P/O Ian Murchie RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Newton/RAF Elsham Wolds – 1941.
Failed to Return – 20/21st September 1941 – Vickers Wellington IC – X9609 – Op Berlin.
Ian Murchie at the young age of 19 was posted to 103 Squadron in the summer of 1941 and flew as co-pilot with the experienced S/L Gordon Lane before being made captain of his own crew.
Details of ops shown below :-
29-Aug-41 – Mannheim – Wellington – R1588 – P/O I Murchie - Unable to reach primary due to icing and inability to climb over 12,000 ft. Bombed secondary
31-Aug-41 – Essen – Wellington – R1396 – P/O I Murchie
03-Sep-41 – Brest – Wellington – X9792 – P/O I Murchie - Did not receive recall. Attacked estimated position of warships through smoke screen. Landed at Abingdon
07-Sep-41 – Kiel – Wellington – X9792 – P/O I Murchie - Unable to reach primary. Bombed airfield
20-Sep-41 – Berlin – Wellington – X9665 – P/O I Murchie – FTR - Crashed in Germany
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Murchie and Findlay
P/O Ian Murchie RAFVR – Pilot – 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of Robert Murchie A.R.C.M. and Florence Murchie A.R.C.M of Maida Vale, London - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt German Francis Findlay RCAF - Pilot – 29 – 103 Sqn - Son of German and Agnes Findlay, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Desmond Blake RAFVR – Observer – 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Joseph Thomas Blake and Mary Blake, of Winson Green, Birmingham - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
P/O Andrew Gordon Milne RAFVR – 23 – 103 Sqn - Son of Andrew Milne and of Mary Eleanor Milne (nee Ross) of Aberdeen; husband of Georgina Lucy Milne (nee Hardie), of Aberdeen. M.A. (Aberdeen) - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt David Preston Hawkes RAFVR – Wireless operator / Air Gunner – 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of John Alfred Hawkes, and of Hilda Maud Hawkes, of Caerleon, Monmouthshire - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt James Bulman Bell RAFVR – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
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20-Sep-41 – Berlin
103 Squadron detailed 5 aircraft for this attack on the German capital Berlin with another 4 detailed to attack Frankfurt. Due to worsening weather at base they were recalled. 2 aircraft reached Berlin but were unable to find the aiming point due to poor visibility. Intense flak was noted in a number of areas en route which co-operated with searchlights. Over the target light and heavy flak was pumped into the searchlight cones but opposition was not as intense as expected. Moderate heavy flak was encountered and searchlights which did not work in co-operation with the flak. All aircraft were diverted to Linton-on-Ouse on return and one landed at Pocklington.
This was a shocking night for 103 Squadron who lost 4 aircraft of the 9 detailed on the attacks on Berlin and Frankfurt. Wardenhaugh and Murchie failed to return. Rex crashed on return in fog and Wallis abandoned on return also due to the exceptionally poor visibility
For the attack on Berlin Bomber Command detailed a total of 74 aircraft. These were recalled due to worsening weather. Some flew on however. 4 aircraft were lost and 12 more were lost in crashes on return in bad visibility.
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Wellington X9665
This machine had a short career of 5 completed operations. A notable captain was S/L Cross DFC
03-Sep-41 – Brest – Wellington – X9665 – Sgt Kozlowski RCAF - Did not receive recall. Attacked estimated position of warships through smoke screen. Landed at Abingdon
07-Sep-41 – Berlin – Wellington – X9665 – S/L IKP Cross - Hit by flak. Unable to reach primary.
10-Sep-41 – Turin – Wellington – X9665 – S/L IKP Cross
12-Sep-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – X9665 – S/L IKP Cross
16-Sep-41 – Karlsruhe – Wellington – X9665 – P/O EV Lawson - Oxygen problems. Bombed airfield
20-Sep-41 – Berlin – Wellington – X9665 – P/O I Murchie – FTR - Crashed in Germany.
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Item compiled and written by David Fell. Photos from RAF Newton and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
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