F/L B B Hardman RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron - 1945
The Hardman crew was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds on the 9 January 1945 from 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit.
The crews consisted of :-
F/O B B Hardman
Sgt J Burgess
F/S S T Jones
Sgt R P R Roe
F/S H Clegg
F/S T D Holdcroft
F/S L S Wright
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Hardman flew his first operation as Second Dickie/ co-pilot in the crew of F/O A L Stepharnoff RCAF on the 28/29 January 1945 to Zuffenhausen in Lancaster PA217.
He then captained his own crew on the following operations
01-Feb-45 - Ludwigshafen - Point of Aim - Lancaster - LM295 - F/O BB Hardman
02-Feb-45 - Wiesbaden - Point of Aim - Lancaster - LM295 - F/O BB Hardman
03-Feb-45 - Bottrop - Benzol - Lancaster - LM295 - F/O BB Hardman
07-Feb-45 - Kleve - Armye support - Lancaster - LM295 - F/O BB Hardman
13-Feb-45 - Dresden - Operation Thunderclap - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
14-Feb-45 - Chemnitz - Operation Thunderclap - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
23-Feb-45 – Pforzheim - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
01-Mar-45 - Mannheim - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
02-Mar-45 - Cologne - Army support - Lancaster – NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
05-Mar-45 - Chemnitz - Operation Thunderclap - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
07-Mar-45 - Dessau - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG491 - F/L BB Hardman
08-Mar-45 - Kassel - Point of Aim - Lancaster - NG491 - F/L BB Hardman
11-Mar-45 - Essen - Point of Aim - Lancaster - N/K - F/L BB Hardman
12-Mar-45 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - Lancaster - LM177 - F/L BB Hardman
13-Mar-45 - Herne - Benzol - Lancaster - LM177 - F/L BB Hardman
15-Mar-45 - Misburg - Oil - Lancaster - LM177 - F/O BB Hardman
16-Mar-45 - Nuremberg - Point of Aim - Lancaster - PD236 - F/L BB Hardman
19-Mar-45 - Hanau - Point of Aim - Lancaster - PA278 - F/L BB Hardman
22-Mar-45 - Hildesheim - Railway yards - Lancaster - PA278 – F/L BB Hardman
24-Mar-45 - Harpenerweg - Benzol - Lancaster - PA278 - F/L BB Hardman - Unable to hear Master Bomber or see TIs. Brought back load.
09-Apr-45 - Kiel Bay - Mine laying - Lancaster - PA278 - F/L BB Hardman - H2S unservieable. Unable to identify drop area.
14-Apr-45 - Potsdam - Barracks and railway yards - Lancaster - ME475 – F/L BB Hardman
07-May-45 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - Lancaster - RA528 – F/L BB Hardman
There is no record of any award for Hardman or his crew and I have no other details.
Years ago the family of Pat Roe sent me a story written by Mr Roe about an incident that occurred on their Chemnitz op which I will add in due course.
Compiled by David Fell. Photo from the Roe family
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