Page 5 - 576 Squadron History

During February the Squadron had participated in 5 operations detailing 70 sorties from which 1
failed to return. This had been a better month for the Squadron with only one loss. The bad
weather had again curtailed operations but much training had been carried out which must have
improved the efficiency and confidence of the new crews.

A combination of thick snow, wind and fog prevented any operations from Elsham Wolds in March
1944 until the 15/16 of the month when a raid on Stuttgart was undertaken. 2 raids on Frankfurt
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followed on the 18/19 and 22/23 . On the 24/25 March the Squadron detailed 19 Lancasters
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and crews for the last raid in the Battle of Berlin. The raid was notable for a very strong and
inaccurately forecast northerly wind which carried the bombers south at every stage of the flight.
The bomber stream became scattered, especially on the return flight, and radar predicted flak
batteries in many places were able to score many successes as aircraft strayed over heavily
defended areas like the Ruhr. The strong winds caused great difficulty in marking the target and
the raid was not a success. 2 Lancasters from 576 Squadron failed to return, those of Flying
Officer F. H. Brooke and crew which exploded in mid-air South West of Neuhof and Flight
Sergeant L. J. Collis and crew which was shot down by flak on the return leg. In addition Flight
Lieutenant J. M. Shearer R.N.Z.A.F and crew were damaged by flak and a night fighter and flew
back on 2 engines losing a third engine on landing approach; the pilot skillfully made a crash
landing on the remaining engine. Flight Sergeant Young and crew were also badly shot up by a
night fighter and flak and sustained a badly damaged starboard wing but managed to return safely.

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A successful attack was made on Essen on the 26/27 March. 576 detailed 17 Lancasters and
crews for this operation. The target was cloud covered but the sky marking by the pathfinder
Mosquito aircraft equipped with Oboe blind bombing aid was very accurate. The Lancaster of
Flight Sergeant C. G. Wearmouth and crew lost an engine due to a mechanical failure on the

outward flight but pressed on to the target. They were badly shot up by a Ju 88 night fighter but
successfully evaded and were then subjected to another attack by a Ju 88 which they also
evaded. On the return flight they lost another engine but were escorted on the final stages of their
return flight by a Mosquito and made an emergency landing at West Malling airfield.

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The final operation of March was to Nuremberg on the 30/31 March; 576 detailed 16 Lancasters
and crews for this operation which was undertaken on a bright moonlit night. The forecast cloud
cover did not materialize. The German controllers ignored the various diversionary operations
mounted that night and the night fighters quickly made contact with the bomber stream as it
crossed into Germany. For the next hour a fierce battle took place and 82 bombers were shot
down on the outward journey and in the region of the target. 95 bombers were lost out of a total
795 with 9 more crashing on return to Britain. In all the R.A.F lost 108 aircraft and crews on that
night. 545 aircrew were killed.

576 Squadron lost 1 Lancaster and crew that night that of Flight Lieutenant P. E. Underwood,
which was shot down by a night fighter with the “Schräge Musik” upward firing cannon installation.
Flight Lieutenant Underwood and Sergeant A. E. Evans both survived were made
prisoners of war. In March the Squadron had operated on 6 nights and detailed 99 sorties from
which 3 aircraft failed to return.

Squadron Leader D. D. Haig DFC and bar, the ‘A’ Flight commander, was posted out to command
625 Squadron. He was replaced by Squadron Leader D. A. Garner as ‘A’ Flight commander who
was posted in from 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit.