Page 6 - 576 Squadron History

The Battle of Berlin was now at an end and 576 Squadron had survived a difficult start to its
operational career.

The winter on 1943/44 had proved a very demanding time for Bomber Command which had
suffered considerably in lost aircraft and crews. Whilst the Battle of Berlin did not force the hoped
for German surrender it did contribute greatly to the eventual victory. It caused considerable
damage and disruption to the German war effort and diverted resources from the Eastern Front to
the defense of their own homeland thus helping the Russians until a land invasion in the west
could be mounted.

A Change of Direction

With the invasion of Western Europe planned for that summer Bomber Command were ordered to
target enemy communications Centre’s, ammunition dumps and army facilities in France, Belgium
and Western Germany.

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No operations were flown in April 1944 until the 9/10 of the month when 4 aircraft took part in a
raid on Villeneuve-St-Georges marshalling yards. On the next night 14 Lancasters and crews were
detailed to attack the railway yards at Aulnoye. Flight Sergeant S. G. Hordel R.C.A.F and crew and
Flying Officer E. H. Stansel R.C.A.F and crew were both involved in combats with Bf 110s and
successfully evaded. Flight Lieutenant F. S. Barnsdale and crew failed to return
from this operation.

The following night railway and road communications were successfully attacked at Aachen and
on the 18/19 April the railway yards at Rouen were subjected to a concentrated attack.
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During the next week the Squadron returned to the Rhine area to take part in 4 heavy and
successful raids on Cologne, Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe and Essen. The Squadron detailed 17
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Lancasters and crews for the raid to Cologne on the 20/21 April. Night fighter sightings were
frequent and Flight Sergeant D. G. C. Thorpe and crew were attacked by a Bf 110 but evaded.
Flight Sergeant S. G. Hordel R.C.A.F and crew had to return to base on
3 engines due to a coolant leak.

On the 22/23 April the Squadron detailed 18 Lancasters and crews for a raid on Dusseldorf.
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2 aircraft touched prior to take off and were scrubbed and the Lancaster of Warrant Officer A.
Puttock swerved on take-off and burst a tyre. Fortunately nobody was injured in these incidents.
3 Lancasters were unable to take off because of these mishaps blocking the runway. The raid
proved very accurate but there was considerable night fighter activity in the target
area and on return.

Friedrichshafen, which was an important centre for German tank engine and gearbox
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manufacture, was attacked by 18 Lancasters and crews from the Squadron on the 27/28 April.
This involved a long and difficult flight to Southern Germany but the results were excellent and it is
reported by the Germans that this was the most damaging attack on their tank production of the
entire war. Moderate heavy flak and searchlights were reported in the target area and many night
fighters were sighted. No aircraft were lost from the Squadron.