February 20, 1945 (Mission 28)

 

Taking off at 10:13 p.m. flying Halifax VII RG-455 coded QO-X The long missions that Gibb spent in the upper gunner position must have been

tense, and often terrifying. At any moment, there was the possibility of an

attack or a collision with another bomber, especially as one approached the target. Over thetarget, blindingly bright searchlights, exploding flak, bursting bombs, and perhaps incoming cannon fire cannot have made for pleasant scenery. If those searchlights "coned"a

bomber in their glare, only violent evasive action by the pilot might save it.

 

This night 112 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432

Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the oil refinery at Monheim. The crews

were over the target at between 14,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 698,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

F/Lt E. Maguire and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax VII RG-451 coded QOD, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, possible rocket, it was claimed damaged.

F/O E. Patzer RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII RG-455 coded QO-X, failed to

return from this operation.

 

Sgt C. Grant RAF

F/O G. Henson RCAF–POW

F/O A. May RCAF–POW

P/O F. Daley RCAF–POW

F/Sgt B. McIntosh RCAF–POW

P/O W. Mendenhall RCAF

4 crew were POW and 3 were killed.

F/O G. Lareau and crew from 425 Squadron flying Halifax III MZ-845 coded KW-J were attacked by an ME-210, some strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged.

F/O D. Weicker from 426 Squadron was attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage. F/O J. Mulholland from 427 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.

F/Lt W. Walker and crew, flying Halifax III NP-941 coded ZL-X, were attacked by

an ME-110, many strikes were seen and the starboard engine caught fire and then

the starboard wing broke off, it was claimed destroyed.

F/Lt J. Murphy RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III NP-942 coded ZL-T, failed

to return from this operation.

Sgt G. Tate RAF–POW

F/O G. Mann RCAF–POW

F/O E. Essenburg RCAF

W/O2 E. Perdue RCAF–POW

F/O A. Breault RCAF–POW

P/O J. Wallace RCAF

5 crew were POWs and 2 were killed.

F/O R. Jones from 429 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s.

They landed safely at Manston on 3 engines. F/O L. Morrison and crew, flying

Halifax III PN-367 coded AL-J, were attacked by an unidentified single engine

enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage, although some strikes were seen. F/O W.

McSween and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-318 coded AL-F, were attacked twice by

an ME-109, there was no claim or damage. While the Halifaxes went to Monheim, 82 Lancasters from 419, 424, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Dortmund. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 231,000 lbs of high explosives and 579,000 lbs of incendiaries.

According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

F/Lt H. Metivier and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-866 coded VR-M, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt J. Watts and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-786 coded VR-P, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage. P/O J. MacNeil and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-823 coded VR-U, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.

F/O L. Blaney RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-804 coded VR-E, failed to

return from this operation.

 

Sgt T. Instone RAF–POW

P/O D. Hanna RCAF

F/O P. Owen RCAF–POW

P/O A. Kindret RCAF–POW

F/Sgt L. Nozzolillo RCAF–POW

P/O R. Althan RCAF–POW

2 crew were killed and 5 POWs after being shot down by flak.

 

P/O W. Church and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Lancaster I NG-280 coded QB-U, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.

They were also hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd fin and rudder.

F/Sgt W. Cozens RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster I ME-456 coded QB-K, failed

to return from this operation.

P/O J. Kubin RCAF

F/O G. Ree RCAF

F/O H. Rubenstein RCAF

Sgt J. Butler RCAF–POW

Sgt A. Skett RCAF–POW

Sgt E. Rhodes RCAF

1 crew member was killed and 2 were POWs after being hit by flak outbound to

the target. On return they were attacked by a Nightfighter. 5 crew bailed out

but 2 drifted back into enemy territory, F/Sgt Cozens crash-landed the Lancaster in allied territory.

