March 5, 1945 - CHEMNITZ

From the Operations Record Book:  

26 aircraft, including the reserve, as it was apparent immediately after take-off that “E2” (F/L Dale) would be abortive with a port engine unserviceable, took off at approximately 16.45 hrs as part of a force of over 700 Lancasters and Halifaxes detailed to attack CHEMNITZ.  The trip to the target was without incident, with a layer of 10/10 cloud beneath most of the time.  On reaching the target area it was quickly seen that the cloud prevented anything other the sky marking which was called for by the Master Bomber.  His broadcasting was much distorted by static interference, but he was generally heard.  The first release point flares went down 3 minutes before “H” hour; they were plentiful and well grouped but fell into the cloud tops rather quickly and later there was a gap when no flares were seen.  Detailed results could not be seen but judging from the incendiary glow and the burst of the cookies, bombing appeared to be concentrated.  There was only very slight heavy flak over the target area, but the Leipzig defences were active and the night fighters in evidence, both over the target and along the first two legs of the homeward route.  Three aircraft reported combats but none claimed any night fighters destroyed.  22 aircraft landed safely at base; “J” (P/O Findlay) landed at Benson, “O” (F/O Harris) at Carnaby, with flaps unserviceable, and “F” (F/S Wilson) at Tempsford, with damage sustained in combat but no casualties.

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The crew’s sixth operation took place March 5, 1945, their second raid to Chemnitz (the first was February 13th).  The crew took off at 16.56 and would return at 02.56 the following morning, for a total flying time of ten hours.  The crew has now been ‘permanently’ assigned their own aircraft: Lancaster ME428 “O”.  “O” was delivered to 550 Squadron in February 1945, but the crew would only have a chance to fly it twice.  Ditson is still hospitalized from injuries sustained in the Pforzheim raid, so Eric Raymond Robinson is again acting as the crew’s Mid-Upper Air Gunner.  Due to an issue with the aircraft’s flaps, the crew is forced to land at RAF Carnaby.  The Chemnitz raid marked the 100th successful operation for 550 Squadron’s Lancaster “Vulture Strikes!”  The Harris Crew flew "V" three times - for the crew’s first and second live operations and a brief air-to-sea training flight in February.