Mosquito Losses on the 15th January 1945

[Amrit1]

Alex,

this maybe a start:

January 15 1945.
A total of sixteen Mosquito aircraft from 143,235,248 and 333 squadrons attacked shipping in Lervik harbour, destroying two large merchant shins and sinking an armed trawler, the SEEHUND-Vp 5304 (Vornostenboot), they were usually ex-trawlers used for convoy escorts. These converted-armed trawlers were usually between 150 and 750 tons (the Seehund was 320 tons), and carry 88mm guns, 2Omm guns and machine guns. These were what the R.A.F. referred to as flak shios. Along with intense flak the strike force had to fight its way home through a pack of nine FW 190s.The fighting was fierce a MK XVIII Tsetse Mosquito firing its Molins gun at the attackers managing to frighten them off, but not before the strike force suffered serious losses. Six Mosquito’s were lost in the action, the heaviest losses sustained by the Banff wing in any one action. Amongst those killed was Wing Commander J.M. Guedj DSO, DFC, the popular Frenchman who had only been given Command of 143 squadron a few weeks previous and who had been a popular choice amongst the aircrews. His navigator Flight Lieutenant J.F. Langley was also killed in Mosquito "K" of 143 squadron. Other aircraft missing were Mosquito "D" of 143 squadron which crashed near Fjell, the pilot Flight Lieutenant G.A.M. Moncrieff missing, while navigator Flight Sergeant C. Cash’s body was recovered and buried in Mollendal Cemetery, Bergen. Mosquito "V" of 143 squadron was lost with pilot Lieutenant F.F. Alexander (USAF) and navigator J.A. Mcmullin. Mosquito "A" of 235 squadron shot down with pilot F. Chew who was buried in Mollendal Cemetery. While his navigator Flight Sergeant S.W. Couttie survived and was taken prisoner and Mosquito "R" of 333 squadron with pilot Q/M K. Sjolie and navigator C/M M.J.S. Gausland (Norwegians) also lost during the strike. This attack also proved to be 248 squadrons MK XVIII Tsetse Mosquito’s last sorties from Banff before leaving the base to leave the squadron to operate MK VI Mosquito’s only at Banff.

http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/sorties.html