|
|
Many thanks to Jill Williams for sending us this news sheet, which came from the collection of her late uncle, Ernest Roy Pinson.
N0.262 - 9th May 1945
LAST WING NEWS SHEET
FOUR DAYS SCORE BETS FALAISE MONTH
REVIEW OF OUR CAMPAIGN IN EUROPE
This, the last Wing News Summary, is written ad the proud moment when the Wing relaxes after many months of hard work and great endeavour which has helped to bring Peace to Europe.
Since that far off day in June 1944 when the Wing landed in France, through the head and dust of Normany, to the pleasant interlude of Brussels, the rain and cold of Holland and the last splendid days in Germany, the spirit of goodwil and comradeship has always been present.
We have been more than fortunate always to have had such splendid men as leaders. Particularly must we mention W/Cdr. North-Lewis, B.S.O., D.F.C., whose fine record of personal courage, leadership and unfailing attention to duty, was an example to us all.
During the last four days when the battle was rapidly drawing to its close, Pilots and Ground Crews worked as never before, and the Wing made the following remarkable claims:-
Sqdn |
Sorties | Enemy |
Tanks | M.E.T. | Ships | Locos | TRGS | Army |
| 137 | 105 | - | - | 56-91 | 0-13 | 2-0 | 2-10 | - |
| 181 | 98 | 6-0-5 | 1-3 | 82-100 | 0-12 | 0-1 | - | - |
| 182 | 96 | 4-0-13 | 1-1 | 142-122 | 0-14 | 1-0 | 10-3 | - |
| 247 | 96 | - | - | 83-120 | 1-17 | 2-2 | 18-3 | 1 |
| 616 | 34 | 4-0-2 | - | 8-35 | - | 1-1 | 0-10 | - |
| WING TOTALS |
429 | 14-0-20 | 2-4 | 371-468 | 1-56 | 6-4 | 30-26 | 1 |
At the risk of appearing too statistical we also record the Total of Claims from the 27th of June 1944 to the 4th of May 1945:-
| Enemy a/c | Tanks | MET | AFV | HDT |
| 34-2-46 | 182-150 | 1743-1410 | 24-14 | 414-113 |
| Barges | Ships | Locos | TRGS | Army Support Targets |
| 117-294 | 23-99 | 400-203 | 2074-1530 | 364 |
11,1751 Sorties were flown.
62.387 R/Ps were fired, and
1,753,900 rounds of Ammo were expended.
