Steven K. Dixon 2023
103 Squadron (Halifax) Aircraft Name: D-Diamond
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
Chris |
F/SGT |
Nav/Bomb Aimer |
General 2 |
SGT |
Nose Gunner |
Horty 2 |
SGT |
Engineer |
Bricks 2 |
Flt/SGT |
Wireless/Gunner |
Vargi 2 |
SGT |
Mid-Upper |
Backwards 2 |
SGT |
Rear Gunner |
Griffin 2 |
SGT |
Mission AARs - 1944/45 Campaign 4
Mission 1 - It’s good to know that with the chaps on the ground pushing forward, we don’t have to get shot at from the French coast! As we entered enemy territory there were plenty of search lights and moderate flak. We received minor damage and we managed to dodge the old night fighters! The town was clearly ablaze when we arrived and we aimed for the flares and the flames.
Minor flak hits on our return trip and we landed safely.
Mission 2 - No casualties, no kills. On target 30%.
Mission 3 - Apart from the take off and landing, it seemed we were flying through heavy cloud there and back. Our gizmos stated we were over the target (50%cover) and we dropped our bombs. I can’t imagine the photo will be any good, but it was a good effort by the crew to get us there and back! Other than some light flak, we didn’t see anything.
Mission 4 - Take off and landing went well, the bit in between was troublesome. The weather was against us and thick cloud covered enemy territory.
We received a recall message when we were over Belgium. We boxed round and headed for home.
Mission 5 - This was a test of flying on instruments and predictive navigation along with all the gadgets the boffins have created. Thick cloud pretty much all the way there and back. Being in the middle of the stream meant keeping a good eye out for friendlies as well as Gerry! We bombed blind but somehow we hit the target! The flight back was uneventful with only a token effort of flak encountered! Landed safely.
Mission 6 - I must say, with the advance of our troops on the ground and moving forward towards Germany, the crew are filled with confidence of our ultimate victory! Flack was reduced in and out of the target area and the Night fighters seemed to be non existent (well at least for the D Diamond!) we dropped our bombs on the flares and seemed to Do quite well. Flight back and landing was smooth. Another Op chalked off!
Mission 7 - Take off went well, unfortunately the weather was pretty poor. Over Belgium we heard the recall back to base. It was as good as any landing with all our eggs onboard. The ground crew hated when we brought them back. I said to the chief about leaving them onboard for the next op. He wasn’t having any of it!
Mission 9 - Take off was a little hairy as the weather over Blighty was atrocious!
Thick cloud, strong winds and rain. Somewhere over the North Sea we heard the recall back to base. Due to the severe weather we decided to drop the bombs over the water in order to increase the odds of landing safely. Direct hit on the Briney! We took a large dog leg around to avoid the following squadrons and we were all glad to be back on the ground back at base, without any mishaps
Mission 10 - D Diamond was in the last group to take off and head to the target, the weather was pretty bad and we encountered no enemy aircraft. There was some light flak to no effect. We used our gadgets and dropped on the fires of the previous squadrons. The flight home was uneventful. Smooth landing and a tot of rum to send us off to bed after the debrief!
Mission 11 - D Diamond had a good start, our wireless operator received the about signal as we were reaching the Belgium coast. We couldn’t see a thing due to thick cloud. We looped back around to avoid any other aircraft and headed back to base. Safe landing.
Better luck next time!
Mission 12 - We were all ready to give Gerry a pasting! As the armies are advancing to take Berlin, we can all feel the ultimate victory, it’s a shame they do give up. Being in the lead squadron we had a fairly clear shot at the target. Flak was heavy, but despite that, we managed to get a good spread over the target! 50%. The night fighters seemed absent, but we’re not complaining. Gerry put a few holes in D Diamond, apart from that it was a good trip!
Mission 1 - It’s good to know that with the chaps on the ground pushing forward, we don’t have to get shot at from the French coast! As we entered enemy territory there were plenty of search lights and moderate flak. We received minor damage and we managed to dodge the old night fighters! The town was clearly ablaze when we arrived and we aimed for the flares and the flames.
Minor flak hits on our return trip and we landed safely.
Mission 2 - No casualties, no kills. On target 30%.
Mission 3 - Apart from the take off and landing, it seemed we were flying through heavy cloud there and back. Our gizmos stated we were over the target (50%cover) and we dropped our bombs. I can’t imagine the photo will be any good, but it was a good effort by the crew to get us there and back! Other than some light flak, we didn’t see anything.
Mission 4 - Take off and landing went well, the bit in between was troublesome. The weather was against us and thick cloud covered enemy territory.
We received a recall message when we were over Belgium. We boxed round and headed for home.
Mission 5 - This was a test of flying on instruments and predictive navigation along with all the gadgets the boffins have created. Thick cloud pretty much all the way there and back. Being in the middle of the stream meant keeping a good eye out for friendlies as well as Gerry! We bombed blind but somehow we hit the target! The flight back was uneventful with only a token effort of flak encountered! Landed safely.
Mission 6 - I must say, with the advance of our troops on the ground and moving forward towards Germany, the crew are filled with confidence of our ultimate victory! Flack was reduced in and out of the target area and the Night fighters seemed to be non existent (well at least for the D Diamond!) we dropped our bombs on the flares and seemed to Do quite well. Flight back and landing was smooth. Another Op chalked off!
Mission 7 - Take off went well, unfortunately the weather was pretty poor. Over Belgium we heard the recall back to base. It was as good as any landing with all our eggs onboard. The ground crew hated when we brought them back. I said to the chief about leaving them onboard for the next op. He wasn’t having any of it!
Mission 9 - Take off was a little hairy as the weather over Blighty was atrocious!
Thick cloud, strong winds and rain. Somewhere over the North Sea we heard the recall back to base. Due to the severe weather we decided to drop the bombs over the water in order to increase the odds of landing safely. Direct hit on the Briney! We took a large dog leg around to avoid the following squadrons and we were all glad to be back on the ground back at base, without any mishaps
Mission 10 - D Diamond was in the last group to take off and head to the target, the weather was pretty bad and we encountered no enemy aircraft. There was some light flak to no effect. We used our gadgets and dropped on the fires of the previous squadrons. The flight home was uneventful. Smooth landing and a tot of rum to send us off to bed after the debrief!
Mission 11 - D Diamond had a good start, our wireless operator received the about signal as we were reaching the Belgium coast. We couldn’t see a thing due to thick cloud. We looped back around to avoid any other aircraft and headed back to base. Safe landing.
Better luck next time!
Mission 12 - We were all ready to give Gerry a pasting! As the armies are advancing to take Berlin, we can all feel the ultimate victory, it’s a shame they do give up. Being in the lead squadron we had a fairly clear shot at the target. Flak was heavy, but despite that, we managed to get a good spread over the target! 50%. The night fighters seemed absent, but we’re not complaining. Gerry put a few holes in D Diamond, apart from that it was a good trip!
1944/45 Missions: Campaign 4
Mission |
Target |
Result |
1 |
Ludwigshafen |
On Target 30% |
2 |
Sterkrade |
On Target 30% |
3 |
Bingen |
On Target 30% |
4 |
Kaiserlautern |
DNB - Recall |
5 |
Wanne-Eickel |
On Target 30% |
6 |
Munster |
On Target 50% |
7 |
Stettin |
DNB - Abort |
8 |
|
|
9 |
Sassnitz |
DNB - Recall |
10 |
Hanover |
On Target 30% |
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 |
Hanau |
DNB - Recall |
12 |
Osnabruck |
On Target 50% |
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