Action This Day

[warshipbuilder]

Yesterdays abbreviated and todays full.

30.9.44
BOMBER COMMAND
STERKRADE
139 aircraft – 108 Halifaxes, 21 Lancasters, 10 Mosquitoes – of 4 and 8 Groups attempted to attack the oil plant but the target was cloud-covered. Only 24 aircraft attacked the main target; other aircraft bombed the general town area of Sterkrade. 1 Halifax lost.

BOTTROP
136 aircraft – 101 Halifaxes, 25 Lancasters, 10 Mosquitoes – of 6 and 8 Groups encountered similar conditions at this target. Only 1 aircraft attempted to bomb the oil plant; the remainder of the force bombed the estimated positions of various Ruhr cities. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 3 R.C.M. sorties, 2 Ranger patrols (flown from a forward airfield in France), 6 Hudsons on Resistance operations, 74 Halifaxes on petrol-carrying flights. The two Ranger aircraft, from 515 Squadron, were lost; they both force-landed in Switzerland.
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30 September/1 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
46 Mosquitoes to Hamburg, 6 each to Aschaffenburg and Heilbronn and 5 to Sterkrade, 1 R.C.M. sortie, 20 Mosquito patrols, 14 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 Mosquito of 100 Group lost.

Hans Brunswig’s history of raids on Hamburg describes an incident in the raid by ‘die berüchtigten Mosquitos’ – ‘the notorious Mosquitoes’. Hamburg had a huge, above-ground multi-storey concrete air-raid shelter close to the centre of the city. When the Flak battery situated on top of the bunker opened fire and the first bomb fell near by, the crowd of people waiting to enter the bunker panicked; 7 people were trampled to death and further deaths were caused by the collapse of some scaffolding in the shelter, and then even more by bomb splinters. Total casualties at this place were 30 dead and 75 injured. 73 other people were killed in the city by the Mosquito raid that night and more than 2,000 were bombed out. Mosquitoes carried out dozens of raids similar to this in the last year of the war; the results of this raid just happened to be available.

USAAF
BELGIUM: On an unspecified date in September, the Ninth Air Force’s 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-87, at Charleroi.

ETO: Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack rail targets in eastern France, Belgium, and western Germany.

More than 100 Eighth Air Force B-24s transport fuel to Allied bases in France and Belgium.

FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Div-ision’s 344th Medium Bombardment Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-59, at Cormeilles-en-Vexin; and, on an unspecified date in September, the Ninth Air Advance Landing Ground A-64, at St.-Dizier/Robinson Airdrome.

GERMANY: Only 37 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack their briefed primary targets, Munster/Handorf Airdrome and a marshalling yard at Munster; 239 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the city of Munster (target of opportunity); 206 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Hamm; 12 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack the city of Munster; and 257 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Bielfeld. Eight heavy bombers are lost.

Escort for the heavy bombers is provided by 587 VIII Fighter Command fighters, and 86 VIII Fighter Command P-51s mount sweeps over northwestern Germany. No fighters are lost.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack rail bridges in the Po River valley; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack fuel dumps and three bridges; and XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack bridges and rail and road targets in the Po River valley.

NETHERLANDS: In the 9th Bombardment Division’s only completed mission of the day, 14 B-26s attack a road bridge near Arnhem—and miss it.


1-10-44
412 Sqn RCAF (B.68 Le Culot – Spitfire LFIXB)
A weather recce was carried out the morning before noon, by three aircraft, in the NIJMEGEN area. Cloud was heavy but showed promise of clearing. P/O D. B. Reiber (J.86924) became separated from the other two aircraft on this mission and did not return. He was last seen just North of OSS, HOLLAND. In mid-afternoon the squadron carried out an uneventful low patrol in the NIJMEGEN area.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire LFIXB ML351 VZ-? Pilot P/O DE Reiber KIA. Hit by flak, and crashed near Hees. He is buried in the Canadian Cemetery, Nijmegen.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
2 Liberators and 1 Wellington on signals investigation patrols, 6 Hudsons on Resistance operations, 73 Halifaxes on petrol-carrying flights. No aircraft lost.
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1/2 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
48 Mosquitoes to Brunswick, 8 each to Heilbronn and Krefeld and 6 each to Dortmund and Koblenz, 2 R.C.M. sorties. No aircraft lost.

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2nd TAF
The first day of the new month brought a further plethora of moves, the loss of six aircraft to a variety of causes, but no further engagements with the Luftwaffe.

125 and 127 Wings both moved to B.82, Grave, the closest airfield to German territory, and consequently under frequent attack by the almost uncatchable Me 262s. Meanwhile 122 Wing's new Tempests moved to B.80, Volkel, where they were joined by the Typhoons of 121 Wing. During the next four days the reconnaissance squadrons of 39 Wing moved to B.78, Eindhoven, including 168 Squadron, now partly re-equipped with Typhoons. The basic unsuitability of this aircraft for the TacR role had already become obvious (see Guns and Cameras p. 310), and on arrival at B.78 168 squadron would transfer to the resident Canadian Typhoon Wing, 143, to take up the fighter role instead.

In 35 Wing the pilots of 4 Squadron were therefore more than somewhat dismayed to be informed that their unit was also to be partially re-equipped with Typhoon FR IBS, four of these aircraft being delivered next day. Also on this date 409 Squadron moved its night fighters to B.68, Le Culot.

USAAF
BELGIUM: The Ninth Air Force’s 474th Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-78, at Florennes/Juzaine Airdrome; and the Ninth Air Force’s 404th Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-92, at St.-Trond Airdrome.

ENGLAND: The 36th Heavy Bombardment Squadron (Radio Counter Measures) is reassigned to the VIII Fighter Command.

ETO: The entire Eighth Air Force and all Ninth Air Force bombers are grounded by bad weather.

FRANCE: After operating since its inception under the direction of the XIX TAC, the new XXIX TAC becomes operationally independent under the Ninth Air Force, and its headquarters are established at Arlon.

The 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group is placed under XXIX TAC control.

The Ninth Air Force’s 36th Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-68, at Juvincourt; and the Ninth Air Force’s 371st Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground Y-7, at Dole/Tavaux Airdrome.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack a factory, a barracks, fuel dumps, and bridges in the Po River valley; XII Fighter Command A-20s attack bivouacs and a fuel dump; and XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack lines of communication and gun emplacements.

The 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group is assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force, which is now complete.

During the night of October 1–2, XII Fighter Command A-20s attack targets of opportunity in the Po River valley.

LUXEMBOURG: The Ninth Air Force’s 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-97, at Luxembourg City.

BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn (Tempest V) moves to B.80 Volkel
56 Sqn (Tempest V) moves to B.80 Volkel
80 Sqn (Tempest V) moves to B.82 Grave
130 Sqn (Spitfire XIVE) moves to B.82 Grave
195 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Witchford
208 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Peretola
245 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.80 Volkel
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Lille
402 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire XIVE) moves to B.82 Grave
403 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.82 Grave
421 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.82 Grave
441 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Hawkinge
485 Sqn RNZAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.65 Meldegem
486 Sqn RAAF (Tempest V) moves to B.80 Volkel

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
13 Sqn (Cecina) flies its last OM in the Baltimore V
55 Sqn (Cecina) flies its last OM in the Baltimore V
202 Sqn (Castle Archdale) flies its first OM in the Catalina IV
412 Sqn RCAF (B.68 Le Culot) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

[warshipbuilder]

2-10-44
401 Sqn RCAF (B.68 Le Culot – Spitfire LFIXB)
The weather was a slightly better to-day and the Squadron did its second Patrol at 11.54 hrs. Over the Bridge Area we bounced 4 FW.190’s but in turn were bounced by another four e/a. F/O A.L. Sinclair damaged one, but W/O K. Thomas was shot up and had to bail out, but landing safely behind our lines. F/L R. R. Bouskill failed to return. No one saw him down so it is hoped that he landed safely someplace.

