RCAF 401 needs you for TFT Dieppe 2002

[Arlo]

401 Squadron provides air cover during Dieppe raid



Pilots from the RCAF’s 401 “Ram” Squadron, commanded by Squadron Leader Keith Hodson, wait for their aircraft to be refueled on August 19, 1942, the day Operation Jubilee. From left: Flight Sergeant Ed Gimbel of Chicago, Illinois (who shared the probable destruction of two FW-190s two days previously), Flight Lieutenant Jim Whitham of Edmonton, Alberta (who shared the destruction of another FW-190 on the same day and who probably destroyed one FW-190 and damaged another during the operation), Flight Sergeant Bob Reesor of Peace River, Alberta (who also scored a probable earlier in the week), Pilot Officer B. "Scotty” Murray of Halifax, Nova Scotia (who shared the destruction of a FW-190 with Flight Lieutenant Whitham two days earlier and who scored a probable and a damaged on the day of Operation Jubilee). PHOTO: DND Archives, PL-10627

News Article / August 19, 2019

By Major (retired) William March

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The raid on Dieppe, France—Operation Jubilee—on August 19, 1942, was a pivotal moment in the Second World War. With virtually all of continental Europe under German occupation, the Allied forces faced a well-entrenched enemy. Canadians made up the great majority of the attackers in failed raid, which nevertheless provided valuable lessons for the successful D-Day invasion, two years later.

By the time Operation Jubilee began in August 1942, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 401 “Ram” Squadron was an established fighter squadron although, as with most RCAF units, it was a mix of experienced pilots and men fresh from the training mill.

(Before the operation) their day-to-day life would have focused on learning the intricacies of their deadly craft, both as individuals and part of a flight, punctuated by fighter sweeps and escort duties. Fighter Command was very much in an offensive frame of mind and carried the fight to the Luftwaffe at every opportunity.

When orders came for the squadron to move from Biggin Hill to the aerodrome at Lympne, both in Kent, on August 14, squadron personnel probably thought it was just another routine move. Moving units to different fields offered different training and combat opportunities while exercising the mobility of the ground echelon of a squadron.

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The squadron aircraft arrived that afternoon and they found out they would be sharing their new “digs” with 133 “Eagle” Squadron. The new officers’ mess was located in the home of Phillip Sassoon, whose eclectic taste was marveled at by the Canadian airmen. Boasting a swimming pool out front, the mansion was decorated in wood and marble, reflecting both Egyptian and Turkish elements. The squadron Operational Record Book (ORB) while noting sardonically that “anyone would know that a woman had little to do with the interior decorating or architecture”, wistfully added that “133 Squadron, having been here before and knowing the layout, got the best rooms.”

Lead by Squadron Leader Keith Hodson of London, Ontario, 401 Squadron flew its first major operation from Lympne on August 17. Along with 64 and 402 Squadrons, they flew escort for twelve United States Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17 Flying Fortress bombers attacking the railway marshaling yard at Rouen, France. It was a busy day for Ram Squadron as they tangled with German Focke-Wulf 190s, resulting in the unit claiming one enemy aircraft destroyed, five probables and one damaged. Unfortunately, 401 Squadron lost one pilot killed—Pilot Officer Jack Kenneth Ferguson, 26, from Victoria, British Columbia—and another was severely injured.

The Dieppe Raid—morning

The operational tempo for a Canadian fighter squadron in 1942 left little time to mourn the loss of friend. Late in the afternoon the following day, 401 Squadron was briefed on their role for Operation Jubilee, a raid in force on the German-occupied French port of Dieppe. With the amphibious assault scheduled to take place at dawn on August, 19 401 would join two other squadrons escorting another attack by twenty-four B-17s. This time, however, Allied bombs would fall on the Luftwaffe airfield at Abbeville, France, seeking to destroy enemy fighters on the ground and deprive the Germans use of the aerodrome.

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Although the squadron was placed on “ready status” at 0500 hours the morning of the 19th, they did not depart Lympne until 0935. Rendezvousing with the American bombers over Beachy Head, the strike package proceeded eastward towards the target. No German fighters appeared to contest the attack, but flak was heavy over the Abbeville airfield. Nevertheless, the B-17s carried out a successful bombing run, hitting the runway and damaging parked aircraft and nearby buildings. On the return trip, once the French coast had been reached, Squadron Leader Hodson was free to take his squadron to Dieppe. It was easy to find—aircrew just had to fly towards the dense columns of black smoke.

