408 Squadron Teil 2
October 9/10, 1944 (Mission 7)
Taking off at 5:19 p.m. flying Halifax D.
179 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433,
and 434 squadrons were joined by 30 lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons, on an attack at Bochum. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 928,000 lbs of high explosives and 544,000 lbs of incendiaries. The Target
was cloud covered and according to reports the attack was scattered.
P/O L. McGuire from 432 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O A. Potter had the stbd outer go u/s over the target. They bombed and returned safely on 3 engines.
F/Sgt N. Franko and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-697 coded QO-F, were attacked by an unidentified single engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. F/O S. Dean and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-721 coded QO-X, were attacked by an unidentified single and twin engine aircraf, there was no claims or damage. F/O R. Diamond RCAF--POW and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-801 coded QO-N failed to return from this operation.
Sgt. K. Hutchinson RAF--POW
F/Lt. W. Nicholson RCAF--POW
F/O W. Stohlberg RCAF--POW
W/O2 G. Sharpe RCAF--POW
W/O2 H. Graham RCAF--POW
F/Sgt M. Harrington RCAF--POW
Crews had seen that they had been hit by falling bombs. They were all POWs.
6 hours and 10 minutes in the air.
October 12, 1944 (Mission 8)
Taking off at 7:37 a.m, flying Halifax S.
Operation Ruhr-Wanneickel Landing at Woodbridge around noon.
4 hours 25 minutes in the air Taking off again from Woodbrige at 4:01 p.m. flying one hour to base.
- Parcel from home
October 15/16, 1944 (Mission 9)
- 429 Squadron Wilhelmshaven Raid
Taking off at 5:20 pm flying Halifax F.
119 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and
434 squadrons were joined by 15 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons, on an attack at Wilhelmshaven. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 920,000 lbs of high explosives and 224,000 lbs of
incendiaries. This was the last major attack on this naval city. P/O L. McGuire and crew from 432 Squadron flying Halifax VII NP-802 coded QO-S were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt D. Spellar RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-723 coded QO-D, failed to return from this operation. Sgt. C. Moss, RAF, F/O T. Fisher, RCAF, F/O G. Gilbert, RCAF, Sgt. J, Hogg, RCAF, Sgt. G. Cook, RAF, Sgt. K. Odobas,
RAF, were all killed.
5 hours and 10 minutes in the air landing at Buckenham.
October 17, 1944
Taking off at 9:17 a.m. from Buckenham and returning to base.
1 hour and 10 minutes.
October 22, 1944
Taking off at 3:58 p.m. in Halifax D doing a cross country training for 2 hours
and 15 minutes
October 23, 1944 (Mission 10)
- Gibb & Frank Daley
Taking off at 4:38 p.m. in Halifax D.
229 Halifaxes from 408, 415,
420,424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432,
433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 43 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack on Essen. The crews were over the target from between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 2,326,000 lbs of high explosives and 239,000 lbs of incendiaries. Over 1,000 aircraft took part in this attack releasing 4,500 tons of ordinance making it the heaviest attack to date. A large number of crews mentioned flying through heavy icing to and from this target.
P/O L. McGuire from 432 Squadron
returned early due to severe icing. They
landed at Woodbridge. F/O A. Bews returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/O G. Barron and crew, flying Halifax VII
NP-698 coded QO-U, were attacked by a ME-110, there was no claim or damage. F/O C. Hemming RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-722 coded QO-S, had the rudder pin shear due to icing. Sgt E. Hemsley RAF, F/O J. Bishop RCAF, F/O E. Holmes RCAF, P/O J. Brusone RCAF, Sgt J. Gallant RCAF, Sgt R. Brown RCAF, crash landing at Manston with no injury to the crew. F/O A. Craig landed at Newmarket on return. F/O A. Potter landed at Tempsford on return.
Strike over Essen, October 23/24, 1944.
Graciously supplied by Clyde Marshall
4 hours and 25 minutes in the air, landing at Woodbridge.
October 24, 1944
Taking off at 5:25 p.m. from Woodbridge and returning to base, taking
1 hours and 5 minutes.
October 25, 1944 (Mission 11)
Taking off at 12:59 p.m. in Halifax A.
198 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433,
and 434 squadrons attacked the oil plant at Homberg. The crews were over the
target between 16,000 and 19,000 feet releasing 1,813,000 lbs of high xplosives. The oil plant was cloud covered at the time of attack.
5 hours and 40 minutes in the air. Landing at Thorpeabbott.
October 26, 1944
Sir Arthur Tedder, Eisenhower’s deputy and the senior airman at Supreme
Headquarters, Alide Expeditionary Force, had circulated his proposals for the
future
conduct of the bomber offensive, emphasizing the significance of the
transportation
plan
October 30/31 1944 (Mission 12)
Taking off at 5:41 p.m. in Halifax W.
40 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons were joined by 202 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadron on an attack on Cologne. All aircraft were over the target between 16,000 and 21,000 feet dropping 322,000 lbs of incendiaries and 1,939,000 lbs of high explosives. This attack took place through heavy cloud.
