R9447 MP-R from 76 Squadron



On 30th March 1942, the crew of Halifax R9447 MP-R from 76 Squadron took off at 1807 hrs from RAF Tain on the North East coast of Scotland to participate in an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz which was moored at the time in Fættenfjord in Norway.

On arriving in the target area they found 10/10ths low cloud which obscured the landscape below and made it impossible to pin point the target. Their load of bombs were dropped as ordered from around 5,000 feet.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Tain landing at 0240 hrs on 31st March 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
W/C YOUNG DFC Pilot Returned
P/O MOORHOUSE 2nd Pilot Returned
P/O MILLER Navigator Returned
Sgt BROOKS W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt O'REILLY W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt SPRIGGS Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt GREENWOOD Flight Engineer Returned



On 27th April 1942, the crew of Halifax R9447 MP-R from 76 Squadron took off at 2001 hrs from RAF Tain on the North East coast of Scotland to participate in an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz which was moored at the time in Fættenfjord in Norway.

Two hours into the flight over the North Sea the starboard inner engine of Wing Commander Young's Halifax went u/s and he was unable to maintain height with the engine feathered. The bombload was jettisoned at 2222 hrs.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Tain landing at 0108 hrs on 28th April 1942 having been unable to reach the target due to engine trouble.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
W/C YOUNG DFC Pilot Returned
P/O BOWAK Navigator Returned
F/Sgt MINER W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt OLDFIELD W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt SPRIGGS Tail Gunner Returned
F/L CROFT Flight Engineer Returned



On 28th April 1942, the crew of Halifax R9447 MP-R from 76 Squadron took off at 2010 hrs from RAF Tain on the North East coast of Scotland to participate in an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz which was moored at the time in Fættenfjord in Norway.

The weather conditions experienced were very similar to the previous night. Visibility was almost perfect and Wing Commander Young stated that the outward trip was made in broad daylight and that it was almost twilight over the target area. The aircraft commenced the attack at 0035 hrs from 6,700 feet although the crew were not certain that the Tirpitz was attacked as ground visibility in the area was at this point obscured by smoke. The Navigator, Flight Sergeant Miner, believed that the bomb was dropped in error in Strandenfjord. The Rear Gunner, Sgt Spriggs, reported to Wing Commander Young the sighting of an enemy fighter near the target area and it was successfully avoided. Light flak concentrations, searchlights and aerodromes were attacked with good results after the primary target had been bombed.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Tain landing at 0514 hrs on 29th April 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
W/C YOUNG DFC Pilot Returned
P/O BOWAK Navigator Returned
F/Sgt MINER W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt OLDFIELD W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt SPRIGGS Tail Gunner Returned
F/L CROFT Flight Engineer Returned
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