December 1943

December 1943

On 7 December, a formation of seven Beaus under the leadership of P/O Miller was in action as anti-flak escort against another convoy that included the merchant vessels Karmoy, Europa and Tubingen, as well as the escort vessels V-5302, UJ-1707, R-301, R-304 and R-305. 404 carried out attacks using cannon, 60-pound HE and 25-pound Armour-Piercing RPs against very accurate flak and managed to score RP hits on several of the vessels. Local war diaries of the day state that there were no damages inflicted on the convoy, but other records indicate that the 3,767-ton German vessel Europa was severely damaged. She was finally lost due to a collision off Stavanger on 15 March 1944. Although there were no casualties amongst the Buffaloes as a result of this battle, an aircraft sent out the next day to assess the strike's damage failed to return. F/O DN Turner and F/O HW Duckitt were officially reported as missing near Stadtlandet.

On 10 Dec 43, P/O Shulemson was escorting a Norwegian MTB No.684 to its station in a fjord while flying with another Beaufighter. Basset (his nav) came on the intercom to say that he could see McCallum (the second Beau) coming up from behind. That was a warning to Shulemson who could see the other Beau ahead! The 'mystery' aircraft turned out to be a Ju.188, which Shulemson attacked and damaged. The MTB signaled Shulemson a 'good show', and later that week the Norwegians threw a roaring party for Shulemson and Bassett on their vessel at Leuchars.

McGrath wins George Medal

On 16 December four aircraft had just taken off to escort some 144 Squadron aircraft on a mission when 404 Beaufighter 'G' had its starboard engine completely fail after getting airborne. The navigator, WO WK McGrath, hung on while the pilot, F/O JS Cummins, feathered the propeller and attempted to do a circuit on one engine. He had completed one half the circuit when the other engine failed and the aircraft crashed in a field south of the aerodrome. The landing was quite heavy and the aircraft was badly broken with the tail being practically severed. The Beaufighter then started to burn.

WO WK 'Red' McGrath (left) and pilot F/O JS Cummins (PL 19452)

Cummins was unconscious and strapped in the aircraft with the control column pressed into his stomach. WO McGrath was unhurt and after he had freed himself, he went forward and managed to free the pilot. He forced the control back and had to remove one of the pilot's boots before undoing the safety harness. McGrath suffered burns to his hands and had his eyebrows and hair singed. While performing the rescue there was the distinct possibility of the aircraft's RP warheads going off. Nevertheless, McGrath managed to lift the limp body of F/O Cummins out of the cockpit and drag him away from the wreckage.

F/L 'Doc' Beacock (left) and P/O 'Red' McGrath in a later photo (PL 41035)

At this point, with the aircraft burning furiously, the squadron medical officer, F/L GC 'Doc' Beacock arrived on the scene. He did not see McGrath and Cummins; therefore he immediately plunged into the wreckage to see if he could save the crew. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured before he realized that the crew had already managed to escape. For their courageous efforts, WO McGrath was awarded the George Medal and F/L Beacock was mentioned in dispatches.

The very next day, 17 December, the squadron lost another aircraft. "O", flown by F/O JL Rancourt and Sgt C Evans were part of a five aircraft group practicing formation flying on a cloudy and windy day. "The pilot made a normal approach and just before his wheels touched down the aircraft went over on the starboard wing. Corrective action was taken, but the pilot could not regain full control and the aircraft nosed up. It is thought that a gust of wind lifted the port wing." The plane burned and was destroyed, and fortunately, the two aviators were not injured.

The squadron's luck once again turned sour on 22 December. Three Beaufighters were detailed to provide anti-flak escort on a Rover Patrol to the Lister area for four Torbeaus from 144 Squadron. The patrol discovered what was thought at the time to be a German Destroyer, but in fact was likely Minesweeper M-489 of 775 tons, and a fully surfaced submarine, U-1062, skippered by OL K Albrecht. The Buffalos immediately attacked and during a furious battle, numerous cannon hits were observed on both targets. The crew of P/O Miller and P/O Young made two runs at the submarine. Both enemy vessels escaped a critical torpedo strike. The barrage that was put up by the Minesweeper and the submarine was fierce - the guns of the submarine shot down two 404 Squadron aircraft. One crew lost was F/L R Munro and F/O WB Conn. "H (Munro) attacked the U-Boat with cannon from seaward, diving from 700 feet. Was met with intense fire and did not pull out of the dive but plunged straight down into the sea. F (Gillespie) was seen to be on fire, then nosed down with Navigator's gun still firing, and crashed into the sea." The second crew was F/O IG Gillespie and F/O JE Glendinning. It was later stated by a crew from 144 Squadron that they had seen both of the 404 aircraft hit the sea. The U-1062 was transporting torpedoes.

