420 Squadron Aircraft Information

Specific information of various planes that were flown by 420 Squadron

Below is information I have researched from the squadron records related to specific planes. Some are the result of my own interest and others are requests from readers. Each record includes the date, pilot name or air crew, target, bomb loads and any interesting mission information.

Peter Sainty has written an account of 420 Squadron's Hampden period from January to July 1942 entitled: "Zig-Zag" The Hampdens of 420 (RCAF) Squadron RAF.

Hampden X3057-C

July 9,1942: LB Burt, JB Pennington, JD Harrington, R Dorland: 1 veg. Ass22+2x250GPWB fused FX: no camera: no nickel. Mining Nectarine III: Take off 23:25 but unable to climb and returned to base landing at 23:35. Tail shudder when throttle opened. Crew transferred to reserved plane and took off.

Jul 14: RG Cook, G Bumstead, WD Frost, J Donahue: Mining Beech: One assembly 22 veg dropped on target at 2:17. 700 feet. 2x250 lb wing bombs were brought back for lack of suitable targets. Landed 6:31

July 17: LB Burt, JB Pennington, JD Harrington, R Dorland Ops cancelled.

July 21: LB Burt, JB Pennington, JD Harrington, R Dorland Bombing: Take off 23:42.Primary target aiming point D , Duisburg. 1x2000 HC No target attacked. Returned early due to a/c being unable to climb above 9000 feet. Circled for 20 minutes owing to S blower failure. Bomb brought back to base.

July 25,1942: LB Burt, JB Pennington, JD Harrington, R Dorland. Bombing. 1x1900 bomb.Take off 00:07. Primary target aiming point-D, Duisburg. No target attacked as ac would not climb. Landed 3:28. Bomb brought back.

Jul 31: Crew as above: Unknown if the mission was completed. Thiw was the last date the squadron flew missions with Hampdens. The squadron immediately began converting to Wellington III's.

Wellington X (Tropicalized) HE863-G "Swoose"

The "Swoose" was an example of a tropicalized version of the Mark X Wellingtons used in the European theatre. The main changes for operation in the desert were sand filters in the carburetor intakes and larger 1,675 hp Bristol Hercules engines. The nose art for HE863 was painted by Floyd "Skip" Rutledge. It shows a bird with features of a swan and goose carrying a bomb. Skip also painted a maple leaf under the pilots window.

Apr 8/9, Gosens (pilot PJ Gosens, ba WG Blight, nav BA Watts, wop J Paplowski, rgun T Dutton), Duisburg "D"

Halifax III, LW392 PT-S "Sweet Sue"

"Sweet Sue" appears to have been one of the planes the squadron used to convert from Wellington X's to Halifaxes in late 1943 early 1944 after the squadron's return from North Africa. The plane was on the battle order for the first Halifax III mission flown by the squadron on Feb 15/16 by the Long crew. Its operational service with 420 squadron appears to have ended with a mission to Cologne on Oct 30, 1944. During its service LW392 was on the order of battle for 67 bombing missions plus a single search and rescue mission. Seventeen crews flew "S" during its career with the squadron. The Joplin crew flew "S" for 21 missions; McKowen crew for 15 missions and the Wass crew for eight. The plane had only one early return on Aug 1, while being flown by the Kidd crew. It received damage on three missions.

The Wass crew in front of LW392 PT-S "Sweet Sue". eng Hynes, upper gunner J.E. Wright, wop J. Griffith, nav Hamilton-Jones, pilot G. Wass, ba A.R. Cubbins, rgun R.P Waddell. August 15,1944.

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Feb 15/16, Long. Berlin. Diverted on return.(This was the first mission for the squadron in Halifax III's.)

Mar 22/23, Kruger. Frankfort. (On this mission LW392 was assigned call letter "V".)

Mar 24/25, Boadway. Berlin. Diverted to Coltishall. (On this mission LW392 was assigned call letter "S".)

Mar 26/27, Sled. Essen.

Mar 30/31, Sled. Nuremburg.

Apr 9/10, Sled. Villeneuve St. George.

Apr 10/11, Sled. Ghent.

