Guy Gibson Hampden incident

[BC]

Hi all:

Can any of you Bomber Command gen men please put a date on the incident when Guy Gibson brought an 83 Sqn Hampden back to base with cable wrapped round the prop shaft after hitting a barrage balloon cable during a night raid over Germany ? This would presumably have been spring 1940. Any details of date, a/c involved and crew members would be much appreciated.

TIA,

BC

[Leendert]

BC,

Hampden was L4070 (OL-C) and as date I found May 17, 1940.

Regards,

Leendert

[BC]

Many thanks for the prompt response, Leendert.

Can anyone please provide the names of Gibson's crew on this sortie ?

BC

[David Layne]

Here's a photo of said propeller and hub.

[Hans Nauta]

Hi BC (or what entity may be behind these initials/abbreviation)

According to the Operations Record Book of 83 Squadron:

Hampden L4070

22.15-05.25 hrs

F/O Gibson
P/O Withers
P/O Watson
AC McCormack

Target A.8 at Hamburg attacked successfully. During the dive a balloon cable hit the stbd. wing causing damage to slat. Landed at Abingdon owing to fog at base.

Regards,
Hans

[BC]

Hi Hans:

Thank you for the details on this incident. The 'entity' behind the initials is one Bob Collis, an amateur aviation historian who lives in Suffolk, UK.

Regs,
BC

[Brian]

One of the best

But not to be confused with the BC who lives in the posh part of Suffolk!

BC