Gradually descending from an altitude of 7,500 to 3,000 metres, the Canadian fighter pilots quickly engaged their German counterparts. Squadron Leader Hodson damaged an enemy fighter before he spotted German Dornier (Do) 217 bombers moving towards the Allied naval vessels and attacked. Closing to within 45 metres, he opened fire on one of the enemy aircraft and “saw cannon shells hit and an explosion”, but had to break off before he could finish his victim.

A second bomber was engaged by Flight Sergeant Robert Mehew “Zip” Zobell of Raymond, Alberta, who had already damaged an enemy fighter. Return fire from the Do-217 damaged his rudder, wings and canopy, smashing his gunsight sending a splinter of glass into his left eye. He broke off combat and carefully nursed his wounded Spitfire back to England, landing safely. One other member of 401 Squadron, Flight Sergeant Stanley Cyril Cosburn of Calgary, Alberta, claimed another two Do-217s damaged.

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The remainder of 401 Squadron mixed it up with FW-190’s with inconclusive results—except for Pilot Officer Donald Robert “Don” Morrison of Toronto, Ontario, who blasted one of the German fighters from the sky. Debris from the enemy aircraft severely damaged his Spitfire and he was forced to bail out. Picked up from the icy waters of the Channel by an RAF rescue launch, he did not return to his squadron until the following day.

The Dieppe Raid—afternoon
After returning to Lympne to refuel, rearm and grab a hurried meal, 401 Squadron embarked on its second mission of the day. At 1325 hours, Squadron Leader Hodson led nine other members of his unit into the air to provide high cover for the Allied withdrawal. They spent thirty minutes in the vicinity of Dieppe in constant contact with the enemy.

Almost all the members of 401 Squadron engaged German fighters with inconclusive results. There were some exceptions. Flight Lieutenant James Whitham of Ottawa, Ontario, and Pilot George Bremner Murray of Winnipeg, Manitoba, each claimed to have damaged and probably destroyed FW-190s. Their success was echoed by Pilot Officer Harold Andrew Westhaver of Vancouver, British Columbia, who claimed another enemy fighter damaged.

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These successes came at a cost. Flight Sergeant Morton Haist Buckley of Lynn, Massachusetts, was Flight Lieutenant Whitham’s wingman when his section of four Spitfires tangled with four FW-190s. Two of the enemy aircraft attacked Flight Sergeant Buckley and, despite a hurried warning from Flight Lieutenant Whitham, the American pilot failed to take evasive action. His Spitfire crashed into the sea and no parachute was seen. During the same engagement Sergeant Leo Joseph Armstrong of Plainview, Nebraska, was shot down, but managed to successfully bail out. Climbing into his survival dinghy he was picked up by the Germans and became a prisoner of war.

The squadron flew its third and final sortie late that afternoon, but encountered no enemy aircraft. In two brief periods of combat, three of their squadron mates had gone missing and, although one would return to the unit and another was “safe” with the Germans, squadron personnel did not know this at the time. Despite their sorrow at lost friends and comrades, members of the RCAF squadron took pride in their part in successfully keeping the Luftwaffe at bay during the assault and withdrawal.

The day after Dieppe, 401 Squadron was again in the air once—again flying as escort for American bombers.

It was going to be a long war . . .



Royal Canadian Air Force article

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[Shuffler]

Nice write up Arlo.... 

[Arlo]

Roster needs filling: Sign up here!

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[Arlo]

Not Canadian? Not a problem. (I'm Texan.) Canadian? Why not represent? 

[Arlo]

The Air Over Dieppe: Army, Part 9
June 1, 1996 by Terry Copp

(Segment)

By the spring of 1942 the RAF was confident it was winning air superiority over large parts of the French coast. The problem was that the Luftwaffe usually avoided combat in these areas preferring to draw the Spitfires deeply inland and engage them when they were low on fuel. Analysis of this situation led the RAF to take a strong interest in the proposed raid on Dieppe because it would force the Luftwaffe into battle under conditions thought to be favorable to Fighter Command. When the original raid was cancelled the RAF became one of the main lobbyists for reviving it. Once the decision was made to launch Operation Jubilee on Aug. 19 all available squadrons were quickly concentrated in the south of England for what would become the largest single-day air battle of the war.

