R9454 MP-S from 76 Squadron



On 30th March 1942, the crew of Halifax R9454 MP-S from 76 Squadron took off at 1816 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, however, they bombed flak and searchlight positions in the target area which appeared to have some effect as the flak and searchlights stopped after being bombed.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Tain landing at 0145 hrs on 31st March 1942.

The pilot of this aircraft, Sgt Harwood, and some of the crew onboard also flew on an operation against Tirpitz on 30/31st January 1942. On the return journey from the January raid their aircraft ran out of fuel and ditched in the North Sea four miles off Greg Ness, near Aberdeen. Two of the crew were slightly injured in the ditching, but they all managed to take to the life raft and were safely rescued by patrol boats that were in the area.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
Sgt HARWOOD Pilot Returned
Sgt WOOD 2nd Pilot Returned
F/Sgt SCOTT Navigator Returned
F/Sgt ROCHE W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt POTTS A W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt PETCH Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt GLOVER Flight Engineer Returned



On 27th April 1942, the crew of Halifax R9454 MP-S 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.

On reaching the target area the crew were unable to see Tirpitz due to the smoke and haze. However, they estimated the position of the ship using other features in the fjord which could be clearly seen. The bomb was seen to burst approximately 200 yards to the south west of the estimated position of the ship.

The aircraft and crew returned safely to RAF Tain landing at 0458 hrs on 28th April 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
Sgt HARWOOD Pilot Returned
F/Sgt SCOTT Navigator Returned
Sgt POTTS A W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt LYTHGOE W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt YOUNG Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt PETCH Flight Engineer Returned



On 28th April 1942, the crew of Halifax R9454 MP-S from 76 Squadron took off at 2018 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 nights operation to the same target. Tirpitz was identified by the crew and bombs dropped, bursts were seen approximately 200 yards from the target. 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 0518 hrs on 29th April 1942.


Rank
Name
Force Crew Position Age
Home Town
Fate
Sgt HARWOOD Pilot Returned
F/Sgt SCOTT Navigator Returned
Sgt POTTS A W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt LYTHGOE W/Op Air Gunner Returned
Sgt YOUNG Tail Gunner Returned
Sgt PETCH Flight Engineer Returned
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