Steven K. Dixon 2023
103 Squadron (Halifax) Aircraft Name: Tally Ho
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
"Squiffy" Morris |
P/O |
Nav/Bomb Aimer |
"Ginger" Bickies |
P/O |
Nose Gunner |
"Thommo" Thompson |
SGT |
Engineer |
"Blakey" Blake |
SGT |
Wireless/Gunner |
"Johnno" Johnson |
SGT |
Mid-Upper |
"Davey” Davidson |
SGT |
Rear Gunner |
"Barry” Broadshaw |
SGT |
Campaign 3 Mission AAR
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
Mission 1 - Full of enthusiasm and rearing to go on their first OP, the new crew of Tally Ho relieved themselves on the tail wheel of the new Hallibag. It was a little jaunt to Ghent in Belgium to smash up the rail facilities there. Apart from seeing a few searchlights and a fair bit of cloud, the crew did admirably to reach the target and hit the target with 50% accuracy. The other 50% hit a German motorcycle parked outside the Station! The pathfinders did a cracking job lighting the place up with flares!
It was an uneventful trip and a success! One down, twenty nine to go!
Mission 3 - Just as Tally Ho crossed the French coast, we were bounced by a Me110 G4, caught Harris the tail gunner with his pants down but luckily he missed. Squiffy the pilot corkscrewed left. The dastardly Hun came in for another attack, Harris still couldn’t get a bead on him but Smithy the mid upper hit him! This hit didn’t stop him attacking. No.4 engine was knocked out, we had a fuel leak starboard wing, ammo tracks knocked out, Starboard rudder hit, and numerous hits all over the aircraft! After this little dance with death, Squiffy turned the old kite around and thought it better to fight another day! We ditched the bombs over the channel and landed in one piece. Crew all ok, plenty of work for the ground crew to do!
Mission 3 - Mixed emotions after this one, 40% bombs on target. Ended up getting bounced by a couple of Fritz’ night fighters. Tally Ho took numerous hits the worst being No1 engine being knocked out.Sadly our mid upper Smithy Smith bought it. Had his hand blown off and bled out all over the place. Our tail Gnr is now grounded after his left foot being shattered. We argued with the Doc that he doesn’t need a foot to fire his guns, but old Harry has a long recovery ahead! We will have the replacements up to scratch before long! Good to go for the next one after all the claret is cleaned up and we have a new engine!
Mission 5 - Tally Ho, limped back to base after getting mauled by a night fighter over Belgium. Tally Ho’s bomb bay doors were jammed shut. Heat went out in the back of the aircraft and a fuel leak meant that there was enough fuel to get back o base. We lost the fighter, had no idea of the attack until it happened. It was a dicey landing with the bombs on board. The crew are lucky to be alive as we found numerous damage to the bombs, but fortunately did not go off! We’ll be ready for the next op!
Mission 6 - Gerry was on top form tonight, we were coned by their search lights over France and their flak gunners were zeroed in. The nose of the old Halibag was shattered, forcing us to drop to less tan 10,000ft. Several fighters bounced us hitting us numerous times. Notable damage was knocking out our Starboard landing gear, dingy u/s, heat out in the nose, flaps, H2s and rudder. We managed 30% on tgt. And headed for home. The crew took up crash positions for landing. We all managed to walk away from the Tally Ho, but I think Chief was heard muttering it was a complete write off! We will be good to go when we get a new Kite!
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
Mission 1 - Full of enthusiasm and rearing to go on their first OP, the new crew of Tally Ho relieved themselves on the tail wheel of the new Hallibag. It was a little jaunt to Ghent in Belgium to smash up the rail facilities there. Apart from seeing a few searchlights and a fair bit of cloud, the crew did admirably to reach the target and hit the target with 50% accuracy. The other 50% hit a German motorcycle parked outside the Station! The pathfinders did a cracking job lighting the place up with flares!
It was an uneventful trip and a success! One down, twenty nine to go!
Mission 3 - Just as Tally Ho crossed the French coast, we were bounced by a Me110 G4, caught Harris the tail gunner with his pants down but luckily he missed. Squiffy the pilot corkscrewed left. The dastardly Hun came in for another attack, Harris still couldn’t get a bead on him but Smithy the mid upper hit him! This hit didn’t stop him attacking. No.4 engine was knocked out, we had a fuel leak starboard wing, ammo tracks knocked out, Starboard rudder hit, and numerous hits all over the aircraft! After this little dance with death, Squiffy turned the old kite around and thought it better to fight another day! We ditched the bombs over the channel and landed in one piece. Crew all ok, plenty of work for the ground crew to do!
Mission 3 - Mixed emotions after this one, 40% bombs on target. Ended up getting bounced by a couple of Fritz’ night fighters. Tally Ho took numerous hits the worst being No1 engine being knocked out.Sadly our mid upper Smithy Smith bought it. Had his hand blown off and bled out all over the place. Our tail Gnr is now grounded after his left foot being shattered. We argued with the Doc that he doesn’t need a foot to fire his guns, but old Harry has a long recovery ahead! We will have the replacements up to scratch before long! Good to go for the next one after all the claret is cleaned up and we have a new engine!
Mission 5 - Tally Ho, limped back to base after getting mauled by a night fighter over Belgium. Tally Ho’s bomb bay doors were jammed shut. Heat went out in the back of the aircraft and a fuel leak meant that there was enough fuel to get back o base. We lost the fighter, had no idea of the attack until it happened. It was a dicey landing with the bombs on board. The crew are lucky to be alive as we found numerous damage to the bombs, but fortunately did not go off! We’ll be ready for the next op!
Mission 6 - Gerry was on top form tonight, we were coned by their search lights over France and their flak gunners were zeroed in. The nose of the old Halibag was shattered, forcing us to drop to less tan 10,000ft. Several fighters bounced us hitting us numerous times. Notable damage was knocking out our Starboard landing gear, dingy u/s, heat out in the nose, flaps, H2s and rudder. We managed 30% on tgt. And headed for home. The crew took up crash positions for landing. We all managed to walk away from the Tally Ho, but I think Chief was heard muttering it was a complete write off! We will be good to go when we get a new Kite!
1944 Campaign 3 Missions:
Mission # |
Target |
Result |
1 |
Ghent, Be. |
On Target 50% |
2 |
|
|
3 |
Chambly, Fr. |
DNB - Abort |
4 |
Laon, Fr. |
On Target 40% |
5 |
Karlsruhe, Fr. |
DNB - Abort |
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
Campaign 3 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) |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