Christmas Day of 1943 was a day off and the squadron made the most of it. Even the Headquarters staff only worked until 11 am and then went back to their rooms to build up strength to tackle the Christmas dinner. It was a full day enjoyed by both officers and men. Everyone appreciated the gifts from the Canadian Legion that had been brought back from Northolt by F/L JG Rowand two days previously. "Very good Xmas dinner today and then we retired to the flight shack to celebrate our Xmas party. We invited quite a few WAAFs and had plenty of sandwiches, etc. including 38 dozen bottles of beer. Also this morning the Orderly Officer, a Canadian with 144 Squadron, had breakfast with the boys in the Mess Hall and then came back to our billet where we proceeded to get him very drunk and later at eleven o'clock the next officer to take over had not found him yet to get his arm-band off him for himself. Last night the boys from No. 12 billet swiped two barrels of beer from the Officer's Mess and rolled them back to the hut; however, it eventually cost them 14 Pounds "

Three days later, on 27 December, six 404 Beaus provided escort to four 144 Squadron aircraft on a Rover Patrol from Stavanger to Egera area. A convoy of four merchants and three escort vessels was sighted and attacked. All of the ships were claimed as damaged with cannon fire and RPs with the largest trailing smoke. Post war records have only identified one vessel; the German Auxiliary Whaler V-5301 Seeteufel of 541 tons as having been damaged by shelling. Three of the aircraft received slight damage from flak. The excitement of the day was not over because on the way home three aircraft were sighted and chased, but they managed to escape into the cloud.

To top the day off the squadron had a party. "...put on for us by the aircrew. Had a very good time and when I came into the billet afterwards the Wing Commander was tossing half crowns with the boys and S/L Gatward stayed in my room and talked till 2:30 in the morning. Our last big "do" was broadcast over the BBC. "

F/O Ivor Johnsson (PL 19442)



The next day, on 28 December, 404 was again in action under the leadership of W/C Willis in 'C' LZ449. The nine crews were "on standby for anti-flak escort...on a Rover to Stadtlandet and shipping leads east. This was changed to a squadron Rover because a Recce plane reported that the target would be out of the area where torpedoes would be effective before the torpedo aircraft arrived. All nine aircraft were airborne immediately and set out to attack with RP." The sought targets were a four-vessel convoy including a 2000-ton MV and three escorts in close to shore in the entrance to Vanelos Fjord. "All aircraft attacked with RP, owing to our aircraft originally being intended for anti-flak large results were not expected as the HE RP were not harmonized. However, at least two hits observed on the large MV." There were three merchant vessels in the area, with the 8,567-ton Oldenburg having just been sunk by the British submarine HMS Seadog. Two other merchant vessels sailing with the Oldenburg were then attacked; the tanker Else and the Motto. Several escort vessels received minor shell damage . While heading home the crew of F/O Johnsson (left) and F/O Hebert sighted two Do.24s and pounced. Johnsson saw tracer enter one of the aircraft before it escaped into cloud.

As a result of this mission, W/C Willis received serious damage to his aircraft, "the undercarriage of his aircraft damaged by flak and the tire holed, as well as the wing root and elevators being damaged. He made a splendid landing despite this handicap."

31 December "Had another big party tonight and had all the big boys of the squadron out to it and also quite a few WAAFs from the station. Had our shack all fixed up - coloured electric lights, streamers, radios and a PA system and to top it off had about 700 bottles of beer so there was plenty for everyone. "

The final entry in the ORB for 1943 was, "All members of the squadron are making plans to take up their civil lines (occupations) after victory in 1944". This was very optimistic considering that the squadron had lost 14 members since August. They had a long way to go.

Total personnel in the unit at the end of December included 23 officer pilots (including two American pilots of the US Army 8th Air Force), 12 officer navigator (W), 9 airmen pilots and 19 airmen navigator (W). For groundcrew there were 4 officers, 88 airmen and 18 airwomen.

58 operational sorties were flown for the month for a total of 232.05 hrs. The squadron had 19 Beaufighter TFX and one Blenheim Mk IV on strength.