One of Lancaster HK594's crew members, navigator Walter Watson (kia 30.08.1944), has this recorded in paperwork I have regarding his career prior to posting to 75 (NZ) Sqn , ".....in January 1944 he proceeded to No 11 OTU, Westcott, Buckinghamshire (3 words of indecipherable text) and completed his training on Wellington ( one word indecipherable) at this base and the nearby satellite of Oakley and on one occasion during May he took part in air operations over the (???? ?? ?????) in occupied France.
The paperwork is a very poor copy of the original, sent from the NZ Air force files, and try as I might I can't work out the location of the raid in France. It could be ???n de Oplane, though I can't find anywhere looking like it bears such a name.
Do records exist for raids in which 11 OTU took part in May '44?
The National Archives hold records for 11 OTU but not for as late as 1944.
Do records exist for raids in which 11 OTU took part in May '44?
The National Archives hold records for 11 OTU but not for as late as 1944.
You didn't go far enough. The No 11 OTU ORB continues in AIR29/643 from January 1944 - August 1945. Appendices from June 1942 - August 1945 are in AIR29/645 which includes photographs of some personnel.
What you're calling a raid may be referring to nickel operations done by OTUs as diversions for Main Force operations. This was rather prevalent in this time frame. Several of my 101 Sqn subjects were at 30 OTU in the spring and summer of 1944 and this was done. The ORB for 30 OTU lists targets and kite serials.
I must have been thinking about No. 27 OTU's ORB. No. 30 OTU's ORB for May 1944 lists nickels on 3, 9, 10 and 31 May. No targets listed although I know from a logbook that the 10th was to Villeneuve St Georges (Paris)
From No. 27 OTU's ORB. Here are the operations for May 1944:
08/05/44: Six aircraft from this unit took part in a nickel raid, one on Argentan, two on Alencon and three on LeMans area. All aircraft returned safely. 10/05/44: Four aircraft from this unit took part in a nickel raid on Angers area, all aircraft returned safely, one landing at Boscombe Down due to lack of fuel. 20/05/44: Six aircraft from this unit took part in a nickel raid, four on Amiens area, two on Abbeville area. All aircraft returned safely. 23/05/44: Six aircraft from this unit took part in a nickel raid, four on Paris and two on Etampes. All aircraft returned safely.
Note it says area after each French location. You may have to do a little map reading.