The first Patrol as carried out by 12 a/c at 07.30 hrs. This Patrol proved uneventful.

The third and last Patrol was airborne at 13.30 hrs. 12 a/c swept the same area but nothing could be contacted and it proved uneventful.

The wing expects to move to Holland, either tomorrow or the next day.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire LFIXB MJ300 YO-? Pilot F/L RR Bouskill RCAF DFC KIA. Shot down by JG26.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
3 Liberators and 2 Wellingtons on signals investigation patrols, 8 Hudsons on Resistance operations, 71 Halifaxes on petrol-carrying flights. No aircraft lost.
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2/3 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
34 Mosquitoes to Brunswick, 7 to Pforzheim and 4 each to Dortmund and Frankfurt, 3 R.C.M. sorties, 39 Mosquito patrols, 1 aircraft on a Resistance operation. No aircraft lost.

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2nd TAF
Weather allowed some increased activity on 2nd, and when 12 Spitfires of 421 Squadron set off on patrol at 1025, they were to encounter an estimated 175 Bf 109s and Fw 190s north of Nijmegen. Flt Lt B.T.Gilmore claimed one of each shot down and a second Fw 190 damaged, while other pilots claimed three more damaged plus one probable, and damge to one Bf 109; Flg Off J.M.Calvert, who claimed the probable and one of the damaged, fell foul of a Focke-Wulf, fire from which damaged his aircraft. During this engagement Spitfires were claimed shot down by pilots of 2./JG 76 (at 1112) and 6./JG 77 (at 1117), the latter unit losing two of its Messerschmitts.

At 1134 401 Squadron despatched a patrol over Nijmegen Bridge, where four Fw 190s were seen, the Squadron going after them in hot pursuit. It was a classic "sucker trap"-set up by the experienced pilots of IL/JG 26, four more of the Gruppe's fighters then falling upon them from above. Lt Adolf Glunz, Lt Wilhelm Hofmann and Ofhr Benz each claimed one Spitfire between 1210-1216; Flt Lt Russ Bouskill was shot down and killed, while Wt Off M.Thomas baled out into Allied-held territory. The only claim the Canadians could make in return was for a single Fw 190 damaged.

At the same time I./JG 26 reported intercepting a large formation of Spitfires to the south of this engagement, Lt Günther and Ogfr Leder claiming Spitfires at 1205 and 1218, but no such engagement was noted by any other 2nd TAF units.

Earlier in the day 34 Wing's 140 Squadron had lost a Mosquito XVI flown by Sqn Ldr C.D.N.Langley, when this was attacked and shot down by the US Ninth Air Force P-47s.

Two Typhoons force-landed during the day, hit by Flak or debris from targets they had been attacking, while one 84 Group Spitfire was lost to Flak by 127 Squadron near Calais, Flt Lt J. Whittington being killed. The only other engagement of the day occurred when Wg Cdr Roland Beamont, previously Wing Leader of 150 Wing, and now of 122 Wing, encountered an Fw 190 whilst leading a patrol from 56 Squadron over Arnhem; he was able to claim the enemy aircraft shot down following a diving chase in which he had opened fire at over 510 mph! The Tempest had certainly arrived!

During the afternoon Grave suffered a bombing attack by a single Me 262 which dropped an anti-personnel canister released. from about 10,000 feet, killing the 125 Wing adjutant and one of the cooks in the headquarters. The Wing's Spitfire XIV units commenced anti-Me 262 patrols over Nijmegen and Arnhem during the day, and on similar duty 122 Wing's 3 Squadron pilots had spotted three of the jets before the day was out.

146 Wing's Typhoon units moved to B.70, Deurne, replacing those of 121 Wing which had moved out the previous day. 197, 257, 263 and 266 Squadrons flew into the former Antwerp airport; the fifth squadron of the Wing, 193, was at Fairwood Common APC and would arrive four days later. The Wing would spend much of its time on interdiction missions aimed at disrupting the transportation of V-2 rockets and their supplies. During the opening days of the month 2 Group's medium bombers continued to concentrate on targets around Arnhem.

With nightfall 219 Squadron, still based in England, despatched Mosquitoes on patrol over Arnhem and Nijmegen, where some considerable success was achieved. Wg Cdr Peter Green and his radar operator, Doug Oxby, were directed to the Nijmegen area under 'Milkway' control and soon had visual contact with two Ju 87s, one apparently dropping 'Window' and the other carrying bombs. Green elected to attack the latter which soon disintegrated under his fire, debris hitting the Mosquito. A second contact proved to be another bomb-laden Ju 87 which immediately jettisonerd its warload and attempted to avoid the nightfighter by climbing steeply. This tactic was almost successful but with 25 degrees of flap and speed back to 125 knots indicated, Green managed to get telling hits on the target. Following a stream of 'Window', Green soon had sight of a third Ju 87 which attempted to evade by diving but was despatched with the Mosquito's second burst. These were Wg Cdr Green's seventh to ninth victories, while for Oxby they were the 15th-17th in which he had participated. Landing at Brussels rather than returning to base, glycol was seen to pour from the Mossie's port radiator - punctured by the debris from the first combat. A second pair, Flt Lt Gardner and Flt Lt Perfect, claimed an Fw 190 in the same area.

USAAF
BELGIUM: The IX TAC headquarters displaces forward to Verviers; and the Ninth Air Force’s 368th Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-84, at Chievres Airdrome.

FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Divi-sion’s 386th Medium Bombardment Group displaces from England to Advance Landing Ground A-60, at Beaumont-sur-Oise Airdrome.

GERMANY: Two hundred seventy-two 1st Bombardment Division B-17s and 384 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack several industrial targets and an ordnance depot at Kassel and, because of bad weather and poor visibility, the city itself. Also, 110 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the Ford motor-transport factory at Cologne, and 70 B-17s attack assorted targets of opportunity. In a separate mission, 266 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Hamm, and 30 B-24s attack targets of opportunity. Two B-17s, two B-24s, and one of 712 VIII Fighter Command escort fighters are lost.

The VIII Fighter Command’s 353d Fighter Group undertakes its first escort mission since transitioning from P-47s to P-51s. (It is the VIII Fighter Command plan to replace all P-47s and P-38s with P-51s.)

9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s mount three separate attacks against defensive positions at Herbach and two separate missions against industrial targets at Ubach.

In the first known encounter between Allied fighters and a GAF Me-262 jet fighter, an Me-262 that has completely dominated a pair of 365th Fighter Group P-47 pilots in a chase and dogfight near Munster runs out of fuel and inadvertently crashes before either P-47 can fire a shot. Nevertheless, 1stLt Valmore J. Beaudreault is officially credited with the first USAAF jet kill in history.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force and Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, and XII Fighter Command fighters are unable to mount tactical ground-support missions.

BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire IX) moves to Fano
43 Sqn (Spitfire VIII) moves to Peretola
72 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Peretola
87 Sqn (Spitfire IX/LFIXB) moves to Fano
93 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Peretola
111 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Peretola
119 Sqn (Albacore I) moves to Bircham Newton
168 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to B.78 Eindhoven
197 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.70 Deurne
257 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.70 Deurne
263 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.70 Deurne
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.70 Deurne
274 Sqn (Tempest V) moves to B82 Grave


FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
16 Sqn (B.58 Melsbroek) flies its last OM in the Spitfire PRIX
313 Sqn (Skeabrae) flies its first OM in the Spitfire HFIX

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3-10-44
BOMBER COMMAND
WALCHEREN
252 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes commenced the attack on the sea walls of Walcheren island. Coastal gun batteries at Walcheren dominated the approaches to the port of Antwerp, whose facilities could handle 40,000 tons per day of much-needed supplies when ships could safely use the approaches. The intention was to flood the island, most of which was reclaimed polder below sea level. The flooding would submerge some of the gun batteries and also hamper the German defence against eventual ground attack.

The target for this first raid was the sea wall at Westkapelle, the most western point of Walcheren. The main bombing force was composed of 8 waves, each of 30 Lancasters, with marking provided by Oboe Mosquitoes and Pathfinder Lancasters, with the whole operation being controlled by a Master Bomber. The attack went well and a great mass of high-explosive bombs, mainly 1,000- and 500-pounders but with some 4,000-pounders, forced a gap during the fifth wave of the attack. Later waves widened the breach until the sea was pouring in through a gap estimated to be 100 yards wide. 8 Lancasters of 617 Squadron which were standing by were not needed and carried their valuable Tallboy bombs back to England. No aircraft were lost from this successful operation.
Minor operations: 6 R.C.M. sorties, 5 Hudsons on Resistance operations. No losses.
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3/4 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
43 Mosquitoes to Kassel, 6 each to Aschaffenburg and Pforzheim, 5 to Münster and 4 to Kamen, 1 R.C.M. sortie, 19 Intruder patrols. No aircraft lost.

USAAF
GERMANY: One hundred ninety-eight 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a motor-transport factory at Nurnberg; 87 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the synthetic-oil plant at Wesseling; 37 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack several targets of opportunity; 250 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack industrial targets at Gaggenau and Lachen; 70 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity; due to bad weather, only 49 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack the assigned primary, Giebelstadt Airdrome; 256 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack the city of Nurnburg; and 48 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack other targets of opportunity. Three B-17s and four of 699 VIII Fighter Command escort fighters are lost.

This is the last mission of the 479th Fighter Group in P-38s and the last use of the type by the Eighth Air Force.

Capt Henry W. Brown, a 14.2-victory P-51 ace with the 355th Fighter Group’s 354th Fighter Squadron, is shot down by flak and taken prisoner at Nordlingen. And Capt Charles W. Lenfest, a five-victory ace with Brown’s squadron, is also captured after he intentionally lands and becomes mired in mud while trying to rescue Brown.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack fuel dumps and bridges in the Po River valley; and XII Fighter Command A-20s and fighter-bombers attack transportation targets and fuel dumps, also in the Po River valley.

NETHERLANDS: More than 220 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s are recalled on their way to their targets because of bad weather.

[warshipbuilder]

4-10-44
419 Sqn RCAF (Middleton St. George – Lancaster X)
20 aircraft took off to attack the submarine pens at Bergen, Norway. Time off was set for 04.45. Weather over Base was not too good with low cloud and rain squalls.

Tactics were to set course at low level and to continue at low level, until approaching the target. Bombing seemed to be well concentrated and results assmed to be fairly good. One aircraft failed to start.

Aircraft "V" KB745, F/O Duncan, D.R. J35615, was posted as missing from this operation but word was received the following day that he had crashed in the hills south of Berwick. All of the crew of this aircraft were instantly killed in the crash.

Crews that took part in this operation were exceedingly well pleased with the extent and efficiency of the fighter cover allotted.

BOMBER COMMAND
BERGEN
German U-boats had been forced out of the Biscay ports following the Allied liberation of France and Bergen was one of several Norwegian ports now being used as the forward operating bases for the U-boats. The pens at Bergen were being enlarged, with an influx of German technicians and a large labour force. 93 Halifaxes and 47 Lancasters of 6 and 8 Groups were dispatched to attack Bergen, most of the aircraft being allocated to the pens but 14 Halifaxes and 6 Lancasters were ordered to bomb individual U-boats known to be moored in the harbour. 12 Mosquitoes of 100 Group acted as a long-range fighter escort.

The raid appeared to be successful and only 1 Lancaster was lost. A detailed report from the city of Bergen supplies the actual results. 7 bombs hit the U-boat pens, causing little structural damage because of the thickness of the concrete roof, but the electrical-wiring system in the pens was completely put out of action. Nearby ship-repair yards were seriously damaged. 3 U-boats were damaged by the bombing but they did not sink. 3 other small ships were hit; two of them sank and the third, the German auxiliary Schwabenland, had to be put in dry dock for repair.

But, as so often in raids on targets in the Occupied Countries, the bombing spread to civilian areas. The local report continues: ‘As regards civilian casualties and damage, the raid is still remembered with horror. Bergen suffered little damage in comparison with other occupied towns and cities in Europe but the raid of 4th October was the worst of the war for us.’ 60 houses were destroyed or so badly damaged that they had to be demolished; 600 people lost their homes. Civilian casualties are recorded at only 2 places but they were tragic. A school, opened only that day after a break, received a direct hit in the basement where 2 classes were sheltering; 60 children, 2 teachers and 17 air-raid workers in the same shelter were killed. Another shelter, at a nearby factory, was also hit and a further 34 people were killed and about 100 were injured there. 7 of the dead Norwegians were members of the local Resistance Movement. The Germans admitted the deaths of 12 of their own men.

2 Wellingtons and 1 Liberator flew R.C.M. sorties without loss.
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4/5 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
6 Mosquitoes to Pforzheim and 5 to Heilbronn, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 36 Mosquito patrols, 47 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes minelaying off Oslo and in the Kattegat, 15 aircraft on Resistance operations. 4 aircraft were lost: 1 Mosquito from the Heilbronn raid and 2 Lancasters and 1 Halifax from the minelaying operations.

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USAAF
BELGIUM: The Ninth Air Force’s 365th Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-84, at Chievres Airdrome.

ENGLAND: The Eighth Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

GERMANY: Three hundred twenty-seven Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack the Munich/West marshalling yard.

GREECE: Thirty-nine Fifteenth Air Force P-51s strafe Athens/Eleusis, Athens/Kalamaki, and Athens/Tatoi airdromes.

ITALY: Four hundred Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack Aviano Airdrome and roads and rail lines leading down to Italy from Brenner Pass; Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack two bridges; and XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack communications targets and provide close on-call support for the U.S. Fifth Army.


During the night of October 4–5, XII Fighter Command A-20s attack targets of opportunity in the mountains south of Bologna. and around the Arno River valley.

BASE CHANGES
237 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Falconara
313 Sqn (Spitfire HFIX) moves to North Weald
335 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Biferno
409 Sqn RCAF (Mosquito NFXIII moves to B.68 Le Culot
411 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXE) moves to B.84 Rips
412 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXE) moves to B.84 Rips

[warshipbuilder]

5-10-44
467 Sqn RAAF (Waddington – Lancaster I/III)
War at last and 17 Crews took off to attack WILHEIMSHAVEN, it being a daylight "do". Those of us who remained behind had no sooner finished breakfast than lo and behold S/Ldr D.O.SANDS our Leader returned to Base - an early retum, His port inner caught fire and had to be feathered. The remainder pressed on but unfortunately one did not return- AUS419989 P/O M.J.PODS, on his 3rd sortie. No one noticed him going down.

