Unit: 23 Sqn RAF
Serial: DD712
Code: YP-R
Pilot: F/Lt Robert Williamson
Navigator: F/O Norman Lavers.
Manston,
England.
October, 1942.
DD712 was delivered to 23 Squadron at Bradwell Bay on 8 September 1942 and made her first sortie in the hands of the CO, Wing Commander Sammy 'Bertie' Hoare. Hoare completed his tour of 80 missions shortly afterwards, handing the reins of 23 squadron over to Wing Commander Peter Wykeham-Barnes and DD712 became the regular mount of Pilot Officer Stanley Cornforth, an American volunteer who elected to stay with the RAF.
She was lost on 28 November over the Charente region of south-west France, along with her pilot, Flight Lieutenant Robert Williamson, and navigator, Flying Officer Norman Lavers. Both men were veterans who had started out in the ranks of the RAFVR. They are buried next to one another in the town of Cognac.
23 Squadron was the original Mosquito Intruder squadron, moving to Mosquitos after filling this role with Bostons. A series of Mosquitos were produced especially for the squadron. These Mark II Specials enabled the squadron to undertake sorties into occupied Europe with NFII airframes devoid of AI (Airborne Interception) radar sets, which at the time were considered too valuable to risk falling into enemy hands.
The squadron later undertook the same role in the Mediterranean, first from Luqa on the island of Malta, and later from bases in Italy.
The squadron first went on Mosquito Intruder operations on 6 July 1942, and scored their first kill in the new aircraft the very next night, a Do 217. Two nights later, another two German bombers were shot down.
Early operations from Malta involved flying to the African coast, to harrass axis troop movements around Tripoli. During the German evacuation, the squadron's Mosquitos were able to block the road over a length of about 15 miles, and subsequently flew up and down the jam strafing targets revealed by burning transports.
On their return to the U.K. in May 1944, the pilots of 23 Squadron joined the Bomber Support operations of 100 Group, again using their Mosquitos to intrude over enemy airfields by night. In an unusual operation, they provided escort to Lancasters on a daylight raid to Bordeaux.
Sounds for ETO
Shared files includes gauge textures
Thanks to
BRAVO4
Capt. Winters
Mongoose
Mathias
Serial: DD712
Code: YP-R
Pilot: F/Lt Robert Williamson
Navigator: F/O Norman Lavers.
Manston,
England.
October, 1942.
DD712 was delivered to 23 Squadron at Bradwell Bay on 8 September 1942 and made her first sortie in the hands of the CO, Wing Commander Sammy 'Bertie' Hoare. Hoare completed his tour of 80 missions shortly afterwards, handing the reins of 23 squadron over to Wing Commander Peter Wykeham-Barnes and DD712 became the regular mount of Pilot Officer Stanley Cornforth, an American volunteer who elected to stay with the RAF.
She was lost on 28 November over the Charente region of south-west France, along with her pilot, Flight Lieutenant Robert Williamson, and navigator, Flying Officer Norman Lavers. Both men were veterans who had started out in the ranks of the RAFVR. They are buried next to one another in the town of Cognac.
23 Squadron was the original Mosquito Intruder squadron, moving to Mosquitos after filling this role with Bostons. A series of Mosquitos were produced especially for the squadron. These Mark II Specials enabled the squadron to undertake sorties into occupied Europe with NFII airframes devoid of AI (Airborne Interception) radar sets, which at the time were considered too valuable to risk falling into enemy hands.
The squadron later undertook the same role in the Mediterranean, first from Luqa on the island of Malta, and later from bases in Italy.
The squadron first went on Mosquito Intruder operations on 6 July 1942, and scored their first kill in the new aircraft the very next night, a Do 217. Two nights later, another two German bombers were shot down.
Early operations from Malta involved flying to the African coast, to harrass axis troop movements around Tripoli. During the German evacuation, the squadron's Mosquitos were able to block the road over a length of about 15 miles, and subsequently flew up and down the jam strafing targets revealed by burning transports.
On their return to the U.K. in May 1944, the pilots of 23 Squadron joined the Bomber Support operations of 100 Group, again using their Mosquitos to intrude over enemy airfields by night. In an unusual operation, they provided escort to Lancasters on a daylight raid to Bordeaux.
Sounds for ETO
Shared files includes gauge textures
Thanks to
BRAVO4
Capt. Winters
Mongoose
Mathias