F/O W. Saye, F/O N. Patterson, F/O C. Hemming, F/O D. McKinnon, F/Lt C. Fyfe,
P/O J. Hamilton, F/Lt L. Kropf, F/O A. Bews, F/O G. McNicoll, F/O F. Eilertson,
P/O A. Stedman, F/O J. Mills, F/O F. Jeffery, F/O F. Horan, F/O J. Gault, F/O S. Dean, F/O G. Barron, F/Lt J. Thompson, and F/Lt W. Miller from 432 Squadron landed at Syerston on return due to poor weather at base.
5 hours and 35 minutes in the air.
November 1, 1944
Taking off at 3:16 p.m. from Thoreabbott and returning to base, one hour flight.
A revised bombing directive had been sent to Sir Arthur Harris and General
Spaatz which effectively called a halt to Operation Hurricane. The disorganization of Hitler's transportation system was high on the list, particularly in the Ruhr,
it was clearly subordinate to the oil campaign. The war in Europe was winding down, and since no one expected to be fighting great air or tank battles in a years time, there was no need to worry about the future output of airplanes or armored fighting vehicles.
The most significant change so far was that related to conduct of area raids. Still authorized whenever weather or the tactical situation precluded precise attacks, they were now to be directed so as to contribute to the maximum destruction of the petroleum industry
Bomber Command had already virtually destroyed 45 out of the leading 60 German cities. They had never let the army down when it asked for support. Area bombing was doing more to win the war than any other campaign.
The destruction of Magdeburg, Halle, Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, Brelau, Nuremburg, Munich, Coblenz, Karlsruhe, and the completion of Berlin and Hanover are required to finish the plan. Oil was now the “knife edge” on which the whole war situation was poised as Sir Arthur said.
- Waiting for loading orders
November 1, 1944 (Mission 13)
Taking off at 5:20 pm in Halifax D.
202 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 47 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 on an attack at Oberhausen. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet,
releasing 1,979,000 lbs of high explosives and 379,000 lbs of incendiaries. The target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered.
F/O D. McKinnon from 432 squadron returned early as the intercom was u/s.
6 hours and 10 minutes in the air.
- Gibb
- Two 4,000 lb. Bombs
November 2, 1944 (Mission 14)
Took off at 4:04 p.m. in Halifax D.
180 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and
434 squadrons were joined by 42 Lancasters from 419, 428 and 431 squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,711,000 lbs of high explosives and 285,000 lbs of incendiaries.
According to reports, the northern part of Dusseldorf was severely damaged. This
was the last attack on Dusseldorf.
F/O G. McNicoll from 432 squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s.
They landed safely at base on 3 engines. F/Lt. L. Kropf returned early as the
stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
5 hours and 15 minutes, landing at Watton.
- Strike over Dusseldorf November 2/3, 1944 Photo graciously supplied by Tom Ritchie via R. Butson
November 3, 1944
Taking off at 5:02 pm from Watton to return to base.
November 4/5, 1944 (Mission 15)
Taking off at 5:02 in Halifax D.
173 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 41 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an attack at Bochum. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 1,841,000 lbs of high explosives and 324,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damaged was caused to this city and many important industries were damaged.
F/O C. Hemming and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-705 coded QO-Y, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt. J. Sales landed at Dalton due to a fuel shortage. F/O J. Gault, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-708 coded QO-E, was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. and P/O W. Border, RAF the Flt/ engineer, was killed. They landed at Woodbridge on return.
- Strike over Bochum November 4/5 1944
5 hours and 20 minutes.
November 10, 1944
Taking off at 1:00 p.m. for local flight for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
November 21/22, 1944 (Mission 16)
Taking off at 3:30 p.m. flying Halifax D.
- Flight preparations
175 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 55 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 Squadrons on an attack of the oil refinery at Castrop-Rauxel. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 1,807,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the plant was accurately bombed and severe damage was caused. F/Lt F. Horan from 432 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.F/O G. McNicoll returned early as all the instruments were u/s. F/O M. Krakowsky and F/Lt W. Miller were attacked by enemy aircraft, there was no claims or damage. They landed at Wombleton on return. F/O J. Mills, F/O D. Frost, F/O A. Clarke, F/Lt E. Hayes, P/O G. Sherlock, F/Lt C. Fyfe, F/O S. Dean, P/O L. McGuire, F/O G. Spiers, F/Lt L. Kropf, F/O G. Barron, F/O A. Bews, F/O A. Potter, F/O J. Hamilton, F/Lt J. Thompson, and F/O C. Hemming landed at Wombleton on return due to poor weather at base
5 hours and 50 minutes in the air.
Total number of operation hours 89 hours and 55 minutes.
- 429 Squadron Castrop-Rauxel
- 429 Squadron Castrop-Rauxel
Attack on Castrop-Rauxell were meant to immobilize the Wehrmacht. Flak was mainly a daytime concern. Of the 154 aircraft damaged in November, 137 by Flak, seventy-one had been hit in 620 daylight sorties and sixty six in 1384 night sorties.