Apr 18/19, Walker. Noisy Le Sec. 1x1000 hung up over target. The bomb was jettisoned live. The leading edge of the wing was hit by bombs from friendly aircraft. Plane landed at Ford as it was not able to maintain height to home base.

Apr 19, Trickett. Sea search.

Apr 20/21, Walker. Lens.

Apr 22/23, Foy. Dusseldorf.

Apr 24/25, Trickett. Karlshruhue. 90x4 hung up. Diverted to Eastmoor.

Apr 26/27, Joplin. Essen.

Apr 30/May 1, Joplin. Somain.

May 1/2, Joplin. Ghislein.

May 8/9, Joplin. Haine st Pierre.

May 9/10, Joplin. Calais.

May 12/13, Joplin. Louvain.

May 19/20, Joplin. Merville.

May 22/23, Joplin. Le Mans.

May 27/28, Joplin. Bourg-Leopold.

May 31/Jun 1, Joplin. au Fevre.

June 5/6, Joplin. Houlgate.

June 6/7, Joplin. Coutances. Starboard inner engine u/s due to jammed throttle. Diverted to Wellesbourne.

June 12/13, Kidd. Camerai Jctn. DR compass u/s.

June 14/15, Kidd. St. Pol.

June 15/16, Kidd. Boulogne. Encountered flak over target.

June 16/17, Wass. Sautrecourt.

June 17/18, Wass. Disemont/Neqville-au-Bois.

June 21/22, Whittall. St. Martin L'Hortier.

June 23/24, Joplin. Bientque.

June 24/25, Joplin. Bamieres.

June 27/28, Joplin. Foret D'Eawy.

Jul 1, Joplin. Biennais.

Jul 4, Joplin. Biennais.

Jul 5, Joplin. Biennais.

Jul 7, Joplin. Caen.

Jul 12, Joplin. Thiverny.

Jul 17, Joplin. Caen A1.

Jul 20, Wass. Ferme du Forestel.

Jul 24, Britt. Ferfay. Master Bomber instructed to abort. Returned to base with full bomb load.

Jul 28/29, Wass. Hamburg.

Jul 31/

Aug 1, Kidd. Oeuf en Ternois. Crew found they were unable to climb above 5000 feet so jettisoned bombs and returned early.

Aug 3, English. (Crew: pilot W.H. English, ba ?? Beally, nav Stewart, wop de la Rouix, mgun P. Small, rgun Beacon, nav ???) Forret de Nieppe. The bomb release mechanism failed to operate over target. 4x500 bombs were brought back to base the rest were jettisoned.

Aug 5, English . St Lieu D'Esserent.

Aug 7/8, Motherwell. (Crew: pilot V.?. Motherwell, ba A.J. MacDonald, nav McCean. wop ? mgun ? rgun ? eng ? )La Hogue. Abandoned mission on orders from Master Bomber. Bombs brought back. Landed at Tilstock.

Aug 9/10, McAdam.(Crew: pilot W.D. McAdam, ba N.E. Ranson, nav M.E. Pett, wop R.H. Pollock, mgun V.E. Anglin, rgun C. Campbell, eng S. Clements) Foret de Nieppe.

Aug 10/11, Wass. La Pallice.

Aug 12, Wass. Foret de Montritchard.

Aug 14, Wass. Boms Tassilly.

Aug 15, Wass. Brussels/Melsbroek airfield.

Aug 16/17, Jones. (pilot GJL Jones, ba RA Robinson, nav RJ Fenton, wop RA Reid, mgun G Smith, rgun RG Stewart, eng J Lauder). Kiel. 16x30 I.B.'s hung up over target and brought back base.

Aug 18/19, McKeown. (Crew: pilot E.H. Mckeown, ba J.R. McMorland, nav G.G. Walker, wop E.T. La Rose, mgun V.E. Anglin, rgun J.W. Clifton, eng A.G. Goodatl) Connantre. Bombsight u/s. Airspeed gauge not registering. No computer available. Damaged by fighter in nose of perspex and near mid-under position.

Aug25/26, Bairato. Brest. Landed at Boscombe Down.

Aug 27, McKeown.

Marquise/Mimoyecques.

Aug 28, McKeown. Anderbelck.

