206081 Sgt. Stanley James "Chick" Henderson DFM.Royal Air Force 57 Sqdn from:Frickley, Doncaster I was posted to 57 Sqdn with my crew. I was the flight engineer in Jan 1944. The other crew members were J. Castagnola, pilot; J. Gorringe, navigator; N. Evans; B.A.W Eaves Wireless Operator; T. Craig, Mid Upper; J. Ronald, Rear Gunner.
We flew 15 ops starting with three trips to Berlin in four days and ending with Nuremberg on the 31 March. After the first three ops we were given our own aircraft 'B' baker - this was great. However on the Nuremberg trip we were badly shot up by two Ju 88 night fighters and on return the maintenance did all they could - changed the wing section behind the rear spar and all four engines, but it still wouldn't climb or fly decently and was converted to a squadron hack.
We then got the oportunity to go to 617 squadron for a Special 'D' day op - Operation Taxable. We wanted to stay with 617, but 57 said we were only loaned to 617 so back we went to 57 where from the 14th July to the 2nd August we flew another 13 ops. on a variety of targets. Railways, V1 and V2 sites, troops etc. On completion of these trips we had discharged our obligation to 57 and volunteered to return to 617 where we stayed till the end of the war.
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