Steven K. Dixon 2022
103 Squadron (Halifax) Aircraft Name: Thunder Tank II
Crew:
Position |
Name |
Rank |
Pilot |
Scooby Doo |
Plt/Off |
Nav/Bomb Aimer |
Liono |
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Nose Gunner |
Cutler |
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Engineer |
Tigra |
F/Sgt |
Wireless/Gunner |
Fred |
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Mid-Upper |
Velma |
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Rear Gunner |
Bean |
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Mission AAR
Woof, Woof, Woof lost during Mission 5, 1943. Mystery Machine lost during Mission 9, 1943; Thunder Tank lost on Brunswick mission.
1943/44 (Campaign 2 and 3 missions)
Mission 18 - It was going to be a long one to the edge of Spain nearly, in order to bomb the Vichy French factories. Rumours were abound that it was some super secret bakery making the best croissants for nearly all of Fritz’ army!! This would ruin breakfast and would be a real morale buster, if we could flatten this place!!! Alas it was not to be as the breakfast Gods must have got wind of our intentions and whipped up thick cloud all over Europe. Fred our wireless OP, heard the general recall as we were climbing into the stream over the Chanel. Scooby the pilot did a cracking job avoiding all the other chaps returning to base and landed the Thunder Tank II back at base without a scratch! We all managed to get down to the local pub “The White Heart” for a couple of jars before last order! Here’s to the next one!
Mission 19 - What was due to be a short trip, turned into a nightmare. In breeching enemy territory, TT II was hit by flack, numerous hits but the most notable damage made evasion impossible. Scooby, the pilot put it to the crew, whether to abort. The crew wanted to crack on to chalk another trip off. Soon after that we were hit by a fighter from nowhere, must have been a novice as minor damage was inflicted, another fighter attacked and killed our tail gunner Panthro. After numerous passes we were still flying and lining ourselves up for the target. 40% were dropped on the rail yards. Fortunately we made it back to base with a wing and a prayer! Panthro will be sadly missed. A FSgt Bean will be replacing him.
Mission 20 - Reports from a local German Newspaper - The Bielefeld Gazette. 3/3/1944
Heroic Night fighter Ace, Herr Flick achieved his 15th and final kill, destroying a Terror Flyer that was heading to the heart of the Fatherland. His sacrifice along with his valiant crew will be rewarded posthumously with the highest awards. His JU88 G7 was found among the wreckage of a Halifax marked as Tank II. There were no survivors. There were reports last night from Flak batteries and other night fighters claiming hits and damage on a lone Halifax bomber which was at a much reduced altitude. We can only applaud the courage of our night time defenses in stopping these attackers! Local witnesses heard the roar of aircraft overhead, followed by gunfire and a huge explosion, followed immediately by a second explosion. Flames streaked down to the ground, narrowly missing a local brewery! Thank the heavens!
Woof, Woof, Woof lost during Mission 5, 1943. Mystery Machine lost during Mission 9, 1943; Thunder Tank lost on Brunswick mission.
1943/44 (Campaign 2 and 3 missions)
Mission 18 - It was going to be a long one to the edge of Spain nearly, in order to bomb the Vichy French factories. Rumours were abound that it was some super secret bakery making the best croissants for nearly all of Fritz’ army!! This would ruin breakfast and would be a real morale buster, if we could flatten this place!!! Alas it was not to be as the breakfast Gods must have got wind of our intentions and whipped up thick cloud all over Europe. Fred our wireless OP, heard the general recall as we were climbing into the stream over the Chanel. Scooby the pilot did a cracking job avoiding all the other chaps returning to base and landed the Thunder Tank II back at base without a scratch! We all managed to get down to the local pub “The White Heart” for a couple of jars before last order! Here’s to the next one!
Mission 19 - What was due to be a short trip, turned into a nightmare. In breeching enemy territory, TT II was hit by flack, numerous hits but the most notable damage made evasion impossible. Scooby, the pilot put it to the crew, whether to abort. The crew wanted to crack on to chalk another trip off. Soon after that we were hit by a fighter from nowhere, must have been a novice as minor damage was inflicted, another fighter attacked and killed our tail gunner Panthro. After numerous passes we were still flying and lining ourselves up for the target. 40% were dropped on the rail yards. Fortunately we made it back to base with a wing and a prayer! Panthro will be sadly missed. A FSgt Bean will be replacing him.
Mission 20 - Reports from a local German Newspaper - The Bielefeld Gazette. 3/3/1944
Heroic Night fighter Ace, Herr Flick achieved his 15th and final kill, destroying a Terror Flyer that was heading to the heart of the Fatherland. His sacrifice along with his valiant crew will be rewarded posthumously with the highest awards. His JU88 G7 was found among the wreckage of a Halifax marked as Tank II. There were no survivors. There were reports last night from Flak batteries and other night fighters claiming hits and damage on a lone Halifax bomber which was at a much reduced altitude. We can only applaud the courage of our night time defenses in stopping these attackers! Local witnesses heard the roar of aircraft overhead, followed by gunfire and a huge explosion, followed immediately by a second explosion. Flames streaked down to the ground, narrowly missing a local brewery! Thank the heavens!
1943/44 (Campaign 2 and Campaign 3) Missions:
Mission # |
Target |
Result |
18 |
Ossun, Fr. |
DNB - Mission Recall |
19 |
Metz, Fr. |
On Target 40% |
20 |
Berlin, Ge. |
DNB - Shot Down |
1 (Campaign 3 Starts) |
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2 |
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3 |
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5 |
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8 |
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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) |
18 |
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19 |
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20 |
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