Cloud covered the target and made an assessment very difficult. AUS414575 F/O S.J.LAYTON how ever did not bomb the target, not being able to identify anything, and as a last resort bombed five large ships in the harbour. None of the returning aircraft experienced much trouble.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster I DV373 PO-? T/o 0802 Waddington. Soon after leaving base, both port engines lost power and at 0930 ther crew was obliged to put their aircraft down in the North Sea. All were rescued, unharmed, only to be killed the following month while raiding Harburg.

BOMBER COMMAND
WILHELMSHAVEN
227 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of 5 Group attempted to bomb Wilhelmshaven through 10/10ths cloud. Marking and bombing were all based on H2S and the raid appeared to be scattered. 18 Lancasters did not join in the main attack but bombed a group of ships seen through a break in the cloud over the sea. Wilhelmshaven’s diary only states that 12 people died. 1 Lancaster lost.

Minor Operations: 5 R.C.M. sorties, 5 aircraft on Resistance operations. No losses.
________________________________________
5/6 October 1944
SAARBRÜCKEN
531 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitoes of 1, 3 and 8 Groups on the first major R.A.F. raid to this target since September 1942. 3 Lancasters lost.

The raid was made at the request of the American Third Army which was advancing in this direction; the intention was to cut the railways and block supply routes generally through the town. The bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused in the main town area north of the River Saar, the area through which the main railway lines ran. Damage was particularly severe in the Altstadt and Malstatt districts. 5,882 houses were destroyed and 1,141 were seriously damaged. 344 people were killed, a figure which suggests that much of the population may have been evacuated from this town, which was situated right on the Siegfried Line.

Minor Operations: 20 Mosquitoes to Berlin and 26 to 5 other German targets, 36 R.C.M. sorties, 47 Mosquito patrols, 10 Halifaxes minelaying off Heligoland and 9 Mosquitoes of 8 Group minelaying in the Kiel Canal. No aircraft lost.

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2nd TAF
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There was cause for great rejoicing on 5th. During an early afternoon patrol led by their new Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr Rod Smith, by 12 Spitfires of 401 Squadron over Nijmegen an Me 262 was seen and was shot down in flames by Smith, Flt Lts Bob Davenport and 'Snooks' Everard, and Flg Offs John MacKay and Andy Sinclair jointly. They had shot down Hptm Hans-Christof Buttmann of I./KG 51.

This was not to be the only engagement of the day however, for less than an hour later 12 pilots from 403 Squadron who had commenced an Arnhem patrol at 1450, spotted 15-plus German fighters in the area, Sqn Ldr 'Eep' Wood claiming two of these shot down and sharing a third with Plt Off R.C.Shannon, whilst two other members of the unit each claimed one, all the victims being Bf 109s.

Following the departure of the Spitfire IX units from 125 Wing, the Wing Leader, Geoffrey Page, had remained, and was now flying one of the new Griffon-engined aircraft. His Spitfire XIV was hit by Flak during the day however, and he crashed attempting to land at B.82 on return. Back injuries sustained in the crash brought his long operational flying career to a close; his replacement would be Wg Cdr George Keefer. Two Typhoons and a Tempest were also brought down by Flak during the day, and when bombing Wehrmacht troops south of Arnhem, a Boston of 342 Squadron was shot down. 400 Squadron also came close to losing one of its unarmed Spitfire XIs when this was 'bounced' by American P-51Bs near Duerne. The pilot was able to identify two of his attackers which carried the unit and individual code letters PZ-V and PZ-W (apparently 486th Fighter Squadron, 352nd FG).

At Eindhoven, 168 Squadron transferred the last of its Mustangs to 430 Squadron, receiving instead eight more Typhoons from 124 Wing, which was based on the other side of the same airfield. By night 107 Squadron lost a Mosquito VI, which failed to return from a sortie over North Holland at around 2230. About half an hour later at 2255, Sqn Ldr S.J.Fulton/Flg Off A.R.Ayton of 409 Squadron caught a Bf 110 night fighter of 12./NJG 1 south-west of Hamm, which they were able to shoot down; Uffz Kietzkop and his crew were killed.

USAAF
GERMANY: The entire 1st Bombardment Division diverts to targets of opportunity: 248 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack Cologne; 52 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack Brechten, Koblenz, and Dortmund. Also, 175 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack Lippstadt Airdrome; 107 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Rheine; 28 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack Paderborn Airdrome; ten 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack targets of opportunity; 235 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack Munster/Loddenheide Airdrome; 68 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack Munster/Handorf Airdrome; and 12 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack targets of opportunity. Nine B-17s and five of 675 VIII Fighter Command escort fighters are lost.

Ninth Air Force fighter-bombers attack defensive emplacements along the West Wall and directly support the U.S. XV Corps.

ITALY: The Twelfth and Fifteenth Air forces are grounded by bad weather.

NETHERLANDS: More than 330 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s dispatched against targets in the Netherlands are recalled when they encounter bad weather.

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
25 Sqn (Coltishall) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NF30
41 Sqn (Lympne) flies its first OM in the Spitfire XIV
241 Sqn (Rimini) flies its first OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

[warshipbuilder]

6-10-44
BOMBER COMMAND
SYNTHETIC-OIL PLANTS
320 aircraft – 254 Halifaxes of 4 Group and 46 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitoes of 8 Group – attacked the plants at Sterkrade and Scholven/Buer. Both raids took place in clear conditions and the bombing was considered to be accurate. 9 aircraft were lost – 4 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters at Scholven and 3 Halifaxes at Sterkrade.

4 Liberators and 3 Wellingtons flew signals investigation patrols without loss.
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6/7 October 1944
DORTMUND
523 aircraft – 248 Halifaxes, 247 Lancasters, 28 Mosquitoes – of 3, 6 and 8 Groups. 6 Group provided 293 aircraft – 248 Halifaxes and 45 Lancasters, the greatest effort by the Canadian group in the war. This raid opened a phase which some works refer to as ‘The Second Battle of the Ruhr’. 5 aircraft – 2 Halifaxes (of 6 Group), 2 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito – lost, less than 1 percent of the force raiding this Ruhr target on a clear night.

The Pathfinder marking and the bombing were both accurate and severe damage was caused, particularly to the industrial and transportation areas of the city, although residential areas also suffered badly. Civilian casualties were 191 dead, 38 missing and 418 injured.

BREMEN
246 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes of 1 and 5 Groups carried out the last of 32 major Bomber Command raids on this target during the war. 5 Lancasters lost.
The raid, based on the 5 Group marking method, was an outstanding success. 1,021 tons of bombs were dropped, of which 868 tons were incendiaries. A detailed local report is available. The local official who compiled this report after the war writes that the night was so clear, with a three-quarters-full moon, that, ‘Bremen lay before the bombers like a presentation dish … the bomb aimers could not have wished for better conditions to carry out their task’. A huge fire area was started throughout the town centre and the surrounding areas but the effects of this were lessened by the extensive property damage caused in this area by the Bomber Command raid of 18/19 August. Classed as destroyed or seriously damaged were: 4,859 houses, 5 churches, 1 hospital, 18 schools and 16 public and historic buildings. Casualties were: 65 killed – a figure which again suggests many evacuations – 766 injured and 37,724 bombed out. Severe damage was also caused to the A.G. Weser shipyard, the two Focke-Wulf factories, the Siemens Schuckert electrical works and other important war industries. The ‘transport network’ was described as being seriously disrupted. (It is interesting to note the increased efficiency and hence destructive power of Bomber Command at this time. Bremen – with its shipyards and aircraft factories – had been the target for many carefully planned Bomber Command raids earlier in the war and was the target for one of the much publicized 1942 1,000-bomber raids. Now this raid by no more than a quarter of the total strength of Bomber Command, hardly mentioned in the history books, had finished off Bremen and this city need not be attacked by Bomber Command again.)

