No. 141 Sqdn Napalm attack 18./19. April 1945

[Joerg Dietsche]

In the night 18./19.04.1945 the Mosquitos of No.141 Squadron carried out a Napalm attack on a German Airfield in northern Germany. This was a new form of weapon being used by the Mosquito Squadrons 0f 100 Group. One Mossi lost.

Any info about
- what Lw airfield
- Mossi lost
- results of the attack

Appreciate

Jörg

[Nick Beale]

You can download the Squadron’s Operations Record Book free from the UK National Archives at the moment. For each month there are two files, the Summary of Events and the Record of Events. Get both and they should tell you all you need to know.

[RSwank]

From the squadron records:

On the 17th, 5 aircraft were detailed for low-level intruder raids, with Napalmgel tanks, on SCHIESSHEIM airfield. Three had to be abandoned owing to bad weather and the other two damaged hangars and six sets of rolling stock. One aircraft was detailed for Mark X patrol but returned early owing to weather. All aircraft returned safely.

On 18 April Seven aircraft were detailed for low-level intruder raids with Napalmgel tanks on MUNICH/Neubiberg airfield. W/Cdr. Winn and F/Lt Scott, F/Lt Drew and F/O Williams and F/Lt Bates and F/O Field each destroyed one unidentified enemy aircraft. The airfield and hangars were left well burning. W/O Dawson and F/O Childs are missing and believed to have been shot down by flak over the target. (Mosquito NT490 TW-R).

One aircraft was detailed for Mark X ( also referred to MK 10)* Patrol and this was completed uneventfully.

On 19th April, Six aircraft were detailed for attacks on Flensburg airfield with drop tanks of Napalmgel. The attack was quite successful and the airfield and buildings were left burning merrily. All Aircraft returned safely.

April 20 and 21: Nothing to record.

Dawson: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...RDON%20DAWSON/

Childs: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/fi...DENT%20CHILDS/


*Mark X (MK 10) Aerial Intercept radar:

Mk 10 (SCR 720) - The Mk 10 AI was an American set using a magnetron on the
same frequency as the British Mk 8. The main difference between the two was that
the Mk 10 used a helical scan of the beam, instead of the spiral movement. The
dipole aerial was fixed at the focal point of the parabolic mirror. The parabolic
mirror could be moved up and down, rotated 360 degrees or selected to sector scan.
The peak pulse power was 70kW and maximum range was six miles. The operator
had two display tubes - a C scope on the left to indicate azimuth and elevation and
a B scope on the right to indicate range and azimuth.

[Leendert]

Limiting myself to N. Germany as in post # 1, then the Flensburg raid was also carried out by No. 169 and No. 515 Squadron, with the latter as target indicators.

Many more details in the online book 'Confounding The Reich etc.' by Martin Bowman and Tom Cushing.

Regards,
Leendert

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by Joerg Dietsche

In the night 18./19.04.1945 the Mosquitos of No.141 Squadron carried out a Napalm attack on a German Airfield in northern Germany. This was a new form of weapon being used by the Mosquito Squadrons 0f 100 Group. One Mossi lost.

Any info about
- what Lw airfield
- Mossi lost
- results of the attack

Appreciate

Jörg

Ein frohes neues Jahr Herr Dietsche !

By my database it was MOSQUITO NF 30, s/n NT490 which was lost on this raid.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

[Joerg Dietsche]

Gentlemen,
thank you all. I have downloaded the respective Squadron Operations Book.
Herr Weber kind regards. Long time no see.

[Faenor]

Hi,

some info:
http://aircrewremembered.com/dawson-...nYs9UPa9DW8BTo

Faenor