On Tuesday 12 December 1944, a member of the 77 Sqdn, Flight Sergeant H J Connolly, took off from Full Sutton in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on WW2 History Europe. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at 16:25.
He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type III, serial MZ470, code KN-F).
Rod McPherson: I am certain that MZ470 is the correct serial therefore the site has been very useful. I hope I can add to the information about this aircraft and have attached a copy of the navigator’s log book entry for this flight which should clear things up a bit. I have also attached an annotated copy of a photograph showing some of the crew (including Bill Connolly – I don’t know about the H J) and the usual aircrew photo in front of the aircraft.
Thanks for providing this valuable service.
13 December 1944
(Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 250 A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit a supply dump at Schleiden, plus defended positions in several villages and marshalling yard at Euskirchen; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, fly night bombing missions, attack targets in the Cologne area, and support the XX Corps in the Dillengen-Saarlautern bridgehead area, and the XII Corps in the Habkirchen-Bliesbruck area along the Blies River.
The 158th Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF, arrives at Nantwich, England from the US with L-1s and L-4s.
14 December 1944
(Ninth Air Force): Bad weather grounds the bombers.
In Germany, fighters fly armed reconnaissance, hit rail targets and bridges, and support the US 2d and 99th Infantry Divisions in the Monschau Forest, the 8th Infantry Division in the Bergstein area, the 78th Infantry Division in the Simmerath-Resternich area, and the XII and XX Corps around Habkirchen and Saarlautern.
15 December 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 750: 674 B-17s and 434 fighters are dispatched to attack rail targets and an armored car factory in Germany using H2X; 1 bomber and 2 fighters are lost:
1. 318 of 334 B-17s hit the marshalling yard and tank factories at Kassel; 5 others hit targets of opportunity; 6 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 11 damaged; 25 airmen are KIA and 1 WIA.
Escorting are 268 of 296 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
2. 327 of 340 B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Hannover and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 7 damaged.
Escorting are 241 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
3. 19 of 24 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
Mission 751: 2 of 3 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Germany during the night.
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCES (SHAEF): Major Alton Glenn Miller, s/n 0505273, Director of the USAAF band, boards a UC-64A for a flight to Paris.
Miller's big band was one of the most popular prior to WWII; he enlisted in the AAF in 1942 and formed a band to entertain the troops in the ETO.
Miller is on his way to Paris to make arrangements for a Christmas Show; he and the Flight Officer pilot takeoff, disappear in low cloud and are never seen again.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 300+ A-20s, A-26s, and B-26s hit defended positions, camp area, and oil storage at Heimbach, Wollseifen, Harperscheid, Schonau, Ruthen, and Dorsel; fighters escort the 9th Bombardment Division, hit supply and ammunition dumps and other targets during bombing attacks and armed reconnaissance, and support the US 2d and 99th Infantry Divisions in the area of Westwall fortifications, the 78th Infantry Division at Kesternich, and the 8th Infantry and 5th Armored Divisions N of Kesternich; fighters support the XX and XII Corps in the Dillingen-Saarlautern area and at Habkirchen and heights along the Blies River.
Essen: 540 aircraft - 349 Lancasters, 163 Halifaxes, 28 Mosquitos - of Nos 1, 4 and 8 Groups. 6 Lancasters lost. This was the last heavy night raid by Bomber Command on Essen. During the post-war interrogations of Albert Speer, Hitler's Armaments Minister, he was asked which forms of attack were most effective in weakening the German war effort. After referring to the effectiveness of daylight raids and to some of the Oboe Mosquito attacks, Speer paid a compliment to the accuracy of this raid on Essen: "The last night attack upon the Krupp works, which was carried out by a large number of 4-engined bombers, caused surprise on account of the accuracy of the bomb pattern. We assumed that this attack was the first large-scale operation based on Oboe or some other new navigational system."
49 Mosquitos to Osnabrück, 43 RCM sorties, 43 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
Total effort for the night: 675 sorties, 6 aircraft (0.9 per cent) lost.
52 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos of No 5 Group were sent to attack the German cruiser Koln berthed in Oslo Fjord but, when the bombers reached Oslo Fjord, the Koln had moved to another location. Other ships were bombed instead but the results were not observed. No aircraft lost.
10 Lancasters and 9 Halifaxes minelaying in the Kattegat without loss.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!This record can also be found on the maps of WW2 History Europe with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.
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Your photos and your information are very welcome! The young do care and with your help we keep up the good work.