Two days later the Bremer Zeitung published this passage in typical German propaganda style: ‘But we know that we must bear all misfortunes with courage, since this is the best way we can contribute to a speedy victory, a victory which will repay us for the blows we have suffered. A victory which will also see the walls of Bremen duly rebuilt providing us with a future in freedom within a new abode.’

Minor Operations: 22 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 11 to Ludwigshafen and 2 to Saarbrücken, 35 R.C.M. sorties, 76 Mosquito patrols, 19 aircraft minelaying off Texel and Heligoland and in the River Weser, 6 aircraft on Resistance operations. 2 Mosquitoes were lost – 1 from the Berlin raid and 1 Serrate aircraft.

Total effort for the night: 947 sorties, 12 aircraft (1.3 percent) lost.

USAAF
FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Divi-sion’s 397th Medium Bombardment Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-72, at Peronne.

GERMANY: In the Eighth Air Force’s largest mission to date, exactly 1,200 effective heavy-bomber sorties are mounted as follows: 199 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack Stargard Airdrome; 12 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the city of Stettin; 73 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack an aircraft-industry factory at Neubranden-burg; 100 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the city of Straslund; 38 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack several targets of opportunity; 289 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack two oil-industry targets and a munitions dump at Hamburg; 46 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack an aircraft-industry target at Wenzendorf; 41 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack various targets of opportunity; 144 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a munitions dump at Berlin; 138 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an aircraft factory at Berlin; 100 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an armored-vehicle factory at Berlin; and ten 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack targets of opportunity. Nineteen heavy bombers and four of 699 VIII Fighter Command escort fighters are lost.

The 20th Fighter Group claims the destruction of 40 German seaplanes during strafing attacks against five seaplane bases between Stettin and Lubeck.

Ninth Air Force fighter-bombers support the U.S. Third and Seventh armies and attack rail lines around Dorsel. And 368th Fighter Group P-47s following GAF fighters to an airfield at Breitscheid down two Bf-109s in the landing pattern and destroy at least 22 Bf-109s on the ground during strafing attacks.

Altogether, in the first significant fighter actions of the month, Eighth and Ninth air force fighter pilots down 22 GAF fighters over Germany between 1100 and 1650 hours.

GREECE: Fifteenth Air Force P-38 and P-51 fighters strafe Athens/Eleusis, Athens/Kalamaki, Athens/Tatoi, Megalo Mikra, Megara, and Salonika/Sedhes airdromes.

ITALY: The entire Twelfth Air Force and Fifteenth Air Force bombers are grounded by bad weather.

NETHERLANDS: More than 300 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack an ammunition dump, barracks, and marshalling yards at Duren and Hengelo, and bridges at Aldenhoven and Arnhem.

[warshipbuilder]

7-10-44
460 Sqn RAAF (Binbrook – Lancaster III)
31 aircraft were scheduled for an attack against EMMERICH on the Dutch coast Frontier. This attack was successful, but one of our aircraft failed to return to Base, F/Lt. Greenacre was the pilot of this aircraft. Another aircraft “K” PB254 was badly damaged by flak to starboard inner engine, starboard flap, incendiaries through fuselage, 3 members if this crew baled out, W/O. Newton, Navigator, F/S. Potter A/G, and Sgt. Amos F/E. the others of the crew landed at HAWINGE.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III PB407 AR-U. T/o 1154 Binbrook. Crew all POW’s.

BOMBER COMMAND
KLEVE
351 aircraft – 251 Halifaxes, 90 Lancasters, 10 Mosquitoes – of 3, 4 and 8 Groups to bomb this small German town which, together with Emmerich, stood on the approach routes by which German units could threaten the vulnerable Allied right flank near Nijmegen which had been left exposed by the failure of Operation Market Garden. Visibility was clear and the centre and north of the town were heavily bombed, although some crews bombed too early and their loads actually fell in Holland near Nijmegen. 2 Halifaxes lost.

EMMERICH
340 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 1, 3 and 8 Groups carried out an even more accurate attack on Emmerich. 3 Lancasters were lost. A local report says that 2,424 buildings in the town were destroyed and 689 damaged, with 680,000 cubic metres of rubble having to be cleared away after the raid. 641 German civilians and 96 soldiers were killed.

WALCHEREN
121 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitoes of 5 Group continued the attack, without any aircraft losses, on the sea walls which were breached near Flushing.

The Kembs Dam
This was another 617 Squadron special operation. The Kembs Dam on the Rhine, just north of Basle, held back a vast quantity of water and it was feared that the Germans would release this to flood the Rhine valley near Mulhouse, a few miles north, should the American and French troops in that area attempt an advance. 617 Squadron was asked to destroy the lock gates of the dam. 13 Lancasters were dispatched. 7 aircraft were to bomb from 8,000 ft and draw the Flak, while the other 6 would come in below 1,000 ft and attempt to place their Tallboys, with delayed fuzes, alongside the gates. American Mustang fighters would attempt to suppress Flak positions during the attack. The operation went according to plan. The gates were destroyed but 2 Lancasters from the low force were shot down by Flak.

Minor Operations: 5 R.C.M. sorties, 2 Ranger patrols, 2 Hudsons on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

Total effort for the day: 846 sorties, 7 aircraft (0.8 percent) lost.
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7/8 October 1944
FEINT ATTACK
46 aircraft of 100 Group flew an operation in which various electronic devices and Window were used in an attempt to lure the German night-fighter force into the air to waste its fuel. The feint was made in the direction of Bremen, using the same route as had been used in the raid carried out the previous night. Radio listening stations in England heard the German controllers plotting the supposed force ‘vigorously’, but few night fighters were scrambled. Mosquito Intruders and Serrate aircraft, which were part of the 100 Group force, then flew on towards Bremen and claimed an Me 110 destroyed and a Ju 88 damaged. 1 further R.C.M. Halifax flew a signals listening patrol. No aircraft were lost on this night.

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2nd TAF
This highly successful night continued after midnight when, operating from England, Flt Lt Parker/Flt Sgt Godfrey of 219 Squadron also claimed a Bf 110, while Flt Lt J.C.E.Atkins/Flg Off D.R.Mayo of this unit added a Ju 87. A seventh victory was claimed over another Ju 88 near Nijmegen by an Australian crew of an ADGB Mosquito of 456 Squadron.

The day once more saw Flak as the main threat to Allied aircraft, three Typhoons and their pilots being lost to this cause during the midday-early afternoon period, while a 486 Squadron Tempest was also brought down, the pilot baling out into captivity.

It was on this date that 80 and 274 Squadrons moved to join 122 Wing at Volkel, but the latter unit also lost an aircraft and pilot when Flg Off J.M.Mears' Tempest was shot down by a JG 54 Fw 190 pilot near Zwolle; Mears was captured.

II. Jagdkorps sent out all available fighters to the front line area in Holland during the afternoon, where both I. and II./JG 26 became involved with Spitfires and P-47s. It seems that 442 Squadron on the last of four patrols, engaged both units; 35-plus Fw 190s were encountered east of Cleve, Flg Off Forrest Young claiming two shot down and Flg Off J.P.Lumsden one, two more being claimed damaged without loss. Two pilots of L./JG 26 were shot down and killed, while two more from II. Gruppe were also lost, all in combat with Spitfires. A claim for one Spitfire was submitted for Fw Paul Jentzsch, one of the dead I. Gruppe pilots, while II. Gruppe claimed three more, two by Ofw Wilhelm Mayer and one by Fw Werner Verhoven, the latter not being confirmed. No Spitfires were in fact lost, but the US 365th Fighter Group lost three P-47s to a small group of German fighters, and may have been II. Gruppe's actual victims.

