Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The crew's first operation was flown with the Squadron Commander as aircraft captain, and Jeff Clarson as 'second dickie'. The next operation was 30th October 1944, their first under Jeff Clarson's command. This was a daylight raid, to bomb German positions on Walcheren Island. On both these two operations, they dropped 13,000 pounds of bombs (6 tonnes). The next operation was at night, against Coblenz on 6th November 1944, dropping a 4,000 bomb and 12 cans of incendiary bombs. South west of Aachen, they had contact with a German JU88 night fighter; twin-engined radar-equipped and very heavily armed with cannon. It was spotted directly above them but hadn't spotted them so they were able to slip away undetected. On the 11th and 15th November 1944, a daylight operation was flown on an oil refinery at Ickern near Dortmund. They dropped 12,000 pounds of bombs, and four days later returned to drop 12,000 pounds of bombs on an oil refinery at Dortmund. On the following day, it was another daylight operation, bombing German troop concentrations north of Aachen. They encountered heavy radar-directed flak. On 20th November 1944, they again attacked oil refineries in daylight at Homberg. As well as dropping bombs, they also dropped leaflets, probably designed to encourage the German citizenry to give thought to surrendering. On the following day (21 November 1944), they paid a return visit to Homberg, again bombing the oil refineries. Then on the 26th November 1944, they bombed the railway marshalling yards at Fulda, northeast of Frankfurt. This was the deepest penetration by RAF bombers into Germany in daylight. They were airborne for 6 hours and 5 minutes. The next day 27th November, they bombed the railway marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight, and encountered intense flak, but sustained no damage. On December 2nd 1944, they bombed the gas works at Dortmund in daylight, with moderate flak. TEN Ops completed Their next operation, again in daylight, was to bomb a dam at Schwammanuel, however the operation was aborted because of the heavy cloud cover over the target, and they had to drop their bomb load in the Channel. December 6th 1944 was a night operation to Merseburg, to bomb a synthetic oil plant. There was intense flak, and they had to land at Woodbridge. December 11th 1944 was a daylight operation to Osterfield marshalling yards. On the following day, they bombed marshalling yards and steelworks at Witten, near Essen, and sighted German fighters but were not intercepted. This was their 13th operation in five weeks, a very intense rate indeed. They then took five days leave, during which all airfields were closed because of fog. The Squadron transferred to Stradishall, Suffolk on December 17th 1944, and the crew resumed operations from there on December 28th when they made a daylight attack on marshalling yards at Cologne, followed by a daylight attack on marshalling yards at Vohwinkel, near Remscheid on New Year's Eve. 1945 commenced with a daylight raid on an oil plant at Castrop Rouxel, when for the first time their aircraft was holed by flak, and their Engineer was slightly injured. Upon return, they found an unexploded anti-aircraft incendiary shell in the wing spar between the petrol tanks, and there were 50 holes in the aircraft, including a large hole in the tail. The aircraft never flew again. At this point they picked up the aircraft that they would see out the war in - 'M for Mike' tail number Next was a daylight operation to Erkenswick on January 15th 1945, to bomb coke and ammonia works. They then had a break doing GH training. On January 28th 1945, they bombed marshalling yards at Cologne. There was moderate flak. There was further GH training until February 9th, when they had a night operation to Hohenberg, near Duisburg, to bomb marshalling yards. On the February 13th 1945, they went to Dresden on a night operation for a saturation attack on a Russian tactical target. Bombed from 20,000 ft. 1 x 4,000 pound bomb and 4 cans of incendiaries. There was only light flak. TWENTY Ops completed Their next operation on February 18th 1945, was in daylight to Wesel, north of the Ruhr. Light flak was encountered The following day i they flew another daylight operation to Wesel. On February 22nd 1945, a daylight operation to Gelsenkirchen, to bomb a power station and coke plant. Intense and accurate flak for 20 minutes was encountered, and the starboard inner engine knocked out. 2 holes in the front turret, and 2 in the tail. On February 25th 1945, it was a daylight operation to Kamen nr. Dortmund to bomb the synthetic oil refinery. Moderate and accurate flak. Once again, they went to Gelsenkirchen on February 27th 1945 in daylight to bomb the Benzol plant. Moderate flak. February 28th 1945, it was a daylight operation once again to Gelsenkirchen to bomb the synthetic oil plant. (Note here that the crew loathed going to Gelsenkirchen). On March 2nd 1945, another daylight operation to Cologne. Light flak. On March 5th 1945, back to Gelsenkirchen again by daylight to bomb the Benzol plant. Moderate flak, but A/C severely damaged, all tanks holed except one. Port outer engine hit twice. 6-inch x 12- inch hole in elevator. 40 holes in A/C. Then on March 6th 1945, it was a night operation to Wesel, where they encountered only light flak. On March 9th 1945, it was a daylight operation to Datteln to bomb the coking plant. They got home on three engines. THIRTY Ops Completed - which would normally have been deemed a full tour. March 18th 1945, a daylight operation to Hattingen to bomb the Benzol plant. Moderate and accurate flak. March 21st 1945, another daylight operation. This time to Munster to bomb the railway marshalling yards. Intense flak. March 23rd 1945, daylight operation to Wesel. Troop concentrations prior to Rhine crossing. Light flak. March 27th 1945, daylight operation to Hamm, to bomb coking plant. Light flak. The crew's last operation was at night to Kiel, to bomb the German fleet and Naval barracks. They were coned over the target, attacked by S/E fighter, and there was heavy flak. This was the same day that the Admiral Scheer was sunk. On this last operation, they were lucky to survive, as they were nearly involved in a mid-air collision with another Lancaster. The crew credited their survival to the quick thinking of both Jim Hepburn, their Flight Engineer and the exceptional flying skills of Jeff Clarson, their pilot, Michael Veitch has recorded this story in his magnificent book "FLAK" (Chapter 36).

