F/L William Watson Anderson DFC RAAF and crew – 103 Squadron – 1945 - 403641
Anderson was born in Sydney NSW Australian on the 1 October 1916 and enlisted 3 February 1941
The Anderson crew were posted to 103 squadron 10 January 1945 from 1667 HCU at RAF Sandtoft
The crew was as follows :-
F/L William Watson Anderson RAAF
F/S J M Hayward
Sgt L Astall
F/O C W Jephcott RAAF
Sgt A S Young
Sgt P A Walford
Sgt T P Tripp
……….
Anderson flew his first operation on the 28/29 January 1945 as co pilot with the experienced crew of F/O W E Skinner in Lancaster PB563 to Zuffenhausen
He then captained his own crew on the following operations :-
01-Feb-45 - Ludwigshafen - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
02-Feb-45 - Wiesbaden - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF - Navigational aids unserviceable. Bombed on Gee/H2S.
03-Feb-45 - Bottrop - Benzol - Lancaster - LM177 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
07-Feb-45 - Kleve - Army support - Lancaster - LM131 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
13-Feb-45 - Dresden - Operation Thunderclap - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
14-Feb-45 - Chemnitz - Operation Thunderclap - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
20-Feb-45 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - Lancaster - LM131 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
21-Feb-45 - Duisburg - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
23-Feb-45 - Pforzheim - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
01-Mar-45 - Mannheim - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME392 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
02-Mar-45 - Cologne - Army support - Lancaster - ME392 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
05-Mar-45 - Chemnitz - Operation Thunderclap - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
07-Mar-45 - Dessau - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF - ER - W/T and navigational aids U/S
08-Mar-45 - Kassel - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
16-Mar-45 - Nuremberg - - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ME698 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
19-Mar-45 - Hanau - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG360 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
21-Mar-45 - Bremen - Oil - Lancaster - NG360 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
24-Mar-45 - Harpenerweg - Benzol - Lancaster - LM132 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
27-Mar-45 - Paderborn - Army support - Lancaster - RF229 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
04-Apr-45 - Kullen Sound/Kattegat - Mine laying - Lancaster - RF229 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
09-Apr-45 - Kiel Bay - Mine laying - Lancaster - RF229 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
22-Apr-45 - Bremen - Army support - Lancaster - RF229 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
28-Apr-45 - Brussels - Operation Exodus - Lancaster - RF229 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF - Evacuated British prisoners and landed at Dunsfold
07-May-45 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - Lancaster - RF229 - F/L WW Anderson RAAF
Anderson was discharged Royal Australian Air Force on the 11 December 1945 and awarded a DFC which was gazetted 4 December 1945.
Compiled by David Fell
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