Sep 3, McKeown. Volkel. 1x1000 lb bomb hung up over target. Brought back. Landed at Little Snoring.

Sep 6, McKeown. Emden.

Sep 9, McKeown. LeHavre. The mission was abandoned as requested by the Master Bomber. Returned to base with full bomb load.

Oct 4, McKeown.Bergen-R. Alternative target attacked. 1x1000 hungup and jettisoned safe. Diverted to Lessiemnuth.

Oct 6, McKeown. Dortmund. Diverted on return.

Oct 9, McKeown. Bochum.

Oct 12, McKeown. Wanne Eickel.

Oct 14, McKeown. Duisburg.

Oct 14/15, McKeown. Duisburg.

Oct 21, McKeown. Hanover. Planes were recalled.

Oct 23, McKeown. Essen.

Oct 28, Young. (Crew: pilot S.A. Young, ba R.H. McManus, nav N. Salkovitch, wop A.J. Williams, mgun W.N. Irwin, rgun J.B. Patterson, eng B.D. Morgon) Cologne. 1x500 hung up over target and jettisoned.

Oct 30, McKeown. Cologne. 1x500 hung up over target and jettisoned. Landed at Skellingthorpe. (This appears to be the last time "S" was on ops. A new "S" MZ378 was on battle orders by Nov 11, 1944.

Hailfax III, MZ587 PT-C "Champ"

The nose art for MZ587 PT-C "Champ" was painted by Floyd "Skip" Rutledge. It was one of four "kites" my father, Bert Parker, noted as being under his care during this period. It appears MZ587 PT-C's first mission with the sqadron was on April 24/25, 1944 when it was flown by the Joplin crew for an attack on Karlsruhe. Its last op was to Cologne on Oct 30, 1944. On this mission it was flown by F/Lt Sefton's crew. It was then sent to Topcliffe on Nov 1, 1944. During its time with 420 Squadron it was on the order of battle for 59 missions. It had one non start and four aborted or early return missions. Three times it was damaged by flak. Sixteen crews flew PT-C on ops. It was flown most by the MacAdam crew, eighteen, and the Pritchard crew, sixteen.

Apr 24/25, Joplin (pilot SJ Joplin, ba GB Walker, nav H Johnson, wop GH Minchin, mgun FV Harvey, rgun N Cushman, eng NJ Shand, mugun JOB Masse), Karlsruhue. Landed at Linton.

Apr 26/27, Pritchard, Essen. Electrical failure and bombs could not be dropped.

Apr 30/May 1, Pritchard, Somain.

May 1/2, Pritchard, Ghislein.

May 7/8, Sled, St Valery en Caux. 1x1000 hung up jettisoned on return flight.

May 8/9, Pritchard, Haine St Pierre. Had to make a second bomb run due to congestion over target.

May 9/10, McAdam, Calais.

May 10/11, McAdam, Ghent.

May 12/13, Pritchard, Louvain

May 22/23, McAdam (WD McAdam, NE Ransom, ME Pett, N Griffiths, R White, C Campbell, S Clements, J Brillinger), LeMans. 1x500 hung up over target and brought back to base.

May 27/28, McAdam (WD McAdam, NE Ransom, ME Pett, EH Pollock, R White, C Campbell, S Clements, J Brillinger), Bourg-Leopold.

May 31/Jun 1, McAdam (WD McAdam, NE Ransom, ME Pett, N Griffiths, R White, C Campbell, S Clements, J Brillinger), Au Fevre.

Jun 2/3, Pritchard,(G Pritchard, DI Block, EW Moffitt, DB Lorenz, C Surles, C Roski, E Proud, GE Bartley) Neufchatel.

Jun 5/6, Pritchard,(G Pritchard, DI Block, EW Moffitt, DB Lorenz, C Surles, C Roski, E Proud, J Brillinger), Houlgate

Jun 6/7, McAdam (WD McAdam, NE Ransom, ME Pett, EH Pollock, R White, C Campbell, S Clements, S Lowe), Coutances. Landed at Long Marston.

Jun 10/11, McAdam (WD McAdam, NE Ransom, ME Pett, EH Pollock, R White, C Campbell, S Clements, J Brillinger), Versaille-Matlots.

