Last updated on
7 August 2013
|
| Reference | AIR20/8293
report no. 607 AIR20/8497 |
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| Name of operation | BRASENOSE
III (combined with VIENNE & CELANDINE/GARDENIA) |
Date of operation | 20-21 Dec 1943 |
| Aircraft | Halifax
"X" LL.118 |
Squadron | 161 Squadron, RAF |
| Based at | RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire, UK | Crew | Lt Hysing-Dahl
- captain, Sgt Robertson - 2nd pilot Sgt Sutton - navigator, Lt Rieber-Mohn - w/operator Sgt Cally - bomb aimer, Sgt Shatter - engineer Sgt Forster - rear gunner, Sgt Erland - despatcher |
| Personnel carried | 3 | Leaflets | F175-2 |
| Packages | 2 plus 1 container | Pigeons | |
| Pinpoint | France 49º 21' 40" N / 03º 37' 45" E |
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| Takeoff | 01:02 | ||
| Over target area from | 04:25 | until | 04:39 |
| Landing | 07:45 | ||
| Time dropped | 04:37 | Height above ground | 650' |
| Course | 230° | I.A.S. | 135 mph |
| Estimated dropping point | Load was dropped slightly to SW of reception. |
| Reception arrangements | Good except that the lights were switched off when A/C was circling This made things very difficult, and it was necessary to circle 5 times before drop could be made. |
| Routes |
Selsey Bill 0153 3500' Cabourg 0229 5600' Loire – Sulley – Target - Brasenose III and Celandine – Sully – Loire Cabourg 0638 5500' Selsey Bill 0709 2200' |
| Report by Despatcher | Passengers
jumped when told. |
| Enemy Opposition | Nil. |
| Meteorological conditions | In
target area patchy high cloud with moon obscured. Visibility quite good. |
| Captain’s personal report: | The
continual switching off of the reception lights whilst the A/C was circling
made the finding of the ????? very difficult. Finally the lights were seen
when the A/C was immediately overhead. The drop was made in consequence slightly late. It is thought that the load dropped in open ground. |