January 11 1945.
Mixed strike force of fourteen Mosquito’s from Banff and eighteen Beaufighters from Dallachy flew an armed strike to Flekkefjord to attack shipping reported there. Whilst preparing for the strike they were intercepted from the North by approx. six ME 109s and FW 190s, while at the same time at Lister airfield a similar group of fighters took off and attacked the formation from the South. Luring the engagement various dog fights ensued which finished when the enemy fighters climbed into cloud cover. Three enemy fighters were seen to be shot down, Flight Lieutenant M. Russel DFC, and another Mosquito crew sharing a claim in destroying a ME 109. A further German fighter was claimed as a probable. The strike wing lost two aircraft, a Beaufighter and Mosquito "M" of 143 squadron, which did not return from the strike although it was ‘not seen to be shot down’.The crew of this plane were; Flight Sergeant P.C.L. Smoolenaers (Belgium) and his navigator Flight Sergeant W.W. Harris (RAAF) both reported missing. This was one of the rare occasions when, the six pounder ‘Molins gun’, of the MK XVIII (Tsetse) Mosquito’s belonging to 248 squadron, was fired in air—to—air combat, normally it was used for anti—shinning strikes.
Viento del Noroeste de 8m/s. Cielos cubiertos. Nieve/escarcha y nieblas a baja cota.
Despegaremos antes del amanecer y recorreremos un par de fiordos donde, de acuerdo a los reconocimientos previos, la Kriegsmarine fondea naves durante el día a la espera de la oscuridad. Se prevé defensa antiaérea relevante y quizá, presencia de caza enemiga del cercano aeródromo de Herdla (sabemos que allí hay basados uno o varios staffeln de Bf-109).
No contamos con escolta de caza a pesar del peligro; (no he podido averiguar por qué en esta peligrosa misión la RAF no proporcionó escolta de los Mustangs existentes, pero vamos a recrear la misión como transcurrió).
Como véis en el mapa, entraremos en espacio enemigo desde el Norte para virar en el sentido de las agujas del reloj en patrulla S&D (search & destroy; equivalentes a las antiguas Rover Patrols) y salir al Sur dirección a las Shetlands y nuestra base.
Habrá disponibles ocho Mosquitos (235th) y ocho Beaufighters (404th). Todos con base en Banff. Pista 28. Plataforma "E".
La misión se volará a las 22.30h del día 17/04/2016. Briefing quince minutos antes. Los líderes se asignarán en el briefing y como siempre, con preferencia para liderar de los N.III presentes.
Presente 404th al ser posible!!
235º