Jun 12/13, Pritchard , Cambrai Jctn.

Jun 14/15, McAdam, St. Pol.

Jun 15/16, Pritchard, Boulogne.

Jun 16/17, McAdam, Sautrecourt.

Jun 21/22, Pritchard, St. Martin L.Hortier. Bombed target from 16,000 feet at 19:46. Hit by flak on wings, nose and fuselage. Had to corkscrew to avoid predicted flak.

Jun 23/24, McAdam, Bientque.

Jun 24/25, Pritchard, Bamieres.

Jun 27/28, Hull (AC Hull, RC Ringham, WI Turnbull, WF Mattison, JG Bell, FC Panssmore, L Betson, GF Gill), Foret d'Eawy

Jul 1, McAdam, Daylight raid on Biennais.

Jul 4, Pritchard, Daylight raid on Biennais.

Jul 5, McAdam, Biennais. Landed at Mildenhall.

Jul 6, Pritchard, Coquereaux. In this record entry "C" is given the SN MZ687 not 587.

Jul 7, McAdam, Caen.

Jul 15, Pritchard, Nucourt.

Jul 20, Pritchard, Ferme du Forestel.

Jul 24/25, Bird, Ferfay. Master Bomber gave code word "Appletart" to abort mission. Bombs brought back to base.

Jul 25/26, McAdam, Stuttgart

Jul 28/29, Ainslie (TEC Ainslie, RH Davison, JC Culligan, FM Fuller, KN Shields, WR Middleton, CF Gibbs, PA Dubois), Hamburg.

Jul 30, McAdam, Amye sur Seulies. Landed at Hexham.

Jul 31/Aug 1, McAdam, Oeuf de Ternois. Landing gear could not be retracted. Jettisoned bombs and returned to base.

Aug 3, Pritchard, Foret de Neippe. Bombed target late as one engine u/s on route. Jettisoned four bombs in order to gain enough height.

Aug 31, McAdam (McAdam DFC and Ranson DFM), Ile de Cezemere

Sep 3, McAdam, Volkel. Landed at Little Snoring.

Sep 6, Bird, Emden.

Sep 9, Beairsto, Le Havre. Aborted mission as ordered by Master Bomber. Brought bombload back.

Sep 7, McCarthy (FS McCarthy, VE Beriault, EC Metcalfe, LJ Troman, DL Neill, GC Marvel, PJ Shortt, WE Berrell), Le Havre. 1x500 bomb hung up. Brought back to base.

Sep 11, McCarthy, Castrop-Rauxel.

Sep 13, McCarthy, Osnabruck. 1x1000 hung up. Jettisoned safe.

Sep 15/16, McCarthy, Kiel.

Sep 25, McCarthy, Calais.

Sep 27, McCarthy, Bottrop Willaim.

Sep 30, Shotton, (WH Shotton, ME Dauncey, JB Johnson, LF Grumbly, R Lloyd, VT Dalgetty, JK Cramp, GV Roche), Sterkrade Holton.

Oct 4, Bonner, (pilot JF Bonner, ba RG Freckleton, nav AJ Bettridge, wop BLL Thibert, mgun D Cochran, rgun GC Bragg, eng ES Kenwright,mugun WE Burrell), Bergen "B". No u-boats seen at target area so bombed alternate target.

Oct 6, Jones (pilot GJL Jones, ba RA Robinson, nav RJ Fenton, wop RA Reid, mgun G Smith, rgun RG Stewart, eng J Lauder), Dortmund. Diverted to Bidwell.

Oct 9, Haslop (GKA Haslop, WR Chaster, JHV Dovell, WG Baker, AW Macdonald, RC MacDonald, PJ Brickstock, JC Baird), Bochum. Pilot reported that enemy fighters appeared to be aware of destination.

Oct 12, Sefton (pilot JS Sefton, ba F Yarush, nav A Millop, wop A Hawkins, mgun WEP Thompson, rgun JP Waugh, eng D Inglis, mugun EW Peterson), Wanne Eikel. Aircraft hit by flak on bomb run at 18000 feet. Bombed the marshalling yards and sucessfully returned to base.