F/Lt R. Hay and crew from 428 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-747 coded NAX,

were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim

or damage. F/O K. Roulston and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-848 coded NA-G, were attacked by an ME-210, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt B. Kaplansky from 431 Squadron was attacked by a JU-88, the JU-88 exploded in mid air after both

gunners fired upon it. A short time later they were attacked again by a JU-88. It was hit and part of the wing and tail broke off. It spun to the ground. Both were claimed destroyed.

P/O J. Kopp RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-809 coded SE-Q, failed to

return from this operation.

P/O W. Dickson RCAF

F/O I. MacCugan RCAF–POW

W/O2 F. Lehman RCAF–POW

P/O L. Hoffman RCAF

F/Sgt H. Dailey RCAF–POW

P/O F. Newman RCAF

4 crew were killed and 3 POWs.

F/O J. Farrell and crew from 433 Squadron, flying Lancaster I PB-903 coded BM F, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt R. Bertran and crew, flying Lancaster I NG-496 coded BM-N, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage. F/Lt I. Andres and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-880 coded WL-N, were attacked 3 times by JU-88's, possibly the same one. There were strikes seen on all encounters. F/O D.

Cameron and crew, flying Lancaster I NG-457 coded WL-P, were attacked by a

JU-88.

The intercom, port wing, radios and hydraulics were damaged. The port elevator was shot off and the 3 port fuel tanks were leaking. P/O H. Davey RCAF, the wireless operator was killed and F/Sgt J. Taggart RCAF, the mid upper gunner was seriously injured. They landed at Manston on return to tend to the injured aircrew.

 

RG455 - QO-X Halifax B Mk 7, 5 ops recorded, failed to return Monheim, 21/2/45 Shot down at 01:55 hrs on the 21/2/45 near Oberhausen, 18 km. West of Koln (Cologne)

 

McIntosh, Daley, Hay, Hensen are .O.W.

Investigation Report 8th November 1945:

 

Civilians in Ober Aussen are emphatic in stating that one British aircraft

crashed in the village about a fortnight before the American forces entered the village, i.e. 14 days prior to March, 2nd. The aircraft approached from the direction of Dusseldorf and was on fire, and it crashed at approximately fifty yards west of the village cemetery,

behind a block of cottages. The villagers do not appear to have been able to

render any assistance partly owing to fear of local Nazi Officials and partly do to

fear of damages from the air attack.

The remains of two members of the crew were collected by Party officials and

interred without funeral service or coffins by F. Fuchs. The village priest

stated that he was not allowed to take any part in the interment. The grave has been pointed out as number eight and suitably engraved cross has now been placed in position.

Wulf Bruygen of (name blotted out) stated that two prisoners were taken at the same time by members of the German Army-probably local Ack-Ack troops. A certain Webber who appears to have been a party member was alleged to have attempted to shoot the prisoners but were prevented by the escort-now a prisoner of war in France (Escort’s name unknown but his comrade was Hans Kaiser) This Webber appears to

have removed all papers to the Party office at Bergheim (Burgheim is situated at map ref. K 51/2562). Both old and new Burgomasters are unable to supply any useful information, but it may be possible to locate the whereabouts of Webber, in

which case a further report will be rendered. - Sgd. W.T. Dunseath Flying Officer.

Casualty Enquiry 19th January 1946: Halifax A/C “X” RG 455 (4 Hercules XVI

engines) of 432 Squadron, R.C.A.F. took off at 2123 hours on 20th/21st February,

1945 from Eastmoor, Yorks, to carry out a bombing operation over Mannheim. The

was due to return at 0440 hours on the 21st February, 1945, with the following

crew:

F/O E.F. Patzer Pilot

F/O G.B. Hensen

Navigator (Safe)

F/O A.H. May

A/Bomber (Safe)

F/O F.S. Daley

W/Op A.G. (Safe)

 

F/S Mendenhall WG.

A.G F/S McIntosh W.B.

A.G. (Safe)

Sgt Grant C.I. F.E.

