Back to results
FITZPATRICK CP
Honour this person learn more

FITZPATRICK, Charles

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Handley Page Halifax V
Serial Number DK260
Markings IP-M
Memorial information
Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery
Grave Reference 2. J. 3..
Epitaph
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase 2
Panel Number 164
Enlistment information
Service Number R/80915
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Group 6
Squadron 434 (Bluenose)
Trade Air Bomber
Country of origin if different Canada
Last Operation information
Start Date 17-08-1943
End Date 18-08-1943
Takeoff Station Tholthorpe
Day/Night raid Night
Operation Peenemünde (V2 rocket research facility). 596 aircraft, 40 losses (6.7%). This raid was deliberately carried out by moonlight to increase the chances of success, and this undoubtedly contributed to the high level of losses incurred. A Master Bomber was used for the very first time and this raid was also unusual in that almost the entire capability of Bomber Command was engaged on such a small target. There were three target areas- the living quarters, the rocket factory and the experimental station. PFF used a special plan to shift the marking from one target to the next as the bombing progressed to ensure maximum precision. Both the Master Bomber approach and the target marking strategy worked well and a Mosquito diversionary raid drew off most of the night-fighters in the first two phases. 560 aircraft dropped almost 1800 tonnes of bombs and the V2 program was said to have been set back two months as a result. Most of the aircraft losses were incurred in the last phase when the German night-fighters had reformed over the target. They used Schräge Musik for the first time aboard Me110s. Results were impressive given that 5 Group Lost 14.5% of its number and 6 Group some 19.7%, both of which made up the third phase.
Reason for Loss Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed near Wolgast, Germany