Oct 14/15, Watson (pilot EW Watson, ba QJ Louie, nav AK Dominick, wop WJD Partridge, mgun T Linch, rgun DJ Jacori, eng AK Parker), Duisburg.

Oct 15, Caine (pilot AM Caine, ba JR King, nav R? Goatcher, wop JL Danberger, mgun ST Frayn, rgun WE Cruickshank, eng D Inglis, mugun FN Strickland), Wilhelmshaven. Diverted to Foulsham.Oct 21, McCarthy, Hanover. Aircraft a nonstarter.

Oct 23, McCarthy, Essen. Aborted due to port outer u/s and icing. All bombs brought back to base.

Oct 23, Shotton, Homburg.

Oct 28, McCarthy, Cologne. 1x500 hung up over target and brought back. Aircraft hit by flak causing damage to the starboard mainplane.

Oct 30, Sefton (eng W Porter, mugun W Chunick), Cologne. Landed at Skellingthorpe. (This was the last time MZ587 "C" was listed on the order of battle for the squadron.)

Hailfax III, MZ540 PT-H "Daisy Mae"

Daisy Mae was on the order of battle for at least 69 missions from April 2 to December 5, 1944 with 420 Squadron. Fifteen crews flew her into battle. The Ward crew accounted for 22 missions, the Bird crew 19 and the MacDonald crew 13 missions.

During an attack on Le Mans on May22/23, while being flown by the Ward Crew, "H" collided with another Halifax resulting in damage to the port outer engine, aerial, upper turret and the starboard rudder and fin assembly. The crew was able to land at Ford. It appears "H" was not fully repaired until a month later. "H" was again damaged on Aug 5 (Ward crew) by heavy flak while attacking St Lieu D'Esserent. It was also received flak damage on Aug 15 (Bird crew) on a mission to Brussels/Melsbroek. On Nov 27 while being flown by the Stock crew on an attack on Neuss a 2000 pound bomb hung up and then dropped through the closed bomb bay doors causing major damage to the doors

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Apr 2, Ward, Auolyne. This was the first operation for MZ540-"H" with 420 Squadron.

Apr 10/11, Ward, Ghent. 1x1000 bomb hung up.

Apr 18/19, Ward, Noisy le Sec. 1x1000 bomb hung up.

Apr 20/21, Ward, Lens.

Apr 22/23, Ward, Dusseldorf.

Apr 24/25, Ward, Karlsruhue. Landed at Eastmoor.

Apr 26/27, Bird, (FCC Bird, JO Brooks, R Pilkington, K Willis, KM Mosher, M Cohen, A Larkin, R White) Essen.

Apr 27/28, Ward, Auolyne.

Apr 30/May 1, Ward, Somain.

May 1/2, Ward (JG Ward, PR Sisco, J Barclay, R Freeman, FE Peach, EA Bates FT Jones, AR Read), Ghislein.

May 7/8, Bird, St Valery en Caux. Rear turret u/s over target.

May 8/9, Brooks (J Brooks, HF Pilkington, K Willis, KM Mosher, M Cohen, A Larkin, OJ Mohler), Haine St Pierre.

May 12/13, Ward, Louvain. The crew was unable to identify target. Returned to base with bomb load.

May 19/20, Ward, Merville.

May 22/23, Ward (), Le Mans. On bomb run the plane was hit by another Halifax causing damage to port outer engine, aerial, upper turret and starboard rudder and fin. Plane was difficult to handle. Bombs were jettisoned and preparations made for emergency bail out. The crew were able to get back to England where they landed at Ford. It appears MZ540 required major repairs and did not appear back on the order of battle with the squadron until July 1.

Jul 1, Campbell (WD Campbell, LH Hearn, EF Ncolle, R Cochrane, D Jessiman, TL Puchalski, G Stent, GP Bartley), Daylight raid on Biennais.

Jul 4, Campbell, Daylight raid on Biennais.

Jul 12, Bird, Thiverny,

Jul 15, Bird, Nucourt.

Jul 17, Ward, Caen A1.

Jul 18/19, Bird, Wesseling.

Jul 20, Ward, Ferme du Forestel.

Jul 25/26, Ward, Stuttgart. Hydraulics u/s. Landed at Fairferd.

