The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Carnaby (original) (raw)

Information.

RAF Carnaby was an emergency landing ground, situated 2 miles SW of Bridlington. Opening in March 1944 Carnaby was an emergency landing ground for Bomber Command to enable crippled bombers a safe place to land near the coast. Unlike most RAF airfield there was a single runway, five times the width of a standard runway and 9,000 feet long, lying east-west to enable bombers crossing the coast an easier landing. Over 1400 bombers made an emergency landing at Carnaby.

It was one of fifteen airfields operating the fog dispersal system known as FIDO (Fog Investigation Dispersal Organisation). The system consisted of two rows of burning petrol one on each side of the runway, the heat from this fire raised teh air temperature above the runways, cutting a hole in the fog and provided crews with a brightly lit strip indicating the position iof the runway. Using FIDO for one hour required 250,000 gallons of fuel at a cost of �42,500.

RAF Carnaby closed in 1946, reopening as a Thor intermediate ballistic missile in 1959.

If you or any one you know made an emergency landing at RAF Carnaby we would like to hear from you.

The Wartime Memories Project would like to hear from anyone who was stationed at Carnaby during the war years, worked in the aircraft repair works or anyone who lived nearby. We would love to hear your recollections of life on the base and the surrounding area.

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F/O Hans Hassler was flying Lancaster NF978 / HW-T of 100Sqn after a operation to Cologne on 28 Oct 1944 was damaged by flak on the bombing run. Port engines were damaged and hydraulics unserviceable. They then made a joyous landing at Carnaby and all lived to tell the tale. Thank God for Carnaby !!

A crew picture showing them at the end of their tour after a third and final operation to Cologne. They seem to have a relieved look on their faces, as you would, after cheating death in the skies over Germany.

The crew were:

Pilot- FO. Hans "Pete" Hassler

F/E- Sgt. Freddy. Dorman

Nav- FO. Hector Craig

BA- Sgt Johnny Challice

W/OP- Sgt Harry Christopher

M/UP- Sgt Abe Mills

R- Sgt Danny Nathan

Damien Conlon

Photographs

If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.

List of those who served at RAF Carnaby.

LAC Frederick Britzman

If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.

List of those who landed at RAF Carnaby.

T.R. Allchurch. Wireless Operator 644 sqd. Icing on wings returing from Norway.
J. R. Banks. Air Gunner. 644 sqd. Icing on wings returing from Norway.
Sgt F.H. Boddy. Gunner MU RAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
Sgt L.R. Botting. Engineer RAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
F/O Walter Kitchiner Boxsell DFC. RAAF. 467 Sq. On the night of 28th October 1944 on ops to Bergen, LM746 was involved in a collision in the air near Mablethorp 4 of the crew bailed out and the pilot F/E and Navigator stayed on and landed at Carnaby
W/O F.K. Brett. Bomb Aimer RAAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
P/O R.S. Brownlee. Navigator RAAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
Bill 'Jock' Brownlie. wireless operator. 9 Squadron Read his story 12 January 1945. Returning from Ops Lancaster PD198/WS-W, 'Willing Winnie' was attacked by four FW190's, Bill was injured by shrapnel. hydraulics out of action landed safely at Carnaby.
B.E. Chamberlain. Bomb Aimer. 644 sqd. Icing on wings returing from Norway.
Sgt L.D. Cottroll. Gunner Tail RAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
Don Daikens. Air Gunner RCAF. 76 Squadron.
F/Lt S. Frankling. 408 squadron. August 5, 1944. Returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely on 3 engines.
F/O R. Field RCAF. Landed safely on 3 engines after having collided with another aircraft at 17,000 feet on return. The H2-S blister was torn off, door damaged, oil coolers, stbd outer cowling damaged and stbd outer propellor was bent.
F/O Fordham. 460 RAAF Sqd. 4 Aug 1944 after air test.
Alfred French. Flight Engineer. 466 Squadron. 13th September flying Halifax 'V' Victor, during the bomb run the Halifax behind and below received a direct hit and blew up. The resulting blast ripped the bomb doors off 'V' Victor damaging the tail fins and puncturing a tyre. Read his story
Bill Gabriel. Rear Gunner. 9 Squadron Read his story 12 January 1945. Returning from Ops Lancaster PD198/WS-W, 'Willing Winnie' was attacked by four FW190's, Bill was badly injured. hydraulics out of action landed safely at Carnaby.
F/O Hans Hassler Read his story
Warrant Officer Fred Humphrey. 640 Halifax Squadron. Running low on fuel in fog.Read his story
F/S R.J. Jenkins. Wireless Operator RAAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
F/O H. Jones. 408 Squadron. August 16/17, 1944. The stbd inner and some electrical systems went u/s on return from ops.
K. W. Jones. Pilot. 644 sqd. Icing on wings returing from Norway.
Flight Lieutenant Ray Harris. Pilot. 9 Squadron Read his story12 January 1945. Returning from Ops Lancaster PD198/WS-W, 'Willing Winnie' was attacked by four FW190's, hydraulics out of action landed safely at Carnaby.
J.R. Morris. Flight Engineer 644 sqd. Icing on wings returing from Norway.
Jim Parsons. Bomb aimer. 9 Squadron Read his story12 January 1945. Returning from Ops Lancaster PD198/WS-W, 'Willing Winnie' was attacked by four FW190's, hydraulics out of action landed safely at Carnaby.
Sqd Ldr William Edward Roberts. 460 RAAF Sqd. 4 Aug 1944 after air test.
F/O M .Wicks. DFC. Pilot RAAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
Mac Williams. Upper Gunner. 9 Squadron Read his story12 January 1945. Returning from Ops Lancaster PD198/WS-W, 'Willing Winnie' was attacked by four FW190's, hydraulics out of action landed safely at Carnaby.
F/S K.W. Yates. Engineer RAF 463 Sq. On 8/9 Feb. 1945. on an op to Politz in ED611 JO.U the crew were attacked by 2 night fighters working together. the Lancaster was badly damaged but Sgt Cottroll shot a JU88 down in flames and the other A/C was evaded. The crew coaxed the damaged Lancaster back to England and made an emergency landing at Carnaby.
'Doc' Young. Navigator. Read his story12 January 1945. Returning from Ops Lancaster PD198/WS-W, 'Willing Winnie' was attacked by four FW190's, hydraulics out of action landed safely at Carnaby.

If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.

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