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1346311?image=6

https://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1229

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341851

Ohlstrom_Diary_1915-1916_compressed.pdf

Spurling__William_Alfred_-_1915-1917.pdf

Diary_of_Keith_Edmonds.pdf

Malaya-Diary_111_LAA_Bty_with_cover.pdf

O_Brien_Diary_full.compressed.pdf

Kirkham_Diary_complete-compressed.pdf

McLaren_Memoir_Compressed.pdf

VWM0018_Limbert_Collection_Diary_Pages-ilovepdf-compressed.pdf

140129_Tom_Tobin_Memoire.pdf

Jack Reed (R) and mates somewhere in northern Australia

10185 Jack 'Lucky' Reed

A Bristol Beaufort a light bomber in which Jack Reed flew

10185 Jack Reed striking a dapper pose

From Sydney's diary, his Battalion relieved the 19th Batttalion on Thursday 21 March but he gave no indication of location. Referral to the War Diaries of the 7th Brigade held by the Australian War Memorial indicate they were in camp at Canteen Corner and moved into the line near the villages of Romarin and Kortepyp just inside the Belgian border with France. The entry for Tuesday 26 March, their 2nd in the front line, stated it was 'very lively. Fritz shooting bombs nearly all night. Had to fall back for a while'. On Saturday 30 March Sydney recorded 'Fritz's plane bought by gunfire fell about 300 years from my dugout. Officer taken prisoner'. Sydney then tell that he 'went out with patrol. Spent several hours in no mans land. Very wet and got into swamp on the bank of the River Lys. No sign of Fritz so came in again. Wet through and mud up to knees'. On Tuesday 2 April Sydney recorded it was their 12th day in the line and that the Battalion was relieved by the South Lancashires from the Somme. Following the diary entries, the 26th Battalion spent the night in a camp and on Wednesday 3 April moved to Meteren en route for the Somme. On Thursday 4 April they left Meteren for Caestre 'to load gear on trains working all night'. Sydney records 'it was very wet and slushy'. They left Caestre at 6 am on Friday 5 April arriving in Amiens at 8 pm. Then then marched to Allonville where the spent the night. The next day they marched to La Neuville which Sydney described as 'a small village, left in a hurry by the population as everything was left behind, even cows and a few tame rabbits in out billet'. On Sunday 7 April the Battalion marched to Baizieux to spend some days in support. Sydney states there were 'no billets and have to put up this time in the trench and there are no places to shelter anyway'. On Thursday 11 April Sydney recorded that '3 Hun planes brought down by gun fire. Had no time to go over and see as we were ready to move up the line'. Friday 12 April was the Battalions 'first night in the front line about 4 miles from Albert. Very quiet. Heavy bombardment on our left but nothing our way'. On Friday 19 April Sydney recorded that they were at Franvillers having 'moved back a couple of miles for a couple of days spell. Living in holes in the side of a hill. Light fall of snow during the day. Very cold'. He comments on the 'terrible scarcity for matches' and then on Monday 22 April says he 'heard there were matches at Heilly about 3 miles away. Walked over and managed to get 4 boxes. Going up in line tonight on fatigue'. Wednesday 24 April saw them back in the front line from 11 pm. On 26 April they 'bombarded Fritz's trench with mortars. Knocked out his machine guns'. they were relieved from the front line on Monday 29 April, went into support for a day and then were 'marched out for a couple of days spell'. They were back in reserve on Saturday 4 May and 'had to dig bivies to camp for the night. Dug into bank alongside a railway. 