433 squadron, halifax bomber, beer is best

On September 25th, 1943, No. 433 (Porcupine) Squadron officially came into being. Though it was one of the later R.C.A.F. heavy bomber squadrons to be formed, this unit was to compile a highly respectable record with regard to bomb-tonnage dropped, operational sorties flown, and individual heroism displayed.
For the first three months or so, the efforts of squadron personnel were devoted to building up strength in manpower and material, organizing generally, and achieving a state of operational readiness. Aircraft (Halifax IIIs) began to arrive on 3 November, and no time was lost in checking out pilots and organizing a crew-training schedule. In addition, eleven pilots gained operational experience as "second dickies" with No. 427 (Lion) Squadron. Unfortunately, a bad flying accident occurred during this period, causing the death of five aircrew N.C.O.s and one airman, and injuries to two airmen.
While taking off, a Halifax suddenly turned over on its back and crashed down upon a dispersed aircraft in which four fitters were working. The fatalities were: Flt. Sgt. P. R. Humphreys (captain), Sgt. H. L. Miller (air bomber), Sgt. H. G. Buxton (flight engineer), Sgt. K. N. Lake (mid-upper air gunner), Sgt. L. D. Griese (rear gunner), and L.A.C. M. F. O'Connor. Injured were L.A.C.s S. T. McEvoy and P. W. Butler.
At the end of December, with a personnel strength of 49 officers and 473 airmen, and an aircraft strength of 20 Halifax IIIs, No. 433 Squadron was ready to start work. Shortly after 2030 hours on 2 January 1944, four Hallies took off on this squadron's first operation, a sea-mining expedition to the "Nectarines I" area (Frisian Islands). This proved to be an omen of sorts, for the Porcupines went on to become one of the foremost mining squadrons of No. 6 Group. After 17 days of bad weather, during which the unit's chief activities were local training and anticipating "scrub" signals, the squadron made its operational bombing debut. Nine aircraft were detailed to take part, one of which became a non-starter. At the coming-out party, held over Berlin, 2,000-pound "cookies" were served amid a shower of incendiaries. One of two early-returning aircraft was flown by Flt. Lt. G. W. Wolton, who was jinxed by malfunctioning overload pumps. This misadventure gave him and his crew the honour of dropping the squadron's first bombs on "Hitler's Fortress." They bombed Kiel at 1845 hours on the 20th January. Despite the non-start and early returns, this attack, in which the "Porkies" were led personally by their Commanding Officer, Wing Cdr. Clive B. Sinton, D.F.C., (a Briton in the R.C.A.F.), was considered quite successful for a first attempt. Unbroken cloud lay over the target, but the six successful crews had little trouble finding the target and bombing on Pathfinder Force's sky markers. Opposition was surprisingly light. The groundcrew deserved special commendation for their quick work in installing overload tanks, which had arrived only that morning.
The Squadron suffered its first operational casualties the following night, when the crews of Flt. Lt. A. G. Jira and Flt. Sgt. J. A. Wilson failed to return from Magdeburg. It was Flt. Lt. Jira's first operation as captain, and the first for his crew. His aircraft was brought down over Magdeburg, and he and his entire crew were killed. The other crew members were: Flying Officer R. J. McMehen, Sgt. T. J. Seeley, Flying Officer B. A. Russell, Sgt. M. Couture, Sgt. S. J. Swain, and Sgt. J. C. Webber. *
*Unless otherwise noted, crews are listed in the following order: captain, navigator, wireless operator, air bomber, rear gunner, flight engineer, and mid-upper gunner. Ranks shown are those held at the time of the casualty; many of the personnel were subsequently promoted or commissioned