Mystery Boston Bomber Squadron

[Spitfire Simon]

I am trying to trace the Boston Bomber Squadron of six aircraft that took part in a raid on Morlaix, France on the 23 June 1942 as part of Ramrod 23. I am trying to get the squadron details and airfield departure to help put a the final detail to the mission that involved the Boston's and supporting Spitfires.

The reason being that I after this information is that I am part of The Lytham St Anne's Spitfire display team. We have spent the past three years raising funds for a new RAF Fighter and Bomber Command Memorial which will be the Town's tribute to those British and Commonwealth Airmen lost during WW2. It will be unveiling on the 24th June this year. The Meomorial will feature at its centre a full size replica of a Mark Vb Spitfire W3644 (The Lytham St Anne's Spitfire) which was purchased by the residents of the Town in 1941.

We have done some extensive research on the aircraft and understand that W3644 piloted by Sgt. Alan Lever Ridings 19 Squadron flying out of Portreath was shot down (KIA) off Start Point at approx 19.30 by Oblt. Egon Mayer 7./JG 2. This information was not known to the family but was gleaned from cross referencing the information on Tony Woods website with research on RAF Casulty claims and Luffwaffen missions (http://don-caldwell.we.bs/claims/tonywood.htm). There were three KIA that day with Uffz. Willi Reuschling 7./JG 2 colliding with W/Cdr. A. Vasatko Spitfire Vb: BM592 and Oblt. Egon Mayer 7./JG 2 with two claims/kills. Hence why we think Sgt. Alan Lever Ridings was shot down by Oblt. Egon Mayer. This was again cross referenced with a detailed account regarding the Czechoslovak Fighter Wing (310, 312, 313 squadrons) that were also on the same mission Ramrod 23 in which Unteroffizier Wilhelm Reuschling from 7/JG2 collided with Wing Commander A. Vašátko. (A great account found on http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/alois.htm an extracts from Broken Wings by Eduard Cejka and Fighters Over The Channel by Jiri Rajlich and jiri Sehnal).

We have a website at: http://www.w3644.com which is due for an update with our Facebook page being the most unto date at: http://www.facebook.com/lytham.spitfire?v=wall

Many thanks in anticipation.

[rafcommands]

AIR 37/21 gives 6 aircraft from No.107 Sqn on Circus to Morlaix aerodrome.

Took off 18:15 hrs from West Raynham/Massingham and returned at 19:29 hrs.

B, D, A, S, V and L were the code letters of the aircraft that flew the op.

Regards
Ross

[Spitfire Simon]

Ross,

Absolutely fantastic, been looking all over the web for sometime. I have a been putting a document regarding the day's mission together along with Sgt Alan Lever Riding's service history. Discovered this forum two weeks ago been waiting for acceptance for a few days.

Regards

Simon

[Spitfire Simon]

I have been looking further into this mission. 19 Squadron took off at 18.30 from RAF Harrowbeer, Devon to meet the Bostons (107 Squadron?) who took of at 18.15?

The Spits flight time was 1 hour thirty ( round trip 200 miles) with a time of 18.40 when they were over Start Point, presumable where they met the Bombers. The Spits that made it home landed at 2003 after a number were shot down at 19.30.

The Boston's round trip would have been some 700 miles from Massingham, well within their range of 1000 miles. Boston's travel at approx 300 mph so in order to be met at Start Point at 18.40 they must have take of at approximately 17.50 to meet their escort with a round trip time of of two hours 30 mins?

Are the take off and landing times from Massingham correct?

[rafcommands]

Yup, my primary source document confirms the take off and landing times as given.

Looks like the formation staged to RAF Exeter on the return. The ORB for RAF Exeter may confirm if the aerodrome was used as an advanced base for take off as well. This would agree with your timings.

The content of the attachment is copyright TNA AIR 37/21.

You will need to seek and confirm permission if you use it online or in any printed documentation.

Regards
Ross

[Spitfire Simon]

Thanks for the photo of the ORB for 107 Squadron 23 June 1942, it does look like the formation did stage to RAF Exeter as an advanced base for take off and landing. Syncing with my timings of the Spitfire wings from Exeter and Harrowbeer the flight time of 107 to do the mission to Morlaix and back approx in 1 hour 14 mins must have been from Exeter.

Wll try and find Raf Exeter's ORB.

Regards
Simon

[Spitfire Simon]

Reading the ORB, 107 Squadron did fly in and out of Exeter as stated in the W/C Lynn's comments that the Bombers landed safely at Exeter at 1929 with two damaged Boston’s, one by enemy aircraft and the other by flack and thus unable to return to their base at Massigham. Wing Commander Lynn of 107 Squadron also reported that the formation was followed by the enemy aircraft as far as Torbay where an ME 109 was seen to dive into the sea near Brixham.

Checked the German records O.K.L. Fighter Claims and JG2 Losses can not find a downed ME 109 on the 23 June 1942. Noted only 3 FW 190's lost from 3/JG2. Maybe the Boston Bomber crew were mistaken regarding an ME 109 and it could have been a Spit, as a number of Spits were shot down including W3644? W3644 is the the a/c I am researching about.

Simon