Joined the 432 squadron.

Gibb thought he had only 12 more missions to do.

Taking off at 4:39 p.m. flying Halifax QO-U.

"Utopia" Halifax VII RG-478 QO-U flew a total of 17 Sorties 144 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were joined by 46 Lancasters from 419, 428 and 431 squadrons on an attack at Karlsruhe. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 854,000 lbs of high explosives and 678,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. Among the factories destroyed was the important Durlacher Machine-tool building. F/O F. Jeffery from 432 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. F/O J. Hamilton and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-802 coded QO-S, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. P/O G. Sherlock landed at Elvington on return.

6 hours and 45 minutes in the air.

Taking off at 4:09 p.m. flying Halifax QO-Z

140 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433

Squadrons were joined by 59 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Osnabruck. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,310,000 lbs of high explosives and 193,000 lbs of

incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was scattered but the railyards

and a munitions factory were damaged.

F/O F. Jeffery from 432 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the

fuselage, tail plane and rear turret. F/Lt W. Miller landed at North Creake on

return. F/ O E. Patzer landed at Woodbridge on return.

F/O G. Spiers RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-695 coded QO-K, failed to

return from this operation.

Sgt J. Jonas RAF–POW

W/O2 P. Callaghan RCAF–POW

F/O C. Wilkinson RCAF–POW

P/O S. Soles RCAF–POW

F/Sgt H. Quinn RCAF–POW

W/O1 J. Chalmers RCAF

5 crew were POWs and 2 were killed.

6 hours and 10 minutes in the air.

Letter to Thom Evanson from Ralph Rhea:

Ft. Macleod

August 26, 1992

Dear Tom

Relative to our phone conversation, we found the letter and Im enclosing a copy

of it for your use.

Reading it again after all this time has been a little nostalgic to say the

least. Your mother could probably tell you more about some of the Raymond Boys (Men) he mentioned. I know their names and them also but because of our age differences and lack of contact they are just names to me.

Hope this in some small way helps you to understand and better appreciate your

Uncle Gibb.

Sincerely

Ralph Rhea

12 Dec 1944

PT. Rhea R.W 19193891

B-Company, 54st Inhtng. BNCamp Wolters, TexasUSA.

Dear Ralph

Hello old cock how fares the battle, not to grimly I hope. For myself its not to

badexcept for a little pneumonia, rheumatism, arthritis etc. picked up in this beautiful mildclimate of jolly old England. I daresn’t go near a gun for fear

the temptation might proveto great and I would take the easy way out. Lordy

Lordy what a climate. I’m telling you

if you can survive this the Germans haven’t got a chance. It was really good to hear from you Ralph, I enjoyed your letter very much. From it I gathered you’ve joined a lot tougher outfit than this I’m in. We do nothing but clean

the occasional gun and our trips are few and far between. I’ve done 20 trips, 10

more to do and I’ve finished. Then I hope to go straight home. I’ve applied for a commission but I’d just love to sleep till noon, wear a scarf around instead of a tie etc. Personally I don’t give a damn. My WoII is about due and over here you get them the day there due.

Johnny Hicken was at 408. I’ve run into Mell Depew, Stuart Robinson and quite a

few Raymonites. I’m situated fairly close to York and Leeds and there’s some pretty good women around. I go with a girl in Leeds who wouldn’t mind crossing the Atlantic. She’s not bad. Sometimes I think its not a bad idea. Be sure and look me up if you have the misfortune to be sent to this “place”. I know how you feel about your life when at home.

I sometimes wonder what the matter was with me when I was making my Dad’s and

yourMother’s life miserable by being such an ass but I hope to compensate in

some small way. I hope this reaches you in time to wish you and B com a Merry and Happy New Year.

All the Best

Gibb

R202727

F/S Mendenhall#432 SOD

RCAF Overseas

Taking off at 2:56 pm flying Halifax Q0-F.

Taking off at 4:39 p.m. flying Halifax QO-Q

133 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433

squadrons were joined by 57 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Hannover. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 to 20,000 feet, releasing 1,587,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was scattered through out the city.

January 29, 1945

Flying from Polebrook back to base.

Having 46 hours and 15 minutes with the 432 squadron. Largely because of the weather, major night operations were clustered into short periods of intense activity during the first and third week of January.

Taking off at 8:07 p.m. flying Halifax QO-A

109 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 squadrons were ordered on an attack at Wanne-Eickel. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 675,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing missed the oil refinery. There was, however some damage to a coal mine.

5 hours and 40 minutes in the air.

The winter months of 1944-45 with their long periods of fog and rain caused a

decrease in the high tempo of the Group's operations. By early spring of 1945, the Group's pace again quickened in the final all-out offensive. Targets however, were rapidly becoming scarcer as the Allied armies drove into Germany from east and west.

The enemy's fighter defenses were overwhelmed and daylight attacks, with escorts of long-range Mustangs and Spitfires, were carried out with little loss.