CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
WATSON |
First Name/s: |
Alfred Henry "Fred" |
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Service No/s: |
1002029 / 188461 |
Service: |
RAF |
Branch: |
Air Gunner |
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Awards: |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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RAF Station Coltishall; Air Traffic Controller |
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25 Nov 1943 |
Joined 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds, Linconshire |
Auto loaded with upgrade to v1.0.04 |
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21 Apr 1944 |
No.18 Operational Training Unit, Finningley & Worksop: Moore crew formed |
Wellington |
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06 Jun 1944 |
No.11 Base, Lindholme |
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02 Jul 1944 |
No.1656 Heavy Conversion Unit, 100 Course, Lindholme |
Halifax |
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22 Aug 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell |
Lancaster |
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27 Aug 1944 |
No.576 Squadron ‘A’ Flight, Elsham Wolds |
Lancaster |
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31 Oct 1944 |
No.576 Squadron ‘A’ Flight, Fiskerton |
Lancaster |
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22 Nov 1944 |
Discharged on appointment to commission |
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23 Nov 1944 |
Commissioned as Plt Off on probation (LG 16 Jan 45, p403) |
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07 Jan 1945 |
Crew screened from Ops |
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02 May 1945 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
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23 May 1945 |
Promoted to Fg Off (war substantive) (LG 22 Jun 45, p3266) |
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03 Oct 1946 |
Appointed as Fg Off extended service (four years on active list) (LG 31 Dec 46, p6322) |
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23 May 1948 |
Promoted to Flt Lt (LG 22 Jun 48, p3638) |
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03 Oct 1950 |
Left the Service and transferred to the Reserve (Class A) (LG 17 Oct 50, p5159) |
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15 May 1951 |
Rejoined the Service on appointment to a short service commission in the RAF as Flt Lt (LG 24 Jul 51, p3990) |
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01 Jan 1955 |
Appointed to permanent commission under AMO A628/51 as Flt Lt (Branch List) (LG 26 Jul 55, p4299) |
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31 Mar 1977 |
Retired at own request (LG 05 Apr 77, p4646) |
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576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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28 Aug 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
Training |
1820 |
2300 |
5h40 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Night cross country, navigation. |
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31 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
2100 |
0150 |
4h50 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Night cross country navigation with war bombload |
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10 Sep 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
LE HARVE |
1655 |
2050 |
4h55 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoint ½ mile SW of the Forêt de Montgeon. Hammond diary: “13x 1000lb & 4x500lb. Troops and gun concentrations holding up Canadian Div. No flak or fighters. Too easy”. |
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12 Sep 1944 |
PD232 |
UL-O2 |
FRANKFURT |
1820 |
0205 |
7h45 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Hammond diary: “1x 4000lb & 14x 500lb incendiary containers. 3rd wave. Some fires and bags of smoke over target area. Bomb red Tis but not too well. First fighter attacks on run-out by Me110. Jock has a quick burst but no result. See 5 fighters in all but no further attacks. Flak which we thought ‘intense’ was reported as ‘medium’ on return home, 2 rums and so to bed”. |
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16 Sep 1944 |
PD232 |
UL-O2 |
Training |
1100 |
1350 |
2h50 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
‘Y’ (H2S) cross country navigation. |
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17 Sep 1944 |
PD232 |
UL-O2 |
LEEUWARDEN |
0045 |
0415 |
4h30 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Luftwaffe airfield. Flown in support of Operation Market Garden. Aircraft engaged in combat with enemy night fighter (no copy of combat report). Hammond diary: “13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb. German night fighter drome, apparently the source of many of our worries. Short circuit as bomb doors open and complete load falls some 10 miles short of target. Bring back extremely good photo of cultivated French fields! 3 fighter attacks commencing from coast. Weave right across channel but get holed in 4 places. F/O Syerston and crew chopped”. |
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21 Sep 1944 |
PB472 |
UL-R2 |
Training |
1430 |
nk |
2h40 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
"Y" (H2S), cross country navigation |
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22 Sep 1944 |
PB472 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1430 |
nk |
2h05 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
"Y" (H2S), cross country navigation. |
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23 Sep 1944 |
PB472 |
UL-D2 |
NEUSS |
1855 |
0000 |
5h05 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Hammond diary: “12x 1000lb & 4x 500lb. Marshalling yards at suburb called Neuss. Very heavy flak, taking toll of 56 planes. See few going down. First taste of searchlights. Bombing very satisfactory and flames visible for an hour after leaving the target. Fighter attack (Me110 over Wash, but no casualties). Harrigan, Morley, Jones, Tweddle and a new crew (1st op) fail to return. 2 rums in the mess and decide that the NAAFI is perhaps the best mob to join after all”. |
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24 Sep 1944 |
PB472 |
UL-D2 |
CALAIS |
1600 |
1925 |