Jul 28/29, Foy (JO Foy, WK Oliver, WH Wood, WF Parks, CL Springstein, ME Meech, W Wyatt), Hamburg.

Jul 30, Ward, Amye sur Seulies. Landed at Hexham.

Jul 31/Aug 1, Ward, Oeuf de Ternois.

Aug 3, Ward, Foret de Neippe.

Aug 4, Ward, Bios de Cassan.

Aug 5, Ward, St Lieu D'Esserent. Aircraft hit by heavy flak causing some damage.

Aug 7/8, Ward (JL Jones flew as second pilot), La Hogue. Landed at Tilstock.

Aug 9/10, Ward, Foret de Neippe.

Aug 10/11, Bird, La Pallice.

Aug 12, Bird, Foret de Montritchard

Aug 14, Tease, Bons Tassilly.

Aug 15, Bird, Brussls/Melsbroek. Had to take evasive action to avoid predicted heavy flak. Aircraft slightly damaged.

Aug 18/19, Bird, Connantre. Landed at Skellingthorpe.

Aug 25/26, Plummer (AG Plummer DFC, RB Porterfield, BF Dunster, JE Austin, NE Price, D Gallaghier, AF Pinder, F Gibbs, SA Young (second pilot)), Brest. 1x1000 pound bomb hung up and returned. Landed at Boscombe Down.

Aug 31, Bird, Ile de Cezemere

Aug 27, Bird, Marquise/Memyecques.

Sep 3, Bonner (JF Bonner, PD Greary, AJ Bettridge, BLL Thibert, D Cochran, GC Bragg, MP McMunn, RD Saunders), Volkel. Landed at Little Snoring.

Sep 10, Bird, Le Havre.

Sep 12, Bird, Wanne Eickel.

Sep 13, Bird, Osnabruck.

Sep 15/16, Bird, Kiel.

Sep 17, MacDonald (WHK MacDonald, FTI Cantell, JH Fitzpatrick, GA Minary, GW Wilkins, WJ Sherin, RW Shepherd, JR Lyon), Boulogne. Failed to identify target. All bombs brought back.

Sep 25, Bird, Calais.

Sep 27, Bird, Bottrop Willaim. Mission aborted when port inner became u/s in circuit. Jettisoned bombs and returned to base.

Sep 28, Bird, Cap Gris Nez.

Sep 30, MacDonald, Sterkrade Holton.

Oct 4, MacDonald (pilot WHK MacDonald, ba FTI Cantell, nav JH Fitzpatrick, wop GA Minary, mgun GW Wilkins, rgun WJ Sherin, eng RW Shepherd, mugun WW Dennis), Bergen "B". Alternate target attacked.

Oct 6, MacDonald, Dortmund. Early return because the starboard inner engine oiled up. Jettisoned bombs to lighten load.

Oct 9, MacDonald, Bochum.

Oct 12, MacDonald, (pilot WHK MacDonald, ba FTL Cantell, nav JH Fitzpatrick, wop GA Minary, mgun GW Wilkins, rgun WJ Sherin, eng RW Shepherd, mugun HG Franko), Wanne Eickel. Landed at Framingham.

Oct 14/15, MacDondald (mugun JT Harris), Duisburg.

Oct 15, Bird (pilot FCC Bird, ba GB Walker, nav R Pilkington, wop A Hawkins, mgun JP Lawder, rgun LA Silver, eng RW Mills, mugun JT Harris). Diverted to Foulsham.

Oct 21, Shotton, (pilot WH Shotton, ba ME Dauncey, nav JB Johnston, wop LF Grumbly, mgun RT Lloyd, rgun VT Dalgetty, eng JK Cramp), Hanover. Mission was aborted and recalled after about one hour in the air. Jettisoned 5x500. Remaining bombs brought back to base.

Oct 23, Shotton, Essen.

Oct 25, Stock (pilot MB Stock, ba ???, nav RV Trout, wop TT o'Kane, mgun JA Beason, rgun WE Cruickshank, eng RG Crollie, mugun JC Baird) Homburg.