9.2 gun on line shaking hell out of us'. On Friday 10 May Sydney and his mates left for the line arriving 4 pm and went into reserves. Again they had to build bivies, this time in the trench. Sydney records that they went into reserves near Ribemont and 'met my old friend the Queensland mosquito'. He also comments 'I think all the vermin in the world is around this part, not including Huns'. Compiled by Ian Cousens

From the 7th Brigade diaries, the 26th Battalion were back in line at Frenchcourt on 14/15 June. When an inspection was carried out at Frenchcourt on 20 June the Battalion consisted of 40 officers and 867 other ranks. They were described as being very smart. Returning to Sydney's dairy, he recorded on Thursday 27 June that they 'took over line at Villers-Bretonneux. D Company in reserve for 10 days living in dugout. Trey Bon'. It was Friday 12 July before they were 'sent out of the line for a rest'. He must have been back in the line on Wednesday 17 July as he noted that the 'Brits hopped over, took Fritz's line, went about 1500 yards and that 'D Coy had 40 odd casualties, 3 killed'. Saturday 20 July was the 4th Brigade Sports and Sydney noted that he 'met half Toowoomba' and names eight people. That was the last entry Sydney made in his diary. Compiled by Ian Cousens

http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=61&c=5123

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHA91yZRwbc

SKM_C36822101017280.pdf

SKM_C36822101017260.pdf

227 page autobiography by Air Commodore Lyall Robert Klaffer entitiled "Fighter Pilot". Manuscript details the authors personal history before enlistment. Accounts post-enlistment are divided into chapters based on posting: Enlistment in Citizens Air Force; Flying training at Point Cook; Flying training at RAAF base East Sale; No.3 Squadron; Central Flying School; No. 77 Squadron Japan; 24 City of Adelaide Squadron; Officer Training school Rathmines; No.2 Operational Conversion Unit; No.75 (F) Squadron Malta; ADC to the Governor-General of Australia; No.2 (F) OCU RAAF Williamstown; Central Flying School RAAF Base East Sale; RAAF College Point Cook; No.3 Fighter Combat Instructors Course; Air Armaments School; RAAF Base Williamstown; RAAF Staff College Point Cook; Air Force Headquarters; Central Flying School; No.16 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (US) South Carolina; Headquarter Operational Command; No.1 Squadron Amberley; Base Squadron Amberley; Air Base Butterworth, Malaysia; Air Force office, Canberra. Accounts of active service during the Korean War. Training, conversion and posting experiences through the rest of his career including his role as ADC to Governor-General Field Marshal Sir William Slim. Personal photographs included throughout.