Darkness brought more success when Flg Off Jim Fullerton/Flg Off B.E.Gallagher of 410 Squadron claimed a Ju 88 north-east of Hasselt at 2157. However, half an hour earlier Wt Off N.Joss of 409 Squadron was killed when his Mosquito was shot down in error near Ostend by Allied AA gunners.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: More than 350 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack oil-industry targets around Vienna.

GERMANY: On this record-setting day, the Eighth Air Force heavy bombers mount 1,401 effective combat sorties: 142 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil- industry target at Politz; 59 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil-industry target at Ruhland; 259 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack various targets of opportunity; 129 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack an oil-industry target at Merseburg; 88 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack an oil-industry target at Lutzkendorf; 86 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack an oil-industry target at Bohlen; 102 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack various targets of opportunity; 122 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a motor-transport factory at Kassel; 88 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an armored-vehicle factory at Kassel; 87 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack two oil-industry plants at Magdeburg; and 149 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack various targets of opportunity. Due to extremely heavy and accurate flak coverage (which is now using H2X emissions to track the bombers), 40 heavy bombers are lost. Eleven of 521 VIII Fighter Command escort fighters are also lost. Among the lost airmen is Col James R. Luper, the 457th Heavy Bombardment Group commander, who is taken prisoner.

9th Bombardment Division B-26s attack a supply depot at Euskirchen and bridges at two locations, and all three 9th Bombardment Division A-20 groups attack ten military-stores warehouses at a marshalling yard at Trier.

Eighth and Ninth Air Force fighter pilots down 38 GAF fighters over Germany between 1005 and 1640 hours. 1stLt Darrell S. Cramer, a P-51 pilot with the 55th Fighter Group’s 338th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 over Leipzig at 1210 hours; Maj Arthur F. Jeffrey, the commanding officer of the 479th Fighter Group’s 434th Fighter Squadron, in P-51s, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Leipzig at 1215 hours; and 1stLt Urban L. Drew, a P-51 pilot with the 361st Fighter Group’s 375th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Me-262s over Achmer Airdrome at 1345 hours.

HUNGARY: Approximately 30 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack targets of opportunity in Hungary, including the airdrome at Gyor.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements and defensive positions on the battle front and communications targets to the north.

NETHERLANDS: 9th Bombardment Division bombers attack a marshalling yard at Hengelo and bridges at Arnhem.

BASE CHANGES
7 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire IX) moves to Rimini
80 Sqn (Tempest V) moves to B.80 Volkel
91 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Biggin Hill
151 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Castle Camps
185 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Fano
274 Sqn (Tempest V) moves to B.80 Volkel

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
185 Sqn (Kirimington) flies its first OM’s in the Lancaster I & III
322 Sqn (Deanland) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
326 Sqn (Luxeuil) flies its last OM’s in the Spitfire VB & VC

[warshipbuilder]

8-10-44
257 Sqn (B.70 Deurne – Typhoon IB)
When we rose this morning a clamp had set in and there was no early morning flying for "B” Flight. In the afternoon "A" Flight took over but did no operations until the evening when they were led against Hun concentrations, South of BERGEN OP ZOOM. The weather was bad, cloud base being 1,500 feet over the target. We suffered one unfortunately casualty. W.O. J.R.Powell (NZ413889) flying as Blue 4 was hit by flak and his aircraft went down in flames. The aircraft crashed on the sands and as he was not seen to bale out it is presumed that he must be considered lot.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JR365 ZH-E. Pilot: W/O JR Powell RNZAF KIA.

BOMBER COMMAND
Minor Operations
2 Mosquitoes flew Ranger patrols over Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, shooting down an Me 109 in Schleswig-Holstein; 1 Wellington flew a signals patrol. No aircraft lost.

USAAF
ETO: More than 300 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s and numerous Ninth Air Force fighter-bombers attack tactical targets in eastern France and western Germany, especially between Metz, France, and Aachen, Germany.

FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Divi-sion’s 394th Medium Bombardment Group moves to Advance Landing Ground A-74, at Cambrai/Niergnies Airdrome.

ITALY: The entire Fifteenth Air Force and Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers provide direct support for the U.S. Fifth Army.

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
219 Sqn (Hunsdon) flies its last OM in the Mosquito NFXVII

[warshipbuilder]

BOMBER COMMAND
10 October 1944
Minor Operations
2 Wellingtons and 1 Liberator on R.C.M. sorties, 2 Ranger patrols, 4 Hudsons and 3 Stirlings on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.
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10/11 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
49 Mosquitoes to Cologne, 6 each to Aschaffenburg and Pforzheim, 5 to Duisburg and 2 to Düsseldorf, 1 Liberator on an R.C.M. sortie. No aircraft lost.

The raid by 49 Mosquitoes on Cologne, which took place through thick cloud, is not recorded in a comprehensive Cologne report and it is possible that the bombs all missed the city, but, by contrast, the 6 Mosquitoes which attacked Pforzheim caused much damage in the northern and eastern parts of the town and killed 64 people.
________________________________________
11 October 1944
RIVER SCHELDT GUN BATTERIES
160 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups attacked the Fort Frederik Hendrik battery position at Breskens, on the south bank of the Scheldt, and 115 Lancasters of 5 Group attacked guns near Flushing on the north bank. Both attacks started well but more than half of the Breskens force had to abandon the raid because their target was covered by smoke and dust. Two large explosions were seen at Flushing. 1 Lancaster lost from the Breskens raid.

WALCHEREN
61 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitoes of 5 Group attempted to breach the sea walls at Veere on the northern coast of the island but were not successful. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 3 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Ranger patrol, 2 Hudsons on Resistance operations. No losses.
________________________________________
11/12 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
46 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 8 to Wiesbaden and 4 to Heilbronn. 1 aircraft lost from the Berlin raid.
________________________________________
12 October 1944
WANNE-EICKEL
111 Halifaxes and 26 Lancasters of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the oil plant. A direct hit on a storage tank early in the raid produced dense cloud and smoke which hindered later bombing. A German report says that the refinery itself was not seriously damaged but that the GAVEG chemical factory was destroyed; it is possible that the bombers were aiming at the wrong target. The report also states that 24 buildings were hit in nearby housing areas and that 103 German civilians, 2 foreign workers and 1 prisoner of war were killed, most of them being in makeshift ‘earth shelters’

RIVER SCHELDT GUN BATTERIES
86 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups attacked a battery near Breskens and destroyed 2 of the 4 gun positions. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 3 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Hudson on a Resistance operation. No losses.
________________________________________
12/13 October 1944
MOSQUITO OPERATIONS
Mosquitoes went to bomb the following targets: Hamburg, 52 aircraft; Düsseldorf and Wiesbaden, 6 aircraft each; Koblenz, 4 aircraft; Schweinfurt, 2 aircraft. 1 aircraft lost from the Hamburg raid.
________________________________________

