some chaps to finish the job!
1944 Missions: Campaign 3
Mission |
Target |
Result |
12 |
Aufevre, Fr. |
On Target 30% |
13 |
Cambrai, Fr. |
On Target 40% |
14 |
Conde-sur-Noireau, Fr. |
On Target 30% |
15 |
|
|
16 |
Westrove, Fr. |
On Target 30% |
17 |
Aunay-sur-Odon |
On Target 40% |
18 |
Druex, Fr. |
Off Target 0% |
19 |
Heilbronn. Ge. |
On Target 30% |
20 |
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1944 Credited Kills - Campaign 3
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 |
12 |
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13 |
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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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1 |
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19 |
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20 |
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