P/O T. Wilson & F/L R. McCullough - Crew 86

(No photo available of entire crew)

Pilot Officer Terry Wilson, South Porcupine, Ont., navigator; Flight Lieutenant Bob McCullough DFC, Port Hope, Ontario. Pilot Bob McCullough has just been awarded the DFC, he has flown 36 trips over enemy territory, weathered 13 fighter attacks.

26 August 1944 – Courtesy CFJIC - PL 32434

Crew 86 - P/O R. McCullough (Pilot)

Appendix “A”

COMBAT REPORT PRO FORMA

1. Date: 9 April 1944 Target: Lille Sqdn: 434. A/C Letter: WL-D

2. A/C Type & Mark: Halifax V, Serial No: LL-137.

3. What Special Equipment (i.e. BOOZER I, BOOZER III, AURAL MONICA, VISUAL MONICA, FISHPOND A.T. IV, A.I.-V, A.G.L.T.) was carried? Say whether serviceable, u/s, or not used at the time of combat: Visual Monica not in use at time of combat.

Was operator TRAINED/UNTRAINED? N/A.

4. Time: 00:35 Height: 13,500. Heading: 016 Magnetic.

5. Position: Latitude: 4935N. Longitude: 0220E. Target Area.

6. Weather (Cloud; Moon and position in relation to Bomber; Visibility, etc: Full Moon on Port Quarter, Visibility Good.

7. Searchlights, Flares, Flak, etc … prior to or during attack. None.

8. What was the first warning? VISUAL,/FIRE FROM UNSEEN AIRCRAFT,/SPECIAL EQUIPMENT. (Say which equipment if more than one). Visual.

9. What was the immediate action taken? Corkscrew Port.

10. If the first warning was not special equipment, did it warn later? N/A.

11. First Visual. Range: 800 Yards. Azimuth: Up. Altitude: 14,ooo feet.

How long after first warning? N/A.

12. Which member of the crew obtained first visual? Rear Gunner.

13. E/A. Type: Unidentified Twin-Engine. No: N/A. Formation: One A/C.

14. Did E/A carry lights? One Amber in Nose.

15. Direction of Attack or Approach: Port Quarter Up.

16. Direction of Breakaway: Starboard Quarter Up. Range: 300/400 Yards.

17. What combat maneuver taken? Corkscrew Port. Range: 600 Yards.

18. Did fighter fire? No. Opening Range: N/A. Closing Range: N/A.

19. Rear Gunner. Rounds: 1000. Opening Range: 500 yards. Stoppages: None.

20. M/U Gunner. Rounds: 150. Opening Range: 600 yards. Stoppages: One No. One.

21. Under Gunner. Rounds: N/A. Opening Range: --- Stoppages: ---

22. Front Gunner. Rounds: N/A. Opening Range: --- Stoppages: ---

23. Who opened fire first? FIGHTER/REAR GUNNER/MID UPPER/UNDER GUNNER/FRONT GUNNER: Rear Gunner.

24. Were you able to clear the stoppages? Yes.

25. Damage to Bomber: None.

26. Casualties to Crew: None.

27. Damage to Fighter: Destroyed.

28. Rear Gunner: Sgt. Davies, R. (R.197416). 9 B&G (A.G.S.). 22 O.T.U., 1664 H.C.U.

Mid-Upper: Sgt. Stevenson, H. (R.198121) 3 B&G (A.G.S.) 22 O.T.U., 1664 H.C.U.

29. Where trained? As Above.

30. Bomber off track/on track/returning early when combat occurred? Off Track to Starboard.

31. Loss of Height during encounter: Negligible.

32. Was under-gun position manned? N/A.

33. Which crew position was searching away from the attack, or in the dark part of the sky? Type of second enemy aircraft seen: Mid-Upper.

34. Mechanical defects or damage previously sustained affecting combat? None.

NARRATIVE

In the case of attacks (i.e. cases in which the enemy aircraft opened fire) and of other combats involving claims of enemy aircraft destroyed – a narrative giving the proper time sequence of all events must be added. It should include all features of general interest not covered by the above questionnaire.

Two M.E. 109’s had been previously sighted but neither of these made an attack. Later this twin-engine A/C appeared with a dull amber light in its nose, at Port quarter up. The rear gunner fired a short burst and the A/C broke away to Stbd. It next came up on the Stbd Beam when both gunners fired a long burst. It dropped back to Stbd quarter and then began to come in again. The rear Gunner fired another burst and the A/C broke away to Port quarter where it began to fall back until at about 1,000 yds there was an explosion and it fell some 300 feet. A second explosion now took place and the aircraft appeared to blow up in the air. Four members of the crew saw this happen. At no time did this aircraft open fire on Halifax D.

(C.C. SHERRING) F/Lt.

Gunnery leader,

No.434 Squadron (R.C.A.F.)