Nickeling ops

**Celt 22** · 12th October 2010, 19:36

Hi folks,
I wonder if anyone could tell me if the crew list and a/c serial for a nickeling op at an OTU would have been recorded in the unit ORB or in a seperate operations sheet ?
Thanks,
Ian

**AlanW** · 12th October 2010, 20:35

Hi Ian,
If you could give a little more info on date, op etc, i'm sure that there may be some help available here. The op should be recorded in the OTU ORB, but, there's a wealth of knowledge here that could be of help.
Alan.

**Celt 22** · 13th October 2010, 19:47

Hi Alan,
The info i'm looking for would be a nickeling op flown by P/O A. J. Fitchett, who was a navigator. His crew were at 24 OTU at Honeybourne from the 23rd of February 1943 up until 3rd May '43 at the latest. Assuming a spot of leave prior to posting to the HCU, and the fact that the op would have been at the end of the OTU course, i'm probably looking at the op being flown sometime in April '43. Would appreciate any info. Codes and serial tie-ups for the units Whitleys would also be most welcome.
Ian

**COL BRUGGY** · 14th October 2010, 06:45

Hi Ian,

There is a nickeling op by 24 OTU (Honeybourne), described in Worcestershire at War, that might be what your after.

On the 26th March (1943), five Whitleys were detailed for a 'Nickel'. The target Orleon. All aircraft successfully located the target but one, Z9514 (Sgt Mileson) failed to release the packages. There was a combat between Whitley EB351 (Sgt Rawdley) on the raid, and an enemy fighter travelling on a reciprocal course on the port beam. No return fire was experienced and the fighter broke away at 700 yards.

See:
Worcestershire at War.
Warren,Glyn.
n.p.:Author,1991.
p.80

This is the only 'Nickel' mentioned in the book in your time frame.

Col.