13 October 1944
2 Wellingtons and 1 Liberator carried out uneventful signals patrols.
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13/14 October 1944
MOSQUITO OPERATIONS
57 Mosquitoes to Cologne and 4 to Stuttgart. No aircraft lost. A report from Cologne shows that bombs were scattered across the city, causing mostly minor damage. 32 people were killed, however, most of them in an old persons’ home which sustained a direct hit.
________________________________________
14 October 1944
DUISBURG
This raid was part of a special operation which has received little mention in the history books. On 13 October, Sir Arthur Harris received the directive for Operation Hurricane: ‘In order to demonstrate to the enemy in Germany generally the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air Forces in this theatre … the intention is to apply within the shortest practical period the maximum effort of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and the VIIIth United States Bomber Command against objectives in the densely populated Ruhr.’ Bomber Command had probably been forewarned of the directive because it was able to mount the first part of the operation soon after first light on 14 October. No heavy bombers had flown on operations for 48 hours and 1,013 aircraft – 519 Lancasters, 474 Halifaxes and 20 Mosquitoes – were dispatched to Duisburg with R.A.F. fighters providing an escort. 957 bombers dropped 3,574 tons of high explosive and 820 tons of incendiaries on Duisburg. 14 aircraft were lost – 13 Lancasters and 1 Halifax; it is probable that the Lancasters provided the early waves of the raid and drew the attention of the German Flak before the Flak positions were overwhelmed by the bombing.

For their part in Operation Hurricane, the American Eighth Air Force dispatched 1,251 heavy bombers escorted by 749 fighters. More than 1,000 of the American heavies bombed targets in the Cologne area. American casualties were 5 heavy bombers and 1 fighter. No Luftwaffe aircraft were seen.

2 Bomber Command R.C.M. sorties and 2 Resistance operations were also flown on this day.
________________________________________
14/15 October 1944
DUISBURG
Bomber Command continued Operation Hurricane by dispatching 1,005 aircraft – 498 Lancasters, 468 Halifaxes, 39 Mosquitoes – to attack Duisburg again in 2 forces, 2 hours apart. 941 aircraft dropped 4,040 tons of high explosive and 500 tons of incendiaries during the night. 5 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes were lost.

Nearly 9,000 tons of bombs had thus fallen on Duisburg in less than 48 hours. Local reports are difficult to obtain. The Duisburg Stadtarchiv does not have the important Endbericht – the final report. Small comments are available: ‘Heavy casualties must be expected.’ ‘Very serious property damage. A large number of people buried.’ ‘Thyssen Mines III and IV: About 8 days loss of production.’ ‘Duisburg-Hamborn: All mines and coke ovens lay silent.’

BRUNSWICK
Not only could Bomber Command dispatch more than 2,000 sorties to Duisburg in less than 24 hours, but there was still effort to spare for 5 Group to attack Brunswick with 233 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes. The various diversions and fighter support operations laid on by Bomber Command were so successful that only 1 Lancaster was lost from this raid.

Bomber Command had attempted to destroy Brunswick 4 times so far in 1944 and 5 Group finally achieved that aim on this night, using their own marking methods. It was Brunswick’s worst raid of the war and the old centre was completely destroyed. A local report says ‘the whole town, even the smaller districts, was particularly hard hit’. It was estimated by the local officials that 1,000 bombers had carried out the raid. Reliable statistics on damage are sparse; instead of quoting the normal number of buildings destroyed, the destruction was measured by hectares (150 hectares of the historic town area is mentioned). 561 people are believed to have died but there were near miraculous escapes when, 4 hours after the raid, firemen reached the first of 8 large public shelters which had been cut off in the ‘sea of fire’ in the centre of the town. An estimated 23,000 people were in these shelters and all but about 200 of them were rescued. Among the relief which arrived to help the 80,000 people bombed out was the Hilfzug Bayern, a train from far-away Bavaria equipped with technical help and kitchens for mass-feeding arrangements.

Brunswick was not raided again in strength by Bomber Command.

SUPPORT AND MINOR OPERATIONS
141 training aircraft on a diversionary sweep to Heligoland, 20 Mosquitoes to Hamburg, 16 to Berlin, 8 to Mannheim and 2 to Düsseldorf, 132 aircraft of 100 Group on R.C.M., Serrate and Intruder flights (no sub-totals are available), 8 aircraft on Resistance operations. 1 Halifax was lost on the diversionary sweep – it was seen to dive into the sea in flames – and 1 Mosquito was lost from the Berlin raid.

Total effort for the night: 1,572 sorties, 10 aircraft (0.6 percent) lost. Total effort for the 24 hours: 2,589 sorties, 24 aircraft (0.9 percent) lost. Total tonnage of bombs dropped in 24 hours: approximately 10,050 tons. These record totals would never be exceeded in the war.
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15 October 1944
Sorpe Dam
18 Lancasters of 9 Squadron, 5 Group, to attack the dam at the Sorpe reservoir, the second most important supply of water for the Ruhr and one of the targets for the original Dams Raid by 617 Squadron in 1943. 16 aircraft dropped Tallboys or other bombs from 15,000 ft and hits were seen on the face of the earth dam but no breach was made. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 3 R.C.M. sorties, 4 Hudsons on Resistance operations. No losses.
________________________________________
15/16 October 1944
WILHELMSHAVEN
506 aircraft – 257 Halifaxes, 241 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes – from all groups except 5 Group on the last of 14 major Bomber Command raids on Wilhelmshaven that began in early 1941.

Bomber Command claimed ‘severe damage’ to the business and residential areas. A short local report mentions only that the Rathaus was completely destroyed and that 30 people were killed and 92 injured. A further report from Wilhelmshaven, giving overall air-raid details, shows that this port town – a major naval base – escaped relatively lightly in the war. In 26 R.A.F. and American raids, only 510 civilians, 24 servicemen and 30 foreign workers were killed.

Minor Operations: 44 Mosquitoes to Hamburg, 6 to Saarbrücken and 2 each to Düsseldorf and Kassel, 33 R.C.M. sorties, 42 Mosquito patrols, 22 Halifaxes and 15 Lancasters minelaying off Denmark, 2 aircraft on Resistance operations. 2 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost from the minelaying operation.

USAAF
October 10, 1944
ETO: The Ninth Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

ITALY: Nearly 170 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack rail bridges and four marshalling yards throughout northern Italy, but 350 other heavy bombers abort in the face of bad weather. Twelfth Air Force medium bombers and many fighter-bombers are grounded by bad weather, but XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers are able to provide direct support for elements of the U.S. Fifth Army.

October 11, 1944
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack a motor factory and an ordnance depot in Vienna, a motor factory at Graz, a marshalling yard, and several towns.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fifteenth Air Force escort fighters strafe Porstejov Airdrome, nearby targets of opportunity, and targets of opportunity at Bratislava.

FRANCE: Ninety-nine 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s on their way to attack a German Army military base are recalled when their pathfinding equipment malfunctions in bad weather.

GERMANY: Fifty-seven 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil factory at Wesseling (primary), and 73 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Koblenz (secondary). Four B-17s and one of 135 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

Ninth Air Force fighter-bombers attack rail lines and support U.S. Army ground forces around Aachen, Metz, and Saarlautern.

HUNGARY: Fifteenth Air Force escort fighters strafe the landing ground at Esztergom and targets of opportunity at Budapest.

ITALY: Fifteen Air Force heavy bombers attack the harbor at Trieste and road and rail bridges at Cesara; Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack supply dumps and bridges; and XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers provide direct support for the U.S. Fifth Army and attack lines of communication.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack a rail bridge at Dravograd.

October 12, 1944
FRANCE: 9th Bombardment Division bombers attack the German Army military base at Camp-de-Bitche.

