Flying Officer L A Pearse RAAF

QR-N. Nan:

1944. Over the previous 18 months ED860 QR-N Nan had successfully carried out 130 operations and survived fighter attacks and the heavy flak thrown up over the Ruhr Valley and during the Battle of Berlin.

Below are photos and extracts from a diary kept by his Wireless Operator, Warrant Officer A.E.Perry

Sunday 22nd Oct 1944.

lst 'OP' Daylight.

Did our first 'op' today in 'N' for Nan with F/O Pearse (Skipper). The weather was very bad as was visibility. We flew through clod nearly all the way to the target (Heavy Gun Positioned around Flushing). Attacked target with 14 one thousand pound bombs from 4000 ft. It was a controlled 'op' and sounded quite good to hear the controller tell the boys to "Come in and bomb as planned, height 4). One dummy run made. On second run up was almost hit by bombs from a Lanc 500feet above us. Slight heavy but accurate flak over target (one plane shot down). Quite a few bombs fell in sea but all guns except one were silenced.

Snags

 i/c failed on way out but fixed up by changing ..............

Saturday 28th Oct. 1944.

Ops on Bergen in N. Nan. (Night}

Did not take off as plane swung on take off and crashed at 65 miles per hour with full bomb load on board. Under cart collapsed and starboard outer torn off. Bomb bay wrecked and nose smashed in. We were very lucky as bombs did not go off. Jock the engineer suffered the only injuries (a cut face sustained when falling off cockpit after abandoning plane) The end of Nan. A complete write off. She was a lucky kite to the end.

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Here is an extract from an official report about the incident:

QR N NAN's 131st operation

.....28nd October 1944. At 22.35 hours F/O Pearse lined his Lancaster at the end of Skellingthorpe runway and opened the throttle against the brakes to see if all Merlin engines responded evenly. He then throttled back, released the brakes and began to reopen the throttles again. The heavily loaded aircraft slowly built up speed until it was thundering down the runway, but before the young Aussie pilot had full control a dangerous swing developed and the aircraft swung violently to port hitting a runway glim lamp which burst a tyre and the undercarriage collapsed. The resulting ground loop tore off part of the port wing spilling fuel from ruptured fuel tanks and by the time the aircraft finally came to a halt the heavy fuel and bomb load had crushed the bomb bay doors and lower fuselage. Before emergency services arrived on the scene all the crew had managed to scramble out of the aircraft and distance themselves from the very dangerous situation. They were all feeling very shaken after such a devastating experience, but otherwise unhurt..........

Lancaster ED860 QR-N Nan's mounted bomb panel.

The C/O at that time was furious at the loss of the squadron's record breaking aircraft and made Pearse go to all sections to apologise. The crew were now given the silent treatment by other aircrew !

Nan never did complete her 131st operation against the enemy, sadly her next port of call was the scrap yard.

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Despite this setback to his career F/O Pearse went on to prove his courage and skill by completing 26 difficult and dangerous operations.

The end of the WW11 coming too soon for him to complete his tour.

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More extracts from W/O Perry's diary.

Wednesday lst November.

2nd 'op' (Daylight)

Went to Homberg in the Ruhr (Near Duisberg) in O for Oboe. Weather good but thick cloud 10/10. We flew over this cloud in company with about 250 more 'Lanc'. Gee it was a sight to see all these kites right, left and centre. Bombed target from 16700 ft in face of intense heavy flak from Duisberg. At least five Lancs were observed to be hit and on fire and only four kites off our station came back without flak holes. We were one of them. Almost got bombed by another Lanc above us. Skipper dived port just in time.

A real nerve-racking operation.

Snags

I/C went u/s but fixed this up by changing to emergency I/C H/T U/SP.

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Tuesday 16th January .

12th 'op' (Skipper 13th) X for Xray.

Went to Brux (Czechoslovakia), and dropped cookie and 14 500 lbs on oiul refinery. Weather was fairly good all the way. Everything thing seemed to go wrong on this raid. On take off the front escape hatch blew in taking large piece of perspex in with it. We had to jettison front hatch over sea and was it cold. There was a veritable gale blowing inside the cabin so I chopped the rest bed top off and we put this over the escape hatch holding it in place with bundles of window. During the process of jettisoning the hatch cover the engineer almost jettisoned himself through the hole. (Seems humorous now). It was still draughty inside though and we had to go all the way there and back with this gale blowing.

Very heavy flak was experienced over target and we had to corkscrew twice because of unexpected fighters. The rear gunner claims he shot the first one down but he was not sure whether it was a fighter or what. The second was only a Lanc. On return flap lever would not work so we diverted to Carnaby (emergency landing strip). Made a good landing and had to stop there for a couple of days ..................................

Trip took 10 hrs approx. (....4 over enemy territory).

Snags - nil (with wireless).

Saturday 3rd March.

15th 'op' (night) X for Xray.

Went to Ladbergen (Dortmund-Ems) with 14 1000 lb delay bombs. Weather was moderate all the way. Flak very heavy over target. One small hole in Starboard inner engine was all damage we sustained. Plenty of fighter around as well. We were followed by enemy fighters right back to base. Three kites shot down in Waddington circuit by enemy fighters. H hour = 2200.

Snags - nil.

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Monday 5th March.

16th 'op' (night) Xfor Xray.

Went to Bohlen (near Liepsig) with cookie and 500 lb bombs to attack oil target. 10/10th cloud all the way and over target. Target was obscured so bombed wanganue. Flak and fighters were moderate. 33 planes lost from night operation. Trip took 10 hours. H hour 1950.

Snags nil.

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Wednesday. 7th March

17th 'op' (night) X for Xray.

Went to Harburg (Near Hamburg) to attack oil refinery with cookie and 14 500 lb bombs. Went via Denmark. Searchlights and flak all the way into and out of the target (about 2 hours). Plenty of fighters around as well. Had to go in with the 'Path Finders' and was over target for 20 minutes (very unhealthy). Weather was good all the way and clear over target. 40 planes lost on night ops. 13 from 5 Group and three from our squadron (bad show). Got caught in searchlights but didn't hold us for long......

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Editor's Comments.

Despite only being remembered for their spectacular crash in the record breaking QR-N Nan, Warrant Officer Perry's comprehensive operational diary clearly shows that F/O Pearse and crew ought to be remembered as a brave, skilful, dedicated crew and a great credit to 61 squadron.

H.James Flowers