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Sgt Ernest (Eric) Ross, in 1944
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Operations from Tortorella, Foggia, Southern Italy, November 1944 January 1945
70th Bomber Squadron was part of 231 Wing which it shared with 37 Squadron RAF.
1. 17/11/1944
"W" LP 179 13 Wellingtons to attack motor transport on Novi Pazar Sjenica roads, in Yugoslavia.
12 aircraft took off but mission was aborted due to bad weather. 4 returned with 8 continuing with the mission (including W LP 179). However they took off again at 10.05 and returned at 13.21 hours. Road and river confirmed by Gee Fix. Bombs dropped at 6.500 feet in x2 sticks on road with motor transport. First stick believed undershot with the 2nd unobserved. 18 tons of bombs dropped.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt G.E. Curtis (navigator). Sgt J.G. Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Pilot Officer D.A. Clarke (Rear gunner). Sgt J.R Taylor (Wireless Operator).
2. 22/11/1944
"X" MF 243 30 tons of bombs dropped and operation deemed to be very successful. Photos confirmed hits on the Visegrad Bridge and motor transport.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt G.E. Curtis (navigator). Sgt J.G. Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Pilot Officer D.A. Clarke (Rear gunner). Sgt J.R Taylor (Wireless Operator).
Germans reported escaping from South Yugoslavia Sjenica to Priboj.
3. 22/11/1944
"X" MF 243 took off at 16:49 and landed at 22:38 hours unable to identify target bombs jettisoned at sea.
Crew: Flight Sergeant W.C.T Worf (Capt). E.G. Ross second pilot. Sgt W.A. Elvidge (navigator). Sgt A. Ross (Bomb Aimer). Sgt G.A. Hind (Wireless Operator). Sgt T.G. Turner (Rear Gunner).
4. 24/11/1944
"Z" MF 243 Supply dropping central Yugoslavia Milmovici 6 containers of arms and ammunition dropped @ 10.000 feet, all chutes opened. Mission very successful as the skies were clear.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb aimer). Sgt E.R. Taylor (Wireless Operator). Pilot Officer D.A. Clark (Rear Gunner).
5. 01/12/1944
"S" HF 574 Supply drop to partisans near Pridgrad. 1.2 tons of supplies dropped in containers.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb aimer). Sgt E.R. Taylor (Wireless Operator). Pilot Officer D.A. Clark (Rear Gunner).
6. 02/12/1944
"S" HF 574 Supply drop target not sighted. 6 containers returned.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb aimer). Sgt E.R. Taylor (Wireless Operator). Pilot Officer D.A. Clark (Rear Gunner).
7. 03/12/1944
"X" MF 243 Supply drop. 9 aircraft took off with 1 returning due to hydraulic trouble.
"X" MF 243 dropped 5 containers from 10.000 feet (1 hung up and was returned stuck!).
Left 20:35 and returned at 23:24 hours.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb aimer). Sgt E.R. Taylor (Wireless Operator). Pilot Officer D.A. Clark (Rear Gunner).
8. 04/12/1944
Erics plane developed engine trouble whilst taxiing for take off and therefore did not take part in the operations that day.
9. 11/12/1944
"T" LP 115 Supply drop 13 aircraft took off (T LP 115 brought all containers back to base being unable to locate the drop zone, despite clear weather).
"T" LP 115 was chased by x2 unidentified fighters and had to take considerable evasive action there was no exchange of fire. Left at 16:11 and returned at 20:27 hours.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Sgt J.J.Lister (Rear Gunner).
10. 13/12/1944
"X" MF 243 14 aircraft from squadron flew to Grotteglie to load with troops and supplies, 13 reached Kalamcki (Athens, Greece). 112 soldiers, with ammunition taken to the Greek Mainland.
Some aircraft were unable to penetrate due to bad weather and landed at Drakos, where they had to refuel. 1 crash landed brake failure and the crew captured by E.L.A.S. (communist forces). X MF 243 got to Kalamacki with their cargo. Left at 07:54 hours and returned at 08:53 hours.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Sgt J.J.Lister (Rear Gunner).
This was to transport troops and equipment at the request of the Greek government in order to quell civil unrest in the country following the liberation.
11. 18/12/1944
"T" LP 115 12 aircraft from squadron attacked a concentration of troops and motor transport from 21st Army Group (German Army) in the area of Bioce/Matesevo Villac.
Found vehicles and created havoc with many direct hits. "T" LP 115 took off at 12:49 and returned at 16:20 hours. Spotted target in good weather conditions and dropped their bombs from 10.000 feet. Reported direct hit on road with many fires. Squadron dropped 25.625 tons of bombs with 102 packets of nickels (pamphlets in German inviting troops to surrender). The squadron log recorded best day so far hammering 21st Army Group.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Pilot Officer D.A. Clarke (Rear Gunner).
12. 21/12/1944
"T" LP 115 7 aircraft took off to destroy Moijkovac Bridge, weather good.
Target seen no hits. However the bridge was reported as having been destroyed by a 4.000 lb bomb (confirmed by photos).
"T" LP 115 took off at 13:30 hours and landed at 16:31 hours. Bridge seen at 8.000 feet. X2 sticks aimed at the bridge near miss claimed. 4 bombs hung up and were jettisoned at sea.
Crew: E.G. Ross (Capt.) Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Sgt J.J.Lister (Rear Gunner).
13. 25/12/1944
"T" LP 115 Supply dropping on Christmas day of flour and rice and arms to partisans in the area of Gronomelf, Yugoslavia. People spotted picking up the containers.
No opposition all planes got back in time for their delayed Christmas meal. T LP 115 dropped 6 containers from 1500 feet all the chutes opened.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Sgt J.J.Lister (Rear Gunner).
14. 27/12/1944
"T" LP 115 Supply drop. 12 aircraft took off 11 were unable to locate the ground signal
All containers returned with the exception of one aircraft which dropped theirs in poor weather.
"T" LP 115 was unable to locate the drop zone and returned with their containers. Take off was at 16:55 hours and landing at 20:28 hours.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Laidley (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Sgt J.J.Lister (Rear Gunner).
1945
Squadron records show January was marked with bad weather. 2 tractors were on standby all day due to poor state of the ground. However the main event was the conversion of aircrew from Wellington X to Liberator VI. The last operation with Wellington X was on 21/01/1945. The conversion of all crews was on 22/01/1945.
Eric may have had a spell of leave after 27/12/1944 and prior to 15/01/1945, to the RAF rest camp (No 2) at Sorrento in the bay of Naples. I have a cigarette case bearing the 70th Bomber Squadron crest on one side, and a set of RAF wings on the reverse side, made out of olive wood. The case is also bears
"Sorrento" and "1945".
15. 15/01/1945
"U" LP 644 Wellington X Supply drop to partisans, 14 aircraft took off to north east Italy where the drop zone was found to be covered in cloud.
13 returned with their containers, 1 dropped on fire glow thought to be enemy generated.
"U" LP 644 was unable to identify the drop point and returned with their containers.
Crew: E.G. Ross Capt. Sgt Curtis (Navigator). Sgt Croasdale (Bomb Aimer). Sgt Taylor (Wireless Operator). Sgt J.J.Lister (Rear Gunner).
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