3h25 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints. Aircraft hit by flak, but no crew reported injured. Hammond diary: “ D2 now our ‘private’ kite. Bags of light flak and we are holed in 16 places from 2 salvos. Target was heavy gun positions facing 1st Army. Load 13x 1000 and 4x 500lb”. |
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26 Sep 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
CAP GRIS-NEZ |
1100 |
1410 |
3h10 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Troops and coastal battery of 6” guns. Hammond diary: “13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb. Troops and gun positions. See many German soldiers. No opposition. Piece of cake”. |
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27 Sep 1944 |
NF975 |
UL-J2 |
CALAIS |
0855 |
1220 |
4h25 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints between the marshalling yards and the Canal de Calais. Hammond diary: “Bad show from start to finish. 600 of us orbited over Channel before being called in. Defences were waiting and we received the full treatment. Bombing run made at 2000 ft, but we were hit very badly on the run in. Heard the shells exploding outside the kite and actually smelled the cordite fumes! Starboard inner blown off wing and fuel leads were on fire. Perspex nose was holed but didn’t shatter. My head was inside it! |
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28 Sep 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
CALAIS |
0810 |
1100 |
3h50 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Military Installations to SE of the town Weather U/S Target obscured by cloud. MB instructed crews RTB with bombs DNCO |
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02 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1500 |
1800 |
3h00 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
‘Y’ (H2S) cross country navigation and fighter affiliation |
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03 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
WESTKAPELLE |
1305 |
1600 |
3h55 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Walcheren Island sea wall (in support of Operation INFATUATE) Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 8x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs |
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04 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1500 |
1810 |
3h10 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
‘Y’ (H2S) cross country navigation. |
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05 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
1830 |
0050 |
6h20 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling Yards Diverted Wratting Common due to fog at base Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 14x 4lb incendiary clusters |
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06 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
WRATTING COMMON - ELSHAM WOLDS |
1200 |
1240 |
0h40 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion |
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19 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
STUTTGART |
2115 |
0410 |
6h55 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Robert Bosche works (second wave) Load: F2,G2,K2,N2,Q2,Y2,Z2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 1,800x 4lb incendiaries. All other a/c: 9x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs |
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23 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
ESSEN |
1555 |
2155 |
6h00 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Residential & industrial areas, including the Krupps works. Load: B2,J2,N2,Z2: 1x 4000lb and 2220x 4lb incendiaries. All other a/c: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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25 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
ESSEN |
1240 |
1725 |
5h45 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: 2 aiming points in the Krupps Works. Load: B2, J2, N2, Z2: 1x 4,000lb, 2,220x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 11x 1,000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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28 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
COLOGNE |
1325 |
1825 |
5h00 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: 2 aiming points (AP): Mulheim and the SW part of the city. Bombed "Last Resort Target", a very large factory 5 miles SW of Cologne.. Load: A2, B2, C2, F2, G2, N2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2,332x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 5x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs 6 aircraft were scheduled to attack the Mulheim AP first, followed by the rest on the second AP. |
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30 Oct 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
COLOGNE |
1720 |
2330 |
6h10 |
P1 Plt Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: NW area of the city. Load: F2, G2, I2, J2, M2, R2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2070x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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02 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
DUSSELDORF |
1605 |
2130 |
5h25 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Northern built-up area of the city. First operation out of Fiskerton. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
BOCHUM |
1715 |
2205 |
5h50 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
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06 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
1155 |
1610 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Nordstern synthetic oil plant. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6 or 7x 500lb bombs. |
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08 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
Air test |
1200 |
1415 |
2h15 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
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11 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
DORTMUND |
1550 |
2100 |
6h10 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Hoesch Benzin GmbH Synthetic Oil Plant. Load: J2, Q2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, ?x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs |
