RAF Halifax SOE drop

A 644 Squadron RAF Halifax Mk III, ME967 coded 9U-K, banking left after making a low level SOE supply drop in Norway on the night of 25 February 1945 before returning safely to England after a round trip of 10 hours 50 minutes.

My picture was commissioned by the son of the flight engineer, Sgt James McBurney.

The squadron operations book noted: "Nineteen aircraft from Tarrant Rushton took part in SOE operations to Norway, nine aircraft from No. 298 Squadron and ten aircraft from No. 644 Squadron. Of these, 15 aircraft successfully completed their mission and two were unsuccessful owing to no reception in the DZ area."

The crew's "parachute raid report" recorded: "Off at 1711. DZ 60,26,00 N 11,07,30E - identified by "ground reception, as briefed". Dropped 13 containers and 3 packages, over DZ from 2143 to 2159 hrs: 500ft AGL course 330M IAS 140mph. "No hang ups, all chutes opened". Vis. "excellent". Cloud NIL. RTB at 0417."