Corkscrew Charlie

During the month of June 1944, No. 433 [Porcupine] Squadron flew every bombing operation against a target in France.  Each operation was in support of the D-Day landings or the allies breakout from the Normandy beach-head.

 On 28/29 June 1944, 100 Canadian bombers were dispatched to attack the target of Metz, France. In total 86 bombers attacked the target and seven were shot down. Warrant Officer H. G. McVeigh was piloting Halifax “C” for Charlie, which was attacked four times by German fighters. He managed to evade three attacks by corkscrewing his aircraft but was finally hit while in the fourth corkscrew dive. The starboard fin and rudder were completely shot away, plus wingtip, elevator, and aileron were damaged. At 13,000 feet the bomber went into a tight spin and the crew were ordered to bail out. Two of the aircrew [Bomb Aim. and Mid Upper] left the spinning aircraft before McVeigh managed to level off at 6,000 feet.  He then set a course for England but soon after his port engine gave out. McVeigh managed to reach the “master” airfield at Woodbridge where he landed at 155 m.p.h. For saving the lives of most of his crew he was promoted and awarded the DFC.

McVeigh and crew received a new Halifax Mk. III, serial MZ807, which the RAF Flight Engineer, Rob Hood, painted with the name “Corkscrew Charlie” and the cartoon of pilot Mc Veigh having a few drinks at the local pub. This plane went missing on the night of Dec. 2/3 1944 while on attack of Hagen. Six crewmembers were killed.	Replica painted by Clarence Simonsen on a skin from NA337. On loan in Nanton Museum.