Four members of this crew, F/O Henson, F/O Daley and F/S McIntosh were

taken Prisoners of War and subsequently returned to U.K Upon their return they

made the following statements:

 

F/O Henson: Stated the A/C crashed at approx. 0149 hrs. 21.2.45, approx. 15

miles S/E of Dusseldorf. He further states the Rear Gunner saw F/O Patzer’s

identity Card (burnt) and identity Disc in German hands and was informed that F/

 

O Patzer was dead.

F/S McIntosh: Stated that the a/c crashed in the Ruhr area near Koln. He was

told by the Germans that F/O Patzer, F/O Daley and F/S Mendenhall had crashed

and burnt in the a/c (incorrectly in the Daley was returned to the U.K.)

P/O Daley: Stated the a/c crashed near Dortmund and the Germans told him that

F/O Patzer had been killed. (Incorrect in that later information places a/c

crashed as near Koln).

F/O May: Stated the a/c crashed 12 miles S.W. of Koln and that the a/c was in a

spin and it was unlikely that F/O Patzer, Sgr. Grant or F/S Mendenhall got out.

He saw the a/c burning on the ground. They had heard from the Wireless

Operator and Air Gunner, who had been told by the Germans, that the Pilot was

dead. The German report received through the I.R.G.C in this case stated that “Patzer B.P. F/Lt probably a Halifax shot down 21.2.45 near Oberaussen, 18 kilometers West of Koln, N. 21”, Oberaussen is at map ref K 51/2767. No particulars of burial given.

Two further witnesses of the attempted shooting incident are Frau Saballa, and

Unteroffizier Hubert Von Der Stuck.

All the information regarding the alleged shooting incident has been forwarded

to the War Crimes Commission for their necessary action. No. 2738 Squadron are not able to state conclusively that the number of bodies buried were two, but the grave digger was emphatic that the remains were those of two men. He mentions three legs as being buried. This Unit states that experts might be able to identify the a/c as Halifax RG. 455.

 

The information was given by F/O Henson, F/S McIntosh and F/O May as to the location of the crash corresponds with that given in the German report received

through the I.R.C.C. . From this information, and that supplied by No. 2738 Squadron, it appears fairly certain that the “two” unknown airmen buried at Oberuassen were members of the above mentioned a/c. However, it is desired, if possible, to confirm that the two, and not three bodies were buried there. Alternatively, to review the possibility of the bodies being so broken up that in fact the remains of three airmen were removed from the crash and buried at Oberaussen.

 

 

Report by H White:

On arriving at Oberhaussen I questioned Herr Brugger in whose back garden the

crash took place, and from him I obtained the following information. Between 0100 hours and 0200 hours on the 21/2/45 an A/C which he later recognized to be a Halifax, crashed in flames into his back garden, and remained burning for three days.

The wreckage has been removed from his garden into an adjoining field, and

inspecting it clearly recognized it to be a Halifax, although it is burnt right out. One

piece of metal, believed to be part of fuselage bore the following number: 5730 F2 ISU EEP36292, another piece believed to be part of the Accessory Drive and embossed No.

8 FB 79496 BA and stamped HER 205299. Amongst the wreckage 3 propellor blades

were found and he listed the serial numbers. He interrogated Fuchs, the cemetery keeper, who was rather doubtful as to the number of bodies he buried. He

recognized, however, the parts of two bodies, but does not deny the possibility of a third one. Herr Brugger, the chief witness of the crash, later informed me that early this year (1946) whilst clearing the wreckage from his garden, he iscovered parts of a human body,

partly carbonized a silver ring bearing the initials G.M. was found on one of the fingers, this could refer to F/S Mendenhall W.G. (I have not been able to trace this ring as it was taken away by the former police.) The remains of the body were put in a wooden box and buried in the same grave as the other two airmen. This was confirmed by Fuchs, the Cemetery Keeper. He then concluded that the two bodies were removed from the a/c when it crashed and the third buried under the wreckage, and discovered only this year (1946).