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16 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
DUREN |
1255 |
1720 |
5h25 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions & lines of communication (in support of American 1st & 9th Armies). Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, 7 or 6x 500lb bombs. FIDO deployed (a fog dispersal system at Fiskerton to aid returning aircraft to land). |
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18 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
WANNE-EICKEL |
1540 |
2145 |
6h05 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupps synthetic oil plant. Diverted to Great Ashfield due to poor visibility at base. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs Most aircraft diverted to Bury St Edmunds or Tempsford due to poor visibility - only four Squadron aircraft landed at base. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs |
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19 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
GREAT ASHFIELD TO FISKERTON |
1600 |
1645 |
0h45 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion |
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20 Nov 1944 |
PA173 |
UL-G2 |
FISKERTON TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1600 |
1620 |
0h20 |
P1 Sqn Ldr B.A. Templeman-Rooke |
NOTES: |
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20 Nov 1944 |
PA173 |
UL-G2 |
ELSHAM WOLDS TO FISKERTON |
1730 |
1845 |
1h15 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Return from Elsham |
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27 Nov 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
FREIBURG |
1610 |
2240 |
6h30 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Troop concentrations in built-up area (flown in support of French 1st Army) Second dickie for Fg Off Collins. Load: K2, Q2, R2, W2, Z2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 2332x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 5x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs. |
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06 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
MERSEBURG / LEUNA |
1630 |
0035 |
8h05 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: IG Farbenindustrie Synthetic Oil Refinery. Second dickie for Fg Off Pollard. Load: F2, I2, L2, P2, W2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 5x500lb bombs. A2, G2, Q2, R2, X2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs Y2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 10x 500lb bombs. B2, D2, J2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 11x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries. C2, H2, K2, M2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 12 x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries. |
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12 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
ESSEN |
1600 |
2130 |
5h30 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Krupp munitions factory; Rail centre. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 16x 500lb bombs. |
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15 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
MANNHEIM-LUDWIGSHAFEN |
1440 |
2050 |
6h10 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: I.G. Farbenindustrie Chemical Works / Marshalling Yards / Oil Refinery. Load: J2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 14x No.14 Incendiary Clusters, 120x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 4x 1000lb, 7x 500lb bombs. |
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22 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
KOBLENZ |
1515 |
2230 |
7h15 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling Yards. Load: C2, H2, I2, O2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb and 6 or7x 500lb bombs. All other aircraft: 13x 1000lb bombs On return the Squadron was ordered to divert to Charterhall in Scotland due to poor weather across most of England. All aircraft landed at Charterhall except L2 and Y2 which landed at Manston, and T2 which landed at Carnaby. |
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23 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
CHARTERHALL - BASE |
1400 |
1500 |
1h00 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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28 Dec 1944 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
BONN |
1515 |
2115 |
6h00 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards Second dickie for Fg Off Dalziel. Load: A2, J2: 8x 1000lb and 8x 500lb bombs. All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb and 8x 500lb bombs. |
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31 Dec 1944 |
NN749 |
UL-G2 |
Training |
1030 |
1220 |
2h50 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Practice bombing and ‘Y’ (H2S) navigation. Did not complete operation (DNCO). |
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02 Jan 1945 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
NURNBERG |
1455 |
2300 |
9h05 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling Yards & Built-up Area. Load: C2, D2, J2, L2, O2, X2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 1,598x 4lb incendiaries A2, F2, G2, H2, K2, Q2, V2, W2, Y2 1x4000lb, 14x 500 R2: 1x 4000lb, 4x 1000lb, 5x 500lb |
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05 Jan 1945 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
ROYAN |
0130 |
0835 |
7h05 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy garrison & supply depot (flown in support of the Free French forces besieging the town). Load: I2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 15x 500lb bombs. All other a/c: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. |
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07 Jan 1945 |
NG119 |
UL-D2 |
MUNICH |
1805 |
0235 |
8h30 |
P1 Fg Off K.A. Moore |
NOTES: |
Target: Industrial and transport area. Load: C2, L2 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1492x 4lb incendiaries. All other a/c 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1320x 4lb incendiaries. Completed Tour. Moore Crew Screened from Ops |
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02 May 1945 |
NX562 |
UL-F |
ROTTERDAM |
1250 |
1600 |
3h10 |
P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks. |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |
