By: MJW - 15th June 2011 at 01:33
Dr. John Smith,
Thank you very much for both the information and the links – which I have found very helpful.
I am researching the flying career of John Charles Atkinson, focusing on the Channel Dash operation. As you mention he was awarded the DFM for this event and I would have liked to have found a picture of the Manchester he flew that day. However, from what you say it would seem unlikely that any are known to exist.
Again, many thanks for all your efforts to help me.
Kind regards, Malcolm.
By: Dr. John Smith - 14th June 2011 at 23:51
207 Squadron Manchester L7488
L7488 – 97, 207, 106, 50Sqs; 1654CU, 12SoTT, Jun43, Became 3750M
Was “OF-F” with 97 Squadron (delivered 15 Oct 1941) and “OL-Q” with 207 Squadron, and seems to have been somewhat camera shy!
This link http://www.97squadronassociation.co.uk/flightops1.html gives some details of L7488’s missions
8 November 1941 – Sea Rescue – North Sea
L7488 F F/O Blakeman DFM, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, F/L Trueman, Sgt McKensie. Up 1320 Down 1800. Took off from base at 1320 hours. Searched all afternoon at about 200 feet. No results. Saw the other aircraft six times. Last seen at 1600 hours. Return to base 1800 hours.
15/16 November 1941 – Emden
L7488 F F/O Blakeman, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, McKensie, F/L Trueman. Brought back full load of 5 x 1000lb, target not being located.
7/8 December 1941 – Aachen (Nazi Party HQ)
.
L7488 F F/O Blakeman, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, McKenzie, P/O Weir. Up 0320 Down 0727. Unable to locate target owing to deep clouds. Brought back bombs.
18 December 1941 – Brest Harbour (attack against battleships – Gneisenau, Scharnhorst & Eugene)
L7488 F F/O Deverill, Sgts Worswick, Irons, McKay, Benbow, Canning, F/O Hepburn. Returned after leaving base – aircraft u/s.
8 January 1942 – Brest
L7488 F F/L Mackid DFC, P/O Underwood, P/O Tree, Sgts Marshall, McDermott, Day, Bennett. Bombs 1 x 4000, 4 x 500. Owing to much medium and low cloud, target could not be observed. Circled approximate area for half an hour and finally returned to base with bombs.
10/11 January 1942 – Wilhemshaven (Town and Railway Station)
L7488 F F/O Blakeman, P/O McMurchy, Sgts Isted, Nicholl, Allen, McKenzie, P/O Weir. Bombs 1 x 4000, 4 x 500. Slight difficulty experienced in locating target. Bombs were dropped and flashes observed through cloud. L7488’s last recorded op with 97 Squadron
Transferred to 207 Squadron 16 Jan 1942: flown by John Charles Atkinson who served as a pilot with 207 Squadron during late 1941 to March 1942. He was awarded the DFM for his attack on German capital ships on 12 February 1942, flying Manchester L7488 (Source http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/207news08.htm)
Also have a look at http://www.sonsofdamien.co.uk/Man-Lanc%20serials.htm#L7276 No actual photo of L7488, but several pics of 97 and 207 Sqn Manchesters from the same batch. Unless a photo turns up, you may have to assume that L7488 was identically marked to those in the aforementioned listing
ETA: This link http://www.luchtoorlog.be/manch.htm takes you to a pic of L7486 – just two airframes ahead of the Manchester you are asking about
Sign In
June 14, 2011 at 7:04 pm