Oct 28, Johnston (pilot EG Johnston, ba TJ Sexton, nav JC Montgomery, wop WG McCormick, mgun GW Vollbrecht, rgun HG Franko, eng AE Howell, mugun W Chunick), Cologne.

Nov 1, Beairsto (pilot FW Beairsto, ba EG Niles, nav RF Brayne, wop JC Brown, mgun RG Tomlin, rgun CJ Adams, eng GD Slightam.) Obenhausen. API and navigational instruments u/s. Crew reports altercation with JU88 with no damage to aircraft and none observed on JU88.

Nov 2, MacDonald, (pilot WHK MacDonald, FTL Cantell, nav JH Fitzpatrick, wop GA Minary, mgun GW Wilkins, rgun WJ Sherin, eng RW Shepherd, mugun HG Franko), Dusseldorf. The airplane carred Aural Monica/Visual Monica/ Fishpond/Boozer I/ Boozer II/A.I.IV/A.I.V/AGLT.1x1000 pound bomb hung up over target. Jettisoned. The crew attacked the primary at 19:20 from 18,500 feet. Within three minutes of their bomb run completion the aircraft was attacked by a German FW190 night fighter showing a white nose light. It was first noticed from 800 yards in the port quarter by rgun Sherin. The MacDonald put the bomber into a "corkscrew" port losing 8000 feet in the process. The rgun and mgun opened fire at 500 yards. The rgun fired 300 rounds and the mgun 120 rounds. The enemy aircraft did not return fire and broke away to starboard at 150 yards. A few minutes later it encountered a second FW190 approaching from the starboard beam from 400 yards. The pilot put the Halifax into "corkscrew" starboard losing 3500 feet of altitude. No rounds were fired. The enemy fighter broke of its attack at 175 yards. No damage was sustained or claimed to the enemy fighters.

Nov 4, MacDonald, (mugun P Fimio), Buchum.

Nov 6, Simonson (pilot LO Simonson, ba AM Stephen, nav RE Russell, wop DW Rogers, mgun GA Haacke, rgun KE Lussier, eng GM McLaren), Gelsenkirchen. Non starter.

Nov 16, Ledingham (pilot HR Ledingham, ba KN Brown, nav DM Caldwell, wop JH Chambers, mgun DA Smith, rgun EC Davidson, eng JR Anderson), Julich. After target 1x2000 fell through the bomb doors and a further 1x1000 was jettisoned.

Nov 18, MacDonald, Munster. Landed at Thornaby.

Nov 21, MacDonald, Castrop-Rauxel. Landed at Middleton St George. (SN recorded as MZ940-H).

Nov 27, Stock, (pilot MB Stock, ba RA Floripe, nav RB Trout, wop TL O'Kane, mgun JA Beasom, rgun FA Tilley, eng RG Crollie, mugun WE Burrell), Neuss. 1x1000 pound bomb believed to have hung up and then fallen away after bomb doors were closed. This almost tore away the port bomb door and bent the starboard doors. Diverted to Waddington.

Dec 4, Macdonald, Karlsruhe.

Dec 5, Macdonald, Soest. This appears to be the last mission MZ540-"H" flew with the squadron.

Hailfax III, LW388-D "Dusty Duke"

LW 388 was on the first mission that 420 Squadron flew with Halifax III's on Feb 15/16, 1944. On Oct 30 while piloted by P/O Macdonald the plane was low on fuel returning from Cologne so the crew landed at Maston. The starboard undercarriage collapsed during the landing and before the plane could be towed off the runway it was struck in the port wing by a Lancaster attempting an emergency landing on one wheel. This is the last record available for LW388. During its time the "Dusty Duke" flew 68 missions with only a single one aborted. The Keegan crew flew 24 missions and the Baeirsto crew flew 22 missions.

Feb 15/16, Keegan crew, Berlin. This night was the first for ops with Halifaxes.

Mar 1/2, Keegan crew, Stuttgart.

Mar 7/8, Plummer crew, Lemans.

Mar 18/19, Keegan crew, Frankfort.

Mar 22/23, Keegan crew, Frankort.

Mar 24/25, Keegan crew, Berlin.

Mar 26/27, Keegan crew, Essen.

Mar 30/31, Keegan crew, Muremburg.

