[Alex Smart]

Hello,
From 405's ORB.
8-11-1942
Operation No. 149
Anti-Shipping Strike No. 11
La Gironde Harbour
Three Aircraft Detailed - Bomb load - 9 x 250 G.P Bombs.
W/C Fraser L.G (DFC) - " J" up-0250 - down 1215.
F/L Shockley H.G - "M" up 0255 - down 1207.
Sgt. Waddle W.R - "U" - up 0300 - Missing.
9-11-1942
Operation No. 150.
Anti Shipping Strike No. 12
La Gironde Harbour.
Two Aircraft Detailed.
Bomb load:
a/c "P" - 4x 500lb G.P bombs.
a/c "N" - 4x 500 M.C bombs.
F/S Rea H.D - "P" up - 1635 down 0210.
P/O Daggett N.D - "N" - up 1640 down 0218.

A couple of Ju88's were observed as were three Arado's which attacked but "J" eventually outdistanced them. there was some light flak from ship and shore batteries reported by both "J" and "M".

Four a/c including "M" were on Operation No. 151, Anti-Submarine Patrol No. 13 later on the 9th.

Weather :
Op 149 -Partly cloudy with good visibility.
Op 150 - Fair to cloudy with poor visibility.
Op 151 - No info given.

From Tony Woods files : No claims for a Halifax on the 8th and only one Halifax claim on the 9th but at 2000 plus hrs so not "U". So unless a flak victim the loss may have been as a result of enemy damage or a mechanical problem.

Alex