Last updated on
29 August, 2021
|
| Reference | AIR20/8469 | ||
| Name of operation | MAGDALEN II (completed) | Date of operation | 16-17 Nov 1943 |
| Aircraft | Lysander
J (Verity) Lysander E.V. 9822 (McCairns) |
Squadron | 161 Squadron, RAF |
| Based at | RAF Tangmere, Sussex, UK | Pilot(s) | S/Ldr
Verity F/O McCairns |
| Personnel In | 3 - Verity 3 - McCairns |
Packages In | 1 - McCairns |
| Personnel Out | 2 - Verity | Packages Out | 4 - McCairns |
| Area | East of Compiègne | Pinpoint | 49° 29' 13'' N / 03° 11' 10'' E |
| Recognition signal | "D" | Answering signal | "M" |
| Takeoff | 00:01
- McCairns 00:05 - Verity |
Landing | 01:50
- Verity 02:00 - McCairns |
| Time on ground | 3 minutes
- Verity 5 minutes - McCairns |
||
| Takeoff | 01:53
- Verity 02:05 - McCairns |
Landing | 03:35
- Verity 03:35 - McCairns |
[Note: this information was copied from the original typed report filed under reference AIR20/8469 held in the UK National Archives]
Meteorological report
Verity:
Cumulo-Nimbus in channel, base 1500', tops probably 7 or 8000', clearing 20
miles inland. Stratus base 2000' over target - visibility 3 miles.
McCairns:
60 miles before the French coast to 20 miles inland, 10/10 the cumulo-nimbus
from 1500' to 9500'. 10/10ths light stratus in target area with poor visibility
and much in the valleys.
Enemy opposition
None.Report by pilot
Verity:
Rendezvous N.E. of Compiègne was made quite happily with McCairns. I
pinpointed at a lit-up factory at Guny on the canal E. of the target and found
the target. After my take-off I led McCairns to the field with landing light
and navigation lights. The flarepath was difficult to find because Capitaine
Martin had paper discs over his torches. There would have been four passengers
in each a/c, had Air Ministry not reprimanded Capitaine Martin for sending four
on Magdalen I. My view is that four medium sized passengers may safely be carried
in a Lysander if no luggage is carried.
Signed by H.B.Verity, S/L
McCairns:
Flew under cloud to rendezvous at Compiègne where I made R/T contact
with S/Ldr. Verity. Proceeded to target area, but saw no signal and stayed in
the vicinity until S/Ldr. Verity had completed his operation. I found the flare
path with the aid of his navigation lights and landed immediately.
The ground was excellent but the flarepath was badly lit by several torches.
Signed by F/O McCairns
Remarks by OC 161 Squadron
I think in the case of E.P.O.Ws 4 can be carried as there is no luggage, but I do not think it is a good thing to make a general practice of it.
Signed by L.M.Hodges, W/Cdr