Apr 9/10, Keegan crew, Villeneuve St George.

Apr 10/11, Keegan crew, Ghent.

Apr 18/19, Keegan crew, Noisy Le Sec.

Apr 20/21, Keegan crew, Lens,

Apr 22/23, Watterson crew, Dusselldorf.

Apr 24/25, Pritchard crew, Karlsrhue. Aborted mission because starboard outer was having problems and could not maintain height.

Apr 26/27, McKay crew, Essen.

Apr 27/28, Bird crew, Somain.

May 1/2, Bird crew, Ghislen.

May 7/8, Keegan crew, St Valery en Ceux

May 8/9, Keegan crew, Haine St Pierre

May 9/10, Keegan crew, Calais.

May 12/13, Keegan crew, Louvain.

May 19/20, Keegan crew, Merville-Franiville(?).

May 27/28, Keegan crew, Bourg-Leopold.

Jun 2/3, Ainslie crew, Neufchatel.

Jun 5/6, Foy crew, Houlgate.

Jun 6/7, Ainslie crew, Courtances.

Jun 7/8, Keegan crew, Acheres.

Jun 21/22, McAdam crew, St. Martin L'Hortier.

Jul 1, Aldred crew, Daylight attack on Beinnais.

Jul 4, Keegan crew, Daylight attack on Beinnais.

Jul 5, Hull crew, Daylight attack on Beinnais. 1x500 hung up and brought back. Landed at Mildenhall.

Jul 7/8, Keegan crew, Caen.

Jul 12, Tease crew. Thiverny.

Jul 15/16, Keegan crew. Nucourt.

Jul 17/18, Keegan crew. Caen A1.

Jul 18/19. Keegan crew. Wesseling.

Jul 20. Keegan crew. Ferme du Forestel.

Jul 25/26. Johnston crew. Stuttgart. Landed at Tangmere.

Jul 28/29, Beairsto crew. Hamburg.

Jul 30, Beairsto crew. Amye sur Seulles. 1x500 hung up and brought back to base.

Jul 31/Aug 1, Johnston crew. Oeuf den Termois.

Aug 3, Beairsto crew. Foret de Niepper.

Aug 4, Beairsto crew. Bois de Cassan

Aug 5, Beairsto crew. St Lien D'Esserrent.

Aug 7/8, Beairsto crew. La Hogue. Landed at Tilstock.

Aug 8/9, Beairsto crew. Foret de Chantilly.

Aug 9/10, Beairsto crew. Foret de Neippe.

Aug 10/11, Beairsto crew. La Pallice.

Aug 14, Jones crew. Bons Tassilly.

Aug 15, Jones crew. Brussels/Melsbroek. Port outer u/s.

Aug 16/17, Bird crew. Kiel.

Aug 18/19, Caine crew. Connantre. Landed at Tangmere.

Sep 9, Bird crew. Le Havre.

Sep 10, Beairsto crew. Le Havre.

Sep 11, Beairsto crew. Rauxel. 1x500 bomb hung up and brought back to base.

Sep 12, Beairsto crew. Wanne Eickel.

Sep 13, Beairsto crew. Osnabruck.

Sep 115/16, Beairsto crew. Kiel.

Sep 17, Beairsto crew. Boulogne. Attacked at 12:39 but navigator turned switch off as bombs were being released causing 8x1000 to hang up. These were jettisoned 11 minutes later.

Sep 25, Beairsto crew. Calais.

Sep 26, Beairsto crew. Calais

Sep 27, Beairsto crew. Bottrop-Willaium(?).

Sep 28, Beairsto crew. Cap Gris Nez.

6 Oct, Beairsto crew. Dortmund. Diverted to ????

14 Oct, Austenson crew. Duisburg.

14/15 Oct, McKenzie crew. Duisburg.

21 Oct, Beairsto crew. Hanover. Crew was recalled 2 hours into mission. Jettisoned bombs.

23 Oct, Beairsto crew. Essen.

30 Oct, Macdonald crew. Cologne. landed at Maston due to fuel shortage. The starboard undercarriage collapsed. Before "D" could be towed off the runway it was hit on the port wing by a Lancaster that was attempting to land on one wheel.