Previous Events
1943-12-20 Warrant Officer - Survived | |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.III HX328 TLJ | 35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) |
Take-off: 17:29 | Target: Frankfurt Germany |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.III HX328Combat Frankfurt Germany 1943-December-19 to 1943-December-20
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX 328 TL-J, returning from an operation to Frankfurt, Germany had a Target Illuminator (TI) munition malfunction, which ignited in the aircraft bomb bay as it was preparing to land. Sale gained altitude to allow his crew to bale from the burning aircraft, which most were able to do. As Sale was himself about to bale, he realized that his mid-upper gunner, Lamb was unable to bale due to a fire-damaged parachute. Sale resumed control of the bomber and managed to land it safely and taxi off the runway. Both he and Lamb escaped from the aircraft, which exploded as they ran to get clear. Both men survived and continued to fly together. Carpenter suffered a broken ankle.
Sale was awarded a Bar to his DSO for this act of determination and braveryinformation from book: The Pathfinder Companion War Diaries of the RAF Pathfinder Force-1942-1945 by Sean Feast, Grub Street Press 2012
Others on the Aircraft
1943-12-20 RAF Flying Officer Carpenter,George Carpenter DFC Survived 2024-01-061943-12-20 RCAF Squadron Leader Gordon Henry Francis Carter DFC & Bar Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Flight Lieutenant Alan James Dowling DFC & Bar Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Flight Lieutenant Robert Lionel Lamb Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Warrant Officer Marcus Rees DFC Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RCAF Squadron Leader Douglas Julian Sale DSO & Bar, DFC Survived 2022-06-27