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P/O Reed, second from the right, and the four surviving members of his crew inspect battle damage to the starboard flaps of their Lancaster which has now been raised back onto it's undercarriage.
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Sergeant Richard Robert Reed was posted to 576 Squadron in January 1944 soon after the Squadron was formed. His first operational flight was as second pilot with W/O W C Rollins and crew on the night of the 20/21st January 1944 in a raid on Berlin.10 days later he captained his own crew in another raid on the German capital. The crew consisted of: - Sergeant R R Reed RAFVR - Pilot - Age 31 - Hometown, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England - Husband of Audrey Mary Reed. Sergeant Arthur Taylor RAFVR - Flight Engineer - Age 20 - Hometown, North Cuckney, Nottinghamshire, England. Sergeant Michael Alexander Saruk RCAF - Air Bomber - Age 25 - Hometown, Alvena, Saskatchewan, Canada. Flying Officer George Hallows RAFVR - Navigator - Age 23 - Hometown, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. Flying Officer William Murphy RAFVR - Wireless Operator - Age 22 - Hometown, Needham Market, Suffolk, England - Husband of Sarah Jane Murphy. Pilot Officer P J McIntosh RAFVR - Air Gunner. Sergeant Alfred Arthur Henry Hodson RAFVR - Air Gunner - Age 21 - Hometown, Stafford, England. By the end of April 1944 this crew had successfully completed 14 operations, most of these against heavily defended German targets and Sergeant Reed was promoted to Pilot Officer in March. On the night of the 3/4th May 1944 576 Squadron took part in a raid on the German army panzer depot at Mailly-le-Camp in France and the Squadron detailed 18 aircraft for this operation. Pilot Officer Reed and his crew took off at 21:40 in Lancaster ME703. The operation proved a costly exercise for the Bomber Command crews involved and whilst the attacking force was orbiting the holding point waiting for the orders to commence their bombing runs the German night fighters made contact and took a heavy toll of the bombers. When the order to commence their bombing runs finally got through the remaining bombers made a very accurate attack but 42 Lancasters were lost out of a force of 346. During this operation, Ju88 night fighters twice attacked the Lancaster of Pilot Officer Reed and crew. The first attack took place before they had reached the target. The Lancaster sustained serious damage and was almost uncontrollable. It took the combined efforts of the pilot, the flight engineer and the air bomber to keep the Lancaster under control. Sgt Taylor and P/O Reed needed all their strength to operate the control column and F/S Saruk assisted his pilot by clinging onto the rudder pedals to operate them by hand. The Lancaster was so badly damaged it is a wonder that it was able to stay in the air. As well as the loss of the intercom there was a large hole in the floor, the compass was broken, the wireless set useless and some of the oxygen supply had leaked away. In addition, the elevators, rudders and electrical circuits were all severely damaged. The hydraulic system was also damaged and the bomb doors had swung open. The electrical system had to be switched off, which caused a radiator flap to close on one of the engines and the engine to overheat. A fire had also broken out in the rear of the aircraft which probably accounts for the fact that the mid upper gunner was missing as he must have been forced to bale out due to the flames. Evasive action had taken the Lancaster away from the target so a second run was made. By using hand signals the Air Bomber was able to direct his pilot over the target and they successfully bombed the markers.
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