The RAF provided two Hurricane squadrons equipped for bombing and six squadrons armed with 20-mm cannon to support the landing. Four Mustang squadrons from Army Co-operation Command, including 400 and 414 RCAF squadrons, provided continuous reconnaissance, reporting on the movement of German reinforcements. An additional five squadrons of medium bombers, Bostons and Blenheims, were used to lay smoke and bomb gun batteries. The RAF also employed three squadrons equipped with Typhoons, but they were assigned to diversionary tasks because these new aircraft were still experiencing technical problems. None of the Tiffes were yet equipped with the rocket projectiles that would make them the most effective ground support aircraft of the war. In accordance with RAF doctrine no attempt was made to provide direct communication between pilots and ground troops so these squadrons operated according to an elaborate plan of prearranged support.

To protect these aircraft and destroy German planes that tried to interfere with the landings, Fighter Command deployed 48 Spitfire squadrons, including eight from the RCAF. Four squadrons, two British and two Canadian, were equipped with the new Spitfire IX, the one aircraft that could meet the FW190 on equal terms.

The Luftwaffe was thought to have less than 200 fighter aircraft within range of Dieppe so in theory the RAF would outnumber the enemy by more than 3-1, but the actual operation proved such numbers meant very little. All four Spitfire IX squadrons were initially reserved to escort B17 bombers of the USAAF for a raid on the Luftwaffe base at Abbeville. The Americans had attempted their first mission in the European theatre two days before and it seemed wise to offer them maximum protection. On the way home from Abbeville Ken Hodson’s 401 RCAF squadron approached Dieppe descending to 10,000 feet where a flight of Dornier 217s, escorted by FW190s, was starting a bombing run. 401 Sqdn. quickly broke up this attack damaging several bombers and destroying at least one FW190. Pilot Officer Dan Morrison closed to 25 yards before firing a two-second burst and his own aircraft was damaged by flying debris. He was picked up in the water after bailing out at 250 feet.

Fortunately the Luftwaffe was surprised by the Dieppe raid and its response was slow. The ground-support squadrons carried out their first missions without any significant interference but also without much effect. Neither the large gun emplacements nor the machine-gun positions in the cliffs were neutralized by air power. However, temporary blinding of some positions was achieved by smoke.

The air umbrella was in place at first light and if success is to be measured by the achievement of air superiority over the beaches Fighter Command won a narrow victory. During the raid more than 2,500 sorties were flown and the Luftwaffe prevented from interfering in the landings or evacuation. More than 200 ships and landing craft operated throughout the day with only minor losses from air attack.

In the air battle with the Luftwaffe the results were also seen favorably. Fighter Command’s losses were 91 aircraft and 64 pilots, 17 of whom were taken prisoner. RCAF losses totalled 14 planes and nine pilots. In addition six bombers and 10 aircrew were lost in action. Air intelligence estimated German losses at 96 destroyed with 27 probables and 76 aircraft damaged. This allowed Fighter Command to believe it had struck a major blow to the German air force in the West. Unfortunately the real figures were 48 aircraft destroyed and 24 damaged with just 13 pilots killed or missing and seven wounded. The Luftwaffe in France was back at full strength within several days.

Eventually the RAF would have to rethink the roles it could play in the projected invasion of the continent but in 1942 this was not an urgent matter and Fighter Command remained committed to Circuses, escorting USAAF B17s to targets in France. Losses continued to exceed the kills by a factor of almost 2-1 but the Germans could not afford the steady drain of skilled pilots and gradually abandoned the daylight skies over Western Europe. The battle for air superiority was won on many fronts by continuous effort and Aug. 19, 1942, was part of that achievement.

Legion (online) - Canada's Military History Magazine

[Arlo]

By the way, I'm not the squadron leader. I'm just the first to sign up. If you want to be the squadron leader then I wholeheartedly encourage you to take dibs.