The Ninth Air Force is assigned direct administrative control over the XII TAC, which has been under USSTAF administration since it was transferred out of the Twelfth Air Force.

The XIX TAC headquarters displaces forward to Nancy.

GERMANY: Two hundred sixty-seven 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Osnabruck (secondary), and 238 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an aircraft-industry target at Bremen. Three heavy bombers and five of 483 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

9th Bombardment Division bombers attack two defended towns and two rail bridges; and 368th Fighter Group P-47s repeatedly attack German Army armored vehicles and troops concentrating for an attack against a U.S. Army infantry division near Aachen. Later in the day, the 368th Fighter Group closely supports an attack by the same U.S. infantry division.

Eighth and Ninth Air Force fighter pilots down 28 GAF fighters over Germany between 1125 and 1520 hours. 1stLt Charles E. Yeager, a P-51 pilot with the 357th Fighter Group’s 363d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status with 6.5 victories when he downs five Bf-109s near Assen (Netherlands) at about 1100 hours.

HUNGARY: While conducting a series of afternoon fighter sweeps over Hungary, P-51 pilots of the 52d, 325th, and 332d Fighter groups down 18 Axis aircraft, the highest one-day total in the theater for the month.

ITALY: As part of Operation PANCAKE, 826 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack troop concentrations, depots, and bivouacs in and around Bologna, and Twelfth Air Force medium bombers, fighters, and fighter-bombers provide direct support for the U.S. Fifth Army and attack supply dumps, bivouacs, barracks, lines of communication, gun emplacements, and troop concentrations throughout the battle area.

MTO: One hundred sixty Fifteenth Air Force P-51s strafe traffic on the Danube River in Austria and Hungary. Also attacked is Seregelyes Airdrome in Hungary.

NETHERLANDS: 9th Bombardment Division bombers attack Venraij.

October 13, 1944
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack various marshalling yards in Austria as well as a motor factory and other industrial targets in and around Vienna. Also, Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack oil-industry targets around Vienna. Airfields are also attacked.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack various marshalling yards around the country.

ETO: 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack bridges servicing German Army forces on various battlefronts in eastern France, the Netherlands, and western Germany; and Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers provide direct support for the U.S. First, Third, and Seventh armies along the various battlefronts.

FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Divi-sion’s 323d Medium Bombardment Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-69, at Laon/Athies Airdrome.

GERMANY: Eighth and Ninth Air Force fighter pilots down 17 GAF fighters over Germany between 1015 and 1550 hours.

Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack oil-industry targets at Blechhammer.

GREECE: The Twelfth Air Force’s 51st Troop Carrier Wing is committed to moving supplies and personnel in support of the British Army’s occupation of southern Greece (Operation MANNA).

HUNGARY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack various marshalling yards and airfields around the country.

ITALY: Many Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but a small number of attacks are completed against several bridges and supply dumps; and XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers undertake numerous missions against tactical targets, supply dumps, and lines of communication in the U.S. Fifth Army battle area.

October 14, 1944
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack marshalling yards at Bratislava and Nove Zamky.

ETO: The 9th Bombardment Division is grounded by bad weather, but Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers support U.S. Army ground forces along the various battlefronts.

GERMANY: On the day’s first mission, 90 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken, and 117 2d Bombardment Division attack the city of Kaiserlautern. No bombers are lost but one of 253 VIII Fighter Command escorts is downed.

After downing two Bf-109s near St.-Dizier, France, at 1310 hours, Capt Joseph L. Lang, a P-51 ace with the 4th Fighter Group’s 334th Fighter Squadron, is killed in air-to-air combat near Mannheim.

Three hundred twenty-six 1st Bombardment Division B-17s, 248 2d Bombardment Division B-24s, and 314 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack industrial targets and marshalling yards in Cologne. Five heavy bombers are lost, but all 732 VIII Fighter Command escorts return safely.

Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack oil-industry targets at Odertal, and Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack oil-industry targets at Blechhammer.

GREECE: In the first of several Operation MANNA missions to be undertaken over several days, 55 Fifteenth Air Force P-38s escort C-47s carrying British airborne troops to an airdrome in Greece, in this case Megara.

HUNGARY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at two locations, an industrial area, and a military base. Escort fighters strafe two airdromes near Lake Balaton.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but fighter-bombers attack tactical targets and lines of communication in support of the U.S. Fifth Army.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the bridge at Maribor.

October 15, 1944
ETO: The 9th Bombardment Division is grounded by bad weather, but Ninth Air Force fighter-bombers are active along all fronts in eastern France, the Netherlands, and western Germany.

GERMANY: Three hundred seventy-nine 1st Bombardment Division B-17s, 185 2d Bombardment Division B-24s, and 339 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack five marshalling yards at Cologne. Also, a total of 125 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack oil-industry targets at Monheim and Reisholz, and 23 B-17s and 36 B-24s attack various secondary targets and targets of opportunity. Six B-17s and one B-24 are lost, but all 462 VIII Fighter Command escorts return safely.

Twenty-three Eighth Air Force B-17s attack the naval installation at Heligoland Island, and two APHRODITE drone B-17 flying bombs are directed against the same target (with negative results).

In the day’s only fighter engagements, 78th Fighter Group P-47 pilots down five FW-190s at 0845 hours and an Me-262 at 1045 hours. Also, the Ninth Air Force’s 48th Fighter Group routs a German Army counterattack in the zone of the U.S. XIX Corps.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather; Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack bridges in the Po River valley; and XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers provide support for U.S. Army ground forces.

[warshipbuilder]

16-10-44
692 Sqn (Graveley – Mosquito BXVI)
Twelve aircraft detailed for operations. Operations carried out.

ADDENDUM – Mosquito BXVI MM118 P3-? T/o 2210. Crashed 0100 on returning to base. Crew suffered minor injuries.

BOMBER COMMAND
9 Mosquitoes of 100 Group dispatched, 5 on Ranger patrols and 4 on anti-minesweeper operations off Denmark where mines were laid the previous night; they attacked 2 coastal vessels with cannon-fire. No aircraft lost.
________________________________________
16/17 October 1944
COLOGNE
39 Mosquitoes dispatched. 38 aircraft bombed on the estimated position of Cologne. A local report describes minor property damage but 29 people were killed and 56 injured. No Mosquitoes lost.

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USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack two tank factories and an aircraft-engine factory at Steyr, an ordnance depot and a benzol plant at Linz, and numerous targets of opportunity. Also, Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack various marshalling yards throughout the country.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Brux, and the Skoda arms complex at Pilsen.

Maj George T. Buck, Jr., commanding officer of the 31st Fighter Group’s 309th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status with a personal score of six confirmed victories when he downs three Bf-109s during withdrawal escort from Brux. Altogether, nine Bf-109s are downed by pilots of Buck’s squadron during a bounce on at least 75 GAF fighters at about 1215 hours.

ETO: All Eighth and Ninth air force flight operations are canceled because of bad weather.

GERMANY: P-51 pilots of the Fifteenth Air Force’s 325th Fighter Group down eight GAF fighters east of Dresden in an engagement between 1220 and 1235 hours.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, but XII Fighter Command fighter-bombers are active in support of the U.S. Fifth Army.

During the night of October 16–17, XII Fighter Command A-20s attack targets of opportunity around Ravenna and in the Po River valley.

LUXEMBOURG: The Ninth Air Force advance headquarters displaces with the 12th Army Group headquarters to Luxembourg City.

BASE CHANGES
16 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Perugia
180 Sqn (Mitchell II) moves to B.58 Melsbroek

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
241 Sqn (Rimini) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VIII