Page 7 - 576 Squadron History

The month concluded with another very successful raid on the German ammunition dump at
Maintenon. The Squadron detailed 12 Lancasters and crews for this operation. The aircraft of Pilot
Officer J. S. Griffiths and crew hit the boundary fence on take-off damaging the undercarriage. The
bomb load could not be jettisoned due to the bomb doors not being able to open. Ground control
ordered that the Lancaster be headed out to sea and the crew bale out which they did and
returned to Elsham Wolds soon after.

During April the Squadron had flown on 10 nights detailing 135 sorties from which 1 failed to return
and 1 was abandoned over England just after take-off. Squadron Leader D. A. Garner took over
command of ‘B’ Flight because of the loss Flight Lieutenant Underwood; and Flight
Lieutenant G. A. Davison was promoted to Squadron Leader and given command of ʻAʼ Flight.
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On the 3/4 May 1944 576 Squadron detailed 18 Lancasters and crews to attack the German
panzer depot at Mailly-le-Camp. The attacking force had to orbit in a position some miles from the
target area whilst confirmation that the markers were accurately placed was made. Unfortunately
there was a communication problem and the orders were delayed. Whilst the bombers were
orbiting their holding point the German night fighters made contact in some strength and a fierce
battle took place before, finally, the orders were given and the target was bombed. 42 Lancasters
were lost out of a force of 346 but the military camp sustained much serious damage. 576
Squadron lost 1 crew on this operation, that of Pilot Officer R. Whalley DFC.

In addition the Lancaster of Pilot Officer R. R. Reed and crew was badly shot about on 2
occasions by Ju 88s killing the rear gunner Sergeant A. A. Hodson. The mid upper gunner was
missing having either bailed out or been thrown out. The Lancaster had sustained serious damage
to its undercarriage and Pilot Officer Reed had to crash land the aircraft on return to base. The
rear turret was burnt out and nearly shot away and the damage to the Lancaster was such that it
was written off.

The Lancaster of Pilot Officer A. C. Blackie and crew was attacked by a Ju 88 and sustained
serious damage. The Lancaster made an emergency landing at Woodbridge and the gunners
claimed the Ju 88 as destroyed in the combat.

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On the 6/7 May the Squadron detailed 5 Lancasters and crews to attack the ammunition dump at
Aubigné-Racan. This was another very successful raid but 576 lost 1 Lancaster and crew
that of Flight Lieutenant J. M. Shearer R.N.Z.A.F.
Among the crew was Air Commodore R. Ivelaw-Chapman, a well-liked and highly regarded senior
officer, who was flying as Second Pilot to observe the effects of the bombing of French targets. He
was 13 Base Commander in No. 1 Group (RAF Elsham Wolds) which meant he was in charge of 3
airfields and had recently taken up that position after having had a staff job in which he had access
to the coming invasion plans. This caused great anxiety in Britain because it was feared that he
may be handed over to the Gestapo for questioning if the Germans ever realized his importance.
Although he was taken prisoner the Germans did not appreciate his significance and he was
treated as a normal prisoner of war. He was the highest ranking Bomber Command
prisoner of war.

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On the 12/13 May Pilot Officer Parkinson and crew were lost on a night “Bullseye” bombing
exercise and, very strangely for a training task, were lost without trace. The next night the
Squadron detailed 2 Lancasters and crews for a mining operation to Kiel Bay. The Lancaster of
Flying Officer E. J. Presland DFC and crew were shot down by a night fighter on this operation
and crashed in Denmark on the island of Fyn. None of the 8 man crew survived. A Second Pilot or
‘second dickey’, as it was known in the bomber squadrons, was carried on this operation. This was
Pilot Officer A. E. Slade who was participating to gain some experience of operational flying.