He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type III, serial ED470, code QR-W).
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force): Weather grounds the bombers and fighters.
47 of 53 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN' mission delivering fuel to France.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
(Ninth Air Force): Weather grounds the bombers.
XIX Tactical Air Command supports the 7th Armored Division of the US Third Army in E France and flies armed reconnaissance over E France and W Germany.
IX Air Defense Command flies night patrols from Paris to Aachen, Germany.
In France, HQ 98th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) moves from Lessay to Chartres; the 112th Liaison Squadron, Ninth Air Force, moves from Jullouville to Buc with L-5s; the 162d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Montrevil to Dijon with F-6s; the 514th Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group, moves from St Leonard to Mourmelon with P-47s; the 572d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 391st Bombardment Group (Medium), moves from Matching, England to Roye/Amy with B-26s.
549 aircraft - 378 Lancasters, 154 Halifaxes, 17 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 4 and 8 Groups to Neuss. 5 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes lost. Bomber Command's report states that most of the bombing fell in the dock and factory areas.
136 Lancasters and 5 Mosquitos of No 5 Group to bomb the banks of the 2 parallel branches of the Dortmund-Ems canal at a point near Ladbergen, north of Münster, where the level of the canal water was well above the level of the surrounding land. Despite the presence of 7/10ths cloud in the target area, breaches were made in the banks of both branches of the canal and a 6-mile stretch of it was drained. Most of this damage was caused by 2 direct hits by 12,000lb Tallboy bombs dropped by aircraft of No 617 Squadron at the opening of the raid. 14 Lancasters -more than 10 per cent of the Lancaster force - were lost.
113 aircraft - 107 Lancasters, 5 Mosquitos, 1 Lightning - of No 5 Group carried out a supporting raid on the local German night-fighter airfield just outside Münster. 1 Lancaster lost. No photographic reconnaissance flight was carried out after this raid. Some of the bombs fell in Münster itself; the town records 100 high-explosive bombs but no fatal casualties.
38 Mosquitos to Bochum and 6 to Rheine night-fighter airfield, 31 RCM sorties, 45 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.
Total effort for the night: 923 sorties, 22 aircraft (2.4 per cent) lost.
Calais: 188 aircraft - 101 Lancasters, 62 Halifaxes, 25 Mosquitos. The German positions were completely covered by cloud at 2,000ft and only 126 aircraft bombed. Most of these bombed Oboe-aimed skymarkers, but some aircraft came below cloud to bomb visually and 7 Lancasters and 1 Halifax were shot down by light flak, which was very accurate at such a height.
2 Hudsons flew Resistance operations without loss.
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.
There are several possibilities to investigate the flight records on WW2 History Europe. All the flights are plotted on maps, sorted "day by day", "by squadron", "by type aircraft", "by year or month", "by location" and much more! Don't miss this!!!
If you have any information that you want to share, please add your comment at the bottom of this record. Or send your information to info@ww2history.eu. This information will be added to the record.
Your photos and your information are very welcome! The young do care and with your help we keep up the good work.
