An aerial Battle of Berlin Air Crew Europe casualty group awarded to Sergeant C.C. Langley, 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who was killed in action on the night of 23rd-24th November 1943 on an operation to Berlin, 1 of 21 bombers lost on this raid making up a total of 5.49 percent of the force despatched. Having no known grave, Langley is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Group of 3: 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 39-45 with typed casualty slip to ‘SERGEANT C.C. LANGLEY’ along with a named box of issue to ‘F.C. Langley, Esq, 31 Westland Drive, Hayes, Bromley, Kent.
Condition: Good Very Fine
Cyril Caister Langley was born at Thornton Heath, Surrey on 29th August 1922 and served with the Metropolitan Police before he enlisted on 27th March 1942 and would serve with 44 Squadron being killed in action on 23rd-24th November 1943 whilst flying aboard a Lancaster III on an operation to Berlin. His aircraft was lost without trace, and having no known grave Langley is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey where he is noted as the son of Frank Caister Langley and Edith Matilda Langley of Hayes, Kent.
On the night of 23/24 November 1943: Berlin, 383 aircraft, 365 Lancasters, ten Halifaxes, six Mosquitos, 46 early returns (12 per cent); 21 bombers lost (5.49 per cent); bombing from 19:58 to 20:15, about 1,377 long tons (1,399 t) of bombs 734 long tons (746 t) high explosive, 643 long tons (653 t) incendiary. Primary blind markers each to drop red TIs and a bundle of flares of red and with green stars by H2S. Other blind markers were to mark the aiming point with salvos of reds and yellows along with four bundles of flares each. Secondary blind markers would drop green TIs and one bundle of flares apiece and early backers-up greens on the reds and yellows if visible and if not the centre of the reds after a two-second overshoot. The Main Force was to bomb on the centre of the greens also with a two-second overshoot or to bomb on H2S of if they were unserviceable, aim at the centre of the flares. The Flak was as effective as before but the fighter controller commanded a Zahme Sau (Tame Boar) interception from 18:12, ordered them to Berlin at 19:30 and Brandenburg at 20:00, the time for the raid to begin. Fighter interceptions began at 20:08
Operation Corona (false instructions to German aircraft) broadcast from England had some effect. Two German night-fighters might have been shot down over Berlin and 21 bombers were lost, with 27 damaged, 14 to FlaK, four to fighters and nine to other causes. Four bombers crashed between the Netherlands coast and Leeuwarden, four were shot down by fighters between Groningen and Hanover, one to Flak near Texel. Three aircraft were shot down by FlaK over Berlin, early in the raid, five by fighters during it. Six of the damaged aircraft were write-offs, one by FlaK and the rest in landing accidents. A German report had the raid beginning at 19:26 and that 13,005 people were killed, 6,383 were injured and 300,000 people were rendered destitute; 120 mines, 850 HE bombs, 20,000 phosphorus bombs, 250,000 incendiaries and 70 flares were counted; 1,989 houses were destroyed and 2,443 were badly damaged and 20,000 slightly damaged; a military installation was destroyed, 22 severely and 22 slightly damaged; the Spandau power station was destroyed.
