25/06/2017

On this day...

As it's Armed Forces 'weekend', an entry from the logbook of Sqn Ldr John Niven DFC*, OC 485 (NZ) Sqn - 

June 25 1944, Spitfire IXB NH321, Target Support Cover, 1hr 50m, 0815hrs - Patrolled 20000' Abbeville, Amiens area covering 3 gaggles - 100 Halifaxes, 100 Lancasters. 100 Halifaxes - Noballs at Gorenflos + Montorgueil. Intense flak. 2 Halifaxes collided + exploded in last gaggle. Bombed on target indicators dropped by Mosquitos + Lancasters. 1st lot good, 2nd + 3rd indifferent.

 ("Noball" – attacks on V-weapons launch sites and related targets.)

From Wikipedia - 
June 25, 1944323 aircraft - 202 Halifaxes, 106 Lancasters, 15 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4, 6 and No 8 Group attacked 3 flying bomb sites. The weather was clear and it was believed that all 3 raids were accurate. 2 Halifaxes of No 4 Group were lost from the raid on the Montorgueil site. No 617 Squadron sent 17 Lancasters, 2 Mosquitos and 1 Mustang to bomb the Siracourt flying-bomb store.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siracourt_V-1_bunker#Air_raids_on_the_Siracourt_site


S/L Johnny Niven (centre) with other 485(NZ) pilots in front of NH321

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